Two contested races were decided for two positions for the Central Texas College board of trustees election Both opposed incumbents were unseated when the final unofficial results were released on Saturday evening after 10 PM of Harker Heights came out ahead in the polls 1953-1865 over incumbent Charles Hollinger. of Copperas Cove was opposed by Mark Manning of Killeen CTC trustee positions are for six-year terms Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight 4:39 p.m.: Weather sirens sounded in Killeen Weather officials say a tornado was confirmed south of Kempner Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content janak@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7551 May 2: Kempner City Manager Rebecca Ramos said Friday that much of damage she saw Friday morning was likely from the near-g… Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Sign up to receive a daily list of Obituary notifications Signup today for the Harker Heights Herald Would you like to receive sports news from all the schools we cover Would you like to receive news about the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs Would you like to receive news about the Belton Tigers Would you like to receive news about the Ellison Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Florence Buffaloes Would you like to receive news about the Gatesville Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Harker Heights knights Would you like to receive news about the Killeen Kangaroos Would you like to receive news about the Lampasas Badger Would you like to receive news about the Lometa Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Midway Panthers Would you like to receive news about the Salado Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Shoemaker Grey Wolves Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account your Neighborhood Reporter for Gatesville and Lampasas County Texas (KXXV) — A major water pipeline project in Bell County is set to temporarily shut off water for 265,000 residents in late May as crews work to connect a new steel pipeline designed to replace a failing section of existing infrastructure “It’s our job to think not only about today We know that things in our world tend to break We want to position ourselves so that we are able to provide quality drinking water The Bell County Water Control and Improvement District #1 will implement Stage 3 of its Drought Contingency Plan during the shutdown Affected communities include Copperas Cove as well as Fort Cavazos and the 439 Water Supply Corporation there's people that are manicuring their lawn and we are going to be asking people to avoid that which supplies approximately two-thirds of the region’s water it has experienced multiple issues – most of them concentrated in a 5,000-foot stretch near North Nolan Road on the east side of the Fort Cavazos military reservation A new 54-inch steel pipeline has been constructed parallel to the problematic section and is ready to take over crews are also completing a 3-million-gallon concrete storage tank nearby – another critical improvement that also requires a shutdown of the old line to connect water will be rerouted through two smaller lines – a 24-inch and a 30-inch pipeline If residents and businesses can reduce their water use by at least 30% “I would urge everyone to think about their neighbor and just put off those few days of outside use while we make these connections and to bear with us,” Garrett said The exact start date for the shutdown will be announced in the coming weeks. Daily updates will be posted on the Bell County WCID #1 website residents are encouraged to conserve water both indoors and outdoors limit the use of washing machines and dishwashers and turn off faucets while brushing teeth or shaving An official website of the United States government Our outpatient clinic offers primary care to help you stay healthy throughout your life and the health services we offer at our Copperas Cove VA Clinic Select a service on this page to check the hours Wheelchair availability:  Wheelchairs are available upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building We work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to get to scheduled medical appointments Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in your county Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center Find out if you qualify for beneficiary travel benefits Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services Our laboratory and pathology services include: Our medical center and clinics provide consultation and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for: Learn more and connect with a care coordinator Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent Doctors who specialize in family medicine provide primary health care to the entire family Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as: All Veterans enrolled in VA health care can receive a toxic exposure screening at an upcoming appointment or sooner by contacting a Toxic Exposure Screening Navigator All enrolled Veterans should receive the screening at least once every five years This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation is launching a new tool for businesses next week COPPERAS COVE — The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation will be adding a new feature on its website soon The corporation is adding a service titled SizeUp Copperas Cove next week It will be launched at a party scheduled for 4 p.m The launch party will include information on how to access and use the software Jbahr@khdnews.com | 254-501-7567 Host: Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation Texas (KXXV) — Copperas Cove ISD is