Toodie’s BBQ returns for Calvert VFD fundraiser
Five Calvert Volunteer Fire Department members recently completed specialized heavy rescue training at the Teague Volunteer Fire Department. The department will host a barbecue fundraiser September 19 to help support its operations and training needs.
Submitted Photo | Robertson County News
CALVERT — A familiar taste from Robertson County’s past will return for one day in September as Toodie’s BBQ fires up the pit to help raise money for the Calvert Volunteer Fire Department. The fundraiser is set for Saturday, September 19, at the Calvert Volunteer Fire Department, 700 Railroad St. in Calvert. James Taylor, longtime pit master behind Toodie’s BBQ, will be cooking brisket and sausage for the event. Toodie’s once operated in Hearne and built a loyal following before closing several years ago. For longtime customers who have missed the barbecue, the fundraiser will offer a rare chance to enjoy it again while helping support the volunteer firefighters who serve Calvert and the surrounding area. Along with barbecue plates, the event will include a silent auction and bake sale. Money raised will help the Calvert VFD continue funding its operations and serving the community. The fundraiser also gives residents from across Robertson County a reason to make the trip to Calvert, especially those who remember Toodie’s from its days in Hearne. Calvert VFD is one of the volunteer fire departments serving Robertson County and depends on community support along with funding provided through the county’s emergency services district. Volunteer departments routinely use fundraisers to help cover equipment, maintenance, protective gear and other expenses tied to responding to fires, wrecks and emergencies. The department is promoting the September event as Toodie’s return for one day, with Taylor once again serving as pit master. The fundraiser has also been added to the Robertson County Emergency Services District’s event calendar. Online information currently shows different starting times for the fundraiser. An earlier event listing gave a 9 a.m. start time, while the Calvert VFD Facebook event currently lists 11 a.m. Residents planning to attend are encouraged to check with the department as September 19 approaches for the finalized time, plate prices and preorder information. For more information, Calvert Volunteer Fire Department can be reached at 979-364-3808 or calvertvfd@hotmail.com.
Robertson County Sets Public Hearings on Proposed 2026-27 Budget
FRANKLIN, Texas — Robertson County residents will have two opportunities in September to provide input on the county’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Robertson County Commissioners Court has scheduled public hearings for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. Both hearings will be held in the County Courtroom on the third floor of the Robertson County Historic Courthouse, 102 E. Decherd St. in Franklin. The proposed budget covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2026. According to the county’s public notice, the proposed budget would generate $908,965 more in property tax revenue than the previous year’s budget. That represents a 4.95% increase in property tax revenue compared with the prior budget. Of the additional revenue, $339,852 is expected to come from new property added to Robertson County’s tax roll this year. The hearings are being conducted in accordance with Section 111.007 of the Texas Local Government Code and provide residents an opportunity to review the proposed spending plan before final consideration by commissioners. Copies of the proposed budget are available for public inspection through the Robertson County Clerk’s Office and on the county’s website.
Robertson County schools see gains,
challenges in TEA ratings
ROBERTSON COUNTY — Robertson County schools came away with a mix of strong performances, big improvements and continued challenges in the Texas Education Agency’s 2026 accountability ratings. Three local districts earned A ratings. Mumford ISD led the county with a 94, followed by Franklin ISD at 93 and Bremond ISD at 91. Calvert ISD received a 69, while Hearne ISD finished with a 64. Both remained in the D range. Bremond ISD had one of the county’s biggest success stories, climbing from an 82 and a B in 2025 to a 91 and an A this year. Bremond Elementary made the largest jump, going from a 78 and a C to a 92 and an A. Bremond Middle School improved from a 78 to an 87, moving from a C to a B, while Bremond High School rose from a 91 to a 94 and remained an A-rated campus. Franklin ISD continued to be one of the county’s most consistent performers. The district improved from a 92 to a 93, and all three campuses earned A ratings. Franklin High School improved from a 92 to a 94, Franklin Middle School moved from a 91 to a 92 and Roland Reynolds Elementary scored a 92 after receiving a 93 last year. Franklin Middle School also earned six of the seven available distinction designations. Mumford ISD once again finished at the top of Robertson County. The district scored a 94, down slightly from a 95 last year. Mumford High School turned in the county’s highest campus score with a 98, up from a 96 in 2025. The school also earned all seven available distinction designations. Mumford Elementary fell from a 93 and an A to an 88 and a B. Calvert ISD remained in the D range, but its numbers showed clear improvement. The district jumped seven points, from a 62 in 2025 to a 69 this year, putting it just one point short of a C. Calvert scored a 71 in Student Achievement, a 66 in School Progress and a 65 in Closing the Gaps. Academic Growth remained a weak spot at 55. Hearne ISD’s overall score stayed at 64 for the second year in a row, but its two campuses moved in different directions. Hearne Elementary improved from a 71 to a 75 and remained a C-rated campus. Hearne Junior High/High School fell from a 68 last year to a 61 this year and remained in the D range. Districtwide, Hearne received a 61 in Student Achievement, a 65 in School Progress and a 62 in Closing the Gaps. Those numbers now become part of the challenge facing Hearne ISD’s new leadership. Travis Weatherspoon was recently named interim superintendent after serving as the district’s assistant superintendent. He brings more than four decades of experience in education, including leadership and curriculum development. The latest ratings give Weatherspoon and the district a clear starting point. Hearne Elementary’s improvement is a positive sign, but the district still faces the challenge of raising achievement overall and reversing the decline at the junior high and high school. The 2026 accountability ratings are considered preliminary and remain subject to the state’s appeals process.
Hay Baler Sparks Grass Fire, Draws Multi-Agency Response
ROBERTSON COUNTY, Texas — Several Robertson County fire departments responded to a grass fire Thursday afternoon after flames reportedly started in a hay baler. The Franklin Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to provide mutual aid as crews worked to contain the fire before it could spread across additional property. Firefighters limited the blaze to approximately 2 acres. One hay bale was lost in the fire. No injuries were reported. The Franklin Volunteer Fire Department was joined by firefighters from the Easterly, Wheelock and BlackJack volunteer fire departments. The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office and Robertson County EMS also assisted with the response. Fire officials reminded farmers and equipment operators to keep a working fire extinguisher readily available while operating tractors, hay balers and other machinery, particularly during hot and dry conditions. Robertson County remains under a burn ban, restricting outdoor burning as officials continue to monitor elevated wildfire conditions across the county.
