Clips New March 2009

spend on projects, create 150 jobs BY JAMES BURGER Californian staff writer e-mail: jburger@bakersfield.com

Kern County’s budget has never been bigger. On Thursday county officials released a $1.3 billion spending plan for the 2006-2007 fiscal year that is inflated

by new property taxes, sales taxes and tens of millions in state and federal money. But county budget guru Jeff Frapwell said the county isn’t letting a $159 million increase in cash launch it into a spending spree. “The tight times do make you sensitive — even gun-shy — of spending

So the county is spending one-time property tax money on one-time projects, maintenance and upgrades to county facilities and equipment. And the county is kicking its savings account into overdrive. The county’s budget, which should be approved by supervisors by the end of the month, sets aside $34.8 million to something called “additions to general fund reserves.”

some money for emergencies,” Frapwell said in a summary letter attached to the budget. But the county does plan to spend new money in the coming year. The proposed budget includes 150 new county jobs. Big winners include the Sheriff’s Department, the Probation Department Please turn to BUDGET / A3

Getting hands on fake IDs much easier Simplified process allows document mills to proliferate in Kern, elsewhere BY IAN HAMILTON Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Michael Toms, resident agent-in-charge of the Bakersfield office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, holds a forged Permanent Resident Card. Like many forged cards, the quality makes the forgery easy to spot — if one knows what to look for.

Making them only takes a computer, scanner and a decent printer. Buying them can cost just $30 or $40. Fake document mills are everywhere, with the number rising in Kern County, and they are making the business of producing and acquiring false identification easier by the day, officials say. Last week, for example, a Lamont man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possessing and counterfeiting false identification documents. Authorities say he was creating Social Security and permanent resident cards. Court filings show it was a simple operation. “All you need is a computer and you can make a thousand of these things,” said Michael

Toms, resident agent-in-charge for investigations at the Bakersfield branch of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Statistics describing the extent of false ID-making both locally and nationwide are hard to come by because it’s such an underground business, said Virginia Kice, an Orange Countybased spokeswoman for ICE. All she could pass along was that the number of investigations targeting identity and benefit fraud nationwide rose from 2,334 in fiscal year 2004 to 3,591 in fiscal year 2005. The main focus of the inquiries was on mills, not false document holders. “There’s no question this is a pervasive problem,” Kice said. “We know there’s a huge demand for this documentation. People don’t realize the implicaPlease turn to DOCUMENTS / A3

Hezbollah kills 12; Israelis prepare push into Lebanon BY RICHARD A. OPPEL JR. AND STEVEN ERLANGER N.Y. Times News Service

MAALOT-TARSHIHA, Israel — The Lebanese militia Hezbollah killed 12 Israelis — eight civilians and four soldiers — on Thursday, making it Israel’s deadliest day in

W E AT H E R

95 Low 71 High

Air quality: Unhealthy, 142 Complete weather, B8

more than three weeks of conflict. As Israeli troops tried to create a narrow buffer zone inside Lebanon and bombed southern Beirut, Hezbollah’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warned he would send his long-range missiles into Tel Aviv if the Israelis continued

airstrikes. “If you bomb our capital Beirut, we will bomb the capital of your usurping entity,” he said on Lebanese television. “We will bomb Tel Aviv.” But he also offered to halt Hezbollah’s missile barrage into Please turn to MIDEAST / A3

FOR THE RECORD

INDEX Annie’s Mailbox .E6 Classifieds . . . . . .C1 Comics . . . . . . . . .E6 Crossword . . .C3, E6 Funerals . . . . . . . .B2 Horoscope . . . . . .E7 Local news . . . . . .B1 Money . . . . . . . .A17

Movies . . . . . . . . .E2 Eye Street . . . . . . .E1 Opinion . . . . . . . .B6 People . . . . . . . . . .E3 Sports . . . . . . . . . .D1 Stocks . . . . . . . .A18 Television . . . . . . .E3 Weather . . . . . . . .B8

PIER PAOLO CITO / AP

An Israeli army soldier stood on top of an armored vehicle before entering Lebanon from Israel Thursday. Hezbollah rockets pounded northern Israel, killing eight people, officials said.

Robert G. Baldwin, the victim of a homicide on Wednesday, is 61. A story in Thursday’s Local section had an incorrect age.

CALL US Subscriber services: 392-5777 or 1-800-953-5353 To report a news tip: 395-7384 or 1-800-540-0646

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2006

DOCUMENTS: Majority are looking for work or residence Continued from A1 tions of the counterfeit ID market.” The majority of people seeking false identification are probably looking for work or residency in the United States, Toms said. A smaller percentage, he said, want to commit serious crime. Still, it’s that smaller group that most concerns immigration and customs investigators. “The card makers don’t care what they’re making the cards for; they just want to make money,” said Toms. “The majority of it is probably more work-related, but it’s the smaller percentage that you really need to worry about, the ones that really want to create havoc.” The length of investigations range from a couple of “All you need weeks for is a computer s m a l l - s c a l e operations to and you can six months or a year for make a larger ones, thousand of depending on the operathese tion’s comthings.” plexity, Toms said. The Michael Toms, average takes U.S. Immigration six months. and Customs T o m s Enforcement declined to say how many agents are assigned to the task. It used to be that locals had to get their fake documents in Los Angeles, Toms said. But production is so easy, he said, mills are proliferating here. Using regular home computers, Toms said, forgers can create just about any government document, American or otherwise: Permanent Resident Cards, Employment Authorization documents, Social Security cards, California driver’s licenses and identification cards, birth certificates and even Mexican driver’s licenses. Documents range in price up to $200, with the quality of the forgery usually correlated to the price, Toms said. A stack of fake identification cards from a small number of closed cases at the ICE Bakersfield office show a wide range in quality. It includes Social Security cards obviously made with a type-

How to spot a fake ID card

Edges of the photograph are harsh, where it was cut out and pasted onto the card. It should not be felt at all, instead, the photo should be part of the rest of the card. This is true for most identification cards.

Edges of the card should be smooth, not feel like they've been cut out with scissors.

Blue Department of Justice seal does not overlap the photo area.

Source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

writer and high-quality driver’s licenses you’d have to compare to real ones to find faults. “Some of the documents are outstanding, some you can tell from a block away,” said Toms. Most of the fake driver’s licenses that Vaughn Cain, an officer with the California Highway Patrol, has seen in his 11 years in Bakersfield have been pretty obvious. He’s only seen three or four false IDs during that time, he said. When asked if that means a lot of good forgeries are slipping by, he wouldn’t speculate. Juana Bribiesca of the San Joaquin Farm Labor Contractors Association said immigrants are willing to do what it takes to feed their families. “If they need an ID or a Social Security card, they know where they can buy them,” Bribiesca said. “When they need work and they need to eat, they use tricks and they get the work.” Some of the telltale signs of poor forgeries, according to Toms, include lines where it is clear an inkjet printer was used to print a photo, or raised surfaces where a photo was pasted on rather than printed with the rest of the card.

Detail in Department of Justice seal should be a clean image; every arrow should be distinguishable, the printing easily readable and the overall look should be crisp. THE CALIFORNIAN

An obvious giveaway that sometimes pops up, he said, is a misspelling in the small print on the back of a card. How new a card looks also can be a tip-off. “You’ve got a 50-year-old man with a brand-new (Social Security card). I’m 30 and mine’s already torn up,” said Nate Odle, a dispatcher with Superior Temporary Service, a temp agency specializing in such things as trucking and construction. He photocopies driver’s licenses and Social Security cards from around 10 applicants a day and has seen only a few fake cards in his three years with the company. Last year, Immigration and Customs along with local law enforcement agencies busted six alleged Kern County document mills on the same day. Court documents in one of the cases, involving Manuel Quintino Perez of Lamont, shed light on how easily these documents are attained. A confidential informant working with investigators approached Perez, 43, in August 2005 seeking to purchase forged documents, the filings say. Perez said a “white” U.S. Per-

manent Resident Card, which is newer and generally harder to fake, was $100. A “pink” or “rosita” card, the older version, was only $50. The informant handed over two photographs and was told the cards would be ready in two days, according to the documents. The informant returned, paid the $100 for the “white” card, and received a U.S. Permanent Resident Card and Social Security card, which are traditionally sold as a set. The informant got two more sets of cards the same way, the filings say. Perez was charged with producing, possessing and transferring false identification documents and selling counterfeit Social Security cards. During the Sept. 29 bust, officials seized computers, media storage devices and counterfeit documents from alleged document mills at six Kern County homes. At Perez’s residence, investigators found a scanner, printer, heat seal, typewriter, cutting implements, stamp pad, printing paper and a Polaroid camera used to create false IDs, court documents say. In a plea deal, Perez was sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release. People running document-making rings can get pretty creative. In 1997, a federal program allowed immigrants to get temporary protected status in the United States that could lead to permanent residency. In 2001, immigration agents arrested a man whose Lamont business created a Nicaraguan history for someone who was not from there, according to Bernardo Madrid, interim group supervisor for Bakersfield ICE. The man got delayed birth certificate applications from Nicaragua and filed the paperwork with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service — the real INS — Madrid said. Another man, from Nicaragua, helped out by using a map on his refrigerator to teach people basic facts about the country so they could answer questions from an immigration agent, Madrid said. The two men and 237 others trying to benefit from a false Nicaraguan birth were arrested. Most ended up being deported. From time to time, Madrid said, more people involved in the ploy pop up.

Li The

HA tic ch stron surge emba Conn ate Quinn here The Liebe cent, clear Fac man

Ke

Tot

Exp

Rec cult Pub prot 32.1

Edu 0.8

Bu

G

He

Source

MIDEAST: In Gaza, Israeli forces kill five militants BU Continued from A1 Israel if it stopped Lebanon.

bombing

A bumper crop of fresh fruit will jazz up these homemade treats.

Simple summer cobbler recipes

TASTE, 1G

The Dallas Morning News Texas’ Leading Newspaper

Isolated showers

H 99 L 78 Metro, back page

BUSINESS

Dallas, Texas, Wednesday, July 9, 2008

75 cents

DISD CORRUPTION TRIAL

Ex-official, vendor found guilty Former technology boss, businessman convicted of bribery, laundering By RICHARD ABSHIRE Staff Writer [email protected]

The verdict is in for DISD’s seafaring former technology boss and the boat-owning computer vendor whose com-

American plans 209 layoffs in Texas American Airlines intends to eliminate 209 jobs at major Texas airports, including 158 at D/FW. 6D

laundering, among other charges. After about eight hours of deliberation over two days, the jury in U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay’s court delivered its verdicts about 3:30 p.m. Federal prosecutors had argued that Mr. Bohuchot, 59, a former school district technology czar, steered two multimil-

lion-dollar contracts to Mr. Wong, 47, in return for cash, rounds of golf, meals, trips and dozens of deep-sea outings on two sport-fishing boats that Mr. Bohuchot christened Sir Veza I and II. “Ruben Bohuchot is a man who likes to control things,” See FORMER Page 9A

THE DRIVE FOR BETTER GAS MILEAGE

Portable computers finally get real Computer makers are flooding the market with something different: portable computers that actually are portable. 1D

pany won millions of dollars in district contracts — and it’s guilty on all counts. Jurors convicted Ruben Bohuchot, the former Dallas school district administrator, on 13 counts and businessman Frankie Wong on 10 counts Tuesday afternoon at the conclusion of a federal case accusing them of bribery and money

HOUSING CRISIS

Getting a gallon to go farther

Also: The FAA is ordering more aircraft safety inspections. 3D

FDA orders warning on some antibiotics

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Drug safety officials imposed an urgent safety warning on Cipro and similar antibiotics because they may lead to tendon ruptures. 4A

WORLD G-8 leaders pledge to cut emissions President Bush and other world leaders pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. 4A

ELECTIONS ’08 Obama, McCain tangle on migration Barack Obama accused John McCain of setting aside support for a guestworker program to appease conservatives and further his presidential ambition. 6A

SPORTSDAY

In his majorleague pitching debut, Matt Harrison allowed only two runs, leading the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Angels. 1C

METRO Hate-crime charge to be filed in shootings A man accused in a three-day shooting rampage last week told investigators he targeted specific ethnic groups. 1B

Police were given drug-laced cookies A Watauga man is accused of delivering drug-laced cookies to police officers. 1B

Mortgage lenders’ rules to change Restrictions designed to protect buyers from dishonest practices

NATION

Rangers win over Angels

RUBEN BOHUCHOT (left), a former DISD official, was convicted on 13 counts and Frankie Wong on 10 counts in the federal case.

