Lubbock County Register

Carnage On The Streets

2012-01-29T16:21:00.001-06:00

News media is reporting that 3 people were killed early this morning in a car-bicycle accident near Tech campus on University Ave. on about 8th St. Another car wreck has occurred in or near Slaton and several people have been sent to hospitals. Drivers should buckle up and never get behind the wheel in an impaired condition. In other news the Cruise Ship lines is offering survivors cash incentive to not sue them. A cop in California was killed by fellow officers when they tried to arrest him for an alleged sex crime. A sinkhole swallowed a car in Texas. In Florida ten people have died in a massive car pile-up. New 70 MPH signs are popping up on Clovis Road so small cars will get blowed around as 18-wheelers abuse that speed limit. Weather outlook has mild weather with little or no moisture for next 12 days,maybe longer. Property taxbills are due by 5PM Tuesday in person or postmarked before then.

Dat's All!!
clifburnett@gmail.com

January 29 Famous Obits

2012-01-29T10:55:00.001-06:00

Notable obits from January 29.

1992 Willie Dixon, blues composer (I'm a Man, Backdoor Man), dies at 76
Mr.Dixon had a song stolen by Led Zeppelin. It was "Killing Floor" disguised as "Lemon Song".

1963 Robert Frost, American Poet
Mr. Frost was a world famous poet

clifburnett@gmail.com

Famous days of birth for January 29

2012-01-29T10:43:00.007-06:00

Today's prominent birthdays are below.

1955 John Tate, U.S.,heavyweight boxer 1968 Olympics bronze
"Big" John Tate was exciting Olympian boxer who later had professional heavyweight title for a short time. He died prematurely in a truck wreck.

1945 Tom Selleck, born in Detroit, Michigan, actor, Lance-Rockford Files, Magnum PI
Tom Selleck also had classic movie called "Broken Trust" with Marsha Mason. It is not available on DVD.

1843 William McKinley, Niles Ohio, R, 25th President,1897-1901
McKinley was shot by an anarchist and died 8 days later from gangrene.The assassin was electrocuted in a death penalty sentence that same year.

clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's noteworthy events in history

2012-01-29T10:17:00.002-06:00

Two events of historical note occurred on this date.

1936-1st players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame - Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson
Ruth was elected one year after his last appearance with Boston Braves. Ty Cobb was elected 8 years after his last appearance with Philadelphia Athletics. Honus Wagner got in 19 years after he retired from Pittsburgh Pirates. Christy Mathewson was elected 11 years after he died.Walter Johnson was elected 9 years after he retired.

1951-Liz Taylor's 1st divorce, Conrad(Nicky) Hilton, Jr. The marriage lasted 6 months. Taylor claimed Hilton was a heavy drinker,gambler and beat her.
______
Wikipedia was used for info in this entry as was Brainy History website.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's "Sloppy Copy" is at KCBD.com,Emily Black story

2012-01-29T08:45:00.004-06:00

Today's "sloppy copy" is from a "Feel Good" story by Emily Black about First United Methodist Church doing a call-in Help Line. A woman preacher is getting publicity for "her church". Brining is actually shortened word for bringing. Councilors is not a word. It's supposed to be counselors.
Thx,Emily!!

clifburnett@gmail.com

Two prominent citizens paid their property taxbills at LCAD this last week

2012-01-28T19:47:00.002-06:00

The following prominent citizens are now paid in full at LCAD.
Karen Garza paid $8,276 on January 27th
Gary Boren paid $2,951 on January 26th

These two spent over $10,000 at LCAD for one year of property tax last week.

Thx,Karen and Gary!!

No Swearin' You Two!!
Editor's Note
The following have unpaid tax bills.
Clif Burnett
James Arnold
Dan Jackson
Chris Comer
Robert Pratt
Matt Yugovich
Kerry Hendershot
Delwin Jones
clifburnett@gmail.com

Saturday's News

2012-01-28T16:52:00.004-06:00

Saturdays are slow news days by nature. Most news services are using skeleton crews. News media is reporting a convicted drunk driver/drifter was killed in the Slaton shoot-out. A former Lady Raider has passed away. She was 25. No details on her death are available just yet. TalkLubbock forum is back up after a "one week sabbatical". This editor doesn't post there. Tech men continue to lose in basketball and Lady Raiders broke their losing streak. Demi Moore was rushed to a hospital with medical problem. Local gas prices went up while this editor was topping off my tank at Lowe's on 19th St. Price went up from $2.95 to $3.08 while I was filling up my tank. I luckily got the $2.95 price. This gas-inflation is bad for peoples' wallets.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's Famous Obits

2012-01-28T16:39:00.004-06:00

The famous individual obits are all actors today.

