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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-11 Euless ArticlesDISTRIBUTED TO: 1 PAGE OF 1 1VfA YOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGCVA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONA LD COLLINS C. BARKER GE TCHELL LIBRAR Y ADMIN LIBRAR Y REF ANIMAL CIVTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 3 - 11 lo7 DATEOFARTICLE 5/ 7 1 C NEWSPAPER FCVST Euless Town houses South Pipeline Road ! near Simmons Drive - Tre Dibrell, a developer and engineer, has bought 4.7 acres In the 700 block of South Plpeline - Road. He plans town homes ranging in size from 1,850 square feet to 2,250 square feet. Seller: Mike Smith. Broker: Troy Fuller, a commer- cial brokerjrom ~dgecllff Vlllage. DISTRIBUTED TO: I / PAGE OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGM Y(2) BOYETT BROCVN YOUNG kIcDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DIS TRIB CITED 5/11 /07 DATE OFARTICLE 1' NEWSPAPER FWST PUBLIC RECORDS Candidate - backgrounds checked - 1 some hopefuls in the May 12 elections Neither his wife nor his daughter Euless have faced past criminal charges and wanted to pursue prosecution, but the Perry Wayne Byium, who is running were late on their property taxes. Denton County district attorney's of- against Veva Lou Massey and Warren fice would not drop the case, Molaschi Wilson for City Council Place 6, paid BY BILL TEETER said. his property taxes more than three bteeter~star-telegram corn Rather than fight the charge, he months late both this year and last. Background checks of municipal and school say$, he entered a plea to get the case Property tax Pqments are due to Tax board candidates in the Northeast Tarrant over with and prevent further harm to Assessor-Collector Betsy Price by Jan. County area show that one candidate plead- his family. 3 1 each year. Pri~e said Bynum paid $4,376 in edno to injury a and ''MY family is sti~ together, my wife tmes and penalties to the Tarrant pleaded no to indecent is still with me, and my daughter's still County tax office on Thursday In 'Ifivo others paid overdue property taxes with me," Molaschi said: last month, and another once filed for Chap- 2006, Bynum paid his taxes and penal- ter 7 bankruptcy. Marshall Creek ties on May 31. The findings were part of a Star-Tele~am . James E Macy-Simpson, who is Bynum said he prefers to pay his review of criminal histories, bankruptcy fil- challenging Mayor Steve White, was property taxes after he receives his ings, property tax records and civil court cas- arrested in Arlington in October 1993 federal income tax refund, although es for municipal and school board cadi- on suspicion of indecent exposure, a herecognizes that bydoingso heis as- dates. Class B misdemeanor, court records sessed extra charges. If elected May 12, the candidates will over- Show. Bynum said his understanding is see multimillion-dollar budgets for the cities In 1994, Simpson pleaded no con- that there is no harm in payinglate be- and school districts they serve. -- test, and the court fined him $800 and cause tax revenues aren't tallied until Roanoke placed him on two years' probation. , July 1. But Price said taxing entities ac- He received deferred adjudication, tually expect the money to be avail- Victor Molaschi. who is challenging incum- meaning that no remains able on Feb. bent Frank Temple for Ward 3 of the Roanoke on his record, although the record of City Council, was indicted in 2001 on a third- his arrest and court prweedings re- Bedford degree felony charge of injury to a child with mains. intent to cause bodily injury. Bedford Councilwoman Lori Nail, Simpson said he was falsely ac- who is running against Charles Albert He 'leaded 'Ontest June 15' 2001' and cured by a former male neighbor of Doverspike for City Council Place 3, was sentenced two yean'probationl being indecent in the living room of filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcyin 2001. fine and of his own apartment. Simpson says that Her assets totaled $129,095 and liabil- to County court records' the case was subsequently dismissed ities were $87,629, according to bank- Molaschi received deferred adjudi- and that he did not pay a fine or re- ruptcy court records. cation, the records show, meaning ceive $robation. ,In spite of the bankruptcy, Nail said that no conviction remains on his rec- Barbara McIlvain, one of five cadi- she has a developed a strong record of ord, although the record of his arrest dates seebg three open seats on the public service. and court proceedings remains. Board of Aldermen, owes $684.12 in "I'm going into my third term, and State law bars convicted felons property taxes and late penalties to my record of personal bankruptcy and from running for office. Denton County, the Northwest school my divorce have not affected my serv- The Roanoke case does not dis- district town of Marsha ill' kg the citizens of Bedford in a nega- qualify