Clarendon Enterprise - 03.30.2023

$200 Single Copy THIS WEEK

2 The editor says WTAMU’s Walter Wendler turns his back on free speech.

4 CASA volunteers are needed to help stop child abuse.

5 The Owls run in the Kress Relasy.

6 And the Lady Broncos beat Booker at WT High School. All this and much more as The Enterprise reports in this week’s awesome edition!

Mulkey Game Night

to be held March 30

The Mulkey Theatre will have fun for all ages next Thursday, March 30, during its first Family Game Night.

Starting at 6 p.m., multiple games of five different genres will be held for those in attendance. Gift certificates from local businesses will be given as prizes.

Admission to the Game Night will be just $5 for all ages, and the concession stand will be serving Frito Pies and nachos in addition the regular menu.

CC to host judging contest Saturday

The Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest will attract a huge crowd and likely double the population of the town this Saturday.

As of Tuesday, more than 2,470 contestants were registered for the event.

The biggest single event for the city, the contest more than doubles Clarendon’s population for a day each year. According to the 2020 US Census, Clarendon’s population is less than 2,000. The contest attracts around high school FFA students and 4-H students from around Texas and nearby states.

Funds being raised for local first grader

Clarendon first grader Jazlyn

Velazquez is scheduled to have heart surgery in Denver on April 6, and the Pony Parents organization is accepting donations on her family’s behalf.

She is expected to be in the hospital for at least two weeks.

Donations can be given to any elementary teacher, at the elementary office, or through Venmo @PonyParents using Jazlyn’s name or a heart emoji in the note. The Pony Parents ask that donations be made by this Friday.

CVFD, EMS to hold fundraiser April 1

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and the Associated Ambulance Authority EMS will be holding a breakfast and lunch fundraiser Saturday, April 1, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Breakfast until 10 a.m. will feature pancakes and burritos; and lunch starting at 11 a.m. will be hamburgers and French fries.

The event will be held at the Clarendon Fire Hall at 112 S. Sully, and take-out or dine-in options will both be available.

Alliance plans Palm Sunday services

The Donley County Ministerial Alliance will hold a community Palm Sunday service on April 2 at 6 p.m. at Community Fellowship Church with Clarendon First United Methodist Pastor Ryan Quist delivering the message.

CCISD Trustees confirm Wampler as new AD

Aaron Wampler was confirmed as Clarendon CISD’s new athletic director and head football coach when the CCISD Board of Trustees met in called session Monday morning.

According to Clarendon Superintendent Jarod Bellar, Wampler is the current head football coach at Boys Ranch.

“He is a rising star who gets the most out of his student athletes,” Bellar said. “I’m excited. He under-

stands a program starts in junior high and that you have to start there. He wants to make kids good citizens and good athletes.”

Wampler visited Clarendon several days prior to Monday’s board meeting and has toured the community and the school facilities and is ready to get to work.

“I’m looking forward to getting there next week, meeting everyone, and getting started,” Wampler told the Enterprise

Clarendon’s reputation and the opportunity to move up in his career drew Wampler to CCISD.

“I was attracted to the chance to be an athletic director and by the success Clarendon has had,” he said.

“It was a good opportunity careerwise and a good chance to win some football games.”

After six years of coaching at Caprock High School, Wampler has spent the last three years as the head football coach at Boys Ranch and

was also head baseball coach this year. Wampler and his wife, Katie, just welcomed their second son on March 13. Their first son is two years old.

Wampler is originally from Lubbock graduated from Frenship High School. He played football for West Texas A&M University under coach Don Carthel from 2008-2012 and earned his master’s degree from WTAMU in 2013.

CHS wins District UIL Championship

Clarendon High School won the UIL 2-2A District Championship during academic competitions last Wednesday, March 22, at Clarendon College.

CHS students earned 400 points and had 70 points above the next closest team.

Clarendon High has 17 students moving on to regionals on April 21 on the campus of West Texas A&M University to try to earn a spot in the state competition.

All three ready writers got

the day started and earned spots in the top six finishers. Laney Gates received 1st place, Catherine Word received 2nd place, and Millie McAnear received 5th place. Gates and Word earned regional spots.

Britton Cottrell placed 2nd in Number Sense while Ben Estlack placed 6th.

The Calculator Application team did not have anyone placed in the top six positions, but they did come out as the second place team. Members included Jacob Murrillo,

CC holds service day

Students, faculty, and staff from all Clarendon College campuses participated in the second annual “Bulldogs in Service” day to benefit their local communities last Wednesday, March 22.

A total of 288 CC students, faculty, and staff participated in several community service efforts. The community service effort began last March but was limited only to the Clarendon area. This year, the effort was expanded to include Amarillo, Childress, Pampa, and Clarendon.

In Clarendon, participants partook in the following efforts: Adopta-Highway along the north portion of State Highway 70; Campus cleanup; Cleanup along the railroad tracks;

Made blankets to donate to multiple organizations; Assisted with the Donley County Senior Citizens Center; Prepared old and worn American flags for proper retirement at the Clarendon Lions Hall; Landscaping and cleaning at the Saints’ Roost Museum; and Sidewalk chalk art at Clarendon ISD.

In Amarillo, cosmetology students and faculty volunteered at Sharing Hope Ministry. In Childress, participants helped clean up around the Childress Center and in the downtown area. In Pampa, participants helped clean up around the Pampa Center, clean up at the Fairview Cemetery, and also assisted at the White Deer Land Museum.

Ethan Warren, Gracie Ellis, and Berkley Moore.

