your Senior Neighborhood Reporter in Central Texas Pastor Ronnie Woods has carried a handmade cross over his back or shoulders for a three-mile walk on Good Friday He believes it was a calling from Jesus Christ and he even makes the crosses himself from wood that he finds nearby will mark the end due to what he said are minor health issues with his knee and hip He said what he's learned over these years is kindness and "something God knew I needed." he could return in the future as he continues to see life with optimism while having faith in God and prayer but if you let it keep you dow,n you won’t be happy come tomorrow.” he will carry the cross one more time as he makes his way to the I-35 overpass in front of the Bellmead HEB to watch the sunset rise A health care clinic inside Bellmead Apartments in Washington is the first of its kind to receive “Committed to Care Excellence” honors from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) It is one of 2,300 health systems in the country to receive the designation and IHI officials said this is the nation’s first age-friendly health system collaborative in affordable housing The clinic is the result of a partnership between Presbyterian SeniorCare Network’s affordable and supportive housing division and Curana Health The designation means the clinic provides high-quality age-friendly care through a focus on care excellence Age-friendly health systems must prove that they use a set of evidence-based elements of high-quality care for older adults called “the 4Ms,” what Matters The honor was celebrated Wednesday by leaders from both organizations “Bellmead is the first affordable housing building in the U.S that is committed to care excellence,” said Dawn Dobbs director of innovation and care transformation at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network what that means is we follow the principles of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to ensure that every patient receives the best care possible.” If you have an account and are registered for online access sign in with your email address and password below Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe Copyright © Observer-Reporter | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Texas (KXXV) — TxDOT is set to begin a $10.5 million roadway resurfacing project in Bellmead on US 84 from Hogan Lane to SH 31 on March 3 BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:Cameron Gomez is one of our neighbors who drives on US 84 every day It's a part of our neighborhood that will soon be under construction TxDOT plans to resurface the road in Bellmead on US 84 stretching from Hogan Lane on Bellmead Drive to State Highway (SH) 31 "What the contractor is going to do is between the project limits they're going to do what's called an overlay," TxDOT PIO Jake Smith said giving it a new top layer where there's going to be pavement repairs and it's going to essentially improve the quality of the road from the project limits." The goal of the project is to improve the roadway and make it safer the project will require different lane closures throughout construction which will impact those driving in the area Cameron tells 25 News while the construction will take some getting used to—the end product will be beneficial to our community in the long run "We will have to get up a little earlier in the mornings to make sure we are maneuvering through the traffic," he said but ultimately like with anything it will take some getting used to." The project will cost 10.5 million dollars and spans more than five miles Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBELLMEAD, Texas (KWTX) - A local mother looked the other way when she witnessed the sexual assault of her child at the hands of the victim’s stepfather according to criminal complaint affidavits obtained by KWTX identified in the affidavit as Tiffany Nicole Fegette is charged with failure to stop or report the aggravated sexual assault of a child is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and improper photos or video recorded in a bathroom or dressing room Bellmead police learned about the alleged sexual assault on March 2 The child victim told investigators her stepfather was lying in bed with her at a relative’s house when he placed his hands under her underwear and sexually assaulted her it was determined Tiffany had observed a portion of the sexual assault committed by Caleb,” investigators wrote in the affidavit The woman reportedly confronted her husband but then went to sleep without calling police investigators further wrote in the affidavit detectives learned Caleb Waller had recorded visually invasive images of the victim and obtained consent to search his phone The detectives allegedly found a locked media file folder in the phone Caleb Waller told investigators the folder was locked so that his son could not access the media files within Once investigators gained access to the locked folder they found 21 photos and four videos of pornographic material involving the victim The videos show the victim in a bathtub with her genitals and breasts exposed Tiffiney Waller is being held on a $20,000 surety bond Caleb Waller is being held on a $130,000 bond Texas (KXXV) — The Laundry Room in Bellmead had its grand opening on Wednesday The long-time vacant area was transformed into a new business contributing to the city's economic growth The laundry room is located at 1601 Walton Dr The owners took this empty building — a lot that's been vacant since may of last year and transformed it It's another example of new business growth in Bellmead Texas (KXXV) — The Bellmead