HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-14 Euless Articles 9- h C U
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Our favorite courses
offer all sorts of challenges
1
BEAR CREEK
Bear Creek
D/FW Airport Green fees
With two outstanding layouts, the Bear Weekdays: Mon-Thurs,$50; Friday,$65
' Creek East and West courses offer a similar Weekends:Saturday$70,Sunday$65
type of challenge.While the East Course is
somewhat more open than the West Directions: Take Highway 183 West
Course, both feature tree-lined fairways towards DFW Airport. Exit Highway 360
and demanding rough. These greens are North. Exit Mid-Cities Boulevard and
somewhat speedy and, unlike most nearby turn right. This will bring you to the inter-
courses,are elevated,causing several holes section with Airfield Drive. Take a right
' to play longer than the posted yardage. on Airfield Drive and the entrance to Bear
Bear Creek's courses opened for play Creek Golf Club is on the right approxi-
in 1980 and were designed by distin- mately 100 yards from the intersection.
guished golf architect Ted Robinson. From North Dallas: Take 635 west. Exit
Robinson combined rolling North Texas 121 south. Exit Highway 360 south. Exit
terrain, stands of mature live oak trees Mid-Cities Boulevard and turn left. This
and meandering Bear Creek to create a will take you to the intersection with
' stunning visual landscape. Though not Airfield Drive. Take a right on Airfield
exceptionally.long, roughly 6,700 yards Drive and the entrance to Bear Creek Golf
from the championship tees, both of the Club is on the right approximately 100
Par 72 beauties at Bear Creek Golf Club yards from the intersection.
place a premium on course management
and accuracy.
Bear Creek
3500 W Airfield Dr
Dallas,TX 75261
(972) 456-3200
1
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g
Texas Star
Euless ,
Play this course and you'll walk away
feeling your $75 was well spent. Unlike
other courses where, once you stop gag-
ging over paying exorbitant fees,you won-
der at the end of the round whether you got
your money's worth, Texas Star is indeed
worth every penny.
Texas Star is a strategic Par 71 test of Green fees'
6,936 yards with targets and options in Prime $75. .
abundance. The course is sculpted out of Twilight fees are available at certain times of ,
275 acres of rolling terrain with 100-year
old oaks and natural woodlands,tall native the year.
grasses and Hurricane Creek traversing Directions: From Dallas, go west on
through it.
You must contend with water on holes 2, Hwy 183 and take 157 south,turn right on '
Pipeline Road and watch for the Texas Star
8,9, 10, 11 and 18.Other obstacles include sign. Turn left on Texas Star Parkway.
ridges, grass bunkers, sand and Scottish- From Fort Worth go east on 183 and take
links style eyebrows—which are basically Westpark Way south or right. Watch for
protrusions and upheavals of turf right Texas Star sign and turn right on Texas
there in the middle of the fairways or spots Star Parkway.
you wouldn't imagine.
The finale,named Deguello, is a Par 5,
535-yarder filled with target options.
There's water on the first and second shots
and average players will have to hit a
shorter second shot because the creek
crosses the fairway.You will also have to
steer clear of a fairway bunker right near
the 150-yard pole.Big hitters going for the
green in two have to watch out for hanging
the shot right, because the creek passes to
the right of the green. '
Texas Star is a winner and it's unique—
from the rustic water cooler setups (the
wood and tin were rescued from an old
barn demolition) to the clubhouse that
looks like a Hill Country ranch house.
Texas Star '
1400 Texas Star Parkway
Euless,TX76040
(817) 685-7888
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Golf&C--aunxry Club
' Heritage Ranch
Fairview
Set on 575 acres in the charming town of
' Fairview, Heritage Ranch features extraor-
dinary terrain and scenery.Framed by state-
ly century-old oak and pecan trees,Heritage
' Ranch offers rolling hills, creeks, undulat-
ing greens and a natural limestone waterfall
and has become one of the most beautiful
north Texas golf courses. The 18-hole, Par
' 72 course measures 7,040 yards from the
back tees,demanding accurate shot making.
This course is very unique. It has two
' nine's that are really different from one
another.The front nine has tree-lined fair-
ways with creeks and ponds on almost
every hole, and the greens are somewhat
' elevated. The back nine is a little more
open, with large undulating greens, well
placed bunkers, and large mounds and
moguls around the greens that make chip-
ping very difficult.
