MURPHY (November 15, 2011) Individuals and organizations wishing to make a noticeable and visible difference in Murphy now have the opportunity to do so by adopting a portion of a Murphy street and maintaining its cleanliness, according to Director of Parks and Public Works Kim Lenoir.

“We’re starting a program in Murphy that has been in existence elsewhere for some time, so people are already aware of how it works. Ours will be similar in how it’s administered, but it will be unique in that it is another opportunity for Murphy residents to show how much they care about their community,” she said. The Adopt-a-Street program is another effort by the “Keep Murphy Beautiful” campaign, administered by the City’s Green Team.

Adopting a street requires an application to be submitted for approval along with the name of an individual or representative of an organization who will take responsibility for the commitment. The individual or organization will then be assigned a stretch of road, usually about a mile in length, to clean up by picking up trash and debris.

“The program is designed to give individuals and groups a chance to make a visible impact on the environment and help reduce the costs associated with cleaning the streets. Picking up litter costs taxpayers in terms of direct labor expenses as well as the indirect costs associated with taking crews away from their primary duty to pick up garbage,” she added.

Groups or individuals who sign up for the program will be expected to commit for one year, and conduct their cleanups at least once a quarter. A sign designating the stretch of road as adopted by an organization or individual will be erected, following the first successful cleanup.

“All of the cleanup volunteers must sign an agreement that says they understand the rules of the program. And while we welcome the participation of young people, anyone under 18 must obtain the signature of their parent or guardian,” said Lenoir.

Groups and individuals who commit to the program must also pledge to actively participate annually in one of the various “Keep Murphy Beautiful” clean ups throughout the year.
“The City will supply the trash bags and high-visibility vests to volunteers, and will give a brief safety orientation prior to each cleanup,” she said.

Individuals and groups interested in participating or who are seeking more information about this program should contact Lenoir at klenoir@murphytx.org or call 972-468-4068.

MURPHY (November 30, 2011) Mayor Bret Baldwin and the Murphy City Council proclaimed Nov. 19, 2011 Arbor Day in Murphy. The proclamation declaring the day devoted to the study and appreciation of trees in the City was spearheaded by the Green Team, the interdepartmental employee committee dedicated to the Keep Murphy Beautiful effort, according to Kim Lenoir, Parks and Public Works Director.
“The proclamation of Arbor Day is the final of the four requirements necessary for Murphy to qualify for Tree City USA designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation,” she said. “It’s also an important aspect of our Keep Murphy Beautiful campaign. Murphy is fortunate to have a citizenry that appreciates the benefits of nature, and Arbor Day is a perfect fit for the City because of the emphasis on the beauty and indispensable necessity of trees,” she said.
At their Nov. 15 meeting, the City Council issued a proclamation officially setting Nov. 19 as Arbor Day in the City for the current year. It read, in part, “The City Council agrees that trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community.”
The inaugural celebration officially recognizing Arbor Day in Murphy was held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Murphy Community Center, right before the annual Park Tour, put on by the Parks and Recreation Board. The Park Tour is an annual review of the progress made at the various public spaces throughout the City. Bur Oak acorns were distributed to participants in the Arbor Day celebration, and recipients were asked to plant them in the hope that a tree would grow.
“In commemoration of Arbor Day, participants of the Park Tour paid particular attention to the trees and considered their health status as a result of the record heat and summer drought,” said Lenoir. For more information on trees and their care, visit www.arborday.org.
It was particularly fitting to have the City’s initial Arbor Day Celebration at the Murphy Community Center, because the landscaping contractor for the new center will be planting its trees in the very near future.
Among the new trees and bushes at the center will be seven Nellie R. Stevens hollies, three Chaste trees, 18 Cedar Elms, seven Live Oaks, four Chinese Pastiches and 17 Dallas Red Crape Myrtles.
Also part of the Arbor Day festivities, the Green Team is encouraging fourth and fifth grade students to enter the “Trees are Terrific…from Acorn to Oak” poster contest put on by Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Forest Service. The poster contest is part of a statewide program designed to teach children, through basic classification skills, to recognize unique characteristics that separate oaks from other trees. Local elementary schools are encouraged to visit the Keep Texas Beautiful web site at www.ktb.org and download the details for the contest. The deadline for poster submissions is Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. The winning student will receive a $500 savings bond and a year-long family pass for Texas state parks, as well as a framed copy of his or her poster and an invitation to the Texas Arbor Day ceremony on Friday, April 27, 2012. The winning teacher will receive a personal iPad and $250 to go toward classroom supplies. The winning school will receive $250 for environmental books or supplies and a tree planted on the campus as part of an Arbor Day celebration.
“I think it’s significant that the Proclamation read by Mayor Baldwin urged all citizens to celebrate Murphy Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. Murphy has, in many ways, already demonstrated its love of nature, and this is just another expression of that connection,” concluded Lenoir.

