Around the City Vol. 12

IN THIS ISSUE...

VOLUME 12

MAY/JUN 2024

We’ve got a major cover story for you in this volume as we dive into what’s kept the White Settlement Fire Department going for 75 YEARS STRONG. We’ll look back in time at the formation of the department in 1949, speak with firefighters who served as volunteers, look at the transition to a paid, professional department, and even look forward to what the future holds for the WSFD. It’s one of our biggest cover stories ever and we hope you’ll enjoy giving it a read!

In some of our other feature stories, we’ll also look at why EVERY VOTE COUNTS. There’s more than just a presidential election to consider in 2024 and we’ve got all the info for you on the coming pages. Ever heard of the Granny Basketball League? Trust us when we say that these grannies STILL GOT GAME as we take a look at this growing basketball league for women over the age of 50. We’ve also got a feature looking at a SOLID GOLD organization inside the City called Keep White Settlement Beautiful and the new levels they are reaching with their environmentally focused work.

You’ll find all of these stories and more as you read on. We hope you enjoy this publication, we’re glad to have you here! And as always, we kick off this volume with City Manager Jeff James and his BIG THREE!

CITY COUNCIL

Mayor: 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

City Manager Jeff James

THE CITY MANAGER’S

B I G T H R E E

You’ll be reading a lot in this volume about the 75th anniversary of the White Settlement Fire Department. This is a significant milestone and I’m excited for you to learn more about the history of this department. The volunteer spirit that created and drove the WSFD for many decades reveals a lot about the type of people who call White Settlement home. Way back in 1949, members of the community came together to create the department not for personal gain, but for the good of their neighbors and loved ones. The legacy of the WSFD is something we can all be proud of. I was involved in the evolution of the department as we moved it to what it is today, a fully paid, professional department. These changes were necessary to meet the needs of our growing city, but one thing every community member should be proud of is that the WSFD today still maintains that same selfless community spirit it did 75 years ago when it was created.

Infrastructure maintenance may not be the most exciting subject for most people but it’s a very important topic. White Settlement is made up of 68 miles of streets. That’s a lot of area to maintain, especially with construction costs that continue to rise. Recent years have brought major increases in these costs. Bids for full street reconstruction projects are millions of dollars and coming in higher than ever. We’ll continue to focus these reconstruction projects in the areas that need them most, but we’re also putting a focus on street maintenance. Practices such as crack sealing and chip sealing can help prolong the life of our streets. With many aging streets that need attention, this will allow us a little more time to address critical issues first.

We’re moving into the summer season and there are some exciting things going on that I want to make sure you’re aware of. Splash Dayz Water Park will open on May 25th. We continue to have special pricing on season passes for White Settlement residents and I hope that any of you who are interested will take advantage of that. Also starting soon will be the annual Library Summer Reading Program. The theme for this year is “Adventure Begins at Your Library” and there will be chances to read books and win. The Library’s Friday Summer Shows will also return. In past years these have featured magicians, animals, puppets, weird science and other fun and engaging programs. For anyone looking to be active in the warm weather, check out our Parks and Recreation programs for adult softball and other activities you can get involved in. Of course, you won’t want to miss our annual Summer Celebration on June 29th. Be sure you make plans to join us at Veterans Park for fireworks, food trucks, and lots of fun activities. This event gets bigger every year and I think this year is going to be a big success.

75 YEARS STRONG

If you’re reading this prior to May 4th, 2024, you are cordially invited to the 75th anniversary open house event at the White Settlement Fire Department (8308 Hanon Drive) on Saturday, May 4th, from noon until 2 pm. Tour the fire station, meet the firefighters, meet returning volunteer firefighters, eat some good food, and see all that goes into running a fire department. We hope to see you there!

The year was 1949, and the growing City of White Settlement was in need of a fire department. In May of 1949, Mayor Curby Mirike called a meeting to address the issue. Assisted by J.C. Swadley Jr., the Fire

Chief of Grand Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, Mayor Mirike organized and launched the White Settlement Volunteer Fire Department. Hard working men gave up their free time and on occasion put their lives on the line to staff the newly formed volunteer department. Their selfless dedication to the community still reverberates all these years later as the White Settlement Fire Department celebrates its seventy-five year anniversary. Now a fully paid professional department, the WSFD continues to be a cornerstone of the community.