outlining its path forward following Thursday morning’s annual State of the District address local families shared their perspectives on the district’s direction Bullying is the number one topic that I think everybody has an issue with,” one parent said “A lot of it I think comes from a lot of how it's run It just depends on who you have sitting there how they handle certain situations like bullying.” “I have three grandchildren in school right now from middle school all the way to high school We’re just very excited about the future and the opportunities It’s a wonderful school district,” a grandparent said After the address, Dr. Brent Hawkins sat down for a one-on-one interview to reflect on his first few months in the role “We truly have the chance to become the elite district in the state of Texas because of all of the passion that I’ve seen from the community and the things they want to do – they want the very best for our kids,” Hawkins said Hawkins highlighted recent district achievements Five elementary schools were recognized among the best in Texas by U.S Copperas Cove ISD has also maintained a strong Texas Education Agency accountability rating over the past three years and continues to offer a broad range of student organizations and programs Hawkins said the district aims to be the best place for students to learn and grow “I think the new superintendent will be really helpful on everything going forward and I’m hopeful everything goes smoothly as he progresses on,” a parent shared the Texas Education Agency released its latest accountability ratings Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight Jim Von Ruedgisch served as a helicopter door gunner during his first of two tours in Vietnam Jim Von Ruedgisch served 21 years in the military retiring in 1981 and going to work as an instructor at Central Texas College in Killeen for two years followed by 23 years with the Army’s Operational Test Command on West Fort Hood (Cavazos) Jim Von Ruedgisch grew up doing chores every day after school and on weekends at his family’s 40-acre farm in southeast Missouri As high school graduation approached and he considered his future plowing fields and harvesting crops was not high on the list of career opportunities a Central Texas resident since 1976 who served 21 years in the military A rifle looked a lot better than a mule’s butt.” Nedlewerkes is a full service cross stitch and embroidery shop located in Copperas Cove We have been in business for 2 and a half years and counting Please come see us for all your needlework needs. We have over 1,000 patterns in stock so you are sure to find whatever yo… Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight This rendering shows what Copperas Cove Fire Station #3 will look like after renovations the two and a half decade old station will close for renovations beginning April 27 at 7 p.m ewalsh@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7559 Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight The former location of Shipley's Do-Nuts is being remodeled with a different fast-food business expected to open there later this year At least two new businesses are moving into the building at 901 E COPPERAS COVE — Multiple new fast-food restaurants and other businesses are expected to open in Copperas Cove in 2025 Fast-food businesses coming to Copperas Cove include Golden Chick Rain showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight cuts the ribbon at the grand opening for the Rustic Chicken in Copperas Cove Friday held its grand opening in Copperas Cove Friday The grand opening was held in collaboration with the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and followed the business first opening a few months ago at 2126 E COPPERAS COVE — A new business will begin serving pizza beer and other drinks in downtown Copperas Cove starting in early February plans to offer a family-friendly venue for people in the Copperas Cove area WEBSITE: nelsonbrewworks.com a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — Five elementary schools in Copperas Cove were named to the U.S News & World Report’s Best Elementary Schools rankings in 2025 House Creek Elementary led the way locally ranking 367th out of more than 6,000 elementary schools in Texas As Copperas Cove’s first National Blue Ribbon School House Creek saw 68% of its students achieve proficiency or higher in math and reading Martin Walker Elementary ranked 898th in Texas with 52% of students at or above proficiency in math and 64% in reading Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary placed 1,124th with 47% of students proficient or better in math and 57% in reading Hettie Halstead Elementary was ranked 1,673rd with 47% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in math and 52% in reading Clements/Parsons Elementary rounded the list at 1,716th with 50% of students proficient or better in math and 52% in reading Each of these campuses also earned a spot on the list in 2024 “The continued excellence on these campuses is incredible and this recognition is a testament to the hard work of every teacher and student,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr “Each of these schools prioritizes student success and showcases the daily miracles happening in public education across Copperas Cove and Texas.” News & World Report’s rankings evaluate schools based on state-required test performance The methodology strongly emphasizes reading and math proficiency and performance Texas (KXXV) — Since Metronet began offering services in Copperas Cove last spring both local residents and the city have faced significant damage to pipes and property during installation some residents are expressing concerns that these