Officer Kasey Martin possesses many of the same traits of the namesake of the award he earned. Martin, an almost-five year veteran of the Burleson Police Department, was presented the Ofelia Blair Outstanding Character Award at the annual police banquet Feb. 17.  Martin serves with the department's bicycle patrol and is an Upwards Basketball coach.  The Mansfield native earned an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force where he spent six years on active duty in the Security Forces. Read more

The unexpired term for the Place 6 seat on the Burleson City Council is now a contested race. Joshua Pickrell filed for the seat that longtime councilmember Chip Stephens held until Stephens turned in his resignation letter Feb. 21. Stephens will serve until after the May 14 election. Larry Pool was the first to file for Place 6. Mayor Pro Tem Stuart Gillaspie has not drawn an opponent. Leslee Clark Ahrend filed against Place 5 incumbent Dan McClendon. Place 3 incumbent Matt Powell faces two challengers - Jerry Allen and Brian Cameron. The filing deadline is March 14. Election Day is May 14.  Read more

Officer Paul Lancaster is the "exception to the rule" when you think of a 20-plus year veteran police officer, according to Sgt. Darin Pool, who nominated Lancaster for the Burleson Police Department's first Most Outstanding Community Policing Award. Lancaster was hired by the Burleson Police Department in 1987. Sgt. Pool said Lancaster's work ethic "is unrivaled and his commitment to the City is without question. He has always embraced the community oriented policing concept, even before we gave it a title." Read more

The BRiCk is hosting a Spring Fun Camp March 14-18! Campers will participate in group games, arts and crafts, swimming, rock climbing, team building events and more. This camp is geared toward those 6-12 years of age. The fun takes place 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The cost ranges from $115 to $130 for the whole week or $25 to $30 for single day registration. Call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

As of Tuesday, 26 of the approximately 40 spaces available for the Keep Burleson Beautiful community-wide garage sale had been reserved. The garage sale will take place on Saturday, March 26, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church on McAlister Road. Set-up begins at 5:30 a.m. Sign-up is free but you must reserve your space in advance.  Reservations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis until the spaces are filled. Sellers will receive a space that is approximately 20 feet by 10 feet. Bring tables and chairs.  All items that are sold March 26 must be non-commercial, no exceptions. The deadline for submitting reservations is March 23. Call Keep Burleson Beautiful Executive Director Bianca Chafin at 817-426-9842.

From Feb. 21, 2011, through Saturday's Fifth Annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup, 173 warrants were cleared, $28,945 was collected (costs, fees, fines, bonds), and the total face value of all warrants cleared totaled $47,679. Officers started knocking on doors at 3:30 a.m. on March 5 and finished by 10:30 a.m. Warrants were cleared on roundup day thanks to the teamwork of the City marshals, Burleson police officers, court staff, presiding and associate municipal court judges, and Citizens On Patrol members. Read more

March is SmartScape Month and the North Central Texas Council of Governments is teaching homeowners, through Texas SmartScape, how to use hardy native and adapted plants in yards and landscapes. Search the interactive database at www.txsmartscape.com  to find the plants right for your yard. Use the landscape design tool to guide you through the landscaping process and find tips to help you care for and maintain your SmartScape yard. Read more

Do you know what's going on in your City? Choose the form of communication that best suits your style by going to the Communications page on the City website. We have City news releases, streaming video of meetings, the free weekly E-Newsletter, City Focus monthly newsletter, City of Burleson Facebook page, Burleson Progress Report, Annual Financial Report, Connect-CTY emergency phone notifications, and the City of Burleson Twitter page.