Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas

02/09/2012

Board’s resolution prompts dust-up
Some city officials say the Denton Historic Landmark Commission may have gone too far when it passed a resolution “strongly encouraging” Texas Woman’s University to stop demolishing nearby homes as part of an expansion plan.

Archives entrusted to TWU

DRC/David Minton

Sherilyn Bird, dean of libraries at Texas Woman’s University, unpacks some items from the Women’s Museum in Dallas that were given for the university’s Women's Collection on Wednesday at Blagg-Huey Library.

Although the Women’s Museum in Dallas is closed, it plans to leave a legacy by giving its archives to Texas Woman’s University. The archives will become part of the Woman’s Collection in TWU’s Blagg-Huey Library.

Les Cockrell: Program to eye old-time romance
Denton’s Bayless-Selby House Museum will offer a program exploring the ways Valentine’s Day may have been celebrated in the past.

Educator, arts trailblazer Russell dies at age 103
Ema Ruth Russell touched many lives and made many friends during her long life, those who knew her best said this week.

Blotter: Report: Man arrested after exposing self on Square
Denton police arrested a man Tuesday after receiving reports he exposed himself to several women on the Square.

UNT student advances to ‘Jeopardy!’ finals
University of North Texas student Monica Thieu has made it to the Jeopardy! College Championship finals.

Mansfield company recalls beef jerky
Beef Slabs of Texas LLC of Mansfield is recalling its 1-ounce packages of Mild and Hot beef jerky containing known allergens soy and fish that were delivered in January to convenience stores across North Texas.

Thursday, February 9 Calendar
To tell us about your event or meeting, visit www.DentonRC.com and click on “Let Us Know” for our online forms; e-mail to drc@dentonrc.com ; fax to 940-566-6888; or mail to Page 2 Calendar, Denton Record-Chronicle, 314 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201.

02/07/2012

Drilling permit moratorium passes

The Denton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to impose a moratorium on new gas drilling and production permits, giving the city some breathing room to finish an ongoing ordinance overhaul. The moratorium will last for 120 days, although the council could extend it if necessary. During that time, city staff members are supposed to complete their review of current drilling regulations and offer recommended changes.

02/08/2012

Sanger receives word on strays
SANGER — City leaders heard an informal report Monday from Noah’s Ark in Gainesville, the nonprofit animal shelter that has provided the city animal adoption services for more than a year. Shelter manager Jennifer Keahey did not submit any written materials, but gave a general overview of services and answered questions from the council for about 30 minutes during a workshop before the council’s regular session Monday night.

County denies PAC’s request
Denton County commissioners Tuesday denied a request from a political action group to set up shop in front of the Horn Government Center. The group, which is affiliated with controversial political activist Lyndon Larouche, had reportedly caused problems for residents in the past.

Police seek suspect in robbery at impound yard
Denton police have asked for help from a composite artist in identifying a man who allegedly broke into a wrecker yard office and threatened a tow truck driver with a screwdriver.

Blotter: Woman reports apparent scam to police
A woman asked for help from Denton police after being bilked out of at least $600 by someone in Peru.

Author talks about giving hope to teens
Syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage talked candidly about life experiences and the It Gets Better Project, an outreach to gay youths, on Tuesday at the University of North Texas.

Accident with truck fatal for county man
A Denton County man was accidentally killed when his pickup rolled on top of him Saturday at his home in the 10000 block of Dyer Road, west of Sanger.

Kiwanis open house
The Denton Noon Kiwanis Club will have an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the club’s new offices at 1001 N. Elm St.

Calendar
To tell us about your event or meeting, visit www.DentonRC.com and click on “Let Us Know” for our online forms; e-mail to drc@dentonrc.com ; fax to 940-566-6888; or mail to Page 2 Calendar, Denton Record-Chronicle, 314 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

02/07/2012

Alumnus to perform concert with UNT band
Jeremy Wilson left the University of North Texas College of Music in 2007 to join one of the best orchestras in the world. Now in his fifth season with the Vienna Philharmonic, Wilson has made his third trip back to his alma mater to perform in concert. In the meantime, the trombonist finished that master’s degree started when Europe made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Ranch-style beams

DRC/Al Key

A ranch house atop a hill, nestled among trees and a windmill, is silhouetted by the glow of the setting sun on Shepherd Road in northern Denton County recently.

