Thursday, June 11, 2015
The
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Future Lady Porcupines hit hoops camp
Volume 52, Number 8
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All-American Bike Rally photos
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Eagle Mt. reopened
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$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Aid available for residents with storm damage City filing for disaster money to pay for repairs BY NATALIE GENTRY Officials in Springtown and surrounding areas have been busy working on repairs to infrastructure systems caused by last month’s flooding rains. Springtown City Administrator Doug Hughes has contacted a professional engineer to examine sites where leaks were caused by flood waters. Parker proclaimed a disaster area Parker County was added to an Emergency Disaster Proclamation last month by Governor Greg Abbott. “I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster,” Abbott said in the proclamation.
On May 17, nocturnal straight line winds caused damage to several homes south of Springtown near Carter Road; here, a carport got
PLEASE SEE MAY, PAGE 3A. tossed onto a rooftop. Local residents in Parker and Wise counties have opportunties for financial assistance.
Photo by Mark K. Campbell
Private wells affect groundwater Registering helps protect subterranean resource by mark k. campbell “You can only get so much water from the glass when you have a bunch of straws in it.” That’s what Doug Shaw, manager of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation district, told Springtown Optimists June 9. He is encouraging private well owners to register with the UTGCD. Do-
ing so will allow the district to determine the well’s exact location via GPS and help the UTGCD enforce any rule violations. Well owners must meet a trio of requirements: • have 2 acres • drill 50 feet from neighboring property lines • be 100 feet away from the nearest
well With these guidelines, a well owner can protect his well from being “sponged” on by another, creating a “cone of depression,” Shaw said. He added, “We can see where you are on a map so no one else drills near you.” The UTGCD is one of 98 such districts across the state; they originated
in the 1950’s. A yes from 73 percent of voters in Wise, Montague, Hood, and Parker counties created the UTGCD, approving a fee-based – not tax-based – system. Shaw said eastern Parker County has much more water than the western part. Doug Shaw is the Upper Trinity “We’re here to protect water for our Groundwater Conservation Disfuture,” the manager said. trict manager.
Bike rally attracts record numbers The All-American Bike Rally No. 6 – an annual Springtown Chamber of Commerce fundraiser – enjoyed its biggest success ever. With 276 entrants, cyclists of all ages came to Springtown for the ride; that’s more than 100 over the previous highest tally. Many riders walked up before the 8 a.m. start and registered, pinned on bib numbers, and mounted bikes for distances of 28, 54, 74, and the new family-friendly ride of 6 miles. All entrants qualified to continue toA drone hovered over the starting line as over 260 riders attended the sixth annual All-American Bike ward the “Triple Dog Dare You” trio Rally at the high school June 6; that was 100 more than ever before. Photos by Mark K. Campbell
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of races that will eventually earn riders a unique award. The All-American Bike Rally is part of a three-tiered event, along with the Peach Pedal in Weatherford on July 11 and the Granbury Blazin’ Saddles 75 on Aug. 1. At SHS, bikers queued up and got pre-race instructions by organizer – and cycling enthusiast – Dr. Robert Moss. The Parker County Young Marines posted the colors then the bikers took off in waves – biking through the county’s rolling countryside.
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