Heritage Ranch has a good mix of long
and short Par 4's. It also has two Par 3's
' that are more than 200 yards and a Par 5
that measures 571 yards. This course also
has some elevation changes and very sce-
nic holes. Well-struck tee shots and good
iron shots to these big greens are a key to
a good score here.There is plenty of room
to three putt these greens.
Heritage Ranch
465 Scenic Ranch Circle
' Fairview,TX 75069
(972)549-0276
Green fees:
' Monday Thursday, $55
Friday-Sunday& Holidays,$70
' Directions: Situated 20 miles northeast
of Dallas. From Dallas, take 1-75 north to
the Stacy Road exit, go right and follow
until the end (road jogs), go left and take
' your first right,continuing on Stacy Road.
Entrance to Heritage Ranch is approxi-
mately two miles ahead on your left.
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tiN�jk�s
The Shores
Rockwall
It's hard not to like The Shores. One of
the most spacious layouts you will find
anywhere, there's never a feeling of being
crowded in hole-to-hole.
The Par 72 course measures 7,114 yards
from the gold and 6,764 from the blue tee.
The front nine travels down from the high-
er elevation of the clubhouse starting with
a Par 5 on No. 1 and ending with one other
on No.9.No. 1 is a 533-yarder with a long
water hazard running to the left from half
way down the fairway to the green.
It's not as difficult as No. 9, which is
540-yards as it angles left with a bunker on
the left fairway and three others around the
green.An accurate tee shot is the key here.
If your game is off at all,the back nine
can certainly turn your spirits around. It's
a visual pick-me-up to play alongside the
lake as its waves lap up gently against the
edge of the fairways.
The Shores
2600 Champion Ddve
Rockwall,TX 75087
(972) 771-5827
Green fees:
Weekdays: Mon-Thurs,$29; Friday$33
Weekends: $42
Directions:Take I-30 east to the Dalrock
exit,go left approximately three miles and
take a right on Lakeview Parkway (second
light).Take left on Lakeshore,go to end of
street and follow the signs to the club-
house.
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LOtF CtGf 6IR ItB if Rftl{ (FIR;
Tangle Ridge
' Grand Prairie
Tangle Ridge has the feel of a Hill
' Country course with elevation changes of
more than 50 feet, gently rolling hills and
trees guarding every hole.The magnificent
panoramic views differentiate the course
from any other in the D/FW area.
Tangle Ridge is a strategic course,
requiring the player to use every club and
shot in his arsenal.The fairways are gener-
ous but poorly hit shots may find the native
areas. The variety of grass and sand
bunkers,creek crossings,dramatic mound-
ing, berms,doglegs, and tree-lined roughs
provide plenty of challenges.
The highlight of the course is the fun
313-yard sixth hole which is usually
' downwind, allowing many golfers to
shoot for the putting surface. Anything
short will likely be swallowed up by one
of the large bunkers.
' The course is definitely fun to play and
the unique scenery rivals any course in the
D/FW area.
' Tangle Ridge
818 Tangle Ridge Drive
Grand Prairie,TX 75052
' (972) 299-6837
Green fees:
' Weekday: $50
Weekend/Holidays: $60
Directions: From downtown, take 35 E
' south. Take 67 south towards Cleburne.
Continue on 67 south and travel past I-20
and Beltline Road. Exit Lake Ridge
Parkway and turn right.Continue about two
' miles and turn left at Park Ridge.Park Ridge
runs straight into Tangle Ridge Golf Club.
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Bridlewood
Flower Mound
Designed by long-time PGA Tour play-
er D.A. Weibring, Bridlewood is a 7,036-
yard test at Par 72 with water on 14 holes.
Cato-Crenshaw Bent Grass greens and 419
Bermuda grass fairways are the spots one Green fees
needs to find, because there are grass Weekdays: Monday-Thursday,$65; '
swales,mounds,hollows and bunkers to be Friday before it a.m., $65;
found along with lots of trees. Friday after 11 a.m.,$85
Bridlewood starts off in a gentle
Weekends:Saturday and Sunday,$85. '
,Twilight Monday-Thursday,$40,
enough fashion with two birdie holes. Twilight Friday-Sunday,ay,$
No. 1 is downwind at 428 and No. 2 is
a par-five at 536. Those holes get you Directions: From R.Worth: I-35W north
stretched out and warmed up for the to FM 1171. Right(East) on FM 1171 for
upcoming finesse holes. 8 miles. From D/FW Airport: 121 north to
But soon after, decision-making FM 2499 north to FM 1171 Left(West)on
becomes paramount. No. 8 is an all-carry FM 1171 for 1.5 miles.From Dallas:I-35E
water Par 3 at 195 from the back.You can north to FM 1171 left(West)on FM 1171
bail out long and right, but two bunkers for six miles.
also come in to play.No. 12,.a Par 5 at 568,
requires an accurate tee shot because your
second shot must stay clear of a sentinel
tree just in front of a creek carry to the
green.You must deal with water on 14, 15
and 16 before finishing on 18, which has
water down the right and guarding the
green.
