HerefordBRAND.com
| Wednesday,
November 29, 2017 | Printed on recycled paper
Hereford BRAND Proudly Serving The High Plains Since 1901
Volume 117 | Number 43 WHAT'S INSIDE
County appoints new Veterans Services Officer
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
Habitat may be boost for pheasant season Page 5
Despite a closed session to discuss a personnel issue, the Deaf Smith County Commissioners Court breezed through a short agenda during its regular meeting Monday. The closed session preceded the last formal piece of business on the seven-
item agenda and involved the county’s Veterans Services Officer position. County Judge D.J. Wagner had announced at the Oct. 232 meeting that current Veterans Services Officers James Peach had moved to Amarillo, but remained on the job. At that time, Wagner expressed a preference for opening the position up for
Page 6
Herd tops Lubbock for season's 1st win Page 9
Today
Mostly Sunny High: 64º Low: 35º
Thursday
Partly Cloudy High: 56º Low: 37º
Friday
Sunny/Wind High: 70º Low: 35º
Saturday
Sunny High: 70º Low: 42º
Sunday
Mostly Cloudy High: 71º Low: 41º
Monday
Partly Cloudy High: 63º Low: 35º
Tuesday
Partly Cloudy High: 49º Low: 28º
INDEX Page 2..........Obituaries Page 3...................News Page 4...............Opinion Page 5...........Outdoors Page 6...................News Page 7.........Classifieds Page 8..............Religion Page 9................Sports Page 10.......Community
© 2017 Hereford BRAND A division of Roberts Publishing Group
received for the position, one of which was reportedly from Peach. Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Brumley did not attend Monday’s meeting. They returned just more than 5 minutes later and reconvened the opening meeting before O’Connor placed Albert Sciumbato into nomination for the position.
A unanimous vote of approval followed. “It would be best to have someone local in this position,” Wagner said. “We need to have someone in this position who is in the community. “It’s a veritable 24-7 position, so it’s important to have someone local.” PLEASE SEE COUNTY | 3
By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
FORECAST
Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 64F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
a local candidate. “I am all about local,” he said. “I would like to see if there is someone local – a retired veteran perhaps – who might be interested.” Wagner and commissioners Chris Kahlich (Precinct 1), Jerry O’Connor (Precinct 2) and Dale Artho (Precinct 4) recessed into closed session to further scrutinize the several applications
Trustees OK ‘Next Steps’ in split vote
HISD honors staff, principals at meeting
Sunrise: 7:37 a.m. Sunset: 5:38 p.m. Wind: WSW 14 MPH Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 39%
10 pages | $1.00
Record setting auction The eighth annual dinner and dessert auction for King’s Manor Methodist Retirement Home, Inc. set a record on Nov. 21, grossing a total of $32,000, mostly on the basis of generous bids on cakes, pies and other desserts. Proceeds from the event, that has become a traditional lead-in to the Thanksgiving holidays, will go toward remodeling halls and rooms at the Manor. Above, King's Manor executive director Shelly Moss shows off a dessert item during the live auction as Brandon Hooper of Amarillo solicits bids from the large crowd on hand. Right, King;s Manor activities director Brenda Blacksher styles one of the cakes specially prepared for the event. The top bid of the night, totaling $2,500, came from Dr. John Gregg for a Mississippi Mud Cake prepared by Adelle Clements, and the culinary artist offered to make a second cake for Jackie and A.W. Shoffit, who were willing to pay another $2,000 just to have an Adelle Clements Mississippi Mud Cake. Cakes and other desserts routinely brought bids in the hundreds of dollars from supporters including local businesses and individuals. Photos by Jim Steiert
Amid discussion and debate, the Hereford Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees took the first steps to coping with facility issues by approving a $4 million renovation project in a split vote during a called meeting Nov. 20. The called meeting – which took place after press time – was held in place of the board’s regular meeting, which was rescheduled from Monday, Nov. 27, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Approval sets the wheels in motion for HISD Superintendent Sheri Blankenship’s “Next Steps” plan presented during the board’s Oct. 23 meeting. The plan centers around Tierra Blanca Elementary School (TBES) and Stanton Learning Center. Officials inside and outside HISD agree, those two present the district’s most-immediate facility needs. With approval, TBES will be closed for the 2018-19 school year to undergo an estimated $4 million in renovations to turn it into an early childhood development center. At the start of the 2019-20 school year, TBES will re-open as HISD’s new pre-K center with students housed at Stanton, where current pre-K classes are held, moving in. Stanton will then be closed as an active HISD campus. Time was paramount in the plan’s approval with officials noting that November approval would allow for plans to be drawn so that construction bids can be let in March or April and work on the proposed 12-month, renovation to start when the 2017-18 school year ends in May. Swift approval also allowed district officials to commence the process of redrawing HISD’s elementary school attendance boundaries with current TBES students to be absorbed into PLEASE SEE TRUSTEES | 3
Public chimes in on Tierra Blanca, pre-K program By John Carson BRAND Managing Editor
While not rare to seek a packed house before a Hereford Independent School District (HISD) Board of Trustees meeting, it is for it still to be that way when the meeting ends. A vast majority of people usually in attendance are there for the board recognitions that begin each meeting during the school year. Once students and staff of a particular school are recognized, board president Kevin
Knight usually calls for a brief nition of Bluebonnet Elementary recess to allow those folks to School’s new Principal’s Ambasdepart before reconvensadors program, most of ing and getting down to the seats remained full the business aspects of when the board went back the meeting. to work. However, such was Many of those in attennot the case at a Nov. dance were faculty and 20 called meeting where staff at Tierra Blanca Eltrustees were expected ementary School (TBES), to and did make a deciwhose fate as an elemension on the future of two tary school in HISD was district facilities and, to to be decided – as well KNIGHT a degree, its pre-K proas the immediate fate of gram. parts of the district’s preAlthough there were some de- K program, specifically whether partures following board recog- to keep or axe programs for 3
year olds. Both issues not only drew attendance interest but also the desire to have opinions heard as the board faced a list of five people who had signed up to speak during the agenda’s “Public Comments” item. Before public comments were heard, Knight informed those in attendance that board members were “not allowed” to respond to questions posed by those making comments. “Just because there is no rePLEASE SEE PUBLIC | 3
Advertisers! 'Letters to Santa' is near!
One of our largest and most viewed special sections of the year ‘Letters to Santa’ will be distributed December 23rd. Don’t miss out this year. Get your ads in early to show your support for Hereford children as they write letters to Santa. Also a good place to run your Merry Christmas ads! Deadline for ad space is 5:00 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11th. All ads must be approved and ready to print by 5:00 p.m., Wedneday, Dec. 13th.
Call the Hereford BRAND at (806) 364-2030 to reserve your ad space today!