Hollywood Park mayor dies on S. Texas ranch

City Hall flags in Hollywood Park in northern Bexar County were at half-staff Tuesday, marking the death of Mayor William “Bill” Bohlke.

Bohlke, who won election this May in his first run for public office, died Monday night on his ranch in South Texas.

Councilwoman Sudie Sartor, who knew Bohlke for about a decade, said most council members were alerted to the news Monday night.

She said it appeared Bohlke was attacked by an animal on his ranch and died before anyone could come to his aid.

“He was just a wonderful man — and there aren't many people I can truly say that about,” Sartor said. “He brought a lot of stability to our council when he came on and he will be greatly missed.”

Sartor said a council meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 8 at which members will discuss who will be appointed to take over. Steve Phillips, mayor pro tem, is acting mayor until then.

“He was absolutely awesome,” Phillips said of Bohlke. “He was gentle, very kind, a sensitive, brilliant, wonderful manager.”

Bohlke, who was in his 60s, served in the Air Force for 20 years before retiring in 1990. He was a B-52 instructor pilot and squadron commander and served in the Vietnam War. He earned 10 air medals and three Distinguished Flying Crosses.

For the next 20 years, Bohlke owned and operated Tara Sanderosa Beefmasters, according to a LinkedIn profile. He also was vice president of a local credit union before becoming mayor.

Sartor said Bohlke and his wife, Tonia, have three grown children, two boys and a girl.

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source: My San Antonio (Casady, 8/28)

Arrest made in fatal seven-vehicle crash on I-35E

DALLAS - Two people were killed and one arrested when a pair of drag racers lost control on a Dallas highway triggering a seven-car pile-up shortly before morning rush hour, according to investigators.

"There are witnesses that say two of the vehicles involved were racing," said Carmen Castro, Dallas County Sheriff's Office.

The chain-reaction crash injured three others on a busy stretch of Interstate 35E shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday south of downtown Dallas. Witnesses reported seeing a green Dodge Charger racing with a blue Chevrolet shortly before the impact.

A red Cadillac sedan burst into flames after colliding with an 18-wheeler, killing two people inside, who have not been identified. Deputies said it appears they were not involved in the racing.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 35E at Illinois Avenue were closed temporarily as authorities investigated the deadly crash.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Department said one person, who was not identified, was arrested for criminal negligence homicide. Authorities said they are also looking into whether alcohol played a role in the crash.

"It's horrible to look at," said Ross Benton, who was passing by and stopped to observe the wreckage. "Endangering other people's lives, it's just disgusting."

Traffic could be seen backed up throughout the morning as part of the interstate was shut down. Some drivers could be seen crossing through grass and going the wrong direction on at least one highway service road in an attempt to get out of the traffic.

The interstate was re-opened around 9:30 a.m.

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Source: WFAA (8/21)

Tips on how to avoid animal attacks

Man's best friend?

Each year, dogs bite 4.5 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The best way to survive a dog attack, according to a Los Angeles-based forensic expert who specializes in dog bites, is to avoid one before it starts. That means being aware of the animal's body language, Ron Berman said.

If you come across a dog, ask yourself: Are the dog's eyes narrowing? Is the hair on its neck standing on end? Is the animal lunging or growling, with its ears pointed upright or its body stiff? If so, don't stare, Berman said. Aggressive dogs may interpret eye contact as a challenge.

"If you're far enough away, you want to do anything you can to separate yourself from the dog," Berman said, whether it's jumping on top of a car or scaling a fence or gradually backing away. "If a dog is sizing you up, turn to your side. The smaller you look the less threatening you become."

If a dog charges, you have to act fast. Berman advises doing the one thing you probably don't want to do: Stand your ground. Running is likely to activate the dog's predatory instinct. If that doesn't work try the following:

• Scream and yell in a deep, shocking voice. Sometimes this is enough to make an aggressive dog think twice. It also alerts others that you're in trouble.
• Grab a nearby object such as a stick or a pole for the dog to bite instead of you. If you have a jacket and can get it off in time, wrap it around your forearm and place it between you and the dog.
• As a last-second resort, go into the fetal position. "It's a matter of protecting your vital parts," Berman said. "In the fetal position, place your hands over your ears and push your face toward your chest." If you're lucky, being still will lower the dog's aggression level.
• If that doesn't work, fight for your life. "I've had people bite the dog back, slam the dog's head against the ground, throw garbage cans, poke the dog in the eye," Berman said. "Do whatever it takes."

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Source: My San Antonio (Holley 7,30)

A personal highway project: Victims' families break ground

DENTON - A dangerous stretch of Highway 380 is getting a much-needed makeover. It's an eight-mile section that runs just west of Denton into Wise County.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday beneath a small tent in front of a gas station next to the two lane road.

It looked insignificant. It was anything but.

Teenage friends Samantha Rogers and Delaney Mancil died in a chain-reaction crash on this stretch of the highway in 2010. The girls were on their way from Alvord to Denton when they were killed. Their parents say too many others have died on the same narrow pavement between Denton and Wise County.

The girls' families launched a fight to make it safer.

"We started writing everyone from the governor on down," said Eva Czerniak, Samantha's mother. "And we went full circle, getting letters back saying there's no money in the budget."

They collected 4,000 signatures and bombarded state, local and federal officials with pleas for help.

Czerniak said they got rejected over and over with the same refrain.

"'Not my job, not my job, not my job,'" Czerniak recalled.

Finally, though, they won. A TxDOT official told them it was democracy in action.

"Way long overdue," said Delaney's mom, Debbie Mancil. "I wish it had been done before the girls went to Denton."

The project will double the lanes for eight miles.

Friends and family members gathered in the heat, crying and wearing purple T-shirts with the girls' names. Trucks and cars roared by a few feet away.

"As long as it maybe helps save someone else's life, that's the main thing," Debbie Mancil said.

"It's a bittersweet day," Eva Czerniak said. "We can't bring our girls back. But we turned tragedy into a positive. Our girls are up there smiling right now."


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Source: WFAA (Douglas, 8/2)