The Sachse News (Sachse, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 21, 2011 Page: 1 of 20
twenty pages : col. ill. ; page 23 x 13 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TV ■ p.: j
■ ' ?"f |j.? '• '• w V r" ■',■ '• v' iJ ' J
'rX • (" r"
■' r.j
Get a subscription today! Call 972-442-5515
Sachse News
0 Copyright 2011 Al rights reserved.
Volume 7 Issue 13
Shining on the community, events and people of Sachse
sachsenetus«com
Sachse, Texas • Thursday, April 21, 2011 • C&S Media Publications • 3 Sections, 20 pages 75 cents
City mourns former volunteer killed fighting wildfire
By Patty Montagno
Staff Writer
pmontagno @ sachsenews. com
The community is in mourning and
flags are flying at half staff in honor
of former Sachse volunteer fireman
Greg Simmons.
Simmons died in the line of duty
while battling a 3,000-acre rural fire
in southern Eastland County.
Simmons had been a volunteer
member of the Eastland Fire
Department for the past II years.
Before moving to Eastland he spent
10 years as a volunteer for the Sachse
Fire Department.
Simmons was the cousin of Wylie
Fire Capt. Ray Jackson and former
Wylie fireman A.B. Simmons.
"We're flying the flags at half staff,"
Fire Chief Doug Kendrick said.
"Everyone is in shock. I loved Greg and
his family. He loved being a fireman
and loved his community. We gave him
the nickname Pudge because he was
short and stocky."
Although the first reports said
Simmons died of smoke inhalation, the
corner's report revealed the cause of
death was an accidental blow to his
upper torso.
Kendrick said a preliminary investi-
gation now shows that Simmons died
after being hit by a vehicle after he fled
a fire truck trapped in a wildfire-con-
sumed pasture. The incident is under
investigation.
Kendrick said Simmons and his wife
Carrie loved Sachse and its firemen.
"The family moved to West Texas
to be near Carrie's family and open a
business there," Kendrick said. "But
the first thing he did when he moved
was to join the local fire department
and get involved in his community."
Mayor Mike Felix said he was very
distressed when he heard the news.
"I knew Greg and his family," he
said. "Carrie served on the Fallfest
committee for several years with my
wife Kelley. Our thoughts and prayers
are with them."
Lt. James Marple referred to
Simmons as a "modern-day Will
Rogers" because he never met a man
he didn't like, and he didn't know of
anyone who didn't like Simmons.
See VOLUNTEER page 4A
Photo by Patty Montagno
Easter bunny madness
Left, Mariah LaSan hugs the Easter Bunny during thecity Easter egg hunt April 16. The annual
event drew about 350 children and parents. The children were divided into three age groups and scram-
bled to find eggs candy and prizes. Later in the day residents brought their dogs to the park for a special
doggie bone hunt. Dogs, kept on a leash at all times, were divided in several groups based on weight to fer-
ret out dog treats. That evening the city sponsored a flashlight egg hunt at the park.Young teens and their
parents used flashlights to hunt for golden eggs, candy treats and prizes. Heritage Park is located at 4408
Hudson Dr.
■
«wPP*'
*
Photo by Patty Montagno
Fire Chief Doug Kendrick retires
firefighter #612 equipment.
Firm hired
to find city
manager
By Patty Montagno
Staff Writer
pmontagno@sachsenews.com
The Sachse City Council hired the
consulting firm Strategic Government
Resources to help in the search for a
new city manager.
The firm will be paid $16,000 for
the work, with expenses expected to
be an additional $4,500.
The city's former city manager,
Allen Barnes, resigned March 1. City
Finance Director Jeri Rainey was
appointed interim city manager.
In his presentation to council dur-
ing a recent meeting, SGR CEO Ron
Holifield said his company provides a
comprehensive scope of executive
search services.
"Each executive search service
contract is tailored to meet the client's
specific needs," he said. "SGR pro-
vides a high degree of personal atten-
tion to each executive search that is
conducted, and our role is to find the
See SGR page 3A
City Council considers electronic agendas for citizens, staff
By Patty Montagno
Staff Writer
pnumtagno@sachsenews.com
Sachse City Council members and
city staff are discussing the implemen-
tation of the new Legistar software for
electronic council agendas and eventu-
ally live streaming of council meetings
via the Internet.
