http://www.cbs7.com Your Eye on West Texas en-us Copyright 2013 CBS 7. All Rights Reserved. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC News 20 CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
 
Many districts are seeing a shortage in housing, which they say translates to a shortage in teachers and with enrollment expected to grow The Ector County Independent School District says they need to do something about it before the issue hits the quality of education.
 
So in a 6 to 1 vote on Tuesday board members decided to join the Medical Center Hospital, The Texas Tech Health and Science Center and the Odessa Housing Corporation in a $27 million project that would build a 234 unit apartment complex.
 
ECISD would pay $3.25 million of that to get 100 of those units to use for their teachers from out of town.

"This would be a tool to recruit new teachers to the area," ECISD spokesperson Mike Adkins said.
 
The contractors say 80 percent of their tenants will have to qualify by making less than the areas medium income, which is about $45,000 a year and they expect that to increase.
 
The apartments will be four stories, along with access to wifi and a parking lot.
 
But to community watchdog Jason Moore, This is a luxury the school doesn't need.
 
"There is no reason tax payers need to pay for luxury apartments," he said.


The average rent price is lower than most apartments, a studio apartment is $632. The downtown apartments will offer up to 3 bedroom units.

The downtown apartments will also be available to employees with MCH and students with The Texas Tech Health and Science Center who also say is hard to keep up with the high rent prices.
 
The contractors hope to be done with these apartments by the summer of 2015.
 
The school district says they still need to discuss the criteria of who will be able to live in these homes.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45563 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS 7 News
6/18/13

Tucson, Arizona's largest school district has voted to offer ECISD interim superintendent, Dr. H.T. Sanchez, the position as superintendent.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, the Tucson Unified School District's governing board voted 4-1 Tuesday night to offer Sanchez the job.

Sanchez's compensation is yet to be negotiated.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45562 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS 7 News
6/18/13

It was a packed agenda at the ECISD board meeting last night and it was also filled with emotions as several citizens addressed board members.


Collin Sewell and Marianne Bagley both gave impassioned pleas, asking the board to keep interim superintendent Dr. H.T. Sanchez as the permanent man for the job. Both said they believe he has tremendous support in the district and in community and they hope this board will not let Tucson, Arizona steal him away.


Meanwhile board members heard details about search firms in Texas. There are four firms that can conduct a nationwide search. Those services range from $14,000 to $31,000. The next step will be for board members to meet in a workshop and hammer out a plan for hiring a leader

According to Dr. Ray Beaty, President for the ECISD Board, they have three options for finding a qualified superintendent candidate. They can conduct a nationwide search, look in Texas or hire someone from within the district.

To make things even more complicated, last night the Tucson ISD voted 4-to-1 to hire H.T. Sanchez as their superintendent. Contract negotiations for that job will now begin between the Tucson board and Dr. Sanchez.

Another emotional moment at last night's ECISD board meeting came when three concerned citizens addressed the board asking for Luis Galvan to resign. They took the podium and said they feel Galvan has lost credibility, after photos were published in the Odessa American showing what appears to be Galvan handling bags of what appear to be marijuana.

Galvan stood as each person spoke about him. He has made no indication that he plans to resign and he participated in the meeting, asking questions and discussing the topics on the agenda.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45561 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news Press Release
6/18/13

One man was pronounced deceased on scene after a one-vehicle accident on Tuesday along FM 1788.



Midland Police and Fire Departments responded to the accident at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of South FM 1788.



William Goode, 57, of North Richland Hills, was driving northbound on FM 1788 in a silver four-door Cadillac when he suffered a heart attack and lost control of the vehicle. The car veered across the median into oncoming traffic and hit a pole, causing serious damage, before driving through a fence and coming to a sliding stop in a nearby parking lot.



Goode was pronounced deceased on scene and two passengers in the vehicle were transported to Midland Memorial Hospital as a precaution. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of Goode's death.

]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45560 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS7.com
June 18, 2013

Big Spring City Council has hired Interim City Manager Todd Darden as the new city manager.

Darden says he's excited and "ready to get down to city businesses," he said.

His focus is now on the budget and city staffing.

