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Home My WebLink About2008-02-01 Euless Articles IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OAL COPY MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED & / / / 0 g DATE OF ARTICLE / / 4 /0 r NEWSPAPER DMN COM1VIUNITY CALENDAR TOWN HALL MEETING:The city of Euless will have a town hall meeting at 7 tonight in the council chambers at City Hall,201 N.Ector Drive.Representatives from all city departments will take ' questions,comments arid suggestions. For Information,call 817-685-1563. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 PAGE / OF l I UTED TO: 1 'OR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN / I YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL�CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED DO / I I n O DATE OF ARTICLE 1/-S /U g NEWSPAPER&� ('A / , Ci LOCAL NEWS ' Euless fire chief to retire after 26 years 09:08 PM CST on Friday,January 25,2008 From staff reports Fire Chief Lee Koontz, one of the longest-tenured fire chiefs in Tarrant County, announced Friday that he would retire March 1 after 26 years with Euless. Chief Koontz joined the city in 1981 and has been fire chief for 20 years. He started the department's paramedic services in 1988. ' The Euless Citizen's Fire Academy and the Alumni Association that supports the department both began under his guidance. Most recently, Chief Koontz has led the effort to reclassify the city's Insurance Services Office rating, which will lower insurance costs for residents. He is a master firefighter, licensed paramedic and Level II certified instructor. He has taught for 15 years at the Texas A&M Municipal Fire School. ' From staff reports ' 1 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS /C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED c2 / / / 0 DATE OF ARTICLE I/a l°8 NEWSPAPER FWST I Egyptian pope in Euless I His Holiness Pope Shenouda Ill,the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt,will travel to North Texas to consecrate St.Abanoub Coptic Orthodox • Church in Euless on Feb.3. I The church will be consecrated with prayer and a ritual with holy oil, ' ;"A ' v`7? church officials said.The congregation :.,..v., will celebrate its fourth anniversary }} this year.About 150 people attend St. t 1' Abanoub,the newest Coptic church in ; k' the Metroplex.About 400 people are Shenouda expected to attend,and the public is I welcome. Other area churches are St.Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Colleyville,whose members started St.Aba- noub,and St. Philopateer Coptic Orthodox Church in ' Richardson. The consecration ceremony will begin at 8 a.m.at the church,850 S.Main St. I Call 817-239-5387 for more information. —Teriy Lee Goodrich I I I I I I I I I . DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED // /0S2 DATE OF ARTICLE //o? g NEWSPAPER DMN REGIONAL ROUNDUP EULESS Fire chief to retire after 26 years Fire Chief Lee Koontz, one of the longest-tenured fire chiefs in Tarrant County,announced Friday that he would retire March 1 after 26 years with Euless.Chief Koontz joined the city in 1981 and has been fire chief for 20 years. He started the department's para- medic ara medic services in 1988.The Euless Citizen's Fire Academy and the Alumni Association that supports the department both began under his guidance.Most recently,Chief Koontz has led the effort to reclas- sify the city's Insurance Services Office rating,which will lower in- surance costs for residents.He is a master firefighter, licensed para- medic and Level II certified in- structor.He has taught for 15 years at the Texas A&M Municipal Fire School. From stat reports 1 1 IISTRIB UTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'DUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED ,R 11 l 0 k DATE OF ARTICLE l/c r,7 �0 b NEWSPAPER FWST I EULESS ' Longtime• fire chief will hang up his ax ILee Koontz began his Lee Koontz firefighting career Age:58 at age 16. Background:Grew up in San 1 Antonio , By JESSICA DeLEGN Education:Bachelor's de- ;, jdeleon@star-telegram.com gree from Southwest Texas EULESS -- Fire Chief Lee State University,1979 I Koontz will retire after 26 Experience:Volunteer fire- years with the city. His last fighter at age 16 in Castle „ day will be March 1. Hills,1965,paid firefighter, I Koontz, 58, said he wants 1972;Leon Valley fire captain, to spend time with his family. 