2 Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
Vital Statistics
Career Advancement
OIL AND GAS LISTINGS The following oil and gas reports for the month of November were posted by oilandgasreports.com LLC, P.O. Box 1540, Corpus Christi, TX 78403. For more information, visit www.oilandgasreports.com. DENTON COUNTY Lease: Ace Unit C Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast LP Location: 225.34-acre unit, B. Hunter Survey, A-554; Within Lewisville Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8500' Lease: Ace Unit C Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast, LP Location: 225.34-acre unit, B. Hunter Survey, A-554; Within Lewisville Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8500' Lease: Alliance Gateway Cartwright U Operator: Quicksilver Resources Inc. Location: 291.69-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./J. Short Survey, No. 80, A-1236; 1.84 miles SE of Roanoke Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Alliance Gateway Cartwright U Operator: Quicksilver Resources Inc. Location: 291.69-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./J. Short Survey, No. 80, A-1236; 1.84 miles SE of Roanoke Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Alliance Gateway Cartwright U Operator: Quicksilver Resources Inc. Location: 291.69-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./J. Short Survey, No. 80, A-1236; 1.84 miles SE of Roanoke Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Alliance Gateway Cartwright U Operator: Quicksilver Resources Inc. Location: 291.69-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./J. Short Survey, No. 80, A-1236; 1.84 miles SE of Roanoke Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Baldinger Operator: Vantage Fort Worth Energy LLC Location: 259.7-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co. Survey, A1470; 2 miles SE of Krum Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Baldinger Operator: Vantage Fort Worth Energy LLC Location: 259.7-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co. Survey, A1470; 2 miles SE of Krum Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Cobb Unit Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast LP Location: 263.76-acre unit, B. Hunter Survey, A-554; Within Lewisville Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale)
Total Depth: 8500' Lease: Dr. Bob Smith B West Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast LP Location: 260.52-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./L.K. Heath Survey, No. 60, A-1597; 3.7 miles W of Flower Mound Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8500' Lease: Dr. Bob Smith B West Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast, LP Location: 260.52-acre unit, MEP&P RR Co./L.K. Heath Survey, No. 60, A-1597; 3.7 miles W of Flower Mound Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8500' Lease: Howard Gibbs Operator: J-W Operating Co. Location: 40-acre lease, Z.J. Harmonson Survey, A-532; 2 miles SE of Justin Field: East Newark (Bend Conglomerate) Total Depth: 8529' Lease: McMurrey Ranch Unit B Operator: Burlington Resources O&G Co. LP Location: 440-acre unit, J. Thomas Survey, A-1239; 11.54 miles W of Sanger Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8748' Lease: Peggy Smith Gas Unit A Operator: Devon Energy Operating Company LP Location: 541-acre lease, A.J. Hitchcock Survey, A-608; 4.8 miles SW of Ponder Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Peggy Smith Gas Unit A Operator: Devon Energy Operating Company LP Location: 541-acre lease, A.J. Hitchcock Survey, A-608; 4.8 miles SW of Ponder Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Smith A Smith B (SA) Operator: Devon Energy Production Co., LP Location: 1082-acre lease, P. Sullivan Survey, A-1221; 5.2 miles SW of Ponder Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Smith A Smith B (SA) Operator: Devon Energy Production Co. LP Location: 1082-acre lease, P. Sullivan Survey, A-1221; 5.2 miles SW of Ponder Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 9000' Lease: Wright C Operator: Williams Prod. Gulf Coast LP Location: 300.4575-acre unit, N. George Survey, A-477; 1.6 miles SE of Argyle Field: East Newark (Barnett Shale) Total Depth: 8486'
ASSUMED NAMES The following names (followed by DBA and address) were posted in November in the Denton County Clerk’s Office. Arturo Delamora, Genesis Hair Cut Salon, 1023-B Dallas Drive, Denton Brandie Armijo, Kimberlys Pride II, 213 Lakeside Drive, Shady Shores Calvin T. Dial, Hurricane Softball Club, 4251 FM2181, Corinth Colby Kizer, North Texas Organic, 2102 North Trinity Road, Denton Daymon L. Warren, Super Paintless Dent Repair, 717 Bolivar St., Denton Dee Rinehart, Uniquely Tan, 2413 Kariba Lane, Denton ECA Berthume LLC, Swash Labs, 733 Fort Worth Drive, Denton Gary W. Haack, The Running Path, 2416 Lillian Miller, No. 190, Denton
Glen A. Harrison, Denton or DHS Baseball Camp, 1417 Cambridge Lane, Denton Gustavo Ovalle Sr., G&O Carentry, 2212 Fort Worth Drive, No. 154, Denton Jaime Santillan, Santillan Financial Group, 3525 St. Johns Drive, Denton James C. Lutsinger, Dooty Jobs, 215 Harrison Court, Shady Shores James H. Mayes, James Mayes Remodeling, 427 Stroud St., Denton Jeremy Aldrich, Texas Five Star Fencing and Gutters, 1131 Bent Oaks, Denton Judy J. Fairchild, Backflow Tracking System, 625
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Cameron Cox joined the law firm of Elsey & Elsey on Nov. 1. He is a statewide board member of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and serves as the District 11 representative. He has been a member of the Cox Greater Denton County Young Lawyer’s Association since 2007 and serves on the board. He also is a member of the Denton Bar Association and Dallas Bar Association. He is the chairman of Leadership Denton and has served in a leadership and volunteer role at the Denton Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County, Nelson Children’s Center, Denton ISD Adopt-A-School and Denton ISD Mentor Program. Based in Flower Mound, Elsey & Elsey specializes in complex civil litigation, business liti-
gation and business law, family law, custody disputes, probate, estate planning, real estate law, public condemnations and eminent domain, and oil and gas law. I Ashley Ann Smith recently joined Grunden Financial Advisory as office administrator. Her experience includes five years in customer service and two years as an office manager. “Ashley’s Smith studies in human behavior and experience in customer service help her provide the best customer experience for our clients,” said Ricky Grunden, president and CEO of Grunden Financial Advisory, a Denton-based fiduciary firm that specializes in wealth management. Smith will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s
degree in development and family studies from the University of North Texas this fall. Grunden Financial Advisory is located at 2516 Lillian Miller Parkway, Suite 110. I Travis Scott is now senior mortgage loan originator at Northstar Bank Mortgage Team. Scott has 10 years of mortgage experience and previously worked as a loan officer with Fairway Independent Scott Mortgage, Standard Pacific Mortgage, Maverick Mortgage and Wells Fargo Mortgage, according to a press release. He graduated from Keller High School and earned a finance degree from the University of North Texas. Scott will work out of the Lake Dallas facility at 2004 S. Interstate 35E.
Business Mixers Best Western Premier Crown Chase Inn & Suites Best Western Premier Crown Chase Inn & Suites recently was recognized with three brand awards at the company’s annual North American Convention in Orlando, Fla. The Denton hotel received the M.K. Guertin Award for representing the vision of Best Western’s founder and demonstrating exceptional levels of service, quality, value and commitment to the brand. The hotel also won brand awards for design and customer care. Additionally, the hotel received the Best Western Chairman’s Award — one they have received for the past three years.
David Kong, Best Western president and CEO, left; Sharon Helm, Charles Helm, Monica Glenn and Zach Glenn, owners and operators of Helm Hotels Group; and P.G. West, board chairman of Best Western International.
Contents |
December 2011
3
Calendar of Events Altrusa International Inc. of Denton meets for its monthly dinner and program at Vigne Wine Shop & Deli, 222 W. Hickory St. Cost is $10 per person. Call 940-387-5031 or visit www.altrusadenton.org. Tuesday, Jan. 24, 6:30 p.m.
American Association of University Women, Denton Branch meets at Fremaux’s Metropolitan Catering, 932 W. University Drive. Visit www.aawdenton. org. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.
Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce meets at the Prairie House restaurant, 10001 E. U.S. Highway 380 in Cross Roads. Cost is $12 per person. Reservations are required. Call 940-365-9781 or e-mail chamber@aubreycoc.org. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m.
Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas, Greater Denton Division has its monthly meeting and luncheon at the Prairie House restaurant, 10001 U.S. Highway 380 in Cross Roads. Cost is $15 for associates and builders with reservations and $18 for walk-ins. Call 940383-0853. Tuesday, Jan. 24, 11:30 a.m.
SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, offers free management counseling for prospective new business owners or existing businesses in trouble. Confidential, one-hour counseling sessions are available by appointment every Wednesday at South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Lane. Call 940-3498752. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m.
Krum Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly meeting at Northstar Bank, 1101 E. McCart St. in Krum. Call 940-4826093. Thursday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce meets for coffee at Swisher Dental and Chiropractic, 3941 FM2181 in Corinth; Bill Utter Ford, 4901 I-35E in Denton; and Corinth City Hall, 3300 Corinth Parkway.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m.
Small Business Breakfast meeting sponsored by the North Central Texas College Small Business Development Center at the Denton Chamber of Commerce building, 414 W. Parkway St. A light breakfast is provided. Call 940-3801849. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7:15 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 7:15 a.m.
