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Welcome to this week’s edition of the ShortCut - where we’re bringing you the latest stories from the Double Mountain region.

• Rolling Plains Title of Texas is expanding to Aspermont, offering local title and closing services.
• Aspermont ISD welcomed administrators from across Texas, showcasing the innovative changes that helped transform the district’s education system.
• Fisher County Farm & Ranch Ace Hardware is now open in Rotan! We’ll take you inside the new 12,500-square-foot store that’s bringing big-name brands and a one-stop shopping experience to the community.
• Rotan City Council is ramping up efforts to clean up substandard properties, approving five locations for possible demolition in 2025.
• In this week’s editorial, editor Jeff Hurt dives into the inevitability of change—how it’s shaped our schools, businesses, and communities- and why embracing it could be the key to growth.

Stick with us—your local news starts now!

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In Stonewall County, all eyes were on the upcoming May election—until there wasn’t one. With no challengers stepping up for city council, school board, or hospital district seats, officials will likely cancel their elections in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, in Rotan, voters will head to the polls to decide on two key measures: a $7.5 million bond for school renovations and teacher housing, and two propositions from the Economic Development Corporation aimed at expanding funding for local projects.

Financial updates were also front and center at last week’s Stonewall Memorial Hospital District meeting, where leaders reported three consecutive months of positive growth.

And finally, in this week’s editorial, Editor Jeff Hurt asks an important question: Are we avoiding elections out of confidence in our leaders—or simply a lack of interest in stepping up?

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In this weeks edition of the shortcut we start with the latest from Aspermont ISD as the district takes a big step toward securing future funding with the creation of a new education foundation. Over in Rotan, the city has officially cleared its first dilapidated structure—what does this mean for ongoing revitalization efforts? Plus, with a critical bond election deadline approaching, we’ll break down the latest discussions from Rotan ISD’s town hall and what’s next for the district.

And in this week’s editorial, Editor Jeff Hurt takes a deep dive into Governor Abbott’s latest remarks and the impact of Texas’ economic policies on rural communities. Are we witnessing real prosperity, or just another game of political shell tricks?