News

Stephens County residents have until the beginning of April to register to vote in the upcoming May local election.

Early voting in the May election will run from April 20-28 and election day will be Saturday, May 2. The last day to register to vote in the May election will be Thursday, April 2 and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Monday, April 20.

To register, a voter can complete a registration application and return it to the Stephens County Clerk at Stephens County Courthouse at 200 West Walker St.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will be voting next week to acquire approximately 2,850 acres of land in Stephens County for a new wildlife management area.

TPW Commission adopted policies and rules for programs of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

The commission will consider the acquisition during a meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 26 at commission Hearing Room at 4200 Smith School Road in Austin.
 
The meeting can be accessed via livestream, or by phone by calling 888-978-8818 and using the access code 8201869#. 

After successful February competitions, the Pride of Breckenridge will be sending 36 students to the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Competition and adding another sweepstakes award to their list of accolades.

Members of the Breckenridge High School band competed Saturday, Feb. 7 at the UIL Solo and Ensemble contest at Wichita Falls Memorial High School, with several ensembles receiving Division 1, or superior, ratings and advancing to state competition Monday, May 25 in Austin.

A wreck Saturday on Hwy. 67 in Young County that caused multiple injuries has now been reported to have claimed the life of a 9-year-old male passenger.

Nine individuals, including four children and two teens, were transported to various hospitals across the state following a wreck involving three vehicles around 3:17 p.m. Saturday, March 14 on Hwy. 67 north of the Young and Stephens counties line.

State residents will have multiple opportunities this month to have films and videotapes digitized through the Texas Film Round-Up event. 

The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve, provide access and educate the community about the state’s film heritage. 

The organization partners with the Texas Film Commission each year to administer the Texas Film Round-Up event. The program has provided access to over 50,000 films and videotapes.

A contractor with the Texas Department of Transportation will be performing routine maintenance on and under the US 180 bridge over Hubbard Creek Reservoir over the next two weeks.

Work was scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 4 with work being completed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day for an estimated two weeks, weather permitting. During the maintenance there will be single-lane closures to ensure a safe work area for personnel and equipment.

A Breckenridge man died in a fatal vehicle wreck last week south of Jacksboro on FM 4. 

Joshua James Powers, 20, was pronounced dead on the scene the morning of Friday, Feb. 27 approximately 10 miles south of Jacksboro on FM 4, according to a release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Powers was driving a 1991 GMC C2500 truck south on FM 4 and failed to maintain a single lane and began driving on the wrong side of the road. He continued into the east ditch and took evasive action, veering to the west which caused his vehicle to skid across both lanes.

Less than one hour from Breckenridge, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is undergoing a soft opening of its first new state park in more than 25 years. 

Beginning Sunday, March 1, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located on 4,871 acres of former ranch land in Strawn, held its soft opening and sold out on day passes. 

Now in its 30th year, Friends of Historic Breckenridge is continuing its efforts to renovate and revitalize downtown and is seeking support to help create a community event center.

FOHB purchased the building adjacent to the National Theatre and established a goal of enlarging the current reception area to be rented for community events through their campaign ‘Be a Star…the Encore.’

Will Thompson will run on the ballot in November as county judge alongside Precinct 4 Commissioner Tanner Wade after winning their races in the Republican primary.

Early voting was held from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 27. Election day voting closed Tuesday, March 3.

Current Stephens County Judge Michael Roach has retained his seat since running unopposed in the 2018 primary election and November general election. Roach announced last year he would not be seeking reelection.