News

Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part story regarding the upcoming budget for Young County.

Restricting or banning cell phones on Graham ISD campuses was a topic of discussion at a GISD Board of Trustees meeting this week, with community members showing up to speak on the matter.

While the board took no action Wednesday, Aug. 14 on the cell phone policy for the district, they requested district staff to give recommendations and talking points for the next school board meeting Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Few can claim to have close to 40 years of dedicated service to a profession, but that’s exactly what Kim Shawver has done for the city of Graham in her role as animal control officer.

Shawver will be retiring from her long-standing position Thursday, Aug. 29. It was in 1984 at the age of 22 that Shawver was working for the Gateway Inn cleaning hotel rooms that she got the call to apply for the animal control officer position. 

A hostage situation where two were held at gunpoint ended with the arrest of a Jack County man with prior charges from Young and Jack counties.

Jeffrey Charles Hilliard, 43, of Jack County, was arrested on charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Jack County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a house on FM 1191 north of Bryson at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 for a report of a suicidal subject with a 9 mm handgun in the garage.

The city of Graham and Young County have public hearings upcoming this month and next month for the budget and tax rate. 

The city of Graham will host two public hearings at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 at the City Hall council chambers at 608 Elm St. The hearings are regarding the proposed budget as well as the increase in sewer connection charges, water tapping fees and wastewater and water service charges.

To keep up to date on safety measures within Graham ISD, the GISD Safety and Security Committee meets before the beginning of the new school year. The group met last week and discussed ongoing safety initiatives and procedures from the district.

The committee met Thursday, Aug. 8 and were provided an update on safety initiatives such as an interior electronic door locking system. In April 2023, the GISD Board of Trustees approved fund balance purchases for safety window film at a cost of $115,000 and a keyless, wireless interior door locking system at a cost of $196,000.

While the summer season is still hot and blazing, the music season downtown will cool off as the Graham Concert Series closed out its second year of performances last weekend.

From mid-June to mid-August, five free performances were held on the Graham downtown square as a part of the concert series. Performances were held from Dolly Shine, Sean McConnell, Josh Weathers, Charlie Worsham and Stoney LaRue.

Graham and Young County saw drops in sales tax allocations from sales made in June by businesses that report sales tax monthly and on sales made in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Wednesday, Aug. 7 that the state will be sending cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $1.2 billion in sales tax allocations this month, 0.3% less than in August 2023.

Local sales tax allocations

Graham

The Oxygen Network true-crime television show “Buried in the Backyard” will be filming an episode of its sixth season in Graham next week with a focus on the murder of Leah Martin.

The Beaker Production crew will be in Graham from Monday, Aug. 12 through Saturday, Aug. 17 and will be filming for two days around various points of interest involved with the investigation. The crew will be collecting b-roll roll footage, establishing shots and drone footage around the city.