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Thursday, May 7, 2015
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Four Porcupines qualify in state track
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SISD end-of-year activities Page 6A
Almost $1.7 million
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Volume 52, Number 3
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Special Send-off for Special Athletes
Refinancing could save SISD serious cash BY NATALIE GENTRY The Springtown Independent School District (SISD) Board of Trustees was presented with a potential bond refunding opportunity at the April meeting. Joshua McLaughlin, of BOSC, Incorporated, presented the program. “Over the last few years the district has taken advantage of the low interest rate environment and has implemented two separate refunding programs to lower the interest rates on portions of the district’s outstanding debt,” McLaughlin said. “Over those years, those programs have saved the district and its taxpayers just over $3.8 million. “There is another opportunity to refinance a portion at a lower interest rate.” McLaughlin noted that the SISD PLEASE SEE SISD, PAGE 3A.
The halls of Springtown High School where bursting with cheers from students, staff, and faculty as Tomi Jean Vaeth and her Life Skills class made their grand exit for the Special Olympics April 30. Photo by Natalie Gentry
Time to choose two mayors
State Debate
Place 2 position also to be decided by Reno citizens BY NATALIE GENTRY The end of the early voting period indicated that the Springtown and Reno mayoral races have drawn a larger-than-normal number of early votes this year. Springtown While council members Denise Taylor in Place 2 and Robert E. Wilson in place 4 are running unopposed and will automatically be re-elected, the empty mayoral seat has two challengers vying for it – Tony D. Smith and Tom W. Clayton. As of Wednesday afternoon, May 6,
155 early votes had been cast in per- three-way battle for her seat with Dason and 3 by mail in the Springtown vid Andrews and Gilbert Morrow running against her. election. Andrews currently In the 2014 Genholds Place 2 on the eral election, 223 Candidates’ info box ballots were cast as .........................see Page 3A Reno city council but chose to run for Smith and Clayton mayor instead of deran for Place 3. Election Day voting Saturday, May fending that seat. Four individuals are vying to re9, for the Springtown election will take place in the new Springtown Mu- place Andrews in Place 2: Darrel Alnicipal Court Annex Building at 200 len, John “JB” Basham, Carol Houlihan, and Jody W. Works. North Main Street. Eric Hunter, the incumbent in Place 4, is running unopposed. Reno As of Wednesday afternoon, May Reno Mayor Lynda Stokes is in a
6, 33 Reno citizens had voted early in person, 15 by mail. In the 2014 General Election, about 134 citizens voted; 117 votes were cast in the city’s 2013 General Election. Reno residents may vote on Election Day at Reno City Hall, 195 W. Reno Rd. in Reno. Other area elections canceled The Springtown Independent School District and the city of Sanctuary have canceled their elections for 2015, since no candidates face opposition.
SHS scores big at UIL competitions BY NATALIE GENTRY Springtown Independent School District students have had an outstanding year in University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions. In addition to all four Springtown bands earning UIL sweepstakes awards and the Springtown High School (SHS) Mixed Choir earning a Division 1 rating, the SHS Debate Team, Academic Team, and One Act Play cast all advanced in their respective competitions. Debate team SHS had three students advance to state in Debate this year. Sarah Alvis and Josue Ramirez moved on in Cross Examination Debate, also known as Policy Debate. This is a team event that debates constitutional issues. This year’s resolution was “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase The SHS Accounting Team took home the first place plaque at dis- its non-military exploration and/or detrict and qualified for regional competition: (l-r) Shayna Johnson, velopment of the Earth's oceans.” Alvis and Ramirez attended the Jordan Whitaker, Beverly Johnson (UIL Accounting Coach), and state competition in March and faced Krystina Supercinski (UIL Spelling/Vocabulary Coach).
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64 other teams. In addition, Tayler Berlin competed in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate – a one-on-one debate like lawyers in court. Berlin is advancing to state in this debate after defeating 24 others. LD Debate deals with morals and philosophy. This year’s resolution was “Resolved: When in conflict, human rights protection ought to supersede state sovereignty in the conduct of United States foreign policy.” Berlin will be traveling to Austin in May to battle for a state win. At district Michelle Padilla and Juliet David both qualified to get to the regional competition in LD Debate. SHS students took all three available slots in LD Debate to continue on to regional. Ramirez also qualified at district for region in Informative Extemporaneous Speaking and Samantha Cabell Taylor Berlin has qualified for qualified in Poetry (oral interpreta- the Lincoln-Douglas Debate tion). state competition after besting 24 others. She will vie in Austin PLEASE SEE UIL, PAGE 2A. later this month.
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