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The Community News •

Competition success for the Bearcats Dance Team - The Community News

However, bringing spirit is not all they do. The teams compete at various competitions during the first couple of months of the school year, showcasing their perfected routines. 
The team competitions begin in January and run through mid-March, and with much preparation, the Ladycats excelled. “It takes a long time to prepare [competition dances],” said the Aledo ISD Dance Coordinator, Varsity/JV coach, and AHS/DNG dance teacher Emily Robison. The Bearcat middle school and high school dance team...
The Community News •

Curriculum in action - The Community News

The 43 students with 95 total attendees, including parents and teachers, set off on their trip on Sunday, Feb. 15, to head to their first stop, Washington, D.C. 
“It is a whirlwind,” Candice Gables, American History and Government/Economics teacher, said. The group is on their feet, walking anywhere from 10 to 15 miles a day… We are busy from pretty much 8-8:30 in the morning till about 9:30 at night.”
The trip is an “opportunity for students to learn outside of the classroom,” said Gables. In W...
The Community News •

Rooted in one hometown - The Community News

Freddy was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1953 and shortly after was sent on a ship to Korea. “I got overseas, and she sent me a ‘Dear John,’ so I started writing her,” said Freddy. He stayed there for 14 months, where he spent nine months on the front line.
Verda and Freddy’s relationship continued to blossom, and when he was stationed in El Paso, after being overseas, he would drive to Weatherford, her hometown, every other weekend to visit her. 
“We got serious and became engaged whil...
The Community News •

Generosity and community - The Community News

Every table at the River Ranch Stockyards venue was full, meaning a capacity crowd of about 500 people who attended to support the cause.
“We are so grateful for JAG Metals LLC to step up again as the Presenting Sponsor, as well as the numerous sponsors and donors who supported our event,” said Penny Shelton, Chairperson. “We could not do this without their support. The word I would use to describe our supporters is generous.”
The community “stepped up to the plate and it was just more than what...
The Community News •

What to see on Spring Break - The Community News

One cost-free option families can enjoy any day of the week is visiting parks. 

Parks of Aledo Trail — a series of biking trails ranging in difficulty
Aledo Community Center Park — “features a concrete-paved walking trail, large playground, basketball court, volleyball area, covered pavilion with a stationary charcoal grill and picnic tables, gardens and green space,” according to the City of Aledo website 
Aledo Commons Park — community park home to the Aledo Veterans Plaza
Bearcat Park — a la...
The Community News •

HOSA Blood Drive collects 49 pints - The Community News

Students ages 16, with parental consent, and older were welcomed to give blood at the event throughout the school day at the Don R. Daniel Ninth Grade Campus gymnasium. HOSA has sponsored the blood drive annually for about a decade.
Donors, once in the gym, go to an evaluation station. Here their vitals are taken, and they are given a pre-donor screening to ensure the administration of their blood to other individuals is safe and all personal information is up to date.
While Carter phlebotomists...
The Community News •

Toastique opening in Willow Park - The Community News

General Manager Brooke Clock comes from a family of “foodies.”
“We like to try all the different restaurants, and when we tried Toastique, it stood out to us as a fresh and inviting environment, and the food was delicious,” she said. “It was healthy, we fell in love with it, and we wanted to eat it every day, so we decided to open one.”
Once open, Clock said she wants to make sure “that every customer has a positive experience.
“It’s bringing in that healthy aspect of the food and providing an o...
The Community News •

Drawing Blood - The Community News

Hosted on Feb. 16 at the high school, senior-level Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) students learn phlebotomy, the process of drawing blood, and EKG or electrocardiogram, a test that measures heart activity, as a part of their coursework. They also have the opportunity to achieve both of those as separate certifications. 
The students need 40 sticks and 10 EKGs to complete their certifications. So, this experience allows students to fulfill their practices outside of class hours. 
The...
The Community News •

Goodwill Job Resource Center now open - The Community News

Reverend Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and social innovator, founded Goodwill in 1902. "Rather than giving them a handout, he wanted to give them a hand up,” David Cox, President and CEO of Goodwill NCT, said. "In the North Central Texas area alone, we serve 16,000 people, and that is getting people back on their feet, getting them employed and in jobs that will help them sustain themselves and their families.”
The job resource center opened prior to COVID-19, but closed when face-to-face...
The Community News •

Craft pizza and brews - The Community News

At the grand opening, the first 25 people who make a purchase have the chance to win free pizza for a year, special offers, merchandise, and promotional giveaways, according to a press release. 
Rotolo’s was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has spread to nine states across the nation with nearly 40 locations. Willow Park will be the third Dallas-area location. 
Franchisees Matt and Lindsey Canon, who recently opened their first Rotolo’s in Mansfield, own the new location.
“We like...
The Community News •

A new home for the Aledo Soccer Club - The Community News

With most competitive soccer facilities located in North Dallas, the new facility will provide a "more convenient and accessible location to house soccer in West Fort Worth…it will increase the development in this area also, as kids will be getting on the ball more frequently, with more intentional coaching and have more opportunities to play the game closer to home with the kids that they're going to school with and growing up with,” said James Kerr, founder of Aledo Soccer Club and Frontrunner...
The Community News •

Resident raises traffic safety concerns - The Community News

However, some areas still experience growing pains. 
Aledo resident Susan Houghtalin resides in the Lasater Addition subdivision, west of FM 1187, south of Bailey Ranch Road. At the Aledo City Council meeting on Jan. 15, she brought forward information regarding the neighborhood streets being used as a pass-through from FM 1187 to/from Underwood Road or West Plum Street by commercial, business, and residential traffic. “It’s more of a street rather than a residential street,” Houghtalin said.
“T...
The Community News •

