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NBC 5’s Meterorlogis David Finfrock came to call the Best Southwest area home based on a series of circumstances involving wheels. Last year, Mr Finfrock and his wife Shari were out for a weekend drive when they discovered the lake vistas, trees and hills of Southwest Dallas County. The Finfrocks enjoyed the prospect of an easy, short commute for David from the Best Southwest Area to KXAS- TV. As well as the home values they found in the area and the quality, neighborhood schools. In short order they chose a lot and began planning to build a home in the Best Southwest area.

Mr. Finfrock’s career at KXAS, spanning more than two decades, is also a tale which involves wheels, as he related to an audience at the Duncanville Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon recently. First, there was a wheel that flew off an oncoming truck’s trailer and collided with his car as he headed north from College Station for a job interview with the legendary Harold Taft in the mid 1970’s. Fortunately unhurt, Mr. Finfrock continued on his journey in the damaged vehicle.

Duncanville Chamber of Commerce past Chairman Dale Want and David Finfrock at a recent members luncheon

Arriving at the television station, he discovered that the “interview” was actually a screen test. “This was back in the days of paper weather maps, and i was asked to do a mock weathercast using the maps still posted from the last broadcast,” Finfrock said. “No sooner had i stood up to begin when the chair i had just vacated flew backwards and rolled right off the podium,” he related. “Figuring my job prospects were slim to none after that, I just continued with the weathercast, offered my thanks and headed back to College Station, prepared to study more diligently in graduate school.”

Soon came the surprise of a job offer, and what has become a long-term position at the television station. “You never really know where your blessings in life might come from,” mused Mr. Finfrock. Like a job interview that showed his ability to perform under pressure of his family’s weekend drive that led to the discovery of all that is the Best Southwest Dallas County area.

Janie Fricke grew up on a farm in northern Indiana, and started her career as a young girl singing in a small church near her home. She sang at local coffieehouses and high school events, and then moved to Bloomington to attend Indiana University. She studied music as a “Singing Hoosier” and earned a degree in elementary education.

After living in Los Angeles where she sang in studios and taught gifted children, Mz. Fricke ended up in Nashville, and became a leading backup vocalists by the time she was thrity years old.

Janie Fricke has worked on albums with Elvis Presley, Al Green, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap and Eddie Rabbit. She has also been a very successful jingle singer as the “voice” of United Airlines, Coca-Cola, 7-Up and Red Lobster

Janie Fricke performs at the "To Lancaster, With Love" concert on October 1, 1994 to raise funds for tornado relief

She’s been all over the world and spent plenty of time in Nashville, but country music star Janie Fricke comes right back home to the Best Southwest Dallas County area whenever she has a break in her schedule. A two-time award winner as the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year, she was the headliner at the “To Lancaster, With Love” concert held on October 1, 1994, to raise funds for tornado relief, a generous gesture to support folks in her adopted home area. In fact it’s not at all unusual to find Ms. Fricke around lancaster enjoying the rich historical heritage and eating spotf or checking on the selection of Janie Fricke cassettes, CD’s and collectibles at the Creative Craft Gift Shoppe on the Square.

“What I love about this area is the short commute into Dalllas. It only takes me 15 minutes to get to downtown. I can do all the big-city things i like to do, and then be back home again in just a matter of minutes,” she said. “Texas is home to me and has been for years, and the Best Southwest area is the best in Texas.” Why? Because all the cities in the Best Southwest area offer superior houseing values plus safe, neighborhood schools with outstanding academic, extracurricular and athletic opportunities.

“I dont plan to move away from the Best Southwest area,” she said. “No matter where I travel, this is home”