That’s a whopper!
The Getaway
Pushing ahead
Callie Jo Stephens
Callie Jo Stephens, 83, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013, in Memphis, TX.
Graveside services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 30, 2013, at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Rev. Anthony Knowles, officiating.
Burial will follow at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley
Arrangements are under the direction Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon
Callie Jo was born February 21, 1930, in Colgate, OK to Robert Creed and Callie Jane Elizabeth Eddings Baker. She married Clarence Omar Stephens on September 10, 1947, in Wellington and they moved from Pampa to Hedley in 1963. Callie Jo was a homemaker and loved her family dearly. She also loved to sew, cook, fish, and make jelly. After moving to the nursing home, she played harmonica for the residents. She was Baptist, and was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Pampa for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Stephens, on April 3, 1986; 5 brothers, Don Baker, Robert Baker, Hubert Baker, Paul Baker, and Leon Baker; 3 sisters, Mildred Beattie, Zora Stephens, and Lillie Ann Hook.
She is survived by her daughter, Clara Jo Calhoun and husband Gary, of Hedley; 2 sisters, Peggy Hook, Rosie Wright and husband Doug; 2 brothers, Ronnie Baker and wife Peggy, and Maxie Baker and wife Judy; 5 grandchildren, Stephanie Molloy and husband Mark of Amarillo, Calvin Holland and wife Leanne of Hedley, Scheli Moore and husband Michael of Canyon, Tanya Burton and husband Blain of Hedley, and Rhett Holland and wife Nora of Amarillo; 21 great grandchildren; and 3 great great-grandchildren.
Nadine Lillian Hastey
Nadine Lillian Hastey, 79, died Thursday, August 22, 2013, in Amarillo.
Services were held on Sunday, August 25, 2013, in Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Rev. Larry Capranica, Pastor, officiating. Burial followed at Flomot Cemetery in Flomot.
Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Nadine was born September 11, 1933, in Ada, Oklahoma to Floyd and Lillie Alma Clark Stone. She married Henry Hastey on September 15, 1950, in Turkey. She had been a resident of Plainview before moving to Donley County in 1966. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and a dedicated wife to Henry for 62 years. She was a homemaker and a charter member of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on November 17, 2012; a granddaughter, Dana Pollet; 3 brothers, Don, Marion, and Joe Stone; 2 sisters, Estelle Holman and Helen Height.
She is survived by 2 sons, Ronnie Mathew Hastey and wife Jeannie of Elkhart, Kansas, and Barry Hastey and wife Tammy of Weatherford, Oklahoma; 2 daughters, Ava Hastey of Austin, and Pat Allen and husband Steve of Amarillo; a brother, Clyde Stone of Plainview; a sister, Lucille Pickering of Pampa; 6 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.
The family request memorials be sent to the Donley County Senior Citizens.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Editorial: Big Brother is watching everyone
Edward Snowden is on the run. And he should be given that he has made a lot of powerful enemies in the United States government. If you watch enough movies or television, it’s easy to see how this guy could have “an accident” while trying to avoid extradition back to the US. But if you keep up with current events, it’s even easier to think he might just get droned.
Snowden took a job with a government contractor apparently for the sole purpose of finding out what all nasty business the government is up to. He then took that information to the press, and a foreign newspaper shined the light on secret surveillance activities being conducted on American citizens and others in the name of national security.
One of the biggest revelations was that the government had obtained a secret court order forcing Verizon Communications to turn over tons of “metadata” on millions of cellular phone users. Basically, every Verizon customer, including your humble editor, has had their Fourth Amendment Rights violated by our government.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface there are now other known surveillance activities being conducted against the American public for our own good.
We likely would never have known about much of this except for the actions of Mr. Snowden. We can’t be sure what his personal motivations were or are, but he has found himself demonized for his actions. He’s been called a traitor and accused of treason, and you can be sure the federal government has a stack of criminal charges lined up against this guy if they ever get their hands on him.
