TXU grid to carry Internet service
New partner to offer broadband connection using power lines
By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News
A couple million Texans may soon be able to get their Internet broadband service by plugging into their electrical outlets.
A Maryland company is teaming up with TXU Electric Delivery to offer North Texas consumers Internet broadband service over TXU's electric lines.
In a deal to be announced today, TXU will pay about $150 million over 10 years for an ownership stake in Current Communications Group Inc., which will turn TXU's transmission system into a "smart electricity grid."
In turn, Current plans to offer broadband service over TXU's lines.
Current Communications uses broadband over power lines, or BPL technology, to hook up customers to the Internet using the electrical outlets in homes.
BPL has been touted as a cheaper, more efficient way to get broadband service to customers who aren't easily reached with cable companies' service or DSL service from telephone companies, or wireless service from a cellular phone company or wireless broadband company.
However, BPL also competes head-to-head with established broadband providers, as Current is doing in Cincinnati, where it partners with electricity provider Cinergy Corp.
As it plans for TXU, Current is building a network atop Cinergy's system to help Cinergy keep track of its power grid.
TXU and Current will begin designing the network that will overlay TXU's electric distribution system. Construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2006, with the first BPL service for consumers not expected before the second half of the year.
Current Communications' BPL network will cover about 2 million homes and businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and other Texas cities, traversing the majority of TXU Electric Delivery's service area, the companies said.
TXU Energy, Reliant and other retailers obtain power over TXU Electric Delivery's grid.
With the consumer application not coming until later, TXU and Current officials touted the smart-grid functions, which will allow TXU to monitor its widespread system. TXU Electric Delivery, a part of TXU Corp. and formerly called Oncor, operates more than 14,000 miles of transmission lines and 100,000 miles of distribution lines taking electricity to 3 million customers.
"Current's BPL solution is a critical enabler of our mission to dramatically improve the way we deliver electricity," TXU Electric Delivery chairman and chief executive Tom Baker said.
"BPL will enable us to respond more quickly and efficiently to outages of all magnitudes, manage our distribution network more proactively and further safeguard our dispersed critical assets in today's heightened security environment," he said.
Added TXU spokesman Chris Schein: "We're looking at ways to increase the system reliability and make it really a 21st-century grid."
As part of the deal, TXU would become an equity partner in privately held Current, which is based in Germantown, Md. Other shareholders are Cinergy, EnerTech Capital, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Google Inc., the Hearst Corp. and Liberty Associated Partners LP. Liberty Media Corp. is a major limited partner in Liberty Associated.
William H. Berkman, chairman and co-founder of Current Communications Group and managing partner of Liberty Associated Partners, said the TXU deal "is solid evidence of how BPL answers the federal government's recent call to create a more efficient and reliable 21st-century electricity distribution network."
One of the promised features of BPL is the ability to read meters without having to send an employee. Mr. Schein did not commit TXU Electric Delivery to using that function but said it was a possibility.
"We have been in the process of installing automated meter readers," he said. "That certainly is a capability that will be available."
Last summer, the Texas Legislature approved a wide-reaching telecom bill that set rules for installing BPL systems on electric lines. The service faced heavy opposition from amateur radio operators concerned that radio waves from BPL systems would interfere with existing wireless systems.
News from the Lone Star State
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Shipping packages? Better hurry
By KIMBLERY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
Sharon Durham, who works two jobs and has been busy holiday shopping, arrived early Monday at the Dallas Main Post Office to send toys to a niece in Alabama via priority mail.
"Waiting until the last minute to ship stuff off? Yeah, that would be me," the 45-year-old Arlington woman joked.
Actually, "last minute" would be later this week. Monday is still OK, although it's the U.S. Post Office's last recommended day for shipping to ensure Christmas delivery. Thursday is the last day for priority mail. And Express mail sent Friday will be delivered by Christmas, at an elevated price, of course.
"If you procrastinate, it's going to cost you, literally," said Joanne Veto, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service in Washington.
The Postal Service will deliver more than 20 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve – but it will process 900 million pieces of mail nationally and 4.3 million locally on Monday, what it considers the busiest shipping day of the year. Historically, the most hectic day is five full business days before the holiday.
Monday also was expected to be the busiest night for FedEx Express, with approximately 4.7 million packages expected to move through the network. Customers have until Thursday to ship gifts via FedEx Express overnight, the company said in a statement.
The atmosphere was festive at the main Post Office at Sylvan Avenue and Interstate 30, with the facility decorated with lights, wreaths and poinsettias and some of the staff wearing antlers. Outside, people were having their picture taken in a mail truck adorned with white lights and pulled by a reindeer figurine.
In a special room known as the Santa Room, postal employees who volunteer for the job were answering piles of letters written to Santa Claus. To make themselves clear about what they want, some kids send pictures or coupons. The workers respond with a form letter, geared by age and available in English or Spanish.
"The way they say things they are so funny. I like to see what they ask for," said postal employee Linda Geter, who has been answering letters for 11 years. "This is the best time for me."
Meanwhile, lines were forming while it was still dark as shippers dragged in their bulky boxes, paused to fill out address labels and applied final strips of tape.
Stephen Dillenberg, 19, of Dallas said he was sending a Christmas present to McKinney because he was too lazy to drive.
"I like to put things off until the end. I'm going to overnight it to make sure," he said.
John Butler, 40, of Mansfield also was using next-day service to send three large boxes to Maryland and another to Alabama. "It's mostly just clothes. I boxed it up pretty secure," he said.
Brandon Gale, owner of Eagle Postal Centers in the Dallas area, said the high volume is "part of our daily diet."
"It's a lot of fun and pretty exciting period," he said. "We just love being people's shipping heroes this time of year when they are desperate to make sure the stuff goes where it's supposed to."
The company prides itself on offering several shipping options, but Gale noted that this Christmas season is tricky. Because the holiday falls on a Sunday, it seems like there is more time left than there really is.
"Most of the ground services are very reliable unless it's going to a really remote area and the wild card of course is bad weather days," he said.
To help make sure that packages arrive safely and on time, the Postal Service has several recommendations for consumers. Among them are to print addresses clearly, cushion contents appropriately and place an index card with the sender's and recipient's addresses inside the package in case it comes apart during processing.
Urban centers like Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta process far more mail than their rural counterparts. But Veto said the outcome for shippers is the same because the Postal Service hires more seasonal workers in the busiest locations.
Although she doesn't get a break on cost – "we don't give away postage, ever" – Veto said it is handy to work upstairs from a post office, so she never has to put on a coat and leave the building to get her shipping done.
In fact, she made use of the perk Monday, putting about four packages to friends and all of her holiday cards in the mail.
"I just did this morning on my way in," she said, laughing.
DallasNews.com staff writer Linda Leavell contributed to this report.
By KIMBLERY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
Sharon Durham, who works two jobs and has been busy holiday shopping, arrived early Monday at the Dallas Main Post Office to send toys to a niece in Alabama via priority mail.
"Waiting until the last minute to ship stuff off? Yeah, that would be me," the 45-year-old Arlington woman joked.
Actually, "last minute" would be later this week. Monday is still OK, although it's the U.S. Post Office's last recommended day for shipping to ensure Christmas delivery. Thursday is the last day for priority mail. And Express mail sent Friday will be delivered by Christmas, at an elevated price, of course.
"If you procrastinate, it's going to cost you, literally," said Joanne Veto, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service in Washington.
The Postal Service will deliver more than 20 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve – but it will process 900 million pieces of mail nationally and 4.3 million locally on Monday, what it considers the busiest shipping day of the year. Historically, the most hectic day is five full business days before the holiday.
Monday also was expected to be the busiest night for FedEx Express, with approximately 4.7 million packages expected to move through the network. Customers have until Thursday to ship gifts via FedEx Express overnight, the company said in a statement.
The atmosphere was festive at the main Post Office at Sylvan Avenue and Interstate 30, with the facility decorated with lights, wreaths and poinsettias and some of the staff wearing antlers. Outside, people were having their picture taken in a mail truck adorned with white lights and pulled by a reindeer figurine.
In a special room known as the Santa Room, postal employees who volunteer for the job were answering piles of letters written to Santa Claus. To make themselves clear about what they want, some kids send pictures or coupons. The workers respond with a form letter, geared by age and available in English or Spanish.
"The way they say things they are so funny. I like to see what they ask for," said postal employee Linda Geter, who has been answering letters for 11 years. "This is the best time for me."
Meanwhile, lines were forming while it was still dark as shippers dragged in their bulky boxes, paused to fill out address labels and applied final strips of tape.
Stephen Dillenberg, 19, of Dallas said he was sending a Christmas present to McKinney because he was too lazy to drive.
"I like to put things off until the end. I'm going to overnight it to make sure," he said.
John Butler, 40, of Mansfield also was using next-day service to send three large boxes to Maryland and another to Alabama. "It's mostly just clothes. I boxed it up pretty secure," he said.
