Mesquite Police Department offers holiday driving safety tips

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests are also at their highest between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year’s weekend. The Mesquite Police Department reminds everyone to never drink and drive, always have a designated driver or call a taxi. Please celebrate safely this holiday season and remember the following information:

• In the State of Texas, it is unlawful to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 and over. However, “buzzed” drivers (whose BAC is more than .00 and less than .08) can also be arrested if their level of impairment affects their ability to safely operate a vehicle. If you are under 21, driving with anything higher than .00 is illegal.
• Only time can make you sober. The average person metabolizes one drink per hour.
• Your best defense against drunk drivers is to be aware and observant. If you see a car being driven in a dangerous manner, stay away and call 911.
• Collisions involving drunk drivers are more likely to happen on weekends and at night. Try to avoid peak hours when drunk drivers are on the road.
• Wear a seat belt and travel the posted speed limit.
• Take extra caution when entering highways. Many wrong-way accidents involve a vehicle entering an exit ramp due to unclear signage or a driver’s unfamiliarity with a city.

Shop more, drive less with
alternate shopping routes

Shop local and use alternative shopping routes this holiday season to spend less time sitting in traffic and more time doing the things you enjoy. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/ShoppingRoutes to view maps offering alternate travel routes to your favorite shopping, dining and entertainment destinations in Mesquite. The maps can also be accessed through the "Shopping Routes" icon on the City of Mesquite's free mobile app named MesquiteTX which can be downloaded at www.cityofmesquite.com/App.

City offices and STAR Transit closed for Thanksgiving holiday

Most City of Mesquite offices and facilities will be closed on November 24 and 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. For a complete list of closures and service impacts, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/Holidays. Recycling will not be collected on November 24 or 25. Trash will not be collected on November 24, but will be collected on November 25. For those collection days missed, collection will occur on the residents' next scheduled collection day. STAR Transit offices will also be closed on November 24 and 25, and will reopen at its regular time on Monday, November 28. This includes the DART Express Bus Route 282 (COMPASS), Balch Springs Midtown Express and the Kaufman Trolley. Visit www.STARtransit.org for more information.

Christmas in the Park offers new activities and entertainment

Mesquite celebrates 30 years of Christmas in the Park on December 3 and 4 with new activities and entertainment including the debut of the “Here Comes Christmas” parade. The parade will feature eight floats winding their way through Westlake Park beginning at 6 p.m. and ending both nights with fireworks to celebrate the 30th anniversary. Other new attractions include free carnival games, a Candy Cane Craft Fair, holiday stage performances and food trucks. Plus, three contests will be offered free-of-charge: Buddy the Elf’s Spaghetti and Syrup Eating Contest, the Ugly Sweater Contest and the Pet Ugly Sweater Contest. Christmas in the Park will be held on December 3 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and December 4 from 1 - 6 p.m. at Westlake Park, 421 Gross Road. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/ChristmasInThePark for more details.

Small Business Saturday
is November 26

November 26 is Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. Join the Small Business Association in supporting small businesses and our local economy by shopping at a small business in Mesquite. Visit www.realtexasflavor.com/WednesdayWishList to find numerous Mesquite small businesses listed in the Mesquite Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Wednesday Wish List Holiday Shopping Guide.

Fire Department Citizens' Fire Academy graduates 2016 class

The Mesquite Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy graduated its 2016 class on November 19 with a celebratory cook-out at Fire Station No. 1. The nine-week program provides residents the opportunity to learn about the Fire Department directly from City firefighters and officers. Graduates received classroom education and hands-on training each week on the duties and responsibilities of the department. This year’s class produced 15 graduates. The class is offered once per year in the fall.

Keep grease and food scraps
out of household drains

The City of Mesquite reminds residents to keep leftover grease and food scraps out of household drains. Fats, oils and grease residue left over from cooking can build up in pipes and cause backups in both private and City-maintained sewer lines when poured down drains. Help avoid expensive plumbing repairs and damage to the sewer system with the following tips:

• Scrape or wipe cooled grease or fat from all dishes and cookware, and place the waste in the trash.
• Pour or scrape grease into a sturdy closed-lid container, such as a coffee can, and dispose of it in the trash.
• Recycle large amounts of cooking oil or grease at the Dallas County Household Hazardous Waste facility located at 11234 Plano Road in Dallas. 

Union Pacific Railroad launches railroad safety campaign

Union Pacific Railroad has launched a railroad safety campaign to educate drivers and pedestrians about the importance of using caution near railroad tracks. A series of brief videos has been created to show the importance of being patient when approaching railroad crossings as a driver and the dangers of taking photos on railroad tracks. To watch the videos and learn more, visit www.up.com/aboutup/community/safety/crossing/.

Watch the latest Mesquite Minute

The latest Mesquite Minute news program was taped on location at the Parks and Recreation warehouse where staff are preparing decorations and floats for this year’s Christmas in the Park. Watch the brief video at www.cityofmesquite.com/Minute to learn more about this year’s event plus other Mesquite news.

Contact Us

Let us hear from you. If you have a concern or are experiencing an issue, please contact the City of Mesquite at 972-288-7711 or visit the City’s website at www.cityofmesquite.com/CitizenRequest for assistance.