Home > Waco Breaking News > Archives > 2008 > October
October 2008
Nationally ranked Midway basketball player commits to Texas
Midway basketball star Cokie Reed has been trying to lift her team to Austin for the past three years. Now she’s headed there for sure.
Reed, the nation’s fifth-ranked girls’ basketball player by ESPN.com, has made her verbal pledge to sign with Gail Goestenkors’ Texas Longhorns once signing day arrives on Nov. 12. A 6-foot-4 post, Reed chose Texas over a variety of top-ranked programs that included LSU, Rutgers and South Carolina.
Last year Reed was the District 16-4A MVP and a first-team Super Centex honoree after averaging 16.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game for a Midway team that reached the Class 4A Region II final. She is among the candidates for the WBCA and McDonald’s All-American teams, which will be announced in February.
This summer, Reed participated in the USA Basketball junior tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colo. She is one of three Pantherette seniors who will sign on Nov. 12, along with DeLisa Gross (TCU) and Krissica Harper (Texas Southern).
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, High school sports
Baylor gets 47 votes in college men’s hoops poll
Don’t know if you noticed this in today’s newspaper, but the preseason college men’s basketball Top 25 poll came out yesterday with North Carolina a unanimous choice as the nation’s top team.
But Baylor collected 47 votes, which would make it the No. 29 team in the poll. That’s ahead of LSU and Texas A&M (19 points, good for a tie for 32nd).
Other Big 12 schools in the poll are Texas (No. 8) Oklahoma (14th) and Kansas (No. 23). Oklahoma State received four votes.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor sports, Pro & college sports
Baylor gets gift for indoor practice facility
Just added to the news section of the Baylor University Web site is the announcement that the Baylor University Board of Regents today received a significant naming gift from Baylor alumni Jay and Jenny Reid Allison of Frisco for the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility.
Above is an architectural rendering of the facility. It’s amazing what computers can do. When I first looked at that image, I would have sworn it was a photograph, but then remembered that the building hasn’t been constructed.
The facility will complete the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletic Complex on campus. The announcement came at the conclusion of the board’s annual Homecoming meeting.
Our higher education reporter, Tim Woods, said Baylor officials declined to provide a dollar amount for the gift, saying only that it is substantial.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor football, Baylor sports
Chat about the election with political experts at noon Friday on wacotrib.com
Got questions about Election 2008 and the hot-button issues? Join us online at noon today for another Waco Trib livechat, this time with Martin J. Medhurst, distinguished professor of rhetoric and communication and professor of political science, and Thomas Myers, associate professor of political science and director of civic education and community services, both at Baylor University. They’ll answer and discuss your questions, qualms and fears about the election for the full hour. Sign on at wacotrib.com at noon.
And for more online, visit wacotrib.com/elections. You’ll find a list of local candidates, polling places, Trib endorsements, state and national political news, and interactive polls. And vote early today if you haven’t yet.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Murder trial update: Waco man gets 55-year sentence
After 50 minutes of deliberation, jurors sentenced Frank Christopher Sustaita to 55 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Jennifer Nicole Sustaita, in 2007.
He will have to serve at least half of that sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Murder trial update: Jury begins deliberations
Jurors in the murder trial of Frank Christopher Sustaita, convicted Wednesday of killing his girlfriend last year, have left the courtroom to deliberate his punishment.
The 18-year-old high school dropout, who contended that his shooting of Jennifer Nicole Sustaita in June 2007 was accidental, could receive five to 99 years or life imprisonment.
On Wednesday, it was believed that the 54th State District Court jury could consider probation for Sustaita, but court officials discovered that the law changed in September 2007 and probation is not an option in this case.
The possibility of probation had not come up in previous murder trials in the county since the law change.
Prosecutors Melanie Walker and Edward Vallejo and defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. gave summations this morning in the trial’s punishment phase before the nine women and three men on the jury went to deliberate.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Officials: Structure fires were arson
Waco Fire Marshal Jerry Hawk today said that the three fires in the same area late Friday into early Saturday morning were intentionally set.
Hawk said fire investigators, including Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators who have assisted, believe all three fires, one at a closed-down restaurant on West Waco Drive, another at the abandoned Townhouse Hotel on the 1700 block of Washington Avenue and the third at the century-old Sanger Avenue Elementary School between 17th and 18th Streets on Sanger Avenue, were set by the same person or people.
Hawk said the fact that all three were set in the same area and within walking distance, and that all three buildings were vacant with the utilities cut off led investigators to believe the same person or people were involved. The first was set around 9:30 p.m. Friday and the last at about 4:40 a.m. Saturday.
While Hawk would not name any suspects specifically, he did say that there are multiple people fire investigators are looking at as possible suspects.
The fire marshal also said the most extensive damage was at the Sanger Avenue Elementary School, although he did not have a dollar estimate of the damage caused by the fires.
Hawk asked that anybody who may have helpful information come forward and share it with investigators. He said the arsonist may even have been at or near the scenes when firefighters battled the blazes.
“It’s not unusual for an arsonist to return to the scene of the incident and watch what’s going on,” Hawk said.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: City hall, Police & crime
Fatal wreck in Limestone County
We have few details at the moment, but the Texas Department of Public Safety has said it is working a fatality accident on State Highway 14 in Limestone County.
We’ll bring you more information as it’s available.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Traffic
Guilty verdict in murder trial
A 54th State District Court jury found Frank Christopher Sustaita guilty of murder in the June 2007 shooting death of his girlfriend, Jennifer Nicole Sustaita.
The punishment phase of the trial is about to begin. The defense plans to bring the defendant’s father, Frank G. Sustaita, to testify.
Frank Christopher Sustaita, 18, could receive probation or five to 99 years or life in prison.
In photo, Sustaita gets up to leave as the trial recessed for the day Wednesday with the jury set to resume deliberations Thursday morning. (Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune-Herald photo)
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Jury deliberations under way in Waco murder case
A jury in Waco’s 54th State District Court began deliberations about 2:30 p.m. to determine whether Frank Christopher Sustaita is guilty of murder in the June 2, 2007 slaying of his girlfriend, Jennifer Nicole Sustaita, who was not related to him.
Sustaita has claimed that the shooting at his girlfriend’s aunt’s home in Waco was an accident. Jennifer Sustaita died two weeks later at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple.
Prosecutors have asked the jury to convict Sustaita of murder. Russ Hunt Sr., Sustaita’s attorney, has asked the jury to find him guilty of manslaughter instead.
Manslaughter, which in this case would be recklessly causing the death of another, is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Trial update: Both sides rest case
The defense has rested its case in the murder trial of Frank Christopher Sustaita in 54th State District Court.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. called five family members of the defendant to the stand. They all said that Sustaita had a loving, caring relationship with his girlfriend, Jennifer Nicole Sustaita, who was not related to him.
They said they couldn’t recall any fights or arguments between them.
Sustaita has claimed that the June 2, 2007, shooting at his girlfriend’s aunt’s home in Waco was an accident. Jennifer Sustaita died two weeks later at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple.
Judge Matt Johnson’s charge to jurors will have them consider murder as well as a lesser charge of manslaughter, as requested by the defense. Manslaughter, which in this case would be recklessly causing the death of another, is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The jury is set to return at 2:30 p.m.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Waco pet in national Dogtopia costume contest
If you enjoy seeing dogs dressed up for the holidays and are itching to cast a vote, then the Dogtopia Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest is for you. And there’s a local favorite on the ballot.
Monkey, a 2-year-old Brussels Griffon owned by Doug and Sarah Patschke, won the local Dogtopia Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest on Saturday. Mo-Mo, as they like to call her, now has her “Grinch” photo image (seen at right) among the contestants in the online national competition at http://www.dogdaycare.com/halloweencontest.php.
In addition to being dressed up for the occasion at the business’s Lake Air Shopping Center location, the pets played in Dogtopia’s large gymnasium with the other canines, performed tricks for treats in front of a panel of judges, and led a dog walk parade. Dogs and their owners were treated to Halloween decorations, spooky music and professional photographs taken by Precious Paws Photography.
Sarah Patschke shares her memories about making up her pet for the contest.
“My husband got Monkey-girl for me the day after Christmas last year, so we had just seen ‘The Grinch’ as we do every year around Christmas time,” she said. “I spiked her hair up and thought to myself & laughed, ‘She looks just like the Grinch.’ So, when Kim, the owner of the Waco Dogtopia, announced at this past Waco American Business Women’s Association meeting that Dogtopia was hosting this event, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to dress Monkey up as the Grinch.
“Some people can’t believe that we actually colored our dog green for the contest. Being a Web/graphic designer, I have always been kind of out there on my artsy, creative ideas. Artists and painters start with a blank canvas, but I simply noticed the features on our precious Mo-Mo’s face and just went with it.”
Now the Patsches’ pet gets to represent Waco in the national contest against 13 other dogs.
Voting in the costume contest is only until Halloween. Unlike the presidential election, you probably aren’t limited to voting once.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Murder trial update: State rests its case
Prosecutors rested their case this morning in the murder trial of Frank Christopher Sustaita, who is accused in the shooting death of his girlfriend last year.
After a recess, the defense will begin its side in the 54th State District Court.
Dr. Randall Smith from Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple testified about the medical treatment for Jennifer Nicole Sustaita after she was shot June 2, 2007. The defendant has claimed the shooting was an accident.
Smith told jurors that surgery was performed on her June 7. On June 11, she was removed from life support, which also was her 19th birthday, he testified. She died two days later.
He also testified that they could not tell if there was one gunshot wound or two, as prosecutors have alleged. He did say injuries appeared to be consistent with one gunshot wound.
Medical examiner Dr. Jill Urban of the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas also testified that during the autopsy she also couldn’t tell if the woman suffered one gunshot wound or two because the surgeries she underwent removed many of her injured areas.
An aunt and a friend earlier had testified that they thought they heard two gunshots from the bedroom.
Frank Sustaita told a police detective who testified Tuesday that there was only one shot and it was accidental.
For Tuesday’s coverage of the trial, click here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Waco asks 10th Court judge to recuse self in appeal
The city of Waco has sent a letter to 10th Court of Appeals Judge Felipe Reyna, asking him to recuse himself from considering an appeal filed in the Navarro v. City of Waco case.
City Attorney Leah Hayes, in the letter, to Reyna is asking him to recuse himself because of his current fight against the city and the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System opposing the WMARSS effort to obtain a wastewater permit for its Bullhide Creek location.
Local attorney Lanella McNamara filed the Navarro v. City of Waco appeal that is before Reyna’s court.
The city of Waco is a member of WMARSS.
In her letter, Hayes writes: “You have been very vocal and active in your opposition. The City of Waco does not wish to interfere with your right to express your personal opinions on that matter. However, we respectfully submit that, upon reviewing your personal opinions you have expressed, an objective observer might believe that your personal opinions could influence you in other matters.
“For example, in an article appearing in the Texas Dairy Review, which recently came to my attention, you are quoted as referring to the group seeking the permit as ‘a bunch of lying, deceitful and hypocritical scoundrels.’ The group seeking the permit includes the City of Waco. Comments like these and other actions by you could, at the very least, create the appearance that you may not be able to be impartial, and they also raise questions about whether you can actually be impartial in matters involving the City of Waco.
“We believe these matters justify your recusal at this time.”
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, City hall
That ring on her ringer? Swiped from the mail
Here’s a story about a U.S. Postal Service carrier in the Southeast Texas town of Lumberton who pleaded guilty in a mail theft investigation.
Prosecutors on Tuesday announced that Jamie Rivers, 52, pleaded guilty to embezzling mail and delay of the mail.
According to The Associated Press, officials in late 2007 and early 2008 received complaints of missing or undelivered mail on a rural route. One customer said jewelry she ordered was not delivered.
A Feb. 29 search of the Rivers home turned up undelivered mail on a barbecue grill.
U.S. attorney’s office spokeswoman Davylin Walston says Rivers, when questioned at a post office that same date, was wearing a ring identical to one reported as not received.
Uh oh.
No sentencing date was immediately set for Rivers, who entered her plea Monday in federal court in Beaumont. She faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around the state, Police & crime
Brazos Belle will be scrapped
The Brazos Belle, once an icon of Waco’s Lake Brazos waterfront, is being scrapped after its new owner concluded that it could not be saved.
Waco businessman Clifton Robinson bought the boat recently from Jerry Sparks, a truck repair salesman who had bought it this spring.
Robinson was working with a group of businessmen, including Jim Hawkins and Rondy Gray, to try to acquire and renovate the boat, which had once housed a restaurant and banquet facility. The boat sank into the river last year and again this summer.
But Hawkins said an engineer hired to look at the boat said it was not feasible to renovate.
“When we got the engineering report back, it was real negative,” Hawkins said. “It was like if you spent a million dollars it probably wouldn’t have fixed everything.”
Hawkins said Robinson bought the boat for about $10,000 but is now having it scrapped for metal.
City Manager Larry Groth said he doubts the scrap-metal prices will cover the cost of dismantling the boat. He said the new owner is doing the city a favor by removing what has become an eyesore for a stretch of river the city wants to redevelop.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Business, City hall
House fire on TSTC campus reported
A fire was burning in a house on the Texas State Technical College on Scott Street, according to the police scanner. It sounds like the blaze might be contained.
We’ll update you as we learn more.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education
Trial update: Officer testifies on defendant’s comments
Waco Police Department Fernando Flores told jurors in Waco’s 54th State District Court that defendant Frank Christopher Sustaita said the shooting was an accident.
Sustaita, 18, is on trial for murder in the death of Jennifer Nicole Sustaita, who was shot June 2, 2007, and died about two weeks later.
Flores said he was on another call when he was dispatched to the North 16th Street address where Sustaita went to see his father after the shooting. So he didn’t know what to expect other than someone was in custody, he said.
As he pulled up, two people walked toward him, he recalled, which were Frank Christopher Sustaita, who had blood on his clothes, and Sustaita’s father.
Sustaita told the officer that he had cut himself fishing earlier in the day.
But once he was in the patrol car after surrendering, Sustaita asked the officer, “Is she dead?” Flores testified.
They then went to the Bosque Boulevard address where the shooting occurred.
Upon arriving there, Flores said Sustaita told him that his girlfriend was napping at the house. Sustaita told the officer that he keeps a gun in his waistband, and when he pulled it out, it went off, hitting his girlfriend.
He also told Flores that he didn’t know where he hid the gun, the officer testified.
The trial will take an early lunch break and resume at 1:15 p.m .
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Head on over to accesswaco.com
If you’re looking for entertainment-related news, bop on over to our Access Now blog where editor Catherine Atkinson has been dishing items like how late-night news has been hammering the McCain-Palin campaign, the latest new TV show that got canceled, and news about a new “Footloose” movie with teen heartthrob Zac Efron.
There’s also something about Pink’s new shoes.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Entertainment
Testimony begins in murder trial
The father of murder trial defendant Frank Christopher Sustaita recalled on the stand this morning when his son came to him after the shooting of his girlfriend Jennifer Nicole Sustaita.
