The Hot Sounds of Summer concert series lineup includes . . .  

It's going to be a hot Hot Sounds of Summer concert series in 2015, starting with sophomore sensation Reagan James, best known for making it to the Top 10 on NBC's "The Voice" headlining on May 29, and ending with crowd favorite Le Freak, bringing disco back to Burleson, on June 26. J.D. Monson, country/classic rock, is the headliner June 5. Journey fans don't want to miss ESCAPE on June 12, and a 2014 favorite, Buddy Whittington, is bringing back the blues on June 19. The Hot Sounds of Summer showcases free 90-minute concerts that start at 7:30 p.m., every Friday between May 29 and June 26, at the intersection of Ellison and Wilson streets (124 W. Ellison St.). Read More  

Check out our trails/walking paths

Construction fencing will be up around the ball fields and walking trail at Bartlett Park today, Feb. 13. The walking trail around Bartlett Park will be closed until construction on the new soccer fields is complete, which is projected to be March 2016. This is a great time to explore the other walking options in Burleson by going to the Parks & Amenities page on the City website. There are more than a half a dozen trails/walking paths, including the Oak Valley walking trail, 2.21 miles; Mistletoe Park, 3/4 of a mile; Meadowcrest Park, 3/10 of a mile; Prairie Timber, half a mile; Elkridge Park, 1/10 mile; Centennial Park, 2/10 of a mile, Chisenhall Fields Sports Complex, half a mile, and the nature trail across the creek at Chisenhall Fields, three quarters of a mile. Locations and other amenities are listed in the link above. If you have any questions about our parks system, please call Ike Vera, assistant director of parks, at 817-426-9291. 

Byrom tapped for police department's Character Award

This police officer's goal is to "have 100 percent satisfaction from the public." Officer Joe Byrom was honored for that character trait with the Burleson Police Department's 2014 Ofelia Blair Character Award. According to Sgt. Craig Bastible, one of Byrom's best traits is that he takes extra time during his calls to explain to citizens why certain actions are being taken. And, "Burleson is his home, it's where he grew up, and he takes personal interest in the city." The honor is named for Ofelia, a clerk in the department's criminal investigations section, who lost her battle with cancer in 2003. Read More

What's being built in Burleson?

Are you curious about what is being built in Burleson? The January 2015 building permit activity report is posted on the City website.Thirty-seven residential permits were issued in more than half a dozen subdivisions in the first month of 2015. The average square footage of those homes is 3,348. The average value is $229,721. On the commercial side, new permits were issued for Stampede Harley Davidson at 240 N. Burleson Blvd., Advance Auto Parts at 725 S.W. Wilshire Blvd., Jimmy Johns at 674 S.W. Wilshire Blvd., and Select Personnel Investigations at 765 N.W. Summercrest Blvd. There are more than 30 active commercial permits. Four of the five completed projects have to do with the Centre of Burleson at the corner of Renfro Street and Johnson Avenue (101 N.W. Renfro St.). The fifth is Embry Office Building at 119 N.W. Hillery.

They had the best dates in town on Feb. 7

The BRiCk was the site of the sweetest dance on Feb. 7 . . . The City's parks and recreation department hosted the annual Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Valentine Dance. The fun included pictures, corsages, dinner, dancing, and games, which included a three-legged race and a limbo contest. Thanks to all of the City staff and the volunteers who made this a special night for families! To see the rest of the pictures, go to the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Valentine Dance album.

