Weatherread places second
This Week
Golf teammate advancing to regional
Over the past week I have been busy, and so I just would like to talk about some of the things I have been up to.
For starts, the Saturday before last was the Lions Club Chance Mark Jones 5K. Remember, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and that’s what the race is about.
I helped set up, and I handed out water to the racers. Afterwards, I also was able to help the Pony Parents hide easter eggs for their easter egg hunt.
Then I started last week by competing in our second round of District golf, where I got third on our team, but sadly, I didn’t advance. However, one of my teammates, Cutter Seay, did advance to regionals so I wish him the best of luck. Then I spent the rest of the week taking tests and doing projects for school.
Last Saturday, I had Easter this weekend with my family and got to spend time hanging out with my cousins and had a lot of fun.
I am super excited for summer to be closing in and I hope that in the meantime I can keep having fun.
4-H horse judging senior team brings home top honors
Donley 4-H horse judging teams competed at the Traveling Trophy Contest at West Texas A&M University on Friday, March 31, and the senior team brought home the top honors.
The first place team members were Brenna Ellis who placed 3rd individually, Laney Gates 5th overall individual, MaryJo Dushay 6th individual, and Maloree Wann 9th individual.
The junior team placed 3rd and those team members and individual rankings were Makynna Williams 4th, Emma Howard 5th, Teagan Chesser 7th and Kassie Askew 10th.
These teams competed in the Clarendon College Invitational the next day with the Senior team winning first place there as well. The team members and their individual placings were Laney 2nd , Maloree 3rd and Bryce Williams 5th.
In the Junior division, the team placed 2nd and as individuals Kassie was 4th, Makynna 6th, Teagan 9th and Emma 11th.
In the Livestock Judging contest, Donley 4-H had the first place team in the Junior division. Those team members and their individual placings were Hudson Howard 2nd, Parker Haynes 5th and Ronan Howard 13th. The team of Jensyn Lewis, Ainslie Lewis, Hunter Wann and Jace Conway placed 20th overall.
Constable files suit over county salary
Precinct 3&4 Constable Randy Bond has filed legal action against the Donley County Commissioners’ Court seeking a “reasonable salary” for his office.
Commissioners Mark White, Daniel Ford, Neil Koetting, and Dan Sawyer along with County Judge John Howard were all served Monday during the regular commissioners’ court meeting following a petition for a writ of mandamus that was filed with the clerk’s office on March 27.
“Randy Bond believes he has not gotten a fair shake, so he’s sued the judge and the commissioners individually in their official capacities,” County Attorney Landon Lambert said.
Lambert has agreed to represent the defendants through his private law firm. A county attorney is not obligated to get involved in disputes between elected officials, Lambert said, and the same goes for attorneys through the Texas Association of Counties.
“We will defend the county’s actions vigorously, and we hope eventually all parties can come together and deal with this respectfully,” Lambert said.
According to the suit, the Precinct 3&4 constable previously earned “roughly $22,000” but the latest budget puts that salary at “roughly $2,000.” Bond is asking the district court to require the county to set a reasonable salary.
The constable’s job became vacant when former constable Doug Wright resigned in January 2021. Commissioners took no action to fill the vacancy, and Bond ran for the office and was elected in November 2022. He then took the oath of office in January to fill the remaining two years of Wright’s term.
This is not the first time Donley County has faced a legal challenge to a constable’s salary. Jimmy Swinney sued the county in 2001 after he ran for the Precinct 1&2 Constable’s position in 2000, becoming the first person to hold that office since 1978. Swinney later resigned, and the county formally closed that office in 2003.
Howardwick man in jail for burglary and assault
A Howardwick man is facing charges after breaking into an AirBnB and threating guests with a hammer early Monday.
Jeramy Kindle, age 42, is charged with Burglary of a Habitation with intent to commit Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said.
The sheriff said Kindle broke into the AirBnB located on Ten Bears Trail in Howardwick and came at a Jacksboro couple staying there with a hammer. One of the guests began recording video with her cellphone, and the other grabbed a rifle and held Kindle at bay until authorities could arrive, Blackburn said.
As the deputy arrived, the subject fled on foot. Sheriff Blackburn arrived on the scene, and the lawmen soon found the man in a nearby residence. He was taken into custody and booked into the Donley County Jail.
Kindle was arraigned Tuesday by Justice of the Peace Pat White with on charges of Burglary of a Habitation and Aggravated Assault with total bond set at $40,000.
He was still in jail at press time.
