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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-07 Euless Articles LDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN ,LIBRARY REF �j L DATE DISTRIBUTED �/ / 1 ' (D9 ' DATE OF ARTICLE -7 / 16 I 0 l NEWSPAPER FWST L CHEERS AND JEERS Jeers..To e three'ba4 girls who assaulted me on the 400 block of Free- L stone Drive in Euless on June 26.While trying to steal my.purse,you purposely broke_my glasses!Your mothers must 1'; have raised you better. L .., .Rudy Rios,Euless L L L L L L L L L L L L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR _ McDONALD COLLINS C BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF > DATE DISTRIBUTED / o / .> - DATE OF ARTICLE -7// r /D 7 NEWSPAPER FWST STIMULUS FUNDS Tarrant citiesettin � g HUD _$3.4 million from Critics say they don't see Local HUD grants ! PoliTex any economic stimulus in •Arlington,$853,342 �\Catch up on the latest buying passenger vans and •Fort Worth,$1,769,412 political news from Fort Worth sidewalks. •Tan-ant County,$756,109, to Washington at — whichincludes money for star-telegram.com/blogs By DARREN BARBEE Bedford,Crowley,Forest ,By Hill,Kennedale and River improve sidewalks through Fort Worth,Arlington and sev Oaks out the city.The project'will in- eral other Tarrant County cit - : stall about 19 linear miles of ies are getting some spending wasn't impressed. sidewalk in areas eligible for money— about $3.4 million. "That's a heck'of a nice'=the block.grants. A construc total --courtesy of taxpayersidewalk" in Fort Worth, he tion contract is expected to be dollars handed out by the U.S. said, adding that the govern executed by November;' with Housing and Urban Develop- ment is putting the projects on work completed in about ;rent Department. " " "our great-grandchildien's three years.- — ,; The money comes from credit card." •The:`grant also allows for; President Barack Obama's "The money was going to $176,941 in administrative stimulus plan, the American be wasted somewhere,so well, costs Recovery and Reinvestment heck, I guess let it be wasted Tarrant County's grant was Act of 2009.The act is intend here.It sure is troubling to see $756,109.The projects will be ed to create jobs,help stabilize, those kinds of projects:I'm not spread throughout the`county, and revive neighborhoods,re sure where I the stimulus." including: , habilitate affordable housing Patricia Ward, director of ■$150;000 for Bedford's sewer and improve key public facil- community development and improvements, which can be sties. housing for Tarrant County,- completed within 30.days. In Tarrant .County, that said up to.70 percent of the ■$106,370 for Crowley's,re=j translates into $128,000 for county's annual block-grant construction of North Texas_ two new 15-passenger vans in, funding goes" toward streets Street between Mission and Arlington,$1.59 million worth and water and sewer projects. Mustang streets. `of Fort Worth sidewalks and, '''These are shovel-ready •$150,000 for Forest Hill's re.- eventually, $10,000 for a ramp projects that address infra- " placement of;water mains be-, at the North Richland Hills Se structure replacement within cause of substandard`..water- Mor center, among many low-income "target` areas," lings and persistent leaks. lather projects. Ward said. ;- '` •$144,801 for "'Kennedale's _ - Overall, 55 Texas cities and, _ Here's a breakdown: construction of a sewer collec- counties will receive about ` •Arlington received$.691,209 tion system $24.4 million from the Com- for infrastructure improve- •$129,327 for_River Oaks' re- munity Development. Block rents, such as streets, side placement or repair of sewer , .Grant program. walks.storm drains and instal- lines' "The -president's recovery ;lation of streetlights in low-in- Within about a week,an ad act allows us to invest in local comeareas. ditional $170,675 will go to solutions to the many chal-' •An additional $128,000;will projects in Euless.;and North lenges our cities and counties go toward buying two-15-pas- Richland Hills, HUD officials are confronting," HUD Secre- senger vans to take Tow and said.The projects include the,. tary Shaun Donovan said in a moderate-income'workers to North Richland.Hills senior- news release. employment centers.":About center and sewer and water Michael Quinn Sullivan, $34,000 will'be spent on ad- improvements. " president of Texans for Fiscal ministrative costs. Responsibility' in Austin, ■Fort Worth got$1,592,471 to DARREN BARBEE,817-390-7126 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS pC. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN C LIBRARY REF — DATE DISTRIBUTED ! 07 II 0 DATE OF ARTICLE 1/070 / 0 l NEWSPAPER - FWST C REAL ESTATE. DEVELOPMENT ••.309 Byers Ave.,Euless, The Copper Shadow real estate firm..has leased 800 square:feet ; 'Cody Payne and Justin'Owen with Sperry Van Ness Dunn Commercial represented the •landlord,Spooner Properties L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR — McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LII B7RARYApDMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED 1ö7 / 05 DATE OF ARTICLE l l a 0 / d l NEWSPAPER FWST new projects or equipment TAD REPORT In May,TAD estimated a 4.6 purchases... • percent increase in appraised Foreclosures also contrib- property values. Those differ uted to Forest Hill's values I arran t'S fromnettaxablevalues,which plummeting by 12.7 percent J take exemptions into account. from last year, City Manager Because TAD has yet to hear David Miller said.He also said ,m • some protests, the estimated •that because of'the.economy v d 1O S taxable values could drop people were shopping and, .