Commercial Roofing Contractors in Lucas, TX

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — Halloween is right around the corner and if you're in the mood for some thrills, you might be able to spot a few ghosts in Williamson County.

The doors at the Williamson County Jail will open on Friday for their annual Nightmare on Jail Hill event.

Those who dare to enter will get to walk through the hallways and cells that housed inmates between 1889 and 1990. One of those inmates includes Henry Lee Lucas, who was infamously known as the "Confession Killer."

Lucas was convicted of murdering his mother and several others, but he rose to fame after he confessed to about 600 other murders while in prison. However, an investigation by the Dallas Times-Herald newspaper raised many questions and doubts about his confessions, according to the Associated Press.

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The Nightmare on Jaill Hill will run on Fridays and Saturdays for the next two weekends until Oct. 26. The event will be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night.

Here's a look at ticket information:

RELATED: Historic Williamson County Jail opens to public for ‘Nightmare on Jail Hill'

Children under the age of eight years old are not allowed in, according to event organizers. The event is also not handicap accessible.

The proceeds of the event will go to the Brown Santa Program, which provides assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Travis County and senior residents of local retirement centers.

The jail is located at 312 Main Street in Georgetown.

WATCH: Real frights: Williamson County haunted jail opens Friday

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Four-star linebacker Payton Pierce of Lucas (TX) Lovejoy High will announce his college decision today at 6 PM Central Time.

The 6-foot-2, 225 pounder will choose between Texas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.

He discussed his finalists.

Texas was one of the first schools that recruited me. Me and coach Choate have had a great relationship and I believe he is a great coach. Playing in my home state would be a pretty special opportunity as well.

Tennessee was awesome. I fell in love with the campus and the school right when I stepped on it. The atmosphere there is unmatched and I believe their coaching staff is top notch and their success this year proves that.

Notre Dame has been one of my top schools for a while now. They can offer a lot of things that most schools can’t with their degree and connections that Notre Dame has. I believe coach Freeman and Coach Golden are some of the best coaches I’ve seen in this recruiting process.

Growing up as a massive OU fan it is pretty unbelievable that I get recruited by them. I believe Coach Venables is one of the best linebacker coaches in the country and it is pretty unique to have that as a head coach. I believed they have completely flipped the culture there and I could see myself there.

Ohio State came into my recruitment a little later but they have recruited me just as hard has any other school. Their culture and the type of players on their team really stick out to me. I have close relationships with the coaches on the staff and I believe that they are some of the best of the best.

I’ve visited Texas A&M a lot and I think a lot of things stick out about them. They’re very close to home, the linebacker room is very thin and playing in the SEC and Kyle field is awesome. I have really good relationships with their coaches and I believe that they could make me better.

Pierce ranks as the No. 201 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 21 linebacker and the No. 37 player in the state of Texas.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $70K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Ohio State has been the beneficiary of a ton of momentum on the recruiting trail these past few weeks. Ryan Day and his staff have filled out nearly the entirety of the offense in the 2024 class already, but the defensive side of the ball has been lagging behind. However, the Buckeyes continue to trend with a handful of highly-touted defensive prospects in the cycle, and on Tuesday they landed one of those big names.

Four-star linebacker Payton Pierce has announced his commitment to Ohio State. The Texas native picked the Buckeyes over his five other finalists, which included Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.

BREAKING: Four-Star LB Payton Pierce has Committed to Ohio State!The 6’2 225 LB from Lucas, TX chose the Buckeyes over Texas, Oklahoma, & others.“I’m coming to Ohio State because I want to be the best, play with the best, and win a national championship!”… pic.twitter.com/OD0J1kFJUS

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 11, 2023

Pierce is the No. 15 LB and the No. 151 overall player in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker out of Lucas, TX held over 40 offers to his name before trimming his list down to six and ultimately ending up at Ohio State. In speaking to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, here is what Pierce had to say of the Buckeyes ahead of his commitment:

“Ohio State came into my recruitment a little later but they have recruited me just as hard as any other school. Their culture and the type of players on their team really stick out to me. I have close relationships with the coaches on the staff and I believe that they are some of the best of the best.”

Jim Knowles is listed as his primary recruited, and the two reportedly hit it off well. The pair had dinner together during Pierce’s visit, and Pierce attended several of Knowles’ linebacker meetings as well. Knowles was also the one to officially extend the Ohio State offer to Pierce in January, traveling down to Texas to deliver the news personally and watch the multi-sport athlete compete as a wrestler.

