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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-27 Euless Articles �,, oautc DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ( OF r0r — MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED_L47D_1 DATE OF ARTICLE �2 /ZONEWSPAPER DMN exa;7) atgets one ' rec ance ® shine By KEVIN LONNQUIST Staff Writer In its six-year history, Euless' Texas Star golf course has earned a reputation for hosting quality am- ateur tournaments. The latest happens Tuesday and Wednesday. The Westfield Junior PGA Sec- tion Championship begins as 50 area golfers ages 14-18 will com- pete.The top girl and boy between ages 14 to 17 will qualify for the Westfield Junior PGA Champion- ship on July 16-19 in Westfield Center, Ohio. However, 18-year- olds will not advance. ' Texas Star has hosted other U.S. amateur qualifier tourna- ments and will be the course for the Games of Texas, July 25-27, club pro Adena Wallace said.Wal- lace said the layout is the incentive for the tournaments to come. "It's obvious, we have a good setup,good bent grass greens and quality people running the course,"she said."I think we have ' a very unique environment." DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE_J_OF AIA YOR CITY COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY CRIM IIENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCIIELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED –1 103 DATE OFARTICLE �63 NEWSPAPER FWST Mess could tenants' deadli,neu to leave By ET UNA F.MORRISON Officials little bit more sensitive:' STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER will con- Residents said extra time ' EULESS—Dickey Apart- sider whether to grant would provide little comfort. ments residents may have an Dickey Apartments resi- Complex officials said they extra week to pack up and dents an extra week to plan to fight the demolition. find a new home before city vacate the complex, Euless officials contend officials close the 42-year- which is expected to be the owner has been derelict old complex. demolished. in complying with city On Tuesday, the City codes,after years of negotia- ' Council will discuss in single-family development. tions. They said they asked closed session whether to "I am recommending we the owner to repair unsafe extend the June 30 deadline give them a little bit more handrails, remove peeling to July 7.Euless officials plan time because of the holiday paint and pick up trash and ' to raze the 32-unit complex weekend," City Manager Joe debris.. because the area is zoned for Hennig said."It just seems a Dickey Apartments cracking wooden railings. ' Overton said he doubts the city will grant an extra week. ;sea Euless "They haven't done any- t� thing they said they would," The complex, which If you go Euless Blvd. l he said. I ' accepts residents with less- .i6 E , Alexander 1-11. He directed other ques- than-perfect credit and crimi- The Euless City Council will N tions to his attorney, Bill meet at 7 m.Tuesday in nal records, is the only place p• y � Meier of Bedford. Meier available to them, residents Building B at City Hall, 201 N. odeclined to comment. Ector Drive.The council will dis- Dicke Apartments was say. Dickey Apartments, cuss Dickey Apartments in a HuittLn. y south of Euless Boulevard closed session before the meet- annexed into Euless in 1971 as (Texas 10) in east Euless, ing a nonconforming property, charge's $140 a week fora W . meaning that the complex did one-bedroom unit and $155 a `' not meet zoning regulations. Mapped are7�� week for two bedrooms. A municipality can deman "They've got me id "Mr. Hennig knows that that such a business be closetspinch," resident Jimmy Sin a Fort mp- won't happen,"Overton said. worth or demolished after giving an 1 son said Friday, adding that A resident living with her ------ owner a reasonable chance to three chil-th d h d ianher r fren ' he has no plans to move. "It's boy `" recoup the investment. dren, including her 7-month- STAR-TELEGRAM/TIM BEDISON real hard." The city contends the old son, said her family will When the deadline arrives, owner has recouped the be it June 30 or July 7,the city be homeless' if the apart- letter in May notifying resi- $349,049 investment. ments close. She did not give dents of the June 30 deadline. will withdraw the certificate Meier previously disputed At the time her name. , the complex had of occupancy, which requires that, noting that the apart- It's because we are low- 21 leased units. public utilities to be discon- ments have always passed netted,Hennig said. income. They are trying to Some residents have city inspections. There is Documents name God's get rid of us," she said, adding moved since the city set the nothing wrong with them, that the complex's attorney deadline, Overton said, but Chariot Limited Partnership told her not to move. She and many were still living at the except that they are in an as the owner of the complex area zoned for single-family and Steve Overton of Euless her boyfriend work, she said, complex on Friday. The aging housing,he said. as the rima member of the "but it's not enough to pay courtyard was filled with , primary $700 a month." bright children's toys, and Elemolena rF.Morrison, eleg am.co 88 partnership. Overton said City officials delivered a wind- chimes hung from emorrison@star-telegram.com that he plans to fight the demolition and that the utili- ties will not be shut off. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF ' MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GfVAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED It 3 DATE OF ARTICLE �t_, NEWSPAPER FIVST � ' e Pushing exl)and Airport $274 k aat ,g Airport Freeway rAirport • improvementsm i11loy� Cheek Sparger Rtl. 1111111 11Hurst :-ui•�+ Estimated cost of a 26. Harwood Rd. Eu#e. IrvinIan to ex and 4 Airport Freeway. r ' tea 183,N 820. 