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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-02 Euless Articles' DISTRIB UTED TO: / I PAGE OF MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMALCNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF Q/ d DATE oPARTIcLE 9/ia /o? .YE wsPA PER FMT DA TE DISTRIB UTED 1 BUDGETS Sales tax revenue in Texas down sharply Sales tax revenues The drop in Tarrant County sales to continued weakness The amounts, collected in August, are based on retail sales in July. in major sectors of the econo- City 2009 2008 % decrease puts more pressure on my, includingoil and gas, con- Arlington $6.4 million $6.8 million 5.4 government entities. struction and retail trade. Euless $831,700 $1.05 million 20.8 BY AMAN BATHEJA Results of a survey of busi- F~~ worth $7.1 21 mill~on $84 million 15.2 abatheja~star-teIegrarn.com nesses nationwide released by Grapevine $2.46 million $2.801 million 12.2 Texas sales tax revenue took its the kderal Reserve this week Hurst $953,800 $1.131 million 15.7 biggest tumble of the year this s~ggest that therecession may Keller $560,700 $597,000 6.1 summer,. according to a report have recently ended. released Friday by the camp- Nearly every city in Tarrant $994,440 $1.1 31 million 12.1 , troller's office. County saw a drop in sales tax North Richland Hills $885,670 $981,920 9.8 The state collected $1.75 bil- revenue, ranging from 2.9 per- Southlake $932,370 $1.1 2 million 16.8 lion in revenue in August, 12.5 cent in River Oaks to 57.2 per- Westlake $141,110 $329,900 57.2 percent less than in August cent in Westlake. Afew slnaller Source Texas comptro~lers 2008. The revenue comes from cities, such as Blue Mound, sales made in July, according to Edgecliff Village and Pelican nue. budgeted pretty conservative- Bay, saw a boost in revenue. Porter said that if revenue ly," Finley said. the comptroller's ~ffice. Sales Mansfield'ssales taxcollec- continues to fall next fiscal People appear to still be tax revenue has dro~~edinTex- tions were down 12.1 percent, year, the city is prepared to re- shopping, but more may be as every month this year except continuing its double-digit vise its budget and cut even taking advantage of coupons January and by a larger amount decline. further. and discounts, driving down every month since May. Fort Worth Budget Director Though Arlington's sales their bills and the sales taxes InTarrant Coww total sales Horatio Porter said the city's tax collections were down 5.4 they pay, Finley said. tax revenue fell 11.8 percent, 15.2 percent drop in sales tax percent from the previous He said he can't predict putting added Pressure on gov- revenue was "a little bit worse September, it still fared better whether sales tax revenue will ernment entities trying to keep than we thought." than nearly all the other 20 start improving bythe holiday city programs and services "We feel pretty comfortable biggest cities in the state. Only shopping season. afloat. Sales taxes make that for the rest of the year we Lubbock and Round Rock had "Eventually, it won't de- more than half the tax revenue can absorb this shortfall," he lower drops in sales tax collec- crease any more, because peo- collected in Texas. said. tions compared with Septem- ple have to spend money," State ~om~~oller Susan The Ciq Council just got ber 2008. Finley said. Combs attributed the lower through a bruising series of Arlington's budget manag- discussions on how to cut $10 er, Mike Finley, said the de- staff wr~ters M~ke Lee and Susan million from next year's bud- crease Was expected and will Schrock contrtbuted to this report get. Much of that was driven not affect the projected bud- by declines in sales tax reve- get for next fiscal year. "We AMAN BAT~EJA, 817-390-7695 DlSTIUB VTED TO: PA GE iW4YOR CITYCNCL CITYATTlVY CMkl MCKAMIE BROWN YOUiVG AIVIMALCIVTR iVfcD0:VALD COLL1,VS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADIMIN LIBRARY REF DA TE DISTRIB CrTED /o/J/o(? DATEOFARTICLE 9//'lo7 NEWSPAPER FWST REAL ESTATE Areas of Tarrant showing increase- in home sales First-time buyers are attracted by an $8,000 tax credit; the south Fort Worth area sees the biggest increase. By SANDRA BAKER sabaker@star-telegram.com Nearly a dozen areas of Tarrant County saw an increase in home sales in August from July, likely by fist-time buyers tak- ing advantage of the $8,000 tax credit offer. The south Fort Worth area, including Everman and Forest Hill, saw the largest increase in sales. In August, there were 31 sales, up from 13 sales in July, a 139 percent increase. The number of sales in August for that area is also up 7 percent from August 2008, according to the Texas AM Real Estate Center. "We're seeing the impact primarily in relatively lower- priced markets or in new subdvisions, where the builders ca- ter to