Wylie East’s Saucedo takes third in state wrestling tournament, 1B
THE WYLIE NEWS Covering Wylie and the surrounding area since 1948
©Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Volume 69 Issue 43
Wylie, Texas
•
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
•
C&S Media Publications
•
3 Sections, 14 Pages
$1.00
Piano teacher indicted From Staff Reports news@wylienews.com
Collin County grand jurors returned two felony indictments last week against Rodgin Arpon, 44, of Wylie in a case alleging sexual assault of a child. Arpon, who taught piano out of his home on Summerdale Lane, was arrested on the charges in January. Wylie Police Department and Collin Rodgin Arpon County Advocacy Center investigated the allegations. There were reportedly two victims in the reported assaults. Charges on which Arpon was indicted were aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, sexual contact.
NEWS YOU NEED
Photos Joe Reavis/The Wylie News Rookie firefighter Kate Hull, with Battalion Chief Brian Ritter, was Firefighter of the Year for 2016 was Randall Barber, on left with named recipient of the Wylie Way Award and Rookie Firefighter of Fire Chief Brent Parker. the Year at the department’s annual banquet.
Wylie F-R recognizes hard work By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@wylienews.com For the efforts to serve the community and department over the past year, Wylie Fire-Rescue personnel were honored last week at the department’s annual awards banquet. The event was held Friday, Feb. 24, at the First Baptist Church Event Center downtown. In addition to awards, firefighters and their guest enjoyed a
Bear business brings comfort, joy. See full story 1C.
Texas Independence Day
Wylie area residents may be hearing the sound of fireworks at what seems to be an odd time of year, but the booms coincide with Texas Independence Day for which fireworks sales are now allowed. Texas celebrates the 180th anniversary of its independence from Mexico on Thursday, March 2. On that date in 1836, 59 delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos to pass a declaration of independence. Wylie residents are reminded that it is illegal to discharge fireworks inside city limits. Fireworks sales for Texas Independence Day started Feb. 25 and end on March 2.
Lake Lavon Levels Normal 492
489.73 ft. as of 02/27/17
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Inside this issue Classifieds.........................3C Education .........................4A Life & Style...................... 1C Obituaries......................... 2C Opinion............................ 5A Sports .............................. 1B THE WYLIE NEWS (USPS) 626520) is published each Wednesday at 110 N. Ballard, Wylie, 75098. Second Class Postage paid at Wylie, 75098. Send address changes to P.O. Box 369, Wylie, 75098. Published by C&S Media, Inc. ©Copyright 2017. No reproduction without permission.
How to reach us: 972-442-5515 phone news@wylienews.com
catered dinner. Fire Chief Brent Parker acted as emcee for the banquet. Invocation was offered by Mayor Eric Hogue and the department Honor Guard presented the colors. Guest speaker was Buzz Kolbe who coordinates Leadership Wylie. “2016 was another busy year and it just continued to get busy,” Parker said. The chief reported that the department responded to 4,300 calls, and
received only two complaints. Biggest events were a pair of hailstorms, on March 23 and April 11. The second storm, which pummeled homes and buildings with softball sized hail, damaged 80 percent of the homes in Wylie to the tune of an estimated $4 billion. On a more positive note, Parker reported that hiring has started to staff the fourth fire station to be built soon. “Tonight it is really an honor to be with all of you,” Hogue said. “Hats off
to the service you provide to our city and citizens.” Friends of Wylie Fire-Rescue President Wendell Daniel was not able to attend the banquet, but appeared via a video recording. Daniel reported that the organization raised about $10,000, used to benefit the department. This year, the group will award its first college scholarships to children of firefighters who are graduating high See AWARDSt page 6A
Council candidate seeks to bridge community By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@wylienews.com With a goal of bridging the gap between city government and the community as a whole, 13-year Wylie resident Zewge “Ziggy” Kagnew seeks election to Place 5 on the city council in the May 6 election. He hopes to utilize his experience of 13 years as a real estate agent, 20 years as a radio personality, and community experience and involvement throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the benefit of Wylie residents. “I believe that when you engage the ordinary citizen and he, or she, be-
comes more involved in He also has been a comthe affairs of their city, munity radio host for more whatever is implemented than 20 years, receiving will meet the needs of a many awards for his sergreater number of peovice to several communiple,” Kagnew said. “In ties. doing so, we will have Kagnew recently gradua stronger city of Wylie ated from the Wylie Citizen where people take pride Police Academy, an experiin ownership, thus beence that gave him a better coming more involved in understanding of the sacZewge Kagnew decisions that affect our rifices that police officers future and the future of those who will and their families make. In addition, eventually reside here.” he is a media advisor for Ethiopian The candidate earned a Bachelor Sports Federation of North America of Business Administration Degree at and is public relations advisor for Dallas Baptist University and works Mutual Assistance Association for the as a real estate agent in the Wylie area. Ethiopian Community.
Education Foundation gala set By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@wylienews.com All the stops are out for a Mardi Gras celebration at the 14th annual fundraising gala of Wylie ISD Education Foundation set for Saturday, March 25. The 14th annual gala starts at 6 p.m. at Southfork Ranch. Tickets are $60 each, or $400 for a table of eight, and are available online. Title sponsor is PBK Architects. “The evening will not disappoint,” Education Foundation Executive Director Jordan Adams declared. On tap are live entertainment, street performers, a Cajun dinner, live and silent auctions and more. Attendees who wear a Mardi Gras mask are eligible to win a $500 gift card provided by Adam Leggett of State Farm Insurance. More than 600 people attend the annual event. Featured entertainment is Austin musician Luke Whitney. Adams noted that this year’s gala would be more of a party than a program. This is the second year for the Mardi Gras theme. One order of business will be the announcement of the winner of the Elisabeth W. Garrison Award, named for business owner and civic leader Elisabeth W. Garrison who supported the education foundation and various other
charities. In 2006, she established the Carroll/ Garrison Scholarship Endowment to ensure that Wylie students who want to attend college have the means to do so. The Garrison Award goes to a woman who demonstrates leadership, lives or works in the Wylie school district, volunteers her time, talent or money to worthwhile causes, and who deems education to be of high importance. The annual gala is the largest foundation fundraising event of the year. In 2016, through sponsorships, donations and auction proceeds, the gala netted $80,000. “It’s going to be a fun evening to raise money for our kids and teachers,” Adams said. The foundation was created to promote quality education and enhance educational opportunities for all Wylie ISD students. Grants are given to educators and staff to develop innovative instructional program, to campuses to address unique challenges, to the district for programs that stimulate through or advance new approaches to teaching, to new teachers to help them prepare for their first year on the job and to students as college scholarships. Goals of the organization are to provide a continuous source of funds from donations, promote student development and excellence, encourage creativity among educators, and to motivate the community to become directly involved in education.
He has attended city council meetings and learned the impact that council decisions make on the quality of life Wylie citizens enjoy. He believes the council has done good work, but that it can do better. “I’m not interested in the job of being just a politician, but I am deeply interested in engaging ordinary citizens into the decision making processes of our city government, overall, and doing what needs to be done to build a stronger city,” Kagnew declared. By involving citizens in their government, he believes the city will become stronger and citizens will take more pride in ownership of their community.
Darling Duo
Brooke Hoffard/The Wylie News
Jeremy Staab joins daughter Brooklyn on the dance floor during the Daddy Daughter Dance at Whitt Elementary Friday, Feb. 24. See 6A.