SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
A new aircraft display at Veterans Park showcases the City’s ongoing connection with the military
It’s Spooky Time Halloween is right around the corner and we’ve got info on safety tips, scary movies, and Halloween related City events
This fun annual event is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and public safety teams
September is Senior Center month. Learn about this important community service
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Elect: Faron Young
Mayor Pro Tem/Place 3: Amber Munoz
Place 1: Paul Moore
Place 2: Alan Price
Place 4: William Wright
Place 5: Gregg Geesa
CITY MANAGER
JEFFREY J. JAMES
AROUND THE CITY TEAM
Aaron C. Hall, Communications Manager
Maureen Barrett, Community Services Coordinator With assistance from the departments and staff of the City of White Settlement
Some material included in this publication is provided by other entities. The opinions expressed by those entities do not necessarily reflect the official views of the City. The City does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and is not responsible for errors or omissions. All Dates subject to change.
Welcome back to "Around the City", our digital newsletter. In this volume of the newsletter, you'll have a chance to learn more about the new aircraft display that was loaned to us by Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. This Phantom F-4E II creates a major impression on anyone travelling down Clifford Street and says a lot about our ongoing commitment to our nearby national defense partners. You’ll also read some fun stories about Halloween season as well as learn some important information about property taxes and our Senior Center. I hope you'll take the time to read everything within and that you enjoy my big 3 topics for this month.
At the September City Council meeting your elected officials approved the new budget and tax rate for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. I’d like to thank the council members as well as all the members of the public who attended the budget workshops and meetings. A lot of work goes into this process and it’s always a good feeling to get the budget wrapped up so we can start implementing the items it contains come October 1st. I am encouraged about the future of our City and I think we are moving in the right direction heading into the new year. I asked each of our departments not just to plan for 2024, but to also include preplanning for the 2024-2025 fiscal year in their budgets. I believe that a focus on the future will help us avoid getting lost in the challenges of today. In my six years as City Manager, I’ve made it a priority to think about not just about the success of White Settlement today, but how to ensure that White Settlement will stay successful in the years and decades to come. I hope that each of you also have that mindset so we can continue to work together as a community to leave a better White Settlement for our children and those who come after us.
A few weeks ago the City’s Pecan Grove Convention Center hosted the Paranormal Round Table’s 2nd Annual Dogman/Cryptid Conference. If you aren’t aware, cryptids are creatures such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster. This conference drew a lot of people into the City as it featured several guests who are well known in the cryptid world. A lot of time and effort has been spent on improving and marketing the Pecan Grove Convention Center. Coin shows, gun shows, and major conferences have taken notice and utilized this space for their events as have many individuals who hold weddings and banquets there. Drawing people into White Settlement where they will also spend money eating and shopping is a major economic development victory. It’s also great to have interesting and unique events we can all attend right here in our own backyard. I encourage you to keep an eye on the City calendar at www.wstx.us for the upcoming events being hosted at Pecan Grove.
If you follow the City’s social media accounts then you’ve likely seen posts about stormwater projects happening around town. These projects focus on important issues such as erosion control, waterway health, and pollution prevention. Stormwater is funded through a charge on your utility bill, and it’s important to me that our residents understand what that money goes toward. The next time you see one of the stormwater posts, please take a moment to read it. This department is doing important work and there are several stormwater projects on the horizon.
City Manager Jeff James
It’s not uncommon to run into traffic on Clifford Street but on August 26th drivers were doing doubletakes as they witnessed a F-4E Phantom II jet being pulled down Clifford toward Veterans Park. This major transportation undertaking was the result of months of logistical planning and preparation as the City received the aircraft display on loan from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth. The aircraft’s journey from its old home on the base to Veterans Park began early on the morning of August 26th and involved over ten different agencies and departments. It took a crane to lift the aircraft from its pad onto the roadway where it was then pulled across the base, across Lockheed Air Force Plant 4, then down Clifford to Veterans Park.