“We are blessed to have a professional department staffed by people who are passionate about the fire service and about the City of White Settlement,” City Manager Jeff James said. “Myself and the elected officials in 2016 started the transition to a paid department and with the assistance of former Fire Chief Mark Ball that process went better than any of us could have imagined.”

Two of the men who are currently on staff at the WSFD are Captain Chris Harrell and Firefighter Gwyn Culpepper. They carry a unique perspective that few others could as each of them were a part of the fire department long before it became a paid position. Captain Harrell started volunteering in the fall of 1994, while Firefighter Culpepper became a volunteer in 2001. They recently sat down with us to share a glimpse of what life was like in the volunteer department and how things have changed in recent years.

LIFE IN THE VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT

A volunteer fire department may conjure up images of a ragtag, barely together operation, but Captain Harrell said that couldn’t be further from the truth for the old White Settlement Volunteer Fire Department.

“People in town thought we were a paid department,” Captain Harrell said.

Many of those volunteering were professional firefighters from surrounding cities. They were joined by business owners and residents who were personally invested in the City. Even those who weren’t professional firefighters had to pass a series of tests, do drills, learn and train, almost always on their own time and at their own expense. The volunteer department was broken into two companies, one for the day and one for the night. Each volunteer

Gwyn Culpepper (Left) and Chris Harrell both served as volunteers and remained with the WSFD as it became a fully paid, professional department.

carried a pager and when there was a call it would alert all volunteers in that company. When it came time to go out on a call, there was no leniency for being a volunteer department.

“The expectation for how we performed on scenes was very high,” Captain Harrell said. “Every volunteer handled it like a job.”

Firefighter Culpepper remembers the required Thursday training at the fire station. This was a time when members of both day and night companies would come together to sharpen their skills and learn new ones. The dedication required went beyond just training, as volunteers had to show up for at least fifteen percent of the calls their company got each month to maintain their status as a volunteer firefighter.

All the talk about sacrifice and hard work, all for no pay, may suggest unhappiness from the volunteers, but if Captain Harrell and Firefighter Culpepper are any indication, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“It’s where you wanted to be,” Firefighter Culpepper said.

Captain Harrell agreed, sharing a memory of rushing out of the house in an attempt to make it to the fire station to go out on a call.

“You wanted a seat on that truck,” Captain Harrell said.

Both men also shared about the brotherhood that formed between everyone at the Volunteer Fire Department. They spoke fondly about the professional firefighters who volunteered

The WSFD firefighting fleet, then and now.

Shortly after he was hired in 2023, Current Fire Chief Rick Sanderson shared his thoughts on the long history of White Settlement’s Volunteer Fire Department.

“The very fact that White Settlement was able to maintain a volunteer fire department until 2018 in a large metropolitan area, that’s impressive. It speaks a lot about the kind of folks who live here, that they’re willing to give up their time and put themselves in harm's way on a volunteer basis. To do that well into the 21st century, it’s impressive and it’s a history that’s very admirable and I know the community does and should take pride in it,” Chief Sanderson said.

The White Settlement Volunteer Fire Department was driven by the love the volunteers had for their city and the duty they felt to protect it and serve its people. No matter what kind of call or work was required of them, the volunteer members of the WSFD did it with pride, with individuals across generations serving the community as volunteers from 1949 until 2018 when the transition to a paid professional fire department began.

A TIME TO TRANSITION

As 2018 neared, new factors placed growing demands on the White Settlement Volunteer Fire Department. With a growing population and new residential and commercial development happening across the City, the department had more calls than ever. This meant that it wasn’t always easy to keep the station staffed with enough volunteers.

“There were times when we couldn’t get a truck out because not enough volunteers responded to a call,” Captain Harrell said.

This presented a challenging task to City Manager Jeff James and the elected officials. Standing up a professional fire department was going to take major effort, not to mention budget dollars and some major know-how. A big piece of solving that puzzle came with the hiring of Fire Chief Mark Ball. Mark had served as a volunteer firefighter in White Settlement in 1982 and went on to have a nearly forty year career in the fire industry, notably working as a Captain in the Fort Worth Fire Department. Prior to talking to City Manager Jeff James in early 2018, Mark had retired from the fire service.

“I was actually trying to convince him to sit on a board and help me decide between other fire chief applicants,” Jeff James said. “But after having the opportunity to meet Mark I basically that day offered him the job.”

Fire Chief Rick Sanderson has been leading the WSFD since being hired in April 2023.

