Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInAutoplayNews Texas - At approximately 6:30 pm last Saturday police were called out to the Walmart on West Main Street in Gun Barrel City Texas in response to a man who allegedly threatened to "shoot up the store." 22-year-old John Thomas Martin was located inside Walmart with a semi-automatic hand gun along with three magazines and one extended magazine He was also found to be wearing a ballistic vest underneath his hooded sweatshirt Martin was arrested before he did any damage but the fact that he was actually inside the Walmart and essentially ready to go He was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon and terroristic threats The people of Gun Barrel City are incredibly lucky law enforcement was able to put a stop to what could have been another horrific mass shooting there have already been 46 mass shootings in the United States this year alone Mass shootings this year have caused 90 deaths and 134 injuries but I always want to remind my readers to please speak up if they see or hear something that doesn't seem right Take people seriously if they mention desiring to hurt themselves or others Do not hesitate to contact the authorities Let's do our best to keep each other safe Keep scrolling for more Texas-based news in the galleries below.. Gallery Credit: Renee Raven At approximately 6:30 pm last Saturday, February 15th, 2025, police were called out to the Walmart on West Main Street in Gun Barrel City, Texas in response to a man who allegedly threatened to \"shoot up the store.\"\nRead More 22-year-old John Thomas Martin was located inside Walmart with a semi-automatic hand gun Mar 14, 2025 | LIFESTYLE + ENTERTAINMENT Lawn Mower Racing takes place several times in 2025 at Gun Barrel City Park Presented by Lone Star Mower Racing Association (LSMRA) and children as they race their souped up bladeless machines around a dirt track to try to make it first to the finish line The Lone Star Mower Racing Association (LSMRA) formed in 1998 as a Chapter of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) There are bleachers for spectators and lawn chairs are welcome as are canopies and umbrellas for shade A food truck is on site but coolers with food and drinks are allowed The adult races include Hot Laps and Heat Races and Power Wheels competitions take place for kids during intermission Isabella (left) and Valida are ready to roll The races start around 10 a.m. on these Saturdays: March 22, April 26, May 17, June 21, September 27, October 25, and November 15. Admission is free. Find more information on www.lsmra.com Read more about this “Grassroots Movement” in an article by Julia Robinson in the October 2024 Texas Co-op Power Magazine Read Cedar Creek Lake Area Monitor Read Lake Area Leader publisher@themonitor.net Copyright ©2025 Mabank Monitor and Lake Area Leader 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 Courtesy Photo/GBC Police K-9 Aygo is in the spotlight this week as he sits down for an interview to discuss his position with Gun Barrel City Police Department and his role in the community.  GUN BARREL CITY–As part of Gun Barrel City’s “meet the staff” introductions Aygo is a four-legged officer who has served Gun Barrel City since November 2023 with a wagging tail and fierce snout  Aygo’s role is to serve in the Gun Barrel City K-9 unit He is dual trained in patrol and narcotics detection and assists in tracking He is certified by two nationally recognized programs—and working on his third certification in May including 123 narcotics searches and he’s located 419 suspects Aygo has also helped to seize 14.6 kilos of Marijuana and 34 key items of evidence. Aygo “says” his favorite part about serving the residents of Gun Barrel City is riding around town and enjoying the beautiful views plus finding bad guys and illegal narcotics to keep this city safe He also says that the moments that bring him the most joy and fulfillment are when he can have community time and play hide-and-seek with his handler “Whether I’m tracking down someone hiding in the woods or sniffing out contraband in vehicles the best part is when I succeed—and I get my toy as a reward,” says Aygo. Aygo says the police department has inspired him to make a positive impact in the community because they put up with his messy drool Kong-toy obsession and even the pestering when he’s overdue for playtime “If they can stay positive through all that I can too-even on busy days,” says Aygo. Aygo thinks that Walmart and Petsense deserve more recognition because they have the best bones and toy selection for the pets of Gun Barrel City He also says that pet adoptions and spay/neuter events are essential for strengthening connections among residents which makes everyone safer including me,” says Aygo. Thank you for your service hopefully you have lots of belly rubs and Kong toys heading your way.   Monitor Photo/Ashlee SawyerMembers of the Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation and YNS Development Services prepare to break ground on the Pier 334 Development Oct There will also be a boutique Hilton Tapestry hotel restaurant and coffee shop in addition to a food hall building which will house up to four additional restaurants Monitor Photo/Ashlee SawyerEconomic Development Corporation Board President Roy Key shares his excitement during the ground-breaking ceremony for Pier 334 Oct Monitor Photo/Ashlee SawyerMembers of the Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation and YNS Development Services turn dirt to signify the ground-breaking of the new Pier 334 Development Oct Courtesy Photo/Gun Barrel City Fire DepartmentGun Barrel City Fire and Police Departments responded to a major car accident in the 1200 block of Harbor Point Road at 8:01 a.m. A pickup truck left the roadway and rolled over several times before coming to rest against a building located in the Gun Barrel City Airpark The driver of the vehicle was located by law enforcement near the site of the crash The accident is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety as it occurred in Henderson County A Texas man was recently arrested for threatening to shoot up a Walmart filled with customers and this wasn't his first arrest for similar charges TX responded to a call of an armed man at the nearby Walmart threatening that he will shoot up the establishment The armed male, 22-year-old John Thomas Martin was then arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat: a 3rd degree felony in the State of Texas According to a Facebook post from the Gun Barrel City Police Department they stated that responding officers removed a Glock 10mm semi-auto handgun and four magazines totaling 63 rounds of 10mm bullets Martin was also seen wearing a ballistic vest under his clothes John Martin didn't have the proper permit for the firearm that he was packing.. on top of the felony charge of making terroristic threats he is also charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon According to Henderson County Jail records 16 on a $25,000 bond for the unlawful carry It's unclear if this is a reason for the high price tag on his bond but Martin was previously arrested in 2022 for the same charge: terroristic threat This first charge, in 2022, resulted in a bond set at $50,000, WFAA reported Gun Barrel City PD emphasized the importance of citizens following the "see something say something" protocol when out in public. They concluded that "these actions and the officers response truly prevented a very dangerous outcome." A Texas man was arrested for making terroristic threats at a Walmart while armed with a handgun, multiple magazines, and a bulletproof vest.