1994 Hal Smith, actor (Otis Campbell-Andy Griffith Show), dies at 77
Hal Smith was Otis Campbell,the drunk that called Mayberry Jail on Andy Griffith Show his home away from home.

1980 Jimmy Durante, New York City, comedian (Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 86
Jimmy Durante was funny guy who's nose shook when he laughed.

1973 John Banner, actor (Schultz-Hogan's Heroes), dies on 62nd birthday
John Banner was Sgt.Schultz on Hogan's Heroes TV show.

This date is official obit day for all astronauts on the shuttle Challenger.

clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's Famous Birthdays

2012-01-28T13:44:00.005-06:00

These two elderly are still around to celebrate their birthdays.

1936 Alan Alda, Alphonso D'Abruzzo, New York City, actor, Hawkeye Pierce-M*A*S*H
"Hawkeye Pierce" of MASH TV fame as well as George Plimpton of Paper Lion was born on this date.

1929 Acker Bilk, singer, Stranger on the Shore
Mr.Acker Bilk is the British version of Pete Fountain. This editor has substantial Acker Bilk catalog.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's noteworthy historical events

2012-01-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

1986 Space Shuttle Challenger 10 explodes 73 sec after liftoff
This tragedy occurred while this editor was working at Tech Med School. I saw a replay and the paint particles flew everywhere. It was surreal.

1960 NFL announces Dallas Cowboys (1960) and Minnesota Vikings (1961) franchises
I was seven years old but I do remember my father telling my mother "There are no Cowboys in Dallas!"

clifburnett@gmail.com

Cargo Ship Destroys Kentucky Bridge

2012-01-28T13:14:00.004-06:00

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The voyage of a cargo boat that carries space rocket components to Florida's coast for NASA and the Air Force has stalled in a western Kentucky river after it slammed into an aging traffic bridge.
______

This is another ship getting in an accident that has a bridge being destroyed in Kentucky.

OOPS!
clifburnett@gmail.com

Ranching Heritage Center Wildfire Forum Became "torture "

2012-01-28T12:30:00.004-06:00

  Lubbock lawyer Gary Terrell moderated a wildfire/prescribed burn forum today at Ranching Heritage Center.

  It was actually a 1.5 hour "rhetoric torture" session featuring a Texas Tech(Villalobos) professor and Texas A&M(Rideout-Hanzak) professor as the "lecture torturers". One elderly man refused to be tortured by Rideout-Hanzak and left. The remainder including this editor endured the entire "torture session". No representatives from TxDot,Texas Forest Service or TCEQ were present to accept questions. Most of the attendees were property owners or concerned citizens. I have but one thing to say,speakers were instructed to do 5-10 minutes and no one did. It was "torture" at my first government forum in 2012.

Dr. Carlos Villalobos($58,900): Grazing management strategies before and after prescribed burning

Dr. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak($56,697): Conducting prescribed burns safely and effectively

Dr. Butch Taylor: Summer burning, advantages and disadvantages for brush and weed management

Dr. Carlton Britton: Winter burning, advantages and disadvantages for brush and weed management
　
  SHAME on Gary Terrell for allowing those college grads to "torture" the elderly with "mindless book learning".
Shame,Shame,Shame!!
clifburnett@gmail.com

Friday's News

2012-01-27T19:31:00.002-06:00

Today was another slow day as news goes. Tech students are out in full force and that's "bad news" for drivers. Remember the learning challenged Tech students are lousy drivers. In Slaton gunplay has left a former roommate dead and the couple who interrupted the burglary were shot and the former roommate was killed by handgun. The drunk driver woman with three DUI's that killed an off duty sheriff cop will go to prison. Glen Robertson will announce for mayor next Tuesday at the Cactus Theatre at 11AM. Craig James is still the struggling republican for U.S.Senate. His "Purina Pony" scandal and feud with Mike Leach may doom his campaign. Texas Tech athletic department will pay former defensive co-ordinator Chad Glasgow $100,000 in severance pay and both Tech and Glasgow agree to not comment on the agreement. Ranching Heritage Center will hold forum on wildfires and prescribed burns tomorrow at 9AM and this editor will attend.