Police Department is applying for Criminal Justice Grant Program through the U.S to purchase technological equipment aimed at enhancing community and traffic safety BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:There's a new radar trailer that could be seen around Central Texas neighborhoods in the future "We use it to deploy it in different areas in the city so we can get detailed data that we can analyze and determine whether we have a problem in that area," Chief Myatt said "Then what we try to do is come up with a plan on how to alleviate that problem." Bellmead hopes to get the money to buy a dual-purpose trailer and message board that there were 753 motor vehicle accidents and nearly 2,000 speeding citations issued They say these numbers show ongoing traffic-related concerns that impact the community "I think having this trailer is a tool for us to be a little proactive as well," Myatt said The trailer also has a message board on it which Bellmead's Police Chief Myatt says could alert drivers to anything on the road and help keep other city workers safe for a longer period and be able to gather data so we can see if we have an issue there." The Criminal Justice Grant Program would be fully funded with no required match and would cover 100% of the trailer's cost Buying the trailer would not involve the use of taxpayer dollars but the continuing cost of it would be an annual subscription fee for the system that generates the traffic data Texas (KXXV) — Multiple Bellmead residents on Bluebird Street tell 25 News their cars were broken into early November 4 BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT: Security camera video captures a person walking down Bluebird Street who appears to be breaking into cars early Monday morning "We're going to make sure everything is locked up from here on out," Bellmead resident Davis Castaneda said Davis Castaneda said the thief took things from his wife's car but it's the first time they got me," Castaneda said "One of the neighbors came to me and told me that they had been broken into and asked me if I had anything broken into there were things thrown around and a little bit of cash in the console was gone," Castaneda said Another neighbor posted more security videos on a Facebook page showing the same person in a light-colored hoodie trying to get in different cars Davis has lived in Bellmead for over 30 years and said he's surprised this happened and we don't have many problems," Castaneda said Another neighbor said off-camera that she's seen other cars on her street get broken into Bellmead police received a call just before 12:30 a.m on Monday about a person getting into a car on Bluebird Street Police remind people that the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to always lock their vehicles and never leave valuables in plain sight Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWACO Texas (KWTX) - The mother of three children convicted Tuesday for possession with intent to deliver 158 grams of the deadly opioid fentanyl and 24 grams of methamphetamine was sentenced to 17 years in prison Wednesday Jurors in Waco’s 54th State District Court deliberated about six hours before deciding punishment for Michelle Antoinette Dickerson who faced a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum life term on the fentanyl charge Jurors also recommended that Judge Susan Kelly sentence the 31-year-old Dickerson to seven years in prison on the methamphetamine count after a tearful Dickerson swore that she has learned from her mistakes and vowed to serve as a mentor to others in difficult situations when released Dickerson told the jury in punishment phase testimony she respected the guilty verdict and accepted responsibility for her actions which included smoking marijuana while her young children were in the car and having a gun within easy access of the kids she continued to insist she did not know how the more than 1,500 pills containing the deadly opioid and powerfully addictive stimulant ended up in the trunk of her car which she bought from a Franklin Avenue used car dealer just hours before will be given credit for the 525 days she has been jailed and must earn credit for serving 8 ½ years before she can seek parole turned down a plea offer of 15 years in prison on each count before trial McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Tyler Houghton pulled Dickerson over in the 1100 block of North Loop Drive near Bellmead in December 2021 because the license plate light was not working She was cooperative and acknowledged she had been smoking marijuana with a friend in the car with their four children and admitted she had a .22-caliber pistol with her when the officer said he was going to search the trunk she became combative and slammed the trunk closed before he could look inside he found a vacuum-sealed packet containing what prosecutors Bailey Bryson and Dan Stokes said was enough fentanyl to kill hundreds of thousands of people who has a previous felony conviction for possession of cocaine testified Wednesday she was the product of a dysfunctional foster care system and spent her early years being shipped to foster homes across the state She said she was shot by her drunken grandfather and almost died but survived with the spiritual and emotional support of members of a Fort Worth church she has been attending She asked the jury for another chance and said she would use this as a learning experience and vowed to better her life and help others He wouldn’t bring me to it without bringing me through it.” Bryson and Stokes hammered home the dangers of fentanyl Bryson said those