Archive for December, 2011

Officer fatally shoots suspect after collision in SE Houston

Posted in News | Comments Off
Officer fatally shoots suspect after collision in SE Houston

A Houston police sergeant feared for his life when he shot and killed a suspect on Christmas night in northeast Houston, an HPD spokesman said.

The officer, Sgt. Curtis Hampton, has been placed on administrative leave after the 11 p.m. Sunday incident, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings, said Kese Smith of the Houston Police Department’s Media Relations Department.

“At some point during the struggle, the officer wound up lying on his back on the ground with the suspect standing over him, reaching down to either assault him or grab his weapon,” Smith said.

Read The Full Story Here

Killer of 7 dressed as Santa, cops say

Posted in News | Comments Off
Killer of 7 dressed as Santa, cops say

GRAPEVINE – Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police said Monday.

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was a member of the family.

[...] police went into the apartment, located in the middle-class neighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville.

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his 10-year-old son play freely outside.

Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complex about six months ago so her son could attend the high school, said she lives a few buildings away and did not hear any gunshots.

Read The Full Story Here

Christmas schedules, closings and transportation

Posted in News | Comments Off
Christmas schedules, closings and transportation

Local bus routes and METRORail operate on Sunday schedule; no Park & Ride service; Customer Care Center closed. Local bus routes and METRORail will operate on Sunday schedule; no Park & Ride service; RideStore and Lost & Found closed; Customer Care Center open 8 a.m.– 8 p.m. All stations and branches closed; no retail window service, mail collections or mail delivery; Express Mail Next Day Service mail will be delivered. Monday’s garbage, curbside recycling, yard waste, fourth Monday and fourth Tuesday’s junk waste collected; Westpark center reopens; neighborhood depositories closed. Tuesday’s garbage, curbside recycling, yard waste and fourth Wednesday’s junk waste collected; neighborhood depositories reopen.

Read The Full Story Here

Winning numbers for 12/24

Posted in News | Comments Off
Winning numbers for 12/24

Texas
Lotto (12/24) 36-49-29-24-42-30
Estimated jackpot $7 million
Winning tickets N/A
Next jackpot (12/28) N/A
Pick 3 day (12/24) 5-3-0 Sum: 8
Pick 3 night (12/24) 3-4-8 Sum: 15 Daily 4 day (12/24) 6-5-8-8 Sum: 27
Daily 4 night(12/24) 6-5-7-5 Sum: 23
Cash 5 (12/24) 8-14-37-4-18
Two Step (12/22) 2-6-29-34
BB: 30
Powerball
Powerball (12/24) 14-16-30-51-52
Powerball 19
Power Play 2 Estimated jackpot $125 million
Winning tickets N/A
Next jackpot (12/28) N/A
Mega Millions
MEGA (12/23) 3-5-8-18-29
Mega Ball 14
Megaplier 4
Estimated jackpot $173 million
Winning tickets N/A
Next jackpot (12/27) $206 million

Read The Full Story Here

Last to come home, 1st Cavalry gets big welcome

Posted in News | Comments Off
Last to come home, 1st Cavalry gets big welcome

FORT HOOD – Bonnie Rodriguez and her kids huddled with dozens of others as icy rain fell onto Fort Hood’s Cooper Field, awaiting the end of another deployment.

Though just under 200 soldiers with the 1st Cav’s 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion closed out one war as they marched toward cheering families waving American flags, another conflict awaits.

Standing with their children Trey, 4, and Ali, 3, his wife, Claudia Price said she was excited by his arrival but girding herself for his departure to Afghanistan.

Army families often use the Internet to bridge the gap between home front and war zone.

Shaelyn Wimberly’s solution included Skype, e-mail, video and photos.

Amanda Tougas comes from a family that has seen her father, uncle and father-in-law repeatedly deploy, sometimes to war zones, but conceded that she was still a wreck even as her husband wrapped up his second tour in Iraq.

Tricia Joseph is sure of that, too, but talks like the military wives who bade farewell to their husbands a little more than 10 years ago when then-President George W. Bush sent the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade to Kuwait.

Families of the 3rd Brigade troops initially gathered in a tan tent, the kind often used by commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Baldwin’s fear was that of so many others here, seeing a casualty assistance officer at their door.

