Archive for the ‘DeSoto’ Category

DeSoto Man Charged With Murder in Car Accident

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

A 22 year-old DeSoto man has been charged with a murder after a Cedar Hill car accident that killed a woman just before midnight February 4. It began with a Duncanville officer attempting to pull Tyrone Lee Sims II over for a defective headlight.

As the officer was approaching the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect fled heading south toward the intersection of Wintergreen Road and Duncanville Road.

The officer returned to his patrol car and drove towards where Sims fled and witnessed both the suspect’s and victim’s car spinning out of control. Both had been heading south on Duncanville Road and collided when Sims passed another vehicle and hit the victim while she was turning east in the 1400 block Wintergreen Road.

Sims was initially charged with evading arrest and detention. The charges were upgraded because while in the act of committing a felony, Sims caused the death of another person.

He was driving a dark blue Chevy Tahoe when he collided with the victim, a 21 year-old Gladys Isela Barrientos, of DeSoto,who was driving a white Honda Civic. She was transported to Charlton Methodist Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Sims was not injured in the crash and did not appear to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest. However, officers did find an empty beer can outside of his vehicle. As a result, a toxicology report has been ordered to verify whether alcohol was a factor in the collision.

DeSoto Dining And Dialogue Deadline Coming

Friday, January 29th, 2010

DeSoto Dining and Dialogue is a volunteer organization that puts on private dinner events allowing people to discuss the issues facing the city. The discussions are held three times a year and a number of things are on the table for discussion.

The upcoming agenda will include public transportation possibilities for DeSoto. The event will be Feb. 27 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The deadline for registration is February 10. For more info or to register, visit the Dining and Dialogue site.

DeSoto Talks Public Transportation

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Public transportation is never very far from the forefront of debates about the area’s future. The city is asking questions about the topic at its blog. Also, the city will host a town hall meeting Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 211 E. Pleasant Run Rd.

Public transportation will also be discussed at the Feb. 27 DeSoto Dining and Dialogue event Feb. 27. The city blog, town hall meeting and DeSoto Dining and Dialogue give you multiple chances to have a say on this important issue. I urge you to take advantage of as many as you can.

This is a pretty huge decision and you don’t want your leaders making it without your input.

DeSoto Arrest Shines Light on Mystery Shopping Scams

Monday, December 21st, 2009

An ex-con that for more than 20 years has helped reform other convicted felons is in trouble for a bad check he says he tried to cash in good faith.

The Ft. Worth Star Telegram’s Dave Lieber reports on the unusual case that saw Randolph Shaheed arrested in a common mystery shopping scam. Shaheed received a $1,950 check and a promise of a job offer as a mystery shopper. When he attempted to cash the check at a DeSoto Wells Fargo, he was arrested on suspicion of forgery of a financial instrument.

Many people have been fooled by similar scams, Oprah Winfrey even did a show about this and other common hustles. But most people get the benefit of doubt as scam victims. Most people, however, did not serve 15 years in prison for killing a grocery store clerk.

Since his 1984 release though, Shaheed has been an exemplary citizen and became a minister. He also founded a group that gives other ex-cons practical help including finding employment and counseling.

Two days before his arrest, the Dallas office of the Parole Division honored Shaheed at its Success Celebration. This case, as you might imagine, has already made national news. It’s the complete antithesis of the kind of publicity the 2006 All-America City (or any city, really) wants to have.

This seemingly routine arrest is on its way to becoming one of the most celebrated bad check cases in history.

DeSoto Has Beer and Wine: Now What?

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Whether you agree with the idea of beer and wine sales in DeSoto or not, voters approved it in November. So I’m putting the question to you, readers: What businesses should the city be pursuing with the economic advantages it could gain through beer and wine sales?

As we know, the potential to bring Costco to Duncanville was one of the motivating factors in that city’s successful beer and wine push. Along with Costco came of course convenience stores and stores specializing in wine sales.

On the other end of the spectrum, Sprouts Farmers Market was extremely anxious to set up shop in Cedar Hill even though it can’t sell alcoholic beverages there.

And let me mention again, we want your comments and input regardless of how you voted on the issue. What businesses would you like to see in DeSoto, and which ones should be avoided?

DeSoto Firefighters Sponsor Toy Drive

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

The DeSoto Firefighters’ Association is working to make the holiday season brighter for boys and girls aged six through eleven years old. They’ll be collecting toys at all DeSoto fire stations and at DeSoto City Hall until December 16.

Also, during the DeSoto Christmas parade December 5th at 6 p.m., the firefighters want to fill the bed of a utility truck with toys. They’re asking parade attendees to bring an unwrapped toy to the parade and give it to a firefighter.

Lend a Hand This Holiday Season

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

It is great to give thanks for all that we have, but it is even better to give back. Especially in today’s trying times, if you have a roof over your head, food to eat and your lights are turned on there are many who are not as fortunate.

There are a lot of dedicated Best Southwest Citizens already helping, and they can always use a little assistance.

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Cowboys Win By a Crayton

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

DeSoto’s own Patrick Crayton’s third touchdown this year was one of the most important of the Dallas Cowboy season. The last second score saved the Boys from an embarrassing loss to one of the league’s worst teams.

It also was the only touchdown of a game so ugly not even its mother could love it. The Cowboy offense looked out of sync all day, but Tony Romo and Crayton connected when it counted most.

Still, Dallas fans have to be more than a little concerned. For the past several years the team has faded in December, and this late November contest conjured up images of those games.

Wade Phillips may want to have the resume ready or the retirement plan picked out.

Local Suspects Plead Innocent of Medicare Fraud

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Five people, including two from the Best Southwest, yesterday pleaded innocent of conspiracy to defraud Medicare and Medicaid in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The  indictment alleges Statewide Physical Medicine Group Inc. billed Medicare and Medicaid for more than $39 million in services in Mississippi from 2000 to 2005. The government agencies paid out $18 million.

On Wednesday Theddis Pearson of Houston, Telandra Jones of Duncanville, Dr. Cassandra Thomas of Jackson; Alonza Williams of DeSoto,  and Dr. Colie Crutcher of Meridian all pleaded innocent and were released on $50,000 unsecured bond.

Beer And Wine Sales Approved for DeSoto

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

In a huge turn of voter support from two years ago, beer and wine sales passed in DeSoto by a wide margin Nov.3.  Sixty-two percent of the nearly 5,000 voters that weighed in were in favor of packaged beer and wine sales. Those sales failed by nearly 400 votes in 2007.

Duncanville’s passage of packaged beer and wine sales in 2003 wasn’t enough to move DeSoto voters in favor of the measure. But when Glenn Heights approved beer and wine in 2008, it appears to have dramatically changed the political climate in DeSoto.

Nearby Lancaster has brought the issue to a vote on more than one occasion but  measures to bring beer and wine have failed.  Lancaster Mayor Marcus Knight, during his 2008 campaign, said he stands by what the community has done and would not bring the issue forth again.