News

Stephens County Commissioners discussed the fallout after a weekend of phone calls from constituents who were concerned that the political signs on the courthouse lawn interfered with the integrity of the election.

The decision on political candidates’ signage on county property was tabled during the Monday, Feb 24 commissioners court meeting.

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Stephens County hosted a meet and greet for Congressional District 11 candidate August Pfluger on Feb. 18 at The Popular.

Pfluger is one of ten Republican candidates running for the vacated District 11 seat. The former District 11 representative Mike Conaway decided last summer that he intended to retire from Congress, opening the door for a fresh candidate.

Carl Garvin sings a solo at the 32nd annual Black History Month program at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church on Sunday, Feb 23. Garvin was also the Master of Ceremony and provided context on the 1921 Black Wall Street riot in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Guest churches included the New Life Church and Bethal Baptist Church of Breckenridge and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Graham.

Stephens Memorial Hospital board of trustees introduced new interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) William “Buddy” Whiddon, while the board continues the search for a Chief Executive Officer.

The board introduced Whiddon Thursday, Feb. 20. The new interim CFO brings a wealth of knowledge in the healthcare sector.

The Stephens Memorial Hospital presented a opioids overdose prevention training on Feb. 19 at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church Fellowship Hall.

The training was a part of the Texas Overdose Naloxone Initiative (TONI). This initiative educates the public on overdose prevention and proper administration of naloxone around the state of Texas.

Claire Ellis, a Woodson 7th grader, exhibited the 2020 National Polled Hereford Champion Cow/Calf Pair at the 2020 Fort Worth Stock Show. Almost two years of work was rewarded for Ellis and her heifer, Uni, when they brought home the banner with the national title Feb. 3. Claire has owned and shown the November 2017 heifer since June 2018. The bull calf, Walter, was born Dec. 2, 2019. Ellis said that she is appreciative of Keaton Kuykendall (shown), who helped her exhibit the pair, and of her ag teacher, her parents and all who helped her arrive at this point.

Contributed photo

As a part of the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Conference in New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 13, Stephen Memorial Hospital was listed as one of the top 100 rural hospitals in the United States.

At the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Policy Institute conference, the Chartis Center for Rural Health unveiled the 2020 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals.

The Stephens County Commissioners discussed several items during the scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 10 at the county courthouse.

On the agenda were the 2019 biased-based profiling statistics and the honoring of former Deputy Ollie Park by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM).

Stephens County Sheriff Will Holt presented the commissioners with the 2019 racial profiling statistical report.

Breckenridge ISD board of trustees received a presentation on the State Accountability Rating System at the Feb. 10 meeting.

The presentation was an explanation of the disadvantages faced by the school board regarding North and East Elementary and to help the public understand how schools in the district are rated.

According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the district received an accountability rating of 84 out of 100 for the 2018-2019 school year. The score was an increase from the 2017-2018 school year, which the district received a 79 out of 100.

The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce celebrated its annual award ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the First United Methodist Church.

The ceremony honored the 2019 winners, with a spotlight on various citizens and businesses of the Breckenridge community.

The 2019 Citizen of the Year was awarded to Mike and Cassie Griffith. Ag Citizen of the Year was awarded to Jackie Grissom and Business of the Year went to the Copperleaf Properties.

The award for Educator of the Year was given to Robert Burchett, a math teacher at Breckenridge High School.