Published: May 18, 2009 02:07 pm      

5/17 Local briefs

USS Missouri Assoc. to hold reunion



Shipmates who served aboard the USS Missouri with hold their 36th annual reunion in Norfolk, Va. from Sept. 2-8.

All veterans and interested parties and their families and friends may intend.

For information, call Bill Morton, vice president at 803-469-3579 or e-mail Mo63@ftc-i.net or Jack Stempick, president, at 203-281-4693 or e-mail mobb63ct@aol.com.

— Special to the Times-Review



Take a wildflower walk



The Johnson County Junior Master Gardeners will conduct a wildflower walk from 11 a.m. to noon May 23. The class will be conducted by Claudine Young. The location has not been set.

Participants will learn to identify, collect and press local wildflowers and take home a free wildflower poster, coloring sheets, wildflower information and a pocket dentification guide.

Participants who attended a past tree class you already have a Texas Tree and Wildflower Pocket Guide and are asked to bring it. They should also let Pat Kriener know they have a guide so she may avoid ordering too many guides for the event. Participants should also bring an old phone book for pressing flowers.

The Johnson County Junior Master Gardener programs are open to the public and are geared for children 7-12, but all ages are welcome. Children under 7 are asked to attend with a parent. For information or to register, call Kriener at 817-793-4625 or e-mail wildwoodc@yahoo.com.

— Special to the Times-Review



Republican club meets Monday



The Republican Club of Johnson County will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the United Co-op building on 2601 South Interstate 35W in Burleson. For information, call 817-426-7023.

—Matt Smith



Two from area graduate from Mary Hardin-Baylor



BELTON — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor held its spring Commencement on May 9 at the Bell County Expo Center. This was the university’s 153rd graduating class. Three-hundred and seven students were awarded degrees. Of these, 280 received baccalaureate degrees, and 27 students received master’s degrees.

Local graduates were Danielle Elizabeth Crosby of Cleburne and Kelli Lyn Hearn of Joshua.

—Special to the Times-Review



Cleburne resident graduates from SWU



GEORGETOWN — Cleburne resident Laura Thornton was among 287 students receiving degrees this spring from Southwestern University in Georgetown.

Thornton received a degree in psychology.

Thornton also completed Southwestern University’s Paideia Program, which requires students not only to make connections between what they are learning and the world around them, but also to act upon their learning.

In addition to their overall academic curricula, program participants fulfill requirements in civic engagement, intercultural and diversity experiences, and undergraduate research and creative works.

Program participants have frequent small group-seminars with one of the University’s 29 Paideia professors and stay with the same cohort of 10 students, all from different academic majors, for six semesters.

—Special to the Times-Review



Joshua grad earns medical degree



Karina Minyarova Parr of Joshua received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine at Texas A&M in College Station.

Parr is the daughter of Guzel and Shamil Minyarova of Shezhinsk, Russia.

She graduated from Joshua High School in 2000 and received her Bachelor of Science in biology from East Texas Baptisit University in 2005.

—Special to the Times-Review



Benton to be deployed to Iraq



Army National Guard Sgt. David S. Benton has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq.

Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Benton, a cannon crew member with 11 years of military service, is normally assigned to the 164th Quartermaster Company, Broken Arrow, Okla.

He is the son of David M. and Rebecca Benton of Cleburne and a 1997 graduate of W.E. Boswell High School in Saginaw.

— Special to the Times-Review



Underwood joins Air Force



Rocky B. Underwood has joined the U.S. Air Force under the delayed entry program.

The program gives young men and women the opportunity to enlist and delay going into basic military training for up to one year.

Qualified men and women are eligible to receive skill training, experience and up to $20,000 in education benefits.

After completing basic military training, airmen receive specialized technical training in one of more than 125 job career fields.

Underwood, a 2009 graduate of Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., will report to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for basic training in July.

He is the son of Melissa Underwood of Joshua.

— Special to the Times-Review



Cleburne grad completes Air Force Basic



Air Force Airman Zachary A. Swisher graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Swisher completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

He is the son of Wesely and Susan Swisher of Cleburne and a 2008 graduate of Cleburne High School.

— Special to the Times-Review



Venus graduate completes Navy training



Navy Seaman Apprentice David K. Lee, brother of Stanley V. Lee of Burleson, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Lee completed a variety of training that included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment.

Its distinctly ‘’Navy’’ flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.

Lee is a 2001 graduate of Venus High School in Venus.

— Special to the Times-Review