Rockwall News - Planet Rockwall - Online Magazine for Rockwall, Texas
North Texas Tollway Authority
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Rockwall News
Local Headlines
2 Teen Boaters Drown in Trinity River - Apr 23 -- WFAA news
Rockwall 'American Idol' hopeful Jason Castro - Apr 22 -- Dallas News
in Rockwall County - Apr 18 -- Dallas News
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National League of Cities Conference
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City of Rockwall News
Summer Fun at Rockwall Parks
April 11-- The City of Rockwall has opened its spraygrounds at Harry Myers Park and at Fox Chase Park. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. / seven days a week.
Service Hotline Offers Citizens Quick Response
Help is just a dial away for City of Rockwall residents that want to report a variety of street, drainage, debris and other related problems.
Just dial 972-772-6791 for the city's new 24-hour "Service Request" hotline and get a response within one business day.
Reports can also be filed online at www.rockwall.com and click on "Streets and Drainage Service Request."
"The initial contact by the City will be to let the customer know that we received the request," said Billy Chaffin, the city's street and drainage superintendent. "If it can't be immediately addressed, the customer will be contacted again within three business days and advised of the request status."
Customers will be provided with an action plan to remedy the situation including scheduling times, and the City will contact them after the work is completed.
If it is a problem for the state highway department, the City will go through the state's processes to report it and follow up with the caller when the work is done.
Problems that can be reported include: street, curb, sidewalk and alley repairs; street flooding; debris in streets; standing water; graffiti; street lights out; tree limbs blocking traffic; and requests for additional street lights.
Some of the problems, Mr. Chaffin said, may be too costly and might need to be included in an upcoming city budget proposal.
"This is an effort to improve customer service," said Mr. Chaffin. "We want to make it easier for citizens to request our services."
Toll Tags available at City
Residents no longer have to wait for a toll tag to come in the mail. They can sign up now for a toll tag account at Rockwall City Hall, 385 South Goliad Street on the 1st floor. The information is entered into the toll authority system, and the tag is given to the applicant that day.
Toll Tag accounts are prepay, which means sufficient funds must be maintained with the North Texas Tollway Authority to cover tolls and charges for tag use. A $40 minimum is needed to open the account. For more information, call 972-771-7700.
Accident Reports Available Online
Accidents before January 1, 2007 are available from the RPD Records Unit. For more information, please call Records Supervisor Frank Dunlop at 972-771-7721.
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 New Texas License Plate Design
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The New Rockwall Library
Help Write the Next Chapter...
The Friends of the Library Capital Campaign is under way to raise funds for books and other materials for our new library anticipated to open in fall 2008. For a $25 donation, you can have a book placed in the new library with a bookplate inside honoring your child or family. For a $250 donation, your family can be remembered with an engraved leaf on the Giving Tree, which will be prominently displayed in the new library building.
Rockwall Library Looking for Tutors
The Reading for Adults Literacy Program needs tutors.
No teaching experience is necessary. Training provided.
To volunteer, contact the Rockwall County Library,
or call Gloria at 972-882-0340.
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Lady Jackets
State Champions!
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 From left: Molly Seeligson, the former Head of School and Dr. Fulton's daughter; Dr. Fulton; and current Head of School Joy Greenwalt.
The Fulton School Celebrates 20 Years and Honors
Founder Dr. Fulton at Spring Gala at The Bella Harbor
Heath, Texas, April 21, 2008…The Bella Harbor Hilton was the venue for a special community event as The Fulton School celebrated 20 years of academic excellence and honored Dr. Bernard L. Fulton at its Spring Gala on April 19.
“It felt very good to be recognized as a part of The Fulton School's growth and success,” says Dr. Fulton, who also founded The Greenhill School of Dallas. “But to me, the wonderful students we have and the strong relationships between the students, the faculty and the parents are what make CityplaceFulton so special.”
With beautiful views of the lake as the backdrop, over 230 guests enjoyed an evening of dining and dancing during the Spring Gala. There was a live and silent auction benefiting The Fulton School.
