Mobile Banking DALHARTSAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION,FEDERAL SSB Family Financial Centers: Fifth & Denrock, Dalhart (806) 249-8561 • Dumas Branch: Seventh & Bliss, Dumas (806) 935-7161 Vol. 119, No. 11 • 8 pages Tuesday, February 5, 2019 Serving Dallam and Hartley Counties Three fires Saturday near Dalhart BY Nixie Sanderson fire burned approximately 22 acres near the state line, and blowing MANAGING EDITOR smoke forced the temporary closure of the highway. Fire Chief Curtis Brown said there was one accident caused by the limited visibility from the smoke. The Dalhart Volunteer Fire Department responded to three calls The third call Saturday was for a small yard fire near First Street on Saturday. and Elm due to a downed power line. The first call was at Dalhart Cattle Feeders on Highway 54 for a There were no additional calls Sunday. feed truck fire. The second was also along Highway 54 in the right-of-way. The See FIRES on page 2 Agriculture mechanics competition results BY Nixie Sanderson MANAGING EDITOR Area ag mechanic students Photo courtesy of Khya Wheeler competed January 15 at the Rita Blanca Coliseum in Dalhart. Results Homecoming are listed below. Individual Overall Champion: Roper Thomas-Hartley Co 4-H King, Queen Team Overall Champions: Landon Carpenter & Storm Eaton Dalhart named FFA Individual Recreation Division Champion: Roper Thomas during Senior Team Recreation Division Champion: Landon Carpenter & Night Storm Eaton Individual Livestock Champion: Hanna Wilkerson and Hugo Connor Nicholson Davila were named Dalhart High Team Livestock Champions: Basketball Queen and King during Justin Schumacher & Cale Forry Senior Night activities last Friday. Nixie Sanderson/The Dalhart Texan The seniors on the Lady Wolves’ and Individual Recreation: Golden Wolves’ basketball teams Blair Dahl- Blue Ribbon were honored between the varsity People’s Gym opens nutrition bar Max Frantz- Blue Ribbon games against Pampa, Dalhart’s The Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for The Erik Frantz- Blue Ribbon final home game of the season. People’s Gyn and Nutrition Bar Saturday. The gym officially opened February 3, 2018, Eric Daniels- Blue Ribbon Seniors include Hannah Holmes, and now offers a nutrition bar in the back of the gym. The Peoples Gym and Nutrition club Jaden Massey- Blue Ribbon Angie Rodriguez, Wilkerson, is a full-service gym that offers classes, cardio equipment, and weight equipment, including Hayden Barrow- Red Ribbon Makayla Hyer, Collin Smith, free weights. Nutrition club hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. until Aiden Webber- Red Ribbon Carson Smith, Edgar Olvera and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The gym offers access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Casey Miller- Red Ribbon Davila. gym is located t 212 Denrock Avenue. Caiden Nials- Red Ribbon Morgan Mitchell- Red Ribbon Wyatt Hampton- Red Ribbon Cooper Lackie- Red Ribbon Property tax growth reform bills rolled out in state legislature Caleb Stegall- White Ribbon JB Stegall- White Ribbon BY Richard Lee a 2.5 percent cap on annual property tax growth absent voter Zack VanBeek- White Ribbon SENATE MEDIA SERVICES approval. RJ Pedraza- White Ribbon The current property tax “rollback rate” is 8 percent per year. If a taxing entity other than a school district approves Team Recreation: After promising meaningful property tax reform throughout a rate increase beyond that, under current law, citizens can Hayden Barrow & Jose Garcia- the first weeks of session, state leadership unveiled a plan to trigger a rollback election if they can collect the signatures of Blue Ribbon slow the growth of property taxes Thursday. seven percent of the registered voters in that taxing jurisdiction. Casey Miller & Landree “People desperately need property tax reform, our businesses Rollback elections for local school property tax rate increases are Heidenreich- Blue Ribbon need property tax reform, and we have set out, on this date, early triggered automatically if they exceed the rate, and SB 2 would Enrique Martinez & Edgar in session…with a major piece of legislation,” said Lt. Governor make that the law for all taxing entities. The 2.5 percent rollback Chavira- Blue RIbbon Dan Patrick. “We are setting the tone for the rest of the session rate would also apply to all taxing entities, excluding those that Kelsi Limbocker & Julie Avila- on this issue.” collect less than $15 million annually. Red RIbbon He was joined by Governor Greg Abbott, House Speaker “The vexing problem facing taxpayers is that tax bills are Michael Clark, Jorge Chavira & Dennis Bonnen, as well as two key lawmakers, Houston Senator going up at least two or three times faster than they can handle,” Kholten Ellis- Red Ribbon Paul Bettencourt and Lubbock Representative Dustin Burrows, said Bettencourt. “I think that the concept of having a two and