2017 PROGRESS |
Signs of progress in Central Texas Progress is an annual publication of KDH Media Group that focuses on the developments of the past year in the Central Texas communities the Killeen Daily Herald serves. The section also takes an in-depth look at the changes in store in the year ahead. This year’s 116-page edition includes news, information, photographs and advertisements that highlight the positive developments in Killeen and its neighboring communities of Harker Heights, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Belton, Nolanville, Florence, Salado, Kempner, Gatesville and Lampasas. In addition to chronicling developments in the business sector, Progress also features news accounts, interviews and analysis from the areas of education, real estate, recreation, religion and the medical community. The content for the 2017 Progress edition was created by staff of the Killeen Daily Herald’s editorial and advertising departments.
Inside this issue Business
Page 4
Roll of Honor
Page 29
Real Estate
Page 34
Medical
Page 41
Fort Hood
Page 51
Education
Page 63
Harker Heights
Page 75
Copperas Cove
Page 89
Religion
Page 101
Recreation
Page 107
Yellow Pages
Page 113
2017 PROGRESS | A Killeen Daily Herald publication. Contact Us Editorial: news@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7542 Advertising: 254-501-7500 | Circulation: 254-501-7400 On the cover: Design by Renee Blue Find more news at KDHnews.com.
| 2017 PROGRESS
<<BUSINESS>>
2017 PROGRESS |
With nearly 143,000 people, Killeen’s population continues to grow By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The population of Killeen is on the way up, and projections show the climb won’t stop any time soon. According to Hilary Shine, Killeen’s director of public information, Killeen’s population is projected at 142,893 in 2017 — a 2,400-resident bump from 2016. The city’s population was 138,154 in 2014, according to census estimates at the time. The next few years are also expected to show growth, with 145,265 residents projected in 2018, 147,630 residents projected in 2019 and 149,998 residents projected in 2020. Shine said the city keeps track of population projections to help plan for the future. “Long-term planning for a growing city is the best way to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate challenges,”
Amy Proctor | Herald
Maracelli Arcos, 5, and her 3-year-old brother, Emanuel, on a carnival ride April 30 during the Celebrate Killeen Festival.
Shine said. “Whether projecting the services needed by new homes expected in our growth corridor to the south or planning infrastructure rehabilitation in the north section of the city, looking to the future allows our City Council and staff to plan and budget for long- and short-term projects.”
Part of that long-term outlook is master planning — a process in which the city prepares for future outlay of city infrastructure, parks, airport management and transportation. “Master plans help us to envision the future of Killeen and identify the steps and resources necessary to get
there,” Shine said. While Killeen relies on its relationship with Fort Hood for growth, Shine said the city is increasingly courting new demographics of residents. “Killeen’s growth is increasingly diverse,” Shine said. “While Fort Hood is still a major driver in bringing new people to our area, it is no longer the only driver. Killeen has grown to offer many of the amenities of larger cities while maintaining a low cost of living.” Shine said the steady projected growth will be a boon for Killeen’s economy in the future. “As the population grows and diversifies, the economy becomes more stable, making Killeen more attractive for business investment,” Shine said. “Additional people and businesses in Killeen expand our tax base and allow the city to improve and increase the services and amenities that enhance quality of life for residents.”
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New businesses, nonprofits drive downtown revitalization By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
New businesses and nonprofit partnerships helped continue the revitalization of downtown Killeen in 2016. The city partnered with two civic groups for a beautification project downtown, according to city revitalization planner Alisha Workman. “We partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and the Killeen Civic Art Guild to do a mural through the Chamber’s Embrace the Place committee this year,” Workman said. The mural is at the corner of Avenue D and Gray Street and honors the history of Fort Hood and the relationship between the city and post. The city is not planning any downtown events for the coming year. Several new businesses opened in 2016 and now call downtown Killeen home, including Premier Gentleman’s Barbershop at 328 E. Avenue C, Young’s Fashion & Beauty Supply at 207 N. Gray St., and Starbarks Pet Supply Store at 330 E. Avenue D. Meanwhile, the city has continued to receive applications for its revitalization program, which offers grant money and tax credits for businesses that open storefronts in the downtown area. “We have been working on the North Killeen Revitalization program, which serves to promote the development and redevelopment of North Killeen and includes incentives for rehabilitation, expansion and/or new construction of residential and commercial business structures,” Workman said. “The Historic District Incentive programs, which include the Façade Improvement Grant and the Sign Grant, are still available to businesses located within the historic district boundaries,” Workman said. The sign grant offers reimbursement to business owners for 50 percent of the cost of a sign up to $800. The city currently lists 13 properties for sale in the downtown area
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Restaurants, several retail stores and some nonprofits now call downtown Killeen home, helping revitalize the district and drawing more residents.
City Hall to move locations
Amy Proctor | Herald
Killeen Mayor Jose Segarra speaks at the unveiling of a mural honoring the city’s ties to Fort Hood.
that are eligible for one of the city’s grant opportunities. Owners can list their properties with the city by
filling out an available property form on the city’s website or calling Workman at 254-501-6591.
The Killeen City Council voted in November to move City Hall from its current building at 101 N. College St. to the Killeen Arts and Activities Center at 801 N. Fourth St. The center is the home of a number of civic groups, including the Killeen Civic Art Guild, the Richard Milburn Academy, Bring Everyone in the Zone, the Bell County Human Services Department, and the Central Texas Council of Governments Housing Assistance Office. In order to make room for city offices, the council voted to terminate the leases of those organizations, which are now looking for new properties in the downtown area. The Head Start program and Killeen Free Clinic will remain at the center due to federal funding requirements. For more information, go to downtownkilleenevents.com.
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Area shelters keep busy offering services to the homeless By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
December marked the one-year anniversary of Killeen’s first homeless shelter opening its doors, and the facility has stayed busy since then. Families In Crisis operates the shelter at 412 E. Sprott St. The $1.4 million facility has capacity to house 78 people, including bed space for 54 men and 24 women and children. The facility also has a dining hall, a kitchen, laundry machines and a medical examination room operated by the Greater Killeen Free Clinic. The shelter provides services at no cost to the residents. Suzanne Armour, director of programs at the shelter, said the shelter is mostly filled each night, particularly in the colder months. Larry Moehnke, board president for Families in Crisis, said in November, “The need is great, and we’ve been op-
erating at, or above, capacity for many nights, and it’s not really cold yet.” The shelter said it averages around 72 clients per night. Moehnke said the shelter has a Veterans Administration support group on site four days a week, the Central Counties for MHMR two days a week and the Lion’s Club once a week. The club provides weekly eye tests. In April 2013, Families in Crisis — a local nonprofit providing shelter and services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence — threw its hat in the ring to bid for federal funding to start the first general-use homeless shelter in downtown Killeen. Three months later, in June 2013, Families in Crisis received $500,000 of a $1.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. At the beginning of 2014, the Killeen City Council gave the agency an additional $250,000.
HERITAGE HOUSE
The Heritage House of Central Texas opened its doors in October 2013 to bridge the gap between the homeless and local agencies offering services. “Heritage House is dedicated to providing services to the homeless and at risk of becoming homeless that are designed to achieve self-reliance,” said Michael Christ, director of Heritage House. In 2016, Christ said, Heritage House helped get 350 people off the street. The center helped 177 people in 2015. In 2014, Heritage House, formed a partnership to move in with The Front Door, 1103 N. Gray St., giving Heritage House more space to operate. The center is equipped with a computer lab and staff to aid individuals in job searches and creating resumes. The Front Door provides day-shelter services, and in 2014, provided 300 homeless people with mail drop
services, restrooms, blankets, coats, food and hygiene products. The center added three new computers in 2016. In 2017, Christ said, Heritage House’s goal is to continue to offer services to the community despite a cut in city funding. “The new (city) administration’s proposed budget will drastically reduce/cut the amount of funding that is currently available to provide services like ours,” Christ said. “To combat the issue, we plan to increase our public awareness efforts regarding the homeless issues that face our community in the hopes of creating more public support.” On Aug. 12, Heritage House will host its fifth Annual Musical Night of Hope Gospel Concert fundraiser featuring The Wallace Family Band. Those interested in making a donation to the organization can donate online at hhct.org.
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City infrastructure working to keep up with Killeen’s growth By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The city of Killeen completed a number of infrastructure projects in 2016 to keep up with population growth and have more in the works for 2017. The city is in the final stages of phase 2 of the Stagecoach Road reconstruction project, which involves improving the road from Tyrel Drive east to Rosewood Drive and expanding the road from two to four lanes with a continuous center turn lane. Public Works Director David Olson said the project would be completed in May. Olson also said remediative pavement repairs were scheduled to be performed on the road from Trimmier Road to State Highway 195. “The scope and duration of these improvements is under negotiation,” Olson said. The city also continued the Trimmier Road Widening Project in 2016, which will add a continuous center turn lane on Trimmier Road from Stagecoach Road to U.S. Highway 190 and improve sidewalks. “The project is ongoing and has made significant progress with the opening of the northbound traffic
lanes,” Olson said. “East side improvements are underway, and Trimmier is expected to be fully open to traffic in late summer or early fall 2017.” The city is in the design phase of the Rosewood Drive extension, with design scheduled to be completed in summer 2017. Construction is scheduled to take 18 to 24 months, Olson said. The city completed the Elms Road extension project and Elms Road highway safety improvement program in Spring 2016. The improvement program provided safety lighting in the area of Elms Road and Stan Schlueter Loop. The city is currently in the design
phase of segment 4 of the Heritage Oaks Hike and Bike Trail. The fourth segment project consists of a 1.5-mile segment of concrete trail to include several low water crossings, pedestrian ramps, striping, signage and street crossings, according to the city’s website. Segment 4 will connect the future residential Killeen Independent School District elementary school locations in south Killeen to Fort Hood. The transportation Capital Improvement Project Master plan can be found on the city’s transportation department website at www.killeentexas. gov/transportation.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
A new Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 water treatment plant on Stillhouse Hollow Lake was delayed to open in spring 2019. Ricky Garrett, the district’s general manager, said in February the district submitted its final designs for the plant on Stillhouse Hollow Lake to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns easements in a buffer zone around the reservoir. “An application has been submitted to the Corps of Engineers Regulatory
Division for review and approval,” Garrett said in an email. “The district has been in constant communication with the Corps of Engineers in efforts to receive a more timely approval.” The Corps is conducting an environmental impact study on the proposed structure, which will draw water through a pipeline built into the reservoir, according to Corps officials in Fort Worth. Once the study is finished and approved, the plans will go to the Corps’ real estate division for final approval and greenlighting for construction. The plant is expected to cost $56.3 million, with several local entities helping fund construction costs. Killeen’s portion is an estimated $31.4 million, Copperas Cove is contributing $8.92 million, Harker Heights is chipping in $7.13 million, and the 439 Water Supply Corporation is contributing $5.35 million. WCID No. 1 is funding the remaining $3.56 million. According to previous Herald reports, the Stillhouse treatment plant will expand the district’s treatment capacity to more than 100 million gallons per day, adding 10 million gallons of treated water per day to Killeen’s existing 32 million gallons per day out of Belton Lake.
Killeen officials cut curbside recycling, enforce dog park rules By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
In order to bring the city’s solid waste enterprise back into the black, the Killeen City Council passed an ordinance in August repealing the city’s curbside recycling service. City staff estimated eliminating the service would save the city more than $279,000 per year. The program, which served about 2,800 residents, was officially phased out Sept. 30. Residents are still able to recycle at the Killeen Recycling Center, 111 E. Avenue F. The center also offers used cooking oil and automotive oil recycling
to residents. Its hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is also open on even-dated Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. At the recycling center, materials accepted include plastics, paper, cardboard, steel, tin and aluminum cans, clear, green and brown glass bottles and jars, cellphones and rechargeable batteries. The move to cut the curbside pickup program is part of a push to outsource its entire solid waste enterprise to private industry. A preliminary proposal presented
by Texas Disposal Systems, an Austin-based solid waste business, in August, showed the city could franchise private solid waste collection to impose favorable rates for residents and bring back the curbside recycling program.
Dog Parks
The City Council passed an ordinance in January to add dog parks to the official list of city parks. The new designation permits Killeen Police Department officers to enforce dog park rules, allows dogs to be off-leash within a dog park and makes it a violation of the code of
ordinances to disregard posted signs. The city’s parks and recreation department opened the Mickey’s Convenience Stores Dog Park in June 2015 at 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. — the only public dog park in the city. According to a council memorandum, the city received a series of complaints that visitors to the park were not following the designated park rules due to a lack of enforcement. The change in ordinance allows police officers to issue citations and enforce the rules of the park for dog handlers who are not in compliance.
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Killeen officials consider outsourcing garbage collection By Kyle Blankenship
Garbage is picked up in the 2800 block of Hillside Drive in Killeen.
Killeen Daily Herald
The Killeen City Council voted to pursue outsourcing its solid waste enterprise in November after cutting its curbside recycling program in October. The council had been considering the move since August, when it heard a presentation from Austin-based Texas Disposal Systems on the potential privatization of residential and commercial solid waste services. Rick Fraumann, the company’s director of sales, said Aug. 23 the company wanted to provide options to lower expenses and allow the city to maintain services without raising fees. Fraumann said the company would propose purchasing fleet associated with trash operations and hire all city staff so no one loses a job. Former city auditor Amanda Wal-
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
lace said about 100 city workers would be affected by the outsourcing. “Outsourcing is not a new thing. It is not a bad thing,” Councilman Richard “Dick” Young said Aug. 23. “I don’t want it treated like a demon.” After multiple discussions, the council chose to pursue a Request for Proposal process for outsourcing
firms Nov. 1. That proposal request allows companies to bid on a contract either to outsource waste removal services or to enter into a franchising agreement with Killeen. The council also elected to seek an outside consultant to draft the request to ensure transparency and fairness, according to council members. The
request for proposal process was projected to cost the city more than $40,000. The council agreed to enter into a contract Dec. 13 with SCS Engineers to draft the request for proposals for potential companies to take over solid waste pickup and disposal in the city. During a January workshop, the council formed a special ad-hoc committee comprised of Council members Young, Shirley Fleming and Mayor Pro Tem Brockley Moore that would work with SCS and then brief the council on its findings. Executive Director of Public Works David Olson said SCS was behind in drafting an RFP for council consideration because of the holiday season, but he expected the firm to move as quickly as the council desired in posting the request. The request process is still ongoing, according to the city.
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Interstate 14 designation could boost business in Killeen is no date set for completion of the project.
By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The designation of a new interstate highway through Killeen this year is expected to boost business in a big way. The Texas Transportation Commission announced Jan. 25 that U.S. Highway 190 from Copperas Cove to Belton received its official designation as Interstate 14. “I am so proud of the joint efforts between the city of Killeen, Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, TxDOT regional staff, the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition and our elected officials at the federal level,” said state Rep. Scott Cosper, R-Killeen, in a January news release. “Through the combined efforts of many, we were able to bring a long-term initiative to fruition that will not only improve safety and add future capacity to the roadway, but will also have a significant economic development impact on the region.” Killeen Mayor Jose Segarra said the interstate designation will help attract other businesses that normally would not relocate to an area not on an interstate. “I don’t anticipate any immediate changes for businesses that are already on the highway such as mine, but in the long run it may increase their visibility to other new customers that those new businesses may bring,” Segarra said in January. Texas Department of Transporta-
U.S. Highway 190 expansion
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
U.S. Highway 190 will soon have signs designating it Interstate 14.
tion spokesman Ken Roberts said local residents should start seeing smaller signs for I-14 in the Killeen area by August or September. “The larger signs will take longer to manufacture,” he said. “Whenever we have built roadways or bridges, commercial development usually springs up nearby. We anticipate this will be a boon to local economies.” Representatives from cities within the Greater Fort Hood area have been working with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition since 2000 for the I-14 system. The goal is to connect
military installations from Texas to Georgia and provide foster access to highways and ports. Interstate 14 is also known as the 14th Amendment Highway, receiving its designation for the amendment passed in 1868, which granted citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” which included former slaves recently freed. Individual states will have a hand in the project, to include construction and approval of the suggested route, according to the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition’s website. There
The Texas Department of Transportation acknowledged the completion of the U.S. Highway 190/Farm-to-Market 2410 improvement project Feb. 10 as part of the U.S. Highway 190 widening project from the Fort Hood main gate to Harker Heights. The department’s decision shifts maintenance responsibility to the state and continues state reimbursement payments as part of the passthrough financing agreement between TxDOT and Killeen. “City Council and staff had a vision of this project in 2008 and construction began in 2013,” Public Works Director David Olson said in the release. “It is a proud day for all of us at the City of Killeen to see years of hard work come to fruition. This project has helped improve daily commutes for our citizens and helped alleviate congestion in heavily traveled areas.” The project raised the highway over the Rosewood Drive intersection, connected Rosewood Drive under the highway and widened FM 2410 from Stan Schlueter Loop to the Harker Heights city limit. Total construction cost for the project was $23.03 million, according to the city. Further expansion of the highway to the east, from just west of the FM 2410 interchange to Simmons Road in Belton, is expected to begin this fall.
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New director ensures Killeen Food Care Center continues giving tradition By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The Killeen Food Care Center passed its first anniversary under the leadership of executive director Ken Adams and continued to offer food to thousands of local residents. Adams took over the center from Ann and Gerald Farris on Jan. 1, 2016, after the couple ran the center as coexecutive directors for 15 years. “The Food Care Center plays a vital role in the attempt to assure that all persons/families in the greater Killeen area have enough nutritious food to sustain themselves,” Adams said. In the nonprofit’s 2016 fiscal year — Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 — it served 24,787 families, of them, 2,680 were military families. It served 60,969 people: 46,186 adults and 10,985 children. Donated food to the center totaled
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Baylyn Mendoza packs food during the Food for Families Food Drive.
more than 1.8 million pounds in 2016, with the rest purchased with reduced prices from the Central Texas Food Bank in Austin.
Adams said the center fills in the gap for needy residents that are not often recognized by those more fortunate in Killeen. “Most people in Killeen do not know, or at least recognize, the vast need for food that is experienced daily by some of the area’s residents,” he said. “The FCC tries diligently to address this need.” The center runs on a staff of five part-time employees and a group of volunteers who, Adams said, “make sure the FCC clients are serviced with attention and care during the client’s visit to our facility.” Adams said the center operated on a budget of more than $360,000 in 2016 with all of the center’s expenses paid by donations received from individuals, churches, service clubs and other organizations. Clients can get assistance from the food pantry once each month. The Killeen Food Care Center pro-
vides fresh bread and pastries, canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs and dairy products, baby formula, water, juices, and fresh and frozen meats. Its services also extend to provided those in need with clothing, shoes, dishes, pots, pans, other kitchen items, bedding and linens. The Food Care Center, 210 N. 16th St., operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first and third Friday of the month. To contact the center, call 254554-3400 during operating hours. Other area food pantries include the Baptist Benevolence Ministry at 307 N. Fifth St. in Copperas Cove, Cove House at 108 E. Halstead Ave. in Copperas Cove, the Copperas Cove Soup Kitchen at 201 N. 1st St. in Copperas Cove, the Nolanville Food Pantry at 200 N. Main St. in Nolanville and the Harker Heights Food Center at 100 E. Ruby Road in Harker Heights.
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Workforce Solutions of Central Texas connects employers to job seekers By Angel Sierra Killeen Daily Herald
Connecting employers to skilled employees and helping job hunters are two of the most important missions of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. The organization is governed by a board of 27 members, and represents a spectrum of business, education and community interests, providing “quality education, training, and labor market services,” according to its 20172020 strategic plan. But it also continues to give clients a competitive advantage. Data provided by the Workforce Solutions show that more than 25,000 job seekers were helped in 2016, including 9,380 dislocated workers and 6,888 veterans. More than 1 out of 2 claiming unemployment and searching for work found a job within 10 weeks, exceeding the group’s target placement.
Of the job seekers sponsored in training, about 89 percent entered employment and increased their pretraining earnings by $11,896. A variety of services from career planning and job search to child care subsidies and vocational training assistance are offered. It serves Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills and San Saba counties.
Resources for military and militaryconnected job seekers and businesses are abundant. “The Central Texas regional economy had roughly 199,642 jobs in 2016 and grew at roughly six percent between 2013-2016, adding 12,067 net jobs,” a Workforce report reads. “The regional economy is undeniably dominated by Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored post in the U.S. Armed Forces.” As the largest single economic driver of the Central Texas economy, it says, Fort Hood supports 66,492 people on the post, including 21,221 civilians and contractors, and is credited for $35.4 billion in statewide economic activity. The “Hiring Red, White and You” Veterans Job Fair in November promoted helping veterans, drawing 60 employers and 312 job seekers, of which 217 were veterans. Five people were offered a job or the potential for
one on the spot. Workforce Solutions of Central Texas supports training in high-skill, high-wage jobs that are predicted to have a consistent or growing need for more employees. It is also an award-winning organization, and for the 12th consecutive year, was ranked in 2016 among the “Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in Texas,” as judged by the Texas Association of Business, Texas Monthly Magazine, and the Texas Society for Human Resource Management. In 2015, it received the statewide “Child Care Quality Award” from the Texas Workforce Commission, and the “Workforce Excellence Award” from the Texas Economic Development Council. Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, 300 Cheyenne Drive in Killeen, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Go to http://bit.ly/2nkN6wD or call 254-200-2234 for more information.
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Killeen’s unemployment rate just above state average at 4.5 percent By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
In 2015, Killeen was one of just five large cities with an unemployment rate above the Texas average of 4.2. That didn’t change in 2016. There was some job growth, however, even if it was minimal. According to data provided by the Texas Workforce Commission, Killeen’s unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, hovering just above the state average of 4.2 percent. The city’s average fell slightly from the 4.6 percent rate recorded in 2015. Bell County as a whole has better numbers. The unemployment rate for the county is at 4.4 percent, and the Temple, Killeen and Fort Hood metropolitan area has an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent. Killeen has a lower rate than the rest of the country. The U.S. has an
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Employers talk with job seekers during a job fair at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.
unemployment rate of 4.8 percent as of January. Lewis Boren, of the Central Texas Workforce Solutions, said Fort Hood could be responsible for the slightly higher unemployment numbers
specific to Killeen. “Fort Hood could be a factor with the slight difference in these unemployment rates due to these soldiers who are retiring out of Fort Hood on a daily basis, or those soldiers who
are exiting the military due to their positions/jobs being reduced,” he said in an email. “Or these soldiers are ETS — expiration of term of service — out of the military.” “More than likely, these soldiers may have Fort Hood/Killeen addresses instead of Temple addresses.” A look at 2015 reveals that the year ebbed and flowed as it progressed. The unemployment rate began a steady climb, and was nearly up an entire percentage point from April to July of 2016, coming close to 5 percent before finally falling to December’s 4.4 percent mark. Most of those jobs gained were from the trade, transportation and utilities industry. That includes retail, and it saw a 5.9 increase in jobs, according to John Crutchfield, the president of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce.
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New restaurants add variety to Killeen-area dining options By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
Hungry Killeen-area residents got a medley of new dining options in the past year. In a city with plenty of options for eating out, a bit more variety was added. Most notable was the grand opening of Richard Rawlings’ Garage in Harker Heights. Its grand opening in September drew hundreds of guests, who came for the comfort food, as well as a chance to meet the owner of the Gas Monkey Garage, focus for the popular Discovery Channel TV show “Fast N’ Loud.” The restaurant specializes in big portions and variety. There’s half of a Chevy Bel Air sticking out of the ground out front, and the menus are glued to old, beat-up license plates. Those in need of something a little bit more modern could head to MOD Pizza, over at 3007 E. Central Texas Expressway. There, they specialize in individual artisan-style pizzas and salads, and they make them fast. Killeen residents are eagerly awaiting the opening of Zaxby’s Restaurant later in 2017. The chicken restaurant is best known for its chicken finger plates that include a side of celery, french fries and Texas toast. However, the restaurant offers a number of both grilled and fried chicken sandwich options. People looking for a healthier option can try one of their
Amy Proctor | Herald
People eat at Grabbagreen restaurant at 2802 W. Stan Schlueter Loop. It’s one of Killeen’s newest restaurants.
“Zalads,” which include Caesar, Cobb and blue cheese. Zaxby’s already has some locations in Central Texas, including in Cedar Park and Round Rock. Another Zaxby’s is under construction in Temple. Ground was broken on the project in late January. Joyce Tenner opened up Mais Souffle Popcorn Bistro in mid-January when she noticed that Killeen didn’t have a gourmet popcorn shop. “I love to cook, but running a restaurant is difficult, yet a popcorn shop is ideal,” Tenner said in a Feb. 25 story in the Daily Herald. “Everyone loves popcorn. It’s a family thing.” The shop has 30 different flavors of
popcorn, ranging from white cheddar to Parmesan garlic to sweet and salty. The shop debuted a special strawberry cheesecake flavor for Valentine’s Day that was so popular, it remained on the menu. If you’re still holding on strong to your New Year resolutions and prefer to eat vegetables and chicken that hasn’t been deep fried, you might want to head over to West Stan Schlueter Loop. Lisa Kelly, the owner of Live and Let Liv Yoga Studio, opened up Grabbagreen in December, the first 100 percent gluten free restaurant in the area. “The people of Killeen and Central Texas deserve options for healthier, affordable foods, so they don’t have to
drive to Austin or elsewhere to buy it,” Kelly said in an interview with the Herald in December. “It’s not that people here didn’t want to eat this way, but that they didn’t have the option to do it, so we created that option for them.” Grabbagreen specializes in smoothies and salads, but that isn’t all they offer. The Gulf of Mexico salad features avocado, cayenne, cucumbers, shrimp, spinach and a creamy avocado sauce. The Patagonia salad features black beans, corn, quinoa, steak and chimichurri sauce. For those who want to eat their food with their hands, Grabbagreen offers steak, chicken and veggie collard wraps.
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Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce helps guide economic growth By Jennifer Hetzel Special to the Herald
The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce provides vision, leadership and support to businesses and community leaders to create economic prosperity. The chamber does this by offering a variety of programs and services to its members, including the establishment of leadership and business councils designed to segment members with common interest and needs.
Membership
The Military Relations Council continued to help tell the Fort Hood and Army story to influencers and decision makers in the region and beyond through two group trips to the U. S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The long-term objective is to use the chamber network to attract participants from outside a 60-mile radius of Fort Hood. In addition, the council organized a Senior Command Team Welcome Dinner, a social for new Battalion and Brigade Commanders, four luncheons featuring speakers giving updates about Fort Hood, and other events. The Public Policy Council continued to work with the City of Killeen, Killeen Economic Development Corporation and the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition to for the creation of the Interstate 14 Corridor throughout 2016. This work was realized in January 2017 when the Texas Department of Transportation approved designation of U.S. 190 from Copperas Cove to Belton as Interstate 14. This designation will have a lasting economic impact. In addition, the Public Policy Council joined more than 40 local chambers of commerce in Texas, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business and more than a dozen other sector-specific groups in a lawsuit against the Department of Labor to stop overtime rules scheduled to go into effect in December 2016. The council continues to advocate on behalf of business interests through this and a variety of other activities. The Public Education Council orga-
Amy Proctor | Herald
Retired Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo speaks during the 83rd annual Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.
nized its annual 8th Grade and Regional High School Career Days, New Teacher’s Welcome, and a mentoring program in conjunction with Central Texas College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas, among other events. The Nonprofit Council organized and conducted a Nonprofit Expo and held the first Community Connect, a quarterly networking opportunity. The Welcome Council performed 34 ribbon-cutting and two groundbreaking ceremonies in 2016. The group held four workshops to educate nonprofits and retail businesses. The Information Technology Council held its third annual Digital Forensics Conference. The Retail Council organized and conducted a FOG Seminar (Fats, Oils and Grease) for restaurant members. The Place Design Team commissioned the Killeen Civic Art Guild to paint a mural on the side of the building next to the vacant lot at Avenue D and Gray Street downtown. The theme of the mural is “Camp Hood to Fort Hood: Celebrating Killeen’s Rich Military History,” a tribute to the relationship between Fort Hood and the community. The Greater Killeen Young Professionals held the seventh annual Rock the Foundation Casino Night in 2016 and raised $16,526 for scholarships at Central Texas College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas. The group also held monthly socials and luncheons to provide networking and
professional development opportunities to area young professionals. The 2017 Rock the Foundation will be March 31. The Chamber continues to provide the programs and services members have come to expect, such as monthly mixers, Flavors of Central Texas and the annual membership banquet. Flavors of Central Texas is a showcase of area restaurants and caterers. This year’s event is Aug. 1. The Membership Banquet is held each fall to recognize chamber members who have made significant contributions. The following award winners were recognized in 2016: Roy J. Smith Award, Bill Kliewer; Large Business of the Year, Sam’s Club; Small Business of the Year, Spectrum Printing; Public Education Council Individual of the Year, Carlyle Walton, CEO of Metroplex Health System; Public Education Council Business of the Year, Schlotzsky’s; Greater Killeen Young Professional Of The Year, Lenna Barr with KidZ TherapeZe; Welcome Council Member of the Year, Russ Nelson with Lamar Advertising; Nonprofit of the Year, Killeen Branch NAACP. The 2017 banquet will be Sept. 21.
Economic Development
There has been considerable progress in the business sector over the past year. Major employers continue to increase jobs, while new businesses also add to the growing pool of jobs. Atmos Energy purchased 2.275 acres
of land from the Killeen Economic Development Corporation. The company is now building a state-of-the-art facility in the Killeen Business Park. Bell Glass purchased 4 acres of land in the Killeen Business Park intending to build an office/warehouse facility for wholesale glass and installation. Currently employing 26 local employees and another 10-12 union employees in the Austin/San Antonio markets, Bell Glass has become one of the leading commercial glazing companies in the Southwest. Annual sales average around $10 million. There were significant retail openings in the city during 2016, including two new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Centers, one on East Stan Schlueter Loop and another on Clear Creek Road; Melrose, located in the former GymX facility on North Fort Hood Street; and dd’s Discounts, located in the former Staples suite on Central Texas Expressway next to Home Depot. H-E-B Plus broke ground on its new location at State Highway 195 and Stan Schlueter and is expected to open later this year. Real estate prices along the U.S. 190 route continue to appreciate. Appraisers estimate an annual increase of 8 percent per year in prices over the past five years. Killeen continued to receive national and statewide attention in 2016 as a great place to live, work and play. The following rankings were earned by the city in 2016: • 4th Nationally in Wallprotex’s “Construction Job Growth” • 6th Statewide in ConsumerAffairs “Safest Cities in Texas for Distracted Driving” • 7th Nationally in Smart Asset’s “Most Affordable Cities for Renters” • 13th Statewide in SaveOnEnergy. com’s “Top 20 Fastest Growing Cities in Texas” • 37th Nationally in WalletHub’s “2016 Fastest Growing Cities” • 106th Nationally; B+ in Zumper’s “Best Cities for New College Grads” For more information about how to get involved with or join the chamber, call 254-526-9551 or go to killeenchamber.com.
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New leaders in charge of Killeen police, fire departments By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
For the first time in at least 14 years, both the Killeen Police Department and the Killeen Fire Department have new chiefs in charge. Margaret Young took over as the interim police chief in October, when former police chief Dennis Baldwin was named the interim city manager. On the fire department side, Brian Brank took over in an interim capacity when Kenneth Hawthorn retired. On Nov. 7, that interim title was removed, and Brank became the first permanent fire chief in six months. He was chosen out of 53 candidates. Since Brank’s taken the helm, KFD has seen the newest fire station unveiled. Fire Station No. 9 opened for operations on March 6, and is prepared to service a region of Killeen that is seeing a boom in population. “Everyone gets excited to see something new,” Brank said at the open house, “whether it be City Council members, firefighters, residents, and I’m included in that.” The station services residents in the southwest part of Killeen, a region that has grown rapidly over the past few years. Brank said he expects there to be at least 10,000 to 15,000 more people living in the area within the next five years, and that new station is vital to the public safety of those who live there.
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Fire Station No. 9 is seen during its first day of operations at 5400 Bunny Trail in Killeen.
Previously, Fire Station No. 5 saw the most action, because it serviced an area in southwest Killeen that continued to grow. With the addition of No. 9. many of those firefighters will move to the new station, in addition to a slew of newcomers that were hired last year. It’s a move that was made in anticipation of a flood of residents to the area that already is home to 54,000 people. The $4.52 million station opened for operations on March 6, and is prepared to service a region of Killeen that needed the help. It will be fully operational by the beginning of April, as the only thing it currently lacks is a rescue truck. That truck has already been purchased and transported to Texas from
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Killeen Police Department Interim Chief Margaret Young speaks during a community forum.
Colorado. It currently is being outfitted in Houston, and will be brought to Killeen when that is done. As far as the new station’s improvements, it’s similar in design to Stations No. 1, No. 7 and No. 8. The living quarters are separated from the support side. That’s to ensure that none of the toxic carcinogens that firefighters take on stick with them after they finish with the fire. Everything is new. It has everything from sleeping quarters to conference rooms.
Killeen police
The police department headquarters was opened for use in 2010, and though not much has changed with the building, it’s still being used in a variety of different ways. With violent crime rates on the rise, according to Young, the community room has hosted several neighborhood watch meetings. Through community crime prevention coordinator Tammy Moseley, Mayor Pro Tem Brockley Moore and City Councilwoman Shirley Fleming, residents in several neighborhoods throughout the city are getting together to take steps toward ensuring a safer place to live. That’s some help that members of the department can appreciate. “Law enforcement can’t do it all by themselves. We need that extra set of eyes and ears,” Moseley said when
she talked about Killeen’s Citizen Police Academy. “The more eyes that we have out there to help us, the more we will be able to help citizens.” When the city’s finances were up against an $8 million budget shortfall last summer, the police department was targeted to cut back on spending. A Fleet Replacement Fund was created with the idea of replacing police vehicles in mind, but that was scrapped when the city’s budget issues arose. Lately, there hasn’t been much wiggle room in the budget for community related events, and with the discontinuation of the red-light camera program, which issues citations to motorists who fail to comply with traffic law, there will be roughly $500,000 less revenue for the police to work with. However, one cost-cutting measure that was considered risky has been tabled for now. An outsourcing of the city jail was proposed in November, and was strongly opposed by members of Killeen’s first responder community. The outsource would have sent offenders to the county’s detention center, more than 15 miles away. It also could require detectives to travel to Belton for interviews. That has alarmed some, but appears to be off the discussion table for now.
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Future of red-light cameras No changes to Bell County Jail a lays in hands of lawmakers good thing to some police officers By Josh Sullivan
By Josh Sullivan
Killeen Daily Herald
Killeen Daily Herald
They’re sneakier than a police officer, and will cause citations with no remorse if you aren’t careful. Those pesky red-light cameras that sit at selected intersections throughout Killeen are known for catching motorists who violate traffic laws. Since 2008, violators caught on camera are sent a ticket in the mail, and are forced to pay a fine of $75. It’s a situation that several members of Killeen’s City Council decided to change recently. In a March council workshop, members reached a 3-2 consensus to not renew the red-light camera program with Redflex in April, a move that with it, loses the $424,000 in annual revenue generated from tickets. The move is not original. In early July, a man from the Fort Worth area named Russell Bowen went to court against the city of Richardson over an unpaid, $75 red-light camera ticket when he was not allowed to register his vehicle. Not only did the judge rule in his favor and award him $27,500 in attorney fees, but just two weeks later, Richardson announced the suspension of its red-light camera program. Red-light cameras have been in use in Killeen since May 2008, and since they’ve been implemented, the city
There have been no changes made to the Bell County Jail in the past year, according to both Killeen Police Chief Margaret Young and Major T.J. Cruz. To some Killeen police officers, that’s a good thing. When the city of Killeen was faced with an $8 million shortfall as a part of its budget last year, Dennis Baldwin, who was the interim city manager in December, tossed around the idea of a jail outsource as a costsaving measure. “I believe that we need to look for the best value to our citizens,” Baldwin said in an email. “So if that means the private sector provides that level of value, then we should look to outsource that service or function — regardless of the department.” Instead of holding offenders at the Killeen Jail, based out of the Killeen Police Department Headquarters, officers would drive to Belton to book and process offenders. The move was met with heavy resistance though, in part from the Killeen Police Employee Association, and in part from residents who were worried about a diminished officer presence on the street.
has seen traffic accidents drop significantly, police said. If the program is discontinued, the equipment, including the cameras and the surveillance monitors used, will be removed by Redflex, according to Interim Police Chief Margaret Young. “The city did not pay for the equipment, did not pay to install the equipment and would not pay to remove the equipment,” she wrote in a December email. “If the laws change in reference to the red-light cameras, the city would comply with the law.” Seven bills have been introduced in either the House of Representatives, or the state Senate. Three of them, if passed, will prohibit the use of the cameras in any capacity across the state. Two would stop preventing motorists from registering their cars due to unpaid citations and two are related to the local government’s authority to operate the cameras. In other words, Killeen might not be the only Texas city to say goodbye to its traffic cameras in the near future.
That idea seems to have been tabled, since the city’s budget was balanced on Jan. 23. There were currently 784 prisoners in the Bell County Jail as of Feb. 1. That means that just a little more than half of the cells were occupied — 57 percent to be exact, according to the monthly report provided by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. About 772 of those prisoners were housed locally, while just 12 sat in Bell County Jail because of an outsource. According to the report, 284 of those prisoners were pre-trial felons. Inversely, just 79 of those prisoners were convicted felons, and only three were convicted felons sentenced to county jail time. As of Feb. 1, about 140 prisoners in the Bell County Jail had committed misdemeanor offenses and awaited trial, while 12 had committed federal offenses.