Sustaita is on trial in 54th State District Court in the woman’s shooting death in June 2007. Jennifer Sustaita, 19, died two weeks after she was shot on June 2.
Frank G. Sustaita, the father of the defendant, said Chris is the youngest of his three sons.
He testified that on the night of the shooting his son ran to his home on North 16th Street. Frank G. Sustaita said he was living in a garage apartment but was moving to a new place in Robinson at the time.
He said his son looked pale, blue and scared to death. Frank G. Sustaita said his son was hysterical and he couldn’t understand what he was saying, but saw that he had blood on him. The witness said he initially thought his son was the one shot.
His son told him that Jennifer was trying to kill herself and the gun went off accidentally, and that he didn’t do it, the witness testified.
Frank Sustaita said he tried to calm his son down.
“If you are innocent, don’t run. We can prove this,” he said he told him. Police arrived soon after and took Chris Sustaita into custody.
Frank G. Sustaita said the next day, a Sunday, he was continuing to move stuff when when he discovered a .45-caliber pistol, which was later determined to be the weapon used in the shooting, underneath a table in the garage.
Frank G. Sustaita said his son knows guns and gun safety because they used to hunt together.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
KWBU to broadcast Baylor homecoming parade
KWBU-TV this morning announced that it will broadcast the 99th Annual Baylor University Homecoming Parade, one of the oldest and largest in the nation, with live coverage from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.
It will have encore presentations airing on KWBU-TV at 9 p.m. that night and at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s the rest of the release:
Hosting the live television coverage and providing commentary will be Lori Fogleman, Baylor University director of media relations, along with KWBU-TV senior producer Jessica Denk. This year’s grand marshal is former Baylor track and field standout and 2008 Olympian, Reggie Witherspoon.
Beginning in 1909, the Baylor Homecoming Parade has become one of the longest standing traditions in collegiate history. This year’s parade promises to be packed with fun and excitement.
Featuring floats, the homecoming queen and her court, balloons, and Baylor University’s Golden Wave Band, as well as a variety of exciting special entries, there will be something to interest the entire family.
The parade will also be streamed live on the Internet at www.baylor.edu/homecoming.
KWBU-TV is on cable channel 4 on Time Warner Cable and Grande Communications, channel 34 on DirecTV and Dish Network as well as channel 34 and 34.3 over-the-air.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor University, Entertainment
Accident backs up traffic on I-35E
An accident involving two 18-wheeler trucks early today blocked the flow of traffic for several hours on U.S. Interstate 35-East north of Hillsboro.
The accident occurred at 2:23 a.m. in the northbound lanes of U.S. Interstate 35-E near mile marker 378. At least one of the tractor-trailers rolled over during the incident. One person was airlifted to a hospital for unspecified injuries, according to a DPS spokesman. The condition of the individual is not known.
Traffic had been blocked on both sides of the interstate because of the accident. The lanes were reopened by 7:45 a.m., the spokesman said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Traffic
BassFan.com interviews Waco’s Alton Jones
BassFan.com today posted an interview with Waco’s own Alton Jones, the reigning Bassmaster Classic champion.
The interview notes that Jones has held the title for about eight months and has had a busy schedule, such as visiting President Bush at the White House, appearing on ESPN TV and radio programs, being honored on the Baylor University Hall of Fame.
He also has competed on the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series with five Top-12 finishes and was fifth in the Angler of the Year race.
Below the interview is a nice angler profile for some tidbits about Jones. I found it interesting that his favorite lake is the one closest to my hometown. Fayette County Lake, located between La Grange and my hometown of Fayetteville, has an LCRA electric generating plant there. My late father retired from working at that plant a few years ago and my best friend from high school works there today.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Pro & college sports
Start digging into that closet and help others
If you’re already digging into the back of your closet because you need to pull out warmer clothes, you might want to keep looking and see if you can help Compassion Ministries clients with Keep Waco Beautiful’s 2nd Chance Clothes project.
The project, which observes Texas Recycles Day and helps Compassion Ministries clients dress better for job interviews and work, runs for two weeks beginning Saturday.
Casual business and professional business clothing can be taken to Compassion Ministries, 1421 Austin Ave. between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Receipts will be given for tax deductions.
For more information, call Keep Waco Beautiful at 750-5728 or Compassion Ministries at 755-7640.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Environmental
Waco fire marshal: Cause of Sanger Avenue school fire may stay unknown
Because of the dangerous instability that the towering, red-brick Sanger Avenue Elementary School poses to firefighters, Waco Fire Marshal Jerry Hawk said never knowing how the abandoned school was gutted by flames early Saturday morning is a possibility.
“We may never determine a cause,” Hawk said. “This building might never be safe enough for us to go inside and investigate.”
Fire officials today examined the damage while standing at least 50 feet away. “See how tall the school is?,” Hawk asked. “We can’t get any closer because it could collapse at any time.”
And the day’s gusty winds make the shaky school shakier, he said. Yellow tape warning curious passersby against getting too close to the school surrounds the building and its grounds.
Hawk said, in the coming days, building officials will be called in to give their opinions as to whether any measures can be taken to make the building more structurally sound, so that firefighters can enter.
The elementary school fire was one of three blazes that occurred within a five-block radius Friday night and early Saturday morning.
At 9:20 p.m. Friday, firefighters responded to a blaze at the defunct Vittles restaurant at 23rd Street and Waco Drive. Early Saturday, a fire was reported at the Townhouse Hotel, which is closed and slated for demolition, at 17th Street and Washington Avenue.
Hawk said today that there was no way he could say whether the fires are connected until his investigators are able to safely get inside.
The hotel, he said, also is too structurally unsafe for investigators to enter. He said a crew would need to hoist up the hotel’s second-floor in order for firefighters to enter.
At the school earlier today, Diane Lynch Herrington was one of several Sanger Avenue Elementary School alumni who stopped by to, in many ways, pay their respects to the historic building.
“I cried when I heard about the fire,” said Herrington, an Austin resident who attended the school from 1959-1965. “Every time I come to Waco, I come by here. I just love this school.
Herrington snapped photos of the devastated school, and exchanged e-mail addresses with alumni of all ages who stopped by, promising them she would send them copies of the photos.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: City hall, Education, Police & crime
First freeze tonight?
We could get the season’s first freeze tonight. A freeze warning to our north and west has been extended to include McLennan, Coryell, Bosque and Hill counties, lasting from 4 am to 8 am tomorrow. Low-lying areas are expected to be particularly hard-hit.
The National Weather Service forecast for Waco itself currently calls for a low tomorrow of 33.
If it does freeze at Waco Regional Airport tomorrow morning, it would tie Oct. 28, 1957, for the second-earliest freeze on Waco record (the earliest was Oct. 24, 1917).
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Weather
Update: Two suspects caught, two sought in campus shooting
CNN has updated the story of the deadly shootings at the University of Central Arkansas to say that police are searching for two suspects, while two other suspects are in custody, authorities said today.
The first suspect was apprehended in his car shortly after the shooting, and a second turned himself in, said University of Central Arkansas police Lt. Preston Grumbles.
The four suspects are not university students, he said.
The shooting, which happened outside a dorm, prompted a campus lockdown and the cancellation of today’s classes at the university, which serves about 12,500 full-time students in Conway, Ark.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education, National news, Police & crime
Update: Body in SUV believed to be Jennifer Hudson’s nephew
CNN is now reporting an FBI official and Chicago police saying that a body believed to be that of the missing 7-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson was found today inside an SUV.
Speaking at a news conference on an unrelated matter, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the body is “believed to be” Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, and the FBI is working with the Chicago Police Department to confirm the identity.
Deputy Chief Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said police were responding to “a call about a suspicious auto” in the west side of Chicago at approximately 7 a.m. when they found the body inside a parked white Chevy Suburban, which had a license plate matching the description in the child’s Amber Alert.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Murder trial beginning this morning
Jury selection is under way in 54th State District Court today for the murder trial of Frank Christopher Sustaita, 18, who is accused of shooting his girlfriend last year.
Jennifer Nicole Sustaita, 19, was shot June 2, 2007. Police claim that Frank Sustaita shot her twice in the head with a .45-caliber handgun. She lingered about two weeks before dying June 13, 2007, at Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. is disputing allegations that it was an intentional act, saying it was accidental. He also is disputing the claim that two shots were fired. He said only one shot was fired.
The case is being prosecuted by Melanie Walker and Edward Vallejo.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Operation Safe Streets under way in Waco area
If you’re got a felony warrant and you’re in the Waco area, now might be a good time to turn yourself in. The Waco Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are combining resources this week to round up those wanted on felony warrants in an effort called Operation Safe Streets.
Consider yourself warned. The full release that was e-mailed this morning is below.
Officers from the Waco Police Department along with members of the US Marshal’s office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Texas Department of Criminal Justice will conduct a warrant round-up, (Operation Safe Streets), in the Waco area the week of October 27th thru October 31st.
This operation will be targeting those individuals who are currently wanted on felony warrants held by the Waco Police Department, Federal Parole/Probation, State Parole and County Probation but will not be limited to just those warrants. As in years past while conducting this type of operation other arrest and cases are made.
The Waco Police Department has made measured progress in our commitment to the safety of the Waco community. Crime at this time is down compared to last year. Operation Safe Streets is intended to allow us to finish out 2008 with the strength and energy of that success for the remainder of the year.
One of the goals for Operation Safe Streets is to deliver a Holiday message to these felons and get them off the street as we go into the Holiday season of the year.
The men and women of the Waco Police Department recognize that for every warrant issued, there is at least one victim. And part of the healing process for these victims is holding those who committed the crime responsible for what they did. That is what we are doing with Operation Safe Streets; taking these felons off the streets, locking them up and holding them accountable to our community and to these victims.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Authorities working deadly Limestone County crash
At least one person has been killed in a multi-vehicle crash today in Limestone County.
Although few details are available, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said the wreck happened this afternoon on U.S. Highway 84 near Mexia.
Check back at wacotrib.com for updates.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Firefighters to keep eye on smoldering school for days
MULTIMEDIA
- video: Raw footage from Sanger Ave. fire
- gallery: Slide show: Sanger Avenue Elementary blaze
- gallery: Slide show: Townhouse hotel blaze
The Waco Fire Department was still working to put out the last of three building fires that started in the early morning hours Saturday.
Fire crews were concentrated at Sanger Avenue Elementary, the largest of the three fires, to put out hot spots still burning in the building. Two fire trucks were spraying water on the top of the building with cranes Saturday morning. The 42,320-square-foot building had been engulfed in flames when crews first responded at 4:40 a.m.
“This will probably keep burning for a couple of days,” said acting assistant fire chief Benjamin Samarripa. “The roof collapsed on it, so some of the chunks of the roof are covering flames in some parts of the building.”
Just hours earlier, firefighters were battling a blaze at the Townhouse Hotel on 17th Street and Washington Avenue, which was reported at 12:12 a.m. Samarripa said no one was reported inside either of the buildings, and that there had been no injuries.
A spokeswoman with the Waco Police Department said a third fire began at a former southern cooking restaurant on 23rd Street and Waco Drive about 9:20 p.m. Friday.
That fire was completely put out and appeared to be contained to the heating and air conditioning units in the back of the building.
“When you have two large structure fires that you’re working simultaneously, it will of course put a strain on the department, especially when there is a commercial building, involved because of the sheer size of it,” Samarrripa said. “But it still didn’t deplete us to zero. We have manpower, and we have trucks at the fire station (in case anything else were to happen.”
Samarripa said fire marshals were on the scene at Sanger Avenue and were awaiting safe clearance of the fire to begin conducting a full investigation. He said it was not known whether the three fires were related of if they will be investigated as arson.
Fire crews had left the Townhouse Hotel by 10 a.m. Saturday, though it was not clear how long it took to put out the fire. Samarripa said crews will keep an eye on both sites of any smoldering flames, but most of the force will be concentrated on Sanger Avenue Elementary.
Sanger Avenue Elementary was originally built in 1930. It was closed by the school district in 1973 and later purchased by John McNamara in the 1980s. The building had been used briefly as Head Start in the mid 90s, but has remained empty and unused since.
- Firefighters were first alerted to a fire at an abandoned 23rd Street restaurant about 9:20 p.m. Friday.
- A fire was reported at the Townhouse Hotel, 17th Street and Washington Avenue, at 12:12 a.m. Saturday.
- Fire crews responded to the Sanger Avenue Elementary School fire at 4:40 a.m. Saturday.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Firefighters still on scene at Sanger Avenue fire
PHOTOS
Update: Firefighters will remain on the scene at the former Sanger Avenue Elementary School building for a couple of days, an assistant fire chief says, as crews continue to tamp down smoldering debris.
Firefighters tackled fires at the school, the vacant Townhouse Hotel and a Mexican Restaurant at 23rd Street and Waco Drive during the night and morning hours.
Acting assistant chief Benjamin Famarrita said the department had not yet determined causes of the fires or whether they were related.
The worst blaze was at the school, he said, where the roof collapsed into the structure and continues to smolder. A wall of the building is close to collapsing, he said. The department was called to the fire at 4:40 a.m.
Seventeenth and 18th Streets are closed between Waco drive and just past Sanger Avenue.
One fire truck is still on the scene at the Townhouse Hotel, 1715 Washington Ave., this morning. Eighteenth Street is blocked off at Columbus Avenue.
The department received a call from someone who smelled smoke in the area around 11:49 p.m., a spokesman said. An engine responded and saw smoke on the second floor of the structure, he said.
Firefighters were able to get the fire in control in the front of the structure, but were still battling the blaze in the back when reporter Wendy Gragg was on the scene about 1:30 this morning.
“They got in action real fast and got it stopped, or it could have been worse,” Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Kerwin said.
The hotel is not in use, but firefighters were told squatters have been seen previously at the building, a fire department spokesman said.
Kerwin said firefighters don’t know if anyone was inside late Friday. A spokesman for the fire marshal’s office said firefighters wouldn’t be able to go inside the building for several hours.
The vacant hotel has been ordered demolished by the city, and in August, a judge levied a $1,000-a-day fine against hotel owner Banson Fan until he tears the structure down.
We wrote last week about plans for the Sanger Avenue building in recent years. Click here to read that story.
Check WacoTrib.com later today for more details.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Firefighters battle blaze at defunct Townhouse Hotel
Eight Waco Fire Department trucks have responded to a blaze at the Townhouse Hotel, 1715 Washington Ave., and firefighters were still battling the fire as of 1:25 a.m.
