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Mulkey to show free movie this weekend

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Family entertainment is free this weekend at the Mulkey Theatre thanks to Clarendon Masonic Lodge covering the cost of admission to “12 Mighty Orphans.”

The movie tells the true story of the Great Depression Era Mighty Mites football team of the Masonic Home & School in Ft. Worth. An inspiring coach, Rusty Russell, takes his team of orphans from playing without shoes to playing for the Texas state championship. Coach Russell is credited for developing innovative strategies that would come to influence modern football and help his boys compete against bigger opponents.

The film stars Robert Duvall, Michael De Luca, Luke Wilson, Wayne Knight, Scott Haze, Jake Austin Walker, Angelique De Luca, and Martin Sheen.

Clarendon Lodge #700 is the oldest masonic lodge in the Texas Panhandle, chartered in 1890. Past masters of the lodge include former theatre owners Homer Mulkey and Gary Barnhill.

“12 Mighty Orphans” is rated PG-13 and will show with free admission for all ages this Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2:00.

Garden tour to be held July 17

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The Donley County Garden Club will hold its second annual Tour of Gardens this Sunday, July 17, from 1 to 6 p.m. to benefit the Christ’s Kids Ministry.

A total of five family gardens are on the tour this year, and a map is available here.

The Tour of Gardens will be self-guided with people being able to start and stop with which ever spot on the map they choose. Each location will have a donation bucket for the Christ’s Kids.

Garden tour locations in Clarendon are at the residences of Gary and Judy Thomas at 508 W. Barcus Street, Marsha Bruce at 703 S. Carhart, and Diana Ross and Joan Copelin’s flower garden at Carhart and Montgomery as well as outside of town at Dale and Amanda Askew home at 4240 S. Hwy 70 and Bill and Deanna Cornell’s home at 4166 CR 13.

To learn more, contact Judy Thomas at 806-206-5278.

Greenbelt rises to best level since 2019

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A wet spring and summer have improved conditions significantly at Lake Greenbelt with a water level increase of as much as 2.5 feet.

Greenbelt Water Authority General Manager Bobbie Kidd said Monday that the reservoir is currently at 43.99 feet, which is higher than it has been since September of 2019.

“We’ve caught a lot of water,” Kidd said. “We’ve gone up 1.5 feet just from Memorial Day to July Fourth.”

The last time Greenbelt had a significant increase was in May of 2015 when the lake went up ten feet, Kidd said.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo said the Mesonet site southwest of Clarendon has recorded 8.56 inches of rain since Memorial Day. KVII-TV’s SchoolNet site in Clarendon has recorded 17.01 inches since the first of the year, and the SchoolNet site on the Matthews Ranch north of Clarendon has measured 24.78 inches.

A fast rising water level is good for the lake and for area residents who depend on it, but Kidd said it does come with a downside. Fast flowing water and covering up vegetation on the shores causes the water to develop a taste and an odor that longtime area residents are familiar with but is a new experience for some people. That phenomenon is compounded, Kidd said, when temperatures swing from 105 degrees and then drop 30 or more degrees to the 70s.

Kidd said Greenbelt did get a few complaints when that happened recently.

Also helping the lake level is lower usage by its consumers this summer, but it may not be just cooler, wetter weather that has contributed to that.

“I think COVID had a lot of people staying home and planting gardens last year,” Kidd said.
Kidd said Greenbelt continues to supplement usage of surface water with about 30 percent groundwater from well fields in Clarendon and on Kelly Creek. Most of the groundwater comes from Kelly Creek, he said.

Kidd also said that despite what some experts are saying, the recent rainfall has not snapped the continuing dry spell in the Texas Panhandle.

“We’re still in a drought. Let’s be honest,” Kidd said. “Down south they can get this kind of rain and heal up, but it will take more than this to heal us up here.”

Farmers market opening here July 17

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If fresh produce and locally made food is what you’re looking for, Donley County Farm 2 Table is ready to serve you this Saturday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at Cornell’s Country Store.

A Cornell’s Country Store employee cleans up in preparation for the first Donley County Farm 2 Table event this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

The new farmers market will run the first and third Saturdays through September, and organizer Deanna Cornell is happy to see the new community project get off the ground.

“People are excited,” Cornell said. “I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from vendors but more so from consumers. I’ve had zero complaints.”

Eleven vendors are scheduled to have tables at the first market this Saturday.

“We’ve got produce, aloe vera, baked goods, pork, beef, eggs, and more,” Cornell said.

Items at the market are all things that were either grown locally or made in local kitchens, she said.

Cornell’s Country Store is hosting the market in their garden center, which they completed in 2020 right before the COVID-19 shutdown. They were left with a big space and wondering what else it could be used for. Cornell later was inspired by a farmers market while visiting her son in Nashville.

