HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-08-08 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF r�
MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GWAY(1)
1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
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Neighborhoods to
1
take a big night
out
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Next week's agenda calls for Roundup of activities,Page 2P.
1 ners at local restaurants.
' But
nacing down crime, socializing at Laguna Vista,the event
is more than a once-a-year party
1 By DEBRA DENNIS On Tuesday,the neighborhood The camaraderie National Night
Staff Writer group will join thousands of other Out fosters continues all year,Mr.
For six years, Frank Breeden associations in National Night Out Breeden said.
has kept tabs on his neighbors,or- —an annual recognition of police "I've been in the neighborhood
1 ganized cookouts and kept track of departments and the residential watch program for six years and
lost pets. areas they patrol. this will be our fifth National Night
"I drive through and everybody Police officers and firefighters Out," said Mr. Breeden. "The
waves at each other," said Mr. will hand out literature on safety whole neighborhood gets together.
1 Breeden, 62,president of the La- programs and will host activities But we do things all the time."A re-
guna Vista Neighborhood Associ- such as an ice cream social.A band tired aviation safety inspector,Mr.
ation in Grapevine. "It wasn't al- will provide music.Neighbors will Breeden publishes a neighbor-
ways like that." compete for door prizes—mostly hood newsletter from his home.It
features items about missing dogs, Laguna Vista for 25 years.
found cats and stories about peo- "I've seen it grow,"he said."I re-
1 ple who have just moved in. member when there were few
Occasionally, there's an obitu- homes. I spent a lot of years not
ary,he said. knowing who was down the street.
`The real benefit, the single My wife says I'm a busybody who
1 greatest benefit of having a watch wants to know about everybody's
like this is getting to know your business."
neighbors and making friends,"
said Mr.Breeden,who has lived in
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGFVAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS KILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR '
DATE DISTRIBUTED I - DATE OF ARTICLE L' > NEWSPAPER DAIN
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Though crime prevention is a
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ACTIVITIES major goal of National Night out, ,
Of the 85 homes near Scott's most northeast Tarrant County
Landing and Marina, 84 families �L N
� cities already have low crime rates.
have joined the association. ft 1, Burglaries and thefts are among"We have one holdout,"he said. �\ / jr the top crimes.
On Tuesday,the group will par- - A number of local cities are also
ticipate in National Night Out. _ ._ involved in National Night Out.
The event will enable neigh- Z. Keller has two nights of festivities
boys to mingle, talk with officers, kicking off at 7 p.m. Saturday at '
pick up safety tips and learn about . 3r a' Bear Creek Park.
Programs offered by law enforce- "Basicall
Y, we bring the com-
ment agencies, said Tim Gill, a € ! munity to the park," said Officer
Gra police officer.
P P Scott Bradburn,the city
Grapevine 's commu-
He said the event gives officers, 10 nity relations officer.
fire officials and elected leaders a 's � }G - "Officer McGruff will be there
chance to learn about issues im- _ to greet the kids. There's a lot of
portant to residents. . ""CE-COMMUNITY
that will be out there.We
POLI
"Each neighborhood will get a ; �a CE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS start itu early.We tn'to make it as '
visit from the police,fire,captains big as possible."
NATHAN HUNSINGER Staff Photo ,
and Ci Council members," / Photographer City .Keller has had its park event for
Officer Gill."With the help of the Unless otherwise noted,National Night Outtakes place Tuesday at various the last two years.
community, we're able to make sites chosen by neighborhood associations.
"We were out in the neighbor-
sure that Grapevine is a safe place hood the first year but we got
for everyone. Bedford—7 to 9 p.m. neighborhood festivities from 7 to 9 '
rY spread real thin.We'd love to make
Launched in the earl 1980s lleyville—7 to 10 p.m. p.m.Tuesday.
