TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE

Producer: Whitney Bishop

MAY 2012

 Watch this Video: Mother\’s Day at the Park

ANCHOR LEAD: If you’re looking for a unique Mother’s Day experience, consider an outing to a Texas state park. State parks across Texas are encouraging families to visit this weekend. According to one group of moms, it’s a great way to bond with your kids.

OUTCUE: You can find a nearby park on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website www.TexasStateParks.org/MothersDay

SCRIPT

SUPER: Brazos Bend State Park near Houston

(baby alligator demo) “Who’s gonna touch it? Somebody touch it!”

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These families are learning how alligator moms care for their young. State parks across Texas are holding events like this to encourage families to come out for Mother’s Day.

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SUPER: Rosalyn Byrd – Park Visitor

“Mother’s Day in a state park is awesome. If you go to a restaurant with your parents or your children they’re not going to really remember the restaurant. They’re going to remember a state park though. Remember when we took grandma and we saw the alligator? Remember when we saw the red-eared slider deliver the baby? That’s the best way to have a Mother’s Day.”

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Texas state parks were hit hard last year by drought and wildfires. But now that the weather’s improved, park officials are hoping visitors will return.

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SUPER: Sharon Hanzik – Brazos Bend State Park

“The funding that we need comes from our park visitation. People visiting parks helps us out best of all.”

SUPER: TexasStateParks.org

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Texas Parks and Wildlife created a special Mother’s Day section on its website with picnic ideas, weekend events and park activities. Brazos Bend State Park near Houston recently hosted a cooking demonstration of some easy-to-make, healthy picnic recipes.

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SUPER: Tiffany Blackmon – Texas Beef Council

(Tiffany at cooking demo) “You want to put strawberries on it? You go for it girl.”

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First-time park visitor Rolanda Green is already planning her return trip.

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SUPER: Rolanda Green – Park Visitor

“I would definitely come back. I didn’t know what I was missing out on. We went on a nature trail and I got to see at least two huge alligators. It’s a great experience for me and the boys.”

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So if you’re looking for ways to spend some quality time with mom, an outing at a state park could make it a Mother’s Day to remember.

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(Rosalyn Byrd) “That’s a memory that has nothing to do with a restaurant, has nothing to do with a meal. ‘Cause when the meal’s over, you’re done. But if you go to a state park, you can enjoy this forever.”

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Karen Loke

Video News Producer

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, Texas 78744

512-389-4997

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/tv

Saturday morning’s beautiful blue sky and 73 degree temperature was a perfect backdrop to a successful day of clean-up and volunteer camaraderie with a group of 75 of Moody’s “finest”! Keep Moody Beautiful sponsored our 3rd annual Great American Texas Trash Off at Kitchen’s Park on Saturday, April 21st. KMB would like to sincerely thank all those who volunteered and helped us to clean up the streets of Moody!

Special thanks to the Moody ISD! Superintendent Dr. Chane Roscoe, along with elementary and high school principals, Mrs. Heltenberg and Mr. Satterwhite brought along teachers and student groups to compete for the TTO Treasure Hunt Prizes. Most importantly, however, these youth and adult volunteers came out to learn the importance of being a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem! Other teams from the Baptist and Methodist Church youth came to do their share as well. Painted purple plastic water bottles (PPPWB) placed along the streets and gutters of Moody were each awarded $10 to the lucky volunteer who found them. The winners of these “Cash for Trash” purple bottles were Samuel Shepard, John Price, Haley Bowan, Trish Henrey, Thea Dixon, Abby Munoz, Jonathon Deveney, Karisma Allen, Amy Taylor, Jeff Allen, Taylor Petty, and Kyle Dean. The First Baptist Youth group won $20 for the “Most Unusual” item found in the Treasure Hunt, which was a BB gun target. The $25 Grand Prize Treasure Hunt winners were from the First Methodist Youth group.

KMB would like to recognize all of our very generous sponsors for this year’s Texas Trash Off! Donations were received from Lucy’s Cafe, Scott and White Healthcare, D & S Conoco Pit Stop, IESI, First National Bank of Moody, Circle H Grain and Feed, and Cornerstone Roofing. Thanks so much to these business’ for “giving back” to Moody. Now let us give back to them by “Shopping Local!”

