GARLAND (WBAP 24/7 NEWS) – Five hours after an 18-wheeler went out of control and overturned on westbound I-30 in Garland, the freeway was still shut down.

Investigators believe the driver, who was hauling 18,000 pounds of medical equipment from Memphis to Fort Worth, struck the steel guardrail on the right shoulder of I-30 near Zion Road, before losing control.  The tractor-trailer tipped onto its side, blocking the left lane beneath the President George Bush Turnpike ramp.

The truck driver was not hurt and his was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

MORE

ROCKWALL – A simple story about a coyote seen in a Heath neighborhood surprisingly heads the list of the 10 most-viewed news stories on TheRockwallNews.com in 2011.

The “Coyote seen in Heath neighborhood” story was published April 1 and viewed 5,401 times, beating “Local massage parlor discovered on website selling illegal sex services,” which was published July 13 and viewed 3,848 times.

The third and fourth best-read stories were about IN-N-OUT Burger opening in Rockwall, with a combined total of 4,888 views.

Other stories – as expected – regarded crime, tragedies, deaths and other local restaurants.

The top-10 most-viewed story list, with number of views:

Coyote seen in Heath neighborhood – 5,401

Local massage parlor discovered on website selling illegal sex services-3,848

IN-N-OUT Burger to start Rockwall location construction soon – 2,614

Famous IN-N-OUT Burger coming soon to Rockwall – 2,274

Terrell father. Mesquite pastor arrested for alleged sexual assault, found dead in jail – 1,692

Young Rockwall couple, infant son die in traffic accident – 1,450

Royse City teen killed, two injured in truck accident Wed. night – 1,406

New owners re-opening Chandler’s Landing Club as public restaurant in May – 1,211

Royse City man arrested for intoxication manslaughter after vehicle kills elderly man – 1,128

Rockwall’s Blue Canyon restaurant unexpectedly closes down at The Harbor – 1,004

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROWLETT – The eastern extension of the President George Bush Turnpike is complete and its long-awaited opening will be tomorrow afternoon, according to Rowlett Mayor Todd Gottel.

Gottel announced the news on his Facebook page Monday night.

“Well, it’s official!!! Ladies and Gentlemen… Get your Toll Tags ready! I have just received official notice that NTTA will be opening the Eastern Extension of PGBT on Wednesday afternoon! We need to thank all of those that contributed to the development and construction of the game changing project!!!

No notice is yet listed on the North Texas Tollway Authority’s website, other than construction updates and a map showing the turnpike will now extend 9.9 miles further, from State Highway 78 – next to Fire Wheel Mall – to I-30, east of Bass Pro Dr.

No other details are known at this point.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

HEATH – Earlier today TheRockwallNews.com published a story with a link to an article that appeared this morning on real estate blog “Candy’s Dirt,” about a $2 million, 11,000 sq. ft. house for sale in Heath possibly having something to do with why Pillar Sanders recently filed paperwork to divorce former Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame football player Deion Sanders.

At Noon today, a local Heath resident who said she is close friends with Pillar – but asked that her name not be used – called to say that the story is not true and asked that the story be removed. We have done so, pending further investigation.

The local resident admitted that, although she has been helping Sanders to find another home and has led her to several in Heath, at no time was Pillar interested in the four-bedroom, 4.5-bath house previously identified in the Hills of Buffalo Creek.

Whether Pillar Sanders is interested in moving to Heath is not yet known but the local resident said she will notify TheRockwallNews.com if Pillar decides to purchase a home in this area.

By J. J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – For over 25 years Rockwall County Helping Hands has held a Christmas toy drive for children up to age 16 whose parents are not able to provide gifts.

Last year, Helping Hands Toy Drive provided toys for 1,265 children (479 families).

If you’d like to participate this year in the annual program, you’ll need to drop off unwrapped toys valued at $15-30 by Dec. 13 at the 13 locations listed below.

This year Helping Hands hopes to provide at least three toys per child and needs all the toys they can get, according to Executive Director and City Council Member Margo Nielsen.

1. Rockwall Fire Station #1
   305East Boydstun,  Rockwall  75087
2. Rockwall Fire Station #2
   920 Rockwall Pkwy.   Rockwall   75032
3. Rockwall Fire Station#3
   191 E. Quail Run Rd.,  Rockwall   75087
4. Rockwall Fire Station #4
   2915S. Goliad,  Rockwall  75032
5. RockwallCountyLibrary
   1215 Yellowjacket, Rockwall  75087
6. RockwallCity Hall
   385S. Goliad, Rockwall  75087
7. Fate Fire Dept.
   105 E. Main Place, Fate  75132
8. Heath Fire Dept.
   200 Laurence Dr.,  Heath 75032
9. WalmartSupercenter
   782 East Interstate 30, Rockwall  75087
10. Walmart Neighborhood Market
    850 West RuskSt., Rockwall  75087
11. Belk
    1027 East Interstate 30,  Rockwall 75087
12. RockwallCountyHelpingHands
    950 Williams St., Rockwall  75087
13. Centsible (Thrift Store)
    117 E. Main St.,  Royse City 75189

For more information, visit http://rockwallhelpinghands.com/helping-hands-toy-drive.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL – If you eat at Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant at The Harbor tonight from 5-10 pm, 20 percent of your food purchase will be donated to the annual Rockwall County Helping Hands Toy Drive as part of the restaurant’s Community Give Back program.

