Archive for September, 2008

Individuals in Texas whose employment or self-employment was interrupted due to Hurricane Ike can file for disaster relief unemployment assistance from the state.

Applications must be filed by Oct. 15.

Texas counties included in the disaster declaration are Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington.

Applicants must be able to show that they can no longer work or perform services due to physical damage or destruction of their place of employment as a result of the hurricane, or cannot work due to injuries directly related to the disaster.

They must provide their Social Security number, a copy of their most recent federal income tax form or check stub, or other documentation to support they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred.

Applications for disaster-related unemployment assistance may be made online at www.texasworkforce.org. Houston region residents can also call the Texas Workforce Commission local office at 281-983-1100 or toll-free at 800-939-6631 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The commission has voted 7-6 to deny renaming Ross.

That means it will take a vote of 11 members of the council (with Council Member Rasansky abstaining over a conflict of interest) to rename Ross for Cesar Chavez.

A new Texas Lottery scratch off-game will celebrate the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum while giving players a chance to win a limited edition Texas Ranger motorcycle.

The scratch off game’s official debut is being timed to coincide with the opening of the State Fair of Texas tomorrow in Dallas, although stores were to begin selling the tickets Monday.

Lottery officials are offering seven of the 100 limited edition motorcycles made for the Ranger museum by LDT Customs of Vanderpool, Texas. The motorcycles, retailing for $60,000 each, are decorated with the museum logo and features such as “Texas Star” wheels, a cowboy-saddle seat, and “Winchester rifle” clutch and brake levers, according to the press release. The museum received a $1,000 royalty for each bike sold.

Each winner of the limited edition motorcycle will receive a certificate from the museum signed by an active or retired Captain of the Texas Rangers. Their names will be engraved on a plaque at the museum, the release said.

Each $5 ticket buys players two chances to win one of the Texas Ranger Limited Edition motorcycles. Four motorcycles can be won through instant-win scratch-offs. The other three will be awarded through a “second chance” drawing of the game tickets sent in by players, the release said.

The 5.5 million game tickets also offer prizes ranging from $5 to $50,000, according to the Texas Lottery Commission.

As some of our steady readers know, yours truly is very involved with the motorcycle world. I’ve been staying in touch with contacts in Houston regarding the status of the Lone Star Rally and it IS all systems Go!

The City of Galveston wants the rally to take place and come hell or high water, they are looking forward to the 500,000 bikers!

For those of you that have hotel reservations, please know that the phone lines are NOT working on Galveston yet. If you call a hotel, it is being re-routed to their corporate 800# and those staff are thinking it’s all doom and gloom. My contact at the Rally said she was at the Galveston Hilton yesterday and the hotel looked fine. There was some broken glass but that was being replaced while they were there. Keep your hotel reservations - it looks like those are all going to be fine and ready to rock by the time you roll into town.

Here is the official update from LSR:

Dear Friends!
I¹d bet you have been waiting to hear from us! First, let me tell everyone effected that our hearts and prayers are with you and the Lone Star Rally
will not sit idle. We are prepared to help! We too lost our offices and
are working under combat like conditions. We apologize for being difficult to get ahold of.
The good news is that the City has asked us to remain in Galveston and to keep the dates the same. So, The Lone Star Rally will happen in Galveston Oct 30th thru Nov 2! Everything will remain the same only better. We are now officially the Rally to Rebuild! We encourage everyone to come and help rebuild the Galveston economy. Yes, hotels are going to be a little hard to find. Keep watching our website as we will add lodging daily.
LSR will create special logos that can be added to your shirts for a donation to the fund, provide donation centers, a telethon and more, all to help our effected community. Our vendors will serve as trick or treat stations for the kids with candy, etc.
For more details join us at San Jacinto Harley Davidson this week for our second LSR Preview Party. Everyone knows that San Jacinto throws great parties and we could all use one! Plase join us ther this Saturday beginning at 12noon for all of the festivities, parkiing pass sales, Beach boys tickets and much more!
Let¹s show the world how much bikers care and show up in droves to Galveston this year. Jean Lafitte founded Galveston and he will return with his two wheeled pirates to rebuild!
Please watch our website for lodging opportunities. Please be patient with the hotels as they are all trying hard to get back online. Please do not call our offices unless it is absolutely necessary. We are swamped getting re-ready and are operating with limited capacity. Thanks for understanding!
You can help further by emailing this to all of your friends to help us get the word out that all is well and happening!
See you at the Rally!
Ron