TOM FOX/Staff Photographer

When Chuck Thomas’ eyes aren’t on the road, they’re checking out his gas gauge. He’s a hypermiler and does all he can to save fuel. The Lewisville driver’s techniques are working; he can get more than 90 mpg out of his hybrid.

When it comes to tricks for saving fuel, hypermilers’ tanks are full By IAN HAMILTON Staff Writer [email protected]

Chuck Thomas regularly putters along on the highway at 50 mph in his Honda Insight, swerves into turns rather than hitting the brakes, and, when nobody is looking, jumps from the car and pushes it into a parking space. All just to save a little gas. Mr. Thomas of Lewisville belongs to an emerging subculture born of the ability to track gas mileage via a dashboard gauge. Hypermilers use a

variety of techniques to maximize fuel efficiency: airing the tires up to or beyond the recommended pressure; forgoing air conditioning; coasting whenever possible (sometimes with the engine off); timing arrivals at intersections to hit green lights; and traveling about 50 mph on the highway. Since he began hypermiling, Mr. Thomas has consistently been squeezing 85 to 90 mpg out of his hybrid Insight, a car rated at 53 mpg.

IN THE KNOW Better mileage Digital mileage gauge: This device, which costs about $150, hooks into the vehicle’s computer and provides instant feedback on fuel consumption. Tires: Filling tires to the recommended or maximum pressure can have a big impact on fuel economy. Speed: Various speeds can be ideal for gas mileage, but driving more than 60 mph always decreases fuel economy substantially. Every 5 mph faster than 60 mph reduces fuel economy by the equivalent of 30 cents a gallon. Weight: Keep the car as light as possible. Gas and brake pedals: Only use the pedals when absolutely necessary.

See HYPERMILERS Page 7A

SOURCES: fueleconomy.gov; hypermiling expert Wayne Gerdes

TAKE A SPIN with Dallas hypermiler Chuck Thomas. dallasnews.com/video

The Federal Reserve will issue new rules next week aimed at protecting future homebuyers from dubious lending practices, its most sweeping response to a housing crisis that has propelled foreclosures to record highs. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke of the muchawaited rules in a speech Tuesday about the challenges confronting policymakers in trying to stabilize the shaky U.S. financial system. To that BEN BERNANKE end, Mr. Ber- says Fed nanke said, officials are the Fed may weighing give squeezed options. Wall Street firms more time to tap the central bank’s emergency loan program. To prevent a repeat of the current mortgage mess, Mr. Bernanke said, the Fed will adopt rules cracking down on a range of shady lending practices that have burned many of the nation’s riskiest, “subprime,” borrowers — those with spotty credit or low incomes — who were hardest hit by the housing and credit debacles. The plan, which will be voted on at a Fed board meeting Monday, would apply to new loans made by all types of lenders, including banks and brokers. Under the proposal unveiled in December, the rules would restrict lenders from penalizing risky borrowers who pay off loans early, require See FED Page 9A

DALLAS | HARRY POTTER CONFERENCE INSIDE Lottery 2A Texas 3A Nation 4A World 4A Editorials 10A Viewpoints 11A Regional Roundup 2B

Sports 1C Market Day 4-5D TV 3E Classifieds 1F Taste 1G Comics, puzzles 1H Jobs 1J

2008, The Dallas Morning News

_

. . . . . . . .

Is series still spellbinding? You bet your wand Academics, fans to examine, celebrate popular books By JEFFREY WEISS Staff Writer [email protected]

Almost a year after publication of the final book in J.K. Rowling’s series, you might think that interest in all things Harry Potter would be vanishing. You’d be wrong.

B0709SA001PQ B0709SA001PK B0709SA001PY B0709SA001PM B0709SA001PC

On Thursday through Sunday, Dallas will host “Portus 2008,” the latest in a series of annual Potter conferences. It will mix the exuberant trappings of Potter obsession: quidditch games, a costume dance and — with serious scholarship — a presentation on “Harry Potter and PostTraumatic Stress Disorder.” Organizers expect about 700 fans, some who want to delve into Jungian

analysis and others who want to argue whether Hermione really should have married Harry. In other words: Pointy-headed academia is meeting pointy-hatted Potter fandom. Last year’s conference, titled “Prophesy,” was held in Toronto days after the reSee INTEREST Page 2A

A1 _ 07-09-2008 Set: 23:40:13 Sent by: tkelly News

FILE 2000/Staff photo

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

The Dallas Morning News

dallasnews.com

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

_

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

7A

Hypermilers aim to keep their gas gauges away from E Continued from Page 1A

“ ‘Fanatic’ is what the lazy call the dedicated,” notes Mr. Thomas at the bottom of his posts at CleanMPG.com, a Web site devoted to the hypermiling community and its fuel-efficient techniques. Hypermilers cite several reasons for maximizing mileage, including protecting the environment, saving money, having fun, and even decreasing American dependence on foreign oil. “Hypermiling is a little addictive,” said Reid Stewart, an attorney from Irving who started when he bought a BMW with a gas mileage gauge. “It becomes a competition with yourself to see how well you can do.” The mpg gauge is built into virtually every hybrid car and in many newer gas-powered vehicles. Most vehicles can have a gauge installed for about $150. The gauge reveals immediately how conditions, driving habits and even vehicle modifications affect gas mileage. The most dedicated hypermilers are relatively few, and most were early to adopt hybrid vehicles.Hybrids, which are part electric and part gasoline, benefit most from hypermiling techniques. Depending on the vehicle, the highway speed that optimizes fuel consumption is about 47 to 53 mph, according to hypermiler Wayne Gerdes of Illinois. For Mr. Stewart, the revelation came during a business trip. He was not in a rush, so instead of speeding along at 75 or 80 mph, he drove around 60 mph. He boosted gas mileage by 20 percent. “Then I really started paying attention to the gauge,” Mr. Stewart said. He researched techniques and began to hypermile in the BMW. But he realized he wasn’t using the sports car the way it was intended and traded it for a Honda Insight. Now he averages about 100 mpg, double the car’s rated fuel economy. He saves substantially on gas and no longer drives aggressively. “What I notice is that I’m arriving at work a lot more relaxed,” he said. Not everyone thinks hypermiling is a great idea. Critics suggest it’s rude, dangerous and a hindrance to normal traffic. Lt. Charles Epperson with the Dallas Police Department’s traffic division said driving far below the speed limit is potentially hazardous. “I’d rather see a car going down the road at the posted speed limit than going 15 to 20 miles under the limit. It could cause a pretty massive bottleneck,” Lt. Epperson said. Mr. Gerdes said standard hypermiling practices should not aggravate other drivers or impede traffic. Hypermilers can even help regular drivers save gas, he said. He explained that hypermilers build a large buffer between themselves and the next vehicle that collapses when stop-andgo traffic comes to a standstill. If the timing is right, traffic will be moving again by the time the car coasts through the buffer. This practice sets a constant traffic flow that can improve the fuel economy of the vehicles around them, he said. And, he said, the same is true about approaching red lights. Hypermilers are practiced in timing light changes so they can coast through green lights rather than stopping and starting at red ones. Other drivers slowed by hypermilers on the way to a red light will benefit, he said. “If I can hold the whole conga line back to help the entire line save fuel so they catch a green light, I’ll do it,” Mr. Gerdes said. Jake Fisher, senior automotive engineer at the Consumer Reports auto test division, said most hypermiling techniques are safe and beneficial, but some drivers may go too far and endanger others. On a Consumer Reports blog, Mr. Fisher described an episode in which he was follow-

ing a Honda Insight whose driver was hypermiling. After picking up speed going down a hill, the driver used the momentum to carry the car uphill, slowing with gravity on the way up. The driver maintained a slow speed as the two cars approached an intersection. The Insight missed the green but coasted through the red light anyway.

“You can’t be driving for sport, whether it’s street racing or trying to get the best gas mileage,” Mr. Fisher said. “Only a very small minority of them are taking … [the techniques] to an extreme.” Drafting, which is driving behind another vehicle to take advantage of decreased wind resistance, is another way to increase gas mileage.

In 2007, Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters demonstrated that driving 50 feet behind a big rig at 55 mph improved gas mileage by about 20 percent. The practice, widely discussed on hypermiler forums, is generally dismissed as overly dangerous. The hosts of the show drew the same conclusion. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Lonny Haschel

said vehicles should drive with at least two seconds of stopping time between them. “You’re trying to save gas, but you’re going to maybe end up paying that money back in hospital bills,” Trooper Haschel said. Certainly, hypermilers do sacrifice travel time for the sake of gas mileage. In a televised event, Mr. Gerdes and a report-

er each drove from Chicago to New York in Toyota Prius, a hybrid. According to Mr. Gerdes, the reporter made it in 13 hours at 39 mpg. Mr. Gerdes needed 151⁄2 hours, but he did it on one tank of gas at 71 mpg. “There’s a thousand reasons to choose to be a hypermiler,” Mr. Gerdes said. “There’s only one reason not to, and that’s: ‘I’ve got to be there first.’ ”

2 for $8 14-oz. Gold’n Plump Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders Reg. 6.29

99¢

2 for $4

1-lb. Taylor Farms Garden Salad Reg. 1.59

1-pt. Blueberries Ready-to-serve goodness

dine for less 2 for $4

2 for $3

399/lb.

1-pt. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Reg. 3.49

1-lb. Driscoll’s Strawberries Refreshingly ripe

Sutton & Dodge Top Sirloin Steak Reg. 6.99/lb. ®

Prices valid until 7/12/08.

A backyard of big summertime savings. Fire up the grill and bring on the tender, mouthwatering goodness of SuperTarget meats. Add in all the sweet and savory flavors of the season— and top it off with a sizzling bonus of $5 off with this coupon.

SUPERTARGET COUPON

EXPIRES 7/16/08

$5 off

Grocery purchase of $50 or more

Limit one offer per transaction. Void if copied, transferred, purchased, sold or prohibited by law. No cash value.

EXPECT MORE. PAY LESS.® Product assortment may vary by location. ©2008 Target Stores. 078121

B0709SA007PQ B0709SA007PK B0709SA007PY B0709SA007PM B0709SA007PC

A7 _ 07-09-2008 Set: 23:38:13 Sent by: tkelly News

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

Best in DFW: Critics’ and readers’ seafood picks

GUIDE, 19-23

The Dallas Morning News Texas’ Leading Newspaper

Showers and storms

H 93 L 74 Metro, back page

METRO Cities seek tighter leash on some dogs Some city councils in North Texas are urging state legislators to allow cities to regulate owners of dog breeds with vicious tendencies. 1B

BUSINESS Oil jumps by more than $5 a barrel Oil prices rose to the highest level in more than two weeks as tensions with Russia spurred fears of supply disruptions to the West. 1D

Dallas, Texas, Friday, August 22, 2008

75 cents

FOOD SAFETY

STATE DATABASE

Radiation of lettuce gets green light

Crime log not being updated

CARLOS OSORIO/The Associated Press

Treatment said to kill E. coli, salmonella but also nutrients FROM WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON — The government will allow food producers to zap fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce with enough radiation to kill microorganisms such as E. coli and salmonella that for decades have caused widespread illness among consumers. The irradiation rule goes into effect today. It is the first time the Food and Drug Administration has allowed any produce to be irradiated at levels needed to

Dole is one of the first to consider irradiation of lettuce and spinach.

Counties’ failure to report outcomes on 31% of charges muddles background checks

protect against illness. “This is probably one of the single most significant food safety actions done for fresh produce in many years,” said Robert Brackett, chief scientist for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which petitioned the agency in 2000 to allow manufacturers to irradiate a wide variety of processed meats, prepared foods and fruits and vegetables.

By ROBERT T. GARRETT Austin Bureau [email protected]

AUSTIN — The state’s criminal database, riddled with holes four years ago, has just as many gaps today. Although officials in Dallas and other poorly reporting counties promised in 2004 to do better, the

See CRITICS Page 17A

Department of Public Safety says counties in the most recent assessment submitted outcomes on just 69 percent of criminal charges — the same percentage as before. “That’s astonishing. That’s leaving a substantial total number of criminals unreported in the system,” said John Bradley, Williamson County district attorney. “That’s the biggest threat to public safety that you can imagine, particularly in a post-9/11 time when we rely on databases to See CRIME Page 4A

IRAQ

Beijing 2008

Also: Directly behind Business, you’ll find our quarterly section devoted to D-FW commercial real estate.

