Archive for July, 2008

DeSoto Apartment Fire Leaves Two Injured

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

A fire at DeSoto’s Brookhollow Apartments  the evening of July 28 left a boy believed to be about three years of age with second and third degree burns. He was transported to Children’s Medical Center Dallas. A man was also treated at Parkland Hospital for smoke inhalation he suffered.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to DeSoto fire officials. The Red Cross is helping to find homes for an estimated 40 residents displaced in the fire, which destroyed 12 of the apartment complex’s 16 units.

This is the second major fire to strike DeSoto in a little over a month. In June a fire decimated the Hampton Road strip center that housed the popular eatery Peking Dragon.

LISD Trustees Have Concerns About Lewis

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Talking to the students in the Lancaster High School journalism program, I hoped and prayed that the rumors swirling around the school district would prove false. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what Larry Lewis, Carolyn Morris or Brian Allen thinks should happen. It’s about the district’s students and the education they deserve.

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Duncanville Police Looking for Bank Robber

Monday, July 28th, 2008

The suspect that robbed the Bank of America at 600 E. Camp Wisdom Rd. is still at large and Duncanville Police need the public’s help in locating him. The suspect is a black male last seen wearing a black baseball cap and a long black sleeved shirt. Police ask anyone with information on the crime to call 972-780-5037. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone with information leading to this suspect’s capture.

Fire Breaks Out at Lancaster Fire Chief’s Home

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Firefighters were dispatched to Lancaster’s Fire Chief Dick Knopf’s home in the 300 block of Houston School Road at 8:24 p.m. Saturday night on a two alarm fire.  The fire is suspected to have started in the garage.  Lancaster’s fire department received mutual aid from the fire departments of Desoto ,Dallas, Waxahachie, Red Oak, Ovilla and Hutchins.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

DeSoto’s Hobbs Recovering from Injuries

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

New England Patriots 2008 Headshots

DeSoto High School alum Ellis Hobbs, an integral part of the New England Patriots’ 2007 Super Bowl run, is pretty banged up. Hobbs had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in February and in March had a hernia operation. Hobbs played Super Bowl XLII while battling both injuries.

He begins Pats’ training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Free agency decimated the New England secondary as both Asante Samuel and Randall Gay took the money and moved on. That makes Hobbs the team’s top returning corner, so New England will need him at 100 percent or as close as he can get by the season’s opener.

At 5-9 and 195 lbs. Hobbs doesn’t fit the league’s current pattern of big cornerbacks. Many passed over him in the draft because of size concerns. But New England picked him up in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft and Hobbs has become a big contributor.

He’s also part of an incredible legacy at DHS which has four players in the NFL and another playing in the CFL. Patrick Crayton is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, running back Tatum Bell is battling for the starting job in Detroit and defensive lineman Marcus Tubbs is with the Seattle Seahawks. North of the border, Casey Printers is holding things down as the quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Lancaster Library Wraps Up Summer Programs

Friday, July 25th, 2008

The Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library is wrapping up the summer reading club with awards parties for each age group. Top readers will receive prizes during the festivities.

The preschooler’s wrap-up party will be held July 29 at 10 a.m. Miss Jo will entertain with songs and stories. The school-aged children’s wrap-up party is slated for July 31 at 2 p.m. Teens will have their wrap-up party at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31.

The fall schedule for preschool story hour at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays will resume August 19. Daycare story hour will resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 20. Family story hour will continue to be held the first and third Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.

These events are free of charge and open to the public. The library is located at 1600 Veterans Memorial Parkway, in the Lancaster Community Park. For further information and directions, see the library web site or call (972) 227-1080.

Duncanville Doesn’t Want ‘Swingtown’ Image

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

I just finished reading the 19-page affidavit detailing the charges against The Cherry Pit owners and I’m physically ill. It’s more proof that the image of incredibly gorgeous people having romantic interludes with no consequences happens only on TV shows.

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Cedar Hill Dodges Bad Publicity Bullet

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Before Dallas shock jock Russ Martin settled on a home in Southlake, scuttlebutt in the local real estate industry mentioned him looking at homes in Cedar Hill along Joe Pool Lake.

With Martin now facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in regards to an incident with his girlfriend, it’s a good thing for the Best Southwest Martin ended up elsewhere. Those folks north of the Trinity just have a problem keeping it together in polite company.

Cherry Pit Raided Again, Alcohol Seized

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Duncanville police returned to the Cherry Pit Tuesday afternoon, this time with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. City officials said there was a large amount of alcohol at the residence. It couldn’t be seized Saturday since it was not part of the initial warrant. Pit owner Jim Trulock has said that patrons of his establishment bring their own alcohol to the home. But the reportedly large amounts of alcohol confiscated could open the Cherry Pit up to charges of running an unlicensed bar.

The city is cracking down on the swingers club, City Manager Kent Cagle telling the Dallas Morning News that charges of prostitution and money laundering could also be in the works. With no definitive take on the constitutionality of Duncanville’s sex club ban en route for a while, in the meantime the legal advantage is the city’s. And they’re going to make it very difficult for the Cherry Pit to party.

Editor’s Note: I shudder to think of the kind of spam these Cherry Pit stories are going to attract to my site.

Lancaster Seeks Citizens for Boards and Commissions

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Cities need concerned individuals to serve on the boards and commissions that make important community decisions. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, call 972-218-1300 or or go the city’s website.