A Little Christmas Laughter is No Crime

Hello blog readers-- it's Tim and I want to start by saying Happy Holidays! I hope everything is going well for you and your family during this time of year.

So this post really has nothing to do with Crime-- but more about a fun little moment my family shared during Christmas.. and well.. I wanted to bring you in on it.

A little history-- My sister is an Aggie (God bless her) and she recently returned home from a semester-long study abroad in Chile. She returned home nearly fluent in Spanish which makes me a proud big brother!

With such an intensive study and length of time spent, she came home with hundred of photos. So one of her projects (before she forgets everything) is to create photo albums with the pictures to document her trip. She started using a web site, Snap Fish, to quickly put together her books.

To help her out this Christmas, I donated to her cause, but I felt that merely passing along money was impersonal, and well that just wasn't enough for me. I wanted to bless her. I wanted to maker her laugh. I wanted it to be a memorable gift for her..

So using my resources here at the station, a little help from my coworkers, and some creative editing.. I came up with this gift!

The gift was a hit! She loved it. I've now seen her post the video to Facebook showing it off to her friends.

I'm happy it blessed her. I always take joy in making others laugh and smile (including you, the readers so maybe you, too, will get a nice little laugh at my expense).

Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice holiday and remember this time of year is better spent with family and friends!

See you in 2011!

-Tim

Drive-Thru Nudist

Tonight (Wednesday night) on the ten o'clock news, we brought you a story of a man who decided it was a good idea to go nude at the Schlotzky's Drive-thru. (So many jokes...so not appropriate)

Anyway, the story goes a little like this: girl working at the window catches the bare man who is there to pick up lunch, during the "lunch rush." The female employee can't believe what all she is seeing, but does her best to keep composed while serving the man his meal. Word quickly spreads (like you can hold that kinda gossip back) and soon customers are crowding the window to see if it's really true.. It was.

So many questions are firing.. Why go nude? Especially for lunch during a busy time, unless you want to be seen, still what is there to gain? That question has yet to be answered, the manager says the employee was too shocked to even ask why he was "sans-clothes."

I would be, too. How can you maintain "professional" composure with a patron "dressed" like that?

You tell me-- what would you do, if you were there/saw that?

Abilene Cold Case Cracked

For the avid TV watcher, you may know of the TV show "Cold Case," I'm not hooked on it, only because I work during the prime time watching hours, and I don't have DVR (gasp!).

While the show is entertaining, in reality, cracking a "cold case" isn't all that easy. The suspect doesn't come forward, often times the small details aren't that easily recalled, and they definitely are not solved within 45 minutes. Just generalizing.

Still, the grim reality is that cases... difficult cases... emotionally draining cases, can take years and still may never be solved.

But don't tell that to the detectives who refuse to give up. I've worked with a few on some cases, the Jennifer Servo mystery comes to mind, where the detective knows exactly where that case file is, at the mere mention of the case. Last time, I asked, he said he still gets tips every now and then, and he still believes that one can be...and will be solved.

I may not be a police detective (although I've been asked that at many crime scenes... I guess a man dressed up at a crime scene suggests detective or reporter...) I can only guess at the frustration and elation that comes with every twist, turn, and new lead that pops up on these kinds of cases.

Why am I writing all of this?

To thank the detectives who labored away for six years to finally, name a suspect in a sexual assault case from 2004. A case that was passed from detective to detective, and hour after hour leads were investigated.

Now, a lead has identified a suspect using DNA, that was a match to the evidence from six years ago... leading to an indictment of Bruno Carrillo last Thursday.

Relief comes to the detective in charge of it, and relief is finally coming to the victim who has been carrying the emotions for so long.

Burgalry suspect runs right by me

Yesterday is an example of why I love my job. I had just gotten in to the newsroom after a day of gathering news. Arrests, and overnight burglaries, the usual stuff. Then as I always do I sat down in front of Bob's desk to tell him what I had done for the day and what I would have for the news that night. This was a little after 2 in the afternoon. I had just started talking to Bob when he heard a "burglary in progress" call over the police scanner. Not that unusual, I was half way paying attention to the scanner and continued to talk to Bob.

