Category Archives: *- Features

Police activity, including National Night Out

First responders really learning how to dance, 2019 NNO

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. More photos from previous years at the end of this report.

National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5, 2021, from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Van Alstyne Middle School. It has changed location this year (usually held outside the police and fire stations) because of construction going on for the city’s new park on North Preston, which limits the parking availability for those who attend. Police Chief Tim Barnes said there will be plenty of parking available at the Middle School and that the weather is predicted to be very agreeable for this event to be held outdoors.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, according to the national association’s Website, NATW.com.

Van Alstyne has been active in National Night Out at least since 1996. Van Alstyne’s celebration also helps to let the community meet and know more its paramedics and firefighters. Many of city’s first responders — police, firefighters, and ambulance crews will all be on hand to meet people and with helpful information for everyone.

Barnes said an ambulance helicopter will set down in a safe place during NNO, and, traditionally, that crew (also paramedics) usually let the children get a good look inside it. Also traditionally, many of the city’s businesses, organizations, and churches set up booths and provide giveaways, including food. Sgt. Steve Hayslip said that this year’s NNO will have “plenty of fun, food, games, and entertainment all for free!”

Police reports

Between September 20 and October 3, Van Alstyne police received 496 calls for service; took 10 police reports and 5 offense reports; investigated 5 vehicle crashes, none with major injuries; and made two arrests.

DWI arrest — September 22, about 8 p.m., a caller asked for police help regarding a reckless driver on Gilcrease street. Officers located the described vehicle, Hayslip report, and after getting it stopped found that the driver was intoxicated. They jailed the suspect, an Anna resident, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. He posted bail set at $1,500 in a surety bond and was released the next day.

Warrant arrest — September 24, 2021, officers were sent to 1001 W Van Alstyne Pkwy in reference to a possible wanted person. Hayslip said they found the suspect, a Denison woman, and then found that there was an outstanding warrant charging her with failure to appear in court on a previous case of theft over $1,500, which was originally investigated by Sherman police.

Van Alstyne police took her to Grayson County Jail, where she remains in lieu of bail or bond. Jail records show that this incarceration is her 18th in Grayson County since 2001.

 

Van Alstyne is Autumn Town, too!

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer, Blog style, not reporting style. More photos on link at bottom, and more will be added on future Sunday drives, so please feel free to check back throughout October and November.

Sundays are made for driving around, slowly, and looking at things one misses when moving so fast. Me? I am almost always in fast-mode, though I have slowed down a bit since the last surgery (Pacemaker implant—ironic, huh?!). Just taking care of myself, as about half the town has told me to do. I almost always answer, “Yes, that’s my plan.”

Sunday, tho, was one of those driving-around days. Took my long lens camera with me, and started out to get what I could about the Barton Farms Pumpkin Patch on Old Highway 6, which had its grand opening this weekend. It looks amazing, and I have a date with some great-grands next Sunday to make it out there. From the road, one can see the bounce house and what is, I assume, the retail store. But they advertise so much more to do, for those paying the admission price. Hay rides, games, one day set aside for home-school children to attend.  (See the Van Alstyne Community Calendar here.)

From there, I drove down to Green Acres nursery on Van Alstyne Parkway and only took one photo through the chain link fence. This place is always, no matter the season, always always a pleasure just to visit and see the sights, much less begin getting your fall and Christmas decorations in place. It seems like they had about 5,000 pumpkins, gourds and other living decorations for the season. Maybe an over-exaggeration, but close to it.

Downtown, it was Abby Lane on East Marshall and the Government Center at South Main & Jefferson who have begun adding their autumn touches to downtown.

And from there, just driving around, slowing down when I saw something interesting, and asking permission when there was someone outside to ask. As I do each year in the Facebook “Van Alstyne Is Christmas Town,” I don’t add any addresses, the reader and/or viewer just needs to drive around and see for yourself. Right now, it seems to be in the older parts of town where most of the autumn decorations are already going up. And this is only October 3, so — ‘way to go, V.A.’

If anyone would like his/her autumn/fall photos included here, send. them to me via E-mail at MaryJane@SceneInTown.com.  These are all on Flickr.com, saved as 7″x5″ and anyone is welcome to download and print them out, no charge

Fall in Van Alstyne

 

 

Child Car Seat Safety instruction being offered

AUSTIN – A high-speed vehicle crash involving a improperly-used child car seat can lead to an unthinkable disaster, which is why TxDOT is encouraging parents to schedule a free car seat safety check during its annual “Save Me With a Seat” campaign.

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children in the nation, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of all child car seats are misused. To encourage parents to schedule a free car-seat safety check, the “Save Me With a Seat” campaign is traveling the state to help Texans keep their children safe on the road. “Save Me With a Seat” will coincide with National Child Passenger Safety week which is taking place now through Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

“When child car seats are used correctly, they can help reduce injuries and prevent fatalities when children are involved in a crash,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “We urge parents to schedule a car seat check today to be certain they are safely and correctly using the right car seat for their child.”