10 900000157 MappeE are: ' iR 360 b Numer of vehicles ..i Arlington that use the freeway 4 Fort each day.The number �Y. G�een�aks9lvd. worth is expected to nearly - a. double by 2025. STAR-TELEGRAM/RICK MOON son our particular freeway has By GORDON DICKSON City and chamber offi- slipped off the radar screen," and ELLENA F.MORRISON cials want the Texas said Hurst development direc- i STARTELEGRAM STAFF WRITERS Transportation Commission to com- for Mike Morgan. Busloads of Bedford, Euless and mit to easing traffic congestion. The six-lane freeway is the t residents will travel to Austin on main connection between Fort ursday to plead for money-to are willing to accept tolls on express Worth and Dallas/Fort Worth and Airport Freeway. lanes if that's what it takes to get the Airport. A plan to expand 7.6 But they had better be willing to project under way by 2007 or shortly miles of the highway at a cost orize tolls, Texas Transportation thereafter. of about$274 million has been mmission members say, if they are The expansion has been delayed by planned for years. ous about getting Tarrant County's more than a decade because higher pri- The road would be expand- busiest freeway expanded before 2012. ority road projects have received the ed to 10 main lanes plus two Members of the delegation say they state's limited highway money. high-occupancy vehicle lanes "It's constantly slipping and admit- — or express lanes — from rraffic becomes backed up Tuesday after- tedly transportation funds are very Northeast Loop 820 to the n at the merger of Texas 183 and dear and competitive,but for some rea- Texas 183/121 split;and to eight Sas 121. main lanes and three HOV lanes from the split to Texas 161 in Irving. The HOV lanes could be converted into toll lanes, allowing motorists to bypass the gridlock that routinely forms on the freeway,regional iris traffic planners say.To encour- age carpooling, vehicles with one occupant could be charged a toll, while vehicles r. DISTRIBLY D TO: PAGE -� OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG AICKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGIVAY(2) ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS fVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED 7 C DA TE OF ARTICLE NEff1SPAPER FTVST with multiple occupants could Local governments are pass for free. being encouraged to create , Unlike freeways, which are Partnerships with toll-road paid with tax dollars,toll roads officials such as the North are paid by investors who buy Texas Tollway Authority and government bonds. The debt Present a unified regional , is then repaid by tolls from vision for sharing the cost of motorists. expanding roads,he said. The amount that could be "We are willing to put up raised with toll lanes on Air- state money if locals are will- ' port Freeway hasn't been stud- mg to get into partnerships,do ied but probably would cover a traffic survey,hire someone," only about 10 percent to 15 he said. "If you have a$270 percent of the project's costs, million project and you can ' said Michael Morris, trans- raise $150 million ...then, sud- portation director for the denly, it's only a $120 million North Central Texas Council diversion of our cash flow.We of Governments. Local dollars would say, `Huh. Does it fit, ' also could be used, but the into their regional plan?We've state would still need to cover. got to do this."' more than half the tab. The delegation has 20 min- ' "We could begin construe utes to try to persuade the tion in approximately five cornmission to fund the pro- years, but we need helpject and set a firm date. from the commission," Morris iAt least 100 people are , Morris expected to make the trip, said. including Hurst-Euless-Bed.- More than 200,000 vehicles ford Chamber of Commerce use the freeway daily,and - officials and representatives of ' fie is expected to nearly douou- all three cities. Speakers will ble by 2025. argue that traffic is expected Airport Freeway in its pre-: sent form was built to handleto continue to increase, with handle: to no more than 140,000 vehicles' environmental and safety con- per day, according to Texa"s' sequences. Department of Transportation, Scheduled speakers include figures. The freeway reached, H-E-B chamber President , its capacity in 1987,spokesman Charles Powell, state Rep. Michael Peters said. Todd Smith, R Euless, Tarrant Commission member Ric County Commissioner Glen Williamson said he couldn't Whitley and Euless Mayor ' comment on Airport Free- Mary Lib Saleh. way's chances of receiving "It's almost at a crisis point funding, but he stressed that a now," Saleh said. "It's time to new state law signed Thurs- wake up and see what is going. ' day by Gov. Rick Perry on in this area." encourages the state to look ONLINE:Texas Department of Trans- for ways to use toll funding to+ portation,www.dot.state.tx.us stretch highway tax dollars. ' "Tolled projects are going to probably get built faster than non-toll projects," , Williamson said. "It's simply a matter of cash flow" DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF I ' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE D IS TRIB U TED �' � ! b 3 DATEOFARTICLE�1� 3 13 NEWSPAPER FWST ' "I am trying to keep the Volunteers needed to help ' faith.It's hard sometimes. Games of Texason smoothly But I feel confident By ELLENA R MORRISON Hundreds of volunteers STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER will be needed to help ' between About 550 volunteer positions remain stage the Texas Amateur Athletic unfilled for next month's Texas Amateur Federation 2003 Games of Texas, nowand Athletic Federation 2003 Games of Texas. scheduled for next month in Northeast [July 241 we But officials are waiting to hear the starting Tarrant County. gun before panicking. will get an "I am trying to keep the faith. It's hard County. Timers, greeters, hospitality per- sometimes,"said Jerry Poteet,the volunteer sonnel, and judging and parade assistants inflow of and special events coordinator for the city are still needed. Every sport — especially volunteers." of Euless, who is also coordinating volun- swimming, and track and field—has open teers for the games. "But I feel confident volunteer positions. —Jerry Poteet, between now and then we will get an "We have a whole gamut of volunteer city of Euless inflow of volunteers." needs," Poteet said, launching into a long volunteer and About 700 volunteers are required for list. "High-jump workers, long-jump work- special events the four-day event, scheduled for July 24-27 ers,shot-put workers." coordinator in venues throughout Northeast Tarrant' Bedford, Colleyville, How to volunteer Euless, Grapevine, Hurst and North Richland Hills are host- Call Jerry weekdays ing the 23 events at 27 