News

Local Ag Extension officials are trying to get people into walking as part of a statewide campaign.

Jack County Extension Agent Alinda Cox says Walk Across Texas begins Sunday, March 5 and runs through Saturday, April 29. A kickoff walk, which consists of a lap around the Jack County Courthouse, takes place Wednesday, March 1 at noon.

The program was done last year by Jacksboro Elementary students. Past tries at getting the program started on a larger scale were less than successful.

Jacksboro ISD has updated its drug testing policy. During this week’s school board meeting, trustees voted to alter the policy significantly. 

Superintendent Dwain Milam said in the days following the death from overdose of Trey Pruitt students shared with school staff that the current drug testing was ineffective.

“They felt like on more than one occasion, a student had taken part in those activities over the weekend and tested on Monday and came out with a clean test,” Milam said.

The Jacksboro City Council went with the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation not to allow a liquor store locate on the downtown square.

At the regular council meeting Monday, a public hearing was held on the matter. There was no public comment.

“I’d like to see restaurants or more businesses that sell alcohol, but I don’t know that that’s the place for a liquor store,” said Councilman Gary Oliver.

Councilman Jason Nash said his only concern with not allowing a liquor store is that there are a lot of vacant buildings on the square.

Much of Jack County was without cell service and had limited landline service due to an outage from shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday until 1 a.m. Friday.

Young County was also affected.

Landlines worked calling locally within Jacksboro and Bryson, but residents could not call out.

Sheriff Tom Spurlock said the county was also without 911 service during that time, but the 11 hours passed without serious incident.

“We didn’t have any trouble,” Spurlock said. “We stepped up patrol in different areas in case we had any issues.”

Because of a large amount of underbrush and low humidity of late, Jack County issued a burn ban Monday morning.

County Judge Mitchell Davenport said the index the county uses to determine burn bans  is well below what would normally get a ban set. Heavy rains last Spring has brought about a large amount of underbrush in areas throughout the county.

Strong winds and low humidity of late has spawned grass fires. Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Hefner, also a Bryson firefighter, said his department battled a fire that burned 364 acres north of Jermyn last week.

After seven years at the helm of the Tigers, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brian Hodnett is stepping down to take the same position at Haskell.

He said a number of factors led to the decision, including being closer to family. He first interviewed for the position in January and had a second and final interview last night. Hodnett was offered the job this morning.

Hodnett spoke to his athletes Friday morning and told them his leaving was not his choice. 

The final judgment in the lawsuit against Tony Lyon was signed by 271st Judicial District Judge John Fostel last Friday.

On January 20, a Jack County jury found Tony Lyon and his parents, Monna and Owen Lyon were responsible for defrauding Nebraska-based cattle broker Midwestern Cattle Marketing and awarded the highest jury verdict in the county’s history — $23.2 million.

The Lyons’ check-kiting scheme collapsed June 26, 2015 when a $5 million check on the Lyon Farms account at Legend Bank in Decatur bounced.

A Jacksboro man picked up for a criminal mischief charge ended up assaulting three Jack County sheriff’s deputies before they got him in a cell.

Sheriff Tom Spurlock said on the evening of January 31, Deputies David Vanderkaay and Joe Siskar helped Jacksboro Police Department Sgt. Lillian Gehrlein serve a warrant for Charles Pack, 32, on North 8th Street.

Pack attempted to leave through the back door while the officers were at the front, but was stopped by Siskar and brought around.

The Texas Department of State Health Services will conduct an immunization clinic in Jacksboro from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Thursday, February 16 at Live Oak Baptist Church, 1014 Wichita Ave.

Vaccines will be available for kindergarten, seventh grade, and college entry. All infant immunizations will also be offered.  

Mike Kidd likes to take things to the next level. Whether it’s motorcycle racing or golf, he’s capable of committing huge amounts of energy and focus to his passions.

It is his love of golf combined with more than 40 years in the motorcycle racing industry, first as a professional racer and later as a promoter, that landed him in the management position of the Jacksboro Golf Course and Country Club.