City News January 2014 Issue 20 Lake Wichita: Future Course

The Lake Wichita Study Committee has been working diligently to help shape the future of the lake which was once a center of activity and recreation for the community. The committee is composed of representatives who have been charged with creating an action plan to review historic and planning data for the lake with an eye on the future. A main emphasis of the plan is for the improvements to address a wide range of activities. Some of the propositions include: wildlife nature venues, fishing and camping areas, small watercraft, wake board park, retail and restaurant establishments. It will be exciting to see possibilities unfold for Lake Wichita that will have a positive community impact for years to come. City News January 2014 January Spotlight Celebrating 25 Years:

Prayer- Scholarship Breakfast

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the annual MLK Breakfast. The event always draws a good crowd for a good cause: raising scholarship funds for high school students to attend college. The MLK Breakfast is a great beginning for the new year, not only in assisting young people to achieve their dreams, but also serving as a source of fellowship and inspiration for attendees. The speaker for 2014 is Clifton Davis who is a multi-talented actor, song writer, and minister who has entertained audiences with his contributions to stage, film, TV and music. Mr. Davis appeared on the TV show, Amen, and also wrote hits for the Jackson 5 including: “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Looking Through the Windows.” City News January 2014 City Events

Hats off to another successful and fun Nastrike event. City departments jumped in to compete for the coveted Wichita Willy Cup. This annual event helped raise over $3000 to provide Christmas cheer for about 50 families. The funds help supply holiday dinner, toys, clothes, and bicycles, and in the true definition of Christmas spirit, help to brighten the holidays for families. In preparation for Nastrike, City employees built up their rides, decked them out in holiday In January: gear, then competed in a fast, furious and fun race. National Bath Safety Month This year, the Fire Department took overall top National Blood Donor Month spot, snagging the coveted Wichita Willy Cup, the Engineering Department garnered honors National Braille Literacy Month for the most tricked out trike in Showmanship, National Hobby Month while the Parks – Jane Does were the Stock Hot Tea Month Division Champion. Competition was tough; National Oatmeal Month congratulations to all participants, here’s to looking forward to next year. National Soup Month City News January 2014 Police Department Shopping Safety Tips year-round. Good advice to follow when shopping includes: • Keep your purse close to your body. • Don’t talk on cell phone when walking in malls, parking lots. • Don’t Resist - Don’t chase. They may have a weapon. Instead call 911. • At ATMs, check surroundings for lighting and safe location. • Carry only minimal credit cards; avoid carrying large amounts of cash. • Don’t buy more than you can carry. • When making credit card purchase, obtain carbons or be sure they are destroyed in front The Wichita Falls Police Department’s of you. holiday shopping tips are also good • If you are shopping with small children, practice to help citizens stay safe shopping make a plan in case you are separated.

1) Appointment Rappaport is: Time Tackle critical appointments for the entire Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin year and eliminate forgetting. Schedule home Luther King, Jr. maintenance appointments. 5) Something New 2) Desk Makeover Learning keeps the mind sharp and the soul But first celebrateNational Clean Off refreshed. Take non-credit courses at local Your Desk Day on January 13th. Look for colleges, Kemp Center for the Arts. Try: attractive, yet useful, desk accessories to start photography, painting, graphic design, Adobe off 2014. software, creative writing, music lessons, jewelry making, sewing, crochet, knitting. 3) Read with your child about Dr. Martin There are endless options. Can’t find classes? Luther King, Jr. Many free online tutorials are on You Tube This year, we honor his birthday on Monday, for just about everything. January 20th. An outstanding book by Doreen City News January 2014 Safety First

North Texas weather can change 940-761-6870. dramatically in a short amount of time. The • Don’t drive if the roads are bad. key to comfortably weathering an episode • Prepare disaster kits to include and staying safe is to be prepared and to necessary items such as: bottled follow guidelines and advisories that are water, canned food, glasses, issued. medicines, tissues, and a battery operated radio. • Check the news daily for upcoming • Have a plan, and make sure family storms. members know it. • Sign up for Code Red: this service sends severe weather alerts to your phone. • Sign up to receive City emails for weather warnings on the website under Notify Me. • Stay up-to-date with City news on Facebook and Twitter. • Visit the Emergency Management section on the Fire Department page of the City’s website. • Questions can be answered by the Emergency Preparedness Office at City News January 2014 Events Classic rock group STYX is returning to Wichita Falls to entertain both long- time fans and gain new ones. It has been 11 years since Styx has performed here at Memorial Auditorium and it’s certainly time for a great rock show. Styx is sure to deliver an outstanding performance on tap for January 12th at 7:30 PM. Styx has been front and center in recent years with two Super-Bowl appearances and hosting mega tours with Classic Rock icons such as: Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, and Bad Company. They have also recorded studio albums and are avidly touring the planet. The group is very well known to date for their highly successful albums from Blue”, and “Snowblind”. Television shows the mid 1970s and early 1980s. Among and commercials have also picked some great Styx’s many hit singles are “Come Sail Away”, “The Grand Illusion”, “Babe”, Styx hits to use in their programming. “Too Much Time On My Hands”, “Fooling Tickets range in price from $39 - $69; call Yourself (Angry Young Man)”, “Renegade”, the MPEC box office to check for current “Blue Collar Man”, “Lorelei”, Suite Madame availability. Parks & Recreation New Class Schedule 2014 Available January 6th Parks & Variety of Classes Enroll online: wichitafallstx.gov Rec Walk-in or Phone-in for continuing Classes students: 940-761-7490 City News January 2014

