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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-23 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE O CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN ,MAYOR YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN/ LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED 3 /a3 )C) 7 DATE OFARTICLE 3 1S `'1 i s I0 7NEWSPAPER , local entertainment.And, There are so many good FROM THE LOCAL we will have.something for things happening in Euless LEA1 everyone.This year's Arbor and we encourage you to ERSHIP Daze will be held April 28- check our website and read Texas to have early voting, 2�.�-on the grounds of the. the"Euless Today"along i so there is no excuse for not City.Hall Campus. with other communications voting.Many states do not Our Town Hall meetings to find out all that is - have early voting Fere very successful and our going on.The city council r`: afh citizens shared many good meetings are open to the ideas to improve our city. public as w everyone'outdoors and P e 1 .Council It's always a'o to have our ' meetings'*.F'Yn, "' especially children after Y y field the second school.Do watch out for citizens come and participate and fourth Tuesday nights children playing in the in an informal setting and at 7:00 p.m. in the council streets and darting in and out Bet to know the council and chambers at city hall.I look of parked vehicles.Drive sem. forward to seeing you there. Mayor. Saleh " with extra care. Our library continues to be a ` { Our annual Easter Egg hunt busy place for all age groups Euless but it's sad to hear that will be a special nighttime. event on Saturday,March _ some citizens have never 31,from 6-9 pm at the been inside our beautiful Parks at Texas Star, 1501 library filled with all sorts- Mid-March is here acid we' of interesting information, South Pipeline Road.Bring ld be looking forward programs and art work.It is your flashlights because tsueing the wonderful wild ' the ev truly one of the showcases ent will be held in the" flowers of Texas.Did you of Euless,and it is a free dark with glow-in-the-dark w that Texas has more service for our citizens. eggs and special prizes. teties of wildflowers _ The Raven's Grille , than any other state?Now is Each Scramble will be continues to be the most separated into four different J t ime to take your Texas popular spot at lunchtime age groups. There will be book along on and on Sunday for brunch. bounce houses and a lot some daytime trips and see There are several new items. w many you can identify. of Easter treats.. For more �," on the menu and plenty of information,ca11817-685-, 11cause of the cold and the old favorites.Our chef 1666. t winter weather.we have still serves the best chicken d,we should have an Euless will be continuing fried steak anywhere. our"Healthy New You" abundance of wildflowers We also havese veral new this spring with more s spring. restaurants in Euless.The Bid-March also means the exercise opportunities, , more walking programs, Chili's at the new shopping closing of the sign-up dates center on Glade Road is nutrition programs,and lots Omore opportunities to get elections.We now know always busy and additional o is running for city involved.We will even have restaurants are on the way.... council and school board there's a new Starbucks on tdidates itions.Get to know our a family walk at Arbor DazeY ear Main Street.They really this and support the y -----________ have made it beautiful.We Je rsn you feel isright for Yes,Euless will have Arborare fortunate to have such a Daze in April It will not be position.And,please variety of foods offered in as large,as before,but will te!We are fortunate in our city, concentrate on families and DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ' OFA MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMI, -7 NLIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ' DATE DISTRIBUTED -3/ 0 DATE OFARTICLE J J! -7 /0 I NEWSPAPER FWST on the. Trinity Railway Ex- PI81111@d development LAKES OF BIRD'S FORT` which was the first Anglo set pressway,said Robert Kembel, tlement in Tarrant County. Huffines,Communities presi- Other developers have un- dent.The rail line runs right by Homes and { Successfully; attempted over. Bird's Fort,and Arlington does the past 25 years to buildonthe:. not have a TRE terminal: ,. . ,, • , ', l . land, which lies in the Trinity The project would need the i YY11-Vn rO��i 1 River,flood plain. approval and