BURLESON – Holt Frazier threw three touchdowns and Bryer McDonald scored three times as the Brock Eagles beat the Fort Worth Dunbar Wildcats 49-0 Thursday at Burleson ISD Stadium to win the Bi-District Championship.

Brock junior quarterback Frazier completed 21 of 30 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns against Dunbar (4-7) while junior running back McDonald ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 23 attempts with two receptions for 19 yards.

Brock (10-0) advances to the Area Championship where it will face the winner of Friday’s Bi-District Championship game between the Fort Stockton Panthers (6-4) and the Estacado Matadors (7-3).

Subscribe now

Brock scored on the first drive of the game and never looked back, capping off the seven-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Frazier to sophomore receiver Colt Matlock to give Brock a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 8:11 left in the first quarter.

Matlock caught 11 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Frazier connected with Matlock on a 29-yard pass to Dunbar’s five-yard line to set up McDonald’s first touchdown of the game. McDonald scored on a five-yard run the next play to extend Brock’s lead over Dunbar to 14-0 after the extra point with 1:03 left in the first.

Brock brought the score to 21-0 before the end of the first quarter as Frazier completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Braeden Ray with nine seconds left in the quarter the play after sophomore defensive back Wade Doherty intercepted Dunbar’s pass.

Ray caught four passes for 69 yards and the touchdown.

Dunbar held Brock scoreless in the second quarter until Matlock scored his second touchdown of the night on a 17-yard pass from Frazier to give Brock a 28-0 lead that it took into halftime.

After a scoreless first nine minutes of the third, McDonald found the endzone for the second time on a 12-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 35-0 after the extra point with 2:38 left in the third.

McDonald scored again on a 20-yard run to increase Brock’s lead to 42-0 with 10:19 left in the fourth.

Freshman quarterback Traycen Thompson relieved Frazier in the fourth quarter and scored on a five-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 49-0 with 5:18 left in the game.

Thompson ran for 22 yards and the touchdown on two carries.

Dunbar senior quarterback Marcus McDade completed five of 16 passes for 62 yards in the loss. Junior receiver Detrick James caught two passes for 45 yards. Running back Kamron Lloyd ran for 37 yards on six carries.

Share

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

In front of a sold-out crowd in beautiful late-August weather, Burleson seniors Nate Jackson and Donya Armstrong each scored rushing touchdowns while junior quarterback Andrew Sparks threw a touchdown pass in their victory.

After Burleson scored a safety and led 2-0 by the end of the first quarter, Armstrong forced a Centennial fumble to set up Jackson to score the game’s first touchdown and give Burleson a 9-0 lead in the second quarter.

Jackson ran for 94 yards on 17 attempts with the touchdown.

Armstrong finished with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and his own rushing touchdown.

Burleson was up 38-0 before Centennial scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The loss came in new Centennial head coach Blake Meyer’s first game at the helm after being hired to succeed Kyle Geller—the only other head coach in Centennial football history—in March.

Centennial didn't quit as sophomore Ben Chavarria scored three touchdowns in the fourth with Burleson scoring one to bring the score to 45-21.

Chavarria ran for 105 yards and the three touchdowns on 15 carries.

In an error-filled game—unsurprising for an opener—Burleson got on the board first with its first of two safeties as Centennial kicked the ball out of its own end zone to give Burleson a 2-0 lead two minutes into the first quarter.

Following Jackson’s touchdown, Burleson junior linebacker Lawson Blanchard returned a Centennial fumble for a touchdown to give Burleson a 15-0 lead in the second quarter.

Burleson scored another touchdown to take a 22-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.

After Burleson scored another safety to extend its lead to 24-0 in the third, senior receiver Jayden Hernandez scored on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Sparks to bring the score to 31-0 in the third quarter.

Sparks completed nine of 11 passes for 108 yards and the touchdown pass and rushed for 79 yards on eight carries.

Subscribe now

Burleson cuts Centennial’s series lead

Beating Centennial for the first time since 2021, Burleson cut Centennial’s Battle of The Boot-series lead to 8-6.

Burleson moves onto “War on 174”

Burleson will look to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2021 when it faces its long-time rival the Cleburne Yellow Jackets (1-0) Thursday at 7 p.m. at Yellow Jacket Stadium in Cleburne in the “War on 174.”

Cleburne opened its season with a 24-3 victory over the Corsicana Tigers (0-1) Friday in Corsicana.

Centennial looks for Meyer’s first win against Sam Houston

Centennial will look to bounce back and earn Meyer’s first win as head coach when it returns to Burleson ISD Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. to host the Sam Houston Texans (1-0).

Sam Houston is coming off a 28-14 season-opening win over the Nimitz Vikings (0-1) Friday in Irving.

Share

Subscribe now

I’m going to continue to refrain from publishing The Burleson Buzz regularly for the foreseeable future.

I really miss running this newsletter, and I can’t imagine being done doing that, but I need to continue focusing on my family and my full-time job for now.

