The Azle News

Page 1

Volume 64, Number 12

Azle News

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

THE

www.azlenews.net

EML evaporation in the millions Page 7A

Hornets win opener Page 13A

All about Labor Day... and a flag! Page 1, 3B

Railroad Commission: XTO didn’t cause quakes BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Contradicting a study by Southern Methodist University (SMU) scientists, the Texas Railroad Commission (TRC) Monday, Aug. 31 released preliminary findings saying an XTO Energy disposal well near Azle likely played no role in a swarm of earthquakes in this area in late 2013 and early 2014. The SMU study, published in April

in the journal Nature Communications, pointed to oil and gas operations – specifically the high injection rate of fluids to the west of a fault line combined with high water removal rates to the east of the fault – as the most likely cause of the Azle quakes. Two specific injection wells owned by XTO Energy and Enervest were identified in the SMU study as the most likely culprits.

Lakeside vs. Fort Worth Cities headed to court over annexation BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN In spite of a lawsuit filed by the city of Fort Worth in an attempt to prevent it, the town of Lakeside moved ahead with its voluntary annexation of a portion of the Ella Young Addition Monday, Aug. 17. Lakeside earlier this year annexed Rankin Road, the western part of Confederate Park Road, and a small strip of Silver Creek Road. Fort Worth officials contacted Lakeside Town Administrator Norman Craven when they got wind of the town’s intention to annex. PLEASE SEE FORT, PAGE 8A.

The TRC has conducted its own investigation into the quakes. Involved parties have 15 days to file objections to the TRC ruling before it become final. Azle Mayor Alan Brundrett said he is perplexed by the TRC’s ruling. “I just don’t see how you can dispute the science,” Brundrett said on Tuesday. “SMU did a scientific study, and all roads point to oil and gas op-

erations as the cause [of the earthquakes].” Brundrett pointed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment and months of data collection utilized in SMU’s study, which was done in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey or USGS. “The TRC hires somebody who supports its point of view – not a third party – to look into it,” Brun-

drett said. “Then they hold one hearing and say ‘we don’t believe your findings,’” The TRC has not yet released its findings related to the Enervest-operated well. Brundrett has been invited to be part of a panel discussion about energy at the Texas Tribune Festival Oct. 16-18 on the University of Texas campus in Austin.

Azle man indicted on child sex charge

Stewart Street Bridge Going Up

BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN A Tarrant County grand jury has returned an indictment against an Azle man accused of having sex with a child. Branden Lee Chandler, 26, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first degree felony. He was indicted Aug. 25. According to a copy of a search warrant obtained by the Azle News, Chandler allegedly had sexual contact with the child, who was under the age of 14 at the time, in July or August of 2014. A suspicious text found on the child’s cell phone led to an outcry of sexual assault from the child. Chandler was arrested in late November 2014 and was released from Beams for the South Stewart Street Bridge across Ash Creek were set Thursday, Aug. 27. The streak jail after posting $25,000 bond. of dry weather since construction began on the bridge has meant no rain delays and that translates He is currently awaiting trial while to the probability of early completion for the project. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman out on bond.

The Winning Continues

The 2015 Hornets storm the field in Granbury for the first game of the season Aug. 28. Azle, behind new quarterback Nick Davis, demolished the hosts 49-7. Next up for AHS is another game in the Dale Hansen Classic series in Waxahachie Saturday, Sept. 5. Photo courtesy Richard Spraggens

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This Week in Azle History

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30 Years Ago In September 1985, the football Hornets won the opening game of the year 28-0 over Keller as Ryan Bailey scored on big TD runs of 58 and 84 yards.

24 pages plus supplements

$1 Azle, Texas 76020


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