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November News Releases

November 30, 2007

Influenza/Pneumonia vaccine available for month of December

ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District will offer Influenza and

Pneumonia vaccines for the general public at the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District

during the month of December. Patients can receive these vaccines during regular walk-in

immunization clinics on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

except for the Christmas holiday. The public health district is located at 850 North 6th Street.

The vaccine costs are as follows:

              Flu/$10

              Pneumonia/$25

              Flu & Pneumonia/$33

              VFC flu vaccine for children/$8

              VFC flu mist for children/$8

The flu mist will also be available for healthy children between the ages of 5 to 18 years.

Also, patients with Medicare eligibility will be accepted and won’t be charged for their shots.

These patients must have their Medicare or Medicare Managed Care Identification Cards

with them.

There are no restrictions on who may receive the flu vaccine this year. Public Health District

officials encourage everyone who wants to prevent the flu to receive the vaccine. They

recommend children age 6 months to 5 years to receive the flu vaccine which protects

the child and ultimately the family and the community from the flu.

For more information, call 692-5600.

City requests citizen ideas for capital projects

ABILENE, TX –The City of Abilene is requesting citizen suggestions for potential

projects or general comments on priorities for the upcoming 2008-2012 Capital

Improvement Program (CIP). CIP projects involve major construction or acquisition

and are long-term investments rather than day-to-day operating expenses. Each

year, the City adopts a new 5-year plan to identify needed capital projects and

to coordinate their financing and timing. Qualifying CIP projects include:

 

  • Construction of buildings, or facilities; including design, engineering, and

other preconstruction costs with an estimated total cost in excess of $25,000

  • Purchase of major equipment and vehicles, other than office and data

processing equipment, valued in excess of $25,000 with a life expectancy

of 15 years or more

  • Major equipment and furnishings for the utilization of new or renovated buildings

  • Acquisition of land or other property
  • Studies pertaining to capital improvements that require the employment of outside

professional consultants at a cost in excess of $25,000

City staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission use citizen suggestions to help

develop and prioritize recommendations to the City Manager. The City Manager then

forwards a recommendation to the City Council for final approval in the spring of 2008.

The 2007-2011 CIP included just under $4 million in improvement projects.

Members of the public can participate by attending a public hearing of the Planning

and Zoning Commission to be held in the City Council Chamber, City Hall,

555 Walnut Street, at 1:30 p.m. on January 7, 2008. Information may also be

obtained online at http://www.abilenetx.com/PlanningServices/CIPPage.htm.

Finally, interested persons may send comments or questions to:

Planning and Development Services

555 Walnut Street, Room 100

P.O. Box 60

Abilene, TX 79604-0060

Phone: (325) 676-6237  Fax: (325) 676-6242

planning@abilenetx.com

 

Planning and Zoning Commission meetings to be televised on

TV Channel 7

ABILENE, Texas – Starting in December, Planning and Zoning Commission meetings will be

broadcast live on TV Channel 7, your city government and education channel. The first meeting to

air live is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3. The meetings will be rebroadcast

Friday nights, beginning at 8 p.m.

TV Channel 7 is offered on Suddenlink Cable Ch. 7 or on broadcast Ch. 7 KXN-TV.

November 28, 2007

Punt, Pass & Kick Team Championship Results

ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene’s Recreation Division is proud to announce the results

for the 2007 Dallas Cowboys NFL/Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick Team Championship held Sunday,

November 18 at Texas Stadium. Each of the first place sectional winners' scores was compared

against winners from the other fifteen sectional competitions held in the North Texas/Southern

Oklahoma area during the past few weeks and four of those winners qualified for the Team

Championship. Five competitors advanced in each age group.  Those qualifiers finished as follows:

                                                                                                                                                                       

Age 12/13 Boys            2.           Darrius Lee                 Hamlin

Age 12/13 Girls             3.           Lynsey Neeb              Wichita Falls

Age 14/15 Boys            4.           Khole Jackson             Abilene

Age 14/15 Girls             4.           Hailey Owen                Albany                          

 

November 26, 2007

Weather conditions delay road work for South 7th Street from Willis to Barrow Streets

Dependent on conditions, South 7th Street is now scheduled to close to through traffic from Willis Street to Barrow Street beginning Tuesday, November 27. The street reconstruction will take approximately two weeks. The road work was originally supposed to begin Monday, November 26 but was postponed due to the weather.

