HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-14 Euless ArticlesHow a Hurst mom is honoring her
son, killed by a drunken driver
telegram.com
Cadets Ray Latu, Alex Dam and Chance Boyd with Euless police Lt. Brandon Zachary and Brenda
Holden. Holden’s son, Brandon Bennett, wanted to be a police officer in Euless but was killed by a
drunken driver over two years ago. Holden started a scholarship fund for cadets who want to
become police officers and awarded one Jan. 19. Paul Moseley pmoseley@star-telegram.com
Paul Moseley pmoseley@star-telegram.com
By Elizabeth Campbell
liz@star-telegram.com
EULESS
Three years ago, Brenda Holden saw two police officers and a chaplain standing at her front door
shortly after her son left for his National Guard drills.
She learned the sad news that her son Brandon Bennett, who wanted to be a police officer, was
killed in Euless when a drunken driver ran a red light at West Pipeline Road and Westpark Way and
slammed into his car.
“It was a nightmare,” Holden said.
In July, Beth Branum, a former trauma nurse and mother of three, was convicted of intoxication
manslaughter and is serving a 20-year sentence.
Holden, who lives in Hurst, wanted to do something meaningful to recognize her son while also
focusing on drunken driving and its consequences.
Holden, an accountant, funds the $500 scholarships herself and has given out three to members of a
program that lets college students learn about the Euless Police Department.
“I wanted to do something to remember my son and others in the community. I am happy that I can
provide the scholarships, and I am glad that Euless allows me to do this,” she said.
Holden asks the cadets interested in applying for the scholarship to write an essay about drunken
driving and include ideas on how to prevent it.
She selected the top essay from three finalists.
Raymond Latu, 18, who received the scholarship from Holden, said writing his essay, titled, “If I
Could Save a Life,” was a way to honor her son. Latu is attending Tarrant County College.
“I was writing the essay for him it ... and to try to spread the word that [driving drunk] is not a good
thing,” said Latu, a graduate of Trinity High.
Holden said she was impressed with Latu’s writing and the thoughts he expressed in his essay
about ways to prevent drunken driving while increasing community awareness.
“I thought his paper hit home,” she said.
Lt. Brandon Zachary, who oversees the cadet training program, said he was one of the first officers
on the scene of the crash that killed Holden’s son.
Zachary said Holden has a “special connection to the Euless Police Department,” and the two
discussed starting the scholarship program.
The cadet program allows young people interested in becoming officers to work in the Police
Department while going to college. They must take a minimum of 12 hours and maintain a 3.0
grade-point average.
“The whole idea is that we are raising our own police officers. They learn every facet, from crime
investigation, code enforcement, patrol and working in the jail,” Zachary said.
Latu said he is looking forward to completing his training so that he can work as an officer and help
prevent drunken driving deaths.
“By preventing a DWI we can promise a future. A future for the community, for the children, for every
person. As officers, we can save a life,” Latu wrote in his essay.
Elizabeth Campbell: 817-390-7696, @fwstliz
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/hurst-euless-
bedford_news/article129662409.html#storylink=cpy
‘Texans are being crushed by
property taxes,’ Abbott says in urging
relief
Housing valuations are on the rise. Khampha Bouaphanh Star-Telegram
Texas property owners: Gov. Greg Abbott has heard your concerns and agrees you need a break.
Declaring that “Texans are being crushed by property taxes,” Abbott called on state lawmakers
Tuesday to develop a plan to bring them relief.
“Their property tax bills often increase far faster than household income,” Abbott told a joint meeting
of House and Senate members in his State of the State address.
“No government should be able to tax people out of their homes,” he said. “Texans should not stand
for it. We must remember: property owners are not renting their land from the city.”
That’s why Abbott called on lawmakers to develop property tax reform that includes preventing cities
from raising property taxes without voter approval, which is similar to a provision in the already
introduced Senate Bill 2.
State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, filed another plan this week to help with the effort.
Her proposal, Senate Bill 669, would help reform the property tax appraisal process by boosting
education requirements for appraisers and setting term limits for those who serve on Appraisal
Review Boards.
“This legislation will strengthen the rights of taxpayers and make the appraisal process fair,
accountable and more transparent,” said Nelson, whose district includes portions of Tarrant County.
Property values — and the tax bills that come with him — have been a rising concern for Texans as
hot housing markets have caused property valuations to spike.