first-time buyers," said Jim Gaines, research economist at the real estate center. "Salks increases could also be occur- ring where there are a lot of foreclosures or other distressed sales, again, first-time buyers and even some investors buying to acquire rental properties." The center compiles home sales for 24 counties in North Texas. In August, 6,338 homes were sold in the region, down 15 percent from the same month a year ago and down 11 percent from July, The $150,000 median sales price in August remained unchanged from last year. Other areas seeing increases compared with July were in central west Arlington, 3 percent; far southwest Arlington, 37 percent; Fort Worth, south of Interstate 201Crowley, 3 percent; Bedford, 28 percent; Euless, 8 percent; CoUeyviUe, 3 percent; Southlake, 22 percent; Watau- ga, 14 percent; and Dophy ClublWestlake, 21 percent. Sales of condos and town houses in downtown Fort Worth took the largest hit, dropping 75 percent in August £rom July. However, that area's percentage changes are exag- gerated because there are so few sales as a rule. In August, there was one - -- --- sale, while in July there were four. The August number is also down 86 percent from August 2008, figures show. The real estate center com- piles data from the North Texas Real Estate Information Sys- tems, an information and tech- nology provider for the real es- tate community. Percent Percent change Median change Area Sales year ago price year ago 104 FW,east 50 -17% $1 15,000 26% 105:'s~ :Fort Worth:[R~sedale)iS , -54%: :. $25,500: ': 24% . .. . : . .. ... .. . . ... . ... 106' FW south 31 7%' ' "$57,500' -1 2% (~verman/Forest Hill) 122 Hurst 126 Keller 68 -17% $285.000 729 Haltom CityjRivefside 17 -35% $74,000 25% , - '* 130 FW Summerfield 159 -20% $150,000 -6%,, /Park Glen Sources: Real Estate Center,TexasA&M University, NorthTexas Real Estate Information Systems - STAR-TELEGRAM/JIMATHERTON,STEVE WILSON 'DISTRIB UTED TO: PAGE 2 OF d ;MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIkI MCKAMIE BROWN YOLIIVC ANIMAL CI\.'TR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER CETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIiV LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED FWST Single-family home sales for August DISTRIBUTED TO: / 2 PAGE OF MAYOR CITY ClVCL CITY A TTNY CRIkf MCh2MIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATEDISTRIBUTED #f3/~/07 DATE OF ARTICLE 9 /J 7 / 07 Child 'abduction' drill is set for Thursday Posted Sunday, Sep. 27,2009 7 BY DOMING0 RAMIREZ JR. A child will be abducted in Euless on Thursday, but police will know about it. A regional law enforcement task force consisting of 12 agencies from Tarrant and Denton counties will conduct its first mock child abduction drill to provide additional training for such calls in North Texas. The drill will also be used to earn a national certification in the program for child abduction teams. The Northeast Tarrant and Denton County Child Abduction Response Team will conduct the drill in Euless and recover a 16-year-old actress in Grapevine. The need for such a team is borne out by nationwide statistics. Every day, more than 2,000 children nationally are reported missing, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The national center also reports that about 626,000 registered sex offenders live in the United States and that about 100,000 are reported as missing or in noncompliance with local law enforcement agencies. The local response team consists of officers from Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Southlake and Watauga and Roanoke police in Denton County. "Time is critical in solving any crime, but in the case of a missing child, it is especially critical," Colleyville Police Chief Tommy lngram said. "We need to move quickly and in coordination with each other. The CART program, with its specialized team of trained officers, will allow for faster response times and optimal use of personnel to give us the best chance of bringing a missing child home." The regional team, among the first in Texas, was established in 2007. It was modeled after the CART program in Florida, which started in 2004 after the abduction and slaying that February of Carlie Brucia in Sarasota. "The team consists of officers from medium to small departments because we don't have the resources of a Fort Worth or Arlington," said Bedford police Lt. Kirk Roberts, commander of the team. "An abduction or missing child in one of our cities could really overwhelm a department out here." The team uses resources such as investigators, dive teams, helicopters, crime intelligence analysts, forensic experts, call center personnel and dog search teams. Along with the officers, the team also gets assists from the Tarrant County district attorney's office, the Tarrant County Sheriffs Department, Child Protective Services, The Alliance for Children, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Secret Service and the FBI. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 2 OF 2 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM MCUMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARXER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATEDISTRIBUTED /D/J/Q~ DATE OF ARTICLE / 2 7 / 0 9 NEWSPAPER~~IXT C D+l Roberts said that since being established, the team has responded to three abduction calls. "Abductions by strangers happen, but it's more common with parents taking their own children, and we'll respond to those calls," Roberts said. "We also have the training for those children who turn up missing -whatever is necessary to ensure the safe recovery of a child." Missing children Every year, about 800,000 children are reported missing in this country. About 1 of every 10,000 of those ends up dead. Time is of the essence because, of those who die: 44 percent are killed in less than an hour. 74 percent are killed within three hours. 91 percent are killed within 24 hours. 99 percent are killed within a week. Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children DOMING0 RAMlREZ JR., 81 7-390-7763 DISTRlB UTED TO: PA GE MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRlM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG AIVliWL CNTR hlcDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIiV LIBRARYREF DATEDISTRIBUTED /o/J/o~ DATEOFARTICLE 9/~?/07 NEWSPAPER FWST DISTRIBUTED TO: PA GE IMA YOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MChXMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR IWCDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADIWI.N LIBRARY REF Court strikes down Euless animal slaughter ban Associated Press A federal judge has barred a North Texas suburb from enforcing a rule to prevent a Santeria priest from sacrificing animals in his home. In a final judgment this month, U.S. District Judge John McBryde of Fort Worth also ordered Euless to pay for the costs incurred by Santeria priest Jose Merced (mur-SEHD'). His attorney, Eric Rassbach, said Tuesday the ruling means Merced can resume priest ordination ceremonies involving animal sacrifice. Merced's suit accused Euless of violating his religious rights. The city argued the sacrifices jeopardized public health and violated its slaughterhouse and animal cruelty ordinances. Earlier this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with Merced, ruling the Euless ordinance placed a substantial burden on Merced's free exercise of religion. A message left for a Euless spokeswoman was not returned Tuesday. DISTRlB LFTED TO: PAGE OF / MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMALCNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF - DATEDISTRIBUTED /C /u? 107 DATE OF AR TICL E 9/3 / 9 IVEWSPAPER A - / V Euless faces $400,000 legal bill over animal sacrifice case Wednesday, September 30,2009 By CHRIS HAWES / WFAA-TV ANIMAL SACRIFICE CASE North Texas taxpayers could be on the hook for a $400,000 legal bill, all because their city lost its fight, against animal sacrifice in religious ceremonies. The bill could go higher Jose Merced. a Santeria priest, has sometimes sacrificed animals, such as chickens and goats, inside his home, as part of a religious ceremony. "People have asked me if I drink blood. I don't drink blood at all," he said. The City of Euless says that what has happened inside his home is a threat to public health. The city fought Merced in federal court to try and stop the sacrifices. In July, the court ruled in Merced's favor and ruled the City of Euless must pay his appellate attorneys' fees. One of his attorneys, Eric Rassbach, estimates the total legal bill at around $400,000. "Quite frankly, they should be upset with their elected officials who signed off on this lawsuit," Rassbach said. Euless's attorney says the city will fight it. "The city will continue to attempt to protect the rights of its citizens and their public health and, as in every other instance, protect the interests of their taxpayers," Mick McKamie said. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF 2 MA YOR CITY CNCL CITY A TTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOL'IVG AIVIMA L CNTR iVIcDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRAR Y ADkf1"V LIBRARY REF DaTEDIsTRIBuTED lold 104 DATE OFART~CLE 10 // / 03 IVE WSPAPER~ Dallas-area friends, family await news, ready to help tsunami victims October I, 2009 By DIANNE SOL~S and MARK NORRlS / The Dallas Morning News Members and friends of the 5,000-strong Tongan and Samoan community in Dallas, Euless and Arlington waited uneasily Wednesday for news about the powerful tsunami that killed more than 100 people in the South Pacific. Communication was spotty after the earthquake that triggered the tsunami hit off the South Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. On Wednesday evening, church services were held, including at First Tongan United Methodist Church in Euless. "We just have to trust in the Lord, and we need to open our ears and souls to receive and give not only in prayer but whatever we can give in support," senior pastor and Tonga native Alex Latu said. There are about nine churches of Tongan immigrants in the Euless and Bedford area. St. Michael's Catholic Church in Bedford ordained a Tongan deacon Saturday with a 50-member Tongan acapella choir. "They are still trying to get through to the island, but they have no details there," said Leonor Thompson, a liturgy and music staffer. On Wednesday, the deacon, Sangote U'lupano visited Tongan-born parishioners in Bedford and Euless to find out about their loved ones. More than 50 people attended a candlelight service at First Samoan United Christian Church in Arlington on Wednesday evening. The service was given in the Samoan language. "We're here to support our people back home," said Seei See Nua, an American Samoan who lives in Arlington. Nua has been unable to make contact with her brother and other family members. Barbara Voa of Arlington has been able to speak with her family in Samoa. Her aunt said there is widespread devastation. "It's a total loss," Voa said. "There's debris everywhere." The church is working with the local Red Cross on a clothing and food drive. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 2 OF 2 M4 YOR CITY CrVCL CITY A TTjVY CRIM MCKAIMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDOiVALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMlili LIBRARY REF How to help The Red Cross is accepting financial donations to help residents in American Samoa and Samoa at 1-800-733-2767 or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish), or at www.redcross.org. Donors have the option of choosing whether to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or American Red Cross International Response Fund. For anyone wanting to check on relatives or friends in American Samoa, the best way to share information about their well-being is to register them with Safe and Well. Register on the Red Cross Safe and Well Web site at www.redcross.org or call 1-800-733-2767 and follow the prompts. DISTRIBUTED TO: # PACE / OF MAYOR CITYCNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG Ail'IiM4LCNTR McDONALD COLLIArS C. BdRKER CETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBR4RY REF DA TE DISTRIBUTED /o/a/oci DATEOFARTICLE/C/~/D~ NEWSPAPER FWST MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS Cities raising u fees rather than tax rates - - Hammered by declines in property and sales tax "We had talked about our fee schedule previ- revenues, they are finding alternate money sources. ously, but we needed to make sure we were in the same boat with the other communities in BY LYN R. PRY Iprymstar-telegram corn the area," Mayor Bill Lanford said. calling an ambulance on Wednesday in North Richland While suburban cities have hit residents with ~jlls cost residents at least $500. On Thursday, that fee a flurry of fee increases, Fort Worth is going full rose to $578. bore with its own, including: In Fortworth, library fines for children increased from Fire Department permits for new sprinkler 15 to 25 cents per day. system installations and new fire alarm systems ~nd in Euless, home alarm permits for residents in- increase from a range of $225 to $375 to a range from a one-time charge of $50 to $30 annhally. of $250 to $415 for more than 100 sprinklers and While many strapped-for-cash cities have resisted more than 40 alarms. raising tax rates, some are using fee increases to bolster . Parking fines increase by $5 to $25 in addition their budgets, which have been hammered by decreased to the current fine total. property sales tax revenues and rising water costs. . The Fort Worth Library has started charging "For manycities, fees and permits are the easiest items $80 to rent meeting rooms. Library fines for chil- to increase for revenue," said Dr. Rod Hissong, associate dren's books go from 15 to 25 cents a day. And dean of the School of UrbanIPublic Affairs at the Univer- there are new fees for people whose fines are sity of Texas at Arlington. "Increasing property taxes in a overdue and get referred to a collection agency: recession is 'sensitive,' and increasing the sales taxis not $7.50 for fines from $10 to $25 and $15 for fines easy." over $25. 