City Talk Newsletter link to City of Waco Intranet home page

May 1, 2008 Issue

Other Links: City Calendar l City News

New South Waco Library to Open May 5

Rose Gonzales packs some books and other supplies as the South Waco Library staff prepares to move to their new home.

The South Waco library staff is unpacking boxes and shelving books in preparation for the opening of their new library on May 5.

The previous location closed April 23 to allow staff time to move books, computers and other materials to the new library.

The new 11,200 square foot building is more than twice the size of the current library at 2815 Speight.

Some of the new amenities include a large meeting room, conference room, and two study rooms. There will also be five additional public computers and room for more library materials.

The new library is located at 2737 South 18th Street next to the Family Practice Center Dental Clinic. The project was made possible through a gift from local philanthropists Malcolm and Mary Ruth Duncan.

The Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library also raised funds for furniture and equipment for the new building. “The library staff is very excited about moving to this new and larger facility,” said James Karney, Director of Library Services. “We are grateful and thankful to Malcolm and Mary Ruth Duncan for this generous gift to the citizens of Waco.”

The former library was housed in a shared building with the South Waco Recreation Center. The library’s previous space will now be renovated for use by the recreation center.The bond election package approved by voters in May of 2007 included $1.8 million in funding for the recreation center renovations.

“The re-design of South Waco Community Center will allow for activities to be conducted without interruption due to crowded conditions,” said Rusty Black, Director of Parks & Recreation. “Staff will be able to provide a much greater variety of programming due to the expansion of functional space thus allowing for greater customer satisfaction.”

Summer Camps

City of Waco Parks and Recreation summer camps kick off June 4 and registration is now taking place. South Waco, Bledsoe-Miller, and Dewey Recreation Centers are all offering summer day camps Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 13.

Children will participate in indoor and outdoor activities, arts and crafts, games, field trips and much more. The registration fee per child is $50 and the camp cost is $160 per session.

For more information contact the recreation centers at South Waco 750-8650, Bledsoe-Miller 750-8684, and Dewey 750-8677.

Camp Cameron is another exciting summer camp that begins on June 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for ages 5 to 13. Camp Cameron is an outdoor adventure camp that offers campers a mix of environmental and recreational activities such as hiking, archery, kayaking, swimming, and nature studies.

The registration fee is $50 per camper and $65 a week. For more information, call 750-5980 or visit www.waco-texas.com.

History Day Camp

The Museum Association of Waco will sponsor “Making Tracks in History Day Camp” on June 16-20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for students in 4th - 6th grade. Walk in the footsteps of a Ranger, a train engineer, an entrepreneur, an athlete or a naturalist while enjoying crafts, games and activities. The cost is $100 per child and need-based scholarships are available.

For more information, visit www.texasranger.org/mawcamp.htm or contact Hollis at 652-5216.

 

If you'd like to submit information for the City Talk Newsletter, you can send an email to: marlenen@ci.waco.tx.us
or call 750-5638.

 

City Staff Spotlight

New Employees

The City Attorney’s office welcomes Natasha Dixon, legal secretary.

The Fire Department welcomes Ellie Standford, customer service representative.

Facilities welcomes Gene Sparkman, electrician.

The Public Health District welcomes Cynthia Hampton, nurse in the Immunization Clinic.

Finance welcomes David Filer, senior financial analyst.

Street Services welcomes Eliseo Garcia and Roberto Garcia, both equipment operators.

Promotions/Transfers

Mark Hines, Engineering, has been promoted to the position of Director of Engineering.

Joshua Griffin, Solid Waste Services, has transferred to the Traffic Department as a traffic technician.

Moving On

Phillip Woods, Waco Convention Center, has left the City of Waco to accept a position as manager at Cheddars.

Retirement

Mitchell Whitley, Public Health District, will retire on May 30, after more than nine years of service as a sanitarian in Environmental Health. A reception will be held in his honor on Tuesday, May 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the training room located in the Health District Building.

Lisa Grissom, Finance, retired on April 25 after 22 years of service with the City of Waco.

Congratulations

Street Services selected Frank Butler, equipment operator, as their employee of the month for February.

Several Parks and Recreation Department employees participated in the Texas Parks and Recreation Society’s State Maintenance Rodeo in San Angelo, Texas. Rafael Rivera placed second in the mowing obstacle course and partnered with Ben Zilka to take home second in the truck and trailer team event. Shane Meeks placed fifth in the nail driving competition.

Police Explorers Win Awards

By Officer Sofie Martinez, Police Department

The Waco Police Explorers participated in the 2008 Texas Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor Association (TLEEAA) competition on April 4-5 at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson. Each of our two teams competed in four events. They placed in the following three events:

  • 2nd place-Bomb Threat Response
  • 3rd place-Robbery in Progress
  • 3rd place-Crisis Negotiation

Officer D.J. Adams, the newest advisor, competed in the Top Dawg physical agility course and beat all the other advisors with a time of 49 seconds. He was awarded with the Top Dawg Advisor 1st place trophy.

Explorer Ashley Rios was nominated for 2008 TLEEAA Explorer of the Year. From what the TLEEAA board revealed, there was a great deal of competition. However, they were impressed with her accomplishments in the explorer post and her dedication to the department. Ashley was selected as the State of Texas Explorer of the Year.

On behalf of myself, Officer Sofie Martinez, Officer Steve Dieterich, Officer D.J. Adams and our explorers, thank you to all that helped train them and to everyone for supporting us.

Explorer Captain Ashley Rios was selected from among numerous nominations as the 2008 Texas Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor Association (TLEEAA) Explorer of the Year.

Kids Summer Reading Club

Join Summer Reading Club to win prizes for reading your favorite books, magazine, or audio book.

Reading club is for preschool through age 12. Preschoolers participate by listening to stories.

Sign up May 31 - June 30 and record your reading time and titles in your reading log. Complete your goal and receive prizes July 7 - Aug. 11. For more information call 750-5941.

Diabetes Support Group

A support group for those with diabetes and their caregivers meets the third Monday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District in the Preparedness Training Room. The May meeting will be held on May 19. To ask questions, contact Christine Smith at 750-5631 or christines@ci.waco.tx.us.

Table of Contents

Click on the Story Name
to go to the page
where the information is listed

 

 

To view previous issues
of City Talk, click here:

Click here to view: Page 2

 

City Services Common Questions & Answers Forms & Information News & Events City Job List
Policy Manual Employee Benefits
City Talk Online Health & Wellness Training - Team Waco program

City of Waco | PO Box 2570 | Waco, Texas 76702-2570 | Telephone: (254) 750-5638
New Site Design February 2004. Site Design by City of Waco Municipal Information Office
© 2004 City of Waco. All Rights Reserved.
Comments: marlenen@ci.waco.tx.us