Bridgeport Sixth Grade Basketball Game Today

One of the coaches got kicked out then "Cops called to restore order" per an email I just received. Sounds like a scene is breaking out. Stuff going on outside. People demanding money back.

Developing . . .

Press Release From WCSO

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Wise County Deputies concluded an ongoing investigation by executing a search warrant at 400 W. Sherman Street in Chico, TX. Arrested at the scene was Shirly Stipes, 49 years of age, and Miguel Lira, 29 years of age. Both of these individuals were charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Marijuana. Both of these suspects are being held in the Wise County Jail on $60,000 bond. Seized at the residence was approximately 19 grams of Methamphetamine, over 2 ounces of marijuana, 200 pills classified as a controlled substance, as well equipment and supplies utilized in the distribution of narcotics. Also located at this residence was approximately $8,000 worth of stolen property from three separate jurisdictions.

Investigators learned of the routine drug shipments to the address in Chico, TX, and arranged foranother package of Methamphetamine to be delivered to the Stipes residence on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Wise County Deputies were present at the house upon the arrival of the drug courier, Ketsana Phouttavong, 32 years of age. He was taken into custody at the scene during his attempt to deliver two ounces of methamphetamine. Based upon the method of distribution, Wise County Investigators believe this shipment would have been resold on the streets of Wise County at an approximate value of $11,000. Phoutthavong, of Haltom City, TX, has been charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver and is being held at the Wise County Jail on a total of $27,500 bond. This subject has a “NoBond” hold issued by the United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An additional warrant from the Texas Department of Pardon and Parole is expected to be issued with “No Bond” for Parole Violations. This warrant would be based upon the suspect’s previous conviction for Robbery.
Wise County Investigators expect to make at least four additional arrests in this case.

Told You The Tarrant DA's Office Would Tweet That Case Like A Football Game

The moment the verdict was read in the courtroom.

Edit: And they even work after 5:00 on Friday to put together a fancy press release.

Taking You Into The Weekend

Oops. Wrong headline. She is associated with this . . .

Story.

55 MPH Seems Like A Long Time Ago

I'm not sure I knew about that 80 mph stretch.

Texting And Movie Going

If you'd support a movie theater who kicked a girl out who wouldn't stop texting during a movie and then would post her profanity laced phone call of complaint, you'll get a kick out of this.

Random Wise County Meth Post

Not very exciting but the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed this guy's conviction today. He got a 12 year sentence and a $2,000 fine.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• We're almost into February and it hasn't really been cold yet. Weird. All the trees will bloom in a little over a month.
• The Messenger has added five online ads surrounding its online Update. 
• Thirty-one killed in Iraq because of a bomb blast. The Vietnam War will look like a good idea compared to W's decision to invade that country before long. Edit for commentor: Nope. Congress did not authorize the war with a declaration of war as required by the constitution. Edit #2: A "resolution" supporting the President if the President chooses to invade a country is no way a "declaration of war" by Congress. Edit #3: And the resolution supports my initial point 100%. It was Bush's War.
• The capital murder jury in Fort Worth deliberated most of the day yesterday without reaching a verdict. One odd thing they asked for from the judge: The transcript of one of the lawyer's closing argument. I've never heard of that before.
• There was a drug arrest out of Chico yesterday of a guy whose last name was Phoutthavong. He has an immigration hold on him. 
• Mark Cuban was not impressed ("total idiots") with a Ticket round table discussion last night about Lamar Odom.
• Regarding the shocking picture of the Decatur school bus and the collapsed bridge, I'm surprised we don't have more country road bridge collapses.  I bet they aren't regularly checked.
• Wichita Falls (AP) – A 5-year-old North Texas girl is dead after she was found hanging by the neck from her jump rope on a piece of playground equipment. Good grief. 
• Hypothetical we had up at the courthouse yesterday: If you had to be sentenced to prison, at what point (in number of real years) would you make the decision to flee to Mexico? Your current age plays a huge factor in the decision, but we all agreed a 20 year sentence would cause us all to head South. 
• I'd take a 20 year sentence if I could kill those Sweetjack commercials. 
• The Republicans spent time in their debate last night talking about colonization of the moon? Really?
• I debated whether the death of "Epstein" from Welcome Back Kotter warranted a bullet point. 
• You could have a movie preview of Liam Neeson tracking down and killing a butterfly and it would still look good. 
• There was so much impromptu singing in my house last night that I felt like I was in an episode of Glee.

