2
Mum’s The Word AISD students sport homecoming mums at Friday’s game. PAGE A2 Total Recall Aledo Ex-Students’ Association holds annual dinner. PAGE B8 Hammer Time Ladycats win big match against state-ranked Northwest PAGE A7 Volume 27, Number 41 Published Weekly Spirit Check out the Bearcats’ football coverage in Section C! PAGES C1-C4 Copyright 2016, The Community News Homecoming Coverage Queen’s Court, B1 October 7-13, 2016 · www.community-news.com · 75 cents T H E C O M M U N I T Y N E W S Serving the Greater Aledo Area: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park, Texas Where the Locals Bank! DONATION LISTING Donations received Sept. 27 - Oct. 3 Brick Count: 133 Flagpoles: 2 (1 more to fund) Benches: 1 (4 more to fund) Pamela Coffield 1 brick $255.00 Guylene Daugherty 3 bricks $375.00 Ralph Hood 1 brick $235.00 Deven Jacobs 1 brick $235.00 Pamela Johnson 3 bricks $675.00 June King 1 brick $125.00 Janet Marshall 1 brick $265.00 Wanda Mays 1 brick $235.00 Pack 109 1 brick $145.00 Drew Poe For Flagpole $350.00 Mark Sadel 1 brick $125.00 Douglas Stumpf 1 brick $125.00 Troop 109 1 brick $145.00 Additional Donation Opportunities: Founder ($10,000 or greater), Sentry ($5,000), Honor Guard (three flag poles @ $3,000 each or five gray granite benches @ $2,000), and Patriot ($1,000). To make a donation, send checks made out to Aledo EDC and designate Veterans Plaza. Mail checks to City of Aledo, P.O. Box 1, Aledo, TX 76008 or call City Hall at 817-441-7016. To order bricks, visit www. bricksrus.com/order/ honorbricks. Contributions to date for the Aledo Veterans Plaza total $28,154, more than 25 percent of the total pro- jected cost of the project, roughly $90,000. Thank you for your sup- port in the efforts to honor our vet- erans. If you have not yet donated please consider doing so. ‘Willow Park North’ details revealed Mixed development plans call for trails, restaurants, park space and other amenities by Rosealee Hoffman The Community News Willow Park North, the new planned development on the site of the old Trinity Meadows racetrack, will be a game changer for Willow Park, according to developer Kyle Wilks. Wilks revealed his plans for the property at a community meeting at the racetrack Sept. 28 and expanded into to further detail at the Oct. 4 Willow Park Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The commission approved Wilks’ request to rezone the property into a planned development. Wilks plans to take the approximately 130 acres adjoining The Shops at Willow Park, which has already broken ground, and turn it into a mixed-use development fea- turing a variety of residential, commercial and amenity spaces. Work has already begun on The Shops, which will sit at the intersection of Crown Point Blvd. and the I-20 frontage road. Wilks said Willow Park North will complement what is already set for development. “In order to convince a business owner, a restaurant owner, a shop owner to move their business here, they need to see rooftops,” said Wilks. “So we are going to create that neighbor- hood here not only for the existing residents, but for the new ones who will live in Willow Park North.” The city’s comprehensive plan calls for the racetrack area to serve as the town’s “urban core,” or city center. Wilks said his plans were made with that in mind. “We want to create an area where people can gather, where people can enjoy themselves and their city,” he said. “They want to come to a place that’s special. “We can be that place.” Wilks wants to create an area along the river that already flows next to the racetrack featur- ing restaurants with patios, hiking and biking trails. He likened it to Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth and indicated that he will seek unique “mom and pop” style establishments to line the water. He also plans to cre- ate pedestrian bridges, and a new vehicular bridge, to connect the two sides. On the racetrack property itself, Wilks is planning single family residential, townhomes and a multi-family apartment com- plex in a similar style to The Village at Crown Park, which will be a neighbor to the devel- opment. Wilks is also plan- ning a wide variety of amenities, including a small amphitheater, over 42 acres of greenbelt, athletic fields, and park space. Perhaps the most notable amenity will be the renovation of the racetrack grandstand. The building, which has sat empty for 19 years since the racetrack closed, is completely intact from its heyday. “I was faced with a decision about this building,” Wilks said. “I could tear it down or I could do something with it. It’s a huge space. So I decided to make it an event center.” Turn to NORTH, page A3 COURTESY OF WILKS DEVELOMMENT ALEDO ISD First-time voters signing up at AHS Registration deadline is Oct. 11 by Rosealee Hoffman The Community News Aledo High School students still have one more chance to register at school to vote in the November election, when Parker County deputy voting registrars visit AHS Oct. 11 during the lunch periods. Deputy voter registrar Paula Hall has already visited the campus several times to sign up students who have turned or are about to turn 18. “There are many people who don’t fully understand the pro- cess, and it’s important for us to be here for students and make sure they’re properly registered,” Hall said. “Aledo High School has a lot of students who are interest- ed in politics and take an interest in elections.” Two of those students, Georgia McAdams and Grayson Evans, were assisting Hall when she set up shop in the cafeteria Oct. 4. The two are members of the ROSEALEE HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY NEWS Georgia McAdams and Grayson Evans assist with registering high school students to vote. Turn to VOTE, page A3 Fuzzy’s Tacos coming to Willow Park Staff Reports After months of rumors, Willow Park city administrator Scott Wall has confirmed that popular Tex- Mex chain Fuzzy’s Tacos is coming to the city. A permit application for the building was filed Sept. 30 with interim development services coordinator Betty Chew. Chew estimates that ground will be broken on the site within 30-60 days. The 6,967 square foot shell building will sit at the corner of Willow Bend Drive and Willow Park Crossing, just south of the new Chicken Express location. Fuzzy’s Tacos will occupy the west- ern side of the building with a north-facing patio. The other side of the building does not yet have an occupant, but the plans include an outdoor patio facing west from that side of the building. Chew said the first step is to approve the plans for the build- ing, and then approve plans for the finishing out of the interior, including the kitchen, before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.

