News

The Young County Commissioners Court approved a combined $150,000 in American Rescue Act Plan funds for use with emergency medical services needs at Graham Regional Medical Center and Olney Hamilton Hospital during the court’s meeting this week.

Each hospital was approved for $75,000. GRMC CEO Shane Kernell and OHH CEO Michael Huff spoke to commissioners Monday, April 24, with GRMC Director of EMS Bobby Hadderton regarding EMS needs at the hospitals.

GRMC Request

Over $300,000 in budget amendments for Graham ISD district safety measures were approved this week by the GISD Board of Trustees. The board approved a vendor for the installation of a window film and a keyless/wireless interior door locking system.

The board approved the two items during their regular meeting Wednesday, April 19 after a presentation by GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse. The total cost for the keyless/wireless interior door lock system is $195,352 and for the safety film is $114,756.36.

Interior door locking system

Olney Hamilton Hospital and Olney ISD were placed on lockdown this week as members of the Olney Police Department, Young County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety attempted to serve two warrants. Authorities arrested Derek Rockenbaugh, 37, of Olney around 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.

Following a budget workshop Wednesday, the Graham ISD Board of Trustees approved staff raises and a new hiring schedule. The district heard a Texas Association of School Boards presentation of the district’s Pay System Review, which examines the competitive job market and gives recommendations to the board for competitive pay practices.

Early voting begins next week in Young County with general and special election measures for entities around the county, including a bond election for Newcastle ISD and Graham ISD.

The Saturday, May 6 election will have early voting weekdays from Monday, April 24 through Tuesday, May 2. Voting from April 24-28 will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from May 1-2 will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting will be held at the Graham campus of North Central Texas College at 928 Cherry St. and Olney Community Library at 907 W. Hamilton St.

The city is moving forward with developing a centralized food truck vendor location for trucks in the city. After hosting a public hearing Thursday, the Graham City Council tasked City Manager Eric Garretty and city staff to develop rules and regulations at the location and a detailed site plan.

The boundaries of a Downtown Development District were approved by the Graham City Council last week. The district will have established policies and provide opportunities for grants for businesses within the area.

A Greyhound bus station at the DK Convenience Station in Graham was a point of discussion for the city council last week after concerns were raised in the community. Graham City Manager Eric Garretty will return at a future meeting with a draft letter to send to the company regarding the city’s concerns.

The bus travel company has over 1,900 destinations across the country, with one station in Graham that has two pickup times. Garretty said a community member reached out to him with safety concerns.

The Texas Comptroller’s Office is helping Texans prepare for emergencies with a sales tax holiday this weekend. The annual tax holiday, taking place from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, April 22, and ending at midnight Monday, April 24, gives Texans the opportunity to purchase emergency preparation supplies in a tax-free manner.

A defect in the language of Young County misdemeanor judgments, filed between 2017 and 2022, is impacting multiple courts’ jurisdictions.
The language in the terms of probation filed by the county did not state a finding of guilt by the court, which is required under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Young County Attorney Christopher Baran estimated that 600-plus misdemeanor cases were impacted by the error.