From Myspace Cop to WFISD Bond, Past Year Was Memorable in the Falls
Times Record News [Texas]
December 31, 2006
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/local_news/article/0,1891,TRN_5784_5249739,00.html
1. Christie plane crash
The fiery tragedy on a Kentucky mountainside reverberated through Wichita Falls in August 2006, a heartbreaking story that remained top on readers’ minds.
The loss of seven members of the Christie family was picked overwhelmingly by readers as the most compelling, memorable story of the year.
 |
|
In front of a backdrop of flowers and photographs, Roby Christie delivers a testimonial during the memorial service for Jason and Sherri Christie and their children; Justus Holden, Harrison Cole, Kendall Sienn, and Brittani May Gossett. Photo by Gary Lawson/Times Record News |
On Aug. 28, three generations were lost: Jason and Sherri Christie, their children, Holden, Cole, Kendall and Sherri’s daughter Brittani; and Sherri’s mother, Peggy Morgan. Jason, owner of Guarantee Title in Wichita Falls, had been flying Brittani to boarding school when his private plane slammed into a mountain.
Jason and his family died one day after his father, Robie Christie, put the final touches on his annual event, the Hotter’N Hell Hundred. The elder Christie could be seen at his son’s business, helping grieving employees and clients pick up the pieces.
"In my mind the story of the year has to be the loss and remembrance of the Christie family," wrote one reader. "I didn’t even know them, and I cried myself to sleep every night for a week. I can’t think of anything more memorable than the loss this community felt when we lost an entire family in the blink of an eye. I will never forget the Christie family or the many tear stained articles that I read about them in the week following the plane crash. May they rest in peace."
2. Ringgold wildfire
The year 2006 got off to anything but a happy start as wind-fueled grassfires whipped across parts of North Texas on New Year’s Day.
 |
|
Wichita Falls Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Dawson Orr talks on the phone with supporters after the passage of the school bond issue in November. The third time was the charm for the WFISD bond. Photo by Gary Lawson/Times Record News |
Flames virtually destroyed Ringgold, population about 100, and forced the evacuation of several communities in Montague County.
The Sunday fire began in east Clay County, possibly sparked by power lines snapping together in a strong wind, then moved northeast into Montague County.
The wind, along with a lack of rain in the area and extraordinarily low humidity, allowed the flames to move at speeds approaching 60 mph. One firefighter described a wall of flames almost 30 feet high moving as fast as he could drive.
Other parts of Texas and Oklahoma also experienced major fires on New Year’s because of the unusually dangerous combination of weather elements.
Although nobody was killed in the Ringgold fire, several people were injured while fighting or escaping the blaze, including Sharon Gaston, a popular veterinarian in the area who was critically hurt trying to move horses out of harm’s way.
The fire, which cut a swath 18 miles long and 4 miles wide, destroyed 20,000 grazing acres, miles of fence, and killed about 300 cattle. Nearly 200 buildings were destroyed, including 32 homes in Ringgold.
3. (tie) MySpace cop
The extracurricular computer activities of one of Wichita Falls’ police officers ended up costing him his job.
Jeremiah Love was indefinitely suspended from the force Oct. 10 by Police Chief Dennis Bachman after the contents of the officer’s MySpace Web site were brought to light.
His page included several graphic images of dismembered women as well as vivid pictures of a nude woman eating entrails and a bare-chested woman with the word "Loath" carved into her flesh. Also on the page, Love described his occupation as "super hero/serial killer."
About Love’s dismissal, Bachman said residents expect police officers to be "shining examples." The public "always tends to hold their officers and firemen to a higher standard ... whether right or wrong," the chief said in a past interview with the Times Record News.
Love will appeal his suspension April 11 and 12, according to city officials.
3. (tie) WFISD bond
On the third try, voters handed the Wichita Falls Independent School District a $60 million bond, with almost twice as many voters saying yes this go around.
Superintendent Dawson Orr, who never revealed his optimism in the days leading up to the Nov. 7 election, said after the victory that he’d had a good feeling about the vote, especially after encountering voters …amp;quot; some he knew, others he didn’t …amp;quot; out in the community.
"Last time, we were within 252 votes with more money proposed. There were some unresolved issues then. This time we had an overall lower cost …amp;quot; we had made the effort to bring the cost down …amp;quot; and we stuck to the essentials. We were building two schools instead of four. I felt it should pass," Orr said from the home of Jim and Nancy Marks, where school board members and WFISD administrators gathered to wait out the vote results.
This bond will replace major heating and cooling systems, roofs, entry doors, electrical switchgear and windows, consolidate four schools into two new elementary schools and add teaching gyms at all elementary schools.
The bond will also provide additional elementary school classrooms. In addition, at the secondary level, the bond will fund state-mandated science labs and air conditioning in all gyms in the four junior high schools and at the three high schools.
This bond will cost taxpayers an extra 12 cents in taxes per $100 of property value …amp;quot; an extra $60 for a property owner with a $50,000 house.
The victory left Orr feeling "honored, humbled and enthusiastic," he said.
5. North Texas drought
Wichita Falls held the dubious distinction of being one of the hottest, driest places in Texas during the first half of 2006. Although much-needed rain came to the region during the latter half of the year, it was not enough to make up for early shortages.
The city entered the last days of 2006 about seven inches below normal precipitation.
Wichita Falls had the biggest departure from mean temperature in all of Texas during the first half of the year …amp;quot; more than five degrees above normal, according to the state climatologist’s statistics.
