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Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements October 2025 Dear Residents, I had a very exciting and productive meeting this week with our representatives from Oncor (Lane Whitman and Sabrina Easley) along with Steve Reynolds, Richard Griffin, Roddy Boston and Barry Schimpf to coordinate the next phase of Runaway Bay’s Wastewater Restructuring Project. This is part of my long-term effort to modernize our infrastructure, protect Lake Bridgeport, and ensure reliable wastewater servic

Runaway Bay’s October City Council meeting was filled with thoughtful ideas, community appreciation, and updates across every board and department. Here’s a recap for residents who couldn’t attend. Public Forum: Jerry St. John of the Bay Church opened the evening by personally thanking Mayor Herman White for his professionalism and quick response to a difficult situation that recently arose at the church. He also invited everyone to join the Bay Church’s 50th Anniversary Cele

Runaway Bay residents - mark your calendars! The Greater Runaway Bay Alliance is hosting a community clean-up along Highway 380 on Saturday, November 1 at 9:00 AM. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot of the Norma Coble Civic Center before heading out to tackle roadside litter and keep our community looking its best. All necessary supplies - safety vests, grabbers, and trash bags - will be provided. Community service hours are available for students who need them, and high

Runaway Bay is full of fall spirit this season, and our local churches are hosting two fantastic events you won’t want to miss! These family-friendly gatherings are open to everyone and are a wonderful way to connect with neighbors and celebrate the season together. 🎃 The Bay Church Annual Fall Fest Sunday, October 26, 2025 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM The Bay Church | 20 Runaway Bay Drive The Bay Church is keeping tradition alive with their Annual Fall Fest! Bring the whole family

If you’ve noticed ONCOR trucks or road crews working around town lately - especially along Doaks and Tryall - here’s the good news: it’s all part of a major power upgrade project for Runaway Bay. ONCOR Energy is investing over $5 million dollars in system improvements across our area to strengthen reliability, reduce outages, and prepare our infrastructure for future growth. What’s Happening: Crews are currently replacing transformers, installing new poles, and completing ma

Benefitting the Runaway Bay Volunteer Fire Department It’s that time of year again, Runaway Bay! One of our community’s favorite fall tradition is back! The 9th Annual First Responders Fish Fry supporting the Runaway Bay Volunteer Fire Department. Saturday, November 15 5:30 PM Runaway Bay Event Center 513 Port O’ Call, Runaway Bay, TX 76426 This long-standing event brings neighbors, friends, and local heroes together for an evening of great food and even greater fellowship.

There’s nothing quite like a sunny day at Runaway Bay’s public beach, with soft sand, cool lake water, and one of the prettiest views on Lake Bridgeport. It’s the perfect spot to relax, swim, and make memories with friends and family. Before you grab your towel and sunscreen, here’s a quick reminder from the City of Runaway Bay to help keep our beach safe and enjoyable for everyone. Safety First — No Fishing in the Swim Area Fishing is strictly prohibited along the public bea

When most folks think of Lake Bridgeport today, they picture fishing boats, jet skis, and peaceful evenings along the water. But during the 1940s, this same lake echoed with the rumble of aircraft engines and played a surprising role in World War II. Training for the Skies of War During World War II, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps used Lake Bridgeport as an auxiliary training area. Its wide-open waters and remote setting made it the perfect place for pilots to practice maneuv

How a River Became the Heart of Wise County Before the lake sparkled under the Texas sun, the West Fork of the Trinity River wound quietly through ranchland and cedar breaks. It was a wild stretch of country that flooded often and dried hard in drought. The story of Lake Bridgeport began with a dream to tame that unpredictable river and bring reliable water to a growing North Texas. A Vision for Water and Power In the 1920s, Dallas was booming. The city’s population had tripl

Protecting Our Community from Scams and Fraud A Runaway Bay resident received a text message that looked official - it claimed to be from a law firm collecting payment for the “City of Dallas Municipal Court.” The message even included a phone number and a link to click for payment. Thankfully, the resident trusted their instincts and reported it instead of responding. This was a scam, designed to trick people into sharing personal or financial information. How These Scams Wo

Before there was a lake - or even the town of Bridgeport - there was the bridge. In the mid-1800s, travelers heading west faced a major obstacle: crossing the West Fork of the Trinity River. Stagecoaches, wagons, and cattle drives all needed a reliable way to get across and that’s where the story of Bridgeport begins. A Mail Route and a Mission From 1858 to 1861, the famous Butterfield Overland Mail route stretched from St. Louis to San Francisco, carrying passengers, freigh

Few things say Runaway Bay like a quiet morning on the pier. Whether you’re casting a line or soaking up the sunset over Lake Bridgeport, our community fishing pier is one of the Bay’s most loved spots. A big thank you goes out to the Runaway Bay Parks & Recreation Board for their continued care and maintenance of this area! We appreciate their support to keep it beautiful, safe, and welcoming for everyone. Don’t Forget Your Texas Fishing License Before heading out to fish, m

November 14 - 15, 2025 Mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday, November 14–15, as the second annual Smoke on the Water returns to the Runaway Bay Event Center (513 Port O’ Call, Runaway Bay, TX)! This fun-filled weekend brings together neighbors, visitors, and BBQ lovers for one of the most anticipated community gatherings of the year. Hosted by the Outlaw BBQ Association and supported by the Runaway Bay Economic Development Corporation, the event features incredible foo

Before GPS or Google Earth, there was Col. William Hudson Hunt. A man with a compass, a keen eye, and a mission to chart the wild Texas frontier. Born in 1800 in Tennessee, Hunt arrived in North Texas by the 1840s, when the region was still untamed prairie and dense oak country. Mapping the Future As a surveyor for the Peters Colony and the Republic of Texas, Hunt played a major role in establishing early boundaries and settlements across what would become Wise County. Using

Runaway Bay’s landmark Golf Ball Water Tower is now undergoing a full rehabilitation and it's one of the most significant infrastructure projects in recent city history. While many residents recognize the tower for its distinctive “golf ball on a tee” silhouette, this 100,000-gallon elevated tank is far more than a local icon - it’s a vital part of the City’s water system, ensuring consistent pressure, reliable storage, and safe drinking water for our community. Built in 1983

September 16, 2025 At the September 16th Council meeting, the Runaway Bay City Council approved Ordinance No. 638, updating our participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) - a statewide retirement program designed to provide long-term financial security for municipal employees. This may sound like a lot of government talk, but here’s what it really means for our team - and for you as a resident. What’s Changing Employee contribution: 7% of pay (the require

Think of this space as the front porch of Runaway Bay - the spot where neighbors gather and everyone stays in the loop. You don’t have to bring a casserole (though we won’t stop you) - just bring your curiosity and a little hometown spirit! Here on the Runaway Bay Bulletin, we’ll be chatting about all things Runaway Bay: ✅ Community News & Events: from big celebrations to small-town moments, if it’s happening here, we’ll share it here. ✅ City Council Recaps: can’t make the