October News
Releases
October 31, 2007
Latest phase of terminal remodeling begins Monday at Abilene Regional Airport
ABILENE, Texas – Starting Monday, November 5, air travelers at Abilene Regional Airport will begin using the upper level driveway and entrance to access the terminal. At that time, passenger pick-up and drop-off will also take place on the upper level. The lower level driveway and entrance will be closed to traffic and pedestrian access during this latest phase of the terminal construction project.
Since direct access between the terminal lower level and parking lot won’t be possible during this phase, the airport is providing a shuttle service between the parking lot and the upper level. Airport staff is committed to mitigating any impact to customer service as much as possible during this time. We ask for our customers’ patience and cooperation as the airport progresses toward a much improved terminal area. Departing passengers are advised to arrive at the 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 areas will be towed at the owner’s expense.
This estimated $2.5 million project, which began in September 2006, will result in a covered upper level pick up and drop off area, increased ticket counter queuing area, improved checked baggage screening process and exterior escalators. It’s being funded by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program grant and City-issued Certificates of Obligations. Completion is expected within the first quarter of 2008.
October 26, 2007
Road construction begins Tuesday for Sayles Boulevard/South 14th Street intersection
Sayles Boulevard will close to traffic at the South 14th Street intersection from Tuesday, October 30 through Friday, November 2 from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Traffic on Sayles Boulevard will be detoured around the South 14th intersection via side streets. Eastbound and westbound traffic on South 14th Street will be reduced to one lane each way during this time. The contractor will repave the intersection as part of the City's Street Bond Project on Sayles Boulevard from South 14th to South 20th Streets. The area will reopen to traffic each day as soon as construction is completed. Motorists who can avoid the area are asked to do so.
October 23, 2007
Work to begin this month for Craig Middle School sidewalk project
ABILENE, Texas – Sidewalk construction at Craig Middle School is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 29. The City of Abilene awarded the contract to Bontke Brothers Construction Company. The project will be completed by the end of November, weather-permitting.
Contractor crews will begin working on the east side of Judge Ely at Yeomans Road and continue south to Clarks Drive. In this area, they will construct an 8’ wide concrete walkway that is a part of an overall hike and bike trail that will extend from ACU campus to Nelson Park and Cal Young Park. The contractor will then build a 5’ wide sidewalk on the west side of Judge Ely from Justice Way to Minda Street.
This project is the result of a collaborative effort between the City of Abilene and Abilene Independent School District to address a public safety concern. The cost of the project is $199, 531 and is funded by City bond money.
October 19, 2007
Send-off party for Abilene Zoo’s Tanya the elephant this Sunday
ABILENE, Texas – Give your best wishes to the Abilene Zoo’s elephant, Tanya, this Sunday, October 21, before she leaves for her new home. The Abilene Zoo will host a send-off party for Tanya by her exhibit from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. During this time, zoo admission receipts will go to a fund for bringing the elephants back to the zoo. Donations from the public will also be accepted. The event is a way for the public to show support for the elephant and the Abilene Zoo.
“It is sad to see Tanya go but it’s in her best interest. She’s going to a great zoo where she’ll have elephant companions again,” Zoo Director Bill Baker noted. “We look forward to bringing elephants back over the next two to three years as part of Phase 2 of the zoo’s master plan. With the public’s support, the Abilene Zoo will have a world-class African Grasslands exhibit featuring even more elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions and other animals.”
Tanya is known as the zoo’s resident artist, showing a flair for painting. Her work will remain on display at the Zoo Adventure Center even after her departure.
Her exhibit mate, Tanzy, had passed away in August. Since elephants are social animals, arrangements have been made with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to find another location for her. Tanya will move to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco sometime next week.
October 17, 2007
Great turnout for Fall Clean & Tire Amnesty Days
ABILENE, Texas – 948 Abilenians brought in 155 tons of trash, 9 tons of scrap metal, 300 pounds of computers and 1 ton of home chemicals to the City of Abilene’s Environmental Recycling Center (ERC) during the annual Fall Clean and Tire Amnesty Days. More than 200 participants also took advantage of the three-day by disposing of 1,227 tires. Organizers credit the event’s success on great community support and the efforts of ERC personnel and manual collection crews. This year’s Fall Clean was held October 11- 13.