financial support 1 j j1.Au lel retail all The city plans to establish a of the city; the Fort Worth - tax increment financing dis- .Transit Authority, Dallas Area areplanned trict or use other types of pub- Rapid Transit, and the North 1 G lic financing to help Huffines'. Central Texas Council of Gov- i 157Trini %\vd. build infrastructure; such. as, ernments.'Arlington taxpayers t ■A developer is working to reha- streets and sewer lines that:, have historically resisted pub Fort s� bilitate about 1,200 acres of wet- would allow the development lic transportation. Worth 71;,ryU,:y, lands that help define its planned to happen,,, Mayor Robert "We would like to see this community in north Arlington. .Cluck said. become a transit-oriented de- Lakes Huffines Communities of velopment,but we have a lot of of i31rA's By SUSAN SCHROCK 1 Dallas is known for developing political work 'ahead of us," ' ' Fort STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER master-planned communities Kembel said. ;.v ARLINGTON Multifamily with resort-like amenities; Cluck said he believes that a v mansions, a 'town square, offices such as Savannah near The:, rail terminal would be ex- green oaks wa 360 with apartments above them, and Colony and the _Cape-Cod- tremely beneficial to the city even a passenger rail terminal are all style Providence development,..but doesn't expect it to happenz Brown Blvd proposed for the undeveloped Lakes between Frisco and Denton. anytime soon. 30 ' g p Huffines' is a very popular route Mapped . of Bird's Fort area in North Arling-," Arlington city officials have "I rea zo ton,according to a plan filed with the not; yet reviewed would help our citizens zm city Friday., concept plan_, which must be get to and from work," said Huffines Communities bought approved by the Planning and Cluck, who believes that Ar- STAR 7ELecRa_M '' the 2,000-acre parcel,which lies east Zoning'Commission and the lington residents would vote to of Farm Road 157 and north of North- City Council. financially support a depot. near the Trinity River.the de. east Green Oaks Boulevard — near'; Among the highlights: "About 40 percent of residents veloper is working to restore: River Legacy Park—last year for an Unique housing: Plans who work leave the city to get with the help of the Army, undisclosed amount. call for up to six condomini- to their jobs. A large majority Corps of Engineers and envi- The master-planned community,, urns to be housed inside build- of them would be able to use ronmental groups, Kembel called Viridian, is to include 800 ings that look like large man- the TRE if we had a stop." said. acres of residential and commercial sions. Mixed use: Residents "We are going to totally re- development and amenities such as_ Villages: Residential areas could live above shops and of- build the ecosystem out there. miles of bike trails'and public green would be divided into villages, fices that would line Collins There has been a lot of damage spaces: each with unique architecture Street. done out there by the previous The community will surround the that would reflect the various Curb appeal:Many homes development that went broke. 3 historic Lakes of Bird's Fort site, regions of Texas. Some homes `would have garages out of sight It's like a real sick piece of land would be clustered around from the street. Access would that needs to be treated.We're open green spaces instead of 'be from alleys. working with the city to figure lining streets to create more of IWetlands: The name Vi- out the best way to do that," a.community feel. Vidian comes from a shade of Kembel said. Rail transit: The area is a green,which plays on the 1,200_ It could take 18 to 24 months prime location for a terminal acres of wetlands and lakes to recontour the land and be- gin repairs to the natural habi- tat,he said. This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives. Susan Schrock,817-548-5475 sschrock@star-telegram.com ' DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF .MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN OUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l / DATE OF ARTICLE ' NEWSPAPER FWST WHAT'S NEW STAR-TELEGRAM/LAURIE L.WARD LA Fitness A 45,000-square-foot LA Fitness center is under construction in Euless at 2600 Texas 121 and should open this spring,according to city ' officials.The centers offer fitness classes,a lap pool,spa,basketball court,racquetball court,indoor cycling and personal trainers. 