Reserve fund at risk without fiscal changes
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - City officials have gazed into their crystal balls, looking at the financial future.
It isn't pretty.
If elected leaders don't slash services or raise taxes in the next few years, the city by 2007 may not have any money in its cash reserve fund, city officials warned this month.
An increase in property or sales tax revenue, however, could remedy the situation.
City Council members said they'll study the long-term financial outlook in the next few months. So far, they haven't pledged tax increases or service cuts and remain hopeful that the economy will improve.
Financial services director David Leininger, who addressed council members about the outlook, said the economy may get better.
But, he said, "I'm not paid to be optimistic."
If the city doesn't have enough money to cover expenses, it draws cash from the general reserve fund. Currently, about $40 million is in the fund, and the city would like to keep at least $34 million in it, Mr. Leininger said.
Spending too much fund money may decrease the city's bond rating, which means the city would have to pay more in interest for bonds used for city projects. And it means less cash would be available for emergencies, such as a natural disaster.
In response to the outlook, city officials plan to ask department directors about their budget needs for the next few years. That will give city officials a better idea of whether the city would need more money for future budgets.
The council should keep its eye on budgets through 2007, City Manager Steve McCullough told council members.
"Those are the years during when at some point we'll hit the wall if we can't reduce expenditures significantly or raise revenues significantly," he said.
Council member Sam Smith said he's glad that the city is talking about the issue.
But he added, "Business as usual probably is not the best alternative from now on."
But residents want new programs and more services, council member Rick Stopfer said. The city will need more employees if it continues to expand, he said.
"It's hard to cut more people and services if they [the residents] want more," he said.
While the city looks ahead, it's starting to form the budget for fiscal 2005, which will be finalized this fall.
It comes after a heated discussion last fall over the current $150 million budget
The council last fall raised taxes and recreational fees but saved numerous programs from the chopping block.
The city is trying to save money by not filling vacant positions. But, said Mr. Leininger, the city is actively looking to fill openings in the police and fire departments.
City officials haven't been as successful as they had hoped. Of nearly 60 open positions, only four to seven could be eliminated without affecting the way the city delivers services to residents, Mr. Leininger said.
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At ICE awards, excellence is cool
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The Irving Celebration of Excellence (ICE) Awards were Thursday, honoring the district's students and student organizations. The event was at the Irving High auditorium, and journalist Bob Ray Sanders was master of ceremonies. And the winners are:
Academics
• Fifth-graders Kaitlin Bates, Rachel Gooding and Kaliegh York for their W.T. Hanes Times newspaper
• Nadia Barksdale from Lamar Middle for her Space Camp scholarship
• Mingming Ma from MacArthur High for being named a Presidential Scholar last May
Fine Arts
• Sydney Farris from Lively Elementary for her drawing, Bird of Courage
• Seventh and Eigth Grade Girls Choir from Crockett Middle tied with Advanced Girls Choir from Travis Middle
• Ryan Estes from Nimitz High for being chosen first chair oboe in the All-State Symphonic Band
Athletics and Physical Education
• Bulldog Wellness program taught by Jeni Bailey, Milissa Fulton and Stayci Roznovak at John Haley Elementary
• Adrian Thompson from Lamar for track excellence
• Wendy Cannon from Irving High for gymnastics excellence
Community Service
• Lifelong Learning Through Adult ESL program at Brandenburg Elementary; taught by Kristy Brooks, Amanda Wilson, Denise Latimer and Nidia Tonnessen
• Madison Jeter from de Zavala Middle for his Eagle Scout service project that installed concrete benches along the school's nature trail as well as a stone walkway
• Junior Historians program at Nimitz; they worked with the city's environmental department and Keep Irving Beautiful on a variety of recycling projects.
Special Campus/ District programs
• Two-way Dual Language Enrichment at Brandenburg taught by Susan Kliegel and Amanda Wilson
• Multicultural International Festival at Crockett. Teachers included Brenda Garcia, Edna Dunning, Ramona Rodriguez and Ingrid Rothe.
• IrvingHigh.com – the official Web site of Irving High School; teacher: Darren Wilson
Innovative programs
• Classroom to Classroom taught by Pam Eason at Elliott Elementary
• At-Risk Chess Groups at Bowie Middle; supervised by counselors Karen Hoeller and Kay Branch, teachers Ralph Morgan, Brien Perkins, Hope and John Work, and school resource officer Rosario Solis.
• Wesley Lemont from the Academy of Irving ISD for Open Mike Night tied with the Recapture Program at Irving High with teacher sponsors Sherri Marchant and Kristen Bailey.
The district also presented two Golden Apple Awards to community partners. Citigroup was recognized for its work with Johnston Elementary and Northgate United Methodist Church for its programs such as Back to School, which provides clothing and school supplies to area students.
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The Irving Celebration of Excellence (ICE) Awards were Thursday, honoring the district's students and student organizations. The event was at the Irving High auditorium, and journalist Bob Ray Sanders was master of ceremonies. And the winners are:
Academics
• Fifth-graders Kaitlin Bates, Rachel Gooding and Kaliegh York for their W.T. Hanes Times newspaper
• Nadia Barksdale from Lamar Middle for her Space Camp scholarship
• Mingming Ma from MacArthur High for being named a Presidential Scholar last May
Fine Arts
• Sydney Farris from Lively Elementary for her drawing, Bird of Courage
• Seventh and Eigth Grade Girls Choir from Crockett Middle tied with Advanced Girls Choir from Travis Middle
• Ryan Estes from Nimitz High for being chosen first chair oboe in the All-State Symphonic Band
Athletics and Physical Education
• Bulldog Wellness program taught by Jeni Bailey, Milissa Fulton and Stayci Roznovak at John Haley Elementary
• Adrian Thompson from Lamar for track excellence
• Wendy Cannon from Irving High for gymnastics excellence
Community Service
• Lifelong Learning Through Adult ESL program at Brandenburg Elementary; taught by Kristy Brooks, Amanda Wilson, Denise Latimer and Nidia Tonnessen
• Madison Jeter from de Zavala Middle for his Eagle Scout service project that installed concrete benches along the school's nature trail as well as a stone walkway
• Junior Historians program at Nimitz; they worked with the city's environmental department and Keep Irving Beautiful on a variety of recycling projects.
Special Campus/ District programs
• Two-way Dual Language Enrichment at Brandenburg taught by Susan Kliegel and Amanda Wilson
• Multicultural International Festival at Crockett. Teachers included Brenda Garcia, Edna Dunning, Ramona Rodriguez and Ingrid Rothe.
• IrvingHigh.com – the official Web site of Irving High School; teacher: Darren Wilson
Innovative programs
• Classroom to Classroom taught by Pam Eason at Elliott Elementary
• At-Risk Chess Groups at Bowie Middle; supervised by counselors Karen Hoeller and Kay Branch, teachers Ralph Morgan, Brien Perkins, Hope and John Work, and school resource officer Rosario Solis.
• Wesley Lemont from the Academy of Irving ISD for Open Mike Night tied with the Recapture Program at Irving High with teacher sponsors Sherri Marchant and Kristen Bailey.
The district also presented two Golden Apple Awards to community partners. Citigroup was recognized for its work with Johnston Elementary and Northgate United Methodist Church for its programs such as Back to School, which provides clothing and school supplies to area students.
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Rapes up by 60% in 2003
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - The number of reported rapes in Irving jumped nearly 60 percent in 2003, which police say may be the result of victims feeling more comfortable in reporting the crime.
Most victims were raped by people they knew, police said. Therefore, officials don't believe a serial rapist is behind the surge.
And statistics don't show that rapes are more likely to occur in certain parts of the city.
