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#3021 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:55 am

Fire burns Dallas townhomes

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - A three-alarm fire ripped through six units at the Buckingham Townhomes in the 9900 block of Buckingham Road in far northeast Dallas early Wednesday.

The fire broke out around 6 a.m. at the complex near Richland College on the Dallas-Richardson city line.

Dallas Fire-Rescue quickly called for three alarms to battle the blaze, which was brought under control in about one hour.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. A tenant told News 8 he had left a candle burning when he left to go to the grocery and found his sofa ablaze when he returned.

"The couch was on fire, the walls were on fire," said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Annette Ponce. "He attempted to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher and then with water. And that didn't go over well, and it resulted in a three-alarm fire."

A neighbor suffered a minor injury while trying to break a window to let the smoke out.

The American Red Cross was assisting displaced tenants.

WFAA-TV photojournalist Gary Ultee contributed to this report.

Image
Gary Ultee / WFAA ABC 8
Six units were damaged in the fire.
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#3022 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:57 am

Three dead in I-20 accidents

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Three people died early Wednesday in two separate but related accidents on Interstate 20 near Bonnie View Road in Dallas.

Police said there were two fatalities in the initial accident involving two sport utility vehicles at 2:40 a.m.

The victims were thrown from one of the vehicles that crashed into the median on westbound I-20.

The third victim survived the crash, but was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler while trying to cross the freeway.

Traffic in the eastbound lanes was closed during the investigation.
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#3023 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:58 am

Fourth suspect held in fatal beating

By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - A fourth man has been arrested in connection with the mob beating death of 18-year-old Joseph Anthony Davis Jr. this month.

Phillip Horton, 19, was arrested Tuesday in Prairie View, Texas, and was being held at the Waller County Jail.

Police say as many as 15 attackers beat Davis in a parking lot near San Jacinto and Harwood streets about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2. The brawl started near the Adam's Mark Hotel, where revelers were celebrating after the State Fair Classic between Prairie View A&M and Grambling.

Dallas police Lt. Mike Scoggins said that Mr. Horton is a student at Prairie View A&M but that the attack did not appear to be school-related. Three other men – Kendrick Lamont Barnes, Christopher Norris Smith and Antonio Denard Few – have been charged with murder, but police believe more assailants are at large.

At least $35,000 in rewards has been posted for information leading to the indictment of Mr. Davis' attackers.

Anyone with information can call 214-671-3666.
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#3024 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:53 pm

Low water closes Lake Arlington

ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/WFAA.com) - Lake Arlington was closed to boating traffic Wednesday due to dangerously low water levels. Aerial views of the lake showed dozens of docks and boat houses were high and dry as the shoreline receded.

The City of Arlington said the lake will remain closed until water levels rise to a 542.5 foot pool level.

The level of Lake Arlington has dropped almost 10 feet since the start of the year due to continuing drought conditions in North Texas.

"The lake level has dropped so low that launching boats from ramps may be hazardous," said Arlington Parks Operations Manager Cory Styron in a statement.

The Dallas-Fort Worth region has received just 0.05 inch of rain in October; that's 3.5 inches less than normal for the month and a shortfall of more than 11 inches for the year.

The Bowman Springs Boat Launch on Poly Webb Road was closed Wednesday, and the city said the Richard Simpson Boat Launch on Arkansas Lane would close on Friday.

The April-July period this year was the region's fourth driest on record.
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#3025 Postby rainstorm » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:25 pm

we have had way too much rain here
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#3026 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:48 pm

Possible WalMart alcohol sales spur debate

By REBECCA RODRIGUEZ / WFAA ABC 8

FORT WORTH, Texas - The newest products at a North Texas WalMart could be beer and wine, and that has brought on a little controversy with some parents.

WalMart already sells 19 percent of all grocery store food in the United Stated, 16 percent of all pharmacy drugs and 30 percent of the United State's household staples.

Fort Worth's newest WalMart opened without much fanfare last week, except for the controversy.

WalMart asked and received a variance from the city to sell alcohol. The problem some people see with this move is its close location to the Ridglea Hills Elementary.

