Saturday, November 19, 2016
Herd hoop teams open with wins, see Sports, page 7
Volume 118, Number 41 8 Pages $1.00 www.HerefordBRAND.com
DSCHD swears in new board members By Chris Aguilar BRAND Staff Writer
Last week’s election and its corresponding results topped the discussion at Thursday’s regular meeting of the Deaf Smith County Hospital District (DSCHD) Board of Directors. Members were able to peruse election results and made note of the disproportionate number of early voters in this cycle.
According to election figures, 2,911 people voted early – accounting for 33.7 percent of the total 49.65 percent of local voters. “We sure did have a lot of people in early voting, more than we did on Election Day,” board member June Rudd said. Board member Robert Josserand immediately commented that voters were “getting smarter, or at least the ones who matter.”
Rudd was one of five candidates – including four incumbents – who were vying for four at-large seats on the board. Rudd – as well as fellow incumbents Harold McNutt and Debbie Gonzalez – were re-elected, but all trailed top vote-getter Chris Woodard. Incumbent Rose Mary Barrett failed to retain her seat. The newly elected board members were sworn in,
and Josserand moved that existing officers – president Mike Schueler, vice president McNutt and secretary Gonzalez – be reelected. Regarding one of DSCHD’s oldest ambulance, Hereford Regional Medical Center CEO Jeff Barnhart proposed putting it up for bid or keeping it for county service. Deaf Smith County
Sheriff J. Dale Butler said that keeping the vehicle local would benefit the sheriff’s office. “We could use this as a way to haul our tactical team. Due to the storage room we could also us this as a crime scene vehicle,” Butler said. “This vehicle would be used as a multipurpose vehicle to service the residents of Deaf Smith County.” The board approved
Let ’ s ea t
transferring the ambulance to the sheriff’s office. Financial reports showed stated Hereford Regional Medical Center had a total of 87 hospital admissions and 219 patient stays during October. A total of 26 surgeries were performed during the month, and there were 611 emergency room visits and 104 emergency medical service calls.
Court OKs bid for new truck
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
BRAND/Chris Aguilar
Hereford Independent School District hosted its annual Thanksgiving for students, parents and first-responders at its respective campuses on Thursday. Families of all sizes enjoyed the festivities and meal, including 4-year-old Arely Ceh, right, who cannot wait to dive into the tray Stanton Learning Center teacher’s aide Roxann Ontiveros has prepared.
The Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office (DSCSO) will be getting a new ride after the Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court accepted a bid for one during Monday’s regular meeting. Approved and funded in the county budget, bids for the vehicle were let last month and opened at Monday’s meeting. Bids from Steven’s 5 Star and Whiteface Ford were received for a pick-up to join the DSCSO fleet. Steven’s offered a 2017 Silverado 1500, four-wheel drive, crew cab model for a bid price of $33,996. According to bid BUTLER documents, the truck carried a base retail price of $39,185 and $44,160 with factory options. Whiteface Ford offered a similarly equipped 2017 F-150 for $32,849.28. Its base price was $36,565 and $43,150 with factory options Both of the proposed vehicles would still need specific options – such as electronics and security measures – to be used for law enforcement. “The specs are the same for both,” Deaf Smith County Sheriff J. Dale Butler said after perusing the bids. “They both meet everything we need. With that being the case, I suggest we go with the lowest bid.” PLEASE SEE COURT | 4
Weather to blame for Love’s delay By Chris Aguilar BRAND Staff Writer
BRAND/Chris Aguilar
Weather did what it could and now the opening of the longawaited Love’s Travel Stop in Hereford has been delayed past a scheduled December and into 2017.
The long-awaited arrival of Love’s Travel Stops in Hereford just got longer as weather throughout late summer and early fall put a crimp in construction schedules. A mid-September construction schedule that showed completion by the end of the year has been altered over the course of the past several weeks. “We do not have a set date [for completion],” Hereford Economic Development Corporation executive director Michael Kitten said. “We are looking forward to the opening at the end of December, but it could possibly happen at the beginning of 2017.” Although Love’s officials said in September weather had hindered, but not delayed schedules, subsequent rainfalls have created some problems and the traditional winter prospect of more looms
BRAND/Chris Aguilar
Although temperatures were frigid, workers take advantage of sunny, dry and windy conditions to get the jump on pouring cement. on the horizon. Along those lines, officials do not expect an opening in 2016. “We originally planned for the opening to take place at the end of this
year, but it looks like it will happen early next year,” Love’s spokesman Kealey Dorian said. “The building structure is in place, and the crew is working hard on finishing
the inside with wiring, piping and shelving. Crew members will finish up by paving the parking lot. “I have not been by
Hereford BRAND Classifieds Apartments • Employment • Services • Garage Sales and more!
Call to place your ad today! (806) 364-2030
PLEASE SEE LOVE'S | 4