The Bush administration through flunkie holy roller pastor Jim Norwood has suceeded in knocking over another Texas video store. You might remember Norwood as the guy getting national press for photographing license plates in an attempt to intimidate patrons of local adult establishments. Norwood would then create postcards as so-called friendly invites to the owners of those vehicles to stop in his church the next time they were in the neighborhood.

The fact that Norwood was allowed to tap into state vehicle records suggests invasion of privacy issues which, in Bush Country is as casual as wiping your ass. Because Texas, the state that leads all others in executions, also makes vehicle information a matter of public record. Now Norwood has achieved the next stop in his adult stores must go agenda.

KENNEDALE, TX – An adult video store will close in February as part of a settlement of its lawsuit against Kennedale, the city attorney announced at last week’s City Council meeting.

The store, New Video, was among five sexually oriented businesses that filed federal lawsuits in May 2002. They sought to block the city’s newly adopted ordinances aimed at forcing the businesses away from the city’s most visible entrance at Interstate 20 and Business 287.

City Attorney Wayne Olson said the city also agreed to buy a tract of land that New Video had purchased with the intent of relocating away from the intersection.

Olson said the city will buy the property from New Video for about $53,000.

“I’m glad to see positive improvements in that area,” City Councilman John Clark said after the meeting.

The city has had some success in its nearly 30 months of legal wrangling with adult businesses. Fantasy Foxx closed in August, and Show Time Cabaret was allowed to replace its club with a new one next door.

The Log Cabin video store agreed to stop operating as an adult business but has continued to remain open.

The store has added nonsexual merchandise to its shelves in hopes that it would no longer meet the city’s definition of an adult business. Stores whose sexually oriented items comprise at least 35 percent of their inventory are considered adult businesses by the city.

“We don’t think they’ve accomplished that [standard], and we’re writing them tickets on a daily basis,” Olson said of the Log Cabin.

Dreamers Video is still involved in litigation against the city.

Also, the council removed Beverly Hayes as an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission and appointed James Sloan and Harvey Long to replace her and fill a vacant alternate seat. The council cited Hayes’ attendance record and the fact that she already serves on another board. The council recently adopted a policy limiting board members to one board at a time.

The council also removed John Berry from the Economic Development Corp. Berry also serves on another board.

Both council votes for removal resulted in 2-2 ties, with Mayor Jim Norwood casting the tie-breaking votes.