Investment Perspective Seminar Coffee hosted by financial adviser Kathy R. Bauer of Edward Jones at 2925 Country Club Road, Suite 101A, in Denton. Coffee is complimentary. Call 940-3820280. Thursday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m.
Index Jonathon Fite | 4 Other Enterprising Voices | 8, 11 Career Advancement | 2 Mixers | 2, 8, 11 Vital Statistics | 2, 8, 9
Who to contact Dawn Cobb Managing Editor 940-566-6879 dcobb@dentonrc.com
Sandra Hammond Advertising Director 940-566-6820 shammond@dentonrc.com
Shawn Reneau Advertising Manager 940-566-6843 sreneau@dentonrc.com
Denton Black Chamber of Commerce meets at the Denton Housing Authority, 1225 Wilson St. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 6 p.m.
Denton League of United Latin American Citizens No. 4366 meets at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Ave. Saturday, Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m.
in Corinth Wednesday, Jan. 4, 7:15 a.m. in Denton Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7:15 a.m. in Corinth Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:15 a.m. in Corinth
Women Business Owners of Denton County will hold its monthly luncheon at Oakmont Country Club, 1901 Oakmont Drive in Corinth. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 11:30 a.m.
Lake Cities Netweavers business networking group meets at the IHOP restaurant off Interstate 35E in Hickory Creek. Cost is $12 and includes breakfast. Email info@lcnetweavers.com.
Please tell us about your event or meeting by e-mailing Karina RamĂrez at kramirez@dentonrc.com, by fax at 940-566-6888; or by mail to DBC Calendar,
Thursday, Dec. 22, 8 a.m.
Denton Record-Chronicle,
Thursday, Dec. 29, 8 a.m.
314 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201.
Thursday, Jan. 5, 8 a.m.
She also can be reached at
Thursday, Jan. 12, 8 a.m.
940-566-6878.
Lake Dallas 4A Economic Development Corp. meets at Lake Dallas Municipal Complex, 212 Main St. Monday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
Denton Planning and Zoning Commission meets in the council chambers at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m.
Lake Dallas 4B Community Development Corp. meets at Lake Dallas Municipal Complex, 212 Main St. Monday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
December 2011 | Vol. 7, No. 10 Publisher: Bill Patterson
On the cover An A-train commuter rail car leaves the downtown Denton transit center in July. Photo by David Minton
Hickory Creek Planning and Zoning Commission meets at Hickory Creek Town Hall, 1075 Ronald Reagan Ave. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.
NAACP, Denton County Chapter meets at the Denton Housing Authority, 1225 Wilson St. Thursday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m.
The contents of this free publication are copyrighted by Denton Publishing Company, 2011, a subsidiary of A.H. Belo Corp. (www.ahbelo.com, NYSE symbol: AHC), with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Denton Business Chronicle is published monthly by Denton Publishing Company, 314 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201. E-mail: drc@dentonrc.com
Denton Business Chronicle
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4 Denton Business Chronicle
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Enterprising Voices
Avoid the monkeys “Management really only has two jobs. One is to attract and keep outstanding talent to run the various operations. The other is capital allocation.� — Warren Buffett
A
fter months of market commentary and value investing insight, my business partner and I thought we should dedicate December’s column to the importance of investing in companies with effective managers at helm. It is often difficult to assess the “people developer� facet of Buffett’s nugget of wisdom. Fortunately, the capital allocation aspect is more readily discernable. But before we delve into some
Jonathon FITE | of the performance metrics we might look for, let us first define what we mean by capital allocation, and ask why it’s so important. At the end of the day, after the widgets are shipped, the employees paid and the bills covered, a company should have some money left over for its
owners. Accountants call this earnings or profits. If we owned this business outright, we would get to decide what to do with these profits: put them in the bank, take the family on a nice vacation, buy some more machines to make more widgets, or something else along these lines. Shareholders of publicly listed companies are owners too. But we have professional managers at the helm making these allocation decisions on our behalf. These managers (with input from their board of directors) get to decide if the money is put in the bank, paid out in dividends, used to pay down debt, reinvested in the company or
funneled to share repurchases. These decisions can greatly impact the long term performance of an investment and it is based on these decisions that Mr. Buffett issues his final grade of a manager’s effectiveness. In our column from November 2009, we spent some time discussing how return on equity (or ROE) is a fairly good metric of capital allocation effectiveness. Finding companies with long track records of high ROE often indicates a high quality company, a high-quality management team, or most likely, both. But as value investors, who want to buy businesses at a discount, we seldom have the luxury of finding Coca-Cola (a famously long-term, high-ROE company) on sale. So, when other companies come onto our radar, but do not have the ROE track record we would love to find, is there noth-
ing else we can assess? To complement our ROE assessments, perhaps the single biggest factor my business partner and I evaluate is the timeliness of sharerepurchase decisions by management. Take Ashford Hospitality Trust, a Hotel Real Estate Investment Trust (Hotel REIT) based in Dallas that owns a wonderful portfolio of Marriott and Hilton properties business travelers love in major cities across the U.S. For years, Ashford paid a nice dividend. But during the 2008-09 economic downturn, many players in the hotel industry were crushed and Ashford’s share price tumbled with the rest. But unlike the operational challenges of many of its peers, Ashford’s managers continued to see cash roll in.
FITE | CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT: KOONSFULLER
FIRM STRESSES MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AT DENTON EVENT
The role of the mental health professional in family law cases is vital. These professionals serve family law clients as counselors, parent facilitators/coordinators, and as the mental health expert in collaborative law cases.
Dec. 11
To discuss how family lawyers and the mental health community can effectively work together in family law cases, the divorce and family law firm KoonsFuller held a reception and discussion session for mental health professionals in November at the Denton office.
Marriage and family therapists and other mental health professionals from throughout North Texas convened to discuss parent facilitation/coordination and to learn more about collaborative law.
Charla Bradshaw, managing partner of KoonsFuller in Denton, spoke about how teamwork between therapists and family lawyers is essential to address the problems she sees in her practice every day.
“Just today, we had three instances in which a mental health professional was vital in the lives of our clients and their families,” Charla said. “We need to be able to refer people to the right professionals to serve their needs, and I want to personally know those professionals."
Charla completed all but her thesis toward a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy before she went to law school. She maintains close connections with the mental health community for her clients and those served by other KoonsFuller attorneys.
Also participating in the event were the other Denton-based KoonsFuller lawyers — Sean Abeyta, Neda Garrett, Eric Navarrette and Victor Rivera.
Denton Business Chronicle
Denton Managing Partner Charla Bradshaw, second from left, is shown with Denton-area mental health professionals Karla Hutcherson, left, Linda Polo and Mary Ann Kildeback.
ABOUT KOONSFULLER KoonsFuller is one of the nation’s largest and most experienced family law firms, with 26 attorneys in four North Texas locations. KoonsFuller attorneys handle a wide range of family law matters, including comprehensive divorce litigation, complex property settlements, child custody and visitation, premarital and marital agreements, paternity, postdivorce modifications, appeals, mediation, arbitration and collaborative law. The Denton office is located in the Access 1st Capital Bank Building at 320 W. Eagle Drive (corner of Eagle and Carroll Boulevard), Suite 200. To speak to a KoonsFuller attorney, call 940 442-6677. For more information, visit www.koonsfuller.com.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Mental health personnel Jeremy Flemmons, left, Dirk Lemasters, Karen Hunt and Scott Wisenbaker. KoonsFuller Denton attorneys Eric Navarrette, left, Victor Rivera, Charla Bradshaw, Sean Abeyta and Neda Garrett. Jack Dickerson, left, Victor Rivera, Roxanne Brown and Linda Miller-deBerard.
