ISSUE 2 · SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 · LIFE BY DESIGN, NOT DEFAULT
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL This Week |
No council meeting this week — but one real deadline. Monday is the last day to comment on the city’s $892,100 state grant for sewer, water and drainage work. And while the council is between meetings, a look at how it has voted in every set of minutes posted this year, February through August: 35 times, never once split.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Liberty Watch |
Mon 10/5 last day for comments | $892,100 GLO grant for sewer, water, drainage | Oct 20 next council meeting | $0.42993 proposed rate per $100 |
Comment deadline Monday, October 5: the city’s environmental-review notice for its $892,100 Texas General Land Office mitigation grant closes for written comment. The projects: backup generators at the Old San Antonio Road lift station and the CR 300 water plant, and a detention basin of about 3 acres in the Industrial Park (it needs land), with ditch and culvert work as alternates. On or about October 6 the city plans to ask the GLO to release the funds; a 15-day objection period follows.
Still pending: the budget and tax rate. The September 15 agenda proposed a rate of $0.429930 per $100, above the no-new-revenue rate of $0.402210 and last year’s $0.408870. The city’s own impact statement put the median homestead at $948.92, up from $867.84. Those minutes aren’t posted yet — they should be approved October 20 — so what council adopted isn’t on the record. We’ll report it when it is.
No other city, school or county meeting has a posted agenda for October 5–10. City Council next meets Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m., 107 S. Hill St.
| Your move: email Afrank@caldwelltx.gov or call 979-567-3271 by Monday with any comment on the grant projects — especially if you live near the Industrial Park basin site. |
Sources: City of Caldwell (grant notice, announcements) · Agendas & minutes
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Mapping Our Community: Unanimous Caldwell |
The Council on Local Relations has logged every motion in Caldwell’s approved minutes from February 17 to August 18, 2026: 35 motions across 10 meetings, all unanimous, none decided by a named roll-call vote.
35 motions recorded | 0 dissenting votes | 3.95% tax note rate (Aug 18) |
The money arc is the part to follow. On July 21 council hired Hilltop Securities as financial adviser. On August 18 it passed Ordinance 2026-05 authorizing a Tax Note, Series 2026, with a property tax levied to repay it; the best bid came from Prosperity Bank at 3.95%. On August 3 it approved Charles West’s contract as City Administrator. Every one of those passed without a no.
The lens worth keeping: unanimity can mean the work was done before the meeting, or that no one asked. Minutes can’t tell you which. Showing up can.
| GO DEEPER The Caldwell record: budgets, tax rates, votes and who governs, every figure sourced — councilonlocalrelations.org/tx/caldwell/ Start here — the Primers: 01 The Long Flat Line (how the family changed) · 02 The Documents We Live Under (the written rules that limit power) · 03 The Household (what a household buys, priced in years of work) · all primers → From the Council: Starting Monday, the Council’s seats introduce themselves, one each weekday, beginning with the Chairman’s Why I Built a Council. Get them by email → |
Sources: CLR record — Caldwell vote ledger · Aug 18 minutes · Jul 21 minutes · Aug 3 called-meeting minutes
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Around the Block |
| Bookworms Storytime — 9:45 a.m., Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library, 704 TX-21 W. Babies to preschoolers. Plus Almost Nighttime Storytime at 6 p.m. (pajamas welcome). | ||
| Knot Just Knitting: Book and Needlework Club — 2–4 p.m., library. Free, all ages. | ||
| Introductory Spanish — 2–3 p.m., library. | ||
| Second Saturday in Caldwell — downtown businesses stay open late on and around the Square. | ||
| Downtown Somerville Celebration — 9 a.m.–2 p.m., 7th St. & Memory Lane, Somerville. Free; pumpkin patch, train rides, music. |
Run a Caldwell event? Send it by Thursday.
Sources: City events calendar · Second Saturday · Somerville Celebration
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Prosperity Spotlight |
Wilde Auto Plus
Wilde Auto Plus has been family owned and operated in Caldwell since 1938.
It's an ASE-certified repair shop that also sells tires and auto parts.
Keep walking and you'll find hardware, plumbing supplies, home appliances and lawn care equipment under the same roof.
| Wilde Auto Plus · 155 Highway 36 South, Caldwell · (979) 567-3842 Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. · Sat 8–3 · Closed Sunday · wildeautoplus.net |
Sources: Wilde Auto Plus
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Food Scene |
MasFajitas
Brothers Alberto and Mario Sorto got their start busing tables at their uncle's restaurant.
In 1997 they opened their first MasFajitas, right here in Caldwell.
The family-owned company now has eight Central Texas locations, but Caldwell is where it began. The restaurant on Highway 36 also caters.
| MasFajitas · 305 Texas 36, Caldwell · (979) 567-4007 Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m. · Fri–Sat 11–10 · masfajitas.com/caldwell-mexican-restaurant-location |
Sources: MasFajitas
✦ Trivia Question |
Before Burleson County was organized in 1846, Caldwell was the county seat of which county? (Answer at the bottom.)
✦ Quote of the Day |
“Do right and risk the consequences.” — Sam Houston
✦ Secret Little Hack |
Any resident can ask to put an item on the City Council agenda: make a written request to the City Secretary at City Hall or by email. To speak at a meeting, fill out the “Citizens to be Heard” form and email it before the meeting starts (city agendas page).
