Bill YoungWeeks after Willow Park Mayor Ken Hawkins proposed that the six cities of East Parker County unite under one municipality with the Aledo name, another proposal has come forward.
Hudson Oaks City Councilman Bill Young, who Hawkins mentioned as a supporter at the town hall meeting last week, has written a full response to Hawkins' united cities proposal and is proposing a separate plan for the assumed growth coming to Aledo, Hudson Oaks, the Annettas and Willow Park.
Dominic Genetti/The Community News: Hudson Oaks Mayor Pat Deen was the first mayor to back out of the united cities proposal made by Mayor Ken Hawkins of Willow Park. The plan calls for the uniting of the six cities of East Parker County; Aledo, Hudson Oaks, the Annettas and Willow Park.
Six days after Willow Park Mayor Ken Hawkins officially proposed to the public that the six cities of East Parker County merge and become one, three area mayors have confirmed that they want their cities removed from discussions.
In an e-mail to Willow Park Mayor Ken Hawkins, the mayors of the cities of East Parker County and the media, Hudson Oaks Mayor Pat Deen is officially backing his city out of any discussions to merge Aledo, Hudson Oaks, Willow Park and the Annettas.
"The primary reason is the concern for the impact of property taxes, when we already have exceptional services provided to our residents without the need for property taxes," Deen said in his e-mail.
Following the Aledo City Council meeting Thursday night, Aledo Mayor Kit Marshall said she will not partake in any regional meetings that involve the merging of the six cities.
Hawkins said he will still advocate and lobby for his proposal.
Click to watch a video report on Hawkins' open forum:
Willow Park Mayor Ken Hawkins says the region would benefit if the six cities of East Parker County join and become one. The idea is causing mixed reviews and raising a lot of questions. Watch the video below and get the full story.
Grant Blaeser, a soldier in the U.S. Army who was deployed to Afghanistan, was seriously injured during a suicide bomb attack July 2 and is still receiving treatment for his injuries.
Blaeser lost his left leg from the knee down in Afghanistan and was transferred to Walter Reed hospital in Maryland. According to Blaeser's mother, the doctors were able to save his left arm. He will remain in Walter Reed for the next few weeks. His family will return to Aledo next week.
Blaeser's parents, James and Patti Blaeser live in Aledo.
Dominic Genetti/The Community News: An Aledo Volunteer Firefighter inspects the rollover accident along Kelly Road.
The driver of the sedan that flipped over along Kelly Road in Aledo July 8 has been identified.
Frieda Mae Carmichall, 72, of Aledo was traveling north on Kelly Road when she approached a curve at an unsafe speed, according to the Department of Public Safety. Carmichall apparently overcorrected her 1995 Oldsmobile which caused the tan-colored vehicle to flip to its left and roll before landing on its top.
Carmichall was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.
According to a nursing supervisor, she is listed in serious condition.