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Bell County population increase leads to bigger budget By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
As a personal policy, Bell County likes to keep at least three months worth of funds in the reserve fund at all times. Currently, there’s about 5.5 months in that fund, and that’s good news to Bell County Judge Jon H. Burrows. “We’re well above our locally set policy,” he said. The total operating budget for the current year is $95,147,600. That is up significantly from the $87.5 million budget the county had last year, and the $82.9 million budget the year before. Burrows said that a reason for the budget increases can be attributed to population. In 1960, the county’s population was just 94,097. Now, it hovers above 360,000, according to a study from the Texas Department of State Health Services. That’s more than 50,000 over the 2010 population. With more people comes more costs, Burrows said. The number of autopsies that have to be ordered increases, as well as appointed attorneys and health care. “Some of these things just are what they are,” he said. “We do our best job in estimating what they’re going to be, and we’re usually pretty close in making our predictions.” The overwhelming majority of budget expenditures are personnel based, according to Burrows. That’s similar to other counties.
Herald | FILE
One of the major projects in the county is a series of upgrades to the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.
There were seven new positions added for the current year. Two of those were legal assistants for county attorneys, one was an assistant county attorney and another a deputy clerk for the sheriff’s office, according to Burrows. The county also added a legal assistant for the district attorney, a deputy constable for Precinct No. 4 and a bondsman for pre-trial services. The county will have to fork over another $1,279,776 in salaries to employees this year, a 3 percent raise from last year. Including benefits, $2,468,603 is tied up in personnel. A large bulk of the operating budget is tied up in public safety. That includes the jail and the juvenile detention center, as well as the sheriff’s department. It makes up 34.65 percent of the budget. Next on the list are the judicial, legal and district clerk’s departments at 15.81 percent, and debt service makes
up 12.71 percent of the budget. The county is “very conservative” when outlining the budget, according to Burrows. Sometimes, that leads to underestimating revenue and overestimating expenditures. One of the major projects in the county is a series of upgrades to the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. The conference center is one of the largest in the area, and is home to concerts, such as Willie Nelson and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, sporting events, like the Centex Cavalry indoor football games, and political events, such as a viewing party on election night in November. In August, it underwent renovations to improve the air-conditioning system in the conference center. “The driving force behind it was that we didn’t want to lose that facility, makes it more usable year-round,” said Tim Stephens, a spokesman for
the Expo Center. “A good chunk of our year can be warm temperatures. (Airconditioning) makes it a nicer, better facility for our existing customers, and hopefully it will open up some dates for new ones too.” Additionally, there is a new 100,000square-foot livestock and equestrian facility in the works, and a 50,000 square foot dirt area. The estimated budget for the entire project is $24 million. The suspected end date for phase one — that is, the air conditioning portion of the renovations — is Aug. 1. The additions can be expected to be completed by spring 2018. “The expansion is coming along quickly, it’s moving pretty fast over there,” Stephens said. The property tax rate has remained the same in Bell County since 2012. The rate is 45.11 cents, which has gone up less than 5 cents since 2008, when the rate was 40.74 cents.
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I-35 widening project wrapping up, changes to U.S. 190 on deck By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
Though the area might not be completely clear of construction workers and equipment, the “substantial completion” of the Interstate 35 widening project has been accomplished since Nov. 22, 2016. That was a little later than anticipated, according to Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jodi Wheatley, but it was completed nonetheless. The stretch of highway was widened from four lanes to six in order to increase traffic flow and make transportation safer. That’s vital to an area that is rapidly increasing in population size. All of the main lanes, bridges and on and off ramps are now open, but there will be closures here and there for things such as striping, hanging up signs and the elimination of lighting
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
A car drives on the Interstate 35 ramp in Belton on March 13.
that were put up before the project started. “We’re not done with the work but done with the road construction part of it,” Wheatley said. The $87.9 million project began in January 2012, and caused some difficulties. The local businesses in Salado suffered early on, and congestion led to car accidents, some of them fatal.
It was a project that was long overdue, U.S. Rep. John Carter said in a 2013 interview. “The Legislature is finally waking up and realizing that transportation is a priority,” Bell County Commissioner Tim Brown said. “But we’re 20 years behind; we’ve got to focus on a long-term solution for transportation funding.”
There are several other pieces of the I-35 expansion that have yet to be completed. The construction in Troy will be completed in spring 2018, and the construction in Bruceville-Eddy will wrap up in the summer of 2018. The stretch from Temple to North Loop 363 will be finished around spring 2019. To keep up with the population growth, Texas DOT announced a plan to expand Highway 190 from four to six lanes, starting at Farm-toMarket 2410/Knights Way in Harker Heights and going to Simmons Road in Belton. “We have for a number of years been increasing the capacity of U.S. 190,” TxDOT spokesman Ken Roberts said in January. “It started from Copperas Cove and has progressed through Killeen to Harker Heights and now continues on as we move forward toward Interstate 35.”
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Many improvement projects at Killeen regional airport in 2016 By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
It was a busy year for the KilleenFort Hood Regional Airport in 2016, and profitable one for Skylark Field. The regional airport underwent a number of improvement projects in 2016, including receiving a Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant for the rehabilitation of the Army Radar Approach Control Facility on Robert Gray Army Airfield, completing a preliminary engineering report for the replacement of four passenger boarding bridges at the airport and purchasing and installing wildlife hazard reduction equipment on the Army airfield to create a safer operating environment for aircraft, said Director of Aviation Matt Van Valkenburgh. Van Valkenburgh highlighted the hazard reduction equipment as a sign of Killeen and the Fort Hood’s beneficial relationship for air services. “It’s indicative of the joint cooperation of the Army and city working together to find a solution to an issue on Robert Gray Army Air Field,” he said. The regional airport Master Plan
also began work in 2016, with committees meeting throughout the year to continue putting the development plan together. Van Valkenburgh said the department would continue to meet to review further works in progress, hold public meetings to solicit comments and input, update the council on the project, and continue developing plans for airport layout and development. The airport is also planning to replace the passenger boarding bridge at the regional airport in 2017 and rehabilitate the rental car return facility.
ENPLANEMENTS
The airport saw an 4.8 percent decrease in the number of passengers flying out of KFHRA in 2016, with 137,751 total enplanements. The airport had 144,713 total enplanements
in 2015. The number of deplanements — passengers getting off a plane at the airport — decreased by 3.6 percent. In 2016, there were 139,157 deplanements at the airport. There were 144,307 in 2015. In February, Van Valkenburgh said the expansion of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was the cause of the decrease in incoming and outgoing passengers. “The rise of the Austin airport ... makes it necessary to continually talk with airlines about the positives of (Killeen’s airport) and the community to show our commitment ... and what more we have to offer,” he said. In response to the decreased numbers, Killeen City Council members unanimously approved receiving $90,000 from the Killeen Economic Development Corporation in February to go toward targeting flight frequency to existing markets, attracting additional destinations and luring an additional airline as part of an Air Service Development agreement. The Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport had 15 cancellations and 57 delays in January, According to financial reports, the
airport closed out the fiscal year with a $2.95 million ending fund balance — $30,679 less than the previous year. The airport is at 8101 S. Clear Creek Road in Killeen. Call 254-501-6100 or go to flykilleen.net for more information.
SKYLARK FIELD
The city’s general aviation airport, Skylark Field, provides runway and storage for corporate jets, trainer planes and other light aircraft. The aviation department completed the Skylark Airport Master Plan in 2016, which led to Skylark’s recognition as a general aviation airport. Skylark’s last master plan was completed in 2004. “The significance of (the master plan) was to provide development and finance modeling based upon existing Skylark Field operations and potential as a (general aviation) facility, and to provide a business strategy for airport development,” Van Valkenburgh said. The airport’s ended the 2016 fiscal year making a profit over the previous year, with a $701,067 ending fund balance. That balance is an increase of $116,750 from 2015. Skylark Field is at 1523 Stonetree Drive in Killeen. Call 254-501-8728.
HOP transit system carries more than 746,000 passengers in 2016 By Val Valdez Herald Correspondent
The HOP, the Hill Country Transit District’s urban bus system, carried more than 746,000 passengers last year. The Hop’s fixed-route and ADA complementary paratransit services began in Killeen in 2000 and in Temple in 2002. The HOP operates 12 fixed routes, with service in Copperas Cove, Killeen, Harker Heights, Belton and Temple. Route 200 is an additional route, operated as an express route with limited stops in Harker Heights, Nolanville, Belton and Temple. This route
provides access to medical facilities and the VA in Temple, and provides access to jobs between urban areas. “More than 600,000 passengers boarded The HOP’s fixed route service in 2016, and more than 146,000 passengers boarded the ADA door-todoor service in the urban areas,” said Robert Ator, Director of Urban Operations for The HOP. The HOP is operated by Hill Country Transit District, a political subdivision of the state of Texas. The HOP also provides public transit in nine counties, including Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills, Mason, Llano, rural Bell County and San Saba counties.
“It is no small task to provide quality transportation service over a 9,000 square mile area and at the same time meet all the federal and state regulatory requirements” said Carole Warlick, general manager of the district. The HOP’s mission to is to provide safe, dependable public transit service that is as seamless as possible. That mission is supported with The HOP’s trained, professional drivers, mechanics and support staff. The HOP staff also schedule door-to-door trips for more than 12,000 passenger trips each month in the urban area, officials said. Fixed-route service is provided by buses that seat 26 to 35 passengers. Each bus has a ramp to assist with
loading passengers, including those in wheelchairs. Each fixed-route bus is equipped with a bicycle rack, mounted to the front outside of the bus, capable of holding two bicycles. The HOP continuously faces the challenge of keeping the fleet up to date, and the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Organization helps meet the challenge through Category 7 funding. The transit district is planning to order three new, replacement fixedroute buses with delivery due in 2017 or 2018. The HOP offers detailed transit information through distribution of route maps, with trip planning available by calling 933-3700.
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Clearwater updates water management plan for district By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
The Clearwater Underground Water District was established in 1999 by the residents of Bell County to manage and protect the groundwater resources of the county. “We are a political subdivision of the state of Texas, and we oversee the protection of the groundwater resources in Bell County.” Clearwater general manager Dirk Aaron said. “We are driven to develop policy based on sound science thus we conduct a lot of research about the state of groundwater in Bell County,” he said. “We have completed an extensive database, with a full interface on our website.” Last year, the district updated the management plan, required under Chapter 36 groundwater law, and received approval on Feb. 19 from the
Texas Water Development Board. This management plan is required of all groundwater conservation districts and must be must be reviewed and updated every five years. In addition to the management plan, the district is currently waiting on final approval of the Groundwater Management Area 8 “Desired Future Conditions” set for all of the counties in the area. This is known as the DFC, which are developed and approved by districts across the state. “We have been deep into preparing for this,” Aaron said. “We start research for this more than three years before we presented our findings, and are now in the final phase of adoption at this time” starting on the next one. “We want to protect the groundwater of across Bell County so that it is available to future generations,” he said. The Clearwater District also moni-
tors well water in the county, and has invested in several wells in Bell County that are not currently being drawn from, but are there to allow Clearwater to take measurements of the groundwater in various areas of the district. There are more than 5,000 wells in Bell County, so the quality and quantity of groundwater is important to the district, Aaron said. “We are a single-county district, and when we were formed, the taxpayers and owners wanted a single-county district so there would be more accountability and oversight,” Aaron said. “Every year we have met and exceeded our performance goals, and it’s in part because the taxpayers have been able to really oversee what we are doing.” The Clearwater Underground Water District is also focused on continuing its educational outreach by collaborating with schools, volunteers and Texas
AgriLife Extension of Bell County to help people better understand the guiding principles and goals of the district. Water conservation is a very important part of this narrative in order for the landowners preservation, Aaron said. In 2017, the district will showcase its new mobile classroom designed to deploy to schools, fairs and neighborhoods to provide a deeper understanding of our aquifers and the local geology of Bell County. “We can be very effective and efficient by mobilizing our educational efforts when requested,” Aaron said. “We anticipate have the unit ready to go by the first of May.” The Clearwater Underground Water District has complete transparency of the district rules, management plan, scientific efforts and well data. Learn more at www.cuwcd.org.
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Killeen Civic and Conference Center a hub for regional tourism By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The Killeen Civic and Conference Center and Convention and Visitors Bureau continued to serve as a hub for tourism events in 2016 — and another big year is in the works. The center hosted 660 events in 2016 with more than 150,000 guests coming through its doors, according to Kathie Mulheron, the center’s director. “In the coming year and the years ahead, I see the (center and bureau) as the premier facility to have an event,” Mulheron said. “I anticipate increased conferences, conventions, tradeshows, regional meetings and local events that will attract visitors to the area by utilizing social media outlets and bringing awareness to state and regional organizations that Killeen is ready to host their next event.” The center has a number of events already scheduled for 2017, including the American Legion Annual Conference and Texas Water Utilities Regional Association School, the First Cavalry Division Association Reunion in June, and new events such as the Ink Masters Tattoo Expo that will bring 200 tattoo artists to Killeen. The center also hosts a number of
Gabe Wolf | Herald
Steer wrestler T.J. Hall, of Devine, grabs a steer by the horns at the 69th Killeen Rodeo.
events for local partners such as the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Flavors of Central Texas, H-EB Regional meeting, Annual Killeen PRCA Rodeo, Killeen Rotary Crawfish Boil, Killeen Junior Livestock Show, the Central Texas Community Expo, the Killeen Daily Herald Bridal Show and the center’s own Take 190 West annual Arts Festival.
Mulheron said the center is a boon for the local economy. “The (center and bureau) contribute to the local economy by hosting out-of-town visitors that attend conventions, tradeshows, weddings and meetings,” Mulheron said. The center saw a number of updates in 2016 with the installation of a new electronic marquee, new carpet
in the meeting rooms and lobby furniture. The center also accepts credit and debit cards for alcohol beverage service. “The (center) is vital to the community as this is a place where citizens can gather to celebrate special moments, conduct business and attend public events in a safe environment,” Mulheron said.
Donations help keep Fort Hood shooting memorial up and running By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
March 11 marked the one-year anniversary of the official dedication of the “5 November, 2009, Fort Hood Memorial,” an outdoor memorial which honors those who were killed and wounded in the Fort Hood shooting. The $400,000 memorial — which was paid for through donations and in-kind services — includes a gazebo, 13 statues symbolizing the 13 killed during the incident and a flag pole in the center. Wording on the memorial also list the names of 32 wounded in
the attack. Patrons throughout the Central Texas area have generously donated to the project throughout the year. In October, Royce and Delores Boyles, with Royce Electric in Killeen, donated $15,000 worth of electronic equipment and provided all the labor to install power and lighting for the memorial. “We put in all the LED lights and the flagpole lights, then we ran underground service and built a new panel,” Royce Boyles said. “Jason Ulrigg, my manager, he’s the one who really helped out on all of it. I’m just the
person who furnished everything. He made sure everything was done right, so I want to give him the credit for it.” In November, Joseph O’Rourke, owner of Rising Sun RV Rentals in Temple and Freedom Air in Copperas Cove, presented a check for $425 to the committee for the Nov. 5, 2009, Fort Hood Shooting Memorial on Nov. 10. O’Rourke said the donation was important to him because of his personal connection to the incident. “This memorial is near and dear to me because I was there at the site that day of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting,” said O’Rourke, who served 16 years in
the Army and four years in the Navy. During his Army career he served as a combat UH-60 Black Hawk military instructor pilot. He said he went to the site for post-deployment immunizations, but was told to come back another day. “We always want to recognize those that make the donation of monies to support the memorial,” said Timothy Hancock, the co-chairman of the memorial committee, in November. “We have maintenance that needs to be kept up, so we appreciate this.” Go to November5Memorial.com to donate to the project.
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Bell County Expo Center celebrates 30th year with expansion Allison Dickson, second from right, presented Willie Nelson with a custom art piece and frame during their backstage meeting at the Bell County Expo Center during Nelson’s concert.
By Dave Miller Killeen Daily Herald
The Bell County Expo Center is celebrating its 30th year as the county’s premier entertainment venue, and it’s marking the occasion with big-name shows and construction of a new equestrian center. “We wanted to make our 30th anniversary the focal point of this year, so we’re putting on some concerts to celebrate,” said Tim Stephens, the Expo Center’s executive director. All tickets are $30, as way of saying thank-you to the community for its support over the years, he said. A four-concert series kicked off March 11 with a performance by country music icon Willie Nelson, drawing a sell-out crowd. The series continues April 22 with Christian recording artists Casting Crowns, followed by the Texas Take-
Courtesy | Melany Cox
over Tour featuring Bone Thugs and Harmony on April 28. Texas rock ’n’ roll legend ZZ Top wraps up the four-concert series on May 20. “We wanted to offer concerts in different genres and attract all audiences,” Stephens said. “We will announce more concerts in the fall. In addition to celebrating the past,
the Expo Center is looking to the future with the construction of a new equestrian facility plus upgrades to the existing structure. The Expo Center uses its exposition building for equestrian and livestock shows. Heat has been an issue during the summer months, as the exhibit area of that building — roughly 55,000 square feet — is not air conditioned.
The new equestrian facility will be air conditioned and will have an area of 170,000 square feet. It will feature an arena, grill area, concourse and stock pens. Anticipated completion date is spring 2018. Meanwhile, the current exposition building will receive air conditioning and repainting, which will make it a prime exhibit space and competitive with other venues in the area. Last year, the Expo Center hosted 245 events. Among them were 93 multiday events, giving the facility 507 event-days for the year (some days had more than one event going on at once.) Overall, the center drew 341,481 patrons, similar to the total for 2015. “Since we’ve been open, we had a lot of events here, from livestock shows to concerts to graduations,” Stephens. “It’s been great to be a part of the community, and we really appreciate everyone’s support.”
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Local LULAC council continues citizenship training classes By Val Valdez
Herald Correspondent
The Killeen-Fort Hood LULAC Council 4535 was chartered in 1993. As the oldest chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Bell County, its multiple programs serve all of Central Texas. Starting in February, the council continued its citizenship training classes in conjunction with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen. This 14 week-long course is designed for legal residents who are not fluent in English, and encompasses civics as well as English as a Second Language instruction. For students who are proficient in English, LULAC Council 4535 started a second Citizenship Class in March at the St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Killeen. In 2016, LULAC Council 4535 conducted three Citizenship Classes in
Herald | FILE
Andrea Velazquez, Killeen High School senior, accepts her scholarship and thanks the LULAC Council 4535 Foundation.
Conjunction with St. Joseph Catholic Church with assistance from Catholic Charities of Central Texas. These classes have been successful in preparing students for their citizenship interview. Anyone interested in attending these free classes can register at the Parish Office at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen.
One of LULAC Council 4535’s main focuses is education. This council has awarded over $135,000 in scholarships since 2002. “For 2017, the LULAC Council 4535 plans to award an additional $20,000,” said former Killeen Mayor Raul Villaronga, the council treasurer and chairman. Last year, he said, the council provided 12 scholarships to students at each of Killeen, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights’ high schools, which included two scholarships to students on medical tracks sponsored by Metroplex Hospital. The council also provided four scholarships at Central Texas College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Scholarship applications are open to everyone. “We want to promote education. You don’t have to be Hispanic to apply,” he said. LULAC Council 4535 will present this year’s scholarships on April 22
at its annual banquet at the Marriott Courtyard in Killeen. It’s a great thing to be able to reach out and helps kids get a college education,” he said. Funds for the scholarships are raised in the community, and Villaronga reminds residents that these donations are tax deductible. For more information on scholarships, the banquets and tickets, call 1-800-KILLEEN.
LULAC Herencia Council 4297
Additionally, in May 2016, LULAC Herencia Council 4297 hosted the first “Our Heritage, My Legacy Gala,” at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center in Killeen. The event honored young ladies in a group quinceañera and Sweet 16 party celebrating these young women and their accomplishments during the school year. Learn more at facebook.com/LULACHerenciaCouncil4297.
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Killeen NAACP continues to strengthen community ties By Val Valdez Herald Correspondent
The Killeen Branch NAACP was established in July 1970, and continues to develop and build a stronger relationship in the community. The branch is committed to its vision and mission statement, ensuring that there is a standard of equality provided for all persons within our community free of discrimination,â&#x20AC;? said the Rev. Samuel Powell Jr., Branch president. In February, the Killeen Branch participated in the Texas Legislative Black Caucus Summit at the state Capitol, to discuss several issues affecting the community, state and nation. The Killeen Branch met with state Rep. Scott Cosper, R-Killeen, to provide feedback on how to increase funding for education, as well as, rework the way schools are funded to enhance more equity. Additionally, the Killeen Branch addressed concerns about the installation of body cameras for police, higher education (tuition), and criminal justice reform. Another main concern addressed developing more comprehensive and effective mental health laws. On March 17, the Killeen Branch NAACP presented its 44th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. Cornell William Brooks, NAACP national
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Members of the Unity Baptist Church J.A.S.U perform a praise dance during the Killeen Branch NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. program at Marion J. and Alice W. Douse Community Center in Killeen.
president, was the guest speaker. During the banquet, the Killeen Branch also awarded six $1,000 scholarships to area high school students. The major event in 2017 is the Texas State NAACP Convention, Oct. 12-14 at the Shilo Inn & Suites, with the host site at Central Texas College. The Killeen Branch actively participates in various area activities, such as, parades for the Fourth of July, Christmas and Veterans Day, voter registration drives and commu-
nity forums. Other yearly events include Juneteenth celebrations and Backto-School giveaways that provide free school supplies to hundreds of students in need. Branch meetings are held the third Monday of each month at Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church, 4201 Zephyr Road beginning at 7 p.m. The meetings and membership are open to those who want to participate in the furthering of the Killeen
Branchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals toward freedom and equality for all people. New officers for 2017-18 terms were installed, and include President, the Rev. Samuel Powell Jr.; first vice president, the Rev. D. Michael Jones; second vice president, the Rev. Dr. Harold VanArsdale; secretary, Willie Coleman; treasurer, Toni Trice; board adviser, Roosevelt Huggins. To learn more about the NAACP, call 254-286-9211 or go to naacpkilleen. org.
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Vive Les Arts keeps commitment to family-friendly entertainment By Val Valdez Herald Correspondent
With the curtain going up on its 41st year, Vive Les Arts Theatre in Killeen continues to produce season after season of family-friendly shows and other productions. The theater was founded in 1976 by eight local couples in an old movie theater in downtown Killeen. Throughout the years, the theater’s goal has remained the same, said Traci Tipping, executive director. “VLA strives to produce shows that inspire and entertain our audience, and helping promote artistic and cultural values in the community, and Central Texas,” Tipping said. Vive Les Arts Theatre has expanded its roster to produce eight shows a season, ranging from drama, mystery and comedy to large-scale musicals. Additionally, concerts and poetry nights are held, as well as, community organizations that use the theater space for their events. In March, the City of Killeen Chamber of Commerce selected Vive Les Arts Theatre
Amy Proctor | Herald
The cast of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” rehearses Nov. 15 at the Vive Les Arts Theatre in Killeen.
as the Business of the Month. “We are so thankful for our communities support in making this happen,” Tipping said. Since Killeen is a neighbor of Fort Hood, and as a “thank you” to military personnel, Vive Les Arts offers special discounts and services. “Every Thursday before an opening weekend, our
final rehearsal which is completely free to military personnel,” Tipping said. “It is a dress rehearsal, but it is still very polished, and completely free as long as you have a valid military I.D.” The theater offers membership levels from student to senior citizen, starting at $70 up to $2,500.
In theatrical terms, the 2016-17 season is filled with one show-stopper after another. “Oscar and Felix,” a new Odd Couple comedy sequel by Neil Simon, takes center stage March 31-April 1 and April 7-9. One of the theater’s favorite annual productions, “Legends Concert ’70s & ’80s Remix” returns April 21 and 22 with a theme of Prom Night. “The Legends show is a real audience pleaser, because it showcases the extraordinary amount of talent in the area,” Tipping said. Educating and training young performers is also an important part of the theatre’s mission. This year, the Children’s Theatre production, May 4-6, and 12-14, features “Cyrano De Burger Shack.” It tells the contemporary tale of the classic with the music of Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson and John Mayer. The July summer musical brings Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” to the stage on July 20-23 and 28-30. The theater is at 2401 S. W.S. Young Drive, in Killeen. Call 254-526-9090 or go to vlakilleen.org.
Bell County Museum brings new exhibits to highlight history By Val Valdez Herald Correspondent
Celebrating its 26th year, the Bell County Museum provides new and engaging exhibits, as well as permanent ones, to the public. The “Passport Through Time” permanent exhibit gives visitors a look at Bell County history through the decades. Another permanent exhibit focuses on the Gault Site, one of the nation’s most significant archaeological dig sites. “Our permanent exhibits focus on both the relatively recent history of Bell County, and history dating back tens of thousands of years,” said Coleman Hampton, who was hired as the museum’s new director in February. “We are very comprehensive in
our telling of the county’s history.” Complementing “Passport Through Time” and Gault Site are traveling exhibits that rotate throughout the year. Currently, the museum is hosting “Citizens at Last: Women’s Suffrage Movement in Texas” and “Changing the Face of Power, Women in the Senate.” Featuring panel exhibits and photographs from Humanities Texas and the Briscoe Center for American History, these displays serve to educate visitors on the nationwide women’s suffrage movement and the place women hold in our federal government. Both exhibits will run until May 20. On March 25, the museum brought in another exhibit, “Harley Davidson and the Evolution of the Motorcycle.”
Photographs from the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wis., and classic motorcycles from local dealers and collectors make it a unique exhibit in the area. “We are excited about the Harley exhibit. Motorcycles have played a significant role in the development of recent Western society, and we look forward to showing that in this exhibit,” Hampton said. This exhibit will run from March 25 through May 20. This summer, the museum will host “From Swords to Plowshares: Metal Trench Art from World War I.” Visitors will have the opportunity to see elaborate pieces of trench art from the Great War. The exhibit will be on display from June 1 to Aug. 12. “I hope everyone comes out to see the Trench Art exhibit. The ability
to create something beautiful from something destructive speaks to the power of art in our society,” Hampton said. In addition to exhibits, the museum offers educational outreach with trips to schools to talk to classes and offer tours at the museum. Several traveling trunks can be checked out by local teachers and used in the classroom. The museum also offered activities for kids during the week of spring break and will offer a week of Summer Camp in July. The normal business hours for the Bell County Museum are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, go to www.bellcountymuseum.org. Bell County Museum is at 201 N. Main St. in Belton.
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KDH Media Group expands offerings as Herald wins awards By Dave Miller Killeen Daily Herald
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Scope, direction of audit in question HAPPENING TUESDAY: Killeen council to tackle heavy slate at workshop, meeting. A6 POLICE RESTRUCTURING PLAN: Councilman asks for details. A6 EDITORIAL: Success of audit begins with council. A10 BY ANGEL SIERRA KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
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A SHIFT IN HABITS Police say money drives drug activity that keeps patrol officers busy BY JOSH SULLIVAN
“Did he have any drugs in his system?” an EMT asked police officers on the scene.
The possibility of a drug overdose isn’t usually the primary focus of patrol officers such as Jared Acker when they step into their cruiser at the start of their shift. But aside from all the traffic stops and the robberies, the city of Killeen has more than enough drug activity to keep police busy. In the past five years, Lt. Ronnie Supak has seen trends in the Killeen narcotics game shift. Some things remain the same, like the connection between prostitution and drugs, the demographic of people who are busted for distribution. He’s seen the rise and fall,
SUBSTANCE SAMPLER METHAMPHETAMINE: Also known as meth, crystal meth. Often used through smoking, inhaling or injecting into the bloodstream. It’s a stimulant that is extremely addictive. It provides an almost immediate feeling of pleasure, and users often binge on the drug before crashing. It can cause anxiety, depression and rash behavior. COCAINE: Also known as blow or crack. Can be found in either powder or rock form. The powder can be ingested orally, through the nose or combined with other drugs. The rock form, or crack, is usually smoked through a pipe. Cocaine is a stimulant and usually used recreationally. It can cause the user to have intense feelings and often increases that person’s heart rate. HEROIN: An opiate that is injected into the bloodstream. It is a depressant. The user gets a rush of euphoria to the brain, but often an overdose involves the lack of oxygen that can reach the brain. FENTANYL: An opiate painkiller, usually used for the treatment of cancer patients. Its onset is quick, but the lifespan of the high is short. XANAX: A prescription drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorder. It can cause paranoia and suicidal thoughts, and should not be combined with alcohol. SOURCE: Drugabuse.gov
cal forums, featuring the at-large candidates for Killeen City Council and � mayor, as well as a faceoff between the Results of Proposition 1 approval Parents reflect on KISD’s special candidates for the District 54 House expected to affect Cove businesses education classroom monitors of Representatives seat. Another forum — for Killeen district council candidates — is scheduled for March 27 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. Moving into this year’s municipal and school board elections, the Herald’s politics site, kdhnews.com/ centerforpolitics, continues to offer information Central Texas voters need to make informed decisions — including candidate biographies, video interviews and issue-oriented articles and election information. During the past year, the Herald featured several investigative series, including Water Watch, a multi-part look into the area’s water resources, as well as examinations of the Black Hawk helicopter crash and the Owl Creek vehicle accidents on post that claimed the lives of more than a dozen soldiers. The paper also took in-depth looks into the topics of campus carry and soldier suicides. Also during 2016, the Herald worked to inform readers of the city of Killeen’s developing financial problems and residents’ subsequent push for a forensic audit of the city’s finances. In its reporting, the Herald spotlighted problems in the budgeting process and helped readers follow the “Potentially cocaine,” was the reply from an officer. “‘Potentially cocaine’ sounds a lot like ‘probably cocaine’ if you ask me,” the EMT responded. Upon first glance, there were no
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BY JACQUELINE DOWLAND KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — While the new liquor law allowing for mixed drinks and hard liquor went into effect Nov. 23, the impact of the law isn’t yet apparent. It’s unknown how many businesses are in the process of applying for a liquor license, but if proponents of the new law are correct, Cove’s economy could see a boom in the months and years ahead. BUSINESS CLASSIFIED CROSSWORD DEAR ABBY
The proposition was approved by a landslide Nov. 8, with 6,031 residents voting for the proposition and 1,653 voting against it. While wine and beer have been sold in Copperas Cove, this is the first time mixed drinks and hard liquor sales to the public will be allowed within city limits. There are two main methods of alcohol sales: on-premise consumption, such as bars, clubs and restaurants; and off-premise
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A camera is seen in a classroom Wednesday at Ira Cross Elementary School in Killeen.
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The cameras were rolling last week in some special education classrooms at Killeen schools. Four classrooms in the district are now recording and monitoring classroom activity, Killeen Independent School District officials confirmed. The installation of the video cameras, which
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include microphones, stems from Texas Senate Bill 507, which went into effect in August. Eight cameras have been installed — two in each classroom — and each camera was activated last Monday by the district in the four approved classrooms. KISD spokesman Shannon Rideout said last week the district has not received any additional monitor requests from parents since Nov. 1. PLEASE SEE KISD, A7
Retired teacher donates books to students. See page D1
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Area planning move toward a sustainable future BY DAVID A. BRYANT KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
On this Earth Day, the communities that form the Cen-Tex Sustainable Community Partnership are working on programs to move toward a more sustainable environment in the region, primarily through recycling.
Each of the communities — which include Fort Hood, Killeen, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights — are in very different phases of that effort, however. Some are quite advanced and others would prefer to see how their fellow cities do before implementing a more aggressive program.
Nolanville responds to annexation opposition
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While Fort Hood has its own landfill, the cities within the partnership have to utilize the Temple Landfill as the nearest location to dispose of their trash. The current rate to dump solid waste in Temple is $31.46 per ton. PLEASE SEE FUTURE, A7
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Mayors from eight surrounding cities gather April 15 with Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Todd Fox to sign a “sustainability proclamation.” The proclamation affirmed the leaders’ commitment to environmental stewardship in the region.
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City Secretary Dianna Barker feeds sample ballots to an M100 voting machine to be used in early voting starting Monday.
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he city of Killeen is gearing up for early voting next week and tested electronic voting machines downtown Thursday to ensure voters cast their ballots without a hitch. City Secretary Dianna Barker and Kathryn Davis, the city attorney, were on hand to test the four M100 voting machines which Barker said the city rents for about $325 per machine, per election. “This is to make sure the machines are counting the votes correctly,” Barker said.
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BY MICHAEL GRACZYK AND JUAN A. LOZANO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Gun views fractious even as fewer bear arms ORLANDO SHOOTING: Lynch says FBI to release partial transcript of talks between gunman, police. A3
BY ARTIE PHILLIPS
The Killeen Police Department said it is looking for Derrick Ronell Thomas Jr., 20, in connection with several recent shootings in the city. Thomas is considered armed and dangerous by the police. KPD warned Thomas against approaching or attempting to apprehend him, the release said. Police described him as a black male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds. Detectives are investigating him in connection with shooting at an occupied vehicle, police said. Past news reports listed a shooting on Williamette Lane that involved a vehicle. The shooting on Williamette Lane was one of eight in Killeen in the last week. There were no deaths reported, but at least two victims received gunshot wounds as a result of the violence. The shooting locations include Greenwood Avenue, North 38th Street, Roy Reynolds Drive, WilPLEASE SEE SHOOTINGS, A3
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“We’re just testing the four for early voting today. We’ll test the other ones for election day a couple of days before election day.” The city election ballot will feature a Killeen mayoral race and City Council positions. Early voting goes from April 25 through May 3, and Election Day is May 7. A Killeen school board election is also scheduled for those dates. Davis said the voting machine tests are required by law. As Barker fired up the machines, the sound of intermittent beeping could be heard as
The Election Guide for the Killeen city and school board races will be published in Sunday’s Daily Herald, a day before early voting begins. The guide will have: • Answers from candidates to questions about key issues in their respective races for Killeen mayor, Killeen city council and the Killeen Independent School District. • Information about early voting. • Election day polling places & hours.
money —Tnot always an easy task. The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors recognized the Herald’s � municipal budget coverage with its Eight driver deaths on flooded Houston-area roads prompt review Star Investigative Report of Year award — the top award in the category for the Herald’s circulation classification. The Herald also received two other Star awards at TAPME’s annual conference in Houston on March 25. City Editor/City Hall Reporter Kyle Blankenship was named TAPME’s Star Reporter of the Year for his reporting work, and Deputy Managing Editor for Opinion Dave Miller was recognized as Star Opinion Writer of the Year for his editorial writing. The awards were the latest in a series of professional accolades for the Herald’s commitment to timely, thorough and accurate reporting of local, regional and state news, as well as quality photography and innovative design. In both 2015 and 2016, the Herald earned 15 awards at the annual TAPME conference, competing with more than a dozen other newspapers in its circulation category. The TAPME named the Herald as Newspaper of the Year in 2011 and 2013, and the paper took second-place honors in 2009, 2010 and 2012. As part of its involvement with the local community, the Herald sponsored a bridal show at the Killeen HOUSTON — The deaths of eight drivers whose bodies were pulled from vehicles inundated by this week’s torrential rains in the Houston area have prompted local leaders to push for improvements in how they warn people about the dangers of flooded roads. Houston and nearby counties have been hit with more than a
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foot of rain since Sunday night. Six of the driver deaths occurred in the city or suburbs of Houston, while two happened in surrounding counties. Three of the deaths were at the same Houston underpass. The flooding also has forced thousands of people from their homes as creeks and bayous became overwhelmed. “There’s no question that not enough has been done” to warn
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drivers, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said Thursday. Emmett is leading an effort to ensure drivers are properly notified about flooded roads during heavy storms. The deaths at the Houston underpass prompted Emmett to take action. While one woman drove around a barricade at one side of the underpass, Emmett said no barricades were placed on a different part of the underpass and two drivers unknowingly sent their A5 C2 C1 B1
vehicles into dark floodwaters. “If it’s somebody who drives around a barricade and goes into the water, that’s problematic. I don’t know if any system can stop somebody like that,” he said. “But the other two deaths were completely preventable.” Others have drowned in the same location, he said, most recently last May when heavy rains also flooded Houston. He said in the short term, he
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Team USA member Toni Kamper of Longmont Colo., center, stands on the podium with Australians Helen Allen, right, who placed second overall and Clair Angel who finished third overall. Kamper earned a gold medal in the Masters 2, 57 kg weight class Sunday during the Powerlifting World Championships.
the deadlift, and the bench press.”
quiring both intense upper and lower body strength in Powerlifting is a very phys- order to lift and maintain ically demanding sport, re- PLEASE SEE CLASSIC, A8
NEW YORK — Look anywhere in this nation born of a bloody revolution of musket fire, and you’re likely to find sharp disagreement over guns. Democrats war with Republicans; small towns are pitted against cities. Women and men are at odds, as are blacks and whites and old and young. North clashes with South, East with West. “The current gun debate is more polarized and sour than any time before in American history,” said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor at UCLA and author of the 2011 book, “Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America.” Still numb from the latest mass shooting, in Orlando, it’s easy to imagine that guns have always divided us this way. But a close look at survey data over decades shows they haven’t. There was a time when most citizens favored banning handguns, the chief gun lobbyists supported firearm restrictions, and courts hadn’t yet interpreted the Second Amendment as guaranteeing a personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home. Today, in a country of hundreds of millions of guns, public opinion and interpretation of the law have shifted so much that outright gun bans are unthinkable. It’s true that large segments of the public have expressed support for some
Civic and Conference Center, as well as two jobArmyfairs. wife blends passions, culinary experiences into cookbook Other segments of KDH Media Group also expanded their offerings during the past year. KDH Digital Services and the Herald’s full-spectrum commercial printing service, KDH Printing, continued to provide a wide array of products and services to local businesses. In addition to its award-winning daily publication, the Herald also produces three established weekly publications — the Harker Heights Herald, Copperas Cove Herald and the Fort Hood Herald. The Herald also publishes two monthly magazines for its readers: Homefront and the Homefinder real estate magazine. In conjunction with the Temple Daily Telegram, the Herald also publishes a monthly regional magazine called Tex Appeal. Now entering its fifth year, the high-gloss publication offers news and features focusing on local individuals and businesses. As the longest continually operating business in Killeen, the Daily Herald remains a trusted source for news and information in Central Texas. “It has been exciting to be a part of the growth and development of this community,” said Sue Mayborn, the Herald’s editor and publisher. “We take very seriously our role and responsibility of being a credible news source for the area.”