Molaschi from serving be- cause there was rfo conviction, City Creek, county records show. The tive way" Nail said. Staff writers John Kwh, Mel~ssa Vargas and Attorney Jeff Moore said. has granted her a pawent ' Mark Agee contnbutd to thlr report. Molaschi said his 14-year-old plan giving her until Dec. 31 to pay, daughter hit him in October 2000, and and she is paying in $100-per-month ' that he then hit her as punishment. installments, she said. His wife walked in after the situa- McIlvain also was late paying her tion began, did no1 understand wh? 2005 property taxes; she paid that bal- was happening and called police. ance of $842.09 April 30, according to Molaschi declined to give further tax records. She said she was delayed details, but said he Is willing to answer because she is disabled and has had a any questions posed by individual Ro- limited income since her husband's anoke voters about the matter. death in 2005. The other candidates for the at- large seats are James L. Brusveen, John M. Murdock, Jane Files and Lonnie Egerton. DISTRIBUTED TO: PACE / OF / MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIC MCKAMIE RIDCCVAY(2) BOYETT BROIVN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER CETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIM4L CNTR y/l1 Io7 DATEOFARTICLE 3 /fi + DATE DISTRIBUTED 0 7 NECVSPAPER FIVST LOCAL ELECTIONS '. Hot issues, races I push early voting turnout, BY AMAN BATHEJA high interest. voting in Euless is up &a- abatheja@star-teIegram.com matically as a result of seven candidates Today is the last day of early voting for vyhg for three City Council seats. As of Saturday's elections on a host of issues, Suiday, 634 people had voted at the Eu- city and school district races and a state- less' Public Library, compared with 121 wide constitutional amendment. during all of early voting last year. Through Sunday, early voting was up' Turnout has also been brisk in south- 18 percent, with 16,171 votes cast com- west Fort Worth, with 1,413 votes cast at pared with 13,680 during the same peri- the Southwest Subcourthouse. The poll- od last year, said Tarrant County Elec- ing location covers District 6, where tions Administrator Steve Raborn. Councilman Jungus Jordan faces fo~er Some local races appear to be drawing councilman Clyde Picht and polFcal newcomer Dalton ~&rell. And in Farmers Branch in Dallas County, where illegal immigration is the focus of city elections, including a refer- endum on an ordinance that would ban .apartment rentals to illegal immigrants, early voting has already more than dou- bled the total turnout of the last election. Staff wrlters Bill Teeter and Anna M. Tinsley contributed to th~s report. Go to the polls early * : Early vdting ends today for Saturday's elections. Today; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. . I Northeast Tarrant County 1 R Bedford Public Library, 1805 L. Don Dodson Drlve Community ~ctivities-center, 1 175 Munic~pal Way, Grape- . < vine I .! Euless Public Library, 20'1 N. Eaor Drive , : R Haltom City Recreation Center, 4839 Broadway Ave. + R Hurst Recreation Center, 700 Mary Drive R Keller Town Hall, 11 00 Bear Creek Parkway R North Richland Hills Recreation Center, 6720 N.E. Loop 820 R Northeast Subcourthouse, 645 Grapevine Highyay, Hurst R R~chland Hills Community Center, 3204 Diana Drive R Southlake Subcourthouse, 1400 Maln St. R Watauga Clty Hall, 7105 Whitley Road Source Tarnnt County elecnons office DISTRIBUTED TO: PACE / OF I !VIA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNIC MCKAMIE RIDCCVA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG kIcDON,4LD COLLINS C. BARKER CETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED 1 DATE OFARTICLE /~1 10 7 NEWSPAPER FCVST Notification stalls with a tie vote BY MARK AGEE STAR- TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER EULESS -The City Council failed to adopt a nonbinding resolution Tuesday night that would have encouraged parents to be notified when minors seek contraceptives or abortion referrals. The measure was supported by the Northeast Tarrant County Right to Life Educational Association, which believes that parents should be given an opportunity to counsel their teenage daughters. The Council chambers were packed w~th more than 50 of the organization's supporters. Representatives of Planned Parenthood. which has an office in Bedford that distr~butes contraceptives and sexual education. spoke against the resolution, saying young girls won't seek care if the organization is forced to notify parents. What does the resolution say? The measure would have supported a resolution sponsored by Texas State Rep. Todd Smith. R-Euless, that encourages the removal of confidentiality requirements that prevent parents from knowing whether their children seek family-planning services from organizations that receive federal funding. If passed, Smith's measure would have been sent to members of Congress with the