News

Crandall High School Principal Jeannia Dykman has been named Director of Special Education in Tyler ISD. The TISD school board approved Dykman for the new role, which will provide her the opportunity to reach students across the district, at its most recently regularly scheduled board meeting.

Life changed overnight for millions of people across the globe in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which shuttered businesses and forced many people to follow stay-at-home measures issued by their local governments. These measures not only affected the overall health of those infected with the virus, but also those who experienced no symptoms and even tested negative for COVID-19.

To assist with the massive number of people in need of basic nutrition during the COVID-19 crises, members of Southwest Dairy Farmers and Southland Dairy Farmers have pitched in to help their local communities, including Forney, through donations of fluid milk and monetary contributions to fifteen different food banks in six states.

Crandall Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Joe Dale Cary, who last season led the Pirates to their first Regional Semifinal appearance since 1991, is moving to Hondo ISD. Cary has led the Pirate program the past six seasons and will serve in the same dual capacity as head coach-athletic director for the Owls.

Forney ISD’s senior class of 2020 may have missed out on a lot of the traditional aspects of their senior year, but Superintendent Dr. Justin Terry and the amazing staff at FISD were not satisfied to let the year end that way.

In April of this year, Forney ISD announced the Teachers of the Year for each school in the District. Following those announcements, each Campus Teacher of the Year conducted virtual interviews with a District Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. On Thursday, May 7, the District officially announced the District’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.

“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” - C.S. Lewis

The North Forney High School Percussion Ensemble recently received an invitation to perform at The Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference. The Midwest Clinic is scheduled to be held Dec. 16 through Dec. 19 in Chicago, Illinois. The conference is the largest band and orchestra conference in the United States.

The Forney City Council has scheduled another fantastic new event for area families to enjoy! The Forney Festival of Lights is scheduled to debut during the holiday season of 2020 in light of a resolution passed on Tuesday, April 21, by the City Council that authorized City Manager, Tony Carson, to execute an agreement with Mosca Designs. Based out of North Carolina, Mosca Designs a holiday décor company that specializes in commercial light displays. Their work can be seen in a number of cities across the nation.

St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church now hosts a monthly food truck for the community. In line with the mission of Catholic Charities of Dallas (CCD) to address the root causes of poverty, hunger, and homelessness while providing support, resources, education, and inspiration, St. Martin of Tours has joined the effort to fight hunger in our area.

AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced the first phase of the State of Texas’ ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. The Governor also outlined special guidance for Texans over 65 and detailed a comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas. The Governor also announced a statewide testing and tracing program developed by DSHS that will help public health officials quickly identify and test Texans who contract COVID-19 and mitigate further spread of the virus.

As I was reading a “secondary” newspaper (Dallas Morning News) in our household, I spotted a headline that stated, “African American Studies Approved,” and I was immediately transported back to my younger days at dear ol’ East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. I had a casual acquaintance there, who later became a semi-friend, classmate, and sometimes lunch table partner when we both happened to dine at Central Cafeteria—Harvey Banks Martin—“All-American” at ET and “STAR” for the Dallas Cowboys, when they were still the COW-BOYS!