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This Week

COVID-19 surging in Donley County again

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COVID-19 is surging in Donley County with the number of active cases doubling in the last two weeks.

Clarendon Family Medical Center reported 32 active cases Tuesday, up from 26 one week ago and 16 two weeks ago.

The total number of positive cases confirmed at the clinic for November as of Tuesday morning was 82 compared to 37 in October.

CFMC spokesperson Marsha Bruce said the total positive cases of COVID-19 recorded by the clinic is now 614 since the pandemic began. Again, those numbers only reflect patients who have been tested by the local clinic and does not include local residents who test positive outside of Donley County.

Clarendon CISD nurse Debbie Thompson said as of Tuesday that a few students are quarantined due to having a family member with COVID, but there are currently no COVID positive cases among students are or staff.

Eighteen residents of Donley County have died from COVID since the pandemic began last year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Vaccination rates continue to be very low overall in Donley County, according to TDSHS. Donley County Judge John Howard, MD, has said that most high-risk elderly people have been vaccinated, and the state data shows that 72.51 percent of residents age 65 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 64.43 percent being fully vaccinated.

Vaccinations are now available to children as young as five years old, and the state reports that the vaccination rate for residents ages five and over is 42.6 percent with one dose and 36.49 percent fully vaccinated.

The Moderna vaccine is available at no charge at the local clinic for everyone ages 18 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is available in Amarillo for children ages five and over.

Late Night Shopping starts Dec. 2

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Clarendon Chamber of Commerce officials are hoping folks will continue to shop locally this month as merchants plan four nights of Late Night Shopping and prize giveaways.

Several merchants will be staying open late the next four Thursday nights, December 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Shoppers can register at any “Shop Donley County” merchant throughout the week for the prize drawings on Late Nights. You do have to be present to win, and the location of the drawing will be at different locations each week. This week’s drawing will take place at Loaded Nutrition / Rambling Ranch Boutique at 204 S. Kearney at 8 p.m.

Merchants known at press time to be open past 5 p.m. this week include Floyd’s Automotive until 5:30, Buckin’ Bean until 7:00, Clarendon Outpost until 10:00, Outpost Deli until 8:00, Cornell’s Country Store until 6:00, Broken Road Jr. Liquor Store until 7:00, Henson’s until 8:00, Every Nook & Cranny until 8:00, Loaded Nutrition / Rambling Ranch Boutique, and Saye’s Flying ‘A’ Tack until 8:00.

For the latest information about Late Night Shopping including participating merchants, visit ClarendonTx.com/ChamberEvents.

According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

Trade Days leading First Saturday fun

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First Saturday events return to Clarendon this week with the Whistle-Stop Trade Days leading off activities.

Trade Days will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday with great deals, unique gifts, food trucks, live music, and cold beer. Santa Claus himself is also going to be at the Whistle-Stop where admission is always free.

The Saints’ Roost Museum Christmas Party will be held Saturday night from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Donley County Activity Center. The social event of the year features a live band, dancing, food, and the chance to win up to $5,000. Tickets are $50 per couple and are available at Every Nook & Cranny, the Donley County State Bank, and at the Museum.

Also this weekend, the Mulkey Theatre is screening “Clifford The Big Red Dog” Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Thanks to a sponsorship by Shelton & Shelton Law Firm, all children ages 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

For information, call the Visitor Center at 874-SHOW.

Santa Letters due to paper Dec. 8

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The Clarendon Enterprise is preparing to run its express edition to the North Pole very soon, and children need to get their Letters to Santa turned in by next Wednesday, December 8.
Letters can be emailed to ads@clarendonlive.com, mailed to PO Box 1110, Clarendon, TX 79226, or dropped by the office at 105 S. Kearney.

Lady Broncos beat Happy

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The Lady Broncos played Claude and Happy over the Thanksgiving break and earned one win and one loss.

