Our Town Temple

Share this post
A cut above
www.ourtowntempletx.com
The Biz

A cut above

Kerley's Market is known for quality meats, custom service and a killer barbecue rub, and for years it has been a 'friend' to those in need.

Apr 2
2
Share this post
A cut above
www.ourtowntempletx.com

Lynette Talasek operates Kerley’s, an eastside meat market that has been in business for decades. The Talasek famiy purchased the business in 1970 and kept the Kerley name. The market has a devoted following, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they fire up the grill. David Stone photo

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

The little market on Central Avenue has been grinding meat and cutting steaks for Temple residents for 90 years, and business remains brisk.

“Kerley’s has been in the Talasek family since 1970,” Lynette Talasek said this week. “My grandfather bought it from Mr. Kerley and we’ve owned it ever since. My mom worked the register for the Kerley family when she was in high school.”

The rickety original building with dirt floors caught fire in the 1990s and the little market was rebuilt by Jerry Talasek, Lynette’s father.

“Dad passed away in 2016, and I’ve been running it since,” she said. “Not much has changed — our butcher started here as a kid and worked alongside my dad. He started as a box cutter and he’s now our head butcher.”

Located just steps from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas train tracks and depot, Kerley’s was marked long ago by train-hoppers as a friendly place to get a free meal.

“Back when Mr. Kerley owned the business, people who hopped the train would get off in Temple,” Lynette said. “Back then, they would use symbols to mark places that were friendly or unfriendly toward hobos. Kerley’s Market was marked as a friendly place to get a bite to eat.”

“They would come in and Mr. Kerley would give them a sandwich,” she said. “That’s a practice we have continued. If someone needs something to eat, we’re not going to turn them away.”

Over the years, Kerley’s has been Temple’s go-to source for quality meats.

“We make our own sausage, and we cut ribeyes and t-bones to order,” Lynette said. “We make three kinds of sausage — green onion, hot and mild. The hot is pork mixed with jalapeño and habanero peppers.”

“We also grind our own hamburger meat and pan sausage, and we have the best chicken around,” she said. “It’s not packed in water — it’s fresh chicken from a farm near Waco.”

Kerley’s carries a line of seasoning that has caught on with competition chefs, Lynette said.

“We carry a dry rub for barbecuing, and a lot of people have won a lot of trophies using our rub,” she said. “People from all over stop by and buy it. We also have seasonings for pinto beans, baked potatoes and other foods.”

In addition to their own products, Kerley’s also sells quality meats from legendary Texas smokehouses such as Taylor Meat Market, Chappell Hill Sausage Co., Elgin Sausage and Slovacek’s.

“We carry Taylor’s Tip-Top sausage, red wieners and cervalat summer sausage, plus bologna rings and little smokies,” she said.

While sausage is a big seller, it ranks well behind hamburger meat in sales.

“Our biggest sellers are hamburgers, chicken and pressed ham,” she said. “We sell the hamburger meat by the pound, or we can make it into patties. A lot of youth baseball associations buy from us.”

While big stores such as H-E-B and Walmart may have greater variety, they can’t match the service provided at Kerley’s.

“We are willing to sell smaller portions than some stores,” Lynette said. “For instance, we have customers who come in with a dollar and want sausage. We sell it to them.”

“Also, we have older people and single folks who want to buy five pounds of hamburger but just eat a burger or two at a time. So, we separate it into individual meals so they can cook some and freeze the rest.”

In addition to red meats, Kerley’s sells frozen catfish and basic produce such as jalapeños, onions, potatoes, garlic and tomatoes.

“We buy our produce from local farmers, and we have people bring in farm-fresh eggs regularly as well.”

Kerley’s is a busy place at lunch time, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We take the meat off the grill at noon and we sell it until it’s gone,” Lynette said. “We don’t put together sausage wraps or hamburgers, instead we sell foil packs. The sausage pack has four links with bread and mustard, and each link is big enough to make a sausage wrap.”

“We also sell hamburger foil packs on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” she said. “That’s two hamburger patties and bread for 5 bucks. We also cook pork chops, pork steaks, ribs and ribeyes. The ribeyes go quickly.”

On other days, city crews and railroad workers line up for lunchtime sandwiches.

“Our meat packs also are big sellers,” Lynette said. “We have packs ranging from $55 to $275. The $55 pack includes three pounds of hamburger, two pounds of pork chops, a pound of sirloin, three pounds of chicken cut to order and two pounds of sausage links. You pick the heat on the sausage links.”

“These packs are big sellers for family reunions,” she said. “Also, we sell hams and smoked turkeys for holiday meals such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

While Lynette doesn’t plan big changes anytime soon, she always is on the lookout for new products.

“I just brought in a new line of dairy products from Hiland — cheeses, butter, milk and creamers.”


