The fourth quarter of 2025 saw Polk County District Clerk Bobbye Christopher and Polk County Clerk Schelana Hock hosting the County & District Clerks Association of Texas Region 7 Fall Meeting and Legislative Update at the Polk County Commerce Center. County and district clerks from throughout Southeast Texas attended the training event.
Nakailyn Terry and Ziekus Garner were crowned 2025 Homecoming Queen and King during the Livingston High School Homecoming festivities.
After a two-week delay to gather more information regarding development, the Public Utilities Commission of Texas approved a route for a power line, one that crosses Lake Livingston and affects eight East Texas counties, clearing the way for Entergy Texas to move forward with a major transmission project. The company was also awarded approximately $200 million from the Texas Energy Fund that will enable them to execute projects that will bolster grid resilience by upgrading and replacing equipment across the electrical system while prioritizing customer affordability.
Deacon Bob Ruiz blessed the pets at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Livingston on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Dogs, cats, birds and sheep were all there to get blessed. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment.
Daniel Rivera, a Corrigan-Camden student that collapsed on the sidelines during a football game versus Joaquin, died after a week-long fight, having suffered a brain aneurism. The school district and community held several events to assist the Rivera family with expenses.
A strong crowd and plenty of community spirit turned out for the annual National Night Out celebration at the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department hosted by the city of Onalaska. The evening featured food, fellowship and valuable information on community programs and safety resources, all highlighting Onalaska’s continued dedication to coming together to support one another.
The Polk County Commissioners Court approved acceptance of a Texas Indigent Defense Commission Public Defender’s Office grant award for fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $760,607 for the establishment of a public defender’s office. The Court also approved a job description for the chief public defender, pending approval from the indigent defense commission.
The Livingston City Council received public comments regarding concerns and complaints relating to the flight path of medical air transport helicopters operated by HCA Houston Healthcare AIRLife at 1307 N. Houston over the past year. Scott Simpson, Jennifer Andjelic and Krystina Evans addressed Council with their concerns, primarily related to noise, safety and the location.
The Polk County Enterprise produced its annual heritage section which spotlighted a portion of the history of Dunbar High School sports in Livingston. Nate Henderson and the late Johnny Walker spent years reviewing and compiling the history with plans to publish a book. Following Walker’s death on Jan. 29, 2025, Henderson decided it was time to share their work. This provided the perfect opportunity to recognize the often-overlooked athletic dynasty and honor those athletes and coaches, many of whom are no longer with us.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas commemorated “Ayiksa Tooka,” the tribe’s 2025 Celebration Week, with a fun week of activities in which young and old alike celebrated the tribe’s unique heritage and traditions. There were numerous activities throughout the week and lots of playful competition among the tribe’s 12 clans. The week kicked off with Kids Day at the ballpark. Festivities included a kids clan parade and scavenger hunt, volleyball, cornhole, relay races and tug of war, a pickle eating contest and a pie eating contest. Other activities included an elder pottery class, frybread dough making and a frybread contest, a gospel singing, canoe races, kayak races and a lip sync contest. The culmination of the week was the tribal Celebration Week dinner, followed by the State of the Nation Address given by Tribal Council Chairwoman Cecilia Flores.
Hundreds of people showed up at First Baptist Church Livingston for a surprise party in celebration of the 80th birthday of Livingston Fire Chief Corky Cochran, a local legend. The party was hosted by the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department and Cochran’s family and friends.
Representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation, including TxDOT Lufkin District Engineer Kelly Morris, presented Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy with the 2025 Road Hand Award, one of only six in the state selected to receive the prestigious award which is the highest honor TxDOT bestows upon members of the public who champion transportation projects and programs in their communities. Muphy’s name will be inscribed on the Road Hand Hall of Honor award plaque hanging in the foyer of the historic Dewitt C. Greer Building directly across from the Capitol building in Austin.
The Polk County Commissioners Court approved 10 additional corrections officer positions for the Polk County Jail. During development of the fiscal year 2026 budget, the sheriff requested 10 additional corrections officer positions. At that time, the jail was experiencing significant, long-term staffing shortages that hindered the sheriff ’s ability to maintain compliance with state jail standards. It was understood that this request stemmed from those shortages. Rather than create new positions, the Court chose to focus on addressing the underlying issues contributing to recruitment and retention challenges.
