They’re raiments an Aztec priest would envy, a bit faded with age but still arresting in their brilliance.MOne suit is blood red; with black patterns that race up and down its sleeves, it almost seems to breathe as country music legend Hank Thompson drapes it across the barstool in his…
When Aurelio Castillo was elected constable, it was like dressing a little kid in a grown man’s uniform. At 34, Castillo was energetic, proud, and completely unqualified for the post granted him by the voters of Precinct 6. As elected officials with full law-enforcement powers, constables answer to virtually no…
With the myriad species of thug life that hung out there, the fast food shop at the corner of Commerce and Griffin streets developed a nickname all its own: CrackDonald’s. This very urban Mickey D’s was Exhibit A in the average person’s case against ever setting foot in downtown again–ground…
Free the weasel Hey, the Dallas Observer really called that Paul Fielding thing right, huh? If you’ll remember, and we’re sure you do, columnist Laura Miller, in a lengthy investigation into former councilman Paul’s business dealings, found him to be unethical and basically a weasel, but innocent of any real…
Cheers for Larry Now that you have printed Holly Mullen’s article [“Feeling the burn,” April 3], allow me to tell you about the real Larry North. She interviewed him for a few hours. I have known him for 15 years. In July of 1995, I was struck by a devastating…
Yvonne Gonzalez’s eyes were brimming with tears. To the small group assembled at her office conference table, it was clear that she was moved; it was clear she was sharing a lot of pain. Which, considering Gonzalez’s typically tough-as-nails reputation as the newly appointed superintendent of the eighth largest school…
Dukes of de Kooning In the eternal grudge match between Dallas and every other city in the ‘Plex, the little guys came out swinging this spring with a one-two punch that sent Big D sprawling. Wham! Tarrant County’s magnificent Texas Motor Speedway opened in all its NASCAR glory. And, bam!,…
Just as the sun was setting, about 20 members of the Mill Creek Homeowners Association gathered two weeks ago in Laura Carr’s merlot-colored living room, which was aglow from the subtle flickers of three white candles on the dining room table. Three Dallas city council hopefuls had come to Swiss…
Betty in charge I read with absolute delight the aptly entitled article “Betty’s in charge” [March 27]. Frankly, I got a kick out of “hearing” Betty again. You see, I was once one of her trusted mid-level managers until I ran afoul of Betty and found myself on the outside…
Katherine Andrews wasn’t certain what she heard or what it meant. At the front of the Denton courtroom where Andrews had spent the previous three weeks, the judge pronounced the verdict in legal code: “Question No. 1 is answered ‘Yes.’ Question No. 3 is answered ‘Yes.’ Question No 4…” Andrews…
Dallas businessman William Oates–“Sonny,” as he is known to friends and associates–says he is gravely concerned about all the old paperwork crumbling and decaying in county courthouses across Texas. Binders full of old deeds, land records, tax liens, and other documents faithfully recording the important business transactions of Texas citizens…
Three Dallas Observer staff writers have been honored by the Texas State Teachers Association for excellence in education reporting, and a fourth writer has been named as a finalist for one of the most prestigious national awards given to young reporters. Rose Farley, 28, who joined the Observer staff last…
On Wednesday, April 16, shortly after the Dallas City Council begins its weekly meeting, Mayor Ron Kirk will smile for the cameras and accept a Tree City, USA award honoring Dallas’ efforts on behalf of tree preservation. Sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the award consists of a plaque,…
News over-revs What’s better than the World Series, the United Nations, and Club Med rolled into one? A race day at Texas Motor Speedway, of course. Buzz learned that by taking a trip through the rose-colored looking glass of The Dallas Morning News. The first races at the track north…
One for Larry Holly Mullen is right that in the past Larry North has trusted people to the point of naivete [“Feeling the burn,” April 3]. He is also one of the most honest and genuinely nice people I have ever known. I met Larry seven years ago when our…
For 50 years, he had counted on silence–and fear, and the distance that separated people who possessed pieces of the truth. The Rev. Harvey Wesley Cutting had built his life around deceptions. But he was adept at pretending, and put on the constructs of his imagination like a cowl. To…
Until last summer, thousands of current and former employees of the City of Dallas had no reason to suspect that their retirement nest eggs might be in jeopardy. Since city employees don’t participate in Social Security, they were spared the widespread discomfort afflicting workers who contribute to the federal system…
After receiving a court order for child support in 1990, Lena Williams was counting on the money her ex-boyfriend, Johnnie Neal, had been told to pay. Though it was only $210 a month, the money would have been helpful, especially three years ago when her son Jason needed surgery to…
Bopp ’til you drop Recently a reader called Buzz to task for speaking negatively of trailer-park folks. It seems that a comment linking radio shrink Dr. Laura Schlessinger to “sycophantic fans in trailer parks” rubbed Bill Parrish the wrong way. “OK, I don’t know what sycophantic means, but I know…
Go Fish The parents in Dallas are blaming the Dallas Independent School District for gang participation and the dropout rate, but they don’t support discipline [“Sultan of swat,” March 13]. What do they want for nothing? Robbie Lee Via Internet No Fish I applaud the child’s father for reporting Russell…
Larry North, self-made poster boy for the Dallas health and fitness scene, sits in the sixth-floor conference room of an Oak Lawn law office. Tiny beads of perspiration form on his upper lip. With finely manicured nails he mercilessly picks at a white ballpoint pen until its top is splintered…
Culbreath talks trash Betty Culbreath is renowned for her profane tirades. Dallas Observer staff writer Rose Farley captured these verbatim excerpts of some choice Culbreath rants: Culbreath on the reorganization of the department: “I’m not going to keep on talking about this when this is February and this reorganization took…
