Collin Chronicle Audio Stories

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The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories in and around the Collin County and DFW area. Stories range from local to national.

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Frisco, TX – The largest traveling museum in the United States made a stop in Frisco. Members of the city council threw a banquet in its honor.

Keith Colley, a former bereavement counselor, owns and operates the museum.

It started as a way to connect with veterans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Colley purchased a World War I artifact for his client to hold and was amazed at what it caused this veteran to remember about his father who served in World War I.

“I knew we had to move forward somehow someway with this,” Colley said. “So I thought if we could reach one maybe we could reach two or three.”

Colley then began buying World War I artifacts in hopes of making connections with people across the country. His exhibit is now the largest traveling museum in the United States.

The museum, called “Lest We Forget”, has left an impact on both veterans and youth across the country.

“Some people even verbalized it, ‘I hated history before I saw this museum’.” Colley said.

Colley believes it’s the stories behind the artifacts that help people connect with his museum.

“I don’t put anything in the museum that doesn’t come with a story,” Colley said. “So when you come through the museum you’re going to walk away with this complete look at World War 1.”

The museum inspired a Little Elm Boy Scout to make his Eagle Scout project in service to Colley’s exhibit. His project would create a catalog for each artifact in the museum. The scout, Robert Altman, says a copy of the catalog would be given to both Keith and the National Archives and Records Administration.

“From a young age I’ve always loved history and I’ve been very passionate about World War I,” Altman said. “I just feel like as a high schooler myself it just feels very forgotten.”

The city of Frisco held a banquet in Keith’s honor at Collin College Preston Ridge campus. The proceeds went to his museum.

Colley plans to operate the museum for a long time but says he will eventually leave it in Frisco permanently.

Subscribe to the Collin Chronicle for more original reporting:

The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories in and around the Collin County and DFW area. Stories range from local to national.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit collinchronicle.substack.com

Over a dozen patrons gathered at II Brothers Grill and Bar to hear live music and enjoy appetizers with friends and family. Several local musicians were performing for a cancer research fundraiser. 

The event organizer Lori Rackers partnered with II Brothers in her attempt to raise money for The Cure Starts Now, an organization that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research. She sold vouchers that could be redeemed on the day of the event for select appetizers. The vouchers were sold for $30. Raffle tickets were also sold.

“II Brothers was gracious and said immediately ‘Whatever you need’ and I was grateful,” Rackers said.

Rackers is the great-aunt of Mateo Sparkman, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. After Mateo died, Rackers felt compelled to organize a fundraiser with musical features. Mateo’s great-grandfather, Robert Sparkman, performed alongside his great-grandmother.

“We performed with Mateo when he was living with us and we thought it was a good tribute. We don’t do it professionally but as a tribute to him since this event is here,” Sparkman said.

Mateo suffered from DIPG or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a kind of brain cancer usually found in children. It’s an aggressive cancer that is difficult to treat. According to DIPG.org, the average survival range is eight to eleven months. On Aug. 23, 2021, Mateo passed away.

“We had his memorial and I would lay awake in bed and go ‘What can I do now?’,” Rackers said.

That’s when Rackers had the idea for a fundraiser.

“I reached out and I got a lot of no’s,” Rackers said. “And I got very sad. And I got very discouraged. And I thought ‘This is not gonna work. I’m not good enough.’.”

Her luck changed when her friends and acquaintances like Remy Reilly volunteered to perform. Remy is an indie pop singer and songwriter in the DFW area. She didn’t want to pass up a chance to help her friend.

“It feels really great to be able to be here tonight to help the way I can,” Reilly said.

The event lasted about three hours. Performers took the stage to honor Mateo and bring awareness to DIPG. They had to sing over the chatter of regular patrons and audio glitches. Raffle drawings took place between performers.

“There’s always people that will step up,” Rackers said.  “And they'll do the right thing. And they’ll help you. And they’ll support you. This is what it’s all about.”

Mateo’s grandmother, Anabella Sparkman, hopes the event can make an impact

Rackers said the event raised over $4000 for The Cure Starts Now.

Subscribe to the Collin Chronicle for more original reporting:

The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories in and around the Collin County and DFW area. Stories range from local to national.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit collinchronicle.substack.com

In this audio story, Scott Placek talks about schools enforcing graduation requirements that were never enacted. Placek is a member of the Texas Parents’ Educational Rights Network.

Subscribe to the Collin Chronicle for more original reporting:

The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories for the Collin County and DFW area. Stories range from local to national.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit collinchronicle.substack.com

This audio story features Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribal Chairman Juan Mancias and his thoughts about the efforts of Texas to get the law struck down.

Subscribe for more original reporting:

The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories for Collin County. Stories range from local to national.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit collinchronicle.substack.com

The president of the Collin County Young Democrats sat down with me for a brief interview on the future of the organization. Subscribe for more original reporting by Cris Cordova.

Subscribe to the Collin Chronicle for more original reporting:

The Collin Chronicle is a publication reporting on the latest local news and human interest stories in and around the Collin County and DFW area. Stories range from local to national.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit collinchronicle.substack.com