Owls fall short
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Sanchez pleads guilty to assault
A man accused of committing sexual assault in the Clarendon nursing home was convicted of the crime last week.
Richard Sanchez entered a guilty plea in district court and was sentenced to eight years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Sanchez was sentenced for the second degree felony offense of sexual assault, enhanced to a first degree due to his previous criminal history.
Sanchez, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place on March 12, 2010, and April 26, 2010. He was accused of sexually assaulting a resident of Community Care Center of Clarendon, where the Donley County Sheriff’s Office said Sanchez had worked for five years.
Sanchez was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on June 28, 2010, on three counts of sexual assault.
“The Donley County Sheriff’s office spent many hours investigating this case which resulted in this plea today,” said Inman. “Sheriff Blackburn and Chief Deputy Randy Bond provided this office with multiple tools to proceed due to the thorough investigations they conduct on each and every case. This area is fortunate to have such an experienced law enforcement staff.”
In addition to the sentence, Sanchez is also required to pay $1,797 in court costs.
District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
Also last week, the court heard other pleas from two other defendants, resulting in convictions.
Timothy Wayde Wilson pleaded true to the allegation in the State’s Motion to Adjudicate Guilt of Defendant and was convicted and sentenced six years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On July 29, 2009, Wilson pleaded guilty to the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation and the second degree felony offense of burglary of a habitation. The State filed the motion to adjudicate on June 8, 2010, alleging six violations of community supervision. Wilson was sentenced to six years in the TDCJ and must pay $780 in court costs to Donley County, a $4,000.00 fine and $22,000 restitution.
Eddie Brian Defries (a.k.a. Edward Brian De-Fries) was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Defries is required to pay a $2,000 fine to Donley County, is required to pay $558 in court costs, and $140 restitution.
Services honor contributions of America’s veterans
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion hosted a service in Rowe Cemetery Thursday with Rev. Lloyd Stice, pastor of Clarendon’s First United Methodist Church, delivering the keynote address, and special services was held for those Missing in Action and still held as Prisoners of War.
Dick Bode of Alanreed later spoke at the Hedley School. He lived through five years of German occupation and later served in the US Air Force. He said Americans are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
That evening, more than 300 people were at Clarendon College Bairfield Activity Center for a candlelight vigil that recognized both the men and women who have served and are currently serving the United States. Several community members helped with the program, and Dr. John Howard, who is also a captain in the US Navy, delivered the keynote, which honored the real heroes of America and called for support not just for the fallen but also for the families of those still overseas and for those who come home permanently changed. Howard also drew attention to the need for better treatment of American veterans, particularly noting issues of health care and homelessness.
Another program was held last Wednesday at the Clarendon school, and the local VFW post provided free breakfast to veterans on Thursday.
Local girl rolls truck
A Clarendon girl remained hospitalized this week after she rolled her vehicle Sunday afternoon while using her cell phone.
Krista Reynolds, age 16, was in Lubbock’s University Medical Center in the pediatric ICU, her father, Steve Reynolds reported. She was texting and driving and not wearing her seat belt, he said.
DPS Trooper Chad Simpson said Reynolds was driving a 1998 Ford F-150 pickup and negotiating a curve on FM 2362 west of Clarendon when the right tires traveled off the roadway and into the south ditch. Reynolds overcorrected while steering to the left, went back onto the highway, and then over corrected to the right.
Simpson said the truck then slid sideways into the south ditch, rolled 2¾ times, and went through a fence before coming to rest on its right side in a pasture.
Reynolds was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled, Simpson said.
Responding to the accident in addition to the DPS were the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Associated Ambulance Authority, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Mr. Reynolds said his daughter was suffering from a broken pelvis and fractured vertebrae, but the family was considering it fortunate that her injuries were not much worse.
Donations are being accepted at all Clarendon banks to help the family deal with travel and other expenses during Krista’s hospitalization in Lubbock.
Shelton runs well at state
Audrey Shelton has worked hard for the reward and the payback came this past weekend in Round Rock. Shelton went through every obstacle she could to get there and not surprisingly ran in the State Cross-Country Meet Saturday, November 13 against 103 other runners.
Her time of 12:46 for the two-mile course was good enough for 25th place. Not bad for the sophomore’s first trip to state.
Shelton was among really good runners and against a course she had never faced before. She ran hard and gave it all she had and even though the results were not what she had in mind, the participation was a first for Clarendon’s cross-country
runners.
Shelton did not begin her training when school started this fall. She was dedicated throughout the summer and made it her goal to not only make it to the Regional meet, but advance to the top meet in the state. She practiced alone, with friends, and with her coaches and every ounce of fortitude and drive came from within. A great testimony to what someone can accomplish with the right determination.
“Audrey is one of the best high school athletes I have ever coached when it comes to determination, attitude, and work ethic,” coach Molly Weatherred said. “She is a great leader. She has worked extremely hard. Not only did Shelton run all of the scheduled practices, but she also ran on her own. Even through the weekends. She never took a day off from running. I am very proud of her.”
Shelton led her team in the District and Regional meet this season. The Lady Bronco team competed at the Regional meet and placed 7th overall. But Shelton is not finished running yet. She will be a very experienced presence in the spring when track season rolls around and then gear up for another cross-country season next fall as a junior.
You can bet that if there is a race to be run, Audrey Shelton will be the first in line to practice whenever and wherever she can. It’s in her blood.
Broncos to face Seymour for Area title
Not willing to see their stellar 2010 season end just yet, the Broncos are getting their game faces on in preparation for their next playoff game with Seymour.