Y Euless—7 to 10 p.m. North Richland Hills—7 to 10 p.m. a commitment to each neighbor-
National Night Out has blos- hood but we found that this is a
"AaTtom City—7 to 9 P.M.
somed in many cities from a few Hurst—6 to 9 p.m.,Hurst Richland Hills—7 to 9 p.m. better way to do it."
groups and individuals learning Community Park,600 Precinct Line Southlake—7 to 9 p.m.at Town On Tuesday,officers will also go ,
about crime watch programs to Road. Square,corner of South Carroll out into the neighborhoods to
large social parties where creme Grapevine—6 to 10 p.m. Avenue and Southlake Boulevard. meet with residents and pass along
prevention is among several issues Keller—7 to 9 p.m.Saturday at Watauga—7 to 10 p.m.Target crime prevention tips,he said.
discussed over ice cream and Bear Creek Park.Also,there are parking lot,8000 Denton Highway. In Eur less, residents are asked
grilled burgers. to give crime"a going-away party."
"It's a proven fact that the con- "We've got parties all over
cept is a perfected measurement Richland Hills,he said. their porch lights and let the folks town,"said Euless police Sgt.Gary '
against crime," said North Rich "We're going back to the grass know that they're taking a stand. Landers.
land Hills Police Sgt.Andy Kancel. roots,"he said. "The idea is take a We're trying to have as many
Various block parties attract stance against the crime. The neighborhood crime groups meet E-maildebdennis@dallasnews.com
crowds in the thousands in North neighbors are supposed to leave on on that evening." or call 817-865-4961. ,
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATEDISTRIBUTED I Q I �' __2DATE OFARTICLE f �� J L' �- NEWSPAPER FWST
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Fire 1 damages Euless"
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apartment building ,...
By DOMINGO RAM1REZ JX ed at a hospital and were
1 STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER released a few hours later, she
EULESS — A fire roared said.
through an apartment complex Authorities declined to
building early Friday, causing release their names.
1 $700,000 in damage and injuring Investigators said the blaze
a firefighter and a resident. began in a downstairs apart-
Firefighters worked about an- ment, but the cause was still
hour to extinguish the blaze at under investigation,Cox said.
1 the Wilshire Manor Apartments The fire destroyed four
in the 1500 block of Sagebrush apartments, and some othcrs
Trail. had smoke and water damage,
The fire was reported about officials said.
1 230 a.m.Friday by residents. About 50 people were in the
A Euless firefighter suffered damaged apartments, authori-
a leg injury while battling the ties said.
1 fire, and a resident suffered Some of the displaced ?esi-
smoke inhalation,said Christine dents were relocated in the com-
Cox, a Euless Fire Department plex, and others were offered
spokeswoman. Both were treat- lodging by Red Cross officials:
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR '
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Regional transit
The importance of the unprece- years. '
dented collaboration between the edi- Every family moving to North
torial boards of the Star-Telegram and Texas accounts for at least two more
The Dallas Morning News to mobilize vehicles, and each house creates more '
public support for an all-encompass- pollution than an automobile.
ing public transit agency cannot be Until growth is reined in, the infra-
overstated. (See July 27 editorial "It's structure will never keep pace.
time for North Texans to get on the Dallas is already pleading for vol- '
same road.") untary water conservation. Roads that
My current role in the community, are being widened become obsolete
combined with my experience as a before completion. Pollution is
former mayor of the region's third- increased by construction, personal ,
largest city,has confirmed to me again autos, the trucking industry, airlines
the urgency of obtaining cleaner air, and manufacturing—all tied to popu-
greater mobility and a better econo- lation growth. ,
MY. Continued expansion of the North
Thanks for putting this initiative Texas population only benefits the
ahead of competitive purposes. Your corporations. The average wage earn-
actions are exemplary, and the vital I interests of the people of North Texas er is over-taxed and inconvenienced,
are well served by your combined as well as extremely frustrated.
