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Madilyn Kopec

I am an ambitious communicator with experience in feature writing, news coverage, social media management and copy desk editorial leadership. I have compelling storytelling ability, can manage digital platforms and ensure accuracy through strong editing skills.

The Community News •

Emergency Access - The Community News

The Aledo Police Department launched the Safe Access Program on June 10 to assist first-responders when there is a locked door between them and someone in need.
Officer David Griesinger pitched the idea to Chief Carol Riddle after responding to an emergency call of an Aledo resident who had fallen and could not make it to the door. 
“My partner and I went around the house with the fire department looking for a way in, and we tried all the doors and all the windows. As a last resort, the firefigh...
The Community News •

‘Smuggling of persons’ - The Community News

A fugitive is now behind bars following a routine traffic stop made July 21 by Aledo Police Department Officer Matthew I. Shipman. 
The officer noticed a vehicle running a stop sign near the Lakes addition of the Parks of Aledo. Upon being pulled over, the driver presented identification that raised Shipman’s suspicions, according to Juan Saucedo, APD’s public information officer. Fingerprinting at the Parker County Jail found the driver was really Luis Ortega-Sanchez, a man with an arrest warra...
The Community News •

Lightning strikes a chord - The Community News

When Danny Griego, of Weatherford, was in college, he went fishing along the eastern New Mexico border, unaware his life was about to change forever. 
Lightning struck Griego and blew him about 40 yards, paralyzing his right arm and briefly stopping his heart. During Griego’s recovery, his neurosurgeon told him if he learned to play guitar it would help rehabilitate the motor skills in his hand. 
So Griego picked up his grandfather’s guitar and began playing. 
“My music career started abruptly w...
The Community News •

Warning: Don’t let Bankhead construction make you tardy - The Community News

Bankhead Highway is closed off to thru-traffic for the time being, and the city has asked patrons to use the Interstate 20 service road as a detour. 
Construction for the utility line project will typically take place from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but with the start of Aledo schools just around the corner, construction start time will be delayed for the first several days to ease traffic, according to Rose Hoffman, the city’s Communications and Marketing director.
The project has not been without...
The Community News •

New council member seated - The Community News

At the Annetta Town Council meeting on July 16, the board welcomed Matthew Davidson as council member, place 1. 
“What I always want in council members… is to have somebody that’s got a practical mind to them…they need to be educated in what we do, and when we talked I felt very comfortable with that, so I appreciate that,” said Council member Danny Coffman. 
“My family and I have been part of the Annetta community for nine years, and it’s truly a special place,” Davidson said. “I’m excited to s...
The Community News •

A first-place nationals win for Rose Lindly - The Community News

Rose Lindly, a rising Aledo High School senior, began her first year of competitive dance this year, unaware that she would win the national-level competition for her solo. 
Lindly has been dancing since she was younger. She was a member of the Aledo Middle School Dance Team and spent two years on the AHS Dance Team before taking time off due to health issues. 
Lindly was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, in November of her Sophomore year, and because of the pain, sh...
The Community News •

Garrett Bradford and his rising success - The Community News

Garrett Bradford, a traditional country music artist and songwriter, discovered his love of music when he was just a boy, performing for the children’s choir at First Baptist Church of Weatherford.
“I had all this stage fright, and I remember the first time I actually got up and sang a solo in church. It wasn’t that scary,” said Bradford. “I don’t know if I thought that I was the most gifted, but I figured out really quickly that I wasn’t nervous about getting up in front of people. And so, I th...
The Community News •

The Sour Boule opening soon - The Community News

The Sour Boule, a sourdough bakery and sandwich shop, is set to open in mid-July at 280 Willow Bend, Suite 300, in Willow Park, by the husband-and-wife team Lance and Alexis Misner. 
The couple began their sourdough journey out of their home in 2021, and with success in the kitchen, they decided to start selling baked goods at local farmers' markets under the name “Misner Family Farms.” 
“We're a sourdough company at our core,” said Lance. “We took like 40 loaves to the first market, and sold ou...
The Community News •

The skit that led to placement at globals - The Community News

A team of students through Destination Imagination, a nonprofit organization designed to teach kids vital life and career skills, put their minds together to prepare a skit that led them through a highly successful competition season.  
Rising sixth graders of Aledo, Landon Hromadka, Sam Skinner, Olivia Shafer, Audrey Womack, Delaney Templin, Jaylon Small, and Kade Quinlan successfully made it all the way to the global competition.   
They collaboratively produced a skit that showcased their pro...
The Community News •

More than doggy day care - The Community News

On July 1, Prophetess Hayden, a devoted educator, launched Canines on the Prairie Preschool and the Summer Canine Leadership Academy at Peaceful Rest Ranch in Weatherford. 
Inspired by her husband’s relationship with his dog, Bayah, through his Alzheimer’s journey, and by her experience as a lifelong educator, she developed the preschool and academy — creating a place where canines and students learn from one another.  
In the program, students step into the role of teacher, while canines become...
The Community News •

Robotics from the ground up - The Community News

Flatline Robotics, an events and education company that caters to people interested in technology and STEM crafts, is opening at 3450 Williams Road, Suite B, Benbrook.
At just 14 years old, Joshua Masseo, Willow Park native and owner of Flatline Robotics, began working in the tech industry. Masseo is a tech-savvy person with experience ranging from providing support to developing products.
But, it wasn’t until 2021 when he was invited to join a BattleBots team that he knew “I found my people…the...
The Community News •

