Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-06 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIAI HENNIG AIC6AMIE RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS lVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADAIIN LIBR,-IRYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED •� /�c /&."4 DATEOFARTICLE �Z.2 -7 104 NEIVSPAPER FfVST 1 1 Arlington-Euless road nearly done Work remains to be done on signals, a railroad bridge and 1 state signs on Farm Road 157. P By NEIL STRASSMAN STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER AW s�; ARLINGTON —The old two-lane road ` 1 joining Arlington and Euless is now a six- lane ix lane boulevard,but don't go jamming down _ Farm Road 157 yet, because the 35-mph 1 work-zone signs will be up for a few more weeks. x The cones, wooden barricades and con- crete barriers that led vehicles along a 1 twisted path north from the Arlington city limits to Texas 10'are gone,but workers are STAR-TELE GRAM/STEWART F.HOUSE still putting the finishing touches on the Part of Farm Road 157 has been widened from two lanes to six, 1 road, Texas Department of Transportation though 35-mph work-zone signs will be up for a few more inspector Roy Langford said. weeks while construction is completed. "We still have to switch on the perma- nent signals at Mosier Valley[Road] and at "'Me project is substantially complete,but it is 1 Highway 10, mow and sweep and pick up the litter one more time," said Langford, still in work-zone status. —Doug Teter,vice president of Ed Bell Construction Co. 1 ' who was at the job site Mon- The north part of the road Road nears completionday nearing completion begins near There is still work to be the Mosier Valley intersection to Euless and cost $9.8 million, done on a railroad bridge and 1 state signs to put up;he said. Lopez said.The project includ- . ed a new bridge for the Trinity The 3.1-mile project was Railway Express. built in two phases by the Ed The road is called Industri- 1 183 Bell Construction Co. of Dal- al Boulevard in Euless and d las. Collins Street in Arlington. �J\eSS��a "The project is substantial- The wider road will provide a ly complete, but it is still in needed north-south alterna- EULEss work-zone status," said Doug Pipeline Rd. Teter, the company's vice access to Texasess to The and easier acce Ballpark in ,M F3PT WORTH president. Arlington and the city's enter- 157 d The first part of the pro- tainment district. Trinity��° ject, from Green Oaks Boule- Tran yard to the Arlington line,was � Transportation Depart- started in early 2001 and com- ment engineers are expected Ppm,&; pleted in January 2003 for to sign off on the project in Mosier Valley area f mid-February,Lopez said.The $9 million, said Val Lopez, a speed limit on the new section zo Transportation Department . spokesman in Fort Worth.The willr also be 45 mph,he Said. 1 � Neil Strassman, 20 STAR-TELEGRAM/DAVE SEYMOUR speed limit there is 45 mph strassCstar-telegram.com 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF .� MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS f,V/ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ��, �� 7 DATE OF ARTICLE NEfVSPAPER FFVST NORTHEAST AFTER HOURS Opera and coffee EULESS—The Fort Worth ' Opera will present a program for the Arts League's annual membership coffee from 10- 11:30 a.m.Feb.4 at the Euless , Public Library,201 Ector Drive. The membership coffee is open to people interested in the league,which supports ' ARTSNET,the Northeast Tar- rant County arts council. Reservations should be made by calling Barb Boerner at(817) 421-0226 by Friday. ' DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF l MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG AICtiAMIE RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG AkDONALD COLLINS !l7LHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED "2/ / DATE OF ARTICLE /�Z% //'41 NEWSPAPER F11'ST Euless, c ® settle 0 0 i*t 1111 d1sputedt over per MIX Since filing a lawsuit over the city's permit denial a year ago, Grace Community Church has moved to Southlake By ELLENA F.MORRISONloath to give up the fight,but STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER Municipal League, the city's in the end, they decided the ' insurer, negotiated the settle- cost, time and strain on the EULESS —The city will pay Grace Com- ment. munity Church an undisclosed sum to settle 'Any time any type of legal congregation was too much a yearlong dispute stemming from a City issues can get settled, it's "With mediation, the ' Council vote that blocked the congregation really good for everyone," he downside is that neither side from moving into a vacant grocery store. said. is ever completely happy,but, City and church leaders said Wednesday The two sid in the big picture,I