News Releases
April 26, 2012
Abilene Zoo welcomes prairie dog pups and two new birds
ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Zoo has four new prairie dogs that have recently emerged from their burrows. “Though sometimes it’s hard to catch these guys above ground, it’s worth waiting for” says Zoo Director Bill Gersonde. “They’re miniatures of the adults and very cute” said Gersonde. The babies were born in a maternity den chamber located in the burrow and the pups emerge at approximately 6 weeks.
A new pair of black-necked swans is now on display in the Wetlands of the Americas exhibit. The swans inhabit fresh water marshes and lakes and are native to southern South America. Their body is white and neck black with a bright red knob behind the bill. “These beautiful birds are a great addition to our bird collection” says Zoo Director Bill Gersonde. “Folks are really going to enjoy watching them glide gracefully across the pond”. Black-necked swans are among the fastest of the eight species of swans. They’ve been clocked flying at speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour!
April 25, 2012
Spring & Summer Pet Safety Tips
ABILENE, Texas – Spring and summer can offer you and your pet fun in the great outdoors, but these months also bring dangerous temperatures. Animal Services is offering these tips to pet owners to keep furry friends safe this summer:
- Don't leave pets in parked cars for any period of time. Animals left in parked cars can suffer brain damage and die from heatstroke. On a warm day, even with the windows cracked, the temperature in a car can reach 120° in a matter of minutes. Dogs and cats don’t perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet.
- Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets so they can stay cool.
- Take extra care with older, short-nosed and thick coated dogs by limiting exercise to early morning or evening hours on warm days. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws.
- Flea and tick treatment is encouraged but use only treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to instructions.
- Pets can get sunburned too so putting sunscreen on your dogs nose and tips of their ears is a good practice.
Heatstroke can occur in pets, but is preventable by taking the above precautions. Signs of heatstroke include: heavy panting and dry gums, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated temperature, staggering, sluggishness, seizures, unresponsiveness. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke, contact your veterinarian immediately.
April 23, 2012
“Best Tasting Water Contest” searches for best water in the region
ABILENE, Texas – The 44th annual Central West Texas Regional Water School will hold the “Best Tasting Water Contest” at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 in the main foyer of the Abilene Civic Center located at 1100 N. 6th St.
Public water systems are encouraged to enter their water in the contest by contacting Mike Michaud at the City of Abilene Environmental Lab at 325-676-6041 no later than Wednesday, May 2. Contestants must be public water systems that actually treat the drinking water themselves and have at least one representative who is a member of the Texas Water Utilities Association (TWUA).
The judges of the contest are members in good standing with the TWUA and will look for specific taste qualities when determining the award winners. The categories for the contest are:
Best Ground Water, population greater than 10,000
Best Ground Water, population less than 10,000
Best Surface Water, population greater than 10,000
Best Surface Water, population less than 10,000
Best Overall Tasting Water
The contest winners will be announced during the Central West Texas Regional Water School luncheon at noon on Wednesday, May 9 in the Exhibit Hall of the Abilene Civic Center.
The TWUA Central West Texas Regional School provides training for area and regional water and wastewater employees for licensing.
April 20, 2012
City of Abilene not accepting applications for 2012/2013 HUD grants
ABILENE, TX. – The City of Abilene Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) is unable to offer any Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding awards for fiscal year 2013.
CDBG/HOME funding applications will not be sent out this year due to the decreased level of funding the City will receive in the annual allocation of 2013 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds. It is possible that some limited HOME Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) funds may be available for a currently certified organization to build new single-family homes.
“We thank all organizations for their interest and participation in attaining the CDBG goal of providing a better living environment, and we applaud their efforts to make our community a better place to live and work,” said Sandy Bowen, ONS Manager.
A CDBG and HOME budget for FY 2013 will be available as a public notice in the Abilene Reporter-News during May 2012. The notice will inform the public of the proposed use of reduced funding, provide a period of public input and announce a public hearing to be held at a July 2012 City Council meeting. For more information, contact Sandy Bowen at 325-676-6383.
April 19, 2012
Fifth annual Mayor’s Hike features new location
ABILENE, TX. – Mayor Norm Archibald and the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness invite you to join them for the 5th Annual Mayor’s Hike beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5. The hike will take place at a new location this year along the banks of Cedar Creek. This is a FREE, family friendly event that is open to the public and leashed dogs are welcome to join. Due to the terrain of the trail, strollers and bikes are not allowed.
The hike will begin where Cedar Creek crosses the 100 block of ES 11th Street, just east of Joe Allen’s Bar-B-Que. Hikers will travel north along the banks of Cedar Creek to Stevenson Park then return by the same trail. The hike is approximately 3 miles long. Parking will be available at 170 ES 11th St. Signage will be on location to direct participants to the designated parking area.
Here are some recommendations to ensure a fun-filled and safe hike:
- Bring water and sunscreen along
- Wear light colored clothing and comfortable shoes; no flip flops or sandals
- Wear a hat
- Wear long pants
- Before starting any wellness program or engaging in physical activity, consult your physician
In coordination with the Mayor’s Hike, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a trash clean-up as they hike along Cedar Creek. Collection supplies will be provided. Those who would like to participate in the trash pick-up are encouraged to bring work gloves.
This is a FREE event but participants should e-mail MayorsHike@abilenetx.com or call 325-676-6677 to let organizers know how many hikers will be participating.