Zane Thompson & Tayson Blanco- who will carry the bills in their respective chambers. Both bills, designated SB 2 and HB 2, are identical and would put See LEGISLATURE on page 2 See RESULTS on page 2 INDEX TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY Calendar..............................2 7 53182 14996 7 Local News..........................3 Agriculture News..............4 Dalhart Texan Entertainment...................5 410 Denrock Ave. Sports...... ............................6 Dalhart, TX 79022 Classifieds ..........................7 Mostly Sunny/Breezy Sunny/Very Windy Mostly Sunny Sunny www.thedalharttexan.com High 67, Low 35 High 61, Low 14 High 33, Low 13 High 47, Low 20 thedalharttexan.com 2 • Tuesday, February 5, 2019 Community LEGISLATURE panel for its usual budget hearing. “When it’s this Transportation to handle presentation, frustration dysfunctional, it doesn’t car title and registration continued from page 1 at the agency’s handling look good on the whole services in 2009. of the issuance of drivers state.” Texas is one of only a half percent rollback licenses came to the DPS Director Steve eight states that doesn’t rate across the board forefront, with multiple McCraw said his agency issue licenses through means there’s a universal members demanding to is seeking $420 million a DMV, but that would solution.” know how the DPS was in additional funds to hire change in 2021. Sunset In addition to authoring going to fix the problem. 1900 more staff and open Commission Chair Senator SB 2, Bettencourt chairs The Sunset Advisory 15 more license offices to Brian Birdwell, who will the Senate Property Tax Commission found during finally address this issue. carry the DPS Sunset bill Committee, which will the interim that wait times “I’m convinced it this session, said that the begin hearings on the bill at DPS license offices are would be a shining example Legislature can decide next week. getting longer despite more of state services if we had whether that’s soon Also this week, the and more money being those resources,” he told enough. Finance Committee added to the agency’s lawmakers. “This is not a ‘study continued work on crafting budget for that purpose. As it stands now, the whether we should transfer the Senate version of “This is one of the few Sunset recommendations this or not’,” he said. “It’s the state budget, hearing places where everyone in for DPS would move going to move. If this testimony from a number Texas of drivers license age license services to the committee wants to move Photo Submitted of different agencies. and above interacts with Department of Motor it faster, we can do that.” Monday, as the their state government,” Vehicles, a relatively The Senate will Dalhart native Helen Blackburn will be joined by Drew Department of Public said Friendswood Senator young agency only carved reconvene Tuesday, Lange in a performance at La Rita Theatre Saturday Safety appeared before the Larry Taylor at Monday’s out of the Department of February 5 at 10 a.m.w night. La Rita Theatre presents Community Calendar An Evening with Helen Healthy Heart Cooking Class: Join Kay Rogers, AgriLife First Baptist Church Team Kids: Every Wednesday, Team Blackburn Extension Agent-Family and Community Health, for a fun Kids meets at First Baptist Church, 1000 E. 16th Street, La Rita Theatre Drew Lang. evening of recipes, cooking and eating for a healthier you from 5-6:30 pm, starting with dinner. Youth meet from 6-8 Performing Arts Theatre Tickets are available and a healthier heart. The class will be held on Tuesday, pm at the ROC, and adults meet for prayer from 6-6:30 pm. presents An Evening at the Dalhart Chamber February 5 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension Everyone is invited. with Helen Blackburn on of Commerce, 102 E. 7th Annex building at 402 Denrock Ave. in Dalhart. Enter the Saturday, February 9. Street or by calling 244- door under the covered drive that faces northeast. The class KidZone: Liberty Baptist Church, 12020 U.S. Highway 87 Blackburn is a Dalhart 5646. is free to the first 20 people who sign up. Reservations are South, will hold KidZone for ages 5 through fifth grade on native and world renowned Tickets can also be required. Please reserve your spot by calling the Dallam and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 pm. flautist. She will be joined purchased online at lartia. Hartley Counties AgriLife Exten-sion Office at 244-4434 by by master percussionist org. noon on Monday, February 4th. Church of the Nazarene Youth Group: The Church of the Nazarene youth group meets Wednesday evenings from 7-8 FIRES with precipitation in the Cy Wagner Benefit Dance: A benefit dance for Cy Wagner pm at 1102 Keeler. Ages 12-18 are welcome. forecast. will be held February 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the Dalhart Elks Lodge, continued from page 1 “Toward the end of the 122 N.