The biggest story in Lancaster continues to be the school district. Lancaster ISD has not had the best of luck with its superintendents in recent years. His administration predates my time covering the district, but there are still many people who still blame former superintendent Bill Ward for the financial problems.
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Archive for the ‘Lancaster’ Category
Superintendent, Interrupted
Monday, January 18th, 2010Court Date Set In County Jail Death
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009The Victoria Advocate reports on the case of Charles Ray Sempe, killed in Dallas County jail after his Lancaster arrest on a misdemeanor drug charge.
In the 1990 incident, Sempe could not afford $200 bond and was placed in a holding tank with 46 other men. The holding tank’s capacity was 24 men. One of the other inmates fatally struck Sempe after he changed TV channels.
That inmate, Darrell Keith Hartfield was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served only a year and a half of that sentence before his release, then returned to prison for violating parole conditions.
Sempe’s sons, Chris and Carl, filed a lawsuit against the county in 2000 and will get a February court date. Some twenty years later, the county jail is still plagued with concerns ranging from overcrowding to medical care. Inmate Craig Morris died of pneumonia in the jail Aug. 2, not even 24 hours after being booked into the jail. Construction of a $48 million jail infirmary is scheduled for 2010.
Lancaster Police Seek Carjacking Suspect
Monday, December 14th, 2009The Lancaster Police Department is investigating a carjacking that occurred Nov. 26 in the 800 block of Stanford Drive. The victim was shot in the leg. Several hours after the crime took place, an unidentified male suspect used a credit card stolen in the carjacking at a convenience store located in Overton Road and Lancaster Road in Dallas.
If you have information about this crime, contact the police department at 972-218-2700.
Lend a Hand This Holiday Season
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009It 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.
Beer And Wine Sales Approved for DeSoto
Thursday, November 5th, 2009In 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.
Haunted Hayride and New Bear Creek Hours
Monday, October 19th, 2009Lancaster’s 4th Annual Haunted Hayride returns by popular demand Oct. 28-31 from 7:30 -10 p.m at Bear Creek Nature Park. That means the park will be closed from Oct. 26-31 other than the hayride schedule.
It’s also time for the park to begin winter hours due to daylight savings time. Starting Oct. 20 and going until February, the park hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 8 a.m – 5 p.m.
If you’d like to volunteer for the hayride or would just like more information, call Rebecca Murray at 972-218-3784.
The 72nd Country Day on the Hill is Here
Friday, October 9th, 2009One of the best festivals in the whole area, Country Day on the Hill, is on tap for Saturday Oct. 10. Entertainment includes The 8 Tracks, a band playing the smooth sounds from the 70s. Other entertainers include Teresa Marie Cattaneo, a Country Day and local venue favorite. The Joe Jonas Band will bring the R &B flavor and lovers of faith based music will want to hear the Darrell May Band.
That is all awesome, but I know you want to know where the tasty food is. That’s why we get along, readers, that’s why we get along. There’s a complete vendor map here at the Country Day on the Hill website.
The city on the hill is famous for its eating and shopping destinations, and there is no better time than Country Day to sample them. I am making myself hungry just typing this stuff.
Country Day is definitely the “main event” this week, but not the only thing going on in the Best Southwest. The DeSoto Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Wheels Auto and Motorcycle Show from 10 a.m – 5 p.m. at the corner of Polk and Pleasant Run roads. It’s going to include, of course, lots of auto based vendors.
In Lancaster, you can enjoy the beauty of Bear Creek Nature Park with the “Traveling the Bear Creek Trails” presentation from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday starting at the Bear Creek Pavilion. It’s $3 for adults; $2 for ages 6 to 12; free for 5 and younger.
As you can see, it is another jam packed weekend full of lots of fun, family friendly activities in the Best Southwest. I’ll be out and about and definitely run into some friends, readers as well as the friends and readers I haven’t met yet.
Please excuse me if I’m stuffing Chick-Fil-A into my face when I see you. Sort of a perpetual Cedar Hill event condition I have.
CMT Promotes Lancaster’s Home Makeover
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009Lancaster is enjoying its 15 minutes, or actually more like an hour, of fame thanks to ABC’s hit Extreme Home Makeover. CMT News has picked up on the story of Carlton Marshall.
The Dallas police officer was injured in the line of duty and the gunshot cost him his ability to walk and his hearing. Trace Adkins and the Extreme Home Makeover team stepped in and helped the family out in an episode that will air Oct. 18.
Marshall and his wife volunteer doing horseback riding for children and mentally challenged adults. Apparently the ABC crew took all that into account and I can’t wait to see the episode.
Trace Adkins is a native of Sarepta, La. (sorry, us natives of Minden, La have to brag on our home state heroes), a great entertainer and it seems, an all around nice guy.
So, Who’s Tweeting Around Here?
Thursday, October 1st, 2009It’s really easy to offend someone while discussing today’s social media. I have already learned that “So, are you a twit?” and “Have you twittered your spouse today?” are not the proper ways to ask that question.
It seems that every day there is a new, hip, supercool site that everyone has to join and Twitter’s one of the big ones. The cities of DeSoto and Lancaster are already on Twitter, as am I. Dang it, now that I’ve made a big deal out of that, I’m going to have to make it more interesting.
But it’s yet another way to keep in touch and let everybody know what you and your friends are up to. If you’re tweeting, feel free to let us know and we’ll follow you. See, that almost sounded stalkerish. Social media is hard.
TTC Approves $7.6 Million for Lancaster Airport
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Our partners over at Pegasus News reported on a big coup for Lancaster Municipal Airport. At its September meeting, the Texas Transportation Commission approved $7.6 million of improvements to the airport.
TxDOT’s Aviation Facilities Grant program is the source of the funding and this year alone the organization plans to spend $60 million improving community airports.
The five-member Texas Transportation Commission and an executive director that they select govern TxDOT. Members serve overlapping six-year terms and are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate. Former commissioners include Dallas’ Harry Hines.
Among the commission’s responsibilities are policies for the construction, location and maintenance of highways and developing mass transit in the state of Texas.