DALLAS – No longer will Rockwall area teens 17 and under be able to visit NorthPark Center in Dallas after 6 pm without their parents or guardians because, effective yesterday, the mall now has a new Code of Conduct that disallows it.

Loitering, yelling, screaming and the use of offensive language and gestures will no longer be permitted.

A dress code forbids visible undergarments, clothing that obscures the face and clothing with lewd, obscene, vulgar or offensive language or images. Clothing must “adequately cover the body,” so shoppers wearing tank tops or short shorts that reveal too much may be asked to leave the mall.

All visitors must dress “appropriately for a family-oriented shopping center,” according to NorthPark spokeswoman Kristen Gibbins, who said the center plans to enforce the code and that “100 percent” of its retail tenants support it.

She said the mall’s management believes it’s the first local shopping center to suggest what it says are “common sense rules.” About 75 other malls in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio have already adopted similar codes.

NorthPark says it attracts 26 million shoppers annually and expects to exceed sales of $1 billion for the first time in 2012. That would put it among the top five malls in the U.S., Gibbins said. The Center also claims it is the leading destination spot in Dallas County for visitors living at least 50 miles outside Dallas.

NorthPark security began stopping young people yesterday that they believe are violating the rules. Teens are asked to show an I.D. and, if it appears they are 17 and under without parents or guardians, they are asked to call for an adult to either come join them or take them home, Gibbins said.

Teens can still be dropped off to see a movie after 6 pm but must go straight to the theater and get picked up when it ends.

Teens who work in the center are excluded.

The mall has posted its new rules on its directories and added the information to its brochures. You can read the code by clicking here.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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AUSTIN – A University of Texas student from Rockwall was hit by an Austin city bus yesterday shortly after Noon and miraculously got up and walked away from the accident without any injuries.

Nick Engmann, 18, who graduated with honors last year from Rockwall-Heath High School, was participating in a campus tradition with dozens of other students on both sides of a city street, waving make-believe foam swords at each other to reduce exam stress.

When he charged into the street, a city bus slammed into him, knocking him several feet forward and backwards onto the street. The impact of his head hitting the windshield shattered the glass.

The Capital Metro bus driver of 21 years had run a red light and stopped immediately after the accident. Afterwards the bus driver received a citation from city police.

Nick was taken to a local hospital but was released soon after because he did not suffer any injuries.

He posted a comment on his Facebook page about three hours after he was hit:

“Sorry the event got halted because of me fellow Longhorns! I’ll individually try and make it up to you all . Hook em!!!”

His parents left Rockwall yesterday to be with him after the accident.

TheRockwallNews.com will attempt to contact Nick and his parents next week for an interview.

The video of the whole incident was uploaded on YouTube and has now gone viral.

You can also see the NBC5-TV report  of the incident in the video section of TheRockwallNews.com.

By J.J. Smith

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ROCKWALL – Three local authors, Mary DeMuth, Anne Mateer and Leslie Wilson, will sign books at Bella’s House in Downtown Rockwall, Saturday, May 5, from 2-4 pm. DeMuth will have copies of her latest releases, The Muir House, a novel set partially in Rockwall, and Beautiful Battle. Mateer will have her book, Wings of a Dream, which was released last fall. Wilson will sign copies of A Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts, which debuted in April, just in time for Mother’s Day and baby showers.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – Danny Noah, the Area Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), will be the guest speaker at the sixth annual Rockwall County Mayors Prayer Breakfast May 3 at 8 am.

The public is invited to attend the free event which commemorates the National Day of Prayer.

Local mayors David Sweet (Rockwall), John Ratcliffe (Heath), Bill Broderick (Fate), Jerrell Bayley (Royse City), Gary Moody (McLendon-Chisholm) and Todd W. Gottell (Rowlett) will host the non-denominational, non-political event at The Center at City Place, 108 W. Washington Street adjacent to Rockwall City Hall.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for the event that includes a continental breakfast.

Noah joined the Greater Dallas FCA staff in November of 2005.   He is a graduate of Skyline High School and Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Ministries.  He became involved with FCA while serving as the youth pastor of Kiestwood Assembly of God in Southern Dallas County.  For over 14 years, Danny served as a featured speaker in local huddles and as the athletic chaplain for Kimball High School.

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775 as did Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Congress established National Day of Prayer as an annual event by joint resolution signed by President Truman in 1952. The law was amended and signed by President Reagan to officially designate the first Thursday in May as the official date.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL – Over $70,000 has already been pledged to fight cancer at the 2012 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Rockwall County being held tonight from 7 pm to 6:30 am at Cain Middle School, 6620 Fm 3097 – at the intersection of Horizon Rd and SH549.

The public is invited to join hundreds of area residents to walk and run all night long in memory of cancer victims and donate for research to end cancer.

Volunteers are needed.

RISD School Board member Leigh Plagens has raised the most money for this year’s event at $8,198. Carolyn Keane is second with $2,695 and Dwain Smith $2,579.  Team 5-H leads fundraising teams with $8,383.

Major event sponsors include Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, the Hilton Hotel, Lakeside Party Rentals, Living Magazine, Ag Power, Nestle, Commerce Street Capital, Horizon Car Wash, Farmers Electric Cooperative, Lakeside Chevrolet, Regal Realtors, Chick-fil-A, Service King, Wonka and many more.

For more info, see their website at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41030.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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ROCKWALL - Fate Mayor Bill Broderick and Heath Council Member Julie Zurek showed their support for the “Mayors for Meals Day” March 21 as part of the Rockwall County Committee on Aging’s (RCCOA) “March For Meals” campaign.

This is the 40th anniversary year of the Meals on Wheels program, initiated in 1972 when US President Richard Nixon signed an amendment to the Older American’s Act.

Rockwall County’s Meals on Wheels program provides approximately 160 meals each weekday which are delivered by volunteer drivers.

In 2011 the program provided over 45,000 meals to clients. Meals on Wheels is funded largely by donations from Rockwall County citizens, businesses and restaurants.

To volunteer or sign up, contact the Meals on Wheels office at 972-771-9514 or online at www.rockwallmow.com.

A fundraising golf tournament at Buffalo Creek Golf Club will be held June 8 to support Meals on Wheels. Registration by calling  972-771-9514 or by going online to  www.rockwallmow.com.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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(By Paul Britt, former Rockwall Police officer, current warrant officer in Forney & owner of Britt’s Training Systems) ROCKWALL – The elderly are our greatest treasure. They are what have made this country great after World War II. They stepped up and saved the world. They were hardworking, trusting, giving and self-reliant to an extreme and continue so through today.

The same ideals that have made them great also open them up to fraud, theft and abuse.  An FBI report on elderly fraud, found that senior citizens are targeted more because they have good credit, own their homes and may not know they have been scammed due to issues with their memories. They are trusting, polite and will not say “no,” even when they should.

There are probably a lot more seniors that have had a fraud/theft committed against them then actually reported. The elderly do not really know what to do once they are a victim of fraud. They often do not know to whom to report the fraud to. The elderly are also embarrassed over being defrauded and feel that if they tell, their family will think that they are unable to take care of their own financial decisions. They feel that they should have known better, and that they might be placed into a “home” if they can’t make good decisions.

So what do the crooks do to scam seniors? The criminals go for high pressure scams that force the Senior Citizen to make quick decisions without thinking through the problem or consequences. They often use scare tactics to make their case. This is often seen in the scams that deal with repairs. “You need this roof sealant now, because the rain will get in your house and ruin everything. We are only in the area today!” “Send in your handling fee to get your prize money.” They want the senior to act without thinking about what is wrong with the scenario.

There are several scams that seem to occur year after year with very few changes. The three scams are Repairs, Prize and Sweepstakes and “I need your Help.” Repair scams are usually committed in person as it is a high pressure tactic. The Sweepstakes and “help needed’ are often committed online, but can be committed in person or by phone.

Home Repair scams are top of the list. Since a lot of senior citizens own their homes, they will do anything to protect their investment. They often have money put aside for retirement that they are able to access. Crooks know this and use it to their advantage. Rockwall County had a case of home repair fraud according to Margie VerHagen, Executive Director of Rockwall County Committee on Aging.  A senior citizen in Royse City was told that she needed a sealant on her roof. By the time the scam was reported, she had been defrauded for $65,000. Crooks also use high interest loans to finance repairs as part of their schemes. The loans have such a high interest rate that after a few months, exponentially more is owed in interest than the original cost. It becomes such a large debt that the crooks seek civil suits to take the home and or garnish bank accounts for payment.

How do you avoid losing money in a Repair scam? Do not do business with someone that seeks you out. If you are concerned about the “need” for a repair, seek out a qualified company through the Better Business Bureau. NEVER pay up for any repair up front as that will be the last time you see that person.  Do not be afraid to “hurt” the feelings of the crook. He is there to steal money from you, his feelings are not important. Get your family members involved. You helped your family grow; they want to help you now. Just ask for their opinion. My parents call me and ask my opinion when they think there is something wrong with a “deal.”