Bridlewood is a jewel of North Texas
golf, and well worth the price.
Bridlewood
4000 W.Windsor Drive
Flower Mound,TX 75028
(972)355-4800
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TIERRA
' VCRDC
' Tierra Verde
Arlington
One word comes to mind when
' describing Tierra Verde—plush.The color
green is a big player, as the name of the
course,which loosely means"green land"
in Spanish, would suggest. The hues of
' the fairways, greens and even the trees
just seem a little brighter here than any-
where else.
But beauty aside, the course offers a
' multitude of challenges. You'd better not
top a drive,because nearly every Par 4 and
Par 5 features from 100-150 yards of
' unplayable vegetation from the tee box to
the beginning of the fairway. Spray a shot
wide right on No. 1 hole and the "Plum
Thicket" on this 355-yard Par 4 opener
' will claim another victim.
Throughout this stellar 6,975-yard, Par
72 layout you will face the "red stakes,"
indicating wayward shots are not OB but
lost in a protected environment.Thou shall
not enter the hazard, which on many
courses is just wooded rough. Take the
' penalty and a drop where the ball entered
the"red zone"
Course management is the name of the
' game at Tierra Verde. Keep it in the fair-
way and you have a chance for some
birdies.
' Tierra Verde
7005 Golf Club Drive
Arlington TX 76001
' (817) 572-1300 (metro)
Green fees
Weekdays: $47
Weekends: $60
Twilight Monday-Thursday: $39/$27
Twilight Friday-Sunday: $47/$41/$27
Directions: From 1-20 in Arlington:
Exit onto Hwy 287 south.Exit Eden Road
and turn right. Turn left onto Golf Club
' Drive and go all the way to the end, then
turn left into the parking lot. Mapsco:
Fort Worth 108M
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The Tribute '
The Colony
Think of Scottish golf and you think of '
windswept,barren landscapes where play-
ers have to fight bitterly cold conditions.
Think of The Tribute as a course with all
the challenges of Scotland without any of ,
the desolation.
The masterfully-designed course con-
fronts golfers with unpredictable, rolling
fairways, devilish pot bunkers and undu-
lating greens that require precise approach
shots. And you can forget it if you miss a
fairway,since two-foot high native grasses '
will swallow errant tee shots whole. It's
challenging enough to humble the best of
golfers, yet truly a fair test of golf. For
people not fortunate enough to be able to '
play the legendary courses in the birth-
place of golf, The Tribute is an excellent
representation. '
The holes were also inspired from
Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Royal Troon,
Machrihanish, the Ailsa Course at
Turnberry, the Old Course at Moray, '
Muirfield,Prestwick,Nairn Golf Club and
Western Gailes.
The Tribute '
1000 Boyd Road
The Colony,TX 75056
(972) 370-5465
Green fees
Monday Thursday, $90 (Twilight,$59)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, $105
(Twilight,$69)
Directions:Take Highway 121 east from '
I-35 to FM 423, Main Street in The
Colony.Turn right or north to Boyd Road.
Turn left on Boyd Road for 2.5 miles.
From Central Expressway out of
Dallas,take Highway 121 west to FM 423.
Turn right or north and then left on Boyd
Road.
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Twin Lakes Cie
Canton
Twin Lakes Golf Course is located east
of Dallas, about an hour and a half drive
down Interstate 20 toward Canton.And it's
well worth that drive.
The course should be called "Little
Augusta" because of the abundance of
' pine trees surrounded by azaleas in full
bloom. Seven of the holes either play over
one of the lakes or around it,including the
first, which provides an imposing tee shot
' right off the bat.
Twin Lakes is more than 7,100 yards
long and even the short holes are challeng-
ing,as traps are strategically placed.No.9,
a 210-yard Par 3,is about as challenging a
Par 3 as you can get. It used to be even
worse until a bolt of lightning killed a tree
' that guarded the severely sloping green.
Maybe the golf gods decided it was just
too tough a hole.
Twin Lakes
PO Box 816
Canton,TX 75103
(903) 567 1112
Green Fees Range
Weekday: $24
Weekends: $44
Directions: Take Interstate 20 east
' toward Tyler. Exit Highway 19, go south.
