Community Life, July-August 2014

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Community life Careity ◆ Billy Cordell ◆ Kim Wrenn ◆ Chisholm Trail Parkway

The magazine for Johnson County and surrounding areas July-August 2014 Vol. 9, No. 4

Dale Hanna:

Bringing law and order to Johnson County

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Editor’s Note Welcome to the fourth edition of Community Life magazine in 2014.

Summer is here and we’ve barely seen 100-degree heat. It’s not something we expected during a Texas summer but we are not complaining. We’ve even had a little rain and a cold front. Although things seem to slow down a bit this time of year, we have some good stories for you. John Austin delves into the Careity Foundation and its mission to help North Texans suffering from cancer. The founding duo of the organization have big aspirations and raise funds through a variety of events, the largest one being a celebrity cutting horse extravaganza each year. Second, there’s new Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell. The 29-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department takes over the reins of BPD, following in the footsteps of Tom Cowan, who moved on to become the new Joshua Police Department chief. Cordell, his wife and two children say they are hoping to become involved in the community now that they are back in Burleson after having lived there early in their marriage. Nicole Luna visited Johnson County

Sheriff ’s Office detective Kim Wrenn, who has been with JCSO for almost 20 years. Wrenn in her spare time is a dart enthusiast who has made it to the national level of competition. Finally, we have Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna. The hometown Cleburne boy has been the DA since 1992 and discusses the thought process and how difficult it can be to make some of the tough decisions he weighs on a daily basis. Our special section in this edition is about the new Chisholm Trail Parkway toll road linking Fort Worth and Cleburne and how it could effect Johnson County. Monica Faram enlightens readers with her regular technology column on how to avoid all of the spam emails you receive.

— Dale Gosser, managing editor

Click.

Publisher

Kay Helms khelms@trcle.com

Managing Editor Dale Gosser dgosser@trcle.com

Graphics Director Ashley Garey

Business Manager Lynn Coplin

Staff Writers Monica Faram Matt Smith Nicole Luna John Austin

Contributing Writers Tammye Nash

Photography Monica Faram Tammye Nash Matt Smith John Austin

Copy Editors Dale Gosser Monica Faram John Austin

Advertising Account Executives Eric Faught Tammie Kay Barbara Smith Ryan Wheat

Classified Account Executives Teresa Slade April Bradshaw

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Community Life, the magazine for Johnson County © 2014 by Cleburne Times-Review. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Community Life is inserted into the Times-Review and distributed around the county free of charge.

also

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TECH COLLY

reducing junk email from your inbox

CHAMBER

business expo, summer concert series and more

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CTP

34

new toll road links Fort Worth and Cleburne

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KIM WRENN

Johnson County Sheriff's Office detective by day, dart champion by night

TABLE OF CONTENTS

26

meet the man behind the brass at Burleson PD

BILLY CORDELL

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nonprofit helping cancer patients in Johnson County

38 cover story: DALE HANNA

get to know Johnson County's district attorney Community Life

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Kim Wrenn was the No. 1 female dart player in her region when she dropped out of school to compete full time.

Her mother and step-father began playing darts in Dallas pubs. Wrenn played with her step-father at home and began playing in leagues at the local pub at 13. While playing in league several nights a week, Wrenn heard of the Super Darts tournament in which different events are held: women’s singles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, mixed triples and so forth. Wrenn joined, playing in every event she could and winning them all. After those events were over, there was a Dallas Open for darts, a large tournament with a big payout of $35,000. Wrenn believed she stood a chance. “I got the taste of playing tournament and I was winning every game at 14 years old against women who have been playing for years. That got under my skin,” Wrenn said, explaining her overconfidence. “So I played the Dallas Open and because of the prize it was a bigger tournament and you get people from all over the country coming to play and I didn’t win that.” 8

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However, Wrenn finished in the top four and after that, many top professionals showed interest in her ability and asked to play with her. She began playing the U.S. Circuit professionally. “I was pretty much gone every weekend travelling somewhere competing trying to get a sponsor,” she said. Wrenn travelled to Arizona, California, Colorado, North Dakota, North Carolina and other states, competing in tournaments. She was trying to get a sponsor that would sponsor her trips and registration fees. But because most dart sponsors only sponsor those who are 18 or older, a sponsorship never came for Wrenn. However, Wrenn was so good she always won prize money, which was a reimbursement for whatever she spent on the registration fee and trip. “Twenty-five years ago when I played, I won everywhere I went,” she said. “I was probably the only 18-year-old that won over $100,000 in darts in a year but it all

went back into darts, air fares, hotels and entry fees. So I never got to see all of it but it kept me playing with money to spare.” By the time Wrenn was 18, she had dropped out of school to focus on her career in darts, and she was the No. 1 female in her region in Texas. “I was still in school and like a silly person I dropped out of school at the end of my junior year of high school,” she said. “I dropped out because I was traveling too much and I thought darts was more important.” Although playing league was good practice for her during the week, Wrenn said she didn’t have time to play as much because of tournaments and travelling. So, she stopped playing league and focused all her energy in playing tournaments. Leaving the league caused problems for Wrenn. “When you stop playing league people get mad and jealous,” she said. “People began to say things like, ‘Oh, so you think

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you’re too good to play with us.’ It wasn’t like that. Tournaments caused me to travel a lot and caused me to not be there on league night. But that kind of talk got under my skin.” To be a champion at darts, or at anything for that matter, one has to have confidence and exude that confidence well, Wrenn said. But having people that she cared about speak badly of her caused her to lack focus and become insecure about her game. “Just like any sport the biggest thing in any sport you have to have is concentration,” she said. “You have to be able to concentrate. Darts to me is concentration, confidence and then skill because without your concentration or your confidence you’re not going to have it. I lost confidence 25 years ago and that’s one of the things that contributed to me quitting.” Although Wrenn clearly had the skill, that lack of confidence made her miss shots that she would otherwise would have made easily. “I had just lost the focus,” she said. So when she turned 20, Wrenn decided to go back to school. She returned to Skyline High School in Dallas and graduated three months

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before she turned 21. During that time in going back to school, Wrenn said she was taking full courses which required her to study a lot. She said thanks to the agility and concentration darts gave her, she was a fast learner. She continued to play darts but not as much. Once she graduated she picked it up again but when she turned 22 she quit indefinitely. “I just decided it was time to move on,” she said. “When I turned 24 I started college at Hill Regional [now Hill College] and put myself through college and that’s when I finally decided I wanted to be a police officer.” Before college and before darts, Wrenn hung around the wrong crowd. She didn’t do drugs or drink alcohol but in middle school she was part of a gang and got into many altercations. “If you weren’t in a gang you were a yuppie and if you were a yuppie you had a bullseye on you and I got in my fair share of trouble in fights,” she said. The last fight Wrenn got into she was taken by a police officer. He took her to his office and talked about her future.

“If you weren’t in a gang you were a yuppie and if you were a yuppie you

had a bullseye on you and I got in my fair share of trouble in fights.” — Kim Wrenn

During her breaks at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Kim Wrenn squeezes in some practice throwing on the dart board hung behind the door of her office.

“I don’t know what it was but it was something about the way he talked to me and that was an [indication] that I wanted and needed to be a cop,” she said. “He was the one that turned my life around. I never got into anymore fights after that. I quit the gang and its like the page turned and I was totally a different person.” After making the decision to go into law enforcement, Wrenn worked her way through college by working as a public relations officer for McDonald’s full time and going to school full time. She did that for two years until finally receiving her peace officer’s license and graduating from college. One of her instructors was Martin Griffith, the Johnson County sheriff at that time. One day he told her that once she graduated she should come work for him.

“But I was living in Hill County then and I wanted to start at smaller place,” she said. “For me Johnson County was big and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a deputy sheriff. I wanted to be a police officer so I started off at the Hillsboro PD.” Wrenn was with Hillsboro for a couple of years. After a disagreement with the police chief, Wrenn left her job and called Griffith and asked if there were any job openings. “He told to me to come in and I was hired on the spot and that was in November 1995,” she said. Wrenn started working at the courthouse for six months and then transferred to patrol for six years. Then, the position for head of sex offender registration and compliance opened up, and Wrenn got the job. She’s been there ever since, picking up other tasks along the way.

In her 20th year of being part of the Johnson County Sheriff ’s Office, Wrenn said she is contemplating retirement in the fall of next year. “I’m thinking about it. I told Sheriff [Bob] Alford that I would stay here as long as he’s here so it’s going to depend on him and as long as he’ll keep me,” she said. Walking into her office you can tell that under her tough exterior, she’s a kid at heart. Her walls and shelves are filled with toy cop figurines. Surrounded by toy cop cars on the right wall there’s a dart board. Whenever she has free time or at lunch, Wrenn will practice throwing darts. Her office is small and the distance between her and the wall is about five feet. She stands on her spot and looks down the barrel of the dart eyeing the spot on the board she wants to hit. She shoots and hits Community Life

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Kim Wrenn is in her 20th year at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. She is now a detective.

