Wichita Falls Pundit
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Wichita Falls, Texas: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We're home to the World's Littlest Skyscraper, a six-lane Farm to Market Road that doesn't lead to a farmers market, highway loops that don't loop, and a record for the city of five homicides in one day in 1982. Posts are in reverse chronological order.
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06-24-2025 - From the U.S. Federal Trade Commission - The Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $8.1 million to consumers harmed by online child and older adult care gig platform owned by Care. The FTC alleged that Care used deceptive advertising that vastly overstated the number of jobs available on its platform and made unsubstantiated claims about how much job seekers could expect to earn through these jobs. The complaint also alleged that Care used unlawful tactics to prevent consumers—both job posters and job seekers—from canceling their subscriptions.
06-24-2024 - I'm shocked to hear several people trading F-bombs on CB Radio Channel 19 this morning. When this happens, I pick up the mic and remind everyone that there are truck drivers on Channel 19, and they're not used to hearing that language!
06-24-2025 - From my corrections consultant - It was chow time in 11-Building, Pre-Hearing Detention, at the James V. Allred Unit. On the first floor, and offender told an officer that an offender on the second floor didn't get anything to drink. The boss asked the offender how he knew this. The offender said he heard it on the "vent phone". Tune in to the Allred Unit at 153.815 MHz on your scanner.
06-24-2025 - International Space Station over Wichita Falls - Time: Wed June 25, 4:29 AM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 16°, Appears: 15° above NW, Disappears: 10° above N. Listen on 145.800 & 437.800 MHz for possible Amateur (ham) Radio communications.
06-24-2025 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing - National Current Ops / Monitoring – June 23-24, 2025
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No new significant incidents / operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Weather – Central Plains
• Excessive Rain/Flash Flooding – New Mexico, Central Plains to Great Lakes
• Extreme Heat – Ohio Valley to East Coast
Atlantic:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Approval: FMAG – Himalaya Road – AK
• Request: Emergency Declaration – WV
• Request: Major Disaster Declaration – WV
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
06-24-2025 - From my law enforcement consultant: Headline - "Former WFPD officer involved in standoffs sentenced." If you've read the story, you might wonder how he slipped through the pre-employment psych evaluation. Then, an officer turned in a burglary report, observing that the burglar had gone through the victim's "chester drawers." In another incident, a Field Training Officer wrote, in his evaluation of a "recruit" officer, that the officer "missed spelled" quite a few words. The takeaway: The WFPD hires from the human race like any other company. You're never sure exactly what you're going to get. By the way, when I was hired there was no such thing as a pre-employment psych evaluation.
06-24-2025 - About 15 years ago, I found an interesting item on my front door: Joe's Adsheet. I'll use the name Joe because I can't remember the actual name. What I do remember is that someone in the neighborhood was displaying an awesome level of entrepreneurial spirit. The adsheet invited people to submit ads for the next issue. I never saw another copy of the adsheet. Maybe the publisher didn't give it enough time. Or perhaps he distributed many adsheets and got little or no response. I must admit that I was one of the non-responders because I didn't have anything to advertise at the time. Now, I have Wichita Falls Pundit but no neighborhood adsheet.
06-24-2025 - From my corrections consultant: I don't know about these days, but there was a duty position called "Psych Overflow" or something like that. These "overflow" patients were housed in 11-Building. Each officer assigned to "Psych Overflow" had to observe two patients continuously. I had that duty one time, and once was enough. Before my assignment, there used to be stools to allow the officers to sit and observe. As you might expect, an officer fell asleep while sitting, and that was the end of the stools. Standing for six hours watching two people is right up there with watching paint dry and grass grow.
06-24-2025 - 5:00 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 99.0% Kemp: 100% Kickapoo: 100%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 99.6% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (99.5%) to determine drought stage.
06-24-2025 - 5:00 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 11,161 Megawatts.
06-24-2025 - 5:00 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 98. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South southeast wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
06-24-2025 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday. Like many residents, I have a water cut-off valve where the city water supply enters my house. Mine is at the bottom - about a foot deep - of a PVC tube. Yesterday, I removed the lid to turn off my water so I could do a minor plumbing repair. At the bottom, guarding the valve, was a small snake about a foot long. He entered through the single, half-inch hole on the lid. Once in, he was there for life. I gave him freedom. As a kid, I remember finding a full-grown frog in an underground water meter housing. He must have fallen in the "keyhole" as a tiny youngster and lived off insects and other accumulated moisture. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!
06-23-2025 - At 6:30 PM, the "Local Group" (my designation) is on the air on CB Radio Channel 23 with booming signals. Join in or listen in.
06-23-2025 - Do you remember the Nissan Xterra tagline: Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't? I used to work with a guy who bought an Xterra and proceeded to add every option you can think of. He was different.
