Joshua Rifle Team Places fifth in nation, McCune named second overall shooter

The best Navy rifle teams in the nation faced off in Millington in the Secretary of the Navy Air Rifle Nationals Competition recently.
Through area air rifle competitions conducted earlier, the field of sporter teams had been reduced from 832 to 20 teams and the field of precision teams from 64 to 15 teams. The different categories are based on the type of rifle and shooting equipment used by the shooting teams. Joshua was the only NJROTC qualifying both a sporter and a precision team at the national competition.
The event was conducted aboard Naval Support Activity Mid-South Millington. Rear Admiral G.E. Voelker, Commander for the Navy Recruiting Command, recognized participating teams at an evening banquet for their high level of achievement in marksmanship. He honored the cadets for their self-discipline, leadership, and teamwork, which were all tested in the SECNAV National competition. Joshua was recognized for the sporter team finishing fith overall and the precision team placing sixth overall, resulting in Joshua as the only unit with top 10 teams in the nation in both categories.
High shooter overall for Joshua was Justen McCune, finishing second in the nation.
"It [SECNAV Nationals] was the hardest competition of my life," McCune said.
High schooter overall for the Joshua Precision Team was Jason Yandell.
Yandell stated, "The most exciting thing about going to Nationals was getting to compete with the toughest teams around."
The Joshua cadets were rewarded the day following competitions with a morning of bowling and a tour of Memphis, including Graceland and the Memphis Queen docked on the Mississippi River.

Cleburne woman is arrested following stabbing of boyfriend's ex-girlfriend

A 24-year-old Cleburne woman was jailed Sunday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.
Lena Thornton was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford. Thornton's bond was set at $10,000.
The incident began as a verbal dispute, via the telephone, between Thornton and the 17-year-old victim, Kisha Carroll, early the morning of Jan. 12.
The sheriff said Carroll said she had received harassing phone calls from Thornton, who is dating Carroll's ex-boyfriend, 21-year-old Brandon Hershom.
Following the argument on the phone, Carroll went to Hershom's home in the 1600 block of Cherry Court and "a confrontation began between Carroll and Hershom," the sheriff said. "Thornton then threatened Carroll before stabbing her in the left abdomen with a three to four inch knife with a serrated blade."
Care Flite flew Carroll to Harris Hospital in Fort Worth where the victim was treated and released with no life threatening injuries.

Citizen of the Year honor is long overdue for one with 'passion' and 'true volunteer spirit'

