News

The Stephens County-wide burn ban has been lifted following less than two weeks after it had been put back on.

After the Stephens County Commissioners Court reignited the burn ban Monday, Nov. 10, County Judge Michael Roach lifted it Friday, Nov. 21 as the previously instated burn ban granted him the authority to lift the ban when conditions safely allowed.

In a public statement, Roach described the recent rainfall as a factor to the conditions no longer meeting the threshold for wildfire risk.

With the November election now behind us, attention is turning toward the next milestone–the March primary election, with a number of Stephens County candidates filing this week.

The period for Republican and Democratic candidates to file for the primary opened Saturday, Nov. 8 and remains open until Monday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.

Several county offices are on the ballot this election cycle, including Stephens County Judge, District Clerk, Justice of the Peace, Stephens County Precinct 2 Commissioner and Stephens County Precinct 4 Commissioner.

Breckenridge ISD Superintendent Prairie Freeman recently presented a Texas Strategic Leadership (TSL) report in partnership with Region 14, providing insight into the current outlook of the school district.

The report, presented at the BISD school board meeting Monday, Nov. 10, provided landscape analysis looking at two main areas–student experience and critical enabling systems (teachers and talent).

Breckenridge High School Class of 2025 graduate Kaylee Langford earned top honors at the 2025 North American International Livestock Expo Junior Angus Show, claiming Grand Champion Female with her heifer, UDE Saras Dream 4010.

The former President of the Breckenridge FFA Chapter also earned supreme champion junior heifer with the heifer that was bred by Udell Cattle Company of Sioux City, Iowa at the show in Louisville, Ky.

Langford also earned grand champion owned heifer at the National Junior Angus Show with UDE Saras Dream 4010 in July.

Following a public hearing, Stephens County Commissioners Court approved the establishment of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program for the county, opening up long-term financing opportunities for energy and water efficiency upgrades.

The court unanimously approved the resolution for establishing the PACE program Monday, Nov. 10 after hearing from Texas PACE Authority President Charlen Heydinger and Breckenridge Economic Development Corporation CEO Michael Paris.

The Stephens County-wide burn ban has been put back on by the commissioners court per the direction of Fire Marshal and Breckenridge Fire Chief Malcolm Bufkin.

Effective Monday, Nov. 10, the burn ban is for another 90 days unless lifted sooner depending on drought conditions. This was following Bufkin issuing a red flag warning for Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9, with high winds and very dry conditions over the weekend.

With the 2025 November election now over, preparations are beginning for next year’s general election, with filing officially open to run in the March primary election.

The first day to file for all candidates scheduled to run in the Tuesday, March 3 primary was Saturday, Nov. 8. That’s except for precinct chair candidates–whose first day to file was Tuesday, Sept. 9.

On the heels of the Senate taking the first step towards reaching a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government, the Stephens County emergency coalition discussed successes from its food assistance plan and where to go in the future if and when the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is again suspended as part of another possible shutdown.

Food benefits still remain in limbo despite the agreement made Sunday, Nov. 9 and only ensures the government is fully reopened until Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.

Stephens County voters headed to the polls to vote on the proposed Breckenridge ISD bond, as well as 17 constitutional amendments over the last two weeks.

Voters approved a $39 million bond for the development of a new pre-kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school. The estimated maximum annual increase in the amount of taxes on a $200,000 homestead exempt residence would be $218.44.

Overall, 886 votes were cast for the bond, with 638 voting against. For early voting, 446 voters were in favor of the bond, with 336 voters against.

Breckenridge residents will soon have the opportunity to learn more about the city’s proposed zoning changes during an upcoming open house at city hall.

The event, part of the final phase of the city’s comprehensive zoning update, will take place Monday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at city hall, 105 N. Rose Ave. The event will feature maps to view, with city staff and consultants available to answer questions in a come-and-go format.