Until I can resume consistent publishing, I’ll publish when I can.

My dad, Bill O’Brien is covering The 2025 Battle of The Boot Friday at Burleson ISD Stadium for The Buzz, and we’ll publish a recap by Monday.

I haven’t announced anything until now because it wasn’t until recently that I accepted that I don’t have the same availability I used to for covering events, interviewing sources and gathering information.

I really appreciate every readers’ support, and I look forward to sending you more to read in the future.

Sincerely,
—Cody

BURLESON — Burleson ISD named former Centennial High School football defensive coordinator Blake Meyer Centennial’s new head football coach and athletic coordinator Monday.

Meyer succeeds Kyle Geller, Centennial’s head football coach and athletic coordinator since Centennial opened in 2010. Burleson ISD named Geller assistant athletic coordinator of athletic operations February 14.

Burleson ISD trustees approved hiring Meyer—Centennial’s defensive coordinator since Geller hired him in 2010 when Centennial opened—at the March 10 board meeting based upon the recommendation of a selection committee, which included Geller, Chief of Interscholastic Activities Kevin Ozee, high school and middle school principals and a community member, Burleson ISD stated in an email.

Being named Centennial’s head coach and athletic coordinator is a “dream come true” for Meyer, Meyer said in Burleson ISD’s email. He’s excited to add to the “great legacy” Centennial built under Geller, Meyer said.

“Most of all I am excited to lead such a great group of young men,” Meyer said. “I couldn’t ask for a better team to coach. They are what makes Centennial special, and I am proud to be their coach.”

Burleson ISD is thrilled to hire Meyer, who’s “exceptional leadership, dedication and a deep commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field” has made him an “integral” part of Burleson ISD athletics during his tenure, Ozee said in Burleson ISD’s email. Ozee added Meyer is “deeply respected by his players and the community.”

“[Meyer] has been Coach Geller's right-hand man and will continue to build on CHS’s success,” Ozee said. “His vision for our program aligns perfectly with our core values, and we are confident that, under his leadership, Centennial athletics will continue to succeed."

Centennial reached 11-straight playoff appearances since 2014, six bi-district championships, three area championships and a state-quarterfinal appearance under Geller with Meyer at defensive coordinator.

During the season Centennial set the Burleson ISD record for most season wins, Meyer’s defense allowed 16 points per game.

Burleson ISD superintendent Dr. Bret Jimerson said in Burleson ISD’s email he’s “seen firsthand” Meyer’s dedication to Centennial High School, its football program and Burleson ISD’s student athletes.

“This commitment will allow him to continue the winning tradition at CHS, and I look forward to seeing the program thrive under his leadership,” Jimerson said.

Meyer’s 25 years of high-school coaching include leading all varsity defensive operations, developing and implementing the defensive system from varsity to seventh grade, establishing the first wrestling program in Burleson ISD history—coaching five individual state champions, including the district’s first-ever boy and girl UIL state champions—and leading the Centennial powerlifting program.

Meyer began his new role Tuesday. Centennial hosted a reception for staff, players and parents Tuesday night at the Centennial indoor facility.

BURLESON — Harvest House is hosting its annual Vineyard Vibes community concert and vendor fair April 27 from noon to 7 p.m. at Lost Oak Winery with all proceeds benefitting Harvest House.

The event will feature live music headlined by Burleson’s own Texas country artist Phil Hamilton, food trucks, local vendors and “family-friendly” entertainment, Harvest House stated in a press release Monday.

“Come for the music. Stay for the memories. Leave knowing you’ve made a difference,” Harvest House stated.

Bands September Moon, Texas High Road and Riley Gilbreath and Lone Star Blue and local children’s dance groups will also perform at the event.

The local food trucks will offer barbeque, Tex-Mex, desserts and more. Local vendors will offer “unique” art, home decor, boutique clothing and jewelry. Lost Oak Winery will have award-winning wine available to purchase.

General admission to Vineyard Vibes costs $25 online at vineyardvibesbtx.com and $30 at the door.

Harvest House encourages guests to bring lawn chairs and blankets for lawn-style seating. Free parking will be available onsite. Pets are welcome.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Harvest House’s dedication to feeding, clothing and restoring families in need throughout the community, Harvest House stated in its press release.

“Don’t miss out on this exciting day of music, food, and fun—all for a great cause,” Harvest House stated.

After publishing today’s newsletter, The Burleson Buzz will be taking a temporary hiatus as publisher Cody O’Brien prepares for the birth of his daughter and adapts to the changes that will bring.

The Burleson Buzz will pause recurring paid subscriptions during this time.

The Buzz in Burleson this week:

• 🎙️Local educator and podcast host launches community internet-radio station

• 🚔Burleson PD headquarters-expansion changes and increased cost presented to City Council

• 🏫Holy Cross breaks ground on fifth through 12th-grade campus

• 🏈Geller no longer coaching Centennial, named Burleson ISD assistant athletic director

Local educator and podcast host launches community internet-radio station

Cody O’Brien

It’s time for the community of Burleson and the surrounding area to have a trusted source of information and news.

