MPR Council OKs fi re equipment grant, hires fi rm to search for new city manager

Capt. Harry Joseph, Jr. June 25, 1939 – January 19, 2026

The Bell Community Foundation will open their grant application period on Feb. 1, 2026. Local nonprofit organizations serving Bell County are invited to apply. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations serving residents of Bell County. To apply, visit [www.bellcommunityfoundation.org/grants](http://www.bellcommunityfoundation.org/grants) and complete the online application form. Each year, the Foundation provides grants to meet diverse community needs and support programs and projects in education, human services, health, cultural arts and other civic concerns. Past recipients of Bell Community Foundation grants include Temple Children’s Museum, 411 House, CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties, Central Texas Youth Services, Feed My Sheep of Temple, and Family Promise. The Bell Community Foundation is an IRS approved public charity founded in 2018. The foundation is a community partner and resource for nonprofit organizations in Bell County and the surrounding areas. Bell Community Foundation was created to provide support to the specific needs of the Bell County area and have a profound impact on the quality of life in our community. For more information scan or visit, http://www.bellcommunityfoundation.org or email info@bellcommunityfoundation.org.

The office of acting Texas State Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s office released its monthly sales tax revenue report for January, and the City of Belton is receiving $754,640.44 in sales tax revenue, starting the new year down by 0.52 percent compared to January 2025. January’s sales tax allocations to Texas cities are based on sales made in November by businesses that report tax monthly. Hancock’s office is sending cities a total of $727.2 million in sales tax allocations for January 2026, which is up 4.3 percent compared to January 2025. Nearby Morgan’s Point Resort and the City of Temple are both up compared to last January, at 5.76 percent and 7.28 percent, respectively. The City of Troy’s sales tax disbursement this month is up 6.65 percent. Salado is down 0.74 percent compared to last January, while Holland is up a whopping 30.26 percent to start the new year. Killeen’s sales tax rebate this month is $2,802,307.26, up 0.72 percent from last January. Harker Heights sees an increase of 1.24 percent for January 2026 and will receive $909,900.67.

The Belton Police Department will submit two criminal justice grants — one for rifle-resistant body armor, the other for renewal of the General Victim Assistance grant program. The grant submittals were approved during Tuesday’s Council meeting. According to Belton Police Chief Larry Berg, the body armor grant is for 23 rifle-resistant armor plates rated to stop rifle rounds. The purchase would replace outdated ballistic vests for all staff at an estimated cost of $100,000. The grant does not require matching funds. The victim assistant grant would allow Crime Victims’ Assistance Program services to be expanded at the police department and would include counseling services, funding for the victim assistance liaison, training, equipment and supplies. The estimated cost for personnel, supplies, equipment, and training is $100,000, and the grant requires a 20 percent match. The 20 percent match — about $20,000 — would be included in the Fiscal 2027 budget. Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Council received a report and provided direction for future revisions to the short-term rental ordinance. On March 14, 2023, City Council adopted an ordinance to license and regulate short-term rentals (STRs) within the city of Belton. In February 2025, the city executed a contract with Granicus LLC to assist with identification, compliance, and monitoring of STRs. More than fifty STRs have been identified, but only nineteen of those have been permitted. Even fewer are remitting hotel occupancy taxes to the city. There are also a significant number of unregistered units that do not meet the 500-foot spacing requirement in the ordinance. Staff seeks direction from City Council on three distinct components to craft revisions to the STR ordinance for future consideration: • Collection/enforcement of hotel occupancy taxes • Owner-occupied versus non-owner occupied designations • Separation requirements for duplexes and multi-family units Whether an STR is permitted or not, hotel occupancy taxes are due for any stay less than 30 days in length. Seventy-six percent of the identified STRs are delinquent on occupancy taxes. Staff recommends pursuing the collection of all taxes, penalties, and interest for occupancies occurring from Jan. 1, 2025, to present. If necessary, complaints may be filed with the municipal court. In the current ordinance, the 500-foot separation requirement does not apply if “the owner of the property does reside on-site when a portion of the dwelling unit is rented.” The owner-occupied designation is made when the property is permitted. Because there is no practical way to verify that the owner is actually on site during each rental, this designation is essentially moot. Staff recommends eliminating references to owner-occupied properties from the ordinance. Two non-owner-occupied duplex owners appealed the 500-foot distance requirement to Council. Both were approved. The Council then asked staff to review solutions to duplexes and other multi-family dwellings. Staff recommends allowing STRs on both sides of a duplex that is located on one lot, regardless of the owner-occupied status. However, the method to measure the distance between applicable duplex lots is the same method as measuring between single family lots: nearest lot line to the nearest lot line. For multi-family properties, staff recommends amending the ordinance to change how the 500-foot distance is measured between multi-family units located on the same lot. The current ordinance states that the distance is measured from lot line to lot line. A better measurement for multi-family properties may be the distance from exterior wall to exterior wall of the other dwelling unit. The distance between an STR in one multi-family development and another STR located on a separate lot would still be measured from lot line to lot line using the 500-foot distance rule.

