Fort Worth Weekly // January 11-17, 2023

TCU’s loss in the national championship sucks, for a lot of reasons, but there’s still plenty to celebrate.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

NEWS

Terrible judges, the two old white guys now heading the DA’s office are extremist schmucks.

BY STATIC

STUFF

The Cowboys’ postseason starts — and may very well end — in Tampa Bay Monday.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

SCREEN

Though the year is long, M3GAN is already a strong frontrunner for 2023’s best horror film.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

MUSIC

As part of their big reunion campaign, Flickerstick will headline the Fort this spring.

BY STEVE STEWARD

Dawg Tired

By Edward Brown

Valley of the

By Kristian Lin

By Buck D. Elliott

STAFF

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Ryan Burger, Art Director

Jim Erickson, Circulation Director

Edward Brown, Staff Writer

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Tony Diaz, Account Executive

Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator

Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

Flickerstick

Stockyards

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Ables, Christina Berger, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Sue Chefington, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Bo

By Steve Steward

Jacksboro, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Vishal Malhotra, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Linda Blackwell Simmons, Madison Simmons, Teri Webster, Ken WheatcroftPardue, Cole Williams

EDITORIAL BOARD

Targeted by the State?

Two men allege they

METROPOLIS

“If Brendon Jones is not here,” Jones recalls Sorrells saying, “I will issue a warrant for his arrest.”

unlawful arrests and retaliatory rulings by DA Phil Sorrells and Judge Chuck Vanover.

victims

To thwart an alleged false warrant for non-appearance, Jones and a handful of supporters immediately left No. 10 and went to the county clerk’s office on the second floor of the same building, where they made a written statement attesting to Jones’ appearance and had it certified. A copy of the certified document, signed by Jones and a witness, states he was present in Criminal Court No. 10 at the required time.

“Filed 30 minutes prior to the [court roll call], thus making it fraud on the court,” reads a note from Jones on the letter that was certified at 9:53 a.m. that same October morning.

BY EDWARD BROWN

He wanted to explain himself.

Before Brendon Jones appeared in Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 10 in October 2021, the young husband and stepfather was ready to prove the accusations against him were patently false.

Little did he know Phil Sorrells was hearing the case. Sorrells, who had served on the bench for 30 years and was preparing his successful campaign for district attorney of the third-largest county in Texas, had connections to powerful local law firms and local law enforcement. Jones was unaware of Sorrells’ reputation. He just believed all judges were impartial and fair.

In the months prior, he had sought to allay alleged concerns by his wife’s ex-husband about child visitations between the ex and his biological daughter. After lawyering up, the ex accused Jones of child abuse. Jones said CPS (Child Protective Services) and North Richland Hills police “constantly” visited his house, which allegedly terrified his wife and stepdaughter.

The allegations brought Jones to Criminal Court No. 10, and on that October morning, he refused answer to Sorrells’ request to plead guilty or not guilty. Pleading not guilty, Jones told me, presumes a crime took place.

“The only reason I am here is because if I do not come, you guys will kidnap me again,” Jones recalled telling Sorrells, referring to arrest warrants judges issue for non-appearance.

Jones went on to tell Sorrells that any court documents with Brendon Jones’ name on them were invalid since Jones believes courts exist solely to profiteer off defendants.

The court roll call filed by Sorrells, which was timestamped 10:30 a.m. that same day, states that Jones’ name was called three times by a bailiff and Jones did answer or appear.

Jones said the bench warrant, which appears to be signed with a rubber stamp, has impeded his ability to reconnect with his wife and daughter.

Also at court that day was Rev. John Kennedy, who had traveled from Arizona after months of conversing with Jones online. Following his divorce over a decade ago, Kennedy said he had a crisis of faith for several years before deciding to take his ministry on the road and help those in need.

Days after Sorrells issued the bench warrant, two Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies arrived at Jones’ home to execute the warrant. Based on the livestreamed video on Facebook, Kennedy tells the deputies that they do not have a lawful warrant and they drive off.

The following day, based on another livestream video, several sheriff’s deputies pull over a car used by Jones, something Kennedy sees as evidence that they were staking out Jones’ home. A female friend is driving the car. As Kennedy approaches the officers, he begins arguing with them, alleging that they are harassing his friend.

The deputies arrest Kennedy for allegedly interfering with public duties. During his arraignment at Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 8, Kennedy alleges Judge Chuck Vanover threatened him with 90 days in prison for contempt after Kennedy argued that Vanover had no authority to detain him. Kennedy said he rebutted Vanover’s points, which led to Vanover allegedly losing his temper.

Due to the judge’s alleged belligerent demeanor, Kennedy filed a motion to dismiss the case and requested Vanover recuse himself from the matter. During a December 2021 hearing and after Kennedy told Vanover that he does not take orders from public servants, a courtroom bailiff, Kennedy alleges, grabbed him by the throat, lifted him into the air, and slammed him in a chair.

“This is assault,” Kennedy said he told Vanover. “It occurred, and you are smiling.”

Based on court records, Vanover then set a trial where he and not a jury would make a ruling 10 days into Kennedy’s 20day sentence for contempt of court, meaning the reverend had no means to prepare his defense.

Tarrant County Jail, Kennedy said, reeked of feces and urine that overflowed from toilets into holding cells.

“Rooms meant to hold 10 to 12 were packed with 40 people,” Kennedy said. “People were not given magistration notice for several days” and against state laws that mandate such steps within 48 hours of detention.

Kennedy said he used the time to teach detainees about the 48-hour law governing magistration, constitutional rights to due process, and the merits of pleading innocent as opposed to not guilty. Due to his grassroots organizing, Kennedy alleges he was singled out and placed in solitary

confinement at the Lon Evans Corrections Center, just west of Tarrant County Jail. While in isolation, Kennedy began experiencing severe chest pains that he alleges medical staff ignored.

Based on court records, Vanover recused himself from the January trial, and Administrative Judge David Evans assigned visiting retired judge Daryl Coffey to preside over the mid-January bench trial.

