Local resident Jack Hoadley appeared at the Hemphill County Extension office out of the blue this week, carrying a giant Hershey’s Chocolate bar, which he presented as a treat for the 4-H Club members who will be meeting this evening (Thursday, Feb. 4) at the Exhibition Center. Jack is a veteran of the United States Marine Corp and served in the Vietnam War. “Jack is truly a patriot, and his thoughtfulness is very inspirational to the Hemphill County 4-H Club,” said AgriLife Extension Agent Andy Holloway, who is pictured here accepting the gift, and who added, “It was impromptu and very special.”

Canadian firefighters responded around 5:45 pm, Saturday evening, to a report of a structure fire in an abandoned cabin near Lake Marvin. When they arrived on scene, the cabin was fully engulfed in flames. Five CVFD units responded and firefighters flooded the structure with water, but the damage was done. “Everything burned up that was out there,” said Canadian Fire Chief Scott Brewster.

Judge George Briant reported yesterday that restaurants in Hemphill County, along with most of the counties in Trauma Service Area A, were allowed 75 percent occupancy this week, an increase from the previously ordered 50 percent limit, as COVID hospitalizations dropped below the 15 percent threshold for seven consecutive days.

Hemphill County Hospital and Canadian Family Physicians are mounting a herculean administrative effort this week, providing 190 Moderna booster shots Wednesday and first shots tomorrow (Friday) to more than 300 waitlisted patients with COVID-19 vaccinations. First-shot recipients will be drawn from the Centers for Disease Control’s Phase 1a and 1b groups, including 60-70 hospital staff and teachers of first responders.