SATURDAY | APRIL 2, 2022


JAMMIN’ AT THE GARDEN

Jazz musicians from throughout Texas gathered at Hilton Garden Inn on Friday night for a big jam session following Day 2 of the Temple College Jazz Festival. Dozens of musicans made the short drive from TC to the hotel bar for an evening of improvisational jazz. David Stone photo


FIRST FRIDAY

Tequila Songbird performs at O’Briens Irish Pub during First Friday. The entire Downtown area was alive with music, vendors and fun. Dan Kelleher photo


The Haulers will be one of four bands at Barrow Brewings sixth anniversary celebration today in Salado. Also performing will be Lady in the Men’s Room, Wayworn Traveler and Lilly & The Implements. Courtesy photo

Barrow Brewing Co. is turning 6

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

It’s been six years since Graydon and KD Hill opened the first microbrewery in Bell County, and boy did they open the flood gates.

Today there are five in Temple, Belton and Salado, and two more are on their way.

Barrow Brewing Company will celebrate six years of brewing craft beer in Salado today beginning at 9 a.m.

“We opened in 2016 after a successful election in November 2014 that changed the alcohol option in Salado,” KD said. “We spent all of 2015 renovating the pole barn granary and we opened with four beers on tap.”

The brewery no features six flagship beers as well as rotating seasonal and experimental brews. Barrow Brewing products can also be found in six-packs at some Central Texas stores and on tap at local bars and restaurants.

In 2021, the microbrewery expanded operations with a Silo Bar that is open seven days a week in the beer garden.

“This Saturday’s celebration is the first real ‘party’ at the brewery since 2019,” KD said. “Our anniversary parties in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled or amended to align with requirements because of the pandemic.”

Saturday will feature guest food trucks and vendors, bounce houses, the Bubble Magician, Rowdy axe throwing and live music all day.

Saturday also is the kickoff of the 2022 Barrow Farmers Market season, held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from April to September.

“The market is on the brewery grounds and it spotlights local farmers, gardeners, producers and small-businesses making handmade and unique items,” KD said.

Saturday’s entertainment will start with a local band, Lady in the Men's Room at 11 a.m., followed by Wayworn Traveler. At 4 p.m. The Haulers will play their unique Texas backroad rock, followed by the ever-popular Lilly & The Implements at 7 p.m.


Temple HS students win 3 district titles at UIL Academic Contest

Our Town Temple

Temple High School students won three individual championships at the UIL 12-6A District Academic Meet last weekend in Belton.

Temple also won a team event district championship and qualified a total of 10 students to advance to the UIL Regional Meet.

Temple’s Saniyah Galbreath won a district championship in poetry interpretation. Hanna Prince won district in prose interpretation and Mekena McVean was district champion in ready writing.

Seven other students will also advance to the Regional Meet after finishing in the top three in their competitions. Allisandria Randle finished second and Miles Gaunt took third place in persuasive speaking, Natalie Greenfield finished second and Skyler Gordon finished third in prose interpretation and Colin Fowler finished third in literary criticism. Tommy Torres finished second in number sense and Teresa Do earned third place in calculator applications. Temple High School added a district championship in Team Speech and finished second in Team Literary Criticism and Team Calculator Applications.

“It is very rewarding to see these students grow through this competition,” said Natasha Tolleson, Temple High School UIL academic co-sponsor and theatre arts director. “Several of these kids have been doing these events for more than one year and you see them place higher each year. To see them break through and go to regionals, it’s really exciting because you get to see them improve.”

Temple also had several other students medal by placing in the top six, but those students finished just short of advancing to the Regional Meet.

Alivea Johnson and Rania Ahmed finished fifth and sixth in informative speaking, Johnson and Randle were fourth and fifth in Lincoln Douglas debate, Alyssa Maggitt and Greenfield finished fifth and sixth in literary criticism and Brinley Belson and Avery Tarbet took fourth and sixth place in poetry interpretation. Riya Patel and Andrea Mendez finished fourth and fifth in calculator applications.

The UIL Regional Academic Meet will be held April 22-23 at Baylor University.


THS bands to present pre-UIL concert

Temple High School bands will perform a pre-UIL concert Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Temple High School Auditorium.

The concert will feature each of Temple High’s bands — the wind ensemble, the symphonic band and the concert band — performing two selections chosen from the UIL Prescribed Music List.

The concert will feature works from several composers, but one of the highlights of the evening should be the wind ensemble performance of “Of Our New Day Begun”, written by Omar Thomas, an assistant professor of composition and jazz studies at University of Texas at Austin. Thomas was commissioned to write the piece as a remembrance of and to honor the nine individuals killed in a 2015 shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. The composition was first performed in February 2016 by the Western Kentucky University Wind Ensemble in a concert that took place directly across the street from the church. “Of Our New Day Begun” has since been performed by some of the top university and professional bands in the country.

“We are very proud to be able to present this powerful piece for our students, our school and our community,” said Brent Mathesen, head band director at Temple High School. “Omar Thomas has created an amazing tribute. It is a privilege for our students to be able to learn how music can help us heal, even from the most painful moments in life.”