In 2003, 75 rapes were reported, compared with 47 rapes in 2002 – a 59.6 percent increase, the biggest jump in at least 13 years. It's the greatest rape tally since 1990, when 91 were recorded.
Police and domestic violence observers are encouraged that more people are coming forward to report the crime. They believe that victims are more aware of the importance of filing police reports.
But the Police Department doesn't plan on beefing up efforts to combat the crimes because officials haven't been able to pinpoint a reason for the increase, said Officer David Tull, police spokesman.
The department has an ongoing effort of informing schools, neighborhood watch groups and businesses about a variety of crimes, he said.
Despite the increase in rapes, the overall crime rate in Irving went up only 0.58 percent in 2003. Fewer burglaries and vehicle thefts were reported last year, but the city saw increases in reports of homicides, robberies, aggravated assaults and thefts.
Statistics don't point to a trend of more rapes being reported in Irving over time. Rape report rates have fluctuated over the last decade.
In Irving, fewer than 10 percent of victims were raped by strangers, Officer Tull estimated. Most were assaulted by an acquaintance – a friend, significant other or family member, he said.
Irving statistics fall in line with a recent state study, which shows that about 20 percent of female victims were sexually assaulted by a stranger. Women are far more likely to be assaulted, according to the study, released last year by the University of Texas School of Social Work. It was the first statewide survey on sexual assault.
Only 18 percent of victims report their assault to law enforcement, the study said.
Residents are becoming more aware of the importance of filing a report with police, which may have fueled an increase in reports in Irving, Officer Tull said.
"Something's working well where people are more comfortable and not intimidated to report it, which is good," he said.
But the increase could simply mean that more rapes are taking place in Irving, said Jana Barker, executive director of Brighter Tomorrows, a shelter in Irving for domestic violence victims.
It could also be attributed to a more educated public and media coverage on rapes, she said.
An ongoing statewide public awareness campaign may also be helping, she said. The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault launched an effort last year that raised awareness on the importance of speaking up about the crime.
In the past, victims were more likely to keep quiet about the crime, Ms. Barker said. That's no longer the case.
More sexual assault victims are seeking counseling from Brighter Tomorrows, which also has shelters in Grand Prairie and DeSoto.
The agency has seen about a 200 percent increase over three years in people seeking help – from 98 people in 2001 to 300 last year, she said.
While Brighter Tomorrows encourages sexual assault victims to report the crime, and while there's more awareness about talking with police, many still don't want to admit what happened, Ms. Barker said.
Rape victims have been traumatized, she said, and some feel that they'll relive the experience if they talk with police.
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - The number of reported rapes in Irving jumped nearly 60 percent in 2003, which police say may be the result of victims feeling more comfortable in reporting the crime.
Most victims were raped by people they knew, police said. Therefore, officials don't believe a serial rapist is behind the surge.
And statistics don't show that rapes are more likely to occur in certain parts of the city.
In 2003, 75 rapes were reported, compared with 47 rapes in 2002 – a 59.6 percent increase, the biggest jump in at least 13 years. It's the greatest rape tally since 1990, when 91 were recorded.
Police and domestic violence observers are encouraged that more people are coming forward to report the crime. They believe that victims are more aware of the importance of filing police reports.
But the Police Department doesn't plan on beefing up efforts to combat the crimes because officials haven't been able to pinpoint a reason for the increase, said Officer David Tull, police spokesman.
The department has an ongoing effort of informing schools, neighborhood watch groups and businesses about a variety of crimes, he said.
Despite the increase in rapes, the overall crime rate in Irving went up only 0.58 percent in 2003. Fewer burglaries and vehicle thefts were reported last year, but the city saw increases in reports of homicides, robberies, aggravated assaults and thefts.
Statistics don't point to a trend of more rapes being reported in Irving over time. Rape report rates have fluctuated over the last decade.
In Irving, fewer than 10 percent of victims were raped by strangers, Officer Tull estimated. Most were assaulted by an acquaintance – a friend, significant other or family member, he said.
Irving statistics fall in line with a recent state study, which shows that about 20 percent of female victims were sexually assaulted by a stranger. Women are far more likely to be assaulted, according to the study, released last year by the University of Texas School of Social Work. It was the first statewide survey on sexual assault.
Only 18 percent of victims report their assault to law enforcement, the study said.
Residents are becoming more aware of the importance of filing a report with police, which may have fueled an increase in reports in Irving, Officer Tull said.
"Something's working well where people are more comfortable and not intimidated to report it, which is good," he said.
But the increase could simply mean that more rapes are taking place in Irving, said Jana Barker, executive director of Brighter Tomorrows, a shelter in Irving for domestic violence victims.
It could also be attributed to a more educated public and media coverage on rapes, she said.
An ongoing statewide public awareness campaign may also be helping, she said. The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault launched an effort last year that raised awareness on the importance of speaking up about the crime.
In the past, victims were more likely to keep quiet about the crime, Ms. Barker said. That's no longer the case.
More sexual assault victims are seeking counseling from Brighter Tomorrows, which also has shelters in Grand Prairie and DeSoto.
The agency has seen about a 200 percent increase over three years in people seeking help – from 98 people in 2001 to 300 last year, she said.
While Brighter Tomorrows encourages sexual assault victims to report the crime, and while there's more awareness about talking with police, many still don't want to admit what happened, Ms. Barker said.
Rape victims have been traumatized, she said, and some feel that they'll relive the experience if they talk with police.
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Police force to keep Crown Victorias
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The Irving Police Department will continue to use Ford Crown Victoria cars, despite concerns about crash safety.
The City Council voted 9-0 last week to buy 20 cars for about $420,000.
Irving joins other area municipalities that continue to use the cars. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted in November to keep the Crown Victoria in the county's fleet. The Dallas Police Department has said it will no longer purchase the cars until significant safety improvements are made.
At least a dozen law enforcement officers nationwide have died from fuel-tank fires in rear-end collisions of Crown Victorias. A Dallas police officer died in 2002 after a speeding motorist struck his patrol car from behind, causing it to erupt in flames.
Ford Motor Co. and Irving officials maintain that the cars are safe. The vehicle has performed well in safety crashes, said Kristen Kinley, a Ford spokeswoman.
No Irving officers have been killed in Crown Victoria crashes, said Officer David Tull, a police spokesman. And no collisions involving Irving's Crown Victoria cars have resulted in a fire or explosion, he said.
The deaths of law enforcement officials occurred during high-speed crashes of at least 70 mph, Ms. Kinley said.
In Irving, some of the 20 cars – 2004 models – will replace aging vehicles, Officer Tull said. The department should be receiving the first batch of cars in the next couple of weeks.
Of the 127 cars in Irving's fleet, 111 are Crown Victorias.
The city retrofitted older cars to offer more protection in the event of a high-speed, rear-end crash, Officer Tull said.
A shielding component has been placed on the rear axle of cars built since October 2003, Ms. Kinley said. The shield is designed to protect the axle from puncturing the fuel tank during a crash, she said.
Crown Victorias dominate the country's police fleets. About 85 percent of police cars – or 350,000 – are Crown Victorias, Ms. Kinley said.
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The Irving Police Department will continue to use Ford Crown Victoria cars, despite concerns about crash safety.
The City Council voted 9-0 last week to buy 20 cars for about $420,000.
Irving joins other area municipalities that continue to use the cars. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted in November to keep the Crown Victoria in the county's fleet. The Dallas Police Department has said it will no longer purchase the cars until significant safety improvements are made.
At least a dozen law enforcement officers nationwide have died from fuel-tank fires in rear-end collisions of Crown Victorias. A Dallas police officer died in 2002 after a speeding motorist struck his patrol car from behind, causing it to erupt in flames.
