As with other Metrocom cities, Converse is preparing for National Night Out on Aug. 7. Cpl. Mike Scogins of the Converse Police Department is asking Converse residents planning neighborhood or block parties that night to contact him at CPD, 658-2322, by 5 p.m. Aug. 2 to register their events for official city visitation. “We are asking interested citizens to conduct block parties and cookouts with their neighbors to celebrate this event,” Scogins said. National Night Out is in its 24th year.

Homebuilder aids park improvement

Armadillo Homes is the latest organization to donate toward the cause of improving Northcliffe Park in Schertz. Robert Gutierrez, president of Armadillo, recently presented the non-profit group Friends of North Schertz Parks with a $25,000 check that will help with planned upgrades.

Firm to form drainage plan for county

Guadalupe County Commissioners Court on July 10 approved the hiring of San Antonio-based engineering firm Klotz Associates Inc. to craft a comprehensive drainage plan for the Town and Santa Clara creek watersheds. Both creeks flow into Cibolo Creek, which goes forward into the San Antonio River in Karnes County. Commissioners focused on the 64-square-mile Santa Clara watershed, which includes Cibolo, Marion and Santa Clara, and a part of Schertz.

The cost of the Santa Clara phase of planning will be $131,500.

Agency works to keep air clean

April 1 through Oct. 31 is Ozone Season 2007, part of a three-year monitoring period for the San Antonio region that will determine whether the region is in attainment of the federal standard for ground-level ozone.

Alamo Area Council of Governments developed the Clean Air Gauge to visually display where the region stands in meeting federal criteria. As ozone levels rise this summer, the Clean Air Gauge will indicate how close the region is to violation of federal air quality standards, indicated on the gauge as the “red zone.” The gauge can be found online at: www.CleanAirDrive.com.