March News ReleasesMarch 27, 2008 City Council workshop for April cancelled ABILENE, Texas – The City Council workshop, scheduled for April 3, has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. The workshops will resume in May.
The next City Council meeting is Thursday, April 10 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 555 Walnut Street. Come celebrate Earth and Enrichment Day at the Abilene Zoo ABILENE, Texas – Explore the Abilene Zoo and learn how you can make a difference in conservation efforts for animals and the environment during Earth and Enrichment Day on Saturday, April 19. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the first 1,000 kids receiving a goody bag. During the event, zoo visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the animals from local school children. They can also meet some of the animals up close and watch them receive enrichment items like food. In addition, zoo keepers will interact with the public periodically to share animal stories and answer questions. Earth and Enrichment Day is free with zoo admission. Admission is $4.00 for adults (ages 13-59), $3.00 for seniors (age 60+), $2.00 for children (ages 3-12) and children under 3 are free.
March 26, 2008 Abilene’s mayor urges community to shape up this spring ABILENE, Texas – Inspired by the National President’s Challenge, Mayor Norm Archibald is challenging Abilene citizens to get moving this spring. The National President’s Challenge is a 6-week physical activity challenge in which youth age 6-17 are urged to get at least 60 minutes of activity, five days a week while adults are called on to get at least 30 minutes of activity, five days a week. Mayor Archibald said citizens can meet this challenge by doing something as simple as walking. Mayor Archibald explained, “I’d like to see residents of all ages do their own version of the National President’s Challenge. It’s about helping people get fit and healthier while doing activities they enjoy which echoes the goals of the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness.” While getting 30 to 60 minutes of activity a day may seem far reaching, the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness has a few fun, easy suggestions for adults and children: Adults: Kids: Walk on your lunch break Jump rope Go bowling Fly a kite Take the dog for a walk Toss a Frisbee Garden Ride your bike Take ballroom dancing Go on a nature hike Mayor Archibald recently created the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness which is designed to help build a healthier community. “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off” in Abilene set for April 5 ABILENE, Texas – The 90-day Great Abilene Cleanup gets started with the “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off” on Saturday, April 5. During the event, groups, families and individuals head out to different parts of the city and pick up litter in public areas such as streets, highways and empty fields. Registration will take place at the Kmart parking lot on South 1st Street from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. During registration, participants will select locations to pick up litter and secure supplies. Volunteers are invited back to the starting point at 10:30 a.m. for pizza, provided by Domino’s Pizza. The “Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off” runs through 1 p.m. Keep Abilene Beautiful and Solid Waste Services are sponsors of the Great Abilene Cleanup during the months of March, April, and May. It’s part of an on-going effort to improve Abilene’s appearance and quality of life. The 3-month long cleanup coincides with the Keep America Beautiful organization’s Great American Cleanup in which citizens across America are encouraged to clean and beautify their communities. March 14, 2008 News conference today regarding Abilene Late Night Basketball ABILENE, Texas – Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Williams will join city, school and community leaders to discuss the future of the Abilene Late Night Basketball League. The news conference will be held at G.V. Daniels Recreation Center at 2 p.m. this afternoon. In the 1990s, Mayor Pro Tem Williams volunteered his time as director of a midnight basketball league for area youth. He led last year’s effort to bring back a similar program which combined life lessons and basketball for high school aged boys during summer recess. In 2007, more than fifty players on six teams with a dozen coaches /mentors and a pool of eight referees participated in the free program. Update: Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Williams announced on Friday, March 14 that the Abilene Late Night Basketball League will return this summer, thanks to its success last year. The free program, which combines life lessons and basketball for high school aged boys, will kick off Tuesday, June 3. The program will run on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout the summer. Registration is underway now at G.V. Daniels Recreation Center, 541 North 8th Street. Also, teen aged boys will soon be able to register at local high schools.
