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The State of JEDCO
Citizens of Jasper, When this publication went quiet, JEDCO was in the spotlight — and it remains there. The Jasper Jewel is not built around…
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A Five-Year-Empty Building, a Texas Legislator’s Investment Firm, and $160,000 in Public Money
Bealls is coming to Jasper. Construction is underway, and the doors are expected to open Fall 2026. For a community that has watched one JEDCO-backed…
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A $3 Million Building, A Broken Contract, and a City Still Picking Up the Tab
As of June 2026, the City of Jasper is still paying approximately $30,000 a year to insure a building it has been trying to give…
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$160,000 and 15 Jobs: Is the Bealls Deal Worth It for Jasper?
Big news for Jasper: a Bealls Retail store—and possibly a Shoe Dept—is slated to open in Fall 2026. The presentation team, which included Bealls’ East…
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This Isn’t Obstruction. It’s Oversight
Councilwoman Angel McCroskey has been labeled a “troublemaker” by online critics. But if we listen closely — not just to the noise, but to the…
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Transparency Is No Longer a Request — It’s a Requirement
A special called City Council meeting will be held today at Jasper City Hall, Monday, September 29, at 12:00 PM. Here’s what’s on the agenda…
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Removed and Reinstated: The Contradiction at the Heart of JEDCO’s Reboot
For months, some on the council have defended a board whose expired terms and internal contradictions eroded public trust. What followed was a workshop unlike…
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The Law Is Not a Suggestion: JEDCO, Zoning, and Monday’s Crossroads
Before we dive in: This is a long read. If you’re not interested in local government, the rule of law, or how power operates in…
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Could a Saturation of Real Estate Licenses Be Quietly Shaping Jasper’s Future?
Does zoning, economic development, and Jasper’s realtor network have something in common? I hadn’t given it much thought—until the dots started connecting. And once they…
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Does zoning, economic development, and Jasper’s realtor network…
Does zoning, economic development, and Jasper’s realtor network have something in common? I hadn’t given it much thought — until the dots started connecting. And…
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Public Money, Private Deals
Lately, I’ve been hearing from a lot of folks—through Messenger, casual conversations, and community check-ins. Some messages are curious, some frustrated, others just trying to…
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When Integrity Is Mistaken for Negativity
What some view as argumentative, I see as education in action. Accountability often sounds disruptive to those who benefit from silence. I’m grateful that Councilwoman…
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Let Truth Be the Standard — Not Just the Slogan
Truth in Governance: What Honest Leadership Actually Requires In local politics, truth often arrives as an afterthought — wedged between vague agenda items and recycled…
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When Transparency Fades, Public Trust Follows
In the upcoming City Council meeting, line item #7 quietly reads: “Consider for approval — Take Action on JEDCO Board Membership.” It may sound routine,…
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Not Your Typical Jasper Establishment
In a city where trust in leadership is already on shaky ground, moments like this only add to the frustration. During the recent City Council…
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17 Was Never the Law
For years, Jasper has operated under the assumption that JEDCO must have 17 board members. But at the city council meeting, for the first time,…
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Citizens: Your Voice, Your Power
Leadership is a privilege, not a guarantee. When elected officials fail to act in the best interest of the people, we have the power to…
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Gambling With Taxpayer Money
The conversation about JEDCO’s accomplishments will continue, but first, we must appeal to our city council. Tomorrow night, the council will hold a workshop, followed…
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The conversation about JEDCO’s accomplishments will continue,…
The conversation about JEDCO’s accomplishments will continue, but first, we must appeal to our city council. Tomorrow night, the council will hold a workshop, followed…
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Why Are Jasper Taxpayers Paying Utilities for a State Prison
Taxpayer dollars were used to cover utilities for the Goodman Prison Unit, a government-funded facility. Why? Public funds should be reinvested into the community, not…
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$869,496 to ‘See How People Reacted’ — That’s Not a Plan, That’s a Gamble
JEDCO spent $869,496 to purchase land for a sports complex—not because the public asked for it, but to “see how people reacted.” Nearly $870,000 of…
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Who Do They Really Represent?
City council members take an oath to serve the people. They campaign on promises of transparency, integrity, and leadership. But once they settle into office,…
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If They Had Nothing to Hide, They’d Ask for the Audit
It’s June 2025, and somehow, JEDCO still has the same board that has been in power for over a decade. How? Why? And more importantly…
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$65,491.50 and Five Jobs — Did JEDCO Get Either?
JEDCO partnered with NuvadermRX, committing $65,491.50 on a 36-month term with the promise of five full-time employees. Was the full term completed? Were five full-time…
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$150,000 Gone — No Repayment, No Accountability
Another JEDCO-funded project — another financial failure. In 2003, JEDCO loaned Platinum Silk Hair Products $150,000, expecting repayment in 90 days. But repayment never happened.…
The Watch
The Jasper Jewel first appeared on Facebook — quietly, without fanfare — where the goal was simply to share what the public record shows. That page is gone now. What survived has been preserved and verified, and it lives here. New coverage will come when there is something worth telling.