Fort Worth Weekly // February 1-7, 2023

They Got (Big) Game

For delicious Super Bowl or V-Day ideas like these Queso + Carne charcuterie cones, see pg. 14.

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

FEATURE

Want gov’t communications and docs but don’t know where to start? Look no further.

BY EDWARD BROWN

EATS

& DRINKS

On Magnolia, the It’s Food trailer slings some tasty vegan burgers and more.

BY EDWARD BROWN

STUFF

The Cowboys are stuck because axing coaches won’t change the GM in JerryWorld.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

MUSIC

Specializing in honey-gold Americana, Adult Male Blond arrives.

BY STEVE STEWARD

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Celebrate the arrival of Old Gringo, Kemo Sabe, Double D Ranch and Tannahill’s Tavern.

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STOCKYARDS CHAMPIONSHIP RODEOS

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY | 7:30PM

Standing Up for Kids?

Fort Worth ISD gives in to loud, annoying right-wing asshats.

By Edward Brown

The Cowboy Way

4

Until the GM changes (it won’t), expect more of the same.

By Patrick Higgins

Meditative Music

13

Raw and soulful, Adult Male Blond has worked through the pandemic pain.

By Steve Steward

20

Along with boards and boxes, Queso + Carne creates unique special-occasion delights like these charcuterie cones. The Fort Worth caterer loads the premium meats, cheeses, and olives typically found on their charcuterie spreads into waffle cones, making them a no-waste option for green event planners as there are no plates to dispose of. The ingredients are limited only by your imagination. In the cone on the right, Owner Sierra Work even included a few slices of a cranberry goat cheese roll. Photo courtesy of Queso + Carne.

Hardwood Heroes

TCU hoops is thriving, but do they have the depth to finish strong?

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Christina Berger, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Vishal Malhotra, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Madison Simmons, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Cole Williams

EDITORIAL BOARD

Anthony Mariani, Edward Brown, Emmy Smith

DISTRIBUTION

Fort Worth Weekly is available free of charge in the Metroplex, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of Fort Worth Weekly may be purchased for $1.00 each, payable at the Fort Worth Weekly office in advance. Fort Worth Weekly may be distributed only by Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized independent contractors or Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of Fort Worth Weekly, take more than one copy of any Fort Worth Weekly issue. If you’re interested in being a distribution point for Fort Worth Weekly, please contact Will Turner at 817-321-9788.

METROPOLIS

The Real Groomers

Recent backlash against Fort Worth ISD’s sex-ed curriculum should be seen for what it is — homophobic fearmongering from the right.

BY STATIC

As we should have expected in this red city, Fort Worth school district leaders recently caved to demands by a few dozen anti-woke warriors that board members scrap plans to purchase online sex-ed materials from HealthSmart, an Irving-based health-care service provider. Speakers citing transgender paranoia and baseless allegations that public schools are sexualizing children sprinkled in Biblical references to remind board members that the Lawdy Lawd was watching last week’s meeting.

During public comments, several parents advocated for a sex-ed program based on a 3,000-year-old magic novel, which could go several ways if taken literally since the Old Testament views menstruating women as “unclean” while Jesus, a dutiful Buddhist, openly fraternized with prostitutes.

Following the meeting, recently appointed superintendent Angélica Ramsey said in a public statement that the board’s decision to delay adopting any sex-ed curriculum effectively means an end to reproduction health education for the remainder of the semester. #cowards

State guidelines adopted by the Texas State Board of Education in 2020 mandate that fifth graders, for example, learn how to identify and report sexual harassment and signs of sex trafficking. Listening to last week’s public comments from right-wing mouth-breathers would mistakenly leave some with the impression that school teachers are encouraging improper behavior in youths.

Jenna Hill-Higgs, a longtime retired public school teacher, said the parents who spoke against sex-ed curriculum likely have no idea what is being taught and how.

“We would always make sure to tell students that, if they have further questions, they should talk to a trusted adult, like a

parent,” Hill-Higgs said, referring to her 18year career teaching middle schoolers.

The notion that teenagers should discuss reproductive health and gender-related issues only at home demonstrates a lack of understanding of how the minds of teenagers develop, she continued.

“Once kids get in middle school, they start listening to their peers more than parents,” she said. “That is just part of becoming an adult. I don’t believe that a bit of knowledge would hurt” students.

Hill-Higgs, who was raised by two lesbian mothers, sees homophobia as the driving force behind much of the backlash against sex-ed curriculum. She believes conservative parents aim to cut any mention of nonbinary, nonheterosexual vocabulary from classroom lessons rather than acknowledging a sizeable percentage of the student population.

One in five Gen Z adults (ages 18 to 26) identifies as LGBTQ+, based on a recent Gallup poll, while 7% of all adults in this country identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, meaning youths are more likely to identify as nonhetero than adults. By any measure, the United States is becoming gayer and gayer with every passing year.

Shortly after retiring, Hill-Higgs opened Liberty Lounge, a Near Southside bar that openly welcomes folks of all kinds. She plans to host meetups and happy hours for like-minded folks (who presumably do not think Leviticus counts as a sex-education resource) to connect, organize, and speak up in favor of educating children on basic stuff like what causes pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and that not everyone fits within the binary gender paradigm.

The real groomers indoctrinating children, she added, are parents who misuse religion and homophobia to teach their children that being straight equates to godliness while everyone else is somehow living in sin.

“These parents are trying to say, ‘If you are not like me, you’re wrong,’ ” Hill-Higgs said. “That is a horrible world to live in.”

Follow Liberty Lounge @Liberty. Lounge.FW for updates on how to support LGBTQ+ youths at Fort Worth ISD and student access to basic sex-ed-related information. 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.

Based on data by Gallup, around 20% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+ — a steep increase over past generations.

Requesting Public Info

BY EDWARD BROWN

On a recent chilly afternoon, Terry Roach gave me a tour of a densely overgrown and littered forest in Benbrook. Although the land is not owned by the city, there are no fences or signs warning folks to stay away.

“This was one of the gems of Benbrook,” said the private citizen and Benbrook resident, referring to the green space where he used to run. “It had some nice trails. I kept care of it and picked up trash where I could.”

A tall brick fence now partitions the fields from newish apartments nearby. Roach said the residential buildings completed in mid-2020 effectively cut off the bicycle and running paths, but Roach’s fondness for the area kept him coming back to pick up litter.

Two years ago, Benbrook police officers Lyle Bremmeyer and Michael Crow detained Roach for more than 20 minutes on suspicion of stealing. Based on police records, the officers falsely reported he was at an active construction site even though the apartments had been completed by that time. All he was doing was picking up trash.

“That day, we had two rogue officers who took advantage of that call,” Roach said, referring to what he suspects was a call about suspicious activity that prompted police involvement. “The officers yelled, ‘Show us your hands.’ They didn’t listen to my story and threatened to arrest me.”

Roach readily acknowledges that, unlike many other Americans, his interaction with police did not end in bodily harm or violent death. The public school teacher would have let the ordeal go if the Benbrook police had answered one simple question: Why was he detained?

Instead of providing answers, peace officers and city officials in the small suburb near southwest Fort Worth doubled down on false statements that sought to portray Roach as the scofflaw.

Based on documentation shared with me, Roach’s repeated attempts to obtain bodycam footage from that day have been obstructed by Benbrook police, city attorneys, and county prosecutors.

Based on emails, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office refuses to compel Benbrook to hand over the footage or acknowledge that the two Benbrook officers repeatedly lied to Roach. The county open records division, managed by the DA’s office, recently filed a brief with the state attorney general’s office requesting the AG

to allow Benbrook to conceal the bodycam recordings. Open records officials argue that caveats in the Texas Public Information Act permit governmental groups to withhold information tied to investigations that do not result in a conviction. The two officers have yet to be disciplined.

