Church and basketball

The Final Four is in town, and, to give a little local flavor to the news reporting, WOAI talks about a local church that has been doing basketball for almost one hundred years.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church founded San Antonio's first church basketball team back in 1911.

A man by the name of Arthur Muir was the coach. In 1956, the church added stained glass windows honoring Muir's devotion to the church and his team.

St. Mark's is downtown on Pecan Street. Here's a picture from WOAI of some of that stained glass.

WOAI original photo

"Local Democratic Leaders Want To Eliminate Caucuses"

Heh heh heh.

Before this election cycle, no one paid much attention to Texas during the primaries. This was because, by the time we got to vote, the presidential candidates were pretty much locked away, and not very many people went to the polls because our votes didn't matter much. Therefore, apparently not very many people knew how screwed up the primary process was, either.

Well, this year, with the close race between Obama and Clinton, Texas Democrats did go to the polls, and they did find out how screwed up things were. Now, they seem ready to scrap the whole process, as KSAT-12 reports:

SAN ANTONIO -- Local Democratic party leaders are saying the state election process should be changed after mass confusion plagued caucuses over the weekend.

"We were unprepared for the tsunami of Democrats," said Carla Vela, Bexar County's Democratic party chairwoman. "My personal opinion; get rid of the Texas Two-Step, it's just too confusing for the people."

Texas' system of choosing a candidate for the primary election involves both a general election immediately followed by a caucus system which continues through multiple steps until the state convention. Saturday's process was the for the district's delegates.

Heh heh. "Mass confusion" and a "tsunami of Democrats." That's just Texas politics for ya.

"City Demands Stinky House Cleanup"

Oh, this is disgusting.

From WOAI:

San Antonio police went to arrest a wanted felon and stumbled across a major health hazard.

Police said the smell was almost unbearable as they approached the home on Hopeton on the Northwest Side.

Pictures show a house filled with feces from four large dogs and the man living inside.

That's right, the man was contributing his own piles of poop to go with the dogs' piles. Check out the slideshow for the full effect, and be glad it's not in Smell-O-Vision.

Taking education very, very seriously

I understand wanting the best for the children, but the guy in this story from Roger Croteau of the Express-News should probably relax a bit more.

NEW BRAUNFELS -- A middle school principal threatened to kill a group of science teachers if their students did not improve their standardized test scores, according to a complaint filed with the New Braunfels Police Department.

Anita White, who taught at New Braunfels Middle School for 18 years before being transferred this month to the district's Learning Center, said Principal John Burks made the threat in a Jan. 21 meeting with eighth-grade science teachers.

She said Burks was angry that scores on benchmark tests were not better, and the scores on the upcoming Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests must show improvement.

"He said if the TAKS scores were not as expected he would kill the teachers," White said. "He said 'I will kill you all and kill myself.' He finished the meeting that way and we were in shock. Obviously, we talked about it among ourselves. He just threatened our lives. After he threatened to kill us, he said, 'You don't know how ruthless I can be.'

"We walked out of the meeting just totally dumbfounded because it was not a joke," White said.

...

"It sounds like a case of TAKS tyranny taken to the extreme," said Joe Bean a spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association, who said teachers and administrators are often punished for disappointing test performance.

For some reason, I now think that the phrase "TAKS tyranny" gets used a lot more often than I ever would have thought before reading this story.

"Chase Ends When SUV Hits Child's Bedroom"

It's fortunate that the child was not hurt (and they say the gunshot victim will be OK, too), but once again a vehicle has rammed a home.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- A 2-year-old girl slept through the conclusion of a police chase that neared its end with a car crashing through her bedroom.

Isabela Cabrera was asleep in her bedroom at the front room of her family's home on the 4100 block of Goshen Pass on the city's northwest side when a SUV, driven by a man police said shot a restaurant manager in an earlier robbery, crashed through the home.

Cabrera was not hurt as the vehicle came to rest about two feet from her bed, said her parents.

That's enough to give any parent the willies.

Seymour Perkins loses

Seymour Perkins has lost, and his house will be torn down.

From WOAI:

The city is moving forward with plans to tear down a controversial house on the east side. A judge has ruled crews can demolish Seymour Perkin’s home, which police say is a haven for drug addicts and prostitutes.

Previous stuff here.

UPDATE: Perkins gets another reprieve: "Even as a bulldozer was prepared to raze the home at the corner of Nevada and East Hackberry roads, the attorney for homeowner Seymour Perkins stood in front of the construction vehicle as he sought a halt to the city's actions."

He gets time to prepare an appeal.

"City to Start Returning Stray Cats to Your Neighborhood"

Got stray cats? (Not these kind.) Don't bother turning them in to the city. They'll just give 'em back.

From WOAI:

The city is making a major change to meet its goal of having a “no-kill” shelter by 2012. In less than a week, Animal Care Services (ACS) will no longer accept trapped cats.

ACS receives close to 200 cats a month that either have to be killed or adopted out. Starting in April, the cats will be spayed or neutered, and then returned to where they came from.

As an unintended consequence, I think people will be trapping stray cats less, and possibly killing them more. Well, at least the shelter will be "no-kill."

Honoring hobos

Did you know that Kirby, a suburb of San Antonio, was once known as the "Hobo Capital of Texas?"

I didn't, but it apparently was. And the Kirbyites seem to be proud of the label, proud enough to hold a Hobo Festival.

The Northeast Herald explains:

Organizer Larry Wolfe said the idea came to pass when Councilman Mike Grant did some research and found out Kirby was once known as “Hobo Capital of Texas” due to a large number of “hobos” gathering under the railway bridge just outside of town.

While the moniker faded decades ago, many in the city thought it might be worth the city’s efforts to pay homage to a piece of its distant past.

“We thought it would be nice, nostalgic, something to give our park committee some way to raise funds, so we developed a theme for it,” Wolfe said.

The city is attempting to contract with a carnival for the three-day period, he said. “Right now, starting out we’re going to have an auction, a chili cook-off, a parade on Saturday, a talent contest, and we’re working on getting a second stage for bands for our younger groups,” he said.

Ah, nostalgia for under-the-bridge-dwelling hobos. I guess we all have something we can be proud of.

Oh, by the way, the festival will be held May 2-4 at Kirby City Park.

Hooters truck

I know, I know, I know -- I have to start taking my camera with me more often when I venture out. Today would have been a perfect Strange in San Antonio moment.

Here's what I saw: a pick-up truck with the side of the bed plastered with Hooters bumper stickers.

I can understand a vehicle used for advertising (I've seen those cars with ad wraps driving the road), but this was no professional job. It looked like some guy just got hold of some stickers from Hooters and decided to put them all over the side of his truck. It was kind of funny-looking, and definitely strange.

And I didn't have my camera with me.

Oh well, I hope my description has been clear enough so you can imagine what I saw. And, if you are out and about, and you happen to see the truck I was talking about (and you have your camera handy), see if you can snap a few pictures.

"Just ash with rain? Not so fast"

The mud rain we got on Tuesday might have been good for car washes and annoying to the average Joe, but it seems to be generating some fun for scientists.

From Graeme Zielinski of the Express-News:

"This is very enjoyable," said Joel Gilbert, a University of Texas at El Paso geological sciences coordinator who was reviewing satellite images of Tuesday's weather to explain the event and who is researching a similar outbreak of "milky rain" in southern Arizona in January.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Thursday put out its initial account of Tuesday's event as caused by a "complex mix" of pollutants, citing smoke from Mexico and Central America, localized plumes of dust in Texas and Mexico and wildfires in South Texas aggravated by the strong winds.

This came as part of an unusual juxtaposition in which the wind-blown dust came before the rain instead of after it, said Robert Blaha, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in New Braunfels (who was not the source of the initial ash description.)

Forrest Mims III, a science consultant and a freelance columnist for the Express-News, took a sample of the stuff from his window and put it under the microscope, forwarding some of his findings to TCEQ.

"There's one black spore and there are three possible soot particles and everything else is dirt, dust, sand. I would say that it's probably less than 1 percent smoke, and that's being generous," he said.

