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Repairs coming soon to infamous Jarrell pothole known as 'Lake Sonterra'

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) — An infamous pothole in Jarrell could be repaired in the near future, according to Williamson County.On Tuesday, Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said as part of the road bond election voters passed in November, the pothole off Sonterra Boulevard would be fixed."We're in the process of getting our Requests For Quotes out to the engineers to make sure that we can design it properly,” Boles said. RELATED: Texas pothole so big and long-lasting, neighbors named it The pothole, previously named “Lake Sonterra” by residents, has caused quite a stir."It is quite the feature in the road and so I'm glad that the voters approved the bonds, and it's going to allow the county to go in and address what's a dangerous situation,” Boles said.According to the county's page on the road projects, the estimated cost of the overall Sonterra Blvd. project ...

Peter Pan Mini-Golf's lease extended through late 2024

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After an initial lease expiration at the end of March 2024, Peter Pan Mini-Golf announced Wednesday its lease had been extended through Sept. 30, 2024.The latest news came after months of uncertainty surrounding the future of the 75-year-old Austin business. ‘Happiest memory of all’: Austinites rally behind Peter Pan Mini-Golf amid land uncertainty The property underneath the mini-golf course and the now knocked-down McDonald’s at South Lamar and Barton Springs Road are presently owned by a trust left behind by John C. Wende. Wende's trust was designed to benefit orphans in Texas, a spokesperson for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TTJD) previously told KXAN.For the past seven decades, the trust was managed by the TTJD board and before that the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) board, according to the TTJD. However, because of a mandate by the Sunset Advisory Commission, the trust now has to be transferred to a third-party trustee, the TTJD told KXAN in August. ...

Noah Kahan adds 2nd Austin show to 2024 tour

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Just a couple of months after performing at the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival, Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Noah Kahan announced a second Austin show as part of his 2024 tour.The "We'll All Be Here Forever Tour" was initially slated to only play one night at the Moody Center on June 14. On Tuesday, the venue announced a second show had been added June 15.Tickets for the added show go on sale online at 10 a.m. on Friday.In November, the 2024 Grammy nominations included a nod for Kahan, nominated for "Best New Artist." The 2024 Grammy Awards are scheduled to be held on Feb. 4.Elsewhere in Texas, Kahan will be performing at the Dos Equis Pavilion on June 11 in Dallas and at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston on June 13.

Coaldale Council provide feedback on budget considerations

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2023, Town of Coaldale Council gathered for 2024 Budget Deliberations.Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kyle Beauchamp took the floor first and stated that this is a cumulation of the service level discussions, the operating budget, and the capital budget. The intent of the meeting, Beauchamp said, was for Administration to show the cost implications of all the budget items previously discussed and then to get feedback from Council as to whether or not the proposed items get inserted into the budget, amended, or removed. Beauchamp said based on the capital budget present to the council, the estimation of our debt limit and the actual debt from 2022 up to 2029 is approximately 55 percent and that would increase up to 70 percent in 2025 further decreasing down to 46 percent in 2029. Debt limit, Beauchamp stated, is calculated at approximately 1.5 times the town...

Budget considerations under microscope: Van Rijn

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2023, the Town of Coaldale met for Budget Deliberations and following Deputy CAO Kyle Beauchamp’s resharing of details of the Road Rehab Proposal, Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn stepped in to remind Council that the meeting was merely a budget deliberation so that the Administration team has something work with when the budget is set and even that can be changed before the mill rate is set. Van Rijn also said he was looking forward to the funding coming in, but it was important that Administration provided scenarios: one where the funding comes and one where it doesn’t. Councillor Abrey then asked if another proposal could be put forward. Abrey acknowledged that his proposal would not have the money in 2025, but he suggested budgeting $212,000 instead of $425,000 for the Road Rehab Program. Abrey said if Council and Administration start decreasing amounts, it’s money they’re going to get ba...

