Wednesday, November 16, 2016 Volume 118, Number 40 8 Pages $1.00 www.HerefordBRAND.com
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HISD breaks 10-year drought
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
For the first time in more than a decade, Hereford Independent School District (HISD) saw all of its campuses achieve met standard ratings by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). HISD official received the good news when TEA released its 2016 preliminary accountability
ratings earlier in the school year. “Hereford ISD is very proud of our students and staff for having ‘met standard’ at all campuses as measured by the state accountability system,” HISD Superintendent Sheri Blankenship said. “This is just one of the many measures of accountability that are used in our system. “We recognize the most
important accountability standard. system is that To earn met of our local standard status, community.” a school must The preliminary meet at least three results mark the of four indexes first time since established by the 2005 HISD has had state – student all of its schools achievement (Inmeet standard. dex 1), student In 2015, HISD progress (Index fell just one 2), closing campus s h o r t BLANKENSHIP performance gaps when Hereford (Index 3) and High School failed to meet postsecondary readiness
(Index 4). In meeting standards a school must pass both Index 3 and Index 4, as well as either Index 1 or Index 2. The TEA ratings reports show HISD campuses had little trouble achieving that goal with all but one school meeting all four indexes. Hereford Preparatory Academy failed to meet Index 1, but met Indexes 2, 3 and 4.
Judge reminds ban back in effect
“This tells us we are going in the right direction and have the right systems and programs in place,” HISD chief academic officer Mark Stokes said. “If we all do our jobs right, then the results will come naturally. We are seeing that. “We definitely see evidence that things are working, and we expect even bigger things this year.” PLEASE SEE HISD | 2
Animal control topic for county
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Before adjourning Monday’s regular meeting of the Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court, County Judge D.J. Wagner made a point to publically note the county’s burn ban is back in effect. “It worked out well for us,” Wagner said. “We had a little reprieve, but the burn ban has been reinstated. “The timing was right. There was wind before the reprieve, then wind after it.” Wagner temporarily lifted the ban last week – giving a 48hour window from 8 a.m., Nov. 9 to 8 a.m., Nov. 11 to allow burning. Ironically, the reason cited for the temporary lift was the same for the ban being there in the first place – weather. “Recent rainfall amounts warranted lifting the ban,” Wagner said last week in announcing the temporary lift. “But it will only be for 48 hours because weather projections show no rain for the next two weeks. “The lift will give county residents a chance to burn household trash.” Precinct 4 Commissioner Dale Artho had voted against reinstating the burn ban on Oct. 24 because constituents raise “the most flak about burn bans, not roads” over the trashburning issue. While precipitation allowed for lifting the ban, total amounts and forecasts dictated that it just be temporary. “Overall, dry conditions will remain, and we need to keep the ban in place due to aprediction of little-to-no rainfall over the next few weeks.” The temporary ban ended at 8 a.m., Nov. 11, and the county’s burn ban has been in full effect since then – and until further notice.
A dicey legal issue was again put on the plate of the Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court during Monday’s regular meeting. At the request of Precinct 4 Commissioner Dale Artho, the court launched a discussion into the control of domestic animals in the county. A recurring problem in areas where Hereford city limits and county borders meet, it reportedly came to a head again in mid-October. Artho relayed the situation of a county landowner – who later personally recounted the story for commissioners – who had livestock killed by an unleashed dog. Residing in Hereford, Sue Ramirez said on Oct. 15 a dog attacked and ultimately killed a penned calf on land outside city limits at 15th Street and Whittier. Ramierz added that seven years ago a dog believed to be owned by the same person attacked livestock on the same property – injuring a donkey and three calves and killing a cow. “We scared to go out there because we don’t know what might happen,” Ramirez said. “This is a place we go to relax. These animals are our pets. My grandchildren play there. What if it had been one of them instead of a calf that was attacked? “We lost our pet. [The dog owner] got to go home with his.” Ramirez admitted knowledge of law which permits the killing of attacking animals, but opted to not do that for fear of potential repercussions. Part of the issue lies in there being leash laws for pets in Hereford, but none in the county. “I am unsure of what the city ordinance says,” Deaf Smith County Sheriff J. Dale Butler said. PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 3
Vets Day Parade BRAND/Chris Aguilar
Veterans past, present and future were honored Friday by the annual Veterans Day Parade in Hereford. Above, veterans of the past – including Hereford World War II Purple Heart recipient Lester Wagner and Don Clark – traverse the parade route in a vintage Ford, while, right, veterans of the future made their presence felt as Cadet Commander Billy Jack Padilla Jr. leads the Hereford High School U.S. Marine Corps JROTC in the parade.
Voters loud and clear about change on hospital board By Chris Aguilar BRAND Staff Writer When the dust settled from last week’s balloting for Deaf Smith County Hospital District (DSCHD) Board of Directors, the voters seemed to make it clear they were looking for change. With five candidates – four incumbents and one challenger – vying for four atlarge seats on the board, results showed the challenger not only unseating an incumbent, but receiving the most votes. Challenger Chris Woodard paced Nov. 8’s voting with 1,940 (23.4 percent) of the 4,295 total ballots cast.
He outdistanced incumbents Harold McNutt (1,824), Debbie Gonzalez (1,662) and June Rudd (1,486) for a seat. Unable to retain a board seat was Rose Mary Barrett, who finished with 1,387 votes. “I am thrilled to get a seat on the hospital board,” Woodard said. “I look forward to serving WOODARD the community,” Woodard said. A native of Hereford, Woodard has worked with the local EMS and been a
volunteer firefighter for 10 years. That experience of working in the community is one thing Woodard believed played a role in his wresting a board seat away from an incumbent. “I think that helped with the votes,” Woodard said. The hospital board is Woodard’s first foray into public office, and he is GONZALEZ anticipating serving the community and working toward making positive differences to the board.
He also plans on spending a good part of his term learning the ropes. Board member Debbie Gonzalez brought in a total of 1,662 votes serving Deaf Smith county with her third term. Gonzalez plans on working really hard to make positive changes for the city of Hereford. “We as a board will work together not against one another,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez believes things are going to turn out good for the hospital and clinic, changes will be made for the better and are going to make Hereford
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PLEASE SEE DSCHD | 3