"I'm torn because it's too close to the school and that is state law," said Leanne Bearden. "On the other hand, it is very convenient for me because I am just on the other side of Ridglea Country Club. So, I am in the middle."

The city passed WalMart's request to sell beer and wine after the store agreed to build a wall separating its property from the school. Lawyers for the Fort Worth Independent School district said they didn't know about the variance until it was too late.

"We never got notice, and [we] didn't get notice and didn't have an opportunity to appear," said one lawyer. "And that is what happened in this case from everything I can find out at this point."

People who live nearby are split.

"I don't think it is going to add a danger to the elementary," said Cheryl Corneilius. "The way it is built, it has a sixteen foot wall. You are talking about an elementary child who [aren't] tall. A grownup couldn't climb over the fence."

But one neighborhood and the FWISD are trying to stop the retail giant's application for a liquor license. Both sides were in court today

It's not hard to find a place to buy beer or wine within a mile of Ridglea Hills Elementary. Those places exist. But the people who live around here say having liquor sold from a business that is right next door - is something completely different.

A WalMart spokesperson said in addition to the wall, they have put in additional safeguards to make sure minors wouldn't be able to buy the alcohol. A ruling is expected within the next couple of weeks.
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#3027 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:49 pm

Juries summons tool will leave nowhere to hide

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County will soon add another tool to try and get more people to show up for jury duty. The result of the new addition could be fewer requests in the future for potential jurors to come down to the court house.

Dallas County's current program pulls names from driver's licenses, voter registration and state identification cards. But that program hasn't proved to be very efficient.

Each week, Dallas County sends out 14,000 jury summons for criminal and civil courts.

And for some who answer the summons, they feel their role is important.

"It's your civic duty to serve as a juror and do whatever's necessary," said Cathy Murrow, part of a jury member pool.

But it seems not everyone feels the same. Many of those called in Murrow's jury member pool failed to show up.

However, it isn't always the fault of the potential juror. One reason people didn't make it to their call of civic duty is because almost one fourth of the jury summons sent go to out of date addresses. That shrinks the jury pool.

The low juror response became so serious last summer, a district judge sent deputies out to find people who didn't show up for jury duty to ask them why. Many of those found said they lived at a different address.

That new knowledge has led the county to change that. Starting in December, the county will tap into the national change of address database from the U.S. Postal Service. It lists the new addresses of people who have moved.

The county hopes it results with more people showing up for jury duty, and others not being called so much.

"Hopefully people are going to be summoned less often because we're going to go through our main file of jurors a lot slower," said Lori Ann Bodina, Dallas County Jury Service. "[With] more people showing up, less people need to be summoned."

Some of those who get a lot of jury summons are all for that.

"[It] will also probably allow, say for example, instead of me coming down here twice in one year...maybe [I] might just be [summoned] once every other year," said Stephen Smith, jury pool member.

The county will also save money in printing and postage costs with the new system.

County commissioners are scheduled to approve the deal next Tuesday.
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#3028 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:50 pm

Dallas schools encourage peace between gangs

By TAWNELL D. HOBBS / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - As part of a commitment to end gang violence in Dallas schools, former and current rival gang members stood together outside a South Dallas community center on Wednesday in a show of peace.

Dallas school trustee Ron Price, flanked by about 25 people, including local leaders, held a news conference in front of the Martin Luther King Center in South Dallas.

The group included young men who had, or still were, part of prominent gangs, such as the Bloods and Crips. Mr. Price called the show of solidarity a “peace treaty.” He added that the young men would spread the word in their neighborhoods that a truce had been called among rival gangs.

“We are at a crisis in the Dallas area right now,” Mr. Price said.

Mr. Price had met with leaders of the Bloods and Crips to encourage them to make peace. The notorious gangs originated in Los Angeles but have ties in Dallas.

"These gentlemen must be commended for their willingness to come together to call for peace in the street," Mr. Price said the day before the conference. "It's time for some healing; it's time for us to come together as a community."

Dallas resident Carmenia Henderson observed the event outside the community center.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “They should have done this awhile ago.”

