Schools all across the country are heading into uncharted waters as campuses remain closed due to COVID-19, but Graham ISD has a plan for remote learning starting with the distribution of materials.
GISD campuses will be distributing materials for remote learning on each campus, Friday, March 27 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. In a ParentSquare email, GISD reminded parents to stay in their vehicles when picking up materials.
Young County Local Health Authority, Dr. Pat Martin, released information Tuesday evening, informing the community of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county.
Storm surveys were conducted by the National Weather Service for the storms that blew through Stephens, Young, Jack and Wise counties on March 18 into early March 19 have been completed. A total of seven tornadoes have were surveyed: one in Stephens County, two in Young County, two in Jack County and two in Wise County.
The first tornado touched down as an EF0 at 8:56 p.m. in southeast Jacksboro in Jack county. The estimated peak wind was 80 mph. The tornado was 55 yards wide and traveled 1.82 miles until 9:05 p.m.
Young and Stephens County 90th District Judge, Stephen Bristow, canceled all jury trials and criminal dockets Friday until May 8 as a way to limit large gatherings which could spread COVID-19 and to comply with the local and state declarations.
The Humane Society of Young County implemented a safety plan Friday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Young County and the city of Graham.
Graham ISD, in order to help feed students during the school closure, announced a free curbside meal program Friday.
“I am pleased to announce that Graham ISD’s Free Curbside Meal Program for children age 2-18 will begin on Monday, March 23rd,” said GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse in a release.
Both breakfast and lunch will be served at Pioneer, Crestview and Woodland Elementary campuses. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to Noon.
Young County Judge John Bullock released clarifications Friday about Gov. Greg Abbott’s COVID-19 restriction orders and the punishment for those looking not to follow the orders.
Bullock said the restriction on gatherings of 10 persons does include cashiers, waiter staff, cooks and more. The restriction will limit meetings such as Young County Commissioners Court, city council, civic clubs, church services and other meetings.
Fort Belknap will be temporarily closing its doors following a 5-0 vote at the Commissioners Court meeting on Monday. The decision comes after declarations made by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Young County Judge John Bullock.
Gov. Abbott, last week declared, “every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings and groups more than 10.” The declaration coincides with the recommendations presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and echoed by President Donald Trump.
The race is still on. Even with the cancellation of most events in Graham and Young County, the Spivey Hill Challenge will be doing an alternative race called a virtual race which can be done anytime before April 30.
Spivey Hill Challenge, a local fundraiser, fun run and race, was scheduled to occur on April 4 at Firemen’s Park, but because of new restrictions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus the event has been moved to a virtual run.
Two bands of thunderstorms, producing a tornado and quarter-size hail, moved through Young, Stephens and Jack Counties Wednesday night, into Thursday morning. A tornado touched down in South Bend at 9:14 p.m. Wednesday, causing extensive damage and minor injuries.
At 8:59 p.m., the National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued a tornado warning for northwest Stephens County and southwest Young County. The radar indicated a severe storm in the area with rotation moving northwest at 30 mph.