A delicious lunch of barbeque chili hotdogs, chips, and soft drinks was prepared and served by Moody’s own renowned barbeque chefs, Councilman Red Watkins, Honorary Sam Bass, and KMB’s 2011 “Man of the Year”, Jerry Cagle. While sitting in the shade or sun enjoying our picnic lunch, we listened to special country music “picks” from the collection of DJ Marc Shepard.

A huge 400 yard dumpster bin was donated by IESI Waste Management for this Great American clean-up event. By the end of the morning, it was estimated that 3 tons of litter, metal, and plastic debris filled the bin! All of this litter coming off of the streets of Moody! This massive poundage of litter reminds us to take a moment and be aware of what we are using on a daily basis! (Ok, here goes) One time use plastic packaging containers are literally filling up our landfills and oceans! (plastic drink bottles and plastic bags are the worst culprits) It is literally an epidemic! Plastic packaging is biodegrading into small colorful pieces of bite size plastic which ends up in the oceans and then in the stomachs of our fish and wildlife! PLEASE use old fashion glass or recyclable aluminum containers as much as possible! Please “THINK” before you buy things in one time plastic packaging containers and take your own recycle bag or container for shopping…stainless steel coffee mugs please. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! If we take care of Planet Earth, she will abundantly provide for all of our needs! We have got to stop this plastic madness! If we refuse to accept plastic, companies will stop packaging this way. Most of the plastic is NOT recycled! Even if you diligently put them in your handy dandy green recycle bin, thinking that “All is Well.” Most is being sent to CHINA! Plastic does NOT just go away! It is here for THOUSANDS of years! KMB main educational focus is to educate Moody residents and youth regarding this very important issue on behave of our Beloved Planet Earth.

Huge thanks and appreciation to KMB Sargeant Jerry Cagle for heading up the Texas Trash Off event. Thank goodness for his strong back! Special recognition also to Bobbie Cagle, Katie Shepard, Martha Bass, and Helen Caperton for using your hidden talents to make this event so special!

And lastly, in case you were wondering…Keep Moody Beautiful did not win the Governor’s Achievement award from Keep Texas Beautiful this past year. We were disappointed and somewhat deflated, but not defeated! We will “Try, Try Again!” and “Never ever give Up!” We have realized how much we have to truly covet this award…probably 3 years of consistent effort should do it!

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Rapoport Academy to Open Second Elementary Campus

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Originally founded in the basement of a small church in East Waco, Rapoport Academy has grown over the last 14 years to include pre-K through 12^th grades, serving 454 students. Over the last few years, the list of students waiting to gain entry to the elementary has significantly exceeded the number of available spots. At times, 30-40 applications will be pending in any single grade for 1-2 available spots.

In keeping with its mission to provide a high-quality educational choice for students, Rapoport Academy has purchased and will begin renovations on the former Hillcrest Adult Day Care building located at the corner of 34^th and McArthur. This campus, known as the “North” campus, will initially offer 34 spots each in kindergarten, first, and second grade beginning this fall – August 2012.

In 2013, Phase II of the construction will be complete, thus allowing for the addition of pre-Kindergarten, third, and fourth grade. Upon completion, the North campus will replicate the current East elementary campus, serving about 200 students.

Applications for all grades in the district are being accepted at this time. To apply, interested parents should visit www.rapoportacademy.org and select the “Enrollment” tab. Placement at either the North or East campus will be done administratively during the enrollment process and will be based on multiple factors such as residence and availability of enrollment spots.

On Monday, May 7, 2012, from 5:45-6:30, Rapoport Academy will host an open house at the current elementary campus located at 2000 J.J. Flewellen. For more information about the application process, please contact Gaylene Reed at (254) 855-2397.

“The Texas Construction Association is proud to support Kyle in his efforts to establish standards for consolidated insurance programs, prevent workplace fraud and fight for less complicated lien laws,” said Michael White. “The TCA looks forward to working with Kyle in Austin as he serves as State Representative.”

A lifelong rancher and an active member of the local community, Kyle serves on various business and community boards, including the Texas Beef Extension, the Brazos Valley Farm Bureau, and the Allen Academy School Board.

“I am honored to have the support of the TCA,” stated Kacal. “They represent the interests of the men and women who build the structures where we live, work, and shop – a very valuable sector of our economy.”

Established in 1998, the TCA acts as the voice of Texas construction subcontractors and suppliers throughout the state. Since its founding, the TCA has fought for evenhanded construction laws and unbiased regulations in the construction industry. The TCA currently represents over 2600 subcontractors and suppliers throughout the state of Texas.

