Today, we continue our series with Corbit Wall with DV Auction out of Amarillo. 2025 was a record year for cattle prices and Wall expects 2026 to be much of the same.

“I do think we will hit our peak sometime this year. Not to say that I think it’ll go right back down. This has been five years coming. This hasn’t just popped up here. Of course, whenever you’re making a climb, we never know if we have been climbing a plateau or a peak. I don’t think we’re going right back down. I think we could plane out for a while. Our numbers have not gotten to our tightest yet. Some time this late spring or summer is when we will see the absolute tightest numbers that we will ever have. So, that should bring us to our highest prices,” Wall explained to KXDJ’s Chris Samples.

More can be heard by clicking here.

Wall hosts the Feeder Flash through DV Auction. You can see that here.

Last weekend’s winter storm brought some much needed snow to parts of the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico and Colorado but much more is needed.

Andrew Mangham is the senior service hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Albuquerque and told KXDJ’s Chris Samples earlier this week, “Up in the northern mountains, not as much as we were hoping for. This storm track was shifted pretty far south of I-40. The Sacramento Mountains got maybe 30 inches of snow. The northern mountains got some snow, and it did help but it has been a very slow start, and we are well behind what is normal.”

Click here to listen to more.

Mangham said while the snow is important for the ski season because of the economic impacts, a bad winter is also connected to a dangerous fire weather season and serious concerns over water supplies.

Both Perryton teams are coming off losses to Canyon on Tuesday and will now travel to West Plains tonight.

Rangerette Coach Rhyan Daugherty recently discussed how he tries to help his team handle the ups and downs of a season. “Number one, you don’t make excuses. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant never made excuses. You just have to keep battling and look forward to the next game. You really should never have a bad game as far as allowing outside influences to happen. I’m talking about the refs. Sometimes we play too hard off of how it’s being reffed instead of just playing. I need to be a better leader in those circumstances and then you just go back to work.”

The Rangerettes are now 4-6 and 10-19 while the Rangers are 2-6 and 9-14.

Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. for the Rettes with the Rangers to follow about 7:30. You can listen to the game on 98.3 KXDJ or online at kxdjradio.com.

The community of Booker is rallying around the families that have been impacted by the Monday morning fire at Preferred Beef. While the impacts of the fire have yet to be determined, Booker Friends Church Pastor Gary Mills says love and outreach is already on display.

“On the surface it all seems horrific, and it is, but it causes me to go to the Lord. The Lord has reminded me that he is in charge. He is in control and has reminded me of many scriptures that talk about taking care of his people. For me, what is going through my mind is “what an opportunity to see God’s hand come and move,”” said Pastor Mills.

Listen to more here.

Earlier in the week, Booker ISD Superintendent Michael Lee shared the following:
I want to start this message with how much we appreciate Preferred Beef and its positive impact on our community. Of course, we are all nervous when the largest employer in town suffers such a devastating blow as Preferred Beef is suffering this week with the fire. The implications have such a trickle-down effect when it comes to other businesses and even our school system.

I want to update our community on where our school stands. As of today, we have 168 students at each campus, or 336 total students. The families of 94 students, or 28% of our student population, are tied to families working at Preferred Beef. The immediate effects of this devastating event will be minimal for the current school year. Our revenue is based on tax collections and ADA, or Average Daily Attendance for the year starting in August 2025. We are about to complete our fourth six-week period, or 67% of our school year. While our ADA might be reduced in the final two six-week periods, I do not anticipate a large reduction in ADA or revenue for this current school year.

Booker ISD has always been blessed with a strong Board of Trustees which has built a strong fund balance over many years in case of an emergency. The fund balance for Booker ISD is strong enough that our board does not have to make rash decisions, or what one might call a “knee jerk” reaction. We have plenty of time to plan accordingly and make decisions that will allow us to continue to deliver a strong education and many opportunities for our students.

What we need to do now is to minister to the families impacted in such a negative way. We have a moment to show the love of Christ to them and donate to the funds that can help these families better survive their immediate future over the next few weeks and months. Thank you, pastors, for making plans!

We also need to remember the ownership of Preferred Beef in our prayers as they work through this devastation. These folks have always been very generous and supportive of our students with their encouragement and donations to our events and to the Kiowa Pride Academic Scholarship Foundation. I believe I speak for the school board and our community when I say we will do our best to show the same support to help you build back this business that is so very important to our wonderful community. Thank you for all you do!


Pastor Mills said while they do not have specific plans in place just yet, he knows that there will be funds set up and other ideas for how these families can be helped through this time.

There was one arrest on Thursday, January 29. Zachary Levi Haar, 31, was arrested for no driver's license.

Local elections in Texas will be held on Saturday, May 2. This will include your school boards, hospital boards, and city councils.

In Perryton, you will have spots available on the Perryton ISD board, the city council and the Ochiltree General Hospital board.

For the PISD board, the positions of Jed Symons and Noon Vela are up for election. Jed Symons has filed for reelection. Chris Lingo has also filed for a spot on the ballot. Contact the Perryton ISD administration office at 806-435-4689 for filing instructions.

For the City of Perryton, the positions of Mayor Kerry Symons, and councilmen Greg Good and J Aston are up for election. All three incumbents have filed for another term. Lisa Kerl has also filed. Contact City Hall at 806-435-4014 for filing instructions.