The digital truck will set-up at community events and other high-traffic locations to display messaging from the “Save Me With a Seat” campaign on lighted LED screens. The digital truck will also display video content that educates parents and caregivers on car seat safety. The public outreach campaign will be supported by TV and radio ads, billboards, digital media and social media.

TxDOT offers free car seat safety checks year-round. Parents and caregivers can visit SaveMeWithASeat.org and enter their zip code to find the nearest TxDOT Traffic Safety Specialist in their area to set up an appointment or view child car seat safety tips.

As an incentive for parents to visit the website, TxDOT is hosting a free giveaway for a child car seat or booster seat. To enter, the public is invited to visit SaveMeWithASeat.org to fill out the giveaway form. The entry period for the giveaway will run until Sept. 29 with a winner announced on Sept. 30.

In 2020, 78 children younger than 8 years old died in Texas traffic crashes, and 31 of those were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Among children ages 8-12 in 2020, 40 died in traffic crashes, with 16 of them unrestrained at the time of the crash. According to NHTSA, child car seats in passenger vehicles can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.

TxDOT reminds drivers that Texas law requires all children under 8 — unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches — to be in a car seat whenever they ride in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. Children under age 13 should ride in the back seat, properly secured in a seat belt or safety seat.

“Save Me With a Seat” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social-media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting while driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths.

Police activities, Aug. 16-22, 2021

By Mary Jane Farmer for Van Alstyne News

Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip reported on police activates between Monday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 22. He said that they had 228 calls for service, which resulted in nine police reports; seven offense reports; two vehicle wrecks, neither of which resulted in injuries to the drivers or anyone else; and made two arrests.

Sgt. Hayslip also reported on this year’s National Night Out celebration. This year’s event will be held from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Van Alstyne Middle School.

National Night Out is a national program designed to strengthen police-community partnerships. Everyone is invited and there is no charge to attend. The Van Alstyne Police Department has participated by hosting an event since, at least, 1996.

“Because of the construction (on the new park) taking place across the street from the police station, NNO will be held at the middle school,” Hayslip said.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with free food, free games, and free prizes for every age group.

Businesses or organizations wishing to have a booth at NNO, or anyone wishing to make a donation for the event, is asked to contact Sgt. Sweet at the police station, 903-482-5251.

Arrest — About 4 a.m. August 22, officers were dispatched to Lone Star Food Store, 990 W. Van Alstyne Parkway, because of a suspicious circumstance, Hayslip reported. They found the described vehicle in the front tow. The driver side door and two occupants inside were asleep. The driver, they learned, was a Dallas man who had a felony conviction and that he was in possession of a firearm. Thus, police placed the suspect under arrest on a charge of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon by a Felon. At the Grayson County Jail, a magistrate set bail at $10,000, which the suspect met by surety bond and was released later the same day.

Arrest — About 7:30 p.m., police made a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 just south of Farmington Road. The driver, a Richardson man, was determined to be intoxicated. Hayslip reported that they jailed him on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. The suspect posted bail of $1,500 in surety bonds and was released the following day.

Police investigate theft and vehicle crash

By Mary Jane Farmer, from info supplied by Van Alstyne Police Department.

Van Alstyne Police Department answered 225 calls for service between Aug 2 and Aug. 8, 2021, reported Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip. Of those, there were nine incidents are in police reports and four offense reports.

There were also three motor vehicle accidents, two without injuries.

The third, which occurred about 8:15 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 8) involved three vehicles and injured three people. Hayslip said this crash happened on southbound U.S. Hwy. 75 at Van Alstyne Parkway.

Sunday, at about 8:15 pm, police officers and fire department personnel and vehicles were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash on southbound US 75 and Van Alstyne Pkwy. The right lane and shoulder were blocked due to construction. The left lane remained open for travelers moving a reduced speed, including stop and go traffic. That is where the crash occurred.

The first vehicle’s driver involved in the wreck, a Lexus SUV, reported driving at about 20 mph, but having to slow down and even stop at times. The driver of the second vehicle, a Toyota pickup, reported the same. The third vehicle, a Honda CRV, was reported to have been going a high rate of speed. It struck the Toyota, pushing the second vehicle into the first vehicle. The Honda CRV sustained major front-end damage. The driver was trapped inside it. Once the driver was removed from the vehicle, he was flown by ambulance helicopter to a hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Two occupants in the second vehicle were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Thursday, Aug. 3, police were sent to the new Thompson Farms subdivision because of missing supplies. They were informed that someone, unknown to them, had stolen more than 100 sheets of radiant barrier.

“Both Collin County and Grayson County are seeing a rise in construction theft since building materials cost have risen so drastically,” Hayslip said.
“VAPD is asking for the help of the residents. If anyone sees a vehicle or person who appears to be out of place, especially in construction, hours outside of normal work hours, to please contact police immediately to report the suspicious activity.” Van Alstyne PD’s phone number is 903-482-5251