MURPHY (September 22, 2011) The City of Murphy has scheduled a second debris pick up and removal day for residents affected by the recent straight winds that blew over trees, knocked down fences and uprooted bushes, according to Customer Service Manager Candy McQuiston.
The pick up and removal day is Wednesday, Sept. 28 starting at 7 a.m. As before, residents should have all material at curbside by 7 a.m. on the morning of the pick up or risk missing the trucks.
“We were able to pick up most of the debris last Wednesday, but some residents needed more time to stack their tree trunks and branches out front, so we’re going back out next Wednesday to those specific streets,” she said.
Those residents whose property was damaged by the storms, which passed through Murphy on Sunday, September 18, and who still have material to be picked up, must call the Customer Service hotline to be included in the Sept. 28 pick up and removal.
“We know exactly which streets were affected; but we need to find out which specific houses need a visit from the debris removal equipment. That’s why we need them to call and give us their address,” said McQuiston.
Removal equipment will only be dispatched to residences that call and request a truck. Calls should be made during normal business hours no later than Tuesday, Sept. 27. The number to call is the City’s Customer Service line, 972-468-4100.
The debris is being picked up at no charge to the homeowner.

TxDOT schedules two-day fix for coming weekend

MURPHY (September 3, 2011) The tooth-rattling, bone-jarring, catch-you-by-surprise bump that unaffectionately greets motorists traveling on FM 544 at the Kansas City Southern Railroad tracks will undergo some more work soon in an attempt to smooth it out. The vehicle/railroad intersection was re-planked last November and will once again be closed for portions of two or three days to accommodate the work, according to City Manager James Fisher. The City of Murphy is not involved in the repair, but will be assisting in managing traffic movement through the area during the work.
“The Texas Department of Transportation is working with the contractor and it appears that there will be activity starting on the evening of Thursday, September 8 and again on the evening of Friday, September 9,” he said. The work will occur in phases, affecting the eastbound lanes on one evening and the westbound lanes the next. The contractor has told TxDOT that they will remain fluid in how they will progress with the work, gauging the most effective and least obtrusive method. It appears that the work can be finished before the end of the weekend.
The work order, however, gives TxDOT until noon on Monday, Sept. 12 to complete the work. The area affected is the quarter-mile portion of FM 544 between Brand Road on the east and Heritage Parkway on the west. The Murphy Police Department has developed a traffic plan to deal with the disruption, the majority of which will likely occur on Saturday, Sept. 10. Most traffic will be diverted to Heritage Parkway during the repair work.
“There will be large construction equipment, workers and material that will be utilized in this repair. It’s really best if people avoid the area completely,” said Fisher.
For more information regarding this closure, please contact Barry Heard with TxDOT at 972-542-2345.

By Karen Chaney

Two months ago Andrew and Christine Smith started seeing a bobcat going back and forth through their Starlight Drive back yard in Murphy. They typically saw it around sunset. The Smith’s own a small dog which they never let into their backyard without supervision because their backyard is fenced on only three sides and they didn’t want Pugsly to run away.

The day Mrs. Smith saw the bobcat in their backyard she was watering her tomato plants, Puglsy was outside with her. She saw the bobcat in the corner of the yard and he appeared to be stalking her dog. She called for her dog to come to her, he wouldn’t come to her because he thought he was in trouble. She had to walk to him, consequently walking towards the bobcat. Mrs. Smith said she felt panic and “irrational fear for herself” while doing this. She had heard there had been bobcat? sightings in her neighborhood and when she saw the bobcat this close it made her nervous.

Mrs. Smith called 911 and was eventually transferred to the Murphy Police Department. A police officer came to their house and told them if the bobcat was trapped, it would be taken to East Texas and released. Animal Control Officer (ACO) Tammy Drake came out with a? tranquilizer dart gun. Unsuccessful with the dart gun she left a trap in the Smith’s backyard about two or three weeks ago.