75 cents THE COMMUNITY NEWS - PARKER HANNAH TEXAS...$2,000), and Patriot ($1,000). To make a donation, send checks made out to Aledo EDC and designate Veterans Plaza. Mail checks to

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Page 1: 75 cents THE COMMUNITY NEWS - PARKER HANNAH TEXAS...$2,000), and Patriot ($1,000). To make a donation, send checks made out to Aledo EDC and designate Veterans Plaza. Mail checks to

Mum’s The WordAISD students sport homecoming mums at Friday’s game.

PAGE A2

Total RecallAledo Ex-Students’ Association holds annual dinner.

PAGE B8

Hammer TimeLadycats win big match against state-ranked NorthwestPAGE A7Volume 27, Number 41

Published Weekly

SpiritCheck out the Bearcats’ football coverage in Section C!

PAGES C1-C4

Copyright 2016, The Community News

Homecoming Coverage Queen’s Court, B1O c t o b e r 7 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 · w w w . c o m m u n i t y - n e w s . c o m · 7 5 c e n t s

THE COMMUNITY NEWSServing the Greater Aledo Area: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park, Texas

Where the Locals Bank!

DONATION LISTINGDonations received Sept. 27 - Oct. 3

Brick Count: 133Flagpoles: 2 (1 more to fund)Benches: 1 (4 more to fund)Pamela Coffield1 brick $255.00

Guylene Daugherty3 bricks $375.00

Ralph Hood1 brick $235.00

Deven Jacobs1 brick $235.00

Pamela Johnson3 bricks $675.00

June King1 brick $125.00

Janet Marshall1 brick $265.00

Wanda Mays1 brick $235.00

Pack 1091 brick $145.00

Drew PoeFor Flagpole $350.00

Mark Sadel1 brick $125.00

Douglas Stumpf1 brick $125.00

Troop 1091 brick $145.00

Additional Donation Opportunities: Founder ($10,000 or greater), Sentry ($5,000), Honor Guard (three flag poles @ $3,000 each or five gray granite benches @ $2,000), and Patriot ($1,000).