Mark’s answer didn’t come immediately. He wanted to be sure that his wife Lori was on board with the plan. Lori Ball was no stranger to serving the City of White

Settlement. She served as a WSISD Board of Trustees member from 1994 to 2011 and she also worked with the Bomber News community newspaper for over two decades, keeping the people of White Settlement informed from 1995-2017 as a part of the newspaper. With Lori’s approval, Mark came to an agreement and joined the WSFD.

A plan was in place to transition gradually to a professional fire department over five years. Some of the goals set were to get further training and certifications for the firefighters, to hire more personnel, and finding a way to acquire more equipment. Chief Ball also spoke about the need for the City to create stronger working relationships with surrounding cities and fire departments. The first goal was to get the City of Fort Worth to enter into a mutual aid agreement with the White Settlement Fire Department, something that was not going to be easy.

“That was a big hill for us to climb,” City Manager Jeff James said. “For them to enter into an agreement we had to meet their standards of professionalism and show that we were capable enough and were a department they could work alongside.”

Chief Ball set about raising the standards of the White Settlement Fire Department and getting new certifications and gear that would allow the WSFD to meet the requirements for the Fort Worth Mutual Aid agreement.

“Chief Ball was instrumental in getting that agreement in place,” Jeff James said. “After that we were on our way.”

Mark Ball (left, shaking hands with City Manager Jeff James) was an integral part of helping the WSFD transition to a paid department.

As the City built up the relationship with the Fort Worth Fire Department and as the White Settlement Fire Department reached new professional level benchmarks, the WSFD was able to enter into several new mutual aid agreements that would keep surrounding departments on standby if they were needed to assist the White Settlement Fire Department. It also showed that the WSFD was able to be relied upon to render aid to these surrounding areas if needed.

Just as the transition began in 2018, the City hired John Warren, who is now one of the Captains with the White Settlement Fire Department. Captain Warren had been working in the Sansom Park Fire Department and has a unique perspective as he got to see the WSFD begin the change from a volunteer to a paid department. He recalled how much impact the change had on the firefighters at the White Settlement department.

“Everyone loved firefighting and it meant something to start getting paid,” Captain Warren said. “They could say ‘I am a professional firefighter’. That meant something to your pride.”

Firefighter Culpepper was one of only a handful of volunteers who stayed on to become a professional firefighter. He stated that the biggest change he saw as the department began to transition was in the structure system.

“There was more accountability and everyone was just on one track focused on the goal of standing up a paid department,” Culpepper said.

Work continued toward that goal and in 2021, after three years on the job, Chief Ball was ready to retire again.

“We were charged with standing up a full time professional Fire Department over the course of three to five years,” City

Captain John Warren (left, pictured with fellow Captains Harrell and Kostyak) joined the WSFD right as it became a paid department.

Manager Jeff James said. “Mark achieved those goals in just over three years.”

At the March 2021 City Council meeting, then Mayor Ronald A. White spoke highly of the job that Chief Ball had done.

“I appreciate and honor every hour you’ve spent with this White Settlement Fire Department. You’ve done a fantastic job. You’ve done a job that most people couldn’t do,” Mayor White told Chief Ball.

It took the effort of a lot of people, but the transition plan happened more quickly and more smoothly than anyone could’ve hoped for.

“The move we had from a volunteer department to a professional one is a real testament to what a government and a community can do when they come together and decide to accomplish a big goal,” City Manager Jeff James said.

Captain Warren spoke about some of the many things he’s seen the department accomplish since 2018.

“From better gear, more competitive compensation, achieving higher standards and levels of professionalism, we have accomplished so much,” Captain Warren said.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

An anniversary as significant as seventyfive years is a natural occasion to look back, but it’s also a time to look forward. The WSFD has spent 89% of its time in existence as a volunteer department, and only 11% as a paid, professional department. That leaves plenty of space for things at the WSFD to continue to grow.

“I don’t think we’re done evolving. Not even close,” Captain Harrell said.

Just as the world around it changes, so must a fire department. More people and businesses means more calls and sometimes creates the opportunity for multiple calls at a time. One of the many strengths of current Fire Chief Rick Sanderson is not just managing the fire department of today, but spending time preparing for the challenges that will face the fire department of tomorrow. How to deal with car fires for electric cars that have lithium-ion batteries, how modern building materials impact how house fires spread, how to mitigate wildfire threats, how to extricate passengers from modern vehicles that have new safety features, these are just some of the things that have to be considered.