- 04-07-09 Waco's Townhouse Hotel site owner sued for back taxes
- 11-11-08 City to demolish downtown Waco's Townhouse Hotel after suspected arson
- 10-31-08 Waco fire officials call last week's fires arson, say they have suspects
- 10-30-08 Waco fire officials to release findings on recent building fires
- 10-28-08 City of Waco could order buildings burned over weekend to be demolished
- 10-27-08 Investigation into cause of 3 Waco fires waiting until buildings safe for officals
- 10-26-08 Sanger Avenue Elementary School among buildings destroyed by overnight fires in Waco
- 08-03-08 City of Waco levies $1,000 per day fine vs. owner of defunct hotel
- 06-07-08 Townhouse Hotel: Owner must demolish eyesore or face big fines
- 06-05-08 Hotel owner begs judge to pass on $1,000-a-day fines
- 05-31-08 City of Waco seeks $1,000 daily fine until old motel is demolished
- 05-08-08 Waco's Townhouse Hotel has final checkout time of May 25
- 02-08-08 City stepping up action against substandard buildings, officials say
- 11-19-07 City of Waco, Townhouse Hotel owner at odds over delayed repairs
The department received a call from someone who smelled smoke in the area around 11:49 p.m., a spokesman said. An engine responded and saw smoke on the second floor of the structure, he said.
Firefighters were able to get the fire in control in the front of the structure, but were still battling the blaze in the back.
“They got in action real fast and got it stopped, or it could have been worse,” Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Kerwin said.
The hotel is not in use, but firefighters were told squatters have been seen previously at the building, a fire department spokesman said.
Kerwin said firefighters don’t know if anyone was inside late Friday or today. A spokesman for the fire marshal’s office said firefighters wouldn’t be able to go inside the building for several hours.
The vacant hotel has been ordered demolished by the city, and in August, a judge levied a $1,000-a-day fine against hotel owner Banson Fan until he tears the structure down.
Fan said he could not afford the demolition.
Click here to view photos from the blaze.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Coryell County jailer arrested in sexual misconduct with inmate
A Coryell County jailer has been arrested for allegedly engaging in improper sexual contact with an inmate.
Richard Samuel Linn, 51, faces two counts of violating the civil rights of a person in custody and improper sexual conduct with an inmate, officials said.
The complaint was issued Thursday morning by a confidential source, said Chief Deputy Joe Blakley II, and described incidents with a female inmate that happened within the last two weeks at the Coryell County Jail . An internal investigation led to Linn’s arrest Thursday night.
“It has always been my policy to aggressively pursue all allegations involving staff,” Sheriff Johnny Burkes said in a statement.
A jail sergeant or shift supervisor investigates each complaint, Blakley said, and if probable cause of criminal misconduct is established, he appoints an investigating detective to the case. He declined to comment further. “I’m not privy to the details of it,” Blakely said.
Linn, who resigned after his arrest, had been employed at the jail since November 2007. He remained in the county jail Friday night in lieu of a $20,000 bond, Blakley said.
This is the second case in two months of alleged sexual misconduct at the Coryell County Jail. The Tribune-Herald reported on Sept. 19 that Lindsey Ann Russell, 30, was arrested on similar charges. The two cases are unrelated, Blakley said. Russell is out on bond awaiting trial.
The Coryell County Jail is running at or over capacity, Blakley said, averaging 92 inmates to five or six jailers working a normal shift.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Margaret Mills pleads guilty in theft case
> Slide show: Photos from today’s hearing in 54th State District Court
> Video: Today’s hearing
Margaret Mills, the embattled former Downtown Waco Inc. executive director, pleaded guilty this morning to a reduced charge and will face a punishment trial on Nov. 3.
Attorneys for both sides met with 54th State District Court Judge Matt Johnson. After the meeting, Assistant Attorney General David S. Glickler agreed to abandon the first 63 counts against Mills in a plea bargain with her attorneys, but kept intact counts 64 through 116.
She pleaded to a reduced charge of aggregated theft, a third-degree felony. Punishment for that ranges from probation to two to 10 years in prison.
The remaining counts total $95,000 to $99,500. Theft of more than $100,000 constitutes second-degree felony.
Mills was indicted on charges that she embezzled more than $200,000 from the downtown development organization. She was initially charged with first-degree felony theft reportedly totaling $511,000.
Mills’ attorneys, Rick Bostwick and Pat Beard, went before the judge at a hearing today first to make another change of venue request. They again contended that media coverage of her case would prevent her from getting a fair trial in McLennan County and presented two Waco Tribune-Herald articles to back up that claim.
Johnson said he would reserve a decision on the change-of-venue request until jury selection began for her trial.
He had previously said that he might change his mind during jury selection if too many prospective jurors express bias or an unwillingness or inability to afford Mills a fair trial in Waco.
Mills stood next to her attorneys and squinted and blinked while the judge read the charges. In a near whisper she answered affirmatively to the guilty plea.
After the hearing, she greeted a handful of supporters and politely declined a Tribune-Herald reporter’s request for comment.
Waco City Attorney Leah Hayes said the city will probably seek restitution for the theft at some point, though it’s unclear whether that will be in the criminal sentencing phase or in a separate civil action. She said the reduced charges don’t necessarily limit the amount of restitution the city can receive. The city funded the majority of Downtown Waco Inc.’s budget.
Downtown Waco Inc. Vice President Mark Boyd, a banker, has said the agency’s now-dormant board will seek restitution from Mills to repay the dues of former members.
Permalink | Comments (56) | Post your comment | Categories: Courthouse, Margaret Mills
Another man sought in June murder in Waco
Waco police are looking for a second suspect for his involvement in a murder this summer.
An arrest warrant was issued for Manuel Louis Robinson, 22, for his part in the June 2 murder of Charles Dwayne White. It was unclear what role Robinson may have played in the homicide.
White, 44, was shot and killed in his backyard at 3401 Homan Ave. Family members told police that White had gone outside to check on the fuse box after electricity had gone off in the home. Police found three pieces of a rifle and shell casings in the backyard, and evidence of a struggle over the rifle.
Police arrested Raheem Abdullah Watkins, 27, on Sept. 18 after crime scene investigators matched his DNA to blood found at the scene.
Robinson was last known to be living at the Commons Apartments, 5000 Sanger Ave., and also was known to frequent Lake Shore North Apartments at 1600 W. Lake Shore Drive, according to a news release from police spokesman Steve Anderson. Robinson was last known to drive a black 2004 Cadillac Deville with the Texas license plate MJL153.
Police are asking anyone with any information on Robinson’s whereabouts to call Waco police at 750-7500 or Crimestoppers at 753-HELP.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Animals seized from Bosque County property on allegations of neglect
More than 60 animals were seized by the SPCA from a private property near Clifton Thursday morning after the agency found evidence of neglect by the property owners.
The SPCA seized 49 chickens and roosters, six horses, four dogs and three goats from the residence around 10 a.m. Thursday. The animals were transported to the agency’s animal care center in McKinney, where they will be cared for until a custody hearing next week.
Maura Davies, a spokeswoman for the organization, said the Bosque County Sheriff’s Department alerted the agency to possible animal neglect at the residence. During its week-long investigation, the SPCA determined that the animals were malnourished and did not have adequate food, water and shelter.
“Throughout the week we attempted to assist the property owner, because we realized that the animals needed to be seen by a veterinarian … but the owner would not cooperate and we realized that was not happening,” Davies said.
The sheriff’s department obtained a warrant for the property Thursday morning before executing the seizure.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Chet Edwards to meet with veterans in Hewitt tonight
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco) will be in Hewitt from 5:30 to 6:30 tonight at VFW Post 6008, 725 Sun Valley Blvd., to meet with area veterans.
Edwards will give veterans a congressional update on issues including the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The 2009 bill builds on the historic increases for veterans and troops passed into law last year.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas
Jurors in second day of deliberations in Alaska senator’s trial
Jurors are in their second day of deliberations today in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens.
The Alaska Republican is charged with lying for years on Senate financial disclosure documents to conceal $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts he received from his friend, millionaire oil contractor Bill Allen.
The jury of eight women and four men went home early Wednesday, telling the judge that things had become stressful and they wanted some clarity.
The verdict could have serious implications for the upcoming election. Stevens has held his Senate seat for 40 years but faces a tight race with Democrat Mark Begich. Democrats are hoping to capture a filibuster-proof Senate majority and sense an opportunity to capture Stevens’ once untouchable seat.
Stevens has said he paid every bill he received for his home renovations and had no idea he was getting anything for free.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, National news
Task force arrests sex offenders before Halloween
Citing a desire to keep streets safe for children during Halloween, authorities in San Antonio arrested 24 sex-offense suspects during a two-day sweep, officials said.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force planned the roundup specifically for Halloween, according to officials. The majority of arrests this week were of sex offenders who violated their registration requirements. Such sweeps are part of a nationwide law enforcement trend targeting sex-offense suspects or registered sex offenders on or before Halloween and more severely restricting their activities that night.
“There’s a lot of kids that are going to be on the streets pretty soon,” said Tom Smith, the supervisory deputy U.S. marshal, who headed the sweep.
On Halloween, registered sex offenders in Texas are required to turn off their porch lights and are prohibited from having any exterior decorations between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., with parole, probation and police officers checking to see if they comply, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around the state, Police & crime
Marley and Me author coming to Waco
Marley and Me author John Grogan is coming to Waco next month. We’ve got more details about that at accesswaco.com.
You’ll recall that Marley and Me was the One Book, One Waco selection for the summer.
The current read is Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, and Bradbury biographer Sam Weller will speak on the author and his book at 3:30 p.m. today in the Alexander Reading Room at Baylor University. His appearance is sponsored by The Big Read and the Baylor University Honors Residential College in addition to One Book, One Waco.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Entertainment
Jury sentences Waco man who set his mom on fire to 35 years
A McLennan County jury has sentenced a Waco man who set his mom on fire to 35 years in prison.
Earlier today, the jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before finding Ismail Ruben Lopez, 24, guilty of aggravated assault in a July 2007 incident in which his mother was badly burned.
Lopez had faced 15 to 99 years, or life, in prison.
Lopez, who admitted to dumping gasoline before the fire erupted, was found guilty of the burns that injured his mother, Adela Lopez. Also reportedly injured in the incident were Ismail Lopez’s aunt, Diann Gonzales, and a friend, Lydia Herrera.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse
Marlin head football coach Malone resigns
Marlin football coach Jerry Malone has experienced far more wins than losses while guiding the Bulldogs.
But the tough times have apparently taken their toll on Malone, who confirmed Wednesday that he has resigned his post at Marlin.
Marlin ISD superintendent Ray Matthews received Malone’s written resignation late Tuesday and said the coach officially resigned for medical reasons.
However, Malone said his medical problems stem from frustrations he’s experienced on the job as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
“It’s time for me to step aside because of a lot of problems,” Malone said. “I need to get into an anger management program. It’s been going on for a long time and it’s getting worse here in Marlin.”
Bulldogs offensive coordinator Billy Johnson will take over as Marlin’s interim head coach.
Matthews said Malone’s resignation didn’t result from on-field issues or any specific incidents.
“He didn’t go into a lot of details,” Matthews said. “He was having some medical issues and felt like he needed to resign. He’s done us a good job and I honored that.”
Malone, who was in his 16th season as the head coach at Marlin, compiled a 130-58 record at the school. He led the Bulldogs to the 3A Division II state championship game in 2003 and a 2A Division I regional final in 2006.
However, Marlin missed the playoffs last fall and had won just two of its first seven games this season. The Bulldogs defeated Hearne, 20-18, on Friday.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, High school sports
Three Lorena High seniors charged with assault in hazing incident
Three Lorena High School seniors have been charged with simple assault following a hazing incident earlier this month.
The three students are scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday. Each teen faces a fine of up to $500 for the Class C misdemeanor.
Tom Dickson, interim lieutenant for the Lorena Police Department, said the family of the teenager who was hazed reported the Oct. 1 incident the day after it occurred, but charges were not filed until Oct. 15.
The grandmother of the student who was hazed said the three seniors dunked her grandson’s head into a toilet. Dickson said though the teenager did have some injuries, they were not serious.
Lorena ISD said it would not comment on the hazing allegations. Spokeswoman Cheri Borchardt would not confirm what punishments the students received at school or whether the incident is still under investigation.
“Lorena ISD, in general, takes any disciplinary matter seriously, and we take care of things swiftly and appropriately,” Borchardt said.
Permalink | Comments (40) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Trial update: Jurors out to deliberate
A 54th State District Court jury left the courtroom at 11:25 a.m. to begin deliberating the case of Ismael Ruben Lopez, 24, who is on trial accused of aggravated assault for starting a fire that injured his mother, aunt and another woman.
During final arguments, prosecutors told jurors they will need to determine whether Lopez acted intentionally, knowingly or recklessly in starting the blaze at his aunt’s home on Grim Avenue in July 2007.
Prosecutors said Lopez’s actions were reckless.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. said the fire was an accident of his defendant’s actions.
If jurors find Lopez guilty he could receive life in prison for assaulting a family member.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Homicide in Milam County
Milam County officials are investigating a homicide in Milano Monday night.
The sheriff’s department received a call at 6:05 p.m. about a shooting on the 200 block of East Avenue C in Milano, according to a press release. Gregory James Storey, 48, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
While Sheriff David Greene was en route to the crime scene, 76-year-old Gordon Currin went to the sheriff’s office wanting to confess to the murder, the press release states.
Currin has been charged with murder and remains in the Milam County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond, a jail spokesman said.
An autopsy has been ordered on Storey. It is not known what events led to the shooting, the sheriff’s office said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Bradbury biographer to speak in Waco
Here’s a news release from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce about an event Thursday afternoon in connection with One Book, One Waco:
The Big Read, One Book, One Waco, and the Baylor University Honors Residential College will host Sam Weller, authorized biographer of Ray Bradbury, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Alexander Reading Room at Baylor University. The event is in conjunction with the reading of Fahrenheit 451, the fall 2008 One Book, One Waco selection.
“I am thrilled to come to Waco to talk about Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451 for the Big Read. As Mr. Bradbury’s authorized biographer, I look forward to speaking about the man behind this great masterpiece of world literature,” said Weller. “I have worked closely with Ray Bradbury for the last eight years and am confident that Waco residents will be surprised when I illuminate just how much he has done to contribute to arts and culture. Fahrenheit 451, without question, is the perfect book for a community reading initiative. Fahrenheit 451 champions the power of reading. It celebrates libraries.”
The Big Read and One Book, One Waco have celebrated a number of events since August including a book discussion facilitated by the CRRC, a movie screening , and several book discussions across the community.
“The lecture will be a great way to gain insight into the mind of Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451, and why reading is important in our society,” said Allan R. Marshall, director of community development for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and One Book, One Waco chair.
Professor K. Sarah-Jane Murray, faculty master in the Honors Residential College said hosting Weller will initiative further discussion about Fahrenheit 451.
“This is a unique opportunity to show our support for the Waco community. It is also a wonderful academic opportunity—one that will allow our students to hear a thought-provoking lecture and remind the community at large that we, too, care about reading, learning, and education beyond the walls of the university,” said Murray.