think it is es met Friday that after one mediation session late last to discuss the lawsuit, which good that this is behind us," ' week, they have ended their battle overwas filed ffisaid Hulet, estimating that iFebruary after municipal regulation of where churches may city officials s denied the 400- the church spent$100,000 on locate. member church a permit to the lawsuit. Neither party claimed victory, and both Hulet pointed to changes ' buy a former Food Lion sides refused to specify the settlement until building for the expanding in the manner in which Euless handles church per- few weeks. documents are finalized, which could take a congregation. mits as proof that the The council majority said' church's stand made a differ- "We have disagreed without being dis- that atax-paying business agreeable," said Cliff Couch, the Las Colinas would be a better fit for the ence. In November, city offi- attorney who represented the church. "Wevacant store. Churches gen- cials loosened the require- ments for churches moving still believe what the city did was discrimina- erally do not pay property' tory!' taxes. into residential areas. Mayor Pro Tem Carl Tyson said the Texas The lawsuit centered on The changes "didn't go as the definition of the federal far as I would like,but it is an improvement," Hulet said. "I ' Religious Land Use and Insti- feel like this is the real victo- tutionalized Persons Act of ry that came from this fight.I 2000, which limits a munici- think it will benefit other pality's power to restrict zon- Euless churches." ' ing and land use for religious The U.S. Department of organizations. Justice, which explored I think each side walked whether the civil rights of away with their own perspec- church members were violat- ' tive"of the law,Couch said. ed, also has dropped its Euless City Attorney Bob investigation into the matter, McFarland previously con- city officials said. tended that the law does not Grace, an affiliate of the prevent the council from International Church of the denying the request if the Foursquare Gospel, looked council concludes that the into buying the former gro- ' church would not be the best cery building because the use of the land. McFarland congregation was outgrowing could not be reached for its location on Kynette Street. comment Wednesday. Since then, the church has ' i Grace pastor Eric Hulet bought a roomier Southlake lsaid church members were building and six adjacent acres. DISTRIBUTED 7'O: ' PAGE OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIAI HENNIG MCKAAIIE RIDGIVAY(2) YOUNG Aft—DONALD COLLINS , II'VILIIITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADAIIN /L/IBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED -'1 / 6" I C' 7 DATE OFARTICLE �I�i` 3�' "1 NEIISPAPER FIVST Ronald L. Corcoran , RONCORCOR.AN If� k � xe cut ive set examNe e ' b 3 `r of strop humanitarian service x � g f gµ` By JOHN KIRSCH t Relatives and loved the Abbott and Costello ' ' STAR-TELEf•^AMSTAFF WRIT ER— friends mown comedy team, especially their BEDFORD — Ron Corcoran, the passing of Ron Corco- famous"Who's on First"routine. president of Financial Planning ran, a community volunteer "I come from a family that Concepts and a past chairman of and businessman. loves to laugh,"Sifuentes said. BEDFORD — Ronald L. "Ron" Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber In 1997,Mr. Corcoran and his Corcoran,69,a financial planner and of Corrnnerce, died Wednesday Sifuentes remembered her wife survived a car crash in owner of Financial Planning Con- cepts, passed away Wednesday, of a heart father giving peanut butter sand- Houston that left Sue Corcoran Jan.28,2004,at an area hospital. attack. He was wiches to hungry hoboes. comatose for several months.' Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. 69Sifuentes said that her father She recovered and has served as Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Mr. Corco- never talked about it, but he a board member of Stars The- Church, 3001 Forest Ridge, Bedford. t "" thou tit was important to help Burial: Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in ran served as The- thought p p ater Company of North Richland' Loving. Visitation: The family will chairman of people eo le who were less fortunate. Hills. '°� receive friends 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri- the chamber My dad—it wasn't what he The Corcorans were also day at Forest Ridge Funeral Home, from 1995 to said.It's what he did,"she said active in the local arts communi- 705 Airport Freeway at Precinct Line 1996 and re- His wife, Sue Corcoran, said ty. Both volunteered their time Rd.,Hurst. CORCORAN Memorials: May be made to St. mained a he remodeled their Bedford to the Arts Council of NorthEast Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian strong supporter after he left, home to accommodate three Tarrant County,which recently Church Endowment Fund or Kidney often showing up for ribbon cut- grandchildren. changed its name to ARTSNET. Foundation. tings for new businesses, said Melinda Smith, a Grapevine "If he took on a job he made, Ron L.Corcoran was born Feb.6, Mary Frazior, current president lawyer who had known Mr.Cor- it happen," said Carolyn Sims, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an of the chamber. coran since the early 1990s, the arts group's former director. active member of the H.E.B. Cham- ber of Commerce. Ron was a loving Mr. Corcoran's daughter, called him "a dedicated family Arrangements are being han- husband, father, grandfather and Susan Sifuentesof Moody, man:' dled by Forest Ridge Funeral friend.He will be missed by all. remembered her father as a kind "They just don't come better Home in Hurst.Burial will be in Survivors: Wife, Martha Sue man who loved to help people. any better than him,"Smith said. Loving. Corcoran; son, Barry Corcoran; When she was growingu in the Mr. Corcoran had a lighter daughters, Melissa Corcoran, Susan p g John Kirsch(817)685 3805 Sifuentes and Nancy Shields;, family home in Fort Worth, side. He liked to tell puns and jkirsch@star-telegram.com stepchildren,Terry Blackman,Brenda Miller and Kim Covin; sister, Patti Caulder; grandchildren, Andrew, Michael, Nicholas and Benjamin Shields, Paige Sifuentes, Rachel, Rebecca and Chloe Covin and Amanda Abunassar; and great- grandchildren,Bailey Henderson and Devyn,Emma and Kylee Abunassar. Forest Ridge Funeral Home Hurst,(817)285-7777 ' DISTRIBC/TED TO: PAGE / OF '` MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGIVAY(2) YOUNG AIcDOJVALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ; /6 /c,� DATEOFARTICLE '? // /" NEWSPAPER F!4'ST EDUCATION SUCCESSES Paramedic continues to train 1 for every situation By DANNY WOODWARD1 ! when your profes Training breakdown Bureau of Emergency Manage- SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM sion is saving Paramedics must undergo ment, the branch of thvP Texas EULESS — When Robert lives, keeping up with the 144 hours of continuing educa- Department of Health that over- Hopkins goes to work as a latest techniques is a tion every four years: sees paramedics. "There are Euless paramedic,his three chil- necessity. CONTENT AREA HOURS always new drugs and new-,.ech- ' dren go with him He sees their Preparatory ......... ..12 piques coming out. That's why faces every time he's helping a The beginning of paramedic Ventilation/airways ...12 continuing education is so young patient school means learning car- Patient assessment ..... .8 important' "The worst part of this job is diopulmonary resuscitation and Trauma ................12 The state requires para- dealing with real sick or badly other basic medical techniques. Medical ................36, medics to update their certifica- injured kids," he said. "I revert Later courses cover topics such Special considerations ..12 tion every four years by taking back to, 'What if this was my as administering drug treat- Clinically related operations 4 144 hours of general continuing child?I work as hard as I can to ments and intravenous drips, Additional approved units 48 education or%hours of more- save everybody,but especially using defibrillators and opening Total .................144 intensive live training in new the children." obstructed breathing passages. SOURCE Texas Department of Health techniques. Paramedics must Hopkins' training has pre- Paramedics also memorize also retest in CPR every two 1 pared him to do that their bible,a 4-inch-thick proto- yeas. Paramedics spend up to 20 col book describing treatment in Department curriculum, mirror Such training is strenuous months in a state-accredited every imaginable scenario.The what s happening nationally.But even for Hopkins,who grew up program, including one offered volume contains sections on they're not enough without fol- in the business. His parents 1 at Tarrant County College adult medicine, adult trauma, low-ups, a state health official began a volunteer fire depart- Northeast Campus.They learn pediatrics and special circum- said. ment in rural Johnson County to handle"everything that could stances, which include dealing "I don't know that you'll ever when Hopkins was 5, and he happen in an ER,"said Jeff Mor- with mass casualties and work- have enough paining for every- began responding to calls at age 1 ris, chief of the Euless Fire ing with hazardous materials. thing you run into as a para- 16.Now 29,he's already a 10-year Depar`tment's emergency man- Texas' requirements,based medic,"saic Kevin Veal,manag- veteran of paramedic work But agement division. on a U S Transportation er of the Northwest Zone he still relies on his training. Ir � K. � x 10 meg.' s 4 � �y 1 y 8 1 STAR-TELEGRAM/M.L.GRAY Euless firefighter/paramedic Robert Hopkins goes through strenuous ' training to keep up his certification. 