Joe Baskin, the weather service meteorologist who initially thought that what blew over here was mostly smoke since that's what it looked like in photos, said another look indicated that it likely was dust. (The weather service isn't responsible for investigating the stuff once it leaves clouds.)

David Gay, acting director of the Illinois-based National Atmospheric Deposition Program, said his government-funded network of researchers had five sample sites in South Texas and would be able to review initial findings as early as next week.

Sounds like a good day to be a researcher.

"Sewage Spills Out At Medical Center Strip Mall"

Blech!

(from KSAT-12):

Clogged pipes are the likely reason raw sewage began spilling into businesses at the shopping center on the 7200 block of Wurzbach Road in the Medical Center, some tenants said. They've complained about the smell before, but something caused sewage backup and forced some of the businesses to close.

"The odor is quite horrendous, and it feels like it's unsanitary to go shopping in these stores," shopper Sandra Cantu said.

To say the least.

A person who should probably have thought things out more

If you work as an accountant for a company, it might not be a good idea to ride around in limousines.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- Investigators seized most of the belongings Tuesday of a woman accused of embezzling millions from the company where she worked.

Yami Harper worked as an account specialist for Valley Building Specialists and authorities said she embezzles [sic] about $2.5 million from the company over the past six years.

"This is following a 7-month investigation of misappropriation of an employ," said Susan Reed, Bexar County's district attorney. "She was writing checks to individuals who had no business having checks written to them."

Neighbors said they had suspicions of their own, saying they often saw Harper being picked up and dropped off by a limo and taking frequent trips to Trinidad.

That's a lot of embezzling.

"Bomb Scare Forces Alamo Plaza Evacuation"

It's not too often that the area in front of the Alamo is devoid of people during the middle of the day, but a bomb scare will do it.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- A bomb scare prompted police to evacuate Alamo Plaza briefly Monday afternoon, but the suspicious backpack turned out to be nothing dangerous.

After evacuating the plaza and taking other precautions, members of the SAPD Bomb Squad x-rayed the package that showed no explosive materials, but decided to detonate the package to be safe.

Apparently, the package contained just books and clothes. Could be there's a student somewhere in this town that must start over now.

"Alcoholic Drinks May Cost Dime More"

This seems like a rather pointless endeavor. Unless, of course, your point is to find one more new tax for the city.

From KSAT-12:

A collaborative effort between three San Antonio groups could cost alcoholic beverage consumers some extra pocket change one drink at a time as the San Antonio Police Department, along with the city of San Antonio and Metro Health, is working on an initiative intended to battle alcohol abuse and drunken driving in the Alamo City.

The initiative proposes a ten-cent fee on every alcoholic beverage purchased and consumed as well as increased legal penalties and tougher state enforcement level.

Any bets on where this money will end up being spent?

"Donkeys Gallop Along Neighborhood Streets"

Truly strange in San Antonio.

From WOAI:

Two donkeys ran free in a southeast side neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.

The two donkeys escaped from a near by [sic] farm around Red Haven and South W.W. White road on Saturday.

Neighbors and local wrangles [sic] worked for more than two hours to capture the animals. The donkeys kept darting through fields and even across people's front lawns.

Chickens -- not so strange.

Donkeys -- a bit stranger.

Wait a minute, are the Democratic primaries still going on?

Teaching you ...

... how to use a door.




















In all fairness, the door seems to have some kind of automatic function for people in wheelchairs, and apparently it can be activated by simply pulling on the door.





















But, still, the little blue sign is a bit surprising in its obviousness.

"Man Stabbed In Buttocks, Day Gets Worse"

There's nothing like family to ruin your day.

From KSAT-12:

Police responded to a call at Glen Crest Road and Interstate 10 where a car transporting a man stabbed multiple times in his buttocks and lower body had run out of gas.

The driver transporting the victim was the man who attacked him, police said.

"What we were told is they were in the house painting and somehow, a fight broke out," SAPD spokesman David Scepanski said. "At one point, the stepfather produced a weapon and then, of course, stabbed the stepson four to five times in the buttocks and one in the lower extremities."

Never bring knives to painting parties. It seems to turn out bad.

"Lytle-Area Strip Club Shut Down"

Well, The Cabaret Dance Club in Lytle has closed down.

KSAT-12 has the story.

The Cabaret strip club was shutdown [sic] by the Medina County Sheriff's office and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission after two strippers were arrested for public lewdness and a club bouncer was arrested for having an outstanding warrant.

Three customers were arrested for various charges, including one for possession of a prohibited weapon and two others on drug charges.

"The people have spoken," Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown said. "It is not who we are here in Medina County, it's not what we want in Medina County and we are going to work to get something in the books to keep this from happening again.["]

Sounds like they were just waiting for someone in this club to screw up so they could shut it down. Prigs. I wonder if they will start watching all clubs and bars with the same scrutiny.

"Judge Refuses To Recuse Self After DWI Charge"

How often does this situation occur?

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- Days after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, a Bexar County judge has refused to recuse himself while his case is pending.

Judge Raymond Angelini was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of drunken driving, and Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed filed a motion to have Angelini recused from hearing criminal cases.

A judge ruled Angelini would not have to fully recuse himself from his caseload, but that he could not hear any alcohol-related cases nor any cases involving the officers in his DWI case.

I can see how such situations would be awkward.

"Man Stuck in Tree"

It must have been a slow day for fires.

From WOAI:

Neighbors said the 83 year-old man had been climbing in his trees to trim them all week. They said they were concerned that something could happen to him.

Those neighbors' suspicion[s] unfortunately came true. They were forced to call for help on Saturday afternoon after a couple people noticed him dangling from a tree in his backyard.

Six fire crews responded to help get the elderly man down man [sic].

Wouldn't one ladder truck have been quite enough?

"Huge Stone Oak Grass Fire"

Well, it was a grass fire, but I don't know if ten acres warrants the word "huge."

(From WOAI)

Strange at the medical center

This is posted as a service to the community, gently reminding you to clean out your car.

[Thanks to Silver Creek 78250]

WOAI Trouble Shooters ask, "Could Corn Tortillas Be Causing Cancer?"

And I think the answer, judging from the Trouble Shooters story, is, who knows?

For nearly two years now, the News 4 Trouble Shooters have been investigating why people living near the former Kelly Air Force Base are dying of liver cancer at a rate twice as high as other parts of Texas. Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila tells us why health officials are now studying whether a very popular food here in South Texas could be responsible.

...

Many people living in the area are convinced their health problems are the result of the TCE, which was found to have seeped into groundwater. The plume of contaminated water was first mapped out in 1999 and stretched underneath 22,000 homes across the south and southwest sides of town. The area was even dubbed the "Toxic Triangle."

In the last few years, the plume has shrunk because the air force is slowly cleaning it up.

However, a number of studies have failed to connect TCE exposure, to the cancer cases. [Director of the Health Department Dr. Fernando] Guerra told us, "For the most part, we did not find an association in the study that we did, which is reassuring."

So now, the health department is going in a different direction. Texas A&M and Texas Tech researchers are now studying whether corn, like you'd find in corn tortillas, could be causing the liver cancer.

Dr. Kirby Donnelly, who is heading up the study from A&M's end, said it's not as silly as it sounds, when he sat down with Jaie Avila recently.

Avila asked, "You've got this TCE underground in the ground water, and yet you guys are studying corn tortillas."

Dr. Donnelly answered, "Yes, and I'm sympathetic to that frustration. I know on the surface it sounds like, 'Oh, you're coming here and we've got this environmental problem. We know the trichloriethelene's in the ground water. We know that these chlorinated solvents are getting into our households and you're looking at tortillas, and everybody eats tortillas, but not every doesn't get liver cancer.' Well, the issue, the more important issue is, the people who get liver cancer are likely getting liver cancer because of a number of things. Not just their environment. Not just their nutrition. Not just their genes."

...

