News

Change is on the way at the top of the Breckenridge Police Department. BPD Chief Bacel Cantrell has officially resigned from the position effective Feb. 1, 2024.

Neither Cantrell nor City Manager Cynthia Northrop commented on the resignation when returning from a closed session meeting. His resignation was approved with one “nay” vote.

Northrop later said Cantrell expressed his intention to resign on Nov. 21. Cantrell officially turned in his resignation in a letter dated Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The Stephens County Junior Livestock Show is less than a month away. The show, which runs Jan. 4-6, with judging in poultry, goats, sheep, swine, ag mechanics and rabbits.

Woodson Junior High School took second place last week at the District 21-A One Act Play competition.
Along with the second-place finish, seven students took home individual awards.

Makenzi Nelson was named best performer at the district-wide competition.

Ella Adams and Hannah Leverton were named to the All-Star Cast, with Olivia Boyd and Breanna Overton earning honorable mention recognition.

Hayden Fulgham and Kaiden Peacock won award for best sound.

The competition took place Friday, Dec. 8 at Newcastle ISD.

Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop provided an update Tuesday, Dec. 5 regarding road work being completed throughout the city.

“Raydon has been waiting on pavement and weather but the… Live Oak project, Live Oak and Elm, just south of the bridge that TxDOT was doing, that project is complete. They also were a sub for TxDOT completing the pavement for that bridge. They have now opened that and we’ll be putting a post out on Facebook,” City Manager Cynthia Northrop said. “And then at Shelton and Gunsolus bridge, that bridge there is open.”

Family members of the late Sloan Everett announced last week that the seventh annual Sloan Everett Memorial Bike Ride raised $41,753.18 for the three fire departments within the Stephens County Volunteer Fire Department.

An official check presentation ceremony took place Wednesday, Nov. 29 under the pavilion at the Breckenridge City Park.

The Breckenridge community gathered Wednesday, Nov. 29 to take the opportunity to show its appreciation to military veterans. Breckenridge ISD hosted its annual Veterans Day assembly where local veterans and veterans who have passed away were honored.

BISD teacher Kim Walker hosted the event with Lady Buckaroos basketball coach and US Marine Bryan Goehring as the guest speaker.

Woodson FFA was represented by two teams last week at the Texas FFA Leadership Development Events state competition. Taking place Dec. 1-2 at Sam Houston State University, the Public Relations and Greenhand Quiz teams competed in state events.

The Public Relations team, which is made up of Caleb Valentic, Ella Hearne, Claire Ellis and Samuel Mills, finished third overall at the state contest. The Greenhand Quiz team of Riley Riggs, Abbegale Alvarez, Landon Buse and Brody Smith finished 22nd in their event.

We had our “Thanksgiving” meal on Friday. That’s right, we broke tradition so that the majority of us could be together for one more meal for the week.

We sat at a table – my parents, whom I am so thankful for and so grateful they can be with us when they choose; my son and family (which includes his beautiful wife and my two grandsons), and my youngest daughter – 17, who will soon be off on her own adventure, like her big sister, who couldn’t be here because she was preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner of her own down in Manor.

When this weekend’s Lion’s Club basketball tournament tips off at Breckenridge High School, fans of all schools will be subject to a stricter policy regarding spectator behavior.

Athletic Director Casey Pearce outlined the new policy during the Monday, Nov. 13 Breckenridge ISD Board of Trustees meeting.

Mirroring the 2023-2024 UIL Parent Handbook, the district’s “Behavior Expectations of Spectators” explains stricter consequences for disruptive behavior from attendees at all BISD sporting events.

The holiday season has arrived and there are a number of Christmas-themed events taking place next weekend in Breckenridge. It will be a busy day for Santa Claus with three events taking place throughout the day across Breckenridge.

A pair of events will kick off the season Saturday, Dec. 9 taking place at Breckenridge City Park and East Elementary School.