The charge, according to the Texas Penal Code, is classified as a third-degree felony.

'We are writing to inform you of an allegation made regarding April Howard, a Teacher at Pilot Point Elementary School,' read one of two letters sent to Pilot Point Elementary School parents regarding the incident. 'The District was notified on August 21, 2026, of allegations that Ms. Howard inappropriately disciplined a student.'

In that letter, sent out and signed by Principal Shana Pike on Aug. 21, it stated to the public that PPISD had contacted the Texas Education Agency State Board for Educator Certification, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Pilot Point ISD Police Department and the Pilot Point Police Department regarding the situation.

In the letter issued following Howard's arrest, the district said 'Ms. Howard was placed on administrative leave pending investigation.'

'We will continue to follow District protocols to comply with legal requirements,' according to the second letter. 'We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and are committed to transparency as this case develops, within the limits of what the law allows us to share and while maintaining confidentiality for any victim, as outlined by law.'

The district also encouraged anyone with additional information or concerns to 'contact the Pilot Point Police Department, the TDFPS at https://www.txabusehotline. org/Login/Default. aspx, 1-800-252-5400, or the Pilot Point ISD Title IX Coordinator, Valerie Wall at vwall@pilotpointisd. com.'

According to the jail records, Howard was arrested and also released on Sept. 3 on a $5,000 bond.

The clear sound of a bell rang out, followed by a roar of cheers in the Monaco Elementary gym on Sept. 3.

The occasion: a celebration of Carlos Bendana Jr. completing his lengthy childhood cancer treatments.

'It's amazing the way the school has stepped in for us from the beginning,' said Natalie Bendana, Carlos Jr.'s mother.

Her husband echoed that, saying the family has 'never been a part of anything like this.'

'Seeing the community come like this and the school come like this for our son is incredible,' he said.

Carlos Jr. was diagnosed with pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at only 3 years old.

The diagnosis came May 7, 2024.

'He started remission last year in June,' Natalie said.

The school-wide celebration came the day before the now-5-year-old's final chemotherapy treatment.

'At times, this day felt like it was never coming,' Carlos Sr. said. 'It felt like it was an eternity.'

Carlos Jr. was the final Monaco student to file into the gym, and as he and his family came in, music teacher Angela Lee led the kids in 'On Top of the World.'

Sprinkled throughout the room were pictures saying 'STRONGER THAN CANCER' and posters with sayings such as 'Super Carlos' on them, visual encouragements of the boy and his family.

Carlos Jr., facing his whole school with his own kindergarten class at his feet, beamed as fourthgrade teacher Andy Kane got down on his level and helped guide him through the bell-ringing ceremony.

'Guess what?' Kane said. 'You beat cancer. You're strong.'

He then told him to ring the bell, and again, the kids screamed their support.

Kane said after the ceremony that it was a joy to celebrate the milestone with the entire Bendana family, whom he helped support with a charity basketball game in the spring of 2025.

'To see the courage that he goes through life with is pretty awesome, and his wonderful sisters and his mom and dad—he just has the best support system,' he said. 'It was an honor to get to do that. I didn't expect that.'

He also said seeing the school support its own is what keeps him at Monaco, especially through life's challenges.

'They're never going to put it behind them,' Kane said, referencing the checks Carlos Jr. will need to make sure he stays in remission. '... But they get to ring that bell, and I'm glad for them.'

Carlos Sr. spoke about how special it was to have Kane's help throughout the process.

'He supported us, he did a charity event for us, so [it's] a big deal for us, too, for him to be here today,' he said.

Natalie and Carlos Sr. also spoke of the neighbors who have helped support the Bendana family through these years of treatment and emotional turmoil.

'We can't wait to get off this train,' Carlos Sr. said.

The large dirt mound behind Aubrey City Hall covers more than an acre and will hold 127 public parking spots.

“We wanted to add more accessible and safe parking for events like the peanut festival,” said Ethan Keith, Infrastructure Inspector with Aubrey. “We're looking at improving the downtown infrastructure with new businesses that are coming in and adding more parking for the businesses that are existing in town.”

The first phase is expected to be completed just in time for the 40th Annual Aubrey Peanut Festival, which is set for Oct. 3.

“So, it's about 80% of the total parking spaces,” Keith said. “There's a corner on Elm Street and West Sycamore that will be developed after the first phase.”

The full project is expected to be completed by the end of October or early November.

The projected timeline was made possible through collaboration with other companies.

“We had some electric line utility pole and streetlight relocates that Greg Evans with [Texas-New Mexico Power] was able to come in and do rather quickly for me, and there would have been some delays if they weren't able to do that for us,” Keith said.

In addition, the project includes infrastructure updates.

“Approximately 1,100 linear foot of drainage improvements are being done with this project, as well as approximately 900 linear foot in water and sewer, upgrading our infrastructure downtown,” Keith said.

Along with that, there will be more ADA accessible pedestrian walkways and ramps.

This includes signage, striping and pavement markers to make the historic downtown both accessible and safer, Keith shared.

City Manager Charles Kreidler shared that the city is in its second phase of downtown development, and parking was a key component of its success.

He added that Main Street is being redesigned, including plans to add parking beyond the 127 spots and road infrastructure.

Eventually, the city government will relocate out of downtown.

“Right now, the city owns the majority of the property downtown,” Kreidler said. “... If we want to have evening and weekend activity, then the government needs to get out of downtown so that we can have that opportunity for future development.”

The city also worked with the Union Pacific Railroad to make the project possible.

“Some of that parking lot is on railroad property, and they leased that to us specifically to put parking there,” Kreidler said. “Because our plan is to develop downtown into a vibrant place where people want to come.”

As a result, it is expected to draw in more business to the area because of the appeal of having ample parking for customers.

“It's very exciting seeing the development, everything new, making an opportunity for businesses to be downtown,” Kreidler said. “It's a draw for our residents, so we're excited.”

In “On the Wings of Valor: Missions of a Military Hero,” Janet Hathaway Conrad helps preserve the memory of her father, a highly decorated United States Air Force veteran, Major Benjamin F. Hathaway, one memory at a time, turning family recollections into a lasting record.

“I can't think of a better way to honor, especially somebody like that, that's 27 years of his life given to his country,” Janet said.

It was her son Scott Poliseno, who encouraged his grandfather to write his stories and recount his life.

“For years, I gave him a book every Christmas for helping him to write his memoirs, because he would tell me stories, stories, stories, and I loved his stories,” Poliseno said.

Eventually his persistence worked, and his grandfather began writing from memory with immense detail.

“He sat down one day, and he started writing, and he started with the first thing he could remember,” Poliseno said. “And he told me that it just unlocked something in his brain, and it all just started to pour out, and he didn't stop for days and nights and weeks. He just kept writing every day, all day.” Hathaway, a historian in his own right, documented his experiences through photos, keeping the tags from the bombing runs he went on, and preserving scraps of newspaper related to his missions.

Memories delicately stored in things like photo albums.

He began writing starting at his earliest memory of age three and continued through his time of service in the Air Force.

“He wrote a lot,” Janet said. “I mean, it was over 200 notebook pages, handwritten, both sides. And he wrote it long before he passed away, but I didn't see it. He gave it to my son, who had been asking him to do it.”

After his passing, once she started to read it, she realized the magnitude of the papers she held in her hands and that she had something to pass down for generations.

That’s when she decided to type it so she could give it to her family.

However, as she kept writing, she came to think, “This needs to be a book,” so she picked up where he left off and documented the remainder of his life and burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

“Historians who want to read about World War II a long time from now, I hope in the future, 100 years from now, people still want to read about it because there's a lot of lessons to be learned from every war we've been in,” Janet said.

She annotated the book, keeping true to his original writing, only correcting grammar and flow and creating chapters.

“My dad was a character,” Janet said. “He was always playing, making a joke.”

His humor is reflected in the book, as are some of the hardships he faced having lived through the Great Depression.

“You don't think about the year that your parents were born,” she said. “What technology was there? What things were available for them? They had no air conditioning. … They didn't have running water in the house. They didn't have electricity. They didn't have refrigerators.”

It gave her a lot to reflect on and be grateful for.

“We're all so spoiled with what we have, and how fortunate we are, and life has evolved a lot, and so I think it's important for those kinds of things to be written down and documented,” Janet said.

Hathaway was a highly decorated airman and received many awards for his service, including the Silver Star, a Purple Heart, 10 Air Medals, various Distinguished Flying Crosses, and countless other honors. He’s remembered most for his character.

“Brilliant man,” Ronnie Conrad said. “Very compassionate. Very stoic. He was part of that generation. You're not going to find that anymore, the givers.”

