News

Saturday is the final day to vote in the general and special elections on the ballot for the May election. On the ballot are elections for Graham Hospital District, Graham ISD, city of Olney, Olney ISD and city of Newcastle.

Election day voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Early voting was held at two Young County locations from Monday, April 22 until Tuesday, April 30. A total of 1,705 voters turned out for early voting, or 14.6% of registered Young County voters.

The Graham High School Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held this week and awarded around $100,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. Over 100 scholarships were provided by 68 local benefactors, clubs and agencies.

The ceremony was held Monday, April 29 at Memorial Auditorium and welcomed parents, staff and visitors to support GHS students receiving scholarships. Graham ISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse welcomed those to the ceremony.

It’s time, once again, for fun, food and more as the Graham Lions Club Carnival returns to Graham next week.

The annual Lions Club Carnival is set to take over the Graham downtown square each evening from Wednesday, May 8 through Saturday, May 11. The carnival will open each night at 5:30 p.m. and provides an opportunity for fun and fellowship for Graham citizens.

UPDATE 9:45 a.m. Friday, May 3 – Graham Police Department Chief Brent Bullock said GPD was contacted at 1 a.m. Friday, May 3 by Folley Beach South Carolina in reference to Ashton Broderick Castle. He was stopped while walking as a suspicious person. The two officers checked his welfare and reported he was "in good shape." They advised GPD that Castle stated he was "fine and just seeing the world."

During a second reading of an amendment to prohibit camping of any type in Kindley Park, additional amendments were added by city staff for overall camping regulations on Lake Graham and penalties for violation of ordinances.

City Manager Eric Garretty spoke at the Graham City Council meeting Thursday, April 25 and said city staff had significantly revised the ordinance since the first reading, deleting the camping ordinance in its entirety and being replaced with new language.

The family of Ashton Broderick Castle and Graham Police Department are continuing their search for the 19-year-old who went missing last Monday in Graham.

Castle, 19, of Graham, is 5’7” and 147 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. He left his home in the 100 block of Fawn Trail at around 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 22 in a 2001 tan Nissan Frontier with the Texas license plate TWB3422.

After receiving public comments at the beginning of April, the Graham City Council last week narrowed down details of a draft policy for food truck operations on the southern half of the downtown square.

The city received a request in January to have a food truck once a month on the Graham downtown square and the council tabled and denied the request Thursday, Feb. 15 in order to host a public hearing and have the public voice their concerns or support.

It was a time of celebration this weekend as the American Legion Post 34 installed its officers and moved onto the next chapter of service to the community. After a push to reactivate the post by two local veterans last summer, the post has seen new life and new membership.

The American Legion is the largest veterans service organization in the United States. The mission of the organization is to enhance the well-being of America’s veterans, its families, its military and its communities through the devotion to mutual helpfulness.

After approval from the Graham City Council this week, the city will have a four-month trial run for a new compressed work schedule for various city departments.

The departments impacted by the change will be city hall, municipal court, the Library of Graham and the administrative offices of Graham Fire Department and Graham Police Department.

City Manager Eric Garretty presented the proposal as a discussion item during the Thursday, April 11 meeting.

The inaugural Festival de Cinco de Mayo de Graham, held as a collaboration between local businesses, will liven up the downtown square next weekend with food, entertainment, children’s activities and more.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4 on Fourth Street and Oak Street. Owner of Neri’s on the Square, Neri Gonzalez, who is part of the Cinco de Mayo committee and Graham Downtown Business Association coordinating the event, said the event will be filled with activities.