Brandon Gale, owner of Eagle Postal Centers in the Dallas area, said the high volume is "part of our daily diet."
"It's a lot of fun and pretty exciting period," he said. "We just love being people's shipping heroes this time of year when they are desperate to make sure the stuff goes where it's supposed to."
The company prides itself on offering several shipping options, but Gale noted that this Christmas season is tricky. Because the holiday falls on a Sunday, it seems like there is more time left than there really is.
"Most of the ground services are very reliable unless it's going to a really remote area and the wild card of course is bad weather days," he said.
To help make sure that packages arrive safely and on time, the Postal Service has several recommendations for consumers. Among them are to print addresses clearly, cushion contents appropriately and place an index card with the sender's and recipient's addresses inside the package in case it comes apart during processing.
Urban centers like Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta process far more mail than their rural counterparts. But Veto said the outcome for shippers is the same because the Postal Service hires more seasonal workers in the busiest locations.
Although she doesn't get a break on cost – "we don't give away postage, ever" – Veto said it is handy to work upstairs from a post office, so she never has to put on a coat and leave the building to get her shipping done.
In fact, she made use of the perk Monday, putting about four packages to friends and all of her holiday cards in the mail.
"I just did this morning on my way in," she said, laughing.
DallasNews.com staff writer Linda Leavell contributed to this report.
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Gifts from the heart touching to teachers
It's the thought that counts, and some parents think hard
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
The small gift came wrapped in a brown paper lunch bag with "Merry Christmas" written in red crayon. Inside was a nearly empty perfume bottle.
The other fourth-grade kids snickered, but Celina teacher Kay Callaham silenced them as she hugged and thanked the quiet 10-year-old. The girl explained how the perfume belonged to her mother, who had died a year earlier.
"She said I was kind to her and she wanted me to smell like her mom," Ms. Callaham recalled. "I hugged her and she cried, I cried, and about half the class cried."
Six years later, Ms. Callaham still has the fourth-grader's heartfelt offering, which exemplifies what educators say they desire in a holiday gift: something sentimental and sincere. Some parents, however, seem to believe that it's best to give holiday gifts that impress, or worse, overwhelm.
Ms. Callaham, who is allergic to perfume, took antihistamines and wore the fragrance every day. The girl's family since has moved away, but every time Ms. Callaham sees the bottle, she thinks warmly of the young pupil.
Dale Keiser, president of NEA-Dallas, said the gift a teacher wants the most is to make a difference in a child's life.
"The main thing for us is to get something from the heart, because that means more than something from the pocketbook," he said.
One of Mr. Kaiser's prized possessions is a wooden apple a student carved in woodshop class, with "Have a Nice Day" painted on one side and "Bite Me" on the other.
"It didn't cost the student anything and it means a lot to me," he said. "I keep it on my desk for all to see."
Susan Roe Jernigan, who has three school-age children and has been active in the PTA, said she recommends a group present to avoid embarrassing the children whose parents may not be able to afford something individually.
The Dallas Independent School District has no specific ethics policy about whether teachers may accept gifts from students or parents, a spokeswoman said.
But Ms. Jernigan said it is her perception that parents are discouraged from giving personal gifts, so they usually chip in to buy the teacher something for the classroom because so many spend their own money for extra learning tools.
"We've collected money for a gift certificate to a bookstore so they can get something for the classroom," she said. "I've even had a teacher show me that she bought books for the classroom with that certificate."
Although teachers might benefit from receiving classroom supplies, Lewisville parent Jennifer Lane said she prefers to give something personal.
"That would be like you giving me a vacuum cleaner," she said. "I don't want that. I want something fun."
Still, gifts sometime become a competitive wedge among parents who want to make sure their children stand out, Ms. Lane said. In one instance, a parent gave a teacher trees for the yard; another educator she knows got a $200 gift certificate to a scrapbook store. That year, Ms. Lane had picked out dishtowels for her children's teachers.
Ms. Lane said she tried to interest parents in collaborating on one big gift, but couldn't generate any momentum, so she started giving a standard $50 restaurant gift certificate for Christmas and a $25 certificate on Valentine's Day.
Ms. Lane said she tries to teach her children that giving a gift should be personal and thoughtful, not about impressing with extravagance.
"You are missing out on the whole point of Christmas," she said. "It's about giving, not leverage."
Shannon Mathews, who has children in a Mesquite private school and Garland public school, usually collects $20 from parents and buys one mall gift certificate. She also likes to throw in a few homemade treats to add a homey touch.
"They really work their butts off," she said. "They have to deal with discipline problems and standardized tests, so at Christmas we try to make up for it a little bit."
In an e-mail to DallasNews. com, Carrollton mom Beth Weller said she believes that teachers deserve something special.
"I've switched to movie gift certificates good for two tickets and some snacks," she said. "Teachers need a real break from reality and a chance to relax, and I thought, 'What better way than a movie?' "
Some juniors and seniors in David Webb's third-period communication application class at Frisco's Centennial High School wanted to give their favorite teacher something spectacular last year.
So they pooled their money and used a parent's employee discount at a sporting goods store to get Mr. Webb a foosball table. They knew he would like it because they once heard him mention it. A youth leader at his church, Mr. Webb entertains a steady stream of teens at his house, so the table gets a lot of use.
"My parents even haven't gotten me something that good," he joked. "It was very touching, and I felt very blessed."
It's the thought that counts, and some parents think hard
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
The small gift came wrapped in a brown paper lunch bag with "Merry Christmas" written in red crayon. Inside was a nearly empty perfume bottle.
The other fourth-grade kids snickered, but Celina teacher Kay Callaham silenced them as she hugged and thanked the quiet 10-year-old. The girl explained how the perfume belonged to her mother, who had died a year earlier.
"She said I was kind to her and she wanted me to smell like her mom," Ms. Callaham recalled. "I hugged her and she cried, I cried, and about half the class cried."
Six years later, Ms. Callaham still has the fourth-grader's heartfelt offering, which exemplifies what educators say they desire in a holiday gift: something sentimental and sincere. Some parents, however, seem to believe that it's best to give holiday gifts that impress, or worse, overwhelm.
Ms. Callaham, who is allergic to perfume, took antihistamines and wore the fragrance every day. The girl's family since has moved away, but every time Ms. Callaham sees the bottle, she thinks warmly of the young pupil.
Dale Keiser, president of NEA-Dallas, said the gift a teacher wants the most is to make a difference in a child's life.
"The main thing for us is to get something from the heart, because that means more than something from the pocketbook," he said.
One of Mr. Kaiser's prized possessions is a wooden apple a student carved in woodshop class, with "Have a Nice Day" painted on one side and "Bite Me" on the other.
"It didn't cost the student anything and it means a lot to me," he said. "I keep it on my desk for all to see."
Susan Roe Jernigan, who has three school-age children and has been active in the PTA, said she recommends a group present to avoid embarrassing the children whose parents may not be able to afford something individually.
The Dallas Independent School District has no specific ethics policy about whether teachers may accept gifts from students or parents, a spokeswoman said.
But Ms. Jernigan said it is her perception that parents are discouraged from giving personal gifts, so they usually chip in to buy the teacher something for the classroom because so many spend their own money for extra learning tools.
"We've collected money for a gift certificate to a bookstore so they can get something for the classroom," she said. "I've even had a teacher show me that she bought books for the classroom with that certificate."
Although teachers might benefit from receiving classroom supplies, Lewisville parent Jennifer Lane said she prefers to give something personal.
"That would be like you giving me a vacuum cleaner," she said. "I don't want that. I want something fun."
Still, gifts sometime become a competitive wedge among parents who want to make sure their children stand out, Ms. Lane said. In one instance, a parent gave a teacher trees for the yard; another educator she knows got a $200 gift certificate to a scrapbook store. That year, Ms. Lane had picked out dishtowels for her children's teachers.
Ms. Lane said she tried to interest parents in collaborating on one big gift, but couldn't generate any momentum, so she started giving a standard $50 restaurant gift certificate for Christmas and a $25 certificate on Valentine's Day.
Ms. Lane said she tries to teach her children that giving a gift should be personal and thoughtful, not about impressing with extravagance.
"You are missing out on the whole point of Christmas," she said. "It's about giving, not leverage."
Shannon Mathews, who has children in a Mesquite private school and Garland public school, usually collects $20 from parents and buys one mall gift certificate. She also likes to throw in a few homemade treats to add a homey touch.
"They really work their butts off," she said. "They have to deal with discipline problems and standardized tests, so at Christmas we try to make up for it a little bit."
In an e-mail to DallasNews. com, Carrollton mom Beth Weller said she believes that teachers deserve something special.
"I've switched to movie gift certificates good for two tickets and some snacks," she said. "Teachers need a real break from reality and a chance to relax, and I thought, 'What better way than a movie?' "
Some juniors and seniors in David Webb's third-period communication application class at Frisco's Centennial High School wanted to give their favorite teacher something spectacular last year.
