PROSPERTIMES Friday August 11, 2017 | Prosper, Texas
VOL. 1 | NO. 15
Prosper Profiles
WeAreProsper.com | $1.00
Council provides funding to repair Windsong Ranch streets
Meet Mike Neeley
Taylor Arledge sent us an email to suggest her dad, Mike Neeley, for our Prosper Profiles spot. Mike Neeley said their home was built in July 2000 and the family has spent 17 years in Prosper. “When we moved to Prosper, the population signs said 2,200 or 2,300. The Texaco was the only choice we had, and when they built the Exxon, it was a big deal because it had a Subway.” He said they moved the family to Prosper from Plano because they wanted to get their children in a smaller school district. They also wanted a little more acreage. “Dave Williams built our home and he was just an awesome man,” Neeley said. The only man in a house full of women, Neeley says he wouldn’t change it. Mike and Connie raised two girls, Lauren and Taylor. Now they have two dogs, a yellow Labrador and a 3.5-pound Chihuahua. Each was left behind when the daughters went to school. Mike says the girls cannot have their dogs back. “They’re ours now,” he said. Neeley says he and Connie love to travel. They go to Mexico a couple times a year and have been up and down the eastern sea board and still have a bucket list “a mile long.” Neeley went to high school in Carlsbad, New Mexico where he grew up and graduated from the University of New Mexico. He said five days after graduation he was in Dallas and has been in the area since 1979. “I came here on a spring break and had never seen so many pretty women in my life so I said, ‘That’s where I’m going.’” He said he worked in real estate for a while with one of his father’s high school classmates and that’s where he met Connie. Neeley says he reads a lot and keeps a lot of clippings of things he reads in newspapers and magazines. One of his favorite authors is Norman Vincent Peale. His favorite quote comes from the Bible: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11.
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
Mayor Ray Smith, left, and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Jason Dixon look at pictures presented during the Tuesday night Prosper Town Council meeting.
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com There was standing room only in the Prosper Municipal Chambers on Tuesday night for the regular town council meeting with attendees flowing out the door and even more standing outside. At issue for most was a continuation of remarks made in the July 25 meeting — the condition
of streets in the Windsong Ranch Development. While Windsong residents had the largest contingent presence, there were others there to speak before the Council and other issues on the agenda. Mayor Ray Smith conducted the order of the meeting to best facilitate the large numbers present realizing they were mostly there for one item so he skipped to that item as soon as possible. The agenda item in
question was approved unanimously. It was a proposed ordinance amending the FY 2016-2017 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan to provide funding for the Acacia Parkway (Gee Road - Windsong Parkway) Project and First Street (Dallas North Tollway - Coleman) project. Prosper Finance Director Kelly Neal introduced the agenda item saying the CIP Amendment allows for $1,022,782 to fund the
reconstruction of Acacia Parkway which will be transferred to the Capital Fund. Also $136,000 for additional survey work on the First Street (Dallas North TollwayColeman) project. Steve Glass, Deputy Director of Engineering Services, followed Neal with a timeline description of the actions taken over several years to remedy the Windsong problems and then Mayor Smith opened the floor for individual speakers, of which there were many. The first speaker was David Blom with the Terre Verde Group, developers of Windsong. He spoke to the frustrations of not only Terre Verde but the residents who’ve lived on streets that are falling apart for the past two years or more. He told the Council, “You can see by the amount of attendance that the interest is high.” Blom described some of the actions taken by Terre Verde which included regular Town meetings to answer residents’ questions and explained that they are to the point that only the Town can answer the residents’ questions now. It is out of the hands of Terre Verde. He acknowledged the great relationship Terre Verde has had and continues to have with the Town of Prosper. He explained that Windsong now has close to 400 homes occupied and the development is only one-third completed so there is a long way to go. See COUNCIL, page 3
Students in PISD Gather with Parents for the Safety Fair at Rogers Middle School Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com Making identification records for their children was one of the most popular stops at the stations set up in the Rogers Middle School cafeteria last Friday for the Safety Fair, which was sponsored by Prosper Independent School District. Cheerleaders of all grade levels were on hand to greet folks as they came through the doors and into the gym inspiring a party-like atmosphere for the kids. They also performed some of their cheer routines. The high school sent its ace disc jockey, Kathy Nelms, to preside over the party in the gym with lively music. Police from the PISD Police Department and the Prosper Police Department, as well as Prosper firefighters, were on site with their equipment and vehicles. Children took turns sitting in the vehicles or walking through them and touching the things that inspire their curiosity. Keisha and Joey Harrison were there with their second-grade daughter who attends Baker Elementary. Keisha Harrison pushed a doubleoccupant stroller with twin girls, 11 months. Joey Harrison said he brought his family to the safety event out of concern for his second grader. “Safety is important these days and the more comfortable she is, the better,” he said. That is just what officers and firefighters were trying to accomplish. They were trying to help the young school children feel comfortable around the safety personnel and equipment that is important for the safety of the community.
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
Officer Leon Goodman, left, and Sgt. Gerald Smith at one of the tables for the Safety Fair at Rogers Middle School last Friday.
Prosper Community Library Finishes Summer Schedule
Neeley says his business has been extremely blessed. “There are not enough hours in the day but that’s okay,” he said. I’ve been on the other side of that and this is far better.” The Neeley’s say they really love Prosper and love living here. “They’ve started to remodel their home after living there for 17 years. “We don’t plan on moving.” he said. “We’re glad to be getting a lot of new shopping coming to Prosper. Hats off to those guys involved in getting all that done, because we’ve seen it when there wasn’t much here.”
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
Sharon Alderton, who often reads and conducts story time for the library, shares the book “Pout-Pout Fish with a group of children at the Prosper Community Library Saturday morning.
Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com Story times, face painting, crafts and more were on the menu at the Prosper Community Library last
Saturday morning as children and parents crowded in to participate. It was the grand finale for the summer reading program and children flocked in to pick up prizes they earned through reading.
Not everyone who was there had participated in the summer reading program. But close to 200 children came through the doors that morning and were warmly welcomed by Librarian Leslie Scott, who did a
great job of getting children to the reading corners for guest readers or to participate in the craft stations spread around the library. Assistant Police Chief Gary McHone was one of the guest readers, as well as Prosper residents Cap Perry, Trey Webb, Sharon Alderton and several others. In the back corner of the library was a cozy setup with a chair for the reader and rugs set around for children to gather close sitting on the floor. On the opposite end of the library was the face painting station which was very popular among the youngsters. Hulon Webb, Executive Director of Development and Community Services for the Town of Prosper, came with his son Trey, who was one of the volunteer readers. Webb said he thought it was a great turnout. “Leslie Scott, Chelsi Henry and Maurice Atkinson did a tremendous job and I was excited to see the enthusiasm on all the kid's faces,” Webb said. “Also, seeing my son volunteer to read to others, made me a proud papa.” If there are youngsters who’ve not been able to pick up reading prizes, prizes may also be picked up August 12 and August 14-19.
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PROSPERTIMES
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Friday August 11, 2017
PT C o m m u n ity C a l e n da r Friday, August 11th
Prosper High School Schedule Pick-up: PHS Cafeteria from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Visit www.Prosper-ISD.net for the time that corresponds with your last name. Lady Eagles Varsity Volleyball: Pearland Tournament Eagles Varsity Tennis: Scrimmage at Lovejoy – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 12th
Ice Cream Social: PHS Student Mentors Ice Cream Social – 10:30 a.m. Lady Eagles Varsity Volleyball: Pearland Tournament
Monday, August 14th
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – PISD Welcomes all new and returning students back for the 2017-2018 school year! “Cheers and Tears” Breakfast: Parents of Kindergarten students at Rucker Elementary 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. “Boohoos and Backflips” Breakfast: Parents of Kindergarten students at Hughes Elementary 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Prosper Ladies Tennis Club: Plays Monday nights for all 2.5 and higher players. Contact Michele Williams for more information at m19williams@gmail.com or 469-583-1051. Residential Bulk Trash Pickup: From Teel Parkway to Preston Road. Call 469-452-8000 or email Prosper@ WasteConnections.com by 4:00 p.m. Friday, August 11th to be placed on the schedule.
