Thursday, January 23, 2014
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Volume 50, Number 40
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Turner ‘steps down’ as Springtown football coach BY MARK K. CAMPBELL After eight seasons leading Porcupines as the Springtown head football coach, Brad Turner is vacating that post. He will remain as athletic director, SISD superintendent Mike Kelley said. Kelley released this statement Wednesday, Jan. 22: “Earlier today, Coach Turner met with his players and football coaches and announced that he would not be returning to coach the Porcupines next fall. “Citing a strong desire for his student athletes to avoid some of the distractions that have presented themselves, he has requested and been granted the opportunity to step down as head coach. “He will continue fulfi lling his duties and responsibilities as athletic director until further notice. “He did not resign.” Via Facebook and Twitter, the Epigraph incorrectly said that Turner had resigned; that is incorrect – he did not resign. Turner came to Springtown from Sulphur Springs in 2006. In eight football seasons, he posted an overall record of 37-48. In district play – in 4A and later in 3A competition – Turner’s Porcupines went 25-28. Springtown reached the postseason four times in those
eight seasons, going 1-4. That victory came last November at Wichita Falls, 49-27 against Hirschi in bi-district. In all seasons but one, SHS harbored playoff hopes entering the final game of the season. Turner’s Porcupine teams were known for putting up astonishing offensive numbers. (See a story on Page 8A for stats on the 2013 Porcupine squad that ranked among state leaders in several offensive categories – often among all classifications.) Turner came under fi re from some citizens at a November 2011 school board meeting when Springtown posted a 1-9 record for the season. He survived that tumultuous period, receiving a vote of confidence from Kelley at a January board meeting. “I’m very confi dent that Coach Turner is going to do a good job of putting us in the best possible position to be successful,” Kelley said then. Springtown returned to the playoffs the next two seasons. However, some residents returned to the school board in 2013 to again voice concerns about the direction and success of the program. Since this story broke at press time on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a more detailed piece will be printed in the Jan. 30 Brad Turner stepped down as the Springtown head football coach Epigraph. Jan. 22. He will remain the athletic director. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
‘Soooooooooul Train’ Local church will use refurbished trolley to pick up children
Hilltop Family Church’s new trolley car will be used to transport kids to and from church.
Photo by Natalie Gentry
BY NATALIE GENTRY Hilltop Family Church in Springtown has made an addition to the church in the form of a trolley car. The green and gold Soul Train will be used to cart children to and from Sunday School. So what inspired the acquisition of the trolley? “When I was in Eureka Springs on vacation I saw the trolley cars they have and I thought ‘what a calling card for kids,” said John Conway, Hilltop Family Church pastor. “I spoke to the elders and to the church to see if somebody felt led to start a bus ministry and would like to cultivate it.” After the service, Kelvin Miles approached Conway and volunteered to lead the ministry. Miles and Brad Baltzell will be the men behind the wheel of the Soul Train. After searching the Internet, Miles fi nally found a potential trolley candidate for the job. “We found this little darling here and brought it back,” Conway said. The church has had the trolley now for a little over a month, in which time it has been totally overhauled so it will be ready to carry children safely to Sunday services. You can hitch a ride and fi nd out more information at Hilltop Family Church, 817-220-7177.
Reno council accepts The highest note: disannexation petition SHS singer first-ever female BY NATALIE GENTRY Reno resident Art Johnson presented multiple petitions to the Reno City Council regarding items to be voted on by the council or placed on the ballots for the May election. The fi rst petition Johnson presented requested that the city discontinue the agreement with Tarrant County that allows them to collect taxes. Instead, Johnson said that the taxes should be collected by the county in which the city resides. Johnson stated that 141 people signed this pe-
tition. The next petition that was presented requested that a tax rate freeze be put in place for citizens over 65 and who are disabled. Again, 141 residents signed this petition. The third petition Johnson presented requested an increase in the homestead exemption for residents over 65 and who are disabled. The current exemption extends to the fi rst 10 percent of the residents’ property value. PLEASE SEE DISANNEXATION, PAGE 3A.
Suspicious minds: Area folks, kids, even an Elvis interpreter implore Texas Railroad Commission to shut down injection wells BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN An estimated 100 people, including Springtown residents, left Azle at 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 – some in a chartered bus and others in a nine-vehicle caravan that followed. Their objective: convince the Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) to shut down about 13 saltwater disposal wells in the Azle/Reno/Springtown area believed by many residents to be the cause of 30-plus earthquakes that have occurred since Nov. 1, 2013. They used just about every tool available to them – from lining up prescription medications for the board to see to 11- and 12-year-old children testifying to a live adaptation of Elvis Presley’s hit “All Shook Up” – to accomplish that
objective. About 30 people actually spoke – or sang “we’re in Azle...we’re all shook up” accompanied by guitar – and the commissioners lent their ear. While each individual had their own story, they almost all requested the commission shut down disposal wells in the area immediately and then continue with studies to determine the cause of the earthquakes. Most of their points and arguments have already been heard at two Town Hall meetings held earlier this month at Azle High School. But TRC staff did presented information following the public commentary portion of the PLEASE SEE AREA, PAGE 2A.
selected for All-State Choir
Emily Mitchell competed at the Area round of AllState competition in Midland Jan. 11. There, she was selected for a place on the elite AllState Choir group – a fi rst for a Springtown High School singer, choir director Denise Johnson said. “This is a very prestigious accomplishment,” Johnson said. Mitchell is only the third Springtown student to ever make All-State Choir. She is the fi rst student to do so in 10 years, and the first female from Springtown to ever be chosen. This year was Mitchell’s third year to compete for a place on the prestigious singing ensemble. “The difference this year was that I felt like I really had the support of my friends.” Mitchell said. Only 504 students from schools throughout the state are selected from an initial audition pool of over 16,000 singers. The audition process brings to mind visions of TV’s The Voice. A group of fi ve students warm up and then, oneby-one, students are called into a room to sing. The judges are separated from the students by a curtain so that the only element they are judging is the voice they hear. There are four rounds with the song selection becoming increasingly diffi cult and additional cuts after each round. “I am so very proud of all of the hard work she has shown to accomplish this,” Johnson said. The All-State Choir will perform at the Texas MuEmily Mitchell, a junior at SHS sesic Educators Association Convention in San Antocured a place in the All-State Choir nio in February. on Jan. 11. Mitchell is the fi rst feThe students will perform under the direction of male ever from SHS to be selected. Dr. Jeffrey Redding of West Virginia University. Photo by Natalie Gentry
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