The second quarter of 2025 began with Livingston ISD naming Dr. Jeff Pack of Dickinson ISD the lone finalist for superintendent.
Changes were also in store for the Polk County Chamber of Commerce who named Brenda Clifton its new president/CEO.
The Grand Champion Market Steer at the 79th annual Trinity-Neches Livestock Show and Rodeo was exhibited by Reagan Reeves of Big Sandy FFA. The steer fold for $20,290 at the auction sale.
WWII Veteran Ellis “Willie” Williamson celebrated his 102nd birthday with family and friends.
Following a special called board meeting, the Goodrich ISD School Board voted unanimously to to non-renew the contract of Athletic Director Lester King. King had served the school district for 38 years as its athletic director and head coach of basketball, cross country, track and field and tennis.
The Polk County Enterprise was one of several Polk County Publishing Company-owned newspapers that received recognition in the 2025 Better Newspaper Contest at the 87th annual Texas Gulf Coast Press Association Convention in New Braunfels. The newspaper earned first place honors for special section, serious columns, feature photos, feature writing and community service.
Three local individuals were recognized by the Polk County Commissioners Court for their quick thinking and heroic actions when disaster struck at the Polk County Judicial Center. After Ronald Cox went into cardiac arrest and collapsed, Bob Price, Cassie Freeman and John Sexton rushed to his aid, saving his life.
Following the required 21-day waiting period, Dr. Jeff Pack – formerly of Dickinson ISD – and his family were welcomed to the community as he was officially offered a contract to serve as the new superintendent of Livingston ISD.
Polk County Publishing Company Publisher Kelli Barnes was one of several industry leaders to testify before the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee in Austin. Journalists and free speech advocates raised alarms about a bill moving through the Texas Legislature that would make news organizations and regular Texans more susceptible to frivolous lawsuits designed to squash free speech.
“Honoring Military Veterans With Dunbar Roots” was the theme of the Dunbar Alumni Association’s bi-annual Scholarship Reunion Banquet.
No one left hungry following the 52nd annual barbecue and auction held by the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department.
Dr. Thomas A. Johnson was named President Emeritus following the unanimous adoption of a resolution by the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System. A 1981 graduate of Livingston High School, Johnson served as president of Lamar State College Orange for seven years before announcing his retirement.
County Judge Sydney Murphy led the charge for rural counties to retain local review authority. Having worked diligently along with other county officials to create subdivision regulations for new developments that protect both the property owner and the county, several bills pending in the Texas Legislature were threatening that progress. Murphy urged local citizens to contact their legislators.
Local congregants from First Baptist Church Livingston, First Methodist Church Livingston and Pine Forest Baptist Church joined forces to help others in the area through “Serve Together,” an annual community service project that allows churches in the area the opportunity to assist their neighbors the first weekend in May.
St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Livingston earned an ‘A’ for hospital safety, a prestigious recognition that highlighted the hospital’s dedication and the tremendous work done by its employees to prevent medical errors and ensure a safe environment for patients.
Earnest Jackson, director of the 258th & 411th Judicial District Juvenile Probation Department, which serves Polk, San Jacinto & Trinity counties, was named recipient of the prestigious Lewis “Butch” Amonette Award by the Texas Probation Association at the 2025 Texas Probation Association Conference in College Station.
Livingston Junior High School Teacher Kristina Miller was one of 71 educators nationwide that National History Day® honored as 2025 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award nominees. Each nominee for the award is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources,
implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest.
Polk County Publishing Company’s inaugural 40 Under 40 Professional Leadership Awards culminated with a mixer at Tempe Creek Vineyard & Farms for recognition, networking and celebration, as well as the announcement of the winners. First place honors went to Timber Wright of Chester who was nominated in the fitness, healthcare and wellness category. Second place honors went to Cydnye Robinson of Chester who was nominated in the civic/public service category. Third place honors went to Brandon Prescott of Livingston who was nominated in the entrepreneurial category. The purpose of the contest was to recognize the top 40 individuals younger than 40 who demonstrate leadership, professional excellence and commitment to the East Texas community.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas was notified that it would receive $205,634 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for affordable housing.
Lamar State College Orange celebrated 38 dual credit students as they graduated with their Cosmetology Operator Business Management Certificate at the Polk County Commerce Center in Livingston. The celebration highlighted the college’s ongoing partnership with local school districts and its expanded offerings through the Texas State University System Polk County Center which continues to expand access to higher education and workforce development in East Texas.
On behalf of the Green & White Scholarship Program, over $811,000 in scholarships was awarded to the Livingston High School Class of 2025 during the 36th annual Livingston ISD Honors Night at the Polk County Commerce Center.
A new law aimed at protecting children from predators was signed by Governor Greg Abbott. House Bill 2000, known as Audrii’s Law, would officially go into effect Sept. 1. Named for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham of Livingston, the law will close a legal loophole that prevented child grooming convictions from triggering sex offender registration and will ensure that those individuals convicted of child grooming will now be added to the state’s sex offender registry.
In response to the growing demand for licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses across rural East Texas, Lamar State College Orange expanded its footprint with the launch of two new programs, the Vocational Nursing Program and the Registered Nurse Transition Program at the Texas State University System’s Polk County Center in Livingston.
Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) introduced the Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act to ensure the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas, along with all other federally recognized tribes eligible for gaming, are regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas hosted its 55th annual Powwow at its Veterans Pavilion with over 300 tribal dancers performing for the crowds that came from near and far. There was drumming, singing, dancing and vendors, with people coming to Polk County from across the nation to experience the culture.
County officials, city officials, first responders, volunteer fire departments, law enforcement agencies and numerous other local entities and partners attended “Cruising Into Readiness,” the 8th annual Hurricane Party hosted by the Polk County Office of Emergency Management at the Dunbar Gym to hear the 2025 hurricane season forecast, review the county’s hurricane response plan and prepare for hurricane season.
The Livingston City Council approved a proposed resolution creating a separate fund for donations received for the Livingston Municipal Golf Course after learning of several substantial private donations that had been committed for improvements to the course.
A group of community leaders came together to form the Onalaska Education Foundation to support Onalaska public schools. The focus of the foundation is to enhance community support and expand resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning and maximize opportunities for all OISD students. The purpose is to provide funds for educational programs and activities which are not funded by the normal operating budget.
Livingston ISD introduced two new administrators to the district – Dr. Marley Morris as the new chief academic officer and Brian Kroeger as the new director of personnel.
The official “Ray Gearing Monarch Waystation” was certified and became #49920 on the
Monarch Watch registry. A service project of the Rotary Club of Livingston, the waystation,
located on Loop 393 in Goodrich, finally came to fruition. Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the U.S. and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration.
In a field of tough competitors, Polk County Publishing Company brought home 18 awards from the 2024 Better Newspaper Contest during the 145th annual Texas Press Association Convention & Trade Show in Denton. The Polk County Enterprise earned first place honors for news photography and sports coverage, second place honors for community service, third place honors for page design and best magazine, and fourth place honors for editorial writing and general excellence.
A freedom parade kicked off the festivities for the fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom hosted by the Dunbar Community Committee. Following the parade, everyone gathered at the Dunbar Gym for food, music, games and prizes.
The prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship was bestowed upon two local individuals by the Rotary Club of Livingston. Named for Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary Club, the fellowship is the highest individual honor that is presented to a Rotarian or non-Rotarian. The recipients were Roger Randolph Sr. and Will Watson.