Ford Motor Co. and Irving officials maintain that the cars are safe. The vehicle has performed well in safety crashes, said Kristen Kinley, a Ford spokeswoman.
No Irving officers have been killed in Crown Victoria crashes, said Officer David Tull, a police spokesman. And no collisions involving Irving's Crown Victoria cars have resulted in a fire or explosion, he said.
The deaths of law enforcement officials occurred during high-speed crashes of at least 70 mph, Ms. Kinley said.
In Irving, some of the 20 cars – 2004 models – will replace aging vehicles, Officer Tull said. The department should be receiving the first batch of cars in the next couple of weeks.
Of the 127 cars in Irving's fleet, 111 are Crown Victorias.
The city retrofitted older cars to offer more protection in the event of a high-speed, rear-end crash, Officer Tull said.
A shielding component has been placed on the rear axle of cars built since October 2003, Ms. Kinley said. The shield is designed to protect the axle from puncturing the fuel tank during a crash, she said.
Crown Victorias dominate the country's police fleets. About 85 percent of police cars – or 350,000 – are Crown Victorias, Ms. Kinley said.
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6 challengers vie to oust incumbent
By Martha Deller;Elizabeth Campbell, Star-Telegram Staff Writers
R.C. McFall, the only Democratic elected official left in Johnson County, is in the toughest fight of his political career as he seeks his fourth term as Precinct 1 county commissioner.
Delphus Runnels opposes McFall in the Democratic primary March 9. The winner will face the survivor of a five-way Republican primary with Eddy Boggs, Doug Giddens, Larry Wayne Hall, Eddie Thomas and Jack Lee Wylie.
All of McFall's opponents criticize the 11-year commissioner for road conditions and a low-water crossing that washed out during recent rains. They also blame him for what they call a lack of foresight in areas such as budgeting, attracting business, and building jail and court facilities.
By Martha Deller;Elizabeth Campbell, Star-Telegram Staff Writers
R.C. McFall, the only Democratic elected official left in Johnson County, is in the toughest fight of his political career as he seeks his fourth term as Precinct 1 county commissioner.
Delphus Runnels opposes McFall in the Democratic primary March 9. The winner will face the survivor of a five-way Republican primary with Eddy Boggs, Doug Giddens, Larry Wayne Hall, Eddie Thomas and Jack Lee Wylie.
All of McFall's opponents criticize the 11-year commissioner for road conditions and a low-water crossing that washed out during recent rains. They also blame him for what they call a lack of foresight in areas such as budgeting, attracting business, and building jail and court facilities.
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Aramark ends county jail food contract
By Amie Streater, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - After more than two months of heat, Aramark is getting out of the Tarrant County Jail kitchens.
The beleaguered, Philadelphia-based contractor notified county officials Monday that it is terminating its $3.3 million food services contract effective March 22.
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is expected to accept Aramark's resignation today without making any statement of fault against the company.
The jail kitchens would then be turned over to Hurst-based Mid-States Services, which held the contract before being underbid by Aramark Correctional Services last year. Under the current contract, Mid-States is the backup contractor.
On Monday, Commissioner J.D. Johnson said of Aramark, "They just cannot do what they committed to do."
By Amie Streater, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - After more than two months of heat, Aramark is getting out of the Tarrant County Jail kitchens.
The beleaguered, Philadelphia-based contractor notified county officials Monday that it is terminating its $3.3 million food services contract effective March 22.
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court is expected to accept Aramark's resignation today without making any statement of fault against the company.
The jail kitchens would then be turned over to Hurst-based Mid-States Services, which held the contract before being underbid by Aramark Correctional Services last year. Under the current contract, Mid-States is the backup contractor.
On Monday, Commissioner J.D. Johnson said of Aramark, "They just cannot do what they committed to do."
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Millions are at stake in Ellis County
By Scott Streater, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Look at it from Ellis County's point of view.
When tough new federal ozone standards were finalized a few years ago, county leaders went to work. They persuaded industries to lower emissions. They added car registration fees to help pay for pollution-control programs. And they voluntarily implemented mandatory vehicle-emissions tests.
The effort appears to have paid off. The county is expected to comply with the new ozone standards set to go into effect next year.
Federal and state regulators, however, have recommended that Ellis County be included among counties that do not meet the standards, a move that would subject the county to severe sanctions, including the loss of tens of millions in federal highway transportation dollars.
By Scott Streater, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Look at it from Ellis County's point of view.
When tough new federal ozone standards were finalized a few years ago, county leaders went to work. They persuaded industries to lower emissions. They added car registration fees to help pay for pollution-control programs. And they voluntarily implemented mandatory vehicle-emissions tests.
The effort appears to have paid off. The county is expected to comply with the new ozone standards set to go into effect next year.
Federal and state regulators, however, have recommended that Ellis County be included among counties that do not meet the standards, a move that would subject the county to severe sanctions, including the loss of tens of millions in federal highway transportation dollars.
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Schools' plan for computers is falling short
By Yamil Berard - Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - In a special-education classroom at Arlington Heights High School, six power strips are connected to a single wall outlet.
One serves a computer monitor -- and two other power strips. One of those two serves a coffee maker, microwave, blender, can opener and toaster; the other serves a fan and a radio -- and a fourth power strip, which in turn runs another computer monitor and a printer.
A fifth power strip is plugged into the wall outlet and serves an icebox and the sixth strip, which also runs a computer monitor and a printer.
On the other side of the room, computers and printers are plugged into a power strip that shares a circuit breaker with the classroom of algebra teacher Vickie Clark, who must be careful not to trip over her own cords and power strips.
If Clark turns on a couple of computers when her heater is running, power to computers in both rooms shuts off.
"It just blows the circuit," she said.
That electrical fiasco represents one of the ways the Fort Worth school district's $40 million investment in computer technology has shortchanged taxpayers, teachers and students.
In 2 1/2 years, the district has deployed an extensive collection of technology equipment and supporting infrastructure. As a result, virtually every district employee has an e-mail address, and most classrooms can connect to the Internet.
Click here for full story
By Yamil Berard - Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - In a special-education classroom at Arlington Heights High School, six power strips are connected to a single wall outlet.
One serves a computer monitor -- and two other power strips. One of those two serves a coffee maker, microwave, blender, can opener and toaster; the other serves a fan and a radio -- and a fourth power strip, which in turn runs another computer monitor and a printer.
A fifth power strip is plugged into the wall outlet and serves an icebox and the sixth strip, which also runs a computer monitor and a printer.
On the other side of the room, computers and printers are plugged into a power strip that shares a circuit breaker with the classroom of algebra teacher Vickie Clark, who must be careful not to trip over her own cords and power strips.
If Clark turns on a couple of computers when her heater is running, power to computers in both rooms shuts off.
"It just blows the circuit," she said.
That electrical fiasco represents one of the ways the Fort Worth school district's $40 million investment in computer technology has shortchanged taxpayers, teachers and students.
In 2 1/2 years, the district has deployed an extensive collection of technology equipment and supporting infrastructure. As a result, virtually every district employee has an e-mail address, and most classrooms can connect to the Internet.
Click here for full story
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Fort Worth minister dies following standoff
Associated Press/The Dallas Morning News
A Fort Worth minister said to be distraught over the breakup of his marriage is dead after a six-hour standoff at the home he once shared with his family ended early Monday.
The man took his teenage stepdaughter hostage about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the two-story, brick-faced home in a middle-class south Fort Worth neighborhood, police said. The girl was released uninjured several hours later.
More time passed until fire broke out in the brick-facade house about 12:30 a.m. Monday. Firefighters suppressed the flames and found the man's body inside, police said.
