HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-15 Euless Articles 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF J
MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
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1 Iffi;L
Incoming THT Chair Samuels
Brings Experience, Enthusiasm
arold + Future Challenges adequate health care coverage
Samuels, u "I became involved in health care places a great burden, especially
immediate 4 governance in part because of my on safety net hospitals, and will
past chairman of x a "`�' son-in-law," Samuels says. "He is an be something that hospitals must
the board of JPS orthopedic surgeon and was serving address. Particularly in a fast-
Health Network a residen at JPS Health Network, growing area like Texas, the strain
residency
and a former When he and our daughter were is even more severe.Certainly, it is
mayor of Euless, digbuilding a home, they lived with us a sensitive subject.We also must
is not a person A for about six months. He and I would be willing to work to find solutions
' who does things Samuels visit about health care and I found the that will work for everyone."
"halfway." He has been involved in challenges and details riveting.Not A former mayor, city councilman
public service in a variety of venues long after that, County Commissioner and district director for Congressman
' for more than 30 years. Glen Whitley called and said there Joe Barton,Samuels strongly
With each commitment,he has was an opening on the hospital board advocates being involved in the
jumped in whole-heartedly. When he and would I be interested in serving?" political processes in our state and
' took on the commitment to improve He continues, "I had no back- national capitols. He emphasizes,
amenities for city residents in Euless, ground, but was a willing learner. My "Hospitals, and public hospitals in
he remained mayor.for 25 years. When son-in-law had piqued my interest particular, are not receiving adequate
' he became a health care board member and the rest is history.Today, I think funding. We must work with our
in 1997,he immersed himself in those of us who serve in health care elected officials on a regular basis and
governance education, learning the governance have a profound see that money is fairly allotted to
' complex world of reimbursement, opportunity to make a difference. hospitals and not put in a multi-use
regulation and quality care. He wasIt is tremendously rewarding to help general fund.
chairman of the board of Fort Worth's people receive health care. If we can We can accomplish those goals
' JPS Health Network from 2001 to 2005 hold costs down and raise quality, we by visiting and talking to our elected
and continues to serve as an active are performing a tremendous service officials. By building strong relation-
board member. Samuels has served for our communities. ships, we can keep health as e
' on the Texas Healthcare Trustees "Yet, we face significant challenges issues on the top of their agendas.
board since 2001.Now, he turns his every day from reimbursement to I encourage all trustees to join the
enthusiasm and commitment to a new physician relations.As soon as one Trustee Network of Texas and get
' role this year. In September, he will problem is solved, another one involved in advocacy efforts."
begin serving as chairman of THT for arises.' Education
2006-07.
Samuels also is a strong proponent
"I look forward to working Funding Issues at Forefront of trustee education. "The hospital
' together and reaching out to trustees Samuels isarticular) concerned
across the state. C►ur challenges as p y business is not a narrow tributary to
g about hospital reimbursement. navigate," he says. "It is wide and deep,
health care trustees are significant, "Funding continues to be and trustees have much to learn.As a
and it is vital that we all take on problematic for hospitals because
p p health care board member, I always
active roles in education and
health care costs continue to rise made it a point to attend the THT
advocacy to meet the challenges and the influx of uninsured or
' ohospitals face. ether, forums as well as national educational
our hos Working g to g underinsured continues to events each year. I would like to see
we can find solutions to thrive,not increase," he says. "This great
just survive." influx of persons without
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD CCOLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
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# l}oR' With more than three decades of
bi
+�7 community service experience, Samuels
brings a wealth of service and business
' � expertise to his new role. Besides 1
his service at JPS Health System,
Samuels is past board chairman of
MedBusiness.com in Bryan, and
1
�'. president and co-owner with his
wife of Samuels&Associates, a
manufacturers' representative firm 1
p ,A2 located in Euless. He also is a member
�- of the Euless Civil Service Commission
and Industrial Development Board. 1
Long known for his civic and
°l community endeavors, Samuels
recently was honored with the 1
Northeast Tarrant County Leadership
Incoming Chairman Harold Samuels(right)thanks outgoing Forum's Distinguished Leadership
Chairman Peggy Allison. Award for 2006. 1
more hospital board members, perhaps Samuels has been married for 51
through their CEOs, take advantage of years to his wife,Tommie, and has
THT educational opportunities. three children. Warren Samuels 1
"One of the most important things is a Baptist minister in Dallas, and
we can do is to continue to learn. I H. Scott Samuels owns a construction
encourage trustees to place a priority on company in Euless.A former
their education. Health care today is a schoolteacher, daughter Carole
complex business, and we will never Samuels Ellis is married to Jon Ellis,
know it all.THT brings in nationally an orthopedic surgeon in Waco.The 1
noted speakers each year, and the Samuels have been blessed with six
quality and topics are among the best grandchildren.