Tuesday, August 15th
Lady Eagles 9B Volleyball: At Frisco Liberty High School, TBA Eagles JV Tennis: At McKinney High School - 5:30 p.m. Eagles Varsity Tennis: At McKinney High School – 6:30 p.m. Prosper 5-0 Club: Games and dominoes every Tuesday, 9:30am to 11:30am, in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, 300 S. Coleman. ALL ARE INVITED!
Prosper Chamber Ribbon Cutting: Join us in welcoming Dickeys Barbeque Pit to the Prosper Chamber! Ceremony is from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at 4325 E. University Drive, Prosper.
Wednesday, August 16th
Rogers Athletic Parent Meeting: Rogers Middle School Gym – 6:00 p.m. Reynolds Athletic Parent Meeting: Reynolds Middle School Small Gym – 6:00 p.m. Prosper Economic Development Corporation: The PEDC Board regularly meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The Prosper Economic Development Office is located at 170 N. Preston Road, Suite 50. All meetings are open to the public.
Thursday, August 17th
I am sure that most of us have at one time played the game Go Fish. The concept of the game is to ask players and dig in a pile of cards in order to find the most matches. In the Bible Jesus calls His followers to be fishers of people. Check this out in Matthew 4:18-19 “18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’” The reason that Jesus asks His followers to fish is because of His tremendous love for humanity. He asks us to partner with Him in finding “matches” for His Kingdom. The beautiful thing about God though is that every single person alive is a potential match. The Bible says in 2 Peter: “9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake.
Community Info, Outreach, and Prayer Groups Cornerstone Assistance Network of North Central Texas is a faith based non-profit that unites with others the demonstrate Christ’s compassion by serving our neighbors in need. With the help of volunteers, they conduct intakes twice a
1) Fishing is Fun.
This spring our beloved dog Finn passed away from an aggressive form of cancer. We truly thought we were finished welcoming puppies into our home and were settled in with the three we had. Suddenly
2) Fishing is necessary. The Bible says in Romans 10:13-15 “13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never
I encourage us in this season with school beginning and all of us getting our lives back in order from the summer that we are intentional about every relationship we have and in our interactions with others. You never know how you handle a situation and handle relationships the eternal impact it may have.
We do it because the one who bled and died for us asked us to. This is called the Great Commission. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 “15 And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” 4) We were all fish once. I am so grateful that there were many people in my life who went fishing. My parents, teachers, friends, and pastors all played a role in my journey. I had several different people who helped lead me into a life-giving relationship with Jesus and I am forever grateful. The reality that I was once a fish causes me to constantly be fishing for others to offer them the same hope and love that I have received.
Steve Smothermon Jr. is Senior Pastor at Legacy Church, www.legacytx.church.
Leslie Scott
Prosper Times contributor
Charlotte, named from “Charlotte’s Web” and author Charlotte Bronte. Emma, Charlotte, Max, Finn, and Sam were all easy for us (mostly me if I’m being honest) to decide, but for some reason this new little guy’s name was torment for me. I first focused on Irish authors or characters in Irish literature. With a brother named Samuel Beckett, I thought it would be fun to carry on the Irish tradition. Seamus Heaney was a strong contender, but Seamus just doesn’t go well repeatedly like you must call a puppy. There was Bram Stoker, another Irish author, but “Dracula’s” author’s name seems almost as foreboding as the book. I searched wider and jumped to authors and literature from
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heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Fishing is necessary because if we do not tell and show people then who will? 3.) Jesus asked us to go fishing.
Fishing for people is not as scary as you think. I wish you could have the experience of it. There are not many experiences in Christianity that are more exciting than helping someone come to Jesus. The bible says in Luke 15:10 “10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” When someone comes to Jesus there is a celebration. On the cross he took our sin balance to zero when we repent. That is fun.
we had a hole in our hearts, saw the loneliness of our 2-year-old pup, and felt we should get another puppy after some time. The easy part was getting the puppy, the hard part was picking out a name. Our dogs always have literary names. It probably comes as no surprise my love for literature even infiltrates the family animals. There is Max, named after the boy in “Where the Wild Things Are.” Then there was our Finn, who was named after James Joyce’s “Finnegan’s Wake.” And lastly, Samuel Beckett, named after the Irish author. Then there’s the cats in our family past and present. First there was Emma, from the same titled Jane Austen novel and now our daughter has
Ambassadors for the Prosper Chamber of Commerce met at the new Field and Stream and Dick’s Sporting Goods combination store at Gates of Prosper to join with representatives of the store for an official ribbon cutting marking the store’s soft opening Aug. 1. The official grand opening started the following Friday and lasted through the weekend.
Steve Smothermon Special to the Prosper Times
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” There are four reasons that I believe we should all be fishing for people.
PT I n O th e r W o rds
Just a Name
month where they meet with new and current neighbors to hear their stories, help where they can, and give guidance where they cannot. If you need help, call 972-689-9115 and leave a message. Intakes are done on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information about Cornerstone, visit cornerstonenct.org. Bethlehem Place is Prosper’s only Food Pantry located on the parking lot of Prosper United Methodist Church at Third and Church streets. The food pantry is open for food distribution every Tuesday evening from 6-7 p.m. Bethlehem place greatly appreciates any food or monetary donations to support this organization. Please visit www.bethlehemplace. org for more information Prosper Mom’s in Prayer is open to women who have a heart to pray for their school age children. For more information on Mom’s in Prayer, visit www.momsinprayer.org. For local meeting information for your child’s school, contact either Christy Rubin at 469-995-6061 or Karina Anderson at 214-566-7762. Karina is able to answer questions in Spanish as well as English.
Lady Eagles Varsity Volleyball: At Justin Northwest, TBA 8th Grade Pep Rally: Rogers Middle School – 2:00 p.m. Prosper Community Library: Board meetings are on the third Thursday of each month at 6:15 p.m. at the Prosper Community Library, located at Reynolds Middle School, 700 N. Coleman Road. Prosper Lions Club: Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at the Cotton Gin from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The Prosper Rotary Club: The Club meets Thursday afternoons from 12 - 1 p.m. at the Prosper Independent School District Administration Building (605 E. Seventh St., Prosper, TX 75078). Everyone is welcome. Lunch is $10. Please RSVP by emailing Melody Lehmann (melsmailbox73@gmail.com) if you plan on attending.
PT IN HIS PRESENCE Go Fish
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England next. Robinson Crusoe stuck for a week or so, but then it was discarded. Next, I was on to characters from books I liked. Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, the character from “To Kill a Mockingbird” was a final contender. I thought Radley was a good name and once we brought our puppy home, he created a radically different tempo around the house for sure. Milo from “Catch-22” was a name our daughter favored. Templeton, the rat’s name from “Charlotte’s Web” was also a candidate. Unfortunately, as everyone got to have ideas and votes for a name, the final decision was mine and so the list of potential names grew and decreased and grew again. We had our pup home for a day
before we settled on a name. It was one we had tossed around from the very beginning. One we all liked all along, and one we kept coming back to. And so, we welcome Oliver Twist into our family. I have no doubt that our Oliver will have his share of obstacles, starting with a Samuel Beckett that is not overly thrilled at this new brother we expect him to love immediately. But I’m also sure that just like the boy in Charles Dickens’ novel “Oliver Twist,” our little guy is going to live happily ever after too. Leslie Scott is the Director for the Prosper Community Library.