Police said they do not know yet how he died, but they said they did nothing to cause his death.
The pastor of First Saint John's Full Gospel Baptist Church identified the man as Manuel Santiago, an associate minister at the church.
Pastor Larry Black told Dallas-Fort Worth radio station KRLD that Santiago had ministered to inmates and nursing home residents and had been distraught over the breakup of his marriage. He said Santiago's divorce became final recently.
Associated Press/The Dallas Morning News
A Fort Worth minister said to be distraught over the breakup of his marriage is dead after a six-hour standoff at the home he once shared with his family ended early Monday.
The man took his teenage stepdaughter hostage about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the two-story, brick-faced home in a middle-class south Fort Worth neighborhood, police said. The girl was released uninjured several hours later.
More time passed until fire broke out in the brick-facade house about 12:30 a.m. Monday. Firefighters suppressed the flames and found the man's body inside, police said.
Police said they do not know yet how he died, but they said they did nothing to cause his death.
The pastor of First Saint John's Full Gospel Baptist Church identified the man as Manuel Santiago, an associate minister at the church.
Pastor Larry Black told Dallas-Fort Worth radio station KRLD that Santiago had ministered to inmates and nursing home residents and had been distraught over the breakup of his marriage. He said Santiago's divorce became final recently.
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An 'unbelievable' trip to Texas for Sadler
By TERRY BLOUNT / The Dallas Morning News
FORT WORTH, Texas – A side-by-side sprint to the checkered flag in a NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Say what? That seemed about as likely as snow on the frontstretch in July, but it happened Sunday when Elliott Sadler held off hard-charging rookie Kasey Kahne to win the Samsung/RadioShack 500.
The estimated crowd of 216,000 was on its feet, probably holding their breath, as Sadler and Kahne came off Turn 4 for the final time.
Sadler was fighting to stay in front while dealing with the lapped car of Johnny Sauter. Kahne was on Sadler's bumper before moving outside near the wall to take his shot at getting to the line first.
The two cars were inches apart and Kahne was gaining, but Sadler reached the stripe first by half a car length in the No. 38 M&M's Ford. He won it by .028 seconds, the eighth closest Nextel Cup finish since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in 1993.
"If Kasey had 200 more feet, he would have gotten me," Sadler said. "Kasey raced me clean, and he's going to be a great champion one day."
Kahne is the rookie sensation in NASCAR, but he's getting frustrated at ending races as the runner-up in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid. Sunday was the third time in seven races this season that Kahne has finished second.
He lost to Matt Kenseth by .010 seconds earlier this season at Rockingham, N.C.
"Now I have two of the eight closest finishes in history," Kahne said. "Too bad I lost both of them. I'm tired of this. We had the best car all day. We had the field covered."
Kahne clearly had the fastest car on the track. He led 148 of the 334 laps but got caught pitting at the wrong time. Kahne pitted under green with 70 laps to go, three laps before a caution flag.
He was ninth on the restart with 62 laps remaining, but it was only a matter of time until he worked his way through the field.
Jeff Gordon was the leader after the caution. He stayed in front until an alternator problem briefly slowed the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet with 27 laps to go. He finished third.
Kahne had moved up to fourth before Gordon fell back. He easily moved around Dale Earnhardt Jr. for second before setting his sights on Sadler.
But Kahne felt he would have moved up sooner if not for 17 caution laps down the stretch. Kahne thought some of those yellow-flag laps were unnecessary.
"It was ridiculous how long [NASCAR officials] took to go back to green," Kahne said. "The track was clear, but we ran at least an extra 10 laps under yellow. I didn't have enough green-flag laps to catch the leader."
Sadler felt the race wouldn't have ended as close as it did if not for Sauter being a factor on the last lap.
"He almost lost me the race," Sadler said. "I don't know what in the world he was doing racing with the leaders. Anybody else would have pulled down at the end, but he moved right back in the groove. His awareness is hideous. But we all know that racing with him every week."
It all worked out for Sadler, who won for the second time in his six-year Nextel Cup career. But it was his first victory in 108 races, and his first win since joining Robert Yates Racing at the start of the 2003 season.
"It's a great feeling to do this for people that took a chance on me," Sadler said.
"And this is the first win for the M&M's folks after 13 years in this sport."
The 28-year-old Virginian started on the front row last year at TMS, leading the most laps before being involved in an accident midway through the race.
"I feel like we redeemed ourselves after what happened here last year," Sadler said. "This place always has been one of my favorite tracks ever since I ran here for the first time in the Busch car in 1997."
Sadler earned the biggest payday of his career at $507,733, the second largest winner's share of a purse in Nextel Cup. He admits he didn't have the fastest car, but he managed to reach the finish line a blink ahead of the man chasing him.
"I knew nobody could run with Kasey, but the more caution laps we ran, the better it was for me," Sadler said. "I was lucky to hold him off."
By TERRY BLOUNT / The Dallas Morning News
FORT WORTH, Texas – A side-by-side sprint to the checkered flag in a NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Say what? That seemed about as likely as snow on the frontstretch in July, but it happened Sunday when Elliott Sadler held off hard-charging rookie Kasey Kahne to win the Samsung/RadioShack 500.
The estimated crowd of 216,000 was on its feet, probably holding their breath, as Sadler and Kahne came off Turn 4 for the final time.
Sadler was fighting to stay in front while dealing with the lapped car of Johnny Sauter. Kahne was on Sadler's bumper before moving outside near the wall to take his shot at getting to the line first.
The two cars were inches apart and Kahne was gaining, but Sadler reached the stripe first by half a car length in the No. 38 M&M's Ford. He won it by .028 seconds, the eighth closest Nextel Cup finish since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in 1993.
"If Kasey had 200 more feet, he would have gotten me," Sadler said. "Kasey raced me clean, and he's going to be a great champion one day."
Kahne is the rookie sensation in NASCAR, but he's getting frustrated at ending races as the runner-up in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid. Sunday was the third time in seven races this season that Kahne has finished second.
He lost to Matt Kenseth by .010 seconds earlier this season at Rockingham, N.C.
"Now I have two of the eight closest finishes in history," Kahne said. "Too bad I lost both of them. I'm tired of this. We had the best car all day. We had the field covered."
Kahne clearly had the fastest car on the track. He led 148 of the 334 laps but got caught pitting at the wrong time. Kahne pitted under green with 70 laps to go, three laps before a caution flag.
He was ninth on the restart with 62 laps remaining, but it was only a matter of time until he worked his way through the field.
Jeff Gordon was the leader after the caution. He stayed in front until an alternator problem briefly slowed the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet with 27 laps to go. He finished third.
Kahne had moved up to fourth before Gordon fell back. He easily moved around Dale Earnhardt Jr. for second before setting his sights on Sadler.
But Kahne felt he would have moved up sooner if not for 17 caution laps down the stretch. Kahne thought some of those yellow-flag laps were unnecessary.
"It was ridiculous how long [NASCAR officials] took to go back to green," Kahne said. "The track was clear, but we ran at least an extra 10 laps under yellow. I didn't have enough green-flag laps to catch the leader."
Sadler felt the race wouldn't have ended as close as it did if not for Sauter being a factor on the last lap.
"He almost lost me the race," Sadler said. "I don't know what in the world he was doing racing with the leaders. Anybody else would have pulled down at the end, but he moved right back in the groove. His awareness is hideous. But we all know that racing with him every week."
It all worked out for Sadler, who won for the second time in his six-year Nextel Cup career. But it was his first victory in 108 races, and his first win since joining Robert Yates Racing at the start of the 2003 season.
"It's a great feeling to do this for people that took a chance on me," Sadler said.
"And this is the first win for the M&M's folks after 13 years in this sport."
