Highland Park DPS spokesperson Detective Marty Nevil notified me that Billingsley was spotted soliciting without a permit within the town limits today. Unfortunately, he evaded officers and was spotted catching a bus toward University Park.

If Billingsley knocks on your door, residents are advised to not answer or acknowledge him. Instead, call Highland Park police at 214-521-5000 or University Park Police at 214-363-3000.

On Saturday I stopped by Lone Star Shipping Company, the private postal center in Snider Plaza. These guys have the convenience thing down. You run in, BAM, you’re out.

But on Saturday there was a woman at the counter with about a bajillion things to mail. She handed each unaddressed package to the man at the register and told him where to send each one. She spelled every word several times and repeated the zip code. She checked his work for accuracy and added scotch tape to every square inch of the padded envelopes. Total. Beating.

After about 6 or 7 minutes I abandoned the mission and took the kids to Mustang for a donut. We returned. SHE WAS STILL THERE. There was a man behind her in line doing the huffy eye roll thing. She wasn’t even almost done.

So I took the kids to run one more errand and returned. Still there. Waited. Abandoned.

I returned for the final time to find that she was gone. But she’d been replaced with a lady who had a big pile of stuff to mail. Fine. But when it was more expensive than she’d planned, she had the guy remove particular items, reweigh, and provide new quotes. She did every possible combination. My favorite statement, “Remove the Dr. Peppers and tell me how much how that’ll be. I bet those glass bottles are heavy.”

Official rules of conduct for shipping store patrons in development phase.

CBS (Channel 11) just posted a story about the problem.

HP DPS is suggesting you park in your garage, if possible. If not, park as close to your home as you can to deter would-be theives.

On July 22, 2010 at approximately 4:00am, Highland Park DPS officers came upon individuals attempting to steal the wheels from a parked GMC Yukon in Highland Park west of the Tollway. When officers attempted to stop the individuals, they fled in a vehicle. During the officers’ attempt to catch up to the vehicle they determined that the driver’s high speed, disregard of traffic lights, and reckless nature; the most prudent course of action was to terminate the pursuit.The vehicle was last seen fleeing Highland Park.

These suspects are believed to be associated with previous offenses in HP and other cities across the Metroplex. Evidence was found indicating they might return to Highland Park and try to commit the same crime, possibly stealing the third row seat, as well.

Highland Park DPS is asking everyone who drives an SUV similar to a this one to please park them in your garage or as close to your house as possible.

I’m on it.

The property is owned by Henry S. Renz and Annice B. Renz.  If Google Maps is to be trusted, it shows that the Renzes own the adjoining property.

Here’s the big question: What would the city of University Park do with this triangular parcel?

Don’t know if you heard or if you are on vacation, but last night there was a pretty violent carjacking on Lovers at Cleburne.

Guy ran down Cleburne, jumped on the car of a girl driving through the neighborhood, smashed in the drivers window, dragged her out of the car, drove the car down Lovers, crashed into a yard at Lovers and Airline, and then fled.

Caught five or so houses down on Amherst.

So last night I checked in with University Park Police Department’s Chief Gary Adams and he confirmed the incident.

This occurred yesterday afternoon or early evening on Lovers Lane in Dallas. UP officer captured the suspect. Suspect is believe to have been on drugs. He was immediately turned over to Dallas police who worked the car jacking.

Exterior perspective of the building courtesy of the city of University Park and Good Fulton & Farrell architects

According to a release sent to us from a hardworking University Park community relations officer named Steve Mace, the Plaza at Preston Center and the city of University Park are mere inches away from a letter of agreement that would give the city a permanent space library.

The agreement will call for the city to sell several alleys and city-owned rights of way to the Plaza in exchange for the 15,000-square-foot, second-floor library space. The library’s new home would be located inside a new commercial building inside the plaza. While the space occupied by the library would be owned by the city, the construction and finish-out would be financed by the Plaza.

We broke the news of the talks between the two parties in our May 7 issue. Then mayor James “Blackie” Holmes said the city engaged in talks with the Plaza’s management last fall, and expected a letter of agreement would be developed within the coming months. At that time there wasn’t a move-in date, but Holmes said he hoped the library’s new digs would be ready “sooner rather than later.”

I think the residential parking districts proposed by the city are (fair/unfair) because ____________.

This just in from our unofficial Snider Plaza correspondent and UP Citizen of the Year Max Fuqua: The Dallas County Elections office has certified both petitions submitted by Open Up For UP. This means University Park residents will get the opportunity to make their humble burg booze friendly.

Open Up for UP submitted two petitions, one to allow retail beer and wine sales and another to abolish private club regulations. Elections personnel certified more than 2,900 signatures for the private club petition and 3,000 signatures for the retail petition. Each document needed 2,525 signatures.

“The members of the University Park Merchants Association and supporters of Open Up For UP are pleased with the results of this successful petition drive,” Fuqua said. “During the past two months, the response from UP citizens towards this effort has been overwhelmingly positive and we are looking forward to a positive result at the ballot box this fall.”

Cheers!