That’s why Brad Allard, a retired Burleson ISD teacher and Hill College professor and host of the podcast “Mr. Allard’s Neighborhood,” launched an independent internet-radio station “Community Radio TX” in January.

“We don’t have a newspaper, we don’t have an over-the-air radio station,” Allard said. “A lot of people say it’s difficult to advertise, market and find out what’s going on because we don’t have that source of local information. They get most of their news about what goes on in this area from Facebook, which is sometimes accurate and sometimes not.”

Read more about Community Radio TX

Burleson PD headquarters-expansion changes and increased cost presented to City Council

Brandon D. Crisp

BURLESON – The Burleson City Council discussed changes to the Burleson Police Department headquarters expansion at its meeting Monday at City Hall.

City council opted to vote on approving a final plan on March 25 after a report showing major updates—including the cost increasing to $44 million from the original $41.5 million approved in October 2023—on the design development and renderings and schematics of what the new expansion will entail was given to city council at the meeting Monday.

Construction is expected to begin in September after city council approves a new plan at the March 25 meeting.

Read more about BPD HQ-expansion updates

Holy Cross breaks ground on fifth through 12th-grade campus

Cody O’Brien

BURLESON — Holy Cross Christian Academy announced breaking ground on its fifth through 12th-grade campus down the road from its current facility Tuesday.

The single-story, 13,240-square-foot facility—designed to “provide an advanced learning environment” for fifth through 12th-grade students—is expected to be ready by December, HCCA stated in an email Tuesday.

HCCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony open to the HCCA community, supporters and media February 25 at the new campus’s site less than a mile away from the current facility at 1500 Tarver Road, HCCA stated in a press release Tuesday.

Phase-one of this nine-phase master project includes six classrooms, an art room, a science lab, a collaboration room, a multipurpose room and a storm shelter, HCCA stated in its press release.

Read more about Holy Cross's new campus

Geller no longer coaching Centennial, named Burleson ISD assistant athletic director

Cody O’Brien

BURLESON — Kyle Geller is no longer the Centennial High School head football coach and athletic director after accepting a new role with Burleson ISD.

Burleson ISD named Geller—Centennial’s head football coach since Centennial opened in 2010—its new assistant athletic director of athletic operations Friday.

In Burleson ISD’s announcement, Geller said it’s been an “honor and a privilege” to serve as Centennial’s head coach and athletic coordinator and thanks the players and coaches for making his time in the role all he “ever hoped for.”

Read more about Geller's new BISD role

A note from the publisher

Burleson, I just want to say I’m so thankful for all the support The Burleson Buzz has received recently as you readers have been sharing posts so much lately, and I’m sorry to have to take another break from publishing.

This is just temporary, and I appreciate your continued support as I try to navigate running what this business, which is very important to me, in my spare time while working a full-time job and raising my growing family with my wife, which is even more important to me.

—Cody

Refer a friend

It’s time for the community of Burleson and the surrounding area to have a trusted source of information and news.

That’s why Brad Allard, a retired Burleson ISD teacher and Hill College professor and host of the podcast “Mr. Allard’s Neighborhood,” launched an independent internet-radio station “Community Radio TX” in January.

“We don’t have a newspaper, we don’t have an over-the-air radio station,” Allard said. “A lot of people say it’s difficult to advertise, market and find out what’s going on because we don’t have that source of local information. They get most of their news about what goes on in this area from Facebook, which is sometimes accurate and sometimes not.”

Allard will provide Community Radio TX listeners–on the TuneIn, Audacy and Live365 apps–with news and information about what’s going on in the area that he gathers from taking over the Municipal Matters of BTX Facebook group. Allard has taken over administrating Municipal Matters since the original admin Sarah Carlson is moving, which Allard thinks is unfortunate for Burleson.

Along with relaying info found in Municipal Matters on the station, Allard plays his community podcast, “Mr. Allard’s Neighborhood,” which already provides listeners with information about the community through interviews with local leaders and business owners.

Allard also wants to play more podcasts besides his own on the station.

Besides podcasts and the First Baptist church service, Allard plays 60s and 80s music for listeners.

Allard doesn’t want to just play the same 60s and 80s music he hears on other radio stations though.

“Sometimes I turn on some of the other stations that play what I’m playing, and it’s like I could tell you I could bet my house mortgage it’s going to be either Tom Petty or Fleetwood Mac or Pink Floyd, which I used to like when I heard it the first thousand times,” Allard said.

Another way Community Radio TX differs from other stations is that, because it’s internet radio, it doesn’t have to be listened to within a certain range.

“If you’re taking a four-hour drive somewhere and you just want to put music on and not think, you’re not going to have to be changing the station because you get my show, you put it on TuneIn or Live365 and can just let it roll,” Allard said.

Community Radio TX is also a tool for local businesses and organizations to advertise.

