January 2020 Monthly Newsletter
Distributed at the beginning of each month, this monthly newsletter provides updates on events and relevant City & community activity. City Council updates are sent separately after monthly meetings. Thank you for reading!
City Council and Board & Commission Meetings
Jacksonville City Hall, 315 S. Ragsdale St. (unless noted)
  • Special City Council Meeting: Monday, January 6th 10am- 4pm
  • Special City Council Meeting: Monday, January 6th @ 7pm
  • City Council Agenda Workshop: Thursday, January 9th @ 12pm
  • Regular City Council Meeting: Tuesday, January 14th @ 6pm
  • City Council Planning Session: Friday, January 17th @ 5pm
  • City Council Planning Session: Saturday, January 18th @ 8:30am
  • Vanishing Texana Museum Board: Monday, January 20th @ 5:15pm
  • @ Vanishing Texana Museum, 300 S. Bolton St.
  • Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Board: Tuesday, January 21st @ 8:30am
Important Information
Filing Period for May 2nd, 2020 City Council Election: January 15th- February 14th
The City of Jacksonville will conduct elections for the City Council District 2 and District 4 seats. To file, please see the official notice in the below link.
Code Red Notifications
  • Cherokee County subscribes to a system called 'Code Red' to inform residents in case of emergency. Many Jacksonville citizens' subscribe to these emergency alerts.

  • The Code Red system is undergoing a switch-over from a previous provider to Rave Mobile Safety, and all subscribers have received a mobile notification regarding this transition.

  • If you wish to continue receiving these emergency alerts, you do need to update your information with link in the notification or at the link below.
Explore Jacksonville Collaborates with Businesses
Explore Jacksonville is partnering with Jacksonville businesses, restaurants, and other attractions to promote tourism.

If you would like to be a part of promoting Jacksonville, or have ideas you would like to discuss please visit the Explore Jacksonville website.

Jacksonville Animal Shelter: Roaring 20's Adoption Special
To celebrate the new Decade, Dogs are FREE to adopt Monday, January 6th - Friday, January 17th.

Please tell your friends and family!
December Recap
Jacksonville Animal Shelter's Holiday Special a Success
A Holiday Adoption Special helped 22 Dogs & Cats find New Homes, and Collected 242 Cans of Food which were Donated to Jacksonville's  Clothes Closet & More . Thank you!
City of Jacksonville Thanks Employees
At an annual employee luncheon, awards were given to the following employees:

  • Employee of the Year: Jeshua Mathis, Public & Community Services
  • Outstanding Leadership Award: Larry Burney, Public & Community Services
  • Officer of the Year: Ricardo Ortiz, Jacksonville Police Department
  • Library Employee of the Year: Jamie Dorsey, Jacksonville Public Library
  • Firefighter of the Year: Captain James Suggs, Jacksonville Fire Department

25-Year Service Award:
  • Danny Knowlton, Public & Community Services

20-Year Service Award:
  • Alicia Whetsell, Jacksonville Fire Department

15-Year Service Award:
  • Jody Watson, Public & Community Services
  • Captain Jason Price, Jacksonville Police Department
  • Captain James Suggs, Jacksonville Fire Department

10-Year Service Award:
  • Charles Yount, Jacksonville Police Department
  • James Oden, Jacksonville Police Department

5-Year Service Award:
  • George Marshall, Jacksonville Fire Department
  • Charles Palmer, Jacksonville Fire Department
  • Julie Allen, Jacksonville Police Department
  • Matthew Connelly, Jacksonville Fire Department
  • Randy Wilson, Jacksonville Police Department

Thank you to all these employees!
Alicia Whetsell, Jacksonville Fire Department’s First Female Firefighter, Celebrates 20-years with City
Thank you Alicia! Read about this
Two JISD Students Honored by Fire Department
At December's City Council meeting, two  Jacksonville ISD  students were honored for Heroism by  Jacksonville Fire Department  Chief Keith Fortner.

Ta’Kyeria Montgomery, JHS 9th-grade. Ta'Kyeria helped save the life of her teacher, Mrs. Jan Gowin, by recognizing the signs of a stroke and quickly requesting medical attention.

Olivia Boggs, JMS 7th-grade. When her school bus driver had a medical episode, Olivia took a leadership role in keeping her fellow students calm until help could arrive.
Jingle Jog is a Hit
With JHS cheerleaders flanking the trail to start their run, participants of Trinity Mother Frances' Jingle Jog enjoyed a competition mixed with the Holiday spirit. Santa arrived from the North Pole in a helicopter!
Fire Department Trains on Extrication
Firefighters trained with spreaders (aka jaws of life), cutters, and rams on junk cars. "This is one of the perks of the job." Captain James Suggs
Tomato Bowl Stadium Hosts Playoff Football
The historic Tomato Bowl had a successful inaugural year as the host of several playoff games. Congrats to all the winning teams!
City of Jacksonville, Texas
Communications
communications @jacksonvilletx.org
Thanks for Reading!