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Suspected tornado devastates small Texas school

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:12:07 GMT

A strong storm authorities suspect was a tornado smashed the public school complex in a small town in the rolling hills southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported a tornado about 6 p.m. Monday in Blanket, a town of about 400 residents about 100 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Brown County sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Chandler says the storm caused "massive damage" to the town's public school complex and toppled many utility poles but only minor damage to the surrounding homes and businesses.

Chandler says school was out and no injuries were reported.

Forecasters expect another day of severe weather across North Texas and East Texas Tuesday.

Unstable air could lead to thunderstorms, hail in San Antonio area

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:05:14 GMT

An unstable airmass could lead to severe weather across South Central Texas on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service issued an alert stating the airmass could possibly erupt in severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds by late Thursday afternoon through the evening. The alert stated isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out as well.

KSAT Weather Authority Meteorologist Mike Osterhage says high winds and hail could be the biggest threats, especially to the north and east of the San Antonio viewing area.

The eastern portion of South Central Texas will be affected from late afternoon until the early morning hours Wednesday, according to the NWS.

Tuesday's high across the San Antonio area is expected to be near 94 with with a low around 71.

Manilow's S.A. concert rescheduled

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:40 GMT

Fans who had tickets to Barry Manilow's postponed May 18 concert have a new date for the performance: June 29.

Bronchitis forced the singer to postpone his performance at the AT&T Center Saturday night. Performances in the Dallas area and Houston were also postponed.

Tickets from the original May 18 concert date will be honored at the rescheduled date.

Suspect in 1962 Louisiana slaying arrested in Canyon Lake

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:56 GMT

Comal County deputies arrested William Felix Vail, 73, Friday afternoon at a Canyon Lake post office on an arrest warrant in the 1962 death of his wife Mary Horton Vail on a Louisiana river.

"It's been a long haul and it's just a lot of anger with law enforcement for what they didn't do that they should have done back then," said Mary's brother Will Horton in Louisiana.

Vail originally told authorities that Mary had fallen off their boat and drowned when he made a sharp turn on the Calcasieu river in Louisiana.

"When you fall out the boat, you don't have the bruises and injuries that she had," said Horton.

Mary was found with bruises on her neck and legs, consistent with a struggle, as well as a scarf wrapped around her neck and partly stuffed down her throat.

However, her death was ruled an accident after the Calcasieu Parish district attorney said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute.

Vail moved to Canyon Lake in late 2012 following a newspaper report that uncovered Vail was the last person to see three women alive including a girlfriend in 1973 and a second wife in 1984.

Lt. Mark Reynolds of the Comal County Sheriffs Department said their office was notified in January 2013 that Louisiana authorities were re-opening the 1962 case after a re-examination of Mary's autopsy report changed her death from accidental to murder.

On Friday, Reynolds said his office was notified that a warrant had been secured and undercover deputies arrested Vail in a post office parking lot without incident.

After a deputy admitted he didn't know why they were arresting him, Vail simply said, "I know what it's about."

Vail was extradited back to Louisiana where he will face second degree murder charges.

Mary Vail left behind a 4-month old son, Bill, who died three years ago from cancer.

For a list of recent stories Charles Gonzalez has done, click here.

Harlandale ISD discusses action after trustee's DWI arrest

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:52:31 GMT

The Harlandale ISD school board did not take action at Monday night's meeting following the discussion of possible disciplinary action against board member Anthony Alcoser.

Alcoser was arrested for DWI on April 24 after leaving a Fiesta event. The HISD board president said the issue was put on the agenda for reasons of transparency.

Before the board took up the agenda item, community members spoke out in both support of Alcoser and against him.

Alcoser was given a chance to address the issue himself at Monday's meeting.

He said the allegations against him have nothing to do with Harlandale ISD or the students, and he would not comment further.

For a list of recent stories Myra Arthur has done, click here.

SAISD names new lone superintendent finalist

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:43:01 GMT

After being forced to go back to the drawing board last month, the San Antonio Independent Board of Trustees have gone with a candidate they know: interim superintendent Dr. Sylvester Perez.

Perez was appointed to the position with Dr. Robert Duron resigned in Feb. 2012.

“The Board has been very pleased with Dr. Perez’ performance as interim superintendent and we believe he is the right person to continue leading this District forward and to help us progress to the next level,” said Ed Garza, SAISD board president in a press release.

The district said Perez has served as superintendent in Mathis, Clint, San Marcos and Midland school districts.

They are required by state law to wait 21 days before officially appointing a superintendent.