°ti'" even further by Sept. 1, the spending less: • • :. • deadline used to calculate tax He said city officials_ are- •— rise least bills, lookingo at a budget Year',the lion,down from this year's$6.6 ' Bare-bones budgets million. i ii '1 YAG G Government entities have sev= "Those types of 'declines . — :k eral options when it comes to are damaging to a city's bud= years a44,-/ lower tax revenue:increase the get;we are absolutely:worried Some cities faced with declines in revenue t'; tax rate applied to the ap- about it,"Miller said. — may be forced to cut jobs or services,or to praised values,cut services'or - positions,or raise fees. No surprise increase their property tax rate. Tarrant. County commis- In Fort Worth, officials were By ANTHONY SPANGLER sioners have already taken predicting relatively flat prop- ,—r aspangler@star-telegramcorn steps,such as adding no poli- erty tax growth, and that's FORT WORTH`-Tarrant County's net taxable tions next year and trimming what they got. - , property values increased .the smallest amount capital spending. Appraised values hi Fort — $ "We are glad that were still Worth—' which hes in Tarrant, in 15 years,igniting concern among manylocal government officials as they prepare fheirbud=- m the positive range,', Tarrant Denton and.Wise'counties— gets for next County Administrator G.K. rose to $41.8'billion, or a 2._4 year. The data released Monday shows a 2,per- aemuspercent said.'"I think were increase,Chief Finan- cent inancent increase''in the net taxable value, corm going.to be OK this year.Wein- cial Officer Karen Montgom INN pared with year-after-year increases ranging tend to do business as,usual ery said. .from 6 to 11 percent since"1994.Unless local with the number of employees Fort Worth has been work- :governments boost their tax rates, it could that we currently have." ing for two years to cut spendime - tneanless moneyto spend:;` _ , Some cities such as Fort ing, which has grown faster The figures "look very ugly," said Randy ' Worth, Forest Hill and Ever- than the tax base. Earlier this Rogers, interim chief financial officer at JPS man are discussing cuts next year, officials predicted that Health Network. year• - they would have to cut spend — "We were expecting about$16 million in net In,Everman, which relies ing by _$61 " million. The new monies next year," Rogers said: '`Now it heavily on property taxes for property value figures mean will;be:close to$6 million.It is a pretty substan- operating expenses, property those cuts are probably still tial hit for us:It will change the assumptions in values..fell 8.5 percent coming. ' this:budget, and it is going to be a real busy I was surprised and very' In Euless, spokeswoman week for us to figure out how we will deal with disappointed in the num- Betsy Deck said city officials lower revenues." hers," .said Kathy Renshaw, are revising the budget down On Monday, the Tarrant Appraisal District Evertnan's finance director, ward to accommodate the ex- released the data to schools, cities and other who cited many foreclosures pected drop in revenue taxing'entities.It is:typically due by July 25 to in the area for the declining They [property values] help local governments plan their budgets for property values. were down more than we ex- _. nexty ear, but the deadline was extended this Renshaw said no layoffs are pected,"she said. bare-bones budget" with no property value is$18 1 billion, DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE c2 OF a MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED C l 07 v ¶ DATE OF ARTICLE —7/a g /0? NEWSPAPER FWST about a 4 percent drop,budget values for about 93 percent of manager Mike Finley said. the-county's taxable proper- Mayor Robert Cluck said ties. In previous years, TAD the news isn't all bad.He said it has provided the taxing end- .— could be worse. ties a certified value for 95 per- "We did think at one time .cent of the properties.A recent we might be down 5,6 or 7 per- change in Texas law allows cent,"he said. counties with populations The Arlington City,Council greater than 1 million to cert ' will continue to tackle a pro- fy at least 90 percent.of the jected $13 million shortfall in properties byJuly 25,., next year's budget caused by lower,sales tax'and property Protests continue tax collections. Because of a record number of valuation protests this year, .. School funding TAD expects to'provide a sup- The state's public school dis plemental report in early to tricts no longer have much mid-August _' .Protests , _iii stake in local. property .ap- creased about 15 percent this M praisals since Texas adopted year,'largely because of rising its current funding formula in foreclosures,the lagging hoes- 2006. ng market and the recession, Property tax rates are fro tax officials say. zenat$1.04per$100oftaxable "I only have 10 rooms to value without local-option hold protests. That number