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Home My WebLink About2005-11-23 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTOR'VEY CR11V HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT UNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANLYIAL CNTR r DA TE DISTRIB UTED DATE OF ARTICLE �� // L'� NEWSPAPER F6VST ' Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) November 11, 2005 ' Section: Metro Edition: NortheastE Page: B1 ' Final project in road bond plan may start soon ELLENA F. MORRISON ' STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER EULESS—Years after receiving strong voter approval, the final road project in the city's $13.5 million 1998 bond program appears ready to begin before the end of the year. Much like the earlier Harwood Road and Main Street projects, plans call for widening and V ' beautifying West Pipeline Road and Raider Drive. Construction on the combined $5.8 million project could begin as early as December and take roughly 10 months. This week, the City Council unanimously approved JLB Contracting of Fort Worth to do the work. ' This project could determine the overall success of the bond program. The Harwood Road project ran about a year behind schedule, angering many business owners who complained that construction drove away customers. However, the widening of Main Street finished on time and without many complaints—thanks in part to an extensive city advertising campaign to remind residents to shop Main Street. "We worked our problems out on Harwood," said Councilman Cad Tyson, whose accounting practice is along Harwood Road. Now a two-lane asphalt road, West Pipeline Road will be widened to a four-lane concrete roadway with underground drainage, medians and left-turn lanes from Euless Boulevard to Raider Drive. No businesses and few houses front this section of Pipeline Road. Raider Drive will be widened from two lanes to three from South Pipeline Road to Euless Boulevard and will feature a continuous turn lane in the middle. "It will be a whole lot safer for people who drive the road at midnight in the rain with a firetruck bearing down on them," Mayor Mary Lib Saleh said. "It's happened to me." ' Because Central Junior High is along Pipeline Road, city officials are putting together a route for children to get to and from school during construction. Other major roads—such as Hospital Parkway, Central Drive and Westpark Way—will be left open during construction. City officials said they will hold a neighborhood meeting before construction begins to discuss the project with residents and pass out contact information. Next, city officials will turn their attention to Baze Road near the north end of the city. Although not part of the 1998 bond program, it is the final street in the city that needs major repair. "It's been a long time, but I am proud that not only will we complete those three big projects, but we are going to finish on budget," City Manager Joe Hennig said. Ellena F. Morrison, (817) 685-3888 emorrison@star-telegram.com ' MAP: RAOD CONSTRUCTION STAR-TELEGRAM TIM BEDISON i DISTRIBUTED TO: PA., A MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR 1 _ DATE DISTRIBUTED a- ' D S DATE OFARTICLE �� /� /� NEWSPAPER DMN AREA BRIEFS ' EULESS ' City celebrates Veterans Day with park dedication In celebration of Veterans Day, Euless will dedicate Veterans Field on Saturday as the latest ad- dition to the Parks at Texas Star. Veterans Field has four Little League fields and is the third phase of the parks at 1501 S.Pipe- line Road. The field will be dedi cated to veterans from all branch- es of the military during an event starting at 10:30 a.m.,with the of- ficial dedication at 11 am.-During - the dedication, veterans will be recognized. A convoy of World War II planes will fly over, and a , new piece of public art will be un- veiled. The event will commence with a Euless Athletic Association Little League game. The event is free and open to the public. Call 817-685-1429 for more informa- tion. .rll 49 .r w11 r FISTRIBUTED TO: PAGELOF AIAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RID6WAY(2) BOYETT rVN6 MCDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRAR Y AD'A/IIN LIBRARY REF ANLVIAL CNTR DA TEDISTRIBUTED-_ZZ_Z��q DATE OF ARTICLE ��y /�5 NEWSPAPER F6YST t M BUSINESS: WORK FACES Betsy Boyett,John Dawson, ' John Fletcher,Julie Thompson,:' Kimberly Whitton,Kristl Evans, Rebecca Barksdale,Steve John- son,Norma Zenk,Darian Lock- wood and Marge Wellman have been named to the 2005-2006 HEB Chamber of Commerce Lead- ership Class. 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE/OFL 81 MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCK4tV11E RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADIIIIN LIBRARYREF ANLVIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED- Z)S DATE OF ARTICLE TJ J NEWSPAPER FWST Your voicecan count Area leaders who support a regionwide rail system plan to meet Dec.6 in Irving.Elected representatives in cities across the Metroplex arc,being encour- aged to attend: ` So how can an ordinary per- son register his or her,voice in the debate? Find out who's attending the .Dec.6 meeting as your city's .representative and get in touch with that person.In Euless,for . example,that person is Mayor Mary Lib Saleh.In Fort Worth,a safe bet is Councilwoman Wendy Davis.In Arlington,try.council + members Kathryn Wilemon or . Steve McCollum. Supporters envision 260 miles of