Show Breaking News BarCloseKSAT Investigates Dillon Collier Joshua Saunders WINDCREST Windcrest Councilman Greg Turner stood before the city’s ethics commission and said he did not have a personal or professional relationship with Corey Jones the owner of a nearby boarding facility that had recently housed the city’s stray cats and dogs for nearly a year while at times being grilled by commission members eventually conceded that he had taken his son’s French bulldogs a handful of times to be groomed at Jones’ Texas Canine Boarding & Pet Services No family members have any relationships with them It’s just a turnkey operation from my perspective,” Turner said Just days after Turner’s appearance before the commission Jones received final payments from the city of over $62,000 for providing boarding services Jones was paid $195,886.82 from late August 2023 to mid-July of last year to care for the animals Hard-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates team delivered straight to your inbox During an appearance before the ethics commission for a separate hearing the following month an animated Jones also downplayed having any sort of relationship with Turner I met Greg Turner two times in my life,” Jones told the commission But records obtained by KSAT Investigates challenge the accuracy of both men’s statements Jones filed sworn ethics complaints against two Windcrest residents he accused of damaging his business and blocking his operation from landing a formal contract to care for the city’s strays I got a complaint about dogs being doubled up in a cage and they’re walking around urine and feces,” an exasperated Jones told the commission referring to residents Pamela Dodson and Rainbeau Presti had gone into his facility and used what they saw to smear his business Dodson denied the accusations during her appearance before the ethics commission “That is an inaccurate characterization of the chain of events I have never made comments on social media regarding his facility at all,” said Presti during a recent interview with KSAT Presti said something stood out to her: Jones’ handwriting on the first page had changed in the supporting evidence section at the end Presti said the handwriting at the end of the complaint looked strikingly similar to Turner’s whose penmanship Presti recognized from her previous council campaign against him last fall Presti then took the unusual step of paying a handwriting analyst to compare the ethics complaints with forms previously filled out by Turner which utilized writing from Turner’s ballot application and campaign expenditure forms determined that Turner’s handwriting appeared on the sworn ethics complaints filed by Jones “A city councilperson and the owner of another facility appear to be working in concert to file this complaint Jones was not at the facility when KSAT Investigates stopped by seeking comment for this story An employee eventually answered the door and put Jones on speaker phone Asked by KSAT why Turner’s handwriting appeared on his sworn complaints Jones repeatedly said it was an issue between the city of Windcrest and its residents Turner did not respond to multiple email requests from KSAT asking for an interview for this story KSAT showed up at a recent Windcrest City Council meeting in an effort to speak with Turner Presti told KSAT that Turner approached her about the handwriting controversy at an early voting site in late October Turner contends Jones had somehow gotten ahold of attachments bearing Turner’s handwriting that the councilman put together and given to other city leaders according to audio of the encounter recorded by Presti I would have felt better with that,” Turner said on the recording Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016 Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year Joshua Saunders is an Emmy award-winning photographer/editor who has worked in the San Antonio market for the past 20 years covering crime and corruption throughout the city Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. WINDCREST, Texas - A garage fire resulted in the total loss of a home and the tragic death of a family dog on Tuesday. The fire started around 10:00 in the morning at a home on Windcrest and Tradewind Drive. Fire officials reported that upon arrival, they saw flames coming from the garage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials noted that a brand new washer and dryer had been installed in the garage the day before. The main threats are large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rains with an isolated tornado also possible. FORECAST SHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOWindcrest Police Chief Jim Cole ousted amid highly critical employee surveyby SBG San Antonio | David Warner SAN ANTONIO - After a scathing survey of department employees Windcrest Police Chief Jimmie Cole was officially terminated Windcrest City Mayor Dan Reese announced Cole's removal from the department The reasons for the highly critical employee survey have yet to be released publicly Mayor Dan Reese also announced that David Ellis would serve as Interim Chief of Police until a suitable replacement for the position can be found Burger Boy will open its 10th location this summer More Fruity Pebbles shakes are coming to San Antonio. Beloved local chain Burger Boy has revealed that its 10th area location will open this summer at 7560 I-35N in Windcrest.For those who have yet to be swept up in the burger joint's charms the restaurant offers a no-frills menu of burgers The affordable Bates Special and Working Man combo meals have become household names in Alamo City.Although the savory options are pared down the chain goes crazy with its shake flavors Guests can also opt for the ever-popular orange freeze.Burger Boy's roots in San Antonio stretch back to 1955 The new Burger Boy will have dine-in and drive-thru optionsPhoto courtesy of Burger Boy His son, Carl Bates, opened the first Burger Boy on the St. Mary's Strip in 1985, where the iconic original sign still