While rocking her baby, Rodriguez talked as others did this day of worrying for the safety of their husbands, children and friends.

Read The Full Story Here

Santa, reindeer will need ponchos in southeast Texas

Posted in News | Comments Off
Santa, reindeer will need ponchos in southeast Texas

Grab your coat and umbrella, because light rain has begun falling over the northern half of southeast Texas, and the forecast calls for a nearly 100 percent chance of showers this afternoon in the Houston area. The National Weather Service outlook calls for highs Saturday in the lower 50s and northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph. Sunday night’s forecast calls for cloudy conditions with a 40-percent chance of showers and lows around 40.

Read The Full Story Here

Man searches for missing therapy dog

Posted in News | Comments Off
Man searches for missing therapy dog

Eden is training Little Justice to help people who have suffered trauma or illness.

Eden thinks that while en route to the store, Grace, a German shepherd also in the car, may have lowered the power window.

Read The Full Story Here

Winning Numbers 1223

Posted in News | Comments Off
Winning Numbers 1223

Texas
Lotto (12/21) 6-16-25-31-35-54
Estimated jackpot $6 million
Winning tickets None
Next jackpot (12/24) $7 million
Pick 3 day (12/23) 0-8-5 Sum: 13
Pick 3 night (12/23) 0-1-9 Sum: 10 Daily 4 day (12/23) 9-2-6-4 Sum: 21
Daily 4 night(12/23) 3-6-3-9Sum:21
Cash 5 (12/23) 9-18-22-27-36
Two Step (12/22) 2-6-29-34
BB: 30
Powerball
Powerball (12/21) 10-13-15-31-54
Powerball 18
Power Play 5 Estimated jackpot $104 million
Winning tickets None
Next jackpot (12/24) $125 million
Mega Millions
MEGA (12/23)3-5-8-18-29
Mega Ball 14
Megaplier 4
Estimated jackpot NA
Winning tickets NA
Next jackpot (12/23) $173 million

Read The Full Story Here

Is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens Right for You?

Posted in beauty spas | Comments Off

Love cameras? Visit our website at ElectronicsSupermarket.com to read Nikon D3100 reviews and other reviews and information about popular consumer electronics.

In the same way everyone is different in a lot of ways, so are the cameras that they own. Everyone has different preferences concerning their cameras and lenses. While everyone does not need a camera lens, many individuals would like to have a fixed focal length lens. Now let us check one very popular option, the Canon EF 50mm lens.

The Canon EF 50mm lens is compact, affordable and boasts of a fast f/1.8 aperture. Individuals who need a fixed focal length will find this to be a fantastic lens. With a weight of only 4.6 ounces, this EF lens is Canon’s lightest, but it offers a sharp performance simply because of its standard Gauss-type optical design. Because of this, the lens produces images that closely resemble the way the eyes view an object. This lens is a good choice if you take photographs and portraits that need natural depth. You have the capability to photograph subjects very closely as this lens can focus at only 18 inches. Aside from the standard one-year Canon warranty, the camera lens gives excellent balance of colors.

Testimonials have been very good overall with some people feeling it exceeded their expectations while others felt something was wanting. This appears to vary with what the individual expected from the standard zoom lens. Occasionally, the customer expected more after reading through the description of the lens. Generally, when products claim they do more than they can, you should expect customers to be disappointed. Typically, this lens seems to live up to the expectations of the buyers. Many individuals felt that the plastic housing was not acceptable. Due to its fragile structure in comparison to other lenses, you should be careful not to drop it. Consider that, while the glass is adequate, the other components are certainly lacking in strength.

As this camera lens is rather inexpensive as compared to others, it’s worth giving it a try. It may meet your lens requirements and thus could certainly save you some money over buying a costlier lens. In case you are a new photographer, the differences may not even really make a difference to you so you may want to start out with a lesser quality lens and move to another one as you become a more experienced photographer. Just like any other product, you will need to learn how to use this lens and this will be determined by your earlier experience.

While the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens is definitely a good lens, sadly, most of its parts have now been replaced with plastic as opposed to stronger materials. Depending on your skill in photography, this lens may very well be suitable for you, but it also might not do all that you want from a camera lens.

Galleria robbery sends shoppers running for safety

Posted in News | Comments Off
Galleria robbery sends shoppers running for safety

A robbery at a jewelry store in the Galleria sent holiday shoppers scurrying for safety Thursday night.

