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Two Texas congressmen hosted a town hall meeting at the Texas State Technical College Technology Center in Breckenridge Tuesday, June 29. The congressmen spoke on obstacles in the legislative session and the progress they were able to make.

Senator Charles Perry represents District 28, the largest senate district in the state, covering 51 counties in rural west Texas. He joined the Texas House of Representatives in 2010 and, after serving two terms, was elected as a member of the Texas State Senate in 2014.

Editor’s note: The investigation of this matter is still ongoing. The Breckenridge American will not be releasing the name of the student involved, as details pertaining to the case are still developing.

Last week, Breckenridge ISD Superintendent Bryan Allen released a statement confirming the investigation and resignation of head baseball coach Kevin Bartley II. Bartley is being investigated for “alleged improper electronic communications” with a student.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with Breckenridge Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Division, arrested 11 suspected illegal individuals last Tuesday in downtown Breckenridge.

At approximately noon on Tuesday, June 22, a SCSO deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Honda Odyssey van in the 1300 block of East Walker Street in Breckenridge, according to a press release from Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach.

Stephens Memorial Hospital board approved funding for a new hospital call light system and provided updates regarding COVID-19 during their meeting June 17. The updates included upcoming changes to policies and new guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

The hospital was set to eliminate COVID-19 pre-screenings by June 15. SMH, along with other hospitals, received a notice after Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services went to a hospital in Odessa, which had stopped the mask mandate and temperature screenings, and was going to write them up for noncompliance.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles sent out an alert for Texans to watch for suspicious email and text messages claiming to be from the department. The messages are sent by cyber criminals attempting to gain access to private information or deliver harmful files to a computer.

TxDMV is urging state residents not to click any links provided in emails and text messages that appear suspicious. The department stated it will never reach out directly via email or text communication and request personal information.

Darrell Shortes, owner and president of Raydon Inc., a Breckenridge business that started in 1982, accepted the 2021 Torch Award for Ethics at the Abilene Better Business Bureau’s “Redneck Blue Collar” supper and auction Friday, June 18.

Raydon is one of three companies to receive the award, joining Taylor Telecom and Neomia Banks State Farm Insurance. Raydon is a repeat recipient of the award, having also received it in 2008.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1927 Thursday into law, allowing permitless carrying of handguns, along with signing six other Second Amendment-related bills. The state is now the 21st to allow the lawful carry of a handgun, concealed or openly, without a license.

The Texas Senate and House of Representatives approved House Bill 1927 in the 87 Legislative Session. The bill was approved by the House Sunday, May 23, and approved by the Senate Monday, May 24, and sent to Gov. Abbott’s office to sign off making it a state law.

Rustic Charm Trading Co. recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary of doing business in Breckenridge. Throughout the years, the store has had to re-purpose or re-invent itself more than once.

Stephanie (Wylie) Asher and her father, Steve Wylie, began this enterprise with rustic items that caught their eye. They were joined by her mother on these scavenging trips on her days off from her job as a nurse at Eastland Memorial Hospital.

The Breckenridge ISD school board met Monday, June 14 in a regular meeting to discuss the construction and repurposing of existing district facilities. They also heard presentations from the appraisal district and the chief learning officer and had an update from the athletic director.

The National Theatre is ready to open its doors for a lively concert this summer, after canceling the 2020 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Shine” returns to the National Theatre in Breckenridge Saturday, July 10. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. The quartet, covering Bluegrass, Country, Swing and Jazz with instrumentals and smooth vocal harmonies, will play music many may recognize.

Photo by Tony Pilkington, Breckenridge Texan