News

After winds blew through the state last week, elevated fire conditions return this week.

First responders in Young County and throughout the state worked hard to fight fires in over 40 mph winds Friday, March 14 while up against low visibility due to dust blown in from West Texas and New Mexico. 

Volunteer firefighters, police and county units responded to down power lines, low hanging power lines, fires, loss of power calls and other situations in the county due to the wind.

After being convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2019, the Second Court of Appeals, for the second time, reversed the 50-year sentence of Jimmie Hance and ordered a new trial.

Hance, who is confined in the James V. Allred Unit in Wichita Falls, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 6 years old by a jury in April 2019.

The opinion issued Thursday, Feb. 27 by the appeals court reversed the judgment and remanded the case back to the 90th Judicial District Court for a new trial.

The Graham City Council is taking the next steps to prepare for the future as it looks to address concerns regarding its aging wastewater treatment plant. This week the council approved a service agreement with Freese and Nichols for engineering services.

The council approved a $354,800 agreement Thursday, March 13 with the engineering firm to update the city’s 2013 wastewater master plan and perform preliminary design on proposed renovations to the wastewater treatment plant.

Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department was one of 94 volunteer departments awarded funding through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program with Texas A&M Forest Service.

TAMFS announced the grant award for Newcastle VFD during its Wednesday, March 5 funding meeting. The local department was awarded $25,000 for personal protective equipment.

Grants proposed at the meeting were to assist in purchasing equipment such as dry hydrants, fire and rescue equipment, personal protective equipment and training aids.

A project is underway with the Young County William P. Johnston Preservation Committee to remove and add new fencing at the closed cemetery to match Oak Grove Cemetery.

The Oak Grove Colored - William P. Johnston Cemetery has been the subject of research since the beginning of March 2024 from Dr. Tamra Walter, a historical archaeologist and associate professor of archeology at Texas Tech University, along with students.

Young County Commissioners approved hiring Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP to rewrite its abatement policies and begin exploring a reinvestment zone for a potential solar project tax abatement.

The Tapaderos Solar project is a proposed 300 megawatt power facility with 200 megawatts of battery energy storage with an estimated investment of approximately $264.4 million. 

After signing a lease agreement for the Young County Sheriff’s Office dispatch equipment in February, the county amended that lease to add additional antennas for communications.

The Young County Commissioners Court met Monday, March 10 and discussed the amended agreement and why it was necessary.

The Young County Commissioners Court voted Monday to enact a burn ban that will run through June unless terminated earlier by the court.

The ban is following a local disaster declaration from Young County Judge Win Graham which Monday, March 3 enacted a seven-day burn ban throughout the county.

The court ordered the ban Monday, March 10 due to the public safety hazard presented that could be present if burning was allowed.

All outdoor burning in the county is prohibited from the date of the order. 

Cases pleaded in the 90th Judicial District Court for February 2025. Plea information is provided by the office of the 90th Judicial District Attorney.