The current and former gang members did not speak during the news conference. But one former member of the Bloods who attended said he was curious about the process that would eliminate gangs in Dallas.

“It’s been said for years,” said the 19-year-old who calls himself “Black.”

Black said he left the gang a year ago after receiving counseling from Vision Regeneration, a gang intervention group that works in 16 Dallas public schools. He said he’d seen too much violence.

"It was to a point where I had to develop a conscience about certain things," he said without elaborating.

It's not the first time gang members in the city have sought peace. In 1989, a dozen young past and present participants came together to call a truce. In the days before the meeting, a 17-year-old gang member had been killed in an Oak Cliff park and a 16-year-old had been shot in the leg in a gang-related incident.

After several years of declining gang influence, the number of gang-related incidents in Dallas schools has been on the rise again in recent years, more than doubling from 92 in 2000-2001 to 245 in 2003-2004, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. The number of gang-related incidents in the Dallas school district in 2003-04 was five times higher than any other large Texas district, including Houston.

In response, Dallas school officials have expanded their anti-gang efforts with techniques that include using social intervention and collaboration with outside agencies. The district also hired a gang intervention specialist in January.

While DISD tackles the gang problem with mediation, federal, state and local law enforcement officers have launched a sting to round up suspects facing criminal charges. Operation Summer Storm netted 25 arrests Tuesday, the first day, of gang suspects and their associates on warrants ranging from probation violation to murder.

Several shootings in Dallas this year have been linked to suspected gang violence:

•Eight people were shot in front of a Pleasant Grove club in April. None was critically injured.

•In May, a suspected member of a vicious Central American gang was arrested in Dallas in connection with the death of a teen who was shot in the head. Dallas police also linked a member of the gang to the shooting of a 14-year-old boy in the face. The boy survived.

•Richardson Hebrew school teacher Sara Linebaugh, 52, was shot in the head as she sat in the drive-through of a Wok Express in Pleasant Grove on June 30. Police have connected the slaying to a gang-related gun battle that had occurred nearby.

Omar Jahwar, director and founder of Vision Regeneration, a gang intervention group operating in 16 Dallas schools, said the gangs' truce on Wednesday was a beginning.

"If we put out some olive branches, I think it will work," Mr. Jahwar said. "It's just a first step, but it will be a big statement."

Mr. Jahwar said he feels the gang situation in Dallas is improving with intervention efforts and the departure of some members as they mature and get out of the game. He also said he believes a drug shortage on the streets has helped limit the level of drug dealing by gangs.
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#3029 Postby TexasStooge » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:57 pm

3 storm evacuees die in I-20 SUV crash

Dallas: Family members were headed home after fleeing Katrina, Rita

By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - What hurricanes Katrina and Rita didn't take away, a Dallas freeway did.

A grandmother, her two adult children and a son-in-law were about halfway into their all-night trek from Colorado Springs, Colo. – where their family had taken refuge from the historic storms – back to their native New Orleans when someone struck their sport utility vehicle about 2:30 a.m. on Interstate 20.

The resulting crash killed three members of a family already at wit's end after being scattered across the country by the storms. The chaos reaches into all aspects of their lives.

"We want to bury them in New Orleans, but that's impossible now," said Tracy Collins, 35, who lost her grandmother, Lillian Williams Butler, 79, uncle Melvin Butler, 42, and her aunt's husband, Fred "Sammy" Moore, 59.

Mr. Moore's wife, Lynn Butler Slugher, survived the crash and was in good condition at Methodist Dallas Medical Center on Wednesday evening.

"It's hard losing one, but to lose three, that's overwhelming," Ms. Collins said. "Grandmother was the glue that kept us all together. It upset her that she couldn't go back, but she coped as best she could."

The four set out on their journey in a green sport utility vehicle at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

By 2:30 Wednesday morning, they had made it to Dallas and were traveling east on Interstate 20 when, police said, 48-year-old Robert Rosier Jr. rear-ended them in his black SUV.

The family's vehicle spun onto the grassy median, flipped and slammed into a concrete barrier.

