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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Patriotic music is sung under the Young County Courthouse gazebo during the Celebrate Freedom event Saturday, June 29. The gazebo was recently closed due to safety concerns.

Commissioners close county gazebo due to safety concerns

The Young County Commissioners Court closed the courthouse gazebo, removed the supports and lowered the roof due to safety concerns as they look to restore the structure.

Commissioners spoke about the state of the gazebo during their meeting Monday, March 24. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Wiley said a wind storm prior to the one that occurred Friday, March 14, damaged the support beams for the gazebo.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER)

Olney man indicted on aggravated kidnapping

Mack Hamrick was indicted by a Young County grand jury this month for aggravated kidnapping and three other charges related to an alleged kidnapping at gunpoint in December 2024.

Hamrick, 39, of Olney was arrested Dec. 13, 2024, and booked into the Young County Jail, where he remains on bond totaling $460,000.

He was indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, assaulting a family member by impeding breath or circulation and using a deadly weapon as well as tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Kaci McKinzie was hired as the executive director for Virginia’s House and started last week in the new position. McKinzie worked with the organization in the past as a volunteer and is now taking the next step.

McKinzie steps in as Virginia’s House director

The mission of Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House to meet the needs of the abused, neglected and traumatized through prevention and advocacy is something very familiar to new executive director Kaci McKinzie.

Virginia’s House, located in Young County, and Dr. Goodall’s House, located in Stephens County, serve their communities as umbrella organizations. The organizations provide the children’s advocacy center, North Star CASA and mentor program.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Blue ribbons tied around trees at the Young County Courthouse in 2022 for Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Ribbons will be placed by Virginia’s House in Graham this week to raise awareness of child abuse.

Virginia’s House raising child abuse awareness in April

Across Young and Stephens counties in April, blue ribbons can be found in various locations with a goal of raising awareness for an important cause, child abuse prevention and awareness.

Virginia’s House, in Young County, and Dr. Goodall’s House, in Stephens County, work each April to raise awareness in their communities for Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Dennis and Andy Heath sit behind a counter with The Arc of Wichita County Executive Director Anthony Watkins (right) at the Hero House. The renovated kitchen area is one of the features of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities day habilitation facility.

Mission accomplished: Hero House opening soon to serve IDD members

After only one year of requesting support for a new home for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities day habilitation services, the Hero House will be having its grand opening in May.

Since January 2024, Dennis and Andy Heath, along with the Graham Friends of The Arc board, have worked to raise funds to establish a facility for The Arc of Wichita County and renovate the new location at 611 South St.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Brad Partridge helps unload papers to be shredded during the 2023 spring clean up event. The event this year will be held from Saturday, April 5 through Sunday, April 13.

Spring clean up event kicks off next weekend

Keep Graham Beautiful is kicking off its annual spring clean up event next weekend on the downtown square. City residents will have a week to dispose of refuse and other items at the Graham Convenience Station.

The all-volunteer service organization in Graham organizes activities to clean up the city. The organization is coordinated by a board of directors and works in partnership with the city of Graham.

(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Two special meetings of the GISD Board of Trustees will be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 at the Graham Learning Center to discuss the strategic plan with the committee for the district.

GISD strategic planning meetings next week

Graham ISD, in partnership with N2 Learning, is helping shape the future of the district by setting goals through a new strategic plan, with two meetings scheduled for next week. 

Two special meetings of the GISD Board of Trustees will be held at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 at the Graham Learning Center to discuss the strategic plan with the committee for the district. No action will be taken during the two meetings.

(CONTRIBTED PHOTO) Jim Guinn (left) and John Eliot pose with their books at a book signing at the Barnes & Noble at Fifth Avenue in New York. Guinn will return Saturday, March 29 to his hometown of Graham for a book signing event at Pratt’s Books.

Master mediator: Guinn co-authors book on conflict resolution

Since his departure from Graham, Dr. Jim Guinn has jumped head first into the world of conflict resolution and his experience has culminated into the book “How to Get Along with Anyone,” which he co-authored with Dr. John Eliot.

The recently released book focuses on defusing any heated conflict by learning which of the five conflict styles matches your personality and how to resolve conflicts with other styles. 

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Lexee Alberts was hired last week by the Graham Area United Way Board of Directors as the executive director over the organization.

Alberts hired as United Way director

The Graham Area United Way Board of Directors ushered in the next generation of leadership for the organization last week by hiring Lexee Alberts to the position of executive director.

Alberts will be filling the position held for 26 years by Susie Cerecedez, who will be retiring Friday, May 20. The board accepted the hiring of Alberts during their meeting held Wednesday, March 12.

Cerecedez said in a previous interview that she knew last year she was looking to retire and made the move to provide a better candidate for the position.

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