You are probably wondering, if corn tortillas are to blame, why don't more of us who eat them get liver cancer? Not just people living near Kelly? Well, researchers tell us they think there may be a combination of factors, unique to that area, contributing to the cancer rate, such as the pollution, genetics, and perhaps, corn tortillas.

Now, I'm not a doctor, nor am I a university researcher, but if I had to take a wild shot at investigating possible causes of cancer in a specific area and the list of possible problems were contaminated groundwater, pollution, genetics, or corn tortillas, I might try to definitively rule out the first three before spending money to study enchiladas and chalupas.

Just sayin' --

"Are Corn Tortillas Causing Cancer?"

Mercy. Is it still sweeps month? "Hundreds of San Antonians who lived near Kelly mysteriously died of cancer. News 4 Investigation uncovers a possible cause, Wednesday at 10pm."

I admit, the corn tortilla headline did catch my eye.

"Groups Protest At News 4"

Kudos to WOAI for reporting their own bad news.

Community advocates and members of a Hispanic labor organization protested at News 4 Monday.

Members of a nationwide labor union called Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAC) are accusing News 4 management of discrimination.

They say because David Cruz is no longer the co-anchor on News 4's 5 p.m. broadcast, the station is ignoring more than half of San Antonio's population, which is Hispanic.

"We want to make sure that you start hiring some Hispanic professionals, and to respect their dignity and their worth, and the work that they're doing at WOAI," said Jaime Martinez, President of L.C.L.A.C.

I wonder what Mr. Martinez thinks of other WOAI news team members, such as Kristina De Leon, Jaie Avila, Maclovio Perez, Demond Fernandez, and Jacqueline Ortiz.

"Three People Pinned Between a Truck and Van"

WOAI reports on an accident involving cars and plumbing. The event was held by the San Antonio Water System to give out low-flow toilets.

Three men are in the hospital, after being pinned between a truck and a van. It happened on Saturday afternoon at the old Albertsons on Highway 151 and Potranco.

After the impact, people were digging through boxes of toilets to get down to one of the SAWS workers who was screaming in pain.

...

The three men were loading the toilet into a red truck when a white van slammed into them.

...

The driver of the white van was still in shock when we spoke to him, but he said he thinks the van simply malfunctioned.

"It has to be the accelerator, (it) got stuck," said the driver of the van. "I don't know how, I was just really surprised."

The SAWS workers were hurt, but nothing seems to be life-threatening.

Death threat spam

Wow, the spammers are really getting scary.

From WOAI:

The subject line of "Be More Careful" was enough to get one woman's attention. The rest of the letter was even more disturbing.

"Right then and there, I was real scared," she told us.

The woman asked to not be identified, but she showed us e-mails sent to her with death threats.

"Now, do you want to live or die as someone has paid us to kill you," she read from the e-mail. "Get back to me now, if you are ready to pay some fees to spare your life."

The letters said people were monitoring her every move and ordered her to reply to "Death Dealers RIP."

...

The woman contacted the police and an officer told her the e-mail most likely is a scam. The FBI tells us they are familiar with the e-mails and take them seriously.

Always, always delete e-mails if you don't recognize the sender. Spammers are a scourge, and we should all beware. If there truly is a person that is sending out fake death threats to get scared people to cough up some money, that person has crossed the line from slimy marketing to outright extortion.

Bruce Bowen - Flashdancer

Follow the link if you've ever wanted to see a San Antonio Spur dance like a maniac.

[Hat tip: WOAI]

UPDATE: Link is no longer good. The NBA shut it down.

Car crashes into home

Well, this hasn't been reported in a while. (from KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO -- A pickup crashed into a home Tuesday morning on the East Side of San Antonio.

A man was traveling westbound on East Houston at 7 a.m. when it hit a curb and then crashed into a front bedroom of a home in the 4200 block of Roark, police said.

No one in the home was hurt.

I initally chose to highlight these instances of vehicular destruction because they seemed to happen quite often in San Antonio, and it was the frequency of the events that I found strange. And then, I got to thinking about it again, and I came to the conclusion that, no matter how often or how seldom it happens, a car actually crashing into a house is still strange. I'm still gonna highlight them.

"ACS Makes Largest Animal Seizure in SA History"

Holy cow! How can one person possibly keep track of 111 dogs!

From WOAI:

It's being called the largest animal seizure in the history of San Antonio.

A spokeswoman from Animal Care Services told News 4 investigators got a tip that a woman was housing a large number of animals at a home on the Southwest
Side.

During a raid, more than a hundred dogs were found inside the home on Covel Road. All but 13 of the dogs were living inside the house and in extremely unsanitary conditions. Some of them, investigators said, were living in their own waste.

Clearly a case of animal hoarding. Poor woman. And poor dogs.

"Dancing No Longer On Restaurant Menu"

Well, it looks like the busybodies won one. All you waiters and waitresses, watch out, especially if you work in District 5.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- Waitresses at a Mexican restaurant on the city's West Side will no longer dance while serving customers, District 5 Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan said Wednesday.

Galvan said that the city and the owner of Mariposas Cafe reached a compromise after residents complained and protested about the provocative dancing going on in the eatery.

...

While the waitresses will not be dancing, they will be allowed to keep their outfits, Galvan said.

Marion Luna, the restaurant's owner, said that she respects the wishes of the community and asks that residents respect her business.

Luna said that her waitresses did nothing wrong and she was trying to create a niche in the competitive restaurant industry.

Hooray for Luna's entrepreneurial spirit. Boo on Galvan's priggishness.

"La Mariposa, Neighbors Reach Compromise"

KSAT-12 reports that City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan has come to the rescue, brokering a truce between La Mariposa, the "Mexican Hooters", and the neighbors.

The owner of La Mariposa and members of the Avenida Guadalupe Neighborhood Association were met by District 5 City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan, and compromises were agreed upon, according to a press release from Galvan.

Details of the agreement are expected to be announced Wednesday.

Thank heaven for politicians.

"Clinton Coming To SA"

This is absolutely strange in San Antonio (from KSAT-12):

With the Democratic Party nomination for president likely to be affected by Texas' March 4 primary, the remaining candidates are beginning to make the Lone Star state a priority.

...

Clinton is expected to speak at a campaign rally beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the grounds of St. Mary's University.

Clinton and Obama have tentatively agreed to a debate on Feb. 28 in Houston.

This is strange not just in San Antonio, but pretty much all of Texas. Since the presidential primaries in this state happen in March, the candidates for each party are pretty much locked down by the time we get to vote. As a result, the primaries in Texas mean little or nothing, and the candidates usually forsake the Lone Star State in their campaigns. With such close races this year, especially on the Democratic side, the candidates are suddenly paying attention to us.

I don't know if you like their attention or not, but it is unusual.

"La Mariposa Draws Protestors"

Oh Lord. Isn't there anything else better to do?

From KSAT-12:

A small group of protestors assembled across the street from La Mariposa, located at the intersection of Guadalupe and Trinity streets.

The reason? Waitresses at the tiny eatery dance suggestively for customers as they serve food, but with no nudity, the restaurant does not fall under the realm of the city's sexually oriented business codes.

"I know you have it guised as a cafe, but do [sic] ahead and place a sign out there on what it really is," one protestor said. "It shouldn't be out in this area near schools. Move it out in an area where there is a business district." [emphasis added]

What's next? A code of conduct for all waitresses in all restaurants in the city?

"Neighborhood Finds Unique Way To Send City A Message"

I understand being upset if your neighborhood needs sidewalks; San Antonio has a serious shortage of safe places for pedestrians, and I wish there were more sidewalks everywhere. But is this really any way to protest?

WOAI reports:

A message spray painted on a fence on the Northwest Side is getting plenty of attention. The question is -- will it help?

People living near Old Tezel and New Gilbeau are fed up. They feel like something's missing in their neighborhood. So, at least one of them decided to try something a little different to get their message out.

The 'tagged' message is pretty clear, "Old Tezel Road Needs A Sidewalk."

"I think that we've seen a lot of accidents taking place because there is no curb there," explained concerned resident Judith de Santiago. "We see cars swerving into the fences as you're driving."