“It’s meant also to be a marketing tool for small businesses that are having to compete with these chains,” Allard said. “I like some of these chains fine, but they’ve got a lot larger budgets than a mom-and-pop restaurant or a boutique of some sort.”

Another way Community Radio TX differs from other stations is in its advertising experience. Allard didn’t want to create the same experience he’s had listening to talk radio where commercials make up 20 minutes out of an hour of listening.

Community Radio TX’s ads are each one-to-two minutes long and are played two-to-three times per day.

Wanting to advertise for local businesses is part of what made Allard want to start Community Radio TX.

In a networking group Allard’s in, he’s heard local-business owners talk about how difficult it can be to market without social media which can be costly.

Allard thought he could help with this by creating a community radio station where these businesses could advertise to an engaged local audience. He was apprehensive though because of his previous attempt at running a local radio station.

Allard always wanted to be in radio and tried running an internet station about three years ago, but it “totally failed,” he said.

“I thought because I have such good taste, everybody’s going to want to listen to my playlist, and of course it failed because it really wasn’t about the listener and it was more about me,” Allard said.

Allard was inspired to give radio another try by a quote he heard at a networking event. The quote was about entrepreneurial acts starting with acts of courage.

“I drive by businesses here all the time, and these guys–these men and women in this town–took the act of courage to say ‘I want to start a boutique, a restaurant, boot store, fill in the blank,’” Allard said. He thought he could take a similar act of courage.

Now that Allard’s taken that act of courage and launched Community Radio TX, he wants to make it a go-to source of local information and a go-to marketing tool for local businesses.

“My hope is that when people think about getting local information or business opportunities or ads or [info on] what’s going on in their communities, that [Community Radio TX] is one of the first things they think of,” Allard said.

Allard doesn’t just want the station to be Burleson’s go-to source though. He wants it to serve most of Johnson County.

For Community Radio TX to become that go-to source, it needs support both from listeners and sponsors.

Allard said sponsoring the station is affordable as is, but he also offers a 50%-off discount on sponsorships to businesses that sponsor the Mr. Allard’s Neighborhood podcast.

As for getting listeners, Allard understands that while he sees Community Radio TX as something that can become known to and listened to by many community members, right now he’s asking people to “alter their listening habits.”

“A lot of people listen to podcasts. They listen to Dan Bongino and talk shows like that or sports talk, or they put it on some of these country-western stations that are around like The Ranch and all that,” Allard said. “That’s all great, but I’ve got to try to squeeze in there somehow.”

If Allard can get people to change their listening habits to tune in to Community Radio TX for local information, the community could become more informed and its local businesses could thrive.

Check out Community Radio TX on TuneIn, Audacy or Live365.

BURLESON – The Burleson City Council discussed changes to the Burleson Police Department headquarters expansion at its meeting Monday at City Hall.

City council opted to vote on approving a final plan on March 25 after a report showing major updates—including the cost increasing to $44 million from the original $41.5 million approved in October 2023—on the design development and renderings and schematics of what the new expansion will entail was given to city council at the meeting Monday.

Construction is expected to begin in September after city council approves a new plan at the March 25 meeting.

City council originally approved a $41.5 million plan in October 2023, but no construction on the project has begun.

Burleson voters approved a $36 million general-obligation bond to fund the police department-headquarters expansion in 2021.

The city postponed a $5 million reconstruction project on Greenridge Drive and Wicker Hill set to begin in 2025 to fund the expansion.

The new $44 million cost is 3.1% higher than the $42.7 million budgeted for the project.

The plan’s updates include building a two-story, 28,170-square-foot building rather than the originally-planned one-story building. The Public Safety Communications team will now be located in the new building on the second floor with property and evidence now being located in a secondary new building.

Deputy city manager Eric Oscarson and police chief Billy Cordell presented to city council options to change or reduce the plans to bring it into budget at Monday’s meeting.

Those options included increasing the project budget and the capital-improvement plan to build it as designed and amending the plan.

City council will meet again on March 3 at City Hall before approving an updated police-department headquarter-expansion plan on March 25.

BURLESON — Holy Cross Christian Academy announced breaking ground on its fifth through 12th-grade campus down the road from its current facility Tuesday.

The single-story, 13,240-square-foot facility—designed to “provide an advanced learning environment” for fifth through 12th-grade students—is expected to be ready by December, HCCA stated in an email Tuesday.

HCCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony open to the HCCA community, supporters and media February 25 at the new campus’s site less than a mile away from the current facility at 1500 Tarver Road, HCCA stated in a press release Tuesday.

Phase-one of this nine-phase master project includes six classrooms, an art room, a science lab, a collaboration room, a multipurpose room and a storm shelter, HCCA stated in its press release.

The project also features a security system integrated with HCCA’s existing campus, a septic system, detention pond, drive lanes and landscape features, HCCA stated.

HCCA called the new campus a “milestone marking the next phase of the academy’s long-term vision for growth and excellence in Christian education,” HCCA stated.

