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News

– The City of Hamilton is pleased to welcome Nayda Santana as City Manager, beginning her service in the community on August 17, 2026. A Central Texas native, Santana brings experience in municipal leadership, finance, budget, procurement, and infrastructure, along with a strong commitment to responsive and people-centered public service.
Disaster protection and prevention were the topics at Tuesday’s Hamilton County Commissioners Court meeting. Precinct 1 Commissioner Johnny Wagner began the meeting with a prayer for the Rio Escondido fire’s first responders and residents in harm’s way.
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The Hamilton High School Band Boosters would also like to give a huge thank you to Clip and Curl, whose name was left out of last week’s list of donors for the Band Barbecue..
Elevated rainfall in Texas has been a boon for doves. This is the third year in a row for record or near-record highs in their numbers, including the highest estimates ever for whitewinged doves. This is not a season to sit out.

Lifestyle

Fun in the Sun
at Circle T and the High School Cafeteria for the 23rd annual BBQ Cook-ou. Both locations sold BBQ lunch plates and served around 600 plates, causing them to use all of their food and run out before 2 p.m.
Going to Market...
Looking good!
The Hamilton Historic Main Street Program, in partnership with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, invites businesses, organizations, churches, schools, civic groups, families, and individuals to be part of one of the biggest community celebrations of the year by participating in the 54th Annual Dove Fest Parade on Saturday, September 5.

Sports

JV BLACK: Hamilton’s junior varsity Black volleyball team is off to a hot 4-1 start after trouncing Llano at home on Tuesday of last week in two sets by scores of 25-10 and 25-14. After playing in Moody on Tuesday, the JV Black will be back in action Thursday and Saturday in Bruceville-Eddy for tournament competition.
The Junior High Lady Dogs took no losses this past week as the 7th grade A, 8th grade A and combo B team took care of business against Tennyson Middle School and Carver Middle School. On August 20th, the Junior High Lady Dogs swept Tennyson Middle School with the 7th grade A team winning in straight sets 25-15 and 25-11, The 8th grade A team taking straight sets 25-17 and 25-22 with the Combo B team following suit with straight sets of 25-20 and 25-14 over Tennyson.
Right before the Friday night lights of Texas turn on and the footballs kick off, Big Country Preps started releasing their Preseason football position rankings. The Defensive Linemen are the first of eight positions they are ranking in the area.
PRESEASON RECAP: The Hamilton Bulldogs battered the host Bulldogs during a final preseason scrimmage held in Bosqueville last Thursday. After claiming a one score to none advantage in the controlled portion of the scrimmage, Hamilton proceeded to outpace Bosqueville 16-7 during a 15-minute live quarter. The Dogs opened with an impressive nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive that included a 15-yard reception by Colton DeLaGarza, a five-yard rush by Ricky Shank, carries for 13 and three yards respectively by Cooper Turner, a 10-yard burst by Easton Marwitz and a nineyard touchdown plunge from the wildcat formation by Cade Branquinho. Defensively, Hamilton’s first team allowed no first downs during the controlled portion and created one turnover on an interception by Bryan Ibarra. Entering the live quarter, Hamilton took an early seven point lead. Sophomore gunslinger Oliver Summers bought time by rolling to his right before stringing a 46-yard scoring strike to classmate Madden Weaver. Ethan Kalbas proceeded to tag the extra point. Hamilton’s defense quickly forced a turnover on downs after just four offensive plays by Bosqueville, and two plays thereafter, Summers connected with DeLaGarza on a 29-yard fly route for a 13-0 lead with 8:11 still remaining. On the ensuing play, DeLaGarza intercepted a Bosqueville pass at midfield and reversed course 25 yards down to the Bosqueville 20. Six plays later with 4:32 on the clock, Kalbas booted an impressive 30-yard field goal for a 16-0 advantage. With Hamilton’s first team defense on the sideline, Bosqueville finally found the scoring box at the 1:32 mark on a screen pass that went for 51 yards and a score. After graduating 16 seniors, Hamilton’s defending 2A-D1 State Champion Hamilton Bulldogs have reloaded and look to kick off this season as 3A-D2 contenders in Bremond this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Hamilton Lady Bulldog varsity volleyball team claimed seven victories last week, improving to 15-2 on the year. On Tuesday in Hamilton, the Lady Dogs followed up a pair of junior varsity victories by completing a clean sweep, straight-set victory over Llano (25-17, 25-19, 25-18). The Lady Bulldogs camped out in Gatesville for the latter half of the week and opened the tournament on Thursday with a three-set victory over Lexington. After claiming the first 25-17, Hamilton conceded their first set of the season to the Lady Eagles in game two by a score of 13-25. The Lady Dogs bounced back to claim the third and deciding set 25-18. After earning a victory by forfeit over Mexia, the Lady Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season to Hillsboro (20-25, 20-25). Hillsboro would go on to win the silver bracket with a win over Gatesville in the title match on Saturday. Returning on Friday, the Lady Bulldogs fell to Cameron Yoe in two before roaring back to claim straight set victories over Harker Heights and Blum. Blum has claimed three consecutive 1A state titles and played the Lady Dogs to a competitive 30-29 late night decision in the first. Hamilton cruised in the second 25-20 to tap a two-set victory over the three-time defending champs. On Saturday, Hamilton toppled Rogers by scores of 25-20 and 25-16 and buried the hatchet with a bronze bracket title win over LaVega (25-22, 22-25, 25-17). After playing in Moody on Tuesday, Hamilton’s varsity and two junior varsity squads will all compete in the Bruceville-Eddy Tournament Thursday and Saturday. Next Tuesday, Hamilton will travel to Killeen with JV matchplay scheduled for 5:30 p.m., directly followed by varsity action at 6:30. Pictured, l-r, the 2026 varsity Lady Bulldogs, including team manager and senior Emery McElroy, sophomores Aleena Ramirez (3), Tayte Haile (4) and Emma Johnson (20), seniors Anna Claire Cooper (10), Harper Lengefeld (22), Aubrey Rowe (6) and Alivia Eanes (7), juniors Berkley Lengefeld (18) and Kinsey Schroeder (5), and sophomore Landry Gardner (1). Photo by Tracy Cox