who take the deadly and unpredictable opioid are playing “Russian roulette.” “Think how many people that could have affected but think about how many lives that could have affected.” reminded the jury about Dickerson’s tough upbringing and said He urged jurors to give her minimum sentences so she would have an opportunity to change and to be a good mother to her children again Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBELLMEAD, Texas (KWTX) - A McLennan County man is being held behind bars after he attacked his father in the backyard and bit a portion of the victim’s lip off is charged with aggravated assault causing serious injury-family violence after the attack on Jan Police officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Woodland Boulevard to investigate the domestic disturbance and assault The victim told officers Davis was visibly upset about something and he tried to console him Davis pushed his father away and the man went outside to his backyard followed his father outside and confronted him about “past family issues,” police learned “Davis became enraged during the conversation and started to punch the victim,” police wrote in the affidavit Davis choked his father and started to bite the victim The victim’s wife witnessed the attack and called police for help when she noticed Davis placed her husband in a chokehold The men eventually separated and Davis threatened his father “I am going to kill you,” the witness told police Davis then entered the residence and locked his father and the man’s wife out of the house Officers eventually took Davis into custody “due to a part of the victim’s lip being bitten off causing serious bodily injury,” the affidavit states Davis is being held at the McLennan County Jail on a $10,000 bond Texas (KWTX) - A Bellmead man who was holding an alcoholic beverage as he was helped from a vehicle after a 2021 drunken driving traffic crash that left two people dead and a third seriously injured pleaded guilty Wednesday Anthony Edward Suarez is asking 54th State District Judge Susan Kelly to place him on probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault crash on the Interstate 35 access road near Lacy Lakeview in which Elmer Servin prosecutors recommended the judge sentence him to no more than 12 years in prison on the first two counts and no more than 10 years in prison on the third count Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison Kelly will sentence Suarez after reviewing a presentence report compiled by probation officers Suarez admitted he had been drinking before he started to drive and lost control of his Chrysler 300 after hitting a curb on the southbound interstate service road near Birch Street in the Lacy Lakeview area hit a pile of rocks and careened into a ditch which caused the car to roll multiple times Servin died at the scene and Melendez died while being flown to a Temple hospital Records indicate Suarez’s blood-alcohol content was 0.196% more than twice the legal limit to be considered intoxicated Police reports state Suarez was holding an alcoholic beverage as witnesses helped him out of the vehicle after the crash Texas (KXXV) — Bellmead secured nearly $10 million in grants for the Corridor Safety Improvements Project The grants will fund enhancements on Bellmead Drive and Concord Road BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:"Right now there is no clear scenario It should be pointed out what they're going to do," local business owner Sangam Baniya tells Neighborhood Reporter Bella Popadiuk he's owned the Smoke Zone and Bellmead Liquor Store for 4 years He says he heard about the coming street improvements but wants to see more details "We need to see the detailed project of what they're going to do what point they'll be starting and what point they're going to be ending," he said City leaders say they don't know what the plans will look like yet Next steps include city council working with engineers to draft a conceptual plan Some planned enhancements so far are the installation of more medians Baniya tells me he wants to see additional pedestrian walkways and cleaning up the overall area around his business Everything should be good and from people's sides they should know about those things the city has to be working for people and they should be benefitting from that project." The project aims to upgrade infrastructure and make the area safer and more accessible on Bellmead Drive and Concord Road for everyone "This is transformational," City Manager Yousry "Yost" Zakhary said "I could see this changing Bellmead for decades to come." The city says currently those two roads lack safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists "The largest grant we've seen in the history of Bellmead," Zakhary said The $10 million in safety improvements will be fully grant-funded and not come out of taxpayers' wallets Council will hold public hearings in the future for residents to give input on the project City leaders tell me they hope to begin work on the project in the next year and a half ORIGINAL STORY:Bellmead Drive and Concord Road will look very different in the future– after the city of Bellmead secures nearly $10,000,000 in grant money to enhance safety in those areas The project aims to upgrade infrastructure and make the area safer and more accessible for residents and visitors The city says they hope to begin work in the next year and a half The safety improvements will be fully grant funded and not come out of taxpayers wallets the areas lack safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists The city says this project will be transformational