RECREATION
• The City of Houston offers a variety of recreation venues. Emmett Kelly Park (east) features playground equipment, disc golf, a walking trail and two pavilions. West Side Park (center city) includes tennis courts, the municipal swimming pool, a new splashpad and one pavilion. Rutherford park (west) has soccer fields, workout equipment and a walking trail nearby. Reservations of pavilions are available by calling 417-967-3348.
• The Houston Parks and Recreation Department organizes a variety of youth leagues. Baseball, basketball, flag football, softball and soccer opportunities are available for children. See the schedule of activities at houstonmo.org.
• The Village Trail circles the entire community. A trailhead is situated on Brushy Creek. Other sections include Emmett Kelly Park, along Spruce Street, Airport Road and Westwood Drive.
Read more about recreation on pages 36-38
TRANSPORTATION
• Highways: U.S. 63 runs north and south through the county. It expanded in April 2017 to five lanes. Highway 17 runs from northwest Texas County to the southeast corner of the county.
• Air travel: The Houston Memorial Airport has more than 20 hangars, including 13 new ones, a parking lot, pilots lounge and shower. The runway is 3,500 feet long.
• Public transportation: The City of Houston operates a transportation system that is available by calling 417-967-2013. Texas County Memorial Hospital has two Medivans for non-emergency transportation for area residents. The service is $5 per passenger for each one-way ride within the city limits of Houston. Outside the city limits of Houston, the charge is $1 per mile, one-way. Call 417-967-3311.
UTILITIES
• Natural gas: Not available.
• Propane businesses in Houston city limits: Rees Propane (417-967-4143) and Tuttle Utility Gas Inc. (www.tugasinc.com; 417-967-3327).
• Electricity: City of Houston (www.houstonmo.org; 417-967-3348) and Intercounty Electric Cooperative (www.ieca.coop; 573-674-2211).
• Cable TV: CableAmerica (www.cableamerica.com; 417-967-5571).
• Phone/Internet providers: CenturyLink (www.centurylink.com; 866-904-1817), CableAmerica (www.cableamerica.com; 417-967-5571) and Interconnect (http://www.ieca.coop/interconnect; 866-621-3679).
• Water: Service is provided by the City of Houston (www.houstonmo.org; 417-967-3348). Areas east and north of Houston are served by Public Water Supply District No. 2. Areas south and west of Houston are included in Public Water Supply District No. 3.
• Sewer: Houston is served by a new wastewater treatment plant, which was completed in 2011.
• Trash: Items are picked up on curbside on Mondays and Tuesdays. Trash service: Commercial and residential trash pick up is under contract to Waste Management. Here is the schedule: Monday — All of the area south of Hawthorn, west of U.S. 63 and south and west to the city limits. Tuesday — All of the area east of U.S. 63, south of Highway B and east and south to the city limits. Wednesday — All of the area north of Hawthorn, west of Bryan Street, south of Spruce Street and west to the city limits. Thursday — All of the area east of Bryan Street and west of U.S. 63, south to Hawthorn and north to Forrest Street.
• Recycling: Pick up is completed by the City of Houston. Items are picked up Mondays and Tuesdays. Call 417-967-2393.
WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION
• The Houston Herald, a multi-time award-winning newspaper, updates its website with breaking news, sports scores, obituaries and more each day at www.houstonherald.com. The Herald can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the handle “houstonherald.” Text alerts are available for free by signing up at houstonherald.com/textalerts.
• The City of Houston’s website at www.houstonmo.org has comprehensive information about the community and the ability to pay utility bills online.
• Texas County government lists its departments, office holders and contact information online at texascountymissouri.gov.
• The Houston Area Chamber of Commerce has business listings and a schedule of events at www.chamberhoustonmo.com.