Volume 63, Number 14
Azle News
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
THE
www.azlenews.net
What’s in a drought?
Hornets spank Cleburne
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Way cool! by carla noah stutsman Historically, weather has been a determining factor in crowd size for the Azle Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Sting Fling – its biggest fundraiser each year. Rains have plagued the event for the last several years, forcing it to close early. This year, the Chamber elected to move the event from the last Saturday in September to the second Saturday in hopes of avoiding the rain. It didn’t actually rain, but an unseasonable cold front brought a fine, chilly mist early that gave way to a cloudy, cool but pleasant afternoon. A generous crowd braved it all, to the delight of event planners and vendors. The Sting Fling 5K Color Run kicked off the day in clouds of Hor-
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Sting Fling draws crowd on early fall-like day net green and neon pink, representing breast cancer awareness. Winners of the 5K Color Run included: PreK-3rd Grade: 1st place: Thomas Riley; 2nd place: Ethan Straw; 3rd place: Royce Baker. 4th-8th Grade: 1st place: Corbin Atkinson; 2nd place: Dixie Hitt; 3rd place: Corbin Madewell. Open Male: 1st place: Julian Hernandez; 2nd place: Brad Madewell; 3rd place: Hadassah Marquart. Open Female: 1st place: Jamie Zacharias; 2nd place: Kate Webb; 3rd place: Rachel Price. Then, families lined both side of Main Street to watch the Sting Fling Parade, which featured the Azle High School’s Marching Green Pride, Colorguard, and Emerald Dazzlers, Azle’s Mayor, Alan Brundrett, and numerous
teams and groups from throughout the community. The Classic Car Show was also a big hit in its new location in front of Azle Elementary (the Rock School). Kids loved a bevy of attractions located in the children’s area – from face painting to a trackless train ride, and from the Amazon Zip Line to the petting zoo. As always, the Weiner Dog Derby was a big hit. A Dachshund named Brat (as in “bratwurst”) took the top prize. In the “Wannabe a Weiner” heat, the only two competitors drew a huge laugh when they ignored their owners’ directions, opting instead to sniff one another thoroughly and run off into the crowd – but not before one hiked a Runners at the Sting Fling 5K Color Run were doused occasionally leg near the starting line. with green or pink powder as they traversed Central Park. PLEASE SEE STING, PAGE 2A.
Shorty: RIP Wife sentenced to 18 years for killing, burying man in yard by carla noah stutsman For more than three years, Neola Robinson slept just 10 feet from the shallow grave where she buried her husband, Pleasant Ervin “Shorty” Robinson after killing him over Memorial Day weekend in 2010. The 63-year-old Pelican Bay woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder Monday, Sept. 15, in state district Judge Robb Catalano’s court in Fort Worth. Just before jury selection was to begin in her murder trial on Monday, Neola Robinson reached an agreement with prosecutors, according to a press release from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. Robinson pleaded guilty to murder in the May 31, 2010, death of her husband, who was 57 at the time. In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors Joshua Ross and Tiffany Burks agreed to the 18-year prison term and to dismiss a separate charge of tampering with evidence. Robinson must serve half of her sentence before she is eligible for parole. Shorty was reported missing on July 16, 2010 by his employer at TJ Machine on West Main Street in Azle, after he had not shown up for work in two weeks. His wife never reported him miss-
ing, saying she believed Shorty had after his disappearance. Although the PBPD conducted an left with another woman. intense investigation, even executing a search warrant at Shorty’s home, they were unable to find the evidence needed to charge Neola Robinson with Shorty’s murder. The case eventually went cold. That is, until Texas Ranger Clair Barnes took over the investigation in the summer of 2013. Barnes was able to confirm the suspicions of many – as well as his own – when, in July 2013, Neola Robinson showed him where she had buried Shorty’s body, stuffed into an air mattress and buried just 15 inches deep in the front yard of the residence they shared. Neola Robinson told Ranger Barnes her husband was accidentally killed Neola Louise Robinson … sentenced to 18 years for when he was cut with a knife she was holding while they argued. murdering her husband But the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined through Pelican Bay police questioned why an autopsy that Shorty died of stranShorty would have left the home in gulation. “The case of Shorty Robinson took the 1500 block of Partridge Court in Pelican Bay, which he owned outright, four years to reach the correct and just with no money, no personal belong- resolution,” said Ross. “Much may be ings, his vehicle, nor his motorcycle. said about the investigation and the They also discovered that Neola delay in locating his remains, but the Robinson was forging checks belong- important consideration is that after ing to her husband in order to pay bills PLEASE SEE PLEA, PAGE 3A.
