News

The City of Breckenridge is moving forward with Phase III of its ongoing street improvement plan, awarding a $2.43 million construction contract to Raydon, Inc. – the lowest and best bidder for the project.

During the city commission’s Tuesday, Aug. 5 meeting, City Manager Cynthia Northrop gave an overview of the multi-phase initiative, which began with a comprehensive street improvement plan developed in collaboration with engineering firm eHT (Entropic/Hibbs &Todd, Inc.).

The first day of school at East Elementary brought more than just backpacks and new beginnings – it brought gridlock. After a rough procedure for the first week of school, Breckenridge Independent School District has released a new plan, to be implemented Monday, Aug. 11. 

According to the map posted on the East Elementary Facebook page, the routes will be in unison for both drop-offs in the morning and pick-ups in the afternoon.

The Stephens Memorial Hospital board of directors has begun its budget process for fiscal year 2026. The initial draft of the preliminary budget has a proposed total operating expense of $18,102,475, an increase from last year’s $17,491,916.

The board reviewed the initial draft of the preliminary budget at their meeting Thursday, July 31, and they also adopted the 2025 tax rate.

A busted water line on East Walker Street led to the entire City of Breckenridge being under a boil water notice starting Thursday afternoon, July 31.

According to Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop, they are hopeful to get cleared to issue rescind boil water notices as early as Saturday or by Monday or Tuesday of next week, after taking samples to Abilene on Friday, Aug. 1.

A six-inch water line on East Walker Street was hit by a contractor around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, near the intersection at South Easton Street, and both water towers were drained.

The Stephens County Ag Association Rodeo Arena is looking to continue upgrades to its facilities, notably to the Ag building. The Stephens County Commissioners Court agreed to work with them on helping to fund those upgrades.

SCAARA Board Member Ky Kennedy talked to the commissioners during their Monday, July 28 meeting and relayed the upgrades that they would like to see as well as costs for the basic needs and the overall cost of the entire project.

As they prepare for the new budget cycle, Stephens County Commissioners Court discussed the first draft version of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 at their latest meeting.

The county’s Chief Appraiser, Will Thompson, (no longer in training) presented the proposed budget at the commissioners court meeting Monday, July 28.

Thompson said that the county’s costs continue to increase, and one of their biggest challenges is health insurance.

The devastating flooding in Kerr County in early July that claimed over 100 lives was a wakeup call for the state and all of its counties, cities and towns. Emergency Management Coordinator David Leonard will represent Stephens County in its pursuit of an alert systems grant.

The possibility of Stephens County having the opportunity to secure such a grant comes following Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick making a statement after the flooding that the state would pay for any flood-prone county that could not afford putting in emergency alert systems.

Breckenridge students have new rules to follow regarding cell phones and personal electronic devices for the 2025-2026 school year beginning Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Breckenridge ISD is among all public school and charter school districts in the state that are required to limit student use of personal communication devices, per new state law, House Bill 1481 taking effect with the new school year.

BISD Superintendent Prairie Freeman released the new cell phone procedures in a flyer on the Breckenridge High School Facebook page Monday, July 28.