Or, as has already been mentioned, the administration might just declare him an enemy combatant, blow up his taxi, and trumpet the whole thing on the evening news.
Rather than condemn Snowden, someone ought to give this guy a medal. And all these high-ranking DemoRepublicrats who are calling for his criminal prosecution need to take a good long look in the mirror at what they and this government are becoming.
Snowden and a few allies in the press have pulled back the curtain and exposed some pretty ugly government cockroaches to the sunshine. But rather than scurry off into the shadows, government officials have thumbed their noses at outraged citizens and pledged to continue these “necessary” programs.
It is disgusting what has happened to our government. And it’s been a bipartisan track that has led us here. President George W. Bush’s administration fueled by the attacks on 9-11 got sweeping powers to violate civil liberties under the guise of pursuing terrorists with the passage of the PATRIOT Act by wide majorities of both parties. President Obama first criticized some of those policies… but has continued them and apparently expanded them. We should be reminded that power corrupts, and freedoms lost are hard to regain.
As we approach the anniversary of our nation’s independence, it is a good time to ask what we have become. It’s already obvious that our government is largely unrecognizable from the small, limited federal republic described by our Constitution. But now we have examples of a bureaucracy and power culture that truly appears to be growing out of control to the point that no president can even know what’s happening under him much less be in command of all the forces of the Executive.
We see examples of Internal Revenue agents giving extra scrutiny based on political motives. We see agents of the press harassed and intimidated for crossing the administration. We see federal employees refuse to answer basic questions from the elected Representatives of the People. And now we know that our National Security Agency considers We the People to be the enemy… or at least possibly the enemy and worthy of scrutiny.
There is probably little about our present government that our Founding Fathers would recognize, and they would certainly be appalled to learn what we’ve given up in order to be “safe.”
Imagine if you will what would have happened if government officials had approached Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin with a secret court order. “Mr. Franklin, we don’t want to know the contents of people’s mail. We just want to know who is writing to whom, where they are when they write the letter, where the recipient of the letter is when they get it, and how long the letter is. Is all just for safety’s sake. After all, the Brits still have friends here in America and you never know what they might be up to.”
I’m sure old Ben would have told the government agents to go to hell, and then he would have done just what Mr. Snowden did and blow the whistle so every American could know just what was happening.
Far from condemning Snowden, America should be thanking him. It is time to roll back the power of the federal government. It is time for the People to demand that our representatives pull the plug on these activities, and it is time for those who continue to defend these policies to find other lines of work. It is time for Americans to be free again.
BREAKING NEWS: City Hall in turmoil
Clarendon Alderman Debbie Roberts Hillis turned in her resignation this afternoon, leaving the Board of Aldermen without a quorum and unable to meet.
Hillis’ resignation comes one day after two other board members – Abby Patten and Jesus Hernandez – also resigned. The five-member board now only has two members left – Sandy Skelton and Will Thompson – who cannot take action on their own.
Mayor Larry Hicks is exploring the city’s options at this time. City Hall says advisors with the Texas Secretary of State’s office and the Texas Municipal League say the city must have an election to fill the vacancies. There is a process to have the county commissioners’ court call a November election, or the city can apply to Governor Rick Perry’s office to call an emergency election at a time of the governor’s choosing.
A November election is problematic because the city’s tax rate and budget have to be set before the end of September. Otherwise the current tax rate and current budget would carry over into the new fiscal year.
A third election option would be to wait until next May when the three positions would be up for a vote regularly.
For now, city operations continue as usual with all current city policies and the budget in place. The Enterprise will have more information as it becomes available.
For more on Tuesday’s resignations and an interview of city officials by the district attorney’s office, check out this week’s Enterprise on newsstands now or available by clicking here.