1 1 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OFA MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED I DATE OFARTICLE 3 /a00 -7 NEWSPAPER FWST ,EULESS 1 Apattmento"e: r expo e 1 lel. e ourt today1 ` ■The new manTo be done or.agementat Timber Code enforcement offic ' Creek Apartments has been makingPool will be drained,painted. t in Euless visit.properties repairs to comply with city codes. Staff must receive pool certification. seek voluntary compliance for . SOURCES:City of Euless,Timber Creek Apartments code violations. If the ow By JESSICA DELEON STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER doesn't comply voluntarily,It ' city sends aservice -requ EULESS - The owner of Timber -..-- I Creek Apartments is expected to ap TIIRtber creek ApartRile pear in court today to answer a city cita �y �r ¢ tion for failing to maintain the property. ,. Bedford The problems include code violations O Harwood Rd. such as water damage,broken stairways - m _.. ..... 121 and the lack of outside lighting,accord- ing to the city. - u Timber Creek's management is gas [. working to make repairs to meet a Fri- day deadline.Last week,a crew painted SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/EMILY HUGHES o Euless the gray units with bright yellow and The management of Timber Creek Apartments in Euless is working to 3 reds. repair the complex by a Friday deadline. "It's just areal big difference to see - - - M Barker said t paint,"manager Donna Hicks said. Which has been cited for hun- that the com e The complex, on Airport Freeway dreds of code violations. plex probably won't make Friunits can be near the split of Texas l21 and Texas 183, Today s :court .hearing is day's deadline, but that the " ` 10 ' is owned by MBS Properties in Metal- meant to resolve an August ci- property owners are makinbecause of rie,La.The-company owns other com- tation in which the city con- progress. g " ® 6 �' Mapped tended that MBS owner Mi= �o.,. aviolations. plexes around the Metroplex,including chael B. Smuck violated a cit "Now trhat they're doing G area Q Y some work, we're going to Sterling Falls'Apartments in Bedford, g g STAR-TELEGRAM/TIM BED N ordinance regarding the own- work with them,"Barker said. . Timber Creek Apartments er's responsibility to maintains Other repairs are being letter. If the violation is not his premises.In January;the ci made under the new managers.; corrected,the city sends a - Repairs Completed ty set a March 23 deadline for "I'm really excited," said tice of violation before issug In Replaced damaged or weathered wood all repairs. Amy Shinsky, supervisor for a citation. on building and fencing. The most likely outcome of 'the area properties. "B the time you et to cita- ' Readied the exteriors for painting. today's hearing is that the own- y g inPainted and trimmed the exteriors of y' g Hicks, the apartment man-' tion,We've worked with yon s Painted buildings and the main office. er could be fined,Euless Plan- ager, would not allow a Star- well as we possibly can,"Bel •Replaced most of the exterior lighting. ning and Development Manag- Telegram reporter to interview er said. er Chris Barker said. The city dismissed one vio- '�Replaced electric meter covers. tenants. •Corrected code violations inside four, Because the complex Euless officials noticed lation after Timber Cr buildings. racked up four citations, only problems at .the complex in made repairs.But the comp m Repaired swimming pool,cracked and 39 of Timber Creek's 164 units 2004,when the city received a pleaded guilty to another vio- broken stairways. can be occupied. If MBS cor- complaint about water damage lation and paid$1,340 in fi s ff Trimmed trees. rects all the code violations., in three units. City inspectors when it failed to comply. the city could restore Timber asked to see other units and lat-. In October 2005; Oncor - In progress Creek's certificate of occu an- Preparing installation of sprinkler system p er found roof damage. moved 125, electric meters at cy and let the company F• for two buildings.' p y lease The units were fixed, but the city's request, and the Repairing and painting wood decking the other apartments. The oc- subsequent inspections found revoked the certificate ofoc - cupieunits were leased be- other violations. pancy. around pool. d n Paintingremaining buildings. fore the certificate was re- 9 9 In the summer of 2005; the : The court date was set for in Replacing air conditioning units.' voked in October 2005. city cited the complex three today