2025, a year in review: Part 1

The City of Belton and Bell County saw new businesses emerge, the return of community events, and historical landmarks celebrated along with a new park in 2025.

The oldest business in Belton, The Belton Journal, marked its 159th year in publication on Jan. 6 of this year.

The Belton Weekly Journal (established in 1866), now The Belton Journal, is the oldest business on record in Belton and the second-oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas.

The founder and first publisher of The Journal was James T. Longino, presumably of Italian extraction. His stepfather, Major Jouett Harber Davenport, joined him in the business. The major soon bought the son out, as noted in an article commemorating the newspaper’s 100th birthday.

“No person or corporation owns The Belton Journal. You own it. With your 50 cents you paid this week, you are a part owner of the newspaper. In 10 years, we may only be found online. Either in print or on your phone, our job and the job of future publishers is to report what is going on in the community,” Publisher David Tuma said.

“I am lucky as a businessman to have spent the best years of my life serving this community.”

Most issues of The Belton Journal can be found on the City of Belton’s Lena Armstrong Public Library website at beltontexas.gov. The issues from 1866–1869 are not available online. Fires in 1898 and 1914 irretrievably destroyed any pages that existed from those years.

A number of Bell County officials rang in the new year just after midnight on January 1, 2025, as they took their oaths of office for new terms.

Bill Cooke took the oath of office as Bell County Sheriff after Sheriff Eddy Lange announced his retirement.

Other officials sworn in included:

County Precinct 1 Constable Pat Duffield

Precinct 3 County Commissioner Greg Reynolds

Precinct 1 County Commissioner Russell Schneider

Precinct 2 Constable Chris Bazar

Precinct 3 Constable Devon Rosenthal

Precinct 4 Constable Martha Dominguez

County Attorney Jim Nichols

County Tax Assessor Shay Luedeke

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Place 1 Rosanne Fisher

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Place 1 Gregory Johnson

426th Judicial District Court Judge Steve Duskie

146th Judicial District Court Judge Mike Russell

Also sworn in after the new year were County District Attorney Stephanie Newell and 27th Judicial District Court Judge Debbie Garrett.

Adam Trujillo was hired as the Recreation Superintendent for the City of Belton’s Parks Department.

With more than a decade of experience in parks and recreation, Trujillo brings a strong background in program development, event coordination, and team leadership.

Before joining the team in Belton, Trujillo made significant contributions in Harker Heights, where he successfully expanded community events, enhanced outdoor education programming, and transformed the Activities Center into a vibrant community hub featuring a Maker Space.

The City of Belton reached a milestone in January 2025 when Mayor David K. Leigh handed over the keys to a resident whose home was rebuilt through the HOME Program. The program provides funds to replace homes for low-income residents who meet program requirements.

Belton has been participating in the HOME Program since 2001. The home completed was the 40th rebuild in Belton under the program.

The Belton City Council approved new zoning changes that allowed three businesses inside the city limits to operate as package stores. According to Paul Romer, director of communications for the city, the three stores are the first liquor stores to operate in Belton.

“Voters passed a new law last year allowing package stores in the city,” Romer said.

“These are the first package store zoning requests — the first wave. Two are convenience stores, and they will expand what they are selling. Our laws are in line with other communities that allow liquor stores — they can’t be near schools or churches.”

The Belton Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Awards Banquet, where community members, business owners, and local leaders were recognized for their hard work and contributions to the city’s growth.

Danny Dossman received the 2024 Beltonian Award for his years of volunteer work in the city. The 2024 Citizen of the Year Award went to Emilio Perales, a co-owner of Vista Real Estate and an Army veteran.

Karen Wheeler, a relationship banker with Extraco Banks, was honored as the 2024 Ambassador of the Year.

The Rising Star Award was presented to Krista Snyder for her leadership in business and her efforts to create new mentorship opportunities for young professionals in Belton.

For his dedication to veterans and the Chamber’s Military Relations Committee, Frank Minosky received the Legendary Impact Award for his longstanding service and advocacy for those who served in the military.

