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Back to School Bash
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Senior Citizens 50th anniversary set for Saturday
The Donley County Senior Citizens will hold their 50th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser Saturday, August 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. at 115 E. 4th.
Activities will include dinner and a show, music, cowboy poetry, comedy skits, a 50/50 raffle, and a quilt raffle. Cookbooks will be for sale also.
Bring your chair, appetite, and a sense of humor to celebrate this milestone.
County budget proposal is $4.5M
Donley County Commissioners filed a proposed $4.5 million budget this week for fiscal year 2026 as well as supplemental budgets for courthouse restoration work and FEMA-funded emergency generators.
The new budget proposal increases several line items, but County Judge John Howard notes that the county’s tax rate is again going down thanks to higher revenues brought in by rising property values.
The county is also continuing to receive state funds to help fund the Donley County Sheriff’s Department, and law enforcement will also benefit from sales taxes generated by voter-approved County Assistance Districts 1 & 2 – in the City of Howardwick and the unincorporated areas of the county to the tune of an estimated $22,000.
The county’s total proposed tax rate for FY 2026 is $0.5588672 per $100 valuation compared to the current rate of $0.5839820. The proposed rate will bring in $80,163 more than last year’s budget with $20,747 coming from new property added to the tax roll. An estimated $2,001,551 will be collected in property taxes with fees, fines, grants, and other sources bringing in the additional revenue.
On the expense side, health insurance will cost the county about $38,000 more in the new fiscal year, and other insurance costs will be up by about $26,000, including a 20 percent increase in liability insurance.
County officials’ combined salaries will be going up by about $4,400 altogether, with no raises for commissioners or the county judge. The county’s judge’s supplemental salary from the state is increasing, however, from the current $25,000 to $37,800. The budget also includes $14,000 for increases in other salaries of non-elected employees.
The supplemental budget for the courthouse restoration work totals $3,052,911 with almost $2.6 million coming from the state and the balance of almost $458,000 coming from the county’s capital reserves. Howard said that work will include a steel beam to reinforce the original 1890 main staircase, brick repair on the south wall, and stone conservation work.
Another supplemental budget includes $883,977 for emergency generators to be installed in key facilities in the county with FEMA providing almost $800,000 of that cost. The project was approved last year but has been stalled because the cost of equipment increased dramatically from the time the grant application was originally put together. The county is negotiating with the government to see how best to proceed either by rebidding, acquiring more funding, or scaling back the project.
Another grant-funded program also continues to help employ a second highway safety officer for the county to patrol highways since the DPS presence here has been reduced.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget and tax rate on August 25 at 9 a.m. See the notice in this week’s Enterprise for more information.
City August sales tax revenue up 8.76%
Clarendon posted strong growth in sales tax revenue when Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock delivered August allocations to local governments last week.
The city brought in $51,580.16 for the month, which was up 8.76 percent compared to the same period last year.
The August allocation pushes the city’s calendar year-to-date total to $368,913.89, an increase of 8.30 percent over this point in 2024.
Hedley’s sales tax revenues dropped 45.57 percent to $1,461.98 this month, but the city is just slightly behind on the year-to-date, down 0.78 percent with collections of $10,705.35.
Howardwick also slipped this month, down 7.32 percent for August at $2,043.28, but the lakeside city is still 21.17 percent ahead for the year at $15,751.16.
Donley County Assistance District No. 1, still in its first year of collections, received $1,490.55 for August in the City of Howardwick with collections for the year-to-date of $10,241.02.
Statewide, Hancock delivered $1.3 billion in local sales tax allocations for August, 5.2 percent more than in August 2024. These allocations are based on sales made in June by businesses that report tax monthly and on sales made in April, May and June by quarterly filers.
County project freshening old office buildings
Clarendon’s Courthouse Square will look a little spiffier when Donley County completes two projects currently underway on Sully Street.
The former Hall Income Tax office and the old appraisal district building are both receiving facelifts designed by A Fine Feathered Nest and brought to life by Pearson Construction.
County Judge John Howard said the project is costing the county about $60,000 and is intended to approve the appearance of the square.
“It looked a little like a slum,” Howard said of the two plain, non-descript structures.
Enterprise Photo / Concept Images by A Fine Feathered Nest
Chriss Clifford drew up designs to improve the buildings last year along with a proposal to spruce up the county attorney’s office located north of City Hall. Howard said commissioners ultimately decided to move forward with the two northern most buildings but to wait on the county attorney’s office since the city is pursuing a TxDOT grant to replace the sidewalk on that block.