leadership. Proposed meetings with various
Richard L Greene,regional administrator, city entities will result in more talk '
U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, and no action.The only sane and sen-
Dallas sible solution is to terminate growth
■ until the present problems are
Your July 27 editorial about trans- addressed. ,
portation, congestion and pollution Talking promotes more talk —
said that the population of our area which promotes job security for the
has grown 30 percent in 10 years and talkers,not realistic solutions. ,
will grow 65 percent in the next 15 Tom Walker, Fort Worth
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RID GWAY(2)
1 YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
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ITHE HIDDEN SCARS QF WAR
LI-V-f G W1 1111'-H-F'j PA A1
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1 PROFILES COMPILED BY PETE ALFANO
` J
b
1 - CY.
1 sTAR-TELEGRAMIRON T.ENNIS
Gary Terry keeps a box of combat rations as a reminder of his service in the Vietnam War.Terry,now an
SBC executive,describes soldiers'return from South Vietnam as lonely and thankless.
GARY TERRY
1 I was mad at the world"
Gary Terry reached for a But Vietnam had made him reactions.
1 keepsake of his time in Vietnam, become skittish after he He had bad dreams,a symp-
It's a box of C rations, a meal fit returned; he said he felt more at tom of post-traumatic stress dis-
for a soldier. home in the jungle of Southeast order."I was mad at the world,"
It's a Pandora's box of memo- Asia. he said.
1 ries as well. He remembers walking from But he persevered.
To this day, his eyes well a bedroom to the kitchen one Terry eventually went back to
when he talks about Vietnam. day and instinctively diving for school,enrolling at New Mexico
"Strange things will activate the counter when he heard a State University, where he
memories,"he said."You gunshot. learned to ignore the taunts of
1 remember scenes, names....You His father-in-law was watch- some anti-war students and
feel violated." ing a western on television. focused on becoming the first
When Terry returned from Terry said he would flinch at member of his family to earn a
Vietnam,he moved in with his the sound of a car horn; he college degree.
1 in-laws in Las Cruces, N.M.,for dived to the floor after entering "My advice to the guys com-
three weeks. a store and hearing the door ing back is that you need to
He is a burly man,a former slam behind him. channel your energy into some-
college football lineman.It does- "I had spent every day in thing positive.The readjustment
1 n't look as if much can frighten Vietnam taking action to stay is harder than the one you make
him. alive," he said,explaining his when you go over."
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG AICKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS Ii7LI11TE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR 1
DATE DISTRIBUTED [ DATE OFARTICLE I -2 G 3 NEfYSPAPER FWST
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A different take on toll roads
1
Twice recently, this Editorial There is a way Freeway exceeded its 140,000-vehi- 1
Board expressed clear and strong that tolls on cle-per-day c apacity 16 years ago.
opposition to a Texas Transportation Airport Freeway might not seem But what 1:hose HEB leaders heard
Commission proposal to begin col- so bad. from the cornmission at the June 26
lecting tolls on Airport Freeway as a meeting was, not what the commis- 1
way to pay for future expansion. "Irresponsible," Williamson called sion inten ded them to hear,
'A goofball idea," we said on June our editorials. We invited him to a Williamson t�old the Editorial Board.
30. meeting to talk it over. Under current funding plans, it 1
"The county deserves better," was Our comments were based on could be 2015 before construction
our July 22 comment. what the commission told more than starts on Ai.iport Freeway expansion.
