Wise County Election Results

I'm stringing together a source who will give me up to date returns. Early results should be first. (Although this may be a failed bit.) Edit: Last updated: 9:16 pm County Judge (Final) Billy McElhaney 4276 Jim Cowell 1830 District Clerk (Final) Brenda Rowe 3528 Cristy Fuqua 2544 County Commissioner, Pct 2 (Final) Rob Hawkins 538 Kevin Burns 1204 Justice of the Peace, Pct 2 (Final) Karen Green 548 Terri Johnson 1121 County Commissioner, Pct 3 (Final) Steel 130 Underhill 37 Lambert 555 (in runoff) Davis 95 Wilson 364 Lamance 548 (in runoff) Justice of the Peace, Pct 3 (Final) Long 93 Hightower 608 (in runoff) Montgomery 194 Burdock 182 Lisby 112 Hays 545 (in runoff) County Commissioner, Pct 4 (Final) Terry Ross 944 Paul Wood 862 -------------- Governor Medina 2155 Hutchison 1931 Perry 2909 ________ (Thanks, James. Great job.)

Mass Gathering In Wise County

I saw an Official Notice on the courthouse door about a group seeking a "mass gatherings permit" from the county for some amateur motocross championship. (Sorry, no pic.) First, I had no idea the law required such a thing. Secondly, I had no idea about the "freedom of assembly" clause in the Bill of Rights was actually the "freedom of assembly if the government grants you a permit" clause.

Guardrails Are Our Friends

Felony DWI Trial Going On

These cases are tough to win from a defense standpoint because the State has the right, and obligation, to prove the defendant has twice before been convicted of DWI. And even though the jury is instructed that those two prior convictions are no evidence that he was intoxicated this time, that's not the ideal position for a criminal defendant. One potential juror, who said she was against alcohol in general, said "I already feel an agitation towards this man." As I always say, I don't care how potential jurors feel so long as they tell the lawyers and the judge about it. Meaning: She's not getting on the jury.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

Edit: Oops. I was informed I already posted this one. Let's try again:

• If you had the television on at around 6:30 this morning, you saw a spectacular fire on Lower Greenville which destroyed Terrilli's and three other restaurants.
• I had a crazy date at Terrilli's in the 1990s. Not sure whatever happened to her.
• Someone commented that arson cases are often rejected by prosecutors because they "don't understand" the science behind arson investigations. Puhleeze.
• Gov. Perry grants a posthumous pardon to Tim Cole yesterday. Wasn't that one day before the election? Truly profiting off a dead man.
• My prediction: Perry gets 45% of the vote tonight.
• The Messenger is hosting an "Election Night Watching Party" tonight at the Decatur's Visitor's Center. Note to Decatur Police: Be on standby!
• There's a best selling book called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? And there's a book soon to be movie called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (with Natalie Portman starring and producing?) Are we out of ideas? I read that in Time yesterday.
• Off the top of my head, I don't know the difference between Armageddon and the Apocalypse.
• The Evil Empire went from #1 in the nation to falling out of the AP Top 25 yesterday.
• I can't tell you enough how quickly my shoulder healed.
• Sean Hannity was implying yesterday that President Obama drinks too much. It's incredible what Fox News has become.
• The couple we stayed with in Costa Rica has decided to move their permanently. They don't have any kids and just decided to take a leap of faith.
• I heard their was a DWI-Felony trial starting today in Decatur. I'll check it out.
• Based upon some anonymous comments, someone I know is off her medication.
• The Jack County Courthouse shuts down on election day. Wise County does not.
• Slate magazine has a "Spoiler" podcast that reveals and discusses the end of movies. I just listened to one for Shutter Island. Oh, my.
• When you know your life is wheel's off: "Man admits to mistress that he killed topless dancer." There's a lot going on in that sentence.
• Have ballots ever designated the incumbent? I don't think so.

As We Say In The Legal World: Holy Cow

Talk about a screwed up system: A couple in Mansfield sued Perry Homes because of alleged bad construction issues with their home. Shortly before trial, they invoked an arbitration clause in the contract, went to that arbitration, and were awarded $800,000. Perry Homes, not liking the arbitration award, appealed the case all the way to the Texas Supreme Court which reversed the decision and held that the couple waited too long to seek arbitration. So Perry Homes won the appeal and the case headed back to regular court. (Take a look at this Dallas Morning News story last February implying that contributions by Perry Homes to the Supreme Court campaigns makes the case look sleazy.) But here's the verdict today in Tarrant County against Perry: $58 million. Ouch. Edit: I predict this is going to be a huge national news story within the next couple of days. Credit to the Texas Lawyer's newspaper blog for breaking it first. (And I promise I would subscribe to that paper if it didn't cost $199 a year.)

Viral Video News

I'll admit I don't understand the fascination: There's a youtube clip of a kid crying over Justin Bieber* for about four minutes -- a clip that has received almost two million hits despite not allowing it to be embedded anywhere. If you can stick through four minutes of the kid, however, there is a funny moment around the 4:10 mark. And I've read that an actual meeting between the kid and Bieber was filmed and will be played tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live. ____________ *I'll also admit I had no idea who that guy was.

Bridgeport Prisons On Chopping Block?

Probably not. But there's talk of closing some of the private Texas prisons because of an upcoming budget shortfall and both of the correctional facilities' contracts are up for renewal this year. The big one employs over 130 people. That place certainly qualifies as "out of sight, out of mind."

