On Assignment w/ CT

I was so sad Saturday when I heard the news that Tony Snow had lost his battle with colon cancer.  Tony had a fabulous voice; deep, clear, distinctive. The 53 year old was a former White House Press Secrectary and the former host of Fox News Sunday. He  fought his disease with strength and grace. 

Godspeed, Tony.

seen your doctor for your yearly check-up? I just did and I'm Good to Go! I live a healthy lifestyle but getting the "go sign" from my doc...blood work, mamogram etc.  every year is great news, the best. My mamogram gives me PEACE OF MIND. Health is precious and sadly sometimes we don't really think about it until it's threatened. Early Detection Saves Lives.

I'm the Honorary Race Chair for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  This year's Race Day is Saturday, October 18th at Northpark Center.  Registration is now open and if you register by August 1st you'll be eligible to win a $200. gas card.  Go to www.komen-dallas.org

If you have questions about breast health or breast cancer treatment you can call  the Help Line 1. 877.GO KOMEN. For general info call Susan G.  Komen for the Cure 214.750.7223.

BTW, I bought a case of Fabulous Komen Promise Rings and had such a touching time giving them to women across North Texas.  Guys gladly took them too and gave them to the special women in their lives. The rings are petite, pink & pretty. You wear one ring and give the other to a girlfriend...you both PROMISE to see a doctor once a year, get a mamogram every year at 40 and beyond and do monthly breast self-exams.  I'm buying another case of KPR's and if you didn't get in on my offer in May...I'm bringin' it back.  To get a free Komen Promise Ring all you have to do is send me a stamped-self addressed envelope.      My address is:

Clarice Tinsley  KDFWFOX4   400 N. Griffin  Dallas, Texas  75202

FOX 4 is a proud sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Race Day.   

I was in the News Director's office with a group of colleagues for the 2pm editorial meeting. We were  discussing and reviewing the stories we'd cover for the afternoon and late news. The newsroom computers chirped with an incoming news alert...and then we heard a wave in the newsroom of  "oh no"...  "no way"..."oh no" and then the name; Tim Russert. 

 What? 

Then we all heard that Tim Russert has died of a heart attack in the Washington Bureau.

Such a sudden, sad and shocking loss for his family, friends, his NBC family and his Sunday morning viewers.  He loved politics, journalism. His working class Buffalo roots kept him real and focused while he interviewed politicians, lobbyists and mover sn shakers in D.C. He was the epitome of journalistic excellence.

Godspeed, Tim.     

Have I got a deal for you! I'm holding a package of Komen Promise Rings. They're so cool and I'll give you a package for the cost of a 42 cent stamp. To "Wear It and Share It" read on... 

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I'm Honorary Race Chair for the 2008 Susan G. Komen for the Cure Race Day. I'm thrilled to help Komen and I luv the Promise Ring.  I bought a case of them and I've been giving them away...and that really feels great.

I've heard the most amazing stories from the women and men who have these rings.  Stories of mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, and girlfriends who are fighting  breast cancer or who defeated breast cancer. Sadly, I've heard stories of women who died because of this diease too.  Even people who don't have breast cancer in their lives are happy to get the ring and wear it and share it.  It's so gratifying. Men love to get the rings to give to their wives and girlfriends and Moms.  

So, here's where you come in...send me a stamped-self addressed envelope and I'll send you a package of 2 Komen Promise Rings.  You wear one ring and share the other with a friend AND you both Promise to do your monthly breast self-exam, see a doctor once a year and get regular mammograms.      

Here's my address: Clarice Tinsley, FOX 4 News, 400 N. Griffin, Dallas, Texas 75202

Remember, Early Detection Saves Lives

FOX 4 is a proud sponsor of Komen Dallas Race Day. 

Sheffield Intermediate Elementary School in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has an AMAZING program. It's the Sheffield Intermediate Leadership Academy. 5th grade teacher Kevin Guillot wanted students to have vision...to be servant leaders...and to dream big. That's why he started the academt. The motto is Leader DO When Others Don't.

The students are involved in year-long activities that encourage Leadership, Character, Volunteer Service and Critical Thinking Skills. This year the students completed 9 community service projects; touching countless lives and in the process learing about the benefits of servant leadership.  

Every month Mr. Guillot has a speaker come to the school to discuss various aspects of Leadership.  I spoke to the students in 2006 and today I was the Guest Speaker during the "Luncheon for Leaders". The school library was transformed into a chic cafe...white tablecloths, red roses and lit candles!  We had a wonderful catered lunch and all of the pros who were speakers this year were saluted...along with the school staff and the district administration.

New this year...students raised almost $16,000.00 for the "Philly or Bust" road trip.  A group of 5th graders went to Philidelphia to learn about the leadership that helped create the United States. They were committed to raise the money and their dream came true.

What I luv about the Sheffield Intermediate Leadership Academy is that it plants seeds of leadership in each child that will protect and guide them.They know what the word Leadership means.  As they graduate and go to middle school and beyond they'll have additional skills to help them reject peer pressure and they'll be able to stand up for what's right for them and for their future.  This is fantastic reinforcement for what their parents are doing for them at home. They'll be tomorrow's leaders; truly a win/win.

This photo shows Principal Amy Miller, some of the students from the Sheffield Leadership Academy and Mr. Guillot...BRAVO!.  !        

