May News Releases


May 30, 2010

 

Lion cubs born at the Abilene Zoo

ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of five African lion cubs. The cubs, born in the early morning hours of May 29, 2010, are the first offspring for both of the Zoo’s lions. Additionally these cubs are the first litter to be born at the Zoo since 1984. Presently the mother and cubs are in seclusion inside the Zoo’s lion night house. The mother and cubs will remain off exhibit until the cubs have received all their vaccinations and are old enough to safely explore their new outside territory. Zoo animal care staff is closely monitoring the new family.

 

The pairing of the Abilene Zoo’s 7 year old male and 5 year old female was a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP) which manages the genetic diversity of the captive African lion population in North America. The mission of the African Lion SSP is to help ensure the survival of the species into the future and to provide a link between zoo and aquarium animals and the conservation of their wild counterparts.

 

The Abilene Zoo is a proud participant in the AZA Lion SSP. These new cubs are a valuable asset to the genetic diversity of the captive lion population as well as a joyous addition to the Abilene Zoo animal family.

 

The zoo is located in Nelson Park, off Highway 36, at 2070 Zoo Lane. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. From June through August, the Abilene Zoo is open late from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays for the Sunset Safari Concert Series. The zoo is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

May 28, 2010

 

Copan the Jaguar passes

ABILENE, Texas – With sadness the Abilene Zoo announces the death of 13 year old jaguar “Copan” at approximately 7:00 p.m. on May 27 following a medical surgery procedure. Copan came to Abilene Zoo from the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas in 1997 and along with his spotted exhibit mate was a great favorite with Zoo visitors and staff.

Immediately following Copan’s death, a necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed by the Zoo's veterinary and animal care staff. Tissue and blood work from the necropsy will be sent to the veterinary lab at the University of California and an in-state veterinary diagnostic lab in order to help determine the exact cause of death. The Abilene Zoo veterinary and animal care staff will also work closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP) to ensure that the proper protocols are followed to enable valuable scientific information to be collected and recorded.

Jaguars are listed as an Endangered Species in the Americas. The Abilene Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for jaguar populations. The primary focus of the jaguar SSP, which manages the captive population in North America, is education and conservation of the species in its countries of origin. Copan was not only a valuable representative of this magnificent species but was also a beloved member of the Abilene Zoo.

 

May 18, 2010

 

Abilene Police Department and Taylor County Sheriff’s Office seek Justice Assistance Grant

ABILENE, Texas – The Abilene Police Department and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office are jointly applying for the FY10 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Awareness Grant Program: Local Solicitation. The grant is for $69,257 which the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office would share equally if awarded the funding.

 

In the grant application, the Police Department is seeking the following:

 

 

Citizens may provide input about the grant application by sending comments to:

 

Abilene Police Department

Attn: Sgt. Tim Schmidt, Criminal Investigations/Forensics Unit

PO Box 174

450 Pecan Street

Abilene, Texas 79604-0174

Phone: (325) 676-6512

E-mail: tim.schmidt@abilenetx.com 

 

Abilene Police have utilized previous grant funds to equip 33 of the approximate 65 patrol vehicles in its fleet with digital MVR’s.

 

Most City offices closed for Memorial Day

ABILENE, Texas – Most City of Abilene offices and community service centers will be closed Monday, May 31, 2010 in observance of Memorial Day.

 

The Abilene Animal Shelter will be closed on May 31 but will be open on Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Citizens with animal-related emergencies should call the Abilene Police Department at 673-8331 and the animal control officer on duty will be dispatched to handle the call. The shelter will resume normal hours on Monday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The Solid Waste Services Division will provide all scheduled residential and commercial container collection on Memorial Day. There will be no brush or bulky collection on Monday. That collection will resume on Tuesday, June 1. The Environmental Recycling Center (ERC) will be open normal hours Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30. The ERC will be closed Monday.

 

The Municipal Court will also be closed Memorial Day. All citations due May 31 will be due June 1.

 

CityLink Transit will not run on Monday. Other holiday closings include City Hall, the Water Office, Health Division, all Abilene Public Library locations, Abilene Civic Center, the Development Corporation of Abilene, the Airport Administration Office and City Recreation and Senior Citizen centers.

 

However, the Water Service Center on 701 E. Highway 80 will be open May 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to accept delinquent payments to continue water services and to set up services for new customers. The Water Emergency Repair Service’s hotline, 676-6000, is also available 24 hours a day to report water and sewer problems.

 

The Abilene Zoo is open regular hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Memorial Day.

