Times 10 32-page celebration included in this issue April 23-29, 2021 · www.community-news.com · 75 cents THE COMMUNITY NEWS Serving Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park, Texas ALEDO Quick Notes Road Closure and Construction Update The Texas Department of Mayor announces 1187 land deal Transportation has announced two area road or lane closures in the Potential agreement available for Aledo to annex in the developers, to consider suggesting the 1,500 acres that stretches from coming week: future. they work with Fort Worth to bring Sonic on the southwest corner to FM 5 will be closed from Annetta would expand gateway Any agreement would be sub- FM 1187 frontage back into Aledo’s near the I-20/I-30 split on the Center Point Road to Airport Road By Randy Keck ject to approval by the Fort Worth ETJ. northeast. Aledo’s part would run Saturday through Wednesday, April The Community News City Council. At least three parcels of the northward from Sonic, along FM 24 – 28 for culvert replacement Aledo Mayor Kit Marshall Marshall told The Community ranch are now under contract, 1187 up to about Bankhead. by Aledo ISD. Drivers should fol- announced at the April 22 city News that the owners of the Dean including about 323 acres on the “There’s a lot of layers that go low the signed detour from FM 5 council meeting that a potential Ranch had given her a heads up west side of FM 1187 north of into this because it’s not just a to Annetta Center Point Road to agreement is in negotiation that last year that they were putting the Bankhead, about 187 acres on the one-and-done deal,” Marshall said. Duncan Road to Airport Road. would bring property on the east ranch on the market. northwest corner of FM 1187 and The two right-hand lanes of side of 1187 into the city’s ETJ “They wanted me to know first I-20, and about 1,500 acres on the “Since I became mayor, I have westbound I-20 will be closed at (extra-territorial jurisdiction). that they were selling the Dean east side of FM 1187. All of those met with every Fort Worth mayor since Mike Moncrief to discuss our Mikus Road for shoulder work from The transaction would not Ranch,” she said. tracts are in Fort Worth’s ETJ. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 24. to 7 a.m. immediately put the land in Aledo’s Marshall said she asked the The portion that could be gateway.” Sunday, April 25. city limits, but it would make it ranch, in its discussions with transferred to Aledo is a part of Turn to 1187, page 3 ALEDO ISD Community members speak out against racism Call for action from the district By Makenzie Plusnick The Community News More than 20 people spoke out about racism and called upon the Aledo ISD SPECIAL TO THE COMMUNITY NEWS Board of Trustees to act at its The most distinctive feature of the learning center’s exterior is the April 19 board meeting. Ben Hogan Swing Panels on the east end of the building. The images One of the people who are from the original 1957 photos and drawings of Hogan’s swing by spoke was Christopher golf artist Anthony Ravielli. Johnson, a student at the Daniel Ninth Grade Campus, WILLOW PARK who says he was target- ed by other students when they sent each other mes- Ben Hogan sages about how much they would pay for black students in a pretend slave auction. Learning Center Johnson, who’s comment was followed by a round of applause from those who RANDY KECK/THE COMMUNITY NEWS for First Tee opens attended the meeting, cri- Calvin Eells, 3, explored musical bars during the opening of the new Cross Ceremony set May 1 Teenage participants of First tiqued the district’s response Timbers Park in Willow Park at its community grand opening on Tuesday, Tee – Fort Worth will introduce to the incident. April 20. See more on page 2. Staff Reports The Community News each of the speakers. Family fun “The superintendent or and celebration golf activities will board has not even admitted First Tee – Fort Worth follow the ceremony from 12:30 or apologized to us or Aledo announced on April 12 the open- – 2:30 p.m. that they handled it wrong at ANNETTA ing of its second Ben Hogan The facility was made possi- first, so how can we trust y’all Learning Center at Squaw Creek ble with funding from the Ben will do what’s right in the Golf Course in Willow Park. Hogan Foundation, Rainwater future?” Johnson said. “My Council approves Opening ceremonies for the facil- Foundation, and other indi- parents talk to me about a ity are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. viduals and organizations, and lot of things; racism, voting, Saturday, May 1. through a partnership