Editor’s Note: The Jackson County Herald-Tribune will highlight events that occurred throughout 2024. This story continues from where it left off in the previous issue.
May
Precinct one Jackson County Commissioner Wayne Hunt announced he would be retiring at the end of 2024, after serving 20 years.
The Edna Education Foundation honored the top 10 of the 2024 graduating class. The seniors invited an immediate family member and a teacher who impacted their journey. The top 10 were presented with a book and a gift card.
Citizens joined outside of the county courthouse to pray for the National Day of Prayer on May 2.
Ganado Maidens softball placed second in the District, became Bi-District Champions, became Area Champions, Indians baseball tie for the District title, became Bi-District Champions, Area Champs, Regional Champs.
At the State Track Meet, Alan Baez placed second and fifth in the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter run respectively. He won first in the 1600 meter run at Regionals, and signed with Texas A&M Kingsville to run track.
Industrial Cobra boys baseball became Bi-District Champions, Area Champs, Regional Champs.
Caleb Matula and Cullen Woodring placed fifth and seventh in the pole vault category at the State Track meet, Woodring placed first and Matula placed second at Regionals.
Cobra boys golf team finished ninth at the State tournament, the girls golf team placed tenth at their State tournament and placed second at Regionals.
Valedictorians and Salutatorians were announced for the three schools: Edna, Lauren Maxwell and Landon Miller, Ganado, Logan Tupa and Isabella Adrian, Industrial, Sophie Hinojosa and Ava Barrientos.
Ganado junior Kara Tupa placed second at Regionals in the UIL Ready Writing academic competition. She competed at the State meet.
Edna sophomore Bethany Larison competed in the High School Rodeo State competition in the goat tying category.
Edna seniors Dylan Buehring, Campton Hicks, Jaiden Clay, and Jaykub Reyes signed letters of intent to play college sports. Buehring and Hicks signed to play football at Westminster College, a small Division III school in Missouri; Clay signed to play football at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; and Reyes signed to play junior college baseball at Ranger College.
Isabella Adrian, Chloe Gresham and Jaxyn Bures were named to Academic All-State teams.
YK Communications took over the camera sys tem at the Jackson County courthouse.
Ganado’s One Act Play team performing Dark Road placed fourth at Regionals.
Richmond man Eric Bryon Davila was arrested and charged on Mother’s Day for a triple stabbing in Cape Carancahua.
Lightning struck the Budget Inn in Ganado, which started a fire. No one was harmed.
Lease & Love Maggie’s Home, a senior independent living, opened in Edna.
Cobra girls competed in the UIL Academic qualifiers: Lacey Linke, Prose, Regionals first place, Kaylee Cooper, Regionals first place Feature Writing, third place Editorial, Regionals second place team, Lexey Pelkey, Aubrianna Ramirez and Katherine Ramirez, Regionals first place Spelling. Linke was coached by Richard Turner, Cooper coached by Lisa Bullock, and the spelling team coached by Kathy Anderson. Cooper earned second place at the State UIL academic meet.
A new 10,000 pound granite Columbarium was installed at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Edna.
Three Ganado ISD teachers were awarded the Teacher of the Year by the Ganado Education Foundation: high school teacher Dr. Yusuke Yahagi, elementary teacher Leticia Rosas, and junior high teacher Shelby Graves.
Edna’s Harry and Shirley Odell were recognized at the annual THEIA Hunter Education Instructors Conference for being hunter education instructors for over 25 years and teaching over 4,000 hours.
Ganado’s Chloe Gresham, Logan Tupa, Juan Almeda, and Martin Ramirez were four of eight graduates who were awarded scholarships from the Young Family Foundation.
June
Juneteeth returned to Jackson County with some new leaders, Chelsea Callies and Yeuresha Turner. Little Miss Juneteenth was Ayverleigh Reign Turner.
Former county Sheriff Andy Louderback earned the Republican nomination for Texas House 30.
The Canadian Pacific 2816 steam locomotive passed through El Toro for Memorial Day.
Cesar Caballero, 20, and Ximena Garcia Torres, 19, both of Edna, were arrested after officers responded to a call from Sample Street. Both faced numerous charges, ranging from drug, child abandonment and interfering with the police.
LNRA announced the sixth grade winners of their 21st Water Conservation poster contest. Edna: first Kora Koop, second Kaitlyn Clark, third Angel Gaytan. From Industrial: first Sydney Pletcher, second Emma New, third Greyson Shore. From Ganado: first Jael Susil, second Sydney Hart.
Three Cobras signed letters of intent to continue their musical careers in college. Riley Alebis with Ole Miss; Brian Strebeck with Tyler Junior College; Taylor Crow with Sam Houston State University.
Inez’s Rachel Lange was selected to receive the All-American Scholar Award, sponsored by Catholic Life Insurance.
A 5K run was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at Brackenridge Park. Second place, Kindin Schoonover, first place, Alan Baez, and third place, Cecelia Jalufka.