Geez. What sense does it make to uglify your own neighborhood because you are mad at how slow the wheels at city hall turn?

No sidewalk? Well, put up grafitti on your own fence.

No trash pick-up? Hmm, maybe we can burn a few tires.

Need a streetlight? How about breaking a few windows.

Oh, well. At least it's not my neighborhood.

UPDATE: And, at least they're not in the U.N.

More people angry at a strip club

This time the business is in Lytle.

Lytle?

KSAT-12 says "yes":

LYTLE, Texas -- About 20 miles southwest of San Antonio, residents of this small town are coming together to protest a new business opened to capitalize on the purient interests of Atascosa County.

The Cabaret Dance Club has opened just outside the city limits, which has prompted some in the commuity to protest the establishment, even if it falls outside the legal reach of the city limits.

Lytle currently has an ordinance against sexually oriented businesses, but the new club is located outside the city boundary, leaving protestors upset about the services and people associated with the business, but with little legal recourse.

Hmm, I wonder if any San Antonio City Council members are from Lytle, where -- at just under 2,400 residents -- everybody probably knows your name. Even the strippers.

UPDATE: Dave at Silver Creek 78250 -- ever handy with the camera -- has taken a picture of The Cabaret Dance Club, and you can see it at this post on his adventure southwest of San Antonio. You will not believe how incredibly small and unassuming this place is. It's little! Man, you get a few customers in there with just a couple of dancers and you run the risk of going over the fire marshal's occupancy limit! The best way for the protesters to shut this place down is to just all show up at the same time and demand a drink!

"Residents Upset At La Mariposa Customers"

It's been called the Mexican Hooters. It's a restaurant where the waitresses serve up a little dance with the food. And it's a good thing it's not in Diane Cibrian's council district.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- Following a KSAT 12 News report about a new west side restaurant, some people are up in arms over what they said is more than just food.

La Mariposa, located at the intersection of Guadalupe and Trinity streets, is fast becoming known as a well-liked place to eat – namely for its provocatively dancing waitresses.

...

District 5 City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan said she has received numerous complaints about the restaurant, but she said there was not much she can do if there’s nothing illegal happening in the restaurant.

"Unless we can find probable cause that is causing something illegal in there other than that, I don't believe we can do anything about it," she said.

La Mariposa means "the butterfly." I guess it's a good thing they didn't name the restaurant after some obscure island in the Caribbean.

San Antonio is burning

Loads of plants grew over the summer. Drought has dried them. Winds have been blowing. Prime fire conditions for South Central Texas.

From WOAI in the past two days:

"Grass Fire On West Side Comes Right Up To Doors of Homes"

A grass fire on the West Side came right up to the doors of nearby homes.

The fire started in the 7700 block of Medina Base Road, near Loop 410. Seven fire units were dispatched to fight the fire.

"Residents Grabbed Hoses to Fight Back Grass Fire on South Side"

The fire broke out near Highway 16 and IH-35 around 4:15 p.m.

The fire spread into the backyards of several houses in the area. Some residents grabbed garden hoses and started spraying the flames in an attempt to save their homes.

"After Such A Rainy Summer, Why Is It So Dry?"

We had such a wet summer, why are we having such a hazardous fire season?

The overall weather pattern has really turned completely around during the past year. Last year started with the wettest six month period ever in San Antonio. That was followed by the second driest 6-month period ever, and it's still dry.

...

To give you an idea, last November the Geronimo Village went on one brush fire, as it got drier in December that jumped to 56. Just last month in January, they went on 85 brush fires.

"La Salle County Prepares For More Fires"

Fires have burned more than 30,000 acres in La Salle County.

That's about 47 square miles. To put that into perspective, it's an area larger than all of Bexar County.

"Barn At Rodeo Catches Fire"

Firefighters battled a fire at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Monday afternoon.

The flames broke out around 3:00 p.m. on the roof of a horse barn.

Firefighters have been busy lately.

"Man Robbed Store Of Cash, Tamales"

Well, I guess robbers get hungry, too. And this is San Antonio. And the tamales were Delicious.

KSAT-12 has the story:

The suspect allegedly walked into the Delicious Tamales restaurant on the 3500 block of South Presa Street, pulled out a gun and demanded cash from a store employee.

Police said the man took an undetermined amount of cash along with a dozen tamales before locking the employee in an oven.

The oven was not turned on, according to investigators, who said police arrested the suspect in the 100 block of Arlington Court with evidence linking him to the crime.

I wonder what that evidence was. Husks?

And the next question is, If they were "delicious" tamales, why take only a dozen?

Chupacabra!

Now with new test results!

Remember Phylis Canion, the ranchwoman who wanted her dead, mangy coyote to be a chupacabra, so much so that she wasn't happy with a local college's DNA results and swore to get more tests done?

Well, she did. And the results are back. And the creature is not just a coyote. In fact, it's also part Mexican wolf! Booga booga!

From KENS-5:

Its DNA has been flown across the continent as Cuero residents search for a final answer about their mysterious, blood-sucking beast.

The much-anticipated results are back from experts at the University of California at Davis.

...

Results from the University of California at Davis show the animal is in fact a mutt: on the mother's side it is part coyote.

"On the paternal side, it had Mexican wolf in it," said Canion.

Scientists from the University of California at Davis say they can't tell when the Mexican wolf heritage made its way into the gene pool.

Canion's still not happy. She wants more tests to be done.

The Cuero rancher said she expects further testing to find out where all the hair has gone and why the animal, she says, seems to crave just blood from its victims.

And she REALLY wants it to be a chupacabra. Why, you might ask?

T-shirt sales of the chupacabra are still going strong, with more than 16,000 sold already.

There's even been legal action to keep some knock-offs from being sold on eBay where they were going for three times the price.

That's why.

Boobie Rock shot down

Well, it looks like the Boobie Rock case won't go to trial after all, as KSAT-12 reports:

SAN ANTONIO -- A Bexar County judge ruled late Friday afternoon that will prevent a controversial strip club from opening on the city’s north side.

The judge upheld a covenant preventing adult-oriented businesses – such as Boobie Rock – from opening at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Huebner Road.

District 8 City Councilwoman Diane Cibrian announced the judge’s decision to enforce deed restrictions placed on the property in 1995 and 1996.

The Boobie Rock lawyers may appeal.

By the way, the real Booby Rock is an island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here it is, according to Google Maps.

"Mountains Of Mountain Cedar!"

Oh, God! 18,400 is no longer the highest!

WOAI reports:

Today's Mountain Cedar count is 21,300 (heavy). That's the highest it's been so far.

Pollen chokes the air. Heaven help us allergy sufferers.

That's "Little," to you

The poor woman in this KSAT-12 report is understandably shaken up, but I don't think what she said is what she meant.

SAN ANTONIO -- On Tuesday, Judy Alva said she was taken aback by a highway hazard, except this was not one she was prepared for.

“One minute I had a windshield, the next second it was gone,” she said.

...

She said a large chunk of concrete fell on her vehicle as she drove through an underpass at Loop 410 and Highway 281 near the airport.

“I didn’t know what to think,” she said. “I felt a little like chicken noodle, I guess.”

I think she meant this. Or maybe she meant soup. Who knows?

"Fate Of Boobie Rock Going To Jury Trial"

Next chapter in the Boobie Rock story: the case goes to trial February 11. Stay tuned.

(KSAT-12 angle here.)

"Man Uses Baby Death Story to Get Drug Money"

A Seguin man gets his drug money the really old-fashioned way: he begs for it.

From WOAI:

Police say Fidencio Magallanes, Jr. went door-to-door asking for money to pay for an infant's funeral. Officers arrested the 26-year-old after getting a call from the funeral home's director.

Police say he wanted the money to buy drugs. He's been charged with a probation violation. It's unknown if any additional charges will be filed.

I don't know if panhandling door-to-door is a crime, but it's not very far removed from the people who knock on your door and try to sell you subscriptions you don't want. Really. I've been hit up by guys who have practically begged me to buy magazines from them. OK, actually I mean literally begged me.

