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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-10 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF* MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN ' YOUNG McDONALD `COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN ,/LIBRRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED LO//G/ 0E' DATE OF ARTICLE �/ a76-I o`z c /60 NEWSPAPER( p ) / eKeingyou up to date on monthly toppics I with personal articles from your local leadership I � Euless has several neigh-h- Come join good friends and Finally, some beautiful cool g - ' , , weather so that we can all borhoods that participate. taste the good foods too. , ". , , enjoy the wonderful out- It's such a fun evening and The Euless Library Founda- doors and smell the scents gives us the chance to meet tion is busy selling the tiles I of autumn. and talk about neighbor- for their latest art project. 0 Unfortunately, it had to hood protection as well The project will be and 8 viii, ,� : i come with hurricanes as as meeting fire and police x 6 foot tile depicting the I , well. We have been so members. history of Euless. It will Vfortunate here in North October 18 is the date for be made up of many tiles ' ,,,i' Texas with no real damage the Crud Cruiser HazMat of different sizes and it is • Mayor Saleh • from wind and rain. Not so Collection. Collection will three-dimensional. Prices I Euless for our neighbors in South take place in the Euless start at$25 for a book Texas. The city of Euless, Library parking lot at 9:00 binder with names and 1 H CN,C I_1 Y OF E *'- SS along with many other Tar- a.m. It,s a great time to increases with the size of ' " rant County cities,provided clean out the garage and the tile. There is a tile on shelter for many evacu- bring in old paint cans, display in the library for all ees,which included many used electronic equipment, to see and it is so beautiful. I children as well. They all and all the things you are Tiles are selling fast ifyou are so appreciative and had not allowed to put in the would like to participate in many good things to say daily trash. this project. ' I about our communities. Halloween is close by With all the many city We are fortunate to have as well. The city will be activities during the holiday such trained staff and having a"Fruits&Veg- season, Euless is fortunate ' I volunteers available to help gies Aren't Scary Fest" to have so many dedicated during the stressful times. from 5:30 until 8 p.m.,and volunteers to assist our We are also fortunate to you need to come to the staff. If you'd like to be- I have good businesses that Midway Recreation Center come one of our volunteers, are willing to donate when to see what it is all about. please call Jerry Poteet at asked. We are/July a There will be games,food the Parks Department. He I "community". and,awards of course, a costume can always find a place for November elections are just program. you, and I promiseyou will around the corner. We are Our Texas Star Confer- enjoy serving and meeting I fortunate in Texas to have ence Centre is coming right new friends. early voting for two weeks along. The new section is Football season is here and before the election date and open now and the old sec- Friday nights in Texas are I plenty of places to vote. tion is being renovated. All encourage your neighbors Please get out, vote,and, .:: should be finished in early to vote. 2009. The staff is taking National Night Out is held I reservations for the holiday on October 7, and is a ter- parties, and Sunday brunch- rifle program getting neigh- es are as busy as ever. bors to know neighbors. A ' BUTED TO: PAGE / OF I ] 'OR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN . YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR 3 DATE DISTRIBUTED /0/ 'c/ü S2 DATE OF ARTICLE 9/21247-/0/424/1)7 NEWSPAPERY.?_E 11.4-11-tA) II * I ii 411 Pets sz, * .1 Artct. pea,/ ciao Y he •4, :, OP Ali OW Plea L 1; 0 0 0•,V-4. ' tte thepbc, ' °it/ 7-1/17,1 ty it ' 4114 hap WsIii 0 430 h , e 720/ ? "leeci (1/7a - l 6frill 014/2 7 g 4: g"70172e ..ii BENGAL , I t I IP it I I , , Please call the shelter for more details. 817-685-1594 I Euless Animal Services 1517 Westpark Way I Euless, TX 76040 I (817)685-1594 _ I I I I I I 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF - MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR/ DATE DISTRIBUTED /0//0/C9 K DATE OF ARTICLE % / F/o r NEWSPAPER FWST IMUNICIPAL BONDS • Cities see lower interest rates on debt after credit-ratingchanges1 _ The limited pool of top- Nota single city or public Municipalities are saving' rate insurers may mean agency in Tarrant County money and say they may higher insurance premiums has a Triple-A rating, ac- forgo bond insurance. . for cities that want to boost" cording to a recent Standard By SUSAN SCHROCK their credit rating before &Poor's report. ssc SUSAN SCHROCK selling bonds. Officials are • Arlington also concerned that insur Tarrant water district Wall Street has decided to ,ance may become hard to Sandy Swinnea,the Tarrant Regional Arlington is experiencing firsthand the stop fighting city hall. get if insurers fold because Water District's finance director,said it effects of the subprime-mortgage Cities have long corn- is a coincidence that theproblems crisis. plained that bond-rating they are unable to cover the In 2005,the cityissued$164 million bonds they backed in the with the subprime market came' at the agencies gave them an"arti- ficially same time that the industrywas re invariable rate bonds for the Dallas ficially low" rating corn- subprime market. re- thinking complex ratingand insurance Cowboysproject. Moody's Investors Ser- I p stadium ro ect.For the first pared with corporations, vice, one of three rating policies, three years,interest rates stayed even though they rarely de- agencies, said this'month She agreed,however,that things around 3 and 4 percent. ' fault on the debt they sell to that it will begin rating mu may be better for public entities like But when the city's bond insurer, build roads,waterlines and nicipalities the same way it the water district. MBIA,was downgraded from AAA this other projects. ' does corporations, which "The changing market and the year,the interest rates jumped to 9 IBut an unexpected con could boost municipal rat relooking at municipals and how they Percent.That spike increased monthly sequence of the subprime rngs as much as two notch are rated should ultimately benefit interest-only payments from$500,000 mortgage meltdown is that es. Fitch Ratings also said TRWD,"she said. to more than$1 million. many Tarrant County cities i For ears,public agencies like the Arlington'is trying to refinance the that it would consider align- Y g and public agencies say the ;;; • water district paid for insurance to " debt to a fixed rate,which is expected mg its municipal and cor- ' rating agencies have begun ;' porate 'bond rating sys C boost their ratings and reduce their to cost an extra$23 million to$28 giving them better ratings • terns.Standard &Poor's al issuance costs,she said. - - _' million.Getting AAA bond insurance on general-obligation and ready uses the same scale When the district sold-$183 million, on the debt is expected to cost$5.3 revenue bonds,cutting fees for both. in bonds two years ago,it bought million,compared with$553,000 that and interest rates. "The real problem isthatinsurance so that its rating with the city paid MBIA three years ago. ' The ratings have been so bond insurance was only Moody's and Standard&Poor's would The city could be selling more than good that several cities said ever useful as long as it al jump to AAA. $140 million in bonds for streets, they could probably furtherIt didn't seem fair,because the , parks,libraries and other services over lowed you to get a Triple-A" the next fiveyears if voters approve a reduce borrowing costs by rating, said Bennett Sandistrict,like many cities,is more con PP i not buying bond insurance. con— servative in financingits debt. bond referendum Nov.4. dlin,general counsel for the ' IThis is good news,since al Texas Municipal League. "We are a monopoly.No one else ''most all the Triple A rated "The combination of competes with-us and,therefore,we t bond insurers that cities Moody's giving us the credit have very little market risk,"Swinnea Ihad relied on to improve we deserve to begin with said."Additionally,we're not here to, their credit ratings were and the downgrade of the make a profit;we're here to safeguard downgraded this year for bond insurers,it remains to assets." , backing subprime debt. be seen whether bond in- AAAA is the highest bond surance is helpful in the fu- rating possible and signifies ture." the lowest credit risk to in- Bond ratings are based vestors. primarily on a city's overall I financial health, including how much debt it has, how much money it has in re- serve and how much sales ' 'tax revenue is coming in,of- ficials said. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF '3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN y�LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 bio 10 S7 DATE OF ARTICLE (7 1 .J /&s NEWSPAPER FWST City ratings Municipal bonds:A primer -- Here's Here's a look at some area cities'general-obligation-bond There are three major rating agencies ratings. for municipal bonds:Moody's In- Municipality Moody's Standard&Poor's Fitch vestors Service,Standard&Poor's, Arlington Aa2, AA+ AA and Fitch Ratings.The agencies as- Azle Baa2 A+ A sign a rating for municipal bonds Bedforddford Al NR NR based on several factors,including BeA2 A NR the economy and a city's financial Burleson A2 AA- A+ condition,management practices, debt structure,and demographics. Colleyville NR AA+ AA+ Aaa—Bonds rated Aaa are judged to Crowley A3 BBB+ NR be of the best quality.They carry the Euless Al A+ NR smallest degree of investment risk. Everman Bal A NR Aa—Bonds rated Aa are judged to Forest Hill Baa2 A NR be of high quality. Fort Worth Aa2 AA+ AA A—Bonds rated A are to be consid Grand Prairie Aa3 NR AA ered upper-medium-grade obliga- tions. Grapevine Al AA- NR Baa—Bonds rated Baa are to be Haltom City A2 A+ NR considered medium-grade obliga- Haslet NR BBB+ NR tions. Hurst Aa3 AA NR Bonds in the Aa,A,and Baa are also Keller A2 A+ NR assigned 1,2 or 3.For example,an Al Kennedale Baal A NR would be the strongest and A3 would Lake Worth NR BBB+ NR be the weakest. Mansfield Aa3 AA- AA- Comparing ratings: AAA=Aaa North Richland Hills Aa3 AA NR AA+=Aal Richland Hills A3 NR NR AA=Aa2 r ww, l ,,,,,,,i Saginaw A2 NR NR AA-=Aa3 .- Southlake Aa2 AA AA A+=Al }�� , ''{ ° Watauga , A3 A A A=A2 t�;, White Settlement. A3 A- NR A-=A3 BBB+=Baal NR=not rated BBB=Baa2 Sources Standard&Poor's,WM Financial.Strategies of St Louis,First Southwest Co. BBB-=Baa3 , Kennedale Mansfield Standard and Poor's recently upgraded Kennedale's City Manager Clay Chandler said Mansfield has consis- bond rating from a Baa-to A, but the city still bought ' tently improved its bond rating over the past decade and bond insurance to get a Triple-A rating on the$4.5 mil- now has an AA-,largely because of growth in its corn- lion in street-repair bonds it was marketing,City Manag- mercial tax base and investment in Methodist Mansfield er Bob Hart said.The bond insurance premium cost the Medical Center and entertainment venues such as Big city$17,284,and the Triple-A rating lowered the interest League Dreams and Hawaiian Falls. rate,which will save the city$191,000 over the life of the The city also raised its property tax rate 2 cents to debt. . cover higher operating costs and to build up the city's reserve fund,an action that also improves its credit Hurst rating. Last month,Hurst obtained a 4.82 percent interest rate The city will request a new bond rating before it on$16.1 million in general-obligation bonds thanks to its seeks to sell$28 million in bonds in October. AA rating,which had been upgraded from AA-,said Anita Thetford,the city's finance director. North Richland Hills "In the past,we did purchase the bond insurance North Richland Hills received a 3.67 percent interest rate because it was relatively cheap and gave us a slight ad- on$4.18 million in bonds it sold in April,thanks to its AA vantage.We see no need to apply for that now.We are rating,which had been upgraded from AA-,said Larry just going to depend on our excellent rating,"Thetford Koonce,the city's finance director.In the past,he said, said. the city has bought bond insurance every time to en- hance its credit rating but may reconsider purchasing it because of its higher credit rating. 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 3 OF 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 I dol L a DATE OF ARTICLE '7 / D / 8' NEWSPAPER FWST I Fort Worth ' Fort Worth has not been marketing its general-obliga- tion bonds publicly but instead negotiates with a limited pool of financial institutions,which is called private placement. ' The city,which has an AA+rating from Standard& Poor's,does not have a current finahcial audit because of problems in its financial department.That could make ' its bonds harder to market publicly,officials said. Fort Worth's most recent financial audit is about 3 years old,but the city expects to be caught up by next year,Assistant City Manager-Karen Montgomery said. Staff writer Max B.Baker contributed to this report,which includes material from the Star-Telegram archives. I SUSAN SCHROCK,817-548-5475 1 • 1 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF I I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR3 DATE DISTRIBUTED /C l/C h)(C)DATE OF ARTICLE 9 /, 9 /of NEWSPAPER FWST REAL ESTATE I TRANSACTIONS . ' a .1 Arlington Texas 1.Office sale 14� ' Motor 2001-2021 E. Lamar Blvd. Speedway Flower'` Alliance Mound SCM Real Estate Services soldcoi v Airport .114 ' ... two office buildings at Gover- R'1I 1, 4 ., TVD nor's Row on Lamar Boulevard. s28Z Grapey il, 26 The 55,181-square-foot multi- sw IV building complex is 80 percentn'rt leased.Seven buildings remain . 287 V. 7 26 ;1.4-porta available for sale or lease. ,199. fzi '-- 12L 1€3: Landmark Bedford Holdings ago 1 - 0 purchased a building at Gover- FORT 1271 co Irving 72 nor's Row for a north Arling-. WORTH ton location of Bailey&Galyen 783 •: En, so Grand3 Attorneys. Arlington Prairie 287j - *1 Broker: Beaux Riley of SCM 20 aoa Real Estate Services is market- 20 "cig zoi ia,ng the building and repre- 82 sented the seller in the build- sw 287 67 ing purchased by Bailey& Galyen Attorneys. Kurt Cherry 0 of PM Realty Group repre- STAR TELEGRAM sented the law firm. sented the tenant. Pantego . Euless 6.Office lease 2. Industrial lease 4.Office lease 3273 W.Pioneer Parkway M 1114 S.Airport Circle 6707 Brentwood Stair Road, Anita Deyanrra-Gaona has FSW Supply leased 4,508 Medical Solutions Group has leased 6,610 square feet of square feet. leased 4,300 square feet of office space. Broker:Justin Owen of Sperry office space in the Mead- Broker:Justin Owen of Sperry Van Ness/Dunn Commercial owbrook Wells Fargo Bank Van Ness/Dunn Commercial Management negotiated the Building. . Management negotiated the lease. Brokers: Becky Thompson transaction. and Matt Siegel of Red Oak . Fort Worth Realty negotiated the lease. Rural Tarrant County 3.Office lease 7.Office/warehouse lease 8851 W. U.S.80 Irving 7920 Rodeo Trail Home Healthcare Partners, 5. Restaurant opening Aker Well Service leased 4,000 which does business as Atten- 1820 Market Place square feet at Suites 260 and tive—Primecare Home Sweet Tomatoes opened its 280 off Farm Road 1187,near Health,has leased 2,000 third North Texas location at the boundary between Tarrant square feet of office space in Hunter Plaza Shopping Center. and Johnson counties. the Atrium Center. The restaurant offers a buffet Brokers:Jordan Foster and Brokers: Becky Thompson of salads,soups,baked goods Jim Maibach of Peyco South- ' and Matt Siegel of Red Oak and pasta.Sweet Tomatoes west Realty represented the Realty represented the build- opened locations in Addison in landlord. ing's owner.J. David Cason of - 2007 and south Arlington in —Compiled by Sandra Baker Centra Asset Partners repre- March. and Andrea_Tares 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED / // / g DATE OF ARTICLE 6--//,_50 /0 NEWSPAPER FWST 111 BRIEFS Man intentionally crashes car, dies ' EULESS—A 39-year-old man was killed early Sunday after he intentionally crashed his vehi cle during a fight with his estranged wife,. .._. police said.Luis Frias was pronounced dead at ' 4:45 a.m.on Texas 360 at the Harwood Road overpass,officials said. Frias'wife told police that they were arguing"about relationship issues while driving south on the highway, ' Euless police Sgt.Gary Landers said..She said Frias,who was driving,jerked thie steering wheel,causing the vehicle to leave the road- way and roll over. Frias was not wearing a seat ' belt,Landers said. His wife was not seriously injured.The wreck is still under investigation, Landers said. —Alex Branch and Nathaniel Jones . „ . 