sites. at(817)685-1449. More than 10,000 athletes and 20,000 spectators are expect- had volunteered, almost 100 ed to descend on the area, fewer than needed, said which will host the 2004 Andy Cedillo, Waco recre- games next summer,too. ation superintendent. Volun- The Texas Amateur Ath- teers worked multiple shifts. letic Federation is a nonprof- "We were still getting it organization established in people the day of," Cedillo 1925 with members, such as said. "You're talking about parks and recreation depart- people tripling or doubling ments,that promote amateur up their shifts.You're talking athletics. bodies for three days in a The Games of Texas, the row,12 hours a day." largest multisport event in Volunteers need to think the state, serves as the state of the young people they will championship for the offi- help by pitching in, said Don cially sanctioned TAAF Bowles of Bedford, who sports of track and field, plans to work the boxing, boxing, golf, swimming and tennis and track and field tennis. Competitors in those events. He said he will con- events must qualify at one of sider other sports if the vol- the regional meets. The unteer shortage continues. remaining events are open to "Essentially, I think this is participants of all ages. a good chance for the com- Finding helping hands was munity to put their best foot a chore, said Waco officials, forward for the kids,"he said. who hosted the games last "I just think this is a really year. They needed to cover good time to sort of bond the 700 four-hour shifts for 16 communities:' events. At the beginning of Ellena F.Morrison,(817)685-3888 the games, about 250 people emorrison@star-telegram.com DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF� MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR 1 DATEDISTRIBUTED 6 1,_27LO3 DATEOFARTICLE D NEWSPAPE Cityof Wyo. , Wins Religious Land Use Case 1 1 by luau Otero and RLUIPA after the city's Board of church's proposal violated its neighbor- Wronique Pluviose-Fenton Adjustment denied the church's appli- hood's covenants, which restrict use in cation to build a day-care center for up the low-density, residential area. Local After a six-day trial,a federal jury of to 100 children from 6 a.m. to midnight residents opposed the variance, citing eight in the City of Cheyenne, Wyo., in a residential neighborhood. concerns about traffic and property val- reaffirmed local governments' authority RLUIPA requires that local govern- ues. to make land use decisions when it ments demonstrate a compelling gov- Lawyer Sam Ventola said, "The found that the municipality was justified ernment interest before enforcing land- Methodist Church believes that reli- in denying a zoning variance to a use rules that impose a substantial bur- gious instruction is not just for church. den on religious activities. Sundays,"emphasizing earlier testimony 1 It was the first jury trial to hear a The jury rejected the church's claim from a church leader who said God Religious Land Use and that the city substantially burdened its called the group to build the day-care Institutionalized ' Persons Act right to religious exercise by interfering center. (RLUIPA) case in the nation. with its calling to serve the children of "We never felt the city did anything , Grace United Methodist Church Cheyenne. to inhibit anybody"s exercise of reli- sued the City of Cheyenne under The jury also decided that the gion, and that's what they (the jury) 1 found,"said Stephen Kline,attorney for the city. Kline and City Attorney Mike Basom are not yet sure if the church will appeal the ruling. They noted,however, the record is more damaging to the church than to the city. Professor of Law Marci Hamilton, retained as a constitutional expert for the city,said,"The jury clearly made the right decision here. The church was 1 interested in a commercial activity in a purely residential neighborhood. The jury saw clear through that." The National League of Cities is ' waiting to hear if the church is planning to appeal the case. i DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF ' MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY CRIA1 HENNIG MCAAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS HVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIAIAL CNTR IDA TE DISTRIBUTED - 3 DATEOFARTICLE -�3 3 NEWSPAPER FWST NORTHEAST CLICK Janene Boyle,Brent Foreman,Alicia Patterson and John Juengerman t� Joe Jordan,Michael Menegay,Emily JohnsonandLloyd Marlowe Scholarships The Euless Lions Club presented$500 scholarships to students from L.D.Bell High School and Trinity High School on Tuesday at Pockets Restaurant in Euless. ' PHOTOS BY MIKE IRVIN DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGII'AY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WIL111TE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE D IS TRIB U TED- lC J `� -7 DA TE OF ARTICLE (4L D3 NEWSPAPER FIIIST Bomtd proposes 6-cen tax hi* ke By JENNIFER RADCLIFFE � The Grapevine-Col- vote is set for Aug.25. STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER leyville school district is The rate increase is needed to cover GRAPEVINE — Grapevine-Col- balancing its budget with a pro- employees'pay raises and the district's leyville school district residents may posed tax rate increase, cost- Robin Hood payment,which is expect- face a property tax rate increase of up cutting measures and plans to ed to increase from $34.3 million to to 6.2 cents, even after trustees cut generate new revenue. $40.3 million, said Hank Johnson, the more than$5 million from the budget. district's chief financial officer. The Trustees unanimously approved an the figure is based on increasing the $82.9 million budget does not include $82.9 million operating budget Mon- tax rate from $1.66 per $100 of the Robin Hood payment. day night for the 2003-04 school year•, assessed value to $1.72. The tax rate "We're actually reducing the amount of money We're spending In rate of growth than in previous this district. WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU years. —FionaSigalla With a proposed tax rate of$1.72 per In addition to cutting costs, the school board member $100 of assessed property value,the district also plans to generate new school property tax bill for the owner of revenue. "We're actually reducing the an average-priced