Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Water usage

The city of San Angelo says efforts to conserve water are paying off. On Sunday, residents and businesses' water consumption was the lowest its been in some time: seven-point-nine million gallons, compared to 10-point-four million on the same date last year.

Truck N Tractor Pull tickets

The city of San Angelo wants you to know that tickets are on sale now for the Hot Rod Truck N Tractor Pull. That's coming up Saturday, January 25th at the Coliseum. The show will include monster trucks, such as the Carolina Crusher, competing in a car- and van-crushing showdown. You can find more information and a link to buy tickets on the city's Facebook page.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Economic Development Director hired

The City of San Angelo has hired a new Economic Development Director. He's Roland Peña, a public affairs specialist with the Lower Colorado River Authority whose economic development experience spans 20 years. Peña will serve as the lead staff member for the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, which administers the half-cent sales tax for economic development. Peña succeeds Bob Schneeman, who has served as the interim Economic Development director. Peña's first day with the City will be January 21st.

Flu shots

The San Angelo-Tom Green County Health Department is urging citizens to get influenza vaccinations and take precautions in the wake of an increase in local flu cases. Flu vaccines are administered during the Health Department's weekly immunization clinic on Tuesdays from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in its offices in Suite 9 at 2030 Pulliam Street. The clinics are open only to walk-ins. Children seeking the flu vaccine must present updated shot records at the time of the visit; adults must do so only if they are receiving other vaccinations.

Suspect jumps out of vehicle

A San Angelo man arrested on several felony charges after jumping out of a moving vehicle and fleeing police this weekend. On Saturday, an officer pulled over a vehicle for committing a traffic violation at the BelVue Apartments on North Bell Street. While the vehicle was still in motion, the driver jumped out and fled the scene. The passenger, 24-year-old Ubil Samaniego of San Angelo, was arrested for an outstanding County Warrant. Police say they saw suspected narcotics in plain view in the interior of the car. With help from Police Service Dog Snoop, the SAPD tracked down and arrested the driver, 29-year-old Christian Montanez of San Angelo.

Stolen vehicle and property

A San Angelo man was arrested this weekend after police recovered a stolen vehicle and stolen property. Just before midnight Friday, an officer observed a 2001 Nissan Xterra pass him and enter the parking lot of the San Angelo Lodge located on West Beauregard Avenue. The officer said the driver overreacted to seeing his patrol car and followed the driver to determine if criminal activity was taking place. The Xterra was found in the parking lot, unoccupied, and a computer check indicated it had been stolen out of Lubbock. Police caught up with 34-year-old Shawn Clark at the pool area. Further investigation turned up property stolen in a burglary on Oxford Drive. Clark was charged with burglary of a habitation and criminal trespass.

Pit bull attack

Authorities say a man was attacked by five pit bulls while riding a bicycle in Tom Green County. It happened Thursday afternoon in Carlsbad. The sheriff's office says the 28-year-old man was hospitalized with puncture wounds to his arms and legs after being attacked by five pit bulls while riding his bicycle. Deputies initially found only the owner of one of the dogs, who was advised to quarantine the animal.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Gas price update

Supplies decreased and demand increased, helping to push the price for a barrel of oil to more than 100 dollars last week. As a result, Triple-A reports retail gas prices will likely move higher this week and into the New Year. The national average for a gallon of regular is three-31, seven cents more than last week. The Texas statewide average of three-12 was also up seven cents. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three dollars to three-11 a gallon.

Concho River lights

You've got just two more nights to take in the downtown holiday decorations. The City of San Angelo says the Concho Christmas Celebration lights display along the refurbished Concho River downtown is open to traffic from 6 p.m.to midnight tonight and tomorrow night. The suggested donation is five dollars per vehicle.

Water usage

The city says water conservation is alive and well in San Angelo. On Saturday, San Angelo residents and businesses used eight-point-six million gallons of water compared to nine-point-five million on the same date last year. On Friday, the numbers were eight-point-four million this year; 10-point-nine million last year.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Gas price update

Going into the weekend between Christmas and New Year's, a check of gasoline prices finds they are going up. According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas in Texas today is three dollars, nine cents--that's up six cents from a week ago. But it's still well below the national average of three-28, also up six cents. In San Angelo, gas-buddy-dot-com reports that the price of regular ranges from two-92 to three-11 a gallon.

Resolution Run

If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to do some running, here is the perfect opportunity for you: it's the 10th annual Resolution Run, a fundraiser for the East Concho Volunteer Fire Department. The event includes a half-marathon plus five- and one-mile runs. It begins on Abernathy Road, just east of North Loop 306. The Resolution Run will be held on Saturday, January 4th, with registration opening up at 8 AM.

Blood for tickets

You can give blood and possibly get concert tickets. Everyone who donates at United blood Services or at a local blood drive from now through January 7th will have a chance to win the George Strait Cowboy Rides Away Concert Package. That includes two tickets to Strait's concert in Austin on January 10th and a 50-dollar gift card. You can find United Blood Services at 2020 West Beauregard. You can make an appointment by phone at 325-223-7500.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Water usage

On Wednesday, San Angelo's water consumption was the lowest it's been in a long time. City residents and businesses used eight-point-one million gallons of water compared to seven-point-seven million on the same date last year. That's also the fifth day in a row of sub-nine-million gallon water usage.

Rodeo tickets

The city of San Angelo says tickets to the San Angelo Rodeo's 12 performances will soon go on sale to the public. They can be purchased beginning Monday, January 6th, at 10 AM at all city ticket outlets, including the convention center and the coliseum. They're also available through a link on the city's home page and by phone. San Angelo's is one of the world's largest rodeos in terms of the number of competitors and the size of the purse. You can find out more at san-angelo-rodeo-dot-com.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Water usage down

San Angelo has had four straight days of sub-nine-million-gallon water usage. On Tuesday, city residents and businesses used eight-point-three million gallons of water compared to nine-point-eight million on the same date last year. Remember, current watering restrictions limit you to watering your lawn once every 14 days and one inch per application.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Water usage

Sunday, San Angelo used eight and a half million gallons of water compared to nine-point-seven million on the same date last year. That makes two days in a row that city residents and businesses have used less than nine million gallons.

History Harvest

San Angelo History Harvest will hold a workshop on preserving family heirlooms next month. It will be held on January 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stephens Central Library on West Beauregard Avenue. Fort Concho is participating in the event, which is free and open to the public. Attendees may bring old family photos, letters, journals, home movies and videos and other documents. Sponsoring organizations will scan the paper items and immediately return the owner’s original materials, along with a free digital copy. The organizations also will create and retain a digital copy in accordance with the owner’s approval.

San Angelo unemployment

Most of San Angelo is working: the city's unemployment rate in November was four-point-six percent - down from four-point-eight percent in October and the same as it was a year ago. However, there were 664 more employed people in San Angelo than in November 2012. The state unemployment rate was five-point-eight percent, down point-two percent from the month prior and from a year ago.

Padron path progress

The city of San Angelo reports that a second pouring of the walking path at Jaime Padron Memorial Park was completed earlier this week. The half-mile loop is two-fifths finished and should be complete by the end of January.

Reservoir gates reopened

The City of San Angelo reports that the gates to the roads at Twin Buttes Reservoir were reopened Monday. They were closed Friday to prevent damage to the roads during and after last week's showers.

Gas price update

Gasoline prices have stabilized in time for Christmas and New Year's. That's according to Triple-A, which says that trend should continue through the holidays. The national average for a gallon of regular is three-26, up four cents from last week. In Texas, the average price is three-07, up three cents. A check of gas-buddy-dot-com finds that the price of regular in Corsicana ranges from two-92 to three-11 a gallon.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Fatal motorcycle accident

A motorcycle accident Saturday afternoon southwest of San Angelo killed a Robert Lee man. 43-year-old Robert Edward Clark was riding a Honda motorcycle that collided with a Ford pickup on US 67 at Twin Buttes Marina Park Road. According to the DPS, the driver of the pickup, 73-year-old Nolan James Fontenot, was trying to turn left and failed to yield to the motorcycle. Clark was pronounced dead at Shannon Medical Center; Fontenot and an 11-year-old passenger on the bike, 11-year-old Zoie Posas of Robert Lee, were both injured.

Holiday safety tip

Here's another holiday safety reminder from San Angelo's fire marshall. Kitchens get crowded quickly during the holiday season, which can lead to a dangerous house fire. Ross Coleman advises that you create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.

Concho Xmas lights

If you want to go look at some holiday decorations, the City of San Angelo reminds you that the Concho Christmas Celebration lights display along the refurbished Concho River downtown is open to traffic from 6 p.m.to midnight daily throughout the month of December. The suggested donation is five dollars per vehicle.

Water usage

As San Angelo continues under drought restrictions, the city's residents and businesses continue to use less water and that trend continued into the weekend. On Friday, San Angelo used nine-point-three million gallons of water compared to 10-point-nine million on the same date last year. On Saturday, the figure was nine-point-four million this year; eight-point-five million last year.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Nature Center events

A reminder that the first of two holiday-themed events at the San Angelo Nature Center is coming up this weekend. Holidaze at the Nature Center will take place this tomorrow afternoon. Free candy and cocoa will be available. Admission is free for members, non-members will pay three dollars each. And the Nature Center will host an overnight New Year's Eve slumber party for children. The cost is 25 dollars for members and 35 for non-members.

