CC contest attracts more than 1,800 participants
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Multiple charges filed following Sunday rollover
A 56-year-old woman from Dallas remains in critical condition after a single vehicle rollover on April 3 four miles west of Clarendon.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson said that at around 6:30 p.m., 25-year-old Vanity Anderson of Arlington was driving a grey 1995 Mercury passenger car east bound on US Highway 287 carrying Amyah Cooks, age 3 of Arlington; Alympia Brooks, age 23, Tyrick Brooks, age 2, Terrance Brooks, age 1 all of North Richland Hills; Alma Anderson, age 48 of Ft. Worth and Wanda Williams, age 56 of Dallas.
The vehicle was traveling in the outside of the east bound lanes when the left rear tire blew out, and the vehicle overcorrected while steering to the right and partially traveled onto the outside shoulder of the east bound lanes. Simpson said the the driver then overcorrected while steering to the left, then to the right, and slid sideways into the south ditch. It rolled over in the ditch, off a steep embankment and landed at the bottom on a cattle fence. It continued to roll over coming to rest on its wheels pointing west bound.
Alma Anderson and Wanda Williams were both ejected due to not wearing seat belts. All seven passengers were transported to Northwest Texas Hospital.
At press time, Wanda Williams was still in critical condition, while Alma Anderson is in stable condition.
Vanity Anderson has been charged with driving with no driver’s license and a child safety seat violation. Alma Anderson and Williams were both charged with failure to wear safety belts.
Those responding to the wreck included the Associated Ambulance Authority, Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Donley County Sheriff’s Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Jury finds Dickson not guilty of assault
A Donley County jury last Thursday acquitted 19-year-old Autray Dickson of first degree aggravated sexual assault of a child.
At the conclusion of the three-day jury trial, the jury found the Memphis man not guilty of the charged offense and the lesser included offense of indecency with a child.
District Attorney Luke Inman prosecuted the case for the State of Texas with the Honorable Stuart Messer presiding.
Dickson was arrested by Sheriff Butch Blackburn on May 11, 2010. Dickson was later indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on October 27, 2010, on three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.
Dickson was represented by Earl Griffin from Childress at the jury trial.
“Twelve residents of Donley County took an oath to follow the law,” said Inman. “After hearing all the testimony and evidence, they found the Defendant not guilty. That’s why we have jury trials in this great state.”
According to court records, there are two other pending cases against Dickson for other first degree felony offenses of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Estlack to be honored by PPA Hall of Fame
A former local newspaper woman will be honored in this week when the Panhandle Press Association inducts two new members into its Hall of Fame. Ruby Dell Estlack, former co-owner of The Donley County Leader, will be honored alongside Doug McDonough of the Plainview Daily Herald.
The pair will be inducted when PPA holds its 101st annual convention in Amarillo this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The three-day convention begins Thursday, with an opening reception at the Ambassador Hotel. The Hall of Fame banquet will be held at the American Quarter Horse Museum following a reception at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Estlack worked for 38 years at The Donley County Leader in Clarendon, beginning shortly after she married George Wayne Estlack in 1936. They became the sole owners of the paper in 1958. During her career, she was very active with the PPA and attended many conventions. She and her late husband sold the paper in November 1974 to The Clarendon Press, but the Estlacks remained in the office supply and printing business into the mid-1990s.
McDonough has been involved with journalism in the Texas Panhandle for almost 40 years. He has been with the Plainview Daily Herald since 1976 and twice was president of the Panhandle Press Association and headed its Hall of Fame selection committee for several years.
Workshops and roundtable discussions will be held at the Ambassador Hotel throughout the day Friday, and the luncheon will feature a wind energy update.
The convention will close with its annual Better Newspaper Awards Brunch at the Ambassador Saturday morning.
For more information about the Panhandle Press Association, call Secretary Ashlee Estlack at 806-662-4687 or visit www.panhandlepublisher.com.
CC contest attracts more than 1,800 participants
Clarendon College hosted more than 1,800 FFA and 4-H members Saturday for its annual Invitational Judging Contests.
College officials say more than 2,200 students registered for the event, but some of them did not show up for the competitions. Clarendon and Hedley FFA teams competed as did Donley County 4-H members.
The Clarendon FFA livestock team of Jacob Pigg, Jayson Pigg, John Pigg, and Tres Hommel competed against 166 teams with 497 participants. Clarendon placed sixth overall. Jayson Pigg was 12th high individual, and John Pigg was 48th.
Earlier in the week, Clarendon FFA attended the Texas Tech contest March 31 at the Livestock Pavilion in Lubbock. This was the largest contest ever held at Tech. There were 200 teams and 628 participants. Clarendon tied for fifth and lost the tie-breaker and brought home the sixth place banner. Jayson Pigg was third high individual and received a plaque and a $250 scholarship.