At least the infant funeral angle is a new one.

"Mother and Daughter Sentenced in Alleged Sex Slave Ring Case"

Who knew pimping could be a family business?

From WOAI:

Two women accused of forcing other women into prostitution were sentenced this week.

Isabel Consuelo Ochoa and her daughter, Consuelo Pilar Ochoa, pled guilty to bringing teens from Nuevo Laredo to work as prostitutes in the San Antonio area.

According to News Radio 1200 WOAI, Isabel Ochoa, was released with time served, and was placed on probation. Her daughter, Consuelo Ochoa, received a year and a half sentence, plus another three years for drug possession.

Wow.

People who should think a little more ...

... so as not to be so conspicuous.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- A robber escaped with an unspecified amount of money from a store on the city’s northwest side Wednesday evening while using an unorthodox weapon of choice.

Police said a man walked into a store on the 440 block of DeZavala Road and threatened the employee with a hockey stick. [What's hockey? --ed. I'm not sure. Maybe it's something they do up north.]

While police are searching for the robber, the employee told KSAT 12 News he recognized the person who allegedly threatened him as a regular customer. [emphases added]

"Mountain Cedar Highest Ever"

Ugh.

Today's Mountain Cedar count is 18,400 (heavy). That's astronomically high.

Because our rainfall is less than normal, the cedar tree is absorbing ground water at an alarming rate, which in turn produces more pollen. With every front that blows through, the winds pick up the pollen and spreads like a wildfire. A 2nd wave of cold air is expected tonight and will also carry more pollen.

Feh.

"Naomi Fuentes Pleads No Contest"

Remember Naomi Fuentes, the woman who abandoned her family and skipped town because she stole some money from her employer and was about to be caught? She has chosen not to fight the charges against her.

KSAT-12 reports:

SAN ANTONIO -- Naomi Fuentes, a mother of two whose mysterious disappearance touched off a massive search and who was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her employer, pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges of misapplication of funds.

A judge then ordered a presentencing investigation and scheduled formal sentencing for March 10. Fuentes faces a minimum punishment of probation and a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

...

During Fuentes' disappearance, it was revealed that her employer, Cox Radio reported thousands of dollars missing. Fuentes has since paid $62,000 back to the company, Rodriguez said.

That's no small chunk o' change.

"3 Dump Truck Drivers Injured"

KSAT reports on an odd chain of events:

Police said a dump truck belonging to Williams Brothers Construction pulled over to the shoulder of the eastbound lanes of Highway 151 near Potranco road after it had stalled.

A second dump truck driver pulled over to check out what was wrong and was standing outside the stalled-out truck when a third dump truck crashed into the stalled vehicle, police said.

...

The impact sent the second driver onto the grassy shoulder, police said. The driver of the third truck had to be cut out of the wreckage. The victims were transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center.

Watch out for those dump trucks.

"Fate Of "Boobie Rock" Strip Club On Hold"

A Boobie Rock update from WOAI:

The fate of a San Antonio strip club is on hold -- again.

'Boobie Rock' was supposed to open near I-10 and Huebner last year. But a covenant between that land owner and the building next door to the club stopped that opening and the dispute ended up in court.

So, what's next for the defense and the plaintiff in this now infamous strip club saga?

Both sides had very strong arguments Thursday and could not come to an agreement. Now, the judge in the case will have to consider all of the information and try to come to a decision.

...

With Monday being Martin Luther King Day, the judge said he will not reconvene until Tuesday. We'll then find out if Boobie Rock will be built, will close before it opens, or whether the dispute will go on to a trial by jury.

Stay tuned.

Bringing people here

Alan at Blogonomicon and Dave at Silver Creek 78250 have both done posts about odd search requests that people have typed in that pointed to their blogs (Examples: Blogonomicon, Silver Creek 78250), and that got me to thinking: How strange can a search request get that directs people to a blog that promises strangeness?

Well, here are a few recent search strings that pulled up posts on this blog. Judge for yourself.

Is it legal to carry my bow and aroows in public Texas? -- Result.
Dangers in the San Antonio River -- Result.
Man in dress picture -- Result.
What are the causes of raw sewage? (C'mon, I think we all know the real answer) -- Result.

True stuff.

Lucha Libre

Masked wrestling in San Antonio -- it's Lucha Libre!

Vincent Davis's Express-News article here. Delcia Lopez's photos here.

"EMT Trainer Connected to Accident Victim"

OK, this is odd.

From WOAI:

Another strange twist in the case of a woman left for dead after a car accident: a connection between the victim, Erica Smith, and the EMT trainer on call.

...

Paramedics called Geof Smith for help. During the phone call, he learned someone in the other car was asking for him. The driver, Sabrina Shaner, is his Goddaughter.

Smith's wife Cori told News 4 they have known two people involved in the accident, Sabrina Shaner and Erica Smith, their whole lives. Geof Smith picked Sabrina Shaner up when she was released from jail after a DWI charge.

"This was a terrible chain of events. The tragedy that started that morning has had a snowball effect. That continues to become more and more negative," said Cori Smith.

A strange and profoundly sad situation for all invovled.

[Covered previously here.]

"Councilwoman wants change in definition of restaurants"

Councilwoman Diane Cibrian just can't leave well enough alone. Not only is she making things difficult for a new strip club -- which is a perfectly legal enterprise, by the way -- she wants to make it difficult for anyone to open a restaurant in the future.

From KENS-5:

Councilwoman Diane Cibrian is proposing changes to the [Unified Development Code]. She wants to make sure adult[] clubs, like the Boobie Rock, aren’t serving more than just food.

“Just because you provide food, doesn’t mean you’re a restaurant,” Cibrian said.

...

Cibrian wants to define how the city classifies restaurants. It’s a definition that currently doesn’t exist.

“So if it’s a not a restaurant, it’ll move to a night club. When they apply for night club zoning, they’re going to have to get a special use permit, so that at least we have notification,” she said.

Granted, I don't know a whole lot about the zoning process, but I predict that, if Cibrian is successful, such a change will affect more than just new strip clubs. It will also affect any entrepreneur that attempts to open any establishment that serves food. Cibrian certainly doesn't appear to be pro-business in this case, something the voters in District 8 might want to keep in mind come next election.

"Mother Jailed For Alleged Retaliation Against Teenager"

KSAT-12 tells of a woman who doesn't want you to mess with her kids, even to the point of denying them.

Monica Gonzales, 37, is in the Bexar County Jail Thursday evening after Bexar County sheriff’s officials said she allegedly retaliated after a 14-year-old boy shoved her 12-year-old son.

...

Investigators allege Gonzales, along with her three sons, drove up to the 14-year-old and blocked his escape. Once cornered by Gonzales, deputies said, her 21-year-old son, Jose Gonzales Torres Jr., attacked the 14-year-old with a baseball bat.

...

The victim was able to escape and called deputies, but when confronted, Gonzales refused to implicate her eldest son, even denying she had one, investigators said.

“Because of her lack of cooperation at the scene, we could not identify the other male,” [sheriff’s investigator Aaron] Vonmuldau said. “When we finally got him identified, he's already on the run."

That's one mean mama.

More Mexican candy recalled

More candy from Mexico is being recalled due to concerns over lead. For the third time!

From KSAT-12:

AUSTIN, Texas -- Another Mexican candy is being recalled due to elevated levels of lead that could cause health problems.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said a San Antonio company voluntarily recalled a third candy imported from Mexico.

Villa-Mex Imports recalled Miguelito Azucar Salada Enchilada Acidulada.

The candy is a reddish powder in a clear cellophane packet with blue lettering.

...

Villa-Mex earlier voluntarily recalled Barrilito and Tarritos.

It's almost as if lead was a seasoning. Villa-Mex needs to put forth some serious public relations efforts.

"Country Scientist: Winds may have forged old link between Japan, Texas"

Forrest M. Mims III writes in the San Antonio Express-News about an ancient link between Texas and Japan.

