Gainesville State School Voluteer Council Accepts $10,000 Donation

At Keller Williams Realty Company’s annual Family Reunion Convention in New Orleans, the company’s Mo Anderson Trust presented the Gainesville State School with a $10,000 donation to Gainesville Student Support Council to benefit the school’s basketball team. Accepting the donation on behalf of the Gainesville State School was Tornadoes basketball coach Henry Thomas.

At every annual reunion convention, Keller Williams hosts an “Inspirational Brunch”. At this year’s brunch, the now famous basketball game between the Gainesville team and the Waco Van Guard team was featured.

Earlier in the basketball season, the Van Guard basketball team had driven to Gainesville to play against the Tornadoes. Two Van Guard players, Ben and Hudson, noticed that there were no cheerleaders, banners, posters, or fans. They decided to make things different for the Gainesville youth when they came to Waco for the next game, and they did!

After the Tornadoes arrived and had their warm up, they were instructed to go back into the dressing room to wait until the game began. When they came back out, the entire gym was decorated in the Tornadoes colors of black and white. There were cheerleaders on the Gainesville side, banners and posters and the entire bleachers were filled with Gainesville fans.

In preparation for the Inspirational Brunch, a video was recorded of the interviews with Ben and Hudson. There was also a video made with Coach Henry Thomas and three of the Gainesville team members. Each youth explained what the Van Guard games mean to them and how they are inspired by knowing that others truly care for them.

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s

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