Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Fest

Texas Bank Sports Complex hosts TLC's 13th annual Easter Fest this weekend. It includes food, drinks, kettle korn, bounce abouts, children's train, rock wall climbing, drawing for prizes, and 150-thousand Easter Eggs. The Easter Fest happens tomorrow from 11 AM to 3 PM at Texas Bank Sports Complex.

Good Friday closings

A reminder that City of San Angelo offices will be closed today for Good Friday. Trash pickup and landfill hours will not be affected.

SA City Council

The San Angelo City Council will engage in a special joint meeting with the Planning Commission next Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Convention Center. Among the topics they are expected to address: the increased demand for RV parks, sparked by the coming oil boom. At its regular meeting, the Council will watch a demonstration of software that would allow water customers to access their usage data online. You can get the full agenda by clicking on a link on the city's Facebook page.

Medicare scam

State authorities are warning senior citizens to be wary of identity thieves who are posing as Medicare officials in an attempt to steal seniors’ sensitive personal information. The callers tell seniors that the Medicare program’s current ID cards are being phased out and that they must confirm their Medicare number and bank account information over the phone to receive replacement cards. To avoid being scammed, never provide personal information to unsolicited callers. And when in doubt, hang up.

ASU's 8 the Play

Angelo State University's theatre program will conduct a one-night-only staged reading of "8 The Play." The work is based on arguments presented during the 2010 trial that overturned California's Proposition 8 - the ballot measure that ended the marriage rights of same-sex couples. The event is open free to the public at 8 PM on Saturday, April 6th, in the University Auditorium inside the Mayer Administration Building on West Avenue N.

ASU rock climbing

Angelo State University's Outdoor Adventures program will host its second annual Angelo Rock Climbing Competition on Saturday, April 6th--one week from tomorrow--in the Center for Human Performance on South Johnson Street.The contest is open free to students who are taking at least six credit hours at ASU or another college or university. Students can compete in recreational, intermediate or advanced divisions, depending upon their climbing skill level.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Bankster drops out

Although his name will still appear on the ballot, a candidate for San Angelo City Council Single-Member District 1 has, in essence, dropped out of the race because of work commitments. Bob Bankster said if elected, he will serve, but he will not actively campaign and urged voters to explore the three remaining candidates.

City engineer moves on

A San Angelo City Engineer has accepted an offer to become the City of Fredericksburg’s director of public works and utilities. Clinton Bailey began his career with the City of San Angelo in 1995 as a staff engineer in the former Public Works Department. Bailey was promoted to city engineer in 2004, managing the Engineering Services Division. Among his achievements are designing and managing the construction of more than 100 million dollars in capital improvements. Bailey also spearheaded the development of the City’s state- and federally mandated stormwater management plan.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Good Friday closings

A heads-up that city of San Angelo offices will be closed this Friday in observance of Good Friday. There will be no interruption of garbage collection or of normal landfill operating hours on Good Friday. Southside and Carl Ray Johnson recreation centers, and Station 618 and Santa Fe Crossing senior centers will be closed on Friday.

Pipeline progress

On Tuesday, the City of San Angelo got the latest progress report on the Hickory Aquifer pipeline: To date, more than 56 miles of pipe has been laid, which leaves less than seven miles to go. Substantial completion is scheduled for July 16th; final completion should be 60 days after that, on September 14th.

ASU meat judging team

Angelo State University's Meat Judging Team brought home several team and individual honors from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest earlier this month. Competing against 16 teams from 10 universities, the ASU team placed in the top 10 in five separate categories, including Pork Judging, Reasons and Specifications, Beef Grading and Lamb Judging. Overall, ASU placed eighth and was just 27 points out of the top five.

ASU grad honored

An Angelo State University teacher education graduate Kimberly Jones has been named an "Exceptional Teacher Candidate" by the statewide Quest for Quality program. Sweetwater native Kimberly Jones graduated in December with her bachelor's degree in elementary education. Jones is one of 39 teacher candidates selected from nominees submitted by15 Texas universities. Honorees will receive congratulatory letters and certificates, and will be featured on the Quest for Quality website.

Hit and run arrest

Early Tuesday morning, San Angelo Police were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of W Avenue C in reference to a disturbance. When officers arrived, they learned family members were engaged in a verbal argument over a vehicle, which turned out to be the one suspected in a hit and run crash in downtown San Angelo on Sunday. One of the family members, 25-year-old Raymon Medina was arrested for being the driver in that incident. The suspect vehicle, a 2003 Ford F150, was found at the Party Ranch on Christoval Road and seized as evidence. The victim of the crash, a 33-year-old woman was reported to be hospitalized in stable condition.

