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CISD begins renovations of facilities
In order to maintain Clarendon ISD’s facilities, several buildings within the district are receiving renovations over the summer break.
“Each summer we try to improve our facilities, and that’s what we decided to work on this year,” Clarendon School Superintendent Monty Hysinger said. “We need to keep our older buildings functional and extend the life of them for at least another 15 years.”
Hysinger said that their “biggest goal” is to replace the main water lines that feed all the areas in the Junior High and Elementary.
“The Elementary and Jr. High are two of our oldest buildings, and the old water lines that run overhead have really deteriorated over time,” he said. “They’ve even begun to leak in some places.”
The Ag building will receive several upgrades, including a ventilation system to the shop, new heaters, a drop ceiling and new flooring to the classroom, and energy efficient lighting. They will also block in unused windows and paint the building inside and out.
“These renovations are going to make the building very nice, and they’re long overdue,” ag teacher Don Hillis said. “It’s going to make the teaching and the working go a lot better, and the new lights in the shop are going to make it outstanding.”
Another building undergoing renovations is the Field House, which will receive a new paint job inside and out, blocked up windows, wall mount HVAC units, energy efficient lighting, electrical upgrades and concrete poured for drainage to stop water leakage into the facility.
Public restroom areas will also be redone.
“I think this is long overdo,” head coach Gary Jack said. “Very little has been done to the field house since it was built in the late 50s or 60s besides the paint job. I think it was time for the bathroom facilities to be updated. It will be nice. It is a well used facility, and I think we definitely needed that.”
The weight room will gain new lighting, HVAC units, more insulation, and paint to the inside.
“These improvements will make the weight room a much better working environment,” Jack said. “It can get to be over 100 degrees in August and September, and it will be a much nicer unit for us.”
Hysinger said that in order to alter the route in which high school students take to park their vehicles during school, they will put safety panels and gates between north of the Bronco Gym and the Bronco Stadium wall.
“This will provide more safety for kids dropped off by their parents at D-wing,” he said. “People will still be able to walk on the sidewalk though.”
Altogether, Hysinger estimates the different improvements to cost between $180,000 and $250,000, depending on the completion date, which is expected to be mid-July.
“These renovations are well worth what they cost in exchange for more years of useful service out of our buildings,” he said. “If we don’t take care of it now, it can get to a point where we can’t take care of it.”
A Cowboy Remembers
When Multiple Sclerosis disabled Jim Robinson from climbing into a saddle, he knew his “cowboying” days were over. But his memories live on.
As he put down the reins for good, Robinson picked up a pen and within a year complied his short stories into a book called Memoirs of a Texas Cowboy.
“Since I can’t do anything anymore, I wanted to pass my story on,” Robinson said. “I
don’t know if I’ll forget or not later, but I wanted to get it down so people could read it because it’s not that way anymore.”
Robinson will sign copies of his book on June 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Burton Memorial Library during a book signing event hosted by the Friends of the Library.
He will sign alongside locals authors Debra Kuhl, Delbert Trew, and Ronnie Ward and seven other Panhandle authors including Jodi Thomas, Terry Burns, Debbie Elliot Upton, Harry Haines, Gerald McCathern, Phyllis Miranda and Grace Ann Schaefer.
“I read Jim’s book and just loved it,” librarian Jerry Shields said. “We encourage everyone to attend this event because we have so many authors coming, and hope a big crowd is present.”
Although he never thought he would be an author, Robinson has had two stories published in an Albuquerque magazine and also attended meetings held by the Panhandle Professional Writers Association to help him get started on his book.
The first part of Memoirs of a Texas Cowboy takes place south of Lubbock, where he spent his childhood. The rest of the book is spent at Davis Camp on the JA ranch, where he had a lease for 40 years.
“That was a nice time in my life,” Robinson said. “I saw a lot of sights you can’t see from the highway and smelled smells most people won’t ever know about. I covered lots of country and most of it from horseback.”
One of the sights that Robinson writes about is an Indian campsite, where he discovered mysterious holes dug deep into the ground.
“Some of the Indian holes in the ground were 20 feet deep,” he said. “I hope that someone will tell me what they were for because I’ve never figured it out and no one has been able to tell me.”
He also saw things that strengthened his faith.
“When you see a calf take its first breath, you know someone designed that, it didn’t come from a gorilla or something,” Robinson said. “Someone gives the calf their instinct to go get their first drink of milk, and it’s a miraculous sight.”
The last time he got to see these sights was in 2004, one year after he was diagnosed with MS.