HCCA head of school Karen Matejka is excited for the development and believes it’s been a “long time coming,” she said in HCCA’s press release.

“We are thrilled to finally break ground on our [fifth through 12th-grade campus] and are looking forward to partnering with mission matched families to cultivate Christian leaders and thinkers,” Matejka said. “We hope to be a beacon of light shining on Burleson and the surrounding area.”

Diverse Studio led the campus’s design and focused on “harmonizing education with the surrounding environment,” HCCA stated in its press release. Diverse Studio is “honored and excited” to contribute to the project, Diverse Studio partner Francisco Velasquez said in the press release.

“Expanding Holy Cross Christian Academy with a campus that inspires learning, harmonizes with nature, cultivates growth, and enriches community has been a deeply collaborative effort,” Velasquez said. “Together, HCCA’s board members, administrators, educators, Diverse Studio, Rudick Construction Group, and consultant teams have worked hand in hand since day one to bring HCCA’s vision to life.”

Rudick Construction Group is “thrilled” to lead the construction and “bring this vision to life,” Rudick Construction Group CEO Clay Rudick said in HCCA’s press release.

“This project is about more than just a building—it’s about creating a space that will shape the educational journey of students for generations,” Rudick said.

The project team includes Campbell Landscape Architecture for landscape design, RLG Consulting Engineers as the civil engineer, Datum Engineers as the structural engineer, HP Engineering for mechanical, electrical and plumbing services and Sugar Hill Engineering for septic-system design, HCCA stated in the press release.

Subscribe now

BURLESON — Kyle Geller is no longer the Centennial High School head football coach and athletic director after accepting a new role with Burleson ISD.

Burleson ISD named Geller—Centennial’s head football coach since Centennial opened in 2010—its new assistant athletic director of athletic operations Friday.

In Burleson ISD’s announcement, Geller said it’s been an “honor and a privilege” to serve as Centennial’s head coach and athletic coordinator and thanks the players and coaches for making his time in the role all he “ever hoped for.”

Coaching Centennial was a job Geller thanked God for, Geller said in August 2024 in an interview with The Burleson Buzz.

“It’s nice. I’m lucky. I’m blessed,” Geller said of being the Spartans’ head coach. “I thank God for that. When I go to church on Sunday, I thank God for that. I literally get in the kneeler and that’s what I do.”

Geller—a three-time Johnson County Coach of the Year and a 2022 finalist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram DFW Coach of the Year—coached Centennial to 11-straight playoff appearances since 2014, six bi-district championships, three area championships and a state-quarterfinal appearance.

Geller holds records for most single-season wins and most career wins by any football coach in Burleson ISD history.

“Transitioning into the assistant athletic director of athletic operations position made perfect sense at this time and I look forward to serving the district that I love in this capacity,” Geller said in Burleson ISD’s announcement.

Burleson ISD stated in its announcement it will immediately begin searching for Centennial’s new head football coach “to ensure a seamless transition and uphold the high standards of excellence established within the program.”

Geller’s departure as Centennial’s head coach follows him turning over offensive play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Eric Stephens ahead of the 2024 season after Geller called offensive plays since 2014.

Geller hired Stephens before the 2024 season as “somebody with much better expertise” running Centennial’s new offense after Centennial decided to move away from the run-heavy option-based offense it ran since 2014 to a more “conventional” offense in 2024.

“I know [Stephens] knows what he’s doing,” Geller said in the August 2024 interview. “You don’t hire someone and get in the way. You hire someone and let them do their job that they’re hired to do.”

As assistant athletic director of athletic operations, Geller will assist in the planning and organization of Burleson ISD athletic programs, including overseeing athletic facilities and event operations, preparing interscholastic game schedules, assisting with personnel recruitment and training and promoting the accomplishments of student-athletes and programs.

Burleson ISD superintendent Dr. Bret Jimerson said in the announcement that Geller’s experience, success and relationships with the district’s coaches make him an “outstanding” choice for assistant athletic director of athletic operations.

“[Geller’s] leadership and dedication to our student-athletes will be invaluable in shaping the future of BISD athletics, and we are proud to have him continue his journey with us in this important role,” Jimerson said in the announcement.

Kevin Ozee, Burleson ISD chief of interscholastic activities said in the announcement he’s thrilled for Geller, Burleson ISD athletics and the Burleson ISD community and said Geller’s been an outstanding leader at Centennial.

“[Geller’s] exceptional qualities—humility, competitive drive, ability to build strong relationships, willingness to take on any challenge, and deep passion for coaches and athletes—will have an immediate and positive impact across the district,” Ozee said in the announcement.

Geller will begin his new role once Burleson ISD Stadium and operations manager Ted Tomchesson retires in May at the end of the school year.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

BURLESON — The No. 12 Mansfield-Timberview Wolves beat the No. 11 Centennial Spartans 50-47 as Ryan Wright made the game-winning three-pointer with four seconds to play Tuesday at Centennial High School in the team’s regular-season finale.

