By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Some of Nolan Ryan's best moments occurred in a Texas Rangers uniform: turning the struggling franchise around after he was brought in as a free agent in 1988, his 5,000th strikeout and his 300th victory.
Another biggie happened early today to Ryan -- 17 years after retiring and two years after he became team president.
The Hall of Fame pitcher's best moment yet may have been in a federal courthouse in Fort Worth -- where he won the team in a contentious and unusual auction spanning 10 hours.
Ryan and sports attorney Chuck Greenberg won the team with a $593 million bid, including $385 million in cash, surviving the fierce bidding war with a group led by billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Houston businessman Jim Crane.
The bidding included tense exchanges and even yelling between the attorneys before Crane, during a break after midnight, shook Ryan's hand in the corridor and said his group was dropping out.
The auction had been the talk of the team in Seattle, where the Rangers last night beat the Mariners 11-6.
The players learned of the auction's outcome about 15 minutes after the game, and a clubhouse shout of "We have an owner!" drowned out another yell of "Aw, sweet!" from across the room.
Just hours after the marathon auction, a hearing began to go over the team's bankruptcy plan. If a judge signs off as expected, it will clear the way for Major League Baseball to formally approve the group led by Hall of Fame pitcher and Rangers president Nolan Ryan as the new owner next week.
Top creditors who had stalled the sale say they no longer oppose the plan because the auction resulted in a higher price for the Rangers. And the court-appointed restructuring officer is backing the plan after earlier objections.
Cuban and Houston businessman Jim Crane's bid was valued at $581 million, discounted some $17 million because of deductions and a breakup fee of $10 million to $13 million that would have gone to Greenberg-Ryan had they lost.
Weatherford water service improving
Water service is running at 60 percent capacity in Weatherford after a busted pipline interrupted the flow.
Officials said Thursday that with the improved services, restrictions have been lowered. Residents of the city of nearly 28,000, located 25 miles west of Fort Worth, can fill their pools and water their lawns on designated days, but they still have to boil their water for drinking.
Utility authorities continue working toward a permanent solution to the broken pipeline, which was discovered early Monday.
Weatherford has spent over $70,000 distributing more than 500,000 bottles of water to residents over the past few days.
Man accused of 2 Wichita Falls robberies, same day
Once allegedly was not enough for a man accused of trying to hold up the same Wichita Falls convenience store twice in one day. Police early Thursday arrested 41-year-old Rickey Eugene Morris Jr. on two counts of aggravated robbery.
A police statement said a warrant was issued for Morris after the first robbery around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Morris was caught after the same location was robbed shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday.
A description of his vehicle led officers to Morris, who was arrested without incident. Nobody was hurt in either robbery.
Police did not immediately provide information Thursday on how Morris was identified as a suspect following the first robbery, or whether he has an attorney.
Texas sales tax holiday Aug. 20-22
The Texas sales tax holiday is Aug. 20-22 as shoppers prepare to head for stores the weekend before most public schools resume classes.
The Texas comptroller's office says the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.
The agency says backpacks under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt.
The 2009 Legislature expanded the list of items qualifying for tax exemption during the three-day weekend. Texas families get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.