“Zach and Liberty sell eggs there, and they have flowers and berries also,” she said.

With information from that market, Cornell started making plans for a market here and got a good response from locals.

“I really have a heart for Texas-made and locally-made,” Cornell said.

Cornell’s has proven the market for locally produced food with their own beef this year. Demand has been strong for homegrown beef, which will be available during the market Saturday.

For more information about the market, contact [email protected] or check out the Facebook group online – Donley County Farmer’s Market.

Bigger crowd enjoys 2021 celebration

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A beautiful Saturday morning was the perfect setting for the 144th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration July 3 at the Donley County Courthouse as Clarendon continued its tradition of celebrating America’s independence from the British crown.

The Bronco Cheerleaders won the Best Float as well as the Grand Championship of the Herring Bank Parade last Saturday, July 3, during the 144th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration. Shown here are Shelbi Coles, Maloree Wann, Darcey Grahn, Natalie Monds, Tandy Blacksher, and Aliyah Weatherton. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

Unseasonably cool temperatures with a bit of cloud cover greeted the crowd, which grew steadily as the morning went along. Soaking rains the week before and a brief shower that morning had the humidity higher than usual, but most folks agreed it was good trade off to avoid the typical hot July weather.

Unlike last year, social distancing was no where to be seen and masks were a rarity as booths returned to their usual locations and arrangements following the height of the pandemic last summer. Sanitizing stations were the main reminder that, for the unvaccinated, the threat of COVID-19 has not fully passed.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Kids’ Parade started the day with the youngsters peddling or driving in front of the Courthouse. A new “motorized” division was up first with Zaylee Jaramillo, first; Jack Trollinger, second; and Dawson Hall, third. In the 0-4 age group, Kendal Danner was first; Luke Leeper was second, and Zayne Portillo was third. Paden Kidd won the 5-8 age group with Lydia Balogh second and Memory Farmer third. The 9 and up age group was won by Meredith Artho in first place, Gage Kidd second, and Kase Zongker third.

The Herring Bank Parade followed the kids’ event and was very festive with nearly all of the entries following the parade theme, which recognized the opening of the new Aquatic Center this year: Make A Splash in Clarendon. The Bronco Cheerleaders’ float was the best in its category and the girls also won the Grand Prize as the best entry overall. Jerry Green’s Farmall tractor was the Best Farm Equipment, Zack’s Cheese was the Best Animal Entry, Shelby and Kutter O’Keefe had the Best Other entry, and Steve Carthel won the Best Car/Truck trophy for the second year in a row.

There was no organized Old Settlers Reunion this year.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served 640 plates of barbecue this year, which was up significantly from 450 last year but still down slightly from 2019’s 660 plates. A portion of the proceeds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Shrine Temple in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.

A celebrity dunking booth was set up by the Bronco Cheerleaders. Eager kids and donors lined up to cool off several notable people including school administrators, members of the state champion Bronco Basketball team, and County Attorney Landon Lambert.

The Donley County 4-H raffled off a gun, and Adam McDaniel of Kansas won it. The Clarendon Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo was won by Kierston Watts, Jacob Fangman, Sarah Mendez, and Halee Kotara. William Hoggard won the gun safe from the Bronco Band Boosters, and Mary Ruth White won the Chamber’s quarterly Shop Donley County drawing for $500.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was also held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 164 kids racing in three divisions, up from 98 youngsters last year. In addition, 46 adults entered a grown-up category.

Winning turtle jockeys were Kilynn Miller for the 0-4 division, Khloe Shadle for the 5-8 division, Caleb Askew for the 9-16 division, and Mandy Jaramillo for the adult division.

IC Cattle Co. wins 2021 Ranch Rodeo

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The IC Cattle Company took top honors at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s annual Ranch Rodeo last Friday and Saturday during the 144th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.

Cowboy Luke Hardin makes it look easy during his mutton bustin’ ride last Thursday, July 1, in the COEA Arena as part of the 144th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration’ Junior Ranch Rodeo. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

IC Cattle’s scores beat out 19 other local and regional ranch rodeo teams as working cowboys put their skills to the test. The team was made up of Randy Crump, Chance McAnear, Elwin McClesky, Cooper McClesky, and Tanner Hart.

The Circle M8 / Barnes team team finished second with Phillip Reynolds, Chance Holcombe, Blaine Brunson, and Jayde Smith; and the Huddleston Performance Horses team was third with Randy Crump, Gatlin Duncan, Jared Stoker, Jody Padilla, and Cutter McLain.

The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Chance McAnear, and the Top Horse award was won by Ky Finck.