Winner, Winner, Winner
Joyce Godwin/PROSPER TIMES
The Drew Sutton family won the drawing at the RE/MAX booth at this year’s Pride in the Sky Celebration where Remax was a vendor. RE/MAX often partners with the Cedarbrook family for various events. From left are Ane Casady and Kathleen Johnson, both of RE/MAX, Beckett Sutton held by his mother Staci Sutton, Ryder Sutton held by his dad Drew Sutton, Ed Reames and Nikki Hill, both of RE/MAX. The Sutton family won a trip to Hawaiian Falls.
PROSPERTIMES
Friday August 11, 2017
WeAreProsper.com | Page 3
PT F i re D e pa rt m e nt i n c i d e nt re p o rts Motor Vehicle Accidents Take a Back Seat to EMS Calls Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com EMS calls and motor vehicle accidents top the list of incident reports for the Prosper Fire Department this week. On Friday, the fire department was at Rogers Middle School for the safety event to greet youngsters getting ready to go to school when the truck had to leave suddenly in answer to a call from dispatch. Following are the fire department reports:
Prosper Fire Chief set to close career on August 31 TOWN OF PROSPER Prosper’s current Fire Chief, Ronnie Tucker, is hanging up the turnout gear for the final time this month as he closes out a 42-year career in the fire service, 25 of which were spent in Prosper. Chief Tucker is the latest in a lengthy line of dedicated volunteers who have worn the mantle of Fire Chief, and in addition to his time as a volunteer, he was the first compensated, non-volunteer to hold the position. A Town-wide celebration of Chief Tucker’s career and accomplishments is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, August 31 at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church, 4331 Prosper Trail. The event, which includes lunch, is free and open to the public. Chief Tucker began his career in 1975 with the Allen Fire Department as a volunteer. About three years later, he joined the Richardson Fire Department as a full-time firefighter, where he remained for 34 years. During that time, he served as Dispatcher, Firefighter, Driver Engineer, Lieutenant and Captain, retiring in 2012 as Battalion Chief. In 1992, during his tenure as a full-time Richardson firefighter, he began volunteering in Prosper. Four years later, he entered into a contract with the Town of Prosper as part-time Fire Chief. He converted from contractor to regular employee, remaining in part-time status, in 1998. Following his 2012 retirement from Richardson, he became full-time Fire Chief in Prosper. Chief Tucker is currently the longest-serving employee of the Town of Prosper. During his tenure, the Prosper Fire Department has grown from a Volunteer Fire Department with one part-timer to 35 full-time, fullyqualified firefighter-paramedics, engineers, drivers and administrative personnel and 15 part-time personnel. A four-bay Central Fire Station was built in 2004 and a second threebay station in Prosper’s growing west side was finished in 2016. Under the meticulous eye of Chief Tucker, he oversaw every aspect of planning, design and construction of both facilities. The Chief has served on virtually every Town committee and has a long list of professional affiliations and awards. At the most recent Prosper Fire Department Annual Awards Banquet, he announced his intention to retire, and in response, the Prosper Ladies Association, sponsors of the banquet, established the Chief Ronnie Tucker Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to assisting Prosper students continue their education. Chief Tucker, his wife Janie and daughter Brande are long-time residents of Prosper and plan to split their time between their Prosper home and their nearby ranch.
COUNCIL
From page one A long line of residents followed taking a turn at the podium. Most explaining they have lived there for years and when they bought their homes, they placed their faith in the Town of Prosper and now it’s time for the town to take action. They are concerned about property values and also pointed out that the condition of the streets is not only a safety hazard, it is discouraging other home buyers and that causes the town to miss out on the taxes of homes in Windsong. They encouraged the Council that the amount of money ($1,022,782) dedicated to their street repairs is not enough and want the Council to increase that stating that to fix the roads will cost in excess of $3 million. After the final speaker left the podium, several Councilors responded. Jeff Hodges pointed out that the money named in the agenda item is an amendment to the current budget. “More will be included in next year’s budget until the whole amount is committed.” Town Manager Harlan Jefferson also described how the Town has been working on trying to remedy the problem but the process is slow because of litigation. He said he wanted to be careful about what information was disclosed because they are in pre-litigation stages. He said the Town’s investigation revealed what probably happened. He said, when roads are built according to the correct standards, they should be expected to last 30 years, “so for a road to fail this early, there is obviously some type of problem.” He explained further “We are suspicious that the crew did not properly compact the sewer line in the construction and then it appears to be a potential default that the company hired to make sure the road was properly compacted, didn’t catch that either.” He said those are some of the things being looked at but he wanted to mention that in the meeting to give resident the assurance that all the roads in Windsong are not going to fail. Following the meeting, Blom said he was satisfied with the explanations of the Council but cautioned that Tuesday’s action is only a start. He also mentioned he believes they could have moved on the issue a little faster, but overall,
he feels that things are finally getting started. Another resident who addressed the Council is Gary Lloyd who said he was there on behalf of the residents of Cedar Ridge Estates which is across the road from the fire station. “We have about 100 residents in our neighborhood,” he said. He came armed with large photos of the problem house on his street which is vacant. He said it has been in that state since it was struck by lightning and caught fire last year. He said it is an eyesore and believes it is becoming a health hazard and affecting the property values of the homes in the area. Since Lloyd’s remarks were in the Citizens Comments section of the agenda and not a part of the agenda itself, Councilors could not address the situation. After the approval of the agenda item that affects Windsong, those residents in attendance made a mass exit and Mayor Smith joked, asking them if they didn’t want to stay to hear the rest of the meeting. In other business, one of the items in the consent agenda was tabled for the August 22 meeting. It was the proposed ordinance for a Special Purpose Sign District for Prosper Town Center, located at the northeast corner of Preston Road and First Street. Other agenda items approved include: • A contract amendment of the Professional Services Agreement between Specialty Land Services LLC, and the Town of Prosper for easement and right-of-way acquisition services. • A contract amendment to the Professional Engineering Services Agreement between Graham Associates Inc. and the Town of Prosper related to the Prosper Trail (Kroger - Coit) project and the First Street (Dallas North Tollway - Coleman) project. • Awarding a construction bid Groves Electrical Services Inc. for the Coit Road Median Lighting (U.S. 380 - First Street) project, and authorizing the Town Manager to execute a construction agreement for same. A public hearing was scheduled for the proposed tax rate of 52 cents per $100 valuation and to hear the proposed budget for the 2017-2018. The next regular meeting of the town council will be August 22.
