Volume 64, Number 19
Azle News
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
THE
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WNV spraying in Briar Page 2A
Wagon train on the way! Page 4A
Hornets blank Rangers Page 9A
Reno council censures Basham, hears input on annexation of roadway on FM 730, SH 199 BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN A Reno city council member was prevented from attending an executive session – during which the council discussed that member and his behavior – at a city council meeting Monday evening, Oct. 19. “Everyone needs to be aware that we may need to do something different this evening that’s not our usual practice,” Mayor Lynda Stokes said. “Because of threats of litigation, it may be necessary to exclude a council
member from executive session because of those issues.” City attorney Walt Leonard told the council there are certain circumstances in which council may want to restrict attendance. “If a particular person or officer of the city, by attending, would potentially raise a conflict because of threatened litigation or similar such items, the council has the power to limit attendance,” Leonard told the council. On a motion from council member
Bonnie Black, the council convened in executive session and limited the attendance of Place 2 member John Basham, who voted his opposition. When the council reconvened after about 53 minutes, Eric Hunter told those in attendance that a senior city employee had been approached by Basham, who asked for the employee’s support for re-election in May. Hunter said he feels that was an improper action that could create a hostile work environment and even the
possibility of retaliation. In a motion, Hunter requested Stokes ask city staff to create a policy against such action with sanctions, and his motion included a request to censure Basham. The motion passed with Basham again voting opposition to the measure. Then Black spoke at length. She claimed Basham has, since his election to the council in May, made a series of accusations against both the
city and the council based on “powers of oversight.” “By state law, the powers of oversight are vested in the Mayor, and his concerns should have been brought to her for investigation,” Black told those at the meeting. She said Basham’s complaints have recurring characteristics that show a generalized lack of knowledge about the operations of the city and that his PLEASE SEE RENO, PAGE 3A.
Wrecks keep PD, FD busy BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Two wrecks – a near-head-on crash in broad daylight and a rollover in the middle of the night – kept area police and firefighters busy in recent days. On Friday, Oct. 16, shortly before 2 p.m., Parker County ESD1 firefighters, Sheriff’s deputies and Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were initially called to the scene of a nearhead-on crash in the 12600 block of FM 730 South near Creekwood Ranch Road. Although the location of the accident is in Parker County, a DPS trooper discovered that portion of the roadway is actually in the jurisdiction of the Azle Police Department, who was then notified to investigate the accident. A report filed by Azle police reveals that a white Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by David Blake Arnold, 39, of Azle, was southbound on FM 730 South when a blue 2002 Ford Mustang driven by Michael David Allen, 26, also of Azle, pulled out of Pecan Acres RV Park. According to the report, Allen lost control of the Mustang, which crashed into the pickup almost head-on. Fire erupted in the engine compartment of the pickup, but it was quickly
An Azle man was seriously injured when the Ford Mustang he was driving crashed almost head-on into a pickup on FM 730 South Friday afternoon, Oct. 16. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman put out when firefighters arrived. It took ESD1 firefighters almost 30 minutes to extricate Allen from the wrecked Mustang. He suffered incapacitating injuries, and was transported to a hospital by LifeCare ambulance. The roadway was shut down in both directions for more than an hour
According to a report filed by Azle as emergency personnel worked the police, Ray B Guzman, 42, of Springscene. town was at the wheel of a white 2001 Ford F150 pickup about 2:15 a.m. Rollover hurts one One man was injured in a single- when a flat tire caused the truck to pull vehicle rollover in the 1700 block of heavily to the left. Guzman attempted to correct the SH 199 in the wee hours of Saturday, pickup’s path but over-corrected, Oct. 17.
causing the truck to roll. Guzman was uninjured in the crash, but his passenger, 36-year-old Ryan C. Bowie, sustained non-incapacitating injuries and was transported to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth by Azle Fire Department paramedics.
First ever Athletic Hall of Fame will induct 7 from AHS
APD Officer’s Effort Goes ‘Viral’
Saturday ceremony sold out
Azle police detective Mike Winterrowd, center, ran the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial 5K in full uniform Saturday, Oct. 17. The Fort Worth Police Officers Association posted this photo of Winterrowd, flanked by FWPD Officer Horton (left) and Officer Gray on its Facebook page. Horton and Gray are members of the Fort Worth Police Pipe & Drum Corps. The FWPOA asked for 10,000 “likes” for the post – as of Oct. 20, it’s gotten 7,333 “likes,” been shared 1,388 times, and it’s been viewed by more than 250,000 people. Photo courtesy Fort Worth Police Officers Association
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This Week in Azle History
BY MARK K. CAMPBELL Good luck getting a ticket if you want to witness the first-ever Azle High School Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies Saturday, Oct. 24. Every $20 ticket is gone, Azle ISD Athletic Director Scott Anderson said. He noted that as many as 300 could be in attendance in the first major ceremony in the new gym at 6 p.m. that evening. That number includes six members of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class: James Casey, Jackie Swaim Dinardo, Derek Dorris, Dan Mauldin, Stan Mauldin, and Wayne Walton. The late Chelsa Holder will be represented by her brother Pat Holder. Before the Saturday ceremony, all seven inductees will be presented at halftime of this Friday’s Denton home football game. Earlier, the septet and their guests will tour the shiny new gym at 5 p.m. – 30 minutes before the volley-
ball Lady Hornets play the first official contest there, also against Denton. Anderson said the Hall of Fame ball got rolling around a year ago. A committee was formed and, after examining scores of nominations, a first class of seven was decided. “There’s an excitement about it,” Anderson said of the dawning event. “It’s exciting to see it all come together.” Some inductees are making a major effort to get back to their alma mater. Dinardo, who went on to play professional basketball after graduating from AHS in 1976, is a successful coach in Connecticut. Dan Mauldin now lives in San Diego, California; the doctor – AHS Class of 1961 – helped solve a mathematics problem that had stymied academics for 50 years. All inductees have brought along presenters that made an impact on their careers and lives.
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35 Years Ago In October 1980, Pam Robinson was crowned AHS’ Homecoming Queen. Boswell beat Azle – with five seconds left – for the ninth year in a row, 14-10.
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