Public education is under attack, even though states are legally required to provide an equitable and adequate education for every child. As an educator, I’ve learned to listen to older people. Seasoned adults have an uncanny ability to sense who can be trusted and who can’t. Most of the time, I agree with them. In just about every job I’ve ever had, there have been a few older educators who became trusted comrades, people who had seen enough to know the difference between noise and truth. People have instincts like that. Sometimes it’s just a gut feeling. Sometimes it shows up in how someone treats employees or even their own friends. For me, my radar immediately goes up when anyone starts disparaging the teaching profession. Like any profession, there are bad actors who should be removed, and public and state education can and should improve with the right support. A few bad apples never justify bullying an entire profession though Bullying is increasingly coming from social media. Online harassment, threats, and insults aimed at teachers have become the most common form of aggression educators face today. These attacks cause real emotional and psychological harm and are driving good teachers out of the classroom. Left unchecked, this kind of rhetoric can spill over into real-world violence. Much of it is politically motivated. Well-funded organizations have repeatedly targeted public and state education with false or misleading claims. In June 2023, as reported by author Glenn Rogers, Gordon ISD, a small, high-performing rural district in north central Texas, was viciously attacked online after being falsely accused of grooming students for transgenderism. The claim centered on a book available statewide through TexQuest, an online library coordinated with the Texas Education Agency. The book had never been accessed in Gordon ISD and had already been suppressed by school officials. None of that mattered. The attack rattled teachers, parents, and administrators. Educators who had done nothing wrong were subjected to fear, stress, and public shaming. Let’s just call it what it is, public education is taking some hard shots right now. Across the country, more teachers are being verbally abused and, in some cases, physically attacked by students and even parents. Some reports say as many as 10 to 14 percent of educators have been assaulted on the job. A lot of folks point to the post-pandemic years as the turning point, but regardless of the cause, the results are clear: teachers are worn down, morale is taking a hit, and too many good educators are deciding it’s not worth the risk anymore. That’s why school safety isn’t just a talking point, it’s something we’ve got to take seriously. Older, experienced educators seem to know who to trust. Maybe it’s time the rest of us trusted our seasoned teachers again. Thought for the Week, “A community’s true values are revealed not by its slogans, but by how it treats the people entrusted with educating its children. When we choose education over outrage, we choose a stronger future.” Blake Powell, a leading Texas educational attorney. Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.

