Georgetown / Hutto / Taylor Impacts - October 2008

Georgetown / Hutto / Taylor Impacts - October 2008

Friday, 10 October 2008

New plate designs

Texans wanting vanity license plates can choose from dozens of new styles and colors that the Texas Department of Transportation is offering. Custom messages range up to six characters. Call 877-769-7528 or visit www.myplates.com.

GEORGETOWN

Operation School Bell

The Assistance League of Georgetown Area hopes to provide school clothes for 1,200 children in the Florence, Jarrell and Georgetown school districts. The league is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Operation School Bell program, which is funded locally by the Ring the Bell program. Send monetary donations to P.O. Box 1178, Georgetown, TX 78627. Call 864-2542 or visit http://home.earthlink.net/~algatexas.

1. Minuteman award

Minuteman Press Full-Service Printing Center, 1011 Leander Road, won the “Top Overall Performance Award” out of more than 700 Minuteman Press franchises worldwide on Aug. 16. Call 931-2211 or visit www.mmptx.com.

2. Red Poppy art contest

The Red Poppy Planning Committee is seeking original artwork to be featured on the 2009 Red Poppy Festival poster. Artwork must be related to the Red Poppy Festival. All entries must be submitted to the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau office, 103 W. Seventh St., by Nov. 7. Call 930-3585 or e-mail cmiller@georgetowntx.org.

3. New owners

Two Georgetown businessmen are purchasing Yours For Keeps, 1915 N. Austin Ave., an engraving and awards shop. Ty Gipson, owner of Minuteman Press, and Brian Burkhart, owner of Georgetown Sporting Goods, will take ownership Jan. 1. Call 868-5881.

4. Tamiro Plaza update

When construction is complete, mixed-use complex Tamiro Plaza, 501 S. Austin Ave., will be home to FTC Architects, who designed the plaza; Silver and Stone Brasserie, an upscale restaurant; and SunStar Geriatrics Healthcare, a medical clinic for the elderly. Call 819-9900 or visit www.tamiroplaza.com.

5. NextCare clinic

Urgent care provider NextCare purchased Georgetown immediate care clinic Stat Med Emergent Care, 902 N. Austin Ave., Ste. 102, in September. Arizona-based NextCare owns 33 clinics in six states. This is its first clinic in Texas. Call 930-7828 or visit www.nextcare.com.

6. Take me home tonight

Papa Murphy’s, a “take-and-bake” pizza chain, which allows customers to buy the uncooked pizza and take it home to bake in their oven, opened a store Sept. 30 at 3316 Williams Drive, Ste. 100. Franchisee Doug Miller owns nine other Papa Murphy’s locations in the Austin area. Visit www.papamurphys.com.

7. Flip that gym

Kidsport is nearly doubling its gym space. The facility at 2524 Shell Road will be about 17,000 sq. ft. total once the new gym is finished around Nov. 1. Programs include gymnastics, cheer, dance, swimming, cooking and more. Call 864-1334 or visit www.gtgym.com.

HUTTO

Limmer Loop complete

The final section of Limmer Loop, between CR 110 and Toll 130, was completed at the end of September, two months ahead of schedule. The Loop’s total length from Mager Lane to CR 110 is 6.8 miles. Construction costs were $7.7 million. Call 943-1663 or visit www.wilco.org.

PUC announces route

On Sept. 11, Public Utility Commission officials approved utility companies’ plans to build electric transmission lines through the city of Hutto, despite residents’ objections. However, citizens did successfully argue for the lines to be mounted on single 100-foot-tall poles throughout Hutto’s ETJ, rather than the approximately 150-foot metal lattice towers favored by the utility companies. Visit more.impactnews.com/1892, more.impactnews.com/790 or www.puc.state.tx.us.

New EDC board members

Anne Cano of JB Goodwin Realtors and Stan Briggs of State Farm Insurance were approved by the city council Sept. 18 as members of the Hutto Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. Briggs is also on the board of the Hutto Chamber of Commerce. Call 759-2806 or visit www.huttoedc.com.

