Good morning, Justin and neighbors!

What a week. Around here, there’s plenty to talk about—new businesses, new events, construction, community news and a few things that made us stop and say, “Wait…when did that happen?”

But this past week also brought some sad news as we said goodbye to Dolly Parton, one of country music’s most beloved icons. Dolly passed away Tuesday at age 80, leaving behind nearly six decades of music, movies, laughter and an incredible legacy of generosity.

Dolly had a pretty simple way of looking at life: work hard, be kind and don't forget to have a little fun along the way. Sounds like pretty good advice for a Monday morning.

So, however you start your morning—coffee, a little music, or maybe something with a whole lot of Dolly sparkle—settle in. We’ve got plenty to catch you up on this week.

The Justin City Council met Thursday, August 27, with a full agenda covering development, city projects, community recognition and upcoming events.

The meeting began with an executive session, where council members discussed several development and economic-development matters, including Justin Ranch, Magnolia Ridge, the Haddock Tract, Justin Town Square and the Justin Industrial Business Park. These discussions involved potential development agreements, property matters and economic-development opportunities. Because they took place in executive session, specific details were not discussed publicly.

The public meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several well-deserved recognitions.

Welcome to the Justin Police Department, Officer Connor Wiltse! Officer Wiltse was formally introduced and sworn in during a badge-pinning ceremony.

The city also recognized Finance Director Hailey Payne for earning her Certified Government Finance Officer designation and Human Resources Director Janet Holden for earning her Texas Municipal Human Resources Association Certified Professional designation. Congratulations to all three!

The council also proclaimed September 20, 2026, as United Is the Way Month in Justin, recognizing United Way's work supporting Denton County residents. United Way has impacted more than 1,000 residents in Justin alone.

On the city-business side, council approved the 2026 annual updates for Timberbrook Public Improvement Districts No. 1 and No. 2. These updates keep the districts' financing and assessment records current as the development continues to grow. PID assessments are separate from the City's regular property tax and apply to properties within the designated districts.

Council also approved a contract with Patcon Services, LLC for paving improvements and lighting as part of the Boot Alley Project in the 100 block of West 4th Street. The project will address deteriorating pavement and add lighting to the area.

One item was pushed to a future meeting: approval of the August 13 City Council meeting minutes.

Mark Your Calendar

There’s plenty coming up around Justin:

If you’ve been watching the city’s budget and tax rate, September 17 is the date to circle. That meeting will include public hearings on the proposed tax rate and proposed budget.

We drove by and saw the sign for HTeaO and got a little giddy. We’re not saying a giant cup of iced tea can make our day, but… apparently it can. And once we started looking around, we realized HTeaO is just one of several businesses planned for the SH 114 corridor near I-35W and Championship Parkway.

Here’s what’s coming:

HTeaO

US Highway 114 & Champions Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177

The tea is officially on the way! The 1,960-square-foot location with a drive-thru is scheduled to begin construction in July 2026, with completion estimated for January 2027.

Discount Tire

West of 3372 Hwy. 114, Fort Worth, TX 76177

A new 7,317-square-foot Discount Tire is planned for the corridor. Construction is expected to begin September 2026, with completion projected for July 2027.

Take 5 Oil Change

SH 114 & Championship Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177

This one isn't really “coming soon” anymore. The project was originally scheduled for completion in June 2025, so if you've seen construction activity here, that's why. Take 5 specializes in stay-in-your-car oil changes.

Smalls Sliders

Champions West, SH 114 & I-35W area

Slider fans may have something to look forward to. Smalls Sliders is listed as a proposed tenant at Champions West, but we couldn't find a current construction filing or official opening date for this location yet. So we're calling this one planned, not promising you a date.

Club Car Wash

3374 TX-114, Fort Worth, TX 76177

A 4,748-square-foot automated Club Car Wash is planned, with vacuum stalls included. Construction is scheduled to start November 2026, with completion estimated for May 2027.

Baylor Scott & White

2952 Highway 114, Fort Worth, TX 76177

This is the big one. Baylor Scott & White is building an 18,250-square-foot small-format hospital featuring a 24/7 emergency department, eight emergency beds, eight inpatient beds, CT and X-ray imaging and more.

Construction began earlier this year, and the facility is expected to open in early 2027.

Tim Hortons

SH 114/Championship Parkway area

And yes, Tim Hortons is also part of the conversation for this area. We found references to plans for the location, but not a current construction filing or confirmed opening date. So for now, we'll put this one in the “we're watching it” category.

With tea, tires, oil changes, sliders, car washes, emergency care and possibly Tim Hortons all headed this way, SH 114 is definitely going to look a little different around here.

And we're still pretty excited about that tea.