Wise County Bus Tries To Drive To Underworld

Story.

And Another (Louisiana)

Strong to quite strong.

Story.

Tom Brady's House Is Finished Just In Time To Go To The Super Bowl

More.

22,000 square feet. Built from scratch on land that was purchased for $11,000,000.

Now that's a one-percenter.

Let Me Set This Spike Up For The Comments

Story.

Rhome Assistant Fire Chief

Story.

Mayor Taco

Someone mentioned this to me yesterday -- the mayor who had some Latino issues to deal with in his city and, when asked what he will do for the Latino community, said, "I might have tacos when I go home." That got him in hot water so he apologized. (Video is in that link.)

But, man, I love his delivery of that line. When he followed it up with "I'm. Not. Quite. Sure. Yet." it was some fine comedic timing. (But you could see him backtracking from that moment on.)

P.S. That reporter needs to remember he ain't working for 60 Minutes. Lighten up big fella.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Lake Bridgeport will probably rise a little over two feet due to the storms and will remain about two feet low. [Edit: I meant "ten feet low". Really. I knew that.]  It takes about a four day storm over the watershed to see a dramatic change. (I just like saying "watershed.")
• At 5:30 this morning, I stumbled upon the semi-final match of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open. I couldn't (and probably wouldn't) sit around and watch it, but live sports before dawn is cool.
• I follow a country pastor on Facebook who just oozes hatred. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
• The Arizona governor sticking her finger in the President's face did her party no favors with that sign of disrespect.
• There was a press release yesterday by Garland police about the murder of a 40 year old by two teenage girls he had met  in a hotel to share sex, drugs, and alcohol.  I loved this sentence: "At some point during the night, the party got out of hand." At some point? How about the moment the guy decided to open the the door.
• Odd conversation with Mrs. LL last night: If I have felt better because of adding a salad to every meal, is it because there is something intrinsic in lettuce or is it because it is "empty calories" simply taking the place of bad food?
• I saw an old girlfriend firing off real time Facebook pics from a bar last night. You know, it was good to be home. 
• WBAP's Hal Jay on Tom Brady this morning: "He does have kind of that scumbag side to him." Really? 
• A jury begins deliberating today whether to give the death penalty to a guy who killed two people during a robbery. Although death sentences are becoming less frequent, if they don't vote for it in this case then there truly is a change in the wind in Texas on the issue of capital punishment. 
• But the Tarrant County DA's office will be tweeting about the verdict like they were watching a high school football game. 
• A name connected with a famous Tarrant County murder case that I hadn't thought about in years: Kristi Koslow.
• Several buildings of the Selwyn School in Denton (off to the right as you drive towards I-35) burned this morning. As a kid, I'd look at it and think really smart kids probably went there. I was probably right. (That link has a picture of the fire.)
• Another wrong way crash on the Dallas tollway last night. Seems like it had been a few months since we have had one. 
• I couldn't pic Lamar (Kardashian) Odom out of a lineup, but everyone sure is griping about how he couldn't care less to be a Dallas Maverick. Yet another reason rent-a-player killed pro sports.

Giggle

Interesting When All That "Crazy Government Spending" Takes Place

The chart was created in April and President Obama's current percentage is actually up to 41%. However, that's on pace to tie W after eight years.  

(And before you think Bush The First had a fairly low number, remember that he was a one term president.)

Source. (Thanks, Ben.)

Edit: Even with all the criticism, those numbers are fairly accurate.

Hey, I Think I'm Going To Film Myself Stealing Weed From A Dealer!

I wasn't expecting much from this one but it had a pretty funny payoff. Little white boy gangsta had the look of fear on his face when the theft of pot didn't go quite as planned. I bet he could just hear the guy he ripped off saying, "I'm gonna call a couple of hard, pipe-hitting [friends] to go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch."