The National Endowment for the Arts announced in June that One Book, One Waco received a federal grant to put on a communitywide reading program for fall by selecting a literary classic. Waco is one of 189 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2008 through January 2009.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
For more information, contact Allan Marshall at (254) 757-5630 or click on the “One Book, One Waco” link at WacoChamber.com.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas
Trial update: Defendant’s mother takes stand
The mother of a Waco man accused of burning her, an aunt and a third woman testified in 54th State District Court this morning that she tried to calm down her son as he went on a rampage.
Adela Lopez, the mother of defendant Ismael Ruben Lopez, said she was home sleeping July 18, 2007, when her sister came to ask her to calm down her son.
She testified that it’s a perception within her family that she’s the only one who can calm down Ruben Lopez when he loses control of his temper.
Prosecutor Susan Shafer tried to make it clear to the jury that Adela Lopez was a reluctant witness against her son, saying that she was downplaying the extent of her injuries from the attack and her son’s involvement.
Adela Lopez said she never saw her son with a knife or the container of gasoline.
To her it seemed like the kitchen just burst into flames, she said. Before the fire, she said he tried to call the police, believing that if her son realized that the police were coming he’d stop. Instead, he took the phone away from her and threw it to the ground, she said.
After the fire started, she said Ruben Lopez tried to pat down the flames on her and yelled, “Somebody help me, my mom’s on fire.”
Then he ran away. “I don’t why he took off,” she said. “I guess he got scared.”
Adela Lopez said she spent two weeks at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas recovering from her burns. She needed skin grafts for her feet and is permanently scarred on her arms, feet and legs.
She said her son later told her, “I’m sorry all this happened.” She said she responded: It’s OK. It was an accident, I guess.”
On the stand now is a Waco Police Department crime scene technician who took photographs at the crime scene and at the hospital of the victims’ injuries.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Police officer fired for Tasering teen at Florida party
A rookie police officer in central Florida has been fired after his supervisors learned that he Tasered a teenager at a birthday party that involved underage drinking.
Eustis Police Chief Fred Cobb says 22-year-old Dan NeSmith has lost his job, but the department will not charge the former officer for shocking a 15-year-old boy in the back with his police-issued Taser last month.
A video taken at the party shows the teenager volunteering to be stunned while other guests at NeSmith’s Leesburg home cheer them on.
Cobb says nearly half of the 40 to 50 people at the party were younger than 21. The birthday boy was 19. NeSmith could still face charges if parents file complaints about alcohol being served at the party.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, National news, Police & crime
Trial update: Woman testifies about attack
Testimony continued this morning in 54th State District Court in the aggravated assault trial of a Waco man accused of setting his mother, aunt and a third woman on fire in a fit of rage.
Lydia Herrera, one of the women allegedly burned by Ismael Ruben Lopez on July 18, 2007, testified this morning that Lopez attacked her and others in anger over missing he claimed was stolen during his birthday party earlier that day.
Herrera said she was invited to stay at the home of Lopez’s aunt, Diann Gonzales, a couple of days earlier and recalled celebrating Ruben Lopez’s birthday that day. When they returned to the house Ruben Lopez started arguing with Tina Ortega, who testified Monday, and another man about money he said was taken from him at the party.
After Lopez, 24, grabbed a knife, the man ran off, she said.
Herrera said she was outside at the time, but heard yelling from inside the house. The man who Lopez was arguing with ran off, she said.
She said she then went to get Lopez’s mother to calm him down. But because he was still acting violently, they went in the kitchen to get away. Lopez pushed open the kitchen door and he had something behind his back, she said, which she assumed was a knife.
Ruben Lopez kept yelling that they were all going to pay because of the money that was stolen from him, she said.
He then began pouring liquid out of a plastic container and she recognized the smell of gasoline, she testified. Lopez threatened to burn the house down, she said.
“All I saw next was a ball of fire,” Herrera said. “The whole kitchen just went ‘poof.’” She said she heard the other women screaming as she jumped out a bedroom window.
But Ruben Lopez found her a short time later, and threatened that he would burn her home down the same way.
Herrera also testified that she saw Gonzales on fire, screaming for help. She told her to roll on the ground to put out the flames.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. is now cross-examining the witness.
Ruben Lopez could face up to life in prison if convicted of aggravated assault of a family member.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Story: Baylor great Singletary has 49ers’ respect
The San Francisco Chronicle today has a story about former Baylor standout Mike Singletary and his ability to connect with the 49ers players, which should serve him well as the new head coach.
Singletary was promoted from assistant head coach after Monday’s dismissal of Mike Nolan.
“I think Mike Singletary will do a good job,” former 49er player Marques Douglas told the newspaper. “He definitely has the respect and ear of everybody in the locker room. When I was there, it meant so much to me to have him in there. It was real encouraging to see how humble he was in helping us get better.”
Douglas was a defensive lineman with the 49ers from 2005 through ‘07. He is now playing in Baltimore.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor football, Baylor sports, Pro & college sports
L-3 to get $2 million incentive for new hangar
The Waco City Council today is set to approve a resolution when it meet tonight that will give L-3 Communications Integrated Systems up to $2 million to build a new hangar facility.
The money would be provided by the Waco McLennan County Economic Development Corp., with $1 million coming from the city and the other half from the county.
L-3, which bids for contracts, is at 94 percent of hangar capacity and would be unable to compete for additional contracts if no new hangar space is built, according to the city.
L-3 is the county’s largest industry with 1,682 employees. It will spend about $10 million to build the 87,000-square-foot hangar and create 100 new full-time jobs between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010, the city says.
L-3 will maintain those jobs — with an average wage estimated at $24 per hour — for five years. Additional total annual payroll would be just below $5 million, the city says.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Business, City hall
Wreck snarling I-35 caused by driver swerving to miss dog
Northbound Interstate 35 near Bellmead has been shut down for more than an hour because of a collision that occurred after a driver swerved to avoid a dog.
Two people have been taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center because of the collision, but their injuries do not appear to be life threatening, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper said.
The accident happened when a dog ran across northbound I-35 about 6:15 p.m. near Loop 340. One car swerved and collided with another, then they were struck by an 18-wheeler, the trooper said.
DPS expects northbound I-35 to be reopened within the hour.
The dog was not injured, and was taken into custody by Bellmead animal control officers.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Baylor sets homecoming kickoff time
Baylor has sent out a release to announce that the kickoff time for the Bears’ homecoming game against 16th-ranked Missouri on Nov. 1 will be at 2 p.m. at Floyd Casey Stadium and will not be televised.
The kickoff time was set today after the game was not selected for telecast by the Big 12’s television partners.
Baylor plays Saturday at Lincoln, Neb., for a matchup against Nebraska at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on Versus.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor University, Baylor football, Baylor sports
Baylor receives verbal commitment from 6-6 guard
Givon Crump, a 6-foot-6 wing player from Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy, has verbally committed to the Baylor men’s basketball team.
Crump averaged 12 points and four rebounds last season, and is a top three-point shooting threat. He’s ranked No. 142 nationally by rivals.com.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor sports
Report: Circuit City may shutter 150 stores
Struggling electronics retailer Circuit City Stores Inc. is considering a plan to shut at least 150 stores and cut thousands of jobs to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.
Circuit City has hired Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which oversaw Kmart’s Chapter 11 reorganization, as its bankruptcy counsel. The company also has retained FTI Consulting Inc. to develop a turnaround plan and investment bank Rothschild Inc. to guide talks with banks and secure emergency financing, the Journal said.
Circuit City has a local store at 4905 W. Waco Drive next to Barnes & Noble Booksellers. At this point it’s unknown which stores could be targeted for closing.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Business, National news
Waco man who allegedly set mom, aunt on fire goes to trial
The trial of a Waco man accused of setting his mother, aunt and another woman on fire during an argument will begin today in 54th State District Court.
Ismael Ruben Lopez, 24, of Waco, is being tried today only for the attack on his mother, Adela Lopez, on July 18, 2007. Police said he poured gasoline on his mother, aunt and another woman and set them on fire in the 3600 block of Grim Avenue.
Because a family member was involved, the offense is being bumped from a second-degree felony to first-degree. If convicted, Lopez could face up to life in prison.
Jury selection was to begin at 10:30 a.m. Prosecutors are Susan Shafer and Lytza Rojas. Lopez will be defended by Russ Hunt Sr.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Marlin flower shop destroyed by fire
A fire destroyed a Marlin flower shop Sunday night.
Marlin police received a call at 9:20 p.m. about a fire at Majestic Flowers and Gifts, according to a spokeswoman with the police department. Members of the Marlin, Lott, Reagan and Chilton volunteer fire departments responded to the scene. Firefighters were unable to keep the business from burning down, but kept it from spreading to nearby residences, she said.
No one was in the flower shop at the time of the fire. Officials have not determined what may have caused the fire, the spokeswoman said.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hot stories
Aggravated robbery in Bellmead
The police scanner is crackling with news that police are looking for a man who just committed an aggravated robbery in Bellmead. We didn’t hear what was robbed, but that the suspect was headed north on Interstate 35 in a vehicle.
Police are looking for a black male, about 5 foot 8 or 5-9, weighing 160 pounds, with a shaved head, wearing sunglasses and a white hoodie. He left the scene in a maroon Cadillac, according to the scanner.
The suspect reportedly had a handgun.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hot stories, Police & crime
Man charged with Woodway store robbery
Woodway detectives, acting on a tip from a confidential informant and working in tandem with the Round Rock Police Department, today charged a man in the Aug. 11 aggravated robbery of the Woodway Walgreen Drug Store.
Hewitt resident Scott Schmitt is currently being held in the Williamson County Jail in connection with the armed robbery of a Round Rock bank.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Trial update: Waco man receives life sentence
A 170th State District Court jury sentenced Eric Williams to life in prison today for the 2007 murder of girlfriend Erica Rivera.
He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Trial update: Jury begins deliberating punishment
A 170th State District Court jury has left the courtroom to deliberate the sentence for Eric Williams, who was found guilty earlier today of murdering his girlfriend Erica Rivera in 2007.
Williams, 38, was convicted by a jury of six men and six women. Rivera’s body was found in a shallow grave in eastern McLennan County on May 8, 2007.
Williams could be sentenced from 25 years to life in prison for the killing.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Waco’s ‘celebrity’ dog is missing
The December 2007 issue of Waco Today included a feature on a rescued German shepherd named Rockie and his owner, Jaci McDaniel. Since the story Rockie took part in the Pooches of Parade fundraiser, the last Barkin’ Ball, and has been the “spokesdog” for Dogtopia, appearing on its flyers as well as the Dogtopia billboard on Lake Air Drive.
“He went from being tied up and miserable to having the life of a celebrity,” McDaniel wrote in an e-mail to Waco Today. “We had a great year together and formed a strong human-animal bond that I so deeply cherished. We found each other at just the right time.”
But now Rockie is missing and McDaniel is desperate to find him. On Oct. 10 Rockie slipped out of the house through a window and has been gone since. He was not wearing a collar, so the only way to identify him is through a microchip imbedded under the skin, which is only detectable by veterinarians and shelters.
McDaniel writes that she has done everything imaginable in searching for her dog.
“I passed out flyers to the entire neighborhood, searched every bit of the area, contacted Beverly Hills police and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, put ads in the paper and online, faxed flyers to every vet clinic in Waco, visited the shelter numerous times, and yet no one has seen him since Saturday morning.”
Rockie has a condition called demodex, which is a type of mange kept under control with oral medication every day. “Without this medicine it is possible that the mange will return and he will begin to lose his beautiful coat,” she writes.
“He has been a huge highlight in my life over the last year, and I want nothing more than to have him back. It is heartbreaking to come home and see his empty bed and lonely toys. Because of his beauty and great personality, it is very possible that someone has taken him in. I just pray that they will find a flyer or hear about his loss and that he will be safely returned to his loving home. I am offering a reward for his return.”
She adds: “I never thought I’d say it, but I would give anything to have him chewing up pillows and tormenting the cats again …”
She can be contacted via e-mail or by calling 254-498-7523.
You can read more about Rockie on the Fuzzy Friends Rescue Web site.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, This, that
Update: Jury finds Waco man guilty in murder trial
The punishment portion of the murder trial for Eric Williams, convicted by a six-man, six-woman jury this morning in the killing of girlfriend Erica Rivera, has begun.
Stirring testimony in the 170th State District Court was provided this morning by Williams’ ex-wife, who detailed abuse she said she received from Williams, 38, during their marriage.
She told the court that she didn’t know Rivera, but felt that she needed to speak.
Jurors deliberated a total of about two hours late Thursday afternoon and this morning before reaching the verdict.
During Thursday’s testimony a friend of Williams said he was asked to provide an alibi for Williams’ whereabouts the night of Rivera’s death.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Jury ends deliberations for the day in Waco murder case
Jurors in Waco’s 170th State District Court recessed for the day after deliberating for about one hour in the trial of Eric Williams, 38, who is accused of killing his girlfriend, Erica Rivera, 25, in 2007.
The jury is scheduled to resume deliberating Williams’ fate at 9 this morning
Jury deliberations began at 3:20 p.m., but jurors were allowed to stop for the day when they requested a recess from Judge Jim Meyer.
Earlier today, state called two rebuttal witnesses, Billy Peterson, an inmate in the McLennan County Jail, and Peterson’s lawyer, Sam Martinez.
Peterson, who is serving time for assault family violence and sexual assault, said he decided he didn’t want to be a part of the trial. He said he has been Williams’ friend for a long time.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Parker revealed that Peterson was ordered to testify because Williams had asked Peterson to provide an alibi for him.
Sam Martinez, Peterson’s lawyer, confirmed that Peterson told him of Williams’ request for an alibi.
However, Guy Cox, Williams’ lawyer, focused on other concerns.
Cox asked why more DNA testing wasn’t done on evidence collected at the site where Rivera’s body was discovered on May 9, 2007. He said there were too many holes in the investigation. He also expressed concern and dismay as to why McLennan County Sheriff’s investigators hadn’t returned to the scene between May 9 and May 25.
“Who knows what bits of evidence were removed or even planted there,” Cox said. “The authorities didn’t do their job. They should have been out there the 10th, 11th, 12th — as long as it took to get all the evidence.”
Assistant District Attorney Beth Toben said all signs point to Williams as the one who killed Rivera. She said all common sense leads to Williams’ guilt, including the fact that Rivera’s body was found on land that Williams knew well — land that had been previously owned by Williams’ family.
She said for someone else to have killed Rivera would have to have been “one weird coincidence.”
Toben said it was also obvious what Williams’ motive was in the slaying.
“If he couldn’t have her, nobody could — and now, nobody can,” Toben said of Williams’ possessive attitude toward Rivera.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Waco store robbed at gunpoint
Waco Police are looking for a suspect in a convenience store robbery this afternoon.
Officers responded to a robbery call at 1:26 p.m. at the My Stop convenience store at 2508 N. Valley Mills Drive, according to a press release from police Spokesman Steve Anderson.
The store clerk told police that the suspect pointed a handgun and demanded money.
