News

Jack County Commissioners tabled an item concerning new voting machines during Monday’s meeting.

The item was tabled so the consulting firm of Allison, Bass & McGee, which was also hired during the meeting, can have a chance to look at the contract. Commissioners spoke at length with Felice Liston, a representative with the Hart/InterCity company which is selling the machines. Liston had given a demonstration of the new machines to the court as part of their last meeting two weeks ago.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will join law enforcement efforts across the state during the Memorial Day weekend to help keep Texas roadways safe. From Friday, May 26, through Monday, May 29, DPS Troopers will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers, and drivers violating speed limit, seat belt and other traffic laws.

A pair of department heads gave updates on what they are doing during Tuesday night’s Faith Community Hospital meeting.

Peggy Raley, quality assurance director, said the hospital pledges to all of its guests that they have the optimal experience, no matter the department. A policy and procedures manual has been developed to ensure quality between departments. Each department has at least three monitors, or goals they strive to meet on a monthly or quarterly basis.

On Sept. 21, 2015, the day Faith Community Hospital opened the doors of its new facility, Hospital Administrator/CEO Frank Beaman told his staff that what they are doing will span generations.

That message continued to be spread during the dedication of the campus Saturday morning. The opening of the new facility has spawned tremendous growth, including the Swan Family Wellness Center and obtaining  a second Rural Health Clinic in Bowie.

A group of 28 students gathered in a field off of Highway 114 towards Jermyn were cited for minor in possession of alcohol following Jacksboro’s prom Saturday night.

Jack County Sheriff’s Deputies working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden T.J. Tweedle crashed the party in the early morning hours following the dance.

Sheriff Tom Spurlock said the citations were issued and parents were notified. He said he was alerted to the situation by concerned parents.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. for the May 6 Uniform Election. Bryson ISD and City of Bryson were the only two entities in Jack County with contested races.

Vying for three at-large seats on the Bryson City Council were Ray Jennings, Paul Foster, Pete Butler and incumbent Lutitia Ford.

Ford and Jennings both received 47 votes. Foster received 45 and Butler netted 21.

There were two candidates for Place 5 on the Bryson ISD School Board — Brandi Bennett and Ronnie Collins.

Collins received 73 or 72.28 percent of the votes and Bennett received 28.

Halfway through the fiscal year which ends September 30, the City of Jacksboro has expended approximately 60 percent of its budget and has received 68 percent of its projected revenues for the general fund with 49 percent of the budgeted total expended and 45 percent of revenues received for the utility fund.

Jacksboro City Manager Mike Smith presented the second quarter financial report during the regular city council meeting Monday.

PERRIN – Board members approved becoming a district of innovation during Thursday night’s board meeting.

House Bill 1842 allows districts that notify the Education commissioner of their intent greater local control and schedule flexibility, according to Superintendent Cliff Gilmore. Plans to begin the process began in February with district officials letting the State know to vote on the issue last month.

Greater flexibility will enable school to start and finish earlier, allowing teachers to take summer college courses which begin in early June, Gilmore said.

Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That’s true for this year’s Jacksboro High School band and theater students.

But they took the challenges in stride and managed to pull off a year of performance they can be proud of.

“The band’s done a really good job considering everything that’s happened this year,” said Assistant Director William Mosher. “If you put everything into perspective, they had gone into a director change from last year with Mr. Beeson when he left and that was hard on a bunch of them.”