HerefordBRAND.com
| Wednesday,
May 17, 2017 | Printed on recycled paper
Hereford BRAND Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
Volume 116 | Number 92
Monday accident kills one
WHAT'S INSIDE
La Madre Mia installs new officers
From Staff Reports
Page 5
Hereford High doles out H Awards Page 6
Maroon-White tilt kicks off Thursday Page 9
FORECAST
On May 9, HISD named its system-wide Teachers of the Year as Superintendent Sheri Blankenship presented the awards to, above, Elementary Teacher of the Year Teri Morton of Northwest Elementary, and, right, Secondary Teacher of the Year Jo Ochs of Hereford Center for Accelerated Learning. BRAND/John Carson
Schools honor employees
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Today
Sunny/Wind High: 82º Low: 52º
Sunrise: 6:44 a.m. Sunset: 8:47 p.m. Wind: W 24 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 22% UV Index: 10 of 10
Thursday
Mostly Sunny/Wind High: 81º Low: 47º
Sunrise: 6:44 a.m. Sunset: 8:48 p.m. Wind: WSW 20 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 26% UV Index: 10 of 10
Friday
Mostly Sunny High: 75º Low: 44º
Sunrise: 6:43 a.m. Sunset: 8:49 p.m. Wind: N 15 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 44% UV Index: 10 of 10
Hereford Independent School District (HISD) doffed its collective chapeau and expressed thanks to all its employees during an annual appreciation ceremony May 9. The ceremony shined the light on a number of those working with HISD from teachers, paraprofessionals and auxiliary personnel to those retiring and earning spotlight times of employment with the system. The highlight of the event was the naming of the HISD Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year, as well as the system’s overall Paraprofessional of the Year. Rolling away with top honors as Elementary Teacher of the Year was Teri Morton of Northwest Elementary School. Despite missing the final eight weeks of school while confined to a wheelchair recovering from a PLEASE SEE HISD | 3
HEREFORD HISTORY 18 years ago • May 17th, 1999
Clay McNeely was presented a First Place in Region medal during the awards Assembly at the National History Day activities held in Austin.
INDEX
Public Record.........2 News.........................3 Opinion.....................4 Community................5 HHS Awards.............6 Classifieds...............7 Religion..................8 Sports......................9
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HISD Superintendent Sheri Blankenship gives a hug as the school system bids a reluctant farewell to Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Terry Russell, who is retiring June 30 after 44 years as a teacher, principal and administrator with the local system. BRAND/John Carson
The third road fatality in just more than a month occurred Monday evening when a Hereford man was killed in a one-vehicle accident. According to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), troopers were dispatched to RM 1057 about 15 miles northwest of Hereford at approximately 6:05 p.m., in response to reports of an accident. Upon arrival, they found the results of a one-vehicle accident that reports said killed driver Jose Rivera, 21, of Hereford. Reports from DPS Sgt. Cindy Barkley show that Rivera was driving a 1998 Mercury Granada north on RM 1057 when he veered off the east side of the roadway and into a barrow ditch before colliding with a tree. Rivera was pronounced dead on the scene by Deaf Smith County Justice of the Peace Karen Boren. Although no exact cause of the accident has been determined, distracted driving is a suspected contributing factor in the fatal crash, according to reports. No other vehicles were involved in the accident, and reports said Rivera was wearing a seat belt. Rivera’s death is the third to take place on Deaf Smith County roads during 2017. Two men were killed April 7 when weather played a part in the collision between two semis – one hauling a trailer and one not – on U.S. 385 about 14 miles north of Hereford. The northbound truck without a trailer began to hydroplane on wet pavement, according to reports, causing the driver to lose control and slide into the southbound lane. The tractor then collided head-on with a northbound PLEASE SEE FATILITY | 2
City to start ball rolling on water development By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
City officials will be starting the calendar on bringing more water into Hereford after details were released during Monday’s regular meeting of the Hereford City Commission. City Manager Rick Hanna clued commissioners into the details – and costs – of a plan to develop a well field in the County Road 8 and Progressive Road areas. The area includes the North section farm, as well as a recent 314-acre, water-rights purchase the city made earlier this year. “We drilled four test wells there, and three are very good,” Hanna said. “It is time to develop that field and
bring the water into town. “Our current water situation is not at a problem level, but the margin is getting tighter. We need to bring the field online.” The project will include the drilling of five Santa Rosa wells and laying of pipe to bring the water into the city’s C Street facility. The expected cost is $3.2 million. To fund the work, Hanna said, the city will use a Certificate of Obligation (CO) – which is similar to a bond, but not an actual bond. As opposed to a bond, which uses tax dollars for repayment, a CO can be funded via two revenue sources – ad valorem taxes and the city’s water enterprise fund. PLEASE SEE CITY | 9
From left, Hereford City Secretary Suzanne Finch swears in Place 1 Commissioner Joe Garza, Mayor Tom Simons and Place 3 Commissioner Charlie Kerr to another term during Monday’s meeting. BRAND/John Carson
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