By Leia Jobe
reporter2@trcle.com
The inaugural Godley Chamber of Commerce Fun Run to benefit therapy patients with spinal cord injuries has been set for May 17.
The run, which will kick off the Godley Spring Blowout, was organized by the chamber and the McKittrick family, whose young daughter is recovering from a spinal cord injury.
Meritt McKittrick, 7, was paralyzed from the waist down on April 28, 2006, when a drunk driver struck the family’s car at 60 mph. The impact left Meritt McKittrick’s mother, Tara McKittrick, 29, with an amputated right leg.
Thanks to a prosthetic leg, Tara is now able to run, but Meritt McKittrick’s recovery has been slower. Doctors didn’t think she would ever walk again, Tara McKittrick said.
“It was real frustrating,” she said. “The hospital and all the doctors here said there was no therapy for spinal cord injuries like Meritt’s, or if they do therapy, they don’t work with children.”
Along with husband Matt McKittrick, Tara McKittrick began a desperate search for a therapy program that could teach their daughter to walk again.
From a friend at work, Matt McKittrick heard about a program called Project Walk with facilities in San Diego, Boston and Portland.
The Project Walk program uses a nontraditional approach to spinal cord injury recovery called The Dardzinski Method, a procedure developed by exercise specialist Ted Dardzinski.
“It’s a wonderful place,” Tara McKittrick said. “They’ve had tons of success. They emphasize the core and the abs using lots of common equipment, but it’s how they use it that’s different. They’re basically waking up the nervous system.”
The McKittrick family traveled to the Carlsbad clinic, outside San Diego, for the first time on Feb. 4. Meritt McKittrick is already reaping the benefits.
“She’s gotten stronger,” Tara McKittrick said. “She can do a push-up now, and she can crawl. Before she couldn’t feel anything below her belly button, and now she has feeling down to the top of her thighs.”
The therapy costs $100 an hour, and patients typically attend two-hour sessions five days a week.
“It can get pretty expensive,” Tara McKittrick said. “We kind of thought that a 5K would be a good way to raise some money for other patients at the Project Walk Center to make treatment more affordable.”
Spinal cord injuries can cost a patient more than $2.5 million in a lifetime, according to a Project Walk informational brochure.
Fun Run proceeds will benefit Project Walk patients, including Meritt McKittrick, and the relocation of a Project Walk center to Austin.
“We’d love to be able to help others do what we did,” Tara McKittrick said.
Meritt McKittrick will attend the event and will probably help by handing out bottled water to participants, her mother said.
“She’s just a super kid,” Tara McKittrick said. “She’s always happy and singing. She doesn’t complain. She just works really hard.”
Fundraising events include a one-mile fun run and a 5K run and walk.
Participants will receive T-shirts, and winners in each category will receive awards.
“We’d love to have a good turnout,” Tara McKittrick said.
Fun Run participants will meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of Godley Middle School for registration and to pick up their free T-shirts.
Registration fees for all participants on the day of the race will be $15. Fees postmarked by Friday will be $10 for participants under 18 or 65 and older and $12 for all others.
Entry forms and fees can be mailed to Fara Freeman c/o Fun Run at 600 Reynolds Road, Godley, TX 76044.
Donations are also being accepted.
“The Fun Run will kick off the Godley Spring Blowout,” Godley Chamber of Commerce President Jean Freeman said.
Vendor booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a street dance from 5-10 p.m. and a crawfish boil sponsored by the Godley High School Band from 4-8 p.m.
All proceeds from the Spring Blowout will be used for the purchase of new playground equipment for the Godley City Park, Freeman said.
For information, call 817-389-2804.
Local News
Fun Run set for May 17
Event to raise money for spinal cord injuries therapy program
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. -
Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The second-team offense was led by Cleburne’s Quade Coward and Godley’s Rhett Brawner as the second-team quarterbacks. -
Cleburne pulls away from Burleson, 62-48
The Cleburne Yellow Jackets beat Burleson, 62-48, on Friday night at Yellow Jacket Gym to move to 2-7 in District 7-A play. Burleson fell to 2-7 in league play with the loss.
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Lady Jackets pick up first District 7-4A win
On Friday night at Yellow Jacket Stadium, Cleburne picked up its first win of the District 7-4A season, 66-60, over Burleson, which fell to 3-8.
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Up-and-down Yellow Jackets split Friday’s matches at Little Elm Tourney
Both Cleburne soccer teams had mixed results on Friday in their respective tournaments.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
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- Alvarado
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - Dixon repeats as AJC coach of the year
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Indians on top of selections
- Burleson
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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Indians on top of selections
- Godley
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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Indians on top of selections
- Grandview
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
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Indians on top of selections
- Joshua
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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Upcoming sports schedule
- Rio Vista
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
-
First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
- Tuesday basketball roundup
- Burleson leads AJC superlatives
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Venus
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Fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s sister, Megan Davis, takes a picture of a painting of her brother on Monday during a dedication to the deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office renamed its building to the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center in honor of the deputy who lost his life during a disturbance call in April. The picture was painted by Fort Worth artist Gary Crouch. Three pictures were made and one will hang in the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center. The other two paintings were presented as gifts to Taylor’s parents and his fiancee.
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Never forgotten
The eyes of fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s family began to swell with tears during a dedication hosted by Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford and the sheriff’s office.
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Never forgotten