Three local businesses — Level 3 Coworking and Event Center, KPA Engineers, and Emerson Construction — were honored as the 2024 Businesses of the Year for their influence on the city’s economic growth.

The Chamber recognized Crossroads Church and KWTX Channel 10 as Community Partners for their involvement in local events, including the annual Fourth of July Parade and Festival.

Belton ISD was recognized as a CTE District of Distinction by the Career and Technical Association of Texas (CTAT). This prestigious award highlights districts that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a commitment to student success through high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

February

In February, high school students from across Texas’ 31st Congressional District were recognized for their achievements in career and technical education (CTE) at an awards ceremony hosted by U.S. Congressman John Carter on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Temple College.

The event honored 29 students from various school districts, with Anna Baez of Temple High School receiving the overall 2025 CTE Award. Baez, who is pursuing an audio-visual design pathway, discovered her interest in video editing through the program.

Other students recognized included Julia Broderick from Belton ISD, who developed a health records app called Archive, and Grant School from Killeen ISD, who plans to become a game warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Several students from Belton ISD were honored for their achievements in CTE programs. Julia Broderick, a senior at Lake Belton High School, was recognized for her entrepreneurship pathway and her innovative app development project. Jazzell Jenkins and Matthew Antuna, also from Belton ISD, were acknowledged for their dedication to their respective CTE pathways.

The Belton City Council agreed to purchase Miller Heights Elementary School for $750,000 plus closing costs and the cost of a survey of the property.

According to information provided by Matt Bates, assistant Belton city manager, the building will be used to provide space for the city’s expanding services. The city became aware in November that the 8.36-acre, 40,000-square-foot property was being prepared for sale by Belton Independent School District and took steps to purchase the school building for both intermediate and long-term needs. The city already owns about 3 acres adjoining the school property.

The facility in southeast Belton could be used for public safety services and a police substation, which would improve response times and safety in the area. Other uses could include storage, space for victim services, and room for the city’s RU OK program. Future uses for the old school could include an emergency shelter and warming center for residents who are unsheltered.

Winter Storm Uri occurred four years ago in February 2021, and in February 2025, Bell County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1, the local water supplier for area cities and Fort Cavazos, celebrated the installation of 16 backup generators to ensure that if power to the local area is affected by a disaster of any type, such as Uri, area cities will still be able to have water pumped to them.

This project equips the Belton Lake Treatment Plant with generators that will ensure continuous operations in the event of a power failure similar to what was experienced during Winter Storm Uri. Local officials, along with community and regional leaders, gathered at BCWCID’s facility near Lake Belton to cut the ribbon for the generators.

The Belton ISD Communications Department earned top honors at the Texas School Public Relations Association’s (TSPRA) annual conference in San Antonio. TSPRA is a professional organization committed to enhancing public school communications.

During the conference, the district was honored with four Gold Star Awards and one Silver Star Award for their outstanding submissions. The awards were presented at TSPRA’s 63rd annual Star Awards Celebration.

Chief Communications Officer Christie Parks stated:

“It has been several years since our team has submitted entries for these state level awards and I could not be more proud of the work that Candice and Marty produce. Our department is committed to delivering consistent, accurate and trustworthy information that engages and informs our students, staff, parents, and community. Earning the trust and respect of those we serve is the ultimate measure of success, but being recognized by our peers is absolutely an additional honor.”

Superintendent Dr. Malinda Golden stated:

“One of our district goals is to strengthen and support the engagement of all stakeholders in pursuit of the BISD vision. We are committed to sharing our comprehensive story, including both challenges and triumphs, with our Belton ISD community and our communications team plays a critical role in this process. The team is setting a new standard for Belton ISD communications and our community can expect this level of transparency and engagement to continue and expand.”

Eligible submissions were produced and used by educational institutions between July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

The Friends of the Belton Public Library hosted their 20th Annual Book & Author Luncheon at Christ the King Catholic Church Family Life Center in Belton.

The event featured New York Times bestselling author Lisa Wingate as the keynote speaker and served as the organization’s largest annual fundraiser for the Lena Armstrong Public Library.