To make a donation, send checks made out to Aledo EDC and designate Veterans Plaza. Mail checks to City of Aledo, P.O. Box 1, Aledo, TX 76008 or call City Hall at 817-441-7016.

To order bricks, visit www.bricksrus.com/order/ honorbricks.

Contributions to date for the Aledo Veterans Plaza total $28,154, more than 25 percent of the total pro-jected cost of the project, roughly $90,000. Thank you for your sup-port in the efforts to honor our vet-erans. If you have not yet donated please consider doing so.

‘Willow Park North’ details revealedMixed development plans call for trails, restaurants, park space and other amenitiesby Rosealee HoffmanThe Community News

Willow Park North, the new planned development on the site of the old Trinity Meadows racetrack, will be a game changer for Willow Park, according to developer Kyle Wilks.

Wilks revealed his plans for the property at a community meeting at the racetrack Sept. 28 and expanded into to further detail at the Oct. 4 Willow Park Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The commission approved Wilks’ request to rezone the property into a planned development.

Wilks plans to take the approximately 130 acres adjoining The Shops at Willow Park, which has already broken ground, and turn it into a mixed-use development fea-turing a variety of residential, commercial and amenity spaces.

Work has already begun on The Shops, which will sit at the intersection of Crown Point Blvd. and the I-20 frontage road. Wilks said Willow Park North will complement what is already set for development.

“In order to convince a business owner, a restaurant owner, a shop owner to move their business here, they need to see rooftops,” said Wilks. “So we are going to create that neighbor-hood here not only for the existing residents,

but for the new ones who will live in Willow Park North.”

The city’s comprehensive plan calls for the racetrack area to serve as the town’s “urban core,” or city center. Wilks said his plans were made with that in mind.

“We want to create an area where people can gather, where people can enjoy themselves and

their city,” he said. “They want to come to a place that’s special.

“We can be that place.”Wilks wants to create an area along the river

that already flows next to the racetrack featur-ing restaurants with patios, hiking and biking trails. He likened it to Magnolia Ave. in Fort

Worth and indicated that he will seek unique “mom and pop” style establishments to

line the water. He also plans to cre-ate pedestrian bridges, and a new

vehicular bridge, to connect the two sides.

On the racetrack property itself, Wilks is planning single

family residential, townhomes and a multi-family apartment com-plex in a similar style to The Village

at Crown Park, which will be a neighbor to the devel-

opment. Wilks is also plan-

ning a wide variety of amenities, including a

small amphitheater, over 42 acres of greenbelt, athletic

fields, and park space. Perhaps the most notable amenity will

be the renovation of the racetrack grandstand. The building, which

has sat empty for 19 years since the racetrack closed, is completely intact

from its heyday.“I was faced with a decision about this

building,” Wilks said. “I could tear it down or I could do something with it. It’s a huge space. So I decided to make it an event center.”

Turn to NORTH, page A3

COURTESY OF WILKS DEVELOMMENT

ALEDO ISD

First-time voters signing up at AHSRegistration deadline is Oct. 11by Rosealee HoffmanThe Community News

Aledo High School students still have one more chance to register at school to vote in the November election, when Parker County deputy voting registrars visit AHS Oct. 11 during the lunch periods. Deputy voter registrar Paula Hall has already visited the campus several times to sign up students who have turned or are about to turn 18.

“There are many people who don’t fully understand the pro-cess, and it’s important for us to be here for students and make sure they’re properly registered,” Hall said. “Aledo High School has a lot of students who are interest-ed in politics and take an interest in elections.”

Two of those students, Georgia McAdams and Grayson Evans, were assisting Hall when she set up shop in the cafeteria Oct. 4. The two are members of the

ROSEALEE HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Georgia McAdams and Grayson Evans assist with registering high school students to vote.Turn to VOTE, page A3

Fuzzy’s Tacos coming to Willow ParkStaff Reports

After months of rumors, Willow Park city administrator Scott Wall has confirmed that popular Tex-Mex chain Fuzzy’s Tacos is coming to the city. A permit application for the building was filed Sept. 30 with interim development services coordinator Betty Chew.

Chew estimates that ground will be broken on the site within 30-60 days.

