Rescue home for needy horses triples in size

ticipants divided into six small working groups to discuss everything from the history and culture surrounding the creek to the natural resources and ecology found along it.

Neighbors put stickers on large maps indicating where they work and play, and gave input on sticky notes about what could be built along the way. One note suggested a place for snapping turtles and aquatic life. “Shade Shade Shade!!!” another note read.

Plans will lay the groundwork for major improvements to the Shoal Creek Trail and the extension of the trail northward past U.S. 183. When complete, the new trail is expected to span more than 10 miles and connect places such as the Northern Walnut Creek Trail, the Domain, the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, the University of Texas and downtown Austin. The conservancy said the project’s cost will be determined during the planning process.

The proposed extended trail will be creekside where possible, Wolaver said, and move to the street where it’s not possible, “such as areas where single-family private property abuts the creek.” Exact routes will be determined through the commu- nity process, which runs through the fall. After that, the conservancy expects to present the communi- ty-driven plans to the City Council for consideration and adoption after Febru- ary 2018.

For Austinite Mia Burton, improvements to the existing Shoal Creek Trail would change her family’s daily life. As a mother of two, she worries about her children biking along Shoal Creek Boulevard, where she lives. Although she’s close enough to bike to a grocery store, she feels it’s too dangerous on the streets.

“It could be a superhigh- way for people without cars,” the smell th When complete, the new trail will span more than 10 miles from Lady Bird Lake to Northern Walnut Creek Trail. Existing Shoal Creek Trail said Burton, 48, who has lived on Shoal Creek Boule- vard for 20 years and plans to stay there for the rest of her life.

According to Austin’s Urban Trails program, the Shoal Creek Trail was identified as a priority trail in the City Council’s 2014 Urban Trails Master Plan, aimed at growing Austin’s expanding urban trail network.

The Shoal Creek Trail “will be a key feeder route for transportation and recreation,” said Janae Ryan, the city’s urban trails program manager, on Wednesday night. protecting heritage trees.

Mayor Steve Adler responded during Tuesday’s workshop that city leaders should evaluate the state’s request in a neutral manner, without taking into account the ongoing tension. And advo- cates of the project, including state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said the Capitol Complex would provide a great value to the city as a civic space for concerts and festivals.

The council discussed the issue during executive session Thursday.

Garza and Pool abstained from the vote to approve the agreement. Council Members Ora Houston and Ann Kitchen opposed it, with Kitchen saying she thought the agreement was rushed and the public should have a chance to weigh in on it. Council Member Ellen Troxclair was absent.

Austin defense attorney Adam Reposa did not appear in court for the second time this week.

Reposa was scheduled to have a mental health hear- ing at 1:30 p.m. in a Travis County courtroom Thursday, but he did not attend. The hearing was scheduled after he did not appear in court on Monday because of a doctor’s appointment

A far East El Paso horse sanctuary has more than tripled in size in the past year, working with the El Paso County sheriff ’s office to rescue abused and abandoned horses.

Horses Unlimited Rescue and Education Center, run by horse behaviorist Victoria Hall, is home to 32 horses that were abandoned, abused or surrendered by their owners. The center has expanded its stalls and added new amenities for the horses.

Hall partners with the sher- iff ’s department to pick up the horses, which often come to the center malnourished, with overgrown hooves and conditions like arthritis.

Horses Unlimited relies on donations and volunteers to keep its doors — or stalls — open. Hall said the center now has about 15 volunteers. It received a dona- tion from Western Refining to help build a large storage shed, but Hall is still seeking more money to help pay for the entire shed.

Others have donated equipment. Hall said a

A judge has denied bond for a 24-year-old Houston man charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a 10-month-old boy killed in his father’s arms as his dad was trying to run from assailants.

Jared Balogun made a brief appearance Thursday before state District Judge Jan Krocker. He was arrested Tuesday for the slaying last week of Messiah Marshall.

Prosecutor Keri Fuller says Balogun and two other men approached 22-year-old Nigel Marshall on June 14 at an apartment complex as he was helping his young son concerning a heart issue, Reposa’s lawyers said.

Reposa’s lawyers were unable to give an exact location for Reposa during Thurs- day’s hearings.

Reposa was found in con- tempt of court for question- donated tractor has been useful in keeping the stalls clean, and was used to help transport a very weak horse.

“It makes things so much easier,” Hall said.

Hall said she’s been able to find new homes for a number of the horses, and the oth- ers still have a caring space to live on the 2.5-acre prop- erty that sits in view of the Hueco Tanks park area. walk while taking out the trash. An argument ensued and gunshots were fired. As the father ran carrying the boy, the child was hit.

The two other men with Balogun are still being sought.

Records show Balogun has a history of arrests.

A medical examiner has identified a body found at a North Texas landfill as that of a 14-year-old girl missing since Monday evening.

The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office iden- tified the body Thursday as that of Kaytlynn Cargill of Bedford. ing the integrity of a Travis County judge in a March drunken driving trial. He was previously held in contempt of court in 2008 – where he spent 10 days in jail – for making masturbating gestures before a judge.

During Thursday’s hear- ing, Reposa was ordered to get a mental health and com- petency evaluation, which is to be scheduled in the next 48 hours. It was also stated by the court that Reposa will pay for the evaluation.

Each horse now has a handwritten, personalized nameplate on their stall — a small rectangle of chalk- board with names like Thor, Picasso, Buddy and Scarlette.

Hall and volunteers also built a pasture for the horses to have space to roam, and added s turdier fenc i ng around the riding arena.

Hall and Horses Unlimited have saved horses that

Arlington police Lt. Chris- topher Cook says the body was discovered Wednesday afternoon by a waste col- lection worker at a northern Arlington landfill. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of her death.

Bedford police say the girl was last seen Monday evening as she walked her dog. Her dog was later found tied to a fence at the nearby dog park. A friend of the girl said she had asked others to watch the dog for a minute, but never returned. A Houston man must serve

The court has recessed until that evaluation is completed. Reposa’s lawyers are to relay the message to him.

Concern for Reposa’s current family law practice was brought up, as Reposa has claimed in court that he is not competent enough to assist his own lawyers, but remains competent enough to advise clients. The issue was not resolved at the hearing Thursday. otherwise might not have made it, said Chris Acosta, an El Paso County sheriff ’s office spokeswoman.

“She’s been very helpful with the horses we’ve come across that are either lost or left out to die,” Acosta said. “When people can’t afford to feed them, they just leave them out in the desert.”

Hall, who has a bachelor’s degree in equine science from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, said it can be hard to see the horses arrive in such horrible conditions.

She recently picked up five horses from an animal abuse case in Clint. The horses were found in stalls with other dead horses, which were being eaten by dogs.

“They were treated so badly,” Hall said. “One took so long to fatten up because I think he was depressed about the dead horses in his stall.”

Hall hopes she can receive more donations and community participation to keep the center up and running. She said she enjoys seeing the progress the horses make.

“It’s so cool to see them grow,” Hall said. “It’s like being a teacher.” 99 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in an attack he recorded with his cellphone and the video was used against him at trial.

Prosecutors say a Harris County jury on Wednesday convicted 30-year-old Darias Lacour of aggravated sexual assault in the 2015 parking lot attack. A judge then sentenced Lacour to 99 years behind bars.

Investigators say a Houston police officer saved the woman after walking up to a car parked in an abandoned lot.

Prosecutors used the cellphone video as evidence to help convict Lacour. The victim also testified against him.