Introducing the Honorable Angela Tucker

  Mark Friday June 29, 2012 as the day Angela Tucker was sworn in to the 199th District Court to become the first African/American to be elected to a county wide position. Congratulations are in order.


  Despite a long and challenging campaign, her perseverance and the support of those she lovingly calls Team Tucker prevailed.
  With a full house that included a large contingent of family, friends, supporters, and black robes, the Honorable Angela Tucker showed her trademark wit and loving nature as she captivated the full house.
  If you were one of the 19,508 who voted for Angela Tucker, you too were a part of history!

  Following the welcome by Judges Jill Willis and the John Roach Jr a joyfully tearful introduction to the newly elected judge was provided by Judge Cynthia Wheless. The sage words of the Honorable Carolyn Wright were followed by the historic swearing in.

  The following is a story I wrote over two years ago. Angela's family story is one you should be proud to share and I am proud to have written.

History in the Making

By J.B. Blocker

In the nearly 170 year history of Collin County, Texas, there has never been

A Mothers Love, Geraldine 'Tincy' Millers Story

One woman’s quest to give every child a chance to learn. 

Geraldine “Tincy” Miller defines tenacity.  As chair of the State Board of Education, a leader in Highland Park and an active supporter of the arts, she never quits, always giving her best.  Before all else, however, Tincy Miller is a mother.  A mother whose quest to find answers for her son, has driven her to provide every child in Texas with a chance to learn.

Tincy’s journey began when her son, Vance Jr., started having problems in the classroom, and at home.  Leaving no stone unturned, she spent years searching for solutions.  What Tincy didn’t know, however, was that her son’s rebellion masked an inner struggle to learn.

After enrolling in a dyslexia program at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Tincy began working alongside doctors, teaching children to read, write and spell phonetically.  When Tincy shared her son’s experiences, her colleagues identified the invisible disability plaguing her son as dysgraphia, a form of dyslexia.

“Here I was working with dyslexic kids, and my own son was suffering with it without my knowledge,” she said.  “I just couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”

The diagnosis brought freedom that stirred both mother and son to pursue higher education.  Vance Jr., went on to Southern Methodist University, eventually working with his father at Miller Companies, Inc. Tincy, however, followed her newly found passion for dyslexia to Texas A&M University-Commerce.

“I saw the lack of sympathy for students with dyslexia, and I wanted to learn ways to keep these students from falling thought the cracks,” she said.

As the working mother of four children,

Allen Wranglers Last Home Game 7pm Saturday June 16th

Allen Wranglers Football for First Timers

by J.B. Blocker 

Wranglers Team Chiropractor Dr. Lee Ligon turns friends into family.

The 16^th of June is Faith and Family Night at the Allen Event Center. Great prices, exciting close up action, and more fun after the game!

One last chance for Collin County families to give a special collection of management and athletes a great show of community support for the final home game of the season.

Taking the first step

  I’ve been invited to arena football games on several occasions.  My old friend from the Cowboys days, Coach Joe Avezzano couldn’t get me to attend a game even when he was coaching the Desperados. It wasn’t that I was afraid of him breaking out in song. He always sang for his own entertainment and he is now singing with a heavenly choir for a much more forgiving audience.

  My impression was that arena football was going to be a poor excuse for scaled down semi-pro football. I love football and am a homer who always backs his local teams in any sport no matter what their record, but would there be room for arena football in my heart?

  I almost went to a game against Phoenix because I’m a friend of their coach Danny White who honorably filled the shoes of the great Roger Staubach while we waited for Troy’s arrival.  Danny was a winner and a Cowboy to boot. I was going to go out of respect but I never made it!

  Finally, I was invited by someone I couldn’t refuse. After working with Jim Tolbert on the Olympic Trials, the Breeders Cup, and the Sidekicks, I figured that if Jim was working with an arena football team, I should at least give the sport a good look. I got to know the Indoor Soccer League because of Jim. The experience was not what I expected, and I was soon reporting for the Dallas Sidekicks and became a fan of the sport. The Sidekicks games were filled with entertainment from start to finish and I am proud to report that they will make their new home the Allen Event Center starting this fall.

Love the Intimacy!

  As I think back to my days of team and event reporting, I learned two important things about myself. First of all, I would rather attend an event in a more intimate setting than in all the mega stadiums and arenas. I would rather watch those events from my couch or with a few good friends.

  I can go to pretty much any big local event with my press card, camera, and pen just by making a well placed phone call. I have done this many times for many years! I just don’t enjoy it anymore.

  And it’s not just because I passed the 50 yard line of life where loud noises, long lines, and pushy crowds annoy me, although they do. It’s probably more because I really enjoy the intimacy of smaller venues where there are no bad seats and there are more families present. I love to see families enjoying themselves instead of huddling together for protection.

  Secondly,