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Volume 51, Number 43
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Court awards Walnut Creek widening contract BY NATALIE GENTRY Parker County commissioners awarded a $779,200 contract to Quality Excavation for the first phase of the Springtown Main Street Drainage Improvements project at their Feb. 9 meeting. In doing so, they bypassed the $719,000 bid placed by Obra Ramos, the lowest of five bidders for the project. The courts cited lack of financial records as the reason behind the decision. According to Chris Bosco of Freese and Nichols, the company had previously worked under other contractors, but had no experience as a prime contractor. “One issue with the low bid was that we were unable to get any financial data,” he said. “That’s what triggered us to look at the second bidder as well. Their financial data was in good standing.” The project consists of the excavation and channel widening of Walnut Creek at the intersection of FM Road 51 and State Highway 199. The project’s budget is $950,000. Soon debris piled up like this in Walnut Creek will be gone, thanks to the awarding of a contract to widen Walnut Creek at the intersection of Farm Road 51 and State Highway 199. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
Riley talks drainage, Main Street repair
Bucked For Bucks
51/199 fix gets more funds BY MARK K. CAMPBELL Parker County Judge Mark Riley addressed the Springtown Optimist Club Feb. 10 and he talked construction. He said the ball is rolling for some Springtown-specific creek and roadwork. The previous day, the Commissioners Court had approved a bid of $779,200 for the Main Street Drainage Improvements project aka Evacuation for Transportation Bond Project 1.09. The bid was won by Freese and Nichols, Riley said. However, that engineering company was not the low bid. One came in at $719,000 but concerns about a “lack of financial” encouraged the Court to choose Freese and Nichols. “They have a good track record,” Riley said. Work on Walnut Creek around Main Street should start within 60 days, the judge said. “Sometimes it takes that long for everybody to mobilize,” he noted. The passage of Proposition One in last year's election allowed more money to be directed from the state's Rainy Day
Fund to construction on Texas roadways – including the intersection of Highway 199 and Farm Road 51. Originally $4 million, the repair cost is now estimated at $12 million. Currently $10 million is set aside for the intricate construction. “We're working with TxDOT to offset that difference,” Riley said. The influx of funds means the project is still a priority. “One ninety-nine and 51 are a unique situation,” the judge said. A time frame for the repair has not been set. “There's no schedule yet, but it's good news that we're this far along,” he said. Riley also discussed the Weatherford East Loop. Next up for the route is the widening of Center Point Road from Interstate 20, he said, to the north “near the church [of God] campgrounds” at Highway 180, the Fort Worth Highway. Work there is looking to take place in 2016, he said. As to when the entire loop will be completed – back to Highway 51 north of town – Riley said “much later.”
The SHS FFA Donkey Basketball fundraiser Feb. 9 was a huge success. While all the players were eager to score points, a couple of the donkeys had other ideas. The Springtown Elementary School gym was filled and the FFA took home approximately $1,900 after expenses. Photo by Natalie Gentry
Former SISD teacher convicted ‘Bell’ taught sixth grade here BY NATALIE GENTRY A former Springtown Middle School teacher was found guilty of conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance 1-4 grams in a Wise County courtroom Feb. 3. According to court records, Shirley Jean Johnson, 56, of Chico, used text messages to set up a drug purchase on Oct. 5, 2012. At the time of her arrest, Johnson went by the last name Bell. According to records, Johnson texted a phone belonging to a man who had recently been arrested for selling Judge Mark Riley caught up Springtown Optimist Club members drugs. She set up the meeting with a naron construction here and in other parts of Parker County. Photo by Mark K. Campbell cotics officer.
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Video of that meeting shows Johnson telling officers she left school in Springtown – where she was a sixth grade teacher – and was supposed to give the $100 to her son. Johnson never returned to the middle school campus after she left SMS Oct. 5. Family issues kept her home for the next few days and she was placed on administrative leave by the school district upon notification of the charge. She resigned her position not long after. The jury returned the guilty verdict after only 10 minutes of deliberation. A sentencing hearing is scheduled Feb. 23 to determine her punishment. Shirley Jean Johnson
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