Dallas,TX

Okay, so it is not a secret that President Bush and the First Lady are moving to Dallas when he leaves office. Which naturally raises some concerns for residents here. It is rumored that they will be moving to Highland Park. Which would be a good guess, considering the Bush Library is supposedly going to be at SMU. Although each time it is in the news there is still some question as to where it is going to be. And Laura Bush did attend SMU from what I understand.

The first thing the news crew did was to interview Realtors and speculate on which neighborhoods and which houses they would choose from. They showed a fifteen million dollar home being built on spec that had security out the wazoo. Two elevators and an underground parking garage that is just short of bomb proof. Who knows where they are actually looking and what houses they are considering. It is still over a year before the President leaves office. Not to mention that they would swear the Realtor to secrecy. The Realtor surely would not be on the news showing the world. However, when the family does move in, you can bet it will be on his/her new business card.

But the President and First Lady moving here does, as I said, raise some concerns. The neighbors the reporters interviewed living around the houses they were speculated upon were naturally skeptical. The one mother said that at first it would probably be interested having a President live nearby, but that after a while it might become bothersome what with traffic situations involving the motorcade and secret service agents always around.

Which I understand. But my main concern is that we are high enough on the terrorist attack list as it is. Having what would then be the former President - particularly the one who waged war on terrorism - living in the heart of the city would boost us right up close to numero uno. Washington, D.C. and New York City notwithstanding. I’m not paranoid mind you, but that is the reality of the situation. Life will go on, but there will be another thought that could ring alarms in the back of our minds - along with are our children safe and where they are supposed to be. We shall see what we shall see.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Thieves looking for copper ripped the wires out of the lights at Grimes Park Little League fields in DeSoto. This is the second time in 6 weeks they have stolen the copper wires. The copper is worth about $3 a pound. But the cost to keep replacing the wiring may threaten the possibility of night games at the park. As of September 1st, stealing copper is a state felony. It does not, however, seem to have deterred the thieves. Scott Friedman reported the story on Channel 5.

Is nothing sacred? Little League fields for crying out loud. Taking a chance at being electrocuted for three dollars a pound. One has to wonder what it is coming to - stealing padding out of baby strollers? Stealing silverware from the homeless shelter? We have enough crime in the Dallas area. Granted thieves are usually not the sharpest tools in the shed, but that seems like a tremendous expenditure of risk and work - all the while trying not to get caught or electrocuted - for a mere $3 a pound.

On the other hand, it is sad to think that someone is so hard up that the small pittance was worth the risk to them. Or perhaps it was some smart-aleck kids who want to be destructive, but prefer to get something for their efforts beside the satisfaction of the act itself. The police may never find them so we may never know the reasoning behind the act. Yet you always have to wonder why when something stupid and senseless like that happens. Just be thankful that no one was around to possibly be injured. But you have to wonder about the next time these thieves get the urge to strike.

Have a good afternoon and Peace be with you.

Good morning everyone! Don’t forget as you head out this morning to watch for children and school zones which are back in force and are being enforced. With the boys in school this is my first day of peace and solitude since early June for the most part. But I do not understand the different times at which the various schools begin their day. Conner’s high school begins at 7:30. Cameron and J.D., in middle school begin at 8:50. That is quite a disparity. Making it hard to know the times for the different school zones. When I was in school most schools started classes at the same time. Older students may have gone early for band practice or what not, but the first bell rang at the same time as other schools.

For a walk on the interesting side this evening, Bowling for Soup is playing at the House of Blues in the Music Hall along with Melee and Quietdrive. Bowling for Soup has polished their act considerably since their garage band days here in Dallas when they were managed by a friend of mine. Edgy rock with a heavy dose of punk attitude. Definitely a change of pace from the regular routine on a Monday.

House of Blues Music Hall, 2200 N. Lamar St., Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster or at the door if you want to take a chance.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.

Commissioners raise doubts about toll plan OK’d by regional panel

01:02 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 20, 2007

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News
mlindenberger@dallasnews.com

Two of five Texas Transportation Commission members said Tuesday that they can’t guarantee they will ratify Monday’s decision by local leaders to recommend the North Texas Tollway Authority for the State Highway 121 toll project.

Commissioners Ted Houghton of El Paso and Hope Andrade of San Antonio said awarding the contract to NTTA could leave the state vulnerable.

Mr. Houghton said NTTA’s proposal is subject to more unknowns than the bid from its rival Cintra, the Spanish construction firm. (more…)

Woman struck twice, loses baby
BY BILL MILLER
wmiller@star-telegram.com

A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of whoever fired the shots Wednesday that wounded a Dallas woman and caused her to lose her unborn baby.

The reward, offered by Schepps Dairy, will be offered for six months, said Ed Spencer, spokesman for the company. (more…)

BY BILL MILLER
wmiller@star-telegram.com

Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine whether a Dallas man died Wednesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or from a shot fired by a SWAT officer who saw the man fatally shoot his 3-year-old son.

An autopsy will be performed by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, said Sgt. Jamie Matthews, police spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, the medical examiner has released the name of the man and his son; they are Leon Ovalla, 43, and 3-year-old Leon Ovalla, Jr. (more…)