after being delayed fr ow ! .Replacing glass and screens. times:once for failure to repair September. a unit and twice for failure to maintain the complex's exteri- DISTRIBUTED TO: 2 2 PAGE OF MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DIsTRIB TED 3 ( a3 ( 0 7 DATE ARTICLE 3/ao [o7 NEWSPAPER FwsT The city staff is monitoting work at the complex, which has had seven or)-site managers since November 2004. - "We feel the new manhge- ment team is putting new life into the repairs," Barker siid. Sterling Falls has also been cited for hundreds of code vio- lations. Last year, the !city sought an injunction asking that the 168-unit complex; at L. Don Dodson Drive and park Place Boulevard, be repaired immediately or be demolished. A temporary - injunctioq hearing has been set for April' 25. The hearing could be post- poned if Sterling Falls provides the city with a detailed engi- neering report for repes by April 20, Bedford City Attor- ney Stan Lowry said. Jehka DeLedn, 817-685-332 . ]deleon@star-telegramcorn DISTRIBUTED TO: / I PAGE OF MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED 3 1 2 3 /07 DATEOFARTICLE 3 13 / NEWSPAPER FCVST 1 APARTMENTS Owner pleads guilty to violations By JESSICA D~LE~N STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER EULESS - The owner of Timber Creek Apartments pleaded guilty Tues- day to failure to maintain property at the complex on Airport Freeway and will 1 pay a fine and work with the city to re- solve problems. ' What was wrong? The city received com- plaints in 2004 of water damage in three units. Later inspections found other violations. City officials revoked the property's certif- icate of occupancy in 2005. Only 39 of Timber Creek's 164 units are occupied because they were leased before the certificate was revoked. The complex has replaced damaged and weathered wood on buildings and fencing, repaired the swimming pool and broken stair- ways, and corrected code violations inside four buildings, among other things. Crews are also painting. If the owner, MBS Properties, completes all the repairs, the city could restore Timber Creek's certificate of occupancy and let the company lease the other apartments. What was the resolution? MBS, of Metairie, La., paid $510 for two citations issued last year. The citations, each for $255, were for failure to maintain the interiors and exteriors of the . ' complex. The complex's management, which is repair- ing the problems, received two other citations in 2006, but the complex either corrected the problems or paid the fines. Why did the property plead gullty? Robert ,O. Jenkins, the Dallas-based attorney for MBS, said the company wants to work with the city. "We are wanting to be in compliance," Jenkins said. "We are hoping to get that done as soon as possible." What was the city's reactlon? Chris Bark- er,.the Euless Planning and Development man- ager, said the city doesn't intend to issue cita- tions as long as management makes progress on the repairs. "We are pleased the apartment's making progress," he said. What's next? Timber Creek has until Friday to meet a deadline for repairs. City officials don't think the property will make all the re- pairs by then, but officials said they will work with the complex because its management is making progress. ' MBS is scheduled back in municipal court April 11 to address three citations that were issued this month for failure to maintain build- ing exteriors. DISTRIBUTED TO: 1 PAGE OF MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNZG MCKAMIE RIDGCVA Y(2) BOYETT BROCVN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBMR Y REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DlSTRIBUTED ' /a 3/07 DATEO,ARTICLE 3 /a/ /o 7 NECVSPAPER DMN Euless offers - [ BU~ priest says hell entangled The case in religion. could call into quaz tion a federal land-use law that re- reject it because ban on quires local governments to have a settlement in: goat sacrifice would stay compelling public interest before enforcing an ordinance that could By MICHAEL GRABELL limit the practice of religion. , 1.' staff Wnter Euless attorneys have argued mgrabell@dallasnews corn that the land-use law is unconsti- A Santeria priest who is suing Santeria case Euless over his religious practice a of animal sacrifice would be al- , lowed to kill chickens and hold : small weekly gatherings at his home under a settlement offered by city attorneys. But the proposal would contin- ue to prohibit the sacrifice of goats - a practice