VOL. 1 | NO. 11
PROSPERTIMES Friday July 14, 2017 | Prosper, Texas
Collin County Sheriff pursuing con artists
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner is warning citizens throughout Collin County and the DFW Metroplex to be on the alert for a dangerous scam being perpetrated by individuals posing as Collin County Deputy Sheriffs. Individuals posing as Deputy Sheriffs are calling citizens and advising them there has been a warrant issued for their arrest for failing to answer a jury summons. The citizen is directed to remain on the telephone and bring cash to the Sheriff's Office in McKinney where they are to meet the "deputy" in the parking lot in order to pay a fine. These criminals attempt to keep their victims on the phone in order to keep their victim from calling the real authorities while they are on the way to bring money. Sheriff Skinner wants the public to know that NONE of their deputies, or ANY other law enforcement official, would EVER contact anyone and request they bring money to pay a fine. THIS IS A SCAM!! Law enforcement does NOT take money, in any form, from citizens for any purpose!! If you, or anyone you know, is contacted in this manner, please report this immediately to your local law enforcement authorities or the Collin County Sheriff's Office at 972-547-5100. The Collin County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this scam and will pursue these fraudsters until they are captured. In the meantime, THEY NEED YOUR HELP to spread the word about this scam to everyone you know and to report any communications you receive to law enforcement as soon as possible. Working together, we will put these crooks behind bars where they belong. Sheriff Skinner has a message for these con artists: "It is only a matter of time...we have a fresh towel waiting in booking for your mug shot."
Cornerstone helps families get ready to go back to school Cornerstone Assistance Network NCT kicks off the 20172018 school year by making sure local kids have all they need to begin a successful academic year. This year Cornerstone NCT will assist 250 kids by providing a new backpack, needed school supplies for the child’s specific grade and school, spirit wear and a new pair of shoes. There are still about 50 kids that need to be sponsored and the deadline is quickly approaching. You can sign up on our sign up genius at http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0e45a5ac2aa4fe3-back3 or contact Courtney Chamblee at courtney@cornerstonenct.org. To make a monetary donation, go to Cornerstone NCT by visiting the website at www.cornerstonenct. org and choose the contribute tab or drop off your donation at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. Additionally, neighbor families get to “shop” from donated clothing items for back to school clothing on July 25th and 26th. If you would like to help, sign up http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10c0e45a5ac2aa4fe3-back4 for a shift. Cornerstone would like to thank to all their volunteers and donors for making this event happen! Be a part of helping this organization get these kids off to a great start this school year!
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com
The law is loosely referred to as the no texting law but, actually, HB 62 is about distracted driving and trying to change behavior of individuals behind the wheel. Distracted drivers caused more than 100,000 crashes statewide in 2015 resulting in 422 fatalities, the Texas Department of Transportation
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reported. Sponsored by Representative Tom Craddock, the Distracted Driving bill was signed into law June 6 by Governor Greg Abbott and goes into effect September 1. Fines will be $25 to $200. The Texas distracted driving prohibitions: Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using wireless communications devices; Learners permit holders
Roadwork rules at Town Council meeting Lisa Ferguson Special to The Prosper Times Road construction projects and improvement issues dominated discussions at the Prosper Town Council meeting Tuesday night. The trio of items on the consent agenda were quickly passed by councilmembers. With no members of the public wishing to speak, they moved forward to tackle the regularagenda and public-hearing portions of the meeting. The latter included a request for a
variance to a section of the Town’s sign ordinance for the Tribute Senior Living facility under construction near Preston Road and First Street, which was tabled until the July 25 meeting. A request was heard to rezone a portion of the Rogers Middle School property, at Richland Boulevard and Coit Road, to allow for the addition of five temporary portableclassroom buildings on the site. The buildings were recently placed at the school adjacent to five other temporary buildings that were
moved there during the last school year. The request, which was recommended for approval by Planning and Zoning, was made to allow for reductions along Richland of both the town’s required 30-foot building and 25-foot landscaping setbacks to 10 feet to accommodate the additional buildings. Several councilmembers raised concerns about future traffic and pedestrian-safety issues that could arise as a result of the request. The council was advised by Hulon Webb,