1974;pursued college degree He plans to travel with his and worked for San Marcos wife,Lark,and to teach his 3- \Fire Department,1976; 1 year-old worked for insurance busi- grandson, r2-, ness and Round Rock Fire KJ., how to '`' Department,1979;Euless .. golf. i, ,. Fire Department,1981,fire I "This ci ; ,. chief since 1987 ty has been VT,g " Family:Wife,Lark;daughter, good to me tTamara,and son-in-law,Ken and my Koontz family," Beavers;grandson,K.J. I -- Koontz said. "It's a great or- which teaches residents ganization, and it's a great about the department's du- I place to work. I'm going to ties.. , miss a whole lot of people. He also led the depart That's the hardest part about ment to a 3 rating from the retirement—the people you Insurance Services Office in- 1 leave behind." , 1996,a rating that can lower City Manager Gary McKa- homeowners insurance mie said no plans have been rates. The rating is based on set for finding a successor. many factors, including re- I Koontz began his fire- sponse times,fire stations in . fighting career at age 16, proximity to residents, fire when he had to get his fa- hydrant capacity and truck ther's permission to become standards. The ratings go I a volunteer firefighter in Cas- from 1,the highest,to 10. - tle Hills, a San Antonio sub- McKamie said Koontz urb. showed innovation by train I He worked as a firefighter ing department employees while earning a degree at for fire and emergency med- Southwest Texas State Uni- ical services in 1988. versity,now Texas State Uni- Koontz said the job I versity,in San Marcos,and in brought something new ev- the insurance business. . ery day. He moved to Euless as a "I don't look at them as firefighter in 1981, working challenges, more as oppor- I his way to fire chief in 1987. tunities,';he said. In 2001,- Koontz started the Citizens Fire Academy, JESSICA DELEGN,817-685-3932 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS A /9? C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR ] DATE DISTRIBUTED / / l0 S) DATE OF ARTICLE / 7 /0 g NEWSPAPER FWST ] CAR ROBBERY Thieves take bishop's's treasured crown x3 ‘ ] By MELISSA VARGAS the Greek Orthodox Archdio- dinner, his partyreturned to r '''''', •"'''''''— i mvargas@star-telegram.com ,�y r ' �' cese ofAmerica,said the semi- their car to find the rear win �`� � ARLINGTON — The thieves mental value of the crown dow smashed and his bags ' ,<3 ? , probably have no idea what makes it impossible to re- gone. N 1 they snatched. place.It was the first gift given Exactly a week ago,Arling- �' Y � ) When they broke into a car to him as bishop more than ton City Councilman Mel Le- "� A. parked at Piccolo Mondo res- two decades ago by a woman Blanc reported that his car was taurant Friday night, they and her two sons in Chicago. burglarized in the same park- x` * ,s g,,,,,,, i stole a bag that carried a pre- Since he has had the crown,he ing lot. LeBlanc and his wife Bishop and crown COURTESY PHOTO cious religious crown, has never led a worship ser- reported losing about $9,000 Metropolitan Isaiah, bish- vice without it,he said. worth of belongings. The stolen crown op pf the Northwest Region of He might have to today,but LeBlanc said he doesn't ex- •It was made in Greece and 1 he's praying for a miracle. pect to get back any of his pos- was given to Metropolitan Isaiah 4' "I hope the great state of sessions but hopes police can 22 years ago. ma Texas can help me out some- track down Isaiah's crown. •Looks like a crown that a king how," Isaiah said Saturday af- "My sympathy goes out to might wear but is decorated ternoon before a visit to the the bishop and his associates, with four religious icons.It has Kimbell Art Museum. and hopefully this won't tar- woven gold and silver threads. "I would be willing to give a nish his vision of Arlington," •Anyone with information is monetary gift for the return of LeBlanc said. "We certainly asked to call St.Demetrius the crown once I received it in welcome him.We have a great Church in Fort Worth,817-626- good condition." city,and these kinds of things 5578,or go to the church at Isaiah arrived from Denver happen everywhere." 2020 N.W.21st St.,or contact on Friday to visit parishes in Arlington police at 817-274 Fort Worth and Euless. After MELISSA VARGAS,817-685-3888 4444. 