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Texas News Sat July 19, 2008
One of the nation's largest mobile cranes collapsed at a Houston, Texas, oil refinery Friday, killing four workers and injuring seven others in the latest of several fatal accidents that have raised concerns about the safety of construction cranes. The 30-story-tall crane, capable of lifting 1 million pounds, fell over at a LyondellBasell refinery in southeast Houston about 2 p.m., said Jim Roecker, the company's vice president for refining. The massive, deep red crane lay on top of a smaller, bright yellow crane on the grounds of the refinery. Ambulances and fire trucks were lined up outside. The casualties were in the area of the crane, but officials still aren't certain whether they were on the crane or under it, Roecker said. Three of the injured were treated and released at the scene, said Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Omero Longoria. Two severely injured workers were taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center hospital and the other two injured workers was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The crane belonged to Deep South Crane & Rigging. Roecker described it as one of the nation's largest mobile cranes, at 300 feet tall with a 400-foot boom. Construction cranes run taller, but they are not mobile. The crane had not been scheduled to do any work until next week, but Roecker said its engine was idling after it hit the ground.
Police release images of suspected Dallas Uptown burglars
Dallas police on Thursday released security camera images of two suspects in a string of more than 30 burglaries committed since April, most of them in Uptown. The grainy video appears to show two white men in ball caps standing in an elevator of an apartment building in the 3000 block of Blackburn Street, west of North Central Expressway. The suspects, who are believed to be 25 to 30 years old and of average height and weight, usually have their caps pulled down low on their heads. They are wearing blue jeans and polo shirts, and one appears to have a tattoo on his right forearm. In almost every break-in, the burglars have drilled a hole in a door or lock to gain entry. They struck apartments or condos when residents were away for hours or days, leisurely sorting through valuables and treating themselves to food and drinks. Of the 33 burglaries that police believe are connected, 28 occurred in Uptown, according to Dallas police reports. Most of those were reported at the Post Worthington in the 2800 block of McKinney Avenue, the Gables Villa Rosa in the 2700 block of Cole Avenue and The Mondrian Cityplace in the 3000 block of Blackburn Street. Investigators believe the break-ins are related but have not ruled out the possibility of copycat crimes. Among the most recent victims was a Dallas police officer whose gun, badge and baton were stolen from his apartment at The Mondrian, police said. In another case, burglars broke open a woman's safe at the Post Worthington apartments and stole the engagement ring her fiancé had given her before he died in combat in Iraq last year. Anyone with information on the Uptown burglaries can call Dallas police at 214-670-4414.
Houston apartment stairwell collapses, killing 2 children
Firefighters have left the scene of an apartment staircase collapse that killed two boys and injured another Wednesday night, but the investigation into the structural failure is just beginning. The bodies of the two who were killed, ages 4 and 10, were removed about 1:30 a.m. from the Westwood Fountains complex at 9430 Concourse, Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria said this morning. "We turned the building back to the apartment management," he said. "Our job there is accomplished." A 9-year-old boy is at Texas Children's Hospital, being treated for injuries including an apparent broken leg. The three boys were playing in a three-story outdoor stairwell, which Westwood Fountains residents say was corroded and rarely used, when the concrete landings groaned loose and slammed down on the boys about 7:40 p.m. Residents rushed to free the boys from the rubble, but found most of the debris was too heavy to lift. It took a group of men to lift a slab off the 9-year-old. The other two children remained pinned in the rubble for hours as firefighters waited for a structural engineer to shore up the walls so they could safely remove the bodies. One of the walls had fallen away when the staircase collapsed. Some neighbors were outraged that firefighters stopped them from going in for the other boys, but Longoria said the instability of the remaining walls made it too risky.
