Stephens County Commissioners approved the switch to a new emergency alert system for the county last week during their regular meeting. Following a proposal approval last week, the county will switch to the Hyper-Reach system from the current system, Code Red.
Texas Comptroller Glen Hagar announced Thursday the state Sales Tax Holiday will begin next weekend. Texas’ sales tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999.
Stephens County and the city of Breckenridge continued its progress toward improving city streets last week with Stephens County Judge Stephen Roach’s announcement of the county’s approval for a Community Development Block Grant with the money planned to help Breckenridge with its road improvement plan announced earlier this year.
The Breckenridge City Commission held a budget workshop Thursday, July 27, with City Manager Cynthia Northrop giving city commissioners an overview of the proposed budget and tax rate for the upcoming tax year.
Budget and tax season is underway for the upcoming fiscal year for Stephens Memorial Hospital. The SMH Board of Directors met Thursday, July 20 for their monthly meeting and approved to propose a new tax rate as the board prepares to host the required public hearing next month before the rate adoption.
Following the approval of the proposed tax rate for the 2023 tax year, the board of directors approved a lease for a new ultrasound machine for the hospital. With funding assistance from the Stephens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the hospital will be purchasing a Canon Aplio A550, or comparable, ultrasound machine for use at the hospital at a cost of $82,760. The cost includes a one-year warranty and a four-year service plan at $9,984 per year.
Stephens County is coming to the aid of Eastland County following a shooting incident that resulted in the death of an Eastland County deputy Friday night. Cody Douglas Pritchard, 42, was booked into the Stephens County Jail Saturday morning with the charge of capital murder of a peace officer.