News

Hemphill County Hospital District officials announced yesterday that COVID-19 testing results for Abraham Nursing Home staff and residents were all negative. A total of 89 tests were administered to 32 residents and 57 employees, including support staff such as EMS personnel. “We could not be happier to report that all test results were negative,” said HCH CEO Christy Francis.

Census Bureau personnel will be conducting surveys in our area in the coming weeks, said City Manager Joe Jarosek. That statement came after the announcement that the Census Bureau resumed field operations in West Texas on Wednesday, May 27, following the suspension of all fieldwork for this operation on March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agrilife Office distributes food

In an effort to reopen Texas’ businesses and to revive its faltering economy, Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday that day care centers, youth clubs and personal-care services were allowed to open immediately, and that beginning this Friday, many other business would be allowed to reopen at limited capacity.

On May 11, Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of State Health Services to test 100% of residents and staff in Texas nursing homes, which have emerged as hot spots for the new coronavirus. The collaboration of those agencies, Abbott said, would “ensure that any potential clusters of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes are quickly detected and contained.”

In its April 28 meeting, the Hemphill County Hospital board introduced two new vendors for outsourcing financial services and heard the district’s annual audit report.

With the traditional Memorial Day opening of the city swimming pool now unlikely to happen, council members discussed a growing number of obstacles to the facility opening at all this summer, but refused to pull the plug...yet.

City Street Superintendent Wesley Wallace erected a new stop sign at the corner of Washita and First Streets Tuesday morning next to Lowe’s Grocery Store. The sign was installed after the city had received several complaints about motorists entering the intersection without slowing or stopping, and causing a safety hazard. On April 20, the City Council authorized an ordinance implementing the stop sign.