If you still don’t have a TollTag — you might want to get one because the savings will add up fast if you the area tollroads.

The North Texas Tollway Authority has announced that it is raising tolls at the Wycliff Avenue gate of the Dallas North Tollway to make them consistent with those at other toll booths.

Beginning Oct. 1, tolls will go up a dime to 70 cents for TollTag customers and a quarter to $1 for other motorists, the authority said today.

The tolls had been lower because of construction between Lemmon Avenue and Interstate 35. Wycliff Avenue sits in the middle of the construction. The construction had limited toll road access to two lanes in each direction. But on Aug. 29, a third lane opened, marking completion of a $50 million renovation project.

The following story is from WFAA.com. Information on how to donate a bike is at the end of this story.

Tucked away in a warehouse in Arlington they gather. While the few dozen used bicycles may not look like much, to 13-year-old Dalton Hatch they symbolize the passion his mother had for the sport.

“It was really tough for me to lose her,” Hatch said of his mother, an avid cyclist who, along with her friend, was killed after police said a drunk driver struck them as they rode on Camp Wisdom Road last June.

After her death, Hatch got the idea to remember his mother by collecting bikes to give out to needy kids.

“It means a lot to me to remember my mom because I didn’t know what to do after she died,” he said.

The program has brought something good from the tragic death of Meredith Hatch, said Sherman Hatch, Dalton’s father.

“This is something positive we can bring from a horrible accident, providing something to children or families that might not otherwise have,” he said.

Family and friends have reached out to help Dalton’s program.

“I think these bikes were donated from families that knew my mom,” he said pointing out some of the bikes.

He has also placed signs at area businesses and schools asking for donations.

“Meredith would be so proud of him for doing this,” said Michelle Johnson, a family friend. “And he’s exactly like she was. She was compassionate, kind, had lots of strength and he takes after her.”

If you would like to donate a bike, the details are as follows:

1st Annual
Meredith’s Run for Bikes
September 27, 2008
Katherine Rose Park
8:00 A.M.

Join Meredith Hatch’s family and friends
as they collect bicycles for children.

Participants can run/walk in memory of Meredith Hatch at the Mansfield Pecan Festival 5K/1K Fun Run

Pick up registration forms at:
Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce
114 N. Main St., Mansfield, TX 76063
or download the forms at www.mansfieldchamber.net

Bike drop dates and times:
September 20, 2008 (Saturday) 10am-2pm at Primrose*
September 26, 2008 (Friday) 5pm-7pm at Primrose
September 27, 2008 (Saturday) 8am-5pm at Mansfield Pecan Festival
October 4, 2008 (Saturday) 10am-2pm at Primrose

If you are unable to bring a bike, cash donations will be accepted at Frost Bank: Meredith Hatch Memorial Fund

*Primrose is located at 2201 Matlock Road, Mansfield, TX 76063

This weekend, get into the swing of things with Addison Oktoberfest.

With more than 60,000 fans of polka, German food and Paulaner Bier will gather in Addison’s spectacular Addison Circle Park for music, folk dancing, sing-alongs, children’s entertainment and more.

This authentic German festival is one of the largest Oktoberfest festivals outside of the famed Munich celebration.

HOURS:
Saturday: Noon – midnight
Sunday: Noon – 6 p.m.
Admission is $5 for ages 4 and up.