election approval,' and dis_ was the same last.year, but I tricts are tied to their per-stu- .have 13,000 more protests to dent target,revenue for state hear this year," said Jeff Law, aid.The state then chips in its TAD's'clief'appraiser. share:of funding, which goes- Budget officials with cities down if property values rise. and other taxing entities re "The only thing it affects is main cautious going into their on our debt-service side, but budget planning this year be it's not much of an impact at cause the remaining protests all,"`said Hank Johnson,chief could mean a steeperdecline financial officer for the Grape- in property values by Sept -1.. vine-Colleyville district. "We haven't seen quite the "Otherwise you've got a guar- problems that some of' our ariteed $1 [property.. tax) neighboring municipalities amount no matter what hap have seen," said Debbie pens with the appraisals." Schneider, Tarrant County's Over time, if appraisals re- budget director."The apprais- im mained low, the state might als follow the market they have difficulty meeting its por- dont make the market. tion of school funding,unlike Staff writers Elizabeth Campbell,Dianna the years the state benefited Hunt,Shirley Jlnkins,Mike Lee and. from soaring property ap- Susan Schrock,and correspondent praisals that covered more of Robert Cadwallader contributed to this L aao alicue iu11Wng. report. On Monday,TAD sent gov- ernment entities the certified ANTHONY SPANGLER,817-390-7420 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / • MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY GRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMINLIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED / ° IO DATE OF ARTICLE I l p / l NEWSPAPER1°R c._.e PRWeB ServiceMaster Expands Operation Management Team Dan and Amy Fry, owners of ServiceMaster Advanced Restorations (www.servicemasterdfw.com)of Euless, Texas, announce the expansion of the company's management team with the promotion of Tony Brodie to Production Manager. Brodie will share responsibilities with current Production Manager, Brian Clayton. Both Brodie and Clayton will work under — the direction of General Manager, Max Kuntz. Euless,TX(PRWEB)July 29,2009—The designation of Brian Clayton and Tony Brodie as co-Production Managers is necessary for company growth. ServiceMaster Advanced Restorations is a well respected disaster restoration company specializing in Fire and Water Restoration, Mold Remediation, as well as, Carpet and Duct cleaning.Just 8 years old,the company added a construction division at the end of 2008 that has proven to be very successful. Charles Arthur is the general manager of the construction division.The company's intent is to be a"one call does it all" entity.Already a mufti-million dollar company,the expansion of the operations management staff ensures a strengthening of the infrastructure that will ensure the continuing capability of attentive and efficient response to all types of emergency and service needs. ServiceMaster Advanced Restorations handles both residential and commercial losses. — Brodie, along with Clayton, hold IICRC certification in Water Damage Restoration,Odor Control and Fire and Smoke Restoration. Brodie also holds a certification in Carpet Cleaning and Clayton a certification in Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning. Clayton has also reached"Journeyman"status in Fire Restoration. Both are experienced in the industry and have — demonstrated proficiency in all types of restoration. Brodie and Clayton work well with people and supervise 10 technicians. As Production Managers they will oversee and review each job and work directly with insurance companies and adjusters. They can also oversee large loss both locally and nationally. ServiceMaster Advanced Restorations,which is a designated ServiceMaster Clean Regional Account Manager, or RAM, is located at 1205 Texas Star Parkway in Euless, Texas,just across from Texas Star Golf Course.The main phone number, which is answered 24 hours a day throughout the year, is 817-267-5555. Please direct any questions to Director of Marketing,Terry Sutton. Contact Information Terry Sutton ServiceMaster Advanced Restorations http://www.servicemasterdfw.com 817-267-5555 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF / I. MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINSOLC.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED V l c7` 09DATE OF ARTICLE /62 / 07 NEWSPAPER FWST FEDERAL FUNDING • .Euless, N. Richland Hillsget HUD money LPartial funding for a proposed 20,000-square-foot Euless senior center is included in the grants., LBy DARREN BARBEE Grant.money . dbarbee@star-telegram.com ' Tarrant County grants from the U.S.Housing and Urban Devel- Federal funding keeps rolling opment Department • t in: $5.2 million will help reha- - bilitate housing in North Rich- Community Development Block Grant $3,533,900 land Hills,help pay fora senior Emergency Shelter Grant $123,941 center in Euless and provide HOME Grant $7,506,759 Total water and sewer line improve- !