Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Volume 118, Number 56 8 Pages $1.00 www.HerefordBRAND.com
Lady Herd nabs 1st league win;
Ramirez's hot hand sparks 55-49 victory, Sports, pg. 7
Make Newspapers Great Again
New commissioner makes presence felt By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor “Hitting the ground running” as promised following his election, new Deaf Smith County Commissioner Chris Kahlich was no shrinking violet in his first commissioners court meeting Monday. Kahlich won the Precinct 1 seat after three-term Commissioner Pat Smith announced in early 2016 he was stepping down for health reasons. After being sworn in during 2015’s fi-
nal meeting Dec. 27, Kahlich ofspeed limit situation throughout ficially took the Precinct 1 seat the final months of 2016 – before Monday and wasted little time in he officially took office. getting to work. “I have received multiple calls The ball was tossed into about the 30 miles-per-hour (mph) Kahlich’s court by Precinct 2 speed limit being on the low side Commissioner Jerry O’Connor along that road,” Kahlich said. “I toward the end of the meeting talked with the sheriff about it, when the final agenda item was and he believes a 45 mph limit is discussion concerning the speed safe.” KAHLICH limit on South Kingwood. Kahlich added that in discusPutting the shot into play, the sions with Deaf Smith County new commissioner related that constitu- Sheriff J. Dale Butler, both understood ents had been making him aware of that the reasoning behind the initial 30 mph
when the Caveness Sportsplex was built. However, Kahlich admitted the traffic in that area has effectively not increased as anticipated when the facility was built. “Is that being made as a motion?” O’Connor said. Kahlich affirmed it was, and O’Connor immediately seconded the measure before commissioners unanimously approved the increase in speed limit. In other action, commissioners approved a resolution needed for Deaf Smith PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 2
Stock show runs this weekend
U.S. Rep. looks to repeal Death tax
From Staff Reports
From Contributed Sources
The 2017 livestock show season kicks off this weekend with the annual Deaf Smith County (DSC) Stock Show at the DSC Bull Barn in Hereford. With bovine, ovine and swine among those in the spotlight, almost 200 animals are expected to be featured in the show – along with their young handlers. “The numbers of entries are about normal as every year,” DSC AgriLife Extension Director Rick Auckerman said. “There are a few more in some categories and a few less in others, but the total numbers are about the same.” Pardon the pun, but the first grunt work of the show is slated to take place Thursday at 4:30 p.m., when swine entries will be eligible for weigh-in. The actual swine show is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m., after the sheep and goat weigh-in at 5:30 p.m. Saturday is a full day with the rabbit show starting the day at 9 a.m., followed by goats at 11 a.m., with lambs, heifers and steers to follow. “This is the start to the 2017 show season,” Auckerman said. “There are several county shows sets for this weekend over during the next several weeks. “The major shows will come after that and run
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), whose 13th District in Texas includes Deaf Smith County, introduced his first bill of the 115th Congress last week. The "Death Tax Repeal Act," H.R. 198, will completely and permanently repeal the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes. The bill currently has 44 cosponsors. “This simple, two-page bill would permanently and fully eliminate the death tax, which undermines one of America's most important means of capital formation – building a family enterprise,” said Thornberry. “Death should never be a taxable event. All Americans should be able to work hard, build and save knowing that they can pass on what they have earned to their children and grandchildren.” The death tax, also known as the inheritance tax or estate tax, requires families to turn over portions of an inheritance to the government. Small business owners, farmers, and ranchers are often particularly vulnerable to this tax, making it more difficult for future generations to build upon their family's hard work. A 2015 report from the Tax Foundation estimated that repealing the death tax would grow the economy by $137 billion or a 0.8 percent growth in gross domestic prod-
PLEASE SEE SHOW | 3
BRAND/John Carson
Jessica Whitson lets students get there hands dirty as they feel the consistenency of differnent soil types and the way moisture filters through them during the Deaf Smith-Oldham County Farm Bureau's annual Ag Day at the Deaf Smith County Bull Barn on January 5th.
PLEASE SEE TAX | 2
Getting there
Long-awaited opening of Love’s still several weeks away By Chris Aguilar BRAND Staff Writer No matter how long it takes, true love is always worth the wait. However, in Hereford, Love has a completely different meaning for some as the new year has most looking forward to doors opening at the long-awaited Love’s Travel Stop. Weather throughout late summer and early fall put a crimp in a construction schedule that was already delayed and has seen completion estimates pushed from September 2016 into the new year. “The latest that I heard, which was right before Christmas, was a completion date of late January,” Hereford Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) executive director Michael Kitten said. “There have been a few setbacks due to weather, nothing out of the ordinary. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they had to push it back to early February.” Although Love’s officials said in September weather had hindered, but not delayed schedules, subsequent rainfalls created construction problems. PLEASE SEE LOVE'S | 2
BRAND/Chris Aguilar
Signs for the Love’s Travel Stop on First Street await their turn to make the trip to the top of the pole as workers head down the home stretch of construction. Officials said grand opening should take place in late January or early February.