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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-22 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 10F MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRA//RYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /� /��p DATE OF ARTICLE / �� /� t WEWSPAPER FTVST NORTHEAST BRIEFS ' Semee will mark death of Tongan king EULESS—The Tongan com- munity will host a citywide ser- vice at 6 p.m.,Sunday in com- memoration of last week's death of Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou ' IV.The service will take place at First Tongan United Methodist Church,304 S.Pipeline Road. 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCF-AMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD CCOLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIB UTED / I l�'� DATE OF ARTICLE l /U NEWSPAPER FWST COMMUNITY CALENDAR Tuesday EULESS—Mystery author event,7 p.m.,Euless Public Library„ 201 N.Ector Drive.www.eUfess.org/' library or 817-685-1679 Saturday EULESS-Hazardous-waste disposal,9-11 a.m.,Euless Municipal Complex,201 N.Ector Drive.Aero- sol cans,fertilizers and more will be accepted.www.euless.org or 817-685-1410. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE�_J OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYY�ADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED_ / f/ DATE OFARTICLE / / / 7 0,CNEWSPAPER FWST EDITORIALS TEXAS LEGISLATURE PoRtiew reaty ' ■As cities examine state politics For'each and every frugality pur- and the potential trickle-down ef- sued by the Legislature,for instance, ' fects,they increasingly react by there seems to be an equal effect that hiring full-time lobbyists. pushes costs down the governmental - pecking order to be picked up by Arlington has for many years used counties,cities and school districts. ' former state Sen:Bob McFarland as The location of new state toll its part-time lobbyist in Austin.But in roads,possible relocation of rail lines, January,when the next legislative limitations on property tax assess- session begins,the city will have its ments,mass transportation decisions, own full-time"legislative liaison"for allocation of highway funds and the first time. maintenance of state parks and That's semantic jargon for a fully many others—can have dramatic ' dedicated lobbyist—in this case, effects on cities. Amy Fitzgerald,a 34-year-old gradu- I Although the Legislature meets ate of Southern Methodist Universi only every other year in regular ses- ty's law school. sion,legislative committees and myri- t McFarland represented the city ad state agencies are constantly in fairly efficiently,but Arlington was action,often with impacts of consid- only one of his many clients.Here's a erable importance to cities. prediction:When legislators return to Arlington's$84,000 annual in- Austin,they will discover that Arling- vestment in its in-house lobbyist is ton is not unique in having its own probably prudent. lobbyist,and many cities will have I Unfortunately,many smaller cities hired high-powered political consult- don't have that luxury.The harsh ing firms as well. reality is that in today's political cli Cities cannot be faulted for this. mate,cities that don't play are putting The old saying that all politics is local themselves at risk. is never truer than with legislative That's not the way it should be,but actions. it is the way that things are. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGELOFA s MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT t YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARC711 -7 YYADMIN LIBBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED I U�`' DATE OFARTICLE ! I f –7 / 0( NEWSPAPER FGVST MUNICIPALITIESmore on ' Cities b n UP 9 eredi*t t Citizens have to under- stand that they are ultimately Debt ,164ds' rose sharply' responsible for what happens .1i bet�vOen' 2005" i in their community,"he said. 2000 pd In 2000, 53 percent of the debt in thef14 area communi- ties was general-obligation By JOHN KIRSCH STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER bonds,which require voter ap- - - proval,and 47 percent was cer- The debt load for area cities' tificates of obligation, which per resident increased 24 percent between Debt load don't require voter approval 2000 and 2005 as officials The debt load per resident varies widely among