Hot, dry weather played havoc with the region’s agriculture industry. Many ranchers had to sell livestock prematurely because of a shortage of forage and hay. The North Texas wheat crop was devastated, with many growers reporting less than half their typical yields.
Cotton crops suffered, too. The state’s harvest was off by about one-third. Even the peach crop in the Charlie-Thornberry area failed to make because of lack of rain.
The loss to Texas crop and livestock was estimated to top $4 billion in an Associated Press article.
Fortunately, rain that did come often fell in the watershed of lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo, averting the need for stringent water restrictions in Wichita Falls. In May, combined lake levels topped 80 percent. By year’s end, they were about 66 percent.
Other area communities didn’t fare as well, and some had to resort to water restrictions. Most notable were Electra, which had mechanical problems as well as low lake levels, and Bryson, which virtually ran out of water until federal assistance enabled the town to connect to Graham’s supply in July.
6. Vickie Dawn Jackson plea
Years of pain, planning and problems getting a capital murder case to trial came to an end with a surprise no-contest plea on the first day of jury selection in the trial of former Nocona General Hospital nurse Vickie Dawn Jackson.
The October trial setting in San Angelo was to be the fourth attempt to take 40-year-old Jackson’s case to trial. This time, Jackson faced an indictment that included 10 victims …amp;quot; each died after stays at the hospital in 2000 and early 2001.
Jackson stood accused of giving patients deadly doses of the drug Mivacron, which halts the breathing process.
Jackson’s plea of no contest came as a surprise to the defense and prosecution, her attorney, Bruce Martin, and 97th District Attorney Jack McGaughey said following the plea.
Both sides presented evidence in San Angelo, and 97th District Judge Roger Towery sentenced Jackson in early October to life in prison.
The family of Oma Wyler, who died at age 95 in 2001 while at the hospital, expressed relief at not having to go through the trial, and said they had gone through more than five years of unanswered questions after the loss of Wyler, and this was the outcome they had prayed for.
7. Business bonanza
As Kell Boulevard grew in 2006, so did Wichita Falls.
Building after building along the Kell West frontage road went vertical, with a handful of businesses opening their doors to local consumers.
Skyline Developers is scheduled to open a new $3 million shopping center near United Market Street.
Property near the highly traveled commercial area expanded as well.
Blackburn Properties, based in San Antonio, began construction on a $20-25 million retail project on Lawrence Road, across from Wal-Mart.
The shopping center will include Academy Sports, Bed, Bath & Beyond and a PetSmart.
Two new hotels, a Baymont Inn and Days Inn, were started in 2006, and both hotels should be about 35,000 square feet each.
The Kell West Family Practice Clinic began construction on a new facility between Ashley’s Furniture …amp;quot; which moved to a new location in 2006 …amp;quot; and Ruby Tequilas.
8. Priest scandal
Less than half a year into a new pastor’s work at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the parish received stunning news Dec. 14 …amp;quot; Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Fort Worth had removed Father Gilbert Pansza from active ministry because his file held an admission about sexual abuse of a child dating back to the 1970s.
Vann stressed that no new allegations had emerged since Pansza was ordained as a priest in 2000.
Parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe expressed shock, sadness and anger that, although Pansza’s file had always contained the information, he was allowed to go through the process to become a priest.
"I was very, very shocked. Very shocked," one parishioner said. "I thought, ‘Why didn’t we know about this before?’ "
Jeff Hensley, communications director for the diocese, said in December that the people who consulted with the bishop at the time, Joseph P. Delaney, who died in 2005, decided a long enough period of time had passed that there wasn’t a danger of another incident.
The thinking has changed since then, Hensley said, stressing that safety is a priority.
Leaders within the diocese were looking at every priest’s personnel file, Vann announced.
The diocese was working toward placing a pastor at the parish.
9. Lloyd Ruby overpass
Efforts to rename the Broad/Holliday Overpass after a local racing legend began in December 2005.
A small group of businessmen and women led by Reno Gustafson came together for one purpose: the Lloyd Ruby Overpass.
To accomplish the task, the group dealt with city and state leaders, put up their own finances and planned a four-day celebration to honor the former Indy driver.
The end result came in July when two signs were placed at either end of the overpass, which hurries travelers across the downtown area.
The signs read: Lloyd Ruby Overpass.
They not only pay tribute to a Wichita Falls’ celebrity, but they also acknowledge the commitment of a man who became a legend among his peers on the racing circuit.
10. Burkburnett Wal-Mart closing
An economic stalwart prepared to close in Burkburnett after a quarter-decade of service.
Wal-Mart announced it would close in October 2007. Part of the community since 1982, the store employs 85 people and has an economic impact of about $3 million a year, according to a previous Times Record News article.
It generates about 15 percent of the sales tax revenue for the city. Its loss will take away about $150,000 to $165,000 of generated sales tax.
Rumors of the store’s closing had circulated for several years, the announcement finally coming in light of a third Wal-Mart coming to Wichita Falls. Employees who work at the Burkburnett Wal-Mart may move to the Wichita Falls operation to be built near Southwest Parkway and Jacksboro Highway.
Other retailers are expected to move into the void as casinos grow in Oklahoma and the new Hampton Inn is built.
The closing would come eight years after Wal-Mart closed its store in Iowa Park.
Times Record News staffers Deanna Watson, Lynn Walker, Robert Morgan, Jessica Langdon, Clayton J. Hein and Michael Hines contributed to this report.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.