🌱 Round Rock ISD Receives Caudill Award + Pet Boarding Ordinance

Good morning, everybody! It's Elaine Thompson, your host of the Round Rock Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town, including:

• Round Rock Express is ready to take on the 2023 season, with new and promoted staff!
• City response to death of 75 dogs brings possible ordinance for pet boarding facilities.
• Local tree experts receive award of honor for their knowledge and expertise.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 57 Low: 34.

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Here are the top stories in Round Rock today:

1. Round Rock Express promoted 10 and welcomed six new members to its front-office team, just in time for the 2023 season. Round Rock native Casey Schneider is a recent Texas State graduate and joined the team as an account executive in Sept. 2022. After graduating from Mary Hardin-Baylor, Jackson Ryan joins the Express as coordinator, baseball operations. Ryan Kobre is the team's new manager, public relations & communications, with three seasons of working in minor league baseball. “We really believe our staff is the best in baseball and I think this announcement is reflective of that,” Round Rock Express General Manager Tim Jackson said. Visit MiLB.com for more details on other new and promoted team members.
2. We take pets' lives seriously in Round Rock! After the Ponderosa Pet Resort fire in Georgetown in 2021, the city is considering an ordinance that requires sprinklers and carbon monoxide detectors at pet boarding facilities 10,000 square feet or larger. If the ordinance is approved, businesses would be expected to comply within a two-year time frame. The ordinance will have "clear exclusions for veterinary facilities, agriculture facilities and pet owners renting residential property." (KVUE)
3. Round Rock Tree Experts was honored by the International Street Tree Association for its "outstanding contributions to the tree care field, specifically in disease prevention and pest control." Through studies and experimentation, Chief Arborist and native Texan Ford Isaias prides himself in providing cost effective and environmentally friendly ways to care for a variety of trees. Round Rock Tree Experts not only provides routine cosmetic maintenance, but also develops methods to combat fungal, insect and bacterial infestations. For more on this story, visit Digital Journal.
4. Round Rock ISD Operations and Construction departments "were selected for the 2022 Caudill Award, the highest honor an architectural project" can achieve. Their impressive work on Redbud Elementary School features biophilic design in learning areas that helps students connect more with nature, with geometric shapes, natural lighting from outdoors, and specific color selections. Opportunities for closer engagement are made possible by sliding doors and flexible furniture in every classroom. Other works that the district received recognition for are "Laurel Mountain Elementary School’s Nature to Neighborhood Studio and Deep Wood Elementary School’s Wunderland." Pop over to Round Rock ISD for more details on this story.

Today in Round Rock:

• Transportation and Economic Development Corp. Meeting at City Council Chambers (8 a.m.)
• January Coffee Time at Ms. Delgado's (10 a.m.)
• Painting with a Twist at Double Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care (2 p.m.)
• Round Rock 512 Pint Night at Tony C's Pizza and Beer Garden (6 p.m.)
• Round Rock High Academy Night at Round Rock High School (6 p.m.)
• City Council Meeting at City Council Chambers (6 p.m.)
• Create wealth investing in real estate at Round Rock Hyundai (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Round Rock High freshman goes out of orbit! "Abhiram Jetty was excited when he was invited to be a part of Space Kidz India and have a chance to work on a real space project. He never dreamed something he worked on would be launched into space." (Round Rock ISD Facebook)
• Action shots from Round Rock Dragons victory over Westwood Warriors: Round Rock boys beat out Westwood with a final score of 57-40. (Austin American-Statesman)
• State-of-the-art playground: "Ready for an adventure? 🛝 Here are some renderings of the new playground being installed at Kinningham Park, featuring state-of-the-art play structures, swings, slides, a variety of stationary and netted climbing structures, balance paths. The playground will be closed until construction is completed, estimated in March 2023." (Round Rock, Texas – City Government Facebook)
• Round Rock Police Department is hiring for a few positions: "🐶Apply now for the following positions: --Animal Control Officer (due 1/31) --Police Cadet (due 3/10) --Police Officer - Lateral (year-round)" Click here to check out job listings and benefits packages. (Round Rock Police Department Facebook)

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Events:

• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (February 11)
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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next newsletter!

— Elaine Thompson

I would love to hear from my fellow community members! Say "hello" or send me a news tip! I'm happy to chat with you. Email me here RoundRock@Patch.com