issues continue raising questions about what is being done to prevent further damage “We’ve lost water twice because of Metronet,” Alicia Mitlyng “We lost water for almost an entire day once New data from Metronet reveals that from April 1 to November 30 Metronet and its contractors were involved in a total of 20 utility or gas/pipeline strikes The strikes were classified as follows: 10 were due to mismarks accounting for 50% of the total; 3 were incidental contacts (15%); and 7 strikes (35%) were categorized as "inquire," where Metronet was deemed at fault 228 residential service tickets were submitted by Copperas Cove residents 40 tickets (18%) were resolved within 24 hours 80 tickets (35%) were addressed within 4 to 7 days and 52 tickets (23%) took 8 or more days to resolve Seven tickets remained in progress by the end of November 2024 and 2 tickets were still open as of that date “I know the city comes out and marks the lines I’ve seen flags and spray paint where they mark everything So either someone’s cutting corners by hiring people who don’t know what they’re doing to save money or they’re just not paying attention while doing the work,” Mitlyng said Metronet addressed the concerns of residents and outlined efforts to resolve the issues: “Metronet takes great pride in being a community-focused provider and deeply values our partnerships with the cities we serve We recognize the challenges that arise from any type of municipal infrastructure enhancement project and we sincerely apologize for any disruption to residents and businesses we are continuing to work with the City of Copperas Cove to minimize any future issues Metronet has implemented measures to work collaboratively with the City of Copperas Cove and focus on additional training for our subcontractors and consistent open communication with the city as we progress We are grateful for their support as we have worked to improve together “We are fully committed to completing this project as quickly and safely as possible while minimizing inconvenience and building lasting benefits for the community Our 100% fiber-optic network will bring reliable lightning-fast internet service to Copperas Cove fostering long-term connectivity and growth Any resident concerned about construction or property restoration may submit a ticket via Metronet 's construction website at construction.metronet.com.” the City of Copperas Cove also provided a statement to 25 News emphasizing its communication with Metronet and its commitment to ensuring that Metronet adheres to agreed-upon operating conditions: “The City of Copperas Cove coordinates at least bi-weekly on Metronet's planned activities in the city and communicates almost daily with their subcontractors Metronet agreed to operating conditions set by the City in 2024 The City communicates consistently and immediately with Metronet whenever these conditions are not met When residents and businesses encounter an issue caused by Metronet activities Metronet has generally addressed those issues directly with the impacted resident or business.” “I don’t think – I can’t say the internet’s not worth it because a lot of people work from home now – but I don’t know maybe make sure you’re hiring people who actually pay attention and do their job right to avoid damaging so many people’s property because somebody’s home flooded,” Mitlyng said The City of Copperas Cove urged residents or businesses affected by Metronet’s activities to reach out to Metronet’s assigned community liaison directly at: Kelly Parker Kelly.Parker@metronet.com or (270) 454-3060 and City Manager Ryan Haverlah answer questions in the annual state of the city town hall at the Copperas Cove Civic Center on Thursday COPPERAS COVE — The city of Copperas Cove hosted its annual State of the City town hall meeting and address Thursday night at the Copperas Cove Civic Center followed by an extended period of time that City Manager Ryan Haverlah answered questions submitted from the audience Texas (KXXV) — In a move aimed at strengthening its athletic programs the Copperas Cove Independent School District (CCISD) announced several key staff changes Head Football Coach Tony Johnson will transition to the role of Assistant Athletic Director Coach Johnson has been a vital part of the district for the past three years and his commitment to the students is highly valued CCISD is also beginning the search for a new Head Football Coach/Boys Athletic Director emphasizing the urgency of the role to ensure a seamless transition Adrian Miller has been appointed as the Interim Head Football Coach in the meantime Cari Lowery has been appointed as the Girls Athletic Director a move intended to focus on providing enhanced support and resources for female student-athletes participating in UIL Athletics Texas (KXXV) — Three candidates—Rita Hogan and George Duncan—ran for Copperas Cove City Council Place 2 in the November general election none secured the 50% plus one majority vote needed to win triggering a runoff election between the top two candidates “There are three candidates on the ballot," Hogan said."When that happens “We got the votes we needed to get to the runoff and I'm proud of the work we’ve done so far," Hall said I've motivated some people in the future." " The local government impacts your day-to-day It’s important to make sure the right people are put into those positions." “Because so many important decisions about what happens in the city — as far as roads and rec — happen at the City Council level,” Hogan said both candidates touched on the importance of small communities and encouraged their neighbors to get out and vote you have to be a part of change," Hall said "Your vote does matter Early voting will take place at the Copperas Cove Early Voting Center A festival highlight will be live entertainment provided by Dysfunkshun JunkShun the Lone Star Disc Dogs will be showing off their canine talents on Field 2 the number of market vendors has increased from the last spring fest The market vendor lineup includes Fun Flashers Ironclad - Adult Softball; and True Nail Junkie there will be several beer and wine vendors for the 21-and-up crowd to enjoy Spring Fest 2025 is sponsored by United Portable Buildings Copperas Cove now has a brewery following Nelson Brew Works opening to the public on Friday The new brewery is offering beer and pizza out of one of the oldest buildings in Copperas Cove Texas (KXXV) — Since Metronet began offering its services in Copperas Cove last spring both residents and the city have faced significant damage to pipes and property during the installation of fiber optic lines The issue was first brought to light in January when 25 News’ Allison Hill reported on a local resident who lost water after Metronet hit their water lines during installation Metronet is still facing backlash from the community as some residents claim the company is continuing to cause damage to their property Debbie Childers is the latest homeowner to speak out after experiencing damage to her property and explained how the installation process has impacted her home “They’ve done a lot of damage in the neighborhood – I’m just one,” Childers said Metronet is moving forward with its fiber optic installation throughout Copperas Cove The company has continued to assure residents that progress is being made Metronet provided a statement to 25 News on the issue: “Our strong partnership with the City of Copperas Cove has contributed to a significant decrease in incidents with less than half the utility strikes this year Most strikes have been related to improperly located lines We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made and can’t wait to deliver world-class internet speeds to homes and businesses in Copperas Cove.” residents remain frustrated with the ongoing issues they have faced “It’s not worth it — it’s not worth what they are putting us through most of the people in our neighborhoods here in Cove are either retired Childers described the damage to her driveway explaining that the installation crew cut a significant section of her driveway and left it in disrepair They took a good three-foot slack out of my driveway The water department had to come down and fix my water line,” she said “My thing is this: If you can’t put it back the way it was Texas (KXXV) — 31-year-old Shasmine Clack was tragically shot and killed late Saturday morning leaving her family devastated and her community in mourning "I was trying to call her and she wasn’t answering He finally answered and said she was shot," Shantell Clack According to the Copperas Cove Police Department officers arrived at the scene and found Shasmine with gunshot wounds Life-saving measures were immediately administered and Shasmine was transported to AdventHealth Central Texas "It’s just a lot starting all over without their mom." officers identified 27-year-old Alonzo Ezekiel Hunter of Beaumont as a suspect He is the father of Shasmine’s youngest child "Bill" Price set his bond at $500,000 during his arraignment Copperas Cove PD said they send their condolences to the family during this difficult time As Shantell and her family grieve the loss of Shasmine they reflect on the woman she was and the impact she had on those around her She would literally give the shirt off her back," Shantell said The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign with a goal to raise $7,000 Friends of Shasmine are also holding a balloon release on Sunday They are asking those attending to bring pink balloons and candles The Copperas Cove Police Department has stated that the investigation is ongoing A roadway project by the Texas Department of Transportation will begin on Feb at the intersection of Business 190 and Avenue D/F.M “There will be a contractor installing pedestrian medians for the safety of pedestrians at the intersection of Business 190 and Avenue D It will also add a crosswalk across Avenue D east to west,” said City Manager Ryan Haverlah As we receive more information about any lane closures or traffic impacts we’ll be posting that information and coordinating with TxDOT on it.” The project will also involve the installation of traffic signal push buttons is consistent with the Waco District’s Safety Plan and TxDOT’s “Road to Zero” mission The project was authorized for TxDOT funding in August 2023 Federal funds in the amount of $185,985 will pay for the majority of the project The City of Copperas Cove is responsible for 10 percent of the construction costs any utility relocations and direct state costs for project management and inspection the two bids received ended up coming in significantly higher than the original estimate The winning bid is $87,227 over the estimate plus it is $26,729 over the approved Category 8 funding allocation This means the City is paying $113,956 toward the project according to the advance funding agreement amendment The city is drawing on contingency funds to cover the increased costs a Copperas Cove High School educator was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual assault of a child according to the Copperas Cove Police Department Lawrence Dale Varela-Halbert is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a female student in 2021 where Varela-Halbert was employed at the time The Copperas Cove Police Department was notified of the allegations in November of 2024 Copperas Cove Independent School District (CCISD) immediately removed Varela-Halbert