“Darts to me is concentration, confidence and then skill because without your concentration or your confidence you’re not going to have it.” — Kim Wrenn

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the bulls-eye. She compares shooting darts to shooting a gun. When playing darts one must be able to aim at a target, know when to let go and shoot. Wrenn said darts has made her hand-eye coordination exceptional, which is crucial for her job. She’s a lot older than she was when she played 25 years ago but she’s not rusty. Even with an injury that left her finger without feeling, she is still not rusty. She picked up her steel-tip darts and started playing in league a year and half ago. When showing her partner of three years, Karey Reynolds, her trophies, Reynolds encouraged her to get back to competing. “She’s the whole reason I started playing again. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here,” Wrenn said. Reynolds, who is a police officer for the Fort Worth Police Department, said she saw that Wrenn still showed

interest in the sport and encouraged her to pursue it once more. “She expressed interest but with apprehension,” Reynolds said. “She didn’t think she had the same ability as she did 20 years ago. So I kind of pushed her back into darts.” Reynolds encouraged her to start out with playing league, but she felt Wrenn wasn’t giving it her best. “I had just started playing darts and she wanted to stay with me and help,” Reynolds recalls. “And I told her ‘No, don’t do that. Don’t hold yourself back.’” Reynolds said Wrenn played against rookies or people who weren’t good enough. She wasn’t playing to her full potential. “If you want to be a pro you have to play like a pro,” Reynolds said. “The person you’re playing against changes the way you play your game. She was holding herself back so I encouraged her to play in tournaments.” And she did. She went from playing one night a week to two nights a week and playing in several tournaments. “I find myself getting back into competitive

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mode and I get mad at myself because I know what my ability was 25 years ago.� Wrenn said. “And if I can’t do it I get mad at myself and I stand at the board until I get it right. I expect to be back where I used to be and I will get there, goal is to persevere.� For the first time, Wrenn competed in the American Dart Organization league in which 10 women play against one another to qualify for regionals. Wrenn finished first in that tournament and went on to play in regionals to qualify for nationals. At regionals, the competition was tougher and Wrenn placed third so she didn’t quality for nationals. However, one of the top competitors backed and Wrenn took her place. She competed in May in Charlotte, N.C. She placed ninth there. Before she left for nationals she received an email from Alford wishing her well and the represent Johnson County well. “Everyone at the sheriff ’s office has been so supportive of me returning to play darts,� Wrenn said. “And they work with my schedule so I can do both my job and play

darts.� Alford said everyone at the sheriff ’s office has their thing they like to do outside of the office. “Some rope or have other hobbies and we like to encourage them that activity outside of the office,� he said. “We’re proud of Kim and we hope she goes far and continues to do well.� They also know better than to challenge Wrenn. “Very few people have challenged me but the ones that have I always beat,� Wrenn said laughing. “Now they know better.� At nationals she competed against the best women in the country and she felt the pressure. “I knew there was a possibility of not winning but it was great to be there and meet so many people,� Wrenn said. Her goal now is to make the U.S. team. She continues to play and has even contemplated coaching a league team. “Not only is she a hell of a player but she’s a hell of a coach,� Reynolds said. “She’s taught me everything I know and she has such patience.� Wrenn and Reynolds have a 14-year-old son Christopher who is also taking his shot in darts. He recently won at a tournament for youth darts. Wrenn coached Christopher and prepared him for the tournament. “She has more patience with him than I do,� Reynolds said. “I thinking coaching is something she should consider.� But, Wrenn continues to play darts and continues to win. Most recently she received awards in her league for the lowest dart 301 game, lowest dart 501 game, highest amount of quality points for a female and best singles record with 12 wins and one loss. n

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“Some rope or have other hobbies and we like to encourage them that activity outside of the office. We’re proud of Kim and we hope she goes far and continues to do well.� — Bob Alford

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Cutting down on junk mail in your inbox

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emember when you were a kid and got excited over receiving a card or letter in the mail? As you got older though you were less enamored as the mail became bills and junk mail such as credit card offers and store ads. The same goes for email. While at first it was simple tool for people to communicate, inboxes are now filled daily with hundreds of junk emails. “Your long lost relative Billy Bob died and left you $23,492,243.15! Reply to this email with your name, address, phone number, Social Security number and dtiver’s license number to claim your inheritance.” Sound familiar? Eliminating junk mail may be impossible, but there are ways to cut back on all of that unwanted content in your inbox. The first thing is to avoid publicizing your email address. Resist the urge to sign up for every online giveaway you see. That enters your address in a database that allows companies to contact you whenever they want. Not only that, there are robot programs designed solely for the purpose of finding email addresses on websites to add to spam lists. Second, create a designated junk mail account. I myself have about six email addresses for various purposes. Establish one account that is for family and friends and another to use when stores and businesses request contact information. Next, filter your messages. This is something I do every few weeks to purge my inbox. Run a search for the word “unsubscribe” in your email. That will bring up a list of every email sent to you as a subscription. Then, you can go through and unsubscribe to newsletters and other mailing lists. This is time-consuming but worth the

By Monica Faram Technology

effort as some companies send daily or weekly emails. You can also use mail filters. Most email programs offer filters to keep spam in their own box. Gmail’s is great and that’s why I use them for all my emails. I check the spam folder every few weeks just to make sure I haven’t missed something. But it sure is nice not getting all those emails in my inbox. Though they’re not as popular today as they used to be, if you get a chain email, don’t forward it. You

know the ones I’m talking about. “If you forward this email you will get signed up to receive a free X-box or win a million dollars.” Not only are those emails just plain ridiculous, there is no way they are actually tracking the email to give away the said prize. If you do forward something, forward it to a select few people and not your entire address group. Also, if forwarding to a group, use the BCC — blind carbon copy — option. This makes the email look like it was sent to just one individual. If someone responds to the email, their response only goes to you and not everyone you sent the email to. Junk email can be a nuisance that interferes with business and personal communications. But by following these few easy steps you can simplify your life and minimize your inbox.

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Beverly Branch, left, and Lyn Walsh both lost their moms to each years raises hu Photo by John Austin cancer. Now the pair ndreds of thousands run the Careity Fou of dollars to help can ndation, which cer patients in counti es across North Te xas.

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is there

Not-for-profit making its impact in Johnson County

C

STORY BY John Austin

areity is putting its brand on cancer care in North Texas. The not-for-profit foundation provides gas cards, mammograms, oncology massage therapy and acupuncture, as well as psychotherapy, nutritional supplements, cancer navigation and a chaplain to economically challenged cancer patients at no charge. Much of the money that pays for the foundation’s services and salaries comes from events such as the Careity Rocks benefit, set for Sept. 17 at Cendera Center in Fort Worth, and the annual Careity Celebrity Cutting and Concert event at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum each

December. Individual sponsors and corporate donors support the western-themed cutting event, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. Musical luminaries, who participate in cutting the cattle and also sing for their suppers at the gala, have included the likes of Tanya Tucker, Brad Paisley, Lyle Lovett and Lynn Anderson. But while Careity’s profile is rising, the story behind the foundation is less well known: Careity and its Celebrity Cutting and Concert all began when a pair of no-nonsense women decided to take charge.