Each spring, powerful wind storms sweep across China and Japan. The storms carry dust from the Gobi desert over the Pacific Ocean and sometimes all the way to Texas.

These wind storms may explain why one of the world's rarest mushrooms is found in only two locations on opposite sides of the globe. In the distant past an ancient windstorm may have blown spores from the rare mushrooms to Texas.

The mushroom is known to botanists as Chorioactis geaster. In Texas it's known as the devil's cigar because of its appearance when it emerges from the soil and the smoke-like cloud of spores it emits. I prefer its newer name, the Texas star.

...

Chorioactis geaster is very rare in Texas and even rarer in Japan, where it is designated as "critically endangered."

In Texas, it is found growing from cedar elm stumps and roots along creeks between Arlington and Guadalupe County.

In Japan, it grows from the mossy stumps or trunks of decaying oaks on steep, heavily wooded slopes along a few streams on the island of Kyushu.

A little strange, but also pretty cool.

Tooting their own horns

WOAI reports on a home invasion, and in the process seems to suggest that the criminals had a musical bent. [emphases added]

Three masked men kick down the door of a home on the east side. The family inside was held at gunpoint, robbed of their money, identification and even their car.

The woman who was asleep inside that home shared her story with News 4.

The woman, who wished to remain unidentified, said she was scared for her life. The mother of four said she was sound asleep Friday night when three men, all dressed in all black, kicked in her door.

"They put us on the floor with blankets on top," said the woman. "They took my babies in the back and [told] them to lay down on the floor too,'" she continued.

The woman said the masked {men} demanded money and drugs. But the woman told the buglers she didn't have any drugs.

"They said you're lying you're lying and I said no, the only money I have is in my purse," explained the woman.

The buglers took her purse along with her IDs, Social Security card and her truck.

Here's a helpful link for the writer/editor.

Seymour Perkins reprieved

Seymour Perkins, outsider artist par excellence, has gotten a temporary restraining order that keeps the City of San Antonio from tearing down his home.

WOAI reports:

The city wants to tear it down, but a judge has ruled the house - that is known to attract drugs and prostitutes - will remain standing for now.

The house is on Hackberry. Neighbors call it a "haven for crime." But Seymor Perkins, 78, say[s] it's his art school, his home, and he's fighting to save it.

The city was supposed to tear the house down last week. Neighbors said they are frustrated it's still standing.

"The idea was finally something's being done to clean up the neighborhood," said Reverend Otis Mitchell of the Mt. Zion Church.

Neighbors supported the city's plan to get rid of the folk artist's house, where police say prostitutes and drug addicts gather.

His house's stay of execution is for two weeks.

Smoke on the water -- or lack thereof

Tourists on the San Antonio River Walk? Sure.

Restaurants? You bet.

Water? Not while it's being cleaned.

Smoke? I guess.

From WOAI:

Call it a “smoke out” along the River Walk for the next few days! Go down to the River Walk during the day this week and you’ll find a bunch of smoke being pumped up through the exposed pipes in the dried riverbed.

With the river drained for its annual cleaning, the San Antonio Water System is checking to make sure they know exactly what's going into the river and where it's coming from. So they just blow smoke into the pipes and look for where it comes out.

At least the river isn't on fire.

Poteet police parade

Down in Poteet, the police held a little parade for about an hour on the night of December 26. The parade might have gone on longer, but somebody stopped it.

Actually it was a police chase. Check the KSAT video here to see the crazy pursuit in this town of just over 3,000 people and how police couldn't stop the chase but an ordinary citizen could.

To be fair to the police, it's probably against some kind of policy for them to take the action the citizen did, but still, it's pretty funny that they chased that guy around and around little ol' Poteet until Peter Douglas decided to put a stop to it.

Merry Christmas

Sorry, I've been very busy with the holidays. So I just have time to wish you all a merry Christmas, one that I hope is not too strange. Unless, of course, that's the way you like it.

"Mother's Ashes Stolen From Parking Lot"

If you ever think about stopping to eat steaks in New Braunfels, and you have a family member's ashes in the car, you might want to consider bringing them with you into the restaurant.

From KSAT-12:

David Taylor's mother, Marguerite, passed away on Dec. 11, at the age of 86 and was cremated in preparation of a ceremony Wednesday evening.

But those plans changed as the family stopped for dinner.

While inside Ryan's Steakhouse, somebody picked the lock of the automobile where the ashes of Taylor's mother were in an urn on the floorboard and stole only the urn.

Without being too flippant, I wonder if that was a really nice urn. It just goes to show, people should hide their valuables when they leave them in the car.

Strange in Corpus Christi

Two-and-a-half hours or so down IH-37, where the highway meets the bay, the city of Corpus Christi resides. And there, in that coastal town, lives a woman who once had over two hundred dogs in her house!

(WOAI reports!)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - Animal control officers removed 237 dogs from the home of a 70-year-old woman who said she had been breeding the animals, officials said.

Kelli Copeland, manager of the city's Animal Care Services department, said it took about six hours Tuesday to gather up all the dogs, which were taken to a city kennel.

Most of the dogs were Pomeranians, but there were also Yorkshire terriers, two standard poodles and several other breeds. Copeland said they appeared to be suffering from the close quarters.

"They had plenty of food and plenty of water but were not living in healthy conditions," Copeland said. "Many were covered in feces and urine. I think she slowly accumulated them to where they were more than she could handle."

Egad, that's a lot of dogs!

"Council To Consider Bow Ban In City Parks"

Is this really necessary? (from KSAT-12)

SAN ANTONIO -- Bow and arrows would be banned in San Antonio city parks under a proposal City Council is expected to consider in 2008.

Cross bows and compound bows would also be included in the ban.

The proposal comes on the heels of the arrests of three suspected poachers who were arrested at McAllister Park earlier this month.

Isn't poaching already illegal? If these guys are willing to break hunting laws, what makes our leaders think they will follow "no bow" laws.

"Woman Mistakenly Declared Dead By EMS"

Oops. (from KSAT-12)

Erica Smith, 23, was driving on Loop 410 with two passengers when the vehicle driven by 28-year-old Jenny Ybarra was driving the wrong way and collided with Smith's vehicle near Loop 410 South and Rigsby Road, police said.

Ybarra was legally intoxicated, police said.

When emergency personnel and police responded to the scene of the crash, a yellow sheet was draped over Smith, a normal practice by EMS at the scene of a fatality.

But when the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office responded to claim the body, investigators found Smith to still be alive.

Smith is still in critical condition. The actions of the EMS personnel are under review.

UPDATE: Smith has died. (KSAT-12)

Seymour Perkins visited again

Dave from Silver Creek 78250 decided to go see for himself the place that's been in the news lately, Seymour Perkins's residence. Dave observes, with nice imagery: "The freakishness of this man's yard is that it hits you like a carnival that has sprung up in an HEB parking lot between the time you first went in to grab some samples and the time you waddle out to the car."

He has pictures, too.

People who should be more observant

When attempting to commit a crime, you should probably check to make sure there are no cops around.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- Three men suspected of stealing beer from a convenience store were arrested Thursday morning after they crashed a vehicle into a police cruiser.

Police said the trio walked into an EZ Mart in the 10000 block of Dover Ridge at 3 a.m. and took three 18-packs of beer and four cases of iced tea.

As they tried to make their getaway, the driver crashed the car into a police cruiser, police said.

They tried to get beer free and now they're paying ---- wait a minute, they tried to steal tea, too? Four cases of it?

That really is strange.

Car crashes into house

More car carnage, this time in the 14000 block of Moss Farm.

KENS-5 video

Casting blame

A young mother, in a moment of frustration, kills her child because she won't stop crying. It's a sad story that's repeated too often to really seem strange [see UPDATE below], but what makes this situation different is how much blame is being heaped on "the system."

WOAI reports:

Police arrested Tomika Cantu on the East Side Tuesday after they found her 4-year-old daughter Mikala dead inside an apartment.

Family members told News 4 Cantu was at a breaking point.