By SALLY ELLERTSON
Star Group Staff Writer
Amazing.
Strong willed.
She "makes things happen."
That's the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year, Cathy Smith. The honor was presented to her by last year's winner, RD Scott, at the chamber banquet Jan. 25 at the Holiday Inn-South.
"Shock, disbelief," Smith said when asked what she thought when she heard her name.
She shouldn't be, according to those who nominated her.
"The award is long overdue," said banker Patsy Dumas. "She will be so happy to be recognized."
Long overdue because Smith, the advertising director for the Burleson Star and the Star Group of newspapers, has been involved in the chamber for at least 12 years where she has served in various capacities and won numerous awards. She is also involved with the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Miss Burleson Pageant, Texas Press Association, and Big Red Booster Club.
"Cathy has the true volunteer spirit and with her leadership and organizational skills she is a real asset to the Burleson community as a whole," fellow chamber ambassador Lori Cross said. "No matter what she is involved with, she gives it her all with great passion."
Fellow ambassador Ken Prachar said Smith is the go-to person when you have a job that needs done.
"She takes the bull by the horns and gets it done. You can rely on Cathy to get it done and get it done right," Prachar said.
Huguley Memorial Medical Center's Kurt Adamie agreed.
"Cathy's involvement with the American Heart Association (2002 publicity chairman for the Lone Star Cowboy Ball) and the American Cancer Society (2002 Relay for Life of Burleson and 2003 co-chairman/recruiting chairman) continues to put Burleson on the map with these organizations. Cathy's participation represents Burleson well," Adamie said. "She tirelessly promotes Burleson sincerely with her whole heart. Cathy single-handedly recruited me and had me catch her excitement for Honeyfest and several other events for Burleson."
Adamie said the award winner is "great at identifying and recruiting new talent to promote Burleson events. She is very persuasive and very organized."
Smith, 49, moved to Burleson in September 1985 from Springfield, Mo., when she was offered a sales position at the Burleson Star. The Crowley Star was added to what would eventually become the Star Group in 1987, then the Joshua Star came on board in 1988. It was followed by the Keene Star in 1993, Alvarado Star in 1996, Benbrook Star in 1999, and the South Tarrant Star in 2000.
It was through the newspaper that Smith got involved with the chamber.
"I came down here in 1983 and went to the first chamber auction," Smith said, "but I got involved in the chamber in 1986 because of the business contacts."
She served with the chamber's ambassador club from 1987 to 1993 and again from 1998 to the present; served as vice president of the ambassadors from 1989 to 1990, president from 1990 to 1991, and historian for part of 2001. Smith was also founding member of the Olde Towne Burleson Good Life Days celebration in 1986; top sales for the Ambassador Pancake Breakfast in 1988; top solicitor for chamber auction solicitations in 1987; member of the chamber auction/gala committee for 11 years, co-chairman for eight years and solicitations chairman for five years; member of the chamber's Good Life Days committee for nine years and co-chairman for four years; Honeyfest chairman for 2002; participant in the Johnson County Crimestoppers Jail-A-Thon in 1988 and 1989; Star Volunteer Award Winner in 1987; BACC Community Involvement Award in 1998; BACC Advertising Excellence Award in 1997; BACC Extra Mile Award in 2000; BACC President's Award for outstanding service in 1994; and Ambassador of the Month six times from 2001-2002; member of the chamber's education committee for five years; and member of the chamber's New Teacher Luncheon committee for five years.
'I got involved with the committees because I like to do things. I like to volunteer," Smith said. "At first, it was a good way to get to know people. I've made a lot of good friends, both business and personal, and forged a lot of relationships. It seems like when you open one door it just leads to another and another and another."
She admits to a "passion" for the chamber of commerce.
"When Greg (Solomon, president) came here, he said, 'make a difference.' And, you really can," Smith said, "One person can."
Her involvement with the AHA's Lone Star Cowboy Ball and the ACS' Relay for Life as well as Johnson County Cares Support group grew from those chamber relationships.
"That's how people know me," Smith said. "You form this network of people."
In addition to her chamber work, Smith was the co-chairman of the Main Street Gala, Downtown Fort Worth Inc. for spring 2002; member of the Johnson County Cares steering committee (2002 to present); Miss Burleson Pageant director in 2002 and judge for the Miss Teen Burleson Pageant in 2001; Texas Press Association contest committee member from 1994 to the present; member of the TPA advertising committee from 1993 to 1999; member of the TPA Midwinter Convention Committee from 1996 to 1998; judge for the TPA Better Newspaper contest since 1999; coordinator for the North and East Texas Press Association in 2001; and, volunteer for the American Cancer Society Speakers Bureau since 2002.
Smith also developed the concept and assisted in the planning and implementation of the Huguley Memorial Medical Center "Salute to 25;" has had advertising designs recognized by TPA three years in statewide contests; the Star Group's advertising department has been awarded Excellence in Advertising awards 20 times in the last seven years by three different press associations; and the Kelly Clarkson Signature edition published in 2002 was selected as a finalist in the TPA Midwinter Special Sections Contest.
Her work with the newspaper group is a passion.
"I love what I do," Smith said. "I think community newspapers really are the footprint of the community. If you look at any town that doesn't have a community newspaper, they don't grow and they don't have the sense of community. They are missing something. I really think that what we do here is important for future generations. We are a scrapbook of time."
Smith has played a vital role at the Star Group.
"With her energy and enthusiasm and desire to get things done, she keeps all of us at the newspaper office on our toes trying to keep pace with her. She consistently strives to be the best she can be and, by example, encourages others to do the same," Star Group Publisher James Moody said. "Many people have big ideas, but Cathy is one of those rare individuals who produces big results. She's shown it time and time again, both in her capacity as advertising director for the Star Group newspapers and in her community involvement.
"We feel fortunate to have had her on our team for well over a decade and Burleson is a better community for her having been on the Burleson team. We're extremely proud of Cathy. It was an honor that was certainly deserved."
Dumas described the award winner as a "giving and caring person. She likes things to be done right and sometimes her way, though it always does turn out to be a great job. She has a way about her to raise money and involve people and is so willing to help anyone when she is asked. She takes hold of projects and plans and sees them through to the end. She always aims for success."
And, Smith has done all of that while overcoming some obstacles. She was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1998.
"She has been knocked to her knees with her health in the past few years, however this did not keep her down or from her volunteer work," Dumas said. "She is an asset to the ACS because of her own illness as well as being an asset to all she helps or she is involved with."
Smith and Jeff, her husband of 18 years, have two children-Billy, 16, a sophomore at Burleson High School and Lauren, 14, an eighth grader at Hughes Middle School. Jeff is a quality engineer at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.
"Jeff has always been there for me," Smith said. "He sees the difference in me when I feel like I'm contributing. It completes me and he sees that. It feeds me."
The two have known each other for more than 35 years.
"She is really dedicated to helping people," her husband said. "Ever since I've known her she's been a community-oriented person who just enjoys people."