Darden took over as interim city manager in Febuary for Gary Fuqua, who announced his retirement after 18 years as Big Spring city manager.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45559 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS7.com
June 18, 2013
"I'm not going to sign the permit. I don't know of anyone that is," said Sherrie Ohara, a resident of Midland county who received a letter from Dawson Geophysical Company.

The letter asks for permission to conduct a geological survey on her property. Other neighbors have also received the letter. She says she fears what could happen to her neighborhood now that Dawson Geological has shown interest in looking for oil on her property.

"I swore I would never sell it. I swore I would defend it from the day I bought it," she said.

The letter states that Dawson is conducting the survey for Pioneer Natural Resources. Neighbors CBS 7 spoke with say the letter is too broad and they want more answers from both companies before they sign the agreement.

An official for Pioneer says they have worked with Dawson before and they are trusted company. They also say Dawson will use a machine that will send vibrations through the ground instead of explosions, making it highly unlikely that property will be damaged. Also, they must have permission from the property owners before they start searching for oil.

"I don't want a rig in my front yard, I don't know anybody that does," Ohara said.

Ohara has many questions including what will happen if oil is found on her property. Dawson has pledged to give her and other neighbors nearly eighty dollars to survey on their land, but without more information she says its not enough.

"I feel it's an insult," she said.

CBS 7 attempted to contact employees with Dawson but they have not returned our calls. One official we did speak with refused to comment on this issue.

David Leaverton of Pioneer Natural Resources says anyone with questions about the project should contact him.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45558 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news 6/18/13

ODESSA - The Odessa Police Department has completed the process of sending out reminder notices to those who were previously registered under the old alarm system. Effective July 1, 2013, if you have not registered your business or residential alarm and paid the associated fee, you will be required to register as a new registrant. Beginning January 2014, citizens who registered their business or residential alarm will begin receiving alarm registration renewal notices. In accordance with the "Alarm System" ordinance (#2012-28), the fees are as follows:


Residential Alarm
New Registration of Residential Alarm: $20.00/year
Renewal Residential Alarm: $15.00/year

Commercial Alarm
New Registration of Commercial Alarm: $25.00/year
Renewal Commercial Alarm: $20.00/year

The registered owner of the location using an alarm system is responsible for alarm registration and the annual renewal. Alarm registrants who are already registered online will receive a renewal notice via e-mail on an annual basis. All other alarm registrants will receive a renewal notice in the mail each year from the Odessa Police Department as a courtesy reminder. It is up to the registrants to ensure proper registration/renewal is completed in accordance with the ordinance. Registrants can obtain a renewal form or registration form by visiting the department's web site at www.odessapd.com or in person at the Odessa Police Department located at 205 North Grant Ave.

Business check or money order will be accepted by mail (No personal checks accepted). Cash or credit card will be accepted if paying in person at the department. Payment can be made on-line at www.odessapd.com. Once registered, future payments are due by the last day of the month in which the registration expires.

If an alarm registrant payment and renewal is not received by the due date then the alarm system registration will be suspended and is subject to being revoked. A person commits an offense if he operates, or causes to be operated an alarm system without a registration approved by the Chief of Police could face fines up to $500.00.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45549 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS7.com
June 18, 2013

City Council will interview their top three candidates for city manager tonight in executive session. The meeting will begin at 5:30 at city hall. Mayor Larry McLellan tells CBS 7 they could decide who to hire tonight. Interim City Todd Darden is one of the final three candidates and feels his experience as interim makes him a qualified candidate.

"I'm proud to make the final three," he said.

Darden will highlight his plan for employee retention and recruitment.

The other two candidates name's have not been released at this time.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45548 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news llanmon@cbs7.com
June 18, 2013

Rankin - The fight with the CSCOPE curriculum continues in Texas, but this time it's in Favor. The principal at Rankin High School has actually begun a petition against the decision made by CSCOPE's board of directors to stop creating lesson plans for teachers. The petition has been online now for only four days and has already received more than two hundred signatures.

The Rankin High School Principal Sammy Wyatt, says that by eliminating these lesson plans, it will ultimately hurt the education of students. "I know that the banishment of the CSCOPE lesson plans are going to harm my school and it's going to harm the education of a lot of schools in West Texas."