The program was previously dis-
cussed during a March council meeting.
During that meeting, staff estimated
that the city's average council packet
City changes venue
for kids' movie in the park
c
Th? movie "Tangled" will be
shown at 7:30 p.m. April 30 at
Salmon Park. The park is located at
4302 Williford Rd.
The location was previously set
for the new municipal complex
amphitheater, which is still under
construction.
For information call 469-429-
0275.
Inside
Area Briefs 2A
Classifieds 2C
Obituaries 4A
Opinion 9A
Real Estate 2C
Sports IB
'The use of automated
staff a greater level
agenda software will provide the citizens, council and
of transparency with a greater ease of research."
Jeri Rainey, interim city manager
contains approximately 175 pages of
information with 13 packets per meet-
ing. At two meetings per month that
equates to about 4,500 pages of paper.
During that meeting it was also stat-
ed that City Secretary Terry Smith esti-
mated the cost to run a copy is approxi-
mately 10 cents. In addition to the num-
ber of pages there is a $5,500 printing
cost per year.
"This type of electronic software is
used in cities all over the country,"
Interim City Manager Jeri Rainey
said. "These programs will allow an
electronic submittal, approval, collec-
tion and collation of the packets. The
software will also allow the packet to
be emailed to council, posted to the
web in its entirety, and even emailed
to citizens who request it. This soft-
ware would permit greater govern-
mental transparency and will allow
greater understanding of issues by
citizens."
Rainey said the automated agenda
software would greatly reduce staff
time in the agenda process.
"The new software will help keep all
agenda items complete, organized and
connected to every supporting docu-
ment," she said. "Every document,
spreadsheet or whatever associated with
an agenda item, is tracked."
Rainey said utilizing Legistar will
help the city maintain its current open
government policy.
"The use of automated agenda soft-
ware will provide the citizens, council
and staff a greater level of transparency
See COUNCIL page 8A
Vinson officially named WISD superintendent
By Judy Thiesdell
Staff Writer
news@csmediatexas4'om
Dr. David Vinson is officially the
new superintendent of Wylie ISD.
At the April 18 WISD board meet-
ing, trustees officially hired Vinson,
currently the superintendent of the
Floresville school district. And
Vinson officially signed the docu-
ments agreeing to take the position.
According to information from the
district. Vinson's annual salary will be
$185,000. He will pay his own health
insurance, and be given a one-time
moving allowance of $5,000.
Vinson becomes superintendent
July 1.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to
bring my family to one of the best
school districts in the state - to a place
that honors community and God and
all the things our family holds dear."
Vinson said.
Current Superintendent Dr. John
Fuller retires at the end of this school
year.
"Someone told me I have big shoes
to fill," Vinson said. "Right now I feel
like they're boats."
Vinson holds a doctorate in curricu-
lum and instruction (2008), a master's
degree in education (1996), and a
bachelor's degree in business admin-
istration (1990), all from Texas Tech
University in Lubbock.
See NEW page HA
e e *\
Photo by Donnita \esbii Fisher
David Vinson and his son Cat
accept a basket of Wylie spirit
items from WISD trustees.
News wins awards in press association contest
The Sachse News received several
awards in the North and East Texas
Press Association Better Newspaper
Contest 2010.
The awards were presented at the
annual NETPA convention, held last
week in Fort Worth. The News compet-
ed in the small weekly category.
Sports Editor Greg Ford received
second place for Sports Coverage.
Judges said they enjoyed the photos
and that the paper had "good leads."
"Good coverage of all fall sports
and I like the box with the football
story." a judge said.
The paper received second place for
Page Design.
In this category, the newspaper is
judged on the design of its front page,
editorial page, a feature page and
sports page.
Judges said they enjoyed the read-
able movement on the front page and
the clean look throughout the paper.
The Sachse News also won third
place in Headline Writing.
See NEWS page SA
■ |
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Fisher, Donnita Nesbit. The Sachse News (Sachse, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 21, 2011, newspaper, April 21, 2011; Wylie, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353480/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Smith Public Library.