Ice Bucket Challenge
Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
‘Bay PD charges man with sex crime Pelican Bay Police have arrested a rant for Odell’s arrest. Odell was located by Johnson 35-year old local man who is charged County Sheriff’s deputies at a resiwith indecency with a child. Police Chief Jason Farris said the dence just outside Burleson after man, Charles Robert Odell, initiated Officer Combs used a social media an unwanted sexual relationship with site and networked with deputies a female juvenile. The series of of- from the Johnson County Sheriff’s fenses began in 2013 at a Pelican Bay Department’s Special Investigations unit. residence. Odell was transferred to the Blue “Right out of the gate we knew this offense was going to be tough Mound Jail where he was arraigned by a Pelican Bay magto investigate given istrate who set bond at the time lapses and the $150,000. fact all parties involved “Crimes against chilhad moved away from dren, to me, are the the city,” Farris said. worst types. Someone “Any physical evidence has to speak for child would be lost by now.” victims and with this Officer Stephen warrant and bond, I Combs, Jr. said, “As hope their voices will these interviews were be heard,” said magisbeing conducted we betrate and mayor of Peligan to see consistency can Bay Bill Morley. in the victim’s story as Chief Farris said he well as those of others is extremely proud of who had knowledge of the case.” Charles Robert Odell the hard work Pelican Bay officers put into The Texas Departthis case. He also comment of Health and Human Services’ Child Protective Ser- mended the different agencies invices (CPS) was also instrumental in volved. “This is a great example of team the investigation, according to a press work between agencies on every levrelease issued by PBPD. CPS investigators conducted a fo- el – state, county and local – all with rensic interview of the victim, which, the intention of doing their best to according to Farris, provided enough help the victim of a despicable crime evidence for officers to seek a war- see that justice is done,” Farris said.
WNV positive sample confirmed north of Azle Ground spraying conducted to kill mosquitoes
The Azle City Council along with Azle Area Chamber of Commerce staff took up the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge during the 2014 Sting Fling Festival Saturday, Sept. 13. Taking the icy plunge are (l-r, seated): Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jones, council members Lee Barrett, Rouel Rothenberger and Paul Crabtree, Mayor Alan Brundrett, council member David McClure, Chamber Director Beth Crowe, and Chamber administrative assistant Veronica Rios. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
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This Week in Azle History
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The Tarrant County Public Health Department (TCPH) has confirmed two new West Nile virus (WNV) positive mosquito samples in unincorporated Tarrant County. One of those samples was collected on East Court off Moran Road just north of Azle. The other was collected in the opposite corner of Tarrant County near Kennedale New Hope Road. Ground spraying took place in both areas between 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 and concluded by 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. TCPH said in a press release it had notified neighbors in the area over the past weekend of the positive mosquito as well as of the plan for ground spraying. About a week earlier, two additional positive mosquito samples were collected in the area near Benbrook Lake. Ground spraying was conducted in that area, as well.
TCPH has updated the WNV Interactive Map on the department’s Stop West Nile Virus web page. To date, 3,380 mosquito samples have been tested at TCPH’s North Texas Regional Laboratory since seasonal surveillance began April 1. A total of 181 samples have tested positive – Arlington (6), Bedford (30), Benbrook (1), Burleson (5), Colleyville (17), DFW Airport (4), Edgecliff (1), Euless (25), Fort Worth (14), Grapevine (13), Haltom City (1), Hurst (11), Keller (7), Kennedale (1), Mansfield (4), Pantego (1), North Richland Hills (15), Richland Hills (9), Southlake (8), Watauga (1), Unincorporated Tarrant County (7) Prevent WNV Tarrant County Public Health recommends taking personal protective measures to safeguard against West Nile Virus, and says the easiest and PLEASE SEE WEST, PAGE 3A
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In September 1984, the football Hornets evened their mark at 2-2 with a 22-7 win over Granbury. The Griffin brothers – Ricky, QB, and Scotty, receiver – teamed up for 5 completions.
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