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Saturday, October 8, 2016 Volume 118 | Number 29 12 Pages www.herefordbrand.com $1
Hereford BR ND HISD's new food service early hit
City airport project started By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor Crews have started work at Hereford Municipal Airport on plans to bring secondary areas of the facility up to the capabilities of others. After extending and reinforcing the current runway several years ago to accommodate larger aircraft, officials found accompanying taxiways were unable to sustain the increased weight of traffic. In the spring, the Hereford City Commission approved a plan to bring those taxiways up standards of the runway, as well as reinforce the current aircraft parking lot to handle larger and heavier craft. Hereford City Manager Rick Hanna got an early look at the work Thursday. “It’s going fine,” he said. “It’s still in the early stages. It will take nearly a year to complete. “Plus, virtually all the work will stop for several months.” Hanna said work crews will most probably “shut down” from around midNovember to March. The reason cited was weather. Not so much the inclement kind in the winter with sleet and snow, but just lower temperatures that makes work – particularly pouring and setting concrete – from difficult to nearly impossible. The weather dilemma also affects work on the aircraft parking lot, Hanna said. While one overall project, funding is broken down between the taxiway and PLEASE SEE CITY | 3A
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
not Xs & Os, but Yea and Go
BRAND/John Carson
Putting into practice what they had learned to cheer on the Whitefaces, from left, 3-year-old Kaitlyn Hazlett and Ensley Keith, 4, give their all during the Hereford High Fall Cheerleading Camp Thursday at the high school. Officials reported 96 girls took part in the clinic that featured Herd varsity cheerleaders as instructors. In addition, campers joined the big girls on the sidelines for part of Friday’s football against Amarillo. For more photos from the camp, see page 5A.
DSCHD Board: Meet the Candidates
Importance of care Barrett re-election bid tops list for Rudd highlights assurance From Staff Reports
Rose Mary Barrett and Debbie Gonzalez will face Almost 60 years in challenger Chris Woodard the community – and its for the four open seats on medical field – have shown the seven-member board in June Rudd the importance the Nov. 8 general election. of “good medical “Why I am care” and responrunning is a long sibility placed story,” Rudd said. upon those making “I’ve been part decisions about the of the medical community’s health community here care. for many years. Both are reasons We need a good Rudd is seeking hospital, and I want re-election to the to do what I can to Deaf Smith County make that happen. RUDD Hospital District “It is so important (DSCHD) Board of for a community to Directors. have good medical care.” Rudd and fellow A resident of Hereford incumbents Harold McNutt, since 1957, Rudd started her local medical career a year later at Hereford Regional Medical Center (HRMC). Before retirement, she had worked at the local PLEASE SEE RUDD | 3A
For most, a school lunch consisted of a scoop of institutional green beans, another of corn, a dollop of often runny mashed potatoes and the entrée mystery meat of the day. It is no wonder such culinary offerings drew questions like “was the spaghetti sauce made out of leftover chili or was the chili made out of leftover spaghetti sauce?” and “ever wonder what happened to the cats that used to hang around the back of school?” However, for students in Hereford Independent School District (HISD), those days – like landlines and TV with commercials – are things of the past. The 2016-17 school year saw HISD outsource its food service to Chartwells, a national company that serves a variety of food outlets from hospitals and school systems to event catering on all scales. Although the school year is barely more than a month old, the early returns have been pleasing. “Everything has been amazing,” said Steve Dexheimer, Chartwells’ executive chef for HISD. “There is elevated participation on all levels. Everybody is excited about it.” As he supervised preparation and serving of lunch at Hereford High School cafeteria, which also feeds students from Stanton Learning Center, Dexheimer is in the middle of a usual busy day. Mornings are filled with visits to HISD elementary schools to ensure breakfast has been properly served and preparations for lunch are in order. “Anytime something gets an initial impact like we did here, our goal is to maintain that impact and quality,” Dexheimer said. The reason for the excitement over the new food service is simple, Dexheimer admitted – selection and quality of food. In terms of quality, all foods used meet USDA requirements, and there is a dietician on the HISD staff to provide oversight. “The foods are created on site,” Dexheimer said. “This gives the staff a chance to actually cook – not just warm something on a burner or in an oven. We provide recipes and give them the ability to create foods.” That, he added, lends itself to happier to cafeteria employees, which translate into better food and subsequently happier and better students. However, the most noticeable part of Chartwells’ providing food service is the selection and overall options provided. PLEASE SEE FOOD | 3A
From Staff Reports
assured that our hospital is a full-service hospital that Making sure Hereford provides care in emergency, residents get the best medical in-patient, surgery, obstetrics, care they can locally is driving lab, radiology, home health Rose Mary Barrett’s run for services and rehabilitation.” re-election to the Deaf A native and lifelong Smith County Hospital resident of Hereford, District (DSCHD) Board Barrett is a member of Directors. of the local medical A total of five community as a candidates – registered nurse. incumbents Barrett During her career, June Rudd, Harold she has been a McNutt and Debbie charge nurse, house Gonzalez, along with supervisor, emergency challenger Chris department manager, BARRETT Woodard – are vying for trauma coordinator four open seats on the and hospice manager seven-member DSCHD board of education and compliance. in the Nov. 8 general election. Firmly believing her “I believe a community experience as a compliance hospital delivers life-saving officer is an asset because interventions to patients who she is familiar with federally experience many different mandated conditions illnesses and injuries,” of participation, policy, Barrett said. “As our health- procedures and life safety care industry is constantly codes, that experience plays evolving and changing roles, I want people to be PLEASE SEE BARRETT | 3A
BRAND/John Carson
Chartwells’ HISD executive chef Steve Dexheimer assists Hereford High cafeteria worker Dariela Camilo with a side dish.
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