Candidates across Stephens County filed for a place on the ballot in May, with both contested and uncontested local races upcoming.
The filing period was open from Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Feb. 13. The last day to file a declaration of write-in candidacy was Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Candidate applications could be obtained and submitted for the May election from each separate county entity.
Breckenridge Fine Arts Center is hosting its annual Casino Night event in support of the efforts of the facility to provide classes, exhibits and art programs for the area.
The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at 207 N. Breckenridge Ave. and feature casino-style games, food and beverages, raffles and auctions. Doors for the event will open at 5:30 p.m. and games will begin at 6 p.m.
Stephens County will take the next formal step in reviewing the proposed Crocus Solar project this coming week.
Commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider creating a reinvestment zone for the development.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23 at the Stephens County Annex Building, 222 N. Baylor Ave., and will include time for public comment before commissioners vote on the proposed designation.
Stephens County exhibitors turned in impressive performances at the San Angelo Stock show this month, earning top marks across several heifer and swine divisions.
The show once again showcased the hard work and preparation of local 4-H and FFA Members.
Stephens County 4-H had major successes in the Heifer show. Kinsley Kaylor was named Grand Champion in the Angus division of the Junior Heifer show. Another first place finish was Brooklynde Sage Parker, in the ORB division.
Stephens County voters are in the final stretch of early voting for the 2026 Primary Election, with just a few days remaining before the deadline.
Early voting continues this week through Friday, Feb. 27, ahead of Primary Election Day on Tuesday, March 3. This year’s primary includes a full slate of state and federal races, along with several county-level contests.
Most local offices are uncontested, but three county positions feature competitive Republican primaries: county judge, constable and county commissioner for Precinct 4.
Stephens County may soon see major improvements to its emergency communications network after Emergency Management Coordinator David Leonard briefed commissioners at their latest meeting on a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project designed to expand radio interoperability across the region.
Leonard said TxDOT is working with counties to build a unified radio system that would allow law enforcement, fire departments, EMS and road crews to communicate seamlessly during emergencies – something Stephens County has struggled with for years.
Breckenridge ISD will continue one of its longest-standing traditions next weekend as Breckenridge High School hosts the 101st Coronation of the Buckaroo Queen.
The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium, bringing students, families, alumni and community members together for a night that has defined Buckaroo culture for more than a century.
The Breckenridge ISD Board of Trustees voted to extend Superintendent Prairie Freeman’s contract for three additional years, securing district leadership as major construction and academic continue.
The board approved the extension following a lengthy closed session at their board meeting Monday, Jan. 19, returning to open session to unanimously authorize a new contract running through the 2028-29 school year. No further discussion was had by the board before they took action on the contract.
The Breckenridge Buckaroo cheerleading team delivered its strongest performance in program history last week, finishing sixth in the state at the 2026 UIL Spirit State Championships in the 3A Division 1 finals at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
A boating crash in a shallow channel of Hubbard Creek Reservoir left one man dead and another injured, according to local authorities.
The crash happened Wednesday, Jan. 14 just before 4:30 p.m. in a narrow creek channel near Peeler’s Pier, a fishing and boat ramp area north of Highway 180 on the Stephens-Shackelford county line. Stephens County Game Warden Clifton Westbrook said the two men were traveling up the creek when their midsized boat struck something underwater and flipped.