rotates. An investment group purchased the chain in 2017 and began slowly expanding the restaurant's footprint throughout the area.Though the newer builds don't sport the Googie-style architecture of the original the company has continued to use retro branding The bold blue and orange color scheme and clip-art chef mascot are as familiar to San Antonians as the Golden Arches.Once construction is complete the new Windcrest outpost will be open from 10:30 am-midnight and 10:30 am-1 am on Fridays and Saturdays The location will include dine-in and drive-thru options The most recent Yelp review was posted on March 15 Poujol posted a statement the restaurant is “temporarily closed,” although the platform does not list a date McLaughlin and McChesney have not revealed a timeline for its replacement Crunch Fitness announced that franchisee Tony Hartl plans to open Crunch San Antonio Windcrest in Windcrest The 40,000-square-foot fitness center will offer Crunch Fitness signature amenities to members including cardio and strength training equipment a functional HIIT Zone training area with indoor turf The Undefeated Tribe is one of the fastest-growing franchises within the Crunch Fitness system Hartl’s company currently operates 27 Crunch locations in Texas and Oklahoma and plans to open 17 new gyms in Texas Crunch San Antonio Windcrest will be The Undefeated Tribe’s fifth location in the San Antonio area Read More SGB Update Stories ©2025 SGB Media. All rights reserved. Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of SGB Media Texas – The City of Windcrest defended its decision to continue paying the owner of an animal boarding facility after he was arrested twice in seven months in separate felony assault cases One of the incidents occurred at a home in Windcrest is awaiting indictment on felony charges of injury to a child and family assault-impeding breath He is free on bond and late last month denied the allegations during an interview with KSAT in front of his business the owner of Texas Canine Boarding & Pet Services in the 6200 block of Montgomery Drive said he was approached by then-Windcrest police Chief Jimmie Cole in the summer of 2023 “I got a knock on my door asking for some kind of help,” Jones told the Windcrest Ethics Commission during a hearing in October He said Cole asked if Jones’ business could immediately begin housing stray cats and dogs found in Windcrest since there was a dispute between the city and the facility that had been housing the animals The operator of Karma’s Cozy Kennel and Spaw had recently texted Windcrest’s city manager: “Please get all your animals out of our facility today Thanks,” internal records obtained by KSAT Investigates show The text message followed months-long discord between Karma’s operators and city leaders The issues included a proposal from the business to have Windcrest pay a fee to reserve kennel spaces and repeated complaints from Karma’s about the actions of a city animal control officer Texas Canine had received approval from San Antonio Animal Care Services to run a commercial boarding operation described the arrangement as a handshake agreement between him and Cole The facility began taking in stray animals in late August 2023 and Jones’ company began to receive five-figure payments as a vendor for the City of Windcrest that fall Jones was paid $195,886.82 to board the animals for just under 11 months before the animals were returned to Karma’s last July after it submitted a formal bid and was awarded the boarding contract about three months after Jones began caring for Windcrest’s stray animals Windcrest police were called to a home in the 5900 block of Winterhaven Drive for a report of a 14-year-old boy being assaulted by his mother’s boyfriend The teen told police he heard Jones and his mother arguing and that Jones attacked him when the teen asked why his mother was crying grabbing his shoulders and pushing him to the floor before getting on top of him where he then struck his left jaw with a closed fist and choked him,” an arrest warrant states The teen’s father told police he was on the phone with his son during the incident and “heard the scuffle and a loud thump before hearing the Victim choking,” the warrant states The boy’s mother told police Jones and her son were “tussling on her bedroom floor” and that she advised Jones to leave the home before officers arrived who had bruises and scratches on his chest was treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital for further treatment A warrant for felony injury to a child was issued for Jones hours after the incident Jones was taken into custody a few days later by Bulverde police and booked into the Comal County Jail when asked by KSAT last month about the arrest Jones denied fleeing from the home before officers arrived “That’s none of your business,” when asked why he was facing a criminal charge if the allegations were not true Schertz police were called to Jones’ residence for a violent disturbance call Officers found Jones’ wife on the front porch and she said she did not want to cause a scene in front of children who were inside the home She told police an intoxicated Jones accused her of talking to another man on Facebook she said Jones grabbed her by her hair and neck and slammed her onto the ground Jones then placed his forearm across her neck “She said she begged Corey to stop and he wouldn’t,” according to the report Jones bit his wife on the top of her head before she grabbed a can of bathroom cleaner and sprayed Jones in the face After the woman called 911 from a different room she said Jones begged her not to report the incident to police Jones left the residence but was later tracked down by police at a nearby friend’s house Jones was arrested on a felony charge of family assault-impeding breath That’s a personal thing that’s taken care of on my own that has nothing to do with you,” Jones told KSAT when asked about the June 2024 assault arrest Both criminal cases against Jones are awaiting indictment Jones does not have a criminal defense attorney listed for either charge Weeks after the city’s stray animals were removed from his care, Jones filed ethics complaints accusing two Windcrest residents of trying to disrupt his operation The complaints were dismissed by the city’s ethics commission Windcrest city officials confirm Jones was allowed to board the city’s stray animals for nearly a year without a formal contract in place Cole, who was fired by the city in December after clashing with residents and receiving negative reviews in an employee survey attempted to distance himself from Jones and the animal boarding arrangement Cole, who sued Windcrest in early February told KSAT through his attorney that he did not engage outside vendors Cole’s attorney told KSAT the final decision to engage Texas Canine for boarding services was made by then-City Manager Rafael Castillo Cole told KSAT he informed Castillo that Jones had been arrested for an incident in Windcrest and deferred to Castillo’s discretion on how to proceed who retired from the city earlier this year did not respond to emails from KSAT seeking comment for this story An attorney for the city defended the decision to continue paying Jones after his two felony arrests “Windcrest acknowledges that all persons are presumed innocent and does not rely on an arrest of an individual with no charging instruments to disqualify a company The situation would be different if an indictment were issued or a conviction imposed at the time Windcrest utilized Texas Canine as a vendor.” If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, there is a long list of resources on KSAT’s Domestic Violence page which includes a breakdown of what abuse is FORECAST SHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOBurger Boy announces new location opening in Windcrest this summerby SBG San Antonio SAN ANTONIO - A local favorite burger chain is opening a new location this summer Burger Boy is set to open its 10th location in Windcrest early this summer "This milestone marks another exciting chapter in Burger Boy’s journey as the brand continues to grow throughout the San Antonio metroplex while staying true to its roots — serving fresh made-to-order meals that locals know and love," said a statement from Burger Boy The new location will be open from 10:30 a.m December 18th USPS delivered its 8 billionth piece of mail in San Antonio SAN ANTONIO - Guess what landed in the mailbox “Already delivering 8 billion of pieces of mail so far this holiday season shows the dedication of our hardworking employees at the United States Postal Service,” said San Antonio Postmaster Robert Carr “We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service for the remainder of the 2024 holidays and beyond.” A local USPS customer in the Windcrest neighborhood received the special package that arrived from her aunt in Hobart “My aunt will be thrilled to know her package was number 8 billion,” said Evancho has been delivering in parts of the Windcrest area for the last 30 years and delivered this special gift “I am honored to be a part of this special delivery to some of my very special customers,” said De La Garza Texas – In his first public comments since he was terminated by the city council last month ex-Windcrest Police Chief Jimmie Cole said he had a responsibility to file more than a dozen ethics complaints “I expected them to have a deterrent effect on the people that were engaging in this behavior,” Cole said many of which were heard and dismissed by the city’s ethics commission in recent months accused some councilmembers and other Windcrest residents of unethical conduct The central issue: the city’s handling of stray animals Cole told KSAT altercations between members of TxWeAct and employees of the police department — as well as negative social media posts from people belonging to the group — forced him to step in and file the complaints I’m not the one that’s taking the dog to the pound or taking the dog to the vet “And whenever they’re (TxWeAct) sitting there making these statements Cole gathered social media posts from members of the group and included them in his formal complaints which fell under Cole’s supervision as police chief of mistreating animals and not providing them the proper level of care The ethics complaints and subsequent hearings before the Windcrest Ethics Commission caused some members of the commission last month to question whether the process was being weaponized “I truly wish the validity of these were just looked at a little bit more,” Windcrest Ethics Commission member Victoria Moe said near the end of a Dec said the ex-chief filed a total of six ethics complaints against her “As soon as he was made the chief of police he started acting like a tyrant,” Flick told KSAT days after Cole’s termination Flick and other Windcrest residents have accused Cole of using the ethics complaint process to try and muzzle the free speech of people criticizing Cole and his now-former police department “We didn’t have any of these issues under the old chief,” said Flick the attorney sent Windcrest City Council a cease-and-desist letter claiming the ethics complaint process was being used to attempt to intimidate private residents who were expressing their opinions of city officials confirmed disabling comments on city social media accounts but said it was at the direction of city manager Rafael Castillo “I take that his order was lawful and if it’s not then that’s something that they’ll need to work out,” said Cole After KSAT requested a comment from Castillo “The city is prohibited from performing viewpoint specific restrictions there is no problem with the legal requirements A city is permitted to disable all comments and utilize social media sites to simply push out information.” Windcrest city council on Monday agreed to accept the retirement of Castillo Castillo had worked for the city since 2011, according to an online bio Questioned by KSAT about his decision to file ethics complaints against Windcrest residents Cole said he views them as “agents