Water usage

Wednesday was another day of water-saving by San Angelo residents and businesses. They used 10-point-one million gallons of water compared to 10-point-two million on the same date last year.

Tree recycling

The City of San Angelo will offer residents two sites to recycle their non-artificial Christmas trees. From Thursday, the day after Christmas, through Friday, January 10th, residents can drop off their trees at the SAFE Recycling Center. That's at 702 Warehouse Road. Or you can drop them off at the Coliseum parking lot at 50 East 43rd Street. Trees can be dropped off any time and the City will run them through a chipper as needed. Trees must have all ornaments and decorations removed to prevent damage to the chippers.

Holiday safety tip

Here's another holiday safety tip from San Angelo's Fire Marshal. Ross Coleman urges that while you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food for the holidays, check it often and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States.

San Angelo's most wanted

San Angelo's Most Wanted is a fugitive sought on an active warrant for possession of a controlled substance. He's 54 year old Darnell Samuel, who is described as 6-1, 250 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. You can find his picture on the SAPD Facebook page. If you've seen Darnell Samuel, you can anonymously call the 24-hour tipline: 855-TIPS-24-7.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Winter's Eve

An annual holiday event is coming up this Saturday night, hosted by the San Angelo Culteral Affairs Council and Museum of Fine Arts. "Winter's Eve" will feature a seated dinner prepared by Chef Mike Hennessy of Side Oats Restaurant in Menard and music and dancing. Tickets are 75 dollars each. The museum is taking reservations at 653-3333.

Water usage

On Tuesday, it was another day of saving water by San Angelo residents and businesses. They used 10 million gallons of water compared to 10 and a half million on the same date last year.

Holiday safety tip

Here's another holiday safety tip from San Angelo's Fire Marshal. Ross Coleman warns you to never leave your holiday cooking unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop, and turn it off when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time.

Most wanted caught

San Angelo police say an anonymous tip has helped them apprehend one of San Angelo's most wanted. 50-year-old James Eldon Schell had been a fugitive sought on an active blue warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Water theft reminder

A reminder from San Angelo police: taking water from city-owned fire hydrants is theft. If you see anyone tampering with city-owned hydrants and they are not city personnel, you are asked to call the San Angelo Police Department’s non-emergency line at 657-4315.

Paypal scam

San Angelo police are warning of an online scam involving PayPal. If you receive an email from Paypal informing you that your account is temporarily blocked or limited it could be a scam. The scam email will contain a link that will look like a PayPal web address. When you click on the link it will actually send you to a website that looks identical to PayPal but the web address will not be paypal.com. To check on your PayPal account open a new window in your web browser. Go to paypal-dot-com and log in as you normally would. If there are any problems with your account you will be notified when you log in.

Cemetery cleanup

The city of San Angelo has announced that the annual Fairmount Cemetery Cleanup will take place on Wednesday, January 15th. During the cleanup, city workers will remove flowers and other items from gravesites so they can clean and trim the cemetery grounds. Residents who want to preserve items should remove them from gravesites before January 15th. They can begin returning items to the cemetery on the 21st. Items left at the gravesites will be picked up and held for one week so that residents can get them back.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Water usage

Here are the latest numbers on water usage in San Angelo. On Monday, city residents and businesses used nine-point-eight million gallons of water--down from the 10-point-six million used on the same date a year ago. Keep in mind that watering restrictions continue--you're allowed one time every 14 days and no more than one inch at a time.

Downtown master plan

Meeting on Tuesday morning, the San Angelo City Council approved a downtown master development plan.The plan will serve as a roadmap for the continued revitalization of the central business and entertainment district. The Council will consider implementing the next phase of the plan at a later date. You can find a link to the plan so you can read it for yourself on the city's Facebook page.

Mega Millions results

If you bought a Mega Millions ticket in Texas, you did not win the jackpot. There were two winning tickets in last night's Mega Millions drawing and they were sold in San Jose, California and Atlanta. The total jackpot, the second-largest in US history, was expected to wind up close to 648-million dollars. Each winner could take a lump sum of at least 170-million in cash. The winning numbers were 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball: 7. The jackpot now resets to 15 million dollars for the next drawing, which is on Friday night.

City holiday schedule

Here's a holiday heads-up from the city of San Angelo: City offices will be closed December 24th and 25th and January 1st for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Garbage will not be collected and the landfill will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Trash for affected residential customers will be picked up the following Saturday and trash for affected commercial customers will be picked up either a day early or the day after each holiday. City offices will reopen at 8 AM the day after each holiday.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Oil and gas impact

Oil and natural gas development had an economic impact last year of more than 14-billion dollars on West Texas, including the Concho Valley. That's according to a research center at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The study also found that the industry provided more than 21-thousand jobs in the region. That includes workers in oil and gas, drilling, support operations, pipeline construction, refineries and petrochemicals.

Fort Concho stocking stuffers

If you're looking for stocking stuffers, the city of San Angelo suggests a Christmas at Old Fort Concho T-shirt and/or ornament. T-shirts, available in all sizes, cost10 dollars for the 2013 edition and five dollars for the 2012 version. 2013 ornaments are five dollars. You can find it all in the visitors center gift shop at the fort.

Mega Millions

Business should be brisk at San Angelo-area lottery retailers today. The Mega Millions jackpot, which had rolled over Friday night to 550-million dollars, went up again on Monday. It's now at 586-million dollars. The cash value is 316-and-a-half million. Lottery officials say they expect the jackpot to increase one more time before tonight's drawing at 10 PM.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Holiday safety

Here's another holiday safety tip from San Angelo's fire marshal. While candles are a popular holiday decoration. But Ross Coleman warns to never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle. The holiday season is the biggest season for home fires.

Water usage

Speaking of water--on Sunday, San Angelo used 10-point-two million gallons of water compared to 11 million on the same date last year. As a reminder, outside watering is allowed only once every 14 days at no more than one inch per application.

City council meeting

The San Angelo City Council meets this morning. Agenda items include the downtown master development plan, zoning compliance for RV, manufactured housing and mobile home parks and voting for board of director nominees for the Tom Green County Appraisal District. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Convention Center and is open to the public. You can find a link to the full agenda on the city of San Angelo's Facebook page.

Court sides with city

A Texas appeals court has sided with the City of San Angelo in a water rights dispute. The justices of the 7th District Court of Appeals in Amarillo ruled that a slight change in the City's water rights permit at Twin Buttes Reservoir in 2005 does not adversely impact other users downstream. Mayor Dwain Morrison said the ruling confirms the City took appropriate care during the application process to ensure the request would not impact water rights throughout the Concho River basin.

Nature Center events

The San Angelo Nature Center will host two upcoming holiday-themed evening events. Holidaze at the Nature Center will take place this Saturday afternoon. Free candy and cocoa will be available. Admission is free for members, non-members will pay three dollars each. And the Nature Center will host an overnight New Year's Eve slumber party for children. The cost is 25 dollars for members and 35 for non-members.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Gas prices drop

Gasoline prices dropped slightly over the last week. Triple-A says that was due to a combination of higher inventories and lower demand. The auto club says gas prices could spike again over next week's Christmas holiday, but not as much as they did over Thanksgiving. The statewide average price for regular in Texas is three-05 a gallon, down five cents from last week. Gas-buddy-dot-com reports the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-92 to three-13 a gallon.

City Council meeting

The San Angelo City Council will consider a downtown master development plan when it meets at 9 AM tomorrow at the Convention Center. Council meetings are open to the public. You can find a link to the full agenda on the city's Facebook page.

Candle safety tip

Another holiday safety tip from San Angelo's Fire Marshal. The holidays are a popular time to light candles, which raises the chances of a house fire. Ross Coleman advises that you use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom, where two of five U.S. candle fires begin, or other areas where people may fall asleep.

Need to ID

The San Angelo Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in indentifying a subject suspected of selling stolen utility trailers. The suspect's picture is posted on the SAPD's Facebook page. If you can identify the subject, you're asked to contact San Angelo police by phone, text or online--or remain anonymous by calling the 24-hour Tip Hotline at 855-TIPS-24-7.

Mega Millions rollover

There was no winner of the 425 million dollar jackpot in Friday night's Mega Millions lottery game. So the grand prize has rolled over and now totals 550 million dollars, with a cash value of 295 million dollars. The next drawing is tomorrow night at 10 PM central. Mega Millions is played in Texas and 42 other states, plus the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands.