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“We used to do this and give the money to other organizations,” said co-founder and CEO Lyn Walsh, referring to the celebrity cutting/concert event. “Bob Kingsley said ‘Start your own.’” Walsh and Careity co-founder Beverly Branch took the country music radio host’s advice to heart. The fact that both women lost their moms to cancer helped guide their vision for what Careity should become. “My mother was first diagnosed with cancer when I was 7 years old,” Walsh said. “She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They took out a lot.” Her mom lived another 45 years, but in 1999, her mother and Branch’s mother died within six months of each other. From their shared desire to help people with cancer came a unique organization. “We invented the wheel,” Walsh said. “There’s not another organization that does what we do. The celebrity cutting and concert event raises about $350,000 annually for Careity. Virtually everything associated with the event is donated. That includes the space, the food and the entertainment. Even when bad weather forces cancellation of the cutting and concert, as it did in 2013, because of snow that brought much of North Texas to a halt on Dec. 6, the event still makes money. “We’ve never paid for an ad,” Branch said. “We’re very blessed. Not every nonprofit has what we have.” Walsh said they’ve also never paid for a celebrity

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appearance. Joanne Ingle and her husband, Neal, were celebrity cutting honorary chairs at the 2013 event. The couple’s company, DFW Movers and Erectors Inc., has also for six years hosted a golf tournament to benefit Careity. “They just do so much,” said Joanne Ingle, herself a breast cancer survivor. “For every dollar they raise they give two.” The foundation is run out of Walsh’s ranch. Walsh gets a small salary; Branch receives no pay. The foundation has five full-time employees and two part-time. “We believe the money we raise should go to patient services and not executive salaries,” Branch said. The fact that they keep the organization lean means they can return more of Careity’s dollars to patients. “We turn on a dime for patients,” Walsh said, adding that the organization focuses on minimizing bureaucracy. “We’re pretty hands on with everything we do.” SERVING JOHNSON COUNTY AND BEYOND Careity provides so many services to people in Hood, Johnson, Parker and Tarrant counties that it can be hard for an outsider to grasp everything that the organization does. Through its palliative-care program at Cook Children’s, for example, Careity works to make

The Careity Foundation offers a wealth of services, including palliative and end-of-life care. At the foundation’s resource center, patients can try on wigs in a private setting. Photo by John Austin

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things easier for medically fragile children for whom a cure is not possible, easing and enhancing end-of-life quality. “Care is initiated as soon as the incurable diagnosis is made,” according to Careity Foundation literature, “and provides support to the entire family through guidance, information, pain relief and spiritual help until the end of the child’s life. Many children and families will profoundly benefit.” The foundation has also collaborated with health care providers on mammogram drives in Johnson, Tarrant and Parker counties. The private partners pledge to provided underserved patient with mammograms and underwrite necessary treatment — from surgery through chemotherapy — for participants. To help ensure that patients can afford to travel to a treatment center, the foundation last year provided more than $30,000 worth of gas cards. Careity can also provide access to a dietician and financial planning, Walsh said. Careity Breast Care centers are located at Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South and Solis Women’s Health in Weatherford. The breast care center at Huguley is in The Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. Paintings by Western artist Lyndon Gaither and custom leather furniture give it a spa-like atmosphere in which patients can talk to doctors, patient navigators and other caregivers.

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Branch, Drs. Shadan Mansoor and Vinaya Potluri and Walsh are allied in Careity’s mission to help patients who lack insurance and money fight cancer. The group is pictured at the Careity Breast Care Center in The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Photo by John Austin

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The personal touch also includes complimentary Dromeo products such as the company’s Kick the Pain analgesic cream. The cream contains emu oil and aloe and is designed to help alleviate some of the side effects of chronic diseases or harsh medical treatments. There is also a Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders in Cleburne at 141 S. Westmeadow Drive in Cleburne. &h>> t < E K& Dh^/ s Ed^

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Grassroots giving in the counties it serves support helps the foundation meet local needs. Unless a sponsor designates where the money raised at Careity’s own events, such as the celebrity cutting, is to go, it will be spent where the board feels it would help most. “We’re feeling a lot of growth,” Branch said. “People are stepping up. They want to have third-party events for us. “It does more than just raise money. It raises awareness.” The money from third-party events such as the Zonta Club’s Save the Ta-TaZ, the golf tournament the Ingles stage and the Athena’s Mardi Gras gala, on the other hand, is spent locally. “Where the money is raised is where the money stays,” said Branch, who is Careity’s vice president. “County by county.” Said Walsh, “The Johnson County money stays in Johnson County.” n

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Photo by John Austin

Western-themed paintings, including “A Horse of a Different Color,” by artist Lyndon Gaither, brighten the setting at the Careity’s breast care center.

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Shoaib Khalil, MD Internal Medicine

Now accepting new patients! Walk-ins welcome!

817-645-2322 141 S. Westmeadow Dr. Cleburne, TX 76033

Same Day Appointments Available Diabetic Management & Education Blood Pressure Management Cryosurgery to remove warts Minor Trauma Care Routine Well Exams

Mon - Tue & Thursday 9am-5pm Friday 9am-12pm & 3pm-6pm Now accepting all insurances including medicaid & medicare

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Visit Our Website at www.burlesonareachamber.com Advertise your business in our newsletter contact: Cleburne Times-Review 817-645-2441

What Can The Chamber Do For You?

Make plans to attend the

2014 Burleson ISD New Employee Luncheon Tuesday, August 12, 2014 • 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Burleson High School Cafeteria Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bret Jimerson, BISD Superintendent Thanks to our Title Sponsors:

Meet, Greet and Support 150 New BISD Teachers and Education Professionals BRANDED CORPORATE TABLE (8 Member Seats) BISD TABLE SPONSOR (8 BISD Seats/Branded Table) BISD TABLE SPONSOR (4 BISD Seats/Branded Table) EXHIBITION TABLE (Includes 1 Ticket/Limit 8) GOODIE BAG SPONSOR (Logo on Bag/Limit 10) SPONSOR A BISD EMPLOYEE INDIVIDUAL TICKET 150 GOODIE BAG ITEMS* a ce Arem er eson Burlr of Com be Cham hire Wil7s6028 . S.W X 104r4leson, T .com u B mber6121 a h c a e sonarne: 817-229955-6192 e l r u b o . Ph ax: 817 www F

$200 $200 $125 $100 $100 $25 $25 NO COST

*“Goodie” or Promotional Items Only – No Flyers/Cards/or “Buy one Get one” Please

Contact the Chamber to participate! RSVP at 817-295-6121 or mfortney@burleson.org The Mission of the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce is to be an advocate for business members and the community by giving support, encouragement and promotion of local businesses through various avenues of networking to share ideas, grow business and help each other succeed.

Contact Us at 817-295-6121 SHERRI SECHRIST President

sherris@burleson.org

ELLEN LARIMORE Marketing/Communications Director elarimore@burleson.org

Melissa Fortney

Special Events/Office Manager

mfortney@burleson.org

SAVE THE DATE

October 16, 2014 • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location to be determined

Rob Orr “Roast & Toast” Fall Quarterly Meeting

Celebrating Our State Representative The Honorable Rob Orr of Burleson This year State Representative Rob Orr announced he would not run for re-election. The chamber is honored to host a Rob Orr “Roast and Toast” in honor of his 10 years of dedicated service to Johnson & Bosque counties. Mark your calendar now and contact the Chamber to see how you may participate.

Title Sponsor:

Specializing in Orthodontics for Adults & Children

Sheila T. Birth, D.D.S., M.S.

Diplomate American Board of Orthodontists

Charles Stewart, D.D.S.

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

817-546-0770 109 W. Renfro, Burleson TX

We’re Happy to Be YOUR HOME TEAM BANK

817-447-3065 308 East Renfro Street, Suite 100 Burleson, Texas 76028 www.anbtx.com

Affiliate Sponsor: Fresh Food - Best Margaritas!

Affiliate and Table Sponsorships Available Contact the Chamber for more Information at 817-295-6121

AUGUST 2014 EVENTS

TUESDAY 8/12

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - AT STAR BANK OF TEXAS (2500 S.W. WILSHIRE BLVD., BURLESON) 5:30 - 7:00 PM - Hosted by Star Bank of Texas and Christian Brothers Automotive

TUESDAY 8/26 Lost Oak Winery

SUMMER SCHOOL - LOST OAK WINERY 3:00 - 5:00 PM | Free to Chamber Members So you want to be a STAR? Presented by Sherri Sechrist A “How To” session on the process to apply for the Burleson Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Awards program and how the process will benefit your business from a marketing and operations standpoint.

Join the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce

550 Members strong, the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce offers networking, business education seminars and connections to business leaders in our community. We have several great things on the horizon including a new digital sign and state of the art website. Interested in learning more about the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce and how we can help you grow your business? Contact the Burleson Chamber at 817-295-6121.

Open Tuesday - Sunday Closed Monday 817-426-9990 112 S. Main St. Old Town Burleson, TX

(817) 386-8170 1024 S.W. Alsbury, Burleson, TX 76028 (817) 558-0226 827 North Main, Cleburne, TX

Behind the brass STORY AND PHOTOS BY Tammye Nash

It’s

a police officer’s duty to protect the community. But for new Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell, there’s much more to the job than that. Law enforcement, Cordell said, “is a helping profession. It’s a service profession. “Yes, when you are a police officer, your job is to keep the peace and maintain order. But you also have to always remember to act with integrity and professionalism. You have to treat people, all people, with dignity and respect. “As a police officer, you have to be an island of calm through all the turmoil. You don’t get into this profession for the money. You do it because you want to help others.” Cordell said that’s why he got into law enforcement as a young man, and that’s why he has remained in law enforcement for nearly 30 years.