` $5,164,600 .' ments in low-income areas of tate affoxdable housing and pied housing rehabilitation, 24 cities. improve public facilities, typically for the elderly,•ac- i Overall, Texas received among other activities. cording to Ward.,Remaining $74.7 million from the U.S. "The flexibility of the . . funds will be spent on admin- Housing and Urban Develop program allows the cities of istration costs and by a non-` merit Department to support Tarrant County to address crit- profit housing development community development and ical, infrastructure ;needs of organization selected through. produce more affordable low4-income residential neigh- a bidding process,Ward said. housing. Money also will be borhoods,",Ward said. "Public The county `also received used;_to provide down_pay_ works activities such as water $123,941 for Emergency Shel- merit assistance to first-time and sewer line replacement ter Grants,'according to HUD. home buyers,help individuals and street reconstruction con- The grants provide the home- and families who might ot etinue to be one of our:top pri- less with basic shelter and wise be.living on the'streets orities, and can have a great supportive services. and offer housing solutions for impact on the livability as well The proposed Euless senior people with rs will DS. as the' sustainability of a center is estimated to cost Tax dollars will help state neighborhood." about $3.9 million, said City needed local communities make While cities are "not re- Manager needed 'improvements; ;and g Gary`. McKame.; producemore affordable quired to' provide matching About$303,000 from the HUD sig funds,most put in substantial money.will go to the project, housing, HUD Secretary. ; amounts of their own funds, according to the county. Shaun Donovan said in a.news release Ward said. "It's a senior''center de- "This. funding represents The programs, which signed to be-flexible in the fu- HUD'scontinuing investment stretch across the county in- ture for the changing lifestyle in helping our local partners dude: of today's and tomorrow's se- 6. improve their communities," •$1,085,350 for street and Mar citizens,"McKamie said. Donovan said. "If we hope to drainage improvements The approximately 20,000 lay the groundwork for sus •$792,309,for water and sew- square-foot center will in- L tamable growth and prospers- er improvements dude a kitchen and a 5,000- ty in the future,it's critical that •$261,692 for housing reha- square-foot multipurpose we help state and. local corn- .Additionally,bilitation room,which can be used for a munities to make the needed the county re- large dance or divided for I improvements and to produce .teved$1.5 ituiiion in a i-1uME crafts and games, McKamie L. 'grant, according to HUD. said.. ` more affordable housing." About $125,000 will be used Some of the money is part • for homebuyer assistance and Of an annual entitlement $1:3 million for owner-occu- DARREN BARBEE,817-390-7126 known.as a Community De-. velopment Block Grant, said • Patricia Ward,director of com- munity development and i housing for.Tarrant County. The program helps rehabili- DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF l . MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED I 0 /09 DATE OF ARTICLE NEWSPAPERC , Cr)ilk Tarrant County Reports First 2009 West Nile Death TARRANT COUNTY (CBS 11 / TXA 21 ) — (5/29/2008) Friday morning officials with Tarrant County Public Health announced its first 2009 death related to the West Nile virus. The victim was an elderly Euless resident who also had other medical problems. "West Nile virus was not the cause of death, but it likely contributed because the person had underlying medical issues," Dr. Sandra Parker, the medical director of Tarrant County Public Health, said in a press release. Officials say while West Nile can affect anyone, those over age 50 are at a higher risk for infection. The death of the Euless resident is also the second case of West Nile virus reported for the season in Tarrant County and the first West Nile related death since 2006. West Nile was detected in the United States in 1999 in New York. Mosquitoes spread the virus by contracting it from infected birds and then biting other birds or animals. Among mammals, humans and horses are the most commonly sickened. The virus spread across the lower 48 states by 2005. West Nile virus symptoms include flu-like illness, with moderate to high fever (102 degrees or more), severe headache, severe muscle ache or joint pain, severe eye pain, mental changes, fatigue, nausea and respiratory symptoms. People with symptoms should see a doctor. To combat the likelihood of being bitten by an infected mosquito, officials recommend that people use an insect repellent, preferably one with DEET; cover arms and legs when outdoors; limit time spent outdoors at dusk and dawn; and drain stand water in outdoor areas. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.) DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAI'IIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF —DATE DISTRIBUTED f Ci 7 I l DATE OF ARTICLE NEWSPAPER,,, Sc Court gives Santeria priest OK to sacrifice goats By LINDA STEWART BALL(AP) — DALLAS —A federal appeals court reversed a lower court's ruling on Friday that barred a Santeria priest from sacrificing goats in his Texas home, saying a city's decision to prohibit the ritual violated the man's religious rights. Jose Merced, 46, accuses the city of Euless, Texas, of trampling on his constitutional right to religious exercise. The city claims the sacrifices jeopardize public health and violate its slaughterhouse and animal cruelty ordinances. Last year, U.S. District Judge John McBryde sided with the Fort Worth suburb and dismissed the Puerto Rico native's claims. Merced appealed. In its ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said the Euless ordinance placed a substantial burden on Merced's "free exercise of religion without advancing a compelling governmental interest using the least restrictive means." "It's a great day for religious freedom in Texas," said Eric Rassbach, Merced's lawyer, in response to the three-judge panel's ruling. Merced said by practicing his faith in the privacy of his own home, he didn't harm anyone. "Now Santeros can practice their religion at home without being afraid of being fined, arrested or taken to court," Merced said. Euless city attorney, William McKamie, said he plans to file a motion for a rehearing. "We respectfully believe that it's an incorrect finding on the purpose of application of the Texas Religious Freedom Act," McKamie said. In court papers, Rassbach described Santeria as an Afro-Cuban religion with a complex ritual for ordaining priests, including the sacrifice of up to nine four-legged animals, such as lambs or goats, up to 20 chickens or other fowl and a turtle. Merced said police officers interrupted a ceremony at his home in September 2004 and told him to stop slaughtering animals. Police warned him again in May 2006 after a neighbor complained about a gathering at the house. Merced asked the city for a permit to slaughter animals at his home but was told the practice was prohibited. He said he hasn't been able to initiate any new priests in the past three years. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF J MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED E , 07 ' C J DATE OF ARTICLE NEWSPAPEI CSS Euless attorneys have said the ordinances outlawing animal sacrifices were passed before Merced's arrival in 1990 and don't discriminate against any individual or group. McKamie also said Merced isn't equipped to handle many animals on his property or dispose of them in a sanitary way. Associated Press Writer Anabelle Garay contributed to this report. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- LDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF • MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM ilICKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR L McDONALD UCCOLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMINLIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED �' 107 'c9 DATE OF ARTICLE lS / I I © / NEWSPAPER FWST I 1. EULESS I SANTERIA CouEt . says piiest ' can saclificego4ts ,_ Euless officials have said ' { k,v44 E ", '�q 4 neighbor's tip.They told Mer- '� .J e ced he could'not proceed with animal sacrifices jeopardise f„ a public health. F `' �� the sacrifice. ' G; k� db :� . " 3e�, _ 'Subsequently,•ti'le`'City de- From staff and wire reports ‘: niz "� ,- r :, dined to issue a permit for The, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of 1 1;744.44. Mercedto conduct future cer-, Appeals has overturned a dis- ;= °,,', 1 '' ; 4 , n „ emonies, citing rules against trict court's ruling,paving the 1 ,, i x° ' ,..i . cruelty to animals, keeping I” way for a Santeria priest in Eu- I ;b,g7 s� ,moi T livestock and disposing of ani less:to resume goat sacrifices lk : 4 ,, .1 •nw 34 mal waste. - as part of religious ceremo k:" ,�4, In '2007, officials• offered hies: rt 0 Merced a compromise: He City officials had attempted € N'' r,, i k ',.•,,i' 4v0, could sacrifice;"'chickens, to ban the sacrifices,an action ,, which'the city ordinance al- L that Jose Merced, a Santeria • A11 ,,k, f '" lows, but: not goats, as he priest and Puerto Rico native, Jam; .. ... wanted. The city would con- challenged in" federal court as �w ,x ,per -�i ; 0 p T -, tinue to enforce Fits animal a restriction on his constitu- k. i' "k, fix, '* ,*'':4 a"�*,..-7.74,,, , 'cruelty ordinance-and its ban '"a .EC',.,s v=h=+s�,':"'Mea It,A e' '.,,e, ''',�,kc w8^ x,J _.,''''' '' .�g c 2; tional right to free exercise of on killing livestock. ' •- vim religion.' Jose Merced has said he hasn't been able to properly practice his reli- ' Merced declined the deal. U.S. District Judge John gion for fear of being arrested.He refuses to leave Euless,he said."This Ever since, Merced has McBryde sided with the city is a land of religious freedom." STARTELEGRAMARCHIVES said, he hasn't been able to last year and dismissed Mer- properly practice his religion ced's claims.The case went to for fear of being arrested. .I the federal.appeals court in -hearing. April hearing in New Orleans. He refuses to leave Euless, New Orleans in April. City officials have said ani- he said. Merced's lawyer,Eric Rass- mal sacrifices jeopardize',pub- No. goat, no deal "I'don't think that's up to a bach,said it was a great dayfor lic health and violate Euless' In May 2006, Merced and 10 city," 'Merced said. "This is a religious freedom in Texas.But slaughterhouse and animal- church members were prepar- land of religious'freedoml" Euless' attorney, William cruelty ordinances. ' ingfor religious ceremonythat 6, "`Mick"` McKaruie, said" he "It's repulsive,and it has no '_`included an animal sacrifice This report includes material from The plans to file a motion for a re- business in an urban environ-- when Euless police arrived at Associaced Press and Star-Telegram ment,"McKamie said after the his home to investigate a _archives. C In WI lim i I. I. 