ASU accreditation reaffirmed

Angelo State University just got some good news. The school's accreditation has been reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges with no recommendation for improvement. ASU President Brian J. May called it "the best possible outcome, saying "only two percent of schools receive reaffirmation with one or fewer recommendations for improvement. May said the result ranks Angelo State with some of the best universities in the nation.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Powell appointment

Governor Rick Perry has reappointed retired Air Force Colonel Chuck Powell of San Angelo to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission. Powell's term expires February 1st, 2019. The commission advises the governor and Legislature on defense-related issues, prepares an annual report for state leaders, and helps base commanders prepare for the next round of base realignment evaluations. Powell served as a colonel in the Air Force, including as commander at Goodfellow Air Force Base. He's also been a member of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee.

Wounded officer fund

The San Antonio Police Department has established a fund for Officer Bobby Deckard, who police said was shot in the head Sunday by armed robbery suspects he was pursuing. Deckard, a seven-year veteran of the force, remains in critical but stable condition at the San Antonio Military Medical Center. The police department on Thursday reported no change in his condition. Generations Federal Credit Union is administering the fund, named the Robert Deckard Fund.

Most Wanted

San Angelo's Most Wanted this week is a fugitive sought for active warrants involving several charges of sexually assaulting a child. 44-year-old Francisco P. Blanco is described as 5-4, 150 pounds and bald with brown eyes. If you have any information regarding Francisco P. Blanco, you're asked to call the San Angelo police 24-hour tip line at 855-TIPS-24-7.

Holiday crime tips

Criminals view the Holiday season as a chance to burglarize homes for cash, credit cards and gifts. To avoid becoming a victim , the San Angelo Police Department has some tips, such as: Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave your house or apartment— even if it is only for a few minutes. If you display a Christmas tree, don’t display it and gifts in the front window so they are easily visible from the street. And, if you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television so your house or apartment appears to be occupied.

Low-speed chase

A man led San Angelo police on a low-speed chase on Thursday. Just after noon, the suspect, driving a Dodge pickup, was stopped on East Chadbourne for an expired vehicle registration. As an officer approached, the driver fled on foot. He eventually got back in the pickup and police chased him at speeds of 35 to 40 miles an hour. The driver got out in the 400 block of East 29th and tried again to flee on foot but was caught. 26-year-old Jose Luis Valdez of San Angelo was arrested for an outstanding warrant and evading with a vehicle.

Cold case investigation

It was five years ago this week that a man named Juan Ibarra was shot to death in San Angelo. The Police Department's Cold Case Section is seeking information regarding the murder, which took place in the 700 block of East Avenue D Street. A red or maroon passenger car was seen driving in the alley. Investigators believe Ibarra might have been killed by someone who knew him and there could be more than one suspect. The motive for the murder is still unknown. Ibarra was described as having few enemies, was very well liked, and left behind two young daughters. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact San Angelo police by phone, text or online--or call 855-TIPS-24-7

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Holiday safety

More holiday safety advice from San Angelo's fire marshall: Ross Coleman advises that you always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed. And, we wouldn't think you would have to be told this--never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Apparently, some folks have tried that ... with disastrous results.

Water usage

After a couple of days of using more water, San Angelo residents and businesses were using less on Tuesday: 10 and a half million gallons of water compared to 11-point-six million on the same date last year. A reminder that San Angelo is under drought restrictions, which limit watering to once every 14 days and no more than one inch per application.

Hit and run

The San Angelo Police Department is searching for a hit and run suspect. On Tuesday evening, around 7:40, witnesses say an older model, retired ambulance-style vehicle strike a parked vehicle in the 500 block of South Chadbourne. The vehicle being was blue with white stripes. If you have any information regarding the suspect vehicle or driver, contact San Angelo police via phone, text or online--or call their 24-hour tip line at 855-TIPS-24-7.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Water usage

San Angelo has been using more water lately. On Monday, San Angelo residents and businesses used 11-point-one million gallons of water compared to nine-point-nine million on the same date last year.Sunday, San Angelo used 10-point-nine million gallons of water compared the total a year ago of nine and a half million. The city remains under drougt restrictions--watering is allowed once every 30 days and no more than one inch at a time.

Xmas safety tips

San Angelo's Fire Marshal is out with more holiday safety tips: Ross Coleman recommends that you use only Christmas tree lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

New SAPD officer

There's a new member of the San Angelo Police Department. On Tuesday, Chief Tim Vasquez swore in Officer Charles Flores in front of his family and friends at a ceremony in the Chief’s Conference Room.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

ASU Nursing Honor Society

Angelo State University's Nursing Honor Society will add 22 new members during an induction ceremony this Friday. It will take place in the Houston Harte University Center, 1910 Rosemont Drive. The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the University Center's C.J. Davidson Conference Center and is open free to the public. Inductees will include both ASU students and local community nursing leaders.

Stolen vehicle

On Monday morning, a resident on Crockett Street started his Dodge Stratus and went inside while it warmed up. Before he came back, it was gone. However, a short while later, the man was in another vehicle when he saw his car on North Main Street, occupied by an unknown male. When he tried to make contact with the driver, the car took off and headed north on Main Street reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. The driver eventually lost control of the car and crashed it into a chain link fence at 24th Street. The victim detained the driver until San Angelo Police arrived. The driver was identified as a 16-year-old juvenile, who was transported to the Tom Green County Juvenile Justice Center and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Hoteliers help Salvation Army

Members of the San Angelo Lodging Association are joining together to help those in need this holiday season. The hoteliers will be donating shampoor, conditioner and linens to the Salvation Army to assist that organization in its mission to bring comfort to the needy. The Association will make the presentation to the Salvation Army at the Visitors Center later today.

ASU fall commencement

More than 500 students are scheduled to graduate during Angelo State University's fall commencement this Saturday. The ceremonies take place in the Junell Center/Stephens Arena on South Jackson Street. Graduates of the College of Education and College of Health and Human Services will walk the stage during a 10 a.m. ceremony. Graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Business will walk the stage in a 2 p.m. ceremony. All of ASU's commencement activities are open free to the public.

San Angelo number 8

San Angelo is an up and coming city. San Angelo has jumped 10 spots to number-eight in the 2013 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index. The index is based upon creating and sustaining jobs, and economic growth. Components include job, wage and salary, and tech growth.

Hit and runs

The San Angelo Police Department's hit and run investigator advises there have been 21-reported hit and runs within a six-day period. If you are responsible for any of them, or you know who is, contact investigator Steven Quade at the police department. Or you can remain anonymous and call 855-TIPS-24-7.

Stolen vehicle

San Angelo police responded Saturday night to East 22nd Street where a vehicle was reported stolen. The victim said he had left his red Ford F-150 running and after going inside, saw the truck being driven away along with assorted Christmas gifts, cell phone, cash and other possessions. On Sunday night, police were called to an alley on West 26th Street for the report of an illegally parked vehicle, which turned out to be the stolen Ford F150, up on cinder blocks with its tires and wheels removed. The victim's possesions were also gone. If you know anything about the case, you can call 855-TIPS-24-7.

Amber alert

The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued an Amber Alert for a five-year-old girl. Aaliyah Garcia is white/hispanic, four-foot-two, 60 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen in Beverly Hills-McLennan Monday afternoon and was wearing blue pants, a purple shirt, blue and white shoes, and a pink jacket. Aaliyah has a scar on the bottom of her chin. She is believed to be with a non-custodial parent, 24-year-old Alicia Ortiz, white/hispanic, 5-4, 127 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, driving a four-door white Pontiac Grand Am. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Beverly Hills police department.

Special weather statement

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a special weather statement for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley. Slick and hazardous road conditions are possible throughout much of the area. Residual moisture from the very light precipitation that fell Monday afternoon and evening froze on exposed surfaces, including some roadways, resulting in a layer of black ice. Be especially wary when traveling on bridges and overpasses. Motorists are advised to slow down and use caution, especially on less-traveled roads. Your complete forecast is just ahead.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Grape Creek ISD hearing

Grape Creek ISD will be holding a public hearing to discuss the district's Texas Academic Performance Report for 2012-2013 this evening at 6:30. It will be held in the Grape Creek Community Room on US Highway 87 North. The report will include student performance and profile data, district financial information and campus performance objectives.

Water main break

Crews were working on Sunday to repair a water main break in San Angelo. It happened in the 44-hundred block of Southwest, causing a five-foot sinkhole to develop in the grassy area. along southwest boulevard yesterday had crews working to repair the leak. It's believed the leak caused low water pressure at nearby apartment complexes

Filing deadline

This is the final day for candidates to file to run in the Republican and Democratic primary elections in March. They have until six PM to sign up. Both major parties will urge potential candidates to do so during filing events at 5 pm. The GOP will be meeting at the party's offices at 215 South Koenigheim and Democrats will be in the Coney Island room at 212 South Chadbourne. The primary ballot includes federal, state, and county positions.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a hazardous weather outlook for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley. Patchy freezing fog is expected this morning. Areas from the Big Country south to San Angelo, Menard and Junction have the greatest potential for development. Freezing fog could produce light ice accumulations on exposed surfaces, resulting in slick roadways, especially on bridges and overpasses. Your complete forecast is on the way.