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Photo by Tammye Nash

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UP THROUGH THE RANKS Cordell’s father was in the U.S. Air Force and his last stop in the military was Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. Although Cordell was born in Oklahoma, he was raised in Weatherford. After graduating from Weatherford High School in 1979, Cordell moved east a few miles to Fort Worth, working for a while as a machinist. But when he was laid off from that job, he said, Cordell decided to pursue his long-time interest in police work. He spent about two years as a reserve officer with the Everman Police Department. That’s when, he said, “police work just got in my blood.” In July 1985, Cordell joined the Fort Worth Police Department, completing training at the police academy and embarking on a career that has taken him from patrol duty, through the upper echelons of FWPD command staff and to the office of Burleson’s top cop. Cordell said in his early years on the force, he worked on patrol and then worked undercover in the street crimes division. He said one his fa28

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vorite assignments, though, was the time he spent as part of the department’s K-9 squad, teamed with a highly-trained German shepherd named Amigo. “There was just a small group of handlers with our dogs,” Cordell said. “We trained together and everything we did was truly a group effort. We worked together and we capitalized on each team’s strengths. It was really a great group to work with.” Eventually, Cordell became a detective and worked general assignments in FWPD’s South Division for about two years. Then he was promoted to sergeant and played a dual role as a patrol sergeant and neighborhood police officer. The neighborhood police officer job, he said, was similar to the job of community resource officer in Burleson. Promoted to lieutenant, he served a short stint in the department’s jail operations unit before moving to the downtown district where he spent about five and a half years. It was there, he said, that he began to really understand the importance of building relationships with and working together with business owners and community leaders. Cordell said that’s also the area in which many of the city’s homeless shelters are located. Working

events. Among the special events he had to coordinate were the funerals for Officer Henry “Hank” Nava and Officer Dwayne Freeto, FWPD officers who died in the line of duty. “That was very emotional,” Cordell said. “Coordinating the funerals was a very, very difficult task. I wanted everything to go perfectly out of reverence and respect for the officers and their families.” DIGNITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS It is that idea of acting with integrity and treating people with dignity and respect that has been a driving force throughout Cordell’s career. He said it was a lesson he learned as a rookie cop when he responded to a major accident on East Lancaster Street on Christmas Eve. The accident, he said, was a head-on collision that left one man dead at the scene and a father and daughter in critical condition and headed to separate hospitals. The father died at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, and the daughter died at JPS Hospital. When he arrived at one of the

Photo by Tammye Nash

Chief Billy Cordell looks through pins he has collected.

with them, he said, “gave me a good education in how we deal with the homeless.” It was during those years, he said, that he worked in the unit investigating violent personal crimes, such as homicides and sexual assaults, robberies and crimes against children. Again, he found himself with a great learning opportunity in terms of interacting with people who were in the midst of crises. In 2005, Cordell was promoted to captain in the Criminal Investigations Division. Eventually, other units were added to that division, including the major case, auto theft unit and fraud units. Shortly after, the department began a major reorganization effort, redistricting division boundaries, reallocating resources and redesigning beats. In 2010, Cordell was assigned to manage the fifth patrol division, leading efforts to organize the department’s handling of the hoopla surrounding the NBA All-Star Game held in North Texas and then Super Bowl XLV. He was again promoted, this time to the rank of major — a title that was soon after changed to deputy chief. Cordell remained in charge of the north, central and west divisions — with about 600 people under his command — until about a year and a half ago when he transferred to operations where he was in charge of research and planning, fleets and behind the scenes jobs, including coordinating special Community Life

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hospitals, Cordell said, he was told that the family of the father and daughter wanted to speak to him. “I can still see her face today,” Cordell said, recalling seeing the wife and mother of the dead man and girl. “I have never forgotten the feelings, the expressions and emotions of this tragedy. That set me on a course to have compassion for the families, for the people we deal with, to try and bring them comfort in such a trying time.” There was another case, Cordell said, that has stayed with him through the years, although for different reasons. A year or two after that accident, when he was working in street crimes he was called in to help search for a 13-year-old girl who had been kidnapped. Cordell said officers acting on a tip were able to locate the juvenile suspect who had kidnapped the girl and taken her to far west Fort Worth where he sexually assaulted her before hitting her with a rock and leaving her for dead in a ravine off the freeway. Cordell said he was there when officers found the girl, who had been laying there for more than 24 hours. They thought she was dead — until someone saw her move in the beam of an officer’s flashlight. “It was like, ‘Oh my gosh! This girl’s alive!’” Cordell recalled. “That was just one of those incredible days when you go in expecting the worst, but with a little bit of luck, the worst doesn’t happen. It was just one of those euphoric moments when you know the work you do is worthwhile, that you can make a difference. “I still always wonder where that girl is and how she is doing. I hope she is doing well.” GROUNDED IN FAMILY The life of a police officer can be difficult. Cordell credits the love and support of his family — wife Kim, daughter Kelsey and son Keaton — with helping him stay grounded and strong. Cordell was a young officer in the K-9 unit when a young teacher from Houston moved into the apartment across the breeze30

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way from his. “She came up with some lame excuse to come across and knock on my door to meet me,” he said with a grin. “At least, that’s the way I remember it. She might have a different story.” Kim Cordell agrees that she knocked on Billy’s door. But, she said, she wasn’t looking for an excuse to meet the cop. “There was all this trash on the lawn outside the apartments, and I thought it was his,” she said. They both agree that shortly after that Kim invited Billy over for dinner — “I’m not a good cook, so I don’t know why he kept talking to me after that,” she said — and their relationship grew from there.

“But you figure it out, and it changes, too. They move to a different shift or transfer to a different division or get a promotion, and it changes. Early on in our marriage, he was gone all night, and I would worry. I was 25 and by myself at night, and I worried about him and about our dog. “Now we are older, and now he sits at a desk all day, so no, I don’t worry so much. I mean, I will always worry, but not in the same way. It can be almost as tough being a police officer’s kid as it is being a police officer’s wife. Both Kelsey and Keaton Cordell said that the dangers that go along with a career in law enforcement were never far from their minds.

Billy Cordell and his wife, Kim, on vacation in the mountains.

Billy Cordell was already preparing to move when Kim moved into the apartment complex, because he needed more room for his K-9 partner, Amigo the German shepherd. But after he moved, the two of them stayed in touch and in July 1990 they were married. “I knew from the first that it’s a different kind of life when you are married to a police officer,” Kim Cordell said. “I was a teacher. I would get home at four, and that’s when he would be leaving. He’d leave every night, and he would take our pet dog [Amigo] with him, so I was alone.

Courtesy photo

“I know the dangers that go with his job,” Kelsey said. “You always have that in the back of your mind. But still, when my dad coordinated the funerals for the two Fort Worth officers who died, it was really kind of an eyeopening experience.” Keaton Cordell remembers talking with Nava’s daughter, who told them that the last time she spoke to her father, she was in a hurry and didn’t even say goodbye. “I think about that, and I know that I don’t ever want to have that kind of regret.” Despite knowing the dangers of their father’s job, both Cordell children said they

HI, I’M JOE TAYLOR. Overton, Texas. What keeps me coming back to the Trail? It’s just absolutely sensational.

I have people tell me what they’ve spent playing one round at Pebble Beach and a night at the hotel, or going to Pinehurst for a couple rounds. We do the entire week, travel, hotel, green fees, good meals and everything for the price of one day at these places. And it’s absolutely a sensational place to come. TO PLAN YOUR VISIT to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, visit rtjresorts.com or call 1.800.949.4444 today. facebook.com/rtjgolf twitter.com/rtjgolf

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have led what Kelsey called pretty normal lives. “It’s normal to me, at least. It’s all I’ve ever known,” she said. Keaton added, “I think people expect you to always stay in line, to lead by example because your dad’s a police officer. I think people sometimes look up to you because of that.” BACK TO BURLESON For some families, having a parent take a new job in a new town can mean uprooting their whole lives. But for Cordell and his family, moving to Burleson is a little like moving home. “When we were first married, we built our first home in Burleson,” Bill Cordell said. “We lived in that first home for about five years,

home, Arborlawn United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. “I really have to brag on her,” Billy Cordell said of his wife. “She is just so good with the children. She is very good at her job.” Although much of their lives remain tied to Fort Worth, all of the Cordells said they are happy and excited about the move to Burleson. “He made the right choice in taking the job in Burleson,” Keaton Cordell said. “He was with the Fort Worth police for 29 years; he spent his whole career there, and I know it was hard for him to walk away from that. He loves Fort Worth; we all do. But there’s just so much opportunity for him in Burleson. And I think we are all going to love Burleson, too.” Kim Cordell said that her family feels

Courtesy photo/Andrea McDonald/Rooted in Love Photography

The Cordell family: from left, Keaton, Kim, Billy and Kelsey.