Read more…

Good news for anyone who has been waiting for a reason to make a midday trip to Ponder: Ranchman’s by Marty B is now serving lunch Wednesday through Sunday!

The recently revived Ponder landmark is now open starting at 11 a.m., giving you another option for a chicken-fried steak, burger, steak or other Texas comfort-food favorite before dinner time. The restaurant also continues its live music on the patio Friday and Saturday evenings.

Current hours:

110 W. Bailey Street, Ponder

One more thing to know: Ranchman’s says it is walk-in only and does not take reservations.

By Dr. William Stephens, DPM
Arise Foot and Ankle – Justin, Texas

It can start with something as ordinary as trimming a toenail. A corner is cut too short, the nail is rounded deeply at the sides, or a tight shoe presses the nail into the surrounding skin. A few days later, that toe may become tender, red and swollen. For many people this is simply an uncomfortable ingrown toenail. For someone with diabetes, poor circulation or loss of sensation, however, a small problem deserves much more attention.

Trim Straight Across — Not Down the Corners

Toenails are generally safest when trimmed straight across and not excessively short. Avoid digging down the sides of the nail or repeatedly cutting out the corners. Shoes should also provide enough room in the toe box so the toes are not constantly compressed.

If the nail edge becomes painful, swollen, draining, increasingly red, or repeatedly grows into the skin, it is time to have it evaluated rather than continuing “bathroom surgery” at home.

Why Diabetes Changes the Conversation

Diabetes can affect the feet in several ways at once. Nerve damage may reduce the ability to feel an injury. Circulation problems can make healing more difficult. Foot deformities, calluses and pressure points can increase the chance that skin will break down.

The American Diabetes Association’s 2026 Standards of Care recommend a comprehensive foot evaluation at least annually for people with diabetes, with more frequent surveillance for those at higher risk. Daily self-inspection is also important.

The Mission

Our goal is not to make people afraid of their feet. It is to help our neighbors recognize which problems are safe to manage at home and which deserve professional attention. A toenail may seem small, but maintaining healthy feet is an important part of staying active, independent and on the move — especially for people living with diabetes.

Arise Foot and Ankle
17516 Matany Rd Ste 200 • Justin, TX 76247
(940) 260-7741

Whether your next adventure takes you across town or across the galaxy, every journey starts with a step.

Stay tuned for exciting new professionals joining us at Arise Foot and Ankle.

Medical review basis: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026, Section 12 (Neuropathy and Foot Care); Medicare coverage guidance for routine foot care and nail debridement. Patient education only; individual recommendations and insurance coverage vary.

_{This article is part of a paid partnership with Arise Foot and Ankle. We appreciate the support of our local advertisers, whose sponsorships help make the Justin Journal possible while bringing helpful information to our community.}

Thursday~ Sep 3

Friday~ Sep 4

Saturday~ Sep 5

Sunday~ Sep 6

_{Plan Ahead:}

_{September 7~ Labor Day}

Just south of Bishop Park, an area of Justin was once identified as the Mary Polk Survey in Denton County land records. The survey stretched roughly from the area of today’s Lone Star Drive south toward Sam Reynolds and Cindy’s Lane, and east toward Harmonson Road.

And if you’ve ever driven down Mary Polk Road, you’ve probably wondered where that name came from.

Well…so did we.

Finding the woman behind the name has turned into a bit of a local history mystery.

Our research has uncovered two possible Mary Polks who could potentially be connected to the original land: Mary Polk Hardeman and Mary Polk Bryan.

Mary Polk Hardeman is particularly interesting because the Hardeman family played an important role in early Texas history and had connections to this area. However, there’s a problem. The available records don’t currently give us a direct connection between her and this particular survey. The land was granted by the Republic of Texas in 1838, with the headright certificate issued in Shelby County, while records indicate a Mary Polk Hardeman connection that doesn't line up neatly with the timeline since she unfortunately passed away in 1835.

Then there is Mary Polk Bryan, who lived in East Texas and died in San Augustine County in the 1850s. The location is intriguing because San Augustine County is not far from Shelby County, where the original land certificate was issued. But once again, we don't yet have enough evidence to say she was the Mary Polk of the Justin survey.

So for now, the mystery remains open.

Who was the Mary Polk whose name became part of the land that would eventually become Justin?

Was she Mary Polk Hardeman? Mary Polk Bryan? Or someone else entirely?

A big thank-you to Karrisa Moseley, genealogist and paralegal, for leading us down this rabbit hole. What started with a road name and a map and that has opened the door to a much bigger story about the people who owned, settled and shaped the land beneath modern-day Justin.

And we're not done digging.

If you have old family records, stories, documents, or even a connection to the Polk family, we'd love to hear from you. You might just have the missing piece of the puzzle.

Read more…