Caldwell County administrative offices will be closed for Juneteenth on Friday, June 19.
Juneteenth, a federal holiday that is always celebrated on June 19, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and became a day of jubilation and liberation for former slaves and today is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in our nation.
The holiday, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The official Juneteenth celebration for St. John Colony will be Saturday, June 20 at 189 Carter Road in Dale beginning at 11 a.m.
The Freedman Community of St. John Colony, Texas purchased 2,200 acres to establish The St. John Colony Emancipation Grounds, within a settlement already inhabited by Native American relatives and diverse settlers.
Reverend John H. Winn, Sr. and 14 pioneer families developed churches, schools, cemeteries, farms, ranches, a general store, a post office, a cotton gin, grist and sorghum mills, and a community hall – incorporating Mackiesville, and the areas now known as Lower and Upper St. John in Bastrop County.
The first celebration was in 1872, and descendants of the founding 14 pioneer families have continued gathering in the old-time tradition – with barbecuing, traditional recipes, singing, dancing, and fellowship – to honor and preserve this deep-rooted history.
View recent proclamations commemorating Juneteenth.
An extreme heat warning will be in effect from noon-8 p.m. Thursday, June 18 in Caldwell County.
WHAT: Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 112 expected.
IMPACTS: Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Little in the way of extreme heat has been observed so far this summer. The risk will be higher with little time to adjust to the extreme heat.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Do not leave young children or pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9-1-1.
Commissioners approve proclamations related to Juneteenth
Caldwell County Commissioners approved two proclamations commemorating the Juneteenth holiday
Juneteenth, a federal holiday that is always celebrated on June 19, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and became a day of jubilation and liberation for former slaves and today is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in our nation.
The holiday, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The first proclamation commemorated the holiday itself, and the second acknowledged Saturday, June 20 as the official celebration for St. John Colony.
The Freedman Community of St. John Colony, Texas purchased 2,200 acres to establish The St. John Colony Emancipation Grounds, within a settlement already inhabited by Native American relatives and diverse settlers.
Reverend John H. Winn, Sr. and fourteen pioneer families developed churches, schools, cemeteries, farms, ranches, a general store, a post office, a cotton gin, grist and sorghum mills, and a community hall – incorporating Mackiesville, and the areas now known as Lower and Upper St. John in Bastrop County.
The first celebration was in 1872, and descendants of the founding fourteen pioneer families have continued gathering in the old-time tradition – with barbecuing, traditional recipes, singing, dancing, and fellowship – to honor and preserve this deep-rooted history.
- Voted to leave the burn ban off at the recommendation of Caldwell County’s Office of Emergency Management.
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Voted not to approve the Caldwell County Appraisal District’s 2027 Appraisal Budget on the basis of multiple proposed pay raises that the county judge said took money away that could be returned to the taxing entities. Half of the taxing entities in Caldwell County, which include the county, cities and school districts, have to vote to reject the appraisal district’s budget for it not to pass.
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Voted not to approve a resolution proposing amendments to the 2025 and 2026 budgets for the Caldwell County Appraisal Districts.
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Approved the acceptance of a CAPCOG 2026-2027 Solid Waste Grant that help fund more tire collection events.
- Voted to accept a $350,000 award from the state comptroller for the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program. The proceeds from that grant can be used to purchase ambulances or help equip them.
This is a brief summary of discussion and action highlights of the June 11, 2026 regular commissioners court meeting. See full agendas and official meeting minutes and watch full video of the meetings.
The New World Screwworm has been in the news lately, with confirmed detections of the insect in five Texas counties, according to the USDA.
The parasitic fly that feeds on the tissues of warm-blooded animals is a serious pest of livestock and wildlife. It has NOT yet been reported in Caldwell County as of this evening (6/12).
Early detection is key. Watch for unusual wounds that do not heal, wounds containing visible larvae (maggots), or signs of infection in livestock and pets.
INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLETS
REPORT SUSPECTED CASES
- Reporting suspected human cases or human health concerns in Public Health Region 7: (254) 778-6744
- Reporting suspected NWS in pets and livestock to Texas Animal Health Commission: 1-800-550-8242
- Reporting suspected NWS in wildlife to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: (512) 389-4505
DECLARATION OF DISASTER
A state of disaster has been declared for Caldwell County due to the imminent threat posed by the New World Screwworm.
Declarations of disaster are issued to unlock emergency funding, activate mutual aid, and grant local leaders special legal powers to manage threats. Without an official declaration, a local government cannot easily access higher-level resources.
View the declaration
USEFUL LINKS FOR INFORMATION AND TRACKING CASES
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) allocated $244,100,000 for the Homeowner Assistance Program to help repair and reconstruct owner occupied single-family homes in 27 counties damaged by the 2024 disasters…including Caldwell County.
What is the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP)?
HAP helps homeowners affected by the 2024 Disasters repair and rebuild their homes. The housing program is administered by the GLO and provides homeowner assistance through:
- Rehabilitation (repairing homes)
- Reconstruction of homes over the threshold for repairs
If approved for rebuilding or reconstruction assistance:
- Hazard Mitigation (improving a damaged home so that it is stronger against natural disasters)
- Elevation (elevating homes above flood level in conjunction with reconstruction assistance)
- Temporary Relocation Assistance (TRA)
Damage inspectors will inspect homes and confirm the estimated cost of repairs. If the repairs exceed the caps for repairs, reconstruction will be required. The damage cap is $90,000 for non-historic and $175,000 for historic homes.
Learn about the program and submit an application.
CAPCOG is hosting local government officials and community stakeholders from Caldwell County for its County Days tour event, which seeks to strengthen the region through local knowledge sharing and greater member partnerships.
The event will be held from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 23 at the new Caldwell County Community and Evacuation Center. See the official agenda.
County Days will feature a townhall with CAPCOG staff members giving presentations on current activities. A listening session will follow where member organizations and community residents can discuss local needs that could benefit from being addressed through regional planning and cooperation.
Key CAPCOG staff will be in attendance from the following divisions:
- Regional Planning and Services
- Aging Services
- Emergency Communications
- Homeland Security
- Regional Law Enforcement Academy
The meeting is open to the public and registration is not required to attend. However, CAPCOG requests that those planning to attend RSVP.
More information: https://www.capcog.org/trainings/caldwell-county-day/