AM1 Theft and meth arrest

At around noon on Tuesday, San Angelo Police served an Arrest Warrant for Felony Theft at a residence in the 700 block of North Monroe Street. 34-year-old Robert Ryan Weddle-Coleman of San Angelo was the suspect identified in a recent theft of 15-thousand dollars' worth of equipment from the Arizona Pipeline facility on West 19th Street. Weddle-Coleman was arrested after allegedly listing the stolen property for sale on craigslist. During the course of the investigation, Weddle-Coleman was also arrested last Saturday for possession of a controlled substance after police said they found methamphetamine on his person.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Hit and run

A hit and run accident in downtown San Angelo early Sunday morning left a woman hospitalized. San Angelo police say the driver of a pickup truck failed to stop after hitting the woman, who was crossing the street in the 100 block of South Chadbourne. Police were looking for the pickup, described as an early two-thousands model Ford with a light and dark tone color. The unidentified woman was in stable condition at Shannon Medical Center. If you have any information regarding the suspect vehicle or driver, contact San Angelo police.

Conaway in town

Congressman Michael Conaway will be in San Angelo for a town hall meeting tomorrow. It's scheduled to begin at 5:30 tomorrow afternoon at the new Business Resource Center at 69 North Chadbourne downtown. It's open to the public for attendance and questions. Before the meeting, Conaway will get a tour of the facility before the meeting.

Freeze warning

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a freeze warning for the Concho Valley, in effect from now until 10 o'clock this morning. A freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. Plants should be brought indoors or covered with protective material.

Easter Fest

Texas Bank Sports Complex hosts TLC's 13th annual Easter Fest this weekend. It includes food, drinks, kettle korn, bounce abouts, children's train, rock wall climbing, drawing for prizes, and 150-thousand Easter Eggs. The Easter Fest is coming up on Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM at Texas Bank Sports Complex.

Easter at Nature Center

The San Angelo Nature Center will celebrate Easter this Saturday afternoon with a special event featuring an egg hunt, animals and candy. It begins with a unique Easter egg hunt, with the eggs hidden in the center’s natural environments. The festivities will also include a small petting zoo, photo stations--bring your camera--free candy and other family fun. The event will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Nature Center, 7409 Knickerbocker Road. For more information, including ticket prices, go to the city's Facebook page.

River clean-up

The city of San Angelo reports that civic-minded volunteers pulled 160 bags of trash and debris from a mile-long stretch of the Red Arroyo’s banks and bed on Saturday. It was part of the third annual “Clean Up Our River!” event that marked the end of local World Water Week events.

Gas price update

Triple-A says gas prices should continue to fall through the end of March, just in time for those planning to travel during the Easter holiday. The nationwide average price of regular gas is now three-66 a gallon, down two cents from a week ago. In Texas, the statewide average price of regular is three-54 a gallon, unchanged from a week ago. According to gas-buddy-dot-com, the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three-46 to three-57 a gallon.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Three killed in collision

A collision between a pickup and a tractor trailer took the lives of three San Angelo men late Thursday morning. It happened on U.S. Highway 83 about a mile and a half north of Eden. According to the Department of Public Safety, the dead were the driver and passengers in the pickup: 56-year-old Charles Fuson, 55-year-old Willie Rodriguez and 43-year-old Isidro Ortega. The driver of the tractor-trailer was treated for injuries and released from Concho County Hospital.


Fire weather watch

Tomorrow would not be a good day to do any burning outdoors. The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a fire weather watch for tomorrow afternoon through tomorrow evening. It covers much of West Central Texas, including the Concho Valley. A fast-moving Pacific front will bring winds of 20 to 25 miles an hour and drop relative humidity to between seven and 14 percent, creating critical fire weather conditions. Any fires that start will have the potential to burn rapidly.



Interim directors appointed

The interim directors of two City of San Angelo departments have been appointed to those positions full-time. Ricky Dickson is director of Water Utilities and Shane Kelton is director of Operations. In announcing his decision, City Manager Daniel Valenzuela praised Dickson and Kelton’s performance, saying he is “quite pleased with their efforts and quick response to pressing issues" and added that they "have brought stability and inter-departmental unity between Water Utilities, Operations and the other departments."

Repossession and chase

San Angelo police, who were assisting with the repossession of a vehicle in the 100 block of East 14th Street on Wednesday afternoon, heard a crash. They then located the vehicle they were lookign for, a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer, which had crashed through a fence in the alleyway of the 1400 block of North Magdelen Street. The driver allegedly tried to flee on foot but, with help from residents who saw where he went, officers found hiding under a tarp in a nearby shed. 33-year-old Valentin Munoz of San Angelo was arrested and faces several charges.