The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money and ran through the nearby Hilltop Apartments complex. He then got into a gold Suburban with a black brush guard, that was parked on Northcrest Drive.
Police said the suspect was a black male was wearing a gray warm-up top, black shirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes. He was wearing a black cloth over his face at the time of the robbery.
Police asked anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the police department at 750-7500 or Crime Stoppers at 753-HELP.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Woman dies following accident near Lott
Weather was a factor in a deadly traffic accident that occurred two miles south of Lott Wednesday, authorities said.
Catherine Dian Ucciferro of Rosebud, 49, was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant southbound on U.S. Highway 77 about 4:10 p.m. when her car hydroplaned on the wet roadway, skidding into the northbound lane and striking a 2006 Ford F350 driven by Dale Thomas Hoelscher, 41, also of Rosebud, according to a DPS spokesman.
Ucciferro, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle. She was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco, where she was pronounced dead at 5:13 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Kristi Decluitt, the DPS spokesman said. Hoelscher was uninjured.
Ucciferro’s body was taken to Green-Gerngross Funeral Home in Rosebud, where it will be cremated, a spokeswoman said.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Murder trial update: Defense rests its case
The defense rested its case at 11 a.m. today in the murder trial of three-time convicted felon Eric Williams after having called two witnesses, one a DNA specialist and the other a man who says he saw Erica Rivera on the night of her death.
Dr. Robert Benjamin, a professor and forensic molecular biologist at the University of North Texas, said he would have advised the prosecution to order further DNA tests on clothing found May 25, 2007, inside an abandoned vehicle on a 2-acre tract off Elm Lake Road near Riesel.
Rivera, who was Williams’ girlfriend, was found dead in a shallow grave on that property May 8, 2007. She was last seen arguing with Williams in the parking lot of the Falcon Club in Waco, according to court testimony.
Testing conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab in Waco indicated that the only DNA tying Williams to the scene was a mixture of his and Rivera’s DNA found on a T-shirt inside the vehicle, earlier testimony revealed.
Benjamin said that, because Williams and Rivera were dating at the time, it would not have been unusual to find both of their DNA on his shirt. Benjamin testified that DNA has been known to last on an article of clothing up to 20 years.
He also testified that he would have tested a sperm cell found inside Rivera. The sperm cell, which was found during her autopsy at the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, was not tested.
During cross-examination by McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Beth Toben, Benjamin testified that it would not be likely to get a reading off a single sperm cell, but that he would have tried.
“What does it tell us, anyway, if she had sex before she died?” Toben asked Benjamin during questioning. “That’s not why we’re here.”
Benjamin said whether she had sex before she died, and with whom she had sex with could tell a lot.
The defense’s final witness was 23-year-old ranch hand Reggie Vonner, who testified that he met Williams in June 2007 when he was in the McLennan County Jail on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Vonner said he did not talk about the case to Williams, but said he heard from other inmates that Williams was locked up in connection with Rivera’s death. He said he had read about the case in the newspaper.
Vonner testified that he told his fellow inmates that he saw Rivera at 1:30 a.m. on a Sunday in late April at a Waco motel room. Vonner said he had met a girl he only knew as “Sugar,” who had called him and asked him to go to the motel room.
Vonner said he saw Rivera there with three men who seemed to speak only Spanish, and two women. Vonner said Rivera was distraught because she couldn’t find her keys. He testified that she left the room shortly before 2 a.m. in someone’s vehicle.
While being cross-examined by McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Mark Parker, Vonner said he did not call the police or tell a jailer when he realized that he had seen Rivera the night she went missing. Vonner said he wouldn’t have had anything to tell the police because he didn’t know who killed Rivera.
The trial will resume at 1:30 p.m. in Judge Jim Meyer’s 170th State District Court. The prosecution has said it might call a rebuttal witness.
Meyer said he plans to give the case to the six-man, six-woman jury this afternoon.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
New Waco dealership to have grand opening today
The new Jubileee Mitsubishi, 4717 W. Waco Drive, will have a grand opening celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today.
The festivities include a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, live music, and appetizers and beverages.
Owners are Bert and Brad Smith. A press release says that Brad started his career in the automotive industry at the age of 5 when he swept the floor in dad Bert’s dealership. And now they’re in it together.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Business
Baylor alumni group seeks voice in president search
The Baylor University community continued its call for inclusion in the selection of the school’s next permanent president, with the Baylor Alumni Association passing a resolution asking the school’s regents to allow for faculty, alumni and student representation on a search committee.
The resolution, passed Saturday at the BAA’s board of directors meeting, “encourages the regents to include faculty, staff, students, alumni and other constituencies as voting members of the Presidential Search Committee.”
The six-paragraph document opens with recognition of the board of regents’ authority in naming the next president, while also noting recent efforts by the board’s leadership to unify the Baylor family, which has been sometimes fragmented and divided in recent years.
“We’re just asking them to be inclusive, as that’s the best and surest route to unity, if they’re in on it,” said BAA President Bill Nesbitt.
Nesbitt said the 40 or so alumni association board members who attended the meeting were unanimous in passing the document, which resembles a resolution passed Sept. 9 by the faculty senate, in which faculty also asked for full voting rights on a presidential search committee.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor University
State rests in Waco murder trial
The prosecution this morning rested its case against Eric Williams, 38, who is on trial in the 170th State District Court in the 2007 murder of his former girlfriend Erica Rivera.
Further testimony today came from Brent Watson, a forensic scientist with the local Department of Public Safety crime laboratory. During cross-examination, defense attorney Guy Cox pressed Watson on why certain stains on clothes found in an abandoned vehicle on property where her body was discovered were tested.
Rivera’s body was found in a shallow grave in eastern McLennan County on May 8, 2007. She was last seen April 28, 2007, outside a Waco club arguing with Williams.
Watson said that it’s standard procedure not to test every item unless requested. Testing as he did provides a representative sample, he testified.
Cox asked whether it’s possible that someone else’s DNA could be on the clothes that were not tested. Watson said that is possible.
Kenny McMullen, branch manager at ACR Supply in Waco, said during the time of Rivera’s death, Williams was employed at the wholesale air conditioning supplier for three months through a temp agency.
Williams worked an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift on May 1 and 2, 2007, he testified. It was on May 3, 2007, that Williams asked neighbors near an eastern McLennan County property near Riesel to help pull his car out of mud.
Previous testimony from law enforcement officials said May 3 was the day they believe Williams moved Rivera’s body from the abandoned vehicle.
The state this morning also focused on a blister on the defendant’s hand that officers noticed when he was arrested.
Assistant DA Mark Parker asked McMullen whether the work Williams did for ACR Supply could contribute to such a blister. Williams unloaded items at the business.
McMullen said he had never noticed a blister on any of his employees.
The defense will begin presenting its witnesses this morning after Cox makes his opening arguments.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Baylor Lariat editor in Times political blog
Anita Pere, the editor of Baylor University’s Lariat newspaper, is among the college editors offering their take on the last presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama on The New York Times political blog “The Caucus.”
You’ll need to scroll down almost to the bottom because her comments are second to last in the blog.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor University, Politics
Waco murder trial update: White supremacist found guilty of capital murder, sentenced to life in prison without parole
The jury has found a white supremacist guilty of capital murder in the stabbing death of a woman in April 2006.
The verdict means Robert Allen Byrd will be automatically sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole.
Earlier this afternoon, Byrd took the stand and testified he did not kill Dana Leigh Taylor and said his relationship with her was like brother and sister.
Byrd’s ex-wife testified that he twice asked her not to testify at his trial.
Chelsey Parks, who was married to Byrd from June 2006 to April 2007, said he told her he killed Dana Leigh Taylor because she was an informant for the FBI.
Byrd said he slapped Taylor at his house, put her in a truck and they drove south.
Near Waco he took her took a field and slashed her throat, Parks said Byrd told her. When Taylor didn’t die right away he stomped on her face, she testified.
He also told her he went to Wal-Mart after the killing to buy new clothes.
Parks said Byrd also told her that Taylor was the wife of a high-ranking Aryan Circle member and her death might put Parks in danger. The rule was “a wife for a wife,” she recalled him saying.
He sent her to live with a friend, Aaron Jostmeyer, for her safety, she said.
While he was in jail, he wrote her letter and asked her not to testify at his trial, she said. A telephone recording from jail also shows him asking her not to testify.
Jostmeyer said Byrd would tell him only that “he did something.” Byrd told him watch the news, he testified, and the story was about a body being found.
A state pathologist testified that although the remains were badly decomposed, a cut on a vertebrae indicated a slash wound to the throat.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Police say lightning sparked deadly housefire
Fire investigators have determined that a nearby lightning strike likely caused a deadly Woodway house fire earlier this month.
Authorities also have identified the victim of the Oct. 7 fire at 13854 Harbor as 87-year-old Sarah Warden.
According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was smoke inhalation and burns, Woodway Public Safety Chief Yost Zakhary said in a statement.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Baylor VP to take helm at East Texas university
MARSHALL, Texas — Baylor University vice president Samuel “Dub” Oliver has been named president of East Texas Baptist University.
The announcement came from ETBU Board of Trustees chair Hal Cornish after a special called trustee meeting Wednesday afternoon, the college said in a press release.
Oliver will succeed current president Dr. Bob E. Riley who is retiring effective July 16, 2009, after 17 years at the helm.
Oliver currently serves as the Vice President for Student Life at Baylor University. He has served in various positions and has been employed at Baylor for 16 years. Dr. Oliver will join ETBU as its 12th president effective June 1, 2009.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Waco robbery defendant sentenced to life in prison
A 19th State District Court jury took 45 minutes this afternoon to sentence Terrell Rene Henry to life in prison.
This morning, the jury convicted Henry, 37, of aggravated robbery of a Skinny’s convenience store in October 2007.
Henry held up the store at 1225 Speight Ave. with a large butcher knife.
Because of four previous felony convictions, the minimum sentence jurors could have given Henry was 25 years in prison.
At right is an image taken from the store’s surveillance camera showing the robber holding the knife.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Baylor officials defend move to allow students to retake SAT
Baylor University officials are defending their decision to allow this year’s incoming freshman class to retake the SAT in June, a move some academic organizations across the country criticize as an effort to pad their average SAT scores.
Baylor spokeswoman Lori Fogleman, however, says the decision to allow the students to retake the SAT was made in early May, with the goal of enabling incoming students to obtain the highest level of merit-based financial aid possible.
“We saw that we had merit aid available and we wanted to make sure that it was distributed to a class of very academically talented students (who) we felt were deserving of that merit aid,” Fogleman said.
Incoming students who opted to retake the test, 861 in all, were given a $300 bookstore credit to defray the cost of books. If students increased their test score by more than 50 points, they were granted an additional $1,000 in merit aid. Fogleman said that 177 students increased their scores to such a degree that they moved into a higher merit scholarship category, beyond the additional $1,000.
Fogleman insisted the school was motivated by the financial benefit for students. “We weren’t writing checks to students,” Fogleman said. “We didn’t just give them $300 and if they wanted to use that for tickets to a rock concert over the summer, that was not the case.”
However, given Baylor’s resolute determination to advance into the top tier of national universities, some question whether the students’ financial health was truly the driving factor and not the school’s desire to improve its national image.
Baylor faculty senate chair Georgia Green said she and other faculty members believe the move backfired in a big way, regardless of the motives.
“Any time the university gets negative publicity on a national level, it’s certainly harmful to the university,” Green said.
Green added, “The faculty was never informed of this. We never got any official notification that this was happening or why, so when we heard about it we could only speculate as to why it was happening. Of course, the first thought is that we’re doing this so we can raise our SAT scores.”
Green said the faculty senate passed a motion of disapproval at Tuesday’s faculty senate meeting — passed with “overwhelming approval”— which states, in part, “This practice is academically dishonest and should be discontinued.”
twoods@wacotrib.com 757-5721
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Injury accident reported on Interstate 35 in Bellmead
Two people were injured in accident about 11:40 a.m. on Interstate 35 northbound in Bellmead.
The wreck involved a small red car and a tractor-trailer.
Police at the scene said the truck hit the car. Two passengers in the car were taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center for treatment. The extent of their injuries were unknown.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Jury to decide aggravated robbery case
A jury in Waco’s 19th State District Court just went out this morning to deliberate the fate of Terrell Rene Henry in his aggravated robbery trial.
Henry, 37, is charged with robbing the Skinny’s convenience store at 1225 Speight Ave. with a large butcher knife in October 2007.
It is one of three trials under way in a busy McLennan County Courthouse this week.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
How did McLennan County schools do on federal accountability ratings?
The Texas Education Agency today released preliminary results of 2008 federal school accountability ratings as determined by No Child Left Behind. The ratings state whether campuses and distrits met or missed “adequate yearly progress” based on standards set by the federal law.
The following are results for McLennan County Schools. Schools that don’t meet the standard can be compelled to start special programs, which vary depending on how many times they’ve failed.