TWU enrollment up; UNT sees slight drop

Panel wants drilling water recycled
Denton’s official gas drilling task force voted Monday to require some drillers to recycle water used in hydraulic fracturing but narrowly rejected new regulations for well casing and cementing.

Blotter: Partygoers cause ruckus in apartment parking lot
Denton police broke up a crowd of about 100 people from three parties in the same area early Sunday and sent them on their way without arrests.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

02/06/2012

Further down the trail

DRC/David Minton

Ducks pass by as a boy practices his fly fishing casts from the boardwalk at Corinth Community Park on Saturday.

CORINTH — Residents can get another look at tentative plans to finish Corinth Community Park during a joint meeting Thursday. The City Council, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Trails Committee will meet to discuss options to complete the 116-acre park on the city’s east side. The joint meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 3300 Corinth Parkway.

02/05/2012

Local filing begins
It’s opening day for local races. Hickory Creek Mayor John Smith said he plans on filing for re-election today. “We’ve got a lot of big projects on the books,” Smith said. “I want to see them through.” Area cities and schools will hold elections May 12, which is one of the state’s two limited uniform election days.

Les Cockrell: Group of quilters to take skills overseas
Several women from the local area are planning a trip to share their quilting skills with women in Tanzania. Four of the women — Barbara McCraw, Teresa Sherling, Carolyn Brittain and Hope Edwards — are members of the Denton Quilt Guild, and Elizabeth Kruger is a professional quilter. McCraw’s husband, Ernie, and Edwards’ husband, Wayne, are also making the trip.

02/06/2012

Blotter: Woman’s rowdy resistance results in added charges
A woman was arrested on a charge of public intoxication early Saturday morning after she allegedly got in a fight at a bar in the 1000 block of Avenue C, according to a Denton police report.

Acrobats earn honors at state championship
Competitive cheer and tumbling and trampoline teams from Apex Tumbling & Cheer of Pilot Point recently brought home trophies from area competitions, according to a news release.

Monday, February 6, 2012

02/03/2012

DCTA puts brakes on deal
A planned partnership between the Denton County Transportation Authority and the city of Denton to share a vehicle maintenance facility is not going to work out after all. Agency officials and city representatives had been in talks about sharing the city’s fleet services facility. After receiving an $8.2 million State of Good Repair grant from the Federal Transit Administration and the restrictions it came with, officials decided the joint facility would not work, and the agency turned its eyes back to its previous location.

Saturated but far from sated

DRC/Al Key

A car splashes through a large puddle on Oakland Avenue on Friday in Denton.

The soil may be soaked, but weather-watchers say drought conditions could return as long as La Niña holds in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Drought Monitor map, a weekly analysis prepared at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, showed Denton County out of the drought this week for the first time since July.

Illuminating excellence
It’s been a busy start to the spring semester for Ryan High School theater arts teacher Jeannene Abney.

Blotter: Thieves target copper at well sites
Copper thieves made a haul at several well sites near Ponder, according to a Thursday sheriff’s office report.

Briefly in Denton

Calendar

Please tell us about your event or meeting by visiting the Denton Record-Chronicle Web site, www.dentonrc.com, and clicking on “Let Us Know,” which will take you to our online forms. We prefer online submissions. We still accept information by e-mail to drc@dentonrc.com, by fax at 940-566-6888; or by mail to Page 2 Calendar, Denton Record-Chronicle, 314 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201.

02/02/2012

City plans bond sales
Denton is planning a series of bond sales to pay for street repairs and new road projects, including a $20 million streets-only bond package that would go to voters in November.

UIL issues realignment

DMN/Michael Ainsworth

Ryan High School head coach Joey Florence takes a phone call from another coach during the UIL's biennial realignment, announced Thursday. The Ryan Raiders, a perennial powerhouse in Class 4A, will be competing in Class 5A.

