The
Thursday, June 25, 2015
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Magazine: Football Porcupines will reach the postseason again Page 7A
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They found WHAT digging up Walnut Creek?! Page 4A
Volume 52, Number 10
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
After
Before
The creek below Saddle Ridge Court, engorged with several inches of rain, rose and washed out the Wise County bridge, cutting off several families west of Springtown June 17. The expanse was eventually repaired the next day, using a railroad tanker car with the ends cut off. Then residents could finally quit calling folks on the other side of the hole and return to taking care of their own needs again. How’d they fix Saddle Ridge Court? SEE PROCEDURE ON PAGE 2A! Photos by Carla Noah Stutsman
Big rain washes out bridge, strands residents by Mark K. Campbell The rains began early Wednesday morning, June 17 and didn’t stop for hours. Eventually, Tropical Depression Bill, after coming and going while whirling around North Texas, dropped over five inches of rain in the Springtown area.
That was bad news for residents off Saddle Ridge Court, west of Springtown. The lone bridge for many of those folks washed away, stranding a slew of locals. The next day, a repair was made using remnants of a railroad car. But, for a while, Saddle Ridge Court residents could only talk on the phone and look
Science!
beyond the abyss at neighbors. The event garnered television coverage and reporter Carla Noah Stutsman’s photo of the washout was used by local media. At least five inches of rain fell, and, again, Walnut Creek roiled and boiled brown water through town – repeating an event that occurred several times
back in May. This exceptionally rainy stretch again delayed the widening of the creek near Farm Road 51. Water stood everywhere June 17, collecting at Optimist Park near the gazebo and covering streets and yards. The rain came in waves; except for a brief respite around 2 p.m. when the
eye of Bill rotated through, precipitation kept coming and coming, much of it windblown. After the deluge, some areas south of town saw almost two inches four days later on Sunday. Now, thankfully, a few dry days have arrived – but rain is likely this weekend.
Horse loose on Jacksboro Highway causes 2 accidents A horse on the Jacksboro Highway was the catalyst for a pair of nocturnal wrecks June 23. Springtown police were dispatched to one accident in the 1400 block of West Hwy. 199 at approximately 9:36 p.m. An investigation revealed that a 57-year-old Springtown woman was traveling westbound in a tan 1996 Toyota Camry. The Toyota struck a locally-owned
horse that had escaped the owner’s control and wandered out onto the highway. The collision caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and drive through a fence. The driver and other occupant of the Toyota appeared to have suffered extensive injuries. Springtown Engine 48 and the LaJunta VFD spent approximately 15 minutes extricating victims.
Both occupants were transported to Harris Hospital in downtown Fort Worth by Lifecare ambulance. Shortly after the Toyota struck the animal, a second vehicle, a blue 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, was traveling westbound and it, too, hit the horse. The Chevrolet was driven by a 38-years-old Jacksboro woman. She was the only occupant and did not have apparent injuries at the time of the investigation.
Some Springtown ISD STAAR testing results out of sight SHS numbers up in all categories, but improvement areas remain BY NATALIE GENTRY The Springtown Independent School District’s (SISD) most recent STAAR scores provided some very encouraging news for students and staff. “Results showed that the hard work put in over the last twelve months paid off in measurable ways,” said Mike Kelley, SISD Superintendent. “Obvious jumps can be seen on the two writing tests – our fifth grade scores climbed 12 percent and our seventh grade scores climbed 16 percent – and the fact that our Level III Performance improved in seven measurable areas from grades 3-8.” Springtown High School All five of the high school’s STAAR End-of-Course scores showed improvement over the previous year. “We have continued to make the needed amendments to the curriculum to raise the End of Course Exam scores,” said Scott McPherson, SHS principal. “This year’s results proved “Dangerous” Edison, as he is known to the kids, had the crowd in worthy of the hard work put in by the awe with his hands-on scientific “experiments” and science em- teachers and the tremendous effort of porium at the Springtown Public Library on June 18. Here, Kendall the students.” Even though the final scores are not Riley helps with a messy demonstration. Photo by Natalie Gentry
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where McPherson said the staff de- against state averages in most cases, sire, the fact is all but one area is at or with scores in seventh grade reading, above the state average, and English math, and writing all above the mean. While eighth grade scores in math, II raised the average nine points over reading, Social Studlast year. ies, science, and Eng“The writing portion lish, Language Arts, of the test has become and Reading (ELAR) a focal point for the I were slightly below students and teachers, state averages, scores and will continue to be in Biology, ELAR II, until the scores reflect Algebra I, and US the desires,” McPherHistory all improved son said. “The Algebra and again beat state I scores were at 83 perscores. The high cent, up 9 points from mark came in Biol2014. ogy with a 96 percent “Biology students Mike Kelley passing rate. were extremely sucSISD superintendent “Both grade levels cessful with a 96 avershowed increases in age, as was U.S. History with a score of 94 percent,” he areas when comparing grade level and continued. “We are very proud of the when comparing the same group of teachers and students, but also realize students from year to year,” said Prinwe still have our work cut out for us. cipal Mark Wilson. “When compar“One area of concern is raising the ing apples to apples, our eighth grade percentage of students scoring in the improved in reading by 10 percentage points. They went from 70 to 80 this advanced level on each test.” year.” Springtown Middle School PLEASE SEE SISD, PAGE 5A. The secondary campuses fared well
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Results showed that the hard work...paid off in measurable ways.
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