Eastland County, TX

The Blue Family Fund, a local nonprofit that provides financial aid to families of fallen or injured first responders, made a donation to the family of Barbara Fenley, an Eastland County Sheriff’s Office deputy who died trying to save others in the March wildfires. Fenley was 51 years old...

EASTLAND, Texas — Ranger Hill’s redesign, the famously steep incline on I-20 in Eastland, is finally complete. TxDOT’s $76 million dollar project that started in July 2017 is done in hopes of creating a safer road. An analysis of crash data on the TxDOT website indicates that...

Eastland County Criminal District Attorney Brad Stephenson confirmed on Friday, May 6, that the animal neglect case at the Stephens County Animal Shelter involving the Breckenridge Police Department has been turned over to his office and is under review for possible prosecution. Stephenson said he has asked Texas Ranger Bo Brown, who covers Eastland and Stephens County, to also review the file.

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas businesses and residents affected by the Eastland Complex Fire that occurred March 16-30, 2022, announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Greg Abbott on April 25, 2022.

EASTLAND, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – As Eastland County residents continue to push on and recover from recent wildfires, federal help was newly introduced, by way of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). “The program is designed to support the infrastructure of the community in such a way that businesses, homeowners and renters feel like they […]

At the height of the Great Depression, John Henry Hensley was born on May 17, 1932 in Yellow Mound, Eastland County, Texas to William Elnos and Roxie Lee Hensley. He was the third of seven children. Having a rough childhood, John had to grow up quickly. His father took him out of school when he was in the 8th grade to begin working tough manual labor jobs, often working with his Dad’s team of horses. John quickly realized he needed to return to school and finish his education, even if it meant supporting himself.

Near midnight March 17, Jason Jones’ cellphone rang. Given the nature of his job as a resource specialist at Texas A&M Forest Service, it was not unusual for him to receive emergency calls after hours, especially when Texans need him the most. Jones’ boss updated him and requested his...

Wildfires are a growing concern in the United States, while some prescribed burning/wildfires are natural, rapid climate change across the U.S. has now left us with deadly burning seasons. With over seven million acres burned in 2020, it’s a safe bet that someone you love or know has been affected by wildfires in the past two to three years. In 2022, Eastland County, Texas was caught in flames as nearly 45,000 acres were destroyed in the course of three days. It seems, with the world up in flames, many people wonder what they can do to prevent wildfires, and what they can do to help others in need who have been affected.

EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas — A burn ban has been implemented in Eastland County. According to court documents, all outdoor burning is banned in the county as of yesterday, April 11th. The ban will last for approximately 90 days, until July 9th, 2022 or until terminated earlier by the Texas Forest Service or the Eastland County Court.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service continues to provide support coordinating hay, livestock feed and fencing supplies to producers impacted by the Eastland Complex wildfire. Fires encompassed more than 50,000 acres around Eastland and resulted in more than 400 dead livestock. AgriLife Extension’s Disaster Assessment Response team was deployed March...

CARBON, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – It’s been three weeks since multiple fires ripped through Eastland County, destroying hundreds of acres and leaving many without a home. However, one Carbon man took matters into his own hands a week after the fires destroyed his home. Mother Nature was good to Eastland County since the fires struck in […]

EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Charges have been dropped against a man accused of arson during the St. Patrick’s Day fires in Ranger. Robert James was arrested Saturday, March 19, on five counts of arson in connection to the fires that destroyed several structures within city limits. Eastland County District Attorney Brad Stephenson told KTAB […]

AgriLife Extension continuing coordination of Eastland Complex wildfire donations. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service continues to provide support coordinating hay, livestock feed and fencing supplies to producers impacted by the Eastland Complex wildfire. Fires encompassed more than 50,000 acres around Eastland and resulted in more than 400 dead livestock. AgriLife Extension’s Disaster Assessment Response team was deployed March 18 to Eastland County to support…

A string of fires in West Texas claimed the life of a law enforcement official, burned at least 50 homes, and have devoured more than 54,000 acres, officials said. The four fires that make up the Eastland Complex fire — the Kidd, Wheat Field, Oak Mott and Walling fires — have burned 54,015 acres, according to Angel Lopez Portillo, spokesman for the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The fire was 30 percent contained Saturday.

The Texas Department of Housing Affairs recently awarded a grant of $486,987 to Goodwill-West Texas to address local housing instability, the nonprofit said in a news release Tuesday. The grant will fund three full-time employees in Goodwill-West Texas's Housing Stabilization Services, which helps West Texans find housing and apply for...

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service continues to provide support coordinating hay, livestock feed and fencing supplies to producers impacted by the Eastland Complex wildfire. Fires encompassed more than 50,000 acres around Eastland and resulted in more than 400 dead livestock. AgriLife Extension’s Disaster Assessment Response team was deployed March...

KILLEEN, Texas – The Killeen Fire Department Wildland team returned from a two-week deployment to assist in fighting the wildfires in Eastland County. They share what they saw. “And because the fire conditions was extreme, there was extreme fire conditions and behavior. If you got in front of it,...

SWEETWATER, Texas — UPDATE: Sweetwater police were informed today that Samia was captured in Mitchell County on April 23rd. The Sweetwater Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a fugitive. Melinda Samia has a warrant in Eastland County for Fail to Identify Giving Face or Fictitious...