interconnected rail lines across r the region. �R rri .r rr .r rr USTRIBUTED TO: PA,IOF� MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAIVIIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT UNG McDONALD COLLINSWILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR r DATE DISTRIBUTED / / �/6 S DATE OFARTICLE /v S NEWSPAPER FWST ' AUTO EMISSIONS .'Dri*ve- ouanesl F erose ' ■The proposal is among the strat- Here are other things the region a hicles with poor gas mileage ratings. egies that the North Central Texas might do to get out of trouble with the ■Provide free or discounted rail -Council of Governments is consid- Environmental Protection Agenty: transit passes to residents who live ering to reduce emissions. ■Build more bicycle and walking along rail corridors and meet income trails separate from automobile rights requirements. STAR-TELEGRAM TAxr Fcxnzrt STAFF WRITER SGORDON DICKSON of way,and ask employers to set aside a ■Increase toll road rates during bu- place for bicycle commuters to store sy times of day to encourage off-peak- One day,North Texans might have bikes,shower and make minor repairs. travel. to park and walk into a restaurant, ■Allow drivers of low-emissions ■Update traffic signals to reduce rather than idle in a drive-through line, cars to use high-occupancy-vehicle idling at intersections. to get a favorite combo meal. and toll lanes for free or at a discount. ■Allow transit customers to ride A ban on drive-through services at ■Increase the number of courtesy buses or trains for free during ozone restaurants,banks,pharmacies,clean- patrol employees who remove disa- alert days, and anytime during off- ers and other businesses is among 57. bled vehicles from freeway shoulders. peak hours. strategies being studied by the North ■Invest in technology to get instant ■Eliminate the law that allows ve- Central Texas Council of Govern- traffic information to motorists,espe- hicles 24 years or older to skip the an ments.Such a ban could remain in ef- cially truckers. nual emissions inspection,and instead fect during the summer ozone season. ■Expand AirCheck Texas,the pro- require the inspection on any pre-1975 The Metroplex is under pressure gram in which residents who meet in- model except registered antiques. from the federal government to reduce come requirements can receive automobile emissions,a major source vouchers up to$600 to repair vehicles ONLINE:To read the plan,go to of air pollution. that fail the state inspection,or$1,000 wwwdfwcleanair.com and follow the link to The proposed ban would probably toward the purchase of a replacement the state implementation plan. be fought by businesses.But not all of car. Gordon Dickson,(817)685-3816 the 57 strategies are as controversial. ■Raise taxes on the purchase of ve- gdickson@Scar-tetegram.com h ' IF Y, 'z h STAR-TELEGRAM/IAN McVEA Drivers line up outside a Chik-fil-A store in Euless at lunchtime on Friday. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGELOF� AIA YOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANLIIAL CNTR J DATE DISTRIBUTED_Z�&2 LJ DATEOFARTICLE l NEWSPAPER F6YST STATE & REGION BRIEFS "Three Im'en rob Thai Laos"market EULESS Three men over- powered a manager at the Thai Laos Oriental Market on Wednes- day afternoon and taped her " hands before stealing an un- known amount of cash from the register,police said.The manager' told investigators that the men were not carrying weapons but used the"threat of force,"Capt. Harland Westmoreland said.The men.entered the store about 2 p.m.and later walked away. -Caren M.Penland r 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGELOF� MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAM1E RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT ,YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIAIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l f r 3/d S DATE OFARTICLE /� -7 /0 NEWSPAPER DMN Euless honors volunteers ' at recognition dinner . The city of Euless recognized outstanding volunteers during its recent Volunteer of the- Year Awards dinner. Billy Owens was selected as the Volunteer of the Year.North Main BBQ earned the ' Business of the Year award. Dr. Gayla Mass,Chick-fil-A and Star- bucks all earned honorable men- tions in the business category.Bill ' and.Boyce Byers received the Life- time Contribution Award. t DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ` OF l ' AIA YOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRLVI HENNIG MCKAA,1JE RIDGWAY(2) BDYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ' DATE DISTRIBUTED II /;,?,3 0,5 DATE OF ARTICLE D�� NEWSPAPER DMN AREA BRIEFS- Er ULESS RIEFS-FULESS ' Float entries sought for Christmas parade Float registration is under way for the 12th annual Euless Christ- mas hrist mas Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The theme is "Christmas Around the World."The deadline to register is lbesday.Registration ' is free. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. For informa- ,tion, call Michael Davenport at 817-685-1662. .r 1 a ow ..i .r FISTAIBUTED TO: PAGE/OF / ' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBR4RYREF ANLVIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l /a3/cs DATE OF ARTICLE14LWI-vZ 7 NEWSPAPE 5!11mss �P 5 S Anicia D. Brown Owner, Starlight Performing Arts Theatre and School �ti � k gi 6w ' nicia Brown has come a long way from the dirt-floor high choir, not even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer but in the Philippines where she was born. in September 2004, says her husband Michael. �A "As you can imagine, this can take a real toll on a person's Thirty-eight years later and more than 8,000 miles away,she ability to perform their job,"he says of his wife's cancer and the ' opened her own theater and acting school, Starlight Performing subsequent treatments. "However, Anicia has not missed a Arts, in Euless,Texas.. beat. Brown moved to Delaware when she was 5 years old, then - He says that she had to be away from the theater for five days ' moved to Illinois and stayed there until she turned 18. She got into theater when she was about 10;she says, because her aunt, right after her reconstructive surgery; but she never canceled a a senior in high school at the time, had the lead role in a play. show, rehearsal, class or event at the theater due to her condi- Her aunt was her inspiration. tion. He says that she never betrayed her passion,and it got her Brown recalls her start in performing arts, "In junior high, I where she-is now. got caught singing in the bathroom and the teacher put me in Starlight Performing Arts school has students as young as 4 the choir." years old. Currently, the theater does shows two weekends a ' From there,she went on to perform in choir,plays and musi- month. cals in high school.After high school,she was offered a scholar- "We do lots of children's productions to get kids involved," ship to Berkley Performing Arts University, but turned it down ' to go to Japan with her family, where she directed several plays, she says. "We try to make them all family-oriented.' including Grease and The Wizard of Oz. The Browns have been married for eight years. They have She moved back to Texas after three years in Japan and ended two children,Aja, 18, and Leland, 7. ' up in Dallas. - I Brown hasn't stopped performing since she joined her junior —Nici Sandberg I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBR4RYREF ANLVIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 11/a� DATE OF ARTICLE / /a S NEWSPAPER FWST WORK FACES Honors Billy Owens has been selected as the City of Euless Volunteer of the Year.Other award winners: North Main Bar-B-0.Business of the Year;Dr.Gayla Maas,Chick- fil-A and Starbucks,honorable mentions;Bill and Boyce Byers, Lifetime Contribution Award for their numerous contributions to the city. IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE_JOF MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RI00WAY(2) BOYETT IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS iVILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBR4RYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED DATE OF ARTICLE 'o-S NEWSPAPER FYVST www.star-telegram.com z -]Zeal Estate 1 LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS ' Acme Brick day through Friday,and from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m.Saturday. consolidates into ��Ihe masonry garden is ' new Sh '"TOOM ` "always open. s+ —Sandra Baker Fort Worth-based Acme Brick Co"celebrating its: ' 114th year,has consolidated its Fort Worth and Dallas. showrooms into an expan- sive new facility at 801 Air- port Freeway in Euless. The new location is just west of the south entrance to ' Dallas/Fort Worth Air- port. It has a 3,500-square-foot showroom and a 12,500- square-foot masonry garden, where residential and com- mercial customers can select brick styles for their building ' projects. The showroom,the build-, ing's exterior and the mason- ry garden were designed to display different bricklaying methods,Dennis Knautz, Acme's president and chief ' executive,said in a state- ment. "We expect this to be- come the Metroplex destina- tion for anyone who thinks about brick,"he said. The brick-walled show- room has an array of Acme ' brick color selections,with large plasma televisions showing complete residen- tial and commercial installa- tions,for example. The masonry garden fea- tures clay brick pavers in a e variety of shapes,colors, textures and patterns,the company said. The showroom is open from 8 a.m.to 5:30 p.m.Mon- DISTRIBUTED T0: PAGE�OF� IYIAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCK41YIIE RIDGYVAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRMRYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANLYIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED DATE OF ARTICLE_// NEWSPAPER FFVST AM Charlie Bernice Baker a`k TYLER—Charlie Bernice Baker, 81,died Monday,Nov.21,2005,in Tyler. Funeral:2 p.m.Friday at Bluebon- net Hills Funeral Home Memorial Cha- pel.Visitation:6 to 8 p.m.Wednesday and one hour prior to service at Blue- bonnet Hills Funeral Home. Memorials:In lieu of flowers,dona- tions may be made to Hospice of East Texas,4111 University Blvd.,Tyler,Tex- as 75701. ., Charlie was a longtime resident of Euless before moving to Tyler four years ago. From Tyler, she moved to Hide- away Lake.She enjoyed collecting an- .. tiques,traveling and cooking. Survivors:Son,Bobby Baker and wife, Tenia; daughters, Sandra Hicks, Debi Chesney and husband, Andy; granddaughters,Kerry Barnes,Tiffany Sweatman and Holly Haven; grand- sons, John Heilman and- Brandon Hicks; seven great-grandchildren;and numerous nieces,nephews and cous- ins. Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Colleyville,(817)498-5894 View and sign guestbook at www.star-telegraM.com/obituEries_ FISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF • MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT FOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRIRYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /l /a3/0 5 DATE OF ARTICLE / /-122/o NEWSPAPER FifST By DANIEL C.BARTEL SPECIAL TO THE STAR TELEGRAM Ricoehets EULESS — Ricochet Fuel Distributors lived up to its name in September as volatile fuel prices bounced it around a bit. • The company buys fuel from refineries and sells to companies that operate truck bumpy ridefleets or that maintain their own bulk fuel storage tanks. The company watched warily last year as oil climbed to$40 a barrel and then$50,try- ing to keep a slim profit margin as prices moved up and down in an increasingly vola- V-th ss fuel distributor scrambles to keep up tile market. volatile fuel prices in a tight market But when hurricanes hit the Gulf p to in August and September,and oil shot up to$65 and $70 a barrel, Ricochet found itself in a- tight spot. The first problem was keeping enough in- ventory on hand as wholesale prices jumped JENERGY by half. That meant that a$300,000 line of credit at a particular refinery would only buy two- ` : thirds of the volume it did in the weeks before the hurricanes. w "I was glad we have a good relationship with our bank.If not,we would've been in se- rious trouble,"said Kelly Roberts,president, chief executive and proprietor of the Euless company. z� Ricochet resells fuel to rental-car comps- �, ti y` Ky �� Hies, construction companies, electric utili- ties,any company that uses vehicles to move goods or provide services.Its f -'kr YyxrrfF 6-.s" ..c pr customers measure fuel pur- ; chases by the thousands of gallons. Ricochet buys fuel from refiners and wholesalers b the millions anon an Y gallons, d profits are measured by pen- nies—or less—on the gallon. For example, the average national wholesale price for regular unleaded gasoline in August was $1.93 per gallon, X. according to the Department of Energy.Tack on federal and state taxes and the price bumps up to$2.32.Costs for a DANIEL C.BARTEL/SPECIAL TO THE STAR TELEGRAM retailer or the reseller can be elly Roberts,CEO of Ricochet Fuel Distributors in Euless,sells and delivers gasoline to other compa- an additional 12 to 15 cents. ies.Ricochet is one of several resale fuel companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That leaves an average 3-cent per gallon profit for the aver- age price of$2.50 in August. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE � OF � MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAA11E RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRIRYREF ANhYIAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED / 5 DATE OFARTICLE ll �O5 NEWSPAPER FPVST In Ricochet's case, a cus- Association. The difference tomer typically calls in an oz-, between the wholesale: and der for next-day delivery. On _;.retail costs per gallon is small delivery day,a Ricochet truck after factoring in tax and over goes to the refinery and picks head. up the fuel,which is when Ric- Right now, Ricochet's sev- ochet's cost is set. If prices en employees service more jump 20 cents a gallon from than 100 clients in Texas with , one day to the next,or over a plans to branch out to other period of hours as it did in states. September,profit margins can As fuel prices rose in Sep- be wiped out or worse. tember, Roberts renegotiated "In a normal market,it's no lines of credit and worked to big deal," Roberts said. "Buti ensure that the company had when the market is volatile, enough cash on hand to pay ' prices can change every cou- the bills. ple of hours." By the end of October,pric Ricochet officials said in- es had stabilized and wholo- veritories were averaging sale prices for refined gaso 2 million gallons per month dine had fallen dramatically as and rising. refineries along the Gulf Although they get hardly a Coast came back on line,said ' whisper in terms of publicity, Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst resellers are ubiquitous. As with the Oil Price Information many as 700resellers, from Service. small mom-and-pop busi- In fact, most resellers will nesses to multimillion-dollar look back to October as one of. companies, operate in Texas. their best months,Kloza said. From 20 to 50.resellers oper- "The resale business has an ate in the Metroplex alone,ac- irregular heartbeat right ' cording to the Texas Petro- now," he said."A sweet spot leum and Convenience Store can turn into a sour spot pret- Association. ty quickly." Most of them are just as di- Still,Roberts and her small versified as Ricochet, selling band are ready. other products such as motor "DFW is a tremendous oil,antifreeze,temporary fuel place to do business,"Roberts tanks and fleet-service credit said."If you can't make it here, cards. you won't make it anywhere." Roberts got into the busi- Daniel C.Bartel is a Grapevine- ness with a degree in market- based free-lance writer ing and management and a job at Texaco representing the company to its customers,in- cluding resellers. She launched Ricochet in 1988 with a single sale,and the company has grown ever since. Gross revenue has in- ' creased an average 30 percent in the past three years, she said. The company grossed $17 million in 2003, $24 mil- lion in 2004, and is expected to do$30 million in 2005. The resale business thrives ' on pennies,lots of them,said Linton Allred, executive vice president of the Texas Petro- leum and Convenience Store