Spooky Time of Year

My favorite time of year is quite possibly the spookiest time of year!

I love October- it is by far my favorite month! It's finally cold enough that I can start wearing my jackets, sweaters and boots!- but there still enough warm days that I can get away wearing tank tops and flip flops.

But my favorite part of October is the end of the month- HALLOWEEN!!!

For most people Halloween is a "magical" day full of ghost, goblins and witches! But for me- it's the day that my parents met (my mom was a witch complete with green face and fake nose with warts! it's a wonder my dad asked her out!) and it's the day that I was born! That's right- I'm a Halloween baby!

And it might be pretty silly but my favorite thing to do on my birthday is to dress up and go to various Haunted Houses!

I've never been in to buying Halloween costumes, even last year when all the girls at work decided to go dressed in Military outfits, I actually put together camo pants, dog tags and green facepaint vrs. the short skirts and low cut tops of my friends.

My favorite place to get costume ideas is from my favorite old movies. This year I'm going as Tippy Hendron from the movie "The Birds". Now trying to put together a classy suit from the 60's on a budget is hard! But thanks to Ebay and Abilene's multitude of thirft stores I think I finally have something that will "pass" for Tippy's classic green suit.

But the biggest part of the weekend won't be what I'm wearing but where I'm going. I love a good scare and nothing gives me the chills like a great Haunted House! And this year Abilene's got plenty- and I plan on doing each and every single one!

Like the Haunted Hanger, hosted by the Tye and View Volunteer Fire Departments. It's in the giant building (that looks like a hanger) and is basically a large narrow maze...it's completely dark with flashing lights, smoke and music, in the end it's mainly your own imagination that will keep you jumping with freight!

Then there's the Frat's Haunted House at Playfaire Park. This is a Haunted House that I actually worked on while I was in college. With lots of college boys putting it on it's very creepy and full of blood and gore!

Then for a little 3D action check out the haunted house, Fright at the Museum, at Frontier Texas. Which will use technology to make it's haunting- extra spooky!

And this next one is one that I'm really excited about, a Haunted Halloween Midnight Hay Ride! OK- which part of that doesn't sound AMAZING!?!? It's a 30 minute ride, through the country, with ghost coming out of abandoned buildings!

All of these events are going on Friday and Saturday night, from dark to whenever people quit showing up. Prices very from $5 to $10....and all come with this bit of caution...while Halloween is all in the Spirit of fun, if you are too young or if you are responsible for someone young, stay at home or go Halloween Trick or Treating....there are also lots of fun Fall Carnivals that will be open on both nights.

Till next time- Courtnee

Arson in Abilene

For the past month I've been part of the Abilene Fire Department's Citizen's Fire Academy (C.F.A.). Every Thursday night after work I go to class where I've been learning about the history of firefighting, Hazmat situations (hazardous materials), the different equipment used to put out fires, arson and much more.

Over a dozen different people are taking the class, many were invited because it benefits their job to have a better understanding of what fire fighters do, I'm one of those people.

Since I've been in the class I've gone to two house fires. Because of what I've learned in the class I've had a better understanding what was going on and then it's easier for me to communicate what happened in my news stories.

One of the fires I went to, within a couple of minutes of the fire being under control the fire investigator was able to tell me the cause of the fire but at the other fire a couple of days later they were still "investigating" the cause.

A week after the fire, investigators were ready to announce what I had begun to suspect- arson was to blame for the fire.

Last week in C.F.A. we were taught all about arson; the different reasons people commit it, what exactly it is, different punishments for being found responsible, etc.

But as everyone knows seeing something on paper and seeing it in real life are two different things- so today I had Fire Investigator and Inspector Clifton Morrison take me through a house that recently burned because of arson.

It was great getting to put my classroom skills to the test. Inspector Morrison was able to point out the different smoke patterns, referred to as a V patterns, and show me how to tell when an excellerant was used and how to tell where the fire originated.