Axtell ISD — Met AYP Axtell Elementary — Met AYP Axtell High — Met AYP Axtell Middle — Met AYP Methodist Home Boys Ranch — Met AYP Waco Center for Youth — Missed AYP (math performance)
Bosqueville ISD — Met AYP Bosqueville Elementary — Met AYP Bosqueville Secondary — Met AYP
Bruceville-Eddy ISD — Missed AYP (math performance) Bruceville-Eddy Elementary — Met AYP Bruceville-Eddy High — Met AYP Bruceville-Eddy Middle — Met AYP Bruceville-Eddy Intermediate — Met AYP
China Spring ISD — Met AYP China Spring High — Met AYP China Spring Middle — Met AYP China Spring Elementary — Met AYP China Spring Intermediate — Met AYP
Connally ISD — Missed AYP (reading and math performance) Connally High — Missed AYP (math performance) Lakeview Academy — Met AYP Connally Junior High — Missed AYP (math performance) Connally Primary School — Met AYP Connally Intermediate Center — Met AYP Connally Elementary — Met AYP
Crawford ISD — Met AYP Crawford Elementary — Met AYP Crawford High — Met AYP Crawford Middle — Met AYP
Eagle Academy of Waco — Met AYP
Gholson ISD — Met AYP Gholson Elementary — Met AYP
Hallsburg ISD — Met AYP Hallsburg Elementary —Met AYP
La Vega ISD — Missed AYP (reading and math performance, graduation rate) La Vega High — Missed AYP (math performance, graduation rate) Success Program — Met AYP La Vega Junior High — Met AYP La Vega Intermediate — Met AYP La Vega Elementary — Met AYP
Lorena ISD — Missed AYP (math performance) Lorena Elementary — Met AYP Lorena High — Met AYP Lorena Middle — Missed AYP (math performance) Lorena Primary — Met AYP
Mart ISD — Met AYP Mart Elementary —Met AYP Mart High — Met AYP Mart Middle — Met AYP
McGregor ISD — Met AYP Isbill Junior High — Met AYP McGregor Elementary — Met AYP McGregor High — Met AYP
Midway ISD — Met AYP Midway High — Met AYP Midway Middle — Met AYP Woodway Elementary — Met AYP Hewitt Elementary — Met AYP Speegleville Elementary — Met AYP Spring Valley Elementary — Met AYP South Bosque Elementary — Met AYP Midway Intermediate — Missed AYP (math performance)
Moody ISD — Missed AYP (math performance) Moody Elementary — Met AYP Moody High — Missed AYP (math performance) Moody Middle — Missed AYP (math performance)
Rapoport Academy — Met AYP
Riesel ISD — Met AYP Foster Elementary — Met AYP Riesel High — Met AYP
Robinson ISD — Met AYP Robinson Elementary — Met AYP Robinson High — Met AYP Robinson Intermediate — Met AYP Robinson Junior High — Missed AYP (math performance) Robinson Primary — Met AYP
Waco Charter School — Met AYP
Waco ISD — Missed AYP (reading performance, math performance, graduation rate) A.J. Moore Academy High — Missed AYP Alta Vista Montessori Elementary — Met AYP Bell’s Hill Elementary — Met AYP Brazos Middle — Missed AYP Brook Avenue Elementary — Met AYP G.W. Carver Academy — Missed AYP Cedar Ridge Elementary — Met AYP Cesar Chavez Middle — Missed AYP Crestview Elementary — Met AYP Dean Highland Elementary — Met AYP Doris Miller Elementary — Missed AYP G.L. Wiley Middle — Met AYP Hillcrest PDS Elementary — Met AYP J.H. Hines Elementary — Met AYP Kendrick Elementary — Met AYP Lake Air Middle — Missed AYP Lake Waco Montessori — Met AYP Meadowbrook Elementary — Met AYP Mountainview Elementary — Met AYP North Waco Elementary — Met AYP Parkdale Elementary — Met AYP Provident Heights Elementary — Met AYP South Waco Elementary — Missed AYP STARS High — Met AYP Sul Ross Elementary — Met AYP Tennyson Middle — Missed AYP University High — Missed AYP University Middle — Missed AYP Viking Hills Elementary — Met AYP Waco High — Missed AYP West Avenue Elementary — Met AYP
West ISD — Met AYP West Elementary — Met AYP West High — Met AYP West Intermediate — Met AYP West Middle — Met AYP Brookhaven Youth Ranch — Met AYP
Source: Texas Education Agency Statewide results available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ayp/2008/distcampfinal08.pdf
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education
Several testify in Waco murder trial of Eric Williams
Two friends of Erica Rivera, whose body was found on May 8, 2007, testified about her violent relationship with her boyfriend Eric Williams, who is on trial in Waco’s 170th State District Court for Rivera’s murder.
Alexia Hardin, one of Rivera’s friends, said that it was like Rivera and Williams were in two different relationships.
“Erica loved him and would do anything for him, and Eric was abusive, controlling and violent,” Hardin testified.
Hardin recalled a time in February 2007 in which Rivera showed up at her apartment desperately banging on the door, crying and saying “He’s after me, he’s after me.” She said Rivera told her that she and Williams got into a fight because Rivera was watching BET (Black Entertainment Television network) and Williams didn’t allow her to watch that.
I.V. Garrett, another friend of Rivera’s, described a similar situation from 2006 when Rivera showed up at her door frantic and saying that Williams was after her, and that she needed to get inside.
During cross examination, defense attorney Guy Cox asked the women if they had called the police or considered doing so, and neither said they did.
Also during testimony, Ricky Roddy Jr., Randy Roddy and Ray DeLa Santos testified that Williams was seen in Hallsburg near where Rivera’s body was found a few days later.
Five days before Rivera’s body was found, Williams got his car stuck in the mud on property that previously belonged to his family — the same location where Rivera’s body was later discovered.
When the Roddies saw Williams, he told them that he had been fishing, they testified. They said they found his story suspicious, since it was raining and the property wasn’t considered a prime fishing spot.
Randy Roddy Jr. said Williams smelled like rotting flesh.
But during cross examination, Roddy admitted to defense attorney Cox that the smell could have been body odor.
Cox also noted that in a statement Randy Roddy Jr. gave to a McLennan County Sheriff’s detective on May 8, he did not mention the smell.
Cox also noted that all three men gave different accounts of what Williams was wearing when they saw him.
Testimony in the trial continues this afternoon.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Trial update: Witness said white supremacist killed woman
A former member of the white supremacist group the Aryan Circle testified this afternoon that Robert Allen Byrd confessed him to killing Dana Leigh Taylor in April 2006.
Byrd, also a white supremacist according to court testimony, is on trial for capital murder in Waco’s 54th State District Court.
Henry Nelson, 29, of Longview, told jurors that he was staying at Byrd’s trailer in Johnson County when Byrd told him about the killing and said he better leave because “it’s going to get hot around here.”
Earlier today, two other Byrd acquaintances said they believed he stabbed Taylor to death.
Jennifer Perez, 25, told jurors she was with Byrd the night he killed Taylor.
They were supposed to go the next day to pick up her cousin, who was about to be paroled from prison in Gatesville, she told jurors
While at Byrd’s home in Keene, she said she recognized Taylor as being in jail with her in Tarrant County, but Taylor denied that she was there.
Perez said she and Byrd grew suspicious of Taylor because she “broke the code” about not lying to another jailmate.
The three took Perez’s truck the next morning to pick up Perez’s cousin from the Hilltop Unit in Gatesville.
But they stopped along Old Dallas Highway near Elm Mott. Byrd pulled out a knife and told Taylor to get out of the truck, Perez testified. She said Byrd and Taylor walked into the woods and she heard a scream.
Byrd returned to the truck and asked Perez if she had a rag, she said. Perez said she pointed to the back of the truck and Byrd wiped blood off his face and the knife.
They then drove to an area Wal-Mart and he bought new clothes, she said.
Other testimony came from Liz Thericut, 30, who said she was affiliated with the Aryan Circle and was at Byrd’s home because he was trying to help her and Taylor overcome a methamphetamine addiction. Thericut said Byrd was soft-spoken and had a gentle nature.
“They were both good people,” she of Taylor and Byrd. “I loved them both. But he turned into a monster and now she’s gone.”
She testified she was asleep at Byrd’s trailer house when Byrd and Perez returned from the trip. She found the bloody shirt in the truck and noticed he was wearing different clothes, she said, so she assumed that he killed Taylor.
She said he asked, “Can I trust you, Sissy?” She then asked if he killed Taylor. He replied, “I cut her,” she testified.
Prosecutor Melanie Walker confronted Thericut with her testimony to the grand jury where she said Byrd’s words were: “I cut her throat.”
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. Thericut said she was high at the grand jury and doesn’t remember what she said.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Friend testifies about last time she saw murder victim
The best friend of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in eastern McLennan County testified today that the last time she saw Erica Rivera was in the company of her boyfriend at the Falcon Club, 211 S. Loop Drive.
The boyfriend, Eric Williams, is on trial in Rivera’s murder in the 170th District Court.
Shiranda Brown said she drove Rivera to the club in April 2007. She told the six-man, six-woman jury that seconds after they parked, defendant Eric Williams approached Rivera’s side of the car and opened the door.
Brown testified that Williams told Rivera “you’re not going in there” and told her she shouldn’t be going to clubs. He put his hands on Rivera’s arms when she stepped out of the car, she said.
They remained at the car talking for awhile, but Brown testified she left to go into the club to use the restroom. When she returned to the car about 15 minutes later, the two were gone, she said.
Brown said she never saw her friend again.
Rivera’s family filed a missing person’s report on May 2, 2007.
On May 3, 2007, Williams asked a friend to help pull his car out of mud on private property off Elm Lake Road near Hallsburg. The friend, who knew Williams’ family had once owned the property, grew suspicious when he heard of Rivera’s disappearance and found her body during a search of the property.
Afternoon testimony in the case has just gotten under way.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Linens ‘n Things plans to start liquidating stores
Specialty retailer Linens ‘n Things, which filed for bankruptcy protection in May, plans to begin liquidation sales at its stores as early as Thursday after failing to find a buyer that wanted to operate the company.
“It’s a straight going-out-of business liquidation sale,” said James Schaye, president and chief executive of Hudson Capital Partners, one of the members of the investment group buying the company’s assets. He expects the process for the company’s approximately 371 remaining store locations will take about 11 weeks. The chain operates a store at 4809 Waco Drive.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hot stories
Baylor basketball player named to Big 12 preseason squad
Baylor University senior guard Curtis Jerrells has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, the conference office announced today.
Last season, Jerrells earned Baylor’s second first-team selection in Big 12 history and the first since Terry Black earned the honor following the 2000-01 season. He became the fifth player in BU history to lead the team in scoring three straight seasons
The Austin native enters his senior season 12th all-time at Baylor in scoring with 1,185 points. His career 3.69 assists per game average ranks eighth in school history.
The consensus 2008 first team All-Big 12 selection led Baylor in points (15.3), assists (3.78) and minutes (31.2). He was named to Yahoo.com’s All-America fourth team in 2008.
Joining Jerrells on the Preseason All-Big 12 team are Sherron Collins (Kansas), A.J. Abrams and Damion James (Texas) and Blake Griffin (Oklahoma). Griffin was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Kansas’ Mario Little and Oklahoma’s Willie Warren were named Preseason Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, respectively.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor sports
Second murder trial in county starts
A six-man, six-woman jury heard opening testimony today in the murder trial of Eric Williams, who is charged in the murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend.
Prosecution witnesses this morning in 170th State District Court included Rosie Nino, the mother of murder victim Erica Rivera; Joanne Gonzales, who was dating Erica’s uncle; and the uncle, Danny Casiano.
All three were at a party on April 28, 2007, at Casiano’s apartment, playing dominos and darts and cooking food. Rivera’s three children also were there, she said.
Rivera left the party with her best friend to go to clubs, which Nino said was unlike her daughter.
Rivera was last seen at the Falcon Club that night.
Family members initially weren’t alarmed that they hadn’t seen her the next couple of days, they testified. Nino cared for two of the grandchildren while another child lived with Rivera and a grandfather.
The family filed a missing person’s report on May 2. Her body was found in a shallow grave six days later in eastern McLennan County.
Nino testified that she talked had talked with Williams, who also was known as “Ice,” during the time she was missing. He told her that he saw Rivera at the Falcon Club, and that he didn’t want her to go there. Nino said Williams was known to get jealous.
She said Williams told her that Rivera got in the car with him, but then jumped out of the car’s window, and ran off. Williams didn’t try to find her, Nino testified.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Guy Cox presented a statement Nino gave police two days after her daughter’s body was found. In the statement she said she didn’t know of any violence in the couple’s relationship although they had bickered occasionally.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Murder trial of white supremacist begins
Testimony began this morning in the 54th State District Court trial of a white supremacist accused of kidnapping and stabbing to death a 39-year-old woman. Security was heavy with eight sheriff’s officers observing the proceedings.
Robert Allen Byrd is on trial in the death of Dana Leigh Taylor of Kemp.
The first witness was Irene Olivo, who describing finding the woman’s badly decomposed body on April 26, 2006, near the railroad tracks along Old Dallas Highway while she and her family were looking for wild garlic for her garden..
She said they smelled a foul odor. Her father looked over the fence but couldn’t tell what he was looking at, she said, so he called her over. They then realized it was a body and drove to a nearby Interstate 35 rest stop and called the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
Bob Fuller with the sheriff’s office testified that tried to identify the body through DNA and a profile match. A Facial reconstruction expert at the University of Texas at Arlington also was brought in.
DNA expert Lisa Sansom with the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth testified that DNA testing determined the body was Taylor’s.
During opening statements prosecutor Melanie Walker told the jury that Jennifer Perez, a member of the Aryan Circle along with Taylor and Byrd, willl testify that she saw Taylor at Byrd’s trailer house and they thought she was a “snitch” for the Aryan Circle.
Perez is expected to testify that Byrd and Taylor left in the car but only Byrd came back, Walker told the jury.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. acknowledged that Byrd is a captain in the Aryan Circle, adding that a high-ranking officer sent Taylor to stay with Byrd because she was on drugs and Byrd was supposed to help her get off drugs.
Hunt said the three stopped in Ross, where Taylor got out and left with people in a small white car. That was the last time Byrd saw her, Hunt said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
Parr brother pleads guilty in theft case
Kourtney Deshawn Parr of Waco was sentenced to seven years’ probation today in 19th State District Court after pleading guilty to engaging to organized crime.
The La Vega High School graduate, who turned 19 on Sunday, also was ordered by Judge Ralph Strother to make $7,000 in restitution. He was reportedly in a group that broke into the La Vega High School field house last year and stole money from a fundraiser that was kept inside a safe.
As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to pursue a credit-card abuse case against him.
His younger brother, Christopher Dantae Parr, returned to La Vega High School in late September after bonding out of the McLennan County Jail.
Parr is accused of holding a gun to 19-year-old Lonnie Sawyer and robbing him of his shoes and hat at 10:40 p.m. Aug. 26 in the 5200 block of Concord Road in Bellmead, according to a Bellmead police arrest warrant affidavit.
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Autopsy: Robinson man was shot twice from behind
Preliminary autopsy results in the shooting death of former champion stock-car racer Joe McMullan Sturdivant Jr. indicate that the Robinson resident was shot twice from behind.
The 68-year-old was found Wednesday night by Robinson police at his home at 3108 S. State Highway 77 with gunshot wounds.
According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where the body was sent for the autopsy, Sturdivant suffered one gunshot wound to the head and another to the back.
One was an “intermediate-range entry wound” to the back, which exited through the neck. From the other shot a large-caliber projectile was recovered, the autopsy report states.
The investigation continues into the shooting. His business, Sturdivant Auto Transmissions, in Waco has been open since 1968.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Bridgework planned on Bull Hide Creek
The Texas Department of Transportation will temporarily close Cooksey Lane at Bull Hide Creek beginning Thursday, according to a press release sent out this morning.
Here’s the rest of the release:
The closure will allow construction of a new bridge at Bull Hide Creek and is expected to last about four months.
The roadway will only be closed to through traffic between Losak Road and Southwinds Drive. Local residents will still have access to the roadway.
The closure is part of a project that began in mid-September of this year, to replace the bridges on McLennan County Road 330 (Church Road) at Harris Creek, McLennan County Road 313 (Cooksey Lane) at Bull Hide Creek and McLennan County Road 508 (Solitude Lane) at Post Oak Creek.
All three existing structures will be replaced with wider concrete and steel bridges that meet current roadway safety and design specifications. The project will also upgrade the approaches to all three bridges.
TxDOT asks that motorists seek alternate routes and cautions local residents to observe all warning signs and to be aware of construction personnel and equipment in the work area.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hot stories, Around Central Texas
Senate candidate in Waco tonight
Rick Noriega, who is running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, will have a meet-and-greet event tonight from 6 to 7 at El Conquistador on the Patio, 4508 W. Waco Drive.