The District Champions are fired up and ready to play for the Area Championship this Saturday in Lubbock at Lubbock Cooper High.
After breaking the 29-year District Champion drought, the Broncos are more than determined to be playing well into December as they vie for a state berth. Because of earning a bye in the first round of playoffs, the Broncos will move on to the Area round, which is just a stepping-stone away from where they want to be. They know the game with Seymour will be tough, but they are ready and willing to do what it takes to get the win.
“Seymour went 6-4 on the season and beat New Deal in the first round of the playoffs,” head coach Gary Jack said. “New Deal had lost about three starters so they weren’t the team we saw early in our season, but Seymour is a tough team and is out of a really tough district.”
The Panthers finished third to Albany (10-0) and Stamford (9-1) who are both ranked high in the standings. Jack knows the Broncos will have to play hard.
“It will be tough from here on out,” Jack said. “There are good quality teams left. It will be a very exciting game.”
The game will be played Saturday, November 20 at Lubbock Cooper High in Lubbock at 2:00 in the afternoon.
“Lubbock Cooper has a brand new stadium and we’re expecting a big Bronco crowd,” Jack said.
To find Lubbock Cooper take the Tahoka Highway exit from Loop 289 and go five or six miles south.
There will be a bonfire at the McAnears’ farm south of Clarendon on Hwy. 70 on November 18 at dusk. Also there will be a Bronco send-off at 8:30 a.m. on Kearney Street.
Picnic
Honoring our veterans
District Champions
The last time the words Broncos and District Champions were associated was almost thirty years ago in 1981. This year’s team proved to everyone it could happen again.
The 2010 regular season has ended, and Bronco fever is everywhere as the school and community are anticipating a stellar play-off run that will begin sometime the week before Thanksgiving.
It has been a season for the record books as the Bronco team demolished team after team to go 9-1 on the year. The Broncos’ only loss came in their season opener to New Deal, and the spread was a mere two points. The Panhandle Panthers were the most recent team to bow to the Broncos, which resulted in a huge 48-7 win.
The Broncos ran through the Panthers as they have done all season long and gained a massive 560 total yards. Quarterback Johnny Gaines went nine for ten through the air for 172 yards, and they racked up 388 yards rushing on 48 carries. Chris Crump opened the Bronco scoring frenzy with only eight minutes left in the opening quarter when he took it in from a yard out, and Gaines found the end zone from 45 yards out right before that quarter ended.
Wes Williams put six points up with a huge 88-yard score, and Mike Crump caught a 42-yard pass from Gaines to give the Broncos a 28-0 halftime lead.
“This was a big win for us,” head coach Gary Jack said. “Clarendon has not won an outright District title since 1981. It is a big deal for us.”
Mike Crump and Gaines both had big scores in the third quarter to put the game away, and Williams added another in the final period.
“Our offense rolled tonight,” Jack said. “We did what we needed to do and we dominated.”
Defensively, the Broncos brought their A-game as they turned Panhandle away at every opportunity. Jack noted that several Broncos had big games.
“Charleston Harris, Chris Crump, Wes Williams, Bradley Watson, Johnny Gaines, and Mike Crump had great games with several tackles and sacks,” Jack said. “Also, our new player, Austen McNelly did a great job for us defensively.”
Jack is very proud of his players and knows this group is special.
“We played a complete game,” Jack said. “And it was fun. I am so proud of the kids and our coaching staff. This is a good group of guys, and the District Championship has been a long time coming. I think the community is enjoying it, too.”
Because of their District championship and the number one seed, the Broncos will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. They will take on the winner of the New Deal and Seymour game that will be played Saturday night.
Regents tap Shirley as next CC president
The next president of Clarendon College will be a familiar face for many people after the Board of Regents tapped Dr. Phil Shirley for the job in a called meeting last Thursday.
Shirley, who is currently president of Southeastern Arkansas College in Pine Bluff, Ark., was the Dean of Instruction at CC from 1986 to 1990.
“All of my memories of Clarendon are very good memories, and this time will be even more so,” Shirley told the Enterprise. “My family and I are really looking forward to it. Serving Clarendon is something that is very exciting to me.”
Shirley said becoming the president of Clarendon College was a lifetime goal of his, and he
thinks the years he has spent away from CC will be good for the institution because of the experience he will now bring to the job.
After leaving Clarendon, Shirley spent almost five years at Western Oklahoma State where he was the vice president for academic affairs and served for a time as that school’s interim president. He then moved to Southeast Arkansas College as vice president before moving up to the presidency in 2000.
A native of the Dallas area, Shirley said he spent most of his early life in that region before coming to Clarendon in 1986. He attended Sayre Junior College and then earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas. He earned a Master’s of Religious Education from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth and then realized his true calling was in higher education, which led him to pursue and earn his doctorate from the University of North Texas.
Shirley said he is excited to get to Clarendon and said he anticipates a “long and fruitful tenure.”
“There are a lot of opportunities that await us,” he said. “I expect great things to come not because of me but because of the people I will serve.”
Shirley will begin his new duties on January 1.
Clarendon College conducted a national search for a president to replace Dr. Bill Auvenshine, who has served as CC’s president since 2007 and will be retiring at the end of the year.
“Dr. Auvenshine has set a very strong course, and I’m very thankful for his leadership,” Shirley said.
CC received 34 applications for the post. A search committee pared the list of applicants to eight semifinalists; then the board of regents chose the five finalists.
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