Ben Estlack

Clarendon CISD Trustees will consider the purchase of two 51-passenger buses during a called session next Monday, September 22, according to Interim Superintendent Rick Teran.

The American Dreamliner buses are built on a the Freightliner M2 chassis and have about 24,000 miles on them. The buses will be white with maroon graphics, and the total cost to the district will be $699,370.

The purchase will be made through the TIPS interlocal purchasing system, which school districts can use instead of advertising for bids.

Trustees discussed and voted on purchasing the buses during their regular meeting on September 8, but it was later discovered that the item was not listed properly on that meeting’s agenda. Teran said the board will also be discussing the graphics that will go on the buses.

In other school business when trustees met September 8, the board approved a resolution authorizing certain individuals to possess firearms and approved trust deeds for the City of Howardwick. Administrative reports were also given by Teran, Athletic Director Jeff Caffey, Elementary Principal Jenifer Pigg, CHS/CJH Principal Erin Shaw, Counselor Amiee Lyles, and Federal Programs Director Jen Bellar.

Clarendon recorded its highest ever sales tax revenue for the month of September last week when Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock delivered monthly allocations to local governments.

The city received $46,041.48, which was 13.82 percent higher than the $40,451.08 recorded for September 2024 and setting a new high for the month. Clarendon is now 8.88 percent ahead for its calendar year-to-date sales tax revenue with a total of $414,955.37 compared to $381,086.62 this time last year.

Hedley was up for the 17.11 percent for the month with an allocation of $934.83 and is now 0.44 percent ahead for the year-to-date at $11,640.18.

Howardwick’s sales tax revenue for the month was up 7.16 percent at $2,096.52, and that city is ahead 19.34 percent for the year-to-date at $17,847.68.

Donley County Assistance District #1, still in its first year of tax collection in the City of Howardwick, had a monthly revenue of $1,493.52 and a total for the year so far at $11,734.54.

Statewide, Hancock distributed $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations for September, 5.3 percent more than in September 2024.

This month’s sales tax revenue allocations are based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly.

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.