News

City Manager Mike Smith delivered a report on current and future street projects at the Jacksboro City Council meeting Monday.

Here is his report.

North Knox Street from Live Oak to McConnell Street has been previously milled and stabilized and is scheduled for chip seal in July.

West Union Street from Main Street to North Knox Street has been previously milled and is scheduled for chip seal in July.

Bryson ISD implemented a new attendance incentive program for the 2015-16 school year and saw some improvements.

“Overall, it helped more at the elementary level than it did at the secondary level,” said Principal Eric Wilson. “We’re not going to let one year of data say, yes, it’s a success or that it was a complete failure. We’re going to continue to monitor it.”

Wilson reported that of the elementary classes, there were four with attendance of more than 97 percent.

PERRIN   A former Prairie Valley Superintendent will lead the Perrin-Whitt CISD while a search for a permanent replacement is completed.

W.R. Tucker, of Nocona, was selected from three candidates during an executive session Tuesday night. Tucker was superintendent of Prairie Valley from 1994-2015 before retiring last year. He is presently working as FEMA Project Manager for Montague County.

A car versus 18-wheeler wreck occurred Tuesday morning shortly after 9. 

Both vehicles were traveling northwest on Highway 199 just south of Slusher Road.

A silver 2008 Nissan Maxima was in the lefthand lane trying to pass the 18-wheeler. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Megan Hart, the driver of the car, Jose Taberes-Ochoa, 20, of Phoenix, Arizona, traveling from Weatherford, braked to merge and lost control of the vehicle.

There was a big crowd gathered around the stage at Jacksboro’s TNT Fest Saturday evening to watch bands and more leading up to the big fireworks event.

Jacksboro Newspapers hosted its Pepper Eatin’ Showdown.

There were 15 contestants competing for the top prize of $300.

The competitors were Ken Hargrave, Kyle Hammond, Brandon Martinez, Brandy Beardsley, Jack Lamberson, Jeremy Drennan, Kevin Baker, Justin Barton, Cynthya Barnes, Scott (last name unavailable), Faye Lewis, Kris Lopez, Benito Regalado, Tom MacDonald and Brian Peoples.

Clouds and a nice breeze and some new items made the annual TNT (Tournaments & Teens) a rousing success.

More than 130 participants took part in the 5K BREAST inflatable race,  sponsored by Faith Community Hospital, which included 10 inflatable items. A staggered start among all the inflatables meant no top results or times were kept, according to race officials. A comfortable bazaar inside the air-conditioned activity center allowed everyone a break in the heat. Those that wanted to stay outside could peruse the carnival.

Crunch time has hit for Ashley McDonald.

Jacksboro’s tourism coordinator is working with staff and the public on putting the finishing touches together for the Annual TNT (Tournaments ’N Tunes) Fest scheduled Saturday in the areas surrounding Lake Jacksboro. 

“This is crunch week for us, that’s for sure,” MacDonald said. “We’ve got the carnival setting up (Tuesday) and checking out everything tomorrow to make sure it’s a go for this weekend.”

Decatur attorney Barry Green was all set to take on incumbent Greg Lowery for the 271st District Attorney as an independent.

He needed 500 signatures by Thursday to get his name on the ballot. 

Those who signed his petition for candidacy must be registered voters in the district, which includes Wise and Jack counties, and they must not have voted in the March 2016 primary election.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Green said he had more than 300 signatures but was not going to make the deadline.

A whole lot went wrong with this year’s standardized testing for Texas students. From reports of questions with no correct answers, answers deleted on computerized version and delays in results, the latest disappointing development is that the Texas Education Agency announced last week that no third test would be given for fifth and eighth graders who did not pass it the first two times.

BRYSON — The school here will be able to add an estimated $635,000 to its fund balance heading into its 2016-17 school year, board members found out during Monday night’s regular meeting.

Superintendent David Stout said the district is expecting $3,384,988 in its fund balance to start next year, thanks to good investments.