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• A filler story in the Messenger this weekend indicated that 1 in 5 employed Wise County workers have a job supplied for the government.
• Anyone else getting tired of the saying, "Everything is bigger in Texas"? (And I think it is because of Cowboys Stadium that I keep hearing it so often lately.)
• If you were watching TV on Saturday afternoon, you were certain that Hawaii was going to be wiped out by a Tsunami.
• From a recent George Will column: "Almost half of the House and Senate Republicans are from 13 states - the 11 of the Confederacy plus Oklahoma and Kentucky." Wow.
• Marie Osmond's 18 year old son committed suicide over the weekend by jumping off a building.
• All you Dallas Mav fans need to tap the brakes a little bit.
• Weatherman Brad Barton on WBAP a second ago: "The high today is going to be 48 and that's optimistic. Maybe that was the temperature at midnight." Maybe? You're the weatherman!
• Got through half of some old horror flick called Dead Ringers.
• I got so mad at might tight pants that I ordered a month's supply of Nutrisystem.
• One of the craziest stories you'll ever read is the one of the nude woman breaking into commissioners' court candidate Paul Wood's house last week. I also heard that wasn't a good kind of naked. (But I couldn't find the abbreviated version on the Messenger's web site.)
• For the heck of it, I was a photographer's "assistant" at a Hispanic wedding at Ruben's Ballroom this weekend. That is one heck of a scene if you've never witnessed one.
• But I also got to talk to Ruben who is a heck of a nice guy. They have wrestling matches out there? That would be funny.

Breaking: I've Had Two Reports About This

Bono's Gaining On Frilly's

Cowtown Half Marathon

• One of these days, perhaps too soon, I won't be able to do it anymore. But for now, it remains one of my favorite days of the year.
• So did I finish? Yep. Did I walk at all? Nope. What was my time? 1:59:42. My fastest time since starting the half marathon four years ago. Let me brag for a moment.
• Favorite sign held by a little girl: "You Are All Kenyans In My Eyes."
• There were a bunch of real cheerleaders at one mile marker.
• Followed by a group doing the "Thriller" dance in full costume.
• The weather was absolutely fantastic. You'd think 40 degrees would be miserable but throw in no wind and the sun, and you have a glorious day.
• I jog with an iPod with about 40 songs on it in the shuffle mode. When I hit the finish line in Dallas last December, the ending song from Slumdog Millionaire was playing. The same thing happened this year. Odd and cool.
• I get a little emotional during the first half mile and the last half mile. It's just a recognition, as I get older, of the preciousness of life and health.
• I'm not sure what happened on the Kids 5K, but all of them got off course and and, although crossing the finish line, ran only about 60% of it.
• I heard Judge Cude's voice about 200 miles yards (oops) from the finish line and he snapped a pic. I haven't seen it yet.
• Speaking of, his son David finished in 1:19:50 for 17th place overall.
• Thomas Aaaberg, the attorney who advises our commissioners' court, ran the full marathon in 3:16:50. That's one minute short of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.
• All Decatur finishers here. (And you can search for other towns.)

Saint Jo Ad

It's a little blurry, but here's the "Notice" that appeared in the Saint Jo equivalent of the Green Sheet. I referenced this a couple of days ago. (Thanks, Thomas.)

Friday Afternoon Pick Me Up

Hockey Girls Gone Wild

The Canadians win the gold medal by beating the U.S. in women's hockey and then break out the cigars and beer on the ice? (Slideshow) Listen, ladies. We've declared war on countries for a heck of a lot less than.

Bad News FromThat 380 Shut Down

I've got the guy's name, but I'm not sure next-of-kin have been notified. Bad deal. Edit: The young man's name is Grant Edwards Jr. What a horrible, horrible situation. Edit: Positive comments only, please.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• One guy in the Rainbow Lounge raid is being prosecuted for the Class C offenses (punishable by fine only) of Public Intoxication and Assault by Offensive Contact. I sort of believe a little traffic court prosecutor is about to get in over his/her head.
• Did I read a few weeks back that the United Way of Wise County did not reach its fund raising goal this year? Has that ever happened before? I'm I dreaming this?
• I had no idea the Chico port-o-potty post would blow up like it did. This blog is like throwing darts and hoping I hit something.
• I actually watched some of the Health Care Summit yesterday. Amazingly, everyone acted very civilly. (But twice I noticed that Senators praised Texas as a model of tort reform.)
• Kevin Smith's new movie Cop Out looks horrible. Based upon his recent work, I'm beginning to believe Clerks and Chasing Amy were flukes.
• I had some buddies say the Random Girls are too "enhanced" and that I should designate Friday as "Natural Friday." Naaaaa.
• Sports News: The free agent rules for the NFL are kind of complicated. But the Cowboys are expected to allow Miles Austin to become a restricted free agent which means they will pay him $3.168 million next season. Here's the catch: He can leave for a better offer if the team making that offer is also willing to give Dallas a 1st and 3rd round draft pick. I guess the Cowboys think no one would do that.
• That SeaWorld killer whale death was horrible. He simply drowned that poor girl to death.
• I guess I didn't have to put "to death" at the end of that last sentence.
• Somehow I've gained weight. I just had one of those "I'm Going To Fix That" moments this morning which means I'm about to become obsessed with my diet and running -- even more that I already am.
• I've got some weeds in my yard that kind of look like clovers. How do they stay buried under snow for four four days and still survive?
• "Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you." - Erich Fromm (1. I have no idea why I was sucked in by a sappy saying, but I saw it yesterday on Facebook and it made me think. 2. I have no idea who Erich Fromm is.)
• 380 was shut down this morning between Denton and Decatur. Doesn't impact me, but it might you.

Vague News

Lots of cops out at "Moonlight Bay" by the lake --- and I'm not exactly sure where that is. Rumors of a guy with a gun? Anyone?