Breckenridge Texan

On Monday, March 16, the President of the United States called on Americans to stay at home for the next 15 days whenever possible to try and slow down the spread of the novel (new) coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. And, on Thursday, March 19, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order limiting social gatherings to 10 or fewer people, closing restaurants (drive-thru, take-out and delivery still allowed), bars and schools, and limiting visits to nursing homes.

The disease is not only affecting everyday life in places around the world, but it’s also changing some plans in Breckenridge.

Here is a list of recent local and area cancellations, closures and other changes:

Schools

• Breckenridge schools are closed through Friday, April 3, when the situation will be re-evaluated by school district administrators. Visit the BISD website to read Interim Superintendent Earl Jarrett’s letter to the community regarding the closure and to get details about how students can get breakfast and lunch through the schools. Additionally, the initial BISD closure was covered in Monday’s Breckenridge Texan article:  ‘Take this as serious as it is’: County, city officials declare state of disaster due to coronavirus
• Texas State Technical College has extended Spring Break through March 29. Additionally, a class on Citizens Response to an Active Shooter, originally scheduled for March 25 at the Breckenridge TSTC campus, has been canceled.
• Cisco College is moving all face-to-face classes online for the duration of the spring 2020 semester. Residence halls on the Cisco Campus will be closed for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.
• Ranger College has transitioned all face-to-face classes to online classes for the spring semester.

Churches

Churches in Breckenridge

• First Baptist Church of Breckenridge is suspending its Wednesday night and Sunday morning and nigh activities until further notice. The church will continue to broadcast a weekly sermon on Facebook.
• First United Methodist Church of Breckenridge has temporarily canceled services and will be broadcasting Pastor Matt Hall’s message on Facebook.
• Covenant Tabernacle Church, 515 N. Graham St., will be having drive-up (drive through ) church at 10 a.m. on Sundays and will be having drive-up (drive through) communion pre-wrapped and drive-up (drive through) offering.
• New Destination Church will have an online service at 10:30 a.m.
• Bethany Baptist Church will not have regular services but will have its message online.
• St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 200 N. Easton St., is offer Mass via a live-stream on Facebook.
• Rose Avenue Baptist Church, 702 N. Rose Ave., will have drive-in church services at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Attendees will be able to stay in their cars and listen to the service.
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 208 S. Miller, will have Mass without a congregation, but parishioners may view Mass live on Facebook on Sundays.
• Elliott Street Church of Christ will not have in-person services but will broadcast live on Facebook at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
• If your church is not listed, check with your pastor for details on how the church is handling services during the shelter-in-place order. If your church would like to have information listed here, send an email to news@breckenridgetexan.com .

Events

• The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce has canceled its upcoming Spring Fling shopping event.
• The Breckenridge Library has canceled its book sale, which had been scheduled for this weekend; it will be rescheduled at a later date.
• The National Theatre of Breckenridge has canceled the performance of “One Night Only,” which had been scheduled for March 21. The performance by Abilene Christian University will be rescheduled later.

Hospitals, clinics and medical facilities

• ResourceCare Community Health Center is asking dental patients to reschedule routine dental appointments if experiencing fever or respiratory illness, unless you are having a dental emergency. Additionally, all patients are asked call ahead if they are experiencing fever or symptoms respiratory illness; they will receive special instructions.
• Stephens Memorial Hospital has announced some changes to their regular operating procedures. Click here to read more.
• Villa Haven Health and Rehabilitation Center has implemented new visitor procedures. Click here to read about Villa Haven and other local entities.

Businesses, services, organizations

• All restaurants are closed to dine-in customers. Many local restaurants continue to offer drive-thru, take-out and/or delivery services. Check with your favorite restaurants to see what they are offering.
• Walmart of Breckenridge has reduced its hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a special shopping time open only to senior citizens (age 60 and older) from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesdays.
• United Supermarkets of Breckenridge has reduced its hours to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The store will have dedicated senior shopping hours (for those older than 60) from 7 to 9 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.
• The Breckenridge Lions Club will not meet again until April 3, 2020.
• The Breckenridge Library will be closed through March 22.
• The Swenson Memorial Museum will be closed for the next two weeks (beginning March 17).
• The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center will be closed for the next two weeks (beginning March 17).

Government offices/services

• The 90th Judicial District Court of Young and Stephens Counties has postponed all criminal cases scheduled for March 19, 2020, in Stephens County. Defendants do not have to appear on Thursday. The civil cases will proceed as scheduled.
• The Stephens County Jail has suspended visitation with inmates. Click here to read more.

Send your information about closures, cancellations or other changes to the Breckenridge Texan at news@breckenridgetexan.com or call 254-522-2228 (please leave a message if no one answers); messages may also be sent to us via our Facebook page or the About Us/Contact Us section of this website. The Breckenridge Texan will update this list as more information becomes available.

For all of the Breckenridge Texan’s articles on the new coronavirus, click here to visit the Coronavirus News page.