"Dissension" on the Richardson School Board

Kay Waggoner

Dissension, if you can call it that. Jeffrey Weiss, in The Dallas Morning News Richardson blog, reports that the Richardson (RISD) school board voted, with no nay votes and only one abstention, to name Kay Waggoner the lone finalist for the RISD's next superintendent. That abstention is what Weiss, perhaps with tongue in cheek, referred to as the "dissension" on the school board.

After the jump, who abstained and why.

"Honor Flight" Veterans Reunion

From 2010 01 Honor Flight

Honor Flight™ is a network of volunteers established for the express purpose of getting as many WWII veterans as possible to Washington, DC to view the World War II Memorial. Honor Flight™ was originally set up in Ohio in 2004 by Earl Morse. Honor Flight™ of Dallas was established in September 2008 to bring this wonderful effort to the Dallas/Ft Worth/North Texas area, honor the service of the WWII Veterans in this region, and to take as many of them as possible to view THEIR memorial in the nation's capital. Veterans travel absolutely free.

After the jump, more about our local veterans.

"Lock, Take, Hide" Reconsidered

One of our east Richardson neighbors parked his car overnight in his rear-facing driveway recently and found it in the morning jacked up with one wheel stolen. The Richardson police officers who responded to the call indicated that three other vehicles in the area were similarly vandalized with all four wheels stolen from each. They assume that the thieves involved may have been interrupted since they took only one of the wheels from our neighbor.

The Richardson Police Department publishes a "Crime Prevention Handbook" with tips to reduce auto theft and auto burglary.

1. Never leave your vehicle running while unattended.
   
2. Always lock your car and completely close your car windows when parking.
   
3. Do not leave your keys inside your car.
   
4. Always park in a well-lighted area.
   
5. Keep all valuables out of sight.
   
6. Use auto theft deterrents.
   
7. Park in your garage.
   
8. Don't leave the registration or title in your car.
   
9. Etch VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on windows and major parts.
   
10. Drop business cards or other ID inside vehicle doors.

This is all good advice, I'm sure, but curious that I am, I'd like to see more supporting statistics for some of the items.

After the jump, my own thinking on the subject.

Open Letter to Greg Sowell

Dear Mr. Sowell,

Congratulations on your hire as the City of Richardson's first director of communications. Richardson is a fine place to live, work, and play. Improved community outreach by the city government can help ensure it remains that way.

After the jump, some unsolicited advice. (You'll get a lot of that.)

Highway "enhancements." Who needs 'em?

Texas Travel Information Center at Denison

Texans are fit to be tied over highway construction in Texas -- or rather, lack of construction. As usual, no one wants to pay for it. Texans don't want taxes to go up. Texans don't want to pay tolls. Texans are looking for the proverbial free lunch. And the Fort Worth Star-Telegram holds out hope that they just might have found it.

After the jump, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Or not.