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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-15 Euless ArticlesEuless council to call election for allowing liquor stores By Elizabeth Campbell liz@star-telegram.com EULESS Euless is a step closer to allowing liquor stores after receiving a petition with enough signatures by registered voters to call an election. Deputy City Secretary Lindsay Wells said Tarrant County officials verified 3,933 signatures. Mayor Linda Martin said the City Council will meet Aug. 15 to call a local option election for Nov. 7. In this March 5, 2014, file photo, shelves are filling up as the Liquor Depot Express prepares to be the first liquor store to open in Arlington. Euless voters could have a chance in November to decide whether liquor stores can open in their city. Ron T. Ennis Star-Telegram archives A political action committee called Euless Taxpayers for Economic Development organized the petition drive. Euless allows beer and wine sales for off-premise consumption but not hard liquor. “I’ve talked to many people who want (liquor stores) and to many who don’t. The voters will have to decide,” Martin said. The council also voted unanimously to approve zoning for liquor stores in areas including Glade Parks, the Texas 121 Gateway, Founders Parc and the River Walk. Mike Collins, the city’s planning and development director, said the stores would have to meet Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission requirements of being 300 feet from homes, hospitals, churches and public schools. Organizers of a similar petition drive in Bedford said they couldn’t get the 4,093 signatures needed for an election. Sal Caruso, who chaired the group in Bedford, said that the summer heat and health issues made it difficult to go out and get signatures and that the group missed key opportunities such as asking people to sign during early voting for the May 6 council election. “We will recharge our batteries, come back in the spring, get early voters and have a better plan,” he said. Euless May Move to Allow Sales of Liquor-To -Go The city of Euless is considering some big changes to let stores start selling hard liquor to go. The Euless City Council plans to set a special election next month to let voters decide whether to allow liquor sales. A committee collected petitions with nearly 4,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. One business with a unique story has been watching the debate closely. It's called Bru City, and it's located right on the border of Euless and Fort Worth. There are dozens of local beers on tap, all inside a gas station convenience store. • 9 People Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash in Fort Worth The owner says Bru City is a first of its kind in Texas, but the business never would have happened if it weren't for some old-school liquor rules and complicated city boundaries. You can fill up your tank, top off your glass and take a six-pack for the road all in one place at Bru City. "I mean, 60 taps in a gas station is pretty impressive," said customer John Mercer. • Dallas Police Search for Man Who Robbed, Assaulted Woman Daniel Nguyen added, "I consider having a cold drink part of life, but part of the holiday, yes!" But if you're looking for something harder, look again. "When we went to the county they said, 'You cannot have a liquor store,'" said owner Niraj Shrestha. • Motorcyclist Injured in Crash on High Five Ramp in Dallas The store is in Fort Worth, but Shrestha says the land was annexed in and the deed's still tied to Euless liquor rules. "That's what I understood," Shrestha said. "That's the reason we couldn't have it." So he needed a new business plan. • Texas Introduces Revamped STAAR Report Card "We gotta do something different that nobody has done here before," said Shrestha. With beer and wine his only options, Bru City was born – and it's doing great. "It's right in between Dallas and Fort Worth so this place is changing, rapidly growing and changing," said Shrestha. • Community Pays Tribute to Shavon Randle, Michael Titus That's why some folks think the old liquor rules don't make sense. As the Mid-Cities grow and blend together, Euless is no isolated small town. "Most people aren't aware as they're going down the same street that the rules may change from mile to mile," said customer Tony Anderson. Mercer added, "You're just denying yourself the tax revenue." • NTX Baby Born in Hospital as Lightning Strike Destroys House And though brews are now his bread and butter, Shrestha knows his business could do even better with some hard liquor on the shelves. "If you really get down to the numbers, it will make a lot of difference," Shrestha said. Though many still hope it won't make a difference to the city's small-town roots. • Fourth of July Fireworks Light Up Fort Worth "We gotta be responsible," Shrestha said. "As