“I always thought that Band-Aids, heating pads and Bengay were all you needed, but it didn’t turn out that way,” Robinson said. “Working cattle, getting up and out, and all the things you see and smell while on horseback are now just memories to me.”
Even though MS took away the lifestyle Jim loved, he has learned to accept it.
“I’ve worked with lots of people with MS, and Jim has a great attitude towards it even as bad as things get,” said Michael Thompson, Robinson’s physical therapist.
Robinson’s book has allowed him to get out of the house and travel in order to sell it.
“I’ve been nearly everywhere in the Panhandle selling my book,” Robinson said. “I also plan to go to Canadian, Denton, Ft. Worth, and College Station.”
Memoirs of a Texas Cowboy is 53 pages long, and simple to understand. It is suitable for readers of all ages. If you are interested in purchasing it, you can contact Jim
Robinson or visit www.xlibris.com, or www.amazon.com.
“My book is for everybody,” Robinson said. “That’s why I left out all the colorful cowboy language. It’s just about what people did and things I saw.”
He also has an idea for a second book.
“I plan to write about the good ole days,” Robinson said. “The time before video-games or computers.”
Now that he is an “old-timer,” as he refers to the older cowboys in his book, Robinson shares these words of knowledge with young people:
“Follow your dreams,” he said. “My mom and dad told me not to cowboy because it did not pay very well, but if you’re happy with what you’re doing, then that’s good enough. Even if it is not financially rewarding, do what you love.”
Sts. Roost Celebration plans set
Plans are in place for a spectacular Saints’ Roost Celebration next month in Clarendon.
The 133rd annual celebration will be held July 1-3 with the Fourth falling on Sunday this year.
Activities begin Thursday, July 1, with downtown merchant sales and a junior rodeo at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s area followed by a dance on the slab.
The fun continues on Friday, July 2, with more sales downtown, a Depression Lunch at 11 a.m., and annual Henson’s Turtle Race will be held at 1:30. The first night of the COEA Ranch Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Music for the dance that evening will be provided by the Buster Bledsoe Band.
Saturday will be the big day of activities with a Donkey roping at the arena and the Kids Bicycle Parade at 10:00 a.m. downtown. The 4H Craft Fair also begins at 10 a.m. on the Courthouse lawn with the Old Settlers Reunion at 10:30 and live entertainment during the day. Contact the Donley County Extension Office for craft fair booth space.
The Shriners’ Barbecue Lunch will start at 11 a.m., and tickets will go on sale next week.
The annual Western Parade will be at 2 p.m. followed by the Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo. The Ranch Rodeo will be held at 7:30, and Greg Allen will open for Tommy Gallegher at the dance.
The celebration will also feature a Trade Show each night at the rodeo, and Guy Ellis is the contact for booth space. COEA will also be hosting the traditional calf scramble and other kids’ events prior to the rodeo.
If you have other events going on during the celebration, please contact the Chamber of Commerce to get them on the official schedule.
US 287 project will improve drainage
A $1.4 million highway project now underway aims to improve drainage along US 287 through Clarendon, according to officials with the Texas Department of Transportation.
TxDOT Area Engineer Chris Reed says the project includes burying some 18-inch drainage pipe in front of Lowe’s Family Center that will connect with existing drainage in front of Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts.
On the east side of town, three foot by six foot drainage boxes will be put underground at Jackson Street near the Calvary Baptist Church to Hawley Street then under the
highway and outflow into a creek behind Evans Fertilizer.
“We’ll also be doing some curb and gutter repairs in various places and also some concrete paving repair in front of the (Herring) Bank parking lot,” Reed said.
In addition, the project calls for three inches of pavement from the east city limit to the west city limit to be milled up and replaced over a distance of 2.247 miles.
Officials have no plans to post reduced speed limits during the construction, but they are asking drivers to use caution and please watch out for workers during this time.
TxDOT says this $1,416,687 contract, awarded to J. Lee Milligan, Inc. of Amarillo,
Texas, will last approximately five months or 75 working days.
This isn’t the only project affecting local drivers this week.
A $2 million project is also underway to overlay the northbound lanes of US 287 from Clarendon to the Armstrong-Donley county line.
That project work is being done by Gilvin-Terrell and is expected to be completed the week of July 5, 2010.
For more information about these projects, call Chris Reed, TxDOT Childress Area Engineer, 940-937-7251 or Barbara Seal, TxDOT Public Information Officer, (940) 937-7288.
Museum dinner will recognize members June 11
Come to the Saints’ Roost Museum appreciation dinner Friday, June 11 and become a member.