The 28-year-old Virginian started on the front row last year at TMS, leading the most laps before being involved in an accident midway through the race.
"I feel like we redeemed ourselves after what happened here last year," Sadler said. "This place always has been one of my favorite tracks ever since I ran here for the first time in the Busch car in 1997."
Sadler earned the biggest payday of his career at $507,733, the second largest winner's share of a purse in Nextel Cup. He admits he didn't have the fastest car, but he managed to reach the finish line a blink ahead of the man chasing him.
"I knew nobody could run with Kasey, but the more caution laps we ran, the better it was for me," Sadler said. "I was lucky to hold him off."
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TexasStooge
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Devastating Fire Destroys Plano Home
PLANO, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- Plano firefighters are troubled by a house fire that started with a big boom Monday afternoon.
Fire investigators said the home is a total loss. Investigators have been looking through the ruins for any answers as to what may have sparked the massive fire.
Neighbors said the fire began with two blasts.
"When I heard them, I woke up thinking there were two gunshots," neighbor Yesenia Basurto said. "And when I got up, I looked out and I just saw blazes of fire."
The fire apparently started in the back of the house. Intense flames spread quickly. The smoke and fire could be seen for miles. Extra manpower was called in after the roof collapsed, and firefighters needed over an hour to extinguish the flames.
Nathan Simmons said the house shook from the force of the explosion. He was inside the house but near the front and was not hurt, though he was forced to leave everything behind.
"I had a lot of sentimental stuff," he said, "and that stuff can't be replaced."
Fire investigators along with the fire marshal are investigating the fire. They expect their results to be in by the middle of the week.
PLANO, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- Plano firefighters are troubled by a house fire that started with a big boom Monday afternoon.
Fire investigators said the home is a total loss. Investigators have been looking through the ruins for any answers as to what may have sparked the massive fire.
Neighbors said the fire began with two blasts.
"When I heard them, I woke up thinking there were two gunshots," neighbor Yesenia Basurto said. "And when I got up, I looked out and I just saw blazes of fire."
The fire apparently started in the back of the house. Intense flames spread quickly. The smoke and fire could be seen for miles. Extra manpower was called in after the roof collapsed, and firefighters needed over an hour to extinguish the flames.
Nathan Simmons said the house shook from the force of the explosion. He was inside the house but near the front and was not hurt, though he was forced to leave everything behind.
"I had a lot of sentimental stuff," he said, "and that stuff can't be replaced."
Fire investigators along with the fire marshal are investigating the fire. They expect their results to be in by the middle of the week.
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TexasStooge
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More Police Coming To Dallas Streets
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- Dallas ranks at the top of the list in terms of crime rates in major metropolitan areas in the United States. To fight the crime battle, city leaders now are planning to put more police officers on the streets.
The city has experienced a slight upturn in sales tax revenue because of the recovering economy. City hall officials plan to apply that extra revenue to adding civilian workers to replace officers at desk jobs, freeing the officers to return to patrol duty.
Recent budget cuts had taken civilians, who often work at lesser pay rates than officers, off the police payroll.
"Over the years, we've actually put sworn (police) personnel in these positions," interim Police Chief Randy Hampton said. "They've been there for quite some time, but we just think we could get a little better use out of them if we put them in a law enforcement capacity."
The city council Monday heard there has been a net reduction of 56 police civilian workers. The city, though, has new plans to spend $2.5 million to hire civilians to handle administrative jobs now occupied by police officers.
The city will hire 24 civilian workers to replace officers on community service desk jobs and 36 administrative employees, and 14 more officers soon will be replaced Dallas Independent School District officers on school patrol duty. The moves will add 74 officers to active patrol.
"Our main concern is to have a strong and bigger force out there for our citizens to feel safe," Councilwoman Elba Garcia said. "I think that's what this plan is going to lead to."
The head of the Dallas Police Association, however, thinks the civilian employees ultimately will cost the city more money than it can save from the program.
"It all revolves around money," Glenn White said. "I think what while they're gonna be bending down to pick up quarters, dollars are gonna be falling out of their pockets by 'civilianzing' a lot of these positions."
DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- Dallas ranks at the top of the list in terms of crime rates in major metropolitan areas in the United States. To fight the crime battle, city leaders now are planning to put more police officers on the streets.
The city has experienced a slight upturn in sales tax revenue because of the recovering economy. City hall officials plan to apply that extra revenue to adding civilian workers to replace officers at desk jobs, freeing the officers to return to patrol duty.
Recent budget cuts had taken civilians, who often work at lesser pay rates than officers, off the police payroll.
"Over the years, we've actually put sworn (police) personnel in these positions," interim Police Chief Randy Hampton said. "They've been there for quite some time, but we just think we could get a little better use out of them if we put them in a law enforcement capacity."
The city council Monday heard there has been a net reduction of 56 police civilian workers. The city, though, has new plans to spend $2.5 million to hire civilians to handle administrative jobs now occupied by police officers.
The city will hire 24 civilian workers to replace officers on community service desk jobs and 36 administrative employees, and 14 more officers soon will be replaced Dallas Independent School District officers on school patrol duty. The moves will add 74 officers to active patrol.
"Our main concern is to have a strong and bigger force out there for our citizens to feel safe," Councilwoman Elba Garcia said. "I think that's what this plan is going to lead to."
The head of the Dallas Police Association, however, thinks the civilian employees ultimately will cost the city more money than it can save from the program.
"It all revolves around money," Glenn White said. "I think what while they're gonna be bending down to pick up quarters, dollars are gonna be falling out of their pockets by 'civilianzing' a lot of these positions."
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TexasStooge
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Boy Wanders Away From Elementary School
RICHARDSON, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- A Richardson elementary school student is safe at home after giving his mom a big scare Monday.
The young boy got a hall pass to use the restroom at Lake Highlands Elementary School and then walked off campus after lunch. A passerby found him about two miles away from the school and called police.
The boy was walking along the frontage road of LBJ Freeway near Jupiter Road.
School officials said nothing like this has happened before.
RICHARDSON, Texas (KXAS NBC5) -- A Richardson elementary school student is safe at home after giving his mom a big scare Monday.
The young boy got a hall pass to use the restroom at Lake Highlands Elementary School and then walked off campus after lunch. A passerby found him about two miles away from the school and called police.
The boy was walking along the frontage road of LBJ Freeway near Jupiter Road.
School officials said nothing like this has happened before.
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TexasStooge
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Residents want a voice in city's future
Civic leaders discuss Morning News study on Dallas' prospects
10:27 PM CDT on Sunday, April 18, 2004
By VICTORIA LOE HICKS and ANGELA SHAH / The Dallas Morning News
Memo to City Hall: Don't sell us short.
That was one message delivered Sunday by a panel of grass-roots civic leaders who came together to discuss "Dallas at the Tipping Point," an analysis of the city's prospects presented in Sunday's editions of The Dallas Morning News.
"Our city leadership in general doesn't give the voting public the credit for being intelligent enough to understand what constitutes an investment in our future and what's wasteful," said John Floeter, who lives in Lakewood.
"They sell the citizens short frequently," agreed Betty Wadkins of the Piedmont-Scyene area.
The consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton analyzed Dallas city government for The News, comparing Dallas to 14 cities of similar size. The consultants found that Dallas chronically under-invests in its infrastructure, lacks a strategic plan and labors under a tangled organizational structure that leaves no one ultimately accountable.
The panel, city leaders and other newspaper readers disputed some of the findings. But they generally agreed that the analysis was a valuable assessment of Dallas' situation.
Several panelists said Dallas residents have more faith in their city than leaders recognize.