education offered anywhere.I urge you 1
to bring your entire board to these
sessions.You won't be disappointed.
You,your hospitals and your '
community will benefit."
More Involvement
"I would like to see more participation 1
in THT from all of our state's health
care facilities," Samuels continues.
"Both rural and urban facilities 1
can benefit from THT educational
programs and advocacy efforts.
I aim to seek out and encourage 1
non-participating board members to
become involved in our organization,
especially in smaller and rural
hospitals with limited budgets for
education and travel."
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'MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG MCDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYAD IN LIBRARYREF AIYIMAL,CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED S wst DATE OFARTICLE u c , NEWSPAPER 1r�a ee
' ewly elected officers and members of the Texas
Healthcare Trustees Board of Directors were installed
Aug. 4 at the THT Summer Forum. The THT Board
of Directors consists of chairman, chairman-elect,secretary
and treasurer, eight district representatives and four at-large
members. The 2006 election was conducted by mail ballot
in July.TNT's members elected officers, representatives of
districts and two at-large members.
THT's Board of Director's officers include:
CHAIRMAN
' Harold D. Samuels,a former mayor and city councilman
of Euless, is the immediate past chairman of JPS Health
Network in Fort Worth. Prior to joining the JPS board in
1997, he served as district director for U.S. Congressman
Joe Barton.He is president of Samuels&Associates, a
manufacturers' representative firm in Euless. Long active
' in civic and political affairs,he has served as a member of
the Mayors'Advisory Committee to the Governor of Texas,
and currently is a member of the Civil Service Commission
' and Industrial Development Board in Euless.He served as
mayor and city councilman of Euless for 25 years.
THT Installs2006w07
1 Board of Directors
77
1
yK'
I
Members of the THT board are pictured duringthe 2006 Summer Forum held in San Antonio Aug
g and 5-
1
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
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DATE DISTRIBUTED l DATE OF ARTICLE 7 1-3 / NEWSPAPER FWST
BIZ BUZZ
Newborn acquisition
Dallas-based nanny place-
ment agency Mom's Best
Friend has purchased the
Euless-based nanny agency
We Care Nannies&Beyond,
according to information from
the companies.
Jo and John Lambert have
owned and operated We Care
Nannies&Beyond since 1997. 3
Kim Winblood is the presi-
dent of Mom's Best Friend,
which has placed nannies in
the homes of 10,000 Texas 3
families. w.
The fast-growing Mom's
Best Friend has offices in
Austin,Dallas and Houston.
The acquisition will extend
the company's reach to more
of the Fort Worth side of the
Metroplex.
Andrea fares,817-548-5522
alares@star-telegram.com
a
aw
t
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IMAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED G G DATE OF ARTICLE 9 A/A � NEWSPAPER FWST
i Nt M
NORTHEAST CLICK
x
1 R
1
L
Joe Beach,Michele Beach and Reenie Shore
1
1 .
Michael Davenport,Robert Bonadurer and Suzanne Hendrickson
tij; bx� i
Y y,b4,
4
Ann Garretson Doris Hammond
and Steve McCollough and Billie Mullinax
Learning under the stars
The city of Euless and the University of Texas at Arlington planetarium
present"Stars Over Euless"at Bob Eden Park.