Noriega and Cornyn debated in Houston Thursday night.
Noriega is a 27-year veteran of the military. He served as the Laredo sector commander for “Operation Jumpstart,” the National Guard’s border security campaign, and served with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan.
A graduate of the University of Houston and Harvard University, Noriega is a member of the Defense Affairs and State and Federal Relations Committee of the Texas House of Representatives. A father of two sons, he is married to Houston City Council member Melissa Noriega.
Click here for his Web site if you’d like to know more.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Waco woman killed; police arrest suspect
A Hill County resident has been charged with capital murder in connection with the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend’s mother in Waco.
Police said Jeremy Lee Lowrey, 24, broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home at 3900 Watt St. just before 4 a.m. today. Yolanda Leonard, 34, said she awoke to find Lowrey standing in her bedroom. She began screaming, and her mother Rebecca Leonard, 52, entered the room.
Lowrey turned toward Rebecca Leonard and began stabbing her, the report said. Jerry Patterson, 67, Rebecca Leonard’s boyfriend, heard the commotion and came into the room. Lowrey began to stab Patterson, then fled the home.
Patterson was able to get to a neighbor’s house and called the police. Police found Lowrey at 42nd Street and Waco Drive and arrested him.
Rebecca Leonard died from her injuries at the scene. Patterson was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center for surgery for his wounds and he is expected to survive, police said.
Lowrey also has been charged with attempted capital murder in connection with Patterson’s stabbing.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot stories
Ex-major leaguer Sid Hudson of Waco dies
Former major league pitcher Sid Hudson died this morning. He was 93.
Hudson lived in Waco since 1955 after pitching his final season with the Boston Red Sox in 1954. Hudson compiled a career record of 104-152 in 12 major league seasons, including a 17-16 record as a rookie with the Washington Senators in 1940. He pitched in major league All-Star games in 1941-42 before enlisting in the military during World War II.
Hudson went on to coach and scout with the Senators and Texas Rangers before starting a seven-year stint as Baylor’s pitching coach in 1987.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Pro & college sports
Police release photos of bank robbery suspect
Waco police continue to search for a man who robbed the Community Bank and Trust, 1808 Washington Ave., and are seeking your help through these bank surveillance photos.
Police were called at 10:41 this morning after the suspect, who showed no weapons, handed a note to a teller, said Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson. The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and was last seen heading toward Austin Avenue. No one was hurt in the incident.
Bank workers describe the robber as a white male in his mid- to late-20s, about 5 foot 10 inches to 6 feet tall. The suspect wore a gray T-shirt with blue accents around the collar, jeans and white athletic shoes. They describe him wearing a blue or black bandana over short, scraggly hair. The teller described him as having “real hairy arms,” Anderson said.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Downtown Waco bank robbed; police search for suspect
Police are searching this morning for a man who robbed the Community Bank and Trust, 1808 Washington Ave.
Police were called at 10:41 this morning after the suspect, who showed no weapons, handed a note to a teller, said Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson. The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and was last seen heading toward Austin Avenue. No one was hurt in the incident.
Bank workers describe the robber as a white male in his mid- to late-20s, about 5 foot 10 inches to 6 feet tall. The suspect wore a gray T-shirt with blue accents around the collar, jeans and white athletic shoes. They describe him wearing a blue or black bandana over short, scraggly hair. The teller described him as having “real hairy arms,” Anderson said.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Robbery at downtown Waco bank
We’re hearing about an armed robbery at the Community Bank and Trust branch at 18th Street and Washington Avenue downtown.
Police are searching for the suspect. Stay with wacotrib.com as we find out more.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Hooters calendar girl no longer at Waco restaurant, but we do have a photo
Those of you hoping to get a glimpse of our Waco’s Hooters girl chosen for the 2009 calendar, about which I posted yesterday, are out of luck. She moved about two weeks ago to be closer to family in the San Antonio area.
But as a consolation prize, here’s her full photo that will be in the calendar. Thanks to Alexis Aleshire, public relations manager with Hooters, for sending it after seeing the post yesterday.
I called the restaurant today to ask about doing an interview and perhaps taking photos or a video (because, well, you the people requested it), but was told Janelle Carbrera moved away right before the calendars arrived at the Waco store.
And guys, she has a twin sister … in California.
You can, of course, still purchase the calendar, which is available at the restaurant.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot stories, Around Central Texas, This, that
Brook Avenue Elementary gets rating upgraded
Brook Avenue Elementary School is now rated “academically acceptable” after winning its appeal to the Texas Education Agency.
During the summer, the school received an “unacceptable” rating but the campus has learned of its official upgrade from the TEA.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education
Robinson police investigate man’s shooting death
Robinson police are investigating the death of a 68-year-old man whose body was found in his home in the 3100 block of U.S. Highway 77 South Wednesday afternoon.
Joe Sturdivant had apparent multiple gunshot wounds, Robinson Police Chief Rusty Smith said in a news release. Police were called to the home at 5:23 p.m. Wednesday.
It wasn’t until Justice of the Peace Kristi DeCluitt pronounced the victim dead at 10:15 p.m. that detectives were able to fully examine the body and discovered what appeared to be bullet wounds, the release said.
Sturdivant lived in the home with his wife. Early reports indicate that no one else was home when the shooting occurred, the release said. Police said that Sturdivant’s wounds do not appear to be self-inflicted.
There is no preliminary evidence to indicate who is responsible for the man’s death, Smith said.
Robinson police called in assistance from the Lacy-Lakeview, Woodway and Waco police departments as well as the Texas Department of Public Safety. The residence is surrounded by about 15 acres of mostly brushy growth, which required additional officers to help search the area, the release said.
Sturdivant’s body was sent to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office and Forensic Science Laboratories for an autopsy.
The victim was assaulted at his home Sept. 27, 2007, when someone entered his residence in the early morning, police said. No one was ever charged as a suspect in that case and there is no preliminary evidence to indicate that the incidents are related, the release said.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Robinson Police Department at 662-0525. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 753-4357.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hot stories
Youth baseball coach indicted in sexual assault of teen player
A Bell County grand jury today indicted William Thomas Jacobsen - the former Little River-Academy youth baseball coach accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old player - on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, Bell County First Assistant District Attorney Murff Bledsoe said.
Bledsoe said Jacobsen’s wife, Marilyn Wesson, 57, was indicted for hindering apprehension, Bledsoe said.
Jacobsen, 31, and Wesson left the Little River-Academy area in June and fled to Mexico following allegations that Jacobsen sexually abused a member of the team he coached. Jacobsen and Wesson were arrested in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, in August after photos and videos of the pair shopping at a pawn shop surfaced in early July.
Both were released to U.S. authorities and transferred to the Bell County jail where they remain awaiting arraignment this afternoon, Bledsoe said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse
Local Hooters girl makes company calendar
Alas, we don’t have a photograph, merely an e-mailed press release from Hooters of America announcing that one of the Hooters Girls who works at the Waco restaurant is in the 2009 Hooters Swimsuit Calendar.
Janelle Carbrera made it through several photo sessions and photo selection processes to grace the calendar, the company announced in a statement. The press release also says the calendar is now in stores.
Below is more of the release:
“It’s very exciting for everyone at Hooters when the calendars hit the stores. We’re thrilled for Janelle and are proud to recognize her in this year’s edition as one of the best looking women in the world,” said Alexis Aleshire, public relations manager for Hooters of America.
This year will mark Hooters Calendar’s 23rd year, where distribution is estimated at a half=million worldwide, continuing their reputation as the best-selling calendar of its kind. Besides the famous Hooters Girls and jokes of the day, the Hooters calendar is unique because the months are out of order.
According to Doug Vollmer, head photographer and project director of the Hooters Calendar, “As far as the months being out of order, that was how they came back from the printer back in 1986, for proofing. We kind of liked the idea that, in order to find the right month, you had to search through the entire calendar again and that way, you would re-visit all of the girls and jokes again. So you’re not just seeing them for one month, you’re seeing them every month.”
For more information, visit Hooters of Waco or www.hooterscalendar.com.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Report: More Afghan civilians were killed in airstrike
The New York Times is reporting that an investigation by the military has concluded that U.S. airstrikes on Aug. 22 in a village in western Afghanistan killed many more civilians than U.S. commanders there have acknowledged, according to two American military officials.
The military investigator’s report found that more than 30 civilians — not five to seven as the military has long insisted — died in the airstrikes against a suspected Taliban compound in Azizabad.
The investigator, Brig. Gen. Michael W. Callan of the Air Force, concluded that many more civilians, including women and children, had been buried in the rubble than the military had asserted, one of the military officials said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Military, World news
Russian forces making final pullback in Georgia
Russian forces pulled back today from positions outside South Ossetia, bulldozing a camp at a key checkpoint and withdrawing into the separatist region as European Union monitors and relieved Georgian residents looked on.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking in France, said Russian forces would leave areas in Georgia around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another separatist region, by midnight.
Dozens of armored personnel carriers, military trucks and transport vehicles rolled north through the Russian-established buffer zone and entered South Ossetia. Georgians, frightened by weeks of arson and looting blamed on Russia’s South Ossetian allies, lined the road to watch.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, World news
Third man arrested in Waco killing
Waco police arrested a third person today in the August shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Louis Nevarez, of Belton.
Officers acting on a tip arrested Larry Vonzell Waits at a residence in the 1600 block of North 18th Street about 2:30p.m., said Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson.
On Aug. 23, officers were dispatched at 4 a.m. to the 2500 block of Cole Avenue after a passerby found Nevarez lying in the street and unresponsive. When officers arrived they found Nevarez suffering from what looked like a gunshot wound to the head, Anderson said.
Last month, officers arrested Waco residents Keith Wayne Caulfield, 19, and Steve Kelly, 18, on murder charges in Nevarez’ death, police said.
Kelly also was charged with retaliation for allegedly threatening a woman at Trendwood Apartments after learning that she spoke with police about Nevarez’s death, Anderson said.
Police also arrested Dantwan Bradley, 19, and charged him with retaliation after identifying him as Kelly’s accomplice in the threat, Anderson said.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Midway ISD hearing tonight on attendance zones
Midwtay ISD will have its hearing at 6:30 tonight in the high school theater/auditorium to present the draft attendance zone map option and to gather feedback from the community.
The attendance zones for the elementary and intermediate campuses are being redrawn because of the addition of a sixth elementary school — Castleman Creek — next year and a second intermediate school in 2010.
The schools attendance zone advisory committee will take tonight’s feedback and prepare a recommendation for the school board.
For a look at the proposed zone maps, click here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education
Trial update: State rests in child porn case
Prosecutors this morning rested their case against a Utah man in his punishment trial for sending child pornography images to a Waco woman’s cell phone.
Brandon Terry Welte, 29, pleaded guilty to four counts of possession or promotion of child pornography Monday and is letting a 54th State District Court jury decide his punishment. He could receive up to 80 years in prison.
The last witness for the prosecution was a former member of the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force who assisted in the investigation.
The former task force member talked about Welte’s confession about sending the sexually explicit photographs to a 34-year-old Waco woman via an Internet chat line on her cell phone.
She said he seemed relieved that investigators wanted only to talk to him about the pictures. He had told the Waco woman that the children in the photos were his 8-, 3- and 1-year-old daughters and that he had sex with them.
Investigators, however, determined that Welte was using his girlfriend’s cell phone to send the text messages and learned from her that he didn’t have any children, the ex-task force member said.
He told investigators that he knew it was against the law to send the images, but he gets a “rush” out of it, she testified.
Defense attorney Guy Cox will call his witnesses this afternoon, including Welte’s father and grandfather, who have law enforcement ties, and a fire chief from his hometown in Utah.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
National Night Out is tonight
The 25th annual National Night Out, which invites neighbors to visit with each other as a way to promote “taking back” their neighborhoods and preventing crime, is tonight in cities across Texas.
The Lone Star State was allowed to move its event from the second Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday of October to avoid the oppressive heat.
Waco law enforcement officials are traveling through the city beginning at 6 p.m. Two caravans of law enforcement officials will travel to registered parties in the city to meet residents. Officials from Waco police, fire and EMS departments, Baylor Police Department, SWAT team, Department of Public Safety and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are participating.
“Each caravan is going to do some kind of giveaway for the kids, and there will be a short educational information session as well,” said Estella Lopez, crime prevention specialist with the Waco Police Department. “It’s our way to be able to mingle and socialize with the community, which we usually aren’t able to do.”
Lopez said there are 19 registered parties this year, including the Alta Vista, Dean Highland, Mountainview, Brook Oaks, Brookview, Heart of Texas and West Waco neighborhood associations. The number is a little lower than normal, which she attributes to the date change and the fact that students have school the next day.
“What I’m hoping will come from this is that people in the neighborhoods will come out together and get to know each other and start helping each other keep crime out of the area,” Lopez said.
For more information, call 750-1761. Visit www.waco-texas.com for a list of registered parties.
Other cities that we know are holding block parties are Woodway and Hewitt. Their police departments also will visit the various block parties being held.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, City hall
Baylor men’s basketball third in Big 12 preseason poll
The Baylor men’s basketball team easily surpassed its highest preseason prediction in Big 12 history, tying Kansas for third in the 2008-09 Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll released today.
The Bears, coming off their first NCAA appearance since 1988, received first-place votes (two) for the first time in Big 12 history. Prior to this poll, the highest BU had been selected in the preseason tally was No. 7 in 2006-07. Last season, the Bears were tabbed No. 9 in the preseason poll.
Baylor finished six points behind preseason favorite Oklahoma (three first-place votes) and four behind second-place Texas (four first-place votes). KU, the defending NCAA champion, received the remaining three first-place votes.
Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Missouri — all postseason squads last season — were chosen fifth, sixth and seventh. The remainder of the poll is Kansas State at No. 8, followed by Nebraska, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Colorado.
The Big 12 Conference will hold its preseason media day on Thursday, Oct. 23 in Oklahoma City — site of the 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championships.
Baylor’s 2008-09 season gets under way on Saturday, Nov. 15 when the Bears host Paul Quinn College at 3 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Baylor sports
McLennan County lifts burn ban
The McLennan County Commissioners Court temporarily lifted a countywide burn ban today, citing Monday’s rainfall to the region.
Commissioners said today that parts of the county had received half an inch to 3 inches of rain by Tuesday morning. The official gauge at Waco Regional Airport recorded 2.92 inches.
The burn ban had gone into effect Sept. 30 for the county when it had a rating of 677 on the Keetch-Byran Drought Index
The court said it would review the drought index rating for the county again at next Tuesday’s meeting. The long-range forecast for the region indicates that the area will receive below normal rainfall until February, County Judge Jim Lewis said.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Weather
Trial update: Waco woman tells of receiving child porn images
A Waco woman told a 54th State District Court jury this morning that she was shocked when she received images of child pornography from a Utah man over her cell phone.
