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(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Area residents have a little over two weeks remaining to file for seats open in local elections. Applications to file can be submitted to local political subdivisions through Friday, Feb. 14. The election will take place Saturday, May 3.

Filing deadline upcoming for local elections

Area residents have a little over two weeks remaining to file for seats open in local elections.

City council and school board seats in Graham, Olney and Newcastle are up for election with applications available at each individual entity. Additionally, there will be open seats for the Olney Hamilton Hospital Board of Directors.

Applications to file can be submitted to local political subdivisions through Friday, Feb. 14. The election will take place Saturday, May 3.

$1 billion for vouchers, $5 billion for teachers?


Legislative budget writers are proposing nearly $5 billion to increase teacher pay and $1 billion to implement a school voucher program in the next biennium, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

The voucher program, also referred to as school choice, would provide public money for private schooling, a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott that bitterly divided Republican lawmakers two years ago and failed to pass.

(KYLIE BAILEY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) City Manager Eric Garretty discusses portions of the wastewater treatment plant to the Graham City Council and community watching their meeting Thursday, Jan. 23. The city approved to hire Freese and Nichols as engineers to plan improvements at the facility.

City hires engineers for wastewater treatment plant renovation project

The Graham City Council is preparing for the future as it looks to address concerns regarding its aging wastewater treatment plant. They took the next step last week, hiring an engineering firm to develop renovations options for the council.

The city council Thursday, Jan. 23 approved Freese and Nichols to produce a new Wastewater Master Plan and conduct predesign services for a proposed project to rehabilitate the wastewater treatment plant.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham ISD Board of Trustees members meet in October 2024 at the Graham Learning Center. The board approved a budget amendment Wednesday, Jan. 15 to hire N2 Learning to facilitate a new strategic plan for the district.

Future planning: GISD creating new district strategic plan

Graham ISD has partnered with N2 Learning to help shape the future of the district and set goals to be implemented over the next three-to-five years within a new strategic plan.

The Graham ISD Board of Trustees met Wednesday, Jan. 15 and accepted a budget amendment of up to $30,000 for the creation of the strategic plan with N2 Learning. Superintendent Mary Johnston said the process will pave the way for the future of the district.

(KYLIE BAILEY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) City Manager Eric Garretty speaks with the Graham City Council during their meeting Thursday, Jan. 16. The city council made the determination to choose a new solid waste provider for the city during the meeting.

City dumps Waste Connections: KC Dumpsters contracted as solid waste provider

After reviewing four bids for municipal solid waste collection and disposal services, the Graham City Council accepted a recommendation to contract with KC Dumpsters and drop Waste Connections.

The city accepted proposals for collection, hauling and disposal of all residential, commercial and industrial solid waster, including refuse and bulk waste. Proposals were received from Frontier Waste Solutions, On Site Solutions, KC Dumpsters and from its former provider, Waste Connections. 

(PLUG POWER | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A rendering of the future Plug Power facility in Young County. The 40-acre lot where the facility will be located will produce 45 tons of liquefied hydrogen.

Plug Power closes $1.66 billion federal loan guarantee

The hydrogen solutions company Plug Power, which is currently establishing a facility in Graham, closed a $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.

The loan guarantee will help finance the construction of up to six projects to produce and liquefy zero or low-carbon hydrogen throughout the country, with Graham’s hydrogen plant being the first to benefit from the financing.

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