Juanita Smith, president of the Friends of the Library, said:

“The funds raised here help the library with projects that might not fit into their regular budget, and we also use part of it to provide free books to children at different library events.”

The luncheon drew 289 attendees, just shy of the 300-person goal set by organizers.

March

Camp Tahuaya, located at 2603 Tahuaya Dr. in Belton, is officially open to the public after traditionally being limited to Scouting programs.

Longhorn Council, Scouting America, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the camp on Saturday, March 1, to mark the completion of several upgrades aimed at welcoming families, schools, church groups, and other community organizations.

Traditionally, Camp Tahuaya was only available to Scouts and typically operated on weekends and during the summer. Now, with modernized facilities and expanded programming, the camp is open year-round to the public.

New accommodations include family suites, family cabins, RV sites, wall tents, and traditional campsites. Families and visitors can also participate in a variety of outdoor activities such as archery, climbing, hiking, fishing, and paddleboarding.

The decision to upgrade and expand access came after the council noticed more families looking for ways to spend time outdoors.

A new program implemented by the Belton Police Department is designed to help authorities locate people with dementia, autism or specific mental health needs who have wandered away from home.

The program — Take Me Home — has created a local database with photos and personal information that helps police officers find someone who is lost, according to Mary Deville, crime victim liaison with the Belton PD.

When an elderly man with dementia went missing for two weeks last March, it became a catalyst for getting the program started in Belton.

The Lena Armstrong Public Library celebrated renovations with a ribbon cutting. Over the past few years, the library has been remodeled both inside and outside.

Back in 2018, a study of the library was completed by Library System Services. In the interior revamp, bookshelves were moved to the walls to create an open and inviting space. Seating options were changed and an area for middle school-aged children within the main room was created.

Additionally, shelving was installed with rollers. The children’s room was revamped with a color scheme inspired by the mural outside.

In commemoration of Sustainability Month, representatives from Fort Hood and surrounding cities met at the Harris Community Center to recognize individuals and schools for their contributions to environmental efforts.

The event included the signing of a proclamation declaring April as Sustainable Environment Month and the presentation of Environmental Ambassador Awards.

Belton’s Oscar Bersoza, head girls’ soccer coach at Belton High School and vice chair of the Belton Parks Board, was honored as the City’s Environmental Ambassador for his leadership in organizing cleanup projects through the school’s athletics program.

Bersoza said:

“I’ve been in Belton since 1996, so I’m invested in this community, not just because I work at Belton ISD, but because I went to UMHB and Baylor, and my family has lived here a long time. Giving back is important, and I think we all have a responsibility in that.”

Through Belton High School Athletics, students participate in at least two community service projects per year. Bersoza helped organize seasonal cleanups at Chisholm Trail Park, which has been adopted by the school.

Crow and Cactus Co., an exclusive southwestern gift shop, moved to 122A Penelope Street to be closer to the heart of the downtown area.

Owner Amy Morter said:

“I am very excited. This is our second year in business. I wouldn’t want my story to be anywhere else but in Belton. Our community is such a great community. Belton is home for me and my family.”

The store is in the middle of the 8,200-square-foot building with Grappler’s Lair in the north part of the building.

In other business news from March, it was announced that the historic Beltonian Theater was up for sale for $800,000.

The 102-year-old business launched as a theater in May 1922 and was purchased by Dr. Sara and Zechariah Baker in September 2018.

Zechariah Baker said:

“It’s a turnkey operation. We’ve done a lot of work since purchasing The Beltonian. It has a new screen, new projector, two new AC units, a new kitchen floor and appliances, a new roof, an ice machine and a new stand-alone sound system for concerts.”

He added:

“There’s nothing really wanting or making me sell. It’s just that time to take the next step. We’ve come to points in life professionally and personally where it’s time to take the next step.”

The sale included theater equipment, the building, the business model, social media and more.

The Belton City Council approved a resolution supporting the transition of the Central Texas Council of Governments to a Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District.

According to Sam Listi, Belton city manager, CTCOG administers the State’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Program, providing emergency dispatch equipment, technology and training, GIS mapping, and 911 addressing in the rural areas of the CTCOG region.