1 I IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /D /IO / d DATE OF ARTICLE /0Ia/Dif NEWSPAPER FWST BRIEFS I Police department open house EULESS—Ever wondered if your city's police station looks like the ones on TV? An open house is set for Saturday at the I Euless Police Department,1102 W. Euless Boulevard.The free event is from 10 a.m'. tot p.m.Tours are scheduled for the jail, I courts and other departments in the, station.Last year,an estimated 500 resi- dents visited the station. -Domingo Ramirez Jr. I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 //0 /D Si DATE OF ARTICLE /0 la / 0 8 NEWSPAPER FWST EULESS 1 Theft inquiry causes church rift ' By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. Landers said Wednesday."But the families were still mem- ramirez@star-ceiegram.00m: we are looking into a possible bers of the congregation. EULESS — An investigation theft of under$50." But Keleiola Leakona of ' into a possible theft of less ' Theft under$50 is a Class C Fort Worth,the church's trea- than$50 is causing a major rift misdemeanor.'Generally,a vi- surer,said Wednesday that the 'at a local church. olator is issued a citation and families, including hers,were No one has been issued any pays a fine. • told not to return. ' citations in the case. But the Ousted church members "He has repeatedly said pastor ousted eight families filed the report Monday,.just that our membership has • from the Tongan First United four days after Pastor Alex La- been revoked," Leakonasaid ' Methodist Church last week to ordered the families out of Wednesday'And he did know and called police to restore or- the church during a Thursday about the missing money." • der at the church just as the is- . business meeting. Leakona said Wednesday sue was about to be discussed, The families "were disrup- that they have contacted area 1 a few church members said. tive on issues we were about to Methodist officials about the Investigators believe the discuss," Latu said Wednes- missing money and the pas- money may have been taken day. "I called police to get tor's actions. from a collection plate last them to move out of the "We are the founders of ' month at the church, 1010 S. church." that church," she said. "We Main St. Latu declined to elaborate. want our church back." "Right now,it looks like 99 The pastor said he was not percent of this is a civil man- aware of money missing from DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., ' ner," Euless police Sgt. Gary the church. He also said that 817-685-3822 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF N MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER� GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR / p DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 l /o / 0 O DATE OF ARTICLE f 014/ /0 U NEWSPAPER FWST D/FW Aoffcials look to key .1indicators for-si of economic future, and it isn't bright Business at D/FW hotels and car rentals For the year, D/FW officials this year. have taken slight downturns,a sign of said,the Grand Hyatt DFW oc- Compounding the issue: potential trouble as the airport tries to cupancy is at 70 percent,corn- •People are requesting small- "" predict the economic future. pared with a normal of 73 per- er vehicles. cent. (Because regional travel ■Overall travel is down. is business-intensive instead •Several people going to the iiii By BRYON OKADA of tourist-intensive, occupan- same event are sharing one ve- okada@star-telegram.com cy rates tend to be in this hide. D/FW AIRPORT—As the economy teeters,offi- range.) •Last month,up to 10 percent cials are looking at revenue sources that predict In 2005, the hurricane sea- of the local fleet was sent south how business at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport will go son brought an influx of guests to help with transportation in in coming months—and it doesn't look pretty from Louisiana and East Texas,, the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. A large airport like D/FW has multiple reve- escaping Hurricanes Katrina Typically the summer3 nue streams,but a couple of key ones-hotels and Rita. This year, because months help. This,year ;they and car rentals-are leading indicators,the first Hurricane Ike's path included didn't. to see a boom or a bust. the D/FW area, guests largely "We just didn't see the kind went elsewhere,Hedges said. of uptick we normally have," Hotels Campbell said. D/FW's two hotels—the Grand Hyatt DFW and 'Rental cars the Hyatt Regency DFW—are among 16 hotels Rentals dipped about 1 per- BRYON OKADA,817-685-3956 in Grapevine. cent this year compared with Collectively through August,they have expert- 2007, said Zenola Campbell, vice president of concessions. enceda2percent decrease inbusiness compared This coincided with a similar with last year, according to Tennessee-based decrease in "destination pas Smith Travel Research.The most significant de- sengers," those, passengers creases were in recent months-May through who land at D/FW to do busi- August-coinciding with the fuel-price crunch. ness or for some other reason. "The tourist market contracted dramatically" And indications are that those said Gary Hedges,assistant vice president of ho numbers will decrease next tels. = For the five full-service hotels,including the Year as well. D/FW hotels, catering to business travelers For fiscal 2008, D/FW ex pects 12.2 million destination means that the overall impact passengers. Preliminary data, was less, although the trend which include an expected de- was similar.But in September, crease in overall passengers as. the commercial market began airlines pull back service, sug- _contracting.It hasn't shown up gest that this will decrease to in the numbers yet, but it's 11 million passengers in fiscal coming,Hedges said. 2009. "Just as the oil crisis hit the Based on history,D/FW can consumer market earlier,we're expect 12 percent of those pas- seeing the financial crisis hit- sengers to rent cars. Using a3 ting commercial now,"Hedges multiplier that takes into ac- said."The financial market has count days per contract and everybody frozen." rates, anticipated revenue of. Business travel overall is de- $228 million can be generated. creasing. Overnight trips are That's $16 million less than becoming day trips. Although the downturn is somewhat cy- clical, it may not go away this 3 year. IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF IMAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 /10 / 0 d DATE OF ARTICLE /O /I/ /t O NEWSPAPER FWST 1 Why isn't D/FW Airport using gas-drilling revenues to pay for operating expenses? ' Dallas/Fort Worth Airport officials must cut$13 million from oper- ating expenses by April or be forced to raise the landing fees that D/FW charges American Airiineand other carriers:.So far,"they've cut$2.3 million. ' That raises the question:Why doesn't D/FW use royalties from natural gas drilling to cover the remaining expenses? D/FW receives between$2 million and$5 million each month, according to John.C.Terrell,vice,president of commercial devel- opment. But years ago,airport officials decided that any natural re- . sources found at D/FW would be dedicated to capital development and other on-site improvements.Although it would be possible to skirt that policy,that's what's largely driving the use of the money today. The airport is using$45 million of present and future drilling revenues to upgrade the older terminals,Terrell said.Other dril ling revenues are being used to pay down the$2 billion debt in- curred during the recent capital-development program that opened Terminal D,the Skylink people-mover and other airfield projects. "We wanted to use it where we could get the most bang for the dollars,"Terrell said. —Bryon Okada 1 1 i 1 i 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF 1 I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR I DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 / IC /0 DATE OF ARTICLE /° /'-/D' NEWSPAPER FWST HURST-EULESS-BEDFORD 1 Cutting down on I student truancy is objective of 1 daytime curfew Tran coststhe schools state fundingand 1 Truancy h deprives students of the chance to learn. By MATT FRAZIER mfrazier@star-telegram.com H-E-B recorded 42,773 un- Crime1 excused absences in the 2007- Under 17? check Parent of a someone who is? 08 school year.The year before The curfew can help persuade A new daytime curfew in Bedford, Euless and it had 39,955. outof students oto stay in class and Hurst could bringmisdemeanor charges and aout it will help protectorne said. – g "School districts- receive And it resi- fine of up to$500 for children and their parents if state funding based on each dents of those three cities, he the minors are walking the streets during school day that students are in said. hours. school.The district says it lost The district is pulling crime The Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district has $1.2 million because of truan- records from Hurst, Euless asked the cities to enact the curfew in hopes of ; cy last year,up.from$1.12 mil- and Bedford to show how ma- curbing truancy.Euless and Bedford adopted the lion the previous year. ny crimes are committed by curfew last month. That's money that could "We certainlysee some benefit to the curfew," juveniles during they school hours. • have gone toward hiring more "When are out, the Bedford Police Chief David Flory said. "We don't teachers,though money is not crime rate goes up.When they have a huge problem of running across kids in the the most important aspect of are in school, the crime rate afternoon,but this gives us a means to deal with .;the truancy problem, Assis- goes down," Hearne said. — kids when they are absent from school." , tant Superintendent Debbie The Hurst City Council is expected to discuss Tribble said. "Thiscities have very unique that these the Officials Oct. includ- other area school districts, come