Copy Editing got the journalism contest started. Avery Halsey got 1st place, Maloree Wann got 2nd, and C. Word got 5th place. Halsey and Wann earned regional spots. Davin Mays earned a 1st place finish in Features Writing and is regional bound while Makenna Shadle earned a 4th place finish in Headline Writing.

The Accounting team secured their way to a 1st Place finish and

advances to regionals. Members received the following places respectively: Koltyn Shields 2nd place, Easton 3rd place, Aiden Word 4th, and Bryce Williams 5th place. Other members were Murillo and Cory Johnsen.

The Science team also earned their way to a 1st place finish and advances to regionals. Members of the team finished in the top six places. Toby Leeper received 1st, Estlack received 2nd, Jade Cottrell

“I really think his ceiling for creating and maintaining a successful program is limitless,” Bellar said.

Wampler

“Everyone speaks of the hard work, discipline, and integrity within his program.”

Bains resigns from Hedley as superintendent

Hedley School Superintendent

Garrett Bains is stepping down from his position and leaving education altogether.

The Hedley CISD Board of Trustees accepted Bains’ resignation at their regular meeting last Monday, March 20, as he looks to pursue a different field.

“It’s time to try something else,” Bains told the Enterprise.

Bains said he’s leaving on good terms and that things are great at Hedley, calling the school a “paradise” compared to other schools. He said it was just time for his family to make a change.

Bains’ wife Tamara is a teacher at the school and will be leaving her post as well, he said.

The school board will bring an interim superintendent on board in April and then begin the search for a new fulltime superintendent following that, Bains said.

Bains started at Hedley CISD 11 years ago and has served as superintendent for the past four years.

Lions Jones 5K to be Saturday

The 11th annual Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K will be held Saturday, April 1, at the Donley County Courthouse.

The Clarendon Lions Club is hosting the event again in memory of the late Chance Mark Jones to raise awareness of Child Abuse. Jones passed away in January 2011 as a result of abuse.

Those interested in running or walking the 5K are encouraged to sign up. A “sleep-in” option is also available for those who want to support the cause. Registrations are $30 each.

The year’s 5K will again start and end at the Courthouse and will run through the city, around Prospect Park, which is the home of the Lions’ Chance Mark Jones Memorial Playground, and past several historic sites. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Race registrations are available at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

Proceeds will go towards the many charitable activities of the Clarendon Lions Club, which includes eyeglasses for local school kids, Christmas food baskets, hosting the local office of The Bridge – Children’s Advocacy Center, local scholarships, and monetary support for other local charities.

WT president turns back on free speech

Picture it. Clarendon College, 1991. A group of honor students is looking for a new way to raise money and have fun. The sponsor of the organization offers a suggestion: “I think you should have a beauty contest, but all the contestants are guys dressed as girls.” The sponsor slips out the door. The guys in the group are hesitant, but the girls in the group latch onto the idea and run with it. The Miss Bulldog contest was born, the group raised some decent money, and the event continued on and off for several years. It got a little risqué at one point, but no one got hurt, and I got a Second Runner-Up sash. (The winner was a bit of a tramp, but that’s another story.)

Thankfully, this all happened more than 30 years ago and Walter Wendler was not the president of our college. Otherwise, he might have labeled it a drag show and cancelled us for being misogynistic.

German residents organized ‘beef club’

The First Texan Greek Was a Pirate

It is believed that the first Greek to come to Texas was a pirate working with Jean Laffite. Known only as Captain Nicholas, he joined Laffite in 1817 at the age of seventeen at Savannah, Georgia, and he then came to Galveston Island aboard Laffite’s Jupiter. Nicholas soon became skipper of a trading schooner, the Arabella, on which he served until 1820 when the pirate colony dissolved.

With a desire to have a wife, Nicholas purchased a bride from the Karankawa Indian tribe for ten pounds of sugar and an unknown quantity of

rum. The bride, Orta, would stay behind with the other wives and children when their pirate husbands were at sea plying their trade. A severe storm in 1823, however, took Orta’s life along with the lives of many other families of the pirates. Nicholas continued as a seafar-

ing adventurer until 1842 when he “settled down” in Galveston at the age of forty-two. He then earned his living selling fish and oysters and by telling stories about his many adventures. As a respected citizen, Nicholas became well known throughout the community. Just a few days before reaching his 100th birthday, Captain Nicholas died in the 1900 hurricane that wreaked havoc among the Galvestonians.

George U. Hubbard is an author and former resident of Clarendon.

editor’s commentary by roger estlack

That’s exactly what Dr. Wendler did last week for some students at West Texas A&M University. “A Fool’s Drag Race” was scheduled to be held March 31 to raise funds for an LGBTQ suicide-prevention group. According to reports from the Texas Tribune, WTAMU administrators guided the organizers through the event approval process starting in February, before President Wendler canceled the event last week.

“A harmless drag show? Not possible.” Wendler wrote in a column his office submitted to the Enterprise and other newspapers last Tuesday.

In the column, Wendler bases his decision to cancel the show on the grounds that drag shows are demeaning to women. He writes: “As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood.”

I have never heard a woman say anything like that about drag, nor have I ever heard anyone try to make that argument. Wendler’s comment, and in fact his entire column, is the most tortuous logic imaginable.

Drag shows are the fashionable thing for the far right to hate at the moment. Two years ago, no one had a problem with them. Now, they are portrayed as pure evil. In fact, Potter County GOP Chairman Dan Rogers on Thursday sent a message to the Enterprise calling for people to sign a petition supporting Wendler “in his stand against evil.”

There is evil in this world without a doubt. But it’s not a drag show. It’s the ugliness of people like Wendler and Rogers who demonize others simply because they are different.