The 6,967 square foot shell building will sit at the corner of Willow Bend Drive and Willow Park Crossing, just south of the new Chicken Express location. Fuzzy’s Tacos will occupy the west-ern side of the building with a north-facing patio. The other side of the building does not yet have an occupant, but the plans include an outdoor patio facing west from that side of the building.

Chew said the first step is to approve the plans for the build-ing, and then approve plans for the finishing out of the interior, including the kitchen, before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.

Page 2: 75 cents THE COMMUNITY NEWS - PARKER HANNAH TEXAS...$2,000), and Patriot ($1,000). To make a donation, send checks made out to Aledo EDC and designate Veterans Plaza. Mail checks to

THE COMMUNITY NEWS October 7, 2016 3A

The Community News (USPS 005-341) is published each week by Community Ventures Inc., at 203 Pecan Dr., Aledo, TX 76008. Periodical rate postage paid at Aledo, Texas 76008.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to : The Community News, P.O. Box 1031, Aledo, Texas 76008Serving Eastern Parker County, Texas: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park

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Life&Community Ja n u a r y 1 , 2 0 1 6THE COMMUNITY NEWS

w w w. c o m m u n i t y - n e w s . c o m

The Year in Review - Spring

APRIL 3

Aledo city officials and other

elected officials and business lead-

ers visit the state capitol for Parker

County Day; they reported that

efforts by state lawmakers to limit

local control “fly in the face of sanity.”Bearcats ‘N’ Boots, the Aledo

Education Foundation’s annual

fundraising banquet, raises $111,000

for the organization.Landscaping outside the city lim-

its on FM 1187 will be maintained by

the City of Aledo. The City of Aledo receives a clean

bill of financial health on its annual

financial audit.

Aledo High School’s UIL

Academic team dominates the dis-

trict meet, beating the second place

team by more than 100 points.APRIL 10

Downtown Aledo officially

becomes a “quiet zone” as trains roll-

ing through downtown began silenc-

ing their horn.

Annetta approves a new city

water well at Split Rail, a ground

storage tank, and repair and reno-

vations at City Hall. Approval on a

waste water plant is delayed until

April 16.

Stephanie Alvarez, an Aledo

ISD police officer, waits tables at

Railhead Smokehouse as part of the

“Tip A Cop” promotion, benefitting

Special Olympics.The Oykey Trail in Hudson Oaks

gets a Zoning Overlay District of 9.4

acres, covering special regulations

related to the pedestrian-friendly

commercial area.The welding program at Aledo

High School gets a major boost from

FTS International; Aledo’s agricul-

ture program makes huge strides in

steer showing.APRIL 17

Julie Hall is honored with the

Aledo ISD’s Marva Collins award.

Hall is a teacher at McAnally

Intermediate School.Repairs on the Kings Gate Bridge

in Willow Park are scheduled;

Willow Park City Council begins

mulling options on what to do about

the city’s unsound, inefficient water-

water plant.

“Sweet Nothing in My Ear,” Aledo

High School’s one-act play, advanced

from bidistrict to area, with both the

cast and crew receiving honors.Technology upgrades included in

the May bond proposal for Aledo

ISD are explained in detail by mem-

bers of the committee who proposed

them.

Rebecca Davidson, a 2011 Aledo

graduate, qualifies to compete in the

Air Race Classic.APRIL 24

A violent spring storm downs

trees, pushes down fences and

knocks out power when it tears

through town. Some residents were

without power more than 24 hours.Norovirus is suspected in the

case of sick children at Vandagriff

Elementary.

Willow Park is ordered to pay

$183,020 following a seven-year

legal dispute with an engineering

firm.

Annetta rejects bids for a new

sewer treatment plant over concerns

that only two bids were received,

while approving the issues of certif-

icates of obligation for the project.A major new medical facility is

announced at the northwest corner

of FM 1187 and Bailey Ranch Road.The Aledo Varsity Color

Guard competes in the 2015 WGI

Colorguard World Championships,

placing 14th out of 122 teams.The proposed bond is just one

factor that could impact taxes for

Aledo ISD property owners: the shift

from the Tax Ratification Election in

2010, bills before the state legisla-

ture and property appraisals could

also cause a change in taxes.Ride for Heroes sees solid turn-

out despite concerns over potentially

rainy weather.MAY 1

A craft beer, wine and food event

is added to the list of festivities in

Hudson Oaks and scheduled for

Nov. 7.

