Volume 63, Number 2
Azle News
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
THE
www.azlenews.net
New coaches to guide 2014-15 Azle athletes Page 9A
Follow The Flag! Page 1B
Latest quake forum sees low turnout
Music In Park
A large, colorful crowd turned out to hear Crystal Blue Persuazion at Music in the Park Friday, June 20, in Central Park. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
Brave son: Pritchett and the late Carolyn Pritchett. Rollins received the TCOLE Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor – the highest award given to Texas peace officers. The award stems from an incident that occurred June 10, 2012. That day, Rollins was working undercover when he heard a dispatch about a shooting. Rollins responded to the call and found one individual who had been shot. Armed with only his duty weapon and vest, Rollins and another officer began to search the area for the suspect. They located him on a second story landing of an apartment building with an AK47-style rifle. As the suspect took aim at him, rather than retreat for cover, Rollins engaged the suspect with his pistol to end the threat. Due to ongoing litigation, Rollins’ nomination for the TCOLE Valor Award could not be submitted until 2013. The certificate that accompanies the Valor Award says the award is given for great courage in placing his own life in grave danger to Officer Landon N. Rollins of the Irving Police Department. Rollins grew up in Azle, and says he participated in every sports program the Azle Youth Association had to offer along with his brother, Ryan. “But we loved baseball the most,” Rollins said. His grandfather, Bob Pritchett, was a police officer in Azle and later in Westover Hills. Rollins says that while he grew up being fascinated with law enforcement and was proud of his grandfather, he never imagined himself being a police officer. “I wanted to be a sports broadcaster and call baseball games for the Rangers, but was completely ignorant as to how to go about it,” Rollins said. “So I graduated from Azle High School in May 1998 and shortly after that I enlisted in the U.S. Army.” He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In fact, he continues to serve as a reservist at NAS Fort Worth JRB, where he is attached to the 301st Security Forces Squadron. Officer Landon N. Rollins When he returned from active duty … receives Texas Commission on Law Enforcement PLEASE SEE VALOR, PAGE 3A. Achievement Award for Valor
PLEASE SEE KERA, PAGE 2A.
Location changed, treats added by carla noah stutsman Drought has taken the water level at Shady Grove Park so low that it just doesn’t make much sense to hold the Seventh Annual Seth Darnell Day there this year. Dr. Randy Mask has announced the event will be held at Azle’s Central Park, located at 263 W. Main Street behind the Azle Memorial Library, from 6-8 p.m Friday, June 27. Attendees can then stay at the park for Music in the Park, if they desire. The beloved Darnell, who lost his life to osteosarcoma in 2007, as well as Chris Anderson, who died in 2009 from cystic fibrosis, are honored at the annual event by close friends and members of 2010 United – a group formed and organized under Darnell’s direction. The event is also an opportunity to honor those who serve their community and give unselfishly of themselves to others, Mask explained. Historically, members of the Azle City Council, Azle Independent School
District Board of Trustees, administration and staff, and the Azle Police and Fire Department have attended and participated in the special day as well. Traditionally, free hot dogs and drinks have been provided, and that will be the case this year – with an added bonus. David Bosquez, manager of the Azle Dairy Queen and another close friend of Darnell’s, has announced that free Blizzards will be available during this year’s event as well. Much of the two-hour event will be spent renewing old acquaintances and catching up with friends and family members of Darnell and Anderson. But at 7:30 p.m., a n organized moment of silence in their honor is planned, Mask said. Darnell was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma as a sophomore basketball standout at Azle High School and subsequently his right leg was amputated. But the plucky teen returned to play basketball both his junior and senior years at AHS with the
Seth Darnell is lifted by his teammates to the basketball net in victory not long after the teen lost his leg to osteosarcoma.
