News

After more than 10 years in the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center, the in-house dispatching service is getting a much needed upgrade. Thanks in part to a West Central Texas Council of Governments reimbursement, the department will be able to install new carpet and new custom-made office furniture, apply a fresh coat of paint and upgrade the office’s coffee bar.

During last week’s city of Breckenridge meeting, Bacel Cantrell, Breckenridge Chief of Police, spoke about the upcoming renovation of the dispatch office and why the upgrades are needed.

During the public hearing held last Monday, Stephens County Commissioners approved the tax rate and budget for fiscal year 2022, which begins Jan. 1, 2022. No members of the public spoke during the meeting.

The city of Breckenridge and Stephens County announced Saturday the two entities will be picking up brush/tree trimmings inside the corporate limits of Breckenridge in October. The service has been provided in the past to residents inside the corporate limits of the city on a semi-annual basis.

The city of Breckenridge’s newest clean-up crew, 150 rented goats, have already been hard at work clearing the almost six acres of overgrown Walker Branch Creek. The herd arrived last week and has completed the first section of their project.

Kyle Carr, with Rent-A-Ruminant Texas (RART), gave an update at the Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting.

Breckenridge City Commissioners approved the budget and tax rate for fiscal year 2022, following a public hearing last Tuesday. The city accepted a tax rate which was lowered from the previous year’s rate of $1.12229 per $100 of valuation.

The Breckenridge Buckaroos’ Homecoming took a sudden turn last week when just under 36 hours from kickoff, the Ballinger Bearcats, their scheduled homecoming opponent, canceled due to COVID-19. The athletic department scrambled and found the Bells Panthers was looking for an opponent after their week two opponent had canceled and Homecoming 2021 was back on.

Festivities resumed as normal with the pep rally Friday morning and the annual pre-game Homecoming Court announcement. Defensive back Julian Eutimio and Samantha Smalley were named Homecoming King and Queen before the game.

As the Delta variant causes positive COVID-19 cases to increase throughout the area, Stephens Memorial Hospital gave an update during their meeting Tuesday.

SMH CEO Brian Roland provided details regarding case counts, which as of Friday, Sept. 3 was at 85 active cases for Stephens County, according to the hospital’s weekly Facebook update. According to the same post, the Walker-Sayle Unit currently has 114 active cases, a sharp increase from eight active cases the previous Friday.

After the 17-month search for a new city manager ended in July with the hiring of Erika McComis, she has officially started in her position in Breckenridge. Through her new role, she hopes to collaborate with other community entities, build citizen connections and settle into the new place she calls home.

The city of Breckenridge held a meet and greet event last Tuesday to welcome McComis. She steps into her position as city manager after serving as the assistant town administrator in Argyle, a position she held since May 2020.

Stephens County Commissioners approved the use of federal funds disbursed to the county from the American Rescue Plan during their regular meeting last Monday. The county also reinstated a countywide burn ban.

The county received $1.82 million in fiscal recovery funds, which will be disbursed in two installments of $909,618, with the second installment arriving 12 months after the first.

Breckenridge ISD approved the fiscal year 2022 budget and tax rate during the scheduled public hearings last Wednesday, Aug. 25. The board voted to approve a larger budget and a lower tax rate, with no members of the public present.