Best of Princeton ballot pg. 6A
Boys, Girls basketball games in new gym Friday
The Princeton Herald
⢠Princeton, Texas, Thursday, January 12, 2017
⢠2 sections, 10 Pages
The Official Newspaper of Princeton
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Arson suspect arrested after Walmart fire By Wyndi Veigel News Editor
news@princetonherald.com A 28-year-old man is in jail after felony arson charges were filed stemming from a fire intentionally set at Walmart. Jairo Briceno-Barrientos was arrested on charges of arson causing bodily injury/death, a First Degree felony. Shortly after 1:40 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, Collin County Dispatch began receiving multiple calls that the middle of the Princeton Walmart, located at 701 W. Princeton Dr., was on fire. A chaotic scene emerged at the Walmart after several racks of childrenâs and menâs clothing were set on fire. Arriving on scene first, Princeton Police Chief James Waters entered the building as managers and employees were ushering out shoppers. Waters stated that he along with other employees attempted to put out the
âBest ofâ voting inside this issue Voting for the 15th annual Best of Princeton contest starts this week and continues through the end of the month. Ballots for the popular readersâ poll will be available weekly in The Princeton Herald. From accountants to auto repair, workout to annual event, or barbecue to Tex-Mex, readers are invited to vote for their favorites. Ballots can be mailed to The Princeton Herald, P.O. Box 687, Princeton, TX 75407, or brought by the office at 101 S. Main Street, Farmersville. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Jan. 31. The Herald will feature weekly winners based on ballots submitted. Winners in all categories will be announced in February.
fire in the clothing section with several fire extinguishers while waiting for the fire department to arrive. Due to accelerant that was used, the fire was more difficult to quickly extinguish. âAt one point there were flames about six feet over the clothing racks,â Waters said. âI have to give the employees credit for trying to put out the fire while attempting to get everyone out of the building.â Arriving on scene to help extinguish the fire were Princeton FD, McKinney FD, Melissa FD, Branch Volunteer Fire Department and Lowry Crossing Volunteer Fire Department. Within about 15 minutes, the fire was considered under control and shortly thereafter, completely out. After assessing and starting overhaul, four people were transported to area hospitals for smoke inhalation. After closed circuit video See ACCELERANT page 6A
Wyndi Veigel/The Princeton Herald
Firefighters from five departments responded to an arson clothing fire inside the Princeton Walmart Monday, Jan.9. The departments utilized large fans to help abate heavy quantities of smoke.
City council delays business, talks development By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@princetonherald.com Princeton City Council tabled much of its business Monday, Jan. 9, until its Jan. 23 meeting, including items dealing with the development of Arcadia Farms housing subdivision. Arcadia Farms is located on 216.98 acres south of Walmart. Plans call for 949 residential lots.
The council opened a public hearing to take comments on establishing a Public Improvement District and left the hearing open until Jan. 23 at the request of developer Princeton 380. A PID provides for a special property tax to be assessed property owners in the subdivision with proceeds going to help pay for infrastructure construction. Tabled until the next meeting
is action on a resolution authorizing a reinvestment zone for the Arcadia Farms area, providing a financing plan for the cityâs involvement in building infrastructure serving the development. Action on the preliminary plat for Arcadia Farms also was delayed until the next council meeting. Under the consent agenda, the council approved use of
By David Jenkins
Wyndi Veigel/The Princeton Herald
Students Graci Wilkins and Brittney Larocca use a charging station in the new cafeteria expansion to charge their phones after school.