Columns

Dear Grant, I hope this finds you well! As we have been out for Summer break I have had time to bask in the Sun and contemplate the past year and I have come to the conclusion that I owe some folks an apology. Now allow me to go the long way about it because that is who I am and how I was raised! I write a lot about raising three daughters and about being one of three daughters.
Breaking a 54-year silence, an ex-priest best known as the creator of the Kaepa brand athletic shoe revealed his role in the UT tower tragedy in the Aug. 6, 2020, edition of the San Antonio Express-News.
Dear Editor, I’m glad to see the Yard of the Month Program! We need more positive, uplifting moments to promote community involvement, pride and participation. I support Mayor Jordan’s program 100%.
1.6 million eggs in Texas are recalled Several brands of white and brown eggs sold in Texas are under a recall because they may be contaminated with salmonella, the Statesman reported. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Midwest Poultry Services is voluntarily recalling nearly 1.6 million eggs.
Puzzled crew members watched from the deck of the “Indianapolis” on Jul. 26, 1945, as the top-secret cargo that had taken them to the Pacific island of Tinian in the Marianas was wrestled ashore.

Obituaries

erald- News USPS 233-620 Published Weekly by Hamilton Herald-News, LLC 101 North Rice Street, Hamilton, Texas 76531 254-386-3145 w hhnpaper.com w Est. 1876 Grant Lengefeld, Editor and Publisher Kim Tyson, Office Manager/Bookkeeper Jaxon Hansard, News Janice Velasquez, Advertising
Andrew (Andy) Joseph Starr beloved son, father, brother, uncle, grandson and friend to many, left this world to walk the streets of gold August 12, 2026. Visitation will be at 1p.m.
Benny Ross Giles, 94, of Hamilton, passed away on Aug. 21, 2026.
If asked to describe herself, Darla might have said that she was just a simple Texas country girl. Those who knew her best would know that was an incomplete answer. There are many, many pieces that made up the mosaic called Darla Riley.
Lillian Wilhelm, 99, passed away on Aug. 15, 2026, in Hamilton.

101 N. Rice
PO Box 833
Hamilton, TX 76531
254-386-3145