Poliseno recalled similar traits through stories of his grandfather helping the family in times of need.

“I could not be more thankful and appreciative of my mother's effort to do this,” Poliseno said. “When I saw [the book] yesterday, it was very emotional. It was neat to see it in the chapter form and a little more polished, and I'm very grateful that she's done this. He really is a hero. He's an American hero. He really is. And there are a lot of people like him that have never gotten any credit.”

“On the Wings of Valor: Missions of a Military Hero” is available for purchase on Barnes & Noble, Life Rich Publishing and Amazon.

“I wish he knew I was doing it before he passed,” Janet said. “I know he would have been very proud of it. And he should be. And I'm so happy that I was able to do this for him.”

Owners Abigail Parra Patel and Mit Patel expanded it in August to add more dining room space.

“People are enjoying the new space,” Abigail said. “They're able to bring family groups, and they're able to enjoy a little bit more time with one another, and that was our main goal: to bring people downtown.”

The journey started a few years ago, when the couple moved to the area and looked for food as tasty as Abigail’s dad’s cooking.

Mit asked his father-inlaw, who has three restaurants, to bring one to Aubrey, but he declined and instead encouraged his son-in-law to open one.

As a data engineer by trade, the idea had never crossed Mit’s mind.

“I have no background in restaurants; I have no workers, I have no menu, I have no recipes, I have nothing basically, even if I want to, and he was like, ‘I will give you everything; you just put your money in,’” Mit said.

With her father’s 15 years of experience, Abigail said he provided them with an outline, and the couple decided to go for it.

The couple worked on the business while Abigail was deployed in Kuwait.

“Deployment was hard, but I think that little development kept me motivated,” Abigail said. “I have something whenever I get back, because it was really hard being away from family. … And the restaurant also connects me to my dad.”

Owning a business comes with its challenges, but above it all, the couple enjoys what they do.

“I love it,” Mit said. “… I know it's more work, but at the end of the day, I'm satisfi ed because I'm working for myself and the response that I get from the customers makes … me satisfied.”

Christine Gossett, Director of Municipal Development, remembers when the Patels were looking for a building back in the summer of 2024.

The restaurant received the Targeted Improvement Grant from the MDD to help renovate the kitchen and complete other work. By May 2025, it was open for business.

“The spirit of the grant is obviously to help grow business or help improve a building so that business can go into a space and improve it so that it's here for another hundred years,” Gossett said.

After the neighboring building, Casey & Co. Boutique, closed its brick-andmortar store, the couple decided to expand into that space and applied for and received another grant.

The restaurant closed temporarily for the remodel and reopened last month.

The expansion allowed them to seat over 60 more people, bringing their max capacity to around 100 occupants, Abigail shared.

This will allow them to host private events like baby showers, birthday parties and family gatherings more comfortably.

However, the goal remains the same: to offer good food and quick service to their customers, Abigail said.

“They did a great job and we were very happy to help them with that project,” Gossett said. “It's been great for Aubrey and great for downtown Aubrey.”

When they reopened, it was supposed to be a typical Thursday, but it was anything but that when the doors opened to the public; it was clear to the Patels how much their business meant to the community.

“Our sales [have] never been that high, even on weekends in a year, that we sold on Thursday,” Mit said. “And we were not prepared for it.”

Families came out in droves; even some students came, patiently waiting for the reopening to get one last taste before heading off to college the next day, and the rush carried over to the weekend, Mit shared.

Since then, the initial worries, doubts and whatifs have vanished because of the community support, the city's support, support from the Goin Family and many others.

“We are here to stay forever,” Mit said. “This is our town. We are not leaving this place [to go] anywhere else.”

I've been a card-carrying voter since I turned 18.

Voting is an incredible right and responsibility.

As anyone who has changed their name knows, the process can be a bit complicated.

Since I got married almost a year ago, that has been a work in progress that I have woven into my life when I can.

If you haven't had to make an appointment for the Department of Motor Vehicles lately, count yourself lucky, because even in small offices, walk-in appointments are hard to come by.

When I finally made it into one to change my name in the spring, I checked the box on the driver's license paperwork to update my voter's registration.

Soon after, I received my card in the mail, complete with my new last name, saying I was good to go for the next election.

I didn't worry about it again until Saturday, when I stumbled on a couple of posts from friends on social media encouraging people to make sure they register for the upcoming midterm elections.

On a lark, I turned to votetexas.gov to check my voter registration.

For some reason, and I've tested this repeatedly, my voter's registration information does not pull up.

Instead, I get this error message: 'You cannot view voter information due to your voter registration status.'

Let me tell you, seeing that message gave me a sinking feeling. What do you mean that despite following the necessary steps and having been a responsible member of society, I'm not sure that my vote will count in the fall? To add to the confusion, when my husband went to votedenton. gov, he pulled up my voter registration immediately and successfully.

I still need to look further into this myself to make sure that when I step into the ballot box, my vote will count.

The state's website does say, 'Voter registration in Texas is countybased, so we encourage you to contact your county voter registrar for specific questions regarding the status of your voter registration.'

Hopefully that means I've been worrying for no reason.

Even if you think you are good to go, I would recommend checking your information to ensure it is current so you face no issues when you attempt to vote.

Oct. 5 is the deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election.

Make sure your voice will be heard.

Abigail Bardwell is the Editor & Publisher of the Post-Signal, and she serves on both the North and East Texas Press Association and the Texas Press Association boards. She can be reached at abardwell@postsignal.com.

Gorman is the owner and lead teacher at The Learning Cottage. She is taking a big leap of faith, as she describes it, by opening her own preschool in her home and giving young minds a warm, inviting space to learn and explore.

“I'm very intentional about providing a great education for these kids,” Gorman said. “I want there to be childcare that parents just know that I'm genuinely invested in their kids and trust me as soon as they drop their kids off. But I also want to provide a strong educational foundation.”

As a mother of three little ones, she wanted to be present for her family while continuing her love of teaching.

“I've always had this little bit of a dream, and I didn't think it would happen so soon,” Gorman said. “But it was like I kind of got that nudge and I went with it, after calling like every friend I know,” she said with a laugh.

Support from friends and family motivated her to pursue it.

In just four short months, her family transformed their storage and playroom into what is now her preschool before the first day on Tuesday.

“I had the vision, and my husband has worked very hard many nights and weekends to make it happen,” Gorman said. “... My kids have helped too, and that makes it even more special.”

She also expressed gratitude for the many people who gave her toys and items for the room.

Her background includes 15 years of public education experience, most of it in her hometown.

“I'm a third-generation Bearcat. … So it was very special to teach in Pilot Point ISD because it's the community that raised me,” Gorman said. “So I'm glad I got to give back in that way.”

She will be joined by preschool assistant Becky Buchanan, who brings experience with children as a paraprofessional, librarian and substitute teacher.

The Learning Cottage also has a historical connection: It’s located on College Street in Pilot Point, the same street as Denton County's earliest established college.

“The Pilot Point Seminary School opened in 1872 as a primary and secondary school, and later offered bachelor’s degrees in 1884,” according to the Denton County Office of History and Culture website. “The school officially changed its name to Franklin College in 1892.”

The school eventually closed in 1900 because it lacked funding and student enrollment.

The house was later turned into what many know today as the Rest Cottage, an orphanage that expanded to take in unwed pregnant women and mothers.

“I love that the land has the history of caring for people and educating people,” Gorman said. “And now in my own little small way, I'm going to continue that.”

The preschool is equipped for 12 students. Ten are currently enrolled, with two openings left.

One of those students is her youngest child, Emmett, who already seems to love the space.

The preschool will follow the PPISD calendar to match its breaks.

Later in the month, she will start offering The Cottage Creative Club, a 6-week series starting Sept. 15 for ages 4-10, meeting every Tuesday afternoon.

Starting in October, Fall Fridays: Drop-in Mornings, a childcare service, will be available for ages 3-10.

She also plans to incorporate art and outside playtime in the Curiosity Garden for the preschool class, and eventually, she hopes to add gardening.

“I want everything to be meaningful childhood experiences that end up kind of being academic, like when you're gardening and you're learning responsibility and, obviously, the science of it,” Gorman said. “And then we're going to do some cooking together. So we do some measuring and some real-life experiences there.” With a passion for literacy acquisition, she plans to offer private reading tutoring.

“Watching a child learn to read is the most rewarding experience,” Gorman said. “… I think if they develop that love for learning when they're young, that's going to impact their educational journey for life.”

Gorman said she’s excited to be part of that journey in her students' lives, and it’s one of the main reasons she decided to work with younger children.