Then, if you know Officer Jim Craft, with the Abilene Police Department, then you would recognize his voice on the scanner, and if you have ever listened to a police scanner then you would know when an officer is running after someone. Well we heard Craft say over the scanner something about what direction a suspect was running. We could tell Craft was running after him. I jumped up from the chair in front of Bob's desk, ran into the other room in the news room, grabbed a portable scanner and ran to my car and headed to green street.

On my way I could here that the police had lost the suspects (I latter found out that Officer Craft had to stop the foot chase because he had pulled a hamstring) and they were calling a K-9 to come in and try to track them. The K-9 officer had gotten to the scene just a few seconds before I did, and while the dog had picked up a scent and was following it, other officers were driving the area looking for the two suspects, so I did the same thing. Then I heard on the scanned that the dog had followed the scent to a home just down the block from where the break-in took place, so that is where I went. Police surrounded the house because not only did the dog track to the area, they also found a hat on the back porch of the house that one of the suspects was wearing.

From that point there was a lot of standing around while police were trying to find out who lived in the home and they were working on a warrant to go in to see if the two suspects were actually in the home.

As I waited and police had the house surrounded I decided to walk back to the house where the break-in took place to see if I could interview the home owner. I had seen her standing outside her home when I arrived so I new was at home. What I did not know till I talked to her is that she was home when the two suspects went into the take her t.v. and that the suspects new she was home.

She locked herself in a bedroom when she heard her back window break and saw someone come inside. According the girl in the home, the suspect saw her and still came into the house. So she told me about that and I walked back to the home that police had surrounded. One officer was in the back, and there were Town in the front. I stood across the street from the home and just waited. That is when I heard an officer say "I saw him peak out of the blinds."

Just a few minutes after that I heard another officer say "he's running!"

I turned to look and saw a young kid running from the front door of the home. He ran across the street right by me, across a yard and over the back fence into another back yard, and over that fence. I new he was headed to the creek so I jumped in my car and headed that direction. That is where I saw Officer Craft who was parked on the side of the creek. I parked behind him and got out of my car as he was getting out of his, and that's when we saw the suspect run down the creek and try to hide in some tall grass. Craft told him to get down when the suspect realized he had been seen and he popped back up, and thought about running again. Craft pulled his Taser and told the suspect to get down but he would not comply. After several warnings, the officer finally had to take the suspect down himself and handcuff him.

That's why I love my job, because a normal day can turn into something like this in an instant!

They Stole My Fryer Grease-- WAIT, REALLY?

On Sept. 15th, I first brought you the story of a North Side fast food joint that had someone steal their fryer grease from the grease trap. Here's a more satirical view..

As I read the crime report, listing the theft, I couldn't help but think, "WHY?" I mean really, who steals used grease? What is the significance?

After speaking to the Golden Chick owner, he vented his frustration and disbelief, but added grease can be liquid gold. He described that used grease can be used as a form of diesel.

Now, I've heard about this being done, and I've heard of engines that run solely on the grease from restaurants like this... but I've never heard of someone syphoning off the stuff in a grease heist!

Please, understand I'm not making fun of the damages and lost money that will set this business or any others back... That is never a good thing. Nor do I condone the act of stealing grease.

But honestly, what's their master plan?

Will they steal so much grease that our fast food becomes dry, and dare I say, less greasy!?

Do they plan to hold Abilene hostage by holding the monopoly on grease?

What do they want from us!!???

Picture this, the master mind behind this grand theft sitting in his outlaw clubhouse/hideout, tapping his fingers together and chuckling a sinister laugh, as he plots his course to steal used fryer grease.

Sure, he probably weighed the risk, like what if there isn't enough? What happens if it spills out onto the ground, covering him in slick grease, or even worse, what if he gets caught...

But then he quickly dismissed it because, oh the smell of old chicken grease!

