Dalhart’s Sarah McDaniel graduates Summa Cum Laude

Sarah McDaniel graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s School of Nursing December 17, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through the Second Degree-Accelerated Nursing program. After receiving a BS in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University in May 2021, Sarah was accepted to the TTUHSC-SON program from January 2022 to December 2022 in Austin, Texas. Sarah plans to work in an Austin-area hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.

State sales tax revenue totaled $3.93 billion in December

(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on January 3 said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.93 billion in December, 10.5 percent more than in December 2021. The majority of December sales tax revenue is based on sales made in November and remitted to the agency in December.

“Business spending continued to be the principal driver of growth in sales tax revenue, with rapid growth in receipts from non-retail sectors,” Hegar said. “The mining, construction, wholesale trade, and rental and leasing sectors had double-digit gains compared with a year ago, and receipts from the manufacturing sector remain robust as well.

“Growth in receipts from the services sector also reached double digits, while those from restaurants grew at about the rate of inflation for food away from home.

“Growth in overall receipts from the retail trade sector was more muted, at about the rate of inflation in consumer goods prices. The fastest growth among retail segments was in receipts from food and beverage stores, followed by online general merchandisers as late November holiday sales began. But receipts from store-based general merchandisers and furniture and home furnishings stores were little changed from a year ago, while receipts from electronics and appliance stores, and sporting goods and hobby stores, declined from last year.”

Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in December 2022 was up 11.2 percent compared with the same period a year ago, while the rate of consumer price inflation was up 7.7 percent over the same period. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 56 percent of all tax collections.

Texas collected the following revenue from other major taxes: • motor vehicle sales and rental taxes — $566 million, up 7 percent from December 2021;

• motor fuel taxes — $317 million, up 2 percent from December 2021;
• oil production tax — $516 million, up 15 percent from December 2021;
• natural gas production tax — $371 million, down 3 percent from December 2021;
• hotel occupancy tax — $58 million, up 44 percent from December 2021; and
• alcoholic beverage taxes — $137 million, up 10 percent from December 2021.

For details on all monthly collections, visit the Comptroller’s Monthly State Revenue Watch. For an extensive history of tax policy developments and fees since 1972, visit our updated Sources of Revenue publication.

Unique Christmas decoration

A reader alerted the Dalhart Texan to this interesting Christmas lighting decoration. The star is 48-feet tall and is was located at the house of Josh and Chance Carritt.

Jennifer Yaws, FNP-C, joined Dalhart Family Medicine Clinic January 4

DALHART, TEXAS – Dallam Hartley Counties Hospital District (DHCHD) is pleased to announce Jennifer Yaws, Family Nurse Practitioner, will be joining Dalhart Family Medicine Clinic’s team of medical providers.

Step Up and Scale Down course begins Jan. 11 in Lubbock

By Kay Ledbetter
Texas AgriLife

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Lubbock County will offer the 12- week series, Step Up and Scale Down, beginning Jan. 11.

Dalhart loses two firefighters in tragic accident

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Dalhart Volunteer Fire Department lost two of its own a few days ago during a collision between their vehicle and a truck tractor towing a semi-trailer. Fire Chief Curtis Brown and fireman Brendan Torres, were pronounced deceased on the evening of Tuesday October 4 following the vehicle accident on Highway 54 between Dalhart and Stratford.

Dalhart turns to prayer during rough weekend

Dalhart High students, along with many others from the community and surrounding area, came together to support each other and the family of Yahir Cancino, a Dalhart sophomore who passed away late Friday evening, September 2 after a head injury during a JV football game against Sundown in Dimmitt on September 1. A prayer vigil was held at Memorial Stadium Friday evening before Cancino passed away, and then a candlelight vigil was held in Cancino’s honor on Sunday September 4, also at Memorial Stadium.

There’s an app for that

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Dalhart Independent School District (DISD) hired a new technology director over the summer, Robert Sullivan. Sullivan and the technology staff at the DISD Central Office has spent the fall making a number of improvements to the district’s technology and to its network.

United Way donates $28,000 to local organizations

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The local United Way organization presented donation checks to seven different local organizations on Tuesday December 27 at the offices of Frontier Fuel. The combined total that was raised and donated this year was $28,000. Dee Brown, Sheila Yee, Chad Miller, Heidi Guffey and Jackie Otts were on hand to present the donations.

Inside Dalhart Chamber of Commerce appoints Kristy Detwiler as president

The Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the appointment of a new president for the organization, Kristy Detwiler.

“Watch for it”

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Dalhart Independent School District (DISD) hired a new technology director over the summer, Robert Sullivan. Sullivan and the technology staff at the DISD Central Office has spent the fall making a number of improvements to the district’s technology and to its network. One of those improvements will be the premier of a completely new website on January 1, 2023.

Xcel Energy upgrades ensure continued reliability

AMARILLO, Texas – Electricity customers in the Texas Panhandle have been largely spared from grid reliability issues experienced in other parts of the state, and Xcel Energy’s ongoing investments in the electric distribution network are key factors in ensuring the region’s grid is reliable for years to come.

Apollo MedFlight launches new air ambulance base in Dalhart

AMARILLO, TX -- Apollo MedFlight, the leading air ambulance service in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, has launched a new air ambulance base in Dalhart increasing rapid response emergency transport services to residents throughout the region.

Xcel Energy’s regional grid ready for cold weather

AMARILLO, Texas (Dec. 19, 2022) – Xcel Energy is prepared for this week’s cold weather in Texas and New Mexico and is reminding customers of ways they can maintain a high level of comfort, save money and stay informed in the event of a power outage.

DHCHD congratulates first RNEC graduating class

DALHART, TEXAS – Dallam-Hartley Counties Hospital District is pleased to announce the graduation of the first Rural Nursing Education Consortium cohort.

Dalhart Junior High shows Christmas spirit

Dalhart Junior High held a contest for both classrooms and hallways to see which one could be decorated the best for Christmas. Parents, students and community members were able to go through the junior high during an open house on Thursday December 15 and vote on the best door and best hallway. More photos are on page 10, and there will be more photos on page 10 of the December 27 edition of the Dalhart Texan.

Santa Claus visits First State Bank

First State Bank hosted its annual Christmas Open House on Wednesday December 7. Santa Claus visited the bank that afternoon as well.

Dalhart Youth Basketball logo contest winner

Dalhart High art students in Coach Chris Bird’s art classes had a chance to participate in a contest to design a new logo that will be used on the jerseys for the Dalhart Youth Basketball league teams. Freshman Lismary Gonzalez (center) was the winner of the contest and was awarded $200 for her design.

A family’s heritage

By Jonna Bridgman
Special to the Dalhart Texan

Almost everyone knows the story of the XIT Ranch and helps celebrate it the first weekend of August. Now, you will learn the rest of the story.

Thanksgiving coloring page winners