Medical and Retail Center Opening November
From Staff Reports
MELISSA, TX — The reality of other businesses joining the Melissa Town Center Project took a giant step this week as Steve Buttry of Buttry Realty Partners confirmed that his medical/retail office 10,000 square foot project is on track for completion in November 2008. When questioned Buttry commented, “It is exciting to have a great organization like Hospital Corporation of America as our anchor tenant in the launch of the Melissa Town Center project. HCA recognizes the opportunity in the growth of the City of Melissa and the surrounding area. HCA has pre-leased approximately 40% of the initial building and there is an additional 6,000 square feet of space that will be available later this year for other medical, retail or office use.”
Buttry is submitting the architectural site plans to the City of Melissa on Monday April 28th, and is hoping to have dirt moving as early as the end of May. Buttry is confident that the project will be open in 2008 and felt that November 2008 is a realistic target date for completion. When questioned about additional tenants, Buttry commented that with the limited office space in Melissa and the project’s close proximity to the new Melissa City Hall he was very optimistic about the quality tenants such as HCA that would want to office at his location. Buttry confirmed that all the funding is in place and weather is the only variable that could delay the project.
When contacted in Austin where he was testifying before a legislative sub-committee regarding the diversion of gasoline tax funds, Melissa Mayor David Dorman commented, “The addition of HCA to our community will be a wonderful asset and provide a needed service to our residents. The Melissa City Hall Town Center Project is going to create a new synergy in Melissa and give our residents a place to come together as a community.”
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Chamber Holds Awards Banquet
Record Growth for Chamber in 2008
From Staff Reports
MELISSA, TX — With 2008 being the most explosive growth year in the history of the Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce “MACC” and their invited guests came together on Friday evening at the Collin County Adventure Camp for the 2008 MACC Annual Awards Banquet. With approximately 80 people in attendance, members were treated to an evening of honoring those involved with the Chamber in 2007-2008, for their valuable donation of their time, energy and financial resources to promote the MACC.
Outgoing Chairman Tina Helmberger, who announced her resignation Tuesday evening to focus on her run for the MISD school board, presided over the event. Beginning with a formal dinner setting, members watched a slide show presentation set to music which recaptured the exciting MACC events of the past year and listened to Kevin Klein, the guest speaker, discuss how to communicate what your business does in a simple positive message.
During the awards presentation ceremony, Medical Center of McKinney was awarded Business of the Year, The Melissa News was awarded Corporate Sponsor of the Year, Collin County Adventure Camp was named Non-Profit Organization of the Year, Dan Trott was named City Council person of the Year, Creative Touch was named Council Member of the Year and Diane Whittington received the distinction of being named Volunteer of the Year for her hard work.
Also, receiving recognition during the evening were Melissa Mayor David Dorman, City Administrator Jason Little, Police Chief Duane Smith, Fire Chief David Wright, MISD Superintendent Jason Smith, Attorney Tracy Pounders, Bob Helmberger of BWR, Wendy Meagher and Norma Kidwell.
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Birmingham New Melissa Chamber Chairman
From Staff Reports
MELISSA, TX — On Tuesday evening the Board of Directors of the Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce met at its offices to formally accept the resignation of Chairman Tina Helmberger and swear in Merrill Lynch executive Scott Birmingham as the new Chairman of the MACC. Members also witnessed the formal swearing in of pharmacist Steve Rodriguez owner of MedPro Pharmacy in Melissa.
Birmingham and Rodriguez both have been actively involved in the MACC and both were members of the MACC Board of Directors in 2007-2008. Helmberger elected to resign her position early as Chamber Chairman to focus on her run for the Melissa ISD school board in the may 10th election.
When contacted new MACC Chairman Scott Birmingham commented, “Under the leadership of Tina Helmberger the Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce experienced phenomenal membership growth in one year. Tina's direct action took the Chamber from being dependent on donations to being self-sufficient as an organization. Her creative ideas and events brought our membership together and my goal is to build on that momentum for the success of the Chamber and the City of Melissa.”
Birmingham also made a formal announcement, “ As the Chairman of the Melissa Area Chamber of Commerce, I am proud to announce the Chamber's Board of Director's decision to endorse and support Tina in her run for the Melissa ISD Board of Trustees election.”
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Grand Finale
By Joe Arriola
Melissa, TX — When the Melissa varsity baseball team hosted Aubrey in Tuesday night’s season finale, the Cards were just trying to go out on a high note.
While the Cards’ goal was to finish the 2008 season with a win in front of their home crowd, the Chaparrals wanted to avenge a prior loss to Melissa before they began their post season run.
The Cards (9-9-1, 6-4 in District 13-2A) fought hard against the playoff-bound Chaps, and in the bottom of eighth inning Cody Morgan drove in Gaston Ammons for the game-winning run as the Cards topped Aubrey 6-5.
