Serving Irving, Las Colinas, Valley Ranch, and Coppell RamblerNewspapers.com May 20, 2017 50¢ WhoFest celebrates Doctor Who By Ariel Graham adventures of The Doctor, a Earthling companions, fights out the years, the role has This year’s featured guest, of the panels and showings “Whovians” from across Time Lord from the planet off evil aliens, and helps peo- been played by a number of Peter Davidson, played the focused on the Fifth Doctor. the area met up to celebrate Gallifrey who travels through ple and civilizations. different actors, with Peter Fifth Doctor from 1982 to Mike Erickson, co-chair- all things Doctor Who during time and space in a blue po- The Doctor can also re- Capaldi portraying the cur- 1984. Mark Strickson, who man of WhoFest, explained the 4th annual WhoFest, held lice box called the TARDIS. gen- erate into a new body rent Twelfth Doctor. The played the Fifth Doctor’s that the first WhoFest be- at the Westin DFW Airport Along the way, The Doc- when he is severely “classic” Doctor Who first companion Vislor Turlough, gan the same year as Doctor Hotel in Irving, May 5 -7. tor recruits various injured, and aired in Britain in 1963, then and Dan Starkey, who played Who’s 50th anniversary and Doctor Who follows the through- began airing in the United the Sontaran alien Strax from had very humble beginnings. States on PBS in 1978 and the new Who series, also at- “One of the WhoFest lasted for 26 seasons. The tended this year’s event. In founders, Tim Miller, wanted show was re-launched in honor of Davidson’s appear- to have some of his friends 2005 and is in its tenth sea- ance, WhoFest’s theme was See WHOEFEST son of “new Who.” “The Power of 5,” with many Page 2 Jordan Spieth inspires at AT&T Byron Nelson Youth Clinic By Joe Snell came obvious Jordan Spieth Boever competed in a num- During the trick shot por- is a Dallas native. Kids started ber of friendly golf challeng- tion of the annual AT&T By- chanting his name as he took es including tic-tac-toe, tar- ron Nelson Youth Golf Clinic on Dan Boever, a long-driv- See YOUTH CLINIC presented by Under Armour ing specialist and full-time Page 8 on Tuesday, May 16, it be- golf entertainer. Spieth and Doctor Who enthusiasts dress as the villains of the series as part of a WhoFest contest, which took place at the Westin DFW Airport to celebrate the long-running show. / Photo by John Starkey Police investigate assault on girl The Irving Police Depart- set at $100,000. He remains ture of the crime. ment is investigating a sex- in the Irving City Jail as de- SOURCE Irving Police Depart- ual assault case involving a tectives continue their inves- ment nine-year-old female victim tigation. that occurred at a Metro PCS Children who were left store in the 1400 block of E. unattended with the suspect Grauwyler Road. should be questioned about Over the past year, the vic- inappropriate physical con- tim was dropped off at the tact. Anyone with concerns business to play while her that their child may be a vic- mother attended a fitness tim is asked to contact Detec- class next door. On April 18, tive Curtis at (972) 721-2535. Professional golfer Jordan Spieth congratulates a young man for his driving skills at the annual AT&T Byron the victim made an outcry The release of further infor- Nelson Youth Clinic. Spieth competed in a trick shot competition while offering advice to young golfers./ Photo by John Starkey that she had been inappro- mation is limited due to the priately touched by a man age of the victim and the na- in the store. During a foren- sic interview, the victim de- scribed being taken to a back room on several occasions by New plaques at a male employee where he sexually assaulted her. Detectives identified Ge- rardo Israel Strauss, 36 years Founder’s Plaza of age, as the suspect in the case. On May 12, Strauss By Ariel Graham The plaza, as well as the rest was taken into custody on a Founder’s Plaza received a of the park, was first opened charge of Aggravated Sexual new timeline display during on Oct. 3, 2003 as part of Ir- Assault (Child) with the bond a re-dedication ceremony ving’s centennial celebration. held at Centennial Park on However, as Councilman Wednesday, May 3. John Danish explained, time Three new plaques detail- soon took its toll on the plaza. ing the first 100 years of the “The original dedicated city of Irving’s history were plaques did a great job of tell- unveiled during the ceremo- ing the story of Irving for its ny. The plaques, which re- first 100 years. But like time placed older metal plaques, itself, the brass