Page 1 - May 5, 2017

For the Kids Run, Walk or Crawl has great turnout, B1
THE COMMUNITY NEWS
Serving the Greater Aledo Area: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park, Texas
Volume 28, Number 18 Published Weekly
May 5-11, 2017 ·www.community-news.com ·75 cents
AMS student makes miracle happen
CITY OF ALEDO
Paint shack
again looking
for new home
Number of issues lead
church to ask for new
location
By Rosealee Hoffman
The Community News
The iconic Aledo Paint Shack is looking for a new home after leaders with the Aledo Church of Christ told the city “it is time for us to pass the baton.”
The building, originally owned by the railroad, initially sat along FM 1187 just north of the rail- road tracks before being moved to the grounds of the Church at the Crossing, and then the Church of Christ grounds.
Church of Christ deacon Sam James came before the city coun- cil to state the church’s case and ask for the city’s help in nding the building a new home.
“Many people wipe their brushes on our fence and the parking lot,” said James. “We have had to re-cover our parking lot in several places. Due to the long history the community has had with the paint shack, we wanted to give the city and the communi- ty the opportunity to help.
Turn to COUNCIL, page 12A
Corbin Haber sets up pet-
ting zoo at
Miracle League
By Rosealee Hoffman
The Community News
A seventh grader at Aledo Middle School saw an idea come to life April 29 when students from the Aledo Future Farmers of America traveled to Weatherford with their animals to host a petting zoo at the Miracle League of Parker County.
Corbin Haber had been push- ing for some time, since he was at McAnally Intermediate School, to host a petting zoo for special needs students. He even gave a speech to the school board as part of his work with the BIGG (Big Ideas for the Greater Good) Club.
Initially, Haber was hoping to partner with the school district to hold an event at the high school ag barn, with animals from the FFA and his own heifer, Kisses.
“I get this feeling when we know we are doing something for someone else. To make them feel like they are on the top of the world – now that’s the magic that only an animal can do,” Haber said. “We can all help others and get the same fuzzy feeling when we do something big.”
Aledo ISD turned down his idea twice, but Corbin wasn’t discour- aged. Eventually he was introduced to Tammy Decker, whose son Travis has Down Syndrome and attends
ROSEALEE HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY NEWS
Corbin Haber gives his heifer, Kisses, a hug at the FFA petting zoo set up at the Miracle League of Parker County.
Scott Butler - Place 2
Scott Butler has lived in Parker County since 2014 and is a full time student at Texas Christian University majoring in economics with a minor in political science, hoping to attend law school after graduation. He graduated from Weatherford College in December 2016 and will receive his diploma this May.
What is your previous association and experience with Weatherford College?
Scott Butler
pretty analytically and objectively. I take my personal viewpoints out of the situation. Whether or not I like a per- son individually has nothing to do with whether or not something is good for the institution as a whole.
What do you believe Weatherford College is doing well, and where do you see the most room for improve- ment?
Judy McAnally - Place 2
Judy McAnally has lived in Parker County for 11 years and works for Texas Neighborhood Care and Wellness in Willow Park directing community out- reach and business growth and devel- opment. She is serving out an appoint- ment to the board of trustees in Place 2.
What is your previous association and experience with Weatherford College?
Judy McAnally
They are investing in infrastructure, which in turn promotes a very positive growth oriented atmosphere. That in turn encourages the faculty, and helps with recruitment of students. I think they are really approaching it in the right way. They are xing what needs to be xed, maintaining what needs to be maintained, and that in turn makes the staff and students feel very con dent in the future.
AMS with Haber.
“I am neither an educator nor
one who typically elds ‘ideas,’ but
I agreed out of curiosity,” Decker
said. “After a little further conver-
sation, I found out that Corbin and
Travis often eat together in the
Bearcat Den at school. So Corbin brought two heifers, two goats, has a heart for special needs kiddos two sheep and three rabbits to the and animals.” elds, where more than 70 special
needs students were playing. They spent the morning sharing their animals and their excitement with the students.
“I’m so proud of him for not giv- ing up,” said Corbin’s mother, Tricia Haber. “This meant a lot to him.”
Additional photos can be found on page 12A.
