This past year was the year of big news stories in Navarro and Freestone County.
In Freestone County, the closure of the much visited Fairfield State Park story brought forth support from The Freestone Lake & Golf owner Shawn Todd during the 2024 Freestone County Fair and Rodeo. A check was presented to exhibitor Arlen Strait in the amount of $57,000.00, breaking the county record.
Another historical moment forever etched in our minds was the historic Total Eclipse of 2024.
Breaking news stories across Navarro County included theft cases which charged some well known community leaders – Leah Blackard and most recently Ed Monk, as well as an attack of an Assistant Principal at CISD by a student, which resulted in bodily injury. Also included in this year’s law enforcement and judicial news stories was the arrest of a Frost man who was taken into custody by NCSO deputies before being transferred to the custody of US Marshals.
Also in the headlines – Navarro County Sheriff Elmer Tanner with his deputies investigated and took measures to shut down the drift pad formerly located near Navarro Mills.
Working closely with the Navarro County District Attorney’s Office, an injunction was granted by 13th District Judge James Lagomarsino .
The drift pad events promoted by Texas House of Power attracted hundreds of people for its events.
Since April 2023, the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 97 calls for service including shots fired, automatic weapon fire, reckless driving on county roads near the location, noise, and assaults.
During this investigation, NCSO Deputies and Texas DPS Troopers recovered several stolen vehicles, 4 firearms, and a variety of narcotics and made 16 arrests including evading arrest, unlawful carrying of weapons, possession of narcotics and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The city of Corsicana lost an icon of sorts when Sirloin Stockade was closed due to a forced shut down by the health department. The historic steer which has been in position on 7th Avenue for more than 40 years will be relocated to an undisclosed location.
Riot Blockchain felt the brunt of the ire of many citizens of Navarro County this past year – from protests in front of their location to the proposed annexation of their property into the Oak Valley township, which should be approved in 2025.
Commissioners attempted to raise the tax rate from its current .4329 per $100 to the proposed rate of .4471 per $100, a whopping 10% increase, the highest it can be raised without voter approval. One citizen stated of her neighbor’s situation, “They are being taxed for a fireplace in their home. So, my question is are we going to start taxing trees next year?” Another citizen agreed with the sentiment, saying “Where is the limit?”
The commissioners defended this choice, stating that more than 70% of the budget was items beyond their control due to unfunded mandates made by the state. Eddie Moore, Commissioner for Precinct 3 said “I would like to grab Cody Harris and Bob Hall and the governor and shake them real hard, because they’ve got the money to support these things, and they won’t.” He followed the statement later on by stating “No more unfunded mandates for counties because they are strangling us.”
The citizens called for a list of the unfunded mandates, which the court could not provide. Both citizens and commissioners were clearly frustrated, neither giving any ground, each standing on conflicting principles. With neither party in the wrong, the meeting was doomed to end with no resolution. When asked what the citizens could do to aid the court in preventing further rate increases, the finger was pointed firmly at the Texas State Representatives. “There’s a club down there and we ain’t in it. They treat us like step-children with these unfunded mandates and I am sick and tired of it also,” Moore said with clear emotional upheaval. “They got their minds made up. They know what they are going to do and it favors them.”