"The bond program is a testament to that," said Angela Hunt, who lives in Greenland Hills. Mayor Laura Miller and nearly half the council resisted the $555 million bond package, which voters later overwhelmingly embraced.
"I don't care whether it's the city manager or the mayor, but somebody needs to come forward and say, 'Look, folks, we need to invest in this city,' " said Bill Peterson, chairman of the city's Crime Watch executive board.
In City Hall's defense, some panelists said, residents must recognize that Dallas is in a healthy transition from government-by-the-few to government-by-the-many. It's only natural, they said, that there be some tentativeness along the way.
"The city is going through a very significant transition in its power structure," said Martin Hoffman, who lives in the Park Royal neighborhood. "We're seeing a gradual change to a more bottom-up city government as opposed to a small group of downtown business leaders who control city government.
"I think it's somewhat unfair to the city to say, 'This is the city's that's broken,' because we've just started this new era. And I think the new era has a lot more potential than the old era."
That doesn't mean there is no longer a place at the table for business leaders, he and other panelists said. In fact, they agreed, greater involvement by more groups must be the hallmark of the new Dallas.
"I think the community as a whole needs to work together, the pieces, and I think it's starting to happen in Dallas," said Jeri Arbuckle, president of the Dallas Homeowners League.
"In Dallas we tend to react to crisis situations, including the press, and we allow things to develop to crisis level before it becomes a public conversation. I think dialogues are starting now."
Ms. Miller took a page from the same book.
"I ran for mayor two years ago on a platform of major change – exactly what the newspaper's report is advocating. As a result, the Dallas City Council has been working feverishly to turn the city around, often with the help of business leaders and the faith community," Ms. Miller said in an e-mail.
"We've vastly improved the Trinity River project. We're revitalizing and greening downtown block by block, building more housing, reducing crime, aggressively tackling the homeless problem, and demanding accountability at City Hall. Can we do better? Sure. Will we keep making progress? Yes."
"It's certainly a worthwhile report; we all need to pay attention at City Hall," said Mayor Pro Tem John Loza. "Obviously, there are some deficiencies that we need to work on. ... We've started that process: identifying goals, establishing performance measures, setting targets."
Council member Ed Oakley's initial response was that news coverage of Dallas' problems is counterproductive.
"I think that a story like this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said. "This is what our competitors will use across the country to say, 'You don't want to come to Dallas.' ... I worry about articles like this. Y'all aren't helping."
He conceded, though, that council members sometimes lose sight of the long view in the crush of day-to-day issues.
"It's always good to raise our awareness. Sometimes we're so bogged down in the day-to-day operations," he said.
The Booz Allen report – which is available online at www. dallasnews.com/tippingpoint – found the city performing poorly on the very items that city residents say matter most: crime, public schools and economic growth.
Response from readers reaffirmed the importance of those quality-of-life issues.
Wilma Avalos, who has lived the Love Field West neighborhood since 1965, said in a phone interview that crime is topic No. 1 among her neighbors.
"We've been told about the crime, that our crime rate for the last four months is almost zero out here," she said. "We know different. Three Sundays ago they found a dead woman at Empire Central and Harry Hines. The following week [the Police Department] gave us a report saying zero murders."
A reader who identified himself as Jimmy and said he lives in Allen weighed in via e-mail. "The only thing keeping my family from living in Dallas proper is the education situation in Dallas," he wrote.
First Assistant City Manager Mary Suhm said elected officials and the city staff will use the Booz Allen report to help refine Dallas' operations.
"I know each and every one of us will look seriously at the research and observations of The Morning News, for possibilities to improve our day-to-day services as well as our long-range strategic planning," she said.
Attempts to reach City Manager Ted Benavides were unsuccessful.
Although Jimmy from Allen doesn't live in Dallas, he said he's rooting for the city and hopes leaders will heed the wake-up call inherent in the data presented by Booz Allen and The News.
"We all agree that the suburbs, as well as the rest of the metropolitan area, depend on a central urban core to do well in order for the whole area to prosper in the long run," he wrote. "This is a very important report that I hope the leaders of Dallas look at closely and take action on immediately."
Civic leaders discuss Morning News study on Dallas' prospects
10:27 PM CDT on Sunday, April 18, 2004
By VICTORIA LOE HICKS and ANGELA SHAH / The Dallas Morning News
Memo to City Hall: Don't sell us short.
That was one message delivered Sunday by a panel of grass-roots civic leaders who came together to discuss "Dallas at the Tipping Point," an analysis of the city's prospects presented in Sunday's editions of The Dallas Morning News.
"Our city leadership in general doesn't give the voting public the credit for being intelligent enough to understand what constitutes an investment in our future and what's wasteful," said John Floeter, who lives in Lakewood.
"They sell the citizens short frequently," agreed Betty Wadkins of the Piedmont-Scyene area.
The consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton analyzed Dallas city government for The News, comparing Dallas to 14 cities of similar size. The consultants found that Dallas chronically under-invests in its infrastructure, lacks a strategic plan and labors under a tangled organizational structure that leaves no one ultimately accountable.
The panel, city leaders and other newspaper readers disputed some of the findings. But they generally agreed that the analysis was a valuable assessment of Dallas' situation.
Several panelists said Dallas residents have more faith in their city than leaders recognize.
"The bond program is a testament to that," said Angela Hunt, who lives in Greenland Hills. Mayor Laura Miller and nearly half the council resisted the $555 million bond package, which voters later overwhelmingly embraced.
"I don't care whether it's the city manager or the mayor, but somebody needs to come forward and say, 'Look, folks, we need to invest in this city,' " said Bill Peterson, chairman of the city's Crime Watch executive board.
In City Hall's defense, some panelists said, residents must recognize that Dallas is in a healthy transition from government-by-the-few to government-by-the-many. It's only natural, they said, that there be some tentativeness along the way.
"The city is going through a very significant transition in its power structure," said Martin Hoffman, who lives in the Park Royal neighborhood. "We're seeing a gradual change to a more bottom-up city government as opposed to a small group of downtown business leaders who control city government.
"I think it's somewhat unfair to the city to say, 'This is the city's that's broken,' because we've just started this new era. And I think the new era has a lot more potential than the old era."
That doesn't mean there is no longer a place at the table for business leaders, he and other panelists said. In fact, they agreed, greater involvement by more groups must be the hallmark of the new Dallas.
"I think the community as a whole needs to work together, the pieces, and I think it's starting to happen in Dallas," said Jeri Arbuckle, president of the Dallas Homeowners League.
"In Dallas we tend to react to crisis situations, including the press, and we allow things to develop to crisis level before it becomes a public conversation. I think dialogues are starting now."
Ms. Miller took a page from the same book.
"I ran for mayor two years ago on a platform of major change – exactly what the newspaper's report is advocating. As a result, the Dallas City Council has been working feverishly to turn the city around, often with the help of business leaders and the faith community," Ms. Miller said in an e-mail.
"We've vastly improved the Trinity River project. We're revitalizing and greening downtown block by block, building more housing, reducing crime, aggressively tackling the homeless problem, and demanding accountability at City Hall. Can we do better? Sure. Will we keep making progress? Yes."
"It's certainly a worthwhile report; we all need to pay attention at City Hall," said Mayor Pro Tem John Loza. "Obviously, there are some deficiencies that we need to work on. ... We've started that process: identifying goals, establishing performance measures, setting targets."
Council member Ed Oakley's initial response was that news coverage of Dallas' problems is counterproductive.
"I think that a story like this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," he said. "This is what our competitors will use across the country to say, 'You don't want to come to Dallas.' ... I worry about articles like this. Y'all aren't helping."
He conceded, though, that council members sometimes lose sight of the long view in the crush of day-to-day issues.