Joshua Fire Department Log

Date-Type of Call-Location-Mutual Aid Dept.

Feb. 23-EMS-100 block of Oak Street
Feb. 24-structure fire-700 block of Stadium
Feb. 24-EMS-1000 block of S. Broadway
Feb. 24-citizen assist-1000 block of S. Broadway
Feb. 24-EMS-500 block of Cooper
Feb. 25-utility emergency-300 block of N. Gregory
Feb. 25-EMS-8600 block of CR 1016
Feb. 25-chimney fire-1200 block of N. Main
Feb. 25-EMS-200 block of Santa Fe
Feb. 25-chimney fire-1200 block of N. Main
Feb. 26-accident -CR 911 @ CR 917
Feb. 26-transfer-Walls Hospital-assisted AMR
Feb. 26-EMS-200 block of Greenville
Feb. 27-accident-5800 block of Scott Court
Feb. 28-citizen assist-1000 block of S. Broadway
Feb. 28-EMS-900 block of Lakeview
March 1-EMS-6600 block of CR 1022
March 1-EMS-2100 block of Timber Top Trail
March 1-EMS-1000 block of S. Broadway
March 1-smoke investigation-6100 block of CR 1022
March 1-EMS-900 block of S. Broadway

Joshua Police Department Log

Editor's note: The following data was gleaned from incident reports made by Joshua Police Officers. Names of arrestees are not always available, and arrests do not confirm guilt. Names of victims are seldom used, and listing specific locations of crimes often is avoided.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003
·21:38 ­ officer responded to a traffic accident.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003
·08:55 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a stranded 18-wheeler.
·15:55 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to vehicles driving recklessly in a parking lot.
·18:55 ­ officer responded to vehicles stuck at the intersection of FM 917 and Main.
·22:24 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
·23:12 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003
·04:41 ­ officer received a call that a vehicle was blocking the roadway at the above location.
·05:50 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a vehicle blocking the roadway.
·11:38 ­ officer spoke with a complainant about juveniles climbing over his fence. Extra patrol was posted.
·21:08 ­ complainant requested extra patrol.

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003
·03:59 ­ officer was dispatched to assist a citizen.
·10:07 ­ officer picked up paperwork from a complainant for another officer.
·12:31 ­ officer spoke with a complainant.
·17:59 ­ officer was dispatched to a rolling disturbance.
·18:20 ­ officer was asked to assist Rio Vista Police Department.
·21:45 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a reckless driver.

