I know it was a while ago that I went on vacation. And here are a couple of happy snaps. (sunset in the TX panhandle, Mom and me after tubing at Keystone, and the trip back down from the tubing area looking over the town of Keystone) I will put some up from Estes Park, soon. Just hope the cd burner at Walgreens isn't broken again. BTW just to toot my own horn, I received a letter of accomadation from work for catching the would be burglar in the act. It was all I could do to keep from grining from ear to ear during briefing when my Sgt. handed me the letter. The letter was a pleasent surprise. I know it's just a letter, but it's the little things that make you feel good.

It was another typical East TX evening. A little humidity, a warm breeze, and me, standing outside of my car working traffic at an intersection where the lights were not working right. (the turn signals were stuck on red. Don't you just hate it when that happens)

So you would think that a police car with its overhead lights, and flashing red lights on the traffic lights would mean something, like stop. But for some people they must think it means to hit the gas. So there I am, watching all these other cars stop and go. Then I here the sound of a car that sounds like it is moving pretty fast. I look over in that direction and, yes, right through the intersection. So naturally I say to myself, "Self lets go investigate Mario Andretti".

I catch up to the vehicle and make a traffic stop. Well, Mario now turns into the Flash. The passenger door opens, out he bails. Great. The chase is on. I get back in my car and start to follow him. By this time he had got a pretty good jump on me. I caught up to him in the wall-mart parking lot. I told him to get on the ground, but for some strange reason he wouldn't do what I asked. The nerve of some people. Now I'm following him on foot, catch him, and put the ol' habeus grabus on him. The next thing you here is click click. "PD, one being detained".

I asked him why he was running. He didn't have a clue. Turns out he had two felony warrants and he had been running since February. "PD, show me one in custody".

The funny thing about this. If they had not run the red light, I never would have had to chase him down. Oh well. I guess it's true what they say. Crooks aren't always the sharpest tool in the shed.

Published Saturday, April 23, 2005. Palestine Herald-Press

Man held in attempted burglary
By PAUL STONE
H-P Associate Editor

A 20-year-old Palestine man was charged with burglary of a building early Thursday morning after police say they caught him in the act of breaking into a local liquor store. Travis Dain McKinney, 20, of Palestine was booked into the Anderson County Jail Thursday for the attempted burglary of Foot's Liquor Store at 523 N. Church St., according to Palestine Police Sgt. Larry Boyer.
The sergeant said Palestine police officer Brian Froiseth was on patrol shortly after 4:45 AM Thursday when he observed a man - later identified as McKinney - in the Foot's parking lot.
"He (Froiseth) was driving by, patrolling the area and observed a guy in the parking lot of Foot's Liquor," Boyer said this morning. "The guy was dressed in all black. When he saw the officer, he started running."
The suspect was apprehended a short distance away in a parking lot near the corner of North Elm and Lacy Streets, according to Boyer.
McKinney apparently used a rock to break out the business' front door, the sergeant indicated.
No items have been reported missing, Boyer said, adding he was uncertain of the estimated damage done to the business.

The bike on the left is what my bike was 30 years ago. My bike is the one on the right. What's cool about that? The "old timer" can still keep up with the new kid on the block. As far as the CO trip pictures go. I used a 35mm. (Yup, I know. I'm dating myself. Does anyone still use 35mm? I need to get a digital camera) So, I need to scan them in and I don't have an available scanner at the moment.

I have been back for a week now. The trip was great! It was nice to get away for a while. Visiited a lot of the local area, got lost in the mountains (on purpose), and had a good time at home. I will put a couple of pictures up as soon as I can get them uploaded.