Images

The Sandell Drive-In is planning another big concert event on July 25 after this past weekend’s Casting Crowns performance drew an enormous crowd to Clarendon.

Drive-in owner John Morrow estimates that about 1,000 people came to see the Christian band on stage Saturday night. The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce handed welcome bags to 196 cars, and most cars had four to six people each with most of those coming from out of town.

Country music star Blake Shelton headlines this Saturday’s on-screen concert with special appearances by Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins.

The concert experience will deliver a front-row look at the world’s most iconic recording artists to fans across North America. The series kicks off on July 25 with an all-new performance featuring Blake Shelton, who will be joined by very special guests Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins. Tickets for the show are on sale at ticketmaster.com/encore-blakeshelton. More information is available at encorenights.com or visit the Sandell’s Facebook page.

Encore Drive-In Nights is promoting the show that will air at drive-in and outdoor theaters across the United States and Canada. These all-new performances will be filmed exclusively for each one-night-only event, and include cinematic interviews and storytelling.

The Encore Drive-In Nights series is presented by leading event production company Encore Live. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, drive-in theaters have proven to be a safe, creative way to deliver fans world-class entertainment thanks to their ability to engage and delight large groups of people in open-air layouts.

Fans will experience the Encore Drive-In Nights presents Blake Shelton with Very Special Guests Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins concert feature and additional Encore Drive-In Nights shows from the safety of their personal vehicles. Drive-in theaters hosting the Encore Drive-In Nights will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended guidelines as well as all state and local health mandates. Staff will wear personal protective equipment and enforce at least six feet of space between cars. The series will also use contactless payment and ticketing systems and limit capacity in restrooms. Guidelines around concessions will be enforced to abide by individual state regulations. For a full list of procedures that the Encore Drive-In Nights is employing to keep fans and staff safe, visit encorenights.com.

“This is such a great way to enjoy music with your family and friends and stay safe,” said Shelton. “I’m excited we’re getting the chance to perform a concert for fans and we’re going to go back and play old hits like “Austin,” newer songs like “God’s Country” and we might even introduce something brand new! So fill up those popcorn tubs and get ready for some country music!”

Unlike traditional concert tickets that are bought for individual admission, each ticket for the Encore Drive-In Nights admits one passenger car or truck That means up to six family members or friends can enjoy these exciting experiences together for one low cost.

Casting Crowns hasn’t gotten to perform on stage in about four months, but that all changes this week as the Grammy-award winning Christian rock band begins their Drive-In Theatre Tour and performs in Clarendon Saturday, July 18.

Brian Scoggin, the lead drummer for Casting Crowns since 2009, told the Enterprise Tuesday that the band is looking forward to getting back on stage.

“We’ve recorded some stuff on tape, but this will be our first time on stage since early March,” Scoggin said. “We’re ready to knock the rust off and perform again.”

The group’s tour starts July 15 in Fayetteville, Ark., followed the next day by a performance in Tulsa, Okla., before coming to Clarendon on Saturday.

Scoggin said Casting Crowns were in the midst of their normal spring tours when COVID-19 hit and shut down the concert business. Then a promoter friend of theirs came up with the idea of getting them to perform in drive-in theatres, a venue the group had never played before.

“This is a totally new thing for us,” Scoggin said, “but it’s going to be a good night. People are ready to get out and worship the Lord.”

Even though Clarendon is a small population compared to some of the tour stops, Scoggin says they are used to playing concerts where the attendance can outsize the location of the community.

“People will show up to worship God, and they will come not just from Clarendon but from the entire area,” Scoggin said.

Casting Crowns, led by Mark Hall, started in Florida in 1999 and eventually grew in popularity and became multi-platinum award winners for their faith-based music. Scoggin says Hall is still the lead writer for the group.

“Mark is the songwriter, and it all comes from his work with church and his youth group,” Scoggin said. “God has given him that ability to speak like that.”

Saturday’s concert will be an entirely new combination of music, Scoggin said.

“We will have a good mix of songs by us that people have gravitated to in the past,” he said. “We also pulled out some songs from our catalog that are just fitting for the times we’re in.”

Scoggin joined the band ten years after it started. He said he knew of the band from its beginning but said their paths didn’t cross for several years.

“It was a life changer,” he said of joining the group. “I had to adjust to working weekends and being home during the week. We started homeschooling our kids. But it’s just been amazing how the Lord has blessed me and blessed others.”