Mrs. Butler and her son-in-law, Mr. Moore, were thrown out of the cab and died instantly. Mr. Butler was alive when he landed on the other side of the median. A passing motorist later told investigators that they saw him trying to pull himself off the freeway using one arm when an 18-wheeler slammed into him.

The truck driver kept going, and police are seeking him for failing to stop and render aid. Mr. Butler also died.

The family's long trek began when they left New Orleans for Lake Charles, La., where they stayed for a month in the convention center after Katrina flooded their city. From there, the family traveled to Monroe, La., after Rita battered the Gulf Coast.

They finally decided on Colorado Springs because Mr. Butler lived there after leaving New Orleans a few years before. The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid the family's rent at the Colorado Springs apartment.
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#3030 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:08 am

Supervisors suspected of utility tinkering

By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Three civilian supervisors with Dallas Fire-Rescue are in hot water for allegedly tinkering with water accounts.

At Dallas Fire-Rescue's 911 and 311 call center there is also an answering service for Dallas Water Utilities calls. Investigators want to know if several supervisors took advantage of their positions in that area by interfering with overdue accounts to keep water from being shut off.

Two supervisors are currently under investigation by Internal Affairs, but one has already been disciplined.

In that case, a supervisor had agreed to bring in a payment for a friend whose water was about to be cut off. But the supervisor forgot and ordered an employee to hold the cut off until the payment could be made the next day. The investigation found she had abused her authority and she was demoted.

But the other supervisors under investigation may be in deeper trouble for allegedly tinkering with their own accounts and writing hot checks for their water bills.

Internal Affairs is checking computers to see if the supervisors violated policy by accessing their own accounts.

To restore water service, delinquent customers must pay the full bill, a reconnection fee and face other possible penalties. However, the suspected supervisors might have bypassed the rules and dodged penalty fees.

"There were some liberties taken, and I guess some trust that was misused and misplaced," said Lt. Joel Lavender, Dallas Fire-Rescue. "And right now, we need to find out what happened, why it happened and how we can keep it from happening again."

Both supervisors are on administrative leave while Dallas Fire-Rescue moves to restore public trust.
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#3031 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:09 am

Police: Theft ring stealing iPods

By DAN RONAN / WFAA ABC 8

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Police said they have surveillance video of thieves hitting Target stores to steal an Apple favorite, iPods.

Using an empty fan box the thieves have managed to steal dozens of the gadgets. The trick, according to police, was making it look like a fan was still inside the box when they walked out of the store.

Ranging from $250 to $500, iPODs are in high demand.

Police said that the thieves have hit Grapevine, Lake Worth and Weatherford. As many as seven people work the store, some distracting employees or conducting surveillance, and others masquerade as shoppers buying a fan.

They then empty the fan box and head to the iPOD counter where police said they pry open the case and stuff the box full of iPods. Law enforcement sources said more than $21,000 in merchandise has been stolen recently.

Police said the lead suspects in the thefts are Daniel Gonzalez and Daniel Ramirez.

In addition to iPODs, high priced GPS units are also being targeted.

Target is warning its stores to be on the look out for the suspects. Managers are recommended to record the serial numbers of iPODs and GPS units, have video coverage of the items, be on the lookout for the suspects and look for fans sitting outside their packaging.

Police in Texas and Louisiana said they are familiar with the ring and they date as far back as 1998. Some of the suspects have been arrested numerous times. One arrest was most recently made at a WalMart in Belmeade.
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#3032 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 7:19 am

Marijuana-flavored candy sparks worry

By MICHAEL REY / WFAA ABC 8

Parents are beginning to express concern over the increasing popularity of a candy and gum that taste like marijuana.

The products are easy to find on the internet and have some wondering if they are intentionally aimed at kids.

It is just one product among many gaining popularity that sells an adult message with a childlike approach.

The products include marijuana-flavored gum and lollipops sold with a pro marijuana message.

However, Officer Carlos Cruz said he wants parents to know what their kids might already.

"Okay, if he likes the flavor, why not smoke it?" said Cruz of the possible result of kids trying the sweets.