That's Friday's News,Most Of It!
clifburnett@gmail.com

Tech's Toxic Chancellor,Kent Hance

2012-01-27T15:38:00.005-06:00

           Reprint From LCR Archive
  One of the more intriguing tidbits to come out of the ongoing Mike Leach controversy is the allegation by Leach that helicopter-dad Craig James had warned him that he (James) had been in conversations with Tech Chancellor Kent Hance earlier in the season and that he had certain "business relationships" with Hance. Obviously, the existence of a business relationship between Hance and James would make Hance’s treatment of Leach look even more unethical (if that were possible).
However, don’t be surprised if a Hance-James relationship does exist. The Chancellor’s business interests are many and varied; but a common thread does seem to run throughout—the realization of profits through political influence and well-directed campaign contributions. Since 2004 Hance has personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Texas political committees and candidates and, through his Austin-based law firm, lobbied for moneyed-interests in the State responsible for millions more in well-placed contributions. The results achieved are notable. For instance:
 From 2003 through 2005 "Farmer" Hance received more that $120,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for not growing crops on a piece of virtually worthless land in Dallam County.
 Since 2004 Hance and his family have received more than $36 million in tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) for the construction of low-income housing. This taxpayer-subsidized program has been widely criticized as a corporate and political-insider welfare scam due to the fact that only about 35 cents of every tax-credit dollar is actually used to develop affordable housing.
 In a deal that will earn him literally tens of millions of dollars, Hance continues to play a major role in a project that will turn the West Texas he professes to love into the nation’s nuclear waste dump.
  The last item listed above is an especially intriguing story. Sometime in the early 1990’s Hance’s Texas Tech benefactor (and co-conspirator in the Leach matter) Joe Sowell introduced him to noted industrialist and corporate raider extraordinaire—Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons. Based on subsequent events, it would appear Hance’s ability to create value by getting things done politically did not go unnoticed by Simmons.
  In 1995, Simmons spent $25 million to purchase Waste Control Specialists LLC, a company whose primary asset was a permit to build an industrial waste landfill on a 16,000-acre company-owned site in Andrews County, Texas, near the Texas-New Mexico border. Not content with the slim margins in the industrial waste business, Simmons immediately set about getting the site authorized to become the nation’s radioactive waste dump—a move that would add literally billions to the value of his newly acquired company.
  Since permitting WCS for radioactive waste would require a change in Texas law, Simmons hired Hance to lead the political effort needed. After a long and expensive battle, Hance delivered the needed legislation and construction of the nuclear waste dump has begun. The Chancellor’s reward for making his "beloved" West Texas the nation’s radioactive waste toilet? Five percent ownership in a company with a projected market value of several billion dollars.
  With Hance as front man, Simmons has worked hard to build public support for WCS in Andrews. As yet unfulfilled promises of jobs and economic diversification have been widely trumpeted; but the primary basis of any local support for WCS is the fact a select few "community leaders" have (or will) substantially benefit from the company’s presence. For example, Loyd Eisenrich, President of the Andrews Industrial Foundation and a prominent WCS supporter, has already earned hundreds of thousands of dollars selling required liability insurance to the company.
  A growing number of residents, environmentalists and other stakeholders have voiced opposition to the site, and not without good reason. Despite geological studies confirming it sits atop the Ogallala Aquifer, the WCS site has already been used to dump thousands of tons of hazardous and toxic wastes—and more is on the way. In addition to the millions of cubic feet of radioactive waste destined for the facility, WCS has also been designated the final dumping ground for millions of tons of sludge laced with cancer-causing PCBs dredged from New York’s Hudson River.
  In addition, Simmons’ track record has given pause to numerous West Texans not in on the payoff. A brief examination of his career reveals a lack of concern for the welfare of ordinary citizens, the nation’s laws, the environment—or anything else save the accumulation of more wealth:
o Simmons has been called "the king of Superfund sites." Regulators have named his companies as PRPs for numerous Superfund sites, including at least four in his native Texas—in Dallas, Waller, Hardin and Galveston Counties.
o NL Industries—one of Simmons’ major holdings and arguably one of the worst polluters in the U.S.—has been repeatedly sued for spewing toxics that have contaminated entire neighborhoods.
o Simmons’ multi-billion dollar fortune has been amassed primarily through hostile corporate takeovers. A favorite maneuver is the takeover of a company with a well-funded employee pension fund, followed by a raid of the fund and a sale of less profitable divisions—leaving company employees to deal with the loss of pension dollars and the job instability that results from upheavals in ownership and management.
  Simmons perfected this play in the 1980’s, stripping more than $200 million from the employee pension funds of three companies—NL Industries, Baroid and Amalgamated Sugar—he acquired during the decade.
o Simmons is a recidivist violator of federal election laws whose history as a political donor is filled with unethical and/or illegal activities. He has been taken to court by government agencies on numerous occasions for breaches of political contribution regulations. In 1993, he was fined $20,000 by the Federal Election Commission for violating federal campaign finance laws. In 1997, he admitted doing it again. Simmons has admitted in civil court that he forged his daughters’ signatures to make political contributions from family trusts in their names without their knowledge or consent. He later settled a related lawsuit with them for $50 million.
o Simmons’ choice of beneficiaries is also indicative of a lack of concern for anything other than his own fortune. He has been a major contributor to a PAC formed by the Texans for Lawsuit Reform that has fought to limit the legal responsibility of businesses that harm consumers, workers and communities—and is funded almost exclusively by individuals whose fortunes come from dangerous and litigious industries such as toxic chemicals, oil and construction. The Chancellor’s deal with Simmons stands to earn him a fortune and he will apparently do or say almost anything to realize his promised reward.
o He once told a group of Andrews County school children not to worry about a tornado striking the landfill and spreading toxic waste over their town because the berm around the hole would divert the twister.
o In 1995, Hance was accused by two Texas State Senators—both fellow Republicans—of offering a $60,000 bribe in exchange for support of legislation favoring WCS.
o Beginning in 1997, Hance made a concerted and blatant effort to enable WCS to circumvent State oversight of radioactive waste operations. In that year alone, he:
 persuaded three U.S. Senators [Shelby (R-Ala), Hutchinson (R-Tx) and Gramm (R-Tx)] to block Mary Ann Sullivan’s nomination for DOE General Counsel because she had dared question the legality of a WCS proposal that federal radioactive waste could be sent to the Andrews site without State authorization; and
 orchestrated an unprecedented federal lawsuit that sought to force DOE to ship radioactive waste to WCS even though the company had not been authorized for such materials by State regulators. The suit was filed in the Wichita, Texas Federal District Court of Hance-cohort and then federal judge Joe Kendal even though WCS had never had an active presence in the district. Kendal’s ruling in WCS’ favor was quickly overturned on appeal.
  Hance’s 2006 appointment as Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System has not slowed his passion for carrying Simmons’ West Texas water.
Not content with getting the citizens of Andrews County to host his radioactive dump, Simmons recently decided they should also finance its construction. As a result, Andrewsians were presented with a May 2009 ballot initiative calling for the issuance of $75 million in county bonds to finance the dump’s construction. Out of 1200 ballots cast, the proposal passed by 3 votes. Charges of voter fraud have been levied by WCS opponents and a suit to overturn the election is now in appellate court. Chancellor Hance’s vigorous campaign in support of the bond proposal included a letter signed by him and sent to all registered voters in Andrews County.
In conclusion, if there is a Hance-James business connection, it’s probably been good for James’ bank account. Hance knows how to turn his political influence and insider connections into a buck—actually a whole lot of bucks. However, it may be less beneficial for Hance’s academic career as it will add a whole new unsavory ingredient to an already rancid soup.
　
Contribution from a reader.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Famous Obits from January 27

