News

Candidate filing ended this week for those seeking a place on the ballot in the local May 4 elections. In a flurry of last-minute action before Friday’s deadline, several candidates signed up, filling what were potentially vacant seats and setting the stage for contested school and hospital board races.

Altogether, nine elected positions were up for grabs in the spring election, including three city council seats, two seats on the hospital board, two on the school board, and two on the water board.

Early voting in the March 5 Democratic and Republican primaries will kick off next Tuesday at the Hemphill County Courthouse.

Local and district offices that will be on the 2024 primary and general election ballot include those of Hemphill County Tax Assessor/Collector, Hemphill County Attorney , Hemphill County Commissioner (Precincts 1 and 3), Hemphill County Sheriff, and 31st District Attorney.

Pitch made for new power plants

Lt. Gov Dan Patrick joined with the world’s largest investment firm to pitch investors on building natural gas power plants in Texas at a summit held last week in Houston.

Candidate filing continues for candidates seeking a place on the ballot in the May 4 city council and hospital, school and groundwater district board elections.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced this week that he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.3 billion in local sales tax allocations for February, 1.6 percent more than in February 2023.

These allocations are based on sales made in December by businesses that report tax monthly; October, November and December sales by quarterly filers; and 2023 sales by businesses that report tax annually.

Misdemeanor Arrests

• Ellen Jane Frost, 38, Grove, Oklahoma; possession of less than 2 ounces marijuana; 2/1/24; HCSO

Felony Arrests

• Ellen Jane Frost, 38, Grove, Oklahoma; possession of 2-4 grams of a controlled substance, Penalty Grade 2; 1/31/24; HCSO

TEA annual report just released
The Texas Education Agency’s annual report was released last week. It indicates per-student funding in the 2021-2022 school year averaged $14,928 per student, up 42% since 2011. However, state funding has only risen slightly in the past decade, while local funding has increased substantially.
Texas public schools educate 5.518 million students while employing 371,778 teachers on 9,054 campuses, according to the report.

‘Stewarding Our Water Future’ conference to be held March 21-22 in Amarillo

With the realization of depleting irrigation and domestic well levels, a continued emphasis on “economic development” at virtually any cost regardless of impact, and pervasive talk of a diminishing Ogallala aquifer, it’s easy to get discouraged and wonder aloud if there is any future for groundwater in the Texas High Plains.

Canadian City Secretary Kimberly Sloat received notice recently that she had successfully completed the requirements for recertification through the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification Program.

Misdemeanor Arrests

• Kyler Patric Koch, 25, Canadian; resist arrest, search or transport; 1/26/24; HCSO

• Devin Shane Thompson, 25; Prague, Oklahoma; warrant for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana; 1/29/24; HCSO

Felony Arrests

None

Citations