The Messenger

07/24/2025

Friday, July 25, 9 am to 5ish, Sat, July 26, 9 am to 4ish, big garage sale on Main Street in downtown Grapeland. Cash only.

07/22/2025

USE CAUTION -- Rollover accident TX 19, one mile south of Crockett...authorities on site, expect possible delays.

07/18/2025

Big garage sale on Main Street in downtown Grapeland. Open until 5ish today and 9 to 4ish Saturday. Cash only. Antique iron bed frames, twin bed, shelving, TVs, clothes $1, dining table, entertainment center, curio cabinet, glassware, barbies, some toys.

07/17/2025

For those unable to attend or view the recent committee hearing in Austin concerning our groundwater, The Messenger will be posting video clips of each of the Houston County residents and officials who testified at the hearing over the next several days.

First was Dr. John McCall, neighbor to one of the proposed drilling sites.

Please stay tuned as we post these videos in the hope our readers will be better informed about this critical local issue.

07/16/2025

LIVE NOW: Houston County Commissioner Gene Stokes testifies at the Committee on Natural Resources in Austin. State lawmakers have been shocked hearing about the amount of water which could be taken from the area. Stokes told the committee, "If the water level drops, economic activity in East Texas stops."

The Messenger will have coverage of the meeting -- now in its sixth hour -- split between our Thursday and Sunday editions.

07/14/2025

IMPORTANT GROUNDWATER HEARING UPDATE:
Today, July 15 at 1 p.m. The Texas House Committee on Natural Resources is holding a public hearing regarding the petitions to sink commercial wells in our area and sell the water to big cities.
While testimony is by invitation only, public comments can be submitted for viewing by lawmakers before the hearing at the following link:

https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c390

In addition, the hearing will be live-streamed beginning at 1 p.m. using the following link:

https://house.texas.gov/videos

Stay tuned to The Messenger for any updates to this important story.

Texas House of Representatives provides information on legislation, committees, sessions, and the Texas House

07/14/2025

USE CAUTION -- FM 2076, one quarter mile from Crockett, car crashed into tree, tree is blocking roadway. Authorities on site.

07/08/2025

Good evening, Houston County! We were saddened to learn nine-year-old Lila Bonner was confirmed as one of the victims at Camp Mystic near Kerrville.

Her family has deep roots in Houston County. Asked if there was anything we could do for them, they mentioned purple was Lila's favorite color. Local residents and businesses have already begun to use purple ribbons as a way to remember this young lady and show support to her family.

Please post below in the comments a picture of you with a purple ribbon, or your business, or your home. We would like to use as many as we can in The Messenger.

We continue to pray for those lost, those still missing, and their devastated families.

07/04/2025

Important information about this evening’s festivities!

06/28/2025

Local school boards prepare to modify rules as phones and tablets are banned from schools after new Texas law.

Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter HOUSTON COUNTY –  Starting next school year, students across Texas won’t be allowed to use their phones during the school day, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 1481 requires public schools to either ban phones from campus entirely or com...

06/26/2025

Just in time for summer, Merry Scoops serves up gelato in downtown Crockett!

Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter CROCKETT –  You hear people around here all the time wishing out loud, “I wish we had a ‘this’, wouldn’t it be nice if had a ‘that’?” One of the more common desires you hear is for Crockett to have its own ice cream shop. And an ice cream shop run...

06/24/2025

Hear from the man behind the push to send local groundwater to bigger cities in Texas.

Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter EAST TEXAS –   Dallas-based investor and the man behind the multi-million dollar commercial well operation causing uproar Kyle Bass delivered a personal and passionate address at the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District (NTVGCD) meeting this...