News

AMARILLO—Xcel Energy is preparing for critical wildfire risks early this week across our New Mexico and Texas service areas and notifying customers in specific areas that temporary Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) will likely be implemented to enhance public safety. Weather forecasts predict high wind speeds and low humidity in parts of New Mexico on Monday, March 3, and in Texas on Tuesday, March 4. These conditions, combined with excessively dry conditions and an abundance of dead or dry brush and grass, are expected to increase wildfire risk.

House unveils its voucher version

Intents to Drill

ROBERTS (QUINDUNO, Lecompton) Pantera Energy Company, #1 Agatha Locke, (320 acres) 660’ FWL & 1600’ FNL, Sec 8, Blk 2, I&GN RR Surv, A-228, 10 mi NW from Miami TX TD 9865’, (sgd. Laura Savage 806-376-6625) Vertical Recompletion

ROBERTS (WILDCAT; ST.CLAIR, Granite Wash) Valpoint Operating, LLC, #1 Mary, (485.52 acres) 11742’ FNL & 12062’ FWL, Clay CSL Surv, A-50, 17.3 mi NW from Miami TX TD 11400’, (sgd. Weldon Waters 512-478-3456) Vertical Amended

Gas Completions 

None

Misdemeanor Arrests

None

Felony Arrests

None

Citations

• Oliver Murillo Colindres, Denton; no driver’s license (when unlicensed); 02/17/25

• Robert Gutierrez Maldonado, Canadian; no driver’s license (when unlicensed); 02/17/25

LOCAL ELECTION UPDATE

Before Friday’s filing deadline in the May 3 elections, thirteen candidates had signed up for nine open seats, setting up contested races for both school and hospital boards.

Candidates for three open seats on the Hemphill County Hospital District Board of Directors are incumbents Whitney Jones, Colby Leach and Cory Pittman, as well as former board member Jesse Hanes and newcomer Travis Macias.

Lawmaker calls for probe into $95 million lottery jackpot

The Texas Lottery Commission and its former director are under scrutiny after they allegedly helped a single entity win a $95 million Lotto Texas Jackpot, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Written testimony at a state legislative hearing last week from an attorney indicated an entity called Rook TX guaranteed it would win the jackpot by buying virtually every one of the nearly 26 million possible six-number combinations in the drawing, held in April 2023.

Intents to Drill

LIPSCOMB (BRADFORD, Morrow Lower; LIPSCOMB, Atoka; LIPSCOMB, Morrow; WILDCAT; BRADFORD, Morrow) Carson Buckles Exploration LLC, #3861 Schoenhals, (644.95 acres) 1940’ FSL & 2350’ FEL, Sec 861, Blk 43, H&TC RR Surv, A-333, 8 mi SW from Darrouzett TD 10150’,  (sgd. Carson Buckles 806-570-9628) Vertical Recompletion

Travis Macias, Candidate
Hemphill County Hospital District Board of Directors

Ashton Macias, Candidate
Canadian ISD Board of Trustees

I am honored to seek re-election as a Canadian ISD School Board Trustee. Born and raised in Canadian, I am deeply invested in our community—both as a parent with children in the district and as a local business owner. 

Misdemeanor Arrests

• Raymond Kent Garza, 33, Canadian; resist arrest, search or transportation; wrong, fictitious, altered or obscured license plate; possession of drug paraphernalia; 02/05/25; HCSO

Felony Arrests

• Marco Antonio Garibay, 49, Pearland; three warrants for sexual assault of a child; 02/10/25; TXDPS-Canadian