Community
Daily reporting on Gainesville, Valley View, and every corner of Cooke County to city hall decisions, neighborhood wins, and the people who make them happen.
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Preston Emergency Services Golf Fundraiser & Texoma Events Set
POTTSBORO, Texas — Preston Volunteer Emergency Services hosts its 8th Annual Golf Tournament on August 31 as Lake Texoma venues line up late-summer events.
Wednesday
Preston Volunteer Emergency Services Sets Golf Fundraiser
Preston Volunteer Emergency Services will hold its eighth annual golf tournament Aug. 31 at Tanglewood Golf Course in Pottsboro.
Aug 4
Sherman Community Players Stage Boeing Boeing
Sherman Community Players will present Boeing Boeing in a dinner-theater fundraiser from July 31 through Aug. 9.
Jul 31
Gainesville Summer Sounds Closes Series Friday
Gainesville's 2026 Summer Sounds series closes Friday with Uncle Lucius and Maddie Rose at the Gainesville Farmers Market.
Jul 30
Locust FD Fish Fry, Denison Art Walks on Calendar
POTTSBORO, Texas — Lake Texoma-area residents have two community gatherings on the August calendar: Locust Fire Department’s annual fish fry and...
Jul 27
Boys & Girls Club Plans Parents Night Out, Golf Tournament
GAINESVILLE, Texas — The Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County will host a July 31 Parents Night Out and an Oct. 12 golf fundraiser at WinStar.
Jul 23
This Week in Cooke County: Road Closures, School Meetings
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Rice Avenue is closed for repairs, Refinery Road closes Thursday, and school boards in Lindsay and Muenster meet Wednesday.
Jul 22
Late-Summer Events Across Cooke County
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Cooke County families have a late-July and August calendar of youth camps, Fire & Table, school events, a free safety course and a workfor…
Jul 20
Lake Texoma Weekend Guide: July 16–20
SHERMAN, Texas — The July 16–20 stretch offers a mix of free music, lake programs, shopping and a few paid outings across Sherman, Denison, Pottsboro…
Jul 16
Cooke County Clerk guide: marriage, deeds and vital records
GAINESVILLE, Texas — The Cooke County Clerk's Office is the county's main stop for marriage licenses, deeds, vital records and other records residents ask for …
Jul 15
Rodeo Gainesville returns this weekend with $6,500 added
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Rodeo returns to Cooke County this weekend with Rodeo Gainesville, a three-day UPRA/CPRA/CRRA-sanctioned event produced by Flying
Jul 13
This Week in Cooke County: Culberson Street work begins, weekend events on tap
A quiet post-holiday week in Cooke County brought a construction update downtown and two community events on tap for the weekend. Here's what you may
Jul 8
Marriage licenses, deeds and vital records: A guide to the Cooke County Clerk's office
GAINESVILLE, Texas — Getting married, filing a deed, or ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Cooke County all run through the same office: the Co
Jul 8
The Cooke County Courthouse: History, Architecture and What It Houses Today
GAINESVILLE, Texas — The Cooke County Courthouse has stood at the center of downtown Gainesville since 1912, and it remains the working seat of county
Jul 7
Frank Buck Zoo eyes rare gazelle breeding program as expansion takes shape
The Gainesville zoo is pursuing a conservation mission for the dama gazelle, one of the world’s most endangered antelopes, as city officials explore an expansi…
Jul 6
This Week in Cooke County: Hospital honor, screwworm watch, and a downtown rebuild
Eight stories from across Cooke County this week: a cardiovascular care honor for NTMC, a screwworm alert on the horizon, $681K for downtown Gainesville, new r…
Jul 1
North Texas Medical Center: Gainesville’s community hospital
North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville is a nonprofit acute care hospital serving Cooke County and surrounding communities 24 hours a day.
Jun 29
Fairview Cemetery to host free living history walk July 4
Reenactors will portray Civil War, World War I, and World War II veterans at a free walking tour through Gainesville’s historic Fairview Cemetery on the mornin…
Jun 24
Fourth of July in Gainesville & Cooke County: 2026 Guide
Gainesville July 3 fireworks at Municipal Airport — free, with live music and food trucks. Plus Lake Texoma fireworks 2026, Saint Jo, and Turner Falls.
Jun 17
Cooke County, Texas: Cities, Government, History & 2026 News
Cooke County, Texas: 45,000 residents, county seat Gainesville, I-35 corridor 60 miles north of Fort Worth. Complete guide to cities, schools, and 2026 busines…
Jun 17
Where to stay in Gainesville, TX: A visitor's lodging guide
From chain hotels on I-35 to a giraffe barn in Valley View and a glamping dome in Cooke County — here's where to stay when you're visiting Gainesville.
Jun 8
Urgent Care in Gainesville, TX: Your Options at NTMC and Beyond
Need urgent care in Gainesville, Texas? Here is when to go to the NTMC emergency room, when a walk-in clinic makes more sense, and what telehealth options are …
Jun 5
Outdoor Recreation Near Cooke County: Lakes, Parks & Oklahoma Day Trips
From Moss Lake ten minutes outside Gainesville to Turner Falls in Oklahoma, Cooke County sits at the center of some of North Texas's best fishing, hiking, camp…
May 28
Moving to Cooke County? A Newcomer’s Guide to Life in North Texas
Everything you need to know about relocating to Cooke County — from school districts and housing costs to the I-35 commute, local healthcare, and what makes Ga…
May 27
From Camp Howze to the Medal of Honor: Cooke County’s Veterans Legacy
On Memorial Day, a look at the military history woven into Cooke County — from the 300,000 soldiers who trained at Camp Howze in World War II to the only city …
May 26
Where to buy farm-fresh in Cooke County
Six Cooke County farms sell beef, dairy, eggs, produce, and more directly to the public — here’s a guide to what’s available and where to find it.