“The world around us is constantly changing, and we must be prepared to meet the challenges that will come,” Chief Sanderson said.

The WSFD is also investing more in community engagement. Programs such as the Citizen Fire Academy are opening up access to the fire service for residents who are interested in learning more about what firefighters really do. Expanding existing programs like fire education at schools is also something both Captain Harrell and Warren are interested in pursuing. Plans are also being discussed for a more involved program that could allow people to volunteer to receive training and be a part of assisting the firefighters on duty. These individuals wouldn’t quite be volunteer firefighters, but a volunteer serving the fire department and the community. It’s hard not to see this proposed program as a poetic full circle tribute to the spirit of what made the WSFD so special way back when it was created in 1949. If implemented, it will be a nice way to keep the volunteer spirit alive, even in the midst of continued professional growth at the fire station.

As much as things may change in the years to come, the core tenets of the White Settlement Fire Department still remain focused on serving the citizens.

Ask anyone in the department and they’ll tell you the same thing. They’re here to serve the people of White Settlement.

“This department is invested in the Citizens of White Settlement,” Captain Warren said. “We’re here to take care of them.”

How does a fire department best accomplish that goal? Captain Harrell has a fitting answer for that question.

“You treat them like they’re family.”

Chief among that family are all of the men and women who have served as part of the White Settlement Fire Department over its 75 year history. From volunteers to fire professionals and every person in between, the City offers its heartfelt thanks to all who have served. It is through your dedication and sacrifice that the WSFD has been able to endure for 75 years and so faithfully and exceptionally serve this community.

Community engagement is a big focus for the WSFD.

DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT UPDATES UPDATES

Indoor Pickleball is coming to White Settlement on May 24th when The Picklr opens at 1705 S Cherry Lane (next to Academy in the old Dirt Cheap building). Pickleball is a fast growing sport similar to tennis but is played on a smaller court and usually in a 2 vs 2 format. The Picklr will feature 9 courts and works on a membership format where users join monthly for use of the facilities. The Picklr will also feature leagues, tournaments, clinics, gear demos and much more for members. If you’d like to learn more about why Pickleball is one of the biggest new sports, CLICK HERE to watch a short video.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS

A lot of people vote in a Presidential election. When the highest office in the land is on the ballot, around 60% of the eligible voting population votes. It makes sense that Americans are interested in casting a vote for this important position, but voters often don’t make it to the polls in non-presidential elections. Midterm election year voter turnout hovers around 40% and it can be far lower for State and local elections. These numbers plummet even further when it comes to issues such as runoff elections which have historically struggled to get voters to return to the polls.

Most people agree, they want their vote to matter. This is true of major elections, but not enough voters carry this attitude over to non-presidential elections. Local elections are sometimes decided by just a handful of votes, and contested runoff elections can swing one way or the other up to the last minute. As you prepare to cast your important presidential vote later this year, also consider keeping an eye out for other elections. In the month of May there are two elections taking place.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

All candidates listed in the order they will appear on ballots. For more election information visit

May 4: JOINT GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS

On this ballot

Tarrant Appraisal District General Election

Board of Directors place 1

Sayeda Bilqees Syed

Trae Fowler

Eric Morris

Board of Directors place 2

Callie Rigney

Eric B. Crile

Board of Directors place 3

Chuck Kelley

Lee Henderson

Matt Bryant

White Settlement Independent School District General Election

School Board Trustee place 1

Raymond Patterson

School Board Trustee place 2

Jerrimy Farris

John D. Morton

Glen R. Lowry

School Board Trustee place 3

Robin Evans

Amanda Clay Sanchez

May 28: PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS

On the Democratic ballot

Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election

State Representative District 97

Diane Symons

Carlos Walker

On the Republican ballot

Republican Party Primary Runoff Election

United States Representative District 12

John C. O’Shea

Craig Goldman

State Representative District 97

Cheryl Bean

John McQueeney

sci-fi sci-fi sci-fi

MOVIES WORTH WATCHING

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.

BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED 1987

- Comedy/Sci-Fi Fantasy - PG

In this quirky sci-fi comedy, the residents of a run-down apartment building in New York City face eviction from a big shot property developer. Their odds of keeping their homes and business seem hopeless until some otherworldly help shows up! These mysterious flying saucer robots begin to use their alien technology to help the residents fix the building and fight back against the greedy property developer. This is the kind of story that Steven Spielberg got famous telling and still conjures up enough whimsy and feel good moments to make it worth checking out.