Turn in at entrance to AM&D Tree Farm
on left.
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WHITE6STONE
GOLF CLUB
Whitestone
Benbrook
Whitestone Golf Course is a great 18-
hole course built in 1999 — and no two
holes are the same.You will find yourself
playing on tree-lined hill terrain holes,
which have been compared to Austin's Hill
Country, as well as wide-open spaces.
White rock outlines the creeks as tee mon-
uments are engraved from White Austin
Stone.
Whitestone was co-designed by nation-
ally-known golf architects.Jeff Brauer and
Jay Morrish.
While all the holes are excellent, the
toughest by far is No. 10 — a brutal,
twisting and turning par 5 of 579 yards.
You had better be on time with your tee
shot — going left takes you out of play
and going right basically ensures a seven
at best. If your drive ventures in that
direction, it will disappear into a gorge
and then you'll have to drop in a nearly
impossible place. You'll be lucky if you
reach the green in five.
Whitestone
10650 Highway 377 South
Benbrook,TX 76126
(817) 249-9996
Green fees
Weekdays: $42
Weekends: $52
Directions:From Interstate 20 west, exit
Highway 377 south towards Granbury.
Whitestone is located 2.5 miles south on
the right side.
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� NEWSPAPER DAIN
WAN';
By CHRIS WHITLEY
� Special Contributor RESOURCES
more information about ,
tdecades ago,Bill Mercer fought the Japanese, LEGACY AT SEA the Battle of Leyte Gulf:
torpedoes, sharks, dehydration and delirium.
■Tin Can Sailors of Texas
Now he's fighting congestive heart failure,diabe- On Oct.25,19¢4,during part of (tin-can.org): '
tes,abroken hip and time. what became known as the Under the"Battles"section,
He is a lifetime and half aplanet removed from Battle of Leyte Gulf,a small read Bill Mercer's complete
the horrors of that World War II battle as he relaxes in a re- U.S.Navy flotilla ° account of what happened to
cliner in his Euless home.A walker stands next to his chair. encountered some of the • him during the Battle of Leyte
In this setting,he is grandfather,husband and retired chief most powerful Gulf and how he says he is
of security for General Motors'Arlingtonplant. battleships and , 'grateful butprobablyneveras '
cruisers that Japan IUZgrateful as I should be."
d
PEOPLE possessed-and " tI� ■The USS Johnston-Roel
held them off. ,TR; Association Web site
Yetjust mention the USS Johnston and suddenly,he's 18 p Philippine '
m. e Thfresace
h-fd kid from Bridgeport is in the South a (www.ussjohnston-hoel
ttgag p ., Sea bigstep.com):
Pacific seeing the world and fighting the good fight '• The site contains some useful
On the morning of Oct 25,1944,a Japanese attack sank = at background on the battle and
the Johnston as well as four other ships in their over- lists the survivors and '
matched fleet.Mr.Mercer survived the barrage of explo- South China '' , casualties.Although its news
sions that killed others around him.He also survived a two- Sea page hasn't been updated in a
day ordeal with hundreds of others adrift in the South Pa- �� SAS, couple of years,it tells how
cific before they were rescued. Leyte the group started reuniting in
Mr.Mercer,who will turn 78 on May 20,said he has ,, Gulf the early 1980s. '
thought about that battle every day of his life. i `� ■The Last Stand of the Tin
"When I got up that morning I was 18,but when we got �P��f "' , Can Sailors home page
done,I felt like I was 40,"he says. (wwwAricansailorsbook.com):
The events of that battle,part of what is known as the Q QSulu Sea Author James D.Homfischer's
Battle of Leyte Gulf,have been documented in a book pub- site has photos and maps of '
lished this year titled The Last Stand ofthe Tin Can Sailors. Yt�+ N , {, the Battle of Leyte Gulf,plus a
Author James D.Hornfischer,who lives in Austin,wanted _ L MINDAAp bulletin board for readers to
to pay tribute to Mr.Mercer and the other sailors who o ioo r post messages about the book
fought off the Japanese advance. ntag 1 a'' i and the battle. '
Despite sinking five American ships,the Japanese fleet
turned around after the two-hour battle,which the book
calls"the U.S.Navy's finest hour."
1 DAMEONRUNNELS/Staff Artist '
-
i
4 k 0.f
k
'Q pp r
xs �
i
Six decadeso,Bill Mercer(third from t)fought the Japanese during WWII.