A map with parking information and hiking directions are available at www.myfitnessabilene.com or on the City of Abilene website, www.abilenetx.com. This fitness opportunity is sponsored by the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness.
April 19, 2012
Abilene Zoo celebrates Earth Day Saturday
ABILENE, TX. - Celebrate Earth Day at the Abilene Zoo this Saturday, April 21. The day will feature earth friendly activities, animal and conservation information, keeper talks and more. Earth Day activities are free with regular zoo admission and will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“This is a great opportunity for our guests to see what the Abilene Zoo is doing and what they personally can do to help conserve nature and natural resources,” said Zoo Director Bill Gersonde.
The Abilene Zoo is located at 2070 Zoo Lane and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the front gate closing at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 60 years of age and older, $2.50 for kids 3 to 12 years of age and children under 3 are free. For more information about the Abilene Zoo, visit www.abilenezoo.org.
April 12, 2012
Mayor’s 5K Run/Walk/Wheel kicks off Saturday
ABILENE, Texas – The 2012 Mayor’s 5K Run/Walk/Wheel and One-Mile Family Fun Run kicks off Saturday, April 14. The 5K race will begin at the Abilene Civic Center at 8 a.m.
The Mayor’s 5K Run/Walk/Wheel will take participants through a downtown Abilene course that begins and ends at the Abilene Civic Center. The 5K will be chip timed. Registration fees for the 5K Run/Walk/Wheel are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 10 through 18, free for ages 9 and below, and $60 for a family up to four. Participation in the One-Mile Family Fun Run is free.
Participants can still register on Friday at the Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. Pre-registered participants can pick up their race packets at the Civic Center Friday until 6 p.m. or Saturday before the race. All proceeds from the Mayor’s 5K Run/Walk/Wheel will benefit the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness.
The Mayor's 5K Run/Walk/Wheel and Family Fun Run are sponsored by the City of Abilene, Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness and the Abilene Runners Club.
April 11, 2012
Proposed Animal Ordinance discussion continues to be postponed
ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene City Council continues to postpone the agenda item concerning proposed amendments to the City’s Animal Ordinance. The City Council made the decision to remove the first reading of the proposed ordinance at their March 22, 2012 meeting so that in further information could be compiled and additional community input could be solicited. In order for a complete review of the ordinance to take place, the item will be addressed at a later date by the City Council. Although no date has been set for the Council to consider this ordinance, ample public notice will be given to inform citizens when the Animal Ordinance will once again be placed on the City Council’s agenda.
April 11, 2012
Airport to display donated model airplane collection
ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Regional Airport has received a donation of several hundred collector-quality model airplanes from the family of the late Lynn Stevens who made his career in aviation at the Abilene airport. Mr. Stevens’ widow, Debra Stevens, and their son, Bryan Stevens, have donated the collection of model airplanes. The planes will be on display and open to the public in the airport’s terminal.
The airport will host an event Friday, April 13 at 10:30 a.m. in the terminal to officially reveal the displays and introduce Debra and Bryan Stevens. For more information about this event, contact Don Green, Director of Aviation, at 325-676-6061.
April 10, 2012
Basketball Shootout competition coming Saturday
ABILENE, Texas – The City of Abilene’s Recreation Division and First Financial Bank will host the Three-point and Free Throw Basketball Shootout Saturday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rose Park Recreation Center located at 2605 South 7th St. The Basketball Shootout focuses on shooting skills and gives participants the opportunity to compare their shooting ability with others in the Big Country area.
Participants shoot 25 free throws and 25 three-point shots from the top of the key, right and left wing and from the baseline. Basketballs will be provided or participants may bring their own. There will be an Individual Division with age brackets for males and females of any age.
There are also Team Divisions where two shooters compete as a team:
OPEN Division; any two players not related to one another
FAMILY Division; any two related players
CORPORATE division; two employees who work for the same company or organization
In the Team Division, one participant shoots all the free throws and the other all the three-point shots. Participants may register as an individual, as part of one or more teams, or both. Participants may be on up to two teams.
Participants can register at the event. The entry fee is $5 per division. Participants may re-shoot up to two times. Each re-shoot will be $5. Prizes will be awarded to the top overall individual shooter, top shooter in each age group, and each division. College players and professional athletes are not allowed to participate. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Anita Vigil by e-mail at anita.vigil@abilenetx.com or call 325-676-6442. on the event web-site at www.abilenetx.com/recreation.
April 2, 2012
Abilene participates in World Autism Awareness Day
ABILENE, TX. – The city of Abilene is taking part in World Autism Awareness Day by turning the lights of the Abilene Civic Center blue tonight April 2, 2012. This is part of the Light It Up Blue movement started by the organization Autism Speaks.
Tonight, prominent structures across North America and the world will turn their lights blue in efforts to raise awareness for autism and commemorate World Autism Awareness Day which is today Monday, April 2.
Well known structures that will bask in the blue light include the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center in New York City, Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.
“As a parent of an autistic child, I understand firsthand the financial and emotional challenges autism places on families,” said David A. Vela, Deputy City Manager. “Many children in Abilene and the surrounding areas could be helped to reach their greatest potential with accurate, early diagnosis and appropriate intervention.”
“I am grateful that the city of Abilene has chosen to raise community awareness and participate in World Autism Awareness Day,” said Vela.