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| Wednesday,
July 11, 2018 | P
rinted on recycled paper
Hereford BRAND Volume 118 | Number 2 WHAT'S INSIDE
10 pages | $1.00
Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
Local ranch in crosshairs of probe
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Police Blotter Page 3
Waiting for Rain on the Llano Page 5
A large dairy calf operation in Deaf Smith County is currently under investigation for allegedly illegal dumping of thousands of tons of raw manure that could endanger the Ogallala Aquifer. Lone Star Calf Ranch, a major dairy calf and heifer ranch northeast of Hereford, is under investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office (DSCSO) and Deaf Smith County District Attorney for allegedly piling manure in a non-permitted playa wetland on separate property north and east of Hereford. Under the Texas Health
Dumping of raw manure in quantities of thousands of tons has raised concern over possible contamination of the Ogallala aquifer and prompted an investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Deaf Smith County District Attorney and Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Jim Steiert and Safety Code, disposal of 1,000 pounds or more of solid waste in an inland water of the state is a felony offense. The mas-
sive quantity of manure was allegedly transported from permitted property to an unpermitted playa. The dumping may have
Swing not hitting key to golf camp Page 7
FORECAST
Today
Mostly Sunny High: 93º Low: 67º FIRE WEATHER WATCH
Anybody have a hammer?
Thursday
Partly Cloudy High: 93º Low: 67º
Friday
Isolated Thunderstorms
High: 92º Low: 66º
Saturday
Mostly Sunny High: 94º Low: 68º
Sunday
Mostly Sunny High: 95º Low: 68º
Monday
Partly Cloudy High: 95º Low: 67º
Tuesday
Partly Cloudy High: 92º Low: 66º
INDEX Page 2............Obituaries Page 3.......Public Record Page 4................Opinion Page 5..............Outdoors Page 7..................Sports Page 8................Religion Page 9...........Classifieds Page 10..................News
The more difficult parts of the Herd Golf Camp – swinging a club and consistently hitting a small ball – were of little concern for Navaeya Valdez. The 11-year-old had few problems making contact and putting the ball down range. However, the seemingly mundane act of sinking a tee into the ground on which to rest a ball was a bit too much for her. Despite recent rains, the tee box at the John Pitman Golf Course driving range was still sun-baked as Valdez had much more difficulty driving the tee in than she did driving the ball. BRAND/John Carson
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been begun as early as 2013, accelerated in 2015 and continued until midApril of this year, according to TCEQ investigator
Erica Olson who investigated the playa site and examined satellite images of it. Manure hauling and dumping was reportedly intensive this spring, prompting public complaints to the TCEQ. While compliance with its current permit is in question, Lone Star Calf Ranch is already moving earth for a major expansion on another property northeast of Hereford and has applied to TCEQ for an additional permit. Disposal of manure in a playa wetland allegedly exceeds the scope of activities allowed by the calf ranch’s current TCEQ permit. Hereford-area citizens filed complaints with auPLEASE SEE PROBE | 10
Yard sale treasures on block Saturday By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Time to polish up those treasure goggles and hone the bargain saber as the annual Hereford City-Wide Yard Sale displays its wares Saturday. Allowing local residents the chance to rid themselves of unneeded items while also giving them opportunity to secure some undiscovered gems is one of enjoying its 26th renewal as one of the events on the Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce annual calendar. “Response has been down a bit this year,” chamber executive director Sid Shaw said. “The response has been good, but not as high as in the past. We’ve had SHAW better years. “I don’t know what held some people back. Still, the response has been good, and we’re looking forward to the sale.” While not a unique event in and of itself, the Hereford City-Wide Yard Sale is unique. Whereas most city-wide events of this nature take place in a centralized location – usually a city park – Hereford’s sale is spread around town as effectively separate entities. As of Monday, Shaw said 30 sales were registered for the event, but he expected that number to grow. “We typically have 40 or 50 sales registered,” Shaw added. The chamber acts as headquarters for the event and will distribute maps and a list of sale locations throughout town from the chamber office during the sale – from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday. For the 30 already registered Monday and any others who signed up before the close of that day, their sales were included in the chamber’s promotional newspaper ad Wednesday and had the site noted on the sale map. While Shaw added that sale registration is open until close of busiPLEASE SEE SALE | 3
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