Both families
ing with James Gray, director of Miracle League of Parker County to make it happen. Six months after meeting Haber, the group’s idea was brought to reality.
The FFA students and Haber
began
work-
Weatherford College Board Candidates Pro led
I started attending Weatherford College in the summer of 2015, I was kind of reluctant to go back to school. I had been in the military, gotten out, and worked in the oil elds for awhile. I was very hesitant at rst, and the more I got into the college and what it had to offer, the more I tried to do for the college.
I got involved in the veteran’s organization, I was the president of that, and the student govern- ment. I tried to make things better for not only the current students but the ones in the future.
Why are you running for the board?
At the beginning, I really just thought I want- ed to make a difference and I gured I’d throw my name in the hat and it would be a good learning experience for me. The more I began to speak with people, the more prevalent things became
as far as issues that go on. I think we need a new voice to make changes for the future students. I’m obviously grateful for the opportunities I’ve had
at Weatherford College but I’d like to give more opportunities to more students currently and in the future.
What values and priorities would guide your decision making as a trustee?
In general terms, anything that’s voted on or discussed, what’s fair and just. I look at things
I think their strongest attribute is their students. There’s a lot of students that want to do things that they can’t necessarily
do. It’s not all there for them to do. I want them to get everything they possibly can out of the college. There are students that want to get more involved. There’s various things there but the college
needs more relevant education. If we don’t have more until we can actually have substance – you can’t have an organization with two people. Bringing in more students will allow the college to grow.
The students are the strength but also a weak- ness. By that I mean, we lose a lot of potential stu- dents because other schools like Tarrant County offer more. We basically have a core curriculum and an outstanding nursing program and essen- tially that’s it. You won’t dive into your major classes or get any experience in what you want to do until you move on to get your bachelor’s. We don’t offer the amount of workforce education that I think we should.
How does Weatherford College keep tuition affordable in an era of rising expenses and decreasing revenue from the state?
We should provide services to a multitude of students, not just core classes. I’m not trying to ignore the nursing program, that’s exceptional, and the re and police academy. But providing more than just core classes brings in more stu-
Turn to BUTLER, page A2
I’ve got people in my family and
my husband’s family who have connections to the college – we’ve always had kind of a loose relation- ship with the school. Since being appointed in an interim position, I’ve gotten to see the workings behind the curtain a little bit better, and the more I’m exposed to it, the more I’m impressed with it.
Why are you running for the board?
I’m really encouraged by the positive course the college is taking. I think there’s going to be some tough decisions up ahead, and I feel like I’ve kind of gotten my feet wet. I know enough now to know what I don’t know. I think I’d make a really good board member because I do have that experience.
What values and priorities would guide your decision making as a trustee?
Being a steward of the county’s dollars – the taxpayer owns the college, and it’s important to me to treat the faculty and wonderful staff as
best we can, and make sure the student is getting what they need. At the same time we need to be very judicious with the tax dollars. It’s a really taut tightrope to walk but I think that’s my three- legged stool – what’s best for the taxpayer, what’s best for the student and what’s best for the faculty and staff. Those guide my decisions.
What do you believe Weatherford College is doing well, and where do you see the most room for improvement?
I don’t know if there’s great room for improvement because it’s such a positive trajectory. I think our biggest obstacle is going to be
managing growth and balancing what the taxpay- er expects us to do with our dollar. There’s a lot of growth, and with increasing burdens on the college, we still have a duty to the taxpayer.
How does Weatherford College keep tuition affordable in an era of rising expenses and decreasing revenue from the state?
Yes, state revenues are going down but tax values are going up. So there’s a balance there. Also, Weatherford College has one of the lowest tax rates versus the state average. We do have just a little bit of room to increase and still keep our rates very nominal. We’re really going to have to consider that in the future though.
I’m hoping with this growth, like with Walsh {development], that our student base will increase, and the rising tax base will help offset.
I think if we’re smart we can nd a balance. We have to keep an eye on it though. We cannot punt it down for the next group.
Education is changing very quickly. What does the college need to do to maintain exi- bility to keep up with the times?
I think what they’re doing is on the right track. They have a very proactive, positive approach. The dual credit with the high schools,
Turn to MCANALLY, page A2
Copyright 2017, The Community News