togetherrand The biggest deal is those combined to help." ing Birdville and Fort Worth,say they have not dis kids are not in school so they are not learning.They are not MATT FRAZIER,817-685-3854 cussed a daytime curfew. going to achieve.They are not Fort Worth handles truancy going to graduate," Tribble * through a truancy court, said. which can fine parents of tru- By asking for help from ants up to$500 per case.State Hurst,Euless and Bedford,the law says a child is truant after district is covering about 85 -w 10 unexcused absences. ' percent of its students. The rest live in cities at the borders Unexcused absences of the district, including Ar- Hurst police officer Jimmy lington,Colleyville and Grape Meeks said the ordinance vine. would help. It would have been difficult "We see quite a few kids to get those cities to pass cur- hanging out during the day, —fews for a tiny fraction of its „especially at the Northeast minors, said H-E-B truancy Mall," Meeks said. "This is an specialist Nate Hearne. Ds tool to try to get kids in `school." H-E-B daytime curfews The district's action follows Euless and Bedford have passed daytime curfews at the behest of the H-E-B school district. an increase in truancy While school is in session,minors are not allowed to be in a public place between 9 a.m.and 2:30 p.m.Monday-Friday.The curfew is expected to take effect in a few weeks,after the cities inform residents of the change and after a grace period.Exceptions will be made for minors who have graduated,have a GED diploma,are out with an excused absence or are on a lunch break or a work study program. Source Cities of Euless and Bedford DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF 3 • MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 //0 Io8 DATE OF ARTICLE /o ( S/v t NEWSPAPER FWST 1 STATE FINANCES Bear market tapes ib to out of Texas� I _p pension funds Some government investment school construction and educational pensions for more than 570 ' :funds kept buying toxic stocks, materials for Texas children.Govern ''counties and appraisal dis- tricts,as they plunged in value. ment pension'funds may need a :„tricts, dropped 15 percent By YAMIL BERARD boost, and taxpayers could get from Sept.30,2007,to June 30. tapped for the increase. Its international stock portfo- 1 s ybemrd@scar-telegram'`om The market decline is enough to ho fell 12 percent. About half 'The stock portfolios of some of the cause growing discomfort among its total portfolio of about state's largest investments funds teacher groups, who years ago saw $16 billion is invested "in 1 supporting government employees' lawmakers' complacency as the stocks,records show The mar, ;retirements and public education Teacher Retirement System of Texas ket value of the overall portfq have taken quite a beating this year. lost billions in the 2001 bear lio dropped by almost $1 bil- By summer,the value of some of the market. hon. funds had dropped by billions of dol- "We have a learned a lesson •On international stocks, the 1 Lars. portfolio of the Employees Re- when the markets go down, tirement S stem of Texas de- Inflicting damage was the ruthless said Tim Lee,executive direc- y bear market that smacked hardest tor•of the Texas Retired Teach- I in value by 18 percent; 1 U.S..and international financial-sec- ers Association, representing its `U.S. stock portfolio tor stocks: That's where a chunk of 286,000 retired educators. dropped by 15 percent.About the state funds' investments have "There needs to be a response 60 percent of it $22.6 billion. 1 been concentrated,records show by legislators saying, 'We will total portfolio is in stocks . Many funds also had significant keep this fund solvent because From Sept.30,2007,to June 30, stakes in some of Wall Street's hethe value of its overall portfolio g itis in the best interest of edu mopped by more than$2 bil rollers that went bust.Some even in- • cators and taxpayers to do lion. 1 creased their exposure by buying so' II "That is what these markets more shares early this year as the' have done with these portfoli- stock of those companies was piling- Problems for lawmakers os that have a significant corn- . ng. Lawmakers may have more I . mitment to equity," said Mac None of the' funds have yet to than just the teacher fund to McLain, former. hef invest make public their third-quarter rates dealdue if the market slump ment officer at Texas Wesleyan of return,which would give the most - University We have a credit 1 up-to-date look at losses:But by the •From Aug. 31, 2007, to June crisis on our hands,and when. end of the second quarter on June 30 30, the Texas Permanent you hold equities, by defini —before the markets rapidly deteri- School Fund saw its U,S'.stock portfolio'decline in value by tion, you're assuming that orated, former Wall Street power risk." 1 about 23 percent.Money from houses like Lehman Bros.failed and The Texas Municipal Re- the'fund supports the•state's �- _ Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were tirement S m, which man textbook program, and the ages eros—all the funds saw signif ages pension investments for 'ion of their portfolios. fund guarantees bonds issued — __ _-.—. 1 Experts predict even deeper de by school districts. ni,ore than 800 Texas cities,for clines once third-quarter data are •The value of the domestic years'stuck with more conser available. equity portfolio of the Texas yative bond investments.Only If the bear market, which began County and District Retire- 8 percent of its total portfolio 1 several months ago,. persists, that ment System, which provides was in equities in August. It could mean less money available for posted a 10.90 percent year to-date loss in its equity hold- ings,Aug.31 returns show.But I the market value of the overall portfolio increased by more than $730 million from Sept. 30,2007,through August. f 0? ]DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0/1O • � ' DATE OF ARTICLE /075– 's l eis r NEWSPAPER FWST The Teacher Retirement came along." Some note that the state Howard Goldman with the System,the states largest pen. . • funds cant be blamed for mar Teacher Retirement System ket volatility said the fund was ahead of the sion fund, provides a link to Numbers tell story quarterly returns on its Web „First,the stocks of troubled fi- When you hold equities, curve by changing its asset site,showing the fund's global nancial institution didn't help tthat risk,and when you enter a The allocation definition,you'ie assuming mix starting s ut a year gi more divers - equity investment rate of re- state_pensions and endow bear market,you're going to be fled than in the past with a turn for the first quarter was a ment funds. Most had some greater emphasis on alterna + negative 8.3 percent. The site exposure to the much-publi negatively affected," said tive investments,he said."Ov does not report on more re- cized culprits American Inter McLain, TexasWesleyan's for- •11 cent results. But in an e-mail national Group(AIG);Lehman mer investment officer. er the last six to 10 months, response to written questions, Bros. Holdings, Washington Officials of Texas Perma there, has been no need to TRS said that the fund showed Mutual, Wachovia Corp., the nent School Fund said the pur- •change our allocation in.re a one-year rate of return of mi Federal Home Loan Mortgage chases of stock in the troubled sponse to current market con dnus 4.3 percent.The fund's net Corp. (Freddie Mac) and the companies were made as part - cent changes" he said. "Rather;:dire- asset value was nearly Federal National Mortgage As- of an equity portfolio designed cent in market condi $105 billion as of Aug.31: sociation(Fannie Mae). to match stock indexes.So the tions have helped confirm the Officials at other funds say: Making matters worse, portfolio was fully represented value of having such a diversi- that market ups and downs are ERS, TRS and the Texas Per- in both the top-performing fled portfolio." to be expected, and that they manent School Fund kept stocks and its worst ones, Institutional funds s typical- are in it for the long haul.Over buying some of the toxic spokeswoman DeEtta Cul- ly stick with an allocation time, they say, the funds will stocks even as they plunged in bertson said. strategy over time,rather than recoup the losses and meet value, according to data from She also noted that the Tex-, adjust to ever-changing con- target investment return rates. Bloomberg. as Permanent School Fund ditions, said McLain,who has "Our long-term investment For several months this pulled$2.8 billion from public more than 20 years' experi- horizon gives us opportunities year,ERS kept buying shares of equity markets in the past few ence teaching finance to un- to absorb and adjust to broad MG, Freddie Mac, Wachovia, years. dergraduate and graduate changes in the economic land- Washington Mutual and Leh- ERS couldn't pull out of, business students at Texas scape," said Amy Bishop, man Bros., even while the some toxic