So they pooled their money and used a parent's employee discount at a sporting goods store to get Mr. Webb a foosball table. They knew he would like it because they once heard him mention it. A youth leader at his church, Mr. Webb entertains a steady stream of teens at his house, so the table gets a lot of use.
"My parents even haven't gotten me something that good," he joked. "It was very touching, and I felt very blessed."
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Police find tech is just the ticket
Many agencies, including Richardson's, turn to cyber citations
By WENDY HUNDLEY / The Dallas Morning News
Area police are throwing away the paper notebooks in which they used to write tickets for speeding and other traffic offenses.
But don't floor the gas pedal: They've just found a quicker way to issue citations.
Richardson and other area police are converting to a high-tech system that will halve ticket-writing time and streamline record-keeping.
"This is a lot quicker than handwriting tickets," said Officer Brian Meli of Richardson's motorcycle unit, which has been testing the new electronic system for the past year. Richardson patrol units now are being trained in e-ticketing.
The technology is in use in Haltom City and Rowlett and in the Dallas County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies. Hurst officials recently approved automated ticketing. Southlake and Addison are considering it.
When Officer Meli pulls over a motorist, he processes the ticket with a handheld device instead of writing on paper.
When he swipes the driver's license into the device, it downloads the motorist's driving history and personal details – name, address, height, gender, eye color and license number – which are encoded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card.
Using a drop-down menu, Officer Meli can quickly enter the type of offense and location, make a printout for the driver, and be on his way.
He estimates that it takes five to eight minutes instead of the 10 to 15 minutes he would normally spend.
That's safer for officers and drivers, said Sgt. Don Peritz of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
He said it reduces the time officers are out of their cars on traffic stops. "That's a dangerous time, when they're more exposed to oncoming traffic," Sgt. Peritz said. "It's dangerous for motorists as well."
Officials say electronic ticketing has other benefits.
"It will improve the accuracy and efficiency of the citations we're processing," said Kim Kierce, administrator of Richardson Municipal Court, where two part-time data-entry clerks work on the tickets. Last year the court handled about 40,000.
"The average time for processing manual tickets is three to five business days," she said. "With electronic ticketing, it could be processed within 24 hours."
With less time spent on data entry, workers can use their time in other ways, said Lt. Dean Poos of the Rowlett police. "When we did the electronic processing, it changed the whole dynamics of the record system," he said. "Now clerks, instead of doing data processing, can do more quality assurance. It freed up their time for other things."
In addition, because the system cuts down on handwriting errors, drivers should have a harder time getting tickets dismissed because of misspelled words, incorrect street names or missing information.
About 20 percent of traffic citations are thrown out of court because of some kind of handwriting error, said Pam MacDougall of Advanced Public Safety, the Florida company that provided the automated ticketing system to Richardson police and 60 other law enforcement agencies in Texas.
At Richardson Municipal Court, clerks have had to call police officers four or five times a month because they can't decipher their penmanship or have other questions about handwritten tickets. While that doesn't happen often, it can delay filing of cases, Ms. Kierce said.
Officer Meli thinks that's unlikely with high-tech ticketing.
"We've written over 600 tickets and only had one error," he said. "That one was caused by an error on the magnetic strip."
Many agencies, including Richardson's, turn to cyber citations
By WENDY HUNDLEY / The Dallas Morning News
Area police are throwing away the paper notebooks in which they used to write tickets for speeding and other traffic offenses.
But don't floor the gas pedal: They've just found a quicker way to issue citations.
Richardson and other area police are converting to a high-tech system that will halve ticket-writing time and streamline record-keeping.
"This is a lot quicker than handwriting tickets," said Officer Brian Meli of Richardson's motorcycle unit, which has been testing the new electronic system for the past year. Richardson patrol units now are being trained in e-ticketing.
The technology is in use in Haltom City and Rowlett and in the Dallas County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies. Hurst officials recently approved automated ticketing. Southlake and Addison are considering it.
When Officer Meli pulls over a motorist, he processes the ticket with a handheld device instead of writing on paper.
When he swipes the driver's license into the device, it downloads the motorist's driving history and personal details – name, address, height, gender, eye color and license number – which are encoded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card.
Using a drop-down menu, Officer Meli can quickly enter the type of offense and location, make a printout for the driver, and be on his way.
He estimates that it takes five to eight minutes instead of the 10 to 15 minutes he would normally spend.
That's safer for officers and drivers, said Sgt. Don Peritz of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
He said it reduces the time officers are out of their cars on traffic stops. "That's a dangerous time, when they're more exposed to oncoming traffic," Sgt. Peritz said. "It's dangerous for motorists as well."
Officials say electronic ticketing has other benefits.
"It will improve the accuracy and efficiency of the citations we're processing," said Kim Kierce, administrator of Richardson Municipal Court, where two part-time data-entry clerks work on the tickets. Last year the court handled about 40,000.
"The average time for processing manual tickets is three to five business days," she said. "With electronic ticketing, it could be processed within 24 hours."
With less time spent on data entry, workers can use their time in other ways, said Lt. Dean Poos of the Rowlett police. "When we did the electronic processing, it changed the whole dynamics of the record system," he said. "Now clerks, instead of doing data processing, can do more quality assurance. It freed up their time for other things."
In addition, because the system cuts down on handwriting errors, drivers should have a harder time getting tickets dismissed because of misspelled words, incorrect street names or missing information.
About 20 percent of traffic citations are thrown out of court because of some kind of handwriting error, said Pam MacDougall of Advanced Public Safety, the Florida company that provided the automated ticketing system to Richardson police and 60 other law enforcement agencies in Texas.
At Richardson Municipal Court, clerks have had to call police officers four or five times a month because they can't decipher their penmanship or have other questions about handwritten tickets. While that doesn't happen often, it can delay filing of cases, Ms. Kierce said.
Officer Meli thinks that's unlikely with high-tech ticketing.
"We've written over 600 tickets and only had one error," he said. "That one was caused by an error on the magnetic strip."
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Abandoned baby found at apartment complex
By MARISSA ALANIS / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - An infant was found Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a Northwest Dallas apartment complex.
At 3:15 p.m., Dallas police received a call about the baby at the High Point Apartments in the 3200 block of Sumter Drive. A resident at the complex heard crying and found the baby near a stairwell, wrapped in a gray towel, police said.
The baby didn't appear to be injured, police said, although reports indicated it had just been born and still had its umbilical cord attached. Police would not release the baby's gender.
A CPS spokesperson said the infant remained at Children's Medical Center Dallas late Monday morning.
Police said they are investigating, but as of Monday morning had not located the infant's mother.
By MARISSA ALANIS / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - An infant was found Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a Northwest Dallas apartment complex.
At 3:15 p.m., Dallas police received a call about the baby at the High Point Apartments in the 3200 block of Sumter Drive. A resident at the complex heard crying and found the baby near a stairwell, wrapped in a gray towel, police said.
The baby didn't appear to be injured, police said, although reports indicated it had just been born and still had its umbilical cord attached. Police would not release the baby's gender.
A CPS spokesperson said the infant remained at Children's Medical Center Dallas late Monday morning.
Police said they are investigating, but as of Monday morning had not located the infant's mother.
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Lancaster man surrenders after girlfriend's murder
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
LANCASTER, Texas — A Lancaster man accused of his girlfriend's murder turned himself in to police in Lewisville on Saturday.
The suspect, identified as Carl Yancy Jr., had been on the run since the fatal shooting of Berlinda Jackson late Friday night at her home on Heather Ridge Drive.
Jackson's family said they had never seen any indication of violence between her and her live-in boyfriend.
"He didn't have to kill her, he didn't have to do that," said Anita Taylor, mourning the loss of her only sister. "She was a sweet person, and he took her away—took her away from her kids."
Jackson's 12-year-old daughter called police after a heated argument over housework ended in violence. She told investigators she heard six gunshots.
"When she heard the gunshots, she came out, and as she was coming out, he was coming out of the room, locking the door, looking at her, and she looked at him—she said—and he went out the back," Taylor said.
Jackson's son found her body in the bedroom. Police said she had been shot in the back in an apparent attempt to flee.
Family members said Jackson, 44, had been trying to end her relationship with Yancy and wanted him out of the house.
"She worked hard—she worked hard to get where she was today," Taylor said.
Jackson worked as a supervisor for the Dallas Independent School District custodial department and had just received a promotion.
She was looking forward to spending Christmas with her family.
"I hope he gets what he deserves," Taylor said. "They need to give him what he deserves and let him think about what he did to her."
Yancy, 43, was being held by Lancaster police Saturday night after being arraigned in Lewisville with a bond of $500,000.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
LANCASTER, Texas — A Lancaster man accused of his girlfriend's murder turned himself in to police in Lewisville on Saturday.
The suspect, identified as Carl Yancy Jr., had been on the run since the fatal shooting of Berlinda Jackson late Friday night at her home on Heather Ridge Drive.
Jackson's family said they had never seen any indication of violence between her and her live-in boyfriend.
