The Messenger

10/08/2025

USE CAUTION — Multi-vehicle accident reported Hwy 7 East at Loop 304. Vehicles in the roadway, authorities in route.

10/05/2025

Welcome to our first edition of Houston County News, from The Messenger newspaper!
In this week's show -- Houston County Judge Jim Lovell joins us to chat and make an important announcement.
Crockett PD Chief Clayton Smith reveals dash cam footage and interesting details about the recent high-speed car chase through the city.
Pastor Tim Allen comes by and says a prayer.
We have a talk with Grapeland ISD Superintendent Terry Myers.
Thanks for watching, and to support our work, please contact us: [email protected]
Watch here or click the link below: https://messenger-news.com/2025/10/05/watch-the-houston-county-news-webshow/

10/05/2025

Welcome to our first edition of Houston County News, from The Messenger newspaper!
In this week’s show — Houston County Judge Jim Lovell joins us to chat and make an important announcement.
Crockett PD Chief Clayton Smith reveals dash cam footage and interesting details about the recent high-speed car chase through the city.
Pastor Tim Allen comes by and says a prayer.
We have a talk with Grapeland ISD Superintendent Terry Myers.
Thanks for watching, and to support our work, please contact us: [email protected]

Welcome to our first edition of Houston County News, from The Messenger newspaper!In this week's show -- Houston County Judge Jim Lovell joins us to chat and...

10/01/2025

BURN BAN NOW IN EFFECT IN HOUSTON COUNTY. This includes all burning.

09/30/2025

New updates in the still-pending million dollar lawsuit filed by former CEIDC Executive Director James Gentry against the City of Crockett.

By Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter CROCKETT –  Well before voters voted to shut down operations at Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (CEIDC) in November 2024, its embattled Executive Director James Gentry had already filed a million-dollar lawsuit against the city, alleging...

09/29/2025

Consolidated Water will have a planned water outage on Wednesday, 10/01, affecting some customers in downtown Latexo near CR 2123, CR 2120, Pipeline Road, PR 6050, CR 2132, Gibbons Lane and Spring Creek Country Club road out to FM 229. The outage is expected to last from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday and is necessary for the tie-in of a new pipeline and isolation valves. See the associated boil water notice at www.consolidatedwsc.com for additional information.

Welcome to the Official Website of The Consolidated WSC in Crockett, TX!

09/27/2025

Trustees from Houston County Jail are showing off their talent as they prepare to re-enter the world, as the work has helped them find a new purpose and path to redemption.

By Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter HOUSTON COUNTY –  For visitors to the Sheriff’s Office or County Jail, you might notice an addition to the decor as you enter the facilities. A wooden bench, carved from a single tree, sits quietly out front, welcoming visitors to sit down for a minute. The be...

09/26/2025

Temporary road closure — South 4th Street northbound approaching downtown Crockett square. Use caution.

09/23/2025

USE CAUTION — Crockett Loop 304 at Hwy 19 South, reported hit and run accident. Authorities on scene.

09/23/2025

Minor budget adjustments cause major friction for Crockett City Council.

By Greg Ritchie Messenger Reporter CROCKETT –   Crockett City Council met Monday, Sep. 15 to approve a joint task force between Crockett Police Department (CPD) and the county sheriff’s office, receive updates on special projects and early stages of preparation for Christmas in Crockett.  It w...

09/22/2025

The Latexo Independent School District (LISD) Board of Trustees issued a letter today, Sep. 22, disputing claims made by The Messenger regarding a recent disciplinary case at the high school. LISD did not address other issues raised in our reporting, such as their student transfer process, lack of transparency, and refusing to respond to open records requests.

Most alarmingly, the letter is signed by the LISD Board of Trustees. The Messenger officially requests information about when the school board members met to discuss and approve this letter.

EDIT: The Messenger has spoken to at least one board member who was completely unaware of this letter and knows of no official meeting held to discuss its contents or publication.

In Texas, school boards must follow the Open Meetings Act to keep their work transparent. A “meeting” happens anytime a majority of board members gather to discuss or act on district business — whether in person or online. Before meeting, the board has to post notice at least 72 hours in advance with the date, time, place, and topics. Meetings must be open to the public, though certain sensitive topics (like personnel or legal matters) can be handled in closed session — but all votes still happen in the open. A quorum (a majority of members) must be present, and minutes or recordings are required. These rules ensure that school boards make decisions in the open, where the community can stay informed and involved.

In Texas, school board members can face criminal charges if they break Open Meetings rules. That includes holding illegal closed sessions, leaking confidential recordings, or skipping required records. Penalties can mean fines, up to six months in jail, or both — a strong reminder that transparency in public meetings isn’t optional, it’s the law.

A special board meeting is set for Wednesday, Sep. 24 at 6 p.m., although the letter explicitly warns parents wishing to make public comments may only comment on items on the agenda.

In the interest of transparency, we post their letter below:

09/22/2025

USE CAUTION -- Three-vehicle accident reported at 2100 East Houston Ave. in Crockett. Authorities responding.