News

A group of Breckenridge High School students are looking to leave their mark on downtown Breckenridge through a project in the Leadership TMCN program.

Miley Roberts, Joni Jackson, Tim Newell and Jack McKay are working with community leaders to build a community activity area in the downtown area.

The program, which is part of the Texas Midwest Community Network, partners high school juniors with mentors and community leaders to undertake a project in their community and compete to earn cash prizes that can be used towards college, trade school or to start a business.

New bond requirements are now in place in Stephens County following an agreement between 90th Judicial District Judge Phillip Gregory, Stephens County Judge Michael Roach and Stephens County Justice of the Peace Steve Spoon.

Gregory said the rules align with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 17.40, and will help the courts move cases along at a quicker pace while allowing attorneys to serve their clients better.

County commissioners approved Monday, March 11 a draft agreement with La Casa Wind, LLC for a tax abatement agreement regarding a proposed wind farm in Stephens County.

The agreement will allow La Casa an annual PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) payment of at least $445,051 for the 10-year abatement period. That payment amount is considered to be the floor amount.

The total amount owed each year will be the greater of 50% of all property taxes abated by the agreement or $445,051.

State and local voting in the March Republican and Democratic Party primaries ended Tuesday, March 5.  While Stephens County had no local contested primaries, Stephens County had a total of 1,767, or 30.68% of total registered voters cast their votes.

Breckenridge High School received several recognitions last week as it competed in a UIL One Act Play zone level competition Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Graham Memorial Auditorium.

Seven members of the BHS OAP group earned individual recognitions as the cast and crew of the OAP production Mrs. Packard advanced to the district competition.

The parks project in the city of Breckenridge is expected to take a big step forward this week with the upcoming completion of the new playground equipment at the city park.

The new playground marks the third completed improvement in a series of improvements planned for parks in the city.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to be scheduled later this week.

Breckenridge ISD held a public hearing Monday, Feb. 12 regarding their 2022-2023 Texas Academic Performance Report from the Texas Education Agency.

BISD Superintendent Bryan Allen and BISD Chief Academic Officer Prairie Freeman gave brief remarks with no members of the public making comments.

The hiring process for a new police chief continued last week after Breckenridge City Commissioners unanimously voted to continue the process rather than engage in negotiations with Stephens County to expand the interlocal agreement regarding area policing.

The city met in a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 22 to listen as City Manager Cynthia Northrop presented the pros and cons of expanding the agreement that would have seen the Breckenridge Police Department merge with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office with SCSO taking on full policing duties inside the city limits.

Several Stephens County 4-H students took home awards in the Range and Pasture Plant Identification competition at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

Evelyn Hilati of Stephens County 4-H Team 1 took home third place individual in the Junior Division of the Range and Pasture Plant Identification Contest. Hilati, Sarah Moreno, Chloe Tait and Lydia Moreno finished first place as a team in the junior division of the same event.

A Breckenridge man will face four concurrent sentences after pleading guilty Thursday, Feb. 15 in the 90th Judicial District Court.

James Logan Williams, 27, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two felony drug charges and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

As part of the plea agreement, Williams was sentenced to two 10-year sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division. For the two drug charges, Williams was sentenced to two 18-month sentences in state jail.