NATION Measles cases on the rise nationwide Measles cases in the U.S. are at the highest level in more than a decade, health officials said. 12A

SPORTSDAY Cowboys-Texans may yield clues

More Olympics, Section C

Nastia nails the landing

U.S. sets target of 2011 Pullout plan calls for safe conditions, would let many leave by June FROM WIRE REPORTS

Nastia Liukin basked in the glow of Thursday’s North Texas reception with former training partner and 2004 Olympic champion Carly Patterson.

The Cowboys’ game tonight against Houston will offer important clues to the regular season, columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor says. 1C

ELECTIONS ’08 Obama decides … not to say yet Barack Obama said he’s chosen his running mate, but he kept the details to himself. 16A

GUIDELIVE For what it’s worth, ‘Death Race’ is lively

See U.S. Page 17A

The movie Death Race doesn’t pretend to be anything but what it is: a thrill ride. And as that, it works. 1E

MEXICO’S DRUG WAR

GUIDE ‘Idol’ caravan on its way to Dallas Find out what to expect from Rockwall’s Jason Castro and other American Idol finalists during their tour stop in Dallas. 38

Photos by VERNON BRYANT/Staff Photographer

Nastia Liukin got a taste of the homecoming celebrations that are planned when she was greeted by 200 fans at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Festivities are also scheduled at her gym and in her hometown of Parker.

Hero’s welcome awaits North Texas’ golden girl By IAN HAMILTON Staff Writer [email protected]

INSIDE Lottery 2A Baseball 13-15C Texas 3, 7A Market Day 6-7D Nation 9, 12A Movies 2, 5, 8-10E World 14A TV 3E Editorials 18-19A Home 1G Sports TV 2C Dear Abby 1H Football 1, 3-4C Horoscope 1H

2008, The Dallas Morning News

II

BAGHDAD — The United States has agreed to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by next June and from the rest of the country by the end of 2011 if conditions in Iraq remain relatively stable, according to Iraqi and American officials involved in negotiating a security accord. The withdrawal timetable, which Bush administration officials called “aspirational goals” rather than fixed dates, are contained in the draft of an agreement that still must be approved by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders before it goes before Iraq’s Parliament. It has the support of the Bush administration, American and Iraqi officials said.

Cheers of “NAS-TI-A! NAS-TI-A!” rang through the airport terminal as Parker’s star gymnast made her way through the screaming crowd. Nastia Liukin, winner of the allaround gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, is back in Texas. She was greeted Thursday afternoon by a crowd of at least 200 that clogged Terminal B at Dallas/Fort Worth Inter-

national Airport more than an hour before her arrival. Flowers and signs welcoming Miss Liukin home were in abundance, including a “Hey, Good Liukin!” poster. Many in the crowd were young female gymnasts and fans, but there was also a contingent of young men seeking to “congratulate her and give her a big Texas welcome,” as 22-year-old Jordan Campbell put it. He hoisted his 20year-old football-player brother, Chase, onto his shoulders for half an hour to

help Chase make contact with Miss Liukin. Someone in the crowd asked whether the gymnast had a boyfriend. No, she replied, she does not — news that elicited many cheers. A group of World Olympic Gymnastics Academy athletes who have trained with Miss Liukin in Plano arrived early, along with Carly Patterson, the 2004 Olympics all-around gold medalist See NASTIA Page 17A

SOFTBALL Stunning end for U.S.

TRACK AND FIELD Wariner gets silver

GYMNASTICS Age controversy

The three-time defending Olympic champs lost the gold medal, 3-1, to Japan, marking the end of two eras, Kevin Sherrington writes. 1C

A torch was passed from Arlington Lamar product Jeremy Wariner to American rival LaShawn Merritt, Brad Townsend writes. 1C

Despite persistent questions about the ages of several Chinese gymnasts, the IOC said there is no proof anyone cheated. 10C

KEEP UP with the latest news, notes and commentary from our staff in Beijing. olympicsblog .dallasnews.com

. . . . . . . .

B0822AA001PQ B0822AA001PK B0822AA001PY B0822AA001PM B0822AA001PC

A1 II 08-22-2008 Set: 00:15:49 Sent by: alozoya News

Juárez violence escalates Progress against cartels is a matter of debate By ALFREDO CORCHADO Mexico Bureau [email protected]

CIUDAD JUA ´ REZ, Mexico — An explosion of violence has made this border city the central front in Mexico’s war on powerful drug cartels. But officials disagree on whether the carnage is a sign of progress or a mark of failure. Nearly five months after the government of President Felipe Caldero´n sent more than 2,500 federal troops and police to the state of Chihuahua on Texas’ southwestern border, the pace and scope of drug violence have reached unprecedented levels. With two mass killings in recent days, more than 1,200 people have been killed stateSee JUÁREZ Page 14A

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

dallasnews.com

The Dallas Morning News

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

_

17A

Friday, August 22, 2008

Critics say irradiation not answer to problem Continued from Page 1A

The FDA still is considering the petition to allow irradiation of additional produce. The grocery manufacturers group will push for other greens, such as Romaine lettuce, to be next, so that producers could irradiate bags of salad mixes. Food-safety advocates condemned the government decision and asserted that irradiation can lower nutritional value, create unsafe chemicals and ruin taste. “It’s a total cop-out,” said Patty Lovera, assistant director of Food and Water Watch. “They don’t have the resources, the authority or the political will to really protect consumers from unsafe food.” Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA’s office of food additive safety, said the agency

found no serious nutritional or safety changes associated with irradiation of spinach or lettuce. “These irradiated foods are not less safe than others, and the doses are effective in reducing the level of diseasecausing microorganisms,” she said.

To label or not The government has long allowed food processors to irradiate beef, eggs, poultry, oysters and spices, but the market for irradiated foods is tiny because the government also requires that these foods be labeled as irradiated, labels that scare away most consumers. “People think the product is radioactive,” said Harlan Clemmons, president of Sadex, a food irradiation company based in Sioux City, Iowa.

AT A GLANCE Irradiation facts Current practices: Irradiated meat has been around for years, particularly ground beef that is a favorite hiding spot for E. coli. Spices also can be irradiated. Likely participants: The industry group wouldn’t name salad suppliers ready to start irradiating. But it expects niche marketing to trickle out first. California-based produce giant Dole Food Co. confirmed it is

considering irradiated lettuce. What it kills: E. coli actually is fairly sensitive to radiation, while salmonella and listeria require more energy. Although irradiation doesn’t sterilize, the FDA ruled that food companies could use a dose proved to dramatically reduce levels of those germs, a dose somewhat lower than meat requires. From wire reports

But the FDA is presently considering a proposal to weaken or change this labeling requirement. Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, opposes weakening the present labeling rules. Advocates for irradiation

say the technology can help reduce the burden of illness and the number of outbreaks. “Wegmans is fully committed to offering product that is safe to our customers,” said Jeanne Colleluori, a spokeswoman for Wegmans, a supermarket chain based in Rochester, N.Y., that is the only major

retailer of irradiated beef. If irradiated spinach and lettuce become available, Wegmans will “offer it as a choice so that customers can try it,” Ms. Colleluori said.

No guarantees But critics say that not only does radiation make food less nutritious and potentially toxic but that it also does not eliminate the risks of foodborne illnesses. An analysis by the Centers for Science in the Public Interest found that most outbreaks associated with salad and lettuce are caused by viruses — which are not affected by the doses of radiation approved by the FDA. Indeed, food-safety advocates, food producers and even farm groups agree that the government should mandate the use of certain agricultural

and processing practices that would limit the risk of all foodborne illnesses and increase the speed with which outbreaks are traced back to sources. “The agency is choosing to have a high-tech expensive solution to a problem that needs a more thorough approach and one that really starts on the farm,” said Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Government officials say they continue to study the science behind proposals to require good agricultural practices. In the meantime, irradiation could help, Dr. Tarantino of the FDA said. “This is not a magic bullet,” she said. “It’s not a solution for everything. It’s one more option that people can use. ” The New York Times, The Associated Press

Nastia gets hero’s welcome Continued from Page 1A

from Allen. Ms. Patterson also trained at WOGA. The group wore shirts that spelled out “Nastia” across the front and “Liukin” across the back. “It’s nice to come here with one Olympic champion, waiting for another Olympic champion,” said Christa Tanella, 17, of Allen. Miss Liukin’s flight landed shortly after 4 p.m., but she didn’t meet her screaming fans until nearly 4:30, as she took time to greet about 150 U.S. soldiers who were boarding a charter flight headed back to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to airport spokesman Ken Capps. In addition to the prestigious allaround gold, Miss Liukin also won silver medals for individual competitions on the uneven bars and the balance beam and another silver as part of the U.S. women’s team. She also earned a bronze for her floor exercise. With five medals, Miss Liukin joins the ranks of Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Miller as the most decorated U.S. gymnasts in a single Olympics, and she beats the 1988 medal count of her coach and father, Valeri Liukin. “Between the two of us, we have nine Olympic medals,” Miss Liukin said at a news conference. “That’s pretty amazing.” She’s said she’s not sure where she’ll keep her medals. “I’m going to probably keep them in my purse for now,” she said. Mr. Liukin collected two gold med-

VERNON BRYANT/Staff Photographer

Gold medalist Nastia Liukin isn’t sure where she’ll keep her hardware from the Beijing Games. But for now, she says, her purse will do. She’s not the only Liukin with medals. The teen’s father and coach, Valeri (right), earned four 20 years ago. “Between the two of us, we have nine,” she said. “That’s pretty amazing.” The athlete’s mother, Anna, was also a world-class gymnast.

als in the 1988 Olympics. His daughter was denied a second gold in the uneven bars earning the same score as China’s He Kexin. Miss Liukin was awarded the silver because of a littleknown tie-breaking rule. The International Olympic Committee confirmed today that it has asked gymnastics officials to investi-

WATCH THE WELCOME Nastia Liukin received upon her arrival at D/FW Airport. dallasnews.com/video

gate the Chinese gymnast’s age, which has been under scrutiny. Chinese officials have said the girl is 16, but evidence has emerged that she may be

14, which would make her ineligible to compete in the Olympics. “We don’t know exactly what their ages are. They say they’re the right age … and they’re able to compete and that’s fine,” Miss Liukin said. “We can only control our performances and what we do out there on the floor.” Miss Liukin will be honored at a

private WOGA celebration tonight, as well as at a public parade in her hometown. The Parker parade, originally planned for Saturday morning, has been postponed because of recent flooding that would have made parking impossible. It has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 30.

U.S. sets target of 2011 to withdraw from Iraq Demonstrators protested Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Baghdad on Thursday in Sadr City. Ms. Rice met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss the security agreement on U.S. troops leaving Iraq.

