From City Manager
Larry D. Groth
It is with much pride that we can say that one of
the most popular attractions for world leaders who have visited
President Bush’s ranch in Crawford has been the Texas Ranger Hall
of Fame & Museum.
The Texas Rangers are known and celebrated internationally
and have been major characters in television shows and movies. We
are fortunate to have the museum celebrating the history of the
Texas Rangers right here in Waco.
Our citizens demonstrated their support for the museum
in May of 2007 when they passed the $2 million bond issue to renovate
Knox Center, the banquet facility at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame
& Museum.
To plan for these improvements a citizens committee
was formed consisting of individuals who utilize Knox Center for
various functions, caterers who service those functions, city council
appointed board members, and staff from both the Texas Ranger Hall
of Fame and the Convention Center. The committee provided a list
of recommendations for the facility to Wallace Group, the architects
the committee selected for the project.
Currently, Knox Center hosts more than 150 events
per year. These events range from proms for area high schools to
corporate banquets.
The museum staff held their first annual Safe and
Spooky Community Carnival last October in Knox Center. The committee
considered these events when creating their recommendations, which
were incorporated into the preliminary designs by Wallace Group.
These recommendations include expanding the facility
to increase its capacity. Currently, Knox Center can seat approximately
500 individuals, and the renovation will increase this capacity
to 700. Knox Center will also have more windows, so visitors can
enjoy the scenic views of the Brazos River.
Recently, the committee with Wallace Group presented
the City Council with the recommendations, which they approved.
Wallace Group is preparing a detailed design and bid package. The
committee hopes to place out a bid for construction contractors
in the next 90 days.
An artist’s rendering for the renovated Knox
Center at the Texas Ranger Museum.
Youth Flag Football
Youth Flag Football is just around the corner, but
the registration deadline is even sooner. Make sure to get all information
in to the Athletics Department by July 18.
The cost is $45 per child and is open to youth ages
5 to 14. For more information or to register, please call 254-750-5875.
World Breast-feeding Day Celebration
The Women, Infant and Children’s (WIC) program is sponsoring the
annual World Breast-feeding Day celebration on Friday, Aug. 1 from
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Waco Water Park. Admission is free. For
more information, call 750-8604.
Girls Fast Pitch League
Registration begins Aug. 11 for the Girls Fast Pitch League, which
starts in September. The cost is $75 per child, ages 8 to 16. Games
will be played at Riverbend Park.For more information visit www.riverbendpark.com
or call 750-5875.
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Junior Police Academy
The Waco Police Department is offering a new Junior Police Academy
this month for students between the ages of 13-17.
The program is designed to reach out to teens in our community
who may have an interest in law enforcement. The academy is a
six-week program and provides an introduction to police work,
while implementing discipline and structure. Students will have
classroom assignments as well as outside activities.
Community Outreach - Crime Prevention Specialist, Estella Lopez
said there was an interest within the Waco teen community for
the Junior Academy.
At this time, plans are to conduct the program during summer
months. The current academy is now full and will begin on July
14.
All-Stars Basketball Clinic
Registration has begun for the City of Waco’s 6th annual All-Star
Basketball Clinic and will end on July 31. This year’s clinic
will take place Aug. 11 at the Ferrell Center.
The free event 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 5 p.m. Lunch
will be provided at the clinic for all participants.
Registration forms are available at local CEFCO convenient stores,
online at www.waco-texas.com or by calling 750-5980.
Hooray for Health!
The Communities in Schools will host the annual Hooray for Health!
on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Waco Convention
Center.
The purpose of the event is to provide free immunizations, children’s
health insurance information, health screenings, health-related
activities and health education for the youth of our community
in a fun and festive environment. Please bring your child’s shot
records to the event.
Other sponsors include First City, Hillcrest Health Systems,
Providence Healthcare Network, the Waco-McLennan County Public
Health District, the Family Health Center, Community Health Action
Partners (CHAPS), Texas Cooperative Extension Agency and KXXV
Channel 25 to sponsor this annual health fair. For more information,
call Communities in Schools at 753-6002.
Book Sale Donations
Books and magazines are still needed for the fall Friends of
the Waco-McLennan County Library Book Sale scheduled for Nov.
13-16 at the Heart of Texas Fairgrounds.
The books may be dropped off at any of the four library locations.
For more information, contact Kim at 750-5974.
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