White Settlement Public Works crew members even had to disassemble a fence along the way so the aircraft could pass through. The aircraft was then brought down Clifford to the park, where it once again had to be lifted by a crane onto its new home. When you add in the WSPD running traffic control, the prep work done by the Parks and Recreation department to get the new display pad installed and ready, and so much more, this was a massive undertaking. All involved agreed that it was a worthwhile endeavor so the City could have a defining landmark that acts as a fitting tribute to the local military community and Armed Forces veterans that Veterans Park was named in honor of.
“Our city is rich in military heritage and history,” City Manager Jeff James said. “We have a strong partnership with the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and know that this military aircraft will enhance our park amenities, highlight the significant role of our Armed Forces, and serve as a reminder that freedom is never free.”
Military roots run deep in White Settlement, all the way back to 1942 when the area was referred to as Liberator Village. It gained that name since 1,200 workers lived in government housing in the area and worked on the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber at nearby Consolidated Aircraft Company. These workers assembled about 200 planes a month as part of the war effort. Carswell Air Force Base also opened in the same year and was in use from 1942 to 1994, acting as an important installation that trained and supported heavy strategic bombing groups and wings. Today, Lockheed Air Force Plant 4 still builds aircraft, now focusing on the F-35 Lightning II fifthgeneration strike fighter, and in 1994 Carswell was recommissioned to become what is now known as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth. These two important installations aren’t just impactful locally, they are also major contributors to national defense and a reminder that the military is not just part of White Settlement’s history, but also of its present and future.
Someone with strong ties to the Armed Forces is White Settlement Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Christopher Cook, who played a major role in coordinating with the base and securing the loan of the aircraft. As an Air Force veteran himself, Chief Cook worked hard to see the agreement through to the end. He and the WSPD team were on hand to direct traffic as the aircraft made its way to Veterans Park.
“As a standing testament to the military aviation community and our great country, I am hopeful this display will inspire future citizens to serve our nation as a member of the United States Armed Forces,” Chief Cook said.
Now that the aircraft is at its new home in White Settlement, there are several next steps being taken to complete the display. Low impact permanent fencing will be constructed to help keep the display in top condition while still allowing for uninterrupted sight lines and photo opportunities. Lighting will be installed to keep the display looking great even in the nighttime hours and touch up painting and maintenance work will be done on the aircraft. There will also be historical informational signage installed so visitors can learn about the significant historical value of the F-4E Phantom II as it was used heavily during its time in service over thirty five years from 1961 to 1996, seeing use in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Once these items are installed, a public dedication ceremony will be held to unveil the completed display.
“We are excited to bring this project to fruition and display such a formidable military aircraft for our residents and thousands of visitors who engage in activities at Veterans Park,” Community Services Director Rich Tharp said.
In the meantime, the aircraft is on site at the entrance to Veterans Park (8901 Clifford Street). Even without the improvements mentioned above, the display is impressive and impactful and worth a visit. The City is honored to have received the aircraft from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and hopes that residents and visitors enjoy this tribute to White Settlement’s military heritage.
OCTOBER IS FAST APPROACHING AND WE’VE COLLECTED ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT CITY EVENTS, HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS, AND EVEN A FUN LOOK AT SOME SCARY MOVIES!
Traditions around Halloween continue to change and grow with more focus being on trunk or treat and fall festival type events and less focus being on going door to door to trick or treat. However, there are still many people that continue to favor trick or treating, so if you’ve got your porchlight on this Halloween night you might find some expectant costumed visitors on your porch! Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re looking to give out candy/treats this Halloween!
Make it clear that your house is participating and ready to give out treats. This can be done by making sure your porchlight and other lights are on.
Keep your pets in a different part of the house. This is especially important if you have dogs that can get aggressive with visitors or have a tendency to run out the door.