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/D.J.PETERS
1
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
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AREA BRIEFS
EULESS
Hazardous materials to
be collected for disposal
Euless residents can safely dis-
pose of hazardous materials from
9 to 11 am."-Sept.23 at the Euless
Municipal Complex,201-N.Ector
Drive.The mobile collection unit,
Crud Crusader,can accept materi-
al from 125 households.'After the
unit reaches its capacity,,residents
may deliver materials to the Envi-
ronmental Collection Center,
6400 Bridge. St. in east Fort
Worth. The collection center is
pp�n from 11 a,m.to 7 p.m,Thurs-
days and Fridays and 9a m.to 3
Saturdays.Proof of residency
such as a current utility bill is re-,
ypired at both the Crud Cruiser
bAa collection center. For infor-
Ir4lion,including what materials
1U411 be accepted, call 817-685-
1410 or visit wwweuless.org/haz'
?q 11tm.
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'MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
' PROFESSOR BRAINIUS SHOW:The
Wacky world of science will be
explored with Professor Brainius at s
7:30 p.m.Sept.16 at the,Villages of
' Bear Creek Amph'itheater,1951 Beady
Creek Parkway in Euless.He will teach
children that learning about science is
fun,and will feature experiments,-fun'
' sing-a=longs and surprises.The eventl
is free and open to the public.For
i
information,call 817-685-1666 or go to
www.euless.org.
' MAD SCIENTIST PROGRAM:The Euless
Public Library will present dry ice fogs,
chemical magic and bubbling potions
during an interactive program with the
' Mad Scientist at 2 p.m.Saturday at the.
library,201 N.Ector.The program is
free.For information,call 817-685-1679
or go to www.euless.org/library.
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
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DATE DISTRIBUTED l /y DATE OFARTICLE /(j / O ( NEWSPAPER FWST
NORTHEAST AFTER HOURS
Interactive science
EULESS-The"Mad Scientist"
will present an interactive science
program at 2 p.m.Saturday at the
Euless Public Library,201 N.Ector
Drive.
The free program is designed
for elementary school children.
817-685-1679.
Patriotic concert
EULESS-The Texas Old Guard
Fife&Drum Corps will-mark the
events of Sept.11,2001,with a
patriotic concert at 7 p.m.Monday
at the Euless Public Library,201 N.
Ector Drive.
The award-winning group was
formed in 1991.817-685-1679. 1
-Compiled by Joy Donovan
r
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'MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
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REGIONAL ROUNDUp
EULESS
Student accidentally
shot in eye with pellet
A student at Trinity High
School accidentally shot a class-
mate in the eye with a plastic pellet
Thursday after school,district offi-
cials said Friday. The victim,
whose name was not released,was
treated at a local hospital and was
' back in school Friday.Judy Everett
Ramos, a spokeswoman for the
Hurst-Euless-Bedford school dis-
trict, said the student who acci-
dentally fired the toy gun was
placed in the district's alternative
school. Ms. Ramos said the stu-
dents were in the school parking
lot waiting for an SAT prep class
when the accident occurred.Police
officials said no report was filed.
Je„f'Mosier
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGW4Y(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
1
DATE DISTRIBUTED S l C DATE OF ARTICLE C l l ' /L NEWSPAPER FWST
EULESS
Councilmen satvw I
* I
vote for employee enefits
,gim
-AA
Ar
n
Ott{1�
y a
:
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STAR-TELEGRAM/PAUL MOSELEY
Euless firefighter David Johnson,center,passes out fliers for,distribution to Keith Smiih,left,David Cooper and Jason Moon.
