The Lewisville Texan Journal

Filing Period Opens for Lewisville City Council; Incumbents Running Again

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:00 -0000

The filing period opened today for the May 12th Lewisville elections. The office of Mayor and City Council, Place 2 are up for re-election.

Mayor Dean Ueckert is running again for re-election. Ueckert was first elected to Lewisville City Council in 1998, serving until 2009 when he was elected Mayor by a wide margin. We endorsed Ueckert in that election.

Councilman Neil Ferguson is also running for re-election. Ferguson was elected this past December in a special election to fill the seat vacated upon the death of Councilman David Thornhill. We endorsed Ferguson in that race.

LTJ is covering the Lewisville City Council annual retreat today, and will have more information about any other candidates who file.

Video: Lewisville City Council Retreat - 2/2/2012 - Thursday Sessions

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:10:00 -0000

Video from Thursday's Lewisville City Council retreat is posted on YouTube in this playlist.

I'll link them up individually here by topic when I get time. We'll be on-hand for Friday and Saturday's meetings as well.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation Undercuts Its Mission

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:37:54 -0000

In case you haven’t tuned in to the news over the past couple of days, the Susan G. Komen Foundation tried to quietly inform Planned Parenthood that it will no longer provide funding for breast cancer screening. Planned Parenthood has received money for this purpose since 2005 from the high-profile charity whose avowed mission is “to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.” Last year the amount was $680,000.

The action of cutting off funds was bad enough. But its explanations so far have been downright insulting.

There is little doubt that defunding Planned Parenthood as part of its breast cancer screening program was politically motivated. Komen has been under pressure from right wing and anti-abortion groups to pull these funds from the beginning of the organizational relationship. Its founder, Nancy Brinker, is a major donor to Republican candidates and is reportedly close to the Bush family. And it recently hired Karen Handel, a stridently anti-abortion 2010 gubernatorial candidate in Georgia as its Sr. Vice-President for policy.

In a statement on its website and in a video released by Nancy Brinker, the Komen Foundation vehemently denied the decision was politically motivated, which is unadulterated B.S. It’s bad enough to make a decision completely contrary to one of their avowed tenets (“ensure quality care for all”), but to lie to the public completely destroys the credibility of its executives.

Links on Thursday Morning

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:53:41 -0000

Lewisville missionaries John and Wanda Casias were gunned down in Mexico Tuesday, killed in a home invasion in Monterrey.

The guy who filed a $16 affidavit of adverse possession and took over a Flower Mound house is being evicted. (Finally)

After the worst year of drought in state history, experts predict more drought for Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was just reclassified as finally not being in a drought.

The First Amendment freedom of the press is under attack in America, which is why the U.S. currently ranks #37 in the world. So much for being a shining example of liberty. Just yesterday, the Chairman of the House Energy and Environment Committee, Andy Harris had journalists thrown out of the public hearing on hydraulic fracturing, citing a committee rule that is clearly in violation of the constitution. Here is an article about how in Illinois, it's a felony punishable by 15 years in prison to videotape a police officer making an arrest. Since the upcoming G8 summit will be in Chicago, there will be arrests, and there will be plenty of press.

In case you don't have it memorized, here is the full text of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

Quote:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Did you see the meteor last night?

Fluffy Skates Roller Derby (catch-up edition)

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:19:14 -0000

Holy Smack-tastic, Batman! It's ketchup time, I mean, CATCH UP time. Oh how fast the wheels turn in the derby world. It's been a long while since I've written. I guess I kinda left y'all hanging. Oops. Sorry. (Insert lame excuse of preference here.) Enjoy the next installment of the Derby series. (and I'm leaving out the drama of personality conflicts I had with a bonafide sociopath crazy bitch from hell) Let's just say she's an asshat.

Links on Monday Night

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:44:40 -0000

Zebra mussels have taken over Lake Texoma and pose a serious threat to Texas lakes and our water systems. Zebra mussel DNA has been found in Lewisville Lake, but the presence of DNA does not prove an infestation. Boaters need to educate themselves about how mussels use boats to hop to new lakes.

The Farmers beat the Jaguars in boys' basketball action.

I got a kick out of this: Drug testing for politicians.

U.S. drops to #47 in the Press Freedom Index. That's sad. We're supposed to be the shining lighthouse example of freedom.

Here's why people don't want injection wells near them:

Haute on Design Does Dallas: Trends in Decorating and Design in 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:08:32 -0000

Here is your January Dallas Market preview of new products, decorating/design trends and fashion styles for the year 2012.

