As 2023 has come and gone and we are venturing into the new year, The Graham Leader is taking a look back at the local news that happened during the past 12 months.
January
• Young County Judge Win Graham was sworn into office Sunday, Jan. 1 succeeding former Young County Judge John Bullock, who retired after holding the position since 2011. Graham said as he began his first term in office, he was thankful for the support he received.
• The Graham City Council approved the formation of a planning committee related to a possible downtown development district. The committee was established to bring future considerations to the council for the boundaries of the district.
• Justin Ryan Snow, 42, of Olney, pleaded guilty Monday, Jan. 9 to the charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age. Under the terms of the plea deal, Snow was sentenced to 45 years confinement.
February
• Former Graham High School student Harley Grafton’s picture was shown Saturday, Jan. 28 in Times Square in New York City. Grafton’s photo was part of a project from The Never Alone Nick Rucker Foundation, a nonprofit organization that spreads awareness of mental health and the dangers of the drug fentanyl.
• Graham Mayor Neal Blanton announced Thursday, Feb. 2 he would be stepping down from his position for health and family needs, effective immediately. For over 30 years, Blanton served in various roles across the community.
• The Graham ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday, Feb. 15 to call a $49.4 million bond election to cover the estimated scope of work for facility improvements. The bond issue was placed onto the Saturday, May 6 ballot for those within the GISD boundaries.
March
• Owners of the National Theatre in Graham, Pam and David Scott, celebrated 103 years of the landmark Thursday, March 2 at the Old Post Office Museum and Art Center. Pam Scott recognized Misty Graham who has been the manager of the theater for over 20 years and Brandi Smith who was one of the first theater employees in 1990.
• Niko, a Dogo Argentino dog which was surrendered to the Humane Society of Young County in March, died after an emergency surgery discovered his injuries were too severe to repair. Two Young County men were arrested for charges related to Niko.
• Plug Project Holding Co., LLC was given an extension Monday, March 27 on a planned hydrogen production facility in Young County. The one-year extension was due to the company not being able to meet the Friday, March 31 deadline to have the facility “substantially completed.”
April
• From playing football on Newton Field to playing bass guitar in front of Taylor Swift at the IHeartMusic Awards, Graham High School graduate Alex Trejo carries the city of Graham wherever he goes as his career takes off with Giovannie and the Hired Guns. The Stephenville-based band, featuring Trejo on bass guitar, made their national television debut Monday, March 27, at the iHeartRadio Music Awards moments after receiving an award for Best New Artist (Alternative & Rock).
• A defect in the language of Young County misdemeanor judgments, filed between 2017 and 2022, impacted multiple courts’ jurisdictions. The language in the terms of probation filed by the county did not state a finding of guilt by the court, which is required under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Young County Attorney Christopher Baran estimated that 600-plus misdemeanor cases were impacted by the error.
• The boundaries of a Downtown Development District were approved Thursday, April 13 by the Graham City Council. The district will have established policies and provide opportunities for grants for businesses within the area.
May
• Voting concluded Saturday, May 6 in the general and special elections held in Young County, with the passing of a $22 million bond measure from Newcastle ISD and the failing of a $49.4 million bond measure from Graham ISD.
• Six members of the U.S. Army Infantry Unit, Bravo Company, met Saturday, May 6 in Graham to recount their experiences of the Vietnam War and reconnect with one another. All of those present at the reunion were in Vietnam for one year, but arrived at different times after being drafted. Among them was Ed Betzer, John Evancho, Ted Pettengill, Eldon Easterday, Chuck Snyder and Graham’s David Bowden.
• The Graham Regional Medical Center Board of Directors chose Teinert Construction as the construction company for the upcoming surgery center and hospital renovations. The decision was finalized after a vote during a Wednesday, May 10 special called meeting. The bid was approved for a cost of $4,924,000 with the allotted time of 300 days to complete the project.
• A notice was sent to parents Thursday, May 25 regarding access to spring STAAR/End-of-Course exam results being delayed from the state. This delay was due to the redesign of the exams and the state accountability system.
June
• Toadally Ice was named the 2023 Grand Champion during the Food Truck Championship of Texas.
• A 90th Judicial District grand jury returned a no bill indictment in May for two men who were facing felony animal cruelty charges relating to Niko, a Dogo Argentino, which was surrendered March 16 to the Humane Society of Young County.
• The Run for the Children board on Tuesday, June 6 presented $20,000 to Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House, the highest amount presented by the organization since the event began 18 years ago. The Run for the Children event is a 10K, 5K and 1K fundraiser which was held Saturday, April 22 on the Graham downtown square.
• Whether lighting up the screen as a stunt performer in Hollywood, or sprinting across the finish line in the 1952 Olympics, the life of Dean Smith has been one that few in Graham could hope to replicate. Smith, who passed away Saturday, June 24, was born Jan. 15, 1932 in Breckenridge and spent his early days on his grandparents’ ranch. It was there that he aspired to be like the cowboy stars he saw in his local theater.
July
• State and local fire crews continued working to contain the Storage Fire which started Wednesday, June 28 approximately four miles south of Possum Kingdom Lake. Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS), in unified command with Palo Pinto County and other area fire departments, worked on containment efforts of the nearly 800-acre fire.
• The Graham ISD Board of Trustees voted Wednesday, June 28 to move forward with fund balance purchases for multiple projects, which included turf at the baseball and softball fields and a new band hall for Graham Junior High School.