"He didn't have to kill her, he didn't have to do that," said Anita Taylor, mourning the loss of her only sister. "She was a sweet person, and he took her away—took her away from her kids."
Jackson's 12-year-old daughter called police after a heated argument over housework ended in violence. She told investigators she heard six gunshots.
"When she heard the gunshots, she came out, and as she was coming out, he was coming out of the room, locking the door, looking at her, and she looked at him—she said—and he went out the back," Taylor said.
Jackson's son found her body in the bedroom. Police said she had been shot in the back in an apparent attempt to flee.
Family members said Jackson, 44, had been trying to end her relationship with Yancy and wanted him out of the house.
"She worked hard—she worked hard to get where she was today," Taylor said.
Jackson worked as a supervisor for the Dallas Independent School District custodial department and had just received a promotion.
She was looking forward to spending Christmas with her family.
"I hope he gets what he deserves," Taylor said. "They need to give him what he deserves and let him think about what he did to her."
Yancy, 43, was being held by Lancaster police Saturday night after being arraigned in Lewisville with a bond of $500,000.
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TexasStooge
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Teen charged over fatal pickup accident
CARROLLTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The 17-year-old driver of the pickup truck which overturned causing fatal injuries to a Carrollton teen has been arrested and charged by police.
Danny Joe Williams of Farmers Branch, Texas, has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Derek Elizondo, 14, sustained head injuries when the pickup flipped near R-L Turner High School last Monday.
Other students were hurt -- but none seriously.
It's illegal to allow riders in the back of a pickup truck.
Eight R.L. Turner High School students were on their way down Cox Street in Carrollton for wrestling and off-season football workouts at the field house when the truck flipped with six students in its bed.
Williams is currently in the Carrollton jail.
CARROLLTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The 17-year-old driver of the pickup truck which overturned causing fatal injuries to a Carrollton teen has been arrested and charged by police.
Danny Joe Williams of Farmers Branch, Texas, has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Derek Elizondo, 14, sustained head injuries when the pickup flipped near R-L Turner High School last Monday.
Other students were hurt -- but none seriously.
It's illegal to allow riders in the back of a pickup truck.
Eight R.L. Turner High School students were on their way down Cox Street in Carrollton for wrestling and off-season football workouts at the field house when the truck flipped with six students in its bed.
Williams is currently in the Carrollton jail.
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TexasStooge
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Police car stolen in Tarrant County
FORT WORTH, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A police car was stolen from Sansom Park just before midday on Monday morning, Tarrant County police say.
After a police search, the car was found at the 2900 block of NW 29 St. in north Fort Worth with a shotgun inside.
Police are still searching for a suspect.
FORT WORTH, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A police car was stolen from Sansom Park just before midday on Monday morning, Tarrant County police say.
After a police search, the car was found at the 2900 block of NW 29 St. in north Fort Worth with a shotgun inside.
Police are still searching for a suspect.
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rainstorm
TexasStooge wrote:Abandoned baby found at apartment complex
By MARISSA ALANIS / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - An infant was found Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a Northwest Dallas apartment complex.
At 3:15 p.m., Dallas police received a call about the baby at the High Point Apartments in the 3200 block of Sumter Drive. A resident at the complex heard crying and found the baby near a stairwell, wrapped in a gray towel, police said.
The baby didn't appear to be injured, police said, although reports indicated it had just been born and still had its umbilical cord attached. Police would not release the baby's gender.
A CPS spokesperson said the infant remained at Children's Medical Center Dallas late Monday morning.
Police said they are investigating, but as of Monday morning had not located the infant's mother.
prayers for the infant
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TexasStooge
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Police hunt for mom of abandoned baby
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Police are searching for a mother they said left a one-day-old baby in the stairwell of a Dallas apartment building.
People who live in the apartment complex near Love Field said they were saddened and shocked when they heard the story of the abandoned baby boy.
"It's is horrible," said Anna Santos. "It is awful. A small child like that - it is unbelievable they would do this to a little baby."
Victor Benavides found the baby with its umbilical cord still attached and wrapped in a towel when he heard the baby crying outside his apartment.
"At first I thought the baby had been beaten because I saw blood on his face, but then I noticed he was a newborn and had been abandonded," he said.
One resident said the baby looked purple when police and paramedics arrived.
"Thank God I found him on time because with the cold he could have died," Benavides said. "The baby cried because he was cold and hungry."
Experts agreed that the cold weather could have endangered the abandoned baby.
"It's dangerous to leave a newborn child exposed to the elements, even if it's not at night or freezing outside," said Marissa Gonzalez from the Child Protection Services.
Residents in the area reported seeing a pregnant girl about 14-years-old walking around the apartment complex. They told Dallas police about the young girl and they said they are investigating to see if she is possibly the baby's mother.
The baby is now legally in the custody of Child Protective Services.
When the baby is released from the hospital he will be placed in foster care and in many cases we do are best to terminate the parents' rights so the child can be adopted in the future.
Officials said the very frustrating aspect of the story is the fact the state has a very successful Moses law.
Parents can drop an unwanted child off with police or fire, for 60 days after the birth.
Instead in this case, the mother chose a stairwell and hoped the baby would be found.
Dan Ronan and Rebecca Lopez contributed to this report
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Police are searching for a mother they said left a one-day-old baby in the stairwell of a Dallas apartment building.
People who live in the apartment complex near Love Field said they were saddened and shocked when they heard the story of the abandoned baby boy.
"It's is horrible," said Anna Santos. "It is awful. A small child like that - it is unbelievable they would do this to a little baby."
Victor Benavides found the baby with its umbilical cord still attached and wrapped in a towel when he heard the baby crying outside his apartment.
"At first I thought the baby had been beaten because I saw blood on his face, but then I noticed he was a newborn and had been abandonded," he said.
One resident said the baby looked purple when police and paramedics arrived.
"Thank God I found him on time because with the cold he could have died," Benavides said. "The baby cried because he was cold and hungry."
Experts agreed that the cold weather could have endangered the abandoned baby.
"It's dangerous to leave a newborn child exposed to the elements, even if it's not at night or freezing outside," said Marissa Gonzalez from the Child Protection Services.
Residents in the area reported seeing a pregnant girl about 14-years-old walking around the apartment complex. They told Dallas police about the young girl and they said they are investigating to see if she is possibly the baby's mother.
The baby is now legally in the custody of Child Protective Services.
When the baby is released from the hospital he will be placed in foster care and in many cases we do are best to terminate the parents' rights so the child can be adopted in the future.
Officials said the very frustrating aspect of the story is the fact the state has a very successful Moses law.
Parents can drop an unwanted child off with police or fire, for 60 days after the birth.
Instead in this case, the mother chose a stairwell and hoped the baby would be found.
Dan Ronan and Rebecca Lopez contributed to this report
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TexasStooge
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Irving intensifies Hispanic officer recruiting
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA ABC 8
IRVING, Texas - Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the United State's population, and civic governments are struggling to keep up with the change.
Emergency response is one of the fields that have focused on diversity, and at the Irving Police Department they have launched a major minority recruiting drive.
Irving police recruiters have expanded the net to find new officers and may soon include the states of New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri.
Hispanic police officers who speak Spanish are a hot commodity in law enforcement recruiting.
"It makes a huge difference," said Michael Rios, Irving Police Department. "Hispanic officers are able to handle more calls we get called forward to translate on a daily basis."
Officer Rios has started working with John Argumaniz, who is the department's newest hire eligible for up to $110 extra per month because he speaks Spanish.
Argumaniz was a California officer and moved his family to North Texas.
"It's a good recruiting tool," he said. "That's one of the things you go to first is benefits, and the things that you can get when you go to different police departments. That's very important and appealing to Spanish-speaking officers because you are used more."
Whether they speak Spanish or not, the department said they want Latino men and women to apply.
Irving police department leaders said they want the department to more accurately reflect the demographic of the community. The department is 10 percent Hispanic now, while the city is at 30 percent.
A new recruiting video demonstrates the department's commitment, but the paycheck may be the most important tool.
Entry-level Irving officers earn more than $44,000.
The highest rank earns $62,000, which is not uncommon in North Texas police departments.
"So, we're all very competitive and we offer a good salary," said Kalena Barber, Irving police recruiter. "We're competitive with most corporations now."
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA ABC 8
IRVING, Texas - Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the United State's population, and civic governments are struggling to keep up with the change.
Emergency response is one of the fields that have focused on diversity, and at the Irving Police Department they have launched a major minority recruiting drive.
Irving police recruiters have expanded the net to find new officers and may soon include the states of New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri.
Hispanic police officers who speak Spanish are a hot commodity in law enforcement recruiting.
"It makes a huge difference," said Michael Rios, Irving Police Department. "Hispanic officers are able to handle more calls we get called forward to translate on a daily basis."
Officer Rios has started working with John Argumaniz, who is the department's newest hire eligible for up to $110 extra per month because he speaks Spanish.
Argumaniz was a California officer and moved his family to North Texas.