house with no Trustees recently adopted a pay- exemptions would be$3,817,up from amount of money we're spending in $3,562 The average market value of a for-play program,which is expected to generate about $280,000 next this district," Trustee Fiona Sigalla house in the Grapevine-Colleyville said. school district is$221,921,compared year by having students pay up to Earlier this year, trustees agreed with$214,886 last year. $150 to participate in athletics,band, ' to boost teachers' pay by 3 percent. choir and drill teams. First-year teachers will now earn District officials also cut a $36,800. The pay increases will cost or to replace some of the more than $63,000-a-year parenting program the district$2.1 million. $5 million in budget cuts. and a$13,500-a-year fee to rent a pri- ' Administrators will not receive "We now have some options to vate gymnasium for the gymnastics raises, saving the district $107,000. look at and re-evaluate some of the program. But they will get an extra week off decisions we made," Trustee Jesse Officials have also looked to save work next year. Rodriguez said. money through partnerships with , Trustees must still decide how to Trustees will make recommenda- neighboring school districts, such as use an extra $1.6 million that was tions about how to use the addition- allowing gymnasts to practice in generated by recent action in the al state revenue in July. Birdville facilities for free and shar- Legislature, which granted each dis- "By the time we have to adopt the ing a transportation director with trict $110 more in state money per tax rate, we will know ... what we Carroll. student. have,"Johnson said. Also, 137 employees agreed to Depending on how another The district was hurt by declining resign or retire this year in exchange ' recent law is interpreted,the district values of airline fleets at Dallas/Fort for early-exit incentive packages. could receive up to$1.3 million more Worth Airport. The district's total Last summer, trustees increased from the state's Permanent Schopl taxable value increased from $7.9 the tax rate about 4 cents and gave Fund. Part of that revenue could 1�0 billion to an estimated $8 bAlion employees 1.5 percent pay raises. ' used to reduce the tax rate increase during the past year, a much slower Jennifer Radcliffe,'(817)685-3875 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF� MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCI►AMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGii'AY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS I.FILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR _ l 3 O� NI'SPAPERDATEDISTRIBUTED - FWST 1 use such filters, which they But Justice John Paul IN T L It N E T turn off when adult patrons Stevens wrote in a dissent that request them to do so.The Fort the law amounted to a"statuto- Ruling affirms law tying library Worth public library does not ry blunderbuss." use filters. "[It] operates as a blunt Writing for the majority, nationwide restraint on adult funds to porn-blocking software ' Chief justice William Rehn- access to.'an enormous amount quist said Congress didn't over- of valuable information' that By SHANNON McCAFFREY Effects of the step its authority in saying that individual librarians cannot KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE Supreme libraries must install the filters possibly review"Stevens wrote. ' WASHINGTON — Court's ruling on public or forfeit federal funding. "In my view, this restraint is Brushing aside concerns libraries in Tarrant County "Public libraries have tradi- unconstitutional:' about free speech and cen- will vary, local officials say. tionally excluded pornographic Justices David Souter and sorship, the Supreme Court materials from their other col- Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined in ' ruled Monday that public imperfect and could end up lections. Congress could rea- a separate dissent, labeling the libraries must equip their blocking some legitimate sonably impose a parallel limi- Internet filtering as censorship. computers with filters to Web sites and allowing tation on its Internet assistance Passed in 2000, the Chil- keep out online pornogra- some obscene ones to slip program,"Rehnquist wrote. dren's Internet Protection Act ' phy or forfeit federal funds. through. They say it Rehnquist was joined by is the latest attempt by Con- In a 6-3 ruling, the jus- amounts to censorship. Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, gress to shield children from tices held that the Children's The ruling's effect on Antonin Scalia and Clarence online smut. Two earlier laws Internet Protection Act public libraries in Tarrant Thomas. Justices Anthony had attempted to regulate Web doesn't violate constitution- County will vary, say local Kennedy and Stephen Breyer site operators.Both were struck al safeguards. librarians. For example filed separate concurring opin- down by the Supreme Court. Critics of the law contend Arlington libraries already ions in which they said the law The American Library Asso- ' that the filter technology is didn't violate the Constitution ciation, which had challenged so long as there was a way for the latest law, expressed disap- the filters to be disabled for pointment with the decision adult patrons. Monday. The group's director ' of intellectual freedom, Judith Krug, predicted that libraries will consider turning down fed- eral funds rather than face the ' restrictions. Public libraries have received about$1 billion a year in federal technology sub- sidies since 1299. Some library systems, such Gleniece Robinson, director : The Bedford library also She said filtering companies as the Los Angeles city library, of the Fort Worth library system, does not use filters. When a do not always provide informa- already turn down federal said she didn't know how much child receives a library c; tion about what they're block- funds.Others,such as the Seat- it will cost to add the filters — the parents are asked• ing.And teen-agers will always tle system,receive several hun- it when they must th in place. approve or disapprove Internet- find ways around it,she said. ' dred thousand dollars a year. "If this is what the country access. Parents and children Grapevine Public Library Chris Hansen, a senior has decided,we will figure out can use the