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Students participate in Math Appreciation Day See page A5
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very year, competitors from across the globe gather to compete in the World Powerlifting Championships. This year, representative from 56 countries gathered at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center for the 2016 competition. “We have over 800 people competing this week,” event organizer Johnny Graham said. “This is the Raw and Classic competition, and people will be competing in the squat,
BY RACHAEL RILEY
will speak with the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office and the offices of local constables to make sure deputies and other officers are stationed at underpasses and other flooded locations. In the long term, Emmett said he’ll work with officials from the city and state to determine what other solutions — possibly some type of barrier — are needed at
Additional candidate information is available on the Herald’s Center for Politics website, KDHNEWS.COM/CENTERFORPOLITICS. There, you’ll see: • The candidates talk about their priorities on videos. • Mini-biographies they provided to the Herald. Videos of the Herald-sponsored city hall candidates forum are also on the Center for Politics page.
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Newly appointed councilman to be sworn in Killeen council members will host a special called meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to swear in the city’s newest appointed councilman. The meeting will be held in the city’s Utility Collection conference room at 210 W. Avenue C. Council members voted 4-2 to appoint Richard “Dick” Young to the vacant Place 2 council seat on Tuesday. Council members Shirley Fleming, Jonathan Okray, Gregory Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem Brockley Moore voted in favor of Young’s appointment. Councilman Jim Kilpatrick voted to appoint Debbie Nash King, along with Councilman Juan Rivera. Both voted against Young’s appointment. The District 2 council seat was left open when then-Councilman Jose Segarra resigned in March to run for mayor. Following the swearing in of Young, the council will immediately convene into a workshop meeting. Tuesday’s workshop item discussions includes briefings on code enforcement update,
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Team USA member Toni Kamper of Longmont, Colo., lifts a personal best of 308.6 pounds to place third in the deadlift competition Sunday during the IPF Powerlifting World Championships at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. Kamper earned a gold medal in the Masters 2, 57 kg weight class.
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REMINDER: EARLY VOTING IS MONDAY THROUGH MAY 3. ELECTION DAY IS MAY 7.
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NOLANVILLE — The Proposed annexation of 668.5 acres in Nolanville’s extraterritorial jurisdiction was met with continued opposition during a second public hearing Thursday night. More than 50 Bell County residents who do not want to be annexed into the city were at Nolanville City Hall, with 19 speaking publicly against it and four letters read against the proposals. Keith Davis, an Army chief warrant officer 2, is currently deployed to Kuwait and wrote one of the letters read Thursday night. “You could pass the annexation and live knowing that you took money from hard working Americans and gained nothing in return simply because you could,” Davis wrote. Nolanville resident Mary Pena was the only one to speak in favor of the annexation. “It’s like a nightmare in here. It’s like Daniel in the lions’ den,” said Pena, who served for two terms on the city council and was mayor pro tem about 20 years ago. “This should have been done way before now, so thank you for moving forward because the city is going to die if you do not annex in property. It will die, and it will turn into Harker Heights or Belton.” The county residents disagreed. Dessie Dragoo, who lives on 10th Street, was one of the residents who took part of a public protest prior to Thursday’s hearing. Dragoo said her parents
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he first thing that was visible from the outside of the house about 1 a.m. Friday morning was an undecorated Christmas tree. The first thing that was visible from the inside of the house was a man sprawled on his back in the kitchen, not moving, and the two men standing over him performing CPR.
drugs in the open at the residence, and the man’s cause of death will remain uncertain until a toxicology report is completed.
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Killeen council members are coming closer to investigating the city’s troubled finances and now must give the best direction possible to the forensic auditing firm. The council is at a crucial stage: The auditors need good direction to answer the questions raised about the city’s financial management. Now, council members are defining the key areas for a prospective auditor to investigate, as they enter a negotiation phase to determine scope and cost. Houston-based McConnell & Jones received a council nod Nov. 22 to become the frontrunner for the job, beating 10 other firms that responded to a request for qualifications. “The discussion item (at Tuesday’s workshop) will give direction to the audit company,” Mayor Jose Segarra said. “The company said it wanted more specifics and direction … just trying to get a little more detail.” Councilman Richard “Dick” Young, a member of the special committee setting the parameters of the audit, said Saturday he asked council members to come up with three questions or areas they would like the audit to address. The plan is to get 21 questions from the council, and an additional six from the two residents who were added to the ad-hoc audit committee. “We want to make sure that we’re asking for everything that we want to have looked at,” Young said. “That’s the most
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Killeen police officer Chris Heeter, left, checks a motorist’s mouth for illegal substances Thursday after a traffic stop.
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Vol. 64, No. 339
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As the Daily Herald moves into its 127th year of operation as the Killeen area’s newspaper of record, it continues to expand its offerings and services to the growing Central Texas community. As part of the multifaceted KDH Media Group, the Herald continues to provide the area with the latest news and information across a variety of platforms. In addition to its daily print product and three weekly community publications, the Herald continues to expand its online presence through its recently redesigned website, kdhnews. com, as well as via Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. In January, the Herald’s website recorded more than 1.2 million page views — a 48 percent increase over the previous year. The site also saw more than 800,000 unique visitors — a 45 percent jump compared to January 2016. A recent survey conducted by a national consumer research service found the KDH Media Group — which includes the Killeen Daily Herald — is the top media company in its market. According to the Nielsen Scarborough firm, the KDH Media Group reaches nearly one out of every two adults in the greater Fort Hood/Central Texas area, including Killeen, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights, Nolanville, Gatesville and Florence. The firm’s analysis projected that of an estimated 178,134 adults in the market, 80,472 — or 45.2 percent — access one of the KDH Media Group’s print or online products in a five-day period. During the past year, the Herald expanded its online presence, adding live Twitter coverage during Killeen’s contentious city budget hearings and continued the practice during weekly council meetings. The Herald also streamed coverage of selected meetings via Facebook Live, increasing reader accessibility and engagement. In 2016, the Herald hosted two politi-
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BY RACHAEL RILEY KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
For almost two decades, Marta Rivera placed her dreams on the backburner. Completing culinary school in the late 1990s, Rivera envisioned becoming a master chef by the age of 25, opening a chain of restaurants in New York or possibly making TV appearances as a chef. Yet life cooked up a new set of plans — adding home school mom, Army wife and recently author to Rivera’s resume. Rivera was raised in a strict military Air Force family. By age 9, she cooked her first meal of spaghetti for the family. “I don’t know if I showed proficiency in cooking or they just delegated me to being the family cook,” Rivera said. “I was very dedicated to the craft. I applied
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JOSH BACHMAN | HERALD
Marta Rivera is seen in her kitchen. Rivera, a chef and military spouse for 18 years, recently published her first cookbook.
myself. When you’re growing up with two military parents, attention to detail is your forte.”
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The childhood chore later fueled her ambitions. After high school, Rivera
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worked to pay her way through culinary school along with a few scholarships and tuition grants at Baltimore International Culinary College. The four-year program was condensed into two full years with no breaks, as Rivera majored in both culinary arts and classical pastries. As she prepared to graduate from culinary school in April 1999, Rivera met her husband of nearly 18 years, Hector Rivera, in Baltimore. With Hector Rivera in the Army, Marta Rivera soon found herself in Germany cooking for 3-year-olds at a child development center. Marta Rivera cooked for soldiers, unit functions and promotion parties; hosted Thanksgiving functions; operated a cake decorating business or occasionPLEASE SEE COOKBOOK, A8
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<<REAL ESTATE >>
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Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Construction is underway March 7 on the new H-E-B store on Stan Schlueter Loop and Fort Hood Street in Killeen. BELOW: Wal-Mart has expanded its footprint in Central Texas in the past year.
Wal-Mart markets, new H-E-B lead retail expansion in Killeen By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
Last year, it was the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on Clear Creek Road that gave another grocery store option to the people of Killeen. In the near future, it’s an H-E-B on the corner of Stan Schlueter Loop and U.S. 195 that will provide a number of new jobs, as well as another food option for those in need of affordable eats. The store is set to hire about 300 new employees, and will open sometime in April. Positions were posted on Feb. 20. “This is going to be our third location in the area, which is pretty great,” said Johnny Mojica, H-E-B area community coordinator. “Killeen is such a growing community and the store is going to be very unique. It is going to have its own Texas True barbecue restaurant, and it will have curbside service as well, so it will make it really convenient for our customers to order online and pick up on the side of the store, so they don’t have to leave their car.” The new location strengthens H-EB’s ability to fight with some of the grocery competitors that have crept into the market in recent years. Last year saw the addition of Aldi at 2500 E. Central Texas Expressway in Killeen. It’s a store known to use unique cost-cutting measures to keep
prices low. Between that and the WalMart Neighborhood Market that went in, there are more and more options for residents to get their food. In September, the clothing company Rogue American Apparel opened up a branch at 728 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd. The company was started by Wes Whitlock, who served in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. It specializes in patriotic clothing, hats and posters that are often emblazoned with motivational phrases such as “Death before dishonor, loyalty over greed” and “I know what I bring to the table, so trust me, I’m not afraid to eat alone.” It’s a brand that has become popu-
lar with soldiers and veterans alike. Though the store specializes in clothing, posters and signs, those items are not all you can get there. Invader Coffee products can be purchased there, too, along with mugs, glass and other drinkwear. If you have an extra $200, you can splurge for some limited edition Converse Chuck Taylors. Marksman Firearms also opened its doors Oct. 1, and patrons could hardly move around inside the store because of the large crowd. The shop offered a free gun to the first two people in line, and dozens of people showed up days in advance to try and be one of those lucky patrons.
The shop is just the second of its kind to open in the state of Texas, with the first calling Mansfield home. The shop prides itself on its employees, who aren’t gun snobs, but rather, gun enthusiasts. They don’t want to push an agenda on customers, or punish them for a lack of knowledge. John Geyerman, the vice president of the group that oversees Marskmen said, “You want to go into a shoe store where they’re going to talk to you about how to get the best shoe, right?” he said at the grand opening. “A lot of the big-box retailers are that way; they rely on you doing your research before you come in and make a purchase. We’re not like that. If you want to come in five times before you make a purchase, that’s fine.” There were also a number of new businesses that opened up, that were celebrated by the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. One of those was Great Escape Central Texas. The Great Escape is a live action adventure game in which players are placed in a room and have to use elements of that room to solve a series of puzzles to escape or solve the mystery within a set time limit, according to its website. Games are set in a variety of fictional locations and scenarios. That ranges from a haunted manor and a bank heist, to a replication of the movie “Toy Story” and the TV show, “Lost.”
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Local credit unions reflect on first year serving residents By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
When Texas Partners Federal Credit Union opened the doors of its new Harker Heights location, its goal was to provide service in a city that didn’t yet have it. A little over a year later, Britni Rachal, the director of marketing, is pleased with the way everything has gone. “We’re so excited to be more present in the Harker Heights area,” she said. “The branch has given us the chance to expand our reach in the Central Texas community that we serve. We’ve got great members, great employees, and we’re excited to see where the branch will take us in the future.” The branch offers full-service banking, as well as two drive up ATMs, a coin machine, easy access to the freeway feeder and extended hours for those who work during typical bankers hours. It was the sixth branch. There are two in Temple, one in Copperas Cove and another in Belton. It’s the newest branch since the Temple Wal-Mart location, which opened in 2015. “It’s off of a very busy highway and a growing area, with a lot of prominent businesses in the area,” Rachal said. “It’s important for us to be present in these areas, and bridge the gap.” On Jan. 28, Texell Credit Union announced that it surpassed $300 million in assets. Texell, which has two branches in Killeen and a number in
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Texas Partners Federal Credit Union Branch Manager Klaudia Conley, center, holds a pair of scissors while participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with bank employees and members of the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce at 701 W. Central Texas Expressway in Harker Heights.
Temple, said that it made them the largest credit union in the area. “Financial institutions are measured by their assets. This makes Texell about twice the size of the other local competitors,” Mary Ann Nickolai, the vice president of marketing, said in an interview with the Temple Daily Telegram.
Texell credits its success with being locally owned and operated. Its headquarters are local too, so the Central Texas area is all it has to worry about. A+ Federal Credit Union opened up a new branch near Memory Lane and U.S. Highway 190 in February 2016 as well. It’s next to Seton Medical
Center, and Sam’s Club on Central Texas Expressway. On Feb. 12, A+ announced that it was named one of the highest performers in member service in 2016’s fourth quarter. It earned top scores in 14 categories including top member appreciation score and top total experience score. “We are delighted to be honored with this award,” said A+FCU CEO Kerry A.S. Parker. “The mystery shopper feedback we receive is a valuable part of our commitment to continually improving our service to our members.” When the two acres of land was purchased, A+ told the Daily Herald it planned to make the Harker Heights location its flagship location. In October, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action against Navy Federal Credit Union for making false threats about debt collections to its members between January 2013 and July 2015. The report also said that the credit union unfairly restricted access when people had delinquent loans. Navy Federal has since corrected its practices, and will pay about $23 million to victims, along with a civil penalty of $5.5 million. Navy Federal Credit Union has four locations in the Killeen area, with two banks in Killeen, one in Harker Heights and one in Copperas Cove. There is currently no information on whether local branches used these practices on area members.
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Killeen area housing market stable as fewer new homes are built By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
From February 2016 to February 2017, 720 permits were issued for the construction of new single-family residences in Killeen worth a total value of $98.71 million. Although the housing market in Killeen is considered stable, the city has seen a slow but steady drop in new houses being built inside city limits over the past decade — from 1,245 in 2006 to 681 in 2016. The figures show the lowest amount of new housing permits Killeen has issued since 1998, when 674 permits were issued. Housing inventory — which is defined as how long it would take before all active listings are sold if housing prices remained static — has seen a drop since 2011, falling from 9.1 months of inventory to 3.6 months in the Killeen-Temple area, according to the most recent data from the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. Killeen is now a seller’s market, with the Texas Association of Realtors reporting a median home price of $117,000. At the end of November, there were 590 active listings in Killeen, down 15.4 percent from almost 700 homes in November 2015, according to the third quarter report. Jim Gaines with the Texas A&M Real Estate Center said proximity to Fort Hood is one likely reason the housing market has remained stable for so long despite a smaller number of houses
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Homes are being built near Stagecoach Road in Killeen. The city’s population continues to grow.
being built. “Likely, what you have there are military personnel buying a house, and then selling it again in a year or two when they have to leave,” he said. “So that house is back on the market. ... They don’t really get to take advantage of any value appreciation because the market just doesn’t move that fast.” Supply and demand determines median home prices for the area, according to Roger Chesser, deputy chief appraiser for Bell County. Military personnel represent one of the biggest markets in the Killeen area, but service members often have to sell and buy without the negotiating that normally goes into the house-shopping process. “I think anytime you have more affordable housing in the area, (that’s) a good thing, especially if you are a buyer,” Chesser said. “Killeen’s market is not nearly as volatile as people would think with the military presence — it is
actually very stable.” Chesser said that Killeen, lagging behind the rest of Texas in terms of median house prices, is actually in a good spot. “We haven’t seen any double-digit increases recently like some other areas (such as Austin), but we also didn’t see any double-digit decreases that a lot of areas saw when the housing bubble burst,” he said. “More subdivisions are being built and more homes are going in, and I think that is a very good thing.” A drop in active listings means the number of single-family residences sold (in the fourth) quarter (of 2016) skyrocketed. There were 155 homes sold in November, up 64.9 percent from about 55 houses sold in November 2015. Gaines said the 64 percent increase is not as dramatic as it appears to be. “Two things happened this November and last November to make that percentage so high,” he said Dec. 21.
“Last November, we know it was a very slow year for that area, having just 55 houses sold, and several pending sales didn’t go through until December. This year we had a spike in sales because many of the pending sales from October went through this month.” Gaines agreed with Chesser that the market is in a good place. “The price has been very stable in that area lately, which is a good thing,” Gaines said. “The median price is lower than the rest of Texas, as well, so it’s probably a very affordable market, too.” The median price per square foot in Killeen is $73; the statewide median price is $99. Texas as a whole is experiencing a slight uptick in median home prices and active listings, with houses statewide being listed at about $214,000 this year and with about 103,100 homes actively on the market at the end of November, according to the third quarter report issued by the Fort Hood Area Association of Realtors and the Texas Realtors Association. “Texas home sales in 2016 continue to edge out last year’s record-breaking sales volume, and, in many local markets, growth is still very strong,” said Leslie Rouda Smith, chairman of the Texas Realtors group.
Multi-Family Housing
From February 2016 to February 2017 there were 62 permits issued for duplexes and multi-family housing units worth a total value of $10.48 million.
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Rising property values could bring higher tax bills this year By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
Homeowners in the greater Killeen area might pay more money in property taxes this year. Though it might mean less money in your pocket, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “I always tell people, be careful what you wish for,” Killeen Mayor Jose Segarra told an audience at a neighborhood watch meeting in March. “I can tell you, this city continues to grow. Our home prices are going up.” The average home in Killeen is valued at $113,000. That’s up 5.6 percent from February 2016. A little over 40 percent of homes cost under $99,999, while 52 percent of homes cost between $100,000 and $199,999. Just under 8 percent of homes cost between $200,000 and $299,999. There are 20 percent fewer active
listings than there were this time last year, and inversely there were 20 percent more closed sales than last year, figures show. The average home spends just 99 days on the market, compared to 127 in February 2016. The city with the steepest increase in property value from last year is Nolanville. The average price of a home is $340,000 as of February. That’s a number up 160 percent from last year. While there are no homes in Killeen valued over $300,000, 71 percent of homes in Nolanville are valued between $300,000 and $399,999. The rest are either valued between $100,000 and $199,999 or $400,000 and $499,999. As of February there were 50 active listings — up 25 percent from last year — and eight closed sales, the same amount as last year. The average home spends 150 days on the market. Copperas Cove has seen the next
highest growth in home value. Its average value of $144,001 is up 66 percent from last year. However, the number of active listings have actually gone down from last year, if only by 1 percent. Closed sales have been down, too: there were just 32 homes sold in February. Just 6 percent of the homes in Cove are valued at over $200,000, and none of them are valued at over $299,999. The average home is on the market for 145 days. Harker Heights didn’t see a significant amount of growth by any qualifier. The number of active listings went up 6 percent, and the number of closed sales went down 27 percent from last February. While the average price of the home went up, it was only by 0.8 percent. The home value averages are well under the state average. As of March, the average home in Texas is valued at $163,100, according to Zillow, an
online real estate company. The value of homes in Texas have gone up 7.4 percent in the past year, and Zillow predicts that they will rise another 3.3 percent in the next year. The average listing price in Texas is $249,900. The average home value in America is $195,300. Zillow said home values have increased 7.2 percent across the country in the past year, and predicts home values to increase another 3 percent within the next year. Segarra said the reason for the spike in property values is because there are fewer homes available for buyers. As the population of Killeen increases, more of those homes are filled. The number of homes being built here is lower, too. “Anytime there’s not a lot of inventory there,” he said, “it creates more competition. That affects prices; demand is more, so we can increase our price.”
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Several new businesses coming to Central Texas, permits show Schlueter Loop.
By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
Copperas Cove
The area has seen a lot of commercial growth in the past year, with several new businesses coming every month.
KILLEEN
There were 26 commercial permits worth a total value of $15.91 million between February 2016 and February 2017. One of the recent commercial permits is for Zaxby’s Chicken in Killeen. The restaurant will be at 2150 Clear Creek Road. The permit was issued in January. Several other permits have been issued for eateries and restaurants in the past year. Sweet Eat Bakery will be setting up setting up shop at 509 N. Fourth St., and a Burger King will be coming to 2902 Clear Creek Road.
Courtesy | ZAXBY’S
A new Zaxby’s, similar to this image, will be built in Killeen at 2150 Clear Creek Road.
Of course, places to grab a bite to eat are not the only things coming to the Killeen area soon. There will also be several new care facilities for both children and senior citizens. A permit was issued in July 2016 for Imperial Resort Assisted Living Center, which will be at 5200 S. W.S. Young Drive. The Killeen Nursing Home will also be coming to the area and will be at
5000 Thayer Drive. There will also be a new day care for children coming soon, Little Wonders Day Care, which will be at 4612 Trimmier Road. Killeen will also be seeing the Children’s Tree House Learning Center, which will be at 5016 Trimmier Road. Killeen will also be getting a new activities center. The Killeen Recreation Center will be at 1310 E. Stan
The city has seen some large growth in the past year, with the largest commercial project being the new Gold’s Gym at 249 Robert Griffin III Blvd. The project was valued at $5.78 million. There were 11 commercial permits worth a total value of $19.88 million between February 2016 and February 2017.
Harker Heights
There were also several new business to come to the city from February of last year through January 2017, with the largest permit being issued for construction of a new Wal-Mart. The new store is at 980 Knights Way and is valued at $657,804. Six permits were issued for the construction of new commercial businesses worth a total of $2.90 million.
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Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity streamlines spending, expands offerings Special to the Herald
Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity has seen some changes and growth, thanks to the surrounding community. Over the past year, the local affiliate has been able to reduce its operational spending to only 18 percent of all funds received paying for salaries, administrative costs, and fundraising expenses. This has created an increase of funds of over 7 percent to programs and buildings for partner families across Central Texas. Over the past year, Habitat has increased its community partnerships through Family Fun Days at local parks. Running on Saturdays, once a month, through the summer, this free event provides activities for kids and gives vendors an opportunity to sell their products. Family Fun Days, which have included local sponsors, also increased volunteerism for the local habitat affiliate. Family Fun Days will be returning after May this year. Ken Cates has been the executive director of FHAHFH since August 2015, right after retiring from over 25 years of service, out of Fort Hood. He accepted the challenge of growth and rebuilding the affiliate across their service area, encompassing Bell, Coryell and Lampasas counties. During his time, FHAHFH completed home No. 69, will dedicate No. 70 and break ground on No. 71 by April. Over the past eight months, Cates has initiated a “Helping Hands” project that has helped six families in Temple, Killeen, Bartlett and Kempner with home preservation, community cleanup and critical home repairs. This new initiative will also bring in Soldiers from 1-62 Air Defense Artillery, 69th ADA Brigade together to “Strike the Streets” in Killeen. At the end of June, the Air Defenders will conduct community cleanup, minor home preservation, and some house paint projects. Cates said, “With the Lord behind us, and continued support from our communities we can achieve anything.” Habitat for Humanity is a faith-
based nonprofit organization that builds strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter across the heart of Texas. Selected families provide at least 300 hours of “sweat equity,” of which 50 hours must be construction of homes and other construction projects. The family then signs a no-profit mortgage for the cost of building the home. Cates said having volunteers build the homes removes labor fees from the overall cost of the home, reducing the final cost. In the past year, more than 350 volunteers logged over 14,000 hours building homes, improving the ReStore, assisting with fundraising events and serving the community, with FHAHFH. Interns from Texas A&M University-Central Texas also assist in the offices with homeowner files, outreach programs and digitizing historical files. Cates continues to invite businesses to assist in Community Revitalization efforts by sponsoring builds, programs, and other events throughout the year. Upcoming events include the annual “5K Donut Challenge” in April, where runners eat donuts at the halfway point and continue to the finish after. Currently active through September is Habitat’s “Dream Home” raffle — with a grand price: a four-bedroom home, over 3,000 square feet, in a community off Clear Creek in Killeen. This raffle includes 9 other prizes, drawn before the Grand prize. Tickets are available through Fort Hood Area Habitat Facebook and at their ReStore on Atkinson Avenue in Killeen. Another growth the local affiliate is partnerships with local building suppliers. Thanks to their partnership, the ReStore has been able to increase sales and savings to the community, further assisting the community with their efforts of improving their homes and other projects. Visit Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity at www.fhahfh.org, or 2601 Atkinson Ave., Killeen or call 254680-4007 for information and ways to donate, shop or volunteer.
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<<MEDICAL>>
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New Darnall hospital finished as Fort Hood expands patient care By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald
Five years after its ground-breaking, the new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood has opened its doors for service. On April 3, staff at the 1 million square-foot facility began treating patients there. In March, hospital staff members moved their offices into the new $500 million building, as the last days of the transition ticked by. The hospital system has approximately 3,500 to 3,800 people on staff, and the new building has space for 145 beds, 10 more than the old building.
Final phases
In February and March, during the final phases of the move-in process, Darnall staff hosted two, Day in the Life events. These full-scale simulations allowed doctors, nurses and other staff members to rehearse what a day in the new facility would look like, and helped work out any last-minute details. The rehearsals involved hundreds of volunteers from the community, and played out multiple scenarios, including medical and security situations that might occur. “Both the staff and the volunteers have done an awesome job of trying to work out what it’s going to be like to deliver care, particularly in this building, moving patients around and all of the emergency situations you encounter,” Col. Mark W. Thompson, commander of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, said at the first Day in the Life event on Feb. 6 of last year. “I think they’ve done a real good job. Most importantly, they have learned a few things they will need to do differently in this building than they do in the other building.” In the midst of the new hospital’s construction, Darnall also continued its work caring for soldiers and their families, including the birth of 2,420 babies at the hospital in 2015. In January, the Fort Hood Intrepid
Amy Proctor | Herald
Lt. Shannon Romer, right, shows expectant mom Ricarda McQuirter, left, how to perform CPR on a choking infant at the 2016 Baby Expo at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on Fort Hood.
Spirit center opened its doors and began patient treatment, caring for soldiers suffering from traumatic brain injuries, as well as post-traumatic stress and other psychological health conditions. Construction on the building began in June 2014.
The $11 million dollar facility was privately funded through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. It is the fourth in a series of nine such facilities to open on military bases across the country. “I can honestly say that this building, from an Army medicine perspec-
tive, is vitally important in helping us keep our commitment to exceptional health care delivery. Army medicine’s fundamental tasks are promoting, improving and restoring the behavioral and physical well being of our soldiers, family members and soldiers for life,” Thompson said at the Intrepid center’s dedication ceremony March 9, 2016. In December, Darnall expanded its pharmacy services for patients, when the hospital launched a new option for filling prescriptions. Darnall patients now can fill electronic or handwritten prescriptions at the Clear Creek Pharmacy, located at the new Clear Creek PX. Patients also can turn in unused or expired medications at the Clear Creek Pharmacy, at a locked MEDSAFE box. “At the old PX, we only had a refill pharmacy,” said Maj. Lyle Kolnik, deputy chief pharmacy services. “These new services essentially make the Clear Creek PX a full-service pharmacy, which is a great benefit to the Fort Hood Community.”
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Army Medical Homes serve soldiers outside main hospital on Fort Hood Judenia Wilson, a licensed vocational nurse at the Harker Heights Medical Home, takes 6-yearold Nate Williamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s temperature.
By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald
To provide treatment without requiring patients to go to the main hospital at Fort Hood, U.S. Army Medical Homes offer medical care off-post in several clinics for active-duty soldiers, retirees and their families. Army medical facilities function as family-practice clinics off post, and work in conjunction with Carl. R. Darnall Army Medical Center. The Killeen facility serves soldiers and their family members in Killeen. Those living in Harker Heights, Belton and Salado are served by the Harker Heights clinic, and the Copperas Cove Clinic serves Cove, Kempner and Lampasas. In 2012, the three community-based clinics received their initial National Committee for Quality Assurance certification, and are in the review
Gloria Montgomery | U.S. Army
process for recertification. Other clinics based at Fort Hood include the Bennett Health Clinic, a Soldier-Centered Medical Home which serves active-duty troops, the Thomas Moore Health Clinic, and the Russell Collier Health Clinic. In the past year, all three of the
medical clinics, as well as other Fort Hood clinics, have expanded their pharmacy services. The pharmacies at all three medical clinics are able to provide services to their patients, and pharmacy, lab and radiology services will be available in a new After Hours Clinic, which
is scheduled to open April 4 at the Thomas Moore Health Clinic. The After Hours clinic is open now, and continues to see patients during the times listed below. There are four soldier-centered medical clinics Bennett Health Clinic, Charles Thomas Moore, Monroe and Troop Medical Clinic #12. Three community based medical clinics - Killeen, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove. A fourth community based medical clinic is planned for Killeen later in the year. Patient-centered medical clinics include: Family Medicine Residency Clinic, Internal Medicine Clinic, Pediatric Clinic, Russell Collier Health Clinic which sees both active-duty troops and family members, and the newest addition to the PCMH group is the Fort Hood Medical Home. The clinic is designed to accommodate same day urgent/acute care appointments.
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Baylor Scott & White expands offerings to care for growing population Special to the Herald
Baylor Scott & White Health provides a wide range of services, from primary care to highly specialized care, through its network of primary clinics, specialty clinics and hospitals. The Scott & White Clinic-Killeen has provided preventive care to the Killeen residents for 36 years. As the area grows, Baylor Scott & White anticipates an increase in patients at Baylor Scott & White Clinic – Killeen West, Scott & White Clinic – Harker Heights, Scott & White Urgent Care Clinic and Baylor Scott & White Clinic – Copperas Cove. The Killeen Hemingway Specialty Clinic added Dr. Kelsey Pohler to the pain clinic team.
Celebration of Serving Children
Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center — Temple celebrated five years of service and a rebranded name in the Central Texas area. Since opening in 2011, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s has recorded more than: • 960,000 clinic visits, • 111,000 radiology exams, • 106,000 emergency department visits, • 55,000 physical therapy/occupational therapy visits, • 21,000 surgeries, and • 18,000 inpatient discharges. “We have been proud to serve children of all ages in Central Texas and beyond for five years and counting. It’s not hard to believe the growth we have achieved in five years; it shows how valuable this children’s hospital is to this community,” said John L. Boyd III, MD, MBA, CPE, FAAP, president and chief medical officer of Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s. In addition to expanding pediatric services of cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery, pulmonology and adolescent medicine, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s launched a pediatric dialysis program for children with kidney failure. “Our main goal is to provide access to families in Central Texas with
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
The Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Killeen is among the health system’s clinics and hospitals in Central Texas.
children who may be suffering from chronic kidney disease,” said Faris Hashim, MD, pediatric nephrologist at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s. “We know that kidney failure can impact a child’s development and is especially hard on them as well as their families.”
A New Name, Same Legacy of Care
Baylor Scott & White celebrated the legacy of its Central Texas flagship hospital, renaming it Scott & White Medical Center – Temple. With more than 120 years of service to the community, the hospital continues the tradition of providing personalized, high-quality care, advanced medical education and research. The hospital broke ground on an innovative surgical sciences facility that will bring new, advanced procedures to Central Texas patients. The new facility, slated to open in summer 2018, will be adjacent to the hospital and will increase the hospital’s number of operating room suites. “The new surgical sciences building is a necessity. Our surgical volumes are growing,” said Harry Papaconstantinou, MD, chairman for the department of surgery at Scott & White Medical Center — Temple. “The
additional operating room space will accommodate the community’s needs and the advanced surgical technology will expand our services for patients. As the only Level I trauma center between Austin and Dallas, it’s very important that we have the most modern equipment and advanced capabilities.” The hospital continues to provide new neurosciences services (deep brain stimulation and duopa), radiation oncology (stereotactic body radiation therapy) and cardiology (Transcatheter aortic valve replacement — TAVR, Mitraclip, Watchman, and Cardiomems). One notable advancement in the TAVR program involved a patient receiving a valve and being discharged in the same day. Typically, most patients potentially can be discharged within 24 to 36 hours after the minimally invasive procedure. The hospital also transplanted a record number of organs in 2016, giving patients an opportunity for a better quality of life. The hospital’s comprehensive program hopes to perform even more in 2017.
Awards
Temple/Killeen Cancer Program has achieved the American College
of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement for Third Consecutive Cycle (2010, 2013 and 2016) Scott & White Medical Center – Temple Texas Ten Step Program Designation 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs 2016 American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center – GOLD Get with the Guidelines® — Stroke GOLD PLUS Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Quality Achievement Award BlueCross BlueShield — Blue Distinction® Centers for Cardiac Care U.S. News & World Report — Ranked No. 10 hospital in Texas; high performing in five specialties: cancer, gastroenterology & GI surgery, geriatrics, nephrology and pulmonology; high performing in five common procedures or conditions: heart failure, colon cancer surgery, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), hip replacement and knee replacement Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN) and American Hospital Association (AHA) — 18th annual list of nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals — Most Improved Category Continuing Care Hospital Pathway of Excellence Designation
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Metroplex remains committed to community-centered care Special to the Herald
For 39 years, Metroplex Health System has stayed true to one mission: Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. “We are honored to serve the communities of Central Texas,” said Carlyle Walton, Metroplex Health System President and CEO. “Our daily goal is to provide high-quality, technologically advanced medical care built on the foundation of uncommon compassion to our patients.” In 2016, more than 40,000 patients visited the emergency department, the hospital served more than 140,000 patients, and 1,100 babies were born at the Sue Mayborn Women’s Center. Metroplex Health System consists of a 232-bed multi-campus facility, which includes a 60-bed Behavioral Health Center, in Killeen, and the 25-bed Rollins Brook Community Hospital in Lampasas. Metroplex Health System is a faithbased organization. It is a member of the Adventist Health System, a partner with Baylor Scott & White Health, and is home to more than 300 physicians offering 43 medical specialties.
New Facilities and Services
Metroplex has seen a lot of expansion over the last few years, and 2016 was no different. In September, the hospital celebrated the grand opening of its new Heart and Vascular Center. The $4.5 million project added additional space and equipment to the previous Cardiac Catheter Lab. The addition will help the Metroplex Cardiovascular team perform procedures such as angioplasty and stenting for heart blockages and treatment of heart attacks; radiofrequency ablation for cardiac arrhythmias; placement of pacemakers; and more. “Instead of having to go to a larger metropolitan area to receive state-ofthe-art heart and vascular care, our brothers and sisters in our community can come to Metroplex and stay closer to home,” said Walton. In addition to the Heart and Vas-
Emily Hale | Herald
John Fisher auctions one of many items at the Metroplex Gold Star Gala on Nov. 3.
cular Center, Metroplex also opened a new wound care clinic in Harker Heights and a new outpatient rehabilitation facility in Lampasas. The Metroplex Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is a full-service wound care center located on the corner of East Central Texas Expressway and Rosewood Drive, which is technically in Killeen. The full-time staff operates two hyperbaric oxygen chambers and utilize the most advanced wound therapies available to ensure each patient heals as quickly as possible. The Rehabilitation Center of Rollins Brook Community Hospital is a 3,000-square-foot facility with three physical therapists, a speech therapist and an occupational therapist who are available as needed. Therapies offered for patients ranging from school-aged children to adults include physical, speech-language, occupational and lymphedema. Looking ahead in 2017, planning for the Metroplex Center for Joint Replacement is under way with the center set to open in early summer. The focus for the new center is to help patients receiving elective joint replacement surgery improve their overall experience and recovery. “Our program is designed to help our patients see themselves as individuals who came to the hospital to improve their quality of life instead
of people who came to the hospital because they are sick,” said Teresa Holditch, registered nurse and care coordinator for the Metroplex Center for Joint Replacement. “This simple adjustment in thinking can make a positive difference in our patients end results.”
Accreditations and Certifications
In 2016, Metroplex Adventist Hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. Metroplex underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey, during which a team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated compliance with hospital standards related to several areas, including emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, and medication management. Metroplex was also accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation. According to the SPCP website, more than 60 percent of all cardiac arrests are caused by a heart attack, which occurs when the blood flow to the heart is abruptly cut off.
The addition of the Resuscitation designation to Chest Pain Center with PCI Accreditation acknowledges that the hospital receiving the designation has initiated a treatment plan that includes interventions such as early recognition; CPR and defibrillation; early intervention with Primary PCI, which means a team made up of the cardiac cath lab staff and an interventional cardiologist will arrive at the facility within 30 minutes; and simultaneous post-arrest hypothermia treatment. In addition to its accreditations by The Joint Commission, Metroplex was re-designated as a Basic-Level IV Trauma Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The designation makes the hospital one of only two level IV centers in their designated trauma area which includes Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam and Mills counties. Metroplex also received Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission in 2016 for its compliance with strokerelated standards and requirements. The standards are based on best practices found in the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updates Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011). The achievement of certification signifies that the care provided to stroke patients by Metroplex have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes.
Recognitions
Fall 2016 marked the fifth year in a row Metroplex Adventist Hospital was honored with an “A” grade for its Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections. The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog. Also in 2016, Metroplex was once
again recognized as a finalist for the QUEST Award for High-Value Healthcare. Only 14 hospitals received finalist recognition for achieving top performance in any five of the six areas measured in Premier’s QUEST collaborative. “Our achievements with QUEST reinforces our commitment to consistently
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deliver the best to the communities we serve,” Walton said. “We were honored to receive the QUEST Award and continue to work on improving patient outcomes and community health.” Metroplex received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for achieving specific qual-
ity improvement measures outlined by the Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. The American Heart Association also awarded Metroplex its Mission: Lifeline Silver-Plus Award for achieving a score of 75 percent or greater for treating cardiac transfer patients within 120 minutes.
Metroplex Hospital also earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition under a national program aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of respiratory care services available in hospitals. Only 700 hospitals, or approximately 15 percent, in the United States have applied for and received this award.
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Metroplex Wound Care Center adds another layer of healing Glennon R. Einspanier, left, and H. Sprague Taveau IV are photographed near the hyperbaric oxygen chambers used at the Metroplex Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine.
By Val Valdez Herald Correspondent
The Metroplex Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine has added another layer of healing to patients’ treatment throughout Central Texas. Since opening in June 2016, the center has treated 168 new patients and healed 153 wounds. Thirteen patients have required hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which equates to 362 treatments total, the center reported earlier this month. Patients lie in 6-foot long clear, acrylic cylinder breathing 100 percent pure oxygen under pressure to promote wound healing to boost the body’s natural healing process. Body tissues need an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen to survive.
