Good morning, Justin and neighbors!

Anyone else do a double take when they saw the forecast? We have to ask... what is it about those triple digits? There's just something extra dramatic about seeing 103° on the weather app. Somehow 99° feels manageable, 100° feels expected, but 103° feels like summer is trying to prove a point.

Looks like we've officially reached the "check the pavement before taking the dog for a walk, carry a water bottle everywhere, and get your outdoor chores done before breakfast" stage of summer. Stay cool, check on your neighbors, and don't forget to give yourself—and your pets—plenty of breaks from the heat. Fall will get here eventually... just maybe not as soon as we'd like!

It has been quite a year for Northwest High School's own Cooper Lutkenhaus. The 17-year-old Justin resident has gone from a standout high school runner to one of the biggest names in track and field.

Last summer, Cooper shocked the track world when he finished second in the 800 meters at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, running a remarkable 1:42.27 to break the U18 world record and earn a spot on the U.S. senior national team. Since then, he hasn't slowed down.

In March, Cooper became the youngest individual indoor world champion in track and field history after capturing the 800-meter title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Earlier this summer, he continued turning heads on the international stage by winning Diamond League races in Stockholm and Oslo, including a world-leading personal best of 1:42.08 while defeating Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

This weekend, Cooper added another milestone to his already impressive résumé. At the 2026 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in New York, he made his move with 200 meters to go, pulled away from the field, and captured his first U.S. outdoor national championship in the 800 meters with a winning time of 1:43.48. The victory gives him both the U.S. indoor and outdoor national titles in the same season, further cementing his place among the country's top middle-distance runners.

What makes Cooper's story even more remarkable is that, despite competing against the world's best runners, he's still just 17 years old and preparing for his senior year at Northwest High School while representing Justin on one of the biggest stages in the sport.

From dreaming of playing quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys as a kid to becoming one of America's brightest track stars, Cooper's journey has been incredible to watch.

Congratulations, Cooper! Justin is proud to cheer you on, and we can't wait to see what's next.

Do you know a local athlete who has achieved something amazing? We'd love to share their story! Send us an email and let us help celebrate the accomplishments happening right here in our community.

If you haven’t driven through Justin Town Square lately, it’s worth another look! The development is starting to feel more like a true community hub, giving residents more options to shop, connect, and take care of errands close to home.

Already open are LaVie Nails & Spa, The Academy Early Childhood Development, Action Behavior Centers (ABA Therapy for Autism), One Stop Mail Drop, and Farmhouse Fitness.

Farmhouse Fitness will officially celebrate its Grand Opening on Thursday, August 28, at 6 p.m. The event will feature local vendors, including Wise Nutrition 4U, Brazos River Soap Co., and more. Guests can also enjoy one complimentary hour featuring four different classes, making it a great chance to tour the new facility and experience what it has to offer.

Coming soon are Kids Play Place, a new sit-down brunch restaurant, and Epiphany Dermatology, bringing even more reasons to stop by.

Every new business that opens means one less trip out of town—and that’s something many Justin families can appreciate. It will be exciting to watch Justin Town Square continue to take shape over the coming months.

Justin Discount Boots Reconstruction Planned

A familiar Justin landmark is getting some attention! Plans have been filed for a partial reconstruction of the Justin Discount Boots building at 111 FM156.

The project includes demolition and reconstruction of the damaged addition and porch area of the existing building. The privately funded project is estimated at $800,000, with construction planned to begin July 31 and continue through the end of 2026.

Glow & Flow Yoga Renovations Nearing Completion

Glow & Flow Yoga (110 W Fourth St Justin) is getting closer to opening! The owner shared that they are waiting on one final permit before completing renovations and getting ready to welcome everyone.

An exact opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but they are hoping it won’t be much longer.

Hilltop Truck Park Announces Temporary Closure

Hilltop Truck Park will temporarily close July 27–August 3 as crews fast-track property improvements. The closure will allow construction teams to complete work on Thompson Road near the first truck park entrance and make improvements to the parking area.

Earl’s and Isabella’s Taverna Announces New Chapter

A new dining concept is coming to the former Earl and Isabella’s Taverna location 427 US-377 Argyle). Owners Sharrer and Jenn recently announced they are partnering with the original owners to launch The Argyle Social, opening Wednesday, July 29.

The restaurant will introduce a refreshed menu featuring new salads and sandwiches while keeping some customer favorites. The concept will expand beyond its Italian roots with a broader menu and a wider selection of wines from around the world.

Ranchman’s by Marty B Looking Ahead

Ranchman’s by Marty B recently shared that as service and quality continue to improve, they expect to expand their hours in the coming months.

The goal is to eventually move from the current Wednesday–Sunday schedule to being open seven days a week within the next three to six months.