Criminals are directing more attention towards the senior citizen with Awards and Sweepstakes scams. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that the people over the age of 70 are becoming more of the target in this type of fraud. One statistic that the FTC reported was that 12,000 senior citizens had filed complaints with the FTC to the tune of $35,000,000 in theft.

How do you recognize this type of scam? The notice often comes in by email, from a free email account. They also require the “winner” to pay some type of fee or percentage to claim their prize. They are also from a company or contest that you do not know and never entered.  They also use high pressure, “save your winnings by acting now,” to make sure the immediacy clouds good judgment.

How do you avoid “Award” fraud? If you did not enter a contest, then you can’t win that contest. You should never have to pay money to a contest to collect winnings. It is best to remember the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” Before you do anything, contact a family member, lawyer or Law Enforcement. They are all there to help you.

The “need help” Scams are those that ask for the senior citizens for their help in some matter. A recent scam states that a “family member” is stuck overseas and they have lost everything and asks for the senior to wire them money to get home. Crooks use the senior’s willingness to trust and be giving to steal money, information and access. This can occur over the internet in “phishing” scams. This is where the senior receives an email that looks to be official asking for personal information to “reset passwords,” help investigate bank fraud or similar stories. What actually occurs is that the crook is given all of the information he needs to clean out bank accounts, open up lines of credit and steal the identity of the senior citizen.

To avoid identity theft, never give your information to someone that you do not know. The bank, IRS, or Police departments will not email you asking for any information. They also will not call you on the phone to solicit information. Do not respond to an email asking for any personal information. If you receive an email that appears to be from your bank, visit the bank or call them. They are usually aware of the fraud and can let you know that it is a fraud. If they call, ask for their name, telephone number, and address and business license numbers. Chances are they will hang up, but if they give that information, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they are a legitimate business. Once again, ask for your family’s advice.

If you have been a victim of a fraud, contact the Rockwall or Royse City Police Departments or Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office. For more information on any issues with senior citizens, please contact the Rockwall County Committee on Aging.

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ROCKWALL – Lake Pointe Church will host an all-church and community food drive at its Rockwall, Mesquite, Garland and Forney campus locations the weekend of April 14-15.

According to an email from a church spokesperson, each campus will send food donations to local food pantries. The goal is to collect enough food to fill four boxed trucks – enough to fully stock local food banks.

One of the largest churches in the Dallas area with five campuses, Lakepointe is celebrating Easter by helping to alleviate suffering by providing food for people in its local communities who do not have enough, plus clean water in other parts of the world where there is none.

For more information, call 469.698.2200 or visit www.lakepointe.org

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ROCKWALL – Rockwall County Helping Hands non-profit assistance agency kicked off its 2012 Annual Campaign April 1 to raise funds to help local families and individuals who are struggling financially to make ends meet.

According to Executive Director Margo Nielsen, there are thousands of families and individuals across Rockwall County who currently need and will need help this year.

She’s asking County residents to give generously now and all year-long so Helping Hands can provide County residents in need with nutritious meals, school supplies, shelter payments and affordable health care.

“Together we change lives for the better and make a positive difference by providing nutritious meals, school supplies, shelter payments and affordable health care, ” she said. “But it’s not a job we can do alone.”

“Your financial donation is needed so our can continue providing help, hope and affordable quality health care to our clients in crisis – many that have crossed that fine line separating self-sufficiency and dependency due to business closings and lay-offs,” she added.

“Money is the fuel that drives our mission to keep families together and in their homes with the lights on and nutritious food on the table in difficult times. So please keep Helping Hands in your annual giving plan and give as generously as you can.”

In 2011, the Agency’s assistance program provided:

4,205 clients with food, shelter payments, utility bills, household goods and/or clothing

24,000+ bags of food from our Food Pantry

250 families with Thanksgiving turkeys and food baskets

1,229 children (about 495 families) with three new toys each plus stocking-stuffers at Christmas

“We add joy to the lives of those in crisis with Christmas gifts for children and Thanksgiving food baskets for families. We all benefit when that happens,” she said.

Helping Hands also served 1,683 new patients and 5,777 returning patients – including 2,348 children – at the Health Center.

“With this service, Helping Hands is doing its part to deal with the health care crisis in America today. We serve people with no insurance coverage, those with high deductibles – and with a sliding scale fee available to those that qualify,” Nielsen explained.

“Please give generously and help us extend the hand of hope to others.”

You can mail a donation to Helping Hands at 950 Williams St. Suite 100 Rockwall TX 75087 or donate online at www.rockwallhelpinghands.com.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

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