� aP g;
"Refigured that was our demise.I was zoondenng how my
mother was going to handle that."
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With last weekend's opening of Bill Mercer,
the World War II memorial in on his ship's battle with an overpowering Japanese naval fleet
Washington,its dedication on Me- why he started getting the group to-
morial Day weekend and next "I lost my appetite,"he says. around him. He remembers that gether about 20 years ago.
month's 60th anniversary of the The American ships were out- some around him did not survive "It's more of a lifelong bond.We
D-Day invasion of Normandy, numbered,outsized and outrun b the sharks. He remembers really Fent through something that
Y the,
'Americans will be focusing on the the Japanese fleet,which included madness that befell others as sleepth one else should have to go
"Greatest Generation." But Mr. -the Yamato,one of the two largest deprivation and dehydration set in. through,"Mr.Chastain says.
Hornfischer saysthe engagement g� warships in the world at the time. Then,on the morning of Oct 27, LoSu►g a link
that nearly cost Mr.Mercer his life Shells bombarded the Johnston, Mr.Mercer's crew sighted aband of The numbers of Johnston survi-
is often overlooked. starting fires, hurling sailors into small ships. He feared they eY were vors like those of all World War II
"There's this institutional lega- the air and ripping offlimbs. Japanese until they of close
there
Icy that means something within Mr.Mercer moved to the side of enough to see what he escribed as are nonofficialgures of remaining
fairly narrow circles,but the public the ship where agroup of sailors was "the beautiful American flag
knows very little about the Navy's ."They Johnston crew members, the De-
stationed.An incoming round came were hauled onto a landing
I
valor in this specific case,which is in behind him and killed everyone and taken to safety. craft Partment of Veterans Affairs esti-
easily the greatest David vs.Goli- standing there. He had survived one of 145 thatmates 1,100 people who served ur-
ath story, the greatest instance of The ship was going down fast. made itfrom acrewof329. mgthewardieea,chday.
the tables being turned on a supe- When the captain ordered the crew When asked whathe first did af- Mr.Mercer broke his hip about
nor naval force in history," Mr. " six months ago and his wife, who
n orn naval
sa to abandon ship,Mr.Mercer dived ter the rescue,Mr.Mercer says, I cares for him now, says his health
ys• off the port side and swam about did alot ofpraying. hasn't been the same since.He has
100 yards. He joined a group that The Johnston was the only Before the battle Y shi P trouble getting around.His memory
' Mr.Mercer was in the first divi- bang on to a nylon mesh floater net Mr. Mercer ever served on. After isn't as sharp as it once was.
connected to some life rafts and the war he returned to Texas and Mrs.Mercer acknowledges that
Sion on the 40mm gun crew of the waited for rescue. started seeinga woman named
USS Johnston and sailed with the Shirley Birdhewere married in they Probably will be unable to at-
'ship since it was commissioned in A . y tend a 60th anniversary, rsary get-togeth-
Seattle on Oct 27,1943.The John- 1948 and are together still. er of Johnston survivors this Octo-
ston was a destroyer,or"tin can"as The rescue was supposed to be Like the other survivors, Mr. ber in San Diego.
quick. Eight American ships were Mercer set out on making his own As Mr:Mercer sits in the recliner,
the Navy
ships protecting
dubbed the,t atsix
i e within range to pick up the stranded life outside the war,but years later the pain brings him back from the 18-
'craft carriers off thesix ing s ie survivors.But they were spread out he attended reunions of the group. year-oldhe was in memory.He's once
PP among 30 miles of ocean, drifting He even headed an association
COQ of againa husband and grandfather
unpredictably. survivors related to the Johnston from Euless He's lived a full life,
Adm. William Halle s Third " e,
I remember everything that and a sister ship that sank,the USS _whereas others he knew long ago did
Fleet protected the tin cans off the happened during my stay in the wa- Hoel. not
island of Samar.Yet the night be- ter, Mr.Mercer says. He,like the others,needed to be When asked what made the dif-
fore,without the tin cans it, Adm Halsey headed Orth to He remembers the smell of die- around people who shared that ex- ference between life and death,he
lpursue a Japanese fleet that was sel fuel that oozed into the water.He perience.Bobby Chastain,a fellow says simply,"I don't know.Faith and
actuallya d P Another Ja anew remembers having to punch and Johnston crew member who lives the good Lord, I suppose. Life's
decoy. P kick sharks that seemed to lurk all in Woodway near Waco,says that's treated me well"
fleet steamed in,and the tin cans
were on their own.. Chris Whit is a Dallas
Mr.Mercer spent the night be- ley free-
ore the the battle on lookout duty,so lance writer.
he was asleep when the alarms
g that morning. He got up E-mail texasliving@dallasnews.com
lowly, thinking it was a routine
until a crewmate told him
Japanese ships were spotted on the
orizon.As he hurried to his battle
tion,he spotted a cook,
"How about some bacon? It
may be the last I ever get," Mr.
ercer said.
