2007 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW
January thru March
January
The new year started off on a low note when a local church was the latest target in a string of vandalisms over the holidays. The First United Methodist Church was broken into and vandalized.
The Iowa Park City Council agreed to continue participation in the North Texas Regional Drug Enforcement Task Force, scheduled to lose its federal and state funding beginning April 1. If all 23 entities that had been served by the task force agree to participate, Iowa Park’s share would be $21,673.70.
Jeremy Hicks received the Iowa Park Volunteer Fire Department’s Special Service award during the anual Firemen’s Banquet. For his Eagle Scout project, Hicks placed reflectors on 145 of the northside fire hydrants so they would be more visible to firemen at night.
Fire Chief Randy Fulbright was honored as Firemen of the Year by his fellow firefighters.
Two Iowa Park High School students were selected to All-State Band and one to the All-State Choir. Sophomore Zac Hamilton was selected to the 2007 ATSSB All-State Band, playing the contra bass and senior Bethany Dillard was selected as alternate, playing timpani. Senior Angela Duerksen earned a position with the TMEA All-State Choir.
With less than a month on the job, Iowa Park CISD Resource Officer Randy Alsup played a big role in solving several break-ins at W.F. George Middle School and a break-in at First United Methodist Church.
Two 12-year-old students accepted responsibility for a number of break-ins and damage that occurred at the school and at the church. Each was charged with two counts of burglary of a building and criminal mischief.
IPHS volleyball standout Sidnee Lawson was selected to compete in the Texas Girls Coaches’ Association All-Star game in Austin. Coach Brenda Hodges was selected to coach the West Team for 1A, 2A and 3A schools.
Thirty-one people from Iowa Park, Electra and Burkburnett traveled on a chartered bus to Littlefield to observe first hand how a form of economic development called Enterprise Facilitation works.
Since beginning that program in 2005, Littlefield had gained 15 new businesses and two businesses had expanded.
Iowa Park’s Outstanding Citizens for the year were announced during the Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. They were Chris Schlaud, Outstanding Citizen; Jake Jacobi, Outstanding Senior Citizen; Necia Wilson, Outstanding Educator; Bethany Dillard, Outstanding Student; and Mundy Companies was selected Business of the Year.
Guest speaker at the banquet was German Air Force Colonel Axel Pohlmann, commander, 80th Operations Group, 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base.
February
Four Iowa Park juveniles were charged with a number of reported cases of Christmas decorations being vandalized. The four were transported to Wichita County juvenile detention and their cases were handled in juvenile court.
Iowa Park High School’s Lady Hawks Basketball Team clinched the District 6-3A title with a 49-27 win over Graham’s Lady Blues.
A piece of Iowa Park’s history went up in smoke when a hay barn located on the old Van Horn farm on Johnson Road caught fire and was totally destroyed. The fire investigator thought the fire was probably started by kids smoking in the barn.
Iowa Park Police Chief Stephen Klempa submitted a letter of resignation to City Administrator Mike Price, effective March 31. Klempa had been with the local police department since November, 2002.
The Iowa Park City Council and Iowa Park CISD School Board both called elections for May 12. Three places on the city council were up for election, and two positions on the school board are due to expire.
March
Iowa Park’s Lady Hawks ended their season at the Region 1-3A Quarterfinals, losing to Argyle 45-37.
Four Lady Hawk powerlifters earned a trip to the State Championship Meet in Killeen after competing in the Regional Meet at Leonard High School. Those that advanced included Corrie Catlin, Theresa Freeman, Shawna McGarry, and Samantha Virgin.
Eight IPHS choir members advanced to the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Conttest in May following auditions at Wichita Falls High School. They wereAngela Duerksen, Kara Gant, Erin House, Kayla Starr, Hannah Johnson, Pamela Allen, Haley Williams and Luzmila Moreno.
A race developed in both the city and school elections as Carmen Lozipone filed for a place on the city council. He challenged newcomer Ray Schultz for Place 3, that was held by Mark Raby who chose not to run for re-election. Incumbents Dan Fears and Sherrie Williams ran unopposed. In the school board race, newcomers Robert Johnson and Tommy Riggins were vying for Place 5, currently held by Greg Deatherage who chose not to run for re-election. Incumbent Jeff Watts was unchallenged to retain his position.
Iowa Park police and Iowa Park CISD Resource Officer/Constable Randy Alsup, assisted the North Texas Drug Task Force, U.S. Customs, and the U.S. Postal Service in taking a large quantity of steroids off the streets of Iowa Park. Three men, Cody Dale Williams, Robert Allen Yow III, and Bobby Dale Hanvey were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, delivery of a controlled substance, specifically steroids. Three types of steroids were seized: liquid, liquid injectable and tablet.