Gas price update

Motorists should start to see gas prices inch lower this week after the Thanksgiving spike. That's according to Triple-A, which also cautions that the decrease might not last long because the cost of crude oil jumped on positive economic news and an increase for heating oil. The national average for a gallon of regular is three-26, one-cent less than last week. The statewide average in Texas of three-09 decreased three cents from a week ago. Gas-buddy-dot-com reports the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-96 to three-13 a gallon.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Winter storm warning

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a winter storm warning for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley. With temperatures already well below freezing, ice has accumulated up to one-quarter inch on area roadways. That has resulted in very dangerous driving conditions and travel is strongly discouraged. Ice on trees and power lines may cause damage perhaps resulting in power outages. Periods of freezing rain and sleet, moderate to heavy at times, will continue through this morning. Dangerous wind chill readings are also possible. Your complete forecast is on the way.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Habitat ReStore opens

You can save big on new and used building materials as the Habitat for Humanity Warehouse Restore opens to the public tomorrow. They're selling paint for just a dollar a gallon, mini blinds for a dollar. Five dollars gets you large blinds, doors, windows, commodes and light fixtures. Save money on those home improvements and help a good cause: Habitat for Humanity's ReStore will be open tomorrow morning from 8:30 to 11:30. The address is 401 North Chadbourne Street.

Xmas tree safety tips

San Angelo's Fire Marshal is offering safety advice regarding Christmas trees. Ross Coleman says if you have an artificial Christmas tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant. Coleman says If you choose a fresh Christmas tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut a half-inch from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.

Winter weather advisory

A winter weather advisory is in effect for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley, beginning at 6 o'clock tonight and continuring through noon tomorrow. The National Weather Service says freezing rain and sleet will spread south into the Concho Valley, including San Angelo, late this afternoon and evening and farther south into the Interstate 20 corridor tonight. The wintry mix will result in ice accumulations of one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch. Ice will develop on area roadways, especially bridges and over passes, making for dangerous driving conditions. Dangerous wind chill readings will also be possible, dropping into the teens by Friday morning. Your complete forecast is on the way.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Xmas at Ft Concho still on

Despite some challenging weather predictions for the weekend, Christmas at Old Fort Concho will take place on all three days, this Friday through Sunday, with a full schedule of programs and events. Fort Concho Manager Bob Bluthardt noted more than two-thirds of the event is held indoors, including virtually all of the entertainment, all children's workshops except one, all main merchants and special displays. Any changes to the programs or schedule will be posted at fort-concho-dot-com.

San Angelo's Most Wanted

San Angelo's Most Wanted this week is a fugitive sought for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. James Eldon Schell is 49 years old, 5-10, 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. If you know anything concerning the whereabouts of James Eldon Schell, contact San Angelo Crime Stoppers at 658-HELP.

Grape Creek ISD public hearing

Grape Creek ISD will be holding a public hearing to discuss the district's Texas Academic Performance Report for 2012-2013 next Monday at 6:30 PM. It will be held in the Grape Creek Community Room on US Highway 87 North. The report will include student performance and profile data, district financial information, campus performance objectives, a report on violent and criminal incidents and a report on student enrollment and academic performance. For more information, contact the Grape Creek ISD administrative offices.

Xmas Pops Concert

The San Angelo Symphony's Christmas Pops Concert continues this season with "A Christmas Fiesta". You're invited to join in the celebrations and enjoy Christmas classics and festive holiday favorites in a show perfect for the entire family this Saturday at the McNease Convention Center under the direction of Maestro Hector Guzman. Doors open at 6pm and the concert begins at 7pm. You're encouraged to come early for seating--a full house is expected.

Water usage

City residents and business continue to conserve water. On Monday, San Angelo used 10 million gallons of water compared to 12-point-nine million on the same date last year. A reminder that under current drought restrictions, watering of lawns is allowed only once every 14 days and no more than one inch at a time.

West TX energy consortium

Several San Angeloans, including City Manager Daniel Valenzuela, are attending the first West Texas Energy Consortium conference and economic impact presentation at Howard College in Big Spring. Attendees will learn about and discuss the economic, education, workforce, community and economic development, infrastructure and public safety issues related to the region's growing oilfield development.

Stolen vehicle found, suspects arrested

On Monday night, San Angelo police were informed by Midland police about a stolen silver Camaro that was possibly in San Angelo along with a female suspect identified as 30-year-old Chancee Neatherlin. An officer found the vehicle and pulled it over in the 2300 block of Sherwood Way. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident. Police say Neatherlin was the passenger and 41-year-old Armando Ruiz was the driver. A search of the vehicle turned up some 600 dollars in cash along with a digital scale, a glass pipe, and several bags commonly used for illegal narcotics. Neatherlin allegedly had a syringe in her coat and Ruiz had 17 outstanding city arrest warrants.

Winter weather on way

Winter weather is still on the way. The National Weather Service at San Angelo says an Arctic cold front will move into west central Texas, including the Concho Valley, early tomorrow morning, bringing much colder temperatures and the potential for freezing rain and sleet. The wintry mix is expected to taper off Friday morning. Light ice and sleet accumulations are expected across the area, with possible dangerous travel conditions. Your complete forecast is just ahead.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Holiday fire warning

A holiday warning from San Angelo Fire Marshal Ross Coleman: U.S. fire departments annually respond to an average of 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half of them are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.

Winter weather returning

Brace yourself for another round of winter weather this week. The National Weather Service at San Angelo says that late Wednesday night another strong cold front will move into west central Texas, including the Concho Valley. A wintry mix could begin as early as Thursday morning and continue through Friday evening. High temperatures on Friday and Saturday will be in the low to mid 30s and lows in the upper teens to low 20s. Freezing rain and sleet will make travel difficult and the cold temperatures can harm unprotected pipes, pets and livestock.

Police chase, drug bust

A San Angelo man was arrested on Thanksgiving after leading police on a vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash in northwest San Angelo. Just after midnight, police pursued a pickup that had run a red light. The driver wound up crashing into a pole but was not injured. A search turned up marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia used in drug trafficking and a weapon. 23 year old Raymond C. Smith was taken into custody and charged with Driving with an Invalid License and No Insurance, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Evading Arrest Detention with a Vehicle, and Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Gas prices

Triple-A reports close to 40-million motorists traveled for Thanksgiving and, even though gas prices have been on the rise, many paid less for gas than last year. The national cost for a gallon of regular averaged three-28, 13 cents less than 2012’s Thanksgiving average of three-41. As of today, the statewide average in Texas is three-12 a gallon, one cent less than a week ago. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three-02 to three-13 a gallon.

Mistletoe Magic

You're invited to Mistletoe Magic 2013 at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. There will be two come and go sessions starting at 9:30 AM and one PM. Santa is making a special trip to visit with the girls and boys attending the event. General admission to Mistletoe Magic is 12 per person and children 1 year of age and younger are free. The money raised through Mistletoe Magic is returned to the community through the projects, programs and services of the Junior League of San Angelo.

Nature Center holiday events

The San Angelo Nature Center will host two holiday-themed evening events in the coming weeks. Holidaze at the Nature Center will be from 4 to 6 PM on Saturday, December 21st. Free candy and cocoa will be available for all who attend. Admission is free for Nature Center members, while non-members will cost three dollars each. And the Nature Center, will host a New Year's Eve slumber party for children from 8 PM Tuesday, December 31st, to 8 AM Wednesday, January 1st. The The cost is 25 dollars for Nature Center members and 35 for non-members.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

San Angelo unemployment down

Good news concerning unemployment in the city of San Angelo. The city's jobless rate in October was four-point-eight percent, down from five-point-one percent the month before. The statewide rate in October was six percent and nationwide it was seven percent. Year over year, San Angelo's labor force grew by 510 workers to 57-thousand-105. The number of employed grew by 490.

ASU small business seminar

ASU's Small Business Development Center will host another free seminar this evening. It's called "Shaking the Money Tree: Finding Funding for Your Business" and it will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the City's Business Resource Center on Chadbourne Street. It's geared toward those looking for money to start or expand their business. For more information, go to s-b-d-c-dot-angelo-dot-e-d-u.

Monday, November 25, 2013

City offices open late

And this word from the San Angelo City Manager: because of hazardous driving conditions, city offices will not open this morning until 10 o'clock. That is two hours later than normal.

Gas prices up

Just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, motorists in Texas are facing an unwelcome spike in gas prices. Triple-A says that's because of production problems at refineries in Texas and Louisiana. Statewide, the average price for a gallon of regular is three-13, up 16 cents from a week ago. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-97 to three-19 a gallon.

Winter weather advisory

The National Weather Service at San Angelo says a winter weather advisory remains in effect for all of west central Texas, including the Concho Valley, through 10 o'clock this morning. Periods of light freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet will continue ahead of a large, slow moving, upper-level low. Precipitation amounts will be light but temperatures will remain below freezing with additional accumulations resulting in continued hazardous driving conditions through much of the morning.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Give pint get turkey

This week, you're invited to Give a Pint and Get a Turkey. Everyone who donates at the United Blood Services donation center at 2020 W. Beauregard in San Angelo today, tomorrow or Wednesday will get a free frozen turkey courtesy of HEB. Most blood shortages occur during holidays, such as the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. The UBS donation center is open today and tomorrow from noon to 6 and Wednesday from 8 AM to 2 PM. Find out more at united-blood-services-dot-org.

