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Superintendent Heath Dickson informed the Roby School Board Monday night how a storm that brought little rain, caused a significant amount of damage when lightning struck the school. 

   There were 4 switches and a router destroyed costing around $12,000. The damage included a number of desktop computers, a laptop computer, several printers, at least two promethean boards, and a wireless internet hub. 

   The reason for the widespread damage is because the electrical surge traveled through the Ethernet, not through the power cables. 

   “The good new is: We have a $5,000 deductible, and we have replacement cost insurance, so we’re not having to depreciate the server,” said Superintendent Dickson. 

   Repairs are underway and new, inline surge protectors are in place that should protect the school if...

The 72nd Annual Fisher County is right around the corner! Many people have never entered anything in the fair, been to look at the fair, or even know there is a fair. It is in conjunction with the rodeo, and is held at the courthouse August 25th- 27th. All ages are encouraged to enter items in the following categories: Bakes Goods, Preserved Foods, Textiles (clothing and quilts), Horticulture and Crops, Hobbies and Crafts, Art, and Photography. If you made it, we will find a category for it. Please consider entering something. Ribbons will be awarded. Residents of Neighboring counties are also welcome to enter. Fair books are available at the courthouse, and there is a new rule this year. There is no limit on the number of entries per item number. If you have any questions you can call the extension office at 325.776.3259 or Mary Mahaffey at 325.721.1002.

 Kyle Dickson, attorney with the Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott Law Firm, was in attendance at Monday’s commissioners court meeting to explain, and answer questions regarding the proposed tax rates.

   The court needed to set a tax rate along with a proposed budget before moving into preparations to set a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. While there is not yet a set budget for 2017, the county did need to decide on a tax rate, and with the finalized construction on the Fisher County Law Enforcement Center, citizens are expecting a tax increase. The question on everyone’s mind is just what that increase is going to be.

   The commissioners voted unanimously to set the rate at the effective tax rate of .89146. 

   When calculated with the county debt rate in order to pay off both the jail bond of $463,418 and other debts of about $160,700 the county tax rate would come to .946117.

AUSTIN – Today, Secretary of State Carlos Cascos invited businesses in the State of Texas to participate in the Human Trafficking Prevention Business Partnership Program.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature created the Human Trafficking Prevention Business Partnership Program to engage corporations and other private entities in voluntary efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking. The Texas Secretary of State’s office is tasked with establishing and implementing this program.

A deeper look into the Fisher County Jail’s food costs reveals how cutting corners, breakdowns in communication, and lack of planning has created a challenge for the county. 

   At last week’s commissioners court meeting Judge Holt provided information to the court, which showed a cost comparison of inmate meals at the Fisher County Jail with those of surrounding counties. The report revealed Fisher County to be $3.45 more than Nolan County, and $3.83 more than Shackelford County. Out of the 6 counties on the list Nolan County was the most expensive with a cost of $1.48 per meal. Shackelford was the cheapest, costing only $1.10 per meal.

   The information left many residents wondering what is going on at the new Fisher County Jail, and why the food cost is so far outside the margins.

   The answers can be found in a series of events leading up the jail’s June 2nd opening last month. 

Conrad Smith, from Roby, received his very own bike from the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene this month. It is a special trike designed to increase his mobility, improve brain function, and strengthen muscles, but for Conrad, it’s simply a whole lot of fun.

   4-year-old Conrad lives with his grandmother, Pamela Counts and attends Roby CISD. He started to school in Roby on his birthday two years ago. His teacher, Deena Branson has worked closely with Conrad since he started.

   At the end of this last school year, Conrad received a spelling award for his accomplishment in learning all the letters of the alphabet. 

   “He’s done really well,” said Deena. “He’s very intelligent. From when I started working with him to now, he is making great progress.”

Fisher County Auditor Becky Mauldin spoke to the commissioners court last Monday about making a change in the county’s accounting software.

   Mauldin informed the court of a budget line item transfer into the Precinct 1 account. Due to a coding error, Commissioner Preston Martin has been getting charged travel when he has not been traveling. The transfer was to reimburse Martin’s budget for the error.

   Commissioner Martin took the error in stride, joking how money leaving his account when he wasn’t ...

One would be hard pressed to find another community of Rotan’s size that has a fireworks display as impressive as their annual event. People drive in from neighboring communities like Snyder, Hamlin, Sweetwater, and Abilene to see the show, and for the last 20 years Bob Spikes has been the one lighting the fuse.  

   “When I was a kid, the fireworks show was the coolest part of the 4th of July,” said Spikes. “When I got started doing it here, I wanted my kids to enjoy it the way I enjoyed it, and I did it not only for my kids but for all the kids in the community. It was special to me. It still is.”

   The event is a labor of love for Spikes, and he begins the laboring process usually around September when he starts receiving emails from the fireworks company. 

 Earlier this month, Rotan ISD Superintendent Greg Decker discussed budget amendments with the board of trusties, their purpose, and how future plans will require additional amendments.

   Throughout the school year, many school operations have been turned over the Region 14 Service Center. The philosophy of Region 14 is, in the interest of more transparency and better tracking they should address budget amendments as they come along opposed to waiting until the end of the year and addressing the budget amendments collectively.

   There were two amendments discussed at the meeting.

   The first was to cover an overage in the... 

Each year, Big Country Electric Cooperative sends three students to Washington, D.C., on the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. The action-packed, trip is a weeklong adventure in June for more than 1,700 high school participants from about 45 states. This all-expense-paid tour offers students opportunities to learn about the workings of their national government and visit famous landmarks.