Rep. Ratcliffe opposes administration’s transgender bathroom directive

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2016) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) released the following statement in response to the administration’s directive Friday requiring public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms of their chosen gender: “The federal government has no role in regulating school bathroom use, and the President’s recently announced proclamation is nothing more than a […]

Property Appraisal Increases in Rockwall Raise Residents’ Concerns

What you should know before protesting your appraisal (ROCKWALL, TX – May 12, 2016) Many Rockwall property owners have expressed surprise, concern and even anger since they received their tax appraisal letters. Many have noted significant increases in assessed value. By law, every property owner has the right to protest their appraisals, and they have […]

Rep. Ratcliffe introduces bill to impose sanctions on Iranian cyber attackers

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 12, 2016) Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) introduced the Iran Cyber Sanctions Act of 2016 today to require the administration to impose sanctions on hackers linked to the Iranian Government. The measure pushes the administration to take action on an April 2015 executive order that authorized the Treasury Department to sanction individuals and entities […]

Sterling National Financial Group, LLC announces Rockwall ISD teachers as Sterling Shining Star Nominees

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 11, 2016) Sterling National Financial Group, LLC has announced that two more Rockwall ISD teachers have been nominated for the Sterling Shining Star Award. Leah Voth, an English teacher and Yearbook Advisor at Rockwall-Heath High School, and Melinda Lewis, an American Sign Language teacher at Rockwall High School have been nominated. This is […]

A Memorial Day tribute to two influential females

(ROCKWALL, TX – May 10, 2016) Memorial Day will be exceptionally meaningful for Rockwall-area animal lovers. We lost a pair of influential females recently. They were instrumental in Rockwall’s move to become a No Kill community five years ago. One of them is well-known to Blue Ribbon News readers. The other stayed under the radar, […]

Alzheimer’s Association to host Tackling Dementia program at FUMC Friday

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 10, 2016) When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, friends and family have many questions: What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made? What resources are available to help? As the disease progresses, new questions reflect growing needs for skills, programs and services. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic […]

Education program Electrify Your Strings! comes to Utley Middle School

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 10, 2016) International recording artist and Emmy award winning composer Mark Wood, an original member of the multiplatinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, is bringing his groundbreaking music education program Electrify Your Strings! (EYS) to Utley Middle School. This exciting event will transform the student musicians into […]

Military get in free during Memorial Day weekend at Hawaiian Falls

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 10) Hawaiian Falls will offer free admission to all military personnel at its North Texas water parks in Garland, The Colony, Mansfield and Roanoke from 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, May 28; Sunday, May 29; and Monday, May 30.  All immediate family members can purchase their day pass […]