1 1 : J .1J 1J j 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / , MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'DATEYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DISTRIBUTED / I / v g DATE OF ARTICLE / v / d NEWSPAPER FWST fi Information sought in school theft 4 EULESS---Police need some help. frO v= They need the identity of a woman who entered Lakewood Elementary � b 1 ` School on Jan. 10,took a teacher's purse and within hours used the credit a ate, r cards to buy more than$5,000 worth of items at North East Mall in Hurst. ' On Tuesday,police released a video and a photograph of the woman,whose 111 image was captured by surveillance cameras when she entered the school as classes were letting out. The woman may have also stolen a purse from a teacher at South Euless Elementary in May. ' Anyone with information is asked to call Euless police at 817-685-1542 or Safe City Commission Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477. —Domingo Ramirez Jr EULESS POLICE DEPARTMENT r I t 1 1 . DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED // / L� D DATE OF ARTICLE 1/3 / / 6 NEWSPAPER FWST OBITUARIES Alice Marie Harrison EULESS— Alice "Marie" Harri- CCedar Hill; herdhugh daughter, Irva Marie Holdj s son,76,a loving mother,grandmoth- - 3� A.^ er,sister,foster mother and aunt and less; grandchildren, Heather Leigh x special friend,died Saturday,Jan.26, Ridge, Lorri Ann Caberillo and her 2008,at a local hospital husband,Josh,Austin Conrad Harri FUNERAL 10 a.m.Saturday,Feb. son, Jason Taylor Harrison, Aileen Raquza,Mala Susan Vonck,Richard 2, in Lucas Hurst Funeral Chapel, May .,.. la Precinct Line Road. The Rev. Floyd Holder II,Jennifer Marie Hold r i Johnny Kimberlin, pastor of South er Lacy Michelle Holder,Christopher Euless Baptist Church,will officiate. Ryan Morgan and Britney Morgan; J. fry` Interment: Following a committal seven great-grandchildren; brother, service, she will be laid to rest in Melvin Angelly;_sisters,Sarah Nich- :,iti �± - Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park next ols, Mildred Cecil and Patricia-Ann a - to her husband, Edward Irvin Harri- Parks; brother, Perry Carol! Angelly; son. Visitation: The family will re- and numerous nieces, nephews and ceive.friends 6 to 8 p.m.Friday at the extended family. funeral home. Lucas Funeral Home Marie was born Sept.3,1931,in Hurst 817-284-7271 Boswell, Okla., to Onnie Perry and View and sign guestbookat Ruth Pearl Springfield Angelly. She www.star-telegram.com/obituaries loved people and helping people.Her gift from God was being a caregiver. She took care of her mother for many3 years as well as uncles and other rel- atives. She was a wonderful neigh- bor.Marie was very supportive of her church,South Euless Baptist Church. She helped rear 27 children.She and her husband loved softball,and they, received an award from the state of Texas for involvement and forming the softball program in Euless. Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years,Edward Irvin Harrison,and brothers,Clarence Ev- erett Angelly and Lonnie Ray Angelly. SURVIVORS:Left to cherish their special memories as they mourn her death are her sons, Perry Carmon Harrison and his wife,Sandy,of Eu- less, Edward Joe Harrison and his wife,.,llen,of Arlington and Floyd Ir- vin Harrison and his wife; Noelle,of j j I 3 3 3 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF • M4YOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED // / 6 b DATE OF ARTICLE 2 / / /0 NEWSPAPER FWST • 1 u ea o Ice et a. nevV 'crime-fighting rlen • ' LAW ENFORCEMENT A year ago, the state's first private ac- (edited crime lab opened its I doors, Thanks to Integrated Forensic Laboratories in encsr area police and fire depart- ents res ults far faster than labs run by Euless, crooks can expect to be caught faster ublic agencies. Integrated Forensic Labora-Now officials from White Settlement gThe law:Three years ago,the tories;which opened a year state began requiring that all to Cleburne to Northeast Tarrant ago,has reduced bottlenecks. forensic laboratories be accred- aunty are flocking to Integrated Fo- ited.Many police departments and By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. private labs didn't have the money ensic Laboratories in Euless, grateful ramirez@star-te�egram.