“I hope that the Learning Cottage will continue to grow someday, both in size and what it can offer,” Gorman said in a text. “I'm passionate about encouraging and mentoring early childhood educators. I would love TLC to be a place where not only children can learn and grow, but teachers too. Of course, for now I'm excited to start small, do my best, and see where this little school goes from here.”

The Ray Roberts Lake State Park Johnson Branch Unit, 100 PW 4153 in Valley View will offer Fishing with a Ranger, 9 a.m. Saturday, Kid Fish Pond; Loteria en el Parque, 3 p.m. Sept. 19, Nature Center; Moon Madness, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Group Pavilion 2 parking lot; and Let’s Tidy Up the Shore!, 9 a.m. Sept. 20, Nature Center parking lot.

The Johnson Branch Legacy Run will be Sept. 19 with a 15K, 10K and 5K race. To register, go to runsignup.com/Race/TX/ValleyView/ JohnsonBranchStatePark.

The Isle du Bois Unit, 100 PW 4137 in Pilot Point will have the following events at the Lost Pines Amphitheater: Nature Hike, 9 a.m. Saturday; Become a Junior Ranger, 10 a.m. Sept. 19; Vital Vultures, 2 p.m. Sept. 19; and Tarantula Talk, 10 a.m. Sept. 26.

All events are free with a paid entrance fee into the parks. For more information, call 940-6372294 or 940-686-2148.

Movie screening at PP library

The Pilot Point Community Library at 324 S. Washington St. will have movie screening: “Paddington in Peru,” noon Saturday; Chess Club (ages 7-12), 4 p.m. Tuesday; AgriLife: Better Days, The Mediterranean Way (adults), 2 p.m. Sept. 18; and Mahjong (open play, ages 12 and up), 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

For more information or to register for classes, call 940-686-5004.

Speech Screening at Aubrey library

The Aubrey Area Library at 226 Countryside Drive will have Tween Club (ages 9-13), 4:30 p.m. Friday; Speech and Language Screening with Meridian Speech and Learning Services, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for families with young children; Book Nook Club (ages 2-10), 4:30 p.m. Tuesday; and Craft Night: Pony Bead Tapestries (ages 18 and up), 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

For more information or to register for classes, call 940-365-9162.

Adopt a Bearcat, Silver Bearcats

Pilot Point ISD is needing community member support to assist in adopting new teachers this year by providing notes of encouragement or small gifts throughout the year. To sign up, go to tinyurl.com/adoptabearcat26.

PPISD is starting the Silver Bearcats program for grandparents, retired staff and community members age 55 and over who want to stay connected to the schools. Participants will enjoy free entry to home games, an invitation to the Kickoff Breakfast, monthly coffees and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. To apply, go to tinyurl.com/silverbearcats.

Tioga VFD to preserve history

The Tioga Fire/EMS is working to preserve history by collecting stories, photographs, documents and the names of every past and present member of the Tioga Volunteer Fire Department. The community is asked to send first and last name, title or rank, stories, photos and memories to history@tiogafire.com.

‘Amazing Technicolor’ at Starbright Center

Starbright Center for the Arts will present “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Sept. 18 and 19 with matinees at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 20 at 110 S. Washington St.

The movie “Sandlot” will be shown at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 26.

To purchase tickets or for more information, go to starbrightmpa. com.

Community Market at Mountain Springs

A Community Market will be held from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Mountain Springs Community Center, 173 Mountain Springs Lane in Valley View. Live music will be played by Blake Aaron Davis from 9-11 a.m. followed by Tuesday Night Ramblers from 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.

A Plant and Seed Swap/Share will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 19.

For more information, go to mountainspringscommunitycenter. com.

Markets set for PV, Cross Roads

Cross Roads will have a Holiday Pop-up Market from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Cross Roads Town Park, 2042 FM 424 followed by the Providence Village Mini Moon Market from 5-8 p.m. at Providence Village Town Hall, 1755 Main St.

Women’s conference at Midway Church

ll In Women’s Conference will be held from 3:30-8 p.m. Saturday at Midway Church, 9540 U.S. 377. Cost will be $42. To register or for more information, go to midwaychurch. org.

Porch Leaner Painting Class

The city of Aubrey Parks and Recreation will host a Porch Leaner Painting Class by Heart4Art from 12:15-2:30 p.m. Monday at the Aubrey Community Center, 226 Countryside Drive. The cost will be $45.

To reserve a spot, call Dusty Fife at 469-678-0889 or email dfife@aubreytx. gov.

Chamber luncheon with Aubrey MDD

The Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce will have a Chamber Luncheon Trivia with Aubrey MDD at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Dos Mezclas, 202 B S. Main St. To register, go to Aubreycoc.org.

North Texas Giving Day

North Texas Giving Day will help communities across North Texas with tax-deductible donations through Thursday. Donations can be made at NorthTexasGiving-Day.org.

Brockett to host 40th anniversary

HL Brockett Elementary will have a 40th anniversary celebration from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at 900 Chestnut St. in Aubrey.

Fall Brunch at Calvary

Calvary Baptist Church will have a Women’s Fall Brunch from 9:30 a.m.-noon Sept. 19 to include painting or crafting at Calvary Baptist Fellowship Hall, 125 N. Jefferson St. RSVP by Sunday to Savannah Roberts at 972-989-0894.

Ribbon cutting

at Urban Doghouse

Urban Doghouse Dog Daycare and Boarding will have a ribbon cutting from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 19 at 4620 U.S. 377 Bldg. 6 in Aubrey.

PPCA opens fall registration

The Pilot Point Community Arts is taking registration for fall classes for music, art and sewing for ages 2 and up. Classes will start the week of Sept. 21.

To register or for more information, go to pilotpointcommunityarts. org or Pilot Point Community Arts on Facebook.

Fire safety at Lunch, Learn

The next Lunch and Learn will be held at noon Sept. 23 with guest speaker Fire Marshal Matt Lollar at the Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St. To register, call 940-686-2639.

Farmers Market planned in Tioga

The next Tioga Farmers Market will be from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 25 at Gene Autry Park.

Historic Square to have Oktoberfest

The fourth annual Oktoberfest will be held from noon-6 p.m. Sept. 26 in Downtown Pilot Point, sponsored by Pilot Point Neighborhood Events Inc. For more information, go to PilotPointOktoberfest.com.

PPFUMC to have anniversary celebration

The community is invited to the 170th anniversary celebration of Pilot Point First United Methodist Church on Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. for social hour and mini church history showcase and 10:30 a.m. for church service.

Garden, Nature Expo at Denton Courthouse

The first Garden and Nature Expo will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Denton County Administrative Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Drive in Denton. This is a free, family-friendly event with over 70 interactive booths and exhibits.

Applications are open through Oct. 9 for the 2027 Denton County Master Gardener Intern Training Program at dcmga.com.

AHS Theatre tickets on sale

Aubrey High School Theatre Troupe 5435 has season tickets on sale through Oct. 5 at our.show/ ahsseasonticket26.

City of PP seeks choir performers

The city of Pilot Point is looking for performing choirs to be a part of Christmas on the Square on Dec. 5. If interested, email Jennifer Neal at jneal@pilotpointtx.gov.

HOPE Food Ministry asks for food, clothing

The HOPE Food and Clothing Ministry is asking for nonperishable food items, clothing and personal care items at 819 Sherman Drive in Aubrey. Donations can also be dropped off at Keller Williams Realty, 806 S. U.S. 377 in Aubrey.

For more information or to donate online, go to hopefood.org.

Local Lovepacs requests donations

Lovepacs Aubrey/Pilot Point is requesting the following donations: ramen, applesauce cups or pouches, oatmeal, Pop-Tarts, microwave popcorn, granola bars, and mac and cheese or pasta cups.

Area drop-off sites include Brookshire Brothers, Martin General Store and Pilot Point Senior Center in Pilot Point; The Peanut Gallery in Aubrey; and One Mane Place in Krugerville.

Financial donations can be made at lovepacs.org. If interested in delivering weekly bags on Wednesday mornings, email aubrey@lovepacs. org, call 214-287-3758 or go to lovepacs. org.

Meals on Wheels needs drivers

Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels one day a week Monday-Friday for 2 to 2 1/2 hours from 10:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. in Aubrey, Krugerville and Pilot Point.

For more information, call Cindy Faris at 972-838-3259.

Around Town is published weekly. Submit information to abardwell@postsignal.com.

Every Weekday

•11 a.m. Congregate meals, conversation and games. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St. 972-8383259. Friday, Sept. 11

•8:30 a.m. Shepherd’s Storehouse, 1189 U.S. 377, Pilot Point. 940-686-2620.

•10 a.m. Exercise Class. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St.