New Baylor Scott & White Hospital planned - The Community News

This hospital closes a gap to "neighborhoods where access to healthcare currently requires longer commutes” between emergency services and provides "comprehensive care for major and minor adult and pediatric medical emergencies,” according to a press release.
Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas, serving more than three million patients annually. Meaning, it "reinvests back into patient care, access and community health rather than distributing profits...
The Community News •

Community Helping Community - The Community News

The heart of the foundation lies with the volunteer board and staff, who are unpaid and devoted to raising funds for the community’s needs. 
“We work very, very hard to make sure that every dollar we raise stays in Parker County,” said Shane Cartwright, board member. “It’s touching people. It’s changing lives.”
Throughout the year, donors can contribute to the fundraising process through donations, but the biggest fundraiser the foundation holds is the annual Boots & Bling Gala. Falling on Feb....
TCU Magazine •

Students Get Hands-On Experience With Projects Thanks to TCU Science & Engineering Research Center Grants - TCU Magazine

TCU’s Science & Engineering Research Center encourages the intellectual curiosity of undergraduate and graduate students by funding their individual research projects and pairing them with faculty mentors for guidance. Students learn by doing, from pitching a proposal and budget to creating a plan, conducting experiments, and analyzing and reporting data.
“It’s a process — the whole scientific enterprise that the student gets a chance to experience hands-on,” said Timothy Barth, professor and as...
The Community News •

February designated Heart Health Awareness Month  - The Community News

The Town of Annetta has designated February as Heart Health Awareness Month. Mayor Sandy Roberts made the proclamation at the monthly city council meeting and “[encourages] all citizens to take a proactive step toward maintaining a healthy heart.”
This is an impactful step forward for the town and touches close to home since Mayor Pro Tem Kent Stasey experienced a heart attack at a past city council meeting. Stasey is doing well and emphasizes that heart awareness “is very important,” he said.
A...
The Community News •

Head dance captain representing Aledo as member of all-state dance team - The Community News

Her family moved to Texas in 2020, where she continued her dance career at the Foot Works Performing Arts Center, the studio where she competes to this day. Calderon began dance classes at the school during her eighth-grade year, leading her to try out and make the varsity BDT her freshman year of high school. Calderon climbed the ranks of the BDT, becoming an officer in her sophomore and junior years and head dance captain senior year. 
Calderon has been selected to represent Aledo ISD as a mem...
The Community News •

Your Personal Chef experiencing success and growth - The Community News

In 2000, he founded Your Personal Chef (YPC) in Fort Worth, as an in-home personal chef service. He would take his skills to household kitchens and prepare meals for their week. Chris’ wife and co-owner, Janet Coble, joined the YPC team after leaving behind her corporate job in 2005. She strengthened her culinary skills and began to help with their in-home clients.
In 2011, the Cobles made the move to Aledo.
“We saw that the community had a need for food,” Janet said, so YPC continued to grow. “...
The Community News •

Officers set to serve - The Community News

“This moment reflects years of planning and a strong commitment to public safety in our community,” said Mayor Shane Davis. “This marks the beginning of building a department rooted in strong morals, meant to serve and protect Aledo.” 
The first officers for the department are Terry A. Bessire (ID #2), James K. Foster (ID #3), Juan R. Saucedo (ID #4), and Matthew I. Shipman (ID #5). 
“These officers are not simply filling positions and filling budgets…They are setting the foundation of who we ar...
The Community News •

Pulido’s legacy expanding to Willow Park - The Community News

The simple act of Pedro taking home-cooked meals for his Texas and Pacific Railway coworkers blossomed into a chain of restaurants across North Texas. Their business was a success for 57 years, but the couple decided to close up shop in October of 2023. 
“We got the news just like everybody else did,” said Marc McBride, Director of Operations at Westland Hospitality. McBride’s business partners, Bourke Harvey and Gigi Howell, leaders of Westland Hospitality, grew up in Fort Worth. They heard the...
The Community News •

Aledo Robotics Club teams headed to regional meets - The Community News

Throughout the day, the teams have a pit set up area where they can display presentation boards and prepare themselves and their robots for presentation and match competition rounds.
The morning hours of the tournament consisted of presentations where each team had to give around a five minute speech to a group of judges about their robots and related efforts. Throughout the judging period, teams have the chance to play other teams in practice matches to further prepare. 
In the latter half of t...
Designed to Serve the Community - The Community Ne •

Designed to Serve the Community - The Community News

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoThe event is one worth remembering with words from Mayor Shane Davis, an invocation from Dr. Ted Kitchens of Christ Chapel Bible Church, the presentation of colors thanks to the Parker County ESD 1 Honor Guard, the pledge of allegiance from Chief of Police Carol L. Riddle, national anthem by The Singing Sisters, welcoming of the new Aledo City Manager Candice Edmonson, and a ribbon cutti...
A testament to vitality - The Community News •

A testament to vitality - The Community News

Thelma is an anomaly at her age. According to granddaughter Jaime Merrill,  “this spit-fire doesn’t need a walker, nor hearing aids, nor glasses, and she proudly doesn’t need dentures because she still has all her real teeth!,” she said. “A capable woman, she was still driving around in her Hummer H3 until she was 98!” Thelma does so by keeping her spirits high and when asked her secret for living to 100 she responds, “only the good die young!”
Her “spit-fire” description comes from her “brutal...
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