March 13, 2008 Registration underway for Mayor’s Round-Up 5K Run/Walk ABILENE, Texas – Come on out on Saturday, April 12 and see if you can outrun Mayor Norm Archibald at the 5th Annual Mayor’s Round-Up 5K Run/Walk. This year’s event will feature special rates for families and be chip timed. The Mayor’s Round-Up will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 12, beginning and finishing at City Hall, 555 Walnut Street. Mayor Archibald noted, “A wellness initiative is underway in our great city. For this year’s event, we’re offering special registration rates for families to encourage them to participate in a healthy activity as a family while enjoying historic downtown Abilene. I’m also pleased to announce that the Mayor’s Round-Up is now a chip timed event which accurately records a participant’s time.” You can pre-register now for the Mayor’s Round-Up. If you sign up by Friday, April 4, fees are $13 for adults, $8 for children age 18 and under, City of Abilene employees and Abilene Runners Club members, and $30 for a family (up to four). Late registration fees will be accepted through 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the race. These fees are $18 for adults, $13 for children age 18 and under, City of Abilene employees and Abilene Runners Club members, and $40 for a family (up to four). Registration forms are available online here. A course map will also be posted online two weeks prior to the run/walk. T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 200 participants. Awards will be given to the top male and female finishers in seven different age groups. Restrooms and water will be available. The event is sponsored by the City of Abilene and the Abilene Runners Club. For more information, call 676-6246 or visit www.abilenetx.com or www.abilenerunners.com. Update: Click here to view the Mayor's Round-Up 5K Run/Walk course map. Suspicious materials found at Environmental Recycling Center determined to pose no immediate safety risk ABILENE, Texas – The 2200 block of Oak Street reopened about 4:15 this afternoon after the Abilene Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team determined that several chemicals, dropped off for storage and disposal at the Environmental Recycling Center (ERC), did not pose an immediate public safety risk. Around 3 p.m., a hazardous materials collection contractor alerted ERC staff that four small containers may contain materials that could require special handling. The Abilene Police Department and its Bomb Squad were first on the scene to investigate. HazMat was later called in to assist. Investigators determined two of the containers had minute amounts of Phenylhydrazine hydrochloride crystals and Dinitrophenylhydrazine which could become unstable if handled improperly. The other two containers had trace amounts of low level radioactive materials, Thorium nitrate, solid and Uranyl acetate, which were properly contained. City officials are actively making arrangements to properly dispose of the materials. Citizens are reminded that only household hazardous materials such as batteries, fertilizers and paints are accepted at the Environmental Recycling Center. For more information, go online to www.abilenetx.com/solidwasteservices.
March 10, 2008 Several citizens file for Mayor, City Council seats ABILENE, Texas – The City Secretary’s Office announced seven people have filed to run for office in the May 10 election. Incumbent Mayor Norm Archibald and Ron Konstantin have filed for mayor. For City Council Place 3, there are two candidates: incumbent councilman Anthony Williams and Linda Horsley. Robert Briley, Steve Kirby and Lydia Long are running for the City Council Place 4. This seat is being vacated by Celia Davis who is moving to Lampasas. Monday, March 10 was the last day to file to run in the upcoming election.
March 6, 2008 Abilene Housing Authority receives energy efficiency improvements through AEP Texas program ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Housing Authority was recently the recipient of energy efficiency improvements at several of its properties through a pilot program funded by AEP Texas. Improvements included replacing old inefficient air conditioners, lighting fixtures and refrigerators with new, high efficiency ENERGY STAR® qualified products. The anticipated cost savings will be passed on to residents who are responsible for paying their own electric bills. The improvements will affect more than 200 units. Public Housing Manager Genette Edmond added, “This free program allowed us to make energy efficient changes in many of our properties that could lead to lower electric bills for our clients.” AEP Texas officials said the pilot program was designed to provide energy efficiency services to AEP Texas North Company customers with income limitations. They noted the program has been replaced with the Low-Income Weatherization Program which will be administered by the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies.
March 4, 2008 Motor vehicle accident reports now available online ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Police Department is pleased to announce its participation in a new program that allows citizens access to motor vehicle crash reports via the Internet. The Abilene Police Department has partnered with PoliceReports.US, LLC In an effort to provide a higher level of customer service by expediting the process of obtaining a motor vehicle crash report. This partnership will allow citizens and insurance companies to obtain motor vehicle crash reports investigated by the Abilene Police Department through the convenience of a user-friendly Internet site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reports can be accessed through the following sites:
To search for a crash report, simply enter the following required pieces of information:
The fee for motor vehicle crash reports retrieved on-line or in-person from the Records Division is $6.00. Most major credit or debit cards will be accepted. Crash reports which occurred before and after March 1, 2008 will still be available at the Abilene Police Department, 450 Pecan, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
March 3, 2008 Steam-N-Wheels Bike Race & Fun Ride ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene’s Recreation Division and the Abilene Bicycling Club are sponsoring the 16th annual Steam-N-Wheels Bike Race and Fun Ride on Saturday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration entry fee deadline of $20.00 is due this Friday, March 7. Entry fees are $25.00 for late registration after that date. Entries are being accepted from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Community Services Office, 633 Walnut. Entries will also be accepted the day of the event from 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. at the Abilene Zoo Adventure Center in Nelson Park. The first 200 entries receive a free T-shirt. Helmets will be required for all participants. The event will begin and end at Nelson Park. Three distances will be available to choose from: a 48 mile race/tour course along with 32 and 21 mile fun ride courses. The event is open to all ages, and participants may race for awards or ride for fun. Awards will be presented to the first three places in each age division for the 48 mile race. The Children’s Bicycle Rodeo and Tour will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for ages 3 - 12. Entry fee is $5.00 each and will include the rodeo, park trail tour, educational session and tour of the Abilene Zoo. Pre-registration is highly recommended for the event. Entry forms are available at the Community Services Office, all City of Abilene Recreation Centers, all area bicycle shops and fitness centers and Dyess A.F.B. Gym and Fitness Center. For more information, call the Recreation Division at 676-6431. Read more about the event by clicking here.
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