That made Ric Williamson hop- 100 Hurst, Euless and Bedford offi- But if Tarranit County commissioners
ping mad. A Weatherford resident, cials when they traveled to Austin to and local transportation officials 1
he's one of the three members of the lobby for immediate expansion of the agree to levy tolls on the existing
Transportation Commission. congested road. Traffic on Airport inside two lanes of the six-lane free-
way, the entire expansion project helping to pay for it.
could be finished within six years. That might work. 1
And here's a key point: Airport Freeway must be expand-
Williamson said that the commission ed sooner, not later. If tolls advance
didn't mean tolls now and construc- the work timetable as much as
tion later. The idea is that tolls don't Williamson says,and if there is a visi- 1
begin until dirt starts flying to pro- ble and immediate payoff in terms of
vide additional lanes. construction underway, that would
So drivers could move to the' be good.
inside lane and pay a toll (no toll This is an idea worth exploring 1
booths, just electronic TollTag sen- after all.Local transportation officials
sors). Off to their right, they'd see should examine it in light of an over-
people and machinery at work bring- all comprehensive plan for the
ing congestion relief, and they'd be Metroplex. '
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED -J DATE OF ARTICLE 3 NEWSPAPER FWST
T
WHAT'S NEW
ok
Restaurants
A. ,k - �
sx x a
on the rise
` " � � '" Workers lay bricks on a
' ; x Whataburger being built at 1201
V W.Glade Road in Euless.The
A _ Whataburger and a Long John
t Silver's/Taco Bell arelanned
near SuperTarget.Atkinson and
[7,j
_.. Associates Builders are working
on the 3,339-square-foot
_ rt Whatabur .er.The restaurant's
is
estimated construction cost is
$375,000,according to city
records.Jerry and Kachel
$ Builder are building the 3,230-
square-foot Long John
wk KM .
Silver's/Taco Bell,which has an
estimated construction cost of
=, s $568,000.
'gre a ` r
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/JORDAN INGE
311
wt
gigiffi
' ,' .�i-as-�.•�_ - �t
-ter
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCIIELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ,
DATE DISTRIBUTED C� L1 DATE OF ARTICLE L4 �� NEWSPAPER FWST
Open house
Texas Oncology '
P.A. hosted a
reception July 24 at
Harris Methodist
H.E.B.hospital in
Bedford.
PHOTOS BY MIKE LEWIS
p��YrLLy�S� '
C
Steve Paulson of Dallas,Sandeep Singh of Euless and Kim Smith of Bedford
li
ka:' I14 II I j.
F ,
Mary Lib Saleh of Euless,Jack McCabe of Bedford,Stacey Paull of Houston,Mary Frazior of
Bedford,Bill Souder of Hurst
li
rIr
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MChAMIE DE LA CRUZ RID GWAY(2)
' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED_ DATE OFARTICLE C 3 NEWSPAPER FWST
Time to connect
' Across the nation tonight, people doors.
will be icing down drinks, turning on But tonight's activities offer an
porch lights and holding block parties opportunity to mosey out and say
' in celebration of secure neighbor- howdy to the folks across the parking
hoods.It's the first Tuesday in August lot or the street.You'll be surprised to
—National Night Out. find out how much you have in com-
' This is the 20th annual National mon. Nearly everybody has a neigh-
Night Out Against Crime. If you borhood crime story — a window
haven't been a participant in the past, knocked out of a pickup, a lawn mow-
this is a good year to start. er stolen from the garage, a mailbox
' Get-togethers like these go a long vandalized.
way toward helping people connect to Maybe it was something bad
share a common commitment that all enough to make you afraid when you
neighborhoods should be places of step outside the apartment at night or
' safety and sanctuary. unload groceries near the back door.
Sadly, in many cases, neighbors National Night Out and the sense of
.may be meeting for the first time. cooperation and responsibility that it
Americans have become insular crea- inspires work to combat that fear.
' tures, cocooning themselves inside Yes, it'll be hot tonight. So dress
their homes. light, and take along that bottle of
Granted, in Texas during the sum- water when you walk down the block
mer,that's done out of survival.It's too to meet the neighbors.