.r
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CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG NICAAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
,A1AYOR
YOUNG NIcDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADNIIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED C I S /L_ DATE OFARTICLE 9111 /C)6' NEWSPAPER FWST
City staffers are askingresidents
to back them Tuesday
when the council votes on the proposed budget again
By JESSICA DeLEON
STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER cents.The effective tax rate is
., the rate that would generate EULESS —Angry cit workers are
the same amount of revenue as
ks ,a x expected to swarm City Hall on Tues-
the previous year.
s 'a
day as City Council members vote The council has not yet vot-
F
again on a$10 million budget for em-
ed on the tax rate because the
ployee benefits that failed to pass last city charter requires that the
STAR-TELEGRAM/PAUL MOSELEY monthbudget be approved first.The
Johnson holds a stack of fliers be- Three council members, fighting council must set the tax rate by
f e going door to door. for a lower property tax rate, voted Sept.30,according to state law.
against the health and retirement ben- In an unusual move, the
you q0 1: efits — creating a tie as one council- council separated its budget
man abstained because of a conflict of vote Aug.29 because Council-
Euless City Council meeting interest.Motions fail on a tie vote. man Michael Brown is a for-
rove
Council-
Mm.,Tuesday,Euless City Hall,201- The council voted 4-3 to a
ctor Drive PP mer Euless police officer who
the rest of the $80.1 million proposed receives city benefits. On the
budget for the 2007 fiscal year. advice of the city attorney, he
The three councilmen who voted':' did not vote on the benefits
against the two budget motions said'. motion.
that the city's estimated revenues; Tyson said he hopes that the
would be enough to set the property four council members who
tax rate below.the rate proposed by Ci- support the proposed tax rate
ty Manager Joe Hennig. will change their position. He
But two of the councilmen said last said employee benefits will
week that they will now vote to ap- not be voted down a second
prove the benefits,with one saying he time.
sent the wrong I message to city em- ;. "It will never come down to
ployees. that,"he said.
Employees could go without health Miller, another dissenting
' insurance and retirement benefits!': councilman,noted the project-
starting
Oct. 1 if the council takes no n. ed revenue and said he wants
'
City workers say Euless'374 to be consistent on both the
l ' budget and the tax rate votes.
employees are being used as "I obviously sent the wrong
pawns in a dispute over how message to our employees_and
much to lower the tax rate.Ci-
ty employees are encouraging our citizens,"he said."There's
a large turnout at Tuesday's a second reading [vote], and
meeting. regardless of the tax rate,there
"This is political terror- will be, in my opinion, health
' ism," firefighter David John- and retirement benefits for the
son said last week at a im- employees."
promptu meeting of more than Porterfield was out of town
100 city workers at a local and could not be reached to
' church."Remember what hap- comment.
o Employees fanned across
ent."pene9-11. This is no differ- the city Thursday, placing
ent.
Hennig proposed a_tax rate bright yellow fliers on resi-
t of 48.95 cents per $100 of as- dents' doors that said"City of
as-
sessed value; the present rate Euless Employees Held Hos
-
is 49.17 cents. Four council tage"and listed the names and
members support the pro- phone numbers of the dissent-
posed rate. ing councilmen.
Three others — Charlie
Miller, Glenn Porterfield and
' Carl Tyson—want the rate set
at the effective tax rate, 47.21
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RI00WAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED l 5 /y DATE OFARTICLE 9 / l NEWSPAPER FWST
Budget vote w
The Euless City Council plans to h� j
vote Tuesday on whether to 1
vin
approve 10 million in cit em-
ployee benefits.Several scenan w
s
+ os are possible,Assistant City
Manager Loretta Getchell said.
a The council is likely to first
d, vote on the second reading of
s� the$80.1 million budget that
4
f doesn't include the benefits. j
a Then the three council mem `
+i bers who voted against the
a 4 benefits can move to reconsider
that vote.If they do,and that
motion passes,then the council
can revote on the benefits.If all
vote in favor of the benefits,
then the budget process will be STAR-TELEGRAM/PAUL MOSELEY
Euless firefighter Jeremy
finished and the council can vote
on the tax rate. Goodman passes out fliers on
The city charter requires that Woodridge Circle.
wx �{ the budget be approved on two
,r`' � �� readings unless it is approved by at least five votes on the first
STAR-TELEGRAM/PAUL MOSELEY reading.If the benefits budget fails to get at least five votes in favor,
Euless firefighters Keith Smith,left,and Jeremy Goodman walk doorto then a second vote could take place at the same meeting.
door passing out fliers in the Morrisdale neighborhood. z If the vote to reconsider the benefits fails,the council could treat
the benefits as a new item and move for a first reading that night
and get a second reading Sept.19.