“We want to wait and see what happens with the sidewalk there,” Howard said. “We’re pleased the city is working with TxDOT to get that replaced.”
There is currently a ramp up to the county attorney’s door, and a sidewalk project will have to deal with that elevation difference before the county spends money on the appearance of the building.
The former Hall’s building is now the home of the adult probation office, and the sheriff’s office is using a conference room in the old appraisal district office for trainings and using the vault in the building as an evidence locker.
Howard said the county also owns the vacant lots neighboring the buildings undergoing renovations and he would like to see some of that developed for future businesses.
Charlie C. “Blackie” Johnson
Charlie C. “Blackie” Johnson, 88, of Memphis passed away Monday, July 28, 2025, in Memphis.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Hedley Church of Christ. Burial followed in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Blackie was born on January 21, 1937, in Hedley to Walter Cleveland and Gladys Clementine Johnson. He married Shirley Faye Jones on January 17, 1959, in Hollis, Oklahoma. A lifelong resident of Donley County, Blackie moved to Memphis in 1998.
A true cowboy at heart, Blackie spent many years rodeoing, riding broncs and bulls, and later served as a rodeo judge. He also enjoyed attending motocross races with his family to watch his son compete. He worked in real estate and served as a Tax Appraiser for several years, as well as working for many years at Bolin Grain Elevator in Clarendon. While employed at the Paymaster Cotton Oil Mill, he was awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Honor for saving a life.
From 1984 until his retirement in 1998, Blackie served as Donley County Constable. Known for his vibrant personality, he loved his cows, enjoyed teasing friends and neighbors, and was always ready with a prank. He was once recognized as one of the Panhandle’s most colorful characters by the Amarillo Globe-News.
Blackie was also deeply involved in his community. He served as President of both the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association and Memphis Meals on Wheels, and was a member of the Donley County Appraisal District Board of Directors. A devoted member of the Hedley Church of Christ, he led congregational singing for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, W.C. Johnson; and a sister, Velva Gibson.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Johnson of Memphis; his son, Tom Johnson and wife Carol of Quanah; his daughter, Sherryl Byars and husband Brad of Giles; his grandchildren, Jared Johnson and wife Melissa, Alex Johnson and wife Kelsie, all of Shallowater, Kendra Martin of Memphis, Matt Martin of Giles, and Wacie Decker and husband Shane of Clarendon; step-grandchildren, Kendell Williams and husband Jakob of Childress, Kade Byars and wife Bailee of Lakeview, and Kye Cogdell and husband Colton of Silverton; 9 great-grandchildren with one on the way; a nephew, Roger Gibson and wife Trudi of Canton, Oklahoma; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family requests that memorials be made to Memphis Meals on Wheels or Westview Boys Home in Hollis, Oklahoma.
Christine (Chris) Jean Paschall Palmer
Christine (Chris) Jean Paschall Palmer was born under a full moon in Wellington in the early morning hours of September 11, 1954, and passed away peacefully in hospice care in Abilene, Texas on July 24, 2025.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents M.W. (Ike) Paschall Jr. and Alma Jean Green Paschall of Wellington; grandparents M.W. and Florence Paschall of Memphis, Texas; Lewis and Christene Green of Wellington; and niece Tina Paschall Fuller of Amarillo, Texas.
She is survived by daughter Jamie Dawn Palmer Diamond and spouse Rickey of Abilene Texas, son Brian Terry Palmer of Abilene, brother M.W. (Max) Paschall III and spouse Bonnie of Clarendon, Texas; and Rex Paschall of Dallas; 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and a total of 17 first cousins. She is also survived by her former husband, Terry Lynn Palmer of Roby, Texas, the father of their children.
Following graduation from Samnorwood High School in Collingsworth County, Texas, she journeyed to Sweetwater, Texas to pursue a degree in dental hygiene at Texas State Technical College. One day after school while “out on the town” with her girlfriends she met her future husband, Terry. After a brief courtship the couple soon married taking residence at the old Palmer farm house in the Royston community in Fisher County, Texas, a few years later they relocated into the “city” of Roby at which time the new family was blessed from God with two wonderful children, Jamie and Brian.
In order to better address the special educational needs of Brian and while the children were still young, she relocated her family to Abilene, after which she traveled the state spending tireless hours being an advocate for autistic children. She also was very enthusiastic about Jamie’s ballet and gymnastic pursuits, offering encouragement and ferrying her to multiple statewide competition events.