request that it be placed in the Congressional record. What was the vote? The vote was tied at three, because the seventh council seat is vacant. Mayor Mary Lib Saleh and council members Linda Martin and Leon Hogg voted against the measure, after Martin said the matter is for higher levels of government to decide. "I believe the voters elected me to oversee the budget." said Martin, who added that she had set aside her personal feelings on the issue. "I don't believe they empowered me to make intensely personal decisions with regard to their families." Council member Charlie Miller, who backed the resolution with Councilmen Glenn Porterfield and Carl Tyson, disagreed. He said it is the council's obligation to take a stance on moral issues. After the vote, Tyson suggested that the association resubmit the resolution after the upcoming elections. What was the reaction? Neal W. Adams, attorney for the Right to Life association, said his group will propose the resolution again. Local governments are the closest to the voters and the easiest to make reflect the will of voters, he said. We see these people [council members] at church and at the grocery store,' Adams said. "Our people are working hard in this election. We'll get out and vote and see what happens.' Emily Snooks, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of North Texas, said the association wasted the council's time. "Nothing that this group proposes will teach the young people of Eutess to abstain from sex, prevent pregnancy or prevent the spread of disease." Snooks said. "It's unfortunate for this small group with a personal agenda to target a long-term healthcare provider.' What have other cities done? Bedford adopted a similar resolution last year by a 5-2 vote. Adams said the group plans to present sim~lar resolutions to the Hurst City Council and the Hurst-Euless- Bedford school board. Staff writer Jessica DeLeon contributed to this report. Mark Agee, 817-685-3821 DISTRIBUTED TO: hIAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROH'IV YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 5/// 1' DATE OFARTICLE '-/ 9 /O ' NEWSPAPER FFVST LETTERS Will people listen? I'm a homeowner in Euless, and I've lived here for about five years. In recent weeks, I've heard tornado alarms sound- ed. Although I appreciate the warning system, I'm con- cerned about the alarm it causes in the community. For instance, the alarm. 'sounded one night as I watched the news, but the TV station listed no immediate tornado warnings for my area. When the alarm sounds, resi- dents are instructed to take cover. If I'd done that, I'd have been taking cover for about an hour, with no immediate dan- ger in sight. I've come to take the alarm lightly, and I'm sure that I'm not alone in saying this. When the alarm really does need to sound, will people listen? - Stephanie Svajda, Euless DISTRIBUTED TO: MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWA Y(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARmR GE TCHELL LIBRARY ADMN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED r/i, 107 DATEOFARTICLE 5 /lo NE cvsp.4 PER F FYS T AREA BRIEFS Children can attend police summer camps EULESS - Euless children ages 10-12 can apply to the .- .*. Police Department's free summer Camps. The camps are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 11-15 and June 18-22. Students will learn. bicycle safety, navigation skills and teamwork. Space is limited ro 50 per camp. Appfications are available at the Police Dg- panment, 1 SdZ W. Errless &W., tuless elementary schaols or www.euless.org;/pofice. Call 81 7-685-7563. - Jessicoi DeLedn DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF2 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDCWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMALCNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 5- / I ( / ' DATE OFARTICLE 5 FWST ELECTIONS Some areas see large* early voting turnout. Races in Grapevine and Haltom City and ~ezr turned showed up to the polls, Keller particularly draw out in large numbers for early haps attracted by a early voters. , voting, drawn in by hot city constitutional amendment, council and school board rac- that would give seniors and By JESSICA D~LE~N es for Saturday's election. some disabled property own- ~deleon@star-telegram tom A large number of residents ers the same school tax breaks Voters in the Keller school dis- in Bedford, where there's only that other property owners re- trict and in ~uless, Grapevine, one contested race, also ceived in 2006 and 2007. Grapevine Euless '~edford Grapevine set a record for City Euless' election for three C~ty , The city had a turnout of 1,345 of its 30,444 Council elections with 1,377 of Council seats garnered its second- registered voters, with one contested C~ty the city's 26,430 registered largest early voting turnout, with voters casting ballots early, 953 of the city's 25,563 reg~stered City Secretary L~nda Huff