For several years, Evans, based on our extensive reporting, had assigned Coffey to misdemeanor and felony cases under the false title of senior judge. Of the 100 criminal cases Coffey presided over without legal authority and without filing requisite oaths of office, Kennedy’s was the only case when Evans used Coffey’s actual title, that of retired county judge. Kennedy believes Evans likely acted out of fear, since Kennedy had made confronting corrupt judges the focus of his ministry.

Kennedy alleges he was not given the opportunity to request evidence for his bench trial. During the one-day trial in mid-January 2022, Kennedy said he was not allowed to question or see his accuser. Around 30 sheriff’s deputies were present, Kennedy alleges. Coffey, who is no longer assigned to criminal cases in Tarrant County due to our reporting, placed Kennedy on probation.

The reverend has filed several complaints with the county sheriff’s department and State Commission on Judicial Conduct against Vanover and the sheriff’s deputies involved in his arrest.

In his Petition to Vacate Void Orders, filed with the county on Feb. 7, 2022, Kennedy argues he was denied due process during his January trial because he was threatened with being “imprisoned indefinitely” if he continued to argue his innocence and was also denied the ability to call witnesses.

Jones said his stepdaughter recently turned 9, and he hasn’t heard from her or her mother in nearly two years.

“I am still fighting this battle,” Jones said, referring to his outstanding bench warrant issued by DA-elect Sorrells.

Jones believes the district attorney’s office cannot ethically or lawfully prosecute his case due to Sorrells’ misconduct. Jones recently saw court records that showed his wife’s entanglement in the family court system had not led to her arrest, something of a small solace for the husband who promised to keep her safe.

Sorrells and Vanover did not respond to requests for comment on this story. l

were

of

Judge Chuck Vanover allegedly ordered his bailiff to grab a local reverend by the throat and slam him into a chair during a court proceeding last year.

Courtesy Tarrant County

Cavalcade of Robed Crooks

Along with the new DA, the new No. 2 portends dark days ahead for Tarrant County.

BY STATIC

Standing on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse, incoming District Attorney Phil Sorrells embarked on his inauguration speech in front of a few dozen supporters.

“Assuring public safety is the first task of government,” said the former criminal court judge even as our founding docu-

ments are primarily safeguards against tyrannical government overreach and not mandates that We the People should be just bootlickers of a police state.

Sorrells may have forgotten how the courts themselves are seen as cruel and unjust by locals. Tarrant County’s family courts, for example, force parents to fund well-monied law firms that float the campaigns of family court judges. Our criminal and civil courts are run by black-robed crooks who rule with impunity even as Texans seek new laws to disbar, impeach, and even imprison corrupt DAs and judges (“Corrupt Courts Destroying Families,” Oct. 2022).

Sorrells’ decision to appoint a buddy as First Assistant Criminal District Attorney is just the most recent reminder that Tyrant County rewards the good-ol’-boy system even as that kleptocracy may finally be crumbling under the weight of its own graft. Reforming how judges are disciplined has become a priority for Texans of all political persuasions because judges are rarely disciplined at all. Many parents and former defendants are networking, and they’re refining ideas for reforms, including livestreaming all courtroom pro -

ceedings and removing immunities that allow judicial officers to commit crimes that would land normal folks in prison. If successful, these systemic changes would prevent the types of abuse routinely witnessed by and visited upon Tarrant County residents.

The DA’s new No. 2, Robb Catalano, came to our attention early last year when he bailed on a dubious trial assigned to his court. He conveniently extricated himself from the politicized prosecution of a former justice of the peace who had crossed former elected officials DA Sharen Wilson and County Commissioner J.D. Johnson (arguably two of the most corrupt county officials ever). Catalano then hand-picked a retired misdemeanor judge to preside over the felony case in which the JP’s alleged misfiling of her homestead exemption somehow constituted public corruption. It was nothing but political retaliation.

That case led us to uncover a statewide system in which visiting retired judges often assigned to cases under false titles and not required to file oaths of office are allowed to earn $750-a-day fees while double-dipping off county retirement.

continued on page 6

First assistant golfing buddy Robb Catalano, based on statements by several courtroom insiders, was frequently seen playing video games and gabbing with his pal Phil Sorrells in chambers during business hours.

Courtesy Tarrant County

Sorrells and Catalano are arguably the two worst people, let alone local judges, who could have been picked for these two incredibly important positions. Tens of thousands of legally innocent defendants are waiting for their day in court, most of them in the shitty Tarrant County Jail, and Sorrells’ publicly stated plan to fix the backlog is to hire a bunch of his retired buddies to return to work. We guess that’ll let Sorrells and Catalano make all of their early-afternoon tee times.

County and district judges earn cush salaries of $140,000 to $180,000 per year, and taxpayers should demand these old white men (and they’re mostly old white men) take responsibility for backlogs instead of hiring their retired country club friends to pick up the slack.

Our DA appears to not understand how courtrooms work, but his Democrat opponent Tiffany Burks did. The former prosecutor told us that rehiring elderly judges does nothing to stop the daily grind at the DA’s office, where prosecutors have to contend with their own backlogs. A better plan, she said during her campaign, would

be to freeze courtroom hearings for the DA’s office to take account of which cases are even prosecutable anymore. Many cases involving nonviolent, minor crimes — like ones for marijuana possession — could be disposed of in a way that maintains public safety while allowing defendants to move on with their lives, she said.

One courtroom insider who requested anonymity to protect their privacy told us Sorrells spent more time playing video games and gabbing with Catalano in courtroom chambers than he did overseeing cases throughout much of his 30-year career. In a 2021 poll, 2,600 members from the Tarrant County Bar Association voted Sorrells least likely of any misdemeanor criminal judge in the county to follow the law. By all means, Tarrant County voters, let’s put this guy in charge.

The antics of the two former judges now heading the prosecutor’s office follow a pattern of abuse of power on the part of local judges who are increasingly scrutinized by the public and grassroots groups. Speaking at an event sponsored by True Texas Project (the rebranded Tarrant Coun-

ty Tea Party) on Monday, Brooks McKenzie called out Associate Judge Kate Stone and many family court judges for violating family code law and the civil rights of parents for little apparent reason. McKenzie, who holds a Ph.D. in child development, is advocating for much-needed reforms like livestreaming all Texas court proceedings and replacing the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with a new agency, one that’s not beholden to protecting crooked judges.