' darned hot to spend much time out- But go.It's important.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM IIENNIG MCKAMIE DELACRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG AICDONALD COLLINS 6f'ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRAR/YADJMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ,
DATE DISTRIBUTED I J I DATE OF ARTICLE I G- 1
�-� 3 �I -� NEWSPAPER FWST
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SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/MIKE IRVIN '
Night on
the town
i
A Euless police officer,above,lets Kendall
Wynn,4,Emily Vaca,8,and Kaleb Wynn,7, ,
take turns on the microphone Tuesday at a
National Night Out event in Euless.
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' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GWAY(2)
' YOUNG McDONALD pCOLLINS ff7LHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED D I y I �— DATE OFARTICLE I I NEWSPAPER FWST
' Training course helps firefighters learn about
communication while working in difficult situations
CRAS-11COLRSE
At.:
RIM=
............
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4
STAR TELEGRAMMEN FRIEDBERG
' Euless firefighter Tommy Rush disappears down a chute Monday during a survival training course in Euless.
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
YOUNG WDONALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR '
DATE DISTRIBUTED -J DATE OF ARTICLE � ' NEWSPAPER FWST
BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER '
EULESS — In 10 1communication problems '
years of fighting, p. and the lack of survival
fires, Scott Evans " training," said Euless fire
has faced his Battalion Chief Gary '
share of perils: dangling `ka Thompson.
electrical wires, falling �K" w'r 3 Each year, about 100
furniture, tumbling wall- x firefighters die in fires in
board. , the United States, accord- '
But Evans, a six-years ing to the U.S. Fire
veteran of the Euless Fire z�`y„ ~° s. Administration. Between
Department, hadn't "' 1992 and 2001, an average
t '
faced them all at once �r of 4,266 residents lost
until this week. Pr ? their lives annually in
He was among 25 area fires, and 24,913 others
firefighters who, in full " •
g � STAR TELEGRAM/JEN FRIEDBERG were injured, theagency
gear, worked their way Dustin Brewer,left,and Scott Evans,Euless firefighters, says. '
through a maze of obsta- rest during the obstacle course Monday. About 75 firefighters
cles during one of the from Euless, Arlington,
area's first survival training sessions. The three-day session ends Bedford, Colleyville and '
"All your senses are tested today in a one-hour test of Grapevine are scheduled to go
when you go through this," Evans endurance and determination.It is through the course at a con-
said as he stood dripping sweat in sponsored by the Euless Fire demned house on Live Oak Drive.
a condemned Euless house. "It's Department. It involves almost 20 obstacles, '
what you need to use in rescue sit- "We've lost too many in the fire and firefighters have their masks
uations:' service in this country because of covered with wax paper to
partially obstruct their view- -
Some make it through; oth-
ers are trapped.
"Thermal imagery can help
firefighters find a body, but it '
can't help them find a way
out," said Christine Cox, a
spokeswoman for the Euless
Fire Department."This course ,
helps them to communicate
and to stay calm during diffi-
cult situations."
Evans said it's worth the '
time.
"This is something we defi-
nitely can use to help save
your fellow firefighter;" Evans '
said. "And, saving your own
hide."
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'MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID GWAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATEDISTRIBUTED �L�% DATE OF ARTICLE l (j' Off', NEWSPAPER DMN
' H-E-B "The citizens are the ones who would benefit f
4
because we could lower our taxes and '~
Buzzo�1 continue to balance our budget.
� Mary Lib-Saleh,Euless mayor
-wr
' Law allows more time wine vote "We get requests from the
to collect signatures businesses and citizen's all the
to call elections time,"he said."we get more calls
buil&ng
saying, Why can't we purchase
By DEBRA DENNIS eine in the city of Hurst?'We get a
Staff Writer few objections,and well get more
'
In Hurst,Euless and Bedford, if there's a call for an election."
you can buy asix-pack ofbeer for a come through wine sales. Mr.Hurt of Bedford said wine
sales are crucial to his city's eco-
football party but not champagne "Ifyou live in one of these three sales survival.