People have been enjoying men dressed in drag for a very long time. Milton Berle, Flip Wilson, Jack Lemmon, Bob Hope, Tom Hanks, and many others have all dressed in drag. Who can forget Mrs. Doubtfire portrayed by Robin Williams? Some may say, well these were harmless, but remember, Dr. Wendler says that’s impossible.

Why? What has changed? Supporters of Dr. Wendler will tell you that drag shows today have become inappropriate. But I think really what has changed is the ability for people not to get offended and the ability of people to tolerate different points of view and different beliefs.

Dr. Wendler’s columns have run in the Enterprise for several years; and until last week, he was a man I respected. But as a president of a state-financed university, he has an obligation to stand up for free speech, free expression, and most of all free thought. It’s not only a moral obligation; it’s the law. The Texas Legislature in 2019 – in a rare act of bipartisanship, as reported by the Texas Tribune - required universities to allow any person to engage in free-speech activities on campuses.

Wendler tried very hard to avoid addressing the lightning rod issues that have lately come with criticism of drag shows and instead tried to cloak himself as the righteous defender of womanhood with a healthy dose of bible verses and references to Natural Law. What he needs is some schooling in the United States Constitution, and he’s likely to get that with the lawsuit he’s now facing for his actions.

Does Wendler really believe what he wrote or is he just trying to keep the Randall-Potter county communities happy or pacify some big donor? We don’t know, but we know what he did, and it was wrong.

Wendler’s actions are just an example of what’s going on these days. Our nation is seeing more and more of this kind of behavior. Last week, a Wisconsin elementary school first grade was stopped from performing Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus’ song “Rainbowland.” School administrators pulled the plug on the performance. They also originally canceled a performance of Kermit the Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection” but reversed that decision.

When Dolly Parton and Kermit the Frog are seen as offensive, we are living in a world gone crazy for sure.

Everyone needs to calm down and relax. Drag shows aren’t inherently evil. Dolly Parton can’t possibly be a problem, and Kermit is cool. Instead of spreading hate and dissent, we should try loving one another and be nice to each other – even to people we disagree with.

Reinstate the show, Dr. Wendler. Show the world that you’re better than this and that WTAMU stands for freedom.

Higher education gets news coverage in both mass and social media, and much, I’m sure, is true. Technology is changing it at warp speed, and the old descriptions we used to toss about no longer fit.

We joked that colleges had buildings where “ivy is creeping around on the outside and teachers are creeping around on the inside.” Other bromides come to mind, but none seem to fit well in the ever-changing framework of what higher education is all about.

Greek philosophers considered the topic centuries ago, asking, “Whom, then, shall we call educated?” Then, they proceeded to answer their own questions, claiming that education should enable students to deal effectively with the circumstances they encounter day by day. It still fits, right?... *****

Truth to tell, institutions must be open to change. After all, many of them have changed their names, and several times at that. What formerly were known as “teachers’ colleges” head the list.

When colleges started popping up in Texas – most of them in the early 1900s – a word included in most names was “normal.”

Real old-timers, longest of tooth and grayest of beard, remember or heard tell of such colleges, including Sam Houston State Normal College, with these three last names also applying to such institutions as North Texas, Southwest Texas, Sul Ross, East Texas and West Texas.

They removed “normal” from their names, a decision perhaps worthy of applause. Many changed their three final words to “State Teachers’ College,” then came “State College,” followed by “State University.” (During the

1960s-1970s, many colleges decided “university” had a better ring to it. Later, some joined the systems of two other institutions –The University of Texas and Texas A&M University. However, those are whole ‘nuther stories.)… *****

This column centers on unusual happenings at two Fort Worth higher education institutions – Texas Christian University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Both provided recent front-page stories mere days apart in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

TCU leaders promised placement of the “big pot into the little one” for its 150th anniversary observance this year, and Southwestern announced sale of Carroll Park – a 24-acre tract with one and two-bedroom housing – to the City of Fort Worth for $11 million…. *****

TCU has been its official name since 1902, but founding brothers Addison and Randolph Clark called it “Add-Ran Male and Female College” in the early years. About the time of TCU’s founding 150 years ago, Fort Worth was saddled with bawdiness associated with the joint impact of railroads and Chisholm Trail cattle drives. Afraid that this setting could corrupt students’ minds, the Clark brothers relocated the school to Thorp Spring, some 40 miles away, a few miles from Granbury.

Enrollment grew there from a few dozen students to more than 400 from 18731895. It was known for being “seven miles from any known sin.”

Then came another relocation, this time to Waco. In 1910, TCU moved back to Fort Worth, where the sprawling campus of some 300 acres now is home to some 11,000 students. It may be the only higher education institution in the US that has been located in three communities, one of them twice…..

*****

At Southwestern, such a sale is a head-scratcher, particularly since this was the world’s largest theological seminary during the 1970s and 1980s. News accounts indicate that Fort Worth plans to utilize the housing for homeless families.

When Christ returns, His arrival might be at the very spot where Cowtown homeless abide…. ***** Presidents of higher education institutions these days seem to be on ground as shaky as football coaches whose school alumni promise to “support them always – win or tie.”

Average presidential tenure now is about four years, and Dr. Kenneth Ashworth, longtime Texas Commissioner of Higher Education, saw the entanglements coming.

Fact is, presidents are re-reading his delightful 2001 book, Caught Between the Dog and the Fireplug: How to Survive Public Service…. *****

Dr.

40 words and 15¢ per word for each additional word. Basic engagement, wedding, anniversary, and birth announcements are $10 each. Expanded wedding announcements are $20. A one-column announcement picture is $5, and a two-column announcement picture is $10. Pictures submitted for publication should be picked up within ten days after publication. Death notices are printed at no charge. Obituaries are published for $45 or $50 with a photo.

