Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Volume 118, Number 61 8 Pages $1.00 www.HerefordBRAND.com
Herd stonewalls Raider comeback; 2nd-half barrage dooms Lady Whitefaces, Sports, pg. 7
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Four spots up for grabs on school board By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor Whether the Hereford Independent School District (HISD) puts a bond issue in front of voters this spring is relatively moot considering the district will be looking to get people to the polls regardless. Joining the City of Hereford in setting a spring election, HISD will have looking to fill four spots on its board of trustees as seats in Districts II, IV,
V and VII will all be up for grabs on May 6. Those positions are currently held by Mike Bryant (District II), board vice president Carolyn Waters (District IV), Robert de la Cruz (District V) and Clay McNeely (District VII). Since qualifying opened on Jan. 18, only one incumbent has officially tossed their hat back into ring. According to school officials, Waters submitted her paperwork seeking reelection on Jan. 20.
HISD finances get 'clean report'
District II saw its first call a bond vote for the qualifier early Friday when May 6 election. Bobby Rodriguez Since a $43.2 submitted his pamillion bond isperwork to school sue was defeated election officials. in May 2015, HISD The deadline to officials have been file for the election positioning themis Friday, Feb. 17 – selves and detera date which has a mining when the double significance best time would be for HISD. to float another. In addition to beThe initial bond WATERS ing the last day for met with resisprospective canditance concerning dates to file, that is also a sizeable amount of total the final day trustees can funding being designated
to improvement in Stanton Learning Center and the district’s athletic facilities – specifically renovations to an outdated fieldhouse and updates on Whiteface Stadium. After approving funding for some of the other bond items – roof, parking lot and window work at several schools – over the months following the 2015 bond defeat, trustees voted in October 2015 to cap any future bond requests at $30 million.
Tr u st e e p e r f o r m e r
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor The Hereford Independent School District Board of Trustees received the news they were looking when 2015-16 finances came under the annual scrutiny of auditors. Jeromy Stephens of Davis Kinard and Company, presented his independent audit report to trustees at their Jan. 23 regular meeting. “This is a clean audit report,” Stephens said. “It is a very good report. All things went well with it, and there are no changes needed. “Nothing suggests anything out of the ordinary other than the usual type things you see in virtually every school district.” Noting that “clean audit report” is the highest level of excellence that can be obtained, Stephens also presented overall financials to back up his findings. Of particular importance was an increase of $6.7 million in total assets from the Aug. 31 end of fiscal year 201415 to the end of fiscal year 2015-16. Stephens’ presentation showed an increase of total assets from PLEASE SEE HISD | 2
However, latest reports from school officials at various meetings during the past two months show the district is looking at a proposed bond amount of $45 million. The latest indication of that was by HISD Business Manager Rusty Ingram during a report to trustees at the Jan. 23 regular meeting concerning the need of a financial advisor specifically to assist with the calling, PLEASE SEE SPOTS | 2
Economic strategy, future on upswing By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
BRAND/John Carson
Recognitions for students from West Central Elementary School during the Jan. 23 meeting of the HISD Board of Trustees included more than just how well they are doing in the classroom. For kindergartener Stella Hewitt, the honor extended past academics and into the artistic as she delighted the gathering with song.
More than a ton for food BRAND/John Carson
From left, Hereford Food Pantry’s Patsy Sparkman, Jane Eggen, Bettie Dickson, Kevin Bushart, Mariland Beel and Lidia Aguirre accept a check for $1,340 from Daniel Arias, Leonardo Peralta, Juan Peralta and Samuel Lincon of Caviness Beef Packers after 2,800 pounds of aluminum cans were sent to recycling specifically to benefit the food bank and its recent move to a new permanent location on Lee Avenue.
The literal and figurative economic landscapes in Hereford and Deaf Smith County are, respectively, on the rise and verging in a new direction based on official’s reports since the first of the year. Hereford Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) executive director Michael Kitten relayed both those facts during meetings last month of Deaf Smith County Joint Entities and Hereford City Commission. “We’re [HEDC] looking forward to 2017,” Kitten said at both meetings. “There are some good things going on right now.” The literal changes range from the obvious to the not-so. The most noticeable has been the opening of Love’s Travel Center on First Street, which Kitten said was imminent at both meetings on Jan. 19. Love’s officially opened its doors for business on Thursday. Meanwhile, the KITTEN opening of Rabern Rentals in the old Higginbotham building on U.S. 385 North will take place Monday, Kitten added. Also topics in his reports were an $80 million expansion project being undertaken by Merrik Pet Care and “delayed wind projects” that are “still moving forward.” A previously reported new business coming to town is basically awaiting the arrival of spring before moving forward, according to Kitten. “Burger King has changed its plans from metal to wood construction,” he said. “They should start work when the weather breaks so it will be easier to move forward.” Exact completion dates for the fastfood outlet near the new Love’s on First Street is not known at this time. The figurative alterations are a change in HEDC’s marketing strategies since contracting with Site Location Partnership. “We have been concentrating a lot of our efforts on the West Coast,” Kitten said. “Now, we’re getting exposure all over the country. “We’re also taking a different tact with our marketing. We’re concentrating more on manufacturing now than in production.” Kitten added that for the past five years HEDC officials have annually attended an ag show in California that is focused more toward ag production. That show, according to Kitten, is the reason for the influx of dairies in Deaf Smith County. However, that side of the overall inPLEASE SEE HEDC | 2
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