News

Power line-sparked fire destroys 100 bales of hay near Briscoe Saturday

3 years ago By News Staff

A hundred bales of hay were destroyed in a fire last weekend on FM 277 near Briscoe. Around 7 pm Saturday evening, the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office dispatched Canadian VFD to provide mutual aid to Briscoe firefighters, who were battling a fire in a lot filled with hay bales that were located between two fuel tanks. Two Canadian units responded, and the fire was quickly contained without causing other damage. Mark Meadows said he had just baled the hay and unloaded it there three days earlier, but that fortunately, he had other bales scattered out in different lots elsewhere. Asked how he was doing, Meadows was philosophical, saying, “It could be better, but it sure could have been worse.” Meadows studied the path of the fire and thought it might have been sparked by a nearby power line. North Plains Electric Cooperative crews responded to the scene and confirmed that a large bird had flown into the line, causing it to arc and start the fire.

The perfect burn

3 years ago By News Staff

No, they haven’t revived the traditional Homecoming bonfire. This conflagration was set by City employees on Monday morning at the municipal brush pile, where crews had waited several days for the perfect wind conditions—not too gusty and not too still—in order to set the burn and clear the area for the next round of grass clippings, amputated tree limbs and other combustible organic matter. The perimeter of the brush pile was so large, it took several City employees to light the edges, and then to monitor for any potential outbreaks. The heat from the flames was so intense that, at some point, a small twister formed in the dirt nearby, offering a perfect example of the well-known phenomenon that smoke and heat from extreme fire creates its own weather. City Public Works Director Tommy Wyatt pronounced the fire “a perfect burn,” saying the operation went off without a hitch. “Our procedure is to light the fire and try to have it out the same day, then firewatch it all night,” Wyatt said. “At first light of the next day, we take our equipment, push everything into a pile, and cover it all with dirt to keep it from smoking.” For residents needing to dump grass or limbs over the next few days, a temporary disposal area has been established nearby, marked by a yellow gate and signage.

Annual Calf Fry and Cook-Off is on tap for balmy autumn weekend

3 years ago By News Staff

All signs are go for this weekend’s the Canadian River Beach Club’s 14th Annual Calf Fry and Barbeque Cook-Off at Canadian’s Jones Pavilion on Saturday. The weather is expected to be sunny, with temperatures topping out around 94, and a light 5-10 mph wind out of the south/ southwest, just perfect to keep the cook fires burning.

At last year’s Canadian River Beach Club Cook-Off, Juan Guillen welcomes calf fry connoisseurs to sample some fried potatoes as his fellow chefs wait for the piece de resistance to reach the perfect golden hue before serving them up.

Secretary of state announces new poll-watcher training program

3 years ago By News Staff

AUSTIN—Texas Secretary of State John Scott recently announced a new poll-watcher training program that allows interested Texans to become certified as poll watchers for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. Under Texas law, individuals seeking to become poll watchers must obtain a Certificate of Completion from the Texas secretary of state’s office through this training program—as well as a certificate of appointment from a candidate, political party, or specific-purpose political action committee—in order to be accepted as a poll watcher at a particular polling location, meeting place for an early voting ballot board or signature verification committee, or central counting station where voted ballots are tabulated.

This scene on March 1, 2022, was typical of most election nights at Hemphill County Courthouse, as ballots were fed into a ballot-counting machine and the final tally documented.

Four cases heard Tuesday in Hemphill County Court

3 years ago By News Staff

Four misdemeanor cases were heard Tuesday in County Court, with County Judge Lisa Johnson presiding and County Attorney Kyle Miller prosecuting. Daniel Santos and Vanessa Marquez pled guilty to theft of property—a Class A misdemeanor—and were each granted one year of deferred adjudication probation, and ordered to pay $750 fines and court costs, and to meet all terms and conditions of probation.

Gov. Abbott, TxDOT, announce adoption of record $85 billion 10-year transportation plan

3 years ago By News Staff

AMARILLO—Gov. Greg Abbott this month announced the adoption of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (Tx-DOT) 2023 Unified Transportation Program (UTP), advancing a record $85 billion, 10-year statewide roadway construction plan.

Anniversary of Lyman Wagon Train Battle observed at Ramp Ranch Saturday

3 years ago By News Staff

History enthusiasts gathered at Ramp Ranch southeast of Canadian on Saturday, Sept. 10, to honor the 148th anniversary of the Lyman’s Wagon Train Battle—which took place on that site and raged for five long days from Sept. 9-14, 1874. The battle was one of many waged during the Red River War, a campaign by the U.S. Army to remove the Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indian tribes from the Southern Plains, and to enforce their relocation to reservations in Indian Territory.

Beth Ramp Sturgeon confers with archaeological enthusiasts, whose artifact discoveries have helped fill gaps in the map of the military trail.

If it’s Sept. 24, it must be Canadian River Beach Club calf fry season

3 years ago By News Staff

The weather is cooling down, and the smokers are heating up this week as competitive barbecue cookers prepare for the Canadian River Beach Club’s 14th Annual Calf Fry and Cook-Off, which will be held once again at Jones Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Hospital board does not go gently into the new fiscal year

3 years ago By News Staff

Without community comment, the annual hearing for the adoption of the district’s budget and tax rate for the new fiscal year is usually a routine matter. Not so this go-round on Sept. 6.

After rehashing the budget that shows an $802,384 net operating loss, two Hemphill County Hospital board members balked. Revenue for the FY 2022-23 budget is $24,461,525 (including tax revenues), with $25,263,909 in operating expenses.

Dick Wilberforce publishes collection of Longhorn photos

3 years ago By News Staff

For over six decades, Dick Wilberforce has photographed nature and wildlife, and has focused his lens on every living thing, from bobwhite quail and bighorn sheep to bobcats, grey foxes, and the elusive lesser prairie-chicken. He has published a series of books featuring his photographic art.

Dawn Dial, Remelle Farrar, and Geri and Dick Wilberforce get their first look at Dick's newest book

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