“It feels good to go out with a bang and we’re just looking forward to next year,” Morgan said. “We had some ups and downs through the year. We played good when it was time to play good and we played poor when we needed to play good.”
With the score tied 2-2; Zach Williams scored a run to put the Cards up 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Then in the fourth inning, the Chaps had runners on second and third but weren’t able to capitalize and finished the inning scoreless.
In the sixth inning, Aubrey’s Billy Feathers hit an RBI double that drove in Jacob Atkins and tied the score at 3-3. Feathers ran in for a score after Melissa’s third basemen dropped the ball in an attempt to tag out Feathers. Justin Browning scored the Chaps final run of the inning after stealing home and giving Aubrey a 5-3 advantage.
The Cards proved they weren’t finished yet, however, as Leighton Wilson hit an RBI double to score Aaron Bush and narrow the Aubrey lead to 5-4. The Cards’ next two batters were caught out. Then with two outs, senior Charlie Cottrell was hit by a pitch and walked. That led to Williams’ blast to right field that scored Cottrell and sent the game into extra innings with the score tied 5-5.
The Chaps were held scoreless in the top of the eighth inning. Then with one out, Morgan hit in Ammons to win the game for Melissa.
“We played way too good to lose that game,” Melissa head coach Jeff Kasowski said. “That’s what I told them before the last inning so they rallied and won. They did what they had to do to win the game.”
R H E
Aubrey 5 5 1
Melissa 6 8 2
Individual Hitting/Pitching:
2B – AUB: Billy Feathers 1. MELS: Zach Williams 1. MELS: Ethan McCranie 1. MELS: Charlie Cottrell 1. MELS: Aaron Bush 1. MELS: Gaston Ammons 1.
HR – MELS: Ethan McCranie 1.
WP – Charlie Cottrell
LP – Grant Henry
District 13-2A Standings
Krum 12-1
Aubrey 11-3
Farmersville 7-3
Melissa 6-4
Blue Ridge 3-7
Anna 3-10
Ponder 1-6
Leonard 1-10
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Lady Cards Lose to Krum 2-1
By Joe Arriola
Krum, TX — The Melissa varsity softball team closed out its season with a 2-1 loss to Krum on the road Monday night.
“We had plenty of opportunities but we just couldn’t get anything going at the plate,” Lady Cards coach Mary Nickell said. “I was really disappointed that the girls didn’t get to finish out with a win but, again, their improvement was significant. Brittney Wortham did a great job calling pitches for Jacqui [Nickell]. But, again, the entire field of players fought hard to back them up, holding Krum to only two runs”
“After each loss, I always hear Coach Webb’s voice in my head asking, “Did the girls get better?” If I can answer yes then he assures me that we should consider it a victory. [Monday] the girls did get better. Our previous score versus Krum was 6-7.”
Monday night also marked the end of the road for the Lady Cards lone senior Sammie Alcaraz.
“Senior Sammie Alcaraz will be greatly missed,” Nickell said. “Not just for her abilities to manage centerfield, but as a team leader.”
Alcaraz plans to attend Texas A&M in the fall.
Coach Nickell said that the Lady Cards will participate in summer workouts and fall softball league to prepare for Melissa’s new district next spring.
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Cards Say Goodbye to Three Seniors
By Joe Arriola
Melissa, TX — The Melissa Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over Aubrey Tuesday night marked the final game for the Cards’ three senior baseball players.
Melissa’s Ryan Morgan, Charlie Cottrell and Gaston Ammons walked off the baseball field for the last time Tuesday. Cardinals head coach Jeff Kasowski said that the Cards three seniors will definitely be missed.
“It’s always tough when you lose guys,” Kasowski said. “These guys have been here for four years and we’re going to miss them.”
Sophomore Cody Morgan, who had the game-winning hit versus Aubrey, said that he’ll miss playing baseball with his brother, Ryan.
“My brother, I’ll miss him,” Morgan said. “And both my two seniors, Charlie and Gaston, I’ll miss them both.”
Ryan Morgan said that his post high school plans are to go to college and play football.
“I’ll miss my teammates and the coaches,” Morgan said. “And my favorite moment [playing baseball] was when I hit my first homerun in the Little Elm Tournament.”
Cards’ pitcher Charlie Cottrell plans to attend Tarelton and will not play sports.
“I’m going to miss my two seniors,” Cottrell said. “My senior buddies, I’m going to miss them the most.”
Gaston Ammons also plans to attend Tarelton, where he will room with Cottrell.
“My favorite moment [playing baseball] was when me and Ryan [Morgan] hit homeruns the same day at the Little Elm Tournament. That was pretty cool.”
Cottrell said that he’d like to deliver one message to the underclassmen that will be playing baseball in Melissa next season.
“Make the playoffs,” Cottrell said.
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