Owls on the run
Norma Raye Taylor-Hall
Norma Raye Taylor-Hall was born in Levelland to Arthur Raymond Taylor and Essie Mae McDonald-Bushert on August 29, 1950. She passed away peacefully on July 31, 2022 at the age of 71.
Family directed memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. in the Howardwick Baptist Church with Randy Schraider officiating.
Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
She travelled the state as a result of her father being in the oil business. She eventually settled in Fort Worth with her mother after her father passed away when she was only nine years old. After pursuing a career in the hotel industry like her mother she met and instantly fell in love with Larry Dale Hall of Azle in 1978 and married on Valentine’s Day 1979.
She had a nurturing spirit to all and many called her mother. She and Larry served several years in maternity homes in Texas and Arizona ministering and being loving house parents to many young women. Many lives were changed by her Christ-like love and unwavering kindness.
She was a highly skilled artist in both pencil and paint. Although she would insist that she wasn’t that was just her genuinely humble self.
She was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Taylor, mother Essie Mae McDonald-Bushert; two daughters and a stepbrother.
She is survived by her husband Larry Dale Hall of Clarendon, son Britton Hall and wife Tiffany of Borger, and three very loved grandchildren.
Carolyn Sue Ward Shults
Carolyn Sue Ward Shults, 72, of Clarendon, passed away on July 28, 2022, in her home surrounded by loved ones.
Services were held at Robertson Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon on Tuesday, August 02, 2022.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon.
Carolyn was born on June 19, 1950, to Albert and Celeste Ward in Memphis.
After graduating from Estelline High School in 1968, she dedicated her life to being a fantastic and wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend.
Carolyn was passionate about family. When she wasn’t filling her home with warmth and kindness, she was cooking her family’s favorite foods, sewing, crocheting, and fishing. We will miss her greatly.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Shirley Foster, and her grandson Zachary Chapman.
She is survived by her children, Cindy Shults and husband Lonnie, Jennifer Floyd and husband Tony, Kristi Shults and husband Andy, Michael Shults and wife Marie, Dawna Hearon, and Robin McCullough and husband Jake, her siblings, Marie Davis, Willie Mae Maddox, Henrietta Montgomery, and Albert Ward, Jr., as well as many grand- and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family requests donations be sent to the Shriners Hospital, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, and the National MS Society in lieu of flowers.
City plans $300k in street improvements for 2022
The City of Clarendon has approved more than $300,000 in street improvements to be completed in the coming months.
City Administrator David Dockery said work is expected to begin between August 27 and 29 on Seventh Street between Koogle and Ellerbe, a stretch of roadway that as suffered for years from heavy storm damage.
The $186,000 project, which will last about 40 days, will install concrete curbs and gutters and lay down hot mix asphalt for the road surface. Concrete driveway approaches will also be installed at existing driveways, Dockery said.
Residents in the area will have to alternative parking for the duration of the project.
“We apologize ahead of time for any inconvenience to the residents in the area, but we hope they are very happy with the project upon its completion,” Dockery said.
In September, the city will spend about $125,000 on its annual resurfacing program to protect some of Clarendon’s better streets. The chip seal project will be carried out on East Fourth Street between Gorst and Carhart, on South Carhart from US 287 to Montgomery, on Clarendon Avenue from Bugbee Avenue to the west side of the college campus, the 600 and 700 blocks of South Bugbee, and the 400 and 500 blocks of South Allen.
Dockery said other blocks may be included in the fall project depending on how the bid comes in. During the project, cars will have to be moved off the street and avoid the area while work is being done.
The fall project will take three days or less to complete and hopefully be a minimal inconvenience, Dockery said.
City officials will notify affect residents of the paving projects as they get closer.
City reminds residents of drought rules
Ongoing dry conditions have prompted the City of Clarendon to remind residents that a Stage 3 drought condition does still exist and to ask everyone to be conservation minded when it comes to water.
“We know the residents of Clarendon have already reduced their water use, and the city appreciates the conservative nature of our community,” City Administrator David Dockery said. “People know what ‘dry’ is.”
Stage 3 drought condition guidelines encourage water conservation with certain requests of local citizens.
Limit outside watering to twice-a-week, and then before 10:00 am and after 7:00 pm.
Residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Residential customers with even-numbered street addresses water on Thursdays and Sundays. Commercial customers water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Limit washing of motor vehicles, motorbikes, boats, and other vehicles at home to before 10:00 am or after 7:00 pm on your designated watering day, and then use a bucket and/or a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes are excepted.
Avoid filling swimming pools except during the above watering hours.
Avoid operating ornamental fountains unless necessary to support aquatic life or if equipped with a recirculation system.
Do not water-wash driveways, sidewalks, and other hard-surfaced areas. Do not wash down buildings or structures except for immediate fire protection.
Repair all leaks as soon as possible, and report any leaks or unauthorized usage to City Hall. Night and weekend emergency leaks should be reported to the Donley County Sheriff’s Office at 806.874.3533.
Large crowd attends 2022 Hoedown
The fourth annual Howardwick Hoedown was held last Saturday, July 23, and is being called a great success by organizers in that community.
Despite hot July weather, the Hoedown drew its largest crowd ever, as people from Howardwick, Clarendon, Hedley, and other points in the Panhandle gathered in McMorries Memorial Park.
An on-site raffle gave away dozens and dozens of prizes throughout the day that were donated to the community for the purpose. The biggest prize, a 2022 Advance EVI Golf Cart, was won by Jeff Wilde of Amarillo at the close of the day.