06-23-2025 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing - National Current Ops / Monitoring – June 22-23, 2025
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No new significant incidents / operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Weather/Excessive Rainfall – The Plains to Upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes
• Extreme Heat – Middle Mississippi Valley to Northeast
• Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• FMAG Approval: Bear Creek – Alaska
• FMAG Approval: Cotton 2 Fire – New Mexico
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
06-23-2025 - From my corrections consultant - Allred Unit, 4-Building, E-Pod. It was chow time, but one offender threatened to jump off 3-Row. The cavalry was on the way to assist in the matter but had no way of knowing that they had passed this offender on his way to chow. He decided he didn't want to leave the world on an empty stomach. No, he was not allowed to assume his position on 3-Row when he returned. He didn't return. Instead, he was taken to 11-Building, Pre-Hearing Detention, possibly a psych cell. Clear the Hall! How he left 4-Building in the first place is still a mystery.
06-23-2025 - 5:00 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 99.3% Kemp: 100% Kickapoo: 100%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 99.7% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (99.65%) to determine drought stage.
06-23-2025 - 5:00 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 10,034 Megawatts.
06-23-2025 - 5:00 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 99. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South southeast wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.< /p>
06-23-2025 - 5:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Monday. There are no local Amateur (ham) Radio activities scehduled for today. I'm listening to the Allred Unit on my scanner radio and I'm reminded of the story Iof the time an inmate janitor (SSI) was busted for fishing disciplinary cases out of the night drop box and selling them back to the inmates named therein. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready.
06-22-2025 - I met Major General George Patton IV, son of the WWII General Patton, on a Field Training Exercise in California in 1976 or 77. I'm unsure exactly when or where, as I participated in several major training exercises at Fort Irwin, Camp Roberts, Camp Parks, and other lovely places. The General's jeep rolled up on my Dismount Point in the middle of the night. I gave the driver the "challenge". The general removed his helmet and said, "Son, you should know me; I'm General Patton. If you're looking for a password, we don't know it!" Due to the "blackout" conditions, I had a "ground guide" escort the general.
06-22-2025 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing - National Current Ops / Monitoring for June 21 – 22, 2025
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No new significant incidents / operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Weather – Southern Plains to the Great Lakes and the Northeast to Mid-Atlantic
• Excessive Rainfall– Southern Plains
• Extreme Heat – Central Plains to the Great Lakes
• Fire Weather– Southwest to Northern Plains
• Tropical Activity
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Atlantic:
• Disturbance 1: Low (10%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• FMAG Approved: Cotton Fire – NM
Event Monitoring:
• No new significant events
07-30-2023 - From my corrections consultant - It was in "7" Chow Hall when a new and attractive nurse walked by. Everyone on the second row ran to the windows to get a better look. The Boss told them if they did not sit down, he would dump their trays since they appeared to be finished with chow. As they returned to their tables, the Boss asked one offender, who looked to be over 70, "And just what were you doing?" The offender replies "I'm not out of the game yet, Boss!" Tune in to Allred operations at 153.815 MHz on your scanner.
06-22-2025 - From my law enforcement consultant - A local TV station interviewed a WFPD officer on the security detail at our first Falls Fest. Remember those? It was fun, games, food, and music in Lucy Park. The officer's most notable observation: "I've never seen so many fat women in all my life." Yes, the powers that be gave him a serious talking-to.
06-22-2025 - 5:00 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 99.7% Kemp: 100% Kickapoo: 100%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 99.9% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (99.85%) to determine drought stage.
06-22-2025 - 5:00 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 11,038 Megawatts.
06-22-2025 - 5:00 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 97. South wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South southeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
06-22-2025 - 5;00 AM - Good Morning! It's Sunday. The Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3 - 2 yesterday. They are still "under 500." he Wichita Amateur Radio Society holds a weekly informal net on Sundays at 8:00 PM on the club's 147.140 MHz repeater. As far as I know, all licensed Amateur (ham) Radio operators are invited to check in. Of course, scanner radio enthusiasts can also tune in. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready, and I'll enjoy it with some Morse code on the Amateur (ham) Radio 40-meter band running in the background.
06-21-2025 - From my corrections consultant - It was 3-Building the Allred Unit. If you didn't know, the Allred Unit is a male, maximum-security prison. This building houses offenders in need of protective custody and includes some very feminine offenders. It was count time and the officer had the occupants of the day room in one of the sections lined up for count. Just as he was about to start, a puddle of water near the stairs caught his attention. Someone in line with a very feminine voice said "Somebody's water broke, Boss!" Tune in to the Allred Unit at 153.815 MHz on your scanner.
06-21-2025 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing - National Current Ops / Monitoring for June 20 – 21, 2025
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No new significant incidents / operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Weather – Great Lakes
• Critical Fire Weather – Southwest, Central Great Basin and the Central Rockies
• Excessive Heat – Central Plains to the Great Lakes
• Tropical Activity
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: Med (60%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• 11 Amendments issued
• FMAG Approved: Conner Fire – NV
Event Monitoring:
• No new significant events
06-21-2025 - 6:45 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 99.6% Kemp: 100% Kickapoo: 100%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 99.8% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (99.80%) to determine drought stage.