EUROPA REPORT

If you’re like me and think that deep space exploration would be a terrifying endeavor, allow Europa Report to confirm that suspicion. Presented in a very realistic way, this movie chronicles the mission of an international crew of astronauts as they head to a moon of Jupiter to look for signs of life below the icy surface. Their mission gets thrown into disarray when a freak accident cuts off all communication with Earth and things just get even weirder and crazier from there. This movie didn’t get a lot of attention when it released but it’s definitely one worth watching. 2013 - Sci-Fi Thriller - PG-13

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

This movie was shunned by a lot of people due to the slightly odd style of the computer animated main character, but if you get past that it’s a fantastic film. Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned cyborg Alita is found in a scrapyard by a compassionate cyber-doctor. He brings her back online but she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. Before long, Alita begins to realize she has unmatched combat abilities. This draws the attention of very bad people who want to reclaim Alita and use her abilities to complete their nefarious goals. With some incredible action sequences and some great performances from the supporting cast, this overlooked movie is worth checking out!

I, ROBOT

2004 - Sci-Fi - PG-13

Long before he was winning best actor Oscars, Will Smith was busy turning out some serious sci-fi performances. With a connection back to the famed Isaac Asimov 1950 sci-fi short story collection of the same name, I, Robot is set in 2035 when super smart robots are all over the place helping out in public service jobs worldwide, following three rules to make sure humans are kept safe. Playing a detective, Will Smith has a deep hatred of the robots due to a painful incident in his past, so he’s the perfect level of skeptic when the U.S. Robotics founder is apparently murdered by a robot, something that’s not supposed to be possible. Before long, the robots rise up and it’s all out sci-fi action mayhem. This is the perfect kind of movie to turn on and and grab some popcorn and just let yourself be entertained.

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

2017- Action/Sci-Fi - PG-13

If you only ever saw the first film in this remake trilogy, let me tell you that you’re missing out. In this final entry in the trilogy, it’s all out war as the intelligent Caesar and his ape pals have to fight against an evil human army led by a tough Colonel (played by Woody Harrelson). Harrelson puts in a fantastic performance as the unhinged Colonel, giving the movie the perfect villain to root against. These films got better and better with each entry and are definitely worth checking out. A fourth film in the franchise is set to come out later this year, so now’s the perfect time to get caught up on the series.

SOLID SOLID GOLD GOLD

If you’ve never heard of Keep White Settlement Beautiful (KWSB) then the best introduction will be the one they feature on their website.

“We take seriously our responsibility as a City and as individuals to look after our environment. We believe that to Keep White Settlement Beautiful is to get involved. To volunteer, to educate ourselves and each other, and to be an active participant in making this the hometown community that we all love.”

The City of White Settlement has been an affiliate of the statewide Keep Texas Beautiful program for almost 30 years, but in 2018 the City budgeted a full time position to focus on things like litter prevention, recycling, beautification, environmental education, and general community improvement. Keep White Settlement Beautiful became the avenue for those efforts and with the help of community volunteers it has grown steadily year after year. In 2021, Maureen Barrett became the Community Services Coordinator, with her main job priorities being the KWSB program. Under her guidance and with the assistance of the community, Keep White Settlement Beautiful has achieved Gold Star Affiliate Status with Keep Texas Beautiful. This is the highest status any community affiliate can achieve.

“This is the first time we’ve ever reached the gold star affiliate level and we achieved it thanks to the efforts of Maureen Barrett and the efforts of our great volunteers,” Community Services Director Rich Tharp said.

Gold Star Affiliate status isn’t just something that Keep Texas Beautiful hands out, there are requirements that must be met to qualify.

“We had to do more cleanups, keep track of a lot of data and information, and I had to do a lot of training and education,”

Maureen Barrett said. “Becoming a Gold Status Affiliate was a goal of mine since I started in this position and I’m very pleased that we’ve achieved it.”

For a program like KWSB, volunteers are at the heart of everything they do. Volunteers work with KWSB on tasks like gardening, beautification, adopt a street/adopt a waterway efforts, and multiple litter and environmental cleanups each year.

“Volunteers are vital,” Maureen said. “They help us improve our public spaces, beautify the City, and protect our natural environment.”

Getting people to give up their Saturday morning to pick up litter in the creek isn’t the easiest endeavor, but KWSB has consistently seen growth in the number of people willing to sacrifice their time to help make the community better.