for our neighborhood and benefit Bellmead for decades Bellmead City Council incumbent Bryan Winget likes what he sees on the city’s horizon He wants to keep his Precinct 5 seat in the May 3 election to get a closer look “I’m going for my third term,” said Winget “There are several projects I would like to see progress and I want to continue serving on a strong city council that works well together.” Filing to compete against Winget is Charles Murnahan who did not respond to phone calls and an email seeking comment Winget said three potential developments continue to excite him. He said the city last year qualified to receive about $10 million for improvements along Bellmead Drive and Concord Road to improve safety conditions for motorists Department of Transportation made funds available through its $5 billion Safe Streets and Roads For All program “The work can begin when the money is released,” Winget said WATCH NOW: See where and how Bellmead Drive could be transformed (April 2024) | Music: https://www.purple-planet.com He said the Texas Department of Transportation will distribute the federal money and carry out the work “There have been a lot of crashes along those corridors since I arrived six years ago,” Bellmead City Manager Yost Zakhary said Zakhary said predicting when work will actually begin is difficult The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program has another $2 billion left to award with the next application deadline arriving June 26 Winget said Bellmead is also waiting expectantly for a $300,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department The city will use the money to upgrade Brame Park situated between Oak Grove Drive and Hogan Lane Winget said it is his understanding the park will get lighting and soccer goals and that the playground equipment will see improvements Winget also mentioned work continuing on the multi-phase North Interceptor Wastewater Improvements project involving Bellmead Waco and Texas State Technical College meant to reduce flooding and improve conveyance to the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System Bellmead voters on May 3 also will choose someone to represent Precinct 1 on the council either incumbent Karen Coleman or challenger Ruth Ann Mitchell Incumbent Travis Gibson is unopposed in Precinct 2 Early in-person voting is available at five locations: the McLennan County Elections Administration Office Lyndale Ave.; the Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center 1020 Elm Ave.; the West Waco Library and Genealogy Center 5301 Bosque Blvd.; and the Hewitt City Hall and Library saw 620 people cast ballots in-person in city and school elections countywide The elections office had received another 82 mail ballots by Tuesday Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day FINAL RESULTS—George Chase will return to the Waco City Council and Taylor Bledsoe is headed to the Waco school board In Woodway's city council elections Saturday incumbent Mayor Amine Qourzal and two candidates he supported won seats Waco businessman Taylor Bledsoe won election to the District 4 seat on the Waco Independent School District Board of Trustees on Saturday Voters on Saturday in several local cities and school districts are choosing their closest elected leaders Turner said the lack of interest in shaking up the council does not indicate apathy in Hewitt Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBELLMEAD, Texas (KWTX) - The Bellmead Police Department on Oct 28 announced the arrest of Omar Dominguez Martinez in the hit-and-run that claimed the life of Jana McElyea in 2017 Detectives received critical information early in 2024 “which played a pivotal role in bringing this case to resolution,” police said in a Facebook post “We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our community and the relentless dedication of our officers in seeking justice for Jana and her loved ones,” police wrote in a social media post 2017 as she tried to cross New Dallas Highway while headed to a convenience store from the hotel where she and her husband were staying No further information about the investigation was provided Dominguez is charged with collision involving death He is being held at the McLennan County Jail Texas (KXXV) — 7 Brew coffee plans to open in Bellmead mid-September A new coffee shop is coming to town — drive-through coffee stand is opening next month in Bellmead located at 974 N Loop 340 7 Brew offers 20,000 different drink combinations The stand will add 50 jobs to the Bellmead area, anyone interested can apply online Texas — Bellmead Chief of Police Shawn Myatt tells 25 News' Neighborhood Reporter Isabella Popadiuk an adult male was hit by a train Friday afternoon in the city Investigators believe the man was pushing a bicycle across the train tracks along Air Base Road when he was struck by a train and killed The identity of the victim is being withheld until next of kin is notified will compete yet again to capture the Precinct 1 seat on Bellmead City Council Neither candidate knows much about the other Coleman turns 61 on Easter Sunday and works as assistant vice president for new accounts at TFNB Your Bank for Life on Elm Avenue worked 30 years at the Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and now helps her husband Mitchell and Coleman faced each other in 2023 with Coleman prevailing in her reelection bid having first been chosen to represent Precinct 1 in May 2021 “I’ve lived in Bellmead 62 of my 65 years,” Mitchell said She said city management is “iffy” and those who oversee city business need more transparency Coleman said her goal