Almost immediately, Japanese
shells landed in the water off the
bow.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRL%I HENAIG MCKAMIE RIDGff'AY(2) BOYETT ;
YOUNG WDONALD COILL/I_AS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR.9RYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED_5 I 1 ' C I DATEOF.4RTICLE 104 NEWSPAPER FT1`ST
THE WEEKEND GARDENER
PLACES TO GO '
Today:9 a.m.-3 p.m.,Arbor Daze
"Mayday"Mother's Day plant sale and
tree giveaway,originally scheduled for '
Arbor Daze Festival but canceled
because of heavy rain.The city of
Euless has 10,000 Chinese pistachio
and Shumard red;oak trees to give '
away;the plant sale will feature hang-
ing baskets,houseplants,bedding
plants and a variety of vegetables and
herbs,Parks at Texas Star Pavil ion, ,
1501 S.Pipeline Road,Euless.P�b-
ceeds will benefit Arbor Daze 2005.
Information:(817)685-1666.
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• AIAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIAI TIENNIG AICK4.111E RI0GI1:tY(2) BOYETT
'YOUNG A1cDONALD COLLINS If'ILIHTE GETCHELL LIBRA RYADAIIN LIBK-tRI'REF . .VL1LgL C.N'TR
DATE DISTRIBUTED 5 //7 C T DATE OFARTICLE_ 5 �% NEIf SPAPER FIf ST
1
Local property tax
' valuations are on
the rise but are not yet hit-
ting numbers found in other
' ,major Texas cities.
Property tax rates and average home values
Property tax rates per$100 of valuation and the average 2003
' home values for some Texas cities:
City Rate/$100 Average
Home Value*
' Arlington .....................64.8 cents ............$123,701
Austin ........................49.2 cents ............$175,100
Azle ..........................69.1 cents ............$98,990
Bedford ......................38.9 cents ...........$145,306
Benbrook .....................76.2 cents ...........$116,849
Blue Mound .................. .54.4 cents ............$65,282
Colleyville ........... ..........34.7 cents ............$313,631
Crowley.... .. ... . ... .... ......65.7 cents ............$97,722
t Dallas ........ ................69.9 cents ...........$150,865
Dalworthington Gardens ........26.7 cents .. ....$281,668
Edgecliff Village ...............28.7 cents .............$97,179
EI Paso ........................71.9 cents ............$76,600
Euless ....::::.::::...:.. ....49.5 cents ...::..::..$118,656
Everman ...88.4 cents .............$61,401
Forest Hill .....................97.0 cents .. ...$57,995
Fort Worth ....................86.5 cents .............$91,109
' Grapevine .....................36.6 cents ...........$180,502
Haltom City ...................52.0 cents .. ....$78,021
Haslet ........................34.5 cents .. ....$179,313
Houston ......................65.5 cents ............$127,740
Hurst .........................49.9 cents ............$121,270
' Keller ........................43.8 cents ...........$207,018
Kennedale ....................73.2 cents .. ...$119,225
Lake Worth ....................31.4 cents ............$63,735
Lakeside............ ..........29.8 cents ............$118,517
' Mansfield......................71.0 cents ...........$153,649
North Richland Hills ............57.0 cents .............$127,511
Pantego ......................40.0 cents ...........$132,527
Pelican Bay ...................87.5 cents ............$45,231
' Richland Hills .................42.8 cents ..:::... ...$85,241
River Oaks ....................78.2 cents .. ...$58,184
Saginaw ......................54.0 cents ...........$104,543
San Antonio ................... 57.8 cents ............$93,637
' Sansom Park ................. .49.0 cents ............$42,267
Southlake.....................46.2 cents ...........$375,095
Watauga .......................58 cents ............$93,407
Westover Hills .....................52 cents ............$808,750
' Westworth Village ...............50 cents ......:....$57,794
White Settlement ..61.8 cents ...$56,508
*Based on single-family residential property
SOURCE:Tarrant Appraisal District and City of fort Worth
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MAYOR
F1 AYOR CIT}'COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRI111 IIENNIG MCKAMIE RIDG117A1'(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS 111LHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARI'REF ANIMAL CNTR
D.tTEDISTKIBUTED 114 0`1 DATEOFARTICLE O�' NEII'SPAPER FIF'ST
Summer Santa Colleyville Mayor Joe Ho- Overall Team Champion
cuff won with a 39.That Federal Heath Sign Co.(Ger-
marks the third time in seven ald Graham,Michael Hopens,
bi �IJt winner
���, years at my Yankee Cowboy Larry Angel,Eugene Duff).
