I’ve been back for almost four weeks now, and during this time, I’ve made my rounds in Robertson County. I can confidently say that the changes I’ve noticed have mostly been positive.
The most noticeable improvements are in downtown Hearne. It looks like the council and Mayor Gomez have been hard at work enhancing the area. New sidewalks have been installed, which should serve a dual purpose of improving drainage when it rains. While the construction has been inconvenient for retailers, the sidewalks look much nicer now. I understand this is just phase one of a two-phase project, with phase two set to begin right after the completion of phase one.
In Hearne, the lot that used to house Brookshire Brothers over 50 years ago and had turned into an eyesore has been cleared and sold. A new HealthPoint facility is being constructed on that once problematic space.
Several downtown buildings have been demolished, and at least one is currently being remodeled. Some were completed during my absence, and the loss of Wilson Drug is still devastating. It’s hard to see the empty building and the striped sign above it. On a brighter note, we have a new retailer next to the newspaper office, along with an ice cream and coffee shop, so things in downtown Hearne are looking up. You’ll also notice the story about Guy Chandler Park and the new benches that Roy wrote about. I’ve been advocating for improvements to that park for nine years.
On Highway 6, in front of Tractor Supply, a new retail building is being constructed, which looks much better than what was there before. Overall, Hearne is experiencing both commercial and residential construction, and the beautification efforts are clearly paying off.
In Franklin, I had a great meal at a new pizza place and noticed that a couple of new businesses have opened in town. I’ve heard rumors (more than just rumors, actually) that the once dingy Pioneer Cafe and hotel is going to be demolished, making way for a new business that will start construction soon. Yes, I know who it is, but no, I can’t share that information just yet.
On a less positive note, the once-beloved Dairy Queen has closed its doors. This makes me wonder what will happen to that location. Franklin certainly needs more fast-food options. There is a Subway, and it’s the best one in the county, but can we all start hoping for a Whataburger? I’m not a fan of Sonic, and I understand that their plans are still on hold due to a situation with TxDot.
There is new life at Knuckleheads with new owners. That’s a story featured in this issue. It’s hard to imagine walking into Knuckleheads and not seeing Tammy, but I’ve met the new owner, and he is genuinely a nice guy who really cares about Franklin and the kids.
As I mentioned last week, Calvert has many familiar aspects, but when I look around town, I see that the shops on Main Street are busy, and people are enjoying their Calvert shopping trips. I’ve already discovered two new restaurants there, both excellent and vibrant. From a business perspective, Calvert seems to be growing; however, I recently heard that the population is expected to decline to around 700 residents. I hope that doesn’t happen.
Bremond remains the same, and since my return, I’ve noticed that the Robertson County News dedicates a significant amount of space to Bremond nowadays. This is largely thanks to Brittany Lowe, who has been working hard to fill the Bremond Journal page in the paper.
Overall, things seem to be looking good around here. However, the news about Mayor Swick this week was difficult to process. I am praying for his family and truly feel sorry for their loss, as well as the loss for Bremond.
I hope you all have a great week, and I’ll see you right here next week.
Update appreciated. Earlie