Garage burglaries

San Angelo police say they've received several reports of vehicle and garage burglaries in the Southland Area. In one incident, thieves stole a garage door opener from an unlocked vehicle to gain entry into a garage. In another incident a few blocks from this, thieves entered a garage that was left open. As of Thursday morning, seven victims have been located all within a few blocks. Among the stolen items: a handgun, computer, iPod, boat battery, and lawn equipment. San Angelo police are asking that you shut your garage anytime you cannot visually see it; even if it is only for a few minutes. It only takes a couple of minutes or even less for thieves to take items often of high value from a garage.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Storm spotter class

The National Weather Service of San Angelo and the San Angelo Amateur Radio Club will be hosting the 2013 SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Class this weekend. The class is free to all citizens within Tom Green County and City of San Angelo and the surrounding areas who would like to know more about storm spotting. It is scheduled for Saturday, from 9 AM to 1 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church on YMCA Drive just off Loop 306, between the Texas DPS office and Community Hospital

Warrant roundup results

The City of San Angelo’s Municipal Court cleared nearly three-thousand outstanding warrants and has collected more than 200-thousand dollars to date as a result of the annual warrant roundup earlier this month. Most of the warrants were cleared prior to the roundup, after the Municipal Court announced it would be publishing a list of outstanding warrants in the San Angelo Standard-Times. During the roundup, San Angelo Police and other agencies arrested 434 people – 69 more than last year.

Diabetes Alert Day

Next Tuesday is the American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a day for you to learn if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. It's a growing epidemic in the U.S. but it can be controlled with knowledge and healthy behavior. In Tom Green County, more than 12-thousand people are living with diabetes. Shannon Medical Center urges you to take the Diabetes Risk Test. It's just eight questions to see if you're at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. You can find the test online at shannon-health-dot-com.


SAPD Tweet-a-thon

This Friday, the San Angelo Police Department will join 150 law enforcement agencies from eight countries in a global Tweet-a-thon to bring attention to the use of social media by law enforcement. Agencies will tweet using the same hashtag, p-o-l-t-w-t, to create awareness about police work and issues police face as well as to promote the use of social media in policing. San Angelo Police have been usingTwitter since 2009. They'll be tweeting a variety of content throughout the day Friday including photos, crime prevention information, and calls for service.

Traffic stop, two arrests

On Tuesday night, San Angelo Patrol Police conducted a traffic stop which resulted in two arrests. The 2006 Dodge Durango was observed traveling south on South Bryant Boulevard near Old Knickerbocker road with expired registration. The driver was identified as 27-year-old Daniel San Agustin of San Angelo. San Agustin was found to be operating the vehicle without a valid driver's license or vehicle insurance. A passenger identified as 26-year-old Vanessa Martinez was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Both were arrested and transported to the Tom Green County Jail without incident.


County health rankings

A new study ranks Texas counties by health. The research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin takes into account factors such as rates of obesity and smoking, and access to healthy foods. Tom Green County ranks 78th; elsewhere in the Concho Valley, Schleicher was 90th, Concho 103rd, Runnels 155th and Coke County came in at number 226.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Development Corporation meeting

The City of San Angelo Development Corporation holds its regular meeting this morning. It's being held in the South Meeting Room at the McNease Convention Center. You can get an agenda by clicking on a link found on the city's Facebook page.

SAFD retirement ceremony

This Friday, the San Angelo Fire Department will celebrate a combined 57 years of service by two retiring members of its command staff, Assistant Chief Kevin Lassiter and Captain Curtis Hensley. Fire Chief Brian Dunn says Lassiter and Hensley provided not only exceptional service to the public but exemplary leadership to the San Angelo Fire Department. The retirement ceremony and celebration will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Fire Station No. 5 on TLC Way. The public is invited.

School bus reminder

San Angelo police say they've received several complaints from the area of High Meadow and Southwest regarding drivers who disregard school bus flashing lights.More than a million children and teens depend on buses to get them safely to and from the more than nine-thousand Texas schools every day. As a reminder, Texas law calls for a motorist to stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, regardless of which direction you're headed. Continue your trip only when the bus has moved, the flashing lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it's okay to pass. Violations can lead to a fine of one-thousand dollars.

United Way awards

San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez presented the Recognition Award during Tuesday's 2012 United Way Awards Luncheon. It went to Mark Priest of Legend Jewelers, who's been a part of the United Way of the Concho Valley for 12 years by donating a diamond pendant each year. San Angelo police employees donated a total of 26-thousand-500 dollars for United Way program providers.