Internet at the Director Janis Roberson offered attorney for the American Civil how to comply,"she said. same time. mixed feelings about the deci- Liberties Union, said libraries Currently, people who use Marleen Watling, manager sion. The library uses filtering in poor communities will be the Internet at Fort Worth for the Bedford Public Library, software,but she said she does- more likely to install filterslibraries must agree to abide by said she disagrees with bg n't believe it always works. because they can't afford to an "acceptable use policy" courts decision. The filters aren't 100 per- lose the money. before they can gain access to I'm disappointed becatx5 cent," Roberson said. It still ' any sites. filters aren't the answer. They behooves the parents to be don't work' involved with their children in the library because they can still get into things that [par- ents]do not approve of." DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKARIIE DELA CRUZ RID G[VA Y(2) � YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS VVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED _-� -7 0 3 DATE OF ARTICLE 03 NEWSPAPER FKST In Arlington, library Direc- tor for Rick Smith said library computers are equipped with ' filters that can be removed at a librarian's discretion. "If a patron wants to do ' research on a site, we would simply open that site up," Smith said. "We feel we've been pretty much in line with , that policy all along." Smith said pornographic Web sites will remain inacces- sible for nonacademic viewing, ' however, because of the library's public nature. "That material would be viewable to anyone walking by, ' and it would affect the staff and patrons," he said. "This is con- sistent with other decisions such as not stocking porno- graphic movies or magazines._ It's a public library, not a pri=g;; vate one:' Officials in Southlake and ' Euless, where the publip libraries use filters, welcomed the courts decision. "For our community at this ' time,.it seems to work fine,"said Euless library Director Jo Ann Rogers.'And I think it should be ' decided by the community." Staff writers Jessica DeLeon,J.Taylor Rushing and Anna M.Tinsley con- tributed to this report,which contains , material from The Associated Press. �.DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ` OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENA'IG MChAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAI(2) ' YOUNG A1cDONALD COLLINS IVIL'HITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIAIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED L / 2 -7 y DATE OFARTICLE NEIPSPAPER Ffi'ST EDITORIALS M,i, a plan out ' The members of the Texas Trans- , . , It will take more portation Commission have seen this than lobbying to before:busloads of people from a par- get expansion of Airport Freeway ' ticular part of the state pulling up in started. front of the commission's Austin headquarters to lobby for a local road To put it another way, there are project. even bigger problems elsewhere, ' On Thursday, it will be about 100 some of them right here in Fort people from the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Worth-Dallas. area pleading for expansion of vehi- So what can local folks do, other ' cle-clogged Airport Freeway. than plead their case in Austin? The bottom line is a familiar one: For one thing,there is a high proba- There is only enough money to cover bility that any Airport Freeway expan- about a third of the highway work that sion would include adding toll lanes. ' needs to be done in Texas. In that way, people who drive that So in pushing for particular pro- route often can help pay for the work jects, local delegations not only have A $274 million project to expand to demonstrate the need but also Airport Freeway from Northeast Loop ' show that they are willing to take 820 to Texas 161 in Irving has long steps to help. The Hurst-Euless-Bed- been on the drawing boards. Maybe ford group has those bases covered. by working together, the local delega- The need to expand Airport Free- tion heading for Austin on Thursday ' way is apparent to anyone who drives and the Transportation Commission it.It was built to handle no more than members can find ways to make it 140,000 vehicles per day, and it happen. ' reached that capacity 16 years ago. More than 200,000 vehicles use ;., , . Airport Freeway daily, ' and traffic is expected to nearly double by 2025. It's hard for some ' people to comprehend :z why a road that over- loaded wouldn't get " " immediate attention. t But the reason is clear Texas is falling further and further behind on taking care of its trans- portation needs. THE SEATTLE TIMES DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GTVA Y(2) ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WIxxLHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 7 C' DATE OF ARTICLE >T�I6 3 NEWSPAPER DMN H=EmB wants h ®u of th ies jam Residents to ask state panel for EXPANSION PLANS Here are the segments of State Highway 183 that Hurst,Euless and Bedford money to widen Highway 183 officials want to see expanded: 1 121; By MARICE RICHTER• long overdue. �•,-•- aso: cisi` C.....: Staff Writer "Discussion about expanding A group of Hurst, Euless and Airport Freeway began in 1993," Bedford residents will head to said state Rep.Todd Smith,R-Eu= 157. Austin on Thursday to appeal to less,who is part of the delegation. !a2o e 1Widen to eight lanes the Texas Transportation Com- "If the improvements hadn't been j` a °' ' mission for money to unsnarl one delayed by lack of funding,we'd be tHOV lanes of the worst traffic jams in Tarrant celebrating a ribbon-cutting right Staffgraphic County. about now" County that we can't afford to fic studies that indicate that The contingent of about 100 Instead,the project,which will wait,"said Mary Frazior,president Airport Freeway at Central Drive ' residents, including business and add new main lanes and high-oc- and chief executive officer of the in Bedford has the highest traffic civic leaders,will tell commission- cupancy-vehicle express lanes,still Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber volume in Tarrant County. ers that expanding Airport Free- doesn't have a firm start date. It of Commerce. "We want the ex- About 203,000 vehicles a day ' way can't wait because it's one