Traffic will be detoured around the construction area via side streets. Residents and people, needing access to homes and businesses in this area, will be able to do so by driving around the barricades but they are asked to use caution and watch for construction workers and equipment. This work is being done as part of the City’s Street Bond project on South 7th Street from Barrow Street to Pioneer Drive. Motorists who can avoid the area are asked to do so.

 

November 20, 2007

South 7th Street from Willis to Barrow Streets to close for road work, beginning Monday, November 26

ABILENE, Texas – Starting Monday, November 26, 2007, South 7th Street will be closed to through traffic from Willis Street to Barrow Street for approximately two weeks for street reconstruction. Traffic will be detoured around the construction area via side streets. Residents and people, needing access to homes and businesses in this area, will be able to do so by driving around the barricades but they are asked to use caution and watch for construction workers and equipment. This work is being done as part of the City’s Street Bond project on South 7th Street from Barrow Street to Pioneer Drive. Motorists who can avoid the area are asked to do so.

Groundbreaking ceremony for Texas State Veterans Cemetery to be televised on TV Channel 7

ABILENE, Texas – The groundbreaking ceremony for the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene can be viewed from the comfort of your living room several times next week. The pre-recorded event will be shown on Education/Government TV Channel 7 on Sunday, November 25 at 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 26 at 9:00 a.m. and Friday, November 30 at 9:00 a.m. The 45-minute program is produced by the Texas Veterans Land Board.

Mayor Norm Archibald, City Manager Larry Gilley and other city, county and state officials joined dozens of war veterans for the October 30th groundbreaking. Texas Veterans Land Board Chairman Jerry Patterson hosted the event. The 63-acre cemetery will be built near Lake Fort Phantom Hill, just east of FM 600.

The City of Abilene donated the land and is providing the irrigation system. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $8.1 million to build the facility, which the Texas Veterans Land Board will oversee and maintain. The cemetery, which will have capacity for up to 20,000 burials, is scheduled for completion in early 2009.

TV Channel 7 is available on Suddenlink Cable Channel 7 or on broadcast Channel 7 KXN-TV. 

 

November 19, 2007

Tickets on sale now for Family Holiday Festival

ABILENE, Texas – A holiday tradition returns to Rose Park Senior Activity Center next month. This year’s Family Holiday Festival will take place Friday, December 14 from 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center. The event is also the center’s annual fundraiser.

The festival features dinner, dancing, games and entertainment. Dinner, which will be served from 6 -7 p.m., offers lasagna, salad, bread and drink. The deadline for dinner tickets is December 11. The dance kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. with the band “Muddy Creek” performing. Other entertainment includes the Breckenridge Cloggers at 6:30 p.m. and the Lone Star Steppers at 8:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. There will be 25 cent games from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Bingo and a cupcake walk are also on top for the evening’s activities. Deserts from cheesecake and chocolate cake to cookies will be available for purchase.

The cost is: Dinner & Dance Single - $8; Dinner & Dance Couple - $15, Dinner Only per person - $5 and Dance Only per person - $5.

Tickets are available at the Rose Park Senior Activity Center, located at South 7th and Barrow Streets. For more information, call 734-5301.

