KWB receives prestigious award

AUSTIN - Keep Whitehouse Beautiful is one of nine winners of the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Awards, one of the most prestigious annual environmental honors in Texas. In addition to Whitehouse, the communities of Angleton, Dallas, Denton, Duncanville, Lindsay, Muenster, Richland Hills and Tyler were selected by KTB to share an award of $1 million from the Texas Department of Transportation to be used for landscaping projects in their communities.

This is the fourth time in 17 years that KWB's efforts have earned the attention of the Governor's Community Achievement Awards selection group.

"That is remarkable when you consider the number of communities that enter," said KWB's Debbie Shafer. "It is a real honor."

Funds from Whitehouse's share of its last Governor's award have been designated for landscaping along FM 346 and a wrought iron fence for City Park after TxDot construction is complete. Shafer said the group already has ideas for the new prize, but will solicit input before deciding on a project.

A panel of judges chose one community from each of nine population categories for their achievements in seven areas including community leadership and coordination, education, public awareness, litter prevention and cleanup, illegal dumping enforcement, beautification and property improvement, and solid waste management.

"Keep Whitehouse Beautiful's program is measured in terms of community commitment. We believe we can show measurable improvement over the years in areas such as number of people recycling, lower amounts of litter on the roadway and citizens doing their part to be good stewards of our community resources," said Shafer. "So whether we receive first place or not the Whitehouse area is winning."

Shafer added that this population area is one of the most heavily entered and that this was the first award for Tyler.

"We have a great relationship with them and work together on projects sometimes. After all, the idea is to 'spread the word not the waste,'" said Shafer. "This is a great year for our area!"

Every community in Texas is eligible to apply for the Governor's Community Achievement Award.