Hemphill County

CANADIAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Hemphill County FSA office or postmarked by Feb. 2, 2026.

At the January 12th regular meeting, the Hemphill County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution supporting new legislation that would exempt Texas counties from paying the state’s hotel occupancy tax.

The state hotel occupancy tax is charged to anyone paying for a hotel room costing $15 or more per day. When the tax was first enacted in 1972 at a rate of 3 percent, collections totaled just $8.5 million. Legislative changes in 1984 and 1987 raised the rate to the current 6 percent, in addition to local-option hotel taxes imposed by many cities and counties.

Misdemeanor Arrests

None

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

• Michael Shane Ridling, Montgomery; expired registration; 01/08/26