"I'm not blaming her for anything. I'm not blaming anybody. I'm blaming the system," said Cantu's sister Anntwanette Hamilton.

...

"I'm blaming the system," Hamilton said. "Yeah it's her fault she had two kids at a young age. But who didn't? Times is hard. Money is tight. You're thinking about how can you pay for things? How can you put gas in your car, how can you get across town. It's hard."

But News 4 found out the system relatives blame for failing Cantu is the same agency which offered the mom counseling sessions and parenting classes for at least 7 months.

Child Protective Service records show the first investigation into Tomika Cantu was in 2005. Workers received complaints about abuse and neglect. An
investigation found no signs of either.

A second call to CPS came in March of 2007. Someone warned that Cantu might harm her son. Cantu voluntarily placed her children with relatives and took parenting classes. She got her children back in August. Workers made follow-up visits in September and October.

So, the system failed her because the system tried to help her? And, it's her fault she had two kids, but it's not her fault for killing one? Why? Because times are hard and money is tight?

Sad.

I don't think I can say much else right now.


UPDATE: See, here's another one (from KSAT-12):

SAN ANTONIO -- A 30-year-old woman was charged with injury to a child late Thursday after police said she smothered her 8-year-old daughter with pillows and tried to choke the girl.

When police arrived at an apartment complex in the 8000 block of Midcrown on the city's Northeast Side at 10:20 p.m., they found the injured child along with some pillows on the floor, police said.

...

Trevino said that the girl called a relative about the attack. The relative then called police. The girl is now staying with relatives and Child Protective Services was notified about the incident.

At least this child survived.

Calm down, people.

Seymour Perkins revisited

Remember Seymour Perkins, the East Side "minister" known for his strange art, hookers' bench, tunnel plans, dangerous house, and paranoid fantasies?

Now Moises Mendoza of the Express-News reports that the city could move to demolish his house.

And Perkins fancies himself something of a city planner, with a grand scheme for San Antonio's economic future.

But with all the trash littering his yard and the drug dealers and prostitutes loitering outside his creaky house at South Hackberry and Nevada streets, his neighbors don't see a man of good intentions.

And neither do the police.

They've been called to his house more than 100 times since the beginning of the year, and Perkins himself is awaiting trial on a drug possession charge.

Now Perkins' world may be coming down around his shoulders.

After being cited for numerous city code violations, his house at 600 S. Hackberry St. was referred to the city's Dangerous Structure Determination Board. It could be ordered demolished at a special hearing today.

And, of course, Mr. Perkins smells a conspiracy.

Perkins says he's lived in the house for at least 20 years, all the while creating plans for a vast underground city that he claims will add $100 billion to San Antonio's economy.

He's even digging a hole with shovels near the house where the construction will start. [This hole is also supposed to be the northern end of a tunnel railroad to Mexico that will lead to a Hispanic takeover. --ed.]

...

Perkins says the police, city code officials and the San Antonio Independent School District are oppressing him and trying to steal his property.

Strange, strange.

ADDED: The Current also presents a view of Perkins.

"Marines Ordered To Move Toy Drive"

This doesn't sound very Christmasy. (from KSAT-12)

SAN ANTONIO -- Marine Staff Sgt. Henry Idar is used to taking orders, but on Sunday he was taken aback when he was asked to move a toy drive booth at a Toys R Us store.

Idar said a security guard at the Forum shopping center on the city's Northeast Side told Idar to move the Toys For Tots toy drive from outside to inside the store.

The move upset Idar, who said the toy drive's success depends on heavy foot traffic outside the store.

No comment from the Forum. I'm sure the mall's officials have a reason for making this request, but, on the surface, it doesn't seem very charitable.

Cop car crashes into house

A police cruiser is the latest vehicle to assault a domicile, but this time the actions appeared justified. Or at least defensible.

From KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A police cruiser landed inside a house after a suspected drunk driver forced the officer off the road and into a house.

Police said it happened at the corner of Cupples Road and west Emerson Avenue overnight.

They said Luis Morales, 40, was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Although the officer was slightly injured, no one else was hurt -- not even the 87-year-old woman in the house.

Of course, the house is pretty banged up, though.

Humble beginnings

Along Cincinnati Street in San Antonio is an old, unassuming house. There's nothing particularly remarkable about it now.

















But apparently this house used to be the home of the Blue Bonnet Potato Chip Company, once owned by Walter Oertling.


















The Blue Bonnet Potato Chip Company is now called Jell-Craft, and it is a maker of punches, syrups, and mixers. But the company still proudly acknowledges its humble beginnings in San Antonio, and it displays on its Web site a picture of the interior of that house on Cincinnati Street.

















Nice.

"San Antonio company recalls Mexican candy product"

Don't eat dark syrup from little glass barrels. The stuff apparently contains lead.

From the San Antonio Business Journal:

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) says a San Antonio company is voluntarily recalling jars of candy imported from Mexico after testing by the agency found elevated levels of lead that could cause health problems.

According to DSHS, Villa-Mex Imports, Inc. is recalling Barrilito, which is sold in 3.3 ounce glass barrel-shaped jars with white plastic lids.

DSHS officials say the problem is with the product, not with the distributor, Villa-Mex Imports.

DSHS officials say recent laboratory tests show lead levels above the 0.1 parts per million considered to be a potential public health hazard by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Candy samples ranged from 0.101 to 0.132 parts per million of lead.

I don't know what turns the stomach more, the thought of lead in candy or the thought of candy in syrup form sold in little barrels.

"South San ISD to sue West Campus group"

Rains come. A high school campus floods. The school district that runs the campus transfers the students to another high school, then decides it would be cheaper to keep them there than to rebuild the flooded high school. The community protests the closure. A group sues the school district. The school district sues back.

Fun all around, with the latest from the Express-News:

South San Antonio Independent School District trustees voted Monday night to sue Save West Campus, the community group that sued the district last month in an effort to keep officials from closing South San Antonio High School West Campus.

...

Save West Campus' members were unsuccessful last week in obtaining a temporary injunction to halt the closure until the outcome of the trial.

Monday, trustees authorized the district's lawyer to countersue the group to recoup attorneys fees and other costs and to file a motion asking a judge to dismiss the case and individual trustees from it.

School politics. Ain't they neat?

UPDATE: Now with fake blog posts! (from KTSA)

Moments before "Save West Campus" -- a community group organized to fight the closure of the high school -- was to give a scheduled press conference to respond to the South San Independent School District's counter lawsuit against the group, the group's attorney read from a blog post [riddled with bad grammar and spelling] supposedly written by the school district's attorney.

...

David Van Os, the community group's attorney, contacted Mark Anthony Sanchez, the school district's attorney, after the press conference.

"I just about fell out of my chair," Sanchez said. "I was extremely disappointed that Mr. Van Os did not give me the courtesy of a telephone call."

Sanchez said neither he nor anybody associated with his law firm were the authors of the blog.

Van Os later said he didn't think to verify the author of the blog before reading it to the assembled community members and gathered media. [emphases added]

I hope Van Os isn't charging those poor people for his brilliant lawyering.

People who should think a little more

If someone busts into your home, and it might be because of the activities that are practiced inside, you might think twice about calling the cops.

From KSAT-12:

The couple called deputies to their home in the 7100 block of Ridgeport at 2:30 a.m. for a home invasion.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found the front door kicked off its hinges.

During the investigation, deputies found two upstairs bedrooms had been converted into a marijuana factory, complete with lamps and redirected duct work, deputies said.

"It's anywhere between 20 to 25 plants, and they're in the infant stages," Sgt. K. Vann of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said.

The couple, believed to be in their mid-20s to early 30s, were arrested on narcotics violations. They may also face felony charges due to the weight of the plants.

It probably would have been cheaper to replace the door.

Selling kittens

There are too many cats in San Antonio.

From WOAI:

There is a cat sale on the north side, the Animal Defense League is now offering a two for one special.

The kennels at the shelter are crammed with cats and more kittens continue to be dumped on their door steps.