Based on redacted city documents, Benbrook taxpayers have spent more than $15,000 since early 2021 covering legal fees for Taylor, Olson, Adkins, and Sralla, the Fort Worth law firm contracted by Benbrook to file open records briefs, including for Roach’s requests.

“In essence, unless someone is arrested or physically assaulted by police, there’s huge latitude for police to abuse citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights and other rights,” Roach said.

When Benbrook attorneys eventually agreed to release documents to Roach, he alleges the attorneys padded the package with irrelevant documents to allow the city to charge him more. The Benbrook resident emailed me a release that includes a photo of an unidentified Benbrook police officer’s clothed crotch — an overt attempt to mock Roach’s lawful requests for government information.

Benbrook officials ignored my requests for comment on the crotch shot and Roach’s concerns.

In November 2020 — the same time period of Roach’s detainment — we published an examination of the lengths city and county officials go to when hiding embarrassing or incriminating information from the public (“Open Government or Legal Loopholes?” Nov. 2020).

Local government transparency has not improved since then and has arguably become more obstructionist, which neces-

sitated our revisiting the topic now while providing practical tips for lawfully requesting public information from and filing complaints against public officials in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and local law enforcement.

While Roach’s story spurred our current examination of government transparency, it was the work of local criminal defense attorney Leon Reed that caught our magazine’s attention more than two years ago. Reed was requesting the location of Fort Worth police cameras on telephone poles in his predominantly Black neighborhood of Como on the West Side. City attorneys refused to release the information, publicly stating that doing so would compromise police work. Reed said he believed that releasing the information would reveal the cameras are disproportionately packed in Black and brown neighborhoods. City officials successfully hid the locations of the cameras, and Reed continues to be a vocal critic of racist policing habits.

The city’s successful efforts concealing the location of police cameras followed a broader trend in Texas, one that the Associated Press reported on in 2017. The number of open records “denials has been soaring,” the AP said. “In the fiscal year that ended in August 2001, governments forwarded about 5,000 denied record requests to the attorney general’s office for review. That number jumped to more than 27,000 in 2016. Much of the increase has occurred in the last decade.”

Heading the AG’s office since 2015 is indicted AG Ken Paxton, a staunch supporter of the Big Lie. Texas’ top law enforcement official routinely abuses his office for self-serving reasons, such as when he sued several states to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. It was widely believed Paxton was seeking a pardon from the former president. The AG’s disregard

for ethics may explain why his staffers act against the public interest when fielding open records requests.

When AG legal briefs aren’t effective, and they often are, bureaucrats typically send you a large itemized bill for your requested documents. Once such egregious example from mid-2020 came from No Sleep Until Justice’s request for copies of all discipline reports for Fort Worth police dating back more than a decade. The city attorney’s office, which handles open records requests, responded with a $1,731 bill and gave the local social justice-minded group 10 days to pay in full. No Sleep volunteers paid the fee, and our magazine was the first to publish offenses by several dozen officers who remain at the police department.

When those tactics don’t work, government attorneys rely on a wide range of legal loopholes in the Texas Public Information Act to prevent embarrassing information from reaching the public. Those caveats can include something as seemingly benign as the presence of a birthdate. Benbrook officials, for example, maintain that bodycam footage of Roach’s detainment cannot be released because the video contains license plate numbers that a high schooler with an iPhone could cover up.

Locals are increasingly taking to speaking at city council meetings, creating livestream videos, and uploading videos to YouTube to vent their frustration with the local government’s fear of releasing public information. Indeed, the top complaint our office fields about government malfeasance is tied to the lack of government transparency locally.

Demanding accountability from a system that protects its own can seem insurmountable, but for fellow citizens and other continued on page 7

Many of us taxpayers have come up with creative ways to compel local government to release material we own.

Included in one open records release to a local citizen detained for nearly 20 minutes by Benbrook police was a crotch shot, apparently taken by a Benbrook cop.

Courtesy City of Benbrook

journalists, the lessons that many others and I have learned over the years can still be put to good use.

Locals seeking accountability from elected leaders have recently begun calling out public officials during open meetings.

Though those forums typically reach only a few hundred viewers at most, last year saw a rise in YouTube posts from locals and local self-described First Amendment “auditors,” who see asserting free speech rights as a buttress against tyrannical rule.

One local using YouTube to push back against government obfuscation is Cody Warden (@CodyHighroller). In June, he published a video of his visit to the open records division of the DA’s office on the hunt for info related to his early-2021 arrest. The post has nearly 8,000 views. In its written description, Warden alleges that then-DA Sharen Wilson directed her office to deny public requests for information.

“I need the police report from Burleson and Euless,” he says to a DA official at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.

In the video, Warden alleges the DA’s office is trying to hide behind government code.

“They have made it virtually impossible to get any public records,” he says.

Warden maintains his family violence arrest was unwarranted — something he be -

lieves released police bodycam footage and records would prove.

The YouTuber is suing the DA’s office for violations of his civil rights. Warden has several thousand subscribers and several dozen videos. “Tarrant County District Attorney Gets Absolutely Obliterated” — filmed during a commissioners court meeting — drew nearly 100,000 views.

“Is the First Amendment illegal in Tarrant County?” Warden asks DA Wilson as she smirks and walks away. “Why are you prosecuting Manuel Mata” for filming police?

Warden is referring to a citizen journalist who has taken a multi-pronged approach

to addressing misconduct by local law enforcement (“Auditing Citizens’ Rights,” Nov. 2022). Beyond filing formal complaints against the cops, Mata alleges they violated his rights by unlawfully arresting him outside the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) and his Southside home, among other incidents. Mata frequently livestreams police interactions with civilians through his YouTube channel @ManuelMata.

Locals have few resources for learning about open records laws. Stewards of government records rarely provide useful advice on how to obtain public information, which makes the work of the Freedom of Informa-

tion Foundation of Texas all the more needed.

Kelley Shannon frequently advises Texans and reporters on how to request public information effectively. The nonprofit’s director organizes educational events, advocates for transparency in government dealings, and maintains a hotline (1-800-5806651) to field violations of the Texas Public Information Act.

In mid-2021, Shannon told us Fort Worth was one of the worst offenders in the state that year when it came to municipalities that skirted Texas Public Information Act mandates. Throughout the first year of the pandemic, city officials used an obscure AG opinion to deny the release of documents because the open records department was working with a skeleton crew due to COVID (“Protecting the Right to Publish,” June 2021). When filing open records requests, Shannon advises requestors to focus on clarity.

“Be specific on the front end,” she said. “It also helps you not be bombarded with gobs of records that you don’t want or even need. Be polite and professional. Know your rights, but realize that the employee you are dealing with is somebody who understands your rights and values their role in being the custodian of the people’s information. If you are looking for data that is kept in a spreadsheet, ask for it in the way that you want it so that the government official doesn’t just convert it to a PDF. There are many places that try to get requests through portals. You do not have to use an online portal. You can email, mail, or hand-deliver your request.”

Texans access state information through continued on page 8

When approached at an outdoor market, Benbrook Mayor Jason Ward dismissively waved off the video maker and walked away to avoid comment.

Courtesy YouTube

continued

page

the Texas Public Information Act and Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, the former governing how non-judicial records are requested and the latter detailing how folks can formally ask for communications and records by judges. The Freedom of Information Act, alternately known as FOIA, pertains to federal agencies.

Fort Worthians can file open records requests several ways. One of the easiest is by emailing PublicInformationAdministrator@FortWorthTexas.gov. As Shannon advised, be specific about the information you are requesting. Requests for police documents go through the city, and within 10 days of the request, city staffers must provide a date when the city will make the documents available or steps the municipality will take to withhold the docs.