Mother Nature wrecked havoc on Belton ISD’s athletic schedule last week, forcing multiple events to be rescheduled. District 16-5A basketball games originally set for Tuesday will be played tonight after inclement weather created unsafe travel conditions. As a result, the Lady Tigers will travel to No. 4 Lake Belton to begin the second round of league play, while Belton hosts the Broncos. Both games begin at 7 p.m. The Tigers will then travel to Waco University on Friday and host Killeen Chaparral on Tuesday. Lake Belton will play against visiting Killeen Ellison and travel to Waco on Friday and Tuesday, respectively. In girls action, Lake Belton will travel to Ellison (Friday) and host Waco (Tuesday), while Belton plays University at home Friday and travels to Chaparral on Tuesday. In soccer, weather forced Belton and Gatesville to cancel their boys match, removing the Tigers’ nondistrict finale. They begin league play Friday at Waco University. The Lady Tigers host University to begin district Friday, when Lake Belton plays Ellison. The Broncos play at home, and the Lady Broncos will be on the road. SOFTBALL Practices and scrimmages for the upcoming season recently began for both Lake Belton and Belton, and games are allowed starting Feb. 9. The Lady Broncos will host three more scrimmages against Waco Midway (Friday), College Station (Monday) and Salado (Feb. 6). Then, their season will begin Feb. 19 with a trip to Georgetown. The Lady Tigers’ first game is set for Feb. 10, when they play at Killeen Shoemaker. Prior to the encounter, they will scrimmage at Round Rock Stony Point on Friday, Round Rock Cedar Ridge on Saturday, Temple on Tuesday, and Troy on Feb. 7. District 16-5A play begins March 17, when the Lady Broncos host Waco University and Belton plays at Waco. BASEBALL Practices for the upcoming season recently begin for both Lake Belton and Belton with scrimmages permitted to begin Saturday. Games are allowed starting Feb. 16. The Broncos will take part in scrimmages against visiting China Spring (Saturday), Temple (Saturday) and Buda Johnson (Tuesday) before scrimmaging at Leander Rouse against the host Raiders and Round Rock McNeil on Feb. 7. Lake Belton closes its preseason with scrimmages at Round Rock Cedar Ridge (Feb. 10) and versus Austin Westwood (Feb. 13). Then, the Broncos’ season will begin Feb. 19 with another trip to Cedar Ridge. The Tigers have an intrasquad scrimmage set for Saturday before scrimmages at Bastrop (Saturday), versus Georgetown East View (Tuesday), Troy and Little River Academy (Feb. 6), Hutto (Feb. 10), at Round Rock Stony Point (Feb. 13) and versus Leander Glenn (Feb. 16). Belton’s first game is set for Feb. 19, when it travels to compete in the three-day Pflugerville ISD tournament. District 16-5A play begins March 24, when the Broncos travel to Belton for the first game of the series, which moves to Lake Belton on March 27.

As January comes to a close, both Belton and Lake Belton girls soccer programs have wrapped up non-district play and now shift their focus toward the start of district competition. While their paths to this point looked different, each team used the final stretch of the schedule to build experience, test lineups, and prepare for the challenges ahead. Belton concluded non-district action with a road victory over Vista Ridge, earning its first win of the season. The Tigers delivered a steady, complete performance, showing improvement in multiple phases of the game. Defensively, Belton remained organized and disciplined, limiting breakdowns and staying connected across the back line. Offensively, the Tigers played with confidence, moving the ball with purpose and maintaining possession for extended stretches. One of the key takeaways from the match was Belton’s adaptability. Several players were asked to take on different roles, and the team responded well, showing depth and a willingness to adjust as the game unfolded. The result moved Belton to 1-5-2 on the season and provided a positive benchmark heading into district play, especially after a series of close matches earlier in the year where the effort did not translate into results. Meanwhile, Lake Belton closed out its non-district schedule at its third and final tournament of the season, facing a demanding slate of opponents. The weekend tested the Broncos against a variety of playing styles and game situations, offering valuable preparation for district competition. In the opening match, Lake Belton responded well after falling behind early, battling back to reach halftime even before late mistakes allowed the opponent to pull ahead. The second match followed a similar pattern, remaining tightly contested deep into the second half before a late penalty decision determined the outcome. The Broncos concluded tournament play against Frisco Wakeland, currently ranked at the top of 5A Region II, in a fast paced match played under challenging wind conditions. Across the tournament, Lake Belton faced constant pressure, quick tempo, and difficult environmental factors, all of which contributed to a demanding weekend. While the results did not fall in the Broncos’ favor, the level of competition provided a clear picture of where the team stands and what areas will be critical moving forward. With non-district play complete, both programs now turn their attention to district competition beginning January 30. Belton will open district play at home against University High, while Lake Belton begins on the road at Ellison. For both teams, the start of district represents a reset and an opportunity to apply lessons learned, and compete for position as the season enters its most important phase.