The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Chance McAnear and vverall Calf Riding Champion was Sheperd Green.

This year’s attendance for the three-day junior rodeo and ranch rodeo was 1,287, up significantly from last year’s 771 during the COVID-19 pandemic but still down from 2019’s attendance of 1,391.

The Junior Ranch Rodeo was won by Slash R team comprised of Sterlin Mitchell, Jaxon Stoker, Brazos Roberts, Blaine Roberts, and Ry Reynolds. The second place team was Rockin’ JM with Sterlin Mitchell, Ry Reynolds, Hazen Lamb, Grady Wilson, and Brazos Roberts; and the Spires team was third in the junior competition with Blaine Roberts, Brazos Roberts, Ry Reynolds, Brooks Myers, and Kale Brunson.

Top Hand winner for the Junior Ranch Rodeo was Sterlin Mitchell, and Ry Reynolds rode the Top Horse.

Junior Calf, Donkey, and Steer Riding and Mutton Bustin’ were held all three nights. Overall Mutton Bustin’ champion for the three nights was Rance Peters.

The overall Donkey Rider was Chance Anderson.

Overall Calf Riding Champion was Sheperd Green, the Overall Donkey Rider was Chance Anderson, and Steer Riding champion was Eli Ritchie.

Nightly winners of the junior events were as follows:

July 1 – Calf Scramble – Kelby Brownlee, Case Jones, and Parker Haynes; Mutton Bustin’ – Emma Howard; Calf Riding – Briggs Martin, Donley Riding – Lane Hardin; and Steer Riding – Brigs Martin.

July 2 – Calf Scramble – Reece Myers, Eli Ritchie, and Jayla Woodard; Mutton Bustin’ – Cutter Gaither; Calf Riding – Sheperd Green; Donkey Riding – Chance Anderson; and Steer Riding – Eli Ritchie.

July 3 – Calf Scramble – Parker Haynes, Caleb Askew, and Gray Bennett; Mutton Bustin’ – Rance Peters; Calf Riding – Colton Henson; Donkey Riding – Chance Anderson; and Steer Riding – Eli Ritchie.

Overall Mutton Bustin’ champion for the three nights was Rance Peters.

Car thieves get picked up again

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Call it “Thelma & Louise – Part 2.” The criminal ring that brought you a car chase that went off into a ravine in May returned to Donley County last week for another clash with the law.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said “Louise,” actually 30-year-old Skyler Grimes of Amarillo, was the driver of a pick-up that was spotted by an off-duty game warden behind Allsup’s last Wednesday, June 30. The warden noticed some unusual activity and alerted the sheriff’s office. The pick-up in question turned out to be stolen out of Amarillo, and the law quickly caught up with Grimes and her passenger, 37-year-old Ramon Campos, near the Clarendon Outpost.

Campos is the twin brother of Ruben Campos, who was arrested along with “Thelma,” 22-year-old Rheanna Moore, during the group’s May encounter here.

Ramon Campos was arrested on the scene last Wednesday and charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Controlled Substance, methamphetamines.

Grimes, who was already on felony probation from May’s episode, tried to elude capture but was quickly gathered up at Third and Koogle. She was also charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Controlled Substance and is facing seven charges out of Potter County as well.

Blackburn said the pair claimed they were coming to Clarendon to visit Ruben Campos in jail or to put money on his account with the jail, but the sheriff said it wasn’t visitation day and the pair had only pocket change between them.

Grimes and Ramon Campos are now being held on a total of $7,000 bond each.
Blackburn says four of the 15 inmates currently in the jail have charges of evading arrest and five are charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

“My message is to take your keys out of your car and then watch where you put them,” Blackburn said. “The M.O. of this group is they watch you and follow you in a store and then steal the keys or a purse.”

Amarillo is dealing with a high rate of car thefts right now, the sheriff said.

Flower Power

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A pop of color can make all the difference in a neighborhood, but one group of women has taken that to a new level.

Joan Copelin, Teri Rummel, and Diana Ross stand beside some of their sunflowers Monday afternoon. The ladies have very prolific flower gardens adorning their apartments on the east side of Clarendon. Enterprise Photo / Elaina Estlack

Flowers planted and tended by Joan Copelin, Teri Rummel, and Diana Ross have made quite an impact around their cluster of apartments in Clarendon at the corner of Carhart and Montgomery streets.

The beautiful blooms have been a work in progress for about three years according to Ross.
Typically the grounds of the Clarendon Housing Authority are cared for by a paid employee, but these ladies take pride in caring for their yards and flowerbeds themselves as well as those of their immediate neighbors.

“Diana does the mowing,” Copelin said. “We like it mowed more often, and she catches the grass.”