At the county level, requestors can email OpenRecords@TarrantCountyTX.gov to reach the open records division of the DA’s office. Public queries can also be mailed or hand-delivered to Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, 401 W. Belknap, 9th Fl., Fort Worth, TX 76196.

Less understood by the public are Rule 12 requests that require judges to release internal communications, records, and any documents that do not directly deal with a judge’s rulings. In my experience, Tarrant County’s judiciary is content with the low level of awareness about these disclosures.

The requests must be sent to the records custodian. For example, if someone were to request the Oath of Office of a visiting retired judge to determine if that judge was constitutionally qualified to preside, the following can be sent to Tracy Kemp (THKemp@TarrantCounty.com).

Dear Tracy Kemp,

Please find by this email my request under Rule 12 for [insert request details].

Sincerely, [insert name]

Kemp’s boss, Administrative Judge David Evans, has a long history of assigning visiting retired judges under false titles and a documented record of not requiring visiting retired judges to file the Oath of Office before assignments as required by Article 16 of the Texas Constitution.

Tarrant County’s magistrate judges are by far the most obstructionist local governmental group when it comes to Rule 12 requests. Administrators at that office routinely fail to follow Rule 12’s mandate that government officials do their best to follow the spirit of the law and not obstruct requests.

After a magistrate office coordinator refused to clarify where to send my Rule 12 request, I called their office (817-884-1251) to ask whether the public has a right to Rule 12 requests under state law. The person answering only then grudgingly forwarded my request to the magistrate judge in question. Magistrate judge emails, and judicial emails in general, are not publicly disclosed and

continued on page 9

must be requested from county officials.

Local magistrate judges routinely abuse their positions to target perceived political enemies through punitive bond conditions. Citizen journalist Mata continues to be targeted by those gatekeepers, and I have witnessed Magistrate Judge Mark Thielman place a no-contact order between myself and my then 2-year-old child due to bogus harassment charges of which a jury recently found me not guilty. Thielman is a close friend of my daughter’s maternal family, and it is my belief that he abused his position to aid their efforts to keep my child from me purely out of spite.

Targets of retaliation by local magistrate judges can request communications to and from the scofflaw judge with keywords (such as the defendant’s name) within applicable dates. If the request is appealed to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), which handles appeals to conceal Rule 12 disclosures, forward a letter to them describing the alleged criminal actions of the judges for OCA’s review.

Next up: pro tips on how to file criminal complaints against corrupt judges and peace officers.

In early March 2020, days before COVID shut down life as we knew it, I accepted an invite from Fort Worth Police Capt. Bryan Jamison to meet at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex on the South Side. Jamison agreed to discuss sworn complaints I filed against Chadwick Scroggins and Wade Walls, who both continue to work for FWPD Internal Affairs.

At issue was meddling by a well-connected family that resulted in bogus harassment charges against me intended to obstruct my family court case. Around a dozen unanswered phone calls to my daughter’s maternal grandfather pleading to know if my child was alive were used by former

DA intake attorney Alfredo Valverde — who currently serves on Benbrook’s planning and zoning commission — as an alleged criminal offense. An officer involved in the investigation who asked not to be named described to me acts of obstruction of justice allegedly committed by members of the DA and Fort Worth police tied to my charges.

Days before my 2020 arrest for harassment, Sgt. Dani Davis emailed her superior officer, Lt. Jeremy Allen, to detail the obstruction by officials who remain in office today.

The alleged victim, a local attorney, “has used her DA connections to try and supersede and dictate how the detective works her case,” the email reads. “She has used countless connections in the PD and DA’s office to … have the case reassigned” to an officer who would comply with Valverde’s plan.

Interfering with or obstructing the work of a peace officer in Texas is a Class A misdemeanor. I sought answers about who committed the alleged crimes, and Scroggins and Walls repeatedly lied to me throughout my initial investigation. The officers falsely stated that no one interfered with my case,

despite internal emails and DA disclosures that said otherwise.

After sending my complaints to the city’s Ethics Review Commission, a five-volunteer board that enforced the city’s Code of Ethics, I learned city councilmembers had allowed the commission to dwindle to nonexistence (“Ethics Review? What Ethics Review?” Nov. 13, 2019).

During my March 2020 meeting with Jamison, he guided me toward a small interrogation room deep within the complex. I expected a civil conversation about my complaints but received knee-jerk outbursts and angry barking. At one point during his hourlong tirade, he yelled that I should be careful about having theories about police misconduct. The not-so-veiled threat prompted me to file a sworn complaint against Jamison.

The then-newly formed Office of the Police Oversight Monitor fielded my complaint and found Jamison free of any wrongdoing from his unhinged mishandling of a formal complaint of police misconduct. For two years, I have sought the voice recording that Jamison made of our conversation. The

captain first hid evidence of his verbal threats by citing an exception in the Texas Public Information Act that allows the withholding of evidence while a criminal investigation is ongoing, based on the government-fabricated harassment case against me.

When a jury found me not guilty of harassing the man who was hiding my child in his home, the city attorney’s office again refused to release the recordings of Jamison’s threats, this time because the Police Oversight Monitor found Jamison free of wrongdoing.

While my attempts to hold Jamison accountable for his misconduct failed, citizen journalist Mata has found a method for successfully filing complaints against peace officers. He has filed several that were substantiated by FWPD Internal Affairs, and he advises several steps to ensure Fort Worth police complaints are taken seriously and not outright dismissed.

“The job of Internal Affairs is to take your complaint, not tell you that you do not have a legitimate complaint,” Mata said. “Try to get a video of the incident and note the name of the officer, his car number, and the time and location of the incident.”

Complainants can drop sworn statements at the Bob Bolen Complex (505 W. Felix St., 76115) or visit Police.FortWorthTexas.gov/OnlineServices/ProfessionalStandards to file the complaint online.

Mata recommends visiting Police.FortWorthTexas.gov/Public/General-Orders to find applicable policy violations. Follow up by filing an open records request asking for a copy of your complaint to confirm it was received.

Complaints against Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies can be mailed to or dropped off at the seventh floor of the Internal Affairs Division (200 Taylor St., 76102) or emailed to SheriffInternalAffairs@TarrantCounty.com.

My advice: Have complaints notarized so they can be considered sworn complaints. Most banks and UPS stores offer this service. In 2020, I filed complaints against Valverde and former DA Criminal Division Chief Larry Moore, the former for allegedly

continued on page 10

To All Interested Persons And Parties:

Reliable Paving, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration No. 171222L001, which would authorize construction of a temporary concrete batch plant located at the following driving directions: from the intersection of Farm to Market Road 157 and Trinity Boulevard, go west on Trinity Boulevard, for 250 feet, site will be on the left, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76040. 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.

Former DA Sharen Wilson, shown here smirking, ordered county officials to block the video maker’s lawful open records request.

Courtesy YouTube

obstructing a police investigation and the latter for assigning bogus investigator Brian Norris of Ellis County to cover up DA meddling in my case. I simultaneously mailed notarized complaints to the DA’s office (401 W. Belknap St., 76102) and mailed sworn complaints to the State Bar of Texas. Information on how to file a grievance with the state bar can be found at TexasBar.com.

The bar accepts complaints from anyone, meaning you do not have to be a client of an attorney or prosecutor to allege misconduct by one. Neither group substantiated my complaint, but anyone can now request copies of past sworn complaints and obtain a copy of my document-supported narrative of alleged criminal acts committed by Tarrant County’s power brokers. For that reason alone, filing legitimate complaints against anyone in government is worth the effort.

