The Inquisitr » texas

Texas woman Trista Joy Lathern, 24, fakes cancer to get breast implants

Kim LaCapria — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:28:14 +0000

Generous Texans are feeling duped and angry after it came to light that a woman who solicited over $10K in donations to treat her breast cancer used the funds to upgrade her healthy breasts.

Trista Joy Lathern, 24, shaved her head to further the scam, but investigators say she never suffered from cancer in the first place. At least two-dozen individuals and businesses donated money or merchandise to Lathern’s scam, which came to light when Lathern’s surgeon expressed concern that her $6800 breast augmentation surgery had been paid for in stolen funds. Police explained the possible motives behind Lathern’s behavior:

“Trista said she and her husband had been (having) marital problems and she thought telling him she had cancer would bring them closer together,” the affidavit said. It goes on,”Trista confesses that she gave $3,500 to a local plastic surgeon for an augmentation and later had a bilateral breast augmentation performed in Austin, Texas, costing approximately $6,800.”

Charity events for Lathern snared four bands, a raffle, a silent auction and a bake sale. Trista Lathern is charged with “theft by deception over $1,500, but under $20,000.”

[Source]

This is not where to park a rare $2 million Bugatti

Steven Hodson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:43:36 +0000

I don’t blame the driver for wanting to remain unnamed (person i the picture is the tow truck driver) after all blaming a low flying pelican for landing you in the swamp is pretty lame.

The Bugatti Veyron is one of 200 made and only one of about 15 in the United States. New models of the car – if you can get one – sell for about $2 million.

image courtesy of Chris Paschenko at Galveston Daily News

Texan teacher Deanna Higgins accused of sex with student

Kim LaCapria — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:58:54 +0000

Today’s report of inappropriate teacher/student relations comes out of Spring, Texas.

Science teacher Deanna Higgins remains on administrative leave since January of 2009, due to allegations of inappropriate sexual relations with a student. Higgins was hired by the Spring School District in January 2008, and taught at Spring Independent High School.

Principal Donna Ullrich sent parents a letter explaining the suspensions, indicating that the school is pursuing two charges against Higgins. Higgins was charged Monday on one count of sexual assault of a child and one count of having an improper relationship between an educator and a student. Both are felonies.

Another teacher is also on administrative leave and under investigation for a separate incident. . Full text of the letter, below:

As part of our continuing effort to keep you informed and involved in your child’s education at Spring High School, I’m writing to share information about an alleged improper relationship between Spring High School science teacher Deanna Higgins and a Spring High School student.

The Spring ISD Police Department has completed a thorough investigation of the allegation and submitted the results of that investigation to the Harris County District Attorney’s office. The DA’s office accepted two charges on Monday, Oct 12: one for an improper relationship between an educator and a student, and one for sexual assault of a child. Both charges are second-degree felonies.

The Spring High School administration and Spring ISD Police Department immediately began investigating the allegation after receiving a report from a third party. The teacher was placed on administrative leave, which is a routine procedure when an allegation of this nature is made. Higgins has been a science teacher at Spring High School since January 2008.

I want to assure you that the safety of our students is of the highest importance at Spring High School. The criminal history and references of job applicants are routinely checked before they are hired. The administration at Spring High School takes every allegation seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation and expose inappropriate behavior when necessary. Inappropriate behavior with our students will never be tolerated or overlooked.

You may have heard rumors that another Spring High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave. It is true that a second teacher is on administrative leave while an investigation into a separate issue is in progress. I am not able to share details about this investigation until it has been completed.

Please speak to your children and remind them to always report to you or other proper officials any time they feel threatened or compromised by anyone. We have numerous systems in place for reporting inappropriate activity. Students may contact any Spring High School administrator or counselor, Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.Crime-Stoppers.org and the Spring ISD Police Department at 281-893-7473. In addition we are in the process of implementing the anonymous, online communication system for students called “Talk About It.”

If you have any concerns or questions please contact me at (redacted.)

Teacher Todd Henry stabbed to death at John Tyler High School in Texas

Kim LaCapria — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:21:18 +0000

A relative has confirmed the identity of a teacher stabbed to death at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas.