Read The Full Story Here

Winning lottery numbers for Dec. 22

Posted in News | Comments Off
Winning lottery numbers for Dec. 22

Texas
Lotto (12/21) 6-16-25-31-35-54
Estimated jackpot $6 million
Winning tickets None
Next jackpot (12/24) $7 million
Pick 3 day (12/22) 2-1-4 Sum: 7
Pick 3 night (12/22) 5-6-5 Sum: 16 Daily 4 day (12/22) 3-0-7-7 Sum: 17
Daily 4 night(12/22) 8-5-9-3 Sum:25
Cash 5 (12/22) 1-4-16-22-24
Two Step (12/22) 2-6-29-34
BB: 30
Powerball
Powerball (12/21) 10-13-15-31-54
Powerball 18
Power Play 5 Estimated jackpot $104 million
Winning tickets None
Next jackpot (12/24) $125 million
Mega Millions
MEGA (12/20) 20-24-27-45-51
Mega Ball 31
Megaplier 4
Estimated jackpot $152 million
Winning tickets None
Next jackpot (12/23) $173 million

Read The Full Story Here

Goodfellows steps in after mom with 2 degrees loses job

Posted in News | Comments Off
Goodfellows steps in after mom with 2 degrees loses job

After losing her job in October due to downsizing, Hudson, who holds a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s in business administration, tried applying for jobs everywhere she could imagine but to no avail.

Read The Full Story Here

Feds seize a ton of pot from Houston melon warehouse

Posted in News | Comments Off
Feds seize a ton of pot from Houston melon warehouse

Humberto Reyes, 51, of Houston, and Victor Pena, 30, of Roma, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Houston.

According to federal officials, the men started in June to use big rigs to bring marijuana hidden in pallets of watermelons from McAllen to a Houston warehouse.

On July 28, officials said the agents saw Leonel Pena, Victor Pena and Cisneros unloaded pallets of watermelons from a tractor trailer while Ramirez conducted counter-surveillance in the area around the warehouse.

Read The Full Story Here

Rainy Thursday but dry Christmas Day

Posted in News | Comments Off
Rainy Thursday but dry Christmas Day

Rain showers are likely to soak the Houston region for a few days, but then the area dries out and skies clear Christmas Day.

A pair of upper-level troughs are likely to move through the region, dropping rainfall throughout much of southeast Texas late this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said between about an inch and an inch and half of rain is expected in most spots, though some areas could record more.

Rain returns and clouds build above the area Saturday, when a 50 percent chance of showers is possible as the second upper-level trough moves through the region, forecasters said.

Read The Full Story Here

Recreation calendar: Dec. 22

Posted in News | Comments Off
Recreation calendar: Dec. 22

Recreation calendar:

Fundraising tourney

Need six 16U teams for a fundraising tournament.

Registration for Nations Baseball team for ages 6-14.

Clinics Tuesday and Thursday evenings for ages 7-13 at The Legends Sports Complex.

Instructional training for children.

Tryouts for 12U baseball team.

Leagues and training for boys and girls grades K-8.

Private lessons.

Officials needed for junior high through high school games.

Seeking skilled/experienced 7th-8th grade boys for upcoming camp.

Top Nike coaches and scouts will conduct pro-style training for grades 5-9.

Flag football Wednesday nights for grades K-6.

Tryouts for high school athletes.

Instruction on fundamentals and team play.

Soccer Academy

Eight-game season plus tournament play.

Cardio boxing classes.

Eight-week, 16-session program designed to improve athletic performance.

Workshop for youth sports organizations.

Elite Soccer Clinic

Training for high school boys and girls ages 13-18.

Classes for ages 3 to nationally ranked players are Jan. 2.

Recreation Calendar, P.O. Box 4260, Houston, 77210 or email recreation@chron.com.

Read The Full Story Here

iPhone Insurance

Posted in everyday stuff | Comments Off

Given the fact that the true cost of an iPhone is partially subsidized by the service contract, replacing an iPhone at full cost due to damage or part failure can be quite an expensive proposition. The “real” cost of an iPhone is over $500, and even something as simple as the battery can cost a couple hundred dollars to have replaced. The great news is that insurance can be picked up for just a few dollars a month, making it an inexpensive means of protection in case the worst comes to pass.