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Ashtola horse wins world title
Ashtola, Texas, is now home to a world champion after last week’s cutting horse competition in Fort Worth.
Performance Horse Central Photo
RJ Sanny Squared finished out her career by scoring 229 points in the first go at the National Cutting Horse Association World Finals on November 23 and then continued to perform over the next three rounds on November 24, 28 and 30 to secure the title.
The mare is owned by Johnny, Janet, and Shannon Cooper of Ashtola.
Riden by her trainer, Christian Miller, RJ Sanny Squared compted in 105 shows this year, earning more than $133,000.
Janet Cooper said hundreds of horses compete throughout the nation and only the top 15 make it to the NCHA’s world finals. RJ Sanny Squared is seven years old and has been trained by Miller since she was two.
“She’s been spectacular,” Cooper said. “For us to win a world championship is simply awesome. Now she’ll be coming home in December to retire at the top.”
The Cooper family has been raising cutting horses for about ten years now in Ashtola. Their Rockin’ J Quarter Horses business, however, has been in operation for 30 years now.
RJ Sanny Squared not only is a world champion, but she has also been named to the Mare Hall of Fame and has a lifetime earnings of more than $250,000.
Small Town Christmas big success
Small Town Christmas was a huge success last Saturday, November 30, with big crowds turning out for activities downtown and supporting local merchants on Small Business Saturday.
Event organizer Denise Bertrand said she has received many compliments and “only three complaints,” and she considers that a success.
“We were planning to meet in January to decide if we want to do it again next year,” Bertrand said, “but now we’re meeting in January just to talk about what to improve.”
More food vendors will be one thing to add, she said, but other than that, most activities seemed to be successful.
At the courthouse, Lions served 300 cups of hot chocolate, and Santa handed out about 150 stocking gifts to kids, with the line to see the Jolly Old Elf stretching out to the street.
Over on Kearney Street, Santa’s Play House proved to be a big hit with the youngsters, and several people commented on how nice it was to have holiday music playing up and down the main street.
Vendor booths were set up in the parking area between the Crossties Ministry Center and the Masonic Lodge Hall, with some booths also set up in the lodge dining room.
A scavenger hunt earlier in the evening drew six teams with first place going to the Burrow Clan, second place going to the Reindeer Rebels, Team Rudolph taking third place, and Little Ones clenching fourth place. A total of $540 in Chamber Cash was given out in that contest, sponsored by Jacob Fangman, Floyd’s Automotive, Every Nook & Cranny, Vape Time, and Broken Road Liquor Store.
Clarendon Family Medicine and Clarendon Dental Associates sponsored the Ugly Christmas Sweater and Gingerbread House competitions with $450 in Chamber Cash. Ugly Sweater winners were Annette Osburn, first; Lisa Heald, second; and Linda Pankey, third. Gingerbread House winners were Danyale Naylor, first; Tobias Truex, second; and Emery Truex, third.
Also last weekend, a benefit movie at the Mulkey Theatre collected $790 in donations for the Donley County Community Fund during a special presentation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Bertrand’s committee was also successful in drawing in new community volunteers and overall improved the appearance of downtown with workdays dedicated to cleaning windows, especially on vacant storefronts.
CVFD responds to house fires Saturday night
The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department was kept busy Saturday evening in the midst of the celebrations downtown.
Shortly after the festivities began on the Courthouse Square, a call went out to house fire on Collinson Street at the Regina Wootten residence.
Items set on the stovetop caught fire and were discovered by the owner, who put out the fire but called 911 to make sure the fire was out and because of all the smoke in the home.
Later that evening, an electrical fire broke out in the home of the late Lucy Saye on Wood Avenue. Tim Saye discovered the blaze at the back of the house and called 911. Firemen responded quickly, and damage was contained to the immediate area where the blaze started. The house was heavily smoked but was saved from major damage.
Chamber to draw winner on Friday
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will hold its first Small Town Christmas drawing this Friday at noon as holiday shopping promotions continue.
