News

The Hemphill County Appraisal District’s Notices of Appraised Value will soon be mailed to Hemphill County property owners. The notices will focus on value only, and the tax statement with your total amount due will be mailed in October. As always, please check your notice to ensure that correct exemptions are shown and that your owner information is accurate, including physical and mailing addresses. We make every effort for accuracy in the CAD office and will provide assistance if you need it. Please stop by.

Hemphill County Judge Lisa Johnson met this week with Texas A&M Forest Service leadership, including Area Operations Chief Lee Andersen, Director Al Davis, Judge Johnson, and Deputy Director Wes Moorehead (in photo). The group discussed resources, VFD grant funding, mitigation efforts and their requests for the next legislative session. TFS is in the process of purchasing nine additional aircraft to be stationed in Abilene and the surrounding area. These aircraft would be available should Hemphill County or surrounding communities need them. 

Leadership Canadian class members recently toured 100th Meridian Ranch, owned by Justin and Bryn Rader, for an inside look at one of the area’s innovative agricultural businesses. Participants met with the ranch team, including Justin Rader, Dusty Billings, Lane Hale, and Kortni Hale, who each shared their roles in the operation.

Justin discussed the history of the ranch and its growth from a traditional cattle operation into a diversified business that now includes a successful bull leasing program. 

Intents to Drill

MOORE (PANHANDLE, Red Cave) P & F Operating, LLC, #16 Thompson, (81.02 acres) 1421’ FNL & 329’ FWL, Sec 61, Blk O18, D&P RR Surv, A-405, 15 mi SE from Dumas TD 3000’, (sgd. Fritdjy Exavier 561-563-3826) Vertical

Gas Completions 

Misdemeanor Arrests

None

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

• Jason Erwin Hernandez, Garden City, Kansas; speeding; 04/09/26

• Andrew Jake Ormand, Canadian; use of equipment not approved; 04/08/26

Patrick warns GOP could lose state House majority

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week that the GOP risks losing its majority in the state House this November and urged party unity behind the winner of the May runoff between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Without that unity, Patrick said that state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, could win, The Dallas Morning News reported.