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Home My WebLink About2014-04-08 Euless Articles Euless school creates scholarship for player killed in wreck Posted Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2014 BY DIANE SMITH dianesmith@star-telegram.com EULESS—The No. 3 shines in glitter paint from posters decorating the halls of Euless Junior High. Teachers find it scrawled on schoolwork. And athletes honor No. 3 on helmets. The number represents Lolo `Uhatafe, a classmate who died last summer in a car wreck along with his older brother, Polo Manukainiu, and their friend Gaius "Keio"Vaenuku. Today, the mention of Lolo's name on campus brings both smiles and tears. "Oh, his personality was larger than life," said Lamar Kirk, Euless Junior High's football coach. "He really was one of the biggest leaders here." On April 5, when the campus has its second annual Stallion Fun Run 5K, some of the money raised will go toward a scholarship in his name, and some will help a teacher with medical bills. "It's awesome," said Lolo's mother, Tulima `Uhatafe. "That boy was an amazing son to me. He was special to me." Last year's run was also organized to help people in the school community. The proceeds went to a student and a coach's wife who were battling cancer, said Jennifer Beasley, an athletic coordinator who is organizing the event. "The whole thing is based on family and based on our Stallion family here and what we can do as a community and to teach our students to be a part of the community," she said. Geography teacher Jacob Reynolds, his wife, Christian, and their twin sons will be recipients this year. A few months after the accident, they had premature twins who weighed less than 3 pounds. The tiny brothers were in neonatal intensive care for about eight weeks, and the bills totaled almost$1 million, Jacob Reynolds said. After insurance kicked in, the family still had to pay thousands of dollars in deductibles. Fun run bracelets bear the names of the twins, as well as Lolo's name. "We feel honored just to be in the same category," Jacob Reynolds said. "We love our Euless family." About 450 people signed up to run last year, and about$10,000 was raised, she said. Organizers hope to raise that much or more this year. Some of Lolo's siblings and his father, Salesi `Uhatafe, are expected to participate. Lolo looked up to his older brother, Manukainiu, who played for Trinity High School and Texas A&M University. At the time of the accident, Manukainiu was a defensive lineman at A&M and stood about 6 feet 9 inches, Tulima `Uhatafe said. With tears welling in her eyes, Tulima `Uhatafe said that Manukainiu was known as a gentle giant but that Lolo was big too. "They call him a small giant," she said. Kirk said Lolo was No. 3 in the eighth grade. Lolo sent Kirk a message during the summer to ask whether he could have the number again. Kirk agreed. After Lolo's death, coaches created a helmet decal that alludes to the Tongan national flag and Lolo's cultural background. The decal, which also sports the No. 3, was worn by every football player in grades seven, eight and nine during football games last season. Lolo would have been in the ninth grade and was going be the starting quarterback and a captain. "That was his biggest dream," Kirk said. "I think that was his NFL—playing at Trinity High School." Diane Smith, 817-390-7675 Twitter: @dianeasmith 1 DFW adds io8,000 people, ranks 3rd in growth Posted Thursday, Mar. 27,2014 BY STEVE CAMPBELL sfcampbell@star-telegram.com Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington added 108,000 people, the third-largest population increase in the nation behind Houston and New York, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau for the 12 months that ended July 1. Tarrant County's population expanded by 30,000 people, the eighth-largest increase in the nation, according to data for counties and metropolitan areas released today. No. 1 Harris County grew by 83,000, and No. 6 Bexar County added 32,000. Dallas County grew by 26,000, and Travis County added 25,000. "Texas continues to lead everybody. These numbers show that growth isn't slowing down," said Steve Murdock, a former Texas state demographer and director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Texas also had seven of the 10 counties that gained the most from domestic migration from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2013, Murdock noted. Maricopa County, Ariz., was the No. 1 destination for movers within the U.S. in that three-year period. It was followed by No. 2 Travis County, No. 3 Bexar County, No. 5 Harris County, No. 6 Fort Bend County, No. 7 Collin County, No. 8 Denton County and No. 10 Tarrant County. "It's clear that Texas has become a major center for domestic migration," said Murdock, who runs the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University. "The domestic migration has gone up to about 30 percent of growth in Texas. For decades, it had made up about 25 percent," he said. Tarrant County added 9,132 domestic migrants and 4,653 international movers during the one-year period. Over three years, Tarrant added 33,485 domestic migrants and 14,634 through international migration. It grew by 5.6 percent, or 102,004, in the same period. Since 2000, the county has added nearly 462,000 residents, to 1.9 million. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley credits much of the growth from migration to a friendly business climate and collaboration between cities and other entities. "We have a lot of things going for us to raise a family, to work and to play," he said. "We don't argue and bicker among ourselves. We all try to work together. "The challenge is that as these folks come in, our need for services expands, our need for transportation expands and we have to keep trying to do more with less overall dollars,"Whitley said. Dallas County grew by 4.8 percent, or 112,695 people, over three years to 2.48 million. But those healthy rates were left in the dust by even-faster-growing suburban counties in North Texas. Denton County grew by 10 percent, or 66,195 people, over three years. Since 2000, its population has grown from 433,065 to 728,799. In three years, it added 38,353 domestic migrants. "Denton was the only county in North Texas where domestic migration made up more than half of its growth," Murdock said. Collin County grew by 9.3 percent, or 72,437, over three years, including 39,112 domestic migrants, to 854,778. Texas added 388,000 residents to nearly 26.5 million in the year that ended July 1. Since the April 1, 2010, census, the state has grown by 1.3 million people. Oil-and gas-rich areas in and around the Great Plains contained many of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S. from 2012 to 2013. Among the 10 fastest-growing metro areas, six were in that region: Odessa; Midland; Fargo, N.D.; Bismarck, N.D.; Casper, Wyo.; and Austin-Round Rock. The nation's fastest-growing metro area was The Villages, Fla., where the population rose by 5.2 percent. Odessa and Midland were the next fastest- growing, at 3.3 percent each. Both added nearly 5,000 people, and of those, nearly 70 percent were domestic migrants. The fastest-growing county was Williams, N.D., which grew by 10.7 percent. Three Texas counties were also among the fastest-growing: No. 5 Kendall (5 percent), No. 9 Fort Bend (4.2 percent) and No. 10 Hays (4.1 percent). Austin-Round Rock was the eighth-fastest-growing large metropolitan area at 2.6 percent, adding 48,000 in the year. By comparison, the Houston metro area grew by 2.2 percent, San Antonio by 1.9 percent and DFW by 1.6 percent. The Metroplex, the fourth-largest metro area in the nation, grew to more than 6.8 million, an increase of nearly 385,000 since 2010. Among the 50 fastest-growing metro areas, DFW was one of only five where natural increase (births minus deaths)was the largest contributor to growth. The others were Washington, D.C., and three cities in Utah (Ogden, Provo and Salt Lake City), a perennial leader in birthrates. DFW added 56,731 through natural increase and 52,142 through domestic and international migration. But Dallas and Tarrant counties grew in distinct ways, Murdock said. "I think one of the biggest surprises is that natural increase accounted for a whopping 70.3 percent of Dallas' growth over three years while it made up 52 percent of growth in Tarrant County," Murdock said. Over the one-year period, Dallas lost 5,925 to domestic migration while Tarrant gained 9,132. "Dallas is growing, but it is dependent on natural increase and international migration," Murdock said. The new numbers also reflect a growing divide between urban growth and rural decline in Texas. Of the 254 Texas counties, 98 lost population from 2012 to 2013. "If you go west, you have slower growth and less minority growth," Murdock said. Steve Campbell, 817-390-7981 Twitter: @stevecamp Airport Freeway closures continue through Saturday March 28, 2014 A. Lee Graham, Reporter Motorists, beware: Airport Freeway closures that began on Thursday March 27 will continue through Saturday March 29. The State 183 closures are: * March 27 through March 28: All northbound and southbound lanes of Bedford Road at Texas 121-183 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Northbound traffic will be redirected to Forest Ridge Drive. Southbound traffic will be redirected to Brown Trail. Eastbound rolling closures will also occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. * March 27 through March 28: Westbound Precinct Line Road on-ramp to Texas 121- 183 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for a bridge pour for the future Bedford Euless TEXpress lanes off-ramp. Traffic will be redirected to the next entrance at Bedford Euless Road. * March 28 through March 29: Eastbound Texas 121-183 off-ramp to Bedford Road will be closed 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Traffic