 

May 14, 2010

 

Artwork and children’s t-shirts showcase Abilene Zoo’s own giraffes

ABILENE, Texas – Saturday, May 15, 2010 is the first opportunity for the public to own locally produced artwork and children’s t-shirts depicting the Abilene Zoo’s own pair of giraffes while benefitting the zoo. Artist Mo Parker, who’s also a senior city planner for the City of Abilene, will sign the prints tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Zoo Gift Shop during the ZOOlute to Dyess celebration. Proceeds from the original artwork and t-shirts will go towards animal care and the zoo’s future expansion.

 

“The painting is actually a portrait of the icons of the Abilene Zoo,” explained artist Mo Parker. “Inspired by my love of animals and this incredible earth we enjoy, I was hoping for an opportunity to contribute, in a personal way, to environmental preservation. The Abilene Zoo is doing its part for conservation of endangered species and the overall preservation of our fragile, natural world.”  

 

The t-shirts are available in children’s sizes. 9”x12” standard art prints will be on sale. Also available for purchase are Giclee art prints which are 9”x12” in a 15”x18” mat ready to be framed. These are limited edition, signed and numbered. Zoo visitors can also enter a drawing on Saturday for a free art print. No purchase is necessary for the drawing.  

 

The “Icons of the Abilene Zoo” artwork is the first in a series of paintings that Parker is creating for the zoo.

 

The Abilene Zoo is located in Nelson Park, off Highway 36, at 2070 Zoo Lane. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. From June through August, the Abilene Zoo is open late from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays for the Sunset Safari Concert Series. The zoo is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

May 13, 2010

 

City Council approves allowing sale of beer and wine at invitation-only

non-profit fundraisers at the Abilene Zoo

ABILENE, Texas – During today’s meeting, the City Council, in a 5 to 2 vote, approved an amendment to the Municipal Code to allow the use and sale of alcoholic beverages at invitation only non-profit fundraising events at the Abilene Zoological Gardens after 6 p.m. when the zoo is closed. The amendment, recommended by the Parks and Recreation Board, also limits its use at the Abilene Zoo to within the zoo’s perimeter fence or the Education building. Councilmen Joe Spano and Stormy Higgins voted against the amendment.

 

The amendment requires the Parks and Recreation Board to review and grant or deny permits for this use. The permitting process has the following conditions:

 

The Parks and Recreation Board may deny any permit for this activity if in its judgment the activity is inappropriate to the zoo setting or may conflict with other events in the park.

 

In a related action, the City Council voted unanimously to amend the AO (Agricultural Open Space) Zoning District to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages at the zoo which would be restricted to events with a permit approved by the Parks and Recreation Board. The zoning amendment will also allow for alcohol sales within AO zoning at golf courses. This zoning change will now allow the Municipal Golf Course Advisory Board to consider allowing alcohol sales at Maxwell Municipal Golf Course. At this time, the board has not indicated whether or not it plans to discuss the issue in the near future. 

 

Also at today’s City Council meeting, the May 8 City election returns were canvassed. Returning City Councilman Stormy Higgins, Place 5, and new City Councilwoman Kellie Miller, Place 6, were sworn in. The results of the City of Abilene Special Liquor Election, which passed, were also officially canvassed. The expansion of alcohol sales to currently dry portions of the city takes effect today. The city secretary must, within three days of the canvass, certify the results to the Texas Secretary of State and to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

 

Mayor Norm Archibald also announced the appointment of Councilman Anthony Williams as Mayor Pro Tempore and Councilman Robert O. Briley as Deputy Mayor.

 

Road work on Judge Ely Blvd. scheduled to begin tomorrow

ABILENE, Texas – Weather permitting, street rehabilitation work on Judge Ely Boulevard, between Interstate 20 and E.S. 11th Street, is scheduled to begin Friday, May 14, 2010. Traffic lane closures will vary during the project but at least two lanes of traffic – one northbound and one southbound – will be open at all times. The project is anticipated to be completed by mid-September 2010. This will be the first of five projects to be funded through the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the “Stimulus Program.”

 

Motorists are asked to exercise patience and caution when driving by the road work zone and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

 

Update (5/14/10): The road work on Judge Ely Boulevard, that was scheduled to begin today, has been postponed due to weather conditions. The work is scheduled to begin Monday, May 17, 2010 if the weather permits.

 

Mayor’s Hike set for Saturday, June 5

ABILENE, Texas - Mayor Norm Archibald and the Mayor’s Council on Physical Fitness invite you to join them for the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Hike beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Lake Abilene, located west of Buffalo Gap. The hike is starting an hour earlier than in past years to try and beat the summertime heat. The free family-friendly event is open to the public, expected to last about 2 1/2 hours, and leashed dogs are welcome. No pre-registration is needed.

