City News Roundup

Giraffes and bees give this week's Dallas news an animal planet theme

Animals figured highly in Dallas news.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Zoo

Animal stories were a top topic in Dallas, from a tragedy at the Dallas Zoo to bees on rooftops. Traditional city news was quiet, but that'll be back on track once the Dallas City Council returns from its summer break. Here's what happened in Dallas this week:

Kipenzi RIP
Another animal died at the Dallas Zoo: Kipenzi, the baby giraffe who drew international attention after her live birth was broadcast on The Animal Planet in April. The giraffe ran into the perimeter wall of her enclosure and died on July 28 after breaking three vertebrae in her neck. The Dallas Zoo said the death was a "fluke," not a staff error. Both the USDA and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums will look into the giraffe's death. In 2014, a lion at the zoo escaped its enclosure and attacked a staffer who was sent to the hospital; the incident was attributed to a staffer's mistake.

Rooftop bees
An Austin group named American Honey Bee Protection Agency was in Dallas this week installing colonies of bees on two rooftops: one on the roof of the Omni Hotel in Dallas, and the other on the roof of Central Market. The group's founder, Walter Schumacher, told NBC that the plan was to place potted plants and a rooftop garden to provide food for the restaurants and a place for the bees. The group formed eight years ago and is expanding into Dallas; it has five bee removal crews in Austin, two in San Antonio, two in Houston and two in South Texas near the Rio Grande Valley.

Ellis County arrest
On July 23, the SPCA of Texas seized 68 cruelly treated dogs, three cats and one bird from a property in Ellis County. Approximately 20 dogs were also found deceased at the Waxahachie house where Gayle Justice ran a boarding business. The SPCA of Texas Rescue and Investigations team concurred that it was in the animal's best interest to remove the animals, and the Ellis County Sheriff's Office arrested Justice on a Class A Misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

Spraying again
The city continues its controversial practice of mosquito spraying, this time closer to the city center, in the 75204, 75212, 75215 and the 75248 zip codes of Dallas. The areas delineated below are scheduled for spraying on Sunday August 2 and Monday August 3, between 9 pm and 5 am each night.

3400 block of Hugo: City Place West on the north, Cedar Springs Road on the west, Lucille Street on the east and Ann Williams Street on the south
2900 block of MLK: Robert Cullum Blvd on the north, Logan Street on the west, Dallas Street on the east and Atlanta Street on the south.
3400 Pondrom Street: S Malcolm X Blvd on the north, Park Row Avenue on the west, Oakland Cemetery on the east and Colonial Avenue on the south.
3700 block of Bickers: Canada Drive on the north, Pluto Street on the west, Westmorland Road on the east and Singleton Road on the south
6600 block of Duffield: Shell Flower Lane on the north, Preston Road on the west, Hillcrest Road on the east and Brentfield Drive on the south.

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RIP Kelly

Beloved Dallas public relations maven Kelly Hunter dies at 58

Photo courtesy of Sunwest PR.

Kelly Hunter passed away on June 12.

A beloved Dallas media figure has died: Kelly Hunter, a public relations maven who helped restaurants and other small businesses thrive, passed away on June 12, following a brief illness; she was 58.

Hunter spent 35 years in the field of public relations, first at Shiroma Southwest, then at Sunwest Communications, where she served as Vice President, Lifestyle, Hospitality & Tech.

She played a key role in a creative alliance with the City of Addison, particularly its annual Kaboom Town 4th of July event. Other notable clients she promoted over the years include Galleria Dallas; the Statler Dallas hotel in downtown Dallas; Hotel Dax, the Statler sibling that recently opened in Addison; and the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field.

A statement from Sunwest said that "Kelly’s unparalleled work ethic and encyclopedic knowledge of countless subjects were exceeded only by the passion she had for her job. She made an incredible impact on all she met. Kelly was a good friend, a great mom, and an even better wife to her husband, John."

Hunter was the consummate PR pro, embodying both the detail-oriented precision and the 24/7 responsiveness that the job calls for, along with a doting personal touch that was felt by her coworkers, clients, and members of the media. Hunter was beloved by her peers, as well — no small feat in the cut-throat world of Dallas media.

Chuck Steelman called her "amazing — one of the best public relations professionals I’ve ever worked with." Patricia Valderrama described her as "the warmest and kindest soul. Never saw her angry or upset ever." Allison Golden Tucker posted, "It always seemed like Kelly had more hours in the day than most. Her storytelling ability was second to none and she always had time for a quick word of advice."

Barbara Kovacevich highlighted Kelly's effectiveness, noting that "she elevated Addison events to national recognition. It’s hard to not link Kelly with Addison Kaboom Town. Kelly was driven to success and had a great heart for others."

Kelly was born in Dallas on June 28, 1967. Her parents were Joanne Washburn and John Alexander Jr., and she had a younger sister, Amy. She graduated from Plano Senior High School, going on to earn degrees in marketing and finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in marketing from the University of North Texas.

She and her husband, John, had two children, Chandler and Reagan, and the four were frequent travelers.

She was also a lifelong volunteer, from the PTA at her children’s elementary school, to Junior League of Collin County, Women’s Auxiliary for Children’s Health, Chamberlain Ballet, and the National Charity League. A culinary enthusiast in work and life, she was recently inducted into Les Dames d’Escoffier.

"Kelly did everything in life with a cheerful attitude and a warmth that made everyone feel special," the statement from Sunwest said. "Her network reaches every corner of the DFW metroplex and beyond as a talented storyteller, fabulous home chef, and a dedicated friend. She was loved and admired by all who knew her."

Services will be held on Saturday, June 27 at 11 am at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano. The service will be live-streamed at cumc.com/memorial.

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