6 Denton Business Chronicle
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Enterprising Voices FITE | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
So Ashfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management team did something very adept: Rather than ladling out one dividend after another, Ashford suspended its dividend and began using that money to repurchase shares. Because the shares were so cheap, management shrank the share count at a significant discount to their intrinsic value, greatly increasing the worth for its remaining shareholders. Once the share price recovered, management suspended the repurchase and reinstated the dividend, but each Ashford shareholder then owned a much larger and much more valuable stake in those hotel properties. This stands in stark contrast to many of Ashfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peers who actually <ITAL>sold shares at distressed prices only to keep their dividend steadily rolling. Ashfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s astute capital allocation made their shareholders much better off in the end. In more recent news, Mr. Buffett himself announced a virtually unlimited stock repurchase. After looking around with this elephant gun loaded for another $10 billion-plus deal, he recently stated he believes his own company, Berkshire Hathaway, is one of the greatest bargains around. It will be fascinating to see how much of the company Berkshire is able to buy back on the cheap and the impact it will have on shareholders over the next few years. Conversely, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s examine Netflix, whose managers clearly do not seem to understand the â&#x20AC;&#x153;buy low, sell high adage. A recent Wall Street Journal article summarized how Netflix generated a little over $500 million in cash-profits for owners from 2007 through mid2011. During that same time, it spent almost $1 billion repurchasing shares, racking up a lot of debt along the way. Well, maybe Netflix were a bargain? In the last three quarters alone, Netflix spent almost $200 million buying back shares at an average price of
In more recent news, Mr. Buffett himself announced a virtually unlimited stock repurchase. After looking around with this elephant gun loaded for another $10 billion-plus deal, he recently stated he believes his own company, Berkshire Hathaway, is one of the greatest bargains around. over $220 per share when the stock was absurdly overvalued, as readers of this column will recall. Since then, the stock has tanked, and the business is running short of cash. So, management recently decided to sell $200 million of shares at just $70 a piece! These folks surely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand you are supposed to buy low and sell high â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not the other way around. Interestingly, during this time, while this management team was spending its shareholderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money on expensive stock repurchases, the managers themselves were selling millions of dollars of their own personal stock they had been granted for next to nothing. Needless to say, these monkeys messed up the kitchen. Prospective investors, whether assessing their companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management performance by looking at ROE track records or share repurchase histories, would do well to avoid companies with monkeys hanging around the executive management suites. JONATHAN FITE is managing partner of KMF Investments and a professor with the College of Business at the University of North Texas. Comments may be sent to Jonathon.Fite@KMFInvest ments.com.
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Denton Business Chronicle
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8 Denton Business Chronicle
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Enterprising Voices
Year of commitments, expansion A
s 2011 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect upon the year’s activities and prepare for upcoming projects. The years 2009 and 2010 were slow years for economic development in Denton, as planned projects were either put on hold or were cancelled altogether. This has turned out to be a more active year, with construction of new business and expansions of existing businesses. In the last half of 2011, we’ve also had an increase of companies actively interested in Denton as a site for their business location. Following are of some of Denton’s achievements this year: I Peerless Manufacturing Co.
Karen DICKSON | is planning an expansion of its operations in the industrial area near the airport. Phase I includes the construction of an additional 250,000 square feet, followed by Phase II construction of an additional 237,000 square feet. Fifty-six new jobs will be created, bringing the company’s total workforce to 114. The estimated capital
investment is $14 million. Construction is expected to begin next year. I Target Corp. broke ground on a approximately 400,000square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facility for its perishable and frozen foods. The estimated project capital investment is $100 million and will create 140 jobs. I Schlumberger Ltd., a leading worldwide oil services company, completed renovation of an existing building at Granite Point for its centralized maintenance facility. The project’s estimated capital investment is $28 million. I Golden Triangle Mall was purchased by GTM Development, a joint venture
Vital Statistics SALES TAX The following sales permits were issued by the State Comptroller’s Office for November. The list includes the owner, name of business and address within the area codes of 75034, 75065, 75068, 76201, 76205, 76207, 76208, 76209, 76210, 76226, 76227, 76234, 76249, 76258, 76259 and 76266.
75034 Worldwide Electric Salvage Inc., Worldwide Electric Salvage Inc., 5222 King Road, Suite 101, Little Elm 75065 Native Technology Inc., Native Technology Inc., 62 Lakewood Drive, Hickory Creek Rider 2 Rider Store LLC, Rider 2 Rider Store, 231 Pembrook St., Lake Dallas Xtreme Iron Holdings LLC, Xtreme Iron Holdings, 6060 S Stemmons Freeway, Hickory Creek Xtreme Iron LLC, Xtreme Iron LLC, 6060 S. Stemmons Freeway, Hickory Creek 75068 Alvin Claiborne Jr., Portusa, 1045 Lake Trail Drive, Little Elm Clickrange LLC, Clickrange LLC, 104 Hardwicke Lane, Little Elm David Beauchamp and Rebecah Beauchamp, The Dream Studios, 2829 Starshine Drive, Little Elm Doctor Sound Home Theater Inc., Doctor Sound Home Theater Inc., 2485 Bridgeport Drive, Little Elm Jonathan C. Sargent, Dabrije Music Company, 2637 Rockport Lane, Little Elm Kim Brown, Kims Krafts, 2501 Heatherdale Drive, Little Elm Little Elm Ventures LLC, Chevron Complex, 500 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm Little Elm Ventures LLC, Elm's Liquor, 500 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm Rosa Aminta Rodas and Diana De Santiago, 720 Auto Repair, 2521 W. FM720, Little Elm 76201 Angela C. Lott, Invision Beauty Studios, 411 Stroud St., Denton Brandy Stein, Brandy Stein, 207 W. Hickory St., Suite 212, Denton Club Envii, Club Envii, 827 Eagle Drive, Denton
Cowtown Gold & Silver LLC, Cowtown Gold & Silver LLC, 2317 W. University Drive, Denton Cynthia Oliver, Oliver's Crafting, 1315 Margie St., Denton Dylan West Todd, DW Technologies, 1103 Bernard St., Apt. 622, Denton Frontier Flavors Group LLC, Burguesa Burger, 214 E. Hickory St., Denton Raquel Brabender, Arte Obscure Botanica, 1402 Coit St., Denton Ricky B. Perritt, Perritt Enterprises, 210 N. Elm St., Denton Scrap - School and Community Reuse Action Project, Scrap-Denton, 215 W. Oak St., Denton 76205 Alestin Wireless Inc., Tomorrow Telecom, 2215 S. Loop 288, Suite 322, Denton Jas Image Inc., Image, 2201 I-35 E. South, Suite S14B, Denton Jodi Marie Butts, K&J Snowballs, 1115 Dallas Drive, Denton Judson Tucker Johns, DG Lumber, 1700 Shady Oaks Drive, Suite 137, Denton Kristi Ann Taylor, Kristi Taylor Photography, 1429 Kendolph Drive, Denton Megan Lay, Megan Lay, 300 Trailhead Lane, Denton Michael Lynn Leesley, Mike's Furniture, 1008 Fort Worth Drive, Denton Rosa's Cafe & Tortilla Factory Ltd., Rosa's Café, No. 37, 1275 S. Loop 288, Denton Simon Kim Enterprise Inc., Knit, 2201 S. I-35E, Suite L11B, Denton Stephen Earhart, Stephen Earhart, 2300 Fort Worth Drive, Denton Texas Wings Holdings LLC, Hooters of Denton, 985 S. I35E, Denton 76207 Container King Inc., Container King Inc., 3020 Ganzer
with MGHerring Group and Cencor Realty Services. The new property owners are planning to invest $30 million to $45 million on building renovation and remodeling. I Unicorn Lake continues to add new restaurants and medical offices to the development. This year saw the addition of Chuy’s and Bella Pizzeria. I Construction on the north side of Rayzor Ranch Town Center continues to near completion. Next year, construction on the south side of the 412-acre mixed-use development is expected to begin. In the year that the north side has been in operation, $1.2 million has been generated in sales tax revenue for the city. In addition, the valu-
ation of the property has increased $37 million. I The Denton Economic Development Partnership received an honorable mention for Excellence in Economic Development for our Denton Airport Available Properties brochure in the category of Special Purpose Brochure and our Downtown Incentive Reimbursement Grant in the category of Neighborhood Development from the International Economic Development Council. As we enter 2012, I’m hopeful the economy will continue to move forward and expand and that Denton’s businesses will continue to grow and prosper, as well. KAREN DICKSON is vice president of economic development for the Denton Chamber of Commerce.
Business Mixers Road, Denton Michael Keith Morgan, Offset Design, 205 Solar Way, Denton Paula K. Hawkins, Timeless, 5800 N. I-35, Denton Witron Logistik + Informatik GMBH, Witron Logistik + Informatik GMBH, 3952 Corbin Road, Denton 76208 Jason Stewart, Stew's Shack, 6005 Goldenrod Drive, Denton Jesus D. Rodriguez, Tire Shop Two Brothers, 3920 E. McKinney St., Denton Jesus Fuentes, North Texas Computer Services & Repairs, 5301 E McKinney St., Trailer 521, Denton Joshua Woessner, Allusion Graphics, 5512 Woodland Hills Drive, Denton Patricia C. Williams, Pride Consulting Services, 313 S. Shady Shores Road, Shady Shores Randy S. Hyman, Bugless Windows of Texas, 5001 Par Drive, Denton Sorensen Industries Inc., Pro Titan Steel, 3603 E. University Drive, Denton Sweeper King Inc., Sweeper King Inc., 6504 Daisy Drive, Denton
Denton County Friends of the Family Lady Justice Advantage Services donated $3,000 worth of art to Denton County Friends of the Family for the agency’s new offices. The art pieces were handed off on Nov. 15 at the ribbon-cutting for Lady Justice Advantage Services.