“We now have over 800 volunteers citywide that give up their time each year to help improve and enhance the City. Many of them work directly with Keep White Settlement Beautiful,” Community Services Director Rich Tharp said.

Public education is another big part of what KWSB does. From putting out information on social media to teaching about environmental issues and antilittering campaigns at local events, Maureen knows it’s not always easy to get people interested in learning about these topics.

“I understand there can be resistance, no one wants to be lectured, but it can be fun and exciting to learn about these topics” Maureen said. “Before I started in this position I didn’t know a lot about environmental concerns and programs, so I’m learning and growing just like everyone else is.”

Maureen Barrett (right) with Mayor Faron Young (left) and volunteers.

Community members regularly volunteer for cleanup efforts across the City.

The old saying holds true, knowledge is power, and according to Maureen, it can also be the key to discovering new ways to get involved with your community.

“There’s so much to learn about our environment and how to take care of it. If you give it a chance you might discover a cause you’re passionate about and find a whole new motivation to volunteer and help out,” Maureen said.

featuring KWSB graphics will be fully covered by the grant. Prior to being awarded the grant, KWSB had to share a vehicle with multiple other departments, limiting the number of events and activities that could be done.

“I’m really happy that we were awarded the grant for the new van,” Maureen said. “Having a dedicated vehicle will enable us to expand the KWSB program.”

Another skill that Maureen has brought to the position is her ability to find grants for the City. In recent years she’s secured grants that were used for environmental cleanup efforts, but her biggest grant achievement came earlier this year with the award from the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG) for a brand new Ford Transit-250 cargo van. The cost of the van and a cosmetic wrap

The van will receive a custom graphics wrap that will feature information and visuals about recycling and environmental awareness. It will be a centerpiece of outreach and education efforts as KWSB continues to partner with other organizations and attend their events. The expanded capacity for recycling events facilitated by the van will contribute to cleaner neighborhoods,

something that has far reaching impacts such as increased property values, economic development, and crime reduction.

“Everything we do has far reaching effects and I hope we can continue to spread that message through KWSB,” Maureen said. “Together, we can make a big impact and maybe even inspire other cities to do the same.”

There is no doubt, the KWSB program has grown in reach and impact since it began in earnest six years ago.

“It’s been incredible to watch the growth of the Keep White Settlement Beautiful program,” Community Services Director Rich Tharp said. “We’re going to keep pushing forward and hopefully KWSB continues to be a positive force in the community for years to come.”

Keep Texas Beautiful will recognize the City of White Settlement and the new Gold Star Affiliate status of KWSB at an upcoming event in Austin. Along with the statewide recognition, the new status also expands program support and grant opportunities for KWSB. The new designation will also be reflected on new KWSB signage at the entrances of the City, something that should bring pride to those in the community.

As for Maureen, she’s not letting the new affiliate status dampen her ambitions.

“I don’t want to get complacent. I want to continue to grow and improve the program,” Maureen said.

If our growing roster of volunteers is any indication, the community will be right there beside her in those efforts.

KWSB coordinates with other cities and vendors to put on recycling and household hazardous waste recycling programs. so White Settlement residents can

Interested in learning more about fantastic KWSB programs like stormwater management, recycling, grease collection, tire recycling, household hazardous waste disposal, paper shredding, electronic recycling, mulching, and compost brush chipping? Give us a call or send us an email! We'd love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have. (817) 246-5012 or kwsb@wstx.us

still got still got GAME GAME

The White Settlement Rec Center has the opportunity to host some unique events but there hasn’t been anything quite like Granny Basketball. Billing itself as “1920’s basketball for women of a certain age”, Granny Basketball is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that features six on six games that follow modified basketball rules first adopted in 1892. With a focus on empowering women over the age of 50, Granny Basketball promotes a spirit of camaraderie, a model of sportsmanship, and friendly competition. The league got its start in Lansing, Iowa in 2005 and has steadily grown since then as it recognizes mature women and gives them a fun, competitive way to exercise while providing wholesome, nostalgic entertainment. A new team to the league, the Cowtown Heifers, has been holding

practices at the Rec Center in preparation for a big upcoming game.