cities and towns unless residents petition for a struggled to keep up with resi- in Northeast Tarrant and southern Denton counties.Below is a vote. dents'demands for public ser- comparison. vices,according'to a Star-Tele- 2000 per 2005 per By 2005, the percentage of .. gram analysis. resident debt resident debt Percent change general-obligation bonds had The amount of outstanding Trophy Oluh $294 18696 risen to 57 percent while certif- ' tax-supported debt taken on by Roanoke $813 $1,753 116% icates of obligation fell to 43 14 cities in Northeast Tarrant Haltom City $361 $519 .44q; percent. County and parts of Denton Hurst $328 $451 38% Roanoke City Manager Jim- County rose from $399.4_mil- 1chlitrid Nltls, $45 $5 ! 299/0 my Stathatos said his city used ' lion in 2000 to$494.1 million in Euless $576 $735 28% .certificates of obligation to 2005,according to the study. Sauth1ake ' $2,65p ! $3,27 ',' 24% build a 38,000-square-foot rec- Keller $1160 $1278 1p% reation center that opened in Broken down per resident, Westlake -; $ 6 i371 Ooh December.Borrowing is a way ! ' the outstanding 2005 debt Watauga $435 $428 -2% to quickly provide amenities ranged widely among commu- Grapevine $3121 $3,847 2% that residents want,he said. nities. Westlake had the high- Bedford $1,279 $1,182 -8% Roanoke's outstanding tax- est rate — nearly $27,000 per, NRH $689 $626 supported debt rose 326 per ' capita.Richland Hills had the Colleyville $720 $615 15% cent from 2000 to 2005. The lowest,at about$58 per capita. ,SOUFME.CIN nninclai reports debt service portion of the ci- Statewide, the amount of ficials of adopting a credit card But Bob Bland, professor ty's tax rate rose from 9.49 tax-supported debt for Texas mentality—issuing debt now and chairman of the public ad- cents in 2000 to 12.27 cents,but cities nearly doubled, from that in some cases won't be ministration department at the the total tax rate — covering $8.7 billion in 2000 to$16.8 bil- paid off for 20 years. University of North Texas,said debt payments and day-to-day lion in 2005, according to the Peggy Venable,the Texas di- borrowing money for long- operations-remained at 37.51 Texas Bond Review Board. rector of Americans for Pros- term public improvements, cents,according to the Denton Rob Latsha, a senior finan- perity,said cities and other en- such as a city hall or new Central Appraisal District. cial analyst with the board,at- tities should cut spending in- streets, is appropriate. Done That was because of rising tributed the increase to low in- stead of increasingly relying on responsibly, he said, such sales tax revenue and increas- terest rates, which have made debt. Venable's group favors spending can help a city attract ing property values, Stathatos borrowing more attractive,and lower taxes and limited gov- businesses that provide tax said. The city's population rapid. population ` growth, ernment. revenue and jobs. nearly doubled from 2,810 in which has taxed infrastructure, "Most taxpayers don't real- Still, Bland said, residents 2000 to 5,550 in 2005, increas- such as roads and sewers. ize that local government debt should monitor spending and ing the demand for services. "Unfortunately, roads don't is growing at an alarming rate. be aware of debt proposals at build themselves,".he said. Our children will be saddled their city halls. The increase in debt has with paying for local govern- prompted critics to accuse of- ments' overspending," she said. DISTRIBUTED TO: PA GE MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRACR�YADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED C� �/U DATE OF ARTICLE / /l / NEWSPAPER FWST ' Stathatos said certificates of 17, obligation are quicker than general-obligation bonds be- ' Debt load cause of the voter-referendum requirement. But he said that Most area cities and towns have increased their borrowing over decision does not occur in a the last five years to pay for public services.Below is a comparison vacuum, noting that city offi- of the total tax-supported debt that communities had in 2000 ' and 2005. cials provide several opportu- 2000 2005 Percent change nities for residents to com- Roanoke $2,285;000 $9,730,658 326% ment. Trophy Club $1,870,000 $6,090,000 226% State law requires cities to Haltom City $14,094,000 $20,470,000 45% issue public notice of their in- Hurst $11,909,895 $17,225,612 45% tent to use