NE M6B Saturday, November 14, 2009 www.star-telegram.com Preacher Class Discussion Thursdays 7:30 at 632 Hillview Hurst, TX 76054 Churches of Christ (Pre-denominational, Rom. 16:16) SERMON One of the most courageous men of all time was Stephen, the rst Christian martyr. He was of grace and Enemies of Christ opposed him but they not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by which he They seized him and brought him before the high court. When he was allowed to speak, face was like the face of an (Acts If you were being tried for your life before a hostile court, would you defend yourself? Stephen did not. Instead, he accurately preached Old Testament history from Abraham to Moses to the prophets, and concluded: stiff-necked people; you always resist the Holy Spirit and now you have betrayed and murdered the Righteous (Acts When they heard this they were furious and began to stone him.
He prayed as he was dying, do not lay this sin against The Prince of Peace said, did not come to bring peace but a He knew His word would divide even family members and friends. (Mt Isaiah Paper Pulpit GRACE POWER The space for each sermon costs $150. Will you help support the preacher? LONE STAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 3RD ANNUAL NOV. SUNDANCE SQUARE For more information call 817-924-6000 TAKE A PART IN IT. Officials for a company cited by the Texas Railroad Commis- sion for improperly operating a saltwater disposal well near Aledo say they took immediate action to close an open valve but say how long it had been open.
CES Salt Water Disposal of Gainesville was cited this month after a Railroad Com- mission inspection showed an open bradenhead valve. It al- lows an operator to monitor pressure between the surface and production casing of the disposal well and to detect any leaks. Doug Gossett, senior opera- tions manager for the Texas di- vision of Complete Production Services, said the valve was closed as soon as officials learned of the problem. But Gossett would not say how long the valve had been open. know why it was Gossett said.
valve never sees pressure; it never sees salt water. There are two layers of steel and concrete be- tween the valve and the salt Saltwater wells are used to dispose of gas-drilling waste. Besides naturally occurring salt, the water can contain dril- ling chemicals, drilling mud and crude oil. Another inspection will take place during the week of Nov. 23.
The company could lose its compliance certificate if the problem resolved, according to a commission re- port. Minor violation Commission spokeswoman Ramona Nye wrote in an e- mail to the Star-Telegram that an open bradenhead valve is a and would not cause any fluids to escape from the well unless there were a such as a hole in the tubing or other casing. Nye said the commission know how long the valve was open. It was appar- ently left open after a check to monitor pressure. This is second violation in a year.
In October 2008, the Rail- road Commission cited the company for failing to report a communication which could result in a hole in the injection well tubing. The well was shut down until the problem was fixed. A commission inspector found two water spills on the site, one 120 by 50 feet, the other 30 by 8 feet. The waste- water had soaked through the dirt berms surrounding the site. Also found was an 8-by-2- foot spill of hydrocarbon, or oil.
The inspector also found evidence that the well was leaking below ground. Too close to home In May, the Railroad Commis- sion ruled that CES would not face a penalty hearing because it was unaware of pressure problems and the company took steps to bring the well into compliance. Some area residents said they are concerned about the violations at the disposal well, which has operated since 2007. The site is less than a mile from homes, schools and business- es that get their drinking water from wells. Ken Hall, an independent geologist who owns several small oil companies, said it is important to know why the valve was open.
Hall said there should not be pressure on the braden- head, because that puts pres- sure on the pipe in the disposal well that protects the aquifer. bradenhead consists of a valve and a gauge. The gauge ensures there is no pres- sure. Damage occurs when there is pressure. If the valve is open, there is not going to be any pressure.
The ques- tion is, Did the valve open au- tomatically because there was pressure, or was it opened to relieve Kathy Chruscielski, who formed a group to monitor gas drilling in Parker County, said the well should never have been allowed so close to schools and homes. potential conse- quences for people living so close to that well with private water wells are enormous. So far, nothing has ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, 817-390-7696 PARKER COUNTY GAS DRILLING Firm says it quickly closed valve CES Salt Water Disposal say how long the valve was open. By ELIZABETH CAMPBELL Concrete casing Injection tube How the injection well problem happened Source: Texas Railroad Commission Disposal zone Sand or porous rock Wastewater injected into well Protected water Surface STAR-TELEGRAM Injection wells pump drilling waste deep underground at high pressure. The injection tube in the center of the well is surrounded by layers of pipe and cement that are intended to protect groundwater and other geologic features from contamination in the event of a leak.
The bradenhead valve measures the air pressure between the injection tube and the protective layers. A change in pressure can indicate an underground leak. The bradenhead valve on the CES well was open to the atmosphere, so it couldn't measure the interior pressure or detect leaks. The Texas Railroad Commission will reinspect the well the week of Nov. 23.