Give clear instructions on how much candy to take. Kids can have a tendency to grab as much candy as possible, so if you have a limit on how much you’d like each kid to take, make it known in a kind, friendly manner. You can also hand out the candy yourself to avoid any one visitor taking too much.
Remember what it was like to be a kid. Trick or Treating can be a highlight of the fall for kids, so do all you can to make their time at your door fun, uplifting and enjoyable. Little things like complimenting the costumes, sharing a smile, or even decorating your porch a little can go a long way to enhancing the experience for trick or treaters.
If you and your family will be out trick or treating, there are several things to keep in mind to make this a safe and enjoyable outing.
Discuss safety with your kids before you head out. Establishing limits and expectations prior to trick or treating can go a long way in helping your kids know what to expect and how to behave.
Plan your route in advance. Utilize your knowledge of the neighborhoods around you and combine that with a little research to find good areas to go trick or treating. Social media has become more and more useful in finding areas where a lot of houses are planning on participating.
Prioritize visibility. Flashlights, headlamps, reflective tape on costumes, all of these are viable options if you plan on being out after dark. Even if a strip of reflective tape isn’t the most flattering addition to a costume, it can go a long way in keeping trick or treaters visible to passing vehicles.
Inspect candy and treats before letting your kids eat them. Tampering with Halloween candy is a rare occurrence, but it’s still good sense to take time to make sure all the candy your child gathered is properly sealed and safe for consumption. This can also be a good time to portion out the candy so not too much gets eaten at any one time.
Each year, the White Settlement Library holds the Storybook Pumpkin Contest. This unique decorating contest gives kids (and adults!) of all ages an opportunity to show their creativity and bring their favorite characters to life. Entries in the contest must be decorated, not carved. You can use paint, paper, glue, fabric, or other craft items. Kids from preschool to 12th grade can pick up a free pumpkin at the Library beginning on Tuesday, October 10th. Supplies are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. Adults are encouraged to participate, but must provide their own pumpkin. Entries are due by October 24th at 6 pm and winners will be announced at the Halloween Storytime on Thursday, October 26th at 4:30 pm.
Each volume, City staff members select a few themed movies that we think are worth watching. While all movies suggested are rated PG-13 or below, please be sure to research the movie's content for yourself to ensure it is appropriate for you and your family.
When garbage collector Ernest P. Worrell accidentally unleashes an evil troll, it’s up to him to fix his mistake by taking on the creature. With help from some local kids, Ernest spends Halloween night battling the evil troll. The film is full of slapstick humor and gross-out gags, but it also has a heartwarming message about friendship and courage. The Ernest character is kind-hearted, goofy, and resourceful and represents a type of humor not found much in modern film.
Suggested by Aaron H.
Two sisters who happen to be witches are raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town. They face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love. With a breathtaking setting in New England, the movie has plenty of supernatural elements, but its focus on the bond between sisters helps make it stand apart as a truly great film.
Suggested by Maureen B.
1999 - HORROR/THRILLER - PG-13
A young boy suffers from a terrible affliction as he can see and interact with ghosts. These ghosts often have unresolved issues they’ve left behind in the land of the living. The boy only shares about this with Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a child psychologist who has some real world problems of his own. This creepy film launched the career of renowned director M. Night Shyamalan and has a twist ending that took pop culture by storm and is still talked about to this very day. A Halloween classic, and as truly terrifying as a PG-13 film can ever get.
Suggested by Juan B.
LITTLE
1986 - MUSICAL/HORROR - PG-13
in this cult classic film, nerdy flower shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) spends his days pining after co-worker Audrey. Things take a turn for Seymour when he discovers a strange plant that feeds only on humans. As you can imagine, things get out of hand, and as the plant grows larger and larger so does the films ridiculous plot. Little Shop of Horrors is a darkly funny and campy film that explores themes of greed, power, and temptation. Filled with catchy songs and memorable performances from such major talents as Steve Martin, Jim Belushi, John Candy, and Bill Murray, this movie remains a cult classic to this day.
