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Volume 51, Number 51
$1 Springtown, Texas 76082
SPD unveils body cameras Officers now using units on Springtown streets
Honey bees swarmed just above the Reno Elementary sign as the queen bee attempted to find a new home for the colony. This search for a new home is a common springtime occurrence in the bee world. According to Superintendent Mike Kelley, none of the bees were inside the school or wall. The district contacted a local bee removal specialist and beekeeper who safely moved the swarm to a safe location. Photos by Natalie Gentry
Student’s art displayed in Austin Stephens’ “Sunflowers” on exhibit at State Capitol BY NATALIE GENTRY Springtown Intermediate School (SIS) sixth grader Kayla Stephens was selected as one of the top 100 art students (K-12) in the state. Her piece “Sunflowers” will be included in the Texas Art Exhibit at the State Capitol and in the Bob Bullock Texas State Museum in Austin. The exhibit was selected as part of the Youth Art Month sponsored by the Texas Art Educators Association. “Kayla is a talented young artist who takes her artwork very seriously,” SIS art teacher Sharon Buell said. “She is excited about most class art assignments and easily incorporates her own creativity into everything she does.” Buell added, “Kayla plans to continue studying art in Springtown Middle School next year,” said Buell. Accompanying Stephens in Austin were her parents, Jimmy and Mattie Stephens, SIS Principal Joe Brown, and Buell.
BY NATALIE GENTRY Springtown police officers now have a new tool in their kits aimed at better protecting both citizens and themselves. Chief of Police Ed Crowdis and Sgt. Shawn Owens unveiled the new body cameras purchased by the department at the March City Council meeting. Owens displayed the cameras affixed to his vests. “There are multiple mounts for the device,” he said. “We have shirt mounts, belt mounts, as well as the vest mounts.” The department ultimately chose to purchase the Taser-brand “Axon” camera, citing the need to balance expense and durability. “We’re very impressed with them so far,” he continued. “The device records video and audio and is very simple to use.” Some of the attributes that led the department to choose this camera included a 130-degree wide-angle lens, user friendly single button recording, and low-light capabilities. The cameras have a 12-hour battery life and can hold six and a half hours of footage at a time. Officers download the footage recorded during their shifts before they go home each day. After creating a policy and conducting training, officers have been using the cameras for about three weeks
Sgt. Shawn Owens of the Springtown Police Department is wearing one of the new Taser-brand body cameras purchased by the department. Photo by Natalie Gentry now. Crowdis said. “With all of the cases on “We feel this is good for the police the news, we hope these cameras will officers and good for the community,” bring everyone a little piece of mind.”
Enbridge charged with safety hazards Facility fined $41K for 8 ‘serious’ violations by Natalie Gentry According to U.S. Department of Labor news brief, workers at the Springtown Enbridge G&P (North Texas) natural gas processing facility have been exposed to several safety hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began investigating the natural gas processing facility in October 2014. The investigation findings led OSHA to cite the employer for eight serious safety violations. Five of the violations were for Process Safety Management involving the unexpected releases of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids, and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals. Other violations included: • not ensuring that the 2011 PSM audit findings were promptly corrected • not performing inspections and tests on controls designated as safeguards • not ensuring that written procedures were established and implemented for block/stop valves of pressure relief devices • not ensuring that pressure relief Kayla Stephens’ art work will be displayed in the State valve stacks complied with American Capitol as part of Youth Art Month. Photo courtesy SISD Petroleum Institute standards
• not properly storing and securing unused cylinders to prevent employees from being struck • and not guarding an open-sided platform guardrail system to prevent workers from falling to a lower level. According to the news brief, a serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The proposed penalties for these violations total $41,250. “Chemical facilities can be very hazardous, and deficiencies like the ones found during this inspection should have been promptly corrected when identified,” said Jack Rector, OSHA’s area director in Fort Worth. “Employers must provide a safe and healthful working environment for their workers.” Enbridge has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, according to the news brief.
Brookshire’s in Azle robbed BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN The Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy located at 511 N. Stewart Street in Azle was robbed by an armed man about 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. A Ponder man was arrested by Azle police as he attempted to flee the scene. John Polk, 52, was arraigned Wednesday morning, April 8 on a charge of robbery by Azle Municipal Judge Douglas R. Hudman.
Polk’s bond was set at $150,000 for the second-degree felony. Azle Police Chief Rick Pippins said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and it is possible additional charges could be filed against Polk at a later time. Pippins said Polk entered the grocery at about 10 p.m. and contacted a store manager. The two men went into an office area that was not open to the public,
and Polk demanded money. In the meantime, store employees gathered the few remaining customers and led them to the rear of the store while they called 911 and kept dispatchers informed as police were en route. Polk was taken into custody as he exited the store. The money taken in the robbery as well as two handguns was recov- Emergency personnel sped to the scene of the Azle Brookshire’s ered. and caught a Ponder man fleeing. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
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