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED e / Oi ( O 9 D,9TE OF ARTICLE O ( I / C 9 NEWSPAPER FWST PUBLIC,HEALTH Tarrant. Countyreports first West Nile-related death in- '0 9 . By JAN JARVIS ; first confirmed case this sea- fect anyone, people 50 and -- Jiarvis@star-telegram.corn son. older are more likely to devel_ A Euless manin his 80s is the Euless plans to spray for op severe complications, first person in.Tarrant County mosquitoes south of Texas 183 health officials said.West Nile to die this year from complica- today,: weather permitting, virus can cause flulike symp tions related,to the West.Nile said Betsy Deck,a city spokes- toms with a fever,severe head- virus, according to public woman. Eulesssprayed the ache, muscle aches or joint health officials. .- • ,• entire city in May and sprayed pain,eye pain,mental chang- "West Nile was not the . half of the city—north of Tex- es,fatigue,:nausea, and respi- causeof death, but it likely as 183—in July ratory problems:- contributedbecause the per- The city also uses mosqui- Tarrant ;County Public son had underlying medical to-eating minnows,to reduce Health recommends that peo- issues,"said Dr.Sandra Parker, the risk of West Nile virus ple use an insect repellent, Tarrant County Public Health's Bedford does not spray for preferably one with, DEET; medical director/health au mosquitoes but adds a larvi- cover their ..arms and _legs thority. cide treatment to creek s and when outdors; limit; the This isthe second case of drainage areas.; amount.of time spent out West Nile virus this season and' Creek channels are also doors at dusk p�niid dawn; and the first death related to the vi :stocked with minnows known drain standingiwater. rus. since 2006, when.seven for eating lots of mosquito lar- people died.A Bedford man in vae.. his 60s was Tarrant County's Although the virus can af- JAN JARVIS,e17-390-7664 LDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF BL DATE DISTRIBUTED 10 I o c( DATE OF ARTICLE l / 10 NEWSPAPER FWST CHEERS AND JEERS Cheers:To Brad at AutoZone on Eu- L less North Main.On July 13,after my car battery failed twice,he drove to my house,jump-started my car so I could • get to his store and stayed past quit- , uit ting time to replace my warrantied ,. battery himself,for free.What service! —Audrey Morrison,Euless L L L L L L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF I i MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED I - ( 09 DATE OF ARTICLE 8 / L1 / 0c1 NEWSPAPER FWST Police sirens spook ATM thieves, foil Euless heist EULESS-The crooks who stole heavy ma- chinery turned out to be lightweights. Thieves used a stolen front-end loader to knock an ATM off its base early Sunday but were likely scared off by sirens from a nearby police chase,police said. The attempted theft happened about 2:20 a.m. in the parking lot of the Omni American Credit Union in the 2300 block of West Euless • — Boulevard,also known as Texas 10. The front-end loader had been parked about a block away,Euless police Lt.John Williams said Monday:The thieves drove it to A.the credit union;knocked the ATM off its base and moved it about 25 feet,according to a police report. At about that time,police were chasing a suspected drunken driver. - n When police arrived at the credit union,the rthieves had fled and left behind the front-end *loader and dismounted ATM,police said. Domingo Ramirez Jr. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF r MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMINLIBRARY REF l DATE DISTRIBUTED ( 7 I0 DATE OF ARTICLE 8/ / 0 l NEWSPAPER FWST COLD CASE Ohio man gets 3years in Euless slaying 93TM By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. The killing had been a., Jamison and Smith t were ramirez@star-telegram.com mystery until 2007,when two- the gunmen, Euless'''police'= FORT WORTH — An Ohio Euless detectives workingon said Monday .,, man has been sentenced to thea cold case.tracked down` Ns three years in prison for his two suspects. _ The shooting part in the Vincent Smith,40,pleaded Willis moved into Lighthouse killing of a guilty to involuntary man- Motor Inn on Jan. 15, 1993. Euless man slaughter Thursday in Crimi- His mother told police that" in 1993 dur- nal District Court No.2 in Fort she last saw him Jan.30,when ing a drug Worth_ . He received three 'he visited her about his tax re- g , L ' ,, deal. years inprison as part of a turns.Relatives said that.Wil- • '- Timothy plea'agreement. lisused cocaine and marijua i Smith Willis, 28, In December,Roderick Ja- na and that he owed people' was fatally mison, 34, of Fort Worth was money, according to the affi shot over a pound of marijua sentenced to five years in davit. , . na, according to an arrest prison after he pleaded ikuilty Euless'.police were dis- warrant affidavit to murder. ,patched to the motel shortly before 2 a.m.:Jan. 31 on a re- keyed had set up the drug port of a possible shooting. deal but could notainkhiin or Officers found Willis lying anyone else to the