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. An increase in blood oxygen helps promotes healing to a wound and fights infection,” said H. Sprague Taveau, D.O., medical director of the Metroplex Center for Wound Care.” “We are honored to be able to serve the Harker Heights community and the surrounding areas,” Taveau said “Using our comprehensive approach to wound care, which includes a nine-
step protocol for healing, we created better health in Harker Heights and in the surrounding communities. It is our hope to continue our mission of healing for many years to come.” The Center features two treatment rooms, a stretcher room and two hyperbaric oxygen chambers. It is the third wound care facility opened by Metroplex, which also has facilities in Killeen and Lampasas. Many patients appreciate having
this new facility closer to them, because it saves them travel time. “They can get here faster and easier, and all that helps quicken the healing process,” said Kathleen Hoopengardner, certified hyperbaric technologist. The healing rate at the center is 96 percent, and it takes approximately 26 days for patients to be fully healed. An average treatment lasts two hours a day, and a patient can watch a small TV placed in front of the cylinder or sleep. Other types of wound care treatments available include suction blister epidermal grafting and dehydrated human placenta. All of these treatments are used for a variety of serious conditions, such as chronic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, radiation injury, bone infections and burns. The Metroplex Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine is at 5610 E. Central Texas Exp., Suite 5. Call 254-519-8980.
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Seton Medical Center gains new CEO, rehabilitation center By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald
As Seton Medical Center Harker Heights nears its fifth year in Bell County, the hospital has seen much progress in the past years. “One of our initial goals was to exceed our patient’s expectations for service and quality,” said Zach Dietze, Seton’s CEO. “We have successfully met this challenge as proven by our CMS Four Star Rating for both Overall Quality and Patient Satisfaction, and the hospital received a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of “A” this past year,” Dietze said “Seton in Harker Heights is committed to providing exceptional patient center care to our community across the service lines that we feel privileged to offer the community.” In light of this, Dietze said, Seton staff have worked hard to complete disease specific certifications and are proud of these accomplishments. Chief Nursing Officer Pam Craig said, “We continually look for ways to meet the needs of our community. We are now Chest Pain accredited and have earned our Level IV Trauma Certification.” Being Chest Pain accredited means the hospital is recognized by the American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services as an accredited Chest Pain Center. Level IV Trauma Certification signifies that Seton Harker Heights is able to support the area through providing care to trauma patients in the Emergency Department. In 2016, Seton Harker Heights partnered with Freedom Urgent Care and together will open another Urgent Care in Killeen the first quarter of 2017. Seton now has 425 associates and over 300 physicians on staff. All physicians practicing at Seton are board eligible or board certified. In addition to providing exceptional patient care, Seton HH is committed to supporting its local community partners. In 2016 Seton
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Physical therapist Zacharye Mustafa checks Sgt. First Class Manuel Garcia’s hip at the Seton Physical Therapy Center at the Armed Services YMCA’s Wellness Center in Harker Heights. The hospital is expanding services as it enters its fifth year in Bell County.
HH launched a new outpatient therapy program in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA at the new 54,000-square-foot wellness
center located in Harker Heights. The new Armed Services YMCA Wellness Center offers the community a place to exercise, relax and
unwind. But it also offers something else — Seton Medical Center’s Rehabilitation program. With a whole corridor devoted to physical, occupational and speech therapy, the program’s clinic is a partnership with the ASYMCA that has already taken off. The clinic, which is open Monday through Friday, retains a staff of five therapists, with the hope of adding at least five more in the next year, rehabilitation director Ron Van Dyke noted. While Seton has always maintained a small inpatient therapy program, the hospital looks forward to expanding its clinic at the ASYMCA, 110 Mountain Lion Road, in the months and years to come, he said. Additionally, Seton Harker Heights continues to staff providers at the Greater Killeen Free Clinic to support the clinic’s chronic disease management program.
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Greater Killeen Free Clinic serves more patients in community By Kyle Blankenship Killeen Daily Herald
The Greater Killeen Free Clinic entered its 22nd year of medical services to residents of Killeen and surrounding communities in 2016 and works in partnership with the Friends in Crisis Homeless Shelter that opened this past year. The clinic serves children and adults who are low income and uninsured. The clinic’s services include acute care, chronic disease treatment and education, a prescription assistance program, and diagnostic testing and specialty care by referral. It also offers case management for its patients, and partners with Texas A&M College of Medicine Psychiatry Residency Program for its targeted behavioral health services. “Patients needing women’s health care services are referred to Bell
County Public Health District’s Killeen clinic, which is located four blocks from the Free Clinic,” said Marlene DiLillo, the clinic’s executive director. The clinic got its start in 1994 to provide health care to people who didn’t have access. Located in downtown Killeen, the clinic offers acute care, well women’s care and chronic care to the uninsured in Bell, Coryell and Lampasas counties. Since 1994, more than 60,000 patients
have been treated, with the number of patients growing annually. In 2016, the clinic saw more than 6,800 patients, according to DiLillo. The clinic saw 6,783 in 2015. The clinic has also expanded its relationship with the Friends in Crisis Homeless Shelter at 412 E. Sprott St. The shelter refers people to the clinic, DiLillo said, and the clinic has set up a satellite site in the shelter. In 2015, the clinic launched its free monthly Lunch n’ Learn wellness
program as a way for the clinic to educate the community on various health topics. The group meets the first Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. in the community development room at the Killeen Arts and Activities Center, 802 N. Second St. In late 2016, Accent Health began to provide free health education via television and iPads in patient exam rooms, DiLillo said, and planning has begun for a Killeen-area Health Coalition, with the goal of partnering with other organizations to improve the health of Killeen citizens and provide an up-to-date monthly calendar of health related activities. The clinic, at 718 N. Second St., sees patients on a first-come, first-serve basis for its acute care. Other clinics are by appointment. Photo ID is required for service. For information, go to www. gkfclinic.org or call 254-618-4211.
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<<FORT HOOD>>
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Fort Hood continues improving services for soldiers, veterans By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
From solar energy to state-of-the art medical facilities, Fort Hood continues to progress with a variety of projects around post that serve soldiers, families, veterans and others. Fort Hood’s biggest project in decades — the construction of a new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center — is nearing its 1-year grand opening anniversary in June. U.S. Reps. Chet Edwards and John Carter originally advocated for the new $500 million medical center, which became the largest Defense Department contract funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or the 2009 stimulus package. Officials broke ground on the project in 2010. Col. Mark Thompson, the hospital’s commander, said the hospital system has 3,500 to 3,800 people on staff, and the new building has space capacity for 145 beds, 10 more than old building, “We should all be very proud of what our efforts have brought to the Fort Hood community. I have been lucky to be part of this effort at a time when we executed the move from the old hospital to the new,” Thompson said.
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
A contracted worker measures the distance between solar panels at Fort Hood. The hybrid renewable energy project is expected to help the military installation with saving $168 million in energy costs over the next three decades.
deploy around the world, with nearly 4,000 arriving in Kuwait last month. Those soldiers — from 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade — replaced the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss as part of an ongoing rotation for Operation Inherent Resolve. There are nearly 3,000 other Fort Hood soldiers deployed to places such as Kuwait and Afghanistan. Deployed units include the 1st Cavalry Division, 89th Military Police Brigade, 36th Engineers and the 1st Medical Brigade.
Solar
Solar energy is a well-used term at Fort Hood this year, after the Army in January announced a $497 million, 28year agreement between Apex and the federal government to supply the post with solar and wind energy. Officials broke ground on a $100 million solar-panel project in January 2016, part of a renewable energy plan that will provide about 40 percent of the post’s power and potentially save upward of $168 million in energy costs during the next three decades. The joint project between the Department of the Army, Fort Hood, Apex Clean Energy, the Defense Logistics Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality will utilize energy from wind mills
The drawdown
Cpt. Andrew Daniele, left, and Sgt. 1st Class William Carhuff medically evacuate a simulated casualty during their UH-60 Black Hawk training exercise at North Fort Hood in Gatesville. This exercise is the most intense part of their deployment training.
in West Texas and approximately 138 acres of solar panels on the southwestern portion of the installation to provide the power. Construction of the 21 wind turbines is complete and fully generating power to the grid as of Jan. 21. Solar
array construction is approximately 50 percent complete with more than 40,000 of the 63,000 solar panels installed.
Deployments
Fort Hood soldiers continue to
The Army’s continued drawdown will continue to play out this year, including fewer troops at Fort Hood. A troop drawdown forced by budget cuts has resulted in the active-duty component shrinking during the last four years, down from a high of 570,000 soldiers in 2012. There are currently about 490,000 soldiers on active duty. Fort Hood is scheduled to drop to an authorized 34,125 soldiers by the end of fiscal year 2017. That’s a 17 percent decrease since 2001, when the installation boasted more than 41,000 troops, and far below the 1990s when Fort Hood had about 50,000 soldiers.
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New hospital, training center, restaurants open on post By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
New facilities continue to open at Fort Hood, providing new services to soldiers, military families and retirees. The new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center officially opened its doors for business June 20. The $561 million hospital has six floors and 947,000 square feet of space. The building is roughly 60 percent larger than the old hospital and also offers a pharmacy twice the size of the old building. Rooms are single-patient rooms three times bigger than those in the old hospital, are nicely furnished with spaces for a family member and windows to the outside in every room. There are 128 surgical beds and bassinets (staffed), 2,453 staff members and employees (907 civilians, 609 military, 950 contractors, 95 volunteers) and serves 160,300 beneficiaries, which includes approximately 10 percent of active-duty Army forces. At the end of February, Darnall opened its first school-based health clinic at Belton High School. Eligible military dependents enrolled in grades six through 12 in the Belton Independent School District can receive primary care services at the clinic, which is open from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays. On Jan. 10, Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, III Corps and Fort Hood
Amy Proctor | Herald
Customers wait in line at the grand opening of the new Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurant in the Fort Hood Exchange TJ Mills Food Court on Feb. 6.
commander, and Col. Todd Fox, post garrison commander, joined the family members of one of the 1st Cavalry Division’s heroes to celebrate the opening of the Master Sgt. Mike Castaneda Pena Training Support Center. The new 160,975-square-foot, $24 million facility will support soldiers’ training requirements by providing training aids, devices and simulators. It also allows for consolidation of many former training support facilities, resulting in a greater than 50 percent reduction of buildings spread across the installation. “This (facility) consolidates what
was previously housed in three World War II facilities, two warehouses, one mobile training area and the Engagement Skills Trainers,” Fox said. The new center also allowed Fort Hood to divest three temporary shelters that were beyond their normal life cycles; will enable training across multiple military occupation specialties, serving to train soldiers from small-arms trainers to hone marksmanship skills; training devices which allow armored soldiers and air defenders to simulate force-on-force exercises; and field artillerymen to train on call for fire by simulating observed fire exercises, he said.
Fort Hood also expanded its fast food options in the past year. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service at Fort Hood hosted a ribboncutting ceremony Feb. 6 for the opening of Qdoba Mexican Eats in the T.J. Mills Road AAFES Food Court. This is the first Qdoba Mexican Eats in the Central Texas area and the seventh at an Exchange facility, according to an AAFES press release. The Fort Hood Clear Creek Shopping Center hosted the grand opening of the building’s new Chipotle on Sept. 1. The restaurant is the third Chipotle to be found on any military installation.
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III Corps, several brigades change leadership in past year By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
While Fort Hood did not see a change with the top commander on post yet, Maj. Gen. Paul Funk is expected to gain his third star and take over the installation from Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland by this summer. There were also a few brigade command changes in the past year.
1st Cavalry Division
The largest unit at Fort Hood, the 1st Cavalry Division, is commanded by Maj. Gen. John C. Thomson III. The headquarters element is currently about halfway through a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Resolute Support. The division is supporting 9,800 U.S. troops through departments like logistics, resourcing and medical, making sure troops have what they need to advise the Afghans. In July 2016, the division welcomed two new deputy commanders and a chief of staff with an official patching ceremony on Cooper Field. Col. Douglas Sims took over as the deputy commander for support, Col. Robert Whittle was assigned as the deputy commander for home station and Col. James Gallivan was welcomed as the chief of staff for home station.
1st Brigade Combat Team
The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, welcomed a new “Ironhorse 6” during a change of command ceremony in late January on Cooper Field. Col. John DiGiambattista relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Wilson R. Rutherford IV. Rutherford graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993. He began his service with 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment in Germany and has served with the 82nd Airborne Division.
504th Military Intelligence Brigade Leadership of the 504th Military
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Incoming commander Col. Wilson R. Rutherford IV, from left, outgoing Commander Col. John P. DiGiambattista, and Maj. Gen. John Uberti inspect soldiers during the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team change of command ceremony at Fort Hood.
Intelligence Brigade changed hands in July 2016 when Col. Laura Knapp took the reins from Col. Ryan Janovic in a change of command ceremony at the III Corps parade field. Knapp’s most recent assignment was as the director of the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence. Janovic took over as the senior intelligence officer for U.S. Army Forces Command in Fort Bragg, N.C.
ing a change of command ceremony on Cooper Field in July 2016. Webster is the second commander of the unit since its reactivation in April 2015. Webster most recently served as the deputy chief of staff, forward, for U.S. Army Central Command in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Gaydon moved up to III Corps headquarters to serve as the Corps’ operations officer.
1st Air Cavalry Brigade
Operational Test Command
The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade welcomed a new commander at the end of July 2016. Col. Cain Baker officially took the reins of command from Col. Jeffery Thompson. Baker was commissioned as an aviator in 1996 and this is his third time commanding within the brigade. Thompson was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., as the director of legislative affairs for the defense secretary.
Division Artillery Brigade
Col. Kelly Webster took command of the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Brigade from Col. Patrick Gaydon dur-
The U.S. Army Operational Test Command bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Kenneth Kamper on July 12, 2016, as Col. John Ulrich stepped up to take command. Ulrich’s most recent assignment was as the chief of the Army Congressional Budget Liaison, in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller. Kamper tooke over as the deputy commanding general of 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
3rd Air Support Operations Group
The U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Air Support Operations Group welcomed new
leadership in July 2016. Air Force Col. Aaron Ullman took command of the unit, which has about 1,000 airmen, 500 of them based at Fort Hood, from Air Force Col. Rodney Singleton. Ullman most recently served as the director of standardizations and evaluations for the 8th Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Singleton took over as a deputy director for operations at Air Force Command at Shaw Air Force Base, N.C.
9th Air Support Operations Squadron The U.S. Air Force’s 9th Air Support Operations Squadron, 3rd Air Support Operations Group, welcomed a new commanding officer in late June 2016. Air Force Lt. Col. Anson Stephens took command of the unit from Air Force Lt. Col. Langdon Root. Stephens most recently served as the director of operations for the 712th Air Support Operations Squadron, 3rd Air Support Operations Group. Root went to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., to take over as the branch chief for strategic airpower and precision strike for fighters, bombers and tactical air control party.
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III Corps prepares for yearlong deployment to Middle East By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
Fort Hood’s leading headquarters unit — III Corps — returned from a yearlong deployment to the Middle East in August 2016 and is training the staff for future contingency missions or operational deployments. The corps’ last deployment was to lead Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, XVIII Airborne Corps commander, currently holds the position. “The operational tempo doesn’t slow down for America’s most lethal Corps,” Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland said of the unit’s deployment. “The uncasing of our colors here is just an outward representation that our mission at home is beginning. Tomorrow we’ll face new challenges and begin preparing for new missions, many of which are not yet known to us. But for today, let’s take time to stop and reflect on what the Phantom Warrior team has accomplished, here and abroad.” During the deployment, the task force trained more than 25,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces, who liberated more than 700,000 civilians from ISIS control, MacFarland said. Maj. Gen. Paul Funk II is at Fort Hood as special adviser to the commander of III Corps and Fort Hood. He will be promoted to lietuenant general and will assume command of the corps and Fort Hood after MacFarland’s next position is confirmed by Congress and announced by the Department of the Army. Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, currently commanding the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., has been named to take over as the III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commander for maneuver from Maj. Gen. John Uberti. The other deputy commander is British Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, who is the deputy commander for support. III Corps anticipates the assignment of the next British deputy commander for support in summer 2017.
Fort Hood troops lead fight against Islamic State By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
Fort Hood soldiers are in the fight and bringing the heat against members of the Islamic State, with some troopers assisting in the fight to retake Mosul, Iraq. The 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment “Steel Dragons” began assisting Iraqi Military Force allies soon after arriving in Iraq in February by providing artillery fire from the nearby town of Hamam al-Alil, which is about 15 miles from Mosul along the Tigris River, according to the Defense Department. The Steel Dragons are part of the approximately 4,000 soldiers deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team to Kuwait for a nine-month deployment in support of Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve. Their mission is to support regional partners with operational missions, military exercises and theater security cooperation activities in the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East, said media spokesman Sgt. 1st Class Jose Colon, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. “These soldiers provide a critical piece of the ‘assist’ mission, which are precision fires in support of the ISF. What’s notable about the Paladin weapon system is that they can fire in any weather, and that keeps the pressure on ISIS while maintaining the operation’s momentum,” Colon said in an email from Baghdad. “All of their targets are decided upon by an Iraqi leader. Their fire missions, Command Sgt. Maj. Alonzo Smith is currently the senior enlisted adviser. III Corps anticipates the assignment of the next command sergeant major in summer 2017. III Corps oversees 23 brigades in
Amy Proctor | Herald
The national anthem is played at III Corps Headquarters at Fort Hood.
like that of all Coalition assets, are conducted by, with and through the Iraqi Army.” Fort Hood’s top headquarters unit, III Corps, returned with about 500 troops from the Middle East in August after leading the fight against the Islamic State. The one-year deployment was led by III Corps and Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland. MacFarland said when the unit arrived to take over Operation Inherent Resolve, the word used to describe the situation against IS was “stalemate.” “But you don’t hear that word anymore. The word you hear now is momentum,” he said during an Aug. 22 homecoming ceremony for III Corps. “The successes began slowly, but gathered speed over the course of the deployment. Today, instead of advancing and threatening to complete the overthrow of the Iraq and Syrian regimes, the enemy is in full retreat on all fronts. That is a direct
result of the Phantom Warriors from Fort Hood.” Throughout the deployment, coalition aircraft conducted about 50,000 sorties against IS, dropping more than 30,000 munitions — about twothirds in Iraq and the rest in Syria, according to the fact sheet, along with 700 artillery fire missions. III Corps was responsible for liberating more than 25,000 total square kilometers from IS control — equating to about half of what they controlled in Iraq when the corps took command, and 20 percent of what they controlled in Syria. More than 200 strikes against the oil and natural gas activities IS used to fund their operations resulted in the destruction of more than 640 IS tanker trucks and numerous facilities, cutting their revenue stream from oil in half. About 25 bulk cash sites were also hit, resulting in IS losing approximately $500 million.
four divisions across four installations, as well as several separate functional brigades that provide sustainment, medical, engineering, fires, civil affairs, military law enforcement and intelligence support. The com-
mand scope of III Corps includes the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan., and the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo. In total, III Corps is composed of about 120,000 soldiers.
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America’s First Team helps lead fight in Afghanistan By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
Fort Hood’s largest unit — the 1st Cavalry Division — welcomed three new deputy commanders and a chief of staff July 19 as it continued to be one of the busiest and largest Army divisions in the world. Col. Douglas Sims took over as the deputy commander for support and was promoted to brigadier general in October. Brig. Gen. Paul T. Calvert assumed duties as deputy commander for maneuver. Col. Robert Whittle was brought on as the deputy commander for home station during the division’s deployment to Afghanistan. Col. James Gallivan serves as the chief of staff for home station. “Today we welcome two deputy commanders and a division chief of staff to the First Team. We just witnessed them donning the Cav hat and the division shoulder sleeve insignia,” said Maj. Gen. J.T. Thomson during the patching ceremony. “It reminds me of inspiring words of a former Pegasus 6, Gen. Pete Chiarelli: ‘Wearing this First Team patch changes us all, to some extent. It makes us walk a little prouder and talk a little louder, because of the pride we feel for our unit.’” Shortly after the ceremony, the headquarters element officially cased the unit colors in preparation for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan in late August. “Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Jackson and I are absolutely confident that we are trained and ready to accomplish our mission, especially with the fantastic Central Texas and Fort Hood community covering our backs,” Thomson said, noting that more than 6,000 First Team troopers are already deployed in five of seven continents, supporting six different combat commands. The one-year deployment includes about 500 soldiers from 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters and the division’s sustainment brigade.
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
First Lt. Shawn Gray, left, is greeted by his wife, Chelsea Gray, during the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team’s homecoming at Fort Hood.
On Sept. 20, troopers young and old, past and present and near and far, gathered to celebrate the 1st Cavalry Division’s 95th birthday at both Fort Hood and Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The Home Station ceremony was held at the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and led by the home station’s deputy commander Col. Robert Whittle and Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Heinze.
1st Brigade
The division’s 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team returned from a nine-month deployment to South Korea on Oct. 27, as part an Army plan to rotate brigades to the Asian country. Though the rotational plan is new — 1st Brigade is the second brigade to go on the rotating deployment — it’s part of a longs-tanding alliance with South Korea to have American troops in the country as a deterrent to North Korea. Since the Korean War in the 1950s, tension continues to flare up between the two countries. On Jan. 27, the brigade welcomed a new “Ironhorse 6.” Col. Wilson R. Rutherford IV took command of the brigade from Col. John DiGiambattista, who held the position nearly three years to complete the brigade’s rotation to South Korea. The brigade’s top enlisted soldier is
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Coffey.
2nd Brigade
The division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team returned in early March 2016 from nine months in South Korea. The “Black Jack” Brigade, which has more than 4,000 soldiers, was the first brigade-sized unit in a rotation to support and train alongside the South Korean army. The unit then took a break before returning to training for their next mission. The 2nd Brigade is led by Col. Steve J. Adams and Command Sgt. Maj. James Scullion.
3rd Brigade
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team is in the process of taking over Operation Spartan Shield in Kuwait after casing its colors Feb. 16. The “Greywolf” Brigade deployed approximately 4,000 soldiers to Kuwait for a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield to support regional partners with operational missions, bilateral, multilateral military exercises and theater security cooperation activities in the Central Command, also known as Centcom, area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East. The brigade is scheduled to replace
the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. Members of the brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, began assisting Iraqi allies in the fight for Mosul, Iraq, in February. The brigade is commanded by Col. John Woodward. The officer’s history with the Killeen area goes back decades. Woodward’s father, retired Col. Jim Woodward, was stationed at Fort Hood twice: from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1984 to 1987. Command Sgt. Maj. Alfred R. Ronneburg is the senior enlisted adviser.
Division Artillery
The Red Team welcomed its second commanding officer July 20 since the unit was reactivated in April 2015. Col. Kelly Webster took command of the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Brigade from Col. Patrick Gaydon during a change of command ceremony on Cooper Field. First Team commanding general Maj. Gen. J.T. Thomson presided over the ceremony, where Gaydon officially relinquished his command by handing over the unit guidon and Webster took over by receiving the guidon from Thomson as a symbol of his assumption. Divarty’s top enlisted soldier is Command Sgt. Maj. Phong Tran. PLEASE SEE First TEam, PAGE 58
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3rd Cavalry Regiment returns from Afghan deployment By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
The 3rd Cavalry Regiment “Brave Rifles” officially uncased the unit colors to signify the final troopers were home from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan on Feb. 16 at Cooper Field. The regiment deployed about 1,200 soldiers in late May and early June 2016 in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the Resolute Support mission to train, advise and assist Afghanistan National Army forces in taking control of their nation. An additional 500 soldiers deployed in July. Roughly a third of the troopers came home early in December, making it home in time for Christmas. The remainder returned through the first two weeks of February, with 200 arriving on Valentine’s Day and the final 200 just prior to the colors uncasing. The Brave Rifles are commanded by Col. Kevin D. Admiral and Command Sgt. Maj, Bryan D. Barker is the top enlisted soldier in the regiment. “Across the board, we think the Afghan Security Forces have done a great job in helping improve security in the area and give citizens in the region the a chance at the life they deserve,” Admiral said. “The soldiers did a great job and I’m very proud of
First team Air Cav
from Page 56
The division’s 1st Air Cavalry Brigade continues to be the division’s air power, providing attack and transport helicopters and other aircraft. On July 25, Col. Jeffery B. Thompson conducted his last flight as the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade’s commander at the Hood Army Airfield. Thompson moved on to a job at the Pentagon after turning over command to Col. Cain Baker. The brigade’s senior enlisted leader is
Gabe Wolf | Herald
Blake and Evan Yoder wait for their dad, Capt. Brian Yoder, at Cooper Field on Feb. 16 as 3rd Cavalry Regiment soldiers returned from Afghanistan.
them. It’s a great honor to be the regimental commander.” The unit lost one of its own during the deployment. Sgt. Douglas James Riney, a fueler with Support Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was killed after encountering hostile enemy forces near Kabul, Afghanistan, on Oct. 19. While the main forces were de-
ployed, the Regimental Engineer Squadron hosted its first marriage enhancement question and answer forum on Fort Hood at the end of September. Capt. Stephanie Okolo, the squadron chaplain, spearheaded the forum as a discussion-based opportunity for soldiers and their spouses to ask
questions about being married in the military. “Today’s forum is for marriage enhancement,” said Okolo. “It was an open questions and answer-based session that allowed service members and spouses the opportunity to learn from a panel of leaders in a comfortable environment.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Lucio C. DeAnda. On Feb. 16, the command team of the 3rd Assault Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, “Spearhead,” presented its soldiers with the prestigious Lt. Gen. Ellis D. Parker Award during an in-house ceremony. The Parker award recognizes one standout combat support aviation battalion each year for its excellence in leadership, training, maintenance, safety and innovation.
the division’s headquarters element. They are the Army’s only active-duty sustainment brigade currently deployed. They provide multifunctional logistics across Afghanistan and support the Afghan National Defense Forces’ developing logistical capabilities. The unit was tragically affected when three of its soldiers were killed in a Nov. 12 suicide bomber attack at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, north of Kabul, the Afghan capital. Sgt. John W. Perry, 30, of Stockton, Calif., and Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt, 20, of Tamaroa, Ill., were killed during the attack. Sgt. 1st Class Allan E. Brown died Dec. 6 at Walter Reed National
Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of injuries sustained in the attack. On Oct. 16, the brigade welcomed a Texas Army National Guard unit from Killeen into the fold. The 249th Transportation Company, 36th Special Troops Battalion, 36th Sustainment Brigade of the Texas National Guard became affiliated with the brigade as part of the associated units pilot program, which is meant to help foster teamwork between active-duty, reserve and National Guard Army units. The brigade, known as the “Wagonmasters,” is led by Col. Christopher H. Colavita and Command Sgt. Maj. Jill L. Crosby.
Sustainment Brigade
Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade are currently deployed to Afghanistan with
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First Army Division West restructures role at West Fort Hood By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
Division West is a training division assigned to the First Army and headquartered at Fort Hood. The unit has four subordinate training support brigades based at Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort McCoy, Wis., and Fort Lewis, Wash. With more than 3,000 assigned soldiers and civilians, Division West is charged with the training and readiness of National Guard and Reserve units as they prepare to deploy to various operations around the world. As National Guard and Reserve units are ordered to deploy, they begin a mobilization process that eventually brings them to one of the mobilization sites located at either Fort Hood or Fort Bliss. Division West, in partnership with the garrison command and multiple partners across the installations, ensure that deploying National Guard and Reserve units have met all of the requirements for deployment. These requirements range from weapons qualification and medical readiness to specialty equipment training. Prior to departing, Division West personnel conduct a final training exercise that stresses a unitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to conduct operations as if it were deployed. The location at Fort Hood is responsible for the mobilization activities for all National Guard and Reserve aviation, medical, sustainment and various specialty units such as civil affairs and public affairs. Sustainment refers to the capability to provide and manage logistics to a theater of operation, according to the U.S. Army Logistics Quick Reference Guide. 2016 was a busy year for the soldiers of Division West. They maintained their focus on mobilization training, support and providing the best possible training to deploying National Guard and Reserve forces. Based on current operations around the world, 2016 brought an increase in mobilization exercises for larger units com-
Staff Sgt. Ian Kummer | U.S. Army
Army National Guard soldiers in the 29th Infantry Division in the human resources section staff their work stations during a Mission Rehearsal Exercise with First Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division West at Fort Hood on Nov. 28, 2016. The 29th Infantry Division worked with First Army observer controller/trainers to be fully prepared for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
Gabe Wolf | Herald
Copperas Cove Mayor Frank Seffrood speaks to troops from First Army Division West at a Military Affairs Dinner on April 21 at the Copperas Cove Civic Center.
manded by a general such as National Guard division headquarters and expeditionary sustainment headquarters. The Division West soldiers stay busy planning and conducting training events designed to give units an idea of the types of situations they may deal with while deployed. Mobilization support exercises are a last check of a unit and their preparations before they are deployed around the world. Unit personnel tailor the training they
provide to the specific type of unit and deployment locations. On any given week, personnel will conduct exercises for units heading to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Horn of Africa, Europe and Guantanamo Bay. In addition to mobilization support, Division West soldiers also supported several readiness exercises that were conducted at Fort Hood for National Guard and Reserve brigades. These readiness exercises, known as Warfighters and Combat Support Training
Exercises, differ slightly from mobilization exercises because readiness exercises provide a measure of where a unit is in a five-year training and readiness cycle. Additionally, the soldiers assisted with exercises conducted at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. The future looks bright for the soldiers and civilians of Division West, according to Lt. Col. Joseph Odorizzi, First Army spokesman. They are working to improve mobilization training and support by making contact with deploying units earlier in the mobilization process. This helps them establish a working relationship that will help to develop the most relevant and realistic training possible for deploying units, and they can work more closely with the deploying units to identify training shortfalls and remedies. Odorizzi said the unit is also innovating exercise scenarios to incorporate new threats and challenges, including cyber threats, humanitarian assistance and security assistance training.
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Operational Test Command welcomes leader, executes nearly 60 tests Network-Tactical and preliminary planning to test upgrades to the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle.
By David A. Bryant Killeen Daily Herald
The U.S. Army Operational Test Command, the Army’s only independent operational tester, executed 59 operational tests at test sites both in and out of the U.S. last year. Composed of seven test directorates, staff directorates and special staff from Fort Hood, as well as Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Sill, Okla. The command contributes to Army readiness by testing and assessing equipment, systems and technology in realistic operational environments using soldiers to determine whether equipment systems are effective, suitable and survivable on the battlefield. Major systems and equipment tested during 2016 included the Soldier Protection System, the Medium Mine Protected Vehicle Type II, the M109A7 Paladin version self-propelled Howitzer, the Next Generation Chemical Detector system and the Modular Fuel System. The command participated in the Network Integration Evaluation at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and Fort Bliss while partnered with a team consisting of Army Test and Evaluation Command, Joint Modernization Command and System of Systems Integration. All of the equipment tested during the evaluation was part of a coordinated and controlled realistic operational environment scenario by over 2,000 soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division of Fort Bliss. Though testing carried on as usual last year, major changes occurred in some of the command’s leadership positions. Operational Test Command bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Kenneth Kamper on July 12 as Col. John Ulrich stepped up to take command. Ulrich’s most recent assignment was as the chief of the Army Congressional Budget Liaison, in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller. Kamper took over as the deputy commanding general of 4th Infantry
13TH EXPEDITIONARY SUSTAINMENT
Gabe Wolf | Herald
Commander of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, Maj. Gen. Daniel Karbler, right, hands the guidon to Col. John Ulrich, incoming commander of U.S. Army Operational Test Command, during a change of command ceremony at Fort Hood in July.
Division, Fort Carson, Colo. Rob Miele, executive director, departed OTC in July to assume responsibility at OTC’s higher headquarters, the Army Test & Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., as the executive technical director. The unit also honored one of its veterans last year as the 37th member of the Army’s Operational Testers’ Hall of Fame. Laurence Alston Womack served in support of operational testing for over 24 years and was nominated by OTC’s Fires Test Directorate at Fort Sill. His widow, Louise Womack from Lawton, Okla., and two daughters, Arlene R. Womack, from Arlington and Chontell C. Rhodes from Mansfield, all traveled to attend the ceremony honoring Womack in October at the OTC headquarters at West Fort Hood. OTC strengthened its partnerships
and increased collaboration with local universities during 2017. Texas A&M University-Central Texas began supporting OTC with student interns and, in conjunction with the main campus at College Station, faculty and technical staff assistance with alternative power and advanced computation and data visualization projects. OTC also continued its long-standing efforts with multiple University of Texas-Austin research centers to develop advanced test instrumentation for operational testing and conduct systems engineering, research and analysis. During 2017, OTC will conduct 51 tests, to include systems such as the Modular Handgun System, Enhanced Night Vision Goggles, the Family of Weapon Sights, the Transportable Tactical Command Communications system, the Warfighter Information
The 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command continued its mission providing sustainment support to all III Corps units, including Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Riley, Kan.; and Fort Sill, Okla., along with supporting the Fort Hood Directorate of Logistics. On April 21, 2016, one the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s subordinate battalions, the 49th Quartermaster Battalion, rededicated its headquarters building in honor of Sergeant 1st Class Daniel Ferguson. Ferguson was killed when he barricaded a conference room door during the April 2, 2014, shooting. His final act of valor saved the lives of 14 soldiers and one civilian. The 13th ESC Commander at the time, Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg, said during the ceremony attended by Ferguson’s family and friends, “Sgt. 1st Class Ferguson internalized the Army Values. As soldiers we often speak of these principles, but he lived them to the fullest. He demonstrated these values by dying a hero, placing himself between a gunman and his fellow soldiers to protect them from harm.” A few months later, on June 3, the 13th ESC welcomed its current commander, Col. Douglas McArthur McBride Jr. Coming to Fort Hood and Killeen was a homecoming for McBride. He was born here in 1968 while his father was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division, and his Army career began here as an Electrical Maintenance Platoon Leader for Charley Company, 27th Main Support Battalion, Division Support Command, First Cavalry Division, in November 1989. Additionally, his son, Tre McBride, was born in the old Carl R. Darnall Army Hospital in 1992 and his wife, Pamela, began her career working for the Central Texas Council of Governments as a job training specialist for at-risk youth at Ellison High School.
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Defense alliance brings Fort Hood, surrounding communities together By Kendall Cox Special to the Herald
Amy Proctor | Herald
Fort Hood soldiers and family members honor the U.S. flag during the national anthem at the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s change of command ceremony in Abram’s Gym.
McBride was promoted to brigadier general on March 24. The 13th ESC was assigned to the U.S. Africa Command in 2016 and sent its first team to Vicenza, Italy, in August while continuing its support to III Corps. That was the first of three teams that will rotate through the Army Africa Command’s Headquarters in Vicenza. Their mission is to build theater sustainment capability across the continent of Africa. The ESC will test its plan later this summer when it does a deployment rehearsal to Uganda. In February, the ESC rehearsed its deployed mission during Warfighter Exercise 17-3. The ESC deployed to the fictitious country of Atropia for 10 days to defend its borders from Arianin aggression at the Mission Command Training Center on Fort Hood. The all-encompassing exercise was an opportunity to be externally evaluated by the Mission Command Training Program team from Fort Leavenworth, Kan. It also allowed the unit to work with its partners in the National Guard, Army Reserves and the Defense Logistics Agency. “The warfighter challenged the 13th ESC and all of its subordinate commands to be able to synchronize and integrate all components of the sustainment warfighting function on the move in order to keep pace with the speed and scheme of maneuver,” said McBride. The 13th ESC continues to enjoy its relationship with the cities of Belton and Temple. The ESC has supported numerous parades, static displays and speaking engagements while the
cities have been a home away from home for the 13th ESC’s soldiers.
504TH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE
Renowned for their expertise in military intelligence specialties, soldiers of the 504th Military Intelligence “Always Ready” Brigade conducted real-world intelligence collection and analysis operations for Operation Inherent Resolve and III Corps. Additionally, the brigade participated in staff and Command Post exercises and training rotations to Camp Bullis at Joint Base San Antonio. In June, the brigade welcomed back 200-plus soldiers from Task Force Longhorn, who served a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. Throughout the summer, the brigade experienced key personnel turnovers. Col. Ryan M. Janovic relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Laura L. Knapp during a ceremony at III Corps’ Sadowski Field on July 8. Soon after, the brigade conducted Exercise Ready Phantom, which tested its soldiers in multi-disciplined intelligence skills across three states and four locations and involved units across III Corps and the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command. The brigade also provided intelligence teams to support an emerging Army 2020 concept in wide area security testing at Fort Carson, Colo. In January 2017, the brigade commemorated its 75th Anniversary at the III Corps Military Intelligence Ball, which featured the Army’s chief of intelligence, Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr., as the keynote speaker.
The Heart of Texas Defense Alliance is a regional organization that promotes the importance and sustainability of Fort Hood and all defense-related industries, organizations and institutions in the Killeen-Temple area. The alliance supports the efforts of many organizations in the region and participates in numerous engagements resulting in significant opportunities or accomplishments for the region. Many of the efforts that may directly support one city or county routinely impact and support the others as part of this regional approach. During 2016, some of those opportunities were: HOTDA supported Killeen in the execution of the joint land use study. The primary goals of the JLUS are to: • Identify and mitigate compatibility and encroachment issues that may impact training, operations, testing and power projection missions at Fort Hood. • Enhance regional collaboration between local governments and the military installation. As a result of the study, several recommendations were provided that will keep the region informed during the study’s implementation process to ensure every effort is made to mitigate any encroachment or land compatibility issues that could impact readiness and training on Fort Hood. HOTDA supported the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition in the development of information and briefings to state and federal legislators that resulted in the final approval by the Texas Transportation Commission for the designation of U.S. Highway 190 to be named Interstate 14. The designation will provide economic development and growth, while enhancing the military value of Fort Hood. HOTDA supported the city of Killeen in a regional study to look at possible impacts of force reductions directed by the Department of the Army as the total force structure was reduced from 490,000 troops to 450,000. Since the major surge of forces into Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007-08, the
Army has steadily declined in end strength from 570,000 to its current 473,000. During this period, Fort Hood reached a peak of almost 54,000 soldiers assigned, although 20,000 or more were deployed at any given time. Since 2009, the force structure on Fort Hood has steadily declined and was just below 36,000 at the end of 2016. The study was initiated to determine if there would be any significant economic impacts with the reduction in forces as well as the loss of family members during this drawdown. The end result was the production of a document reflecting little to no major impact to the region, except for a moderate impact to the joint use Killeen-Fort Hood regional airport and Killeen ISD for impact aid in the outyears. At the end of 2016, the Greater Fort Hood Area was selected as one of the “great American defense communities” by the Association of Defense Communities. This is the second year the ADC has held this competition, and HOTDA submitted a packet on behalf of the region based on information provided by key leaders. This major regional accomplishment will garner national recognition with ceremonies locally and in Washington, D.C., with congressional members this June. HOTDA worked very closely with Killeen (the project sponsor), city managers from the region and Fort Hood to identify and submit a critical project for state funding. One of more than 45 nominations, the regional project to renovate the Army radar approach control facility on Fort Hood was selected and received a grant from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission. The funding was needed for a facility required to be operational during any live-fire exercises on post and control all airspace within 60 miles of the jointuse airport. If it were nonoperational, all training on the installation with live munitions would have to stop and all deployments or redeployments of soldiers and equipment would have to be conducted at an alternate location at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. This facility is expected to be fully renovated by the end of August.