The ladies took on Claude on November 22 and narrowly lost 33-43. Junior Makenna Shadle had a huge game despite the loss as she put in 21 points that included four three-pointers and making seven of eight from the bonus line. However; the second and fourth quarters did not go as planned as the Lady Broncos struggled to put points on the board.

A little bit of foul trouble plagued the Lady Broncos, but the Mustangs went to the free throw line nine times and only made four. Aubrey Weatherton put in six points, Finley Cunningham had four, and Hayden Elam made a pair of bonus points to finish with two.

The Lady Broncos were able to put the loss behind them and get a 42-33 win over Happy the next night. Defensively, the ladies were aggressive and did a good job containing the Cowgirls to only five points in the opening quarter of play. Their offensive execution gave them the upper hand they needed to get the win as they pumped in seven shots from the arc. Once again, Shadle led the way with 19 points and Weatherton added 10 to finish in double figures. Madie Smith added seven and Courtlyn Conkin helped with six.

The Lady Broncos will participate in the Miami Tournament on December 2-4 and travel to Vega December 7.

Montie Goodin

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On Tuesday, November 23rd, Montie Goodin passed away, very peacefully, in her home surrounded by her family.

Montie Goodin

Services were held on Saturday, November 27, 2021 in the Claude United Methodist Church with Rev. Dick Gravley, officiating. Burial followed at Goodnight Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Cleo Lemonte (Montie) Hubbard was born December 3rd, 1931, in Goodnight, in the original Goodnight House to Cleo and Retta Hubbard. Montie had three sisters, Mary Joyce, Lugenia (Jeannie) and Ann. Montie grew up in Goodnight and then attended Baylor University. On a visit home, she met Emery Goodin, on a blind date. When she graduated from Baylor, Montie flew to Alaska to marry Emery while he was serving in the Air Force on July 12, 1952. For five years, they lived in Alaska, giving them a lifetime of memories.

They returned to the Texas Panhandle to start a family. In 1964, they moved to Goodnight, with their daughters, Elizabeth and Susanna. Emery started farming and ranching and Montie taught several grades in the Claude School District. She obtained her M.S. in Library Science and was instrumental in major renovations of the Claude School libraries.

She and Emery were avid square dancers and she played the organ at the First United Methodist Church. They also enjoyed fishing, camping, and travelling. Montie played in several bridge clubs in Claude and Clarendon.

Throughout her teaching career she was an active member of the international honor society for educators, Delta Kappa Gamma, Zeta Zeta Chapter, serving as chapter president for a time. In 2021, she received her 50-year pin.

Upon her retirement in 1994, Montie became very involved in both the preservation of the original Goodnight buffalo herd and the Armstrong County Museum. During this time, she wrote two plays, “Charles Goodnight: a Soliloquy” and “My Molly” about the relationship between Charles Goodnight and his wife, Mary Ann.

Montie was serving as chair of the Armstrong County Museum when the organization began the renovation of the original Goodnight House and the building of the historical interpretive center. Her passion and enthusiasm were contagious bringing many people together and building lasting friendships. She was honored to receive numerous awards for her work in Texas historical preservation.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Emery. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Magar, son-in-law David Magar, daughter Susanna, granddaughter Kate Freeman and husband Bryon Freeman and granddaughter Sarah Kite, great-grandsons Robyn Kite, Mason Freeman, Ethan Freeman, and great-granddaughter Scarlett Leach.

The family request memorials be sent to the Armstrong County Museum.

2021 Clarendon Christmas festivities Saturday, Nov. 27

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Local merchants encourage you to shop locally this weekend as the community celebrates “Christmas in Clarendon” and the eighth annual lighting of the Donley County Courthouse.

The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to shop local businesses, and the Chamber and its partners have lined up several activities to make shopping at home fun, including a downtown Christmas Craft Fair, a Christmas Bingo promotion, and four nights of Late Night Shopping.