Healthy Feet: Mission 2 — Keeping Young Athletes on Their Feet This School Year

By Dr. William Stephens, DPM

Arise Foot and Ankle – Justin, Texas

The excitement of a new school year brings Friday night football, volleyball tournaments, cross-country meets, marching band, and countless hours of practice. Unfortunately, it also marks one of the busiest times of year for foot and ankle injuries among young athletes.

Many sports injuries don't begin with a dramatic twist or fall. They often start as small aches that athletes try to "play through." Heel pain, shin pain, ankle instability, ingrown toenails, stress injuries, and overuse conditions are especially common during the first few weeks of practice as growing bodies adapt to increased activity.

As both a foot and ankle surgeon and someone who believes in treating the whole person, I encourage families to view pain as an early warning—not something to simply ignore. Proper footwear, stretching, gradual conditioning, adequate rest, nutrition, and hydration all play an important role in keeping athletes healthy throughout the season. Addressing small problems early can often prevent weeks on the sidelines later. Believe me, I’ve been there when I was at Northwest High School.

Here at Arise Foot and Ankle, we've tried to make visiting the doctor a little different. Our space-themed office was designed to be welcoming and fun for children and adults alike, helping take some of the anxiety out of medical visits while still providing compassionate, evidence-based care.

August Community Special: To help local families prepare for the school sports season, we're offering our Young Athlete Off-Season Optimization program throughout the month of August.

Middle and high school student-athletes are invited to receive a complimentary physician foot and ankle evaluation, including sports-focused education and recommendations to help reduce injury risk and improve performance throughout the season.

This promotional evaluation does not include ancillary services such as X-rays, custom orthotics, or other diagnostic or treatment services if medically indicated.

Whether your student plays football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, cheer, or simply enjoys staying active, we'd be honored to help them start the season with confidence.

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.

_{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.}

Looking for something fun to do before school starts? Here are a few local happenings around North Texas this week!

Tuesday~ July 28

Wednesday~ July 29

Thursday~ July 30

Friday~ July 31

Saturday~ August 1

Sunday~ August 2

_{Plan Ahead:}
^{8/3~ Ponder ISD Meet the Teacher Night
8/10~ NISD Meet the Teacher Night
8/5~ Ponder ISD First Day of School
8/8~ Justin Farmers Market 9AM-1PM
8/7-8/9~ Tax Free Weekend}

One of my favorite parts of putting together the Justin Journal is getting to sit down with longtime residents and listen to the stories that helped shape our town. These conversations remind me that while buildings and businesses may change over the years, the memories people carry with them are what truly bring Justin's history to life.

In June of 2025, I had the pleasure of visiting with Phillip Henderson, whose family has been part of Justin for generations. Before long, our conversation turned to the old Henderson Service Station—a place that meant so much more to this community than simply filling up a gas tank.

Phillip shared that his father first went to work for E.C. Tally around 1941 before purchasing the station a few years later. At the time, Justin had only about 430 residents, and businesses like the service station were woven into everyday life.

"This time of year was especially important because of wheat harvest," Phillip told me. "We stayed open until 10 at night."

Most days the station opened around seven in the morning and stayed busy until dark, but harvest season was different. Farmers couldn't afford downtime. A flat tire, broken fan belt, or empty fuel barrel could bring an entire day's work to a halt, so the Henderson family stayed ready to help however they could.

The station wasn't just pumping gas. They repaired tractor tires, fixed flats on cars and trucks, replaced belts, stocked parts, and filled 55-gallon barrels with gasoline before farmers headed back to the fields. It was the kind of place where if something broke, chances were they could get you going again.

Phillip grew up right there beside his father.

"We worked our butts off," he said with a laugh.

From an early age, he learned that there was always another customer waiting. If someone wasn't pulling up to the pumps, another person was rolling in with a tire that needed fixing or equipment that needed attention.

Of course, even with all that work, there was still room for a little fun.

Phillip laughed as he told me about the time a customer wanted exactly two dollars' worth of premium gasoline, but the tank would only hold $1.90. Afterward, someone sent young Phillip searching for a "gas packer"—a tool that didn't exist.

"I looked for about ten minutes," he laughed. "Everybody went along with it."

I couldn't help but laugh too. It was the 1950s version of sending someone to find blinker fluid.

Listening to Phillip's stories, it became clear that the Henderson Service Station wasn't simply a business. It was a gathering place, a repair shop, a lifeline for local farmers, and one of those places where neighbors looked after neighbors.

The building is still standing today, but hearing the stories behind it makes you see it in a completely different way.

Next week, I'll share more of my conversation with Phillip as we talk about what it was like growing up in Justin, the traditions that brought the community together, and why so many people still miss the small-town spirit of those days.