from campus and placed him on administrative leave upon learning of the allegations "He's been in that band program since he graduated and he came back every summer during summer band he had a big impact on Pride of Cove," a former CCHS band student Varela-Halbert has been with CCISD since 2015 and most recently served as the district’s Director of Bands “This is somebody they [band students] truly looked up to I just – it was very hard to hear,” the former student said and it’s the people who you least expect and people you trust the most.” The former student expressed concern about the impact on the Pride of Cove band program’s reputation “I think a lot of people are going to think of it differently now and I feel like the reputation that the Pride of Cove did have is definitely going to be tarnished in some way I think parents are really going to have a hard time letting their kids be in a program when they know that there was a predator within that program.” the former student offered encouragement to other students who might be struggling “I hope they’re not berated at school for stepping up for themselves and really acknowledging the situation that has happened I truly hope that they get the help that they need and that they want and can be the kind of survivor that is not ashamed of it,” the former student said Lawrence Dale Varela-Halbert was arraigned and his bonds were set at $150,000 Copperas Cove residents and businesses with City of Copperas Cove water utility accounts should be on the lookout for a fee that could begin as soon as Oct 2025 – the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year one of the agenda items ended up as an hour-long discussion on a proposed transportation utility fee This fee would add a monthly charge to city utility customer accounts The revenue from this fee would go toward funding city street repairs and maintenance The amount of the fee assessed would be based on something called “single-family equivalents,” or SFEs The fees would be collected from residents and businesses as part of their City of Copperas Cove water/solid waste bill and would be based on the relative amount of vehicle traffic generated over city roadways Other cities collect a similar transportation utility fee – also called street maintenance fee or road maintenance fee – for the same purpose Nearby cities include Lampasas ($7) and Killeen ($10) the city funds its street repairs and maintenance through ¼-cent of the city’s sales tax revenue as approved via Copperas Cove voters in 2023 The street maintenance fund is separate from the city’s general fund which operate as their own funding sources and not via property tax dollars like the general fund the city has about $1.26 million for the current fiscal year 2024-2025 which matches the street maintenance crew's operations and general maintenance including filling potholes and repairing curb cuts Osburn said the city has completed work on Bronc Drive Walker Boulevard (addressing issues caused by drainage over the years) and Freedom Lane and Cline Drive (addressing damage from Winter Storm Uri) as of the time of the presentation and Sherwood are just several of the streets yet to have work done Reconstructing Bradford Oaks alone will cost about $3 to $4.5 million the city had 153.92 centerline miles of roadways to maintain as of the pavement assessment study conducted in 2022 and Osburn said that number has increased as development has increased There have been 15 miles of new streets added since the study was completed more than 70 percent were assessed as fair with 35.6 percent of the roadways receiving a “poor” designation the assessment estimated that the city would need to spent around $4.6 million annually to improve the city’s Pavement Condition Index up from 63.0 in 2022 to 65.0 by 2026 Osburn shared a draft of the proposed ordinance He said that a $10 per single-family equivalent monthly fee would generate approximately $4 million annually that could be used on city street repairs and maintenance A copy of the draft can be viewed here: https://destinyhosted.com/coppedocs/2025/CCSCW/20250221_2222/12752%5FTransportation%5FUtility%5FFee%5FDraft%5FOrdinance%5Fv.2025%5F0216.pdf This draft includes 55 different classifications for residential and commercial so those things are factored in,” Osburn said Because there's typically less people in a duplex on one side of it A vet clinic is based on 1,000 square foot variable they generate 3.76 Single Family Equivalent trips per day.” There are certain areas that remain to be decided – such as exemptions Osburn also said that public outreach would need to be addressed along with city council/town hall meetings so the community will know about the proposed fee and the usage of the funds from that fee There was much discussion on the commercial rate structure for the fee including the need for a cap on high-trip-generating businesses supermarkets would be classified as 9.56 SFE per 1,000 square feet it would mean that H-E-B could be assessed a TUF of nearly $11,000 “We’re not recommending $11,000 – that was just based on the total trip count and we applied it for illustrated purposes We are recommending some type of band and trying to get your direction on that band,” said City Manager Ryan Haverlah The council and city administration also discussed the balance between generating enough revenue yet not discouraging commercial development they discussed the idea of a new business exemption for a limited time to encourage business recruitment and retention The draft and more discussion of the proposed Transportation Utility Fee will be on the agenda for future meetings A new Jimmy John's in Copperas Cove is going to hold a grand opening Saturday