gg �/�/1 Miniature Golf&Bowling Team Golf Champion
l�+ e� p Tournament for Summer San- Weinberger's Deli(Michael
into lA1 nU, f�nt ta's children's camp fund that Covert,Chase Wilson,Jeff
a Colleyville mayor has won Weinberger,Clint McNutt).
the mayor's division.Former
Congratulations to Yankee Mayor Donna Arp won twice. Team Bowling Champion
ImCon
9 An elated Hocutt joked that Bates Container(Emmett
Cowboy Miniature Golf& ColleyvillePerkins,Kharnsay Inthavong,
BowlingTournament winners as well mayors`spend our
time in Watauga putt-putting." David Lynn,Tom Sparks).
tt-
as the top schools in the toy drive, The event was held t- MVP for Top Volunteer
both benefiting Summer Santa. Brunswick Watauga Lanes. Vicki Maloney of Keller.
Haltom City's Calvin White Blindfold Hole-in7One
At the Mayors'Shootout at High placed second,and Euless' Winner Brady Chronister,age
Noon miniature golf tournament Satur- Mares Lib Saleh was a close 9,of Keller,who wins a bicy-
day,we had two players with a com- third. cle.
bined age of 168 years.That's older Other mayors competing Chamber Golf Champion
than the sport. were Bedford's Rick Hurt, Northeast Tarrant Chamber of
Blessedly Richland Keller's Julie Tandy,South- Commerce(Bob Hamilton,
Hills mayoral candi- lake's Andy Wambsganss(last Drew Nelson,David Nelson,
dates C.F.Kelley and year's winner),Watauga's Har- Richard Kittrey).
Oliver Pettit Jr.,both ry Jeffries and Westlake's Chamber Runner-up Fort
84 years young,did Scott Bradley. Worth Chamber/North
not shoot their age.In Filling in for absent mayors Branch(Andrew Manetcon,
real golf,that's a great were Hurst councilman and Chris Jekel,Dwight Butts,
t thing.In miniature Finayoral candidate Richard Darby Hall).
Dave ` golf,it's not. Ward,North Richland Hills Police Golf Champion
Kelley,a former mayoral candidate Suzette Southlake Police(Chief Mar-
IN OPINION mayor running for his Christopher,Trophy Club
old seat against incumbent Nelda Councilwoman Bev Foley and
Stroder,who also competed,would have Haslet Councilman Bobby
won the tournament with his stunning Brown.
score of 35,one under par.Except logic Now let's reveal the tourna-
dictates you ought to be a sitting mayor merit winners and also the
to win the coveted mayor's trophy. school winners of the 2004
toy drive.Trophies for every-
one below! i
faw
i
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AIAYOR CITYCOUN-CIL CITYATTORNEY GRIM HENNIG MChAMIE RIDGFVAI'(2) BOYETT
'YOUNG Alc•DONALD COLLL\'S liILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARI'REF ANIAIAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED l 1(,4 DATE OF ARTICLE 2111164 NEbVSPAPER FIVST
Swinging success Nelson of North Richland
The Yankee Cowboy Minia- Hills(new tournament record
ture Golf& Bowling Tourna- of 31,5 under par).
ment for Summer Santa raised Female Adult Golfer
almost$20,000 to send area Cheryl Troub of Watauga.
children in need to summer Male Adult Bowler David
' camps. Several thousand toys Horner of Fort Worth.
were collected for summertime Female Adult Bowler Jerri
distribution to a dozen area Hill of Watauga.
charities.Summer Santa is Best Mom Golfer Brooke
' Northeast Tarrant County's Wing of Keller.
largest all children's Best Mom Bowler Cindy
2 ; charity.For more information, y
visit www.summersanta.org Morrow of Grand Prairie.
Winners of the toy drive
lin Price,Rusty Daniels,Mike are:
s yv3. Kenny,Jim Polley).
