The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 7, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 24, 2019 Page: 4 of 12
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4A starlocalmedia.com
The Colony Courier Leader
Sunday, March 24,2019
TO SUBMIT YOUR
STORY IDEAS
OR PHOTOGRAPHS,
EMAIL CROARK@
STARLOCAL
MEDIA.COM
VOICES
Red River
failure
City to create case manager fund
CHRIS ROARK
croark@starlocalmedia.com
for pedestrian and parking viola-
tions.
/A The Red River
I Expedition of 1806
A was supposed to
be another in a string of
scientific triumphsfor
the United States as it ex-
plored the new territories
of the Louisiana Pur-
chase. Captain Richard
Sparks, Thomas Freeman
KEN
BRIDGES
Texas History Minute
and Peter Custis led a team along the Red
River into Southwest Arkansas and into
North Texas to the source waters of the Red
River in what is now the Texas Panhandle
to learn about the local Native American
tribes as well as the geography and plant
and animal life. It would end in failure
after a stunning betrayal.
By July 28, the team was about halfway
along the length of the river, roughly north-
west of New Boston. At a bend in the river,
the team noticed a large force of heavily
armed Spanish troops.
Regardless of what legal claims the Unit-
ed States or Spain had on the Red River as
a boundary in what is now Bowie County,
all the Americans realized that their lives
were at risk. The Spaniards had orders to
defend what they considered Spanish terri-
tory with deadly force if necessary.
Francisco Viana, commander of Spanish
forces in East Texas, had received infor-
mation in Nacogdoches that the Red River
Expedition was moving up the river by April
and sent a letter of protest to American
officials.
Viana ordered the Americans down the
river back into the United States. Badly
outnumbered, the expedition agreed,
barely escaping with their lives. Not long af-
terward, the Red River Expedition crossed
back from Texas into what is now Arkansas
and continued back down the river without
incident.
The source of the betrayal was from
within the highest levels of American
government. The source, U. S. Army Gen.
James Wilkinson, had long worked as a spy
for Spain, supplying information on Amer-
ican activities for a price. Personal profit
was his only loyalty.
Wilkinson’s treachery was widely
suspected at the time. In 1805, Wilkinson
had been named territorial governor for the
Louisiana Territory, which through a some-
what confusing naming scheme meant the
territory north of what is now Louisiana,
including Missouri, Arkansas and Oklaho-
ma. What is now Louisiana was the District
of Orleans.
Wilkinson, at one point the most
senior member of the Army, continued his
betrayals in his new post. As soon as he
learned of President Thomas Jefferson’s
plans for exploring the Louisiana Purchase,
he secretly told Spain of these plans - for a
price. Spain, fearful of Americans pushing
into their territory, was determined to see
the voyages fail. In the end, the Red River
Expedition was sabotaged.
Wilkinson was later forced out of the
army after his disastrous performance
in the War of 1812. However, he would
somehow manage to find his way back into
political good graces and named ambassa-
dor to Mexico in 1816.
Wilkinson died in 1825 as he attempted
to cash in on his position as ambassa-
dor with a large land grant for himself
in Texas. He was buried in Mexico City.
Several decades after his death, around
the 1850s, a large cache of correspondence
was found within Spanish colonial records
in Louisiana, proving that Wilkinson was
actively working as a spy for Spain and had
betrayed the United States on numerous
occasions, including his information on the
scientific expeditions into the West.
The opinions that appear in the
“Voices" section are not necessarily
those of Star Local Media. Send
your letter to the editor to
lmcgathey@starlocalmedia.com.
STARLOCALMEDIA.COM
ONLINE QUESTION
OF THE WEEK:
WHAT SHOULD
HAPPEN TO
THE PARENTS
IN THE
COLLEGE
ADMISSIONS
SCANDAL?
Constance White, court admin-
Law breakers in The Colony istrator, said the case manager is
will have a slightly more expensive needed. She said while the over-
"We (recently) had a docket of about
five 12- to 13-year-olds.They had
charges of possession of drug
paraphernalia and assault charges.
So we can address these issues,
find out what the underlying issues
are and address those.”
CONSTANCE WHITE, COURT ADMINISTRATOR
consequence later this year, but all juvenile case numbers remain
officials said the long term benefit about the same over the years,
will be significant, they’re coming in differently.
The Colony City Council on "The juveniles are getting
Tuesday approved an ordinance es- younger and younger,” White
tablishing ajuvenile case manager said. "We (recently) had a docket
fund. of about five 12- to 13-year-olds.
Per the ordinance the case They had charges of possession
manager program would be funded of jrug paraphernalia and assault will partner with school resource tions involving juvenile education,
by an additional $5 court cost for charges. So we can address these officers since many cases come He or she will monitor community
each violation in the city, except issues, find out what the underly- from Lewisville ISD. She said the service and classroom obligations,
ing issues are and address those" case manager and SRO can put to- as well as counseling sessions as
The case manager will work gether a plan for the juvenile and referred by the First Offender Pro-
with the municipal court to en- the parents. gram.
hance efforts to help juveniles and The case manager will also White said there is often a gen-
minors who do through the court partner with community’ members erational gap between the juvenile
system. • to further establish resources for and the grandparent that may be
“Having a juvenile case man- the defendants who are required raising them. She said the case
ager will allow the court to look to perform community service, manager will step in and help co-
at individual needs of particular She said this position will allow ordinate counseling.
juveniles and minors that will be for closer management of this and White said the case manager
coming into the court, " White said other existing programs in the would not be an additional position
She said the case manager can court. but would add duties to an existing
discuss more of the complex cas- She said other responsibilities position.