The teacher, Todd R. Henry, 50, was a music therapist at the school and his brother described him as an “accomplished and respected guitarist.” The suspect is described as a juvenile, and is reportedly in police custody.

No further information is available as of yet about the murder.

Texas man eschews coffin for 1973 Catalina

Kim LaCapria — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:43:46 +0000

90-year-old Lonnie Holloway loved his 1973 Pontiac Catalina and his guns, so much so that he took them to the grave.

Holloway died on September 3rd, and his burial wishes were well known in the Texas town of Saluda. After a service at Rock Hill Baptist Church, in Saluda, hundreds of onlookers watched a wrecker lower the ‘73 Catalina into Holloway’s final resting place. Family and friends weren’t surprised in the least by the man’s unusual interment plans, describing him as “a stylin’ and profilin’ type guy.”

And then there’s the guns. Holloway took his arsenal to the grave, but not for any zombie apocalypse reasons. Friends of the dead man hooked him up right and proper:

Friends placed all of his guns in the trunk of the car. They tell News19 that he didn’t want them to get into the wrong hands, so he wanted to take them with him.

Protip: If you’re concerned with the accessibility of your guns in the event of your demise, burying them in front of hundreds of people at a publicly announced location may not be the best tactic. Perhaps consider donating them to someone with a locked gun cabinet or the police.

[Source: WLTX]

No related posts.

State Fair fried food king invents Deep Fried Butter

Kim LaCapria — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:30:22 +0000

No, Paula Deen has nothing to do with it this time.

Texas State Fair vendor Abel Gonzales is responsible for Texas Fried Cookie Dough (obvious question: does it not turn into a cookie then?), deep fried PB&J with bananas, and even Fried Coke, is back with a new heart-exploding treat. Deep Fried Butter is turning heads and stomachs nationwide, grabbing headlines for its sheer deep fried audacity.

Gonzales whips butter to light creamery fluffiness, freezes it, and surrounds it with shell of dough. And it’s not just butter flavored- that would be preposterous- Deep Fried Butter is available in garlic, grape or cherry flavor.

While it sounds disgusting, customers say it takes not too unlike a buttered roll. Gonzales says:

“It’s like a mix between a biscuit or a croissant that is just stuffed to the gills with butter on the inside.”

With all the anti-fat naysayers, Gonzales has his share of detractors. But he’s not bothered by the backlash:

“These are special foods for a special time,” he said.

“There are a lot of people out there that don’t get the fun in what I’m doing. I’ve gotten e-mails from people saying, ‘You’re a menace!’”

“I tell people this is not healthy food. Be careful with it. Take it in moderation. Definitely get your exercise. Eat a salad.”

Texas man claims to have “frozen” chupacabra

Kim LaCapria — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:11:19 +0000

A man in Texas believes (or wants you to believe) that the mythical and elusive chupacabra (a word that breaks down en Espanol to mean “goat sucker” because it allegedly drains livestock of blood) lies in repose in his freezer.

Chupacabras are cryptids, and most scientists classify their existence firmly as urban or local legends. Of course, that doesn’t stop the beasts from cropping up in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Maine and apparently Texas. The man claims the animal wandered into an acquaintance’s barn, and not knowing what the creature was, they decided to poison it- as you do to strange animals or people on your property.

The animal is described as having gray, leathery skin and unusually long front legs. Witnesses claim it is unlike any animal known to be native to Texas, and the man in possession of the alleged chupacabra hopes to display it in a museum one day. As of now, not surprisingly, the frozen animal has not been positively identified as any kind of strange new animal, and existence of chupacabras is still not confirmed.

Boaters Rescued After 8 Days At Sea

AHN — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:51:13 +0000

Houston, Texas (AHN) – Three Texas men were found alive and floating in the Gulf of Mexico after disappearing a week ago.

The men left Matagorda, Texas, which is about 90 miles southwest of Houston, in a 23-foot catamaran on Aug. 22 for a day of fishing. They were reported missing when they did not return later in the day.

They were spotted sitting on their capsized vessel and rescued by the crew of a pleasure boat Saturday night, a day after the Coast Guard called off its search for the men.

The Coast Guard had searched 86,000 square miles for the men before giving up, according to local press reports.

The men are James Phillips, 30, Tressel Hawkins, 43 and Curtis Hall, 28.