stocks because its Wesleyan. spokeswoman for Texas Coun- stocks were diving investments are locked and The funds"are going to say: ty and District Retirement Sys- TRS increased its holdings the fund is restricted on buy- No, we maintain our disci- 3 tern. of Lehman stock from Febru- ing and selling, officials said. pline. Were long-term inves- Skeptics, however, believe ary to recent . months, -al- For example, when the stock tors. In the long term,we will that a recoverywill be long and though it did sell Freddie Mac market began .a downward be fine,' " • arduous because the hit has shares. The Texas Permanent spiral a year ago, ERS policy But others say the funds been so dramatic.A rally could School Fund dumped Freddie prevented it from deviating could have avoided some of 3 take the funds as long as six -Mac about as fast as the stock from its investment strategy, the pain by shifting their years or more,some say. price dropped,but it piled on ERS spokeswoman Mary Jane stocks, to higher performing And the funds should have Washington Mutual and Leh- Wardlow said. economic sectors, such as known better than to keep man-Bros. shares as those That's because ERS, like technology their money in ,toxic stocks stocks sank. other funds, ,follows a long In the last eight weeks, and other securities that clear- . In contrast, the California term investment policy that ly were tanking at the start of` Public Employees'Retirement sets "target" allocations for some investment theirnst ufitio have 2008, according to those crit- System—the nation's largest stocks,bonds and cash.It also advised institutional cto ics. pension fund — started spreads money across various cess to go 100percent into „ cash. Others are stampeding. The period we're in, as far dumping millions of shares of types of financial instruments. into U.S..Treasuries, so they as the financial chaos, should Washington Mutual stock as In case one suffers, another's can sleep at night, even not have caught any reason- early as early 2007 and outperformance will soften though the returns are paltry ably concerned, alert steward stopped buying early this year. the blow. "While it may not always 3 by surprise,' said Ron Hagan, Declines m stock values "The ERS trust is highly di- make heroes out of invest- chairman of the board of Dal- came at a big price for the Tex- versified to reduce risk and las' Investment Fiduciary as funds.For example,on June supported by long-term in-. far ment firms,outcomes it doesthan15 contribute Leadership Council,an orga- 30,TRS held more than 4 mil- vestment strategies that 20 betterrcoss 15 to 20 percent loss in value," said nization of about 100 invest- lion shares of Lehman valued stretch far into the horizon, Hagan of the Investment Fidu- ment.firms, pension and re- at 15 cents apiece.At one point Wardlow wrote in a prepared ciary Leadership Council. "If tirement systems around the last year, the stock was worth statement. globe. "We've had plenty of almost$68 a share. The Texas County and Dis- you weren't in a good spot a warnings of the impact of this ' After the toxic stocks took trict Retirement System made when you started, you , in and on the banking industry and their swipe at the funds, the a similar point and also said it very, very bad spot now, the financial markets. This is stocks of top performers,such has a$2 billion war chest in re- recoverywill be verydifficulte for public blic pennsionns who are not something that suddenly as Wal-Mart and Disney,fell as serve in case of crisis. " market confidence eroded, to chasing returns. produce even more losses. YAMIL BERARD,817-685-3818 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 3 OF 3 • MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /f0/I D /0 DATE OF ARTICLE /D /$ /6 7 NEWSPAPER FWST Some holdings of the state's largest investment funds ' Employees Retirement System R of Texas ' Equity holdings of note as of 6/30/08 Number of shares Freddie Mac 801,300 Fannie Mae • 963,900 American International Group 1,871,600 Lehman Bros.Holdings 254,750 Wachovia Corp. 1,140,850 Washington Mutual 762,000 ' Teacher Retirement System of Texas Equity holdings of note as of 6/30/08 Number of shares ' Freddie Mac 1,719,383 Fannie Mae 2,123,577 American International Group 4,821,738 ' Lehman Bros.Holdings 4,327,272 Wachovia Corp. `4,002,546 Washington Mutual 1,344,035 Texas Permanent School Fund Equity holdings of note as of 6/30/08 Number of shares ' Freddie Mac 517,394 Fannie Mae • 851,482 American International Group • 2,151,084 ' Lehman Bros.Holdings 516,334 Wachovia Corp. • 1,710,254 Washington Mutual 847,089 I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKERpGETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /D l(0 / C) o DATE OF ARTICLE /9/(P /6 , NEWSPAPER FWST EDITORIALS' RECOMMENDATION I HOUSE DISTRICT 92 • Smith is the pick3 Todd Smith says he's made his peace with House Speaker Tom Craddick and expects to speak against toll roads in the next session if legislation treats residents of his district unfairly. =State Rep. Todd Smith was absolutely right when, in the. waning days of the 2007 legislative session, he defied the autocratic rule of Speaker Tom Craddick. The House de- scended e scended into turmoil when Craddick claimed"absolute:au- thority" to decide which members could speak on the' rr 'louse floor and which could not. The speaker never al- lowed a vote on that question, so nobody will really know how many House members agreed with Smith in the rebel- That was then.This is now.Smith,a conservative Repub- lican from Euless,says his best analysis now shows primary ' elections and other House membership shifts have clearly _moved the balance of support in Craddick's favor.He says .r he"can't foresee"a scenario under which Craddick would not be re-electedas speaker. Other House members may disagree.There still maybe a battle for the speaker's chair after the Legislature convenes again Jan. 13.Meanwhile, Smith says that he has made his peace with Craddick and is ready to move ahead on impor- tant issues facing state government. Smith was first elected to represent Texas House District :92, the-Hurst-Euless-Bedford area, 12 years ago. He has worked hard to stay in tune with his district's voters on key issues,particularly the needs of the H-E-B school district<. He has not been afraid to'stand up to powerful special interests,including electric utilities,home builders and in-'' ,surance companies,when he felt that the legislation they. were pushing was not right In the 2009 session,he expects to speak out against an- ,ticipated transportation legislation if it forces his constitu- ,ents to drive on toll roads while people in other parts of the state have free roads. The Star-Telegram recommends Todd Smith for state representative in District 92. .90 .r1 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF 7 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR 8 DATE DISTRIBUTED 1 0 1 1 0 I 0 Y DATE OF ARTICLE /0 / / C)g NEWSPAPER At e(g , 6R&. I Apr IOctober 8,2008 I Sports Texas Football Team Thrives On Tonga Connection by Wade Goodwyn I r All Things Considered, 4,2008 .Tr School in Euless, Texas,has the nation's top-ranOctoberked football teamity,according to Sports ' • ,, ' 4 Illustrated.The idea that the state of Texas could field some of the best a players in high school football is not exactly breaking news. ` Y ' - .1-..% ` .- But the Trinity Trojans are different because the backbone of this team,its offensive and defensive heart and soul,is Tongan—many of the players' I `.. families are from Tonga,the island nation southeast of Fiji. L.T.Tuipulotu(99)and his teammate The reasons so many Tongans are in Euless may seem rather random. But the Andrew Eteaki(66,at left)perform the reasons for the team's rise to the No. 1 national ranking are anything but I pre-game haka at Allen Eagle Stadium. random: Many credit the squad's success to the Tongan players'size. Scott Bjornlie/Trinity High Friday Night Warriors IOn autumn Friday nights in Texas,high school football stadiums are packed with hundreds of thousands of people,celebrating one of their most ' important and historic tribal customs. The rituals are precisely defined:There must be music and dancing,chanting L and marching.Sticks are twirled and thrown spinning into the night sky. ..._ 4,, -, _ , . �� .. :The tribe's future—its strong,beautiful young men and women—paint their �,: _ �,I_. faces,don costumes and perform amazing feats of physical prowess for the �fle, pleasure and admiration of their people. jott!