Civic duty
Archives for November 2018
Run for it
Editorial: Downtown attractions coming soon
Downtown Clarendon is on the verge of getting new life with one major project now on the horizon of being finished and another slated for completion in 2020.
The Mulkey Theatre, a landmark since its construction in 1946, has been closed for more than 30 years. But now, after a decade of work, it is just months away from being re-opened, more glorious and versatile than ever before.
The theatre has been a labor of love on the part of so many people. Its opening will bring new life to downtown and give Clarendon one more asset to set it apart from other small communities.
If you look back on photos from ten years ago, the Mulkey looks pretty sad. The work since that time has already made the theatre a star attraction for the community with glowing neon and dancing LED flood lights. It will be remarkable to see that new energy reflected on the inside as well.
Ideas are already starting to bubble up about things that could be held at the Mulkey… film festivals, special Christmas presentations, annual meetings, class parties and reunions, company events, and more. The future is bright for the Mulkey, and those guiding the project are trying to think of every possible way the theatre could be used.
Even with the work that has been authorized this week, there are still a few more improvements that could be made in the future to expand the theatre’s functionality.
When the Mulkey re-opens, it will be better than it ever was before and it will serve our community for generations to come.
At the other end of Kearney Street, city officials continue to edge closer to making the Water Recreation Facility a reality. While there was hope that it would also open in 2019, delays with a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department grant have pushed that opening to 2020. And that’s fine… when someone is giving you half a million dollars for your project, it pays to have patience as you work through their processes. It also gives the city and its steering committee even more time to make sure the finished product is the absolute best it can be.
Imagine our downtown with two vibrant points of activity on each end of downtown. All we need is more businesses between the two points and that can and will happen with time and the proper incentives.
This is indeed an exciting time to be living in Clarendon. The future will keep looking bright if we will all continue to work together to make these and other dreams come true.
Meanwhile…
Speaking of the future, another group is working to provide benefits and assistance to non-profit groups in Donley County both now and for years to come, and this month you can really help make an impact for that goal.
The Donley County Community Fund is a local board, working through the Amarillo Area Foundation, the purpose of which is to raise an endowment to benefit our entire county.
How would an endowment fund benefit Donley County? In 1991, Charlie Bairfield left $156,503.03 in his estate to create a foundation bearing his name and his wife Thelma’s name. Over the next quarter of a century, interest from that money helped fund a wide range of projects and organizations with grants ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. When trustees closed out the foundation in late 2016, all its charitable gifts totaled $282,456.87. What an amazing legacy that Charlie and Thelma left to this community!
The DCCF could follow in the Bairfield Foundation’s footsteps if it is supported. In the last two years, the DCCF has awarded grants totaling $3,000 to the Saints Roost Museum, the Hedley Lioness Club, the Bronco Band, and the Bread of Life Pantry while at the same time building an endowment of more than $17,000.
Now the Amarillo Area Foundation has announced it will match donations to the DCCF for nine days from November 19 through November 27 as part of the nationwide effort known as GivingTuesday. The movement is held annually in all 50 states on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday giving season.
You get what you give when you live in a community. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. The Donley County Community Fund allows everyone to put something towards the future of our county. Big contributions are welcome, but every $20 contribution counts also, and this month they can count even more thanks to the Amarillo Area Foundation’s matching offer.
So that the local DCCF can benefit from the match, anyone wishing to participate will need to give their donation by Monday, November 26, so the final deposit can be made on GivingTuesday.
Contributions can be mailed to Donley County Community Fund, c/o Jacob Fangman, Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be made out to The Panhandle Gives, with Donley CCF written on the memo line.
Other DCCF board members are Shauna Herbert, Sherol Johnston, Diane Skelton, and Roger Estlack.
Chamber plans two events this week
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce is hosting two events this week, a Business After Hours on Thursday, November 8, and the annual membership meeting on Friday, November 9.
Thursday’s Business After Hours will be held at Saye’s / Flying ‘A’ Tack from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The come-and-go event will will provide Chamber members and prospective members an opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in the local business community. Refreshments will be served.
