A wind advisory is now in effect for the area that includes Caldwell County. It will remain in effect through 7 p.m. Wednesday. Please secure loose objects and exercise caution while outside or on the road.
Today's front is expected to bring windy conditions from this afternoon through tomorrow.
The advisory warns of sustained winds of 20 to 30 MPH and peak gusts up to 50 MPH, which could cause tree limbs to be blown down.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Fire Danger Statement for Caldwell County, due to high winds (15-20 mph) out of the northwest and low relative humidity (about 15%). The advisory is in effect through late this afternoon.
Safety recommendations include:
Caldwell County Commissioners discussed the burn ban, welcomed a new employee and discussed multiple development agreements during their October 23 regular meeting.
(Pictured l-r: Pct. 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Pct. 2 Commissioner Rusty Horne, County Judge Hoppy Haden, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ed Theriot, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dyral Thomas)
Burn ban stays on, new deputy emergency management chief hired
The Caldwell County burn ban is here to stay for now, with dryness levels remaining well into the drought range ahead of anticipated chances for rainfall.
All outdoor burning is prohibited during a burn ban.
The average KBDI for the area sits at 728, well above 575, which is the threshold the Texas Forest Service associates with increased wildfire potential.
Chances of rainfall include this weekend (Oct. 24-25) with an additional chance in the next several days, depending on what Tropical Storm Melissa does. The storm’s current location as of Friday, Oct. 24 is over the Caribbean Sea.
Before the burn ban update, Emergency Management Chief Hector Rangel introduced Joann Garza-Mayberry, the office’s new deputy chief.
Garza-Mayberry is an Honorably Retired Texas Game Warden from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with a Bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and Master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word.
In 2020 during the COVID pandemic, she worked side by side with county officials in the Emergency Operation Center, serving as the county's Public Information Officer.
She is well trained in emergency management from her work as a game warden, during numerous disasters and catastrophes.
Earthship Corporation expands footprint in Caldwell County
Commissioners approved a trio of actions related to the Earthship Corporation, which is expanding its footprint of manufacturing and hardware cities in Caldwell County.
Earthship Corporation’s Proto-Town, a planned "Innovation Hub" for tech manufacturing and hardware startups located in the Lockhart area, is intended to be a place for founders to escape the “overregulated” environments of software-focused cities and build hardware, featuring events like rocket engine static fires and flight tests.
That concept is apparently expanding, with land being added to the original location south of Lockhart for future phases and two more parcels of land being acquired for facilities in Maxwell.
Commissioners approved an amendment to the development agreements for the company’s Project Proto-Town, and new development agreements for Project Irish North and Project Irish South in Maxwell.
Plans for the facilities include demonstration buildings, new technology research facilities, demonstration of advanced manufacturing prototypes in the areas of robotics, space, and energy, and temporary living quarters for individuals engaged in research.
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- Approved the first amendment to the 2025 development agreement between the county nand TXLCO for Technology Park at Caldwell Valley. The project includes a data center development as well as an innovation center. The original development was approximately 1,500 acres, but TXLCO is acquiring a parcel of land that will allow it to expand by an additional 1,500 acres. The development is located in the area of FM 2720 and Jolley Road.
- Approved the Caldwell County Employee Holiday Schedule.
- Appointed Omar Tariqe to the ESD #2 Board. Tariqe will replace Tony Collins.
Saturday, October 25
8 a.m.: The Flood Watch has been extended through 9 p.m. Make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts. If you encounter flooded roadways or barricades/closures, please turn around, don't drown.
Friday, October 24
3 p.m.: A Flood Watch goes into effect at 7 p.m. Friday that will remain in effect through 1 p.m. Saturday.
Heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with isolated amounts up to 5 inches could result in excessive runoff and could lead to life threatening flash flooding somewhere in the watch area.
Please monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. There is a slight chance of excessive rainfall from Friday night through Saturday afternoon and a marginal risk of excessive rainfall from Saturday afternoon through Saturday night.
Please make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts, such as enabling WEA in your smartphone settings or signing up for warncentraltexas.com
8 a.m.:HEADS UP: Showers and thunderstorms will become likely tonight and early Saturday. Strong to severe storms are possible along with locally heavy rain. All severe threats are possible including flash flooding, according to the US National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio Texas.
Please stay knowledgeable about weather conditions by making sure you pay attention to local forecasts today. Have Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) active on your phone if you have a capable smartphone. Sign up for alerts by e-mail, phone or text at warncentraltexas.com.
Recent actions taken by Caldwell County Commissioners include three proclamations calling for awareness on multiple topics in October.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Caldwell County recognized October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, calling upon the people of Caldwell County to work together with HCWC and local partners to bring an end to domestic violence and teen dating violence. Read the full proclamation.