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Real Estate Pulse |
112 homes for sale (Sept) | +58% listings vs. a year ago | $225.9K median sold price (Sept) | $265K median listing price |
The headline is supply: 112 homes listed in the 77836 ZIP, up from 71 a year ago. Sold prices are roughly flat (+1.5%) while asking prices climbed 8.7% — a gap that usually narrows. Your move: know your appraised value from the Burleson County Appraisal District.
Sources: RealtyTrac — Caldwell 77836
| Looking to buy or sell? Nina Bright, Realtor — call or text 832-689-3170. Full disclosure: Nina is David’s wife. |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Service Opportunities |
Show up for the library — its storytimes, clubs and classes run all week, free. Scare on the Square is October 31, and the city is asking community partners to sign up now.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Adopt a Friend |
Every week we feature one Caldwell-area pet looking for a home. This week, meet them in person: the shelter’s adoptable animals are listed on its own page, and the staff will introduce you.
| City of Caldwell Animal Control · 114 S. Echols St., Caldwell · 979-567-4455 Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m. · adoption page |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Growth & Learning |
Ask your kids: if a group votes the same way 35 times in a row, is that good news or a warning sign? There’s no single right answer — which is the point. Then read one page of real minutes together. More at unrivaledacademy.com.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Local Theory & Remnant Radio |
 | Now playing: Sovereign Ground — the latest Local Theory album (April 3, 2026 · 15 tracks). Listen · vote on the mixes. Remnant Radio streams the whole catalog 24/7 at radio.thinkandactlocally.com · Spotify. Fourteen releases. Sovereignty through sound. |
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Weather Forecast |
Sun Storms possible 81° 66° | Mon Sunny 85° 63° | Tue Sunny 86° 63° | Wed Sunny 88° 63° | Thu Mostly sunny 88° 64° | Fri Slight rain chance 86° 63° | Sat Slight rain chance 85° 65° |
A chance of storms today, then a long dry stretch: sunny Monday through Thursday, highs in the mid-to-upper 80s and cool mornings in the low 60s. The city’s burn ban remains posted as in effect.
Sources: National Weather Service (HGX), retrieved Oct 4
✦ CrowdHealth |
 | David and his family left traditional health insurance for CrowdHealth — a community that funds each other’s medical bills. Bills get negotiated down first; no claims department, no denial letters. See how it works. Referral link. David is a paying member. |
✦ Unrivaled Travels |
 | Planning a trip worth taking? Our own travel service books the expedition, cruise, or getaway you’ll remember — at no markup. info@unrivaledtravels.com · 281-241-1994 · unrivaledtravels.com One of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Candles |
 | Hand-poured jewelry candles — every one hides a piece of jewelry inside, valued from $10 to $10,000. Burn it down and find out what’s yours. Shop Unrivaled Candles. Full disclosure: one of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Marketing Solutions |
 | You built the business — now make sure your Caldwell neighbors can find it. Grab a free digital audit and we’ll show you where you’re leaving money on the table. No pitch. Book your free audit. One of our own businesses. |
✦ Sponsor Spot |
This spot is open. Sponsor this spot — reach Caldwell neighbors every Sunday, in the one inbox they actually read. Reply to book it.
✦ They Told Him He Was Crazy |
David sold his metals. Not trimmed — sold. He kept the receipts, every decision sourced, so you can decide for yourself: conviction, or crazy? Read the filing →
David’s own account; affiliate link. Support never touches coverage.
✦ Have a Question? Ask It Live |
Want to understand the framework David uses to put money to work without living in front of a screen? The team behind it runs free live calls — bring your questions, get them answered in real time. No cost to sit in and listen.
Register for a free live call →
Full disclosure: this is an affiliate link. But you know the rule — sponsors support the mission, never influence the message. David doesn't recommend anything he doesn't personally use.
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Community Voices |
Who in Caldwell deserves a thank-you this week? The volunteer who reads at Bookworms, the crew that fixed the line on your street, the neighbor who mows the church lot. Hit reply — one or two sentences — and we’ll run the best next Sunday.
✦ Take Action |
- Comment by Monday, Oct 5 on the $892,100 GLO grant: Afrank@caldwelltx.gov or 979-567-3271.
- Put something on the agenda: a written request to the City Secretary before Oct 20.
- Shop late on Second Saturday downtown, Oct 10.
✦ Submit Your Content |
Events, business features, volunteer calls, letters from Caldwell: david@thinkandactlocally.com. Deadline: Thursday 5 PM for Sunday.
✦ Answer to Trivia |
Milam County. Until Burleson County was organized in 1846, Caldwell served as Milam County’s seat (Handbook of Texas).
THE HERALD ✦ CALDWELL Keep the Herald Free |
No advertiser sets our coverage — readers keep it alive. The best thing you can do costs nothing: forward this to one neighbor who’d want to know how their council votes.
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Caldwell on the record (CLR) · CLR Primers · Think and Act Locally · Unrivaled Marketing Solutions
The Herald is published by Think and Act Locally. Its facts come from the public record kept by the Council on Local Relations, which shares a founder with Think and Act Locally. Portions drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before publication. Reply anytime: david@thinkandactlocally.com
