Hilmar celebrates America’s 250^th Anniversary by being good neighbor

Donates cheese to Good Samaritan, other organizations to support food security

 HILMAR, Calif. July 1-Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., a global leader in dairy products and ingredients, is honoring America’s 250th anniversary by living its purpose of Improving Lives Together with more than 7,500 pounds of cheese donations to food banks and community organizations in California, Texas, and Kansas. This effort supports food security and expands access to high-quality protein for families facing food insecurity.

90^th XIT Rodeo & Reunion Plaster Day

2025 XIT Rodeo Queen Ellie Clift, along with 2026 queen candidates Josey Dunavan and Journey Melear, stopped by the Dalhart Texan office on Wednesday July 1 during Plaster Day as they helped the XIT Directors plaster the city with XIT posters. This year is the 90th XIT Rodeo & Reunion. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan 

Dalhart’s 250^th American Independence celebration

Top: The Dalhart Rotary Club placed flags around town on July 4, and also put up 250 flags at Rita Blanca Lake for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan

WT President announces retirement

By Chip Chandler Special to the Dalhart Texan

CANYON, Texas — After a decade of innovative leadership and service to West Texas A&M University, President Walter V. Wendler has announced his retirement, effective Sept. 1. 

That comes 10 years to the day after he was appointed to the presidency at WT, where he would go on to be tied for the third-longestserving president in University history. 

“Universities earn confidence the right way, through clarity of mission, responsible stewardship and service to the public good,” Wendler said. “I am grateful to the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners who make WT what it is: The Panhandle’s University. WT’s future is bright thanks to the character of its people and the strength of its purpose.”

250 years of American Independence Special section in this edition

This Saturday, July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from England. A special section in today’s edition of the Dalhart Texan features a number of articles about this anniversary, including some interesting facts about different people and places, and different ways to celebrate this important moment.

Dalhart finishes summer school for 2026

Dalhart ISD had students participating in different summer school programs at the elementary and the high school from June 1-June 25. Those programs have now concluded, and students and teachers who participated will have a little over a month off before school starts again in August. Dalhart students who participated in the programs A Bright Beginnings (ABB) & Project SMART concluded their summer instruction. Educators for A Bright Beginnings promoted the love of reading, fostered oral language skills and developed writing skills for children who are threefour years old. Project SMART teachers focused on math and literacy for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Grand Ol’ Americana Show returning to La Rita tomorrow night

 Will Hearn’s Grand Ol’ Americana Show, which has been performed at the La Rita Theatre in the past, is returning just a week before the 250th birthday of the United States. The show will be performed tomorrow night, Friday June 26, at the La Rita Theatre at 7 p.m.

TEFA passes 100,000-student milestone

 (AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock recently announced that Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) have reached a major milestone, with more than 102,000 students awarded accounts for the 2026-27 school year.

 Texas Panhandle Motors hosts first summer car show

 BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 Texas Panhandle Motors (TPM), a car group formed a few months ago by a group of students at Dalhart High School, along with a few from other nearby schools (including at least one senior from Hartley and one senior from Tascosa High in Amarillo) held its first ever car show at the Rita Blanca Coliseum on Saturday June 20.

Sales tax revenue sent to local entities

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced June 10 that he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.3 billion in local sales tax allocations for June, 7.4% more than in June 2025.

The Bronze Glow Tanning Salon hosts ribbon cutting

The Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce helped The Bronze Glow Tanning Salon hold an open house and ribbon cutting on Wednesday June 10. Those in attendance included Kristy Detwiler, Jody Jones, Travis Jones, Haylee Jones, Jamie Bland, Ola Bland, Margaret Pollock and Ryder Pollock. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan

Local students enter Elks Americanism essay contest

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

The National Elks Association holds an Americanism essay contest for students in fifth grade-eighth grade, with each grade being considered a different division. Four students from the Dalhart area submitted essays in the contest, and recently received an award from the Dalhart Elks Lodge, #2390.

State sales tax revenue totaled $4.5 Billion

 (AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock recently said state sales tax revenue totaled $4.5 billion in May, 6.6 percent more than in May 2025. The majority of May sales tax revenue is based on sales made in April and remitted to the agency in May.

DHS cheerleaders host annual golf scramble

 The JV cheerleaders helped with the annual cheer golf scramble on Sunday June 7. L-r: Maegyn Smallwood, Aneli Dominguez, Miranda Olvera, Janae Hokanson, Landrie Frische, Payton Van Beek, Lanie Trimble, Raimi Day and Mallory Jobe. Not pictured are Lilly Hughes and Fernanda Galbon. Photos from the scramble are included in this edition of the Texan. Bill Kelly | Dalhart Texan

Dalhart Car Cruzers hosts 23^rd Annual car show

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 The Dalhart Car Cruzers hosted its 23^rd Annual car show on Denrock Avenue in downtown Dalhart on Saturday June 6. Car, truck and motorcycle owners, along with owners of a few unique vehicles, traveled from hundreds of miles and other states in some instances to be part of the car show. There were also various vendors and food trucks at the event.

St. Anthony’s Catholic School releases final
honor roll for 2025-2026

 St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School recently released its list of students who made either the A Honor Roll or A/B Honor Roll for the sixth six weeks of the 2025-2026 school year, a list of students who had perfect attendance for the sixth six weeks, and a list of students who made either the A Honor Roll or A/B Honor Roll for the entire year.

Dalhart ISD presents service awards to staff

BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 On the final staff development day of the 2025-2026 school year for the Dalhart ISD, teachers who have served a certain amount of time in the district (multiples of five years), along with four retirees and a few others were presented special awards.

 Dalhart Federal Savings & Loan appoints new President, CEO 

 By Molly Ritchey
Special to the Dalhart Texan

 When deciding where to put your money, there is a lot to consider. In a recent interview with Dalhart Federal Savings & Loan’s newly appointed President and CEO, the advantages and values of using Dalhart’s only locally owned bank were explained along with what brought him to Dalhart.

Summer Jams starts tomorrow

 BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 The Dalhart Area Chamber of Commerce, with support from the City of Dalhart Economic Development Corporation (EDC), will once again host Summer Jams this summer at the Hilmar Amphitheatre at Rita Blanca Lake. There will be a concert each Friday throughout June and July, along with an extra concert on Saturday July 4.

 A graduation to remember
Lightning forces last-second move indoors for DHS Class of 2026 

 BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan

 While it wasn’t exactly the graduation ceremony that anyone wanted, the Dalhart High Class of 2026 definitely had what may be the most memorable graduation ceremony in a very long time. (The ceremony in 2020 during the COVID pandemic was memorable for a different reason, as rules were forced on the school by various authorities that, looking back, were probably completely unnecessary and involved handing diplomas through car windows.)