Mediation Awareness Month
Commissioners recognized October 2025 as Mediation Awareness Month in Caldwell County, Texas, acknowledging the important role the Central Texas Dispute Resolution center plays and encouraging all citizens to acknowledge, support, and celebrate the role of mediation in building stronger, more understanding, and more connected communities. Read the full proclamation. Read the full proclamation
Family History Month
Commissioners recognized October 2025 as Family History Month in Caldwell County and the role the Genealogical and Historical Society of Caldwell County plays in helping residents trace their family histories. Commissioners encouraged all residents to celebrate by researching their heritage, preserving family stories, visiting local historical sites, and sharing traditions that strengthen family and community ties. Read the full proclamation.
Do you have unneeded medication in your medicine cabinet? Dispose of it safely this weekend at the Caldwell County Justice Center on Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m, where the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office will be hosting a DEA National Rx Takeback event. The Justice Center is located at 1703 S. Colorado Street in Lockhart.
The elevator at the Caldwell County Courthouse is temporarily out of order and is undergoing maintenance.
We will notify the public when it is operational.
In the meantime, if you are unable to use the stairs and need to speak to someone whose office is on the second or third floor, please call ahead. Contact information is available on each department's page, which can be found by accessing the homepage's main menu.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
A tire collection event held Saturday, October 18 in Luling yielded great results, with nearly 800 scrap tires collected.
Precinct 2 Constable Paul Easterling said the transport trailer was at capacity after just 1 hour and 45 minutes, referring to the participation as a county record for a tire collection event.
"What an incredible morning — we hit capacity in under two hours and collected nearly 800 scrap tires before the trailer was full. The response was overwhelming, and no other precinct in Caldwell County has seen this kind of turnout, volume, or community participation at an event like this," Easterling said. "This was more than just a clean-up — it was a strong stand against illegal dumping, and a powerful example of what we can do when we work together."
The county thanks the City of Luling for allowing the use of its site at 2510 E. Pierce Street and for its help funding the effort.
"That kind of partnership is what makes these community wins possible," Easterling said."We’re also grateful to the city crews, county staff, and volunteers who kept traffic moving and helped unload tires with efficiency and a great attitude.
"To the residents who showed up early, brought tires, told a neighbor, or shared our posts: you made this event a success."
Easterling said plans to do another event soon were under way.
"This was a big win for Precinct 2, for our environment, and for our future," Easterling said. "Thank you, Caldwell County."
Caldwell County Commissioners discussed a new law enforcement substation in Prairie Lea, a strategy to buy lifesaving medical equipment, the burn ban and approved a pair of proclamations at their October 9 meeting.
(Pictured l-r: Pct. 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Pct. 2 Commissioner Rusty Horne, County Judge Hoppy Haden, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ed Theriot, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dyral Thomas)
Commissioners approve MOU for new substation at Prairie Lea ISD
The Caldwell County Commissioners Court officially approved an agreement establishing a law enforcement substation at Prairie Lea ISD at today's regular meeting.
The agreement was developed through close collaboration between Pct. 2 Constable Paul Easterling and Prairie Lea ISD Interim Superintendent Buddy Freeman. The agreement has been approved by the PLISD School Board.
The new substation will provide dedicated office space on the PLISD campus for use by Precinct 2 Deputy Constables, as well as by deputies from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Highway Patrol Troopers, and DPS CVE Troopers, bringing a stronger and more visible law enforcement presence to the school.
Opioid Settlement to fund new lifesaving equipment
Commissioners voted to approve an action that clears the way for Caldwell County to use the proceeds from an opioid settlement to outfit several county buildings and vehicles with automated external difibrillators (AEDs) that could help save lives.
Caldwell County plans to use settlement proceeds of approximately $25,000 to purchase defibrillators for seven buildings and five county vehicles.
Funding from the 2025 Opioid Abatement Settlement comes from legal settlements reached with pharmaceutical companies and distributors for their role in the opioid crisis. The money from the settlements is disbursed through a state-level structure established by the Texas Legislature.
By law, 15% of the total settlement funds are directly distributed from the Trust Fund to Texas counties and municipalities. The Texas Comptroller's office is responsible for processing these payments.
AEDs are portable devices that analyze a person's heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock if necessary to treat sudden cardiac arrest. The devices are designed for use by the public, providing voice and visual prompts to guide the user through the process.
The use of an AED can significantly increase a person's chance of survival when used in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest event.
This is a brief summary of discussion and action highlights of the October 9 regular commissioners court meeting. See full agendas and official meeting minutes and watch full video of the meetings here.