Local archive
Education
A Brown County AgriLife Extension column offers practical strategies for people cooking for one or two, including planning flexible meals, right-sizing recipes, reusing leftovers and following food-safety guidelines.
Traffic & Construction Center Avenue
Brownwood’s Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing Nov. 5 on a request to rezone 20.1 acres near Highway 183 North Early from single-family residential to restricted industrial use.
Education
Alana Hefner, vice president of career services at Texas State Technical College’s Brownwood campus, was among four employees recognized with TSTC’s annual Chancellor’s Cornerstone Award on Oct. 14.
Sport
The Brownwood Lions, 2-4 overall and 0-1 in district play, will travel to Rocket Field at 7 p.m. Friday for their first football meeting with Robinson. The Rockets are 5-1, riding a five-game winning streak and averaging 44 points per game.
Sport
The Gordon Wood Hall of Champions Class of 2026 will be inducted Oct. 23 at the Brownwood Event Center, with five former Brownwood athletes and coaches joining the 2025 Lady Lions track and field state championship team as distinguished honorees.
Community
Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood has received national certification and a Texas state designation recognizing its stroke program and expanding access to specialized care in Brownwood and nearby communities.
Education
Howard Payne University dedicated its Center for Student Success to former student Bo Rozell during an Oct. 13 ceremony in Brownwood. Rozell, who died at 21 after leaving campus for cancer treatment, was remembered for his faith, kindness and connection to the center. The facility provides tutoring, coaching, testing and learning accommodations, and its use has grown since opening in fall 2023.
Crime & Public Safety
Former Brown County Judge Shane Britton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges in 35th Judicial District Court and received deferred adjudication, fines and the dismissal of three additional charges. Britton, who was suspended in November 2025 after being indicted and arrested, was later defeated in the 2026 Republican primary.
Culture
The Brownwood Lionettes will host a pre-order-only loaded baked potato fundraiser on Oct. 29, with proceeds supporting the team’s planned trip to Disney World in Florida for an April parade event.
Education
Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau hosted nearly 40 students and teachers from six area high schools for its annual UIL Congressional Debate Workshop. The HPU team will hold another workshop on Oct. 28 covering debate, speaking and journalism events.
Community Riverside Park
Brownwood City Council authorized competitive bidding for three Downtown Master Plan Phase I projects, approved Dr. Jennifer Curry as the new Brownwood-Brown County health authority and agreed to a settlement over Riverside Park paving work.
Community
The Brown County Humane Society board has voted to disband at the end of November, leaving Brownwood officials to determine who will operate the Corrine T. Smith Animal Center after a planned transition on Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.
Community Riverside Park
Both Brownwood varsity cross country teams qualified for the Region I-4A meet at the District 6-4A competition at Riverside Park. The Lady Lions finished second, while the Lions claimed the final regional berth in third place.
Education
Two graduates of the Central Texas College Police Academy have started law enforcement careers with the Brownwood and Early police departments after completing six months of intensive training.
Community
Barbara Kay Walker, a longtime Brown County resident who worked at Kohler in Brownwood and in local school districts, died peacefully Oct. 9 at age 77. No funeral services are planned.
Education
Howard Payne University junior Bethany Blair of Zephyr has joined the Joint Admission Medical Program, completing her first summer internship at Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock while working toward a career as a surgeon.
Sport
Brownwood entered district play with a depleted backfield and fell behind 42-0 at halftime before a stronger second half at Gordon Wood Stadium. The Lions will visit Robinson next week.
Traffic & Construction
TxDOT’s contractor will begin overnight preservation work on the US 377 bridge over Adams Branch in Brownwood on Monday, Oct. 12, with nightly lane closures expected through Friday morning.
Community Fisk Avenue
A Brown County AgriLife Extension agent is encouraging livestock owners to test hay before relying on it for fall and winter feeding, after an unusual discovery highlighted how much can be hidden inside a bale.
Culture
Artists ages 15 and older from across Texas can submit work for the 2027 Stars of Texas Juried Art Exhibit in Brownwood on Jan. 29-30, with more than $7,000 in awards available.
Sport
Brownwood High’s tennis team saw its fall playoff run end Thursday with an 11-3 Region I-4A area-round loss to Vernon at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. The team finished 6-0 overall and placed second in District 6-4A.
Education
Howard Payne University welcomed alumni, prospective students and families to its 2026 Homecoming Weekend in Brownwood, featuring campus activities, alumni honors, a parade competition, the announcement of the Homecoming Court and a 44-16 Yellow Jacket football victory over Nelson University.
Community
Braxton Layne Wright, who was born in Brownwood on July 30, 2026, died September 30 at two months old. His family remembered his smile, love of car rides and close bond with his mother, father and big sister.
Community
A Sept. 21 fundraiser at Potter’s Pizza raised more than $300 for American Legion Post 196, supporting programs for local youth, veterans and the Brownwood community.
Community
Brownwood residents collected 2,129 cans of tuna during National Night Out, helping a regional Tuna Challenge reach a record 8,625 cans for Good Samaritan Ministries.
Culture Camp Bowie
The Pecan Valley Genealogical Society is celebrating its 47th anniversary while the History and Genealogy Library marks 20 years at 213 South Broadway in downtown Brownwood. The library’s collection includes thousands of books, microfilm records, family histories, local research and free onsite access to genealogy databases.
Business & Openings
A natural gas leak outside a building at 3M’s Brownwood facility prompted an evacuation Wednesday afternoon. The Brownwood Fire Department and Atmos Energy responded, no injuries were reported, and most departments resumed normal operations by Thursday morning.
Business & Openings
Brownwood received $599,542 in October sales tax revenue, up 0.91% from October 2025, while its Municipal Development District collected $197,193, up 1.06%.
Education
Bobbie Kaye Strickland, a retired educator who spent more than 30 years teaching and began her family’s Texas journey in Brownwood, died peacefully in Temple on October 5, 2026, at age 82. Visitation is scheduled for October 11 in Early, followed by a funeral service in Brownwood on October 12.
Sport
The Brownwood Lions begin District 13-4A Division II play at 7 p.m. Friday at Gordon Wood Stadium against the undefeated No. 2 Waco La Vega Pirates, following a 42-21 win over China Spring and a bye week.