 

November 16, 2007

Busy holiday travel season arrives at Abilene Regional Airport

ABILENE, Texas – With the holiday travel season upon us, air travelers are advised to arrive at Abilene Regional Airport an hour and thirty minutes prior to their scheduled departure time. Due to growing congestion at the terminal curbside, unattended vehicles parked at the curbside and other designated No Parking areas will be towed at the owner’s expense

Airport visitors should be aware that the airport is providing a shuttle service between the parking lot and the upper level while a terminal remodel is underway. Currently, there is no direct access between the terminal lower level and the parking lot during this latest phase of the terminal construction project.

Airport officials are thankful for their customers’ patience and cooperation as improvements are made to the terminal area. The airport features many conveniences for travelers including wireless internet access, shorter lines and a gift shop to find that perfect present for a loved one. The airport’s restaurant, G.W.’s Burgers and More, also provides a place where one can dine while waiting for a passenger or before and after a flight.

On November 5, air travelers began using the upper level driveway and entrance to access the terminal. Since then, passenger pick-up and drop-off has been taking place on the upper level. Completion of this $2.5 million project is expected in the first quarter of 2008.

Intersection of Willis and South 7th Streets closed for road work Monday, November 19 through 3 p.m. Tuesday, November 20            

ABILENE, Texas – The intersection of Willis Street and South 7th Street will be closed on Monday, November 19 through 3 p.m. Tuesday, November 20 for reconstruction of the intersection. Traffic from both streets will be detoured around the intersection via side streets. The closure is anticipated to last from 7 a.m. Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday.  Motorists who can avoid the area are asked to do so.

The City’s contractor will be repaving the intersection as part of our Street Bond project on South 7th Street.  

Most City offices closed in observance of Thanksgiving

ABIILENE, Texas – Most City of Abilene offices and community service centers will be closed on November 22 and 23 in observance of Thanksgiving, with the exception of those providing life safety services such as fire and police protection.

The Abilene Animal Shelter will be closed November 22 through November 25. Citizens with an Animal Control emergency may call the Abilene Police Department at 673-8331 and an Animal Services Officer will be available to respond. Any animal that is picked up as a stray during the holidays will be attended to at the shelter. The Animal Shelter will re-open on Monday, November 26 at 9 a.m. to resume normal business hours. 

CityLink Transit will not run on Thursday, November 22. On Friday, November 23, CityLink will operate an abbreviated Fixed Route schedule.

Solid Waste Services division offices will not be open November 22 and 23. There will be no residential pickup on Thursday or Friday. There is no commercial container collection on Thursday, November 22. There will be limited commercial container collection on Friday, November 23. There will be no bulk and brush collection on November 22 and 23. The Environmental Recycling Center (ERC) will also be closed Thursday and Friday. The ERC will resume regular business hours on Saturday.

The Municipal Court will also be closed on November 22 and 23. All citations due November 22 and 23 will be due on November 26 with no penalty.

Other City closings for November 22 and 23 include: the Housing Administration office, Health Division, both Abilene Public Library locations, Abilene Civic Center, the Development Corporation of Abilene, the Airport Administration Office and City Recreation and Senior Citizen centers.

The Abilene Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving. The zoo will resume regular hours on Friday, November 23.

The Water Services Center, 701 E. Hwy. 80, will be open on November 22 and 23, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., to take delinquent payments for customers whose water has been turned off and for new customers needing water service. For water emergencies, sewer problems and reports of water conservation ordinance violations, citizens may call the Water Services Center’s emergency hotline, 676-6000, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.   

 

November 14, 2007

Influenza Vaccination Clinic scheduled for Friday, November 16

ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District will hold an Influenza Vaccination Clinic for the general public at the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District on Friday, November 16.

What:    Influenza Vaccination Clinic

When:   Friday, November 16, 2007

              9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where:  Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District

              850 N. 6th Street

Cost:     Flu/$10

              Pneumonia/$25

              Flu & Pneumonia/$33

              VFC flu vaccine for children/$8

Patients with Medicare eligibility will be accepted and won’t be charged for their shots at the clinic. These patients must have their Medicare or Medicare Managed Care Identification Cards with them.