Kathryn Pedigo came on board as the new director of the Texas State University System Polk County Center, bringing extensive experience and a deep commitment to student achievement and post-secondary planning. Throughout her career in education, Pedigo has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, counselor, academic advisor, and most recently, College, Career, and Military Readiness Coordinator.
In an unexpected twist, Clifton Greenup, a new employee at the Polk County Jail, was booked into the facility following an incident in which other staff members on duty became concerned about Greenup’s condition and contacted deputies who conducted a field sobriety test onsite. Greenup was then transported to the emergency room for evaluation due to concerns that a medical condition, such as diabetes, might be contributing to his symptoms. After being medically cleared, he was was taken into custody on charges of public intoxication and possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility, a felony offense.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas celebrated the completion of 13 new homes for tribal members with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The development includes seven three-bedroom homes and five four-bedroom homes, all constructed between February and June with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. An additional home, funded through the Indian Housing Block Grant, brings the total to 13 move-in-ready residences located on the northeast side of the new residential area. The milestone marked the first phase of a five-phase housing initiative on the tribe’s 94-acre development site. Plans are already underway for nine additional homes in the newly named neighborhood, Koasati Oolasi, which means “Coushatta Village.”
In honor and celebration of Veterans Day, the Polk County Enterprise compiled and produced a 16-page special section to honor and celebrate those who either presently serve, or previously served, in the U.S. Armed Forces, both living and deceased.
The Livingston Lions Club was provided the opportunity to tour the Lake Livingston Dam, courtesy of Lion Chad Holton, who serves as manager of the Lake Livingston Project. Holton provided a brief history of the construction of the Lake Livingston Dam and showed pictures from the archives.
The Polk County Commissioners Court and Onalaska Water Supply Corporation completed construction of a new 200,000-gallon elevated storage tank located at 1716 FM 3186. Funding for the project was made possible by the Polk County Commissioners Court under the American Rescue Plan Act, on a 75%-25% cost-sharing basis. Through the joint venture, Onalaska Water Supply Corporation was able to construct the elevated storage tank to better meet the capacity demands of its customers. Additionally, Polk County continued to work with several other water supply systems across the county to improve water quality and increase capacity.
Having heard presentations from two scoreboard vendors, the Livingston School Board approved the Watchfire 50-foot wide scoreboard for $799,635 for the new stadium on the high school campus. The proposal includes replacing the two video boards at the high school entrance and relocating the junior high scoreboard.
Adolescent bullying that has permeated present-day society led a local young man to consider ending his life. Fortunately, two local detectives just happened to be at the right place at the right time and their quick thinking prevented a potential tragedy. During a standing room only ceremony, Livingston Police Detectives Kaleb Barker and Tremaine Bogany were recognized for their “swift response and heroic actions” that saved the life of the local 12-year-old.
An undercover online investigation targeting individuals attempting to exploit children over the internet that had been underway since late July resulted in the Livingston Police Department identifying and apprehending six adults seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors.
The Polk County Commissioners Court presented a proclamation to Ray Gearing in recognition of his 100th birthday. Gearing has been active with the Escapees CARE Center, Livingston Rotary Club, First Presbyterian Church, Habitat for Humanity and R.E.A.D. Inc. (Reading Encourages Advanced Development), the Polk County sponsor of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Livingston announced its official designation as a StormReady facility by the National Weather Service, following a comprehensive, year-long evaluation process. This significant achievement underscores the hospital’s unwavering commitment to preparedness and safety in the face of severe weather events. The journey to StormReady certification began with a detailed facility walkthrough and culminated in a thorough review of the hospital’s emergency management policies and weather response protocols. Instrumental in the effort was Alan Poskey, LVN and Orthopedic Program Coordinator, who meticulously compiled the extensive data and documentation required for certification, including the crucial alignment of the hospital’s Emergency Operating Plan with StormReady guidelines.
As the holidays approached, the City of Onalaska hosted its annual “Christmas in Our Town” festivities, the City of Goodrich hosted its annual “Christmas Market Day” and the City of Livingston hosted its annual “Hometown Christmas.”
Chicken Express celebrated its 10th anniversary in the community with a variety of deals and festivities, including a photography contest in which the winning entrants now have their photographs displayed in the restaurant.
The Livingston City Council presented a resolution of appreciation to Elgin Davis for over 16 years of service as an alderman. Davis served on the council from May 2009 through November 2025.
Filing for the March 3, 2026 Democratic and Republican Primaries concluded, with a number of local races being contested.
