Dateline: June 19, 2003

Rededication to be highlight of celebration 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

After more than three years of anticipation, the newly restored 1890 Donley County Courthouse will be formally rededicated during this year’s annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.

The ceremony scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 4, will be the highlight of the 125th anniversary celebration with guest speakers scheduled to include US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), State Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), and Larry Oaks of the Texas Historical Commission.

 An open house of the renovated courthouse will be held after the ceremony until noon.

Other festivities this year include the annual Arts and Crafts Fair from 10:00 a.m.  to 4 p.m. at the City Park. If you would like to be a part of the action by exhibiting at the fair, contact the Donley County Extension Office at 874-2141 to reserve a space.

The Old Settlers Reunion starts at 10:30 a.m. at the City Park Pavilion.

The Shriners will begin serving a delicious barbecue lunch at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $6 per plate and are available at Henson’s, at the Enterprise office, or from any Shriner.

The annual Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo will be held at 1:00 p.m. also in the park.

The Bicycle/Tricycle Parade will be held right before the big parade at 2:00.  Kids will meet at the bridge at City Park at 1:45.  Kids 12 years old and younger will ride for only one block by the park so they can enjoy the rest of the parade.  Bicycle and tricycle entries will be judged for best in each age division.  Motorized entries will not be judged.  Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in each age division. Registration forms are available in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and may be dropped off or mailed to the Chamber of Commerce office.  Entries are due July 1, 2003.

The annual Fourth of July Celebration Parade will follow the bicycle parade. The line up begins 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 Sully, and then back to the ball fields. Registration forms are available in this week’s Enterprise and may be dropped off at the Burton Memorial Library or the Chamber of Commerce office.  Entries can also be mailed to the Chamber of Commerce.  Entries are due June 28, 2003. For more information on the parade, call Jerri Ann Shields at 874-3685

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will sponsor an Open Ranch Bronc Ride on Thursday, July 3, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Rodeo Arena.  An open junior calf ride for ages 0-8 and a steer ride for ages 9-12 will be held that evening.  There is a $20 entry for the contest.  The evening will also include a calf scramble for kids age 0-12.

Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association will present the annual Ranch Rodeo beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at the rodeo ground with 20 different teams from ranches around the area. The teams will compete in several events including Bronc Riding, Wild Cow Milking, Team Branding, and Team Doctoring/Team Sorting.  The junior calf ride, the steer ride, and the open calf scramble will also be held each evening.  The kid’s events are sponsored by Donley County State Bank, Walco, and West Texas Western Store.

An open Wild Mare Race with six horses will be held each night of the Ranch Rodeo.  Entry fee is $90 with $150 added money. A drawing for a $200 beef certificate will be held each night of the rodeo.

The rodeo dance will begin at 10:00 p.m. at the Panhandle’s largest open-air dance floor at the Rodeo Grounds with Country Classics on Thursday, Copper Head on Friday, and Santa Fe Band Saturday night. 

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 from any board member or by calling Bobbie Thornberry at 874-3581, Greg Henry at 874-3571, or the Chamber office at 874-2421.

The fun continues with the RHAA Ranch Horse Competition at 8 a.m. Saturday at the rodeo grounds.

The Donley County Horse Club Stick Horse Rodeo will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday across from the Post Office. The rodeo is for children seven and under. The entry fee is $5.  This is a fund-raiser for the Horse Club. To pre-register, go by Saye’s.

The Depression Lunch will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Main Street Ministry. The First Baptist Church will help serve the beans and cornbread for a low price. They will also be selling drinks and desserts.

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