JCHT Year in Review

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.

September

The Bayside Community Church, located in Ganado and Olivia, added a Celebrate Recovery gathering on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Ganado. Celebrate Recovery is there for people who need to find freedom from their hurts, hang-ups and habits, and is a safe place for people to find a release from the issues controlling their lives.

The county commissioners agreed to fund needed work at the Jackson County Transfer Station and the Jackson County Services Building.

Ganado high schoolers voted for their homecoming royalty: Queen Isabel Tristan and King Juan Ramos.

The Jackson County Hospital District hosted a ceremony to remember those who were lost in the 9/11 tragedy.

The Ganado Townhall Players opened their 23rd show, The Hallelujah Girls, with several new faces in the cast.

Jackson County Commissioners agreed to a year-long agreement with Edna ISD to provide drug dog services for the school district.

EISD teacher and coach Logan Allen O’Connor was booked into the Jackson County Jail and charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor, a third degree felony, as well as two second degree felonies -Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student and Sexual Performance of a Child.

Francis Sanders Webster celebrated her 106th birthday at the Ganado Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

October

Contestants for the Jackson County Youth Fair competed in the Jackson County Auditorium, and winners were chosen: JCYF Queen Navaeh Thedford, and Junior Miss Brittan Belicek, 2nd runner up Andrew Picha, 1st runner up Romeo Martinez, Little Mister Jonah Baker, Little Miss Kimber Branscum, 1st runner up Madalynn Tudyk, and 2nd runner up River Rozner.

Mr Cowboy and Miss Cowgirl was announced at the Homecoming game: Braylen Harris and Shanti Guerra.

For the 18th year in a row, the Warrior’s Weekend buses came through Jackson County, giving residents an opportunity to show their support for veterans.

The JC Youth Fair Parade kicked off fair week, and chose winners in several categories. In Adult Organization, 1st place Salty Souls, 2nd place, Lion’s Club Sweethearts, and 3rd place Friends of Elder Citizens. In Commercial, 1st place Inteplast Group, 2nd place Dance Unlimited, 3rd place R Bank. In Novelties, 1st place Night Fury, 2nd place 1952 Tractor Paul Kovar, and third place Lumpy Lizard Rescue. The Miss Victoria Court won 1st place in the out of town entries, while in the Youth category, 1st place Jr. Miss, 2nd place Little Mr. and Miss, and 3rd place ECYFL Jr. Football team.

Two Fort Bend County men were sentenced to prison. Brothers Jessie Jerome White and Nelsin Ray White were both found guilty of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and sentenced to 45 years and 30 years respectively, in relation to a tractor theft that took place in La Ward in October of 2018.

The Edna Theatre hosted their vintage car show, with an afternoon of music, and a downtown street dance.

Cobra volleyball players Kate Simons and Autumn Kallus hit impressive career milestones this last week. Simons, left, reached 1,000 assists, while Kallus got to 750 digs.

Edna City Councilman Anthony Wayne Callis, 77, passed. He served five twoyear terms for District two since 2015.

Jackson County Cares hosted their first community event, Walking With You, on the courthouse lawn, complete with luminaries and butterflies.

Kohl Powell and Autumn Kallus were named Industrial Homecoming King and Queen.

In cross-country, the Industrial girls team won the District 25-3A Meet and the Cobra boys varsity finished third, qualifying both squads for the regional meet. The girls placed fourth at Regionals, with Kate Simons placed seventh.

In cross-country, Edna’s Emma Shoemate finished fourth in the girls varsity division and Justin Ware finished seventh in the varsity boys division at the District 25-3A Cross Country Meet.

County Commissioners agreed to increase rental fees for the County Services Building, because the county will be renovating the auditorium, bathrooms, hallways and floors.

November

Edna’s Ryan Hall performed with his southern rock band, The Pulpit Ramblers at the BRC during the Texana Chili Spill. Other members include Joseph Givens, Noah Garcia, Patrick Turner and Brian Smith.

The Edna High School, in cooperation with the City of Edna, continued the tradition of inviting veterans to a special program in their honor at the high school auditorium.

Tommy Barnes Jr. was charged with arson at 317 Harlem Street in Edna.

Bryan L. Churan was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to replace Terri Parker after her expired term.