In Texas, judges are rarely disciplined, and many of those sanctions happen privately. Thielman recently received a letter from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct tied to my formal complaint alleging his judicial misconduct that is currently being investigated. Included in my letter to the state commission are: a narrative of events; an email from Thielman describing his personal friendship with the alleged victim in my bogus case; DA disclosures detailing my ex’s plans to use the harassment charges to keep my child from me; and a copy of the bond conditions that show my daughter was placed on a no-contact list at the advice of Benson Varghese, co-founder of the largest criminal defense firm in Tarrant County.

Dear Mr. Brown:

We have received your complaint against a Texas judge. All complaints receive a thorough review and investigation relevant to the allegations and are presented to the Commission. The Commission may dismiss a complaint, impose sanctions against a judge, or take other appropriate actions.

Signed, State Commission on Judicial Conduct

Through his YouTube channel, Roach asks Benbrook bureaucrats and police to answer basic questions about his unlawful detainment. In November, he approached Benbrook Mayor Jason Ward at a Benbrook outdoor marketplace.

“Mayor Ward, can we talk for a moment?” Roach asks as the mayor waves him off and walks away.

Roach follows him.

“Do you support the right of citizens to have body camera video from their own encounters with the police?” Roach says.

“What if it happened to your family and your wife or child was held for 20 minutes? Would you want a video of that? How much money is the city going to spend to hide bodycam videos?”

Following his 2020 detainment by Benbrook police, Roach requested copies of complaints filed against the officers who held him without cause for 20 minutes more than three years ago.

“One-hundred-percent of the complaints I found were ruled [by Benbrook police] as unfounded,” he said. “That touches

on another issue of injustice that stretches beyond Benbrook. Many police departments investigate themselves and have the final say in resolution of complaints. Benbrook has zero civilian oversight of police affairs, and there is no agency in Texas to which one can turn unless the case is so egregious that police Mace or taze someone.”

Roach recently wrote to Tarrant County DA Phil Sorrells about the alleged mishandling of citizen complaints by prosecutors and cops.

“I brought substantial, irrefutable evidence to support my claims to your office,” the letter reads. “On two occasions in September and November of last year, I met with Mr. Arthur Clayton and Mr. Kyle Gibson to review the evidence and to hear their evaluations. Both men have refused to respond to multiple requests for an explanation [of why the DA will not discipline alleged incidents of police misconduct]. During our two meetings, both [DA staffers] repeatedly made false claims regarding what is captured on the body-camera videos.”

Both Clayton and Gibson, he continues, repeatedly engaged in disrespectful, deceitful, and disingenuous dialogue with him during their meetings. Roach’s complaints against Clayton are not the first accusations of misconduct by Clayton to reach the DA’s office. Based on 2019 reporting by the Star-Telegram, defense attorney Lesa Pamplin alleged that Clayton withheld a DNA report that would have exonerated Pamplin’s client of kidnapping charges.

In a court motion filed by Pamplin, the defense attorney alleges Clayton had the Fort Worth Crime Lab report since late 2017 and failed to notify the court.

Roach said the past allegations of prosecutorial misconduct didn’t surprise him.

“Throughout more than five hours of meeting with [Clayton], I found him to be consistently dishonest,” he said. “His explanations made no sense, and his attempt to intimate that I was at fault was baseless and disrespectful. His refusal to answer basic questions spoke volumes about the truth he sought to keep hidden.”

Roach recently sent me photos of the park where he was arrested. The images show litter strewn about the area that he says remains neglected by city officials.

A spokesperson declined to answer my requests for comment on the DA office’s handling of Roach’s complaints. l

Invoices from the City of Benbrook show officials have spent more than $15,000 fighting a local citizen’s requests for bodycam footage of his detainment.

Courtesy City of Benbrook

NIGHT&DAY

Do ya think Punxsutawney Phil — or Gary the Groundhog, in this case — is gonna come out and see his shadow? That’s right, woodchuck-chuckers. It’s Groundhog Day! Those looking to enjoy “the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather” should head to the Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Stage & Lawn at Grandscape (5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, 972-668-2222). From 6pm to 8pm, guests are invited to participate in a top hat-decorating contest, make themed kids’ crafts, and take photos with Gary.

Also, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, Groundhog Day is back in theaters today and Sunday in 4K Ultra HD. For times and locations, visit FathomEvents. com. Given the current weather conditions, the ol’ fiance and I will probably watch it at home.

At 6pm, head to Fort Worth Axe Factory (220 Sylvania Av, Ste 110, 682-499-6639) for its Fifth Anniversary Celebration. This customer appreciation

event will include axe throwing (of course), plus a live DJ and trivia all night with prizes. Every 30 minutes from 6pm ’til midnight, there will be drawings for raffle prizes, including axes, knives, throwing lessons, and more. Attendees will receive one raffle ticket for every $5 spent throughout the evening. A few snacks and refreshments will be available, but you are also welcome to BYOB refreshments from neighboring Martin House Brewery. To reserve a lane, visit FortWorthAxeFactory.com.

From 7pm to 11:30pm, Poo Live Crew — winner for best tribute artist in last year’s Music Awards — hosts The Blowout: Part Deuce at Ridglea Theater (6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, 817-7389500). This second annual event promises to be a “nonstop, action-packed series of interactive multi-genre musical medleys split by short comedic videos with zero downtime in the show.” New tribute band the Queens of Country will open. Tickets are $22 on Eventbrite.com.

Local boutique the Roadrunner Stop (5301 White Settlement Rd, TheRoadRunnerStop.ecwid.com) has teamed up with the Rabbit Hole (3237 White Settlement Rd, 817-744-7160) to host the pub’s monthly pop-up market. The February Rabbit Hole Roundup will include drink specials, food trucks, and Valentine’s Day shopping opportunities from noon to 5pm. There is no cover.

Bru City (13000 Trinity Blvd, Euless, 817-510-6485), the craft-beer bottle shop inside a convenience store, also sells fine wine, imported cigars, gas, and Famous Joe’s Pizza, plus they put on tastings and other events. You can grab pints inside, eat, shop, or nab a growler in the drive-thru. On Mondays at 6pm, Bru City hosts Murf’s Trivia (@MurfsTrivia) with categories like entertainment, Nerd Alert, and potluck. There are prizes to be won, and it’s always free to play.

This evening is the opening night of Unchain My Heart: The Music of Ray Charles at Casa Mañana

(3101 W Lancaster Av, 817-332-2272) . Ray Charles pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, combining blues, country, gospel, jazz, R&B, and rock to create groundbreaking hits such as “Unchain My Heart,” “I’ve Got a Woman,” and “What’d I Say.” Suitable for most audiences, this musical runs Tue-Sat at various times thru Sat, Feb 18. Tickets start at $65 at CasaManana.org.

In celebration of Galentine’s Day 2023, Lost Oak Winery (8101 County Rd 802, Burleson, 817-4266625) is hosting Sassy Cassie’s Chocolates (@SassyCassiesChocolate) for a special class from 5pm to 7pm. “ Together we will learn to make four coco bombs and enjoy wines and spirits.” Tickets are $45 per person on Eventbrite.com. (For fans of Parks & Rec , you already know what Galentine’s is. The rest of you? Read about it in this week’s ATE DAY8 a Week column in Eats & Drinks.)

By Jennifer Bovee

Poo Live Crew’s second annual Blowout music/comedy show rolls into the Ridglea Saturday.

What winter storm? It’s a couple of flakes.

BUCK U

Miles to Go

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

I speak only for myself, but between TCU football’s record-setting collapse in the national-title game and the Dallas Cowboys just Cowboy-ing, it’s time for a hiatus from the gridiron. Luckily, Fort Worth fans can seamlessly transition to hardwood hope in following what has already been a swish of a season for Horned Frog coach Jamie Dixon and his hoopers.

