From the Editor | June & July 2022

Summer vacation time arrives in Central Texas on an unseasonably warm late spring breeze and our thoughts at Tex Appeal Magazine center on “stay-cations” in and around Bell County.

In this issue, Neighbor introduces you to Anne Jackson, a Bell County prosecutor whose son has autism. Together, they hold training classes for the Sheriff’s department on how law enforcement should interact with an autistic individual and how to use a special kit in this role. They share their story here.

Use it or lose it. CenTex Ed addresses education retention for your students during the summer break here.

Meet the Makers meets the Killeen Civic Art Guild that works to bring local artists together, not only to advance fine art in Western Bell County, but to help revitalize downtown Killeen here.

This Girl’s Garden looks at combining the growth of vegetables and flowers in one garden space for beauty and eating well here.

Take a look at the latest in fashionable travel styles with Susan Marie’s of Salado here.

See who’s who at the Celebrate Killeen Festival and the Salado Tornado Benefit.

Flavours visits Axis Winery, housed in a picturesque cabin on Main Street in Salado here.

Find out what’s hot in summer reading with The Review here.

Being Central Texan celebrates Little Joe y La Familia, specifically Temple’s native son, José María De León Hernández known professionally as Little Joe, a world-famous American Tejano/Chicano music performer here.

In Tex Messages, learn how to travel the world (and possibly outer space) without leaving Texas here.

Take a trip back in time with CenTex Past to visit the Belton Woman’s Commonwealth that might well have been the first women’s shelter in the U.S. and learn how these women went from community pariahs to business titans here.

Carey Stites, our Health & Wellness writer who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, takes us along on her cancer journey to show us how to stay cool through chemo treatment here.

Daytrippin’ visits a campy and fun attraction in Austin known as the Museum of the Weird on Sixth Street and famed for being the final resting place of the Minnesota Ice Man here.

Events features fun things to do around our Central Texas communities here.

Not planning a big vacation in an exotic location? Stay home and visit our special feature on traveling Central Texas that spotlights things to do in and around Belton, Harker Heights, Killeen, Salado and Temple.

Go shooting with the women of Guns & Glitz at The Gun Range in Killeen here and find out what brings them together to improve their aims.

Test what you know about handling hot weather emergencies here. What you learn will be the difference between life and death when temperatures reach their hottest.

I enjoy hearing from you and many of you have submitted great story ideas, so keep ’em coming. You can reach me at editor@TexAppealMag.com or call me at 254-774-5266.

Janna Zepp
Tex Appeal editor