However, it seems as though a large reason for Pierce’s commitment was a result of James Laurinaitis’ addition to the OSU staff. Pierce had already formed a strong relationship with Laurinaits when he was at Notre Dame, and was super excited to see him join Day’s staff in Columbus.

“I talk to him on the phone a lot,” Pierce told Eleven Warriors of Laurinaitis. “To see him in person and being around my family is awesome. It was great seeing him out there on the field coaching and leading the linebacker meetings. Watching him and coach Knowles interact, it’s really good seeing how they can coach together. I’ve got a feeling having coach Laurinaitis now as a coach for Ohio State will just make their defense even better.”

Pierce put up big numbers this past season for Lovejoy, totaling 131 tackles with 21 TFLs, six sacks and five forced fumbles as a junior in 2022. This comes on the heels of earning Texas District 7-5A-II Defensive Newcomer of the Year as sophomore in 2021. Pierce has been playing at the varsity level since his freshman year at Allen (Texas) High School. With his size and play style, he likely projects at the Mike position at the next level, but has enough versatility to slide over to the Will as well.

Ohio State has really done a good job taking advantage of the talent-laden state of Texas. With the Longhorns and Aggies failing to capitalize on in-state recruiting, the Buckeyes have swooped in and stolen a ton of talent from the Lone Star State in recent years. Pierce becomes already the second player in this class out of Texas, joining RB James Peoples, and is the seventh prospect from the state to come to Columbus over the last four cycles — with this one still not even finished. Five of the seven have been top-100 national players.

Pierce is just the second defensive commit for Ohio State in the 2024 class thus far, with the other being fellow four-star linebacker Garrett Stover. The addition gives the Buckeyes an even 10 commits at this point in the process, and with 210.08 total points among the group, it bumps the OSU class all the way up to No. 2 in the country, behind only Georgia (12 commits, 243.08 points) and ahead of Michigan at No. 3 (11 commits, 200.66 points).

Pierce is likely just the start of what could be a flood of defensive commitments to come for the Buckeyes in the next several weeks. As things currently stand, the Ohio State-heavy Crystal Ball predictions continue rolling in for four-star corners Bryce West and Miles Lockhart, as well as in-state safety Reggie Powers. OSU also remains in great standing with four-star corner Aaron Scott out of Springfield, in addition to four-star tight end Damarion Witten and four-star receiver Jeremiah McClellan on the other side of the ball.

It is an exciting time for Ohio State on the trail, and with the spring game coming up this weekend as another massive recruiting tool, expect more good news to come in the near future.

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Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas and nearby San Jose del Cabo have been luring Texans for decades, as they’ve morphed from sleepy fishing villages to international golf and recreational resorts.

The region, on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, is now totally reopened in the wake of COVID-19. The timing was perfect for my recent visit, with two spectacular resorts opening just in the last year or so.

The stunning Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, situated on the overlooked and unspoiled East Cape side of the region, marks the brand’s Cabo debut. It’s the first from Four Seasons to include a marina and offers more than two miles of untouched beachfront on the Sea of Cortez—offering a swimming experience that’s much calmer than beaches on the peninsula’s wave-pounded western side. There are also six resort pools and upscale spa and fitness facilities.

The resort’s on-site dining also shines. Estiatorio Milos has already gained a reputation as one of the finest Mediterranean seafood restaurants around, led by global chef Costas Spiliadis. Trust me, there is nothing better than looking over the day’s local catch, selecting the one you want, and telling the chef how you’d like it prepared, as I did. Other great food options include the casual Casa de Brasa all-day eatery and Limón, farm-to-table al fresco dining, surrounded by a lemon tree grove. Poolside dining also is available.

For big golf fans like me, the resort offers access to a Robert Trent Jones II-designed, 18-hole championship golf course. It takes advantage of the natural surroundings and offers spectacular desert and ocean views. I opted for a golf package that included food and beverages from Lucha Libre cantina and Bouchie’s Café, which sits next to a pro shop and Jones’ expansive 30,000-square-foot putting green.

Another 18-hole course, Rancho San Lucas, also takes advantage of Cabo’s terrain. Designed by golf legend Greg Norman, its layout is a brilliant examination of the massive dunes, towering mountains, and sparkling ocean. Although the region has no shortage of opportunities for first-rate golf, this newcomer quickly rises to the top of the list. The course also offers a luxury residential community, in addition to an exclusive resort.

For accommodations, check out the seaside suites at Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas, which range in size from 828 to 2,038 square feet. And for in-house dining, you can’t go wrong with the fresh catch or ceviche at Anica; named after the first settlement of Baja California Sur, it incorporates traditional tribal cooking techniques. The more casual Bacari has several “theme” nights throughout the week and rotates its menu accordingly.