Business 190 in Copperas Cove will house new locations for both Jimmy John’s and Marco’s Pizza and according to Cove Chamber of Commerce President Beth Galick-Carney the Marco’s Pizza will open on an unknown date later in 2025 Jimmy John’s is an American sandwich chain and Marco’s Pizza will serve Italian-style pizza The new turnaround on eastbound Business 190 in Copperas Cove should be open to traffic soon According to City of Copperas Cove spokesman Kevin Keller the turnaround was expected to be open by now but commuters are still restricted from access until the Texas Department of Transportation finishes work installing power supplies to flashing chevrons Jimmy John’s will host a grand opening for its new location in Copperas Cove on Saturday the store will be giving away free samples and free sandwiches for a year to one customer In order to enter to win free sandwiches for a year customers must download the store’s app and register for rewards along with visiting the store and purchasing a sandwich bringing you the latest sports coverage in your Central Texas neighborhoods Texas (KXXV) — 25 Sports has confirmed that Copperas Cove announces Rodney Southern as the new boys Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Copperas Cove held a board meeting on Thursday and it was approved Southern arrives from Huntsville where over 11 years he amassed a 151-108 record and reached the state quarterfinals three times He also reached the state championship game twice in 2005-2006 during his time in Marshall This comes after former Head Coach Tony Johnson transitioned to the role of Assistant Athletic Director Texas (KXXV) — The Copperas Cove Fire Department announced Friday a juvenile has been charged with arson for a fire at the Willow Creek Apartments Firefighters responded to the apartments on Judy Lane in the early hours of November 14 Investigators say a young male used a lighter to burn a piece of cardboard on a back porch spreading to nearby items including an aerosol can Those who travel the streets of Copperas Cove – particularly at busier intersections along Business 190 – have seen an increase in “panhandling” over recent years a public hearing on a new an ordinance was held and the Copperas Cove city council and passed the new ordinance The ordinance restricts aggressive solicitation in certain areas and hours and also prohibits sitting or lying down in the right of way The ordinance aims to mitigate traffic risks “Aggressive solicitation” as defined in the ordinance includes “solicitation or following pedestrians the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear or intimidation unwanted physical contact or the intentional blocking of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.” “the presence of individuals who solicit money from persons at or near banks public transportation facilities and crosswalks is especially troublesome because of the enhanced fear of crime in a place that is confined difficult to avoid or where a person might find it necessary to wait.” The offense occurs if someone aggressively solicits on or highway; within five feet of a curb or edge of a street or near the entrance or exit of a check cashing business or the service area of an outdoor eating establishment; at a marked crosswalk; on either side of the street on a block where a school attended by minors or a childcare facility has an entrance or exit This also includes door to door solicitation Any solicitation is prohibited if a residence has a “no soliciting” sign displayed Copperas Cove Police Chief Eddie Wilson cited statistics He cited a recent example of a safety issue that was reported by an officer “Our most recent complaint that we had was actually self-initiated by one of our officers We had a13-year-old who was panhandling at the intersection of Constitution and 190 and it was learned that the individual was a runaway from the city locally,” Chief Wilson told the council So we had an incident where they were wrestling with a 13-year-old right there the panhandling often leads to littering at intersections as a direct result of individuals asking for money from drivers at intersections the Copperas Cove Police Department responded to 149 calls for service that involved solicitation and panhandling Three arrests and three citations were issued “The number would probably be much higher if we didn’t have such a large group of citizens that already know and understand that when they see it there’s nothing that we can really do about it And those complaints also expand out to not just the solicitation in the roadway but also littering and some other environmental issues,” Chief Wilson said “Our Code Compliance has worked really hard at trying to keep those intersections that where it happens Solid Waste has really stepped in and helped out with a lot of those cleanups I know KCCB has done some cleanups along that area of the highway as well our community is a very gracious community We have a lot of people that step up when others are in need It makes it lucrative for a lot many of those who panhandle in our community and we don’t necessarily poll those individuals that are out there doing it but it is safe to say that many of them are not homeless Chief Wilson noted that an officer self-reported an issue with someone asking drivers for money at an intersection As far as enforcement of the new ordinances goes Chief Wilson said the department will not have a “zero tolerance approach.” when speaking to someone who is panhandling on a roadway officers will first seek to educate them on the ordinances they will provide a pamphlet or flyer with local resources for assistance Violators of the ordinance can be charged with a misdemeanor and if convicted