All the same, he's probably sitting at home just sniffing the grease and fighting back cravings for fried chicken and other fried foods.

Or maybe not.

Anyway, I've given my wild, imaginative view of this grease theft... but in reality, it's still a crime that needs a resolution. If you know anything, call Crimestoppers at 676-TIPS.

See the story here!

What's Your Sign?

On Monday, I reported about a property owner who was sick of having his work yard broken into. So he left a "note" for the bandits. "There's nothing left to steal, please stop cutting my fence." (See the story)

It's so appropriate. So simple. It's something I wish I would've done. I've mentioned on the blog before, that I've had my car broken into, twice, and roughly two years apart (to the day). I would've like to have given the thieves a piece of my mind. We all would, right? Sure, you do, have you ever heard of a grateful victim?

Didn't think so.

My sign would've read like this:

"I've had enough, there's nothing left in this '89 Blazer. Give it up, and go home."

What would yours say? Leave it in a comment below, and keep it clean, please.

Tim Takes the Taser-- AND LIVES!

Okay, so many people, family and friends included thought I was "off my rocker" when I proudly told them, "I'm going to be tased!" And, well, maybe I am a little crazy for volunteering to do it, but it was an experience I wanted.

I wanted to know what it felt like, how bad it was, and if these tools are going to be used by police, then I'd like to know what it does before people start trying to play the "poor me" card.

Granted it hurt! Bad! But I lived! Across the nation, the wild tales of severe injury (and even death) are being sparked up and played out by victims. I'm not dismissing their claims, and I'm sorry for their pain and loss, but having felt the jolt, I know it's not lethal.

Looking back, however, there are some things I wish I would've done. (Side note: it's too late, now, and no, I will not do it again...unless...)

Here's my list of things I wish I would've done/thought about doing before "Riding the Lightning":

1)Hold a light bulb and see if it lights up.
2)Slip an Alka-Seltzer tablet in my mouth, and come up foaming at the mouth, and ask, "What's happening to me!?"
3)Come up with super-powers... far fetched but would've been way cool!
4)Shout out, "I'm melting, I'm melting!" a la "Wizard of Oz"
5)Turn out the lights, to see if I glow while being tased.
6)Go shirtless, to see the muscles contract. Wouldn't have been pretty, but might have been cool.
7)Look back at the officer and say, "Don't tase, me bro!" As seen here.
8)Throw up a cloud of powder (like Lebron) just before being hit with the Taser. It just would've been a great effect.
9)Come up with some clever catch phrase to yell...like "Remember the Alamo," but more appropriate.
10)Put a bulls-eye on my back that says, "Hit Here Win A Prize!"

Since the exposure, I've had people accuse me of being "too tough," and not wanting to yell, but let me say, there was no macho-man mentality. I couldn't yell, because I couldn't yell! My entire focus was trying to ride out the full five seconds..that's it! There was no breathing (although I could have), there was no yelling (although others did), and there was no "accidents" (although others accused me).

It was a great experience, unlike any other, but I wouldn't do it again. Still, these Tasers are excellent tools that will save a lot injuries and maybe even lives to both the police and the people they are trying to get.

See my story.

One You Won't See on the News

A part of my day, is tracking down the biggest and best stories for you to see at 10. (I know it's a lot of power...somewhere someone just shuddered.) In my search I often sort through many stories that don't pan out, many that have no real value, and some that are funny but have no "news-time" meaning. So, you get to read it here, instead.

I was scanning through the police reports, when I came across this one that made me chuckle:
A man was claiming he was attacked by a known man who came at him with a sword!

Now here's why it didn't make the news: he wasn't injured and the sword was dull.

But I find it somewhat odd, that someone pulled a sword! I didn't realize we traveled back to the Medieval Times (era or restaurant)! I mean honestly, who pulls a sword ?

Now, before, I get labeled a cynic with no heart, I am glad no one was severely hurt. I always am. But I couldn't help but chuckle that in those moments their disagreement rose to a point that one of the mean decided, "I'm so upset, I'm going to get him good! I'll use my sword!"