Continued from Page 1A

American officials stressed repeatedly that meeting the timetables depended on the security situation in Iraq, where sectarian killings and attacks on American troops have dropped over the past year. Iraqi officials, who have pushed for an even tighter target for the U.S. to end its military operations, could also end up rejecting the draft agreement. Even so, the accord indicates that the Bush administration is prepared to commit the U.S. to ending most combat operations in Iraq in less than a year, a much shorter time frame than seemed possible a few months ago. Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government demanded a withdrawal timetable as the price of legalizing the American military presence in the country after the expiration of the U.N. mandate Dec. 31. In an interview by telephone in Baghdad, Mohammad Hamoud, the chief Iraqi negotiator, said that the draft contained two dates: June 30, 2009, for the withdrawal of American forces from “cities and villages” and Dec. 31, 2011, for combat

MARKO GEORGIEV/The New York Times

troops to leave the country altogether. Mr. Hamoud said the draft specified that meeting the timetable, particularly the goal of full withdrawal by 2011, depended on the security situation. He said that at the end of 2011 the Iraqi government “will review the security situation in the country and if necessary will ask the American side for certain forces for training or supporting the Iraqi Security Forces.” The numbers of troops would be determined by a joint American and Iraqi committee to be formed at the outset of the

B0822SA017PQ B0822SA017PB

agreement in January, he said. This panel would decide on the number and role of the remaining forces and would supervise military activity. Another senior Iraqi Cabinet minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement is not final, described the 2011 target as “prospective” and said it reflected Iraqi hopes that American troops could end their presence in the country by that time. He said the ability to carry it out depended on Iraqi forces being “able to control the situation.” Even if the goal of withdraw-

ing combat troops by 2011 is realized, the accord leaves open the possibility that American military trainers and support forces could remain in Iraq after that time. It is unclear whether the accord provides for semipermanent military bases in the country, and what role the U.S. would play in providing air and naval support for Iraq. Iraqi and U.S. officials said several difficult issues remain, including whether U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi law if accused of committing crimes. The question of immunity for U.S. troops and Defense De-

partment personnel from Iraqi legal jurisdiction — demanded by Washington and rejected by Baghdad — remained unresolved. Troop immunity, one U.S. official said, “is the red line for us.” Officials said they were still discussing language that would make the distinction between on- and off-duty activities, with provisions allowing for some measure of Iraqi legal jurisdiction over soldiers accused of committing crimes while off-duty. The fragile nature of security gains over the past year was evident in the secrecy surrounding Condoleezza Rice’s one-day visit here, which was not announced until her arrival from Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. U.S. negotiators hoped that her participation in direct talks with Mr. al-Maliki and visits with the Shiite and Sunni vice presidents would help finish the immunity and timeline discussions. “It’s a chance for me to sit with the prime minister and really get a sense of if there is anything else we need to do from Washington to get to closure” on the Iraq security accord, Dr. Rice said. The New York Times, The Washington Post

A17 _ 08-22-2008 Set: 23:24:00 Sent by: alozoya News

WHAT’S NEXT? Steps to accord Even though it appears that Iraq and the United States are close to a detailed agreement governing the U.S. withdrawal, there are several political steps to close the deal. ■ Today, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s executive council will examine the parts of the text that negotiators have agreed to, as well as proposals to deal with immunity and other issues. ■ The next step is consideration by a larger council of representatives from the leading political blocs. ■ Then the agreement will be submitted to parliament, which is in summer recess until Sept. 9. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when all business slows amid fasting, also falls in September. ■ A change in U.S. policy could come when a new president takes office in January. Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona has said he will continue current policy. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, has said he will begin an immediate withdrawal of U.S. combat forces, to be completed within 16 months. The Washington Post

BLACK

16A

Saturday, August 16, 2008

dallasnews.com

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

_

The Dallas Morning News

PLANO

North Texas girls share in Liukin’s accomplishment Many stayed up late at gymnastics center to see their training partner win By IAN HAMILTON Staff Writer [email protected]

PLANO — A lot of Dallas-area gymnasts were flipping out Friday. The girls who train with Nastia Liukin at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano could hardly contain themselves hours after they watched her become an Olympic champion. Some were going on three hours of sleep — or less. “It’s just hitting us. We’re still so excited,” said 15-year-old Shayne Lee Fox. She and three other training partners of the gold-medal winner gathered around a 36-inch flat-screen television to watch Thursday night’s all-around competition in Beijing.

VERNON BRYANT/Staff Photographer

Carly Meek, 6, of McKinney watched Nastia Liukin perform on the uneven bars during an Olympics party Tuesday at WOGA in Frisco.

“You can’t imagine that four girls can make as much noise as 40 girls,” said Mike Ellsworth, father of one of the young gymnasts.

Oh, but they can. They cried. They screamed. They screamed some more. “I’m pretty sure she heard us in Beijing,” said Christa Tanella, 17, of Allen.

And when they finally got Liukin on the phone Friday morning, they all talked to her at the same time. Because so many of the gymnasts from WOGA stayed up late watching the Parker resident’s triumph, training sessions at the academy started 90 minutes late Friday morning. Not everyone got to see Liukin’s performance live. It was past bedtime for 10-year-old Charle Dembo. “I was really excited. I couldn’t go to sleep, I was so excited,” she said. When she got up Friday, she asked her mom how Liukin had done. Told of the victory, the 10-year-old still watched a recording of it. “I was still excited to watch,” she said. Having known and trained with Liukin for years, gymnasts, parents and coaches from WOGA were nailbiting nervous as they watched her go through the four exercises that make up the all-around competition: the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and,

Liukin cherishes her time to shine after winning gold Continued from Page 1A

Patterson had to watch with the rest of us By SCOTT FARWELL Staff Writer [email protected]

Adoring fans

Photos by TOM FOX/Staff Photographer

Nastia Liukin performed one of the most difficult routines on the uneven bars en route to her all-around gold medal Friday. Her score of 16.650 was the second-highest on the apparatus.

Liukin and her parents, Valeri and Anna, chatted with Today show host Meredith Vieira hours after the individual competition. Liukin could win three more medals, on the floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars.

‘Great friends’ Liukin, along with Johnson, her friend, rival and roommate in Beijing, will be part of a multicity tour after the Games. As the 2007 all-around world champion, Johnson was expected to be the headliner. Even so, Liukin does not expect any awkward moments. “We’re great friends,” Liukin said. “Going into this, we knew there was only one champion. We’re very lucky to say we both won a medal for our country.” Liukin was dealing with a lingering ankle injury most of 2007, just as Johnson was emerging on the senior level. The older gymnast was written off for a time and was still considered an underdog to Johnson in the Olympics. “But honestly, it made me so much stronger,” Liukin said. “And it made me the person I am today.”

FORMER CHAMP

USA Gymnastics president says her absence was not a slight

But Valeri Liukin, her father and coach, a hard-driving perfectionist who couldn’t stop smiling Friday after watching his plan executed brilliantly, doesn’t think it has quite sunk in yet. “She was emotional and happy, but I’m very sure Nastia doesn’t know yet what it is,” Valeri said almost 12 hours after his daughter won the gold. “This is huge for her. This is bigger than big for her. We work all our life. It will come a little later for her.”

Earlier, Nastia Liukin — along with Valeri and her mother, Anna — made the obligatory stop at the Today studio for interviews with a gushing Meredith Vieira. She posed for pictures and signed autographs for the fans who lined the fence waving signs, trying to get on TV on a clear Beijing evening. “U-S-A! U-S-A!” the crowd chanted as Liukin and teammate and silver medalist Shawn Johnson took their seats on the set. American and Chinese fans alike snapped Liukin’s picture with the grand Bird’s Nest stadium looming behind them. Al Roker wanted a picture, too. “That’s her mother?” a group of curious, middle-aged American women said of Anna, who said she “walked the city” while her daughter competed Friday because of wrenched nerves. “She looks like her sister.” Billy Bush, an entertainment reporter with product-enhanced TV hair, interviewed Nastia Liukin, and Valeri, too. Already backed by companies such as CoverGirl, Visa and Adidas, Liukin will probably have many more sponsorship opportunities. Evan Morgenstein, Liukin’s agent, chatted away on his phone from the Today set.

finally, the floor exercise. “Right at the end of her floor routine we knew,” said Mary Matusik, whose daughter Katie trains with Liukin. To watch the event, they popped a bowl of popcorn, pulled up the blankets, and held hands. She said they both burst into tears when she hit her landing. “It was just perfect,” she said. Friends say that Anna Liukin never watches her daughter’s competitions because she’s worried that her nervousness will send her daughter bad vibes. Carly Patterson can understand. The Allen native said she was more nervous watching Liukin than she was when she won her own gold medal in Athens four years ago. “When you’re doing it you’re in control, but watching you don’t know how that feels for them,” she said. “You’re just hoping to send Nastia good vibes through the TV.”

Liukin, who also has a silver medal in the team competition, has the chance, beginning Sunday, to go for three more medals in individual finals on the floor exercise, uneven bars and balance beam. She planned to be back in the gym for practice this evening. She is trying to catch Valeri,

B0816SA016PQ B0816SA016PK B0816SA016PY B0816SA016PM B0816SA016PC

who won two golds and two silvers for the Soviet Union in 1988. “I’ve got two of those,” Valeri teased, nodding at the gold around his daughter’s neck. But his all-around medal is silver. He missed gold by a tenth of a point to a teammate. His daughter’s medal more than made up for

that, he said. Could there be more competitions in the future? Liukin, who turns 19 in October, plans to stay in the sport for the near future. “That’s what she wants,” Valeri said. “She doesn’t do it for the medals. That’s what she is, a gymnast. She loves it.”

Someone obvious was missing Friday morning in Beijing as North Texan Nastia Liukin won the women’s gymnastics all-around Olympic gold medal: Carly Patterson. Television cameras cut to Houston’s Mary Lou Retton, who in 1984 became the first American woman to win the all-around gold. There were shots of coaches, the ever-present Bela and Martha Karolyi, and several other Olympic luminaries. But what about Patterson, the darling of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, whose megawatt smile and pepper-pot style capCARLY tured American imaginaPATTERSON is tions when she won Amerinow pursuing ca’s second all-around a career in gold? pop music. She watched the games from Louisiana, with family. “I wanted to be there, for sure,” said Patterson, 20, who lives in Allen and is pursuing a singing career. “I don’t really know what happened. I wasn’t invited.” USA Gymnastics insists there was no intentional slight toward Patterson. The organization typically doesn’t have a policy of bringing former athletes to the Olympic games. Retton, for example, wasn’t in Athens when Patterson won in 2004. Retton is in Beijing with a sponsor, BHP Billiton. Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, said it was his understanding that Patterson was preparing for a music tour and “the timing wasn’t going to work out,” he said. “Carly is a very special person to USA Gymnastics, and there was no slight intended. … It would have been special to have her here with Mary Lou and Nastia. If I overlooked something, it’s my bad.” Patterson’s absence clearly riled her former coach, Yevgeny Marchenko, who, along with Liukin’s dad, two-time Olympic gold medalist Valeri Liukin, owns the Plano gym that produced back-to-back Olympic gold medalists. “I’m very disappointed in USA Gymnastics,” he said. “Carly should have been there to pass on the crown to the next Olympic champion.” USA Gymnastics says it has been supportive of Patterson’s burgeoning pop-music career, with her performing at two competitions this year, including the U.S. Olympic trials in June in Philadelphia. Patterson said she exchanged text messages with her former teammate and training partner after she won the gold. Later, they talked by phone. “She did an amazing job,” Patterson said. “I wish I could have been there to pass the baton, but it didn’t turn out that way.” Natalie Patterson, who guided her daughter through a media whirlwind after the 2004 Olympics, was circumspect about the situation. “I want my daughter to be happy, and she is happy and successful, and I want that success to continue,” she said. Staff writer Kate Hairopoulos contributed to this report.

A16 _ 08-16-2008 Set: 23:35:38 Sent by: klueb News

BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN

ce ed

t.

s

earlier this summer was arrested Monday afternoon for allegedly making up the whole story.

p.m.. Inconsistent statements Blay gave to detectives and witness accounts unrav-

would do this,” Blay said of the charges filed against him. Police Detective Greg Terry said no

Blay w ice main

AA pr Pa dr

Real People

in

to

ght

s ice

Gro pres

ed d to

BY VIC

Calif e-ma

urt. r

Jr.

B4

t

kay

JOHN HARTE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Bennie Jacobs created Tabitha’s House in 1993. “I have big dreams, I just hope the Lord lets me live to see them all,” she says.

Heart, home always open Ms. Bennie pours her money and empathy into the rehab center she created BY IAN HAMILTON

as

96

r-

ge,

ed

ch

Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

W

alking around the homeless shelter and rehab center she created, Bennie Jacobs takes a call from a man she knows well. He had stormed out of the program a month earlier and Jacobs hadn’t heard from him since. “Are you having a hard time?” she asks.

As the 40-something man begins to sob, Jacobs does what she often does. “You just pack and come back,” she tells him. She hadn’t rented out his room. “I knew he’d be coming back,” Jacobs said. Jacobs, a mother of five, grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of four, is also a mother figure to hundreds of people who end up in Tabitha’s House, a facility for the mentally or emotionally disturbed, drug-addicted or homeless.

“Most of the time in my mind I call her mommy,” said 44-year-old Tina Ocampo, a recovering meth addict and resident at the sober living facility of Tabitha’s House at the corner of 19th and R streets. “She’s been here for me like a mom.” From ministering to female prisoners in the late 1980s to tirelessly running Tabitha’s since 1993, Jacobs has a 20year legacy of helping people. She has built up a reputation with both those in Please turn to TABITHA’S / B5

SAC in M Assem lights over plan bipar The Assoc called cally the st to giv Califo Alth bills Assem Mond tions” she ha She hande panie denyi patien Und do no unins they c billion gram. “If drug nies, drug,” Tha Weste which other care

JOHN HARTE / THE CALIFORNIAN

At Tabitha’s House, Bennie Jacobs stops for a visit with resident Kenneth Lucas and his month-old son, Cody.