•11 a.m. Early Childhood Storytimes (Ages 0-6). Aubrey Area Library, 226 Countryside Drive. 940-365-9162.

•1 p.m. Kids Karaoke. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•7 p.m. Music with Kaye Reznick. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•7:30 p.m. Karaoke with Pam and Dave. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

Saturday, Sept. 12

•9 a.m. Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite Purpose Mercantile, 5098 U.S. 377, Krugerville.

•9 a.m. Clifton and Nadene Irick Museum, 201 S. Jefferson St., Pilot Point.

•9 a.m. Cross Roads Holiday Pop-Up Market. Cross Roads Town Park, corner of FM 424 and Fishtrap Road.

•10:30 a.m. The Aubrey Area Museum opens for walkin tours. Tours can also be scheduled by appointment. 209 S. Main St. 940-343-1313.

•7 p.m. Karaoke Night. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•8:30 p.m. Live music with Roughriders. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

Sunday, Sept. 13

•9 a.m. Krugerville Farmers Market. Woodland Park, 5200 U.S. 377, krugerville.org.

Monday, Sept. 14

•8:30 a.m. Shepherd’s Storehouse. 1189 U.S. 377, Pilot Point. 940-686-2620.

•10 a.m. Exercise Class. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St.

•Noon. Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce directors meeting. 205 S. Main St., Aubrey. 940-365-9781.

•6 p.m. Aubrey Education Foundation. Aubrey ISD Administration Building, 415 Tisdell Lane. 940-668-0073, aubreyef@ gmail.com.

•6:30 p.m. Pilot Point Educational Foundation. PPISD Administration Building, 829 S.

Harrison St. 940-686-8700.

•7 p.m. Recovery Care Group. Midway Church, 9540 U.S. 377, Pilot Point.

•7 p.m. Tioga City Council.

Tioga City Hall, 600 Main St.

940-437-2351.

Tuesday, Sept. 15

•8:30 a.m. Positive Pilot Point meets for breakfast and fellowship. PointBank Community Center, 739 E. Liberty St.

•9:30 a.m. Games. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St. 972-838-3259.

•Noon. Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club. PointBank Community Center, 739 E. Liberty St.

•1:30 p.m. Local Vocals Community Singers. Contact Charlotte Petermeier, 214-5144892.

•5 p.m. Pilot Point Library and Cultural Arts meeting. Pilot Point City Hall, 102 E. Main St. 940-686-5004.

•6 p.m. Jam Sessions. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•6:30 p.m. DivorceCare. Midway Church, 9540 U.S. 377, Pilot Point.

•7 p.m. Poker tournament. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

•7:30 p.m. Providence Village Town Council. Providence Village Town Hall, 1755 Main St.

940-3 65-9333.

Wednesday, Sept. 16

•8:30 a.m. Shepherd’s Storehouse. 1189 U.S. 377, Pilot Point. 940-686-2620.

•9 a.m. Mountain Springs Quilters. Mountain Springs Community Center, 173 Mountain Springs Lane. 940-736-8013.

•10 a.m. Exercise Class. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St.

•10 a.m. Baby & Toddler Storytime (ages 0-2). Pilot Point Community Library, 324 S. Washington St. 940-6865004.

•10:30 a.m. Little Readers Book Club (ages 2-5). Aubrey Area Library, 226 Countryside Drive. 940-365-9162.

•10:45 a.m. Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5). Pilot Point Community Library, 324 S. Washington St. 940-6865004.

•11:30 a.m. Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon. Dos Mezclas, 202 B S. Main St., Aubrey. 940-365-9781. www.aubreycoc. org.

•1 p.m. Clifton and Nadene Irick Museum, 201 S. Jefferson St., Pilot Point.

•4:30 p.m. Music & Movement (ages 1-6). Aubrey Area Library, 226 Countryside Drive. 940-365-9162.

•6 p.m. Music Bingo. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•6 p.m. Pilot Point Bearcat Booster Club. Pilot Point High School fieldhouse, 1300 N.

Washington St., Pilot Point.

•6 p.m. Queen of Hearts. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

•6:30 p.m. Aubrey ISD board.

415 Tisdell Lane, Aubrey. 940668-0060. www.aubreyisd. net.

•7 p.m. Karaoke Wednesdays with Pam and Dave. Lowbrows Saloon, 200 S. Washington St.

•7:30 p.m. Pool tournament. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

Thursday, Sept. 17

•7 a.m. Coffee and Conversation with the Pilot Point City Manager. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•9 a.m. Clifton and Nadene Irick Museum, 201 S. Jefferson St., Pilot Point.

•9:30 a.m. Games. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St. 972-838-3259.

•10:30 a.m. Little Readers Book Club (ages 2-5). Aubrey Area Library, 226 Countryside Drive. 940-365-9162.

•10:30 a.m. Providence Village Storytime/Craft (ages 5 and under). Town Hall,1755 Main St.

•10:30 a.m. Stitch & Sketch (ages 10-adult). Pilot Point Community Library, 324 S. Washington St. 940-6865004.

•11 a.m. Tioga Senior Center open for refreshments, games and bingo. 305 N. Porch St.

•3:30 p.m. Providence Village Storytime/Craft (ages 5-11).

Town Hall,1755 Main St.

•6 p.m. Improv Club. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•6 p.m. Mountain Springs Book Club. Mountain Springs Community Center, 173 Mountain Springs Lane. 940902-5457.

•7:30 p.m. Music with Edward Allen. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

Friday, Sept. 18

•8:30 a.m. Shepherd’s Storehouse, 1189 U.S. 377, Pilot Point. 940-686-2620.

•10 a.m. Exercise Class. Pilot Point Senior Center, 310 S. Washington St.

•11 a.m. Early Childhood Storytimes (Ages 0-6). Aubrey Area Library, 226 Countryside Drive. 940-365-9162.

•7 p.m. Live music with Limestone. Pilot Point Coffee House, 110 W. Main St.

•7:30 p.m. Karaoke with Pam and Dave. Vaughn-Walling American Legion Post 550, 905 N. Foundation St., Pilot Point.

Community Calendar is published weekly. To add or change a listing, email abardwell@postsignal.com.

The 2026 Denton Arts and Jazz Fest will be Friday-Sunday at the North Texas Fair and Rodeo Grounds. For more information, go to dentonjazzfest.com.

Farmers Market set for Gainesville

The next Gainesville Farmers Market will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at 215 W. Elm St. in Gainesville with a free showing of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” at 7 p.m.

Denton Parks to host Dog Days

The Denton Parks Foundation will have Dog Days of Denton from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Pool, 515 N. Bell Ave.

Preparedness Fair in Denton

The fourth annual Preparedness Fair will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Denton County Administrative Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Drive. Admission will be free.

Annual GAVA fall art exhibition

The annual Gainesville Area Visual Arts Fall Art Exhibition will be held through Sunday at the Santa Fe Depot Museum, 605 E. California St. in Gainesville. For more information, go to gainesvillevisualarts.org.

Historical Park Garden Tour

The Denton County Office of History and Culture will host a Historical Park Garden Tour – Fall Edition at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 at 317 W. Mulberry St.

Farmers Market in Downtown Sanger

The next Sanger Farmers Market will be held from 8 a.m.noon Sept. 19 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 20 at 307 Boliver St. in Downtown Sanger.

Blues Festival in Denton

The 28th annual Denton Blues Festival will be from 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Quakertown Park, 610 Oakland St.

Sunflower Festival planned in Gainesville

The second annual Sunflower Festival will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 26 and 27 at the Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Boulevard in Gainesville. There will be vendors, kids zone, Weiner dog race, food trucks, artists and corn hole tourney.

Submit information for Around the Area to abardwell@postsignal.com.

FIRE – At 11:44 p.m. Sunday, KVPD assisted with an alarm fire in the 8500 block of Bayberry Avenue.

HIT AND RUN – Pilot Point police were dispatched to a hit and run report for failure to give information Sunday in the 14000 block of Kempt Drive.

DWI – A man, 32, was arrested Sunday by Cross Roads police on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon in the 8000 block of U.S. 380.

ASSAULT – Pilot Point PD were dispatched to a domestic disturbance Sunday in the 600 block of Oak Street.

WARRANT – Aubrey police arrested a 45-yearold Sunday on an Aubrey PD warrant in the 1600 block of Abbottsford Avenue.

ACCIDENT – On Saturday, Cross Roads PD responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of U.S. 380 and Walmart Drive. No injuries were reported.

DWI – A 33-year-old was arrested Saturday by Aubrey police on a charge of driving while intoxicated second in the 11700 block of Alpine Springs Drive.

FRAUD – A woman, 45, reported to CRPD on Saturday that an unknown individual fraudulently obtained funds from her bank account.