1 Souwake will increase its ambulance charge by add- For teens who participate in late-night pro- ing the cost of supplies used during emergency calls. grams at the city's recreation centers, a $2 drop- I Souwake is also increasing fees for community devel- in fee is now required Thursday, Friday and Sat- - -. - - -0Pment items such as zoning amendments, urday, or teens can buy a $20 monthly unlim- permits for home alarms, demolition and tents, ited-use card. Tuesday and Wednesday nights and library exam proctors for nonresidents. remain free. The change is expected to bring in Construction-related permits are also increas- $120,000, a little less than 10 percent of the pro- ing . gram's cost, Parks Director Richard Zavala said. Board of adjustment requests, amended zon- ing and amended plat charges have all in- Water rates creased from $200 to $300, and plat revisions Cities across the region are raising water rates and final plats have increased from $300 to $400. because they are paying more. Most municipal- "The increases in fees have been implement- ities get water from the Tarrant Regional Water ed to bring them in line with the actual cost of District and the Trinity River Authority. the service to the city," said Pilar Schank, com- In Arlington, water and wastewater rates in- munity relations officer for Southlake. creased for customers starting Thursday. Haltom City's council passed a slew of fee in- According to a staff report, the average resi- creases Monday night after tabling them at a dential customer, using 10,000 gallons of water previous meeting. The increases include garage per month, will have a monthly increase of sale permits, from $5 to $7; boarding fees at the about 1.62 percent, or 84 cents. Customers us- animal shelter, from $5 to $10 per day; and dril- ing 2,000 gallons or less will have a 25 cent ling permit fees, from $1,500 to $10,000. monthly fee increase. Fort Worth water rates increase by a monthly b average of 50 cents, sewer rates @a monthly average of 60 cents and storm water rates by a DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ? OF cP MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRINI MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS /C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRAR/YADMIN LIBRARY REF —DATE DISTRIBUTED © / a / DATE OF ARTICLE 0/ /©� NEWSPAPER FWST monthly average of$1. Additionally, a late fee i y -' will be tacked onto utility bills that equals 5 per cent of the bill. """ n In Mansfield, most customers water and k sewer bills were increased by$2 each this year, but no additional hikes are planned. � "" Haltom City estimates it v`,111. take in an addi . ; tional$160,000 a year under ts new rate system • 4 for sewer and water. �:' am Grapevine and Trophy Club had.both con A ducted water rate studies last year in both. e.oa- ;` tion of rising rates. � ? b i b. Euless is moving to a tiered rate system to encourage water conservation. k - ? Y fi ,fi' ? FtSomeholdouts ¢ . Not everyone is raising fees. es #>_. Arlington avoided fee increases—except wa11111 '< ter rates—by slashing more than$5.5 million in , � staff salaries,from administration to the Police ;.s and Fire departments.In addition, cuts in pro T. r b v. grams affecting residents directly reduced " 1 adult league referees, lifeguard training and a J 7m % 4 one-day pool closure-have been approved. The Fort Worth Library has raised its fines for chil- "We've also taken a one-time dip into our re- • dren's books from 75 to 25 cents,among other in serve"funds,said Kathleen bepweg,a city bud- creases in fees and fines. STAR-TELEGRAM/RON T.ENNIS get analyst. In Bedford,the city raised the tax rate by al- most 2 cents,but"because we run a lean bud- get,we've been able to make cuts and usepro- jectedrevenue without increasing any recre- ation fees," city administrative director Tom Ross said. Grapevine cut its budget and enacted a hir- ing freeze but avoided fee increases. — "We didn't need to increase fees for our parks and rec programs or libraryfines or anything` else the public;uses," said-; ohn McGrane, Grapevine's director of administrative services. DISTRIBUTED TO: P A GE / OF 3 L MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF — DATE DISTRIBUTED / n / /(J� DATE OF ARTICLE /Q`a /C 9 NEWSPAPER FWST A TRAINING EXERCISE Y s 0 An fa investigation . { : c •q { -t ddc n�. no Abduction investigators spring into action in the first drill of its kind in North Texas' r „:4:‘,. ... y, .4...,„,,,..„,,,,,,,,,,,,, • • Zc 5"".xn, "� ' W . 4` � �glv ' a "r. 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S-r/RON T ENNIS An abductor snatched 16-year-old Krysten Tidwell off a sidewalk at Midway Park in Euless early Thursday and N within minutes investigators from the Northeast Tarrant and Denton County Child Response Abduction Team were searching for her.But it was only a drill, the first of its kind in North Texas. LDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 3 , MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS/ C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED �0 f I / DATE OF ARTICLE l o/a / c NEWSPAPER FWST Motorists not involved in k. Rr 4, r, — the drill may have seen the . a = °, abduction,but no one tried ��?'