Powerball jackpot

Concho Valley residents will be lining up to get their Powerball tickets for tonight's jackpot as it hits an estimated 260-million-dollars. The estimated value of a lump-sum cash payment is at just over 161-million dollars. If you've never played Powerball, here's how it works: on each ticket, you can choose five numbers from one-to-59 and one Powerball number from one-to-35. Tonight's drawing is at 9:59.

Civil War music program

The sounds of the 1860s will come alive when the sixth program in Angelo State University's Civil War Lecture Series explores the "Music of the Civil War" next week. ASU music professor John Irish will give a general overview of the Civil War's music and musicians. Songs from the era will be performed by the Ice House Brass and guest soloist John Carroll of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, playing a cornet from the era. The program is open free to the public at 7 p.m. next Tuesday in the University Auditorium.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Norwood jury seated

A jury has been seated in San Antonio to hear the trial of Mark Norwood, who is charged with the 1986 beating death of Christine Morton near Austin. Her husband, Michael Morton, served 25 years in prison for the murder until evidence surfaced that incriminated Norwood.

K-2 raids

Tom Green County sheriff's deputies and other officers made nearly a dozen arrests as they raided five locations allegedly selling "k-2" or synthetic marijuana. Locations included the Love Shack and Extreme video stores and Planet 51, New Era and B--42 on Avenue N near ASU. They also seized a large amount of k-2.

BRC grand opening

The new Business Resource Center, a one-stop shop for economic development and entrepreneurial efforts on North Chadbourne, celebrates its grand opening this week. It's scheduled for tomorrow afternoon from 4 to 6 PM and the public is invited. The Business Resource Center is home to a trio of San Angelo's major economic development partners: Angelo State University's Small Business Development Center; The Business Factory and the City of San Angelo Development Corporation.

Fort Concho speaker series

Fort Concho’s annual speaker series during the lunch hour each Wednesday in April will feature a range of topics, ranging from a purported San Angelo outlaw to Tom Green County’s ghost towns. Admission to the lectures is free. Each presentation is from noon to 1 p.m. in the fort’s Commissary on Burgess Street. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch or can order a sack lunch from Mr. T’s Deli by calling the preceding Monday.

Voter registration reminder

The City of San Angelo reminds you that if you want to vote in the May 11th election, you must reigister or update your registration, if needed. Six of the Council’s seven seats will be up for election this year: full two-year terms for mayor and for the seats for Single-Member Districts 2, 4 and 6, and unexpired one-year terms in SMD 1 and 5. Voter registration applications are available at the Tom Green County Election/Voter Registration Office in the Edd B. Keyes Building on West Beauregard, at all three Tom Green County library locations and online at votetomgreencountry-dot-org. The deadline is April 11th.

City council meeting

The San Angelo City Council will hear an update on the Hickory Aquifer project and consider adopting the 2013 to 2018 Capital Improvement Plan when it convenes this morning. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Convention Center and is open to the public. You can find the full agenda by clicking a link on the city's Facebook page.

Easter Fest

Texas Bank Sports Complex hosts TLC's 13th annual Easter Fest later this month. The city calls it one of San Angelo's biggest and most fun events. It includes food, drinks, kettle korn, bounce abouts, children's train, rock wall climbing, drawing for prizes, and 150-thousand Easter Eggs. The Easter Fest is coming up on Saturday, March 30th, from 11 AM to 3 PM at Texas Bank Sports Complex.

City pool reservations

Reservations are being taken for private and semi-private parties between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends at Love Municipal Pool. Two-hour private pool parties may be booked daily from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. or from 8:45 to 10:45 p.m. Semi-private parties are available during public swim times from noon to 6 daily.Fees vary depending on the number of people and include the cost of lifeguards. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be made by calling or visiting the City of San Angelo’s Recreation Division offices in the Santa Fe Crossing building on south Chadbourne.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Planning Commission meeting

The City of San Angelo Planning Commission meets this morning at 9 in Council Chambers at the McNease Convention Center. You can find a link to the agenda on the city's Facebook page.

Gas price update

Triple-A says the price of a gallon of gas dropped again last week but the rate of decrease is expected to slow in the weeks ahead as oil prices have risen and demand is expected to pick up. The average statewide price of a gallon of regular in Texas is three-54, down one cent from a week ago. Gas-buddy-dot-com reports the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three-49 to three-59 a gallon.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Parking lot altercation

On Thursday afternoon, San Angelo police were called to the 44-hundred block of Sunset Drive and found four people involved in an altercation in the parking lot near the PetSmart store. One man fled and tried to hide in the store but 23-year-old Coby Pimm of Brady eventually surrendered. It turned out the altercation resulted from the victim of a vehicle burglary in the Ross Dress for Less parking lot attempting to detain suspects until police arrived. He was allegedly threatened with a weapon by Pimm who, along with two other people, were suspects in an earlier theft from the Walmart Supercenter on Sherwood Way. Pimm, 29-year-old Randy Mathews of Eden and Karla Poindexter of Brady, are all facing a number of charges.

