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Home My WebLink About2009-05-01 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE /lir MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY ('RIM MCK4MIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS LC.BARKER GETCHELL LIBK4RYADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATEDISTRIBUTED J DATE OF ARTICLE / 4 / 9 NEWSPAPER FWST CHEERS AND JEER Cheers:To my Star-Telegram carrier! My paper is put on my sidewalk down a steep hill each morning and always has a cover on it for bad weather.Thanks a bunch! -Mary Lib Saleh,Euless • Jeers:To the city of Euless for posting a sign in the Euless public library saying it will be closed April 10 for the"spring holiday."Call it what it was—Good Friday. Do you rename every holiday that exists primarily because of a cer- tain group?Or just Christian ones? Cathy Sneed,Euless L L L L L L L L L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE r OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLI iNS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR '1 DATE DISTRIBUTED ` l/ /0 / DATE OF ARTICLE `�/,27/0? NEWSPAPER ",, , • ►' ! - • IC Soldier's memorial to be dedicated Friday YAKIMA—A memorial at the Yakima Training Center for a Yakima soldier killed in the Iraq war will be dedicated Friday. The Army training center—part of Fort Lewis,near Tacoma—is also renaming its Range 25 in honor of Staff Sgt. Kyle Eggers,who died at the age of 27. Eggers was killed Dec. 5, 2004,when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle outside Fallujah. He served in the Army for nine years,including an assignment at the training center, according to an Army news release. The public is invited to the dedication ceremony. Photo identification is required, and anyone driving must show their driver's license,registration and proof of insurance to be allowed on the base. — Military officials ask all visitors to arrive by 9:30 a.m. at the headquarters parking lot. Transportation to the range will be provided. -' Eggers was survived by his widow,Jennifer, and three sons, Zane and twins Tegan and Kaden. Posted on Monday,April 27,2009 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF .4IAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANI 'AL CNT' DATE DISTRIBUTED / / /o 7 DATE OF ARTICLE q/�E/ 0? NEWSPAPE' ./_•Ara tisk, Looming Republican blow-up over voter ID in the Texas House? By W.Gardner Selby Could be you can blame this one on a reporter(me)because I'm not on the floor of the Texas House; I've been focused on Vice President Biden's Austin visit today when it looks like I'd have benefited from trolling among legislators about the simmering voter ID fight. My point: From my vantage point away from the pink dome, I'm hearing from Capitol sources that Rep.Todd Smith, R-Euless, privately told GOP colleagues today he'd reached closure on his intended-to-be-a- compromise version of voter ID legislation and might even issue an afternoon press release saying so. To which, some Republicans reportedly reacted:"Whoa, Nelly(or Toddy)." Their beef:They'd prefer not to see Smith,chairman of the House Committee on Elections, running out a softened-up approach that they don't think meets the intended ID mandate. True, it'd be a painful political boomerang for Republicans to see House Democrats (on the short end of the 76-74 House split between the parties)wrest control of the GOP's most-valued legislative proposal (though the flip side, perhaps fueling Smith's hunt for common ground, is that if the Senate-approved version of voter ID isn't tweaked, he could fall short of getting the proposal out of his committee or off the House floor;tough cookies). Until Smith speaks out(yup, I've tried to reach him), I'm left with separate statements from Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell,who takes a hard line on the voter ID front,and from 51 House Republicans(including Brown)similarly saying they're not interested in phasing in changes or making it easier for most anyone to vote without presenting proof of their identity. GOP blow-up? I'm waiting to hear more. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKERyGETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR Nu DATE DISTRIBUTED 6 / .1 /0 / DATE OF ARTICLE R//3V /0 9 NEWSPAPER FWST 7 CRIME Theft suspectosed as reservist, police say7 p By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. $70,000 bail. when he cashed the checks ramirez@star-telegram.com Investigators believe that throughout Texas and out of EULESS-An Arlington man McCrumby gained access to state over the past two years; posing as anAir Force reservist 4,000' names and account police said. He also carried a — used forged checks to buy numbers through an accom- fake military identification more than plice who worked at several card,police said: $500,000_ r: North Texas banks and mort- "In some cases, he would worth of F gage companies. give other people fakejDs and trips, vela ` ;1-4.414„ "His accomplice would p get them to cash forged cies and elec- work at banks and mortgage checks,"Williams said. , tronic equip- companies and get the.infor- McCrumby could not be ment, ac mation ,'' Euless police Lt. reached for comment cording to in- McCrumby John Williams• said. "She An investigation by Secret formation would get fired and go to an- Service agents and police from released by police Wednesday. other financial institution." Euless, Grapevine and Hurst Authorities arrested Isaac McCrumby would use sto- led to McCrumby's arrest April E. McCrumby, 29,this month len information to forge 8. at his Arlington business, ac checks,according to police.To cusing him of identity theft. boost his credibility,he would DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., He was free;Wednesday on dress in an Air Force uniform 817-390-7763 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATT_NY CRIM lICKAMIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR _DATE DISTRIBUTED / a DATE OF ARTICLE 'S / / / ° NEWSPAPER FWST SWINE FLU OUTBREAK Developments Texas cases ■The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 26 swine flu cases in Texas by Thursday afternoon. That includes a Mexico City boy who died in Houston but isn't in this county-by-county breakdown: Guadalupe County:9 Dallas County:6 Tarrant County:5 Starr County:2 Cameron County: 1 Comal County: 1 Fort Bend County: 1 Area cases ■Fort Worth:Three con- firmed swine flu cases.One patient is a student at McLean Middle School.Two are mother and son.Tarrant County health officials have found nine prob- able cases in Fort Worth,with patients ranging in age from 2 to 34.Of the nine,three are students at South Hills Ele- mentary,two are at McLean Middle,one is at Westcliff Elementary and one is at McLean Sixth Grade Center. • Euless:Two confirmed cases and one probable case,but none are of school age ■Denton County:One con- firmed and two probable cas- es. •Cleburne:Four possible cases. ow DISTRIBUTED TO: PACE / OF i MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN • YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMY11N LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR '.4 DATE DISTRIBUTED // l 0 / DATE OF ARTICLE 5/ / / o 9 NEWSPAPER FWST MILITARY •Sergeant in off' GI Army Pfc. Sean P. McCune ceived word not long after- CC To have an go to Ranger training after of Euless was killed Jan.11 that Army investigators did • , deployment." in Samarra, Iraq,shortly not believe that version of Army infantry- The news that another hasbeen with n. sol events. dier after returning to quarters.. man tO be that. charged , The Army now believes , his son's death is particularly • By CHRIS VAUGHN • that Sgt.Mi- irresponsible with hard to take,said his father,a cvaughn@star-telegram.com • = el A.Vega- former noncommissioned f. g his weapon is just The Army has forwarded in -:4--- quinones officer in the Air'Force. voluntary manslaughter negligently [unbelievable] to "I hada preconception of charges against a sergeant 4 discharged. � g „ what might have happened," accused of fatally shooting a s� his weapon me• Larry McCune said. "But young private from Euless ;, and killed Larry McCune when I found out he was an this year in Iraq. McCune McCune,20. father of slain Army private NCO, my blood boiled. I Pfc. Sean P McCune,who Vegaqui- - spent almost 16 years in the grew up in various cities in .nones is also charged with 35th Infantry Regiment military.I know what was ex= _ Northeast Tarrant County, making a false official state- based at Schofield Barracks, pected of us as NCOs.To have died of a single gunshot ment. The Associated Press Hawaii. Born in Fort Worth, an Army infantryman to be wound Jan. 11 in Samarra, reported that Vegaquinones he grew up mostly in Haltom that irresponsible with his shortly after returning to his is 33 and is originally from City and Grapevine.He lived weapon is just[unbelievable] — living quarters from guard Havelock,N.C. in Eulesswith his father be-. to me." duty "There is absolutely no ex- fore joining the Army in April A conviction of involun- McCune's father, Larry cuse for what this individual 2008 b_ut is buried in Ala tary manslaughter carries a McCune, was initially told did,"Larry McCune said."For barna, where his mother maximum 10-year sentence. — that his son apparently died a supposedly seasoned pro- lives. The maximum for the other