News

Following a recommendation from the Graham Planning and Zoning Commission in November, the Graham City Council Thursday approved a proposed planned development of a dental office at the corner of Pine Tree Road and Walmart Drive.

The Graham Planning and Zoning Commission approved a proposed 2.9-acre development at the corner of Pine Tree Road and Walmart Drive to be presented to the Graham City Council following a public hearing held Monday, Nov. 28.

The Graham City Council approved Graham City Manager Eric Garretty to negotiate and conclude a professional service agreement with Parkhill, Smith, and Cooper Engineers for engineering and design services to modify the scope of work for the proposed alternate city water line project.

Garretty said Thursday, Dec. 8 that the original alternate water line project, estimated at $4.5 million, has increased in cost substantially requiring a change in the scope of the project.

Terry Isreal Oliva-Reyes pleaded guilty to smuggling of persons, a third degree felony, Thursday, Nov. 29. The guilty plea was part of a plea deal between Oliva-Reyes and the 90th Judicial District Court.

Following his guilty plea, Oliva-Reyes was placed on a detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and released to ICE custody Friday, Dec 2, according to Young County Sheriff Travis Babcock.

Students from Graham Junior High School and Graham High School came together for two sold-out performances of Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka Jr.” at the GHS auditorium. Director Katie Huitt said both groups of students were able to share more than just the stage as a part of the musical.

The performances were held Sunday, Dec. 4 and Monday, Dec. 5, with tickets selling out at least a day before the performances, according to Huitt. The director said the biggest change from other district performances was the inclusion of both theater classes at GJHS and GHS.

Graham Police Department officers and a Young County Sheriff’s Office deputy apprehended a Graham man last Thursday with active warrants in Young and Stephens County.

After an agreement was signed in June with Wildlife Damage Management Biologist Adam Henry to help control the wild hog population within the city of Graham, control efforts continue.

The Graham Police Department made a post on their social media page Wednesday, May 25, stating they were developing a solution to address the increasing feral hog problem within the city of Graham.

With the Ariat World Series of Team Roping 2022 finale underway in Las Vegas, for a second straight year, the competition will see representation from Graham. Tyrel Campbell, of Graham, and Mac Fairey, of Moody, will look to defend their #8.5 Ariat World Series of Team Roping championship title when they compete Saturday, Dec. 10.

Campbell, who participates part-time and works in the oil industry by profession, grew up in Ingleside. His love for roping grew on a ranch his father worked on in the town just north of Corpus Christi.

Graham Regional Theatre is hosting four performances this week of its annual Christmas show ‘A Christmas Carol.’ The show will close out the 2022 season for GRT which began in September.

The show will be held at The Perry theater in Graham 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Students, senior and military discount tickets are $12 and general admission tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased at grahamregionaltheatre.com/tickets-1.

An over 60-year tradition returns this week to Graham as Mary Braddock welcomes the community to her home to receive a sweet treat during Cookie Day. The event began as a family affair, and has since grown into an annual community event where the Braddock family comes together to provide cookies for the community.

Cookie Day will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at Braddock’s home on 1010 Westwood Drive. Last year, Braddock said the tradition started 63 years ago when she started baking cookies for her family and expanded to invite the community.

Separate traffic stops from Monday into Tuesday led to the arrest of three men in Young County, two on Hwy. 114 near Loving and Jean and one in Olney.

Elmer Yonatan-Dionicio Tuy-Renoj, 24, of Guatemala, and Willy Geobani Funez-Flores, 36, of Honduras, were separately transporting eight individuals on Hwy. 114 in their vehicles. The two were arrested by the Young County Sheriff’s Office and charged with smuggling of persons.