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and then we moved to a home on Renfro Street for another year or so before we moved to Fort Worth. “Burleson has changed a lot since we lived here before. But we love it here, and we are excited to be moving back.” Kelsey Cordell recently graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in sports management and moved with her parents and her brother to Burleson. Keaton Cordell will continue to attend Trinity Valley, the private school he has attended since kindergarten where he will be a junior when school starts in the fall. Kim Cordell continues to work as director of children’s ministries at the family’s church

honored that the people of Burleson have entrusted the job of police chief to her husband, and she said her family is looking forward to repaying that trust by being active, involved members of their new community. “We support each other as a family, and we all support Billy in this new adventure,” Kim Cordell said. “We really are very honored, and I can tell you that the residents of Burleson will see us all out and about and being involved. We feel it is very important to live here and be a part of this community. We are a family unit, and we do a lot of things together. Our kids will be in and out of the police station, and they will soon start seeing the officers here as family, too.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE It isn’t surprising to hear Cordell’s family sing his praises. But his former boss, Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead, is right there to chime in with a few verses of praise as well. “Chief Cordell will be very successful as a chief, and he possesses some of the strongest administrative skills I have see,” Halstead said. “He is an outstanding communicator; he is very organized, and he is a detailed visionary.” But, Halstead said, he is also “a very caring supervisor and a dedicated mentor. He truly cares about the police officers and civilian support staff that completes the mission. “Burleson will learn how effective Chief Cordell is at building strong ‘public-private’ partnerships. He mastered those relationships here in Fort Worth and has been the only person to receive the prestigious ‘Public-Private Partnership Award’ from the Fort Worth Police Officers Awards Foundation.” Halstead predicted that Cordell will strengthen the Burleson PD and the city of Burleson by enlarging the police department and investing in technology. “Billy Cordell was an anchor of excellence

in our department and within the community,” Halstead said. “He is a loving and committed father and husband, and will prove to be a loyal friend to Burleson. They are very fortunate to have him as their chief of police.” As for Cordell, he said he is fortunate to have the opportunity to lead BPD into what promises to be a very bright future. “The leadership here in Burleson is mak-

and the leaders of the police department. “It’s not surprising how this [police department] has excelled, given the leadership I have seen here. Since I got here, I have seen people communicating, all working together toward the common goal of serving this community,” he said. And that, Cordell said, is what counts the most.

The leadership here in burleson is making great things happen. — Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell ing great things happen,” Cordell said. “This is just such a special place. The more I researched it when I was considering applying, the more I realized just how special Burleson is.” Since coming on board as police chief at the first of June, Cordell said he has been overwhelmed by the response of the city’s leaders

“We are a service organization,” he said. “We do a lot of things. We wear a lot of hats. But in the end, we’re a service organization, first and foremost. That’s my goal, our goal: to provide the highest level of service in each and every encounter, every contact with our citizens, and with everyone on our team.” n

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Cleburne Chamber of Commerce

Summer Concert Series closes with Brandon Rhyder

T

STORY BY Nicole Luna

he Summer Concert Series draws to an end with a bit of country. American Texas Country singer Brandon Rhyder of Carthage will close the series on Aug. 23 at Market Square in downtown Cleburne. Opening for him will be country duet cover band Benay & Logan. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with Benay & Logan, and Rhyder goes on at 9 p.m. “We’ve had great attendance at out summer concerts and we’re ending it with a great group,” Marchel said. “People really enjoy being out and listening to live music with their family and friends.” Marchel encouraged the community to come out and enjoy the last few days of summer with live music and camaraderie. Rhyder released his first album in 2001 and since then has released seven more in the last few years. His fifth record “Every Night” released in 2008 and it debuted at No. 53 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 50 on Billboard’s Top New Artists Albums chart. The record was completely selffinanced and released independently on his own Reserve Record. His lead single

Courtesy photo

Texas Country artist Brandon Rhyder closes out the Summer Concert Series on Aug. 23 at Market Square.

on that record “This Ain’t It” was No. 5 on the Texas Music chart in 2009. Rhyder released his latest album “That’s Not Me” last year. Benay & Logan are local favorites that started up in 2012. As a Texas Country duet band, their sound is described as

a mixture of classic country mixed with a backwoods vibes. Attendees can park at the Guinn Justice Center and take a shuttle to the Market Square. They can also bring lawn chairs and coolers. Food vendors will also be available.

James Hardie. The Making of a Dream Home.

-DPHV+DUGLH A Great Place To Work. www.jameshardie.com

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Business Expo expands with new vendors

T

STORY BY Nicole Luna

he Cleburne Chamber of Commerce will be expanding this year’s business expo. The 16th Annual Business Expo is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Cleburne Conference Center and is free to the public. “We try to change it up every year,” chamber President Cathy Marchel said. “Our purpose is to showcase our business opportunities, to meet the community and expose what we have to offer.” Though the expo is usually inside, this year vendors will be set up inside and outside to showcase their businesses. “This year we are looking to expand to the outside with outdoor vendors,” Executive Vice President Tara Janszen said. “We have local car dealers, RV and boat companies that will hopefully bring in more people.” There will also be an opportunity for people looking for new jobs. Janszen said the workforce commission will have a bus parked in the parking lot during the expo to help people with their resumes and tell them about any job openings in the area. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne will also offer $10 flu shots. The expo will also have its annual Kid’s Zone. Family activities will be held throughout the day. “This is a family-friendly event, we want there to be activities for everyone,” Marchel said. “Make sure to bring the whole family.” Every year, Marchel said, there

Courtesy photo

Lone Star Autoplex is the presenting sponsor for the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo for the third year in a row.

are several thousand people who come throughout the day and the expo is always busy. “This is great for the attendees but this also supports they’re local business,” Janszen said. “We want people to know all Cleburne has to offer.” For the third year in a row, Lone Star Autoplex will be the presenting sponsor, and Cleburne Ford and Stevan Buren Roofing & Remodeling are gold sponsors. “We’re just so thankful for all the support we get from vendors and the community,” Marchel said. To participate in the expo, contact the chamber at 817-645-2455.

Luncheon The Cleburne Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Luncheon is just around the corner. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Location is to be determined. Mayor Scott Cain and City Manager Rick Holden will be giving a state-ofthe-city address. The luncheon serves as an opportunity to honor those who have served the community by help of their business, Chamber President Cathy Marchel said. “It’s also a great opportunity for local business owners to get to know one another and to find out what these local businesses are doing for the community,” she said. Community Life

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Cleburne Chamber of Commerce

Transition, opportunity for Cleburne

C

STORY BY Matt Smith

leburne sits at a crossroad of two options, Mayor Scott Cain said recently. “We’re seeing opportunities coming to fruition now and we’re in a state of transition, which has it’s challenges,� Cain said. City officials for the past several years through town hall meetings and other means asked residents what they want Cleburne to look and feel like going forward. “We’re now at the transition point where we’re starting to see some of that feedback and those visions being

implemented, but there’s still a lot of work ahead.� The recent opening of the Chisholm Trail Parkway, a toll road linking Fort Worth and Cleburne, provided the big bang that Cleburne and Johnson County officials hope will spur substantial growth and economic development in the years to come. “We’re already starting to see the effects of that,� Cain said. “We have IHOP and Panda Express coming in. Work is under way to get Chick-fil-A here. We also have several new businesses and industries coming and others interested in our area. There are a couple of large

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housing developments in the works that we hope to announce soon. “We’re seeing things going on now and there’s more to come. It’s probably going to be two to three years before we see the real effects of a lot of these projects that are under consideration or already in the works now.� City projects on deck include the continuation of concerts and other events at Market Square in downtown and the continuation of the upstart Operation Cleburne Pride program, Cain said. That program tackles code enforcement and other challenges on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis by bringing city government, businesses, civic, religious and charitable groups and individuals together. “We’re also taking steps to partner more with Cleburne ISD and the [Cleburne Chamber of Commerce] to see where we can work together to cut duplication of services

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and save taxpayer money, and come up with new ideas,� Cain said. “We’re going to hold a joint town hall with all three in the fall.� City leaders continue working on ways to fund the city’s long promised railroad museum, Cain said. Meanwhile, the soon-to-open Liberty Event Center, built by Cleburne businessman Howard Dudley, adds another draw for residents and tourists, Cain said. In anticipation of economic and population growth, city officials plan to study city codes and ordinances and revise them as needed to improve efficiency and meet the challenges ahead. Officials over the past few years had already called for similar studies and master plan projects to address the challenge of growth ahead of times and Cleburne voters last year approved proposals to update the city’s charter. Tight budgets remain a reality and trouble the waters between now and the hopedfor growth, Cain said. “The future remains exciting and bright,� Cain said. “But we have to remain fiscally responsible until the growth starts coming. And we have to look at ways to manage the coming growth and preserve what’s great about Cleburne, that Cleburne look and feel.�

2014 Calendar of Events AUGUST 9 Chamber night golf tournament 15-30 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do� 27 Chamber quarterly luncheon SEPTEMBER 4-13 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do� 12-28 Carnegie Players presents “Pump Boys and Dinettes� 19-21 Antique Alley & Yard Sale 19-27 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Father of the Bride� OCTOBER 2-11 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Father of the Bride� 4 Chamber Business Expo 16 Brazos Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert 17-30 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Little Shop of Horrors� 29 Chamber quarterly luncheon

NOVEMBER 1-15 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “Little Shop of Horrors� 21-22 Pioneer Days 21-29 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “A Christmas Carol� 24 Whistle Stop Christmas lighting DECEMBER 1-31 Whistle Stop Christmas Lights in the Park 5-23 Plaza Theatre Co. presents “A Christmas Carol� 5 Christmas Parade 5 Whistle Stop Christmas in the Park 5-14 Carnegie Players presents “’Twas the Night Before Christmas� 16 Brazos Chamber Orchestra Christmas Concert

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LAW & ORDER

JOHNSON COUNTY District Attorney Dale Hanna oversees criminal justice system

J

STORY BY Matt Smith

ohnson and Somervell County District Attorney Dale Hanna considers his life a blessed, albeit fairly straightforward affair. “My life is kind of three or four interconnecting circles if I were to summarize it,” Hanna said. “One, of course would be my wife and kids. One circle is the courthouse and what I do here. Another circle would be going to church every Sunday, Field Street Baptist, which I’ve gone to since I was born. Another would be, my brother and I run a farm and ranch out here. Then, everyday at lunch, I’ll go out and try to get a little exercise. “And that’s really about what my deal is.” Photo by Monica Faram

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Although Hanna may see his life as fairly cut and dried in some respects, in his 41 years of practicing law, he has overseen Johnson County’s transformation from rural to urban, worked side by side with several of North Texas’ most respected and wellknown attorneys and tried numerous high-profile cases in Tarrant and Johnson counties. District attorneys play a vital role in the criminal justice system, given that they ultimately decide which cases to move forward, and in those cases, what punishment to recommend. “On the other side of that,” Hanna said. “You need to know when not to prosecute. It’s a two-way street. You’ve got to go after people who commit crimes. Sometimes you’ve got to go after them pretty hard. At the same breath, you’ve got to protect the ones who didn’t commit crimes and have to use your judgment in that regard.” Hanna cited the Buddy Cook case as an example. Cook’s adoptive parents, Angel and David Cook, were charged with injury by omission in connection with their 4-year-old son’s March 2013 death. Hanna in December dropped the charges against the couple. “When we got into the evidence, I just did not have a good feel for it and was not certain the people charged were guilty and so we dismissed it,” Hanna said. Death penalty cases, of which Hanna said there have only been three during his tenure as district attorney — the last was Mark Anthony Soliz, sentenced to death in 2012 for murders in Tarrant and Johnson counties — are especially tough. “Now those weigh on your mind,” Hanna said. “To get up in front of a jury and say, ‘Look, you need to convict this person 40

Community Life

Dale Hanna enjoys spending time on his land with his horse and dogs.

Photo by Monica Faram

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knowing the death penalty is on the table,’ and knowing that the evidence calls for them to impose the death penalty, those are heavy, heavy moments and decisions. We’ve been lucky in this county not to have had any more of those cases than we have.� Hanna said he looks to something bigger and an activity available closer to home to relieve stress and guide his decisions. “It gets back to church and faith in God for me,� Hanna said. “To where you can sleep at night and make decisions and ask God for wisdom in making those decisions. Then you make that decision and move on. “I tell you, one thing I started when I came back down here was, I started going at lunch and getting some exercise. That is such a good stress breaker, it’s like shucking that stress. Even when you’re in the middle of a trial you can come back and keep going.� Cleburne proud Hanna called Cleburne an idyllic place to grow up in the 1950s and ’60s. “It was an absolute perfect place for a kid to grow up, perfect,�

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Hanna said. “You know it just, it could not have been any better.� Born in 1948 in the old Cleburne Hospital, Hanna attended Cooke Elementary School and graduated from Cleburne High School in 1966, attending high school in the building, the Guinn Justice Center, where he now works. Little league baseball and other activities filled the early days of he and his older brother, Mike Hanna, now a retired adult probation officer. High school days saw his interests turn to cruising Cleburne and cars and drag racing. Hanna and his brother both worked at the Texaco on North Main owned by C.O. Hanna, their uncle, learning “a little bit about cars and that kind of stuff� along the way. “I had an old ’57 Chevy back then just like I have now,� Hanna said. “So we’d race those around Kennedale and Forest Hills. In high school, it was a common thing to just cruise around in your cars on Friday and Saturday nights and that was just what teenagers did. We spent a lot of time washing and fixing those cars and racing and making them run faster.� Hanna jokes that he and his friends often ran afoul of former Cleburne police officer N.H. Laseman, who now works as an investigator in Hanna’s office. “Well, we had loud mufflers on those cars,� Hanna said. “Laseman would give us traffic ticket. That was part of growing up in a small Texas town. But I reiterate, it was the greatest place in the world to grow up. We also spent a lot of time on the river water skiing. “When my kids started coming along in the 1980s my interests changed. You’ve gotta start growing up and get away from that stuff.� Family and church provided support and comfort both then and now, Hanna said. “If you don’t have a pretty good grounded faith you can’t do this job,� Hanna said. “It will absolutely eat you alive. You see so much +VERMXI 1EVFPI 0MQIWXSRI

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bad stuff. You’ve got to be a person, if you’re going to do it right, who seeks the wisdom of God on making these decisions. If you don’t have that grounding, faith in God, you’re just lost as a piece in a hailstorm.” Hard work, instilled by Hanna’s father, Clyde Hanna, was also a constant from early on. Clyde Hanna helped construct cotton gins throughout the south and later became a local union iron worker in Fort Worth. “I expect so he’d be around my brother and I during our teenage years,” Hanna said. Clyde also bought farmland outside of Cleburne, which Dale and Mike Hanna still operate, in 1940 and ran a dairy business with his brother. “My dad just always worked himself,” Hanna said. “I mean he always had two jobs. He was either construction working during the week and then he’d be farming on weekends. “But he was also always very insistent that my brother and I, preached it, preached it, go to school and get an education.” Both Hanna and his brother graduated the University of Texas at Arlington. Hanna said he never really thought about being an attorney until he graduated from UTA. “I got out of school and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but had begun to give some thought to being an attorney,” Hanna said. “Now David Guinn, whose father the [Guinn Justice Center] is named after, was a professor at Baylor Law School and he helped me get into law school. So that’s how I became a lawyer.”

Photo by Monica Faram

Dale and Janet Hanna with their dog, Pinto, at their Cleburne home.