• Those close to Dr. Jamie Epperson shared what made her special to the community after she passed away Friday, July 14 in Wichita Falls after a long struggle with cancer. Through her devotion to her staff and patients at Twelve Oaks Dental Clinic and her dedication to coordinating Spivey Hill Challenge since 2015, Epperson made a community impact that will remain untarnished.
• Young County Treasurer Kathy Mishler announced Monday, July 24 that she would be stepping down from her position, effective immediately.
• An Olney couple who was arrested in March on four counts of animal cruelty, was sentenced to 120 days confinement in the Young County Jail after reaching a plea deal Wednesday, July 19. A search warrant on the home led to law enforcement finding 26 dogs, some in emaciated and neglected conditions.
August
• The Young County Sheriff’s Office sent off one of its own Friday, July 28 with a service honoring K9 Deputy Sam who died Wednesday, June 21 due to medical complications. The six-year-old Dutch Shepherd served the county for five years.
• Newcastle ISD teacher Courtney Bozeman was named as the Region 9 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Bozeman was one of 34 teachers nominees from 17 districts which were honored Wednesday, Aug. 2 during an educator recognition ceremony in Wichita Falls.
• An 11-year-old boy was shot Saturday, Aug. 5 while cleaning guns with his father and was expected to make a recovery. Graham Police Department Chief Brent Bullock said the shooting appeared accidental, but the department would continue investigating.
• The 8,000-acre Campbell Fire which started Thursday, Aug. 10 in Young County and jumped county lines into Archer, continued to burn as federal and state units continued progress made by local units.
• Former Young County Treasurer Kathy Mishler was indicted on abuse of her official capacity in office during a period from January 2016 to April 2023. According to the grand jury indictment, from Jan. 1, 2016 through April 1, 2023, Mishler “misused government property” in the form of credit cards. She accepted a plea Tuesday, Aug. 29.
September
• With over 11 years as a district judge, 12 years as district attorney and over seven years serving Graham and Newcastle in law enforcement, Stephen Bristow performed a life of service to Young County. At the end of September, Bristow moved into the next step of his life: retirement. After receiving his first oath of office in May 2012, Bristow served as the 90th Judicial District Judge for Young and Stephens counties.
• Rev. Vanessa Sims’ trip to Graham turned into a journey to find her sister’s grave and led her to question a Young County cemetery and its ownership. Reaching out locally to individuals and entities, Sims helped to push a local collaborative effort for the William P. Johnston Memorial Cemetery.
• A Young County man was arrested and charged with cruelty to livestock animals related to an estimated 40 horses found by the Young County Sheriff’s Office in malnourished conditions.
• Allen Lee Dixon, 42, of Graham, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact. As part of a plea agreement, he was arrested and sentenced to 180 days in the Young County Jail and 10 years deferred adjudication community supervision.
• Songs filled the air Sunday, Sept. 17 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Graham as the congregation hosted a 100th year celebration for the church during their service.
October
• Assistant District Attorney Phillip Gregory was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the position of 90th Judicial District Court Judge in Stephens and Young counties. Gregory filled the unexpired term of former judge Stephen Bristow, who retired Saturday, Sept. 30.
• The Young County Historical Commission (YCHC) completed an over three year project Saturday, Oct. 7 as they dedicated the 1921 Young County Jail historic marker. Serving 56 years as a jail and 38 years as the Graham Area Crisis Center shelter, the building has seen its fair share of history.
• The Graham City Council approved a committee Thursday Oct. 12 to review the city of Graham charter, which was last amended 32 years ago. The group will develop a proposed list of changes to the city charter for a Charter Review Commission to present for council consideration which, if approved, will be included within a charter amendment election.
• Richard Henry Ashing, 54, was sentenced Wednesday, Oct. 25 to four years deferred adjudication community supervision for two counts of sexual assault of a child under 18 years of age relating to a December 2022 offense.
November
• A reported explosion of a sodium hypochlorite storage tank occurred Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Graham Water Treatment Plant. A non-city employee was injured in the explosion which temporarily suspended water production capabilities.
• The Library of Graham Advisory Board voted 5-2 in favor of keeping a book titled “We Need to Talk About Vaginas: An IMPORTANT Book About Vulvas, Periods, Puberty and Sex!” The board voted to reshelve the book to another part of the library.
• More than four years after a fire broke out at the Worthington CDJR dealership in Graham, the original suspect was convicted of arson. Tyler Neff, 24, took a plea deal Wednesday, Nov. 15 of 10 years deferred adjudication community supervision, pleading guilty to the April 2019 arson of the property.
• A woman who was assumed missing for one week was found deceased as the result of a vehicle wreck two miles north of Loving on Hwy. 16. Dona Louise Chambers, 60, of Graham, was pronounced dead on the scene Saturday, Nov. 25, due to injuries sustained in the wreck, according to DPS.
December
• A Graham holiday tradition since 1958, Cookie Day returned Friday, Dec. 8 as Mary Braddock and her family invited the community for sweets. For over 60 years Braddock has provided cookies at her home for all in the community.
• Graham City Council upheld a decision by the Library of Graham Advisory Board to reshelve a contested book within the library. Members of the community in attendance used the public comment section of the meeting to encourage council members to either back the library board or overturn the decision entirely, with an almost even split between the two groups.
• An Olney man was found guilty and sentenced to 70 years Wednesday, Dec. 13 following a three-day district court jury trial. Andrew James Garibay, 32, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of child under 14.
• As Graham Drive In theater approached its 75th anniversary in 2024, owners Therrol and Becky DuBois were looking to hand ownership to someone who has the same passion and love for theater that they share.