Suggested by Robert N.
After moving to Salem, Massachusetts, teenager Max goes to explore an abandoned house with his sister and new friend. Max inadvertently frees a trio of evil witches who used to live in the house. Thanks to the advice of a magical cat, Max steals the witches spellbook as he and his friends go on the run. Desperate to use the spellbook to achieve immortality, the witches pursue, leading to an adventurous Halloween night. Another classic Halloween film, this one is anchored by the performance given by Bette Midler as one of the witches. A sequel was released just last year, so fans of this original can finally enjoy more of the Hocus Pocus story.
Suggested by Randy
R.THE
1987 - HORROR/COMEDY - PG-13
It doesn’t get more 80's than this classic, as a group of teenage friends who idolize the Universal classic monster movies stumble upon the diary of monster hunter Van Helsing and learn that not only are the classic monsters real, but that unless someone acts quick, the monsters will take over the world! Full of the kind of teenage hijinks that made 80's movies so much fun, this is a lighthearted take on classic monsters like Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein’s monster.
Suggested by Yvette
W.Planning on decorating your yard for Planning on decorating your yard for Halloween? The Pride Commission is bringing Halloween? The Pride Commission is bringing back the Halloween Decorating Contest! back the Halloween Decorating Contest! Nominate your own house or any other houses Nominate your own house or any other houses that you see around town that you think have that you see around town that you think have great decorations! Judging will look at factors great decorations! Judging will look at factors such as scariest decorations, funniest such as scariest decorations, funniest decorations, and most creative! We want to see decorations, and most creative! We want to see the best of the best, so if you come across great the best of the best, so if you come across great decorations be sure to nominate them! decorations be sure to nominate them!
The contest is limited to what can be seen from the street, in a homeowner's front yard. People or live animals not allowed in the display. Judging the nominated homes will be the evening of October 26, 2023. Please have decorations on by 6pm. Judge's decisions are final. To nominate a house CLICK HERE or email the address to kwsb@wstx.us and include the homeowner contact information if you have it. For questions, call 817-246-5012
One of the core tenets of National Night Out is to build neighborhood camaraderie and policecommunity partnerships. This annual event is a great chance to get to know your neighbors better, to learn more about your community, and to learn more about the people and public safety organizations that operate in your community.
On Tuesday, October 3rd, the 2023 National Night Out event will be held at Veterans Park (8901 Clifford Street) from 6 to 8 pm. The 2022 National Night Out event was the most successful in White Settlement history, bringing in just shy of 1000 people and featuring public safety agencies and organizations from around the metroplex. Even with such a heavy focus on important
issues, there were plenty of fun activities and treats to make the event enjoyable for all ages. The City even won a National Night Out award from the National Association of Town Watch for the 2022 event.
“This was truly an honor to accept this award on behalf of our community and public safety team,” Chief of Police Christopher Cook said.
Building upon the success of 2022, the White Settlement Police Department has spent months planning the 2023 National Night Out event. The theme for this year is reestablishing Neighborhood Watch Groups. There used to be many active neighborhood watch groups across the city, and Chief Cook and the WSPD team are looking to revitalize the program. A neighborhood watch group is made up of people who live in the same area and want to work together in partnership with local law enforcement to make the neighborhood safer and reduce crime. This is done primarily through keeping an eye out for suspicious persons and activities and reporting them to the police department. Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to stop by the Neighborhood Watch Group table that will be set up at National Night Out. If you already think you’d like to be a participant or even a block captain, you can email wspd@wspd.us to express interest and seek out more information. These groups can be a powerful way to expand the growing partnership between the WSPD and the community as all parties work together in pursuit if maintaining safe communities that can be enjoyed by all.
