Marion County to Have Free Mobile Test Collection Center on Sunday
By V. Hugh Lewis II, publisher Monday’s announcement by Governor Greg Abbott that the Texas National Guard would be mobilizing more than 1,200 personnel to create COVID-19 mobile testing teams (MTT) to various parts of the state left rural counties wondering whether or not they’d have access to testing locations.Continue Reading
County to Hold Public Hearing on Countywide Polling Places on Friday
In Person, Teleconference, Written Comments Possible NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE USE OF COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACES DURING THEMARCH 3, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION Notice is hereby given that on the 24th day of April, 2020, the Commissioner’s Court of Marion County will hold a special meeting at 9:00 a.m. TheContinue Reading
Weekly Roadwork Report – TxDOT Atlanta District For April 19-25, 2020
Marion County None Harrison County I-20 – From SH 43 to Gregg County Line, conducting preventative maintenance work on bridges. SH 43 – From Loop 390 to Haggerty Creek, repairing and resurfacing highway. Cass County SH 8 – At Sulphur River, replacing bridges. Bowie County SH 8 – At SulphurContinue Reading
City Implements Curfew, Formally Moves Elections to November
By V. Hugh Lewis II, publisher The City of Jefferson implemented a curfew for anyone 16 years old or younger from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, during Friday’s special session. The curfew goes into effect immediately. Jefferson Police Chief Jason Carroll made theContinue Reading
County Offices Continue to be Closed to the Public
Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur issued a notice on Friday, April 17, 2020, reminding the public all Marion County offices are closed to the public until further notice. County employees are still working, but the public needs to call the office they need to visit and schedule an appointment. EachContinue Reading
JISD, State: All Campuses Closed For Remainder of 2019-20 School Year
Press Release/Statement from JISD Superintendent Rob Barnwell: 4-17-2020 Today, Governor Greg Abbott announced an order which closed all schools in the state for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Therefore, Jefferson ISD will NOT continue normal school operations for the rest of this school year. Governor Abbott also indicatedContinue Reading
MC Gets Notified of 1st Cases, Reporting Error Delayed Notification
By V. Hugh Lewis II, publisher Marion County received notification of it’s first cases on Wednesday. One of the cases is already considered recovered with two still active. The delay was due, in part, to a reporting loophole between states. All three of the cases were tested in Louisiana, andContinue Reading
Scammers Targeting Stimulus Payments
From IRS Taxpayers should be on the lookout for IRS impersonation calls, texts and email phishing attempts about the coronavirus or COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. These scams can lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft. Here’s what taxpayers should know: The IRS will not call, email or text you toContinue Reading
Supplemental Security Income Recipients Will Receive Automatic COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
From SSA Press Release The Social Security Administration announced today that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department. Treasury anticipates these automatic payments no later than early May. SSI recipients who have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not waitContinue Reading
School Board Meeting Minutes
Note: The School Board met Tuesday in a virtual meeting. The Herald re-streamed the meeting in two parts. These are minutes supplied by JISD Superintendent Rob Barnwell. From Rob Barnwell Regular MeetingApril 14, 2020 The meeting was called to order by President Jason Bonner at 6:00 pm. (This meeting wasContinue Reading
TxDOT Names Starkes as New Area Engineer in Marshall, Replaces Brady who retired in March
From TxDOT Press Release ATLANTA – Wendy Starkes, P.E. has been named as the new area engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) office in Marshall effective May 1, 2020. The TxDOT Marshall Area Office is responsible for highways maintenance and construction in Harrison, Marion and Panola Counties. “WeContinue Reading
Virtual Urgent Care Center Open, Serving All of Texas, Offers Pay-What-You-Can Fees
A new an online urgent care center launched this week to treat people in Jefferson virtually. Called Thirty Madison Urgent Care, doctors are available around-the-clock and currently treating common conditions that send people to the ER: UTIs, cold & flu symptoms, stomach issues, and back pain. Per their press release,Continue Reading
Financial Focus: Put Tax-Smart Investing Moves to Work
By Edward Jones’ Joey Romano The tax return deadline has been extended until mid-July, but you may have already filed your taxes. If you were not entirely happy with the results, you might start seeking ways to change the outcome for next year. And one area to look at mayContinue Reading
City to Hold Special Meeting to Move Election, Consider a Curfew
The City of Jefferson will have a special meeting at Noon Friday to move the scheduled May 2, 2020, election to November, approve additional resolutions for grants, and consider a curfew. The meeting will be in the District Courtroom. This is a replacement meeting as the original posted agenda wasContinue Reading
Commissioners Approve Resolution to Request Freezing Property Valuations at 2019 Levels
Marion County Commissioners approved a resolution, submitted by County Judge Leward LaFleur, in today’s meeting which requests Texas Governor Greg Abbott use this authority to freeze property tax valuations at the January 1, 2019, levels. The resolution has no binding authority, but is merely a request. Commissioner Charlie Treadwell, whileContinue Reading
Weekly Roadwork Report – TxDOT Atlanta District For April 12-18, 2020
Bowie County SH 8 – At Sulphur River, replacing bridges. FM 559 – Between College Drive and Robison Road, installing sidewalks. FM 1398 – Under I-20 in Hooks, replacing guard rails. Traffic restricted to one lane. Camp County None Cass County SH 8 – At Sulphur River, replacing bridges. HarrisonContinue Reading
Flood Warning Issued
Marion County Alert: Flood Warning issued April 12 at 2:10PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA…The National Weather Service in Shreveport LA has issued a FloodWarning for the following rivers in Texas… Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson affecting Marion and CassCounties. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a *Continue Reading
JISD Board to Meet Via Teleconference Tuesday, Discuss Election, Graduation
The Jefferson ISD School Board will hold their regular April meeting via Teleconference due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. The board will still meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. To access the meeting, the public will need to go to A copy of the “Board Book” or Packet used byContinue Reading
SSI, Treasury Launches Tool to Register for Stimulus Check, If You Don’t File Taxes
“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments. However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration–specifically those who haveContinue Reading