Keep all aware of I-35E changes
At least one business owner said he is concerned about how he and his employees will be affected by the Interstate 35E expansion.
World War II project a boon
Some people may think that Denton native Mark Humphreys’ plan to take his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on a yearlong road trip across the United States to document interviews with World War II veterans sounds like one long vacation.
Keep sharp eye on weather
It can happen in an instant. A mere chance of thunderstorms roils into North Texas, spawning multiple tornadoes, killing at least six people and injuring more than a hundred. An EF-4 tornado, based on the Enhanced Fujita scale of ranking tornadoes, tore apart businesses and homes in several communities, especially Granbury.
‘Piano Man’ left lasting legacy
“I don’t know who could take his place.” “[He was] one of a kind.” “We were not ready to give him up.” The simple phrases convey so much about the breadth and depth of Bob Rogers’ reach across the Denton community.
Twilight Tunes a fun tradition
It’s been one of our favorite Denton attractions for two decades, and we’re not alone — Twilight Tunes is a hot ticket, and that has nothing to do with the fact that this concert series is held outdoors on summer evenings.
Kudos to all who ran for office
We’d like to congratulate all those who sought office in Saturday’s city and school elections around the county. Yes, it may be more customary to congratulate only the candidates who got the most votes — after all, they took the top spots in their respective races by out-polling the opposition.
Student loans need reform
Student loan interest rates are going to double in July. And, no, that’s not nearly as terrible as it sounds. Last year, President Obama promised to prevent such a scary-sounding outcome to whip up enthusiasm for his re-election campaign. In fact, only some rates were set to increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, and that would have been only on new loans, not existing ones.
Remember mom on special day
We happen to know that she really wanted that last piece of cake and only said she wasn’t hungry so you wouldn’t feel guilty about having seconds.
Online program worth exploring
It is a sad fact of modern life that few of us know our neighbors anymore. We’ve all heard the recommendations about neighborhood security — become familiar with the people who live next door and down the street so you can quickly determine if a stranger is cruising the area — but how many of us actually follow that advice?
Decoration Day a good tradition
Many younger Denton County residents may not be familiar with Decoration Day, a tradition that calls for neighbors to get together to spruce up their community cemeteries.
Komen grant a boon for county
Agrant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to the Denton County Health Department is good news for women who might have to skip important cancer screenings because they can’t afford mammograms.
Disaster drills can save lives
People who volunteer to portray “victims” during a disaster drill probably get a chuckle or two out of the experience of having their “injuries” evaluated and treated by emergency crews, but the exercise is no joking matter.
Help ‘fight the bite’
Just a few days after Denton County officials announced plans to get in front of the West Nile virus this season and outlined pre-emptive steps to help bolster response to any positive reports, tests in Lewisville and Flower Mound found infected mosquitoes.
Think big on trade deal
Within a few months, the U.S. and European Union will formally launch free-trade talks. Now is the time to think big.
There’s no excuse not to vote
We know you’ve been busy. Spring (yes, it is spring, although last week’s temperatures may have tempted some to double-check their calendars) is a season that is literally blooming with activities. Garden centers are typically crowded as homeowners prepare to plant and cultivate, and area parks and recreation facilities are popular destinations.
Volunteer Station a wise move
Last month, the chairwoman of a city planning committee told Pilot Point City Council members that residents are an untapped resource that the city should use to achieve its goals, and on Thursday, a new focal point for volunteer energy officially became part of the city’s downtown.
Friendship at heart of festival
Denton’s annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration is one of our favorite events, and we’d hate for you to miss any of the festivities, so make sure you’ve got the correct day circled on your calendar.
Women’s group made history
The reunion on Tuesday may have been small in size — about 25 women were present — but the event represented achievements of historical proportion.
Volunteer sets bar high
The next time we need to get motivated to help a good cause or when we start to believe that we’ve done enough and decide to let someone else take over, we’re going to think about Brian Glenn.
Corinth policy right decision
We’ve always found it appalling that so many of our fellow drivers feel that it’s perfectly acceptable to ignore traffic laws.
Leave decision up to voters
The proposal to bring gambling to Texas brings to mind many pros and cons about having casinos accessible to residents of the Lone Star State.
Safety involves community effort
More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival this weekend, and we’re sure that local residents will do their best to make them feel at home.
Bill could harm justice system
We really weren’t surprised to learn that the Texas Senate had approved a bill that would make every facet of a grand jury membership secret, including the names of the grand jurors.
Festival offers something for all
Fans of the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival know that the annual three-day event, which begins Friday, is as unique as the city that hosts it.
Security forum a good decision
We can think of few subjects that concern parents more than school security, which is why we expect an open forum on the topic planned tonight by the Argyle school district to draw a good crowd.
Church teaches by example
The idea of community work projects certainly isn’t new — most of us have heard stories about neighbors pitching in to hoist beams for a barn-raising or volunteers swinging paint brushes and hammers to provide shelter for a needy family.