Shannon Clinic recognized

More national recognition for Shannon Clinic, which has been classified as a "better performer" in the annual report from the Medical Group Management Association. The association recognized the Clinic as a “better performer” in the areas of cost management and patient satisfaction compared with similar medical group practices nationwide. Only three other clinics in the state of Texas received recognition for both of these areas.

Wreath-laying ceremony

Members of Civil Air Patrol's San Angelo Composite Squadron and Texas Leadership Academy Cadet Squadron are partnering once more with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that recognizes U.S. military veterans who have guarded and preserved America's freedom by placing remembrance wreaths on the graves of the fallen during the yearend holiday season. The public is invited at 11 AM on Saturday, December 14th, to Belvedere Memorial Park in the All Vets Cemetery on Arden Road for a short ceremony and lay a wreath at one of the veteran's graves.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Senior Services holiday bazaar

The city of San Angelo invites you to start your holiday shopping today at the Station 618 senior center, located at 618 South Chadbourne Street. The Senior Services program's annual holiday bazaar will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow with many unique handmade items for sale.

Winter weather advisory

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a winter weather advisory for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley, through 6 AM tomorrow. Periods of freezing rain and freezing drizzle are expected to develop across the area today, at times mixing with sleet. Ice accumulations are expected to remain light through tonight, affecting mainly elevated surfaces, such as bridges and overpasses, power lines, motor vehicles and trees. A winter storm watch will be in effect starting tomorrow morning. Additional winter weather is expected tomorrow into early Monday with additional accumulations of ice and sleet possible.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Diesel fuel theft

A San Angelo man has been charged with Theft of Property after stealing some 14-hundred dollars in diesel fuel from a convenience store in Ballinger Wednesday.The suspect, 36-year-old Alvie Paul Sisk, Junior, had allegedly fled a Stripes store in a pickup truck with the stolen fuel in a large plastic container located in the truck bed. After receiving the suspect and vehicle description, San Angelo Police began searching areas of the city that Sisk was believed to have ties to. The truck and Sisk were eventually pulled over in a residential neighborhood in east San Angelo.

New emergency management coordinator

A veteran of almost 40 years in law enforcement has been chosen as the new emergency management coordinator for the City of San Angelo and Tom Green County. Steve Mild most recently served as a captain in the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office. Mild succeeds Ron Perry, who served in the position for six years prior to retiring at the end of last year. Mild's first day on the job was Monday of this week.

Stolen jerseys sought

The San Angelo Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating a burglar or burglars and stolen property. More than 40 Nike football jerseys bearing the team name "Scorpions" were stolen, along with several items of football equipment, from a local storage unit. You can see a picture of the jersey on the SAPD Facebook page. Anyone with information concerning the burglary or the location of the stolen jerseys is urged to contact the San Angelo Police Department or call the 24-hout Tip Hotline at 855-TIPS-24-7.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a hazardous weather outlook for west central Texas, including the Concho Valley. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible tonight, along with small hail, gusty winds and dangerous lightning. Tomorrow through Sunday, a wintry mix of rain, sleet and freezing rain will be possible. The primary hazards will be potentially dangerous travel conditions. Prolonged exposure to the cold temperatures will be dangerous for humans, pets and weak livestock.

Bobcat boosters event

The Bobcat Booster Club will be holding a blue and orange glow run and walk this evening to benefit all sports and spirit groups at Central High School. The event is for all ages. Glow necklaces will be handed out to all participants. The cost to enter is 10 dollars. After the run and walk the public is invited to a Bobcat spirit rally free of charge. It all gets underway at 6 o'clock this evening at San Angelo Stadium.

Holiday closings

A holiday heads-up from the City of San Angelo: most City offices will be closed next Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no garbage collection or landfill operations on Thanksgiving Day. Affected residential customers will next receive pickup services the following Monday. Affected commercial customers will receive service either Wednesday or Friday. City offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, December 2nd.

ASU meat judgers 2nd

Angelo State University's Meat Judging Team finished second out of 19 teams and placed three individuals in the top 10 at the 2013 American Meat Science Association's International Meat Judging Contest. That took place Sunday in Dakota City, Nebraska. ASU was one of only two teams not from a Division I university. The AMSA International is considered the national championship of collegiate meat judging, and as runner-up, ASU is the 2013 Reserve National Champion.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

No 3rd Mueller trial

A San Angelo businessman won’t be tried for a third time for his wife's murder. The state of Colorado filed a motion to dismiss the second-degree murder case against Frederick Mueller, who was accused of killing Dr. Leslie Mueller while they were at their rural vacation home in 2008. Mueller's first two trials ended in hung juries; the third trial had been scheduled to begin January 6th.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Cold weather coming

Cold weather is on the way. San Angelo city officials say that, tomorrow through Saturday, there will be a chance for a wintry mix with freezing rain. Daily high temperatures will be significantly lower than normal. You're advised to move plants indoors and protect outside pets.

Need to identify

San Angelo police are asking for your help in identifying a man who used an invalid credit card to rent a room at a local hotel in early September and stole a television from the room. He was wearing glasses, a baseball cap, long athletic shorts and sneakers. He had multiple tattoos on his back, neck and upper arms. You can see photos of the subject on the SAPD Facebook page, plus instructions on how to tip off police.

Rehab Center showcase

West Texas Rehabilitation Center's Quilt, Afghan and Fiber Showcase is set for this Friday at the Stephens Central Library. Quilts, afghans and wall hangings which are donated to WT Rehab's Telethon auction will be on display from 10 am to 5:30 pm in the Community Room. All of the donated works also will be featured on the Center's auction website next month and will be auctioned to the highest bidder during the Rehab 2014 Telethon in January.

Youth Make a Difference art show

Yourth Make a Difference, a program of the West Texas Counseling and Guidance Center, will be holding its first art exhibit and reception next month It's scheduled for Tuesday, December 3rd, from 5 to 6 PM at the Stephens Central Library. Guests are invited to browse the art exhibit, featuring ceramics, paintings and mixed media; and mingle with the artists, ages 8-15.

Traffic delay

Motorists can expect delays of up to 30 minutes today at the interchange of US 67 and US 277 in San Angelo as bridge beams will be set for the new US 67 bridge. Flaggers and a pilot car will be used to guide traffic through the work zone. Delays will occur throughout the day. Motorists are asked to use an alternate route if possible. The northbound and southbound ramps of US 277 at the US 67 interchange are also closed. Detour signs are posted.


ASU Small business seminar

ASU's Small Business Development Center will host another free seminar next week. It's called "Shaking the Money Tree: Finding Funding for Your Business" and it will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the City's Business Resource Center on Chadbourne Street. It's geared toward those looking for money to start or expand their business. For more information, go to s-b-d-c-dot-angelo-dot-e-d-u.


City council meeting today

The San Angelo City Council meets this morning at 9 AM at the convention center. The meeting his open to the public. You can find a link to the full agenda on the city's Facebook page.

Xmas at Fort Concho

A reminder from the city of San Angelo that tickets to the 32nd edition of Christmas at Old Fort Concho on December 6th, 7th and 8th are on sale now at Fort Concho. Daily admission is seven dollars for adults, five dollars for seniors and military, three dollars for kids and free for children 6 and younger. You can find a link to more information on the city's Facebook page.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Municipal court closed Thursday

The City of San Angelo's Municipal Court will be closed to the public on Thursday of this week for a computer conversion and staff training day. The deadline for fines or court appearances due on Thursday will be extended to Friday. The court is located downtown at 110 S. Emerick St. Citations can still be paid online on Thursday on the City's homepage.

Crash witnesses sought

San Angelo police are searching for citizens who may have witnessed a two-vehicle crash that left three injured Sunday afternoon. The accident at East 7th Street and North Chadbourne involved a pickup and a car. The driver of the car, 24-year-old Chelsea Nicole Hernandez of San Angelo, who was accompanied by an infant girl and 2-year-old boy. All three were transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for treatment. The driver of the pickup, 22-year-old Dalton Linthicum of San Angelo, was reportedly not injured. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact San Angelo police.

Social media leads to arrests

A man and woman turned themselves in to authorities recently after seeing their image appear on the San Angelo Police Department's social media sites. Police were looking for help in identifying the subjects in a poster and video connected to a recent burglary of a building and use of a stolen credit card. Arrest warrants were obtained for 29-year-old Scott Knight and 23-year-old Myan Largent, both of San Angelo.

Burglary arrests

Three San Angelo men were arrested for burglary early Monday morning after a resident detained them until police arrived. Just after 1 AM, police responded to a residence on East 11th Street and located the property owner detaining three suspects, two wearing gloves and the third holding a backpack and bolt cutters. They had allegedly forced entry into a locked storage building and removed a CD player from a vehicle parked inside. 18-year-old Emilio Garza, 19-year-old Robert Carrasco Junior and 30-year-old Mark Carrasco were all charged with burglary of a building and transported to the Tom Green County Jail.