The livestreamed hearing of Aaron Dean brought national condemnation to how our judges shamelessly attack citizens. During the sentencing phase of the trial that sent the former Fort Worth police officer to nearly 11 years in prison for the 2019 murder of Atatiana Jefferson, Judge George Gallagher called Manual Mata to swear in as a witness even though the citizen journalist had no direct knowledge of the case (‘Clown Show,’ Dec. 2022). When Mata asked for his attorney, Gallagher had bailiffs arrest him for contempt of court. Upon his release three days later, Mata publicly blasted the judge for singling him

out, allegedly as retaliation for Mata’s popular YouTube videos that document police misconduct.

Following two terms by disgraced former DA Wilson, the county prosecutor’s office was in desperate need of honest and transparent leadership to restore public faith in the department. Sorrells’ self-aggrandizing speech does nothing to prove to non-bootlickers that local government is here to serve the people, and we can only wonder how long Sorrells and Catalano will wait to install a PlayStation 5 and a big ol’ comfy couch at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center. l

This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@ FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for concision and clarity.

This story is part of City in Crisis, an ongoing series of reports on unethical behavior and worse by local public leaders, featuring original reporting.

Artist Sarah Sense in front of her work Bayous Meander, Trees Remember, Water Heals, Roots Meander on view at the Carter.

STUFF

Playoff Ready?

The Cowboys’ embarrassing effort against Washington caps a series of troubling performances over the final stretch of the regular season which severely questions the team’s postseason preparedness.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

We’re here, football fans. Four and a half months of exhilaration and heartbreak, expectation and disappointment, and fist-pumping celebration and hair-pulling frustration have all led to this grand gridiron moment. In truth, it is the culmination of a full year’s worth of grinding work. From the draft to the offseason program, from training camp to the preseason, and then 17 whole games (still stupid) spread over 18 grueling weeks, the NFL playoffs are finally upon us!

Despite backing their way in after a shockingly terrible 26-6 public shaming in Washington on Sunday, your Dallas Cowboys have officially punched their postseason ticket. Though they managed to secure 12 wins for the second year in a row (a feat not seen in these parts since 1995!), by dint of the fact

that an exceedingly irritating Philadelphia Eagles team — led by an MVP lock quarterback in Jalen Hurts — rolled to a 14-3 record, the ’Boys will enter the postseason as a wildcard. They will therefore have to travel to the hallowed lands of glittering meth and leathery suntans in sunny Tampa Bay to take on the vampiric Tom Brady and the juggernaut 8-9 Buccaneers for Super Wildcard Weekend™ on, um, Monday night? (You can’t tell me that’s not some bone being tossed to Buck and Troy after leaving Fox.)

With the Eagles claiming the division, it keeps a nearly two decades-long tradition in the NFC East going strong, that of a different team finishing first every year. There have been no repeat division champs in 18 consecutive seasons running. Hell, in Dallas’ case, it makes just their first consecutive playoff appearance since we were all crying along to Plain White T’s’ “Hey There Delilah” way back in 2007.

This week before the real “big game” is normally a time buzzing with anticipation. However, with the way the last several games have gone for Dallas — really going all the way back to Thanksgiving against the Giants — my excitement for the start of the postseason has dropped considerably from its usual Christmas Eve-as-a-7-year-old level to the lukewarm, might-as-well-get-this-over-with anxiety of a routine colonoscopy. The Cowboys seem flat and in disarray, a horrifying problem to have come about heading into the playoffs. What seemed like a team primed for a long postseason run at midseason — unstoppable offense, marauding, shut-down defense, field-flipping special teams — has suddenly been exposed over the last six weeks. Like the villain in a Scooby Doo episode, the mask of the once-terrifying monster has been pulled away to reveal the same ol’ harmless, ne’er-do-well Cowboys.

It has been since hanging a 50-burger on the Colts a month ago that Dallas has had a decisive win. Even that one was uncomfortable until the offensive explosion in the third quarter. Sure, with the exception of the game they bungled away to the Jags and the absolute self-caning against Washington on Sunday, they’d won most of those games. But did you

ever feel comfortable until the time expired watching any of those wins? More troubling is that, discounting Trevor Lawrence, the quality of opposing quarterbacks who have given this heralded Dan Quinn defense fits in recent weeks is loathsome. You barely pulled out W’s against the terrible twosome of Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel at home against Houston? Then follow that with similar struggles against the upside-down swagger:talent ratio-possessing Gardner Minshew. And then give plenty of highlight tape to two late-round thirdstring QBs making their first career starts in Josh Dobbs for Tennessee and Sam Howell for Washington, the latter of whom threw a 15yard TD against you on his first NFL pass? I don’t think you can overestimate just how significant the loss of cornerbacks Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis have been on this defense. Without a backfield that can cover, opposing QBs can get the ball out quick, and Dallas’ usual top-tier pass rush is rendered useless. Opposing offenses can suddenly drive down the field on the Cowboys.

Couple the recent defensive woes with a quarterback in Dak Prescott who has suddenly decided to try his best Jameis Winston impression, and it feels strongly like another patented Cowboys one-and-done playoffs coming. Look, there’s no bigger Dak apologist than

me. I have ended friendships over my defense of No. 4, but something is way off with the seventh-year QB. At one time, he was among the quarterbacks most careful with the ball. He now leads the league in interceptions with 15. That, despite missing five whole games to injury earlier in the year. That staggering number of INTs includes four pick-sixes, three in just the last four games.

This team is falling apart at the exact wrong time. As I have consistently said, despite his recent inconsistency, Prescott has a better chance of being responsible for any Cowboys postseason success than he does of being its demise. It would be just like him to go into Tampa and lead Dallas to the victory by slinging it all over the field, essentially the exact opposite of the last time the ’Boys played there. You know, Week 1, when Dak had the worst game of his career? Well, until this past Sunday that is.