When the high school football season rolls around in late August, the Denton-area landscape will look completely different following Thursday’s University Interscholastic League district realignment for 2012-13.

Robo shops
A Denton apartment complex is among three multifamily properties in the region that are bringing mini-marts within a few steps of residents’ doors. The Timberlinks at Denton, a garden-style golf course community in southeast Denton managed by Lynd Living, has contracted with an Ohio firm to install a robotic convenience store that can dispense anything from a carton of milk to motor oil by the end of February. Shop24 Global’s kiosk-style vending station is the latest in a string of amenities that apartment complexes are offering in a booming rental market to entice new residents and keep others.

02/03/2012

Blotter: Man reports gunman took his rent money
A man reported to Denton police that he was robbed of his rent money at gunpoint Monday night.

eteran to address Denton County Republican Assembly
Allen Clark, a veteran who lost both legs in Vietnam and later became committed to public service and helping veterans, will be the featured speaker for the Tuesday meeting of the Denton County Republican Assembly.

Bright Lights: Former student thanks teacher
Arquilla B. Shepherd of Corinth spent her career as an English teacher in Homer, La. Recently, she shared a letter that she received from a former student, Frederick C. Young, who is now the postmaster in Homer, thanking her for her inspiration as a teacher.

Bicycle, pedestrian plan hearing scheduled
Denton will have a public hearing Feb. 21 on the city’s bicycle and pedestrian accommodation plan.

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Friday, February 3, 2012

02/02/2012

Payroll error spurs concern at UNT
A payroll glitch gave about 8,500 University of North Texas employees an extra paycheck in 2011 and will leave them one short in 2012.

Max rewards good behavior

DRC/Al Key

Max, an Australian shepherd, visits students in a third-grade class after helping school counselor Anne Ivy deliver golden tickets for good behavior at Rivera Elementary School on Monday.

Max walks through the halls at Rivera Elementary School and children’s faces light up. “Hi Max. Hey Maxi,” some students and teachers call out to the nearly 3-year-old Australian shepherd. Others wave and smile. Every Monday and Friday, the nearly 90-pound dog walks the halls with school counselor Anne Ivy. Some days he visits classrooms, delivering certificates to children recognized for good behavior.

Les Cockrell: Special tours on tap at museum
The Denton County African American Museum will offer special tours during February, according to Robyn Lorraine Lee, manager of museums in the Historical Park of Denton County.

TWU business programs earn accreditation
Texas Woman’s University’s business programs were recently awarded accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Blotter: Report: Nearly $34,000 worth of jewelry missing
Nearly $34,000 worth of jewelry was taken from a house in Lantana sometime in the past two months, according to a Denton County sheriff’s report.

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

01/31/2012

Denton High coach hired

Kevin Atkinson

The search for Denton High School’s new football head coach ended Tuesday night when the Denton school board unanimously approved Kevin Atkinson as the school’s new head coach and athletic coordinator. Atkinson, who was the head coach at Keller High School for the past 10 years, takes over for Randy Patzkowski, who stepped down in November.

Back to ‘school as usual’
Classes resumed Tuesday at Selwyn College Preparatory School just five days after an early morning fire destroyed the campus’ main building. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade arrived at unfamiliar classrooms in the early childhood and middle school buildings.

Council set to vote on temporary permit ban
Denton City Council members said they were on track to vote on a gas drilling permit moratorium next week after getting briefed by attorneys and staff members Tuesday. Four council members publicly called for a moratorium last month, saying they were reluctant to approve new permits while the city works to revamp its natural gas drilling and production ordinance.

Teen in finals for top science prize
Kurtis Carsch, a senior in the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas, was named one of 40 finalists in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search. Carsch, who has worked on developing a more efficient way to convert methane gas into methanol, competed with more than 1,800 high school seniors across the country.

02/01/2012

Blotter: Suspect in online solicitation case arrested in Houston
Houston police arrested a man there Monday on warrants for enticing a child and online solicitation of a minor obtained by a Denton County sheriff’s investigator.