a retailer, we gotta be responsible and we take that very seriously." NBC 5 is working with the city of Euless to find out how the change in liquor sales allowance would affect Bru City on its annexed land. Published at 6:07 PM CDT on Jul 3, 2017 JPS bringing one-stop medical care to Northeast Tarrant By Elizabeth Campbell The JPS Health Network is building a new “medical home” in Euless to replace this outdated clinic in Bedford. The Bedford location will close once the new JPS facility is finished. Paul Moseley pmoseley@star- telegram.com liz@star-telegram.com EULESS Juanita Kelly says she must travel from her home in Euless to Fort Worth for X-rays and other medical procedures — which she calls difficult because there is no public transportation between the two cities. But relief is in sight for Kelly and others after JPS Health Network broke ground on Friday for its JPS Medical Home Northeast Tarrant, scheduled to open next summer. Kelly, along with hospital and county officials, put on a hard hat and helped shovel dirt. “With the new clinic, I won’t have to go far,” she said. Kelly, 52, said she has diabetes and has had knee surgery because of arthritis, and needs X-rays, lab work and medications. When the new JPS facility opens, she won’t have to travel to multiple places for healthcare. The new JPS clinic, serving Hurst, Euless and Bedford, will provide primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, optometry, laboratory, radiology and a drive-through pharmacy under one roof. It will be located at 3200 W. Euless Blvd., west of Texas 10 at Raider Drive. The 35,000-square-foot facility has an estimated price tag of $15.6 million, which includes construction and equipment costs. The facility will be the second of its kind to open in the JPS Health Network. The JPR Medical Home Southeast opened in Arlington in 2015. The Euless location will replace the JPS Northeast Health Center in Bedford, which will close once the new facility is open. Kathy Watts, JPS practice manager, talks about the new clinic vs the old. The JPS Health Network is building a new “medical home” in Euless to replace this outdated clinic in Bedford. The Bedford location will close once the new JPS facility is finished. Paul Moseley pmoseley@star-telegram.com The new medical home can’t come fast enough for Kathy Watts, practice manager at the JPS center. Watts said that patients and employees deal with overcrowded conditions and that the new facility will alleviate that. Now, patients waiting to pick up medications at the pharmacy must line up in hallways, and those waiting for dental appointments and eye exams must sit on the floor as there aren’t enough chairs. “This facility is extraordinarily outdated,” she said. “We are bursting at the seams, [but] we are pretty grateful to have another place to go.” The Hurst-Euless-Bedford corridor is seeing more baby boomers retiring and needing medical care. It is difficult for them to travel to other hospitals, Watts said. JPS CEO Robert Earley said it would be an honor to bring the medical home to Northeast Tarrant County. “With all of the talk of the Affordable Care Act and politics, providing access is the best way to reduce cost,” he said. “If we provide more access and get more people in a clinic setting, we are doing well.” Pet Owner Starts Petition To Protect Pet Pig In Euless July 11, 2017 7:10 PM By Joel Thomas EULESS(CBS11) – A Euless woman started an online petition to keep her pet pig within city limits saying she needs the animal for emotional therapy. Eighteen-year-old Hayley Rudolph says her 150 pound pet is a miniature pig and it relieves her anxiety. But the City of Euless says all pigs are prohibited by law and the pig is not registered officially as a service animal. The pig’s name is Wesley. Rudolph says someone with the city told her by phone owning a miniature pig for emotional therapy was legal. That was almost four years ago. “He really did help me a ton, anytime I’m anxious I go out there and cuddle with him,” Rudolph said. “Or he comes to my room and he is just there with me. It helps me relieve any stress I have.” But this week, Rudolph received a notice from Euless Code Enforcement “It was on our door and they said if we don’t get rid of them within 10 days then we will come take him. I immediately found a temporary home for him,” Rudolph said. “Our animal services ordinance does not allow, it has a list of prohibited animals, and pigs are specifically one of those prohibited animals that is on the list,” said Betsy Deck, spokesperson for the City of Euless. And Euless code compliance workers said they have no record of ever telling Rudolph, Wesley was exempt from the law. Rudolph says because Wesley is under 300 pounds he’s a miniature pig, not livestock. For now, though Wesley is more than an hour away from Randolph with a temporary caretaker. “Right now I really need him, of