WEATHER: (February 19, 2026) THURSDAY – High yesterday was 68° at 3:00; this morning’s low was 41° at 6:00. KPANcast: Windy and dry. High near 58°. RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT 10:00-7:00.
LOCAL: A grass fire burned approximately 1,400 acres in north-central Deaf Smith County yesterday afternoon. The blaze began around 3:00 and was under control within 2 hours. Hereford VFD, Dawn VFD, Bootleg VFD, Adrian VFD and Vega VFD were all on scene along with several county road graders from Deaf Smith and Oldham counties. Area farmers with a disc-plow also assisted in containment efforts. Relative humidity values were at 9% at the time of the fire along with SW wind gusts to 35 mph. Today will feature RH values as low as 6% and winds gusting to 45 mph in the Hereford area. Critical-extreme fire weather conditions will exist again today area-wide……The Ranger Road Fire that began in Beaver County, Oklahoma, now sits at 282,000 acres burned as of this morning……The Deaf Smith County Hospital District Board of Directors will meet in a regular session this afternoon at 5:30. They’ll work through a 10-item agenda in the meeting including a discussion regarding ER policies and a tabbed executive session. The meeting is at the HRMC Board Room……City Commission candidates for the May 2nd, election, include; Deven Black (incumbent), At-Large; James Stow (incumbent), At-Large; Angie Alonzo (incumbent), Place 2; Jeremy Lopez, Place 4; Rocky Bhakta, At-Large; Reyna Ruiz, At-Large; and Margaret Del Toro, At-Large. Place 4 Commissioner, Mark Collier, will not seek re-election……HISD Board of Trustee candidates in the same election will be; Precinct 4: Mike Bryant and Kevin Hill; and Precinct 7: Tera Carroll and Yvonne “Vonnie” Gamez……KPAN salutes Michele Merkel as the Good Neighbor of the Day……Drive-up, online or in person – bank with your friends at First National Bank.