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Friday, January 4, 2008
Recycle that live Christmas tree
Don’t forget that Saturday you can recycle your live Christmas tree at Keep Waco Beautiful’s annual “Chipping of the Green” between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the parking lot at Paul Tyson Field, which is on Lake Air Drive near the horse barn at the Heart O’ Texas Fairgrounds.
Residents who take a tree for recycling will receive a bag of tree mulch and a native Texas sapling.
This has been a wonderful event for several years. Waco residents should take advantage of it.
It also reminds me I need to take down my outdoor lights.
Have a great weekend. See you back on Monday as we get in our first full week of the new year.
Permalink | | Categories: This, that
Nigeria, Internet: A lousy combination
Disturbing story out of Houston about a woman who left for Nigeria to get married to a man she met on the Internet, while leaving eight young children home alone.
A deputy making a welfare check on Wednesday evening at the home in Cypress, which is just outside Houston, found the children between the ages of 1 and 9 alone. The woman, whose name was being withheld, reportedly flew to Africa on Monday.
Permalink | | Categories: Police & crime
Baylor prof quoted in Education Week story
Baylor University professor Susan K. Johnsen, president of the Association for the Gifted, a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is quoted in a story to come out next week in Education Weekabout a letter from the Department of Education’s office for civil rights to school districts, reminding them that students with disabilities are eligible to take part in advanced academic programs and do not forfeit their right to special education services by enrolling in such classes.
The Dec. 26 “Dear Colleague” letter refers to students with disabilities who want to enroll in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other accelerated classes.
The special education community is much more sensitive to students with disabilities who may be able to handle accelerated work, said Johnsen, who is also a professor in the department of educational psychology at Baylor.
The story went online today, but is to see print next week.
Permalink | | Categories: Education
Wendy’s 2 cents on that Ranger statue
Don’t know if you’ve read Wendy Gragg’s latest blog post today, but it’s a hoot, at least if you’re in the camp that’s not enthralled with a giant cement Ranger looking over Waco.
The survey time for comments ended at 10 a.m. today. I liked the idea today in the Trib to provide a sense of perspective on the size of the Ranger statue relative to buildings around Waco.
I didn’t realize the statue would actually be taller than Waco City Hall.
Permalink | | Categories: This, that
Woman pleads not guilty in aunt’s murder
Trib staff reporter Cindy Culp reports this today from Waco’s 19th State District Court:
A woman who police say brutally murdered her aunt this spring pleaded not guilty this morning, paving the way for her to go to trial later this month.
Natalie Cole Rocha, 29, was arrested in March for the stabbing death of 50-year-old Joann Allen Chambers at a home in the 1300 block of Tabor Avenue. Chambers was found covered in blood and had been “brutally mutilated,” according to an affidavit filed to obtain Rocha’s arrest. The body had been stabbed, cut and chopped.
Rocha made the not-guilty plea during a pretrial hearing in Waco’s 19th State District Court. After making the plea, she said, “I’m innocent, judge.”
Rocha’s attorney Phil Martinez told Strother that she had been offered a 40-year plea deal by prosecutors but rejected it. The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 15.
Prosecutors said they plan to call several expert witnesses, including a DNA expert and a pathologist.
Police have said Rocha threatened Chambers the day before she died. Rocha reportedly wanted her aunt to give her money. The evening before Chambers was killed, Rocha went to the house on Tabor Avenue to talk to her aunt and the homeowner, police have said.
Rocha reportedly threatened Chambers and the homeowner about getting her money. The homeowner then left to “try to find the money needed to satisfy Natalie Rocha,” according to records filed in the case.
When the homeowner returned, he found Chambers’ body. Rocha was gone.
At the time of the incident, Rocha was on felony probation for cocaine possession. Her probation was revoked in May after she pleaded “true” to a number of probation violations. She was sentenced to six years in prison.
