Halsey competes at state
Bell receives state coaching recognition
By Sandy Anderberg
Clarendon High School’s Kasey Bell has been honored for her work as the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023-2024 season.
Bell, who is the Junior Varsity Lady Bronco coach, was nominated by Lady Bronco head coach Korey Conkin and received her award last weekend.
The TABC is a part of Texas Basketball Coaches and has strived to see the sport attain the recognition that other states enjoyed. Since its beginning in 1975, the TABC has focused on boys’ basketball, but five years later introduced the association to girls coaches as well. The group is responsible for increasing media attention throughout the state for many years.
Bell has been employed at Clarendon ISD since 2001 as an Elementary Physical Education Teacher and began her coaching career in 2002. According to Bell, she has worked with many good coaches at CISD and has been Conkin’s assistant for eight years.
“I have coached with wonderful head coaches over the years, and the last eight years getting to work with a friend and such a talented coach in Korey is a blessing,” Bell said.
While in her junior varsity coaching position, Bell has recorded a remarkable 378 wins to 94 losses. Conkin noted that in her eight years working with Bell, she never had a season with under 16 wins.
“Her JV ‘Dynasty’ has been 2-2A District Champs the past two years and outscored their opponents 1,172-376 in the ‘22-’23 season with an impressive 22-2 record,” Conkin said. “Her ‘23-’24 season was just as successful and she led her team to a 16-3 record while outscoring her opponents, 962-246.
“Her amazing coaching abilities were definitely showcased when her team came up victorious against 5A Amarillo High JV in an overtime game where the team had two of six girls foul out and finished with four players on the court. Pure joy for her team was the feeling after that big win.”
Bell has a huge knowledge of basketball as she played her high school years at Motley County with a lot of success and continued her career at Clarendon College where her teammate was none other than Conkin, who was raised in Clarendon. They were able to begin a friendship that would result in successes as players and coaches.
“Any Clarendon head coach from 2001 would surely agree that she is class, knowledge, passion, support, discipline, fun, and dedication all wrapped up into one,” Conkin said. “Her ability to shine her light in many aspects of life, amongst these Clarendon kids is priceless. To have known her all these years, to have a true friend in her, and to have her stand beside me on and off the court has been one of my greatest life blessings. Any Lady Bronco would be sure to say the same. We love our Coach Bell, and she is the perfect candidate to represent all amazing assistant coaches by receiving this award.”
“I am extremely blessed to have received this award,” Bell said. “I couldn’t do this job without my amazing family always helping me out. My record of 378 wins to 94 losses is a testament of the wonderful and talented young ladies that have come through this program in my 22 years (at CISD).”
Bell plans to continue teaching and coaching in Clarendon where she lives her two boys, Kyler and Brance, and her husband, Jackie.
Memphis man gets 40-year sentence for assault
A Memphis man was sentenced to 40 years in prison when the district court heard a contested hearing on May 5 in Hall County.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe, presiding.
Joe Martinez, 50, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the second degree felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Second degree felonies have a maximum punishment of 20 years. However, this felony was enhanced to a first degree, which can result in a maximum sentence of life in prison, due to Martinez’s prior felony convictions.Martinez, from Memphis, was arrested on December 25, 2017.
Martinez was originally placed on probation on April 27, 2022. The State filed a motion asking the Court to adjudicate Martinez’s probation on November 3, 2023, alleging five separate violations.
At the hearing, Martinez admitted to violating three of the five terms of his probation. One of which was that he committed a new offense, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
On cross-examination, Martinez admitted that he had made a mistake and that he was selling the drugs he possessed while on probation.
At the conclusion, Rabe sentenced Martinez to the 40-year prison term.
Due to the nature of the offense, Martinez must serve at least half of the sentence before becoming parole eligible.
“As illustrated by this defendant, some people will never stop committing crimes,” said Caudle.
“We are very thankful that Judge Rabe handed down a sentence harsh enough that we will likely never have to deal with Joe Martinez again.”
Stargazing at Jericho June 7
A Stargazing Party is planned at Jericho on Friday, June 7, as the ghost community prepares for this summer’s annual Route 66 Festival.
In addition to telescopes set up by the Amarillo Astronomy Club for gazing at the heavens, a full line-up of fun activities is planned for the evening, which includes live music, vendors, and food trucks.
Frost’s Custom Classics will have classic cars showcased at the event, which begins at 5 p.m. and runs until midnight. There is no charge for admission.
