Community
The Lake Highlands community recently mourned the death of Forest Meadow Junior High student Deaudray Edwards who was killed in a late-night drive-by shooting in a South Dallas neighborhood. Arms of Hope Family Outreach accepted donations and helped the Edwards family with immediate needs such as funeral costs. Learn more about the charity by contacting the nonprofit organization at jlemell@armsofhope.org.
People
A 2008 Lake Highlands High School and 2012 Texas A&M graduate Jacob Andrews recently accepted the position of general manager of a Texas Collegiate League baseball team, the Lafayette, La. Acadiana Cane Cutters. When his busy schedule allows, he returns to the neighborhood to visit parents Richard and Lisa and sister, Deborah.
David Goforth, a man who was well-known and much-loved throughout Dallas, died Dec. 5 of lung cancer. Goforth holds a special place in the hearts of Lake Highlands residents. His family many years ago donated the land that is now home to Lake Highlands High School. Goforth Road, which intersects White Rock Trail and Flag Pole Hill, is named for the family. David, who was 89, leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Bettye White Goforth, three children, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.During his life he also served in the military, became a Baptist deacon, presided over the White Rock Rotary Club and played baseball, and he loved square dancing and making people laugh.
Education
Richardson ISD’s 2013-14 academic calendar is out and available at risd.org. Next year, school begins Aug. 26, 2013 and runs through June 5, 2014.
Following a mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December, Richardson ISD officials made the following statement concerning security at neighborhood schools: RISD campuses have locking external doors that can only be opened with proximity cards. Front doors have an intercom system so office personnel can talk to visitors and buzz them into the office if appropriate. From the office there is another secured door that leads to the rest of the campus. The district and each campus has a detailed crisis-management plan in place. In addition to the monthly fire drills, campuses have drills each semester to train for lockdown, evacuation, shelter in place, and tornadoes. Campus and district administrators are trained to manage and respond to situations through the National Incident Management System and safety audits are performed on every RISD campus on a three-year interval. During audits, members of the District Crisis Management Team review the building and safety procedures to identify best practices and areas of concern.