76209 Donald Dee Webb, Webb Auto Parts, 1717 Greenwood Drive, Denton Juscor 69 LLC, Juscor 69, 111 E. University Drive, Suite 102, Denton Sharon G. Arnold, Light the Wick, 2425 Kayewood Drive, Denton 76210 Anabel Fernandez, Anabel Sales Cars, 8304 Seven Oaks Lane, Denton Balvinia Lezama, Decoraciones Barbara, 9100 Teasley Lane, Trailer 42K, Denton Billie D. McLaughlin, Billie Dianne's, 1726 Timber Ridge Circle, Corinth Brian Garcia, Aquascapes By Escaudio, 2814 Goodnight Trail, Corinth Christopher Lewis & Joshua McQueen, Come N Get It, 2700 Colorado Blvd., Apt 414, Denton Emily McClendon, Quilts By Emily, 1710 Sunflower Drive, Corinth Gerardo Nicolas Garcia De Alba, 24 Hr Plumbing, 3900
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Photo by David Minton
Carol George, left, Erin Carney, Katherine Dickenson, Karen Sandelin of Lady Justice Advantage Services and Amanda Sawyer of Denton County Friends of the Family
Mix with us Tell about your event or send photos
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Vital Statistics
Call Lovelace Landscape and Tree Service
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TYPE Limited sales, excise and use tax Limited sales, excise and use tax Limited sales, excise and use tax
AMOUNT $1,226.21 $585.24 $1,010.97
REC. DATE 11/08/2011 11/10/2011 11/02/2011
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941 941 1040 1040 941
$13,891.01 $10,102.23 $3,017.20 $12,296.09 $7,334.93
11/08/2011 11/17/2011 11/08/2011 11/08/2011 11/17/2011
AMOUNT $228,000.00 $285,835.00 $28,600.00 $190,384.00 $25,000.00 $57,553.00 $200,000.00 $120,800.00 $517,000.00 $39,000.00
REC. DATE 10/17/2011 10/24/2011 10/24/2011 10/06/2011 10/31/2011 10/11/2011 10/24/2011 10/25/2011 10/10/2011 11/14/2011
IN
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Creekwood School LLC, 800 W. Eldorado Parkway, Suite 106, Little Elm Hy-Pro Chemical Products Inc., 1017 N. Highway 377, Suite D, Pilot Point Isaac and Lucy Chilton, 1420 N. Locust St., Denton Raymond Conklin, 321 Redhead Drive, Little Elm SL Bickers Inc. and Children's Learning Station, 315 Carlisle Drive, Lake Dallas
Dr. Kent Noell
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Nightingale Lane, Corinth
Teasley Lane, Lot 117, Denton Gloria M. Sandy, Taaria Fashion, 2813 Hilcroft Ave., Denton Helen Virginia Hare, Artbyhelen, 2708 Hilcroft Ave., Denton Jennifer Lee Hitchcock, Gold Standard Pest Control, 6405 Pine Hills Lane, Denton Jennifer McMahan, J&M Crafters, 2724 Hilcroft Ave., Denton Joshua R. Carney, R&J Services, 6728 Hayling Way, Denton Mette McConnell, MM Fashions, 2802 Surrey Oaks Court, Corinth Tanya Anne Springer, Longdog Quilting, 3517 Forrestridge Drive, Denton Vanessa G. Swindell, Designs By Vanessa, 1636
76226 Enterprise Security Solutions of Texas Inc., Enterprise Security Solutions of Texas Inc., 2126 Hamilton Drive, Suite 410, Argyle Jay M. Miranda, Miranda Air Classics, 412 Village Way, Argyle Larry L. Flippo, Hilltop Kennels, 12903 Hilltop Road, Argyle 76227 Cheers Spirits & Liquor LLC, Cheers Spirits & Liquor LLC, 928 S. Highway 377, Suite 106, Aubrey Haeng Sam Chong, Morning Donut, 26735 US Highway 380E, Suite 109, Little Elm Jared Dilon Supina, Light It Up Christmas Lighting, 9434 Arvin Hill Road, Aubrey
Ron L. Martin, Ron Martin, 1843 FM1385, Aubrey Seong Jin Inc., Baker's Dozen Donuts, 12000 US Highway 380, Suite 112, Cross Roads Sorensen Industries Inc., Sorensen Industries Inc., 301 S. Highway 377, Cross Roads The Pink Spur Trading Co. Inc., The Pink Spur Trading Co., 232 Glenview Drive, Aubrey Timothy Joseph Hamm, Shade Tree Solar Screens and Window Treatments, 917 Starling Lane, Aubrey Tonya D'Ann Harrison, The Dam Store, 9386 Running Bear Road, Aubrey 76234 Joan Christensen, Leather and Turquoise Creations, 313 Quail Chase Lane, Decatur Sam Lee, The Corner Place 3, 119 W. Main St., Decatur Tonya Briscoe, The Unique Boutique, 120 E. Main St., Decatur
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ASSUMED NAMES Studio, 1224 Shell Beach Drive, Little Elm Larry Cates and Karen Sutherland, Heart 4 Hudson, 4207 Creek Hill Lane, Corinth Liliana Cordova, Keystone Enterprise, 427 Stroud St., Denton Maritza Leon, Maritza Leon Insurance Agency, 111 E. University Drive, Suite 108, Denton Mark H. Gray and Rebecca H. Gray, Best Made Gifts, 1704 Palo Verde Drive, Denton Mark S. Davis, Do Dad, 2418 Kayewood St., Denton Martha Saenz-De Martinez, New Image Salon No. 2, 1111 McKinney St., Suite 105, Denton Michael Paulson, Map Build Remodel, 4251 FM2181, Suite 230, Denton Mindy T. Quan, Natural Nails, 1001-B Ave. C, Denton Morgan A. Rayney, Pilot Point Golf Carts, 1204 S. Highway 377, Pilot Point
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MECHANICS LIENS
NAME/ADDRESS CONTRACTOR Bruce and Betty Pryor, 513 Hearth Terrace, Argyle Noble Vilage Classics and Craftsman Village Homes David and Wendy Rounsley, 11175 Mesquite Road, Sanger Cashion Custom Homes LP David and Wendy Rounsley, 11175 Mesquite Road, Sanger Ace Water Wells Inc. Earl E. Stander and Patricia I. Murphy, 5080 FM2931, Aubrey Oak Creek Homes Eric and Angela Borchardt, 1580 Westfield Lane, Krum Christopher Grace Custom Homes LLC Erika and Edward Reeves, 133 FM407W, Argyle ACS Remodeling LLC Jacqueline K. and Donald S. Pajda, 1228 Ballycastle Lane, Corinth M.S. Hamilton Homes LLC Lela F. Morrison and Mary S. Cooper, 10306 Field Lark Lane, Sanger Palm Harbor Village Martin and April Bradshaw, 7401 Dawn Ave., Pilot Point Snyder Construction Inc. Stephen M. Sheppard and Maria A. Sheppard, 2257 Hideaway Pointe Drive, Little Elm Hauk Custom Pools
4790 Hwy 377-S. Krugerville, Texas 3 miles N. of Hwy 380 / 3 miles S. of Aubrey
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Northridge St., Denton Julia A. Richason, Bodyscaping, 207 W. Hickory St., Suite 210, Denton Kathey K. Hannah, K&M Hannah Properties, 3517 Bentley Court, Denton Kathi Travers, Trinity Power, 3605 Leeds Court, Corinth Kelly T. Muthiani and Peter W. Muthiani, Custom Impressions, 2436 S. I-35E, Suite 376-255, Denton Ken Minhinnett and Linda Minhinnett, Best Value Finance, 7200 I-35, Denton Ken Minhinnett and Linda Minhinnett, Best Value RV Sales and Service, 7200 I-35, Denton Kimberley A. Dickey, Campus Walk Apartments, 2425 Louise St., Denton L&S Signature Investments Inc., Lindy Signature
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Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
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lthough Dec. 31 marks the end of the 2011 calendar year, the Denton Chamber of Commerce actually has another three months left in its program and budget cycle. Some highlights from the previous nine months included the transition of our Ambassadors Council to the LEAD delegation. We basically took the previous ambassadors concept, and split their prior responsibilities according to individual expertise and knowledge. The LEAD program actually puts a face on the chamber, as well as a heart and spirit, instead of just a membership account. After nearly two years of researching and negotiating with anonymous site location consultants, our Economic Development staff was able to announce that Target Corp. will open a 360,000-square-foot food distribution center just off Airport Road. Construction has begun, and will ultimately translate into a significant contribution to the local property tax base, as well as the creation of 140 new career opportunities. We’re also very excited about a budding partnership between the chamber, the Denton County Transportation Authority’s Atrain and the city of Denton, as well as our Convention & Visitors Bureau and Leadership Denton. The graduation project for the 2012 Leadership Denton class is to research the concept of a visitor information center, possibly in conjunction with the
Chuck CARPENTER | A-train rail station near downtown. Following a series of presentations at area public hearings, the chamber was part of an aggressive effort to persuade the DCTA board of trustees to retain weekend service in its initial service plan. In June, the rail service began a seamless connection, six days a week, from downtown Denton to Carrollton, where it meets up with Dallas Area Rapid Transit services. To the rest of the world, the Denton chamber is viewed as the primary initial source of information for potential new residents, prospective businesses and visitors. We completed a conversion of our website to a new service that not only sells the attributes of the area, but also accentuates the products and services made available through the 900 businesses that currently make up our membership. For the final quarter, which begins Jan. 1, we will primarily focus on reactivating our Be Alert emergency preparedness certification process, and finalizing a five-year strategic plan.
