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A new project is making a big splash in DeSoto.

The McCowan Aquatic & Recreation Center (MARC) is an approximately 75,000 square-feet, two-story facility that will serve the community in several capacities. These include recreational activities and competitive sports, including swimming.

“The City of DeSoto Department Parks and Recreation provides recreation programming opportunities to enhance the quality of life, specifically for DeSoto residents. This facility exemplifies the effectiveness of city wide long range strategic planning,” said DeSoto Parks and Recreation Director Chris Glover.

As part of executing the city’s master plan, DeSoto commissioned the construction of the aquatic and recreation center. Highlights of the project include:

*A full-scale indoor competition pool with eight lanes, equipped with observation decks on the second level, along with a leisure pool.

*Suspended above the first level is a roughly 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts.

*The facility further boasts a fully equipped fitness area, as well as training studios for group activities.

*Nestled among soccer, baseball, and football fields, the McCowan Aquatic & Recreation Center offers city residents a fully functional gym and fitness experience.

The new facility is designed to offer health and fitness support to young families and provide a physical and social venue for active seniors through year-round senior activities.
Located in Curtistene S. McCowan Park, the facility is being realized as part of a larger master plan, which includes other public and sports-related amenities, including additional sports fields, an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, water features, and surrounding trails.

“Our need was based off of survey feedback from our residents during the master plan development and implementation phases,” Glover said, adding that the facility is projected to be available to residents and non-residents of DeSoto.

Glover said one of the city’s major objectives is to exceed the standard of excellence required to sustain the Certification of Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies under NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association).

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The Southwest Regional Communications Center announced that they would use a temporary phone number for all non-emergency requests.

The announcement was made Wednesday morning via social media.

Residents in DeSoto, Cedar Hill, and Duncanville are advised to utilize a temporary phone number for all non-emergency requests until further notice.

Individuals seeking non-emergency assistance within these areas are encouraged to dial 214-789-3426 to contact the appropriate authorities.

The temporary measure only affects non-emergency calls, while the 9-1-1 service remains fully operational in all emergency situations.

While non-emergency services are impacted by this change, emergency services remain unaffected.

Residents are urged to update their contact information and utilize the provided temporary phone number for all non-emergency inquiries.

For immediate assistance or inquiries related to this temporary measure, individuals can reach out to the Southwest Regional Communications Center directly.

The post Temporary Non-Emergency Phone Number Issued by Southwest Regional Communications Center appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., a leading producer and marketer of fresh shell eggs in the United States, has announced that one of its facilities has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (“HPAI”).

The location of the new outbreak is located at a facility in located in Parmer County, Texas,

The company reported that approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, or approximately 3.6% of its total flock, have tested positive for the virus.

As a precautionary measure, the company has temporarily halted production at the affected facility.

“The Company remains dedicated to robust biosecurity programs across its locations; however, no farm is immune from HPAI. HPAI is still present in the wild bird population, and the extent of possible future outbreaks, with heightened risk during the migration seasons, cannot be predicted,” a statement by Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. reads.  

The company said it is actively working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruption to its customers according to a press release.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of HPAI transmission to the general public is considered low, the statement read.  

In response to the outbreak, Cal-Maine Foods said it is closely collaborating with federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as industry groups, to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks and manage the ongoing response effectively.

Last week, there were reports of bird flu infections among dairy cows in Texas and Kansas.

Federal agriculture officials confirmed infections in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently acquired cows from Texas.Top of Form

The company said Cal-Maine sells most of its eggs in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

The post Bird Flu Found in Largest U.S. Fresh Egg Producer in Texas and Michigan Plants appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.