News

Stephens County has designated $200,000 of their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to go to four local entities. Commissioners approved the orders during last Monday’s meeting.

Stephens County Commissioners voted to enter into a new inmate healthcare service contract with Stephens Memorial Hospital during last Monday’s meeting. The agreement would not only continue to provide mandated medical services to incarcerated inmates, but also shift funds, which were being paid to an outside entity, to a local provider.

The new agreement will begin Jan. 1, 2022. According to the health services agreement, SMH will provide medical, basic dental and basic mental health services to inmates who are in official custody of the jail.

Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Colton Buckley is looking to introduce the heads of agencies within the city and county through a leadership gathering, and later establish a committee of representatives in the community to tackle issues together.

The EDC director and Breckenridge City Manager Erika McComis said they are shooting for a leadership gathering once a month to speak on issues and how the entities can update each other and work together. Ultimately, Buckley said he wants to turn this meeting into a listening session with the community.

The deadline to register to vote in the November Constitutional Amendment Election is approaching at the beginning of October. There are eight constitutional amendments which will appear on the ballot in Stephens County, but no other local ballot issues.

The office of the Texas Secretary of State decided the order of constitutional amendments which will appear on the November election ballot Thursday, July 29. Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza drew the ballot order in July for the eight proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

During a recent board meeting, Breckenridge ISD provided insight into an issue that is currently affecting the district: a lack of substitute teachers.

BISD Superintendent, Bryan Allen, discussed the problem at last Monday’s meeting. Since Sept. 1, there have been zero days that the district has not had an unfilled substitute teacher position, according to Allen.

On Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Breckenridge Police Department, along with the city of Breckenridge, will host a National Night Out event. The NNO Block Party will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center, located at 210 E. Dyer Street, in Breckenridge.

Breckenridge City Manager Erika McComis said the purpose of the event is for the children in the community to get to know and build trust with the first responders.

After more than 10 years in the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center, the in-house dispatching service is getting a much needed upgrade. Thanks in part to a West Central Texas Council of Governments reimbursement, the department will be able to install new carpet and new custom-made office furniture, apply a fresh coat of paint and upgrade the office’s coffee bar.

During last week’s city of Breckenridge meeting, Bacel Cantrell, Breckenridge Chief of Police, spoke about the upcoming renovation of the dispatch office and why the upgrades are needed.

During the public hearing held last Monday, Stephens County Commissioners approved the tax rate and budget for fiscal year 2022, which begins Jan. 1, 2022. No members of the public spoke during the meeting.

The city of Breckenridge and Stephens County announced Saturday the two entities will be picking up brush/tree trimmings inside the corporate limits of Breckenridge in October. The service has been provided in the past to residents inside the corporate limits of the city on a semi-annual basis.

The city of Breckenridge’s newest clean-up crew, 150 rented goats, have already been hard at work clearing the almost six acres of overgrown Walker Branch Creek. The herd arrived last week and has completed the first section of their project.

Kyle Carr, with Rent-A-Ruminant Texas (RART), gave an update at the Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting.