IRS Scam Warning

San Angelo police report that an Internal Revenue Service scam is circulating in the local area.  According to the IRS, immigrants are frequently targeted. Potential victims are threatened with deportation, arrest, having their utilities shut off, or having their driver’s licenses revoked. Callers are frequently insulting or hostile - apparently to scare their potential victims. If you’ve been targeted by this scam, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC-dot-gov.

Stranded Motorist Trick

San Angelo police have issued an alert following reports outside Tom Green County of thieves posing as stranded motorists & robbing victims who offer assistance. Irion County Sheriff Officials confirmed two separate incidents where unsuspecting victims stopped to help what appeared to be a stalled vehicle with two Hispanic female occupants. Both victims reported that as they offered help, a third suspect, a Hispanic male who was hiding nearby, jumped out and rushed them. One victim was robbed of money. The other victim was able to drive off just prior to the act.  Both victims described the suspect vehicle as a small, red passenger car.

National Cowboy Day

Fort Concho will celebrate National Cowboy Day later this month.  That will happen on Saturday, July 26th, and include a hearty cowboy breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits, hash browns and gravy, all cooked over an open fire. Coffee will be ready at 8 a.m., with the dinner bell for the classic morning meal ringing shortly after in the Barracks 5 courtyard off Henry O. Flipper Street.  National Cowboy Day is celebrated across the American West with a wide range of activities to mark the heritage of the American cowboy.  You can find ticket prices and other information at fort-concho-dot-com.

Truck v. Bank

San Angelo police continue to investigate the Monday evening incident in which a truck crashed into a bank building on West Loop 306.  Police say that a red, 2001 Chevrolet Silverado collided into the north wall of the bank and continued through building to damage the east wall. The driver, 21-year-old Christopher Doty of San Angelo and a 19-year-old male passenger were taken to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance. Both were treated for non-incapacitating injuries. Driving While Intoxicated is suspected in the accident and police are awaiting toxicology results.

Bishop Still Sought

San Angelo police continue to seek the public's help in tracking down a burglary suspect who escaped from Shannon Medical Center on Sunday. Police say that 36-year-old Bradley Bishop of San Angelo has warrants for burglary of a building and possession of methamphetamine.  Bishop is described as a white male, 5-11, 180 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.  You can find his picture on the SAPD Facebook page. If you know anything about Bradley Bishop’s whereabouts, contact the SAPD. To remain anonymous, call 1-855-TIPS-24-7.

Nature Center Camps

The San Angelo Nature Center hosts day camps this month. Each five-day session contains nature activities allowing children to explore the center and its inhabitants. It also covers the Spillway Road Nature Trail. The first session runs July 14th through 18th for kindergartners and first- and second-graders. The second session runs July 21st through 25th for kids in grades three through six. Each day of activity lasts from 8 in the morning to noon. You can register by calling or visiting the Nature Center.

Rainfall and Lake Levels

The city of San Angelo is out with the latest numbers on rainfall: Year to date - 10-point-five-six inches.  That's slightly less than normal but almost three inches more than last year.  As for lake levels, Nasworthy is at 84 percent of capacity, Ivie 19 percent, Twin Buttes 13 and Fisher two percent.  Nasworthy is down five percentage points and Ivie one from last week.

Vigilante Group

The ACLU of Texas is calling a civilian militia which plans to patrol the Mexican border a vigilante group. ACLU of Texas Executive Director Terri Burke says the "coalition of Patriots" are just "anti-immigrant, hate-based vigilante groups" who won't help at all. She also says the border is under control and communities are safe. Militia members are promising to be in Laredo in the next few weeks.

Credit Union Crash Suspect Identified

The driver of the pickup truck that ran into a credit union last night has been identified as Christopher Ray Doty, 21, of San Angelo. The lobby at the southwest branch of Concho Educators Federal Credit Union, at 3215 W. Loop 306, was shut down today as crews worked to clean up the building and assess the damage. Concho Educators CEO says estimates of the damage will between $40,000 to $50,000 if there is no structural damage to the building. If there is structural damage, he said, "it could run into the $100,000 range." The crash is being investigated as a possible driving while intoxicated, but no arrests have been made pending toxicology reports.

President Meets With Gov Perry

President Barack Obama has offered to meet Texas Governor Rick Perry to discuss the border crisis during his visit to Texas after the governor declined to meet him on the tarmac when he arrived. The Governor suggested a meeting instead, and that's what will happen in Dallas tomorrow. In a statement from the Governor's office, the two will discuss the humanitarian and national security crises along the southern border. On Sunday the governor criticized the Obama administration for not moving more quickly to address the problem saying "They either are inept or don't care."

The President is coming to Texas this week to raise money for Democratic candidates running in November congressional elections, but the White House says he will not be visiting the border.

Also today, President Obama asked the U.S. Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending on  to address the cross-border surge of children from Central America. Tens of thousands of children under 18 who have flocked to the United States in recent months overwhelming  public resources. The White House has yet to say how many of the roughly 52,000 children that have been apprehended this year have been sent back to Central America

New Garbage Deal

San Angelo's city council has approved solid waste contracts that mean new curbside recycling and bulk trash pickup services.

The city says the deals also mean Republic Services paying it millions of dollars to operate the landfill while shouldering millions more in liabilities.

Residential customers continue receiving garbage collection twice per week, once for recyclable materials and once for other waste.

The contract also includes quarterly pickup of bulk items like furniture and large appliances.  Bulk waste collections begin after the start of October.

The city says with the new services, most residential customers' total monthly solid waste bills increase nearly four dollars.

The rate for commercial customers depends on the frequency of collection and the size of their bins.  The customer determines both.

The city also says it intends to hire a contract manager to ensure everyone follows the agreements.

The collection contract lasts 10 years.  Two options that coincide with the landfill's life may extend that contract another 10 years.

Police Investigate Dead Body

San Angelo Police Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians continue to investigate a dead body that was located yesterday morning in an abandoned trailer at a property in North San Angelo. At approximately 9:37 a.m., San Angelo Police were dispatched to Kay’s Old Fashioned Barber Shop where a customer told police that he'd  discovered the body at a nearby location. He took police to the location in the 100 block of E. Twenty-Fifth Street, inside one of the abandoned trailers. It appears it was a male who had been dead for some time. The body sent to Lubbock for an autopsy.

Sitel Layoffs

Most of Sitel's workforce has received layoff notices for this summer.

Other employers continue recruiting many of the 348 at-risk workers.  However, Mike Buck from Concho Valley Workforce Development tells the Standard-Times that Sitel employees need to keep working there until the company officially lets them go.

Buck says sticking around to the end would allow the employees to maintain their benefits.

A chamber of commerce report identifies Sitel's local branch as Tom Green County's eighth-largest employer.

Water Restrictions Relaxed

San Angelo has relaxed its watering restrictions to allow watering twice per week.

However, the city council continues urging people to use water conservatively.

Water utilities director Ricky Dickson says the city has slightly more than two and a half years of surface water supply.  That does not include the Hickory Aquifer, which begins working this fall.

The city continues prohibiting watering between noon and 6 o'clock in the afternoon.  It also continues prohibiting runoff of over 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley, or ditch.

Sports Update

The Astros lost last night to the Atlanta Braves three to two.  There's another one tonight at seven-ten when the teams have their rematch at Minute Maid Park.  Collin McHugh will be on the hill for Houston.

The Rangers just hope for a better day. Ian Kinsler homered in his first at bat against his former team, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Rangers in Arlington last night eight to two. The teams reconvene tonight at seven-oh-five.  Joe Saunders will pitch for the Rangers, looking for his first win of the season.

Also in baseball last night, the Colts defeated the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings three to one. The teams play again tonight at Foster Field at seven-fifteen.

The Central Bobcats Booster Club will have the 1st annual golf tournament at San Angelo Country Club on Monday, August 4th. It’s a four-man scramble and proceeds benefit the Central athletes thru the booster club.

TAME Trailer Encourages Science

Hundreds of San Angelo kids had fun learning science yesterday at the Trailblazers science on wheels exhibit outside of Stephens Central Library. The Trailblazer trailer had about 20 engineering exhibits people of all ages can interact with. The 40-foot traveling trailer is the idea of the Austin-based Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering. TAME encourages students to have a STEM — science, technology, engineering, math — career because few college students pursue those fields. The organization encourages minorities to pursue a STEM career. Currently, women only make up 22 percent in those careers. Members of the San Angelo Colts and a few players from the Wall High School football team volunteered, showed the participants how to interact with the exhibits and explained the science behind it.

San Angelo Water Report

San Angeloans used 1,582,000 gallons less water on June 24 than they did on the same date last year. The city of San Angelo pumped 11,702,000 gallons yesterday. Lake Nasworthy water level is at 89 percent with 9,125 acre-feet, Twin Buttes is at 13 percent water level with 23,265 acre-feet and O.H. Ivie water level is at 20 percent with 109,023 acre-feet.

Blood Drives

United Blood Services of San Angelo is continuing its emergency critical appeal for O Negative blood type.  At the latest count, UBS had only 11 pints on hand and it should have 67 pints.  In fact, all negative blood types are in low supply.  Mobile blood drives are scheduled on Wednesday from 4 to 6:45 PM at College Hills Baptist Church on Johnson Street and on Friday from 11 AM to 2:15 PM at Concho Educators FCU on West Loop 306.  Blood that is donated at UBS blood drives stays local and is used to save the lives of patients at Shannon and Community Medical.  

Teacher Pay Raise

Teachers in the San Angelo Independent School District will make more money in the upcoming school year. The SAISD Board of Trustees voted for raises totaling more than four-million dollars last night.  Teachers, along with librarians, registered nurses, and other employees, will receive a 14-hundred dollar general pay raise.  Starting salaries will be increased by 500 dollars to 37-thousand-500 dollars.  The compensation plan also includes a one-thousand dollar health insurance supplement.

Grape Creek ISD Theft

Some unauthorized bank transactions have been made from the Grape Creek ISD and the local law enforcement along with the FBI are investigating. At least $200,000 had been stolen as of yesterday afternoon through 64 automated clearinghouse withdraws. The sheriffs office is looking into the total amounts withdrawn and where they were deposited. The school district was alerted about the theft last week after recieving a call from a bank in Olney, Illinois regarding a $4,500 withdrawal. That's when they noticed an additional 64 unapproved withdrawals. Authorities are looking at each transaction, including names, account numbers, routing numbers and the amount withdrawn.