remains staying the course and generally make the community cleaner and safer and she would like to continue doing her part Planned improvements along Bellmead Drive have stalled but she remains confident “they definitely are getting ready to move,” Coleman said The Bellmead City Council in 2023 approved a 10-year comprehensive plan proposed by GrantWorks that included interviews with residents about what Bellmead’s priorities should become GrantWorks’ report envisions creating a 50-acre central business district encompassing the La Vega ISD administration building the police and fire department headquarters and municipal court City leaders could use zoning and land-use restrictions to create the zone They also could approve ordinances regulating signs she believes Bellmead has taken the appropriate approach “to having mom-and-pop shops popping up.” Mitchell said streets in Precinct 1 need improving and pedestrians and cyclists could use more designated pathways “There is land out here that needs developing,” Mitchell said She suggested residents would welcome a new softball complex She described Last Chance Bar as welcoming place to people and pets Bellmead’s comprehensive plan values pedestrian safety suggesting the city divert truck traffic to designated routes Other roadways would become bikable and walkable The plan says interviews with residents suggested they see recreational opportunities as priorities They would welcome more softball and baseball fields and would hope the city can continue improvements to Brame Park a 4-acre site between Hogan Lane and Oak Grove Drive donated to the city by O.N She and her husband have one son and three grandchildren April 18th: Deadly US airstrike on Yemen marks escalation of campaign against Houthis; Trump says Ukraine-Russia talks 'coming to a head'; RFK assassination records released; Worshippers return to Notre Dame Texas (KXXV) — Bellmead Family Dog Days are just around the corner is attempting to scam volunteers into paying to attend the event Marie Mendoza has been volunteering at Bellmead's annual family dog days every year Mendoza told 25 News it's an excellent event for our neighbors to get together with others who love animals "So you're telling me I got to pay to volunteer?" she said and we have 30 animals and three grandkids Police say the Facebook account is trying to scam our neighbors "You're taking advantage of not only people that are trying to help animals but you're taking advantage of people that are willing to volunteer their time and come out there with the awesome event we have every year," she said Marie says she felt something was off and did not pay the woman messaging her Police remind residents to question any person or company contacting them online or over the phone contact their local law enforcement agency Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBELLMEAD, Texas (KWTX) - Bellmead Police Department officers arrested a wanted suspect caught hunting in a neighboring property without consent the Bellmead Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) tried to serve a felony warrant in the 700 block of Selby Lane Officers learned that the wanted individual was hunting without the landowner’s consent on a neighboring property police arrested McGee and learned he had illegally poached a deer Police found McFee’s personal belongings and the weapon used to kill the deer in the area Bellmead police thanked Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Waco Police Department for their assistance in this case Texas (KXXV) — 7 Brew coffee shop opens this week in Bellmead with a donation to McLane Children's Baylor Scott & White Hospital BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:“What did you order from seven brew this morning?” “I got a sweet and salty with caramel drizzle and cold foam and then a pumpkin blondie for my friend,” Madalynn Flores said Madalynn Flores tells Neighborhood Reporter Bella Popadiuk she is excited 7 Brew Coffee on Loop 340 in Bellmead has made its way to Central Texas “I used to live in Odessa and West Texas area and I personally love it so much better than Dutch Bros," Flores said "So when I heard that you were getting one here She says she's lived in the area since 2017 and has seen a lot of growth in our community 7 Brew had its ribbon cutting Wednesday and "soft" opening this week “It's getting to know the community and getting to know exactly who's coming through our drive through,” Stand Opener Mitch Stutler said 7 Brew presented a donation to McLane Children’s Baylor Scott and White Hospital kind of spreading the message about cultivating kindness and kind of what the brand is all about,” Stand Manager Aaron Leonberger said The official grand opening will be on October 5 the stand is still hiring and is expected to add around 50 jobs to the area Texas (KXXV) — Bellmead police have arrested three individuals following a crash that killed a 67-year-old bicyclist last Sunday The driver of the vehicle which killed Dennis Welch who has since been detained and charged — a 10-year-old was also a passenger in the vehicle further investigation led to the arrest of 40-year-old Erika Ramirez Martinz and one count of criminally negligent homicide has also been charged with one count of contributing alcohol to a minor The Bellmead Police Department is still throughly investigating this incident "We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," authorities said accused of sexually assaulting a young child and a woman was arrested the same day on a charge she witnessed the assault and failed to report it Bellmead police arrested Caleb Wayne Waller