"It's a good recruiting tool," he said. "That's one of the things you go to first is benefits, and the things that you can get when you go to different police departments. That's very important and appealing to Spanish-speaking officers because you are used more."
Whether they speak Spanish or not, the department said they want Latino men and women to apply.
Irving police department leaders said they want the department to more accurately reflect the demographic of the community. The department is 10 percent Hispanic now, while the city is at 30 percent.
A new recruiting video demonstrates the department's commitment, but the paycheck may be the most important tool.
Entry-level Irving officers earn more than $44,000.
The highest rank earns $62,000, which is not uncommon in North Texas police departments.
"So, we're all very competitive and we offer a good salary," said Kalena Barber, Irving police recruiter. "We're competitive with most corporations now."
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TexasStooge
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Priest accused of groping teen during movie
MARBLE FALLS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A Roman Catholic priest accused of groping a 16-year-old boy at a movie theater during a showing of "King Kong" has been charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact.
Father Paul M. Clogan, 74, was arrested Friday as he left the theater, Marble Falls police Capt. F.T. Goodwin said in Monday's online edition of the Austin American-Statesman. Clogan was free on bond on Monday.
Clogan sat next to the teen in the theater, even though other seats were available, Goodwin said. The boy, who did not know Clogan, told investigators the priest groped him about an hour after the movie started.
Clogan lived in Marble Falls and was serving at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Horseshoe Bay. He has been removed from active ministry until the case is resolved, Austin Bishop Gregory Aymond said.
MARBLE FALLS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A Roman Catholic priest accused of groping a 16-year-old boy at a movie theater during a showing of "King Kong" has been charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact.
Father Paul M. Clogan, 74, was arrested Friday as he left the theater, Marble Falls police Capt. F.T. Goodwin said in Monday's online edition of the Austin American-Statesman. Clogan was free on bond on Monday.
Clogan sat next to the teen in the theater, even though other seats were available, Goodwin said. The boy, who did not know Clogan, told investigators the priest groped him about an hour after the movie started.
Clogan lived in Marble Falls and was serving at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Horseshoe Bay. He has been removed from active ministry until the case is resolved, Austin Bishop Gregory Aymond said.
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TexasStooge
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Plano woman sues over Christian pamphlets
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) -- A woman who was told she couldn't hand out religious materials on a sidewalk in front of a school sued the Crowley Independent School District today.
The lawsuit was filed in state district court in Fort Worth by the Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute.
Janice Colston of Fort Worth says she was outside Crowley High School when an assistant principal told her that she couldn't hand out Christian pamphlets in front of the school.
School officials say it was a safety concern because students board buses in that location.
Colston says the administrator told her to move to the end of the block.
Institute officials say that, instead of negotiating a settlement, Crowley I-S-D asked the city to deed the sidewalk to the district so that it could take control of the area.
No one answered the phone today at Crowley's school district offices.
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) -- A woman who was told she couldn't hand out religious materials on a sidewalk in front of a school sued the Crowley Independent School District today.
The lawsuit was filed in state district court in Fort Worth by the Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute.
Janice Colston of Fort Worth says she was outside Crowley High School when an assistant principal told her that she couldn't hand out Christian pamphlets in front of the school.
School officials say it was a safety concern because students board buses in that location.
Colston says the administrator told her to move to the end of the block.
Institute officials say that, instead of negotiating a settlement, Crowley I-S-D asked the city to deed the sidewalk to the district so that it could take control of the area.
No one answered the phone today at Crowley's school district offices.
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Perry launches re-election bid
AUSTIN, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — Republican Governor Rick Perry formally launched his re-election campaign on Monday, saying he's "proud of Texas."
Perry filed in Austin for the March 7 GOP primary.
If re-elected, Perry would be in line to hold the Texas governor's office for a record 10 years. He would become the longest-serving governor in Texas history.
Perry was lieutenant governor in 2000 when he assumed the governor's office as George W. Bush became president. Perry was elected to a full term in 2002.
Perry is expected to be challenged by GOP Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who has announced she is running but has yet to file.
Ex-Congressman Chris Bell of Houston and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage have filed for the Democratic primary.
Writer and musician Kinky Friedman has filed as an independent.
The filing deadline is January 2.
AUSTIN, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — Republican Governor Rick Perry formally launched his re-election campaign on Monday, saying he's "proud of Texas."
Perry filed in Austin for the March 7 GOP primary.
If re-elected, Perry would be in line to hold the Texas governor's office for a record 10 years. He would become the longest-serving governor in Texas history.
Perry was lieutenant governor in 2000 when he assumed the governor's office as George W. Bush became president. Perry was elected to a full term in 2002.
Perry is expected to be challenged by GOP Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who has announced she is running but has yet to file.
Ex-Congressman Chris Bell of Houston and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage have filed for the Democratic primary.
Writer and musician Kinky Friedman has filed as an independent.
The filing deadline is January 2.
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TexasStooge
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Family mourns boy's death, teen faces charges
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
CARROLLTON, Texas - One local family's weeklong journey turned from hope to heartbreak Sunday when their teenaged son's injuries from a pickup accident proved fatal.
Derek Elizondo, 14, was riding in the bed of a pickup last Monday with seven other teens when it flipped over near R.L. Turner High School on its way to the field house for sports practice.
The young teen was one of six riding in the back of the truck despite a state law that forbids anyone under 18 to ride in the bed of the truck on a public street.
His parents said they thought he would slowly recover from the serious brain injury he endured after the accident. However, his family mourned his death Monday.
Derek's father, Art Elizondo, said he will deeply miss his son.
"Derek was daddy's boy," he said. "Yeah he was, so therefore I know I will have a tough time adjusting. But, I believe with God's grace I'll...be ok."
Carrollton police have charged Danny Joe Williams, 17, with second degree felonies, which include one count of manslaughter and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
But the young boy's parents said they are not concerned with focusing on that during this time.
"Right now, I think we're just more trying to take care of our baby and let our baby rest," said Marie Simpson, Elizondo's mother. "And you know, the answers will come in time."
Dozens of R.L. Turner High School students gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil.
"He touched many people and touched their hearts," Simpson said.
"[I] know I can say that I am very proud to have been his dad, and still am," Elizondo said.
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
CARROLLTON, Texas - One local family's weeklong journey turned from hope to heartbreak Sunday when their teenaged son's injuries from a pickup accident proved fatal.
Derek Elizondo, 14, was riding in the bed of a pickup last Monday with seven other teens when it flipped over near R.L. Turner High School on its way to the field house for sports practice.
The young teen was one of six riding in the back of the truck despite a state law that forbids anyone under 18 to ride in the bed of the truck on a public street.
His parents said they thought he would slowly recover from the serious brain injury he endured after the accident. However, his family mourned his death Monday.
Derek's father, Art Elizondo, said he will deeply miss his son.
"Derek was daddy's boy," he said. "Yeah he was, so therefore I know I will have a tough time adjusting. But, I believe with God's grace I'll...be ok."
Carrollton police have charged Danny Joe Williams, 17, with second degree felonies, which include one count of manslaughter and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
But the young boy's parents said they are not concerned with focusing on that during this time.
"Right now, I think we're just more trying to take care of our baby and let our baby rest," said Marie Simpson, Elizondo's mother. "And you know, the answers will come in time."
Dozens of R.L. Turner High School students gathered Friday night for a candlelight vigil.
"He touched many people and touched their hearts," Simpson said.
"[I] know I can say that I am very proud to have been his dad, and still am," Elizondo said.
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TexasStooge
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Man finally cashes in on lottery ticket
Update: $25,000 winner lost – then found – to cover swing set, bills
By DIANE JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News
Mike Sargent can now buy his granddaughter the swing set he wanted. And the hefty check he wrote to his church several weeks ago can be cashed. No more shopping in the clearance aisle for bargain Christmas gifts.
More than a month after he scratched off a lottery ticket worth $25,000, Mr. Sargent finally collected his winnings. The rollercoaster ride of a ticket lost and found – and seemingly interminable wrangling with the Texas Lottery Commission – ended Monday when he walked out of the Dallas claim center, arm raised in victory and a too-rare smile on his face.
“I never thought I’d get it,” he said.
And he wouldn’t have, he said, if self-appointed lottery watchdog Dawn Nettles hadn’t worked zealously on his behalf.
Mr. Sargent bought the ticket in mid-November. When he realized he was a winner, the convenience store owner advised him to put his name and address on the ticket.
He did – then jubilantly raced home to give the ticket to his wife.
“She’s stuck with me through thick and thin,” he said, noting that the last year has been particularly sparse. His father is battling cancer in California, and his own poor health had forced him to leave his job for several months, causing bills to mount.
But when Mr. Sargent went to hand his wife the ticket, he no longer had it.
A frantic search, including sifting through garbage, ensued, until a man called a few days later saying he’d found the ticket and would return it for $2,500.
