Friday, October 23, 2026

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South southeast wind 0 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. The NWS alerts feed for Aledo carries an Air Quality Alert from NWS Fort Worth, issued Oct. 22 at 3:21 p.m. and expiring at 6:30 p.m. today (see the record below).

Source: National Weather Service forecast for Aledo (gridpoint FWD 59,101), generated 5:24 a.m. CDT Oct. 23, and NWS active alerts for 32.6957 N, 97.6022 W, read Oct. 23

Willow Park adopts a city cell-phone policy: city phones stay in the U.S. unless the council approves in advance, after the city paid a $930.34 bill with more than $850 in cruise roaming charges

The council passed the policy by resolution at its Tuesday, Oct. 20 meeting, The Community News reports. The issue arose after Mayor Teresa Palmer turned in a $930.34 bill from November 2025 for her city phone and data use on a vacation cruise; City Manager Toni Fisher said the city paid it and then turned off international roaming on city phones. "It did not appear to be intentional," Fisher said. The council agreed to pay two newer receipts totaling about $435, from cruises in late March and early April and in late August and early September, if Palmer shows they were for city business. Palmer, who was absent, told the paper by text that she could not comment on a policy discussed while she wasn't there, but said, "I can verify that the receipts I submitted were for work in my official capacity."

Under the policy, city-issued phones are for city business only, not personal ventures or campaign activity; their records fall under the city and state records-retention rules and the Texas Public Information Act; use outside the United States needs the council's prior approval; and every user must sign an agreement. The council also authorized staff to seek a Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant of up to $750,000 for drainage, water, sewer or street work in moderate- to low-income areas, with a $75,000 city match if approved. Staff announced Laura Weber, formerly the City of Aledo's communications and events manager, as Willow Park's community relations director, two new police officers, and Michelle Guelker's promotion to deputy city manager and chief financial officer.

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What you can do. Willow Park city phones can no longer be used abroad without a council vote first.

Source: The Community News, "Council addresses cell phone usage," by Rick Mauch, posted Oct. 22, 2026; read Oct. 23

Aledo hands building-permit approval to its building inspector, the first update to the permit rules since 1977

At its Thursday, Oct. 15 meeting the council moved approval of building-permit applications from the council to building inspector Kevin Turner, The Community News reports. Mayor Shane Davis called it "primarily a procedural update" meant "to make the process simpler, more efficient, and more convenient for residents who want to make improvements to their homes." The council also approved a $135,000 maintenance agreement for the wastewater plant's UV disinfection system and talked through food trucks and signs for about an hour and a half without changing either ordinance.

At public comment, a Sagebrush Drive resident in Brookhollow said water has leaked onto the street and sidewalk for a year or more. Davis told the paper the issue has been "on the city's radar since March," that the engineering consultant has identified a proposed solution, and that "City Council will receive a briefing at its next meeting." CivicClerk lists the next regular council meeting for Thursday, Nov. 5; no agenda is posted yet.

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What you can do. Planning a home project in Aledo? Your permit application no longer waits on a council meeting.

Source: The Community News, "Council streamlines building-permit process," by Richard Nelson, posted Oct. 22, 2026; City of Aledo CivicClerk calendar; read Oct. 23

Annetta rewrites its water-leak notice policy: answer within two notices and keep a dated repair receipt, or no bill adjustment

The Town Council amended its leak-detection notification policy on Oct. 15, The Community News reports. When the town's meter data flags irregular use, staff try to reach the customer and send a second notice within five business days; leaks over 50 gallons an hour may draw more aggressive contact. A customer who repairs quickly can request a leak-adjustment review within 30 days of the repair, with a dated repair receipt or a written self-repair statement plus parts receipts. There are no adjustments for irrigation leaks, none after two unanswered notices, and only one per year. Mayor Sandy Roberts cited a resident's $900 bill from a leak that wasn't fixed quickly.

The council also kept The Community News as its paper of record, named water engineer Robert McGee to the Parker County Public Utilities Agency board with Mayor Pro Tem Kent Stasey as alternate, and filled Planning and Zoning and Zoning Board of Adjustments seats. The Mayor's Food Drive collects at Town Hall through Oct. 31, and new, unwrapped Toys for Tots donations are taken at Town Hall, 450 Thunder Head Lane, through Dec. 4.

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What you can do. On Annetta water? Respond to a leak notice quickly and keep the repair receipt.

Source: The Community News, "Council updates water leak detection system," by Rick Mauch, posted Oct. 22, 2026, read Oct. 23

A third straight Ozone Action Day: the NWS Air Quality Alert covers Parker and 12 other North Texas counties until 6:30 p.m.

The alert says: "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued an Ozone Action Day for the Dallas-Fort Worth area for Friday, October 23, 2026." It says conditions "are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Friday," and again lists sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-through lanes, conserving energy and keeping your vehicle properly tuned.

Source: National Weather Service Fort Worth, Air Quality Alert issued Oct. 22, 2026 at 3:21 p.m. CDT, NWS active alerts for Aledo, read Oct. 23

Unchanged since Thursday: no Library Board, Oct. 15 council or Aledo ISD Oct. 20 results posted by the bodies themselves. Burn ban: still on in Parker County, unchanged since Oct. 4

The Texas A&M Forest Service list stamped 10/22/2026 10:08:40 AM still has 146 counties: Caldwell and Tyler went on, Comanche and Floyd came off. The Bearcats (4-3, 3-1 district) host Weatherford tonight at 7, per MaxPreps.

Source: Texas A&M Forest Service burn-ban county list; City of Aledo CivicClerk; Aledo ISD BoardBook; MaxPreps; all read Oct. 23

Ozone Action Day until 6:30 p.m.; mail-ballot applications must be received; 7 p.m.: Bearcats host Weatherford (Pink Out Game)

Source: National Weather Service Fort Worth; Texas Secretary of State; MaxPreps; Aledo ISD Athletics calendar, read Oct. 23

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Fall Fest at The District at Willow Park

Source: The Community News, "Council addresses cell phone usage," Oct. 22, 2026 (Willow Park upcoming events)

UIL regional cross country meet, Oct. 26 and 27

Source: Aledo ISD Athletics calendar

11 a.m.: chamber ribbon cutting, The Hundred Acres Private Academy, 1100 Broadway Blvd., Suite 400

Source: Parker County Chamber of Commerce event listing

Last day of early voting; 7 p.m.: Bearcats at Arlington Sam Houston

Source: Texas Secretary of State; MaxPreps

Last day for Annetta's Mayor's Food Drive at Town Hall

Source: The Community News, Oct. 22, 2026

Noon: entry deadline for Annetta's Halloween Costume Contest (one photo to info@annettatx.gov); resident voting Nov. 4 to 18

Source: The Community News, Oct. 22, 2026

Aledo City Council regular meeting; the mayor says the Brookhollow water briefing comes at the next meeting; no agenda posted yet

Source: City of Aledo CivicClerk, read Oct. 23; The Community News, Oct. 22, 2026

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Willow Park Comprehensive Planning Public Workshop No. 2, come-and-go, City Hall

Source: The Community News, Oct. 22, 2026 (Willow Park upcoming events)

Willow Park's phone policy, as reported

Aledo's building-permit change and the Brookhollow leak

Annetta's leak-adjustment rules

Burn ban: Parker County's status by day