that Jose Merced says is as essential to Santeria as com- munion is to Catholics. And it would limit the gatherings to 25 people. Mr. Merced said he will reject the city's offer as a restriction on his religious freedom. You cannot do initiations without an animal with four legs. You cannot do it with just chick- ens," he said. Without that, the re- ligion ceases to exist." Euless' attorney, William Mchie, did not return a call for comment. But the settlement let- ter said the remedies had been made to remove any substantial burden on Mr. Merced's free exer- cise of religion. Mr. Merced fled a federal dis- crimination lawsuit against Euless in December after police and per- mit officials told him he couldn't kill goats for a ceremony initiating new members. Followers of the African-Carib- bean religion believe that the ener- gy contained in blood fiom animal sacrifice opens a channel of direct communication with the spirits, known as orishas. In January, the city asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, say- ing that the city's slaughter ban applies to everybody and that making an exception for Mr. Mer- ced would force the city to become tutional because it intrudes on a, local government's right to regu-, late the health and welfare of its residents. But Mr. Merced and his sup- porters say that the U.S. Supreme Court has already settled the issue, of Santeria animal sacrifice. In 1993, the court struck down an ordinance adopted by Hialeah; Fla, which prohibitid animal sac- rifice but made exceptions for hunting, fishing and the euthana- sia of pets. Euless' ordinance, on the books since 1974, makes exceptions for the killing of chickens and turkey6 for meals. The city also allows fishing and euthanasia at animal shelters. Euless' settlement offer would allow Mr. Merced to hold gather- ings at his house. But they must not be visible to the general pubs lic, include more than 25 people or: occur more than five times a month. The city said in the letter that the restrictions would comply with ordinances regulating e, semblies in residential neighbor: hoods. Mr. Merced called the offer "ig- norant," saying he doesn't hold regular gatherings. When he does have a gathering, he usually bas about 15 people, he said, though once he hosted 200 people for a drum-playing ceremony for the orishas. 3,- 'They probably think I'm hola- ing Masses or church every SU& day," he said. 'They just don't un- derstand." What if you have a barbelid or a birthday party? And what about Thanksgiving?" DISTRIBUTED TO: 1 I PA GE OF MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDG WA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRAR Y REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED 3/a\3/07 DATE OF ARTICLE 3 1 NEWSPAPER FWST EULESS ' Santeria priest balks at deal By JESSICA DELE~N STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRlTER EULESS - The city has offered a compromise to help settle a lawsuit filed by a local Santeria priest after Euless refused to give him a permit to sacrifice animals: The priest may kill chick- ens but not goats. The offer was among several proposed remedies that attorney Mick McKa- . mie included in a letter dat- ed Wednesday to Jose Mer- ced, who filed the suit.' McKarnie, of San Antonio, is representing the city. Merced is not pleased with the proposed rules, vowing to take the cask to the U.S. Supreme Court if it comes to that. "I think they're blocking me from my freedom of re- ligion," he said. "We're go- ing to battle." What happened Merced f~led his federal lawsuit in December against Euless and three city officials. He said the city would not give him a permit to slaughter chickens and goats for a religious ritual. Merced, who is president of Templo Yoruba Omo Orlsha Texas, said the sacrifice is done to initiate new members and for healing. In his lawsuit, he said the anlmals are killed quickly and humanely, and the meat is used for food. City law I. 1 1 Animals, except chickens a"d turkeys, cannot be slaughtered or kept for slaughtering. I Goats and other livestock must be kept 100 feet from resi- dences. , 1 Livestock cannot be kept on less than half an acre. What's new ' 1 ' In the city's letter, McKamie notes that the city allows the killing of chickens for consumption. The attorney agreed that the city would not consider any zoning violations at Merced's home, as long as: 1 No more than 25 people gather there. The gatherings take place inside the house and are not visible to the public. 