Seven Denton families receive recognition at event
Seven Denton families were spotlighted Tuesday with one of them, the Mo and Rosie Bernal family, honored as the Greater Denton Family of the Year.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

01/31/2012

Fire marshals trace blaze

DRC/David Minton

Denton Fire Department investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives dig through debris at Selwyn College Preparatory School on Friday.

Denton fire marshals have pinpointed the ignition source of Thursday’s blaze at Selwyn College Preparatory School to a kindergarten classroom and a hallway immediately adjacent to it.

Panel tackles water issues
Denton’s official gas drilling task force voted Monday to recommend a series of water-related regulations, including a ban on open waste pits at drilling sites and baseline testing of nearby water wells.

Mural artist taps slums for inspiration
Over the weekend, University of North Texas art student Mick Burson transformed the west wall of A Creative Art Studio from a dull brown to a colorful mural of stacked houses.

Court of appeals rules against county in bondsman fee case
The 2nd Court of Appeals has ruled against Denton County in a suit filed by Vic and Eydie Burgess concerning a $60 fee charged by county and district clerks every time they mail a notification to a bail bondsman that a client has failed to show up for court.

Blotter: Police looking into possible physical abuse
Police are investigating a report Sunday that a 14-year-old told someone she was being physically abused by a stepfather.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

01/29/2012

Convention center prompts review

City leaders hoping to bring a convention center to Denton are facing an obstacle in their own development code. Convention centers aren’t a permitted use in the code, meaning city leaders must pass a code amendment if negotiations to bring a 120,000-square-foot convention center to the University of North Texas campus are successful.

Three students garner $2,500
Three Texas Woman’s University students from the Denton campus will receive scholarships at the upcoming Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award luncheon. Heather Roberts, Tiffany Smith and Hannah Mills as well as a fourth student, Kathleen Shannon-McAdams from the TWU Houston campus, will receive scholarships at the 10th annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon on Feb. 16 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.

Les Cockrell: State park schedules nature programs
Programs at both the Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch units of Ray Roberts Lake State Park on Saturday will offer area families an opportunity to learn about nature. Birds will be the topic of a Ranger Talk planned at 11 a.m. at the Isle du Bois unit’s Interpretive Center. The program should answer questions about how birds take to the air and explain what makes feathers so special, according to an announcement from Kelly Serio, park interpreter at the Isle du Bois unit.

01/30/2012

Blotter: Report: Man arrested after using car as battering ram
Denton police arrested a man for running his car into the gate of a towing company in the 200 block of West Collins Street on Saturday night after he was denied access to another vehicle.

Radiant gradient

Lake Dallas school board extends Stinson’s contract
LAKE DALLAS — School board members recently lengthened Superintendent Gayle Stinson’s five-year contract an additional year.

Monday, January 30, 2012

01/28/2012

Out of the ashes

DRC/David Minton

A Denton firefighter surveys damage as he walks through the still-smoldering debris Friday at Selwyn College Preparatory School.

Classes at Selwyn College Preparatory School are expected to resume Monday after a fire destroyed its main building. “There won’t be any loss of delivery of curriculum or … after care, food service,” Selwyn board chairman David Biles said Friday.

Lozano verdict stands
The 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth has affirmed the 2009 murder conviction of former Denton police detective Robert “Bobby” Lozano. Lozano, 47, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the shooting death of his wife, Virginia “Viki” Lozano, and has been incarcerated while waiting for his appeal decision.

District working to tune new mariachi program
For Carmen Cornejo, seeing her 13-year old daughter Mariana Alejandra blossom as a mariachi vocalist has been rewarding. “It opened her eyes to mariachi music and to playing the guitar,” Cornejo said during a meeting Tuesday to encourage middle school and high school students to become part of the Denton school district’s mariachi program.

Blotter: Backup officers needed for arrest of trespassing suspect
Police took a man to jail Thursday on a charge of criminal trespass after a convenience store clerk reported that he returned after being issued a citation to stay away, returning repeatedly and asking customers to buy him beer, cigarettes and crack cocaine.