This past weekend wasn’t demonstrative of the impressive run men’s basketball is striding as they lost an overtime spat against unranked Mississippi State in the yearly Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday. The annual conference pairing that will end this year accentuates the midpoint of the season before the Big 12 slate is repeated, with the opposite team hosting the second tip. The loss aside, we should catch up on what TCU has accomplished so far.

Currently ranked 15th in the nation and appearing in the AP poll for a program-best ninth straight week, TCU is 16-5 on the season. For context, that ratio was unimaginable just five years ago. Two of their losses were against ranked opponents: Texas — a game in which the Frogs led by 18 but eventually lost by four in Austin — and Iowa State. The other three were the aforementioned overtime fall against MSU, a conference road loss against WVU (a venue where TCU is 0-11 all time), and an early-season one-point head scratcher against Northwestern State, a game where the Frogs’ most important guards — Mike Miles (#1) and Damion Baugh (#10) — did not play. In total, those five losses are by a combined 23 points.

On the winning side, Dixon’s dribblers have downed four ranked opponents in Iowa, Kansas State, Baylor, and most recently No. 2-ranked Kansas. The Bears and the Jayhawks were both upsets in enemy territory, and the Wildcats were ranked 11th at the time. TCU’s last conference game was a 27-point run-over against Oklahoma, a team Dixon has classically struggled with. Despite an effervescent first half of the conference slate, there’s still plenty of ball to play, and the Big 12 — like usual — is one of the deepest hoop groups in the nation. The con-

ference standings show a clear separation at the midline where TCU sits. Kansas State, Texas, and Iowa State are all deadlocked in a menage a trois at the top with two losses each. The Frogs, Bears, and Jayhawks are partying in their own weird way, all deadlocked with three losses. Oklahoma State is still within striking distance with five losses, Oklahoma and West Virginia are tied with six, and the Red Raiders’ roundball prowess has been swept away in a West Texas dust storm and have yet to win a conference game this season — they played for a national championship just four years ago.

Over the last four years, Dixon’s boys have slumped slightly after midseason. It’s not an indictment or difficult to comprehend. The purple and white are not a “classic” hoops school. The Frog roster is not as deep as some of the more tenured programs with which they contend within the Big 12. Therefore, the wear and tear of a long season affects TCU more than some, which was displayed in their overtime loss against the Bulldogs last weekend. Star point guard Mike Miles left the game with a knee injury (his prognosis is good moving forward), and TCU’s notable big man and crowd favorite Eddie Lampkin (#4) didn’t play at all. The absence of those two left a sizable scoring and rebounding hole which TCU almost

escaped from, but the overtime period left them lacking the firepower needed to secure the road victory.

Over the last four years, Dixon’s disciples have dropped a minimum of seven conference games after the season’s midpoint. It’s unlikely this high-octane group follows that trend, but it’s essential that TCU is able to secure health before entering a murderer’s row of tips starting next week. One game will already be decided by the time we go to press, when (weather permitting) the Frogs host their rematch against the Mountaineers — a winnable game in Fort Worth even with Miles and Lampkin banged up — before traveling to OSU this weekend. There are no gimme victories in Big 12 basketball, but Dixon needs to chess-piece these games while preserving minutes for more potent opponents. Kansas State and Baylor are waiting in what will be a week of excellent opponents seeking revenge. Both the Wildcats and Bears are ranked ahead of TCU despite the Frogs owning both head-to-heads. A season sweep of either squad would probably guarantee an NCAA tournament berth. The most notable improvement of these Frogs is their control. Past iterations of Frog ball seemed reckless, exciting but maddening with the gunslinger manner with which they advanced and scored the rock. This

year’s toads are careful and methodical with the ball and have shown superior turnover numbers in all their noteworthy upsets so far (Baylor, K-State, Kansas). Fans are benefiting from premier guard play by Miles and Baugh and veteran forwards Emanuel Miller (#2) and Chuck O’Bannon Jr. (#5). In fact, it seems Miles has been the face of this team for years, though he is only a junior and flanked on all sides by grown men finishing their careers who’ve come Dixon’s way through the transfer portal but meshed and stuck around. Lampkin, who is in his third season but technically a sophomore, is the baby of this group despite his ginormous stature and personality.

I know I wanted to take a break from football, but it’s hard not to be reminded of Sonny Dykes’ football team when I look at this group of dribblers, a crafty group of veterans with experience and grit who seem to have a nose for playing their best against tough opponents. TCU hoops are putting together one of the best runs Fort Worth has seen in decades and are letting the conference and the nation know that the Horned Frogs are becoming a constant factor in every major collegiate sport. l

TCU basketball’s season is half finished, but it might be the best one yet.

Frog guard Mike Miles Jr. has been named to the John R. Wooden Late-Season Top 20 Watch List.

Courtesy TCU Athletics

STUFF

The Fall Guys

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

We’re right smack in the middle of it now: the annual tradition of the NFL coaching carousel. It’s a time-honored custom observed by, let’s face it, losers — the rite that takes place at the close of each season, marked by a barrage of firings and hirings of coordinators and coaches, football fans and ownership groups either lusting for blood from failure or looking for hope and relief from the same, desperate for recompense and a reason for optimism, eager to see exactly which mostly white men will now be in charge of their team’s mostly Black players. The one who might lead these same men next year to the victory they fell short of in this one. The savior who will surely correct the mistakes made by the previous administration. The proverbial Bill Belichick to replace their feckless Jeff Saturdays.

Every year, unsuccessful organizations part ways with the disappointing and poach

rising stars from the staffs of the winners in a blitzkrieg of coaching musical chairs. Coordinators are elevated to replace head coaches who’ve fallen back into coordinator roles in a seemingly knee-jerk merry-go-round process. It can often appear as much the performative theater of progress as it does legitimate organizational improvement. You can’t just do nothing, right?

Take the Cowboys’ own coaching moves over the last several days for example. Much to the chagrin of many of the Dallas faithful, there will be no Sean Payton on the sidelines in JerryWorld next year as Head Coach Mike McCarthy has been spared the headsman’s axe. They’ve also somehow managed to retain coveted Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, who has passed on potential HC jobs in Denver and Arizona likely due to a handshakeand-a-wink promise from Jerry that he will be the head coach here in 2024 if the Cowboys are again locked out of the NFC championship game.

On the other hand, the ’Boys have also completely cleaned house on the offensive side of the ball, deciding not to renew the contracts of several offensive assistants and even giving the boot to once-vaulted wunderkind playcaller Kellen Moore. The bewildering Ze-

ke-at-center travesty to end the game against San Fran will be the last play Moore calls for the silver and blue for eternity. McCarthy is set to call the offense himself in the fall. On the surface, those decisions might make a little sense. The Cowboys’ failure to advance to the conference championship for the 27th straight year was mainly due to trotting out total offensive impotence during a commendable defensive performance against a veritable stump-grinding Niner offense in the divisional round. The Cowboys’ meager 12-point production highlighted many of Moore’s frustrating tendencies, such as his failure to disguise his intentions with creative formations — as he calls the same four pass plays out of the same four sets — and a bewildering dedication to running the ball on first and second downs despite consistent one- and two-yard gains. It’s the sort of Jason Garrett-like predictability that — tell me if this sounds familiar — can leave a quarterback feeling like he has to play heroball from behind the chains, increasing the chances of risky throws that might wind up in the hands of opposing defensive backs. The same of Dak Prescott could be said of his predecessor Tony Romo.

Yet despite the predictability, the Cowboys ranked in the Top 5 in the league in of-

fensive production every year of Moore’s OC tenure. It could even be argued that Moore was unfairly removed. The L.A. Chargers certainly seemed to think so as they snagged him to run their offense within minutes of his departure from Big D. With the weapons the Bolts have, it’ll be interesting to see what Moore can do with them. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not necessarily sad to see him go, but I can’t really say he was the problem either.

