Breaking

Ambulance helicopter crashed at Wise Regional hospital in Decatur. No life threatening injuries.

Barry (from iPhone)

Edit: Star-Telegram story.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

There's no way I'm doing this on Christmas Day. And, after all, what says "Merry Christmas" more than some crazy lady knocking the pope down.

Christmas Eve Pick Me Up

How my kids would probably have turned out.

Alternatively, enjoy Christmas Cheerleaders. Merry Christmas to all you cRaZEee people!

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Christmas on Friday is a good thing. Most of us are off on Thursday and then the weekend comes right after. Good times.
• I think the "holiday airport rush" is a hoax. (Stay with me here.) One time before 9/11, I was by the DFW airport on Christmas Eve and heard a radio report of how busy it was. With nothing really to do, I thought I'd go inside one of the terminals to watch family reunions. I promise the place was a ghost land.
• My favorite sad Christmas song.
• That American Airlines jet came within feet of going into the ocean in Jamaica yesterday. (New pictures out this morning.) And the thing actually broke in half.
• Unfortunate new Brittany Murphy movie poster.
• People always dog the Messenger, but can you imagine how hard it would be to produce a newspaper twice a week?
• The Senate passed the health care bill this morning. What does that mean for us? I don't know.
• I made a donation to This American Life the other day. (They had a brief "donation ad" on their podcast which basically said, "You know if you don't donate, we'll still be here next week." I appreciated the honesty.)
• This Denton book-in photo kind of looks like a chunky Paul McCartney.
• Whenever I have a new client come to visit, I normally ask them "How you been doing?" as we walk back to the office. Most of the time they reply, "I've been better." (I do 100% criminal defense.)
• TCU's Gary Patterson was voted "AP Coach of the Year" yesterday. Two years ago it was Kansas' Mike Mangino who won the honor -- he was fired this year.
• Last football note: TCU's "big wins" were over BYU and Utah this year. I saw where Utah has already beaten California in one bowl game and BYU beat a good Oregon State team in another.
• When the police announce they need help in locating someone (like the donut shop owner's killer), you know they are having trouble.
• I like Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day.

Snow? Edit 8 hours later: Holy, Cow!

When did this forcast happen? We've got us a blizzard predicted. Edit: And I spent the last two days referencing a White Christmas? Coincidence? Don't doubt my magical Christmas powers.

I Call It . . .

"Trooper Holds Phone While Man Smokes and Talks" Explanation in the Update. (Where you can learn that even non life threatening injuries can get you a helicopter ride to a metroplex hospital.)

Somewhere Along I-35 By Alliance Airport

Credit: Tony

In Case That Name Sounds Familiar

Flashback.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• I power down whenever I hear the background singers in Elvis' "Blue Christmas." You know, that "waawaawhoo" stuff.
• It's on a loop on the courthouse speakers so it's been tough on me, pal.
• SMU goes to a bowl for the first time in twenty five years but only sells 500 tickets. Then again, the bowl is in Hawaii on Christmas Eve.
• Obscure college football note: A&M was 0-6 when its games were televised but 6-0 when no one got to watch.
• I'm glad it's getting cold for Christmas. It's downright balmy this morning.
• Whenever you hear, "We don't want to speculate" from a TV announcer, you're about to hear some speculation.
• Here's the picture of Cindy Lou The Littlest Who I saw this weekend: Cute.
• While you were sleeping: An American Airlines jet coming from Miami overshot the runway in Jamaica injuring over 40, none seriously. Sheesh, that could have been bad. And I've taken that flight before.
• I've seen lots of women walk into the prosecutor's office on the third floor of the courthouse and say, "I need a protective order." I always wonder if they are in fear of their safety or someone looking for revenge.
• I struggle and hate writing "The Spin" every weekend but pretty much throw "Random Thoughts" together everyday without much effort. (Obviously.)
• I love the year end "Biggest News Stories" list but I hate it when things like "the economy" make it on there. I want a list of stories that required a national "breaking news" interruption of programming.
• Everyone that has seen Avatar tells me that it's great.
• Punk kid flips camera the bird. Punk kid's dad slaps his hand.
• Saw an angry lady on a sidewalk on Decatur yesterday complaining (loudly) into a cell phone, "Why can't she control her mouth!"
• Inappropriate deceased NFL player Chris Henry memorial pics?
• Edit: There's a supposedly gruesome video all over the place of an Aggie basketball player breaking his leg last night. I say "supposedly" because I cannot bring myself to look at stuff like that.

The Generation Gap: In Comments

A comment I received about the officer-shooting-himself post from a couple of days ago. (Sorry, click to enlarge - but it's worth it.) To answer the confused youngster, I'll site Wikipedia about Barney Fife from the (great) Andy Griffith Show:

One major comedic source is Barney's lack of ability with a firearm. After numerous misfires (usually a Colt or Smith & Wesson M&P .38 caliber revolver), Sheriff Andy Taylor restricts Barney to carrying only a single bullet in his shirt pocket, "in case of an emergency."

Lordy, I feel old.

Sheriff's Email To The Entire Wise County Sheriff's Office

From: Walker, David Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 9:31 PM To: WCSO All Personnel Subject: Christmas

19 years ago, Tricia Armstrong called me and said, "you should watch Channel 8 Dale Hansen........he has a segment called THANK GOD FOR KIDS."19 years ago I started watching the segment every Christmas without fail. Each year, the THANK GOD FOR KIDS segment put a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. This year has been extremely tough for my family beginning in June, as my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. Shortly there after, my father's health begin declining and I sat with him at the hospital for a month. He passed away July 26, 2009. My best friend, my go to on decisions I thought were good or not, and more importantly the best dad anyone could ever ask for. Supportive in every possible way, a father that I want to be. I can remember telling my dad I wanted to run for Sheriff...he said "hell David, politics is a tough game.." He was right, but he and my Mom jumped right in and here we are. With the help of all of you!

As we were working on getting my Mom situated and ready for chemotherapy, it was all of you, which I call my friends that helped me push through all the heartbreaks. August 8, 2009 my Grandmother passed away. This was my Dad's mother. Twelve days to be exact from the death of my Dad. Again, all of you pushed me and my family through yet another tough time.

Things started to change for all of us with the birth of my beautiful daughter Addison DeAnn Walker. Some of you know that for years I have wanted my own child, and a family to go home to at night. I dreamed of raising a child, just as my Dad raised me. When Addison was born on November 4th, I had my fathers picture with me, my mother was close by, as was the in-laws and other family and friends. I looked at the clock at 1:52p.m. that November day and the second hand had stopped on the clock! A true meaning that my life had changed forever, and my Dad watching on from above. There is no other feeling than the instant love that boils over, as I held Addy for the first time ever. Some of you can relate I am sure, and can say "thank god for kids." I am very fortunate for have a loving wife as Christi is a part of me. She has brought me everything I have ever wanted. Having a son that has a heart of gold, and a nephew which I call my brother, and a daughter that smiles and loves her daddy already. Even though she can't say it yet, her daddy will tell her a thousand times a week. It was very important to me to be thankful for my parents and make sure they knew I loved them. I told them all the time. When my father was in the hospital, the last thing I said to him was "rest good Dad, I will see you tomorrow, and I love you!"

Addison has been a breath of fresh air to my mother, as she is now cancer free, a breath of fresh air to push me forward and raise her like my Dad raised me. She is just perfect! As we as a family go through the first Christmas without my Dad, I do so with the vision down the road. Not only the vision of my family at home, but the vision of the department. Being extremely happy with where we are as a department and happy that we have the crew that we do, which looks forward. We are definitely the best department around. It is not a result of me, its not a result of Doug, its not a result of any single person, it is a result of all of us working together. For all you do, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am a better man because of all of you, I am a better Sheriff because of all of you.

I have attached the link to Thank God For Kids 2009. This year it is especially meaningful, with all we have been through. Dad would be proud of baby Addy! Listen to the message that Dale ends with, hug your kids, kiss your loved ones (as I just did), and remember that message he ends with. Live life for today!

Thank you all for everything on and off duty!

Have a very Merry Christmas

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/Dale-Hansen-Thank-God-For-Kids-79781147.html **************************** (Comments off. Let's all just get along.)

Wise County Last Minute Gift Idea

Yet another idea I should have thought of first. What could possibly go wrong? (By the way, and unrelated, did I ever tell you I dreamed up anti-lock brakes in my teenage brain when I was sixteen?)

Santa Lindsay Pick Me Up

Texas Monthly 2009 Bum Steer Award

This was mentioned in the Update today. (Which is a little ironic since the news story originally appeared in the Update.) I tried to find it in the archives, but couldn't. Edit: Found it. Sixth entry down. Edit: Faithful reader Allen W. points out that Wise County had two entries this year: Edit: Joe Duty remembers the guy

