Caldwell County Commissioners paid respects to a fallen veteran, discussed outdoor burning and authorized a grant application at their June 24, 2025 regular meeting.
(Pictured l-r: Pct. 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Pct. 2 Commissioner Rusty Horne, County Judge Hoppy Haden, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ed Theriot, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dyral Thomas)
Commissioners pay respects to PFC Menchaca
Commissioners kept an annual tradition alive by honoring a Gary Job Corps Center alumnus who lost his life 19 years ago while serving the United States Army in Iraq with a proclamation.
Private First Class Kristian Menchaca was killed in 2006 following an insurgent attack on a U.S. Army checkpoint while assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airbome Division. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medals.
Prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army, Private First Class Kristian Menchaca was a student at Gary Jobs Corps, the residential vocational program with facilities located in the Caldwell County portion of San Marcos.
Menchaca earned a security officer certificate from Gary Job Corps in 2005.
Local honors Menchaca has received include annual proclamations recognizing his sacrifice and a stretch of FM 21 that has been designated the PFC Kristian Menchaca Memorial Highway.
The Gary Job Corps Center, which is scheduled to shut down operations at the end of the month following a Department of Labor order to cease operations at all contractor-run job corps centers, has been open since 1965.
Job corps students joined Community Relations Director Randolph Goodman at Commissioners Court on Tuesday for the proclamation presentation.
Goodman said he appreciated how commissioners have paid respect to Menchaca and other veterans throughout the years, including helping fund the PFC Kristian Menchaca Memorial Highway signage.
“Those signs on 21 were not cheap,” Goodman said. “Thank you for understanding the sacrifices of our veterans and for recognizing them. As long as [highway] signs like these are up, people driving by can take a moment [to reflect] on who these people were.”
Steady rainfall has helped Caldwell County retain enough ground moisture to leave the burn ban off.
Commissioners voted on Tuesday to continue allowing outdoor burning at the recommendation of Chief Emergency Management Coordinator Hector Rangel, who said the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) remains well below the drought threshold.
Rangel said the average KBDI for Caldwell County was at 303 as of Tuesday morning. Drought conditions are considered to be present when the KBDI is at or above 575.
“Rain is predicted for every day this week, with chances of 20% or higher,” Rangel said. “It’s green, it’s not drying out and humidity levels are staying at 90%.”
- Approved a short form plat for Thompson Acres consisting of four residential lots on 9.7 acres at Old Colony Line Road and Thompson Road.
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Approved a final plat for Mesquite Meadows Subdivision consisting of 22 lots on 32.9 acres at FM 672 and Barth Road.
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Approved a funding request of $2,884 for the FY 2026 Air Quality Program.
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Approved the proposed 2026 Appraisal District and Collections budget from the Caldwell County Appraisal District.
- Approved a resolution authorizing Caldwell County to apply for the 2025 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security Grant.