News

The Donley County Sheriff’s Department arrested Gabriel Callis of Lelia Lake after he assaulted a relative and threatened suicide last week.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a call at 7:28 p.m. last Thursday, December 9, from a residence in the 300 block of South Woodrow Street in Lelia Lake, reporting that Gabriel Callis was in the house with a gun and had been threatening suicide for two hours.

Callis had assaulted a female relative by shoving her down onto a brick fireplace and was making threats with a BB pistol, the sheriff said. The subject ran out of the backdoor of the house prior to officers arriving. A search was made for Callis, and he was arrested at 8:48 p.m. as he walked back into the house from hiding in some nearby weeds.

Blackburn said Callis was jailed for a violation of probation and bond was denied by District Judge Stuart Messer. He is facing additional charge of Family Violence – Aggravated Assault.

Callis, who is a professional gospel singer, was found guilty in 2007 of Indecency with a Child. The victim was 13 years old at the time.

The jury in 2007 also found Callis not guilty of a second count of the same charge.

Jurors heard testimony of two prior assaults the defendant had committed, but Callis
had no prior history of sex offenses.

Callis also threatened suicide wielding a knife the day of his sentencing in 2007, but was talked out of doing anything by local officers.

Callis is a registered sex offender and was originally sentenced to five years confinement probated to eight years probation and a fine of $10,000 probated to $5,000. He could face prison time for violating his probation.

As part of the move to bring the theater back, the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Bring Back the Mulkey Advisory Committee this week began a fundraising campaign in hopes of raising at least $20,000 to light up the marquee.

All of the money raised from this fundraiser will be put towards the marquee with any overages put towards the continued rehabilitation of the Mulkey in hopes of getting it operational.

The fundraising campaign is just the next step in an overall plan in rehabilitating the Mulkey Theatre and reinvigorating downtown Clarendon.

The Clarendon EDC purchased the Mulkey Theatre in 2008 and to date has spent more than $50,000 replacing the roof, preserving the integrity of the structure, and conducting an engineering study of the building.

“This project is in keeping with the goal of the CEDC to beautify downtown,” CEDC President Steve Hall said. “We hope to once again make it a jewel of Kearney Street.”
Decisions about the interior of the building and possible uses for the theatre are still in the future at this point, CEDC Secretary Roger Estlack said.

“We’ll be looking closely at what has been done with the Ritz in Wellington and the Morley in Borger as we move forward,” Estlack said. “This project is going to take time, and we want to do it right.”

Donors can light up a letter in the Mulkey sign for $1,000 each, become a Mulkey partner for $50 to $1,000, or purchase a “light bulb” at participating business on Kearney Street in Clarendon. The light bulbs will be hung up in businesses downtown showing the donor’s support of this project. Mulkey partners will be recognized permanently inside the theatre.

To make a donation or for more information you may call The Clarendon Enterprise at 806-874-2259 or go by 105 S. Kearney Street in Clarendon. Or make your donation directly by sending a check or money order to the Donley County Historical Commission, PO Box 905, Clarendon, TX 79226, and note “Mulkey Theatre” in the memo.

The Mulkey Theatre was built in 1946 on the site of an earlier theatre – The Cozy – which burned in 1945. It was constructed by Lena Mulkey in honor of her deceased husband, who came to Clarendon to operate a photography studio in 1895 and took over the local theatre business in 1912. The Mulkey operated as a motion picture theatre by Mrs. Mulkey and manager Lee Bell and was later purchased by Gary Barnhill. It closed in about 1986.

Due to the condition of the Mulkey and its role in the history of Clarendon, the CEDC has applied to Preservation Texas for a designation for the theatre as one of the Most Endangered Places in Texas, and a decision on that application is expected in February. The CEDC believes saving the Mulkey is critical because of its cultural and architectural importance to the community.

For more information, visit the EDC’s website www.clarendonedc.org; or to share your comments or memories of the theatre, search for the “Mulkey Theatre” page on Facebook.

The softball team bought and wrapped presents for five angels from the Panhandle Community Services Angel Tree this year, and according to Marcia Campbell at PCS, there are still over 60 angels left on the tree.

“We started with 106 angels this year,” Campbell said, “and last year we only had 75.”
PCS is asking for help in providing Christmas for these children.

“Monetary donations are also accepted and are tax deductible,” Campbell said. “We take the donations and shop for the kids left on the tree.”

On Monday, the CC softball team also volunteered their time to wrap Christmas presents for local foster children.

These gifts were bought by the Donley County Child Welfare Board, which currently serves 21 children in care from Donley County.

“Our board works each year to ensure the kids from our county have a wonderful Christmas,” said Ann Huey, CWB president.

The board was able to shop for the gifts with monies raised during their “Kash for Kids” fundraiser this past Fourth of July.

“Without the generosity of those who supported our fundraiser, we would be unable to provide Christmas for these children,” Huey said.

To donate to the PCS Angel Tree project or select an Angel, please stop by the Panhandle Community Services office at 416 S. Kearney Street before December 14. Gifts for Angels need to be dropped off at the PCS office by December 21.