Dateline: September 29, 2005

MCNH plans benefit poker run Saturday

By Roger  Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Motorcycles and classic cars are expected to flock to Clarendon this weekend for the first Heritage Poker Run to benefit the residents of Medical Center Nursing Home.

Administrator in-training Vicky Robertson says MCNH anticipates upwards of 300 participants for what supporters think will become an annual event.

“We’re planning for 400, and we anticipate between 300 and 400,” Robertson said. “We know we’ve got people coming from Lubbock, and we expect several from Amarillo and Pampa.”

Registration starts at 9 a.m. at the south boat ramp at Greenbelt Lake. Participants will draw one card at each of five stops for $10 per hand and can play as many hands as they want. Prizes will be given for the high and low hands.

Motorcycles will leave the lake, travel north on SH 70 to I-40, go east to the rest areas, travel on to McLean, travel SH 273 to Hedley, and then return to Clarendon. Classic cars will take the same route in reverse, and all participants will wind up between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. at the nursing home.

A hamburger feed will close out the event. Participants and visitors can have a burger, chips, drink, and cookie for a suggested five dollar donation.

Door prizes will be given away, and a 50-50 raffle will also be held.

MCNH officials are also encouraging participants to visit some of Clarendon’s unique attractions, such as the Saints’ Roost Museum, the 1890 Courthouse, the Bar H Maize Maze, and others.

Proceeds from the event will be used to help MCNH purchase a new handicapped accessible van. The new van would be used in conjunction with the current van, which isn’t big enough carry all the residents to various activities.

For more information, contact Linda Hill at MCNH at 874-5221.