Mr. Sargent borrowed the reward money, then tried to redeem the ticket through the Lottery Commission. But lottery officials told him they’d have to verify his story first. Someone had attempted to alter the ticket. It would take 6-8 weeks, he was told.
“We have a process that we follow to make sure that we pay our players in a timely fashion,” Leticia Vasquez, spokeswoman for the Commission said. “And we don’t deviate from that process. That’s been one of the reasons it’s taken so long.”
When two weeks had passed with no word from the Commission, Ms. Nettles, made some calls. She said Monday that she was glad Mr. Sargent collected his check, but added the Commission should be ashamed the process took so long.
“The Texas Lottery likes money, that $25,000 sitting there drawing interest,” she said. “When it comes to the almighty dollar, the Texas Lottery has no morals.”
At 9:52 a.m., the delivery truck carrying Mr. Sargent’s winning ticket arrived at the claim center in Dallas and Mr. Sargent was able to claim his winnings.
Mr. Sargent, 51, said he was going to give up if he didn’t get the money by 10 a.m. Monday when he had to leave for work. The money wasn’t as important as what he learned from the experience, he said.
“Whether I get the money or not, it renewed my faith that God was taking care of everything,” Mr. Sargent said.
After losing the ticket he said, “It just came over me that God was telling me …‘You don’t need the lottery. You need to depend on me – I have always taken care of you.’”
That sense of peace is probably why Mr. Sargent has only modest plans for the money. After his tithe to the church, and the swing set for his 4-year-old granddaughter, he wants to pay off credit card bills, help his son and contribute to an informal prison ministry.
When he was on leave from his job, the couple got by with the help of overtime for Mrs. Sargent and credit cards. Mr. Sargent has since returned to work, but $25,000 nonetheless seemed like a godsend.
“We’re not into material things, “Mr. Sargent explained. “I live in a double-wide trailer.”
His priorities “are to use what God gives and help meet needs here on earth.”
Other than the swing set, he and his wife don’t plan any big Christmas splurge.
“We have what we need,” he said. “It’s God’s birthday – not ours.”
He hasn’t bought another lottery ticket since he won and doesn’t intend to.
“Even if God hadn’t told me to quit playing the lottery,” he said with a smile, “This experience would.”
Update: $25,000 winner lost – then found – to cover swing set, bills
By DIANE JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News
Mike Sargent can now buy his granddaughter the swing set he wanted. And the hefty check he wrote to his church several weeks ago can be cashed. No more shopping in the clearance aisle for bargain Christmas gifts.
More than a month after he scratched off a lottery ticket worth $25,000, Mr. Sargent finally collected his winnings. The rollercoaster ride of a ticket lost and found – and seemingly interminable wrangling with the Texas Lottery Commission – ended Monday when he walked out of the Dallas claim center, arm raised in victory and a too-rare smile on his face.
“I never thought I’d get it,” he said.
And he wouldn’t have, he said, if self-appointed lottery watchdog Dawn Nettles hadn’t worked zealously on his behalf.
Mr. Sargent bought the ticket in mid-November. When he realized he was a winner, the convenience store owner advised him to put his name and address on the ticket.
He did – then jubilantly raced home to give the ticket to his wife.
“She’s stuck with me through thick and thin,” he said, noting that the last year has been particularly sparse. His father is battling cancer in California, and his own poor health had forced him to leave his job for several months, causing bills to mount.
But when Mr. Sargent went to hand his wife the ticket, he no longer had it.
A frantic search, including sifting through garbage, ensued, until a man called a few days later saying he’d found the ticket and would return it for $2,500.
Mr. Sargent borrowed the reward money, then tried to redeem the ticket through the Lottery Commission. But lottery officials told him they’d have to verify his story first. Someone had attempted to alter the ticket. It would take 6-8 weeks, he was told.
“We have a process that we follow to make sure that we pay our players in a timely fashion,” Leticia Vasquez, spokeswoman for the Commission said. “And we don’t deviate from that process. That’s been one of the reasons it’s taken so long.”
When two weeks had passed with no word from the Commission, Ms. Nettles, made some calls. She said Monday that she was glad Mr. Sargent collected his check, but added the Commission should be ashamed the process took so long.
“The Texas Lottery likes money, that $25,000 sitting there drawing interest,” she said. “When it comes to the almighty dollar, the Texas Lottery has no morals.”
At 9:52 a.m., the delivery truck carrying Mr. Sargent’s winning ticket arrived at the claim center in Dallas and Mr. Sargent was able to claim his winnings.
Mr. Sargent, 51, said he was going to give up if he didn’t get the money by 10 a.m. Monday when he had to leave for work. The money wasn’t as important as what he learned from the experience, he said.
“Whether I get the money or not, it renewed my faith that God was taking care of everything,” Mr. Sargent said.
After losing the ticket he said, “It just came over me that God was telling me …‘You don’t need the lottery. You need to depend on me – I have always taken care of you.’”
That sense of peace is probably why Mr. Sargent has only modest plans for the money. After his tithe to the church, and the swing set for his 4-year-old granddaughter, he wants to pay off credit card bills, help his son and contribute to an informal prison ministry.
When he was on leave from his job, the couple got by with the help of overtime for Mrs. Sargent and credit cards. Mr. Sargent has since returned to work, but $25,000 nonetheless seemed like a godsend.
“We’re not into material things, “Mr. Sargent explained. “I live in a double-wide trailer.”
His priorities “are to use what God gives and help meet needs here on earth.”
Other than the swing set, he and his wife don’t plan any big Christmas splurge.
“We have what we need,” he said. “It’s God’s birthday – not ours.”
He hasn’t bought another lottery ticket since he won and doesn’t intend to.
“Even if God hadn’t told me to quit playing the lottery,” he said with a smile, “This experience would.”
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TexasStooge
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Cold season sees rise in car thefts
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
Cold weather tempts many drivers to start their vehicles and go inside while it warms up.
But police say someone may be watching, waiting for an empty driver's seat or another sign of an idling automobile.
Detectives are cruising the streets on the Fort Worth - Haltom City border searching for suspected car thieves and stolen vehicles.
Officers with the Tarrant County Auto Theft Task Force hit the jackpot last week, arresting nine people for auto theft or related charges. They recovered 19 stolen vehicles.
Some were stripped in hours, others found with little damage and returned to owners. They had three things in common - keys in the ignition, a running engine and cold weather.
"People might drop their kid off at a daycare, come back out and their car is gone," says Daniel Pearson from the Tarrant County Auto Theft Task Force.
They were stolen from driveways, even garages.
An 18-year-old and a 24-year-old are still in jail in connection with the 19 stolen vehicles. Detectives believe they're part of a loosely organized ring. Police say many of the nine arrested admitted stealing for drug money - to buy crystal meth.
The auto task force warns - don't leave vehicles idling in any weather.
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
Cold weather tempts many drivers to start their vehicles and go inside while it warms up.
But police say someone may be watching, waiting for an empty driver's seat or another sign of an idling automobile.
Detectives are cruising the streets on the Fort Worth - Haltom City border searching for suspected car thieves and stolen vehicles.
Officers with the Tarrant County Auto Theft Task Force hit the jackpot last week, arresting nine people for auto theft or related charges. They recovered 19 stolen vehicles.
Some were stripped in hours, others found with little damage and returned to owners. They had three things in common - keys in the ignition, a running engine and cold weather.
"People might drop their kid off at a daycare, come back out and their car is gone," says Daniel Pearson from the Tarrant County Auto Theft Task Force.
They were stolen from driveways, even garages.
An 18-year-old and a 24-year-old are still in jail in connection with the 19 stolen vehicles. Detectives believe they're part of a loosely organized ring. Police say many of the nine arrested admitted stealing for drug money - to buy crystal meth.
The auto task force warns - don't leave vehicles idling in any weather.
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TexasStooge
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Twins challenge 3 Plano moms
By ANNE MAYER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - Liz Farris, Laura Forson and Abby Ray knew one another from the Junior League of Plano. But when they discovered that they were all pregnant with boy-girl twins at the same time, their bonds became tighter.
"Once we found out we were having twins, we started having lunch together, going shopping together, calling and e-mailing each other with different information," recalls Laura. "When we all eventually went on bed rest, we still kept e-mailing each other."
If this situation had been a reality show, we would have seen how these fast friends bonded through thick and thin over the course of almost two years. Not only has raising twins been fun and tough, but raising three older children has been challenging, as well. All of the sets of twins are just days apart in age. In June, they celebrated their first birthdays together.
The busy moms did not see one another very much in the last 18 months, but they plan to get together more often. They share a bond that will never be broken because they've been through so much together.
"We didn't want to expose the babies to each other's illnesses, so we didn't see each other that much," explains Laura. "But we realize now that the more often we get together, the more fun we have."
The moms take their twins to Parents Day Out, which lets them get all their errands done and their houses cleaned so they can get together during the week. They have several outings already planned for various parks in the spring.
Laura sums it all up this way, in the mantra the moms share: They are bonded for life. "We survived difficult twin pregnancies, childbirth and the first year of raising twins. We feel like now we can conquer the world!"
