News Archives | Bedford Journal Project

Bedford Opens New Senior Center

December 20 Bedford’s new Senior Activity Center “is officially open,” according to a City announcement Wednesday on Facebook. The new facility, which has been renovated, is located in the old YMCA building, at Central Drive and Cummings.

News Archives

July – September 2024

March – June 2024

Safety and Other Improvements Coming to Bedford Road

December 13 With Bedford’s new master plan approved in September, City Council took the next step Tuesday toward its implementation by voting unanimously (6-0) to contract with Westwood Professional Services for a “conceptual design” to make improvements on Bedford Road.

Delivery Drones Coming to Bedford

December 12 Walmart delivery drones will soon be flying across Bedford and the surrounding area with City Council’s unanimous (6-0) approval Tuesday for the retailer to build two drone landing pads. The landing pads, according to Council’s meeting agenda, are planned by Walmart to be located at the north side and rear of its location at Cheek-Sparger and Highway 121.

Fire Station 3 Renovation Awarded to HCI Commercial

December 11 In addition to moving its Central Fire Station, Bedford is planning to renovate its other two fire stations, 2 and 3. Tuesday night, City Council awarded the $435,000 construction contract for Fire Station 3 to HCI Commercial LLC.

Bedford Redevelops Toward the Future

December 6 Bedford has been moving away from its reputation as a “bedroom community” with projects such as a new Senior Activity Center, the development of Bedford Commons, a new Central Fire Station, the redevelopment of Campus West, the YMCA and a proposal for special districts in a new master plan for commercial and entertainment development. Although much has been accomplished, there are still challenges ahead.

H-E-B Breaks Ground for New Mid-Cities Grocery Store

November 22 With shovels in hand and wearing hard hats, Beford’s Mayor Dan Cogan, Police Chief Bobby LaPenna and Fire Chief Bill Walker help break the ground Thursday for the new Mid-Cities H-E-B grocery and pharmacy. Also in attendance were Council Members Amy Sabol and Joy Donovan Brandon, as announced in a City press release and according to the City’s Director of Communications Molly Fox.

Senior Activity Center Prepares to Move to New Facility

November 21 With an opening date for Bedford’s new Senior Activity Center still pending, The City announced in a News Flash press release Wednesday that December programming and events for seniors have been suspended while staff prepares for the move. It was also announced that the annual individual membership to the Center will increase from $5.00 to $15.00 for Bedford residents effective this coming January 1. For non-residents, the membership will rise from $10.00 to $30.00.

Bedford Planning to Move Central Fire Station

November 14 As another step toward planning for the Bedford Commons development, the City of Bedford has selected a tentative location for a new Central Fire Station. City Council on Tuesday night appeared to have settled on a location in the front yard of the Law Enforcement Center for the station on L. Don Dodson Drive.

YMCA Continues to Grow Membership, but Faces Challenges

October 29 Membership numbers doubled for the Bedford Center YMCA in its first six months of operation, from 2,947 in January of 2023 to 5,967 in June of 2023, based on this year’s third-quarter report presented to City Council last Tuesday (October 21) by senior staff from the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. Membership numbers since then, the report shows, continued to increase for the following 15-month period through September of this year, but by a more modest 19%.

Bond Money to Fund Brown Trail Remake

October 24 Bedford is moving forward with its Brown Trail reconstruction project by awarding Westwood Professional Services a $628,381 contract funded with bond money for the redesign of a segment of the roadway from Pipeline Road north to Bedford Road.

Bedford Fire Department to Purchase $2.4 Million Ladder Truck

October 23 A replacement ladder truck for the Fire Department was unanimously (7-0) approved by City Council Tuesday. The new $2.4 million truck will replace the oldest of two ladder trucks the Department operates.

Bedford Pilot Dies in Nebraska Plane Crash

October 11 A Bedford man died Monday in a Nebraska plane crash while delivering packages to Omaha. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, 37-year-old Philip K. Widner, of Bedford, crashed his twin-engine Beach C99 cargo plane near Norfolk, about 90 miles northwest of Omaha. The crash occurred at about 7:40 Monday evening (October 7) about a mile south of the runway at Norfolk Regional Airport, the Journal Star reported.

Bobby LaPenna Selected as Bedford Police Chief

October 8 The City of Bedford announced Tuesday the selection of Bobby LaPenna as the City’s new police chief. LaPenna, who had been serving as interim police chief since June, following the departure of his predecessor, Jeff Williams, was selected Tuesday by City Manager Andrea Roy to fill the position permanently.

Bedford Police to Expand Camera Network

October 1 The Bedford Police Department is nearly quadrupling its camera surveillance network with the acquisition of 20 additional cameras for reading vehicle license plates. As a consent item at last Tuesday’s meeting (September 24), City Council unanimously (6-0) approved the two-year “purchase and maintenance” agreement with Flock Safety Group. The equipment, according to the Council’s meeting agenda, is used to “assist” with criminal investigations and in “maintaining a safe community environment.”

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