August 2: Motor vehicle accident with injuries on North Preston Road at East Broadway Street; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1400 block of East University Drive. August 3: EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 900 block of Essex Drive; Lock out in the 1000 block of North Preston Road; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1800 block of Greenwood Court; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 500 block of South Dallas. August 4: EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1600 block of Hidden Glen Court; Motor vehicle accident with injuries on East University Drive and South Preston Road; Excessive heat, scorch burns with no ignition on East University Drive and Windsong Parkway; Alarm system sounded due to malfunction in the 1600 block of Harvest Ridge Lane; Passenger vehicle fire in the 8300 block of Boardwalk Way, Little Elm; Motor vehicle accident with no injuries; on West University Drive at Dallas Parkway. August 5: System malfunction, Other in the 700 block of Whispering Way; Motor Vehicle Accident
with no injuries on South Coit Road and Richland Boulevard; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 1000 block of High Willow Drive; August 6: Smoke detector activation due to malfunction in the 100 block of Hidden Lake Drive; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 100 block of Hidden Lake Drive; Gas leak (natural gas or LPG) on Dalea Drive at Firewheel Lane; Motor vehicle accident with injuries on South Preston Road and Richland Boulevard; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 800 block of Echo Drive; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 16700 block of Central Garden Lane, Aubrey. August 7: Motor vehicle accident with no injuries on West University Drive and Dallas Parkway; False alarm or false call, other in the 200 block of South Church street; Lock-out in the 1000 block of South Coit; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury in the 26800 block of East University, Little Elm; Building Fire in the 1400 block of Macon Drive, Aubrey; Smoke detector activation due to malfunction in the 4300 block of Bellingrath Drive. August 8: Dispatched & cancelled en route to the 5600 block of Crestwood Drive; EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury to the 600 block of Toledo Bend Drive; No incident found on arrival at dispatch address of West University & South Teel; Odor Investigation in the 500 block of Columbia Drive; Motor vehicle accident with injuries at the intersection of West University & Dallas; No incident found on arrival at dispatch address of south Dallas Parkway & West First Street; Lock out in the 1300 block of North Preston Road; Lock out in the 1300 block of Cedar Lake Drive. Editor’s Note: Information found on the Fire Department website at www.prospertx.gov/firedepartment.
PT P o l ic e Re p o rts Following are the incidents reported by the Prosper Police Department during the week of July 24: July 24: Mental detention in the 400 block of Marbella Drive and in the 1000 block of South Coit Road; Reckless damage or destruction in the 1300 block of North Preston Road. July 25: Burglary of a vehicle in the 1600 block of Chisholm Trail; Public intoxication with three prior convictions in the 1200 block of North Preston Road; Theft of property valued at more than $100 with previous convictions in the 1200 block of North Preston Road. July 26: Assault causing bodily injury and family violence on Rhea Mills Circle; Information report in the 100 block of East Sixth Street; Possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication in the 1500 block of East University Drive.
New Sporting Goods Store Opens in Prosper Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.com Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field and Stream have only one combined store in all of the Dallas Metroplex, and it’s now open for business at the Gates of Prosper! All throughout last weekend, the store was celebrating its grand opening with regular appearances of celebrities, lessons in fishing, a photo station and a bald eagle to name just a few. Michelle Billardello said the reason the store chose Prosper for its new location is Prosper’s thriving community with passionate outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. “It’s a perfect combination for us to open up a store that houses both Dick’s and Field and Stream under one roof,” Billardello said. “We believe customers will be thrilled with our extensive collection that they find they can make the store a one-stop shop instead of having to go to multiple locations. We continue to offer a wide range of products and really tailor that to the local community.” This is the 31st Field and Stream store nationwide and the 102nd for Dick’s Sporting Goods stores and 35th in the state of Texas. It’s the first combination store in the local metroplex area according to Billardello. Activities to celebrate the grand opening were scheduled throughout the weekend which included several giveaway products. One of the more special moments was the appearance of a Bald Eagle named Mr. Lincoln. Following is the story of Mr. Lincoln as told by the American Eagle Foundation: “Mr. Lincoln was hatched on May 22, 1998 at the American Eagle Foundation’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He was raised by his parents, a nonreleasable breeding pair named Liberty and Justice, until eight weeks of age and was then taken to the AEF’s hacking tower on Douglas Lake. After Lincoln was released he spent his first two weeks in the wild traveling 550 miles. Shortly after, however, he was seen stealing fried chicken off of a boat dock in Indiana. He then lived off of bacon for a while in Michigan — compliments of the family who owned the backyard to which Lincoln took a liking.
July 28: Accident involving damage to vehicle more than $200 on West University Drive and Dallas Parkway; Assault with contact in the 1000 block of South Coit Road; Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse in the 900 block of Whistler Lane; Information report on South Preston Road at East University Drive; Public intoxication in the 1000 block of Sagebrush Drive; Theft of property valued at more than $750 but less than $2,500 in the 600 block of Shooting Star Drive. July 29: Duty on striking unattended vehicle in the 4300 block of East University Drive; Fraudulent use or possession of more than five items of identifying information in the 1400 block of Millers Creek Drive July 30: Driving while intoxicated - second offense on South Coleman Street at East Third Street; Information report on East First Street at South Coleman Street.
“Because Lincoln never learned to hunt, only scavenge, he became very hungry and weak. In September 1998, he was captured, fed to a healthy weight and returned to his hometown in Tennessee. He was put into a large enclosure with a live rabbit to see if he was capable of capturing his own food, but instead, the rabbit and Lincoln became cohabitating friends. Because Mr. Lincoln proved incapable of being able to hunt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife deemed him nonreleasable and the AEF became his permanent home. Since then, he’s been seen by thousands of people during AEF education programs and has been trained to fly in ballrooms and outdoor events during the National Anthem. “The Bald Eagle is a protected species in the lower 48 states. Since the banning of DDT and because of strict protection laws and the efforts of organizations like the American Eagle Foundation, the Bald Eagle population has made an amazing comeback from only a few hundred nesting pairs in the early 1960s to more than 12,000 pairs in the lower 48 states today. “For more information about the America Eagle Foundation and how to have Mr. Lincoln or his friend Challenger appear at your event visit our website at www.eagles.org or contact us today at 800-232-4537.”
PROSPERTIMES
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Friday August 11, 2017
Weeds getting to you?? Save that Vinegar in the cabinet... Weeds getting to you?? Save that Vinegar in the cabinet… For the organic gardener, vinegar can function as a natural weed killer. It's the acetic acid in vinegar that gives it power to kill weeds. The higher the percentage of acid in the vinegar, the better it will operate as a natural weed killer, technically speaking. Vinegar used for culinary purposes is relatively low (5%) in acetic acid, so repeated applications could be necessary when using it as a natural weed killer.
Use with Caution:
If you're battling lawn weeds, take care to apply the vinegar directly onto the weeds themselves, not letting it come into contact with your grass. Why? Because the fact that vinegar is a natural weed killer doesn't mean it can't be harmful if misused. Vinegar is non-selective, and this natural weed killer can harm your grass! To avoid damage to grass, consider "painting" the vinegar directly onto weeds with a brush. If you do spray with vinegar, don't pull the trigger until you're right up close to the targeted weed. Don't spray on a windy day, as the wind could carry your vinegar spray where you don't want it to go — on your grass. I prefer to save the inside of a paper towel roll and isolate what I'm spraying just to be safe! Because of this limitation, I don't think of vinegar as being an especially effective natural weed killer for lawn areas for the general public. It makes more sense to use vinegar in areas where lawn grass and other landscaping plants won't be in the way, such as on patios or walkways (where you have weeds pushing up through cracks etc..). But if you're already in the process of digging a dandelion out of the lawn, it wouldn't hurt to supplement your efforts with vinegar. After you've removed as much of the taproot as possible, carefully pour some vinegar into the hole. The vinegar will seep down into the soil, killing any portions of taproot you may have missed. Afterwards, shovel soil into the hole and sow grass seed on top, lest any
opportunistic weed seeds should fill the vacuum. There's another limitation in using vinegar as a natural weed killer, but this limitation extends to chemical weed killers, as well: namely, that you'll probably have to re-apply the vinegar to get the job done, as weeds often refuse to go quietly. This is especially true of established perennial weeds, toughened by years of coping with environmental challenges; vinegar will be more effective on younger weeds. Older weeds are like people, they tend to fight back! But considering that vinegar is safe and relatively inexpensive, this objection is hardly a telling argument against the use of vinegar as a natural weed killer. If your goal is to use a natural weed killer, one assumes that you'll be motivated to make repeated applications, as necessary.