Courtney Mercer traveled to Idaho to attend the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Conference. On behalf of herself, Elizabeth Sommerfeld and daughter Olivia, Mercer accepted the Greg Yost Memorial Youth Leadership Award. The trio won first at the State, Regional and National level for their program: Clover Kids: Food and Nutrition, and were honored at the Southern Regional Awards brunch and National Awards Luncheon.

Blake Petrash was sentenced to 40 years for theft and forgery during his employment at Hurt’s Wastewater Management. He stole around 3.4 million, largely for sex workers and pornographic sites.

Katrina Callis was sworn in by City Secretary La Sonya Robinson after unanimous approval from the Edna City Council, to finish out her father Wayne Callis’ term.

The Ganado Pride of the Tribe Marching Band competed in the UIL Class 2A State Marching Band Competition at the Alamodome in San Antonio. They placed second.

The Industrial Golden Cobra Marching Band competed in the UIL Class 3A State Marching Band Competition at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Industrial placed 21st in the preliminaries and did not advance to the finals.

Adysen Malek performed in a Belmont University choir called Bel Canto during the school’s Christmas at Belmont. The event was streamed online straight out of Nashville.

The annual Jackson County Chamber of Commerce banquet ended with Derrick Bermea with the 2024 Citizen of the Year, and Sonic Drive-In won 2024 Business of the Year. McKayla Marthilijohni, owner of The Hair House, was presented the 2024 Beautification Award and Vance Mitchell was given the 2024 Agriculture Award.

The Evermore was the gathering of the Wiegand Family Reunion, the first reunion held in over 50 years, with 125 in attendance.

The Industrial Cobras volleyball team placed second in their district, and became Area Champions.

Attorneys for Rafael Govea Romero, the man accused of murdering 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina filed a motion for Evaluation of Insanity by Behavioral Health Professional, as well as a motion for a continuance. Trial reset for February 10.

Edna ISD trustees unanimously voted to retroactively adopt the designation “co-valedictorian” for the highest-ranking male and female students in the graduating classes of 19241955.

Sydney Pletcher, a seventh grader at Industrial, represented the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, won first place in the Junior Division of the Statewide Essay Contest. “May the Forest Be With You Always” was the topic.

December

The owner of J&J in Ganado had $30,000 stolen from him due to a new term called jugging, where gangs out of Houston and larger cities will post up outside a bank and wait for someone to leave with a large bag, then follow them to their next destination.

White Trash Services began a new weekly pickup throughout the City of Edna.

Little Mr. and Miss Christma, Miss Edna Kemp and Mr. Liam Rademacher, led the Lighted Christmas Parade in Jackson County.

Melissa Lynn Walker, 27, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of Intentional and Knowing Bodily Injury to a Child.

Edna hired Kenneth Pyle, a senior detective in the Port Lavaca PD, to replace Rick Boone as Police Chief because Boone is becoming Jackson County Sheriff.

The EHS Debate Team did well at the Brazos Speech and Debate Tournament. First place Novice LD was Miley Gennett, followed by Ian Chandler, second place Novice LD. Kyle and Tiffany Zheng placed second in CX Debate. K. Zheng also placed fifth in Persuasive Speaking, and fifth place Informative Speaking went to T. Zheng.

Matthew Luddeke was unanimously hired by the Industrial ISD board to become their head football coach and athletic director.

Edna High School students placed first and second in a Welding Cup organized and hosted by Formosa Plastics Corporation. at the company’s Training & Development Center in Point Comfort.

Edna Cowboy football won District, were Bi-District Champions, Area Champs, Regional semi-final champs, and Region four 3A-Div. 1 champs.

Ganado Indians football won District, were Bi-District Champions, Area champs, Regional semi-final champs, Region four 2A Div. 1 champs, and Semi-final Champs. Then the Ganado Indians won the Texas State Championship with a 30-28 final score after three overtimes. They carried the jersey of LaMarquis Lee to all the games this year. Lee died in a car accident in 2019 and would have been a varsity Indian in 2024.

Jose Miguel “Mike” Salazar was indicted for Murder and Aggravated Assault with Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon, and Family Violence, for causing the death of Jasmine Ramirez. Ralph Moody celebrated his 100th birthday with a surprise party at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Edna.