Volume 63, Number 11
Azle News
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
THE
www.azlenews.net
Lady Hornets reach Graham title match Page 12A
Page 1B
‘Affluenza’ dad charged with impersonating Lakeside cop by carla noah stutsman The arrest of Frederick Anthony Couch by North Richland Hills police Aug. 19 hit close to home. Couch’s son, Ethan Couch, made national news in December 2013 when he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for causing the deaths of four people in a drunk-driving crash in southern Tarrant County. Ethan’s defense attorney claimed the 16-year-old was a victim of “afReno Police Chief Hank Pope and a Department of Public Safety trooper discuss the scene of an ac- fluenza” because his wealthy parents cident on Jay Bird Lane Aug. 20. Photo by Natalie Gentry spoiled him to the point he did not know right from wrong. The elder Couch, who owns a home and a business in unincorporated Tarrant County near Lakeside, is accused of impersonating a Lakeside police officer. By Natalie Gentry entered the southbound lane and rest on the shoulder of the northAs a result, Lakeside Police Chief bound lane. Lee Pitts, Lt. Norm Craven and other One person was injured Wednes- struck a white Ford F150. McCormick was uninjured, but The driver of the Ford, John Mcday Aug. 20 in a motor vehicle accity officials are looking at the town’s cident in the 2700 block of Jay Bird Cormick, 40, of Fort Worth, at- Plumlee was transported via Lifecare old records and even the minutes of tempted to avoid the collision but to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Lane, according to Reno police. town council meetings to see if badges Worth with incapacitating injuries. The crash occurred when a blue was unable to do so. were ever authorized for a volunteer According to police, driver inatPlumlee’s vehicle struck the Nissan Versa driven by Shelly search and rescue group Couch may Plumlee, 29, of Azle, was heading front of the truck, spun back across tention may have been a contributing have been involved with years ago. north on Jay Bird when the vehicle the road, and ultimately came to factor. “It’s not uncommon to provide such a person with some form of identification, and it’s not illegal to have a
One injured in 2-car accident
Boy, 14, charged in ‘Bay arsons
by carla noah stutsman A 14-year-old boy has been arrested by Pelican Bay police and charged with arson. According to a press release from Pelican Bay Police Chief Jason Farris, his department has been investigating a series of four fires – all believed to have been intentionally set – that have occurred in Pelican Bay over the past three months. In each case, Farris said a vacant mobile home was burned, resulting in total losses. Farris said the young man was taken into custody at his home Aug. 21 and transferred to the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Worth. More arrests in the same case are possible as the investigation continues, Farris said. The investigation has been a priority of the department given the fact that each act of arson was more aggressive than the last, Farris explained. Officers Stephen Combs, Jr. and
badge,” Craven said. “But it is illegal to identify yourself as a peace officer if you’re not one.” Fred Couch’s arrest stems from a disturbance that occurred July 28 about 1:15 a.m. in the 4400 block of Mackey Road in North Richland Hills. While investigating the disturbance, NRH officers spoke with Couch, who told them he was a reserve officer with the Lakeside Police Department. When NRH officers completed their investigation at the scene of the disturbance, they again contacted Couch. Couch reached into his vehicle and produced what he called his “police stuff” – a wallet displaying what appeared to be a police badge and identification card, suggesting he was a police officer. An NRH officer at the scene investigated whether Couch was actually licensed in Texas as a police officer and determined he was not and never has been. A warrant was written and signed by a judge for the charge of False Identification as a Police Officer: Misrepresentation of Property. Bond was set at $2,500. Couch posted bond and was released from jail soon after his arrest.
A Night of Prayers
Matthew Thomas developed information during the investigation that provided the evidence needed to file charges against the juvenile, according to the press release. “Normally arson is a tough crime to solve, especially since the fires were happening in the early morning hours, and the evidence is usually destroyed in the fire,” Farris said. “These officers worked long and hard to gather what they needed to get these charges filed. “These were vacant homes; however they were located in very close proximity to occupied homes. This juvenile not only placed these people in harm’s way, but firefighters, as well. “Officers Combs and Thomas worked relentlessly to make sure that this child will get the help he needs while also facing the consequences of his actions.” The Tarrant County Fire Marshal’s office assisted PBPD with the investigation.
Railroad Commission proposes rule changes by carla noah stutsman Almost 10 months after the first of more than 30 earthquakes shook the area around Reno, Azle, and Springtown, The Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) has proposed some changes to the rules that govern disposal well permits. While the TRC is reluctant to admit any link between disposal wells and earthquakes, a series of more than 30 tremblers in the Reno, Azle, and Springtown area from November 2013 to January 2014 caused public outcry to the contrary. Beginning Friday, Aug. 29, the TRC will accept public comment regarding the proposed rule changes, as well, via its website. Comments will be accept-
ed through Sept. 29. The proposed rule changes would require information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) be included on applications for drilling permits, and that disposal well operators log and disclose daily injection volumes and pressures, in some cases. Currently, those operators are required to disclose those volumes and pressures only monthly. Additionally, the proposed rule changes would make it clear the TRC has authority to modify, suspend or even terminate a permit for a disposal well if the commission believes the well is causing earthquakes. If you’d like to comment on the proposed rule changes, point your brows-
About 100 friends, supporters, and family members gathered Saturday, Aug. 22 in Central Park for A Night of Love and Prayers for Brandi. They came to pray for Brandi Dickey, the 32-year-old Azle High School graduate who continues to courageously battle melanoma. Above, Brandon Geary, also an AHS grad and pastor of Merge Community Church in Lake Worth, speaks to the crowd about Brandi before leading them in prayer. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
er to http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/legal/ oil and gas operations. The SMU researchers report that rules/comment-form-for-proposedsmall earthquakes – too small to be rulemakings/. felt – continue to occur in the area. The Texas House Committee on Since the quakes Seismic data gathered by scientists Energy Resources has since formed from Southern Methodist University the Subcommittee on Seismic Activ(SMU) has indicated the series of ity to investigate the situation. The “felt” quakes – which registered from Subcommittee is chaired by Myra 2.1 to 3.6 on the Richter scale – were Crownover (R-Denton) and includes centered near two disposal wells used Phil King (R-Weatherford), Terry to dispose of waste water generated by Canales (D-Edinburg), and Chris
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This Week in In August 1963, the Tapawi Banner (the News’ predereported that 300 people toured the 10 new rooms Azle History cessor) added to Azle High School. 51 Years Ago
Paddie (R-Marshall). The TRC, meanwhile, hired its own seismologist, Dr. David Craig Pearson, to coordinate with other experts, study and interpret data and conduct research on seismicity and how it may impact or be impacted by the oil and gas industry in Texas. On Monday, Aug. 25, the Subcommittee on Seismic Activity heard testimony from Pearson and others in its ongoing investigation.
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$1 Azle, Texas 76020