Anglers for years that if they’re casting for a 13-pound or heavier largemouth bass to enter in the forty-year-old TPWD/Toyota ShareLunker Program to not be discouraged if the first month of the entry period didn’t produce one for them. January traditionally doesn’t cough up many large fish. Our Januarys are mild enough, though, that a few big female bass might think it’s springtime and start thinking toward spawning. Some bass caught in January might not be as heavy as bass caught later in the three-month ShareLunker entry season. Sometimes egg sacks take more time to mature. The most qualifying entry bass and the heaviest come in February and March. When I hadn’t received a news release about any Sharelunkers having been caught by January 22, I called the efficient and helpful coordinator of the program at the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Natalie Goldstrohm, to see if any had been caught. Natalie, as always, gleefully announced that two bass had been entered! She apologized for the lack of notice but the two bass had just been caught. One of the two was caught at 5:30 p.m. the day before! The first one was boated two days earlier. Press releases were still making their way through the editing and approval stages. They’re coming. TPWD is careful and passes press releases before appropriate staff to read and approve. The first bass entered in 2026 weighed 13.75 pounds and was caught in – guess where? Of all waters in Texas, Lake O.H. Ivie would be the waterbody most would guess. And they would be right! Ivie has been the dominant lake for lunker bass for the past three years. It was caught by Charles Roberts and was the same bass Roberts caught and entered last year on Ivie, which is 55-miles east of San Angelo. No details of the catch or lure are available. The second bass entered this year came from Lake Alan Henry, a picturesque waterbody south of Lubbock. It’s pretty far north in Texas, and the water stays cold later into the ShareLunker season. Some bass chasers that frequent LAH have even requested that its season end later to give the lake more time to warm to the magical spawning temperature of 60-degrees. That would consequently give the bass later into the season to develop eggs, and weigh more. So far, TPWD has declined to make that exception. But it didn’t take Ross Gomez any later to catch a ShareLunker, there. He caught the second one of the season on January 22 and it weighed 14.74 pounds. He used a jerk bait, this time. Wait; did I just say “this time?” Indeed I did. Gomez caught the SAME BASS TWO OTHER TIMES. The first time he was crappie fishing. Does that sound familiar? (Think Barry St. Claire’s existing State Record bass.) Gomez was using artificial lures all three times, however. Like Barry’s record, catching the same ShareLunker three times is probably a record that will stand the time.

As the first round of district play comes to a close, both Lake Belton and Belton girls basketball teams have put themselves in position to compete as the season moves into its most important stretch. Each program reached this point in different ways, but both showed an emphasis on team play during recent district matchups. Lake Belton finished the opening round of district with a commanding win over University High. From the opening tip, the Lady Broncos controlled tempo and established momentum early, building a double-digit advantage in the first quarter and continuing to extend the lead as the game progressed. Defensive pressure and scoring allowed Lake Belton to separate quickly, limiting second-chance opportunities and forcing difficult possessions throughout the night. The Lady Broncos continued to build on their early success with scoring and ball movement. Multiple players contributed offensively, allowing Lake Belton to maintain pace across all four quarters. A strong third quarter widened the gap further, and the defensive effort in the final period sealed the result. The win closed out the first round of district play and kept Lake Belton unbeaten in district action, while also reinforcing the team’s consistency over the course of the season. Belton also wrapped up district play with a strong performance, earning a home victory against Ellison. The Tigers set the tone early, opening the game with a shutout first quarter that immediately established control. That defensive effort carried over throughout the game, particularly on the glass, where Belton turned in its strongest rebounding performance of district play. Offensively, the Tigers found rhythm behind a standout scoring night from Isabella Warner, while the rest of the lineup contributed through defensive effort, rebounding, and energy. Senior leaders Ke’Ara Shanks and Emma Flory anchored the defense and provided leadership on the floor, helping Belton maintain composure as Ellison attempted to close the gap. The Tigers’ ability to combine defensive intensity with timely scoring allowed them to pull away and secure the win. With the victory, Belton heads into the final district game of the first round with both teams sitting at an even mark in district play. The Tigers will travel to Waco to close out the opening round, looking to build on recent defensive improvements and carry momentum into the second half of the district schedule.