News

As Forney’s population continues to grow, local residents are no strangers to traffic congestion. With many of the area’s major roadways under the control of the State of Texas, many needed improvements come on the timeline of the State rather than the desires of local cities and citizens. In 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation held several public hearings, announcing planned projects and improvements for the area. To the relief of many area drivers, TxDOT will soon be beginning the work to make our daily commutes a little easier.

By Misty Holler Staff Writer

Waylon, Mary Anne, Ella, and Luke invited MiMi and Grandpa to go with them to the Arboretum and promised that it would be safe! They were correct, as limited attendance and social distancing and masks were the rule, so don’t be afraid to go if you are invited! And, if you are “distanced,” you may pull down your masks for photos.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden invites visitors to experience one of the most magical traditions in the Southwest-Holiday at the Arboretum, presented by Reliant, which runs from November 7 to December 31. Two large-scale exhibits are featured: the classic 12 Days of Christmas depicting each day in the beloved carol with 25-foot tall elaborately decorated Victorian-style gazebos; and the return and expansion of The Pauline and Austin Neuhoff Christmas Village highlighting 14 old world European-style shops in a magical setting. New this year in The Christmas Village are a 23-foot-tall German-built authentic Christmas Pyramid that includes beautiful lighted motion on every level, an Edelweiss Haus for delicious food and drinks, a Chocolate Shop and a Toy Shop. According to Southern Living, Holiday at the Arboretum is one of “The South’s Best Holiday Experiences.”

The month of October is filled with fun holidays that relate to the four endorsements that are available in Forney ISD for high school students in planning for their future readiness. The four endorsement areas are STEM, Business and Industry, Public Service, and Arts and Humanities. The days celebrate different elements of the culinary arts--pasta, coffee, dessert, vegetarian; areas of art and humanities--poetry, writing, books; different finance careers in business and industry--fair trade month and retirement security week; and in public service, different types of medical professionals--pharmacy tech, medical assistant, physician’s assistant--and different careers in education--teachers, coaches, and mathematics.

I am still in disbelief! It just can’t be true! From the time I was not past the age of first walking, our FAMILY (including Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, Cousins, In-Laws, and probably even some outlaws who sneaked along) has been going to Fair Park to visit the DALLAS AQUARIUM, along with other museums and exhibits. When we gather for Family Reunions in Oklahoma, we still talk about all we have seen there through the years.

When people want to give back, many look to support national charities and other causes that they hold near and dear. Certainly these are worthwhile causes. However, giving back on a local level is a great way to help the people you see every day.

Symptomless, but needing to be Covid-19 tested to satisfy visitation restrictions and to become essential care givers for my mom at Three Forks Assisted Living, my wife and I checked out numerous options, with varying degrees (all acceptable) of satisfaction regarding costs, ease reaching locations of testing, and other general concerns. I will admit that Vivian did most of the pre-looking and decision-making, first by phone and then followed up on-line, and handled everything wonderfully!

If you’re a caregiver, possibly for a loved one dealing with an illness such as Alzheimer’s disease, you’re probably already facing some significant emotional and physical challenges – so you don’t need any financial ones as well. Yet, they are difficult to avoid. What steps can you take to deal with them?

Sixty years ago, and I was a 4th Grader. We finally were part of the “Big Building” and were allowed to buy football ribbons when the High School Cheerleaders came to the Grammar School to sell them at lunch time. As I remember, they cost 10 cents each and came complete with a “straight pin” to use to fasten them to shirts, blouses, and the front parts of the legs of jeans. They were also sometimes means of torture if a “mischievous big kid” cornered a “little timid kid” out of the sight of the duty teachers! Usually, there was more “threat” than “stick.”

There’s a quotation that circulates around from time to time, the kind where someone picks a background image – maybe the outline of a grove of trees with a moon sketched above, or a retreating wave on a beach that left a whole sand dollar in its haste to depart – with words positioned just so, for that aha moment effect. The author is never credited. Mostly, when I’ve seen this image, it just says “unknown” where the name should be. Junior detective that I am, I can tell you, based on my research, it was penned by author Jay Neugeboren. The quote is this: “A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who loses a child. That’s how awful the loss is.” Jay and I seem to agree on a lot.

The television, internet, and DMN all recently backed up what I have, for many years, proclaimed as FACT to you—THERE ARE RATTLESNAKES IN THIS AREA!

Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Isela Woolverton excelled in school despite a difficult home life and soon found herself enrolled in her first year of college. As she began to look at the opportunities around her, Isela decided the best of those opportunities for her was in the U.S. Navy. With no military background and no real swimming experience, this was to be a challenge for her, but this tenacious young lady would not be deterred. She ultimately became a Yeoman Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy.