HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rion Conley
Meredith Paskell
Mariah Tijerina
Jeremy McPherson
Tammy Weatherly
Scott Eager
Parker Brashear
3/1 3/2 3/14 3/20 3/29 3/30 3/30
MARCH 26
11:00-1:00
ROANOKE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Our award-winning Smoke Patrol is planning a Taco theme cook including: Brisket
Pork belly
Pork
Tortillas
Pico de gallo
Guacamole
Cilantro & Onion
Rice & Beans
The Not-So-Green Origins of St. Patrick’s Day ��
Every March 17, offices everywhere turn mysteriously green but St. Patrick’s Day didn’t start as a celebration of parades, pints, and pinch-worthy outfits.
St. Patrick was a real person (and spoiler: not Irish by birth). He was born in Britain in the late 4th century and kidnapped as a teenager by Irish raiders. After years in captivity, he escaped— then later returned to Ireland as a missionary. Bold move. Over time, Patrick became associated with spreading Christianity across Ireland. Legend says he used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity, which is how the humble plant became the unofficial logo of the holiday (and of people aggressively wearing green once a year).
And about those snakes? According to legend, St. Patrick chased them out of Ireland. Historians say Ireland probably never had snakes to begin with but hey, every good holiday needs a dramatic myth.
Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was a religious feast day marked quietly with reflection. The lively parades and party vibes actually took off much later—especially among Irish immigrants in the U.S., who turned it into a celebration of Irish culture, pride, and community.
So whether you’re here for the history, the heritage, or just the green snacks, now you know: this holiday has been evolving for over 1,500 years. Sláinte! ��
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Matt Coker
Stacey Lotz
Shawn Wilkinson
Michael Urrutia
James Farris
Conner Branham
Ryan Estanislao
Chad Liford
Kelly Holt
Lupe Cardona
Maria Campos
Rebecca Tambunga
Trent Swinney
Andrea Odean
Emily Rice
Visitors Center
A CLOSER LOOK MAY REVEAL A TEXAS BIRD!
GET READY TO PUT YOUR EAGLE EYES TO THE TEST!
EACH WEEK IN MARCH, A NEW IMAGE OF A TEXAS BIRD WILL BE SECRETLY HIDDEN SOMEWHERE IN THE MUSEUM. IF A BIRD FROM A PREVIOUS WEEK ISN’T FOUND, IT WON’T FLY AWAY — IT’LL STAY HIDDEN AND JOIN THE NEXT WEEK’S SEARCH!
THE LUCKY FINDER WINS A CUDDLY PLUSH VERSION OF THAT BIRD, COMPLETE WITH ITS VERY OWN BIRD CALL. CHIRPS INCLUDED!
SWING BY THE MUSEUM, EXPLORE A LITTLE, AND SEE WHICH TEXAS BIRDS YOU N SPOT THIS MONTH. HAPPY HUNT
SPECIAL EVENTS
On Saturday March 7th, visit the pond at Community Park between 9:00 AM to Noon for our Fishing in the Park event! It’s free to participate, and there will be fishing poles and a limited amount of bait available for families to use if they don’t bring their own. We will have prizes across several age groups, as well as a few additional prizes for some lucky winners. There might also be some free treats for everyone during the event!
Mark your calendars for Eggapalooza on March 28th at the Roanoke Soccer Complex. This year, the event timeframe has been changed to run from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tens of thousands of eggs, games, prizes, the Easter Bunny, mass chaos; what else could you want?
Fire Department
FD held its annual awards banquet last month, where the following firefighters were honored with these awards.
Spotting Phishing Emails
Before They Become a Problem
Phishing emails are still one of the most common ways attackers try to access accounts and systems. While many of these messages are blocked automatically, some still make it through. A few quick checks can help you spot a phishing attempt before it causes issues.
Check the sender carefully. Attackers often use familiar display names like “IT Support” or “Google Admin,” but the actual email address may tell a different story. If the sender’s address looks unusual or does not match what you expect, that is a red flag.
Be cautious with links and attachments. Phishing emails often include links asking you to verify your account, review a document, or fix a problem immediately. Hovering over a link without clicking can reveal where it actually goes. Unexpected attachments, especially ZIP files or documents you were not expecting, should be treated with caution.
Watch for urgency or pressure. Messages that warn of account suspension, demand immediate action, or claim something bad will happen if you do not respond quickly are often designed to make you panic and click without thinking.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. It is always okay to stop and verify before taking action. Report suspicious emails using PhishHook. Reporting helps the IT investigate and protect others from similar messages. When in doubt, do not click or reply. Report it.
P U B L I C W O R K S N E W S !
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO O U R
A B OV E A N D B E YO N D W I N N E R S ! NASH RUTEN JACOB BECKER TRENT SWINNEY
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT! TWO CREWS WORKED 12-HOUR ROTATING SHIFTS FOR FIVE DAYS TO KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE AND CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE WINTER STORM!
Park’s Department Updates
StaffContact:
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Katie Guzman
If you’ve submitted an invoice or had a question about payments recently, chances are you’ve interacted with Katie Guzman, our Accounting Technician. Katie has been with the City of Roanoke for a little over six months, and in that short time, she’s become the go-to expert for all things accounts payable.
Katie says the best part of her job is the people, and she’s always happy to help answer the two questions she hears most often: How do I enter a new vendor? andWhen will vendors be paid? For anyone wondering, Katie needs aW-9 and an invoice to set up a new vendor, and vendors are paid within 30 days. She processes one check run each week on Fridays, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Originally from Florida, Katie moved to Texas at just four years old and has been here ever since—living in several different cities across the state. She comes from a true “Brady Bunch” family with three girls and three boys, so she’s no stranger to busy households.These days, her spare time is happily consumed by her two energetic toddlers, who keep her on her toes. When it comes to hidden talents, Katie’s superpower is throwing unforgettable parties—a skill surely perfected through years of family gatherings and celebrations. Although she enjoys her work in accounting, her dream job is to become a sonogram technician, inspired by the many family members she has in the medical field. We’re glad to have Katie as part of the Roanoke team and appreciate all she does to keep our financial operations running smoothly. Be sure to say hello next time you see her!
New computer for FY26 have been ordered and will arrive by the end of March!!
New computers for FD apparatus will be installed soon!
Work has begun on the redundant datacenter project. This project will allow City Hall and the Police Department to have redundant server infrastructure. Currently, servers run exclusively from the City Hall datacenter. Once this project is complete, either datacenter can run our on premisis servers.