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After graduating in 1973, Hanna became an said. “They’re on notice that if they come down assistant city attorney in Arlington. It wasn’t love here, juries are so conservative and not going to at first sight. put up with any foolishness or be hoodwinked. “At that time, I thought it was the worst job They will give a strong verdict if the evidence is in the world,” Hanna said. “But looking back on there and that word has gone forth throughout it, it’s exactly what I needed. It’s funny how God the Metroplex. doesn’t give you what you want, but he gives you “Now I’m not foolish enough to think it’s kept what you need. it all out, but I do believe it’s made a difference “So I started out prosecuting traffic tickets and kept some of the crime out.” over there and it was a great training ground for It’s also a never-ending job. me to become a trial lawyer because I got to where “I couldn’t count the amount of times SherI knew how to get up and talk in front of the iff Bob Alford has called me in the middle of the court and present a case.” night and said, ‘Well, are you awake?’” Hanna Hanna was subsequently appointed Arlingsaid. ton city attorney and Alford said he’s enlater joined the Tarrant joyed knowing and Dale always considers what he County District Attorworking with Hanna ney’s Office, working for 20-plus years and feels will best serve the citizens there from 1975-79. appreciates the Johnson of Johnson County in making “That turned out to County District Attorbe the best thing that ney’s Office’s spirit of cothe very hard decisions of happened to my law operation and teamwork penalty recommendations career,” Hanna said. with the sheriff’s office for felony criminal offenses. “To get around good and other county law enlawyers trying pretty — Sheriff Bob Alford forcement agencies. significant cases. That “We don’t always office, then and now, is agree on cases,” Alford one of the best in the state as a training ground said. “But I’ve always found Dale Hanna to be a for trial lawyers.” man that you can talk to and he will listen to the Hanna worked in the Tarrant County DA’s ofopposing side of an issue before making his final fice during the Cullen Davis murder trial, which decision. was held in Amarillo, but did not participate in “Dale always considers what he feels will best that case. serve the citizens of Johnson County in making “The deal was Amarillo agreed to try that case the very hard decisions of penalty recommendaon a change of venue,” Hanna said. “But they sent tions for felony criminal offenses. That is the part one of their capital murder cases to Fort Worth of his job that I do not envy, nor would want to and me and another attorney tried that case while have to do, and it has to be the most stressful part Cullen was being tried in Amarillo.” of his job.” Hanna returned to Cleburne as an assistant Alford called Hanna’s leadership a significant DA, then won election to the office of Johnson contributing factor in reducing crime in the County Attorney and in 1992 ran for district atcounty. torney, the office he’s held since. “By moving the cases expediently through the Running the office involves a team effort, court system, Dale and his staff work very hard Hanna said, between support staff, assistant disevery day at getting all of the cases in the courts in trict attorneys, the judges, sheriff’s office and area a timely manner,” Alford said. “Each grand jury police departments. returns approximately 100 new cases each month, “Working together these past 22 years I think which have to be reviewed and prepared for court we’ve set up an atmosphere where criminals are presentations.” hesitant to come into Johnson County,” Hanna It’s also difficult at times being a hometown

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boy, Hanna said. “That’s one of the most difficult things about this job, being born and raised here,” Hanna said. “Sometimes you have to prosecute people that you know. And, right or wrong, if they know you, they think you should give them a break. It’s human nature. And you can’t do that. You’ve got to call it like you see it and treat them like you would anybody else. “One of the unusual things about being DA is you kind of start out thinking you’re going to have everybody like you. After you’ve been here a while you realize everyone is not going to like you. You’re going to make enemies. And if you prosecuted their son, daughter, mother, uncle they’re not going to like you. But you’ve got to kind of know that going in and go ahead and do your job and let the system work.” Not that it’s a thankless job. “I’ve had people come in and thank me for sending them to rehab or even the pen because they said it was exactly what they needed at that time,” Hanna said. The office has grown with the county from four assistants in 1992 to 11 now. “There’s not a lot of turnover in this office,” Hanna said. “Larry Chambless, who recently retired, had been here 25 years. Merry Cashion, who runs this place, has been here 24 years. “The thing we try to cultivate here because you deal with some awfully bad stuff and if you don’t have some humor this stuff will drive you crazy. The atmosphere here is that you take these things real serious but you’re also able to have a little bit of a laugh and make the working environment conducive to everyone pulling the wagon together.” Growth has also necessitated sharing of responsibilities, Hanna said. Photo by Matt Smith

Dale Hanna has held the office of Johnson County District Attorney since 1992.

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“When I started I would try every one of these felony cases,” Hanna said. “But this place has gotten so big and busy it’s not humanly possible to do that anymore. The hardest thing for me is to sit there and watch my assistants try a case and not get involved. It’s a terrible feeling, but I just have to do it, let them take the ball and run with it. But I’ve been blessed to have great lawyers as assistant DAs and a great support staff. “The credit also goes to the commissioners court to large degree because they have funded this office and brought it along so we were never not able to keep up with the number of cases coming into the system and prosecute them effectively.” Family ties “Dale loves Cleburne and wouldn’t think of living anywhere else,” said Janet Hanna, his wife.

The couple, who celebrated their 10th anniversary in May, began dating 14 years ago. “I plead the fifth,” Janet Hanna joked when asked how they met. “Actually a lawyer I know in Granbury was trying a case in Cleburne.” That attorney, Dale Hanna said, set them up on a blind date. “I told the guy, ‘Aw, I’m too old for that.’” Hanna said. “Anyway, I finally agreed to go on the date just to pacify the guy. I’d been married and divorced by that time so it was scary, but obviously we hit it off.” The couple have seven children from previous marriages. Hanna credits the land his father bought so many years ago for keeping him grounded and young at heart. Hanna and his brother bought the adjacent property in 1978 increasing the

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size of their ranch to about 350 acres. “Every Saturday I’m usually out working that ranch,” Hanna said. “Mike and I run that thing ourselves. We’ll have somebody bale our hay but we do 90 percent of the stuff ourselves. And I tell you getting out there working the cows or driving the tractor all day is very therapeutic and the older I get the more I enjoy that. “Mike and I have been running that ranch basically our whole life, used to help out when we were kids, and never had a cross word on how to run it. He and I try to outwork each other so the other one doesn’t have to do it.” In for the long haul Hanna said public service suits him and he’s happy where he is. “I don’t know if I’d ever want to be a judge or not,” Hanna said. “Sometimes I think it would be all right and sometimes I think I can do more good where I am. Because this job, this office, you’re really in a position of a lot of authority and power because you’re a decision maker. You’re not a referee, you’re a player. Hanna said he’s never secretly wanted to be a criminal defense attorney nor had much interest in private practice. “I had a little private office when I was county attorney,” Hanna said. “But I gave that up and devoted all my time to this job when I became DA. When I was in private practice I did some divorces and, boy, that stuff takes a toll on you. You see people at their absolute worst and

The hardest thing for me is to sit there and watch my assistants try a case and not get involved. — Dale Hanna

I was glad to get out of that.” Hanna admits to enjoying a good country western song as much as anyone but said you’re more likely to hear Christian music coming from his radio these days. “Just sort of brings a sense of peace to help offset some of the horrible things we have to deal with in this office sometimes,” Hanna said. Not that he’s hoping to leave any time soon. n

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Plans to build a freeway through the southwest quadrant of Fort Worth first appeared on the Fort Worth Metropolitan Area Thoroughfare Plan in 1962. Officials in Cleburne and Johnson County have hoped and planned for a connector road from Fort Worth to Cleburne for at least as long. U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, joked during the May 8 ribbon cutting ceremony for the road that he was in grade school when rumors of the road began circulating. State Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, and Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon, at the same ceremony, quipped that they will hardly miss the 31 traffic lights on Texas

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174 between Cleburne and Burleson. Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain compared the CTP to the old wagon trails of days gone by and said the new toll road further solidifies the ties between Cleburne and Fort Worth, and greatly reduces access time between both. For Cleburne and Johnson County officials, CTP represents the biggest game changer since the arrival of the railroads in the 1800s. Many predict an explosion of population and economic growth to follow in the years to come thanks in large part to the opening of CTP. Additionally, officials believe the road will greatly improve mo-

bility and safety, and relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 35W, Texas 174, Farmto-Market Road 1187 and numerous Fort Worth roadways. Fort Worth and Cleburne officials marked CTP’s opening with several events, including a bicycle marathon from Fort Worth to Cleburne and back. Cleburne residents Betty and Bart Kickhoefer lined up with several other residents on May 11 for the chance to be among the first to drive the road. “We counted 52 cars at 1:30 p.m. on both sides of people wanting to get on and drive it,” Betty Kickhoefer said.

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The couple returned about 7:15 p.m. the same day with their two children, Carrolline, 15, and Cullen, 7, to take a short ride on the road, which they followed up with a longer drive the following Monday. “We wanted to take our kids and let them be part of history, Kickhoefer said. “Maybe that sounds kind of silly, but my husband remembers riding on the Dallas Parkway when he was young and we thought this was something the kids will remember 20, 30 years from now, that they were on the road the day it opened.” Opened being the operative word. Although all sections of the Johnson County portion were completed by or soon after the announced opening date, several Fort Worth

Through the third week of May average daily traffic counts collected near the Montgomery Street exit in Fort Worth totaled 7,772. North of FM 1187 during the same period they totaled 6,651 and north of Sparks Drive in Cleburne they totaled 3,854. Cain said the true effects of CTP remain three to four years down the road given that new housing and business construction projects generally take several years from planning to construction and completion. That’s the future officials hope to see. For now, however, the effects of the CTP are already apparent given that several retail and industrial businesses have, or are in the process of, moved to Cleburne, almost all of them having based their decisions at least in part

sections, mainly the direct connectors from Interstate 20 and Interstate 30, remain under construction. “Those connectors should be completed by October, probably sooner,” said Michael Rey, NTTA Media Relations Manager. “A lot of that depends on weather conditions.”

on the CTP. “The bicycle event was good advertising for us and got a lot of people from Fort Worth out to Cleburne,” Cleburne Chamber of Commerce President Cathy Marchel said. “And we’ve had quite a few since visiting to see what Cleburne’s all about. We’ve also seen more traffic in the chamber from developers and retail business people. Things are getting very busy right now and it’s just a question of getting them located here.” Cain agreed. “Now that the road is open we’re getting a lot of phone calls from businesses and home builders,” Cain said. “I think we’re going to see more housing starts in the next couple of

RESPONSE AND SIGNS OF PROGRESS

Despite that fact that many balk at the toll rates charged for the road, Rey said that usage during the first two months was very good. “It’s been about what we expected, maybe a tad above,” Rey said. “Toll tag sales have exploded.” 52

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years. I know folks who have driven the road say they absolutely love the drive, the beautiful views and vistas and the savings in time.” Many of those hoped-for projects are already in the works said Diana Miller, Johnson County Economic Development director, with the area around the FM 917 exit poised to explode with development. Several new homes, about 1,000, are planned for construction in and around Godley with more likely to come in the next year or so.