He also said he sees the candies as part of a campaign to make marijuana commonly accepted to adults and appealing to young ones.

The cards, gum and lollipops are easily ordered over the internet, and some are endorsed by popular musicians.

While the treats have no THC, the active inredient in marijuana, they do contain the plant's herb flavoring.

"There's really nothing illegal in it, it's just a message," Cruz said.

And that message has many alarmed.

"I mean we're dealing with candy here," said Karla Trusler. "Candy...children... I mean every child from the time they're tiny knows that candy is a treat. Candy is something special [and] candy is something good."

Karla Trusler isn't naive, she has spent 10 years as a criminal defense attorney and has seen a lot. But she said the candy still has her outraged.

"I would hope that people would see that and draw the line and say, 'you know what, someone's gone over,'" she said.

Image
WFAA ABC 8
Stoner Pops are just one of many marijuana-flavored candies.
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#3033 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:13 am

Schools go high-tech to crack down on tardiness

Irving ISD: Program lets teachers focus on class, not writing late slips

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas – Much like they would at a supermarket checkout, tardy students line up inside MacArthur High School's entrance so teachers can scan the bar codes on their identification cards.

A computer printer produces their punishment, which also serves as a hall pass. It's a ticket to class since teachers are expected to shut and lock their doors at the final bell.

The school is in its third year of using the Web-based eCampus USA system. Principal Tracie Fraley said it has cut down on tardies and made punishments more equal. She can also generate reports to watch trends or check on specific students.

Irving High also uses the system, and this year Nimitz High School began using it. It's also in use in other area districts, including Dallas, Frisco and Garland.

Before the system, tardy slips were written out manually. Classroom teachers were expected to keep track of late students, and they weren't always consistent with discipline.

"It was just a management nightmare to try to keep up with so many students," Ms. Fraley said. "We weren't always accurate. This way it's much more objective."

The school's enrollment is about 2,400. Several hundred students were late first period before the system, Ms. Fraley said, but now there are usually only 20 to 30 unexcused tardies.

She grins and refers to it as the "tardy party." But for students, a visit to the "tardy table" is no party. Michael Simpson, 18, a senior who has been late, preferred the more relaxed system of the past.

"It was better because the teachers let you go, they didn't feel like making you stay after school," he said. "They said 'just be on time next time.' "

Now the students receive a printout of their punishment – a warning, detention or night school depending on how many times they've been late, and proceed to class. Even if they bring a note and receive an excused admit, the system tracks it.

"If we see a parent that is writing an excuse note every day, we talk to the parent," Ms. Fraley said.

Since the first two tardies are warnings, the early months of the school year tend to have a higher number of tardies, Ms. Fraley said.

In September, 2,642 tardies were recorded. The numbers represented repeat offenders and excused tardies. At the beginning of the school year, crowding was an issue, so buses had to make more than one run for students, making some get excused tardies, Ms. Fraley said.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,009 tardies in October.

The numbers also tend to climb again before summer. Last May there were 840 tardies.

Emily Vogt, 17, a senior, said the process seems more organized. She served in-school suspension last year for being late.

"Nobody wants to go to the tardy station," she said. "Sometimes people would rather skip than go to the tardy station."

Students can check in as tardy the first 30 minutes of class. After that they're marked absent.

Nimitz vice principal Michael Campbell said the school's tardies between classes have been reduced, but there are still about 50 students late to first hour.

"Students not getting to class on time is a big issue in our school," he said. "I think it's really working in the middle of the day, but we're still having more tardies than I would like first period. We're hoping it's going to get better."

Mike Grayson, founder of FTI Global of Fairview, who developed the system, said it came about after an information technology employee from Lancaster schools contacted him in 1999.

It was fully functional by 2001 and Mr. Grayson said it serves about 30 schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranging from Sunset High School in Oak Cliff to Frisco High School and is expanding to middle schools.

Pricing is based on a school's enrollment. A school with 2,000 students pays $149 a month.

Naaman Forest High School in Garland was one of the earliest clients. Principal Steve Baker said it is a more just system than relying on teachers to dole out discipline. He said in the past some teachers were seen as the "bad guy" if they punished students.