Beyond the focus on Neighborhood Watch Groups, National Night Out will once again be filled with visiting agencies and organizations that can empower residents to take an active role in keeping their homes and communities safe. It’s a great opportunity to meet not just public safety officials, but also your municipal
leaders and elected officials, as well as your own neighbors and fellow residents who will be at the event. There will be food, activities, military displays, an F-35 display, and many more activities and guests that are being finalized. Make plans to attend and take time at the event to meet people, ask questions, and of course, have a great time!
At the September City Council meeting, Mayor Faron Young read a proclamation declaring September as Senior Center Month. The proclamation spoke about the importance of the Senior Center. This service to the community acts as a catalyst for mobilizing the creativity, energy, and vitality of the older residents of White Settlement. The Center provides a place for seniors to enjoy a warm meal, take part in activities, classes, and health checks, and to socialize with others. The Senior Center offers older adults a place where they have the needed resources to live with purpose, independence, and dignity.
One of the biggest challenges facing a Senior Center is the perception of what this facility
offers. Anyone expecting a boring, quiet building has surely never experienced one of the Senior Center’s lively band dances! These events take place ten times a year and feature live music and an open dance floor. Holiday parties are another chance to see just how spirited the center can get. All major holidays are celebrated at the center with themed parties, treats, and activities.
Another important aspect of the Senior Center is equipping older residents with information to help them succeed. Health screenings are held regularly to assist them with staying on top of their health. Monthly fraud classes are also available so everyone can know the latest scams that are happening in the world and how to avoid
falling victim to them. Many scams are designed to directly target senior citizens which makes it important to stay informed and prepared.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the Senior Center is that it is available to be utilized however older residents wish. They can come daily and take part in every activity and event, taking the exercise classes, the music classes, and enjoying every band dance and holiday party. The center is also available for those just looking for a place to share a conversation with a friend, or to enjoy a hot meal and do a puzzle. Transportation services are available for those White Settlement seniors who don’t have a ride, making the center accessible who all residents who need it.
The White Settlement Senior Center is located at 8211 White Settlement Rd and is open Monday - Friday from 9 am to 1 pm. If you’d like to learn more about the Senior Center and how to be a part of it call 817-2466619.
A Brakes Plus location is coming to the City of White Settlement. A brand new building is being constructed in the parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement on Alta Mere on the other side of 341. This picture gives you a good idea of what a Brakes Plus location looks like. While the word brakes is in their name, Brakes Plus also offers a variety of other automotive services such as air conditioning, alignment, batteries, oil changes, transmission, starter and alternator, and much more.
The yellow circle on the picture shows the approximate location of the new Brakes Plus. A variance has been granted that will allow Lowe’s and the new Brakes Plus to share the existing parking lot.
If you’ve been by the corner of White Settlement Rd and the 820 Access Road in the past several months then you’ve seen the progress on this new property. The building itself looks fantastic, but there’s even more good news when you look at the sign out front. Half of this new building already has a tenant, and that tenant will be Hawkins Tasty Food. Previously operating in the area as the Hawkins Tasty Food on the Move food truck, this will be a permanent restaurant location for Hawkins Tasty Food. Their food truck serves up a great variety of delicious food such as burgers, chicken, shrimp, poboys, pulled pork and more and we can’t wait to see what delicious items they have on the menu at this new location. As you can see from the pictures below taken from the Hawkins Tasty Food on the Move Facebook page, we’re all in for a treat! Current estimates put the completion of this location a few months away. Stay tuned for grand opening information!
Thanks to a new part of the City of White Settlement web page, it’s easier than ever to stay informed about what’s happening with the City Council. If you visit the https://www.wstx.us/1546/Meeting-Videos page, you’ll find easy access to all of the video replays of recent council meetings. These meeting videos are usually posted either directly following the meeting or the next morning. They also contain convenient closed captions to make it easier to keep up with all that’s being said in the meetings. This new feature of the website was made possible after a technology upgrade in the council chambers installed new audio and video equipment. This equipment includes multiple cameras and enhanced audio so not only can the council be better seen and heard, but so too can those presenting and speaking to the elected officials.
