Honor Flight Austin’s program recognizes veteran heroes

Starting this week, weather permitting, TxDOT and its contractor will start a project that will construct a shared-use path along F.M. 2483 from Lake Belton High School to Morgan’s Point Road. The project will improve pedestrian safety and mobility in the area. There will be various lane closures throughout the project, which is scheduled to end early 2027. The pathway will continue along Morgan’s Point Road from F.M. 2483 to Sobrante Road. Additionally, a crosswalk will be added at the intersection of F.M. 2483 and Morgan’s Point Road. The project garnered notable endorsements from key stakeholders, emphasizing collaborative efforts to enhance transportation infrastructure and pedestrian safety in Morgan’s Point Resort and the broader region. These endorsements have come from Congressman John Carter, the City of Temple, the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization, Belton ISD, the Boy Scouts of America Troop 118, the Morgan’s Point Resort Fire and Police Departments, and Mayor Dennis Green. These endorsements underscore the broad support for the initiative and the shared vision for a safer and more connected community. The contractor on the approximately $2.5 million dollar project is Wellcraft Builders. Construction is set to begin on a shared-use path along F.M. 2483 that will connect Lake Belton High School to Morgan’s Point Resort. The $2.5 million project is being funded by a combination of state and federal funds. 

The City of Belton has added two vehicles to its fleet—a passenger bus and a specialized fire blocker truck—expanding the City’s ability to train personnel, orient volunteers, and improve safety for first responders operating at emergency scenes.  City officials unveiled the vehicles on Tuesday, Feb. 24, highlighting their role in strengthening internal operations while maximizing value through strategic acquisition and refurbishment. The City received a 2018 Ford E-450 passenger bus as a donation from The HOP, the region’s public transit provider, following changes to its service fleet. The bus seats 12 passengers and has 143,465 miles. Belton invested $11,352 in repainting and routine maintenance to prepare the vehicle for municipal use. “We donated the bus to the City of Belton. We can auction them off or donate the vehicle. The City of Belton asked us about the vehicle, and we were able to donate it to them. This gives the bus a second life,” said Raymond Suarez, Hill County Transit District General Manager. The bus will support a variety of City functions, including tours for members of boards and commissions, orientation sessions for new employees, and site visits to municipal facilities and infrastructure projects. Officials said the vehicle will help improve understanding of City operations while reducing reliance on multiple vehicles for group travel. The Belton Fire Department also added a 2004 International 7400 4×4 blocker truck equipped with a 3,000-gallon water tank. City Council approved the purchase in September 2025, and the vehicle was acquired the following month from Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 5. The truck has 58,800 miles and was purchased for $99,500. The City invested an additional $24,195 for lighting, graphics, radio equipment, and other upfitting, bringing the total cost to $123,695. Fire trucks are custom-built. A few years ago, one got hit on a call and was out of service for over a year. Blocker trucks are positioned behind emergency scenes to shield firefighters, police officers, and motorists from oncoming traffic. By absorbing potential impacts, these vehicles protect frontline fire engines and critical equipment, helping preserve the City’s primary emergency response capabilities. This truck puts fire trucks back in the city. Fire officials noted that using a dedicated blocker truck reduces wear and risk to frontline apparatus, which are significantly more expensive and essential for fire suppression and rescue operations. City staff emphasized that both vehicles represent cost-effective investments that enhance operational readiness, improve safety, and support ongoing training and engagement efforts across departments.

Belton Parks Board member Jim Deeken was recognized Thursday as an Environmental Ambassador during a regional ceremony hosted by the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership. Deeken is among several individuals and organizations selected for the 2026 Environmental Ambassador Award, which honors efforts in community service, beautification, conservation, pollution prevention and recycling. In addition to his service on the Parks Board, Deeken has regularly volunteered at Heritage Parks, including with the disc golf course there. U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood Commander Mark McClellan and representatives from Fort Hood and neighboring communities gathered at the Killeen Arts and Activities Center to sign a proclamation recognizing April as Sustainable Environment Month. The partnership includes Fort Hood and the Cities of Belton, Copperas Cove, Gatesville, Harker Heights, Killeen, Lampasas, Nolanville and Salado. Other Environmental Ambassador awardees include: Harker Heights: Roxanne Flores Killeen: Scedric Moss Lampasas: Forward Lampasas Nolanville: Mary Jane Utterback Village of Salado: Linda Griffith, Karen V. Morris Copperas Cove: Renee Moore Fort Hood: Sergeant First Class Floyd Bristol Gatesville: Keep Gatesville Beautiful Centex Sustainable Partnership also has awards for youth, the YEA! Awards. This year, the following school districts had campuses receive awards to include: Greater Fort Hood Recycle Bowl: Copperas Cove ISD, Hettie Halstead Elementary; Lights Out Lunch: CCISD, Hettie Halstead Elementary; Sustained Excellence: CCISD, Hettie Halstead Elementary, Martin Walker Elementary Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary; Pull Together to Make a Difference: CCISD, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary; School Beautification: Lampasas ISD, Kline Whitis Elementary; Rising Star: CCISD, House Creek Elementary; Lampasas ISD, Kline Whitis Elementary.  A new award, the Most Valuable Protector, recognized a past community Environmental Ambassador awardee who has continued to make an impact in the Central Texas region. This year’s awardee is the Tavera Green Force - Martín Tavera, Antonio Tavera and Thiago Tavera. Courtesy photo Belton Parks Board member Jim Deeken is recognized as an Environmental Ambassador during a regional ceremony last Thursday hosted by the Cen-Tex Sustainable Communities Partnership.

