EDUCATION

CURTAINS UP AT JARRELL HS

Admission is free but donations are welcome. Parents of young children should use discretion as the play deals with some war-related content. Director Tara Granberry says, “I believe theater fans of all ages may gain something from the message of the power of friendship.”

Patriotism and the power of friendship will take center stage at Jarrell High School next month during the World War II play Decision Height, a celebration of the sacrifices and bravery of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who trained in Sweetwater, Texas.

THE PLAY'S THE THING

Decision Height is the story of a group of ladies who became lifelong friends during the long months of flight school and basic training before volunteering their aviation skills to help bring the war to an end. For JHS Theater Director Tara Granberry, the project combined a phenomenal script with a phenomenal cast. “Sometimes I read a script that I absolutely love, but I have to put it in my pocket and wait to pull it out later when I have the right kids for the show. I knew we had the right actors for the roles in that particular show,” she says, especially considering the predominantly female cast. “I feel like I struck gold when I found this script that requires so many female

CATCH THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF DECISION HEIGHT 4PM SUNDAY, MARCH 6 AT JARRELL HIGH SCHOOL

actors. Of course, I have excellent talent with the boys in my program, and I’m excited to have them on stage as airplane mechanics in the ensemble, as well as giving them a chance to run the technical side of our play, such as lighting, sound, and special effects.”

To prepare for the play, students learned military jargon and protocols from Airforce veterans in the community. The most exciting part of their research, Tara says, will be a field trip in mid-February to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, now the National WASP WWII Museum. “My students are so excited to visit the actual setting of our play, which will help them understand the incredible value of the sacrifices of those people who gave their all to make America and the world a better place.”

SKILLED THESPIANS

Decision Height is part of Tara’s One Act Play class, which prepares students for the Texas Interscholastic League (UIL) One Act Play competition that begins for Jarrell on March 9. Schools come together on one day to perform shows for a panel of judges who will pick the top three shows that will advance to the next level. “We create a family within our One Act Play, and the memories we make last a lifetime,” Tara says.

WASP MUSEUM

Before—or after—you enjoy the play, be sure to visit and learn more about the WASP legacy at the National WASP WWII Museum.

Plans for the National WASP WWII Museum began in 2002 with the vision of two women, WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish and her daughter, Nancy Parrish. They believed the history of the WASP should be showcased at Avenger Field on the grounds where most of the WASP trained during World War II. The grand opening took place in 2005 and the museum continues to expand today. Their 200-year lease, which includes the land and hangar, will preserve the history of the WASP and its airfield, and promote their legacy for many generations to come.

210 Avenger Field Rd, Sweetwater, TX Open 10am-5pm Tues through Sat (325) 235-0099 Admission is free.

DISTINGUISHED DESCENT

The spritely character in the WASP logo is Fifinella. Often seen hanging around WASPs, she was originally a female gremlin designed by Walt Disney himself, for a movie based on a book by Roald Dahl (of Willie Wonka fame) called The Gremlins.

The story of Fifinella began in 1942 when Roald, who had been removed from flying with the Royal Air Force due to an injury, wrote a fairy tale about the hazards of combat flying. "Fifinella" is not her name; it is the word for a tall and slender female gremlin. He took the name from Fifinella, a British thoroughbred racehorse who won The Derby and Epsom Oaks horse races in 1916, the year he was born. The horse was nicknamed the "flying filly," so when Roald thought of a female that flew, the name of the horse immediately came to mind.

As an RAF-trained pilot, he was familiar with prewar RAF folklore about the Gremlin, the mischievous source of any unknown problem. During World War II, the WASP asked permission to use the image as their official mascot, and the Disney Company granted them the rights.

Fifinella flew with the WASP on their jackets in the form of patches and has even flown in combat with contemporary female Air Force pilots.

Commissioner Russ Boles: Civics and Success

From roads and taxes to public safety and budgeting, Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles is one of four commissioners who ensure Williamson County runs smoothly for its 609,000 citizens. After Commissioners Court recently completed a new redistricting map, all residents of Jarrell and Sonterra (except for a small section including Spears Ranch Road and rural areas northwest) joined Precinct 4’s jurisdiction.

ON THE DAIS

The four commissioners and constitutional judge of the Williamson County Commissioners Court:

Ensure safe roads and bridges are built; Budget for law enforcement through the county sheriff; Administer the county’s public welfare and health services; Operate county parks; Work with school districts and boards, MUD boards, HOAs, and City Councils; Appoint officials to various boards; e.g., the Williamson County Child Welfare Board, Williamson County Historical Commission, Lone Star

Regional Water Authority, Williamson County and Cities Health District Board, and Williamson

Central Appraisal District; Set the county tax rate and budget.

“The commissioners are essentially Williamson County’s checkbook,” Commissioner Boles says. “They make sure the things residents and taxpayers want open and running are in fact open and running. When you go into the Tax Assessor's office or a Justice of the Peace court, you expect the office to be open and someone to be there to help you. If those county offices aren’t operating efficiently and effectively, it ends up costing residents and businesses more money and time. That’s what we want to avoid and prevent.”

image credit: voterussboles.com

Commissioners also work with the Sonterra Municipal Utility District (MUD) Board and HOA, Jarrell City Council, and Jarrell ISD to make sure residents are getting the services they need. “The backbone for every great community is the school district. While the county doesn’t directly interact with the schools daily, we do come alongside them to work together to help operations run as smoothly as possible,” Commissioner Boles says. “An example of that would be to make sure we as a court, are accountable to provide safe bus routes. We are also looking for opportunities that will help to grow the economic base that will, in turn, help the school district and take some burden off the homeowners. If we can get some larger commercial and industrial businesses in town, the school district will benefit from the tax revenue those businesses generate.”

TRACK RECORD

Following his election in 2019, Commissioner Boles focused on boosting public safety, affordability, economic development, and infrastructure. Last year, he and other commissioners voted to increase the homestead exemption for seniors and the disabled “to make sure Williamson County is an affordable place.” He is also proud they increased the budget for the sheriff’s department by $10 million and added 15 officers to make sure our neighborhoods and schools stay safe. “I am against radical defunding of the police and am constantly working to make sure every department has the right resources,” Commissioner Boles says.

Increasing employment is at the top of his list of priorities, as “there is no quality of life without a job.” He recalls growing up in Round Rock, where many of his friends left due to a lack of jobs. As a result, he is passionate about working closely with cities on economic development that will enable residents and generations to come to live, work, and play right in their own backyard.

The most recent economic development victory was a $17 billion Samsung semiconductor manufacturing plant set to go online in 2025. While the 6-million-square-foot facility will be located in Taylor, Commissioner Boles sees the project as a win for the whole county as it will add 1,800 well-paying jobs and serve as a draw for other major companies. “Samsung sets up Jarrell and other Williamson County cities to be great options for suppliers,” he says.

The commissioner also means to continue working on infrastructure improvements; e.g., the county’s LongRange Transportation Plan, extending a county road, and repairing a road inside a MUD. He plans to manage several projects initially spearheaded by Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey to completion, including the widening of County Roads 314 and 332 and the C. Bud Stockton Loop Extension.

The commissioner encourages all constituents to communicate with his office with questions and concerns. Scan the code to email the office.

Russ Boles Commissioner Precinct Four 3001 Joe DiMaggio Blvd Unit 1300 Round Rock Phone: (512) 943-3761 Fax: (512) 943-3798

February is Black History Month. Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. February 1 is National Freedom Day, celebrating the signing of the 13th Amendment.

The theme for 2022 theme is Black Health and Wellness. C