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Mounted Warrior Museum gets closer to breaking ground in 2018 By David A. Bryant and Jacob Brooks Killeen Daily Herald
Officials have raised nearly $25.6 million toward a goal of $36.9 million needed to build a new, state-of-the-art museum near Fort Hood’s main gate. Not all of the $25 million is in the form of cash or pledges. About $10 million — is the value of the 65 acres where the proposed museum will sit, near the Fort Hood visitors center overlooking U.S. Highway 190. Fort Hood is providing the land, and the Army will retain ownership and management of the museum once it opens, said Bob Crouch, vice president of the National Mounted Warfare Foundation, the nonprofit tasked with raising the funds to build the Mounted Warrior Museum. In addition to memorializing the many units and soldiers who at one time called Fort Hood home, the museum also will be a go-to destination for visitors and could attract thousands of people annually to the Killeen-Fort Hood area, foundation officials said. Crouch said attendance at the 48,000square-foot museum is expected to be 265,000 visitors in the first year, including 195,000 visitors from outside the local area. The museum is also expected to bring in $5 million per year to the local economy, said retired Lt. Gen.
Courtesy images
Officials have raised nearly $25.6 million toward a goal of $36.9 million needed to build a new, state-of-the-art Mounted Warrior Museum near Fort Hood’s main gate.
Paul “Butch” Funk, the foundation’s president and CEO. “We think we might be able to break ground about one year from now,” Funk said. “We have about 70 percent of the funding, thanks to the Center for Military History coming on board with us.” The museum has been redesigned from three stories to one in order to handle large exhibit pieces, such as
tanks, at the request of the Center for Military History — which is in charge of all Army museums, Crouch said. The museum will include galleries, classrooms, a store and military-like simulators where visitors can experience what it feels like to drive a tank or pilot an Army helicopter and will have a conference center capability. “The design is efficient and allows
for 75 percent of the square feet to be dedicated to exhibitry,” he said. “Most museums are lucky to have 40 percent of their space dedicated to exhibits and are considered to be doing well if they have 50 percent.” The top three expenses in the $36.9 million fundraising goal include $13.2 million needed for the main building, $10 million for the land and $10 million for exhibits, Crouch said. “The building might be a little more for construction, but until we break ground, it’s only an estimate,” he said. Crouch said the foundation’s annual operating budget is expected to be about $251,000 per year, an amount included in the overall project goal. Most of that stems from $210,486 in the annual salaries of the three fulltime employees and one part-time employee at the foundation, which is headquartered in downtown Killeen. Rent and other bills for the foundation total $28,300, according to Crouch. The museum project is still pending approval by the Secretary of the Army, who must accept the museum as a gift from the Foundation, is the only one who can approve the Center for Military History taking over the museum, Crouch said. To donate or find out more information about the Mounted Warrior Museum, go to nmwfoundation.org.
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<<EDUCATION>>
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Killeen ISD continues consistent enrollment growth in 2016 By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
Killeen Independent School District has grown tremendously in its 115 years. In the 2016-17 school year, KISD’s student population reached 43,477. That number is up by nearly 120 students in comparison to 43,358 in 2015-16. The school district is the second largest employer in the area, behind Fort Hood. The district employs over 6,500 staff members that serve at 34 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, four public high schools and eight special high school campuses. KISD’s total campus count has increased to 60. While the district was forced to use nearly 232 portable buildings during the 2016-17 school year, in August the district will open two new schools. Alice W. Douse Elementary School between Rebecca Lynn Lane and Chaparral Road in south Killeen, and Roy J. Smith Middle School near Bunny Trail Drive on the corner of Brushy Creek and Briar Patch Drive, will become the two newest schools in the district. With the opening of Douse Elementary and Smith Middle School, KISD intends to keep all elementary and middle schools below their maximum capacity limits. In Killeen, the two most overpopulated schools in 2016-17 are Charles E. Patterson Middle School and Haynes Elementary School. Patterson is overcapacity by 443 students, and Haynes is overcapacity by 201 students. Both are among seven schools in KISD that are overcapacity, and will be most affected by the new schools opening. Overcrowding has become a regular issue for district faculty to address and exists at every level in KISD. The need for another high school has become a pressing need as each public high school. Killeen Independent School District’s four major public high schools — Shoemaker, Ellison, Killeen and Harker Heights — each have more than 2,000 students, and all but one are
Todd Martin | KISD
Students are seen in a classroom at Killeen Independent School District’s Early College High School.
over capacity. High schools in KISD use 47 portable classrooms because of overcrowding. Staff often came to board members requesting class-size waivers to be granted, meaning in certain areas, the student-to-teacher ratio went beyond the recommended 22-to-1 permitted by the state, a challenge that often comes with growing districts. More high school students live in south Killeen and Harker Heights, and because of this trend, the district has taken steps including buidling more schools in south killeen, rezoning current school zones and purchasing land in south Killeen to be used for a possible fifth high school, officials said. Killeen ISD serves an area that stretches across 400 square miles and includes Killeen, Fort Hood, Harker Heights and Nolanville. Almost half of all students come from militaryconnected families. Because of this, and the district’s proximity to Fort Hood, Killeen ISD has cultivated a strong relationship with the military
and includes nine campuses on post. During monthly board meetings over the last semester, some of the biggest issues raised related to school rezoning, special education monitor requests, and athletic facility use. According to KISD’s current strategic facilities plan, the district plans to expand tremendously over the next 10 years. The district plans next big expansion will be on the Career Center that was opened in 2012. In its fourth year of operation, KISD’s Career Center allows high school students to take courses that lead to industry-level certifications for jobs through nine different career clusters. While classes are primarily offered to juniors and seniors, the graduation plan provides the necessary flexibility for students to capitalize on the unique course offerings. The Early College High School opened its doors to the inaugural class of ninth-grade students this year and provides the opportunity for students
to begin working toward earning their high school diploma as well as an associate degree concurrently. Through an innovative dual credit program designed in partnership with Central Texas College and Texas A&M University-Central Texas, this program will offer many students the pathway to advanced academics and higher education opportunities while in high school. In its third year of the new academic accountability rating system, the district has again earned a “met standard” rating. Ratings are based on indicators such as student achievement, student progress, closing student performance gaps and postsecondary readiness. Future expansion plans will also include: Career Center expansion in fall 2019, elementary school No. 35 opening fall 2019, middle school No. 14 opening fall 2021, elementary school No. 36 opening fall 2022, elementary school No. 37 opening fall 2025, middle school No. 15 opening fall 2026, and elementary school No. 38 opening fall 2028.
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Killeen ISD superintendent reflects on job, his goals for growing district
Killeen Independent School District Superintendent John Craft has been tasked with a difficult job of managing nearly 44,000 children’s educational experience. Craft was originally hired as district superintendent in 2015, but worked in KISD previously. He took time to answer a few questions for the Herald. What has been the most difficult part of your job as KISD superintendent? In my humble opinion, maintaining balance can be the most challenging part of the job. Balancing the job with family and personal responsibilities is key to being a successful superintendent. The job is not always the most glamorous, but seeing the results of hard work and resiliency, and the impact on thousands of students makes it all worthwhile. What are your top three priorities for the 2017-18 school year in KISD? 1. The continuous improvement of academic achievement for all students and across all programs within KISD will always remain a top priority. This is one area which has no finish line. There will always be room for continuous improvement. As the KISD superintendent, I am proud of the academic progress made in many areas, and I eagerly anticipate the future successes on the horizon. 2. We are extremely fortunate to be able to offer the abundance of choices for which students have the opportunity to experience success. Effectively fostering programs such as our full day Pre-K (pre-kindergarten) program, the International Baccalaureate Program, the KISD Career Center, the Early College High School, our Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academy, the Texas Bioscience Institute, and many others will continue to remain a priority. I remain proud of what the KISD team has been able to accomplish in providing the numerous opportunities and choices for which students experience a wide range of success, and we will work tirelessly to grow, expand and improve these opportunities in
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Killeen Independent School District Superintendent John Craft speaks during a KISD school rezoning public hearing at Palo Alto Middle School.
the future. 3. As a growing district, managing continued growth and ensuring appropriate facilities are provided within our communities will remain very important. We have been able to reduce our four high schools’ full-day enrollment through the expansion of academic programming at both the Career Center and the Early College High School. We will also work to maintain fiscal responsibility as revenue sources continue to be limited. Striking the balance between providing exceptional educational opportunities within the means of our operating budget remains a large part of the work we do as an administrative team. What changes or improvements would you like to see made in KISD? As a district, we are continuously seeking ways to engage more parents and community members in our schools and programs throughout the district. With the latest changes made to the accountability system and also understanding the holistic positive impact an engaged community can have
on students, this is an area we will continue to seek to grow. When you leave your job as superintendent, what difference do you hope you’ve made on KISD? I hope the community, staff and parents will be able to say that Dr. Craft had a positive impact on students’ lives. I hope they recognize that through teamwork, amazing things can be accomplished, which benefit students for a lifetime. If you were to give some pieces of advice to anyone who wants to become a school district superintendent what would you tell them? I encourage prospective superintendents to never back down from a challenge, rely on the expertise of others with which they surround themselves, and most importantly, always make decisions with students’ best interests as their top priority. What has been some of your biggest challenges so far as superintendent? A large part of the job entails foreseeing the future landscape and work-
ing in advance to adapt to forthcoming change, while ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of students. This is not always popular, but the education of our youth is not a popularity contest. What do you believe has been your biggest accomplishment as superintendent? A successful superintendent understands that accomplishments come in the form of teamwork. Without the support of a strong team who inherently believes in serving others and making student success the number one priority, very little can be accomplished by one person within an organization as large and complex as KISD. I am proud of being able to promote this teamwork across the district so that all students have the opportunity to be successful. The academic programming offerings and choices we are able to provide students, meeting all 200 academic performance measures in 2016, while managing the district growth and changing demographics, serve as just a few examples of this extraordinary teamwork.
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Courtesy | CCISD
S.C. Lee Junior High School students gather around teacher Brynn Tozer as she reads one of her favorite books during World Read Aloud Day.
Copperas Cove ISD builds enrollment on a solid foundation By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
Copperas Cove ISD continues its consistent growth as the district’s enrollment topped 8,000 students this year. During the 2015-16 school year enrollment numbers reached 7,942 students. This school year, enrollment is up by nearly 200 students with 8,134 students attending CCISD schools. District Superintendent Joe Burns has been happy with the district’s growth in recent years. “Our job is to make things work for students,” Burns said. “We have an exceptional district — we have a district that has a solid foundation financially, a solid foundation as far as facilities, we have an exceptional staff and we have kids who are head and shoulders above any other group of students I’ve had the ability to work with.” CCISD will continue its growth in the future with renovation and new buildings to be built in the next few years. As a part of the board adopted Vision 2020 strategic plan, the district has formed a Facility Advisory Com-
Dennis Knowlton | Herald
Shoemaker’s Damion Maithis (44) tackles Copperas Cove’s Josh Canete in Copperas Cove. The Bulldawgs defeated Shoemaker 43-7.
mittee made up of staff, community members and parents. The advisory committee will present its findings to the board at the February school board
meeting to assist with making longrange facility decisions. Projects that are currently moving forward include the construction of a new transporta-
tion facility, an expansion of the House Creek Elementary School cafeteria, replacement of the main drive at Copperas Cove High School, and the renovation of the new administration building. All of these projects are in various levels of planning and have not received final board approval. The district has plans laid out well into the future. The plan is dubbed “Vision 2020” and highlights several categories the district deemed important, including instructional, human resources, funding, facilities, technology and community partnerships. “Vision 2020 was developed with broad input from the community, more than 150 people,” Burns said. “It really is kind of the road map for our success as we move forward. We’ve made great progress on a number of the initiatives this year. We want to see that culture and climate continue to be influenced in the decisions that we make and the objectives that we achieve through that vision document.” Vision 2020 is the district’s strategic plan, Burns said. The district is currently in the third year of its five year plan.
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Superintendent says Cove offers quality education, small-town comfort By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
COPPERAS COVE — A quality education with the added comforts of a small town community is what makes Copperas Cove Independent School District special, according to CCISD Superintendent Joe Burns. Burns, who became superintendent in 2012, said he believes Cove ISD is heading in the right direction. What has been the most difficult part of your job as Copperas Cove Independent School District superintendent? The most challenging part of the superintendent’s job is time management. With the wide array of student activities, professional development sessions, stakeholder meetings and campus visits, it seems time slips away quickly. To accomplish great things in CCISD I have to be committed to the process of continual improvement and being as visible as possible to demonstrate support for the students, staff and district programs. What are your top three priorities for the 2017-18 school year in CCISD? • Continue to improve the educational outcomes for all CCISD students by exploring every opportunity for the students we serve. • Provide the financial and tangible resources for staff to make sure they have every opportunity to help students succeed. • Monitor and adjust to the new normal as the district faces declining federal Impact Aid revenue. What changes or improvements would you like to see made in CCISD? Our first priority is always student success. Until every child can realize success, we have not succeeded as a district. With that said, it takes a team of committed people to make a positive difference for our students. Our second priority is recruiting, developing and retaining highly skilled staff in all aspects of district
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Joe Burns, Copperas Cove Independent School District superintendent, served as guest speaker during the Killeen Branch NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. program at Marion J. and Alice W. Douse Community Center in Killeen. Burns said his first priority is always student success.
operations. Everyone is important to our success and all work has dignity. When you leave your job as superintendent, what difference do you hope you’ve made on CCISD? When I am called to leave this work I love, I hope people would be able to say, “He truly loved the students, valued the staff and cared about the community.” If you were to give some pieces of advice to anyone who wants to become a school district superintendent what would you tell them? Be prepared to work really hard and be a quick study. It has been said that to master anything, we must first be a student. New superintendents face a steep learning curve, and they can
be overcome by events and issues that have nothing to do with educating students. Stay focused on the important work before you and never forget that everything you do should be framed by the question, “How does this help or harm students?” What do you believe has been your biggest accomplishment as superintendent? Being able to be a part of an amazing team of people who really care and are committed to the important work they have undertaken. My greatest accomplishment has been providing opportunities for our students and staff that allow them to succeed in the classroom and in life. As each graduating senior crosses the stage,
my heart swells with pride for their academic achievement and their commitment to being a better person. What have been some of your biggest challenges so far as superintendent? The reduction of federal impact aid revenue and the resulting changes faced by CCISD as we adjust to fit within our new financial footprint. This is a multi-year process that involves the review of revenue, expenditures, programs, facilities and staffing. In CCISD, we are committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for our students that inspires academic success, personal excellence and responsible citizenship. We have to truly learn how to be great with less.
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Killeen and Cove districts receive millions in federal Impact Aid Killeen High’s Tiara Joyner hits against Shoemaker’s Emijah Spencer during a volleyball match at Shoemaker.
By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
With the combination of military families and close proximity to Fort Hood local school districts receive and use federal Impact Aid funding.
Killeen ISD
Impact Aid has been around for more than 65 years. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman signed public law 81-874, referred to as Impact Aid. Part of the U.S. Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and now the Every Student Succeeds Act, Impact Aid is designed to assist school districts that lose property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property, or due to increased expenditures from the enrollment of federally connected children. Impact Aid requires a rather complicated qualification process. Impact Aid is a federal formula grant program designed to reimburse local school districts for loss of property on their tax roll or for increased student enrollment as a result of federal activity. The funding received under this is considered general aid to the recipient school districts. The districts use the funds in the same manner as local property tax revenue to support the overall operations of the school district. Impact Aid supports funding budgeted for fiscal year 2017 accounts for approximately 13 percent budgeted general fund revenue. KISD budgeted
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
$46.6 million in the general fund for Impact Aid revenue in the 2016-‐2017 fiscal year. The district also currently expects that it will reach this budgeted amount of funding, officials said. During the 2017-18 fiscal year KISD is expected to receive Impact Aid revenue at $46.6 million — the same amount it received the previous fiscal year.
A district news release also said KISD remains dedicated to the proactively engaging Congress to support the Impact Aid program and explaining the effect of cuts on the district.
Copperas Cove ISD
In CCISD, Impact Aid represents 20 percent of the district’s operating budget. Impact Aid proceeds are not
dedicated to any particular expenditure. Of the $53.6 million budgeted for salaries and benefits in 2016, $11.2 million or 21 percent was funded by Impact Aid according to CCISD spokesperson Wendy Sledd. CCISD is projected to receive $9,495,766 for the 2017-2018 school year based on current provisions of the grant.
A-F accountability system creates confusion for local school districts By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
The Killeen and Copperas Cove school districts received high marks of distinction in their overall STAAR test ratings for 2016. While many local schools scored well on the 2016 STAAR tests, a smaller number of schools stood out from the pack. In a news release from the Texas Education Agency, two schools from Killeen — Killeen Early College High School and Clear Creek Elementary School — received a perfect six for six in the categories they were tested in. The only category they did not test for was social studies. While both schools performed well — going six for six in their respective testing categories — there were six other schools in the Killeen Independent School District that received at least five of the seven distinctions. Those schools included four middle schools: Smith, Liberty Hill, Live Oak Ridge and Audie Murphy. There were also two elementary schools that received at least five distinctions in the STAAR testing — Clifton Park and Ira Cross Junior. The Copperas Cove Independent School District performed equally well with Martin Walker Elementary receiving six of six distinctions, while J.L. Williams/Lovett Ledger Elementary received five out of the six possible distinctions they tested for. Overall, both KISD and CCISD performed well at each public school level as every single school met its 2016 accountability rating for the spring term. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath released a statement along with the news release reflecting on the school districts performances. “Earning one or more campus distinctions is noteworthy and should be a source of pride in a community,” Morath said. “Earning all possible distinctions is a significant accomplishment and should signal to parents that there is extraordinary work taking
place on that campus.” In January, the Texas Education Agency released its preliminary A-F ratings that evaluate four separate categories of school district achievement by individual schools and the district as a whole. In August, CCISD and KISD will be evaluated under a new accountability system that rates individual schools on an A-F scale. Neither CCISD or KISD did as well under the preliminary ratings in comparison their STAAR testing results and will look to improve their ratings before the first official A-F ratings are released. Killeen Independent School District’s overall scores were: Student achievement — C, Student progress — B, Closing the gap — C, Postsecondary readiness — F. Copperas Cove Independent School District’s overall scores: Student achievement — C, Student Progress — C, Closing the gap — B, Postsecondary readiness — D. The new evaluation system was met with lots of confusion by district faculty from KISD and CCISD. CCISD spokeswoman Wendy Sledd described the district’s response. “In order to address the A-F ratings, CCISD is working first and foremost to determine specifically how each of the ratings is determined by the Texas Education Agency and what data is being collected by the TEA to make the rating decision. Second, we are reviewing our data collection and submission process to make sure all of the information collected and used by TEA is, in fact, accurate. And last, but not least, we are using the information we collect to inform our staff of the importance of providing and using accurate, reliable and valid data,” Sledd said in February via email. Across the state, many districts have expressed concerns about the A-F system, and state legislators are considering changes to the accountability system before it goes into effect with the 2017-18 school year.
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Local charter and private schools offer choices for education Herald staff reports
Parents seeking an alternative to traditional public schools for their children’s education can choose from a variety of charter and private schools.
PRIORITY CHARTER SCHOOLS
Priority Charter Schools, which operates campuses in Temple and Georgetown, also operates campuses in Killeen, Copperas Cove, Heritage and Leander. Priority Charter Schools were first approved by the Texas State Board of Education in 1999 and operate under contract with the Texas Education Agency. The Killeen Charter Academy, 3209 Atkinson Ave., serves students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Call 254-245-9787 or go to www.prioritycharter.org/ Killeen_ep_46.html
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
The Richard Milburn Academy may move into the campus of the former Transformative Charter School in Killeen.
RICHARD MILBURN ACADEMY
The Richard Milburn Academy is one of eight academies in Texas. At RMA, students in grades nine through 12 have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma in an environment in which they feel safe, supported and valued. Students can choose from two daily sessions to complete their nontraditional academic, career and life skills curriculum. Richard Milburn Academy, home to about 200 high school students, will have to find a new Killeen campus by August after the city did not renew its current lease at 802 N. Second St. One of the possible destinations, an official said, is the campus of the former Transformative Charter School, 802 N. Eighth Street. Call 254-634-4444, or go to www.milburnschools.org.
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
The school provides classes for pre-kindergarten to fifth grade with a core curriculum of language arts, math, social studies and science. Physical education computers, library, music, art, Spanish and religion also are included. St. Joseph’s is at 2901 Rancier Ave. Call 254-634-7272.
or go to www.mcawarriors.com for more information.
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF KILLEEN
The school was established in 1982 and now offers programs in Killeen and Temple. It is a nondenominational Christian school. The Temple campus serves children age 2 through sixth grade, while the Killeen campus serves children age 3 through kindergarten. The school is at 5610 E. Central Expressway, Suite 2 in Killeen. For information, call 254-680-7500.
OAK CREEK ACADEMY Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Patricia Gordon, left, gives her cousin Julissa DeLoatch a hug for receiving her diploma during the Transformative Charter Academy graduation. It was the school’s final graduating class.
KILLEEN ADVENTIST JUNIOR ACADEMY
Killeen Adventist Junior Academy offers a Christian education featuring a traditional academic curriculum taught by certified teachers. The school serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. The academy is accredited by the Texas Education Agency. The school is at 3412 Lake Road in Killeen. Call 254699-9466 or go to www.mykaja.org.
MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Memorial Christian Academy in Killeen is accredited by both the Associated Christian Schools International and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and provides a Christcentered learning environment. Established in 1969, the academy serves students from preschool to 12th grade. Memorial Christian Academy is at 4001 Trimmier Road. Call 254-526-5403
Oak Creek Academy, founded in 2013, is a nonprofit inclusion private school for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Oak Creek is a non-graded, non-leveled, skill based private school for all learners. The non-traditional learning environment at Oak Creek boasts a 1:5 teacher to student ratio and multiple in-house therapies including: speech, occupational, physical and behavioral. The Academy is at 1020 Trimmier Road in Killeen. For more information, call 254-526-9299 or visit www. oakcreekkilleen.org
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Communities in Schools offers support to students across the area Killeen Independent School District male students representing all four local high schools learn about communicating with people from a variety of perspectives.
Herald staff reports
Communities in Schools of Greater Central Texas is a local, nonprofit organization serving Bell, Coryell, Milam and Williamson counties. Since the group’s founding in 1992, CIS has grown to serve 51 campuses across seven school districts: Temple, Belton, Killeen, Copperas Cove, Salado, Cameron and Florence. CIS is one of 27 affiliates helping children in need across the Lone Star State. “Communities In Schools is the nation’s largest and most effective dropout prevention organization because we do whatever it takes to keep kids in school and on the path to graduation,” CIS Executive Director Michael Dewees said. “Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.” The organization offers services to
Todd Martin | KISD
include academic support through tutoring, grade monitoring, homework clubs and state testing support. CIS addresses student needs by providing supportive guidance and counseling, including children dealing with the deployment of a parent as well as grief counseling, crisis intervention, mentoring, conflict resolution, anger management, drug and gang prevention and alcohol awareness.
Dewees said his mission is simple. “Our goals are two-fold: To improve academic performance and to provide access to basic necessities so academic success is possible,” Dewees said. “Once student needs are met, they can turn their attention and energy to school. This ultimately leads to academic success and higher achievement in school and in life.” Many children face challenges both
inside and outside the classroom, he said. “There may be ample resources in a community, but rarely is there someone on hand who is able to connect these resources with the schools, students, and families that need them most,” Dewees said. To accomplish its goals, Communities in Schools partners with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers and volunteers. With the help of supporters, CIS works to meet the needs of students in the school districts it serves. In the 2015-16 school year, CIS served over 5,500 students struggling in academics; on average 92 percent of students improved in academics, behavior, and/or attendance, 99 percent stayed in school, and 97 percent were promoted to the next grade. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.cis-tx.org.
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Texas A&M-Central Texas starts work on third building By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
Founded in 2009, Texas A&M University-Central Texas has come a long way in just seven years. Three years ago, Texas A&M University- Central Texas moved one more step closer to realizing its 30-year plan after it opened a second building, $38 million Warrior Hall. The university also reached several other milestone achievements and has more on the horizon. The university received $36 million in funding for a third multi-use building. Students, faculty, staff and community members came together Dec. 13 for a groundbreaking for the new building, Heritage Hall, which is slated to be 60,000 square feet. Construction began in January with a completion date projected for July of next year. On the recreation side of things, A&M-Central Texas’ first men’s and women’s “Warrior” rugby team began playing during the fall of 2015. According to A&M-Central Texas Communications specialist Jennifer Atkinson, the university is also working on building a rugby field for club sports. Students attending the university in need of professional attire received a
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Marc Nigliazzo is president of Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen.
hand up from the Century Council this year. Last semester, the Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced that the Chancellor’s Century Council would provide A&MCentral Texas $5,000 to start a suit bank that could allow students access to appropriate attire for job interviews and other professional functions. Vicky Ferguson, who is currently the executive assistant to the president at A&M-Central Texas, said she believes
the university is heading in a positive direction, and continuing to improve. “We are pleased to share that our Bachelors in Social Work was informed that it will be receiving national accreditation from the Council of Social Work Education,” Atkinson said. The university fully implemented its stand-alone Writing Center to assist students in becoming outstanding writers. Students will benefit from efforts to establish our newly staffed Center for
Teaching and Learning styles. Current main campus enrollment numbers continue to grow as enrollment now stands at 2,619 students, which is nearly 300 more than last spring’s enrollment of 2,373 students. As with many other schools in the Killeen area, A&M-Central Texas had a large presence of military-connected students. Currently the university has 668 military students (110 active duty).
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2016 a year of growth and renovation at Central Texas College Special to the Herald
Central Texas College over the last year has experienced tremendous growth and renovation. CTC is undergoing renovations of several buildings this year. Board members met in September and concluded with an agreement that NNAC construction would complete the project for $5.2 million. No word has been given on an official start date but the CTC board expects construction to begin as soon as possible. CTC Public Information Officer Bruce Vasbinder said, “We continue to add new programs, new course schedules, expand our Evening/ Weekend College offerings and have continued to seek ways of being even more accessible to meet the needs of our students.” In the spring 2017 semester, CTC enrolled over 5,500 students. In 2015, CTC expanded its service area to include Gillespie County and has partnered with the Hill Country University Center to offer classes in Fredericksburg. The addition of new programs such as the Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic program which will lead to more job opportunities and ultimately benefit medical services in the entire community. CTC has also expanded its degree program offerings with a new histology curriculum which opened in the fall 2016 semester. The school’s diesel tech degree program was also expanded this past fall to include a 55-credit hour certificate offering. Also in the fall, CTC added new classroom courses in the areas of kinesiology, philosophy and criminal justice. CTC is currently looking to add a robotics program and expand its coding course offerings within the computer science program. Chancellor Jim Yeonopolus said he is proud of how far Central Texas College has come. “I am very honored to carry on our tradition of being a leader in providing quality and affordable higher edu-
Herald | FILE
Mary Brenda 0. Tia, an Academic Studio tutor, hands out maps and fliers to a back-to-school bash and directs incoming students Alexis Dismuke, center, and Ritza Mejia Bonilla as they try to find buildings Aug. 22 at Central Texas College in Killeen.
cational opportunities,” Yeonopolus said. “It is our goal to provide every student the best learning experience possible — from excellent instruction to offering top-notch customer service and providing entertaining extracurricular campus activities outside the classroom.” Central Texas College has over 25 locations in the United States and more than 140 locations worldwide on military installations, but its central campus is here in Killeen. The school offers a number of associate degree plans in addition to more than 40 certificate programs. “CTC is an excellent choice to start a career path,” he said. “We offer world class opportunities in the classroom and online to enable student success in completing a degree or certificate program.” In June of 2016, CTC students, staff and community members celebrated the completion of $600,000 worth of renovations to the Morton Hall
dormitory. Constructed in 1972, the two-story dorm can house a maximum of 120 students, and offers both single and double-occupancy rooms, Deputy Chancellor Michele Carter said. During the renovations, electricity was upgraded, walls were repainted, and flooring was replaced. Light and faucet fixtures were also upgraded, along with an improved recreation area and a new study room with desks, chairs and additional data ports. “The renovations have made Morton Hall feel more like home,” said Abelardo Molina-Barcena, a resident assistant and international student from Mexico City who has lived in the dorm for three years. “Living on campus is the most affordable option for me, and I like what they did with the building — especially the floors.” “We wanted our students to feel like they have a home away from home,” Carter said. “Our goal is to make CTC a destination school, and living in a dormitory helps to provide a complete
college experience. We also wanted our students to feel like they were receiving a good value for their money.” With 34 being the average age of a CTC student at graduation, the school strives to focus on choices. During the 2015-16 school year, the college was awarded a number of honors recognizing its dedication to the military. “Our commitment to the military is evidenced by our selection as a top military school by Military Advanced Education and Transition publication, being included on the Military Times’ list of most popular schools for active-duty soldiers who use tuition assistance and its list of Best for Vets Colleges,” Yeonopolus said “Going forward, CTC will continue to find ways of expanding course offerings and improving our customer service to all of our valued students. We want to ensure each student receives the respect, appreciation and value they deserve and expect from CTC.”
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UMHB students succeed in and out of the classroom By Quinton Lilley Killeen Daily Herald
BELTON — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor had a championship caliber year in the classroom as well as in athletics. For the UMHB Crusaders football program, 2016 marked the greatest season in program history. The Cru won its first national championship with a 10-7 victory over Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Stagg Bowl XLIV. The team closed out the season with a perfect 150 record to set new school and American Southwest Conference records for single-season victories. UMHB also saw over 1,000 students graduate in 2016 with 563 students in May and 502 in December. Campus enrollment is also slightly up this school year in comparison to 2015-16, with 3,906 students currently enrolled while last year had 3,898 students enrolled. The university has also done a lot of renovation in the last year as well. In February 2016, UMHB began construction on a new performing arts center. Set to open in the fall of 2017, the 40,725-square-foot facility will include multifunctional rooms that will allow it to be easily utilized for both learning and performance purposes. The center will feature a 546-seat theater with a proscenium stage, fly space and orchestra pit. The design also includes a 2,000-square-foot chamber hall, which can be used as a classroom, a venue for small concerts or recitals, or a reception space for social gatherings. This year, the UMHB board of trustees has also approved construction of a 46,000-square-foot residence hall on the north side of the campus. The three-story facility will offer dormitory-style housing for up to 214 students. The building will be designed so the different floors and wings can be closed off from one another; this will make it possible to house both men and women in separate spaces in the building and will provide a flexible
Andy Zavoina | AMZimages
UMHB’s Markeith Miller (27) is tackled by Wheaton’s Nick Blazek (12) and Tyler Sigler (4) with Eric Stevenson in the back as as UMHB’s Wykeyhe Walker (11) was blocking during the 2016 NCAA Div ision III Football Championship quarterfinals at Crusader Stadium on Dec. 3 in Belton.
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
The Performing Arts Building’s construction is seen March 9 at UMHB in Belton.
way to adjust the allocation of beds, depending on the demographics of the freshman class, year by year. Plans call for construction of the residence hall to begin this spring, with the goal
of having the project completed and ready for use for the fall 2018 semester. The UMHB director of marketing and public relations, James Stafford, said he believes Mary Hardin-Baylor
is on the cutting edge of all the top universities in the state. In August, the university launched its new competency-based online degree program, MyWay at UMHB. Once they enroll in the program, MyWay at UMHB students do not pay for individual courses. Instead, the program is based on a subscription model, which includes all the materials for the competencies on which a student is currently working as well as those for every competency that came before it, including any for which the student transferred in credit from a previous program. Thanks to the customizable nature of the program, new students will be able to enroll on the 15th day of every subsequent month. August also saw the launch of UMHB’s new doctor of nursing practice degree. UMHB has announced that beginning this fall, the university is expanding its current pre-engineering program to make it a full, four-year engineering degree program, beginning in fall 2017.
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<<HARKER HEIGHTS>>
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City Hall expansion leads development in Harker Heights Parks and Recreation
By Bob Massey
For 2017, the Parks and Recreation Department has rebuilt the outdoor batting cages at Community Park, resurfaced the Carl Levin Outdoor Pool and improved the shaded areas at the Community Park sports fields to guarantee use for years to come. This year, the department will also focus on the expansion of the Harker Heights Adaptive Sports program to include an adult kayaking program and additional special events. Within the athletics department, parks and recreation staff update policies, procedures, and guidelines that improve the fairness, accessibility, and playability for all. “Harker Heights Parks and Recreation is working diligently to improve the quality of life and sense of community for all citizens through parks and programming,” Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Bark said.
Herald correspondent
HARKER HEIGHTS — City Hall and the Recreation Center received major upgrades in 2016. City Hall, 305 Millers Crossing, was expanded by 5,143 square feet. City Hall renovations included the addition of a dedicated Information Technology wing, office space, storage space, conference room space, court waiting rooms and a new payment kiosk. The dedicated information technology wing includes a room for the city’s servers that has its own air-conditioning unit. The additional office and storage space provides future expansion for the city. The new kiosk, located in the city’s utility payment drive-thru lane, can accept payments for utilities, as well as court payments. The Recreation Center, 307 Millers Crossing, received renovations that included greater office space for staff and a conference room for a total increase of 1,998 square feet. These improvements will assist the parks’ staff in meeting with residents, parents, players, coaches and officials, city officials said. Substantial completion of the projects occurred in December 2016. All in all, the city added 7,131 square feet of space - City Hall and Recreation Center combined. “The improvements to City Hall and Recreation Center are all centered on providing for the current and future needs of our residents and businesses,” City Manager David Mitchell said.
Library
The Stewart C. Meyer Harker Heights Public Library is known for its many and varying programs for children, teens and adults. This year, the library will expand its programing series and upgrade the children’s area to provide a comfortable, engaging environment that encourages families to read, play, and learn together. In November 2016, the library provided a Tina Isdale Read With Me Nook. Caregivers and children are
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
welcome to sit in a cozy corner to enjoy a few good books together. In March, the library opened its Friends and Family Learning Center. This area will feature games, educational toys, blocks, puzzles, board books and a new parenting collection. Available also for caregivers will be a collection of brochures regarding child development, early literacy and area service providers. Patrons will soon be invited to check out educational toys as well. The library also offers two new early education programs. Each Tuesday in April, the library will present “Stepping Stones,” an energetic program for ages 36 months and younger, at 9 a.m., and “Move It, Groove It, Make It!” a movement and motor skills class for children ages 3 and up, at 10 a.m. Space will be limited, and residents are asked to call 254-953-5491 to sign up. Those programs will be repeated in the fall. The Tina Isdale Read With Me
Finance Department
Nook, the circulating toy collection and the Friends and Family Learning Center will be available year-round. These new services and programs have been funded in part by the friends and family of Tina Isdale, the Friends of the Harker Heights Public Library and a Family Place grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.
As mentioned earlier, one of the customer service advances installed was a new kiosk for city-related payments made outside of normal City Hall business hours. The kiosk enables customers to make utility or court payments 24/7 by check, cash, credit or debit card. Accounts can be accessed by account number or street address (utility payments) or by name, driver’s license information or citation number (court payments). Court payments made by credit card incur a small fee, however, utility payments are processed at no charge. The kiosk is just after the drive-thru at City Hall.
Harker Heights Pet Adoption Center
Fire Department
City of Harker Heights Building Official Secretary Lyndsey Asher does office work Wednesday at Harker Heights City Hall. Plans are in the works for the expansion of Harker Heights City Hall.
Architects are working on an expansion plan for the Harker Heights Pet Adoption Center. Construction work should begin in 2017 with project completion in late 2017 or early 2018, officials said. Animal lovers who want to donate for center needs, medical procedures or spaying/neutering the animals, can donate at www.hhpetadoption.com.
The Fire Department is actively working with architects, MRB Group, and the construction manager at risk, Hill-Wilkinson, on plans to renovate and expand the Central Fire Station at 401 Indian Trail. The Central Fire Station was built in the early 1980s. Construction is expected to begin in 2017 with completion late 2017 or early 2018.
Police Department
The Harker Heights Police Department has experienced the retirement of several senior department members within the last year. As a result of these retirements, new promotions have been made to the rank of lieutenant, the first such promotion in 16 years, sergeant and corporal. Additionally, the department continued the Healthy Homes Program, Operation Safe Shopper and its participation in National Night Out festivities in 2016. Last year saw the assignment of the department’s first professional standards sergeant, who oversees and administers department training and licensure as well as the second recognition through the Texas Police Chiefs Association’s Best Practices Recognition Program. The first was in 2012.
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The department’s police working dog program was enhanced with the donation of “Chico,” a K-9 from the Belton Police Department. The Harker Heights department was also awarded a grant for the purchase of body-worn cameras later in 2017.