In a couple weeks I'll have another chance to put my new found skills to test- on Saturday October the 24th those in the class will get to head to the fire fighter training field and put all that we learned to use!

Til next time-Courtnee

Is Abilene Safe?

I've spent my entire life feeling pretty safe and secure. As a teenager whenever a friend or I wanted to do something dangerous we always said "it's Abilene, it's not like anything bad will happen," and usually we were right. (as a side note I should probably point out that- when we did do dangerous or otherwise stupid things; they were NOT illegal)

Now as I get caught up working on different stories I can't help but think how wrong my friends and I were. Sure Abilene is not Dallas or Detroit, but we do have murders, people do get robbed and others that are out being stupid do get injured. But nothing made me doubt the safety of my hometown more than last Friday night.

I got home a little after 11p.m. and as I started to put my key in the door I heard a person yell (something to the sound of "boo"!) I gave a startled yell and dropped my keys, as I reached down to pick them up I started to explain to the person that they had startled me but as I looked up I realized that the guy who was less than 3 feet away wasn't wearing any clothes.

In fact, besides his baseball cap and the t-shirt he was holding over his face, he was completely naked!

He stood there for over a minute making eye contact with me.

Everyone keeps asking why I didn't walk over and kick him or something, but truth be told, I was terrified! I had no idea whether or not he was going to turn violent, so my only thought was getting my front door between him and me.

After I got in and locked the door I called the police.

Since Friday I've become a lot more cautious; if I don't get home till dark I call a friend and make them talk to me until I get inside, I've gotten a new can of mace (my last one got taken away when I forgot to take it out of my purse before a flight) and I'm a lot more aware of my surroundings whenever I'm outside.

The truth is, while I do feel like Abilene is a much safer place to live then almost anywhere else, bad and crazy things can happen anywhere. So it's important for us, to help law enforcement protect us.

Till next time-Courtnee

Even Reporters Get Scared...

I've always considered myself to be pretty adventurous; from a young age I refused to admit that I was afraid of the dark and even though my parents worked long hours, and it meant that I had to be alone, I refused to have a babysitter, choosing instead to stay home alone.

As an adult I've backpacked through Europe (with friends and by myself) and through my job I've ridden in a Russian Aerobatic plane where we nose dived toward Fort Phantom lake and did several ariel loops; and I was also involved in a police chase (from inside the cop car)!

But today even I was a bit scared at my assignment.

TNA Wrestlers arrived in Abilene today as part of their tour and since I'm considered the entertainment reporter (I bet you didn't know Abilene had an entertainment reporter- did you?) I got the chance to interview a couple of them for this week's Abilene Buzz.

The thought of interviewing someone who body slams others for a living was extremely terrifying. To be honest- I don't know much about wrestling, I don't like fighting, so watching other people purposely hurt each other is not my idea of a fun evening, so when I started the interview I started by asking the wrestlers their name...they might not have liked that too much, because then things got scary!

After I explained that I wasn't a fan of other people's pain- one of the wrestlers explained to me that he often roughed up reporters, mainly by throwing them around like rag dolls.

I'm not sure how- but I actually managed to steer the interview away from me being tossed and broken and after the camera quit rolling the guys ended up being really nice, and not quite so scary.

Now- it's time to go find another adventure, hopefully one that involves heights and speed (I really want to do an investigative report on roller coasters, unfortunately, there's not a lot of call for that in Abilene).

Till Next Time-Courtnee

City Streets Flying By

I love my job! I'm always getting to learn new things and try new things.

This past weekend, the 4th of July weekend, was a "no tolerance" time for the Abilene Police Department, meaning anyone that was caught drinking and driving would have to either agree to a breathalyzer test or the police can take you to the health department and get a warrant for your blood.

"No tolerance" weekends during busy holidays are a new thing for the APD, but they've already shown success with the few that we've had this year, so I thought it would be fun to ride along with a patrolmen and record people agreeing to or refusing to take a breathalyzer.

