Author: BJ Kirkpatrick

Public Meeting for Lake Texoma Shoreline Management Announced

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news
Lake Texoma Shoreline Management Revisions

Public Notice for Lake Texoma, Red River Basin, Bryan, Marshall, Johnston, and Love Counties, Oklahoma and Cook and Grayson Counties, Texas

The Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is revising the Lake Texoma Shoreline Management Plan (Plan).  Two open house public meetings will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on January 29, 2020 at the Pottsboro High School, 901 Highway 120 Pottsboro, TX 75076 and January 30, 2020 at Kingston High School, 400 NE 3rd Street, Kingston, OK 73439. 

The meetings will provide attendees with information regarding the revision content and process, and provide a general schedule.  Attendees can view current shoreline allocation maps and ask USACE staff questions.  A 30-day comment period will follow the meeting from January 29, 2020 through March 2, 2020 in which the public can send comments, suggestions, and concerns.

The Shoreline Management Plan addresses the rules and guidelines that govern private shoreline uses, such as private boat docks, vegetation modification, and similar private uses of government property.  The Shoreline Management Plan establishes shoreline allocations, which specify where certain private uses are allowable.   Shoreline allocations are dictated by Engineering Regulation (ER) 1130-2-406 and included:  Limited Development Areas, Protected Shoreline Areas, Public Recreation Areas, and Prohibited Access Areas.  Each of these allocations is defined in ER 1130-2-406.  The Plan is meant to compliment the 2017 Lake Texoma Master Plan revision.

The current Plan was implemented in 1996, and many changes have occurred in policy and use since that time.  This revision is intended to bring the Shoreline Management Plan up to date, ensure environmental protection and public access of public lands, align wit the 2017 Lake Texoma Master Plan, and honor past commitments at Lake Texoma.  Public participation is critical to the successful revision of the Plan.  Information provided at the public workshop meetings, including the existing Plan, may be viewed on the Tulsa District website at the following the link beginning January 29, 2020:

https://www.swt.usace.army.mil/

Comments must be submitted in writing and can be given to USACE staff at the public workshop meetings, emailed to Joe.Custer@usace.army.mil, or mailed to:  Joe Custer, Manager, Lake Texoma, 351 Corps Road, Denison, TX 75020-6425.  For questions, please contact Mr. Joe Custer at 903.465.4990.

Austin College Names New Police Chief

BJ Kirkpatrick Austin College, News
Austin College Names New Police Chief

Kelle Kennemer, formerly of Collin College police department, has been named the new director of Public Safety/Police Chief for Austin College. She was sworn in January 6 on campus with several area law enforcement officers in attendance.

Kennemer is an advanced licensed peace officer in the State of Texas with 17 years of law enforcement experience in higher education at both private and public institutions. She previously worked on the Austin College police force from 2002 to 2009, and holds certifications in a number of areas including sexual assault, active shooter response, and mental health officer designate.

 

“The knowledge she gained from her initial appointment here, along with her experiences at Collin College provides a solid foundation from which she will lead our efforts to create a first-class, effective campus-wide safety program for all members of the campus community,” said Tim Millerick, vice president for Student Affairs.

Chief Kennemer succeeds James Perry as police chief upon his retirement January 3, after 37 years of service to the Austin College police force.

She lives in Sherman with her husband, John Kennemer, who serves on the Command staff of the Sherman Police Department. The Kennemers have two children and two grandchildren.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.

New Adult Programs Announced for Spring at the Children’s Museum

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New Adult Programs Announced for Spring at the Children’s Museum

 PickleBall and Mommy and Me Begin in January

Have you heard of Pickleball?  A new year at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is a time for new programs.  The new programs are designed to interest all ages from our oldest adults to our youngest babies.  Pickleball will be offered to adults only and Mommy and Me will be offered to first time moms with babies under the age of 5 months.  Then there will also be programs for ages in between.  

To introduce Pickleball to adults in the area, the Children’s Museum will offer a Pickleball Tournament from January 27 – 31.  To prepare newcomers for Pickleball, sessions to go over rules for playing will be held on January 15 and January 22 at 10:00 AM at the Children’s Museum.  Pickleball courts will be set up in the back area of the Children’s Museum.  Participants in the tournament will need to have a partner and be available to play between regular museum hours of 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.  The fee will be $25 per team.  There will be no fee for practice times for teams to prepare for the tournament.  Teams can get additional information and register by calling the Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.  A Pickleball League will begin on February 10 and end on March 20.

Mommy and Me begins on January 29 and ends on March 4.  This program is for the very youngest and their moms.  Mommy and Me is open to first-time moms with babies five months and younger.  The class will include weekly speakers and “baby” strategies from other young moms.  The purpose of the class is to provide an opportunity for young moms to meet other new moms and to hear suggestions for approaching being a first-time mom.  For the six week program, the fee is $15.  Moms can register by calling 903-886-6055.

Programs for other ages beginning in January include Healthy Kids from A to Z sponsored by Carevide for young pre-schoolers.  The program will be led by Amy Strarks and begins January 15 with the letter “I”.    The Weird Science program for fifth graders will be offered in February.

Classes will rotate through three activities including measuring liquid, temperature, and plasticity.  All students will have hands-on experience using equipment needed for each activity. 

One of the most popular events held each year at the Children’s Museum is the Daddy Daughter Dance.  This year’s event will be on February 1and the theme will be “Frozen”.  The event will include “Frozen” crafts, dancing, food, and photos (not included in the price).  Playtime in the Children’s Museum will also be included.  Tickets will be $35 until February 1, the day of the event.  On February 1 the tickets will be $40.

All programs and special events will be held at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum which is now located at 100 Maple Street.  “We are very excited about our new site and the new programs that can be offered there.  We are looking forward to offering programs for a wider age group. With attendance for 2019 at 32,000 visitors, we hope to attract even more visitors in 2020,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum.

  • Pickleball Rules