Other council members
were outraged by the benefits
vote.
"Stunned. Flabbergasted.
Disbelief," Councilman Leon
Hogg said. "I don't know how
else to explain it....Now if we
didn't have the money, that
would be something else."
Brown,who'worked for the
city for 26 years,described the
vote as"just unconscionable."
Mayor Mary Lib Saleh said
the three dissenting council-
men wanted to get their point
across and got caught up in the
heat of the moment.Saleh said
she was so surprised by the
vote that she lost her place in
the agenda.
"I think that we had a little
misunderstanding at the last
meeting, but knowing my
council,they'll come through,
and we'll have a great vote this
time," she said. "Everything
will be hunky-dory."
Jessica DeLeon,817-685-3932
ideleon@star-telegram.com
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CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
,MAYOR
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATEDISTRIBUTED q 1 1 S /o(_ DATE OFARTICLE 9 // / NEWSPAPER FWST
' KING TAUFNAHA -
U TUPOU IV 11918 2006
1 King Tongaof dies after
1
ruling for four decades
By PESI FONUA His son Crown Prince Tupouto
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS immediately ascended the throne.
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga— Ton- The royal family has ruled with
ga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, a absolute power since tribal groups
1
towering figure in the tiny Pacific on more than 170 Polynesian' is-
,Island nation for four decades,has lands united into a single kingdom
died in a New Zealand hospital,the in 1845.
government said today.He was 88. At age 14, King Tupou was one
His death ended one of the of Tonga's top athletes;he could
1
-world's longest reigns by a mon- pole vault more than 9 feet,played
arch in modern times.He ruled 41 tennis,cricket and rugby and also
years. rowed competitively in a racing
King Tupou died after a long, skiff.
1 unspecified illness in a hospital But like many of his country-
where he had spent most of the men, he became obese and re-
past several months, plunging the mained so for most of his adult life.
1 remote country into a mourning In the 1990s,King Tupou led his
„period expected to last for months, 108,000 people on a diet and exer-
the Tongan government said. cise regime aimed at cutting the
"The sun has set in the kingdom levels of fat in a nation where coco-
1 „of Tonga," said the formal death nut flesh and mutton flaps are die-
announcement. tary staples.
1
1
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
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EULESS
Leave workers out of it
■ In the heat of a political fight, Hall political battle.They were right.
three Euless councilmen apparently The Aug.29 council vote was part
lost the ability to see the impact of of a convoluted political drama.Cities
their votes. across Texas approve new budgets
and tax rates at this time every year.,
Longtime Euless City Council Euless City Manager Joe Hennig pro-
members Charlie Miller,Glenn Por- posed a 2007 budget carrying a tax
terfield and Carl Tyson clearly are rate of 48.95 cents per$100 of taxable
passionate about cutting taxes.So value,down from the current rate of
much so,it appears, 49.17 cents.Miller,Porterfield and
s>
that they let their Tyson long have advocated tax cuts,
passion get out of and they have pushed to further trim
control at an Aug.29 next year's rate to 47.21 cents.
council hearing and People who know how elected
they cast ill-consid- bodies work know that sometimes
ered votes against important issues are decided in pre-
paying for city em- liminary votes.In this case,the first
ployee health care vote was on the city budget minus ..+i
MILLER and other benefits. employee benefits.Not wanting to
Now,thanks to a support a budget that was built on a
well-orchestrated tax rate higher than they preferred,
campaign by fire- Miller,Porterfield and Tyson voted
fighters and other against Hennig's proposal.They lost,
3' city workers,at least 4-3,and that's the point where they
K two of these council should have realized that their cause
members have real- was hopeless.