(img: US Coast Guard)

Texas Police Surround Home Of Officer Held By Officer

AHN — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:59:59 +0000

Houston, TX (AHN) – Police from several different agencies have surrounded a house in a rural area west of Houston hoping to negotiate for the release of a police officer allegedly kidnapped by another police officer.

The scene at the Brookshire home of school police officer Rachel Hillsman is the latest action in a search that began early Tuesday morning and has stretched as after as the Louisiana state line. Hillsman’s alleged kidnapper is her ex-boyfriend, Julio Reyes, also a police officer with the Katy Independent School District

Hillsman, 24, has been missing since early Tuesday morning when, police said, she was taken by force from her vehicle near her mother’s home. Two children inside the vehicle, a 7-year-old and a 13-month-old child, were left unharmed inside. Reyes, 38, is father of the infant. The older child is from a previous relationship.

Investigators believe the couple may have argued the night before the kidnapping.

600lb inmate hides gun in lockup for over a day

Kim LaCapria — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:03:09 +0000

George Vera, 25, was arrested Sunday for possessing or selling unlabeled recordings.

Like all prisoners, he was processed and searched to uncover contraband, but prison staff overlooked something unbelievable. The portly prisoner had concealed a 9mm handgun amidst “layers of fat.”

Vera had been searched three times before he revealed his hidden weapon- once at the scene, and again at city and county jails. None of the three searches detected the gun. A union official attempts to explain the slip-up:

Houston Police Officers Union President Gary Blankinship said cadets are trained how to search morbidly obese people.

“We teach officers to lift up and look under,” Blankinship said. ”The officer may not have arrested anyone this big before.”

Blankenship said that system clearly does not always work.

“They can be so big, basically short of strip searching or searching cavities, they could miss something like this,” said Blankinship.

It was Vera himself who actually made the presence of the gun (and two clips) known to prison officials. He’s now free on bond, but he was charged with possessing or selling unlabeled recordings and possession of a firearm in a correctional facility. He faces ten years in the slammer, but maybe he could smuggle in a Wii and some games or maybe a cross-stitch project to pass the time?

No related posts.

Using solar? Fine, but you have to pay us either way

Steven Hodson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:23:01 +0000

Xcel Energy in Denver, Texas, doesn’t care if you decide to go solar because they plan on charging you anyway claiming that it’s not fair that customers with solar panels on their homes could possibly get a free ride. The monthly fee would go into effect in April 2010 and would be used to pay for distribution and transmission of energy regardless of whether or not the customer used any electricity that month.

Xcel Energy spokesman, Tom Henley, that implementing the fee would level the playing field for all electricity users.

“We just don’t think it’s fair that customers that don’t have solar panels on their homes should subsidize these solar panel customers any further,” said Henley.

[….]

Henley said the fee is a preventative measure to ensure that, down the road, solar customers do not get free rides.

“What we’re looking to do is stop that, avoid that occurrence from happening,” he said.

Source: The Denver Channel :: Solar Customers Fuming Over Proposed Fee

Won’t sign your speeding ticket in Texas? that’s a tasering offense

Duncan Riley — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

A man pulled over for speeding in Fort Worth, Texas was tased after he refused to sign the speeding ticket.

Ryan Majcher, who volunteers his time helping police as a “Citizens on Patrol” member, was pulled over a few months ago when caught speeding on the way to work. Majcher wasn’t very pleased with being pulled over and pleaded with police to wave the ticket.

The police were none to amused then asked him to get out of the car. “I was getting out the car and next thing I know, I had what looked like a gun directly at my face,” Majcher told local media. The officer threatened him with arrest for not signing the ticket…before then discharging the taser.

Video taken at the scene does show Majcher arguing with the police, but in a passive manner. A lawyer quoted by the local TV station said that “It’s very clear in the [Fort Worth Police] policy that if someone is showing passive noncompliance, they’re not in a position to be tasered,” he said.

Naturally the police dismissed the complaint, saying that the officer did nothing wrong.

In Texas, they arrest reporters for reporting the news

Duncan Riley — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:10:29 +0000

A local news crew covering a crash on an El Paso, Texas highway Monday found that reporting the news can end with them being arrested.