Residents and businesses are charged 50 cents on phone bills to pay for these services. The money is remitted to, and held by, the State of Texas until the Legislature appropriates the funds to the Texas Commission on Emergency Communications and then to statewide councils of government.

Under this reimbursement format, the COG does not receive all the money generated locally, funding may be delayed, and the amount is unpredictable.

By creating the Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District, all funds collected from the 50-cent fee locally would be remitted directly to the district.

Full recovery of local fees would provide predictable funding for the enhanced 9-1-1 system and generate an estimated $3.7 million during Fiscal Year 2027.

Robert Kenneth Bass, owner of RK Bass Electric, started his business with his wife Cheryl Bass in 1984 and retired this March.

Their office is located at 1200 E. F.M. 2410 in Harker Heights.

Bass said:

“When we started, we found there was another company named Bass Electric in California. Now, we have 200 employees.”

Since RK Bass retired, his son Andy Bass is President/Owner.

The City of Belton hosted the first Legends on the Chisholm Trail event on March 29–30 at The Landing at Creekside Park to celebrate the city’s 175th anniversary.

The event featured Apache Crown Dancers, Native American flute performances, chuck-wagon food, cowboy church, vendors, and educational displays including the Buffalo Soldier Program by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Organizer Leila Valchar said:

“This is our novel event. We’re hoping to grow it to become a very big event in the future.”

Chuckwagon meals were served free by volunteers and included beef tips, chili verde, cowboy beans, green beans with sausage, jalapeño cream corn, biscuits and cobbler.

April

Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Todd Fox of Belton, Michael “Mike” Boyd, and Garry Bradford to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission for terms set to expire Feb. 1, 2031.

Market Days, a Belton tradition dating back to 2010, held its first event of 2025 in April with 101 vendors participating. Live music was provided by Michael Mahler, Jay White and Martian Folk. Area restaurants and merchants were open for business and the event drew large crowds downtown.

The Belton City Council delayed issuance of up to $17.7 million in certificate of obligation bonds to avoid competing with a bond issued by the City of Georgetown.

Belton’s proposed funding supports the Temple-Belton Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, lift station improvements, a new aerial fire department apparatus and the acquisition of the former Miller Heights Elementary School.

Later, the city issued $17.9 million in bonds to fund these projects.

The expansion of the wastewater treatment plant will increase capacity from 10 million gallons per day to 16 million gallons per day.

Belton city spokesman Paul Romer said:

“Expanding the plant is necessary to meet the demands of population growth in Temple and Belton.”

May

A large family pavilion was dedicated at Chisholm Trail Park in memory of longtime Belton ISD counselor Debbie Potts, who died last year.

Her family donated funds for the pavilion through Belton’s Legacy Program, which honors individuals through park improvements.

In the May 3 election, voters chose city council and school board representatives and approved Proposition A.

Daniel Bucher was elected to a third term for Place 5 on the city council, while Luke Neale Potts won Place 6. Stephanie O’Banion was reelected to Place 7.

Proposition A amended the city charter to make Belton’s Municipal Court a Court of Record, meaning proceedings are recorded and appeals may be filed.

Lakewood Elementary was named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for the second year in a row.

The City of Belton also dedicated Standpipe Park on May 16, celebrating completion of a $1.5 million park built around the city’s historic 75-foot water tower.

City Manager Sam Listi said:

“Standpipe Park achieves three important objectives. It preserves infrastructure over 100 years old, creates a recreational space for new generations, and connects to historic tourism across Belton.”

The standpipe was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 and became Belton’s first Local Historic Landmark in 2019.

Belton ISD also recognized the Class of 2025 valedictorians and salutatorians from Belton High School and Lake Belton High School.

The salutatorian for the Belton New Tech @ Waskow High School Class of 2025 was also recognized during the graduation season.

Students from all three Belton Independent School District high school campuses celebrated their spring graduation ceremonies at the Cadence Bank Center. Graduations were held for Belton High School, Lake Belton High School, and Belton New Tech @ Waskow.

