Gunter News

F.M. 121 has seen its better days. The current road that runs from Gunter to Tioga is cracked and crumpled, and has reached the end of its life.

The mayor of Gunter wants the proposed Dallas Tollway to pass through his town. Mayor Mark Millar says the roadway could open near the Dorchester water tower in Gunter, but right now he says Collin and Denton county leaders are proposing other alignments that would create a different route for the toll road.

The Leonard Lady Tigers and the Gunter Lady Tigers finished one game that had been rained out in the fourth inning and then played an entire game Tuesday evening.

What do pretzels, the 70’s song “Play That Funky Music” and fictitious Gunter Prep Academy all have in common? Well, you’ll have to come to Gunter ISD Foundation Trust’s (GIFT's) production of the mystery “Stay As Dead As You Are” to find out!

The dinner theatre fundraising event will be held Saturday, April 18th, at the Gunter High School Commons at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A “will call” table will be set up for those who purchase their tickets in advance but are unable to pick them up until the event.

You won’t want to miss this humorous play featuring a cast of 100% Gunter talent including city leaders, teachers and more! Prizes will be awarded for audience members who correctly guess “whodunit” near the end of the performance.

All proceeds will benefit Gunter ISD Foundation Trust (GIFT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, philanthropic organization. GIFT benefits Gunter ISD students in all grades at all campuses. It funds scholarships, works to increase private support for GISD educational activities, encourages creative approaches to education and supports activities not funded with tax dollars.

Tickets are available at Gunter Chiropractic, Gunter Physical Therapy and all Gunter ISD campuses. Or, they may be purchased by contacting Connie Williams, GISD Administration Office, at 903-433-4750 or CWilliam@GunterISD.org.

Gunter High School is located at 1102 Hwy. 289 (Preston Road) in the uptown area of Gunter.

To learn more about GIFT, please visit www.gunterisd.org/gift/index.htm.

Gunter’s police officers Chief Tony Thomas, Sergeant Bryce Kennedy and Corporal Julie Steenbergen, travelling together in one of the department’s patrol trucks, were on their way back from a meeting Thursday, May 22, about 1:30 p.m. when they received a dispatch call about a reckless driver on a motorcycle on Highway 289 who was passing people and driving erratically.

Gunter police spotted the motorcycle at Highway 289 and Sharp Road in Gunter and both vehicles entered the intersection of Hwy 289 and FM 121 near the same time. Chief Thomas, who was driving, turned on the police truck’s lights in an attempt to pull over the motorcycle. The motocycle’s driver, who had a female passenger, turned westbound on FM 121.

Gunter police’s Cpl. Julie Steenbergen called for assistance from Tioga Police Department but no one was available. She then contacted Collinsville Police who started toward Tioga.

The motorcycle’s driver turned onto Kardum Lane east of Tioga. Gunter’s police vehicle had lost sight of the motorcycle but saw the dust and continued the pursuit down Kardum Lane.

The driver and his passenger made their way back to Hwy. 377, headed north and were met by the Collinsville unit. Still refusing to pull over, Collinsville police initiated pursuit with the vehicle too. Once in Whitesboro city limits, Grayson County Sheriff’s Department, Whitesboro Police and Grayson County’s Constable’s Office joined in the chase.

With speeds reaching up to 150 mph, the motorcycle continued fleeing and crossed the Red River on Hwy. 377. Finally, about 12 miles into Oklahoma, near Kingston, the driver wrecked the motorcycle as he tried to turn onto a gravel road.

Arrested at the scene by Oklahoma’s Highway Patrol was Jared Hawkins, 36, of Plano. Hawkins was being held in Marshall County jail on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. His passenger, an unidentified female, was determined to not be involved with the crimes committed and was released.

Gunter Police Department Chief Thomas said they will be charging Hawkins with kidnapping, reckless driving and evading arrest with a motor vehicle.

A resident on Lovers Leap Lane near Gunter got into his truck and drove to the end of the driveway and the engine died and would not start. The man got his truck back to the residence and could not get the oil dipstick out. Finally he did and the oil was hard.

A mechanic looked at this truck and said someone had tampered with his oil. This case is still under investigation.

"I am excited about Gunter Police Department’s K-9 officer, Vypor. Is there anything he needs that isn’t already being provided?"

Signed,

Delighted Dog Lover

Dear Delighted,

I checked with Gunter’s Police Chief Tony Thomas to find out if Officer Vypor is completely outfitted with everything he needs. According to Chief Thomas, “We haven’t gotten funding to purchase Officer Vypor a (bullet-proof) vest yet, but would really like him to have one.”

So, dear readers, if you would like to help provide Gunter’s K-9 Officer Vypor a bullet-proof vest, please contact Chief Thomas at 903-433-1717.

