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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Denise Cyr (left), playing Marilyn Dunne, and Summer Branum, playing Abby Binder, rehearse a scene of the upcoming Graham Regional Theater production ‘Ripcord,’ which will be playing next weekend at The Perry theater in Graham.

GRT takes the stage downtown with ‘Ripcord’

Following a short break from their June summer musical, Graham Regional Theater will take the stage again with three performances of “Ripcord” by David Linsay-Abaire.

GRT is a nonprofit community theater which has shows and other activities encouraging dance, music and theater. 

Their upcoming show “Ripcord” will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 at The Perry theater in Graham. Tickets can be purchased at the door, if available, and online at grahamregionaltheatre.com.

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) City Manager Eric Garretty (at podium) gives a presentation on the upcoming fiscal year budget before a public hearing Thursday, Aug. 15. After a third reading Thursday, Aug. 29 the Graham City Council adopted the budget.

Salary, rate increases headline city budget

With increases to the tax, sewer and water rates along with employees salary raises through various funds, the city of Graham is hoping to continue to be able to provide services and enhance and expand existing infrastructure.

Before the third reading and adoption of the budget Thursday, Aug. 29, Graham Mayor Alex Heartfield spoke on prioritizing community needs such as public safety, street repair and improvement and sustaining the water and wastewater infrastructure.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Former Dallas Cowboys player Randy White signs a football at the Graham Regional Medical Center auction fundraiser held in September 2022 at the Wildcatter Ranch & Resort in Graham.

GRMC Auxiliary preparing largest golf fundraiser

The Graham Country Club has seen its fair share of celebrity athletes in the past, but this year’s rendition of the annual Graham Regional Medical Center Auxiliary golf fundraiser promises to bring the biggest crowd of well-known athletes yet.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 8 with a VIP meet-and-greet and live auction, and ending Monday, Sept. 9 with the golf tournament, celebrities from nearly all 30 NFL teams, a politician, musicians and rodeo professionals will be in Graham to help raise money for the GRMC Auxiliary.

(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Eliasville Rural Volunteer Fire Department was the recipient of a generous donation of $25,000 from the Oncor Cares Foundation. The award was presented by Gordon Drake, Oncor West Region Area Manager and Richard Casarez, Oncor Vice President - Fort Worth Customer Service. Pictured from left to right are Casarez, Gena McLaughlin, Steve Reger, Amie Pratt, Gabe Pratt, Tony Ramirez and Drake.

Eliasville VFD receives financial boost from Oncor

Rural volunteer fire departments provide needed support to their communities with minimal financial assistance. But Thursday, Aug. 29, the Eliasville Volunteer Fire Department received a generous donation to aid in their efforts.

The Oncor Cares Foundation presented a check for $25,000 to Eliasville VFD as part of a large investment the organization is making to rural fire departments across West and Northwest Texas.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A dog waits to be adopted at the Humane Society of Young County in December 2023. HSYC is one of the Young County organizations participating in the online giving event Texoma Gives.

Texoma Gives online giving event kicks off Thursday

Nine Young County nonprofits will soon join over 200 organizations in North Texas and Southwest Oklahoma participating in the 16-hour online giving event Texoma Gives.

Texoma Gives is organized by the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation to grow philanthropy in the Texoma region and surrounding areas. The fundraising event will be held online from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, with an early donation period currently open.

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The front of Graham City Hall located at 612 Elm St. The city of Graham is hosting a public hearing for its proposed tax rate at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9.

City hosting tax rate public hearing Monday

After adopting the upcoming fiscal year budget at the Graham City Council meeting last week, a public hearing on the proposed tax rate is set for Monday.

The city of Graham will host a public hearing at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at the city council chambers located at 608 Elm St. 

During the second reading of the tax rate Thursday, Aug. 1, the council approved lowering the rate from the proposed rate of $0.665 per $100 valuation to $0.655 per $100 valuation, which will remain an increase of 3.14% over the current rate of $0.635 per $100 valuation.

Comptroller: Hundreds of new homes needed to cut costs


A 26-page report from the Texas Comptroller concludes that the state needs 306,000 additional homes, a shortage that has sent housing costs soaring, The Texas Tribune reported. Homebuilding hasn’t kept up with the booming economy as millions of new residents have moved here over the past decade, leaving more than half of the state’s homeowners and renters struggling to find and keep affordable housing. 

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham Assistant City Manager Grant Ingram (left) speaks to the Graham Economic Improvement Corporation Board of Directors regarding housing development Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Assistant City Manager accepts position as Tyler Chamber COO

After service through various community roles, most recently as assistant city manager, Grant Ingram will be saying farewell to Graham after accepting a position as Chief Operating Officer for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.

The change was officially announced this week at the Graham City Council meeting Thursday, Aug. 29 and by TACC President Henry Bell earlier this month. Ingram is native to Tyler, and is looking forward to serving that community and its businesses in his new role.

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Members of the Graham ISD Board of Trustees look over the proposed budget Wednesday, Aug. 28 after a public hearing was held for the budget and tax rate. Shown from left to right are Board President Chris Blanton, Superintendent Sonny Cruse, Jason Smith (front) and Brandon Joy.

GISD balances budget, lowers tax rate

A balanced budget and lowered tax rate were adopted by the Graham ISD Board of Trustees following a public hearing this week.

The board tasked GISD Business Manager Don Davis with balancing the budget before adoption Wednesday, Aug. 28. In a budget workshop Wednesday, Aug. 14, the board approved a proposed deficit budget with a request to amend the budget to be balanced with anticipated revenues.

“Just an update from our last board meeting, per the board's request, I increased the revenues that we've discussed in that meeting (to balance the budget),” Davis said Wednesday.

(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The playground at Firemen's Park in Graham which was closed last week due to heat concerns. A child received second-degree burns as a result of the slide at the playground which led the city to test the equipment and temporarily close the park.

Parks board discusses temporary closure of park playground

After closing and reopening the Firemen’s Park playground due to high temperatures on the equipment, the Graham Parks Department Board of Directors discussed options the city could take regarding the issue.

The board met Tuesday, Aug. 27 and made the determination to continue to monitor the temperatures of the park equipment, and if they get too warm to close the facilities. 

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