Community rallies for Ellie - The Community News

Members of the community will gather from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 at the Aledo United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in support of Ellie Duncan to fundraise through raffles and a game of mahjong. Ellie is a seven-year-old, fun, sweet, outgoing, strong, and vibrant child, according to her aunt and local resident Claire Duncan. 
In May of 2026, Ellie was diagnosed with group 4 medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor originating at the base of the brain in the cerebellum. 
Ellie had surgery t...
The Community News •

Contagious community service - The Community News

Brynleigh Shelton devotes her time to serving others and encouraging them to give back in her current role as Miss Parker County's Teen. 
Shelton began pageantry because she fell in love with it while watching her mother, Bridget Shelton, compete. Since beginning just last year, Shelton says she loves everything about what the Miss America Organization represents. Shelton said the pillars on the crown serve as a reminder of all of the opportunities she's had and what she loves about the organiza...
The Community News •

Rooted in Aledo, expanding across DFW - The Community News

Stanton & Company, a home remodeling business, was established in 2007 by Stanton Pearce in Aledo. Pearce called Aledo home for nearly 25 years while building his business. 
He developed the concept for Stanton & Company in 2007, and by 2013, he opened a remodeling showroom on Bankhead Highway in Aledo.
Over the years, his business grew, and to reach more clientele he opened a design center and corporate office, both in Fort Worth. However, “still over half of my business is in Parker County,” P...
The Community News •

Staffing added for next school year - The Community News

The Aledo ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the recommendation to add 14 additional staffing positions for the 2026-2027 school year at its June 15 meeting. 
The positions will include three secondary teachers, seven elementary teachers, four assistant teachers, and one part-time Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) clerk.
The need for more positions stems from “growth in enrollment and the number of students,” according to Kim Raymond, deputy superintendent. 
“While w...
The Community News •

The Back Nine Golf, an indoor golf simulator - The Community News

The Back Nine Golf, a 24-hour indoor golf facility, opened in Willow Park on March 26 at 270 Willow Bend Dr., Suite 200, with the purpose of “not only improving your game but also [socially],” said Lance Westlake, owner. 
It uses Full Swing Golf technology to track the ball, “identifying how hard you hit it, at what angle and [other metrics], so that it can simulate the rest of the ball path” using high-speed cameras and lasers, Westlake continued, “It’s very, very accurate.”
The Back Nine “is n...
The Community News •

Multi-sport complex planned - The Community News

400 Bailey Ranch Road in Aledo will soon be home to a 43,000-square-foot indoor multi-sport complex. Owner and Aledo resident Ross Elmore said the facility will be “centered around the community and families in the area.”  
The project timeline is aimed at construction beginning in the summer of 2026 and opening in 2027.
Elmore’s goal is to provide a space where there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy when visiting the complex. “It's a social club vibe, but there's a component of...
The Community News •

Fairways For Families Golf Tournament - The Community News

The sixth annual Gathering Hope Fairways for Families Golf Tournament is Friday, June 12, at the Oeste Ranch Golf Course. The event's purpose is to fundraise for Gathering Hope’s mission of “supporting survivors of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.” 
The day will include an 18-hole tournament, a Clink to Drink game on the putting green, a lunch reception, and an awards and raffle drawing. 
“This tournament is so special because there's a dynamic that is really hard to explain unless you'...
The Community News •

Keep an eye out - The Community News

Warm weather brings people outdoors to explore, and whether that’s on a bike, on foot, or behind the wheel, it’s important to keep an eye out for one another.
“We continue to see an increase in the number of crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists each year,” said Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Executive Director Marc Williams. “All of us share a responsibility to watch out for each other, but people on foot or riding a bike are most at risk for serious injury or worse in a crash w...
The Community News •

Open to everyone - The Community News

The newest state park opened on March 1, just about an hour west of Parker County.
“We’re here, we’re open for business and ready to welcome everybody,” said James Miller, assistant superintendent of Palo Pinto Mountain State Park. 
The park was made possible through “the culmination of collaborative efforts that include our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks. 
The nearly 5,000-acre park, once ranch land, provides a...
The Community News •

Grad My Way - The Community News

“We’ve had students and parents ask for more learning opportunities that align with real-world demands and offer more flexibility in scheduling,” Aledo ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Bohn said in a press release. “Grad My Way is our response - an intentional, student-centered approach that expands options without lowering expectations.” 
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, students have the opportunity to personalize their schedules by blending face-to-face instruction, virtual learning (on-...
The Community News •

Vellichor Bookshop opening soon - The Community News

It was a typical day serving at The Hills Church until Schroeder’s “Read more books” hat sparked a conversation between the two. Schroeder shared her dream of owning a bookstore, and Moore shared hers of being a book buyer, getting the ball rolling on their new reality. 
Schroeder was once an elementary reading teacher, and seeing her students fall in love with stories is what made her love teaching, she said. “There was no better feeling than parents telling me, ‘My kids never loved reading unt...
The Community News •

Byrd Mill now located in Aledo - The Community News

The shop opened in 2017 in Willow Park. Co-owners Shannon Byrd, Teresa Chisum, and Kim Mauzy felt the new location best suited their business because of the growth in the city and surrounding businesses. 
The city of Aledo is putting in effort through approaches like a downtown-specific comprehensive plan, where they are taking into account citizen ideas while also being a part of The First Street Initiative by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) that “enables communities to learn more about d...
The Community News •

Destination Chiropractic - a unique approach to helping patients - The Community News

Advertorial- By using the torque release technique, owner Tanner Kurz targets nerves in a problem area to then adjust and trigger your body's ability to heal itself. “Research shows that a subluxation, or a misalignment of the bone… It's like unplugging a cable from the wall, then that line is dead,” said Kurz. “So, we just replug all those nerves back in by realigning the bones, taking the pressure off the nerve, and that's how your body gets better.”
This treatment is available for anyone, from infants to...
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