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Volume 51, Number 8
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Suspect sought in 10K electric scam Page 4A
Bike Rally returns June 14
Springtown, Texas 76082
Parker County Puppies
Hundreds expected to ride By Natalie Gentry The 5th Annual All-American Bicycle Rally is set for Saturday, June 14. Chamber board member Dr. Robert Moss noted that although only 57 cyclists have per-registered this number is about the same as last year. Last year approximately 200 riders participated in the rally. Moss also commented on the volunteers who have stepped up to help.
“Volunteers from all of the local churches will man the rest stops and we have some volunteers from area volunteer fire stations who will be posted along the routes.” Moss said. With loops encompassing 10, 28, 54, and 67 miles to choose from, every cyclist will find a course for their level, he said. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning in the Springtown High School parking lot. The first race starts at 7:30 a.m. and
all courses will close at 2 p.m. All riders will again receive barbecue from Woody Creek after the race. Perspective riders can register at www.bikereg.com or download the application from the Chamber’s website and fax (with credit or debit card information) to the Chamber office at 817-523-3268. For more information contact the Springtown Chamber at info@ springtownchamber.org or by phone at 817-220-7828.
Even though two of the “Parker County Puppies” have died from complications stemming from exposure, the eight remaining puppies are thriving in the care of their surrogate mothers. Angels and Outlaws Second Chance Bully Ranch, a dog rescue facility in Hico that is caring for the puppies, has posted a June 13 deadline to apply to adopt one of the puppies. All applicants will be screened by the rescue. So far, rescue owner Jennifer Aikman has received approximately 75 applications from as far away as Canada. People interested in adopting one of the pups should e-mail Aikman at angelsandoutlawsbullyranch@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of the Parker County Sheriff’s Office
Two men hurt in ‘experimental’ plane crash Scores of riders take off from Springtown High School during the 2013 All-American Bike Rally. This year’s races are Saturday, June 14. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
Giant track meet returning Around 4,500 expected to pour into town June 19-21 by mark k. campbell They’re coming back – and even more are returning. The Southwestern Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships liked its Springtown experience last year so much that the organization is headed back to the Porcupine Stadium complex June 19-21. In 2013, approximately 3,000 young athletes and their families came to town. That number is expected to swell this year, said facility director Carl Hornback. Visitors en route Because the national meet will also take place in Texas this year – in Humble – Hornback thinks the incentive of regional track athletes not having to travel out of state for the ultimate meet will entice more to compete in Springtown.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we had more people this year than last year,” he said. “We had about 1,500 athletes last year. It could be 2,000 this year.” That could propel the final tally to 4,500. But they won’t all arrive at the same time. “It’ll be spread out throughout the week,” he said. “After they compete, they’ll leave and others will arrive.” With the competitions being Texas-intensive, Hornback said he is aware of 25 more track clubs popping up in the North Texas area as well as talented squads coming to Springtown from Hallsville and Texarkana. Competitors know that success in Springtown will send athletes to the regional event in San Marcos then nationals in Humble, near Houston. “I think the fact that kids can compete in all the meets and stay in Texas will create more interest,” Horn-
back said. “It’s a rare opportunity to not leave the state.” The meet With Springtown’s top-notch facilities, the Southwestern Association Junior Olympics was happy to come back, Hornback said. He and six others will be responsible for timing and results. That means preparing for the onslaught of athletes by erecting timing devices and cameras around the track well in advance of any arrivals. Hornback said he and his cohorts plan on doing that the Monday before the meet, June 16. “It takes a while,” he noted. Aside from the facility rental fee, Springtown benefits trackside by keeping all the concessions; funds go to the athletic booster club, Hornback said. PLEASE SEE HUGE, PAGE 2A.
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 Epigraph both men will recover from their injuries. Although the identities of the two men on board could not be confirmed, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary incident report indicates the aircraft was registered to Robert E. Carter of Springtown on March 7. According to the same report, the blue bi-plane is a Starduster TOO SA300 built in 1975; its classification 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 Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth by ground ambulance. The report does not list a cause for the crash. It only says the craft crashed “under unknown circumstances in a residential area near Flying Oaks Airstrip.” In fact, the plane’s wreckage appeared to be in the driveway of a residence located immediately east of that popular airstrip.
An investigator examines the wreckage of an experimental plane that crashed in Lakeside. The plane is registered to a Springtown man. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman Firefighters and emergency medical responders from Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain, and Azle responded to the incident, as did Tarrant County Sheriff’s Deputies.
SHS scholarships, grants, and awards – oh, my! Springtown Education Foundation passes out $35K The Springtown Education Foundation closed out its scholarship year with awards in excess of $35,000 to high school seniors. In addition to the usual scholarships, four teachers were awarded $500 mini-grants to enhance their rooms or curriculum for the 20142015 school year. SEF awarded 65 scholarships to 38 applicants in May. Scholarships are funded by various
donors and endowments plus fundraising efforts by the organization. SEF Board Scholarships Each year the SEF board funds eight $500 scholarships. This year, these awards were given in honor of local citizens who impacted the SISD schools and community. Winners included: Erin Cameron received a scholarship honoring longtime SEF board
member Huelyn Duvall. Colton Hunt was awarded a scholarship honoring Jody Lowery, former SISD basketball coach, teacher and school board trustee. Madison Kearby received a scholarship honoring Larry Caddell, SHS Ag teacher for 29 years. Tyler Plato was awarded a scholarship honoring J. N. “Mutt” Cockburn, an SHS coach and teacher. Rebecca Jones received a scholar-
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ship honoring Tony Faulk, longtime supporter of SEF and vendor for SISD. Savannah Sutton was awarded a scholarship honoring Claude and Dorothy Howell, late restaurateurs’ and civic leaders for many years. Phillip Schneider received a scholarship honoring Laurie and Julia Moseley, former teachers/administrators in the district and active civic leaders in the community.
Community-funded scholarships SHS 2014 seniors receiving scholarships awarded by community members included: Madison Armstrong received a scholarship from the Springtown High faculty. Tyler Cantrell was awarded the Pam McMains Memorial Scholarship. Jessica Cooper was awarded a PLEASE SEE SPRINGTOWN, PAGE 3A.
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