Rocha also has two prior misdemeanor assault convictions that involve stabbing. Both cases were reduced from felonies and she was placed on probation for them, according to court records.
Permalink | | Categories: Courthouse
Waco man elected prez of insurance group
Greg Vanek of Waco was elected president of the Association of Fire and Casualty Companies in Texas (AFACT) for the 2008-09 term, according to a post today at insurancejournal.com.
Vanek is president and chief executive officer of National Lloyds and American Summit Insurance Companies, known as NLASCO.
Permalink | | Categories: Business
Hippodrome to host Sundance film on coal wars
On Jan. 10 The Redford Center at Sundance Preserve will host a free film premiere at 7 p.m. at the Waco Hippodrome of its new documentary, Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars, to boost awareness and engagement in the state’s battle against conventional coal-fired power plants.
The film also will be shown Jan. 11 t the Angelika Theatre in Dallas. Both premieres are free to the public, though seating is limited. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Here’s more from the news release:
Narrated by Robert Redford and produced by Alpheus Media, the film follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air and centers around the unlikely partners — mayors, ranchers, lawyers, cities, citizens, green groups, and CEOs—that came together to oppose the construction of 18 coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and being fast-tracked by the Texas Governor.
With the goal of sparking a national dialogue about the impacts and consequences of coal, the film uses the example of Texas to take an intimate look at today’s global energy challenge of powering communities in a way that supports the local economy and protects public health.
In America coal is the largest source of global warming pollution and coal-fired power plants are responsible for more than 30 percent of all carbon dioxide pollution, according to leading non-profit NRDC. Coal causes more damage to people and the planet than any other energy source.
And currently the U.S. Department of Energy reports 121 conventional coal-fired power plants are slated for construction in 40 U.S. states, with 45 of the 121 plants either under construction, near construction, or already permitted, and 76 of the plants in the early stages of development, having the status of being “announced.”
The program for both film premiers includes a screening of the film (30 minutes) followed by a moderated panel discussion. Panels will be comprised of local policymakers, business leaders, ranchers, and lawyers, many of whom appear in the film. The panels will be moderated by Texas journalists.
The premieres are sponsored by the Energy Foundation, Trammell Crow Jr., John and Margie Haley, and Public Citizen’s ‘Coal Block’ Campaign.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Around Central Texas
Looks like we avoided freezing
As most forecasters predicted, we didn’t hit the freezing mark this morning, but it was cold nonetheless.
Waco Regional Airport reports a temperature of 38 degrees currently, with a low of 36.
With the cloud cover, we should reach the mid 50s today and a south wind will be blowing. It may get warmest at midnight.
Permalink | | Categories: Weather
Prayer breakfast beautiful start to morning
I got to attend the President’s Community Prayer Breakfast at the Ferrell Center this morning. It was an early start, with the buffet available at 6:30 a.m. and the program at 7, but it was worth the effort to get my hacking self up a bit earlier than usual to join the 400 or so folks in attendance.
Chris Machen, a Baylor graduate, sang three songs and he has a fabulous voice. The songs were written by he and his wife, Diane, who was supposed to perform with him but was at home sick.
Baylor President John Lilley remarked that late President Herb Reynolds began the breakfast in 1988, which would make this the 20th year of the event, which brings community leaders together to reflect on the past year and look forward to 2008.
Dr. Roland Hernandez, Waco ISD superintendent, gave the invocation. Sarah Roberts, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce vice president for economic development, offered a Scripture reading and prayer.
Joel Boesche, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Waco, prayed for renewal and guidance. Burt Burleson, university chaplain and dean for university ministries at Baylor, presented the meditation for the morning in which he reflected upon how once we’re adults we can’t just go to sleep in the back seat of the car anyhow. He referenced an old “Peanuts” strip in which Lucy and Charlie Brown discussed that concept.
It was an invigorating start to the morning. And hopefully for the year ahead.
Permalink | | Categories: This, that
