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Saturday, October 1, 2016 Volume 118 | Number 27 12 Pages www.herefordbrand.com $1
Ballots out as election closes in From Staff Reports
Contributed photo
Artist rendering of the entrance to the new $8.5 million Texas Panhandle War Memorial Education Center that is planned to be included as part of the existing outdoor memorial in Amarillo.
Lest we forget
Education center to keep stories, sacrifice alive By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor A labor of love, respect and honor is gaining steam as Rex and Mary Nell Lemert continue their tour of the Panhandle. In Hereford on Sept. 20 as one of more than 20 stops on the tour, the Lemerts presented plans for the Texas Panhandle War Memorial (TPWM) Education Center during a gathering at Happy State Bank. The $8.5 million project will be a permanent indoor structure as part of the current outdoor memorial on Georgia Street in Amarillo. “We want this to be a gathering place for veterans and their families,” Rex Lemert said. “We want their and all stories of Panhandle soldiers and sailors to be told and remembered. “This is to be a place of remembrance, honor and education about the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces over the history of this country.” What started as more of a personal effort quickly turned into something larger and soon encompassed the entire
Eyes say it all BRAND/C.E. Hanna
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hereford “little” Natalie, right, cannot hide her appreciation for volunteer Big Sister Cindy Simons. For more on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hereford, see People, page 1B.
Panhandle and most of the High Plains tri-state area, In looking for a way to remember and honor the military sacrifices of family and friends, Rex – a retired U.S. Army captain who fought in Vietnam – and Mary Nell, whose brother is also a Vietnam veteran, hooked up with the TPWM Foundation. Taking TPWM’s mission statement of “Remembering every war. Honoring every soldier. To remember is to honor” to heart, plans were made in 2013 to add the education center to the complex. The center’s goals are “to honor and memorialize the sacrifices” of Panhandle residents in the U.S. military throughout history, as well as keeping alive the reality that “the cost of freedom comes at an enormous sacrifice to all citizens of this great nation,” according to TPWM. In touting the project during their fundraising tour of the region, the Lemerts are showing how the center will accomplish that. The 12,546 square-foot PLEASE SEE TPWM | 3A
BRAND/John Carson
Retired U.S. Army Capt. Rex Lemert, a Vietnam veteran, is taking the point on efforts for the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Education Center.
The first presidential debates have come and gone and the calendar has turned to October, which means the Nov. 8 general election is looming on the not-to-distant horizon. The 2016 election season officially hit the backstretch as absentee ballots have been mailed to voters in Deaf Smith County. While much of the nation – as well as many local voters – keeps a diligent eye on the race for the White House, there are several statewide races on November’s ballot. In state contests, a seat is up for grabs on the state Railroad Commission, while three are contested on the state Supreme Court. Three contested spots on the state Court of Criminal Appeals are also on the ballot, as well as uncontested state races for board of education, 7th Court of Appeals and state House District 86. Incumbent District 13 U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, a Republican, faces no Democrat for his seat, but does have a challenge from Libertarian Calvin DeWeese and H.F. “Rusty” Tomlinson of the Green Party. There are a total of six different Deaf Smith County races on the ballot with four of them being county-wide. Running unopposed in county-wide voting are incumbent Tax Assessor-Collector Teresa Garth and Constable Bryan Hedrick. Also running for re-election is Sheriff J. Dale Butler, who is facing off against Independent Fidel Reyna. Although Reyna is listed on the ballot, there has been no indications of a campaign on his part. Two other local uncontested races will not be voted on by all in the county. Ballots for Precinct 1 will include the name of Republican Chris Kahlich for commissioner. Kahlich topped Armando Gonzalez in the March GOP primary for the seat being vacated by Pat Smith, who is stepping down for health reasons. Precinct 3 ballots have Republican Mike Brumley running unopposed for his seat on the commissioners court. The only truly, county-wide contested race will be for Deaf Smith County Hospital District Board of Directors, where five are vying for four available seats on the seven-member board. Chris Woodard has tossed his hat into the ring against incumbents Harold McNutt, Debbie Gonzalez, Rose Mary Barrett and June Rudd. Hospital candidates have raised concerns over potential confusing instructions on the ballot that directs someone to “vote for none, one, two, three or four.” Concern is over voters misunderstanding they have the right to vote for as many as four of the five candidates since all of the seats on the seven-member board are at-large. Those not registered for absentee voting can get a look at a sample ballot in the Deaf Smith County Clerk of Court office. Early voting is slated for Oct. 24-Nov. 4 and is only available at the clerk’s office on the second of Deaf Smith County Courthouse.
DSCHD Board: Meet the Candidates
Woodard not about ‘status quo’ By C.E. Hanna BRAND Staff Writer
and Lucas, 5. “I’m running because I believe in doing my part to help the community in any way (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a that I can,” Woodard said. “I want to see series introducing the candidates Hereford do as well as it can do, for Deaf Smith County Hospital and the hospital plays a vital part District Board of Directors. For the in that.” series, all candidates were asked Woodard believes that a big the same three questions.) concern facing Hereford Regional Medical Center (HRMC) is that a With four seats set to expire in lot of people seem to be leaving November, the lone challenger to town for medical care. the Deaf Smith County Hospital Having experienced billing District (DSCHD) Board of issues from HRMC personally, he Directors outdrew the incumbents looks to resolve those problems and will be atop the Nov. 8 ballot. for the community at large. LAST Chris Woodard, a lifelong “I know that they’ve already Hereford resident and volunteer started fixing it, and I think they’ve firefighter, is employed by Plains New taken steps toward resolving billing Holland, Inc. and works alongside his issues, but I experienced it myself not too wife, Stephanie, and father. long ago,” Woodard said. “They’ve made The Woodards have two children, Sarah, a junior at Hereford High School, PLEASE SEE WOODARD | 3A