Bradenhead valve in an injection well Saltwater wells are used to dispose of gas-drilling waste. Be- sides naturally occurring salt, the water can contain drilling chemicals, drilling mud and crude oil. Residents invited to tree-decorating contest RICHLAND HILLS Residents with a knack for adorn- ing Christmas trees are invited to participate in a dec- orating contest Dec. 4 after the tree-lighting cere- mony at 6:15 p.m. The entry fee is a donation of your choice to the Richland Hills Historical Society, which is raising money to improve its welcome center, at 6724 Baker Blvd.
The contest will be held at the welcome center. For information, call Ruth Milner at 817-284-8043 or e-mail diane.barrette@sbcglobal.net. Gordon Dickson Ex deputy gets 15 years in federal prison DALLAS A former Dallas deputy was sen- tenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, the U.S. office said. Standric Choice, 36, pleaded guilty in March to drug and firearm charges.
Choice and two co-defendants conspired to steal cocaine from a dealer by faking the arrest of an informant, prosecutors said. Choice, Terry Kemone Anderson, 29, and Charlie Lee Hill, 31, were arrested in January after being caught in a sting involving an undercover police officer. Staff report Man who robbed CVS Pharmacy sought HALTOM CITY Police are asking for the help in finding the armed robber who held up the CVS Phar- macy at 3220 Denton Highway about 10 p.m. Tuesday. Store employees told police that a man walked into the store and asked to speak with the manager.
When the manager went to the front of the store, the man pointed a handgun at him. The man led the employees to the back of the store where the safe is, took an undisclosed amount of money and ran out. No one was injured. The man is thin, about 5 feet 10 inches, and in his late teens to early 20s. He was wearing all black clothing with a black baseball hat and white tennis shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Haltom City police at 817-222-7000. Staff report Mother of 3 babies who died is freed on bail FORT WORTH Rachel Lynnette New, the woman identified through DNA as the mother of three babies whose remains were found near her home near Rendon, was released from the Tarrant County Jail on Friday on $70,000 bail, a spokesman said. New, 36, was arrested Thursday. She faces three charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Depart- ment spokesman Terry Grisham said authorities will monitor her activities as investigators prepare their case for the Tarrant County district office.
Staff report AREA BRIEFS WACO A woman lied about having breast cancer and spent $10,000 raised at a benefit to have her breasts enlarged, au- thorities said. McLennan County investigator James Pack said in court records obtained by the Waco Tribune-Herald that 24- year-old Trista Joy Lathern shaved her head to look like a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. She was arrest- ed Nov. 4 and is charged with theft by deception. Pack said Lathern, formerly of Robinson, wanted breast im- plants to try to save her seven- month marriage.
Her husband, William Lathern, filed for an annulment the day she was ar- rested. Robinson, near Waco, is about 100 miles south of Fort Worth. officials and Trista attorney im- mediately return phone calls from The Associated Press on Friday. The annulment petition says that William Lathern was unaware his wife have cancer when they married April 18 or when a benefit was held at a in Au- gust. He is seeking custody of their two boys, ages 5 and 3.
Trista co-workers at the Army and Air Force Ex- change Service gave up vaca- tion time to Lathern because they thought she needed the time off while undergoing che- motherapy, said Judd Anstey, an exchange service spokes- man in Dallas. Phyllis Hubbard, spokes- woman for Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Waco, said she hoped the case would make donors more aware. this incident will be a red flag so they will do a little more investigating to see where their money and sup- port are going MCLENNAN COUNTY Fake cancer case results in theft charge The Associated Press LUFKIN A former East Tex- as teacher sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a stu- dent is out of prison after serv- ing four months. A state district judge has granted probation to former Hudson High School teacher Clark Lewing, 25.
The Lufkin Daily News re- ported that the order came at the request of the mother of the girl with whom Lewing had the inappropriate rela- tionship. At a hearing before state District Judge Paul White in Lufkin, the mother testified that her daughter blamed her- self for imprison- ment and that keeping him there was harmful to her men- tal health. The family says it did not initiate prosecu- tion. Lewing must now serve 10 years of probation. EAST TEXAS Teacher who had sex with student free after 4 months The Associated Press Union taking the unemployed to health rally DALLAS A Dallas union group advocating for a health- care overhaul is taking the unemployed to a statewide rally this weekend.
North Texas Jobs with Justice is among groups going by bus and car pool to the State Capitol today from throughout Texas. The group plans to leave Dallas in the morning and return the same night. Jobs with Justice organizer Gene Lantz says healthcare reform is important for all, but particularly for those who have lost jobs. Negotiations are under way now that the House narrowly passed a bill to expand healthcare and control costs. The Associated Press SAVE WITH PRESS PASS! Dial 800-776-STAR for details..