Road rehab and financial management discussed for Coaldale budget

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2023, the Town of Coaldale met for Budget Deliberations.Following the approval of the proposal for the replacement of the financial management software, Mayor Van Rijn requested that Deputy CAO Kyle Beauchamp go through the details of the Road Rehab Proposal one more time. Beauchamp complied and explained that there is $425,000 allocated for next year followed by $575,000 for 2025, so those two balances accumulate to a million-dollar due to economies of scale and efficiencies. Administration, Beauchamp said, is not proposing to invest the funds; they are proposing to combine the 2024 and 2025 amounts and so if the amounts are approved, the funds would be taken and pushed down the road to 2025 to magnify the potential benefits from the economies of scale. If the funding is not achieved, Beauchamp said, Administration said, it reduces the availability to implement these programs and there a...

Coaldale council discuss PPE expenses in budget deliberations

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2024, the Town of Coaldale met for Budget Deliberations.Following a presentation from Clayton Rutberg, Director of Protection Services, Fire Chief, and Director of Emergency Management for the Town of Coaldale, about Personal Protective Equipment for the Coaldale Fire Department, Mayor Jack Van Rijn stated that there had been a presentation about the Photo Radar and Bylaw Operator and those expenses had a price tag of $35,000.When Mayor Van Rijn asked if there were any objections to that proposal being added to the budget, Councilor Abrey commented that he was concerned about putting more money into programs when the Town is seeing provincial cuts already on major thoroughfares throughout the province. That said, Abrey recommended that the Town exercise caution as they start building the budgets they are building. Mayor Van Rijn responded by saying that the numbers are projections on toda...

Coaldale council finalize budget recommendations

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2023, Town of Coaldale Council met for 2024 budget deliberations and at the conclusion of deliberations, Council looked at what the budget looked like as presented. From there, Kyle Beauchamp, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Coaldale, stated that the formal budget would be presented for approval for Council on Monday, December 11, 2023.Beauchamp said that the Town is making the Gem of the West Museum funding somewhat contingent on the Gem of the West’s future presentation in the fall. Beauchamp said that the contingent items on the R.C.M.P. are also present, but the arena expansion is being removed from consideration along with the two items that needed to be adjusted from the budget as proposed. Jack Van Rijn, Mayor of the Town of Coaldale, then stated that the R.C.M.P. discussion would be saved for Monday, December 11, 2023.  Van Rijn also...

Utility rate proposal examined in Coaldale budget deliberations

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn December 7, 2023, Town of Coaldale Council met for 2024 budget deliberations and part of those deliberations included a utility rate review.Kyle Beauchamp, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Coaldale, presented two options to Council for 2024-2026 Utility Rates. The first option, Beauchamp said, includes a flat fee increase for water and storm and a 10 percent year-over-year for the water and the sewer. On average, Beauchamp said, this does equate to a five percent increase for the next three years. The Town’s water cost, Beauchamp said, is designed to allocate the future water cost, as it is expected to increase by two percent next year and have a three percent surcharge on top of it from the Water Commission. Not all this would be going to future capital, Beauchamp said; it would be going to rewards operating as well. The second plan, Beauchamp said, inc...

New Year's Eve celebrations around the Capital Region

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:57:05 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- 2024 is almost here! If you’re looking for something to do to ring in the new year, here are some New Year’s Eve events happening around the Capital Region. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! New Year’s Fest, Saratoga SpringsSaratoga New Year’s Fest is returning to the Spa City for its second year. Festivities are planned from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024. Formerly called First Night Saratoga, the annual New Year’s Eve party got an overhaul in 2022. Saratoga New Year’s Fest is now over several days and has more venues and activities. You can buy tickets on the event website.New Year’s Eve at Rivers Casino, SchenectadyRivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady is hosting several New Year's Eve events. Guests can ring in the new year with The Refrigerators on New Year's Eve from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Rivers Event Center. The event includes live music, dancing, party favors, a cash bar, a photo booth, and a ...