Waco Ahead of the Economy

Mayor Jim Bush gave an outstanding report to members of the Waco Rotary Club recently. I’ll give my report here. I believe Waco really lucked out to get millions in bond issue money to reinvent Waco. After the vote the economy crashed. We doubt that the bad news had come first, Waco voters would have turned them all down. Same for WISD and even MCC’s expansion. Apparently a lot of people were praying for our success. Since the economy did go south, bids on millions in projects came in under budget. So its been a blessing to get more projects approved than we would have otherwise. At the same time we were able to tap government grants to stretch our dollars. Now we are starting to enjoy a resurgence of Waco, like no time in our history. Just a few projects: Convention Center rebuilt, new library, new police headquarters, two new fire stations, Cameron Park updated, Cameron Park East upgraded, hike and bike trails, Neighborhood parks, and rebuilt Washington street bridge. Then new school buildings. MCC giant expansion.

Problems still unsolved: What to do with the increased traffic on Int. 35 and the ever increasing accidents? (Seven at one time Friday before the 4th). And the troubling environment that could shut us down on adding industry, and new trucking companies.

Did you know mayor Bush was a professional bowler before returning to Waco to get into the family business. He had three 300 score (perfect) games he told us recently. A bad back took him off the bowling circuit. Let’s hope he bowls us over leading to an ever increasing greater Waco.

More good news — BRIC in the old General Tire building.
Millions to be spent on improving the fair grounds. Finally a hotel in the area. I always thought one would go where the Social Security office is now. Their horses would be just across the street. Family and friends could visit them while the kids go through their competition., No Int 35 hassles. Long time ago Gene Ledel would book two rooms at the Holiday Inn on Waco Drive when he came with his large carnival operations. This was before the RV’s. I also remember Texas Power & Light had to put in temporary transformers to handle the increased electrical use. Now they generate their own electricity. Frank Deason used to sell these diesel generators after getting out of the carnival busies. Find a need and fill it…and he did.
Caterpillar has found Waco to be a great city to do business. They keep expanding and adding high paying jobs. They want the government to drop trade barriers.
And Space X — I think we are just beginning to see what they can do in outerspace.

Doreen Ravencroft is staging another super Cultural Arts Festival downtown. Sept. 18-20

An historic event will be the reenactment of the Chisholm trail. This is the same time as Baylor Homecoming, but with so many new hotels this shouldn’t be a problem. Oct 22-24

Doreen Ravencroft is staging another super Cultural Arts Festival downtown. Sept. 18-20.
Here we are in the middle of Summer and its little hot and usual but with a cloud cover and some rain, we’re doing OK. We’re blessed Lake Waco is full, even overfull so no water shortage. Gasoline prices down. We’ve lost some good friends like Lion Ike Carroll who can’t enjoy these great days. New Lions 2-X3 District Governor John Tramp will be making the rounds of 50 clubs. He just returned from the International Convention in from Sydney, Australia. This weekend the Lions gather in Groesbeck for their first get together of the new year. Waco Founders Lions members will be attending.
Something to look forward to. The World Cup will be coming to the USA in 2022. Could it be at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium?

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