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Area nonprofits seek to raise money in Texoma Gives

Thirteen Young County non-profit organizations will participate in the annual Texoma Gives fundraising drive on Sept. 10. Although the official drive has yet to begin, donations are already accepted with participating organizations.

Texoma Gives is a 24-county area program where for 16 hours, donations can be made to nonprofits in the Texoma area which encompasses 18 Texas counties and six in southern Oklahoma. The online-focused fundraiser hosts over 200 registered fundraisers.

GISD teachers, administration confident as school begins under new conditions

After months of planning, Graham ISD will begin the 2020-2021 school year Monday with in-person learning taking place for the first time since the beginning of spring break on March 16. The school year begins after two schedule changes and months of preparations as teachers were forced to plan around circumstances they have never experienced in their careers.

Initially, the start date for the school year was scheduled for Aug. 24. To create more days to account for COVID-19, the date was moved to Aug. 17. Finally, the date was changed to Monday.

County proposes lower tax rate for 2020-2021 budget

The Young County Commissioners Court held a public meeting Monday where Young County Judge John Bullock announced that the commissioners voted unanimously on a proposed tax rate of $0.646085 per $100 valuation.

The proposed tax rate matches the no-new-revenue rate, formerly known as the effective rate. It is also below the adopted tax rate of $0.720759 per $100 valuation from the 2019 tax year. This will raise the same amount of property tax revenue from the same properties in both the 2019 and 2020 tax years.

Delamarter joins city of Graham as airport manager

The city of Graham welcomed Jon Delamarter as the new Graham Municipal Airport Manager last Thursday during their regular City Council meeting. Delamarter was chosen out of 34 applicants for the position and after the city reviewed other avenues for administration of the facility.

City Manager Brandon Anderson announced Delamarter in the position Thursday and said the city and committee overseeing the hiring interviewed five of the 34 applicants to the position.

Run for the Children overcomes odds to make area donation

Since 2006, The Run for the Children race has provided over $160,000 for Virginia’s House in Graham and later for Dr. Goodall’s House in Breckenridge. Despite not being held for the last two years due to extenuating circumstances, the run has been able to provide over $30,000 in funding through donations and support from the community.

Dr. Dora Cawley, who serves as a pediatrician, started the program in 2006 after looking for a way to help in area that impressed her beyond her area of study, in the field of supporting victims of child abuse and neglect.

Virginia’s House looks to adapt mentor program

As districts begin to approach the new school year many in the coverage area of Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House have opted to not allow visitors due to COVID-19 and this includes those within the student mentor program. The organization is looking into methods where it can continue the program which helps students annually in partnership with area districts.