Vendor set-up will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Festivities kick off at 5:00, and vendors will close at 9:00 as the Stargazing gets underway hosted by the Amarillo Astronomy Club.
“The evening promises to be a magical experience for all who attend,” said Jericho townsite co-owner Blanca Schaefer.
Located north of Clarendon on SH 70, about half a mile south of Interstate 40, the old Donley County community is experiencing renewed interest as Route 66 enthusiasts have started coming to experience the history of the Jericho Gap.
The Stargazing Party is an official TX 66 Festival Event. For more information about this summer’s Route 66 festival, go to VisitAmarillo.com/TX66Fest; and for more information about Donley County’s Route 66 community, visit Facebook.com/JerichoOn66.
Memorial Day service set for May 27 at Rowe Cemetery
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in Hedley will hold its annual Memorial Day service at the Rowe Cemetery, Monday at 10:00 a.m. on May 28, 2024. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Hedley Lions Club.
The Post members will place American Flags on the graves of 251 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery. The Flags will be places on the graves at 9:00 AM, Saturday May 26, 2024 and remain till Monday, May 28, 2024 in honor of those departed comrades that have served this Country.
The Memorial Day program will be conducted by members of the American Legion that will include the raising of the colors, the National Anthem, Pledge to the Flag and the ceremony honoring the missing in action and the Prisoners of War still unaccounted for.
The Memorial Day address will be given by Dale A. Rabe, 100th Judicial District Judge. Carlton Turvaville will read the names of the 251 Veterans buried in the Rowe Cemetery. The program will be concluded with the laying of the memorial wreath and the playing of taps.
Garage sale event deadline is May 24
Residents who wish to participate in this year’s “Trash To Treasures” need to contact the Enterprise before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 24, to sign up.
The 19th annual Trash To Treasures garage sale event will be held Saturday, June 1.
For $25, each household will get a 50-word advertisement in the Big-E Classifieds and the exclusive “Trash To Treasures” garage sale signs. In addition, the Enterprise will print a city map the week of the event indicating the location of each sale and will promote the countywide garage sale in area newspapers and radio ads as well as on social media and digital platforms.
For more information, call 874-2259 or come by the Enterprise office at 105 S. Kearney.
Ropes ends Broncos’ playoff run
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos had a great season and played hard in the playoffs but exited early with two losses to Ropes in Plainview last week finishing with an 18-3-2 record.
The first game of the best of three series was a hard-fought battle by both teams, and the pitchers were able to manage the game strategically. Ropes won 1-0. Bronco senior Harrison Howard was at the helm in the first game and threw for five and a third innings. In his time on the mound Howard allowed four hits and one run. He posted nine strikeouts. Fellow senior Easton Frausto took over the duties for the final innings and faced six batters striking out two.
Both teams struggled to get anything going until the third when Ropes earned their first run of the game. The Broncos only recorded two hits in the game. Levi Gates hit a single and Howard knocked down a double. The final four innings produced no runs for either team and the Eagles went one game up over the Broncos.
The second game ended in seven innings with Ropes taking the win at 5-0. Jared Musick was on the mound for the Broncos just under six innings and allowed four hits, five runs, and had two strikes as he went the distance and posted five Bronco strikeouts.
The Eagles got things going in the opening inning when a batter was hit by a pitch with all three bases loaded to score one run. The Broncos were not able to get anything going the first inning. Musick was able to go three up, three down in the second and third innings, but Ropes came to home plate determined to put runs on the board in the fourth. With two outs on the board, Musick walked two batters before a hit brought one Eagle home. A couple of errors in the field allowed Ropes to get two more runs before the inning was over. They were able to score their final run in the sixth inning. The Broncos were able to put runners on the bases, but a double play ended their chance at extending their post-season play.
The Bronco seniors will be missed next year as they all have played an important role in their four years in high school. Congratulations to seniors Easton Frausto, Jared Musick, Levi Gates, Waite Dushay, and Harrison Howard.
Early voting underway for Pct. 3 Commissioner runoff
Early voting started Monday, May 20, and continues through Friday, May 24, for Donley County voters in Precinct 3 as incumbent Commissioner Neil Koetting faces a runoff election with challenger Greg Wootten for the Republican nomination.
Wootten was the top vote getter in the March primary in the three-person race for Koetting’s job, but he did not get more than 50 percent of the vote, which prompted this month’s runoff election.
