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This Week

Broncos steamroll Irish 58-6

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By Sandy Anderberg

The Broncos have been unstoppable in District play and are currently 4-0 as they prepare for their District closer at Wellington on Friday.

The Broncos and Skyrockets are 6-3 and 7-2 overall for the 2023 football season. Friday night’s game will determine the number one seed in post-season play. Kickoff will be at 7:00pm.

The Broncos crushed Shamrock last week 58-6. Quay Brown set the tempo of the game with a huge 75-yard kick-off return to open the game and Easton Frausto converted the bonus to give the Broncos the lead at 8-0 at the 11:47 mark. Senior quarterback Lyric Smith who has been at the helm since Harrison Howard’s collar bone injury ran for an eight-yard TD for the Broncos’ second score of the game after he intercepted an Irish pass to put the Broncos back on offense. Mason Sims earned the bonus to go up by 16.

The Bronco defensive line was a stumbling block for the Irish and made great plays deep in Shamrock’s backfield and on the passing routes. As a team, the Broncos intercepted six Shamrock passes and Smith and Sims grabbed two apiece and each took one back for six. Grant Haynes stole an interception and lineman Anthony Ceniceros batted down and caught and interception near the line.

Offensively, the Broncos pass receivers did a great job putting their hands on the ball. Sims had two catches for 63 yards and Colton Caudle posted 143 yards on his two catches for two touchdowns. Sims also carried the ball for 61 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Smith was seven for fifteen passing for 233 yards and carried the ball eight times for 90 yards and found the endzone two times on the ground.

The Broncos have blown through their opponents and have laid it all on the line to go into the playoff season with great momentum.

The game with Wellington is crucial for seeding, but the Broncos’ plan is go deep in post-season play.

DCCF now taking grant applications

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The Donley County Community Fund is now accepting applications from qualified non-profit organizations for up to $1,500 grant to be awarded this fall.

Those eligible to apply for the grants include local governments, schools, and non-profit organizations holding a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. All grant applicants must be from Donley County.

Grant applications for any amount up to $1,500 must be received by Friday, November 24, at 5 p.m..

To receive a grant application and determine your organization’s eligibility to apply, contact Jacob Fangman 806-206-5737 or jacobfangman@yahoo.com. Applications are available from Fangman at Herring Bank or at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

The Donley County Community Fund is an affiliate fund of the Amarillo Area Foundation (AAF) with the focus of building an Endowed Legacy for the entire county for the benefit of future generations.

Election to decide 14 ballot proposals

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Donley County voter will join other Texans next Tuesday, November 7, in deciding the fate of 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Early voting concludes this Friday at the Donley County Courthouse Annex with extended hours 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

Voting on Tuesday will also be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donley County voters in Precinct 303 will cast ballots at the First Baptist Church in Hedley, Precinct 101 votes at the Annex, and all other county voters cast ballots in the Courthouse.

The proposed amendments are also explained by the Texas Tribune at https://bit.ly/3FGW15M.

According to the Tribune, “many of the proposed amendments would create or alter funds to support: Higher education research, Water infrastructure, Gas-fueled power plants, Broadband infrastructure, Maintenance and creation of state parks.

“Several others would address taxes by: Raising the homestead exemption for homeowners from $40,000 to $100,000, Creating some tax exemptions for medical equipment and child-care facilities, Banning lawmakers from imposing “wealth taxes” without voter approval.

“Other amendments would affect Texans in certain professions by: Granting retired teachers cost-of-living raises, Raising the mandatory retirement age for state judges, Protecting generally accepted farming and ranching practices from state and local regulation.”

Brent Paul Shields

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Brent Paul Shields of Clarendon,  Texas, passed away Saturday, October 28, 2023 in Amarillo,  Texas.
Brent Paul Shields

A private family memorial and celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choosing.

Cremation and Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Brent was born in June 7, 1966, to Jerry and JoAnn Shields. He went to school in Memphis and spent much of his young adult life in Amarillo. He enjoyed his later years as a resident of Clarendon.
Brent was an amazing cook. He had owned and worked in restaurants for many years. If you ever tasted his “famous” chocolate pie you would definitely want more. His sharing attitude and desire to help people will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Shields; step-father, C.D. Dickens; his paternal grandparents, Colman Shields and Vida Shields; step grandmother, Sadie Shields; maternal grandparents, Joseph Stanley and Cellie Koen;  step grandfather D. B. Koen, as well as several aunts, uncles, and great grandparents.
Survivors include his mother, JoAnn Dickens;  brother, Todd Shields; son, Spencer Shields and wife Kaitlynn; grandson, Hunter Shields, who was one of his greatest joys, all of Clarendon; stepson, Scott Knox and wife Stacy; grandchildren, Libby and Nicholas Knox, all of Cleburne, Texas; several uncles, aunts and cousins; his best friend and the mother of his son, Kathy Shields.
All of Clarendon was like family to Brent, and he had many, many friends and acquaintances who will miss him dearly.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

REFZ to open downtown Nov. 1

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Restaurant owner Ricardo Santillan stands in the dining room of REFZ Sports Bar & Grill Tuesday morning as the business gets ready for its grand opening next week.