Accept help
Once they got their twins home, chaos would have reigned had Liz, Laura and Abby not learned to accept help and to ask for it.
"The hardest lesson I had to learn was to say yes to help when it was offered. For some reason, we women have a hard time doing this," says Abby.
Friends from Abby and husband Craig's Sunday school class brought over meals before and after their twins were born.
And, when a friend of Laura's threw her a baby shower, she suggested that Laura ask guests to sign up to bring meals instead of giving gifts. "At first, I didn't want to do it because I needed so much stuff for these babies, but I was so glad I accepted her advice," Laura recalls. "I was so grateful because we didn't have to worry about cooking meals for the first two months after I had the babies."
Involve older siblings
"I'll ask Evan, my 9-year-old, to feed Callan and Cash their bottles and to watch them if I have to make a quick telephone call," says Abby. "This is a way for me to teach her that this is what family members do for one another. It's the idea that she is not helping just me, but her brother and sister."
One evening, Laura's husband, Jim, had a soccer game and she was home alone with her twins, Ella and Ryan, and oldest son, Cole, 6. "Ella and Ryan were starting to fuss, so I just was talking and said, 'Oh, I'm going to have to get the babies their bottles.' I hear Cole say, 'OK.' He goes into the kitchen. The next thing I know, he has poured milk into two bottles and brings them to me. The babies are on milk now, so I just warmed their bottles in the microwave. Cole really likes to help and wanted to surprise me."
Liz learned to keep quiet when her husband, Rod, helped. "My house wasn't as clean as I usually keep it, but I learned to just appreciate that Rod was helping to get things done," Liz says. "Rod helps me a lot. I make dinner and feed the kids. When he comes home from work, he'll give the kids a bath and play with them. It's a bonding experience for him."
Planning
Laura's husband Jim calls it "movin' out the troops," because it is not easy going anywhere with small children, especially two the same age, plus older children. But, Liz, Laura and Abby learned to plan two steps ahead.
"Craig laughs and says that when I gave birth to Evan, I became obsessive-compulsive," Abby jokes. "I always think through what items I will need generally, and what items I will need if we get stuck in traffic, or if there is an unexpected wait at the doctor's office, because some things are just beyond our control."
Liz puts everything her children will need into the car the night before. "If I have to take clothes to the dry cleaners, I put them into the car the night before, too," she says.
Having time as a couple
With so many children to take care of at once, having any time to be a couple has not been easy, but Liz, Laura and Abby have a few tips to share in this area, too.
"Craig and I have always had standing date nights," says Abby. "We usually go out on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. ... We might go to dinner and a movie, then we always make time to talk. We go to Starbucks or I-Hop to talk about our day, the kids, our feelings."
Liz and Rod take advantage of their church's Parents Night Out program once a month on Fridays. "We bring the children's dinner, diapers, etc. The nursery staff has various activities for them to do, and we go out from 6:30 to 10."
Laura recently took the leap of meeting Jim at a resort in New Mexico, when he attended a business seminar. Ryan stayed with her parents. Ella stayed with her in-laws. Cole stayed with his aunt, Jim's sister, who has a son close to Cole's age. "And I made it easier on myself. I made out each of the kids' schedules and got their belongings together. Then I had everyone come to my house to pick up the kids," says Laura.
Bringing up babies
The twins are 18 months old now. What do Liz, Laura and Abby know now that they wish they'd known before?
"It's OK if my house is not perfectly neat," says Abby. "So many of us seem to think we have to do everything and stress ourselves out."
Liz discovered that it does get easier. "The twins can walk to the car now and are more interested in what's going on around them," she relates. "They are not wanting my attention all the time."
And Laura has learned that it is OK to be flexible. "Jim and I are both 'Type A,' so you can imagine what type of personalities we're dealing with in this house," she says. "But we just laugh more now. You plan as much as you can, be as organized as you can, but when the plan goes awry, you just have to go with the flow."
Anne Mayer is a Dallas-based author.
By ANNE MAYER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - Liz Farris, Laura Forson and Abby Ray knew one another from the Junior League of Plano. But when they discovered that they were all pregnant with boy-girl twins at the same time, their bonds became tighter.
"Once we found out we were having twins, we started having lunch together, going shopping together, calling and e-mailing each other with different information," recalls Laura. "When we all eventually went on bed rest, we still kept e-mailing each other."
If this situation had been a reality show, we would have seen how these fast friends bonded through thick and thin over the course of almost two years. Not only has raising twins been fun and tough, but raising three older children has been challenging, as well. All of the sets of twins are just days apart in age. In June, they celebrated their first birthdays together.
The busy moms did not see one another very much in the last 18 months, but they plan to get together more often. They share a bond that will never be broken because they've been through so much together.
"We didn't want to expose the babies to each other's illnesses, so we didn't see each other that much," explains Laura. "But we realize now that the more often we get together, the more fun we have."
The moms take their twins to Parents Day Out, which lets them get all their errands done and their houses cleaned so they can get together during the week. They have several outings already planned for various parks in the spring.
Laura sums it all up this way, in the mantra the moms share: They are bonded for life. "We survived difficult twin pregnancies, childbirth and the first year of raising twins. We feel like now we can conquer the world!"
Accept help
Once they got their twins home, chaos would have reigned had Liz, Laura and Abby not learned to accept help and to ask for it.
"The hardest lesson I had to learn was to say yes to help when it was offered. For some reason, we women have a hard time doing this," says Abby.
Friends from Abby and husband Craig's Sunday school class brought over meals before and after their twins were born.
And, when a friend of Laura's threw her a baby shower, she suggested that Laura ask guests to sign up to bring meals instead of giving gifts. "At first, I didn't want to do it because I needed so much stuff for these babies, but I was so glad I accepted her advice," Laura recalls. "I was so grateful because we didn't have to worry about cooking meals for the first two months after I had the babies."
Involve older siblings
"I'll ask Evan, my 9-year-old, to feed Callan and Cash their bottles and to watch them if I have to make a quick telephone call," says Abby. "This is a way for me to teach her that this is what family members do for one another. It's the idea that she is not helping just me, but her brother and sister."
One evening, Laura's husband, Jim, had a soccer game and she was home alone with her twins, Ella and Ryan, and oldest son, Cole, 6. "Ella and Ryan were starting to fuss, so I just was talking and said, 'Oh, I'm going to have to get the babies their bottles.' I hear Cole say, 'OK.' He goes into the kitchen. The next thing I know, he has poured milk into two bottles and brings them to me. The babies are on milk now, so I just warmed their bottles in the microwave. Cole really likes to help and wanted to surprise me."
Liz learned to keep quiet when her husband, Rod, helped. "My house wasn't as clean as I usually keep it, but I learned to just appreciate that Rod was helping to get things done," Liz says. "Rod helps me a lot. I make dinner and feed the kids. When he comes home from work, he'll give the kids a bath and play with them. It's a bonding experience for him."
Planning
Laura's husband Jim calls it "movin' out the troops," because it is not easy going anywhere with small children, especially two the same age, plus older children. But, Liz, Laura and Abby learned to plan two steps ahead.
"Craig laughs and says that when I gave birth to Evan, I became obsessive-compulsive," Abby jokes. "I always think through what items I will need generally, and what items I will need if we get stuck in traffic, or if there is an unexpected wait at the doctor's office, because some things are just beyond our control."
Liz puts everything her children will need into the car the night before. "If I have to take clothes to the dry cleaners, I put them into the car the night before, too," she says.
Having time as a couple
With so many children to take care of at once, having any time to be a couple has not been easy, but Liz, Laura and Abby have a few tips to share in this area, too.
"Craig and I have always had standing date nights," says Abby. "We usually go out on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. ... We might go to dinner and a movie, then we always make time to talk. We go to Starbucks or I-Hop to talk about our day, the kids, our feelings."
Liz and Rod take advantage of their church's Parents Night Out program once a month on Fridays. "We bring the children's dinner, diapers, etc. The nursery staff has various activities for them to do, and we go out from 6:30 to 10."
Laura recently took the leap of meeting Jim at a resort in New Mexico, when he attended a business seminar. Ryan stayed with her parents. Ella stayed with her in-laws. Cole stayed with his aunt, Jim's sister, who has a son close to Cole's age. "And I made it easier on myself. I made out each of the kids' schedules and got their belongings together. Then I had everyone come to my house to pick up the kids," says Laura.
Bringing up babies
The twins are 18 months old now. What do Liz, Laura and Abby know now that they wish they'd known before?
"It's OK if my house is not perfectly neat," says Abby. "So many of us seem to think we have to do everything and stress ourselves out."
Liz discovered that it does get easier. "The twins can walk to the car now and are more interested in what's going on around them," she relates. "They are not wanting my attention all the time."
And Laura has learned that it is OK to be flexible. "Jim and I are both 'Type A,' so you can imagine what type of personalities we're dealing with in this house," she says. "But we just laugh more now. You plan as much as you can, be as organized as you can, but when the plan goes awry, you just have to go with the flow."