2012-01-27T13:12:00.002-06:00

1986 L. Ron Hubbard, novelist/founder (Church of Scientology), dies at 74
Hubbard was founder of Scientology Church that has kinda faded from public eye.

1993 Andre "the Giant" Roussimoff, WWF wrestler, dies of heart attack at 49
Andre was massive,fake wrestler who died after retiring

1986 Lilli Palmer, German actress (Boys from Brazil, Kinder), dies at 71
Lilli Palmer was screen actress that was somewhat famous in the 50's and 60's

1994 Claude Akins, actor (Rio Bravo, Lobo), dies of cancer at 75
Claude Akins was in "The Night Stalker" movie with Darrin McGavin. Akins also was in several TV episodes of various TV series like The Fugitive.
clifburnett@gmail.com

PSA-Recycling Location for Metal Cans

2012-01-27T12:51:00.001-06:00

Jarvis Metals is located off Slaton Highway and on old east 34th St. They buy everything but plastic,even paper. Their current aluminum can price is 60 cents a pound. Their tin can(beans,chili,vegetables,etc) price is 8 cents a pound. Customers are asked to peel paper off tin cans.

clifburnett@gmail.com

Notable events that occurred in history today

2012-01-27T12:31:00.002-06:00

1984 Michael Jackson is burned during filming for Pepsi commercial
1967 Apollo 1 fire kills astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffee
1927 Harlem Globetrotters play their 1st game
1888 National Geographic Society organizes in Washington D.C.
1880 Thomas Edison patents electric incandescent lamp