"The thing I like is that it doesn't make the teacher the enforcer," Mr. Baker said. "Then it doesn't turn into an argument with a student saying, 'Well Ms. so-and-so let me in late.' "

Schools can opt to use a function that automatically e-mails parents if their children are tardy or one that generates form letters to send out. MacArthur uses the form-letter option.

"We didn't want to develop a system that just tracks students, we wanted a system that gets them to class on time," Mr. Grayson said. "In order to hold the student accountable you need to be able to issue the consequence immediately."

Students aren't the biggest fans.

MacArthur student Cassandra Duree, 18, complained about one first-period tardy in which she said she was standing right in front of the door when the teacher swung it shut as the 8:15 a.m. bell rang.

The computer printed out a punishment reflecting the time was 8:14:55, however, and she contested it.

"The lady said, 'You're still tardy – my computer wasn't working,' " Cassandra said.
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#3034 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:21 am

Former Irving employee files new suit

Sanitarian says city workers' 'malicious acts' led to his termination

By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas - A former health inspector has once again sued the city of Irving, this time claiming that a number of city employees conspired to retaliate against him for filing a federal complaint regarding city overtime practices.

Peter Talleos says in his lawsuit that the city had him arrested and prosecuted in 2002 for tampering with a governmental record after he submitted a report to the U.S. Department of Labor that the city wasn't paying sanitarians overtime. The defendants' "malicious acts," the suit states, led to Mr. Talleos' termination.

The lawsuit lists 16 defendants, mostly former and current city employees, including former City Manager Steve McCullough and acting City Manager Sandy Cash.

City officials referred questions about the suit to Paul K. Pearce Jr., an attorney representing the city, who declined to comment because he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit.

The city previously said in court documents that it didn't retaliate against Mr. Talleos and had a "legitimate non-discriminatory reason for any adverse employment action."

The new suit states that Mr. Talleos has suffered extreme emotional distress and damage to his reputation. Mr. Talleos is seeking $300,000 in damages, said Joan Kennerly, his attorney.

The defendants "got together and made some decisions that resulted in the prosecution and termination" of Mr. Talleos, Ms. Kennerly said.

"I'm hoping that the city will pay Mr. Talleos for all that they have put him through," said Ms. Kennerly, a former Irving employee. "They ruined this man's life."

Mr. Talleos, now an employee with the city of Fort Worth, has already sued the city of Irving twice regarding his termination. One lawsuit, against Mr. McCullough and the city, was settled out of court last year for about $30,000. The other suit, against Mr. Cash, is pending with a trial date scheduled for Dec. 12, Ms. Kennerly said.

The latest lawsuit states that the defendants failed to disclose or provided false information to Irving police and the Dallas County district attorney's office regarding the record tampering.

A jury in 2003 found Mr. Talleos not guilty of the charge, according to the suit.

Ms. Kennerly says the tampering allegations stemmed from a hotel receipt that Mr. Talleos submitted to city officials in 2001 for reimbursement after a code enforcement training conference. The receipt only included the name of Mr. Talleos' roommate, but Mr. Talleos added his own name so he could be reimbursed, Ms. Kennerly said.

In fall 2001, Mr. Talleos filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the lack of overtime pay, court records show. In November 2001, sanitarians were told they would be compensated for overtime work. Mr. Talleos has said that as a sanitarian, he inspected restaurants, swimming pools and child care centers.

In July 2002, according to court records, Mr. Talleos was arrested for allegedly tampering with a governmental record.

When Mr. Talleos returned to work, he was fired.
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#3035 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:43 am

Some Dallas firefighters red-hot about name change

By TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - The name Dallas Fire Department carries with it the proud tradition of a 133-year history. But a proposed charter amendment that would legally change the department's name to Dallas Fire-Rescue has some firefighters fuming.

"We've protected the city under the banner of the Dallas Fire Department for more than 130 years," said Mike Buehler, president of the Dallas Firefighters Association. "There is no reason to change now. Major departments – Chicago, New York, Phoenix – none of them are changing their names."

