News

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.

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.

With the football season’s start less than a week away and less than a month until the home opener, Graham ISD has announced its ticket and attendance policy for varsity football games for the season. The guidelines follow guidance by the UIL, state and local officials.

The First Presbyterian Church welcomed Rev. D.C. Adams as their new pastor at the beginning of July and serving in the position for two months he has got an understanding of the city and people which make up Graham.

Former FBC pastor Carl McCormack prepared his final sermon and was set to retire in June 2019, after serving as the full-time pastor since May 2016. Adams was made aware of the position in 2019 after being contacted by a friend in seminary who grew up in Graham.

Several days of dry weather and hot temperatures led to several fires across Young and Palo Pinto Counties over the weekend. Following a week of temperatures in the mid 100s as well as strong winds Sunday evening, crews battled fires across northern Young County and in Palo Pinto County.

Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse released a video on the district communication source ParentSquare Friday detailing some of the changes from remote learning last spring and now into the fall 2020 school year.

Cruse said Fall 2020 will be vastly different from the spring with the shutdown of schools being sudden, unexpected and all students being forced to learning remotely in the spring.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas legal staff last week released a reply to the city of Graham wholesale customers to deny a rehearing request involving a wholesale water dispute between the city of Graham and the customers which had a final decision by the PUC in July.

The Graham ISD Board of Trustees reviewed the proposed budget and tax rate Wednesday and accepted them for adoption during a set Aug. 28 public hearing and board meeting. The board approved the proposed tax rate which will remain unchanged from last year’s rate.

Last year, the board approved a tax rate of $1.277 per $100 valuation which was the lowest rate approved from the board after remaining at $1.347 per $100 valuation since 2013. The board is proposing the same lowered rate from last year this year.

A wildfire named The Pennington Creek wildfire has destroyed more than 2,600 acres of Palo Pinto and Jack County land.

Multiple agencies were called to the fire which started along Pennington Creek near the border of Jack and Palo Pinto counties at 4:13 p.m. Monday. The fire was also fought using aviation resources including Air Attack, a Type 1 Helicopter, and three single-engine air tankers.

Cathy Partridge, director of operations at the Graham Crisis Center, addressed the noon Lions Club on Aug. 12 and gave an update regarding the center moving into the Steer Bowl building. Partridge also provided a fundraising update.

The crisis center, currently located in the old Young County Jail, at 503 2nd St, is owned by the county. The city of Graham pays the utility bills and handles the lawn upkeep. The building is receiving repairs done to the windows and plumbing after receiving funding from the Young County Commissioners Court.