As the children grew and became more self-reliant she had more free time. This allowed her to work part-time at the Natural Food Center-Restaurant in Abilene where she served-up delicious natural and organic food. Last but not least, throughout her lifetime, she enjoyed tending to her pets as well as playing and teaching the piano.
There was be a Memorial Service on Wednesday, July 30, at 2 pm at Roby Church of Christ with internment following. Burial to follow at Roby Cemetery.
Drilling deep
Timeless Values: Music and video celebrate old-fashioned themes
By Elaina Estlack, The Clarendon Enterprise
It was just a normal Saturday matinee showing of “Old Yeller” at the Mulkey Theatre in 1964, but for eight-year-old Garre LaGrone, the experience would last a lifetime.
Sixty-one years later, on Saturday, July 12, 2025, three young kids were given the opportunity to star in a music video at the Mulkey Theatre for the Grass Daddies, a bluegrass band. The song, entitled “Old Yeller,” was written by LaGrone, the band’s lead singer. He took inspiration from the film of the same name, focusing on the morals and themes presented throughout, rather than the movie itself.
“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.
“All of my school years were in Canyon, first grade through high school,” LaGrone said. “My mother and dad grew up in Clarendon. That’s my connection with 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.”
LaGrone’s only formal music education was piano lessons, which only lasted a week.
“The lady got so frustrated with me that I wasn’t trying to read the music,” LaGrone said. “I was just trying to figure it out.”
LaGrone went on to teach himself the piano, keyboard, and guitar.
“I never could read a note of music ever,” LaGrone said. “I just played by ear.”
As a kid, LaGrone attended several movies at the Mulkey Theatre in Clarendon while visiting relatives, but the most impactful was “Old Yeller.”
“I just always loved it, the story of the movie,” LaGrone said. “Sometimes, life’s not fair, but you just got to look at the good instead of the bad.”
It was this experience that inspired him to write the song and record the music video at the Mulkey. He was given the opportunity to have local kids Monroe Newhouse, Kylie Glover, and J.T. Shelton act in the video. Newhouse was the main star and is actually a distant cousin of LaGrone, bearing a resemblance to an eight-year-old LaGrone.
“He’s about the same age I was when I saw the movie,” LaGrone said. “He looks a little bit like I looked back then. He is so cute.”
The kids fit their roles perfectly, needing little to no direction for lines and scenes.
“They just acted it out perfectly. It was so cool,” LaGrone said. “It was just a God thing. It was meant to be.”
The video takes the viewers back in time to that Saturday in 1964 with “Old Yeller” on the big screen at the Mulkey. It pays homage to
LaGrone and his friends watching the film for the first time and how impactful that day truly was.
This, however, was not the original plan. At first, all LaGrone wanted was a few pictures of the Mulkey marquee to use in the video, but everything started to coalesce to create an entire story in the theatre. They were able to use the original ticket booth and concession stand, the same one used by LaGrone all those years ago, as well as a recreation of the original “Old Yeller” movie poster.
“It all just came together. It was really special,” LaGrone said. “It really turned out great.”
Editor’s Note: The “Old Yeller” song is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. The video can be seen at MulkeyTheatre.com.
Sentences issued in three district court cases
A Temple woman was sentenced in a Donley County felony case when the district court met via Zoom on July 17.
District Attorney Luke Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Dale Rabe, Jr., presiding from the bench.
Lanette Dichell Porter, 40, from Temple, Texas, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the third degree felony offense of assault on a public servant. Porter was arrested for the offense in Donley County on April 18, 2024.
Porter was originally placed on ten years probation on May 13, 2024.
On March 11, the State filed its motion requesting the court to revoke Porter’s probation, alleging 14 violations of her conditions of probation. Porter pleaded true to the violations of her community supervision.
Porter was also ordered to pay the remaining $500 fine and $290 court costs.
Two other Donley County cases were adjudicated when the court met in Childress on June 26, again with Inman and Caudle prosecuting and Judge Rabe presiding.
John Robert McAllister, 43, from Memphis, Texas, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the second degree felony offense of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, enhanced to a first degree felony.
McAllister was arrested in Donley County by Sheriff Butch Blackburn on October 6, 2024, and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on January 27.
McAllister was also ordered to pay $290 in court costs.
Cruz Viedo Gonzalez, 31, from Santa Ana, Calif., was sentenced to three years in prison for the third degree felony offense of evading arrest with a motor vehicle.
Gonzalez was arrested in Donley County by DPS Trooper Nathan Bozeman on December 29, 2024, and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on March 24.
Gonzalez was also ordered to pay $305 in court costs.
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