Dateline: July 4, 2002

Clarendon ready for July Fourth Celebration

Floats are being decorated, cowboys are warmed up for competition, and the barbecue is nearly ready as Clarendon and Donley County prepare for the 124th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration being held this week in observance of America’s Independence.

The celebration begins on July Fourth at City Park with the Arts and Crafts Fair, the Old Settlers’ Reunion, and a cake walk. The Al Morrah Shrine Club will begin serving a delicious barbecue lunch at 11:00 a.m, and the annual Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will be held at 1:30 p.m.

The Bicycle/Tricycle Parade will be held right before the big parade at 2:00.  Kids will check in at 1:15 at City Park and will line up at 1:45 on Kearney Street beside the park.  Kids 12 years old and younger will ride for only one block by the park so they can enjoy the rest of the parade.

The annual Fourth of July Celebration Parade will kick off at 2:00. The line up for the parade will begin at noon two blocks west of the City Park. The parade route will be from the baseball fields on Seventh Street to Kearney, then up Kearney to Third Street, west to Jefferson, and then back to the ball fields.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will sponsor a Jackpot Bullriding contest at the Rodeo Grounds Thursday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m.

A junior calf and steer riding contest for kids ages 4-12 will be held each night along with the calf scramble for kids ages 12 and under. A free $200 beef certificate will be drawn each night.

The annual Calf Scramble and Wild Mare Race will also be held each night of the rodeo. Prizes will be given for kids ages 12 and under.

KEFH will host a free dance on the slab at the rodeo grounds on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m.

The fun continues on Friday, July 5, with the Donley County Horse Club Stick Horse Rodeo. The rodeo will be held in the vacant lot across from the Post Office beginning at 10:00 a.m. The rodeo is a fun event for all children nine and under. There will be a small entry fee for each event.  This is a fund-raiser for the Horse Club, and all fees will help support their activities.

The annual Depression Lunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday inside the Main Street Ministry Center. The First Baptist Church will help serve the beans and cornbread for a low price. They will also be selling drinks and delicious desserts.  Entertainment will be provided by praise bands from the Clarendon College Ministry and local churches.

Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association and McLean Feedyard will present the annual Ranch Rodeo beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at the rodeo grounds with 20 different teams from ranches around the area.

Local teams include O’Brien Ranch, Finch/Thornberry Ranch, Matthews/Darsey Ranch, Hall Ranch, JA Ranch, 3H Cattle Company, Bar W Ranch, Peace Pipe Ranch, Rafter S Ranch, and the RO Ranch.

Ranch rodeo events will include Bronc Riding, Wild Cow Milking, Calf Branding, Team Doctoring, and Team Sortin’.

The Chamber of Commerce will give away the trip for two to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Saturday night during the rodeo.  Tickets are available for $10 each or 3 for $25.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Cheri Floyd at 874-5066, Greg Henry at 874-3571, or the Chamber at 874-2421.

The rodeo dance will begin at 9:00 p.m. at the Panhandle’s largest open-air dance floor at the Rodeo Grounds with Santa Fe Band on Friday and Tommy Alverson on Saturday night.

The RHAA Ranch Horse Competition begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning at the rodeo grounds. The event is sponsored by McLean Feedyard and COEA.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Sign up your turtle at the store from now until race day.