When to Apply:
When practicing natural weed
control, take to heart the dictum, “Know thine enemy!” Study up on the weeds you're fighting before you use vinegar on them. Target annual weeds before they set seed, to prevent them from spawning a new generation to give you fits next year. By contrast, early fall is the best time to use this natural weed killer on perennial weeds. Early fall is when you'll want to apply vinegar to dandelions (but snap off the flowers whenever they appear, to prevent them from going to seed). Dandelions, although their leaves die back in winter, do live on through their roots. So, preventing them from going to seed sometimes isn't enough. Fortunately, knowing a little botany can help you considerably in your battle with perennial weeds like dandelions. You see, in early fall, nutrients are transferred from the dandelion leaves down to the roots. This transfer, which continues until the first frost, presents you with an opportunity to hit dandelions where it hurts! Vinegar, natural weed killer, applied during this time is absorbed by the leaves and passed on to the roots, following the same path down as the nutrients. The plants are killed — naturally. Repeated applications could be needed.
How to Apply:
Listen to your local weather forecast, and find out when you will be experiencing a few continuous days of sunshine. At the beginning of this period, spray or paint the vinegar onto the weeds you wish to kill. Why is a sunny period required? Two reasons: 1. You need to saturate the weeds' leaves with the vinegar, and rain (or sprinkler) would wash too much of the vinegar off the foliage. 2. The real damage to the sprayed weeds begins the next couple of days after the application, when the sun hits the leaves. Some people like to boil the vinegar, prior to application. Through such boiling, you may actually be able to gain a concentrate
higher in acetic acid percentage, although I haven't yet experimented with this option in any scientific way. It certainly can't hurt to boil the vinegar; in fact, many folks report success killing weeds by simply pouring scalding water on weeds! So, I suppose the use of boiled vinegar steps up the fight!
vinegar extend well beyond the culinary. Until next time...Happy Gardening!! -Jimmie
The Stronger Stuff:
It is possible to buy products with a higher acetic acid content than that found in ordinary vinegar. Such products can be purchased at farmer's stores or from restaurant supply businesses. But the potency of these acetic acid products can render them less safe to use than household vinegar. To me, that puts them at odds with the whole concept of using "natural weed killers." Besides, you have to go out of your way to find these products, and the idea behind the present article was to introduce a handy natural weed killer, something you can just pull off a kitchen shelf and experiment with.
Other Uses for Vinegar
Those of you who have held an ongoing grudge against vinegar for its ability to make your mouth pucker and that smell that most kids hate may finally be able to grant vinegar forgiveness. For that same sourness makes vinegar the natural weed killer of choice for organic gardening. Vinegar can also be used for cleaning purposes around the home, as an alternative to chemical cleaners. So, if you rarely open that vinegar jug for purposes of seasoning your food, don't despair: The uses for
Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www. absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com Jimmie is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran owned and operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom Outdoor Renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area.
PT A B it of W is d o m … Joyce Godwin Joyce@CedarbrookMedia.Com
Discovering the Vending Machine and Its Magic Within
Chicago-Style, Prosper Address
Rosati's Chicago Pizza Opens to Large Crowds Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia. com Having visited the “windy city” a number of times and making it a point to try out all the hot spots like Giordano's, Pizzeria Uno, Lou Malnoti's and Gino's, I would consider myself fairly in-the-know when it comes to Chicago-Style pizza. So, when Rosati's Chicago Pizza
I saw the world through the eyes of a 4-year-old a few years ago when my little grandson, Langston, spent a short time with me at work. It gave me a slim peek at how much we take for granted in our lives. Langston is the first of my daughter’s three children and when he was born, she became a stayat-home mom totally dedicated to providing the right diet for her baby boy. I’ve noticed dedication to that mission has waned with the births of the next two babies. But for Langston, I don’t believe he had ever seen a vending machine before his visit to my office. It was a chance encounter. I used
opened it's doors on Thursday, I knew I wanted to be one of the first to give it a go. Friday evening, my husband and I decided to take our 10-yearold son to try out Prosper's newest restaurant. We quickly realized we weren't the only ones with that idea. When we walked in, we noticed it's a little smaller on the inside than expected. We were quickly welcomed and offered a booth by the front window. Our server took our drink orders quickly, but before she left, I noticed a cocktail menu on the table. Yes, they have a full bar. Being the end of a long week, I ordered the Mojito. If you've ever had true deep-
to pass that machine multiple times every day all day long and never gave it a thought. I’m not too sure his parents are happy for Langston’s chance encounter. When he saw that big machine, he looked at it with great wonder. I let him look through the glass and make a selection from the items he saw. Then I gave him the coins to feed the machine. I punched the buttons for him and his treat fell to the bottom tray. Next, I showed him how to push the little doorway open, stick his little arm in and grab his treat. He stepped back to survey the whole picture and then announced with a big smile, “I like that.” We made a few trips back to the machine before he left the office with my husband whom our grandchildren call Umbi. Langston
couldn’t get past the amazement of using Mimi’s money to get one of those wonderful snacks. His snacks at home were and still are wisely controlled by his parents. It’s a new and different world with Mimi and Umbi. But, I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be when grandkids visit. We are the house of “Yes” while home is a different story. This week, 4-year-old Brantley came to visit a few days and said she was ready to move in with us. And, why wouldn’t she? She has two people to dote on her every move and word. With two older brothers at home, she doesn’t get much of that. I think that’s our role as grandparents. I did learn a lesson of my own the day Langston discovered the vending machine. Perhaps there’s a good reason to control the snacks
we let those little people have. My sweet Langston soon became cranky and demanding, requiring a lot of attention. I dare say my daughter and her husband have learned to control snacks and sugar intake as much for self-defense as care of their children. With three under the age of 8, naps and controlled snacks is a system to benefit the parents as well as the children. When they come to visit now, I hold off allowing snacks and candy until right before they go home. I make sure they are going home with parents right about the time the effects of the candy start in. Isn’t that a grandparent’s job? We are supposed to spoil them and then send them home. To quote my little Langston while at the vending machine, “I like that.”
is what I would consider average as our bill was under $50 before tip. The fact that it has a warm, welcoming atmosphere as well as a full bar and televisions, makes it a great place to take the family without missing a game or to simply wind down after a hectic day. Rosati's also does carry-out, delivery and catering as well. This place is a terrific location for Chicagoans who'd like to get a little taste of home, or like us, Texans who might want a little break from the norm.
dish pizza, you know the cook time is close to an hour. Knowing this, we ordered right away. My husband decided on the meat classic (pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and beef) deep dish. I chose the chicken caesar salad and our son, the BBQ chicken wings. The menu is predominantly pizza, both deep dish and thin crust, but they also have calzones, pastas, sandwiches and salads. As we waited, we noticed a lot of people coming in and out picking up carry-out orders while the wait for the dining room was growing by the minute. But they do have TVs in the dining area for sports or other entertainment while you wait and
dine. My mojito arrived after a quick reminder to the server, who was in training at the time. The drink had fresh mint and was worth the little delay. My salad and our son's wings arrived before my husband's pizza, so we went ahead and started eating. The salad was tossed in the caesar, which she explained to me when I ordered, and the chicken portion was generous. The BBQ wings were meaty and the sauce was extremely flavorful. The owner, Rafael, was busy working the floor and made a point to visit and have a conversation with every table. When the deep dish came out, it was exactly as we had hoped. We felt like we were back in Chicago eating at Giordano's outside Millennium Park or on Wabash Avenue at Pizzeria Uno. The pizza was a monstrosity, loaded with tons of toppings. Overall, the food was absolutely delicious and worth the wait. It was the second day of business so there were some very expected kinks that I have no doubt will be worked out, if not already. If you are ordering the deep dish, just anticipate the extra cook time and be patient. The price
Rosati's Chicago Pizza 1361 E. University Drive, No. 70 972-347-5000 Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 10pm Friday & Saturday 11am - 11pm
PROSPERTIMES
Friday August 11, 2017
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FAMILY FEATURES
PT I n G o o d Ta ste
usy school days demand meals that can match the pace of life. A Mexican-themed meal is a sure way to keep things festive and lively around the family dinner table. Not only does a meal centered on Mexican-style foods let you spice up your menu, it also allows for plenty of personalization so even the pickiest of palates can be satisfied. That means less time for preparation and more time spent together. Put a fresh twist on your next school-night fiesta with these ideas: n
An ethnically-inspired meal is a great opportunity to encourage kids to try out new flavors and experiment with foods they wouldn’t normally eat. Sample variations of classic salsas, incorporate seasonal ingredients like jicama and diced sweet peppers to freshen up your dishes or put a spicy spin on a classic Italian favorite by creating Mexicaninspired stuffed shells.