Even if they win, my once stalwart confidence is too shaken to think they make it out of the divisional round. I had them as NFC favorites just two months ago. Now, I can sense Lucy Van Pelt’s elusive football being placed on the ground before me, and I have the sinking suspicion that, when the final whistle blows, I’m going to end up on my back in the dirt. l

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

Rhino Health USA, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for:

Issuance of Permit 170526 This application would authorize construction of a Disposable Gloves Manufacturing Plant located at 273 West Everman Parkway, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76134. This application is being processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.

Dak Prescott leaps for a third down and is stopped just shy — could this be a metaphor for the Cowboys’ postseason?

Courtesy DallasCowboys.com

SCREEN

Hello, Dolly!

The horror hit this January is actually good. Golly gee!

BY KRISTIAN LIN

So, the trailer for M3GAN dropped this past fall, and everybody freaked out about the creepy talking and dancing doll. I did, too. A lesser movie would have coasted on that, and I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting much more when I saw the film this past weekend. I mean, it’s a horror movie released in January, and those are always crap. Instead, I found a thoughtful and mordantly funny work about grief and loss, with a creepy dancing doll. Didn’t know I needed that in my life, but I did.

The plot follows the setup for many bad dramedies: 9-year-old Cady James (Violet McGraw) is in the back seat when her parents are killed in a car accident — boo, hiss! What a cliché! — and her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) takes custody despite being completely

unsuited to caring for a child. Ah, but Gemma is a roboticist who works for a large toy company, and she has been working on a lifelike robot doll with artificial intelligence that allows it to learn about the child that it’s paired with so that it can be a perfect companion. She has named her creation Model 3 Generative Android, or M3GAN (portrayed by Amie Donald visually, with voice by Jenna Davis), and soon the robot is helping Cady through her grief.

There is so much bad parenting going on in this movie, and it’s awesome. The fatal car accident is caused by Cady’s parents arguing about her screen time while driving in a blizzard, and Gemma is all too happy to leave the hard work of helping Cady come to terms with her parents’ death to M3GAN. Both Gemma’s assistant (Jen Van Epps) and a child psychologist express deep reservations about Cady’s growing dependence on the doll: M3GAN “is supposed to supplement what parents are doing, not replace them.” That unfortunately is what the robot takes on herself, and Gemma’s instructions that M3GAN protect Cady from all harm leads the doll to beat a school bully (Jack Cassidy) and chase him to his death.

Creepy dolls have been a staple of horror movies since, well, how far back do you want to go? I’ll say the last segment of the 1975 movie Trilogy of Terror. The scariest movie doll I ever saw before this was from Lucky McKee’s 2002 film May. M3GAN is scarier than all these movie dolls because she’s not

just some mindless killing machine, nor is she a passive conduit like Annabelle, nor is she a metaphor like the doll from May, nor is she full of cheesy jokes like Chucky. She’s scary because she’s capable of caring — when Cady breaks down in tears and admits that she misses her parents, M3GAN asks her to remember something good about them and sings an original song called “Tell Me Your Dreams” that made me cry and cry. Yes, a homicidal doll moved me to tears. Think of me what you will on that account.

The material about Gemma’s corporate overlords who only think of M3GAN as the hot new toy that will be flying off the shelves next

Christmas makes for some good satire. New Zealand director Gerard Johnstone makes sure to throw in the occasional jump scare, and the dance M3GAN does before she goes after Gemma’s abusive boss (Ronny Chieng) is just the right amount of goofy. This whole time we’ve been thinking about horror movies as either “elevated horror” that traffics in big ideas and the lowbrow stuff that aims no higher than our id, but who ever said that you can’t do both? That’s the trick that M3GAN pulls off, and it’s almost as impressive as building a robot that develops its own emotions. There’s so much of 2023 left to go, and we might have found our horror movie of the year. l

By introducing her android to her 9-year-old niece, Allison Williams (center) is all too happy to put the parenting aside in M3GAN.

Geoffrey Short

M3GAN

Starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw. Directed by Gerard Johnstone. Written by Akela Cooper. Rated PG-13.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Two Women at a Window, c. 1655–60, oil on canvas. National Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection, 1942.9.46

This exhibition is organized by the Kimbell Art Museum.

The Kimbell Art Museum is supported in part by Arts Fort Worth, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

Thank You, Frogs

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

Mondays aren’t my favorite day of the week. I imagine the 9th of January in the year of our lord 2023 will forever be remembered in subsequent disgust by those who love purple, Fort Worth, and the TCU Horned Frogs. It’s hard to find words to describe how grotesque TCU’s performance was against the now repeat national champion Georgia Bulldogs. It was a kind of shootout, but what do you call a one-sided version of that? Oh, yes, a massacre.

I think the allure of the Dawgs and Frogs matchup was that if TCU showed up in Hollywood and executed their best game while making the champs uncomfortable, it would result in a beautiful David vs. Goliath storybook struggle for the ages. Instead, Sonny Dykes’ Davids managed to shoot themselves square in the forehead with a stone in front of a national audience, and then Goliath ate them.

For those who are fans of well-played football, Georgia executed their plan seamlessly and showed themselves to have zero offensive weaknesses the Frogs could exploit. Impressively, UGA’s defense masked secondary deficiencies by neutralizing Max Duggan with seemingly minimal resources. Georgia did to TCU what Michigan was supposed to be able to, which was to apply pressure using only the front four, leaving seven to roam the

secondary, which led to two bad interceptions in the first half.

TCU’s defense was an abject disaster. Georgia proved to be nearly flawless, using their incredible depth of talent — especially at tight end — to expose TCU’s safeties and linebackers in coverage when they weren’t being gashed by UGA running backs. In a recent Zoom interview with the Weekly’s Edward Brown, I spoke to concerns about vulnerabilities up the seam against those ends and that I thought quarterback Stetson Bennett was the more talented passer but Duggan had the edge as a rusher. Bennett, who ran for two untouched scores, showed he held both advantages as he finished his masterful career with six total touchdowns before presumably starting his chain of car dealerships throughout Athens. Bennett and his Bulldogs were so dominant that the senior was pulled at 52-7 with nearly the entire fourth quarter remaining. If a running clock were such a thing in a national title game, or a mercy rule, it would have been instituted.

