Week of October 29-November 4, 2024
Misdemeanor Arrests
• James Shawn Canada, 51, Canadian; assault causing bodily injury to family member; 10/29/24; HCSO
• Kenneth Ray Lovell, 71, Canadian; warrant for unlawfully carrying a weapon; 10/29/24; HCSO
Felony Arrests
None
Insurance hikes make affordable housing tougher
A growing number of Texas homeowners are forgoing buying homeowners insurance as premiums skyrocket, according to a recent report from the Texas comptroller.
Buoyed by the recent success of August’s Main Street dance, and by comments from Canadian High School alumni here for September’s well-attended homecoming events at Wildcat Stadium, members of the Canadian Education Foundation and CHS Ex-Student Association have decided to join forces, share resources and make some changes in plans for next year’s All-School Reunion.
By midday on Wednesday, October 30, Hemphill County election officials reported that the number of early voters here had reached 1,000, and that local voters were continuing to arrive at the courthouse. A quick check of the voter registration rolls revealed that just over 42 percent of Hemphill County’s 2,349 registered voters had already cast ballots in the November 5, 2024 General Election—a pretty good sign that voter turnout in the 2024 Presidential race may just set a new record here.
Months before the Texas Panhandle erupted with destructive wildfires, fire crews in Borger were igniting fire intentionally on a seven-mile, roughly 250-foot wide ribbon of land on the edge of town.
The prescribed burn in November removed dense grass and brush next to homes on the southwest side of the town. When the Windy Deuce fire ravaged the region in February, the prescribed burn area acted as a fireproof wall that stopped the blaze in its tracks.
"The Rain We Keep” is a new multi-part series from Panhandle PBS documenting how life in our region will change if we do not alter our unsustainable draining of the Ogallala Aquifer. The series will premiere at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov 7.
The aquifer is our primary source of water on the Texas High Plains, and we’re draining that tank far faster than nature can refill it. By some estimates, our region and others could run out of groundwater by the end of this century.
Early voting ends on Friday
Texans who wish to vote early in the Nov. 5 general election have until closing time Friday, Nov. 1 to do so. Secretary of State Jane Nelson is encouraging voters to double-check their precinct numbers and candidate selections before casting their ballots.
CANYON—The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum invites the community to celebrate Día de los Muertos from October 29 to November 2, a vibrant and meaningful multi-day event that honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. The celebration will feature traditional altars (ofrendas) to bring together friends, families, and the community to reflect, remember, and rejoice.
Week of October 8-21, 2024
Misdemeanor Arrests
None
Felony Arrests
• Cristina Ruiz, 41, Canadian; driving while intoxicated, 3rd or more offense; 10/20/24; TXDPS-Canadian
5th Circuit Court removes judge from foster care suit