You may be wondering, how popular is Granny Basketball? Here are some stats. There are more than 600 players on 43 teams across 13 states. Each team selects a charity or non-profit cause to which they give their gate receipts. The league isn’t just catching on with potential players, either. Recently, a producer and film crew from the Dr. Phil Show were at the Rec Center to interview the Cowtown Heifers and do a story about Granny Basketball. The team played a simulated game in their full 1920’s era uniforms as they showed the Dr. Phil Show what their league was all about.

The rules for Granny Basketball include

dividing the court into three regions with two guards, two forwards, and two centers. Players assigned to a region must remain there. There is no running or jumping (though hurrying is allowed), no physical contact, and any underhanded “granny” shots score 3 points no matter where they are shot from. Breaking the court up into smaller regions makes competition in each space fierce, with the players working hard to advance the ball and score baskets for their team.

As a volunteer-led organization, Granny Basketball is always looking for those who may be interested in lending a hand. Teams often need coaches and the league can always use referees, scorekeepers, game announcers, and even cheerleaders and fans. If you’d like to learn how you can get involved or if you want to learn more about how to play in the league, visit grannybasketball.com.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

GREATAMERICANCLEANUP

Come hang out with us on Saturday, May 11th at 9 am at the Firefighter Pavilion for the Great American Cleanup. Let's team up to clean up trash and debris together. It's a fantastic opportunity for kids to have fun, meet new friends, and learn about waste pollution. Join us in making a difference and inspiring others to do the same. Volunteering for a cleanup event is a great way to help improve our local environment. We're excited to have you join us! See you there!

RAYMONDSPRAYPARK

Starting on June 3rd, the Raymond Spray Park will be open every day from 11 am to 7 pm. It's only open for a limited time until Labor Day, so make sure to enjoy it while you can! And don't forget, all you need to do to start the water fun is push the button on the pole. You'll then have 4 minutes of free fresh water playtime to cool off and have a blast!

SUMMEROPENGYM

Are you looking for some fun activities to do this summer? Well, look no further! Join us at the Rec Center gym from June 3rd to August 1st, Monday through Thursday, from 1pm to 5pm for our Summer Break Open Gym event.

We welcome everyone to come and play some basketball (don't forget to bring your own ball!). Just a friendly reminder that children under 12 will need to have adult supervision. Best of all, this event is completely free!

To secure your spot, make sure to register online at www.wstx.us/recdesk. We can't wait to see you there for some summer fun!

COMMUNITY SERVICES

LIBRARYSUMMERPROGRAMS

Get excited because the White Settlement Library's 2024 Summer Reading Program is kicking off on June 10th! It's not just for kids - there are programs for people of all ages, so get ready to read and win some awesome prizes.

To sign up, simply head over to wstxreads.readsquared.com or download the READsquared app. And that's not all - the library will be hosting a ton of fun activities all summer long! From Movie Mondays to Storytime Tuesdays, Teen Summer Club Tuesdays, Tinkerlab Thursdays, and Summer Show Fridays, there's something for everyone.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the Friday Summer Shows at the Library starting at 1 pm. For a complete list of all the exciting Summer shows, check out www.wstx.us/181/Library. Can't wait to see you there!

RENTAFACILTY

If you're interested in renting out any of our awesome facilities like the Senior Center, Recreation Center, Gym, Pavilions, or Pecan Grove Convention Center, simply scan the QR Code below. Let's make some fun plans together!

SENIORCENTER

Do you have a loved one who is 60 or older and enjoys having a great time? Bring them on over to the Senior Center in White Settlement! The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, and they have a ton of fun activities going on during that time. From senior exercises to choir, sewing, art classes, gardening, and so much more, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The Center also throws amazing parties, special events, and band dances.

Since 1977, the White Settlement Senior Center has been committed to providing excellent programming and assistance to brighten the lives of the senior adults. If you'd like more information, feel free to give us a call at 817-246-6619.

Calendar of Events

May 4TH: FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE

MAY 7TH: CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAY 11TH: GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP

MAY 18-19TH: COMMUNITY CLEANUP

MAY 25TH: SPLASH DAYZ OPENING DAY

MAY 27TH: CITY OFFICES CLOSED (MEMORIAL DAY)

JUNE 4TH: CITY COUNCIL MEETING

JUNE 12TH: CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

JUNE 13TH: CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

JUNE 15TH-16TH : COMMUNITY CLEANUP

JUNE 17TH: CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

JUNE 18TH: CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

JUNE 19TH: CITY OFFICES CLOSED(JUNETEENTH)

JUNE 29TH: SUMMER CELEBRATION

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