Beef conference to be held in Memphis
Hall and Donley County AgriLife Extension offices will be hosting a Beef Conference next Monday, April 17, in the Kathy Fowler Agency Building in Memphis at 123 S 6th St.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Speakers and topics include: Jason Smith and Considerations for Restocking the Cow Herd; Tim Steffens and Drought Management and Structuring the Business to be Resilient; Dede Jones and Cattle Market and Farm Bill Updates; National Weather Service – Weather Outlook; and USDA/NRCS/FSA Program Updates.
At noon lunch sponsored by Capital Farm Credit at 12:30.
Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by April 14 to the Hall County Extension Office at (806) 259-3015 or the Donley County Office at (806)-874-2141. The cost is $10 per person at the door.
Lea Tyler
Lea Tyler was born October 19, 1925, and passed from this life to the loving arms of Jesus on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
Private Burial will be on April 11, 2023 in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. A memorial service will be held at a future time. Notification of day and time of service will be announced.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Her parents were John and Dean West. Lea grew up on the family farm outside of Gould, Oklahoma. After she graduated from high school, she headed to the “big city” of Amarillo with her best friend “Cricket”. She worked as a telephone operator while in Amarillo. Cricket arranged a blind date where she met her future husband, E.W. “Dub” Tyler. They later eloped to New Mexico and began 53 years of marriage. They lived in Hobbs, New Mexico, and Lubbock, Texas, before settling in Clarendon. She worked for Peoples Natural Gas Company for a number of years after moving to Clarendon.
They were blessed with two sons, Barry Craig and E.W. “Ted”. She was very active in the lives of her boys as they grew, attending baseball and football games, along with Scouting events. She enjoyed the game of golf, and she and Dub were avid card players. She retired around 1975 from Peoples Natural Gas Company, to prepare for her next important position as “Mema”. She loved to shop and was very pleased to see that gene passed on to her first granddaughter. She was blessed with six grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. She took her Mema role seriously making holidays and family gatherings large and fun events.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother, her parents, and her doting husband.
She is survived by her son Barry and wife Betty, of Wimberley, Texas, granddaughter April and husband Steve Chambers of Leland, North Carolina, along with great granddaughters Stevie and Scout, grandson John and wife Anna Tyler, of Bulverde, Texas and great-grandchildren Madelyn and Keller. She is also survived by son Ted and his wife Tracy, of Lubbock, Texas. Also, surviving grandchildren are Trent and Ranetta Tyler along with great-grandchildren Talin, Ravenna and Roxy of Westcliffe, Colo., Tony and wife Dawn Tyler along with great-grandson Karsten of Park City, Utah, Trisha and husband Sean Kirkpatrick along with great-grandchildren SJ and Tess, of Lubbock, Texas, and Tori and husband Greg Shaw, along with great-grandchildren Finleigh, Koen, Margaux, Saxon, and Genevieve also of Lubbock, Texas.
The family appreciate your prayers during this time of transition as well as knowing what a time of a joy it is in knowing that Lea/Mom/Mema is in the presence of our savior, Jesus Christ.
Private Burial will be on April 11, 2023 in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. A memorial service will be held at a future time. Notification of day and time of service will be announced.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Williams wins Lions’ Jones 5K, Pony Parents egg hunt draws more than 130 kids
A large crowd helped raise awareness of child abuse last Saturday, April 1, during the 11th annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K last Saturday, April 1, at the Donley County Courthouse.
More than seventy people registered for the event with about 48 actually running or walking the 5K. Dozens more volunteers, supporters, and spectators were also in attendance.
Bryce Williams was the overall winner of the 5K with the best men’s time and finishing first in the 11-19 age group in 18 minutes, 55 seconds. Erica McAnear was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 22:59 and taking second in the 40-49 age group.
Complete results of this year’s 5K race are as follows: Top Men’s Time – Williams, 18:55; Top Women’s Time – McAnear, 22:59; 10 and under – 1st Matthew Newhouse 48:25, 2nd Lexi Fowler 55:18, and 3rd Grayson Leeper; Ages 11-19 – 1st Williams 18:55, 2nd Brice Wagner 20:54, and 3rd Kutter O’Keefe 28:30; Ages 20-29 – 1st Chrislyn Farris 53:43, 2nd Katy Tubbs 55:39, and 3rd Shelby O’Keefe 1:08:13; Ages 30-39 – 1st Amber Williams 39:00, 2nd Bridie Lindsey 51:17, and 3rd Chelsea Covey 55:38; Ages 40-49 – 1st Ryan Carlson 21:23, 2nd McAnear 22:59, and 3rd J.D. McMahan 24:50; Ages 50-59 – 1st Steve Allen 22:54, 2nd Michelle Branigan 25:21, and 3rd Trey Funderberg 37:04; and Ages 60 and Up – 1st Nancy Kidd 49:45, 2nd Doug Kidd 49:46, and 3rd Kim Fowler 58:08.