of the city,” thus making their actions bound by Windcrest’s code of ethics an attorney for Windcrest attempted to provide clarity on whether members of TxWeAct are city officials TxWeAct was originally formed under a city resolution as the Windcrest Animal Control Task Force and was included the task force became a nonprofit and changed its name but never formally split from the city “The City never split ties with TxWeAct and continued to use the group as a volunteer group to aide the City The group is listed on the City Website under ‘Civic Clubs & Organizations’ have (sic) an article in the monthly newsletter have (sic) a fundraiser box at the city post office and advertise as a group for the City,” the letter stated but does not control the current membership The City has no direct oversite (sic) of the group This can pose unknown and varying liability and exposures (sic) issues for the City there are some legal problems with creating an autonomous group which does not answer to the City,” according to the letter Public discord over the ethics complaints has come with a heavy price tag for the City of Windcrest From late February through the end of October the city spent $42,472.97 for two law firms to review complaints involving Cole This total included complaints filed by Cole in addition to at least one filed against Cole that accused him of harassing candidates for city council outside of a city polling site “I think it’s important that the taxpayers of the City of Windcrest understand that their city leaders are spending enormous amounts of money to have not one set but two sets of lawyer eyes review complaints,” said Mark Anthony Sanchez People on both sides of the dispute between Cole and TxWeAct point to an incident at Windcrest City Hall in late December 2023 as the boiling point of the strife Surveillance camera footage obtained by KSAT Investigates showed Beverly Cunningham suffering a medical emergency while waiting to retrieve paperwork from a simple assault complaint filed against her earlier that month Cunningham was accused of shaking a civilian police employee at a city event and telling her TxWeAct was going to get Cole fired and was treated by paramedics as the entryway filled with people Cunningham was taken from city hall on a stretcher who is seen in the surveillance video recording the commotion on her cell phone told KSAT the ordeal was the result of clear retaliation from Cole Flick alleged that Cole pressured the employee to file an unwanted touching complaint against an innocent person who denied pressuring the employee to file the assault complaint told KSAT a different version of events and questioned whether Cunningham embellished the incident at city hall I don’t think I would be getting ahold of other people to come down to the lobby,” said Cole referring to portions of the video that appear to show Cunningham sending text messages shortly before receiving medical attention “The video footage provides evidence that these members of TxWeAct formed a combination and were working to have me terminated,” Cole told city leadership in an August written report which summarized the past altercations between TxWeAct and members of his department Cunningham did not respond to phone calls and a text message from KSAT Investigates seeking comment for this story Cole said he was hired as an administrative sergeant with the Windcrest Police Department in May 2019 before he was promoted to captain Cole was named interim chief after the former chief Cole confirmed that he was hired as permanent chief after serving in the interim role for a few months However, an employee engagement survey conducted last summer added further strain to his tenure A summary of the survey stated there was a strong dissatisfaction with compensation and employee benefits and a “strong dissatisfaction with some leaders “The Police Department’s culture is highly toxic,” page 6 of the survey results stated Police employees who spoke with KSAT late last year on the condition of anonymity said Cole demonstrated poor leadership The employees also complained of not being provided the proper equipment to do their jobs safely stating he had an expectation that equipment issues would be forwarded up the chain of command “I would have never allowed an officer to buy his own remote for a radar detector referring to one officer’s comments to KSAT about having to buy a remote to control an in-vehicle radar gun Former Windcrest PD employees also sounded off on leadership according to resignation letters and exit interview summaries obtained by KSAT Investigates A communications supervisor who resigned last fall stated that the environment is toxic and needs to change An officer who resigned last summer described being micromanaged by command staff I dread coming to work some days because of it Better communication from command staff to patrol is needed,” the exit interview summary stated Cole told KSAT he believes criticism from his officers and Windcrest residents became intermingled “I don’t know if I can necessarily separate the two I think that they’re influenced by each other,” said Cole “The leadership style is just not working,” said Willie Ng a 30-year veteran of law enforcement who now teaches graduate-level criminal justice at The University of the Incarnate Word Ng’s doctoral dissertation focused on reimagining police leadership He said officers with the Windcrest Police Department had briefed him on internal issues in recent months served as a lieutenant for the Pleasanton Police Department before he was hired in Windcrest Pleasanton PD moved to terminate Cole in 2018 after an investigation determined he conducted unauthorized investigations of fellow officers “These actions have caused a rift in our department in which I have lost all trust in Lt Cole and his actions have seriously damaged the reputation of the Pleasanton Police Department,” a June 2018 memo from then-chief Ronald Sanchez stated Cole contested the termination and after agreeing not to pursue legal action