Gladys Katrena “Kay” Connor
Gladys Katrena “Kay” Connor passed away April 21, 2013, in Philadelphia, PA. She was the daughter of William S. and Beulah Carlile of Clarendon, TX. She was predeceased by her husband, Hilary H. Connor, her brother W.S. Carlile, Jr. and her sister Pauline Heath Hardin.
She is survived by her children, Cynthia Connor of Columbia, SC, Hilary Connor of Philadelphia, PA, Kevin Connor of Woodbridge, VA, Katrena Burns of Trumbull, CT and by her sister Marie Hill, Clarendon, TX and her brother John Carlile of Granbury, TX.
Kay received her nursing degree from Baylor University, then served as a Lieutenant, J.C. in the U.S. Navy, where she met her husband. They lived for several years in RI, where he had a private medical practice. After he joined the Public Health Service, they lived in several states, including Oklahoma, where she received her M.A. in Urban Planning. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, for her inquiring mind and sparkling wit. She will be interred with her husband at Washingtons Crossing National Cemetery in PA.
George Clinton Shields
George Clinton Shields, 90, died Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Amarillo.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
George C. Shields was born May 25, 1922, in Hopper, Ark to John Wesley and Lonnie Caroline Marsh Shields. George joined the CCC for 2 years, and then served in the United States Coast Guard. He married Rita Elizabeth Garrigan on February 16, 1944 in New Orleans where he worked for Rheem Manufacturing for 18 years. Together they moved in December 1965 to Donley County where he was a farmer, and loved every minute of it. George never met a stranger, and thoroughly enjoyed his daily visits around the community at places like the local gin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rita Elizabeth, on December 19, 1997; 5 brothers, Lester, Hester, Coleman, Harmon, and Arthur; and 2 sisters, Ethel Henson, and Christine Kennedy; and his daughter-in-law, Roxanne Shields, on January 19, 2013.
He is survived by 2 sons, Bruce Shields of Amarillo, and Don Shields & wife Joan of Amarillo; 3 brothers, James Shields & wife Reba of Durant, OK, Herbert Shields & wife Hazel of Lelia Lake, and Earl Shields & wife Susie of Lelia Lake; his sister, Grace Caldwell of San Angelo; 8 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family request memorials be sent to one’s favorite charity in memory of George Shields. Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
David Dean Lowrie
David Dean Lowrie, 68, died Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Amarillo.
Funeral services were held on Monday, April 22, 2013, at Agape Christian Church in Clarendon with Wyatt Fenno, Leonard Holt, Don Stone, and Anthony Knowles, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
David Dean Lowrie was born July 10, 1944, in Wheeler to Elmer Wootten and Pauline Ann McBee Lowrie. He attended schools in Wheeler, Friona, and graduated from Briscoe High School in 1963. He was also a graduate of West Texas State University in 1968 earning a Bachelor of Science degree and completed his Master’s degree in 1970.
David began teaching science at Clarendon College in 1970 and taught full time until 2002. He continued teaching part time for the college for several years at the Pampa and Childress campuses. David completed the requirements for his public school teaching certificate and taught science at Clarendon High School from 2007 until 2011.
David married Paula Wall on July 28, 1973, in Pampa. He and Paula lived in Clarendon throughout the entire marriage. He served as Cub Master for troop #437 in Clarendon and Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop #433. He was Explorer Post Advisor for Post #437 from 1989 until 1992. David was a charter member of Agape Christian Church and was instrumental in the purchase and remodeling of the current facility. He served as the minister for the church since 2007.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers, Harold, Huey, Kenneth, and Doug Lowrie; and his grandson, Sean David Lowrie, in 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Paula, of Clarendon; 3 sons, Jason Lowrie and wife Sharon of Lelia Lake, Nathan Lowrie and wife Shonda of Clarendon, and Jeff Lowrie of Amarillo; 4 grandchildren, Mason Lowrie, Ashton Smith, Zaryia Smith, and Jessica Lowrie.
The family suggests that memorials be to Agape Christian Church, PO Box 57, Clarendon, Texas 79226. Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
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