�om to bring their facilities up to ac for the time—and sometimes money EULESS—Before last February, creditation standards.Several they can save. whenever Bedford-police need- private labs were forced to close. I The need comes from the state's de- ed seized drugs analyzed, it ' The Fort Worth Police Depart- ( would take at least four weeks to ment and the Tarrant County cision several years ago to require that get results from the Tarrant medical examiner's office have forensic labs be accredited. But Countymedical examiner's of- crime labs.•Two other labs operate ringing older forensic labs up to date fice in Fort Worth. in Fort Worth;one specializes in A second option, the Texas firearms,the other,DNA. proved too costly for many private Department of Public Safety lab The result was that public 1 mpanies and police departments,so in Garland,also meant weeks of crime labs were swamped,causing ey closed down. The result: growing waiting, backlogs,area police and officials But now police in Bedford backlogs for the remaining labs. said.and other North Texas cities get ` 'Euless crime lab answers in a matter of days Services provided:The Eu- North Texas police and.fire departments that have used thanks to Integrated Forensic less lab performs crime scene Integrated Forensic Laboratories in the last few months:E Laboratories in Euless--one of processing,firearms and tool- Bedford Police Department the nations first and Texas'only ; mark analysis,arson identification, Bedford Fire Department,arson investigation private accredited crime lab. body fluid analysis and drug Carrollton Fire Department,arson investigation The lab analyzes ,not only chemistry work. •Cleburne Police Department drugs but also body fluids, fire Accreditation:Integrated.is, IlpEuless Police Department debris and firearms.It promises certified by the American Society Everman Police Department to have results in three days or of Crime'Laboratory Directors' •Fort Worth Fire Department,arson and bomb squad less. Lab Accreditation Board and the ■Garland Police Department The quick work means_that Texas Department of Public Safe- Hurst Police DepartmentIt investigators can file cases ty. White Settlement Police Department quicker and that suspects may Others accredited:Alliance ■Kennedale Police Department not have to be housed as long, Forensics Laboratory(for fire- North Richland Hills Police Department officials said. arms),DNA Identity Laboratory, Richland Hills Police Department - "We are satisfied with their Fort Worth Police Department Saginaw Police Department work, said Bedford Police Chief crime laboratory and the Tarrant ■Southlake Department of Public Safety David Flory, whose department County medical examiner's crime Watauga Department of Public Safety has used the lab for the past few laboratory. r urce:Integrated Forensic Laboratories in Euless months."The close proximity to us and thecosts have made it DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR.,817-685-384 worth it.., ® Online exclusive Speedy efficiency is the point, To see a slide show of the new forensic lab that lab director Ron Fazio said. \ is helping police agencies solve crimes more "Everything we do at the lab is quickly,go to www.star-telegram.com. to get the information out as I quickly as possible,"he said. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKIMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED / I I d (> DATE OF ARTICLE / / / 2 NEWSPAPER FWST Filling a need: Integrated began operations in February 2007 in a business complex in northwest Euless,providing, I services for police and fire departments for$600 to$2,000 per month.The medical examiner's office charges$60 to$650 per case.There,toxicology results can take four weeks and alcohol results one week,spokeswoman Linda Anderson said Thursday. At the DPS,crime lab services are free,but toxicology results'can take several weeks,a spokeswoman said Thursday. ' The 10 employees of Integrated,which was fully accredited in December,have handled more than 500 cases. About 80 percent of those have been drug testing,Integrat- ed officials said. "We treat every case as a rush,"spokesman Curt Sherrod said."We are capable of expanding if we need it." Company-officials say they will be able to prevent backlogs because Integrated is a private company. 111 "At the DPS and other public labs,bureaucracy creates the backlog,"Fazio said."If they need to hire someone or buy new equipment,it could take months.We could hire someone that day or we could get a piece of equipment in a matter of days." 1 1 I 1 1