�'`1'14 ` >q�� t."' - �`�2A 4'4 z =, ' �` 4. k "'tointervene• ' ,,,, , 0,5v By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. $ H ramirez@star-telegram.com Vq4C4fe 1 ir 1 '8 4* Krysten Tidwell walked down %'" -",°,',i," ;k{-. " ,i,-'- a sidewalk at Midway Park in a* 1 "'' Euless on Thursday just after � A ,. '' � 'V - sunrise,carrying her backpack and a cellphone. ,k`tt k ¢' r �1A In an instant,a yellow Jeep " ` r x ` Wrangler pulled beside Tid- l� • 4 6)Y well and a man jumped out, 4 VZ, ..1":a;':,5 a,,{ 4�k grabbing the screaming teen, 5 ,Y ,:y14-',.,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .. throwing her into his vehicle k. •1^,--.--"-, v.i, e,, k and speeding away. Senior Cpl.Scott Peterson arrived at the scene of the drill and ques- Shortly thereafter, Euless tinned itness Pat Martinez. STAR-TELEGRAM/RON T ENNIS police Senior Cpl. Scott ;„ — Peterson arrived at the scene T t"," ". '., 4fe : )© Online exclusive and within minutes a group of + rk. f . z..¢:' ®' View a photo gallery, of investigators from the North -, ::'' Arirk the mock child abduction at east Tarrant and" Denton -, star-telegram.com/extras — County Child Response -Ab r duction Team were there to ' 4 may have seen the fake abduc- search for the Birdville High Vii ' 1 , tion,but no one intervened. School junior. . ; ; Task force officials empha- As real as it all seemed, it ' sized the need for the training McCrory was cuffed at the con- wasn't. because a child can go missing elusion of the abduction drill.The The abduction was part of a on any day pp• g task force worked for four hours. mock child-kidnapping drill That's backed up STAR-TELEGRAM/RON T.ENNIS bynation- by the regional child abduc-" al statistics: Every day, more tion task force, the first of its The drill included police that-12,00Q children nationally kind in North Texas. talking to eyewitnesses at the are reported missing, accord The local response team Euless park,the rescue of Tid- ing to the National Center for consists of officers from Bed- well,at a Grapevine park and, Missing and Exploited Chil- ford, ' Colleyville, Euless, ; eventually, the arrest of the dren. Grapevine, Haltom City, suspect. The mock abduction Bedford police Lt.Kirk Rob- s. Hurst, Keller,North Richland even involved rescue dogs, erts,who commands the task Hills, Richland Hills, South- who located .Tidwell at the force,said the drill challenged lake and Watauga in Tarrant park. the team when glitches arose. County, and Roanoke in Den- "I was even nervous," Tid-: "We had printers down at both ton County well said of the experience. command centers, so we had Task force officials said the "But it was a great training ex- to adapt," Roberts said. "We drill was for training and na- perience." ,' wrote everything out." tional certification. The kidnapping may have But Roberts said the mock The task force worked for been fake, but there were kidnapping showed that the four hours Thursday to find some moments that sounded task force was ready to re- Tidwell, 16,who is a member real. spond. "I thought the drill a. of the Richland Hills Police "When the girl was being showed that we are extremely Department Police Explorer put,in the vehicle, I thought prepared," Roberts said. "And Post. The actor playing the someone was going to stop that we can respond very suspect wasna North Richland and help her," said Larry Gra- quickly." Hills police officer, and wit- nados of Roanoke, one of the nesses were volunteers from volunteer citizen witnesses. area police departments and. A number of motorists and DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., civilian volunteer groups. others not involved in the drill 817-390-7763 Um r. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 3 MAYOR CITY CITY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS l C.BARKER GETCHELL LIB1RARY/ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED 1101`� / 0 DATE OF ARTICLE / l `� /©� NEWSPAPER FWST IA.i e`" ... " des_ r r' c PEI INS m tilrti mewgg s r r s *x abt au P s ntµ f 2 7�. . �'p 1 .. }rh V h • B +"'rxu M1 r 4. ,+ w 4A Y 43 r. r,?-F '+ ,' rc • „ ti. {ie `A'itrt' . o-" .';'A..:.•:!-•:'.9..154,0144%4 1.4304;'4...C t w ezk.say. 1,.„4.,,,,,7..,..„.., ...::'•:'A'''''''''° 4x ,�°fit a w r��w ,req ,: - s, r a afe y* '�'� Lk"kk ::r48,dT�k;• :; .W -r%fr+r r f,.es r b •.,'. t: ti� 4 s,, tt A.,4x..Aa"^kki'p 4 e k ' u"p w tai w.ttv'4#. } "1 r� ;�+k d � 4 r. ` '. `� v +,, w8r tkv t •t°�� o-t t.rT4} �. w rt a{' ,,,, a".�f 4. 440 .d" "L' iyd ie� v{� rWv v * Z „ to r .' r t d,,``,,;.,F,� �. , s .i. ''sr � s' Euless police officer Rodney McCrory portrayed the abductor in the exercise. STAR-reLeGRAM/RON T.ENNIS