•••' ,... ., `�""'4e-;^� But when it is Trinity's warriors who are preparing for a Friday night battle, tr- - '`; `-`` there is an added ritual. Isikeli Cocker(76)leads the Trinity A massive Tongan offensive lineman,Isikeli Cocker leads his fellow Tongans I Trojans through its ritual haka.Scott and the rest of his Trinity teammates in a haka,just before kickoff.Cocker Bjornlie/Trinity High moves around the field,gesturing in a primal,ancient way.His men affirm their readiness with chants and slaps to their legs and chests. IWatching this spectacle unfold in a North Texas suburban football stadium seems both surreal and somehow just fine,totally appropriate.The visiting I football team stands there and watches,some try to ignore the spectacle.But it's hard not to stare. I And when it's time for the team captains to meet at the 50-yard line for the DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF V 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMINLIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR 3 DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 /i° IDE DATE OF ARTICLE /0 / 8' / o NEWSPAPER Al P8 . OR c-. coin toss,the Trinity players seem to have a slight edge in the swagger department.It doesn't hurt that one captain is a Tongan the size of a small skyscraper. Strength In Diversity Mike Harris,the young principal of Trinity High,says a lot of people are unfamiliar with the Pacific island nation. He says people often ask, "What is the Tonga population,and where are they from,where is Tonga,where are those islands?" As for Euless,it's a suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth,next to the big international airport. "Whenever we travel to other schools and other events,or people come here,they're surprised to see our population," Harris says. Trinity is a big school with a sprawling campus. Its 2,200 students are in three grades,from loth to 12th. When you walk in the front entrance,the first thing you see are dozens of national flags hanging from the ceiling. Each flag represents the home country of one of the students, and it looks a little like the Olympic Games in there. Harris says the entryway serves two purposes: First,to impress first-time visitors,and second,to make the students feel like the high school honors their heritage. He says one of the unique things about Trinity that he's always loved is its diverse population. "We have cliques,just like every school has cliques,"he says. "But the majority of our cliques are all interest-based 3 —not racial-based." Of course,let's not get carried away.This is suburban North Texas, and Trinity is half white. But another 15 percent are Hispanic; 15 percent are black; and 13 percent are Pacific Islander.To be Pacific- specific,Tongan. So how did a community of more than 3,000 Tongans come to be in Euless,of all places? 3 In the early 1970s,a Tongan man who worked for American Airlines moved to Euless with his wife. "The first Tongan couple that moved here to Euless is Halatono and Siupeli Netane,"says Ofa Faiva-Seile, a Tongan whose family moved to Euless when she was a teenager in the mid-198os. Faiva-Seile has been recording an oral history of the Tongan community in North Texas. "When they arrived here,they realized that the cost of living was inexpensive, [with] plenty of jobs over at DFW airport,"she says.Then they told their friends and family,and the area drew an influx of people from the island. Faiva-Seile was in the first wave of Tongans to arrive.At first,the big brown girl was an outcast,whom nobody knew was from Tonga. 3"I remember coming here and going to high school at North Richland Hills,where it was nothing but cowboys. So I felt very out of place,"she says. 3"I didn't have a lot of friends,you know, I wasn't approached a lot. But I moved to Trinity, and I'll tell you what, there was just a whole different atmosphere to Trinity High School." 3 A Community's Bonds 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 3 OF q MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 /10 I o DATE OF ARTICLE 1 (2 1 8" / 6 NEWSPAPER Al Pi, 0 R(Sr. The word got out in the Tongan community that Trinity High School was a place where Tongans could be themselves. 111 And the conservative Texans discovered that,surprisingly,they had a lot in common with the Tongans.For example,Tongans are intensely family-and community-oriented, and they also don't believe in sparing the rod. "The police here can pick up a kid,and run him over to the house and say, 'Mom,dad,we caught him mouthing off—or stealing,or whatever,"Faiva-Seile says. ' "Then, I hate to say it,but it's normal in our culture,you get a butt-whipping,"she says. "Mom whips your butt, and then your daddy whips your butt, and then your uncle can come along and go whip your butt,too." ' That sort of accountability goes over big here.And this sports-happy Texas culture also heartily approves of the Tongans'tendency toward the physical.Trinity High's head football coach, Steve Lineweaver,can describe it in a very political way. "I think we've been blessed with a diverse group that brings their own strengths to the program,predominantly Tongans,that bring a passion for the game of football,"he says. Asked if that passion included a love for hitting their opponents on the field,the coach agrees. "They're very physical," Lineweaver says,and "a lot of them are very large." They are large—and when they're in high school,fast,too. ' In the Trinity weight room,the team turns weight-training into a party.They face each other in rows and lift and jerk heavy free weights above their heads,then drop them to the rubber floor like they're big and bad—and don't they know it. ' Senior wide receiver Alex Jones says he loves his Tongan teammates. "We've got a lot of freaks of nature,really, that come and kick people's butts,"he says. A New Tradition Is Born As the Tongan community has grown in Euless,so has the success of Trinity football. In just the past three years, they've won their first two state championships. Last year, all five offensive linemen and their tight end were offered college scholarships. While other top Texas high school football programs have gone to the spread offense,throwing the football all over the lot,Trinity plays smash-mouth, running it down the other team's throat. Jones says he takes great pleasure watching the other teams'high-powered offense,with their speed and great hands and talent,standing forlornly on the sidelines,their defense being slowly ground into the dust,the game clock spinning like a merry-go-round. ' "A couple of years ago,our entire offensive line outweighed the Washington Redskins'offensive line,"Jones says. ' The Tongan players at Trinity are,not surprisingly,proud of themselves,their team and their school. They are a big success at something that counts for an awful lot around here.And lest any non-sports-fans sneer, they and their teammates earn every win with their sweat and blood in the cruel Texas heat. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 7 OF "7 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN vLIBRARY REF ANIMA/L�CNTR 3 DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 / / D `/ odDATE OF ARTICLE /0 / o l 0 o NEWSPAPER Ai R. D LS. "We're not pass-blocking,"a coach yelled at a recent practice. "Stick your nose between his numbers. Here we go 3 —hit! "Good! That's what some of you guys have got to learn,"he said. "You've got to bring the hat!" Motivation,And Success Defensive end Vai Sapoi, a senior,says his parents told him when he was in the fourth grade that if he wanted to play football,he had to get his grades up. Sapoi says he wasn't always the smartest guy in the classroom,but he worked his tail off so he could play for Trinity. "Playing for Trinity,it's not just a sport to everybody,you know,"he says. "Everyone takes it seriously. It's more like a career." On a recent Friday night,the stadium stands were packed.Midway through the first quarter,a Trinity running back burst through the middle of his huge offensive line. He cut right,exploded into the opponent's backfield and streaked down the sideline,the defensive safeties giving desperate chase. 3 The opposing head coach smacked his clipboard against his leg in frustration as the defenders finally pushed the Trojan runner out of bounds inside the 10. 3 Everyone knew that play was coming.The problem is,how do you stop it? I 3 3 I I 3 ,DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF 3 " MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 1 / D / D g DATE OF ARTICLE / d /6 / 0g NEWSPAPER Ale 4,0 IIor l<Trtes I a Cort '1j \tU'j)ork'Onto October 8,2008 -�. -- ..,:i.;14, ; '• C d k „1 � •a Brian Harkin for The New York Times I From left, Setefano Maile, Sioeli Pauni, Elikena Fieilo (squatting), Vaimaali Sapoi and L. T. Tuipulotu are starters for Trinity High. IEULESS,Tex. —Public-address announcers at games for Trinity High,the nation's top-ranked prep football team,sometimes inadvertently twist players'names into what Pacific Islanders Iconsider swear words.Anywhere else in this state,the land of"Friday Night Lights"where high school games can draw tens of thousands of fans,such mispronunciations would not be an issue. IBut the Trinity Trojans hardly fit the familiar image of the Texas gridiron. A pipeline from the Pacific Island kingdom of Tonga has delivered a Polynesian influence to this Itown's churches,markets and championship football team,which won state titles in 2005 and 2007 among Texas'largest schools. Players of Tongan descent have brought imposing size, I strength and toughness to the Trojans—and the need for a roster with phonetic spellings for the announcers. I "That would stop the cursing,"said Ofa Faiva-Siale,projects manager for the Euless Parks and Community Services Department. Students at Trinity speak 53 languages, and the flags of 31 nations hang in the school's entrance. The proximity of Euless to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport,which is located partly within Ithe city limits,has brought a remarkable diversity to this town of 54,000. IThirteen of the 24 Trinity players who have made all-state since the 1980s,and 16 members of the current roster,are of Tongan descent. I "When you think of Texas high school football,you think of country kids,farm kids;you don't expect to see players from the South Pacific,"said Sioeli Pauni,who has two sons on the Trinity I team. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE a OF 3 I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTRI/� , DATE DISTRIBUTED r D /1 D/d 0 DATE OF ARTICLE l0 / a /0 NEWSPAPER/Jei yor/c e.s CSM ,The parents of many players work at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport as baggage handlers and food- service employees,facilitating affordable travel on special family occasions. Others are self- employed as landscapers,carpenters and masons.Meanwhile,their sons are resolute linemen and i linebackers,who weigh from 200 to 333 pounds and find in football a brisk physical exertion similar to the Tongan national sport of rugby. 1 Each time he knocks a defensive lineman on his back,Uatakini Cocker, a 6-foot-2, 297-pound offensive tackle,screams: "Mate ma'a Tonga,"meaning,"I will die for Tonga."Later,the playful Cocker said,he often has to explain his heritage to opposing players and fans in this typical postgame conversation: I "Are you Mexican?" Polynesian Pipeline Feeds a Football Titan "Polynesian." x "Samoan?" "Tongan." „sr 3 Brian Harkin for The New York Times Trinity High of Euless,Tex.,the nation s top-ranked prep team,has 16 players of Tongan descent "O.K.,because you would be a very big Mexican." 3 The presence of 3,000 to 4,000 Tongans here has lent an unmistakable touch of Polynesia to Euless and Trinity High.The Hawaiian Market advertises kava root used for a traditional drink.A nonprofit organization called Voice of Tonga addresses concerns about immigration,culture, language and health,and broadcasts a program,including Trinity football highlights,on local 3 cable television. The Free Church of Tonga,the Tongan First United Methodist Church and the First Tongan Assembly of God Church—three of nine Tongan-affiliated churches in the area—sit on or near South Main Street.A Catholic chaplain,who is Tongan,visits several times a year from San Francisco,but must work his schedule around football season,said Faiva-Siale. "I'll call and say: `Don't come this weekend;we're in playoffs. Only two or three people will show 3 up,'"Faiva-Siale said. 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE v OF 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN I YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /v/ I0 108 DATE OF ARTICLE 1 0 � 8 1 0 8 NEWSPAPER/Vea)Iork ' . GoAt Half of Trinity's 2,189 students in grades io through 12 are white,with a roughly equal mix of black and Hispanics and about 275 Asians and Pacific Islanders.This year's football team is represented by at least eight nations,from Laos to Rwanda.Nine of the 22 starters are Tongans. ' "It makes you a better person,learning to accept different people,"said Dontrayevous Robinson, Trinity's star running back,who is African-American. Trinity has a Polynesian Club,and Polynesian Ynyn an students frequently join the choir and participate in ' the arts. Often,they are chosen homecoming king and queen,coaches said.Ukulele music wafts through the school courtyard at lunchtime and between classes. Occasionally,someone wears a ' traditional lava-lava sarong.Before and after each football game,Tongan players lead a ceremonial team war dance called a haka. ' About io Polynesian players from Trinity(5-o)are now playing college football. 1 _ 41:11 '==.yyo�uuf - � 1 ' 064 oma, Fort Words Intetrefonsi Fart Worth TEXAS Ddlm ME SEW Yaa 11116 The New York Times ' Euless has a big airport within its limits,a key to its diversity. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR3 DATE DISTRIBUTED /0/ /0 /O �1 DATE OF ARTICLE /0 / 9 1 0/ NEWSPAPER FWST OBITUARIES3 Cynthia Eldridge 3�-.0;0' p, � , Pastor Eldridge has given '` the invocation at our City Council meeting over the last A", t e ` six years. N g f ' ' S 3 a ' a � ?i: COLLEYVILLE — Cindy Eldridge 3 left us to be with the Lord on Mon- day,Oct.6,2008. FUNERAL: 12:30 p.m. Friday in Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Cha- pel.Visitation:6 to 8 p.m.Thursday 3 at the funeral home. MEMORIALS:Donations and con- dolences may be sent to New Life Covenant Church,2501 N. Main St., Euless Texas 76039.Flowers and me- morials may be sent to Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home,5725 Colleyville Blvd.,Colleyville,817-281-8751. I In Loving memory of Cindy El- dridge Cindy was born in Clovis,N.M.,on Aug.25,1958,to Billy Watts and Mi- na Sheets.She graduated from high I school in Farwell,Texas,in 1976,and received her bachelor's from Eastern New Mexico University in 1981. Cindy decided to give her life to Jesus Christ when she met Kevin.Af3 - ter trying for many years to have chil- dren the Lord blessed them with three beautiful daughters.After sev- eral years Kevin was called to the ministry where Cindy followed and 3 served with him. Cindy loved and touched everyone she came in con- tact with even animals.Cindy will be missed by everyone she knew and all those she was yet to meet. . SURVIVORS:Her husband,Kevin Eldridge;daughters,Carly,Taylor and Kenzi;father,Billy Watts of Conchas - Dam, N.M.; mother and stepfather, VA Mina and Harry Sheets of'Farwell; I brother and wife, Kayle and Denise Watts and daughters,Katherine and Meredith; father-in-law and wife, Dean and Carol Ann Eldridge of Col iii - leyville; mother-in-law, Coelita El- dridge of Clovis N.M.; sister-in-law, Shelly Burger and husband, Marty Burger,and sons,Trevor and Connor of Clovis,N.M.,and Steve and Karen Eldridge and children, Trapper and Eli Amber,of Plano. Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Colleyville,817-498-5894 wif View and sign guestbook at www.star•telegram.com/obituaries 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /C / 0 / °O DATE OF ARTICLE /0 l /c) / v 8 NEWSPAPER FWST Chow down on gyros and ' watch your football heroes Looking for a new twist on tailgating for today's football game between Trinity and Colleyville I Heritage? Then stop by the 17th annual Mid-Cities Greek Food Festival and load up on baklava,gyros and other Greek goodies before kickoff. The 17th annual festival begins today and continues through Sunday at St.John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church,303 Cullum Drive in ' Euless. "It keeps getting bigger and better every year," said Debbie Manos,event coordinator. Besides food,you'll find Greek folk dancing, ' including dance lessons,shopping,arts and crafts and tours of the church. Admission and parking are free for the festival, which goes from 11 a.m.to 10 p.m.today and ' Saturday and 11 a.m.to 4 p.m.Sunday. —Adrienne Nettles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARYREFANIMAL CNTR3 DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 11 U /0 0 DATE OF ARTICLE /C) / IC) / Ce NEWSPAPER FWST EDITORIALS H-E-B SCHOOL DISTRICT Daytime curfews are too extreme To fight truancy,cy,cities make it illegal to be out in public on a school day.That goes too far. Let's say you're a 16-year-old(we know,nobody Wants to go Going to North East Mall? ;through that again,but bear with us for a moment)and you Watch out, because City Council members in Hurst, are walking your dog down the sidewalk near your home. home of the mall,will talk about a similar ordinance next It's the middle of a school day. week.And yes,Hurst residents,you are the ones who would So far,have we told you anything that says you are break pay for the police and courts to enforce this ordinance mg the law? against young people who might come to the mall from any $; Not in most places." other city. g, Even if you are skipping school without an excused ab Officials in Euless and Bedford say they established the sence, that's not against the law daytime curfew to help the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school © What do - until you establish a pattern of district.The district has seen an increase in truancy,which — i®\ you think? frequent skipping. is a serious problem. To comment, In Euless or Bedford, it's dif State law defines truancy and says how to deal with b go to www.star- ferent. The law targets students who skip at least three times in a telegram.com/opinions New daytime curfew 'ordi- four-week period or at least 10 times in six months. nances in those cities say you Skipping school is never a good thing., could be stopped by a police officer,questioned and given a But if the H-E-B school district needs help with legiti- citation:" mate truancy cases, or if its officials believe that state law That citation could result in a$500 fine unless you pro-. should be tightened,they should take that up with the Leg- perly defend yourself in court, islature. Defend yourself for what? The Legislature should make any needed changes and For being in a public place during school hours. " { provide school districts with the resources they need to ..