In my mind, the goodbye to O-line coach Joe Philbin is similarly questionable. By pasting over several major multi-week injuries to the usual starters along the line with an unproven rookie, a 41-year-old who can barely walk, and a guard who couldn’t beat Connor Williams for a starting role a year ago, Philbin deserves a ton of credit. The line played pretty great this year. At least in pass pro. I can’t imagine anyone coming in here and doing any better.

However, due to the front office’s shameful money management, you can’t cut the mostly washed $16M running back or the $40M (that, one should remember, should have been $25M three years ago) quarterback, so somebody has to wear the noose.

The departure of Philbin and Assistant Head Coach Rob Davis, both essentially career-long “McCarthy guys,” the latter being referred to by the Cowboys HC as his “best friend,” don’t seem to point to those decisions being made by McCarthy himself. Which means, as one might expect, that Jerruh is making the moves without McCarthy’s approval, much like he did by naming Kellen Moore OC before even hiring Big Mike three years ago.

It’s a reminder that ultimately it doesn’t matter who’s hired to run drills during practice or call plays from the sideline, because there’s one position that other teams often choose to shake up that will never change here, that of the general manager. The man who has been in charge for the last three decades will — likely by some Satanic, virgin blood-fueled, life-extending soul-exchanging contract — still be in charge for the next three decades. So Moore, McCarthy, Sean Payton, whatever. It’s never gonna change. l

OC Kellen Moore becomes the sacrificial lamb offered to appease angry fans. Don’t expect it to make a difference.

Someone had to take the blame, and for the Cowboys, it was former OC Kellen Moore.

Courtesy DallasCowboys.com

1.) Hosting your own event for a big date or the big game? Fort Worth caterer Queso + Carne (@QuesoCarneBoxDelivery, 903326-3229) can help you get ready for Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl with a variety of charcuterie options. Regular offerings at QuesoCarneBoxDelivery.com include the Pequino Box for $25 on up to the popular El Magnús platter for $220. For updates on heart- or football-shaped options and more,

follow Facebook.com/QuesoCarneBoxDelivery.

2.) From 5pm to 10pm on Fri-Sat, Feb 10-11, and Tue, Feb 14, head to Ventana Grille on the grounds of Tierra Verde Golf Club (7005 Golf Club Dr, Arlington, 817-548-5047) for Valentine’s Date Nights. Adorably named “First Date,” “Second Date,” and the “Long Kiss Goodnight,” the three courses include

crab cake, baked oyster Atchafalaya or baby spinach salad to start; filet medallions, Chilean sea bass, or chicken with herb jus for your entree; and then chocolate mousse cake or mini French pastries for dessert. Dinner is $65 per person and includes live music 6pm-8pm. Call for reservations.

3.) Inspired by an episode of Parks & Rec, The Bearded Lady (300 S Main St, 817-3499832) is hosting its second annual Galentine’s Day Brunch 11am Sun, Feb 12. What is Galentine’s Day? Leslie Knope says, “It’s only the best day of the year. My lady friends and I leave our husbands and boyfriends at home and kick it breakfast-style, ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas.” A special cocktail and food menu are planned — including some surprise items for the guys — and Wandering Roots Markets (@WanderingRootsMarkets) will host a themed pop-up shop.

4.) Arts and crafts meet eats and drinks at the Couples Cookies & Crafts three-hour workshop at Board & Brush Fort Worth (4620 Bryant Irvin Rd, Ste 524, 817-9530933) at 2pm Sun, Feb 12. At this collabora-

tive event, The Sweet Spot Fort Worth (8321 Indian Bluff Trl, 817-372-1581) is bringing sugar cookies for you and your sweetheart to decorate, plus Board & Brush will help you craft a one-of-a-kind painting to take home. Tickets are $100 at BoardandBrush.com/ FortWorth.

5.) If cocktails are more your speed than cookies and you’re at least 21, head to Whiskey Ranch (4250 Mitchell Blvd, 817-8409140) at 2:30pm Sat, Feb 11, for TX Whiskey Cocktail Class: Valentine Edition. Led by mixologist Jason Shelly, you will learn to make three handcrafted drinks that you’ll be able to enjoy. Tickets are $49.99 per person at FRDistilling.com and include admission to TX Sippin’ Saturdays. Doors open at noon.

6.) Every Saturday at noon, Patrick Mikyles presents Drag-with-Me Brunch, featuring a full bar, food menu, and an award-winning drag show at Red Goose Saloon (306 Houston St, 817-332-4343). On Feb 11, the event will be a special Valentine’s brunch. Tickets are $30 at PatrickMikylesPresents.com.

continued on page 15

Galentine’s Day at Bearded Lady is like Lilith Fair … minus the angst … plus frittatas.

Courtesy NBC

Get ready for the big day or the big game with Queso + Carne.

Courtesy Facebook

ATE DAY8 a Week

continued from page 14

7.) On Sat, Feb 11, there will be two seatings

— 6pm and 8pm — at Rancho Loma Vineyards (411 S Main St, Ste 104, 817-349-9030) for their Valentine’s dinner: a four-course meal by Chef Ryan Fussel, each paired with an RLV wine, for $90 per person. Dinner begins with a ricotta and yolk gnudi followed by smoky gnocchi and Brussels sprouts, then lamb belly ravioli with a radicchio and pea puree. For dessert, enjoy an espresso and pistachio panna cotta. For tickets, visit RLV. wine/events.

8.) For Valentine’s evening, Clay Pigeon Food & Drink (2731 White Settlement Rd, 817-882-8065) hosts its Valentine’s Day prix-fixe event at 5pm Tue, Feb 14. At $100 per person, this four-course meal includes a Sparkling Hour wine offer of 50% off before 6pm. First course options include prime beef tartare, Osetra caviar, or salmon crudo. Enjoy a Caesar salad or parmesan and roasted garlic soup for the second course. Entree choices include white Bolognese pasta, panseared salmon, beef tenderloin, or grilled duck breast. Then for dessert, you choose a chocolate coffee pot de crème or pavlova and strawberries. For details and reservations, visit RESY.com.

By Jennifer Bovee

Take a cocktail class next Saturday at Whiskey Ranch.

Courtesy Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co.

EATS & drinks

Park It and Eat

A newish vegan food truck aims to fill a hole in late-night Magnolia dining.

It’s Food, 1001 W Magnolia Av, FW. 940-2495459. 6pm-12am Sun, 6pm-12am Tue-Thu, 7pm1am Fri-Sat.

PHOTOS AND STORY

BY EDWARD BROWN

Parked between SiNaCa Studios and Fort Liquor on West Magnolia Avenue on the Near Southside is an inconspicuous food truck with an even more unassuming name.

On a recent evening, the owners of three cars parked behind the smallish white rig waited for their plant-based orders. It’s Food — yep, that’s its real name — serves belt-busting vegan burgers and appetizers. And apparently they’re in high demand.

After I placed my order on a chilly evening, the cook asked where I was parked so

she could bring out the order when it was ready. Talk about quality service. Out first were around a dozen smallish onion rings served with a side of barbecue sauce. Golden-fried and heavy on the batter, they benefited from the tangy condiment. The five eggrolls — packed with cabbage and diced carrots — were more flavorful,

especially when dunked in the house-made sesame-kissed sweet-and-sour dip. Lastly, the several tofu triangles were hefty and crispy. Like the other apps, they were largely unseasoned but came to life when topped with a sauce, this one a sweet teriyaki.

All the burgers at It’s Food come with continued on page 18

Though unassuming, It’s Food serves flavorful vegan burgers and more.

It’s Food serves up a plant-based take on the classic American cheeseburger that won’t disappoint carnivores.

