Burleson NOW


Above All Else, a Fiddler

BURLESON, TX — Give Chad Jones a fiddle these days and with a partner and the opportunity to perform, the heart-melting sound of twin fiddles will quickly explain his passion. He began taking guitar lessons in June 2009, the summer after sixth grade, and by the following June, he had signed up for his first […]


The Gentle Life

BURLESON, TX — Davis Reiling and his folks, Ron and Denise, moved to Burleson shortly after Denise received a breast cancer diagnosis. They decided to give up the city and fancy Dallas job to live somewhere peaceful and do something they love: raise alpacas. Since 2003, Davis has gone to Holy Cross Christian Academy. […]


Seeds of Promise

BURLESON, TX —  It began like a normal Friday for Becky DeShazo. She had driven her one-hour commute to Crowley and was well into her day as an agriculture science teacher and Future Farmers of America advisor. “I was in my floral design class,” she smiled. “Students were tearing down a display so they […]


The Bird Man of Burleson

BURLESON, TX — When he was a student at Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, Terry Ford enjoyed the times he spent in woodshop. After retiring from 31 years as an educator, he has reconnected with those high school memories, merged them with his lifelong love for birds and discovered a remarkable talent. He […]


A Circle of Friends

BURLESON, TX — It was a wintery day in 2008 when Mary Slaney and Peggy Harkins invited eight women to join them for lunch. The date was February 14, Valentine’s Day, and everyone arrived at Peggy’s home eager to sample her chicken enchilada soup and share the dishes they brought. “After lunch, we gathered […]


A Great Adventure

BURLESON, TX — As Richard Crummel embarks on his 40th year in education, Burleson Independent School District’s (BISD) superintendent of schools wears the dual hats of realist and adventurer, and balances them both with a black belt in taekwondo. “When they line us up and do personality profiles of people in administration,” Richard said, […]


Heritage Quest

BURLESON, TX — Two years ago, Shelley Gayler set out to explore her heritage. So far, the quest has taken her back in time, through realms of virtual data, volumes of documents and real-time trips to family reunions, ancestral homes and final resting places. Most importantly, it has expanded her world in ways she could […]


Red Dirt Rhythym

BURLESON, TX — Phillip Baker played six-string and electric guitar as a teenager. It was in the early ’80s and, not surprisingly, he and his friends lived only to play rock ’n’ roll. “We practiced in the corner of my garage every night and, around 10:00 p.m., my dad would come in to tell […]


Positively Speaking

BURLESON, TX — A little encouragement goes a long way. Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) moms at Hughes Middle School and The Academy at Nola Dunn are helping their children, thanks to coaching they received from Dr. Wes Center, “the brain doctor.” A professor, licensed professional counselor and consultant, Wes talked to moms at several PTO […]


All about the Feeling

BURLESON, TX — Kevin Montgomery neither looks nor acts like a mind reader, but listening to his songs, you have to wonder. In fact, he is well aware of the strangeness of songwriting, even writing a tune called “Song Knows You So Well.” “It was a simple tune that told the story of a […]