of could begin as soon as 2007 but pansion to begin as soon as possi- travel across that spot on Airport the busiest in the Dallas-Fort may have to wait until 2011 or lat- ble." Freeway,officials said. Worth area. er,officials said. . Texas Department ofTranspor- "There is no question that the Besides that, officials said, the "There has been such tremen- tation officials have begun prelim- highway has exceeded its design ' project has been delayed and is dous growth in northeast Tarrant inary design work,including traf- capacity," said Jodi Hodges, a spokeswoman for the Fort Worth Northeast Loop 820 interchange "It can only help for a commu- utilities, engineering assistance ' district of the Department of to the Dallas County line. m to be proactive and make a di- g ty P " and considering toll options,"Ms. Transportation. The freeway was Preliminary plans call for add- rect plea to the cpmmission, Ms. Hodges said. built to handle about 140,000 ve- ing four main lanes and two HOV Hodges said. '"The commission is Local officials said there has , hicles a day,she said. lanes between the Loop 820 inter- often receptive to a community been some preliminary discussion Airport Freeway, which spans change and the State Highway 121 that is willing to partner with the about charging tolls for the HOV about 16 miles from Hurst to Dal- split. Two main lanes and three state to move a project along." lanes, but the proposal doesn't , las,was built in the 1960s and ex- HOV lanes would be added to the But civic and business leaders have universal support. panded to six lanes in the 1970s, segment between the State High may have to contribute more than "My preference would be for coinciding with the opening of Dal- way 121 split and the Dallas Coun- pleas about the importance of the the leadership of this state to pro- las-Fort Worth International Air- ty line,officials said. project,Ms.Hodges said. vide adequate funding for free- port. The Hurst-Euless-Bedford, ' "The commission will be inter- ways as historically has occurred ' Plans also call for expanding the group has taken its cues from the ested in support in the form of ac- in Texas,"Mr.Smith said."I would highway in Dallas County. That success of Metroport Cities Part- quiring right of way, relocating rather see us increase the gasoline part of the project,which is expec- nership,a coalition of eight cities tax rather than add toll lanes to ' ted to cost about $650 million, is clustered around State Highways our freeways;but we may have to also unfunded and has no start 114 and 121, which successfully entertain that notion." date. lobbied the transportation com- The Tarrant County project is mission, for funding for several E-mail mrichter@dallasnews.com ' expected to cost about $274 mil- projects, including the expansion or callsl7410-96o2,ext 4ss2. lion and will expand about 7.5 of Highway 114. miles of the freeway from the . DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CIT17ATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GIfVAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD / COLLINS fVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CYTR DATE DISTRIBUTED - 3 DA TE OF ARTICLE LQ S 1 03 NEII'SPAPER FIVST Homeland Security Grants iN. Texas eities, eoun les A breakdown of how much t I � - was awarded o local govern- ments ments in North Texas from the • • $84.1 million in grants sent to Texas cities and counties: o reeelvseeurl ants Fort antWorCounty ........$290,854 Grapevine........................$337,922 By JOHN MORITZ Cities and Tarrant County Fire Mar- North Richland Hills......$332,100 STAR-TELEGRAM AUSTIN BUREAU counties across shal Randy Renois said the Hurst................................$315,588 AUSTIN — More than $3 Texas will receive $84 million $290,854 award to the county Haltom City....................$309,759 million in grants will be award- for homeland security will likely be used to purchase Arlington........................$304,546 ' ed to more than 30 cities and defense as state officials search-and-rescue equipment Bedford ..........................$303,464 counties in North Texas to Pur- downplay reports that al for rural areas and for such Watauga..........................$273,226 chase equipment for anti-ter- Qaeda plans to strike Texas. necessities as bunker gear,o� Colleyville ......................$264,438 - Euless..............................$245,208 ' rorism efforts and to enhance gen tanks and boots for rural Forest Hill..........................$70,801 homeland security, the gover- just part of the ongoing dia- firefighters. River Oaks..........................$33,164 nor's office announced Tues- logue that goes on between "Out in the unincorporated *Dallas County..............$659,663 day. officials in Texas and with the areas, there's a real need for Dallas................................$653,214 The money from the U.S. federal government" this type of equipment," Irving ..............................$539,396 Department of Homeland The cash award from Wash- Renois said. DeSoto..............:.............$476,986 Securityis art of$84.1 million in ton is a byproduct of the State officials have put Garland..........................$344,890 � P � g � YP that will be sent to Texas so close working relationships homeland security on the front Farmers Branch ............$267,500 ' local authorities and state offi- that have developed between burner since the attacks on the Grand Prairie ..................$167,286 cials can be better prepared to state and local authorities in Pentagon and the World Trade Mesquite..........................$155,856 counter terroristic threats,Gov the aftermath of the Sept. 11, Center almost two years ago. Rowlett............................$154,492 Rick Perry said. 2001, terrorist attacks, Perry According to a report .in Cedar Hill..........................$99,449 The announcement coin- said. Tuesday's Houston Chronicle, Wilmer................................$67,807 ' cides with a report that federal "Local leaders and state offi- federal authorities obtained Denton County ........... ,854 P Denton............................$$3535 9,834 security officials have cials in Texas have developed a intelligence pointing to a possi- Flower Mound ..............$300,829 informed Texas law enforce- regional approach to homeland ble terrorist threat in Texas Lewisville.........................