Columbus
Breckenridge Texan
State Representative candidates discuss their different stances on school vouchers
The race for the Texas House District 60 seat, which includes Stephens, Palo Pinto and Parker counties, is in full swing following campaign events by both candidates last week. On Monday, Jan. 29, incumbent Glenn Rogers held a reelection campaign kickoff rally in Breckenridge. Then on Thursday, his challenger, Mike...
Vouchers are not conservative
The right of every child to a safe, secure, and quality education has been a core value of Texas since our independence. Following our independence in 1836, Texas has had six different constitutions, with the current Texas Constitution being amended 530 times since 1876. Nevertheless, throughout decades of revision, secession, and reconstruction, our state has never wavered from its promise to provide education to every Texan. Our founders believed that this promise was essential to securing the posterity of our state from generation to generation; however, almost a century and a half later, this value is under attack. Under the guise of promoting choice, proposed school voucher programs are a “trojan horse” attempt to privatize Texas’ education system, and drain our already underfunded public education of necessary resources for millions of children.
Empowering parents in education can transform young lives
After a years-long campaign by Governor Greg Abbott to bring attention to the critical issue of parental choice in education, the legislature was unable to pass a bill during the 2023 regular session and the ensuing special sessions due to a small handful of Republican lawmakers who sided with Democrats in opposition.
Petroleum analyst predicts short-term drop in prices, followed by seasonal increase
Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 7.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.82/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 17.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 23.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 3.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.92 per gallon.
Law enforcement investigating skeletal remains found in Stephens County field
Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies are investigating the discovery of human remains in the western portion of the county. Officials suspect that the skeletal remains are those of Sheri Lynne Vickers, who was last seen alive in Breckenridge last March. A property owner discovered the...
Brady Tennison, Jr.
Graveside services for Brady Tennison will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Pearl Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. Visitation will be held Friday, February 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Morehart Mortuary. Brady was born on March 26, 1932, in Muskogee,...
Pam Ezzell named Employee of the Year, Bobby Thompson named Director of the Year at SMH
Pam Ezzell, a nurse practitioner at Breckenridge Medical Center, was named Employee of the Year for 2023, and Bobby Thompson, director of information technology, was named Director of the Year for 2023 during a Stephens Memorial Hospital ceremony on Jan. 29. Ezzell first came to SMH in 1997 with the...
Dickens puts adversity aside in TSTC Welding Technology lab
Overcoming adversity is nothing new to Hunter Dickens. The Springtown native, who is studying for a certificate of completion in Welding Technology at Texas State Technical College in Breckenridge, was born to a single mother, was injured while playing high school football, and experienced the loss of his family’s home. He fought off those setbacks by finding his calling during high school welding classes.
Stephens Regional SUD’s Kelvin Nickell named Small Plant Operator of the Year
Stephens Regional Special Utility District’s Water Treatment Plant Operator James “Kelvin” Nickell has been named the Small Plant Operator of the Year by the Southwest Membrane Operator Association. According to a news release from SRSUD, Nickell has played a vital role with the district by using his...
Is there a new school in Breckenridge’s future?
Breckenridge could get a new elementary school — or maybe major renovations to existing schools — in the near future. But, before any serious plans can be made, the Breckenridge Independent School District’s Board of Trustees must decide which direction to take, and then the voters in the school district must approve a tax via a bond election in May or November to pay for either a new school or renovations.
Local fugitive from Jan. 3 car chase arrested in Oklahoma
Michael Jacob “Lucky” Aldridge, who was involved in a high-speed around Stephens County on Jan. 3, was arrested in Chickasha, Oklahoma, today, Monday, Jan. 29, and will be extradited to Stephens County. Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach reported this afternoon that U.S. Marshals were searching for Aldridge in...
State, national gas prices bounce back up due to cold weather
Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 9.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.75/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 9.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 33.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 0.5 cents in the last week and stands at $3.87 per gallon.
Chloe Whitmire crowned 2024 Buckaroo Queen
On Saturday night, Jan. 27, Breckenridge High School students and their families and friends, along with teachers and school staff members, gathered in Bailey Auditorium for the school’s 99th Coronation. Chloe Whitmire was crowned the 2024 Buckaroo Queen by Great Lord Chamberlain Riyaj Neupane, surrounded by the Royal Court.
SRSUD issues Boil Water Notice for most rural water customers
Due to a loss of pressure as a result of a power outage that occurred at approximately 1 a.m. on Jan. 28, 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Stephens Regional Special Utility District water system, PWS 2150007, to notify its customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.).
Students, teachers and staff members honored by BISD
The Breckenridge Independent School District honored the Students, Support Staff and Teachers of the Month at the Jan. 23 school board meeting. Each of the district’s four schools introduced the student, teacher and staff member of the month at the beginning of the meeting. The Students of the Month...
Local organization to host genealogy workshop
The Picketville Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will host a free lineage genealogy workshop next month. The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at St. Paul Methodist Church’s Pendleton Fellowship Hall, 1504 E. Elm St. in Breckenridge. Attendees are...
Western art exhibit on display at Breckenridge Fine Arts Center
Visitors to the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center can see the first western art exhibit the gallery has had in at least six years. The exhibit, which features the work of a group of artists from north Texas, will be on display through Feb. 8. The exhibit in the BFAC’s main...
Stephens County Commissioners propose county sales tax
Businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Stephens County could be required to collect up to 2% more in taxes if local voters approve a sales tax that the County Commissioners proposed at their regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 22. Additionally, at the meeting the commissioners took care of other...
Glenn Rogers honored by Stephens County Commissioners
The Stephens County Commissioners Court honored State Rep. Glenn Rogers at their regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, with a resolution commending the partnership between Stephens County and the Texas Legislature. Several current and retired school personnel, as well as others, also attended the meeting in support of Rogers. The...
Texas gas prices increase, while national prices drop
Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.65/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 2.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 36.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.1 cents in the last week and stands at $3.87 per gallon.
Breckenridge Texan
2K+
Posts
3M+
Views
The Breckenridge Texan is a nonprofit community news website dedicated to our mission of providing accurate, high-quality, current, local journalism to the residents of Breckenridge, Texas, and the surrounding area, as well as to those who are interested in the region.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.