Warning to auto thieves: Don't steal vehicles in Tarrant County.
Law enforcement here has a new way to fight auto crimes. Zane Reid, assistant criminal district attorney in Tarrant County, has been appointed to work with the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force and only prosecute auto theft cases. He is the first prosecutor in Texas named to solely work with an auto crimes task force.
The Fort Worth Police Department is one of several law enforcement entities in the county working with the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force.
“We are dealing with a very, very evolving field of auto crimes now,” said Bryan Sudan, commander of the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force. “Older cars, the ones you can mechanically steal, are aging out. We are seeing professional thieves using alternate methods to steal cars. We are now seeing very organized groups using sophisticated methods to steal vehicles. We need more coordination with the prosecution of these cases.”
In the past, auto theft cases were sent to the District Attorney’s Office and assigned to various prosecutors. All will now go to Reid, who will be able to spot trends or see if there are multiple cases involving the same defendant that should be grouped together.
“This will shine a light on these crimes and help us better prevent them from occurring,” Sudan said.
These cases add up to millions of dollars of loss from theft and involve multiple agencies across the Metroplex. Coordination with all these entities and the District Attorney’s office is the key.
Reid, a prosecutor with Tarrant County since 2015, said he is excited to join the task force.
“My goal will be to provide greater consistency and availability to our law enforcement agencies to ensure successful prosecution,” he said. “The hope is to increase the prosecution rate and strength of sentences for auto crimes committed in Tarrant County and the surrounding area.”
Auto crimes have evolved as technology in newer cars prompted thieves to refine how they steal them. They now use fake IDs to buy cars, steal auto parts such as catalytic converters and reprogram fobs to steal vehicles.
In Tarrant County, motor vehicle thefts rose to 6,367 in 2020 from 5,895 in 2019. Burglaries from motor vehicles grew to 14,288 in 2020 from 13,884 in 2019. And fraud-related motor vehicle crimes reached 56 in 2020, up from 52 in 2019, according to statistics from the task force.
“These aren’t minor thefts,” Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Sharen Wilson said. “With the rising cost of vehicles, these thefts have a major impact on individuals and businesses. We need to do everything we can to stop these thefts.”
The Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force began in 1993 to combat motor vehicle theft. It is made up of investigators in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Parker County Sheriff’s Office, National Insurance Crime Bureau and police departments in Arlington, Fort Worth, Hurst, Haltom City and Euless.
Global Entrepreneurship Week returns to Fort Worth Sunday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 12.
This popular event offers a variety of workshops, panel discussions, informational sessions and networking events that showcase Fort Worth’s entrepreneurship community while also engaging with larger industry trends.
During 2020, Fort Worth’s Global Entrepreneurship Week was the largest celebration of its kind in the world with 93 sessions, more than 140 speakers and 1,593 total attendees. More than 28 states were represented in its sessions, and 46 countries were part of the event.
This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week will feature both virtual and in-person events, with many of the in-person events taking place at the GEW basecamp, located on the UNT HSC campus at 550 Bailey Ave.
A list of GEW events is currently available online, and more are still being finalized.
More Information
Published on November 04, 2021 by fortworthtexas.gove
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 is now available from Tarrant County Public Health in addition to a City of Fort Worth drive-thru clinic, private pediatricians and pharmacies.
“The more than 204,000 5- to 11-year-olds in Tarrant County will now be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and help reduce the spread across our community,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “The fastest and easiest way to get a vaccine will be through the family pediatrician or at the local pharmacy. Tarrant County Public Health will offer the vaccine at each of its clinics across the county for those who need it.”
Find a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Tarrant County.
COVID-19 vaccines are free to recipients, whether they are insured or uninsured.
The City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth ISD are offering COVID vaccinations to children who are 5-11 years old at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, 5201 C. A. Robertson Blvd. The site recently expanded hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays to provide parents with more options:
The clinic is open to everyone and no health insurance information is required. No appointment is needed and you may stay in your car the entire time. Younger patients may have to temporarily exit the vehicle with a parent or guardian to receive the dose.
To learn more, call 817-392-8478 or email the hotline.