As part of Small Business Saturday this weekend, a Christmas Craft Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with vendors set up at the CEDC restaurant building at Kearney and US 287, the future home of Loaded Nutrition in the old book store, and the Masonic Lodge Hall. If needed, vendors may also be located in the Arena of Life Cowboy Church. Everyone is encouraged to come downtown and check out what the vendors have available there. Shonda’s Snack Shack will be serving in the Masonic Lodge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a food truck is also planned for Saturday.

A coloring contest and entertainment will be held at the Mulkey Theatre from noon to 5 p.m. The official coloring pages and contest details are available online at

ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents. Check out the same page for details on the Chamber’s Christmas Bingo contest. Bingo cards are available at participating merchants as well as online. The bingo winner will be drawn, and the coloring contest winners will be announced at 7 p.m. at the CEDC building.

The fun continues Saturday evening at the Donley County Courthouse where Santa Claus will be on hand to visit with the kids starting at 5 p.m. before the official Courthouse Lighting at 6 p.m. The Lions Club will be serving hot chocolate, and musical entertainment will be provided by the Clarendon Elementary Ensemble, Gary Cockerham, and Jesse Lincycomb. Activities will also be available on Third Street between Sully and Kearney following the courthouse lighting.

The Christmas celebration continues Sunday evening with a special showing of The Polar Express at the Mulkey Theatre. Admission will be a donation to the Donley County Community Fund, and attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the movie by wearing their pajamas to the show, which starts at 6 p.m.

The shopping fun continues with Late Night Shopping dates set up for December 2, 9, 16, and 23. Check online at ClarendonTX.com/ChamberEvents for a list of merchants who are staying open late for your holiday shopping convenience.

Local merchants are ready to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list with their Black Friday and Small Business Saturday specials on November 26 and 27. Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and also available at ClarendonLive.com.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 when it was founded by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
According to experts, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the town through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

Shop at home this holiday season and remember the important role your local merchants play in keeping your community strong.

Giving Tuesday helps Donley County Fund

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As part of a national day known as GivingTuesday, the local Donley County Community Fund (DCCF) is participating in The Panhandle Gives campaign.

For nine days from November 22 through November 30, all funds raised locally will be increased through a match from the Amarillo Area Foundation.

“Participating in this campaign is an opportunity for our local fund balance to grow,” DCCF chair Jacob Fangman said.

The DCCF is a local board whose purpose is to raise money for a perpetuating fund while contributing a portion of the money to local organizations.

Over the past five years, the DCCF has been able to give $6,000 to local charities.
So that the local DCCF can benefit from the match, anyone wishing to participate will need to give their donation by Monday, November 29, so that the final deposit can be made on GivingTuesday.

Contributions can be mailed to Donley County Community Fund, c/o Jacob Fangman, Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be made out to The Panhandle Gives, with DonleyCCF written on the memo line.

Franks ready for NFR battle

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Clarendon’s Cole Franks will be competing in the National Finals Rodeo this year. Courtesy photo
By Ted Harbin

It was the fall of 2020 when Cole Franks made a couple of goals for himself.

He was a sophomore at Clarendon College in his hometown, competing on the rodeo team for his father, Bret Franks, the program’s coach. He also had just purchased his card, allowing him to be a full-fledged member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association instead of a permit-holder.

He wanted to win a college championship for his team for the 2020-21 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association season and hoped to add the PRCA’s Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year title.

The missions were accomplished in multiple ways over the summer run of rodeo. Franks dominated the bareback riding race at the College National Finals Rodeo and also qualified for the championship round in saddle bronc riding to win both the bareback riding and all-around titles in Casper, Wyoming. He also was a major part of the reason the men’s team title went to Clarendon.

Within a few weeks of that, he’d earned enough money to have clinched the rookie crown. He finished with $77,393 in earnings, leading the field by nearly $45,000. With that, though, he added another major accomplishment to his list by qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo. In fact, he’ll head to Las Vegas for ProRodeo’s grand finale as the 12th-ranked bareback rider in the world standings.