TABITHA’S: Jacobs has useful experience

• House Flooded? • Need Help Now? • 24 Hour Emergency Service!

Call Today 396-7908 ASELAWATERDAMAGE.COM

A REVERSE MORTGAGE IF YOU ARE 62+

GUARANTEED MONTHLY INCOME FOR LIFE CASH FOR ANY GOOD

PARRA: S

Continued from B1 gram. However, that argu missed by supporters, most advocates for co elderly and low-incom They point out that Medi-Cal patients cann drugs they need. Opposition by Parr moderate, busin Democrats in the Ass jeopardize an agreem earlier between Dem islative leaders and Gov. Arnold Schwar

Get invol Today

Kern County Board sors, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Administrative Center tun Ave.

BURN CLEAN FROM OUR HEARTH DI

GAS LOG

featuring

28

Standard Gas

starti

AIR

Se Habla Español

CONDITIONING

HE

AT I

2138004

9

$

YEARS!

ECONO AIR, I

811826

Water Damage?

both the sober living facility and homeless shelter. Many of her clients were abused or molested in their youth. She can relate. When Jacobs was 3 years old, she said, her parents left her with her grandmother in Oklahoma. She thought it was because she was ugly. Her grandmother didn’t treat her much better, Jacobs said, beating her because she’d gotten sick and thrown up in her bed. It was “when I found out what rejection is all about. When others are rejected, I can feel their rejection,” she said. But because Jacobs believes God can forgive a person for anything, she doesn’t feel a person’s mistakes can ever permanently condemn them. “I don’t believe anyone on this Earth cannot be helped,” she said. There are lots of regular “Joes” and “Janes” out there doing perfectly extraordinary things with their lives but never make the headlines. Know of anyone like that? Think they’d make a great story? Call us at 395-7384 or email us at [email protected] and say you have a submission for a Real People story.

811826

At 74, Jacobs — “Ms. Bennie,” as most fondly call her — still moves with vigor and rarely rests. Sleep is her only vacation, her only time off. “And I do sleep good,” Jacobs said. She is typically at Tabitha’s by 7:30 a.m. and returns home around 10:30 p.m., said T.L. Jacobs, her husband of 55 years. “She’s doing it from the kindness of her heart; she’s not making a lot of money off it. She’s a dedicated woman,” he said. “She puts in a tremendous amount of hours.” He does his part by providing transportation for the clients. “Ms. Bennie” sometimes draws up her own paycheck, Garcia said, and then signs it right back over to Tabitha’s House to ensure there is enough money. He sees Jacobs’ contribution as much more than time, money and motherly support, though. She also has the experience to help people in “every imaginable legal situation,” he said. Whether the problem is criminal charges, emotional or mental issues, or a child taken by Child Protective Services, Jacobs has informed advice on how to help. Kids can stay with their parents at

AL

314 UNION AVE. • 832-17

GS www.econoair.com OPEN M-F 8:00-5:30 SAT. 9:00-4:00 sale SAVIN 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH V LICENSED PROFESSIONALS FOR SAFE AND LEGAL INST THE ENERGY STORE

NG & SHEET MET

$1.00 OFF ANY SMOOTHIE

This coupon entitles the customer to $1.00 off any smoothie purchase. Valid only at Bakersfield - Village @ Towne Centre. Expires 9/31/06 Limit one per customer. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Excludes Brazilian Blends and Power Shakes.

Grand Opening ........ Specials

check out our newest location and live life ju St.

Continued from B1 need and other social services organizations. She is the one to call when a person needs help. “When there’s a problem, they don’t hesitate to wake her up,” Tabitha’s House administrator Gil Garcia said. “No matter the hour, they know she’ll respond.” An ordained minister, Jacobs was helping women in Lerdo Jail when she saw people repeating crimes and returning to custody every few months. “It hurt my heart so bad,” she said. That’s when Jacobs felt the calling to start a home. She started with short-lived Isaiah’s House, changing the name to Tabitha’s House in 1993 to reflect the focus she puts on helping women and women with children. The name comes from the resurrection of Tabitha in Acts 9:36 of the Bible. “I feel when they’re going through the home, that’s what happens to them,” Jacobs said. Her endeavor has since expanded to include treatment for the whole family. Some people are referred by social services, but anyone can come in for help. The facility mission is to break the generational cycle of substance abuse and turn those in need into self-reliant members of the community. “She’s carrying the burden of this agency on her shoulders,” Garcia said. As of last week, there were 27 active clients for outpatient substance abuse counseling, 59 residents in the homeless shelter and 22 in the sober living facility. She isn’t stopping at that and has plans to include furniture-building and woodworking classes at Tabitha’s House. “I have big dreams, I just hope the Lord lets me live to see them all,” Jacobs said. The primary source of funding for nonprofit Tabitha’s House is rent. Many of the residents at the sober living facility maintain jobs outside the facility and pay $650 a month for their rooms. There is also a federal grant paying for roughly 75 percent to 80 percent of the homeless shelter’s direct services and staff salaries, the remainder coming from the rent and donations.

furry folk. The “Pet Vet to Go into downtown Bake Ohio Monday afternoo of weeks it will be p Kern County Animal South Mount Vernon A put through its paces b of Kern’s first staff Dr. Jennifer McDougle Together the truck

Bakersfield - Village @ Towne Centre 1201 24th St #D120 661.631.9501

er

w g

ol

nia but still short of the 52,000 megawatts experts had predicted for the day.

Suggestions for saving power. Page A3

downtown San Jose. The start of a new wo peratures pushed California’s electricity s

Frazier Park blaze

L f w

ll

.

e

O th

B1

tro Le tar in su er tra co

ng

en’t

ut what m

real

ge B1

CE

er s’

nday

TIM KUPSICK / THE CALIFORNIAN

Kern County firefighters hike up toward Los Padres National Forest where more than 500 acres have been consumed near Scott Russell Road. The fire was sparked by a lighting strike early Sunday afternoon.

Residents ready to run BY IAN HAMILTON Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

FRAZIER PARK — Andrea Knutson went to work despite the 600-acre fire burning near her home. She wasn’t taking any chances, however. She spent half of Monday

morning choosing the items to stuff in her car in case the worst happened. Firefighters worked through Monday night on the Scott fire burning north of Frazier Park. It’s named after Scott Russell Road, located near the lightning strike that started the fire on Tecuya Ridge Sunday afternoon.

The fire was listed as No. 2 on the state’s priority list of nine serious fires Monday, behind a 6,600-acre fire in San Diego County, according to Brian Marshall, deputy fire chief with the Kern County Fire Department. While helicopters flew to over

Je ha Be ce an de th

Se m wa an th en bo ar cia

Please turn to FIRE / A3

New hires stir debate over leave BY STACEY SHEPARD Californian staff writer e-mail: sshepard@bakersfield.com

Two new teachers in the Rosedale Union School District will be on maternity leave before they step into the classroom. That makes no sense, said a couple of district board members who unsuccessfully tried to stop the hires Monday. The board of trustees got a recommendation in early July to hire two

against it 2-2. Then an attorney said that could open the district up to a discrimination suit and so on Monday, the board called a special meeting and approved the hires 3-2. Board member Lisa King said the teachers will be worth the wait. “I believe they’re the best people for the jobs,” she said. But board President Ken Mettler said the district should put student concerns first and not hire people who can’t be in the classroom at the start of the school

That’s not the issue,” he said. “The issue is we spend all this time debating the benefits and compliance with state law, but very little time is spent on what’s best for the kids. Is it better for

INSIDE • Read columnist Marylee Shrider’s take on the maternity leave issue on Page B1.

them t The day’s m and C said t taught slated dle Sc tary Sc Mah said s the las about

Robert LaBrash said heat would be listed as a “significant condition” contributing to her death. Meanwhile, state officials were investigating a Stockton nursing home for negligence after a patient

Monday; and Sacramento was at 108. Riverside, southeast of Los Angeles, recorded a high of 103 Monday. The sweltering heat was the

tricity to thousands of customers who lost power in the heat. Pacific Gas & Electric reported about 118,000 customers without power. The San Francisco Bay Area

overloaded transformers. Heat, lightning and wind were blamed for outages Monday affecting some 17,000 SoCal Edison customers.

FIRE: Blaze is ranked No. 2 on state’s priority list y.

Mount Pinos 2 mi.

Cud dy V alle y

d

Bakersfield

5

Kern County

Area enlarged Rd .

yR d

Pine Mountain Club

ckw oo

Mil P otrero Hw

Scott fire burn area .

Frazier Park Fr azie r Mt. P ark Rd .

ll e Va

Ventura County

Lo

Continued from A1 dump water onto the Scott fire, Stan Myers watched television and his grandson played in the yard. Myers lives less than a mile from the “trigger point,” a spot where, if reached by the fire, would spark a voluntary evacuation of Frazier Park and its approximately 800 homes and businesses. While watching TV, Myers also listened to fire crew activity on a scanner. His important documents and meaningful pictures were loaded in the car nearby. “I’m worried a little bit, but not too much,” said Matt Verdon, whose home is in the northwest corner of Frazier Park near the trigger point. “Some people may think three-quarters of a mile is pretty close — but not with these (firefighters).” A fire line was created Monday morning about half a mile north of the trigger point to halt the advance of the blaze any farther south. Wind blew away from the homes and the south end of the fire is now lessthreatening. “The line at the south of the end of the fire is holding, which is one step toward containment,” said Engineer Tony Diffenbaugh with the Kern County Fire Department.

Source: U.S. Forest Service

The north end of the fire has received less attention and there is no word yet on when it is expected to be contained. As of 3 p.m. Monday, fire crews had achieved 15 percent containment. There is less danger to life or structures to the north of the fire, however, with miles of the Los Padres National Forest in that direction. About 280 firefighters have battled the Scott fire, some working more than 24 hours straight, according to Diffenbaugh. There have been no injuries or structural damage. In the past week, the Kern County Fire Department has responded

Lebec Gorman Los Angeles County

138

THE CALIFORNIAN

to several hundred fires caused by lightning strikes. Fire crews performed some sort of suppression on 75 percent of these, Marshall said. Some lightning strikes can be put out by heavy rain and light rain can usually hold one in check. Marshall said the weather responsible for these fires may continue through the weekend. Three other lightning fires are burning in the Los Padres National Forest. Three of the four fires and any additional lightning strike fires in the immediate area will be handled from a command post inside Frazier Mountain High School. Personnel from the county fire

TIM KUPSICK / AP

A Kern County Fire Department helicopter hovers over a fire that has burned more than 500 acres.

department, U.S. Forest Service, Ventura County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and Kern County Sheriff’s Department were helping.

the hiring to the boa July, he s told their leaving, w June 30. If the bo ing befor women wo to sue the successful to prove d wouldn’t previous d ered their Also, M July reco women an ty leave w Items that get approv much dis asks for talked abo The unu ing teach maternity Mettler sa ing the hi takes a c can’t start ed. Hender were han for the o hired in h He said in

TW

The Bake

Rosedale U trustees Pr intendent district pro who are pr nity leave w August. He olated.

What Mett two teache board of tr

Iraq deaths As of Monday, at least 2,567 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,027 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.

The AP count is seven more than the Defense Department’s tally. The British military has reported 114 deaths; Italy, 32; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 17; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, four; El Salvador, Slovakia, three each; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kaza-

khstan, Latvia, Romania, one death each. The latest deaths reported by the military: • Two soldiers were killed Monday in Anbar province. • A soldier died Monday from smallarms fire south of Baghdad.

The latest identifications reported by the military: • Marine Capt. Christopher T. Pate, 29, Hampstead, N.C.; killed Friday in Anbar province; assigned to 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Command Element, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

What Hend fer of emp on that pap the board a out of our m board wou derstand t

Mettler sa the two tea board late, the women

-

two different times the morning of Aug. 2, according to a Bakersfield Police Department release. Baldwin was found dead in his home later that day after a neighbor

A man was seen running from the vehicle and entering the front passenger side of a small SUV. The four-door, red or maroon SUV had

a dark brown leather Tommy Hilfiger wallet with attached money clip; $500 in cash; a Ruger Single Six .22-caliber revolver; and an Armscor Precision

The Se ing a rew tion that l criminal c

i-

f

-

e ty

‘Get back to being a kid’

ty

BY ST

Cal e-m

,

est

n s a

d. lis o

f

ly

h

s g-

d

fe a.

