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Thursday, July 3, 2014
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Beating the heat at the SplashPad
Volume 51, Number 11
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Grass Fire
Facility averaging over 150 visitors daily By Natalie Gentry With June under its belt, the Springtown SplashPad seems to be a hit with area kids. At the regularly scheduled Springtown City Council meeting on June 26 City Administrator, Mark Krey recounted how well the water park has done. “The SplashPad has been open for 19 days and, on average, there have been 151 people there per day,” Krey said. Krey noted that the actual number may be slightly high because staff members hadn’t kept data on season pass holders in attendance during the first few days of business.
The data shows that 40 percent of customers who have visited the water park are city residents and 60 percent have been county residents. There have been a total of 58 after hour parties so far with 36 scheduled by city residents and 22 more by nonresidents. Krey said that there have been several weather days for the personnel to contend with. He said that information about the SplashPad – including closings – can be found at the city’s official website at www.cityofspringtown.com. This is the only site for official notices about the SplashPad, Krey said.
Members of the Reno Volunteer Fire Department work into the night ensuring a grass fire on Wonder Drive is completely extinguished. The cause of the June 30 fire remained unknown at press time; the investigation is ongoing. Photo by Natalie Gentry
Springtown ISD test scores continue to trend upward
Area children enjoy the cascade of water from the big bucket at the Springtown SplashPad on July 2. Photo by Natalie Gentry
By Natalie gentry While Springtown students enjoy some fun in the sun as summer break continues, Springtown Independent School District’s administrators have been busy analyzing the results of the standardized tests administered during the 2013-2014 school year. Kathy Donoho, SISD director of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and accountability, provided a report to the school board at the June 23 meeting breaking down the scores and suggesting an upward year-overyear performance trend. The Texas Primary Reading Inventory – an early reading instrument used to identify children at risk of reading difficulties between Kindergarten and second grade – end-ofyear results showed continued improvement over tests administered in the fall. The Texas English Language
Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) is given to students in all grades. There were significant changes made to TELPAS this year, so it is difficult to compare these results to the 2013 scores, she noted. However even with the changes, 44 percent of students tested in K-2 and 49 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 advanced at least one level from 2013 to 2014. Results for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (aka STAAR) were a mixed bag depending on grade levels. When tackling scores from the test, Superintendent Mike Kelley showed results by grade, explaining that overall scores are up in seven areas and down in seven. “Looking at our performance in eleventh grade for the last seven years, we have continued to trend upward.” he said. In response to the areas where
scores were low, such as writing, SISD had a multitude of staff development workshops scheduled for this summer, Kelley noted. Flex Program SISD board members also voted unanimously to continue the Optional Flexible School Day Program through at least the 2014-15 school year. Providing a variety of learning opportunities, Kelley said students across the district have benefited from the opportunities. This year, the district had the most students enrolled in the Flex Program to date. “Students can attend night school to either replace a failing six-weeks’ grade or to recover a previously failed semester grade,” he said. “There have been quite a few students who otherwise might have dropped out.”
Identity theft addressed at Chamber luncheon By Natalie Gentry Pam Cannataro of Risk Management spoke at the Springtown Chamber of Commerce luncheon on June 26 about combating identity theft. People whose identities have been stolen may spend months or years – not to mention thousands of dollars – cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their name and credit. While criminals still obtain sensitive information by stealing mail and rummaging through trashcans, many have become experts at digital thievery. Cannataro laid out a litany of resources, tips, and tasks for consumers to ensure their identity is as safe as they can make it. Reduce calls from telemarketers Cannataro recommended that everyone do what they can to lessen their interaction with telemarketers. The National Do Not Call Registry gives consumers a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home or on their cell phone. Once a number has been on the registry for 31 days, telemarketers should not call, and a complaint can be filed
“Default settings usually don’t offer if they do. Contact The National Do Not Call much privacy,” Cannataro said. She also recommended leaving much Registry at www.donotcall.gov or call of the profile blank 1-888-382-1222. “You don’t have to fill in every blank just because a blank exists,” she said. Monitor credit reports Finally, Cannataro warned users to Cannataro also recommends that consumers obtain free copies of their consider how their friends’ privacy setcredit reports through the Annual tings might affect their own privacy. “If your friends have less stringent Credit Report Request Service. Established pursuant to a require- privacy settings, then your informament of the Fair and Accurate Credit tion or pictures may be seen by people Transactions Act, this service provides you don’t know,” she said. consumers with the means to request a free credit report once every 12 Be choosy about what apps Cannataro cautioned consumers months from each of the credit reportto be wary of what applications they ing agencies. Reports can be ordered by calling add to their phones, tablets, or web1-877-322-8228, or online at www. sites. “Some apps are vehicles for malannualcreditreport.com. ware that can affect your device or Protect information on social media capture your information,” she said. Cannataro outlined steps everyone should take to minimize the risk to Watch for tax fraud The IRS uses consumers Social their sensitive information when they Security numbers to make sure their participate in social networking. She urged users to explore the pri- filing is accurate and complete, and vacy features available on the web- that they get any refund they are due. Identity theft can affect how a persites and to use them to control who son’s tax return is processed. can see any information posted.
Cannataro suggested that consumers contact the IRS if they receive a notice saying their records show that they were paid by an employer they don’t know, or if more than one tax return was filed in their name using their Social Security number The IRS doesn’t start contact with a taxpayer by sending an email, text or social media message that asks for personal or financial information. Cannataro warned that if someone does receive an email that claims to be from the IRS, they should not reply or click on any links. Instead she said to forward it to phishing@irs.gov. There is no foolproof way to prevent identity theft. However, being aware of credit activity and being cautious with sensitive information can help consumers identify if identity theft is being attempted or has taken place, she said. If someone discovers they have become a victim of identity theft, they should contact the Federal Trade Commission for help with what steps to take, their legal rights, and what to watch out for in the future.
Pam Cannataro presented information about combating identity theft at the June 26 Springtown Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Photo by Natalie Gentry
13-year-old boy accidentally shot by .22 caliber rifle by carla noah stutsman Law enforcement and first respond- ambulance could pick up the boy who his colon were made surgically, ac- tors said. cording to WFAA-TV. The location where the incident was A 13-year-old boy was shot after he ers closed the roadway on FM 730 sustained a gunshot to the abdomen. He was flown by helicopter to Cook The .22 rifle fired when it was being reported is virtually at the Tarrant/ and a companion spotted a snake and North in Briar Tuesday afternoon, July 1, so an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter Children’s Hospital where repairs to removed from its cabinet, investiga- Wise County line, near Briar. retrieved a gun that accidently fired.
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