 

Participants may select from three different levels of trails with distances varying from three to five miles. This fitness opportunity is sponsored by the Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness and the Abilene State Park.

 

If you plan on attending the hike, here are recommendations to ensure a fun-filled, safe time is had by all:

 

Directions: Take Buffalo Gap Road/FM 89 south to Buffalo Gap. Proceed through Buffalo Gap, following FM 89 as it veers to the right. Cross over the railroad tracks and follow the road 4.9 miles to Lake Abilene. You will pass Perini’s Steakhouse, Camp Tonkawa and Abilene State Park. Look for a sign, on the right, that reads Lake Abilene. Follow the sign to the designated parking area. View parking and hiking options at www.myfitnessabilene.com.

 

The Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness was established in March 2008 by Mayor Norm Archibald to help build a healthier community. The Mayor's Council assists in the development and support of ongoing physical fitness programs, annual fitness campaigns, and educational outreach that are designed to meet the fitness and wellness needs of the community.

 

For more information about the Abilene State Park, visit online http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/abilene/.

 

May 12, 2010

 

Funeral arrangements for Officer Burns

Funeral services for Officer Boyd Burns will be Thursday, May 13th, at 2pm at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Eula Cemetery. 

 

Officer Burns joined the Abilene Police Department on March 19, 1985, as a member of Academy Class 31. He served our community for 25 years.  He will be missed. 

 

May 11, 2010

 

Abilene Police Department mourns loss of 25-year police veteran

On May 11, 2010, Officer Boyd Burns of the Abilene Police Department was found deceased in his home.   The cause of death is believed to be natural, pending further investigation by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.  Officer Burns was taken to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. 

 

Officer Burns graduated high school in Baird in 1978.  He began his policing career with the Abilene Police Department on March 19, 1985, as a member of Academy Class 31. 

 

Boyd was the recipient of several awards throughout his career, including a Meritorious Conduct Award given for “heroic achievement and exceptional meritorious conduct involving courage and danger to his personal safety.”  On November 9, 1987, Officer Burns chased down a robbery suspect who had already robbed two convenience stores just prior to the foot chase.  Although the suspect pointed a blue-steel revolver at Boyd four different times, Boyd did not stop chasing him and ultimately captured the robber without injury to any persons involved.   Additionally, on January 11, 2004, Officer Burns was one of three officers who responded to a major traffic collision in which a vehicle left the roadway and struck a concrete culvert, catching fire immediately.  Over the next six minutes Boyd and the other two officers used every means possible to contain the fire until the Fire Department arrived.  Although the driver could not be removed from the badly damaged vehicle, the victim lived, thus earning Officer Boyd Burns a Life Saving Award.

 

Boyd held a Master Peace Officer certification.  He was assigned to Patrol Company E, working the midnight shift that he loved.  He is survived by his parents Bufford and Verna Burns of Abilene, his sister Pam Honea of San Antonio, and his brother John Burns of Pensacola, Florida. 

 

Officer Boyd Burns served our community for 25 years.  We are grateful for his dedication and service; he will be missed by many.  Funeral arrangements are pending. 

 

May 8, 2010

Results in for joint City/AISD election 

ABILENE, Texas – The official results are in for the joint City of Abilene and Abilene Independent School District May 8, 2010 election.

 

For Abilene City Council Place 5, Stormy Higgins retained his seat against challenger Ron Konstantin. According to the Taylor County Elections Office, Higgins received 2,472 votes compared to Konstantin’s 601 votes.

 

For Abilene City Council Place 6, Kellie Miller received 57% of the vote in a 4-person race so she will be sworn into office during the Thursday, May 13, 2010 City Council meeting. Miller will fill the seat being vacated by Laura Moore who did not seek reelection. The Taylor County Elections Office stated that Miller received 1,772 votes, Jennifer Grothaus received 468 votes, Stacey Scaief received 564 votes and Dennis Regan received 289 votes. 

 

Councilors serve staggered three year terms with two members up for reelection each year. The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body of the City of Abilene, a "home-rule" city, operating under the authority of the city charter, adopted in 1962. The council enacts legislation, adopts the budget, sets the tax rate, determines policies, and approves the Mayor's appointment of the City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Municipal Court Judge, and all Board and Commissions members.

 

The City of Abilene Special Liquor Election passed with 1,740 voters voting in favor of expanding alcohol sales to currently dry portions of the city. 1,370 people voted against it.

