News

The Jacksboro City Council may soon adopt a personnel policy regarding social media.

City Manager Mike Smith presented the policy to the council and said it addresses how city employees use social media while at work and on city social media accounts, as well as, how they use social media personally.

“It addresses what you post on there on behalf of the City of Jacksboro,” Smith said. “It also addresses the use of personal social media. While I don’t use social media, period, I certainly have a lot of people that always willing to show me what’s on social media. 

Jacksboro Fire Department will soon offer a new service. Five firefighters — Zach Searcy, Jason Jennings, Russell Pippin, John Moffit and Winfield Maxwell, are learning to scuba dive.

The divers will be able to recover lost items underwater as well as search for missing persons.

Fire Chief Jeremy Jennings said the department has utilized a dive team about once a twice per year in the 12 years he has served in Jacksboro.

“We used them for cars, vehicles, lost items and once or twice for missing persons,” he said.

Commissioners discussed the origin of Jack County roads during Monday’s regular meeting.

Precinct 2 Commissioner James Brock said he had a new homeowner contact him wondering where his property line was. He said he had a surveyor come out and look at the property and tell him and say his property line goes right in the middle of Strawhorn Road.

BRYSON ­– Leonard Water System will be working on the city’s sewer plant in the coming days, council members found out during Monday’s reglar meeting.

Public Works Director Clifford Smith said a new pump for the plant has been ordered and should be installed in about 1 1/2 to 2 days. Two bids to handle installation were received with Leonard’s bid of $23,000 accepted. The council had to pay $11,500 up front for Leonard’s to order the pump with the rest of the payment given on work completion.

Federal drug charges against a Jacksboro man arrested in May have been dropped.

According to documents from the US District Court in Fort Worth, the prosecution entered a motion to dismiss the charge against Michael David Reeves, 46, last Monday.

The criminal complaint names Michael David Reeves, his son, Michael Eric Reeves and David Andrew Catlett of Azle with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Recent rains have benefitted the grounds around Jack County but have slowed work on the Wellness Center at Faith Community Hospital.

Steady, consistent rains in recent months have hindered work at the facility by Underwood Construction, particularly on the outside. Work on the foundation is scheduled to begin in the next couple of weeks. 

After that, substantial work should begin “rocking and rolling,” according to Underwood spokesman Tyson Thompson. 

Beaman said in an e-mail that foundation forms are were expected to be pulled Thursday.

The following cases were disposed by the 271st District Court in Jack County for June.

Dana Denis Lee was sentenced to three years deferred adjudication for abandoning or endangering a child.

Tommy J. Parvin had the charged of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony dismissed.

Martin Ralph Allen had the charge of possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 3, 200-400 grams dismissed as the defendant was convicted in another case. The case was charge in the state of Colorado in which Allen received a six year sentence.

It’s peak mosquito season in Texas and with the increase in rain officials say this summer there are more than usual in the area.

“The big issue is that it’s summer and it’s been a very wet summer so mosquitoes are going to be a big issue,” said Dr. Brent Shepherd of Faith Community Hospital. “All you need is heat and rain.”

Anyone wishing to set off fireworks for the 4th of July holiday can do so Monday at Lake Jacksboro.

The City of Jacksboro will allow fireworks at the lake from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday.

Jacksboro City Manager Mike Smith discussed some areas of focus for the utility fund during Monday’s regular city council meeting.

Smith said preliminary projections for revenue for water sales for the next budget year are lower than the current year.

“Last year, when the oil and gas business was going pretty strong, we had some pretty strong bulk water sales,” he said. “Those have come down a little bit. Also, it’s been raining for it seems like a year now, so our water demand has come down for people watering their grass.