Christmas will be in the air next week as the Graham Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual stroll and lighted Christmas parade alongside the Hot Chocolicious event, all on the downtown square.
With over 5,000 attending the event last year, Chamber Executive Director Cayley Strickland said the event brings together many for downtown Christmas festivities.
Over $70,000 in grants were recently awarded to Graham ISD teachers through the local nonprofit Graham Public Education Foundation.
The organization is dedicated to enriching and enhancing the education of Graham students. The organization takes a bus with board members and campus administrators, called the prize patrol, to each campus to present awards each year.
Repair and construction of the waterline on Virginia Street is underway with street closures anticipated for this week.
The Graham City Council granted emergency contracting authority for the project in August to City Manager Eric Garretty. Fambro Construction of Stephenville was chosen as the contractor to emplace 900 feet of new waterline along Virginia Street between Brazos Street and South Street.
Director of Public Works Randall Dawson gave an update to the city council on the project Thursday, Nov. 21.
The city of Graham held an opportunity last week for the community to connect with members of the city and county regarding any current concerns, but few came out to make their voices heard.
The meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19 began with an introduction of city officials and department heads, who were present to answer questions. City Manager Eric Garretty said the meeting also served as a way to have a direct line of communication with the city council members.
Local healthcare facilities often need to be prepared for anything, and Graham Regional Medical Center continues to take steps to ensure that preparation is there.
At their monthly meeting Wednesday, Nov. 20, the GRMC board received an update on the hospital’s emergency plan and some of the various drills that will be coming in 2025 to help keep staff ready for whatever comes their way.
GRMC Director of EMS Bobby Hadderton provided information about what’s been accomplished this year and what will be on the horizon for next year.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued three executive orders last week targeting the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, The Dallas Morning News reported
Abbott said the orders were intended to protect Texans of Chinese descent from “harassment and intimidation” by the Chinese Communist Party and government, and to fight threats to state security.
“Texas will not tolerate the harassment or coercion of the more than 250,000 individuals of Chinese descent who legally call Texas home by the Chinese Communist Party or its heinous proxies,” Abbott said.
The orders:
As a measure to prepare for emergency water shortages, the Graham City Council met this week to evaluate the need for an alternative water supply source.
The city’s primary source for its raw water is from Lake Graham and Lake Eddleman, which also serves the city’s wholesale water customers. With no alternative source of water should the water level in the lakes drop, the council is working to establish a solution.
A Graham Police Department investigation has been opened regarding a number of stores in Graham where counterfeit $100 bills were used this week.
Boaz on the Square, Here & Now Boutique and Everette’s Jewelers are among some of the stores in downtown Graham that recently had counterfeit currency used.
GPD officers responded Tuesday, Nov. 19 to the 500 block of Elm Street in reference to three businesses around the square receiving counterfeit $100 bills for purchases made.
For over 35 years, Bethel Baptist Church has brought all in the community together for a Thanksgiving meal, and the annual tradition continues next week.
The free Community Thanksgiving Day Meal will be hosted at noon Thursday, Nov. 28 at the church’s Family Life Center located at 209 Tennessee St. The program has delivery, take-out and dine-in options available.
The church recently held a 75-year celebration Sunday, Nov. 3. The Thanksgiving meal has been one of the largest efforts of the church since 1988.
A collection of nonprofit organizations in Young County, along with other entities, have come together to create an initiative that will provide information about community resources and services in an easy-to-access format.
These organizations have been working on building a website where links to different agencies’ websites will be found. The goal is to make information about trainings, resources and services more accessible to the public of Young County.
