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News

Wild West Fest makes strong return

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One glimpse at the ACE Arena parking lot Friday revealed a wild turnout for the chamber’s annual Wild, Wild West fest, which is geared toward celebrating the diverse culture and heritage of the old west.

Longtime law officer makes return to Andrews through deputy position with sheriff’s office

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Consider it a homecoming of sorts for Michael Moore.

School board, city council races to be decided Saturday

Residents desiring to participate in the May 1 school board and city council elections have one last opportunity to cast their ballot, if they didn’t do so already through early voting.

Police department’s new pay scale attains mission

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A new pay rate schedule for the police department approved around six months ago by the city council has thus far achieved its ambition of retention and recruitment, according to Andrews Police Chief Ronny McCarver.

The new schedule was approved after a survey conducted by the city revealed other area agencies started officers out at much higher salaries—in some cases more than $10,000.

Basically, the new schedule was approved so the local police department could compete with other area agencies’ pay.

Gomez hopes to bring learning from PRMC to city council

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Jane Gomez feels her leadership position with the local hospital would provide a benefit to the city council.

Gomez is one of seven candidates running for three seats on the council.

Early voting for the May 1 election began Monday.

The race includes incumbents Keith Livingston and Chris Helbig, along with newcomers Charlie Griffin, Chris Netopski, Jessica Schiefelbein and Randy Shaffer.

Longtime city council member Carolyn Jones chose not to run for a fourth term.

Residential property appraisals are up eight to nine percent on average

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Local property owners could be facing a similar situation compared to 2020 concerning appraisals.

Residential property values have increased, while the county’s taxable value is expected to be much lower due to a substantial decrease with mineral value.

Typically, that’s not a good combination.

Mineral value, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of the county’s certified taxable value, could be down 25 to 30 percent, which has led to estimates of a nearly 20 percent drop in overall taxable value.

Permian Regional Medical Center is in initial phases of offering internal dialysis center

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Permian Regional Medical Center is pursuing dialysis service again, but this time it won’t be through a corporation, according to PRMC CEO Donny Booth.

Several years ago, the local hospital planned to use DaVita Kidney Care to open a dialysis center in Andrews to meet the needs of residents who travel three times a week for the service.

The plan was to use space at the Quick Care Clinic for the dialysis operation.

But the plan fell through after DaVita felt there would be profitability issues, according to Booth.

Nursing home residents all smiles since visitation is now reinstated

The local nursing home, Permian Residential Care Center, has been hit hard by the virus pandemic.

For starters, its residents had been without visitors for over a year. That included the absence of family members and others who are so vital in providing residents with the quality of life with which they were so accustomed.

Months into the pandemic, the nursing home was struck by a virus outbreak that infected every resident except one and resulted in more than 10 deaths.

PRCC’s residents and staff have been through a lot.

Vaccine reaction mimics how severe or mild of symptoms residents with COVID experienced

As the virus vaccine numbers continue to increase in Andrews County, the spread has diminished as well.

In all, more than 10,200 vaccine doses have been administered to county citizens since late December, Permian Regional Medical Center CNO Danny Whitehead said during Thursday’s hospital board meeting.

The vast majority of those doses have been received without major adverse reactions, added PRMC CEO Donny Booth.

There have only been several instances locally when the second shot was not advised due to an adverse reaction after the first dose, Booth said.

AHS One Act Play qualifies for state competition

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The Andrews High School One Act Play cast and crew earned a regional championship earlier this month and are gearing up for state competition.