on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child on a Class A misdemeanor charge of failure to report aggravated sexual assault of a child told investigators Caleb Waller molested her when she was trying to sleep at a relative’s home Police determined Tiffiney Waller saw part of the assault and confronted Caleb Waller about it but did not report it to law enforcement The child also told investigators she spoke to Tiffiney Waller about the assault he gave investigators permission to search his cellphone and based on 21 photos and two videos on the phone they added a second-degree felony charge of possession of child pornography and two state jail felony charges of improper photography in a bathroom according to an arrest affidavit for the additional charges added Monday Both Wallers remained in McLennan County Jail on Tuesday and Tiffiney Waller’s bail is set at $20,000 April 7th: Trump meets with Israel's Netanyahu at the White House; More than 20 dead in flooding in U.S South and Midwest; Market volatility continues due to Trump tariffs; King Charles arrives in Italy for state visit Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email The Turner Brothers firm tackling the Floyd Casey Village development is preparing to file counterclaims against a contractor that sued the fi… A Waco woman was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder in her infant daughter's October 2023 death caused b… Baylor University has been ordered to pay almost $438,000 in attorney fees to a former student A 21-year-old Dallas man pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated robbery Monday and received two life sentences for the 2022 murder of Stanley… Here's a list of people who were indicted this week by a McLennan County grand jury Texas (KXXV) — Brame and Devorsky Parks will receive sidewalk chalk obstacles courses designed by area school children BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:"When you invest in your community it's just a symbol of pride for the community." Creative Waco contractor Julie Cervantes spent two days painting a Spongebob-themed sidewalk chalk obstacle course at Devorsky Park in Bellmead I already saw three kids playing along with it and it was only halfway done I'm excited for when we get more out in the community and see the interaction the kids will have with it." The artwork was designed by area school children with these being the original drawings for the course Local artists then took the children's renditions and created the full mural "This is just an elementary kids design brought to life." Bellmead Assistant City Manager Karen Evans tells me the city has been working hard on improving parks the past few years While the project aims to enhance parks in our community it also hopes to promote physical activity Spending time outdoors can be beneficial for your physical and mental health Evans says she wants to see more art around Bellmead in the future "I have a couple more buildings that are blank I want to get with Creative Waco and see about getting some more murals put on those facilities." BELLMEAD, Texas (KXXV) — Police in Bellmead are cracking down on child sex predators by hosting a training with the nonprofit The Innocent BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:“With 37 million teens in America on social media they're not on the playgrounds like it used to be Nate Lewis is the CEO and founder of ‘The Innocent.’ It's a nonprofit he created in 2013 after spending years working internationally for an anti-child sex trafficking organization “Then coming back to the states and really just listening to the people and to the gaps and some of the missing pieces in law enforcement five of our local agencies– including Bellmead police– underwent training with 'The Innocent' to learn more about combating child sex crimes in our community and then bring them up to another level." The nonprofit provides law enforcement with specific training and equipment such as special computers and software to sort through evidence to prosecute these crimes While the training's goal is to protect children it also supports the adults working in these cases like you just see the abuse and the massive like it causes a serious anger inside of you." Nate says they want to continue supporting local officers who have witnessed these disturbing crimes Texas (KXXV) — The La Vega Independent School District announced there are no classes scheduled on Friday The district is encouraging students and families to watch the Lady Pirates basketball team play in the Girls 4A Division 1 State Championship Basketball Game in San Antonio For the third year in a row, La Vega advances to the state tournamentas they look to complete their dynasty your Neighborhood Reporter with Good Morning Texas TX (KXXV) — Behind the rush of the holiday season Easter is the second busiest holiday for bakeries across the board Collin Street Bakery talks on how they're preparing amid rising costs and potential tariffs you won't have to deal with that at Collin Street Bakery we're a family owned business and one of the mottos that we have as a family business is the golden rule," Thomas McNutt fourth generation Family Operator at the Collin Street Bakery said We want to treat other people like we want to be treated and I want to be treated fairly and so we try to do the same thing we hate raising prices and we do everything we can not to do it Which is a good thing for customers planning to spend on the holiday weekend “Outside of Christmas and Thanksgiving— which run into each other Easter is absolutely the biggest holiday for bakeries and you don't have a family gathering without some good baked goods it's kind of like our off-season Super Bowl,” he said Another tool to keep the tariff increases at bay is buying American “We've had a goal at Collin Street Bakery for a long time to buy American we support spending in America,” Thomas said There's another element that’s helping this Texas staple: “We’re blessed because a whole lot of restaurants that you stop at they don't have their own food factory," Thomas said and so because we are vertically integrated then we're able to control our cost and our in price a little bit more than a lot of places and so that allows us to keep the prices lower on the customer because we have our own factory."  