Immigration cases now lead federal prosecutions
Americans who have demanded better enforcement against illegal immigrants are getting it. Immigration prosecutions are skyrocketing, according to an independent group that analyzes federal data. Federal prosecutions for immigration offenses totaled more than 9,000 in April. That's 87 percent higher than a year earlier and 237 percent higher than five years ago, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a data research organization at Syracuse University in New York. The increase started in February and shot up higher in March and even higher in April. Immigration cases now make up 58 percent of federal prosecutions. Drugs and drug trafficking are a distant second at 13 percent, according to TRAC. "It's just substantially up," said David Burnham, co-director of TRAC. "It's over anything that has ever been." Experts said that federal law enforcement officers paid little attention to illegal immigrants for years, so their numbers grew. But voters and elected leaders are demanding crackdowns, and there are easy arrests to be made - and more immigration enforcement agents to make them. U.S. Attorney Richard Roper who leads 90 federal prosecutors for the Northern District of Texas, said immigration cases comprise 25 percent of his docket, up from 20 percent a year ago. The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Dallas office always pushes for prosecutions, said Reed Little, assistant field office director for detention. "We're always asking, 'Can you take more cases? Can you take more cases?'" Little said.
Civil rights activists defend Arlington superintendent
Some civil rights activists and church leaders defended Arlington school district Superintendent Hector Montenegro on Wednesday, urging school board members to not act hastily when they meet tonight to discuss Montenegro's status. A group led by Kyev Tatum, a past chapter president of the NAACP; Hector Flores, immediate past national president of LULAC; and Arlington pastor Dwight McKissic plan to lead a rally at noon at the district administration building and hold a news conference to air their concerns. "For the Arlington school board to throw a cloud of suspicion over a man who has not even been on the job a year, and he happens to be the first Hispanic superintendent in AISD history, we just find it to be very suspicious," said Tatum, senior pastor of Friendship Rock Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Montenegro said Wednesday that he was not familiar with Tatum's plans and that he had no affiliation with the group. Tatum has served as president of the Texas Hill Country Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The school board is expected to deliberate tonight in open session about whether to put Montenegro on paid administrative leave while it investigates whether he broke a state law prohibiting him from taking outside honorariums. Trustees may also name an interim superintendent. Flores, who was national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens from 2002 to 2006, said that if trustees put Montenegro on leave before the conclusion of any investigation, it will permanently affect the community's perception of him and his ability to do his job.
Police: Man's Death Similar To CSI Plot Line
Police thought it was murder, but now investigators believe a North Texas businessman killed himself and made it look like a homicide. Police say the incident is almost identical to an episode of C.S.I. entitled "Home Bodies." However, they can't prove that Thomas Hickman ever watched the show. When Hickman's body was found in March, they originally called it a homicide. The 55-year-old Richland Hills businessman had duct tape over his mouth, and he had been shot in the back of the head. But as investigators looked closer at the evidence, they changed their minds. "In both scenarios, a man committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a lightweight handgun, and tying that gun to some helium balloons for the purpose of having that gun float away," said Agent Shum. "The reason for that is to make it look as if it's a homicide." Half a dozen white helium balloons were tangles in a cactus off U.S. Highway 84 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The gun was about 30 feet from Hickman's body and the serial number had been removed.
Suspected pot farm found in vacant classroom at Wilmer-Hutchins High School
The vacant Wilmer-Hutchins High School hasn't been as empty as it appears. Dallas school police dismantled a suspected marijuana operation inside one of the school's classrooms Monday night. The Dallas Independent School District owns the high school and plans to renovate it using money from a bond program that voters approved in May. DISD police, acting on a tip, found about 240 pots in a classroom, with lights designed to help plants grow. Forty-nine pots had been seeded and a few plants had sprouted from the soil, said DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander. Mr. Dahlander said police think the plants are marijuana but can't be certain until tests are run. No one has been arrested in connection with the operation but there are a few leads, he said. Police also found buckets that they thought were probably used to bring in water, Mr. Dahlander said. He added that police thought the growers planned to move some seedlings to the empty pots so they'd have room to grow. He said the high school has had a few break-ins, and that copper has been stolen. The school is boarded up but has electricity, he said. The Wilmer-Hutchins school district, which was plagued by financial and management problems, was closed by the state in 2006 and absorbed into the Dallas district. DISD took in Wilmer-Hutchins students and acquired the defunct district's school buildings. Dallas school officials plan to renovate the Wilmer-Hutchins High School building to use as a magnet school. DISD trustee Lew Blackburn, whose area includes the high school, had not heard of the suspected drug find Tuesday afternoon but said security would have to be beefed up once the remodeling begins.
