The family of longtime Brownwood Police Officer Jack Needler recently donated uniforms, photos and historical items to the Brownwood Police Department in honor of their father and grandfather. This donation includes BPD uniforms which show the progression of changes in the department’s uniforms and patches.   (Pictured above with uniforms are family members:  (left to right) Cindy Kemp, Donna Fout, Kathy Kemp, and Dianna Little.)

VFW Post 3278 honored area citizens in an award ceremony on Thursday recognizing their service to the community.

During their annual Citizen’s Award Banquet, the VFW honors emergency responders and law enforcement officers for their service to the community, each recipient is chosen by their supervisors for going above and beyond to serve the community while they performed their job requirements.

First Baptist Church of Brownwood is where the action is this week as approximately 150 campers are actively learning how to play sports like a champion with Bible virtues during this year’s “Olympics” themed Champs Camp.

The following message was issued from The Ark Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Shelter thanking the community for their ongoing support:

On behalf of the staff and  board members of The Ark Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Shelter, we would like to thank you for your part in making The Ark’s 18th Annual Mystery Dinner Theatre and Auctions a success!

Your contributions show your commitment to helping us break the cycle of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. Whether you purchased a ticket, donated or purchased auction items or sent a monetary donation, your support is sincerely appreciated.

VFW Post 3278, the Ladies' Auxiliary and the Men's Auxiliary will host a Fish Fry on Friday, March 23rd from 10:30am to 1:30pm (or until sold out).

Fried fish, hush puppies, Cole slaw, beans, onions and pickles are offered for $8 per plate.  Dine in at the VFW or call to place orders for pick-up or delivery in the Brownwood/Early area.  Orders can be placed beginning March 19th by calling 325-646-8113.

ALL profits and any donations will go to the Brown County Relay for Life. We will also have luminaries for a minimum $5 donation - these will be placed around the track at the Relay the first weekend in June.

Every Thursday night around 6:30 p.m., the residents of Songbird Lodge have plans. Bianca Monge, Philip Jorgensen and other Howard Payne University students will be stopping by to visit and share life together.

This summer, outstanding college students from the United States and over 30 countries around the world will take part in unique career exploration programs in China, Australia and the United States. The International Scholar Laureate Program (ISLP) will provide high-achieving students with the opportunity for learning experience designed to inform and enrich their career objectives and foster their ambition to achieve their lifelong goals in a way unlike any other. These extraordinary pre-professional opportunities provide scholars with a chance to further their career development in the fields of business, diplomacy, international relations, engineering, medicine or nursing.

Laura Hullum of Early, Texas is a student at Ranger College, finalizing education in Registered Nursing. Hullum will join fellow nursing and medicine scholars in Sydney, Australia and later Brisbane.  As a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Hullum was nominated for ISLP.  Laura has also been recognized for 2012 All American Academic Team.  Hullum returned to college concurrently to that of her son starting Texas A&M school of Architecture.

With students learning chess through programs established at the elementary schools in Brownwood, kids who had an interest in continuing to learn and play the game at school after moving on from 3rd grade were left without an option until this year.

Howard Payne University’s Java Jazz with Hazel Miller concert was deemed very successful, with the facility reaching near capacity and more than $5,000 raised to help send HPU’s Winds of Triumph musical group to perform at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Miller performed with Winds of Triumph, the HPU Jazz Ensemble and the university’s Heritage Singers.