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Following final board approval in March, our hope is that this document will effectively address needs and goals over a five-year period, beginning April 1. Finally, the chamber has occupied its present facilities at the corner of Carroll Boulevard and Parkway Street since 1975. We’ve carried out two of the four components of a long-range plan that was adopted in 1995 to help extend our occupancy at this site. Our board received a preliminary draft of the program, structure and services aspect of the proposed plan in October, and, will consider possible options for future site and office needs following an assessment of the existing facilities. CHUCK CARPENTER is president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce.
11 Denton Business Chronicle
Villa Grande of Cross Roads and La Milpa of Denton presented Denton Race for the Cure with $1,005 and $1,500, respectively, on Nov. 17. Villa Grande raised the funds by selling shirts and asking diners to donate a dollar to help the effort, while La Milpa hosted “Tacos for the Cure” in October, with 20 percent of the proceeds benefitting cancer research.
Gabino Guerrero, a manager of La Milpa, left; Kaila Werner, assistant to Frenchy's; Andre "Frenchy" Rheault, owner of Frenchy's Lawn & Tree Service; Mary Frances Hoover, executive director of the North Texas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Jorge Landeros, a manager of the restaurant; Barbara Gailey, a member of the Denton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Miguel Cantu, a member of Mariachi Quetzal
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Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
Welcome to the neighborhood The arrival of the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train rail service and the ongoing development around downtown Denton rise to the top of this year’s business activity. At 4:57 a.m. on June 20, the Denton County Transportation Authority’s first official A-train ride chugged southbound on its 21-mile trek to Carrollton, where passengers could connect to Dallas Area Rapid Transit services. The official launch of the much-anticipated commuter rail
system coincided with the rush to build apartments, townhomes and restaurants along the Hickory Street corridor to the city’s Square, blocks away from the rail line’s downtown transit station. In the months before and after the rail line’s launch, devel-
opers flocked to the area with plans for everything from multistory housing complexes to restaurant chains. Love Shack, Weinberger’s Deli, Mellow Mushroom and Seven Mile Cafe brought new flavors to town, while longtime area businesses Campus Barber
Shop and Noles General Store relocated near downtown Denton after spending decades at their old locations. Construction along the city’s northern corridor continued in the Rayzor Ranch Marketplace at U.S. Highway 380 and Interstate 35, though only on the northern side. Plans for the southern Rayzor Ranch Town Center remained on paper. In town, work began on the proposed mixed-use development Sterling Fry Street, which will include an apartment complex, parking garage and retail
Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs speaks at the official launch of the Denton County Transportation Authority’s A-train commuter rail line on June 18 in Denton. Photo by David Minton
space on a 4.3-acre site once the home of a collection of older buildings in the Fry Street region. The area, now owned by The Dinerstein Cos., was the topic of much consternation several years ago after a new owner bought it and eventually razed the buildings.
A redevelopment plan for Golden Triangle Mall was unveiled this year after the Denton City Council in midAugust approved a $9.5 million incentive agreement with MGHerring Group and Cencor Realty Services. The agreement will allow the new mall owners to recoup some of their investment over time through new sales taxes generated at the mall. The companies formed GTM Development Ltd. as a joint venture to buy and redevelop the mall. Renovations are scheduled to start soon, with a grand reopening planned for next fall, the companies have said. Company officials expect to invest $60 million in the project. An ice and snow storm in the first week of February halted business and most travel across North Texas as an arctic blast dumped snow, sleet and blisteringly cold temperatures on the region. Business owners said they saw little traffic in their stores as most companies and government agencies closed due to hazardous travel conditions. The year began with announcement from RussellNewman that it would be shutting its Denton warehouse in March and laying off 79 employees. On Tuesday, RNA Holdings LLC and Russell-Newman Inc. sent a letter under the federal Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act stating it is permanently closing the its Denton facility. The company was founded in Denton in 1939 as a manufacturer of women’s undergarments. The business was acquired by Industrial Renaissance in 2007, moving its headquarters to New York. The year ended with record sales on Black Friday – often considered the first day of holiday shopping and a precursor to the season’s sales. The day’s activity set new records as shoppers flocked to area stores as well as to shops across the country. And in 2011, just as DATCU celebrated its 75th anniversary and Denton Good Samaritan turned 35, Del Taco, GameOn Athletics, and N.V. Cupcakes cel-
13 Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
Photo by David Minton
Holiday banners are hung outside Golden Triangle Mall on Nov. 17. Two companies formed a partnership this year to revitalize and renovate the Denton mall. ebrated their first year in business. The year also introduced a new way to conduct business — Denton’s Armadillo Ale Works used Kickstarter to raise $30,000 in start-up funding and Emma’s Boutique took its shop online, after spending two years as a brick-and-mortar business. Residential foreclosures dipped significantly for the first time in several years and employment numbers also showed a decline. 1-5
Denton businesses register with E-Verify Nearly 50 Denton-area employers were among the 6,047 Texas businesses registered with E-Verify as of May, according to data obtained by the Denton Record-Chronicle. Many local companies have signed up to use a government program to verify whether their new employees are eligible to work in the United States. E-Verify, a voluntary program, compares an employee’s
Form I-9 information with more than 455 million Social Security Administration records and with more than 80 million records in the Department of Homeland Security immigration database. Participants include Jostens, Sally Beauty Holdings Inc., Miller of Denton and McNatt Toyota Dodge and DATCU. 1-7
NCTC holds open house at new campus North Central College held its dedication and open house in Flower Mound today. “It’s exciting to move into something new,” said Roy Culberson, dean of the Corinth and Flower Mound campuses. The public will have a chance to tour the two-story, 32,000square-foot Parker Square building at the open house. 1-9
Texas Health Resources gains MedicalEdge Texas Health Resources,
which operates Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, announced last week that it acquired MedicalEdge Healthcare Group, and along with it, 420 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. With more than 250 practices in the Denton, Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Johnson, Parker and Tarrant counties, the MedicalEdge group gives Texas Health a slightly larger physician base than its main competitor, Baylor Health Care System. Texas Health now has about 680 physicians and midlevel providers including physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The Baylor system has a little more than 500. Neither Texas Health nor MedicalEdge disclosed the acquisition’s price, but both entities said it was the country’s second-largest acquisition of an independent physician practice. The largest acquisition was the Blackstone private equity firm’s $1 billion purchase of Team Health Inc. in 2005.
Good Samaritan celebrates expansion A groundbreaking ceremony and celebration for expansion of the therapy room at Good Samaritan Society-Denton Village was held today at their location at 2500 Hinkle Drive. The event, hosted by Good Samaritan Society-Denton Village and Modern Woodmen, began at 12:30 p.m. in the therapy room with the groundbreaking ceremony following at 12:45 p.m.
Emma’s Boutique goes to online-only sales The owners of Emma’s Boutique announced Tuesday on Facebook that they closed their Denton storefront and moved all sales online. Co-owners Crissy Camp and her mother, Teri, have run their store, located at 1800 Brinker Road, for about two years. Camp, who has accepted a fulltime job at a Denton company, | CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
14 Cover Story
Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
| CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
said she and her mother will run Emma’s Boutique via their Facebook posts. 1-12
County hires engineer for I-35W widening Denton County commissioners approved an engineering contract with HNTB Corp on Tuesday. Under the $1.8 million contract, the company will be widening Interstate 35W from State Highway 170 in Fort Worth to its junction with Interstates 35 and 35E in Denton. Officials in cities along the corridor will use the schematics to determine access points on the interstate, including where entrance and exit ramps will be, said Commissioner Andy Eads. 1-13
United Way extends 2010 campaign United Way of Denton County leaders have extended their 2010 campaign until Feb. 28 because some national corporations are slow in reporting
results and the campaign has only raised a little more than 73 percent of its $2.4 million goal. Final reports for about 20 national corporations in the area are still out, said Jodi Ramon, the organization’s resource development director. For example, General Electric just filed its results Wednesday, she said. The 2010 campaign so far has raised $1,769,973. 1-22
Russell-Newman to shutter, lay off 79 Russell-Newman will be shutting its Denton warehouse in March and laying off 79 employees. On Tuesday, RNA Holdings LLC and Russell-Newman Inc. sent a letter under the federal Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act stating it is permanently closing the facilities, located at 600 N. Loop 288 and 3790 Russell Newman Blvd. The company was founded in Denton in 1939 as a manufacturer of women’s undergarments. The business was acquired by Industrial Renaissance in 2007, moving its headquarters to New York.
said. One of the major concerns was the mall’s parking lot, which was covered in ice. Ludemann said he hoped that since the sun was out Wednesday, the ice would melt and evaporate a bit before the mall opens at 10 a.m. today. Denton gas stations were more affected by the power outages than the weather, but Bill Monzer, owner of Shell Food Mart on McCormick Street, said the store hadn’t been getting some of its deliveries because truck drivers weren’t venturing out on the roads.
