Drivers and passengers, by state law, are required to wear a seatbelt. The Texas Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies across Texas are spreading that word during the 12th annual Click It or Ticket campaign. The campaign is May 20-June 2. Click It or Ticket is designed to raise safety awareness and prevent fatalities. Unbuckled adult passengers in the back seat can face fines and court costs of up to $200. Children younger than eight years old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Fines can be as high as $250 plus court costs. If a child passenger younger than 8 years old is not buckled up or is buckled in wrong, the driver will be ticketed. To see why officers write a ticket for no seat belt, go to Officer McDonald, Why I Ticket.

It's a holiday weekend coming up, and thieves love it when you go shopping. Remember "If you like it, lock it!," the Burleson Police Department's catchy slogan for getting you to start thinking about how not to be a victim. Always assume a thief is watching you and outsmart them. A thief is looking for an easy, quick mark, and that mark is an unlocked vehicle and plenty of valuables within easy reach to choose from. Park in a high traveled area. Lock your vehicle. Take your valuables with you. And remove from plain sight the things you can't carry with you. It's easy to remember. If you like it, lock it! Read More

Work on the traffic signal at Northwest Renfro Street and Northeast McAlister Road started May 20. The new traffic signal will control north and southbound traffic on Renfro and drivers who are heading west on McAlister Road. It will make it easier for drivers coming off of McAlister to turn left on to Renfro Street. The traffic signal is part of the Brushy Mound median opening project that was completed within the last year. Drivers should expect some lane closures over the next 120 days, but traffic will always be able to proceed in all directions. No pavement has to be removed at Renfro Street and McAlister, so the work will be set up during the day and taken down at night. As always, please watch out for workers and other drivers in the construction zone.

What should you do if you see a police officer's flashing lights behind you to ensure your safety as well as the officer's safety? According to Burleson Traffic Sgt. Brian O'Heren, you should immediately pull to the right side of the road, even if you are closer to the left/center median. If the officer is simply trying to get around you the officer is taught not to pass on the right. And most importantly, it's the law that you pull to the  right side of the road. Stay in your vehicle! The officer does not know who you are and will not know your intentions so if you get out of your vehicle the officer may believe his/her safety is in question and react accordingly. Put both hands on the steering wheel or in plain sight. Wait until instructed by the officer before looking for the documents requested (driver's license, insurance, vehicle registration). This gives the officer an opportunity to visually inspect the interior of the vehicle before you start digging into your glove box or center console. Read More

Wear your dancing shoes May 31 because the 2013 Hot Sounds of Summer concert series starts off with a street   dance! The bands for the City of Burleson's free concert series include Steve Story on May 31; Le Freak, June 7; Two Tons of Steel, June 14; Metal Shop, June 21; and Quaker City Night Hawks, June 28. The free 90-minute concerts take place on the City's stage, which will be set up at the corner of Ellison and Wilson streets (124 W. Ellison St.) in front of city hall. Come early and get some great food at the restaurants in Old Town. Then set up your lawn chairs and blankets on Ellison Street (Wilson to Main). Picnics are allowed, but glass bottles are discouraged, for safety reasons. Read More

"Dig into Reading" is the theme of the Burleson Public Library's Summer Reading Club which kicks off on June 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 248 S.W. Johnson Ave. Children, birth to 11; teens, 12-18; and adults are invited to join in the fun and win cool prizes. The youngest readers earn a small prize for every five hours read. Babies (birth-3 years old) use a special log. Children 4-11 use time logs. Certificates will be awarded after 20 reading hours are completed. Several special guests are scheduled to visit the readers! For every five hours a teen reader reads, he/she earns an entry in the weekly prize raffle. While supplies last, a free ticket to the Texas Rangers home game on Aug. 18 will go to those who read five hours; a set of designer stereo headphones goes to those with 15 hours under their belts; and a gel bracelet with a 2 GB USB drive concealed inside goes to those with 25 hours of reading. Adults who read any 10 books win their choice of a mini USB car charger or a canvas book bag. Three lucky winners will be randomly picked to win a round of golf for two at the newly redesigned Hidden Creek Golf Course. Read more

Don't miss the Summer Sizzler at the BRiCk! Between now and June 30, you can stop by the BRiCk and sign up for the three-month Summer Sizzler Membership Specials! The categories include youth (3-15 years old), adult (16-61 years old), senior citizen (62 and older) and family. The Summer Sizzler rates for city residents range from $71-$100 for individual memberships and $155 for a family. Non-residents pay $97-$134 for individual memberships or $210 for a family. And, if you are active military and you are in town for the summer, don't pass up the special rates of $56 for youth, $79 for adults and $124 for a family. Call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104! Read More

Hone your computer skills with Computer/Internet Skills classes at the Burleson Public Library. Basic/Introduction and Step-Up/Intermediate both start in June. The basic class is on Mondays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., June 10-July 29. Intermediate classes are on Wednesdays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., June 12-July 31. All classes take place in the meeting room at the library. Laptop computers and all materials are provided free of charge. To register, call 817-426-9207. Registration is limited to 15 students per class. Both classes include individualized attention. Pre-registration is required. The library is located at 248 S.W. Johnson Ave.