Tragedy strikes Dalhart High again

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

Just one week before their graduation, the members of the Dalhart High Class of 2023 suffered a tragic loss, as class member Eric Ruiz passed away suddenly on Thursday May 18. It was an unfortunate capstone to a very difficult year for Dalhart High and the entire community, as Ruiz was the third student to pass away during the school year.

Local seniors honored in special section

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Texline Class of 2023 graduated last Friday, May 19, and the Class of 2023 for Dalhart High, Hartley High and Channing High will graduate this week. A special keepsake graduation section honoring these seniors is included in this edition of the Dalhart Texan.

Thousands enjoy Thunder Over Dalhart

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The second biennial Thunder Over Dalhart Airshow was held at the Dalhart Municipal Airport on Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21. Although there was a chance of bad weather on Sunday, the airshow was able to go forward both days as thousands of spectators viewed the different acts, demonstrations, and other events that occurred over the weekend.

Thunder Over Dalhart May 20-21

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Second Biennial Thunder Over Dalhart Airshow will be held at the Dalhart Municipal Airport this weekend, Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21. The show will be from 1-4 p.m. each day, with the same show both days.

Yahir Cancino remembered at Sports Banquet

Dalhart quarterback Kyler Read displays a case with the jersey worn by the late Yahir Cancino during the Dalhart High sports banquet on May 16. The jersey will be displayed in the halls at Dalhart High School at the request of Yahir’s parents to remind students to be #yahirstrong. More coverage of the banquet is on page 1B of this edition.

DHS Culinary Arts students compete at Disney World

By Meadow Hurd
The Dalhart Texan

Dalhart High School’s Culinary Arts program returned from its big trip to Disney World on Tuesday April 25, after leaving on Friday April 21. On their trip, they participated in an international cooking competition called Cook Around the World. The competition is held annually, however, this is the first year Dalhart students have competed. Not only did they get to have a brand-new experience with competitive cooking, they also got to have an experience at Disney World, which for most students was their first.

The Dalhart High senior girls followed up the win

The Dalhart High senior girls followed up the win by the senior boys in Macho Man Volleyball by beating the junior girls in Powderpuff Football on May 10, giving the class a clean sweep over the past two years (they won Macho Man Volleyball and Powderpuff Football last year as juniors as well.)

The Dalhart High senior boys, along with their coaches, pose for a photo after sweeping the junior boys 2-0 in
Macho Man Volleyball on Tuesday May 10.

Thunder Over Dalhart this weekend

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

The Second Biennial Thunder Over Dalhart Airshow will be held at the Dalhart Municipal Airport this weekend, Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21. The show will be from 1-4 p.m. each day, with the same show both days.

Senate committee approves harsher penalties for stranger assaults

By Richard Lee
Senate Media Services

Prosecutors could seek up to 99 years in prison for assaults by strangers that result in permanent disability from brain or other neural damage under a proposal advanced by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Tuesday. Under current law, the maximum sentence for such kinds of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is 20 years in prison. In an effort to stave off incidents of domestic violence or stalking, state law allows for enhancement to a first degree felony if the victim of an assault has a previous relationship with the offender. The proposed law, HB 18, sponsored by Granbury Senator Brian Birdwell, would extend this same flexibility to assault cases when the offender is unknown to the victim and the crime involves a deadly weapon and results in paralysis or a persistent vegetative state. “HB 28 would allow the same enhancement when the result is extreme injury to the victim without regard for any type of relationship between the assailant or the victim,” said Birdwell.

DHS presents academic awards

BY BILL KELLY
The Dalhart Texan

Dalhart High School held its annual Awards Assembly on Thursday May 4 in the high school auditorium. Students received awards for individual classes and for achievements throughout their high school careers, and were also presented with certificates for achievements in various academic contests.

Dalhart police sergeant receives award

May 8, 2023- Sergeant Erica Trevino of the Dalhart Police Department has been awarded the 2023 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Public Service. Each year, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement awards peace officers who exceed the normal expectations of job performance through acts of professional achievement, public service, or valor.

Wolves play Bi-District series

The Dalhart Golden Wolves were given a sendoff at Dalhart High during the morning on May 4, and played Shallowater in a double-header that afternoon in the Bi-District round of the playoffs in Plainview. Details of the games are on page 2B of this edition.

Elli Bezner wins State in Milk Quality Contes

Elli Bezner won first place as an individual at the State FFA Milk Quality Contest at Tarleton State University recently, and the Dalhart High team of Bezner, Brandis Beavers, K’Anah Pollock and Ximena Zendejas Gonzales placed tenth in the state.

DHS prom king & queen

The Dalhart High 2023 Junior/Senior Prom was held at the Rita Blanca Coliseum on Saturday May 6, with the them being the Netflix show “Bridgerton.” Seniors Devin Rutherford and Jadyn Trusler were voted as king and queen. More photos from the prom are on page 4B of this edition, and watch the Dalhart Texan Facebook page for photos from the Promenade.

Elks to host Kentucky Derby Night

The Dalhart Elks Lodge will host Kentucky Derby Night tonight, Saturday, May 6. There will be a hat contest for women (wearing fancy hats to horse races is a longstanding tradition, especially for the Kentucky Derby.)

Dalhart Police Chief Tommy Hughes joins organization to steer kids away from crime

Dalhart, TX – This month, Dalhart Chief of Police Tommy Hughes became a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, an anti-crime organization of over 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and violence survivors nationwide, including more than 286 law enforcement leaders in Texas. For over 25 years, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids members have spoken out in support of strategies proven to reduce crime by preparing kids for successful lives.

Preston Ralston honored in Austin

Wes and Sarah Ralston, the parents of the late Preston Ralston, were pre- Photos submitted. sented with a flag that flew over the Texas Capitol Building by the Hartley County Commission and Dallam County Commission. The flag flew over the Capitol on February 18, the day of Preston’s funeral. Preston Ralston passed away in February 13 of this year. L-r: Ronnie Gordon, Wes Ralston, Sarah Ralston and Wes Ritchey.

City council, school board candidates seeking votes

By Bill Kelly
The Dalhart Texan

Early voting for the Dalhart City Council and Dalhart ISD (DISD) Board of Trustees ended yesterday, Tuesday May 2. The election itself will be held this Saturday, May 6. Three positions on the Dalhart school board are up for election, as are the position of Dalhart mayor and one Dalhart City Council member from each of the four wards.

Lady Wolves play in Bi-District

The Dalhart Lady Wolves softball team was given a sendoff at the high school Friday afternoon, April 28, as they went to Plainview to play Shallowater in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Details about the game are on page 2B of this edition of the Dalhart Texan. Back row L-r: Areli Delgado, Lexy Vasquez, Ryleigh Beattie, Lili Orozco, Olivia Peavey, Addison Ramirez, Sydni Hyer and Katelynn Hickey. Front row l-r: Marly Xon Gonzalez, Desaray Vasquez, Emery Pfannstiel, Karlee Johnson, Madi Pedraza, Jenna Pedraza, Maria Penunuri and Kate Vermedahl.