Planning and Development
The Planning and Development Department started 2016 with the annexation of property to the south of the city. This 155-acre annexation extends the city limits along the west side of Stillhouse Lake Road. The city adopted an ordinance to regulate credit access businesses, also known as payday lenders or automobile title lenders in April 2016. This ordinance acts to protect citizens from what have historically been classified as predatory lending practices among
some of these businesses. Key terms of the ordinance requires these businesses to register with the city, maintain complete transaction records and limits some of the financing terms and conditions for refinancing of loans. In October 2016, the city adopted an ordinance creating a new residential zoning district called R-1I, the Single Family Infill Dwelling District. This new zoning district was designed to address the needs of redevelopment throughout the older sections of the city and give developers and builders more tools to allow redevelopment and infill development of those parts of town. City staff worked in conjunction with these builders and developers to provide them with the best options for creating high-quality new single-family housing on lots that were smaller
than traditional lot sizes in the newer parts of the city. It is hoped these smaller lots and home footprints will provide an attractive alternative to young professionals and “empty nesters” who might not want to continue maintaining a large yard, but want to remain in Harker Heights.
Public Works
The Public Works Department has implemented a Storm Water Hot Line for the public to report pollution in the city’s storm water system. On holidays, weekends and after 5 p.m. weekdays, call is: 254-319-4996. During regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., call 254-953-5649. The Storm Water Hot Line telephone numbers are listed on the City website under the Public Works Storm Water Link.
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Harker Heights population nears milestone of 30,000 residents By Bob Massey Herald correspondent
HARKER HEIGHTS — The city continued to experience demand for residential homes in 2016, further fueling the city’s population growth. Heights’ city staff estimates the city is very close to crossing the 30,000 threshold in population. “Exceeding 30,000 in population (would be) a neat milestone for the city and one we will acknowledge at the point our estimates show we reach it,” City Manager David Mitchell said. Although demand is high, the city had fewer residential permits in 2016. “The city does not have as many development-ready residential lots out in front of the builders as we have had in the past. Primary areas being developed are in southern parts of the city and are more challenging to develop due to topographical conditions. We
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
The Stillhouse Flats apartment complex is nearly complete in Harker Heights. More housing is needed to accommodate the growing population.
forecast this trend to be the new norm, with some upward blips as larger
subdivisions finally become available for development,” Mitchell said.
“Harker Heights remains poised to be a place of destination for residents due to its unique sense of place, excellent home values, quality infrastructure, safe environment and engaging city parks and programs,” he said. The city issued a total of 258 residential permits in 2016. Of those, 143 were for single-family homes, 19 were for two-family homes and 96 were for multifamily units. The multifamily units are part of Stillhouse Flats, the first apartment complex to develop in the city in over 20 years. Subdivisions experiencing the majority of residential development include: Tuscany Meadows, Whitten Place, Evergreen, The Ridge and Knights Ridge. City officials expect additional growth with the completion of a wastewater line serving lots southeast of the City along FM 2410. “The city has already had a number
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Construction is seen at the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and FM 2410 in Harker Heights. The city continues to make infrastructure improvements as the population grows. Eric J. Shelton | Herald
of meetings with property owners and developers about lots in that area,” Mitchell said. Officials expect some of these to begin to take shape in 2017. Planning Director Joseph Molis said, “This year, the city established a new zoning district, R1-I, to stimulate
growth in the older neighborhoods throughout town. “This new zoning district gives developers and builders additional tools to revitalize older, smaller lots, as well as address some changing housing demands in the area. “As we strive to meet the ongoing
needs of our retiring population and young professionals, the city will continue to adapt to provide opportunities for everyone to call Harker Heights their home.” Mitchell points to the city’s vision statement: Providing public services that empower people to focus on what
matters most: their goals, hopes and dreams. “If we focus on doing that, we will continue to be a place of destination for residents,” Mitchell said. “Citizens have a choice in where to live, and we want to honor that choice by providing extraordinary service.”
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Residents flock to new ASYMCA family center in Heights By Bob Massey Herald Correspondent
HARKER HEIGHTS — The Armed Services YMCA Wellness Center in Harker Heights at 110 Mountain Lion Road opened on May 27 adjacent to Purser Park. It is a full service wellness center with a 10-lane lap pool, 7,000 square feet filled with wellness machines, free weights, cardio equipment, three exercise studios, full gymnasium, teen and senior area, a lobby with cafe and meeting rooms with an instructional kitchen. The entire facility covers 54,000 square feet. Tony Mino, director of the ASYMCA says, “It’s crazy! People are lined up at 5 a.m. and ready to get in. The parking lot is full in the mornings around noon. In the evening, both parking lots are full including the one across the street. That’s encouraging.” There are 700 senior citizens registered in several programs. They can sign up through Silver Sneakers. “We consider family membership a unit. Right now we have 3,500 units that equates to over 8,800 people. That starts with infants from three to six months,” Mino said. Mothers bring their babies in their strollers and walk the track upstairs. Youth involvement totals over 3,000. They are in Child Watch, swim lessons, basketball, taekwondo, kid’s Zoomba, and will take advantage of new programs that will be rolled out this summer. “Opening up last summer was a challenge because we had between 200 to 300 kids in the gymnasium. That was great to see because they weren’t on the streets. If they want to hang out at the Y that’s OK with us,” Mino said. The ASYMCA quickly partnered with Seton Medical Center and Killeen ISD. The high school swim teams utilize the facility. There is a program underway that is free to the kids called “Safety Around Water.” Third-graders participate in a one-week course that teaches the kids how to reach other
Photos by Amy Proctor and Eric J. Shelton | Herald
The Armed Forces YMCA Wellness Center in Harker Heights opened on May 27.
kids who may be in trouble, recognizing the danger of water so they don’t venture in and get swept away. They are also prepared as to what they do for themselves if they are caught in that situation. Mino said, “We had 900 kids in that program last year and plan to reach even more in 2017.” Mino said it would take about seven to eight years to get all the third graders in the district through the course. Seton Medical Center-Harker Heights is a big part of the water therapy program that is offered at
ASYMCA. Hospital staff bring their patients into a facility in the back and go through the process there. “Our goal is that when they’re done and the doctor has cleared them that they keep coming to the “Y” and build relationships with friends plus keep up their therapy regiment,” Mino said. It’s the same with the cardio rehab. People go through a six-week course, get a doctor’s release and continue their rehab. Seton also offers a food and fitness
session on the first Thursday of the month. The ASYMCA operates with a staff of more than 60. They pick up more in the summer by hiring additional lifeguards who can also teach swim lessons. “Last summer, we put 1,600 students through swimming lessons,” according to Mino. When the Herald asked Mino about the best way to get registered he said, “Just come on down to the “Y.” We’ll give people a tour of the facility then give them the paperwork to fill out and sign up.” For more information about memberships and a listing of the featured activities, call 254-690-9622. “I would like to add how much I appreciate the work and dedication of the 26 board members who support this effort and the City of Harker Heights for the vital part they played in getting this project off the ground,” Mino said. The ASYMCA is open seven days a week. The hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On Friday, they are open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Harker Heights Chamber offers programs to support businesses TOURISM
Special to the Herald
HARKER HEIGHTS — The Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce ended 2016 with a membership of 831, according to the chamber’s annual report. The chamber’s growth is in line with the community needs and demands, said Gina Pence, chamber President and CEO. The chamber continues to offer new exciting programs that are included in the annual membership dues. The chamber has kept its membership dues at an affordable rate with great value for all members, Pence said. “The chamber will continue with the Keepin It Local program in 2017 spending $25,000 to promote our local community, business, jobs and quality of life,” Pence said. “The expanded program will now include gift cards that can be used at participating members at no cost to the business, the chamber will reimburse the cost of the gift card back to the business. “This program will strengthen our communities’ economy and create new business relationships. KCEN & United National Bank are the proud partners with HH Chamber to roll out the new gift card program and we all look forward to giving back and building a stronger community.” Changes within the chamber included hiring Mary Shabunia now VP Business Development & Retention Specialist, Jodi Bailey Business Development and adding Jean Knowles
as Events Coordinator. The chamber is looking to add commission-only staff to help with new membership. Programs and events, such as the Harker Heights Food, Wine and Brew Festival, Harker Heights Initiative School Program, and scholarship fund continued to grow, along with new initatives. “Supporting our military and their families was a strong initiative for 2016 with Operation Thank You and the Benghazi Event,” Pence said, “bringing Kris Tanto Paronto to KCCC to speak to our community about the real battle of Benghazi and dealing with the aftermath. “This event was a healing process for many soldiers that got the opportunity to speak to Kris privately to share similar emotions. The Benghazi event became a tourism event bringing followers from all over the state of Texas to hear him speak.”
Promoting the city was a strong focus for the chamber in 2016. The chamber joined a partnership with our surrounding communities now called Destination Central Texas. “Our focus is to put Central Texas on the map competing for large conferences and bringing more tourism to the area,” Pence said. The team was successful, bringing Mother Earth News in 2016. Destination Central Texas has a very strong tourism calendar scheduled for 2017 bringing a large economic boost to the Central Texas area. “The chamber has renewed our agreement with CGI Communications, Inc., they will reproduce all new videos spring of 2017 to help promote our community,” Pence said. The videos will take six months to produce, but the effort will be worth it, Pence said. The video tour of Harker Heights showcases the city’s parks, hospitals and public schools. Another highlights nonprofits in the community.
LEADERSHIP and YOUTH INVOLVEMENT
Involvement of Harker Heights High School students in the Vision XXI Leadership Class was a continued goal in 2016. The program partners local leaders and key organizations to produce a shared vision of growing the future of the community five HHHS students and 16 adults from local businesses were selected for the leadership class,
which was the first to integrate high school students. “That’s our future, we want our youth to be invested in the community and make sure they become strong leaders to secure the path our local government has started,” Pence said. During the eight-month program, students chose Wreaths for Vets as their class project. They pitched fundraising ideas to different organizations and worked several events to raise the monies collected for the project. The class raised over $11,000 for Wreaths for Vets class project. Eric Putt with Texas Workforce was chosen by his classmates as the Rising Star Class of 2016, a tree will be planted at Purser Park to honor his dedication and hard work served to the community.
MOVING FORWARD
The chamber’s main goals for the new year are enhancing membership participation, promoting economic and sustainable business growth, develop and utilize existing partnerships, tourism development and enhancing the visitor’s center. For future chamber events and programs, she encouraged residents to check out www.hhchamber.com. “I want to encourage people to get involved with their chamber and meet the talented and interesting individuals in our community,” Pence said. “All programs are designed to advance the interests of the area, its businesses, residents and visitors.”
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Nolanville officials work toward responsible growth plan By Bob Massey Herald correspondent
NOLANVILLE — Nolanville officials expect continuous growth in 2017 and will use the preferred growth plan that focuses on preserving Nolanville’s small-town feel and natural landscape while building a thriving city, City Manager Kara Escajeda said. With the approval of four grant projects, Nolanville officials worked toward finalizing plans and preparing contracts for execution in 2017. The City Master Park Plan was completed by Studio Balcones in coordination with city officials, community input, and comprehensive plan. Phase I of the plan provides a space that all members of the community can enjoy to include sports, green space and playground with splash pad. Full implementation of the plan is expected to occur in three phases over the next five years. Construction projects that improve the “walkability” of the city involve Old Nolanville Road and Main Street. Contracts and surveying are nearing completion and final design is anticipated in August. The construction will provide safe route to schools and public transit. We are also expecting an economic benefit since the improvements will make Main Street a more aesthetic environment to attacked small business.
Photos by Eric J. Shelton and Bob Massey | Herald
Technology Specialist Petar McNeil, left, helps Nolanville Municipal Court Clerk Monica Skelton set up her email at Nolanville City Hall.
to provide the most convenient hours. After its facelift, Community Center use has picked up, with the offering of free evening activities — a meal through Our Future Children and a gymnastic program offered by a resident in partnership with the city.
Accomplishments
• Scenic City Certification Silver Status for 2016. • Gold Star Affiliation with Keep Texas Beautiful and 3rd Place in the Governor’s Community Achievement Award • Tax Rate remained stable last year and is the lowest in Central Texas while meeting budget goals.
Activities
Community involvement was very high last year. Volunteers supported the recycle center, Trash Off and Water Way Clean Up, Train Whistle Jamboree planning and execution and Community Garden Maintenance. Volunteers were instrumental in executing the first Fox Trot 5K had over 300 registered runners last year. This year Cavazos Elementary is combining its crawfish boil and craft show with the event. “We intend to improve our recognition of volunteers through the Spirit of Nolanville Award that will
Nolanville City Manager Kara Escajeda, left, explains transportation routes to Jessica Beauvil.
highlight a Community Contributor monthly,” said Mayor Christina Rosenthal. The first award was presented to Emma Rose Gill for her Take Care of
Texas Video that won first in the state of Texas. The Recycle Center working group is planning awards for “Recycler of the Month” and tracking turn in rate
Annexation
2016 was the first time since the city switched to home rule that involuntary annexation occurred. This expanded the city limits to approximately 2,700 acres. The beneficial effect realized immediately was the increase in sales tax.
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Nolanville has seen a large sales tax percentage increase for the past two months, receiving $48,383 in February — a 93.69 percent increase over the same month last year — and $44,918 in January for a 135.73 percent increase. “This bump in sales tax was primarily an effect of the annexation executed last year, which also included some commercial businesses,” Escajeda said. “The increase directly benefits city improvements; we use 0.25 percent of the allocation for street maintenance and 0.25 percent goes to the EDC for economic development.”
EDC & Planning & Zoning Commission
“Our EDC and P&Z members stayed committed and consistent volunteers the over the last year and their service to the community is greatly appreciated,” Escajeda said. Prioirities included planning for expansion opportunities with the recent Interstate 14 designation, as well as consideration of retail and industrial consultants to provide more revenue from sales tax.
Business & Development
The city is anticipating the further commercial development of Jack Rabbit Road and Paddy Hamilton. Boat World and other commercial
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
A construction worker finishes the roof at Nolanville City Hall at 101 N. Fifth St.
retail outlets are expected on the corner of Paddy Hamilton. Fry’s Restaurant is also expected to open soon on 10th Street.
Focus on Public Safety
Council honed in on public safety by passing an ordinance prohibiting the use of handheld wireless device. The city is currently in the public education period and enforcement begins April 1. Council members have a focus on
road repairs and Road Maintenance Schedule that is planned to maximize the longevity of residential roads. A $500,000 bond at 2.06 percent was approved to provide drainage and road construction that exceed the operational maintenance budget to complete. The first priority is addressing Elm Street to aid in drainage for the area dubbed the “Trees” south of the City Park. There are also plans to construct a new road connection between Mes-
quite and Dober, providing a secondary exit for residents on Mesquite and improving security for the City Park. Also in the area of public safety is improving addressing. The council approved renaming the U.S. Highway 190 access road to Central Texas Expressway in preparation of the interstate highway designation. Given this change and other addressing concerns, the city will be viewed holistically to improve responsiveness for emergency services. In March, the city recruited and hired a new police chief, Daniel Porter, who has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience. Porter, who was sworn in March 2, succeeds former Chief Gary Kent, who retired in November. “His background and expertise will enhance the city’s Community Policing efforts,” Escajeda said of Porter. The council approved the purchase of body camera and car camera upgrades for the Police Department and Code Enforcement. Simultaneously, the council is working on approving the policy related to their use. It is anticipated that the presence of cameras will improve the performance of officers as well as the conduct of the community members who are recorded.
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Belton expands city limits as it improves services FME News Service
BELTON — Belton expanded its city limits during the past year, annexing more than 500 acres as growth and development continued in the county seat of Bell County. The annexed areas totaled about 575 acres, most of it east of Interstate 35, south of Decker Road and north of Lampasas Road. It was part of a yearlong effort by the Belton government, and was pared down from an original plan to annex more than 1,755 acres.
Hike and bike trails
Looking for a place to bike or walk or run? Belton is expanding trails to meet those needs. On March 2, the Belton City Council unanimously approved a contract with Temple-based KPA Engineering to design the second phase of the Chisholm Trail Hike and Bike Trail that will connect the city’s existing trail network. Once completed sometime in early 2020, Belton’s hike and bike trail will span from Interstate 35 at Confederate Park to Sparta Road and Loop 121. The contract will cost Belton a total of $467,075. This number exceeds the original estimate of $405,000 by $62,075 because of how complex the project is, according to a staff report. “This is our fourth leg of our hike and bike system,” said Aaron Harris, grants and special projects coordinator. “I know we have this project named as phase two but keep in mind this is the fourth leg of this. So we’re keeping this going.” The city faces a challenge to connecting the northern and southern parts of the hike and bike trail: the railroad. Belton will burrow beneath the railroad to create a tunnel so people can continue along the trail. “We will go underneath the railroad and go by the (Belton Independent School District) bus barn and cross Industrial and go to Commerce to connect into the existing and the new hike and bike trail,” City Engineer Angellia Points said.
Herald | FILE
Belton’s annual Fourth of July Parade brings thousands of people to town.
It will be a part of the upcoming Sparta Road reconstruction project that will begin construction this spring, the city engineer said.
Growth
Between 2015 and 2016 the city grew by an estimated 708 people, according to estimates approved by the City Council. In 2017, the city population is 21,214, according to city officials. South Belton is primed for growth. It’s right along a major transportation corridor and there’s plenty of land for development. But there is one obstacle: the lack of sewer service. “Without infrastructure in place, a property cannot be served,” said Cynthia Hernandez, executive director of the Belton Economic Development Corp. “Probably a septic tank could be used, but in order to truly support development, wastewater is important.” Enter the south Belton sewer project. Officials have indicated the sewer should help spur development in the area. Construction is set to begin later this year, Along with the sewer project, the city is proposing a new elevated water
storage tank in north Belton. The tank will hold one million gallons of water and bump the number of water connections from 6,300 up to 11,000. Once built, the tank will be able to provide pressure and water storage for all of Belton. The Belton City Council approved $9.7 million in combination tax and limited revenue certificates of obligation to fund both projects.
MLK Bridge
The city also saw in 2016 the opening of the long-awaited Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue bridge, which officials hope will relieve some of Belton’s traffic. The bridge that links Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Loop 121 was completed last July almost 36 years after it was first proposed. The $6 million bridge is the most expensive municipal road project in Belton’s history. “This project began in 1980 as a dashed line on our city’s future street plan,” City Manager Sam Listi said at the bridge opening ceremony in July. “That plan showed a westward extension of Ninth Avenue over Nolan Creek to a future Loop 121 that didn’t
even exist at that time.” By providing an additional eastwest thoroughfare, the city hopes the bridge will alleviate traffic during rush hour.
Construction
A good indicator of a city’s growth is the number of building permits it approves. During 2016, Belton has issued 15 commercial building permits and are still reviewing two. As for homes, between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30 Belton approved; 77 single family home permits; five multiple family building permits, with a total of 144 units; 21 duplex building permits, with a total of 42 units; and three mobile home permits.
Flyover finished
Another long-awaited bridge in Belton was also finished in 2016. The flyover bridge alongside westbound U.S. Highway 190, a state highway project that began in fall 2010, opened to motorists last May. The elevated section of roadway connects northbound Interstate 35 to westbound U.S. 190.
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Improvements bring tourists By Jacob Brooks Killeen Daily Herald
BELTON — Belton has made a number of improvements in the past year that are bringing more visitors to town. The city’s Nolan Creek project was completed at the end of last summer. It includes a new park with nature trail and kayak/tube launch area. The Nolan Creek Nature Trail is located at the MLK bridge and Nolan Creek. From that point it takes up to two hours to float to the downtown area where the cascades are located behind The Gin restaurant. Much of the recreation on Nolan Creek is occurring at the cascades, which are a series of light rapids and pools between Main Street and Confederate Park. “There was definitely more people floating Nolan Creek last year, and the put-in location was not complete until late summer,” city spokesman Paul Romer said in an email. “We anticipate even more people using the creek this year. On June 10 we plan to offer free tube rides before our Movie in the Park that night.” The big event in Belton every year is the Fourth of July Parade. “Nothing in Central Texas can top the city of Belton’s July 4 parade,” Romer said. “It is the best way to kick off Independence Day. It’s enjoyed by families that faithfully attend every year and by those who visit for the first time.” The parade is in conjunction with The Festival on Nolan Creek, which has drawn 50,000 people. Year-round the city hosts Belton Market Days the third weekend of each month. Downtown streets are closed and a variety of vendors sell their wares to the public. And then, of course, there’s Belton Lake, which is at a normal level for the first time in years.
Rusty Schramm | FME News Service
Belton’s Meredith Lusby connects with a pitch against Waco Midway in Belton.
Belton ISD works to accommodate rapid growth Special to the Herald
BELTON — Belton Independent School District continues its fast growth. The district’s snapshot enrollment, which it provides as an official count to the state at the end of October, was 11,119. Belton ISD has grown by more than 3,000 students in the last decade and is projected to add about 3,600 more students in the next 10 years. “The growth is really happening all over Belton ISD, but primarily it is due to new housing construction in the area,” Superintendent Susan Kincannon said. “We have a lot of lot of available infrastructure. We’re 197 square miles of school district, and there is just a lot of available land in the area, and so there’s a lot of new construction and lot of new business growth in
Belton ISD, city of Temple area and the city of Belton, So the growth seems to be coming from the availability of land and from the kind of the whole area of the state.” And with new students entering the districts comes talk of a new high school. Currently, the district has 3,225 high school students, with most attending Belton High School (about 2,700) and the remainder at the Belton New Tech High School. In 10 years, the district is projected to have more than 4,500 high school students. “Over the past four years, we have studied the district’s facilities, held listening sessions, and worked with a committee of parents, teachers and community members,” Kincannon said. “The result is a plan that we’re calling the Roadmap to BISD 2025. It calls for building a new elementary school and a new high school as well
as repurposing an existing building adjacent to the high school to serve as a middle school. On May 6, voters will decided whether or not to issue bonds to fund the construction of the new schools.” The proposed high school would be built near the intersection of Farmto-Market roads 317 and 2483 in the city of Temple. The current plans envision a building with capacity for 2,500 students that would open in the fall of 2020. The cost of building and equipping the school is estimated at $125.6 million. The proposed elementary school would be built near the intersection of Poison Oak Road and Carriage House Drive in the city of Temple. It would have space for about 800 students and would open in the fall of 2019. The estimated cost to build and equip that school is $21.3 million.
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With I-35 finished, Salado eyes Stagecoach Inn project By Jacob Brooks KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
SALADO — Bell County village Salado may not be a big town, but there are plenty of things for visitors to do throughout the year. From the annual Salado Christmas Stroll to the Wildflower Weekend in late March, the village in south Bell County along Interstate 35 is consistently trying to bring in visitors. The village has art galleries, microbrewies, wineries, wine bars, barbecue restaurants and more. A new event in Salado this year will be the “Art Attack” — a collection of culinary, literary and musical events from April 28-30. Organizers are planning for it to be an annual event, said Mary Poché, director of the Salado Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. Art Attack will join three other big events that occur every year in Salado: the Wildflower Arts & Crafts Festival at the end of March, Chocolate and Wine in September and the Christmas Stroll in December. Each of them is expected to bring in about 4,000 to 5,000 attendees, Poché said. The big news in Salado during the past few months is that the Interstate 35 construction was completed by the Texas Department of Transportation. “The signage is up from TxDOT,” Poché said in early March, adding that I-35 has always been a big boon for the village. The new highway — which has three lanes in each direction — opened up to traffic in late November, ending years of traffic and construction woes. Overall, tourism is going “quite well,” Poché said.
Stagecoach Inn
Another big news item in Salado — portions of the historic Stagecoach Inn are opening soon. Poché said the inn’s meeting rooms and restaurant are slated to open in late April or early May. All told, the Stagecoach Inn is sched-
Herald | File
The big news in Salado during the past few months is that the I-35 construction was completed by the Texas Department of Transportation.
uled for a $7.5 million makeover. Hotel rooms will also be refurbished and are expected to open in 2019. Poché said her office gets a couple calls per week about the inn. For more information about the Stagecoach Inn, go to www.stagecoachsalado.com.
Disannexation
Currently there are about 2,130 residents in Salado, but that number could change if a measure for disannexation occurs during the May 6 election. Some residents in the village are pushing to break away from the village government. Salado resident John Newman submitted a petition in February, requesting an election for the disannexation of a large portion of the village, including the Mill Creek area. Newman said the reason for the petition is because many residents believe
they aren’t being represented. “The mayor and aldermen live in Mill Creek, so south Salado doesn’t have much of a voice,” Newman said. “With local government municipality, you have very little petition that you can go forward with. If we wanted to remove an individual, we can’t do that. This was our one option to affect change.” The measure will be on the May 6 ballot, Salado officials confirmed.
More development
The first portion of the long gestating Sanctuary development project is expected to open sometime in 2018, said Robert Sulaski, chief executive officer of the Sanctuary Development Co. Sulaski said the first part of Sanctuary to open will be the entertainment venue followed by the retirement village. Arizona-based R Entertainment is working on the entertainment venue.
Sanctuary is a project that has been long in the making. The Billie and Freda Hanks family of San Angelo has been trying to get a mixed-use development built on the 297 acres it owns at the intersection of Farm-toMarket Road 2268 and Interstate 35 for the past 16 years. If Sanctuary is completed, developers envision it to have 525 homes, 350 apartments, 400 hotel rooms, an outdoor music and entertainment venue, 65,000 square feet of offices, and 345,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. “It’s not unlike the Domain,” Sulaski said, referencing the sprawling mixeduse development in North Austin. But there is a difference between the Domain and Sanctuary, Sulaski said. “This is geared toward family,” he said, while the Domain is focused toward a young professional demographic.
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Salado ISD nears 2,000 students as more people move to town Gatesville’s Rebekah Nolte (11) goes to the basket while being guarded by Salado’s Kerrigan Hearne.
Special to the Herald
SALADO — Salado Independent School District continues its growth with the district adding over 100 students per year in recent years. Enrollment is 1,767 students, said Michael Novotny, Salado ISD superintendent, noting that the enrollment was 1,348 four years ago. “About three-fourths of our growth has been from families moving into our district and new homes being built,” he said. “There are several home developments within our district boundaries. New homes are popping up and families are moving in with kids. And then about one-fourth is attributed to additional transfer students — students who live in neighboring districts and their families are transferring their kids into our district.” The district is currently working on a plan to accommodate that enrollment growth, Novotny said. “We have hired the Huckabee architectural firm to partner with us in developing a long-range facilities
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
plan and this August we will have a committee of parents, community members, and district employees to work on this,” he said, adding that the district will have to add capacity at some point, when the district will have to look at adding a new school and/or adding onto one or more of the existing four schools to have enough classroom space. The district has discontinued accepting new transfer students, with three exceptions — children of employees, children of activeduty military, and siblings of current
transfer students. This will allow the district to slow the enrollment growth while a facility plan is being developed and implemented. Salado High School took second place in the state academic UIL competition out of about 200 high schools in the 4A level in the past year, Novotny said. The school has won nine state championships in academic UIL. Out of the 1,317 high schools in Texas there are only two that have won more state championships in UIL Academics than Salado High School.
Another award the district garnered was four and a half stars out of a possible five stars on the Texas Smart Schools rating, which is based on student achievement in reading and mathematics and district finances. “The rating is based on high student achievement with low spending,” Novotny said, noting the award is done by Texas Comptroller’s Office in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency. Novotny said almost every Salado High School sports team has advanced to the playoffs, with the girls soccer team advancing to the state semi-finals and the baseball team advancing to the state finals last year. This year the Salado High School filmmaking team had four films qualify for the state finals, the most of any high school in Texas. One of the films won the state championship. The district started a computer science program this year and is looking at starting a medical science program at the high school that would give students a taste of medical professions, he said.
Innovation, digital resources a priority for Florence ISD By Angel Sierra Killeen Daily Herald
FLORENCE — Innovation is on the minds of students, teachers and adminstrators at the Florence Independent School District. A Jan. 16 school board resolution put the public school system on a path to improving education benefits for students, staff and stakeholders, by changing the way the district functions. A District of Innovation designation would make it more like a charter school, providing flexibility within state education mandates, according to the district website. It would allow it to pursue “innovations in curriculum, instruction, governance, parent or community involvement, school calendar, bud-
geting, or other areas,” the website reads, “which ultimately allows the district to gain more local control.” A public hearing was Feb. 13, 2017, and a special committee was appointed to develop the plan. Some of the potential benefits to becoming a District of Innovation include exemptions to: a uniform school start date; class-size ratios; 90 percent attendance rule; minimum instruction time; student discipline provisions; teacher certification; teacher contracts; use of planning and preparation periods; and the teacher appraisal system. The 84th Legislature sparked the concept with House Bill 1842. An academic performance rating of at least “academically acceptable” is eligible, which Florence ISD met.
Technology is a growing priority. “The belief of the district is that all students can learn,” the school system said in its long-range technology plan. “Teachers will utilize researchbased instructional strategies and incorporate technology into teaching and learning to meet the needs of all students. The school administrative team will work with classroom teachers and staff to improve teaching and learning opportunities for all students.” The district for the 2016-2017 year budgeted $481,454 specifically targeting technology improvements, including $171,270 in infrastructure for technology; $148,055 in leadership, administration, and instructional support; $92,025 in educator preparation and development; and $70,104 in
teaching and learning. Surveys, interviews and physical observation are among the techniques used to evaluate effectiveness, and it is “a systematic, ongoing process,” the plan says. Total district enrollment is 1,013: Florence High School has 290 students; Florence Middle School has 226 students; and Florence Elementary School has 497 students. About 70 percent of the student body districtwide has access to district technology. The most is at the high school where 97 percent have access to computer lab and library desktops, mobile stations, student desktops/laptops, Chromebooks, and other devices. The district eventually would like to implement a 1:1 technology initiative at the high school.
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Amy Proctor | Herald
A float carrying youth cheerleaders rolls down Main Street during the Florence Friendship Festival.
Florence downtown ‘looking up’ as Main Street pulls in business, visitors By Angel Sierra Killeen Daily Herald
FLORENCE — A small-town atmosphere and the cohesiveness of a tightly knit community are driving growth to the village’s Main Street. Membership in the Florence Chamber of Commerce increased by 20 percent to 30 percent over the previous year, according to Chamber President Robert Chambers. The organization now counts more than 50 businesses, which is attributable to the area’s uniqueness, Chambers said. “(Florence) is a small place community. People aren’t looking for a huge income,” he said. “(We) have a nice quiet community.” That is attracting customers and businesses alike. Three new shops eyed downtown within six months, including La Fuente Mexican Restaurant at 214 E. Main St., and Cow Palace Emporium that relocated locally to 211 Main St. A photo art gallery with a wine bar
also was in the works in Florence — on Main Street. When the State Highway 195 bypass opened in October 2014 there was some concern from community leaders, but overall the effects have been positive, Chambers said. It increased local traffic, and it made driving overall a lot safer. The bypass allows drivers to avoid going through town and have a quick-
er commute from Killeen to Austin, and widened the highway to a divided, four-lane roadway. Chambers was mayor in the 1970s and has lived in the area all his life. “I like the community involvement, (and) it’s looking up downtown,” he said. Main Street does not yet have national accreditation, but that could soon change later this year, he said. Pursu-
ing that type of recognition could make revitalization efforts easier through grants and local reinvestments. The city had a population of 1,136 (2010 census), but the 2015 American Community Survey 5-Year estimate was 870. Because it is a small town, Florence’s economic success is measured in other appropriate ways. The Friendship Days Festival in June is a popular attraction, Chambers said. A live auction is held, as well as the Miss Friendship Pageant, a stone carving demonstration, vendor booths, a cow chip contest and a parade, among other activities. The Vineyard at Florence, 8711 Farm-to-Market 487, also draws a crowd. From Italian-style rental villas to weddings and a wine shop, the vineyard sees customers for weekly and monthly activities. Go to florencechamberofcommerce. org for more information about businesses and events in Florence, and visit florencetex.com for details about the town.
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<<COPPERAS COVE>>
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Copperas Cove’s economic future looks better than ever BY DAVID A. BRYANT AND JACQUELINE DOWLAND KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — The Five Hills Retail Center has fast food restaurants, financial centers, health and beauty businesses and the H-E-B Plus, with even more to come. Five Hills will continue to expand as more businesses see the benefits of coming to Cove, officials say. “Endeavor Real Estate Group, the owners of Five Hills, has purchased the remaining acreage known as Phase II and continues its aggressive marketing efforts,” said Polo Enriquez, former executive director of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation. The city approved sale of the final plat in 2013, which meant the remaining portion of Robert Griffin III Boulevard was dedicated to the city, and Endeavor was authorized to sell portions of it. Utilities are already installed on the remaining 50 acres. Ross Dress for Less, rue21, Burke’s Outlet, Bealls, Dots Fashion, Rack Room Shoes and McAlister’s are all listed on the website of Endeavor Real Estate Group as future businesses coming into the center with space for more. Construction of The Narrows Business and Technology Park, a 72-acre subdivision paid for by the EDC, is Cove’s first shovel-ready site of its kind and is ready for companies to start building. The Copperas Cove EDC has one business that is almost ready to begin construction. CDL Research & Development Group, LLC will open a CDL school to prepare exiting soldiers and others for a career in ground transportation, a lucrative career field. The company will also create a secure drop yard for tractor-trailers that will be used by local and visiting drivers to the area. The drop yard will help alleviate issues of security for drivers moving expensive cargo through the community who need a safe storage facility. This aspect has the potential to serve as an incubator for the development
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Construction is seen at Five Hills in Copperas Cove on March 13. The shopping center continues to add space to bring more businesses to town.
of the Central Texas area as a future transportation hub for regional and national companies. Other prospects include a medical device manufacturer, a metal fabricating company, a distribution center and an apparel manufacturer. “Our primary goal is to find companies that create good jobs but also create a product that is sold outside of our community, bringing new wealth to the community. We have a lot of companies that are interested; it should be noted that a business expansion is a major undertaking and involves a certain amount of risk,” Enriquez said. Part of that plan is to increase business growth on the west end of the city. Dental and medical offices already dot Business Highway 190, along with Cove Fitness in the strip mall called Cove Summit, but the EDC also has opened lines of communication with retailers to continue marketing the west end, to include possible grocery stores. “It’s a natural progression that retail
follows housing developments. With all the new homes being constructed and planned, Copperas Cove is sure to see more and more retailers expanding here,” he said. “Supporting our existing businesses makes sense for many reasons, the most important being that these businesses bring the economic vitality to our community that we need in order to grow and bring more businesses to town.” While some feared less traffic on the major thoroughfare would mean fewer customers for businesses along it, the opposite is already proving to be true. Businesses downtown will most likely see an increase in sales simply because they will be easier to get in and out of with less traffic congestion, said Betty Price, Cove chamber president. “We’re going to find it easier to get in and out of the businesses that we used to avoid because of traffic,” Price said. “It’s going to make shopping more convenient on 190.” One of the EDC’s “pet projects” was realized in 2014 and is set to make an impact. An Entrepreneur Center
(also known as a business incubator) gives business owners a place to work with shared resources, consulting and staffing for a certain period of time designated. The Entrepreneur Center opened up and announced the first small business to take up residence in January 2015 with two other businesses setting up last year. “Our goal is to assist and educate entrepreneurs, both start-ups and existing. We host at least one evening workshop a month and offer a variety of topics, of which are all focused on small business, as well as daytime business counseling and workshops,” says Diane Drussell, business retention specialist. In addition to managing and running the Entrepreneur Center, Drussell also visits with local businesses at their location and when they come for workshops. “Listening to the business owners makes us more aware of how we can help. We want to offer workshops and information that benefits them,” she said.
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Water and Business 190 main areas of improvement for Cove By Jacqueline dowland and david a. bryant Killeen Daily Herald
COPPERAS COVE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Copperas Cove City Council started infrastructure improvements in February 2016 by authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Matous Construction Ltd., for $723,500 for phase two of the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement plan. Phase two will replace the thickener, screen, polymer feed system and other critical components. The thickener is made up of a drive and other mechanical components and aids in the removal of solids, said Daryl Uptmore, city public works director. The influent screen removes nonorganic products that include plastic, paper products and other unwanted items that result in premature wear of pumps. Uptmore said the improvements will address key deficiencies in plant operations. In October 2015, the council approved about $1.4 million in spending for planned public works projects. The projects will be funded by 2014 certificates of obligation, which set aside more than $1.6 million and will not require additional use of general funds. City Manager Andrea Gardner entered into agreements with Wolff Construction for $1,199,719 for the Southwest Water Improvements Phase 1 and $44,408 to improve unpaved roadway for the Weeping Willow Lane
Herald | FILE
Copperas Cove is making improvements at the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant to address key deficiences in plant operations.
asphalt overlay. Plans are still in the works for a proposed center-divide beautification project stretching from Constitution Drive to Dewald Street along Business Highway 190. In 2013, Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful applied for and received a Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Community Achievement Award grant for
$210,000. The funds, donated by the Texas Department of Transportation and administered by Keep Texas Beautiful, are required to be used in landscaping projects with specific guidelines, said City Manager Andrea Gardner. City officials worked closely with TxDOT director of Transportation Planning
and Development Kevin Dickey, who is based in Waco, to ensure any project met the standards required by the grant. The project proposes a center divide with a 6-inch curb, grassy area in between planted with crepe myrtle trees and approximately 470-foot left turn lanes at either end, Dickey said.
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Courtesy image
Copperas Cove has plans to revitalize downtown off Business 190 to make the older business section of town more appealing to shoppers.