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Get creative with proteins. Chicken and beef are common options, but heart-healthy fish and shrimp are also great candidates for a Mexican-style meal. Pork is another good choice for many Mexican dishes, and beans provide an excellent source of added protein, along with some flavor variety.
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Mex-up your taco night. Try an alternative to the traditional corn shell with an option like Ortega Good Grains Taco Shells, crafted with artisanal blends of real corn, unique grains and ingredients baked into each shell. They’re made with whole kernel corn, giving them an authentic taste and a distinctive flavor, aroma and texture.
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Keep things kid-friendly and fun by focusing on finger foods. A large taco can be difficult for little hands to handle, but a street taco portion, a chimichanga or even nachos are more hands-on.
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Look for fun toppings that add an extra crunch. For example, new Ortega Crispy Taco Toppers, lightly breaded slices of real jalapeno or onion, provide a bold kick and are the perfect finishing touch for tacos, salads and even Mexican-style burgers.
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Don’t forget dessert. No meal is complete without a sweet treat, such as a churro, flan, empanada or sopapilla. Many of these favorites can be prepared ahead of time so you can simply cook and serve for a perfect ending to your family fiesta.
Find more mealtime inspiration like these recipes, perfect for the busy back-to-school season, at ortega.com, or find Ortega on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Slow Cooked “Pulled” Chicken Tacos Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 2 hours Servings: 5 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 bottle (8 ounces) Ortega Chipotle Taco Sauce 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 package (10 shells) Ortega Good Grains White Corn with Chia Taco Shells, warmed taco toppings In medium pan, combine chicken, taco sauce, chicken stock, salt and pepper, and cook on low, covered, approximately 2 hours, or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 F. Remove chicken from pan and shred using two forks. Turn heat to medium-high and reduce cooking liquid into thick sauce, cooking 3-5 minutes and stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and combine sauce with shredded chicken. Serve in taco shells with desired taco toppings.
Baja Chicken Pizza Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 5
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 1 pound 1 bottle (8 ounces) Ortega Green Taco Sauce 1 can Ortega Vegetarian Refried Beans 3/4 cup Ortega Homestyle Salsa (any variety) 1 Mama Mary’s prepared pizza crust 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 can (4 ounces) Ortega Diced Green Chiles 1 bag (8 ounces) Mexicanstyle shredded cheese 1 bottle (8 ounces) Ortega Original Taco Sauce (any variety) 1 bag Ortega Crispy Onion Taco Toppers In large bowl or re-sealable plastic bag, combine chicken breasts with green taco sauce. Stir or shake to coat. Marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Heat oven to 350 F. Bake chicken 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 F. Let chicken cool 10 minutes then cut into small cubes. In medium bowl, combine refried beans and salsa. Transfer prepared pizza crust to baking sheet. Spread bean mixture over dough, leaving 1/4 inch at edges for crust. Top with peppers, green chiles, chicken and cheese. Bake 10-15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Top with taco sauce and crispy onion toppers then serve.
PT K i ds S a y …
Prepare tater tots according to package directions. Heat medium skillet over medium heat. Cook ground beef 4-5 minutes until browned, using wooden spoon to break into package (32 ounces) tater tots small pieces. Add taco seasoning pounds ground beef and water. Cook until water packet Ortega Taco Seasoning evaporates and sauce is thickened. cup water Top hot tater tots with cooked ounces shredded cheddar cheese ground beef and cheese, and medium tomatoes, diced broil in oven 5 minutes. container (16 ounces) sour cream Top with tomatoes, sour cream bag Ortega Crispy Jalapeno and crispy jalapeno toppers, and Taco Toppers serve immediately.
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Servings: 5 1 1 1/2 1 1 16 2 1 1
Leslie Scott Special to the Prosper Times
He’s five years old, can climb high on his rope ladder, warned me we couldn’t do the interview in his fort because a wasp was in there, and after the interview he invited me to “stay and chat some more.” What have you been up to this summer? I got a present. A blue swan and a book about the swan. I haven’t named the blue swan yet. And we’ve been in the pool a couple of times. You have a brother and a sister. What do you love most about your brother Zane? I like it when he does this! (blows raspberries on his arm and giggles)
Sawyer
Mexican Style “Totchos”
What do you love about your sister Izzy? When she plays basketball with me. In my playroom we have a basketball.
You have two dogs? Yes, Pricilla and Elvis.
And I want to be the driver of the firetruck. I’m going to go to preschool now though. What do you like about preschool? I like playing with my friends.
How did they get those names? Daddy named Pricilla and I don’t know why. And I don’t know why we named Elvis that.
What do you learn at preschool? I don’t know. So there’s four classes. I’m skipping Busy Bees and I’m skipping TK. TK you have to go to school every day, but I’m going to go to Friendly Frogs and it’s half days.
Do they sleep with you? Sometimes. Sometimes they are allowed to.
What will you do the other half of the day? I can have play dates and stuff.
What other fun things have you been up to this summer? I had a sleepover with my friends. We watched a movie called “Uncle Gadget won.” And it’s about Uncle Gadget trying to defeat three bad guys. We didn’t eat anything at the sleepover because they already ate dinner and we already ate dinner. And then we played some in the house at the sleepover.
Does someone read to you at bedtime? Yes, I can’t read yet. My whole family reads to me when I go to bed. My favorite is when my family makes up stories to tell me. They make the stories up.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Fireman. They spray water and get fire out.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Prosper Community Library Director Leslie Scott has a unique opportunity for candid discussions with youngster of all ages. She is sharing these experiences through the Prosper Times.
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Friday August 11, 2017
Eagle HYPE
TM
Dedicated to Prosper Sports
Volleyball Opens Season With Wins Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com Prosper Volleyball opened the season on Monday night in Frisco by sweeping the Waxahachie Indians 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-17). Senior Hope Gramly had nine kills and freshman Sami Jacobs had an impressive eight kills against the Indians. Senior Haley Killinger had 14 digs and junior Madi Whitmire, 31 assists. Coming off the momentum of the sweep, the Lady Eagles immediately faced Frisco Wakeland, whom they have struggled against in the past. After five energetic sets, Prosper came out ahead of Wakeland 3-2 (20-25, 25-17, 25-14, 23-25, 15-6).
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Junior Madi Whitmire sets the ball in the match against Frisco Wakeland on Monday night.
Senior Hope Gramly celebrates a win on Monday night at Frisco Wakeland.
Junior Kayla Martin cheers as her team sweept Waxahachie 3-0 on Monday night.
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Prosper head volleyball coach, Erin Kauffman, watches as her team swept the Waxahachie Indians 3-0 on Monday night at Frisco Wakeland.