1 The gatherings occur no more than five times per calendar month. But the attorney also wrote that the city will continue to enforce its animal cruelty ordinance without regard to motivation. It will also enforce rts ban against killing livestock. "We think this is a very reason- able remedy," McKamie said- Merced, however, said he doesn't think the city is being fair. He doesn't have animals at his house; instead, they arrive when they're about to be used, he said. Nor has he ever had more than 25 people at his house, except once when he had 200. , Merced said he wondered whether other residences will be cited for Bible studies. "Is that just for me?" he said. what's next ' Several motions are pending in federal court. No dates have been set. This report includes material from Star-Telegrflm archives. Jessicd DeLe6~ 11174853932 . jdelmn@star-tekgramcom , '..1 DISTRIBUTED TO: /or / PAGE MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNIC MCKAMIE RIDGWA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDOhlALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED 3Id3lo7 DATEOFARTICLE 3/23/07 NEWSPAPER FWST Tarrant County cities ranked by size Clties are listed from larqest to smallest based on their estimated Jan. 1,2007, populations. Population Population Growth rate ~ank Jan. 1,2006 Jan. 1,2007 2006-07 1 Fort Worth 2 Arlington 3 North Richland Hills 4 Euless 5 Mansfield 6 Unincorporated areas 7 Bedford 8 Grapevine 9 Haltorn City .* . .-, . , STAR-TELEGRAM .. . -. DISTRIBUTED TO: / PAGE OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNZG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMALCNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 3 DATEOFARTICLE~/A~/~~ NEWSPAPER FCVST ARREST Teacher facmg drug charges STAR-TELEGRAM employment would be made ARLINGTON -A Seguin after police and district in- High School reading teacher vestigations. was placed on administrative Daniels was arrested leave Wednesday and faces about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at his drug charges after authori- residence in the 200 block of ties raided his Euless home Revolution Lane, said Lt. Tuesday. Wayne Pavlik, a spokesman Erick Daniels, -16, a teach- for the Euless Police Depart- er in the Arlington school ment. district for five years, was Pavlik said the Tarrant suspended with pay, district County Organized Crime spokeswoman Michelle Unit served a search warrant Clark said Thursday. after getting a tip from a con- She said a decision on his fidential informant. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE i OF / MAYOR CZTYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNZG MCKAMZE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LZBRAR Y REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DZS TRIB UTED 3 133 /O-7 DATEOFARTICLE 3 / 3 3 107 NEWSPAPER F WST Boy suffers bums from touching transformer box BY DOMING0 RAMlREZ JR. STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER EULESS - An 8-year-old boy was burned over half of his body when he touched a transformer box at an apartment complex, a fire official said Friday. The boy, who was not identified, was taken late Wednesday to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas where doctors were treating him for bums over 50 percent of his body. His condition was unavailable Friday morning. The incident happened shortly after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of Del Paso Street at the Bear Creek Apartments. Initially, fire officials received a call that a boy had been injured when he fell off a bicycle in an apartment complex parking lot But when emergency crews arrived they discovered that the boy had been shocked by the transformer and knocked into the parking lot, said Euless Assistant Fire Chief Robert Isbell. "Usually, those transformer boxes are padlocked," lsbell said. Authorities continued on Friday to investigate the incident. DISTRIBUTED TO: MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIC MCKAMIE RIDCWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER CETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANMAL CYTR DaTEDIsTRmLiTEo 3/43 107 DATEOFARTICLE 3 103 107 2007 Golf Guide: Top Public in Texas: Pine Dunes Twice in the past eight years, the USGA has conducted the U.S. Open at the famous No. 2 course at Pinehurst in North Carolina. To get a feel for that golf course without leaving the state of Texas, Shannon Glidwell would say drive to a place not far from Tyler. He's talking