On Friday, April 1, Clarendon competed at West Texas A&M where there were 198 teams and 615 participants. They placed tenth, and Jacob Pigg was 26th high individual, and John Pigg was 48th.
The CHS livestock team is preparing for the South Plains contest on Friday, April 8, in Levelland and the Area Qualifying contest at Tech on Saturday. The top 15 percent will qualify for the state contest on May 7 at Texas A&M University.
The Donley County 4-H participated in the livestock and horse judging contests at Clarendon College over the weekend with the following results:
Livestock – Jr. 4-H, 8th place – Team of Kati Adams (14th), Kyla O’Dell (32nd), and Trey Wright (28th). Sr. 4-H, 9th place – Team One of Austin Adams (47th), Jayson Pigg (11th), John Pigg (33rd), Jacob Pigg; and 15th Place – Team Two of Caden Farris (36th), Tres Hommel (54th), and Coltin Kingston (62nd). Coached by Leonard Haynes.
Horse Judging – Jr. 4-H, 6th Place – Team of Brandalyn Ellis (12th) and Kade Hunsaker (15th). Sr. 4-H, 3rd Place – Team of Kylie Phillips (8th), Annie Patten (10th), and Kolt Stevenson (11th).
On Friday, April 1, the 4-H Horse Judgers also competed at West Texas A&M with the following results:
Sr. Team, 3rd Place – Team of Kylie Phillips (13th), Chris Shults (19th), and Kolt Stevenson (7th). Jr. Team, 1st Place – Team of Shelby Baxter (21st), Brandalyn Ellis (10th), Alysse Simpson (2nd), and Kade Hunsaker (4th).
The junior and senior teams will be traveling to WTAMU for 4-H District Horse Judging this Friday, April 8. The Livestock District One Contest will be April 15 at WTAMU. The 4-H teams are coached by Jody Green.
Hedley FFA members also competed in Horse and Livestock contests in Clarendon and at WTAMU. Students participating included: Cheyenne Kosechata, Jake Owens, Austin Adams, Reid Copelin, Coltin Kingston, Kassie O’Dell, Caden Farris, Jacob Widener, Sierra Wheatly, and Bailey Wood.
Broncos grab another win, shut out Quanah
The Bronco baseball team continues to rack up win after win in their perfect 9-0 season and shut out Quanah in their last addition to the great overall record they are posting this season.
The win also put the Broncos at an impressive 5-0 in the District race.
The Broncos stormed Quanah and defeated them 10-0 with Johnny Gaines on the mound and Brayden Phillips behind the plate. After two scoreless innings, the Broncos eased in one run in the third and added another in the fifth.
But the sixth inning was the magic the Broncos needed to get the big win.
“Their pitcher was good, but we were able to get to him in the sixth,” Brad Elam said.
“It was a tight game until then. We didn’t score until the third inning when Dusty Rice singled and then was able to advance to third on a groundout by Justin Shillings. He then scored on a passed ball.”
The next Bronco score came in the fifth inning when Bradley Watson singled in Rice, and that made it 2-0.
The Broncos’ got a hold of the momentum when Gaines struck out at the plate but was able to go to first base on a wild pitch. He then scored on a David Roberts single.
After John Levario was hit at bat by a pitch, Diego Santos laid down a perfect bunt, and two players walked.
“Gaines hit a shot the third baseman could not handle to drive in two more runs before Chambless was able to end the game on a hot shot past the first baseman,” Elam said.
“Gaines allowed only one hit and one walk, and we played error free ball on defense.”
Quanah tried to rally at the end, but the Broncos were sharp and picked of the base runners and threw out those trying to steal to end the game.
Earlier in the week, the Broncos destroyed Paducah on the road 27-0. Offense was key in the blowout as the Broncos were steady at the plate.
“It was a big offensive day for us,” Elam said. “We scored 14 runs in the third (inning), and the first 10 batters reached base and scored.” Bradley Watson, Gaines, and Cole Ward each hit doubles and Chambless hit a bases loaded triple. David Roberts hit his first homerun of the year, and Gaines added a pair with eight RBI.
The overall pitching was on target as well; and, according to Elam, Chambless and Phillips joined forces for the five-inning shutout. Defensively, the Broncos were unmatched.
“We turned a triple play in the fourth inning,” Elam said.
Ward caught a fly ball in left field and threw to Mitchell Parry on second for the second out, and then Parry went to Chambless on first to complete the triad.
Elam knows they have a couple of tough games coming up and is grateful for the crowds that cheer the Broncos on.
“Thanks for all the fan support,” Elam said.
The Broncos will play Childress at home Saturday, April 9, at 1:00 p.m. and travel to Memphis April 12 to take on the Cyclones at 4:30 p.m.