Shannon trauma symposium

Shannon Medical Center is sponsoring the 13th annual Gus Eckhardt Trauma Symposium next month. The Symposium provides continuing education for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and EMTs and paramedics seeking to enhance their skills in caring for and managing trauma patients. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 6th, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the West Texas Training Center in San Angelo. To register online, visit shannon-health-dot-com.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Hazardous weather outlook

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT SAN ANGELO HAS ISSUED A HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS, INCLUDING THE CONCHO VALLEY. VERY WARM TEMPERATURES...BREEZY DAYTIME WINDS...DRY AIR AND PARCHED SURFACE VEGETATION WILL PRODUCE ELEVATE FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. CONDITIONS COULD APPROACH RED FLAG WARNING CRITERIA TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

Infant death sentence

A man charged with killing an 11-month-old girl in San Angelo last April entered a plea at the Tom Green County Courthouse on Thursday. Atreyo Carter the Third was arrested for the murder of Andrea Hernandez following incident in the 4200 block of south Bryant. Autopsy reports show Andrea died from blunt force trauma. In a plea deal, Carter pleaded guilty to charge of Injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.



St. Patrick's driving

It's St. Patrick's Day weekend and the Department of Public Safety will be looking for intoxicated drivers. The DPS had already increased patrols this week for spring break in the hopes of cracking down on D.W.I's. That effort will continue through Sunday and is paid for by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Blood shortage

We told you that United Blood Services has issued an emergency critical appeal for O Negative blood type; UBS is also in need of A Negative blood. Both are in short supply at UBS and the eight hospitals they service. Officials say there is not enough blood on hand to handle an emergency. You can donate today between 8 AM and 2 PM at United Blood Services 2020 West Beauregard in San Angelo. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. For more info, go online to united-blood-services-dot-org.



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Pope react

Pope Francis is celebrated his first Mass today as leader of the world's one-point-two-billion Roman Catholics. The newly-elected pontiff conducted the service inside the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals who elected him Pope Wednesday. The leader of the San Angelo Catholic Diocese, Bishop Michael Pfeiffer says the selection of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is important because 40 percent of the world's Catholic population is from Latin America. Pfeiffer says taking the name of St. Francis indicates the new pope will show great concern for the world's poor and the needy.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a hazardous weather outlook for portions of West Central Texas, including the Concho Valley. Breezy and gusty winds are producing elevated fire weather conditions are expected for the rest of the day. And elevated fire weather conditions are expected to continue tomorrow and Saturday.


Powerball jackpot

Huge money is up for grabs in Texas and the 42 other states plus the District of Columbia that play Powerball. Nobody matched all the numbers in last night's drawing; the estimated Powerball Jackpot for Saturday is 216-million dollars with a lump sum cash option of nearly 133-million. The Texas Lottery says it's provided more than 20-billion dollars for education since 1992, with some of the money also going to the Fund for Veterans Assistance.

New pope

The world continues to react to the historic election of Pope Francis. Cardinals gathered at the Vatican surprised many Wednesday by electing Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. It's the first time the leader of the Roman Catholic Church has come from Latin America. It's also the first time a Jesuit has been named Pontiff. In San Angelo, the leader of the Catholic Diocese says he's "thrilled" with the selection. Bishop Michael Pfeiffer told KLST that taking the name of St. Francis indicates the new pope will show great concern for the poor and the needy of the world. Bishop Pfeiffer said he's looking forward to meeting Pope Francis when he attends World Youth Day this July in Brazil.

PAWS fundraiser

Tickets are now on sale for the 2013 Furball will be hosted by Concho Valley PAWS. It's scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd at Bentwood Country Club and this year's theme is the “Great Catsby”. The evening will include live entertainment and silent auction. Tickets are 75 dollars per person and you can order them online at "Concho Valley PAWS dot org" or call or come by the adoption center Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 6 PM.

UBS needs donors

United Blood Services has issued an emergency critical appeal for O Negative blood type. UBS officials say they have one half day supply of O Negative blood type and the eight hospitals they service have a very limited amount. If there was an emergency, they would NOT have enough blood on hand. UBS is holding a blood drive today from 1:30 to 5 at 316th TRS for those with access to Goodfellow Air Force Base. Otherwise, you can donate at United Blood Services 2020 West Beauregard in San Angelo. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. For more info, go online to united-blood-services-dot-org.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

City election

The ballots are set for the special San Angelo city council election to be held with the regular city election May 11th. A drawing was held at the City Clerk's office on Tuesday morning to determine the order that candidates for the single-member districts one and five seats would appear on the ballot. Early voting begins April 29th. You can vote in the city elections by mail -- if you complete an application for a ballot by mail by May third. The deadline to register or update your registration is April 11th.