+� Say you had a really,really bad day yesterday,broke up combat truancy. with your boyfriend/girlfriend, spilled your lunch all over i, It shouldn't be like it is in Euless and Bedford. Cities your clothes and all the cool kids laughed at you,whatever: shouldn't be making it illegal simply to be in public in the After a lot of crying about it you persuaded your mom and ' middle of the day. dad to let you stay home just one day. There has to be a better reason than that to focus the Maybe that's a bad decision by your parents, but it , power of police and courts on any individual. doesn't mean you or they should have to explain yourselves to police.It doesn't mean you should face the threat of a big fine or the trouble of convincing a judge to let you off the hook. 1 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF e ' MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN ' YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 /10 I 0 0 DATE OF ARTICLE 10 1 1 0 I o 6 NEWSPAPER FWST CHIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL tTnnityplayers. find themselves I. in the national spotlight a ain ,,_,„.,,- „, ,, :- -,--- „. „„-,„..i., ,, , : ,,, , k ' , ,, ,,,-,cL,, ,t,q,‘ , • e ,: h '. €Q Not that local writers didn't `also gawk in the early 1980s, y, ., ' when the Tongan community ' `p 4itii q was newer here. (Even into B k the'90s,the Star-Telegram of= " ten included a boilerplate +4 paragraph in stories that let r readers know where Tonga_ Sd - - A k t Mostly, the national spot- w '''�� light's all good, said Paul Pau is fun to have all this attention sometimes,and the interviews,but not too much,"says ni,a junior defensive lineman. =ul Pauni,center,a junior defensive lineman. STAR-TELEGRAM/STEWARTF.HOUSE "It's fun to have all this atten- tion sometimes,and the inter- ' A large number of Tongan players and Much•ofthe suburban city views, but not too much. Not often-dominant play on the field have is an ethnic mishmash contin with everyone coming and brought the school plenty of attention. uously infused with new blood saying we're the big thing at because of nearby Dallas/Fort Trinity—the Tongans.We try I By ANGEL VERDEJO and BRYON OKADA Worth Airport. not to get too big headed averdejo@star-telegram.com,Okada@star-telegram.com But many of the 4,000 Ton- about that.", t EULESS — Maybe you remember the Wall gans estimated to live in Eu- Importantly, for the play ' Street Journal's 2006 front-page story on the. less were born in the mainland ers, pride in one's individual haka, the Trinity High School football team's , `U.S.`or have lived here for ma- heritage doesn't mean some pre-game war chant. ny years. teammates are better than,, Or the Gatorade commercial featuring Nevertheless,in other parts others. I Trinity players. Or the haka feature on the : of the U.S.-where some folks ' "We're all brothers — we CBS Evening News last year might think North Texas is i don't look like it, but even Or the National Public Radio segment on 'about cowboys and,cacti and though we may be different Trinity's Tonanplayerslast week.Or the clips_ reruns dy s of Dallas - it appar- colors,it doesn't matter," said ' g4 till comes as a surprise - mP Sione Moeakiola,a junior line- on YouTube. that Friday night football play- backer. Did you catch the curly black hair of Trin-. ers are not all farm boys or "We grew up together,com- ity football player on the front page of The sons of wildcatters. ing up from the same junior I :New York Times this week? . Last week's NPR report be- high schools.We started play- That's right -you can lay any doubt to .-gan with this introduction,not ' ing together in pee-wee when rest. - lacking in incredulous tone: we were little."" = - Trinity Tongans are not just national sport- "It's not exactly breaking news Team unity is a big message I ing news they're national news,, period. that Texas fields some of the at Trinity; as it--has been for (One might even argue that Euless Trinity is . nations best high school foot- years. this year's Southlake Carroll.) ball,but the Trinity Trojans are In yellowed 'newspapers Of course, Tongans have.been part of the different. The backbone I Northeast Tarrant County community for of this team, its offensive and three decades,adding their unique and famil- defensive heart and soul, is iar profiles to Euless'diverse cultural mix. - Tongan. U "That's right, Tongan from the Pacific island of Ton- ga .., DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF42 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 110 10 DATE OF ARTICLE I O ' i a ( OS NEWSPAPER FWST 25 years of Trinity Tongans clippings,team leaders touted "Euless is different — OK,so maybe it's not the same as being in the national spot- the team's ethnic mix as an ad- they're known for something light,but the Trinity Trojans football team and its ties to the vantage, positive there," Katoa said. local Tongan community have been a mainstay in the Star- It was a message also im- "Teachers and coaches in the Telegram news and sports pages for years.Here's a small sam- parted in Wednesday's New community welcome them as piing: York Times article,and some good kids with futures, who 1983:Tongans in Euless discuss life in Texas and their affinity thing that pleased Trinity can contribute to the commu- for a sport similar to football:rugby.It is mentioned that resi- head coach Steve Lineweaver nity dent Fotu,Katoa also played football for the Trinity Trojans and in a week where media dis- In many ways,Trinity foot- — that the team made the high school playoffs the previous year. tractions could possibly take ball shaped that—setting the 1985: It is suggested that many Tongans move to Tarrant Coun- the focus off the team's big right tone and expectations ty for better educational opportunities.Sam Katoa of the Trinity game Friday-night against from the get-go. Even when Trojans is described as being named Star-Telegram defensive Colleyville Heritage High Katoa was the only Tongan on .�. player of the year the previous year. School the team,he felt accepted.Too 1992:The diverse ethnic background of the Trinity Trojans "I think it was different in bad it's not possible to trans- football team,including Tongans,is discussed at length. that way,to the point where I plant a little of that accep- �.. 1993:Junior Filikitonga,a Trinity Trojan defensive end,is pro- don't think it's going to bother tance into other states, he filed. our focus,"Lineweaver said."I said. 1993:Local Tongans find a slice of home in Texas by cheering thought it was an interesting "I call Euless home still," for the Trinity High School football team,as they have since the article more or less about Katoa said. WNW early 1980s. Trinity's diversity" Online:Hurst-Euless-Bedford school 1995:A tutoring program started through the Polynesian Club In particular, Lineweaver district,www.hebisd.edu by Trinity High School assistant coach Fred Katoa is discussed. said, he was gratified by de- Staff writer Domingo Ramirez Jr. 1995:A profile of Trinity High School includes this sentence: scriptions of Euless as a corn- contributed to this report. MOM "Nearly every Tongan in Texas lives in Euless,according to cen- paratively safe place for Ton- sus figures." gan students to go to school. BRYON OKADA,817-685-3956 1996:Sam Katoa becomes the first Tongan officer in the Euless "That meant a lot to me," ANGEL VERDEJO,817-685-3810 Police Department. he said. 2002:Trinity star Ofa Mohetau is profiled. That observation was 2003:Sam Katoa is described as a mentor for Trinity High made by Fotu Katoa, Trinity's School football players. first Tongan player in the early 2006:Tongan students are described as engaging in a wide '80s. range of high school activities in addition to football. Katoa, who is now Utah's Source star-Telegram archives director of Pacific Islander af- • fairs, said in other states with larger Polynesian popula- tions, like California, Arizona and Utah, there is more gang activity, and sometimes the presumtion that young Ton- gans will gravitate toward negative behavior because of their physical size. In those states, even though Tongans have been there 50 years or longer, they �. have not assimilated like they were able to in Northeast Tar- rant County.