City News Roundup

Dallas can see centuries-old comet in the sky and more city news

Dallas, keep an eye out over the next few weeks for C/2022 E3 (ZTF).

Courtesy photo

This roundup of news around Dallas includes the exciting return of a Dallas website and the possibly more exciting return of a centuries-old comet. A top City Hall official is retiring and there's a homeless count coming up.

Here's what happened in Dallas this week:

DCAD's back!
The website for the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD), which appraises property taxes in Dallas County, is back after a months-long outage following a ransomware attack on November 8 that disrupted DCAD's computer system, servers, email, and website. DCAD launched an interim website but nothing beats the original, and it's here just in time for the January 31 deadline for 2022 property taxes.

Comet is in town
A bright green comet is sweeping through the sky with visibility across DFW over the next month. Called C/2022 E3 (ZTF), the comet was discovered in March 2022, and according to NASA, is now visible in the Earth’s northern hemisphere, where it will reach its closest distance to Earth on February 1. It'll possibly be visible to the naked eye, although binoculars or a telescope are obviously optimal, and the best time is early mornings before the sun rises. Livescience.com has good tips for viewing, Space.com has photos, and theskylive.com has live up-to-the-minute updates. Halley’s Comet, the most famous comet, takes about 76 years. This one takes 50,000 years, and it really deserves a catchier name (although astrology buff Bob "AstroBob" King is calling it "Comet ZTF").

Homeless count
Housing Forward, an agency that works with the homeless, is seeking volunteers to help count Dallas' homeless population on January 26. The count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for communities that receive funds. According to the Dallas Observer, this event usually takes place on a single morning or night in January, when cold weather is likely to drive more of the homeless into shelters, making them easier to find and count.

The 2022 count found 4,410 homeless people, compared to 4,570 in 2021. Other stats: 83.2 percent are 24 or older, and Black people are the majority at 54.2 percent (even though they're only 24 percent of the general population). More than half or 65.3 percent are male.

Dallas City Attorney retires
Dallas City Attorney Chris Caso is retiring, according to an email obtained by D Magazine, in which Caso said, “I will be retiring from the City on February 28 to spend more time with my family and to pursue other interests." Caso became interim city attorney in 2018 and was officially appointed to the position in 2020. During that time, he was involved in controversial cases including an effort to close poker rooms and an ordinance that banned sexually oriented businesses from operating from 2-6 am. The retirement announcement comes one week before he was due for an evaluation.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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