Eats & Drinks

continued from page 16

the option of Beyond Meat or fried tofu. The first sammy up, the Classic, was a plantbased take on the American cheeseburger. Packed with crisp veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles) and a tangy cream sauce, the Classic was delicious. The vegan cheese and Beyond Meat patty offered the same texture

as the real stuff and a similar flavor profile.

The Islander’s patty was a large, fried piece of tofu that was crispy on the outside and tender within. Asian-Pacific flavors abounded, thanks to sweet chunks of grilled pineapple and a fragrant hoisin sauce. Rounding out the sandwich were grilled red onions, diced lettuce, and mayo.

It’s Food was out of kimchi that evening, but the cook offered a creative substitute — sauerkraut and diced jalapeños — for one of my last orders, the Eastside. The recommendation did the trick, and every bite

of the perfectly cooked Beyond Meat patty topped with mayo and hoisin sauce was a lovely amalgam of sweet, sour, and spicy.

My last order, the towering Westside, required two hands to navigate. The barbecue sauce, mayo, and crispy onion strings that added a nice crunch to the burger along with the sweet and tangy sauce sent my taste buds into overload.

It’s Food won’t leave non-vegans wanting for heftier options, and the food truck’s care for the environment is apparent. My togo order did not include plastic utensils, and

Hot Deals At Cool Prices

the sauces came in biodegradable cardboard cups. For locals and visitors to Magnolia, It’s Food fills a lingering hole in late-night dining options. l

Served hot and crispy, the eggrolls were delicious, especially when doused in the house-made sweet-and-sour dip.

Locals craving Asian-Pacific flavors should opt for the Islander.

MUSIC

Adult Male Blond

Taking his ego out of his work has allowed singersongwriter Wade Gill to manifest good vibes.

BY STEVE STEWARD

When it comes to inspiration, you never know the what or the when that will unlock the muse or motivation that moves you off the couch and over to the proverbial piano. As a case in point, singer-songwriter Wade Gill has played guitar since he was 6 years old, but he didn’t write any songs until 2020 at the age of 33. On Friday, under the moniker Adult Male Blond, Gill will release to

streaming services “Ram Dass,” the second single from his 2020 material, which he tracked last year with engineer Britt Robisheaux at Cloudland Recording Studio.

You might surmise that a person in his 30s might not have had the time to really pursue making music, and since Gill was a high school teacher for many of those years, you would be kind of right. But, ultimately, he found the time. All it took was a little thing called a “global pandemic.”

“Seeing the imminent demise of the world kind of re-prioritized things,” he said. “I’ve played music all my life, and I thought, ‘I have all these things I wanna do,’ so I wanted to do it then.”

Like most people during spring 2020, COVID-19 lockdown orders left Gill with plenty of time on his hands. “I started writing songs in earnest. I was teaching at the time, and I had the summer off, and you couldn’t do anything in that first summer [of the COVID-19 era], so I thought, ‘If we’re all gonna die, at least let me die doing something I love to do.’ ”

Of course, in 2020, COVID was not the only source of national anxiety. Gill was also horrified and enraged by the murder of George Floyd by a white cop, which inspired what he thinks of as “protest, almost like folk songs.”

Gill is an unapologetic progressive, yet he didn’t feel like it was his place to enter that genre and talk about institutional racism.

Protest music, he said, “was at the top of my mind. There used to be overtly political music, so I started off doing that a lot, writing these kind of country songs, like write a coun-

try song but invert the country stuff, make it very left-wing, working class, but I was less stoked to release those. After the pandemic passed, it was like yes, these things are still all true, but what does writing about Black Lives Matter and the cops kicking heads in

2020 and then releasing them two years later do? Like, what if the protest songs of the ’60s came out a decade later? And who am I anyway to contribute to this discussion? … I had to take my ego out of it.”

Along with racist cops and virulent respiratory infections, Gill said he had been thinking a lot about his own ego at the time. “I was meditating and listening to [psychologist and guru] Ram Das on Audible and thinking about how at that time, all songs are pandemic songs, but also at that time, everyone was so inwardly focused, and I was like, ‘What if I get COVID? What if I die?’ And Ram Das is like, ‘Let go of the ego,’ and I found that really helpful. Anxiety is like a highly inwardly focused state. How do I get out of it? So that thinking turned into a song called ‘Ram Dass.’ ”

Letting go of COVID anxieties helped him shift his focus into a “no better time than now” mindset, which is sort of how he ended up finding his sound, after he realized his sound was not “left-wing country protest tune.” And with both “Ram Dass” and “Little Alien of Mine” — his first single, which he released in December — it turns out that Adult Male Blond’s sound is a version of indie guitar rock in the vein of Jim James and Kurt Vile.

“I love My Morning Jacket,” Gill said. “I have a hard time kind of placing my sound, but people have told me my songs sound kind of like the War on Drugs, which I like, but I didn’t go into it trying to sound like anything.”

continued on page 21

Wade Gill: “If it were up to me, I’d go back into the studio tomorrow.”

Cat Gill

The comparisons are apt, though. On “Little Alien of Mine,” Gill sings in a pleasant high tenor, the reverb and delay on his voice soaring over a driving, mid-tempo backbeat that is very much reminiscent of the War on Drugs. “Little Alien of Mine,” he said, is “a love song [with] pop-culture alien references.”

That injection of subtle, off-centered humor is also a hallmark of Gill’s songwriting. “I like lyrics that are funny and cynical but that don’t take themselves too seriously. At my age, sincerity can be difficult. It’s hard to do it without being syrupy.”

Not surprisingly, Gill cites Warren Zevon as an influence. “That’s the angle. At the end of the day, I don’t know about werewolves in London, but [Zevon] tells a lot of stories about historical and meaningful stuff in a way that’s fun to listen to.”

Joining Gill at Cloudland were two members of local Americana outfit Thieving Birds — drummer Beau Brauer and guitarist/keyboardist Ace Crayton — as well as former Quaker City Night Hawks bassist Pat Adams, who also acted as a producer. The trumpet parts on “Ram Dass” were performed by a British bloke named Gary Alesbrook, whom Gill found on freelancer recruitment site Fiverr.com. Crayton also mixed the session, and the songs were mastered at Electric Barryland near Alliance by Jordan Richardson (Ringo Starr, Ben Harper, Son of Stan). While Gill has yet to play live (“I need a band to carry me,” he joked), he is eager to return to a studio to record more songs. He and his wife moved to Portland last fall after she found a new job there, so he is still feeling out the local scene there.

“I don’t really want to play acoustic solo-dude type shit,” he said. “Not to besmirch those players, it’s just not what I’m into, but if it were up to me, I’d go back into the studio tomorrow.”

Hopefully, he will get to track his music before the next pandemic happens. l

Wade Gill: “I have a hard time kind of placing my sound, but people have told me my songs sound kind of like the War on Drugs.”

Cat Gill

RIDGLEA THEATER

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EMPLOYMENT

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EMPLOYMENT

Hysen’s Nizza Pizza is Now Hiring!

Nizza is seeking a counter person, delivery drivers, and wait staff. Apply in person at 401 University Drive, FWTX, 817-877-3900. (Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm and Fri-Sat 10:30am-11pm.)

HysensNizzaPizza.com

UNCLAIMED FREIGHT

We are hiring for Sales at all locations. To apply, please call: 817-277-1516

EMPLOYMENT NOTICES

Companies Offering

Travel Accommodations:

According to the New York Times, the following companies have said they would cover travel expenses for employees who need abortions: Airbnb, DoorDash, JP Morgan Chase, Levi Strauss & Co, Netflix, Patagonia, Reddit, Starbucks, Tesla, and Yelp. Additionally, NowThis has listed the following companies also offering the same assistance to employees: Amazon, Apple, BuzzFeed, Citigroup, Comcast, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lyft, Mastercard, Meta, Microsoft, Paramount, Sony, Tesla, Walt Disney Co, Vox Media, and Zillow. (JMB, FWW)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke

These are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening.