$276,470 ment agencies of intelligence security that allows us to maxi- during the July 4 holiday. But, The Colony....................$204,048 reportedly gathered from sus- mize coordination and according to the report, there Trophy Club....................$198,837 pected al Qaeda operatives dis- resources," Perry said. "These was no information on a target *Parker County ............$523,804 cussing potential terrorism in grants will help our communi- or location, said a U.S. coun- Hudson Oaks ..................$56,654 the state next montli ties purchase decontamination terterrorism official in Wash- Azle..............................:.....$44,482 A spokesman for Perry, equipment, hazmat suits and ington, speaking on the condi- *Johnson County ......................$0 however, said the reports have other equipment to support tion of anonymity. Burleson..........................$455,374 not been determined to be their regional response plans." Intelligence officials also Cleburne ..........................$338,151 credible, saying state and fed- Tarrant County cities will were going over a new video- Joshua ..............................$80,572 Alvarado .......... ... 618 eral authorities constantly receive grants ranging from tape, in which a purported al Texas counties were allocated money share information they receive $583,028 to Fort Worth to Qaeda operative says the terror separately from funds given to cities. ' regarding potential terrorist $33,164 to River Oaks. network is responsible for the SOURCE:State of Texas activity. Grapevine will receive$337,922 recent attacks in Saudi Arabia "We got the information and Arlington$304,546. and Morocco. It was unclear from the federal goverment Cities and counties were whether the tape is authentic, spokesman Bob Doguim told n ' on Friday,and they told us they still waiting for formal instruc- U.S. officials said, and they The Associated Press. "We do had not been able to determine tions from state officials on already believed that al Qaeda the responsible thing with that this was a credible threat," how the grant money could be had guided those operations. them. We put them out, we ' said Gene Acuna, Perry's spent, according to the govek- "We get reports like this on share it and let people know deputy press secretary."This is nor's office. a pretty regular basis," FBI what we are hearing." DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF ' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGfVAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS ffILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYA//DMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR 1 DATE DISTRIBUTED � 1 �7 // 6-3 DATE OF ARTICLE U1 /�(.P / d _� NEff,SPAPER FffST Owner of 1 a artments claims less is p N 'olatin tenants' eis ri ht� gs 1 1 By ELLENA F.MORRISON Residents of the inate against the tenants,many ceedings on the matter stretch 1 STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER Dickey Apart- of whom have criminal back to 2000,officials said. A lawsuit filed Tuesday by ments have no other hous- records or poor credit and few "We have taken every pre- the owner of the Dickey ing options in Euless, housing options in Euless, caution to fulfill this action in Apartments claims that Euless' according to a federal suit according to the lawsuit filed a legal and ethical manner,and decision to raze the 32-unit filed against the city. in U.S. District Court in Fort we feel confident that we will 1 complex violates due process Worth. prevail," City Manager Joe and the civil rights of the own- the 42-year-old complex City officials said the law- Hennig said. "We are disap- er and tenants. because it is in an area zoned suit has no merit. Euless' deci- pointed it has come to this." Euless has set June 30 as the for single-family development. sion to demolish the property The apartment owner's 1 deadline to begin demolishing But demolition would discrim- *was not made lightly — pro- attorney,Bill Meier-of Bedford, was unavailable to comment. ed due process and the Fifth "We just want to work with The city contends that the 3 Court documents name God's and 14th Amendments to the them," said Mike Collins, owner has recouped his cost Chariot Limited Partnership as Constitution. The matter is Euless director of planning of$349,049. Meier has repeat- the owner of the complex and being heard by U.S. District and development. edly disagreed. Steve Overton of Euless as the Judge Terry Means. Dickey Apartments was "We have tried to negotiate. primary member of the part- On Tuesday,the City Coun- annexed into Euless in 1971 as We have tried to do everything nership. Overton has directed cil considered whether to a nonconforming property, you can," Mayor Mary Lib all questions to Meier. extend the move-out deadline meaning that the complex did Saleh said Wednesday. "Even- The lawsuit requests an to give the dozen or so families not meet zoning regulations.Amy,you reach the bottom of injunction against demolition. more time to find housing but municipality can demand that the pit and say, 'We have to do and asserts that Euless violat- decided against it.A city letter such a business be closed or this:" ' was mailed Wednesday offer- demolished after giving an Hera F.Morrison,(817)685-3888 ing up to $750 in financial owner a reasonable chance to emorrison@star-telegram.com assistance to tenants who recoup the investment. move out by June 30. Dickey Apartments 1 183 Mess 10 1 Euless Blvd. N ' Alexander Ln. Y 1 U p` i Huitt Ln. .3 1 Ma ` �.. rl ---fw[ STAR-TELEGRAM/TIM EEDISOIN ' DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF� MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTOR.NEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RID GWAY(2) ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS 1117ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN IL�IBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED � 7 Jb3 DATE OF ARTICLE wZ 30 3 NEIYSPAPER FWST Tolls y forAirport ' By GORDON DICKSON Leaders say Airport at no charge could require fees, STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER Freeway might need with proceeds going toward even- AUSTIN — Tarrant County's to be one of the first freeways - tually adding lanes and easing con- busiest freeway might not be a free converted into a toll road under a gestion on Tarrant County's ride much longer. new state law so it can collect busiest roadway. The Texas Transportation Com- enough money to expand. The commissioners' comments ' mission strongly encouraged lead- surprised many of the more than ers in Bedford, Euless and Hurst money for later expansion. 