10th & Indiana 761-8887 Birthday Party 600 11th Street 767-0868 January 7th - 10:30 AM Preschool Entertainment: Clint Finley Storytime: Tuesday mornings - January 7, 14, Poker Tournament 21, 28; 10:30-11 AM. Prizes for 1st – 5th place Wednesday, January 15th Toddler Storytime: 2:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesday mornings Lunch: 12:30 pm; Cost: $3 - January 8, 15, 22, 29; Prizes: 1st – 5th place 10:30-11 AM. Sign-in begins at 4:30. Tournament Play- 2:00 PM Bring dessert or side to Babygarten: Thursday Games to be played from share. mornings - January 9, 16, approximately 5:00-7:45pm 23, 30; 10:30-11:30 AM. Pizza & drink may be Cash Bingo – purchased for $5. Fridays 2 PM Youth Crafts: Free Prize Bingo – Tuesdays, January 7 & 21 Unrated event - all ages. Tuesdays & Fridays 9AM from 4-5 PM. Children under age 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Karoke Storytimes and Craft Time Pre-register by calling Mon: 3 – 5 PM will be held in the Activity Room. (940)767-0868 ext. 243 or Tue: 2:45 – 5 PM 245. Thurs: 1:30 – 4 PM Checkmate Movies @ 1:30 & 5:30 The library will PM Challenge be closed January Tuesday - Features Monday, January 20th 1st for New Year’s Thursday – Throwback from 5:00-7:45 PM Films Room 205 Day. Friday - New Releases City News is produced by the City of Wichita Falls Public Information Office. For more information, call (940) 761-7401 or email [email protected]. City News January 2014 Things to do Wichita County Jr. Hall vs Livestock Show January 10, 8:00 AM - 8:00 Optimal Health University January 29, 7:05 PM - 10:00 PM @ JS Bridwell Ag Center January 18, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit PM @ Kay Yeager Coliseum KFDX Bridal Market Hall January 11, 9:00 AM - 4:00 Wichita Falls Wildcats vs PM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit Texas Oklahoma Barrel Hall Racing Association Jackpot January 19, 2:00 PM - 5:00 January 31, 7:00 PM - 10:00 Bulls, Bands & Barrels PM @ JS Bridwell Ag Center PM @ Kay Yeager Coliseum featuring Kevin Fowler January 11, 7:00 PM - 10:00 Wichita Falls Wildcats vs. Bulls PM @ Kay Yeager Coliseum January 24, 7:05 PM - 10:00 Styx PM @ Kay Yeager Coliseum Bands & January 12, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM @ Memorial Auditorium University Kiwanis Pancake Festival Barrels Cattle Trails Cow - Calf January 25, 6:00 AM - 6:00 Conference PM @ JS Bridwell Ag Center January 14, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit Wichita Falls Gun & Hall Knife Show January 25, 9:00 Wichita Falls Wildcats vs. AM - January 26, 6:00 PM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall January 17, 7:05 PM - 10:00 PM @ Kay Yeager Coliseum Wichita Falls Guitar Show January 25, 10:00 AM - 6:00 Martin Luther King Prayer PM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit & Scholarship Breakfast Hall January 18, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM @ Ray Clymer Exhibit

City Council Dates Tuesdays: January 7th and January 21st Meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh St. City News January 2014 Inside Activities

What’s in the Family Tree? Interview parents, grandparents and other family members for the names and stories of people who lived in the past. Filling in the names on the family tree branches can be an ongoing project long after the cold, windy-icy-snowy weather has left.

Create Family Movie Night at Home Let’s face it, going to the movies can cost a fortune. Create an atmosphere and host Kid Room Redo your own family movie night that involves Those same old four walls can get old during more than a couple of hours sitting on the the winter. If everyone is stuck inside, re- couch together. Kids can create movie tickets, energize these rooms. Work closely with kids make snacks and open their own concession to choose colors, themes and accessories stand. Go a step further, and help out English to give their bedrooms a new look. Try to teachers by having kids write movie reviews relax and give the kids some ownership of the afterward. project. Scrapbooking Make Your Own Wrapping Paper Digital cameras have taken over the world, Get ready for a year’s worth of birthday but then the photos usually sit on a hard drive parties by making wrapping paper with rubber and aren’t viewed like the pictures once taken stamps. Kids can design it with crayons, with film cameras. Print out photos and start markers or stickers. Use the same ideas to scrapbooking. Theme scrapbook pages for the create handmade packaages such as gift boxes winter and holidays with layout ideas. Need and gift bags. more inspiration? Check Pinterest or other online sources. Build Model Cars or a Dollhouse Help the Kids Create a Website A great feeling of accomplishment can be gained by pursuing these classic hobbies. Even if you have no design skills, learn by If your construction skills are lacking, sign building a website. Develop a theme: the up the kids for Lowe’s Build and Grow life and times of Fido, a tribute to a favorite workshop or a Home Depot Kids workshop. child star or a sampling of short stories, to These workshops encourage kids to build name a few of the possibilities. Continuing everything from bug houses to schoolhouses, to maintain and update a website is also and you can assist them as they create educational. something out of wood.