Parker County

Parker County Emergency Management to hold new CERT classes

September 11, 2012 by Randy Keck

Parker County Emergency Management, under the direction of Parker County Judge Mark Riley, is seeking volunteers interested in training to assist in times of disaster or emergency.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class will be held beginning Sept. 29 at the Parker County Emergency Operations Center, located at 215 Trinity Ave. in Weatherford. The full schedule is as follows:

Saturday September 29 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday October 1 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Monday October 15 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Monday October 29 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday November 3 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Kit Marshall, Parker County Community Liaison for Emergency Preparedness, said that CERT is an all-hazard training designed to help residents help themselves, family, friends and neighbors in an emergency situation.

“CERT volunteers are trained in basic disaster skills to respond effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in danger,” Marshall said. “The level of training equips CERT members to assist during a disaster until professional fire, police and EMS arrive on scene which could be anywhere from a couple of minutes to hours, depending on the situation.”

For more information, email kit.marshall@parkercountytx.com or call 817-598-0969.

Drive-Thru Flu Clinic

September 10, 2012 by Lisa Parker

From the Office of Parker County Judge Mark Riley

"DRIVE-THRU FLU CLINICS AVAILABLE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

The Parker County Hospital District and Parker County Emergency Management are teaming up in an effort to offer low cost flu vaccinations simultaneously at three separate drive-thru locations in Parker County on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Flu vaccinations will cost only $10 for adults and will be free for children from ages 9 to 18, according to Kathleen Durham, Marketing Director for the Hospital District. Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield users will need to bring their insurance cards so that they can be billed. Medicare patients will pay nothing out of pocket if they have their Medicare card. Seniors age 65 and over can choose to receive a “high dose” vaccine, as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Parker County residents will be able to find the clinics at the following locations: 400 Eagle Spirit Lane off of FM 1189 in Brock, the Springtown ISD Transportation Barn at 501 Pojo Drive and the Aledo ISD Maintenance Barn at 1000 Bailey Ranch Road, just east of the football stadium.

According to the CDC, this vaccination will protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during this season. This includes an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus.

Special Crimes busts K-2 ring, seizing $280k

September 5, 2012 by Katie Martinez

Special Crimes investigators in Parker County have rearrested the owner of a Weatherford smoke shop after discovering a warehouse full of cash and synthetic marijuana.

Francisco Don Uduwarage, 40, of Weatherford, was arrested last week at his shop and charged, along with a cashier in the store and a customer, while officers seized around $27,000 worth of K-2.

Upon further investigation officers discovered a warehouse and seized an additional $134,940 in K-2 along with $118,340 in cash.

Uduwarage is currently being held in the Parker County Jail, bond has not yet been set.

For more on this story look for the Sept. 7 issue of The Community News.

Weatherford ISD grad killed in Afghanistan

August 9, 2012 by Randy Keck

By Derik Moore
Weatherford ISD Director of Communications

Clayton BeauchampWeatherford ISD has received confirmation that 2009 Weatherford High School graduate Clayton Beauchamp was killed Tuesday in active duty while serving his country in Afghanistan.

According to a statement by the United States Department of Defense, Beauchamp – a 21-year-old Petty Officer 3rd Class in the United State Marines – died from the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) during a dismounted patrol in the Shaban District of Helmand province.

“Weatherford ISD staff members, current and former students are deeply saddened by the loss of Clayton,” Weatherford ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Hanks said. “Students are considered family members by many of our staff members, and a tragedy such as this one just tears us all apart.”

Dr. Hanks said Beauchamp also attended Seguin Elementary, Curtis Elementary, Tison Middle School, and the WHS Ninth Grade Center.

“Clayton will be remembered as a hero by all of us here at Weatherford ISD," Dr. Hanks added.

Weatherford High School English teacher Christine Goss also remembered Beauchamp as a former student in her classroom.

“Clayton was a kind and courteous young man with a lightning-fast grin,” Goss said. “He typically was pretty quiet during class discussions, but when that grin flashed, everyone knew he had something interesting and fun to say.”

Start of construction of FM 1187 delayed

August 1, 2012 by Randy Keck

Start date pushed back to mid-September or October

Local residents anticipating the start of construction on the project to widen FM 1187 will just have to wait.

Originally scheduled to begin in mid-to-late August, the start date has been delayed because AT&T has reportedly not completed moving utilities along the roadway.

Find more on this story in the Aug. 3 issue of The Community News.

Parker County Final Returns

July 31, 2012 by Randy Keck

Final Returns from Parker County's July 31 Runoff Election:

Parker County Election Returns Update

July 31, 2012 by Randy Keck

With 33 of 44 boxes reporting, Parker County Runoff totals:

Parker County Early Vote Totals

July 31, 2012 by Randy Keck

Polling locations for today's voting

July 31, 2012 by Randy Keck

Polling sites open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Emergency Preparedness Office recognized

June 29, 2012 by Randy Keck

From the Parker County Judge's Office

Kit Marshall, Community Liaison for Emergency Preparedness, recently spent time in Austin, after she was selected to team-teach the State CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Master Instructor class.

“It is an honor for Kit and something we are all very proud of,” County Judge Mark Riley, Director of Emergency Management said. “It speaks well for our Emergency Preparedness staff when one of our employees is to the level where she is teaching not just the community but emergency preparedness personnel across the state.”

Marshall said she was pleased with the opportunity to educate others on CERT.

“CERT training is something I believe is invaluable for every family, neighborhood or community,” she said. “It is basic life safety training that gives one the ability to know what to do and perhaps even save the life of another before a first responder arrives. There is nothing more valuable than a human life.”

After the State CERT Master Instructor class, Marshall traveled to San Antonio to co-lead two educational sessions at the 3rd Annual Texas Unites Conference in San Antonio Put on by Texas Citizens Corp and the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; it is one of the largest annual professional, volunteer and emergency management training summits in Texas.