Wed, 07/15/2026 - 6:57am
With only 13 days in office, Hamilton County Sheriff Tommy Ratliff is already hard at work. Upgrading the department is on his agenda as a top priority, as well as providing training for the force.
News
The Hamilton County Commissioners Court was kept busy approving contracts and agreements at their meeting on Tuesday. The court authorized a memorandum of agreement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The agreement sets guidelines for HCSO’s receipt of a second ICE grant that would possibly provide monies to repair and upgrade the Hamilton County Jail.
With only 13 days in office, Hamilton County Sheriff Tommy Ratliff is already hard at work. Upgrading the department is on his agenda as a top priority, as well as providing training for the force.
Protective helmets are now required for individuals aged 15 or younger operating bicycles, electric bicycles and electric scooters in public ways within the City of Hamilton limits. The Hamilton City Council approved this new ordinance regarding public helmets effective July 9.
The City of Hamilton Downtown Sidewalk Project is underway. Work was scheduled to begin on Monday, according to the presentation made at the Hamilton City Council meeting last Thursday.
Publisher’s Note: The Texas Girls Coaches Association recently named Marla (Henkes) Burleson as one of just four hall of fame inductees for 2026. Dating back to 1993, Burleson joins the elite company of 72 TGCA Hall of Fame honorees. Upon the announcement, TGCA released the following biography detailing Burleson’s illustrious coaching career.
Lifestyle
The 54th Annual Dove Fest Parade is officially in motion with a date set for Sept. 5 and a theme in place.
Get creative with a variety of hands-on art and craft programs throughout July at Hamilton Public Library. From watercolor painting and paper quilling to jewelry making and fiber arts, there’s something for every age and skill level.
In conjunction with Main Street’s Market Days held the second Saturday of each month in historic downtown Hamilton, a pair of local businesses, including Texas Rose Tattoo Commission and The Black Sheep Mercantile, hosted customers, friends, local residents and visitors in celebrating their fourth anniversary. “The event included classic cars, food, music, local shopping and an opportunity for the community to come together,” said Amy Cowart, who owns and operates the two businesses with her husband Shawn Warcot. The couple made the decision to relocate to Hamilton from California. “Over the past four years, we’ve enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people, restoring an old farmhouse, opening our businesses, and doing our best to contribute to Hamilton’s downtown and local events,” she said. “Like many small business owners, we’ve experienced the challenges and rewards of starting over, investing in a small Texas town, becoming part of the local community and creating a place where people can gather.” Pictured right (l-r), Maisyn Norton, Chamber Manager Tamara Timmons, Kensli Timmons and dad Chad stopped in for the celebration and got to watch artists Steve Varner and Katie Roa in action. Pictured below with his son Rusty, Alex Catoe’s 1964 Corvair Monza was on display during the car show.
Sports
CLINICAL PRECISION: Fresh off coaching Decatur High School to consecutive 4A Division 1 volleyball state championships, Texas Girls Coaches Association 1A-4A Coach of the Year Stormi Snider, pictur
By Jaxon Hansard Another year, and to the delight of Texas high school football enthusiasts, another Dave Campbell Texas Football magazine (TFM) has hit the newsstands, answering the question for all inquiring minds about who is predicted to earn a state championship under the Friday night lights. There’s a little more anticipation around the magazine this year for supporters of the 2A-Division 1 State Champion Hamilton Bulldogs since they are slated to look a little different and will be in a new district.
The Hamilton Public Library recently had its summer camp, “Unearth a story,” with a dinosaur theme for all activities and stories. It only seemed fitting that it would also be the week to unveil their new eight-foot-plus sculpture of a T-Rex made of discarded library books. The engineer/dinosaur wrangler of this prehistoric reader is Hamilton’s own Glenn Jones.
Columns
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At funeral services in Mission on Jul. 8, 1956, friends and family of “Slats” Rodgers paid their last respects to the accident-prone pioneer aviator while marveling at the fact he died in bed of natural causes.
Wiley Post and his Australian navigator landed in New York City on Jul. 1, 1931 completing an epic around-the-world flight in record-breaking time.
Ross Shaw Sterling kicked off his campaign for governor on Jun. 20, 1930, by introducing himself to the Huntsville crowd as “the fat boy from Buffalo Bayou.” The 265-pound multimillionaire poked fun at his gigantic girth to divert attention from his much bigger bank account.
Clay Allison, the two-gun time bomb who called himself a “shootist,” died on Jun. 30, 1887 not from a bullet but under the wheels of his own wagon.
Praise to Hamilton General Hospital - a month in the hospital is too long, but in the last half, I was at Hamilton General Hospital (HGH). I really prefer HGH. I needed the Temple hospital for the procedures, but HGH took care of my rehab.
Obituaries
James Allen Kruse, 91, went peacefully home with his wife, Hertha, by his side on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Funeral services were held on July 13, 2026, at Riley Funeral Home.
Dudley Quinton Kelm, 74, of Katy, passed away peaceful-ly on July 11, 2026. Services will be held at St John Lutheran Church in Ham-ilton at 1 p.m.
Joseph Verne West Oglesby, born in Waco on April 10, 1964, passed away July 1, 2026, in Waco. Joseph, also known as “Crazy Uncle Joe,” loved helping everyone, even if that meant he went without. Joe also loved being the center of attention and making everlasting memories. Joe was a rough, tough outlaw and will be missed by all. He loved doing everything the Joe Oglesby way, the cowboy way.
James Lyle Kenton (Jim), age 84, died peacefully at home with his family on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 10, at Riley Funeral Home in Hamilton, at 11 a.m., with viewing at 10 a.m.
Joseph Allen Booth, lovingly known as “Pappy,” “Happy,” “Joe Cool,” and “JoJo” passed away on July 3, 2026, in Brownwood, at the age of 60. Joseph was born on February 21, 1966, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Betty Snell and James Booth.