Gallows Road, filmed in and

around Aledo, makes its debut to

a packed house at the USA Film

Festival, and wins first place a week

later at the International Christian

Film Festival.

Recycling in Aledo is still dis-

cussed by city leaders, as results of

the citizens surveyed were too close

to call.

A federal district court judge

rules in favor of Willow Park on ten

of eleven counts in a civil case versus

a former city employee.A fifth elementary school for

Aledo ISD is part of the May bond

election; the funding for the school

is split into a separate election than

the bonds for technology, security

and renovation/repairs.MAY 8

Jake Evans pleads guilty to two

counts of murder in the shooting

deaths of his mother and sister, thus

sparing himself a capital murder

trial. He is sentenced to 45 years by

the judge.

Campaigning escalates on all

sides as voters prepare to go to the

polls to decide the fate of Aledo’s

bond proposal, and choose winners

for the AISD Board of Trustees and

Aledo City Council.Transporting sewage is among

the options discussed by the Willow

Park City Council in wastewater

plant discussions.Sidewalks near McAnally

Intermediate School become one

step closer to reality as the Aledo

City Council reviews plans.MAY 15

Voters approve the Aledo ISD

bond issues by a tiny margin, with

51.15 percent voting in favor.

The Willow Park City Council

continues to move toward abandon-

ing the current wastewater plant and

using the facilities of Weatherford in

a contract arrangement.Jennifer Loftin is elected to

the Aledo ISD Board of Trustees,

David Tillman retains his seat on the

board, and Paula Johns, Bob Wood

and Kerby Smith all are elected to

the Aledo City Council.City and county sales tax reve-

nues continue their upward trend.Hebah Goderya wins five first

place medals for her painting at the

UIL Art Competition. MAY 22

Aledo ISD Superintendent Derek

Citty outlines projects to be funded

by $53.2 million in bonds approved

by voters.

Aledo High School students cele-

brate their annual prom. The Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality schedules a

public hearing on the air quality

permit sought by FTS International.An Aledo High School gradu-

ate is among those arrested after a

shootout in Waco involving police

and motorcycle gangs. The shooting

left nine dead.

Students at Vandagriff

Elementary, through an Aledo

PHIL MAJOR/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Signs were unveiled Wednesday morning that railroad crossings in

downtown Aledo are now quiet zones. (Photo appeared April 10)

RANDY KECK/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Julie Hall, winner of the Marva Collins Teaching Excellence/Reilly Family Foundation

Award, center, is shown with (from left) Jackie Rains, Austin Reilly, Dean Barker

and Aledo ISD Superintendent Derek Citty. (Photo appeared April 17)

RANDY KECK/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Cast members of the movie Gallows Road were reunited last week at the USA Film Festival in Dallas. Shown are (back row,

from left) actor Adam Dietrich, actor/producer Mary Jean Bentley, actor Ernie Hudson, executive producer Therese Moncrief

and actor Brent Anderson. Writer/director/actor Bill McAdams, Jr. is in the front. (Photo appeared May 1)

LifLifL eifeif &CoThe Year in Review - Spring

APRIL 3APRIL 3

Aledo city officials and other

elected officials and business lead-

ers visit the state capitol for Parker

County Day; they reported that

efforts by state lawmakers to limit

local control “fly in the face of sanity.”Bearcats ‘N’ Boots, the Aledo

Education Foundation’s annual

fundraising banquet, raises $111,000

for the organization.Landscaping outside the city lim-

its on FM 1187 will be maintained by

the City of Aledo. The City of Aledo receives a clean

bill of financial health on its annual

financial audit.

Aledo High School’s UIL

Academic team dominates the dis-

trict meet, beating the second place

team by more than 100 points.APRIL 10APRIL 10

Downtown Aledo officially

becomes a “quiet zone” as trains roll-

ing through downtown began silenc-

ing their horn.

