From City Manager
Larry D. Groth
It was my great privilege to serve as Director
of the Cameron Park Zoo from 1995 to 2000. During that time, we
developed a master plan for the zoo, which included a vision to
bring great apes to the Asian section of the zoo. After viewing
the near completed project, I firmly believe the new Asian Forest
exhibit will be one of the public’s favorite exhibits.
Our priority has always been quality over quantity
when developing new exhibits at the Cameron Park Zoo. While the
plans have been part of the master plan for years, the challenge
was how to fund the $3.5 million project.
Waco has been the beneficiary of many public-private
partnerships, and I am grateful for people in this community who
are willing to give of their resources to make this an even better
place to live. Jim and Nell Hawkins, solid supporters of the zoo
for many years, stepped forward with a more than generous gift
that made the Asian Forest exhibit possible, and then they assisted
in the fund-raising process to make the project a reality.
I want to congratulate Zoo Director Jim Fleshman
and the zoo staff for their ongoing efforts in conservation and
protection of endangered species while at the same time offering
a first-rate experience for visitors in one of the nation’s most
beautiful natural-habitat zoos.
I encourage you and your families to visit the new
exhibit after it opens in mid-August. The Asian Forest exhibit
will provide educational opportunities concerning orangutans and
Komodo dragons, both endangered species, and will provide a great
place for these fantastic animals to live and play. This is a
“must” see!
Solid Waste Employees
Win ROAD-E-O Awards
Waco took four trophies at this year’s TXSWANA
Solid Waste truck Road-E-O! The Road-E-O is an annual competition
in which Solid Waste drivers and mechanics from all over the state
vie for recognition as being the top in their field.
The drivers are put through an obstacle course
and are judged on their abilities to perform various maneuvers
accurately and safely, while the mechanics are given a written
test and some hands-on equipment problems to solve. Our winners
are:
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Joseph Lee, landfill mechanic, 1st Place in
the Landfill Mechanic event
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David Stefka, equipment operator, 2nd Place
in the Articulated Dump Truck event
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Lester Harding, equipment operator, 2nd Place
in the Rearload event,
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Richard Perkins, equipment operator, 3rd Place
in the Rearload event
Joseph Lee will advance to the Internationals in Florida in September.
He took first place at the State level last year as well, but
did not participate in the International competition because they
did not have a mechanic’s event last year.
Also attending the Road-E-O this year were participants Nathan
Palm, Nick Ebertz, Cody Daniel, Gary Harris, and judges Sheila
Hyde, Wendy Clark, and Natalie Salazar. Congratulations to our
Road-E-O winners!
City Staff Spotlight
New Employees
Fleet Services welcomes Lewis Ray Adams, service technician.
Congratulations
Sherrill McDaniel, City Secretary’s Office, passed the
exam for Course 3 of the Texas Municipal Clerks Certification
program and has just one more exam to take to become a Texas Registered
Municipal Clerk (TRMC).
Street Services selected Joe Wolott, service provider,
as their employee of the month for June.
Sherry Williams, Public Health District, was elected
to the board of directors for CityMatCH, a national organization
of local health departments that focus on issues that affect women,
children, and families.
Retirement
Stella Bias, Public Health District, retired on June 30
after 15 years of service with the City of Waco.
Summer Reading Club Rewards
The 2009 Summer Reading Clubs at the Waco-McLennan County Library
continue through Aug. 15.
Participants who read 20 hours by this date can return their
reading logs to the library to receive a book sponsored by Target,
and treat coupons from local merchants. For more information,
please call 750-5942.
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All-Star Basketball Clinic
Registration has begun for the City of Waco’s 7th annual All-Star
Basketball Clinic. This year’s clinic will take place Aug. 11 at
the Ferrell Center. Registration is open through July 31 to players
ages 5 to 18.
The free clinic will feature special guests from the Dallas Mavericks
and the Baylor Bears. Players ages 5 to 10 will meet from 8 a.m.
to 1 p.m., while ages 11 to 18 will meet from noon to 4 p.m. Lunch
will be provided at the clinic for all participants.
Registration forms are available at the City of Waco Parks and
Recreation office, online at www.waco-texas.com
or by calling 750-5980.
Tri-Waco
The Waco Chamber of Commerce, City of Waco and Ironhead Race Productions
will present Tri-Waco on Sunday, July 26 at Indian Spring Park.
Tri-Waco, a USA Triathlon sanctioned Olympic distance event, starts
with a 1,500-meter open water swim in the Brazos River followed
by a mostly flat and fast 25-mile bike ride on country roads north
and west of Waco. Finishing out the race is a hilly 10-kilometer
run along the Brazos River that leads to one of the oldest suspension
bridges in the United States.
Along with the Triathlon, the race also offers a great beginner
Sprint: a 400-meter swim in the Brazos River, a 12-mile bike ride
along the same country roads and a 5-kilometer run finishing on
the Suspension Bridge.
Registration is under way and costs vary based on type of event.
All participants will receive dry fit T-shirts, recyclable water
bottles and dry fit running caps. For more information, visit www.triwaco.org.
Healthy Cooking Classes
The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District along with the
Texas Agrilife Extension Service are offering a variety of free
cooking classes this summer.
A “Healthy Lifestyle Cooking Class” will be offered on July 13
from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Bledsoe-Miller Recreation Center, 300
Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
“Cooking Well with Diabetes,” a four-part cooking school, will
be offered on Aug. 3, 11, 17 and 24 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at
1105 Washington Ave.
Every class includes lessons and take home recipes. To register
or for more information, call 750-5461.
Summer Fun Round Up
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum presents Summer Fun Round
Up 2009 on Friday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Enjoy a fun-filled day with activities including artifact presentations,
coloring contest, old west laser target shooting, child identification
kits and more.
Meet Wendy from Wendy’s restaurants, McGruff, the crime-fighting
dog; and Dustin and Beth from Star 92.9 FM. Bring a camera! For
more information, contact the museum staff at 750-8631 or visit
www.texasranger.org.
Regional Track Meet
The City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department will host a regional
track meet July 10 and 11 at Baylor’s Hart Patterson Track and Field
complex.
More than 700 kids from across Central Texas will participate
in sprint, relay and field activities
. Team Waco athletes will participate for a chance to qualify and
advance to the Games of Texas state track meet in San Antonio. For
more information visit www.waco-texas.com.
Victim services
Volunteer Appreciation
The Waco Police Department’s Victim Services Unit held a Volunteer
Appreciation picnic for their volunteers on June 20 at Poage Park
in Woodway.
The Victim Services volunteers cover shifts and assist the staff
of Victim Services by responding to call-outs by officers to different
crime scenes. Crisis intervention and assistance is provided to
victims of crime. The Victim Services volunteers worked 11,706.35
hours in 2008.
The Victim Services Unit, as well as the Waco Police Department,
are very grateful to the dedication and commitment of these outstanding
volunteers.
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