DEADLINES

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

Annual subscriptions are available for $40 for zip codes inside Donley County, $50 elsewhere in Texas, and $55 out of state. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: The Clarendon Enterprise, PO Box 1110, Clarendon, TX 79226-1110. Digital Subscriptions are $25 per year.

LETTERS

Letters to the editor are welcome. Views expressed in letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or staff

Obituaries

Sharp Wesley Arlyn Sharp passed away peacefully Monday, March 28, 2023, at the age of 89.

Graveside services will be Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in the Alanreed Cemetery with Brother Bob Miller officiating.

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

CHS UIL:

Continued from page one.

received 4th, B. Cottrell received 5th, and Mason Allred and Jaxan McAnear both received 6th. Leeper was the top student in Biology and Chemistry.

The Social Studies team had a 1st place finish and advances to regionals. C. Word earned 1st place, Cutter Seay earned 3rd place, Addison Willoughby earned 4th place, and D. Mays earned 5th place. Other members were Jasmyn Bordonaro and Warren Mays.

Sharp

Wes was born on May 19, 1933, to Howard and Anna Belle (Patrick) Sharp. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hart and graduated from the Hart Public School system in 1951. Wes proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.

Wes married Beth Hall on July 27, 1956, in Canyon. They moved to the Sandhills of Nebraska in 1957. Wes enjoyed ranching, roping, and raising and riding good Quarter Horses. The family moved back to Clarendon in 1983. Wes worked for the Archer Daniels Midland Company and Texas Saddlery before starting Sharp Saddlery which he owned and operated for over 30 years. He truly enjoyed the many customers and friends that he made during his travels of West Texas, Eastern New Mexico, and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

He was proceeded in death by his parents; sister, Jeannie Mosley; and great-grandson, Kashton Jackson.

Wes was a devoted and loving husband, dad, granddad and great granddad. Those left to cherish his memory and carry on his legacy are: wife, Beth Sharp of the home; son Kelvin Sharp and wife Lissa of Lubbock; daughter Evonnda Watkins and husband Joe of Claude; granddaughters Mandi Jackson and husband Blaine of Claude; Alice Conner and husband Chad of Amarillo; Kelsee Lozier and husband Clay of Claude; Lindsey Boatright and husband Brice of Lubbock; grandson John Sharp of Lubbock; great grandchildren Kaylee Jackson, Korbin Jackson, Peyton Conner, Keevin Conner, Addyson Conner, Cadyn Lozier and Kinsley Lozier and brother Jack Sharp of Georgetown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alanreed Cemetery Association, C/O Bank of Commerce, P.O. Box 29 McLean, TX 79057 or Donley County Senior Citizens Association, P.O. Box Drawer B, Clarendon, TX 79226.

National

The Mathematics team gained a 1st place finish and advances to regionals. Estlack earned 1st place, Allred and Williams earned 4th place, and B. Cottrell earned 6th place. Other members were Halsey and Auden Bordonaro.

Speakers finished off the day with Prose, Informative Speaking, and Persuasive Speaking. Adriana Araujo placed 3rd in Prose and 4th in Persuasive Speaking. She will advance to regionals in Prose. Seay obtained a 1st place finish in Informative Speaking and earned a spot to regionals while C. Word obtained a 4th place finish.

The Clarendon Lions Club held its regular Tuesday noon meeting March 28, 2023, with Boss Lion Landon Lambert in charge.

We had 15 members and Sweetheart Laney Gates present and three members attending virtually this week.

We welcomed Chanel Silva, guest of Lion Chelsea Covey, as our newest member. Welcome, Lion Chanel!

The club stuffed Easter eggs for Saturday’s community egg hunt hosted by the Pony Parents. Bags for 5K racers will be prepared Wednesday afternoon at the Mulkey. Duties and assignments were discussed for Saturday’s Chance Mark Jones Roar & Run 5K. Registration is $30 and remains open through Saturday morning. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse.

The Boss Lion thanked the Lions, Sweetheart, and volunteers who helped clean up and take down trees at the Lions Hall last Saturday. New trees have been ordered to replace those that died, and donations are being accepted to help pay for the new trees.

There being no further business, we were adjourned to spread Lionism and good cheer throughout our fair county.

¿Qué Pasa?

Community Calendar

March 30

Family Game Night • 6:00 p.m. • Mulkey Theater

March 31

Broncos v Claude • 4:30 p.m.

•Claude

March 31 & April 1

Champions • 7:30 p.m. • Mulkey Theater

April 2

Champions • 2:00 p.m. • Mulkey Theater

April 1

Lions Club’s Chance Mark Jones

‘Roar N Run’ 5K • Begins at 8:30 a.m. • Donley County Courthouse

April 1

Community Easter • 11:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. • Courthouse Square

April 1 Lady Broncos v Follett • 1:00 p.m. • Home

April 3 Broncos & Lady Broncos Golf @ Chil-

dress April 4

Lady Broncos v Sunray • 4:00 p.m.

• Away April 4 Broncos v Memphis • 4:30 p.m.

•Away

April 6

Lady Broncos v Claude• 3:00 p.m. • Home April 6 Broncos v Naz • 4:00 p.m. • Home

April 7 & 8

The Super Mario Bros. Movie • 7:30 p.m. • Mulkey Theater

April 9

The Super Mario Bros. Movie • 2:00 p.m. • Mulkey Theater

Menus

April 3 - 7

Donley County Senior Citizens

Mon: Sliced ham, buttered carrots, black eyed peas, whole wheat roll, iced tea/2% milk.

