Morgan Wheatly

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation embarked on Phase 2 of the Mulkey Project this week, authorizing Pioneer General Contractors to proceed with the first interior renovations of the theatre.

Phase 2 work will focus on restoring the 1946 building’s lobby, ticket booth, and restrooms and is expected to cost a maximum of $148,515.

Funding for this work will come from the Clarendon Hotel Occupancy Tax fund, CEDC funds, and funds donated privately to the Clarendon Community Fund.

The scope of work will include replacing the floor in the lobby, repairing and repainting plaster walls and ceilings, restoring neon cove lighting, and refinishing the Mulkey’s original concession showcase.

Pioneer will also be restoring woodwork, installing interior hardware on the new front doors that were part of Phase 1, and installing new light fixtures.

Project officials intend to have Phase 2 completed in time for this year’s Mulkey Block Party, which will be Saturday, May 24.

For more information about the project or to find out how you can help “Bring Back the Mulkey,” call the Clarendon Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.

The Saints’ Roost Museum is now open for business five days a week thanks to a new partnership between the Museum and the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation.

Madeline Black began working March 1 at the Museum on, which can now be visited Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We want to welcome Madeleine Black to our team and look forward to working with her,” said Museum President Derlene Graham. “We look forward to working with CEDC to make improvements and make our community proud.”

Black, who recently retired from Herring Bank, moved to Clarendon more than 11 years ago and said she feels like her new job was tailor made for her.

“I went to college hoping to be an archaeologist of the Old West, but the chemistry classes were too much,” Black said.

During that time, she spent two years working for the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas, doing everything from dusting to giving tours to cataloging new items for the collection.

Her new job at the Saints’ Roost Museum will have similar duties to her Boot Hill days but will also include beefing up the museum Gift Shop and maintaining the museum website.

Black had 14 visitors over Spring Break last week, which was good for not having any publicity that the place was open, and she realizes that it will take time to get the word out.

“I’m just embracing the history of it all right now,” she said. “I’m excited to tell the story of the Old West.”

Previously the museum was only open on Saturdays and half days on Fridays and was closed for some months of each year after a government program that had helped the museum pay for a part time worker ended last year.

CEDC board members were aware of the museum’s situation, but they also knew that the chief complaint about Clarendon’s museum was that it was not open frequently enough for visitors. Earlier this year, the CEDC board met with museum officials and worked out an agreement to provide Hotel Occupancy Funds to the museum in exchange for the facility being kept open with hours similar to other area museums.

“We want to thank the EDC for their support in making it possible to have an employee,” Graham said. “Without their help it would not be possible to staff the museum full time.”

Graham said the museum has raised its membership dues to $30 per year and is taking on new project.

“We are presently working on our website and have expanded our gift shop, and we continue to work on new displays,” Graham said. “We would like to encourage residents and members to visit the museum, put us on their list to take a tour, and bring their family and guests.

For more information, call the Saints’ Roost Museum at 806-874-2746, Fredie Moreman at 806-874-2071, or Graham at 806-874-2010 or 806-874-2080.

 January sales were essentially flat for Clarendon businesses, according to information released by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs last week.

Combs made her monthly sales tax allocations to Texas cities. The March distribution represents January sales reported by monthly tax filers.

The City of Clarendon received $27,131.95 for the month, which is up just 0.37 percent compared to the same period in 2013. The city is now 8.01 percent ahead on sales tax revenue for the calendar year-to-date at $97,611.24, up from $87,593.49 one year ago.

Hedley is not faring as well with a sales tax allocation that dropped 56.78 percent this month to $416.93 compared to $964.67 for the same period last year. Hedley is down 20.46 percent on the year-to-date at $2,058.47.

Howardwick sales tax revenue also slipped 4.29 percent to $1,113.46 this month. That puts the city at $3,410.04 for the year-to-date, down 2.99 percent.

Across the state, Combs said sales tax revenue for the month was $2.2 billion, up 5.8 percent compared to 2013.

“Sales tax revenue continues its growth streak and has now increased for 47 consecutive months,” Combs said. “Growth in tax collections was seen across all major economic sectors including oil and gas, wholesale trade and the services sector.”

In nearby cities, Memphis recieved $23,046.85 for this month, up 3.09 percent; Wellington brought in $18,242.49, up 10.60 percent; and Childress had $74,680.22, an increase of 3.68 percent.