Pustka's buys Al's Bar-B-Q Barn
Pustka’s Family Barbecue has purchased the old Al’s Bar-B-Q building at the intersection of Avenue M and South 25th.
Location could be open by first of 2025
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
New life is coming to the old Al’s Bar-B-Q Barn building at the intersection of 25th and Avenue M.
The Pustka family, owner of Pustka Family Barbecue on SE Loop 363, has purchased the landmark building and has started renovations. They hope to open by 2025.
“There’s lots of work to be done and permits to get, but we are thrilled to carry on a barbecue legacy in this old joint that was in operation for 53 year,” Dustin Pustka said.
The building housed Al’s Bar-B-Q until about two years ago, and Tanglefoot Brewing left the space earlier this year.
“The building is in pretty good shape,” Pustka said. “The front of the house was remodeled by the previous owners, but the back part of the building needs work.”
“There are two rotisserie pits, but one needs repairs,” he said. “There’s a lot of clean up to be done.”
Currently, Pustka’s utilizes a trailer to take orders and to cook meats. A building is next to the trailer and diners can eat inside. The new space has a kitchen, but Dustin said he likely will keep the trailer.
“We can use the trailer for events, and we may eventually use it at a second location,” he said.
Pustka’s likely will be expanding their menu once in the former Al’s building.
“We would like to offer other things outside of barbecue,” he said. “I’d love to have a steak night — we’re tossing around other ideas, like having a catfish platter and a cheap chopped-beef sandwich as an ode to Al’s.”
“It’s really exciting to keep the barbecue legacy alive at this location. There’s a lot of history there — we want to revive it and keep the legacy going.”
Dustin, who owns the business with his father, Paul Pustka, attended Texas Culinary in Austin and specialized in French cuisine. But, for five years, the Pustka family operated a food trailer in Hutto. They decided to move operations to Temple to be closer to family, and they have been in business here since 2022.
Michael Donahue works with a Temple College student during a recent art class. Steve Lemmons photo
New TC painting studio to honor art professor Michael Donahue
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
A campaign to dedicate a new Painting Studio in honor of longtime art professor Michael Donahue is under way, and so far about $8,000 of the needed $20,000 has been raised.
The studio will be located on the second floor of the new Visual Arts & Workforce Building that is expected to be completed by January. A ribbon-cutting celebration for the new facility will be March 25, according to Dr. Sara Baker, dean of Temple College’s Fine Arts Division.
“The new studio will be much larger than the current studio,” Baker said. “We had a painting studio in our Art Barn, which has been demolished to make room for the new building.”
“Our current space is crowded — easels are bumping up against drawing tables,” she said. “We will have needed space in the new studio, and it will feature natural north lighting through special slats in the ceiling. Natural north is the most desirable light for art.”
“Michael Donahue had a big hand in designing the new space,” Baker added. “Our art professors had input in designing their spaces.”
Donahue has been a Temple College employee since 1979, and his 45 year run includes 39 years as chair of the art department. He is still an art professor as well as department chair emeritus.
“Michael has really made an impact on our community,” Baker said. “Many area residents are former students — people owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Donations may be made at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2N7BNYRB6T76G.
In addition to paying for signage designating the Michael Donahue Painting Studio, donations will help defray higher-than-anticipated construction costs and help pay for needed equipment and supplies, Baker said.
The Visual Arts & Workforce Building was funded as part of a massive project that will add four major buildings to the local campus. The project also will add a new Main building that features a University Center, a new Campus Services Center and an expanded Health Sciences Center.
Voters approved a $124.9 million bond in May 2021 that will pay for a large chunk of construction costs and provide necessary equipment for each building. However, Baker pointed out that construction costs have increased significantly since that 2021 bond election.
In addition to his work at Temple College, Donahue also is an expert on the battle of Little Bighorn. He was penned two books about the famous battle and is writing a third.
He worked for 35 summers as a park ranger and tour guide at the battleground.
“Part of my duties were to give a 35-minute talk about the battle and the deaths of Custer and Sitting Bull,” Donahue said.