Tues: Salisbury steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, whole wheat roll, apple cobbler, iced tea/2% milk.

Wed: Chicken alfredo, broccoli & cauliflower, garden salad, garlic bread stick, lemon cake, iced tea/2% milk.

Thurs: Chicken fried steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, whole wheat roll, cheery/pineapple crisp, iced tea/2% milk.

Fri: Closed Hedley Senior Citizens

Mon: Beed enchiladas casserole, broccoli & carrots, mixed green salad, strawberry cream cake, cornbread, iced tea/2% milk.

Tue: Pork chop w/grilled peppers & onions, bacon mac & cheese, sauteed summer squash, carrot cake w/cream cheese frosting, wheat roll, iced tea/2% milk.

Wed: Creamy chicken spaghetti, broccoli, peach cobbler, wheat roll, iced tea/2% milk.

Thurs: Battered cod fish fillet, coleslaw, hushpuppies, no bake cookies, apricots, iced tea/2% milk.

Fri: Closed Clarendon CISD

Breakfast Mon: Breakfast sandwich, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Tues: Breakfast strudel, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Wed: Power breakfast, biscuit, gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Thu: Breakfast pizza, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Fri: No School

Lunch Mon: Meat & cheese chalupas, beans, corn, salsa, fruit, pudding, milk.

Tues: Chili cheese totchos, veggie cup, potatoes, strawberries & bananas, milk.

Wed: Chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, carrots, squash, grapes, fruit, milk.

Thu: Cheeseburger, chips, tomato cup, salad, fruit, milk.

Fri: No School Hedley ISD

Breakfast Mon: Pancake, bacon, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Tues: Breakfast combo, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Wed: Breakfast pizza, fruit juice, fruit, milk. Thu: Oatmeal, cinnamon toast, fruit juice, fruit, milk.

Fri: No School Lunch Mon: Country fried steak, roll, potatoes, okra, strawberries, gravy, milk.

Tues: Texmex stack, beans, carrots, salsa, hot cinnamon apples, sherbet, milk.

Wed: Pizza, garden salad, green beans, peaches, milk.

Thu: Popcorn chicken, corn, crunchy broccoli salad, apples, cookie, milk.

Fri: No School

CASA needs help to end child abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and CASA of the High Plains is raising awareness of the need for more dedicated members of the community to step up and become CASA volunteers, and help end child abuse and neglect, through supporting children and their families.

CASA volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are everyday people from all walks of life who are recruited and specially trained to advocate for children in foster care and provide a consistent, reliable adult presence for them during a difficult time in their life.

“Our volunteers’ first priority is to keep families together whenever safe and possible,” said Alissha Jefferis, executive director of CASA of the High Plains

“Foster care is only a temporary solution to the problems at hand. We need to create long term support networks that work to care for families, make reunification a possibility, and help break the cycle for the next generation.”

CASA volunteers are assigned to one child or sibling group to advocate for their best interest in court,

in school and in other settings. They get to know the child and everyone involved in their life, such as their parents and other family members, foster parents, therapists, caseworkers and teachers, in order to develop a realistic picture of the child’s unique situation.

They engage those important to the child and family in order to build a network of support around them, so that the family has access to support and resources after the case ends. They make recommendations to the judge overseeing the child’s case, with the goal of ensuring that the child is safe and the family has the resources, support and healthy relationships needed to heal.

Locally, CASA of the High Plains served 109 children in the foster care system in Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Roberts, Ochiltree and Wheeler counties in 2022. This April, consider stepping up to make a difference by becoming a CASA volunteer.

“There is always a need for more CASA volunteers,” said Jefferis. “By becoming a volunteer, you can take your efforts beyond just awareness, and do your part to

help support children and families in crisis right here in our community.”

When reunification is not a possibility for the children they serve, CASA volunteers work to find others that can provide a positive, healthy and loving environment. These can include relatives, friends or other adults that are important in the child’s life—keeping a child connected to their home community.

“We at CASA of the High Plains always hope for the day when CASA, foster care and a national month dedicated to child abuse prevention are no longer needed because all children are growing up safe, secure and supported with their families,” said Jefferis. “Until then, we will continue to seek more members of the community to join our growing movement so that we can provide a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one.”

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. If you see abuse, report it to 1 (800) 252-5400 or go to www.txabusehotline.org. If a child’s life is in danger, call 911. For more information on CASA, visit www. BecomeaCASA.org or CASAHP.org 806-669-7638

BLM seeks input about Cross Bar area

ing, mineral exploration and energy

Travel management planning consists of three phases: route inventory, route evaluation, and the development of the TMP.

To provide information and receive public input on this inventory within the CBMA, the BLM will host an open house on Wednesday, April 5, 6-8 p.m. at the Amarillo Downtown Public Library, 413 SE 4th. During the open house, maps of the inventoried routes will be available for review. The public is encouraged to review these routes and make comments. BLM staff will

be available to answer questions and receive comments on the project.

“We look forward to receiving public input on the Cross Bar Management Area,” said Outdoor Recreation Planner Adrian Escobar. “Information submitted at this stage will help inform upcoming route evaluations, a key stage in the BLM’s travel management planning process.” The BLM anticipates soliciting additional public input at later stages of the travel planning process for the CBMA. Contact Adrian Escobar at (806) 356-1008.

Water law overview, update webinar set April 6

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “Water Law Overview and Update” on April 6 from noon to 1 p.m. as part of its ongoing Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Stewardship Series.

Cost is $35, and advance registration is required at https://tx.ag/ RWFMStewardshipWebinars.

