News

Moving into the next stage of Panhandle wildfire recovery

Body

REPORT BY LAURA MUNTEAN & KAY LEDBETTER, Texas A&M AgriLife

PHOTOS BY SAM CRAFT, Texas A&M AgriLife

 

Generosity from across the nation filled four Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Animal Supply Points since Feb. 28 in the wake of the Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and Grapevine Creek wildfires, which burned over 1.2 million acres to become the largest wildfire in Texas history.

Hay bales of all kinds and sizes were collected and stacked in four Animal Supply Points operated by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in response to the Smokehouse Creek, Windy Deuce and Grapevine Creek fires. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Panhandle PBS hosts Savor the Goods: Italian Al Fresco

Body

Join Panhandle PBS for Savor the Goods: Italian Al Fresco

Join Panhandle PBS at 5:30 pm on Thursday, May 2 for Savor the Goods: Italian Al Fresco at The Barn on Willow Creek, located at 4801 East Willow Creek Drive. Guests will enjoy Italian charcuterie, cocktails, fellowship, and for the first time at a Savor the Goods dinner, live music!

Savor the Goods

Hemphill County FSA accepting Emergency Conservation Program applications

Body

CANADIAN -- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Hemphill County Executive Director Janee Cross today announced that Hemphill County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from the Smokehouse Creek Wildfire that occurred in February. ECP signup will begin on April 9, 2024, and end on June 10, 2024.

A Hereford cow drinks from a tank as land burned by the Smokehouse Creek Fire surrounds it. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft)

Biden-Harris Administration allocates $79 Million from Investing in America agenda for wildfire mitigation and recovery

Body

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced $79 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support wildland fire management. The funding will expand wildfire detection capabilities, reduce risk from wildfires, help rehabilitate burned areas and enhance radios and other technology used by wildfire incident management teams. 

Firefighters battle wildfire

Texas rural volunteer fire departments receive $1.3 million in grants

Body

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – On Tuesday, April 2, Texas A&M Forest Service held the second of three funding meetings of fiscal year 2024 for the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, awarding 74 grants totaling approximately $1.3 million.

Grant funding from the program will help Texas rural volunteer fire department recipients from this allocation purchase equipment such as dry hydrants, fire and rescue equipment, personal protective equipment and training aids.

February 27 Wildfire, photo y Casey Long

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Body

Agencies blasted over wildfire oversight

State agencies and regulators were heavily criticized at a Texas legislative hearing for failing to communicate during the deadly Panhandle wildfires, the Texas Tribune reported.

The three-day hearing, held in Pampa, investigated the Smokehouse Creek fire and others that burned more than a million acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, killed up to 10,000 cattle and resulted in two deaths.

State Capital News

THE BLOTTER

Body

Misdemeanor Arrests

None

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

•Esthela Cervantes-Barrera, Canadian; back without safety and no driver’s license (when unlicensed); 4/3/24

Weekly Blotter Report

Jessica Cowden announces run for CISD school board

Body

I am excited and honored to be running for one of the CISD School Board Trustee positions. I would like to share some information about myself for those of you who would like to know more about me.

•I’ve been married to my husband Craig, for 11+ years and together, we have 3 beautiful children: Conner-10, Creed-7 and Courtney “Coco”-6.

•Our children currently attend school at Canadian Elementary and Baker Elementary.

Jessic Cowden and family

THE BLOTTER

Body

Misdemeanor Arrests

None

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

• Kenneth Eugene Wicker, Canadian; animal at large; 3/27/24

Weekly Blotter Report
Subscribe to News