CRASH – A two-vehicle crash with no report of injury was dispatched to Cross Roads police Saturday in the 2400 block of U.S. 380.

VIOLENCE – Pilot Point police took a report for continuous violence against the family Saturday in the 14000 block of Donahue Street.

ASSAULT – A 43-yearold was arrested Sept. 4 by Aubrey PD on charges of assault family/household member impeding breath/ circulation and continuous violence against the family.

THEFT – A woman, 67, was arrested Sept. 4 by CRPD on a charge of theft of property, greater than $100 less than $750, with previous convictions in the 11700 block of U.S. 380. She also received a criminal trespass warning.

ASSAULT – A 35-yearold was arrested by Aubrey police Sept. 4 on a charge of assault causes bodily injury family violence in the 9800 block of Cedarcrest Drive.

WARRANT – Around 9 p.m. Sept. 3, KVPD conducted a warrant service in the 6100 block of New Hope Road. A man, 66, was arrested on a charge of theft of property, greater than $2,500 less than $30,000, and taken to the Denton County Jail.

DWI – A Cross Roads PD traffic stop investigation Sept. 3 resulted in a man, 28, being arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated in the 11000 block of U.S. 380.

ASSAULT – On Sept. 3, PPPD were dispatched to an assault causes bodily injury call in the 300 block of North Prairie Street.

ASSAULT – A 21-yearold was arrested Sept. 3 by Aubrey PD on a charge of assault by contact/family violence in the 1000 block of Karen Street.

BURGLARY – Cross Roads police responded to an alarm call Sept. 3 where two men attempted to take a store safe in the 2400 block of U.S. 380. They were arrested on a charge of burglary of a building.

DISTURBANCE – At 4:52 p.m. Sept. 1, Krugerville police were dispatched to a disturbance near the intersection of U.S. 377 and Stanley Drive.

ILLEGAL DUMPING – Pilot point PD received a call about illegal dumping Sept. 1 in the 1000 block of North U.S. 377.

DWLI – A 30-year-old was arrested Aug. 31 by APD on a charge of driving while license invalid/suspended with prior convictions and a warrant charge near the intersection of FM 2931 and Gold Pan Trail.

-Kim Fleming

It got late early for the Bulldogs, with the Eagles’ offense exploding for four touchdowns in the first half, which proved to be an insurmountable lead.

'They have big-time players,” said Zach Birdwell, Tioga athletic director and head football coach. “That’s one of the reasons we wanted to play them. There’s not an offensive line in 2A or 3A that looks like that one, a [great] quarterback and one of the best, if not the best, running backs we’ll see this year. We want to see that type of talent now so that when we roll into district nothing will catch us off guard.”

Southwest Christian struck first in the contest when quarterback Eli Hufstetler found receiver Bayne Martin open behind Tioga’s defense for a 62yard bomb, putting the Eagles up 7-0 after their opening possession.

Tioga’s offense went threeand- out on the ensuing drive and punted the ball back to Southwest Christian, who found the end zone through the air again when Hufstetler connected with Dane Smith for a 66-yard touchdown, making the score 14-0.

The Eagles lead stayed at 14-0 until Hufstetler called his own number on an option play and found an opening in the Bulldogs’ defense for a 50-yard touchdown run, extending Southwest Christian’s lead to 21-0.

The Eagles’ offense found the end zone one more time before the half when Hufstetler found Martin for a 35-yard touchdown pass and added a short field goal to send the teams into the half with Southwest Christian leading 31-0.

Tioga’s offense found the end zone on its opening possession of the second half, with Jake David powering through Southwest Christian's defense from 16 yards out, making the score 31-7.

The Eagles answered with a rushing touchdown of their own, with Hufstetler knifing through the Bulldogs’ defense for his second rushing touchdown and fifth total touchdown on the night, pushing Southwest Christian’s lead back to 31 points.

Tioga would add another score late when quarterback Cole Boyd found Jaxson Hurst in the corner of the end zone, but Southwest Christian held on to win 38-15.

Boyd led Tioga through the air, going 22 for 40 with 177 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, while David led the ground game with 83 yards on 12 carries and 1 TD.

Hurst was the Bulldogs' top receiver with 6 receptions for 79 yards and 1 TD.

Despite the loss, Birdwell said he was proud of the way his team played in the second half and said he hopes the Bulldogs can carry the momentum with them into next week.

“We put our kids through a tough offseason and fall camp, and during this tough nondistrict schedule, we’re learning what we need to fix and what will make our kids mentally and physically tough,” he said. “We saw some things tonight we needed to see and that we need to fix going into Week 3.”

Both teams moved the ball well in the contest, combing for over 700 yards of total offense, but the Rams were able to make key stops to take the victory.

“It was probably the most physical [game] we’ve had in the three years since I’ve been back here in Pilot Point,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “[Mineral Wells] is a physical team, and we knew their size was going to be an issue, and we didn’t have every bounce or call go our way, which is going to happen in the game of football, but our kids battled to the end.”

The Bearcats received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into Rams territory, powered by plays from running back duo Hastings Fischer and David Pickrel, but their drive stalled with a turnover on downs at the Rams' 16yard line.

Mineral Wells took over on its own 16-yard line and capped its opening possession with a 27-yard touchdown run by Slade Evans, taking a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Rams got the ball right back with a successful onside kick in the ensuing kickoff but gave the ball back to the Bearcats after missing a field goal attempt from right outside of Pilot Point's red zone.

The two teams continued to trade punts until the Bearcats moved the ball into field goal range near the end of the second quarter, but time expired before the kick could be attempted, sending the teams into the locker room with the Rams leading 7-0 at the half.

Mineral Wells received the secondhalf kickoff and scored four plays later when Alec Gonzalez ran for a touchdown, pushing their lead to 14-0 after the successful extra point kick.

Pilot Point would answer quickly on their next possession when Fischer ran for a 21-yard touchdown, making it a one-score game at 14-6 after missing the extra point attempt.

On their next possession, the Rams moved the ball to the Bearcats' 19yard line, where they were able to add to their lead with a short field goal, extending their lead to 17-6 near the end of the third quarter.

Four plays later, the Bearcats got into the end zone for their second touchdown of the contest with a 12-yard touchdown run from Pickrel, making it a one-score game at 17-12 after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

Gonzalez helped Mineral Wells maintain its lead with a second touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Rams lead to 24-12.

Pilot Point would answer on a 12play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by Fischer, but the Bearcats would not see the ball again as the Rams were able to run out the clock with a 7-play drive to take the win 24-19.

“They knew they had a size advantage, so they didn’t try to do too much and just ran it at us,” Worrell said. “Our kids fought, but we had a hard time stopping them for negative yards early in the game, and in the second half they changed up their running backs, and we had a hard time getting off the field.”

Fischer led Pilot Points’ rushing attack with 82 yards on 8 carries, followed by running back Josh Chumley, who added 81 yards on 15 carries, while Luke Daniel completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 103 yards.

Worrell spoke highly of the Bearcats' effort in the loss.

“We were moving the ball at will in the second half and were just a stop away from winning the game, but I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” he said. “… They were just exhausted because it was that type of game, and they played with everything they had. Sometimes after a loss you don’t feel like you’re going to get any better, but this was definitely not the case. I walked off that field knowing we’re going to be a better football team.”

Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report.

The Panthers hit the ground running and took a lead in the first half, but the Chaparrals made a furious second-half comeback but fell short for the second week in a row.

“We played exceptionally hard, but the second week in a row, we got off to a slow start,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “That’s a big emphasis for us going into this week, trying to start fast so that we’re not facing a deficit at halftime and having to make a comeback, but we’re doing good things in all three phases of the game. We just need to be more consistent.”

Chaps running back Corbin Frazier put Aubrey on the scoreboard first with a 28-yard touchdown run, giving the Chaps a 7-0 early in the first quarter.

The Panthers responded with a 63-yard touchdown run of their own, cutting Aubrey’s lead to 1 point after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

Aubrey kicker Peyton Campbell closed out the first quarter with a 41-yard field goal, giving the Chaps a 10-6 lead as the game entered the second quarter.

The quarter was all Van Alstyne, with the Panthers scoring 21 points unanswered, building a 27-10 lead at the half.

If the second quarter belonged to Van Alstyne, the third was owned by Aubrey, with the Chaps going on a 21-0 of their own powered by running back Marcus Julu, who found the end zone from 18 yards, 3 yards and 1 yard out.

Julu’s gridiron trifecta put the Chaps back on top 33-27, but the Panther clawed their back into the end zone, retaking the lead by 1 point as the game entered the fourth quarter.

