Good Morning, Justin and Neighbors!

Hope you were able to step outside Sunday morning and enjoy that little taste of fall we got spoiled with — temperatures in the 70s for a bit felt pretty amazing! This week may be keeping us in the triple digits by afternoon, but those cooler mornings are a welcome reminder that relief is eventually on the way.

Enjoy these last few days with the kids before the school schedules take over — squeeze in one more adventure, knock out that last-minute shopping, and maybe grab a little something extra for those teachers. They’re about to trade the calm of summer for the back-to-school whirlwind too!

Speaking of school… why did the pencil get invited to every class party?
Because it was always sharp! 😉

Have a great week, Justin!

On August 1, 2026, the Meadowlands neighborhood gathered for a special dedication ceremony honoring one of their own — a neighbor who has spent more than two decades working to make Justin a better place to call home.

In honor of our country’s 250th birthday, Meadowlands residents dedicated a new flagpole in the neighborhood, affectionately known by many as “The Bricks,” and honored John W. Mounce for his years of service, leadership, and commitment to the community.

John and Carla Rotmans, are familiar faces around Justin. Many know them as the folks behind The Country Faucet, where they have helped keep the community hydrated with some of the best-tasting water around. But their involvement in Justin goes far beyond their business.

John first became involved with Meadowlands in 2002, after moving to Justin in 1999 following his retirement from EDS. During his years working overseas, John saw firsthand what a privilege it is to live in a place where citizens have the opportunity to participate in their own government and make a difference in their communities.

He brought that appreciation for civic involvement home with him — and he has been sharing it ever since.

Over the years, John has served on the Meadowlands HOA board, served on the Justin City Council, and was honored to serve as Mayor Pro Tem from 2022–2024. Throughout his service, he has consistently encouraged residents to get involved, stay engaged, and take pride in the place they call home.

John and Carla have never been the type to simply move in and sit on the sidelines. Since arriving in Justin, they have been active in improving their neighborhood, supporting city improvements, and advocating for projects that strengthen the community — from water and sewer improvements to better roads and safer access for first responders.

Growth and progress in a city don’t happen overnight, but because of residents like John and Carla, meaningful improvements continue to happen one step at a time.

The new Meadowlands flagpole stands as a fitting tribute to a man who has spent years inspiring citizen involvement and reminding others that every person has a role in shaping their community.

Congratulations, John, and thank you for all you have done — and continue to do — for Meadowlands and the City of Justin.

Enjoy these last few days of summer before the calendars start filling up again! Between school schedules, activities, and busy routines, this is the perfect week to squeeze in a little more summer fun while getting ready for the year ahead.

Texas Tax-Free Weekend is August 7–9!
Need school clothes, shoes, backpacks, or supplies? Qualifying items under $100 can be purchased without sales tax this weekend.

Back-to-School Events & Reminders

Whether you’re finishing up the school supply list, attending a Meet the Teacher event, or just enjoying one more summer outing, we hope you make the most of these final days before the school bells ring!

With football, tennis, cross country, marching band, and other outdoor activities getting underway, parents may notice practices looking a little different this year. Beginning August 1, the UIL now requires all schools to follow statewide heat safety protocols for outdoor athletics and marching band.

The biggest change is the required use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). Unlike the temperature you see on your weather app, WBGT measures the actual stress heat places on the body by factoring in temperature, humidity, sunlight, and wind. For example, an 95° afternoon with high humidity and full sun can create much more heat stress than a dry 95° day.

Schools will monitor WBGT conditions before and during outdoor practices using approved weather tools, apps, or devices. Coaches and athletic trainers can use online WBGT calculators and forecasting tools to quickly check conditions for their exact practice location.

For most North Texas schools, the first required practice adjustments begin when the WBGT reaches 79.7°. At that point, schools may need to increase hydration breaks, reduce practice intensity, adjust equipment, or modify activities. When the WBGT reaches 89.6° or higher, outdoor activity must stop until conditions improve.

As a general guide, these levels often occur during the hottest parts of a Texas summer afternoon — when temperatures are commonly in the upper 90s to 100s with high humidity — but the actual WBGT can change based on the weather conditions that day.

Parents can help by making sure students arrive hydrated, eat before activities, and speak up if they feel dizzy, nauseated, confused, or unusually tired. These new rules are designed to help keep students safe while they enjoy the activities they love.

Parents can also see the same type of heat information schools are monitoring. The UIL provides access to WBGT forecasting tools that allow users to enter a specific practice location and view current heat stress conditions.

Keep in mind, WBGT is not the same as the temperature on your phone’s weather app. It combines heat, humidity, sunlight, and wind to give a better picture of how stressful conditions are on the body during outdoor activity.

You can check the WBGT forecast here:
https://convergence.unc.edu/tools/wbgt/

Simply enter the practice location, select the appropriate Texas UIL classification, and view the current activity guidelines.

There’s a lot happening around Justin! From new restaurants and retailers to continued growth in our commercial areas, here’s a quick look at some projects moving forward.

McDonald’s & O’Reilly Auto Parts Coming Soon

The commercial development near FM 156 continues to move forward with two confirmed businesses planned for the area. O’Reilly Auto Parts has received approval and is expected to begin construction soon. McDonald’s is also progressing through the approval process. Once final approvals are complete, construction could begin, with a potential opening time frame in spring 2027.

Additional commercial space remains available in the development, so more businesses could be announced in the future.

Walmart Project Continues Moving Forward

The proposed Walmart project in Justin Crossing (near the intersection of John Wiley Rd and FM156) is still moving through the development process.

City officials said Walmart has completed internal approval steps and is continuing to work with the developer on remaining details. Engineering plans are expected to be submitted soon, followed by city review and permitting.

While a final construction timeline has not been announced, the project continues to move forward.

QT Planned Near FM 156

Plans are also progressing for a future QT location. The company is working through final design plans and is expected to submit permits later this year. The project will follow the newer QT store design and must meet the development standards established for the area.

Current estimates put the opening time frame around 2028.

Crestview Subdivision Begins First Phase

Another residential project is also getting underway. The Crestview subdivision is moving forward with approximately 1,500 homes planned.

Initial grading work has begun, and the developer is working through the first phase of construction planning.

More development updates are coming as projects move from plans to reality. Have a question about something you’ve heard around town? Send it our way — we’ll help separate the rumors from what’s actually happening. [email protected]

As I continued my conversations with Phillip Henderson, I noticed something that kept coming up again and again. No matter what story we talked about — businesses, celebrations, farming, or family — the conversation always seemed to circle back to one thing: people.

When I asked Phillip what he remembered most about growing up in Justin, I expected him to mention the places that shaped his childhood. Instead, his answer was simple. “It was the community.”

Back then, Justin was the kind of town where people knew each other, checked on their neighbors, and stepped in when someone needed help. It wasn’t something people thought twice about. It was just how life worked.

If the volunteer fire siren sounded, firefighters left what they were doing and responded. If someone needed help during harvest season, neighbors showed up because everyone understood that a delay in the field could mean losing valuable time. Local business owners knew their customers by name and were willing to go the extra mile — even if that meant staying open a little later when someone needed something. There was a feeling that everyone had a part to play in looking after the town.

Phillip laughed as he remembered one of Justin’s more unusual celebrations — Denton County’s 1957 Centennial. To mark the occasion, men were encouraged to grow beards as part of the festivities. Those who decided not to participate could purchase a small “Chicken Badge” admitting they were too chicken to grow one, or they might find themselves spending time in a temporary jail built just for fun.

“People had more fun back then,” Phillip said with a grin.

Some of Phillip’s favorite memories came from watching his grandfather, who owned Brad’s Confectionery in downtown Justin. The store was more than a place to buy things. It was where people gathered.

Brad’s Confectionery had a little bit of everything — a soda fountain, grocery items, magazines, and a place where neighbors could stop in, visit, and catch up on what was happening around town. Phillip remembers his grandfather’s daily routine: walking from home to the store each morning, returning home for lunch, often carrying groceries back with him, and then heading back to work before walking home at the end of the day. “He never learned to drive,” Phillip shared. “My grandmother did all the driving the family needed.” It’s a small detail, but one that paints a picture of just how different daily life looked in Justin generations ago.

Phillip also reflected on the buildings that still line downtown today. Many of those structures date back to the rebuilding of Justin after the devastating 1905 tornado. While businesses have changed over the years, those buildings remain — quietly holding the memories of the people who walked through their doors long before us.

Listening to Phillip share his stories, it was easy to imagine the Justin of his childhood: kids riding bikes through town, neighbors visiting on sidewalks, and local businesses serving as gathering places as much as they were places to shop.

Justin has grown and changed, but the heart of a community is often found in the stories people carry with them. And those stories are worth remembering.

Next week, we’ll wrap up our conversation with Phillip Henderson and talk about why preserving these memories matters — and why every family in Justin has a piece of our town’s history worth sharing.

The countdown is officially on! Savor these last few days of summer break before backpacks, lunchboxes, and busy schedules take over. This week even gives us a few fun reasons to celebrate along the way—National Chocolate Cookie Day on Tuesday (Aug. 4), National Work Like a Dog Day on Wednesday (Aug. 5) for all of us getting back into routine, and National Book Lovers Day on Sunday (Aug. 9), the perfect excuse to curl up with one more great summer read. Here's what's happening around town this week!

Wednesday~ Aug 5

Thursday~ Aug 6

Friday~ Aug 7

Saturday~ Aug 8

Sunday~ Aug 9

Please always verify dates and times, as schedules are subject to change on short notice.