Saturday, September 17, 2016 Volume 118 | Number 23 12 Pages www.herefordbrand.com $1
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Barela wants no 'perceived negative' over super vote By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer The Sept. 9 vote by the Hereford Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees to name Sheri Blankenship superintendent was not unanimous. In fact, Blankenship was approved by a 4-3 vote of the seven-member board. The most notable of the dissenters was board
County, city set to OK budgets By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor Spending plans for the 2016-17 fiscal years for both the City of Hereford and Deaf Smith County are expected to be approved at Monday meetings. Both entities have proposed property tax increases and gone through the mandated processes to change those taxes in front of requirements to have a balanced budget in place for the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year. Despite a scheduled meeting on Sept. 26, the Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court called a meeting for Monday specifically to approve a new tax rate and budget. The county’s budget proposal is just short of $7 million and includes a 2-cent hike in the property tax rate from 51 to 53 cents per $100 valuation. Meanwhile, the Hereford City Commission is set to OK its tax increase and budget at Monday’s regular meeting. City officials received feedback, but no opposition to a $9.6 million budget that includes an almost 2-cent property tax increase and 3 percent bump in water and sewer rates. Under the proposal, city property taxes would go from 31.38 to 33 cents per PLEASE SEE BUDGETS | 3A
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president Angel Barela, who did not “I don’t want to say anything that can be return telephone calls perceived as being negative against Sheri seeking comment prior to the printing [Blankenship]. I stand behind my vote. of Wednesday’s edition. However, resAngel Barela ponding shortly after HISD Board of Trustees president press time, Barela declined to give specific reasons why that can be perceived as stand behind my vote, and it she voted against Blankenship. being negative against Sheri was based on closed-session “I don’t want to say anything [Blankenship],” Barela said. “I discussions.”
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According to Barela, she was not aware of how the public vote would play out as the board moved from closed to open session. Board vice president Carolyn Waters and trustees Kevin Knight, Clay McNeely and Mike Bryant voted in favor of naming Blankenship the lone finalist, while Emily Wade and Robert de la Cruz joined PLEASE SEE HISD | 3A
Escape attempt foiled
Green learning
By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer
BRAND/C.E. Hanna
Olivia Gonzales points out the ripe tomatoes to 2-year-old Neveah Bustamante, who stands to take over operations at the Gladys Brewer Memorial Garden. For more on the memorial garden, see People, page 1B.
In a case of life imitating art, an inmate at the Deaf Smith County (DSC) Jail will be charged with attempted escape after trying to tunnel through a cell wall – reminiscent of the film “The Shawshank Redemption” – on Sept. 1. According to authorities, Mark Glover, 44, will face additional charges of criminal mischief for the attempt once damage totals are determined in the ongoing investigation. “The inmate had improvised a tool for chipping at the cinderblock and managed to get a steel shelf off the wall to use as a ram,” DSC Sherriff J. Dale Butler said. “It was that noise that alerted officers.” Glover’s attempt followed his sentencing GLOVER in January on a variety of charges – DWI, felony evading with a vehicle, resisting arrest, reckless driving and theft charges – which amounted to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Glover was housed in the county jail’s minimum security dormitory, which does not utilize surveillance cameras. “Of course, everyone was either in the shower or asleep, so nobody saw anything,” Butler said. Unlike the film, whereby the protagonist hides his tunnel with various posters of Hollywood starlets, DSC corrections officers discovered that Glover used toothpaste to mask his efforts and had sharpened screws plundered from the shelving for an unspecified purpose. Glover is currently in state custody, but will be returned to DSC via a bench warrant to face the new charges stemming from the attempt. “We’ve had to ship the minimum [security] dorm out because we can’t mix classifications,” Butler said. “It’s costing PLEASE SEE ESCAPE | 3A
Leadership class underway By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer Leadership Hereford’s (LH) inaugural class kicked off its eight-month course with a welcome breakfast at Amarillo College’s Everett and Mabel McDougal Hinkson Memorial Campus on Tuesday. Twelve participants met with members of local civic clubs – Toastmasters, Lion’s, Rotary and Kiwanis – before scheduling “ride alongs” with Hereford Police Chief Brent Harrison. “We had our board members, our foundation members and guest speakers here to welcome the participants,” LH Executive Director Beverly Harrison BRAND/C.E. Hanna said. “Things have Leadership Hereford been a little busy Executive Director Beverly today.” Harrison, above, and HEDC The course, Executive Director Michael delayed from its Kitten, right, welcome the intended summer inaugural class on Tuesday. start, has added
“Lunch and Learns” regarding business etiquette, parliamentary procedures, open records rules and finance, she said. Beyond meeting with local governmental bodies, LH will also tour various companies in the area – Caviness Beef Packers, Merrick Pet Care, Great Plains Energy and Xcel Energy in Muleshoe. “When you flip on a light switch or turn on the tap, it’s just there, and we kind of take that for granted,” Harrison said. “Part of the class is learning the intricacies of these services and how it comes to you.” The class will also meet with Deaf Smith County officials and tour the jail in October. In November, the class will meet with City of Hereford officials and tour the city’s booster stations and wastewater facility. “It’s all very new, and people keep asking me about it, but once our first class graduates, I’m really hoping that they PLEASE SEE CLASS | 3A
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