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Volume 51, Number 46
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Springtime Fights Back!
Community launches social media campaign to help in search for missing teen By Natalie Gentry days before the official statement was Many in the area – and some far sent to media outlets – Montes’ photo from here – harnessed the power of and requests for help began circulatsocial media this week in an effort to ing on Facebook. Local businesses, groups, and indihelp find a missing teenager. Parker County Sheriff’s inves- viduals joined the campaign to spread the news. tigators sent out A quick search of information reFacebook revealed questing the pubthat information lic’s assistance in about Montes’ dislocating a missing appearance had woman Destiny been shared more “DeeDee” Deana than 4,774 times. Montes Tuesday, While most March 3. posts acknowlFamily members edged “shares” in reported that Monsurrounding comtes, 17, of Springmunities such as town, had walked Boyd, Azle, Jacksaway from her boro, and Fort residence and was Worth, comments thought to have also indicated that been heading tothe news had been ward school the disseminated as far morning of Feb. 25. away as Indiana Before noon, they received a phone Springtown’s Destiny Deana and Colorado. According to call stating Mon- Montes was found March 3. Capt. Mark Arnett tes was absent from of the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, SHS. That’s when the family reported her within an hour of the official release of information on March 3 Montes missing. Starting as early as Feb. 27 – four was located unharmed.
While Old Man Winter refuses to move along, springtime will eventually insist. Snow-filled bird’s nests and delicate, determined plants faced inches of snow and ice as March arrived. Photos by Mark K. Campbell
Ballots set for May: by Natalie Gentry As the filing period for the May 9 election came to a close Feb. 27, area entities began considering what steps need to be taken in the election process. As far as Springtown ISD and Sanctuary are concerned, the next step will be to begin the cancellation process as each incumbent in their races are unopposed. The process saves taxpayers thousands of dollars.
Mayoral races heat up but some elections likely to be cancelled
However two other races have heat6) and Al Garrett (Place 7) are running ed up with a three-way race for the unopposed. mayor’s seat and a four-way race for Place 2. City of Springtown Incumbent Mayor Lynda Stokes is While Place 2’s Denise Taylor and Place 4’s Robert E. Wilson, both in- facing two opponents in her bid for recumbents, are running unopposed this election. David Andrews, whose term in spring, Pro-Tem Tony D. Smith and Tom W. Clayton have filed to run for Place 2 is expiring, has filed to run against Stokes for the mayor’s seat, mayor. as has longtime Reno resident Gilbert Morrow. City of Reno That leaves Place 2 wide open. Eric Hunter – Place 4 incumbent – is Springtown ISD Darrel Allen, John “JB” Basham, Incumbents Larry Don Carter (Place running unopposed.
Carol Houlihan, and Jody W. Works have all filed to replace Andrews. A proposition to adopt an additional sales and use tax – which was on the ballot in November and passed – was filed in error and has been placed on the ballot again, this time at a higher rate than before. According to newly-hired City Secretary Ramah Burns, former staff failed to get an existing quarter-cent sales and use tax for the purpose of PLEASE SEE MAYORAL , PAGE 2A.
Migrating Monarchs need help
Brett Gregory, accountant with Weaver and Tidwell, presented the 2013-14 annual municipal audit to the Springtown city council Feb. 26. Photo by Natalie Gentry
Report finalizes 2014 fiscal year for council
Program offers chance to plant garden ‘waystations’
By Natalie Gentry The Springtown City Council listened to the 2013-2014 municipal audit as presented by Brett Gregory, an accountant representing Weaver and Tidwell accounting firm. The Feb. 26 presentation included the analysis of three documents representing the auditing firm’s findings: the annual financial report, the single audit report, and a letter from Weaver and Tidwell. The annual financial report included the city’s financial statements and the firm’s audit opinion for the 2014 fiscal year. In all of the documents, the firm presented a “clean or unmodified opinion” on the statements. Gregory said this opinion is the highest level of assurance that the firm can give on a set of financial statements. A program to help Monarch butterflies as they pause here en route to PLEASE SEE 2014, PAGE 2A. Mexico from Canada is set for March 12 in Weatherford. Photo by Paula Campbell
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by mark k. campbell Monarch butterflies make the tremendous journey from Canada to Mexico annually – and they fly right through Texas and Springtown. The beauties must pause often, of course, but their pit stops are becoming more and more difficult to find; lack of food and protection are part of the butterfly’s decline. However, the Native Plant Society of Texas – Cross Timbers Chapter – has set a meeting to educate locals on how to create butterfly gardens, waystations, and habitats. Currently there are two waystations certified in Parker County: at Soldier Spring Park and Chandor Gardens, both in Weatherford. Six more are planned this year by Parker County Master Gardeners and that’s what Carol Welch, a master gardener herself, will discuss in her “Butterfly Garden, Waystation, or Habitat: A Choice in the Making” lecture. All three concepts are different and Welch will explain the reasons. She will also detail plant propagation, butterfly gardening, and gardening in a drought. Welch is the chairman of the Soldier Spring Park waystation – which includes essential plants like native milkweed, nectar plants, and other resources Monarchs need during their long migrations. The program is set for Thursday, March 12 at the Cherry Park Community Building, 313 Davis Street in Weatherford at 7 p.m.
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