Institute needs radical treatment
Can the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas survive its scandals? How can voters and scientists ever be able to trust the state-funded entity again?
Opportunities abound to help West recover
Denton County residents mounted a swift and generous response to help those affected by Wednesday’s devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West.
Residents pick Denton’s best
We’ve counted the votes and the winners have been announced — the 2013 Best of Denton section is now available.
Pancake supper serves good cause
We don’t know what’s on your dinner menu for Friday night , but we’ve got a suggestion — how about a big stack of pancakes?
We must all stand as one
Denton County residents may notice changes in security measures at some public events in the near future, and we encourage them to support the men and women who are responsible for overseeing enforcement.
Good deal awaits fest Top Hands
It may be one of the best deals in North Texas. With more than 200,000 people expected to visit Denton’s Quakertown Park for the annual Denton Arts & Jazz Festival April 26-28, the Denton Festival Foundation Inc. is in the market for additional volunteers to help with the three-day event.
Border wall not best bet
On the Texas-Mexico border, the rust-colored wall along the Rio Grande, an 18-foot-high barrier of concrete-reinforced steel with gaps every quarter mile or so, undulates over farmland, wetland and desert at a cost of $20 million per mile. Since the river meanders, the wall encroaches on private property, cuts through the UT-Brownsville campus, isolates an American nature preserve, disturbs animal life and disrupts lives and commerce on both sides of the border.
Residents must remain vigilant
Most of us know enough about the potential perils of electricity to leave jobs more complicated than changing a light bulb to a licensed electrician.
Marker honors city’s heritage
Denton’s rich heritage will be recognized yet again today when the James Newton and Eva Tabor Rayzor House receives an official Texas Historical Marker.
Top teachers put students first
Most of us can recall a favorite teacher or two, gifted individuals who profoundly affected our lives. These were the men and women who loved and lived their calling. They encouraged us to participate, challenged us to do more than we thought we could and dared us to make a difference in the world.
Scholarships provide leg up
This is the time of year when high school seniors in Denton County begin to wrap up their work and look ahead to their next opportunity, and for many, the future is uncertain.
County’s business acumen pays off
Many taxpayers don’t give a lot of thought to bond debt — tax rates and property valuations are typically on their minds because those are the factors that most directly affect their annual tax bills.
Make voice heard by voting
Maybe we’re eternal optimists, but we keep thinking that the day will come when all qualified voters turn out to vote in a local election. Sure, we know that this is probably impossible, but we like to consider the possibility. It’s a little sad to think that people are more interested in what their friends are posting on social media sites than they are in who is going to represent them on city council and school board.
Attack on transparency ends
The U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t have time for speciousness and frivolity. We wish we could say the same for public officials from 15 Texas cities, including Rockport. They spent nearly nine years trying to undermine the Texas Open Meetings Act until the court put an abrupt stop to it recently by declining to review their case.
Corinth plans for future
Most of us are familiar with shop-at-home campaigns — marketing efforts by cities or chambers of commerce that encourage residents to spend their money at local businesses instead of driving to other areas and giving someone else the revenue.
Fight West Nile virus early
Several local municipalities are discussing the best approaches to defend against the possibility of another West Nile virus outbreak in the region this summer, and their timing couldn’t be better.
Bully battle requires parents
Programs like Guyer High School’s recent anti-bullying week are designed to encourage young people to present a united front against those who attempt to harass fellow students, either in person or online.
Sheriff boosts transparency
Time will tell if Denton County Sheriff William Travis can continue to impress, but we like the way he’s starting out. On Tuesday, Travis presented his version of the “state of the union address” to Denton County commissioners, explaining that he wanted to provide the commissioners and county taxpayers with an update of his department’s progress.
More work to be done
United Way of Denton County last week approved the distribution of more than $2 million in campaign funds, and officials said an increase in contributions meant the agency was able to increase its overall support to partner agencies by about 7 percent.
Clean boats to curb mussels
It’s that time of year again when we take our boats from dry dock and prep them for the boating season. Known by some longtime residents as the land of lakes, the North Texas region has numerous reservoirs that also serve as boating havens for those who enjoy fishing, water skiing, tubing and just a few hours lolling along the gentle waves in the middle of a lake.
Renewal ban could backfire
Another example of how passing a law can trigger another one — the law of unintended consequences — came into focus recently when Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo testified at a House committee hearing on a bill passed last session restricting driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Easter highlights bigger picture
Today is Easter, and for those of the Christian faith, it is one of the most important days of the year. Churches throughout the area will hold special services.
Myers’ honor well-deserved
Through the years, the Denton Chamber of Commerce has selected many outstanding people as recipients of the Otis L. Fowler award.
Partnership gets boost
One of the problems with economic development is that much of the work goes on behind the scenes and may not be readily apparent to the public.
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