Journalist Darren Hunt and cameraman Ric Dupont were at the scene of the accident and were attempting to interview witnesses, when approached by an officer who told them to leave.

According to an ABC-7 account (the station they worked for):

Darren continued to try to get information from the men in fatigues when the situation began to escalate. The sergeant jumped the barrier and told Darren to get in the truck (an ABC-7 news unit) and leave, then held Darren with his hands behind his back to the side of the truck belonging to a witness that was parked on the shoulder.

“I’m not doing anything,” Darren said repeatedly.

Darren and Ric were handcuffed, read their Miranda rights and taken to the Westside Regional Command Center. They were released within a few minutes. The entire incident lasted about an hour.

The officer has been placed on administrative duties while an investigation takes place. Local police officials said that while they had to wait for the outcome of the investigation, “”that’s not the type of conduct, based on the video, that we expect from our officers.” Both the reporter, and TV station said they would be filling complaints.

Naturally the whole thing was caught on video:

Texas Rep says Asians should change names so they’re easier to spell

Duncan Riley — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:09:10 +0000

Texas State Representative Betty Brown doesn’t like difficult to spell and pronounce Asian names, so she’s proposed a solution: Asians should change their names to ones that are “easier for Americans to deal with.”

You can’t make this stuff up:

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” Brown said.

Brown later told [Organization of Chinese Americans representative Ramey] Ko: “Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?”

Brown has so far ignored requests for her to apologize.

(via ThinkProgress)

No related posts.

Profoundly disabled students forced to fight by staff. If you guessed Texas, you win

Duncan Riley — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:10:48 +0000

Profoundly disabled students were forced into “fight club” style battles by the employees hired to care for them in at a school in Corpus Christi, Texas.

How did authorities find out? the same employees recorded the fights. The video was only discovered when one lost his phone, and it was handed to an off-duty policeman.

The footage shows staff goading young, male school residents into physical altercations, then shoving them at each other until fights ensued according to local reports. The videos go back as far as 2007, with the most recent “event” taken last month.

Eleven current or former state school employees were identified in the videos, state officials said. The local school board said that it would introduce supervisors for the disabled children overnight; despite in-residence schooling (the students live on school grounds), there was no supervision between 10pm and 6am, when the fights took place. Of course, even if they did have supervision, the supervisors were among those believed to be betting on the fights.

(image/ via SbB)

School Bus Driver arrested for threatening to cut passengers wrists

Duncan Riley — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:24:52 +0000

A school bus driver in Texas has been arrested after threatening to slit the wrists of his passengers.

Bus driver William Allen is alleged to have flipped out after discovering cookie crumbs on a seat, then three 6th graders refusing to confess to the crime when confronted.

According to witnesses, Allen frog marched the kids off the bus, whipped out a two inch blade, and told that he’d slit their wrists with it if they didn’t confess to leaving the cookies.

Police say they confiscated a pocket knife fitting the description after taking Allen, 66 into custody.

According to reports, a school administrator said Allen has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

Blood sucking Chupacabra spotted in Texas

Duncan Riley — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:12:51 +0000

A Dewitt County, Texas Sheriff’s Deputy has recorded what is believe to be a Chupacabra in the wild. The animal filmed is roughly the size of a coyote, but gallops.

According to Wikipedia, a Chupacabra is a cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. The name comes from the animal’s reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats. Early sighting date to 1990 in Puerto Rico, and have creature has since been reported as far north as Maine, and as far south as Chile. It allegedly hops like a kangaroo, has spines like a porcupine, and fangs like a vampire bat.

None of those three descriptions fits the video above (nor the artist rendering on Wikipeda, which looks like an Alien), but without doubt what ever is recorded in the video above is one strange looking creature.

Pillaging a Grave is One Thing, Using the Skull as a Bong: Priceless

Duncan Riley — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:12:45 +0000

Texas Police have filed corpse-abuse charges against two men who pillaged a grave then used the skull as a bong.

One of the two men told police they had dug up the grave in an abandoned cemetery, although they didn’t explain why they went on to use the skull as a bong (it’s fair to say they would have been smashed at the time).

Police are still investigating but have yet to charge the pair on drugs charges.

(via Reuters)