0es

d h-

gh,

ng d

W sc in

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Damon Davis, foreground, and Veronica Vasquez take a plunge as they tip over their canoe at Gergen Ski Ranch during a camp for children who have lost a family member. The camp, which gives young people an opportunity to have fun and also share their experience with others, is put on by Optimal Hospice Foundation.

Youths have fun, share feelings over lost loved ones at camp BY IAN HAMILTON Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

I

t’s Thursday morning and Damon Davis is doing front flips on a water trampoline. Some of his siblings row around in canoes and try to stay afloat as crazy camp counselors try to tip them over. “It’s the first time we’ve done a lot of stuff,” Davis had said before diving in. Davis, 18, and nine of his siblings are

at the Optimal Hospice Foundation Kids Camp this week with 17 other teens who have had a loved one die in the past 18 months. The camp is meant to bring together youngsters who share that unfortunate fact and help them deal with it. Davis’ brother, Wendale, died almost four months ago. The kids aren’t forced to talk about such sad topics — it comes out naturally. “It comes out when they’re in the rooms at night sharing with one anoth-

er,” said Ann Smart, hospice foundation director. “They just bring it up with friends or they share with the staff. It’s very informal the way we handle it and we think that is the best way for this setting.” Camp director Scott Haner organized the week’s activities at Gergen Ski Ranch, north of Hart Park. He has also held traditional summer camps and the activities he picked for these kids weren’t anything out of the ordinary. Please turn to CAMP / B3

Wh shov sche new the a Th oper at th Th ed to nam time of t Burk the l phila 1986 If beca scho rece inten men “W ago f said. gone Lo of G Stree Burk hous garte Bray

D pr bi

BY LIS

Cal

DAN OCAMPO / THE CALIFORNIAN

ool’s library, which is still under s opening day.

Franey said, he expects the disrict to exit the state hardship rogram in coming weeks now hat the district’s assessed valuaion has increased. The district also hopes to purhase in coming weeks the two ites where McKee, Crescent and he new middle school will sit — ne near Taft Highway and Highway 99 and the other at Panama Lane and Union Avenue. It’s all a whirlwind of planning nd construction, but on Wednesay, the first day to register chilren for classes at Horizon, econd-grader Marcos Lazo was naware of it all. “It’s going to be nice,” the former Valle Verde student said of is new school while waiting for is mother to complete paperwork. “I’m going to miss my old ne.”

ll be honored

KE (1897-1986)

Kern County farming community.

Burke never married, but her compassion for others led her to an active life of service with the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Wasco Women’s Club, St. John’s Catholic Women’s Society and other organizations.

She was named Woman of the Year in 1980 by the American Association of University Women.

Sing Lum, one of her former students, was quoted in Burke’s obituary published in the newspaper.

“I think she was one of the best teachers on Earth,” Lum said at the time. “She encouraged me to go to high school, which I did. I might not have otherwise.”

Although no study has been done, Wimbish said his “guesstimate” is that it would take about $100 million to replace the minimum security facility and upgrade other facilities at Lerdo. That’s just one reason the sher-

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says it will run out of beds for prisoners in about a year. The sheriffs said the state is already housing some 30,000 prison inmates in county jails temporarily.

CAMP: Youths open up to others Continued from B1 Each of the more than 50 campers had the opportunity to hike, canoe, golf, shoot a bow and arrow, play dodgeball and basketball and participate in a collection of other typical summer camp activities. “Let’s get back to being a kid, let’s get back to having a good time,” Haner said. While clawing up a rock-climbing wall seemed to be one of the most popular activities, Christina Ramos, 12, made a case for the canoeing. Christina lost her dad about a year ago. “You’ve got to learn how to steer the boat and sometimes you fall in,” which is part of the fun, she said. It didn’t take long for Stephanie Schnitker and her friend, Breana Nolen, both 16, to prove her right. They were floating in the water within minutes of jumping into their canoe, joking about who caused the boat to overturn. Schnitker insists it was Nolen. Similarly, a Davis sibling was rowing by a floating basketball hoop when he got his oar caught in the net. This made their canoe easy prey, giving counselor Megan Holmes time to achieve ramming speed and turn them over. They laughed and grinned while survey-

ing the damage to their boat, which was half-filled with water. The teens arrived Wednesday evening and, as is usually the case, stayed up late even though lights go out around 10 p.m. The kids found themselves up for breakfast before 7 a.m. Thursday and though they were tired, they seemed to be going strong in the afternoon as they laughed, screamed, played, swam, climbed, slid and jumped their way around the ranch. Thursday night, Haner and Smart planned to cook popcorn and show “The Sandlot” to wind the kids down before bed. When they finally get into bed the second night is when they really open up, she said, because they’ve gotten to know each other so well. The event, in its 13th year, is entirely funded by donations to the hospice foundation, so families pay nothing for their kids to participate. The week started on Sunday for the 8- to 12-year-olds and on Wednesday for the teens, each section enjoying two nights at the camp. The teens finish up this afternoon at about 4:30, spending a few more hours swimming in the lake, flying down the waterslide, jumping on “the blob” and canoeing.

Discover the Miracle

of Tempur-Pedic®

699

ASLOWAS

$

Twin Mattress Only

Revolutionarysupport,unmatchedvalue.

• Free Estimates & Design • Evening & Weekend Appointments

THS 12 MINOAN NCING

0%FFREE Delivery!* nd

Karaoke, 8 p.m. Tuesdays and ednesdays, Trouts, 805 N. hester Ave. 399-6700. Open Mic Night, with John ells hosting, sign-ups at 7 p.m. uesday, Kosmos, 1623 19th St. 4-4286. Sierra Club Conditioning ikes, three to five miles, 7 p.m. uesdays, meet at corner of ghways 178 and 184. 872-2432 873-8107. Technique Tuesday, Webcracking,” for ages 7 and p, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Color Me ine at the Marketplace, 9000 ing Ave. $20, includes pottery, pplies and instruction. Web te www.bakersfield.colormeme.com or 664-7366. Blues Jam at the Lake, with odfish Blues Band, or take the age and do your own thing, 7 11 p.m. Wednesdays, The ut, 11320 Kernville Road, ernville. 760-376-2314. Celtic Session, open jam, 7 to p.m. Wednesdays, McMurhy’s, 14 Monterey St. 328-0186. Francois & the Question ark, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesays, McGee’s at The Ice House, 01 Chester Ave . 323-8730. Get Out items should be subitted two weeks before the ent. Send information to: Eye reet calendar, The Bakersfield alifornian, P.O. Bin 440, Baksfield, CA 93302; fax to 39519 or e-mail to [email protected].

REVOLUTION

private th legends

to regroup. Dad and I coasted up to the others. “This is the plan,” Willie said. “We separate, then meet up on Sprague Island after dark. According to the chart, there’s a tiny

Team Evolution — from left, Dominic Camacho, 18; George Murr, 15; Bryan Werner, 18; and Aaron Gonzales, 18 — recaps what happened during a game of capture the flag on “Halo” 2 during a LAN party on Thursday. Team Evolution will be competing in a “Halo” tournament held in Anaheim, which will bring gamers from across the country.

TIM KUPSICK / THE CALIFORNIAN

Get your game on Youths compete, socialize at console-based parties BY IAN HAMILTON Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

N

nis Joplin

nal demons and an overpowerg lack of self-esteem. When I caught up with Joplin a rehearsal, nothing about her ggested “star.” Minus her tire or an audience to energize er, she seemed weary. Finally, she retreated to her essing room, collapsed onto a fa and reached slowly for a ack of cigarettes. She was tired, e said — tired of fighting with usinessmen and musicians and e writers who wanted to know here the pain in her voice came om. The room felt like a cell. Like e best rock ’n’ roll, Joplin’s usic was mostly about freePlease turn to MUSIC / E5

Herb Benham is on vacation. His column will return Aug. 18.

and I went due north, sticking to the channel. I looked over my shoulder. The silhouette of a fishing boat, less than a mile away, was cutting our way. Please turn to ‘BELLA BELLA’ / E4

apoleon Marquez moves quickly up a set of stairs, keeping his eyes intently fixed on a spot across the battlefield. The enemy is there. He loads a fresh clip into his gun and clears another set of stairs in a single leap. He immediately tosses one, two, then three grenades on either side of the enemy’s location. But he has already moved. Ed Flores, 18, has Marquez, 16, in his crosshairs and wastes no time depositing round after round into his body armor. In less than a second, half of Marquez’s energy is gone. He tries to return fire but is forced to drop behind a wall and regroup. He loads a fresh clip and moves apprehensively forward into a pale gray building.

Competing for bucks, bragging rights The players of Major League Gaming don’t sweat during their competitions, but they feel the skill required to win as a team puts video games on par with other sports. While virtually unknown to the general public, Major League Gaming has found an audience and roster of intense gamers ready to battle it out competitively. “Some gamers dispute that (video games are like other sports) because of the fact that we’re only using our thumbs, but playing games has the ability to be competitive like any other sport,” said 18-year-old Dominic Please turn to GAMERS / E2 Flores is ready. Bam! Another quarter of Marquez’s life is gone. When he peeks out from behind the wall again, a round from Flores ends the fight. Marquez’s screen goes blood red. In a moment, his character returns and they are back at it, throwing comput-

er-generated gunfire as they furiously thumb their game controllers. The firefight between Marquez’s and Flores’ characters was just a practice session, a lull while the other attendees scarfed Please turn to LAN / E2

You’re ugly: Girl gamer takes abuse BY IAN HAMILTON Californian staff writer e-mail: ihamilton@bakersfield.com

She doesn’t mind it when a guy on her headset jokes that she should be cooking or cleaning, or more crudely, says she must be fat or ugly to be playing video games. Rebekah Schmitt just lets them talk and plays. They change their tune when she wins. “Then they just want to be my friend,” she said. “Or they don’t say anything and quit.” Schmitt, a 16-year-old from Bakersfield, is a serious and Please turn to GIRL / E2

Rebekah Schmitt, who loves playing video games, works at the Gamestor in East Hills Mall. CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

EYE

CALIFORNIAN

LAN: Talking to faceless people over the Internet gets lonely

o Page E6 for answers

n says gaming has more outgoing

er mom glamour she still fashion between n magal are two ect Dark t Tomb n which ale. The n, where gaming d herself eo game

does not t, 39 perfemale, Digital Howevs to play d money make her rls. She nd “Halo e games ive is to

who is as titive as Gil Garthe East oss. mon and e when box Live rding to

Schmitt’s co-worker Garrett Garcia, who plays online pretty much every day. Being able to tell the person you just decimated what you think of them is part of the fun. When girls like Schmitt play, however, the trash talking takes on a different, cruder, tone. “Once in awhile you get the guys who start wailing on (a girl),” said 26-year-old Julio Castrejon, a manager at Gamestor, of the verbal insults against girls. “You’re going to get that with the age group of guys who are playing on there, which is like 16 to 24, so of course they’re going to be immature.” Schmitt takes it in stride and actually attributes gaming to helping her become more outgoing. “I used to be really shy, but being able to talk to people on Xbox Live has helped me gain confidence and talk to people,” Schmitt said. At only 16, she’s waiting for the results from her high school proficiency exam and will start at Bakersfield College later this month. “I wanted to graduate early, get into BC, and be a little ahead of my friends,” Schmitt said. While unsure about what she wants to do, Schmitt says she would like to play games professionally. “It would be really cool to be part of an all-girls team,” she said.

oa Puffs for Lieberman

lebrities appear“Colbert

hen Colo-serious deadpan ons. Not ed Sen. n., has epeated

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2006

invites. Now the host is pulling out the big guns. If Lieberman comes on before next week’s election, he can expect to be plied with some of his favorites: a bowl of Cocoa Puffs (Lieberman is said to love chocolate) and two tickets to Lieberman’s favorite vacation spot, Boca Raton, Fla.

