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The fourth annual That Senior Thang “FAM FEST” provided lots of family fun Saturday, June 1, while raising money for the Donley County Senior Citizens Center.

The annual chicken barbecue was again a big hit with 400 chicken halves prepared. Some frozen cooked chicken halves are still available for those who missed the event. They are $5 and can be picked up at the center during regular hours 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Center director Denise Bertrand said the event was successful thanks to the efforts of those who volunteered.

“We owe a huge thanks to everyone who helped,” Bertrand said. “We need to be proud of our kids from the high school who volunteered. If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way we could do this.”

The 50/50 Raffle grew to $10,250 with half the pot going to the winning ticket purchased by Clarendon Family Medicine. P.J. O’Keefe was the winner of the quilt raffle.

Winners of the Chicken Drop Bingo were Mary Green and Ronnie Edwards.

Jace and Huxley Schmidt (nine- and six-years-old) won the Cornhole tournament against much older competitors and playing under league rules. The Bell Boys – Jackie and Kyler – won the Two-on-Two basketball game, and the Water Dodgeball tournament championship was won by the “Pickles” team of Kate Shaw, Presley Smith, and Kyler Bell. The Newhouse brothers – Matthew and Monroe – won the Water Balloon Blast.

A special plaque was dedicated and will be hung in the center in memory of the late Don Stone and his many years of service to the organization.

Next year’s Senior Thang is scheduled for June 7, 2025.

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.