"It's always good to raise our awareness. Sometimes we're so bogged down in the day-to-day operations," he said.
The Booz Allen report – which is available online at www. dallasnews.com/tippingpoint – found the city performing poorly on the very items that city residents say matter most: crime, public schools and economic growth.
Response from readers reaffirmed the importance of those quality-of-life issues.
Wilma Avalos, who has lived the Love Field West neighborhood since 1965, said in a phone interview that crime is topic No. 1 among her neighbors.
"We've been told about the crime, that our crime rate for the last four months is almost zero out here," she said. "We know different. Three Sundays ago they found a dead woman at Empire Central and Harry Hines. The following week [the Police Department] gave us a report saying zero murders."
A reader who identified himself as Jimmy and said he lives in Allen weighed in via e-mail. "The only thing keeping my family from living in Dallas proper is the education situation in Dallas," he wrote.
First Assistant City Manager Mary Suhm said elected officials and the city staff will use the Booz Allen report to help refine Dallas' operations.
"I know each and every one of us will look seriously at the research and observations of The Morning News, for possibilities to improve our day-to-day services as well as our long-range strategic planning," she said.
Attempts to reach City Manager Ted Benavides were unsuccessful.
Although Jimmy from Allen doesn't live in Dallas, he said he's rooting for the city and hopes leaders will heed the wake-up call inherent in the data presented by Booz Allen and The News.
"We all agree that the suburbs, as well as the rest of the metropolitan area, depend on a central urban core to do well in order for the whole area to prosper in the long run," he wrote. "This is a very important report that I hope the leaders of Dallas look at closely and take action on immediately."
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TexasStooge
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4 Waxahachie baseball players arrested in sexual assault
WAXAHACHE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Ellis County Sheriff's deputies have arrested four members of the Waxahachie High School baseball team in connection with a sexual assault.
Detectives said Thursday at least one player allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl while his teammates watched.
Authorities said the players who were arrested—all 15 or 16 years old—were at a party Easter weekend when the alleged assault took place. Police said the girl reported the crime the next morning, distraught because no one helped her during the ordeal.
"No, they didn't attempt to stop it or report to law enforcement anything they knew," Ellis County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Clint Tims said.
The team continues to practice while the allegations are investigated. Waxahachie ISD officials said no one in law enforcement has contacted them to let them know about the arrests, so the suspects continue to attend class.
"We don't do anything until the facts are known," said district spokeswoman Candace Ahlfinger.
The baseball team has been in trouble before, and is already on probation for three years for several reasons. Fans had a yelling match with one of the umpires, the coach violated University Interscholastic League practice rules, and the team had a fight with another team two weeks ago.
"They've had some problems, but as with any other group, it happens from time to time," Ahlfinger said. "The bottom line is: Our kids are good kids."
Detectives, however, said the team's latest problem is much more serious, adding the investigation isn't over and others may be arrested.
"There is some information that surfaced that there may be some more involved," Tims said.
Detectives also want to know why no adults were at the house during the party when it got out of control.
The cases will likely go next to the Ellis County District Attorney's office to see what, if any, charges will be formally filed.
WAXAHACHE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Ellis County Sheriff's deputies have arrested four members of the Waxahachie High School baseball team in connection with a sexual assault.
Detectives said Thursday at least one player allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl while his teammates watched.
Authorities said the players who were arrested—all 15 or 16 years old—were at a party Easter weekend when the alleged assault took place. Police said the girl reported the crime the next morning, distraught because no one helped her during the ordeal.
"No, they didn't attempt to stop it or report to law enforcement anything they knew," Ellis County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Clint Tims said.
The team continues to practice while the allegations are investigated. Waxahachie ISD officials said no one in law enforcement has contacted them to let them know about the arrests, so the suspects continue to attend class.
"We don't do anything until the facts are known," said district spokeswoman Candace Ahlfinger.
The baseball team has been in trouble before, and is already on probation for three years for several reasons. Fans had a yelling match with one of the umpires, the coach violated University Interscholastic League practice rules, and the team had a fight with another team two weeks ago.
"They've had some problems, but as with any other group, it happens from time to time," Ahlfinger said. "The bottom line is: Our kids are good kids."
Detectives, however, said the team's latest problem is much more serious, adding the investigation isn't over and others may be arrested.
"There is some information that surfaced that there may be some more involved," Tims said.
Detectives also want to know why no adults were at the house during the party when it got out of control.
The cases will likely go next to the Ellis County District Attorney's office to see what, if any, charges will be formally filed.
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TexasStooge
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2 shot, 1 dead at Arlington stoplight
ARLINGTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Arlington police are investigating an overnight shooting that left one man dead and another injured.
The incident began at a stop light in Arlington around 2:30 a.m. and continued as the vehicles traveled along Park Row Drive from Connally Terrace to Carter Drive near Spur 303.
Paramedics arriving at the scene found one man dead; they transported another man to Dallas Methodist Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm.
The names of the victims were not released.
Witnesses told police the gunman was driving a white car. Police are unsure if the incident was related to gang activity.
ARLINGTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Arlington police are investigating an overnight shooting that left one man dead and another injured.
The incident began at a stop light in Arlington around 2:30 a.m. and continued as the vehicles traveled along Park Row Drive from Connally Terrace to Carter Drive near Spur 303.
Paramedics arriving at the scene found one man dead; they transported another man to Dallas Methodist Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm.
The names of the victims were not released.
Witnesses told police the gunman was driving a white car. Police are unsure if the incident was related to gang activity.
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TexasStooge
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Sixth Floor director removed from job
By MARK WROLSTAD / The Dallas Morning News
The respected leader of Dallas' Sixth Floor Museum, one of the area's biggest tourist destinations, has been removed from his job because of allegations of improprieties involving his travel expenses and will be fired, according to two sources close to the museum's board.
Jeff West, 46, oversaw the institution's expansion as a worldwide center for Kennedy assassination studies during more than a decade as its executive director. He was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday and does not face criminal accusations.
Mr. West could be dismissed as soon as today once an agreement is worked out to have him repay less than $10,000 in expenses that the museum's board deemed to be personal rather than business-related, said the two sources, who asked not to be identified.
Mr. West couldn't be reached for comment after the museum board's unanimous vote at its monthly meeting.
The museum board's chairman, Victor Elmore, said lawyers were working on an agreement with Mr. West that would include his dismissal.
"That issue will be part of it," he said. "It'll be pretty quick."
The board's action came after an "intensive" outside investigation that took eight weeks.
The disputed expenses involved such charges as an extra night for a hotel during a New York business trip where Mr. West took his partner, said the two sources.
"We're really not talking about a lot of money here," one source said. "This is not about money that's been embezzled or stolen or lost."
Mr. West has maintained that such charges were legitimate business expenses because he continued to do work for the museum throughout a trip, the sources said.
"That kind of thing, the board just looked at after the investigation and started adding it up and said, 'Look, Jeff, we disagree,' " one of the sources said. "It's just judgment calls."
Mr. Elmore minimized any potential damage that the pending dismissal would cause to the nonprofit institution, which has an annual budget of more than $4.2 million and attracts about 450,000 paying customers a year.
By MARK WROLSTAD / The Dallas Morning News
The respected leader of Dallas' Sixth Floor Museum, one of the area's biggest tourist destinations, has been removed from his job because of allegations of improprieties involving his travel expenses and will be fired, according to two sources close to the museum's board.
Jeff West, 46, oversaw the institution's expansion as a worldwide center for Kennedy assassination studies during more than a decade as its executive director. He was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday and does not face criminal accusations.
Mr. West could be dismissed as soon as today once an agreement is worked out to have him repay less than $10,000 in expenses that the museum's board deemed to be personal rather than business-related, said the two sources, who asked not to be identified.