“You’re looking at tripling the size of Godley once they fill those homes,” Miller said. “And, of course, homes drive your retail development.” Even Venus, which sits on the opposite side of the county from the CTP, is getting in on the action. Plans to build 1,900 new homes in the area appear to be in direct response to the opening of CTP. “Most of that land was property people

had been holding and, with the influx expected from the toll road, they were thinking now is a good time to build,” Miller said. Miller said she too has seen an increase in queries from business owners interested in relocating or opening branches in Johnson County as well as an increase in interest in existing building space for sale or lease. Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey said his office has received similar requests for and/or interest in economic opportunities

in the county during the build up to CTP’s opening, which only increased after the official opening. “There’s going to be quite a change coming to Johnson County,” Bailey said. “In five to 10 years, with the influx of people and business, this is going to be a great place to be.”

TOLL TAGS

Rey and other NTTA officials continue

to stress the efficiency and cost savings associated with purchasing a toll tag. The CTP is an all electronic toll collection system, towers, or gantrys, located along the roadway photograph license plates as vehicles pass through. Rates, with a toll tag, are 16.2 cents per mile with an increased rate of 20.2 cents per mile from Interstate 30 to Altamesa Boulevard in Fort Worth. Rates are higher for tractor trailers and certain other larger vehicles. Rates are double without a toll tag. Toll tags are free, Rey said, with prepaid options of $25, $40 or any amount above that available. A special Texas Christian University toll tag is also available. Toll tags are available at www.ntta.org. They may also be purchased at several lo-

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers patrol the roads, Rey said. NTTA contracts with them to work the roads and pays the department to ensure their troopers are not taken away from their regular duties. “The myth that only DPS can make stops is not true,” Rey said. “Any police department can.” Cleburne Fire Chief Clint Ishmael said the Cleburne Fire Department works the roadway up to FM 917 with the Burleson Fire Department working the road from FM 917 to FM 1187. So far, Ishmael said, CPD has responded to no incidents on the roadway. Ishmael said BPD responded to a minor traffic accident with no injuries in June.

cations in Johnson County including: zx Johnson County Sub Courthouse, 118 S. Friou St., Alvarado. zx Johnson County Sub Courthouse, 247 Elk Drive, Burleson. zx Johnson County Tax Office, 2 N. Mill St., Cleburne. zx Kroger, 1617 W. Henderson St., Cleburne. For questions concerning rates, charges and other matters, visit www.ntta.org or call NTTA’s customer service line at 817-7316882 or 972-818-6882. Roadside assistance is also available should motorists encounter problems while driving the road. The number is 972-444-4357.

BY THE NUMBERS

The project cost about $1.4 billion. Tolls will continue to be charged after the road is paid for to collect fees to fund maintenance costs and other area road projects, NTTA officials said. The speed limits range from 50 mph to 70 mph in Tarrant County. The limit from Altamesa Boulevard in Fort Worth to Industrial Boulevard in Cleburne is 70 mph. The limit from Industrial Boulevard to U.S. 67 is 55 mph. The toll road includes 53 bridges and more than 80 off and on ramps. Plans call for planting more than 4,700 trees along the corridor. Community Life

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The

CLASSIFIEDS Construction Pipe

PIPE & SUCKER RODS FOR SALE ~~Delivery Available~~ 3290 Ranger Hwy Weatherford, Tx

817-599-9590

Professional &

Demolotion Clean-Up Services

Now Hiring for the Weatherford & Justin Yards

Transport Drivers Needed

• 22 years minimum age • 2 years verifiable driving experience or 1 year oilfield driving • Class A CDL • We pay you for your experience • Employee and Family health insurance • Night shift premium • Night shift bonus

Commercial & Residential All types of clean-ups and haul-offs ...

Foreclosures, complete house clean-ups, land clean-ups, brush & trash haul-offs, fencing, mowing of any kind, appliance removal, carpet removal, old furniture, etc. pp

Now N No w offering offeri Interior and Exterior painting

You Call, We Haul!

817-202-9662

www.ucallwehaulcleanup.com

817-517-3614

VINYL SIDING

Windows, Metal Buildings Carports, Garden Rooms, Steel Roof

Dale Howard Construction

817-645-6472

meumann@burlesonnissan Cell: 817-933-3818 Fax: 817-484-3590 300 N. Burleson Blvd. Burleson Tx. 76028 BURLESONNISSAN.COM

Cleburne

817-925-5154 - Scott

Bridgeport

940-393-5525 - Danny

OSAGE RECYCLING

817-558-9032

Patio’s, Sidewalks Driveways, Slabs Etc. Free Estimates

ROGER NEUMANN Sales Consultant Main 817-484-3500

“Justin Yard Now Open”

Free Haul Off Appliances, Washers, Dryers, Fridges, Stoves, A/C Units, Riding Moowers, Auto Parts, Any Type of Metal 24/7

Johnson Construction

NOW HIRING! • CNA’S

Class A CDL Drivers

6am-2pm, 2pm-10pm, 10pm-6am

Call 817-225-0011

Apply in person at 2035 Granbury Street Cleburne, Texas 76033

Local/Regional Flatbed Home Every Night 3 years experience Clean MVR/Drug Health Insurance Dental & Vision

• CMA - Double Weekend • RN-LVN • Dietary Aids

The

CLASSIFIEDS

Toby’s Handyman & Construction Service

For all your Handy needs! • Remodeling • Painting & Staining • Drywall • Fences • Decks

• Pressure Washing • Windows & Doors • Weather Proofing • Blown Insulation

Quality Work at Affordable Prices

817-487-5422 / tsowers17@yahoo.com

MARTINEZ CONCRETE Commercial • Residential Sidewalks • Parking Lots Remodel • Rapair Driveways New Slabs • New Construction Some Clean Up!

817-648-1918

MIKE’S DIRT & DOZER LLC

Land Clearing Tanks Dug Clean mud out of old tanks Field Dirt & Gravel Hauled 817-940-4184

Family Landscaping & Services

Mowing & Sowing

L awncare & T ree S ervice B rush /T rash H auloff

A lso

offering window cleaning

M ost Y ards O nly $30

817-526-0060

Complete Lawn Care Services Landscape Design/Build Custom Fence Solutions Residential Lawn Available as low as $35 Commercial/Residential Cleburne 817-992-0757

www.familylandscapingandservices.com

Jobs Available Local Truck Driver Training

Crestwood Squre Apartments Spacious 2 Bedrooms Available Call 817-641-7300 www.crestwoodsquare.com

Tuition Paid & Other Opportunities. Call 24/7

877-626-5873

Bridgeport Tank Trucks LLC. IS SEEKING

Mechanics

For the Cleburne Location • Competitive Pay • Quarterly bonuses for all hourly employees, • Paid Vacation and Holidays • 401K match • Medical, Dental, Life Supplemental Insurance • Unused Vacation Paid Out • Annual Salary Bucks Some Automotive or Diesel Expereince Required For more information contact Ray Przybylski at: ray.przybylski@btt-group.com or call

940-393-9307 BTT

is an

EOE

Now our waiting room is your living room.

Check into the ER and wait from home. InQuicker No one wants to be sick or injured enough to go to the emergency room. That’s why we strive to make your visits as comfortable as possible. Now you can check in to our ER from home with InQuicker. Available exclusively at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne, InQuicker allows you to check in for your emergency room visit online. Then you’ll be notified of your projected treatment window, so you wait at home. InQuicker is easy to use and generally accurate within 15 minutes of your projected treatment time. Now the most comfortable waiting room is one where you feel right at home. Remember, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. To check in using InQuicker, visit TexasHealth.org/Cleburne.

1-877-THR-WELL Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital. © 2014

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