 

During the last session, the Texas legislature amended the Elections Code to enable cities like Abilene to order a city-wide legalization election by means of a municipal resolution rather than requiring a petition to get it on the ballot. Voters approved alcohol sales in Abilene in 1978. This change in wet/dry status would only apply to any dry areas within the city limits, and would not alter any portions currently wet if it hadn’t been approved in the May 8, 2010 election.

 

May 7, 2010

 

Accident at 2200 block of North 18th Street

Update:

According to the Abilene Police Department, the teenage girl died around 5 a.m. today. The names of the involved parties are being withheld due to an ongoing investigation. Sgt. Keith Shackleford said it is not believed to be a hit-and-run accident. He also said alcohol was not involved.

 

On 05-06-10 at approximately 10:25 p.m., officers of the Abilene Police Department responded to a disturbance in progress in the 2200 block of North 18th St. Upon arrival, officers discovered a female subject lying in the roadway that had been struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on North 18th St. near the intersection of Kirkwood St. The female subject was transported to Hendrick Medical Center by ambulance and at the time of this press release, she is in critical condition. At this time, the names of the involved parties are being withheld due to the ongoing investigation.

 

May 6, 2010

House fire on 1200 block of Meander Street

Investigation Status: Under Investigation (AFD)

 

Shortly after 5 a.m. this morning, a 911 caller reported seeing flames inside a home in the 1200 block of Meander Street. Firefighters arrived in less than five minutes to find moderate fire involvement of the main living room and attic areas of a vacant single family residence. A search for victims was conducted and the fire was immediately attacked. No victims were found and the fire was brought under control in about thirty minutes.

 

Damage to the structure is estimated to be around $15,000 and investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of this fire. One firefighter suffered minor dehydration and was treated at the scene, then transported to a local hospital for evaluation; he is in the process of being released from the hospital as of this report.

 

May 5, 2010

 

Best Tasting Water Contest winners announced

ABILENE, Texas – The Texas Water Utilities Association’s 42nd annual Central West Texas Regional School announced the winners of the “Best Tasting Water Contest” earlier today at the Abilene Civic Center.

 

The winners are as follows:

              Best Ground Water, population less than 10,000: City of Kermit

              Best Surface Water, population less than 10,000: City of Jacksboro

              Best Overall Tasting Water: City of Kermit

 

The winners are now eligible to participate in the statewide contest. There were no entrants for cities with greater than 10,000 people.

 

The judges were Gary Bell, Buddy Killion and Andres Arce, all members in good standing with the Texas Water Utilities Association (TWUA). They looked for specific taste qualities when determining the award winners. Several staff members from the City of Abilene’s Water Utilities Department helped coordinate the contest.

 

The TWUA Central West Texas Regional School provides training for area and regional water and wastewater employees for licensing.

 

May 4, 2010

Abilene Late Night Basketball to return in June

ABILENE, Texas – The 4th annual Abilene Late Night Basketball League is back in June for the 2010 summer season. Participants ages 13 to 19 can register for the free six-team league at G. V. Daniels Recreation Center located at 541 North 8th Street. The program will be held every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. beginning June 8, 2010 through July 29, 2010 at the G. V. Daniels Recreation Center. To register, call (325) 676-6443.

 

The league provides area youth with lessons that they can use both on and off the court. It features speakers before each game from the community such as coaches and business owners who offer a message of hope and determination. Councilman Anthony Williams led the effort to bring back a late night basketball program for Abilene’s youth.

 

“The purpose of the Abilene Late Night Basketball League is to provide a preemptive program in a positive environment,” Councilman Williams explained. “We have committed mentors who help these young men and women understand the importance of “Winning the Game of Life” by serving as successful and productive citizens in their community.”

 

Abilene’s Late Night Basketball League returned in 2007. Councilman Williams directed a similar program in the 1990’s that focused on providing young adults with an active and productive way to spend their evenings. Terrence Crisp, G.V. Daniels Recreation Center Coordinator, serves as the league’s director. The league’s sponsors include the City of Abilene, Athletic Supply and the Abilene Youth Sports Authority (AYSA).

 

May 3, 2010

 

Police operations for Monday, May 3

From the Abilene Police Department:

As you know, this community lost a dear friend last Thursday. Today, we will celebrate Rodney Holder's life and legacy. The funeral will be held, starting at 1:00 p.m., at the Beltway Park Baptist Church. Rodney will be laid to rest in the Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 277. To see a map of the funeral procession, please go to www.abilenepolice.org.   

 

All emergency police services will continue. Beginning at 11:45 A.M., all non-emergency police services will close down to allow our officers and civilian personnel to honor Rodney and his family by attending the services.  

 

We thank all of you who have sent condolences, left cards, and expressed your support to our police family.