After payment has been received, a follow-up email will be sent from the event organizer with

instructions on how to access the webinar. One Texas Department of Agriculture laws and regulations continuing education unit is available.

For questions, contact series co-creators Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist, Bryan-College Station, at brittany.chesser@ ag.tamu.edu, or Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension rangeland specialist, San Angelo, at morgan. treadwell@ag.tamu.edu.

The featured speaker is Tiffany Lashmet, J.D., AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, Amarillo. Her presentation will offer a highlevel overview of Texas groundwater and surface water law.

“There is no question that water law is an important issue for Texas landowners,” Lashmet said. “Understanding how the law applies to both groundwater and surface water is critical for any rural landowner in the Lone Star State.”

DHDC shows girls entomology isn’t

For their Girls Who Science program happening Monday, April 3 at 4:45 p.m., the Don Harrington Discovery Center is bringing in an amateur entomologist and conservationist as their guest speaker.

Amarillo local and Texas native Kathleen Guerrero has had a lifelong hobby of collecting insects, arachnids, and myriapods along with a fascination of animals. With over 89 cases of collected specimens from the 48 countries she’s visited, Guerrero has dedicated her 30 year teaching career and volunteer work to educating others about animals as well as protecting wild species and habitats.

Guerrero has volunteered at the Don Harrington Discovery Center, Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, Amarillo Botanical Gardens, Window on a Wider World Collaborative, libraries, schools, and many other groups wanting to learn from her.

This program is the first Monday of every month from 4:45 pm to 6:15 p.m.

Esteemed women professionals in the STEM industry are brought in for conversations, a presentation, and Q&A’s with young women aspiring to go into STEM. After the presentation from the guest speaker, the Discovery Center will also provide an activity related to their field of study and a snack for participants during a break in the program.

Medicine, engineering, coding, biology, and animal science are just the start of what DHDC plans to cover in this program. Young women in upper elementary school through high school are encouraged to attend.

Follow The Discovery Center on Facebook and Instagram for more information on their community programs.

Veteran honored Charles Mills smiles wrapped in the Quilt of Valor he received recently from the Golden Needles Quilting Club. The quilt was pieced by Dortha Reynolds and quilted by members of the club. Mills served 12 years in the US Marine Corps. Shown here are Doris Mills, Dortha Reynolds, Charles Mills, and Gay Cole.

Tony Sparks visited the 1st grade classes on March 22 as part of their unit on cowboys. He shared about why he became a cowboy, stories of growing up, ranches he has worked on, showed cowboy’s equipment, roped for them, and sang songs. COURTESY PHOTO

Hedley athletes bring home wins from Kress

Hedley’s Iziak Weatherread and Josh Booth brought home first place honors when the Owls participated in the Kress Relays last Tuesday, March 21.

Weatherread won the 800M with a time of 2:20.88, and Booth was first in the 1600M with a time of 5:09.03. Billy Curry and Isaiah Torres also ran in the 1600M.

Weatherread also placed second in the 3200M with a time of 13:07.31. Hedley’s Billy Curry was third with 13:18.34, and Javier Valles was fourth with 13:25.75.

In the long jump, Weatherread was fourth with a jump of 19’¾”, Josh Booth was 11th at 16’4¼”, and Valles finished 16th at 13’11¼”.

Matthew Rodriguez finished 18th in the shot put with a distance of 25’3”, and Paeton Glover was 22nd at 23’9”.

Booth finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 93’5”, and Matthew Rodriguez also participated.

Taylee Ehlert represented the Lady Owls and finished seventh in the discus with a throw of 66’7”.

In the Junior High Relays, Payton Inman was fourth for the Owls in the 100M with 13.47, third in the 200M with 26.83, and second in the 400M with 1:04.84.

Sebastian Garcia came in 22nd in the 200M with 33.43 and 14th in the 400M with 1:16.50. Takota Edwards was 8th in the 400M with 1:09.72, and Brandon Moore was 21st with 1:23.31.

In the 2400M, Edwards was

fifth with a time of 10:04.22. He and Moore also ran in the 1600M. Edwards was 20th in the long jump with a distance of 12’11”, and Garcia was 21st with 12’10½”. Moore had a distance of 10’8” for 27th.

Kaitin Ehlert placed fifth in the 300M for the junior high Lady Owls with a time of 1:09.9, and Kinley McClelland was sixth in the 2400M at 11:22.4. Ehlert and McClelland also ran in the 1600M.

In the 100M dash, Lillie McCleskey was 10th with a time of 15.72, and Kali Curry tied and Amherst runner for 11th at 16.21.

Kelli Love was 23rd at 17.40, and Maria Silvestre was 28th at 21.66.

In the 200M, McCleskey was 11th at 34.65, and Curry was 14th at 35.09. Love finished 24th with 37.74, and Sadie Trent came in with a time of 39.39.

McClelland, McCleskey, Curry, and Ehlert ran the 4x100M relay and finished fifth with a time of 1:03.62.

In the long jump, McCleskey’s leap measured 11’8½” for 13th, Ehlert covered a distance of 11’4½” for 15th, and McClelland was 18th with 10’9½”. Curry also participated.

Abbey Branigan was ninth in the shot put with a throw of 23’5”.

Love was 12th at 22’6”, Silvestre was 16th at 17’9”, and Kylynne Shelley was 17th at 13’4”.

Participating in the discus for the junior high Ladies were Branigan, Shelley, Love, and Silvestre.

NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE TARIFF FILING

Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Commission) on March 21, 2023, its Petition requesting approval of its proposed Military Base Surcharge Tariff.

