EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
City Hall designated as warming shelter
HUTTO – When the power goes out in freezing weather, lives can be at risk. Thanks to the installation of a new generator earlier this month, Hutto City Hall will be able to help keep residents and their pets warm during emergency conditions “Now if City Hall were to lose power, the generator is sufficiently sized to protect the building and allow operations to continue which also means we can now designate City Hall as a shelter area for those in need for emergencies,” said City Manager James Earp.
The community warming center had a trial run Jan. 15 in advance of a predicted freeze warning. City Hall opened for any residents who needed a safe, warm place. Although the weather was less severe than predicted and no residents came, the facility was ready with meals, blankets and charging stations.
A statement from the city said the warming center will be supervised by Hutto emergency management staff, as well as volunteers from Hutto and the American Red Cross and further support from Hutto Independent School District.
Pets in crates will also be admitted to the warming center when open.
Citizens university, fire classes open
Area residents eager to know more about the inner workings of the city have several chances upcoming.
Hutto Fire Rescue, Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3, will offer a 10-week Citizens Fire Academy designed to give a better understanding of what firefighters do daily to mitigate emergency situations. Attendees will experience wearing a firefighter’s suit and searching for victims in a limited visibility environment. It will be held Tuesday evenings starting in February. For more information or to register, visit HuttoFireRescue.org.
Hutto Citizens Academy will hold its third session starting Feb. 27. The nine-week course is designed to teach residents about the processes and structures of their city services and local government, according to Earp.
The city is also planning an Advanced Hutto Citizens University for those who already attended the first level of classes.
More information is available on the city website, www.HuttoTx. gov.
Kolar named to clean air coalition Council approved a resolution naming Amberley Kolar as the city’s representative to the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition, part of the Capital Area Council of Governments.
The Clean Air Coalition was created to facilitate the development, adoption and implementation of clean air plans to maintain compliance with the federal eighthour ozone standard for Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties, according to the CAPCOG website.
Kolar will represent the city’s interests to help establish and monitor a regional effort toward the improvement of air quality. That will include developing policies that could affect how Hutto agencies and industries conduct business.
Kerley student’s art recognized A student at Benjamin “Doc” Kerley Elementary School will be soon able to see her artwork displayed at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Madelyn Childers’ art was selected to be part of the Texas Art Education Association’s Youth Art Month Spring Exhibition.
This exhibit showcases pre-k through 12th grade works of art from across the State of Texas. Student art from around the state will be exhibited for a full month.
“Throughout the month of March, the Museum’s Third Floor Rotunda is home to an exhibition of over 100 original pieces of student artwork created by kindergarten through 12th grade students from across the state. Visitors will enjoy an exhibit that showcases the talents and self-expression of the students of Texas,” according to a museum spokesperson.
The students who have their artwork on display are celebrated at an annual awards ceremony at the Museum, and the Office of the First Lady of Texas selects some of each year’s youth artworks for display at the Governor’s Business Office for a year.