shooting.: facedown near the front door The case lay dormant until of his room.He died at a hos- January 2006, when Detec- pital. fives Brett Morgan and John Witnesses told police that Haecker were asked to rein- they had heard several gun- vestigate. shots and had seen several Smith and Jamison were men running away. arrested in 2007,Euless police Within hours of the shoot- said Monday. t'ing,according to the affidavit, Four other men involved "police had information that in the case were in prison on Willis :had, planned :to sell unrelated charges: Marijuana to a group of men that morn ina Tn vactirratnrc contacted the man they be- 817-390-7763 I I L DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE f OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITYATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIM,4L CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED l 7 / 0 ci DATE OF ARTICLE ( / ( / 0 7 NEWSPAPER FWST 3RIEF S` Worker killed by steel plate EULESS-A worker at Camtech Precision Manufacturing was killed Tuesday night when a 212-ton steel plate that he was cleaning fell on him,police reported.Royce Bunkley,53,of Arlington was pronounced dead about 9 p.m.at the plant in the 1400 block of Westpark Way,according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. The suspended steel plate was 13 feet long and 8 feet wide and weighed 5,000 pounds, according to the police report.The Occupa- tional Safety and Health Administration will investigate the death,police said.The corn- — pany was cited in 2007 for four safety vio- lations,one of them classified as serious. The issues were resolved,according to OSHA records.The plant makes aircraft engines and engine parts,records show.- -Domingo Ramirez Jr. I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF cR L , MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR L McDONALD COLLINS C BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN c LIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED g ' 1 I O 1 DATE OF ARTICLE I / I I 0 l NEWSPAPER FWST 2005 DISAPPEARANCE A west for justice or an unfair witch. hunt? ,m ;On behalf of their missing - It's the return address that .. ten Charbon- been'seen since and is pre, daughter,a family cam- •gra"Hunterss for Justice for a *.< �,1 when,Was 25 surned four .The herd by mother is target- orities. paigns against a man. i. ,, ;'tyears ago to- in ,` a married businessman "Killer in Your Neighborhood, {a � : g g im By TIM MADIGAN it says, followed by Charbon- day, she dis- withztwo children, has been .tmadigan@star-telegram.com• '.neau's home address in Irving. • ,4•�. ,appeared - questioned; by Euless. police Nearly everyday, Monica The flier' directs'residentsKristen: from her job. but never charged in connec-,, L. Charbonneau heads to the to Charbonneau's Web site,, Charbonneau as an,.exotic don with the disappearance. i� post office and mails.,30 more where:she openly accuses.an dancer in "He was there at the club fliers to random addresses in _Arlington man'of kidnapping' Fort Worth.The missingworn- [the day of Kristen Charbon Arlington. - . and killing her daughter.Kris- an,who lived in Euless,hasn't `�' b'=lcn , x 4 i ,. \\ka� g NP 4 � "WA� xi t � -..,4*...2,,, Xf 1 ' 'I, , ¢ t , 4144 l x � " rtd d 54.0.4.',44-1.;,, 3 e4 ab' L ;*4* k z ' %s4 R 'j rmo ly i h: '',,..4."..r,-.0Mt n ` '.Y 'k 44 .j.,: '2, Y 1 ,: C Sd�"F,y a tit ,, `�� J�'.:rh''44 4 . it.John Williams says Euless policeare frustrated,but they discourage Ions the family's campaign."It hasn't helped,".he said. S-T/KELLEY CHINN .neau's disappearance] but * "I'll keep mailing them out !with' -information;about the ly don't have any forensics'to 'that was the extent of it," said ';and eventually; I'll find some- disappearance come forward. hang our hat on. We have a -' +the man's lawyer,Jeffrey Han-: :body that knows something, "'.'Basically,we've run all the person of interest, but he has ,sen of Arlington.His client.d'e- or maybe [the man] will walk' Meads down, Euless.Police Lt. kept his mouth shut: We're .;dined to be:interviewed for 1;,:into•the.police station and say, John Williams:said. "This year kind of at a standstill." K ;this report and,has not been` `I'm here to clear my name,' ' ewe re-interviewed everybody, ---Kristen-Charbonneau.was *publicly identified by police. ..;*Monica Charbonneau said. If ,.and came up with'about the: last seen-on the afternoon of *.• "He didn't have anything to :he is.later proven innocent, same.thing we,did last time. . Aug.11,2005,after leaving Ba- L ''do with her disappearance," :she said,"I would send out as 'We don't have abody,and real-: `by Dolls, the'club in far"'east ,Hansen said. "I mean, he's—iimany Ietters as I'm sending Last Sighting '' Fort Worth where she worked.' :been`forthcoming` with: , his ;gout now saying hes not guilty. ' "Anyone who 'was`"at the ',wife and his,neighbors.and :I'll make a public apology to EULE5s club that day and recalls any e's done the best he could-to •gam. I don't believe' that's _ - Pipone pd - thing, we'd sure like to, hear i. !'try and explain the situation to ;:going to happen. I do believe he , from them,"Williams said. -them. This'is.a,woman with a he murdered by daughter,and - Parks ®:. R� " broken heart.It's distressingto '';this'is the only way I can get