Sheppard council builds relations between communities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vernon Cunningham
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard and local community leaders met for the Sheppard-area Community Relations Council meeting at the Burkburnett City Hall to discuss upcoming significant events scheduled to occur on the base and within the surrounding area May 25.

The Community Relations Council meets quarterly to discuss projects, events and issues of mutual interest and responsibility in order to cultivate relationships, generate a deeper understanding of the base mission and expand community growth in the North Texas and Southern Okla., area.

Sheppard's leadership shared information such as:

· 82nd Training Wing will have a change of command June 16, in which Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon will relinquish command and Brig. Gen. Darryl Burke will assume command. General Mannon will be departing for Hurlburt Field, Fla.

· Sheppard will host a new NCO Academy, which is projected to have seven graduation ceremonies and more than 1,300 graduates per year.

· There will be an active shooter exercise June 1 - 3; traffic delays are expected, the base will shut down for a few hours and local agencies will work with Sheppard to train for "real-world" scenarios.

· 882nd Training Group medical training will be completely moved by July 2011; their current location, building 1900, will be used for the NCO Academy.

· The Sheppard Student Campus and Town Center project is on schedule, as well as the construction on the pavilion and renovation of the Solid Rock Café.

· Freedom Fest, Sheppard's annual open house and Independence Day celebration, will have booths to inform the public about base missions, static displays, a concert and fireworks. The event is free to the public and scheduled for July 3.

Also, local community leaders relayed information about:

· Recent elections, upcoming high school graduation ceremonies and the budget process.

· Two new transit opportunities that will increase Sheppard personnel chances to get out into the community for meals, entertainment, shopping and activities. One is called "M.E.S.A." and completes a one-hour circuit between businesses along Southwest Parkway, Taft Blvd, Kemp Blvd, Lawrence Road and Kell Blvd on Fridays and Saturdays.  The other is the Sheppard Express shuttle which will transport personnel to Castaway Cove Water Park on Saturdays and Sundays as a part of the Sikes Senter Mall route.

· The city of Burkburnett and Iowa Park announced the opening of their pools and Burkburnett will offer free movies on Saturday nights in Friendship Park's Amphitheatre.

Attendees at the meeting included Col. Michael Hake, 82 TRW vice commander; Col. Kimberley Ramos, 82nd Mission Support Group commander; Col. Timothy Bray, 82nd Medical Group commander; Mike Slye, Burkburnett city manager; Kevin Hugman, Wichita Falls assistant city manager; Mike Price, Iowa Park city manager; Danny Taylor, Burkburnett Independent School District superintendent; Jerry Baird, Iowa Park ISD superintendent and Renae Murphy, Wichita Falls ISD public information manager.