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(Archive photo) A number of children’s activities will be available during the Frontier Days event scheduled for May 1-2 at Miller Park in Breckenridge. The event will include a chuckwagon cookoff, disc golf and cornhole tournaments, a cookie bake off and the annual Miss Breckenridge Pageant.

Frontier Days takes off next week

The annual Frontier Days festival kicks off next week in celebration of the western heritage and spirit of Stephens County.

With a chuckwagon cookoff, pageant, live music, food trucks and vendors, children’s activities, contests and more, the event is looking to bring residents and visitors together in Breckenridge during the event held May 1-2 at Miller Park. 

“It's just something to get the community together and get people out and have a good time,” Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maylun VanWinkle said.

(TxDOT/ Contributed photo) A map of Stephens County with two bridge projects marked in the northern and western portions of the county. The projects are estimated for 2029 by the Texas Department of Transportation.

TxDOT accepting local feedback for transportation projects

The Brownwood District of Texas Department of Transportation is accepting input on transportation projects scheduled for the next four years in Stephens County.

The 2027-2030 Rural Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) for the Brownwood District includes the counties of Brown, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Lampasas, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba and Stephens.

The virtual meeting allows community members in those counties to learn about and provide input on transportation projects that could help shape the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

(Photo/Thomas Wallner) A Sales Tax Holiday will be held from April 25-27 for emergency supplies. Some eligible items include first aid kits, flashlights and household batteries.

Emergency supplies Sales Tax Holiday this weekend

A statewide Sales Tax Holiday will be held this weekend for emergency supplies to prepare residents for severe weather such as fires, floods and tornadoes. 

Eligible items can be purchased tax free during the holiday that will be held from Saturday, April 25 through Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the holiday.

(TxDOT, Contributed photo) A detour route for traffic after closure of the Hubbard Creek Reservoir Bridge which begins Monday, April 27. The Texas Department of Transportation maintenance of the bridge could take approximately one week to complete.

Hubbard Creek Reservoir Bridge to be closed for maintenance

The Texas Department of Transportation will be performing routine maintenance on the Hubbard Creek Reservoir Bridge at the end of April that will require a full shutdown of the bridge.

A TxDOT contractor will close all lanes of the bridge Monday, April 27 to perform the maintenance, which is expected to take approximately one week to complete. 

(Photo/Thomas Wallner) A plaque featuring the Col. William Barret Travis “Victory or Death” letter is unveiled during a ceremony held Tuesday, April 14 at the Stephens County Courthouse. The historic event also recognized 100 years of the Stephens County Courthouse.

Community celebrates courthouse centennial, unveils Travis letter plaque

The community gathered for a historic honoring of 100 years of the Stephens County Courthouse and the unveiling of a new plaque featuring the Col. William Barret Travis “Victory or Death” letter.

The event was held Tuesday, April 14 at the Stephens County Courthouse with support from Stephens County, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Alamo Letter Society.

The Stephens County Courthouse has been listed within the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places since 1997.

(TPWD/Contributed photo) Governor Greg Abbott, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director David Yoskowitz and others cut a ribbon Friday, April 10 for the grand opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department held a grand opening for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, the newest state park in North Texas in more than 25 years located less than one hour from Breckenridge.

The state park is located on 4,871 acres of former ranch land which offers options such as hiking, biking, fishing and more. 

(SMH/Contributed photo) The Stephens Memorial Hospital Foundation is hosting their annual SMH Color Burst in May, a 5K run that will take off from the hospital. Proceeds from the event support the foundation and its community efforts.

SMH Color Burst Run takes off next month

The Stephens Memorial Hospital Foundation is hosting a benefit run next month to provide hospital medical equipment and scholarships for Breckenridge High School seniors.

The SMH Color Burst is a 5K run held Saturday, May 30 at 200 S Geneva St. in Breckenridge. The run will not be timed and is a minimally competitive event where runners will be hit with colored powder as they run their route. 

(Archive photo) The fireworks show is the highlight of the annual Boomfest event at Hubbard Creek Lake. After being canceled last year, the event will be returning Saturday, July 4.

Boomfest returning in July with local support

After falling short of their fundraising goal last year and canceling the event, the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce announced Boomfest will be returning this year due to local sponsors and community support.

Chamber Executive Director Maylyn VanWinkle said that support from local businesses made the event possible this year.

(Photo/Thomas Wallner) Pinwheels that can be purchased from Dr. Goodall’s House that will be displayed through April for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Raising awareness to promote prevention

Efforts are held nationally and locally in April each year to raise awareness of child abuse in communities with a goal of prevention.

Dr. Goodall’s House in Stephens County and Virginia’s House in Young County join those efforts each year as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month. 

(Archive photo) A veteran points at a name on the Stephens County veterans memorial on the courthouse lawn following last year’s Memorial Day service. New names are inscribed to the monument each year and honored during the annual service.

Remembering those who served: Names being accepted for veterans memorial wall

Names of Stephens County veterans are being requested to be added to the veterans memorial at the Stephens County Courthouse.

The deadline for the submission of names for the memorial wall is Friday, April 24. To submit a name, contact the Stephens County Veterans Service Officer at 254-559-7021, or the office of the Stephens County Judge at 254-559-2190.

Each year, new names are etched into the stone and the community gathers on Memorial Day for a ceremony honoring those veterans.

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