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Thursday, February 27, 2014

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Hoops season comes to an end

Volume 50, Number 45

$1 Springtown, Texas 76082

Page 12A ‘Lucky’ 7: Azle, Springtown residents indicted Page 1B for Parker County crimes

Beating leads to hate crime charges BY NATALIE GENTRY This story contains information that some readers might fi nd objectionable. Multiple federal authorities have charged 19-year-old Brice Johnson, of Springtown, with a hate crime for the vicious beating of Aaron Keahey last September. Brutal encounter According to the criminal complaint fi led Feb. 12 in the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, the two men met via cell phone through the social application MeetMe.com., the selfproclaimed “public market leader for social discovery.” Keahey’s profi le indicated that he was gay. While Johnson’s page indicated that he was not gay, he told Keahey, through their messaging, that he was interested in engaging in sexual activity with him. According to a statement released

Brice Johnson Photo courtesy of the Parker County Sheriff’s Offi ce

by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Feb. 20 Johnson lured Keahey to his house under this pretense. “He (Johnson) invited [Keahey] to his home, gave [Keahey] his cell phone number and address, and they PLEASE SEE HATE, PAGE 3A.

New head coach/ AD a proven winner Hulett hired from Eastland after 54 wins in 6 seasons BY MARK K. CAMPBELL The new head football coach/athletic director for Springtown ISD is Brian Hulett. He brings a winning history on the gridiron from Eastland with a penchant for putting up big point totals. While coaching the Mavericks since 2008, Hulett has piled up 54 victories against just 18 losses. In just six seasons, that total placed him second alltime at Eastland. Twice Hulett led the Mavericks to undefeated regular seasons and Eastland made back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances in 2A. Last season, Eastland won its fi rst 13 games, including some big blowouts of Jacksboro and Breckenridge and, in the 2013 Area game, a 40-0 romp past Littlefield. The victory run ended against the state runner-up, Wall, 40-28. In Hulett’s past three seasons, Eastland’s record is 35-5. The coach said he feels good about coming to Springtown. “It’s exciting. I like the feel of the community,” he said. “It’s a great location with great kids and a great past. It was appealing to me.” Hulett’s impressive record certainly impressed SISD superintendent Mike Kelley. After a two-hour closed session at the Feb. 24 school board meeting,

Kelley came out and praised Hulett’s credentials. The board quickly approved him for hire, unanimously, 7-0. Kelley said, “We had a great pool of applicants. The young man from Eastland has done a very, very good job coaching those young men. “What’s important to him is to build great character through hard work. That’s translated to success on the fi eld and on the court and in the classroom.” That work ethic is vital to success, Hulett said. “In Eastland, I had a coaching staff and a great group of kids who bought in to working hard. I’m a blue collar guy and I saw a lot of that in Springtown,” he said. Kelley added, “Brian will come over and support all of our programs. In Eastland, they win in everything that they do. I believe very strongly that he will have similar success here. “He is going to be a huge asset to our community. We are very, very fortunate to have him.” Hulett was awarded a two-year administrative contract. The new coach/AD is ready to go and put his hard work philosophy – which included a 26-4 home record in Eastland – into place in Springtown. “If you do things the right way with a great attitude, you can get things done,” Hulett said.

Reigning Miss Springtown, Kalie Wells, (left) passes the title to this year’s winner, Kacee Newkirk (see more pageant photos on page 2A). Photo by Natalie Gentry

Newkirk named Miss Springtown Character and caring the center of pageant BY NATALIE GENTERY Keep calm and Fairy Tale on. The seventh annual Miss Springtown Pageant isn’t your run-of-themill beauty pageant. There were no hijinks as seen on TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras. Taking the top crown as Miss Springtown was Kacee Newkirk. Lauren Jones was picked as Junior Miss Springtown. “Pageant weekend is a time for caring, sharing, growth, and love,” reads the Miss Springtown registration form. “There will be many teachable

moment...they are priceless: use them in a positive and loving manner.” The emphasis of this competition is character, talent, and increasing girls’ self-esteem. The pageant – organized and hosted by the Springtown Beautifi cation Committee – strives to do just that. The morning pageants featured an adorable array of tots adorned in aweinspiring outfits and costumes. Little ones toddled across the stage; often waving to the crowd. Later, elementary-aged girls smiled as they showed off their costumes and

evening dresses. The evening event kicked off at 7 p.m. The girls were judged in photogenic, costume wear, casual wear, talent and beauty (aka evening wear). However an all-important element of the judging is the interview process. “The Miss Springtown Pageant is looking for young ladies that are confi dent, personable, friendly, and outgoing,” reads the registration form. “Most importantly, [the contestants] should be role models for young ladies to look up to.”

Copy that: Springtown ISD change could save $40,000 Bad weather days to be addressed in March BY MARK K. CAMPBELL The big news that came out of the Feb. 24 Springtown ISD board meeting was the hiring of Brian Hulett as the new football head coach/athletic director. But other items were also addressed – including one that could save Springtown a big chunk of change. Chief Financial Offi cer Gary Shaw said he reworked the ISD’s copier contract. The previous cost for unlimited copies was $156,000 annually, he said. By moving to a per-copy price of 4.2 cents per 1,000 copies, the renegotiated cost dropped substantially to $83,000. Shaw said the savings projection is between $30,000 to $40,000 annually. A reason for the price option, he said, was that costs have lowered due to ever-newer technological advances.

at the March board meeting. President Amy Walker queried Kelley about how some districts held school on President’s Day, Feb. 17. Kelley said that that holiday was factored in the local school calendar as a day off. He added that most school districts “are in the same boat” with the excessive number of bad weather days this year. “I expect [approval of] the waivers will likely be just a formality,” Kelley said. If the waiver is not granted, he said a plan will be mapped out at the next meeting.

Fine arts successes A report from Director of Fine Arts J.B. Perry noted continuing success by SISD students. Springtown schools tallied 92 medals and ribbons at the UIL academic Bad weather days Superintendent Mike Kelley said district meet conducted at Cato ElBrian Hulett stopped by Porcupine Stadium while touring Springtown Feb. 27. the waiver situation for bad weather ementary at Castleberry Jan. 27. Springtown Elementary, with MarWith him were wife Sunshine and children Sunbri and Hudson. would be more thoroughly addressed

sha Winfi eld serving as sponsor, collected 41 places. Springtown Intermediate won 18; SIS’ sponsor is Trudy Sherman. Both Reno and Goshen Creek Elementaries earned 13 honors each. Sponsors, respectively, are Monica Hunter and Lisa Scott. Eleven Springtown High School choir members qualifi ed for the Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest set for May in Austin. All competed in Class 1 solos. Travis Brents, an SHS senior, was accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Thousands audition annually to attend and Brents made the cut in Houston, performing “I Hate Hamlet” by Paul Ruddnick. Fourteen band members attended the Texas Future Music Educators convention in San Antonio. Also attending were SHS’ two All-State recipients, freshman Jacob Matthews, a percussionist, and choir member junior Emily Mitchell.