Being an interior designer and a self-proclaimed “fashionista” has its privileges and rewards. The greatest reward is being able to visit and shop at the Dallas Market and World Trade Center. It gives me the opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and styles and provide a sneak preview of what’s “Haute” in 2012.

Interior Design & Decorating Trends

As always, traditional, contemporary and Old World design styles remain the forerunners of interior design/decorating but emerging are some new design styles:

Shabby Chic is making a huge comeback but with more of a streamline and smoother look…not quite so shabby and frilly.
Vintage Revival is “Haute” in 2012 because of its usage of reclaimed accessories and furniture pieces from the past.
Victorian Gothic has been around for centuries but now has more of a chic and dark edge to its design style.

Design Color Trends

Although Pantone revealed the Color of The Year 2012 as “Tangerine Tango 17-1463”, rich & deep hues and modern neutrals emerged as color choices in interior design/decorating.

Get Your Cat Neutered for Just a Nickel!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:50:00 -0000

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(This is Fartface, above. My kids named him for his stinky farts when he was kitten. We found him at the Old Alton/Goatman's Bridge in Copper Canyon.)

Hey all y'all cat loving creatures out there! Thought I'd pass along a great deal being offered by Animal Wellness Center of Lewisville and The Colony--get your male cat neutered for just 5 CENTS this February 7, 2012 (Thursday)!

Our cat, Fartface, got his male parts snipped a few months ago by this same vet and we couldn't be happier. He no longer pees in our house and we don't have to worry about contributing to the cat overpopulation (though not guaranteed for you, our male cat now asks to go potty by meowing at the back door, weird yes, but hey no pee in the house). Neutering also has many benefits for your feline friend such as:

1. Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age.

2. Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.

3. Don’t use that old excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake.

4. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter (ESPECIALLY AT 5 CENTS!). It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray!

(read more facts about neutering and spaying on the ASPCA's website)

Info from Animal Wellness Center of Lewisville and The Colony:

The nickel neuter is for male cats only.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

Feral cats OK.

In The Colony- On Tuesday February 7th- Drop off starts at 8am and continues through 10am. All cats will be awake and ready to go home by 1pm that afternoon.

In Lewisville- On Tuesday February 7th- Drop off starts at 10am and continues through 3pm. All cats will be awake and ready to go home by 7pm that night.

For All Surgeries:

*All Cats must be in a carrier. Please put a towel in the carrier with your cat.
*ONE cat per carrier.
*An additional fee will be charged for pets who are:
Cryptorchid (retained testicles in males)- additional $25.00
*Current Rabies vaccination required on all surgery patients. Bring Rabies certificate as proof of current vaccination or Rabies vaccination can be given for $15.00 per patient.
*Remember to put all food up and out of your pet's reach by midnight on Monday February 6th. Water is ok. Do not take up your pet’s water.

Find addresses and phone numbers by checking out Animal Wellness Center's website.

Getting From Here to There, Part 2

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:12:53 -0000

Note: Parallel Development is a new column by contributing writer Brandon Cooper about Lewisville’s rich (yet often untold) history and how it relates to the issues we’re facing today.

Quote:

You don’t get much choice with the highway department. You do what they want to do, or you don’t do anything. That’s the only method they have.
-James Degan

The strange part about the quote above is that Mr. Degan, who has passed away, was talking about the highway situation in the 1920s, not today. His words still ring true, though.

Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation informed us they’re considering alternate ways to expand I-35E through Lewisville, including only adding toll lanes, to compensate for a major budget shortfall. We’ve seen that they’re less than open about deals to buy property from local officials. Given these recent events, Mr. Degan’s statement now seems prescient.

Last week, I wrote about the Texas Interurban Railway and its modern incarnation, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) A-train. Now it’s time to talk about the mode of transportation that replaced the Interurban: roads.

Video: Women's Flat Track Roller Derby: Muertas Locas vs. Main Street Mafia

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:10:00 -0000

LTJ was in Denton last night to shoot video of the inaugural bout for The North Texas Derby Revolution, a league formed in Lewisville just last year. Derby is making a comeback, and when you watch it you'll see why: It's an exciting sport. These ladies have worked hard all year with multiple practices every week, and this was their season debut:

Video tips: There are three video segments here:
1: Team Introductions, National Anthem, and Intro to roller derby.
2: First half of play and half-time activities
3: Second half of play

Use the video settings button to crank it up to 1080p and make it full-screen for best viewing.
Find NTDR on Facebook. Their next bout is on February 25th, when the Hickory Street Hooligans takes on Muertas Locas.