The 34-year-old woman testified about using her cell phone to sign on to an Internet chat line to talk about sexual fantasies when she began exchanging text messages with Brandon Terry Welte, 29.
Welte has pleaded guilty to four counts of possession or promotion of child pornography, but is letting the jury decide his punishment. He could face up to 80 years in prison.
The woman said she began exchanging text messages with Welte, who had the username “gooddaddy,” about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 10. She said she told Welte on the chat line that she was 15 years old because he said he liked young girls.
But then “gooddaddy” sent her five or six images that she thought was child pornography, she said. The first image arrived about 2:30 a.m., she said. He also told her that he was having sex with his daughters, ages 8, 3 and 1.
She continued to text-message him until 9 a.m. the next day when she went to police, the woman said. When asked why she stayed on the chat line that long, she said he knew police needed plenty of evidence, based on Lifetime TV movies she watched.
Waco police Sgt. Scott Holt said the woman received 57 text messages from Welte before suspending their exchanges. Her cell phone received another 15 messages from the defendant after she went to police, Holt said.
Judge Matt Johnson had the courtroom’s shades drawn so no one could see anything from the hallways while jurors viewed the images sent to the woman’s cell phone on a big screen.
Sgt. Chris Kingery, the Waco Police Department’s computer crimes investigator, was headed to the stand next.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Courthouse, Police & crime
One dead in Woodway house fire
One woman is dead from an early morning fire in Woodway, according to Woodway Public Department officials.
Woodway received a call from a passer-by on U.S. Highway about 3:05 a.m. today that the fire could be seen from the roadway, according to Woodway Public Safety Chief Yost Zakhary. Officers were dispatched and within a minute found the home at 13854 Harbor Drive fully involved, he said.
Flames had penetrated the wood-frame house and the roof was starting to collapse as firefighters arrived, he said. It took three firefighting units and about 25 firefighters about 45 minutes to get the blaze under control, he said.
The body was later found in a bedroom, Zakhary said. Justice of the Peace Kristi DeCluitt sent the body to Southwestern Forensics Institute in Dallas for an autopsy.
While the identity of the body hasn’t been confirmed, Zakhary did say the owner of the home was an 87-year-old woman who had lived there for more than 30 years and was seen by neighbors at the house the night before.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In the above photo, Woodway firefighters dig through the charred remains of a home on Harbor Drive this morning.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Police & crime
Child porn trial under way for Utah man in Waco court
The punishment trial of a Utah man who pleaded guilty to sending images of child pornography to a Waco woman on her cell phone began this morning.
Prosecutor Charissa Sloan presented opening statements in the 54th State District Court trial of Brandon Terry Welte, 29.
She said that Welte and a Waco woman initially corresponded on a computer chat line but later exchanged cell phone numbers. Welte sent to the woman’s cell phone images of children ranging from toddler-age to about 8 years old engaging in sexual acts, Sloan said.
He also sent an image of his face, as well as images of male genitalia and a sexually explicit video of a man, the prosecutor said. He told the woman that the children images were of his kids and that he was sexually abusing them, Sloan said.
She then responded to him that she was 15 years old, although her user profile on the computer chat line said she was 30. Upset, the woman went to the Waco Police Department, Sloan said.
Welte confessed to Utah police, but said he didn’t think it was that big a deal, the prosecutor said. An additional 20-25 images of child pornography was found by police on his cell phone, she said.
Welte was extradited by county officials from Herriman, Utah.
“During the course of this trial you need to ask yourself: ‘Is this the type of person or the type of offense we can risk sending this person back into the community?’ ” Sloan told the jurors.
Welte could receive up to 80 years in prison. His defense lawyer, Guy Cox, is seeking probation. He said his client received the images the same day he sent them to Waco. Welte has no history of this type of activity, he added.
“This boy is 29 years old and has wrecked his life over a huge, terrible indiscretion,” Cox said.
Waco police Sgt. Scott Holt is the prosecution’s first witness.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot stories, Courthouse, Police & crime
Public input sought on Brazos, Bosque river corridor survey
Community members are invited to provide input and complete a survey regarding Waco’s Brazos and Bosque River Corridor, according to a release sent out by the city.
The survey, which is available online at www.waco-texas.com and www.wacocvb.com, will assist in the development of a master plan for the corridor. Surveys must be completed by Oct. 13.
A public meeting to discuss the survey and the master plan will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Waco Convention Center’s Bosque Theater.
The master plan is being developed through a National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Grant. Numerous organizations are participating in the development of the plan, including the City of Waco, National Park Service, Baylor University, McLennan Community College, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local chambers of commerce.
For those without computer access, computers are available at the Dewey Recreation Center, 925 N. Ninth St., and local libraries. Print copies of the survey are available at the parks and recreation office, 201 W. Waco Drive.
For information, call the parks and recreation office at 750-5980.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot stories, City hall
Accidents occurring on rain-slick roads
With the rain comes an increase in car accidents, local officials are reporting.
The McLennan County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety report that there have been a number of fender-benders in the area this morning due to the rain.
The DPS said most of the accidents have occurred along Interstate 35, though no major injuries have been reported.
Officials are encouraging drivers to exercise caution and monitor speed and safety while on the road.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Police & crime
Boil-water notice lifted for Lorena
A boil-water notice in Lorena was lifted at 5:30 p.m. today, a city spokesman said in a release.
Lab testing confirmed the water is safe to drink, the release stated. The notice was put in place when utility crews began working on a water line Friday morning.
For more information, contact the city at 857-4641.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Waco Whataburger remodeled with Dr Pepper theme
The Whataburger restaurant at 928 S. Seventh St. near Baylor University will have a grand re-opening Saturday afternoon to show off its new Dr Pepper-influenced renovations.
The event was originally scheduled for Sept. 13, but you might recall that a lot of things were postponed because of Hurricane Ike’s landfall that day.
More information is in this news release below:
Whataburger and Dr Pepper, two iconic Texas brands with a long history in Waco, will partner to celebrate the completion of a large remodeling effort to one of the city’s oldest Whataburger locations on Saturday, October 4. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. and continues until 5 p.m. at the Whataburger restaurant located across IH-35 from Baylor University at 928 S. Seventh St.
The festivities will mark the debut of the restaurant’s modern and newly renovated Dr Pepper-themed décor, a nod to the location’s proximity to the world famous Dr Pepper Museum a few blocks away. The dining room features Dr Pepper memorabilia as well as new seating and table tops. Additional changes include a new customer drink station, exterior painting and landscaping.
The restaurant first opened in 1972 as Waco’s second Whataburger location and it is the only location in the country to feature historic Dr Pepper décor. Construction on the restaurant began August 10 and was completed August 15.
“The Waco community has strongly supported Whataburger since we opened our first restaurant here nearly 40 years ago and this is just one way to thank our customers for their business over the years,” said Todd Neer, a regional director of operations for Whataburger Restaurants. “We’re thrilled to offer a more comfortable dining experience for our customers and celebrate the Texas connections between Waco and Dr Pepper. We enjoyed collaborating on a project that both companies are proud to be a part of.”
Customers will have the opportunity to win $50 gift cards and other prizes every 23 minutes (the number of flavors in Dr Pepper). The first 100 people will receive a commemorative glass and radio station Waco 100 will provide music as loyal fans partake in fun, games and giveaways. Customers can also taste Whataburger’s first-ever honey mustard, barbecue and ranch dipping sauces for chicken strips before they are available in all of Whataburger’s restaurants as part of a sneak peek event.
Family-owned Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950, when company founder Harmon Dobson opened his first Whataburger restaurant in Corpus Christi. The small, wooden stand sold the enormous burgers for 25 cents each, and before the first week was out, lines stretched down the street. Whataburger opened its first location in Waco in 1969 and now has five restaurants in the city. Today, the company has more than 700 locations across 10 states. Visit whataburger.com for more information.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Business, This, that
Waco Salvation Army member reports from Galveston
It’s truly amazing what you can find on Youtube. The Salvation Army of Waco just e-mailed us this youtube link of a short interview (51 seconds) with Capt. Tracey Czajkowski of Waco, who went to Galveston to help victims of Hurricane Ike.
The Texas Salvation Army has a number of videos on Youtube showing its efforts in helping Ike victims.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Hurricane Ike, Around the state
Trailer fire called suspicous
Lacy-Lakeview authorities are investigating an early morning mobile home fire as suspicious after ruling out all accidental causes.
Fire investigators say no one was in the recreational vehicle when a fire broke out shortly after 1 a.m. at 1010 E. Crest Drive in Lacy-Lakeview.
Dennis Stapleton, Lacy-Lakeview Public Safety Department chief, said investigators have ruled the cause of the fire “suspicious” after eliminating all traditional accidental causes.
Stapleton said the investigation is ongoing.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Man dead after nightclub brawl in Navarro County
The Navarro County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Houston man after a nightclub brawl early today.
Fernando Ramirez, 35, died after injuries suffered during an altercation at Wispers, a nude dancer’s club in Angus, just south of Corsicana.
The incident happened shortly after midnight, said Mike Cox, spokesman for the sheriff’s department. Ramirez and a co-worker left the club and began traveling on U.S. Interstate 45. The co-worker pulled the vehicle over near the Navarro/Freestone County line and called 9-1-1 for help.
The Corsicana Fire Department arrived and drove Ramirez to East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield where he was pronounced dead.
Cox said the nature of the altercation and the extent of Ramirez’ injuries is not known. Freestone County Justice of the Peace Theresa Farris has ordered an autopsy.
“Some say it was a gunshot. Others were saying he got stabbed. So we don’t know what happened,” Cox said. “He was visibly injured, and fatally so, but it’s not known how that occurred.”
No arrests have been made, and the case is under investigation by the sheriff’s office, Cox said. It is not known why Ramirez and the co-worker were in Angus.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Police & crime
Rescheduled Puppy Plunge on Sunday
After postponing Puppy Plunge Day due to Hurricane Ike, the wet and wild canine celebration will now take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Waco Water Park, 900 Lake Shore Drive.
According to the city, activities will include a swimsuit contest (now that sounds intriguing), a retrieving competition, training demonstrations, micro-chipping and open swimming. Awards and door prizes will be given out throughout the event.
Cost is $5 per dog. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Waco Humane Society. The first 100 dogs will receive a free goodie bag. Dogs must have current shot records, and no aggressive dogs will be allowed.
Puppy Plunge Day is presented by Petco, Dogtopia and the city of Waco parks and recreation department.
For information, call 750-5781.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Entertainment, Nonprofit news
Waco ISD students in razor-blade scuffle await punishment
Two Waco ISD high school girls face being placed in the district’s alternative campus after a fight involving a razor blade aboard a school bus.
Disciplinary hearings will be scheduled for each of the 15-year-old students to determine the start and duration of their punishment at the alternative campus, said Dale Caffey, spokesman for the school district. He did not know this morning when the hearings would be held.
The fight happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as the school bus was in the area of 12th Street and West Avenue. One girl slapped the other, who took the blade from a disposable razor and slashed the first girl across the bridge of her nose and across her eyebrow, police said.
The bus driver pulled over as soon as the fight broke out, police said. The girl who was cut ran off the bus and to her home at the Parkside Village Apartments, police said. She was then taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center to be treated for the cuts.
The other girl was taken to Bill Logue Juvenile Detention Center and charged with aggravated assault, police said. It was not known this morning whether she was still in the detention center.
One girl told police she was a student at Waco High, while the other said she was a student at University High. Police did not know why the two girls were fighting or why they were on the same bus.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Education, Police & crime
Another marijuana farm bust in Navarro County
A man was arrested in Navarro County after officials discovered more than 2,000 marijuana plants growing in a rural property.
Rodolfo Valdez Hernandez, 34, was charged with with possession of marijuana Tuesday and remains in the Navarro County Jail. Bond has not been set.
The sheriff’s department raided a five-acre rural property three miles southeast of Emhouse. Deputies discovered 2,158 marijuana plants on the wooded land, including about 200 that had been harvested and were suspended for drying out to be processed and packaged for sale.
Deputies also found a chainsaw, homemade battery-operated watering system, several packages of Miracle-Gro and a 30/30-caliber, lever-action rifle in makeshift living quarters on the property.
This is the fourth large marijuana growing operation discovered this year in the county.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Police & crime
Have you seen our HOT Fair & Rodeo parade pics yet?
We’ve got plenty of photographs online from yesterday’s Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo parade in downtown Waco. Be sure to check them out here.
There’s lots more on our 2008 HOT Fair & Rodeo page.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines
Grant presented in Waco for Texas Advocacy Project
A $50,000 grant is being presented to the Texas Advocacy Project right about now at the David Wilson Allstate Insurance Agency in Waco to help victims of domestic violence.
The Allstate Foundation is giving the $50,000 check as part of its Economic Empowerment Program and to make the start of October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month..
According to a release, the Texas Advocacy Project has helped more than 8,000 victims of domestic violence across Texas in 2008.
The release notes: “The Project serves as a last resort for women who have no means of accessing the legal system to escape their dangerous daily dilemma, often taking on precedent-setting cases that can set the tone for survivors’ legal battles for years to come. The Project’s roots originated with its desire to provide a legal hotline for victims in need and it began with only three volunteer lawyers. Today, that hotline serves more than 10,000 Texans each year and the Project provides a full range of legal services to help survivors.
For more information, visit TexasAdvocacyProject.org.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Business, Nonprofit news
Rockdale’s Alcoa plant to close smelting operation
The Austin American-Statesman is reporting an announcement by aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Inc. that it will lay off 660 employees and close its Rockdale smelting operation.
That could be a devastating blow to the Milam County town of 5,822.
Problems with getting electricity, coupled with turbulent market conditions and inefficiency at the plant, led to the layoffs, said Kevin Lowery, a spokesman for the Pittsburgh-based company. The company laid off 160 employees in June as it ceased half its smelting operations. With the complete shutdown of its remaining production lines, the number of jobs cut multiplied, the Statesman reported.
The latest round of layoffs will begin in late November. The company will continue some operations in Rockdale, employing a combined 140 people.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, Around Central Texas, Business
District football on a Tuesday night?
High school football teams in eight-team districts got their league games under way this past Friday night, unless you live in Southeast Texas where the Hurricane Ike-ravaged area has forced some creative restructuring.
District 20-4A, a league I covered when I worked sports in that area, is playing catchup by playing twice this week. District openers were last night, while the second game of the district slate will be played on Saturday.
Beaumont West Brook, meanwhile, a 5A school that doesn’t start its six-team district schedule until next week, may be going all season with a temporary scoreboard that blew down during the hurricane.
Instead of a blue scoreboard with the mascot’s name “Bruins,” this one is red and reads “Lions.” It was a replacement scoreboard sent to the school by Houston-based Spectrum Corp.
Coach Craig Stump said he would have preferred the scoreboard company give West Brook one that said “Home” instead of “Lions,” but he’ll take what he can get.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Headlines, High school sports