With grace and poise

Donation aids Denton Public Library system
A $30,000 donation from the Friends of the Denton Public Libraries will help fund new library materials and programs not covered in the city budget, officials said.

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01/26/2012

Fire at Selwyn

DRC/Al Key

Firefighters battle a blaze at Selwyn College Preparatory School in Denton early Thursday.

Despite hours of effort from six departments and thousands of gallons of water, fire destroyed the main building at Selwyn College Preparatory School on Thursday. Morning rush-hour traffic slowed to a crawl on U.S. Highway 380 a mile west of Interstate 35 as police officers directed water tankers from Justin, Ponder, Little Elm, Sanger and Krum between hydrants along the highway and the flaming building, which is set back from the roadway atop a hill.

01/27/2012

Heritage Oaks replacement on hold
A project to replace the Heritage Oaks senior apartment complex is on hold indefinitely after it ranked poorly in preliminary scoring for federal tax credits, the head of the Denton Housing Authority said Wednesday. The public housing agency hoped to redevelop the site at 2501 N. Bell Ave. with new tax-credit apartments for seniors, but the project ranked far behind competitors in the Dallas-Fort Worth region in initial scoring, Shirley Hensley said.

Blotter: Woman finds home ransacked, burglarized
A woman came home Wednesday evening and discovered that someone had removed the glass from her back door and ransacked and burglarized her house.

Mayor gives overview of city projects
Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs touted downtown redevelopment, defended city tax incentives and stressed the need for better roads and highways during a “state of the city” address Thursday.

Briefly in Denton

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Friday, January 27, 2012

01/25/2012

Out of the hazy gray

DRC/Al Key

Floodwaters cover sidewalks, benches and the walkway to the fishing pier Wednesday at North Lakes Park in Denton. Strong storms unloaded on North Texas on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning, swelling creeks and tributaries and causing some delays for commuters.

Strong storms unloaded on North Texas on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning, swelling creeks and tributaries and causing some delays for people traveling to work or school. Lisa Dupree-Akerblom saw her commute time balloon Wednesday morning. Normally, it takes 35 to 40 minutes for her to commute from her home in Hickory Creek to her workplace in a Westlake office park.

Board extends contract
The Denton school board has offered a new three-year contract to Superintendent Ray Braswell under the same terms of his current contract. The new contract would take effect July 1 and extend through 2015. In a tough economic time, board President Mia Price said the board felt the superintendent’s salary wasn’t something that needed to be discussed at this point.

Ford named principal

Daniel Ford

Daniel Ford, principal at Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD’s Vivian Field Middle School, has been named head of Denton High School. Board members approved Ford’s hiring at their meeting Tuesday. No date has been set for when he will take over as principal at Denton High.

Les Cockrell: Quilling workshop planned
A quilling workshop at Denton’s Bayless-Selby House Museum on Saturday will teach participants how to “twist and turn” a heart for their valentines.

01/26/2012

Blotter: Police, city look into stolen electric meter
Denton police and city workers investigated a stolen electric meter Tuesday and traced it to a residence across town.

Recent downpour puts temporary damper on cyclist’s quest
Rain slowed Michael Hunter down a bit as he makes his estimated 25,000-mile trek around the United States to raise money for a youth mentoring organization.

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

01/25/2012

Krum to pay car costs
KRUM — The Krum City Council amended the city’s 2012 budget during a special meeting Monday to include 10 months of a $250 monthly car allowance for the mayor. The council discussed the matter in December, voting 4-1 to allow the expenditure. After determining there was no city car for the mayor to use, council member Bert Witherspoon voted against the allowance in December.

County awaits TxDOT’s figures
Denton County officials can expect the Texas Department of Transportation in the next month to spell out exactly how much money is available to expand Interstate 35E. During the weekly update to the Commissioners Court, transportation consultant John Polster told county officials the status of the massive expansion project and what the next several weeks should bring.

