Morgan Wheatly

Renovations to the exterior of the Mulkey Theatre began this week after the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation approved a $128,000 contract last Thursday, October 4.

The CEDC Board reviewed a base bid with five alternative suggestions presented by Pioneer General Contractors before settling on the major scope of work and incorporating three of the alternate scopes.

“I am thrilled to see the official start of Phase One,” said Clarendon’s Director of Tourism & Economic Development Chandra Eggemeyer. “With the completion of the exterior renovation in a few weeks, the Mulkey Theatre will once again light up Kearney Street.”

The Phase One project will remove stucco from the soffit of the marquee, reinforce wood framing, and then raise the entire marquee to allow proper drainage. Tile on the front of the theatre will be repaired or replaced, and a new double insulated storefront window will be installed in the former Mulkey barbershop, which has been renovated for use as a Visitor’s Center and office for the Director of Tourism and Economic Development.

Badly weathered doors on the theatre will be replaced with wooden doors designed and stained to match the originals. The Visitor’s Center, however, will be given a new metal and glass storefront door to allow for more light and a more inviting appearance.

Corrugated panels on the theatre façade will be cleaned and painted, and stucco on the façade will be resurfaced.

Phase One will also restore neon lighting on the underside of the marquee and add new neon in porthole windows on the façade, along the outline of the corrugated inset, and along the top of the building. Architect Mason Rogers also said up lighting may be added to the marquee to light the front of the building.

A new electrical service will also be installed in the theatre to support Phase One renovations and will have sufficient capacity to support Phase Two renovations, which call for restoring the building as a movie theatre and for use as a conference and visitor’s center.

“This worthwhile effort will kick start the beginning of a larger downtown revitalization effort for Clarendon,” Eggemeyer said. “Projects such as these encourage a sense of community as citizens and visitors alike start to gather in the downtown area again, just as they did years ago.

“The Mulkey is a treasure, and I look forward to the day when the completely renovated property is unveiled for everyone to enjoy again.”

Phase One renovations are being paid for by funds that have been set aside over several years by the CEDC, which is funded by a half-cent sales tax inside the city.

The CEDC continues to accept private donations as it looks to Phase Two, which is expected to cost about $900,000, and grant opportunities are being actively pursued to fund those renovations.

“The public’s support is greatly appreciated as we continue to raise funds for our matching portion required of grant programs,” Eggemeyer said.

To follow the renovations online, visit www.facebook.com/mulkeytheatre.

Hedley’s Entertainment Committee is ready to welcome visitors this weekend to the 60th annual Cotton Festival on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13.

Activities will begin Friday evening with the Lioness Club Chili & Stew Supper at 5 p.m. followed by the Hedley Owls Homecoming football game.

The Midway with games and rides for the kids will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday. At 10:30 a.m., the Stick Horse Race for kids ages three to eight will start. There is a $5 entrance fee, and participants are asked to bring their stick horse if they have one.

Show off your cars at our Annual Car Show. Register by 11 a.m., and judging begins at noon. Contact David Wells at airsikdw@yahoo.com or (806) 231-9273 for more information.

Two man teams will compete in the Horse Shoe Tournament at noon. A $10 entry fee per team is required, and you must be registered by 11:30 a.m. Contact Michael Waddell at 806-856-0214 or by email at beach_waddell1969@yahoo.com to register or for more information.

Senior citizens are selling hamburgers, and there will be the Lions Club BBQ at noon.

The parade starts at 2 p.m., and the Cotton Princess will be announced before the parade.

Some interesting delicacies are on top for this year’s festival. Fried Oreos – If you haven’t had one of these, you are in for a treat. They are sinfully delicious! You can’t eat just one. So line up for an out of this world treat. Hot Wings & Dingbat Wing Challenge – Hot Wings will be sold throughout the day. If you are brave enough, take the Dingbat Wing Challenge.

A Cow Patty Bingo will be held for $10 per chance with proceeds going to building next year’s midway. Contact Tonja Ruthardt at (806) 205-0820 to buy a chance.

Saturday night, come to the dance and celebrate the reunion of the Panhandle Desperados. The Mullins Boys are back in town. Billy, Danny, and Steve Mullins with their band, The Panhandle Desperados, will play at 9:00 p.m. Saturday night at the Big Red Barn at Third and Blair. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Entry is $10 per person or $18 per couple. Aunt T will be selling breakfast burritos and sausage wraps.

Other activities at the festival include the Hedley Ex-Students Reunion, the Chicken Drop Bingo hosted by the Methodist Youth Group for $3 a chance, all day Bingo games benefiting the Sophomore Class, and a Freshman Class Car Bash.

For more Cotton Festival information, call Stephanie Wilkinson at (806) 930-1252 or email at stephwilk@live.com.

Vandalism to a Clarendon residence on Carhart Street continues to be investigated by the Donley County Sheriff’s Office this week after it was first discovered last Monday, October 1.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the residents of the home called his office about 7:30 that morning to report a derogatory and threatening message was on their porch. The sheriff said the message appeared to have been hand painted.

Blackburn said his office has not received any other reports of similar vandalism, which is being investigated as a hate crime due to the sexual orientation of the victims.

“There have been no other reports of anything along these lines in several years,” Blackburn said.

The sheriff also said that his office is investigating harassing and threatening phone calls made to the Clarendon Church of Christ and The Clarendon Enterprise after an Amarillo television report linked the vandalism to an ad that appeared in the newspaper on September 20.

“There is nothing whatsoever to indicate the vandalism was connected to the ad,” Blackburn said.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Donley County Sheriff’s Office.