Water usage

When it comes to water usage, San Angelo used 11-point-two million gallons of water on Friday, compared to 10-point-four million on the same date last year. Saturday, the city used 10-point-seven million gallons of water compared to 11 million the year before.

Gas prices flat

Triple-A says gas prices are still looking good for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. However, despite another drop in the price of oil, gas prices were relatively flat over the past week. Still, they are below last year's averages The national average price of regular is three-21 a gallon, two cents more than a week ago. The statewide average of two-97 was up three cents. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-90 to three-03 a gallon.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Teens arrested for burglary

Three San Angelo residents were arrested for burglarizing a building on Friday thanks to an officer who recognized them from video surveillance footage that morning. The officer had viewed the footage following a burglary at the Tenas Leadership Charter Academy Building on TLC Way. Further investigation revealed the suspect to be a 17-year-old male from San Angelo. Police responding to a residence on Guadelupe Street saw items in the backyard matching the description of the stolen propery. After getting permission from the property owner, officers went inside the home and arrested the 17-year-old, along with a 16-year-old female and a 13-year-old male.


Hickory Aquifer update

Here's an update from the city of San Angelo concerning the Hicory Aquifer project. The 30-inch transmission pipeline from the Hickory Aquifer and the booster pump stations were substantially completed last month. Meanwhile, construction on a groundwater treatment facility has begun as the contractor excavates for the building foundations. Once the Hickory Aquifer project is complete, the improvements will be capable of delivering 9 million gallons per day to San Angelo, supplementing the City's water supply on an as-needed basis.

Shannon Home Health recognition

More national recognition for Shannon Medical Center: Shannon Home Health earned a spot on the HomeCare Elite 2013 list which recognizes the top 25 percent of home health agencies nationwide. The ranking is based on factors including quality of care, patient experience, and financial performance. This is the eighth consecutive year for Shannon Home Health to receive the honor. Additionally, the program earned a spot in the Top 500 agencies for the third time in eight years.

International Education Week

Today marks the start of International Education Week and, on the Angelo State University campus, the Center for International Studies, Multicultural Center, Student Involvement, Freshman College and other partners are sponsoring a variety of activities. Several are open to the public, including a gallery of award-winning photos taken by students for ASU's Study Abroad Photo Contest and art projects by students who participated in this year's China study abroad program. The displays will be open free for public viewing in the Houston Harte University Center today through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Water usage

Water conservation continues in San Angelo. On Wednesday, the city's residents and businesses used used only nine-point-two million gallons of water compared to 10-point-six million on the same date last year.

Texas Recycles Day

Texas Recycles Day is tomorrow, and there are three local drop-off spots for unwanted items: The Colts field parking lot on University Avenue from 1-6 p.m. today, accepting used electronics; Christians in Action on East 6th Street from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and tomorrow, accepting electronics and clothing; and the SAFE Recycling Center on Warehouse Road, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. today and tomorrow, accepting electronics, appliances, dishwashers, water heaters, residential yard brush. There is no cost involved for any of the locations.

Cowboy Christmas

The City of San Angelo reminds you that tickets go on sale today for Michael Martin Murphey's Cowboy Christmas performance at the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark stables on December 5th. Buy them for 25 dollars at Fort Concho's visitors center; Blair's Western Wear on Sherwood Way; or the Cultural Affairs Council offices on the second floor of the Cactus Hotel on East Twohig Avenue. For more information, go to san-angelo-arts-dot-com.

SD card owner located

The owner of a lost SanDisk Micro SD card has been located after police posted a request to Facebook Thursday in hopes of locating the owner. Within minutes of reading the post, San Angelo resident Athena Jaso, a frequent viewer of the department’s Facebook Page, called police to tell them she recognized one of the women pictured in the photograph. Jaso gave a first name and place of employment for the woman, who police tracked down Thursday afternoon. After verifying the ownership, police returned the card to Melody Reed of San Angelo. Reed said card contained all the photographs of a recent family reunion.

Winter weather awareness

Wednesday was Winter Weather Awareness Day in Texas. And althought it's come and gone, officials of the state Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Public Safety say every Texan should take this opportunity to prepare for adverse winter weather. Their advice includes checking the weather forecast before you travel and have a way to receive storm warnings, monitor temperatures and visibilities, drive according to the condition of the highway, practice safe fire prevention and assemble a disaster kit.

MHMR fundraiser

You're invited to "Enjoy a short stack for a tall cause." It's a fundraiser for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is sponsored by MHMR Services for the Concho Valley and Applebee's Community Connections. Cost for pancakes, sausage and drink is five dollars and that's happening tomorrow morning from 8 to 10 AM at the Applebee's on Sherwood Way.

Experience ASU

Angelo State University's Office of Admissions will host its Experience ASU program for high school seniors and prospective transfer students this weekend. It's scheduled for tomorrow from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at various locations on the ASU campus.It's designed to give high school seniors, transfer students and their families an in-depth look at ASU academic and campus life. For more information, call the ASU Office of Admissions or go online to myfuture-dot-angelo-dot-edu.

Eneregy consortium conference

The West Texas Energy Consortium will host a one-day conference on Tuesday, December 3rd at Howard College in Big Spring. The organization will share its goals and present Phase I of a recently commissioned Economic Impact Study. The consortium is made up of the West Central, Permian Basin and Concho Valley Workforce Development Boards and brings together industry, business, government and citizens in an effort to educate, inform and address issues that occur as the oil and gas industry expands in this region. Interested individuals are invited to attend the conference. Find out more at west-texas-energy-consortium-dot-com.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Town hall meeting

Coming up later today, the San Angelo Police Department and Downtown San Angelo, Incorporated will hold a town hall meeting. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at 28 West Concho Ave. During this town hall meeting, SAPD Sector 2 Liaison Officer Jennifer Kuhlmann will present information on identity theft, crime prevention and online reporting. Citizens, business members and community leaders of Sector 2 are encouraged to attend. Sector 2 encompasses the area south of the Houston Harte Expressway and east of Bryant Boulevard.


Water usage

On Tuesday, San Angelo used 10-point-six million gallons of water compared to 10-point-four million on the same date last year. The city thanks you for your conservation efforts and reminds you that current drought restrictions allow for watering your lawn only once every 14 days and only one inch per application.

Upcoming city meetings

A couple of upcoming meetings in San Angelo to take note of. The Planning Commission meets at 9 a.m. Monday in the Convention Center. And the Fort Concho board meets at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Officers' Quarters 8. Both meetings are open to the public. You can find the agendas on the city's Facebook page.

Searching for the Wrights

San Angelo Police are searching for Mr. or Mrs. Wright—literally. Wednesday morning, police viewed photographs stored on a found SanDisk Micro SD Card in hopes of finding the owner. The SD Card, found in the parking lot at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts on the day of the 9-11 Memorial Prayer Service, contains numerous family photos that appear to have been taken at a hotel or other meeting space. A sign featured in several photos reads, “Wright Reunion”. Anyone with information about the owner is asked to contact the SAPD 24 Tip-Hotline at 1-855-TIPS-247.

ASU Wind ensemble concert

Angelo State University's Wind Ensemble will present an array of wind symphony classics at its fall concert next week. It's open free to the public and will take place on Tuesday, starting at 7:30 in the University Auditorium on West Avenue N. ASU director of bands Arturo Valdez says--quote--"This is a fun program with a vast variety of music for every taste."

ASU Native American celebration

In recognition of November as Native American Heritage Month, Angelo State University's Multicultural Center will host a Native American Celebration next week. It will be held on Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 1 PM in the Houston Harte University Center, on Rosemont Drive. The event is open free to the public and will include information posters and artifacts, craft stations and Native American music.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Freeze warning

Clear skies and cold, dry air are creating a hard freeze across west central Texas, including the Concho Valley, this morning. The National Weather Service at San Angelo says a freeze warning remains in effect until 9 AM. Temperatures were expected to fall into the low to mid 20's. Damage to temperature-sensitive vegetation is likely. Outside pets, livestock and unprotected pipes are also at risk.

ASU fall commencement speaker

Angelo State University has announced that the commencement speaker for fall graduation ceremonies. He's Lieutenant General Ronnie Hawkins Junior. A 1977 Angelo State graduate, Hawkins is the highest-ranking alumnus of ASU's Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 and currently serves as commander of the Defense Information Systems Agency headquartered at Fort Meade, Marlyand. Commencement will take place Saturday, December 14th, in the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.

Winter Weather Awareness Day

Today is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Texas. Officials of the state Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Public Safety say every Texan should take this opportunity to prepare for adverse winter weather. Their advice includes checking the weather forecast before you travel and have a way to receive storm warnings, monitor temperatures and visibilities, drive according to the condition of the highway, practice safe fire prevention and assemble a disaster kit.

Forgery, burglary arrest

San Angelo police have arrested a forgery suspect. Last Friday morning, officers responded to a call at Wells Fargo Bank on West Beauregard regarding a person who was attempting to pass a forged check. The suspect was found and identified as 23-year-old Floyd Harvey. Police confirmed the check, along with a checkbook and a social security card that Harvey later produced were stolen. A check revealed that the victim's vehicle had been burglarized. Harvey was arrested on forgery and burglary charges.