If you want the full 24/7 Cabo party experience, Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort is the place to stay. Situated near the region’s coastal rock formations, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, and Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach), it’s also within walking distance of the city’s entertainment district.

It’s clear that Mexico’s best golf region has gotten even better, and that’s an excellent problem to have.

Faithon P. Lucas, a Greek immigrant, arrived in the United States in 1906 with his wife and seventy-five cents in his pocket. They moved to the Dallas area in 1910 and, with a group of partners, started Lucas B&B Café in 1911 in the Old Imperial Hotel at 105 South Akard Street in downtown Dallas. In 1923, Lucas bought out his partners, renamed the place Lucas B&B, and became known as Papa Lucas, the Mayor of Akard Street. It was open 24-hours a day. To keep up with the demand for food, Lucas decided to grow his own. We suppose it’s fair to honor him as the greatest farm-to-table restaurant operator in Dallas history.

In mid-1953, the family moved Lucas B&B to “Lucas Corner” at 3520 Oak Lawn near Lemmon Avenue where it remained until it closed in June 1989. While the restaurant remains foremost in Dallas’ memory—the iconic sign still remains in front of the Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen that operates on the site—many people have forgotten about the ambitious farm Lucas created.

Lucas, who grew up farming, purchased close to 1,500 acres in Mesquite in 1929. He paid $28 per acre for some of the toughest top soil in the area. Neighboring farmers snickered at the bold move and the high price Lucas invested. It didn’t take long for the skeptics to change their minds about Lucas. His old-country techniques which involved soil conservation turned the property into one of the most productive farms in the area. George Lucas, one of Faithon’s three sons, graduated from Texas A & M in 1936. He joined his father and together they took the gullied, clay-soiled ground and turned it into 1,426 acres of pond-terraced, fertile farmland. By combining old country techniques with new knowledge, they proved to unbelieving neighbors the soil could be restored. The Dallas Agriculture Club named Faithon Lucas Farmer of the Year in 1952.

In its prime, the farm held over 4,000 hens, 1,000 fruit trees (pear, peach, apple, plum, apricot), 750 pecan trees, and 500 meat and dairy cattle. Lucas employed 25 men (including 4 master butchers) between the processing plant and the farm. He was a hands-on operator showing up each day at 2:30pm to inspect the sprawling business that included a packing house, poultry farm, dairy farm, ice cream plant, and bakery (remember those pies?). You can view some old pictures here.

The farm, located on the south end of Mesquite (annexed in 1954) was also a destination for Dallas home cooks who made the drive to stock their refrigerators and freezers. Customers would drive to the end of Lake June Road and follow the black and white “Lucas Farm” signs. Early last year, Amy Severson and I drove out to Lucas Farms. The property is no longer a working farm and it has been under consideration for a housing development since the late 90s. There’s a website with a map showing a rough outline for the project, but negotiations between the family and developers have stalled.

We pulled up to the gate of the property just south of Bruton Road. Pear tree branches cascaded over the old stone wall entrance. We pulled them aside and found the plaque mounted on top which reads: “Top soil, the source of all life. It is the duty of every good citizen to save what’s there and to rebuild what others destroyed.”–Faithon P. Lucas.

The gate was open so we drove down the long pear tree lined driveway where we were astounded to find many of the old buildings still standing. It was like an abandoned ghost town, but it was easy to see how the place was neatly arranged and once full of life. And it was sad to stand in that space and imagine it as a planned residential community.

I reached out to Jeff Armstrong, manager of planning and zoning in Mesquite. “It’s pretty much still intact with the exception of the 25 acres at Cartwright Road and Faithon P. Lucas Boulevard that Walmart bought,” Armstrong says. “The development has kinda faded for now. The owners and various developers who’ve had interest in it just haven’t come to an agreement that works for everybody.”

Developers are entitled to build 3,000 homes on the property. “We thought we had something pretty serious about a year ago, but it didn’t work out,” Armstrong says. “There are some people kicking some tires around out there, but that’s about all I can say about it now.” Call us old fashioned, but the gently rolling hills and pristine farmland would make a beautiful urban farm with deep roots to the past. Who needs another Walmart or more cookie cutter houses? Somebody please build something we can be proud of.

The History of Dallas Food is a continuing series researched and written by Nancy Nichols and Amy Severson. Check out some of our other stories: The Woosie, The Golden Pheasant, La Tunisia, Prohibition in Dallas, The Amazing Mrs. Ida Chitwood, How the Dallas Farmers Market Came to Life, and The Legend of Eltee O. Dave and Dave’s Barbecue.