Cove opens U.S. Highway 190 bypass, finishes other roadwork BY jacqueline dowland and david a. bryant KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — The U.S. Highway 190 bypass and Farm-to-Market 2657 road project officially opened Jan. 29 of last year, completing an initiative three decades in the making. Former Mayor John Hull and City Manager Andrea Gardner, joined by local and state leadership and city residents, cut the ribbon on the 5.2mile project. The $46.5 million project broke ground in July 2011. The bypass is now the new U.S. Highway 190 and takes traffic around Copperas Cove, from east of the Five Hills Shopping Center to west of Farm-to-Market 2657. The existing roadway was renamed Business 190. Businesses are already using the Business 190 address and receiving mail, said Johnny Castro, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman. The addresses in the postal service’s data base were automatically updated. The city was able to get the bypass project completed by using a concept
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Cars travel on the U.S. Highway 190 bypass bridge in Copperas Cove.
that has since been adopted throughout the state: paying the money up front and allowing the state, via TxDOT, to pay the city back over time, said Bobby Littlefield, TxDOT Waco District engineer. “At the time this was delivered, those rules hadn’t been written. So this was sort of a way to initiate that process, which has benefited the state
in many other projects,” Littlefield said. Copperas Cove spokesman Kevin Keller said the new highway should be an economic boost to the community. Residents had complained about not being able to access Business 190 when leaving a local business or restaurant except in areas where a
traffic light is posted. “We look forward to easing the traffic congestion on (Business) 190, allowing for easier access to local businesses, especially during peak times,” he said. The city is also seeing progress with the Business Highway 190 Master Plan Work Group, Keller said. The group consists of city staff, community members, business owners, residents and council liaisons. The purpose of the city council-appointed, ad hoc advisory body is to develop a plan that addresses zoning, building code compliance for adaptive reuse and physical improvements, with meetings held monthly or as needed. A beautification project will be funded by a $210,000 grant awarded to Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful. Silvia Rhoads, city recycling coordinator, said the beautification project is a joint effort. “KCCB, the city and TxDOT will work closely together to ensure the beautification meets all requirements by TxDOT. An exact project has yet to be determined,” she said.
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Firefighters man tables inside the Main Street fire house in Copperas Cove on Sept. 3 during a fundraiser for the department.
Cove police swears in new chief; Cove fire reorganizes shifts A Corvette owned by Joe Levine is seen at the Copperas Cove National Night Out Kickoff Party on Oct. 1. The car has been specially painted to show respect for local police and other emergency services personnel.
By Josh Sullivan Killeen Daily Herald
COPPERAS COVE — Copperas Cove has a new police chief in town. Eddie Wilson was named the interim police chief on April 15. That was just two weeks after Tim Molnes, the chief for almost 17 years, died after a long fight with cancer. Wilson served in the interim capacity for nine months, before he was finally named the full-time chief. He was born in South Korea, but moved to Copperas Cove when his father was stationed at Fort Hood in 1973. He’s a Copperas Cove High School graduate, and got his degree in criminal justice from Central Texas College. “I feel that Chief Wilson will continue to do an excellent job as he has been doing since being named the interim,” David Morris, a city councilman, said in December. “I was able to sit in and participate with the top candidates during the final stages of the hiring process and feel that there was some great competition in the top three and that the cream rose to the top in that competitive hire process.” Also in the last year, the CCPD also began offering its parking lot and
Photos by Amy Proctor | Herald
lobbies as a safe zone for residents to conduct internet transactions from places like Craigslist. The hope is that when two people conduct a transaction in a public place, meeting up at the police department will help discourage scams and thefts. The fire department added another firefighter per 24-hour shift in October. Fire chief Michael Neujahr said that because of increased call vol-
ume and daily workload, the staffing increased from a minimum of 12 to 13 personnel per shift to maintain safety. There are three, 24-hour shift lineups that rotate, and each includes at least 13 firefighters, two lieutenants and a captain. Before, there used to be three open spots for authorized vacation days. Now there will be just two authorized vacations spots from three per shift to
two per shift. That’s where the extra firefighter comes from. The changes don’t add to the total number of firefighters in the city, however. There were also no additional costs that came with the move, so long as the members of the department stay healthy. If a firefighter requires an extended leave of absence, overtime will be used to compensate for that time.
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Cove reports more residential, commercial development By Jacqueline dowland KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — The city experienced a slight upsurge in residential development in 2016, issuing 135 permits for the construction of new homes, seven permits for multifamily homes as compared to 124 permits for the construction of new homes and six multi-family homes in 2015. The value of the properties equaled nearly $21 million. Ten new commercial properties were also added with an estimated value of $19 million. A total of 4,298 permits were approved throughout the year, to include remodels, permits and yard sales. The city collected nearly $350,000 in permit fees. Construction is complete on the 72-unit Constitution Court Phase II Apartments, a planned rental property in Cove that features 69 units offering reduced rents, according to a press release issued by the TDHCA. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded $923,821 in housing tax credits to private developers constructing the apartments. The city’s population was 29,592 in 2000 and the 2010 census was 32,032, said Mike Morton, Cove’s chief building official. While the growth was
Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Construction is seen between First and Third Streets on Avenue D in Copperas Cove.
small for that decade, recent population growth caused the council to request a new census in 2015. The City
Council approved a census of 33,919 for 2017. “The potential for growth is always
positive with the construction of new residences and commercial properties,” Morgan said.
Copperas Cove ordinances include animal and fowl zoning changes By Jacqueline Dowland Killeen Daily Herald
COPPERAS COVE — The city has seen several ordinance changes in the past year, and some of the biggest and most extensive changes deal with animals and pets. The City Council amended Chapter 3, Animals and Fowl Regulations of the Cove Code of Ordinances, to better define what a “dangerous animal” and an “animal at large” really is. A dangerous animal is now defined as
one that makes an unprovoked attack away from the owner’s home. If the animal bites through a fence, under the new ordinance that animal would be considered dangerous. Also, in order to help protect the public and keep track of animals that have been labeled as dangerous, the owner must pay for an impounded animal to have a microchip implanted before it can be picked up. When it comes to controlling the spread of diseases obtained from animals, residents are required to report
a bite or scratch from an unknown animal immediately to an officer to help prevent the spread of rabies. The officer will be responsible for obtaining the animal that caused the injury. One of the biggest changes that residents of Copperas Cove have been asking for in recent years involves the sale of alcohol. On Nov. 8 the city council approved all alcoholic beverages for sale, whereas before certain drinks and mixed beverages were restricted within the city limits. The city also established an official
Convention and Visitors Bureau. This bureau was established in order to help improve the growth of tourism within the city limits.
ZONING CHANGES
Most of the recent changes in the zoning ordinance concerned designations, such as removing the labels for private clubs and liquor sales on the zoning map, or fixing language to clarify misconceptions and close loopholes to bring the zoning labels into compliance with state regulations.
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Cove Economic Development Corporation on track to bring in more businesses BY jacqueline dowland KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — The Economic Development Corporation has several projects underway to attract and retain local businesses. The Narrows Technology and Business Park, a 72-acre development designed to bring in new primary employers to the community, closed on the property that will soon be the home of CDL Research & Development Group, LLC (CDL), and a commercial driver’s license school. This school will be offering training and careers to soldiers exiting from the military and others who wish to seek a career in the ground transportation field. CDL also has plans for a secure drop yard to be used for local and visiting drivers to the area. With this drop yard in place, it will help alleviate issues of security for drivers moving expensive cargo through the community and needing a safe storage facility. CDL is expected to break ground in April. In addition to CDL, there are a few more projects being worked, with one being a distribution and training center. With Highway 190 being designated as Interstate 14, Copperas Cove’s location becomes more appealing to
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Construction continues at the Narrows Business Park in Copperas Cove.
manufacturers and distributors. 5 Hills Shopping Center is in the midst of its “Phase II” of building. Gold’s Gym was the first business to open in this phase, to include stores like Burkes Outlet, Ross, Rack Room Shoes and more, to include some restaurants. Cove EDC also markets the Copperas Cove Professional and Business Park owned by the Copperas Cove Industrial Foundation, a private
nonprofit organization working to improve the city’s economy. The nearly 23-acre park is on Constitution Drive, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The Industrial Foundation developed the land into 16 lots ranging from 1 to 2 acres each, with two access points on Constitution Drive. The park was constructed adjacent to The Narrows and Five Hills. The Copperas Cove EDC also works with small businesses. The business
retention specialist meets with potential business owners to educate them on what is needed to start a business and to help secure a location. Existing businesses are also offered the same services, which includes workshops and networking events. Start-up business counseling and free workshops are offered to assist and educate small local businesses to help prepare them for business ownership.
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Cove works to attract visitors with downtown project, tourism bureau BY Artie Phillips KILLEEN DAILY HERALD
COPPERAS COVE — Officials are hard at work on creating new tourism traffic in the city, and one way they are planning to accomplish that is with the Downtown Revitalization Project, which started Jan. 16. The downtown project includes replacing older sidewalks, as well as adding wheelchair-accessible ramps, along the existing walking path on Avenue D from the corner of South Third Street to South Second Street. The authorized cost of the project is $1.07 million. The cost for construction only is about $862,275. Beyond the Downtown Revitalization Project, Cove also created a Convention and Visitors Bureau in December, and officials are hoping it creates measurable growth in the city. “Our hope, is that the (tourism) impact will prove to be beneficial in quality of life and local economy,” tourism coordinator Sarah Rodriguez said. “How big an impact tourism has will be more easy to quantify with numbers as we progress through a few seasons of events.” With the new Convention and Visitors Bureau in place, many of the
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
From left, Rabbit Fest royalty Karagan Mayberry, Kamryn Mayberry, Emma Rose Gill and Kayla West join the exercise group ReFit Revolution during a demonstration May 22, the last day of Rabbit Fest in Copperas Cove’s City Park. BELOW: People enjoy a carnival ride.
biggest tourism events in Cove are getting expansions and boosts from the city. Some of the big events that are growing this year are the FallO-Ween Festival, the Copperas Cove
Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Polar Bear Plunge. The Polar Bear Plunge took place on Jan. 28 this year, and included a 5K run, which was a new addition to the event.
“New (tourism events) for this year will be our Farmers Market, running every Thursday from May 4 to Oct. 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in City Park, and our Food Truck Festival on Saturday, July 29 in Ogletree Gap Preserve from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.” Rodriguez said. Everything from tourists staying in hotels and eating at local restaurants to buying the small articles they may have forgotten to pack brings in revenue to the city. The hotel taxes are used to promote the city’s events and the additional sales taxes collected as a result of visitor spending helps offset what the city has to pay for everyday services. Rodriguez hopes the new additions to Cove tourism will continue to bring more people to the city and that the tourism will expand to the county. “If we can show people from outside Copperas Cove all we have to offer not only within City limits, but in Coryell County,” she said. “We can hopefully provide an atmosphere for them to stay here and sightsee, shop and dine all throughout the county.”
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Lampasas draws new residents, businesses, construction By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
LAMPASAS — The Lampasas Economic Development Corporation broke ground on the new 165-acre Lampasas Business Park on Oct. 21, 2015, and continues to draw new business to the area. Engineering on the business park was completed in early 2015 and construction began, with the first two acres of land being sold to West Texas Gas Fuels. Several tech companies relocated to Lampasas in 2016. One of the job providers is tech company Know Control, which specializes in creating software that protects user’s credit card information when used at gas station pumps. They moved their business to Lampasas from Ohio because of the low cost of living and friendly community. Another tech company, Builder Homesite, Inc. (BHI) evaluated 22 other Texas cities before deciding the Lampasas environment and community was what it needed to be around. BHI provides first-class technology and marketing solutions across a range of industries. Both tech companies will diversify the jobs available to the residents of Lampasas and give a favorable boost to the local economy. In addition to tech companies, multiple businesses came to Lampasas in 2016, including the grand opening of the 51-room Best Western Plus hotel, Wildflowers on the Wall — a New Age antique shop offering old-fashioned sodas and handmade ice cream — Cork & Press bookstore, Momma Jean’s BBQ, and Roma’s Italian Restaurant. Construction is also continuing on Twisted Oak Grille, which is expected to open in early Spring 2017. It isn’t just new businesses that are bringing visitors to Lampasas, however. Tourism is a big draw for the city, and one of the biggest annual events is the Lampasas Spring Ho, which consistently draws huge crowds from all across Central Texas.
Herald | FILE
Jose Staffard, 15, of Marty’s Grill of Belton, hands Cory and Damie Hall, of Lampasas, a funnel cake July 10 during Spring Ho in Lampasas.
Texas and more. Aside from the events taking place near the river walk throughout the week, a small fair also sets up shop near one of the playgrounds, offering rides and amusements to anyone who attends the festival. And, while the fair is open the length of the festival, the biggest days of Spring Ho are Friday and Saturday, during which a craft show sets up along the Lampasas River. Vendors come from all over the state to display their wares at Spring Ho, and visitors spend the weekend browsing the various booths.
Residential and Commercial Permits Val Valdez | Herald
Clarence Enochs, of Copperas Cove, samples some wine from Pillar Bluff Vineyards in Lampasas as Gill Bledsoe, winemaker, looks on during the “Wine Down Wednesday” event.
The name Spring Ho originated from a naming contest in 1972, the festival’s first year. As the festival is held along the river walk and part of the Lampasas springs, the term actually comes from the idea that early settlers would shout “Spring Ho!” when approaching the area, indicating that clean water
was near. The week-long festival kicks off every July with music from local bands and church groups, followed by the annual Little Miss and Miss Spring Ho beauty pageants, one of the state’s largest BBQ cook-off contests, a fishing derby, kayak races a horsebhoe pitching contest, the Toughest 10K in
The city of Lampasas saw steady growth across the board in 2016, with new businesses coming to town and tax revenue — both commercial and residential — continuing to climb. Construction projects increased in 2016 for Lampasas, with 51 building permits issued for the year as opposed to 31 issued in 2015. Vacant land sales saw an increase in 2016 with 53 tracks sold versus only 31 in 2015. The current population of the city is 7,687, a 9.5 percent growth since 2015.
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Lampasas County residential construction increased in 2016 By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
LAMPASAS — Lampasas County residential construction did much better in 2016 than in 2015, up roughly $2.5 million more than 2015’s $13,200,710, indicating continued growth for the county as a whole, according to Lampasas County Appraiser Melissa Gonzales. “Properties are moving very quickly right now, this is a major trend across the board,” Gonzales said. “If you put your home on the market, be prepared to get out very quickly.” No major subdivisions were platted with the county last year, but the population of Lampasas County continues to grow past 20,000. In January the Lampasas County Commissioners’ Court swore in two commissioners, Bobby Carroll and Lewis Bridges, who are filling the seats of Precinct 1 and Precinct 3, respectively. “They have both come in with some really good ideas, and they are good to go,” said Lampasas County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse. “They are both new to the court, but both have been in Lampasas for a long time and they are picking up the ropes quick.”
Herald | FILE
New homes picked up in Lampasas in 2016 as the area continues to grow.
The more populated portion of the county, Precinct 1, is seeing a lot of residential development spillover from Copperas Cove’s increased growth and construction. The county is seeking larger companies to bring their businesses to Lampasas. Another big project that Lampasas County is hoping to begin is construc-
tion of a new jail/law enforcement facility, which is currently up for bond election May 6. The current jail is a 37-bed facility that is often at capacity, according to Sheriff Jess Ramos. “On average, we are having to house 23 to 25 inmates in other county jails because we are at capacity,” he said. The proposed jail facility is estimat-
ed to cost $18 million, and would be located south of the city of Lampasas on U.S. Highway 183. “We have done a lot of groundwork in getting a new law enforcement center,” Boultinghouse said. “We tried to get one several years ago but the voters said no, so hopefully we can get one now.”
Call 254-501-7500 (Killeen) or 254-778-4444 (Temple)
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Kempner prepares to celebrate 20th anniversary The Kempner Volunteer Fire Department keeps everyone cool during the annual Spring Ho Parade in Lampasas on July 9.
By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
KEMPNER — The city of Kempner, located between Copperas Cove and Lampasas, will celebrate its 20th anniversary since its establishment in August. Despite being a relatively small community, Kempner continues to be a draw for families looking for a more rural lifestyle. Businesses also continue to eye the area for new development, marking it as a town for potential growth. More than 15 businesses currently call the small city home, and the city hopes to draw more to the area. A new clothing store is coming this year to the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and Farm-to-Market 2313, while the Kempner Brick Oven German restaurant continues to draw sizeable crowds with their authentic German cuisine and the recent addition of handmade pizza to the menu. There is also the Taqueria Express, a new Mexican restaurant with a drive thru that opened next to the Shell gas station, as well as a new business for
Gabe Wolf | Herald
RV parking on Farm-to-Market 2808. Kempner’s first woman mayor, Carolyn Crane, was elected in May 2015. The council is composed of five members aside from Mayor Crane: Steve Martin, Robert McKinnon, Bob Crane, Clifton Morse, and Melba Vandeveer hold Places 1-5, respectively. The repairs to the railroad cross-
ing at Farm-to-Market 2313 have been completed, as have numerous street repairs and the resurfacing of Bill Brown Street and Falcon Lane. Kempner has very low taxes, which is a draw for those interested in purchasing property there, but no new building permits were issued in 2016. Most of those moving into the area
move into existing homes. Kempner continues to sell stones to honor veterans for the park’s “Wall of Honor.” The stones honor any veteran — they don’t have to be from here; they can even be from another state as long as they are a veteran. The wall has quite a few stones, with children buying them to honor their parents.
Lampasas ISD focuses on integrating learning, technology By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
LAMPASAS — One of the biggest changes the Lampasas Independent School District has gone through in the past year is in superintendents. Randall Hoyer retired at the end of the school year, and his replacement, Chane Rascoe, set up shop in his office over the summer. “Lampasas ISD has been a blessing for me and my family,” Rascoe said. “We love the town, community, and look forward to many more years serving such a great district. “Our only challenge has been finding a hunting lease. We hope to locate a place to hunt in the near future.”
Lampasas is currently in the middle of phase two of the “iBadger 1:1 Initiative,” a project to supply all students with iPads within four years. This year, all fifth- through eighthgrade students were issued iPads at the beginning of the school year for instructional use in the classroom. All sixth- through eighth-grade students can take their iPads home, while fifth-grade iPads remain in the classroom. The project first started taking shape for LISD more than four years ago, with Phase I of the initiative — giving an iPad to each fifth-grader and their teachers — beginning in the 2014-2015 school year. LISD has also been continuing its “Read on Lampa-
sas” initiative, a program that has the public library and the school district partnering up to get more children reading at an earlier age. “We are seeing increased numbers of reading volunteers in our schools,” Rascoe said. “Our kids are benefiting. We even have high school kids volunteering their time each week to help younger students read after school. We are proud of our entire community for their help.” These are not the only areas LISD is making strides in, however. For the past three years, technology classes have been offered at the middle school, and the classes became available for high school students during this school year. There have also been
numerous college-readiness classes added to the roster in the past year. “We have added two new CTE courses at the middle school,” Rascoe said. “There is a college and career readiness course that will help students choose a career pathway for high school and beyond, and two gateway to technology courses to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering and math. These two semesterlong courses are design and modeling, and automation and robotics.” All in all, LISD and superintendent Rascoe are working hard to continue to improve the education that Lampasas children receive. “It’s a great day to be a (Lampasas) Badger,” Rascoe said.
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A UH-60 Black Hawk takes off during a training exercise in October at North Fort Hood near Gatesville.
Gatesville promoting its museum, annual events, amenities By Artie Phillips Killeen Daily Herald
GATESVILLE — What do Pancho Villa and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis have in common? Both have a set of spurs at the Coryell County Museum in Gatesville. Donated in 1991, the Lloyd and Madge Mitchell Collection of about 10,000 pairs of spurs, is thought to be the largest collection in the world. However, spurs are not the only “unique” draw to the city of Gatesville. In September 2016, the city established its first Convention and Visitors Bureau, and hired Cheri Shepherd as its first director. In the last six months, Shepherd has crafted a marketing strategy that focuses on Gatesville’s history, boutique shopping, renovated Civic Center, and improvements to the annual “Christmas In the Park” — a drive through Faunt Le Roy Park with numerous lighted displays and activities with free admission. There was steady construction progress in 2016 including 16 new single family residences, four duplexes, and a new Burger King franchise, which is valued at $1.24 million.
Photos by Eric J. Shelton | Herald
Gatesville’s Jeff Speer gains yard on a play during their playoff game against Taylor at Belton’s Tiger Stadium.
Additionally, the Coryell Memorial Healthcare System initiated a $28 million facilities expansion/upgrade, and the Boys and Girls Club added a gymnasium, valued at $500,000. The new 84-bed Holiday Inn Express opened in the fall of 2016 and a Little
Caesar’s Pizza franchise opened in a previously vacant retail space on State Highway 36. In the summer of 2016, Basin Industries, which fabricates shipping racks for automobile assemblies, opened its first operating site in Texas in Gatesville.
North Fort Hood continued to see increased mobilization of Army Reserve and Army National Guard units during 2016. Approximately 5,000 soldiers participated in a MultiIntegrated Brigade Training Rotation 16-01 during the month of June, and the headquarters of the 36th Infantry Division underwent pre-deployment certification at North Fort Hood along with two brigades in the Exportable Combat Training Capability rotation 16-05 in August. In 2017, the 29th Infantry Division Headquarters, the 35th Infantry Division Headquarters, and the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade will mobilize at North Fort Hood. In February 2017, the Gatesville Independent School District initiated its strategic planning process involving administrators, teachers, students and community members to chart the course for the future. A three- to five-year plan will significantly increase the Career and Technology Education offerings to the students of Gatesville ISD in addition to providing a work-ready pool to local businesses in the area. The future is certainly bright in Gatesville, the Spur Capital of Texas.
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<<RELIGION>>
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ADVENTIST • Iglesia Adventista 3705 Zephyr Rd., K 394-9980 • New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church 4602 Clear Creek,K 554-7113 • Killeen Seventh-day Adventist Church 4700 E. Rancier, K 699-6263 ANGLIGAN • Christ the King Anglican Church (ACNA) 273 Country Rd. 4877, CC 394-0798 APOSTOLIC • Church of Jesus Christ House of Prayer 200 N. Gray St., K 554-7551 • Holy Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc, 519 S. Pearl St., Belton 254-613-4591 • Jesus Name Apostolic Ministry 314 Casa Drive, CC 547-8358 • New Life Church 702 N. 8th St, K 618-5223 • New Apostolic Church 1207 Metropolitan Dr., K www.newapostolicchurch.org • New Harvest Apostolic Ministries 612 Gray St., K 383-5228 • Temple Of Faith Apostolic Ministries 808 N 8th St., K 247-1904 ASSEMBLY OF GOD • Betel Asamblea De Dios 413 N. 8th, K 634-3772 • Bethel Temple Assembly of God 3102 S. Hwy, 195, K 526-2003 • First Assembly of God 502 N. 38th St., K 699-1954 • First Assembly of God 2205 FM 3046, CC 547-3724 • First Assembly of God 1601 S. Harley, HH 699-4114 • First Assembly of God 2514 E. Hwy 190, L 512-556-5185 • First Assembly of God 209 W. Hallmark, K 200-9356 • First Samoan Assembly of God 502 N. 38th St. Killeen, TX 371-0347 • Five Hills Assembly of God 302 East Ave. D, CC 547-9155 • Full Gospel Killeen Church 1410 S. Trimmier, K 526-9048 • Korean Full Gospel Killeen Church 1410 S. Trimmier, K 526-7777 • Korean Full Gospel New Light Church 112 E. Hallmark Ave, K 628-1116 • New Beginnings Assembly Corner of Hwy 190 and Indian Trail
Juana M. Nesbitt | Herald
Members of Destiny World Outreach Center get their official Feed the 5,000 T-shirts ready for a food giveaway event at the church.
BAPTIST • Anchor Of Hope Baptist Church 5700 FM 439, B 939-6044 • Bethel Baptist Church 508 East Jasper Drive, K • Bible Way Baptist Church 2306 S. FM 116, CC 547-8584 • Calvary Independent Baptist Church 13341 State Hwy 195, K 634-9803 • Central Korean Baptist Church 1200 Old FM 440, K 526-8840 • Clear Creek Baptist Church CC 547-2006 2.5 miles south on FM 2657 • Cedar Valley Baptist FM 2843, Salado • Community Baptist Church Hwy 195 & Briggs Rd., K • Cornerstone Baptist Church 484 FM 3219, K 690-4114 • Cross Road Missionary Baptist Church 1212 East Veterans Memorial Blvd HH 254-535-3322 • East Lake Baptist Church 3213 Lake Rd., K 690-4400 • East Side Baptist Church 500 N. W.S. Young, K 634-0358 • Eastside Baptist Church 1202 MLK Jr. Dr., CC 547-3401 • Fairview Baptist Church 1202 Veteran’s Ave., CC 547-3421
• Faith Baptist Church Ann Blvd. & Ruby, HH 699-9184 • First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove 300 W. Ave. B, CC 547-3717 • First Baptist Church of Killeen 3310 S WS Young Dr., K 634-6262 • First Baptist Church U.S. Hwy. 190, Kempner 512-932-3195 • First Baptist Church of Trimmier E. Trimmier and Chapparal Rd., K 634-9717 • First Community Baptist Church 1320 Georgetown Rd. CC 547-3717 • Freedom Baptist Church 102 Northern Dove Ln., CC 518-0074 • Good News Baptist Church 204 West Ave. B, K 634-0497 • God’s Way Community Baptist Church 700 Whitlow Dr, K 690-0005 • Grace Baptist Church 947-5917 • Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist 4213-A E. Veterans Memorial, 535-4908 • Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 4201 S Zephyr Rd., K 680-4378 • Holy Light United Baptist Church 1602 S. Main, CC • Holy One Baptist Mission 211 E. Ave. C, K 519-3990 • The Homecoming 10060 E. Trimmier Rd., K 833-6359
• Killeen Baptist Temple 508 Jasper, K 526-4410 • Killeen Korean United Baptist Church 4103 Zephyr Rd., K 690-2233 • Landmark Missionary Baptist Church 7512 E Trimmier Rd, K, 501-9193 • Korean Memorial Baptist Church 113 S. 8th St., K 526-8866 • Korean Mission First Baptist N. 5th & Ave. B, CC 547-3717 • Lawler Baptist Church FM 2843 &CR 230, 254-793-2414 • Liberty Community Church 3002 Gus Drive, K 526-0114 • Light of Christ Missionary Baptist Church 307 East Avenue D, K, 254-634-9620 • Lifeway Fellowshi 4001 E. Elms Road at Stan Schlueter Loop • Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist 2901 Illinois, K 690-4521 801 R.A Abercrombie Dr.,K 690-4526 • Memorial Baptist Church 4001 Trimmier, K, 634-6882 • Missiona Bautista 54th & Turner K 699-5852 • Mountain View Baptist Church Corner of FM 2410 & Cedar Knob • Native American Baptist Fellowship Church 6161 S 5th St, Temple 721-5758
• Nolan Valley Baptist Church 13206 W. FM 93, Belton 939-8367 • NorthSide Baptist Church 1800 W Hwy 190, Nolanville, 690-6722 • Oak Hill Baptist Church FM 2657 and Boys Ranch Rd., CC 547-4623 • Pershing Park Baptist Church 1200 Old FM 440, K 634-1013 • Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana 4102 Turner Ave. & 54th St., K 634-0486 • Red Sea Baptist Church 1004 North 18th St., K, 628-8999 • Robertson Ave Baptist Church 305 E. Roberston Ave. CC 547-3155 • Second Street Baptist Church 1602 N. 2nd St. K 690-2886 • Simmonsville Missionary Baptist Church 509 S. 42nd St., K 699-1956 • Skyline Baptist Church 906 Trimmier, K 699-4479 • Southern Hills Baptist Church South FM 116, CC 547-0009 • Sunset Baptist Church 814 W. Ave. C, K 634-5055 • Tabernacle Baptist Church 6601 S. Ft. Hood St. K, 554-2920 • Thy Word is Truth Christian Ministries Missionary Baptist 1803 Sherman Dr. K, 254-526-8310 • Trinity Baptist Church 403 FM 2410, HH 699-4436 • Triple 7 Baptist Fellowship, 1501 Riverside Dr., K 254-290-1552 • Westside Baptist Church K 628-1004 • Westview Missionary Baptist Church - ABA 1102 W. Main St., G 404-2316 • Unity Missionary Baptist Church 903 N. 1st, CC • Youngsport Baptist Church Rt. 2, Box 94, RM 2484, K 616-2484 BIBLE CHURCH • Grace Bible Church
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Stephenie Wolf | Herald
Maria Luisa works a food booth Oct. 2 during the St. Joseph Catholic Church Fest of All in Killeen.
1203 Winkler Ave., K 690-1728 • Instituto Biblico Hosanna 205 E. Hallmark Ave., Suite B, K 953-1113 • Killeen Bible Church 4717 Westcliff Road, K 690-4748 • Maranatha Bible Institute Harker Heights, 699-8400 BUDDHIST • Wat Pah Samarkki 20905 State Highway 195 K, 793-3713 • SGI-USA Killeen Activity Center 116 E. Ave. D, Killeen 554-6960 CAO DAI • Cao Dai Temple of Harker Heights 127 E. Ruby Rd., HH 699-5074 CATHOLIC • Red Team Chapel/58th St. Chapel Corner of 58th & Battalion, 288-6548 • Holy Family Catholic Church 1001 Georgetown Rd., CC 547-3735 • St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 2903 E. Rancier, K, 634-7878 • St. Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church
1000 E. FM 2410, HH 698-4110 CHRISTIAN CHURCH • Cantico Nuevo 1801 Rancier, Killeen 258-2958 • Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1301 Trimmer, K 5262179 • Copperas Cove Christian Church (disciple of Christ) 1908 Morrow D.C.C. 547-2486 • Iglesia Christiana Sinai 701E. Stan Schlueter Lp. K. 628-1539 • Deliverance and Praise Temple Church of God in Christ 702 Harley Dr., 699-4346 • Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1301 S. Trimmier, K 526-2179 • Copperas Cove Christian Church Disciples of Christ 1908 Morrow Dr., CC 547-2486 • Crestview Independent Christian Church 2608 S. FM 116, CC 547-4013 • Deliverance Ministries, Household of Faith, Church of the Living God, Inc. 329 Indian Trail, HH 519-4659 • The Fellowship of Praise & Worship
301-A S. Main St., CC 458-8429 • House of Refuge Ministries 908 Highland Ave., K 213-0465 • Iglesia Cristiana Sinai 701 E. Stan Schlueter Lp, K 628-1539 • Iglesia Cristiana Misionera A.I.C. 1801 Nathan Dr, K 633-6230 • Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Vida 3709 Zephyr Rd., K 680-4422 • Iglesia Cristiana Uncion y Poder 313 S. 1st. St., CC 518-4452 • Min. Divina Misericordia 205 E. Hallmark Ave., Suite B, K 953-1113 • Restoration Christian Church Upstairs National Bank, CC 520-5419 • Samoan Christians Fellowship Assembly 406 N. 4th St. K 542-3792, 628-5449 • Samoan Congregational Christian 1st Cav. Div. Memorial Chapel, FH • Solid Rock Family Christian Center 340A Copperas Cove Plaza, CC 518-1411 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE • Christian Science Cowan Amenity Ctr., 1433 Cool Spring Way Sun City - Georgetown, 512-943-4784 CHURCH OF CHRIST • Central Union Church of Christ 3202 Westcliff Ste. 100, K • Church of Christ 400 N. W.S. Young Dr., K 634-7373 • Church of Christ 306 W. Avenue E., CC • Church of Christ Cemetery Rd, Kempner • Church of Christ Iglesia Ni Cristol 508 E. Jasper Dr., K • College View Church of Christ 123 Yates Rd. , K (at Reese Creek Rd.) 254- 290-3541 • Nolanville Church of Christ Main Street, Nolanville 462-5614 CONTINUED PAGE 104
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Mike Bartoszek | Herald
Members of the G3 Church in Killeen celebrated an official grand opening Jan. 29. from Page 103
• Leon Church of Christ 4404 Twin City Blvd., Belton 939-0682 • Southside Church of Christ 1505 Trimmier, K 526-3041 • Westside Church of Christ 152 Westside Church Rd. K, 554-6711 • Youngsport Church of Christ Youngsport, 634-3754 CHURCH OF GOD • Christo-Vision Ministries 201 Ave. C., K 690-8200 • Abundant Life Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 1210 Florence Rd, K 526-4598 • Church of God The True Vine 211 Ave. D. Killeen • End Time Church of God; Rt. 7, Box 7252, Twin Lakes Estates Belton 939-0326 • Deliverance Church of God (Cleveland, TN) 1618 Vet. Blvd., CC 518-3181 • Community Life Chapel Developing Community Leaders 254-415-2414 • West End Church of God in Christ 3601 S. WS Young Drive, K 254-213-5511 CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST • Agape Church of God in Christ 3716 E. Veterans Mem. Blvd, Suite C, K 6906147 • Bibleway Church of God in Christ 300 Jasper Rd, K 213-9134 • Bountiful New Life Church of God in Christ meets at Copperas Cove Library 501 S Main St, CC 702-3816 • Deliverance and Praise Temple C.O.G.I.C
702 Harley Drive, HH 699-4346 • Divine Faith Ministry Holiness Church 2201 W Stan Schlueter Lp, K 680-7951 • First Church of God in Christ 5201 Westcliff Rd., K 953-3100 • Garden of Gethsemane 111 Cox Dr., HH 690-2703 • God’s Holy Tabernacle Church of God in Christ 500 S. 44th St., K • New Bethal Christian Worship Center 4013-A Stan Schlueter Lp, K 368-6400 • Power House 110 FM 2410 Suite A, HH 699-2127 • Trinity Cathedral Church of God in Christ 1312 George Town Road, CC - 547-5493 COWBOY • 5 Hills Cowboy Church 139 CR 4630 Kempner, TX 290-6005 • Maxdale Cowboy Church FM 2670 & Wolfridge Rd., Maxdale, TX, 254-368-2563 EASTERN ORTHODOX • Eastern Orthodox Call Father Paul Anderson at 254-768-7649 for times, locations. EPISCOPALIAN • Darnall Army Hospital FH 288-8850 St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church 2800 Trimmier, K 634-7474 • St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 1602 South FM 116, CC 547-0331 • St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 4th & Chestnut, Lampasas 556-5433 FULL GOSPEL • Bountiful Blessing Full Gospel Ministries 608 S. Ann St., HH 220-8899 • Grace Bible Fellowship
718 N. 2nd St., K 628-2111 • First Samoan Full Gospel Pentecostal Church Inc. 2602 S. FM 116, CC 245-2700 or 638-2900 • Full-Gospel Baptist Church Call for information 634-0940 • New Testament Christian Church 3500 Florence Rd., K 526-2149 • The Potter’s House Corner of 10th & Ave C, CC 547-7918 HEBRAIC ROOTS • B’nai Yisrael 2006 S. 57th St., T 598-2135 HOLINESS • Divine Faith Ministry Holiness Church 2201 W Stan Schlueter Lp, K 680-7951 HOME & CELL CHURCHES • Association of Home Churches For location nearest to you, call 690-5856 INDEPENDENT • 1st CD Memorial Chapel, FH, 287-6114 • 4 ID Memorial Chapel, FH, 287-5334 • 13th COSCOM Chapel, FH, 287-3090 • 33rd Street Chapel, FH 287-7262 • 68th Street Chapel, FH 287-6805 • 76th Street Chapel, FH 287-5835 • Blackhorse Chapel, FH 287-1635 • Casa De Oracion-Asambe Dios 313 S. 8th St., K 634-3772 • Cornerstone Ministry Nolanville 698-2055 • Full Gospel Killeen Church English Congregation (Multi-Purpose Education & Activity Center) 1410 Trimmier Road, 499-7689
• Killeen Bible Church 4717 Westcliff, K 690-4748 • Protestant Women of the Chapel • Comanche Chapel, FH Diane Kohl 5427042 • Old Post Chapel, FH, 288-6545 • Post Chapel, FH, 287-5283-2642 • Post (Comanche) Chapel, FH, 288-6544 • Soldier’s Hospitality House 3981 Chaparral Rd, K 634-0822 • West Fort Hood Chapel (Praise Service) FH 288-9219 1401 Elms Rd., K 634-6990 INTERDENOMINATIONAL • Bell County Faith Fellowship & Christian Life Center 4705 E. Rancier Ave., K 681-1085 • North Pointe Church 1115 N. Main St. CC 547-7470 St. John’s Faith Outreach Baptist Church 3507 Cranford Ave., K 699-4874 ISLAMIC FAITH • The Islamic Community of Greater Killeen 5800 S. Fort Hood Road, K 634-8799, 634-1990 JEWISH • Jewish Community Fort Hood The Spirit of Fort Hood Warrior and Family Chapel Campus, Tank Destroyer & 31st St, FH 254-287-3411 • Congregation Simcha Sinai 102 Cattail Circle, HH 231-4930 LATTER-DAY SAINTS • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2nd & Mary Jane, K 526-3013
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• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1502 Virginia, CC 547-1248 • Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hillcrest Rd., Temple 547-7850 LUTHERAN • Abiding Savior WELS 458 Turkey Trot Killeen, 953-4442 • Faith Lutheran Church LCMS Old Austin Rd. & Sunflower, L 512-556-3514 • Fort Hood Lutheran Fellowship Old Post Chapel, 761st Tank Destroyer Blvd 512-556-3514 • Grace Lutheran Church LCMS Trimmier & Bacon Ranch Rd., K 634-5858 • Immanuel Lutheran Church ELCA 3801 Cunningham Road, K 634-2772 • Immanuel Lutheran Church LCMS 922 Lutheran Church Rd, CC 547-3498 • Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 1215 South Wall, Belton 939-0824 • Trinity Lutheran Church Hwy 190 & Morris, CC 547-2225 METHODIST • 4 ID Memorial Chapel, FH, 287-5334 • Adams Chapel AME Church 125 Ario, HH 699-3435 • Anderson Chapel AME Church 1002 Jefferies, K 690-5030 • Conder Valley Community Church 3601 Edgefield St., K 616-1664, Claudia 547-3349 • First United Methodist Church Killeen 3501 E Elms Rd, Killeen 634-6363 www.fumckilleen.com • First United Methodist Church 302 E. Curry St. F 793-2535 • Grace United Methodist Church S. Main & Ave. F, CC 547-3729 • Harker Heights United Methodist Church Cardinal & Harley, HH 699-6271 • Hillside Evangelical Methodist Church 2602 S. FM 116, CC 547-3349 • Kempner United Methodist Church Hwy 190, Kempner 512-932-3011 • Nolanville United Methodist Church 300 W. Ave I, Nolanville • Pidcoke United Methodist Church 11230 FM 116, Gatesville 254-598-6094 • St. Luke United Methodist Church 102 E. Church Ave., K 526-3993, 526-5234 • St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church Florence and Fowler, K 634-7721 • Thomas Chapel AME Church 901 N. Main, CC 547-2410 • Topsey United Methodist Church
Amy Proctor | Herald
Grace United Methodist Church musician and praise leader Chad Johnson, center, leads volunteers in prayer before a free Thanksgiving meal.