Tuesday’s concert is free and open to the public. The UIL concert and sight reading contest will be April 20-21st in Copperas Cove.


Bands announced for Bloomin’

Our Town Temple

A Lil’ Bit o’ Bloomin’ will be held April 29 and 30 at Santa Fe Plaza, Market Trail and The Yard food truck court. There will be live music, arts and crafts, family and children’s activities and festive foods — lots of festive foods.

There will be two stages during the mini-fest — a CEFCO stage and a Mac Haik stage — and both stages will features two Friday night bands.

Roel Martinez will be performing on the CEFCO stage from 6 to 7 p.m., and Lance Wade Thomas will be on the Mac Haik stage at 7. At 8 p.m. the music shifts back to the CEFCO stage with The Hometown Boys. The final performance will be Glen Templeton at 8:45 on the Mac Haik stage.

As of this week, there will be five food trucks across from the plaza and seven at The Yard. Here’s a look at the food trucks, and each name is a link. That way, you can look at their menus and plan ahead!

Across from Plaza: High 5 Hotdogs, JBW Vending, Kona Ice, Lowes Legs and Hill Country Kettle Korn.

The Yard Food Truck Plaza: Lulamae’s Cajun Cuisine, 808 Island Grindz, Taqueria mi Linda Nayarit, G’s 183 Pitstop, Papi Taco and Chock Full of Cheese.


NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE



TODAY’S BEST BETS

  • The Belton High jazz ensemble plays at 10:30 a.m., Lake Belton at 4:30 p.m. and Temple High’s award-winning Highlighters take the stage at 5 p.m., followed by the All-Region 8 Middle School Honor Jazz Band. A highlight of the festival is sure to be the 7:30 p.m. performance by Gordon and the renowned Temple College Jazz Orchestra. Admission will be charged for this performance.

SATURDAY'S JAZZ FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

  • Comedy Night at Corky’s. Mysia Chabert brings Alex Cunningham, Angela Kay, Charlie Mac and headliner Genivive Clinton. Tickets are $15-$25. Doors to be seated open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8. VIP tickets ($25) are right next to the stage in a comfy couch, General Admission are spread out around Corkys at low top tables, high top tables and bar top seating. Our "King's Table" is a VIP long table that seats 7 and must be purchased in full for $125.

  • Date Night Cooking Class at Over the Plate. By far our most popular class and maybe the best menu yet! You and your partner will cook an entire meal together. A light appetizer and water provided. You are welcome to bring your own adult beverages. (Glasses and wine openers provided). A nice bottle of Cabernet holds up well with this rich menu. Class is $179 for 2 people. SELECT 1 WHEN BOOKING! Prepare a gorgeous menu of: Steak Oscar (NY Strip, Crab, Asparagus and Béarnaise Sauce); Baked Potato with Chive Butter;  Bacon Blue Cheese Chopped Salad; Chocolate Ganache Bread Pudding. 5-8 p.m. www.overtheplatecatering.com/classes

  • Temple Emergency Management staff will be testing outdoor emergency sirens at 11 am. All 25 sirens will simultaneously sound for 3 minutes, which is the duration they would run in a real weather emergency event, like a tornado.

  • Picnic in the Park. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wilson Park. 

  • Storytime Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Musuem. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will have groups from around the community bringing information about their reading programs. We will be doing a “campfire stories” reading time corner as well. The Storytime theme will focus on the importance of oral history, and writing down stories. Kids will get to make their own journal, a fake campfire, and storytelling cubes.

  • 2nd Annual Celebrity Host Dinner. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Temple Children's Museum. Join us for our second Celebrity Host Dinner fundraiser. A fun evening of hijinks, challenges, jokes, singing, dancing and a small auction. Reserve your table for eight, choose your favorite TV show you grew up watching, decorate your table with your theme and put on your costume. The traveling trophy goes to the table host/sponsor that raises and donates the most money.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

To include your events in What’s Happening, email information to OurTownTemple@gmail.com. Photos are welcome to for use in the publication as space permits!


On this day in 1995, legendary golf instructor Harvey Penick died in Austin at the age of 90. In the 1930s Penick began recording his observations about the game in a red Scribbletex notebook. Though it was intended strictly as a teaching aid, he decided to confide its contents to writer Bud Shrake. The result was Harvey Penick's Little Red Book (1992), the all-time best-selling sports book that remained on the New York Times best-seller list for fifty-four weeks. There followed two more books with Shrake, instructional tapes, a teaching facility named in Penick's honor, and three lines of golf clubs. He was inducted into both the Texas Golf Hall of Fame (1979) and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1984), was the PGA's first National Teacher of the Year (1989), and received a posthumous resolution in the Texas House of Representatives (1995).


OurTownTemple@gmail.com | (254) 231-1574

Comment
Share
Share this post
A cut above
www.ourtowntempletx.com

Create your profile

0 subscriptions will be displayed on your profile (edit)

Skip for now

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.

TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2022 Our Town Temple
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Publish on Substack Get the app
Substack is the home for great writing