Fatal rollover crash

A San Angelo man was killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Saturday night. It happened around 10 PM in the 3100 block of West Houston Harte frontage road. San Angelo police arrived to find the driver of a Ford F150 truck deceased. They say the truck was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed, lost control and went up the embankment, causing it to roll twice before landing back on its wheels. The driver was identified as 22-year-old Joshua David Love. Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Gas prices down again

With just over two weeks until the heavily-traveled Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the price of gasoline continues to fall. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for regular gas today is down to two-94 a gallon, a drop of five cents from a week ago. And Gas-buddy-dot-com reports that the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-88 to three-03 a gallon.

Development Corp board meeting

The City of San Angelo Development Corp. board will consider allocating funds to the West Texas Water Partnership when it meets in open session tomorrow morning. The session gets underway at 8:30 a.m. at the Convention Center. You can find a link to the full agenda on the city's Facebook page.

Freeze warning

West Central Texas, including the Concho Valley, will be under a freeze warning overnight. The National Weather Service at San Angelo says the combination of a strong cold front today and clearing skies early tomorrow morning will result in temperatures dropping into the mid to upper 20s. The freeze warning will be in effect form nine o'clock tonight until nine o'clock tomorrow morning. The cold can harm unprotected pipes, plants, pets and livestock.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Experience ASU

Angelo State University's Office of Admissions will host its Experience ASU program for high school seniors and prospective transfer students this weekend. It's scheduled for Saturday from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at various locations on the ASU campus.It's designed to give high school seniors, transfer students and their families an in-depth look at ASU academic and campus life. For more information, call the ASU Office of Admissions or go online to myfuture-dot-angelo-dot-edu.

MHMR fundraiser

You're invited to "Enjoy a short stack for a tall cause." It's a fundraiser for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is sponsored by MHMR Services for the Concho Valley and Applebee's Community Connections. Cost for pancakes, sausage and drink is five dollars and that's happening this Saturday morning from 8 to 10 AM at the Applebee's on Sherwood Way.

ASU Best for Vets

Angelo State University has been named one of the nation's 120 Best Colleges for Veterans. That's according to the Military Times organization in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2014 rankings. ASU is ranked number 39 out of 86 four-year institutions on the list. The rankings factor in service member enrollment, percentage of tuition covered by the G.I. Bill and availability of specific programs for military and veteran students. Angelo State President Brian May said the 'Best for Vets' designation recognizes the school's efforts to provide quality programs for veterans and other aspects that speak to ASU's overall excellence.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Houston Astrodome Fate in Question

There is no shortage of ideas about how to save the Houston Astrodome, from transforming it into an indoor skiing complex to creating an amusement park. County commissioners there are in no rush to approve demolition, even though voters rejected a $217 million idea to turn the dome into a multipurpose facility. If they do demolish it, at a cost of an estimated $78 million, their options are top turn it into a parking lot, or fill the demolition hole with water, creating a detention pond for flood control.

Luminant Holds Off On Expansion

The owner of a Texas nuclear power plant is holding off on its request for federal permission to expand the plant. Dallas-based Luminant Generation had asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to double the number of nuclear reactors at its Comanche Peak plant from two to four. However, in a letter to the NRC on Friday, Luminant said its Japanese-based reactor partner had decided to focus on restoring nuclear power in Japan after a 2011 earthquake and tsunami led to a disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Additional reasons include the rumors of possible bankruptcy by corporate parent energy Future Holdings and the depressed state of Texas wholesale power prices. Luminant is keeping its application on file with the NRC, though.

More on Houston Party Shootings

Two high school students are dead and almost two dozen injured following a shooting at a house party near Houston, Texas. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia says the gunfire broke out when one person fired a weapon into the air in a celebratory way. Another armed partier reacted by firing into a crowd of people. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is searching for two suspects in the shooting which happened between 11 p.m. and midnight Saturday night. Authorities say they are following up on some solid leads, but urged anyone with information to come forward. More than 100 people were at the party when shots rang out. Garcia said the party got out of control after being advertised on social media. He said that led to a massive crowd, including people with ties to street gangs.

Veteran Gets Mortgage Free Home

Ceremonies and programs have been in full gear today as we give thanks for the service of the men and women of our military for Veterans Day. And here's a touching story of generosity that honored an area vet over the weekend. Kevin Wear, an Army soldier from Rice who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan in 2012, was presented with a mortgage free home Saturday in a ceremony at the UTSA football game in San Antonio. Wear's unit was hit by a roadside IED in Summer 2012, killing several soldiers. The key was presented to Wear and his family at the game by Wells Fargo, the San Antonio Chevrolet Dealers, and the Military Warriors Support Foundation.

Houston Shooting Update

A man and a woman are dead and almost two dozen people are injured after gunfire erupted at a house party in a Houston suburb Saturday night. More than 100 people, mostly 17- to 19-year-olds, were at the party when shots rang out. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said 19 were injured, with many suffering gunshot wounds. Others suffered injuries such as fractures and twisted ankles in the panic to escape. He also lashed out at the party organizers, who advertised it on social media. The Sheriff's Office is searching for two suspects in the shooting.

Abbott and Davis Formally Register

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and state Senator Wendy Davis have officially registered their candidacies for their parties’ nominations for governor in next year’s primaries. Abbott filed at the Texas Republican Party headquarters in Austin on Saturday . Davis also filed Saturday at an Internet shipping company headquarters in Austin. The two seek to succeed Republican Governor Rick Perry, who isn’t seeking re-election.

Veterans Day

It's Veterans Day and there are a number of events throughout the area to honor the service of our military men and women. The Veterans Day Parade in downtown San Angelo Saturday very well attended as people linked the streets to pay tribute. The annual parade lasted almost an hour and featured more than 100 entries. A reminder that in observation of Veterans Day, many federal, state and local offices will be closed today. The U.S. Postal Service won't be delivering mail, and , and many local branches of banks are also closed for the federal holiday.



Tuesday, November 5, 2013

ASU small business seminar

ASU's Small Business Development Center will host a free seminar, "How to Write Your Business Plan, Part Two: Focus on Financials," from 6-8:30 this evening at the City's Business Resource Center, on North Chadbourne Street. This seminar will focus on the financial sections of a business plan. Participants will learn how to draft their own cash flow projections and review financial reports. You can find out more at s-b-d-c-dot-angelo-dot-edu.

City garage sale

The City of San Angelo will host a garage sale Saturday to benefit the United Way of the Concho Valley. The citywide sale will run from 7-11 a.m. at El Paseo de Santa Angela, at Avenue D and Orient Street. All proceeds generated by the City will go to the United Way. All residents are encouraged to participate as sellers and buyers.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Seniors Still Believe tree

Meals For The Elderly has partnered with Sunset Mall for a fourth year to host a senior gifting program for their homebound elderly clients in Tom Green County named “Seniors Still Believe,” helping bring seniors Christmas cheer and hope this holiday season. Starting today and running through December 6th, the Seniors Still Believe tree will be located near the South entrance of Sunset Mall. It holds the Christmas gift wishes of seniors on individual paper ornaments. To make a senior’s wish come true, participants simply pick an ornament off the tree. Each ornament shares the senior’s name, their Christmas gift wish, and sizes if needed.

Turkey Shoot free-throw

The annual Turkey Shoot free-throw competitions hosted by the City of San Angelo's Recreation Division are coming up next Tuesday at two gyms: Southside Recreation Center on Ben Ficklin Road and Carl Ray Johnson Recreation Center on North Farr Street. There is no entry fee. Shooters will be placed in one of five age divisions and the winner of each division will receive a frozen turkey. The second-place finishers will win a pumpkin pie. For more information, call the Recreation Division.

Veterans Day

Most City of San Angelo offices will be closed next Monday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day. There will be no interruption of garbage collection or landfill operations. Fairmount Cemetery on West Avenue N will host a Veterans Day celebration at 11 a.m. on Monday. Hosted by the Friends of Fairmount Cemetery, the event at the cemetery will feature Fort Concho's artillery crew and bagpiper, and a keynote address from U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway. And Fort Concho, including the Barracks 1 Visitor Center, will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday for self-guided tours.

Arrest follows foot chase

On Saturday, a San Angelo police officer stopped the vehicle in the 400 block of West Avenue I for having an expired registration. During the traffic stop the driver gave a false name. The officer also noticed the registration sticker on the vehicle belonged to a different vehicle. The driver was then asked to step out of the vehicle and the officer then noticed a plastic baggy in the vehicle containing a substance that later turned out to be methamphetamine. When he was questioned about the substance, the driver fled on foot but was located in the 1200 Block of South David and arrested. He's identified as 26-year-old Justin Adame and faces multiple charges.