Annetta approves a new city

water well at Split Rail, a ground

storage tank, and repair and reno-

vations at City Hall. Approval on a

waste water plant is delayed until

April 16.

Stephanie Alvarez, an Aledo

ISD police officer, waits tables at

Railhead Smokehouse as part of the

“Tip A Cop” promotion, benefitting

Special Olympics.The Oykey Trail in Hudson Oaks

gets a Zoning Overlay District of 9.4

acres, covering special regulations

related to the pedestrian-friendly

commercial area.The welding program at Aledo

High School gets a major boost from

FTS International; Aledo’s agricul-

ture program makes huge strides in

steer showing.APRIL 17

Julie Hall is honored with the

Aledo ISD’s Marva Collins award.

Hall is a teacher at McAnally

Intermediate School.Repairs on the Kings Gate Bridge

in Willow Park are scheduled;

Willow Park City Council begins

mulling options on what to do about

the city’s unsound, inefficient water-

water plant.

“Sweet Nothing in My Ear,” Aledo

High School’s one-act play, advanced

from bidistrict to area, with both the

cast and crew receiving honors.Technology upgrades included in

the May bond proposal for Aledo

ISD are explained in detail by mem-

bers of the committee who proposed

them.

Rebecca Davidson, a 2011 Aledo

graduate, qualifies to compete in the

Air Race Classic.APRIL 24

A violent spring storm downs

trees, pushes down fences and

knocks out power when it tears

through town. Some residents were

without power more than 24 hours.Norovirus is suspected in the

case of sick children at Vandagriff

Elementary.

Willow Park is ordered to pay

$183,020 following a seven-year

legal dispute with an engineering

firm.

Annetta rejects bids for a new

sewer treatment plant over concerns

that only two bids were received,

while approving the issues of certificates of obligation for the project.A major new medical facility is

announced at the northwest corner

of FM 1187 and Bailey Ranch Road.The Aledo Varsity Color

Guard competes in the 2015 WGI

Colorguard World Championships,

placing 14th out of 122 teams.The proposed bond is just one

factor that could impact taxes for

Aledo ISD property owners: the shift

from the Tax Ratification Election in

2010, bills before the state legislature and property appraisals could

also cause a change in taxes.Ride for Heroes sees solid turnout despite concerns over potentially

rainy weather.MAY 1

A craft beer, wine and food event

is added to the list of festivities in

Hudson Oaks and scheduled for

Nov. 7.

Gallows Road, filmed in and

around Aledo, makes its debut to

a packed house at the USA Film

Festival, and wins first place a week

later at the International Christian

Film Festival.

Recycling in Aledo is still discussed by city leaders, as results of

the citizens surveyed were too close

to call.

PHIL MAJOR/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Signs were unveiled Wednesday morning that railroad crossings in

downtown Aledo are now quiet zones. (Photo appeared April 10)

Julie Hall, winner of the Marva Collins Teaching Excellence/Reilly Family Foundation

Award, center, is shown with (from left) Jackie Rains, Austin Reilly, Dean Barker

and Aledo ISD Superintendent Derek Citty.

Cast members of the movie Gallows Road were reunited last week at the USA Film Festival in Dallas. Shown are (back row,

from left) actor Adam Dietrich, actor/producer Mary Jean Bentley, actor Ernie Hudson, executive producer Therese Moncrief

and actor Brent Anderson. Writer/director/actor Bill McAdams, Jr. is in the front. (Photo appeared May 1)

Volume 27, Number 01

Published Weekly

Copyright 2016, The Community News

Year in Review 2015 - Preparing for Growth

J a n u a r y 1 - 7 , 2 0 1 6 · w w w . c o m m u n i t y - n e w s . c o m · 7 5 c e n t s

THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Serving the Greater Aledo Area: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park, Texas

Winter makes a showing after balmy weather

RANDY KECK (LEFT) AND ROSEALEE HOFMAN (RIGHT)/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Local residents awakened to an unpredicted blanket of snow on Monday morning. The wet snow stuck to powerlines and trees, and knoced out power in central Aledo for

about four hours. An auto knocked out some transformers in Hudson Oaks, leaving many residents and businesses there without power for a number of hours as well.