Curbing narcotics activity earns Adams Outstanding Community Policing Award

Doing his job to curb narcotics activity in the community netted Burleson Patrol Officer Don Adams the department's 2014 Most Outstanding Community Policing Award. In the nomination letter, Adams was called "a man of many faces and an extensive knowledge of criminal investigations." The nomination went on to say that "this officer applied his years of experience in drug interdiction and investigation to the problem and began knocking down arrests on a daily basis." Adams credits his partnership with citizens and business owners for his success. Read More 

Crime analyst named police Civilian Employee of the year

She has exemplary analytical and organizational skills and is instrumental in synthesizing crime data. Kathy James, who will mark 24 years with the Burleson Police Department in March, was honored Jan. 29 as the Burleson Police Department's Civilian Employee of the Year. James' current title is civilian records supervisor/crime analyst. "She took on the responsibility of synthesizing crime data and has been successful at identifying crime trends and making crime predictions," according to the award nomination. "She is instrumental in the collection and processing of an enormous amount of data. This has been very useful in the allocation of resources." Read More

You communicated with us!

How do you get your information about City of Burleson events, programs, meetings and more? Number one answer? You use the City's Facebook pages. You could pick as many communication tools as you wanted out of a list of 20 in the 2014 Communications Survey. The top three choices of residents and of those who work in or visit Burleson are Facebook (65.9 percent), the weekly E-Newsletter (56.8 percent), and the City website (43.2 percent). More than 70 percent of you are satisfied/very satisfied with the feedback you get from City staff and feel that you have ample opportunity to be involved in the decisions made by City staff/city council concerning City services, economic and community development, and programs. Read More

Number of candidates for Burleson City Council holds steady at five 

As of 2 p.m. on Feb. 12, there were no new candidates for three places on the Burleson City Council. The latest to throw her hat in the ring was Shannan Sutter, who filed as a challenger for the Place 3 seat on council last week. That seat is currently held by Councilmember Jerry W. Allen. Dan McClendon, Place 5, was the first to file on Jan. 28. He is the incumbent and mayor pro tem. McClendon was followed by John Garrison, who filed as a challenger for Place 3, and Allen. Stuart Gillaspie filed for his Place 1 seat Jan. 29.  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 meeting on Feb. 16. The work session starts at 6 p.m. and the council meeting starts at 7 p.m. The candidate packet is also posted on the City website. For more information, contact the city secretary's office at 817-426-9662 or email.

Dive in to see 'The Lego Movie' April 10

Grab your swimsuit and towel and dive in for a movie at the BRiCk on Friday, April 10! The BRiCk staff will be showing "The Lego Movie." Doors to the BRiCk's indoor pool open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 before April 10 or $7 on April 10. Tickets go on sale starting March 16. Bring your friends and lounge around the indoor pool and enjoy the movie on an 18-foot big screen. It will feel like a pool was installed at the local cinema! Bring your own Coast Guard approved float or noodle. Popcorn will be available for $1. For more information and for tickets, call the BRiCk at 817-426-9104.

We have options for practice fields

Construction of new soccer fields at Bartlett Park have cut down the options for practice fields. The two day-use fields at Chisenhall Fields Sports Complex are available for rental for teams with younger players (the fields are not big enough for older players). These day-use fields at Chisenhall will rent for the same price, $10 per field/per hour, as the other ball fields. There are no lights, so these fields will only be available for day use. The City will also be renting fields at Hidden Creek Sports Complex, Monday-Friday, until 10 p.m. A City staff member will be at the park for those nighttime rentals at Hidden Creek. You can rent fields at Hidden Creek on Saturday and Sunday, but the weekend rentals will only be for daytime use. The cost for light rentals is $30. If you have any questions, please call 817-426-9106.

Citizens Fire Academy teaches what it takes to be a firefighter

Are you interested in a crash course on what it takes to be a firefighter? Then sign up for the Burleson Fire Department's free five-day Citizens Fire Academy. Class is April 6-10, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. This is for the adults (the department hosts a Junior Firefighter Academy each summer). The academy is open to residents of Burleson and employees who work in Burleson. The curriculum includes fire operations, fire apparatus, personal protective equipment, search and rescue, fire attack/hose, fire extinguishers, vehicle extrication, special operations, and an introduction to CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Students will learn basic CPR and first aid. The deadline to apply is April 3. Call 817-426-9176.