The third annual “Shop Small” promotion from the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce will put a grand total of $550 in Chamber Christmas Cash in the hands of lucky winners who shop with local merchants.
Sign-ups at participating merchants began last week, for Chamber Cash drawings that will be held for $100 each Friday on December 6, 13, and 20.
To enter, shoppers will fill out an entry at local participating merchants.
Enter as many times as you shop locally, so shop often. Entries stay in the hopper each week, so those who enter will have multiple chances of winning.
Those merchants participating are: Amanda’s Country Soaps, Broken Road Liquor, Broiller’s Auto Parts, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Country Bloomers Flowers, Courtney D’Costa Scentsy, Every Nook & Cranny, Floatin’ T, Floyd’s Automotive, Henson’s, Garrison’s, J&W Lumber, Lowe’s Family Center, Monroe’s Peach Ranch, Mulkey Theatre, Mike’s Pharmancy, Ramblin’ Ranch Boutique, REFZ Sports Bar & Grill, Whistle Stop, and Wicked Fast Attire.
The Chamber will also hold a bonus drawing for $250 in Chamber Christmas Cash on December 20. Sign-up for the bonus drawing will be held starting December 2 at the Clarendon Visitor Center. Shoppers can bring their receipts and receive one entry for every $25 spent at the participating merchants.
Several downtown merchants are also making plans to stay open for Late Night Shopping on Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19, until 8 p.m. Merchants who have indicated they are staying open late this Thursday night are Henson’s, Stocking Ice Cream Parlor, Every Nook & Cranny, Rambling Ranch Boutique, and Saye’s.
Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong. Support the businesses who support your town!
Busy schedule set for Small Town Christmas
From shopping to carroling to carriage rides, there will be lots of activities in Clarendon for Small Business Saturday and the new Small Town Christmas celebration on November 30.
Several local merchants will be open throughout the day with special savings to help shoppers get a jump start on their Christmas buying. Check out the Enterprise’s Holiday Gift Guide and ClarendonTX.com/Christmas for details on local merchant promotions. Merchants planning to be open for Small Business Saturday at press time were Amanda’s Country Soaps, Broken Road Liqour, Clarendon Outpost, Cornell’s Country Store, Courtney D’Costa Scentsy, Every Nook & Cranny, Floatin’ T, Henson’s, Garrison’s, Lowe’s Family Center, Monroe’s Peach Ranch, Mulkey Theatre, Rambling Ranch Boutique, REFZ Sports Bar & Grill, and Whistle Stop.
Small Town Christmas festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with the 200 block of Kearney Street being closed off to traffic and vendors and booths being set up in the holiday spirit.
Registration for a Christmas Scavenger Hunt will begin at the Courthouse at 3 p.m. with the hunt beginning at 4:00.
The walking hunt will consist of ten teams of four – first come, first serve – with at least one team member being high school age or older.
A knowledge of local history will be helpful, and cell phone will be needed for selfies. Chamber Christmas Cash will be awarded to the winning teams.
Santa’s Playhouse will open at 321 Kearney, across from the Aquatic Center, with crafts and games for kids. The playhouse will continue through 8 p.m.
At 5 p.m., Santa Claus will be on the Courthouse Square where there will be live music on the courthouse steps and hot chocolate provided by the Clarendon Lions Club.
The courthouse lighting will be held at 6 p.m. in accordance with tradition, and then the fun will shift back to Kearney Street.
Food vendors will be set up on Third Street, and live music and caroling will continue throughout the evening until 9 p.m.
Carriage rides will be available, and s’mores stations will be set up on Kearney Street.
Merchant booths will be set up on Kearney Street and/or in the Donley County State Bank parking lot between the Masonic Lodge Hall and the Crossties Ministry Center. In the event of bad weather, those booths will be moved inside those buildings.