The title game started poorly with the news that TCU’s best running back, Kendre Miller, wouldn’t play.

“No Miller,” I texted my former ClarkHall roommate. “I don’t like that.”

An early fumble by Derius Davis after Georgia scored easily on their opening drive drove a stake through lingering hope, knowing that for all the comebacks achieved by these resilient Frogs, none of them had been against a team like this. In fact, the closest TCU’s defense came to a stop in the first half was forcing Georgia into a field goal for an early 10-0 deficit, which turned out to be the Bulldogs’ only non-touchdown drive of the half. TCU’s

first — and only — appearance in the end zone came on the next drive, mostly thanks to a busted coverage and long reception by Davis. Duggan capped that effort with a short rush and the Frogs’ only points of the game.

For all of the outstanding narratives from TCU this season, it ends with the most lopsided national championship in the history of a set game being played (about 37 years). The narrative of the SEC’s vast superiority to every other conference will continue for the foreseeable future. Everyone in “It Just Means More” country will shout throughout their message boards that Alabama should have been chosen in TCU’s stead and that the Crimson Tide’s victory over Kansas State is transitive proof that Bama would have been the correct choice. Georgia’s survival against Ohio State, who was beaten handily by Michigan, is an important reminder that football is a game dependent on execution and matchups. Georgia showed up knowing how lucky they were to retain their opportunity despite their flat first half against the Buckeyes. Dykes and company couldn’t execute and fell victim to a superior game plan and team in Georgia — all the wordsmithing in the world won’t change or describe it any better. TCU’s defense surrendered more points in a championship game than any team ever. The previous worst performance was Nebraska hanging 62 on Florida back in the ’96 Fiesta Bowl when the Huskers bested the Gators by 36 points. The College Football Playoff, specifically, doesn’t possess a stellar record of recently competitive final games. Over the previous four contests, the average point differential is 22, including a 28-point loss by Alabama against Clemson. The semifinals have historically been even worse, so the

possibility of two competitive New Year’s Day games in addition to a nail-biting championship weren’t strong.

Despite Monday night’s retina-burning performance, this season was still far and away the most successful since the undefeated Rose Bowl winners under Gary Patterson and in a much more difficult conference. The Horned Frogs with an opportunity — however violently dashed — to win their first national title in 84 years is an unimaginable success. TCU played football on a night when all eyes were on them. The Hypnotoads didn’t do anything well in this game, but the future is bright with coaches Dykes, Garrett Riley, and Joe Gillespie (assuming Riley doesn’t take a head-coaching job). This year’s success has already manifested with bushels of transfer and high-school talent who are committed for next season. This was a special group of athletes who will and should be remembered fondly despite this seismically awful demise during a game no one thought they could advance to anyway. In many ways, my last football-centric column of the season feels like an obituary. We all witnessed our collective fandom hopes and dreams — however slight — die in a flurry of Bulldog touchdowns and tackles.

Just like many situations in life, expectations are the thief of joy. I, as a Frog fan, maintained almost zero hope of purple success for a group that won five games last season, fired their foundational head coach, and hadn’t traveled to a bowl in four years. If you’re an optimist, you reminisce on the joys of an overtime victory against Oklahoma State, walk-off win versus Baylor, and pure domination over Oklahoma and Texas. Then there was the Fiesta Bowl victory against Michigan, which returned TCU to national brand status and delivered a week of watching, reading, and hearing the national media dissect the Frogs and the tiny school in Fort Worth they represent. It’s acceptable — however briefly — to pontificate that we’d have been better off dropping a close game against Michigan and the Georgia genocide never taking place, but that’s a coward’s mindset. TCU played in a game 128 other teams wished they could have, regardless of the result. Of the actual matchup, they blew it, and there’s nothing positive to be gleaned from the film except as motivation for next year’s Frogs. Sonny Dykes’ next squad will be vastly different, and at the end of the day, TCU, Fort Worth, the State of Texas, and the Big 12 owe this year’s team a great debt of gratitude and deserve all of our collective admiration. l

TCU’s loss in the national championship sucks, for a lot of reasons, but there’s still plenty to celebrate.

TCU played in a game 128 other teams wished they could have, regardless of the result.

Billed as the only “R&B country singer” from Fort Worth, C’ing Jerome is helping area nonprofit Fort Worth Promotion & Development Fund kick off the rodeo

season and its Cosmic Cowtown event series with a free evening of live music 6pm-10pm at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, 817-367-9798). For more info on this and other events in the series, visit ThePartyinFortWorth.org.

Having survived 2022, you are invited to enjoy some “New Year, New Fear” 7pm-10pm at Dark Hour Haunted House (701 Taylor Dr, Plano, 469-298-0556). Dead By Dark Hour is a one-night-only survival-themed adventure into 1980s-style slasher flicks where you will “outwit, outrun, and outlast the slashers stalking the halls.” General admission tickets start at $45 at DarkHourHauntedHouse. com, but VIP experiences are also available.

Along with the TCU football team and half of Fort Worth, the TCU Band is back in town after cheering their team through a brutal championship game. Don’t miss your chance to show them some love as they perform at the All Western Parade, the official start of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It will take place in front of the Convention Center (1201 Houston St, 817-392-6338) for $15 per person or at Sundance Square (420 Main St, 817-2221111) for $25 per person. For parade-route info or to buy tickets, visit FWSSR.com and look for Stock Show Parade in the Plan a Visit drop-down menu. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

See a Buddhist relics exhibit, Bonsai shows, dragon dances, eggshell and silk flower art, and more at the Spring Blossom Festival at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center (4717 E

Rosedale St, @ChuaHuongDaoTemple). Enjoy boba, sugar cane, and Vietnamese coffee, plus shop for flowers and unique gifts, with proceeds benefiting the construction of the temple’s future 14-acre facility. This event is free to attend.

Fort Worth’s only “R&B country singer,” C’ing Jerome kicks off rodeo season Thursday. Courtesy Facebook

Deep in the Heart screens at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis Wednesday.