Texas Tech commit, Haley Killinger, led the team’s play against Wakeland with 25 kills, 12 digs and four aces. Hope Gramly added six blocks and six kills to her night and Sami Jacobs contributed another 10 kills. “Haley (Killinger) was a rock star tonight,” said Prosper head coach Erin Kauffman. Also on the board for Prosper were juniors Kayla Martin, Kylie Mote, and also Whitmore. Martin, a Northwestern commit, had 13 digs, Mote had 10 digs and 3 aces, and setter Whitmore ended the match with 57 assists and seven digs. The Lady Eagles will travel to Pearland on Wednesday for the John Turner Adidas Volleyball Invitational, where they are seeded 12th out of more than 80 teams.
Renee Marler/PROSPER TIMES
Senior Taryn Weber serves the ball in the first match of the season against Frisco Wakeland on Monday night.
Want More Eagle Hype Action Photos? www.cedarbrookmedia.smugmug.com
Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com As summer comes to an end, I can’t help but get a little giddy thinking of what is waiting right around the corner. While some people look forward to relaxing fall weekends sitting fireside with friends, I look forward to the Friday Night
Lights! We have three sons: a junior at Texas Tech University who is a coaching intern in neighboring Levelland, a junior in high school who is in the sports medicine program, and a fifth grader who plays pee-wee football. Combine all of that with a husband who loves football so much that I had to schedule our wedding on a bye week, and to whom I even promised
never to plan another major event during football season in our wedding vows, and you have the ULTIMATE football family. Our next 16 or so weekends will consist of no fewer than five games every Friday to Sunday. On Friday nights, I will be on the sidelines covering Prosper Eagles Football while keeping an eye on two other high schools for my kiddos. Saturday is reserved for pee-wee and Red Raider football, followed by Sunday. Sunday is, and will always be, for our Dallas Cowboys. Some families plan vacations over the holidays…not us. “Teams to remember play in December” rings loud and proud in our house. Our idea of a vacation is a trip to Arlington late in December!!
PROSPERTIMES
Friday August 11, 2017
WeAreProsper.com | Page 7
On Your Mark... Local Youth Track Athletes Compete for National Title
Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com Take one look at 11-year-old Prentice Sanders and you can see there is something special about him. Maybe it’s the infectious smile, polite demeanor, or his confident swagger. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the fact that he is one of the fastest sprinters in the country for his age. Prentice is a member of the Prosper North Texas Jackrabbits Track Club. The North Texas Jackrabbits is a track club, open to all North Texas young athletes ages 7-18 years, and is operated by Omar & Sheila Stoutmire, both of whom have had successful careers in athletics. The team is TAAF & USATF affiliated in Region 7, the largest and most competitive of Texas. Omar is an 11-year NFL veteran safety, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1997. He also played with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins. Sheila was part of two CIF and State championship track teams while attending Long Beach Poly High School in California which earned her a full track scholarship to Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Sheila was a five-time AllAmerican track athlete and won four team National Championships. Both coaches sprint for the club and Omar is USATF Certified 1 and 2, Sheila is USATF Certified 1. According to the North Texas Jackrabbit Club website, one of the main objectives is for their student athletes to maintain a solid GPA in the classroom. The club stresses the importance of balancing school work with extracurricular activities. The club acknowledges Jackrabbit scholars every season with a Jackrabbit medallion as well as other awards for those who maintain straight A’s during the school year. The coaches instill the importance of good study skills, and achievement in school to be a successful student athlete. “In order to be successful in the sport, athletes must also be successful in the classroom,” they said. Prentice, who has been running competitively for three years,
Courtesy Photo Prentice Sanders poses with his two All-American Medals from the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics.
begins training with the North Texas Jackrabbits for summer track in February. “I train four days a week for a couple hours each day,” said Prentice. “We work on our core, abs, and stamina as well as training on the track.” Prentice and a number of the Jackrabbits qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games which were held July 29 through August 5 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At the Games, Prentice competed in the individual 200-meter sprint as well as the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. “The 4x400 is probably my favorite race because I am faster at it and the competition is really intense,” said Prentice. During the preliminary race of the 4x400, Prentice, along with teammates Ross Texada, Charis Jackson, and Damarion McPherson, ran a personal record time of 3:59, despite Damarion losing a shoe and running the entire third leg with one shoe. “Prentice stepped on my foot during the handoff and I knew I just had to keep running,” said Damarion. The team easily qualified for finals but was quick to say they still hoped to shave a little off that time. The 11 and 12-year-old relay team medaled All-American in both the 4x100 (51.21) and 4x400 (3:58.20) relay, placing fourth and third, respectively. Prentice advanced to the semi-finals for the 200m, where
he is ranked 21st in the nation after a time of 25.13. The Jackrabbits club has helped a number of young athletes make it to the collegiate level and Prentice says he has his eyes on that list. “I want to focus on both my education and my athletics, so I would love to go to a school where I could be successful in both,” said Prentice. Past Jackrabbits who have continued athletics at the next level: Cole Stallcup - Stephen F Austin (200, 400) JP Coward - Oklahoma Baptist University (100, 200, and football) AJ Brown - Tulsa University (200, 400) Bianca Brazil - Oklahoma University (100, 100m hurdles) Riley Schweitz - Troy University (heptathlon) Kris Armstrong - Sterling College (hurdles) Cody Cunningham - Baylor University (100, 200, 400) Jaevin Reed - Texas A&M University (200, 400)
Grades 3rd - 6th Girls Lacrosse Registration Now Open Renee Marler Renee@CedarbrookMedia.com Courtesy Photo
North Texas Jackrabbits Relay Team: Charis Jackson, Ross Texada, Damarion McPherson, and Prentice Sanders
If you would like information on the North Texas Jackrabbits Track Club, please visit www. ntxjackrabbits.com.
Prosper Youth Sports Association is now taking registrations for Girls Lacrosse for grades third through sixth of all skill levels; beginner to advanced. Special inaugural season pricing is $120 and includes pinnie (jersey), stick and goggles. If you already have the stick and goggles, credits will be issued for use at LAX Kong, Plano. Required gear for players is goggles, stick, cleats and mouthpiece. Practices will begin around the last week of August or first week in September, and will be held one to two times a week at a field within the town of Prosper. Details on dates and times are still being determined based on field availability. Games will be played against neighboring cities’ girls teams, with the possibility of some games being played within the town of Prosper, based on availability. To register or for more information, please visit the website at https:// prosperyouthsports.sportngin.com.
Spotlight Follow-Up: Sydney Fisher
Courtesy Photo
Sydney earned a silver medal at the Summer Games in Grand Rapids, Michigan last week. Congratulations, Sydney! #prosperproud
Eagle HYPE
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Dedicated to Prosper Sports
Athlete of the Week Haley Killinger Senior, Prosper Volleyball
Killinger was a rock star in the season opening wins against Waxahachie and Wakeland. Versus Waxahachie, Killinger had 14 kills. In the Wakeland match, Killinger shined with 25 kills, 12 digs, 4 aces!
Follow us @WeAreProsper for all your EagleHYPE updates!