1-25
City board approves DME rate hike Denton Municipal Electric customers will pay more for electricity starting next month, after a city board voted Monday to increase a key rate. The Public Utilities Board approved a nearly 4.6 percent increase to DME’s energy cost adjustment rate, effective Feb. 1. The change will add about $4 to the average homeowner’s monthly bill, DME spokeswoman Lisa Lemons said. DME requested the increase because its parent agency, the Texas Municipal Power Agency, is facing higher coal transportation costs, Lemons said. Nearly half of Denton’s electricity comes from TMPA, which runs a coal plant in the Southeast Texas town of Carlos. 2-3
Rolling outages affect area businesses Denton businesses had to adapt to icy weather conditions and rolling power outages Tuesday and Wednesday.
Photo by Al Key
Jeff Solomon, general manager of Hannah’s Off the Square, salts the entrance to the restaurant so his customers won’t slip on the ice and snow built up there, on Feb. 9. Shutting Golden Triangle Mall down for two days wasn’t exactly what general manager Matt Ludemann wanted to do, but he was worried about the safety of employees and customers. “We just didn’t feel it was safe for a huge flux of people,” he
2-4
Storms puts Super Bowl business on ice The city plans to have a welcome center at Denton Airport despite the icy weather, said Kim Phillips, vice president of the Denton Convention and Visitor Bureau. Denton hotels have not seen much Super Bowl business but could gain it from people stranded by the weather, Phillips
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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Denton Municipal Electric is studying the potential application of a 10-megawatt combined heat and power plant in Denton, but details of the project haven’t been made public. DME has signed confidentiality agreements with a limited number of customers whose businesses could benefit from the proposed energy facility, so officials are restricted in what they can say for now, spokeswoman Lisa Lemons said. DME officials have discussed the project with the City Council and the council-appointed Public Utilities Board in closeddoor sessions, she said. 2-9
Council focuses on street maintenance Denton city leaders started outlining a plan to tackle a backlog of street maintenance and reconstruction projects that could involve selling bonds and moving funds from other priorities over the next five years. The City Council spent part of its annual planning session Tuesday on the topic, a day after receiving a report that the city’s street network was in steady | CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Dec. 11
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said. The airport was open until Monday night before the ice moved in. Or it may have caused extended stays for people coming into Denton for other business, she said. Once the final teams were announced, the city ran advertisements in Pittsburgh and Green Bay to let people coming in for the Super Bowl know Denton was here, Phillips said. The city will be at the Super Bowl media center in Dallas today for its spotlight time in front of the media.
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Denton Business Chronicle
Dec. 11
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decline after years of underfunding. 2-14
Local man’s HexBugs win national award
Joel Carter’s HexBugs were named specialty Toy of the Year at February’s New York International Toy Fair. Carter is pictured with one of his creatures at his Bartonville home last December.
Joel Carter's bugs are cute, easy and fun to play with, and now, they are specialty Toy of the Year. Carter's HexBugs took the award Saturday during the New York International Toy Fair, beating out several big names to take the top prize in the specialty category. “Occasionally, a small upstart company like ours breaks through and gets nominated. We were up against some really heavy competition,” the Bartonville resident said.
Photo by David Minton
2-20
Weinberger’s Deli opens After months of delays,
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Grapevine eatery decided to expand to Denton last fall, and set their sights on 311 E.
Hickory St. Written next to the daily specials is a note that reads: “Thank you, Denton, for your patience and support!” Mike Wing is the general manager of the deli. Wing’s team, which includes executive chef Jarrod Berger and 16 other employees, offers Chicago-style sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, Italian sausages, hot dogs, gyros, soup and chili, desserts and a kids’ menu. 3-1
United Way misses its 2010 fundraising goal United Way of Denton County leaders blamed a weak economy after their fundraising drive missed its target for the second straight year. The 2010 campaign ended Feb. 28 with more than $1.96 million raised, below the goal of $2.4 million. Still, donors and volunteers deserve praise for
their work, campaign chairman David Martino said. Last year, the agency fell $67,000 short of its $2.45 million fundraising goal, forcing social service agencies that receive aid from United Way to cut budgets and programs. The agencies will see another reduction this year, meaning there will be less aid for those in need, Martino said. 3-4
PUC orders northern route for power line The Public Utility Commission of Texas ordered Oncor on Thursday to take a northern route around Ray Roberts Lake as it builds a 345kilovolt power line from Krum to Anna. The order came after more than 700 intervenors filed tens of thousands of pages of documents, provided four days of testimony to a panel of state
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judges, paid millions in legal fees for help with the ninemonth battle and packed several rooms on the seventh and eighth floors of the William B. Travis Building in Austin last week to make their final, direct pleas to commissioners. 3-13
Denton Black Chamber hosts annual banquet
The Denton Black Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon March 5. Mary Segova and Robin Myles, banquet committee co-chairwomen, were recognized for their contributions to the event, which was themed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Big Dreams and Doing Big Things.â&#x20AC;? Keynote speaker was Jim Austin, who co-founded the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame, formerly known as the Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame, in Fort Worth with Gloria Reed Austin, his wife and the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executive director. Also at the event, chamber officials gave two $500 scholarships to the Fred Moore Day Nursery School and to the NAACP scholarship fund. 3-15
Drug plan to reduce costs for uninsured Denton County residents who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a prescription drug plan can soon receive a discount with a new program called Coast 2 Coast RX through the county health department. Under the program, residents who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have insurance or who are underinsured can use the cards to obtain discounts on any prescription medicine. Bing Burton, the county health department director, said the county has had a similar contract with Caremark/NaCo for several years, but that contract has expired. He said the Coast 2 Coast program should offer larger discounts than the previous program.
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Bartonville OKs halt to gas drilling permits The Bartonville Town Council voted this week to impose a 90day moratorium on new permits for natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The council also agreed to form a seven-member advisory board on gas drilling and production, although no appointments were made. Mayor Ron Robertson said the moratorium, passed 3-0, would serve as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cooling off periodâ&#x20AC;? as town leaders continue studying potential new regulations. 4-3
4-10
Business owners open Any Lab Test Now Owners of Denton Prescription Shop are launching a new business. Rick and Misty Appling will begin operating a lab testing franchise later this month at 2501 W. Oak St., Suite 103. The business, named Any Lab Test Now, will offer standard tests without requiring a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order, appointment or insurance. Some of the testing available at the 1,800-square-foot facility
Denton Business Chronicle
will be blood tests, drug screening, DNA/paternity tests and STD/HIV testing. Customers will be able to receive confidential test results within 48 hours, according to a press release.
Dec. 11
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Residential foreclosures postings fall in May Officials say the decline in residential foreclosure listings in the region for May could be a result of increased scrutiny on banksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; foreclosure procedures. Denton County residential foreclosure listings totaled 480 for May, down 14 percent from May 2010, according to a report from Foreclosure Listing Service Inc.
The Denton League of United Latin American Citizens celebrated its 30th anniversary with a banquet that honored founders who formed Denton LULAC in 1981. Past presidents were on hand for the celebration including Frank DĂĄvila, the local organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first president and the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keynote speaker, who discussed the inception of Denton LULAC, the history of the national LULAC organization since 1929. In an address to attendees which included the 22 high school senior scholarship recipients, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current president, Isabella PiĂąa-Hinojosa, recognized local founders, their commitment to work in and uplift the Denton community while also investing in its youth through college scholarships.
UNT wins in power struggle with city The University of North Texas won the latest round in its legal fight with the city of Denton over more than $1 million in disputed electric bills. The 2nd Court of Appeals in Fort Worth reversed a district | CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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Campus Barber Shop moves to Hickory Street LULAC marks founding, gives scholarships Campus Barber Shop relocated this week to the 300 block of East Hickory Street after spending 51 years at 116 Fry St. Upon opening, owner Jeremy Carroll and his team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including Gene Hartman, the businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous owner, and longtime barber Russ Boaldin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; went directly to work doing what they do best: cut hair. Hartman held a farewell party Feb. 19 to celebrate the closing of the Fry Street location and send a thank-you to his loyal customers. Campus Barber Shop closed the first week of March. Campus Barber Shop is located at 311 E. Hickory St., Suite 120.