Courtesy Shopify

Mexi-’cue Goes South(-side)

The Near Southside is now home to a Hurtado Barbecue, offering Central Texas faves with Latin influences.

Hurtado Barbecue Restaurant, 1116 8th Av, FW. 682-499-5913. 7am-5pm daily.

PHOTOS AND STORY

BY EDWARD BROWN

While it lasted, Derek Allan’s Texas BBQ was a real treat. Their all-Wagyu smoked meats were fork-tender, marbled perfection. Allan recently thanked his fans for their support and, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, vacated the location on the southwest corner of 8th Avenue and Rosedale Street.

Arlington-based Hurtado Barbecue Restaurant recently expanded into the Near Southside building, and the smallish dining area was bustling on a recent visit. The menu is heavy on ’cue favorites and Latin takes on popular sides.

The first order up, a single large slab of brisket, had a thick smoky and peppery bark and was so tender it didn’t require a knife to slice and enjoy. Every bite was succulent and juicy.

Bacon burnt ends became popular after nearby Heim Barbecue developed the concept. While some versions of the porky bites are heavy on fat, Hurtado’s crimson cubes were meaty, flavorful, and slightly sweet.

Up next was the all-beef sausage, made in-house. A crisp snap of the casing was followed by overflowing juices from the single, large banger that exploded with chile and poblano pepper flavors.

The first Mexican offering of the day, a birria taco, was hefty and delicious. The crimson shell was packed with juicy, slow-cooked brisket loaded with mild white cheese. To these common ingredients, Hurtado added cilantro and salsa for an extra kick. My only disappointment was the slightly watered-down consommé.

Hurtado’s sides were delightful. A whiff of the hatch chile mac ’n’ cheese induced salivation, and every bite of the dense spiral pasta coated in spicy cheddar left me greedily continued on page 17

Hurtado’s Mexican street corn is a treat for the eyes and palate.

Hurtado’s smoked meats were tender and flavorful.

spooning deeper and deeper into the heavenly dish. Another Latin side, the Mexican street corn, came topped with a red sauce that glistened over perfectly cooked elote bathed in lime juice and cream.

Fans of Texas cornbread would love the Mexicanized version here. Dense, slightly sweet, and packed with onions and diced jalapeño peppers, the mountainous bread was filling and a refreshing take on the classic Southern comfort food.

The banana pudding was the perfect closer for an otherwise heavy lunch. Not overly sweet, the crumbled vanilla wafers and rich pudding inspired childlike wonderment at how something so simple could

be so satisfying. Another scrumptious appetizer was the Texas Twinkie. The jumbo jalapeño wrapped in smoky bacon and stuffed with brisket and pimento cheese was poppin’ with spices.

Overall, the service was polite and prompt. Hurtado Barbecue Restaurant offers just enough Tex-Mex sensibilities to complement traditional Texas ’cue without going off course. l

Simple and packed with banana flavors, the pudding was delightful.

Encased

Texas Twinkie

poppin’ with flavors.

1.) At 5:30pm Tue, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, 817-989-5060) hosts its annual Bulls’ Night Out Rodeo Pre-Party, featuring live music, food from Heim Barbecue, and craft cocktails by Pop-Up Bar. The party is free for Carter Society members with a rodeo ticket purchase of $45. Non-members can purchase party tickets for $50 or a pre-party/rodeo ticket package for $95. To become a member, call today.

2.) Learn to cook “updated” Southern classics, including the fried chicken pictured here, at the Central Market Cooking School at Central Market (4651 W Fwy, 817-989-4700) on Fri, Jan 20, at 6:30pm. You will work with a small team of other adults (21 and up), poaching shrimp in a spicy sauce, frying tea-brined chicken, making a light version of cheese grits, and learning to create a flaky pie dough suitable for a variety of desserts. At the end of the class, you’ll enjoy the meal you just made with a complimentary glass of wine. Tickets are $70 per person on Eventbrite.com.

3.) Every Tuesday evening, hosts Sapphire Tailar and Amyy Muah serve up Twisted Tues-

days at Club Reflection (604 S Jennings Av, 817-870-8867). This drag night begins at 11pm and includes “a rotating cast of queens” and drink specials all night long. Club Reflection also has karaoke 9pm-2am on Sundays. For more information, find the club on Facebook.

4.) Every Saturday, rain or shine, Four Seasons Markets hosts a European-style farmers market 9am-1pm in the parking lot behind the Olive Garden near Buc-ee’s at Tanger Outlets (15853 N Frwy, 817-464-5400), featuring fruits and vegetables as well as handcrafted sweet and savory food items, home decor, and jewelry from local artisans and farmers. When you spend $20 or more at the farmers market, Tanger Outlets will give you a complimentary coupon book at the Tanger Tent on-site. For more info, visit FourSeasonsMarkets.com.

5.) Every Saturday at 8pm, Red Goose Saloon (306 Houston St, 817-332-4343) hosts Cowtown Cabaret, winner of the Weekly’s Best Of 2022 award for burlesque show. Inspired by “Hell’s Half Acre and the debaucherous past of downtown Fort Worth,” The Best Little Saloon Show in Texas is an immersive adult dinner theater show hosted by Delilah DuBois. Tickets start at $20 on Eventbrite.com. Dinner is available but not included with the ticket price.

6.) Every Wednesday from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, the Grady Spears Wednesday Night Dinner takes place at Fort Brewery & Pizza (2737 Tillar St, 817-923-8000), featuring a fourcourse meal that includes the Lazy Susan (pan de campo with arugula, smoked bacon, and roasted tomatoes), family-style greens (Fort Brewery house salad with fried quail

eggs), and Fort Cornbread with honeyed butter. For your main course, you choose Bodark-beef ribeye, chicken-fried steak, or a vegetable plate, each with fall vegetable sides. For dessert, it’s fried pies or apple crisp. Tickets are $45-65 on Eventbrite.com.