Mr. West couldn't be reached for comment after the museum board's unanimous vote at its monthly meeting.
The museum board's chairman, Victor Elmore, said lawyers were working on an agreement with Mr. West that would include his dismissal.
"That issue will be part of it," he said. "It'll be pretty quick."
The board's action came after an "intensive" outside investigation that took eight weeks.
The disputed expenses involved such charges as an extra night for a hotel during a New York business trip where Mr. West took his partner, said the two sources.
"We're really not talking about a lot of money here," one source said. "This is not about money that's been embezzled or stolen or lost."
Mr. West has maintained that such charges were legitimate business expenses because he continued to do work for the museum throughout a trip, the sources said.
"That kind of thing, the board just looked at after the investigation and started adding it up and said, 'Look, Jeff, we disagree,' " one of the sources said. "It's just judgment calls."
Mr. Elmore minimized any potential damage that the pending dismissal would cause to the nonprofit institution, which has an annual budget of more than $4.2 million and attracts about 450,000 paying customers a year.
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TexasStooge
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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D/FW Ranks High On Smog List
City Ranks 10th; Houston Ranks 5th
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- Living in north Texas, you can often tell the air isn't fresh and clean just by looking.
Now, a report from the American Lung Association has confirmed it.
The ALA has ranked the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex 10th in the nation for having the worst smog.
The report highlights the city's hot spots for unhealthy ozone, and short-term year-round levels of particle pollution.
This year, Los Angeles once again topped the list for the worst smog, with Houston coming in at No. 5.
The Environmental Protection Agency believes that smog represents the most challenging pollution problem the country is facing.
Earlier this week, the city of Dallas began discussions about mandating a four-day workweek for its 13,000 employees.
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said city employees going to a four-day workweek could have a drastic effect on minimizing ozone pollution.
City Ranks 10th; Houston Ranks 5th
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- Living in north Texas, you can often tell the air isn't fresh and clean just by looking.
Now, a report from the American Lung Association has confirmed it.
The ALA has ranked the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex 10th in the nation for having the worst smog.
The report highlights the city's hot spots for unhealthy ozone, and short-term year-round levels of particle pollution.
This year, Los Angeles once again topped the list for the worst smog, with Houston coming in at No. 5.
The Environmental Protection Agency believes that smog represents the most challenging pollution problem the country is facing.
Earlier this week, the city of Dallas began discussions about mandating a four-day workweek for its 13,000 employees.
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said city employees going to a four-day workweek could have a drastic effect on minimizing ozone pollution.
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TexasStooge
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- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Dallas Man Leads Chase Through 4 SE Texas Counties
Officials: Suspect Has Criminal Record Across Texas
HOUSTON, Texas (KXAS TV) -- The pursuit of a driver, who threatened to kill himself, led several law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase Wednesday morning through four southeast Texas counties, starting in northwest Harris County, officials said. The chase ended off Interstate 10 in Sealy, Austin County, more than an hour after it began.
Precinct 5 deputy constables said they began following a pickup truck driven by 39-year-old Allen Russell Davis, of Dallas, around 9:30 a.m. in a neighborhood near Highway 6 and West Little York.
A constable pulled the driver over for a traffic violation; however, the suspect decided to take off, causing the chase, according to authorities.
The driver led officers through several neighborhood streets, taking Highway 6 north to the Northwest Freeway then coming inbound on Highway 290 before exiting Fairbanks North Houston Road and going south.
Davis eventually found his way to Interstate 10 heading west past Brookshire at speeds of more than 90 mph, according to officials.
The chase passed through Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties before Davis drove over spikes set out by the Sealy Police Department, causing the suspect to veer off the highway and his truck to roll over around 10:35 a.m. east of Sealy, Austin County, police said.
Officials said Davis might have been ejected from the truck.
Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies communicated with the driver on a cell phone as he weaved in and out of traffic. They told News2Houston that the man threatened to kill himself.
"This man said he wasn't going to be stopped, and wasn't going to give up to police at all. He wouldn't be taken alive," Sealy Police Chief Brad Murray said.
LifeFlight transported the driver to a hospital. His exact condition was not released.
"The suspect was conscious. He was complaining of some back injuries and some injuries to the back of his head. There was a visible wound to the back of the head," Murray said.
Four law enforcement agencies involved in the chase -- Houston Police Department, Harris County Precinct 5, the Department of Public Safety and the Sealy Police Department -- said despite the man's somewhat reckless driving, no injuries were reported to anyone other than the driver.
Officials said the driver has a criminal past including larceny and theft charges out of New Braunfels, and check fraud and probation violation charges in Dallas.
"There are three outstanding warrants for his arrest throughout the state of Texas," Murray said.
An investigation is under way.
Officials: Suspect Has Criminal Record Across Texas
HOUSTON, Texas (KXAS TV) -- The pursuit of a driver, who threatened to kill himself, led several law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase Wednesday morning through four southeast Texas counties, starting in northwest Harris County, officials said. The chase ended off Interstate 10 in Sealy, Austin County, more than an hour after it began.
Precinct 5 deputy constables said they began following a pickup truck driven by 39-year-old Allen Russell Davis, of Dallas, around 9:30 a.m. in a neighborhood near Highway 6 and West Little York.
A constable pulled the driver over for a traffic violation; however, the suspect decided to take off, causing the chase, according to authorities.
The driver led officers through several neighborhood streets, taking Highway 6 north to the Northwest Freeway then coming inbound on Highway 290 before exiting Fairbanks North Houston Road and going south.
Davis eventually found his way to Interstate 10 heading west past Brookshire at speeds of more than 90 mph, according to officials.
The chase passed through Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties before Davis drove over spikes set out by the Sealy Police Department, causing the suspect to veer off the highway and his truck to roll over around 10:35 a.m. east of Sealy, Austin County, police said.
Officials said Davis might have been ejected from the truck.
Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies communicated with the driver on a cell phone as he weaved in and out of traffic. They told News2Houston that the man threatened to kill himself.
"This man said he wasn't going to be stopped, and wasn't going to give up to police at all. He wouldn't be taken alive," Sealy Police Chief Brad Murray said.
LifeFlight transported the driver to a hospital. His exact condition was not released.
"The suspect was conscious. He was complaining of some back injuries and some injuries to the back of his head. There was a visible wound to the back of the head," Murray said.
Four law enforcement agencies involved in the chase -- Houston Police Department, Harris County Precinct 5, the Department of Public Safety and the Sealy Police Department -- said despite the man's somewhat reckless driving, no injuries were reported to anyone other than the driver.
Officials said the driver has a criminal past including larceny and theft charges out of New Braunfels, and check fraud and probation violation charges in Dallas.
"There are three outstanding warrants for his arrest throughout the state of Texas," Murray said.
An investigation is under way.
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TexasStooge
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Dallas Police Assist Federal Agents In Mystery Hotel Raid
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- A tense situation unfolded Thursday night outside a Dallas hotel after a police raid.
Federal agents and Dallas police officers stormed the Quest Inn along Cherry Valley Blvd.
Police locked down the hotel, searched room to room for more than one hour and arrested two people.
Dallas police told NBC 5 that officers were at the raid in a support role only.
Agents did not comment on the raid or the investigation.
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAS TV) -- A tense situation unfolded Thursday night outside a Dallas hotel after a police raid.
Federal agents and Dallas police officers stormed the Quest Inn along Cherry Valley Blvd.
Police locked down the hotel, searched room to room for more than one hour and arrested two people.
Dallas police told NBC 5 that officers were at the raid in a support role only.
Agents did not comment on the raid or the investigation.
Last edited by TexasStooge on Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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