Jeff Osborne

Senior Writer and Editor at Gatesville Messenger and Star Forum

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Articles

City to purchase additional police vehicles

Aug 11, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

After falling behind schedule in updating its police vehicle fleet because of "significant delays in receiving them," the Gatesville Police Department is anticipating getting two new vehicles "in hand prior to Sept. 30, 2023" and another three vehicles "around December 2023.
GISD increases meal prices

Aug 11, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

The Gatesville Independent School District has raised its student meal prices by 10 cents per meal for the 2023-24 school year after reviewing the prices and considering federal guidelines and prices being charged by other area districts. "We had to wait until TEA (the Texas Education Agency) got their rates finalized, but we will have a 10-cent across the board raise in all prices for student lunches and breakfasts," said Darrell Frazier, chief financial officer for the district.
GISD leaders get On-Ramps update

Aug 11, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

The Gatesville Independent School District's On-Ramps partnership with the University of Texas to offer Gatesville High School students college courses at GHS has been successful, said Superintendent Barret Pollard, who recently gave an update on the program during a GISD Board of Trustees meeting. "The classes are pretty tough - students are taking the equivalent of what they'd see if they were freshmen enrolled at UT," Pollard said.
GISD to open stadium for eclipse

Aug 4, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

While McKamey Stadium is best known for hosting Gatesville Independent School District sporting events, it will have a chance to host a rare occurrence on April 8, 2024, as a total eclipse blankets the area. "Central Texas is one of the best places as far as seeing the eclipse in all its grandeur," said GISD Superintendent Barrett Pollard. "I would rather be over prepared and not taken off guard. There will be no school that day for students because streets could be clogged with visitors.
Preparing for the great eclipse of '24 - City plans for influx of visitors

Aug 4, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

When a solar eclipse darkens the sky over Gatesville and much of Central Texas for more than four minutes on April 8, 2024, thousands of people are expected to pour into the area to view the rare event, and the city of Gatesville is preparing for it. Cheri Shepherd, who was hired as the city's special events coordinator, is helping to oversee plans to make the influx of visitors go as smoothly as possible, and also to make the event as beneficial as possible for both visitors and local residents.
City ends recycling contract with Sunbright

Jul 28, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

After voting to provide curbside recycling to Gatesville residents earlier this year, the Gatesville City Council decided on July 25 to end a contract with Sunbright Paper Recycling effective the end of this month. The contract with Sunbright, which began in July 2020, placed a compactor at the Gatesville Public Works Service Center near the fire station. That option will no longer be available for area residents effective Aug. 1.
GISD superintendent previews upcoming school year

Jul 28, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

Gatesville Independent School District had plenty to celebrate during the 2022-23 school year with academic, athletic, musical and career and technical education successes, and Superintendent Barrett Pollard is looking to build on those accomplishments for 2023-24. "We will continue to focus on the big three priorities - school safety, academics and attendance/enrollment," Pollard said. "With safety, we cannot become complacent.
Evant-area property owners seeks subdivision changes

Jul 28, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

A request for property owners to replat portions of the Kingston Estates subdivision, located in the Evant area, which would include the possibility of one lot potentially being rezoned from single family to multifamily residential, led to discussion by the Coryell County Commissioners Court during their July 25 meeting.
County leaders authorize fix of Straws Mill Road

Jul 28, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

Following up on safety concerns at the low water crossing on Straws Mill Road, the Coryell County Commissioners Court voted to authorize county Road and Bridge Director Justin Latham to negotiate with a property owner for land on which to build a berm to help protect travelers from a drop-off toward the Leon River caused by erosion. The berm is considered to be a temporary solution as the county considers long-term options to address the low water crossing.
City targets retail growth opportunities

Jul 28, 2023 | gatesvillemessenger.com | Jeff Osborne

In an effort to attract new retail stores and restaurants and help strengthen the viability of current local businesses, the Gatesville City Council approved a contract with The Retail Coach, a national consulting, marketing and recruitment company to help identify opportunities to boost the area's economy. The Texas-based firm will help the city identify developers and retailers with a goal of recruiting them to locate in the area within 12 to 24 months.