Water usage

San Angelo conserved water over the weekend. On Saturday, city residents and businesses used nine-point-one million gallons of water compared to 11-point-one million on the same date last year. On Friday, the numbers were eight-point-nine million gallons this year, 10-point-nine million a year ago. A reminder that new seasonal watering restrictions took effect Friday and limit outdoor watering to once every 14 days and one inch per application.

City council tomorrow

Tomorrow's San Angelo City Council agenda includes items related to Council members' compliance with City charter qualification requirements, the Lake Nasworthy development plan, the West Texas Water Partnership, trash collection and landfill operations, and the operation of golf carts on City streets. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Convention Center and is open to the public. You can find a link to the full agenda on the city of San Angelo's Facebook page.

Gas prices down

Gas prices inched lower last week after the value of the dollar increased as did oil supplies and helped push oil prices below 95 dollars a barrel for the first time since June. That's according to Triple-A, which says the national average of regular gas today is three dollars 26 cents, down three cents from a week ago. The statewide average in Texas is three dollars even, down by five cents. Gas-buddy-dot-com reports the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from two-93 to three-09 a gallon.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Water usage

Water usage has been up all week in San Angelo. On Wednesday, city residents and businesses used 11-point-four million gallons of water compared to 11-point-one million on the same date last year.

Watering restrictions start today

A reminder that new watering restrictions are in effect today for the city of San Angelo. Watering is now limited to once every 14 days and no more than one inch per application.

Arrest follows foot pursuit

A San Angelo man faces several charges after he led officers on a brief foot pursuit during a late Wednesday night traffic stop near Angelo State University. Police say 34-year-old Eric Hernandez was pulled over for driving recklessly on Knickerbocker Road. They say he could not produce a driver's license and intially gave a false name. As officers attempted to confront him, Hernandez allegedly ran away but was apprehended as he tried to jump over a fence on University Avenue. Hernandez was arrested and transported to the Tom Green County Jail.


Need to identify

The San Angelo Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in identifying a man who used a stolen credit card to make purchases at several locations in the city during September. You can find pictures of the suspect plus a link to surveillance video on the SAPD Facebook page, along with instructions on texting and phoning in your tips.

ASU in Battle of Brains

A team of Angelo State University computer science students will compete in the so-called "Battle of the Brains" this weekend. The regional round of the 38th annual Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest takes place tomorrow at Baylor University in Waco. The ASU team will compete in the South Central Regional Contest against teams from many universities in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Bill Ford seeking election

The man appointed one year ago to serve on the Tom Green County Commission from District Four will announce today that he's running for a full term. Bill Ford will make that announcement at 10am at the Visitors Center. According to a news release, Ford said he chose the Visitors Centers, with it's backdrop of the river, because--quote--"In our precinct we watch over four of the five rivers that flow into this county. Water is the most precious commodity we have, and all of us must do all we can to preserve it for the future."

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Water usage

Water usage is up a bit in San Angelo this week. On Tuesday, city residents used 12-point-one million gallons of water compared to 11 million on the same date last year. A reminder that new restrictions start tomorrow with watering only allowed once every 14 days.

ASU's new dean

Angelo State University has named a new dean of its College of Graduate Studies. Dr. Susan Keith, a member of ASU's kinesiology faculty, will take over the position on January 1st. The position opened up last fall when Dr. Brian May, who had a dual appointment as graduate dean and provost, was named ASU president. Dr. June Smith has served as interim dean for the past year. Dr. Keith joined the ASU faculty in 1997 as an assistant professor and has since been promoted to associate professor and professor. She has extensive experience teaching graduate studies.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Vehicle vs restaurant

A vehicle crashed into a San Angelo restaurant Wednesday afternoon. It happened around 1:30 at the McAlister's Deli on Sherwood Way. Police say that a 61-year-old San Angelo woman was trying to park her 2013 Nissan Altima in a parking space and had almost come to a complete stop. That's when the Altima reportedly accelerated, drove over the sidewalk, and hit a sign and a tree before colliding with the exterior of the building. The crash caused an estimated 10-thousand dollars in damages. No injuries were reported.

eDay

Angelo State University's Small Business Development Center is hosting the second annual eDay. This is an educational event open free to the public to promote entrepreneurship. It will be held next Thursday, November 7th, in the Houston Harte University Center on Rosemont Drive. Highlights will include an eLounge for networking, obtaining information and snacking, as well as a variety of breakout sessions. Registration can be done on the ASU website or at the door.

Shannon recognition

A San Angelo hospital has been recognized nationally. Shannon Medical Center was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The Joint Commission recognized Shannon for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions. The hospital is recognized for its achievement on the following measure sets: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care.

Felony DWI arrest

A major crash in San Angelo Tuesday evening might have been caused by a drunk driver. It happened in the 44-hundred block of Knickerbocker and involved a Dodge Ram and a car. Two people were transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries: 26-year-old Jeremy Todd Johnson and a six-year-old boy. An officer investigating the crash noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Johnson's breath. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for felony DWI because a child was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

Motel burglary arrest

San Angelo police responded Tuesday afternoon to reports of suspicious activity at a local motel. A man was reportedly entering rooms at the Days Inn on South Jackson Street and removing property. On the way to the motel, police learned that the man had left and gone to the Stripes convenience store on South Bryant Boulevard. 24-year-old Leston Kade Heflin of Mertzon was found sitting behind the store. It turned out that he had an outstanding warrant out of Travis County and was a person of interest in another San Angelo Police Department investigation. Police say property stolen from rooms at the Days Inn was found in a room Heflin was occupying without paying. He was charged with burglary of a habitation and his outstanding arrest warrant.

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, starts its 15th year on Friday and the Tom Green County library will have a kickoff open to the public. It's scheduled for 5 PM in the Sugg Community Room at the Stephens Central Library on West Beauregard. NaNoWriMo of Berkeley, California, expects over 500-thousand writers around the world to participate this year. The challenge is to write a novel of at least 50-thousand words by 11:59 pm on November 30th.

Water usage

For the first time in a while, water usage was up on Monday. San Angelo residents and businesses used 10-point-six million gallons of water on Monday compared to 10-point-three million on the same date last year.

PKP inaugural honor society

Angelo State University's new chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society will induct its inaugural class of 104 students during its first initiation ceremony next Tuesday, in the Houston Harte University Center on Rosemont Drive. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. and is open free to the public. PKP is the one of the nation's most prestigious academic honor societies for students in all academic fields. ASU received its charter for a local chapter last spring.

ASU book fair

Angelo State University's Mu Gamma chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi international honor society for education will host a book fair next week to benefit education students. The book fair will run from Monday through Friday in the Carr Education-Fine Arts Building on Dena Drive. The sale will begin at noon Monday and will close at noon Friday. Books for sale are from Scholastic Incorporated., a publishing company that specializes in books, magazines and educational programs for children.

Watering restrictions

Outside watering will be limited to once every 14 days beginning this Friday, in keeping with the City of San Angelo's drought contingency ordinance. With approximately 15 months of available water supply, San Angelo is in Drought Level Two, the second stage of the City's three-phased drought plan. Under the ordinance, outside watering is currently restricted to once every seven days. From November 1st through March 31st, those restrictions tighten to once every 14 days. Watering is also limited to no more than one inch per application.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fort Concho tonight

You can experience history in a new light at Fort Concho which is offering its annual special night tours this week. Refreshments and orientation will start at 8 o'clock at the Barracks 1 Visitor Center on South Oakes Street this evening. These special tours will show the fort and some interiors in the evening darkness. Guides will share stories about the post and note some of the soldiers who died while serving at Fort Concho. Tickets can be purchased at the Fort Concho Visitor Center prior to the event.

RR crossing repairs

A reminder that repairs began Monday on the railroad crossing on South Bryant Boulevard, also known as U.S. Highway 87, between Avenue L and Avenue K. Lane restrictions will narrow Bryant to one lane in each direction, north and south. The construction and the restrictions are anticipated to last eight days.

Water usage

San Angelo is on water-conservation streak. On Sunday, the city's residents and businesses used 10-point-three million gallons of water compared to 12-point-two million on the same date last year.

Gas prices down

After gas prices jumped on the announcement of the government reopen, Triple-A reports that increases in oil production and inventory and the possibility of sanctions against Iran pushed them back down. The nationwide average price of regular today is three-28 a gallon, down seven cents from a week ago. In Texas, the statewide average of three-04 is down by seven cents. In San Angelo, gas-buddy-dot-com says the price of regular ranges from two-98 to three-15 a gallon.

Traffic counters

You might have noticed traffic counters stretched across some local roadways. The Transportation Planning and Programming Division of TxDOT is collecting traffic data at almost 25-hundred locations in Tom Green County through November 21st. These 24-hour counts will be collected on all system roadways by contract personnel. For more information, contact the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Business plan seminar

ASU's Small Business Development Center hosts part one of a free seminar, “How to Write Your Business Plan" from 6 to 8:30 tonight at the City's Business Resource Center on North Chadbourne. This seminar is for prospective entrepreneurs looking for a road map to success that need a business plan. They will learn how to write a business plan. Part two of the seminar will be held next Tuesday evening. You can find out more online at s-b-d-c-dot-angelo-dot-e-d-u.