Timberview (11-3 in District 8-5A, 27-7 overall) led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter and as many as 12 in the third.

Centennial (11-3, 28-7) didn’t let the game get away and went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit and another 15-2 run to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

Centennial senior forward Jared Cox hit a three to cap a 15-2 run to give Centennial a 43-41 lead early in the fourth quarter — its first lead since Cox made a free throw after Timberview committed a technical foul before the game started.

Cox scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and blocked two shots in the loss Tuesday.

Timberview senior guard Jaden Goudeau made two free throws to tie the game on the next possession and followed that with a bucket to give Timberview a 45-43 lead.

Goudeau led Timberview with 12 points in the win.

The senior forward Wright scored the next possession to give Timberview a four-point lead.

Wright scored eight points.

Centennial senior guard Tristin Flowers scored to cut Timberview’s lead to 47-45 late in the fourth quarter.

Flowers finished with eight points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal.

With Centennial running a trap defense, junior guard Keylan Jones stole the ball from Timberview and dished it to sophomore guard Dontre Grandberry who scored to tie the game 47-47 in the final minute.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

Don’t forget to use your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community to earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the newsletter grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Read more

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

BURLESON — The Burleson City Council convened February 3 at City Hall for discussions about pending trash changes, a potential change for the new Dairy Queen and purchases for the Fire Department.

Council listens to citizens, postpones trash-service changes until 2029

At February 3’s meeting, the council decided to postpone any changes to the city’s trash services until 2029 after discussing the changes with each other and with citizens.

The changes — first brought up at the January 6 council meeting — included changes to the number of pickups per week, mandating the use of a cart and the addition of hazardous-waste removal, which would have resulted in a decrease of what citizens pay per month from $24.23 to around $19 per month.

Several citizen speakers expressed disagreement with the changes at February 3’s meeting.

In a perfect demonstration of how government is supposed to work, hundreds of citizens spoke out, reaching out to the council via email, posting on Facebook, showing up to the meetings, and more, and because of that, the Council has decided to postpone any changes until the current contract expires in 2029.

Councilmember Adam Russell (Place 6) suggested postponing changes until 2029 but mentioned that “citizens need to expect the bag service to go away with the new contract.”

This could mean that even though exchanging bags for carts was one of the biggest complaints, cart-exclusive service could likely be our future with the way that the market is going.

Councilmembers Victoria Johnson (Place 1) and Alexa Boedeker (Place 3) concurred with Russell. Boedeker added that the council was going to make the changes “to save [citizens] money.”

Councilmember Dan McClendon (Place 5) said he will err on the side of what the citizens want even if it’s more expensive. He also mentioned that he always wants to spend the citizens’ money responsibly.

Council approves fire-department ambulance purchases

The council approved the Burleson Fire Department purchasing two new ambulances for $832,000 at the February 3 meeting.

Fire Chief Casey Davis said the ambulances will help increase the fire department’s reliability as the fire department is averaging a 19% year-over-year call-volume growth — far outpacing cities of similar size.

The council also approved the purchase of a new sewer vacuum truck for the public works department for $517,000.

Council tables Dairy Queen’s sign request

The council decided to table making a decision on a sign request from the Dairy Queen at 1620 Southwest Wilshire Boulevard.

The applicants requested to put in a pole-style sign closer to the street than the city ordinance allows due to the required monument-style sign being expensive to maintain if the city needed to perform sewer repairs.

City staff could not recommend approval due to the two variances requested, but the council shelved the item to discuss after the city explores putting a “sleeve” on the sewer line to prevent potential issues in the future.

The city attorney mentioned that the city — based on the Texas Constitution — can’t provide financial assistance directly to a private development and that any potential changes will require the applicant to be liable.

The applicant said they understand that possibility and appreciate the council coming up with a potential solution with the sleeve.

Next meeting

The council is scheduled to meet again February 17 at City Hall.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

Don’t forget to use your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community to earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the newsletter grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

BURLESON — The No. 11-ranked Centennial Spartans completed a season sweep over the crosstown-rival Burleson Elks with a 93-41 win Friday at Burleson High School on Burleson’s senior night.

Second-place Centennial (11-2 in District 8-5A, 28-6 overall)—led by senior guard Tristin Flowers with 25 points—had three players score double-digits, played aggressive full-court press defense to force turnovers and grabbed 18 more rebounds than Burleson (5-8, 20-15) in the last of the rivals’ two matchups in the 2024-25 regular season.

Centennial beat Burleson 71-36 January 14 at Centennial High School in the rivals’ first matchup of the season—Burleson’s inaugural “Battle of The Hoops.”

Flowers scored the first eight points of the game Friday to give Centennial an early lead and scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the first quarter.

Centennial shut out Burleson in the first quarter, leading 24-0 at the end of the quarter.

Flowers made a game-high six three-pointers on his way to 25.

Burleson senior guard Parker Haas was the game’s second-leading scorer with 12 points.