7.) Chuckwagon Chef Buck Reams and Outlaw Chef Terry Chandler will cook up an authentic cowboy meal in the heart of Sundance Square (420 Main St, 817-222-1111) at 3pm Sat as part of the Sundance Square Chuckwagon Cookout. For $150 per person, enjoy live country music and a menu that includes a cowboy salad and Mexican shrimp cocktail, followed by beef tenderloin, green-chili cream corn, mashed potatoes, sourdough bread, and pan de campo. For dessert, it’s bread pudding with a whiskey sauce. A complimentary glass of beer or wine is included, and a cash bar for your other imbibing needs is available. For tickets, visit DFWI.org/do/ chuckwagon-cookout.

8.) This Thursday or Thu, Feb 9, il Modo at the Kimpton Harper Hotel (714 Main St, 817332-7200) serves up a Pasta Making Class. At 7pm, get your hands dirty by learning about the history and processes of pasta-making and leave with pasta and a recipe card in hand. Classes are around 1.5 hours, and the cost is $70 per person on Eventbrite.com.

Enjoy dinner and a burlesque show at Red Goose Saloon Saturday.

Courtesy Eventbrite.com

MUSIC

Fort Flick

Though their big reunion was in Dallas this summer, the Flickerstick folks are a Funkytown band and will mark their return by headlining Tannahill’s this spring.

BY STEVE STEWARD

I’m trying to find the right adjective to encapsulate Flickerstick in the wake of both the band’s 2021 reunion and their quick pivot to — of all things — touring again, as well as their return to local stages, including Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall in late March. “Renewed” and “revived” ar-

en’t quite what I’m looking for, and “resuscitated”’s implication of urgency is silenced by the yawn of 15 years. “Resurrected” kind of works, though that word’s messianic baggage is perhaps too grandiose for any rock band, let alone Flickerstick — though who am I to doubt or downplay the enthusiasm of thousands of longtime fans from all over the world?

8pm Sat, Mar 25, w/Valve at Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall, 122 E Exchange Av, Ste 200, FW. 817-900-9300.

the now-defunct mod-rock station The Edge, Kreig and company were big fans of Brutal Juice, Doosu, all of the One Ton Records bands, and their “all-time favorite,” Hi-Fi Drowning.

corded a song that Kreig and Lea wrote in 2002. The band tried to record “Shine On” a “couple” times while laying down 2004’s Tarantula, Krieg said, but “it just wasn’t working at the time.”

Flickerstick’s return has been a welcome surprise to everyone involved on both sides of the stage, a community that includes keyboardist and former guitarist Cory Kreig. For the band’s co-founder, watching his old band melt faces again is the culmination of both a friendship with and love of local music that goes back nearly 30 years.

Kreig formed Flickerstick (or what would become Flickerstick) with singer/ guitarist Brandin Lea in 1995 when the two were both at UNT.

“I kinda peaced out of UNT,” Kreig said, “but Brandin was still there, so I stayed and lived in Denton.”

Despite that geographic origin, Krieg said “every rehearsal” was on Trail Lake Drive at Bruce Lea Dance Factory, the studio owned by the father of Lea and younger brother Fletcher Lea, who played bass in the band. “We wrote music in Fort Worth. We were Fort Worth. We all graduated from Fort Worth high schools.”

Local music was a huge deal for him and his bandmates. Along with listening to Tales from the Edge compilation CDs from

Kreig dropped a bunch of other names that conjured mental images of Buzzoven comps and the KTCU booth circa 1998, and during that jog down memory lane, Kreig said, “It hasn’t really been announced, but our opener is Valve.”

I flipped out a little, because that band — an early-2000s power-pop vehicle for producer Casey Diorio — was one of my favorite bands from way back then, but I digress.

Nowadays, Kreig claims he goes only to “Flickerstick shows and whoever my daughters listen to.”

Though he played guitar in the two reunion shows this summer at House of Blues in Dallas, he has since handed over the position to Beau Wagener, who, oddly enough, was a candidate for the band’s original lineup. His name came into the mix last year, when the reunion started to be a real thing.

While Kreig’s parts are now performed by Wagener, he still works for the band. “Technically speaking, I work for the band. I guess I’m the de facto manager-slash-social media guy. I work closely with Ryan Higgs, who is the touring manager. I help with booking shows, kinda help keep the guys moving forward.”

Regarding forward motion, Kreig sat in with the band last summer when they re -

After announcing the reunion, he continued, their thoughts immediately turned to recording again, which sent Kreig, Lea, and company to near Austin and the studio of Taylor Tatsch (Maren Morris, Cut Throat Finches, Shadows of Jets).

Though he himself didn’t play on it, Kreig sat in as a producer. “I thought it was important, more in the service of the song, if I didn’t play on it, but if I could help from a writing or directional standpoint, I was there to give input. Otherwise, I was like, ‘You guys are the band.’ ”

Serving the song is often musicianspeak for shelving one’s ego, which is another way of letting water be under the bygones or whatever. Kreig and Lea were sort of known for butting heads way back when, but in the fullness of time, both have reconciled and, according to Kreig, even share the occasional “two-hour phone conversation.”

Kreig still relished the rush from revisiting his band’s hits during the two shows he did play. “It was amazing. I was a little nervous because, from a playing perspective, my chops … I had to really work. If you don’t stay proficient, you lose it. I had the muscle memory, but I was worried about letting fans down. I wanted to do the songs justice. So many people flew in from all over — places like Chicago and Ireland — and that blew my mind.

Flickerstick

“The big thing was my wife and daughters were there,” he continued. “My wife never really knew me as a musician, and it was really cool watching my daughters learn about the music as we went through the process and then see the concert. In a way, it was like watching them become fans. And at those shows, we saw old friends, people we’d known for decades.”

Former owner of now-defunct TCU-area venue The Aardvark, Danny Weaver and former Aardvark bartender Peter Link were two guitar techs.

“It was just decades of family,” Kreig went on. “Higgs tour-managed the show. [Wife] Jenna [Hill-Higgs] was the stage manager. We were surrounded by friends. Everything was very familial.”

