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.)