(Language warning -- albeit understandable.)

"There's something I know" - Nancy Pelosi Says Newt Won't Be President

That's a really strange thing to say.  I wonder what she knows.

Random Ice Rink Collapse

I think it's in Russia. Not a lot of back story.

Which reminds me. I wonder if the Cowboys will ever rebuild their indoor practice facility?

Of Course You Can Make It

In Haltom City.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• How many times have you heard, "How about that rain?" this morning?
• But that is a lot of rain. 
• A guy came up for parole in a case that some say gave rise to the most famous headline ever by the New York Post: "Headless Body In Topless Bar."
• The more I watched the State of the Union, the more convinced I became that President Obama will win re-election. And it may not even be close.
• He started off with a boom: We are out of Iraq and no longer have to fear Osama Bin Laden.
• Business quick hits: (1) The company behind Del Frisco is going public after having grown to 31 restaurants in 18 states -- I had no idea they were that big, and (2) Apple Inc. just had the second most profitable quarter in the history of any company in America with a net income of $13.06 billion -- Exxon holds the record.
• Mrs. LL signs up for a lot of workout programs. Some of them pretty odd. 
• Someone commented about the difference between the "effective" income tax rate and the "marginal" income tax rate yesterday. I don't think many people understand that. 
• Admittedly weak Random Thoughts. I had an 8:10 appointment that was a must-do.
• Since we love talking about field turf, looks like a high school in Beaumont is having trouble with theirs:

Messenger Above The Fold

Murder Defendant From Bridgeport Pleas Out Today -- 25 Year Sentence

From myspace

Book in photo after arrest

This is the one where she ran down 37-year old Jimmy Joe Robertson on 101 outside of Bridgeport. She becomes eligible for parole after 12 1/2 years.

Lots Of Women Must Be Packin' Out There

Story.

Dayna Kay Purtee looks like another woman who forgot she had a gun. (We had a lady last week go into DFW Airport with one.)  But she may have an excuse. The Internet tells me she donated $50 to former Tea Party Candidate Debra Medina so she is probably a big gun rights fan.   The good news is that she got out of jury duty. 

And I've heard those deputies running the scanners at the Tarrant County Courthouse are very sensitive. They won't cut anyone any slack or accept any "innocent mistake" excuses. (A Wise County resident ran into the same problem down there a couple of years back.)

I'm not sure, but the lady below may be her.

So You Want To Be A Kicker?

You miss a field goal to lose the AFC Championship game and the next day some wise arse college kids use your last name as a verb in order to taunt the opponent into missing a free throw to the left.

(For those interested, Billy Cundiff explained why he was late getting onto the field for the kick.)

Utah People Drive Like Texans

It starts a little slow but gets a little crazy. (I'm fairly sure this is video from yesterday.)

Edit: Direct link is here. Didn't realize the video self started. That is annoying.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Family court judge in Tarrant County arrested for DWI.
• I heard a rumor about the Wise County Domestic Abuse Task Force is in a little upheaval over a pedicure. Or the payment for a pedicure(s). 
• The State of the Union is tonight. Beat. Ing. (And I don't care who is in office.)
• Viral video of day yesterday: Church singer.
• Mrs. LL has come to the realization that the Oldest Girl In The House will be in high school next year. If I could just sit back and watch, I bet this would be entertaining. Instead, based upon countless advice, I'm building a bunker. 
• The Evil Empire extended Mack Brown's contract by five years yesterday now making it a nine year deal. ($5.2 million per year.)
• Dirk Nowitzki ($19 million a year) is going to sit four games so he can get in shape? Talk about climbing Everest with no real desire to go back again. 
• Mitt Romney ($45 million over the last two years) said last night in the debate that the key to illegal immigration is "self-deportation."  That's not the way to cuddle up the The Right. 
• Oscar nominations announced this morning. Best Picture: "The Artist," "War Horse,"  "Moneyball," "The Descendants," "The Tree of Life," "Midnight in Paris," "The Help," "Hugo" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." I've seen none of them. 
• Our Wise County Solicitation of Capital Murder Lady took a deal for 21 years yesterday. I noticed the Update said she'd have to serve at least half her term.  (For you legal gurus out there: Does criminal solicitation under 15.03 of a 3g offense invoke the maximum parole law? Edit: I know there was a case that ruled on parole eligibility when a person is convicted of an attempt to commit a 3g offense, but 15.03 seems like a stand alone offense. ) 
• And the 70 year old dope guy who was convicted last year week got a 30 year sentence. (The Update says he'll become eligible parole after serving 1/4 of his sentence. That's wrong, but it's a mistake I see from lots of people. )
• And a sad contrast in the death notices in the Update: A 101 year old and a 9 month old. 
• Why hasn't that price of natural gas (see chart on front page below) not hurt Devon?