Belton High School graduated a total of 403 seniors, while Lake Belton High School had 602 seniors, and Belton New Tech @ Waskow awarded diplomas to 65 seniors.

David Shelburne, a member of the Belton High School Class of 2025, was named one of more than 2,000 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. Officials from each sponsor college selected scholarship recipients from among the Finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program who planned to attend their institution.

These scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution. Shelburne received his scholarship from the University of Alabama.



June

Jones Home & Auto in downtown Belton celebrated its 75th year in business. Much has changed over the decades, but the business has remained a staple in the community.

B.K. Blair, the current owner, has spent most of his life working in what is now an auto repair company. His father began working at Jones after retiring from the military. The business is a Firestone dealership, which first opened in Belton in 1950 and was purchased by the Jones family in 1951. Blair still owns the original operations manual used for running a Firestone dealership.

The Belton City Council arranged the sale of 23.4 acres on F.M. 93 to Jon-Tex Properties. The Belton Economic Development Corporation had been working with two prospective purchasers to subdivide a 36-acre tract on F.M. 93.

The parcel is part of the Rockwool Superfund Site, which was acquired by the Belton EDC from the City of Belton in 2016. The sale of the property will allow for the expansion of ECS Environmental Solutions, owned by Jeff Jones. The total sale price was $193,526.

The City of Belton won a first-place TAMI Award and a second-place Award of Excellence at the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) Conference in Fort Worth.

Belton received first place in the category Best Social Media Campaign – Unplanned (population under 100,000). The campaign consisted of a series of Facebook posts over a six-week period following the May 2024 storm that spawned two nearby tornadoes and caused significant damage to public and private property.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Bell and Coryell Counties held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony to officially open their new office complex in Temple. The organization also celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025 as a stand-alone agency.

Over the past decade, CASA has served 1,500 children, supported by more than 500 volunteer advocates dedicated to ensuring that children’s best interests are represented while their cases are heard in court.

SPJST Accounting Assistant Dorothy Stuchly retired in June after 59 years of service. The Home Office hosted a come-and-go reception in her honor. Stuchly began working at SPJST on February 14, 1966.

She first learned about the job through then-SPJST Financial Secretary Ben Zabcik, a family friend. Stuchly worked at the Home Office before computers were introduced, using a color-coded flag system to track monthly and annual dues and typing all records on a typewriter.

The Belton Area Chamber of Commerce also celebrated the graduates of the Leadership Belton Class of 2025.

Graduates included:
Daniel Aguirre, Deputy Chief of the Belton Police Department; Amanda Cruz with Edward Jones; Leah Hodges with H2 Realty Team; Jenny McCaslin with Kelly Realtors; Rodney Morales with Horizon Bank; Uche Ogwudu with Touch Root Foundation; Kourtney Rambeau with First Community Title; Delilah Ramirez with Extraco Banks; Freddy Robles with the City of Belton Public Works Department; Justin Rogers with the Belton Christian Youth Center; Chad Ruff with CGI; and Lindsay Weaver, formerly with the City of Belton.

Leadership Belton is a 10-month program sponsored by the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce. The program focuses on three primary elements: community awareness training, leadership development, and team building.

On June 10, the Body of Christ Community Clinic, Inc. (BOCCC) celebrated 15 years of service providing medical and dental care to underserved residents of East Bell County.

The clinic has grown significantly over the years. Originally operating only one night per week, BOCCC now serves thousands of patients annually. In 2024 alone, the clinic recorded more than 3,300 patient visits.

On Monday, June 23, Caysen Tyler Allison received his final sentencing related to a fatal altercation with classmate Joe Ramirez that occurred at Belton High School on May 3, 2022.

Allison was initially found guilty of criminally negligent homicide during a jury trial in April, which carried a potential imprisonment range of six months to two years. However, further review by the court added an assault with a deadly weapon enhancement, increasing the possible sentence to up to 10 years in prison.

Sentencing took place in the 478th Judicial District Court at the Bell County Justice Center under Judge Wade Faulkner. After a two-hour recess, Judge Faulkner returned with his ruling that Allison would serve 10 years in prison.