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PROSPERTIMES
Page 8 | WeAreProsper.com
Friday August 11, 2017
Eagle Nation News Holds Bootcamp to Prepare for New School Year
Tish Cama/PROSPER TIMES
A Note from Dr. Watkins It’s Time… It’s hard to believe that it is time for another school year. We have been busy doing everything possible to help ensure a great start to the new school year. I am sure the number one question on everyone’s mind is, “How many new students are we going to have?” The answer is close to what we projected, which is nearly 2,000 students pushing our district enrollment to 12,000! We have hired nearly 150 additional teachers and staff and are ready to serve the great families of Prosper ISD. All of our campuses are at or near capacity. As most of you know, we currently have two new elementary schools under construction that will open in August 2018. Moreover, we will begin construction on Middle School No. 3 in the coming months to open in August 2019. During that time frame, we will also be building a new stadium and natatorium to be ready for operation by August 2019 as well. And finally, High School No. 2 will break ground in early 2018 to open in August of 2020. You might be thinking that is A LOT, but the projections on the horizon are even more startling. The latest demographer’s report projects that Prosper ISD will be serving approximately 30,000 students by 2025… that is NOT a typo! If the economy stays strong and projections hold true, PISD will need to build approximately 8-10 more elementary schools, 4-5 middle schools, and 3-4 high schools during that time frame. You might be thinking… HOW?! Remember, Prosper ISD extends far beyond the boundaries of the Town of Prosper. The Town of Prosper makes up about 50 percent of the entire ISD. The ISD also has about 30 square miles extending into the City of Frisco, City of McKinney, City of Celina, and Denton County. Regardless of the growth happening now or on the horizon, we are committed to preserving the excellence of Prosper ISD. We are looking forward to partnering with our parents and various communities to provide the best educational experience for our students. With all the growth, there is one uncompromising constant… WE ARE PROSPER! We will do everything possible to protect the “P” for the PISD community. And we’re back!
The new set of Eagle Nation News for both the news and sports shows where students are preparing for the school year of shows.
Tish Cama THE PROSPER TIMES While the summer is winding down and students are trying to soak in every last minute before the school season begins, the members of Eagle Nation News, Prosper High School’s broadcast team, are participating in workshops run by upperclassmen to prepare them for the transitions of shows. During the week of July 31, more than 60 students put in eight-hour-long work days preparing the essentials of the broadcast program and planning out how the season will flow. Last year the program graduated more than 20 seniors, placing a big dent in the program and resulting in many “new bees” to join the team. Of these new students, Corryn Gonzalez, a rising sophomore, will be jumping into the pond in a leadership role while working on the tech side of the show. “I love creating things and being in the world of media,” Gonzalez said. “Being able to see my finished product and see people admire it is a feeling that can’t be explained.” Brian Kennedy has been the head advisor of the broadcast program for the past five years. Over that time, he has set out a vision to take the program to an entirely new level while creating a “home away from home” for his students. Kennedy has found ways to change the show every year to fit the personality of the students. Beginning with a simple live news program and later on transforming to a live talk show, sports show, late night comedy, and this year introducing four entirely new shows to add variety to the programming, he is giving students an opportunity to venture off simple broadcast news. Shows for the upcoming school year will include Eagle Nation News (live news show), GameTime (live
PHS Alumni directs summer theatre play
sports show), The Twenty (live to tape hard hitting news), Class Wars (live to tape gameshow), News to Us (sitcom), and On Another Note (live to tape music show). The concept behind creating so many new shows is to allow variety for student producers along with student attraction to watch the program. Senior producer Jake Fein has been involved with the program since his freshman year. “I am excited to be in control and be a leader this year,” Fein said. “With the new schedule, the show is being moved from morning to afternoon, which will be a big change, but Dr. Burdett has told us he will be more hands off and lenient with the program so we can push the envelope a little bit on more hard-hitting stories.” Senior producer Brandon Bonaparte will be producing the sports show as well as being a lead anchor on the desk. “Athletics has always been a big part of Prosper. A lot of students participate in some sport and even more are in the stands so having a show tailored to sports will get kids excited about going to the games,” Bonaparte said. The show will cover every athletic/sport event and will be placed on the schedule to fall on Friday’s before pep rallies to “hype up” students beforehand. The boot camp is used to decide on graphic usage and design, laying out show templates, and also team bonding so that they can meet with all the members before they are split into separate show groups. The students converse on ideas and bounce back on one another giving a true news room feel and creating better relationships with everyone in the program. This daily live show is available for viewing by anyone and covers everything from breaking news to sports to community spotlights, so stay tuned and “live long in Prosper.” To access the live stream, it will be set as live on the “Eagle Nation News” YouTube channel and a soon-to-be released video content website, similar to Netflix, which will display all the Eagle Nation News’ different shows which will launch this September at EagleNation.net.
sculpt it into their personalities and intricacies, giving them a chance to fall into their role,” Baker said. While the theatre is an influence on Baker’s life, she gives recognition to the success she has had along with the career path she hopes to carry through to her high school theatre teacher, Micheal Stephens. “I am super grateful for Mr. Stephens, he was such a great mentor to me in high school and has still continued to be such an influence in my life,” Baker said. Baker states that the power of drama is what allows her to have such a great respect for the theatre and she will continue her acting career in CalArts with a working position for Disney. After graduating high school in 2014, Baker attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. After switching to the California Institute of Arts,
she has successfully been a part of many of the schools productions and works for Disney which she hopes to continue in the future. Cast and Crew: Director: Lauren Baker Assistant Director: Justin Whitener Tiger: Eniami Adegbamigbe Tigers: Logan Riseling gardener: Gregory Wheeler girl with one eye: Haylie Baker Tiger: Julia VanDuren Tiger: Carynne Sutton Lost little girl: Dylan Stephens Technical staff Special effects - Jennifer Sieira Backstage sound - Eileah Hale Lights - Madison Whiteman Fog - Zoe Mendes
Tish Cama/PROSPER TIMES
Carynne Sutton (left) stares off stage while Julia VanDuren (right) gives a monologue to the audience.
Tish Cama PROSPER TIMES This past week, the Prosper High School theatre hosted its annual summer show series during summer camp where students performed four plays. The last of the four shows was directed by Prosper alumni from the class of 2014, Lauren Baker, who currently attends the California Institute of Arts in hopes of one day holding an acting career. The play entitled, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” was originally set during a time of war where a solider shot a tiger and the ghost of this so called ‘beast’ came back to haunt him. Baker approaches the play through a bit of a different perspective. “The play is not about the Bengal tiger, it’s about people getting through the war in reality and within themselves,” Baker said. Baker gained her inspiration from the play “Jackie,” which tells the story of one woman while allowing multiple people to play the role by showing different personalities of “Jackie”. Although they were portraying the same character, by separating the monologues into different parts of a nonphysical being. “It was a very different concept because we avoided having a linear plot,” Baker said. “It was cool because the entire plot was the question of the story and I think my favorite part was watching the students acting in the roles fall into that role by engaging with that question.” Baker adapted the play by splitting the lion’s monologues into three separate beings to fit the lion’s inner self. The grumpy old cat, led by Eniami Adegbamigbe, the gossip queen, led
by Carynne Sutton, and the youthful kitten, led by Julie VanDuren, all hold the characteristics of a single tiger and inevitably of a person. By making the adaptation to shorten and cut parts of the play out, Baker feels that the audience was able to relate more to the material being presented. “I love breaking the fourth wall and creating the intimacy which brings together the questions people create through other questions,” Baker said. “The theatre became where you are in the tiger’s mind and you become another entity of the tiger.” The entire process of the performance was narrowed down to a two-week span from learning lines to perfecting cues. This was Baker’s opportunity to take a group of high schoolers who hope to pursue acting in the future and give them a taste of college theatre. “I think there was this moment where each of them had their click moment where something deeper could be found and they found their passion,” Baker said. “I got a sense that they had a very methodical way to their acting and then I would see their spark; I would see each of them fall into that moment where something clicked and their motivation brought them to where they were so invested to their role that they would become their role, and that was one of the greatest experiences I could have gotten because I helped them see the deeper level of acting.” Baker calls acting her ‘obsession’ and while directing she was able to derive inspiration from their own personalities. “Something I have learned is that some of the best theatre is created spontaneously and when I saw the energy that everyone created I was able to
TALON ETTES Mini Dance Clinic
August 19, 2017 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Kinder - 8th Grade Prosper High School $35.00 Hosted by: 2017-2018 Prosper Talonettes
Please visit www.ProsperTalonettes.org to register.