said. voters going to the polls. ' The race has six candidates for . The elect~on has diawn seven Counc~l electlon That's a somewhat large turnout among cities this year, but it's small potatoes for the city, which saw 6,958 early voters for its , two seats, including the first candidates, some of them angered 12005 property tax rollback election, 4,336 1 open seat since 1998. by three councilmen's votes for its'2005 City Council race, 3,042 for its While the number is a against employee benefits last year 2005 special mayoral election and 2,372 record for council elect~ons, it in favor of a lower property tax early voters for last ye,arJs mayoral race. , . is not a record fir all city a rate. One seat is open. Ralph Good, a resident who's been in- ' elections. Two non-counc~l In 1993, 1,653 residents turned yolved in Bedford politics, said the turnout 1 electioqs, a 1998 bond electron out early, and Mary Lib Saleh was could have been relatively small because the and a 1993 local option elec- elected mayor and Kay Bailey Place 5 Ctty Counctl race between Roy tion about sales of wine for Hutchison was elected to the U.S. Turner and Bob Cochrane has been low-key. off-prem~ses consumpt~on, Senate. A local option election for "If ~t hadn't been for the state propbsi- have had larger early voter wine sales attracted 878 early tion, there wouldn't be very many people tur~outs, Huff sa~d. voters in 2004. 'votlng7' he said. The previous counc~l elec- . The city usually averages 350 to tion record was In 2006, when 500 early voters, city spokeswom- 1,289 people voted early. an Betsy Boyett said. - -- - - -- Other cities baslet's early votlng drew 48 of its 1,034 ;egistered voters, which is average. Richland Hills drew 273 of its 4,859 registered voters, a dip from last year's 335. Roanoke drew 33 of its 2,467 voters, which is average. Trophy Club attracted 602 of its 4,991 registered vot-' ..en, which is average. In Westlake, 78 of the town's 406 registered voters visited the polls in Its first contested election since 1999. Forty-three people voted in that election. In Watauga, 162 of 12,700 registered voters came early. Some area school districts and cities canceled their elections because of the lack of contested races. Staff wrlters Sarah Bahar~, Jessamy Brown, John K~rsch, Adr~enne Nettles, B~ll Teeter and Terry Webster contr~buted to th~s report. DISTRIBUTED TO: 2 OF 4 PAGE MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGtjfAY{2) BOYETT BROFVN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LlBRAR Y REF ANIMAL CIVTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 5/11 107 DATEOFARTICLE 5/11 107 NEWSPAPER FWST Keller school district Keller In the Keller school distr~ct, 2,939 of the district's 69,600 he city of Keller reported that 1,834 of registered voters cast ballots. its 23,641 registered voters went to the Most of those voters - 2,246 - voted at the Keller Town polls early. Last year's City Council and Hall polling site, according to the Tarrant County Elections library bond elect~on drew 2,329 early Department. The city's heated mayoral race likely spurred voters. some voters to turn out. In north Fort Worth, where about Keller Mayor Julie Tandy is being 60 percent of the students live, 519 people cast ballots. And challenged by former City Counc~lman at City Hall in Watauga, 174 votes were cast. Only a small Pat McGrail in a contentious race cen- part of Wdtauga is in the Keller school district. tered on who can best complete city Early voting totals are similar to last year's school and projects, including a new fire station, and municipal election, when Keller voters turned out in large . lead the city with openness and honesty. numbers to vote on a $7.6 m~llion city proposal to build a Place 1 Councilman Steve Trine is new library in Keller Town Center. being challenged by former Planning and Jarrett Armstrong, a former school trustee, said person- Zoning Commission member Ray Brown ality conflicts on the school board have heightened interest in a race where both candidates vow to in the races. He sard he was pleased with the early vote bring more business into the city and totals. br~dge the communication gap between "Everybody needs to get out and voice their opinions the council and residents. regardless of what they believe:' Armstrong said. "We're too Place 5 Councilman Mitch Holmes is apathetic about elections." <. running unopposed. Haltom City The full slate of candidates in Haltom City has helped in- crease early voting to 798 ballots from the 267 cast in the Miy 2006 municipal elec- tion. Mayor Bill Lanford and the three City Council incumbents all face opponents. The chal- lengers are focusing on a proposed ordinance that would mandate annual in- spections of rental houses. ' They call it an infringement on property rights. Incumbents say voters must re-elect them to continue the city's progress on economic development. Haltom City has 18,841 registered voters.