will be redirected to the next exit at Central Drive. * March 28 through March 29: Westbound Precinct Line Road off-ramp from Texas 121- 183 will be closed 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Traffic will be redirected to the next exit at Grapevine Highway 26. * March 28 through Saturday, March 29: All northbound and southbound lanes of Precinct Line Road at Texas 121-183 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. Northbound traffic will be redirected to Hurstview Drive. Southbound traffic will be redirected to Bedford Euless Road. * March 29: Two-month closure of northbound and southbound Norwood Drive south of the eastbound frontage road. Traffic will be redirected to Brown Trail. More information on the Northeast Tarrant Express project, upcoming closures and alternate route maps is available at www.northtarrantexpress.com. The work is part of the $2.5 billion North Tarrant Express project, which officials say is 84 percent complete. The five-year project, which began in late 2010, includes the reconstruction of expanded frontage lanes and main lanes and the addition of TEXpress managed lanes, along Northeast Loop 820 and Texas 121-183 between Interstate 35W in Fort Worth and Industrial Boulevard in Euless. North Tarrant Express is schedule to be completed by the end of 2014, six months ahead of schedule. tgraham@bizpress.net 2 Suspected Burglars at-Large After Euless Crash By Randy Mcllwain and NBC 5 Tuesday,Apr 1,2014 I Updated 8:30 PM CDT 'Mgr , d i - • . w • . �'� . I M 4 • �� , . , .:044.t r . ,.. _ d _. .____,Ib_...... ...i.. . __. lia,i . .._.:, 11 , ari WI 4 •5 5'.x+i.. 'Mt.r r� y+ (i - - _+ _ - _ _ .—." II T •— " Two men bailed out of their crashed car after a chase are still on the run Two unidentified burglary suspects who jumped out of a vehicle following a crash during a police pursuit Tuesday afternoon in Euless. Officers were responding to a burglary call at 750 E. Mid Cities Blvd. when they noticed three men speeding away from the scene in a black SUV. The patrol car chased the SUV and within minutes, the driver of the SUV lost control and crashed. The SUV rolled over near the access road median of state Highway 360 southbound, one of the suspects was injured and required care flight to a local hospital. Police set up a perimeter, but said the two other suspects evaded capture and ran through a nearby apartment complex and into a wooded area. Investigators believe the men had help and that they may have called someone to meet them and give them a ride. Authorities hope to identify both men from physical evidence collected from that SUV. April 1, 2014, 6:00 a.m. EDT U.S. Concrete Completes Sale of Pre-Cast Site Globehlewsv A NASDAQ OMX COMPANY EULESS, Texas, Apr 01, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- U.S. Concrete, Inc. announced today that it has completed the sale of real estate consisting of 5.6 acres of land and a 43,000 square foot building in Lathrop, California. This real estate represents the Company's final owned asset relating to the California pre-cast operations that were divested in August 2012. "Our strategic direction has shifted away from pre-cast concrete and this completes the divestiture of the California portion of our pre-cast business," said U.S. Concrete President and Chief Executive Officer William J. Sandbrook. "We continue to focus on growth by acquisition of ready-mix and aggregates operations and this sale, along with the planned disposal of our remaining pre-cast operation in Pennsylvania, will give us more flexibility to pursue our strategy." About U.S. Concrete U.S. Concrete services the construction industry in several major markets in the United States through its two business segments: ready-mixed concrete and aggregate products. The Company has 105 fixed and 10 portable ready-mixed concrete plants and eight producing aggregates facilities. During 2013, U.S. Concrete produced approximately 5.2 million cubic yards of ready-mixed concrete and approximately 3.6 million tons of aggregates. For more information about U.S. Concrete, visit www.us-concrete.com . CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's belief, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these statements and cautions you not to rely unduly on them. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the stability of the business; ready-mix backlog; ability to maintain our cost structure and the improvements achieved during our restructuring; ability to maximize liquidity, monitor fixed costs, manage variable costs, control capital spending and monitor working capital usage; and the adequacy of current liquidity. Although U.S. Concrete believes that the expectations reflected in such forward- looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other matters: general and regional economic conditions; the level of activity in the construction industry; the ability of U.S. Concrete to complete acquisitions and to effectively integrate the operations of acquired companies; development of adequate management infrastructure; departure of key personnel; access to labor; union disruption; competitive factors; government regulations; exposure to environmental and other liabilities; the cyclical and seasonal nature of U.S. Concrete's business; adverse weather conditions; the availability and pricing of raw materials; the availability of refinancing alternatives; and general risks related to the industry and markets in which U.S. Concrete operates. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. These risks, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Concrete's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including U.S. Concrete's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. CONTACT: Matt Brown, SVP & CFO U.S. Concrete, Inc. 817-835-4105 Star-Telegram Scalded Euless puppy recovering; man charged Posted Thursday,Apr. 03, 2014 BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. ramirez@star-telegram.com Riley is getting better, but the scars are still there, sad signs of an act of cruelty. Someone poured hot water or a caustic chemical on the back of the 4-month-old shepherd mix, scalding the puppy. When found by Euless police last month, he was also severely malnourished and needed to restore muscles on his back legs. But Riley still wags his tail at strangers and he's on the road to recovery—thanks to Trinity High School's Girl Awareness Program (GAP) and the Animal Hospital & Clinic of Arlington. Riley's recovery will get an added boost next week when a walk-a-thon is held at Trinity High School to raise money for not only his care, but for other abused or abandoned dogs and cats. "His recovery will be long-term," said Keli Brace, a manager at the Arlington animal hospital where Riley has been cared for since he was found on March 16. "He's gained weight and the wounds are healing, but he fears people." Euless police say Terrell Hill, 23, of Euless has been accused of abusing Riley. He remained in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth on Wednesday. The goal is for Riley to be adopted. "It broke my heart when I first saw him," said Trinity High teacher Steffenie Vela, coordinator of GAP, a community service organization that helps the Euless Animal Shelter. "His burns were from the back of his head to his entire back, and he was malnourished. We knew we had to help him." Euless police found the puppy on March 16 when responding to a domestic disturbance at a Euless apartment in the 300 block of Vine Street. A woman told police that her boyfriend had shoved and threatened her. While at the apartment, the officers discovered Riley. "Officers contacted animal control to take possession of the animal and seek medical treatment for the dog," Euless police Lt. Eric Starnes said in an email Wednesday. Police arrested Hill on an assault charge and he was later charged with cruelty to an animal. Still needs some training Euless animal control officers then called Vela at Trinity High. "They told me they had a bad one. They couldn't pay for his care and there was a chance they would have to euthanize him if no one cared for him,"Vela said. "We called over to the animal hospital in Arlington, asked if they could take him and they told me to bring him over." The puppy, who later got the nickname "Riley," arrived at the Animal Hospital & Clinic of Arlington on St. Partrick's Day. He weighed 14 pounds and feared everyone. More than two weeks later, he weighs just over 18 pounds, licks hands and his back is healing, though he may never grow hair in that spot again. The puppy gets to go home every night with Brace, the animal hospital manager, and she brings him back with her to the hospital every workday. "He's probably a month or two away from being adopted," Brace said. "But there's an emotional issue which we have to work on. He's got to learn to trust again." 'The sweetest puppy' The 45 to 50 GAP members will be out to help Riley, a project that the club knows something about. For the last 10 years, the all-girls club at Trinity High has helped the Euless Animal Shelter with the care of abandoned dogs and cats, and helps get the animals ready for adoption. Last year, the girls from sophomores to seniors helped get 433 dogs and cats adopted, reducing by at least 80 percent the number of animals euthanized at the Euless shelter, Vela said. Riley is now high on their list to help. "He's the sweetest puppy," Vela said. "And we've already got some people interested in adopting him. He's just a wonderful puppy." Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763 Twitter:@mingoramirezjr NRP Group buys Euless tract for new apartment development k �a 01101111 • ! ' Will Enlarge Photo Candace Carlisle A Cleveland-based apartment developer has purchased a 10-acre tract of land near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for a new apartment development. A Cleveland-based apartment developer, The NRP Group, has bought a 10-acre tract of land near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for a new 300-unit apartment development. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. The acreage within the Bear Creek Riverwalk development at the corner of State Highway 183 and State Highway 360 is zoned for single-family residential, multifamily and commercial uses. The proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, as well as surrounding amenities, is expected to attract residents seeking convenient living options, said Mark Johnson of NRP Group. This is NRP Group's second land buy in Riverwalk. In 2011, the development group bought another parcel of land. Andrew Prine of Dallas-based Stratford Group LLC brokered the recently-made deal. Construction is expected to get underway on the 300-unit apartment development by summer 2014. Candace covers commercial and residential real estate and sports business. HOME NEWS LOCAL Police Identify Three Burglary Suspects After Euless Crash By Dulce Hernandez Thursday,Apr 3,2014 I Updated 3:52 Pi r _.___ , } • 1p -11!,.. LI - -L ".' 41 I • . IIAIP 1:111h ' i t--. L 4 w.- -. • . :-I'-‘•0 i i An SUV rolled over after being chased by police in Euless, Police have identified three people who may be involved in a burglary and a police chase that took place Tuesday afternoon in Euless. Police have not made any arrests but are in the process of preparing arrest warrants as the investigation continues. One person who was captured by police Tuesday is still in the hospital, said authorities. After Euless police received a burglary call, officers were sent to 750 E. Mid-Cities Boulevard. When they arrived, officers reported seeing three men in a sport utility vehicle speed away. The officers followed the SUV and minutes later the driver lost control and crashed along a highway on-ramp. The SUV rolled over, leaving one of the occupants injured. The man was transported by air ambulance to a nearby hospital, said police. • Two Suspected Burglars At-Large After Euless Crash After the crash two of the other occupants jumped out of the vehicle and ran though a nearby apartment complex and into a wooded area. Investigators said they believe someone may have picked them up and gave them a ride. NBC 5's Bianca Castro & Randy Mcllwain contributed to this report. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF_ MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY SLITTER MCKAMIE BROWN CRANOR ANIMAL CNTR prq McDONALD COLLINS W RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL HARWELL BARKER DATE DISTRIBUTED I / U I I 4 DATE OF ARTICLE q ' ' 7 NEWSPAPER FWST EtJLESS " y Motorcycle fun run to help. families of fallen officers The Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Texas'Chapter No. 1,, is hosting ;public motorcycle fun run Saturday"The rUn starts at ' OI? &.i;Ionda at 23p Wi]1ls n . .:`; TateAve.'in Grail evine'af94.m, ur;; and at Boll Eden Parki:r less at 1 p.m. Registration is.$15 for riders..,: The ride will consist of.several. , checkpoints for riders set along the mapped route There will be a silent auction and prizes- awarded at the ending cerema . Hies in Euless.The publicis wel- come to attend the silent auction and closing ceremonies even if 1 they do not ride a motorcycle.I There is no charge for spectators The event is to benefit.North Texas COPS,or Concerns of Po- lice Survivors. The organization. assists spouses and children of North Texas law enforcement of- ficers killed in the line of duty with counseling, financial as sistance and attendance at state and national ceremonies to ho- nor their loved ones. I I I I 776, DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF 71* MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY SUTTER MCKAMIE BROWN CRA NOR ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS W. RHODES GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF HARTSELL - HARWELL BARKER DATE DISTRIBUTED 4-1 I 1 PI DATE OF ARTICLE q q I iv NEWSPAPER FWST City honored at highest level: for financial transparency Doing business in the open made' Euless one of only U cities to re- ceive the state's inaugural Platt- , num Award for financial transparency. "We're very proudto have been named as one of the first cities in Texas to have achieved the Plati- num •award," said City Manager Gary McKamie. "Finance Director Janina Jewell has done an out- standing Job of leading us through this process." Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle set high standards for online finan- cial disclosure—him bud- get posting, financial re ports, check registers and detailed summaries of bonded debt and repay-. ment—and the new award 1 recognizes those efforts. Cities must link to the state Comptroller's website and pledge to post infoniation about proposed bond. packages and .existing debt,a news release said. GO to wvvw.texastrans- parency.org for informa- tion. —Terry Evans