all these times, right now. So, it’s really hard not having him,” Rudolph said. “It might be some sort of a service animal, emotional therapy animal and we are open absolutely to discussing that with her,” Deck said. The city and Rudolph are planning to sit down together to see if they can find a way to legally allow Wesley to stay North Texas Teen Works to Change Law, Keep Pet Pig By Larry Collins A Euless teenager is on a mission to save her best friend that happens to be a pig. Haley Rudolph has had her pet pig, Wesley, since he was a piglet. "Almost three-and-a-half years, and he's almost four," she said. Someone complained about Wesley, and Euless Animal Control stepped in because currently having him is against the law. "They put a notice on my door," Rudolph said, "[Then] they put another notice on our door saying that if he wasn't out in 10 days they would have to take him." She moved Wesley out of Euless quickly and into another home in Wiley until she could get everything worked out. "It's insane because he hasn't done anything wrong. He's just a sweet pig," she said. Assistant City Manager Betsy Deck explained this is against a standing city ordinance. "Pigs, hogs and sows are called out in that ordinance. I believe that ordinance has been on the books for about 30 years," Deck said. Rudolph contends that Wesley is more than just livestock. She said he helps her heal. "I suffer from anxiety [and] depression, and I'm on medication. I've had a lot of panic attacks," she said. "He cuddles with me. He'll calm me down." But Wesley is not a registered service animal. "Honestly it's terrifying because I can't imagine him not in my life," she said. Rudolph now has the support of hundreds of people thanks to an online petition. In less than 24 hours nearly 1,000 people signed the petition, asking Euless to change the law. Euless officials are ready to listen and have reached out to Rudolph to look for a solution. "We absolutely work with our residents, as much as we can, within the confines of our ordinances and laws," Deck said. Now, Rudolph continues gathering signatures and prepares to make a presentation to Euless City Council to ask them to amend the ordinance. Trinity wrestlers prep for Olympics, college in national competition BY RICK MAUCH Special to the Star-Telegram The Euless Trinity wrestling program is keeping busy over the summer. Front row, from left: Savannah Bye (Wayland Baptist University), Passion Hollins (Emmanuel College) and Paisley Zandi (Lyon College). Back row: assistant coach Kelsy Lynes, Keaton Fanning (Northern Michigan University and the United State Olympic Education Center), Jordan Johnson (Neosho Community College), Alfredo Benavidez (The University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez) and head coach Travis Clark. Euless Trinity Courtesy photo It’s been a busy summer for several members of the Euless Trinity wrestling team, and they aren’t finished yet. “It feels like I’ve barely been home,” said the recently graduated Keaton Fanning. “But I enjoy traveling. It’s the best competition I can get.” Fanning, a 182-pounder two-time state qualifier and the 2017 Texas State Freestyle and Greco Roman state runner-up, is one of several wrestlers who have signed to compete in college. He will attend Northern Michigan University and train with the United State Olympic Education Center (USOEC) on the Greco Roman Wrestling Team in hopes of landing a spot in the Olympics. “I want to keep wrestling until at least 2032,” he said. “I got lucky. Northern Michigan gave me a shot and I want to win gold for them. In the meantime, he will be competing with some of his fellow Trojans in the USA Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, this week. He will be competing as part of the Texas Boys National Team. Joining him from the Texas Girls National Team will be 165-pound competitor Passion Hollins, a recent graduate, along with seniors Lauren Horrigan at 106 pounds and Emily Fergeson at 112 pounds. “Hopefully the third time’s a charm,” Hollins said. “I’m feeling ready for it. I won’t be as anxious or nervous. I don’t say that’s an added advantage, but I will be more at ease.” Hollins is a three-time state qualifier, finishing fourth this past season. She is a three-time Texas National Team qualifier, 2015 Cadet All-American, 2016 Folkstyle Preseason Nationals All-American, and 2017 Folkstyle National All American (second at 152 pounds). She will wrestle at Emmanuel College next season. Trinity coach Travis Clark is a member of the coaching staff for a boys junior duals team and the Texas Girls National Team. Fanning also recently competed in the USA Wrestling Junior Duals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of the Texas Boys Team. He posted a 4-2 record in Greco Roman competition. Joining him was another former Trinity wrestler, Harley Williamson, a 106-pounder. Also