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Hello Wichita Falls! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: City-backed data center campus, free showers for jobseekers, and Tim Hawkins live + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Board praises incoming leader: Vernon ISD named Dr. Blaise Boswell the lone finalist for superintendent. He served three months as interim and will be appointed once the required 21-day waiting period ends — get all the details.

Clean start for jobseekers: DignitySOS offers free showers for unhoused neighbors and ALICE families in Wichita Falls, serving people who struggle to pay water bills at Travis and 14th Street or Safe Harbor Church — see how it helps residents.

City-backed expansion in Texas: Skybox Datacenters plans a data center campus in Wichita Falls, announced in February. The first 150,000 square foot building could open by late 2028, with room for several more facilities — see what’s planned and when.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

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.

Highlights this week:

• Dine to support inclusive playground
• Create your own wizarding world
• Learn about foster care and adoption
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Pedal-ready this week: The Bike Stop keeps Wichita Falls rolling with quick tune-ups, smart fits, and the helmets, lights, and small fixes that make weekday rides smoother. Consider this your nudge to dust off the wheels, hit the trail, and beat the next blustery front.

Shareable sips + bites: At Downtown’s 6th Street Winery, conversation takes the lead while clinking glasses and a cheese board quietly disappear. Cozy and unfussy with a very Wichita Falls feel, it’s an easy-going spot for lingering catch-ups and low-key nights.

Swap screen for stage: Wichita Theatre keeps energy high and local talent front and center, turning any evening into one you’ll actually remember. This 100+ year-old icon reminds you why live storytelling hits different. Community spark, charismatic performances, and that electric hush before the curtain… it all lands harder here.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

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.

🎉 Ben Franklin Centennial Celebration @ Franklin Elementary School | Thursday (3/5) at 5:00 PM – Nothing like a hometown centennial to make you feel smug about surviving grade school. Ben Franklin Elementary turns 100 with food trucks, games, and school tours, plus a cafeteria ceremony with refreshments. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the good snacks, and the bragging rights.

🏰 Camp Fire Renaissance Fair @ Harrell Park | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Swap your errands for the Camp Fire North Texas Renaissance Faire, a family-friendly fundraiser with jousting, living history, kids activities, vendors, and costumes encouraged. If cheering knights and browsing Merchant’s Row fits, park at Lucy Park, ride the tram, and feel noble supporting our kids.

🎤 Tim Hawkins @ Faith Baptist Church | Saturday (3/7) at 7:00 PM – Take a night off from chores and catch Tim Hawkins, in Wichita Falls, skewering family life, marriage, and shared quirks, songs included. Bring the crew or your small group, and spring for VIP if you want early entry, a meet and greet, and a photo.

⛺ Kids Spring Break Camp @ The 50 Plus Zone | Monday (3/9) at 7:30 AM – If your spring breakers are bouncing off the walls, this Kids Spring Break Camp is your sanity saver. Think supervised fun, new friends, and energy burned by pickup, so you get a quiet house, a happy kid, and fewer snack negotiations. Easy signup: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/cityofwichitafalls/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activityselectparam=2&viewMode=list

🎨 Art Lab: Spring Break Camp @ Kemp Center for the Arts (1300 Lamar St, Wichita Falls, TX) | Monday (3/9) at 9:30 AM – Drop your kid, grades 3 to 6, at a four-day Spring Break art camp where they’ll sculpt, paint, and draw while you remember what quiet feels like. It’s $90, supplies included, and they’ll come home with multiple masterpieces, glitter-free for your car, we hope.

🤝 Play for All Inclusive Community Playground Fundraiser @ Jason’s Deli | Monday (3/9) at 10:00 AM – You were going to eat anyway, so help build the Play for All Inclusive Community Playground while you do. Mention Play for All when you order, or use code FUND20 online, and 25% goes back. Dine in, to go, pick up, curbside, your call.

🧙 Wizardry Art Academy @ Whimsical Inkspirations Studio | Monday (3/9) at 10:30 AM – Whimsical Inkspirations is turning spring break into wizard school, a four-day art class for ages 6 to 11 where kids craft crests, houses, a wizard persona, a familiar, and portal-filled worlds. Guided, beginner friendly, all supplies included. They leave with artwork, you leave with quiet.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Wichita Falls report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 65°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 35%

A chance of rain showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Tomorrow – High: 80°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 47%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South southeast wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Luxury in Lake Wellington, this 5-bed with office, 4-bath home has a 3-car garage and an open living area anchored by an Austin stone fireplace. A state-of-the-art kitchen features islands and cabinetry. Isolated bedrooms and a spa-style primary suite shine. Seamless tile floors, a pergola patio, a 10×20 climate-controlled studio, and a 2025 Class 4 roof cap $100k in upgrades.

Take a peek inside →