One of the exciting aspects of this new technology is that it extends beyond just City Council to every board. If you’ve ever been curious about what happens at other City board meetings or just want to keep up with all City business, recordings of those meetings are also available at the link above.
On September 5th, the White Settlement City Council approved the budget and property tax that will go into effect on October 1st, also known as the City’s 2023-2024 fiscal year. This brings to close over six months of preparation and work that goes into the budget process. For the upcoming fiscal year, the property tax will fall from its current rate of $0.712115 per $100 of valuation to the new rate of $0.667233 per $100 of valuation. A lower tax rate is good for home owners, but it’s only one part of the property tax process. This process involves multiple stages and several entities beyond just the City. In an effort to help better explain this process, Finance Director Krystal Crump and her team worked to create the Resident’s Guide to Property Taxes. This transparency document offers an in depth look at everything that goes into property taxes.
One common misunderstanding is who sets the appraised value of your home. This is not done by the City, but is handled by the Tarrant Appraisal District. Another thing to understand is that taxes are paid to multiple entities. For a White Settlement resident, you pay taxes to Tarrant County, White Settlement Independent School District, the City of White Settlement, Tarrant County College, and Tarrant County hospitals. Each of these entities set their own tax rates. Once tax rates go into effect, the billing and collection process is handled by the Tarrant County Tax Assessor.
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into the property tax process. We encourage anyone interested in learning more to set aside a few minutes to read the Resident’s Guide to Property Taxes by CLICKING HERE.
Keep White Settlement Beautiful will be collecting toiletries to make gift bags for the Seniors at the White Settlement Senior Center. This idea came about because our community has such a giving nature and we wanted to give people the opportunity to rally around the seniors. Last year the City generously donated over 457 cans of food for the Senior Food and 89 Coats for the coat drive. This year we decided to mix it up a little and provide them toiletries, which are in high demand. Here is a list of common items needed. Any wipes, adult diapers, body wash, shampoo, bar soap, toothbrushes, denture glue, deodorant, powder etc. Every donation will go directly to the Seniors. If you would like to make donation or if you have any questions please call Maureen at 817-246-5012. EXT 859.
The Raymond Spray Park is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm. The park is open seasonally so it will close after September 24th. Remember, to activate the water you have to push the button on the pole. Then you will have 4 minutes of fresh (not recycled) water fun!
Join us Saturday, September 30th from 9 am to 2 pm at the White Settlement Recreation Center (8213 White Settlement Rd) for the White Settlement Community Health Expo. The Health Expo is a free event where residents can receive information about all the benefits, designated products, and services for health in the community. Enjoy activities, food trucks, and more at this informative and fun event!
Join us on Saturday, September 16th at 8 am for Fall Trash Bash. This year Keep White Settlement Beautiful will be at the Playground Pavilion at Veterans Park to clean up litter and debris. There will be giveaways, litter prevention information, and snacks. Help us with our commitment to educate about litter prevention.
The Senior Center will host a Parking Lot Sale, Saturday October 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. Stop by to grab some great deals on new and used items from the community.
The City of White Settlement tries to provide opportunities for our residents and other interested parties to get involved! We have partnered with Helper Helper to make volunteering around town easier than ever! To sign up for Helper Helper: scan the QR code below. If you want to volunteer but don't want to use the app call 817-246-5012 ext 859.