Crisis mode is their specialty
Denton County Sheriff’s Investigator Jeff Davis lay hidden in the back seat of a car for hours, advising a terrified mother on how to talk to a man on the phone who said he’d kidnapped her daughter and would kill her if a $100,000 ransom were not paid. The kidnapper kept changing locations, and Davis relayed the next meeting place to a SWAT team poised to catch him.

Blotter: Man reports wallet stolen while asleep
Someone apparently entered a couple’s home while they slept and took the husband’s wallet, according to Denton police.

Lecture to focus on natural gas drilling
The next installment of the University of North Texas faculty lecture series will focus on natural gas drilling, including the proximity of wells to schools and parks, the university has announced.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

01/24/2012

Ban on tank farms nixed
Denton’s official gas drilling task force voted Monday to recommend approval of more air quality regulations but rejected a ban on compressor stations and tank farms as impractical. The task force voted 4-1 against the ban but later voted unanimously to “regulate” sites that collect, store and compress natural gas by enforcing “best practices” and air quality monitoring.

Mixup stalls UNT turbines

DRC/Al Key

Several pieces of equipment are needed before the University of North Texas can start generating electricity with its three new wind turbines on Bonnie Brae Street.

The wind turbines at the University of North Texas won’t start spinning until sometime next month because of a minor equipment setback. The university originally estimated that the turbines would be generating power by mid-December. “There were some minor pieces of equipment manufactured incorrectly,” said Don Lynch, director of system facilities administration at UNT.

Denton launches virtual town hall
Denton city leaders say they hope a new website will help them gather more feedback on issues facing the community, including a possible smoking ban. EngageDenton.com will serve as a virtual town hall where residents can offer ideas and suggestions to help officials make decisions, said Katia Boykin, a supervisor in the city planning department.

Blotter: Stolen phone led police to suspect in robbery
Denton police arrested a man on kidnapping and robbery charges Sunday after tracking him with the help of U.S. marshals. Police Lt. Scott Langford said officers used a stolen cellphone to track the suspect from a Denton apartment complex, where he allegedly attacked and robbed a woman, to an apartment in Dallas. There, police recovered the woman’s car and phone.

Monaco’s contract renewed through 2015
AUBREY -- Aubrey school board members have extended Superintendent James Monaco’s contract through June 2015.

Man kills himself after being stopped by DPS
The Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting incident Saturday just north of the Denton-Cooke County line that appears to be a suicide after a traffic stop.

County GOP plans for Lincoln-Reagan dinner
Author, commentator and political strategist Dick Morris will be the featured speaker at the Denton County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner Feb. 25 at the Hyatt Regency DFW at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

01/22/2012

Event focuses on Net safety
The Denton school district is presenting an event to help parents keep children safe in a high-tech world. Parents are invited to a program on Internet safety and social networking at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Guyer High School.

WASP collection coming to digital domain

DRC/David Minton

A bronze statue of a Women Airforce Service Pilots aviator sits on the second floor of the Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University.

Texas Woman’s University announced last week that it had received a $100,000 gift from an anonymous donor to continue the digitization and preservation of the WASP collection. The Women Airforce Service Pilots designated the TWU Blagg-Huey Library as the repository of their national archives in 1992.

Les Cockrell: Area students place in annual oratorical competition
Four area high school students competed Jan. 15 in the District 13 round of the 74th annual American Legion High School Oratorical Competition, held at American Legion Post 71 in Denton. The winner of the contest was John T. Brown of Graham High School, according to an announcement from Lee Keith, District 13 oratorical chairman.

01/23/2012

Blotter: Report: Woman assaulted while doing laundry
Denton police responded to a call about a woman who said she was assaulted while doing her laundry, according to a police report.

TWU launches first phase of mobile initiative
Up until last Tuesday, Texas Woman’s University students had to navigate multiple pages to check e-mail on their smartphones.

Monday, January 23, 2012

01/20/2012

Unemployment rates continue slide
Denton’s unemployment rate continued to drop in December, both at the city and county levels. Denton is pleased that it’s maintained a rate below 6 percent over the past couple of months, but the true test will be whether it remains that way, said Erica Sullivan, economic development analyst for the city.