With the turmoil surrounding a proposal to alter the power dynamic among the mayor, City Council and city manager, city leaders had viewed Proposition 10 as merely a housekeeping matter.

"I looked at it as simply making the language in our charter consistent with the way we operate today," council member Gary Griffith said.

"It seemed to be very in line with the structure, nature and capacity of the fire department."

But city leaders might have underestimated the emotional attachment to a name. In 1872, a group of volunteers organized the Dallas Fire Department.

The organization grew from a 14-member volunteer "Company Number 1" to about 1,700 firefighters, nearly 300 civilians and 55 fire stations.

"To some members of the department, it's their link to the past and the history of the department," said Lt. Joel Lavender, a fire department spokesman who says he is conflicted by the issue. "But Dallas Fire-Rescue gave a new meaning to what we do."

The name Dallas Fire-Rescue came into use during Steve Abraira's tenure as fire chief. He had previously been an assistant chief of Miami Fire-Rescue before his arrival in Dallas in 2000.

Shortly after assuming command, Mr. Abraira decided to change the department's name, Mr. Buehler said. The chief said the new moniker better reflected the department's overall mission, which includes responding to emergency medical calls as well as house fires.

Mr. Abraira ordered that departmental-issue clothing bear the new moniker. The department's Web site became dallasfirerescue .com. The name was placed on all rescue vehicles and on newer fire engines and trucks, but all the department's engines, trucks and rescues still carry the traditional DFD logo.

Not wanting to provoke the chief, Mr. Buehler said, the firefighters association didn't oppose the name change. "This was one the chief was adamant about," he said.

City Manager Mary Suhm forced Mr. Abraira to resign in September.

Mr. Buehler and other firefighters now are asking voters to defeat the charter amendment.
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#3036 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:55 pm

Police appeal for return of abducted infant

By WALT ZWIRKO / WFAA.com

MESQUITE, Texas - Mesquite police issued a public appeal Thursday afternoon for the return of a kidnapped infant who is the subject of an Amber Alert.

The child's mother, Dianquanete White, told investigators that Dominique Robertson took their two-month-old child, McKenzie Robertson, at gunpoint from her house in the 1500 block of Longview St. shortly after 9 a.m.

Robertson and an unidentified female companion were last seen with the child in a 1999 white Chevrolet Tahoe with Texas license plates 2PG-K41. Police said it appeared that the vehicle had been carjacked.

Mesquite police spokesman Lt. Steven Callarman said investigators have been in touch with Robertson via cell phone.

"The father was not willing to bring the child back, so for the child's safety and the welfare of everybody involved, the Amber Alert was called out," Lt. Callarman said.

Robertson was described as a 19-year-old black male with short black hair and brown eyes. He is 5-feet tall and weighs 140 lbs. Robertson was wearing a Budweiser racing jacket and blue jeans or blue jean shorts.

"We believe he cares for his daughter," Lt. Callarman said. "Our main hope is that he will contact our investigators and make some sort of arrangements to get the child back."

Robertson's companion, said to be a black female with light skin, was about 5'-2" tall, 110 lbs. and has black-and-blonde shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a gray sweater.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the child was asked to call Mesquite police at 972-216-6759.
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#3037 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:12 pm

Detained man escapes officers' custody

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A man arrested during a traffic stop managed to escape Thursday from Dallas County sheriff deputies' custody while still in handcuffs.

Dallas County sheriff's deputies began following the vehicle driven by Joe Louis Rodriguez, 19, when they observed that he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. He was taken into custody and put in the back of the patrol car when he couldn’t produce a driver’s license and claimed he couldn't remember his name, Sgt. Don Peritz said.

A 16-year-old female passenger provided Rodriguez's name, but deputies intended to confirm it with fingerprints at the jail. As they were talking to the driver who was called to tow Rodriguez’s vehicle, the teen apparently managed to work his way to the front seat and escape, Peritz said.

A search involving officers from the Sheriff's and Dallas police departments on the ground and by helicopter focused on the area near Bernal and Hammerly drives in West Dallas.

