A public hearing for the Graham ISD budget and tax rate is approaching next week as the district works to refine its numbers and is proposing a tax rate just under the current rate.
The board will vote to adopt the budget and tax rate during their meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the GISD Administration Building at 400 Third St.
Following a recommendation by the Texas Association of School Boards, Graham ISD approved a local policy change increasing the amount required for board approval for goods and services.
GISD conducted a local board policy review May 1-2 from TASB’s Policy Service where administrators met with a TASB consultant to review and align policies. The policy changes were presented to the GISD board Wednesday, Aug. 6 and approved Tuesday, Aug. 12.
Following the completion of the Summer Concert Series, things will move inside to Graham Memorial Auditorium for the 80th season of the Graham Concert Association.
The nonprofit organization began in 1944 with the mission of providing an outlet for the Graham and Young County community to enjoy performing arts locally. That mission will continue with its 80th season.
All performances for GCA are held at Graham Memorial Auditorium with Sunday performances beginning at 6 p.m. and doors opening at 5 p.m.
The city of Graham and its contracted solid waste provider KC Dumpsters have released collection routes as the new provider gears up to take over services in September.
KC Dumpsters will begin operating on the Labor Day holiday Monday, Sept. 1 due to the first day of service being on that day.
Existing city customers will have new polycarts and dumpsters delivered from Monday, Aug. 18 through Sunday, Aug. 31. The new polycarts and dumpsters must be used when collection services begin for KC Dumpsters in September.
The Young County Commissioners Court released their fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and presented it to the public at their weekly meeting.
The commissioners court meeting where the proposed budget was discussed took place Monday, Aug. 18. The proposed budget has an opening statement from the commissioners court about raises.
UPDATE (Monday, Aug. 18) - 7:02 p.m. - The Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers were called in to assist the Young County Sheriff’s Office with a shooting in Newcastle.
“The investigation revealed that two males living at the same address but in different residences had a dispute. During the dispute, one of the males shot the other,” DPS wrote in a release.
The male victim, Justin Garland, 35, of Graham, was being transported to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
The Texas Education Agency released the 2024-2025 A-F Accountability Ratings for districts across the state this week, with both Graham ISD and Newcastle ISD seeing progress.
The ratings were released Friday, Aug. 15 online on the TEA’s public resource website txschools.gov. The accountability ratings are based on three areas of performance: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.
With approval by the Graham City Council, a ground penetrating radar survey will be conducted on land owned by the city adjacent to the Oak Grove Colored - William P. Johnston Cemetery.
The city council approved the motion Thursday, Aug. 14 within their consent agenda to allow Texas Cemetery Restoration LLC to conduct a noninvasive GPR survey of the city-owned property to the west of the cemetery.
A redesign of the Third and Cherry Street intersection as a four-way stop with added handicap access was approved by the Graham City Council.
The city council approved allocating $16,500 in funds available in the current fiscal year street department budget for the project Thursday, Aug. 14. Concrete will make up the bulk of that cost at $15,000, which will be contracted out.
The city has discussed the redesign since June, when a recommendation for the change was made for the intersection along with the Fourth and Tennessee Street intersection.
Young County Commissioners are looking to improve security by installing Flock Safety cameras and partnering with the city of Graham and city of Olney to set up a camera system.
These items were discussed on the agenda at the commissioners court’s meeting Monday, Aug. 11. Young County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Will Cauthern gave a breakdown to the court of the financials for the project and the potential benefits of this system.