A new downtown restaurant will hold its grand opening next week after several months of construction and remodeling.

REFZ Sports Bar & Grill, located at US 287 and Kearney Street, will open its doors to the public on Wednesday, November 1, and owner Ricardo Santillan is just as ready as the community is.

“It’s been hard and definitely a lot of work,” Santillan said, “but it’s also been very exciting watching the process of taking a building where there was nothing and what it has turned into.”

For eight months, Santillan has overseen a complete overhaul of the former Clarendon Steakhouse building, remodeling the front end, ripping out and installing a new kitchen, remodeling bathrooms, and more. With the final pieces going into place this week, Santillan is planning an invitation-only “soft opening” only in the next few days to make sure everything is ready for Wednesday.

REFZ has hired 24 people and plans to be open seven days a week. Its hours will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy hour will be everyday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and weekday $8 lunch specials will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to a full and varied menu, REFZ will have a full bar, including mixed drinks; 16 big screen TVs showing all kinds of sports; and seating for 136 people.

Santillan currently has five of his new hires from Clarendon working at his first REFZ location in Guymon, Okla., which has been in business for six years.

“We want everyone to come enjoy themselves here as place of entertainment,” Santillan said. “Come with your family and hang out and have a good time.”

The process of bringing a restaurant to downtown has been a long one. The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation first purchased the building in 2015 after it was heavily damaged by an automobile and has made significant investments in the building since that time to make it attractive as a potential restaurant. Discussions with Santillan began in November 2022 with an agreement reached in February 2023 and construction starting the following month.

“It’s been great working with the CEDC,” Santillan said. “Those guys helped me all along the way. They have been gracious and supportive of me, and I’ve been thankful for that. I could not have done this project without the CEDC, and it’s one of the main reasons I decided to do it.”

CEDC President Brandon Frausto is also very happy to see the REFZ project come to fruition.

“We are excited to have REFZ be a part of our community,” Frausto said. “This has been a goal of the CEDC for quite some time. I hope this helps build momentum as we move toward our vision for the future of Clarendon.”

Santillan is also looking to the future.

“It’s going to work,” Santillan said. “It’s taken a lot of time, energy, and investment by all of us (Santillan’s business and the CEDC), but we’re doing it for the town as well. We both saw a need for the town, and now we hope everyone comes and enjoys it.”

Lighting committee needs volunteers

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The Donley County Courthouse Lighting Committee is asking for volunteer help this season.

Every year the committee puts lights on the trees around the courthouse, and they invite and welcome anyone to come be a part of this worthy project. The volunteers will be at the courthouse on Saturday mornings October 28 and November 4 from 9:00 to noon.

For more information, please call any CLC committee member or Denise at 806-336-1417.

Local, area jobless rate is declining

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Once again, the Panhandle Workforce Development Area (WDA) holds the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state of Texas, standing at 3.2 percent, with Permian Basin WDA reporting the lowest unemployment rate at 3.0 and Lower Rio Grande WDA with the highest at 6.0 percent.

The Panhandle Workforce Development Area (WDA) as a whole also experienced a decrease in our unemployment rate, going from 3.6 percent to 3.2 percent, a 0.4-point reduction, indicating an overall declining trend across the Panhandle.

Donley County’s unemployment rate of 4.0 percent follows a rate of 4.3 percent in August and 4.6 percent in July. Armstrong County’s unemployment figures were slightly lower for the same three-month period, and Hall County’s figures were slightly higher.

The labor force in the Texas Panhandle has undergone significant changes over the past year, our labor force grew from 209,090 to 212,667, marking an increase of 3,577. Much of the growth was in the city of Amarillo, increasing from 99,869 to 104,604, reflecting an increase of 4,735 employed individuals.

According to the release, 25 counties within the Panhandle WDA saw reductions in our unemployment rates, with Armstrong County being the only exception, experiencing a 0.1 percent increase from 3.7 to 3.8 percent.

Hutchinson County continues to hold the highest unemployment rate in the Texas Panhandle at 4.6 percent, although it did see a decrease from 5.0 in August. In contrast, Hartley County maintained the lowest unemployment rate at 2.3 percent with 2,473 individuals employed out of a possible 2,531.

Statewide, total nonfarm employment increased by 31,400 positions in September to reach a new milestone with job count of 14,049,400. This marked the 24th consecutive series high as employment expanded in 40 of the last 41 months. Since September 2022, Lone Star State employment grew by 372,900 positions as all 11 major industries achieved positive annual growth for the 24th consecutive period.