The Texas Legislature runs through May 29 this year.
In Tarrant County last year, appraisals in some neighborhoods jumped 12 percent. And Tarrant
Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Jeff Law has already said another hefty increase in property
values could come this year.
“There is a revolt brewing in Texas over soaring property tax bills that are neither realistic nor
sustainable,” said James Quintero, director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local
Governance. “In 2015, Texas’ 4,171 local governments walloped homeowners and businesses for
more than $52 billion in property taxes, or about $1,900 for every man, woman, and child in the Lone
Star State.
“As mammoth an amount as that is, trends suggest that the burden is likely to get heftier still.”
Proposed changes
Last year, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, filed a broad property tax reform and relief bill — SB2
— that touches on issues such as making it easier for taxpayers to challenge rising tax rates through
ratification elections and increasing the accountability of appraisal district officials. State Sen. Kelly
Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, is a co-author.
A provision requiring counties or cities to get voter approval for any property tax rate increase larger
than 4 percent drew quick concern from local officials who fear it could hamper their ability to pay for
needed services. The current 8 percent cap has let the city “do what we needed to do,” Fort Worth
Mayor Betsy Price has said.
The Texas Municipal League, which is opposed to SB 2, has no position on Nelson’s bill, which
addresses procedures, said Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the group.
Nelson’s bill proposes several changes, such as requiring more education and training programs for
arbitrators and Appraisal Review Board members and setting term limits for review board members
in large counties.
It would also let board members, rather than the board of directors, choose the chairman; make sure
appraisal districts give protesters any evidence used at a hearing and prevent its use if the taxpayer
didn’t receive it first; and prevent review boards from hiking property values higher than listed in the
notification.
The proposal also gives homeowners more chances to give feedback about review boards, requires
hearing orders to be issued in 15 days, makes sure review boards note the recommended value of
property to taxpayers at the end of a hearing and lets hearings be postponed if appraisal districts
violate state law.
‘The only good tax’
Tarrant County Tax-Assessor Collector Ron Wright particularly praised the term limits, noting that
members now can serve their terms, stay off the board one year, and then come back and serve
again. Nelson’s bill would end that.
He also said the proposed 15-day period to send out orders is a good thing and noted that additional
education might help appraisal review board members.
“I don’t know what it will take for ARV members to treat people with respect and dignity, but maybe
more training would help them get there,” Wright said.
Last year, hundreds of property owners worried about rising taxes attended a day-long public
hearing in Arlington conducted by the Texas Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform and
Relief.
“As far as I’m concerned, the only good tax is a dead tax,” Abbott said.
Anna Tinsley: 817-390-7610, @annatinsley
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-
government/article129869034.html#storylink=cpy
Bedford hires city manager
from New Mexico
The Bedford City Council voted unanimously to hire Brian Bosshart, the deputy county manager in
Los Alamos County, N.M. City of Bedford
By Elizabeth Campbell
Bedford is getting a new city manager, who was hired from New Mexico.
Last week, the City Council voted unanimously to hire Brian Bosshart, the deputy county manager in
Los Alamos County, N.M.
Bosshart will take the job in April, but a specific date hasn’t been announced as details of his
contract are still being negotiated, he said.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to start building relationships and working in the community,” he
said.
Bosshart is replacing Roger Gibson, who retired Feb. 3 after working for Bedford for over 30 years.
Gibson, who became city manager in 2015, was also Bedford’s police chief.
Mayor Jim Griffin said he was impressed with Bosshart’s strategic planning background and his
ability to work with people.
He added that areas of the city are in need of revitalization, and Bosshart will bring valuable
experience to help with projects.
“He is a good fit for us,” Griffin said.
Bosshart came to Los Alamos County in 2010 and oversees public works, community development
and human resources. Before coming to New Mexico, he spent 10 years in Chandler, Ariz., where
he helped rebuild and redevelop neighborhoods.
Bosshart grew up in the Minneapolis area and graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.
He received his master’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University.
Bosshart, 49, said he is looking forward to working in Bedford, which is 98 percent built-out but has
opportunities for re-development.
When he came to Bedford the last weekend in January for his interview, Bosshart said he had time
to explore the community and drive through the neighborhoods.
“I am looking forward to continuing the quality work that is being done here,” he said.
Elizabeth Campbell: 817-390-7696, @fwstliz
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/hurst-euless-
bedford_news/article130950744.html#storylink=cpy