Court rejects redrawn maps
The U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection Friday of redistricting maps drawn by a federal court in San Antonio had drawn mixed reaction from Denton County’s political leaders. County Republican Party chairwoman Dianne Edmondson is elated at the decision and lauded it as a victory against judicial activism and federal overreaching.

Change expected in lawn watering rules
New outdoor watering rules could start next month in Denton under a proposal headed to the City Council. Residents and businesses could water lawns and landscapes no more than twice a week under Stage 1 of a revised city drought plan, which is expected to go to the council-appointed Public Utilities Board for review Monday.

Blotter: Police probe case stemming from an adoption agreement
Denton police are investigating a case involving a couple who say a woman reneged on an adoption agreement and didn’t return their money. Police received a call Thursday from a Pennsylvania attorney on behalf of the couple saying they had sent $25,000 to the birth mother last year as part of an adoption agreement, according to a police report.

Calendar

01/19/2012

Local officials weigh in on Perry’s withdrawal
Local party leaders offered mixed reactions to Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to drop out of the presidential race on Thursday. Denton County Republican Party chairwoman Dianne Edmondson said she was surprised Perry didn’t do better in the polls.

On the rise
A change in name and status for the University of North Texas School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management will give it equal footing with other colleges at UNT and increase the value of students’ degrees, officials say. The school was recently reorganized into the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism.

Kept on a long leash

Hopefuls make case at forum
A trio of Republicans running for Denton County sheriff were among the candidates making a stop at the University of North Texas on Wednesday evening for a candidate forum hosted by the North Texas College Republicans and the Conservative Republican Toastmasters. The forum, held in a packed room at the University Union, gave candidates a chance to lay out their qualifications for office as well as answer voter questions.

01/18/2012

Les Cockrell: Volunteer set for White House honor

Les Cockrell

Brenda Gormley, Denton County Emergency Services’ Community Emergency Response Team volunteer coordinator, will be one of 17 people honored today at the White House as “Champions of Change.” The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Barack Obama’s Winning the Future initiative, according to a press release. Each week, a different issue is highlighted, and groups of honorees, ranging from educators and entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.

Blotter: Investigation of possible arson follows burglaries
A mobile home fire in the 6600 block of Grissom Road that began at about 1 p.m. Tuesday is being investigated as possible arson, Denton County sheriff’s Investigator Roger Griggs confirmed Wednesday.

Two accidents snarl I-35E traffic
Traffic snarled this morning on Interstate 35E between Corinth and Denton after two separate accidents occurred near the exit for Post Oak Drive.

Some I-35E requests on hold for now
The Regional Transportation Council accepted most of Denton County’s requests related to the expansion of Interstate 35E, but some of the county commissioners’ requests from last week have been held for now. Among the requests held was the provision that the project at the start would include a free lane for every managed toll lane.

Tributes to a life lived joyfully

Erick Gutierrez

Students at Guyer High School went to school Tuesday remembering the life of their classmate Erick Antonio Gutierrez, 20. Yellow ribbons were placed on school light posts, trees and doors to celebrate the life of the high school senior, who died Monday after his family decided to remove him from life support.

Blotter: Stun gun used in confrontation outside house
Denton police were dispatched to the 1500 block of Ridgecrest Circle at 3:11 a.m. Tuesday after a woman reported a fight in the street outside her home.

01/15/2012

Public health professionals issue report
A report by three public health professionals urges Denton city leaders to consider the health effects of natural gas drilling as they rewrite the city’s drilling and production ordinance. Studies have offered a “mixed picture” of how gas exploration is affecting air quality in the Barnett Shale region, but there’s enough evidence to justify a cautious approach, according to the report by Jessica Gullion, Naomi Meier and Rhonda Love.

Les Cockrell: Bayless-Selby House Museum plans two programs
Denton’s Bayless-Selby House Museum will have two programs this week as part of its “If These Walls Could Talk” series.

01/13/2012

Hotel, conference center idea revived
Interest from a Missouri company has revived a dormant project to bring a hotel and conference center to the University of North Texas campus. The university received an unsolicited proposal from the O’Reilly Hospitality Management Group and has agreed to begin negotiating a developer’s agreement, UNT spokesman Buddy Price confirmed Friday.

