Excited about educating

Bolton exhibits ‘zest, zeal’

A recent hire will lead one of the Denton school district’s newest programs — an employee child care center.

The center’s first coordinator Hugh Bolton, or “Mr. B,” as his former young students called him, feels a flood of emotion about the job because of the potential he sees.

“It’s exciting … to use the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to actually create a program from the ground up,” Bolton said.

On July 1, his first day on the job, Bolton was already looking ahead.

The district still needs to hire staff members for the center, which is scheduled to open in January. Bolton wants employees who will work to help the program meet several standards to become nationally accredited.

According to the school district, Bolton has nearly 20 years’ experience in early childhood education and development.

Since high school, Bolton said, he’s worked for a variety of high-quality programs, so he knows how to make improvements.

His goal is to establish a program that goes beyond the state’s minimum standards for child care facilities.

Holiday weekend deadly on lakes

Diver who drowned at Ray Roberts identified

Lewisville Lake was its normally crowded draw last weekend. And with four of the area’s seven drownings, it was the deadliest scene during one of the deadliest times at North Texas lakes in recent years.

Boating accidents caused none of the deaths for a change. Authorities say there’s no indication alcohol, while still being investigated in some cases, was to blame.

And they say the deaths, while tragic and regrettable, are perhaps the latest examples of what happens when people lack preparation or respect for the water. Or when good-time crowds and water mix.

Capt. Garry Collins of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said last weekend was the deadliest holiday here in his 10 years in North Texas.

“One drowning is too many,” he said, “but you know you’re going to have them when there’s this many people around water.”

At Lewisville Lake last weekend, the body of 3-year-old Natalie Escobar was found floating not far from her father and uncle. A 31-year-old Houston man, Ismael Rangel, and his 18-year-old nephew, Saul Rangel of Lewisville, drowned while swimming, as did Eugenio Reyes, 26, of Dallas.

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