Dateline: July 10, 2008

Good crowd marks annual celebration

A good sized crowd filled with fellowship and tradition was present during this year’s 131st annual Saints’ Roost Celebration Friday, July 4, on the Courthouse Square.

The day started off with tours of the restored 1890 Courthouse followed by the Craft Fair on the square.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served 750 plates of barbecue this year, which is down from 934 last year and 882 the year before. Funds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Temple of the Shrine in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.

The Old Settlers Reunion was also held Friday morning. Lee Jones traveled the greatest distance of 2500 miles to be here.  The oldest woman present was Helen Lamberson at 91; and J.T. Lamberson, age 95, earned the right to be called the oldest old settler present as well as the person living in Donley County the longest. J.T and Helen Lamberson were also the old settlers that were married the longest: a good 75 years.

The Chamber of Commerce reports that the Clarendon Jr. High Cheerleaders won first place in the float division, and the Shriners placed second.  In the Riding division, the Mule Skinners won first place for the second year in a row, and the Sharp family placed second.

 In the Antique Vehicles division of the parade, Sherol Johnston won first, and Redell Johnston placed second. Linda Crump won first place in the Miscellaneous division, and Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts placed second.

The Kids’ Parade led the full parade; and winners were Easton and Elliot Frausto in the 0-4 Division, Jayden Moss in the 5-8 Division, and Brigg Hawkins from Cleburne in the 9-12 Division.

Several organizations held fundraisers, and the following are the results available at press time. The winners of the Lions Club Cow Patty Bingo were Larry Hicks, Jesus Hernandez for his daughter Jenci, and John Morrow. The Clarendon Firebelle’s Penny Raffle winners were Mike Wisenhunt, Randy Crump, and Rudy Jantz. Eloy Comacho was the winner of the $500 worth of gas from the Chamber of Commerce. Mike Word won the John Deere riding lawn mower given by the Friends of Donley County Activity Center that supported Donley County 4-H. Joe Zillmen was the winner of the custom commemorative spurs from the Clarendon Masonic Lodge, and Bob White won the barbeque grill that supported the Donley County Ag and FFA members.

The Henson’s annual Turtle Race was held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 164 participants; and the winners were Madison Swift of the 0-4 division, Chardy Craft of the 5-8 division, and Josh Clinton, the grandson of Mike and Nera Spier, of the 9-14 division.

The Turtle Art Contest winners for the 13-16 age division were Cody Wood, age 13, with 1st place and Kelsey Floyd, age 15, with 2nd place. The 7-9 age division winners were Colt Wood, age eight with 1st place and Cire Jaurequi with 2nd place.

The Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association held a two-day ranch rodeo and other events, which are reported in a separate story.