Dateline: July 8, 2004

Smaller turnout for '04 July Fourth festivities

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A generally smaller crowd than last year attended the 126th anniversary Saints’ Roost Celebration held at City Park last Saturday.

Warm July weather greeted celebration goers this year as friends and families gathered to renew acquaintances and to mark the anniversary of American Independence.

The Old Settlers Reunion got things started, and Melvin Housden of Houston traveled the greatest distance to be there.  Willard Skelton and Roberta Adkins Pittman were the oldest man and woman present.  Viola Barker Graham was recognized as the person who has lived in Donley County the longest – 87 years. 

One visitor at the reunion was indeed a long ways from home. John Hyslar, of Deal, Kent, England was visiting with the McElroy family.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served a little over 800 plates of barbecue, which is down from last year when they served over 1,000.

Funds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Temple of the Shrine in Amarillo to help pay for transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals, both of which are Masonic charities operated free of charge. A local Shrine Club official reported that they will be lucky to break even from this year’s event.

The Kid’s Parade saw a total of 47 entries. In the 0-4 year old group, Brooke Smith was first, Hannah Flowers was second, and Brandalyn Ellis was third.  In the 5-8 year old group, Blaine Ellis was first, Kallie Hawkins was second, and Hannah Hawkins was third.  In the 9-12 year old group, Andrew Tiedeman was first, and Summer Petrie was second.  Prizes for the kids were donated by Donley County State Bank, Duckwall’s, and Cornell’s Country Store.

The annual Parade had 61 entries in four divisions this year with Grand Marshal Air Force Major Dave Clinton leading the way.  Major Clinton is the son-in-law of Mike and Neva Spier of Clarendon and just finished a tour in Korea.

The Chamber of Commerce reports the Clarendon High School Cheerleaders’ float won first place in the Float division for the fourth year in a row.  Martin Baptist Church won second place in that division.  In the Riding division, the Donley County Horse Club won first place. 

In the Antique Vehicles division of the Parade, Redell Johnston won first place, and Wondell Luttrell took second place honors.  In the Miscellaneous division, the Girl Scouts won first place, and Evan Baily won second.

The were several winners of the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo.  Todd Lindley and Mandy Floyd Flowers won $50 each.  Flowers also won $250.  Wid Slick won $500 and donated it back to the Club. The calf used in the contest belonged to Brayden Phillips.

At the annual Henson’s Turtle Race, 187 turtles competed, which was down from last year’s 230 turtles.  Branson Cruse of Turkey won the 0-4 age division.  Jami Lindsey of Memphis and Brandon Anderson of Clarendon tied for first place in the 5-8 division.  Zach Christenberry of Ft. Sill, Okla., won the 9-12 division. 

Crow Hollow Cattle Feeders was the winner of the utility trailer given away by the local FFA and 4-H groups. 

Justin Ham was the lucky winner of the Las Vegas trip given away by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.