On the Ochiltree General Hospital Board, the positions of Steph Tarvin, Steven Waide and Lori Dollar are up for election. They have all filed for reelection. Those interested in filing can contact Debbie Beck at dbeck@oghtx.com or call 806-435-3606.

The deadline to file is Friday, February 13.

The final day to register to vote in these elections is Thursday, April 2.

Here are other open positions around the area for the May elections:
Spearman
Spearman ISD board – Dustin Mackie, Scott Sonnenberg, Rhett Renner (serving in an unexpired term)
City of Spearman – Mayor Tobe Shields, Alderman Mark Murray, Alderman Don Schroeder

Gruver
City of Gruver – Kyle Irwin
Gruver ISD – Brittany Borden, Garrett Gumfory

Canadian
City of Canadian - Gary Prater, Wendie Cook, Ashlee Talley
Canadian ISD - Rudy Godino, Heath Mitchell
Hemphill County Hospital District - Sharon Carr, Karen Gullett
Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District - Marty Carr, Elizabeth Light, Tom Isaacs

Darrouzett
Darrouzett ISD – John Meier, James Bentley
City of Darrouzett – Richard Barnett, Vernon Kemp, James Humbert

Follett
Follett ISD – Alyssa Frame (vacant seat – she moved), Clint Matthews
City of Follett – David Howard, Ray Callaway, Neil Ashpaugh

Booker
Booker ISD – Place 6 Valerie Bartosiewicz and place 7 Jeremy Anderson
City of Booker – Daisy Lira, Jeff Monk, vacant position, Leslie Payne (unexpired term)
Booker Hospital District – Two positions available

Higgins
City of Higgins – Ty Cockrell (will not seek reelection), Jamie Woodrum, Jeanne Ishmael

Both Pampa ISD and the City of Pampa only hold elections in odd-numbered years. Miami and Stratford hold their local elections in November.

A former Perryton postal worker was sentenced to three years probation and about $1,600 in fines on Wednesday.

According to KAMR in Amarillo, Luis Herrera entered a plea agreement in 2025 for one count of “Theft of Mail by a United States Postal Service Employee.”

KAMR also reported the sentencing comes after Herrera was indicted on the charge in March 2025, after allegedly stealing a gift card and cash from pieces of mail between November 2024 and February 2025. In July 2025, Herrera entered a plea deal for the charge and, according to court documents, admitted to stealing several other gift cards as well as a personal check.

See the full story here.

Kevin Tutt of Abilene will use his high energy, entertaining delivery to encourage you to get out of your “rut” with “World Class Hospitality” on Thursday, February 5 at the Frank Phillips College Allen Campus. His appearance is part of Leadership Perryton and is sponsored by Alpar Energy and Harvey’s Electric. Registration will begin at 6 PM and the session will begin at 6:30 PM. The seminar will be free of charge.

Service is the process and execution of your plan. Hospitality gives your service life, color and human connection. Hospitality is what turns ordinary interaction into memorable positive experiences. In this engaging and inspiring session participants will move beyond simply providing good service and instead understand the importance of creating remarkable experiences. Customers value the connection more than the financial amount.

Kevin was involved in the healthcare industry as well as teaching at Abilene Christian University before founding Tutt and Daggs. He is a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and author. Kevin has a straight forward and humorous presentation style that is well received. He has been a favorite speaker and Leadership Perryton is happy to invite him back. His sincere approach to personal improvement and engagement causes those attending to apply information directly to their own situation. He will show you how to improve your customer base.

Take advantage of this special chance to hear a great speaker. Everyone in the community is invited to attend. Come spend a short time with ideas that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Kevin Tutt on February 5. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 806-435-6575.

Area tax rates (city) adopted for the next fiscal year include:

Cactus $0.314208
Canadian $0.846380
Borger $0.606807
Dumas $0.614928
Fritch $0.547556
Gruver $0.2770
Pampa $0.703304
Perryton $0.501485
Sunray $0.302340
Stratford: $0.820486

As the area taxing entities wrap up their public tax hearings, we are finally able to publish the information as each community and county adopt local budgets and tax rates for the upcoming year.

Have you ever wondered just how your taxes are calculated?  Be an informed taxpayer!

To learn more click (more)

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We have many different businesses looking for employees.

Michael Crain, a former state investigator, joined KXDJ's Chris Samples for installment number nine in their series on the Tom Brown case recently.

Crain has been looking closely at the case out of Canadian and he agrees with all of the investigators from the state of Texas on down that believe Tom committed suicide and there was a coverup. He has now taken the steps to become a licensed private investigator as well.

He has found many inconsistencies in the story from the family as well as statements made by the private investigator they hired, Philip Klein of Klein Investigations and Consulting.

In this episode, Crain shares more from Klein and his multiple versions of parts of the case as well as information he received from Trace Sargent, the handler for the cadaver dog that was used in the case.

If you are interested in listening to previous episodes, they are all linked below.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

Episode 6

Episode 7

Episode 8

Episode 9

Latest Episode - November 2025

Thank you to HPO Reader Laura Alexander from Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sharing this postcard for our readers to enjoy!