Archives for September 2025

Homecoming 2025 was a big event for Clarendon High School with hundreds of alumni returning to reunite with former classmates and relive old memories.

Reunion organizer Virgina Patten estimates about 400 people attended some part of the event, which had activities last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

“They had such a good time,” Patten said of the alumni. “It was great. People cried they had such a good time.”

Patten said seven full pages of names were entered in a journal during the event, and she felt like the event was good not only for those in attendance but for the community as well in terms of the business that was brought to town.

The event was the idea of the late Tommy Hill, Class of 1974, and a committee led by Patten, Renee Mott and others made it a reality.

The Sandell Drive-In will kicked things off Thursday night with a special screening of Grease.

“I think there were over 100 people there for the movie,” Patten said. “

Friday’s activities began with golf at the Clarendon Country Club with visiting and snacking all afternoon at The Roost downtown. Alumni attended the homecoming pep rally and the Colt Parents’ Mexican Pile-On before attending the Broncos’ homecoming game against Fritch. The Fifth Quarter at The Roost drew a large crowd that night with deejay music and snacks.

Saturday was a day filled with class reunions, shopping, and more visiting before the big barbecue and street dance that evening.

Almost 300 people pre-paid for barbecue, and Patten said 280 actually came through the line on Saturday night.

“We were supposed to serve barbecue at 7:00, but the caterer was ready by 6:30, so we just started early,” Patten said.

The Crossties Ministry center donated the use of their tables and chairs for the street party, and Jim Shadle and the “Just In Time” band played music until after 11 p.m. as people danced and visited the night away.

Patten says it’s they will likely put on another all-school reunion but doesn’t know yet if it will be an annual occurrence.

A night of Bluegrass and Gospel music is in store when the Grass Daddies perform on the stage of the Mulkey Theatre this Sunday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m.

Garre LaGrone leads the band and scheduled their performance here after shooting a music video at the theatre in July. The video for the song “Old Yeller” reinforces LaGrone’s appreciation for the world he grew up in and his ties to Clarendon.

“It’s got a great message of old-fashioned values and hard work – that life’s not perfect,” LaGrone said. “ You get knocked down, but you’ve got to get back up.”

LaGrone was born in Amarillo in 1956 and grew up in Canyon, but he has always had ties to Clarendon. His parents, Betty Thompson LaGrone and Odell LaGrone, grew up in Clarendon, and he had several family members in Clarendon.

LaGrone’s interest in music began at a young age, singing with his choir at the First Baptist Church in Canyon. He grew up with several influences in music, but the most significant was his grandfather, Jake LaGrone.

“He was probably the biggest influence on me when I was growing up,” LaGrone said. “He was an old-time fiddler and on my album there’s a song called ‘A Little Fiddlin’. That song was written about him.”

Tickets for the Grass Daddies Bluegrass & Gospel show are $12 each and are available online at mulkeytheatre.com and also available at the door.

Three Donley County cases were among 25 pleas heard by the District Court with in met in Childress on Thursday, August 28.

District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe, Jr., presiding.

Shyann Irvin, 20, from Youngsville, La., was placed on two years’ probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Irvin was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Cole Ward on February 17. Irvin pleaded to an information filed by the State on June 10.

Irvin was ordered to pay an upfront fine of $1,500, $400 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Irvin faces up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Kyran Murillo, 21, from Amarillo, Texas, was placed on two years’ probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Murillo was arrested by Donley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Stevens on March 5. Murillo was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on August 18.

Murillo was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, $450 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Murillo faces up to one year in the Donley County Jail.

Sergio Fernando Leon, 21, from Amarillo, Texas, was placed on two years’ probation for the class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Leon was arrested in Donley County by Stevens on March 5. Leon was indicted by the Donley County Grand Jury on August 18.

Leon was ordered to pay a fine of $4,000, $450 in attorney fees, $305 in court costs, $180 in restitution, and complete 100 hours of community service. If revoked, Leon faces up to one year in the Donley County Jail.