ized the perilous The second vote was on the budget
position they have for employee benefits.It was held
PORTERFIELD put themselves and separately because Councilman Mi-
their
i their city in.The chael Brown is a former Euless police
issue comes up for officer and receives city benefits.He
another vote at to- can't vote on that issue because of the
night's council conflict of interest.
meeting.Tyson told Miller,Porterfield and Tyson stub-
Star-Telegram re- bornly stuck to their guns,and the
porter Jessica DeLe- vote on the employee benefits budget
on flatly that em- was 3-3.Measures fail when the vote
ployee benefits will is tied.
TYSON not be voted down a All of this is scheduled to come up
second time,and for reconsideration at tonight's coun-
Miller confessed that his previous cil meeting,along with a now-over-
vote"sent the wrong message to em- shadowed vote on the tax rate itself.
ployees." Nobody wants to see Euless employ-
City employees went door-to-door ees go without the benefits they de-
in Euless neighborhoods last week serve.Miller,Porterfield and Tyson
distributing yellow fliers saying they have painted themselves into a corner
were being"held hostage"in a City from which they must carefully exit.
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'MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DA TE DISTRIBUTED �l I� 5 L� DATEOFARTICLE r NEWSPAPER FWST
NORTHEAST AFTER HOURS
Professor Brainius
EULESS-Professor Brainius
will explore the wild and wacky side
of science in a show at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at The Villages of Bear
Creek Amphitheater,1951 Bear
Creek Parkway.
The free family show will in-
clude experiments and singalongs.
Professor Leo Xavier Brainius is
otherwise known as Scott Logan of
'
Euless.817-685-1662.
Authors' panel
EULESS-Five Texas authors
will be in the spotlight during
"Murder in Texas-Fact or Fiction"
at 7 p.m.Tuesday at the Euless
Public Library,201 N.Ector Drive.
The panel will include Bill Crider,
' creator of the Sheriff Dan Rhoades
mysteries,including the latest,A
Mammoth Murder,Harry Hunsick-
er,author of The Next Time You
Die and Still River;Carlton Stowers,
who has twice won the Mystery
Writers of America's Edgar Allan
Poe Award for Best Fact Crime
Book of the Year;Kathryn Casey,
author of She Wanted It All.A True
Story of Sex,Murder and a Texas
Millionaire,and Mike Cochran,a
noted crime reporter for the Star-
Telegram and author of Texas vs.
Davis.
The event is free and open to
the public.817-685-1400.
' -Compiled by Joy Donovan
1
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RID0WAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATEDISTRIBUTED Cj DATEOFARTICLE "111-31"_ NEWSPAPER FWST
without benefits beginning arguing that the city's esti-
CITY GOVERNMENT Oct.1. mated revenues would be
On Tuesday, the council enough to set the property
no- approved the budget without tax rate below the rate pro-
the benefits by a 5-2 vote,with posed by City Manager Joe
Glenn Porterfield switching Hennig.
his vote to yes and Charlie The current rate is 49.17
Miller and Carl Tyson still op- cents.
s. posed. A second and final reading
The council approved the and vote for the tax rate will
benefits 6-0,with Brown ab- take place Sept.26.The fiscal
staining again. year`begins Oct.1.
The council was chastised With the 48.95-cent rate,
by residents for about 30 min- the owner of an average-
City
Reyes,le t,Glen
Z utes,with members of the au- priced home would pay
City employees Juan.Reyes,left,Glen
Boyeet, Jared Kraft and Timothy dience heartily applauding $519.13, compared with
Johnson,wait to hear the City Coun- the more than 10 speakers. $509.85 last year.The average
cil's decision on employees'benefits. About 50 residents and em- assessed home value rose this
11 ployees signed cards indicat- year to$132,567 from$129,595,
E t,L1�SS OKs ung that they supported the city officials say. The figure
employees'benefits. includes a 20 percent home
Resident Boyce Byers, 67, stead exemption.
benefits for said she wanted to induct the
three opposing council mem- Jessica DeLeon,817-685-3932
hers into her "DB Club," jdeleon@star-telegram.com
which she said stands for
city workers "Dumbbutt Club."