Centennial’s freshman forward Creed Stafford and senior forward Jared Cox also scored double digits with 11 points each.

Stafford added eight rebounds and two assists.

Cox added five rebounds and two blocks.

Sophomore guard Levi Robinson added nine points for Centennial.

Centennial played full-court press defense most of the game and forced 25 turnovers from Burleson.

Read more

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

BURLESON — The No. 3-ranked Mansfield-Summit Jaguars beat the the Burleson Elks Friday at Burleson High School to remain undefeated in District 8-5A.

Junior guards Theo Brennan and Caleb Richard and junior forward Michael Gibbs each scored a game-high 10 points to lead first-place Summit (11-0 in district, 25-6 overall) past the fifth-place Burleson Elks (5-6, 20-13).

Summit struck first as Richard hit a three-pointer to take a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter.

Richard finished with 10 points, two steals, a block and a rebound. He dunked on a fastbreak in the second half.

Burleson got on the board when senior forward B.J. Evans made a free throw to cut Summit’s lead to 3-1 in the first.

Evans drew the foul attempting a layup on a fastbreak pass from freshman guard Landon Logan.

Logan scored a team-high eight points and led Burleson with three assists.

After outscoring Burleson 20-11 in the first quarter, Summit shut Burleson out in the second quarter and never looked back.

Read more

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

BURLESON — Students, staff and basketball-game attendees evacuated the Burleson High School arena Friday at approximately 7 p.m. when a fire alarm went off after smoke emitted from a popcorn machine.

The building was evacuated for approximately 15 minutes. The Burleson Fire Department arrived and left within 10 minutes.

A Burleson firefighter said smoke from a popcorn machine triggered the alarm.

The fire alarm went off in the fourth quarter of the Burleson Lady Elks varsity basketball game.

Burleson High School staff directed students, staff and basketball-game attendees to evacuate the building shortly after the alarm went off.

The evacuation delayed the remainder of the girls basketball game and the start of the Burleson Elks varsity basketball game against the No.3-ranked Mansfield-Summit Jaguars.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

Don’t forget to use your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community to earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the newsletter grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Enjoy 25% off a paid subscription to stay up-to-date on local high-school sports

Take advantage of a limited-time offer of 25% off an annual paid-subscription to be more informed in 2025

Get 25% off for 1 year

CLEBURNE – B.J. Evans scored 17 points to lead the Burleson Elks to a 35-20 victory over the Cleburne Yellow Jackets Tuesday at Jeff D. Cody Gymnasium.

After a slow start with Burleson (5-5 in District 8-5A, 20-12 overall) leading 4-2 at the end of the first quarter and Cleburne (0-10, 5-23) leading 9-8 at halftime, Burleson opened it up and outscored Cleburne 14-7 in the third and 13-4 in the fourth.

The senior forward Evans scored 13 of his game-high 17 in the second half and went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line in the fourth.

Burleson scored 13 points–including eight on 10 free throws–to Cleburne’s four in the fourth. Evans and junior forward Baron Harrison made seven of eight free throws late to seal the deal.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Read more

Take advantage of a limited-time offer of 25% off an annual paid-subscription to be more informed in 2025

Get 25% off for 1 year

BURLESON — Lily Sheppard scored a game-high 17 points as the No. 10 Mansfield-Summit Lady Jaguars beat the Centennial Lady Spartans 63-34 Friday at Centennial High School.

Summit (11-0 in District 8-5A, 25-5 overall) led the whole game and had its best quarter in the fourth when it outscored Centennial (4-7, 13-17) 20-9 to secure its seventh straight victory and hand Centennial its third straight loss.

In addition to her game-high 17 points, the junior shooting guard Sheppard led the game with three assists and had three steals.

Sheppard made back-to-back buckets to increase Summit’s lead to 20-14 in the second quarter after Centennial pulled within two.

Centennial sophomore guard Layla Levels tied Sheppard’s game-high 17 points and made a game-high three three-pointers, including two to get Centennial on the board in the first quarter.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Read more

Take advantage of a limited-time offer of 25% off an annual paid-subscription to be more informed in 2025

Get 25% off for 1 year

BURLESON — Theo Brennan scored a game-high 16 points as the No. 3 Mansfield Summit Jaguars beat the No. 13 Centennial Spartans 67-23 Friday at Centennial High School.

Summit (9-0 in district, 23-6 overall) never trailed on its way to its seventh straight win, handing Centennial (7-2, 24-6) its first loss after a 10-game winning streak.

After a low-scoring first quarter in which Summit outscored Centennial 10-1, Summit outscored Centennial 31-11 in the second and never looked back.

The junior guard Brennan scored 14 of his 16 points in Summit’s big second quarter.

After the game, Summit head coach Emund Prichett said he’s excited for Brennan and proud of him.

“Nothing is surprising with [Brennan],” Prichett said. “He just plays and plays the right way, plays as hard as he can.”

