News

The Texas unemployment rate currently sits at 47 percent for the month of March, and is expected to rise further during the month of April. Since March 21, 32 people have filed for unemployment in Hemphill County, up 59 percent from 2019.

It was a tumultous evening Tuesday for many Hemphill County residents, who got the first whiff of the storms the National Weather Service had been promising just before 6 pm when the storm clouds began to appear and a light rain started to fall. Booming thunder drove the point home, though, as heavy rain mixed with hail pelted the area off and on during the evening and in the early morning hours.

AUSTIN—The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking information and asking for the public’s help in solving the 1985 cold case homicide of Dorothy Estep. An increased reward of up to $6,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for her death if the tip is received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced. A $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest is routinely offered on all cases on the Texas Rangers Unsolved Homicides website.

In the two weeks since it established funds to help local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian/Hemphill County Economic Development Council has already delivered $31,000 in emergency business grants to qualifying local businesses that provide jobs to Canadian residents. The EDC approved funding last month to assist businesses struggling to survive the financial impact of the COVID-19 shutdown, and the oil and gas bust. The funding falls into two categories:

HCH announced its second positive COVID-19 test Wednesday afternoon, but noted that it was for a non-resident of Hemphill County. That report brought to two the number of individuals who have received positive test results from the HCH lab, to date.

To anyone who hasn’t traveled along Hackberry Trail recently, it may seem as if the new Mesa View Senior Living construction project located on the south edge of town simply emerged from the soil overnight. Having spent hours in meetings pouring over plans with developer/architect Chris Cole, with Action Pact, Hemphill County Hospital District officials are under no such illusion. Framing is close to completion on all four buildings now, and windows and shingles are already being installed on the first two of those, with the others to follow. All underground utilities are in place, reported HCH Administrator Christy Francis at midweek, with the exception of the fire service line, which will be installed next week. Following completion of the fire line, installation of lighting, curbs, gutters and paving will follow over the next 60 days. Concrete in the courtyard and installation of the pergola will occur during the next month. A mock-up of the exterior finishes will be completed by the end of this week, and once approved, the exterior of the buildings will be completed over the next 30 days. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing crews are presently working in both the community building and the first resident building, to complete the rough-in of their systems. They will follow on to the other two buildings immediately thereafter. “Work is progressing well and all members of the construction team are both safe and healthy,” Francis said. “The public should see significant changes in the project over the next 30 to 60 days.”

Between the oil- and gas-industry bust, and the business closings forced by the COV- ID-19 pandemic, local taxing entities are already sharpening their knives for fiscal year 2021, and preparing to trim the fat.

For Voters in Higgins and Canadian ISDs

Despite an executive order issued last week by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and absent any response to requests for further guidance, local school officials seemed determined this week to continue with a special May 2 vote on the proposed consolidation of Canadian and Higgins ISDs.