Just present the restaurant’s Give Back flyer for the event to your server so Rockwall County Helping Hands will benefit, according to Sherry Hamm, the agency’s Director of Assistance and Referral, who will be outside the restaurant with her crew distributing the flyers.

“We really appreciate the generosity of Ruby Tuesday,” said Mrs. Hamm. “Last year we faced some competition for toy and gift card donations for children and teens that might not otherwise have a Christmas from organizations serving areas outside of Rockwall. It is a blessing when businesses such as Ruby Tuesday partner with us to help our community’s young people in need.”

For reservations at Ruby Tuesday call 972-772-3165 or go to rubytuesday.com.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

Infomercial: “Now, you and your dog can enjoy an easy and controlled, comfortable walk.”

But first, Winston will take us on a walk with a normal leash.

“It’s hard to control him,” said Mike Kitkoski of the Rockwall Animal Shelter.

But according to the infomercial, once the harness goes on, we will have control.

MORE

NEW YORK CITY – The liberal political magazine Salon published an article today describing Rockwall County as one of five counties across the US which are flourishing economically thanks largely to government funding but where many residents believe their success has little to do with government.

“In so many ways, we all pay for America’s few economic bright spots,” wrote the authors, Daniel Denvir and John Paul Dewitt, praising the benefits of the federal government funding throughout their story, downplaying entrepreneurialism.

For example, in “Five Places Where The Rich Got Richer,” the article describes Rockwall Co. TX and Fayette Co. GA as “wellsprings of the Tea Party movement”

Rockwall County is described as a conservative refuge which is attractive to local conservative businessmen. They quoted the publisher of TheRockwallNews.com, J.J. Smith, that “every elected official in Rockwall Co. is a Republican.”

The article described Fayette Co. GA as a “hotbed of right-wing politics,” which has protected itself against the economic downturn largely by keeping multifamily housing out, and where City Council meetings open with prayers.

It says federal spending has provided wealthy Loudon Co. VA with an economic buffer throughout the recession, “funding a military-industrial complex on steroids, and a high-tech industry that has helped numerous localities weather the downturn.”

It claims the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act set off the coal, oil and natural gas boom that has lifted Wyoming’s economy into the stratosphere, especially in Campbell Co.

Finally, the story claims so many residents of Rockwall Co. NY (Long Island) have higher incomes because they are connected to Wall Street and New York City by federally-funded bridges, highways, commuter trains and FHA mortgages.

The article begins: “As the Occupy Wall Street movement has zeroed in on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans who dominate politics, the geography of American wealth and poverty displays a slightly more complicated picture.”

“Census Bureau data released today shows how five of America’s wealthiest counties have gotten wealthier while most of the rest of the country endures foreclosures, joblessness and recession.”

“The median income in Rockwall County, east of Dallas, is $78,275, and for the top 20 percent, it has grown 9 percent since 2007.”

To read the entire article and see the slides, see

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/27/five_places_where_the_rich_got_richer/

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

ROCKWALL COUNTY — A small plane crashed early Sunday morning near the Airpark East Airport near the border of Rockwall and Kaufman counties, injuring the pilot.

The single-engine experimental aircraft was piloted by 71-year-old Grady King of Terrell, who was reported to be in good condition after a Careflight medical helicopter transported him to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

The FAA and Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the cause of the crash.

King was also the pilot of another plane that crashed in Terrell two years ago. He was not injured but the plane was badly damaged.

By J.J. Smith

ROCKWALL – Free burgers, soda, beer and a chili-cookoff will once again be featured at the Chandler’s Landing “National Night Out” crime prevention event at the sub-division’s main entrance, Oct. 4, from 6-8 pm.

Residents throughout the City of Rockwall are being asked by Rockwall Police to lock their doors, turn on the outside light and spend an evening outside with their neighbors and police to:

1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
2. Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts
3. Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
4. Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back.

According to Kama Roux, Senior Chandler’s Landing Community Manager, the Rockwall Police Department and members of their Citizens on Patrol and Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will be visiting participating neighborhoods in Rockwall to talk with residents about preventing crime.

Board member David Mallard said residents are encouraged to bring canned food items to the event so Rockwall police officers can collect them for a donation to Rockwall County Helping Hands.

For info, visit www.chandlerslanding.org.