Year in Review

January

Reading out loud, a barking good time 

Abby is a special friend to all children at the Smith Public Library. She isn’t just someone to read with, but she is someone to cuddle with also. She is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ).

READ was originally initiated in Salt Lake City in 1999, which began as a four week reading program.

Smith Library Youth Services Coordinator Ofilia Barrera said the library began their Wagging Tales program with Abby seven years ago.

“Karen approached me with the idea,” Barerra said. “We had done something like this at a library I had previously worked at, and I thought it was a great idea.”

Children who participate sign up prior to the event and choose a book they would like to read to Abby.

Overall crime decreased, 20 percent increase in violent crimes category

The Wylie Police released the city’s crime statistics for 2014. According to the report, overall the crime rate per 1,000 population decreased by five percent from 2013 figures, despite a four percent increase in population. The population of Wylie according to the report is listed at 45,970.

Crime rate numbers are based on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting system, defined as the number of crimes committed per 1,000 population. Crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of Part I Crimes reported to the police by the population.

Wylie Police Detective Nuria Arroyo said the report tells the Wylie Police Department what type of crimes are occurring in the city of Wylie and how often they’re occurring.

There were some disturbing trends in the report. The report indicates a 20 percent increase in the violent crimes category, from 35 in 2013 to 44 in 2014. Rape incidents rose from nine in 2013 to 15 in 2014 and aggravated assaults rose from 20 to 26. There was a decrease in robberies, dropping from five in 2013 to two in 2014.

Historic district moved west

Wylie’s downtown historic district will be expanded to just west of the Cottonbelt rail line after a measure was approved in last week’s regular council meeting.

After a presentation by city Planning Director Renae Ollie and comments from citizens during a public hearing, council unanimously approved extending the district to Cottonbelt Avenue from Elliot to Brown streets.

The city’s planning and zoning commission originally denied the extension because, according to Ollie, they thought the residential properties in the newly added area had no historic value since many were newer homes. Restrictions in the newly expanded part of the district apply to residential structures only.

Ollie explained that different parameters would apply to homes that were considered contributing or non-contributing structures. As an example, she said that a home built in 2010 would be considered non-contributing since it was less than 50 years old. If a non-contributing structure experienced some type of damage, it could be restored, or remodeled based on the zoning in place prior to the extension of the district.

To read more highlighted stories in the 2015 Year in Review see The Wylie News at http://www.etypeservices.com/Wylie%20NewsID245/default.aspx

Abby, a reading therapy dog at the Smith Public Library, sits happily with her birthday card. Abby reads with local children helping them gain self-confidence when reading aloud.