NEWS
Wildfires burning across Texas panhandle
March 7, 2017 — AMARILLO, Texas — Multiple wildfires are still burning across the Texas Panhandle following yesterday’s elevated fire conditions across the Southern Plains.
Texas A&M Forest Service responded to three large fires for 325,680 acres.
The Dumas Complex Fire, in Potter County near the city of Amarillo, ignited amid humidity values in the single digits and winds gusting in excess of 50 mph. The fire spread rapidly and threatened hundreds of homes. It is currently an estimated 29,197 acres and 75 percent contained.
The Perryton Fire, in Ochiltree, Lipscomb and Hemphill counties is burning in grass and brush and is estimated at more than 315,135 acres. The fire moved rapidly and threatened the towns of Higgins and Glazier. Interagency firefighters were able to protect the towns by diverting the fire away from the communities. Two homes have been reported destroyed.
Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to a request of assistance on wildfire in Gray County named the Lefors East Fire. It is estimated at 92,571 acres and 25 percent contained.
Texas A&M Forest Service and the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center predictive services had forecast extreme fire weather for the northwest half of the Panhandle and critical fire weather west of a line from Childress to Midland.
Winds across the Panhandle should subside for Wednesday, but elevated fire conditions return to the area Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Texas A&M Forest Service is working with Department of Public Safety, local fire departments and other interagency resources. The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System has been activated sending fire engine strike teams to Amarillo and other staging areas in the Panhandle.
In anticipation of continued windy fronts for at least the remainder of the month, Texas A&M Forest Service is activating the heavy airtanker base in Abilene and anticipates having a 3,000-gallon jet in place by the end of this week.
These types of aircraft can carry up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant to be dropped in an effort to slow the spread of wildfires. Please remember that drones and other non-incident response aircraft are a safety hazard around wildfires and their presence will result in the grounding of firefighting aircraft. For safety reasons, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the wildfires.
Visit http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/CurrentSituation/ or follow @allhazardstfs on twitter for wildfire information in Texas.
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Mike Tibbetts of Hayter Engineering and Steve Ruse, structural engineer, were at the City of Bowie raw water pump station this past week to take a look at the location where a new raw water pump will be added at the directive of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The unfunded state mandate requires the city to add a 60-hp pump, to the present pair of 200-hp pumps in order to meet the capacity requirements of state standards. Estimated cost of the pump is between $850,000 to $950,000. (Courtesy photos)
There was very little courtroom activity during the Dec. 17 pre-trial hearing of former District Attorney Casey Hall on theft charges as the judge invited the attorneys into his chambers to discuss what they were doing.
Hall, who lost her bid for a third term as 97th District Attorney in the March primary, was indicted in July on a charge of theft $2,500-$30,000 connected with funds from a Texas Attorney General office’s grant.
The original pre-trial for the theft case was set for Aug. 16, but was rescheduled for Dec. 17. Judge Gabriel came into court that morning and after confirming both Shawhan and Hall’s attorney Abe Factor, were there, he reportedly asked both sides to come into his chambers.
After a brief period they left the judge’s chambers and went into another separate office, before going back to talk with Gabriel.
Court never resumed and both attorneys left the courtroom after picking up their belongings and left. The Nocona News reported as Shawhan left the courtroom when asked if the case was being dismissed he said, “It’ll either be a plea or a trial in February.” The case paperwork in the district clerk’s office does not reflect any additional action in this case or any other scheduled hearing or trial.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reminds Texans of the upcoming changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program beginning on Jan. 1, 2025.
These changes—which eliminate many vehicle safety inspections—are due to House Bill 3297. The bill was passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishing the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.
As a reminder, starting New Year’s Day, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. All non-commercial vehicles in the state will still be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee per HB 3297. The inspection program replacement fee will be paid when you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
New vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years.
Note the inspection program replacement fee is not an increase in the cost of your vehicle registration. As its name suggests, this fee simply replaces the revenue source for state programs and operations—like the construction and expansion of state highways—once supported by vehicle safety inspections.
Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.
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