109-Year-Old Scofflaw Outed by County

Tim Rogers got to mention this first, but the county website has a search function where you can see those who owe for unpaid tickets.

Fulfilling his journalistic mission to afflict the comfortable, he made a point of searching ZIPs 75205 and 75225. He scanned the list for 75205 and didn’t note any noticeable names. But what about Kristine Ackerman? Is there really a 109-year-old lady on Fairfax who owes $841.10 for parking in a handicap space without displaying a placard? The offense allegedly occurred way back when she was 105.

UPDATE: Though I realize I’m spoiling my own fun here, I searched driver’s license records and found a Kristine Ackerman living at that address on Fairfax was born July 4, 1950. Making her 58. Am I being too optimistic in holding out hope that the younger lady may be Kristine Jr.?

Thanks For Reading, Frontburner

Now where have I heard this Academy Award news before?

UPDATE: And a little birdie just told me that Megan Mylan is the daughter of Irene Mylan, the owner of Clothes Circuit.

Dads, Donuts, and That Sick Stomach Feeling

Hyer Elementary celebrated another successful “Valentine’s Day Breakfast with Dad.”  I could probably go another year now without seeing, much less eating, a donut. 

ESPN Shows Scots Some Love

Over on the ‘ol World Wide Leader of Sports aka ESPN.com, they’re asking fans to vote for the state with the best high school football. Texas and Florida are squaring off right now in the championship round of the “Great State Debate.” It wouldn’t be a stretch to predict a landslide Texas victory. In the video, attached to the short article outlining the fan poll, ESPN features some footage of this year’s record setting/dominating Highland Park Scots football team. When you’re the most successful football program in the country’s best state for high school football it would seem like you’d be under a lot of pressure, but the Scots aren’t playing like it.

Sewers Overflowing in the Park Cities

Today’s Dallas Morning News story about sewer overflows in Highland Park amounts to a one-sentence update: “They’re still working on it” — of the story about the problem that we did, you know, nine months ago, in January.

Nove No More

An Overheardian sent me scoop that N9NE Group’s Nove Italiano restaurant at Victory Park is closed “indefinitely”.  I called the main line several times, but no one answered. I guess their biggest fan celebrity spokesperson, #9 Mike Modano, could not change their fate. It is a shame, because that location is perfect for pre-game or post-game nosh since it is steps from the AAC.

Did anyone partake in one of Nove’s  ”last meals” on Saturday? What did the staff say?  Methinks this is not the last change or closing of a N9NE Group establishment.

DMN is Only 7 Months Behind Us

It’s not Zac Crain’s fault that he thinks he’s reporting news about University Park alley rules today over on Frontburner.

It’s just that Dallas Morning News staff writer Ian McCann has finally caught up to a story we told our readers last February.

Josh Hixson Gets Breaking News and Passes it Along to FrontBurner

People Newspaper’s own Josh Hixson scores scoop for other blogs, see for yourself.

First Lady Spotted At Stephan Pyles

Has anyone seen Laura Bush’s entourage around the Park Cities today?  She made a last minute reservation and dined at Stephan Pyles last night.  I’m wondering if she was back in town for another round of house hunting today.  Usually Candy Evans is first to share this news, but I have not seen anything today.  Overheardians, what is the word on the street?

Sorry, Tim Rogers….

Beat you to it.

Rowlett Upset Over ‘Shill’ Accusation

Preston Hollow resident and longtime local television-news anchor Tracy Rowlett decided this week to share with us his reasons for leaving KTVT (CBS Channel 11) and heading for Shale.TV. The online video channel is sponsored solely by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and is dedicated to covering the Barnett Shale. 

Rowlett said his decision to leave KTVT (CBS Channel 11) stemmed from his frustrations with current television news reporting practices.

“This isn’t really news that we are getting today. It is more of a smattering of less important information that is being presented for a specific age group,” Rowlett said. “That is women, 18 to 49. So we are getting a lot of car wrecks and fires and vanity pieces — that is the latest diet or the latest plastic surgery or whatever. But these are not important items in our community.”

Rowlett was also less than pleased about being called a shill by members of the Dallas media. 

“’He’s sold out, he’s a shill,’” Rowlett said as he parroted his critics from the confines of his Preston Hollow home. “That is the easiest thing in the world to say … It takes a little more brainpower to understand what we are doing.”

You can read more about it here. Once you’ve heard Tracy speak his peace, leave us your thoughts and opinions in the comments section. 

Do you think Tracy and the rest of the Shale.TV staff can provide an unbiased view of drilling in the Barnett Shale? Or is it some elaborate PR campaign aimed at improving Chesapeake Energy’s public image?  

My Cat, Jingles, is a Star

So, here it is, a link to the now-infamous story from last night’s Channel 5 newscast regarding the brutal home invasion suffered by my family at the paws of local raccoon ruffians, with particular emphasis of my cat’s reaction. Between fielding calls as my cat’s agent for national appearances and responding to complaints from the usual assortment of raccoons rights groups, I’ve barely gotten any work done today. The lovely and talented Lindsay Wilcox is the reporter, and the hard-working cameraman is Juan (sorry, I didn’t catch his last name).