District Champ Hurst-Eu-
Police Golf Runner-up less-Bedford.Keller Police(Chief Mark
Toy Champ Central Junior
Hafner,Jack Phillips,Tommy High in H-E-B,a six-time
Williams,Jeff Stafford).
champion.
Fire Golf Champion South-
Top Financial Donor
lake Firefighters(Chief Robert H-E-B district.
w: Finn,Mike Leonard,Randy Most Improved School
Mudd,Mike Starr). Justin
' ' •• 7 Elementary,Northwest
' Fire Golf Runner-up Euless District.
Firefighters(Assistant Chief Most Improved District
u' Robert Isbell,George Buttler, Birdville.
STAR TELEGRAM/DAVE LIEBER
Kyle McGonigal,George Best Birdville School Rich-
Colleyville Mayor Joe Hocutt,left,receives the trophy for the Mayors' Grim). land Middle.
Shootout miniature golf contest from last year's winner, Southlake Church Champion St.Eliz- Best Carroll School Carroll
Mayor Andy Wambsganss. abeth Ann Seton Catholic High.
' Church(Rick Hay,Randy Best Grapevine-Colleyville
Pugh,Doug Wagner). School O.C.Taylor Elemen-
Male Child Bowler Jerod tom'•
Sawyer of Fort Worth. Best H-E-B School Central
Female Child Bowler Junior High
Madeline Oujesky of North Best Keller School Park
Richland Hills. Glen Elementary.
Male Child Golfer Dakota Best Northwest School
' Wing of Keller. Justin Elementary.
Female Child Golfer Sen- Best High School Carroll
tell Dickson of Fort Worth. High.
' Male Youth Bowler An- Best Junior High Central
drew Allen of North Richland Junior High.
Hills. Best Elementary Park Glen
Female Youth Bowler Ash- Elementary.
ley Rawls of Keller. Thanks to everyone who
Male Youth Golfer Chase participated.
Dave l ieber's column appears Sun-
Female Youth Golfer Traci Wilson of Grapevine. days,Tuesdays and Fridays.
'
Troub of Watauga. (817)685-3830.
dlieber@star-telegram.com
Male Adult Golfer David www.yankeecowboy.com
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY CRIAI HENNIG NIChA,111E RIDGffAY(?) BOIFTT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS fVIL1IITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADAIIN LIBRARYREF ANIALli C:VTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED -D / C "�" DATE OFARTICLE t;/ /4C4 NEff'SPAPE f m•�� r i
OP-ED
by Senator Jane Nelson
Gambling not the solution
for public education
You have all heard of the Trojan horse. There is a Trojan VLT(the
acronym for video lottery terminals)pounding at the doors of our state
capitol.
The forces of gambling have dressed up the Video Lottery Terminal as
a gift to the Legislature.They have spent more than$4.1 million trying
to make it look appealing and harmless.And they are asking us to let
them in the gate.
We are being told that this is just about some slot machines at dog and
horse tracks. But make no mistake about it. They are trying to bring
big-time casino gambling to Texas.And it is time we start calling things
by their right name.
The acronym VLT should stand for Very Little Truth because the facts
do not support most of the arguments being made in their favor.
They say VLTs are going to save education.The same was said about
the Lottery and look where it has gotten us.
They say VLTs are going to save the horse industry. Yet if you walk
into a track where slots have been added,the seats are empty and the
slots are full.
They say VLTs are going to benefit the economy,but in reality they
would create an economic loss.
—$170 million to fight increased crime
—$104 million in new regulatory expenses
—and$2.1 billion in lost wages,productivity,suicides and increased
state services that will be needed problem or compulsive gamblers.
These machines are not built to lose money.In fact,each machine will
take in about$65,000 a year.And that comes from someone's household
budget.
How are we going to look into the face of a child whose parent gambled
away their financial independence?Are we going to tell that child that
this was the best way to pay for his or her education?
It is not too late for us to turn this session around. It is not too late to
return our focus to where it is truly needed — on our students, our
teachers and the local taxpayers. . .who are looking to the Legislature
for real solutions to our public education challenges.
Gambling is not the solution.In gambling,the House always wins.We
want the students of Texas to win.
Senator Jane Nelson,R-Lewisville,was a classroom teacher and served
two terms of the State Board of Education before being elected to the
Texas Senate.The statistics cited in this article are from a report entitled
"Don't Mess with Texas - Pocketbooks" prepared by William N.
Thompson, Ph.D., Professor of Public Administration, University of
Nevada-Las Vegas.