Editorial: Morrows are a treasure to Clarendon

The Sandell Drive-In is one of Clarendon’s treasures, but the true treasure is the family that owns and operates the theatre.

For 15 years, John Morrow and his family have selflessly given their summer Fridays and Saturdays so that local people can have some entertainment in their lives and local kids can have something to do.

Resurrecting the darkened theatre wasn’t easy. It took a lot of work on the Morrows’ behalf and also from teams of volunteers at the time. But for Morrow it was a passion and something he felt called to do.

It hasn’t been a money maker by any means. Drive-ins have struggled over the years nationwide, and a report from the Texas comptroller’s office a few years ago listed the Sandell as one of less than two dozen drive-in theatres still operating in the state. Morrow has poured a lot into the endeavor; and about the time it was starting to pay out, movie studios moved away from film and forced theatres to convert to digital projectors – a cost of tens of thousands of dollars.

Still, the Morrows have persevered and rolled with the obstacles that have come their way… bad weather, burglaries, and the occasional technical difficulty.

This weekend, the Sandell turns 60 years old, and John Morrow is planning a big celebration. But what could be a good opportunity for him to make money is being used instead to help another community project… the Mulkey Theatre.

The Sandell was built and opened by the late Gary Barnhill in 1955. He later purchased the 1946 Mulkey and operated the two as sister theatres for decades before closing both in the mid-1980s. In addition to his obvious love for the drive-in, Morrow has always taken a special interest in the ongoing revitalization of the downtown theatre from volunteering his time to offering professional advice to helping raise funds.

For the Sandell’s anniversary, Morrow is planning an Elvis Presley double feature – “Love Me Tender” and “Spinout.” The King of Rock & Roll has some interesting ties to the Sandell. Construction on the theatre is said to have started on Elvis’ birthday, January 8, in 1956. (Coincidentally, Morrow and the late Nell Barnhill also shared the King’s birthday.) And the pink and black color scheme of the Sandell was chosen because Barnhill’s daughters had a liking for Elvis’ pink and black Cadillac.

Admission will be free to the double feature, but a $6 donation to the Mulkey at the gate will be appreciated and get you entered in the drawing for door prizes between the movies. Morrow hopes for a big crowd and has invited the Pampa car club to come down for the evening. Gates will open at 5:30, and the show, of course, starts at dusk.

Morrow’s commitment to Clarendon is to be admired and appreciated. It is people like him and his family that makes this community something special. It would be a long list if we started enumerating all the people who give their time so that others may benefit. They don’t ask for accolades or rewards; they just want to do something nice, something that will make our community a better place to live.

What better way to show appreciation for their devotion than to make this fundraiser the biggest success it can be? So we call on all our readers and their friends and neighbors to come on out Saturday night as the Sandell closes its 2015 season and marks its 60th anniversary. Enjoy the vintage cars, eat one of the best hamburgers in town, grab a Coke and a popcorn, help Bring Back the Mulkey, and tell John and all the Morrow family “thank you.”

Meanwhile…

It’s that time of year again when the public has an open invitation to participate in their local governments.

August and September is when the county, cities, schools, and other local entities are required to hold public hearings on proposed tax rates and budgets. Clarendon College Regents held one of the first such hearings last Thursday, August 20; and Hedley School Trustees held a hearing Monday evening.

Taxes are often a source of conversation, as well as people wondering “just what they do with all that money” at the city, county, or wherever. Your local newspaper helps answer those questions, and public notices in the paper lets you know when and where hearings will be held and exactly what tax rate your local boards are considering adopting.

To be fully informed requires you to be engaged. Follow the news; pay attention to legal notices from your local governments; and then if you’re really interested, go to the hearings and ask questions. If you do none of those things, then chances are you probably don’t know what you’re talking about when you complain about your taxes or local boards.

Upcoming hearings include a budget and tax hearing at 7:30 Friday morning at Clarendon ISD; tax rate hearings for Donley County on September 4 at 9 a.m. and September 8 at 10:30 a.m.; a budget hearing for the Donley County Appraisal District on September 8 at 7 p.m.; a tax rate hearing for the City of Hedley at 7 p.m. on September 10; and the county budget hearing at 9 a.m. on September 14.