Don't miss Yappy Hour tonight!

What are you doing tonight? Make plans for Yappy Hour at Lost Oak Winery. The Burleson Animal Shelter and Lost Oak Winery are teaming up again, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. to host Yappy Hour. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own pets and check out the adoptable pets that the animal shelter staff will bring out for on-site adoptions. Adoption fees range from $55 to $65. The winery will be donating a portion of the evening's proceeds to the Burleson Animal Shelter. More

Burleson Police partner with Nextdoor

The Burleson Police Department is adding a new tool to the toolbox. It's called Nextdoor and it's a private social network for neighborhoods. You sign up for it online.The partnership allows Burleson's Community Resource Officer David Wardlaw to communicate online with residents in Burleson neighborhoods so they can work together to improve safety and strengthen neighborhood watch efforts. The officer will work with homeowner association presidents as well as neighborhood leaders to share information on crime prevention and safety, public events and emergency notifications. There are currently 25 active and six inactive Nextdoor neighborhoods in the city limits of Burleson. More

Campout and Fishing Adventures is back!

It's time to bait that hook, cast that line, and cross your fingers for a bite. The City's Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the popular Far Out Family Campout and Fishing Adventures Friday/Saturday, Oct. 17-18, at Bailey Lake. The overnight event kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday and wraps up at 8 a.m. Saturday. The cost is $10 per family of five (if you register by Oct. 16) or $15 at the event. You can sign up at the BRiCk, 550 N.W. Summercrest Blvd. Each child at the event must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Don't miss the family fun at Bailey Lake! More 

Make a difference . . . Tip a Cop Sept. 29

Save the date, enjoy a burger and fries, tip your waiter or waitress, and support your local police department. It's that simple. It's called Tip-A-Cop. Make plans to stop by Grumps of Burleson on Monday, Sept. 29, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and the tips and a portion of the nightly proceeds will go to the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (BCPAAA). Police officers will be serving you your choice of a hamburger or cheeseburger, fries or chips and soda or tea all for just $8. BCPAA members will refill your drink and clear the tables. In the past, the BCPAAA members have provided the Burleson Police Department with pursuit spikes, all the initial uniforms for the Honor Guard (valued at approximately $3,300), purchased four-six new bikes for the department's bicycle unit (and established a maintenance fund for the bikes), and helped raise funds for equipment for the Citizens On Patrol members. More

Police and fire join forces to teach rappelling to Explorers

Burleson Police Explorers got some hands-on training from Burleson firefighters Sept. 22 as they learned how to rappel out of a third story window on the training tower at Fire Station #2. Also involved Sept. 22 were students from the Southwestern Adventist University fire science program. Burleson's Law Enforcement Explorer program provides career orientation experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service activities. Explorers must be at least 14 years of age and have completed the eighth grade. Burleson Police Explorers are currently raising funds to attend the Alamo Area Police Explorer competition in October. For information on how to sponsor or donate to the Police Explorers program contact Sgt. Darin Pool or Officer Chaz Garrett. To see the rest of the pictures from the Sept. 22 rappelling, go to the album on the City of Burleson Facebook page.

Founders Day is just two weeks away!

Are you ready to celebrate? The City and the Burleson Heritage Foundation are putting the finishing touches on the schedule for the 22nd annual Founders Day, slated for Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in Old Town Burleson (124 W. Ellison St.). The historic festival includes western gunfighters, antique appraisals, car/truck/motorcycle show, tractors, arts and crafts, great food, games, and children's activities (including bounce houses). There will be two stages featuring entertainment. Vendor booths will stretch down Ellison, from Warren Street to Main Street. The day starts with a walking parade at 9 a.m. and ends with a concert by Sonny Burgess, a Country Music Association artist winner and Texas Country Music Hall of Famer, at 4 p.m. Don't miss the champion fiddlers, wood carving, leather work, and more! If you want to be a vendor and you haven't applied yet, the application is available online or you can stop by the Burleson Visitors Center and Museum at 124 W. Ellison St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday.

See who is representing you on City boards, committees and commissions

Welcome aboard and thank you to the more than 60 residents and businesspeople who are already serving or who were appointed to the 10 City boards, committees and commissions by Burleson City Council on Sept. 15. The terms officially start Oct. 1. The boards and commissions include the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, Building Codes and Standards, Cemetery Board, Library Board, Old Town Design Standards Review Committee, Parks Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Burleson Type A Community Economic Development Corporation and Burleson Type B Community Service Development Corporation. The chairs include Dr. Ryan Camp, Rick Roper, Aaron Childress, Melissa Guthrie, Tim Davis, Stephanie Johnson, Dan Boutwell, Walter Norwood, Dan McClendon and David Rubenkoenig. See who is representing you. If you are interested in the vacancies on Building Codes and Standards, the Cemetery Board or the Library Board, contact the city secretary at 817-426-9661. The deadline to apply is Oct. 6. You can apply online or you can print the application and return it to Burleson City Hall at 141 W. Renfro St.

Trick or treaters will take over Old Town

Old Town will be taken over by superheroes, princesses, and more on Saturday, Oct. 25, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. for the City's seventh annual free Burleson Old Town Boo Bash. Children, birth-12 years old, will arrive in their favorite Halloween costumes - trick-or-treat bags in hand - for the ultimate in trick or treating. Local businesses, churches, and civic groups set up booths and decorate their vehicles for trunk-or-treat fun. Children will enjoy free candy, games, bounce houses, a pumpkin patch full of free pumpkins to decorate, and a costume parade. If you want to be a vendor, go to the City website for the application. For more information, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104 or 817-426-9112.

Budget, tax rate & rates get thumbs up

Everything passed unanimously (6-0) at the Sept. 15 Burleson City Council meeting. Council members approved revising budget figures for fiscal year 2013-2014 and adopting the 2014-2015 annual operating budget; setting the 2014 ad valorem tax rate at $.7400; setting a 6 percent increase in the base and volumetric water rates; and, increasing the current residential rate for solid waste and recycling from $18.10 per month to $19.20 and increasing the non-residential solid waste rates from $22.94 to $24 for minor collections and from $32.84 to $34 for major collections. Fiscal year 2015 starts Oct. 1, 2014. The FY 2015 budget is explained in a four-page budget brief. The tax rate was explained in a presentation at the Aug. 25 city council public hearing. For more about the water rates and the rates for trash and curbside recycling, go to Items 2E and 2F on the Sept. 15 council agenda.

Volunteers bashed trash in Burleson

Three thousand eight hundred and eighty pounds of trash and debris were picked up by 307 volunteers during the Sept. 20 Trash Bash in Burleson. The City of Burleson and Keep Burleson Beautiful hosted the event. The volunteers spread out across the city, including Oak Valley, Mountain Valley, behind Fire Station #1, Burleson High School, Meadow Crest Park, the drainage area near Warren Park, the creek behind Hobby Lobby, the area around First Baptist Church, and the Hidden Creek Parkway/Plantation area. After the cleanup, volunteers met at Warren Park where they enjoyed pizza and a chance to take home some cool prizes. The next event will take place in the spring of 2015. To see the rest of the pictures, go to the Trash Bash album on the City of Burleson Facebook page.