Eligible voters include Republicans who already voted in the Republican primary and other voters who did not cast a ballot in either primary in March. Voters who cast ballots in the Democratic primary cannot vote in the Republican runoff.
Early voting is being conducted at the Donley County Courthouse Annex from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through this Friday.
Election day will be Tuesday, May 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with Precinct 301 voters casting ballots at the Donley County Courthouse and Precinct 303 voters casting ballots at the First Baptist Church in Hedley.
City adopts dusk-to-dawn curfew for park
The Clarendon City Council adopted a new park curfew ordinance during their regular meeting last Thursday, May 9, at the Mulkey Theatre.
Following several acts of vandalism in recent months with damage done to the historic rock walls of Prospect Park, city officials felt it was necessary to take action to give law enforcement more tools to prevent further damage.
The ordinance which was unanimously approved sets a city park curfew from sunset to sunrise every day. No one is to be in a city park after dark.
Aldermen also approved a new rate schedule for the Citizens Convenience Center, commonly referred to as the recycling center. Those rates, which reflect a new fee item for non-resident use of the center, are published on page 7 of this week’s Enterprise.
Ken McIntosh was appointed to serve as Clarendon’s new representative to the Greenbelt Municipal & Industrial Water Authority Board. Alderman Eulaine McIntosh abstained on that motion.
The council considered a bid from Windstream for high-speed internet service at several city sites. Without any other bids to compare, the board voted to reject the bid and try again to get more bids.
Alderman Tommy Hill took the oath of office to start his new term, and Mayor Jacob Fangman presented a proclamation to Sheriff Butch Blackburn recognizing May 10-16 as Peace Officers Week and May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
In his administrator’s report, Brian Barboza updated the council on personnel and preparations for the aquatic center’s upcoming season. He reported a new tanker was added to the fire department fleet and said water lines had been marked downtown as part of the next downtown revitalization project. Rap material has been received from TxDOT and will be used to improve Front Street, Barboza said, and plans are being discussed to host a NewsChannel 10 Summer Celebration here on July 15.
Two dead following chase with authorities
Two people are dead following a chase with the Donley County Sheriff’s Department and multiple law enforcement agencies last Friday, May 10.
Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office was notified by the Department of Public Safety about 2:35 that afternoon that a semi-truck being sought by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency was pinging at Allsup’s in Clarendon. Blackburn was further notified that the Putnam County, Tennessee, sheriff’s office had raided the home of the suspects and found drugs, weapons, and body armor.
The sheriff waited for the semi-truck to leave Allsup’s and then followed it up SH 70 towards Interstate 40 and then as DPS reinforcements closed in, Blackburn attempted to pull the truck over. The driver refused to stop and hit Blackburn’s patrol vehicle at one point, prompting law enforcement to take more aggressive measures. Gray County Deputies and a Texas Game Warden also joined the chase. The female truck passenger, later identified as 51-year-old Elizabeth Stevenson, began firing at officers. DPS spiked the truck’s front tires as it was headed west on I-40, the truck then turned around at the Pampa turn-off and headed back eastbound. Officers shot more tires, and a blockade was set up near the eastbound Safety Rest Area. Stevenson again began firing at officers. Gunfire was exchanged, and Stevenson was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, 60-year-old Edward Stevenson, was transported to an Amarillo hospital, where he also later died from injuries received during the gunfire.
Blackburn said weapons and 29 kilos of cocaine were found in the truck. The day before, Putnam County detectives had found three-quarters of a pound of suspected methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl, multiple firearms, body armor, and ammunition inside the Stevensons’ home, according to a statement from that sheriff’s department. “Both individuals had also made previous statements that they would die by ‘suicide by cop’ if law enforcement attempted to stop them,” the statement said.
The street value of approximately 29 kilos of cocaine would equate to approximately $3.4 million, according to Putnam County officials. The drugs appeared to be headed to the Putnam County and Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee, and Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris praised the cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
“This was great work by the PCSO Drug Unit to take down a massive illegal drug operation here in Putnam County. This is a direct result of the nation’s open border policies which it much easier for Mexican cartel members and their associates to bring in these illegal drugs into smaller communities and in this case Putnam County,” Sheriff Farris said. “The cocaine would have likely been mixed with the deadly drug Fentanyl before being sold to individuals. The immediate working relationship with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office formed with the Donley County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety was invaluable in this incident, and I am very thankful for it.”
Following the chase and shootout, eastbound I-40 traffic was diverted through Clarendon until about 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning Blackburn said. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident, and no officers were injured.
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