Section 36.354(a) of the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), at Texas Utilities Code § 36.354, provides that each electric utility in an area where implementation of full customer choice has been delayed by the Commission in accordance with PURA Section 39.103 shall discount charges for electric service provided to a military base. Section 36.354(b) of PURA establishes the discount to be provided to military installations as a 20 percent reduction of the base commercial rate that the electric utility would otherwise charge the installation.

Section 36.354(c) of PURA provides that the electric utility may assess a surcharge to all its Texas retail customers to recover the difference in revenue between the revenues from the discounted rate for military bases and the base commercial rate. SWEPCO’s Tariff Sheet No. IV-16 provides the Military Base Adjustment Factor per billing kWh as reflected below:

MONTHLY FACTOR

Major Rate Classes

$/kWh

Residential $0.0000866

Commercial & Small Industrial $0.0000637

Industrial / Large Lighting and Power $0.0000274

Municipal $0.0000623

Outdoor Lighting $0.0001141

SWEPCO has requested that the tariff become effective with the first billing cycle of June 2023. The Petition has been assigned Tariff Control No. 54778. Persons who wish to intervene in or comment upon this proceeding must notify the Commission within 21 days of SWEPCO’s filing of the Petition. A request to intervene or for further information should be mailed to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 13326, Austin, Texas 78711-3326. Further information may also be obtained by calling the Commission at (512) 936-7120 or (888) 782-8477. Hearing and speech-impaired individuals with text telephones (TTY) may contact the Commission at (800) 735-2988. The Company can be contacted at 428 Travis Street, Shreveport, LA 71101, or by calling (888) 216-3523 during normal business hours

Kaitlyn Ehlert

Kylynne Shelley

Kinley McClelland

Isaiah Torres and Javier Valles

Lady Broncos win over WT, Booker

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos earned another two wins last week in district matchups with West Texas High and Booker.

The wins put the ladies at 13-3-2 overall and are sitting at the top of their district. The Lady Broncos defeated WT 5-2 and slid by Booker 14-5. The ladies held a 4-0 lead after three innings with Kennadie Cummins on the mound. Cummins went from start to finish and struck out 15 hitters in seven. She also posted only

Broncs beat Shamrock

By Sandy Anderberg

The 9-3-1 Broncos shutout the Irish 8-0 and defeated Kress 12-2 last week as they continue district play.

Wilson Ward got the win over Shamrock as he pitched for six innings, and Lyric Smith came in as relief to finish the last inning. Ward allowed only one hit, no runs, and struck out 10 batters.

The Broncos got tapped off early in the first inning, but it was the fifth inning that exploded with six runs for Clarendon. Harrison Howard and Levi Gates each hit a single, and Smith slammed a double in the inning. Smith was able to put the icing on the win in the sixth when he sent one over the fence for a onerun homerun.

The Broncos posted several hits in the win. Smith and Tyler Harper had two each with Ward, Easton Frausto, Howard, and Colton Caudle adding one heat each. The team racked up eight stolen bases in the game. Defensively, the Broncos were error-free for the duration, and Howard made the most plays with 11.

CHS runners compete in Childress

By Sandy Anderberg

The Bronco and Lady Bronco track teams competed in the Childress Relays last week and did fairly well in the meet. Trystan Brown earned first place in the high jump for the Lady Bronco junior varsity team with a leap of 4’1”.

The JV 800m relay ran second in a time of 2:12.81 and was run by Brown, Mary Jo Dushay, Diamond Lenz, and Lexi Phillips.

Lady Bronco JV results: 100m

Mary Jo Dushay 4th 15.20, 12th

Lexi Phillips 16.36; 200m Diamond

Lenz 2nd 31.78, Dushay 7th 34.55, Phillips 11th 35.57; 400m Brown

3rd 1:15.65; Discus Dushay 8th 55’; long jump Lenz 2nd 12’3”.

Bronco JV results: 100m Shane

Hagood 5th 12.16, Riley Wade 6th

12.20; 400m Hagood 8th 59.84, Wade 13th 1:02.10; long jump

Hagood 5th 17’7 ¼”, Wade 11th

16’3 ¾”.

Lady Bronco Varsity: 200m

Madi Benson 6th 29.37, Kashlyn

Conkin 22nd 32.67; 400m Benson

4th 1:06.87; 100m hurdles Conkin.

14th 22.51; 300m hurdles Presley

Smith 5th 56.12; long jump Smith

8th 14’7”, Benson 15th 13’6 ¾”; 400m relay 10th (Berkley Moore, Kenidee Hayes, Gracie Ellis, Presley Smith); 800m relay 7th (Moore, Benson, Hayes, Kimbrasia Ballard); mile relay 4th 4:41.40 (Moore, Hayes, Ellis, Smith).

Bronco results: 100m Lyric

Smith 9th 11.64, 13th Kaleb Mays

11.75, Anthony Brown 19th 12.08;

100m Smith 7th 24.77, Kaleb Bolin

11th 25.05, Mays 16th 25.86; 400m

Bolin 8th 54.89, Mays 13th 57.38,

Jaxan McAnear 15th 58.09; 1600m

Bryce Williams 6th 5:03.78; 3200m

Williams 6th 11:06.37; high jump

Smith 4th 5’10”; long jump Brown

8th 18’5 ¾”; triple jump Reagan

Wade 11th 32’6”.

Both track teams will participate in the District meet in Wellington on April 5 and 6.

three hits, two runs, and one error. WT’s runs came in the fourth inning.

The Lady Broncos stayed consistent on both sides of the plate in the next two innings and did not need their last at bat.

