Mission Thanksgiving is Underway

Mission Thanksgiving at Arrow Ford, 4001 S. 1st. Street, continues until 7 PM. 

All the food, clothing and money collected benefit the poor and needy in Abilene through Love and Care Ministries.  Watch our story....

November 19, 2009

City Council tables open meetings issue

ABILENE -- At Thursday's Abilene City Council meeting, members decided to table the issue of whether to join a lawsuit to sue the state that would eliminate consequences for violating the Open Meetings Act. 

Right now, notice of meetings must be posted in advance and consequences range from a $500 fine to six months in jail.  Watch our story....

Reservoir problems discovered

Also during the Thursday meeting, the city learned that they would have to move the dam site for the Cedar Ridge Reservoir because they discovered gypsum on site.  The change would affect 5 or 6 more landowners.     

Second swine flu clinic Friday

ABILENE  --  Another swine flu vaccination clinic is underway today.

The clinic will be held at the Abilene-Taylor County Health District office,  850 N. 6th Street, from 9 AM to 4 PM.  The health department is expanding who can receive the vaccine.  In addition to pregnant women, children from six months to 18 years old will now be eligible for a vaccination.  Caregivers for kids younger than six months will also be eligible. 

Those with chronic medical conditions should call the Health Department at 692-5600 ahead of time to see if they qualify. 

Only 210 people showed up for the vaccine Thursday.  Watch our story....  

Man charged with injuring his child

ABILENE  --  After a nearly 2-month investigation, police have charged an Abilene teen with causing permanent damage to his baby. 

19-year-old Daniel Rodriquez is charged with injury to a child.  In September, his 13-month old boy was flown to a Fort Worth hospital with serious head injuries.  After one month, the baby was released but is expected to suffer permanent damage.  Rodriquez is also charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, in relation to his baby's then 13-year-old mom. 

He's in the Taylor County jail on a 75-thousand dollar bond.

Man facing charges for disclosing private communications

BROWNWOOD  --  A Brown County man has been arrested for releasing information from a closed commissioners meeting. 

Joe Cooksey turned himself in Wednesday for illegally disclosing a tape recording of a closed county commissioners meeting.  You may remember, Cooksey for his accusations against Brownwood public officials.  Cooksey allegedly included a taped portion of a closed commissioners meeting with a petition to remove County Judge Ray West.  He was released on $2,500 bond.

November 18, 2009

Tamiflu in high demand

ABILENE  --  The liquid form of Tamiflu to treat kids take is in high demand...causing some pharmacies around the country to triple the price of the drug. 

One prescription can cost from $50 to $100 without insurance.  McCoy's Pharmacy says competition from different pharmacies is keeping prices down in this area.  Watch our story....  

Remembering the A & M bonfire accident

ABILENE  --  Ten years ago Thursday, the tragic accident at the Texas A & M bonfire took the lives of twelve students.

Whether to bring the bonfire tradition back is a question the university and alumni of A & M struggle to answer.  Watch our story....   

Home construction permits up locally

ABILENE  --  New housing starts were down in the U.S. during the month of October.

Some say that's delaying the economic recovery.  However, in Abilene, new home building seems to be on the upswing.  Watch our story....  

Personalized license plates on sale

ABILENE  --  New specialty license plates go on sale Thursday. 

My Plates is a specialty marketing vendor recently hired by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.  Residents will be able to go online to pick a design, spell a message and place an order.  New plates range from $55 to $195 for a one year plate. 

CLICK HERE to go to the My Plates web site.

November 17, 2009

Investigators probe warehouse fire ruins

ABILENE  --  Fire investigators haven't ruled out any possible cause for Monday night's downtown blaze. 

Tuesday, crews were still on scene putting out hot spots.  The blaze destroyed the West Texas Wholesale Supply Building and everything in it. Watch our story....

Younger candidate tapped for superintendent job

ABILENE  --  Dr. Heath Burns could become the youngest superintendent in Abilene ISD history.  That's according to long time school employees. 

Monday, trustees named Dr. Burns as the finalist for superintendent.  They can't officially hire him until after a state mandated 21 day waiting period.  At age 36, Burns is more than 20 years younger than current Superintendent David Polnick.  Watch our story....

Man facing assault charges from accident

ABILENE  --  A man is charged with intoxicated assault from a July accident that ejected his children from the vehicle. 

Police say 32-year-old Jason Serafine ran a stop sign at Highway 277 and Rebecca Lane.  His pickup collided with an 18-wheeler.  Police say Serafine's three children were in the backseat and were not wearing seatbelts.  A seven year-old and an eight year-old were ejected.  Serafine, his wife, and kids were taken to the hospital with serious head and body injuries.

A blood specimen came back, indicating Serafine was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Early school damage surveyed

EARLY  --  Three Early students have been charged with vandalizing the school.

The vandalism happened sometime between 2 and 4 AM last Saturday morning.  The school and authorities used surveillance video to help identify the suspects.  Watch our story....  

Tourism dollars up in 2008

ABILENE  --  People visiting the Abilene area spent more money in 2008 than they did here in 2007.

The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau says travel and tourism dollars increased by 7.9-percent last year, despite the fact that we hosted fewer visitors.  The numbers mean that the people who did visit stayed longer and spent more.  Travel spending exceeded $1.1-million dollars a day. 

Nanci Liles of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau says tourism creates 3,700 jobs in the Abilene area.

November 16, 2009

Huge fire destroys downtown area warehouse

ABILENE -- Abilene Firefighters fought a major fire Monday in a warehouse at North 4th Street and Plum. 

The fire started just before 5:30 PM at the West Texas Wholesale Supply building. Black smoke billowed into the sky and was visible for miles.  AFD had five engines and two ladder trucks at the fire. The 40,000 square foot building had been contracted for storage use by a local non-profit agency, a local copy machine company, and for storage of personal items. The entire building and its contents are most likely a total loss.  There were no injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Police search for man who may have information about a weekend shooting

ABILENE  --  Police are searching for a "person of interest" in connection with this weekend's deadly shooting.

Saturday night, police were called to the 3700 block of Janice Lane.  That's where they found the body of 17-year-old Henry McGill.  Investigators say during a drug-deal, McGill and two others tried to rob a resident at his home.  When the victim struggled, police say the gun went off, firing a shot into McGill's leg.  He died from his injuries.

Police are now looking for 19-year old Shannon Christian, who they say may have been with McGill Saturday night.

Click Here for more information