News

Over $400,000 in fund balance purchases were approved by the Graham ISD Board of Trustees during their meeting Wednesday, May 10. The purchases include two new buses and maintenance trucks.

The board was initially presented with over $1 million in potential projects to be expended from the district’s fund balance. Following the GISD bond election failing in a special election held Saturday, May 6, Board President Andrea Lowery said they needed to reevaluate where they use funds.

Graham ISD recognized the accomplishments of students in the district Wednesday, May 10 at Graham High School. Recognitions were given for students’ academic and fine arts achievements during the 2022-2023 school year.

Graham High School Academic, Fine Arts Achievements

•Acy Kimbro - Special Olympics - Regional Competitor in Basketball and Track
•Aidan Adams - UIL Academics: Social Studies - District 2nd Place Team
•Alexia Santos - UIL Academics: Headline Writing - District 5th Place

Graham Luminant Power Plant reported a spill today of an “unknown quantity” of lubrication oil into Lake Eddleman, the city’s primary surface water supply.

At 2:55 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, Graham City Manager Eric Garretty was notified the power plant reported the spill. Further investigation by power plant and city of Graham employees was completed regarding the scope of the spill.

A Graham man was arrested Friday, May 5 and charged with three felonies following a forensic interview with a minor.

Richard Henry Ashing, 54, was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of solicitation of prostitution, under 18 years of age.

According to probable cause affidavits filed for each charge, the victim was given a forensic interview May 5 in Graham. The victim, whose name was withheld due to their age, described two instances of aggravated sexual assault that allegedly took place on or about Dec. 1, 2022.

Voting concluded Saturday in the general and special elections held in Young County, with the passing of a $22 million bond measure from Newcastle ISD and the failing of a $49.4 million bond measure from Graham ISD.

Election day was held Saturday, May 6, with voting available at five locations throughout the county. Early voting was held from Monday, April 24 through Tuesday, May 2 at two county locations.

Music will fill the downtown square this summer as the Graham Convention and Visitors Bureau and Graham Concert Association partner for the inaugural Graham Summer Concert Series. Five free concerts will be held starting in June and running every other week until mid-August.

The idea for an outdoor concert began with GCA board members Grant Ingram and Brendan Weatherman. Ingram said the two wanted to do a “one-off” concert aside from GCA’s regular concert schedule.

An Olney man was arrested last weekend after a 13-day search following an altercation on the 400 block of West Payne Street.

Felisiano (Felix) Villalpando, 39, was booked Saturday, April 29 into the Young County Jail on charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony, a first-degree felony; and aggravated assault to child/elderly/disabled, a third-degree felony.

Today is the final opportunity to vote in general and special Young County elections. Election day voting is being held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at five locations around the county.

Voting will be held at Newcastle First Baptist Church, at 501 Graham St.; First United Methodist Church of Graham, at 700 Third St.; Loving Volunteer Fire Department, at 8891 Hwy. 114; North Central Texas College, at 928 Cherry St.; and Olney Community Library, at 907 W. Hamilton St.

Graham Regional Medical Center will soon have a new vehicle for its Emergency Medical Services. The hospital’s board of directors approved the purchase of a first responder truck to be used by its director of EMS.

The approval, made during their monthly meeting Thursday, April 27, comes after Young County Commissioners approved the use of $75,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the purchase Monday, April 24.

Following a school threat originating from social media, schools around the country and in Texas took action, including Graham ISD. GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse posted notice of the threat to district parents and guardians Friday, May 5.

Multiple districts in Texas, including Bowie ISD and Huntsville ISD, stated that a post began circulating amongst students and community members regarding a potential threat of violence made toward an unnamed district campus. Cruse sent a notification Friday to inform all parties of the situation.