HerefordBRAND.com
| Saturday,
November 3, 2018 | P
rinted on recycled paper
Weekend Edition
Hereford BRAND Volume 118 | Number 35 WHAT'S INSIDE
Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
Decision Time
Police Blotter Page 2
10 pages | $1.00
HISD hoping efforts pay off By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Sign-up night Monday for youth exhibitors Page 6
A referendum on whether to use in-hand city funds to build a new civic center in Hereford – without a tax increase – is one of two issues that highlight the Deaf Smith County ballot. Contributed image
Lady Herd sweeps way to Area Playoffs Page 8
FORECAST
Issues top 2018 election
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Today
Partly Cloudy/Wind High: 65º Low: 34º
Sunday
Partly Cloudy High: 64º Low: 47º
Monday
Mostly Sunny High: 65º Low: 36º
Tuesday
Sunny High: 63º Low: 37º
Wednesday
Partly Cloudy High: 58º Low: 36º
Thursday
Cloudy High: 49º Low: 33º
Friday
Partly Cloudy High: 58º Low: 39º
Time for rhetoric and campaigning is ticking away as voters in Deaf Smith County ready for their final chance to weigh in on the 2018 election. Two weeks of early voting ended Friday, and now only Tuesday’s Election Day is all that remains between success and failure for two local issues that outweigh county political races on the ballot. Highlighting Tuesday’s local ballot is a $22.4 million bond proposal from Hereford Independent School District (HISD) and referendum for Hereford voters on whether $6.5 million of city funds should be used to build a new civic center. The HISD proposal is the third the district has floated since 2015. Both a $42.6 million measure and $45 million plan were soundly defeated in 2015 and 2017, respectively. PLEASE SEE ELECTION | 4
Facebook.com/HerefordBRAND
INDEX Page 2......Public Record Page 3....................News Page 4....................News Page 5....................News Page 6....................News Page 7..........Community Page 8..................Sports Page 9...........Classifieds Page 10......Communinty
© 2018 Hereford BRAND A division of Roberts Publishing Group
HISD officials are hoping crafting of a measure voters said they could approve will result in passage of a $22.4 million bond after others were soundly defeated in 2015 and 2017. BRAND/John Carson
Response steady for Vet Day parade By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
With less than a week before the deadline, officials for the Deaf Smith County Historical Commission are casting eager eyes toward the renewal of the Veterans Day Parade in Hereford. The parade makes a return following a year’s hiatus in time for the centennial celebration of the original designation – Armistice Day – to commemorate the end of hostilities in the World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The holiday has since been tweaked to honor all U.S. veterans. “The parade is coming
along nicely,” historical commission chair Carolyn Waters said. “We are getting entries each day. “We’re still getting the word out, but we are having a good response.” The long-standing parade tradition was interrupted in 2017 when a confluence of the calendar and other scheduling saw Veterans Day fall on a Saturday. Parade logistics were additionally hindered by the absence of several key elements due to an away football game the night before and a late return by players, band and cheerleaders, among others. “Between the band and PLEASE SEE PARADE | 3
All that’s left now for Hereford Independent School District (HISD) is crossing fingers, rubbing the rabbit’s foot, locating a four-leaf clover, hanging a horseshoe, finding a heads-up penny or whatever voodoo there is to muster good fortune as Election Day 2018 nears. The reason is the district’s attempt to have a third bond measure in as many years finally gain voter approval. The arguably biggest item on Tuesday’s Election Day ballot for Deaf Smith County voters is a $22.4 million bond proposal from HISD. The proposal comes after a $42.6 million plan was beaten almost 2:1 in 2015, and a $45 million measure had 60 percent opposition from voters in 2017. Crafting the current bond from 2017 feedback on items voters could support, HISD officials are guardedly optimistic over results in 2018. “We remain hopeful that the community will support the proposal as presented given it contains the items that those who voted last said they would support,” HISD Superintendent Sheri Blankenship said. The bond is broken into two segments with $16.7 million destined to make safety, security and structural improvements at Aikman Elementary, Bluebonnet Elementary, Northwest Elementary, West Central Elementary, Hereford Junior PLEASE SEE BOND | 5
Movin' on Rainey Aven (4) draws back to launch a shot between defenders under the watchful eye of coach Catherine Foerster during Tuesday’s sweep of Dalhart in the Bi-District Playoffs. HISD photo by Bryan Hedrick