City employees spoke of
■After last month's vote meant how the loss of benefits
that benefits would end Oct. ,1would affect their families'
Tuesday's council meeting draws health. Other speakers said
a large,vocal crowd. they would remember the
council members'vote during
By JESSICA DeLEbN election time.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER "I plead guilty to a severe
EULESS —After three council- lapse of judgment," Porter-
men apologized to an overflow field told the audience.
crowd, the City Council approved Miller said he made a bad
an $80.1 million budget Tuesday, decision and was sorry for the
ending a stalemate over city em- anxiety he caused.
ployees'healthcare and retirement "I think it's a. little late,"
benefits. Byers shot back from the au-
In separate motions,the council dience.
approved about$70 million and an The council also approved,
additional$10 million in employee 4-3, a property tax rate of
benefits. The council deadlocked 48.95 cents per $100 of as-
3-3 on the benefits portion Aug.29 sessed value for fiscal 2007.
after three council members — Porterfield,Miller and Tyson
hoping to leverage a lower tax rate had wanted a lower tax rate,
— had voted against the benefits
and budget.
The separate vote was because
Councilman Michael Brown,a for-.
mer Euless police officer who still
receives benefits, recused himself:
Motions fail on a tie vote,so the ci-
ty's 374 employees could have gone
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'MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG MCDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED / /�S DATE OF ARTICLE C�/ Y / y'6 NEWSPAPER DMN
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
' CALENDAR
PROFESSOR BRAINIUS SHOW:The
wacky world of science will be
' explored with Professor Brainius at
7:30 p.m.Saturday at the villages of
Bear Creek Amphitheater,1951 Bear
Creek Parkway in Euless.He will teach
' children that learning about science is
fun and will feature experiments,fun
sing-a-longs and surprises.The event
is free and open to the public.For
' information,call 817-685-1666 or go to
www.euless.org.
SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE:The
University of Texas at Arlington
' Symphony Orchestra,conducted by
Sergio Espinosa,will perform"And
God Created the Great Whales"by
Alan Hovhaness along with other
selected pieces from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Sept.30 at the villages of Bear Creek
Amphitheater,1951 Bear Creek
Parkway in Euless.The orchestra will
play along with recordings of whale
' sounds from the northern Atlantic
Ocean.A University of Texas at
Arlington faculty member will give a
Presentation about these creatures of
' the sea and show children how whales
communicate with each other.The
event is free and open to the public.
For information,call 817-685-1666 or
' visit www.euiess.org.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED l I1 5 I C' DATE OFARTICLE 141/0 6 NEWSPAPER DMN
AREA BRIEFS
EULESS
Obrary will feature
'Texas authors in panel
The Euless Public Library will
present"Murder in Texas —Fact
or Fiction"at 7 p.m.Tuesday.The
event will feature four Texas au-
thors who write mysteries or true
gime in Texas.The panel will con-
vene at the library,201 N.Ector.
The featured authors are Bill
Crider, author of the popular
Sheriff Dan Rhoades mysteries,
the most recent of which is A
Mammoth Murder; Harry Hun-
sicker, author of The Next Time
You Die and Still River•, Carlton
Stowers,author of more than two
dozen books,including To the Last
Breath and Careless Whispers,
both of which won the Mystery
Writers of America Edgar Allen
Poe Award as the Best Fact Crime 1
Book of the Year;and Kathryn Ca-
sey,author of She Wanted ItAll:A
Prue Story of Sex,Murder, and a
Texas Millionaire.