BRC grand opening

The new Business Resource Center, a one-stop shop for economic development and entrepreneurial efforts on North Chadbourne, celebrates its grand opening today. It's scheduled for this afternoon from 4 to 6 and the public is invited. The Business Resource Center is home to a trio of San Angelo's major economic development partners: Angelo State University's Small Business Development Center; The Business Factory and the City of San Angelo Development Corporation.

Amber Alert

Police in McKinney have issued an Amber Alert for a three-year-old girl. Yaretzi Lincecum is described as white and hispanic with brown hair and brown eyes. She is believed to have been abducted by Calvin Lincecum, of whom no description is provided. He is said to be driving a gold four-door Ford Crown Victoria, license number DT3V923.

Crash arrest

San Angelo police have made an arrest in connection with a single-vehicle crash in the eastbound lane of the 4000 block of West Houston Harte on Monday afternoon. 28-year-old Michael Elliott of San Angelo is charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with an invalid license and driving without insurance. Police say Elliott was traveling at an unsafe speed before his 2003 Ford F250 truck rolled over and crashed into a guard rail. Elliott was not injured and refused medical treatment.

SAPD vehicle pursuit

Early Saturday morning, San Angelo police responding to a report of a fight in progress at D-Ray's restaurant on South Chadbourne observed a 2013 Mazda passenger car leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, it sped off, eventually crashing into a traffic light and signal control box at South Chadbourne and East Concho. Police say 29-year-old Kindal Porras of San Angelo attempted to flee on foot but was arrested on several charges including felony driving while intoxicated. Damage to the light and control box could total as much as 100-thousand dollars.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

DPS spring break patrols

A reminder that, during spring break, the Department of Public Safety has increased patrols in the hopes of cracking down on D.W.I's. The increased patrols began on Saturday and will continue through this Sunday. They are paid for by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and are designed to target intoxicated drivers.

Motorcycle wreck kills serviceman

Another serviceman stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base was killed Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash. Authorities say that 31-year-old Brad Eric Brown of San Angelo was eastbound on RM 853 with several other bikers when he left the south side of the roadway and struck a reflector pole. Brown was wearing a helmet. Cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Intoxication manslaughter

A San Angelo man is charged with intoxication manslaughter following a fatal wreck Saturday night. Police say 65-year-old Malcolm Guy McBurnett drove his Chevy pickup truck onto Christoval Road with no lights on. 28-year-old Donald DiPietro, riding a motorcycle, was unable to stop in time and collided with the truck and he and the bike became wedged underneath. DiPietro, a Seargent in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base, was pronounded dead at the scene. McBurnett was taken to the Tom Green County Jail.

Monday, March 11, 2013

BRC grand opening

The new Business Resource Center, a one-stop shop for economic development and entrepreneurial efforts on North Chadbourne, celebrates its grand opening this week. It's scheduled for Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 6 PM and the public is invited. The Business Resource Center is home to a trio of San Angelo's major economic development partners: Angelo State University's Small Business Development Center; The Business Factory and the City of San Angelo Development Corporation.

Gas price update

Retail gas prices are continuing on a downward path and remain below levels of one year ago. Triple-A reports the market is currently pulled in two directions: a positive economic outlook based on a decline in unemployment versus an increase in oil stockpiles. The statewide average price of regular gasoline in Texas is three-55, four cents less than last week. Gas-buddy-dot-com shows the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three-49 to three-59 a gallon.

Brother versus brother

San Angelo police say two brothers got into a fight which led to a shotgun being fired. It happened Thursday afternoon at a residence in the 2500 block of Baylor Avenue. According to a police investigation, a verbal altercation had escalated and 28-year-old Kenet Brownrigg chased 20-year-old Zachary Brownrigg with a bladed object. Zachary then allegedly retrieved a shotgun from a nearby vehicle and the weapon discharged toward the house, breaking a window. Both brothers were arrested and transported to the Tom Green County Jail.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Sentencing for truck-crasher

A woman who crashed a stolen truck into San Angelo Police Department headquarters last June has been sentenced. 24-year-old Amanda Jeffreys will be on probation for ten years and will pay more than 30-thousand dollars in restitution for property repairs.

Election drawings

Starting today, drawings will be held to determined the order that candidates will appear on the ballot for San Angelo's May 11th election. The order for the Single Member Districts Two, Four and Six and mayor's faces will be drawn in the City Clerk's office at City Hall this morning at 9. A drawing for Single Member Districts One and Five will be held next Tuesday at 9 AM in the City Clerk's office.