'
to celebrate a wedding—but that cities and decide that you want to nom"We are going to be ata could change ifvoters have a say. have wine with dinner,you ha vdisad-
e to vantage if the cities around di can
A new law is stirring interest in buy your wine out of the area,"Ms.
placing a wine sales referendum Frazior said. "Most likely, you're sell wine and we cannot,"he said.
before voters in the three cities, not just buying a bottle of wine— Southlake and Westlake ap-
' which do not allow wine sales un- you're buying all of your groceries proved beer and wine sales in
less residents approve them. at those stores.The stores.in our 2001 after state law changed to al-
'"In the past, area are losing." low such elections in cities that
the petition pro- And sales tax revenue is not the are situated in more than one
' cess just to call ' only loss. Some stores have re- county.
an election was fused to move to the three cities State Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-
prohibitive," .; because they could not sell wine, Southlake,supported the changes
said Mary Fra- j' R said Euless Mayor Mary Lib Saleh. in the law that allowed wine sales
' zior, president "A lot of people disagree moral- in Westlake and Southlake.
of the Hurst- ly with wine but they understand The pared-down requirements
Euless-Bedford the economic benefit of wine could lead to wine votes in Hurst,
Chamber of BillSouder sales," Ms. Saleh said. "The citi- Euless and Bedford,she said.
' Commerce. zens are the ones who would bene- "What it did is lower the
""Phis is encouraging,"Ms.Fra- fit because we could lower our tax- threshold, lower the.bar on the
zior said. es and continue to balance our number of signatures required,"
Beginning Sept. 1, organizers budget." Ms. Truitt said. "It was an artifi-
' would have 60 days, rather than Ms.Saleh said she would like to cially high threshold. I've always
30,to collect enough signatures to see the issue on the February bal- seen this [wine sales]as a voting
put the issue before voters. lot if a group of residents takes up rights issue. Let the voters de-
"There is no organized effort the issue. tide."
that I know of,but if that's what Cities are not allowed to collect
the people decide they want,then signatures but can provide infor- E-mail debdennis@dallasnews.com
I'm for it,"said Hurst Mayor Bill mation. or call 817-865-4961.
' Souder. "Whatever the people "We are talking about getting
want,that's what I want." together to see if everybody is will-
Each city would hold an elec- ing to get along with the same
tion,and the publicity could boost "
' interest among voters, said Bed- date,"Ms.Ms.Byerso said.ford Mayor.Rick Hurt. Bill rs of Euless could not
"I'm hoping some people step garner enough signatures to get
up and want to organize this the issue on the ballot in 1998.
"I hope it works this time.We
' thing,"he said. need the money;"he said. .
Wine sales would increase Wine sales_would help each
sales tax collections for the cities, city balance its budget and reduce
Ms. Frazior said, Officials said its taxrates,officials said.
' they could not estimate how much Mr.Souder said he receives an
additional tax revenues would endless number of inquiries about
the city's dry status,
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RID GTVA Y(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRQARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR '
DATE DISTRIBUTED G 7 DATE OF ARTICLE ) ��.3 NEWSPAPER FWST
Euless bolds steady on bud(jet
By ELLENA F.MOMSON Khat it means to you budget. We are going to con-
With a proposed property '
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER tinue with what we have."
Euless officials are propos- tax rate of 49.5 cents per $100 The average home value in
ing a slight decrease in the of assessed property value,the Euless increased to $118,437 '
property tax rate and 2 percent tax bill for the owner of an this year from $110,820 last
raises for city employees in average-priced house with no year, increasing the proposed.,
what promises to be a flat bud- exemptions would be $586, tax bill for the owner of an '
get for fiscal 2004. up from $551 a year ago.The average-priced house with no
No programs would be cut average value of a house in exemptions by about$35.
or added,and the proposed tax Euless is$118,437,compared The increase in property
rate would fall to 49.5 cents with $110,820 a year ago. values, coupled with a diverse
per $100 of assessed property --___ __—__._ economy and good manage-
value from 49.7 cents. The ment, puts Euless in a solid
total budget would climb to ing our own," said Loretta financial position, Councilman
$22.8 million from $22.2 mil- Gretchell,the city's director of Charlie Miller said. '
lion. fiscal and administrative ser- "The citizens should be
"Basically, we are just hold- vices. "It is pretty much a flat pleased with the budget," he
said. "Ours has been a real '
positive scenario."
