Kiddie parade, turtle race finishes celebration

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The 122nd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration finished up last week with events throughout the day last Tuesday, July 4.

This year’s celebration started on June 30 and was spread across five days instead of the usual three-day celebration.

The Kiddie Parade started things off for Independence

 Day with 67 entries in three categories.

Tres and Hannah Hommel were first in the 1- to 4-year-old age group. Denver Chambliss was second, and Will Noble and Taylor Knorpp were third.

In the 5- to 8-year-old division, Corey Barker came in first, Caden Farris was second, and Trevela Dronzek was third.

Trevor Leeper took top honors among the 9- to 12-year-olds. Katie Cummins and Sade Cobb were second and third respectively.

This year’s Kiddie Parade first place winners were sponsored by The Donley County State Bank. Second and third place winners received prizes from Duckwall’s.

The annual Depression Dinner followed the parade and was sponsored by the First Baptist Church to benefit their Main Street Ministry program.

The celebration continued that afternoon with a reading by the VFW at the Donley County War Memorial.

In keeping with the holiday, the Declaration of Independence was read by Jared Hartman and Carrie Helms, both students at Clarendon High School.

The Henson’s Annual Turtle Race was the final event of the celebration, and sponsor A.R. Henson said this year was the first time the race had actually been held on the Fourth of July.

More than 200 terrapins raced for the finish line in three different flights. The winners belonged to Marshal Johnson of Clarendon, Cameron Wright of Clarendon, and Travis Hrbacek of Hedley.