es, identify resources that fit the will include maintain all juve- White said had the ordinance
needs of the individuals that are nile dockets, as well as reporting been in place, the court would have
coming into the court and provide qualifying cases to the Texas De- received $23,650 last year based on
alternate solutions and strategies, partment of Public Safety. White 6,926 citations issued and 4,730
“It gives them someone they said reporting to the DPS prevents citations paid, with similar values
can go to, not just the juvenile but minors who have not fulfilled their dating back to 2015. In 2014 the
also the parents, to provide some obligations from getting a drivers court would have received $52,270
consistency if we feel there are dif- license or suspends the license for (12,520 citations issued, 10,454 ci-
ferent situations that are causing those who have one. tations paid).
these behaviors,” White said. The case manager will also White said traffic violations
White said the case manager partner with LISD for presenta- • See FUND, Page 5A
“There’s nothing
more important
than the future of
our kids. These are
coming in at an
early age, so there’s
an importance to
implementing this
program.”
COUNCILMAN
DAVID TERRE
Tween reporter awarded scholarship
MONIQUE BIRD
Star Local Media contributor
An ll-year-old journalist who’s
made headlines for his work re-
porting on national elections is
about to make the news again.
Young, yet already intrepid, re- |
porter Phoenix Legg was invited
to the University of North Texas to
spend the day as an honorary jour-
nalism student. His first stop was a
meeting with UNT President Neal
Smatresk and Provost Jennifer
Cowley who surprised him with a
special scholarship in recognition
of his work as a budding journalist.
From there, Legg, with his dad
Matt in tow, attended a producer’s
pitch meeting, reported on the
day’s news, conducted interviews
COURTESY OF MICHAEL CLEMENTS
11-year-old journalist Phoenix Legg, pictured next to UNT President
Neol Smatresk and UNTProvost Jennifer Cowley.
| attending UNT's Distinguished
Lecture Series event featuring
I CNN’s Don Lemon.
The curious Cedar Hill native
| garnered national attention during
| the 2016 presidential campaign.
■ when at age 9, he convinced his fa-
| ther to buy a RV so the pair could
s travel the nation reporting on
political events, interviewing pro-
testers outside of the White House
| and covering election results. For
i example, in 2018, he became the
e youngest credentialed journalist at
the Conservative Political Action
Conference (CPAC).
■ The Frank W. and Sue Mayborn
■ School of Journalism at the Univer
B sity of North Texas is one of the na-
H tion’s top journalism schools, with
more than 1,200 students studying
and anchored a live news broad- room and the ntTV and KNTU-FM School of Journalism and the De- print & digital journalism, photo-
cast. Legg visited the student-run studios - as well as other facilities partment of Media Arts.
journalism, broadcast, advertising
media outlets-the NT Daily news- of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn Legg will complete his visit by and public relations.
Denton County Democratic Party sets goals
DRU MURRAY
Star Local Media contributor
LEARN MORE
The Denton County
Democratic Party urges
anyone interested in joining
their efforts to check out
upcoming events/meetings at
dentondemocrats.org.
opment; Dan Nichols and Kathy “We have our eye on helping in-
Faulkenberry, ethics; Jocelyn crease voter participation,” Swan
McMurray, community outreach; said. "Texas has very low voter
Walter Padilla and Dave Scheffer, participation and changing that
technology, and Bob Marion and is very important to us. We work
According to Chairwoman Dr.
Angie Cadena and Executive Di-
rector Sandy Swan, the Denton
County Democratic Party (DCDP)
is busy working to accomplish
three basic goals.
Cadena was elected in March,
2018. unpimem coordinators. The Denton County Democrat-
The first goal of the DCDP isAdditionally, Brandon Jones ic Party’s third goal is to increase
building the party’s infrastruc- sion an i a e eve opmen , serves as the DCDP's treasurer, communication among Demo-
ture. Said Swan, “We are growing, Ethics, Community Coutreac . and Lesly Gutierrez is the secre- crats. One of the ways the party
which means we need to function Tec hnology and Fundraising com- tary. is doing this is “having an open
effectively and efficiently and mittees. "The secretary position is an mic at the beginning of executive
build for the future.” Committee chairs/co-chairs important one as it’s one of only meetings” Swan said.
One way the DCDP is building are: Tihleigh Roach and Khristen two positions named in the Texas The Denton County Democrat-
the party’s infrastructure is by Jones, communications; Mat Pru- Party Rules, the other being the ic Party urges anyone interested
creating and supporting various neda and Michelle Butler; diversi- chair,” Swan said, in joining their efforts to check
Jocelyn McMurray, fundraising. to provide voter education at com-
Swan stated, "We have a Com-
munications, Diversity & Inclu-
sion, Candidate Development,
Ethics, Community Outreach,
Technology and Fundraising com-
Coordinators are Barbara Pal- munity events and register voters
cewski and Cheri Kennedy, volun- and to provide information about
teer coordinators, and Gail Rut- elections and which offices are
ledge and Beki Burchette, office open.”
committees and having coordina- ty and inclusion; Sally Haynes and Second is striving to increase out upcoming events/meetings at
tors.
Jail time
Community service
A big fine
They
shouldn’t
be punished
Keri Curathers, candidate devel- voter participation.
24%
dentondemocrats.org.
16%
Make them go
back to college”
- Janie F.
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McGathey, Liz & Roark, Chris. The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 7, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 24, 2019, newspaper, March 24, 2019; Plano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1622504/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Colony Public Library.