Campbell kicked a 34-yard field goal to put Aubrey back on top, 36-34, but Van Alstyne made the final end zone trip with an 11-yard pass to take the win 41-34.

Quarterback Connor Murphy led the Chaps with 151 rushing yards on 23 carries, followed by Frazier, who had 127 rushing yards and 1 TD, and Julu, who had 71 rushing yards and 3 TDs.

“They took away some of our passing options, so we took what the defense gave us, and those three guys ran exceptionally hard,” Ivy said. “A lot of the credit goes to our offensive line too. What passing we did; they protected well, and in the run game they opened up a lot of running holes for our backs.”

Ivy added that he hopes his team can take lessons away from the loss.

“That was one of the best teams Van Alstyne has had in the 13 seasons I've been here, and I think we make each other better,” Ivy said. “… Playing good opponents like that tests us and pushes us, and ultimately is going to make us better, and we have another good one coming up Friday.”

After a road trip to Mineral Wells, the 1-1 Pilot Point Bearcats return home to host the 1-1 Howe Bulldogs at Massey Stadium on Friday.

The two teams enter Week 3 going in slightly different directions after Pilot Point’s loss and Howe’s 55-13 win over the Bonham Purple Warriors in Week 2.

“They have size upfront, but they’re not as big as we saw last week, but the big thing that jumps out about them is their team speed,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “They can throw the ball, and they have two or three guys that can just go. They’ve also done a great job over the years of settling more into their system, so they’re going to be a tough opponent this week.”

The Bulldogs return 10 starters from 2025 and appear to have already taken a step forward in 2026, with their defense, led by senior linebackers Chris Torres and Charles Fuhr, holding opponents to 21 points per game through the first two weeks after surrendering twice that the year before.

Worrell said he believes the Bearcats should be able to move the ball effectively if they can clean up the miscues they had in Week 2.

“We had a big holding penalty that put in a hole on our second drive and got caught with 12 men on the field when we tried to kick a field goal at the end of the first half,” he said. “If we can just cut out those mistakes and make sure that we’re finishing drives when we have momentum, making good blocks and converting short yardage situations, we can end our drives with points.”

On the other side of the ball, Pilot Point’s defense may have its work cut out for it, slowing down the Bulldogs’ offense led by quarterback Deacon Bender, receiver Riken Cross and athlete Rylan Strong.

“We’re going to have to play assignment football and make sure we stay at home and take care of all the options that they have when they’re running the ball from the gun,” Worrell said. “Hopefully we can win the battle upfront and get to them before they get started because they have four wideouts who can run, which is going to be a huge challenge for our secondary.”

Worrell emphasized that the Bearcats are taking the season one game at a time as they get ready for the district portion of their season.

“We had a short practice yesterday on Labor Day, and the message in the scouting report was, ‘Don’t panic because we lost a game,’” he said. “We’re playing a tougher nondistrict schedule to prepare us for our district and hopefully beyond that, and this is another one of those games that we know will make us better.”

Pilot Point and Howe are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at G.A. Moore Field at Massey Stadium.

The 0-2 Aubrey Chaparrals hit the road Friday to face the 2-0 Sanger Indians, looking for their first win of the 2026 season.

The two teams enter the contest going in different directions, with Sanger riding a two-game winning streak to start the year with wins over Lake Dallas and Paris.

“Sanger is explosive offensively,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “They have the Austin Martin kid at quarterback, a good running back that is physical and runs with good speed, but a lot of their offense runs through [Wyatt] Pennington. … They have a good football team, so once again it's going to be another really good test for us in our last game before we get into district play.”

Martin, Pennington and running back Bola Ogunwuyi have helped Sangers’ offensive unit average 30 points a game so far this season.

Ivy said containing the three-headed monster will be key for the Chaps’ defense.

“They’re really good at executing their scheme, and like us, they like to run their quarterback a lot, which brings a different dynamic for your defense to account for,” he said. “They also throw the ball well enough to keep you honest, so we have to do our best to limit their yardage in the run game and tackle better.”

Ivy added that the Chaps will also look to improve their turnover luck in the contest.

“That’s a point of emphasis for us this week from Coach [Dana] Bloedel, our defensive coordinator,” he said. “We really want to ramp that up and make sure we can win the turnover battle.”

On the other side of the ball, Ivy said that the Chaps offense, which is averaging over 40 points per game but has struggled in the first half, will look to find the end zone earlier in the contest.

“We’re moving the ball really well this early in the season, but we’re having drives stall here and there, or we get a penalty, and that’s causing us to not put points on the board, so we have to try to finish every single drive with points,” he said. “That’s a tall task, but we need to play with the mindset of finishing drives, and [Sanger] is good at what they do defensively, so we are going to need to get our blocks, get open and make good decisions with the football.”

With the Chaps staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start for second year in a row, Ivy emphasized the importance of Friday’s matchup.

“This is a massive game for us,” he said. “They selected us for homecoming, which ups the intensity, so it’s a big game for both schools, but we need to get in the win column and build a little bit more confidence. … Hopefully, we can get it done, but the biggest thing is for us to improve each and every week.”

The Lady Bulldogs have held the edge in the series, winning the last four times the two programs have met on the hardwood, with this win marking their fifth win in a row over the Lady Cats.

“I was proud of how well we played,” Tioga head volleyball coach Trevin Robinson said. “Games against one of your cross-town rivals are always tough, [but] the girls did a good job of going out there and competing.”

Tioga hit the floor running in the opening set, outscoring Pilot Point 25-12 to take Set 1.

The Lady Bulldogs didn’t let up in the second or third set and never allowed the Lady Cats to find their footing, outscoring them 50-26 over the final two periods of play.

Middle blocker Kennedy Slay led the Lady Bulldogs with 8 kills, followed by outside hitter Kyndall Whitley, who had 4. Whitley led the defense with 11 digs, while setter Sadie Bates orchestrated Tioga’s offense with 12 assists.

The Lady Bulldogs also notched 10 serving aces in the win.

“We served the ball really well,” Robinson said. “We talk a lot about winning games behind the service line, and we felt like that's exactly what we did, [and] the goal is to build off of that moving forward.”

On the other sideline, Jessica Ledbetter, Pilot Point Lady Cats head volleyball coach, said injuries played a key part in the Lady Cats' performance.

“We were faced with some injuries, which changed up some things for us on the court, but I want us to take away from that match is that even when we are faced with unexpected hurdles, we are going to come to compete,” she said.

She added that she hopes her team is able to use the experience from the loss as they move further into district play.

“Friday wasn’t our best performance, and we have to own that,” she said. “We didn’t execute the way we know we can, especially with our communication, serve-receive, and consistency, [but] will use this match as a learning experience, [and] we’ll get back to practice, clean up the things we can control, and come back ready to compete.”

Tioga’s next matchups will be at home against Bellvue and Era on Friday, while the Lady Cats will prepare to face Savoy on the road at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Both teams come into the matchup looking for their first win of the season, after the Wildcats suffered backto- back losses against Bowie, 40-0, and Millsap, 29-15.

“We’re similar teams,” said Zach Birdwell, Tioga athletic director and head football coach. “They had a really good group that graduated last year, and they’re going through some early-season adversity and finding out a lot about themselves early in the season just like we are, so we’re looking forward to this game.”

Despite the early-season struggles, the Bulldogs found a rhythm in the second half against Southwest Christian and hope to build on that momentum against a leaky Wildcat defense that has allowed over 300 yards of offense each of its first two games.

“Our whole season is about building off the positives and fixing the negatives, and we had a lot of positives in the second half, and we’re looking to pick right back up there this Friday,” Birdwell said. “The game plan didn't change from the first to the second half. The only thing that changed was our level of execution and our sense of urgency, so those have been the key things we're focused on this week.”

On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs’ defense will look to rebound against a Wildcat offense averaging 7 points a game through the first two weeks.

The unit will also do their best to rally together after losing senior defensive back Justin Arrington to a broken collarbone in Week 2.

“Regardless of where you’re at in the season or who you’re playing, when you lose someone like Justin, it hurts, but we’ll do our best to figure it out,” Birdwell said. “We’re going to see a team or two in district that has this style of under center; run-it-at-you offense, so we wanted to see it now, and our guys are excited and looking forward to the challenge this week.”

Birdwell emphasized that the team’s chemistry will be key this week as the Bulldogs look to get their season back on track.

“We’re a program that’s rooted in the process and our standards, and we’ve been talking with the kids about trusting in that and continuing to chase the goals that we have set for ourselves and believing that they’re going to happen,” he said. “So, we’re not as worried about the outcome of the game, as we are about how we execute and the level of energy and urgency we play with. We believe if we get those things fixed and moving back in the right direction, the wins are going to take care of themselves.”

Tioga and Callisburg will get things underway at 7 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium.

The money will fund Phase 1 of three to widen FM 1385 from two lanes to six and ease heavy traffic congestion from U.S. 380 to Union Park Boulevard.

“Denton County cannot continue to grow at this pace without the necessary infrastructure investments,' State Rep. Jared Patterson stated in a press release on Aug. 26. 'Today's announcement is an important step, but it is not the finish line. I look forward to continuing to work with TxDOT, Denton County, local officials and our community to make sure FM 1385 moves forward and we continue addressing transportation needs across the district.”

Residents in the area have voiced their frustrations with the 1385 for several years.

Those frustrations flared up online in light of the multi-vehicle car crash on Aug. 19 on FM 1385, south of FM 428.

Several agencies from surrounding cities were on the scene to assist, including Aubrey, Pilot Point, Denton and Celina.

“Preliminary investigation determined a vehicle traveling northbound on FM1385 failed to maintain a single lane, crossed over into southbound traffic and crashed into a southbound vehicle,” a media release by the Aubrey Po- lice Department read. “After crashing into the southbound vehicle, the northbound vehicle struck the guardrail and then crashed head-on into another southbound vehicle. The second southbound vehicle went over the guardrail and became submerged in water.”

On Aug. 24, Assistant Chief Jeremy Johnson further described the accident.

“The driver of the car that was upside down in the creek was resuscitated, and he was flown from [Methodist] Celina to Methodist Dallas, where he's currently on life support,” Assistant Chief Jeremy Johnson said.

A week later, the man was still on life support.

“Police, fire, and EMS did an amazing job by immediately jumping into the water despite the risk of the unknown and doing everything they could to get him out and ultimately recovering him,” Johnson said.

He added that they did not draw direct causation between the accident and the lack of striping on the road at the time of the crash but noted that the road condition in that area is problematic.

As it stands, the Aubrey PD does not anticipate the driver receiving any criminal-level charges.

In the Denton County Precinct 1 July 2026 Transportation Update report, it stated, “A temporary fix by Tx-DOT on FM 1385 at the two bridges between FM 428 is complete but needs pavement markings, which are anticipated to occur in September. TxDOT plans to let for the permanent bridge contract in October with construction possibly to start by the end of 2026 or early 2027.”

Foam would be injected under the bridge approaches, “to try to stabilize the pavement in front of the bridges,” the report said, adding that it could take between 1-2 months to complete the project.

To stay up to date with transportation updates through newsletters, contact Capricia.Willis@dentoncounty. gov or Ryan. Williams@dentoncounty. gov.

Several residents spoke against making parking more strict, and city staff attempted to clarify what Ordinance 971-26 would actually mean for the community.

'Currently, our ordinance only allows a resident's vehicle parked in the street for a 24-hour period,' Aubrey Police Chief Richard Brooks said before the vote was held. 'After that, it is in violation of ordinance. In reviewing that, that would mean if you work Monday through Friday and you, on the weekend, park your vehicle on the street at your home on the street at 6 o'clock Friday evening, at 6 o'clock Saturday, you would get a violation.'

The existing ordinance was changed to remove the words 'motor vehicle and truck' so residents can stay on the roadside for more than one day at a time.

'We're aware of this flyer that's going around on social media,' City Manager Charles Kreidler said. 'We have worked for two days to try to verify the information in it. The information contained therein is not true. This ordinance does not do anything of what is described in that flyer.'

The same flyer said the council had changed the rules regarding parking in the right-of-way.

'We can't find any information or any ordinance that you passed that affected right-of-way in the last four meetings,' Kreidler said.

He encouraged people to contact the city staff directly if they have concerns.

Brooks passed out copies of his business card, going to his car to retrieve more when he ran out.

He also confirmed that nothing in the ordinance changed where people can park on their own property.

Also at the meeting, the council adopted the next fiscal year budget and the tax rate of $0.45 per $100 valuation.

That was the same rate that was adopted in 2025.

'Surpluses are planned for both the general fund and enterprise fund,' Finance Director Mike English said. 'General fund budgeted revenue is $25.2 million compared to $22.4 million for the current year. Enterprise fund budgeted revenue is $13.7 million compared to $11.4 million.'

English also explained that new property value from the growth meant the city did not have to increase the tax rate, keeping it lower than the nonew- revenue rate of $0.47 and well below the voter approval rate of $0.61.

Both the budget and the tax rate received unanimous approval.

During the public hearings for additional residential developments coming into Aubrey's city limits, resident Glenda Whitson expressed her frustration about the explosive growth in the area.

'It's time this high density—eight houses on one acre—stops,' she said.

Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Perry explained the council's approach to the residential growth.

'There are restrictions on what we can do, what we can't,' Perry said. 'We don't necessarily like the growth any more than you do. But I would encourage you to reach out to your state representative and the legislature and try to get them to give us some more standing. We've got very little legal standing as far as what we can do, regardless of what people say here.'

Council member Candace Stone echoed that.

'The legislation that changed most of the city control was in 2019, so starting there is why there is a difference why Aubrey has different growth than, say, Flower Mound,' she said. 'I'm not going to go into all of that, but that is a good place to start with your representative.'

The council also voted to transfer ownership of 500 S. Main St. from the city to the Aubrey Municipal Development District for the cost of the land and the improvements that have been completed.

'Under the agreement, the property must be used exclusively for commercial purposes, with at least 90% of the business revenue generating sales tax to the city, and residential use is prohibited,' Kreidler said.

Also at the meeting, Sandbrock resident Rick Abraham encouraged the city to reach out to Prosper regarding concerns about Project Tomahawk, a proposed data center on the outskirts of that town that would be across the street from parts of Aubrey near the intersection of Parvin Road and FM 1385.

The Prosper Town Council is set to consider the proposed data center, which was rejected in a 7-0 vote by the Prosper Planning and Zoning Commission, at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday at 250 W. First St.

Public Works Director Dean Rylant also provided a look at the wastewater treatment plant that is still under construction.

Assistant City Manager Leanne Wilson also presented the professional engineering services agreement for several capital improvement projects related to water 'in preparation for the 2028 Upper Trinity delivery of the water supply': two 16-inch water mains, five 12-inch water mains and a 1-million-gallon elevated storage tank.

The council also approved a 'no thru commercial truck zone' on East Blackjack Road between U.S. 377 and FM 2931.

Mayor Chris Rich also mentioned that there will soon be a light at the intersection of FM 428 and FM 2931.

This year is extra special for Grace Point Church of the Nazarene Pastor Dwayne Edwards, as the event honors all veterans in celebration of the theme 250 Years of Freedom.

“God gave us our country,” Edwards said. “He gave us an incredible gift. … Those in the Marines and Navy and Air Force and Army—those who [are] in service have helped us keep our freedoms and liberties that has made our country, to me, the greatest on the earth.”

The event is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday on the Pilot Point Historic Square.

There will be no live auction, only a silent one to give more time for the veterans’ ceremony.

The proceeds from the silent auction will go to the local veteran organization, the American Legion.

“Every penny that we bring in, not only from a silent auction, ... [but also] if we have any extra money for selling T-shirts … we give every penny to the organization we're giving to that year, and this year it's the veterans organization,” Edwards said.

As car registration happens between 8-10:30 a.m., Edwards shared that he’s been working with Jimerson Adkins, the owner of the Pilot Point Coffee House, to prepare for the rush of early-morning risers who will come to register their cars.

“We have really great restaurants in either walking distance or real short two-minute drive,” Edwards said. “We support everything local we can.”

Martin's General Store, Moto Latte Coffee Roaster and Loco Snow will also be open and ready for business.

The annual tug-of-war tradition returns along with performances from the Pilot Point High School Mighty Bearcat Band and cheerleaders.

The Kid Zone has grown to include more familyfriendly activities, including live animals, face painting, coloring and a bounce house.

Resident BJ Wheeler is a member of Grace Point and has been a big advocate for donating blood, especially now that demand has reached a critical level, which he shared at the Aug. 27 Pilot Point City Council meeting.

“Carter and the Red Cross, they need 1,600 units a day in the North Texas area,” Wheeler said. “The cool thing about blood donation is it doesn't cost a penny, but it is invaluable to the people that receive it.”

The Carter BloodCare drive will accept walk-up appointments at ChromeFest.

Throughout the event, there will be giveaways for those who registered, including lunch gift certificates to local spots like Leo's Pizzeria, Powerhouse Burger and Uncle Beto's Mexican Restaurant.

The event has a hefty list of sponsors, including Chandler Cabinets, Humana, Christie’s Golf Ranch, ACE Hardware and Big Brand Tire & Services, along with many donations from the community.