Special Offer: 5 Screenings for $149! Call today! 1-833-636-1757

DENTAL INSURANCE

1-888-361-7095

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company covers 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! Call or visit Dental50plus.com/fortworth (#6258).

We’re not going anywhere. We know you may be feeling a lot of things right now, but we are here with you and we will not stop fighting for YOU. See 6 ways you can join the #BansOffOurBodies fight on FB @PPGreaterTX. For more info, go to: PPGreaterTX.org

HOME RESOURCES

DIRECTV

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. 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. Call IVS at 1-855-810-7635.

DISH Network

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

EARTHLINK

Highspeed Internet

Big Savings with Unlimited Data! Fiberoptic Technology up to 1gbps with customizable plan. Call 855-767-0515 today!

ERIE Metal Roofs

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time

Offer: $500 Discount + Additional 10% Off Install (for military, health workers & first responders.) Call 1-888-778-0566.

GENERAC GENERATORS

Prepare for power outages today with a home standby generator. No money down. Low monthly payment options. Call for a FREE quote before the next power outage. 1-844-887-3143

LEAF FILTER

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever with LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. Ask about 20% off entire purchase. Plus, 10% senior and military discounts available. Call 1-877-689-1687.

MIND / BODY / SPIRIT

Gateway Church Church time is the BEST time! Join us for online church each weekend.

Online services start at 4 pm on Saturdays and are available to watch any time after at https://gway.ch/GatewayPeople.

Hannah in Hurst 817.590.2257

Massage Therapy for pain relief, deep relaxation, and better sleep.

Professional office in Mid-Cities for over 25 years. “I am accepting new clients now and happy to return your call.” -Hannah, MT#4797. MasseuseToTheStars.com

MUSIC XCHANGE

Music Junkie Studios

1617 Park Place #106, FWTX www.MusicJunkieStudios.com

We offer lessons on voice, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, drums, recording, and music for littles!

EMP STUDIOS

Musician-owned rehearsal and recording studios in Arlington and Fort Worth. Onsite screenprinting, merchandising services, recording, mixing, and mastering. For more info, visit: EMPStudiosTX.com

PET ADOPTIONS

ABOUT GUCCI

Our beautiful Gucci is available for adoption! She is about as near perfect as a Rottie girl can be. Here vaccines are up to date, she’s 5 years old, housebroken, crate trained, and microchipped. Gucci walks well on the leash, loves to play throw the stick and loves playing with other dogs...an all around sweet girl. For an adoption application, email Info@ARottieRescue.com.

PUBLIC NOTICES

TDLR Complaints

Any Texans who may be concerned that an unlicensed massage business may be in operation near them, or believe nail salon employees may be human trafficking victims, may now report those concerns directly to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by emailing ReportHT@TDLR.Texas.gov.

SUBMISSIONS

We’d Like To Hear From You! Do you have thoughts and feelings, or questions, comments or concerns about something you read in the Weekly? Please email Question@ fwweekly.com. Do you have an upcoming event? For potential coverage in Night & Day, Big Ticket, Ate Day8 A Week, or CrosstownSounds, email the details to Marketing@fwweekly.com Find

EXAMPLE A

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Consolidated Notice of Receipt of Application and Intent to Obtain Permit and Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision

Air Quality Standard Permit for Concrete Batch Plants Proposed Registration No. 171222L001

Application. Reliable Paving, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration No. 171222L001, which would authorize construction of a temporary concrete batch plant located at the following driving directions: from the intersection of Farm to Market Road 157 and Trinity Boulevard, go west on Trinity Boulevard for 250 feet, site will be on the left, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76040. 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=32.815894&lng=-97.100534&zoom=13&type=r. The proposed facility will emit the following air contaminants: particulate matter including (but not limited to) aggregate, cement, road dust, and particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less.

This application was submitted to the TCEQ on December 9, 2022. The executive director has completed the administrative and technical reviews of the application and determined that the application meets all of the requirements of a standard permit authorized by 30 TAC § 116.611, which would establish the conditions under which the plant must operate. The executive director has made a preliminary decision to issue the registration because it meets all applicable rules. The application, executive director’s preliminary decision, and standard permit will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and at the Mary Lib Saleh Euless Public Library, 201 North Ector Drive, Euless, Tarrant County, Texas 76039, beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review at the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Office, 2309 Gravel Dr, Fort Worth, Texas. Visit www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cbp to review the standard permit.

Public Comment/Public Meeting. You may submit public comments or request a public meeting. See Contacts section. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application. The deadline to submit public comments or meeting requests is 30 days after newspaper notice is published. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to consider in the permit process.

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 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. If a public meeting is held, the deadline to submit public comments is extended to the end of the public meeting.

Contested Case Hearing. You may request a contested case hearing. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court. Unless a written request for a contested case hearing is filed within 30 days from this notice, the executive director may approve the application.

A person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility is entitled to request a hearing. To request a hearing, a person must actually reside in a permanent residence within 440 yards of the proposed plant. 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, daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and registration 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 association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests which the group or association seeks to protect must be identified. You may submit your proposed adjustments to the application which would satisfy your concerns. See Contacts section.

TCEQ Action. After the deadline for public comments, the executive director will consider the comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. The executive director’s decision on the application, and any response to comments, will be mailed to all persons on the mailing list. If no timely contested case hearing requests are received, or if all hearing requests are withdrawn, the executive director may issue final approval of the application. If all timely hearing requests are not withdrawn, the executive director will not issue final approval of the permit and will forward the application and requests 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. You may ask to be placed on a mailing list to receive additional information on this specific application. See Contacts section.

Information Available Online. For details about the status of the application, visit the Commissioners’ Integrated Database (CID) at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Once you have access to the CID using the link, enter the registration number at the top of this notice.

Contacts. 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 application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program toll free at 1800687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from Reliable Paving, Inc., 1903 Peyco Drive North Suite 100, Arlington, Texas 76001-6705 or by calling Mr. Josh Butler, Principal Consultant, Elm Creek Environmental LLC at (469) 946-8195.

Notice Issuance Date: January 24, 2023

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

CATTLE BARN FLEA MARKET

4443 River Oaks Blvd

EVERY Sat & Sun 9-5 Indoors

Your dealers James & Pam Miller, Billy, Steven, Dean, Glen and Earl!

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

EMPLOYMENT

Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC seeks Application Developer in Fort Worth, TX to Design and Develop Application Architectural Framework. Reqs. Bachelor’s degree or foreign equiv in Software Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering or rel. field, & 5 yrs post-baccalaureate experience as Software Developer, Project Associate or rel. role. Exp. must incl. Full Stack DotNet Application Development of web and mobile applications using C#, AngularJS, Asp.Net MVC 5/6, ASP.NET Core 2.0/2.2, MVVM, WebAPI, AWS Cloud (EC2 & S3 buckets), MVC 4.0 Razor Engine, GIT repository, Entity Framework & Swagger. Send resume to quyen.ha@pnmac.com.

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?

Ronnie D. Long Bail Bonds

Immediate Jail Release 24 Hour Service. City, County, State and Federal Bonds. Located Minutes from Courts. 6004 Airport Freeway. 817-834-9894

RonnieDLongBailBonds.com

PREPARE for Power Outages

Prepare today with a GENERAC home standby generators. $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage! (mb)

1-844-887-3143

PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Care. No matter what. WeArePlannedParenthood.org

UNCLAIMED FREIGHT

HIRING FOR SALES IN ALL LOCATIONS

PLEASE CALL 817-277-1516 TO APPLY!