with and elections are a few, so solid waste contract Scheduled to speak at the cer- Squaw Creek/CERA and First I know the importance of emony are Willow Park Mayor By Randy Keck is one of five cities that have joined Tee – Fort Worth. voting people into areas to The Community News Doyle Moss, David Rapisand, In 2016, First Tee – Fort Worth make changes. That is why forces to negotiate for solid waste president of Squaw Creek/CERA, began programming at Squaw my parents voted for y’all to The Annetta City Council disposal: Annetta, Annetta North, Ben Hogan Foundation President Creek with 300 participants. have this job. They feel like approved a five-year extension to Annetta South, Hudson Oaks, and Lisa Scott, Jennifer Weiler, senior Within a year participation had you are the people to do right its solid waste contract at its regular Willow Park. vice president of First Tee, First grown to more than 1,000 par- by the children.” meeting on April 15. “What that does is it allows us to Tee participant Erica Fisher, and ticipants and is now at capacity. Johnson’s mother, Mioshi Hudson Oaks City Administrator basically pool our economies of scale Kevin Long , executive director of The U.S. Census Bureau reports Johnson, spoke at the board’s Sterling Naron addressed the council, so that we can negotiate a better price First Tee – Fort Worth. explaining to the public that Annetta Turn to HOGAN, page 2 Turn to RACISM, page 3 Turn to ANNETTA, page 4 Invading Lubbock Mask mandate ends Community Diamonds Aledo Tennis, Golf, Track teams head to the Aledo ISD ends mask mandate. Opinions on the community’s Baseball, softball teams continue win south plains for regional competitions. racial issues. streaks. Volume 31, Number 17 SPORTS PAGE 4 OPINIONS PAGE 8 Published Weekly Copyright 2021, The Community News 2 April 23, 2021 THE COMMUNITY NEWS is a high-pressure water jet HOGAN device that cuts through the from page one steel plates. The light at dif- ferent hours of the day creates that 25% of Parker County res- Let the Games Begin! remarkable shadows and views. idents are under 18, so this facility is expected to help First First Tee – Fort Worth will Cross Timbers Park Tee reach more young people utilize the facility to provide The long-awaited play- in the western-most part of its children and teens living in ground at Cross Timbers four-county service area. this area access to its nation- Park has opened, and A capital campaign remains ally-recognized Life Skills the City of Willow Park under way to pay off the facility. Curriculum that enables them held a grand opening to the community, complete The building, designed to build the strength of char- with treats, on Tuesday, by Stephen Darrow of DMS acter that empowers them April 20. Architects, includes staff offic- through a lifetime of new The original play- es, three classrooms that can challenges. By seamlessly inte- ground was torn down be opened into one or two grating the game of golf with to make way for the new larger spaces, garage storage a Life Skills curriculum, First public safety building. and storyboards honoring Ben Tee creates active learning Once opened, the old Maverick Johnson, 2-1/2, got a ride on the mer- Hogan; Mike Wright, longtime experiences that build inner public safety building was ry-go-round. Director of Golf at Shady Oaks strength, self-confidence, and demolished and the new and mentee of Hogan; Lynn resilience that kids can carry to playground is now com- Vaughan, 40-year Director of everything they do. plete on that site. Golf at Squaw Creek GC; and Kevin Long, the only Executive Interpersonal, self-man- PHOTOS BY RANDY KECK/ Director of First Tee – Fort agement, goal-setting, and THE COMMUNITY NEWS Ariel Hsu, 3, took a ride on the new Worth since its founding in resiliency skills provide youth swings. 2004. The donor wall in the the tools to manage better their lobby, recognizing those who situations at school, home, and contributed to the capital cam- in various other out-of-school paign, is placed on flooring activities. from the childhood home of Ben Hogan. First Tee – Fort Worth is a youth development organization com- The most distinctive fea- mitted to teaching character edu- ture of the building’s exterior cation through the game of golf is the Ben Hogan Swing Panels to young people ages 5-18. One on the east end of the build- of the top chapters in the First ing. The images are from Tee Network, First Tee – Fort the original 1957 photos and Worth is headquartered at the drawings of Hogan’s swing by Ben Hogan Learning Center at golf artist Anthony Ravielli.