Fund created to restore Texas Governor's Mansion
First lady Anita Perry announced a fund Tuesday to accept private donations towards the restoration of the arson-ravaged, 152-year-old Governor's Mansion. She will be joined in the effort by former ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Pamela Willeford, who raised money for the Capitol restoration 16 years ago and has been a leader with the State Preservation Board. Mrs. Perry said she also is planning to enlist the families of former Texas governors in the effort. "Here we are today standing before Texas' proud home that refused to surrender to the furry of flames that engulfed it," Mrs. Perry said. Standing before the blackened columns and collapsed roof of the building, Mrs. Perry noted that while it has been home to Texas governors, former Gov. Ann Richards called it "the people's house." "I, like all Texans, am grateful this genuine treasure is not lost," Mrs. Perry said. She said that there is still no cost estimate for restoring the nansion but that she has been inundated by Texans and others who have said they want to help. In addition to private donations, Mrs. Perry said she will ask the Legislature, which begins its new session in January, to also contribute public money. To that effort, she accepted the first contribution of $10,000 from the Austin Heritage Society.
Former Collin County deputy constable may have helped Mexican drug cartel
One of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels may have had some inside help in North Texas for several years from a Collin County deputy constable, according to police documents. Robert Benavidez, whose career as a North Texas peace officer dates back almost a dozen years, was arrested July 8 on six counts of abuse of official capacity. He is accused of helping his cousin, Sergio Maldonado, who was believed to have been the North Texas "cell leader" for the Zetas, the ruthless enforcement arm of Mexico's Gulf Cartel drug smuggling operation. Mr. Maldonado was among 30 people arrested last year during a massive federal drug sweep known as Operation Puma. Mr. Maldonado pleaded guilty earlier this year to drug trafficking and money laundering-related charges. Beginning in 2004, while working as a deputy constable, Mr. Benavidez would periodically check law enforcement databases to determine whether Mr. Maldonado or his wife had any outstanding arrest warrants, according to arrest affidavits. Mr. Benavidez would also check the registration and ownership of suspected law enforcement surveillance vehicles, according to the arrest documents. In return, Mr. Benavidez was given several grams of cocaine, Mr. Maldonado told federal agents. Mr. Benavidez, 41, is being held in Collin County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail. He declined to be interviewed.
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Fri Jul 28, 2006
Paternity/ DNA
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Mon Jun 05, 2006
Intercessory Trainning Class
Please visit our site to learn about the intercessory prayer trainning classes that are offer. These classes will truly bless your soul.
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Thu Feb 23, 2006
The War Baby by: Ginger Elizabeth Martin
find more about this author and upcoming books at:
www.publishedauthors.net/gingermartin/index.html
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Tue Jan 10, 2006
Shine On Blinds Introduces Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning to Tarrant County
Arlington, TX - Shine On Blinds - A blind cleaning and repair company that specializes in a revolutionary ultrasonic cleaning technology has taken root in Tarrant County
Owned and operated by Linda Williams, Shine On Blinds - Blind Cleaning & Repair provides a faster, easier and gentler way to clean all types of blinds and other household and industrial items using sound waves. This cleaning method does not scratch, pit or damage items the way conventional cleaning methods can. Unhealthy allergens are also greatly reduced or eliminated as a result of this process.
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Tue Sep 20, 2005
Evacuees in Texas Now Flee Rita
HOUSTON - They waded through the chest-high floodwaters in the streets of New Orleans. They were plucked from their rooftops in the rescue baskets of helicopters. They survived the hell of the Louisiana Superdome and a 350-mile bus ride to Texas.
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Now, just a few weeks after getting settled at emergency shelters in Houston, Hurricane Katrina evacuees are on the move again to escape another storm.
"This reminds me of the Israelites marching in the desert," Norman Bethancourt, 51, said as he waited for a bus to take him from Reliant Arena to Ellington Field, where he and the other refugees were set to board planes bound for a military base in Arkansas.
About 1,100 evacuees — down from a high of nearly 10,000 — living in Houston's two largest shelters, Reliant Arena and the George R. Brown Convention Center, began making their way to Fort Chaffee, Ark., as Hurricane Rita strengthened into a hurricane and lashed the Florida Keys with heavy rain and strong wind.
Forecasters said Rita would continue to gain strength as it crossed the warm Gulf of Mexico and would probably come ashore in Texas over the weekend.
Houston officials said moving the evacuees was necessary because the shelters might not hold up in a major hurricane. They hoped to have everyone moved by Tuesday night.