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Dec. 11
judge’s 2009 ruling that a statemandated electric rate discount for public colleges and universities expired in September 2007. The city of Denton, which provides electric service to UNT, sued the university in an attempt to enforce the undiscounted rate. 5-2
University seeking brand, new image The University of North Texas is looking into changing its branding and public perception. Last fall, President Lane Rawlins appointed a council to review the university’s branding and public perception, but he was not pleased with the results. So, in February, the university began seeking proposals from firms for a new branding initiative. In the request for proposals, the university sought four components: brand platform development and implementation, football stadium promotions and marketing, evaluation and development of new and social media, and evaluation and development of news services. 5-8
Devon Energy sees earnings decline Devon Energy — the largest producer in North Texas’ Barnett Shale region — reported a decline in earnings during its first quarter, attributing the loss to lower natural gas prices and noncash losses of $254 million, according to a May 4 news release. The company reported earnings of $416 million or 97 cents per share during its first quarter ending March 31. This compared to $1.2 billion or $2.66 a share just a year earlier. 5-11
Companies seek partner in mall renovations Two Dallas-based companies
are asking for help from the city of Denton as they consider a potential purchase and major renovation of Golden Triangle Mall. Representatives of The MGHerring Group and The Weitzman Group appeared before the Denton City Council on Tuesday to offer a broad outline of the project and a public-private partnership that would help fund it. Cencor Realty Services and The Weitzman Group have been overseeing Golden Triangle Mall with plans to revitalize the property and bring in more name-brand retailers. The Dallas-based sister companies were hired to manage the Denton mall and handle leasing as of Sept. 1 by JPMorgan Chase & Co., which purchased the mall after foreclosure proceedings in July.
About 200 people attended the event, said Angie Maffey, Game On’s adult fitness program director. 5-21
Salvation Army breaks from United Way The local Salvation Army is
parting ways with the United Way of Denton County, a Salvation Army official said Friday. The prospect of a split between the two longtime partner agencies became public this month after Salvation Army officials in Dallas who run the Denton branch objected to an 81
percent decline in United Way funding this year. Maj. Ward Matthews of the Dallas-Fort Worth Salvation Army said Friday the two agencies could not agree on a compromise to salvage the relationship. The Denton Salvation
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5-12
TCEQ levies $9,000 fine against Williams The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved a $9,000 fine against Williams Production-Gulf Coast Co. LP for operating three unauthorized storage tanks at a natural gas drilling site at Mitchell and Plainview roads near Krum, according to state records. Commissioners waived $1,800 of the fine as part of an agreed order that required the company to install a vaporrecovery unit to capture emissions from a separator and condensate tanks to meet state limits for volatile organic compounds. 5-15
Game On celebrates first year in business Training facility Game On Athletics celebrated its first 365 days of helping area residents shape up with an anniversary party Tuesday. At the event, attendees were invited to participate and compete in various sports, including volleyball, basketball and soccer.
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Army will ask the public for direct donations to make up for the loss of United Way funding, he said. The United Way’s 2010 fundraising campaign ended this February about $430,000 short of a $2.4 million goal. As a result, the United Way cut grants to partner agencies by 30 percent, from $1.43 million in 2010 to $1 million this year. 5-25
Newspaper announces Wimgo partnership The Denton Record-Chronicle has partnered with Wimgo.com to offer a new online method for finding out what’s happening in Denton. Through Wingo.com, a nationwide, hypersocial search directory, area residents will be able find restaurant reviews and information about local businesses, events and much more.
The directory will provide category listings for more than 20,000 businesses in Denton County and allow users to interact with other users and businesses. 5-29
Noles General Store moves to Hickory St. Noles General Store, a local gift and home decor store on East McKinney Street, will be relocating to East Hickory Street next month after spending four years at 118 E. McKinney St. Store owner Celeste Douglas continues a 40-year family tradition that started with her great-grandfather, John K. Noles, opening two gas and grocery stores, one in McKinney and another in Fairview. 6-1
Funding found for U.S. 380 improvements State transportation officials
have found funding for muchneeded improvements to U.S. Highway 380 west of Denton. Officials are using leftover funds from other projects that came in under budget to pay for roadwork improvements including a stretch of West U.S. 380 that has been the site of numerous serious traffic accidents. County officials were frustrated late last year when $74 million that had been allotted to U.S. 380 construction work was diverted by Texas Department of Transportation officials in Austin to other projects. One of the improvements was a planned widening of U.S. 380 to a four-lane divided highway. 6-5
Ruby’s closes after 24 years on the Square One of downtown Denton’s most popular restaurants will be closing after 24 years in business. Co-owner Ken Willis has decided to sell Ruby’s Diner so
he could devote more time to his family. The space has been purchased by John Cartwright, who plans to open a new family-style restaurant called Cartwright’s Ranch House in August. 6-8
Council lowers fees for drilling permits The Denton City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday to lower most of its fees on the natural gas industry after an analysis found they were too high. Council members largely followed a consultant’s recommendation and authorized a new fee for annual inspections of gas wells in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ — land just outside a city where it has some limited powers. The council did not accept a recommendation to lower the fee for gas well development site plans from $7,500 to $3,900. The fee will remain $7,500.
Denton Business Chronicle
6-12
Burger place to tread where pizza stumbled The former home of Giovanni’s Pizza and Pasta and Hot Box Pizza will become Burguesa Burger by the end of June, company officials say. Gio’s closed early this year after only a month in business; Hot Box Pizza had occupied the space since April 2009. Burguesa Burger is already a familiar name in parts of Texas, with two locations in Dallas, two in McAllen and one in Mission. Charles Ballard, chief progress officer for the Dallas-based restaurant chain, said the restaurant in Denton’s entertainment district is part of the company’s ongoing expansion plans. 6-18
Jobless rates bump up Both the city and state | CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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unemployment rates went up slightly from April to May, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing to be concerned about yet, says a University of North Texas economist. Dentonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point, from 6.2 percent in April to 6.4 percent in May, with 4,171 people looking for jobs, according to data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. Countywide, the jobless rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point, from 7 percent in April to 7.1 percent in May, with 25,669 people looking for work, the report stated. 6-20
A-train runs on time On Monday morning, the | CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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time was nigh for the A-train to show what it could mean to the county and the future of rail transportation in the area. At 4:57 a.m., the Denton County Transportation Authority’s first official A-train ride chugged down the 21-mile track on its first southbound trek to Carrollton, where passengers can connect to DART rail. Passengers hope the train will catch on and become a viable option for residents and commuters here. 6-23
DME wins two national awards at conference Denton Municipal Electric won two national awards this week at the American Public Power Association conference in Washington. DME was a co-winner, along with San Antonio’s CPS Energy, of the 2011 Public Power Wind Award from the U.S. Department of Energy for its wind energy purchases. DME also won a Community Service Award recognizing “good neighbor” activities including environmental leadership, educational activities and involvement in city events, according to a DME news release. 7-3
HGTV stops by Beau’s Ginna Anthony, owner of Beau’s Bath House and Doggie Spa, got to show off her skills during a recent taping of HGTV’s My First Sale. Three crewmembers arrived at the shop a little after 8 a.m. Tuesday to set up for a segment on Steve and Jen Young, who brought their dogs in for a bath. “They are following them throughout the sale of their first home,” Anthony said.
Business center opens Flower Mound office The Small Business Development Center recently opened a new office at the
Flower Mound campus of North Central Texas College. The office will provide small business owners and entrepreneurs in southern Denton County access to a wide range of free consulting services. Mike Jacob, a certified business development specialist, is in charge of the new office, which is located in Room 108 on the main floor of the NCTC Flower Mound campus at 1200 Parker Square. 7-10
Aldi tops food chain Aldi Inc. recently was ranked as the nation’s low-price grocery leader in a consumer survey conducted by Market Force Information Inc. Aldi plans to open more than 80 stores across the nation this year, according to a news release. The company has a 500,000square-foot distribution center in Denton, but as of yet, no local supermarket. 7-16
Home foreclosures continue to drop The number of residential foreclosures in Denton County decreased again, continuing a trend that has developed over the past few months. The county has a total of 494 homes posted for foreclosure sale at the Aug. 2 auction, down 12 percent from August 2010, when 561 homes were listed, according to a report released Thursday by Foreclosure Listing Service Inc. 7-24
DCTA officials pleased with ridership numbers With an average of 1,100 riders per day since paid service began last month, the A-train is living up to Denton County Transportation Authority expectations, officials say. Paid service began June 27, a week after the rail line officially opened with a week of free service. The rail line operates during
commuter hours Monday through Friday, late Friday and all day Saturday.
8-4
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Denton resident and former bookstore owner Paul Voertman plans to leave an estimated $8 million to the University of North Texas in his will, the university announced Wednesday. The funds will be shared between three colleges: the College of Visual Arts and Design, the College of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences. Each college will use about 40 percent of the funds it receives for scholarships.
Property values rise New construction drove a $1.4 billion increase in Denton County property values in the past year, officials said Monday. The certified tax rolls totaled nearly $53.5 billion, up 2.8 percent from 2010. The increase more than made up for a $1.3 billion decline in values last year. 8-1
Cardo’s Farm Project holds fundraiser Tours of Cardo’s Farm Project were given Saturday evening as part of Cardo’s Vegetable Festival, a fundraising event to help Amanda Austin and Daniel Moon, who manage the Ponder farm, expand their project to supply more locally grown produce to people and businesses in Denton County. Along with the festival, the pair also has launched an online campaign to raise $15,000 to help them double the Ponder farm’s growing space, boost its educational program, improve infrastructure and allow them to start a community-supported agriculture program, through which members buy shares and get a portion of the produce. 8-3
Company explores alternate location In response to public outcry against the gasoline distribution center proposed near Sanger, Denton Terminal LLC officials are considering alternate locations for their site. While Stephen Senter of Denton Terminal has said work will continue on the proposed site at 8969 N. FM2164 east of Sanger, he has received suggestions from residents and the county judge and will look into them. The center would be a refilling stop for trucks delivering gasoline to stations in the region.