when a round went off as he fessional in the Army,an NCO •He was the fourth genera- charge if five years. cleaned his rifle.That version responsible for leading and tion of his family to serve in He is currently assigned to, of events was reflected in the. being an example for those the U.S.military an Army camp near Tikrit.It Star-Telegram news story under him, I find it inexcus "He was totally into it and .was unclear where a court- published shortly after Pfc. able." doing extremely well,"his fa- martial would take place. McCune's.death. Pfc.McCune was an infan- ther said."I was told[after his _ But Larry McCune re- tryman in the 2nd Battalion, death] that he was slated to CHRIS VAUGHN,817-390-7547 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE RIDGWAY DECK BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBR4RYADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DLATEDISTRIBUTED S/ I l DATE OF ARTICLE 3 / / l 07 NEWSPAPER FWST TEXAS LEGISLATURE' CONSTANTLY COUNTING NOSES r? 5 AND COURTING COMPROMISE - He's been in the House for would take effect until after t 12 years,and he knows the in- ;the November 2010 elections. tricacies of getting a bill Although both sides pre passed. For the past six years, sentvery important public b. MIKE NORMAN he was outside the highest cir- policy concerns,there's a cru- mnorrrE stagy-tetegrem.com cle of influence because he did cial political concern'lurking notfully support former in the background. The No 'Todd Smith uses all his Speaker Tom: Craddick. But vember 2010 elections"will skills to shepherd the Voter new Speaker Joe Straus named determine who will be sitting ID bill through the House. him to the Elections Commit- in the Legislature in 2011,and tee chairmanship fully know- , they will control the next re Never underestimate Todd ing that the Voter ID bill was at districting process. N. Smith. stake, a testimony to Smith's The way they draw district The Republican state rep- renewed respect in the House. lines can determine whether resentative from Euless has Senate Republicans,with a more Democrats or more Re- been in the hottest part of the 19-12 majority, were able to publicans get elected to the legislative fire in the:current push their bill through early in U.S. House and the Texas f session—the highly partisan the session. Its chief nod to- House and Senate. debate over Voter ID.It will get ward compromise is to allow Smith's compromise takes even hotter as the session voters to show two other forms redistricting out of the debate moves toward its June 1 end. of identification—a letter or and makes both sides look not ,Smith usually knows what some other form of corre so politically greedy. That's he's doing. He is chairman of spondence from a govern- smart.' i the House Elections Commit- ment entity,for example in Getting any billthrough the tee. stead of a photo ID.It would be Texas House involves a lot of Democrats in the almost effective in time for the No- counting noses, knowing evenly divided House fervent- vember elections. where the votes are before r• ly oppose Voter, ID. Many Smith's path in the unruly bringing the bill to the floor. members from Smith's party House has to be different, Smith knows that process just as fervently demand it.• With 76 Republicans and 74 well.He wouldn't still be push- Some want a strict bill that re- Democrats and a history of ing his version of Voter ID un- y. quires people to show some members `breaking ranks, less he knew he had a good form of government-issued chances of getting a one-sided chance of winning. photo identification before bill through are slim. _ they can vote. His bill takes a two-part ap- MIKE NORMAN IS THE STAR-TELE- Facing extreme heat from proach. The backers of Voter : GRAM/EASTERN TARRANT COUNTY both sides, Smith has aimed ID are concerned about the EDITORIAL DIRECTOR. for compromise. That's diffi- security of the voting process, 817-390-7830 Om cult,but he is skilled.He's an saying that voter fraud too of experienced trial lawyer who ten destroys that security.Op- can argue with the best. ponents focus on access to the He's smart—a magna cum ballot booth,saying that Voter laude and Phi Beta Kappa ID unfairly denies that access graduate of Southern Method- to poor, elderly and minority ist University with a B.A.in po- litical science and a minor in time getting a government ID. economics. He went to law Smith targets both points. school at the University of Tex- He'd require Voter ID,but he'd as at Austin and was graduated also allocate state money to with honors. voter education and assis- tance in getting the required ID for those who qualify. And here's the kicker:,Nei- ther of those two provisions