are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving; School bus operators are prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present; Drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices in school crossing zones; Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Galveston, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Missouri City, the Canyon, San Angelo, Snyder, Hurst, Lakeway, Stephenville and Wichita Falls are among the more than 60 Texas cities that have enacted local distracted driving laws. Little Elm adopted a hands-free law in early January. Prohibited activities while driving in the Dallas-Fort Worth-area city include using a handheld device to talk, text and take photos. Fines begin at $100 and go up to $500. A warning period ran through the end of February. See No Texting, page 3
Executive Director of Development and Community Services, that a temporary concrete sidewalk will be constructed adjacent to the buildings on Richland. “I think given some of the concerns that were raised at previous council meetings about other incidents related to traffic safety (and) pedestrian activity, I’m not surprised that they took the time to examine it and discuss it during this meeting”, said Senior Planner Alex Glushko. Councilmembers approved the Rogers rezoning request, which should allow the town to inspect and See Council, page 2
Book Trail is a new feature for Prosper Parks
A bench helps to create a peaceful scene on part of the book trail around Eagles Landing Park.
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com For anyone who hasn’t been on a book trail, a treat awaits at the park behind Judy Rucker Elementary School, 402 South Craig Street — Eagles Landing Park. It’s a collaboration between the Prosper Community Library, Prosper Public Works, Prosper Parks and Recreation and Texas A&M AgriLife to bring literature outdoors to those utilizing the park, ball fields and walking trail.
“The mission of the collaboration is to promote literacy, fitness and family engagement together in a nature setting,” Library Director Leslie Scott said. Twenty-three permanent four-foot podium posts with large colorful platforms are equally placed along a 0.7mile walking trail that surrounds recreation fields. The platforms allow for children’s picture book pages to be encased in plexi-glass so stories may be read aloud as families or children walk the trail. Each two-page spread is laminated
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
to preserve the illustration colors and the integrity of the book.” Scott said she changes out the books every three weeks to encourage returning to the trail and to offer diverse literature. Scott said she saw similar book posts being offered in other communities, but wanted something more permanent. She met with Public Works Director, Frank Jaromin, to determine the feasibility of the project and the two determined the goal was not only attainable, but there was room for improvement.
The project met a goal of taking the library’s literature collection outside of the brick and mortar typical way of exposure to literature. The books provide enjoyment for the entire family; however, they primarily target early literacy and include themes of animals, nature, and healthy living. Literacy begins in the first three years of life, and this non-traditional way of reading also creates a positive connection with literature. The entire community, including students and families who visit the See Book Trail, page 3
Gates of Prosper construction beginning to take shape Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.com
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Construction crews put the finishing touches on Dick's Sporting Goods and Field & Stream, which are full of merchandise, in preparation for their targeted August opening.
Scheduled for completion September 1, the Gates of Prosper is beginning to show glimpses of the finished product. Anyone driving close to the intersection at Preston Road and U.S. Highway 380 can get a view of the ever-changing landscape from the rising store walls to the planting of hundreds of trees as construction continues. The finished property should contain 550,000 square feet of space which will include a location for a substation for the Prosper Police Department. This will allow police to be on site to monitor the large retail property and its surrounding areas. As with most construction projects, the end date can change regularly. Mayor Ray Smith says that is the case with the Gates of Prosper and he thinks a more realistic completion date may be closer to October 1. The goal is to be open before the shopping season for the holidays. Pending a few outstanding leases, they hope to have it filled by the end of the year says Smith of the developer Blue Star Land and Lincoln Property. Joe Hickman, See Gates of Prosper, page 3
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