There are no restrictions on who may receive the flu vaccine this year. Public Health District officials encourage everyone who wants to prevent the flu to receive the vaccine. They recommend children age 6 months to 5 years to receive the flu vaccine which protects the child and ultimately the family and the community from the flu.

For more information, call 692-5600.

 

November 13, 2007

Keep Abilene Beautiful receives national recognition for cigarette litter prevention

ABILENE, Texas – Keep Abilene Beautiful (KAB) won second place in a new award category for Keep America Beautiful’s 2007 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP) National Awards. The award was given in the First Time CLPP Implementation Category for KAB’s public awareness campaign which utilized the CityLink public transit system. With this recognition, KAB will receive $2,000 and free registration to the Keep America Beautiful National Conference in Washington D.C. in early December.

 

November 6, 2007

Holiday tradition continues with Community Christmas Tree Lighting

ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene kicks off the holiday season with the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 27 at the Abilene Civic Center. The public is invited to attend this community-wide celebration of the season.

Along with the tree lighting, Abilene High School’s Pure Gold will perform along with the Cooper High School/Abilene High School combined Orchestras. Afterwards, refreshments will be served and Beamer’s Gymnastics group will put on a demonstration in the Exhibit Hall.

This event is sponsored by the City of Abilene, Civic Abilene, Inc. and the Abilene Independent School District. 

 

November 5, 2007

Most City offices closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day                          

ABILENE, Texas – Since Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year, the holiday will be observed by the City of Abilene on Monday, November 12. Most City of Abilene offices and community service centers will be closed on November 12, with the exception of those providing life safety services such as fire and police protection.

The Abilene Animal Shelter will be closed November 12. Citizens with an Animal Control emergency may call the Abilene Police Department at 673-8331 and an Animal Services Officer will be available to respond. The Animal Shelter will re-open on Tuesday, November 13 at 9 a.m. to resume normal business hours. 

Solid Waste Services division offices will not be open November 12 but all residential and commercial container collection will run on the regular schedules. There will be no bulk and brush collection on November 12. The Environmental Recycling Center will also be closed for the holiday.

The Municipal Court will also be closed on November 12. All citations due November 12 will be due on November 13 with no penalty.

Other City closings for November 12 include: the Housing Administration office, Health Division, both Abilene Public Library locations, Abilene Civic Center, the Development Corporation of Abilene, the Airport Administration Office and City Recreation and Senior Citizen centers.

The Abilene Zoo will be open regular hours. CityLink Transit will also run its normal schedule.

The Water Services Center, 701 E. Hwy. 80, will be open on November 12, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., to take delinquent payments for customers whose water has been turned off and for new customers needing water service. For water emergencies, sewer problems and reports of water conservation ordinance violations, citizens may call the Water Services Center’s emergency hotline, 676-6000, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.        

 

November 2, 2007

Influenza Vaccination Clinic scheduled for Thursday, November 8                           

ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District will hold an Influenza Vaccination Clinic for the general public at the Abilene Civic Center on Thursday, November 8.

What:    Influenza Vaccination Clinic

When:   Thursday, November 8, 2007

             7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Where:  Abilene Civic Center

             1100 N. 6th Street

Cost:     Flu/$10

             Pneumonia/$25

             Flu & Pneumonia/$33

             VFC for children/$8

Patients with Medicare eligibility will be accepted and won’t be charged for their shots at the clinic. These patients must have their Medicare or Medicare Managed Care Identification Cards with them.

There are no restrictions on who may receive the flu vaccine this year. Public Health District officials encourage everyone who wants to prevent the flu to receive the vaccine. They recommend children age 6 months to 5 years to receive the flu vaccine which protects the child and ultimately the family and the community from the flu.

For more information, call 692-5600.

 

 

     
       
       
       
       
       
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Punt, Pass & Kick Team Championship Results