Local News
ollowing the Dec. 9 collapse of a 24-inch sewer main underneath Houston Harte Expressway, repairs to replace the line are underway.
The City of San Angelo teamed up with Darnell Construction to mobilize a bypass pumping system out of Fort Worth for a formalized and more permanent solution while the repairs to the line are performed. This will contain the sewer in a system from the north side of the loop to the south side, and no longer use the storm drain to convey sewer.
After the collapse, the City diverted approximately 1,050,000 gallons of sewage from storm drains back into the sewer system, however an estimated 450,000 gallons of sewage made its way into the Concho River.
Shortly after the formal pumping system was installed, crews began excavation work on the line. The goal is to be able to pull new pipe through the existing line, but the line must first be cleaned in order to do that.
“Pulling new pipe through the existing line is not a guarantee at this point,” said Water Utilities Director Allison Strube. “But as we clean out the existing line, we will have much more confidence to provide a definitive answer and ultimately the time frame for completion.”
City crews worked on cleanup of the initial sewer spill and assisting the contractor as necessary for the repairs. The access road on both sides of the loop will remain closed at this time, as will the Oaks Street exit.
With the cleaning that began Thursday, Dec. 12, the City will have a better idea on time frame as the process progresses. The contractor will be working on Saturdays and will let his crews rest on Sundays. Aside from that, they will stay dedicated to the project to completion.
When the collapse was discovered, the San Angelo Water Quality Department quickly dispatched laboratory technicians to the area where the release entered the Concho River to collect samples and determine if there could be an adverse impact to the river water quality.
As of Friday, Dec. 13, dissolved oxygen levels and biochemical testing at the point of entry, upstream and downstream have indicated very little detectable adverse effects. Dissolved oxygen levels at all three sample locations indicated DO readings above 9 mg/L, which are very normal conditions for this time of the year.
Strube said the affected areas are downstream of the kayaking events taking place this weekend.
Repairs to replace the sewer main are estimated to be completed in approximately one month.
The YMCA of San Angelo announced that the San Angelo Area Foundation has awarded them a 1 hundred thousand dollar grant for “The Big Picture” capital campaign. The campaign goal is 7 point 5 million, which will allow the YMCA to construct a second facility in order to expand its services. The YMCA has purchased property on College Hills Boulevard. The capital project includes renovating the existing facility to accommodate the preschool program and Y-Town, and constructing a new 12 thousand square foot multi-use center. The new location will have the capacity to serve 72 children in preschool alone.
Members of the San Angelo Coalition of Police will be out helping kids to shop for Christmas Gifts tomorrow for their annual Blue Santa event. The families to receive the gifts were selected by San Angelo school officials. The kids have a certain amount of money to spend and get to select the gifts they want for themselves and for their families. The event that takes place at the North Bryant Walmart has been going on for several years.
A call to the fire department from a local mail carrier helped to limit fire damage to a home in Southeast San Angelo home this afternoon. The carrier was delivering and saw smoke coming from the home in the 9 hundred block of Murphy earlier this afternoon. Fire officials say no one was at home at the time and no one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation but could have started with a fireplace.
The Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley is hosting a free book giveaway on Saturday. Books of all kinds are available, and more than one book can be taken. It will be on Saturday, from 10 am till 2pm at their location at 59 East 6th Street. They want to promote and celebrate reading, knowledge and family learning. Free hot chocolate will be available.
The San Angelo Health Foundation has awarded more than 768 thousand dollars to nineteen nonprofit organizations. The grants encompass education, health care, mental health, public safety and youth enrichment: The Civil Air Patrol was awarded $25,000 to purchase a portable building for their program. Friends of the Robert Lee Care Center was awarded 56 hundred to construct a gazebo. Howard College of San Angelo was awarded 2 hundred 70 thousand for equipment for the Health Science Professions and expansion of the Medical Assistant program. The Institute for Cognitive Development was awarded nearly 1 hundred 98 thousand assume operation of the Redwine Child Care Center and also for technology for the Family Shelter. La Esperanza Clinic was awarded 1 hundred and 5 thousand to install in-room technology. Lake Ivie Volunteer Fire Department was awarded 85 thousand for a brush truck. The San Angelo Area Foundation was awarded 25 thousand for the amplification fund for the San Angelo Gives program. The Wall Independent School District was awarded 25 thousand towards the installation of lights for the tennis courts. Unsolicited seasonal assistance grants totaling 30 thousand were also presented to eleven organizations.
A local Kayaking group, the Kayaking Divas and Dudes are inviting everyone out for their annual holiday paddle down the Concho River and enjoy the light scenes on Saturday afternoon, at 5:30 p.m. It will start at the boat ramp behind the Girl Scouts Building on West Avenue A. They invite decorated kayaks, canoes, or small watercraft to paddle the Concho River after dark. All kayaks must be illuminated to launch on the river.
City offices will be closed on December 24th and 25th and January 1st for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. There will be no trash pickup and the landfill will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Trash collection will be delayed one day from Christmas Day through the 28th. So, Wednesday’s routes will be serviced on Thursday, Thursday’s routes will be serviced on Friday and so on into Saturday. Routes for commercial customers may also lag by a day during that span. City offices and rec centers will also be closed.
Last week an Air Force Airman who was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base and convicted of child sexual assault here was found dead in his jail cell in San Antonio. 24-year old Robert D. Brice was sentenced to eight years in confinement after he was convicted of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography. Guards found the airman unresponsive during a routine check. he was arrested in 2017 in San Angelo, initially on charges of online solicitation of a minor.
Families will have another opportunity to meet and greet Santa at the 20th Annual Santa’s Santa Fe Christmas is presented by the Railway Museum of San Angelo on December 20th and December 21st from 6 to 9 pm. A photo can be taken with Santa in exchange for a monetary donation. In addition, tour the historic atmosphere of the museum and view the running train models as they travel through the intricately detailed displays. Christmas songs will be performed by the San Angelo Choral Society from 7 to 8 pm.