The number of employed persons also reached a new record high adding 26,900 people over the month.

The Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force fell four-tenths of a point over the month to 4.1 percent in September 2023.

Rabe hears Donley case at first docket

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A Donley County case was among 19 pleas in the district court when it met in Childress last Thursday, October 19.

Honorable Judge Dale Rabe presided for the first time in the 100th Judicial District with District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuting the cases for the State of Texas.

Susan Faye Kyle, 34, from Amarillo, Texas, was sentenced to time served in the Donley County Jail for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Kyle was arrested on March 17 by Donley County Chief Deputy Jay Longan. Kyle was also ordered to pay $290 in court costs.

Casey James Mills

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Casey James Mills passed away October 14th, 2023, at his home in Lamar, Oklahoma at the age of 27.

Casey James Mills

Casey was born April 12, 1996, in Raton, New Mexico to Gerald Dewayne Mills and Kaye Lynn (Wilkerson) Mills. Casey graduated from Moss Public School. After high graduation, he attended Southeast School of Welding in McAlester. He worked as a welder for Platinum Cross Welding Inc. in Okemah, Oklahoma. Casey married Jessye Duckworth on November 23, 2018, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Casey had his own fencing company at age 16. He was a hard worker and very talented at whatever he did. Casey was an awesome father, good provider, son and husband. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and fabricating. Casey was a perfectionist, always positive and had the best grin.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Dale Mills, Jan Curtis, Lawrence Wilkerson and Josie Mae Wilkerson.

He is survived by his wife Jessye Mills of the home, parents; Gerald and Kaye Mills, children; Kendall Dale Mills of Lamar, Nova Lynn Mills of Lamar, 3 brothers; Monty Mills and wife Alicia of Holdenville, Alex McClain and wife Kristen of Ft Worth, Texas, Kord King and wife Stacie of Shamrock, Texas, grandmother Mary Kay Mangum and husband John of Clarendon, uncles; Jeff Mills, Johnny Mangum, Bud Curtis and Aunt Frances Miller. Casey is survived by numerous other uncles, aunts, relatives, and friends.

Pallbearers are Monty Mills, Alex McClain, Hagen Mills, Keith McCoy, Kyle Linaueaver and Jarrod Johnston. Honorary pallbearers are Chad Rogers, Mike Goodson, John Goodson, Jimmy Jett, Bill McCoy, Kyle Cates, Paul Camp and Jason Lambert.

Viewing was 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Oct 17th and 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 18, and the family greeted guests from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 18, at Hudson Phillips Funeral Home, in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Funeral service was be 3:00 p.m., Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Holdenville, Oklahoma with Pastor James Poulain officiating.
Interment will follow at Lamar Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

John Wayne Stepp

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John Wayne Stepp entered into the gates of Heaven on Monday, October 9, 2023, at the age of 86. He joined his wife Mary Ann Stepp to dance eternally in the Grace of God. He was born on October 3rd, 1937, in Abilene, TX to the late John Conley and Ruth Beatrice McMinn Stepp.

John Wayne Stepp

John Wayne graduated from Lelia Lake High School and a few short years later married Mary Ann Douglas, and they were happily married for 66 years. John worked in the Agriculture Industry, he started at The Donley County Office in Clarendon, TX, and later retired in 1996 as the County Executive Director from the Calhoun County Farm Service Agency, in Port Lavaca, TX.

John Wayne is survived by his daughters, Denise Ann Stepp Pozzi (Zane Hartman), and Carrie Jean Stepp Spence (Jeff Spence). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Garrett Tonozzi), Travis Spence (Veronica Spence), Brooke Pozzi Smith (Blake Smith) and Colt Spence. Also, great grandchildren Jaedynn, Haley, Chris, Bryce, Taylor, and Aubrey Spence, Tinlee Tonozzi, and Sloan Smith, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Our Dad and Grandad brought so much joy and laughter, not only to his family, but to everyone who ever met “The Real” John Wayne as he would say. He was known to tell a joke or two, but all jokes aside, he was a good man that would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. In his retired years in Victoria, TX John Wayne enjoyed his days on the golf course, his evenings at Klotch with friends, and always time with family.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann Stepp, and they’re grandson Dillon Spence.

Services will be held at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 U.S. Hwy. 87 North Victoria, TX 77904 on Saturday, October 28th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow next door at Son Valley Ranch, 8973 U.S. Hwy. 87 North Victoria, TX 77904. To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond or funny memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Gentle Hearts Assisted Living, 1101 Salem Rd. Victoria, TX 77904.

Poem: In loving memory of Dad: Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still love, still miss and always very dear.

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