PREPARING FOR THE INFLUX

2015 saw the passing of a

school bond election after

losing one in 2014.Devel-

opments such as the Parks

of Aledo have brought an

increase in population,

but mega-developments

on the horizon portend

major growth to the area

and the school district.

HEB made plans to locate in

Hudson Oaks, while Texas Health

opened its doors in Willow Park.

In sports, the Ladycats won

another softball state championship,

while the Bearcats baseball and foot-

ball teams came just short of repeat-

ing.The Aledo ISD Board of Trustees

spent the latter part of the year try-

ing to decide where to locate the next

elementary school, as demographers

told them to go south, but developers

wanting it to go north.

The East Parker County Center of

Hope joined its sister organization,

combining forces in Weatherford,

and the Aledo Children’s AdvoCats

found a new home in Aledo.

Join us here as we take a look

back at 2015:

JANUARY 2

Hudson Oaks City Council

approves a site plan for a coming

HEB grocery store at the corner of

Highway 180 and Lakeshore drive.

The town of Annetta approves a

water rate increase for the fi rst time

since 2005.

JANUARY 9

Aledo ISD’s fi rst police chief,

Chawn Gilliland, leaves the depart-

ment to take a position with the

Parker County District Attorney’s

Offi ce after 13 years with the dis-

trict.

The Aledo Education

Foundation awards $180,000 in

grants to district educators.

JANUARY 16

The Aledo 2025 committee

explores why the bond proposal

failed and plans to propose it again

after reevaluation.

Four Bearcat Regiment mem-

bers qualify for all-state band.

Nine years after the body of

Bobby Sue Hill was found off

Jenkins Road, law enforcement

offi cials arrest Larry Wayne Driskell

of Aledo. Driskell is charged with

murder in the case.

The Texas Health Resource

Outpatient Center in Willow Park

opens its doors to the public on Jan.

19.

JANUARY 23

Aledo ISD gets a clean fi nancial

bill of health after its annual audit.

The Aledo 2025 committee

begins reviewing demographic

information and construction costs

in preparation for a second bond

election.

JANUARY 30

Land along Bailey Ranch Road

is purchased by Parker County

Emergency Services District 1 for a

new fi re station in Aledo.

The city of Aledo begins seeking

input from residents on curbside

recycling as staff prepares to nego-

tiate a new contract with Republic

Services for trash and recycling.

The city of Hudson Oaks donat-

ed a dump trailer to ESD 3/Hudson

Oaks Fire Rescue to assist residents

in clearing large amounts of brush

and debris from their property.

Parker County Commissioners

approve a road project along White

Settlement Road from FM 3325

to Mesa Grande Drive, using state

grant money.

RANDY KECK/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

McCall Elementary School was the first stop for the Aledo Education Foundation “Prize Posse” on

Tuesday. Shown are recipients (from left) Lesha Valencia, Jenny Lytle, Laura Pace, Crystal Mehrhoff

and Aledo Education Foundation Executive Director Shawn Callaway. (Photo appeared Jan. 9)

ALEDOHoly Grounds108 Jearl, Ste. 100

Aledo Donuts 701 N. FM ll87

Bearcat Valero421 N. FM 1187

East Parker County Library201 N. FM ll87

JK Donuts311 S FM 1187

Shell - Aledo401 S. FM ll87(Across from AMS)

Shell - Midway Foods100 S. FM 1187

HUDSON OAKSBig Country3301 Ft. Worth Hwy.

JJ’s Fastop3196 E. I- 20

Walgreen’s130 N. Oakridge Dr.

WILLOW PARKBrookshire’s5118 E. I-20 Service Rd. S.

Classic Minute Mart4098 E. I-20 Service Rd. S.

East Parker County Chamber of Commerce100 Chuckwagon Trail

Exxon – Tiger Mart102 E. I-20

Ranch House Donuts 119 S. Ranch House Rd.

Shell – Gateway # 35111 E. I-20 N.

