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Clarendon High School turned in a strong performance March 28 at the District UIL Academic Competition, finishing as the district runner-up behind a slate of individual champions and a first-place team finish in accounting.

In accounting, where Clarendon swept the top three individual spots. Madden Emerson claimed first place, followed by Hagen Newman in second and Klay Wilkins in third, with Skylar Williams placing fourth and Kaleb Mays sixth. The performance secured the district championship for the accounting team.

Clarendon also saw multiple individual district titles across academic events. Hunter Caison earned first place in Lincoln-Douglas debate and added another gold medal in persuasive speaking. Elaina Estlack captured first in feature writing, while Dahlia Neal won the spelling competition.

Several Broncos qualified for the regional meet with top finishes. In addition to the accounting trio, Caison (Lincoln-Douglas debate, persuasive speaking), Estlack (feature writing, social studies), Nevaeh Jaramillo (second in news writing), Gracie Ellis (third in copy editing), and Kate Shaw (third in prose interpretation) all advanced.

The mathematics team placed second overall, powered by Ronan Howard’s fourth-place finish. Zane Cruse was fourth in literary criticism and poetry interpretation, and Addison Havens’ was sixth in literary criticism.

Millie McAnear placed fourth in copy editing, Berkley Moore took fourth in headline writing, and Zakary Roberts finished fifth in science.

Clarendon will next compete at the UIL Regional Academic Meet on April 24 in Canyon.

The weatherman was proved wrong Saturday, April 11, as Mother Nature provided the nearly perfect weather for the 14th annual Chance Mark Roar & Run 5K. Sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and just a slight breeze greeted more than 50 people at City Hall who ran or walked to raise awareness of child abuse.

For the second year, Tristen Ybarra was the overall winner of the race and the top male athlete, beating his time from last year by about two minutes at 18:57. Erica McAnear had the best woman’s, crossing the finish line at 24:15.

More than 80 people registered for the event with several choosing the “sleep-in” registration option ahead of time, and others possibly wanting to avoid the thunderstorms that had been predicted for several days prior.

Complete results of this year’s Chance Jones Roar & Run 5K race are as follows: Top Men’s Time – T. Ybarra, 18:57; Top Women’s Time – McAnear, 24:15; 10 and under – first, Cotley Watts 24:56, second, Hadley Brown 34:15, and third, Ryker Evans, 44:05; Ages 11-19 – first, T. Ybarra 18:54, second, Jaxan McAnear 20:50, and third Kutter O’Keefe 21:51; Ages 20-29 – first, Collin Monroe 21:52, second, Desiree Marmoejo 29:18, and third, Alex Conner 29:19; Ages 30-39 – first, Brian Barboza 37:53, Emily Evans 44:09, and third Chelsea Weldie; Ages 40-49 – first, Erica McAnear 24:15, second, Leah James 29:19; and third, Andrew Brown 34:15; Ages 50-59 – first, Tanya Word 36:10, second, Courtney D’Costa 42:35, and third, Chris Childers 44:05; and Ages 60 and Up – first, Nancy Kidd 45:36, second, LaVern Pinion 46:46, and third, Shaun O’Keefe 1:02.54.

The race sponsored annually by the Clarendon Lions Club honors the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died from abuse in 2011.

Saturday would have been the boy’s 20th birthday.

Proceeds from this year’s event will help support the annual charitable activities of the Clarendon Lions Club, including eyeglasses for local school kids, Christmas food baskets for local families, scholarships, other charitable activities, and hosting the local office of The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center to serve abused children in the 100th Judicial District.

Clarendon and Hedley volunteer firefighters joined other area departments and state resources in battling the Lefty Fire in Hall County last week.

The fire started on Thursday, April 2, and was contained on Friday with more than 1,300 acres burned.

The fire started about 25 miles west of Childress.

Officials reported that support came from Turkey VFD, Quitaque VFD, Memphis VFD, Silverton VFD, Motley County VFD, Childress FD, Clarendon VFD, Hedley VFD, Wellington VFD, and the Texas Forest Service as well as state strikeforce crews from all over Texas and as far away as Washington State.

A social media post from the Turkey Volunteer Fire Department said the forward progression of the fire was stopped Thursday night around 9 p.m. and said the forest service and strike team firefighters remained with the fire overnight. A Type 1 helicopter that was able to draft water from tanks on the ground. Turkey, Memphis, and Silverton firefighters returned Friday with water tankers and collapsible, portable tanks. They refilled each tanker several times while the helicopter drew up 1000-2000 gallons per trip to go drop over the fire.

These crews and the helicopter were released Friday evening around 5:00.