News

The Graham Senior Citizen Center soon will be undergoing a name change and over the weekend was cleaned, both of which are part of an effort to help market the center for dates and times it is not in use by seniors in the community.

The building at 825 Fairview St., provides meals for seniors Monday through Friday and is open for senior activities from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The operating expenses for the facility are provided by local donors, the city and through federal funding, according to the Graham Chamber of Commerce website.

While some people call it a labor of love, there are those who simply see a need and respond.

Kerrie Ribble, coordinator of Graham Backpack Buddies, shared how her and the group of volunteers ranging from 15-20 people, are entering their 12th year meeting the physical and emotional needs of Head Start early learning students through high school students in Graham.

A little less than a month after their most successful Hell on Water Poker Run, the Possum Kingdom Muscle Boat Association presented $10,000 checks to the Possum Kingdom Eastside Volunteer Fire Department and the Possum Kingdom Westside Emergency Medical Services Department Saturday.

PKMBA president Sharla Carver said the Hell on Water event on Saturday, July 27, had triple the turnout which it did the first year and double what it had last year.

Graham Police Department Chief Brent Bullock said Tuesday damage was minimal after GPD was one of more than 20 entities in Texas hit by a ransomware attack on the morning of Friday, Aug. 16. As of Thursday, the department were investigating the possibility of another problem occurring due to the ransomware.

In a press release from Tuesday Aug. 20, Bullock said the department has a stand alone system which is not tied to any other department within the city. He added this means the threat posed only effected the police department and no other city departments.

Former Army Special Forces veteran Gregory Coker has finished his second month in the Young County emergency management coordinator position and is hard at work updating the emergency operations plan.

Graham Regional Medical Center CEO Shane Kernell said he will recommend to the board the adoption of the effective tax rate for the next tax year which will lower the rate by $0.0045 per $100 valuation.

Graham Regional Medical Center approved their marketing plan and have budgeted $40,000 in hopes of increasing the hospital’s image and patient growth numbers.

Graham Regional Theatre recently announced their 2019-2020 schedule, with nine shows filling the season which kicks-off Sept. 7 with “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

GRT is a nonprofit community theater located on the Graham downtown square in The Perry theater. The group hosts a variety of shows and performances year-round with a goal of bringing a genuine theater experience to the area, GRT Director Christian Sanders said.

More than 20 entities in Texas, including the Graham Police Department, were hit by a ransomware attack on the morning of Friday, Aug. 16.

According to the Texas Department of Information Resources, the State Operations Center was activated with a day and night shift. The department believed, as of 5 p.m. Saturday, that evidence gathered indicates one actor is responsible for the attacks.