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The High Five: 1950s SMU Film Shows Mysterious Texas Baton Twirlers


by Eric Aasen 1 Jul 2014 8:51 AM

Five stories that have North Texas talking: guns are playing a bigger role in political campaigns; Dallas police investigate graffiti as hate crimes; the hunt is on for some mystery Texas twirlers; and more.

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let it go duet

Billy Green and 3-year-old Blakely sang the hit song from the movie “Frozen” – and it’s been viewed 5 million times. Credit: YouTube

Five stories that have North Texas talking: guns are playing a bigger role in political campaigns; Dallas police investigate graffiti as hate crimes; the hunt is on for some mystery Texas twirlers; and more.

  • The search is on for some mystery Texas twirlers. The Houston Chronicle reports: “A mystery video showing some of the state’s most talented baton twirlers has emerged and archivists want your help to try and identify them.” The footage from the 1950s was found in a Southern Methodist University collection. It was filmed at a baton twirling summer camp called “Ranch-O-Twirl.” “Pretty much all we’ve found are little advertisements in newspapers,” Madeline Moya, curator at the Texas Archive of the Moving Image told the Chronicle. If you have an idea of who might be in the video, contact TAMI. Here’s the video:

  • A North Texas dad and daughter’s rendition of “Let It Go” has gone viral. Billy Green and his 3-year-old daughter, Blakely, sang the hit song from the movie “Frozen” in their car – and it’s been viewed 5 million times. Green tells Blakely: “You ready? We’re going to do it nice and loud.” Blakely sat in her car seat, but her performance wasn’t restrained at all. They were driving to dinner as they sang. Green said he had no expectation that the video would take off. “My voice is awful,” Green told WFAA-TV. “We sing and act crazy.” (By the way, he’s also known as Billy the Kidd, a DJ on KISS-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth.) He tells other dads: “Don’t be scared to have a little fun. Be silly and look ridiculous. … Just have fun with it.” Watch it here:

 

  • In Texas and elsewhere, guns are playing a bigger role in political campaigns this year. NPR’s John Burnett reports: “This political primary season has seen an unprecedented use of guns to get votes. Republican hopefuls across the country are appearing in political ads firing guns and holding political events around firearms.” The story features Texas state Sen. Donna Campbell, who is seen in an ad firing a gun at a target. Burnett reports: “A narrator lauds her for reducing ‘the time it takes to obtain a concealed carry license, so more law-abiding Texans could exercise their constitutional rights to defend themselves.’” GOP Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst had a poster with the phrase “Come and take it” superimposed on a rifle. And Wendy Davis, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, says she’s for open carry of handguns.
  • An Allen woman has given birth to premature quintuplets and doctors say the three girls and two boys are doing well. Parkland Memorial Hospital on Monday announced Opalyn Santos-Clark gave birth June 17 via cesarean section. She and her husband, Rex K. Clark, welcome Vianca Quing at 2 pounds 14 ounces, Alessandra Roxy at 1 pound 12 ounces, Perrin Rex at 2 pounds 5 ounces, Noah Steve at 2 pounds 4 ounces and Scarlett Jessie at 2 pounds 15 ounces. The babies were delivered several weeks early, at 31 weeks. A statement from Parkland says Perrin Rex required surgery June 24 for a bowel issue but continues his recovery. Santos-Clark, who’s recovering from the C-section, says she and her husband are “happy, grateful and relieved.” Read more about the family on this blog. [The Associated Press]
  • Vandals sprayed graffiti across several landmarks in Oak Lawn over the weekend and Dallas police are investigating the offenses as hate crimes. Targets included the Cathedral of Hope, the world’s largest gay and lesbian church, and the Legacy of Love monument. Also tagged: the offices of The Dallas Morning News and The Dallas Observer. Vandals tagged locations in red paint with “666,” which some associate with Satan. The vandalism came as cities across the country celebrated gay pride over the weekend with parades and festivals. Read more from KERA News.

 

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