Fort Concho weekend programs

The Frontier Women’s Living History Association will hold the 9th Annual School of the Victorian Lady at Fort Concho on today through Sunday. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, Officers’ Quarters 8 on East Avenue D will host a session on period lace. A lady’s bazaar with a variety of period clothing supplies and materials will open today and tomorrow. Those are open free to the public, as are the ladies tea at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, and the pen and ink class at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Downtown fire accidental

An investigation by the City of San Angelo Fire Marshal’s office found that a three-alarm blaze that leveled a downtown apartment building Monday afternoon was accidental. No charges will be filed in the case. Fire Marshal Ross Coleman found that fumes from a bug bomb set off by one of the Scott Apartments’ 13 occupants were ignited by thehousing unit’s gas stove. After a thorough investigation, Coleman ruled the cause of the fire to be accidental.

Voter registration

A reminder that if you want to vote in the May 11th San Angelo City Council election, you must be registered. If you are not, you must submit a voter registration application to the Tom Green County voter registrar by April 11th. Six of the Council’s seven seats, including mayor, will be up for election. Voter registration applications are available at the Tom Green County Election/Voter Registration Office on the second floor of the Edd B. Keyes Building on West Beauregard and at all three Tom Green County library locations. Applications may also be printed at vote-tom-green-county-dot-org.

Amber Alert

San Angelo police have notified us of an Amber Alert for two very young African-American children. Authorities say that two-year-old Nevaen Simpson and one-year-old Jordan were abducted by their maternal grandmother. 48-year-old Bonnie Miller is said to have friends and family in the Houston area and possibly family in the Garland Area. They were last seen in Kennard. Miller is driving a 2005 silver Honda Accord with Texas licence plate C-Y-X-Zero-Six-Nine. You can find detailed descriptions on the San Angelo police Facebook page.

ASU grad studies banquet

Angelo State University will hold its the annual College of Graduate Studies Awards Banquet next month. Grad students from each of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Health and Human Services will be recognized for distinguished accomplishments in their respective areas of study. The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5th, in the Houston Harte University Center's C.J. Davidson Conference Center and is open to the public. Tickets are 12 dollars per person and should be purchased by Thursday, March 28th.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Harry's conversion continues

Another step in the conversion of the old Harry's Grocery Store in downtown San Angelo took place Wednesday. Workers removed a sign marking the building's most recent use, which was for Christians In Action. Harry's is being turned into a bar and restaurant and event space.

AEP donation

A big check will help fund the ongoing North Chadbourne street scaping project. AEP Electric presented a check for 25-thousand dollars to the executive director of Downtown San Angelo Incorporated on Wednesday. The project, aimed at revitalizing the area between Fifth and 29th Streets on North Chadbourne, is expected to take ten years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars

Weather preparedness

The National Weather Service urges you to have a weather radio that will sound an alarm in the event of severe weather. This Saturday, the City of San Angelo/Tom Green County Emergency Management will be at the north side Wal-Mart from 9 AM to noon and at the Southwest Wal-Mart from 1 to 4 PM. Bring in your weather radio and they will program it for free to frequencies you need in Tom Green County or any other county to pick up local weather alerts.

Nature Center day camp

The San Angelo Nature Center's spring break day camp offers a behind-the-scenes look at the care of its animals along with games, crafts, movies and more. The camp, themed "Keeper for a Day!," is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Tuesday for kindergartners through second-graders; and Wednesday for third through sixth-graders. Pre-registration is required. To register, call the Nature Center or visit them at at 7409 Knickerbocker Road.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at San Angelo has issued a hazardous weather outllook for an area of West Central Texas including the Concho Valley. Elevated fire weather conditions will affect the area today due to very dry air and gusty southeast winds.

Gas price update

For the first time since January, the weekly average for a gallon of gas has gone down. Triple-A says oil prices fell last week after reports of manufacturing declines in China and Europe, the value of the dollar increased against foreign currencies and U.S. crude inventories rose. In Texas, the statewide average price of a gallon of regular gas is three-58, down five cents from a week ago. Gas-buddy-dot-com reports the price of regular in San Angelo ranges from three-49 to three-63 a gallon.

Storm spotter class

The National Weather Service of San Angelo and the San Angelo Amateur Radio Club will be hosting the 2013 SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Class later this month. The class is free to all citizens within Tom Green County and City of San Angelo and the surrounding areas who would like to know more about storm spotting. It is scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd from 9 AM to 1 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church on YMCA Drive just off Loop 306, between the Texas DPS office3 and Community Hospital

Red Cross Month

March was proclaimed American Red Cross Month at Tuesday's San Angelo City Council meeting. Mayor Alvin New issued the proclamation to Janet Karcher, executive director of the local chapter of the Red Cross, and board member Terry Hucks. Karcher is married to a San Angelo firefighter.

