Book Drive for Kids’ signature Adult Spelling Bee event is here to stay. If last year’s inaugural event wasn’t convincing enough for you, this year’s follow-up on April 5 surely sealed the deal after raising a staggering $35,000 – an increase of nearly 152% from last year’s total – to support future book fairs and other initiatives aimed at furthering the nonprofit’s mission of getting books into the hearts and homes of needy children.

Former football coach Robbie Waters is spearheading a project that, if successful, could change the complexion and brighten the future of high school football in the Town of Flower Mound. Waters, who has coached at both Marcus and Flower Mound high schools for more than a decade, said in all...

The City of Highland Village recently obtained Platinum level designation by the American Heart Association Workforce Well-being Scorecard program. The national designation recognizes organizations that foster a culture of health and well-being for their employees. The Workforce Well-being Scorecard measures the extent to which an organization has implemented best practices, as defined through a collaboration of leaders from some of the largest companies in the United States, according to a city news release.

The Heritage Spring Splash Pad at Heritage Park in Flower Mound has opened for the season. The town of Flower Mound’s Parks and Recreation Department announced that the popular splash pad opened Wednesday and will remain open through Sept. 30. The splash pad is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The town of Copper Canyon has selected a police chief to lead its new police department. The Town Council voted last summer to create a police department because the Denton County Sheriff’s Office wasn’t able to provide enough deputies on contract, Mayor Ron Robertson said last year. The town has selected Roger Tighe as its first police chief.

Construction work will affect traffic on Shiloh Road in west Flower Mound for the next month. On Monday, Reynold’s Asphalt Company began reconstruction of Shiloh Road between FM 1171 and Kings Road, according to the town of Flower Mound’s website. First, the southbound lane is closed, with southbound traffic detoured onto Kings Road. The northbound lane will remain open until the work is completed on the southbound lane, and then it’ll switch. Northbound traffic will be detoured to Lusk Lane.

The city of Denton recently expanded public access to Narcan, an intranasal medication that can treat opioid overdoses in emergency situations, by placing overdose prevention kits in AED boxes at every city facility. Many local first responders carry Narcan on them in case they are the first to respond to...

Communities In Schools of North Texas, a Lewisville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting at-risk students in public schools, announced this month that Atmos Energy donated $20,000 to support its work that helps students overcome challenges in their lives to succeed in school and go on to reach their full potential.

Gretchen Lou Snyder Meilinger passed away peacefully at her home on April 8, 2024. She was 88 years of age and remained with us until shortly after the ending of the Total Solar Eclipse – an event very fitting to signify her passing. Gretchen was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who was well-loved in her community of Double Oak. She was known for her infinite kindness and acceptance of others, even when it was not popular to show such respect. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was an avid supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, and tirelessly volunteered within the communities she lived in and loved. She and her late husband, George Hugh Meilinger, were committed to instilling these values in their children, and did so by setting the example. The Meilinger’s had four wonderful children, Lisa Meilinger Alford, Kevan Meilinger, Holly Meilinger Burrow, and Dirk Meilinger. Though Kevan would precede her parents in death, her memory never faded and was always cherished. Gretchen is also survived by eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. In addition to Gretchen’s immense capacity for love and acceptance of others, she was also widely commended for her seemingly endless amounts of energy and determination. Her children often felt unable to keep up with the whirlwind of ideas, projects and various improvements that their mother would continually embark upon – ultimately those projects were often being done to improve their lives, not hers. The consummate giver. This drive and stamina continued as she worked to assist her grandchildren and great grandchildren. A quote which also defined the way Gretchen lived, that many in the family will carry with them forever is, “If you want something done, you gotta get up and do it! Keep moving!” She continued to personify this statement even through her final years. She was a woman on the move, always helping those she loved. A Celebration of Life will be held at her home in Double Oak on May 4, 2024 at 4 p.m. Additionally, as she was a pillar of the community in Door County, Wisconsin, there will be a second celebration there, during the summer.

Denton County ESD No. 1 is inviting the community to help place a new fire engine in service with a traditional Push-In Ceremony. The new engine will be housed in Station 513 at 865 Copper Canyon Road in Lantana, replacing an 11-year-old fire engine that will be a reserve unit for the ESD, according to a district news release. To recognize the special occasion, the ESD will host a community event at Station 513 at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The push-in ceremony consists of spraying down the engine, drying it off and pushing it into the station bay.

Denton County residents have until Tuesday evening to vote early in the May 4 General Election. Local voters will cast their ballots for local town council and mayoral races, school board seats and special elections for eight-figure school district bonds and town charter amendments. Click here for more information about local races and special elections.

Here are a few instances where the Bartonville Police Department was called for assistance in February:. 3200 block of E. FM 407, officers responded to an assault stemming from a road rage incident. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the assault and filed an offense report. 3000 block of E. FM 407,...

Recent calls for service to the Double Oak Police Department:. 2/16-Agency Assist BVPD/3000-Blk E FM 407-Assisted Bartonville PD on a suspicious person who was hitting on females at an establishment. 2/16-Agency Assist BVPD/300-Blk E Carruth Ln-Assisted Bartonville PD on a warrant arrest for an offense that occurred in their jurisdiction.

Denton County ESD No. 1 is excited to invite you to join us at our 2nd Annual Carry The Load event on Saturday, May 18th from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. To honor Memorial Day, Denton County ESD No. 1 will be partnering with Carry The Load – a nonprofit organization that supports first responders and veterans (carrytheload.org). Carry The Load was founded by Veteran U.S. Navy SEALs and started as a mission to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day. Their mission is to provide active ways to honor our nation’s heroes and raise funds to provide services to first responders, veterans, and their families. Some of our own personnel and colleagues across other departments have been the recipients of their supportive services.