Thursday, 5 January 2012

Traffic Travis | Community Briefing: Man Killed In Early Morning Traffic Wreck; Senate Hopefuls To Attend Forum In Round Rock

Travis County

SOUTHEAST Austin

Man dies in early morning wreck

A man died in a traffic wreck in Southeast Austin early Monday.

About 2 a.m., a red Ford sedan was traveling north at a high speed on Pleasant Valley Road near William Cannon when it hit the curb, Austin police said. The driver lost control, went off the road and hit a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the site.

Police have not released the driver's name or age pending the notification of his family.

- Sarah Coppola, American-Statesman staff

KUT host arrested on DWI charge

KUT radio host Laurie Gallardo was arrested early Sunday on a drunken driving charge, according to a police affidavit.

Gallardo, 41, is a prominent figure in the local music scene and hosts the public radio station's Austin Music Minute.

The arrest affidavit states that Gallardo was stopped shortly before 3 a.m. as she was driving the wrong way on East 10th Street, a one-way street, and turned the wrong way onto Brazos Street, which is also one-way. Gallardo told police she had three glasses of wine earlier that night, and she had an open alcoholic beverage in the center console of her car, the affidavit said.

Gallardo registered a 0.159 on a breath test, nearly twice the legal limit, according to the affidavit.

A KUT spokeswoman had no comment.

- American-Statesman staff

BEE CAVE

Police foundation started

Residents and business owners have founded the Bee Cave Police Benevolent Foundation to support public safety workers and their families in times of need.

Bee Cave Police Chief Rusty Pancoast, a nonvoting board member, said he jumped at the chance to contribute to the foundation's start when approached by founder and President Teresa Breuggeman.

Pancoast said he understood the value in supporting the group after seeing the financial impact medical issues had on some officers this year.

Breuggeman also helped create the Lakeway Police Memorial and Benevolent Foundation, which is serving as a model for the new organization.

"They brave danger to protect us, and I think it's important for us to help them when they need it," she said.

- Devin Monk, Lake Travis View

LAKE TRAVIS

Christmas wish: a new library

Lake Travis Community Library director Morgan McMillian is ready for Christmas 2012, which is when she hopes a new library will be finished.

In March, developer Haythem Dawlett donated 1.65 acres in Tuscan Village to the Lake Travis Community Library District for the project.

The library district recently selected Bartlett Cocke General Contractors as the finalist for building the 10,800-square-foot facility after receiving nine proposals in November.

The company and district are negotiating a construction contract that includes a base bid of $2.46 million with a timeline of 245 days to complete the project. The library building committee is working to trim the price by reviewing the features and materials to determine what is absolutely necessary to open the building.

The district's sales tax revenues should cover its long-term costs, but it will need assistance with upfront capital costs, McMillian said.

- Devin Monk, Lake Travis View

Williamson County

ROUND ROCK

Senate hopefuls to attend forum

Four Republican candidates seeking to fill the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison have agreed to participate in a forum Wednesday in Round Rock.

Hosted by the Williamson County Republican Women and Georgetown Area Republican Women, confirmed participants are Tom Leppert, Ted Cruz, Lela Pittenger and Glenn Addison. Event organizers said Dewhurst was unable to attend because Gov. Rick Perry requested Dewhurst's presence in Iowa.

The forum is open to the public. Tickets are $20 and are available by contacting Maria Garza Brown at 512-825-9607 or going to www.williamsoncountyrepublicanwomen.com.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Williamson Conference Center, 1209 Interstate 35 in Round Rock.

- American-Statesman staff

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