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Read more

When Kris Noteboom moved back to Burleson in 2016 to help his family with their commercial-construction business, he didn’t think Burleson was the right town for a cigar lounge. He now owns Wilde Cigars, a cigar lounge and bar offering Burleson a unique craft experience.

Opening a cigar lounge is a dream-come-true for Noteboom, and it means even more to him to have it in his hometown.

“The opportunity to open this here, I thought was really great,” Noteboom said. “I get to be in my hometown. There’s still a lot of people I know around town, which is nice, and just be a part of the community.”

When Noteboom grew up in Burleson, it wasn’t the town it is today – it was a “bedroom community,” where no one spent their time and money, Noteboom said.

“If we wanted to do anything, if it wasn’t something on 174 over here, we had to go to Fort Worth,” Noteboom said.

Noteboom was originally going to open a cigar shop in Denton under a different name with a different concept. It was going to be more of a lowkey neighborhood shop, Noteboom said.

Burleson’s population-boom and economic developments made Noteboom think his dream business could not only be a reality in Burleson but that it could be even better here. 

“We kind of went into this one saying ‘what if a franchise bar was also a cigar bar,’ as opposed to always keeping cigars off in kind of tiny little strip centers, things like that,” Noteboom said.

Wilde being a craft, upscale bar and lounge is what makes the business special. 

“It’s not all about the ‘Hey, let’s get our buzz on or get drunk and go to the bar,’” Wilde bar manager and artist Kim Jackson said. “It’s about appreciating a handmade thing.”

The handmade thing Jackson’s referring to is the cigars, of course but also her art that hangs on Wilde’s walls, the books Wilde keeps on a shelf for customers to read at their leisure and the craft cocktails she and the staff create. 

Jackson has two original art pieces, pictures made entirely of cigar bands, along with multiple prints, hanging at Wilde. She uses the business’s podcast studio to make art. 

The freedom Jackson has to create, not just her cigar-band art but also craft cocktails can be “intoxicating,” Jackson said.

“We’ve all bonded,” Jackson said. “I like to cocreate with everybody. It’s not just me creating cocktails. It’s all of us adding some elements. So it’s been kind of a fun leadership role that I never thought I would enjoy, but I do.”

The art appreciation Noteboom displays at Wilde comes from his background in fine arts – he’s gone to theater school, written plays and worked as a journalist. Noteboom met Jackson at theater school. They, along with their other theater friends, smoked cigars together at a cigar lounge near campus.

That cigar lounge might be where the seed of Wilde was planted.

When Noteboom first experienced a cigar lounge, he immediately felt welcomed by the connection his fellow cigar-lovers had to each other. Bringing people of different backgrounds and classes together through a shared love of cigars is what cigar lounges are famous for, Noteboom said.

“Our elevator pitch is it’s one of the last great ‘small-d’ democratic spaces we have left,”  Noteboom said. “And I say small-d democratic in that not affiliated to a political party, but so much as the ideal that everyone is welcome here.”

That social aspect of cigar-smoking is very important to Wilde, which is why Jackson chooses to engage with and get to know customers, rather than simply serve them as quickly as possible, Jackson said.

“It really encourages this like connecting with each other of people you would just never run into in any other place of all different economic levels,” Jackson said.

With it’s comfortable lounge seating and relatively-quiet music, Wilde is built for socializing, Noteboom said. The lounge also has card games, board games and dominos for people to play.

Wilde is located in The Standard at Chisenhall in Burleson near American Revelry, Doughboy Donuts and Roasted Beanery, all of which Noteboom recommends. Being in The Standard is potentially greatfor Wilde, Noteboom said, but it wasn’t his original plan.

Noteboom was originally going to build his own building for Wilde on East Renfro Street, but he seized the opportunity to open at The Standard.

“I had driven by this building and said ‘Boy, if I could build anything, I’d build that building,’ Noteboom said. “And it just so happened we got the opportunity.”

Noteboom opened Wilde in December 2021 and hasn’t looked back.

Take advantage of a limited-time offer of 25% off an annual paid-subscription to be more informed in 2025

Get 25% off for 1 year

BURLESON – Ellie Stanley scored 12 points as the Centennial Lady Spartans beat their crosstown-rival Burleson Lady Elks 50-38 Tuesday at Centennial High School in the inaugural “Battle of The Hoops.”

After Burleson (2-6 in district, 8-18 overall) scored the first four points of the game, Centennial (4-4, 13-14) scored 11 unanswered points–six from two Ellie Stanley three-pointers–and outscored Burleson 19-9 in the first quarter.

Centennial’s first-quarter lead was large enough to keep things out of reach with the rest of the game being more even as Burleson outscored Centennial 10-9 in the second quarter and Centennial outscored Burleson by three points in the second half.

The Buzz offers free paid-subscriptions for referring readers

The Burleson Buzz is offering a way for you to enjoy more local news—absolutely free.

Using your unique referral code to share The Buzz with your friends, family and community, you can earn free months of a paid subscription while helping the publication grow and bring local news back to more people in and around Burleson.

Refer a friend

Read more