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Hi Killeen, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: Couples pottery date night, the inaugural Granny Basketball tournament, lost dogs reunited after a community effort, and more.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Continuity keeps deployments on track: Missouri-based Army Reserve medical teams recently supported Fort Hood’s Deployment Readiness Center, boosting mobilization efforts by helping process and clear troops and civilians from across the Army — learn how rotations support mobilizations.
Monthly response snapshot: Central Bell County Fire and Rescue released January numbers. Grass and brush fires led calls, plus five alarm calls and five structure fires, with crews noting fast dispatch to scene — read the full story.
Inside the rescue effort: Two dogs lost in Columbia were found loose in Killeen on January 22. Local volunteers helped raise transport funds and arranged kennel care to help reunite them with their owner — learn how it came together.
Community spirit shines brighter: UMHB Athletics won a national community partnerships award for its TOUCHDOWNS event, celebrating individuals with special needs through athlete volunteers, spirit stations, and tailgate games at the 2026 NCAA convention — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Music, motors, and more: Killeen’s fifth annual Motown Downtown Music Festival will return on February 28 with live entertainment, vintage vehicles, food trucks, and a best dressed competition. The city is accepting applications from classic car owners and local vendors ahead of the event. See how to apply.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Connecting campus to neighborhoods: Construction is underway near Lake Belton High School as TxDOT builds a shared use path and sidewalk on the south side of campus. The $2.5 million project stretches from FM 2483 to Morgan’s Point Road to Sobrante Road. Work should take about a year, with access in early 2027. Get route and timeline details.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Fresh-roasted in Killeen: The Bloom Coffee Roasters fuels your day with locally roasted beans and a laid-back space for chats or solo recharge. The Killeen café also serves Korean-inspired bites, including a standout Korean BBQ Rice Bowl, for times you crave more than coffee.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Book club meets bar: Blackbird Books & Spirits pairs cozy nooks with sharp cocktails, plus murder mysteries and trivia that keep downtown Belton buzzing. Browse the stacks, sip something clever, and settle in for easy weeknight fun. Low-key, lively, and just the right amount of bookish.
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📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
☕ Galentine’s Crème Tea | Friday (2/13) at 11:00 AM – Skip the heart-shaped chaos and celebrate Galentine’s with a proper crème tea at Ruby Tearoom inside Arusha Coffee Co. Fresh scones with jam and cream, a pot of the good stuff, and time to actually chat. Gluten-free needs 3 days’ notice, obviously.
🥠 Family Friendly Fortune Cookie: Sweet Fortunes @ The Art Space of Central Texas | Friday (2/13) at 4:00 PM – Skipping the prix fixe madness, this Valentine’s workshop has you handcrafting ceramic fortune cookies, each hiding a romantic, funny, or heartfelt note. Bring your sweetheart, the kids, or your best friend, and leave with keepsakes, clay under your nails, and surprisingly wholesome fun.
🎂 Evening Couples Valentines Cake Decorating Class | Friday (2/13) at 7:00 PM – Skip crowded prix fixe and play with frosting at a Valentine’s couples cake decorating class in a Belton home studio. You and your plus-one get a mini two-tier cake, all tools, a grazing board, and BYOB within reason. Pre-order only, limited spots, 18 and up.
🥠 Family Friendly Fortune Cookie: Sweet Fortunes @ The Art Space of Central Texas | Saturday (2/14) at 1:00 PM – Whether you’re a softie or just here for the kiln, this Valentine’s ceramic workshop lets you craft fortune cookies with secret notes tucked inside. Bring a partner, a kid, or your inner cynic, and leave with keepsakes, not sticky fingers.
🏺 Love Is in the Air: Couples Pottery Date Night @ The Art Space of Central Texas | Saturday (2/14) at 3:00 PM – Skip the prix fixe and channel your inner Ghost for a Valentine’s night at the wheel, learning the basics, making three pieces together, and glazing them on the spot. Ticket covers two, pickup comes in a few weeks, and yes, the kiln occasionally plays heartbreaker.
🍽 7th Annual Valentine’s Supper Club @ Let’s Eat Texas | Saturday (2/14) at 7:00 PM – Back for year seven, this Valentine’s supper club serves real food, not heart-shaped pizzas. Four scratch-made, locally sourced courses, and the chef’s table upgrade adds an extra one. Those seats are nearly gone, so pretend you planned ahead.
🎹 Valentine’s Day Dueling Pianos | Sunday (2/15) at 6:30 PM – Swap the prix fixe clichés this Valentine’s for dueling pianos and dinner at Dead Fish Grill. For $50 a person, you get high-energy keyboard one-upmanship, crowd-favorite sing-alongs, and just enough swoon to qualify as date night, double date, or expertly chaperoned third wheel.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Killeen report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 78°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny. High near 78, with temperatures falling to around 76 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South southeast wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 80°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 4%
Partly sunny. High near 80, with temperatures falling to around 78 in the afternoon. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
This house is wild
An upgraded Herring & Co Builders plan features a vaulted living area with faux wood beam, open to a kitchen with a large island. A powder bath for guests adds convenience. The split layout includes a generous owner suite with a wet-zone bath. Outside, an extra-large covered patio and six-foot fencing on stone maximize privacy. Carpet only in secondary bedrooms.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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