'Very seldom do we run into Morris put it another way. a call that's like another one "They go through the train- we've ever been on," he said. ing to get practical education for 1 'The training and the protocols, real-life situations," he said. they help guide us throu&h the "The idea is that there are nQ treatment of the patient" surprises:' 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGFVAY(2) ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED / /G DATE OF ARTICLE / l�' NEWSPAPER FfVST milk s �(.�� � •� �" � sad'"' i r STAR-TELEGRAM/RICKY MOON QuikTrip in Euless QuikTrip is planning a gas station near Harwood Road and ' Farm Road 157 in Euless.Probuild Construction of Azle is the general contractor.The construction estimate is$1 million, according to city records.QuikTrip,based in Tulsa,Okla., ' plans to add stations in North Richland Hills and Westworth Village.A station opened this weekend at 901 E.Division St.in Arlington. ' ' DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDG11'AY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED ' l DATE OFARTICLE I / f? NEJVSPAPER F11ST Center wins tax rebate if sales quotas are met By ELLENA F.MORRISON About$1 million in renova- STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER ' tions should attract new retail EULESS — The city's largest shopping business, Euless Town Centre owners say. center could garner up to $500,000 in eco- nomic development incentives by 2015, a about two blocks from City Hall," Mayor ' move aimed at re-energizing the area and Mary Lib Saleh said. "If the center looks attracting more retail stores. good, people are going to come and shop, The City Council voted 5-2 last week to and that is good for us." rebate $50,000 after each year that the This year, the owners of Euless Town ' Euless Town Centre brings in at least Centre will not have to meet the $350,000 $350,000 in city sales tax Over 10 years,that minimum in city sales tax revenue to receive could add up to$500,000.The first payment the first $50,000 payment in 2005. The lee- is possible in 2005. way was granted because the owners will ' "That is the face of Euless and, of course, begin a$1 million exterior renovation within we want it to look good. After all, it's only DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE -_? OF A1,4YOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) YOUNG WDONALD COLLINS 1VIL11ITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /4 4- DATE OFARTICLE '�/ NEWSPAPER Fli ST come back and died again," said Richard Hopkins, manager of Euless Gold& Silver, one of the center's oldest tenants. But theom location is excellent and a little the next two weeks,city officials work could perk up the place,he m said.But the restoration must be said. �.f and the complete by Dec. 31, Euless Town Centre,at Texas i site's property tax payments 183 and Industrial Boulevard, is �s4 M';yw oust be kept current, according home to Burlington Coat Facto- a� ; r to the city contract. ry,Luxury Linens,Big Lots,Ross t t $ * 3rl Owner Bill Morris said con- Dress For Less and several other ) f' $truction will focus on new retail establishments. £ 3 . I facades for anchor tenants, new The occupancy rate of the exterior paint and sign 239,000-square-foot center is .z i�p.g rades. Renovation of the about 86 percent, slightly down ? ; enter,built in 1983,should take since Trinity Acquisitions about three months to complete, bought the property in 2002, laid Morris,president of Trinity Morris said. FB j.,3Fa Acquisitions and Investments, Councilman Bob Edwards Bait) iNhich owns Euless Town Centre and Mayor Pro Tem Carl Tyson end is located there. voted against the incentives. Fti "The asset has struggled Tyson said he wants to support because it looks like it was built the center but thought that the in 19831" Morris said. "We are contract should address infla- �L� l going to make it look like it was tion. III ' built this year." "If we have high inflation,the A weather-faded sign greets $350,000 is going to be worth a drivers on Texas 183, many of lot less in 10 years,"he said. whom make the sharp right turn Euless has offered similar , into the property off a frontage incentive deals to ether busi- toad. The city is planning to nesses, such as Beall Concrete STAR-TELEGRAM/KELLEY CHINN redo some road striping to make Enterprises, which is given 25 it easier to enter the property. percent of its city sales tax back ta`r's facade.The city's Ianers of Euless Town Cg est shopping plan to renovate sign It ind the cen- , The second floor of the cen- if sales equal more than ter