Residents and visitors gathered under the park pavilion and under canopies set up around the park. Live music was provided by The Tweeks will be entertaining visitors from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The Clarendon Lions Club Cornhole Tournament drew 16 two-person teams as well as 16 Lions. The participants got into the fun with colorful team names. The “A-Holes” were the champions of the day with team members Clint Conkin and Wes Smith dominating the competition. Second place went to the “Corn Stars,” and third place was claimed by “The Punishers.”
Wayne McDonald, playing under the moniker of “Drunk 2” for “The Drunks,” won the drawing for the custom Lions cornhole board set.
The new putting green installed last week in the park was formally opened by Mayor Tony Clemishire, who took the opening putt with a kid’s plastic golf club.
The official putting contest Saturday afternoon drew 17 adult participants. Winners were Bo Eddleman, first; Ben Estlack, second; and Eddie Chavira, third. Eddleman took home a new set of golf clubs as the grand prize.
Proceeds from this year’s Hoedown will help raise money for the city to buy equipment to fix city streets, according to City Secretary Sandy Childress.
Cornhole Champions
Sure shots
City council okays swim lessons at aquatic center
Kids are now able to sign-up for swimming lessons at the Clarendon Aquatic Center following action by the city council at its regular meeting last Thursday, July 14.
Lifeguard Josiah Howard presented the plan for lessons to the council.
Howard said six lifeguards have been certified to give lessons and will work under their teacher’s certification. Lessons will cost $25 each, and a group of four lessons can be purchased for $75. Lessons will be taught in the mornings and not during the aquatic center’s regular hours.
Lifeguards will work in pairs with groups of kids set up by age.
City Administrator David Dockery said the lifeguards will make the most financially from the arrangement, but he said the purpose of the program is not to financially benefit the city.
“We have to consider the benefit of teaching kids how to swim,” Dockery said. “We want to try to ‘drown proof’ as many kids as possible.”
Alderman Larry Jeffers agreed with Dockery.
“This is just one more benefit the city can provide through the aquatic center,” Jeffers said.
Those interested in signing up for swim lessons should call or text 806-205-0865.
In other city business, the council met in closed session to consider legal matters associated with the house at 602 S. Bugbee Avenue.
No action was taken following the closed session, but Julie Cobb did speak in open comments about the house and said she and the owner of the house just want to mediate with the city and make improvements to the house, which has been condemned by the city.
Katherine Williams also spoke in public comments regarding the aquatic center. She said she and her grandchildren go to the pool four to five days a week, and she praised the work of the lifeguards and the center manager Terri Luna. She also brought up some behavior issues she felt like the council needed to be aware of.
During their regular business, the council reviewed the city’s revenue and expenses, and officials noted that the city is currently in the black by $324,989 on this year’s budget.
Aldermen approved a request to close portions of Fourth Street and Gorst Street for That Senior Thang on August 20, and they also approved a request to close a portion of the right of way on Allen Street along the residence at 720 W. Sixth due to a historic survey error.
Aldermen also met in closed session for the annual evaluation of the city secretary, Machiel Covey, who received high marks.
Twins inspire mom to write children’s book
A new children’s book fulfills a local mother’s promise to her kids and is now available for sale.
Stunkey the Monkey & His Twin Sister Spunkey is based on Shellie Coles real kids, and even the title was inspired by her son.
“When Dalton was three, he would say something was stinky, he would say it was stunkey,” Coles recalled, “so I started responding, ‘You’re stunkey; you’re Stunkey the Monkey.’”
Although “Stunkey” was never really a nickname for her son, the seed was planted in Coles mind for a children’s book based on twins Dalton and Shelbi and through the years she would say she’s going to write a book. About three years ago, she started working on the project on and off, and then she became more serious about it about three months ago.
“If you tell your kids you’re going to do something, you should do it,” Coles said. “As for why do it now, I’ve always believed things happen when they’re supposed to.”
Coles, who writes under the pen name Shelco, says the book is authentically about her children.
“It’s about my twins. It’s all true.”
Stunkey and Spunkey grow up the best of friends and generally like all the same things. Eventually they develop their own tastes and their own likes and dislikes. Through it all, however, they remain the best of friends.
“There’s a message in there for today,” Coles said. “I think people need to celebrate their differences instead of fighting about them all the time.”
Coles not only wrote the story, but she also illustrated the book. The writing and drawing were fun, but the formatting was a challenge, she said.
“The writing was easy for me,” she said. “I majored in English in college, and I’ve always loved to read. I never thought much about writing a book though; and when I did, I never thought about it being a children’s book.”
Coles self-published Stunkey on Amazon, and the book has gotten good reviews from the people who have read it. It also was number one for five days on Amazon’s New Releases in the Ape and Monkey book category.
There are two people who especially like the book.
“The twins like it,” Coles said. “They were excited when it came in.”
Readers also have not seen the last of Stunkey or Spunkey. Coles is releasing a Stunkey coloring book this week and has plans for a sequel about bullying.
“That one may be a little tougher to write,” she said.
Coles will also be featured on August 12 at a book-signing at the Burton Memorial Library in Clarendon along with two other children’s book authors with local ties – Ashlyn Grotegut, author of Ernie the Eraser, and Julie Barker, author of Hitchin’ Post & the Tornado Twistin’ 4th of July.
In the meantime, Stunkey the Monkey & His Twin Sister Spunkey is available on Amazon for $12.99 and is enjoyable for readers of all ages.
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