certificates of obli- Southlake $57,040,786 $81,347,125 43% gation before the bonds can be ' Euless $26,528,796 $37,775,000 42% sold.State law also allows resi- Keller $31,731,464 $43,911,888 38% dents to petition for a referen- Richland Hills $370,000 $480,000 30% dum before a city can issue the Watauga $9,540,000 $10,290,000 8% certificates. ' Grapevine $131,280,000 $138,810,000 6% In May,Keller voters defeat- NRH $38,354,402 $38,492,038 2% ed a proposed $7.6 million li Westlake 0 $18,810,000 0% brary that would have been fi- ' Bedford $60,315,085 $57,295,000 ;5% nanced by certificates of obli- Colleyville $14,150,000 $12,925,000 -9% gation. Some residents were Total $399,469,428 $494,152,321 240% unhappy that the public was not allowed to initially vote on SOURCE:City financial reports the library. So they took up a ' petition to force an election. Such elections are rare,said Bennett Sandlin,general coun- sel for the Texas Municipal League.Many residents are un- aware that state law allows an ' election if a valid petition is presented to city officials,San- dlin said. ' John K1rsch,817-685-3805 jkirsch@star-telegrarn.cont DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR 3 DATEDISTRIBUTED I l ly DATEOFARTICLE 911 -710 � NEWSPAPER FWST THIS WEEK'S POLICE SCANNER INSIDE THE POLICE SCANNER Rescued dog missing after burglary via STAR TELEGRAM EULESS—Doggone it,a Puppy stolen? pit bull puppy is missing. A burglar broke into a lea house Sept.7 in the 700 Etiless N block of Mills Drive,took a 157 DVD player and maybe even grabbed the puppy. 10 A woman told police that o she left her home that morn- U\QSSgwd E ing and returned later to find that it had been broken pipeline Rd. into. a •4 Oa a©0. Police found a broken 8 window at the back of the house where the burglar STAR-TELEC entered. striped puppy,which the have run away because the The woman checked her homeowner had rescued burglar left a sliding back house and discovered that after she found it wandering door open during his escape, her$70 DVD player had on the street a few days ear- according to police reports. been stolen. lier,was gone. And the stray tiger- The unnamed puppy may —Domingo Ramirez Jr. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE r OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT �OUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l'� � DATE OF ARTICLE '7l - NEWSPAPER FWST ' Barbara Lucas z Barbara Lucas was a member of the City of Euless Citizen's EULESS—Barbara Lucas, 74, a Police Academy Alumni loving wife,mother,grandmother,great grandmother,sister and friend,passed Association. ' away Thursday,Sept.14,2006,at a lo- cal hospital. Celebration of life:1:30 p.m.Tues- day at Brown Owens&Brumley's Joe B. Brown Memorial Chapel.Burial:3 p.m. ' Tuesday in D-FW National Cemetery. Visitation:The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m.Monday at the funeral home. Mrs.Lucas was born on March 12, 1932,in Fort Worth to George and Dor- othy Madden. She graduated from North Side High School and in 1950 married James R.Lucas Sr. She worked with the Boy Scouts of ' America for 12 years,served in PTA for 13 years,joined Eastern Star and La- dies Oriental Shrine,Nyanca Court 34, the Drum Corps and was a member of ' Martin Methodist Church. Barbara worked for Bell Telephone in Fort Worth for 17 years,Pacific Tele- phone and Telegraph for two years and in San Francisco,Calif.,for three years. ' Survivors:Husband,James R.Lu-. cas Sr.;sons,James R. Lucas Jr.and wife,Joann of Pinedale,Wyo.,David R. Lucas and wife,Diane of Franklin,Tenn. ' and Marvin Kyle Lucas and wife,Carol of River Oaks;daughter,Linda Nanette Lucas Burt of Euless;sisters,Alice Har- din of Azle and Dianne Kramer of Fort Worth; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Brown,Owens&Brumley Funeral Directors 425 S.Henderson,817-335-4557 View and sign guestbook at ' www.star-lelegram.com/obituaries DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE LOF MA17OR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /�� l0 DATE OFARTICLE / / 1 f! G (- NEWSPAPER FWST NE M NORTHEAST CLICK rt 9 Julie Neal,Suzy Goldman,David Medina and EIIie'Schweyher #FF i y tin r, Melody Moore,Mike Moore,Georgia Borden and Jamey Borden Chamber stars dance through gala "Dancing With the Stars"was the theme for the Hurst-Eu- less-Bedford Chamber of Commerce's annual awards