May 22
Things to Do in Gainesville, TX This Summer (2026)
Free concerts, the Frank Buck Zoo, downtown dining, and day trips to Lake Ray Roberts — a practical guide to summer in Gainesville, Texas.
May 19
Gainesville Depot Day Festival: Guide, History, and What to Expect
Gainesville's Depot Day Festival is held every October in historic downtown — free admission, 200+ vehicles, live entertainment, and the story of the 1902 Sant…
May 18
Where to Eat in Gainesville, TX — A Local Dining Guide (Updated July 2026)
Best restaurants in Gainesville, TX: Krootz Brewing, Hungry Hippo, El Tapatio, and 25+ local dining spots — updated June 2026.
May 14
United Way Honors 2026 Donors, Plans November Fundraiser
Cooke County United Way recognized top donors and businesses from its 2026 annual campaign and has set November 5 for the 15th annual Power of the Purse event.
May 13
Frank Buck Zoo summer guide: encounters, hours, and what's next
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer at Gainesville's Frank Buck Zoo — here's the full lineup of animal encounters and what to know before yo…
May 12
The I-35 corridor boom: Rail parks, ranches, and billions in development reshaping Cooke County
From a WWII-era army camp turned rail park to a 600-acre grocery empire supply hub, more than 2,000 acres of new development are converging along the I-35 corr…
May 4
Muenster Elementary 3rd Graders Tour Gainesville Medal of Honor Museum
Days after Gainesville's 25th Medal of Honor Week, Muenster Elementary's 3rd grade classes spent Thursday at the Medal of Honor Museum in Gainesville, explorin…
Apr 28
Gainesville marks 25th Medal of Honor Week honoring nine recipients
Nine of the nation's most decorated military heroes spent four days in Gainesville last week as the city marked a quarter-century as America's...
Apr 23
Muenster roundup: ISD earns safety award, RRC visits Kiwanis
Muenster ISD was honored for workplace safety at a statewide conference, and the Railroad Commission of Texas stopped by the local Kiwanis Club to talk oil and…
Apr 19
NCTC honors 2001 NJCAA championship baseball team at reunion
North Central Texas College welcomed back its 2001 NJCAA National Championship baseball team at a recognition ceremony March 28.
Apr 16
Gainesville Fire-Rescue honors crew for Jan. 6 rescue at annual ceremony
Five officers received the city's Medal of Distinction for a January rescue. Lt. James Fuller was named Firefighter of the Year.
Apr 15
Gainesville Summer Sounds 2026: Free concerts June 26 and July 31
Two free outdoor concerts remain in the Gainesville Summer Sounds series — Champagne Yacht Club Band on June 26 and Uncle Lucius on July 31, both at the Gaines…
Apr 13
Medal of Honor Week 2026: Your complete guide to Gainesville's events
Gainesville marks its 25th year as America's Official Medal of Honor Host City April 15–18. Here's every event, time, and location you need.
Apr 10
NTMC invests $1.25M in cardiac CT imaging technology
North Texas Medical Center has invested $1.25 million in a new Cardiac CT imaging system to expand heart care diagnostics in Cooke County.
Apr 7
Frank Buck Zoo spring guide: Hours, encounters, and what's new
Spring is the best time to visit Gainesville's Frank Buck Zoo. Here's what to know about hours, animal encounters, pricing, and seasonal programs for 2026.
Apr 6
Texas Master Naturalist program opens applications April 6
The Texas Master Naturalist Elm Fork Chapter is accepting applications April 6 through April 24 for its next training class serving Denton, Cooke, and Wise cou…
Apr 3
Shopping and services in Gainesville, Texas: A local guide
A complete guide to major retailers, grocery stores, home improvement shops, and local services in Gainesville, Texas — from Walmart and H-E-B to Atwoods and d…
Apr 2
Muenster invites residents to spring clean up April 11
The City of Muenster is hosting its annual Keep Muenster Beautiful Spring Clean Up on April 11 at Muenster City Park, starting at 9 a.m.
Mar 27
Gainesville's retail boom: New shops and storefronts in 2026
From a new McDonald's at 82 and Grand to an incoming Aldi, a planned 7-Eleven, and a QuikTrip travel center off I-35, Gainesville's retail and commercial scene…
Mar 20
Sights & Sounds fundraiser returns to NCTC April 11
The Cooke County Arts Council hosts its annual Sights and Sounds fundraiser on April 11 at NCTC's First State Bank Center, featuring the Gainesville Swing Orch…
Mar 18
NTMC launches digital intake to cut wait times
North Texas Medical Center has launched a digital patient intake system that lets patients complete registration, upload insurance cards, and verify personal d…
Mar 17
Cooke County Library receives $10,000 Carnegie grant
The Cooke County Library has received a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of a nationwide initiative honoring Carnegie Libraries s…
Mar 16
NTMC receives $135,000 grant for infant warmers
North Texas Medical Center received a $135,000 grant from The Moody Foundation to replace Giraffe infant warmers in the hospital's nursery, supporting nearly 3…
Mar 11
Metzler wins county judge primary; Cornyn-Paxton runoff set for May
Business owner Karla Metzler captured the Republican nomination for Cooke County Judge with 62 percent of the vote, while the Cornyn-Paxton U.S. Senate race he…
Mar 4