Over the previous two to three weeks multiple animals have been trapped in that trap – an armadillo, possum and raccoon. Officer Drake came to their house, asked if they would like the animals removed from their property or just let out. Each time The Smith’s said to let them out.

Officer Drake confirmed the fact that if/when the bobcat was trapped they would release it somewhere in East Texas. So with thoughts of the bobcat no longer “stalking” their Pugsly and other neighborhood small pets they continued baiting the trap. In their minds the bobcat would be going to a nicer home in East Texas when it was trapped, so that would be good for all creatures involved.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith frequently checked the trap because with the hot summer we have been having they did not want an animal trapped without shade or water. Wednesday, August 17th at approximately 9:30am the Smith’s were surprised to see the bobcat in the trap. They had used a whole fish as bait on Tuesday night. They called animal control, but there was no answer (because Officer Drake was on vacation) so they called the non-emergency police number. Surprise that the bobcat was caught was expressed by the police.

Within forty-five minutes the stand-in Animal Control Officer (ACO) arrived at the Smith’s house. The ACO told the Smith’s on arrival that Murphy cannot relocate the bobcat since the city was not licensed to relocate through the Parks and Wildlife Dept. The ACO said that she would try to sedate and euthanize the bobcat and if that didn’t work they might have to shoot it.

Mrs. Smith said they had “never, ever been told that euthanasia was an option.” If they had been told that, they would not have agreed to the trap.? They pictured trapping the bobcat and it being transferred to a nice place in East Texas.

The stand-in ACO was trying to sedate the bobcat when a Murphy police officer arrived. Mrs. Smith went outside to direct him to the bobcat and ACO. Then Mrs. Smith went back inside with her husband and continued to watch from a window.

The ACO was on the left side of the trap with a syringe trying to sedate the bobcat. The police officer was on the other side kicking the cage, yelling and stomping the ground. At that time the bobcat became aggressive – inside the cage.

The Smith’s watched the officer pull his gun in and out of his holster repeatedly. The Smith’s speculate that the ACO couldn’t sedate the bobcat.? The officer pulls his gun out, puts it near the cage and pulls the trigger. He killed the bobcat with one shot.

Mr. Smith believes the shot went through his head because he saw no other holes in the body and blood was coming from the bobcat’s nose.

The ACO and officer?carried the trap through the yard, (the blood?stain is still visible), and over the driveway leaving a blood trail that Mr. Smith cleaned up himself. The trap containing the body of the bobcat was loaded into the truck and the officers left, never?coming back to talk to the Smiths about what just happened.

The Smith’s feel that if Officer Drake had been on duty the day the bobcat was trapped that this entire event would have had a different ending. They believe that the bobcat would have been brought to East Texas and released to live another day.

If they had this day to do over Mrs. Smith says she would call In-Sync Exotics (972-442-6888) to come and pick up the bobcat. Mr. Smith says he would have loaded the trap into the back of his truck and brought it to a safe place and released it himself. They both said that the trap was a humane trap and they felt like they could have easily picked it up without any danger to themselves.

Mrs. Smith expressed having feelings of guilt, sadness and anger after the bobcat was shot in her backyard. She now has hope that the City of Murphy will change their policies and that this will never happen again.

Murphy Police Department, Chief GM Cox takes full responsibility for what happened. He reports that the stand-in ACO is an experienced and certified ACO. He says, “We make no excuses – we could have done a better job, period.” He says that he does not believe the ACO “acted out of any malice or ill intent. She explained to me her decision-making process. She felt that it was the correct thing to do.” He also says, “clearly there were other things we could have done that did not get considered.”

Chief Cox continued to say, “As of right now there is not a policy that dictates to the ACO what to do in this type of situation. Rather we have relied on the ACO’s experience and the circumstances to dictate the actions to take. We will be evaluating whether this needs to change.” He also says that, “We should have contacted a local group or another wildlife coalition to assist us with the relocation prior to taking the action we did.”

When Officer Drake returns from her vacation there will be a meeting to discuss present policy and protocol. Chief Cox says that, “I can tell you now that our policy, written or not, will not include shooting a caged animal unless there is imminent risk to humans or other animals. We will try everything before we decide to euthanize, by any means, an animal such as a bobcat. Gets a bit murky when dealing with rabid animals, skunks and the like though.”

There is? a plan for a police department tour of In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center in Wylie.

Also planned is a citizen information program regarding wildlife that will be held September 8th at City Hall, 7 p.m.,? pending approval from the City.?

Photo provided by the Smith family