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting.  As a new Board Member of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas I had a treat. I attended the Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony at the convention center in Mesquite.

The families of the Girl Scouts were so proud and rightfully so.  It takes dedication and focus. To win this award girls must display leadership resulting in 65 hours or more for a service project that leaves a lasting impact on the community. It also provides the girls with personal and spiritual growth, positive values and leadership skills. 

This year 74 Girl Scout Seniors of Northeast Texas earned this honor.  The families are a big part of the Gold Award because the Moms and Dads make the committment to support their daughters in Girl Scouts.     

6.3% of Senior Girl Scouts from Northeast Texas earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and that's 1% above the national average. Yaaaaaaaaaay!

I'm happy to tell you that I started my Girl Scout career as a Brownie and loved my Girl Scout years.  In 1996 I was named a "Lifetime Girl Scout"; an award of which I'm very proud.

I'm also extremely proud of today's Girl Scout Gold Award winners because they're Tomorrow's Leaders.

I LOVE  TEACHERS.  Always have...always will. For 17 years the Rotary Club of Dallas salutes DISD teachers with the "Service Above Self" award.  Teachers who go the extra mile are asked to submit an application detailing their classroom & community involvement. A panel of judges has a tough job coming up with 9 finalists in the catagories of elementary, middle school and high school.  The winner in each catagory gets a $2,500 check and a plaque. The 6 finalists each get a $500.00 check & a plaque.  

The Rotary Club of Dallas again asked me to be the M.C. for the awards portion of the program & I've gotta tell you that it's truly an honor.  The event's at the Fairmont Hotel; it's always a lovely lunch.  Each finalist brings their school principal & family members.

DISD Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa congratulated all of the teachers & invited  parents & the business community to get involved with Dallas public schools.

The Elementary School finalists are: Cecilia Jan Alexander, Art Teacher at Withers Elementary; Julie Blasingame, Art Teacher at Gonzalez Elementary; and Judy Cole, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher at Kiest Elementary.  Ms. Blasingame is the winner. She worked with  the Texas Dept. of Transportation to get a 4-mile cable barier installed along LBJ Freeway in Mesquite to prevent highway cross-over accidents. Her daughter was killed in that kind of accident in 2003. She's also raised more than $75,000 in scholarships for students to attend Abilene Christian University. The money comes from  a golf tournament held in her daughter's memory.

The Middle School finalists are: 7th & 8th grade Computer teacher and Newspaper Sponsor Janice Hemen of Rusk Middle School; 8th Grade Math Teacher Tim Hise at Greiner Middle School and Dawn McCullar, teacher for the Talented and Gifted grades 6-8 at Gaston Middle School. The winner is Mr. Hise. He tutors at-risk students before and after school nearly everyday; he writes articles promoting the positive aspects of his school and he builds trust, respect and a love for learning by attending students' sporting events, performances and confirmations.

The High School finalists are: Social Studies teacher for 11th-12th grades, Cathleen Cadigan at Thomas Jefferson, Mary White, Science teacher grades 9-12 at W.T. White and English IV AP English Lit. and Composition Teacher for grade 12 at Skyline; Margie Robinson.  The winner is Ms. Cadigan.  She created an on-campus group called FOCUS...For Our Children's Ultimate Success. The organization builds student self-worth and positive student-teacher relationships while increasing parental involvement. The goal is to improve the campus climate, reduce the drop-out rate and improve test scores. Of the juniors and seniors she teachers 100% take the S.A.T. and 100% of the seniors apply to a minimum of  3 colleges, universities or vocational schools.

There's so much to be proud of in our schools. I hope the last two weeks of school are great for all teachers & students. Finish Strong!    

I'm the daughter of a public school teacher. My Mom ended her 37 year teaching career teaching 5th graders. Her former students are now parents & they bring their children by my Mom's house to spend time with their beloved former teacher & friend.  Teachers Truly Touch The Future.           

I'm thrilled to share this great news with you.  Roger Staubach, the Chariman of the Host Committee for Super Bowl XLV has asked me to be the Chair of the Media Committee. It's an honor to give back to North Texas in this manner and I know that everyone on the Host Committee feels the same way. As Media Chair I'll assemble a committee of talented, creative people and we'll develop a gameplan to let America and the world see how unique and dynamic North Texas and North Texans are. 

As a committee we'll also create loads of activities and venues so that all of North Texas can participate in and be proud of what's happenning here as we lead up to SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IN NORTH TEXAS! You, your family our neighbors will be able to celebrate and experience the fun of Super Bowl XLV in a variety of ways. Our committee also has several programs to give back to the community by investing in our young people.      

Today,  5.5.08, MYFOXDFW.COM live-streamed the news conference that introduced the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee at the new Cowboys Stadium. It's quite an experience getting up close to the construction site. Seeing the stadium shell from I-30  is impressive...standing in front of it...incredible.   

On February  6, 2011 FOX 4 will broadcast the first Super Bowl from North Texas...and FOX will carry this Super Bowl across America and around the world.    I've covered Dallas Cowboys fans at 4 Super Bowls and I've attended one Super Bowl as Stephen's guest...the experience rocks and as North Texans we'll taking it to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL.  How awesome would it be to have the Dallas Cowboys play AT HOME that Super Bowl Sunday?