Friday, Feb. 28, 2003
·00:23 ­ William Ray Tharpe, a 17-year-old white male from Cleburne, was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
·01:41 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to barking dogs.
·02:30 ­ Gary Alan Henderson, a 30-year-old white male from Itasca, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
·02:45 ­ Gary Alan Henderson, a 30-year-old white male from Itasca, was arrested for a traffic offense.
·11:30 ­ officer responded in reference to theft of a water meter.
·11:54 ­ officer responded to a suspicious person.
·14:02 ­ officer responded to a traffic accident.
·16:54 ­ officer responded to a theft complaint.

Saturday, March 1, 2003
·01:50 ­ Eric Lamont Lauderdale, a 30-year-old white male from Fort Worth, was arrested for an outstanding warrant from Denton.
·07:03 ­ officer responded to an abandoned vehicle.
·09:54 ­ officer responded in reference to a suspicious incident.
·12:30 ­ officer assisted a citizen.
·12:58 ­ officer assisted a citizen.
·14:57 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a traffic hazard.
·19:38 ­ Edward Richard Tew, a 62-year-old white male from Fort Worth, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
·23:41 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a 911 hang-up.

Sunday, March 2, 2003
·10:20 ­ officer responded in reference to cruelty to animals.
·14:00 ­ officer spoke to a citizen in reference to another report.
·21:40 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a suspicious person
·21:47 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a reckless driver. The officer was unable to locate the vehicle.
·22:26 ­ Rufus Lealfred Wilson, a 47-year-old white male from Joshua, was arrested for intoxication.
·23:28 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a welfare check.

Monday, March 3, 2003
·02:26 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
·06:31 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a three-vehicle accident.
·06:31 ­ Elizas Carros Lopez, a 46-year-old white male from Cleburne, was arrested for an outstanding warrant from Johnson County.
·08:30 ­ officer was dispatched to meet a complainant at the police department.
·08:40 ­ officer took a report of a vehicle burglary.
·09:00 ­ officer was dispatched to meet a complainant at the police department.
·09:30 ­ officer was advised by a sergeant that she had received a phone call from a complainant stating that there were numerous items of written and computer pornography laying near the roadway on N. Main.
·09:47 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to a welfare check on a 911 hang-up.
·11:00 ­ officer was dispatched to meet a complainant at the police department to fingerprint him.
·11:52 ­ officer was dispatched to offer public service to a complainant.
·14:40 ­ officer assisted a citizen with the taking of his fingerprints.
·15:15 ­ officer spoke with a citizen in reference to a collection agency asking her to pay for bad checks. The officer informed the citizen that the matter was a civil one.
·15:57 ­ officer was dispatched to speak to a complainant about an abandoned vehicle.
·17:10 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to retaliation.
·18:31 ­ officer spoke to a citizen in reference to phone harassment.
·22:26 ­ officer was dispatched in reference to suspicious activity.
·22:26 Rufus Lealfred Wilson, a 47-year-old white male from Joshua, was arrested for assault with bodily injury.

