The
Thursday, July 30, 2015
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A 50-year plan for local lakes
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N GTOepeW ndent SPRSprIN ingtown Ind t ool Distric ISD Sch to know to get your child’s n! you need in Springtow Everything off to a great start r school yea
20 page Back To School Guide
Volume 52, Number 15
Prove you’re a Texan Page 1B
Special Section
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
Corralling the Pigskin
Springtown man leads deputies on high-speed pursuit Unrestrained 5 year old in vehicle
BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN and striking a dirt embankment before A Springtown man was arrested coming to a stop. July 18 south of Azle and charged with Ignoring deputies’ orders to stop, evading arrest with a vehicle as well Brown fled on foot but was detained as endangering a child with imminent in the yard of a residence in the 6300 danger of bodily inblock of Silver Creek jury following a highAzle Road. speed pursuit. When deputies reAccording to an afturned to the Nissan, fidavit filed by Parker they discovered a County Sheriff’s dep5-year-old boy lying uties, Lance Joshua across the rear floorBrown, 24, ran a stop board of the vehicle, sign at the intersection which did not contain of SH 199 and Asha child safety seat. wood Drive, but failed The boy was reto stop when deputies leased to a relative at tried to pull him over. the secne. His condiDriving a silver tion was not available 2005 Nissan Altima, at press time. Brown accelerated to Texas law requires a high rate of speed, all children under the ran another stop sign, age of eight be propand entered a residenerly secured in an aptial neighborhood off proved child safety Redbud Drive in Azle. Lance Joshua Brown seat at all times in a Then Brown took moving vehicle. Commerce Street to FM 730 South, Brown was booked into the Parker turned left on South Stewart Street County jail. and eventually right onto Silver He posted $15,000 bond for the Creek Azle Road – at speeds of 80 to evading charge (a state jail felony) and 90 mph. $20,000 for the endangering a child When Brown reached a construc- charge (a second degree felony) and tion area on Silver Creek Azle Road, was released from the Parker County Scores of future Porcupines turned out for the annual football camp conducted by Springtown Head he lost control of the Nissan, spinning jail July 22. Coach Brian Hulett and his staff. MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 5A! Photos by Mark K. Campbell
110 in the Shade
City approves hiring of economic director with a unanimous vote High-speed chases, disc golf, and ice cream truck issues also addressed BY NATALIE GENTRY The Springtown City Council’s July 23 meeting addressed plenty – economic development, disc golf, ice cream trucks, and police chases. Economic directed hired The council unanimously chose Pamela Mundo of Mundo and Associates to begin building the city’s economic development program. One resident who supported this idea wholeheartedly was Cliff Bragg
of Cliff’s Auto Center in Springtown. “You all are looking at the economic development for the future of our city,” Bragg said. “Towns are either growing or dying. That’s something I learned when I was taught about city government years ago. “You all need to grab this opportunity for economic development and run with it and let it guide the city. People may say they don’t want economic development, but people are scared of how many people may be brought to
town.” But Bragg said that in the 27 years that he has been here the town has grown by 1,000 people. “I want you to be able to guide how the city grows,” he said. “If we’re stable, we’re dying because technology and everybody else is running by you. “I think this step is very important to the future of Springtown.” Springtown Chamber of Commerce director, Amy Walker, addressed the council on behalf of the chamber
board of directors. “The Chamber of Commerce has been asked if we would support this idea,” Walker said. “The answer to the question is yes and not yet. “Yes in the fact that the chamber has the best interest of our local businesses, city and citizens in mind.” Walker noted that the chamber board believes that economic growth and development will continue and a PLEASE SEE TOWN’S, PAGE 3A.
SPD trains for active shooter scenario Department officers go through drills at SHS, Goshen Ele.
It wasn’t really 110 in the shade – this thermometer got some direct sun – but, after a wet spring and early summer, 100-plus degree days have arrived. Photo by Mark K. Campbell
BY NATALIE GENTRY While they hope it never happens here, Springtown police aren’t taking any chances when it comes to the possibility of an active shooter incident. To that effect, the Springtown Emergency Response Team (SERT) conducted training July 23 in both Springtown High School and Goshen Creek Elementary. The training was led by Gary Fitzgerald, a former school resource officer (SRO) and Springtown police officer. Fitzgerald is currently a reserve deputy for the Wise County Sheriff’s Department and a lead instructor for Texas Tactical. SERT is comprised of Springtown Police Department officers Lt. Curtis Stone, Sgt. Curtis Hamlin, SRO Cpl. (L-r): Officer Cres Salazar, Lt. Curtis Stone, SRO Cpl. Frank Carroll, and Sgt. Curtis Hamlin of SERT Frank Carroll, and Officer Cres Salazar. clear a hall at Springtown High School during active shooter response training. Photo courtesy SISD
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