News

With a new year comes a new season for Graham Regional Theatre and the local nonprofit has five shows on its books for 2026.

The organization announced their slate of shows coming up in 2026, which will feature a melodrama, summer musical, summer youth camp and a fall and winter show.

Denise Cyr is serving as the “Producer” of the GRT board, which has nine voting members and nine advisory members that keep a running list of shows to consider each year. 

After retaining bond and financial counseling services, the city of Graham will hear more information as it weighs options for considering debt issuance for various projects.

The Graham City Council will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 where they are scheduled to hear a presentation by Senior Managing Director of Hilltop Securities Jason Hughes. 

The topic of the conversation Thursday will be regarding debt types and options for the potential issuance of debt for a wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project. 

The Young County Museum of History and Culture has partnered with local artists to help bring the location to life and recently received a painting from Marc Nesbitt for historic figure Britt Johnson.

Nesbitt was inspired to paint a portrait of Johnson after reading the Alan C. Huffines novel “Killed by Indians 1871.” 

Nesbitt was previously commissioned and completed a number of paintings at the Wildcatter Ranch & Resort and Fort Belknap, along with other Young County locations.

The Old Post Office Museum and Art Center is kicking off the new year with a showcase featuring trophies of local hunters.

The Into the Wild Trophy Showcase will be on display at the OPOMAC with free admission through Saturday, Feb. 28 as a celebration of local hunters and their trophies. The hunters submitted a number of taxidermy trophies with information about the trophies and the hunters themselves.

In less than two weeks the Young County Commissioners Court will consider granting a reinvestment zone regarding a potential abatement for a solar and battery storage project.

The commissioners met Monday, Dec. 8 and approved starting a schedule to discuss and consider designating a reinvestment zone for the project and a tax abatement agreement regarding the Tapaderos solar and battery storage project from Titus LCV.

Following an investigation from Graham Police Department, James Price accepted a plea agreement of 35 years imprisonment for continuous sexual abuse of a child. 

Price, 48, of Graham, accepted the plea Tuesday, Dec. 16 of 35 years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division for the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child, regarding a victim under 14 years old.

Local candidates have begun their campaign races as the new year is upon us and the March primaries are on the horizon.

Those who wish to vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries have one month left to register to vote in Young County. The last day to register will be Monday, Feb. 2.

To register, a voter can complete a registration application and return it to the Young County election office at the Young County Annex at 417 Second St.

As we wrap up 2025 and are kicking off the new year, The Graham Leader is taking a look back at the local news which happened during the past 12 months.

January 

• The Graham community honored the life of former fire chief Dennie Covey who had passed away. Covey started at Graham Fire Department volunteering in 1986, was hired full time in 1993 and was hired as chief in 2007.

The Young County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with the sheriff’s department and Texas Department of Transportation for the installation and operation of license plate recognition cameras. 

In September, the commissioners approved a 12-month contract with Flock Safety for the installation of cameras around the county to aid in law enforcement investigations. The contract included the installation of Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras.

The annual Grahammy Awards will be making some major changes as it moves away from the Chamber Banquet and follows an awards show format at Graham Memorial Auditorium.

The Grahammy Awards are traditionally hosted as a part of the Graham Chamber of Commerce Banquet and honor those going above and beyond in service and commitment to the community, or promoting local commerce.

The awards show will be the focus for the event Thursday, Jan. 29, which will be emceed by the comedy group Four Day Weekend.