‘I panicked’: Killeen mother angry after school puts her child on the bus against parents’ wishes
A Killeen mother and daughter experienced a shock Monday when a first-grader was sent home on the school bus without the family’s permission.
In a social media post, Kristina Case, the mother of a first-grader at Reece’s Creek Elementary School, ranted about why her daughter was mistakenly placed on a school bus on Monday.
“I signed papers at the school stating that my daughter could only be picked up and taken home by her parents,” Case wrote. “Today my six-year-old daughter was put on a bus and dropped off all by herself. I was not allowed to pick up my daughter. I found my daughter wandering around scared and screaming for me because she was so scared.”
County commissioners take a walk to the new middle school, highlighting the need for sidewalks
Two Bell County commissioners who serve opposite sides of Chaparral Road near South Killeen met with two constituents Thursday morning and walked from Chaparral High School to the newly opened Aycock Middle School, part of an effort organized by a local resident to raise awareness about the lack of sidewalks on the route.
Joseph Baez, a Harker Heights resident who has often clashed with the Killeen Independent School District, organized the march and invited numerous people, including KISD officials and Killeen City Council members.
“This walk will give everyone the opportunity to experience the current unsafe conditions and the dangers faced by those who travel the route from the Yowell Ranch development to Dr. Jimmie Don Aycock Middle School. Particularly the unsafe conditions and danger to our children/students,” he said in an email.
Texas Skateland: “The fire was not caused by arson or anything else our family did”
The owners of Texas Skateland say they have been cleared of responsibility for the fire that destroyed the decades-old Harker Heights roller rink in July.
In a social media post this week, Texas Skateland said the Harker Heights Fire Department and insurance company had not raised suspicions of arson or foul play against them.
“Both the Harker Heights Fire Department and our insurance company have determined that the fire was not caused by arson or anything else our family did,” the post said.
Cove City Council and School Board elections scheduled
The field of candidates for Copperas Cove City Council and School Board elections has been finalized, including two late additions to the City Council.
Victor Hall and Rita Hogan filed to run for Place 2 on August 16 and 19, respectively. They, along with George Duncan, form a three-way race, increasing the likelihood of a runoff election to determine the winner. A candidate must receive a majority of the vote to win. If no candidate receives the required majority, a runoff election is called. Election Day is November 5.
The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees positions are open for election.
Incumbent Place 1 Inez Faison is being challenged by Sherry Hoffpauir. Incumbent Place 2 Shameria Ann Davis is being challenged by Timothy Traeger.
WCID-1 supports Kempner Water Corp. in water conversion
Kempner Water Supply Corporation has been under public scrutiny in recent months as many customers have complained of muddy-looking and foul-smelling water. To make matters worse for the company, it recently issued a system-wide notice for all customers to boil their water, with no end in sight.
Bruce Sorenson, general manager of Kempner Water, reported to the Bell County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1 board during its monthly meeting Wednesday in Killeen.
Sorenson said the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality is requiring them to “convert their system to free chlorine” and they will be getting chlorine-free water from WCID-1 during that time, which is expected to be completed in 30 to 60 days.