01/14/2012

DCTA unveils new rail cars

DRC/Al Key

One of the new A-train vehicles pulls up for people to see during an open house Friday at the Denton County Transportation Authority’s new rail operations and maintenance facility in Lewisville.

Local and regional officials got their first glimpse Friday at two of the Denton County Transportation Authority’s long-standing projects. The agency held an open house to spotlight the new 47,000-square-foot rail operations and maintenance facility and two of the A-train’s new Swiss-made rail cars. The gathering of 100-plus attendees included members of city government, regional transportation and political representatives.

Woman’s fraud charges pile up
Federal agents arrested a Denton woman Friday morning on charges ranging from filing false income tax returns and aggravated identity theft to misuse of a Social Security number and wire fraud based on mortgage fraud. She was taken to Plano, where she will remain in jail pending a detention hearing Tuesday.

01/13/2012

United Way campaign concludes with $1.8 million
The United Way of Denton County raised more than $1.8 million in donations and pledges during its shortened 2011 campaign, officials announced Friday. The 2010 campaign raised about $1.96 million but was extended by two months, meaning donations from the first two months of 2011 were counted toward the prior year’s campaign.

01/14/2012

Blotter: Keys found at scene lead to suspect
A burglar took two televisions but lost his car keys at a house in the 300 block of Tripp Trail on Thursday, and an officer found the car in which the keys fit by driving the neighborhood and pressing the panic button on the fob.

01/11/2012

Two men jailed after A-train strikes pickup
No one was injured when the A-train struck a pickup at the intersection of Shady Oaks Drive and Kerley Street on Wednesday night, but two men went to city jail. Denton police said the driver turned north onto the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train tracks from Shady Oaks at about 7 p.m.

Federal judge named dean

W. Royal Furgeson

A Dallas federal judge will become the first dean of the law college the University of North Texas system is creating. UNT officials announced Wednesday that U.S. District Judge W. Royal Furgeson Jr. will become the founding dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law beginning next year. Furgeson, 70, appointed to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1994, presides over a federal court in the Northern District of Texas in Dallas. He has also served in federal courts in El Paso, Midland-Odessa and San Antonio.

Drilling moratorium gains support
Four Denton City Council members said late Tuesday they would support a moratorium on new gas drilling and production permits. The comments came at the end of a nine-hour council meeting that saw members delaying action on two natural gas-related projects, reflecting a reluctance to approve new permits while the city works to revamp its gas drilling and production ordinance.

01/12/2012

Denton school locked down briefly

01/11/2012

Denton school board OKs elementary rezoning
The Denton school board unanimously approved the rezoning of about 90 students in the Country Lakes development from E.P. Rayzor Elementary School to Ryan Elementary School beginning in the 2012-13 school year. The boundary change also gives families in the Country Lakes development the option for their middle school children to attend McMath or Harpool middle schools next fall with transportation provided by the district.

Les Cockrell: Souper Bowl of Caring to kick off across area Friday
The annual Souper Bowl of Caring campaign begins Friday and runs through Feb. 5. This year’s goal is to collect $1.2 million in cash and food donations for the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank, and the 550 agencies they service.

01/12/2012

Blotter: Report: Burglars give tour
Two burglars took a break from their alleged criminal activity to show an apartment to a prospective renter Tuesday, according to a police report.

Traffic

Thursday, January 12, 2012

01/11/2012

County lays out guidelines for I-35E
Denton County commissioners Tuesday approved guidelines to be delivered to the Regional Transportation Council that lay out the county’s goals and desires for expanding Interstate 35E. The guidelines will be considered by the Regional Transportation Council for a resolution to pass onto the Texas Transportation Commission — the latest step in the lengthy process of finding the ways and means to expand the often congested thoroughfare.

Blotter: Building’s features foil burglary try
Someone tried hard to break into a pharmacy Monday night but did not succeed in stealing anything.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

08/17/2011

North Texas State Fair and Rodeo 2011

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