Anne Mayer is a Dallas-based author.
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TexasStooge
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Denton might restrict intake of strays at shelter
Other entities could be scrambling to take animals elsewhere
By CLIFF DESPRES / Denton Record-Chronicle
DENTON, Texas - Denton probably won't open its animal shelter to dogs and cats from outside the city limits when a new shelter is built or the current one is expanded, city officials said.
That could cause problems for Denton County, Krum, Corinth and other entities that pay to use the city's shelter on Woodrow Street to house their strays. Those entities don't have their own shelters and might struggle to find another place to take animals.
Officials fear it may lead some to just drop off animals in Denton's limits.
City Council members say outside animals complicate a decision on how big to make its shelter, and fees that entities pay don't cover the cost of handling those animals.
"We can't pay for other communities if we don't have the money. I wish we could, but our shelter is overcrowded," Mayor Euline Brock said Monday.
After Ms. Brock and council members toured the shelter last week, she said Denton should move toward a city facility rather than a countywide service.
The shelter, built in 1979, is aging and has leaky roofs, multiple animals crowded into the same cage and a lack of space, according to a report released last week by Connolly Architects, a shelter builder that the city hired in October.
The lack of space forces the city to euthanize more animals, officials say, and the situation could worsen as Denton's animal population grows.
Denton gets about one-third of its animals from the county, Krum, Corinth, Ponder and Roanoke. Those entities pay Denton a fee for each animal they bring to the shelter: $15 for the first day and $5 for each additional day, up to four days.
The fees don't offset costs of handling animals, including shelter, care and liability, said Denton police Lt. Scott Fletcher.
Lt. Fletcher said the city could sever service to outside agencies and build for Denton's projected growth levels or get new agreements with agencies so they pay an "appropriate" amount for shelter use, such as part of construction costs and an annual fee for operation.
The second option would allow the city to provide better staffing levels and cover the operating costs for the shelter, Lt. Fletcher said.
The discussion of changes in Denton has some agencies worried.
The county is fielding an increasing number of animal-related calls, said Capt. Mike Caley of the Sheriff's Department. The county impounds about 70 dogs or cats a month.
Capt. Caley is working on an informal contingency plan if Denton no longer offers its shelter.
Some say if Denton cuts off service, some agencies or residents would pick up animals and drop them off inside Denton's limits.
"We wouldn't drop them off like that, but people might," said Roanoke police Lt. Robert Crawford.
Roanoke officials, who brought 143 dogs and cats to Denton so far this year, said they'd have to scramble to find a new shelter, Lt. Crawford said.
Other shelters might not have room to help.
Flower Mound, Lewisville, Sanger, The Colony and Lake Dallas are the only other local shelters, said Woodie Wilson, head of Denton's shelter. All of these are already crowded.
Flower Mound's shelter, built in 2003, has just enough space to house only their animals, said Christina Howard, manager of animal services.
Accepting outside animals would cause its euthanasia rate to "skyrocket," Ms. Howard said.
"We don't want to have to euthanize," she said.
Denton recently has made improvements to its shelter and lowered its euthanasia rate, which has been almost half of animals it takes in.
But the main issue – building a new shelter or expanding its current one – remains. Building a 14,000-square-foot shelter would cost $3.87 million at a new site, according to the Connolly report. Renovating and expanding the current one would cost $4.12 million. The city has no money to pay for either right now, officials say.
A decision on whether to handle outside animals must be made first, officials say.
"If we do get a new shelter or renovation, Denton County is going to have to pay their share. We can't properly care for the volume of animals we have," said Marilyn Wells, head of the Denton Humane Society.
Other entities could be scrambling to take animals elsewhere
By CLIFF DESPRES / Denton Record-Chronicle
DENTON, Texas - Denton probably won't open its animal shelter to dogs and cats from outside the city limits when a new shelter is built or the current one is expanded, city officials said.
That could cause problems for Denton County, Krum, Corinth and other entities that pay to use the city's shelter on Woodrow Street to house their strays. Those entities don't have their own shelters and might struggle to find another place to take animals.
Officials fear it may lead some to just drop off animals in Denton's limits.
City Council members say outside animals complicate a decision on how big to make its shelter, and fees that entities pay don't cover the cost of handling those animals.
"We can't pay for other communities if we don't have the money. I wish we could, but our shelter is overcrowded," Mayor Euline Brock said Monday.
After Ms. Brock and council members toured the shelter last week, she said Denton should move toward a city facility rather than a countywide service.
The shelter, built in 1979, is aging and has leaky roofs, multiple animals crowded into the same cage and a lack of space, according to a report released last week by Connolly Architects, a shelter builder that the city hired in October.
The lack of space forces the city to euthanize more animals, officials say, and the situation could worsen as Denton's animal population grows.
Denton gets about one-third of its animals from the county, Krum, Corinth, Ponder and Roanoke. Those entities pay Denton a fee for each animal they bring to the shelter: $15 for the first day and $5 for each additional day, up to four days.
The fees don't offset costs of handling animals, including shelter, care and liability, said Denton police Lt. Scott Fletcher.
Lt. Fletcher said the city could sever service to outside agencies and build for Denton's projected growth levels or get new agreements with agencies so they pay an "appropriate" amount for shelter use, such as part of construction costs and an annual fee for operation.
The second option would allow the city to provide better staffing levels and cover the operating costs for the shelter, Lt. Fletcher said.
The discussion of changes in Denton has some agencies worried.
The county is fielding an increasing number of animal-related calls, said Capt. Mike Caley of the Sheriff's Department. The county impounds about 70 dogs or cats a month.
Capt. Caley is working on an informal contingency plan if Denton no longer offers its shelter.
Some say if Denton cuts off service, some agencies or residents would pick up animals and drop them off inside Denton's limits.
"We wouldn't drop them off like that, but people might," said Roanoke police Lt. Robert Crawford.
Roanoke officials, who brought 143 dogs and cats to Denton so far this year, said they'd have to scramble to find a new shelter, Lt. Crawford said.
Other shelters might not have room to help.
Flower Mound, Lewisville, Sanger, The Colony and Lake Dallas are the only other local shelters, said Woodie Wilson, head of Denton's shelter. All of these are already crowded.
Flower Mound's shelter, built in 2003, has just enough space to house only their animals, said Christina Howard, manager of animal services.
Accepting outside animals would cause its euthanasia rate to "skyrocket," Ms. Howard said.
"We don't want to have to euthanize," she said.
Denton recently has made improvements to its shelter and lowered its euthanasia rate, which has been almost half of animals it takes in.
But the main issue – building a new shelter or expanding its current one – remains. Building a 14,000-square-foot shelter would cost $3.87 million at a new site, according to the Connolly report. Renovating and expanding the current one would cost $4.12 million. The city has no money to pay for either right now, officials say.
A decision on whether to handle outside animals must be made first, officials say.
"If we do get a new shelter or renovation, Denton County is going to have to pay their share. We can't properly care for the volume of animals we have," said Marilyn Wells, head of the Denton Humane Society.
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TexasStooge
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Man dressed as Santa robs Arlington bank
ARLINGTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A man wearing a red Santa jacket and Santa hat robbed an Arlington bank this morning, police said.
The suspect entered the Wachovia Bank at 5615 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd. at about 9:20 a.m. and told a teller that he had a gun. During the robbery, the suspect pulled the Santa hat over his eyes and looked out through two holes cut into the hat, said police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour.
Officers spoke with witnesses who reportedly saw the man outside of the bank without his hat covering his face.
After the robbery, the man left in a gray or silver car and headed north on Green Oaks, possibly toward Interstate 20.
The suspect is described as a white male with a light complexion, 6-foot to 6-foot-2 inches tall with a muscular build, unshaven, with dark hair and brown eyes.
In addition to the Santa hat and jacket - which had white fur around the wrists and collar with black buttons - the man was wearing khaki pants and white tennis shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Arlington police at 817-459-5667 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS. Crime Stoppers callers may remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
ARLINGTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A man wearing a red Santa jacket and Santa hat robbed an Arlington bank this morning, police said.
The suspect entered the Wachovia Bank at 5615 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd. at about 9:20 a.m. and told a teller that he had a gun. During the robbery, the suspect pulled the Santa hat over his eyes and looked out through two holes cut into the hat, said police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour.
Officers spoke with witnesses who reportedly saw the man outside of the bank without his hat covering his face.
After the robbery, the man left in a gray or silver car and headed north on Green Oaks, possibly toward Interstate 20.
The suspect is described as a white male with a light complexion, 6-foot to 6-foot-2 inches tall with a muscular build, unshaven, with dark hair and brown eyes.
In addition to the Santa hat and jacket - which had white fur around the wrists and collar with black buttons - the man was wearing khaki pants and white tennis shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Arlington police at 817-459-5667 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS. Crime Stoppers callers may remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
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