The Casting Crowns concert is promoted by Awakening Events, founded by Dan Fife.

“When we began discussing the Drive-In Theater series and which artists made the most sense, Casting Crowns was an immediate YES,” Fife said in a concert release. “We’ve had a long history of successful shows with Casting Crowns. The powerful way in which their music impacts people is something that is needed in this season. I’m honored that the Casting Crowns’ team has decided to join us on this exciting new journey, taking live music to the people, on the Drive-In Theater Tour Series.”

All dates on the Drive-In Theater Tour will comply with local guidelines related to Covid-19. “We’ve heard the demands from our fans, and we’re working hard to bring live music back to as many locations as possible,” said Curtis Pinkerton, director of Marketing at Awakening Events.

Tickets for the tour will again be sold by the car load (up to 6 people per car) starting at $100 per car. A full list of cities and dates for the tour is available at www.awakeningevents.com or www.driveintheatertour.com. For more information, visit the Sandell’s Facebook page.

Two new cases were added to the positive COVID-19 results by the Clarendon Family Medical Center this week, bringing the total positives to 27.

Two other cases were classified as recovered on Tuesday, which made the current active cases total five. Two cases were pending.

The Texas National Guard held a walk-up testing at the Bulldog Gym at Clarendon College Tuesday. Donley County Judge John Howard, MD, reported that a total of 86 tests were conducted.

Results of the National Guard tests are expected to be available by the end of the week, Howard said.

Speaking at Monday night’s town hall meeting, Howard encouraged people to get tested the next day.

“Two weeks ago we had zero active cases, now we have six,” Howard said Monday and wondered aloud if there might have been silent spread of the virus after the Fourth of July.

He also addressed those who say more testing leads to more positives.

“I’m a scientist; I prefer more information over a lack of information,” Howard said.

An enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Donley County Courthouse last Saturday, July 4, to enjoy the activities of the 143rd annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.

Few masks were seen despite the governor’s order to wear one the day before, but people did largely respect social distancing.

Vendor booths were spread out all over the courthouse lawn to avoid crowding, and barbecue was served “to go” style as organizers did their best to celebrate safely in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hand-washing and sanitizing stations were also set up around the square thanks to County Agent Leonard Haynes.

The Kids’ Parade started the day with the youngsters peddling or driving from Third Street down Sully Street in front of the Courthouse. In the 0-4 age group, Shaylee, Daegan, and Dawson Hall were first; Delaney Chambless was second, and Luke Leeper was third. Leah Victory won the 5-8 age group with Lydia Balogh second and Matthew Newhouse third. The 9 and up age group was won by Haylin Bivens, Meredith Artho second and Nevaeh Jaramillo third.

The Herring Bank Parade was somewhat smaller than last year’s but with just as much or more enthusiasm as most participants followed the parade theme: Texas Strong – United We Stand. The Grand Prize was won by Cody Graham and the Bromley Ranch float. The Clarendon Junior High Cheerleaders with their theme specific cheer and routine were the named the Best Float. Dan Sawyer’s John Deere tractor driven by congressional candidate Ronny Jackson was the Best Farm Equipment, the Rolling Hills Riding Club was the Best Animal Entry, Wallace Monument Co. was the Best Other entry, and Steve Carthel won the Best Car/Truck trophy.

There was no organized Old Settlers Reunion this year.

The Al Morrah Shrine Club served as many as 450 plates of barbecue this year. That’s down from 660 plates last year, but it was still considered a great success given the current situation. A portion of the proceeds from the annual barbecue are used in conjunction with the Khiva Shrine Temple in Amarillo to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.

A celebrity dunking booth was set up by the Bronco Cheerleaders. Eager kids and donors lined up to cool off Clarendon Junior High Principal Travis Victory, Clarendon High School Principal Larry Jeffers, Donley County Social Hour hosts Landon Lambert and Roger Estlack, fireman and Clarendon ISD board member Chuck Robertson, “Two for the Road” stars Dusty and Nikki Green, and Donley County Judge John Howard.

Henson’s annual Turtle Race was also held Saturday afternoon. There were altogether 98 youngsters with turtles registered to run, which doesn’t include the adults who raced terrapins as well. The winners were Liam Wright for the 0-4 division, Laityn Hanks for the 5-8 division, Madison Moore for the 9-14 division, and Ty Hanks for the adult division.