Or was it more like, a light-saber and he was using "The Force."

Still, I couldn't stifle the thought of Harrison Ford, in "Indiana Jones: and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" (this has been changed, thanks to a heads up by "John," thanks John, my fault) where the swordsmen steps into the dusty street, swinging and swiping his sword in a move to challenge Indy. Unimpressed, Indy draws his pistol and fires a shot, ending the fight.

I guess, we all should be glad, this sword fight didn't end like that one!

Another Intresting Trial

Last week I sat through a trial that had a few surprises. It's one of the things I like about covering court cases, because that's when all the details about a case are made public, but you have to be sitting in court to hear themt.
It was Terry Hall last week, in the 104th District Court. He was the guy who, in July of 2009, planned a home invasion robbery. He got three other people to go to an elderly man’s house and rob him. A womea knocked on the door of the elderly man's home. His name is Leon Black.
When Mr. Black looked to see who was knocking, it was a womea at the door with flowers. Thinking the flowers were for his wife, Mr. Black opened the door. That's when two others pushed their way in his home and made him get on the floor and robbed him, at gun point.
The surprise in this case was, robbing Mr. Black was not the original plan. The plan was to hold Mr. Black's wife for ransom. They were going to make Mr. Black go to the bank and pull out some money to get his wife back. What the four did not know is, Mr. Black's wife had recently died, and that is why he thought the flowers were for her, when the women knocked on his door. Terry Hall was realtor who had recently shown Mr. Black some property. So Mr. Black was targeted. Another surprise in this case, Terry Hall used to work for an agency that investigated crimes against the elderly. A point the prosecution made during the trial. Hall got 25 years for his crime, the other three are still awaiting trial.
Today in the 42nd District Court, a jury is being picked for a sexual assault trial. The defendant's name is Jose Villareal and he is charged with sexual assault. He is accused of breaking into a home of an elderly Abilene woman and raping her. I hear there are supposed to be a few surprises in this trial as well. If I hear them I will tell you about them on the news. Keep watching.

Here Comes the Summer Slump

I have now reached my two year mark, (hold the applause and the rotten tomatoes, please) and I've learned a lot about Abilene, the news, and about myself.

Skipping the deep reflection part, because honestly who cares, I will quickly point this out: Here Comes the Summer Slump!

So far the summers are feast or famine for news. Case in point, last summer, we were creeping along "scrapping the bottom of the barrel" as I frequently refer to it, and then the "flood" came. In a matter of weeks in July, we had the double homicide and the arrests that followed, and then a number of other crimes follow right behind.

It was enough to keep us working, and then it dried up! Like that, the cases were wrapped up, arrests were made, and life in the crime beat slowed down...to a slow crawl. Back to the barrel!

So this summer, I'm hoping to skip the point of frustration of admitting to my producer "There is nothing happening, today" and get the real stories out there, because as you and I both know, there is always something happening in our town. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for more crimes (especially as bad as the ones we covered last summer), I'm just wanting more stories.

Will you help me? Leave me ideas, tips, and problems.

These Neighbors Kick Burglar Booty!

Okay, on Thursday night at ten, I had a story on KRBC about some alert neighbors that not only stopped a burglar from breaking in, they chased him away to do it! (See the story here.)

Talk about doing the right thing! I spoke with one of the residents whose home was protected by these guardian-neighbors...he told me, "I've got the best neighbors around!" While that's a bold claim, he has a point!

How many neighbors do you know that would walk DOWN the alley to investigate a "Booming" sound? Then when they found the man kicking at the back door, how many would stand there and say "You're not doing this!" ?

The list is pretty short, I'm sure.

That's what impressed Koda Freeman and his roommate. As Freeman says in the story, most people would've seen the break-in and MAYBE call the police, buy mainly just write it off as "Not their problem." There's merit to that statement, if you think about it, otherwise all crime would be blotted out.

So what would you do? Would you have stopped the man? I'm sure we'd all like to think that, I know I would to think I'd step in, but saying and doing are two different things. That is unless you are the neighbors in this story.