In April, the first lone finalist for the job, Dr. Manuel Isquierdo, withdrew from consideration after questions were raised about his past, including owing the IRS more than $152,000 dollars in back due taxes and being named in three liens in two different states since 2009.

Newlyweds reunited after overseas deployment

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:35:00 GMT

A local airman returned home from his first tour of duty on Monday, a day after his 1-year wedding anniversary.

Mykhol Gonzalez was greeted by his daughter, Layla, 3, his wife, Melissa, and several of his family members at San Antonio International Airport after a 5-month deployment to Afghanistan.

“It was challenging, but you work through it and you take the advice that others have given you,” said Gonzalez.

The couple said they relied heavily on emails and Skype to keep them connected, and their daughter often asked when her father would return home.

“I didn't think it was going to hit me like this, but when you see little faces like this, it definitely makes it all worth more,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez serves in the Air Force’s Aviation Resource Management Unit.

For a list of recent stories Isis Romero has done, click here.

Boerne store makes lottery history

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:15:00 GMT

The J.W. Hope Citgo store on North Main in Boerne has been busy.

Ever since they sold a winning million dollar Powerball lottery ticket over the weekend, customers like Luis Robles have had regrets.

“I should have bought one, I should have bought one, the story of my life,” said Robles.

Millions of Powerball tickets were sold, but only one ticket matched all six numbers to win the jackpot and it was sold in Florida.

The store in Boerne also made it in the books. Cashier Sharon Fox said, “it’s the very first Powerball ticket won out of Texas. The very first one, so we’ve made lottery history and that’s awesome.”

Robles swears he won’t make the same mistake twice.

Even though he lives in Fredricksburg, he won’t buy lotto tickets anywhere else but in Boerne.

“Oh yeah, definitely, will get the million dollar ticket next time…never know,” said Robles.

For a list of recent stories Mariza Mendoza has done, click here.

Drivers question Transguide traffic signs

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:35 GMT

Since the first Transguide signs went up in 1995, there have been at least 150 more erected -- bringing the total cost to purchase and install them at nearly $12.5 million.

"I thought it was the greatest thing that they could put up there so they could let us know when there's traffic out there and merge left, merge right, whatever," said motorist Jose Garcia.

Despite the benefits of the signs, many drivers have been disappointed over the years -- primarily by a perceived lack of utility.

"As far as traffic alerts, those aren't always up to date," said motorist Daniel Gomez.

"The majority of the signs that I see out there, they're not even on -- even the arrows to let you know to merge and stuff -- none of that is on," Garcia said.

The most common complaint is driving by a blank message board when there's been an accident.

"If they let you know (that) there's an accident, you might try an alternate route," said driver Kyle Claymore

Most people agree using the signs for AMBER Alerts is a good use of the technology, as well as traffic and congestion alerts.

Gomez said he thinks more consideration should be paid to the timing of the messages.

"The 'drink and drive' sign, I guess people think that's very pertinent during the daytime, but I don't think that's very relevant," Gomez said.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, as many as 20 percent of the signs are not working.

However, they refused to share documents about how much money has been spent on repairs.

They also refused to do an interview with the KSAT Defenders, instead sending a statement explaining TxDOT is prioritizing resources and is choosing to put dollars first toward pavement and bridges to preserve public safety.

"It would be nice if they were on all the time, even if it's letting you know that there's good traffic ahead," Claymore said.

For a list of recent stories April Molina has done, click here.

Atascosa County mother angry over charge in daughter's death

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:36:56 GMT

Darlene Ellis says justice for her daughter is not being done after Atascosa District Attorney, Rene Pena, told her Monday that the driver responsible for her daughter's death would face a charge of DWI with a child, not intoxication manslaughter.

Ellis says the news brought back the raw emotions of the Oct. 17, 2010, evening when her daughter, Rhonda, was hit.

"I bent down to be with my daughter because she just kept saying, 'Mom I hurt, I hurt. I want to go home.'"

Pena said the driver will face the lesser charge because of a lack of evidence to support intoxication manslaughter.

The lesser charge comes with the possibility of up to two years in prison or five years probation.

At the scene of the crash, officials said the driver had beer in the car and had been drinking.

Also in the vehicle were two children.

The driver told authorities she swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the road.

"It just doesn't make sense. It still doesn't make sense," said Ellis. "At least examine it again, keep trying until they come up with enough evidence. Like I told him today, evidence enough is my daughter's life."

For a list of recent stories Myra Arthur has done, click here.