Schoonover earns Firefighter of Year

Knowing in advance what you face when the dispatcher sends you to a commercial building that's on fire is crucial. Making sure those plans are in place is the reason Burleson Fire Department Engineer Robert Schoonover was awarded the 2014 Firefighter of the Year honor. Schoonover took the lead on creating pre-fire plans of all commercial and industrial buildings in the City. Burleson Fire Chief Gary Wisdom said that when you arrive on the scene is not the time to try to find exits, the locations of utilities, the nearest hydrant, or what is housed or manufactured in the building. "Pre-fire plans give the firefighters an opportunity to get inside these buildings and find out what is in there," the chief said. More

Get fit and help adoptable animals too

Mason tapped as Fire Officer of Year

Are you looking for a new job?

Are you in the market for a job? The City of Burleson has more than a dozen openings, mostly in the parks and recreation department. The City is seeking five seasonal athletic field maintenance workers, two seasonal park maintenance workers, an athletics/aquatics coordinator, recreation center swim instructor, a part-time customer service attendant at the BRiCk, and a part-time lifeguard. Other job openings include a deputy municipal court clerk (this position closes at 5 p.m. on Feb. 16). Go here to see the job descriptions. For more information call the City's Human Resources department at 817-426-9641 or email.  

Senior citizens, this is for you!

Are you a senior (62 and older) who is looking to get fit or just gain overall better health? Take the first step by coming to the BRiCk! The City's recreation center is proud to announce the addition of SilverSneakers and the Silver&Fit program as an additional health and wellness service for our seniors! Be sure to check eligibility with your insurance company to see if you qualify for either program. BRiCk hours are 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 5 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday; and 1 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104. 

Four file for three seats on city council 

As of 2 p.m. on Jan. 29, all three incumbents and one challenger submitted their paperwork for the May 9, 2015, Burleson City Council election. Those who filed include Dan McClendon, Place 5 incumbent; John Garrison, who filed as a challenger for Place 3; Jerry W. Allen, Place 3 incumbent; and Stuart Gillaspie, Place 1 incumbent. The 2015 election is for three-year terms. The filing period ends Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. Candidate packets are available at city hall, in the city secretary's office, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday and at the city council meetings on Feb. 2 and Feb. 16. The work sessions start at 6 p.m. and the council meetings start at 7 p.m. The candidate packet is also posted on the City website. If you haven't registered to vote, the deadline to do so and still be eligible to vote in the May 9 city council election is April 9. You need to register with the county in which you reside. Go to the Texas Secretary of State Voter Registration page. For more information, contact the city secretary's office at 817-426-9662 or email.  

Do you have your tickets for the dance?

The City's parks and recreation department is hosting their annual Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Valentine Dance at the BRiCk on Saturday, Feb. 7. There will be two times, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., so if your little ones need to be home in bed they can attend the first dance while the older ones attend the second. The fun includes pictures, corsages, dinner, dancing, and games. The games aren't just for the children! Parents, start practicing now for the three-legged race and the limbo. Pre-event tickets are $16 per couple ($8 per person) and are available at the BRiCk, 550 N.W. Summercrest Blvd. If you wait until Feb. 7 to buy your tickets, the cost is $25 per couple or $12.50 per person. For more information about the sweetest dance, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

Have you ever heard of Bubble Soccer?

This one is for the adventurous who have a sense of humor. In March, the BRiCk is teaming up with DFW Metroplex Bubble Ball to offer a spring league. Registration will open Monday, Feb. 2. Don't know what Bubble Soccer is? Check out the video to see how it's played. Get your friends together to make a team, but hurry, because registration is limited to the first six teams. For more information call 817-426-9104. 

Spruce-up is in store for Old Town

Changes are coming to Old Town in 2015. The focus is to create a more pedestrian-oriented area with brick crosswalks, wider sidewalks and benches, seat walls and trash cans. Traffic flow should improve with angled parking along Main Street and an elliptical roundabout at the intersection of Main and Ellison Street. Sidewalks along Main will be widened from Renfro Street to Bufford Street. Landscaping and lighting upgrades will brighten Main as well as Ellison, between Main and Wilson Street. The alley between Wilson and Ellison will become a pedestrian link between outlying parking and the shops and restaurants of Old Town. Construction should start in March and be completed by September. See the detailed presentation.  

Put yourself in their shoes during free

10-week Citizens Police Academy

Learn the "whys" of law enforcement through the Burleson Police Department's free 10-week Citizens Police Academy. The 2015 academy starts June 4 at 6:30 p.m., and is every Thursday, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The Academy is open to men and women, 18 and older. Topics include the department's organization, recruiting process, Texas Penal Code, criminal investigations, search and seizure, building searches, traffic law enforcement, narcotics investigation, SWAT, patrol procedures, and more. Instructors demonstrate techniques to search a building for an intruder, then participants put what they learned in to motion. Students also investigate a mock homicide scenario by identifying evidence, using investigative techniques, and interviewing witnesses. To learn more, and to apply, go to the website. 

Mark your calendar for beautification

Burleson's Great American Cleanup/Don't Mess with Texas Trash Bash event is Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. This is the 17th annual event hosted in Burleson by Keep Burleson Beautiful. Participants will remove litter and debris from retail corridors, drainage channels, streets, parks and other public areas. Following the cleanup, volunteers are invited to Warren Park for a free pizza lunch. Volunteers of all ages are welcome but youth participants are required to have adult supervision. For more information about the April 25 event, call David Lenartowicz at 817-426-9842.

Have you signed up for Jan. 31 CPR class?

If you want to learn how to do basic CPR, the Burleson Fire Department is hosting free basic CPR classes on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, at Fire Station #1, 828 S.W. Alsbury Blvd. The dates are Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5, 2015. You must be at least 15 years old. Participants will receive a certificate. This is not a card class. The three-hour course includes very basic and easy hands on CPR, basic first aid, and instruction on an AED. Classes are open to the first 30 people who sign up. Call 817-426-9170.