Texas Recycles Day is coming up November 15. This year, the ERC will hold a special collection for rechargeable batteries. These include household batteries, portable power tools such as drills, saws, power drivers and toys. All rechargeable batteries can be remanufactured.
For more information on recycling or Texas Recycles Day, call (325) 672-2209.
October 16, 2007
Influenza Vaccination Clinic scheduled for Monday, October 22
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 October 22.
What: Influenza Vaccination Clinic
When: Monday, October 22
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Abilene Civic Center
1100 N. 6th Street
Cost: Flu vaccine /$10
Pneumonia vaccine /$25
Flu & Pneumonia vaccines/$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.
October 15, 2007
City’s third annual Community Outreach Survey underway
ABILENE, Texas – City leaders are once again seeking citizen input through a survey about city services and citizen needs. For the third straight year, a random sample of Abilene households will soon receive a copy of the City of Abilene’s Community Outreach Survey. Citizens are strongly encouraged to fill out the survey, which will only take approximately 15 minutes. Survey takers do not have to identify themselves so they may remain anonymous if they prefer.
The survey packet is addressed to “Resident”. It contains both the English and Spanish versions of the survey along with a self-addressed-stamped-envelope. Surveys must be returned to the Mayor’s Office by November 2, 2007.
This week, the City is mailing 1,800 surveys to a randomly selected group so only those residents who receive a survey can participate. This year, the survey won’t be available online due to low participation levels last year.
October 12, 2007
Cobb Recreation Center Ballroom Dance
ABILENE, Texas – Enjoy an evening of ballroom dancing with your family and friends in a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment while benefiting local programs for children. The City of Abilene’s Cobb Recreation Center at 2302 State Street will host a Ballroom Dance on Friday, October 19 from 7-10 p.m. Fee for the dance is $4/person. The event features music provided by “DJ Al Flores”. Refreshments will be available for sale all night long. There will be a drawing for door prizes throughout the evening. Proceeds benefit the After-School and Summer Playground programs at the center.
For more information, call Betty or Al at 676-6447.
October 11, 2007
Airport Business Development Manager named
ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene is pleased to announce that Melissa Murphy was recently hired as Abilene Regional Airport’s Business Development Manager. She previously worked as an account executive for KRBC-TV. Prior to that, Murphy was a banking center manager at Bank of America’s Chestnut branch and a manager at Kay Jeweler’s. Murphy, who grew up in Hamlin, began her new position on Monday, October 8.
Director of Aviation Don Green remarked, “I am very pleased that Melissa has joined our team. Her experience in retail marketing and media sales will fit well with our goal of placing Abilene Regional Airport as the airport of choice for the West Central Texas region.”
As an active member of the community, Murphy is a volunteer Junior Achievement Teacher at Cooper High School in Abilene and currently serves on the Junior Achievement Board. She’s also the Secretary for the March of Dimes Board.
Murphy’s responsibilities include planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the marketing, public relations and business development programs for the airport. Around thirty applicants were considered for the position.
October 10, 2007
Fall Clean community cleanup set for October 11 - 13
ABILENE, Texas -- The annual Fall Clean and Tire Amnesty Days offers citizens a chance to clean their homes and properties and then bring their cast-off items to the City of Abilene’s Environmental Recycling Center (ERC), 2209 Oak St. The event is happening Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 11 - 13. Hours of operation are from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. For safety reasons, special traffic conditions will be set up on Saturday, October 13th when Oak Street will become a one way street entering from South 25th.
Normally, the ERC is a drop-off point for citizens to bring recyclable materials, from plastic and glass bottles to cardboard and tree limbs. During Fall Clean, the ERC will accept almost anything people want to get rid of. Acceptable items include everything from clothes and computers to old furniture and appliances. Citizens can even drop off household hazardous waste ranging from paint and automotive items (oil, oil filters, batteries) to electronic waste including computer and peripherals such as printers, monitors, etc., as well as television sets.
