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News

New, remodeled houses coming to Breckenridge

The sound of new construction of residential housing and remodel of older homes has begun to pop up around Breckenridge, which is something many say has not happened in a long time.

With a housing and rental shortage hitting the Breckenridge area, there is a need for older homes that are not up to code, or safe to live in, to be torn down and new houses are beginning to be built in their place. 

Stephens County Burn Ban still in effect, no bonfire

The Stephens County Commissioners voted to continue the burn ban for Stephens County on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the recommendation of Breckenridge Fire Chief, Calvin Chaney.

During the commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting, Chaney presented to the group there is still serious fire risk in the county, even after the little rain the area received. He recommended the burn ban stay on and the bonfire for Breckenridge Homecoming week will not be allowed.

For the full story please see the Oct. 23 edition of the Breckenridge American.

Stephens County Sheriff drug deal bust

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office made a methamphetamine drug dealing bust at a roadside park, according to a press release from their office. The bust resulted in a male being arrested.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Sheriff’s Office contacted the suspect, 28-year old, Stetson Garner, at the roadside park on US Highway 183 South near County Road 160. 

“He was parked there just hanging out, waiting, so it was not a traffic stop. He was there waiting,” said Stephens County Sheriff Will Holt.

Housing shortage hits Breckenridge

It is not something that occurred overnight, but Breckenridge is facing a housing shortage in both rental houses and houses available for purchase.

Virgil Moore, Executive Director of the Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation, stated that this is something that has occurred over time. “Breckenridge was a big oil boomtown, so all of the houses, there was a bunch of houses built back in the ’30s,” said Moore. Because much of the houses are older, many of them are run down and Moore stated that most would not want to live in.

Breckenridge man sentenced in district court

Robert Richardson, 60, of Breckenridge, was sentenced to 40 years in the Stephens County District Courtroom Friday on two charges involving sexual abuse of a child.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, Richardson was found guilty by a jury of the two charges and was sentenced Friday, Oct. 11, to 40 years by 90th District Judge Stephen Bristow.

For the full story please see the Oct. 16 edition of the Breckenridge American,

Parks Street project nearly finished

Parks Street is substantially complete, according to project manager Sage Diller.

In the Breckenridge City Commissioners' special meeting on Oct. 11, Diller spoke to the commissioners about how the project has gone and their ability to release of retainage to the contractor. 

Diller stated that USDA-Rural Development Parks Street Project is mostly complete and upon submittal of needed documents, the city would release the 5% retainage on the work the contractor had already completed. 

Breckenridge holds memorial bike ride

On March 6, 2017, there was a horrendous fire on the Franklin Ranch in the Panhandle of Texas and Sloan Everett, son of Jim and Teresa Everett of Breckenridge, lost his life along with two others, who were helping with the fire on the ranch, Cody Crocket and Sydney Wallace. Sloan also left a wife, Liesl, who was pregnant with their third child at the time, and two other small children Scarlett and Samuel.

Local deputy and wife lose house, personal belongings in fire

For a Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputy and his wife, a fire destroyed their house and all their personal belongings.

Bill and Melynda Flournoy’s house on CR 313 at Hubbard Creek Lake caught fire Thursday, Oct. 3. There were 13 firefighters on the scene, eight pieces of fire equipment and they used around 10,000 gallons of water. Most of the crew was from the Breckenridge Fire Department and they were mutually aided by Hubbard Creek Volunteer Fire Department.