Good morning, Justin and neighbors!

We’re heading into a new week with a little bit of everything — a time to remember, a little appreciation, and hopefully a little more rain.

This week marks 25 years since September 11, 2001. It’s a day to pause and remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the courage shown that day.

And then there’s the Texas heat. With temps ranging from about 78° to 102°, our air conditioners aren’t getting a break anytime soon!

If you caught some of last week’s rain, count yourself lucky — we’ll take every drop we can get!

Grab your coffee and let’s see what’s happening around town this week.

What will Justin look like in 2076?

Future residents may get to find out when they open a time capsule buried at the new Fire Station No. 2.

On September 3, the City of Justin dedicated the capsule at 11042 FM 407, preserving a little piece of 2026 for generations to come.

Inside are photographs, city documents, historical records, local publications, student artwork, and messages from residents and community leaders — a snapshot of everyday life in Justin today.

Mayor James Clark, who has a deep appreciation for Justin’s history, said seeing pieces of the city’s past inspired the idea of giving future generations that same opportunity.

When the capsule is opened on July 4, 2076, Justin will undoubtedly look different. But inside will be a glimpse of the people and community that shaped it in 2026.

As Mayor Clark put it, “To do a time capsule, it’s a community effort.”

Fifty years from now, someone will open it and meet a little bit of our Justin.

Read more…

If you're newer to North Texas, fall brings football, pumpkin patches, cooler mornings — and hunting season.

Dove season opened September 1, and in Denton County, deer archery season begins October 3, followed by general deer season on November 7.

If you don't hunt, what does that mean for you? Mostly, it's good to know the basics. Hunters need lawful access to the property they're hunting, and an open field or wooded area isn't automatically public hunting land.

With Justin growing so quickly, we're seeing neighborhoods and development alongside the area's remaining open land. So here's one more bit of North Texas knowledge to tuck away: know your property lines, respect private property, and know the rules.

For the hunters out there, TPWD's regulations are the place to check before heading out.

Read more…

North Texas Giving Day is September 17, and early giving is already underway.

If you're looking for a place to give locally, a few organizations close to Justin are already participating, including Community Clothes Closet, Apollo Support & Rescue, Northwest ISD Education Foundation, and United Way of Denton County.

Community Clothes Closet is currently raising funds for new socks, underwear and shoes, winter coats for kids, and children's clothing.

And with wildfire concerns continuing across North Texas, we'll also be keeping an eye on verified local disaster-relief needs and sharing ways to help as they develop.

Want to see more local organizations and find a cause that fits? There are plenty of good people doing good work around our corner of North Texas.

Read more…

By Narmeen Syed, MD

When I decided to open my practice in Justin, I was not simply opening another medical office. I wanted to become part of a community where people know their neighbors, check on one another, and feel comfortable asking for help.

September is National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month. These observances remind us that addiction, depression, and emotional distress are health concerns—not character flaws. Yet many people continue to struggle quietly because they are afraid of being judged or becoming a burden to others.

Struggling does not always look the way we expect. It may be a father drinking more each evening, a teenager becoming unusually quiet, a mother trying to carry too much alone, or an older neighbor who has slowly stopped participating in the life around them. Sometimes, the people who need support most have become very good at saying, “I’m fine.”

If someone you care about seems different, choose a quiet moment and ask, “Are you really okay?” Mention what you have noticed, listen without interrupting, and resist the urge to lecture or immediately solve the problem. Your role is not to have every answer. Sometimes it is simply to stay beside that person and help them take the next step—whether that means contacting a physician, counselor, recovery program, trusted faith leader, or crisis service.

The Justin I hope we continue building is one where no one has to struggle silently—and where asking for help is recognized as an act of courage. Healing often begins with one honest conversation. Let’s be the kind of neighbors who are willing to start it.

If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support, call or text 988. If there is immediate danger, call 911.

Justin Primary & Pediatric Care • JustinPPC.com •(940) 946-1800

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

Okay, Ponder — we found another one worth putting on the radar.

A new construction project has been registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for 142 January Lane, and this one is definitely substantial.

According to the state filing, the project calls for 15 new buildings totaling 76,050 square feet. The estimated construction cost is $5.45 million, with construction scheduled to begin October 15, 2026, and an estimated completion date of October 14, 2028. And there's an important little detail about the location: 142 January Lane is in Ponder's Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), but it is outside the Ponder town limits.

Now here's where it gets interesting…

The TDLR filing doesn't tell us what those 15 buildings are going to be used for.

So we know the how much and the when — but we're still digging into the what.

And January Lane is an area we're going to be watching. Development and infrastructure are continuing to move outward from Ponder, including the new roadway connection being built between January Lane and FM 2449.

Fifteen buildings and more than 76,000 square feet is enough to make us curious, so we're digging through the records to see if we can uncover more about what's planned for the property.

For now, we're putting 142 January Lane on our “Okay… what's going on over there?” list.

Mark Your Calendars!

Missed Santa’s North Pole Express last year? Don’t sleep on this one! Tickets typically sell out within minutes, so set your alarm now: tickets go on sale October 1 at 10 AM.

Monday~ Sep 7

Tuesday~ Sep 8

Wednesday~ Sep 9

Thursday~ Sep 10

Friday~ Sep 11

Saturday~ Sep 12

Sunday~ Sep 13

Submit Your Event Here

With Justin Day fast approaching, we found ourselves thinking about old post offices—and how much they tell us about the communities that came before us.

Back in the late 1800s, a post office was more than a place to pick up a letter. It could be a lifeline for a rural community, a gathering point, and an important connection to the outside world. And sometimes, a post office even helped settle on a town's name.

Take Drop, Texas, just northwest of Justin. According to local history, residents petitioned for a post office named Dewdrop, but postal authorities told them the name was already in use. Their solution? Drop the first three letters. Dewdrop became Drop, and the Drop post office opened in 1886.

Then there's this fascinating 1892 Post Route Map of Texas. Published by the U.S. Post Office Department, it shows post offices, mail routes and the distances between them across Texas—including Denton County. Look closely and you'll find communities that are still familiar today alongside others that have long since disappeared from the map.

It's a pretty remarkable reminder that the roads connecting these communities weren't just lines on a map. They were the communication network of their day.

Want to take a closer look? You can explore the full map through the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection.

History has a funny way of hiding in plain sight—and sometimes, it's sitting at the post office.