Job well done
New cheerleaders
Lions Club to host big top circus this Friday
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will pull into Clarendon this Friday, April 1, for two performances at the Clarendon College Livestock & Equine Center, sponsored by the Clarendon Lions Club.
America’s Favorite Old-Fashioned Big Top Circus will hold shows at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Midway and Box Office with (rides, moonbounce, concessions, and more) will open at 4 p.m.
This one-ring, big top circus has been featured on National Geographic’s Explorer TV series, The Chicago Tribune, and other media outlets.
Last Thursday, Culpepper & Merriweather’s advance clown, Skeeter, was in town and made appearances at Lowe’s Family Center, the Clarendon Outpost, two daycare centers, and Clarendon Elementary. Skeeter graduated from the Ringling Clown College and has spent much of the last 18 years traveling around the country – clowning around.
Culpepper & Merriweather invites the public to watch Friday morning as the lot in front of the Livestock & Equine Center is transformed into a bustling Circus City. Activity swirls around the grounds as animals are unloaded, the Big Top is erected, and rigging is prepared for performances later in the day.
On circus day, C&M performers bring the magic of the circus to life in each 90-minute show. This year’s lineup includes an All-Star group of performers and entertainers. The performers are sure to amaze and delight kids of all ages.
Advance tickets are available at: Lowe’s Family Center, the Clarendon Outpost, Mike’s Pharmacy, Donley County State Bank, Herring Bank, and the Enterprise. Prices for advance tickets are $6 for children ages 2 to 12, children under 2 are always free, and $9 for adults. On show day, tickets are $7 and $12.
A part of the circus proceeds will go to the Clarendon Lions Club in support of its many charitable endeavors.
For more information, contact Boss Lion Roger Estlack or call 874-2259.
The End of Full Service
Cornell hangs up the gas nozzle after sixty years
For Clarence Woodrow “Dude” Cornell, March 18, 2011, is a rather significant date. It was when the 83-year-old hung up his gas nozzle and watched his customer drive away for the last time in 60 years as he sold his final tank of gas.
“I finally ran out of insurance for my tanks, and it was time to renew, so I just ran out of gas,” Dude said. “I couldn’t afford it anymore.”
Cornell Service, which first opened in 1951, was the last full service station in Clarendon.
“When I first started, there was no such thing as self service,” Dude said. “It was always full service, and I just stayed with it. We would fill up the vehicles with gas, wash the windshield, then check the oil and tires. The main reason I hated to quit was because a lot of older people can’t pump gas, especially older women.”
Dude began working at a service station in the late 1940s.
“I worked for Dub Scott at a Conoco station,” Dude said. “I was paid $18.75 a week and worked 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. I had 30 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for supper.”
When he first started, about 15 other service stations were in Clarendon.
“In the 1950s, we would have gas wars, and the prices would sometimes drop to 18¢ a gallon,” he said. “Several customers would come get one dollar worth of gas at a time.”
The station moved from three different locations before finally settling at 201 W. 2nd St.
“When it was Sinclair, it was located behind Herring Bank from 1951-1952 and was called Cornell Brothers because I ran it with my brother Bill Cornell,” Dude said. “From 1952-1979, it was Cornell Texaco, where I partnered up with Bob Kidd after my brother became sheriff. Then we changed it to Cornell Shell from 1979-1987 and moved where Taylor’s and Subway is. I have been at my current location since 1987.”
Many memories come from Dude’s gas stations.
“I remember jumping on the hoses to make the bells ring so Papa would think there was a car needing gas,” Dude’s granddaughter Holly Cornell said. “My sister Jill and I loved doing that.”
Some memories could have turned out not to be humorous.
“Once after receiving gas, I was checking tanks after the truck unloaded, and the truck driver didn’t realize I was on top of the tank so he took off with me down the highway,” Dude said. “I could just see myself riding to Amarillo on that thing. Luckily he finally saw me in the mirror and stopped.”
Throughout the years, Dude has witnessed many changes in the petroleum industry.
“I sold millions of gallons of gas for 21¢ a gallon,” he said. “Gas prices now are ridiculous. We used to sweep out cars with a whisk broom while we filled them up. Back before cars had carpet, we would blow the inside out with an air hose or even wash it out if the car had drain holes.”
He has many customers who have traded with him from the start. One them is Tommie Saye.
“We’re going to miss Dude and his full service station,” Saye said. “A lot of the older generation is going to have to learn how to use their credit card to pump their gas now. But I understand that when the time comes you have to quit. He has been a good friend and helped out so many people.”
Cornell Service will still provide state vehicle inspections and change oil and filters despite the white paper signs on the gas pumps that in Dude’s handwriting read, “No Gas.”
“If you do anything for this long, you’re going to miss it,” Dude said. “Thanks for 60 good years.”
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