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This Week in Azle History
Texas House Committee on Energy Resources; the Mayor of the city of Reno, Lynda Stokes; Bill Stevens, government relations consultant at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers; SMU Associate Professor of Geophysics Heather DeShon; and StateImpact Texas reporter Mose Buchele, who’s covered the oil and gas industry for many years. Audience questions were moderated by StateImpact Texas reporter Terrence Henry. Azle Mayor Alan Brundrett says he, too, was invited to sit on the panel but didn’t return KERA’s phone calls in time to make the list. Both Brundrett and Stokes have been vocal in their opinions that saltwater disposal wells used by the oil and gas industry are to blame for the earthquakes as well as their desire to have the so-called injection wells in the area shut down. Xaykaothao kicked the first ques-
7th Annual Seth Darnell Day is June 27
Azle grad receives Valor Award from law enforcement agency by carla noah stutsman When the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) held its annual Law Enforcement Achievement Awards Ceremony at the State Capitol in Austin Wednesday, June 18, an Azle family had ringside seats. Fifteen peace officers were honored for their accomplishments, public service, and valor – among them a 1998 graduate of Azle High School. Officer Landon Rollins of the Irving Police Department is the son of Mike and Kay Rollins of Azle. His grandparents are Rex and Lillie Rollins and former Azle Police Officer Bob
by carla noah stutsman Compared to the capacity crowd that attended a town hall meeting hosted by Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter in January to address a series of earthquakes in the area, the crowd at a KERA/StateImpact Texas-hosted public forum at Azle High School Wednesday, June 18 didn’t even register on the proverbial Richter scale. One news outlet estimated about 130 people in attendance, and that’s not far off if the estimate includes the panel, KERA/StateImpact Texas staff and crews, members of the media, Azle High School staff, and all their families. The forum featured a panel discussion moderated by KERA senior reporter Doualy Xaykaothao, who has covered major earthquakes in Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The panel was comprised of State Representative Phil King, who serves on the newly formed Subcommittee on Seismic Activity – an arm of the
40 Years Ago
use of a prosthetic. Darnell graduated 10th in his class, was named Mr. Azle High School by the faculty, and was voted “Most Giving” by his classmates. Then, the cancer returned. According to Mask, Darnell began to realize he had a short time to make a difference, and he spent the final four weeks of his life bringing together 2010 United. Formed on the principles of giving something back, making a difference for someone else, and making the community better together, more than 100 sophomore members of the AHS Class of 2010 organized under Seth’s direction. 2010 United performed community service projects such as clearing brush for Central Park and painting the old weight room at the high school. They participated in community events like Sting Fling and National Night Out, and held food drives for local pantries and parties for junior high students. In the two years following Darnell’s death on July 21, 2007, the group logged more than 3,000 hours serving the Azle community in honor of Darnell. Also fondly remembered on Seth Darnell Day is Chris Anderson, who was a 2010 United member and friend and classmate of Seth’s younger brother, Jared. While in eighth grade, Anderson’ classmates rallied the community and raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist his family with medical bills associated with a lung transplant for Anderson – necessary because he had been born with cystic fibrosis. Even with a new set of lungs, Anderson died July 11, 2009 on the second annual Seth Darnell Day. “Seth gave the last few months of his life serving others by creating 2010 United and planted a seed of giving and striving to be your best in the youth of Azle,” Mask said of Darnell. “Many of these kids – now young adults – are now graduating, getting jobs and living life to it’s fullest.” “You can see Seth in their character,” Mask continued. “I feel like the seed of giving and purpose that Seth planted is now creating an orchard. It makes you proud to live in Azle.” A proclamation by State Representative Charlie Geren honoring Darnell may be found on page 4 of the Azle News. The public is invited and encouraged to attend in honor of Seth and Chris.
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At the end of June 1974, the town was all abuzz about the first annual Independence Jamboree at Roeser Park July 4-6. Skydivers, rides, an “all-night dance,” fireworks, and a beauty pageant were planned with the capper being a drawing for a 1974 Chevy Vega Hatchback.
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