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Updated Friday, December 30, 2011 4:14 PM
2011 in Review: The year that was
By Ken Gaidziunas
Van Alstyne Leader
JANUARY – The Van Alstyne school board approved the resignation agreement with Superintendent Dr. Alan Seay. Assistant Superintendent Rick DeMasters took over the day to day operations of the school district.
Snow started falling in Van Alstyne and Howe and didn’t stop until the area was covered with several inches.
The City of Van Alstyne accepted a sculpture as a gift from an anonymous donor. The donor also agreed to provide a concrete pad and safety items for the sculpture’s permanent site, which was Dorothy Fielder Park.
FEBRUARY – The Van Alstyne school board hired Dr. Ann Dixon as interim superintendent.
Winter weather wreaked havoc, especially on U.S. 75 which was the scene of numerous accidents resulting in complete closure of the highway.
The Grayson County College kicked off the College Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign with a wine and cheese tasting event.
MARCH – The Van Alstyne school board announced Dr. John Spies as the lone finalist for the district’s vacant superintendent’s position.
With the election filing period closed Van Alstyne Mayor Ruth Ann Collins filed for re-election and would be challenged by Kim DeMasters. Councilman A.C. Mosby was seeking re-election and was challenged by Adam Wise. Councilman Billy Plake also filed for re-election and was challenged by Pat Paterson.
Vying for the Place 3 seat on the Van Alstyne school board were Randall Morgan, Brian Rose and Van Ulrich. Competing for Place 4 seat were Debbie Nance, Dan DePree and Russell Moore.
The Carson & Barnes Circus played to healthy crowds attracting several hundred onlookers at two performances. The circus was sponsored by the Van Alstyne Chamber of Commerce.
APRIL – The Van Alstyne school board approved $711,000 in budget cuts in anticipation of a significant decrease in state funding for the 2011-12 school year.
The Van Alstyne school board announced the hiring of superintendent Dr. John Spies.
The Van Alstyne library open house sponsored by Friends of the Library, Teen Council and library staff drew well over 100 area residents to the event.
The Van Alstyne city council approved the retirement agreement of City Manager Bill Herrington, whose final day was set for June 1.
The Van Alstyne Chamber of Commerce hosted Meet the Candidate event for local city and school board candidates.
MAY – The third annual Little Big Town 5k run hosted by Van Alstyne Physical Therapy and Fitness Center drew 200 runners from Van Alstyne, Melissa, Anna and many other communities.
Kim DeMasters was elected mayor by a 219-174 vote over incumbent Ruth Ann Collins.
Councilman A.C. Mosby was re-elected defeating challenger Adam Wise 202-187 and Councilman Billy Plake was re-elected defeating former councilman Pat Patterson 201-193.
Record voter turnout helped two new faces join the Van Alstyne school board. Randall Morgan won the Place 3 seat vacated by Kyle Beall who chose not to seek re-election. Morgan earned 269 votes to beat out Brian Rose with 212 and Van Ulrich with 51. Debbie Nance won the race for Place 4 seat vacated by Kim Weber who chose not to seek re-election. Nance garnered 282 votes beating out Russell Moore with 191 and Dan DePree with 76.
Dr. David Brown was hired as the new Van Alstyne High School principal.
Van Alstyne High School honored its Class of 2011 at the school’s annual scholarship and awards ceremony with 59 scholarships totaling almost $500,000 awarded.
JUNE – Members of American Legion James Adams Post 376 honored veterans at the annual Memorial Day ceremony in Van Alstyne Cemetery.
Juanita Hazelton, after 16 years heading the Van Alstyne library retired.
Van Alstyne High School Principal Duke Sparks retired after a 42 year career in education.
JULY – After eight campuses and 34 years in education Van Alstyne Elementary School Principal Terry Billups retired.
Van Alstyne residents celebrated Independence Day with a variety of festivities that started with a flag ceremony, ended with a fireworks show and included numerous other activities throughout the day.
Van Alstyne school board member Bo Mosby resigned from the school board accepting a position in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to be the team therapist for their high school athletics and an adjunct professor at Central Wyoming College.
AUGUST – Despite the heat wave, about 500 people attended the Van Police Department’s National Night Out.
Dorothy Fielder Park was filled with hundreds of parents and school children for the third annual Back to School Bash hosted by the Van Alstyne Ministerial Alliance.
Lanette Dyer, a 28 year education veteran, was named principal of the Van Alstyne Elementary School.
Former Van Alstyne school board president Tom Smith was named to fill the seat vacated by Bo Mosby.
SEPTEMBER – Van Alstyne police, assisted by personnel from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, arrested Kimberly Lane, owner of Luv ‘n Learning Child Development Center. Information gathered determined that Lane, on several occasions at lunchtime mixed at the center antihistamines in a large container with milk. Lane was charged with 16 counts of endangering of a child.
Shelby Downs was crowned the 2011 Van Alstyne High School Homecoming Queen and Jordan Barnes was named Homecoming King.
The Van Alstyne Economic Development Corporation received a $99,900 grant from USDA Rural Development to help local businesses.
OCTOBER — While rain cut short the Van Alstyne Fall Festival it didn’t dampen the spirits of hundreds area residents attending the event.
Van Alstyne’s 11th annual Great Days of Service event completed 26 projects. GDOS is a non -profit service organization formed by the Van Alstyne Ministerial Alliance and is dedicated to assisting those who might be physically or financially unable to provide needed home repairs or improvements.
Celebrating Good Works, the awards dinner presented by the Van Alstyne Chamber of Commerce saluted honorees for their outstanding service to the community.
Philip Rodriguez was hired as the Van Alstyne City Manager. He had served in several city municipal roles and in the budget and economic development departments in San Antonio and Cedar Park, a fast growing suburb of Austin.
NOVEMBER — The Van Alstyne Police Department, in conjunction with the VA school district presented a drug information program at the Middle School.
The second annual Lord’s Acre Harvest Festival in Van Alstyne hosted by the First United Methodist Church was a big success. The Lord’s Acre, a Methodist tradition, goes back many years when farmers donated the proceeds of one acre’s harvest to their churches.
The Van Alstyne school board approved the use of $115,000 in remaining bond money for improvements to the elementary campus as well as security system upgrades at all three campuses.
The Van Alstyne Middle School overflowed with military veterans and grateful residents during the school’s 12th annual Veterans Day assembly.
DECEMBER – American Legion James Adams Post 376 in Van Alstyne, collaborating with Texas Star Bank, Dr. Pam Egner, the Van Alstyne Culture Club and GCEC collected toys, food and clothing for local and area families in need.
Highway 5 was lined with area residents and the downtown area was filled with crowds at the annual Christmas parade hosted by the Van Alstyne Chamber of Commerce.
Hundreds of bags of groceries, toiletries, coats and much more were distributed at the conclusion of the second Project Christmas food and coat drive by the Van Alstyne Ministerial Alliance. Participating churches included First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, Community Bible Church, Elmont Baptist Church, Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church, Holy family Catholic Church, Cannon Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Van Alstyne and Samaria Baptist Church.
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