\nRead More The armed male, 22-year-old John Thomas Martin According to a Facebook post from the Gun Barrel City Police Department According to Henderson County Jail records This first charge, in 2022, resulted in a bond set at $50,000, WFAA reported Gun Barrel City PD emphasized the importance of citizens following the "see something say something" protocol when out in public. They concluded that "these actions and the officers response truly prevented a very dangerous outcome." Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Texas — Sandra Ward is met with a calm but steady wind as she opens the screen door to head out to her garden “This is our all-around favorite plant that we planted,” Sandra said Just beyond her garden are a row of homes where Eastwood Island meets the bank of Cedar Creek Lake When her late husband Thomas "Buddy" Ward moved to the area in the '60s Sandra says he and his father decided to build just off the edge of what would become the Cedar Creek Reservoir It was still under construction at the time This is the first home in Eastwood Island,” Sandra said Sandra Ward says her husband had a Ben Franklin store in Oak Cliff at that time he decided to open a store along Gun Barrel City’s most famous street “Due to the fact it was one of the number one stores in the Ben Franklin chain Sam Walton came down to see what’s in this store,” Sandra said while pointing at the old building which now houses a furniture store Anyone who grew up in Gun Barrel City knows Sam Walton would open a store down main street and eventually a Walmart Supercenter right next to it Sandra says it’s proof of her husband’s economic legacy in Gun Barrel City.  It’s likely one of the reasons Tom Ward is said to be one of the "Dirty Dozen," according to legend - 12 people influential in the incorporation of Gun Barrel City Tom Ward served on city council from 1984 to 1986 He founded and was the first president of the Economic Development Corporation and was part of an effort to buy 40 acres of land “There was a lot of controversy over that because we’re still out in podunk Why do we need 40 acres?” Sandra Ward said.  The Gun Barrel City fire and police departments now sit on that land along with a city park and a helipad Tom Ward thought Gun Barrel City needed a helipad so he along with others raised $14,000 to build it “He went out all around Cedar Creek Lake to all the different towns looking for money,” Sandra Ward said Gun Barrel City’s website references the story of the Dirty Dozen and says the town was incorporated on May 26 the town was known as the Old Bethel Community “Gentleman called it Gun Barrel Road because it was as straight as a gun barrel and that’s how the city got its name,” Mayor David Skains said Mayor Skains is referencing what is now Gun Barrel Lane With a city flag featuring a long rifle and the slogan "We shoot straight with you," it’s normal for people to think Gun Barrel City was founded during the era of the Wild West The city logo is nothing short of iconic in Texas terms featuring two six shooters intersecting with a star in the middle “I usually see someone at least once a week outside City Hall taking pictures,” Skains said Despite the ever-present guns in Gun Barrel City Skains says the city isn’t all about firearms Even after a non-binding resolution passed in 2013 which encourages citizens to own a firearm with some exceptions such as those convicted of a felony or dealing with mental or physical disabilities “I’ve been mayor for three years and lived here for eight,” Skains said.” The city is more about being a retirement “I actually have a councilmember who owns a business that deals with the American Disabilities Act who is working with our city attorney to draft an ordinance that will allow people to still allow some people to use the golf carts in the street,” Skains said The mayor has scheduled a workshop for the end of June on the issue and says he’s gearing up for a big announcement he can’t share just yet Mayor Skains couldn’t verify another story behind the incorporation of Gun Barrel City which says the residents didn’t want to leave the area to buy alcohol a man known as a historian for neighboring town Mabank says Gun Barrel City was founded because Mabank proper wouldn’t allow alcohol sales Constituents came together and asked if they incorporated Gun Barrel City would they allow alcohol sales The one condition was that there would be no property taxes and today Gun Barrel City still operates without property taxes Sandra Ward was with her husband for 30 years volunteering with Friends of the Animals in town and keeping her husband’s memory alive by sharing his stories “It is what he started,” she said “He’s proud of it.” Jim Malone walks tall along the hallways of the Kemp Care Center he’s known widely among residents and staff as the man who created the slogan for Gun Barrel City Malone holds up a shirt with the famous motto "We shoot straight with you."   thinking back to the creation of the slogan.  Malone recalls moving to Gun Barrel City in 1969 “They didn’t have that many restaurants to eat at.”  Malone worked at different places over the years His favorite gig was being a volunteer firefighter.   but I know I can’t do it anymore because I’m too old,” Malone said.  He was fighting fires in 1975 when Gun Barrel City put out a call to residents to suggest ideas for a city slogan.  Malone said he pitched his suggestion to his dad.  “I just told my dad how about ‘We shoot straight with you,’ and he said 'You think it’ll win?'" Malone remembers solidifying his place in Gun Barrel City history and netting him $50.   “This is one thing I can hold in my heart for a long time,” Malone said.   Malone was recognized again in 2019 during Gun Barrel City’s 50th birthday He received a certificate and a key to the city.  The true story about the slogan may not match the outlaw stories people expect to hear when they find themselves in Gun Barrel City yet the motto remains amongst the most iconic in Texas.  start all over again and do the same thing,” Malone said.   Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.