Continued from E1 down spaghetti at 18-year-old Aaron Gonzales’ “LAN party” in Delano. When the eight gamers at this party get back to it, they will rejoin their four-player teams and battle deep into the night, the sound of gunfire ringing loud enough to hear but low enough to allow Gonzales’ mom to sleep. While computer LAN, or local area network, parties have been around for years, television consoles are gaining in popularity because of greater simplicity and fewer troubleshooting headaches. “With console-based parties, you just plug into the network and play,” said Bryan Tebow, a local network administrator and avid gamer who sets up computerbased LAN parties about once a month. Even with the advent of powerful laptops, some devoted computer gamers still lug high-powered computer towers, keyboards, mice and even bulky monitors to a garage or house somewhere to play all night long. Most Xbox games, such as “Halo 2,” top out at 16 players, but computer games can sometimes support two to three times as many. The drawback, though, is that with a computer per person, space can be an issue as well as the drain on electricity. And there’s a greater need for technical expertise to connect computers with different software and hardware. “Usually the first few hours turn into a PC troubleshooting party,” Tebow said of PC-based parties. Console lanning (gamers use

HOW TO THROW AN XBOX LAN PARTY Games: You need a copy of the same game for every system, for example, “Halo 2.” Check the maximum number of players for the game you want to play, games typically support a maximum of eight to 16 players. “Halo 2” can support up to 16. Systems: You need at least two Xboxes to play. You need to balance how many systems you have access to with how many people you want per screen. Televisions: Eight players and two Xboxes equals four players per TV. Eight players and four Xboxes equals two players per TV. An Xbox per perLAN as a verb) is different. When Reggie Visico, 18, and his friends arrived at Gonzales’ house, they brought in an Xbox and a television from the car to set up on a table in the den. The configuration consisted of one Xbox and two players per screen, all interconnected by one $50 router. Once Visico and his friends were inside, they were ready to go in less than 10 minutes. Playing on the Internet also doesn’t measure up to a LAN party. Gamers with a broadband connection can log on and play against people around the world and voicechatting allows them to communicate with teammates or taunt opponents. But it suffers because people can cheat by altering a character to do something they otherwise couldn’t do — such as walk through a wall. Even worse,

son means everyone gets their own screen. Router: A four-port router will cost around $40 to $60 from Comp USA while an eight-port is around $100 to $120. You need one ethernet cable per system; each should be long enough to connect a system from where you want to play it to the router. Getting going: Allow some time to make sure everything is plugged in correctly and the router is working. Turn on your systems and access the online portion of the game. the network lags. “You see glitches and people doing things that the game doesn’t intend for them to do,” Gonzales said. “With lanning there’s none of that.” The problem with playing online for Marquez is the lack of interaction. “You play for five or six hours, then you have to talk to someone, and I don’t mean online,” Marquez said. Justin McNeillie, 16, has LAN parties with his friends every few weeks in Bakersfield and prefers them to other ways of playing because even the breaks are fun. He gets to eat dinner with friends and hang out. Otherwise, he’s just drinking soda and sitting in front of a screen for hours talking to faceless players over a headset. “We always think of lanning as a

GAMERS: Being a top-tier team is lucrative Continued from E1 Camacho, a player from Delano who has been to several league events. In the three years since its inception, Major League Gaming has grown significantly from its first tournament of fewer than 20 fourplayer teams to 144 teams, at a tournament in Anaheim in late June. The game of choice is “Halo 2,” the most popular game of the Microsoft Xbox and one of two on the Major League Gaming circuit. More than 1,000 players, some on teams, others in one-on-one competitions, battled in “Halo 2” in Anaheim. “We’re already maxing out every event,” said Adam Apicella, vice president of league operations. The event in the Anaheim Convention Center was a gamer’s paradise. There were 12 27-inch flat-screen televisions, 144 20-inch televisions with one Microsoft Xbox per screen, 12 Nintendo Gamecubes and three giant projection screens. It was also a nonstop war zone. Row after row of hard-core gamers sat close to their screens, the bright rainbow of destruction lighting up their faces. Judges paced behind the ongoing games as the continuous and unwavering sound of gunfire and explosions intermittently mixed with the excited cries of victory. Players, exhausted by the nonstop games, found respite wherever they could, sleeping on chairs, couches and even on the floor. Most players agree that playing “Halo 2” as a team is just like any other sport; a single strong player won’t win it. Teamwork is key. That’s why 16-year-old Justin McNeillie from Bakersfield, was up practicing with his team until 1:30

a.m. before the competition in Anaheim. In Delano, 18-year-old Reggie Visico was up until just before midnight practicing with his team against 18-year-old Aaron Gonzales’ crew. In all, at least four local teams attended the event. The entry fee isn’t necessarily cheap for a teenager; it costs $50 per person to enter the team competitions. Sponsorships from companies such as Boost Mobile and GameStop, along with revenue from subscriptions to their online Video-on-Demand, which provides footage of major league matches, helps provide funding for the venues, equipment and prize money. In November the league will have highlights from the 2006 season broadcast on the USA Network for the first time. “Especially this season people are coming to (watch) who aren’t necessarily playing,” Apicella said. The hopes of most local players were dashed relatively early in the June competition — but they kept on playing. Even after the late night before and the grueling stress of the tournament, the players hooked up their own televisions and game systems in their hotel rooms and played for hours on end. While most don’t make anything playing video games, a small num-

ber of gamers are making a living at it. The top 16 league teams get professional status, which gets them free entry and VIP treatment at events. In addition, the better teams get some of their travel expenses paid for by the league and a few get paid contracts. The winning “Halo 2” team at Anaheim, “Final Boss,” got $12,000 in prize money. However, the money is peanuts next to the team’s three-year, $1 million contract with Major League Gaming to do appearances and play at all the tournaments. That’s about $80,000 a year per person. “I really just do this for fun,” said Ken Hoang, a 20-year-old student at CSU Long Beach and toprated player at “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” the other game on the league circuit. “At first (my parents) didn’t like it at all, they thought I was wasting my time and money.” Once his parents realized how much he could make, they changed their minds. He said he makes around $15,000 a year from the

A GREAT MOVIE!”

”

KIDSDAY

“

TERRIFIC!

THE SUMMER’S BEST FAMILY MOVIE.

”

Glenn Whipp, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

THE BREAK UP PG13 12:55P 4:00P 7:20P 9:30P GARFIELD 2 PG 1:00P 3:05P 5:00P 7:00P 9:00P RV PG 2:55P 7:30P 9:40P

THE WILD G 12:30P 5:15P OVER THE HEDGE PG 12:50P 3:00P 5:10P 7:10P 9:15P X-MEN 3 PG13 1:05P 4:05P 7:05P 9:25P

THE DA VINCI CODE PG13 1:10P 5:00P 9:00P

FROM THE STUDIO THAT BROUGHT YOU

Roger Ebert , Chicago Sun-Times

AN EERIE, HITCHCOCKIAN THRILLER”.

“

SAW AND HOSTEL

“

BAKERSFIELD Edwards BAKERSFIELD United Bakersfield Stadium 14 Artists East Hills Mall 800/FANDANGO #119 800/FANDANGO #497 NO PASSES, COUPONS, BAKERSFIELD Pacific’s GROUP ACTIVITY TICKETS OR

social activity. When we’re not playing we’re hanging out just like anybody else would do,” Gonzales said of his parties. Console lanning is even gaining popularity as a sport. Major League Gaming, like its computerbased counterparts, holds huge, highly competitive LAN-based tournaments each year. Thousands of players from teams across the country come, thumbs at the ready, to battle it out. This is what they are preparing for at Gonzales’ house. Once finished with dinner, they resume their focus on the screens; four in one room, four in another. When playing seriously they sit in a tightly packed line on one side of a table and play the game according to the same rules they will see at a Major League Gaming tournament. This time, however, in addition to the sound of gunfire there is also the code. The moment Visico or one of his teammates spots a player from Gonzales’ team they begin yelling “P1 red” or “P2 blue.” The code is a quick and accurate system practiced by both sides to notify teammates of enemy location. But it doesn’t always help. When the code fails and panic sets in, players might start pointing to the enemy on a teammate’s screen out of frustration, in hope that an extended finger is going to help destroy them. It rarely works. “I’m being shot, I’m being shot,” Visico yells before succumbing to his wounds.

MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING Started: In late 2003. Professionals: There are more than 150 signed professional gamers. The top 16 “Halo 2” teams get professional status and free entry to all tournaments. Games: There are two games on the circuit, “Halo 2” and “Super Smash Bros. Melee.” Size: Around 1,000-1,500 amateur gamers attend each tournament. Events: Six circuit events in 2006 plus the invitation-only national championship in Las Vegas. Upcoming: Orlando from Aug. 25 to 27, New York from Oct. 13 to 15 and the Las Vegas National Championships in November. Web site: www.mlgpro.com winnings. “I wouldn’t trust playing video games for a living,” he said, because the prize money comes and goes. — Ian Hamilton, staff writer

Adv. Tix on Sale WORLD TRADE CENTER (PG-13) � Adv. Tix on Sale SNAKES ON A PLANE (R) - ID REQ'D � DESCENT, THE (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1130 215 500) 750 1030 NIGHT LISTENER, THE (R) - ID REQ'D (1025 1240 310 545) 815 1030 (1015 1230 245 500) 715 930 BARNYARD (PG) DIG TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RIC (PG-13) DIG (1000 100 400) 700 945 ANT BULLY, THE (PG) (1110 120 350) 630 JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE (PG-13) DIG (1030 1245 315 530) 800 1010 (1045 145 445) 745 1040 MIAMI VICE (R) - ID REQ'D DIG LADY IN THE WATER (PG-13) DIG (1100 130 420) 710 1000 MONSTER HOUSE (PG) (1000 1215 230 440) 705 920 (1200 250 530) 805 1035 LITTLE MAN (PG-13) DIG YOU, ME AND DUPREE (PG-13) DIG (1050 150 450) 740 1020 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN' (PG-13) (100 415) 730 1045 DEVIL WEARS PRADA, THE (PG-13) DIG (1130 205 435) 750 1025 SUPERMAN RETURNS (PG-13) 915 (1040 120) 410 650 940 CLICK (PG-13) DIG

Adv. Tix on Sale SNAKES ON A PLANE (R) - ID REQ'D � TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RIC (PG-13) DIG (1120 150 430) 700 945 (1210 245 500) 720 930 BARNYARD (PG) DIG DESCENT, THE (R) - ID REQ'D DIG (1145 215 510) 800 1030 (1130 145 440) 710 920 ANT BULLY, THE (PG) DIG JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE (PG-13) DIG (1150 200 410) 740 950 (1215 400) 730 1020 MIAMI VICE (R) - ID REQ'D DIG LADY IN THE WATER (PG-13) DIG (1110 140 420) 750 1020 (1140 150 415) 650 910 MONSTER HOUSE (PG) DIG (1200 220 450) 750 1015 LITTLE MAN (PG-13) DIG

B0819SB006P--Composite

6B

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

FRISCO HOA DISPUTE

Man’s F-150 garaged — for now By IAN HAMILTON Staff Writer [email protected]

Jim Greenwood is parking his 2007 Ford F-150 in the garage, but he’s not through battling his Frisco homeowners association. He says the association has declared the iconic Texas truck not upscale enough to leave in his driveway. “I’m hoping that based on all the activity and noise, that they might change their tune,” he said Monday. Earlier this year, the Concentra Inc. CEO began getting notices from the Stonebriar HOA threatening to fine him for parking his truck in his driveway. They say pickup trucks have to be parked out of sight — though big “luxury” vehicles, including the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Mark LT, pass muster. Bill Osborn, a board member with the association, explained that those vehicles are “fancier,” “plush with amenities” and do not look like pickups. Most domestic pickups are banned from driveways. Mr. Osborn said the rule has been in place for decades,

and the fine is $50 per violation. “From our inception in 1989 until this spring, our restrictive covenants excluded all trucks from overnight parking in the street or driveway,” Mr. Osborn said in an email. “Mr. Greenwood felt his Ford F-150 should be allowed. The HOA Board denied his appeal as he has garage space and a(n) F-150 did not fit the criteria.” However, Mr. Osborn said Monday that the issue may be revisited. Mr. Greenwood said his family has a car, a Suburban and his teenage son’s truck but only a two-car garage. “I don’t want to mess with the logistics with what’s in the garage and what’s not,” he said. This is not the first time the Stonebriar HOA has fought with homeowners about their vehicles. John Allen, another resident, said he was told last year that his Chevrolet Avalanche qualified as a pickup and had to be moved inside. After hiring a lawyer and arguing his case, he said, the as-

sociation added the Avalanche to the list of vehicles approved for outside parking. “I’m all for keeping the place nice, but when it gets to the point of onerous living, that’s no good,” he said. “The whole pompous attitude of it is amazing.” Disagreements with homeowners associations — about additions, shrubbery, fencing and other issues — are not new. State Rep. Burt Solomon, R-Carrollton, has introduced legislation to provide homeowners more recourse in their battles against the associations, arguing that they can be abusive and overbearing. He said he has won small battles about limited issues but no comprehensive reform, and he intends to take up the legislation again in January. “Why would you do that to your neighbor? There needs to be more transparency. There needs to be more accountability,” he said. “There needs to be more fiduciary responsibility in how boards conduct their business with the membership.”