The Chamber of Commerce booth will also have for sale the official 2024 Small Town Christmas sweatshirt. Those shirts will also be available in the Visitor Center next week.
Small Town Christmas is being organized by a group of volunteer elves and supported with promotional efforts through the Chamber of Commerce and the Clarendon EDC. Volunteers have been busy preparing decorations and cleaning windows.
Floydada slips by Broncos
Enterprise Photo
By Sandy Anderberg
The Bronco basketball team is fresh off of the football field but went head-on against Floydada at home last Friday in their season opener. Despite playing hard and formulating a comeback, the Broncos were defeated 57 to 63.
The Whirlwinds held a slight lead after one, but were able to put a little more distance between them and the Broncos before the break to lead 41-28.
A new and determined Bronco team emerged to take the floor going into the second half of play. The team showed promise as they were able to fine-tune the offense set up by head coach Isaac Semans and executed well to make stops on defense and put points in the hoop. With three warnings and one technical foul for ‘flopping,’ the Whirlwinds were frustrated and the Broncos were able to take advantage of that.
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack
Working back into the game, the Broncos were able to gain some momentum against the Winds and begin to close the gap in the final quarter of play. But time was not on their side, and they took the six-point loss. Senior Mason Sims tied Floydada’s best scorer with 24 to lead the Broncos. Junior Kyler Bell was perfect from the free throw line and followed Sims with 11 points, and Caleb Herbert put in seven. Kaleb Bolin had six, John Weatherton finished with five, and Heston Seay had two.
The Broncos will travel to Abernathy on December 3 and compete in the Nazareth Tournament December 5-7. They will play in Littlefield against Seminole on December 10.
UIL awards
Courtesy Photo
Lady Broncos add two more wins last week
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack
By Sandy Anderberg
The Lady Broncos added two more big wins to their overall record of 8-1 for the season. Their latest wins were over Vernon and Floydada last week.
Coming off of four wins in the Slaton Tourney, the Lady Broncos were hitting on all cylinders and defeated the Class 3A Vernon 42-39. Junior Kenidee Hayes pumped in 13 points, putting in seven points in the third quarter of play. The ladies stayed with their game plan and were able to overtake the Lady Lions in the final eight minutes.
On the downside, the Lady Broncos only converted five of fourteen free throws, but they were able to hit three big shots from the arc. Hayes connected with two, and Kashlyn Conkin made good on one three-pointer and a free shot for four.
Berkley Moore was solid with eight points, and Kate Shaw put in six from post position. Gracie Ellis, Presley Smith joined Conkin with four points each, and Kennadie Cummins put in two points while Tandie Cummins finished with one.
On Friday, the Lady Broncos were looking for a big win over the Floydada Lady Whirlwinds and played solid basketball to get the 80-34 win. Setting a great rhythm on the offensive end of the court, the ladies played great team ball to make things work on the scoreboard. They were unstoppable inside and outside and had eagle eyes for the open player. Floydada showed a little spunk against the Lady Broncos but could never break down that strong wall of defense.
Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack
Five players finished in double digits in the win with Conkin pumping in 13 points. Moore and Shaw were on Conkin’s heels to finish with 12 each and Hayes and K. Cummins had 11 and 10 respectively. Smith put in eight, T. Cummins had five, and Hayden Elam and Ellis turned in four each.
The Lady Broncos will travel to Abernathy December 3 playing at 6:00pm and participate in the Nazareth Tournament December 5-7. They will play in Littlefield against Seminole on December 10.
Bound for State
Clarendon High School’s Hunter Caison is bound for state after CHS participated in the 2A Regional Congressional Debate meet in Amarillo November 5.
Also participating were Zane Cruse, Ronan Howard, and Kennedy Halsey. Caison, a sophomore, won the 2A Regional Congressional Debate championship.
With the win, Hunter secured his spot at the UIL State Congressional Debate meet which will be held on January 7-8, 2025 on the University of Texas campus. Sophomore Zane Cruise placed tenth in the meet.
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