Walk Across Texas, sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, is a fun, flexible, and FREE way to encourage people to exercise. There is no money involved, except perhaps to buy a good pair of walking shoes! Team members can walk together or individually; just keep track of your mileage and report it to your team captain who then enters it on the website. The Walk Across Texas program is a program that works with any group, families, friends, neighborhoods, communities, churches, and work sites.

To register a team, go to our website at http://walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu. For more information, call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in McLennan County at 254-757-5180.

We reported about the city of Waco jumping on me because some hoodlums
dumped some discards on my lot. What started it was our decision to have a
bigger trash, trying to be a good customer. Apparently the bad guys
thought it was a new dumping station. They dropped mattresses, an old bed,
rugs and other stuff. We decided for $75 a month we didn’t need a big trash
container plus the hassle that goes with it. So the city pulled it, but
didn’t give us time to put these discards IN the trash can.
We got a threatening letter from the city about the liter.
To make a long story short Sherri Street, with Keep Waco Beautiful, was able
to persuade the city to hold off till Stepping out day. They did and we did.
The city brought a dumpster out and it wasn’t long before we cleared the
debris and neighbors brought their discards. With the help of 15 Baylor
students participating in the twice a year Steppin’ Out program, we had it
all cleaned up by 3 p m. Even had some limbs cut and put in the rolloff.

Wiley Stem has been moved over to solid waste and he was concerned about our
problem. The city council had a big
discussion about what to do about littering and why some residents are not
using the four different types of containers for what they are designed for.
For Saturday, we can say residents and the Baylor students saved the city at
least 10 trips to dump by city trucks.
Our thanks to our Baylor group Global Community, Living & Learning Center,
Evan Chori. Coordinator for the Baylor project was Craig Abee who came out
early to see about our projects.

Sherri says she had 180 volunteers at the Lake Waco cleanup Saturday. Thanks
Sherri and Baylor Steppin’ Out.

The vacant lot connected with the 25th street theatre
has long been a problem. At night apparently neighbors picked that spot to
celebrate and throw their trash and bottles on the ground with no thought of
who was going to clean up after them. And that’s with no business open
around there. So now a 6 foot fence has been put up on the lot. Let’s see if
that stops the littering and partying.

Not like the boom years but still a great bunch of RVers come to Waco each
year for their Spring Rally. They are members of the Good Sams clubs, which
has members who live the RV life.
For $75 you can hook up your RV on the HOT fair parking area and have light
and water hookups for a whole week.

State Director Karen McAbee, Sr,. says she tries to have enough activities
to keep everyone busy and happy. For instance Saturday she had a Pet Parade
.Sunday was an Easter Bunnie hat parade.
There’s entertainment every day and various caters serving meals. Many still
go out to McDonalds an d other local restaurants. When they get back they
put their receipts in a bag and add this up at the end of the rally. Usually
this figure is about $200,000. A figure the city and chamber can brag about.
State Director McAfee and her husband Dwayne are among the few members that
still work full time. They work until Wednesday and then take off from
Dallas for the weekend. Beside the big rallies like this one they make
individual chapter rallies around the state. Then they get in their motor
home and go to other Sam bores around the U S. She has 52 volunteers helping
her put on the rallies. The fair staff have learned how to keep them happy
by supplying their needs. The storms in Dallas kept some from coming.
Their six page program is loaded with activities. Besides entertainment they
have seminars on fixing up your units. Washing and waxing and fixing your
hair are two more of them.
Despite the cost of diesel fuel at $4.10 a gallon an RV is still a good
investment, especially if you want to get away for a weekend or even a week.
The big rigs get 8 miles to the gallon. The economy has hurt the sale of
RVs. They used to have three dealers show their latest models, but not any
more. The biggest dealers near Waco went out of business.
Back in the good old days Waco was the site of perhaps the largest rally in
the Southwest. The fair found places for 1250 RVs. We took a picture from
the air and it is still in one of their many fun filled scrapbooks.
Samborees have been held in Texas for 49 years.
Nine club members brought their rigs 900 miles from El Paso. They didn’t
know what a great buy the fair provides them so their booked in a private
park. They must have been first timers.

Etch-A-Sketch click here: Local Artist demonstrates Romney campaign!

by Robert Harlan