Local News
Keene strategic plan update delivered at luncheon
KEENE — An update on the city strategic planning project initiated earlier this year supplied the lead off topic during Thursday’s luncheon of the Keene Chamber of Commerce.
Attendees also heard from Wayne Tomblinson and his sister, Carolyn Jo Wear, two longtime residents with deep roots in Keene who plan to move soon.
Harry McQueen, a consultant and planner, delivered an update on progress of the strategic planning project.
The project, initiated by the Keene City Council and supported by the council, chamber and Keene 4A Economic Development Board, began in March.
McQueen outlined the purpose and goals of the project during an earlier chamber luncheon in March.
The project, McQueen said at the time, will help form goals and a vision for the city. The process involves talking to residents and officials to glean a picture of where Keene is now and gather input about residents’ hopes for the city’s future.
That information will be used to develop strategies to reach those goals.
The strategies will include short and long term goals and take into account such factors as business issues, city financing capabilities, guiding principals and potential roadblocks, McQueen said.
A final report on the findings of the project should occur about September, McQueen said.
About 95 percent of the work on developing a vision for Keene is done and about 80 percent of work on documenting the city’s current state, he said.
McQueen asked attendees at the luncheon what they thought would make Keene an ideal place to live. Responses included road improvement, attracting retail and bringing the city to a point where revenues are greater than expenses.
McQueen asked the audience why they think Keene has a difficult time attracting business. Responses included high taxes, perceptions that residents won’t patronize the businesses, especially on Saturday, and a lack of infrastructure.
Input is still needed, McQueen said.
He urged residents to contact city hall with any suggestions.
Once complete, the project will culminate in a series of recommendations, which a steering committee will present to the city council, McQueen said.
Moving on
Longtime residents Wayne Tomblinson and Carolyn Jo Wear both plan to relocate soon, Tomblinson to Florida, Wear to Irving.
Tomblinson recently sold Tomblinson Real Estate, a company his parents, Dudley and Reta Tomblinson, began in 1975, and Tomblinson and Wear later operated.
Tomblinson sold the business to Dan Zacharias and his son, Greg Zacharias, on May 1.
“I just wanted to prove to everybody that I actually do own a suit,” Tomblinson said joking about not sporting his usual casual style of dress.
Tomblinson discussed his great-grandparents, one of the first four families to settle in Keene and Keene businesses operated by his grandparents and parents through the years, including gas stations, a grocery store and other businesses.
He talked about how his father hitchhiked from Oklahoma to attend Southwestern Adventist University.
Like his parents and grandparents, Tomblinson took an active part in Keene civic affairs, serving as president of the Keene Economic Development Board, and was a perennial figure at city council meetings.
Tomblinson displayed several family photographs taken in Keene that stretching back to the early 1900s.
“I’ve spent the last 17 years here, longer than I’ve spent in any other town,” Tomblinson said. “I’m going to miss Keene, but I’m going to love the beach.”
Wear shared similar sentiments.
“Keene has always been home to me,” Wear said. “And it always will be.”
- Local News
-
-
Colorful characters
-
SMU report on DFW quakes released
Seismologists from Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas released findings Wednesday on Dallas-Fort Worth earthquakes and their possible association with natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale.
-
Chamber building bid approved
Cleburne City Council members approved BBC Construction Group’s $767,160 bid on Tuesday to construct a new Cleburne Chamber of Commerce building. The new building will house the chamber and the Cleburne Economic Development offices.
-
Geren: Fund balance needs to grow; now may not be time
Texas Education Agency monitor Dr. Monte Geren recommended last month that Cleburne ISD raise its fund balance from $6,831,659 million as of Aug. 31 to $12 million and repeated that request in his most recent monitor report delivered to the school board Monday night.
-
Residents seek to establish area as municipality
May 8 could become the birth date for Johnson County’s newest municipality.
-
Cross hopes to improve quality of life in city
The Rev. Kirklin Cross, who recently filed in the Cleburne mayoral race, said he will focus on quality of life issues if elected.
-
A survivor’s story
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell talked about injuries he received at the Pentagon on Sept. 11 and the faith that pulled him through.
-
Trustees move to reduce spending; begin hiring freeze
Looking ahead to the next fiscal budget, Cleburne ISD trustees are looking to reduce spending in order to avoid a reduction in force, or staff layoffs, situation such as those recently experienced by Rio Vista ISD and under consideration at Crowley ISD, CISD Superintendant Dr. Ronny Beard said Monday.
-
Averitt to resign March 17
State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor announced on Monday his plans to resign his state Senate District 22 seat at noon March 17.
-
Chesapeake mineral bid approved
County commissioners on Monday approved a $3,500 per acre bid by Chesapeake Energy to lease county-owned land in downtown Cleburne and in Market Square for mineral development for the C. Chaney Survey.
- More Local News Headlines
-
