High Plains Observer

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

I’m happy to share that I’m running unopposed for my 3rd term as your County & District Clerk.

In a small county like ours, we don’t just work together — we know each other, we help each other, and we show up for one another. It has truly been a privilege to serve the people I call neighbors and friends.

Thank you for your trust and support over the years. I’m grateful for the chance to continue serving our county, and I look forward to keeping things running smoothly for all of you.

Here’s to another term, and to the community that makes this job so meaningful. 🤍

12/09/2025

Apollo MedFlight will be hosting a landing zone class on December 11th at 6:00pm for Frist Responders and School Officials in the Spearman High School Auditorium. During this class they will be landing on the High School practice field. All are welcome to attend to see the landing, hope to see you there.

12/09/2025

12/08/2025

OFFICIAL RELEASE 12/08/2025

On Saturday 12/06/25 at approximately 11:15 p.m. The Sheriff's Office received a call of a bull destroying property in the 100 block of Nelson Rd.

Upon arrival, the Deputy saw a male subject lying in the driveway of the residence with a large bull standing over him.

Several attempts were made by the Deputy to distract the bull and get his attention off the male subject with no success.

Fearing for the subject’s safety, the Deputy fired four rounds from his 9mm duty weapon striking the bull which then retreated from the male subject and Deputy.

The owners of the bull arrived on scene and took the bull back to their property.

Robert Mahaffee
Hansford County Sheriff

12/08/2025

SISD Teacher Achieves Nation's Highest Honor: Alvarez Earns National Board Certification

Gus Birdwell Elementary (GBE) first-grade teacher Alejandra Alvarez has achieved the profession's highest standard, earning National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) status on December 6, 2025.

The NBCT certification is a rigorous, voluntary process requiring hundreds of hours to complete. Candidates must pass a content knowledge assessment and submit three extensive portfolio entries, including classroom videos and deep analysis of student work.

"I found the reflection piece of the certification process to be the most beneficial," Alvarez said. "It required me to focus on my decisions as a teacher and slow down to look at what I was doing as a teacher each day."

Alvarez noted the difficulty of documenting her daily decision-making: "When you have to pause to think about the decisions and then write them down, I found it to be challenging."

A Career of Growth
Mrs. Alvarez’s journey with SISD is one of continuous rise. She currently teaches first grade at GBE, a role she's held for five years, following a tenure as a pre-kindergarten teacher.

Her dedication began while she was still a college student, starting as an SISD substitute before moving into a full-time paraprofessional role at GBE. She impressively balanced full-time work and full-time studies to earn her bachelor's degree. Not stopping there, she later earned her master’s degree in education leadership while teaching full-time.

Future Ambitions
Now among the elite group of NBCTs, Alvarez is looking ahead.
"I am up for the challenge and want to make a bigger impact; whatever that looks like, I'm up for it!" she stated, revealing her future goal is to earn a PhD.
"Congratulations to Alejandra Alvarez on an amazing job well done," the district stated. "We are very proud of your accomplishments."

12/08/2025

12/08/2025

The High Plains Observer contacted Hansford County Sheriff Office concerning a bull that was shot over the weekend.

Hansford County Sheriff Bob Mahaffee did confirm the bull was shot but could not comment further as the situation is under internal investigation.

More information will be posted as it becomes available for public information.

12/08/2025

https://highplainsobservers.com/history-of-the-stationmasters-house-sleigh-p41878-1.htm

by Anne Riley Northcutt

My son purchased the snow sleigh in Ohio.

Without a ton of snow, we didn't "sleigh" too much, but my daddy and son would hook it up to a couple of mules and we'd sleigh around the property but never on the roads. It sounds easy but it was not, especially in a big snowfall.

The mules were accustomed to pulling a covered wagon in the parades but not so much a sleigh in the cold pasture.

It was fun---so much work to get it all hooked up, but so much fun to enjoy the ride around the farm pastures.

My parents would hook up the sleigh and ride, but it was cold out there! Hansford County snows are not peaceful like a New England snow, but we tried to have fun and did! No lanes, woods or trails in or around Spearman---just the pasture and cold wind!

My family, the Riley's, delivered the snow sleigh to the museum where it has been stored in the Gilpatrick Annex Building since.

Anne is a 1954 graduate of SHS.

During the recent renovation of the museum, last Christmas season, the beautiful antique sleigh was moved to the front of the museum yard, lighted with Christmas lights and filled with wrapped packages for a nostalgic display during the holiday season. The rest of the months, it is lovingly stored and kept from the elements.

Thank you, Anne, for your wonderful addition to the history of the Stationmaster's House Museum!

12/08/2025

12/08/2025