Cigarette butts aren’t considered litter to most people. When it comes to litter, many of us focus on the usual suspects: plastic straws, coffee cups, plastic bags, etc. But the reality is cigarette butts are one of the most littered items on Earth. You have probably witnessed someone throwing a cigarette butt on to the ground or out the car window. Many think it is safer to extinguish the cigarette if they toss it out or down the storm drain or into a body of water, making that cigarette no longer your problem but the World’s problem. 32% of litter in storm drains are tobacco products. From storm drains they make it to beaches and our waterways. This hurts our aquatic and wildlife in many ways. Let’s start with the paper of a cigarette. 600 million trees are chopped down annually by the tobacco industry. On average, each tree produces enough paper for 15 packs of cigarettes. Now onto the filter. 95% of filters are made of a plastic called cellulose acetate causing them to take up to 15 years to breakdown. Every cigarette has several chemicals like nicotine, pesticides and metal. They are toxic to the air quality and when thrown on the ground the chemicals can get into the soil and inhibit plant growth. Animals and plants absorb the toxic cigarette residue. If you think and ecigarette is better it’s not. These have been known to explode and many of them are not recyclable. E-cigarettes introduce plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, lead, mercury, and flammable lithium-ion batteries into waterways, soil, and to wildlife.
There are ways to help our environment as it pertains to smoking. Getting a portable ashtray for your vehicle can make it easier to properly dispose of cigarette butts. For ecigs, make sure to only use the type that can be recycled. Taking the time to properly dispose of used cigarettes can go a long way in helping the environment.
Sewer Cleanout pipes are an important part of maintaining your personal service lines and protecting the sewer system. Many residents do not know where theirs are located. They are usually located in the backyard (see above picture). Cleanout is a pipe connected vertically to the underground sewer line. It has a removable cap to make it easier for plumbing maintenance. This way the plumbers have quick and easy access. The caps are critical to prevent problems in your sewer line. For instance the cap prevents stormwater from entering the sewer system. Rainwater entering the line can cause rust and corrosion. It also keeps out debris, rodents, small animals, including snakes from entering the sewer line and possibly infiltrating your home. Debris and animals can also cause a major blockage and lead to backups in your home. Repairs to your system can be very costly. Without a cap, toxic and non-toxic gases like methane and hydrogen sulfide can slowly escape your sewer system and enter your home, resulting in a foul odor. To prolong the life of the sewer system remember to check your cap, and replace when necessary. It is an inexpensive part to protect your home and give you piece of mind.
The National Drug Take Back Day will be on Saturday October 28th at the White Settlement Police department. This program aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public of why proper disposal of medication is important. While there are several reasons to take your expired or unused prescriptions drugs for disposal, we would like to discuss pharmaceutical pollution. Our medications, intended to heal us, can harm us if they aren’t disposed of safely. Active drug compounds can get into our soil, water systems and food sources. The drugs get into the drinking water supply through several routes: some people flush unneeded medication down toilets; other medicine gets into the water supply after people take medication, absorb some, and pass the rest out in urine or feces. Some traces of pharmaceuticals can remain even after wastewater treatments and cleansing by water treatment plants, some investigations have shown.
Many people were never told that there’s a right and wrong way to dispose of their unused or expired medication and may not realize that they are causing harm by not disposing of medications properly. It’s important to prioritize the proper disposal of medication so it doesn’t end up causing pharmaceutical pollution. If you miss the Drug Take Back event, there are still plenty of easy ways for you to safely dispose of medications. The White Settlement Police Department has a prescription drug disposal container year round in the front lobby for your unused and expired prescriptions. Pharmacies such as Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens also have disposal containers.
SEPT. 4th : Labor Day (CITY OFFICES CLOSED)
SEPT. 5th: CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPT.9TH: ROCK THE BOAT CARDBOARD
BOAT RACE
SEPT.16TH: TRASH BASH
SEPT. 23rd-24th: COMMUNITY CLEANUP
OCT. 3RD: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
OCT. 7TH: SENIOR PARKING LOT SALE
OCT 9TH : COLUMBUS DAY (CITY OFFICES
CLOSED)
OCT. 10TH: CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCT. 21ST-22ND: COMMUNITY CLEANUP
OCT. 30: BACK THE BOO TRUNK OR TREAT
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