The above events made news on this day. Michael Jackson caught on fire. Apollo 1 caught on fire. Harlem Globetrotters played their first game(Calvin Coolidge was president). National Geographic organized(Grover Cleveland was president).Thomas Edison patents electric lamp(Rutherford B.Hayes was president).____(Brainyhistory.com was used for this entry)

clifburnett@gmail.com

LCR Water Reduction Tips That Work

2012-01-27T10:35:00.004-06:00

Showers can consume too much water. Many people turn heat gauge way too high on a hot water heater. The trick is to turn heat about half way and only use hot water for a shower. Run the hot water until water clears cold water in pipe out. Then shower for 3 to 5 minutes in the moderately warm shower with no cold water turned on. Using hot water and diluting it with cold water pulls water through the water meter twice,once for water heater and once from water meter to dilute hot water. Another tip is to put a brick in your toilet tank so less water is used to flush said toilet. Remember hot water for dishes is not the key element. Soap and scrubbing as well as dipping in bleach water gets dishes clean. Another trick is to use paper plates,paper cups,etc. to avoid washing dishes and using water. Clothes washers will have small,medium and large loads. Don't just use large load for any washer load unless necessary. Also set washer on hot thus doing the same thing when taking a warm shower,using warm water only. When washing a car,use fine mist on a sprayer, wet car down,scrub with water turned off,and then rinse car. That uses much less water.

Conserve water,save money and "Think Green"!
clifburnett@gmail.com

Water Restriction Cops To Issue $200 Tickets

2012-01-27T09:47:00.003-06:00

City of Lubbock again needs money. They've instructed Stuart Walker,Codes Ad Gestapo Chief,to issue tickets rather than warnings on water restriction violations. This is another example of revenue greed and over regulation by so called city council conservatives. Citizens should cease watering their yards,take shorter showers and wash their cars at commercial car washes. If citizens reduce water use and not get tickets city will get a double whammy on their revenue chart.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Rick Santorum heads home and broke

2012-01-27T09:38:00.001-06:00

Rick Santorum will probably be next "I'm out of the race" republican as Romney&Gingrich fight it out with Ron Paul as the referee. Florida was last debate and hopefully the voters can now decide which lame republican to run against Obama. Santorum banked on the "white boy,hairspray" preachers and their clout is insignificant. The religious rightwing of the republican party is no longer led by Falwell and that's the good news in this election.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's historical event

2012-01-27T09:29:00.005-06:00

1302 - Dante becomes a Florentine political exile
Dante was a poet and statesman.He lived in Italy. He was exiled after the Black Guelphs took power in Italy. He died,after serving 2 years in exile,in 1321 at age 56.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Today's Famous birthdates

2012-01-27T09:12:00.007-06:00

1918 - Elmore James, musician (Dust My Broom)
Elmore James was born today. He was godfather of Slide guitar that inspired Duane Allman and "Spit" McPhee. He was born in Mississippi. He passed away after a heart attack in 1963 in Chicago at 45 years of age.

1952 - "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player,wide receiver,kick returner
Billy "White Shoes" was one of two premier wide receivers in the "Oilers 70's"(Ken Burrough was the other). He was born in Pennsylvania. He's turns 60 today.
clifburnett@gmail.com

70's Welcome Back,Kotter star(Epstein) passes away

2012-01-27T08:44:00.001-06:00

Newsmedia is reporting that Robert Hegyes(Epstein of Welcome Back,Kotter) has died. He apparently suffered chest pains yesterday at his New Jersey home and died at JFK Medical Center in New Jersey. He was 60 years old.
RIP,Epstein.
clifburnett@gmail.com

Possible Open Marriage By Elected Official At Lubbock City Hall!

2012-01-26T20:03:00.003-06:00

                LCR Exclusive!

  This editor has learned that an elected official at Lubbock City Hall could be involved in an adulterous relationship with a woman while he is married to another woman. It's unclear if this is an "Open Marriage" arrangement like Newt Gingrich attempted to have some years back. This editor has also received information that this elected official applied pressure on city bureaucrats to find a job for said mistress within a city department. LCR will investigate this alleged immoral conduct by this elected official.

                LCR Exclusive!

clifburnett@gmail.com

One Term Democrat Governor To Not Seek Re-Election In North Carolina

2012-01-26T14:36:00.004-06:00

Bev Perdue(D) is riding the feminist wave that is now declining in popularity. She has had a few of her aides indicted for various alleged crimes. Her popularity is low tide and she wants to avoid being voted down by the people. In other news Timothy Geithner,Treasury Secretary,doesn't expect to be asked to serve if Obama is re-elected. Hillary Clinton also has announced she will leave her position at the conclusion of Obama's first term. Democrats are "bailing out" as the Obama ship appears to be taking on water.

clifburnett@gmail.com