Traveling the furthest to this year’s 5K were Steve Allen of Huntsville, Texas, who is trying to run a 5K in all 254 counties in Texas, and Ryan Carlson of Palatine, Illinois, who was traveling in his RV and learned about the race.
The race sponsored by the Clarendon Lions Club honors the life of four-year-old Chance Mark Jones, who died in 2011.
Proceeds from this year’s will help support the annual charitable activities of the Clarendon Lions Club, including hosting the area office of The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center.
This year’s race started and ended in front of the Donley County Courthouse and led into the Clarendon Elementary Pony Parents’ Community Easter Egg Hunt, which drew more than 130 participants of ages up to 11 years old.
Eight lucky kids won new bikes at this year’s hunt. Those kids were Jaquadon Ballard, Laityn Hanks, Weslynn Shields, Kelton Herndon, Brexlie Martindale, Kaleb Hanks, Coy Martindale, and Maci Ritchie.
Four other kids won prize eggs from the Lions Club. Prize egg winners were Ezekiel Aguilar, Paisley Jones, Brynlee Shipman, and Bailey Curry.
State officials prepare for fire conditions
A combination of above-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry fuel and strong winds set the stage for extreme fire conditions across large portions of the state early this week.
As the Enterprise went to press Tuesday, conditions capable of producing large fires were expected across the Western Plains, including the Panhandle region.
On Tuesday, extreme fire weather was forecast in the Texas Panhandle with relative humidity values in the single digits and 40 mph sustained winds with gusts exceeding 60 mph.
“We have critically dry fuels, complex terrain and higher temperatures in the forecast for that area,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “These are prime fire conditions, and we’ve staged personnel and equipment in the area to facilitate an immediate response to requests for assistance.”
The conditions could lead to a dangerous fire weather phenomena known as a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak, or SPWO. Wildfires that ignite during SPWO events exhibit extreme fire behavior and rapid growth and are difficult to control.
Since 2005, SPWO fires have accounted for three percent of reported wildfires but nearly half of the acres burned.
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize wildfire resources to support local officials in preparation for wildfire potential in the Panhandle, Southern Plains, Permian Basin and West Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service staged three Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) strike teams comprised of approximately 50 firefighters and 15 fire engines, seven single engine air tankers, two air attack platforms and heavy equipment such as bulldozers.
On Friday, Governor Abbott called for an additional TIFMAS strike team of 15 firefighters and five fire engines for wildfire response.
For current fire conditions, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation/.
Tandie Cummins pitches win over Follett
Clarendon High School sophomore Tandie Cummins did not throw a no-hitter against Follett; however, the shutout was hers as the Lady Broncos demolished Follett 15-0 on Friday in four and a half innings.
Cummins went the distance on the mound recording 11 strikeouts, zero errors, zero walks, while allowing only two hits. Statistically, Cummins threw 41 strikes out of 58 total pitchers against 14 batters.
Not only was their defense strong, but the Lady Broncos’ offensive attack also was impressive. The ladies managed the 11 runs on only seven hits.
Senior Baylee Gabel led the way with two hits, two runs, four RBIs and got the Lady Broncos on the board first with a triple that score two runs.
Along with Gabel, Graci Wilkins was able to make some noise of her own with two RBIs, two walks, and two runs. Hayden Elam stormed the plate with two hits and four runs, and Kenidee Cummins was responsible for three runs. Tandy Blacksher and T. Cummins also were responsible for at least one run. Bailey Bruce, Gabel, K. Cummins, Blacksher, and Wilkins ran the bases well with six stolen bases in the game. Wilkins and Elam each grabbed stolen bases to lead the way.
Earlier in the week, the Lady Broncos suffered a disappointing loss to Fritch 7-14. The Lady Eagles got their bats going in the first inning with a homerun and added two more runs in the second. A big third inning for Fritch put the Lady Broncos in a hole they struggled to get out of. They were able to recover slightly in the fifth with hits by Gabel, T. Cummins, and Wilkins, but it was not enough. K. Cummins opened the game from the mound and lasted three innings, before T. Cummins came in to finish. K. Cummins, uncharacteristically allowed eight hits, 10 runs on eight hits with two homeruns, one base-on-balls, three errors, but had three strike-outs. T. Cummins finished with four hits, four runs, one walk, two errors, and one strike-out.
Elliot Frausto had two hits in four at bats.
The ladies will host Claude in another district game at home Thursday beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Reader Comments