News

In a brief meeting Dec. 17, Perrin-Whitt CISD board members found out what was happening in the district with holiday break just days away.

Elementary School Principal Teresa Mathis said many of her students participated in the Perrin Stock Show at the Perrin Fair Barn Dec. 14. Students also participated in the Grinch and ugly sweater competitions during the final week before school. 

Perrin Elementary also won the UIL district academic meet at Newcastle earlier this month. The school medaled in 16 of the 25 events they participated in.

Following the steps of Jack County officials, Jacksboro city officials terminated their delinquent tax collection contract and have signed on with another firm.

During the Dec. 9 regular council meeting, the contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson LLP was terminated. A contract with new collection firm Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott, out of Wichita Falls, was approved.

Justin Brom, an attorney with the firm who will be working directly with the city on delinquent debt collection, said there will be no cost to the city to do this.

The Jacksboro Volunteer Fire Department is getting ready for its annual Christmas Eve tradition of partnering with Santa Claus to hand out stockings to the residents of Jacksboro.

JVFD Company 2 Captain Jason Jennings said 1948 is the earliest record Jacksboro Volunteer Fire Department has of the department handing out the stockings.

Construction at Fort Richardson State Park’s campsite is making progress and is on pace for their April 18 completion date, according to Park Superintendent Robert Frie.

Frie said the construction was slated to begin Sept. 3 and they were able to get started by the second week of September.

“A lot of rock as we expected, probably a lot more rock than the contractors expected, but they are dealing with it, working with it day-in and day-out,” Frie said. “I would say overall we are probably about 30, 35% complete at this time.”

Rex Covington and his son Chris had a typical father-son relationship.

They bonded over bikes, even though Rex did not particularly care for Chris’ Monster. The pair even went to Germany for a three-week trip to ride.

Chris was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2003 and was killed in a wreck after blacking out while suffering a low blood sugar incident at the age of 37. Covington, like most dads, was devastated and wondered if there was anything he could have done to prevent the passing of his son.

Jacksboro FFA sent four teams to compete at the state FFA Leadership Development Contest at Sam Houston State University over the weekend. Three of them walked away with top five finishes.

The Junior Agriculture Skills team consisting of Lilli Luna, Ashlyn Nunley and Rachael Chalmers placed second in the state competition out of 224 teams who competed at the district competitions.

Following the actions of several Texas counties, Jack County commissioners approved becoming a second amendment sanctuary county as part of the Dec. 9 regular meeting.

Sheriff Thomas Spurlock said several counties are doing this so the residents are protected by the second amendment, which includes the right to bear arms. Spurlock said many Texas residents are fearing, because of the political nature in the country right now, losing the right to bear arms.

Challenges in the Jack County Tax Assessor-Collector office are forcing the department to consider changing its software.

As part of the Nov. 25 regular commissioners court meeting, officials within the TAC office spoke about the issues. Tax Assessor-Collector, Sharon Robinson, said problems began within the last 60 to 90 days.

Some of the issues are occurring when landowners go to make partial tax payments and the payment goes to the wrong place or does not get credited at all.