Volume 63, Number 18
Azle News
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
THE
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Azle tops Coyotes
Poet, songwriter, rancher...cowboy
Page 13A
Page 1B Azle Colorguard
It’s Homecoming Week and that means the annual parade down Main Street. Floats, royalty, athletes, cheerleaders, the Marching Green Pride, and these colorguard performers were among the many that celebrated the Azle tradition, this year on Oct. 13. The Hornets will face Saginaw Chisholm Trail in a District 5-5A clash Oct. 17. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 9A! Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
Habitual drunk driver arrested again
Library gala nets $135K by carla noah stutsman Love for the Azle Memorial Library – often called the “hallmark of Azle” – crosses all economic boundaries. That fact was proven again Saturday evening, Oct. 11, when the Azle Library Trust hosted its biennial fundraiser, the 2014 Azle Memorial Gala, at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The event was co-chaired by a trio of 1978 Azle High School graduates and longtime friends: Tracy Rector, Lisa Daugherty, and Sara Langston. With a nod to the old adage “if you want something done right, have a woman do it,” a planning committee comprised of 30 women spearheaded the event. From a meal prepared by Sodexo Catering, to the Latest-Greatest Gadget Raffle and eight premier live auction packages, a dessert and coffee bar and live music by Aurora Bleu (who will also appear in the 2015 Music in the Park Summer Concert Series presented free by the city of Azle in Central Park) and dancing, the night was declared a resounding success by all who attended. More importantly, though, the event accomplished its objective to provide opportunities for library supporters to be part of the fundraising effort that keeps the library truly “state-of-theart.” Those opportunities were many, with levels ranging from a single $10 raffle ticket, to $250 and $500 honorary and/or memorial Heritage Oak Leaves, to extravagant getaway packages worth tens of thousands of dollars. “One thing I think really drove the net funds raised to almost $135,000 this year was our Making It Great, Together auction,” Rector said. “We listed examples of items a particular dollar amount could provide – like the fact that a $100 donation could provide snacks and drinks for monthly Teen Advisory Group meetings for an entire year – and gave people the opportunity to donate that amount.” The idea was to provide something
tangible supporters could donate to, regardless of their income bracket. People from all walks of life who love the AML can support it that way, and not only those people who happen to have deep pockets, Rector said. “It’s those small donations that really made a difference this year to the Gala,” she continued. “It really is a community effort to make it successful.” The turnout for the event was im-
pressive, as well. “We (co-chairs and committee) are thrilled with the response, the number of people that came out to be a part of this effort. It was a good mix of people in the Azle community,” Rector said. by carla noah stutsman Azle police officers arrested a “It’s obvious this community loves 58-year-old Lake Worth man Sept. 27 this library, and we are so excited to be able to raise the funds needed to and charged him with driving while intoxicated (DWI) after the man crashed make it a state-of-the-art library.” his pickup through a residential fence. PLEASE SEE $135K, PAGE 3A. They soon learned that David Thomas Smith has a lengthy record of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Azle News has learned that Smith’s latest arrest in Azle is his fifth DWI arrest in this city alone.
Man’s arrest for DWI is his 5th in Azle Smith was convicted for a misdemeanor DWI offense that occurred in Azle in November 1987 and sentenced to two years in jail. In May of 1993, Smith was arrested in Azle a second time for DWI. Before that case went to court, Smith was again arrested – inside the Azle city limits – in August 1993 and again charged with driving while intoxicated. PLEASE SEE FIFTH, PAGE 2A.
Student health, safety lead school closure decisions AISD procedures outlined by carla noah stutsman The weather forecasting community is predicting the winter of 2014-2015 to be both wetter and colder than average, which points to the possibility of more snow and ice. Across the nation, Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is infecting more and more people, mostly infants, children and teenagers, and causing respiratory difficulties and flu-like symptoms. Then there is the first Ebola case in the nation – in Dallas, just 50 miles from Azle – that resulted in the death of a Liberian man. These three situations, coupled with the normal, annual concerns with winter weather events and illnesses, are cause for concern for just about everyLisa Daugherty, left, and Sara Langston, right, led the way to the one. dance floor at the 2014 Azle Memorial Library Trust Gala. The two But maybe no one more than parwomen, along with their friend and fellow 1978 AHS graduate Tracy ents and school administrators. Rector, served as chairs for the event. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman The Azle Independent School Dis-
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Weather closures When weather situations develop overnight, the AISD Superintendent, Director of District Operations and transportation personnel begin driving the roads across the district in the wee hours of the morning. Local weather forecasts are also carefully monitored. The first buses leave the transportation department each weekday at 6 a.m., so a decision must be made prior to that time. If a strong winter weather event moves into the area after school has started for the day, the superintenPLEASE SEE PROCEDURES, PAGE 8A.
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This Week in In October 2004, many of the 100 public speakers who the AISD board meeting spoke in support of Azle History attended suspended Principal Paul Holliday. 10 Years Ago
trict (AISD) has released the procedures it will follow in deciding if and when to close its 10 campuses for weather or illness. Here are the details:
24 pages plus supplements
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