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BEST Robotics competition set for TC
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
The inaugural BEST Robotics competition will be held at Temple College this year and the kickoff event is set for Saturday.
The competition has been around for nearly 50 years, but this is the first time that Temple College has been designated as a hub for a regional round of the event. Their are multiple hubs in Texas and around the US.
According to Dr. Sandra Melendez, Temple College’s department chair for engineering technology, BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics is a national six-week robotics competition held every fall. The event is designed to help interest middle and high school students in possible engineering careers.
Schools entered in the competition include Temple High, Academy High, Iola High, Lake Belton High, Lorena High, Salado High, Troy High, North Belton Middle School, TAMRA Learning Academy of Temple, and Travis Science Academy.
At Saturday’s kickoff, teams will be presented with kits of materials needed to build robots. This year’s game also will be revealed. Every year, a different robot game is selected, and the teams will have six weeks to build and train their robots. The actual competition is Nov. 23 at Temple College.
Belton Police Chief Larry Berg spoke to those attending the inaugural meeting of Pups on Patrol, a program where dog owners report suspicious activity to police. Belton PD
Sniffing out Crime
Pups on Patrol designed to make Belton a safer place
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
About 20 Belton residents and their dogs gathered at Sly Fox Coffeehouse on Wednesday night to kick off the police department’s new Pups on Patrol program.
According to Meredith Bender, community outreach coordinator for Belton, Pups on Patrol is Belton PD’s newest program designed to make the community a safer place.
“Dog owners attending the meeting learned how to prevent crime in Belton while walking their dogs,” Bender said. “They also are learning how to stay safe while on walks.”
Belton PD Chief Larry Berg talked about the new program and urged dog owners to get involved.
Berg said dog walkers should be alert and aware of their surroundings while on a stroll.
“Dogs have great intuition,” Bender said. “They often alert owners if they sense something suspicious. If a person sees something suspicious, call the police.”
While communities around the country have similar programs, Belton’s Pups on Patrols is a local program that can bring the community together and build a connection with the police department, she said.
“It’s another way to keep the community safe,” Bender added. “Pups on Patrol is similar to Neighborhood Watch, but it is designed for dog walkers. The program also allows everyone to share their common love for dogs — it’s a beneficial program.”
“We will be having regular meetings, but right now we are getting it off the ground.”
TC Foundation golf tournament is Oct. 28 at Wildflower Country Club
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
The annual Johnson Brothers Ford Temple College Foundation Golf Tournament will tee off at noon on Oct. 28 at Wildflower Country Club.
According to Evelyn WaiWaiole, vice president of resource management and external relations at Temple College, and Foundation team member Carrie Svajda, proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Foundation and its projects.
“Fifty-one percent of the proceeds will go toward scholarships for Temple College students,” Waiwaiole said. “The number of scholarships the Foundation provides is on the rise.”
According to Svajda, the Foundation provided 292 scholarships totaling $267,900 in 2021. That jumped to 382 scholarships totaling $375,000 last year.
As of Tuesday of this week, the tournament was fast approaching its limit on the number of golfers that will compete.
“We limit the field to 36 teams, and we only have two spots remaining,” Waiwaiole said. Interested golfers should reach out to foundation@templejc.edu to sign up.
To keep the tournament entertaining, many of the holes feature “something fun.” For example, a hole-in-one of a specific hole will be good for a new car.
In addition to golf, there will be food and treats throughout the tournament. Sausage wraps, ice cream, Chick-Fil-A and other goodies will be available.
“The Foundation also will have a raffle during the tournament to help raise money,” Svajda said. “Tickets can be purchased at the tournament or at select locations on campus for $5 for 25 tickets. We will have great prizes.”
Waiwaiole said those prizes include a grill package that includes a grill, spices, rubs, and other outdoor-cooking related items.
“There will be a holiday package with events throughout the year, and there will be another package with roses, bourbon and two tickets to Temple College’s Kentucky Derby event,” she said.
Part of the proceeds will help purchase equipment and supplies for the four buildings under construction at Temple College.