at' ' s `_ Wa TH A cab driver who was called L k -, -• , i,,, ,,u++,,-_„” , to - . of"o' to take Kristen Charbonneau �,ulilia� ulaL o"iia"uuuy ya.ul;6" , - w, . .m. "� 11Ullle Shcll lie vv dile(' 0iLJ1UC .iaround•and say- these things, 1. Today, on.the_,anniversary :.z the club but never saw her wand there is little remedy avail- *of Kristen Charbonneau s dis- * m ppeda�ea come out.Witnesses told p0 I ;able to hirnrto,stop it." #appearance, Euless police are x -. • lice that the Arlington.man ', Monica Charbonneau `re- releasing a statement summa £: cord 0 d ��„ was a regular patron, walked.. .Rmains_,unapologetic. To her,,, 'ung their investigation. The - zo her to the door,and offered'to ;t,the man's reluctance to,.take *Arlington;man is,described by _ -. , 7..:::',T,-"__:_:',,,-..: carry her purse. He left the { *legal action against her is fur olive as"a person of interest" -- - ; - club himself about'the same- uther,proof of his guilt.She s aid 4n the case;he was interviewed Kristen Charbonneau,25,of Euless time and returned_ later. ,:she-plans to'persist with her Eby detectives four years •ago was last seen on the afternooh of _ "He was' the last person campaign,until every home in :but has declined'to talk since. Aug:11,2005,after leaving Baby seen with her, and he hasn't Dolls,the club In far east Fort *Arlington receives a flier. 'Investigators. are otherwise said an in Worth where she worked. yth g," Williams said. ` ;stymied'and ask that anyone --- - - STAR-TELEGRAM DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF cR MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMINLIBRARY REF DATE DISTRIBUTED S I-7 / 0? DATE OF ARTICLE I r 1 1 ` NEWSPAPER FWST "He hasn't been cooperating; "This kind of possible ha- then again he's not required to. rassrnent [on the Internet] is Some of hi's statements he ,,pervasive,"Fertik said..*This is made at thetime didn't match a story in which anyone can the facts,,so we'd certainly.likc p.m.a scarlet.letter on anyone to talk.to him again, but he's else at any time:The unusual invoking his right not totalk. thing is that she's not hiding Until somebody cooperatesthat she's doing it. :We ap and give us more information, `;point law"enforcement for a wedon't have a:lot to goon." reason. They're._supposed to • Despite their frustrations, tell us if the guy is-guilty or not. Williams said, police do not If he wasn't arrested,-we•have encourage Monica.Charbon to assume he's'not' neau's private campaign..,;; Hansen, the man's lawyer, "It:might be cathartic.for. -said Charbonneau is trying to her, but thus far it hasn't bait his=client into a lawsuit helped, "he said,., and"Make hislife as miserable Monica anything," . Charbonneau, an as possible."3.6 recover dam- accountant am accountant in Dallas" began ages for libel or'slander, the her campaign against'the'Ar- man wouldhave to prove that 1ington man about two years, Monica,Charbonneau's accu- ago,with fliers placed on thrs sations are false. • close to his neighborhood.She' "I glean if he gets a civi ml alsoposted yard signs`lattd judgment.against them, arid I contacted his wife's employer:5. ..definitely:.feel:Mat,he would, Charbonneau.created her Web. `he. would-never...collect any site last summer and started damages'because I just dont the mass mailing campaign a think they'have any assets," few months ago. The site has Hansen said. "T've advised my had more than 3,000 visitors. client that it doesn't make any "When you don't have news ecbnomic sense.to"try and en- reporters on your lawn,you'vegage them in litigation - got to do something,"Monica "There's absolutely,no guilt. Charbonheau said."This is my in what he's_done. It' a,very search party I'm hoping [the unfortunate thing')._, man) ?will :say, 'Enough is enough.'" TIM MADIGAN,8i7-3�0-7544 j — Legal experts say_Charbon- •neau s campaign is unusual in its ardor, even as.personal at- .tacks havebecome more coin- -' mon online.The Internet can be used to promulgate accusa- tions almost with impunity, said Michael Fertik,founder of ReputationDefender, 'a Cali- fornia company that fights In- ternet,defamation. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE I OF l MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM MCKAMIE BROWN YOUNG ANIMAL CNTR McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF — DATE DISTRIBUTED 0 I 1 1 0 9 DATE OF ARTICLE g// D / D I NEWSPAPER/ lc( -ss City of Euless asks for rehearing w © 2009 The Associated Press Aug. 10, 2009 EULESS, Texas— Euless will ask a federal court to rehear the case of a Santeria priest who wants to sacrifice goats in his home after a judicial panel w determined that the city's decision to prohibit the ritual violated his religious rights. w The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in July reversed a lower court's ruling that barred Jose Merced, 46, from sacrificing the animals. The decision was made by a three-judge panel. Euless City Attorney William McKamie told The Dallas Morning News, in a story Monday, that he will file a motion for a rehearing by the full court. Santeria is an Afro-Cuban religion with a ritual for ordaining priests that includes the sacrifice of up to nine four-legged animals. Euless is between Fort Worth and Dallas. Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com