Traffic Report

Just A Day On The Job Site

Super Bowl Bound: Foxboro  : MyFoxBOSTON.com

Love the guy just mowing down the pole, backing up, and moving on. Not his problem.

(But, on a side note, the analogy of "#52" hitting Tom Brady in the back yesterday is proof positive that guy shouldn't be talking sports.  Heck, I'm not sure I can name five Ravens but you have to live in a cave not to know Ray Lewis. Animated gif of that hit here.)

A Bunch Of Old Guys and Three Women Just Ruled In Favor Of This Guy

Just handed down by the Supreme Court this morning is a ruling that the cops attaching a GPS device to a person's car without a warrant was an illegal search and seizure.  I didn't see that one coming since I thought the Fourth Amendment was almost dead.

He was sentenced to life in prison on a dope case. But not any more.

And for you "activist judges" complainers, the opinion was authored by strict constructionist Antonin Scalia. If the constitution protects one of us, it protects all of us.

Messenger Above The Fold

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Watching any of the NFL pregame shows is torture, but one of them yesterday included a badly prepared, taped and spliced interview with the "Etrade baby". Idiocracy?
• After seeing former Cowboys kicker Billy Cundiff miss the game tying field goal for the Ravens yesterday, I said out loud: "Who would want to be a kicker?" Seriously. You think he had a good flight with the team back to Baltimore?
• I mentioned a month or so ago that some people were writing that Joe Paterno would die soon. No question your spirit impacts your health. 
• After getting killed in South Carolina, I bet Mitt Romney goes on the attack against Newt in Florida. I also bet that will not serve him well. (And we'll get to find out tonight after yet another debate tonight.)
• If you didn't catch President Obama sing a verse of an Al Green hit last week while at the Apollo Theater, you have to.  And if you can't smile about that, your hatred for the guy is blinding you.
• There are currently 923 active drilling rigs in Texas. Six are in Wise County.
• A 46 year old Sansom Park woman was found dead in her in-home tanning bed yesterday. I don't think that's what they meant by "tanning can kill you." 
• Over the weekend, Mrs.LL were in the presence of two guys arguing over who was a bigger baseball fan. She then called them out by asking who the new Rangers pitcher from Japan was. Neither knew it was Yu Darvish.
• But she had a memory crutch because she had spent the day singing "Youuuuu!" from Crank That (Soulja Boy) that every local sports talk station has turned into a drop when Darvish was signed.
• I've made reference to Colin Jones (Bridgeport/TCU/49ers) for years and the Messenger has ignored him.  Now they are going overboard with a the special teams player being the subject of a a front page story over the weekend, a tweet yesterday, and in the Update today.
• Going back to 127 Hours that I saw last weekend, a scene that was really moving to me was when the family out hiking ran, without delay, to help the hiker upon seeing him in distress. I don't know what that choked me up so much. 
• Just glanced at Facebook post from a Wise County resident which said: "If you believe in the 2nd Amendment, and you are not afraid to show it, re-post this!!!"  Stop. Doing. This.
• Bridgeport folks: There's a death announcement of Mack Adams, 50, in the Update. 

"Iiittt Biiiiiiiiiit Myyyyy Shouuuuuuldder!

Fox 4 News Date Of Death Fail

??????

Emailed to me. I never had such a huge question mark over my head.

Really?

(Credit Bud Kennedy)

Edit:

The Internet And The Desire To "Be First"