News

The city of Graham held its first workshop Tuesday regarding the 2022-2023 budget and tax rate. Graham City Council members heard requests from the heads of the city police, fire and public works departments.

The Graham ISD board Monday approved the 2022-2023 proposed budget and tax rate and set a public hearing and potential adoption date for the end of August. The proposed tax rate of $1.189 per $100 valuation is a decrease from last year’s adopted rate $1.274 per $100 valuation.

The Texas Education Agency released the A-F accountability ratings for districts and campuses Monday, with Graham ISD improving overall and in every campus from the 2018-2019 academic year, the last year the ratings were received statewide.

Next month, the Graham Concert Association will kick off its 77th season at Graham Memorial Auditorium. The nonprofit organization hosts six shows each season to provide performing arts for the Young County area.

A search is ongoing for a Palo Pinto County man following a U.S. Marshal Service manhunt that took place earlier this month in Young County. Roberto Damian Rodriguez-Garay, 30, remains at large after authorities failed to capture the man following a search in the Salem Loop area of Hwy. 16 S Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The U.S. Marshal Service issued an update via press release Thursday, Aug. 11.

A former Graham man was sentenced Tuesday in the 90th Judicial District Court to 25 years in prison on the felony offense of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Gregory Bueno, 37, reoffended after being imposed a four-year prison sentence in September 2008 for the same crime.

Bueno waived a jury trial and took a plea bargain of 25 years in the Correctional Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and to pay a $4,000 fine plus court costs. Bueno is required to continue to register as a sex offender annually.

Graham Economic Improvement Corporation Director Grant Ingram gave a quarterly report regarding operations and financials of the organization Thursday, Aug. 4. The organization has been able to purchase properties, fund initiatives to improve local businesses and provide opportunities for businesses to thrive in the city of Graham.

The city of Graham, Graham Police Department and TxDOT are looking at the impact a traffic light at Montgomery and Hwy. 16 S would have on safety in the area. Within the last six years, GPD  has reported 22 vehicle wrecks which have occurred near the intersection.

U.S. Special Operation Command (USSOCOM) announced last Monday it selected L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Inc.’s AT-802U Sky Warden system for the Armed Overwatch program. According to a press release from Air Tractor, the program will include delivery of up to 75 manned, fixed-wing aircraft, with an initial contract award of $170 million.

The Graham Parks and Recreation board president gave an update Thursday regarding the planned park improvement projects and grant applications to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. After getting an update from TPWD, Graham Parks and Wildlife board president Alex Heartfield said the phase one projects at Fireman’s Park could break ground in early 2023.