Kohl's kicks off third annual Kohl's Kids Who Care program

More children would volunteer if more opportunities were created for them and they were asked, according to a groundbreaking youth volunteerism survey that is the first to poll both volunteering and non-volunteering youth on the subject.
Nearly half of children who do not currently volunteer cited the same reason for not doing so: no one asked. Almost seven out of 10 youth who currently do not volunteer would likely do so if opportunities were created for them by schools or other organizations, according to the survey, which was conducted on behalf of Kohl's Department Stores by Teenage Research Unlimited, one of the country's leading research firms specializing in youth.
"The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of creating opportunities and inviting young people to get involved," said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of Washington D.C.-based Youth Service America, a resource center committed to making youth service the common experience for all youth in America.
"Today's youth recognize the benefits of volunteering for their communities as well as themselves, and we can help plant the seeds of lifelong community service by introducing them to volunteer opportunities when they are young," Culbertson said.
According to the survey, 70 percent of the youth who volunteered began doing so before the age of 12, prior to their schedules filling up with other activities. Having the time to volunteer become much more of a factor among 15- to 18-year-olds than it is among 10- to 14-year-olds who do not volunteer.
The survey findings come as Kohl's Department Stores announces its third annual Kohl's Kids Who are volunteer recognition program. The program recognizes youth, ages 6-18, for outstanding service to the community with national finalists receiving $5,000 for their post-secondary education. This is the first year that Kids Who Care commissioned a survey that polled young people directly.
"The Kids Who Care program provides the kind of recognition that encourages even more young people to make a difference in the community," Culbertson said.
"We know that kids volunteer because they want to help someone," Julie Gardner, senior vice president of marketing at Kohl's said. "Kids Who Care is about encouraging young people to make a difference and have fun doing it."
The survey also found that 81 percent of young volunteers started with an activity organized by their school, a club, or religious organization. Through their experience, these young volunteers felt they really helped someone else while having fun. They felt better about themselves and planned to continue in volunteer activities. In fact, 85 percent of this year's young volunteers plan to volunteer next year.
"Creating opportunities for kids to volunteer is key to raising the levels of youth service and spreading the benefits of volunteering," Culbertson said. "The Kohl's study quantifies the benefit of creating volunteer opportunities, which is that more kids will volunteer."
Kids Who Care recognizes and rewards kids who volunteer in their communities. Nominees must be between the ages of 6 and 18. Nominees will be judged in two age groups: 6-11 and 12-18. Nomination forms can be obtained at Kohl's stores and at www.kohlscorporation.com. The deadline for entries is March. 15. National winners will be announced in August.
Two winners will be selected at each store ­ one from each age range ­ to receive a $50 gift card. Those winners will go on to compete for one of 94 regional scholarships worth $1,000 each. Regional winners will compete for one of the 10 national scholarships worth $5,000 each. In addition, Kohl's will contribute $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on behalf of each national winner.
The Kids Who care volunteer recognition program is part of the company's Kohl's Cares for Kids program, which raises funds for children's hospitals, features fund-raising gift cards for local schools and nonprofit youth groups, and provides an employee volunteer program to encourage volunteerism to benefit local nonprofit organizations.
Kohl's commissioned Northbrook-based TRU to conduct the survey. TRU is the first marketing research firm to specialize in the teenage market. TRU boasts the world's most widely subscribed-to syndicated teen study and remains the only full-service marketing research firm solely dedicated to understanding teens. The Kohl's survey has an error rate of plus or minus three percent.
Based in Menomonee Falls, Kohl's is a family-focused, value oriented, specialty department store offering moderately price national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, and home products. The company operates 457 stores in 33 states. For a list of store locations, or for additional information, visit Kohl's Web site at www.kohls.com.

Local church celebrates 29 years

First Assembly of God in Joshua will be celebrating its 29th anniversary March 9.
Pastor Wilbur Stanley and his family began the church March. 4, 1974 and the first service was held March 10 in a storefront building on Hwy. 174. Church members then purchased three acres where the church now sits and built the auditorium in December 1975. The educational facility was completed in 1981.
The church has grown to a congregation of 230 members and has a yearly missionary support of $90,000 that it donates to world and home missions.
Each year, the women's, men's, youth, and children's ministries have their own projects and the church has auxiliary programs to support missionaries. The church is a member of the General Council of Assemblies of God out of Springfield and of the North Texas District Assemblies of God in Hurst.
NTDAG Supt. Derwood Dubose will speak Sunday morning at the anniversary celebration. The men's Life Challenge Choir out of Dallas will be leading in worship.
Sunday school will commence at 9:30 a.m. and the anniversary celebration service will begin at 10:15 a.m. with lunch to follow.
"The whole community is invited," Stanley said. "We want all of our former members to know that they are welcome. We want to offer up our thanks to the community who has been a part or helped us in any way with the progress of this church."