[Updated to include information about the demotion of Assistant Fire Chief Howard Cruse]

Round Rock Fire Chief Larry Hodge announced Aug. 31 that he will retire in February, ending a 40-year career in the fire service.

After trimming more than $2.7 million from the proposed budget, the Williamson County Commissioners Court adopted its fiscal year 2011 budget Aug. 31 and voted to maintain the county's current tax rate.

The Round Rock City Council approved a series of resolutions and incentives encouraging business growth and a new Round Rock education facility Aug. 26.

A new portion of Gilleland Creek Trail is now available to Pflugerville hikers and bikers.

Travis County, the City of Pflugerville and the Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting event at Windermere Park Aug. 26 to celebrate the completion of the 1.09 mile section of trail.

Despite the economic crunch many cities face this budget season, Pflugerville is proposing a slight decrease in its property tax rate for fiscal year 2011.

Nearly seven months after Pflugerville implemented a new single-stream curbside recycling program, city officials say significantly more residents have opted to recycle their trash.

Round Rock officials announced they hired a new planning director Aug. 24 to help shape future development in the city.

Travis County commissioners announced their intent to grant RRE Austin Solar tax rebates Aug. 17, bringing the company one step closer to launching a 60-megawatt solar farm outside Pflugerville.

The Pflugerville Police Department will open the doors of the Pflugerville Justice Center for a community open house Aug. 21.

Members of the department will offer tours of the center, located at 1611 E. Pfennig Lane, including visits to the motorcycle division, the canine division, a fingerprinting station and squad cars. The justice center also includes a crime lab, a jail and a seven-lane indoor shooting range, and it houses offices for police communications, criminal investigation, Pflugerville ISD officers, community services, victims’ services, code enforcement and animal control.

The open house takes place from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. For more information, e-mail the community services division at jsmith@cityofpflugerville.com or call 670-5510.

Parents, students and community members will have a chance to walk through Round Rock ISD’s newest high school, Cedar Ridge High School, during a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Monday, Aug. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 2801 Gattis School Road in Round Rock.

Andrea White, author and wife of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White, will speak in Round Rock Saturday, Aug. 14 about her experiences on the campaign trail.

During his first appearance in Austin as the President of the United States, Barack Obama displayed the hook ‘em horns to a crowd of nearly 3,000 people roaring and waving in response at the University of Texas.

Local businesses and volunteers began renovating a recreational vehicle July 31 at Princess Craft Campers and Trailers in Pflugerville that will be used to reach out to the homeless population in the Austin area.

Residential property listings in the Round Rock and Pflugerville area

Real estate market data for the Round Rock and Pflugerville Multiple Listing Service Area

This subdivision, located south of McNeil Road and west of I-35, featuresa city park and tennis court.

The subdivision is less than five minutes from Dell Inc., Toll 45 and I-35. Residents have access to two pools, two parks, and tennis and basketball courts.

FM 685, formerly a small country road between Hutto and Pflugerville, has grown into a retail and commerce corridor in recent years. It now serves as the major connection between central Pflugerville, Hendrickson High School, Toll 130 and developments like Stone Hill Town Center.

Family activities in the Round Rock / Pflugerville area

Information about the Pflugerville Independent School District 2010

Pflugerville ISD board members responded to concerns about the district’s new employee compensation plan July 22, admitting they did not explain the issue to teachers before reaching a decision.

As the newest member of the Pflugerville ISD school board, Mario Acosta said he strives to ensure that students and teachers have the tools they need to succeed in the classroom despite a tough budget climate.

The driving force behind marketing the City of Round Rock repositioned itself this year in a new location in the center of downtown.

The Round Rock City Council voted 6-0 July 8 to recognize the Round Rock Police Association as the exclusive bargaining agent for the city’s police officers. Councilwoman Kris Whitfield was absent.

In 1878 a one-room wooden schoolhouse was built on the Franz Schmidt farm east of Pflugerville. Known as the Richland School, it offered an education to the children of the landowners and the workers who helped on their farms.

Formula One race promoter Tavo Hellmund announced July 27 that the Wandering Creek area in Del Valle has been proposed as the site of the United States' first purpose-built F1 racing track since the 1970s.

Susan Malone dons a pair of pajamas before heading to each of her speaking engagements. She typically dresses up her outfit with a string of pearls, too.

When Round Rock City Manager Jim Nuse looked down Main Street in 1983, he knew he was home.

Candidates for Texas' Congressional District 10 answer questions.

Commuters who make the daily drive between Austin and Round Rock could have another transportation option starting this fall.

Latest news from Round Rock and Pflugerville city councils

There's nothing fancy about Godfrey's Taste of Texas BBQ. Not the paper plates, not the plastic utensils and certainly not the décor, which ranges from typical restaurant fare to nonexistent.

Joe Payton says it is uncommon for a screen-printing company to be in business for almost 20 years. But since opening RockSports in 1991, Payton has expanded to much more than just screen printing, which he said has been the secret to the Round Rock business’s longevity.

Karen Ziegler never shot a gun until she was in her 30s. While living in rural Tennessee, her husband went on business trips every other weekend and would leave her a gun so she could protect herself.

New businesses, volunteer opportunities, and local happenings in Round Rock and Pflugerville

I love going to the Round Rock Express games, but it turns out that I don't watch that much of the actual game. It's not that I am not interested, but somehow, I start socializing and that becomes the whole event.

Scott & White Healthcare is planning a 58,000-square-foot expansion to its Round Rock hospital.

RRE Austin Solar secures tax abatements from city, seeks similar agreements from Elgin ISD, Travis County

In this free event, families can watch three actors depict 37 of William Shakespeare's plays in about 90 minutes.

Pflugerville ISD will implement a new system this fall aimed at improving student performance and helping to keep quality teachers in the classroom.

Scott & White Healthcare announced plans Aug. 3 to merge with Johns Community Hospital of Taylor. The two healthcare providers signed a letter of intent to merge, an intial step in a merger slated to be completed Sept. 1.

While nearly $3 million in reductions are proposed for the City of Round Rock in 2010-2011, officials hope to add four police officers, a new transit program and reduce its reliance on Dell Inc.

Round Rock and Pflugerville ISDs maintained their state accountability ratings this year, according to information released July 30 by the Texas Education Agency.

Williamson County commissioners are set to discuss the county’s 2010–2011 budget at each of the court’s weekly meetings in August, with a final public hearing and possible adoption scheduled for Aug. 31 at the county courthouse in Georgetown.

A federal judge ruled July 28 that Pflugerville and three other cities are not allowed to challenge the constitutionality of the Texas Open Meetings Act in a court of law.

Travis County Commissioners heard a briefing on the county's preliminary Fiscal Year 2011 budget July 27 and set the schedule for adopting the budget, which will include two public hearings in September.

Formula One race promoter Tavo Hellmund announced July 27 that the Wandering Creek area in Del Valle has been proposed as the site of the United States' first purpose-built F1 racing track since the 1970s.

The Pflugerville ISD board of trustees will respond to concerns about its new employee compensation plan July 22 after receiving complaints from teachers who say they were left out of the discussion.

Round Rock ISD officials broke ground on a new elementary school July 20, designed to ease overcrowding in the district's classrooms.

The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation has rescinded an economic incentive agreement with developers of the proposed Blu Bambu water park in Pflugerville, but PCDC President Charles Simon said a new agreement is expected.