“This was a milestone celebration for our school,” says Gala Chairwoman Dr. Mary Crutchfield, a Heath resident whose 10-year-old twin sons attend The Fulton School. “It was a wonderful occasion to be able to recognize Dr. Fulton's positive impact on our school and in education in Dallas and around the country.”
Throughout its 20-year history, The Fulton School has maintained a commitment to living by Dr. Fulton's philosophy to “Do what's best for the child”.
“We are blessed to have wonderful public schools,” says Dr. Crutchfield. “Private schools offer options, and the warm, caring and welcoming environment coupled with a focus on academics has proven to be ideal for my sons.”
While the atmosphere is very personal and caring, The Fulton School's mission is to teach students to be contributing citizens in a 21st century world. A strong focus is placed on math, science, technology, effective writing skills, a knowledge of different cultures and languages, and an appreciation of the arts.
The Fulton School currently serves students across four counties in the Lake Ray Hubbard community from PreK to 12th grade. The campus is located on 16.5 acres at 1623 Laurence Drive in Heath.
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Shopping Center Businesses Struggle
During Continued Road Construction
Rockwall, Texas - April 9th, 2008 -- TxDOT's continued construction has shoppers avoiding Rockwall Central Shopping Center. Located on Goliad at the northwestern corner of I-30, this strip mall has set out on a campaign to try and bring more business into their stores. A Rockwall favorite, Joe Willy's Market & Grill is located in this shopping center. Owner, Rick Basinger agrees the construction has had a significant impact on his business. He says, “as a long time Rockwall resident and business owner, I realize that the sacrifices we make today for road improvements will benefit us all tomorrow. I am grateful that many of our customers are willing to tolerate the inconvenience.” He also feels lucky to be located in a shopping center where the landlord is willing to pitch in to find ways to assist tenants in generating interest and activity.
Last December, Sabre Realty provided the shopping center funds for hosting an amazing sidewalk sales events and is continually working on local advertising. Property Manager, Carla Endsley says, “Our tenants realize people are avoiding SH 205 because of the construction and we are working with the city to promote alternate routes to the shopping center such as entering off Yellow Jacket north of Hobby Lobby. Tenants feel that not everyone knows about this entrance or that Yellow Jacket extends from Ridge Rd through to TI Townsend Drive, both of which are accessible from I-30.” If you are heading West on I-30, when exiting for Hwy 205 if customer immediately turns right onto Townsend Dr, the first left is Yellow Jacket. This is a faster and smoother route to the area.
Non-retail based shops in the center include places such as the Oral Surgery Center, Taniki's Salon and Kumon Math and Reading Center. Nancy Vance from Kumon commented that, “Parents have very busy schedules this time of year and I have had several call saying they couldn‘t pick up their children before closing because they couldn’t get through the traffic. One (parent) called 3 times to say she could see our sign from where she was on 205, but couldn’t get to me for 45 minutes. I have had a decrease in attendance of students and a great deal of frustration from parents. Many of these children need the academic instruction and it is not simply a luxury or an extra-curricular activity that can be halted due to inconvenience; it is a necessity for their continued progress in their education.”
The proposed project from TxDOT is needed to meet the increasing transportation demands caused by rapid development in the Rockwall area, as well as to create a safer driving environment for vehicles traveling on SH 205. These improvements are designed to alleviate existing and future congestion generated by travel to and from Rockwall and surrounding areas. The City, while excited about Rockwall's growth and understanding of the need to expand our arterial streets, also worries about the local economics and struggles these projects may lead to, especially for those Mom & Pop shops that have been in Rockwall long before the larger chains and department stores arrived. Kristy Ashberry, assistant to the City Manager, says the city is aware of these growing pains and is hopeful that they can work with these local businesses to come up with a plan to keep the everyone prospering during this time.
A detailed description of TxDOTs Hwy205 plan is posted at www.keepitmovingdallas.com/SH+205
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Environmentally Friendly New Business
Rockwall Toyota, on I-30 near SH-205, is a 70,000 square foot “green” building, is designed to compliment the environment with such things as recycled water and native landscaping. It will be submitted for an environmental rating as a “Gold” building, making it the first car dealership in the world with that distinction.
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