K. Cummins went to the plate four times and finished with one run, one hit, one RBI, and two strike outs. Baylee Gabel, Eliza Rodriguez, Graci Wilkins, and Chelsea Wright had three at-bats each, and Tandie Cummins, Hayden Elam, and Rodriguez stole six bases in the game with Elam leading the way with three.

The Lady Broncos really had their bats going in the game with Booker and scored two runs in the first and one in the third while Booker brought home one run in the second. Booker took the lead in the fourth when they scored four more runs in an unusual defensive letdown by the Lady Broncos who committed four errors in the game.

Determination set in, however, and Clarendon was able to take their turn at the plate and slam nine runs in the last three innings to earn the 14-5

win. T. Cummins was on the mound for three innings before K. Cummins came in the last four to get the win.

T. Cummins allowed two hits, five runs, and struck out six hitters, while K. Cummins allowed two hits, no run, and struck out three.

The Lady Broncos used their speed to collect 14 stolen bases with K. Cummins nabbing four and Gabel and Shelby Coles earning two.

The Lady Broncos will play Follett at home on Friday, March 31, and travel to Sunray April 4. Both games will begin at 4 p.m.

Despite two homeruns by the Kangaroos in the first and second, the game with Kress was never a contest for the Broncos as they were able to out hit and out play their opponent to earn the 10-run advantage. Jared Musick was on the mound and went four innings allowing four hits, two

runs, and threw four strike-outs. Smith and Harper took their turn with one inning each to help Musick get the win.

Once again, the Broncos made some noise at the plate with six hits and six RBIs coupled with seven base-on-balls while adding seven

stolen bases led by Britton Cottrell with three. Gates, Musick, Caudle, Frausto, and Ward each grabbed two steals each.

The Broncos will travel to Claude March 31 in a non-district game before playing at Memphis on April 4.

Clarendon’s Levi Gates tries to tag a Kress runner out at first base during the Broncos’ home game last week.

ENTERPRISE PHOTO / TARA ALLRED

HELP WANTED

ONE BEDROOM HOUSE for rent. Will be available the middle of May. Call 806-678-1825 for more information.

PART TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT position at the Armstrong County Museum in Claude. This new position is an office administration and patron contact position. The successful candidate will have experience with Microsoft Office, and be able to maintain a social media presence for the museum. Bookkeeping/accounting experience is beneficial.

Experience with point-of-sale credit card systems and gift shop inventory is beneficial. Must be a self-starter and be able to prioritize tasks. Salary based on experience. A more compete job description is on our website at armstrongcountymuesem.net. Please email your resume and cover letter to armstrongcountymuseum@gmail.com. For questions, contact the ACM Chairman at 806-437-3754.

To write a bit of poetry, you can use a computer or some paper – also me!

Poets and Poetry!

That’s a big word! Wow!

rhyme

Hmmm...I need just the right word...

So, you want to learn about poetry. Read the clues below to fill in the puzzle with some “keys” to poetry:

couplet

onomatopoeia stanza alliteration

Favorite Poets

rhythm meter

verse stress syllable

A little mouse in the house,

Finding the perfect place to break a line...

Poetry to Read to Your Pet!

Read about these favorite poets, then match each poet to one of his well-known books:

1. Jack Prelutsky - first Children’s Poet Laureate; traveled and talked about poetry for children

2. Dr. Seuss - invented the word “Nerd” in one his books; sold hundreds of millions of books worldwide

3. Shel Silverstein - said he started writing because he wasn’t

isagreattechniqueinpoetry.

the number of syllables and which syllable is stressed

10. when two or more words have similar ending sounds, as in ground and round and pound

Inside Out & Back Again

G. The Crossover

Burnam 13th 56.88; Discus

Carter Luna 5th 73’11”; long jump

Robinson 6th 15’5 ½”.

8th grade Colts: 800m relay 4th

1:47.57 (Markael Anderson, Brice

Wagner, Parker Hanes, Caleb Herbert); 100m 2nd Anderson 12.41, Wagner 8th 12.74, Hanes 15th 13.46; 200m Anderson 4th 25.77, Herbert 16th 27.50; 400m Wagner 1st 59.37, Aiden Morris 15th 1:09.56; 110m

hurdles Ronan Howard 16th 28.29; high jump Howard 9th 4’8”; long jump Wagner 6th 16’3”.

7th grade Lady Colts: 100m

Sequoia Weatherton 2nd 14.57, Eli Rodriguez 19th 16.11; 200m Addy Havens 5th 31.83, Weatherton 10th

34.12; 400m Havens 2nd 1:13.18, Landry King 5th 1:17.18, Weather-

ton 6th 3:02.84; 800m Havens 2nd

2:47.62, King 6th 3:02.84; 300m hurdles Makynna Williams 6th

1.13.97; shot put Williams 8th 24’9”; long jump Havens 4th 12’4 ½”.

8th grade Lady Colts 100m Jayla Woodard 10th 14.94; 200m Woodard 6th 31.22; 100m hurdles Woodard 11th 20.54.

HHS advances in UIL

One individual and one team advanced to regionals when Hedley’s UIL academic teams went to contest last week.

Savanah Trent placed third in Calculator, and the Computer Science team of Josh Booth, Lane Hinton, Iziak Weatherread, and Cody Bond swept the contest placing first through fourth as individuals respectively.

Trent was also sixth in Copy Editing, and Weatherread was sixth in Social Studies.

Billy Curry was sixth in Headline Writing, and Liam Branigan was fifth in Mathematics and in Number Sense. Madison Moore was sixth in Number Sense. As a team, Hedley was second in Number Sense, and the Owl Journalism team was fifth as a team.