488.38 ft as of 01-10-17
Lake Jim Chapman Normal 440 â Current 436.23 ft
Source: US Army Corps of Engineers
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moted to the top spot for the first time in his career prior to the start news@princetonherald.com of the 2013 season. Other coaching stops included There will be a new head foot- Rockwall-Heath, Mesquite Poball coach roaming the sidelines teet, Red Oak and Farmersville. next season. In his first year, Princeton finLee Wilkins recently resigned ished 10-2, ended up as the coafter four years and an overall re- District 12-3A champions with cord of 29-16. Melissa and made it to the second âAs a coaching staff we are round of the Class 3A Div. I playextremely proud of what we ac- offs. complished. Our kids played They beat Ferris 50-22 in bihard and never quit. district and fell 35-0 to These are tough hard Frisco Lone Star durnosed kids and it was ing area at Kimbrough special to see what Stadium in Murphy. they accomplished,â The following two Wilkins said. âBeseasons, 2014 and sides the first year we 2015, the program never had any diviwent 7-4 and fell in sion one or division the first round of the two kids. We did it 4A Div. I playoffs. with hard work and Princeton fell Lee Wilkins the coaching staff did to Kaufman 42-35 an outstanding job of preparing (2014) and Athens 59-36 (2015), them each week.â both in bi-district. The hiring of a new head coach This past season the team will be discussed during the ended up 5-6 and lost for a third Thursday, Jan. 12 Princeton ISD straight season in the first round school board meeting. of the playoffs. For continuing coverage folThey were defeated 41-14 by low The Princeton Herald Face- Van at Royse City ISD Stadium. book and Twitter pages. Princeton qualified after Dillard said the district had knocking off Anna 35-34 for over 200 coaches apply for the fourth place in the final 7-4A Div. position. I game. âThe quality of coaches that In other district action they applied was good. They ranged beat Quinlan Ford 37-15, and from Class 5A-6A programs that lost against Paris 35-18, Paris went three to four rounds in the North Lamar 27-7 and Texarplayoffs,â he said. âI think the kana Liberty-Eylau 27-3. success we have had in recent The Panthers finished above years helped, but then add in the .500 to start the season with other sports and it makes the job wins over Celina 42-27, Frisco in that much more attractive.â Reedy 37-21 and Melissa 35Wilkins a former defensive co- 12, with loses against Van 56-28 ordinator under Dillard, was pro- and Creekview 20-17. Staff Writer
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .3B Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . .3B Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . .3A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . ..4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B
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reported that two timers and breakers were replaced to repair lighting at J.M. Caldwell, Sr., Community Park/POW Camp. Borg also reported that the city has no ordinances regulating âbanditâ signs, described as signs placed along rights-of-way directing potential homebuyers to subdivisions. Some area communities regulate the signs and the Princeton council may address the issue at a later date.
PISD seeking new head football coach
Inside
Lake Lavon Levels
$316,016 in city funds as the matching portion for a block grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Fund. The grant and matching funds will be used for water and wastewater improvements. On recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, Kyle Sutton was appointed to fill a vacancy in Place 5. City Manager Derek Borg
PHS construction nears completion By Wyndi Veigel News Editor
news@princetonherald.com After a long anticipated wait, construction on the Princeton High School expansion is nearing its end. The first game played in the
schoolâs new gym will be the boys and girlsâ home basketball games Friday, Jan. 13. âWe will still be having punch list items completed through the end of the year,â Superintendent Phil Anthony said. âBut we are basically done with the majority of the construction projects.â
The new cafeteria expansion opened in October and has been utilized heavily by students, Anthony said. âStudents really seem to enjoy the additional menu options,â he said. See FIRST page 6A
Thereâs a new sheriff in town, or at least in the county By Wyndi Veigel News Editor
news@princetonherald.com After more than 30 years of having the same sheriff, Collin County now has a new sheriff in charge. Sheriff Jim Skinner was sworn into office Jan. 1, ready
to take the helm as the countyâs 39th sheriff. According to Skinner, former Sheriff Terry Box had allowed him access to the Collin County Sheriffâs Office over the past several months, aiding in what Skinner hopes will be a seamless transition. âThank you for giving me
the opportunity to serve and for helping me carry forward the tradition and heritage of the Texas Sheriff. Deputy sheriffs and detention officers are members of an elite class of humanity in which few serve. We ask them to make See NEW page 5A