Peritz said that law enforcement officers stopped a woman circling the same neighborhood and learned she was Rodriguez's mother. Tipped by neighbors, she was trying to locate her son, Peritz said.

"She's being cooperative, according to the deputies. She'll surrender him," he said.

Rodriguez was wanted on some juvenile warrants, but may face charges of evading arrest or escape in addition to the seat belt and driver's license violations, Peritz said.

"That's something we'll determine when we get him in custody," he said.
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#3038 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:28 pm

Police program looks to squash squatters

By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police said there are thousands of abandoned homes across the city and many of those are concentrated in southeast Dallas.

That is exactly why officers said they are setting their sights on the area in an operation they have called the Red Tag Initiative.

Many homes in the area have been 'red tagged' for demolition because squatters have left behind filth and brought crime into the area.

Some residents on Hobson Lane in Dallas said they have seen this first hand and have seen their nice neighborhood go downhill with the increase in squatters.

"It used to be a nice neighborhood, but it is not anymore," said resident Joann Kemp.

Many in the neighborhood have blamed the abundance of abandoned homes in the area.

"They need to tear them down," Kemp said.

Police said squatters have moved in on the neighborhood, and often bring in drugs and prostitution with them.

"It's a big quality of life issue," said Lt. Edwin Ruiz-Diaz. "Neighbors don't like to see these people there because the constant traffic in-and-out is disruptive to them."

Last April, police found a woman dead in an abandoned home in the area. The house was set on fire with the woman inside.

Police have also said there have been reports of squatters stealing other home's electricity and reports of increased burglaries when drug users seek support for their habit.

These crimes set the initiative two weeks ago to target the area and the abandoned homes. Since the start, police have made 19 arrests.

"We have found that it is an effective tool to get rid of some of the drug complaints in the area," Diaz said.

Residents said they welcome the program.

"I think these people don't have a job," said resident Nolan Hamlet. "And they go into these vacant houses and they need to be moved out.
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#3039 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:29 pm

Colony police confiscate drugged candy bars

THE COLONY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The Colony police stumbled across a not so sweet find.

They confiscated 22 chocolate bars laced with drugs in the 4600 block of Ridgepointe Drive.

Authorities said the chocolate bars contained dried mushrooms, hash and marijuana. The bars are called Nirvana and have a street value of more than $4,000.

Two 19-year-olds face numerous charges including possesion of a controlled substance.

Investigators said the candy looked like normal candy bars.

Image
Police said the drugged sweets called Nirvana look like normal candy bars.
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#3040 Postby TexasStooge » Thu Oct 27, 2005 9:31 pm

Infant returned safely after alleged abduction

By WALT ZWIRKO / WFAA.com

MESQUITE, Texas - An amber alert issued Thursday for a missing infant allegedly kidnapped was canceled late afternoon after she was safely returned home.

Mesquite police issued a public appeal Thursday afternoon for the return of the alleged kidnapped infant who was the subject of an Amber Alert.

The child's mother, Dianquanete White, told investigators that Dominique Robertson took their two-month-old child, McKenzie Robertson, at gunpoint from her house in the 1500 block of Longview St. shortly after 9 a.m.

Robertson and an unidentified female companion were last seen with the child in a 1999 white Chevrolet Tahoe with Texas license plates 2PG-K41. Police said it appeared that the vehicle had been carjacked.

Mesquite police spokesman Lt. Steven Callarman said investigators have been in touch with Robertson via cell phone.

"The father was not willing to bring the child back, so for the child's safety and the welfare of everybody involved, the Amber Alert was called out," Lt. Callarman said.

Robertson was described as a 19-year-old black male with short black hair and brown eyes. He is 5-feet tall and weighs 140 lbs. Robertson was wearing a Budweiser racing jacket and blue jeans or blue jean shorts.

"We believe he cares for his daughter," Lt. Callarman said.

Robertson's companion, said to be a black female with light skin, was about 5'-2" tall, 110 lbs. and has black-and-blonde shoulder-length hair. She was last seen wearing a gray sweater.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the child was asked to call Mesquite police at 972-216-6759.
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