By becoming a member, you will help preserve artifacts and events that comprise this area’s rich, unique history that does not need to be lost or forgotten.
Your membership dues will help meet day-by-day expenses. Your support in the membership drive makes it possible to provide a great museum for the community with exhibits focusing on ranching heritage, Native American culture, military, railroad memorabilia and other interesting aspects of pioneer life in Donley County.
The event will begin with an open house and an art show at 6:30 p.m. Kevin Johnson will display his work in the depot.
A barbeque dinner will follow at 7:00 p.m.
Annual dues are $25 and can be paid at the dinner or mailed to PO Box 781, Clarendon, TX, 79226. Your help and support is appreciated.
Memphis man facing charges in sex assaults
A Memphis man is facing two local charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.
Autray Dickson, age 18, was first arrested on May 11, 2010, and arraigned by Justice of the Peace Connie Havens, who set bond at $30,000, Sheriff Butch Blackburn said. Dickson posted bond and was released.
The investigation later turned up another possible victim, and Dickson was arrested again on May 27. Havens that time set bond at $50,000, and Dickson again posted bond and was released.
Blackburn said both of the victims in these cases are 13 years of age.
Fifth annual event boasts several sales
Bargain shoppers will be in for a treat during the fifth annual “Trash to Treasures” garage sale event to be held in Clarendon and nearby communities this Saturday, June 5.
Twenty-four individual garage sales are scheduled to be held. A complete description of each sale is printed on the official Treasure Map located on the last page of this week’s Enterprise.
From an air hockey table to cross ties, this weekend’s sales will feature hundreds of treasures just waiting to be uncovered at bargain prices.
“Trash to Treasures” is being promoted with advertising dollars in area communities; and many people from neighboring counties attend.
CC president will step down this year
Clarendon College President Bill Auvenshine confirmed Tuesday that he will step down at the end of this year.
While no formal action has taken place, Auvenshine said he informed the Board of Regents at its May 20 meeting that he intends to resign at the end of 2010.
“My only regret is that I came to Clarendon at the end of my career,” Auvenshine told the Enterprise. “Had this been my first job, I would have wanted to stay for 30 years.”
Auvenshine said the college is not yet ready to receive applications for his job, but a plan is being formulated to select the next president of the Panhandle’s oldest college.
A committee will draw up a profile and qualifications to be presented to the regents in June as part of a six-month process to search for a replacement. The new president will take over on January 1, 2011.
The departure will cap Auvenshine’s 54th year in education. He came to CC three years ago following the resignation of Dr. Myles Shelton. Auvenshine originally was an interim president, but regents seated him as president several months later to lead the college as it worked to pass maintenance and operations taxes in Gray and Childress counties and undertook building projects at the CC Pampa Center.
“I was hired to help find a president, and that’s what I’m going to do now,” Auvenshine said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed Clarendon College, the city, and the citizens; and I have been extremely pleased with the direction Clarendon College is moving and know it will continue.”
Auvenshine said family health problems are his reason for leaving Clarendon.
In other college news, regents approved several new hires at its May meeting including Corey Murdock and John Havens as wind energy instructors, Brian Fuller as an agriculture instructor, Mark Simmons as a welding instructor, Mikalennet Tennel to coach volleyball, and
Kellye Reed as a nursing instructor. The board also accepted the resignation of volleyball coach Tennessee Brown.
Services honor those who died for America
Memorial Day services in Donley County were well attended this year with ceremonies in Clarendon and at Rowe Cemetery both drawing about 70 people each on Monday.
The first service at Rowe Cemetery near Hedley was hosted by the Adamson-Lane Post of the American Legion. Will Thompson gave the welcome and history of Memorial Day, and Bright Newhouse delivered the invocation.
Doil Messer draped the ceremonial empty chair reserved for those listed as prisoners of war or missing in action, and Connie DeBord delivered the keynote address, giving special mention to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the raising of the flag on Iwo
Jima.
Jack Moreman discussed the post’s effort to purchase a marker for Aunt Belle Smith, who was a spy for the Confederacy and was the wife of CSA Capt. Nat Smith. Those interested in making a donation to this effort can contact Moreman.
Later at the Donley County War Memorial in Clarendon, the Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted a ceremony that also honored the nation’s fallen heroes.
Larry Capranica opened the service with a prayer, and Bill Houston performed the National Anthem as well as “God Bless the USA.”
District 9 VFW Commander George Hall served as master of ceremonies and also delivered the keynote address. Capranica closed the service by playing “Taps” on the trumpet, and the refreshments were served to those in attendance.
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