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As part of the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette’s walk through 2022, the March 21 tornado is the largest news story of the year. Here, damage can be seen at Jacksboro Elementary School. Photo/Kylie Bailey -
Jacksboro High School’s competitive cheerleading team won it’s second state title Jan. 13. Contributed photo
The year of 2022 is coming to a close, with plenty of events to highlight, including the hiring of a new football coach and the March 21 tornado, among others.
Here’s a month-by-month recap of the year gone by.
January
The year opened with the county and the Child Advocacy Center forming a partnership to help child abuse victims and their families get the help they need in one stop during a commissioners meeting.
County Judge Keith Umphress and Jacksboro Police Chief Scott Haynes both spoke of a need for such a group in the county with abuse becoming more prevalent, Umphress said.
Brad Burnett, who has held nearly every position within Jacksboro ISD, was formally hired at the district’s regular meeting. Burnett said he would focus on academic growth on all three campuses, which he admits is an ongoing process Dwain Milam, who spent six years with the district, said the thing he was most proud of are the people he was able to work with daily.
Large crowds came out to the Jack County Fair Barn for the annual Junior Livestock Show and Fair. Youth from all over the county displayed their animals, food, and other projects throughout the event.
Jacksboro High School’s Competitive Cheer Team won its second UIL state title in three years Jan. 13.
County Judge Keith Umphress had a petition filed to remove him from office later in the month, saying he engaged in official misconduct against a citizen, who allegedly threatened a commissioner concerning a vote on a wind farm coming into the county.
The petition was thrown out by District Judge Brock Smith in early February.
The Bryson Robotics teams both qualified for the State by winning regional competitions at Midwestern State University. This included a junior high team which was in its first ever competition. Both teams would end up winning state later in the Spring.
February
JISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brannon Rodgers left his position after five years with the district to take the same position at Sundown ISD, closer to his home. He was 37-21 in his five years and took the Tigers to the playoffs in all five seasons. He said the COVID pandemic made him start to consider the move.
In a very quick process, Jacksboro graduate Casey Hubble was hired from Canton ISD.
An expansion of the Twin Lakes Activity Center along with a new fee schedule was discussed. A $5 million grant was applied for to do the expansion. Preliminary plans have been developed but nothing has been discussed yet.
The county was also hit by a winter storm in early February but no injuries or accidents were reported. Area snowfall amounts ranged from 1.5-3 inches of snow.
County schools were placed into new athletic districts Feb. 1. Jacksboro picked up Vernon and Iowa Park in its non-football district, losing Nocona and Breckenridge. Bryson and Perrin joined a new football district and had Garner added to its non football district.
After more than a year of discussion, EDF, the company seeking to place a wind farm in northern Jack County, decided to not build in Jack County.
County commissioners discussed jail items, including medical services and how to pay jailers overtime. The Jack County Sheriff’s Department and Jacksboro Police Department also entered into an agreement to form a joint task force in the event of a “critical incident.”
Two incidents where a quick response was necessary had taken place in Jacksboro over the last few months. Umphress said having the city and county working together can only bring positive results.
March
The March 21 tornado brought together the city like nothing ever has. Volunteers and complete strangers came to town to help with the rebuild, removing trees, stumps and other remains from the storm. Some of which still remains.
Within weeks, city, county and state officials began the process of rebuilding the west end of the town. Committees have been formed, including the Long Term Recovery Committee which is working with the United Methodist Committee on Relief on getting people back on their feet. The first folks to have gone through the program will have work begin on their home before the end of the year.
The Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation received an economic excellence award from the Texas Economic Development Council. It was received during the TEDC’s 2022 Winter Conference in Sugar Land. The award was received based on a desired level of professionalism.
New Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Casey Hubble was hired and explained his philosophy with people and athletes. He spent his first year out of college at Jacksboro Middle School before going to places like Breckenridge and Canton.
The city of Jacksboro began talks on building a skate park. The park, approximately 90’ by 120’ on size, was ordered and is being stored. It will be built on the site of the former JMS Gym. Construction was scheduled to begin once the weather cools off last Fall but work has not yet begun.
Jack County Judge Keith Umphress won a second term on the bench over Michael Moore by a nearly 60% to 40% vote. Incumbent District Clerk Tracie Pippin was also victorious as was Precinct 4 Commissioner Terry Ward. Justice of the Peace Stacy Spurlock lost her spot to Jessica Bailey. They will be sworn into their positions in January.
Jacksboro Elementary School had its first ever Science and Technology Engineering Math Parent Night March 7. Parents and students were able to perform lab experiments together and even have the students perform experiments themselves. The event was more than 18 months in the making due to COVID but came off without a hitch to a packed cafeteria full of parents.
City officials discussed street sign replacement during the council’s March 14 meeting. Street signs, which were either missing or had letters falling off, were replaced throughout the city in the JISD’s purple coloring.
April
Work on rebuilding the city, including two schools that suffered extensive damage, continued with some help from Bowie ISD, which had been through a recent tornado. Officials from the two districts worked together to get the construction process on track. Donations of supplies and cash were also taken by Bowie and a number of area districts in the coming weeks.
Jack County Precinct 2 received a new commissioner as Darren Francis opted not to run for re election. Kenny Salazar was sworn in to the new position.
For the first time, Jacksboro Lions Club members worked with a Graham group to host an eye clinic. Nearly 100 people came out to receive free preliminary exams from retired optometrist Dr. Tom Labbe.
Jacksboro Animal Shelter was heavily damaged as a result of the tornado. Friends of the Shelter had raised about $110,000 before the tornado hit.
Jacksboro ISD officials received an estimate of $19.6 million for damage to its two schools. Deductible for the damage would be about $400,000. The district found out the tornado did not meet FEMA criteria so no federal monies would be available.
A Springtown man was found not guilty of manslaughter in a less than two day trial here. Norman Langham was accused of striking Savannah Seeds, who was walking on the shoulder of the road.
Judge Brock Smith said he had problems with the way law enforcement handled a number of things, including a out of date blood receiving kit, the accident scene investigation and no one determining the speed which Langham was driving.
Bryson One Act Play qualified for State after wins at district, area and regionals. Their play “The Book of Dog” would finish 2nd at the State Meet in Austin in May.