“Making the finals is really great,” said Franks, 20, now a junior at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.

“When I got my card this year, I wasn’t focused on it or even looking at the finals this year. I was just looking at the rookie deal and banking on making the finals next year. For it to happen this year is really cool.”

It happened because of relationships he’s developed in his time in ProRodeo. He joined two NFR veterans – three-time world champion Tim O’Connell and 2020 average titlist Jess Pope – on the rodeo trail and gained some education because of it. As Franks moved his way up the bareback riding money list, O’Connell and Pope offered the idea of a switch in priorities: Focus on making the NFR, and the rookie race would come.

That’s exactly what happened. Along the way, Franks picked up some big victories. In fact, he finished the 2021 campaign with 13 event titles and had three rides of 90 points or better, all of which came the same week in early August. He started out the week by scoring 92 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Spanish Feathers to win in Carson, Iowa.

A couple days later, he followed that with a 90 on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Bar Code to win the first round in Dodge City, Kansas, advancing to the championship round at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame event in western Kansas. On Short-Round Sunday, he set an arena record by spurring Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire for 93 points, one of the highest scores of the season in the PRCA.
Born in Guymon, Oklahoma, Franks is the second generation of his family to advance to rodeo’s most prestigious event; Bret Franks was a three-time NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding. Cole Franks proves the genetics come strong in their athletic form, but so does the love for the game.

He was two months from being born the last time his dad played on the biggest stage in ProRodeo. He’s only seen videos and heard stories, but that never curbed his hunger to be one of the best cowboys in the sport. Like his dad, Cole Franks likes riding bucking horses. He uses a bronc saddle some, especially in college, but he’s excelled using a bareback rigging.

“It’s cool to think I’m following in Dad’s footsteps, even if it’s in bareback riding and not bronc riding,” said Franks, who credits much of his success to his sponsors, Cinch, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Western Legacy Co. and 287 Ag.

“I have always told myself that I had to make it at least three times, tying Dad’s three,” he said. “But I want to make it to where I have three (world championship) gold buckles to put with Dad’s three back numbers.”

By transferring to Missouri Valley, he’s positioned himself to only improve upon his skills. The college is well known for its bareback riding prowess, and Franks will be one of four bronc busters with ties to the college performing at the NFR, joining O’Connell, Pope and Tanner Aus for the 10 nights of action from Dec. 2-11 in Las Vegas.

“Bareback riding is just more of a fight,” Franks said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve always had a fighter’s personality, but I’ve always wished I was in a way. I think that’s what made me stick with it because of the aggressiveness of it. In the bronc riding, you have to be relaxed to a point, but in bareback riding, it’s 100 percent bare down.”

It’s the perfect fit for the young man who won’t back down from a fight with a 1,200-pound bucking beast.

Wink ends Broncos’ football season

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The Broncos’ 2021 season ended abruptly with a 26-64 loss to Wink in the Area Round in Lubbock at Lowery Field last Thursday night.

The Broncos had a very successful season with District and Bi-District Championships. The Broncos finished at 10-2 for the season with losses to Vega and Wink.

Clarendon was ready to take on the Wildcats and felt good about their chances, but things just did not go their way. Senior Jordan Herndon left the game early with an injury, which caused the Broncos to change things up offensively. They were able to muster 175 rushing yards and 95 passing yards by senior quarterback Brock Hatley. Despite almost 300 total yards, the Broncos’ fumbles worked against them in the end.

Jmaury Davis stepped up from the backfield position to carry 14 times for 82 yards and one touchdown. Hatley gained 50 yards on eight carries that included one touchdown, and Lyric Smith had seven carries for 38 yards. Hatley was seven of 15 passing and zeroed in on Smith for five catches, 88 yards, and one touchdown.

Head coach Clink Conkin thought the guys played hard.

“The season didn’t end like we wanted to, but I’m very proud of this team and all the work they put in the past few years,” he said. “This senior group will be missed tremendously.”

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