Edwards thanked the city for its continued support and also the members of Grace Point for making the event possible.

“The theme of our church is to give it away,” Edwards said. “We believe in giving love, giving encouragement, giving hope, giving honor and respect to our veterans.”

Pete Kelly, a transportation engineer with Kimley-Horn, recapped a July presentation on Land Use Assumptions, the Capital Improvement Plan and Maximum Assessable Fees for the roadway, water and wastewater 2026 impact fee study.

“As a reminder, one of the requirements of state law is that impact fees must be administered within a service area,” Kelly said.

At the July meeting, Kelly explained that the city now has two service areas, divided north and south by FM 1385, to account for annexations that happened within the last five years.

“Any funds collected in a service area may only be spent in that service area for projects around the Capital Improvement Plan,” Kelly said.

In Service Area 1, there are 88 roadway projects with a total Capital Improvement Plan Cost of over $268 million, and in Service Area 2 there are 26 roadway projects totaling over $165 million.

The water CIP over the next 10 years includes a water treatment plant, elevated storage tanks and water line projects.

Wastewater CIP includes a wastewater treatment plant, lift stations and wastewater lines.

The maximum fees that can be collected for Roadway Service Area 1 are $3,252 per vehicle mile and $2,196 for Service Area 2.

The maximum fee per service unit for water is $6,809 and for wastewater it is $14,137.

The Capital Improvements Advisory Committee’s recommendation was to collect 100% for everything except for wastewater for single-family and for nonresidential for roadway.

For wastewater for single-family homes, the CIAC “recommendation is to begin collecting at 55% of the maximum fee and then an annual escalation of 5% up to 65% over three years,” Kelly said.

The reason is the high cost of wastewater impact fees for single-family homes.

“The recommendation for multi-family uses for all three impact fees is to collect at 100%,” Kelly said.

For nonresidential roadway impact fees, the CIAC recommended collecting “at 60% and [escalating] 5% per year over three years,” Kelly said, to remain competitive with neighboring cities.

The council approved the “land use assumptions, capital improvement plans, and maximum fees for the 2026 roadway, water and wastewater impact fee update” presented, then directed staff on the percentages.

“I don't want to ask current residents to pay for the new development, residential developments; I don't think that's right,” council member Ray Dane said, with a few fellow council members sharing similar sentiments. “I do think if we want to grow as a city, we have to have commercial development, and I don't mind giving some incentive for that.”

The council reached a consensus on charging 100% on wastewater for single-family homes in a 6-1 vote.

Council member Brian Murrell voted no.

“You want to give the business an incentive to come in, but you don't want to give people an incentive to come in to support the business,” Murrell said.

It was another 6-1 vote for the 60%, 65%, and 70% escalators for nonresidential roadway service areas, with Mike Wilson voting no.

“I'm for 100% across the board,” he said.

Also in the meeting, Chief of Police Angela Mathews swore in two new officers, officer Ernesto Balderas and officer Kaylee Rusnak.

Council reviewed several potential logos for the Main Street Program Logo rebrand.

They expressed their dissatisfaction with the logos presented and requested starting over.

Council also approved the creation of the Heritage Ridge Public Improvement District.

Town Manager Brian Roberson recapped the Aug. 18 town meeting, where he spoke in depth about the proposed budget and tax rate.

“The proposed tax rate is $0.511093 [per $100 valuation], which is lower than the no new revenue rate of $0.511393,” Roberson said. “The no new revenue M&O portion is $0.270980. The debt portion is $0.240413. The voter approval tax rate is $0.569119.”

He reiterated that it is a tax rate increase, not a tax increase.

In the general fund expense, the town has proposed adding a deputy town secretary, ancillary insurance benefits, increased police funding and increased property insurance that the city owns.

Roberson reported that property tax has increased over 3% because of the new construction, sales tax increased over 32% because of commercial and population, and permits are anticipated to be flat.

The average homestead taxable decreased 7.3% from 2025-26.

“A lot of people don't understand the mathematics of it,” Mayor Linda Inman said. “Everybody's home values came down. That's what everybody begged for. … Well, when you lower your base, the other side of the equation, your budget can stay the same every year, [but] if you lower your base, that rate has to come up to cover that budget.”

Absolute exemptions increased by 36%, going from $59.9 million in 2025 to $81.6 million in 2026.

During the public hearing, resident David Vartian raised a few concerns.

“As the town is only three and a half square miles, [it] will be completely built out by the end of the decade,” Vartian said. “The question then becomes, what comes next when we can no longer rely on an influx of new residents to support our current budget? This budget is a warning for what could happen if we stay on the same fiscal course.”

Council is set to adopt a budget and tax rate on Sept. 15.

Also at the meeting, Republic Services General Manager David Baker and Operations Manager Chase Pettigrew came to address the ongoing issues with trash pickup and communication.

The recommended solution is to split service into two days, Monday and Wednesday, to account for the area’s growth; however, bulk pick-up won’t be impacted.

Monday routes will include Heritage Landing HOA and Providence HOA, and on Wednesdays, it will be Chatham Reserve, the Enclave at Pecan Creek, Foree Ranch and Woodstone.

The split days will take effect in late September or early October.

Residents will be alerted about the change through flyers placed on doors by Republic Services, the town’s social media and website, and updates to the HOA contacts.

“I hope these two days work,” Inman said. “… Every Tuesday morning, every Monday, I'm getting slammed with trash complaints. I'm getting a little over it, and I think everybody else up here is, too. And so, we're going to give you this chance to split it up into two days, and I hope that it gets fixed.”

Baker added that Republic will start sending a status report to town staff early in the day, so the town can alert residents of any potential delays faster.

Also in the meeting, Inman read a proclamation declaring September 2026 Live United Month and presented it to two representatives.

“We proudly join the United Way of Denton County in calling all residents of the town of Providence Village to give to one to impact many as we take action to create a future where everyone has a chance to thrive,” Inman read.

Caleb F. Davis spoke during the public comment and requested the Flock cameras within the neighborhood be removed because of the cost as well as privacy and security concerns.

“The city of Denton's police department covers its entire city, including its highest crime corridors, with only 10 Flock cameras,” Davis said. “Our one neighborhood has four times that many.”

Please join me on Thursday, August 17th, at 6:00 p.m., to celebrate the retirement of Leo at Leo's Pizzeria.

After 51 years in the restaurant business, my favorite chef in Pilot Point has decided to hang up his chef's hat and take life a little easier.

They're not closing. Just cutting back on the menu as of Oct. 1. They'll still have appetizers, salads, desserts and your favorite pizza.

Join us for a slice of cake and best wishes on Leo's retirement. Cindy Faris Pilot Point

The impact of social media on our society is a weird one.

In some ways, it makes life feel more connected, and it gives us an easy place to spend our time.

It's a place of comparison and competition sometimes.

It's a place to put up personal photos or to promote yourself in ways that, for most, feel easier than traditional media, including this newspaper.

However, the immediacy of social media also means people just want to be first, not necessarily right, on getting information out.

And, unfortunately, a lot of people are so hungry for the first bit of information they can find that they don't pause to question whether what they discovered was accurate.

I watched that play out at the Aubrey City Council meeting.

I get a copy of the agendas emailed to me prior to each meeting.

In the one for the Aug. 27 meeting was a consent agenda item related to parking.

Most of the time, the items are included in the consent agenda because they are pretty much a slam dunk.

Many are considered small business items that need to have council approval but that largely don't merit a discussion.

Often, they are unanimously approved so the council or board can move on to items that have a bit more meat to digest.

Councils and boards reserve the right to pull any individual consent item, like the Aubrey council did that Thursday evening.

Let me just say, I love when people get involved.

It makes me happy to get to know people in our communities because they consistently turn out to the meetings we cover because they care to be informed.

I also love it when someone feels passionately about a subject and they decide to turn out to have their voice heard. That's why we have the system we do.

I do often find it confusing, though, when people stir others up with inaccurate information, encouraging them to storm City Hall with pitchforks in hand.

As a journalist, I believe every governmental body needs to be accountable and transparent for their decisions.

As an observer, I cringe when people believe inaccuracies and turn misinformation into arrows that they lob at their local governments.

If you get frustrated, get involved on as regular a basis as much as you can.

If you get mad, ask about the thing that makes you angry.

Don't just take someone else's word for it.

We owe it to ourselves to know what is really happening, and who should actually be accountable.

Abigail Bardwell is the Editor & Publisher of the Post-Signal, and she serves on both the North and East Texas Press Association and the Texas Press Association boards. She can be reached at abardwell@postsignal.com.

Photo Courtesy of Cedar Ridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center