News in Brief

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Salvation Army Day at Minute Maid Park

Sponsor a child at The Salvation Army Day at Minute Maid Park at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28.

There will be special discount pricing on the Astros game tickets and a portion of ticket sales goes to The Salvation Army.

Tickets start at $10; sponsoring a child allows The Salvation Army’s Boys & Girl’s Club members to attend the game.

The Salvation Army Harbor Light Choir will perform the National Anthem.

Central Texas Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Expo

The Travis County Expo Center for the Central Texas Hunting, Fishing & Outdoor Expo will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 26 and 27. Admission for adults is $8 and free for children ages 15 and under.

According to show owner and promoter, Quincy Barnes “Avid Sportsmen will find everything they need to prepare for the upcoming Hunting Season “under-one-roof.” Over 165 exhibitors, suppliers and manufacturers will be at the show demonstrating and selling the newest innovative products on the market, including: Blinds - Feeders – Hunting Vehicles – ATV’s - Boats - Hunting & Fishing Gear – Camouflage – Optics & Eyewear – Game Calls – Canoes-Kayaks and Ranching Equipment. It’s one-stop shopping for everything you need to enhance the total outdoor experience.”

There will be a special guest appearance by Jim Miller, bow hunting expert and the host of Great Southwest Outdoors TV show. Feature attractions include A & J Snake Handlers who will entertain audiences with their poisonous reptiles and perform the ultimate “Kiss of Death” with a live Cobra.

Other interesting and unique exhibits at the show, include Wildlife Art, gourmet foods, smoked meats-jerky, hand crafted items, African imports–art, silver jewelry, rustic furniture, and much, much more.

Texas Parks & Wildlife “Wall of Shame” will be at the show Hunter education representatives will be on hand, eager to share their information and knowledge of hunting laws and gun safety with everyone at the show.

City of Hutto Announce Office Closings

City offices and facilities will close at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2 so that city employees can enjoy a holiday picnic with their families. Additionally, city offices and facilities will be closed in observance of the Independence Day holiday on Monday, July 5. Garbage pickup services will continue their routes as normal.

The City Manager’s Office would like to encourage citizens to come out on Saturday, July 3 for the Independence Walk Parade hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. and traveling through some of old town Hutto, the parade will organized at Fritz Park, routing from Park Street to Taylor Street, then on to Farley and East Street and finally back to Fritz Park on Live Oak Street. Kick off your holiday weekend with some Independence Day spirit!

Public hearing requested from Cap Metro

Commissioner Ron Davis is lobbying the Capital Metro board to reconsider its transport of ethanol on Capital Metro-owned rail lines across his precinct. The county commissioner is concerned about the transport of ethanol near a community center, a senior citizen living facility, and through the Manor Independent School District and would like Capital Metro to conduct a public hearing on the issue and its community impact.

Hometown solider from Austin, TX, in Iraq

As of April 1, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) took over mayoral duties at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.

These duties were previously tasked to the battle-space owner, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, but were re-designated a sustainment duty as part of the upcoming responsible drawdown of forces and equipment from Iraq.

Lt. Col. Joachim Strenk, commander of the 3/141st and an Austin, Texas, native, said his unit is only in charge of the sustainment functions for COB Adder.

"It is not a garrison command anymore because they have split the [base operating support] functions and the base defense," he said. "The base defense still falls … under the maneuver units, whereas the [base operating support functions] fall under the 13th ESC."

Although the 3/141st is a smaller unit than the 4-1 AD, Strenk said he has had no issues with a shortage of personnel, thanks to support from the 36th Sust. Bde.

Strenk said he and his unit are enthusiastic about their new role in the drawdown.

"We actually love it," he said. "We want to embrace it because it makes a big difference. If we did not do the job that we need to do, then the tenants on COB Adder could not do their jobs."

Lt. Col. Stanley E. Golaboff, the deputy commander with the 36th Sust. Bde. and a Harker Heights, Texas, native, said the goal of the changeover was to help free up the battle-space owner, allowing them to focus more on their partnership with Iraqi units.

"[United States Forces – Iraq] has looked across the board to find … units that can pick up either the mayoral or garrison