appears mostly empty, and $100,000, city officials said. But Mains from signs of businesses each situation is unique, Coun- and conditions, and I think that the agreement." hong gone remain visible on the cilwoman Veva Lou Massey would apply in any case" she ONLINE:www.ci.euless.tx.us ' walls said. said. "I think the city can't lose Ellena F.Morrison,(817)685-3888 The center "has died and "We have pretty strict terms with the conditions we put in emorrison@star-telegram.com DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF ' MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIAI HENNIG AICKAMIE RIDGIVAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS I ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /e 1647 DATE OFARTICLE �,� S�C' 7 NEWSPAPER FI{'ST NORTHEAST AFTER HOURS ' "'aterco7or painting EULESS—Derik Sledge,a ' 1990 graduate of New York's Parson School of Design,will demonstrate the use of water- color in painting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Euless Public Library,201 N.Ector Drive. Sledge works as an art ' teacher at North Dallas High School and as a commissioned Portrait painter.His Euless demonstration is free.Call ' (817)283-3406. t DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CXIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGIVAY(2) YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS IVILHITE GETCIIELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANINIAL CNTR ' DATE DISTRIBUTED / r L� NEIVSPAPER FII ST DATE OF ARTICLE / f FW ST G1_*Uup drops pfoL a ballpark By ELLENA F.MORRISON But plans for a new "I believe we negotiated with those STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER youth baseball field folks upfront. In my opinion, that's ' EUI.ESS — The Southwest Sports at The Parks at Texas Star will chump change to those folks," Coun- Group, which owns the Texas move forward without the Texas cilman Charlie Miller said. "If they Rangers,backpedaled on plans to help Rangers. don't want to honor it,we moved for- ' build a $600,000 youth baseball field ward.They have their own problems, with the city,Euless oificiais said. at The Parks at Texas Star, city offs- like signing players with astronomical The Southwest Sports Group, cials said.But recently,Southwest offi- salaries." using funds from the Texas Rangers' cials said they do not have money for Southwest Sports Group President ' Foundation, agreed last year to put the project,leaving some city officials Mike Cramer said the foundation is $200,000 toward a new baseball field aggravated. warm-up areas, bullpens, lights ' and a ticket booth. An 80-by- 130-yard soccer field that can be ' divided into three separate fields, two T-ball/coach-pitch- eager to work with Euless but ing fields and a pedestrian because of other commitments walkway are also planned as ' can't help with the project. part of the$1.6 million project. "We will still try to work Construction is scheduled to with Euless and other commu- begin in about two weeks and nides,"Cramer said."We have a should be complete by the end ' fairly large foundation with fair- of the year, said Parks & Com- ly large commitments every, munity Services Director Ray -year.But there is only a certain McDonald.The fields should be ' amount we can do." available for use in 2005. Cramer disagreed with Veterans Field will be part of .Euless officials, who said the a sports complex that includes specific amount was $200,000. the Dr Pepper StarCenter at ' No contract was signed. Texas Star, a 9,600-square-foot To proceed with the project, building that houses two ice ,the City Council unanimously rinks. voted Tuesday to use motor The Dallas Stars occasional- ' vehicle rental-tax revenue. ly practice at the center, which "They don't have time for is popular with amateur hockey -Euless," Mayor Mary Lib Saleh teams. The success of the cen- said. "We have been quite suc- ter,one of the first private/pub- ' cessful without having the lic partnerships of its type in Texas Rangers name" on other the area, originally motivated park projects. • Southwest Sports Group to con- ' Several council members sider the ballfield project. said they hope the Rangers will The Parks at Texas Star, eventually be brought on board. which includes four ba.;eball "It would be a real benefit to fields, a championship-sized ' the city if we can find some way soccer field and three youth to leave the door open so the soccer fields, usually has about Texas Rangers could have some 100,000 visitors a year, officials sponsorship," Councilman said.Euless has hosted national ' Glenn Porterfield said Tuesday. and state amateur softball The baseball field, named championships. Veterans Field, will include Ellena F.Morrison,(817)685-8888 raised and covered bleachers, emorrison@star-telegram.com '