100 Hurst,Euless and Bedford offi- on Thursday to begin collecting Commissioners suggested that cials who traveled to the state tolls on Airport Freeway to raise some of the lanes drivers now use "Initially,there might be ' some hesitancy,but Capitol by bus Thursday to But commissioners said there 1S SO much CongeS- ' ask for immediate funding .Thursday that converting Air- e tion I think people will instead of having to wait a port Freeway into a toll road decade for financial help. as soon as possible, perhaps seriously consider lt." "What we got today was an within two years, wouldCharles Powell, ' honest discussion about what almost guarantee enough Hurst-Euless-Bedford it's going to take," said funding for a $274 million Chamber of Commerce chairmw Charles Powell, chairman of expansion of the highway ' the Hurst-Euless-Bedford before 2012. Without tolls, Future of the freeway There would be no toll- Chamber of Commerce. there probably will not be any A state law signed last booths. Motorists who use "We're going to go back and funding before then, they week by Gov. Rick Perry the lanes would affix Tol1T- talk to our constituents. Ini- said. ' talk t there might be some "We wouldn't go into a allows the Texas Department ags to their windshields so hesitancy, but there is so community and force [tolls] °f Transportation to convert payments could be made much congestion I think peo- on anyone, but we're here to part or all of existing free- automatically. License plates ple will seriously consider it." tell you that this project could Ways into toll roads. Airport of violators would be pho- t In previous discussions, zoom like a rocket with tolls;' Freeway could be among the tographed with toll cameras highway officials had consid- commissioner Ric William- first candidates for conver- and the vehicles' owners ered placing tolls on new son of Weatherford said. sion,state officials said. would be mailed citations. lanes after the freeway has The switch would have to The remaining lanes could ' been expanded and only on be approved first by the be used without charge and new express lanes, not exist- North Central Texas Council would mostly be meant for in lanes. of Governments, a planning local traffic. g group that oversees highway If H-E-B officials and oth- ' funding for the region and er Metroplex leaders agree to includes members from collect tolls on Airport Free- Hurst,Euless and Bedford. way, the state could. enter ' -The commission's idea into a partnership with the would be to divide Airport North Texas Tollway Author- Freeway's six lanes of traffic ity, which manages several into toll and nontoll sections. toll-only roads in the Metro- At least two lanes,and possi- plex, officials said. The toll- bly four, would be converted way authority could issue into express lanes where tolls bonds, possibly raising would be collected electroni- cally. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE '-� OF ,, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM IIENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS fi'ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN''11 LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ' DATE DISTRIBUTED -7 1 D 3 DATE OFARTICLE 7 U NEWSPAPER FfVST "The leadership of this He criticized Perry and state is unwilling to legislative leaders who ' repeatedly have said that make decisions to avoid charging tolls to pay for road that duty,leaving this as Projects was preferable to raising the state gasoline tax. ' the only alternative.I "The leadership of this believe all Texans ought state is unwilling to make decisions to avoid that duty, to pay equally for the leaving this as the only alter- ' right to drive in the native. I believe all Texans ought to pay equally for the state.If the only way to right to drive in the state,"+ solve Our transports- Smith said. "If the only way ' tion problems is tolling to solve our transportation problems is tolling urban urban roads, that is unfair to my ' roads,that urban constituents." But most Tarrant County is Unfair tO ,fir. leaders who attended the my urban meeting said they would go ' along with the toll road pro- COnStl- posal because they believe it tuents." is the only way Airport Free- -Rep.Todd Smith, way will get the improve- ' ments it needs. R-EWess 'All across America, there are toll roads," Euless Mayor ' Mary Lib Saleh said. "We're willing to get on a noncon- enough money from in- gested road and pay for these vestors to cover most of the improvements." ' improvements. Tarrant County Commis- The Texas Transportation sioner Glen Whitley said toll Commission would pay the proceeds are a more efficient balance of the Airport Free- way to pay for roads because ' way tab,commissioners said. almost all of the money goes State officials' long-term directly into road work, plan for Airport Freeway is to except for nominal adminis- , expand the road to 10 main trative costs. lanes plus two toll lanes from "We've been promised that Northeast Loop 820 to the we'll get 95 percent of that Texas 183/121 split, and to [toll] money back,"he said. ' eight main lanes plus three ONLINE:Texas Department of toll lanes from the split to Transportation:www.dot.state.tx.us Texas 161 in Irving. Gordon Dickson,(817)685-3816 State Rep. Todd Smith, R- gdickson@star-telegram.com , Euless, was visibly upset Thursday by the idea of col- lecting tolls on existing lanes. ' He predicted a backlash from motorists. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GWAY(2) 1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED J,-� -7 63 DATE OF ARTICLE� -7L 63 NE"SPAPER FWST ' Bernard y �� 0-tivt_•5 Meisnerof c Bedford and Meg Hacker F .4 S•yY k '�V�R Ii Anniversary celebration National Archives Southwest Region in Fort Worth held its 25th anniversary celebration and open house on June 21 at the Euless Public Library. PHOTOS BY MIKE IRVIN - PnL E {. y ti 1 Y" 1~ Linda Hamilton and Gladys Mitchell rr