A Rude Surprise

Recently, I came across this story (click here) in the crime reports:

May 9th- 1600 Block of University Dr., resident comes home to find a BBQ grill was thrown through his front window, and his motorcycle kicked over.

Okay, the motorcycle thing, aside, who throws a grill through a window?

I'm going to take a more satirical view, here, so please read this with that in mind...

My first thought, "Whoa! That's rough!" My second, "Were there no rocks or bricks?"

**I met the resident, at his home, and he explained he believes this stems from a series of harassment moves by a school mate of his daughters. I'm not a detective...so I will this right there, with that being his claim. Still, I felt I should mention that.**

But imagine his surprise to find a charcoal grill in his front window, I'm sure there is a grilling joke in there somewhere, but I won't go there.

While filming his home, I realized the dirty blinds hanging where the glass once was, had a nice little stain. Then it hit me, this wasn't a stain but ash where the grill smashed through.

Okay, I'll go there..throwing a grill through a window, would that make it a "Hot Shot?" (Don't laugh, it'll only encourage me.)

Still for this resident, he was left with a busted window, glass and ash inside his home, and a fear of what could come next. Good thing the mailbox was anchored into the ground...

I new he was the man involved in the accident

I walked into the Law Enforcement Center the other day. I go there just about every day, in covering the Cops and Courts Beat. Anyway, When I walked into the records area, on the first floor, I saw a man sitting on a bench, and women was standing next to him. The bench the man was sitting on is next to the door of the records area, and glass separates the area from the lobby of the L.E.C., so when I was walking towards records, I could see they were there, even before I walked in the door. As I walked passed, I could not help but look at the man sitting on the bench in the face. When I did I new instantly, he was the man who was involved in the accident on Buffalo Gap Road.
You may remember it. A motorcyclist was traveling South on Buffalo Gap Road when a truck pulled out on to B.G.R. The Driver of the motorcycle was killed when he hit the truck on the the drivers side, between the front fender of the truck and the door.
How did I know it was him?
Well, it's not that I saw the man who was driving the truck when I was covering the story last week, because I never saw him. I guess it was just the look on his face. I remember telling myself, after I saw him, that this has got to be the guy who was driving the truck. Sure enough just a couple of minutes after I walked into the room, and as I was looking through some records, Chief Stan Standridge, Asst. Chief Mike Perry and Asst. Chief Doug Wrenn walked into the room, obviously going somewhere, but when they saw the man sitting on the bench Asst. Chief Doug Wrenn said high and the two other Chiefs introduced themselves. They began talking about the accident with him, and asked how his daughter was doing. Apparently the man's daughter was with him when the motorcycle hit them. The man said that she slept through the night and was able to go to school that day. They talked about other details of the case I will not talk about because I am not sure if they saw me standing there or not, but the point is the man who was driving the truck was effected. I know that goes with out saying, but anyone could have walked into the police department that day and seen the hurt on that mans face. I can only imagine what his daughter and even the rest of his family is going through.

Car Burglaries, Man are They Annoying...

So right now, the Abilene Police are swamped with "Burglary of a Motor Vehicle" cases. Which is cop-talk for "Someone Just Broke Into My Car and Stole My Stuff." Each day, I scan through reports filed with APD, and I only get to see a select few, but still in the last week and a half, or so, I have to decide how many times I want to report on the car burglary.

You get burned out about hearing it, I get burned out about reporting it, and the police get burned out on having to file these reports (or so I imagine).

What adds to the frustration, is the victims, a lot of times, leave their car unlocked. I don't know if it's a mistake or a bad habit. (I know I've been caught off guard when I find my door unlocked.) As it often is said, "Well, then they deserve it!" DO THEY? I mean, yes, it doesn't help the situation, but does that give the crook the right to steal?

All the same, this still happens because someone gets bold, or bored, enough to try and take advantage of people. Now, I'm no criminal psychologist...I just play one on TV...but I'd have to say that's a real problem starter.