Monica Foster, JC Tax Assessor-Collector, was elected to the Tax Assessor- Collector Association of Texas Board of Directors as Director.
EISD received a $40,000 federal grant to purchase 10 pallets worth of basic school supplies for each enrolled student in each grade. Edna resident Pinky Milby celebrated her 96th birthday with a luncheon at Shiloh’s Kitchen. Approximately 30 people attended.
During a Salute to Excellence Texas Agrilife convention for 4-H, Jamie Allen was honored in College Station for her excellence in volunteering and how she goes above and beyond to get the job done.
Industrial district trustees voted to spend a $124,500 surplus on new cafeteria equipment such as steamers and warmers.
The Brackenridge Recreation Complex added a cleverly-named dog park, the Bark in the Park.
Jackson County schools finished in the top 65 of their classifications in the 2023-2024 UIL Lone Star Cup. Ganado High School tied for 34th with six other schools, Industrial finished 41st, Edna tied for 64th.
Edna’s Callie Bell and Ashton Wittnebert were listed on the Dean’s List and President’s Honor Roll at Sam Houston State University.
Jackson County ESD Vice President James Curlee was honored for his years of service to ESD and community during a County Commissioners Court meeting. He resigned from his position in May. from the University The Interscholastic League Legislative Council announced its plans to create split divisions for the playoffs in Class 2A6A volleyball, softball, and baseball; and 1A-6A basketball.
Ganado Indians Cain Hayden and Callen Hajovsky were named to the 2A All-State baseball team.
The Ganado Indians 7-on-7 football team secured a place in the State tournament.
The City of Edna held a citywide clean-up event which lasted five days.
At the Texas Round-up in Houston, Olivia Sommerfeld earned a $20,000 scholarship from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Industrial Little League Majors baseball team won the District 27 title. The Ganado Minors softball Little League team also won their District title.
July
Ganado Secondary School started a Care Closet, which is a place for students in need to access clothing, personal hygiene products, school supplies and food.
Jackson County Commissioners agreed to donate $29,000 to the Building Bridges Foundation, which will use the funds to offset costs of its Redeemer Round Up At-Risk After School Program to help at-risk students.
An Alzheimer’s and Dementia monthly group meeting began in Ganado by Grow in Grace senior living and The Dugger Home, Kim Hicks.
Ganado Townhall Players presented Persephone Rules, a play containing some youth in Jackson County.
Christopher McCrory, Cullen Stumfoll, Zachery Kuchler, and Braxton Warren accepted plea agreements after being accused of assaulting a baseball teammate on an IISD bus.
A Ganado cellular tower was damaged in Hurricane Beryl and JC Emergency Management utilized their relationship with AT&T FirstNet to have deployable assets brought to Ganado and bring back communications.
Ganado’s Peyton Bailey became a State Champion and national competitor in the Texas High School Rodeo Region 7, in breakaway calf roping.
The Bicycle Rodeo, sponsored by JC Hospital District, Edna Police Department and Texas Medical Association. The winners were, by age groups: 5-7 years, 1st, Lorenzo Gomez, 2nd, Riley Quinn, 3rd, Banks Barton. 8-10 years, 1st, Evan Short, 2nd, Zoe Short; 11-17 years, 1st, Landon Biggers, 2nd, Jaxon Fojtik.
Edna class of 1983 pairs with R Bank to begin a scholarship based on Lizbeth Medina for underprivileged students to have a chance at participating in cheer without the cost deterring their family.
Denise Kruppa saved John Gutierrez after noticing him waving while lying near the side of the road after he’d been attacked by a swarm of bees and got him medical assistance. 350 bee stingers were removed from him.
During a UCA cheer camp held by EJHS cheer team, Kerrigan Rodas, Kali Rodas, Melanie Laredo, Kaylin Floyd, Ava Collins, DeKaelyn Callis were named All-American Cheerleaders and were given the opportunity to cheer in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disney World.
Muralist Kathleen Thiele of Inez and her daughter Christine Tyson of Bay City painted American soldiers raising the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on the side of the Flag City Pawn Shop in Edna.
The Texana Arts Council partnered with Claire Santellana of Crossroads Art House for Art Discovery Camp, a five-day camp that taught 30 JC kids how to create art with many different mediums.
August
EHS math teacher Kenneth Osore shared 20 Cowboy t-shirts and baseball caps sent by coaches to children at a school in Kenya he helps sponsor with uniforms, writing instruments and food.
Ramon Palacios, 36, of Edna, admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend, Roseann Martinez and was booked into the JC jail.
Ganado football began the football season ranked as number one, prophesied by Dave Campbell Magazine and semi-secretly by JCHT editor Michael Brooks.
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce office moved into the old jail after its historic restoration.
Jack Motley, along with the Texans Arts Council, began their first Creative Circle, with the purpose of getting creative people to share their art.
The final part of this article will publish in the next issue of the Jackson County Herald-Tribune.
