News

    Jackson County Emergency Services District No. 3 commissioners approved its 2014 budget on Sept. 26 during a regular meeting. Jake Srp, chairman of ESD No. 3, said it is a balanced budget. The total budget is $541,500 and the total tax rate is set at 10 cents per $100 valuation for residents in the Edna Independent School District.
    Srp said the total budget is a rough estimate so the ESD could spend more or less.
    “This is our best guess budget for our first year,” he said. “Hopefully, these numbers will work out next year so we have a better idea if we need to make any adjustments or anything like that.”

    Looking to enjoy some fun and games this Halloween? Come and celebrate by attending the BRC Spooktacular Trail and Carnival on Oct. 26 from 7 - 9:30 p.m. at the Texana Park Day Use Area.
    There will be plenty of games for kids of all ages to play at our Spooktacular Carnival. The games will include Witch Hat Ring Toss, Spin Spidey – our always popular spinning wheel, Catch the Candy, Witch’s Brew, Ghost Balloon Pop, Ghost Bean Bag Toss and a Halloween Duck Pond! There will be plenty of candy and prizes where everyone is a winner at this carnival!
    Be sure to dress up and enter the costume contest or show your carving skills by bringing a carved pumpkin to enter into the Carved Pumpkin Contest.
    The Costume Contest will have three age groups (0-4, 5-8, and 9-12) with 1st – 3rd prizes awarded in each group. Prizes will also be awarded to the top three pumpkins chosen in the Carved Pumpkin Contest.

    The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 constitutional amendment election was Oct. 7. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21 in the Jackson County clerk’s office.
    Proposed amendments include property tax exemption for surviving spouses of certain service members; removing provisions for the State Medical Education Board, allowing extension of exemption from inventory taxes for aircraft parts, tax exemption for disabled veterans whose homesteads were donated by a charity, authorizing a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property, creating funds to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan, allowing home-rule cities to decide how to fill vacant elected seats, repealing the provision authorizing a hospital district in Hidalgo County, and expanding the State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s sanctioning authority.

    Parade goers were greeted with sunny skies for the annual Jackson County Youth Fair parade held in downtown Edna on Oct. 5. There were 44 entries and trophies were presented to winners in four categories.
    In the adult organization division, Baptist Temple Church took first place with its entry “Jesus is the sweetest name I know.” Taking second place was the Boston Family on horseback and third place was First Baptist Church of Edna Upward Basketball.
    The commercial division first place winner was Zen Martial Arts. Second place honors went to Bradford Motors and First Victoria Bank’s entry.
    In the novelty division Rick Boone took first place with his 1935 International pickup truck. Lawrence Prince came in second with his 1954 International pickup truck, and Chopo’s took third place with his classic Mustang entry.

    Edna Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Donald Egg during a special meeting at Edna Junior High School on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
    The board voted to hire him unanimously after an hour and 20 minute executive session. He started Oct. 2 and will be interim superintendent until a new superintendent is hired, which is expected to occur in December. There was no comment from EISD Board of Trustees President Patrick Brzozowski on how much the district will pay Egg for the interim superintendent position.
    Egg said he retired from Ganado ISD in 2003 and was superintendent there for eight years. He also worked for Industrial ISD for 15 years. Egg was principal for Industrial Junior High School from 1986 to 1990. After his retirement, he has been interim superintendent for other schools.

    An Edna man landed in the hospital after a firing shots at a Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy on Saturday evening.
    “This is all about stopping a killer,” Jackson County Sheriff Andy Louderback said. “The only thing that stops a firearm is a firearm.”
    According to Louderback, Charles Dane Hill, 20, of Edna, remains in Citizens Medical Center in Victoria with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in the arm at his residence off of CR 313 near Vanderbilt by Deputy Jason McCarrell.
    Louderback said the incident began at about 8 p.m. when Hill’s neighbor called 911.
    “Hill had been at a fishing tournament earlier in the day and the neighbor picked him up and took him back to her house,” Louderback said. “While at the neighbor’s house he got into an altercation with one of the children.”
    According to Louderback, Hill had been friends with the neighbors for some time.

 The Texas Coastal Bend Regional Tourism Council held a meeting at the Lavaca Bluffs Vineyard and Winery in Lolita on Sept. 19. 

The purpose of the TCBRTC is to promote tourism in the South Texas Coastal Bend region.

Madison Grona of Edna is crowned Jackson County Youth Fair Queen by last year’s queen MaKayla Lenamon at the pageant on Sept. 28. The Jackson County Fair parade will be Saturday, Oct. 5 in downtown Edna. For more information on fair events and pageant winners see the special fair section in this week’s newspaper.

Students in Jackson County participated in See You at the Pole. Students gathered around the flag pole in front of their schools to pray on Sept. 25. “See You at the Pole” is a student-led gathering of students, parents and faculty for prayer, scripture reading and fellowship before the school day begins that originated in 1990. Ganado ISD students gathered in front of Ganado High School for See you at the Pole. Ganado ISD students sang songs, read scriptures and broke into prayer groups.