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June 23, 2018 | P
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Hereford BRAND Volume 117 | Number 101 WHAT'S INSIDE
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Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
Vote likely on new civic center By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Police Blotter Page 2
Church youth beat heat, raise funds Page 7
Coach's first camp goes "very well" Page 8
FORECAST
Today
Sunny High: 93º Low: 67º FIRE WEATHER WATCH
Sunday
Sunny/Wind High: 102º Low: 63º
Monday
Sunny High: 93º Low: 66º
Tuesday
Sunny High: 98º Low: 66º
Wednesday
Sunny High: 100º Low: 68º
Thursday
Sunny High: 98º Low: 68º
Friday
Partly Cloudy/Wind High: 96º Low: 68º
INDEX Page 2............Obituaries Page 3....................News Page 4....................News Page 5....................News Page 7..........Community Page 8..................Sports Page 9...........Classifieds Page 10........Community
© 2018 Hereford BRAND A division of Roberts Publishing Group
The brakes were effectively put to plans for a new civic center in Hereford for the time being as city leaders mull the prospects of putting the issue before the people. The possibility of a vote on the matter was broached by Hereford Mayor Tom Simons during the work session that preceded Monday’s regular meeting of the Hereford City Commission. Although not among the items on that specific meeting’s agenda – and subsequently something on which no action could be taken – the matter was predominantly brought up due to community reaction to plans for the new center. “We have had some pushback,” Simons said. “We don’t want to do anything divisive when it comes to spending money. We don’t want to cause any problems. “I think [letting the voters decide] is in the best interest of good will and transparency.” There have been rumblings of discontent in the community
Voters in Hereford will most likely get a chance to weigh in on $2.5 million in HEDC funding for a new civic center through a planned November election referendum. Contributed image about the plan since it was first announce almost a year ago. In addition to residents feeling as if they had been omitted from the decision-making pro-
cess for the new center, many have raised concerns over its size, cost and location. “I think having a vote is a good idea,” said Hereford City
Manager Rick Hanna, who has spearheading the new civic center effort. “It’s the people’s
Raise for teachers approved
Rains allow bans to be lifted
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Turney calling for a prohibition on fireworks and extension of the
A month after addressing pay rates for auxiliary staff, the Hereford Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees took care of the professional side during Monday’s regular meeting that was reschedule from June 28. In a unanimous vote that met with virtually no discussion, trustees approved a 2 percent raise for teachers and administrators. Also included in the package was a 2 percent pay increase for HISD Superintendent Sheri Blankenship. In addition, the measure increased the starting salary for a HISD teacher from $41,000 to $41,500. “That is still substantially lower than other districts in the region,” Blankenship said. “With this raise package included, we expect to have a balanced budget.” Officials noted that a starting teacher salary in Amarillo Independent School District was $48,000, while Canyon was in the process of increasing its to $47,00 per year. The only discussion on the matter came from District I Trustee Mike Bryan, who inquired if the teacher raise would be based on a median – or midpoint – salary average. HISD Business Manager Rusty Ingram said teacher
PLEASE SEE BANS | 5
PLEASE SEE RAISE | 3
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
There is an old adage that goes something to the effect that if you want it to rain, then all you need to do is wash your car. That is, unless you live in Deaf Smith County. Seems if you need it to rain in Deaf Smith County, all that is required is an official ban on fireworks in the fortnight leading up to Independence Day. Barely a week after the Deaf Smith County Commissioner Court placed a 60-hour ban on the sale and use of fireworks in the county and Gov. Greg Abbott officially extended that order through July 5, Deaf Smith County Judge D.J. Wagner lifted the county’s bans on fireworks and outdoor burning effective 8 a.m., Friday. “Due to the recent moisture and chance for the fuel load to green up, the prospect for fewer wildfires has improved,” Wagner said in a prepared statement. “I would still like to remind everyone to be extra diligent in helping prevent wildfires. “I hope everyone has a safe July Fourth, and please, continue to pray for rain.” Those prayers seemed like shots in the dark over the past several months as precipitation
PLEASE SEE VOTE | 4
Effective at 8 a.m., Friday, Deaf Smith County Judge D.J. Wagner lifted the county’s bans on fireworks and outdoor burning – setting the stage for annual Independence Day fireworks at Dameron Park on July 3. BRAND/John Carson has made itself scarce in the area. Despite a marked increase in measurable rainfall in April and
May, it did little to quell drought conditions – resulting in Wagner and county emergency management director Dean
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