The night started out very slow. Every driver that Officer Adam Becker pulled over wasn't drunk- just a careless driver (or in one case, was spending more time watching the cop in his rear view mirror than the road :) ), then it started raining.

At this point it was 2 in the morning and Officer Becker suggested that we head back to the station since drunks are less likely to be driving in the rain. I had already missed all "4th of July" celebrations that my friends were having and I didn't want to head back with little to show for my night, so I begged to take the 'long way' back to the station.

Officer Becker agreed and a few blocks later noticed a black pick-up driving with his high beams on. (Side note: most drunk drivers are not caught because they are swerving all over the road, they are pulled over for a smaller matter i.e. not using a turn signal, crossing the line, slower reflexes and when the Officer pulls them over, then they are often found to be drunk.)

Officer Becker turned on his lights, and the driver kept going, so Becker turned on his siren, in return- the driver sped up. He stopped at a red light and Becker quickly jumped out of the car, and from behind the shield of his car door, order the driver to turn off his vehicle and step out of the car. The driver rolled up his car window and to took off once the light turned green.

It was probably at this point that it fully hit me, "oh man, we're in a police chase!"

Officer Becker continued to keep the driver in our sights while calling for backup; within minutes a second patrol car was on the scene.

Following the driver my heart beat widely even though we never went above 40mph. Even though I have driven through that neighborhood many times, often driving faster, the slick roads, late hour and drunk driver in front of me added to my fear.

A third patrol car appeared from the other direction, it looked like we had the driver surrounded- but then the driver did the strangest thing yet; he pulled into a driveway, his driveway!

The night ended with Walter Morris being arrest for his 6th DWI, driving with license suspended, illegal drugs and evading arrest.

This was not my first police chase, but it was the first time for me to do a police chase from the police car!

For Walter Morris who spent the rest of the night in lock up, it probably wasn't a great night, but for me- it's one that I'll never forget!

Till next time- Courtnee

A Second Chance

I can remember as a little girl going to the movies at the mall. As we stood in line for tickets I could smell the food coming out of the Chelsea St. Pub, it would make me soooo hungry and as we stood in line with our stomachs growling I would dance to the music coming from the club. I would beg my parents to spend the previews at the Chelsea St. Pub- but of course the answer was no because you had to be 21 to go inside.

As I got older I remember thinking only 8,7,6 more years till I can go inside to hear the music, it had absolutely nothing to do with going in and ordering alcohol, it was all about being able to step through that threshold, because I felt sure, that it would mean I was an adult.

Then with just four years to go Chelsea St. Pub closed when I was a junior in high school.

I turned 21 without the Chelsea St. Pub and while I've crossed many thresholds and listened to lots of bands, but it never really felt the way I thought it would. But now I've got another chance.

The owner of the Zone bought the name Chelsea St. Pub and got the lease to it's old location, so Chelsea St. Pub gets a second chance to make little kids wish they were older and I get a second chance to walk through threshold this weekend and listen to the band play.

Till next time-Courtnee

Summer Theatre

One of the great things about summer is that others have time to get creative (I say others, because this is my first summer not to have some sort of summer vacation- the pains of being a grown up :) ).

Abilene is practically bursting at the seems with talent all over summer plays are starting. Abilene's Community Theatre will soon open with a new show and tonight starts McMurry Theatre's Summer Shows.

The Fantasticks is a musical about, well, what else? A boy, a girl and their struggles to be together. While the scenario is classic, the troubles that come up are unique and handled in a fresh way.

From tonight until the 13th with a dinner being served at 7 and the show starting 8 and next week from the 18th through the 20th.

McMurry will also present a second theatre performance this summer when they do Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

This satirical musical is about a man who "never forget(s), never forgive(s)" and was recently made into a movie staring Johnny Depp.

The curtain will rise on Sweeney Todd July 23-25th, Aug. 1st and Aug. 6-8th.

Tickets for dinner and a show are $18 to $20 and tickets for just the show are ten dollars less.