Compiled by Millie Diaz
Editor’s Note: Over the next three issues, the JCHT will highlight events which occurred throughout 2025.
January
The City of Edna hired Valerie Callaway as their new Finance Director.
Ganado’s Cain Hayden and Industrial’s Kohl Powell were named to the Academic All-State football team.
Edna football received some high honors win district: MVP, Braylen Harris, defensive MVP Hunter Buehring, and offensive MVP, Chase Schubert. Utility player of the year, Maverick Robertson, offensive newcomer of the year, Damariye Cantu, and coach of the year, Jimmie Mitchell.
Jackson County officials took oaths on January 8, such as EPD chief Rick Boone turned JC Sheriff, Doug Frenzel as Precinct 1 Commissioner, and new EPD Chief Kenneth Pyle.
Edna Little League extended their contract with Shelby Park to 10 years.
District Judge Jack Marr retired after five decades in the legal profession and 11 years on the bench.
Jackson County as a whole celebrated the Ganado Indians football and their journey to winning the state title.
Derrick Bermea was named Chief Deputy by Sheriff Rick Boone.
Extension agent Mike Hiller retired after 19 years.
Ganado ISD voted to purchase a permanent monument in honor of the state championship, and made of six feet of granite.
The City of Edna and Jackson County will be using $400,000 donated by Formosa to construct a new, larger animal shelter to serve the entire county.
Edna ISD trustees extend Robert O’Connor’s contract by a year, and will run through 2026.
Ganado Maidens Faith Palacios, Zoey Ybarra, Isabel Tristan and Madi Weempe were named to the TGCA Academic All-state volleyball team.
February
Former Ganado alumni Alex Campuzano’s picture of the final shot of the football state win was put in as a finalist for the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.
Braylen Harris and A’keah Robinson were named Edna prom king and queen.
Ricardo Lazo and Briana Hoskins were name Ganado prom king and queen.
Edna senior Shanti Guerra scored her 2,000th basketball point in a game against Yoakum.
Cobras Deziree Evans and Kaylee Honc were named to the TGCA volleyball all-star teams. Evans was named to the Legacy team.
A few dozen protestors gathered on the JC Courthouse lawn to be a voice for President Donald Trump’s executive order to deport undocumented people, and to advocate for immigration reform.
Indians Cain Hayden, Landon Hicks, and Bryce Ullman were named to the 2A Super Elite Football team. Ullman was name Super Elite teams offensive MVP.
Cobra Major Larew signed with the University of Houston at Victoria to play baseball.
Edna senior Whit Martin, Peyton McCarrell, Braylen Harris and Chase Schubert signed letters of intent to play college football. Martin, Colorado School of Mines, McCarrell to University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, while Harris and Schubert signed for Blinn College.
Cobras Christopher Garza and Trevor Ledbetter performed in the 3A Association of Texas Small School Bands. More than 10,000 auditioned for spots and only 286 students made it in the end.
Edna’s Kyle and Tiffany Zheng placed first at the District meet for UIL Cross-Examination.
Two ensembles and a soloist EHS sent to the 3A state competition. Saxophone quartet of Jackie Avalos, Michael Martin, Andy Schroer and Michael Spree, percussion ensemble Julian Escobar, Anthony Tojas, JR Tello, Kyle and Tiffany Zheng.
Ganado hired Nathan Besler to be the new Chief of Police, after David Merritt retired.
GHS sent six students to the 2A State Solo and Ensemble: Kara Tupa, Julie Sulak, Chandler Gabrysch, Trace Green, Gracie Moore, and Alex Briones.
Industrial’s prom king and queen were Jace Chaney and Elise Bullock.
March
Dr. Joey Bonnot retired after 44 years of dental work.
Georgia Keith celebrated her 90th birthday. Ganado’s city secretary Kristi Rogers retired after 10 years. The JC Hospital District cafeteria reopened after a $3.6 million makeover and expansion.
JC Commissioners approved participating in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominated Inteplast Group Corp. as an Enterprise Project.
Edna Theatre turned 75 years old.
The Industrial Cobras girls’ powerlifting team won state.
The lunar eclipse happened in March.
10 Jackson County students went to the State VASE art competition. From Ganado, Mattalie Lindsey, Alexis Lugo, Elaina Perez, Liliana Serna, Xochitl Robles, and Abby Tegeler. From Edna, Andy Schroer, Aiden Hoskins, Krish Thakor and Madelyn Rogers.
JC Commissioners adopted the CodeRED service to better inform the public of emergencies.
Industrial ISD’s Junior High Campus was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Campus.
Scarlett Smith and Danica Matthews won the county spelling bee, Smith for junior high and Matthews for elementary.