Reflecting on the renewed trajectory of his old band, Kreig was enthusiastic. “It’s cool to be old. I got to relive a little bit of being 25 again, and that was nice. It’s funny, because when we started talking about doing the band again, Brandin said, ‘Hey, man. I would really like to get out and play. I love those songs, but I’ll just do ’em solo,’ … and I was like, ‘No way, man. Do it as Flickerstick!’ And that’s the thing that I’m passionate about: getting to watch Brandin, a guy I’ve known since I was 15 through ups and down … this is where he belongs. I’m excited for him and the rest of the band. The feedback has been really good.”

And as for my search for the correct word to describe the 2022 version of Flickerstick, given their single, their plans to record more singles, and now this headlining show at Tannahill’s, I think the one I’m looking for is “relevant.” l

Frontman Brandin Lea (center) will lead Flickerstick in their first F-Dub headlining show since reuniting this spring.

Todd Guhn

public

notices

NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN AIR PERMIT (NORI) PROPOSED AIR QUALITY PERMIT NUMBER 170526

APPLICATION. Rhino Health USA, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for: Issuance of Permit 170526

This application would authorize construction of a Disposable Gloves Manufacturing Plant located at 273 West Everman Parkway, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76134 This application is being processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en espanol está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/newsourcereview/ airpermits-pendingpermit-apps. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/ public/hb610/index.html?lat=32.625195&lng=-97.327204&zoom=13&type=r. The facility will emit the following contaminants: lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less and sulfur dioxide.

This application was submitted to the TCEQ on September 27, 2022. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and the City of Fort Worth Central Public Library, 500 West 3rd Street, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Dallas/Fort Worth regional office of the TCEQ.

The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application.

PUBLIC COMMENT. You may submit public comments to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application and the executive director will prepare a response to those comments.

PUBLIC MEETING. You may request a public meeting to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or ask questions about the application. A public meeting about the application will be held if requested by an interested person and the executive director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing.

After technical review of the application is complete, the executive director may prepare a draft permit and will issue a preliminary decision on the application. If a draft Air Quality Permit is prepared, a Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision is required and it will then be published and mailed to those who made comments, submitted hearing requests or are on the mailing list for this application and will contain the final deadline for submitting public comments.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING You may request a contested case hearing if you are a person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, and daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing”; (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or an association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns.

The deadline to submit a request for a contested case hearing is 30 days after newspaper notice is published. If a request is timely filed, the deadline for requesting a contested case hearing will be extended to 30 days after the mailing of the response to comments.

If a hearing request is timely filed, following the close of all applicable comment and request periods, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding.

MAILING LIST. In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list to receive future public notices for this specific application by sending a written request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below.

AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. Public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800-687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from Rhino Health USA, Inc., 273 West Everman Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76134-5304 or by calling Mr. Frank Gaudet P.E., Consulting Environmental Engineer, Regulatory Compliance Services, Inc., at (214) 500-4081.

Notice Issuance Date: October 7, 2022

fwweekly.com

ADVERTISE HERE!

If you need to hire staff or promote your business, let us help you online and/or in print. For more info, call 817987-7689 or email stacey@fwweekly.com today.

Become a Published Author!

Dorrance Publishing, trusted by authors since 1920, wants to read your book! Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution. Visit DorranceInfo.com/FTWorth or call for your free Author’s Guide. (MB)

1-866-256-0940

COWTOWN ROVER for YOUR RIDE!

Inspection Almost Due? Are You Road-Trip Ready? With our handy pick-up and drop-off services, having your car checked out could not be easier. Get ready for the holidays. Call today!

3958 Vickery | 817.731.3223 | CowtownRover.com

DENTAL INSURANCE

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company covers 350+ procedures. Real dental insurance, NOT just a discount plan. Get your FREE Dental Info Kit with all the details by calling today or visiting Dental50Plus.com/FortWorth #6258. (MB) 1-888-361-7095

DIRECTV for $64.99/mo Get DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. (MB) call 1-855-966-0520

DIRECTV STREAM

Carries the Most Local MLB Games! CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. (MB) call IVS 1-855-810-7635

DISH Network: $59.99, 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. (MB) Call today! 1-855-701-3027

Earthlink Highspeed Internet Big Savings with Unlimited Data! Fiberoptic Technology up to 1gbps with customizable plans. Call today! (MB) 855-767-0515

Eliminate Gutter Cleaning Forever!

LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. (MB) Call 1-877-689-1687

EMPLOYMENT

Now Hiring CDL Drivers with Tanker & Hazmat preferred. Health Insurance and other benefits. Per Diem Paid. 1-830-833-4547 EOE

ERIE METAL ROOFS

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer: $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install for military, health workers, and 1st responders. Call Erie Metal Roofs today. (MB) 1-888-778-0566

The Gas Pipe, The GAS PIPE, THE GAS PIPE, your Peace Love & Smoke Headquarters since 4/20/1970! SCORE a FREE GIFT on YOUR Birthday, FREE Scale Tuning and Lighter Refills on GAS PIPE goods, FREE Layaway, and all the safe, helpful service you expect from a 51 Years Young Joint. Plus, SCORE A FREE CBD HOLIDAZE GIFT With-A-Buy thru 12/31! Be Safe, Party Clean, Keep On Truckin’. More at thegaspipe.net

Guaranteed Life Insurance!

Up to $15,000.00. No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Visit Physicians Life Insurance Company at Life55Plus.info/ FTWorth or call today. (MB) 844-782-2870

Hannah in Hurst, LMT

Serving the Mid-Cities for over 25 years. Massage for Better Sleep, Pain Relief, and Deep Relaxation. MasseuseToTheStars.com (MT#4797) Call 817.590.2257

HISTORIC RIDGLEA THEATER

THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique Spanish-Mediterranean elements. It is ideal for large audiences and special events. RIDGLEA ROOM and RIDGLEA LOUNGE have been making some of their own history, as connected adjuncts to RIDGLEA THEATER, or hosting their own smaller shows and gatherings. More at theRidglea.com

LIFE LINE SCREENINGS

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line to schedule yours. Special offer: 5 screenings for just $149. (MB) Call 1-833-636-1757

NEED A FRIEND?

RonnieDLongBailBonds.com

PLANNED PARENTHOOD Care. No matter what. WeArePlannedParenthood.org