"We've reached a point where unfortunately we're just plain out of room. We have cats stuffed in areas where normally dogs are," said Animal Defense League Executive Director, Ron Aaron.

With this many cats, shouldn't they be giving them away? I wonder if we can expect to see more of this when the city's shelters go "no-kill" in 2012.

Getting stuck with a loser

Poor Poteet. They have a sex offender for a mayor, and they can't get rid of him. And Ken Rodriguez, columnist for the Express-News, minces no words.

Poteet stumbles into December, red-faced and hung over with shame.

The city not only has a registered sex offender as mayor, residents must admit they re-elected Lino Donato when he was under indictment for child indecency.

What was that vote again?

Oh yeah, 62 percent for Donato, 29 percent for the nearest challenger.

...

The DA could have made resignation part of the deal. He didn't. So Donato stayed, and turned Poteet into Strawberry Hell.

As it stands, the mayor can hardly walk through town without violating terms of his probation. City Hall is off-limits. So are schools, bars, playgrounds, swimming pools and the town youth center. Donato can't even attend the annual Strawberry Festival.

As a sex offender, he can't go near gathering places for children. He's barred from establishments that sell alcohol. But by golly, he gets to call himself "mayor."

Again, poor Poteet.

Seriously, though, can't the residents of that town force a recall of this guy before the next election in 2009? That's a long time to have a loser who doesn't know when to call it quits as the leader of your city.

Hot pepper!

Chris Marrou of KENS-5 takes a bite of the hottest pepper on earth. Kinda dorky, but still good for a laugh.

Best line:
"It's real snot, too!"

Really, really wanting it to be Chupacabra!

Remember Phylis Canion, the woman who was sorely disappointed because her chupacabra head turned out to have come from a coyote's body? Well, she's not satisfied.

From KENS-5:

Despite DNA testing by Texas State University that indicated it was a coyote, the beast's identity is still in doubt to rancher Phylis Canion.

Canion is back to poking and prodding her prize possession, digging up more muscle tissue.

Ever since the DNA testing, Canion says scientists from across the nation have been hounding her for a more accurate match.

They want another sample taken from the animal that had haunted her ranch, and this time, the experts want a back molar.

So the South Texas rancher is playing amateur dentist and extracting the tooth from the beast's mouth to be sent to the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

"We could be looking at something new. Some sub-species within a species. And that's what I'd really like to find out," Canion said.

...

The DNA results from the veterinary school are due in December and Canion can't wait for the results to see what had been lurking at her ranch.

Oh, she wants it to be a chupacabra----sooooo bad.

"Heat from Stove Catches House on Fire"

This is odd.

From WOAI:

The fire started at a home on Pleasanton Road on the city's South side. Four young boys narrowly escape a fire in their home Saturday morning.

...

Investigators say it started when the four boys were using the stove to stay warm. Heat from the stove started a fire which prompted the boys to run next door.

That's gotta be an extraordinarily hot stove. In fact, I'm skeptical that mere heat put out by the stove actually caused the home to go up in flames. There must have been something else involved -- a fuel source that caught fire, an electrical short, something.

Car crashes into house

Happy Thanksgiving!

And here's your latest installment for vehicular houseslaughter (from WOAI):

Investigators say three teenagers in a mini van lost control while driving on Dexter St. near Cupples Rd. around 9 Thursday night. That van went across the residential home's lawn before hitting the front of the house.

The homeowner was watching television inside at the time, but wasn't hurt.

I bet she was surprised, though.

San Antonio is number two twice

The Alamo City has the distinction of reaching number two on two different lists. The first one I am dubious about:

"San Antonio Ranked 2nd in Texas Hate Crimes" (from WOAI)

More and more people are becoming victims of hate crimes according to an FBI report released Tuesday.

...

The FBI has San Antonio ranked second in the state for the most hate crimes in 2006. That's nine more hate crimes in San Antonio in 2006, than in 2005.

FBI stats site is here.


The second one I can definitely believe:

"S.A. allergies among nation's worst" (from the Express-News)

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has ranked Austin and San Antonio as the worst and second-worst cities in the nation, respectively, for fall allergy sufferers. Oklahoma City, Lakeland, Fla., and Orlando, Fla., round out the top 5.

Stupid ragweed, cedar pollen, oak pollen, etc.

But, is it ocean-front property?

Watch out who you give money to. The sell may be hard, the offer may sound nice, but -- just think about it.

From KENS-5:

A former Lackland Air Force Base medic is selling the moon by the acre, and some folks in San Antonio have decided to buy a piece of the rock.

About 50 San Antonians own lunar property. You can buy an acre for $19.99, plus tax.

... In 1980, Dennis Hope was looking for a way to get some money when he had an epiphany.

"I looked out the window at 2:30 in the afternoon while I was doing this thought process, and I saw the moon and I thought, 'There's a lot of property,'" said Hope.

It seemed like lunacy until he researched the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. It was signed by the United Nations, the United States, and the former Soviet Union.

The treaty prevents any sovereign nation from claiming ownership of any galactic property, but states nothing about an individual or company.

"So, I wrote a declaration of ownership for the moon of earth and the other eight planets and their moons and sent it to the UN, the U.S., and the Russians, along with a note stating if they had a legal problem with what I did to let me know and I wouldn't sell the property. And I've never heard from them on that note," said Hope.

Hope is "absolutely" positive that he owns the moon and the eight planets, and there's nothing one can do about making the same claim. [emphases added]

Well, he might want to check with R.G. Griffing, first.

"Katrina evacuees may be struggling after funding runs out"

Did you know there are at least a couple thousand people displaced by Hurricane Katrina two years ago that are still in San Antonio and living off the taxpayers?

I didn't, until KENS-TV informed me.

San Antonio is facing the possibility of a huge increase in the number of homeless people on the streets.

An estimated 800 families — all Hurricane Katrina evacuees — are still on assistance here. Now that funding is running out fast, and some are worried they'll have no roof over their head.

...

"There are some clients who are living in apartment complexes where they won't accept the HUD, so those clients have to find a new living place," said Josee Battle, director of evacuee services for Catholic Charities.

The charity is one of only three agencies in San Antonio still providing help to Katrina evacuees. About 800 households still need assistance, and in March, that funding will end.

"I think that we're going to have a lot of clients that will be homeless, which is a sad reality," Battle said.

Potentially, that could mean an additional 2,000 to 3,000 people living on the streets of San Antonio.

I knew there were a lot of evacuees still living in town, but I didn't realize so many had not made the transition to independent living.

"After Crash, Man Tries to Switch Spots with Unconscious Passenger"

Wow.

(WOAI)

A man was driving too fast, when he lost control, and crashed into a drainage ditch. He was trying to exit on General Mcmullen at Highway 90.

But then, after the wreck, witnesses say the man tried to switch places with an unconscious woman in the passenger seat.

Guess what? He was drunk.

Wow.

Saving the deer to their ruin

As KSAT-12 reports, Hollywood Park has a deer problem.

It seems that some residents of this San Antonio suburb like to keep the deer around. But deer overpopulation can cause its own problems, not least of which is an actual danger to people.

In years past, city officials tried netting the deer, and while the city chose a more humane method this year, some residents said they are still angry.

Some said they don't want the deer in their back yards; others said they want them left alone.

"They had to remove some. They had to because we'd be elbow to elbow with deer if they hadn't," said Hollywood Park Human Society president Cherie Emick.

Emick has long fought to keep the deer, but now she said she realizes too many could be dangerous for drivers.

But, of course, there's resistance.

[Police Lt. Joe] Quintero said trappers tranquilize at night because residents against deer removal don't interfere with them, and he said it's safer.

"At night, there's less traffic and less chance of the animal and any of the citizens getting hurt," he said.

Officials have to work at night because there's less interference from the deer lovers, interference with their official duties. I know none of the deer lovers will actually listen to me, but their intentions (good or otherwise) could actually kill some of the deer they're trying to save, and it could result in loss of human life. I don't see why they can't agree on a reasonable reduction of the population.