I've had my car broken into...twice...two years apart from each other, nearly to the day. For those fortunate enough to never know this frustration, it's bad. Real bad. I was in high school, my car was locked and parked in my own driveway, while I was home. The first time the bad guys took out the drivers window, and stole my cell phone and stereo. That made me mad. Again, two years later, same scenario, this time the passenger window, and they just tore stuff up, and stole a tool kit.

WHY? I don't know. I learned from the first time to hide any belongings. I even locked my glove box, which had nothing but papers inside. So what was there to gain? Again, I was a very mad Tim.

(It was in that moment, I feel like if I were the Hulk, stick with me, that I would've gone green and reckless. Thankfully, I'm not, and the City of Plano was never torn up. You're welcome, Plano.)

Anyway, I've made a choice, somewhat out of paranoia, to check my doors at night, will you do the same, Abilene?

**Drop me a line, what's on your mind? Have any input? Story Ideas? Let me know!**

A Demonstration of Forgiveness

I have been thinking about this ever since I witnessed it a few weeks back. I thought I would let you know, because it was just some thing to see.
I was in the 104th District Court a few weeks back. Jeanette O'Fallon was there to be sentenced for a hit and run. O'Fallon had been in a pick up truck, drinking and driving, when she hit Heather Ince, who was riding a bike. It happened last year, and Ince died as a result. O'Fallon was eventually caught.
During the sentencing hearing, we in the court room, about 4 people, heard about O'Fallons other run ins with the law, all so the Judge could consider when he is deciding on a sentance. Well O'Fallon was sentenced to, I think, 10 years in prison, I could be wrong, but it's o.k, because what happened next is what I can't get off my mind.
Anytime there is a crime and there are victims, when the criminal gets sentanced, the victims of the crime get a chance to make a victim's impact statement. It is just a chance for the victims to get things off of their chest in the presents of the perpetrator. The statement is not recorded by the court reporter, but who ever is giving the victim impact statement usually takes the stand so that they can be heard.
In the court room, watching the proceedings, was Heather Ince's Dad and Step Mother, who was crying the whole time we were in the court room. When it came time for the victim impact statement, Heather's dad said "Yes, I feel like I have something to say."
The Judge then asked Heather's Dad if he would like to take the stand, and he said no, he would sit where the jury sits, so he could look right at Jeanette O'Fallon, who was expressionless the whole time, till now. Heather's dad said, "There are two things that I've done that were the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. One was loosing my daughter and the other is forgiving you."
O'Fallon Cried as she waited for Sheriff's deputies to take her back to jail.

What's Your Excuse?

This week I asked for the best excuses that drivers have given to Abilene Police officers and Texas Highway Patrol...and let me say they have some good stories. Everything from "I sped though that intersection because people drive so fast, so I wanted to get away from there quickly," to the most original excuses, "My wife is at home trying to get pregnant and I'd like to be there."

Yeah, that last one kinda makes you wonder...all the same some of these excuses were either off the wall or should have come with some sort of Bill Engvall warning, a la "Here's Your Sign."

Anyway, this was a pretty fun story to tell, and there were other stories that didn't make the cut, like the driver who rear ended the car in front of them on a rainy day, and told the officer her anti-lock brakes must not be working.

Or the driver who told an officer he didn't use a turn signal while turning because he thought it was just a courtesy and not a law.

While, I have been pulled over before, I've found that honesty and being polite is the best way to go. So have others. Like, one story that was shared with me that her boyfriend was pulled over and when the officer asked why he was speeding, the guy's response was "Cause I'm being irresponsible."

See. Simple enough.

See the story here.

So, what's your excuse? Do you have a better one? Let's hear it!

Um...That Got Intense...Quickly

In the crime beat, things get intense. Quick. So that's obviously on my mind when I out at scenes or even doing interviews with people involved. It has to be, if I ever neglect that, it could get ugly.

Mom, if you're reading. Stop now.