THE MODERN LIGHTS
November 1-February 6
The Modern trees are illuminated with an array of festive lights in celebration of the holiday season. Passersby experience a stunning display, and visitors are invited to enjoy evening viewing opportunities. The museum galleries are open with free admission until 8 pm on Fridays.
CAFÉ MODERN
Dinner with the Modern Lights
Fridays, seating from 5 to 8:30 pm
Executive Chef Jett Mora welcomes you with warm hospitality, creative cuisine, and a seasonal menu rooted in Texas ingredients. Create your own holiday memories on Friday nights at Café Modern. Seating is available from 5 to 8:30 pm. For reservations, call 817.840.2157 or online here.
First Friday at the Modern
November 5, December 3, and January 7
The first Friday of each month, the Modern and Café Modern team up to bring you live music from the First Friday House Band, and drink specials and tasty light bites in the museum's Grand Lobby from 5 to 8 pm. Invite friends to enjoy a unique opportunity to experience the Modern in the evening. A complimentary docent-led, 20-minute tour is available at 6:30 pm. Café Modern and Executive Chef Jett Mora serve a light dining menu in the lobby ($9-$15). Specialty drinks along with beer and wine are available at the cash bar, with happy hour selections.
IN THE GALLERIES
Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler: Flora
Through January 16
Milton Avery
November 7-January 30
FOCUS: Frances Stark
November 14-January 16
FOCUS: Jill Magid
January 21-March 20
LOCATION
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Telephone 817.738.9215
Toll-Free 1.866.824.5566
www.themodern.org
Museum Gallery Hours
Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm
Tue 10 am-7 pm (Sep-Nov, Feb-Apr)
Fri 10 am-8 pm
General Admission Prices (includes special exhibition)
$16: General (age 18 and above)
$12: Seniors (age 60+), Active/Retired Military Personnel and First Responders with ID
$10: Students with ID
Free: Under 18 years old
The Museum offers half-price tickets on Sundays and free admission on Fridays.
The Museum is closed Mondays and holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.
The Fort Worth Public Art program seeks emerging and established public artists working in a variety of visual media and artistic approaches, offering regional artists the opportunity to highlight their previous work in public spaces, including murals, digital, cultural and studio-based media for the 2022 Pre-Qualified Artist List.
Applications are free and open until Feb. 11, 2022.
The purpose of the Pre-Qualified Artist List is to provide a streamlined application and selection process for artists interested in being commissioned for public art projects throughout Fort Worth. Possible artwork opportunities include parks, libraries, fire stations, community centers and others.
Artists will be selected based on artistic merit of past work and willingness to work collaboratively with other professionals and accept input from the community.
A selection panel will convene to review all eligible applications. The panel will then recommend artists for approval to the Fort Worth Public Art Commission. Once approved, artists will remain eligible for projects associated with the upcoming 2022 bond election.
Log Cabin Village is again hosting in-person special events, and there are two fun activities planned over the next two months.
Dutch Oven Cooking. Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. View a Dutch oven cooking demonstration by the Prairie Dog and Chisholm Trail Chaparral chapters of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society. Cost is regular Village admission. No reservations are required.
Holidays at the Hearth. Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate historic traditions with visits and photos with Santa, holiday ornament crafting and hands-on games for the whole family. Cost includes admission and all activities: $8 for ages 18 and up; $7 for ages 4-17 and 60 and up; and $6 per person for groups of 10 or more. Ages 3 and under are free. No reservations are required.
The attraction is at 2100 Log Cabin Village Lane. Call 817-392-5881.
Fort Worth begins a new City Council meeting schedule in November. The first slate of meetings to fall under the new schedule will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Changes include scheduling the Council work sessions and Council agenda meetings on different weeks and setting scheduled dedicated public presentation meetings for the sole purpose of hearing comments and concerns from the public.
The order of the meetings for Tuesday, Nov. 2:
Watch the meetings live on Fort Worth TV, either online or on TV You can also watch the meeting via the Fort Worth TV video library.
Looking for inspiration on how you can become healthier? Attend a Blue Zones Project, North Texas Healthy Communities presentation from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4.