wrestling in college this fall from the Trinity girls will be Savannah Bye at Wayland University. She is a three-time state qualifier, finishing fifth at 128 pounds this past season, a 2016 Texas Freestyle state champion, and a two-time Texas National Team qualifier. Also from the boys, two-time state qualifier and 2017 132-pound state runner-up Alfredo Benavidez will attend the University of Puerto Rico. Like Fanning, he has his sights set on qualifying for the Olympics. However, he will focus on freestyle. Jordan Johnson, a 141-pounder, will wrestle for Neosho College. Paisley Zandi, a four-time state qualifier who finished fourth at 148 pounds as a senior, has signed to wrestle for Lyon College. She is also a two-time Texas National Team qualifier and a 2016 Body Bar All-American. “It’s a great feeling, seeing these kids move on, especially with two of my kids focusing on the Olympics,” Clark said. “This group of seniors was so good.” Car Crashes Into House; At Least One Injured EULESS, TX (CBSDFW.COM) — A car crashed into a house in Euless Monday afternoon. Initial reports from the scene indicate there was at least one injury. Chopper 11 was over the scene as Euless first responders were at the location assessing the situation. Officials said that ‘other resources’ were called out to the scene to help stabilize the house. From the air, Chopper 11 showed a silver sedan on a flat-bed tow truck that appeared to be the vehicle that crashed into the house. Yellow crime scene tape was used to keep people away as workers seemed to be looking at the structure. A neighbor told CBS 11 that one person was taken to the hospital with a minor foot injury. Glade Parks developer brings new hotel concept into $100M mixed-use development Jul 17, 2017, 1:42pm CDT An Aloft hotel will be part of the new Glade Parks Town Center in Euless. The development group behind the $100 million, 194-acre Glade Parks Town Center plans to bring an Aloft hotel into the retail-centric development in Euless — which already has other big-name concepts on the books, including Cinepolis and Forever 21. Hurst police create safety zone BY ELIZABETH CAMPBELL liz@star-telegram.com Euless and Bedford started their exchange zones two years ago, and they are popular places for internet transactions and custody exchanges. Hurst will soon join them with its own exchange zones. City of Bedford Handout Hurst police have created an exchange zone where people can have a secure place to go for child custody exchanges or for online buying and selling transactions. Hurst joins other cities throughout North Texas, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Haltom City, Euless and Bedford, that have the exchange zones, which are usually located in police station parking lots where there are surveillance cameras to monitor the exchanges and officers are nearby if there are any problems. “We are committed to providing any service to our customers which helps keep them safer,” said Assistant Police Chief Steve Niekamp. Niekamp added that online sales sites where people buy and sell everything from cars to furniture such as Craigslist and OfferUp are becoming more popular. Euless and Bedford started their exchange zones two years ago, and they are popular places for internet transactions and custody exchanges. Bedford formed a partnership with the site offerup.com, which lists safety zones nationwide. “We’ve seen tremendous success,” Bedford Police Chief Jeff Gibson said. Gibson said he doesn’t have statistics on how many are using the exchange zone but he has seen people waiting in line. Euless has found the safe zones to be a valuable tool, Senior Cpl. Rocky Fimbres said. “People obviously find comfort in being at a police department. We are open 24 hours. If anything happens, we can respond effectively and quickly. Most bad people don’t want to come to a police department,” he said. Fimbres said other departments including Dallas have asked about creating an exchange zone. “When we start getting contacted by other police departments, this tells me that it’s working.” Flatbed Truck Crashes Into Veterinary Hospital in Euless An unattended flatbed truck rolled backwards and struck Harwood Road Animal Hospital on Friday in Euless. Officials say no animals were injured, but one employee of the clinic has minor injuries. A flatbed truck has crashed into a veterinary hospital in Euless, officials say. The driver of the truck was inside a QuikTrip located across the street in the 1000 block of West Harwood Road at about 2:30 Friday afternoon. He thought the truck was in park. However, the vehicle rolled backwards and struck Harwood Road Animal Hospital. An employee of the clinic was transported to a hospital. Her injuries appear to be minor, police said. Officials have confirmed no animals were hurt. It is unknown if the driver will face any charges. Euless police are investigating.