Mike Cochran,an award-win-
ping Associated Press veteran,will
serve as moderator. He writes
about true crime for the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram and is the
author of Texas vs.Davis.
Books will be available for sale,
and authors will sign copies after
the panel.
Proceeds will benefit the Eu-
less Library Foundation.
For information,call 817-685-
1679 or visit www.euless.org
/library.
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'MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RI0GfVAY(2) BOYETT
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED DATE OFARTICLE -�S - NEWSPAPER FWST
By PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER A
When it opened four years ago, Lava Asian Grill
Lava Asian Grill was an instant hit. 3001 Highway 121,Suite 342.
It was one of the few restaurants in Euless
Northeast Tarrant County with the 817-318-7100
then-quite-trendy pan-Asian theme, $$-$$$
Thai dishes noodle
serving sushi, Asian
Details:Open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
bowls,Chinese and Vietnamese Monday-Friday;5 p.m.-9:30
appetizers,and more.A year and a P.M.Monday-Thursday;5 p.m.-11
half ago,it added hibachi tables, P.M.Friday and Saturday;11
making an already broad menu a.m.-9:30 p.m.Sunday.Major
even bigger. cards accepted;no smoking;full
It makes one wonder if perhaps bar;wheelchair-accessible:
it's trying to'do too much.Because
although the sleek interior is still
inviting,the wine and sake list
well-chosen and the menu appeal-
ing,we found the food hit-or-miss
on two recent visits.
When it's good,Lava Grill is
very,very good.A special sashimi
of white tuna($13.50)was one of
the best we've had in North Texas,
six slabs of pale flesh,crisply
chilled and silky in texture,tasting
' as if it had just been plucked from The sushi 1S always
the ocean.
An order of sweet shrimp sushi
($6.50)was similarly super-fresh,
with the flash-fried shrimp heads on a roll, while other
served alongside in the traditional
manner.
' The lettuce wraps appetizer($8)
was far better than the similar dish dishes are off the mark
made popular at a big Asian chain.
Finely diced chicken,mushrooms,
water chestnuts were sauteed in a
not-too-salty sauce of soy and a
little sugar,then served with a cut
of crisp iceberg,for do-it-yourself,
' Asian-style tacos.
But an equal number of dishes
were disappointing,most often due
' to someone in the kitchen going der chicken and crisp-on-the-edges
overboard with the sugar. rice noodles,but the brown sauce The shredded chicken lettuce wraps at
A chicken satay appetizer had just one note—sweet—where Lava Asian Grill are hard to resist-
($6.50)was nicely grilled,and the a boost from ginger or garlic would and hard to beat.
' use of chicken thighs meant the have been appropriate.
skewered meat wasn't too dry, Service,too,can be spotty.On
which sometimes is the case if our first trip,an excellent waiter Still,Lava Asian Grill remains an
breast meat is used.But the accom- kept water glasses filled,recom- attractive restaurant,with its center
' panying peanut sauce was far-too mended sushi specials and a sake dominated by a full bar lit from
sweet:The sugar overpowered the we enjoyed(Shirakawago unfil- below with a cool green glow,dis-
ginger,garlic and other spices. tered,$16,beautifully served in a tressed-slate floors and a long sushi
An order of Vietnamese summer lovely blue bottle poised in an ice bar,decorated with money-cats,the
' rolls($5.50)was doused in another bucket) and seemed to anticipate happy-looking china cats that are
too-sweet sauce,killing the taste of every need.The second time,at the said to bring good fortune.Next
the fresh cilantro and mint rolled sushi bar,service seemed distract- time,we'll try our luck mostly with
inside.A Thai main course;lard na ed and rushed,and our main course the sushi side of the menu,where
($10),from the noodle portion of ' was served before our sushi,even , we found the payoffs the best.
the menu,was nicely pan-seared, though we'd specifically asked that Patricia Rodriguez,817-390-7756
with crunchv broccoli florets,ten- it come last. prodriguez@Star-teiegram.com