Copelin said credit for the flowers at their complex really goes originally to Eva Turner, who developed a reputation for having beautiful lilies for more than 30 years. Taylor can no longer care for flowerbeds, but the ladies say she appreciates what they are doing.

Neighbors Glenda Day and Sybil Brown also enjoy and appreciate their efforts.

The beds are expanded or changed from time to time. A new bed of sunflowers was recently put in across the alley from the ladies’ apartments, spreading the beauty beyond the boundaries of their usual grounds.

There is no plan or guide to their annual flower gardens. The ladies just make it up on the fly and add rocks they pick up in different places for borders.

“If it grows, it grows; and if it doesn’t, we put something else out,” Ross said.

Clarendon welcomes visitors to 2021 Saints’ Roost Celebration

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Clarendon is ready to welcome visitors to the 144th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 1, 2, and 3, 2021.

Coinciding with “First Saturday Clarendon, Texas,” this year’s celebration will include most of the traditional activities along with the Whistle-Stop Trade Days which will be open Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4.

The COEA Junior Rodeo will kick off the celebration Thursday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m. followed by the first night of the Ranch Rodeo on Friday, July 3, at the same time. Dances will not be held following the rodeos this year.

Earlier in the day Friday, the Depression Luncheon will be held downtown at the Crossties Ministry Center, next to the library, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is just 25 cents for beans and Cornbread with tea or lemonade. Sausage/Tortilla wraps will be available for $1.50.

The big day will be Saturday, July 3, beginning with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths must be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Old Settlers Reunion and the Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade also begin at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Third and Sully. Ed Montana will provide music and serve as master of ceremonies on the square.

Line up for the Herring Bank Parade will also start at 9 a.m. with the parade taking off at 10:00.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Make a Splash in Clarendon,” in recognition of the opening of the city’s new aquatic center. Entry forms are available in this week’s Enterprise as well as at the Visitor Center and online at ClarendonTX.com.

The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $200 available for the best float, $100 for the best car or truck entry, $100 for the best animal or riding unit, $100 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $100 for the best “other” entry. From those first place winners, judges will select a Grand Prize winner who will receive an additional $250.

Pre-registration is required for entrants to be judged for the prize money, and entry forms are due in the Visitor Center by 5 p.m. on June 30.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club barbecue will follow the parade at about 11 a.m. Tickets are $15 each and will be available at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.

The barbecue will be served from its traditional location on the east side of the courthouse as opposed to the west side last year.

Parade winners will be at approximately at 1 p.m. The Henson’s Turtle Race will then take place at 1:30 p.m. And the Ranch Rodeo will close out the day at the COEA Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Also happening during the celebration weekend, the Whistle-Stop will have its monthly trade days Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Whistle-Stop features more than 100 vendors as well as live music, food, and fun for the entire family.

For more information about the celebration, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.

New dentist joining Clarendon practice

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Clarendon will soon have a new dentist in town who will be ready to see patients beginning in July.

Ed Vlosich, DDS, and Drew Vlosich, DDS

Dr. Drew Vlosich will join his father, Dr. Ed Vlosich, at Clarendon Dental Associates, the practice announced this week.

Drew is a 2021 graduate of the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, and joining the family practice and following his father’s footsteps has long been his goal.

“I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was a very little kid when I’d go hang out at his office,” Drew said.

Ed said Drew started working for him by cleaning the Amarillo office when he was 15. Since then, he’s received a biology degree from West Texas A&M University and got a medical certification from the University of Texas – Dallas before attending A&M’s dental school. He was most recently awarded a gold medal by the faculty of the dental school for its Clinical Award in Leadership.

Drew lives in Amarillo with his wife, Breanne, and the couple’s three-year-old son and 10-week-old daughter. He will see patients in Clarendon on Mondays and Tuesdays and then work at the family’s Amarillo office on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Ed is happy to have Drew joining the practice and will now begin stepping back from the firm.

“I’m just going to mentor Drew maybe through the end of the year,” Ed said. “I’m not going to do more dentistry.”

Clarendon Dental Associates assumed the practice of Dr. Richard Sheppard in Clarendon and will mark their two-year anniversary in Clarendon in November. They offer a wide range of services, including general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, implants, periodontics, crowns, bridges, fillings, and root canals.

The Vlosichs are also working to bring other services to their Clarendon location and hope to soon be offering orthodontic work as well.

Ed says patients can feel safe coming to Clarendon Dental Associates as they follow all CDC and Texas Board of Dental Examiners safety protocols regarding air purification and infection control.

“COVID just reinforced how important it is to do all the things we were doing already,” Ed said.

The office at 5 Medical Drive is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 806-874-5628, and new patient specials are being offered in July.

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