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The Forney High School Color Guard wrapped up their winter guard season with a trip to the North Texas Colorguard Association (NTCA) Championships in Coppell, Texas, last Sunday. On April 3, the Guard performed their winter guard show, The Raven, competing against top 31 schools in the National A division for the preliminary competition, and received third place. That bronze medal also gained them an invitation to perform their award winning routine at the event’s Grand Championship showcase that evening.

Yesterday, I coordinated a wedding. Sounds relatively simple, yes? But, the reality is far more saturated than that basic description. It’s almost noon. I don’t intend to change out of my pajamas. I may or may not get back in the bed soon. My blisters have blisters. My lower back is speaking a language mostly comprised of ampersands, asterisks, and at signs. Yesterday was a fourteen-hour day and the day before was similar. The last time I ate a complete meal was probably 3 days ago. I spent most of yesterday in an alternate world, one where I was constantly in motion and barraged by questions. At one point, I looked up and saw an actual line of people, probably only 3 or 4, but my brain saw a Woodstock sized gathering. Each person had some random object in their hand. They were the helpers, the ones who say, “What can I do,” but don’t really seem to understand what it is you need. One by one, they shouted, “Where does this go,” as they held up their _____ (insert: saltshaker, doily, wood slice, burlap runner, something that looked like a twig, a pebble, a handful of dirt). It gets to the point where you cannot form words any longer. I have learned to just smile, hold out my hand, and take the object. If I’m still coherent and someone has made sure I take occasional water sips, I will exclaim, “Oh, I’ve been looking for this,” in order to make them feel victorious. Wedding coordination, the making, the styling, the set up, and the takedown, is one of those things easiest done solo, in my opinion. Then, there’s the added angst of being the person who makes sure everyone walks at the proper time. The flower girls mustn’t cry for mommy. The horse in the pasture behind the macramé altar mustn’t nibble on the macramé. The photographer promised to have the pictures done in 30, but you know it will take hours unless you reign them carefully. The father of the bride is always going to wander off right before the dance with his daughter. And, on and on we go. I am reminded why I don’t do weddings anymore. My almost 55-year-old body can’t run on adrenaline as long as it once could. The old gray mare just ain’t what she used to be.

I truly believe planning and making preparations for an upcoming outdoor outing is almost as much fun as the event itself! After many years kicking around the outdoors, enjoying everything from hunting big game to dunking a minnow in a farm pond for crappie, I’ve pared my gear down for each endeavor. Just recently, I packed my bag for upcoming spring turkey hunts and checked it twice. I can’t afford to be way back in the woods on a turkey hunt and discover I’ve forgotten a vital piece of equipment!

To achieve most goals in life, you need some type of strategy. And that’s certainly true for your financial goals. Since you likely have multiple financial goals, you may need to pursue several different strategies – but they all should follow a similar process.

The 4th annual Casino Night is now a memory of a great evening thanks in no small part to all of the sponsors. The presenting sponsors were Gallagher Construction and Huckabee with title sponsors of Walsh Gallegos and Cantu Harden LLP. Other sponsors included at the Gold Level- Intex, Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott,LLP, Tracon Construction. At the Silver level- American National Bank, Live Oak Public Finance, Edward Jones- Greg Pharris, Advisor. The Bronze level included- George and Marsha Brown, Scott Lawton, Warren Instructional Network and Professional Development, PBK. The Benefactor level was filled by City Bank, EMS Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., North Texas Mechanical, LLC, Southwestern Land & Title, Steve Silver Company, and McDonald Realty Team. And the Teacher of the Year sponsors were: Amanda and Mike Lewis, Forney Legacy Project, KB Cattle Company, Lewis Elementary PTO, Murrey Paschall & Caperton PC, Walsh Gallegos, Warren Middle PTO, Bradford Law Firm, Smoothie King, Flower Basket, Criswell PTO, and Oncor.

At their March 24 meeting, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Board of Directors adopted the organization’s updated 2022-2027 Strategic Plan and approved numerous actions associated with ongoing water and wastewater projects. A recording of the meeting can be viewed at www.ntmwd.com/board-of-directors/ board-meetings/.

From a young boy in Royse City who picked up a guitar to explore a new hobby to taking the stage on The Voice in 2021, Clint Sherman has already walked quite a path for a young man. But he’s not stopping now.

More than 180 properties in an approximately six mile long, 1,200 feet wide path along the Kaufman County/Henderson County line remain in limbo until the Van Zandt County District Court attends to the case filed between the two counties that disputes which county that stretch of land belongs to.

Thanks to increasingly busy weekday schedules that have families running in different directions for work, school and extracurricular activities, weekends are an ideal time to recharge. Too often, however, family members retire to their respective rooms, devices in hand.

The negative effects of isolation is something the vast majority of the world can now relate to. The COVID-19 pandemic forced people from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe to spend less time with friends, family members, neighbors, and other acquaintances. As the world cut back on in-person interactions to curb the spread of the virus, billions of people recognized just how difficult feelings of isolation can be.

Playing a musical instrument benefits people of all ages, including children. Young children may take to music education more readily than adults, acquiring skills in record time. While many instruments are beneficial to kids, certain choices are best for children just starting out.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on communities across the globe. No individual, household or industry was unaffected by the pandemic, and the ripple effects of the virus may be felt for years to come.

Crandall High School’s chapter of the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) competed in the 38th annual Teach Tomorrow Summit on March 3-5 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Seniors Kaitlyn Roberts and Madison Lene advanced to nationals while Seniors Karmyn Bass and Hailey Golden earned gold at the event, attended by more than 2,000 students.