Appealing arguments

A district judge ruled that Williamson County and all other intervenors in the lawsuit against Waste Management concerning the county landfill do have the right to appeal his May 30 decision upholding the 2003 contract between the county and the company. The commissioners would have to vote again to proceed with an appeal. On Sept. 30 the court voted to move forward with the expansion permit application. Call 943-1663 or visit www.wilco.org.

8. Walgreens opens

Hutto’s first Walgreens Pharmacy opened in September at 119 Ed Schmidt Blvd. Call 759-3739 or visit www.walgreens.com.

9. Red light cameras

Red light cameras at two intersections are expected to become operational Oct. 17. Warnings will be issued until Nov. 16, when violators will begin to be ticketed. The following intersections will have cameras: (a) eastbound and westbound Hwy. 79 at Exchange Boulevard, and (b) westbound Hwy. 79 at north FM 1660. The intersections will be marked. Vehicles entering an intersection on a yellow light are not photographed even if they are still in the intersection when the light changes to red. The city council approved the ordinance in June. Call 846-2057.

10. Office space

The Hutto Economic Development Corporation relocated Sept. 26 to the new Hejl-Lee Building, 321 Schmidt Blvd., Ste. 200. The new office has an executive conference room, reception area, secure file and server room, and space for four staff members. Call 759-2806 or visit www.huttoedc.com.

TAYLOR

Chamber president resigns

Jim Aanstoos resigned as president of the Taylor Chamber of Commerce the weekend of Sept. 6-7. The chamber board has formed a search committee to find a replacement. Deby Lannen will serve as interim president. Call 352-6364 or 365-8485 or visit www.taylorchamber.org.

11. New pitmaster

Wayne Mueller took over Louie Mueller Barbecue after the death of his father, Bobby Mueller, on Sept. 6. Also, on Oct. 18 and 19, the Food Network will be filming a pilot at the restaurant for a new show slated to air in the beginning of next year. Call 352-6206 or visit www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com.

12. Dam and trails done

Upgrades to Murphy and Robinson parks are finished, along with repairs to the Murphy Lake Dam. A ribbon cutting will take place Oct. 10 at Robinson Park, 206 S. Dolan St., and Oct. 24 at Murphy Park, 1600 Sycamore St. Call 352-3675.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Must love dogs

The Humane Society of Williamson County, 10930 E. Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter, is seeking to fill vacant positions on the board of directors. Those interested in applying should review the requirements at www.hswc.net/volunteer/board.html or call 260-3602.

Economic awards

The Austin Business Journal named its Economic Impact Award winners for Williamson County, including the Taylor City Council, Castle Russ Development of Hutto and Texas Life-Sciences Collaboration Center of Georgetown. The awards will be presented at the annual Williamson County Growth Summit Nov. 3. Call 494-2548 or visit www.austin.bizjournals.com.

Heroes in the Fight

Williamson County’s Mobile Outreach Team and the Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team won a “Heroes in the Fight” award, presented by Mental Health America of Texas on Sept. 11. The award recognizes “heroes” who support mentally ill people and their families. Call 943-3545.

13. New advocacy director

The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center, 1811 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown, will host a first anniversary open house Oct. 15 from 4-6 p.m. to meet new executive director Brenda Staples. Call 943-3701 or visit www.wilcocac.org.

14. The Williamson Museum

The Williamson County Historical Museum changed its name to The Williamson Museum this summer. The museum, 716 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown, also unveiled a new logo. Call 943-1670 or visit www.williamsonmuseum.org.

15. Ambassador Alan Keyes

Ambassador Alan Keyes will speak at the Center for the Performing Arts, 2211 N. Austin Ave. in Georgetown, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Proceeds benefit the Pregnancy Help Center of Williamson County. Call 868-0153 or visit www.phcwc.com.

News or questions about Georgetown, Hutto or Taylor? E-mail bwade@impactnews.com.