Join the Fort Worth Municipal Court on the fourth floor of the A.D. Marshall Public Safety and Courts Building, 1000 Throckmorton St., to hear what the longest-lived people were eating on a daily basis, along with healthy tips and tricks to stay lighter during the holiday season.
Can’t attend in person? Join the presentation on Webex. The meeting number is 2554 562 2880; the meeting password is 12345. The phone-in number is 469-210-7159.
Trinity Metro President and CEO Bob Baulsir, who has led the agency since April 2019, is retiring as of Oct. 31 because of ongoing health issues. Baulsir joined Trinity Metro in November 2014 and was instrumental in constructing and launching TEXRail, the commuter rail line between Fort Worth and DFW Airport’s Terminal B.
During Baulsir’s tenure, the agency also started The Dash, the battery-electric bus route, plus ZIPZONE services in Mercantile, Southside and South Tarrant. In addition, A Better Connection was implemented in September to provide a new, more efficient bus network. Plans are underway for a TEXRail extension to the Fort Worth Medical District.
On Monday, the Trinity Metro Board of Directors named Paul J. Ballard as the interim president and CEO. He preceded Baulsir in the role and retired in April 2019 after serving at the helm for five years.
“We are really sorry to see Bob leave the agency, and we are so very grateful for everything he has done for Trinity Metro and public transportation in North Texas,” said Trinity Metro Board Chairman Jeff Davis. “While we search for a permanent replacement, we are delighted that Paul has agreed to step in and fill the void.”
While Ballard serves as the interim president and CEO, the Board of Directors will be working with the executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates LLC to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.
Under Ballard’s leadership, the agency rebranded to Trinity Metro, developed a transit master plan and implemented new services, including TEXRail, Alliance ZIPZONE, bus service north of I-820, and the EASYRIDE commuter program. In addition, he developed a partnership with Tarrant County College for Trinity Metro to provide service to all TCC locations and the college to pay the fares for student rides.
Shortly after leaving Trinity Metro, Ballard served as interim general manager and CEO for the Regional Transportation District in Denver.
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas launched a multi-stakeholder Master Planning Committee and selected Dallas-based landscape architecture firm Studio Outside to design a comprehensive master plan to inform the direction and priorities for the next 20 years of infrastructure and facility improvements across the 120-acre campus.
“Creating a long-term, inspiring guest experience is the main purpose of this long-term master plan," said Bob Byers, FWBG|BRIT executive vice president and co-chair of the Master Planning Committee. “This plan will connect horticulture, botanical science and the Fort Worth community, leading us toward our strategic vision of being renowned globally and treasured locally.”
The master planning committee led by former District 7 City Councilmember Dennis Shingleton includes members from throughout the community, representative of Fort Worth civil servants, local garden associations, Fort Worth ISD, FWBG|BRIT board and staff and other community advocates and developers.
“We made a conscious effort to ensure that members from the City, FWBG|BRIT staff, former task force and other longtime Garden supporters were represented on this committee,” Shingleton said. “We will also be reaching out to Fort Worth residents requesting their input throughout this process, so it will truly reflect the opinions of our broad, diverse community.”
After a national search, Studio Outside landscape architects were chosen to deliver the final master plan in a 12-month timeline. Studio Outside and its team of architects, civil engineers and landscape architects offer a collective competency in master planning and botanic garden design as demonstrated both in previous projects at the Garden and in similar projects across the nation, such as Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky, and the Water Conservation Garden at Red Butte in Salt Lake City.
“The master plan, which will evolve over the next 12 months, promises to fortify the Garden campus as a premier horticultural institution in the nation,” said Tary Arterburn, Studio Outside principal in charge. “This site is very unique, not far from the banks of the Trinity River, offering a perfect transect of ecosystems that are riparian, escarpment and prairie all in one place.”
Estrus Tucker, president and CEO of DEI Consultants LLC, which will be involved in public engagement efforts for the master plan, said: “If we dare to design our strategies and engagements with diversity, equity and inclusion as our intentions, our natural environment expressed in our gardens becomes an inspiring model for sustainable human communities.”
A website has been created for the master planning effort.
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