“There’s a lot of change happening at Temple College, and we will support that,” Waiwaiole said “The tournament is all about helping students at our college.”
Around Town
Play set for Oct. 25-26 at Backstage Theatre
The local premier of a play penned by Temple College English professor Chistopher Krejci will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the Jackson-Graeter Backstage Theatre.
The play, The Tragical, Comical, Historical Adventures of Pinocchio, will be performed by Temple College Theatre and Musical Theatre students, according to Dr. Sara Baker, dean of Temple College’s Fine Arts Division.
“This is theater for young audiences,” Baker said. “It’s a retelling of the classic Pinocchio story designed for school-age audiences. This story is the timeless tale but offers different theatrical styles.”
Tickets for The Tragical, Comical, Historical Adventures of Pinocchio $5 for non-students and free for TC students with a school ID. They can be purchased at centraltexastickets.com.
Bacon, Blues & Brews is Sept. 27-28
The Belton Bacon, Blues & Brews festival will feature good music, tasty treats and locally crafted beer and wine during its two-day run on Sept. 27 and 28 near the historic Bell County Courthouse.
The festival begins with a kickoff party starting Friday, Sept. 27, featuring the 1st Cavalry Division Rock Band at 4 p.m., The Damn Torpedoes (Tom Petty tribute band) at 6 p.m., and ZZ Tex (ZZ Top tribute band) at 8 p.m.
Beer and wine will be available and food trucks will be open.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the festival continues with an all-day market and more blues and brews.
The main event on Saturday is a Food Truck Competition with bacon-inspired dishes using bacon donated by Belton's H-E-B Plus.
The market opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the Food Truck Competition starts at 11:30 a.m. Kids will have the opportunity to show off their pig-calling skills with a 2 p.m. contest.
Jay White & The Blues Commanders take to the stage at 2:30 p.m., followed by the adult version of pig calling and an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
Seger System, a Bob Seger tribute band, will entertain from 5 to 7 p.m.
Show Choir Showdown is Sept. 29
The Show Choir Showdown, an event featuring groups from Temple, Belton and Lake Belton High Schools, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Temple College’s Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center.
The Showdown is sponsored by the Temple Music Club. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. Proceeds will be divided between the choirs and also fund future scholarships provided by the Temple Music Club.
“This will be a night of award-winning singing groups performing great pop and rock tunes arranged for four-part harmony,” said Teri Johnson, professor of voice and director of opera at Temple College.
TCT Fall Fest is Oct. 19
The fifth annual Temple Civic Theatre Fall Fest has been set for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TCT campus, 2413 S 13th Street in Temple.
The festival will include live entertainment, vendors, a pumpkin patch, face painting, food trucks, kids activities and the hugely popular TCT rummage sale.
“We accept donations all year, and we will be selling some of our costumes from past performances,” said Natasha Tolleson, TCT’s artistic director.
Vendors can contact the TCT box office at (254) 778-4751 Ext 1 to secure a booth.
Holly Tucker to play Community Summit
The city of Temple’s second annual Community Summit will be Friday, Oct. 4, from 5 p.m. to 7. The event will feature Central Texas singing sensation Holly Tucker.
The Community Summit is a free interactive family event, and Temple residents can meet and speak with representatives of several city departments, ask questions and learn about the programs and services offered by the city.
Residents will be able to earn prizes and receive goodies from each booth as well as enjoy bounce houses and live music from Tucker and Mason Hayes.
For more information, please visit templetx.gov/communitysummit.
TCT Boo Ball is Oct. 5
Put on your best Halloween attire and get ready to have a ball.
The Temple Civic Theater is celebrating scary season with a Boo Ball on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Saint Francis Episcopal Church, 5001 Hickory Road in Temple.
“This is a costumed event,” said Natasha Tolleson, artistic director of the TCT. “Costumes are highly encouraged, and we will be presenting some fun awards.”
Prizes will be presented for Best Couple, Best Costume, Best Witches Hat and Best Mask.
Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple. Tickets can be purchased at https://templecivictheatre.com/.
A signature drink will be provided and Kerley’s Market will be catering the event.