Morgan Pearl Cakes, located on 2415 N Main, offers a variety of baked goods and services. They offer custom cakes and desserts for weddings, as well as catering for events. Their store hours are 8a.m. to 6 p.m. from Thursday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, but they take pickup and delivery orders outside of those hours. Brittany Simmons, the owner of Morgan Pearl Cakes, has many years of experience working in different baking environments, from grocery stores to high-end wedding cake companies, making her shop unique in terms of quality. The shop also has a large variety of items. “Even going down to Austin, there’s just not a lot of bakeries who offer as many line items as we doevery week, and then just the variety,” said Simmons. Brittany said they started with just wedding cakes, but have since expanded the kinds of items they sell. “A lot of savory stuff is what brings people in, but then they end with a sweet treat, which is great. The majority of it is croissants that are sweet or savory. We do a ton of turnovers, and cinnamon rolls, and cheesecakes,” Simmons said. They now offer more than just bakery items. “We have transitioned since the beginning of the year. We started doing a lot more salads, chicken salad, green leafy salads, but also dense bean salads because a lot of people are concentrating on health at the beginning of the year,” Simmons said. “On Wednesday night, I post on Facebook all of our salads, and we end up getting a ton of people who walk in and they’re just planning their week, and they just grab all of that kind of stuff, and then they’ll get a couple of sweet treats for their kids and one for them.” Simmons mentioned her appreciation for people in the community supporting her business, particularly the moms. “It’s probably because I relate the most to them, more than anything, and they’re really supportive. They really care about you. They want to have you at their party so they can tell their friends about you and push their friends to come in as much as possible." “We have a lot of elderly ladies too, who I really love and I really enjoy, and it’s probably because the business is named after my grandma and my great grandma, and really brings me a lot of joy.” Belton Journal/Shalee Corey-Wiebe Morgan Pearl Cakes, located on 2415 N. Main in Belton, offers a variety of baked goods and services, from sweet treats to savory bites.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced the winners of the 14th annual Javier Arana Jr. Top Trooper Competition. The contest wrapped up on Friday after several days of intense competition at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence. The Top Male award went to Brody Telfer of Belton and the Top Female award went to Melanie Moreno of Seguin. As part of taking the title of Top Trooper, Telfer and Moreno received a custom Spartan sword, kettlebell, pistol slide and handcuffs, among other prizes. They also now qualify to represent Texas DPS in the National Top Trooper Competition, which will be held in Ohio in September, have the opportunity to compete in the National LawFit Challenge and attend the International Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and Exposition. Telfer and Moreno will be recognized at an upcoming Public Safety Commission Meeting at DPS Headquarters in Austin. This year, 140 DPS personnel from across the state competed in the multi-day competition, including 112 males and 28 females – the highest number of female competitors to ever take part in the event’s history. The competition tested Troopers on driving and firearms skills, physical conditioning, endurance and job knowledge through nine events. “This competition represents the very best of the Texas Department of Public Safety. These Troopers demonstrate not only elite skill and discipline, but an unwavering commitment to protecting and serving Texans,” said Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee. “These men and women push themselves beyond the standard, and their performance reflects the highest level of training and readiness required to represent our agency with excellence.” The Top Trooper Competition is named after DPS Trooper Javier Arana Jr., who participated in the inaugural competition in 2012 and passed away shortly after. Beyond the competition itself, events like the Top Trooper Competition play a critical role in strengthening partnerships across the state. Troopers from different regions come together, building relationships and trust that are essential when responding to large-scale incidents such as natural disasters, where personnel from across Texas must work side by side. At the same time, participants gain valuable, hands-on training that enhances their skills, readiness and ability to respond effectively in high-pressure situations – ultimately making them stronger, more capable Troopers for the communities they serve. Courtesy Photo DPS Trooper Brody Telfer of Belton and Trooper Melanie Moreno of Seguin hold their Top Trooper awards after emerging victorious at the 14th annual Javier Arana Jr. Top Trooper Competition held last week at the DPS Tactical Training Center in Florence.

Miguel A. Laboy

Phillip John Wolters

Warren McKentley Isaac

William Thomas