Signed,

Stephanie Kelly, Gunter Gal

GunterGal@GCECisp.com

by Stephanie Kelly

Education matters to Gunter residents! That's why a volunteer group of business, community and educational leaders formed and continue to lead Gunter ISD Foundation Trust (GIFT), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, philanthropic organization. GIFT is an excellent program that benefits Gunter ISD students in all grades at all campuses.

According to Kevin Worthy, Gunter ISD's Superintendent, "One of the main reasons GIFT was formed was to supplement the Kerfoot Trust as well as provide campus grants and employee scholarships."

GIFT works to increase private support for GISD educational activities, encourages creative approaches to education and benefits Gunter ISD studentsand staff by supporting activities not funded with tax dollars.

The funding priorities of GIFT are scholarships for students, scholarships for employees, subsidizing the Kerfoot Trust, innovative campus teaching grants, and a permanent endowment fund.

The Foundation supports current programs and on-going opportunities through three venues:

Scholarships and Campus Grants (60-70%),

Kerfoot Trust (15%), and

Endowment (15%)

Scholarships awarded are both merit and need-based. From 2002 through 2008, GIFT awarded over $125,000 in student scholarships to more than 40 area students. All graduating Gunter students are encouraged to apply for the GIFT scholarships.

For the same time period, 35 GISD teachers and schools have received over $57,000 in grants from GIFT. Some of the more recent grants have been used to purchase diverse items such as cameras, pre-calculus and AP calculus curriculum, maps, calculators, counseling materials, a pottery wheel and more.

Since 2001, GIFT has deposited over $40,000 to the Kerfoot Trust. Over $24,000 has been invested in long term investment options to ensure the perpetuation of GIFT.

Donations are needed to continue providing these important contributions to Gunter's students, faculty and campuses. Monies received prior to April 18, 2009 will be a part of the GIFT award reception to be held on May 7, 2009 at the Gunter High School Commons.

Donations of any size are appreciated and all make a difference in the lives of Gunter students.

By Stephanie Kelly

Not many school districts offer a four-year scholarship to almost every student after graduation, but Gunter ISD does.

Add that to TAKS Exemplary ratings for all their schools and award-winning extra-curricular programs and you might not be able to find many districts that measure up to Gunter.

Every student residing in Gunter’s school district who attends Gunter High School his/her Junior and Senior years is automatically eligible to receive $500 to $750 per semester from the Carl and Gladys Kerfoot Scholarship Trust. Even transfer students are eligible as long as they attend Gunter High School for all four years.

Graduates have two years after high school graduation to enroll in an accredited college or university to qualify. Special provisions are made for those graduates entering the military.

Students receive $500 after successful completion of each semester (minimum 12 hours) with at least at 2.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale for their first 64 semester hours. Beginning with 65 semester hours, students receive $750 after completion of each semester passed (minimum 12 hours) with at least a 2.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Just since 1998, the Kerfoot Scholarship Trust has awarded over $771,711 to Gunter graduates pursuing a higher education.

Kevin Worthy, Gunter ISD's Superintendent, is enthusiastic about opportunities for Gunter's graduates.

I remember back when I graduated from high school in Whitewright. I heard about the Kerfoot Scholarship and thought, 'Wow, every single kid in Gunter can get a scholarship!' I was impressed even back then.

It took over 20 pounds just to get a check with 10 places being paid, along with Big Bass, the Top 3 highest finishers for the Ranger Cup and the TIREMAX bonus.

The Bells Panthers moved to 3-4 in District 11-2A after a Friday night win over the Gunter Tigers.

A resident on Lovers Leap Lane near Gunter got into his truck and drove to the end of the driveway and the engine died and would not start.

Wondering where you can shoot skeet, have a delicious barbeque lunch, play “Flurry” or “Wolf Chase” and blame it all on wanting to help a good cause? Join other skeet shooters at Gunter ISD Foundation Trust’s (GIFT’s) “Shoot for the Future” fundraising event on Saturday, February 14th at Fossil Pointe in Slidell. Registration for the event, which is NCSA Sanctioned, begins at 8:30 a.m. and shooting begins at 9:00 a.m.

The cost is $75 for the 100 Clay Course, $35 for the 5 Stand (50 Clays), and $30 for the Kid’s Course. For registration or more information, please visit http://www.gunterisd.org/gift/index.htm or call 903-433-4750.

All funds raised will benefit GIFT. GIFT is a public, non-profit foundation which relies upon corporate and private donations for its funding. It is a volunteer organization and all of our funds are directed toward educational programs. Funding priorities include both need- and merit-based scholarships, innovative campus teaching grants, a permanent endowment fund, and fellowships for staff professional growth and development.

Since its creation six years ago, GIFT has distributed over $100,000 in scholarships to more than 40 area students and over $57,000 in grants to more than 35 GISD teachers and schools. In addition, GIFT has donated over $40,000 to the Kerfoot Trust which provide scholarships to Gunter graduates.

Grayson County College's Associate Degree Nursing Program is pleased to announce that Shelby Garner has earned the designation Certified Nurse Educator after successfully completing a rigorous certification ...