Materials that will not be accepted are items from major remodeling projects, roofing materials, concrete, stones and dirt. Fencing will be taken but the participants will have to off load their own materials. At this year’s Fall Clean, Abilene residents may bring in up to eight (8) passenger tires without rims, free of charge with proof of residency (current water bill). Passenger tires with rims will have an additional $3.00 service fee per tire. Truck tires without rims are $5.00, with rims $8.00. Ag tires will be accepted without rims only with a $10.00 service fee. No commercial or business tires will be accepted.
For more information on recycling or the Fall Clean event, call (325) 672-2209. City of Abilene receives praise for emergency operations
ABILENE, Texas – This afternoon, the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), on behalf of the State of Texas, recognized the City of Abilene and the other participating agencies of the West Central Texas Council of Government 19-county region, as operable in an emergency situation and interoperable with other cities and counties. By being interoperable, the participating cities and counties were able to talk with each other on the same emergency communication channel.
The state’s evaluation came from this week’s Regional Terrorism Exercise. TEEX officials remarked that the Abilene/Taylor County Emergency Operations Center is one of the best they’ve seen in the state.
More than 200 participants were involved in the regional interoperable communications functional exercise. The one and a half day simulated scenario involved a school hostage situation in which terrorism was suspected.
October 5, 2007
New Assistant City Manager named
ABILENE, Texas – City Manager Larry Gilley is pleased to announce the hiring of Evalin McClain as City of Abilene’s newest Assistant City Manager. McClain has extensive municipal government experience in multiple areas including Community and Economic Development, Neighborhood Strategies, and Parks and Recreation. McClain is currently Assistant City Manager in Overland Park, Kansas. She begins her new duties October 30.
“Evalin will make a great addition to our management team,“ City Manager Larry Gilley noted. “Her experience, management style and leadership qualities are exactly what we hoped to find in filling this position.”
McClain’s career in the public sector began in 1998 as a Team Member with the City of Kansas City, Missouri and later became an Auditor. She joined the City of Overland Park, Kansas as Assistant to the City Manager in 2000 and was promoted to Assistant City Manager in 2004. Her earlier work experience includes serving as Director of the Local Economic Literacy Program in Kansas City, Missouri; a consultant to the Kansas City (MO) Community Organization and Senior Project Team Member for Mutual/United of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
She is an active member of the International City/County Management Association, a Former Vice President of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, a Past President of the American Society of Public Administrators, and a member of the Johnson County, Missouri NAACP. She also received the International City/County Management Association award for 10 years of Local Government Service.
McClain holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, a master’s degree in urban studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a bachelor of science Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
McClain replaces Kathy Merrill, who left in October 2006 to become Assistant City Manager in College Station. Regional terrorism exercise scheduled for October 9 & 10
ABILENE, Texas – The West Central Texas Council of Government 19-county region, including the City of Abilene, will participate in a Regional Terrorism Exercise, run by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), on Tuesday, October 9 and Wednesday, October 10. More than 200 participants will be involved in the regional interoperable communications functional exercise. This exercise will have a communications focus as cities and counties will be demonstrating their ability to talk to each other on the same emergency communication channel.
The one and a half day simulated scenario will involve a school hostage situation in which terrorism is suspected. The Abilene/Taylor County Emergency Operations Center will stand up in support of the mock situation. The Taylor County Expo Center will simulate the affected school. Communication trailers will be deployed and used at the Expo Center location.
The objective of the exercise is to ensure the communication interoperability among the various counties and agencies. The State will evaluate the performance of all participating counties and recognize all cities and counties as “interoperable” if they meet standards.
The drill will not impact area residents. However, citizens who monitor local public safety radio channels and the All-Hazards Radio should be advised that they may hear radio communications concerning this exercise on Tuesday and Wednesday, and to remember that this is only a simulated exercise.