A public hearing is sched-
uled for the Aug. 26 council
meeting. '
One area that has not
improved dramatically is car-
rental tax revenues from Dal-
las/Fort Worth Airport. The ,
city is budgeting for $730,000
from car-rental taxes for the
general fund,the same amount ,
budgeted this fiscal year.Some
car-rental revenues could be
used for improving parks and
building a new fire station, ,
Mayor Mary Lib Saleh said.
"Today, everybody is
watching their budgets," she
said."We would rather be con-
servative than go way out on a
limb."
Ellena F.Morrison,(817)685-3888
emorrison@star-telegram.com '
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' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY(2)
' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
Z�.DATEDISTRIBUTED � 9 DATE OFARTICLE 0 :3 NEUISPAPER FWST
Law will force eounty to upgrade
p� de
voting machines
' By MAX B.BAKER The new voting system must deliberations for next year's Parten said. The handicapped
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER be in place by January 2006 to budget.Parten,however,said he and the blind can use the new
' FORT WORTH — A federal comply with the federal Help won't ask for money to buy machines without help from.a
law passed after balloting prob- America Vote Act, passed in machines until next year. poll worker.
lems marred the 2000 presiden- 2001 after the punch-card sys- County Commissioner Parten's preliminary recom-
tial vote in Florida will eventual- tem in Florida slowed a vote Dionne Bagsby said the county mendation is to buy 550 new
ly force Tarrant County to recount in the past presidential needs to take a"comprehensive optical scanners to replace
spend millions of dollars to buy election. look at all of this" even if it those he bought nine years ago.
a new electronic election sys- "There are many aspects of means pushing the deadline. He also recommends buying 550
tem, the county's top elections this bill that will change the vot- The county has 500 optical of the new ballot-counting
' official said Thursday. ing process across Texas," scanners to count ballots on an machines with computer-like
Tarrant County Elections Parten said. election day.During early voting, controls and screen images.
Administrator Robert Parten The equipment Tarrant the county provides machines Putting in the hybrid system
estimated that buying more than County and others will have to that require voters to turn a dial would cost $7 million, he said.
t 1,000 voting machines could buy is very good, he said, but it to mark their selections. To use only the type of
cost $7 million to $12 million, is also very expensive. The new federal law requires machines used during early vot-
depending on what type of Parten told commissioners that whatever system is used, ing would boost the cost to $12
devices Tarrant County com- about the voting system over- voters must be able to cast their million.
' missioners want to purchase. haul Thursday during their ballots without assistance, The county expects to get
about$3 million from the feder-
al government to revamp the
election system, Parten said.
' About $1.6 million can be spent
on machines,with the rest going
to voter outreach and to training
election officials.
Parten wants to have the new
system inP lace by 2005,in time
to work out any glitches before
the January 2006 deadline and
' the gubernatorial primary elec-
tion later that year.
County Administrator G.K.
Maenius said he learned only
' two days ago that the county
would have to buy new
machines, calling Parten's rec-
ommendation a`big surprise."
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCRAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS 1I'ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANI 1AL CNTR '
DATE DISTRIBUTED L� -� DATE OFARTICLE `' NEWSPAPE h
Buxton Company selects Venturemark,
CVA and Interstar for national marketing
and public relations campaign '
Venturemark-CVA-InterStar team '
Fort Worth,Texas—The Buxton market research and technology and their thoroughness in address-
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ing & Marketing and InterStar advertising, Web marketing and CEO of The Buxton Company. '
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