News

The U.S. experienced the extremes this week, with expansion of drought in the West, a robust monsoon in the Southwest, a tropical storm making landfall in the Southeast, and extreme flooding in Southeastern Texas. In the drought monitor maps at right, extreme to exceptional drought plagues much of the western part of the country, while most of Texas is unusually drought-free, with only 5 percent of the state experiencing drought conditions, ranging from abnormally dry to severe. Most of the Texas Panhandle has been richly blessed with rainfall this spring and summer. In Hemphill and surrounding counties, residents are enjoying lush, green vegetation; relatively pleasant temperatures; and welcome relief from the familiar threat of wildfires. In the five-day outlook from today to Monday, sunshine and warmer temperatures are in store for the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, with a small chance for showers and thunderstorms over the weekend. It’s a pretty sure thing that no one will complain if it happens, either.

COLLEGE STATION—Texas A&M Forest Service is now accepting grant applications for the State Fire Assistance for Mitigation–Plains Prescribed Fire Grant through August 15. The grant will provide $74,514 in total funding for prescribed burns.

Economic Development Council board members took a decisive step forward in its plan—now several months in development— to market Canadian and Hemphill County as a place to live and do business. On the recommendation of the newly-installed board president, Remelle Farrar, the council voted unanimously to appoint a seven-member team of local leaders and volunteers tasked with the job of marketing and recruitment.

As part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is providing Texas with $29,713,240 to support COVID-response efforts in rural areas. While vaccinations continue to increase, this funding through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) will go to 115 small rural hospitals in Texas for COVID-19 testing and mitigation, important parts of the COVID response especially as the country faces new variants.

The Hemphill County Hospital District received good news last month. During the financial report in the June 22 board meeting, the administration reported that the $1.9 million PPP/SBA payroll loan had been forgiven by federal officials. The district received notification on June 7.

Donors urgently needed for today’s community blood drive Coffee Memorial Blood Center is in a blood emergency. Canadian volunteer blood donors are urged to participate in today’s (Thursday, July 15) community blood drive, which will be held in the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall from noon to 6 pm.