BELLMEAD, Texas (KXXV) — Bellmead police have arrested the individual responsible for a fatal hit-and-run from 2017 that killed Jana McElyea Omar Dominguez Martinez was taken into custody after detectives received critical information in early 2024 after "years of dedicated investigation and invaluable community support" according to the Bellmead Police Department "Through the tireless efforts of our Criminal Investigations Division and the collaboration of concerned citizens leading investigators to Martinez," police said "We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our community and the relentless dedication of our officers in seeking justice for Jana and her loved ones." Texas (KXXV) — While modular homes are more common in northern states BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:"He brought it up to me and I'm like — what is that?," Mayela St Thomas and her husband found out about modular homes as they were starting their investment journey they will own two modular home duplexes in Bellmead We have a little daughter that is my world and I want to show her the financials to be financially literate in all aspects of money and investment wise," St She tells me they chose to buy modular homes because of the speed of the building process A modular home is a house that is completely built in a factory we're busy," Owner of Modular Homes of Texas Kevin Curtis said Modular Homes of Texas has specialized in modular homes for more than 20 years "The demand is growing every day because we're needing housing." not to be confused with mobile or manufactured homes are becoming more popular in Texas because the demand for housing but typically they are more popular in northern states because the climate can make building outdoors difficult "We're able to bring different pieces depending on how the home is laid out: multiple pieces Having a home built in a factory has other perks-- such as being more cost effective modular homes take about two weeks to be built in a factory then another three weeks to be installed on a lot Kevin and his wife Melissa also made the move into a modular home nearly five years ago it's no different than a site-build house." modular homes are built in compliance with all of the applicable city building codes-- so there are no issues with the construction The most dangerous city in the state of Texas has been named and it is not the one you probably think it is When it comes to violent crime rates and the city where you are most likely to experience one Houston was the answer I got the most when I asked around the radio station A recent study ranked the top 10 most dangerous cities in Texas based on the number of violent crimes per 100,000 residents Number 1 has nowhere near that many residents .. According to worldpopulationreview; "Violent crime is a crime committed by a person or persons behaving in a manner that intends to inflict physical harm on another person or property." That (dis) honor goes to Bellmead, Texas. Bellmead, which is home to only 10,620 peeps Bellmead is also one of the 30 most dangerous cities in the United States. In 2018, residents of Bellmead faced a 1 in 4 chance of being a victim of theft or arson. - worldpopulationreview Surprisingly, of the top 10 biggest cities in Texas Here is the complete "worst of Texas" list: It used to be that small towns were safer ... looks like those days may be over. El Paso has been ranked as the safest city in Texas and, when not named absolute safest, we still pretty consistently rank among the safest The most dangerous city in the state of Texas has been named and it is not the one you probably think it is. It's only about a 10th the size of its largest one.\nRead More According to worldpopulationreview; "Violent crime is a crime committed by a person or persons behaving in a manner that intends to inflict physical harm on another person or property." That (dis) honor goes to Bellmead, Texas. Bellmead, which is home to only 10,620 peeps Bellmead is also one of the 30 most dangerous cities in the United States. In 2018, residents of Bellmead faced a 1 in 4 chance of being a victim of theft or arson. - worldpopulationreview Surprisingly, of the top 10 biggest cities in Texas It used to be that small towns were safer ... looks like those days may be over. El Paso has been ranked as the safest city in Texas and, when not named absolute safest, we still pretty consistently rank among the safest This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A 32-year-old man was arrested late Wednesday after police believe he pointed a handgun at another person then fired it into the air outside a hotel in Bellmead Kendrick Jones was booked in McLennan County Jail early Thursday morning on a third-degree felony charge of deadly conduct and a Class A misdemeanor charge of deadly conduct Wednesday at a hotel in the 700 block of the north Interstate 35 access road Dispatchers informed