News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.