CSCOPE has been highly controversial throughout the few years that it was used; some claiming teachers were becoming robots, others that it was anti-American.

"What is more American than Texas teachers creating lessons for Texas students, I just don't see anything more American than that," said Wyatt.

For teachers this switch will force them to work double-time as well as cost school districts money to buy new teaching materials.

"I would have to start a whole new curriculum, I've been using this one for the last three years, and I've had great success," said Rankin Jr. High Math Teacher Kasey Johnson.

"They are going to have to buy more resources as far as textbooks or supplemental material to be able to create lessons to fit these IFD documents of CSCOPE to get the same instruction as we could with the already existing exemplar lessons," said Wyatt.

Wyatt says teachers are not limiting themselves to using the lesson plans, but rather using them as models to better relate to their students. He also says he believes small school districts like Rankin are being over looked. "I know what is right and what is best for my school, I don't want some senator out of Houston Texas telling me what I can do in my school."

The framework of what and how the teachers should teach their students will still be offered by CSCOPE, but as of August 31st lesson plans cannot be used. Until then, Wyatt says he hopes to receive enough signatures to get a re-vote.

To see the full petition visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/let-texas-schools-keep-the-exemplar-cscope-lessons/
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45547 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news We will see a slight chance of more rain and thunderstorms today and tonight. The most favored areas will be the northeastern edge of the Permian Basin, and the upper elevations in southwest Texas. Those areas have a chance of severe weather again this afternoon and tonight. The rest of the Basin and southeast New Mexico will have a slight chance of storms, a few severe this afternoon and tonight.
Darrell Ward
CBS7 Pinpoint Weather]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45536 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com
June 17, 2013

Permian Basin - Making sure the state is safe from the ground up is part of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's mission and with more energy production in the area the agency will be heading west to the Permian Basin.

TCEQ helicopters will be hovering over or near pipelines, oil and gas production facilities, and other industrial facilities using inferred cameras.

The camera can image Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC and other hydrocarbons
VOC are a class of compounds present in common things like gasoline and used as solvents or industrial chemicals. VOC can combine with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone.

When the camera detects these gases, the technician will note the time, location and other information about where it's coming from.

Although the agency tells the public not to be concerned, many have mixed feelings on sharing their air.

The TCEQ used The Homeland Security's messaging system to let the local law enforcement know of their presence from above.

The survey should be finished by mid-August of this year.

Residents in the following counties will be noticing these helicopters: Andrews, Ector, Gaines, Howard, Martin, Midland, Reeves, Upton, Ward, and Winkler County.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45535 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news Lauren Lanmon
Llanmon@cbs7.com
June 17, 2013

Garden City - Glasscock County has the highest rig count in Texas, with 43 oil rigs actively drilling. Even though this is great for the county's economy, Garden City is experiencing a spike in crime. The effects of the oil boom are not always pretty and right now even though residents are calling it a "mixed blessing" the negatives far outweigh the positives by more than five hundred percent.

"We have an increase in DWI's, we have an increase in possession charges, lots of driving with license suspended," said Glasscock County Judge Kim Halfmann.

In just the past three years, Judge Halfmann says the traffic accident rate has increased by five hundred percent and the counties court cases by 534 percent.

"I'm not going to say that it's just the oil and gas industry that's causing that increase, it's just the sheer volume of people that are coming in and out of the county now," said Halfmann.

Since the boom started, the county has increased patrol, hired extra staff and is receiving help from DPS; but because population nearly doubles during the day, help is still needed.

"We need the extra help I mean the traffic volume is just incredible we're experiencing growing pains is what I call them, it's a mixed blessing, we have a great revenue stream for accounting any other taxing entities in our county as well," said Halfmann.