officers a caller reported someone banged on a hotel room door before he pointed a firearm at another person and fired the weapon Jones had a magazine loaded with ammunition in his possession Jones told police he had fired a handgun outside the hotel and gave officers consent to search his hotel room Another man told officers Jones had pointed the weapon at him and fired it into the air near him The affidavit does not say what led to the confrontation the man described New Bellmead Assistant Police Chief Correy Dornell Harrison stands with Chief Shawn Myatt after his swearing-in ceremony Monday at Bellmead City Hall Bellmead has welcomed a new assistant police chief to town after a yearlong search to fill the vacancy His two sons pinned on his new badge in front of a bevy of other family and friends Harrison joins Bellmead’s department after almost two decades working in El Paso most recently a sergeant with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has also spent time with the El Paso Police Department Harrison said family played a big part in his decision to leave El Paso County which has a population about 80 times bigger than Bellmead’s 10,500 The move brings Harrison closer to his parents and other family members who live in the Waco area His parents met while stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso and moved to his father’s native Waco after retirement Bellmead Police Chief Shawn Myatt said the addition of Harrison takes a lot off his plate in terms of day-to-day responsibilities and represents a milestone for Bellmead as it took just over a year to fill the empty position Bellmead Mayor James Cleveland and other city council members also took part in Monday’s ceremony along with police chiefs from several area cities “This young man’s heart, desire and drive amazes me, and we’re glad to have him be a part of our team,” said Myatt, who was sworn in as police chief July 5 Brenda Kinsey, Bellmead’s most recent assistant police chief, still has an active federal lawsuit against Bellmead City Manager Yost Zakhary and the city Zakhary said he was glad Harrison’s selection committee took its time throughout the hiring process. The committee consisted of Myatt, Hewitt Police Chief John McGrath Robinson Police Chief Danny Smith and Bellmead Assistant City Manager Karen Evans Zakhary said the committee selected Harrison unanimously and he is glad the group waited to find “the right person that fits our culture.” Harrison said he was happy in El Paso but he felt a calling to move his wife and two sons to Central Texas and seeing the things that the city has in place and those things that have evolved and that are in the works was a very strong factor for me,” Harrison said Harrison said he expected people from El Paso to frown upon the decision to move to Bellmead Harrison said he sees a collaborative effort among city officials and locals to make Bellmead a safer place He pointed to Bellmead’s improving crime rate, which Myatt outlined in a five-year crime trends report back in June Harrison said he is excited to hit the ground running and work alongside someone such as Myatt whose career started in 1993 as a deputy sheriff in Lamb County “I can tell you that he presents himself as a really good person that happens to be the chief of police,” Harrison said and he’s really looking to continue great things here There’s been tremendous success here recently and I’m just excited to contribute to that.” Despite recent arrivals with big operations McGregor's industrial tax base has dropped by a third what it means to advocate for your community and demand that the door of opportunity is never sh… A man was arrested on Christmas Eve after he was accused of assaulting his wife with her walking cane causing severe injuries in an incident police say escalated from an argument over a phone several days before was arrested Tuesday on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault involving a dating partner with a weapon and causing serious bodily injury Beard called Bellmead police from the Walmart at 1521 N He acknowledged that he assaulted the woman and requested assistance from his doctor due to his anger Beard told officers he became angry when he heard his wife's phone notification go off during the early morning hours of Sunday or Monday He told authorities that when he attempted to grab the phone Beard reportedly admitted to slapping and striking the woman in the face during the altercation including cuts and bruises on her face near her nose a large dark bruise on the left side of her abdomen and another extensive bruise extending from her elbow to her shoulder The victim also reported knots on her head and broken teeth She accused Beard of using her black foldable cane with a T-handle as a weapon during the assault collapsing it and striking her repeatedly on her face and body The woman further stated that Beard hit her with a closed fist during the incident causing what officers described as serious bodily injury Beard was transported to McLennan County Jail where he remained Thursday afternoon your morning anchor with Good Morning Texas Texas (KXXV) A Waco man wanted for murder out of Bellmead is awaiting extradition following his arrest at a motel in Donna Saturday morning has an active homicide warrant out of the Bellmead Police Department After receiving information from the Weslaco Police Department that Casiano was staying at the Texas Inn in Donna officials closed off the area to arrest Casiano Casiano is in custody and is awaiting extradition We are working to get more details regarding the homicide investigation regarding Casiano