October 4, 2007
Get into the Halloween spirit at upcoming dance
ABILENE, Texas – Have a ghoulish good time at the Halloween Dance, happening at the Rose Park Senior Activity Center on 2625 S. 7th Street from 7-10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30. All adults are invited to attend. The band, “Muddy Creek”, will provide the music. Snacks will also be provided.
Senior Citizens/Recreation Program Supervisor Anita Vigil added, “Costumes are encouraged for this Halloween-themed dance. It’s a great way to burn off those Halloween treats while having fun dancing.”
Admission is $5 per person. Tickets are available in advance at Rose Park Senior Center or at the door.
For more information, call 734-5301.
October 2, 2007
Death investigation underway
ABILENE, TX - The Abilene Police Department has requested assistance from Texas Rangers for the investigation of the death of a 27-year old man who was brought into police custody after 5 p.m. Monday, October 1, on a public intoxication charge. Abilene Police arrested Kris Rupe after they were called about a disturbance in the Quail Hollow Family Housing. During booking at the Taylor County Jail, the suspect began having breathing difficulty. An ambulance took him to the hospital, where he died. Rupe’s body has been taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. Abilene Police and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office are cooperating with the Texas Rangers investigation.
October 1, 2007
Local vendor takes over operations of gift shop/restaurant at Abilene Regional Airport
ABILENE, Texas – G.W.’s Burgers and More of Abilene is now the operator of Abilene Regional Airport’s gift shop and restaurant. An agreement between G.W.’s Burgers and More and Abilene Regional Airport was finalized on Friday, September 28. The airport’s restaurant will reopen Wednesday at 5:00 a.m. for breakfast.
Director of Aviation Don Green said, “We are looking forward to a long working relationship with G.W.’s Burgers and More. We appreciated our customers’ patience during this short-lived inconvenience. We are fortunate to have a popular local business ready to step in and provide great customer service.” Family-owned G.W.’s Burgers and More also operates a dine-in/drive-thru restaurant located on the corner of Sayles Boulevard and South 1st Street.
The new hours for the airport restaurant are 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday. However, the restaurant will be closed Sundays for approximately the next 8 weeks, so the owners of G.W.’s, Roger and Susie Forkner, can complete remodeling work at their other location. The gift shop will open in approximately one week after merchandise has been selected and delivered and will operate the same hours as the restaurant.
To celebrate their grand opening, G.W.’s is offering their famous ¼ lb burger for $.99 through Wednesday, October 10. G.W.’s customers at the airport get free parking up to two hours.
On September 20, Game Time Food & Beverage Services shut down operations of the airport restaurant and gift shop without notice. Food and beverage vending machines were available to airport visitors in the interim.
City of Abilene Recreation Supervisor elected President-Elect of Texas Amateur Athletic Federation
ABILENE, Texas – City of Abilene Recreation Supervisor Susan Gerred was recently elected President-Elect of the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (T.A.A.F). Gerred’s six-year term with T.A.A. F. includes two years as President-Elect, two years as President and two years as Past-President. T.A.A.F. is a nonprofit organization that promotes, organizes and conducts amateur athletics in the state of Texas. Among its many programs for amateur athletes are the Games of Texas and the S.P.O.R.T.S. Youth Sports Certification Program.
Gerred said, “I am honored to lead this organization that is a proven leader in amateur sports in the country. T.A.A.F. has provided so much to amateur athletes and I will help preserve this tradition in the years to come.”
Her involvement with T.A.A.F. includes serving as a State Commissioner, Regional Director, Executive Board member, Games of Texas Liaison (Summer & Winter), Regional Event host, State Tournament host and member of numerous committees. Gerred has been recognized with a number of awards including the T.A.A.F. President’s Excellence Award in 2006 and 1999 and the Games of Texas Service Award – 10 years in 2005.
Gerred, who is a Certified Professional Sports Manager, has been the City of Abilene’s Recreation Supervisor for nearly 16 years.
|