Judge Halfmann say that even though traffic has increased, population hasn't, and when the drilling is complete Garden City will turn back into the small town that everyone loves.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45534 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news Andrew Boven
CBS7.com
June 17, 2013

The city council will hold a special meeting tomorrow to interview three candidates for the city manager position.
Officials say they received over 30 applications and they could decide on a candidate tomorrow.
Todd Darden is currently the interim city manager and tells CBS 7 that he has applied for the job.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45533 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news Andrew Boven
CBS7.com
June 17, 2013

The city and county are drawing closer to a resolution concerning the controversial landfill.
Howard County Judge Mark Barr says last week's meeting with Big Spring Mayor Larry McLlellan went well.
He says there is a possibility that the city and county enter into an inter-local agreement to build the new landfill.
He does not expect the county to make a decision until they go through their budget for next year.
Budget talks will begin in September.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45532 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS 7 News
Robert Guaderrama
rguaderrama@cbs7.com
June 17, 2013

MIDLAND, TX- West Texas get ready for a weekend of fun, food and music in the Tall City. This weekend is the Roger's Ford Viva Midland Mercado taking place this Saturday, June 22nd. Viva Midland is a celebration of Midland's diverse culture and rich heritage. You can enjoy local merchants, great food, live music and fun for the whole family from 5 to 10 pm at the Centennial Plaza in Downtown Midland.
]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45531 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS 7 News
June 17, 2013
UPDATE: 9:30pm

Man wanted in connection with the shooting death of another man Sunday night has been arrested.

According to Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter, Daniel Lloyd Easterling was picked up Monday evening.

Easterling was located at his Father's RV located on County Road 1157 and was taken into custody without incident.

The Sheriff also says that located in the RV and seized as evidence is a small caliber revolver.

Easterling has refused to talk to deputies and will be placed in the Midland County Detention Center to await arraignment on murder charges.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


UPDATE: 4:00 P.M.
---

Jimmy Conway, the victim of a late night shooting in Midland has died in the hospital and Midland police have named a suspect in what they are calling a murder.

The Midland Police Department is looking for Daniel Lloyd Easterling in connection to the shooting death just before midnight on Sunday at 6400 E. County Rd. 86.

---

Midland - A shooting in Midland sends one person to the hospital.

At this time details are limited but we do know the Midland County Sheriff's Office was called out on the shooting at around midnight.

Deputies investigated the shooting throughout the night on the 6400 block of East County Road 86.

We will continue to follow this story and bring you more information here on CBS 7 and CBS7.com.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45529 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS7 News
6/17/13

MIDLAND - A motorcyclist was sent to the hospital in critical condition after a major accident Monday morning.

Midland Police Department responded to the accident at approximately 8:16 a.m. in the 1400 block of Loop 250.

Roberto Ochoa, 69, of Midland, was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes on Loop 250 when he collided head on with 26-year-old motorcyclist Michael Johnson, of Midland, who was headed eastbound. Johnson was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Ochoa was reported as a missing person Sunday evening and has been said to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Ochoa will be cited for driving the wrong way and for not having insurance.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45526 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS7 News
6/17/13

ODESSA - ​Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland issues the following statement:

​On Monday, June 10, 2013, April Collins was indicted for 4 counts of improper relationship between educator and student. The 4 counts include sending sexually explicit pictures as well as online solicitation of a student.

District Attorney Bobby Bland specifically requested this file be turned over to him from the Ector County Independent School District at the same time he requested Katheryn Maples' file. ECISD Police cooperated with the District Attorney's office.

April Collins turned herself into the District Attorney's Office Monday morning. The charges against April Collins were sealed by law until her arrest.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45523 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news June 17, 2013

Alpine - The Theatre of the Big Bend will begin it's 48th season with comedic opera in Alpine.

This is the first time they've tried this kind of entertainment.

Organizers say it takes a lot of effort backstage to put on a production like this.

"It takes a tremendous amount of work and dedication from production staff and cast. Our cast is made up of 28 members. It's one of the largest casts we've done in several years," Joe Denham, manager of the Theatre of Big Bend said.

The cast and crew is made up of mostly students.

Show dates run from June 21st to July 7th.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45522 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news CBS 7 News
June 17, 2013

Kermit - The city wide cleanup in Kermit is underway.

According to the Winkler County News, code enforcers are going placing yellow cards on properties that need to do a little clean up.

If you need help cleaning up your property because of age or disability you can call: 586-3468.]]> http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=45521 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:21 UTC news