about Pine Dunes Golf Course near the East Texas co~n~nunity of Frankston, a layout deemed to be the top public course in the state by a panel of Express-News voters. "It's out of character for Texas," said Glidwell, high school golf coach at Frisco Liberty. "It looks like a golf course you'd play in North Carolina. It's really a great golf course." San Antonio's terrain isn't at all like the pine trees of North Carolina. But the city did have a golf course that stuck in the minds of voters who participated in the Express-News survey. Pecan Valley on the Southeast Side ranked fourth. Horseshoe Bay, less than an hour and a half away from San Antonio on Lake LBJ, checked in at No. 2 in the survey with its Ram Rock course. Cypresswood Traditions north of Houston (No. 3) and Tribute Golf Club on Lake Lewisville in North Texas rounded out the top five. Here's the rest of the top 10, in order: Barton Creek Foothills in Austin, Menlorial Park in Houston, Texas Star Golf Course in Edess (midway between Dallas and Fort Worth), Crown Colony Golf Club in ~~lfkin Gd a%e at Go. 10 between Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine and Watenvood National near Huntsville. The inti~nidation factor at Pine Dunes contributed to its spot on the top of the list. But it doesn't really hold the standard pitfalls that cause proble~ns at most public courses. For example, none of the water hazards at Pine Dunes fronts or abuts a putting green. "And there's not a lot of rough," Glidwell said. "There are waste areas, and big pine trees. Areas around the greens are cut pretty close, so if you nliss a shot into the green, you could be loohng at your ball rolling down a slope and setting up a tough chip. "You have to have a lot of i~nagination around that place. It's really not a cookie-cutter course. " A lot of imagination is what put the course on the map. Jodi Lutz developed the land in time for the course opening in 200 1. She originally bought a nine-hole course at the site in 1994. But after an accidental meeting with PGA Tour veteran David Frost, things got moving. Frost looked at the land and called course designer Jay Morrish so he could take a look. They convinced Lutz that tearing up the nine holes and starting anew would make her the owner of a championsl~ip-quality 18 holes. Apparently, they were right. - DISTRIBUTED TO: / / PAGE OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF AWAL CrTR I DATE DISTRIBUTED 3 1 a 3 1 07 DATEOFARTICLE3 03/07 NEWSPAPE 2007 Golf Guide: Top Municipal in Texas: Memorial Park Memorial Park in Houston and Tenison Park in Dallas are not old golf courses. Well, not quite. Yes, both opened before World War 11. Both have suffered tlxough their eras of neglect as a pair of ~nu~licipally owned facilities that became largely forgotten once better-funded, privately owned daily-fee courses sprang up. But they have been reborn within the past dozen years, both re~nodeled with a rededication to maintenance. The results are increased play and increased awareness in the golfing public. They are the top two nlunicipal courses in the state, according to voters empanelled by the Express-News. Memorial, located in the huge wooded park of the same name west of downtown Houston, was a clear winner with seven first-place votes. Tenison, in the east Dallas neighborhood where Lee Trevino and Lee Elder fa~nously played in high-stakes matches, also had a co~nfortable margin in second. Texas -- Star in Eess, Morris Willia~ns Golf Course in Austin and Painted Dunes in El Paso round out the top five, leaving San Antonio without widespread recognition in the muni golf world. Memorial was remodeled in 1995 at a cost of about $7 million. Tenison was redone by a D.A. Weibring design team. The city of Dallas liked what it saw because Weibring was invited to redesign another city-owned course three years ago. Memorial is especially popular with its high-profile location in Houston. "It's located in the middle of the city, and I like the setup," said Houston investment banker Michael Stuart, a member of the Express-News panel. "The routing of the course is good, and it's not like a lot of other municipals that are neglected." Jim Hearn, a real-estate executive in Houston who voted on the panel this year, said he never hears horror stories of Memorial falling into disrepair. "It's not River Oaks," Hearn said, noting the posh country club in Houston, "but they do keep it in really good shape." Apparently good enough to make it the panel's favorite.