Thursday, June 26, 2014
The
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Some coaching positions filled, others on the horizon
Volume 51, Number 10
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
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Follow the Flag Page 1B
Page 7A
Johnson pleads guilty to federal kidnapping charges
Sabathaney Road Accident
Hate crime charges dropped By Natalie Gentry Johnson said that he was interested in Brice Johnson, 19, of Springtown, “hooking-up” with Keahey. According to a press release from pleaded guilty in federal court June the U.S. attor20 to kidnapping ney’s office, witha young gay man in a few minutes after he allegedly after Keahey arinvited the victim rived at the home to his residence where Johnson and brutally aswas staying, saulting him. Johnson severeJohnson admitly beat him and ted in plea docubound Keahey’s ments that during wrists with electhe early morning trical cord. of Sept. 2, 2013 – The press reLabor Day – he lease states that met Aaron KeaJohnson locked hey via a social Keahey inside the media application Johnson trunk of his own called MeetMe. Brice Photo courtesy of the Parker County Jail car and drove com. the car to a famKeahey’s ily friend’s house where individuMeetMe.com page indicated he was a gay man, while Johnson’s web page als there repeatedly warned Johnson indicated he was not gay. During their communications, PLEASE SEE HATE, PAGE 2A.
A black Chevrolet Cavalier ended up in a creek bed off Sabathney Road at approximately 10:11 a.m. June 23 after the driver lost control and slid off the rain-slick roadway. The vehicle was empty when firefighters from the Springtown VFD arrived. It was later discovered the driver was able to call his mother and was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle, where he was treated and released. Photo by Natalie Gentry
SISD to open early learning center for district employees
SISD Assistant Superintendent Mike Gilley explains the early learning center to the school board at the meeting on June 23. Photo by Natalie Gentry
By Natalie Gentry The Springtown Independent School District (SISD) is joining the ranks of other school districts in North Texas that have opened quality daycare centers for district employees’ children. SISD Assistant Superintendent Mike Gilley has been working on this project for about a year now. He has visited similar facilities in both the Azle and White Settlement ISDs, and he’s also spoken with assistant superintendents in other districts about their programs. “Many assistant superintendents I’ve spoken to said this is the way they are going,” Gilley said. “When I would go out to recruit new teachers [daycare services] was a factor I was competing against,” he continued “It’s a huge draw; having a daycare right there within the district.” The results of these recruitment efforts and the research of other facilities have highlighted the fact that daycare services
for district employees may be a crucial People and curriculum In the meantime, the district has hired a factor in attracting the best talent possible and keeping parents of young children on director for the daycare and is in the process of looking for licensed staff. the payroll, Gilley explained. Since the early learning center will be located on the SES campus, the director and Location and licensing One of the main factors in the decision daycare staff will coordinate with SES preto begin this venture is that the district al- K teachers to create a curriculum that is inline with district expectations. ready has the space. “While there will, of course, be the nor“Now that we have Goshen Creek open there is extra room at Springtown Elemen- mal playtime, the early learning center will tary School (SES),” said Superintendent, be curriculum driven,” Gilley said. While the details are still being hammered Mike Kelley. The early learning center will be located out, the current thought is that there will be separate rooms for newborns to 12-monthin the west wing of SES. “We have room for our current needs olds, 1 to 2-year-olds, and 3 to 4 year-olds. and even future growth,” added Gilley. In fact, since the early learning center Cost and convenience While it is a business, the overall goal of will be regulated by the state, the potential facilities have already been visited by the SISD is to have the early learning center be a break-even venture only. licensing inspector. Daycare fees will be collected via payroll “Right now everything we need to do to prepare the space is cosmetic,” said Gil- deductions from district employees who ley. “We will get the facility ready and then it will need to be inspected again.” PLEASE SEE EARLY, PAGE 2A.
Southwest Junior Olympic track meet a huge success By natalie Gentry The Southwestern Association Junior Olympic (SAJO) Track & Field Championships were in town June 19-2. According to Carl Hornback, manager of Porcupine Stadium, the meet was a huge success this year. “We had twice as many participants this year, and nearly three times as many entries,” said Hornback. “An entry represents a single person in a single event. One kid might enter three events, which would be one participant, with three entries.” This year’s event featured more than 2,200 participants, and more than 4,000 entries, Hornback said. “The meet went very smoothly, but very long (due to the sheer
number of entries),” Hornback said. “We had more than 1,000 kids participate in the 200 meter dash alone.” “Last year we broke five national records,” he continued. “To my knowledge, no records were broken this year, but the times and marks were very good.” The booster club had the opportunity to make extra money on concessions, and Hornback feels confident that businesses in Springtown saw a boost in sales on June 19-21. “I haven’t had a chance to poll the local businesses, but I’m sure they were busy,” Hornback said. Local kids competing in the meet included Kaitlyn Hill, Kendall Dean, Hunter Robinson, and Kelly Boyett.
Participants at the Southwestern Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships competed in various events in order to advance to the USA Track and Field Region 12 Championships slated for July 9-12 at Texas State University in San Marcus. Photo by Natalie Gentry
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