Willow Park Ace Hardware4957 I-20 Service Rd. N.

Willow Park Cleaners109 S. Ranch House Rd., Ste. 101

WEATHERFORDBig Pantry1111 Ft. Worth Hwy.

Weatherford Chamber401 Ft. Worth Hwy.

Get your copy of The Community News at any one of these locations.

8507 HIGHWAY 377 S., SUITE F · BENBROOK, TEXAS 76126

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JAMES D. SCHULLATTORNEY AT LAW

(817) 249-5300WWW.JAMESDSCHULL.COM

[email protected]

1187 MINI STORAGE1515 E. FM 1187 • Aledo, Texas 76008

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24-Hour Access · Immediate Move-inCovered Parking

BOAT & RV PARKING - $40

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Wilks will turn the space into a country club style location, with meeting space, pools, tennis courts, child care, and other features. He said rather than create Homeowners Associations within the property, residents could instead have the option of membership in the facility.

“It’s going to be phenomenal,” Wilks said. “Willow Park’s time has come.”

Wilks has also included a pond for sports and fishing and a possible soccer field/track in the plan. Willow Park’s new wastewater treatment plant will likely sit at the far north end of the development.

Wilks went before Willow Park P and Z Oct. 4 to request the first step in the development - the rezon-ing of the 130 acre racetrack site to planned development. Each zone within the PD will still have to come back before the board for individual plat approval.

“I have a huge passion for the city of Willow Park,” Wilks told the commission.

Fred McCulley spoke out against approving the zoning, citing con-cerns with traffic on Kingsgate Rd. and the access road.

“Eventually, we are going to reach saturation in that area, and people will stop coming,” McCulley said. “The bridge on Kingsgate Road will not suffice for this development. And that’s a very bad road.”

Wilks’ attorney, Misti Ventura, told the board that they were specif-ically studying traffic feasibility and had hired a dedicated engineer for the job.

“Traffic is very much a devel-oper’s problem,” Ventura said. “We are looking at all the factors to try to alleviate those concerns. We are talking about $100 million in verti-cal improvements. I assure you we are looking at infrastructure very closely, to protect that investment.”

Wilks is requesting that the city establish a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone for the develop-ment to help fund public improve-ment and infrastructure. The city council will consider the PD zoning request Oct. 11, and likely also begin discussion about the TIRZ.

NORTHfrom page one

ROSEALEE HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Kyle Wilks of Wilks Development presented his plans for former Trinity Meadows racetrack property at a commu-nity meeting Sept. 28.

Aledo High School debate team and avid political watchers.

“It’s important for people to know what’s going on,” McAdams said. “When they go to the polls, they need to know who they’re voting for and what they stand for.

“The first step is being registered to vote.”

Evans said that many students in the high school are talking about the presidential election this year, which is opening discussion about other political topics.

“I see a lot of people just mir-roring the policies of their parents,” Evans said. “But if you get them

interested enough, they’re more inclined to get informed and think for themselves.”

Hall, who said student response has been strong, has even signed up some teachers.

“I get a lot of questions from people about registration and where they can vote,” Hall said. “The dead-line to register is Oct. 11. I highly encourage everyone to make sure they are registered and confirm that their address and county are cor-rect.”

Hall, who also works at poll-ing locations, said she frequently encounters new voters to the area who have not updated their informa-tion with the elections office.

“The time to make sure every-thing is correct is now, not on elec-

tion day,” Hall said. “A little work beforehand can prevent a lot of frus-tration when it’s time to vote.”

Voters can check their registra-tion status on the Texas Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/index.shtml.

For information on early voting, absentee voting, voter identification, mail in ballots and more, voters can contact the Parker County Elections office at 817-598-6185 or by visiting the Parker County website at http://www.parkercountytx.com/index.aspx?NID=118.

Early voting runs October 24-November 4. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Voters can now vote county-wide at any polling location in Parker County.

VOTEfrom page one

ROSEALEE HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY NEWS

Aledo High School is holding a soccer ball drive through Oct. 14 to benefit Zeb’s Foundation, which sends soccer balls around the world to honor the memory of student Zeb Montgomery.