News

Jack County commissioners granted an easement and right of way access that would allow transmission lines to be buried along a section of Rock Creek Road in the southwestern portion of the county.

The court granted the easement and right of way access Monday, May 11 following a video conference with representatives for O’Bannion Energy Storage.

EIP Storage Chief Development Officer April Montgomery said the request was for a standalone storage project immediately adjacent to the Barton Chapel Windfarm on Rock Creek Road, across from the Pinnington Solar project.

Early voting wrapped up Friday for primary runoff elections, with Election Day coming next week.

The runoff election will be held Tuesday, May 26 with races for state seats on the ballots for the Republican and Democratic parties. The winners of the runoff elections will be that party’s nominee in the upcoming November election.

A statewide sales tax holiday weekend is underway through Monday for both water-efficient and Energy Star products.

The two holidays are running in conjunction with one another Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25. The Texas Comptroller’s office estimates shoppers will save $15.7 million in state and local sales tax on purchases made during the holidays.

Early voting begins Monday for the Republican and Democratic primary runoff elections with races for state seats on the ballot. 

The runoff election will be held Tuesday, May 26. The winners of the runoff elections will be that party’s nominee in the upcoming November election.

Early voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 18-22 at the Jack County Courthouse Assembly Room 104, located at 100 N. Main St. in Jacksboro.

The city of Bryson and Bryson ISD are working together on an arrangement that could lead to upgrades and improvements at the McCloud Memorial Park ballfields. 

The city owns the park, pays its utilities and keeps the grounds while the school maintains a ballfield for high school baseball. The city wants to get out from under the responsibility—and cost—of the park’s upkeep while the school district wants to increase its footprint in the community.

Updated results were released for the May local election where candidates Travis Jonas, Joe Logan and Shelley Sewell came out on top in their respective races for Jacksboro ISD School Board of Trustees and Jacksboro City Council.

Cumulative results were released Tuesday, May 12 following the Saturday, May 2 local election.

Jonas, incumbent for JISD’s Board of Trustees, held on to a strong lead over challenger for Place 1 Tony Horn to retain his seat.
Incumbent Leann Johnson ran unopposed for Place 2 to retain her seat as well.

Jack County officials celebrated the commission of the Pinnington Solar project—the largest solar project connected to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas system to date.

Representatives from Pinnington and parent company Repsol cut the ribbon Wednesday, May 13 to commemorate the facility’s commission in April. 

Located on Rock Creek Road near Bryson, 1.5 million solar modules sit on 6,300 acres of land, with an 825-MW capacity. 

The Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation is in the final stages of an agreement that would see the construction of a multi-level hotel.

The JEDC held a public hearing Monday, May 4 before signing an amended resolution to execute the contract with Five Star Lodging for the purchase of property and construction of a Best Western Plus in the Lumar Addition near the hospital in Jacksboro.

The original resolution was signed Monday, Feb. 23 but had to be modified due to a clerical error providing an incorrect signature page in the contract.

Unofficial local election results were released shortly after polls closed Saturday in the races for Jacksboro City Council and Jacksboro ISD School Board of Trustees.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at the Jack County Courthouse where unofficial election results showed candidate for Jacksboro City Council Place 3 Joe Logan led in a close race over opponent Brian Isbell. 

Candidate Shelley Sewell held onto a tight lead over opponent Victor Sanchez in the special election for Jacksboro City Council Place 2.

The city of Jacksboro amended a parks and recreation ordinance to now allow organizations permitted to use city property to charge an admission fee for events.

Jacksboro City Manager Mike Smith said Monday, April 27 issues arose when the Jacksboro Youth Sports Association learned it had no legal standing to charge admission to tournaments held at the Jacksboro Sports Complex.

A visiting team brought it to the city’s attention that it did not have an ordinance on the books to allow organizations to charge an admission fee on city-owned property.