Stephens County is set to receive state funding and support from the over $290 million Texas Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement.
According to the settlement, 70% of the money will go to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund through the Texas Opioid Council, which will approve strategies for reducing opioid abuse. Of the remaining funds, 15% will go to the Texas Office of the Attorney General and 15% will go to cities, counties and similar entities.
Breckenridge ISD has earned an “A” rating for 2020-2021, based on data from the 2019-2020 school year, under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) accountability system. The announcement was made during last Monday’s regular board of trustees meeting.
Breckenridge ISD honored local veterans during a Veterans Day ceremony last Thursday, Nov. 11 at the Breckenridge Athletics and Fine Arts Facility. Honorees in attendance included Lance Kitchens, Les Strickland, Eddie Renfro, Christopher Hancock, Jean Hayworth, Rodney Anderson, Anthony Kelly, and honorary Veterans of Foreign Wars member Rush Walker.
Special guests included the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Lisa Echols, Mary Thompson, and Jean Edwards, along with honored guest Robert Burchett.
The city of Breckenridge adopted a plan to offer incentives to employees who receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The city is hoping the incentive policy will increase the number of vaccinated employees to ensure they are able to continue to provide services to the community. The proposal was approved during the commission’s meeting held last Monday, Nov. 1.
Breckenridge City Manager Erika McComis brought the proposal to the commission’s attention during their last meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 5. The item had been tabled until McComis drafted a policy the commission could review and discuss.
Voting in the November Constitutional Amendment Election ended last Tuesday throughout the state, with a total of 395 voters turning out in Stephens County, or a 7.11% total turnout. The ballot had eight constitutional amendments, but no local ballot measures.
Early voting began Monday, Oct. 18, in the November Constitutional Amendment Election and ran through Friday, Oct. 29. Early voting was held at one location, with election day voting occurring Tuesday, Nov. 2, at four locations throughout Breckenridge.
Paxton Sullivan, 31, of Breckenridge, pleaded guilty to the charge of capital murder of multiple people Wednesday, Nov. 3. Paxton was charged in the December 2018 murder of his parents, Mitchel and Terry Sullivan, and received a sentence of life without parole and waived his right to appeal.
Paxton attended the sentencing via Zoom from the Stephens County Jail, with 90th Judicial District Judge Stephen Bristow presiding over the hearing. Paxton was represented by Susan Anderson and Mark Hendrickson of the Regional Public Defender's Office.
Born and raised in Breckenridge, Fire Department Chief Calvin Chaney has served as a firefighter for 30 years serving the city and community. Since starting as a volunteer firefighter Chaney has always gone above and beyond not for a paycheck, but to make a difference.
The chief said after graduating from Breckenridge High School, he started out in the plumbing field while living in White Settlement in 1988, where he worked for the city water department.
The Breckenridge ISD school board met last Monday to discuss progress made by the district’s pre-kindergarten through third grade students. Prairie Freeman, BISD’s Chief Learning Officer, discussed Texas House Bill 3 and how the district is ensuring compliance with the new standards set by the bill.
According to the Texas Education Agency, HB 3 requires school boards to adopt and monitor early childhood literacy and mathematics proficiency plans and ensure the use of a systematic phonics curriculum.
This hunting season, the town of Woodson will be hosting a luncheon to welcome hunters to the community. The cost of the meal is a donation and all proceeds will go to the rebuilding and restoration of the Woodson Community Center.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in front of the Woodson Town Hall (Masonic Lodge building) on Hwy. 183 N, in the middle of Woodson.
Stephens County Judge Michael Roach lifted the countywide burn ban Wednesday, Oct. 20. The rescission is effective immediately.
According to the release issued by the county, Roach rescinded the ban on outside burning with the stipulation and request that anyone intending to plan and execute any type of outside burning to contact the Stephens County Fire Department at 254-559-6242 to notify them of the time and location of the outside burning activity, with no fire being started if there are wind speeds of 15 mph or above.
