Week 7 Football Contest Winners
First place Josie Diaz
Second place Joni Hernandez
Third place Pete Vargas Jr.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 Volume 118 | Number 32 12 Pages www.herefordbrand.com $1
Hereford BR ND Traffic accident claims Middleton
City OKs YMCA funds
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Under a pall of grief over the news that former commissioner and city business leader Max Middleton has been killed in a traffic accident, the Hereford City Commission quickly dispatched business during Monday’s regular meeting. News of Middleton’s death has spread earlier in the day and was a topic among officials at Monday’s Joint Entities luncheon. Prior to the Monday’s meeting, commissioners took a moment during their invocation to express condolences before proceeding. In a light agenda, commissioners had five items listed, but only tackled four as the naming of a park at the intersection of Star Street and Park Avenue was tabled until next month. Commissioners did give approval to their annual funding contribution to Hereford and Vicinity YMCA. “This is their annual funding request,” Hereford City Manager Rick Hanna said. “We normally make the contribution in October, so it was time.” The funding amount of $12,500 was renewed for this year. Hanna told commissioners during their work session the Y contribution had been $10,000 annually, but went up “several years ago” to the current amount. “It is money well spent,” Mayor Tom Simons said. “There are lots of things going on there. It is great for the town’s youth.” Reappointments were also made to a pair of city boards. Commissioners then went into a brief closed session – as provided by state law – to discuss possible water acquisitions.
From Staff Reports
BRAND/John Carson
Above, Whiteface No. 1 girls doubles tandem, from left, Addi Ferris and Kara Esquivel, who also play No. 2 and 1 singles, respectively, coach Cody Crouch, right, and, below, Tom Keeling, No. 1 boys singles and part of the mixed doubles duo, lead the Herd tennis team into the postseason jungle Thursday against No. 6 Lubbock High in the Area playoffs.
Playoff war
Herd netters face rugged postseason path By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor As if district realignment did not make just returning to playoffs hard enough, the Hereford Whiteface tennis team faces no easy task when the postseason begins Thursday. As the fourth seed from District 3-5A, the Herd are staring down the barrel of District 4 champion and Class 5A sixthranked Lubbock High. “Lubbock is one of the toughest teams we will play this year,” Hereford coach Cody Crouch said. “They are very, very strong at the top of their lineups – boys and girls. “They aren’t as tough at the bottom as other really good teams, but they are still solid throughout.” Fortunately for the Whitefaces, facing a state-ranked team is nothing new. District realignment increased 3-5A from six to eight teams with Amarillo High and Plainview added. The addition meant that six 2015 playoff teams would be vying for the district’s four postseason berths in 2016. On top of that, district teams Amarillo and Randall have spent the entire season ranked among the state’s top 10. In terms of what will be needed to be successful Thursday, Crouch jokingly replied that moving to 4A or another area would work before saying hope springs eternal. “Although it is a team sport, it still takes 10 individual wins,” Crouch PLEASE SEE PLAYOFFS | 2A
A two-vehicle accident Monday just north of Hereford left one man injured and another dead. The incident marks the fourth fatality and fifth overall traffic death involving a Deaf Smith County resident in the past three months. According to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Hereford businessman and former city commissioner Max Middleton was killed when he crashed into the back of a tractortrailer at a construction zone near town. At approximately 9:50 a.m., Monday, reports show that 63-yearold Alfred Sanders of Hereford was driving a 2005 Mack truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer northbound on U.S. 385 roughly a mile north of Hereford. While Sanders was legally stopped in a construction zone by road work, MIDDLETON Middleton, who was also northbound, approached in a 2016 Ford pick-up. Reports showed Middleton did not stop and “crashed” into the back of the semitrailer. Middleton, 51, was taken to Hereford Regional Medical Center (HRMC), where he later died and was pronounced dead by Dr. Earl Chase. Also taken to HRMC, Sanders was treated and released. DPS reports noted that neither driver was wearing a seatbelt. The reason why Middleton failed to stop is unknown at this time, DPS officials said, as the incident remains under investigation. Owner of M.K. Middleton Inc. in Hereford, Middleton also served on two local elected boards. He was a member of the Hereford Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees and Hereford City Commission. MIddleton served on the HISD board from 2003-05. He first joined the Hereford City Commission in 2009 to fill the unexpired term of Wayne Winget. He was officially elected to the seat in May 2010 and re-elected in May 2012. Middleton was forced to step down from the commission in October 2012 when he moved to a different city district. “He was truly a good guy,” Hereford City Manager Rick Hanna said. “We are going to miss him. His character and charisma will be missed. “He was very analytical. He had the ability to see things from more than one side, and that is very important – and rare – in an elected official.” Funeral services for Middleton are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at West Park Cemetery.
Deaf Smith County Sheriff's Office: Meet the Candidates
Reyna banking on experience Butler wants to continue service From Staff Reports Looking at what he can bring to the table is the main reason Fidel Reyna Jr. is making a run to be the top law enforcement officer in Deaf Smith County. Reyna, an Independent, is looking to unseat incumbent Sheriff J. Dale Butler in the Nov. 8 general election. “I have a combined total of 30 years of law enforcement experience,” Reyna said. “I feel that my combined skills and experiences have given me the unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge into the many aspects of the law enforcement field. “It has allowed me to understand
the relationships of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, their strengths, weaknesses and how to avoid some pitfalls.” A U.S. Army veteran, Reyna has also been a member of the Army Reserves and Texas Army National Guard. A former state parole officer, Reyna spent eight years as an investigator with the Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office (DSCSO). Specifically running to contribute to the fight against crime and improve the service of the sheriff’s office, Reyna has several issues – most connected to specific criminal activity – he sees as PLEASE SEE REYNA | 2A
From Staff Reports With a full term under his belt, Deaf Smith County Sheriff J. Dale Butler enjoys his job and wants to keep doing it. Seeking re-election to the seat as the county’s top cop, Butler had no opposition in the March Republican primary, but is facing a challenge from Independent Fidel Reyna Jr. in the upcoming general election. “I am seeking re-election to continue serving the
people of Deaf Smith County as their sheriff,” Butler said. “It has been a great privilege to serve for the past four years. Deaf Smith County is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. “The opportunity to have a hand in making this a safe place to raise your family is a job that I look to every day.” Aware that there is always room for improvement, Butler knows every law enforcement agency and jurisdiction has its own
specific set of problems and deficiencies. However, the issues he sees facing Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office (DSCSO) are ones indicative of someone who has been part of the inner workings. While none of the issues – personnel, jail space and increasing demands – are crime specific, alleviation of each and all could have a profound effect on county law enforcement. “Hiring enough qualified PLEASE SEE BUTLER | 2A
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