Volume 62, Number Number 52 52
Azle News
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
THE
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Suspect sought in 10k electric scam Page 1B
Wrestling and tennis camp next Page 9A
Duo injured in experimental plane crash near Lakeside BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Two men were hurt when a small plane crashed near the intersection of Confederate Park Road (aka FM 1886) and Silver Creek-Azle Road near Lakeside June 4. The accident occurred around 6:15 p.m. Sources tell the Azle News both men will recover from their injuries. Although the identities of the two men on board could not be confi rmed, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary incident report indicates the aircraft was registered to Robert E. Carter of Springtown on
HGTV Auction
March 7. According to the same report, the blue bi-plane is a Starduster TOO SA300 built in 1975; its classifi cation is listed as “Experimental” and its category is “Amateur Built.” One of the two men on board, believed to be the pilot, was transported to a Fort Worth hospital by CareFlite air ambulance. His injuries were deemed to be serious. The other man, believed to be a passenger in the aircraft, was taken to PLEASE SEE PLANE, PAGE 2A.
Potential buyers bid on one of the houses up for auction as fi lm crew members catch the action on camera at HGTV’s Texas Flip-N-Move work site on FM 730 North between Azle and Briar. HGTV will host auctions at the site each Saturday during June, beginning at 1 p.m. Photo by Natalie Gentry
Smith is new AISD ops man Wreckage from an experimental bi-plane could be seen in the driveway of a residence just east of Flying Oaks Airport, near the intersection of Confederate Park Road (FM 1886) and Silver CreekAzle Road on June 4. Photo courtesy Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
West named Azle interim police chief BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN He is the ranking lieutenant within the Azle Police Department, and only one offi cer – Sgt. Bob Spohn – has served the citizens of Azle longer than Lt. Darrell West. Wednesday, June 4, he was named Interim Police Chief by City Manager Craig Lemin; West replaces Randy Reed who retired abruptly May 30. West grew up in Azle, graduating from AHS a year ahead of the rest of his class in 1976. He married an Azle girl, Debbie Nutt, in 1979, and the two raised three children together. Along the way, West began serving the public, something he’s done his entire adult life. He joined the Azle Volunteer Fire Department in 1981. While volunteering, he went to school to become certifi ed as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and then moved on to
BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN For 20 years, Todd Smith has worked within a one-block area on Boyd Road in Azle. He’s going to have to learn some new routes to get to work. Dr. Ray Lea, superintendent of the Azle Independent School District, announced that Smith has accepted the position of Director of Operations for the district. Smith replaces Skip McCambridge, who recently resigned the position to head to a similar one in Lake Worth ISD. “Todd Smith has been dedicated to Azle for a long time – in fact, he just received his 20-year service pin,” Lea said. “He has aspirations to advance, and he’s worked very hard to earn that advancement, so we decided to reassign him to this position. “I’d say he was the obvious choice,” Lea said. He added that Smith has already moved into an offi ce in the AISD administration building at 300 Roe Street. Lea said Smith will have “plenty to say grace over” as he takes on oversight of maintenance, transportation, policy, student services, construction and communications for the entire district. “Any change in jobs entails some on-the-job training, and I like to think I’m a good teacher,” Lea said. “We’re very excited about what Todd brings to the position – his years of experience give him some real strength.” On the subject of Smith’s oversight
of the construction of a new competition gym and Career and Technology Education center at Azle High School, Lea said a tremendous amount of input from career and technology teachers as well as coaches has been sought and received. “We’ve been diligent to listen to everything they’ve had to say. Todd
to be very proud of our facilities.” Smith grew up in Arlington and graduated from Martin High School before obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Tarleton State University in Stephenville. He came to Azle High School to teach agriculture – or just plain ag, as it’s commonly referred to – and did just that for seven years before becoming an assistant principal at the school. The transition from the classroom to assistant principal was pretty easy since there was no shortage of students, Smith says. Five years later, Smith says he was honored to become just the fi fth principal in the history of Walnut Creek Elementary school. “Since Walnut Creek opened in 1955, there have only been four other principals – Wendal E. Hoover, Ruby Mae Easley, Fred Weir, and Thomas Hicks,” Smith said. “I wondered how I could ever replace someone like Mr. Hicks – someone that nice and calming, soothing – but it was a smooth transition, and I hope this one will go that way, too.” The students were younger at Walnut Creek, but Smith says the eight years he spent there were the most fun. “The kids are what I’ll miss most,” Smith said. “We have great teachers, a great staff, great parents and an out-
become a paramedic. West then went to work for Meissner Brown Ambulance Service in Fort Worth, which eventually merged with HEB Ambulance Service. He was working for the ambulance service on August 2, 1985. That’s the day Delta Flight 191 went down Todd Smith is the new Director at DFW Airport, and West was in the of Operations for Azle ISD, trenches, helping to rescue injured replacing Skip McCambridge passengers from the doomed jetliner who is off to Lake Worth ISD in and transport them to area hospitals. a similar position. West and dozens of other fi rst rePhoto by Mark K. Campbell sponders searched for survivors was an ag teacher at AHS for many through fi re and rain in what’s been years, and he has a good understandcalled the deadliest day ever at DFW ing of what’s needed there,” Lea said. Airport. “When they are fi nished, we’re going West and his young family moved PLEASE SEE NEW, PAGE 3A. to East Texas in September 1987, and he attended the Kilgore College Police Academy, graduating in October 1988. He served as a reserve offi cer for the East Tawakoni Police Department for a while, but the Wests began to realize they missed their home and family in Azle. So home they came. He hired on at the Azle Police Department on Jan. 18, 1990. In those days, the department didn’t have corporals, but West attained the rank of sergeant in 1993. After the late Offi cer and former Interim Chief Norman Ott left the Azle PD, West took over as coordinator for the Citizens Police Academy. “I’ve done just about everything there is to do around A large opening-night crowd was swept back in time when The Stoneleighs – a Rolling Stones cover band complete with a Keith Richards look-a-like – took the stage June 6 to kick off Azle’s Music in the here,” West laughed. He served as sergeant in Park Summer Concert Series. From “Get Off My Cloud” to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” the Darrell West is both at home and on the the Criminal Investigation crowd enjoyed the music and memories along with free root beer fl oats provided by event sponsor job as Interim Chief of the Azle Police Fidelity National Title Company. A country group, the Spencer Elliott Band, plays this Friday night, Department. PLEASE SEE AZLE’S, PAGE 2A. starting at 8 p.m. at the Central Park amphitheater. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
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This Week in Last June a 61-year-old Springtown woman who had been overnight for 12 hours while it rained two inches Azle Historymissing was found alive on the banks of Eagle Mountain Lake. 1 Year Ago
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