Training for the unthinkable, representatives from several local law enforcement entities joined IMPACT Grand Prairie to prepare for school violence. Courtesy photo.

Area law enforcement officials met Tuesday 19th at the Ennis Chamber of Commerce for an educational training on being prepared for school violence hosted by IMPACT Grand Prairie on March 19. Throughout the presentation, officials discussed the issue and shared their own practices and ideas regarding school violence and being prepared. School violence poses a risk to the community in the form of drug possession and substance abuse, possession of a weapon, school threats and security.

Participants included representatives from Ennis PD, Ennis ISD, Ellis County Juvenile Services, Red Oak PD, Palmer PD, Waxahachie ISD, Midlothian PD, Glenn Heights PD, Navarro County Sherriff’s Dept., Grand Prairie PD, Corsicana ISD PD, Corsicana PD and others.

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Source: IMPACT Grand Prairie

Volunteers work together to move a new refrigerator into an apartment for victims of domestic violence.By Amanda Casanova

IRVING – About a dozen Leadership Irving members and volunteers worked on March 16 to renovate an apartment for domestic violence victims.

Although a major donor backed out the project, the group was able to acquire about $15,000 in materials for the Brighter Tomorrows apartment. The nonprofit group supports domestic violence victims.

“We’re here to help,” Milan Predikant, of Milan Construction, said. “People should do it. It needed an update. It was getting old.”

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Helping young women to achieve, Rita Patton, a social studies teacher at MacArthur High School, joins Mayor Beth Van Duyne at the 2013 Ignite Texas Young Women’s Leadership Conference. Courtesy Photo.

Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne recently discussed her career path with young women during the 2013 Ignite Texas Young Women’s Leadership Conference, which was held at the University of North Texas at Dallas.

“I enjoy talking with young women because I want them to follow their dreams and excel in life,” said Van Duyne said. “Women can do anything they want to do. They just need to define their beliefs, set their vision and goals and focus. With hard work and tenacity, they can get there.”

Ignite builds young women’s political ambition and trains them to run for office. Numbers show women don’t run for office at the same rates as men.

“I liked eating with the Mayor of Irving, because I realized you don't need to be someone well known to become someone big and someone people look up to,” one student wrote in her conference evaluation.

Information provided by the City of Irving

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By Amanda Casanova

From the top of the highest point in Irving, the skyline of Dallas in the east peeks through the fog. Turn and you will see the domed roof of Cowboys Stadium and a handful of Six Flags rides. Strangely, the stunning view is not from a skyscraper or building, it is from Irving’s Hunter Ferrell Landfill.

In Irving, the landfill process starts with a roughly 90 foot hole that is first layered with Eagle Ford Shale, a non-permeable rock. The City then alternates compacted trash layers with tiers of dirt, eventually creating hills on the 300-acre site. But hopefully that won’t be the process forever.

Already, the City landfill is using recycling practices. The landfill reuses ground rock to pave the roadways within the landfill. Tires are recycled, metals are sold and brush is ground into mulch.

Still, of about 500 tons of trash is brought into the site daily. About 85 percent of the waste isn’t actually waste.

“Eighty five percent of what is on the working face of my landfill has no business being in the landfill,” ,” Brenda Haney, director of the Solid Waste Service department, said. “You put it on the curb and I picked it up, so it starts at home. That 85 percent could be recycled.

Drop-off recycling centers are available at 3000 Rock Island Rd. and 8555 Home Depot Dr. The City also offers curbside recycling on designated days. Detailed schedules are online at www.ci.irving.tx.us.

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