Voertman to leave $8 million to UNT
8-5
Budget proposal presented to council A $585.4 million proposed city budget that would hold the tax rate steady, boost spending on streets and raise utility rates to help fund infrastructure projects got a warm reception Thursday from the City Council. But a plan to offer employees 2 percent raises will face more scrutiny before the council votes to approve the budget Sept. 20. 8-6
DATCU celebrates 75 years in business Dale Kimble, president of DATCU, is proud to be part of a credit union that’s been around for 75 years and made a difference in the community. DATCU, which started in 1936 with 13 professors and $650, has grown to about 60,000 members with about $550 million in assets. On Friday, the credit union invited its members to celebrate its 75th anniversary with festivities at each of the eight branches. The celebrations included iPad raffles, hot dogs, drinks, cookies and free merchandise, ranging from baseball caps to cozies. 8-7
Chuy’s holds ‘Preview Day’ at Unicorn Lake Chuy’s had an invitation-only
“Preview Day” on Monday to celebrate its grand opening at 3300 Wind River Lane in Unicorn Lake. Close to 200 people were given an opportunity to see the restaurant’s interior and taste some of the restaurant’s dishes for free, said general manager David Cooper.
New business provides service for seniors With the goal of assisting seniors with their day-to-day tasks, the Chalet Senior Concierge Service began its first official day of business July 25. Chris Peterson and his daughter, Nicole, decided to put their thoughts into action, according to a news release. Peterson, who recently retired from a government career, began volunteering for the Meals on Wheels program, where he met seniors and saw a need to offer additional assistance. 8-12
Denton businesses, police discuss crime Members of the Denton Main Street Association and the Industrial Guild met Thursday morning with local law enforcement agencies to discuss efforts to curb criminal activity around the downtown Square. Denton police and Denton County sheriff’s deputies also heard from business owners and residents about what kind of law enforcement presence is needed in the downtown area. The county is mulling a use restriction policy that would make it clear when county property was and wasn’t open to the public. 8-14
City debt mostly out of voters’ hands Area residents must depend on the wisdom of Congress to set the national debt level. Increasingly, they must depend on their city council to set the | CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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local debt level, too. By issuing certificates of obligation, area cities have borrowed hundreds of millions without putting the matter before voters. The city of Denton carries about $238 million in certificates, the most certificate debt of any city in Denton County, according to a Denton RecordChronicle analysis of state data. At 35 percent of the city’s total debt, that means more than $825 of the $2,352 the city of Denton currently owes for every man, woman and child was authorized only by the City Council, not by voters. 8-17
City injects $9.5 million into mall renovation The Denton City Council on Tuesday approved a $9.5 million incentive agreement meant to spur the redevelopment of Golden Triangle Mall. The council voted 6-0 to approve the agreement with two Dallas-based companies that plan to buy and renovate the mall at Loop 288 and Interstate 35E. Council member Chris Watts was absent. 8-29
DCTA budget moves away from construction Denton County Transportation Authority officials got a look at the proposed budget for the 2012 fiscal year, and so far, they like what they see. DCTA’s 2012 budget includes $21.1 million for operations and maintenance, $2 million for debt service, and funds to cover a smaller slate of construction projects and a costly unfunded federal safety mandate.
to expensive energy bills. Energy costs for Denton Municipal Electric customers, both residential and commercial, are “10 [percent] to 12 percent higher than they were last July,” said Ethan Cox, customer service manager for Denton Municipal Electric. And the electric company is anticipating August will be similar. Dan Smith, spokesman for TXU Energy, said it’s not so much the daily high temperature that affects energy bills; it’s that the low temperatures have been higher, causing air conditioners to work overtime. 9-7
Balcony structures face scrutiny after accident City building officials are contacting all apartment complexes to inspect and secure access to balcony features, including The Grove, which bolted doors to its Juliet balconies after one collapsed early Saturday, injuring three men. City spokesman John Cabrales said the city would not comment further until its investigation into the accident was complete. Over the weekend, crews at The Grove bolted all the balcony doors closed to keep them from opening to make sure “nothing like this happens again,” spokesman Jason Chudoba wrote in a prepared statement.
County budget includes raises, tax rate increase Denton County commissioners approved a budget Tuesday
that will include employee raises. Commissioners voted unanimously for the $202 million budget, which includes cuts in some areas and reorganization in others, but court members are pleased with the final version.
9-29 9-17
Rep. to continue effort to ban smoking at work State Rep. Myra Crownover said she’ll continue pushing for a statewide ban on smoking in workplaces, after the effort failed again in the Legislature this year. “I think we’ve passed the tipping point,” Crownover, RDenton, said in an interview Friday. “Six years ago people thought secondhand smoke was maybe an inconvenience. Now they realize it’s benzene, arsenic, particulate matter, and it’s just not respectful of the person sitting next to you.” Crownover made the remarks after speaking at the United Way of Denton County 2011 campaign kickoff luncheon at the University of North Texas. She said an ordinance that city leaders are considering to ban smoking in Denton workplaces, including restaurants and bars, is the “second-best option.” 9-28
Sandwich shop to open second Denton location A second Schlotzsky’s Deli is coming to Denton. The sandwich shop at University Drive and Carroll Boulevard is tentatively scheduled to open in early December. Recent construction on the
Not only has Texas had record-breaking temperatures, the state also had record-breaking energy consumption, leading
Denton Good Samaritan Village marks 35 years Two women who are big fans of Denton Good Samaritan Village will be among those observing the Hinkle Drive facility’s 35th anniversary Friday.
Carol Riddlesperger was part of a group of involved citizens who helped bring the facility to Denton, and she now is a resident of the independent living apartments. Virginia McDaniel, director of resident services and senior living, has worked at the facility 29 years. Riddlesperger was founding director of Denton’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and worked in the group for 10 years. She also served on the
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Schlotzsky’s building, at the northeast corner of the intersection, has attracted the notice of passers-by. The building previously housed a First United Bank branch.
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advisory committee that worked to make today’s 27 1/2-acre Good Samaritan facility a reality.
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PONDER — The Town Council has agreed to partner with the Ponder Economic Development Corp. to update the town’s land-use plan, although not all council members agreed with every element of the plan. The corporation had committed $10,000 to update the plan as it related to 100 acres of land it bought last year for new municipal facilities along FM2449 on the southwest side of town.
New restaurants open Two new businesses are set to open Monday. Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers’ fourth Texas location will open at 217 E. Hickory St., and Genghis Grill will open at the corner of Lillian Miller Parkway and Interstate 35E. Franchisers Martha and Monte Jensen will open their second Mellow Mushroom in downtown Denton. Also starting this week, fans of Mongolian stir-fry will be able to enjoy Genghis Grill’s fusion dishes at 2416 Lillian Miller Parkway, Suite 100, the former location of Tia’s Tex-Mex
Ponder Town Council, to partner with EDC
10-22
United Copper gets grant United Copper Industries Inc., a Denton-based copper
wire and cable manufacturer, was recently awarded a $150 million grant from GE Capital. The loan was used to support the company’s acquisition by KPS Capital Partners LP and for United Copper’s ongoing capital needs. 11-8
35 Denton recognized The four-day music festival now called 35 Denton won in the best promotional event category of the 2011 Texas Downtown Association President's Awards program. The award was announced during the Texas Downtown Development and Revitalization Conference on Thursday in Nacogdoches. Catherine Sak with the state association said 35 Denton was chosen because the judges appreciated all the event had to
offer to the city. 11-13
Fry Street project forms Structures are beginning to take shape on the 4.3-acre lot on the corner of Fry and Hickory streets, where Cool Beans is the lone occupant. It's all part of the Sterling Fry Street project, which is redeveloping the lot to be a mixed-use space that will include apartments, retail space and a parking garage. The parking garage, which faces Oak Street, is 40 percent done and will be the first part of the development that will be completed by the end of the year, said Brad Dinerstein, executive vice president of Dinerstein Cos. The framing for building one, which faces Fry Street, is expected to wrap up in the next month and will be complete in June.
After building one is framed, framing will begin on building two, which faces Welch Street, and it is expected to be complete by July 2012.
Hoochie’s to move in near downtown What was once an old yellow bail bond house will become Hoochie’s Oyster Bar by the end of this year. Owned by John Blackwood and his partner Sam Solomon, the yellow house will now offer seafood along with some Gulf Cost favorites like catfish and shrimp dishes. As for the name, Blackwood said it was Solomon’s idea. Solomon told the North Texas Daily the name was once a term given to carefree flapper girls of the early 20th century. — Compiled from staff reports
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