Friday, March 29, 2024 Mar 29, 2024
71° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement
Publications

ANSWER PAGE

By D Magazine |

Q. Recently, I received several obscene phone calls. When I called the police and asked them to trace the calls, they told me they couldn’t unless the calls are life threatening. What’s the problem? W.S., Dallas.

A. Rather than calling the police, you should have contacted Southwestern Bell Telephone. Recently, the Texas harassment law was declared unconstitutional, so in order for the police to have the phone company trace a call, charges must have been made against the caller. Harassment was the charge most often used for obscene calls; now that the police cannot use this charge, they can no longer authorize most traces. But the phone company can trace a call – if you’re patient. When the phone company receives a complaint about an obscene call, Bell officials first suggest changing your number. If you don’t want to change your phone number and the calls persist, you must sign a form authorizing a trace. Once three obscene calls have been traced to the same number, the phone company will send a letter informing the caller that the call has been traced and that Bell Telephone has the right to disconnect a phone being used for that purpose. If that doesn’t work, a Bell representative will personally contact the caller; and if that is unsuccessful, the phone will be disconnected. According to Joe McNamara, district staff manager for Bell Telephone, this step has never been taken in Dallas. If you don’t choose to go through the motions, there are two simple and often successful solutions. Either hang up without saying anything or try the more direct approach: blow a shrill whistle into the receiver.

Q. Is there any place in the Dallas area that specializes in back treatment? I’ve had back troubles all my life and don’t know where to turn. W.L., Mesquite.

A. As far as we can tell, a facility in Piano called the North Texas Back Institute is the only facility in the state devoted solely to spinal care and back pain treatment. The institute was started by two orthopedic surgeons and is now staffed by a family practitioner, two clinical psychologists and physical and occupational therapists. The doctors take a holistic approach in treating their patients, saying that some back problems are the result of tensions.

Q. I heard that Rocco’s Oyster Bar and Rocco’s Italian Restaurant are owned by the same company. Is this true? J.T., Garland.

A. No. Rocco’s Oyster Bar on Cedar Springs is the latest venture of 8.0 Bar Inc., which is owned by Shannon Wynne. Rocco’s was opened July 10, 1982. Rocco’s Italian Restaurant, which is owned by Pasquale Capez-zuto, has two locations -one in Denton, the other in Garland.

Q. My husband and I went out of town several weeks ago and left our car at D/FW airport for three days. As we were leaving the airport, we told the toll collector that we had lost our ticket and had parked our car at the airport only one day. He made a quick phone call, and within minutes he knew exactly how long our car had been there. I was not only embarrassed but also surprised. How do they know how long a vehicle has been on the lot? D.W., Irving.

A. Every night, airport employees go through each D/FW parking lot and record the license plate numbers of every parked car. Late last year the system was computerized, so a master list is readily available to airport parking officials. Even if a person stayed at the airport only a few hours but lost his ticket, he would be charged for an entire day. Those who find their missing tickets after they leave the airport may mail the ticket back to the airport and receive a refund for the difference, minus $2 for “administrative charges.”

Q. While a friend and I were standing at the corner of Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs, I noticed a tree atop a new building under construction. My friend said he’d noticed the same thing at other construction sites. Is there a reason for the trees atop the uncompleted buildings? P.S., Dallas.

A. When you see a tree atop an uncompleted building, more than likely it was placed there as a good luck symbol, in hopes that the finished structure will be profitable. Usually, the tree is an evergreen; the builder leaves it towering above the construction until it dies.

Related Articles

Image
Arts & Entertainment

Here’s Who Is Coming to Dallas This Weekend: March 28-31

It's going to be a gorgeous weekend. Pencil in some live music in between those egg hunts and brunches.
Image
Arts & Entertainment

Arlington Museum of Art Debuts Two Must-See Nature-Inspired Additions

The chill of the Arctic Circle and a futuristic digital archive mark the grand opening of the Arlington Museum of Art’s new location.
By Brett Grega
Image
Arts & Entertainment

An Award-Winning SXSW Short Gave a Dallas Filmmaker an Outlet for Her Grief

Sara Nimeh balances humor and poignancy in a coming-of-age drama inspired by her childhood memories.
By Todd Jorgenson
Advertisement