Farmers Market election

The Concho Valley Farmers Market will elect officers at its annual membership meeting coming up on Monday at 7 p.m. at the St. Ambrose Fellowship Hall in Wall. Anyone interested in selling homegrown vegetables, fruits, plants, nuts or honey during the thrice-weekly market under the Farmers Market Pavilion at 609 South Oakes Street. is invited and encouraged to attend. Membership is required to participate in the sales, which begin in May and continue into October. You can find a link to more information on the city of San Angelo's website.

Consumer Protection Week

The San Angelo Police Department, along with government and private organizations is promoting consumer education during National Consumer Protection Week, which runs through Saturday. Visit ncpw-dot-gov to read, watch, print or order free resources.

ASU Project Spring Break

Angelo State University's Center for Student Involvement will send six students to New Orleans, where they will volunteer during their spring break in the continuing efforts to rebuild the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. ASU students participating in CSI's Project Spring Break March 11th through the 17th are Megan Benjamin, Kara Edwards, Jack Gwon, Misharee Hight, Jon Meadows and Karina Quintana. The program offers ASU students a service opportunity as a substitute for conventional spring break activities.

ASU concert

Three Angelo State University music professors and a guest will present a public concert tomorrow evening in the Carr Education-Fine Arts Building on Dena Drive. Titled "Music for Bassoon and Friends," the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the EFA Building's Eldon Black Recital Hall, and is open free to the public. Dr. Jeff Womack will perform bassoon pieces accompanied by ASU professors Dr. Martha Saywell on piano and harpsichord, and Dr. Maurice Kelley on cello. Dr. Matthew Bishop from Laredo Community College will join the ASU trio and play classical guitar.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

City council meeting

And you can go to the city of San Angelo's Facebook page to find a link to the agenda for today's City Council meeting. It gets underway at 9 AM at the McNease Convention Center.

Business Resource Center grand opening

The new Business Resource Center, a one-stop shop for economic development and entrepreneurial efforts on North Chadbourne, celebrates its grand opening from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. The public is invited. The Business Resource Center – or BRC – is home to a trio of San Angelo’s major economic development partners: Angelo State University’s Small Business Development Center; The Business Factory and the City of San Angelo Development Corporation. The BRC opened in November. You can find out more on the Business Resource Center's Facebook page.

STD testing

The San Angelo-Tom Green County Health Department will be assisting state health officials this week in three free local clinics to test for sexually transmitted diseases. Sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the community outreach activities will provide free and confidential testi ng for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. The testing will occur on from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow through Friday. Testing tomorrow will be at the San Angelo Lodge on West Beauregard, Thursday it will be at the El Patio Motel on West Beauregard and Friday at the Freeland Center on Freeland Avenue.

AM1 Apartment fire

San Angelo firefighters on Monday afternoon battled a three-alarm fire at a downtown apartment building, successfully keeping the flames from bridging the 10 to15 feet that separated the structure from a neighboring home. All of the 13 occupants of the Scott Apartments at 204 West 1st Street were safely accounted for. There were no injuries suffered battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet known. This was the third major structure fire the fire department's C shift has fought in the last two weeks. In all three instances, firefighters kept the fires from spreading to surrounding properties, and no one was injured in any of the blazes.

Speeding enforcement

To address speeding on the loop, the San Angelo Police Department conducted a LIDAR Traffic Operation in the 2100 block of W Houston Harte last Wednesday morning. Between eight and 10 AM, officers made contact with 23 drivers. The results were 20 Speeding Tickets, Four Warnings, Two motorists with No Insurance and Five Other Violations. The top speed recorded was 89 miles an in a 65 mile per hour zone. The average speed was 75.

Passport Fair

This Saturday is Passport Day in the U.S.A. 2013 and, in celebration, Angelo State University's Passport Office will host a Passport Fair in the ASU Center for International Studies. The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and is open to the public. The CIS Passport Office is located in the East Office Annex on South Johnson Street. Anyone needing a passport or passport card is encouraged to attend.

Burglary arrest

Early Saturday morning, San Angelo Public Safety Communications received a 911 call regarding a residential burglary in progress. A witness said they saw an unknown male break a window, enter a residence in the 1100 block of North Jefferson Street and take property from the residence. Minutes later, an officer found the suspect in the front yard, intoxicated and bleeding from his hand. Police say the injury was consistent with a forced entry and stolen items were found in the vehicle belonging to the suspect, 46-year-old Jesus Herrera of San Angelo. Herrara was arrested for burglary of a habitation.