News

After work began at the beginning of March to unearth the history of the Oak Grove Colored-William P. Johnston Memorial Cemetery, progress and discoveries were made last weekend by a professor and her students from Texas Tech University.

Dr. Tamra L. Walter, historical archaeologist and associate professor of archeology, along with graduate students worked Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 to scrape graves at the cemetery, which involves taking off a layer of topsoil to inspect the ground for potential graveshafts.

Law enforcement agencies in Young County will be receiving Stop the Bleed kits for officers to have in their vehicles when responding to emergencies.

Jarod Cook, of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, shared a plan Monday, March 25 to distribute these kits primarily to law enforcement officers throughout the county. The Young County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the motion to purchase the kits.

A Young County grand jury this month no-billed the case of an inmate death that occurred in March 2023 at the Young County Jail. The determination was made following the completion of an investigation from the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers.

Brandon Taylor, 31, of Mineral Wells, was found unresponsive in an administrative segregation cell March 21, 2023.

Local businesses are coming together to bring the inaugural Festival de Cinco de Mayo de Graham to the downtown square. With food, entertainment, children’s activities and more, the event is looking to liven up the square.

The festival will be held on Fourth Street and Oak Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Owner of Neri’s on the Square, Neri Gonzalez, who is part of the Cinco de Mayo committee coordinating the event, said it continues to grow.

The Graham Chamber of Commerce hosted its first State of the Community luncheon last week and gathered representatives from local taxing entities to provide updates regarding current and upcoming projects, accomplishments and goals.

The event was hosted Tuesday, March 19 as one of the chamber’s quarterly luncheons at North Central Texas College. Speakers were Mayor Alex Heartfield, City Manager Eric Garretty, Graham Regional Medical Center CEO Shane Kernell, Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse and NCTC Director Dr. Magen Bunyard.

A two-vehicle wreck Friday west of Bryson on U.S. 380 resulted in the death of a Graham man.

The wreck occurred at approximately 5:14 a.m. about one mile west of Bryson in Jack County on U.S. 380, according to a release from Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Juan Gutierrez.

Tommy Bates, 80, of Graham, was pronounced dead on the scene due to injuries sustained in the wreck.

From a young age Texas country music had an impact on Olney native Race Ricketts and influenced the music he plays today. As Ricketts closes in on the release of his debut studio album “940,” he looks back at his journey to make it to where he is now.

Ricketts was born in Graham and grew up in Olney being exposed to music and acting, the latter of which he pursued at the University of Oklahoma after graduating from Olney High School in 2017.

The Graham Chamber of Commerce hosted its first State of the Community luncheon this week and gathered representatives from local taxing entities to provide updates regarding current and upcoming projects, accomplishments and goals.

The event was hosted Tuesday, March 19 as one of the chamber’s quarterly luncheons at North Central Texas College.
Speakers were Mayor Alex Heartfield, City Manager Eric Garretty, Graham Regional Medical Center CEO Shane Kernell, Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse and NCTC Director Dr. Magen Bunyard.

Young County Sheriff’s Department, Graham Police Department, Humane Society of Young County and Burnham Veterinary Hospital are working together to reunite an injured dog with his owner after finding him in the street Monday, March 18.

Early Monday morning around 6:30 a.m., BVH received notice that YCSO had picked up a German shepherd that had been hit by a vehicle on Hwy. 16 near the Allsup’s Convenience Store. The veterinary hospital has kept and cared for the dog since that time, but the owners haven’t come forward to claim him yet.

The Graham Drive In theater is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and with the milestone comes new owners for the Graham landmark. Chip and Brandi McFerrin, along with their four children, will officially take over operations of the theater at the beginning of April.

Owners Chip and Brandi will take the reins from Therrol and Becky DuBois who acquired the theater April 1, 2019 from Pam and Dr. David Scott.