gala,held this year at the Hyatt Regency DFW. SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM/ D.J.PETERS Jan Hogg and Leon Hogg 1 r DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE/OF / MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGIVAY(2) BOYETT IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY� /AyD�MIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /�1 r DATE OF ARTICLE / ._-�C-/L' �NEl4'SPAPER FWST Talk of murder at the Euless library � x 3 S r 3 . ' STAR TELEGRAM/STEWART F.HOUSE Five mystery and true-crime authors spoke Tuesday at the"Murder in Texas-Fact&Fiction"series at the Euless Public Library.Former Star-Telegram reporter Mike Cochran, , y� Q ' who wrote a book about the Cullen Davis murder,was mod- w fi erator.Other writers included Kathryn Casey,Bill Crider, 4 � Harry Hunsicker and Carlton Stowers.At right,Charlotte " y Moseley of Grapevine,second from right,laughs along with ' the audience at a clever line.The event benefited the Euless . Library Foundation. � . F]], �-- x DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OFA MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT , YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED / / �'� DATEOFARTICLE / y� NEWSPAPER DMN COMMUNITY C ' ALENDAR 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'wi6 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.euless.org. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE/OF MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DA TE DISTRIBUTED DATE OFARTICLE 0 NEIvSPAPER FWST ' Leaders spread word on violence By BEN TINSLEY STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER ARLINGTON Tarrant County leaders trying to prevent domestic violence kicked off a 50-city campaign Wednesday to make people aware of the dangers of multigenerational abuse and teach them how to access resources for the abused. SafeHaven of Tarrant County said it plans to spread the word in the next few weeks by inserting fliers and CD-ROMs in water bills; putting displays on electronic signs; placing ads in newspapers; and hanging posters in libraries, recreation centers, police departments and city halls. ' "We are just getting started on our outdoor campaign, asking cites to get on board," said Jennifer Rhodes, vice president of development for SafeHaven. 'The key to teaching this is through repetition." ' The three-month campaign will also include door-to-door outreach throughout the county, Rhodes said. Speakers at the Summit on Family Violence shared personal stories and statistics. ' Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, who is a physician, told the audience about a patient he had in 1978 who lost three pregnancies because of abuse -- one stillbirth and two miscarriages -- before she died. Cluck said he missed the abuse because he was young and didn't know what to look for. "I finally saw it, but it was so late in the course of things," he said. "He was with her all of the time, and she wouldn't ' talk to me." Fort Worth Police Chief Ralph Mendoza said victims of abuse need to be taught how to help themselves. ' 'The first step is speaking up, which is often the most difficult," he said. Euless Mayor Mary Lib Saleh said it's important to remember how easily the cycle of abuse can continue. ' "It's going to go from generation to generation in our families if we don't stop it," she said. ' IN THE KNOW Domestic violence ' By the numbers An estimated 74 percent of Texans have either experienced some form of family violence themselves, or had a relative or friend who experienced it. Nearly one-third of Tarrant County households report that family violence is a problem in their neighborhood. ' At least six Tarrant County residents have died in 2006 because of domestic violence. Help and prevention Signs you are being abused include: apologizing all the time; watching every word you say; constantly seeking your partner's approval; constantly excusing your partner's behavior. ' Signs you are an abuser include: acting jealously or possessively; refusing to accept breaking up; always having to be in control; becoming violent with or threatening your partner. ' To get help, call the SafeHaven 24-hour hot line 877-701-SAFE or 877-701-7233, or go to www.womenshaven.org SOURCES: SafeHaven of Tarrant County, Fort Worth Police Department, Tarrant Countv Council on Familv Violenra