Case in point, on Tuesday I had to handle a story where CPS took kids away from a family...As you can imagine, the last thing the family wants to see is me, with a camera aimed at them. So naturally I do my best to be respectful of what they're going through but also do my job to report the scene to you, at home.

So let's fast forward to late Tuesday evening. I've spoken with neighbors nearby who express their concern over the condition of the house and the kids. Although, to be fair I have to go and give the family a chance to speak for themselves. So I take our AP, Marchita, to point the camera on me, because I just have a hunch that they probably won't comment. In fact, I'm expecting a door to be slammed in my face. Well that happened...and more!

I knock on the door, and the family inside yells, "Who is it!?" I respond telling them I was with the news, I then hear them tell me to go away. I get it..I actually anticipated it. Before I could leave the porch a door is opened only to be slammed. "Good. You've made your point," I thought.

So I turn to leave, when I hear a lot of talk behind the door, where I hear something along the lines of "No. I'm gonna say something.." So, I paused to see if they did, then I asked, "Is there something you want to say?"

Oops.

I then hear, "That's it!" Followed by a "No, don't do it!"

Side note: Not what you want to hear when people are already yelling at you through a door. It was at that point that my mind and Marchita's quickly thought, "Look out for a weapon!"

So, back to the show, the door swings wide open and it felt like four (I didn't think to count them out) men burst out of the home and onto the porch just a few feet from me. One bolts past me, towards Marchita. Now, I'm an older brother, I have what I like to call the "Herd dog" instinct and that is to protect everyone around me. I spun around to make sure Marchita was okay, but only for a second because the people started yelling at me.

I heard, "You need to get out of here!" "I'm not telling Abilene any of my business!" "You need to shut that camera off!"

Um...That got intense. QUICK!

As they're shouting, I begin to calm them down. Speaking in a hushed tone, I assured them I wasn't looking to call anyone out, nor was I there to rub it in their face. Look, I know that this was the worst possible time for me to show up...some may argue there's never a good time for me to show up. All the same, I explained that I was sorry for what they went through, and how I hoped they understood that I only came by to give them a chance to speak for themselves, not to throw it in their face.

Well once that was out there, then they started in on telling me their life's story. All of them. At once. It was a lot to take in.

Thankfully, we ended on a much more level attitude, and I even got them to say they might talk to me when everything calms down.

As for Marchita, she was caught up in the rush and had never experienced that. I have to admit, I've been close to that...but never to the point where I was anticipating hostility. Thankfully, we were okay, though it reinforced the idea to be mindful of people's emotions and the situation around us.

OOPS! Things People Didn't Expect to see In the News

Okay it's 2010, and we're off to a flying start here in the Abilene news world... Last week I brought a story to you about a family who had given away a shotgun to the wrong person! As the story was told to me, the wife had an apartment full of people when a man came to the door and said her husband told him to take his (the husband's) shotgun. Caught off guard, the wife passed off the shotgun, only to find out from her husband he never even spoke with the other man. Very sneaky...

Anyway, I met the couple, they are very nice and all too willing to let others know they made a mistake. In this post, I'm not trying to mock them or bring any unwanted attention their way, but if you step back there is a moment that makes you say, "OOPS."

The couple felt bad, and they told me they hope nothing happens because of their mistake. Still to give a shotgun away to a man they barely knew...

The second, "OOPS" moment I came across this last week, was a woman who straddled her car across a drainage ditch while centering the car over the curb. It appeared she was trying to turn right out of a gas station, but cut things a little too close. Instead she had the car balanced over ditch. Looking at the car, at least two, if not three, of the wheels were off the ground. Yeah, there's no recovering from that....

OOPS!

As I was leaving the scene, (I would've stayed longer, but it was FREEZING cold) the tow truck service was studying the easiest and cleanest way to get the car off.

I mean I'm not perfect. Far from it, actually, and I'm guaranteed to have my "Oops moments," just watch me, I'm bound to say or do something. Off the camera, I was born a klutz and that has yet to change...So what will happen next in our town? You'd just have to standby and see. Just hope I don't cover your "Oops."