The evacuees carried little. Some had a backpack, others a plastic bag. A few had pillows. One girl, tears streaming down her face, carried a stuffed toy in a little cage.
"A lot of people didn't want to go," said Wayne Sylvester, who was wearing a T-shirt that proclaimed: "I Survived Katrina." "It looks like the storm is following me. Choice is you don't have a choice."
Coast Guard Lt. Joe Leonard said 10 planes flew refugees to Arkansas on Tuesday, and officials were prepared to move another 2,300 on Wednesday, if needed.
Other refugees went to shelters in Dallas, stayed with family and friends, or returned to Louisiana. "They can go wherever they want," said Leonard, who is overseeing shelters in Houston. "There are opportunities to be bused to various places."
Many of the evacuees were not happy about leaving for Arkansas and were looking for somewhere else to go.
"Hell. It's been pure hell," said Lisa Banks, 33, who was outside Reliant Arena with her four children, ages 8 to 15. "I'm not going to Arkansas. I feel like a rag doll, people throwing me around."
Seated on chair, she kept a black plastic garbage bag nearby. It was filled with towels. Banks, who was airlifted with her family out of their home in New Orleans, had hoped to settle in Houston, find a job and a place to live.
I don't know what's going to happen next," she said. "We really don't know what to do. We were supposed to get housing here."
Arkansas?
"No," she said adamantly. "Arkansas is not a good place for me."
"I don't even know where that's at," said Michael Russell, as he ate his lunch of macaroni and cheese and a sausage while he waited for his brother. They hoped to get to Hammond, La., not Arkansas. Both are from New Orleans.
Texas officials also were planning to move Louisiana evacuees out of shelters in Corpus Christi and Beaumont. In all, some 4,000 were headed for Arkansas and 3,000 to Tennessee.
At Reliant, Carmelita Speed, 25, clutched a box of tissue and periodically dabbed at tears. She reluctantly was going to the plane and Arkansas.
"I hope and pray it isn't like the Superdome," Speed said, describing how for days there she "slept on the ground, or on cardboard."
Her boyfriend, Roland Mitt, said: "I'm running out of patience. I'm upset. I'm mad. I'm disgusted. All of the above."
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Fri Aug 26, 2005
New Book Released!
Stacie Booth, a Texas resident, announces the release of her new book, Scuba Gear in the Bathtub, by PublishAmerica. Booth's book is a comedy that brings the nuances, miscommunications, and gender differences of marriage into humorous fun. Each section of the book contains a snapshot of the two main characters and their life together.
Edna Goldberg often finds herself exasperated by her husband, Henry, and his unconventional behavior. Henry enjoys his antics thoroughly and loves to annoy his proper, strong-willed wife. Thus begins a marital struggle of miscommunication, circumstance, and sometimes embarrassing situations. Like any married couple, Henry and Edna have their nuances. Henry's slow driving habits and rolling his hankie up in the window to dry are enough to make Edna want to shove him out the door. Henry must contend with his wife's snoring and hogging up the bed, but through it all they still love each other and in spite of everything, reminisce about their wedding and how their life together all got started. Though they encounter many minor mishaps they wed at last and live happily ever after – for the most part.
The author graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Secondary Education and English, and unflappably taught seventh grade language arts and high school English for six years, two of which she taught sophomore English at Jack C. Hays High School. Prior to teaching at Hays High School, she also worked as an operator at Motorola in Seguin. Booth now lives a charmed, unassuming life as a wife, mother, author, Bible class teacher, and 2nd degree black belt certified trainee instructor in Taekwondo at Mr. Scott Larsen’s Black Belt Academy.
Additionally, Hastings Book, Music & Video in San Marcos, Texas, will host a book signing set for Friday, September 2nd, 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. All who visit Hastings will have the opportunity to meet the author and purchase a signed copy of Scuba Gear in the Bathtub. Booth will also be at B. Dalton Bookseller in Highland Mall, Austin, Texas, for another signing on Saturday, December 10, 2005, 12 noon to 3 P.M. The book is also available on-line from Amazon.com, at The BookPeople in Austin, and may be ordered through any Barnes and Noble book store. For more about the book and author, visit: http://home.satx.rr.com/staciebooth/
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