timeline be- were made from black granite gan to weather, became dif- and feature not only a writ- ficult to decipher, and even- ten timeline, but also photo- tually lost a little bit of its graphs. The plaques, which luster,” Danish said. “Now, took more than eight months Greg Brown [the artist] has to create, were installed in presented the city with three April, but were officially un- incredible black polished veiled that morning. granite plaques that will City Councilman Oscar breathe new life into our city’s Ward was one of many city history.” officials present at the reded- Danish went on say that ication ceremony. He gave these new plaques will hope- a brief overview of the new fully inspire Irving citizens plaques. both old and new to learn “This fantastic timeline in- more about and take pride in cludes detailed stories of the their city. people who helped shape this “Nowadays our residents, community into the lively, many of them recently moved robust, and diverse city it is to Irving, don’t know much of today,” Ward said. “As resi- our city’s history. I believe ar- dents, we enjoy the results of tifacts like this will come with their dedication on a daily ba- a sense of pride and owner- sis. Without their vision and ship in our city,” Danish said. planning, we would not have “What better way to instill the beautiful, exciting com- muter and pedestrian-friend- See RE-DEDICATION ly place to call home.” Page 7 Page 2 May 20, 2017 www.RamblerNewspapers.com Program celebrates good kids in middle school By Ariel Graham salaries.” about her achievements, but also of Travis Middle School, Samira an algebra teacher at MacArthur A group of outstanding Irving ISD Each year, one 8th grade student happy to receive the Lamar Award. Velaquez of Crockett Middle School High School, was awarded Sec- middle school students received rec- from each Irving ISD’s eight middle “I feel very privileged to receive and Thara Thekkedath of Lamar ondary Teacher of the Year. Angela ognition at the Celebrate Good Kids schools is selected by the faculty to this recognition,” Dang said. “I Middle School. Snyder, a PE teacher at Townsell El- program held at the Irving Masonic receive this award. Faculty repre- wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the The program also recognized two ementary School, was awarded Ele- Lodge on Tuesday, April 25. sentatives came forward during the support that my teacher, my pre- Irving ISD teachers. Dennis Ramon, mentary Teacher of the Year. Created by the Irving Masonic program to introduce their recipient vious teachers, my family and my Lodge five years ago, the Celebrate and explain why the students were friends have given me. I’m very hap- Good Kids program honors both selected for the award, as well as py for that. Maybe they overdid their students and educators in Irving sharing some of their teachers’ com- descriptions of me, but I’m very Local student honored ISD with the lodge’s prestigious La- ments and praises with the crowd. grateful for them.” mar Award. The award is named af- Mark Hinkson, 8th grade assis- Alondra Godoy Escobar from ter Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second tant principal of de Zavala Middle Bowie Middle School was another for academic success president of Texas often referred to School, feels programs like Cele- recipient of the Lamar Award. as “the Father of Public Education in brate Good Kids help to acknowl- “When they first told me [about Durham, NC - Gabriela G. Gar- graders who scoredthe highest on Texas.” The program is one of many edge the often-overlooked students the award] I was like, ‘Are you sure cia, a 7th-grade student from Travis these ACT or SAT exams. similar award ceremonies held all in Irving ISD. it’s me?’ because I‘m not in school Middle School in Irving, is among “We are extremely proud to over Texas. “I’d like to thank the Masons for much,” Escobar said. “But I feel in- the students being honored by the recognize our remarkably talent- Past Master David Gisler said this opportunity that they give us ev- credible because even with all of my Duke University Talent Identifica- ed students who have demonstrated there are not many ceremonies that ery year,” Hinkson said. “Too many doctor’s appointments that I have, tion Program (Duke TIP) for their key aspects of their academic po- honor middle school students. good students do everything right I still try to be in school. Bowie has exceptional scores on the ACT or tential by achieving scores on the “The Masonic fraternity has long and are overlooked in this district.