News

Firefighters from all eight Jack County Rural Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a wildfire south of Bryson Friday evening.

Jack County Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Hefner said they were called out to the fire at 6:30 p.m. about five miles south of Bryson along the east side of Birdwell Road.

The fire ended up burning 320 acres before crews were able to cut dozer lines to stop it. Hefner said they cleared the scene at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. 

Region 9 Education Service Center Adult Education and Literacy is having their High School Equivalency, formerly known as GED, orientation for the 2017-2018 Adult Education and Literacy year.  

The orientation will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. August 3 and 8. Students are required to attend both days of orientation, no exceptions and pre-registration is required by calling adult education and literacy at 940-322-6928 to sign up.  

The registration schedule for Jacksboro Middle School will be from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday for 8th graders; 9-11 a.m. Thursday for 7th graders and 1-3 p.m. Thursday for 6th graders.

Students and parents who are unable to attend during scheduled registration time may contact the office to schedule a registration time, after the scheduled time. All parents should come to the school before August 16 to register their student.

Candidates seeking a place on the ballot for the November 7 election for the Jack County Hospital District may file their applications now through Aug. 21.

To file an application, visit Faith Community Hospital, 215 Chisolm Trail, Jacksboro.

The seats up for election are currently held by Edwinia Swan and Larry Hopwood. 

BRYSON – School board members have opted to keep the interest and sinking, or debt service, tax rate the same at 34 cents per $100 for the next budget year.

Superintendent David Stout gave a budget workshop and said during the current budget year the district had estimated collecting $1,021,159 toward I&S when in fact it collected $953,716. The bond payment was $1,198,838, leaving a deficit of $245,122.

The Jacksboro City Council hosted its first budget workshop Monday. City Manager Mike Smith presented a proposed budget which he filed with the city secretary Friday, July 21.

Smith said the proposed general fund budget of $3.566 million in expenses is about $600,000 over estimated revenue. The current budget is $2.87 million.

“So we’ve got room to start cutting,” he told the council.

Jack County may spend from $68,000 to $85,000 to restore the exterior of the courthouse.

Judge Mitchell Davenport received a bid from Mid-Continental Restoration Co. to seal the exterior of the courthouse. He said for $68,000, the limestone would be sealed with a protective coating. An additional $6,000 would include the joints and $11,000 for the steps.

A similar restoration was performed 6 years ago and Pct. 4 Commissioner Terry Ward said it is recommended it be done every 7 years.

Update July 28, 2017 following Gov. Greg Abbott's letter to Texas DPS Director Steven C. McCraw concerning lab testing fees.

Gov. Greg Abbott delivered a letter to the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety concerning charging a fee to city and county law enforcement agencies for forensic analysis performed by DPS Crime Labs.

The Friends of the Jacksboro Animal Shelter is a little closer to realizing their dream of improving and expanding the animal shelter.

President Kim Gibby announced this week the organization received a $20,000 grant from the JES Edwards Foundation. The Friends had received $8,000 grants each of the previous 2 years, but Gibby said she decided to request more this year.

The group is trying to acquire the property in front of the shelter on Highway 380 West to give the shelter more visibility. The members hope to expand the shelter to host more animals.

Jacksboro saw a 35.42 percent increase in sales tax revenue paid out in July, $81,996 compared to $60,545 for July 2016.

City officials budgeted for a significant decrease in sales tax revenue for the 2016-17 fiscal year set to end Sept. 30. Ten months in and year-to-date sales tax shows a 2.3 percent decrease — $525,332 compared to $537,728 for the same period in 2016.

For the past two months, Jacksboro has exceeded the previous year’s allocation. In June, sales tax revenue was $77,300 compared to 2016’s $52,739.