On Friday, Chamber members are invited to attend the annual membership meeting at the Clarendon Visitor Center at noon for the election of directors and an annual update on Chamber business. Lunch will be available.
Veterans’ services to be held Monday
The Adamson-Lane American Legion Post 287 will be placing flags on all the veterans’ graves at Rowe Cemetery near Hedley and at the Jericho Cemetery and the VFW Auxiliary placed flags on graves at Citizens Cemetery this week in preparation for Veterans Day.
The post’s Veterans Day Program will be held Monday, November 12, at 10 a.m. at the Rowe Cemetery followed by a program at the Hedley school given by the students.
The Donley County Memorial Post of the VFW will hold its annual program at the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse lawn at 11 a.m. Monday. There will not be a lunch afterwards this year.
The annual Clarendon College Veterans Day Program will be Monday, November 12, at 7 p.m. at the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center.
The public is invited to attend all of these events.
GivingTuesday to benefit local fund
As part of a national day known as GivingTuesday, the local Donley County Community Fund (DCCF) is participating in The Panhandle Gives campaign.
For nine days from November 19 through November 27, all funds raised locally will be increased through a match from the Amarillo Area Foundation.
“Participating in this campaign is an opportunity for our local fund balance to grow,” Jacob Fangman, local DCCF chair, said.
The DCCF is a local board whose purpose is to raise money for a perpetuating fund while contributing a portion of the funds to local groups.
Over the past two years, the DCCF has been able to give $1,000 to the Saints Roost Museum, $1,000 to the Hedley Lioness Club, $500.00 to the Bronco Band, and $500.00 to the Bread of Life Pantry while increasing its own fund balance, thanks to support from county-wide residents.
So that the local DCCF can benefit from the match, anyone wishing to participate will need to give their donation by Monday, November 26 so that the final deposit can be made on GivingTuesday.
GivingTuesday is an annual movement in all 50 states on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday giving season to demonstrate that every act of generosity counts towards giving back to local communities and the causes they support.
Contributions can be mailed to Donley County Community Fund, c/o Jacob Fangman, Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226. Checks should be made out to The Panhandle Gives, with DonleyCCF written on the memo line.
Other board members are Shauna Herbert, Sherol Johnston, Diane Skelton, and Roger Estlack.
Local cowboys to compete in WRCA this week
Area cowboys will be competing in this week’s Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) Rodeo at the Amarillo Civic Center on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with performances starting at 7 p.m.
The Detwiler/Heck Team with members from Clarendon and Childress will be among the cowboys showcasing their skills in Amarillo.
Detwiler/Heck won the qualifying Coffeyville Interstate Fair Ranch Rodeo in Coffeyville, Kan., in October to secure their spot at the 23rd annual WRCA competition, winning the doctoring and sorting contests despite torrential rain and placing in the branding.
Team members are Chad Detwiler, Cody Heck, Randy Crump, Cutter McLain, and Saydee Detwiler.
For more information about this week’s competition, visit wrca.org.
Injury stifles Overstreet’s run at state
Making it to the State Cross-Country Meet for the second year in a row was big for Clarendon High School junior runner Kenny Overstreet. He has worked hard all season to accomplish his goal of making it back to State and it paid off.
However, an injury at the meet took Overstreet out of contention as he finished 140th with a time of 20:25.02.
Cross-country coach Kalen Grahn was more than pleased with Overstreet’s season.
“Kenny is past the thrill of going to state, he expects to go and expects to place,” Grahn said. “It was heartbreaking to watch him struggle through the pain and disappointment. His injury during the race ended his hope for a medal.”
Despite the disappointment, the drive and determination to get back next year remains strong.
“This set back will only make him more determined,” Grahn said. “I am very proud of Kenny for having the character and mental strength to push through and finish. I could not have been any prouder of him, than if he had won the state championship.”
Overstreet’s time in the first mile was 5:46. At the two-mile mark he was at 12:35, and he set a pace of 6:33/mile.
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