OBITUARIES Memorials • Burials • Cards of Thanks F O R I N F O R M AT I O N CA L L T H E O B I T UA RY D E S K AT 2 1 4 . 9 7 7 . 8 6 7 2

Wheeler, GayCole Howard

GayCole Howard Wheeler, 84, died August 2, 2008, at her home after a lengthy illness. She was born January 21, 1924, to Nelwyn Cole Howard and Gaston Smythe Howard. She spent much of her time with her beloved grandmother, Gay Keener Cole, for whom she was named. She attended Austin High School, The Hockaday School and graduated from the University of Texas in 1945 where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. In 1950, she married Ridley Northcutt Wheeler who preceded her in death. GayCole participated in numerous civic organizations during her life in Longview. She was President of the Junior Service League, board member of Good Shepherd Hospital, founder of Help for Families of the Mentally Ill, attended an SMU-in-Cambridge study program and taught Bible study for young women. In the mid 80’s, she moved to Dallas where she was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Dallas, Woman’s Club and Dallas Country Club. She is survived by her daughters, Sally Wheeler Magee and her husband William Flagg Magee and Nancy Wheeler Heller and her husband Robert Wayne Heller; four grandsons, Wheeler and Dean Magee and Ridley and Andrew Heller. She is also survived by friends, Loise Wessendorff, Dorothy Mae Williams, Margaret Marsh Mebus. The family would like to thank the following caregivers: Christina Alvarez, Tammy Murray, Eugenia Boatermaa, LaDonna Callahan, Annie Shed, Angela Cooper, Ennie Nkhoma, Alice Hughes, Joe Verge, and Sonja Mofor. Our deepest gratitude is meaningfully extended to Lee Ann Hunter, R.N., and the caregivers at Vista Care Hospice, Carestaf, and Comfort Keepers for their loving, loyal, and devoted care for GayCole during these difficult years. Memorials may be made to Canterbury Episcopal Ministry at SMU, P.O. Box 600184, Dallas, TX 75360, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 315 E. Pecan Street, San Antonio, TX 78201 or the Animal Defense League of Texas, 11300 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217, www.adltexas.org. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 23, 2008, in the St. Michael’s Chapel at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Avenue, Dallas, TX 75225, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Road in Longview, TX on Sunday, August 24, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., followed by a private inurnment at Grace Hill Cemetery.

dallasnews.com

FRISCO/DALLAS

_

Yancey, Guinlan "Sis"

Guinlan "Sis" Yancey, age 92, of Garland, Texas, formerly of Campbell, Texas, went to be with the Lord on August 18, 2008 in Allen, Texas. She was born November 22, 1915, in Greenville, Texas, the daughter of Dudley and Jessie Mae ( Denton ) Ames. She grew up in Greenville, attending schools there and on June 3, 1934, she married Samuel David Yancey. Mrs. Yancey was a wonderful homemaker, an avid bridge player, and a longtime member of Prestoncrest Church of Christ. She is survived by her children, Sue Hunt and her husband Larry of Garland and Bob Yancey and his wife Gale of Fairview; grandchildren, Glen Yancey of Allen, Julie Yancey of Fairview, Steve Hunt and his wife Sheri of Frisco, and Danny Hunt and his wife Lori of Rowlett; great-grandchildren, Mark and Mallory Yancey of Frisco, Dillon and Kyle Hunt of Rowlett, and Olivia Hunt of Frisco; and sisters, Mildred Morrison of Greenville and Patsy Hennings of Carlton, TX. Preceding her in death were her husband Sam in 1991; parents, Dudley and Maude Ames; and mother, Jessie White. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the Staff at Victoria Gardens in Allen for their care and support. Memorials may be made to Medina Children’s Home, 21300 State Hwy 16N, Medina, TX 75053-3808. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at Turrentine-Jackson-MorrowChapel with Brother James Burrow officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 PM at Brigham Cemetery in Campbell, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation at TurrentineJackson-Morrow Funeral Home on Tuesday evening beginning at 6:00 PM. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.

In Memoriam Don Loudder 04/29/1937 - 08/19/2007

Those we hold most dear never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they showed and the love they brought into our lives. Forever loved and forever missed, Tami & Scott

Zoffuto, Marcia McEntyre

A very loving and caring mother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away Sunday, August 17, at Medical City Hospital in Dallas. She grew up in Odessa, Texas and graduated from Permian High School in 1967. In 1968, as a student at West Texas State University she was a winner in the Amarillo Symphony Young Artists competition. She was chosen Miss West Texas in the Odessa pageant and went on to win the talent category and a finalist in the Miss Texas Pageant in Fort Worth. She earned a bachelor of music education degree from West Texas State University in 1972. An exceptionally talented musician and teacher, Marcia served as band director in schools in Highland Park, Richardson, Texas, Sam Houston Middle School in Garland and more recently from 1998 to 2008 was band director at Coyle Middle School in Garland, Texas. The Coyle Middle School band under her direction received many honors, including consistent UIL Sweepstakes and "Best in Class" awards at various festivals. On two occasions the Coyle Band won the CC State Honor Band competition and performed at the Texas Music Educators Convention. The band was invited to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle Washington, and in 2008 the Coyle Band was the only middle school asked to perform at the BOA Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. In March, 2008, in Miami, Florida, Marcia was invited to become a member of The American Bandmasters Association. On May 10, 2008, at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, Marcia was awarded the prestigious Bayard H. Friedman Hero Award for being the most outstanding Band Teacher in North Texas. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11AM at the First Methodist Church, 4405 Main Street, Rowlett, Texas, officiated by Dretha Burris. There will be a graveside service in Odessa on Thursday, August 21, 2008, 2PM at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Marcia is survived by her parents, J. R. and Evelyn McEntyre of Odessa; her sister, Janis Ann Naae, of Sugar Land, Texas; her children Kristen and James Sharp of Chicago, Illinois, Anne Marie Zoffuto of Canyon, Texas, Megan Zoffuto, of San Antonio, and Mac Zoffuto of Dallas and two grandsons, Hudson Sharp and Isaac Sharp, two nieces, Rachel Maneli and Sarah Maneli; two nephews, John Riley McEntyre and Ethan McEntyre. Marcia was preceded in death by her brother David Wayne McEntyre, and her brother John Howard McEntyre. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a scholarship fund for Marcia Zoffuto, which may be sent to Coyle Middle School, Rowlett, Texas, 4500 Skyline, Rowlett, Texas 75088 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

The Dallas Morning News

Many elevators, escalators are overdue for inspection

W

hat comes down should also go up. But to make sure, Texas requires all elevators and escalators in the state to be inspected annually. But at least 400 of the more than 8,000 elevators in Dallas County — and nearly 800 escalators — are overdue for their annual checkups, Texas Department of License and Regulation records show. As many as 1,000 do not have current certified state inspections, which means they are in the process of updating or repairing equipment. Some of the elevators needing inspections carry hundreds of people each day in shopping centers, apartment complexes, hotels and other facilities. But it may be tough for riders to find out about an elevator’s condition. A spot check of buildings in downtown Dallas found that many failed to post inspection information as required by law. While only a few people have died in Texas because of elevator or escalator safety problems, many more have been injured. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that nationally as many as 10,000 people a year are injured from elevators. Another 10,000 are hurt while riding escalators. Sticking an arm or a leg out to keep an elevator door

from closing is the cause of most elevator injuries. Such injuries are not just the fault of the person whose leg or arm was injured; elevator doors are designed to open if something gets in the way. The most common escalator injuries involve falls. To find out about the upkeep of the elevators or escalators you use, check out the newly revamped online inspection database on the Texas Department of License and Regulation’s Web site at www.license.state.tx.us. The agency’s staff spent months contacting building managers to make sure their records were current. They also removed from the database buildings that no longer exist. State law requires elevators, escalators and other moving equipment, such as wheelchair lifts and moving sidewalks, to be inspected annually by an inspector licensed with the Department of License and Regulation. But keeping up with the thousands of elevators and escalators in the state is hard work, said David Gonzales, who oversees the department’s mechanical division, which includes elevator inspections. Mr. Gonzales said that building manager turnover often keeps inspection reminders from going to the correct person. “The equipment would be easy to track if we didn’t have the human element involved,” he said. But you shouldn’t have to check a database to know when your elevator was last inspected. In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed a law

requiring elevator owners in publicly accessible buildings to post inspection certificates inside or outside the car. The certificate can be displayed elsewhere, but the owner must post information about where the certificate can be viewed. But many elevators have no information posted. I was at Dallas City Hall recently and found no inspection certificate or notice inside or outside the elevator. The elevators at the Frank Crowley Courts Building have no inspections or notices posted. I continued my search by checking a few buildings downtown. Only one, the Hyatt Regency, had a placard saying that the certificates of compliance were available at the information desk. But after being referred to several people, I was unable to see a copy of the certificate. State records show that the Hyatt elevator inspections are current. And kudos to Oak Cliff Tower in Dallas. There, the elevator placard sent me to the lobby desk, where the security guard handed me a binder containing inspections dated May 2008. If you think an elevator should be inspected or have inspection information posted, e-mail the Texas Department of License and Regulation at elevators.escalators@ license.tx. To get more information, including a link to elevator inspections, go to www.dallasnews.com/ watchdog. [email protected]

DALLAS

Council public safety panel targets convenience stores Proposal requires surveillance system, silent alarm By TANYA EISERER Staff Writer [email protected]

The Dallas City Council’s public safety committee on Monday recommended that security be tightened at roughly 950 convenience stores. The proposed ordinance, modeled after Houston’s policy, will be considered by the full council later this month. “It’s another tool in the toolbox to reduce crime,” said Elba Garcia, mayor pro tem and chairwoman of the safety committee. The proposal targets convenience stores and gas stations with less than 10,000 square feet of retail space. Between 2004 and 2007, there were about 6,300 police calls and about 3,800 serious crimes each year at convenience stores. Through the first part of August, the Police Department has recorded more than 3,200 calls. The proposal calls for: ■ Registration with the Dallas Police Department. ■ Installation of a surveillance camera system with a minimum of two digital, high-resolution color cameras. One

would be placed above the cash-register area and another would cover the front door. Stores would have to record 24 hours a day and retain recordings for at least 30 days. They would have an 18-month grace period to comply. ■ Installation of a silent panic or holdup alarm, and a drop safe bolted to the floor. The 18month grace period would apply. ■ Required participation in a criminal trespass affidavit program the Police Department will begin operating. Under the program, property owners and managers would sign an affidavit authorizing the Police Department to act on their behalf so that officers can issue criminal trespass warnings. “It gives the police officer the authority to act as the owner,” Deputy Chief Brian Harvey told the council. Information about businesses or properties taking part in the program will be uploaded into the city’s computer dispatch system. A person who receives a criminal trespass warning would also be uploaded. If the person returned, he or she would be arrested, police said. Police think the program will help reduce robberies, burglaries and vehicle breakins.

Minor crime options for officers On Wednesday, Dallas police expect to kick off a program that will allow them to write tickets for certain nonviolent offenses rather than taking the scofflaws to jail. How it works:

■ A state law that went into effect in the fall gives police authority to either arrest a suspect or write citations for a number of Class A and B misdemeanors. Dallas will limit the citations to four Class B misdemeanors — criminal mischief, theft, theft of service and theft by check. ■ To get a ticket instead of a trip to jail, the offender must live in Dallas County and the offense must take place in Dallas County. ■ Only adult offenders with valid ID can be ticketed. The offender must sign and fingerprint the ticket. ■ Officers will have the discretion to take a person to jail rather than giving a ticket. Potential benefits:

■ Improved response times because officers will spend less time taking minor offenders to jail. ■ Easing of jail crowding. Officials say as many as 2,203 offenders could have been ticketed rather than taken to jail under the program last year.

DAYCARE ABUSE?

JRLAWFIRM.COM

DALLAS, TX

1-800-288-6763

18-Aug-08 04:24:25p Tomahawk version: Tw-2.0.000 28-Mar-03 3:08

B0819SB006PQ B0819SB006PB

B6 _ 08-19-2008 Set: 22:03:58 Sent by: cbagwell News

BLACK