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Attending a criminal docket call will suck the Christmas spirit out of you.
• NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson has been named "AP Athlete of the Year." I think the voters forgot that the word "athlete" was in the title.
• Fox News this morning dedicated a segment to a "shocking case" of a man beating a DWI case because of the defense that he was "too fat to perform the field sobriety tests." That's nothing shocking. The official manual that all of the cops use specifically says the tests may not be reliable for people 50 pounds or more overweight.
• I suppose former Cowboy kicker Nick Folk, who lost his job yesterday, woke up this morning and asked, "How did that happen?"
• Stay classy Philadelphia: Eagle fans pelt 49er fans with snowballs this past weekend, and the security guard didn't get much respect.
• And I'll say it again, Fox and Friend's Gretchen Carlson is horrible. Judgmental, not very smart, and a horrible journalist (as she opined yesterday that Brittany Murphy's death was "probably drug related.") Edit: I want to apologize for calling her "not very smart". My buddy Keith directed me to this.
• I watched the ESPN documentary "The U" over the weekend about the rise of the University of Miami football program. It was fantastic. And the 1991 Cotton Bowl where the 'Canes figuratively mugged the University of Texas was a big player in the film.
• My source of the "officer shooting self" rumor yesterday (hey, I said unconfirmed) is actually a pretty good one. And they still believe something happened that isn't being reported.
• I found my bank card. Yay me.
• A Houston judge was found guilty of "official oppression" for trying to get a pretty hawt DWI defendant to enter into a relationship with him in exchange for getting her a different court appointed attorney.
• Impersonator Frank Caliendo not as funny as he used to be?
• The footage of the owner of the donut shop in Dallas who was shot a couple of days is chilling. That was senseless.
• Holy cow. Personal injury lawyer Brian Loncar has a commercial showing him arriving in a helicopter at the scene of a fake accident. Shockingly disgusting.
• Santa and Baby Jesus instability.
• My 1-4 prediction for the Cowboys to end their season is still possible but looking dicey.
• I was wrong when I predicted the lady accused of killing her husband in the Fort Worth case would be found not guilty. But the jury did give her probation yesterday.
• But they deliberated over 15 hours before returning the guilty verdict. I never understand that. How can 12 people debate it for that long and then walk out of the room and say, "We don't have any doubts that are reasonable about her guilt."
• Obscure sports note: Baylor's new female basketball star Brittney Griner is an absolute beast. (That's all I've got to cheer for.)

I've Never Been More Confused

Jessica Simpson. A candle. Reference to ear wax. A guy who might be gay singing a Christmas song. A Pappa John's pizza box as a protective device. Tony Romo, how could you leave this girl?

Texas Parents Battle For The Constitutional Right To Have A Hippie Child

It's kinda hard to argue with dad on this one. How is he supposed to cut his kid's hair against the kid's will?

Look What My Office Gave Me

Yep, an autographed copy.

Odd Comment From District Court In Decatur This Morning

In a hearing before the judge: Attorney: Ma'am, are you the mother of [baby's name]? Lady: (In all seriousness) Yep. No epidural or no nothing.

Update on below post. Oops.

From the Sheriff's Office: NO trooper was shot. At 7:02 we responded with Rhome to a elderly mental subject at the Valero. No trooper made scene and no officers / Deputies were injured. The mental subject was placed into custody and taken to WRHS….. Barry (from iPhone)

Unconfirmed Breaking News Via Email

Oh, my.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Channel 8 has a video on the Runaway Bay condo fire with an interview of victim/former Wise County Fire Marshal Mike Bement. His teeth burned up. Really.
• Is the girl above a repeat? I either posted it before or I was married to her. I lose track.
• I know a lot of people are beaten down by talk of Twitter, but it is always first with breaking news. I got a tweet about Brittany Murphy's death two hours before CNN reported it. And how can I live without knowing about stuff like that first?
• Avatar grossed $73 million over the weekend. I've read good reviews, and it's supposed to be a technical masterpiece, but the previews look like a beating.
• Something happened with the health care bill last night with some Nebraska senator getting "paid off." (That's the Fox News version. Check it out to find out what really happened.)
• Now I've lost my replacement bank card. I'm dying here.
• I caught Simon and Garfunkle's performance of The Boxer on cable for some recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert recently. I've underrated them.
• I'm two "chapters" into the Inglourious Nasterds DVD. Yeah, it's good, but I've seen this formula before. People sit around and talk about crazy crap (why do we love a squirrel but hate a rat when a rat is nothing but a squirrel without a tail) followed by over the top violence.
• Note to D.C. cop: Be careful admitting that you pulled a gun during a snowball fight when you are surrounded by guys with cellphones.
• I bought a leather jacket for myself over the weekend. Not a biker leather jacket, but a Macy's kind of leather jacket. I never buy stuff like that for myself.
• Somehow you won't see any changes, but the owner of WBAP and KCSC filed has filed for bankruptcy.
• Speaking of WBAP, they tried a Fake Wade Phillip's bit at 8:10 this morning. Fail.
• Saw a lady snap back curtly with "Merry Christmas!" after a security guard wished a crowd, "Happy Holidays." Sheesh.
• Saw the cutest little girl dressed up as Cindy Lou The Littlest Who yesterday. Working on a pic.
• I think www.wisecounty.com is down this morning. Ugh.
• Regarding my "no White Christmas in Wise County" post from Friday, I arbitrarily define "White Christmas" as snowing on Christmas morning or waking up on Christmas Day to a new blanket of snow. I don't think that's ever happened.

More Gold This Week

Wise County crime reports.