Rev. Deanna Ranes, 4406 FM 1113, CC 7809245 NAZARENE • Belton First Church of the Nazarene 1701 Sparta Rd., 939-3404 • First Church of the Nazarene 951 Stagecoach, K 634-7676 • First Church of the Nazarene W. Hwy 190, CC 547-4032 NONDEMONINATIONAL • Abundant Life Christian Church 3301 E. Rancier Ste. 102-B, K 813-1061 • Amazing Grace Fellowship 1600 E Rancier Ave, K 290-0403 • Antioch Fellowship Ministries Church of God & Christ 210 W. Mary Jane, K 634-2101 • Agape Christian Center 321 N. Penelope, Belton 939-9673 • Bethesda Fellowship Ministries 1803 Pecan Cove, CC 547-3455 • Beyond the Veil Ministries 1801 N. 8th St., K 628-0145 • Calvary Christian Fellowship of Georgetown Dell Pickett Elementary School 1100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Georgetown, 512-8888892 • Carinthian Christian Church Rte. 2 Box 65 D, CC 547-3755 • Chapel by the Lake Oakalla Road, K
• Christian House of Prayer 916 W. 190 CC 526-7021 3300 E. Stan Schlueter Lp, K 526-7021 • Common Ground Ministry 1600 E. Rancier Ave., K 383-4705 www.commongroundministry.org • Deliverance Ministries, Household of Faith, Church of the Living God, Inc. 329 Indian Trail, HH 690-0856 • Destiny World Outreach Center 101 N. W.S. Young Dr., Killeen 690-0856 • Disciples Church Meets at Eastern Hills Middle School 300 Indian Trail HH www.MakeDisciplesNow.org • Divine Grace Ministries 205 E. Ave. C, K 458-0146 • Exalted Praise Worship Center 600 Indian Trail, Suite 201, HH 466-0749 • Excellent Covenant Powerhouse Ministries 4103 Zephyr Rd, K 699-6920 • Faith Christian Center 103 E. Mockingbird Dr., HH 519-3226 • Faith Community Church 3705 Zephyr Rd, K 254-338-8777 • Faith Tabernacle 812 Harley at Beeline, HH 394-0572 • Family Dominion Ministries Inc. PO Box 11143, K 520-4269 • For Whosoever Will 3310 Florence Road, K 512-932-2716 • Fully Persuaded Church of Reconciliation 602 Gray Street 526-2100
• Gift of Life Ministry 5802 Wedel Cemetery Rd. Heiden Heimer, TX 983-1911 • God’s TrueVine House of Worship 906 South Ann Blvd. HH, TX 338-2872 • Grace Abound Tabernacles 10th Street, Nolanville, 698-9910 • Grace Awakening Church 5400 East Veterans Memorial, K 554-2500 • Grace Bible Church 1203 Winkler Ave., Killeen 690-1728 • Grace Christian Center 1401 Elms Rd., K 634-6990 • Grace Ministries Apostolic Church 3119 Commerce St., K • Greater Love Outreach Ministry 3603B E Veterans Memorial Blvd., K 634-2879 • Greater Vision Community Church 2000 E. Stan Schlueter Lp, K 200-4382 • Guiding Light Ministries 524 Shady Drive, Ste. A & B, K 690-0198 • Harker Heights Community Church 425 E. Cen Tex Expwy, HH 289-3861 • Harvest of Prayer 605 W. Ave. G, Temple 254-547-8877 • Killeen Christian Fellowship 803 E. Central Texas Expressway 723-6414 • Knowledge is Power Ministry 815 Florence Rd. Killeen 634-3463 • Iglecia Cristiana Jehova Es Mi Pastor 805 Hall St., Killeen 554-2147 CONTINUED PAGE 106
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Iglesia Divina Misericordia 205 Suite B, Hallmark Ave K 953-1113 • Joint-Heirs with Christ Ministries 219 E. Ave. D., Killeen 526-0599 • Liberty Christian Center 801 N. 8th St., K 287-2470 415-7336 • Montessori Children’s House School Killeen, 699-104 • Movement of Faith International Ministries 810 W Rancier Ave STE 100, K • New Beginnings for All People 113 S 20th St, K 254-9004, www.NBIMINC.org • New Bethel Christian Worship Center 1301 8th St., K 254-368-6400 • New Covenant Christian Church 104 County Road #221., Oakalla 547-5082 • New Covenant Ministries Worship Center 1340 E. Knights Way, HH 247-7466 • New Life Christian Center of Killeen 625 E. Vets Memorial Blvd, HH 699-5200 • New Life Fellowship 708 East Four, Belton 939-8011 • New Life Ministries 207 E. Avenue C, Killeen 953-3179 • New Covenant Mission Outreach 3401 Zephyr Rd, Killeen 501-FIRE • New Jerusalem Church 1209 Hillcrest Rd., Temple 985-2079 • New Vision Church of Fellowship 1601 N Eighth St, K 371-1179 • The People’s Choice Worship Center 802 N 2nd St., Building G; K 690-2066 • Praise & Deliverance House of Prayer 315 Gray St. Killeen 289-2922 • Praise Fellowship Church, 680-2983 • Precious People Ministry 319 N. Gray, K & 702 Elm Road, K • Rivers of Living Waters 508 N. Gray St., K 690-9673 • Shekinah Glory Worship Center 205 S. 2nd St. & Ave E., CC 542-6100 • Southern Gospel Worship Center 501 W. Elms Rd, K 702-2777 • Tabernacle of Praise 348 S. 40th St. K, 702-1690 • Templo Victoria 514 E. Ave D, K 554-5371 • The Church of the New Commandment 997 Stagecoach Rd., K 681-0530 • The Home Full Gospel 1613 Illinois, K 699-0169 • The Salvation Army 501 N. 2nd, K 634-7172 • Transforming Life Fellowship Ministries 4107 Westcliff Rd., 526-2997 • Trinity Worship Center
Gabe Wolf | Herald
From left, Shelton Magee, Ashley Ovino and Riley Magee sing hymns before the church service at the First Baptist Church of Harker Heights.
1802 Martin Luther King Blvd., CC • True Gospel Church 1101 W. Ave E, K • True Worship Ministries 103 E. Mockingbird Ln, HH 690-8730 • True Deliverance Ministries 508 Hall Ave., K 634-7082 • Truth and Deliverance Ministries 203 S. 2nd St., CC 514-2348 • Word of Knowledge Ministries 625 E. Vet. Mem. Blvd, HH 501-9105 • Word of Life 1506 McCarthy Ave, K 634-7082 • World Outreach Church of Killeen 1100 Hwy 440 • United Faith Church 1101 N. 1st, CC 547-8005 • Unity Church of Temple 12 S. Main St., Temple 770-0070 • Universal Life Wiccan Church 107 E. Ave E, CC 542-1555 • Victory Life Family Church 1196 Amy, HH 368-8690 • Vineyard Christian Fellowship East Hwy. 36, Temple 778-2802 • Word of God Christian Fellowship 808 N 8th St, Killeen 690-3315 PENTECOSTAL • Apostolic Faith “Living Water” C.O.O.L.J.C. 62nd & Battalion, FH 547-1426
• Apostolic Temple Church 1408 N. 4th Street, 680-3787 • Bethel Church 4307 E. Hwy 190, K • Christ Gospel Holiness Church 311 N. Gray, K 628-6000 • Christ Gospel Apostolic Church 200 S. Gray St. K 628-8000 • Church of Full Gospel 300-A W. Hallmark Ave., K 690-5361 • Faith Point Church 3504 E. Centex Expressway., K 699-5231 • First Church in Harker Heights 2314 Indian Trail, HH 698-4660 • Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church of God 1704 N. 38th, K 690-1011 • Iglecia Cristiana Jehova Es Mi Pastor 805 Hall St., K 554-2147 • Jesus Christ Apostolic Faith Temple Church 701 Sun Meadows Dr., HH 698-2000 • Jesus House of Prayer Apostolic Ministries Suite 911-B, Trimmier Rd., K 213-8164 • Killeen Holiness Church 607 W. Avenue G, K 634-5387 • The Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church 1411 N. 38th St., K 519-1123 • Pentecostal Experience Holiness Church 309 W. Ave. F, CC • Potter’s House 1306 E. Rancier Ave, K 554-4120 • Rivers of Living Waters 508 N. Gray St., K 690-9673
• Samoan First Assembly of God 502 N. 38th St, K 554-2901 • Tabernacle of Praise Pent. Church, Inc. 5010 Trimmier Rd, K 526-4686 • True Deliverance Pentecostal Holiness Church 524- C Shady Ln, K 245-6063/ 245-6099 • United Pentecostal Church of Copperas Cove, Pecan Cove Rd., CC 547-2264 • Saints Center of Copperas Cove 801 Industrial Ave. CC 542-3211 PRESBYTERIAN • First Presbyterian Church 4705 East Rancier Ave., K 690-6464 • First Presbyterian Church 704 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., CC 542-4884 • First Presbyterian Church 2500 Church St., B 939-2115 • Hill Country Church (PCA) 1604 S. W.S. Young Dr, K 698-4950 • Presbyterian Church of Salado 105 Salado Plaza Dr. Salado 947-8106 TRANS DENOMINATIONAL • Common Ground Ministries 1600 E. Rancier, K 383-4705 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 1726 Morgan’s Point Road, Morgan’s Point 780-1008
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<<RECREATION>>
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High school sports programs find success in post season Herald staff reports
Sports teams took the area for a wild ride in 2016. In started in basketball, where the Killeen girls won their second consecutive district crown and rose to as high as No. 7 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state rankings. The Lady Kangaroos reached the regional tournament for the first time in 24 years with a win over No. 24 Richardson in the regional quarterfinals. In boys basketball, Shoemaker continued its strong run of success by winning its third straight league title. The Grey Wolves earned a trip to the regional tournament for the first time in program history with a victory over No. 24 Rowlett, and they climbed as high as No. 6 in the TABC state rankings. During softball season, Florence and Belton once again shined for area teams. Florence repeated as champions and returned to the regional quarterfinals, and Belton also went unbeaten in league play and made a deep playoff run, reaching the regional semifinals for the second straight year. Not to be outdone, the Salado softballers were able to reach the area round of the Class 4A postseason. The Harker Heights baseball team won a district title, and Salado made a run in the 4A playoffs by reaching the state championship game. In track and field, each of Killeen, Ellison, Harker Heights, Shoemaker, Belton, Copperas Cove and Gatesville sent athletes to the UIL State Track & Field Championships. Football season kicked off the 201617 school year by taking the area on a rollercoaster ride. After starting the season 1-5, Killeen won its last four games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Harker Heights also had a strong showing, as it reached the postseason for the first time since 2012, as well. Belton reached the area round of the Class 6A playoffs with a win over South Grand Prairie in the bi-district round.
Gabe Wolf | Herald
Tyler Torres of Harker Heights throws to first against Belton.
Andy Zavoina | Herald
Shoemaker’s Javon Levi drives to the basket against McKinney in the area round of the playoffs.
Killeen High’s Sethann Baker (9) sets against Copperas Cove.
Salado, after going 2-29 in its previous three seasons, earned a playoff berth and captured its first playoff win since 2008. Each of Copperas Cove, Killeen and Ellison qualified for the postseason in volleyball, as did Salado and Gatesville. Gatesville reached the area round with a 3-2 win over Madisonville. The area also had two wrestlers,
the second consecutive year. Ellison took it one step further and reached the regional tournament on a path that saw them knock out the last two state champions — DeSoto and Plano West. Area athletics continue to be on the rise, and the excitement and anticipation levels are high heading into the spring for what area schools will bring to the rest of 2017.
Dennis Knowlton | Herald
Killeen’s Shakim Wright and Ellison Tiryek West, podium at the Class 6A state wrestling meet. The latest girls basketball season saw a three-way tie atop District 8-6A between Killeen, Ellison and rival Waco Midway. In boys basketball, Shoemaker won its fourth straight league title and second outright, and the Grey Wolves reached the regional quarterfinals for
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Killeen offers more recreation opportunities for residents Herald staff reports
As the city continues to grow, the Killeen Parks and Recreation Department continues to provide modern and family-friendly facilities that offer a variety of programs and activities for everyone from children to adults. Athletic leagues, a race series, fitness classes, hike and bike trails, an aquatics center and two senior centers are some of the activities and areas of fun the department offers in 2017. The newest addition is Mickey’s Dog Park located next to the Killeen Community Center at 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. It provides toys and play areas for all sizes of dogs. Killeen Parks and Recreation gives local runners a chance to participate in the CenTex Race Series, which will offer 16 5k and 10k runs throughout the year in Killeen and nearby cities, such as Copperas Cove, Temple and Belton. Awards are given to overall male and female winners along with first place winners in each age category. Online registration is available for every race in the CenTex Race Series. The department also offers two hike and bike trails. The Andy K. Wells Hike and Bike Trial starts at the Killeen Community Center and is 2.5 miles long. The trail eventually may complete a series of trails linking Belton and Stillhouse Hollow lakes. The trail at Lions Club Park opened in 2011 and loops around a recreation section that includes a playground and outdoor basketball courts. The trail is 1.5 miles long and is at 1600 E. Stan Schlueter Loop. The Killeen Community Center is a multipurpose facility that offers a gym and meeting rooms, which can be rented to host anything from birthday and anniversary parties to receptions and meetings. The center also has an arts and crafts room that is available for group rentals. Killeen Parks and Recreation also offers pavilions for rental at Long Branch Park, Conder Park, Lions
Andy Zavoina | Herald
Killeen’s Tre Martin (10) tags out North Arlington’s Kameron Heil stealing third base during the Little League 14U sectional tournament.
Club Park, AA Lane Park, Marlboro Park and Maxdale Park for outdoor events like corporate picnics, family reunions, birthday parties and more. Room and pavilion rental applications are available at killeentexas.gov. The center also offers classes like zumba, indoor cycling and yoga among others. The Killeen Family Recreation Center is part of Lions Club Park and features the Tommie Harris Fitness Center, named after the former Ellison defensive tackle, who went on to star for the Chicago Bears. Harris donated the gym equipment located on the second floor of the recreation center, where professional bodybuilders and casual lifters alike train each day. The first floor offers two indoor basketball courts where residents and nonresidents can play. The recreation center offers monthly, quarterly and annual membership fees for family, adult, senior and youth. Childcare is provided to members at no additional charge. The Killeen Family Aquatics Center
is also part of Lions Club Park. The center offers day passes and season passes to residents and nonresidents and features a bathhouse, a 10,360 square foot multi-use pool, a 25-meter lap pool, three water slides, a bowl slide and a tot slide. Killeen Parks and Recreation also offers Long Branch pool, at 1101 Branch Drive inside Long Branch Park, which will reopen during Memorial Day weekend. Like the Killeen Family Aquatics Center, Long Branch Pool offers day and season passes, but pool passes are not valid at the Aquatics Center. Killeen Parks and Recreation also offers two senior centers for people age 55 and older, one at Lions Club Park and one at the Bob Gilmore Senior Center at 2205 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. There is no fee to join either center, but certain activities will require members to purchase supplies. The Bob Gilmore Center has yoga, dancing, movie nights, games, exercise, oil painting and many more activities. The center also serves lunch at 11:30
a.m. every day at a cost of $3 per person. Lunch also requires a reservation by noon the day before. Killeen Parks and Recreation also offers a number youth and adult leagues. The Tri-County Soccer Club offers teams for youth ages 4 to 14. The department also offers youth leagues for T-ball, softball, baseball and flag football as well as boys and girls basketball. Registration for each of the leagues is available online at killeentexas.gov. In addition to the youth leagues, Killeen Parks and Recreation also offers a number of adult leagues, including basketball, softball, kickball, flag football, soccer and volleyball at Lions Club Park. Those interested in serving the community can participate in the Adopt-A- Park initiative where community volunteers participate in litter removal and maintenance of local parks. Learn more about Killeen Parks and Recreation at killeentexas.gov or call 254-501-6390, 254-501-8889 or 254-286-2005.
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BLORA offers many ways to enjoy the water on Belton Lake Herald staff reports
FORT HOOD â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Enjoy the cool weather while it is around because another long, hot Texas summer is rapidly approaching. Luckily, the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area is available to help beat the heat and enjoy the sun. Boaters have access to 82 wet slips that can be rented, and there are two bass and carp boat ramps available with parking for cars, trucks and trailers. Boat and RV storage is also available by the day, week, month and year. The Recreation Equipment Checkout Center located within the garrison 14 miles southwest of BLORA, provides rentals, including kayaks, canoes, wakeboards, skis, kneeboards, tubes, camping equipment, pop-up/ travel trailers and more. Furnished cottages sleeping four or six people are available for rental. Each has a screened-in porch, barbecue grill, covered picnic table and bench swing, and each is located near a playground. Multiple picnic and pavilions are available, and there are areas for camping. There are horseback riding trails, mountain bike trails of varying degrees of difficulty and a paintball course, where patrons can duel it out at an old western town complete with
Amy Proctor | Herald
Participants in the annual Fishing for Freedom tournament prepare to start the competition at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area.
bridge. There is also an urban area. Weekend play is on a first-come, first-serve basis, but the course may be reserved during weekdays. The paintball course is open to everyone 10 years of age and older. Communication, trust and leadership skills can all be tested at the
team challenge course equipped with a 53-foot climbing wall, giant swing, towers, bridges and a zip line. Additionally, BLORA provides archery and skeet shooting ranges. Gate entry fee is $3 per car for authorized Department of Defense patrons, while all civilians will pay
$10 per vehicle. BLORA also provides plenty of educational opportunities, including boater safety courses, to go along with a variety of services such as storage, skiing and paddleboats. For more information on BLORA, go to https://hood.armymwr.com/us/ hood or call 254-287-4916.
Variety of recreational activities for soldiers and their families on post Herald staff reports
FORT HOOD â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation offers a litany of programs and activities on post for soldiers, retirees and civilians with ties to Ford Hood. Recreational activities include golf outings, lifeguard classes, fishing and 5K runs and walks. The Fort Hood MWR also has a comedy tour, youth services and activities and personal trainers for physical fitness among many other enjoyable services.
MWR seeks to enhance the quality of life by providing recreation and services to encourage growth and a feeling of self-reliance within the military community. The MWR offers a multitude of activities each month, no matter the time of year. Each Wednesday, a Soldier and Family Newcomers Orientation is offered from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Club Hood. Cost of the orientation is free, and on-site child care and lunch is also free during the seminar.
A World War I Book Club is hosted by the Casey Memorial Library on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The online book club is a great way to learn about history, culture and the way of life during World War I, and the book titles are changed each month in order to keep your interest. Personal fitness trainers are available at all fitness centers on post on the first and third Monday of each month. One-on-one sessions are $45 for one session, $127.50 for three ses-
sions, $200 for five sessions and $350 for 10 sessions. Two-on-one sessions are $70 for one session, $195 for three sessions, $300 for five sessions and $500 for 10 sessions. All sessions are 60 minutes in length. The MWR also hosts a variety of other sports, which include bowling, basketball, soccer, softball, roller derby, racquetball, flag football, wrestling and volleyball. For more information about MWR, go to hood.armymwr.com/us/hood or facebook.com/forthoodfmwr.
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Play a round or two on golf courses across Central Texas Herald staff reports
For those who enjoy golfing, there are several quality courses in the area. Stonetree Golf Club was built in 1970 and completely renovated in 2005. There are four sets of tees to provide a challenging, but fair test to golfers of all skill levels. Tee times are available up to seven days in advance, with the first available time being 7:30 a.m. Reservations can be made by calling 254-501-6575. Season passes are also available. The pro shop is kept fully stocked with the latest in golf equipment and apparel. The clubhouse is an 8,000-square-foot structure that offers a daily menu, sports bar, and is available for a variety of functions and parties.The address is 1600 Stonetree Drive, Killeen. For more information about Stonetree, go to golfkilleen.com. Clear Creek Golf Public Course is on Battalion Avenue in Fort Hood. The course is open to the public, though civilians will need to obtain a visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pass at the main gate.
Andy Zavoina | Herald
Jason Blevins lines up his putt during the Chief Tim Molnes Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Hills of Cove Golf Course.
The course is open from dawn to dusk each day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and severe weather days. The pro shop can be reached at 254-287-4130.
There is a 27-hole championship golf course and a free four-hole course designed especially for youngsters. Full and half-sets of clubs are available for rent. Eleven-round punch cards and season passes are also available. Lessons are also available. A 45minute instruction session costs $35-45. The 4,500-foot clubhouse has a full snack bar and lunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Hills of Cove Golf Course is at 1408 Golf Course Road in Copperas Cove. It is near the intersection of Golf Course Road and Texas Street. The original nine holes were built in 1972. A second nine was added in 1999. The phone number is 254-547-2606. The course offers a golf professional, golf lessons, a full service pro-shop, beer sales, lighted driving range, grill and a fleet of 40 golf carts. The course plays to 6,200 yards from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 69.0 and it has a slope rating of 114 on Bermuda grass. Hills of Cove is open from dawn to dusk daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day.
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UMHB’s 2016 capped with Division III football championship By Travis Martinez Herald Correspondent
BELTON — What a remarkable 2016 it was for Mary Hardin-Baylor athletics. The football team returned to the Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2004, and won the school’s first national championship in football by defeating Wisconsin-Oshkosh 10-7 on Dec. 16 in Salem, Va. Not only did the school win the NCAA Division III title, it claimed its 14th straight American Southwest Conference championship after a 6-0 conference slate. Senior quarterback Blake Jackson of Houston was named Most Outstanding Player in the Cru’s Stagg Bowl victory. Jackson was also named the ASC Offensive Player of the Year, racking up school records with 3,282 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes on the year. Thirteen UMHB seniors capped off their final game with a title. The national champion-
Andy Zavoina | AMZimages
Mary Hardin-Baylor head coach Pete Fredenburg carries the national championship trophy as fans welcome the team back to Belton.
ship was the first for longtime head coach Pete Fredenburg, who started the program 18 seasons ago. Defensive end Teedrick Smith earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in Division III. He became only the third UMHB player to win that award. Smith holds school and conference records for career sacks.
The men’s golf team closed out the fall ranked No. 3 in the nation in the Bushnell Golfweek Division III Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The UMHB men even received one, first-place vote in balloting of 19 head coaches from across the country. Mats Heien, a senior from Norway, finished in a tie for 45th nationally at the 2016 Patriot
All-American Invitational in Arizona. The tournament consisted of a field of 84 All-American golfers from every division of collegiate golf. The Cru softball team advanced to the ASC tournament for the 17th time in program history, and fifth consecutive season. As a team, the Cru finished the season with a .308 batting average, scoring 200 runs on 344 hits. The team set a Division IIIera school-record with 35 home runs. Leah Brown of Crawford finished the season with a batting average of .437. The 2016 women’s soccer team finished the season with a 13-4-2 overall record, with a 9-1-1 record in ASC play. The team graduated nine fouryear seniors, the 2016 class was the winningest in school history. Belton senior Kathryn Parker led the team with 10 goals on the season. The UMHB men’s basketball team finished the 2015-16 season by advancing to its ASC-record 16th conference tournament.
Area athletes make an impact on college, professional teams Herald staff reports
No matter when or where the biggest games in professional or college sports are played, the greater Fort Hood area will have a hand in the outcome. Whether it’s the NFL, NBA or major college sports, alumni from various high schools in the area have become stars and big-time players in the NCAA and professional ranks. Copperas Cove graduates have represented the Bulldawgs in two of the last three Super Bowls as New England receiver Josh Boyce earned a championship ring in 2015 and Charles “Peanut” Tillman took part the following season despite being sidelined with an injury. Additionally, Class of 1995 Killeen graduate Chris Morgan was an offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl XLIX. Former Bulldawg quarterback Robert Griffin III, who won the Heisman
Trophy at Baylor in 2011 and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, is also in the NFL, currently playing for the Cleveland Browns. After being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, former Killeen Kangaroo and Baylor Cory Jefferson has played for the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns and Bakersfield Jam in the NBA Development League. He currently plays for the Austin Spurs and was named to the 2017 Western Conference All-Star team. In college, Shoemaker standout defensive end Rahssan Thornton plays for LSU, while offensive linemen Zach Shackelford, of Belton, and J.P. Urquidez, of Copperas Cove, each play for Texas. Gatesville’s Cole Edmiston and Tyler Jaynes both play football at Baylor. Texas State’s Ojai Black (Ellison) is one of several area athletes to make it to the collegiate level in basketball. Perhaps none, however, landed in a better
position than Rashard Odomes (Copperas Cove), who plays for Oklahoma. Additionally, C.J. Bobbitt (Harker Heights) is playing at Denver, while former teammate Cam DeLaney is playing alongside his brother, Josh DeLaney, at Sam Houston State, and Davon Clare is excelling at Cal State Fullerton. On the girls’ side, former Lady Knights standout Alexus Dukes is now with Texas-San Antonio, and former Shoemaker guard Tija Hawkins is also on the roster. At Texas Rio Grande Valley, guard Shawnte’ Goff, of Copperas Cove, is the program’s all-time leader in field-goal attempts and second in career scoring as she enters her senior season. In track and field, Lampasas has two athletes competing at Oklahoma in decathlete Steven Jazdyk and high jumper Shon Howard. Plenty of area-grown talent resides
right down the road on the Mary Hardin-Baylor campus in Belton. Former Belton Tigers Chris Jones, Tevin Jones and Jacob Perez, Ellison’s Cameron Armstrong, Salado’s James Collins and Killeen’s Eriq Velez were each part of the Crusaders’ 2016 national championship team, and Copperas Cove’s Caine Garner is set to join the roster this season. Pitcher Casey Frazier, of Salado, plays for the Crusaders’ baseball squad, while Belton’s Braden Hammond, Killeen’s Demarius Cress and Harker Heights’ Kendal Little each play for the basketball team. Gatesville’s Zane Washburn is on the Cru’s golf team, Copperas Cove’s Damien Hawkins is on the soccer team, and Belton’s Alex Mackellar plays tennis. In women’s athletics, Caitlyn Shaughnessy, of Lampasas, plays soccer and Killeen’s Dusti Douglas plays softball for Mary Hardin-Baylor.
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AUTOMOTIVE Charles Maund Toyota 8400 Research Blvd Austin, TX 888-256-0166 www.charlesmaundtoyota.com ....57
AUTO SERVICE, PARTS & REPAIR Continental Battery 600 E Central Texas Expwy Killeen, TX 76541 254-634-2303 www.continentalbattery.com ........23 D and D Body Shop 1522 S Ft Hood St Killeen, TX 76542 254-554-8500 www.danddbodyshop.com ...........17 Kwik Kar Killeen 2010 E Central Texas Expwy 254-526-5823 www.kwikkarlubeandoil.com ........10 Ponders Auto & Fleet Service 3321 Parkway Dr Temple, TX 76504 254-773-4993 www.pondersautoandfleet.com ....13
BANKS & CREDIT UNIONS First State Bank 661 W Central Texas Expy Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-616-2265 www.fsbcentex.com ....................26 Heart Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Texas Credit Union 1612 S Fort Hood St Killeen, TX 76542 254-634-7722 www.hotfcu.org ..........................14 Southstar Bank, S.S.B. 905 E FM 2410 Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-698-1800 www.southstarbank.com .............79
Union State Bank 345 E FM 2410 Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-953-8181 www.usb-tx.com .........................75 Union State Bank 2201-B E Stan Schlueter Loop #B Killeen, TX 76542 254-554-8181 www.usb-tx.com .........................51
COMMUNITY SERVICES Families in Crisis PO Box 25 254-634-8309 www.familiesincrisis.net ..............53
DAY SPA
Union State Bank 120 N Gray St Killeen, TX 76540 254-634-8181 www.usb-tx.com .......................115
Spa-Topia 604 N 17th St Copperas Cove, TX 76522 254-542-7722 www.spatopiarelax.com...............91
BUSINESS
DENTAL
Crawford Bowers Funeral Home 211 West Ave B 254-547-1275 www.dignitymemorial.com...........23
CHURCHES Harker Heights United Methodist Church 208 W Cardinal at South Harley Harker Heights, TX 254-699-6271 www.hhumc.org .......................103 Westside Baptist Church 711 Stagecoach Rd Killeen, TX 76542 254-628-1004 www.westsideoasis.com............101
COMMUNITY HARKER HEIGHTS
Smile Doctors 300 Morgan St Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-526-8666 www.smiledoctors.com ...............27
EDUCATION Band Room, The 212 W Veterans Memorial Blvd Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-699-2268 www.thebandroomtx.com ............68 CCISD - Copperas Cove ISD 703 W Ave D Copperas Cove, TX 76522 254-547-1227 www.ccisd.com ............................2
City of Harker Heights 305 Millers Crossing Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-953-5600 www.ci.harker-heights.tx.us ........75
Central Texas College 6200 W Central Texas Expwy Killeen, TX 76549 254-526-7161 www.ctcd.edu.............................69
COMMUNITY KILLEEN
McLennan Community College 800-460-2837 www.truckingschool.com.............17
Korean War Vets Association PO Box 10622 Killeen, TX 76549 254-220-7892 ...........................25
Montessori School of Central Texas 5610 E Centex Expwy Ste 2 Killeen, TX 76542 254-680-7500 montessorischoolsofcentraltexas.com...63
University of Mary Hardin Baylor 900 College St Belton, TX 76513 254-295-8642 www.umhb.edu ..........................71 Universtiy Of The Incarnate Word 1711 E Central Texas Expy Ste 312 Killeen, TX 76541 254-628-7006 www.uiw.edu ..............................72
EMPLOYMENT Action Career Training 400 W Central Texas Expy Killeen, TX 76541 254-501-8600 www.actioncareertraining.com .....53 CCA Bartlett 1818 Arnold Dr Bartlett, TX 76511 254-527-3300 www.cca.com/careers ...................4 Central Texas Veterans HCS 1901 Veterans Memorial Dr Temple, TX 76504 254-743-0000 www.centraltexas.va.gov .............38 Central Texas Workforce 300 Cheyanne Dr Killeen, TX 76542 254-200-2000 www.workforcelink.com ................7 Express Employment Professionals 1801 Trimmier Rd Ste A7 Killeen, TX 76542 254-554-5700 www.expresspros.com/killeentx ...14 Express Employment Professionals 200 W. Calhoun Dr Temple, TX 76501 254-771-5595 www.expresspros.com/templetx ..81 GC Services 332 Town Square West HWY 190 Copperas Cove 254-518-1835 www.gcservices.com ....................5
Metroplex Hospital HR 2201 S Clear Creek Rd Killeen, TX 76549 254-519-8184 www.mplex.org ...........................43
FINANCIAL SERVICES John Lister, Inc, P.C. 2420 E Hwy 190 Copperas Cove, TX 76522 254-547-0773 www.johnlister.com .....................89
FUNERAL HOMES Harper Talasek 506 N 38th St Killeen, TX 76543 254-699-8200 www.harpertalasek.com ..............11
FURNITURE The Antique Gallery 1601 S IH 135 Suite 400 Round Rock, TX 78664 512-218-4290 ...........................12
HEALTH & FITNESS A Soothing Touch Massage Dobert Sr. Nolanville, TX 76559 254-368-1695 asoothingtouch.genbook.com ......81
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Hallmark Service Company 1106 W Stan Schlueter Loop Killeen, TX 76549 254-634-5317 www.hallmarkservicect.com ........21
HOME BUILDERS Keith Carothers Homes 254-542-6090 www.keithcarothershomes.com ...38
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RNC Construction 103 W Ave E Copperas Cove, TX 76522 254-542-7622 www.rnc-construction.com ..........13
Metroplex 2201 S Clear Creek Rd Killeen, TX 76549 254-526-7523 www.mplex.org ...........................48
HOME SERVICES
INSURANCE
Artie’s Heating & Air Conditioning 125 N 4th St Killeen, TX 76541 254-554-7250 www.artiesheatingandair.com ......23
Ai United Insurance 826 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd Killeen, TX 76541 254-519-3444 ...........................12
Charles Construction 254-542-2158 254-394-3386 www.charlesconstruction.co ........91
Union Insurance Agency Inc 100 E Main St Florence, TX 76527 254-793-2550 www.usbanktexas.net .................25
Creative Carpet & Interiors 3953 Chaparral Rd Killeen, TX 76542 254-634-4023 creativecarpetandinteriorskilleen.com ....37
Union Insurance Agency Inc 345 E FM 2410 Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-953-8151 www.usbanktexas.net .................25
Killeen Overhead Doors 1505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Killeen, TX 254-690-3667 www.killeenoverheaddoors.com .....9 Rinehart Real Estate Inspection Service 445 E Central Texas Expwy Harker Heights 254-690-1186 www.realestateinspection.net ......34 Wildlife X Team of Central Texas PO Box 89 Glen Rose, TX 254-396-2459 www.wildlifexteam.com ...............18
HOSPITAL
JEWELER Pagel & Sons Jewelers 2102 S W.S. Young Dr Killeen, TX 76541 254-699-4653 www.pagelandsons.com................7
LAUNDRY SERVICE Wells Laundry 2115 Lake View Loop Killeen, TX 76541 254-953-1188 www.wellslaundry.com ................19
LOCKSMITH
American Hearing Center 1618 Canyon Creek Dr Ste 140 Temple, TX 254-774-7727 americanhearingcenter.com.........48 Bell County Indigent Health Services PO Box 880 Killeen, TX 76540 254-699-4357 www.bellcountyTX.com ...............43 Greater Killeen Free Clinic 718 N 2nd Dr Killeen, TX 76541 254-618-4211 www.gkfclinic.org .......................50 Metroplex Health Systems 2201 S Clear Creek Rd Killeen, TX 76549 254-526-7523 www.mplex.org ...........................47 Rebuilding Americas Warriors 760-568-4039 rebuildingamericaswarriors.org ....43
PET SERVICES Killeen Animal Care 424 W Rancie Ave Killeen, TX 76541 254-634-2284 killeengroomandkennel.com ........10 Killeen Veterinary Clinic 1321 Pershing Park Dr Killeen, TX 76541 254-634-0242 www.killeenvetclinic.com ...............3 Stagecoach Pet Hospital 4826 Stagecoach Dr Ste 300 Killeen, TX 76542 254-200-2790 www.stagecoachpet.com.............24
Capital Farm Credit 2115 Birdcreek Terrace 254-773-3417 www.capitalfarmcredit.com .........37 Hunter Rentals 1503 W Stand Schlueter Lp Killeen, TX 76549 254-634-3311 www.HunterRentals.com .............39
RESTAURANTS Papa’s Café 302 Millers Crossing Harker Heights, TX 76548 254-200-1313 www.papas-cafe.com .................81
SERVICES
JWC Property Management 3800 S WS Young Dr Suite 4104 Killeen, TX 254-526-5921 www.jwcrentals.com ...................27
Air Max 2768 Boys Ranch Rd Kempner, TX 76539 254-547-2409 www.airmax-aircare.com.............13
Linneman Realty 3402 S W.S. Young Dr Killeen, TX 76542 254-628-9272 www.linnemannrealty.com ...........40
American Paratos Security Services 1010 W. Jasper Dr # 5 Killeen, TX 76543 254-213-1839 www.apsausa.org .......................24
Morris Real Estate 1104 W. Veterans Memorial Blvd. Killeen, TX 254-634-8852 www.morrisrealestatetx.com........37
Ellis Air System, Inc. 3513 Florence Rd Killeen, TX 76541 254-526-5410 www.ellisairsystems.co .............116
SWBC Mortgage 4524 S W.S. Young Dr Ste 101 Killeen, TX 76542 254-634-2822 www.swbcmortgage.com ............39
Holiday Cleaners 220 Cove Terrace 254-547-4220 www.holidaycleanersinc.com .......18
RECREATION & LEISURE
SPECIALTY STORE
Bell County Museum 201 N Main St Belton, TX 76513 254-933-5243 www.bellcountymuseum.com ....111
Paply’s Gifts & Antique Mall 5505 S Ft. Hood St (Hwy 195) Killeen, TX 76542 254-634-5679 www.paplys.com.........................25
Killeen Bowlerama 922 N 38th Killeen, TX 76543 254-699-5222 www.killeenbowlerama.com ......111
Wyche’s Fine Porcelain 107 W Veterans Memorial Blvd Killeen, TX 76542 254-526-4128 www.wychesfineporcelain.com ....10
Baylor Scott & White Hospital 2401 S 31st Temple, TX 254-724-2111 www.sw.org................................45
Pop-A-Lock 254-554-9966 www.popalockkilleen.com ...........19
MEDICAL
REAL ESTATE & RENTALS
RECYCLING
Coryell Memorial 1507 W Main 254-248-6299 www.cmhos.org ..........................50
American Hearing Center 2806 S W.S. Young Dr Ste C Killeen, TX 254-680-3444 americanhearingcenter.com.........48
Brown’s Temporary Apts 254-634-8554 www.brownstempapts.com .........36
City of Killeen Recycling 111 E Ave F Killeen, TX 76541 254-554-7572 killeentexas.gov/public_works......21
TRAVEL Cruise Planners P.O. Box 2146 Belton, TX 76513 254-831-3055