against the city As part of a settlement agreement and release signed in early 2019 the city agreed to “correct” Cole’s license separation to an honorable discharge An attorney for Windcrest confirmed a background check of Cole completed before his hiring revealed Cole was properly licensed “It is important to note that none of those checks reveal command style or individual personality traits,” wrote attorney Ryan Henry Cole is appealing his termination from Windcrest PD he formally invoked his right to contest the council’s decision Sanchez told KSAT that city leadership failed to provide Cole with a list of reasons for his termination and did not follow Sanchez’s request to deliberate about Cole’s employment status in an open session Cole’s written notice of termination mentions only “issues involving your position.” More coverage of this story from KSAT Investigates: Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News John Paul Barajas Mark Oltz Dillon Collier WINDCREST – After two weeks on administrative leave Windcrest police chief Jimmie Cole was officially terminated by the city council following a highly critical employee survey pointed out Cole as a contributing factor to a “toxic” workplace citing a need for new leadership within the department At the city council meeting where Cole’s termination was announced residents expressed relief and anticipation for a positive change but I’m still dumbfounded that he has abused his position to do this.” revealed significant morale issues within the department It stated responses that described the department’s culture as “toxic,” with some employees claiming that they were discouraged from speaking out for fear of retaliation why say anything when command staff doesn’t care?; three I had to learn to shut my mouth and go with the flow we will be targeted and retaliated against.” Cole issued a statement addressing the concerns He denied the allegations of creating a hostile work environment “I do not take a tyrannical approach to handling problems,” and adding that his management style was based on collaboration rather than intimidation Cole’s entire statement can be read below: I do not believe I ever made a comment like that I have made comments noting that as the chief of police I am the one responsible for the department and the actions of the officers I have a responsibility to the public to make sure the department operates correctly a great many issues are addressed through the chain of command While I am briefed on most issues addressed by command staff I do not take a tyrannical approach to handling problems My management style is not based on intimidation by any means I believe in a collaborative approach and involve my senior command staff in a great many discussions before decisions are made everyone in the department is sworn to protect the public and enforce the law This includes following department regulations I have had officers who believed they were above the rules or that the rules do not apply to them That type of perspective has no place in the Windcrest Police Department and become productive members of the department I do not know who made the comments regarding running the department through intimidation I cannot speak to why individuals may have that belief I can say that rules are applied uniformly and fairly and I collaborate with command staff regarding their application.” complaints about Cole were not limited to his handling of staff Some residents also raised concerns about his actions outside the department says she was subject to several ethics complaints filed by Cole after she publicly voiced her concerns at a city council meeting and posted about them on social media The ethics complaints were eventually dropped Windcrest resident Holly Lawless expressed concerns about the state of the department under Cole’s leadership while reflecting on the situation we see them every single day—they’re responsible for our safety and the fact that they are feeling so disheartened and don’t want to stay here is a concern as a citizen,” she said Lieutenant Davide Ellis has been appointed as the interim police chief of the department Many residents are hopeful that this change in leadership will mark the beginning of a more transparent and accountable chapter for the department “It needs to be based on truthfulness and transparency.” The City of Windcrest now looks forward to the future of its police department under new leadership as both residents and law enforcement personnel hope to restore trust and morale within the force Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved John Paul Barajas is a reporter at KSAT 12 he worked at KRGV 5 in the Rio Grande Valley He has a degree from the University of Houston spend time on the water and check out good eats and drinks Texas – A City of Windcrest employee survey this summer noted numerous morale issues and complaints about leadership specifically within the town’s police department records obtained by KSAT Investigates show had a response rate of nearly 96% and left Windcrest with an overall rating in the bottom 5% ever recorded by the company that administered it a summary of the findings obtained by KSAT shows Windcrest city officials this fall attempted to block the release of the survey records telling the Texas Attorney General they were internal city communications dealing with the formation of policy KSAT then obtained a copy of the 35-page summary from a source agreed to hand over more than 100 pages of specific responses to the survey prompts including “Feel Workplace is positive/motivating and personal morale is high“ and ”Open communication/collaboration within department occurs on regular/effective basis." The Key Findings section of the survey results listed loyalty of some managers and employees as one of the city’s greatest strengths stated there is a strong dissatisfaction with compensation and employee benefits and a “strong dissatisfaction with some leaders The same Key Findings section noted that the organization’s culture is weak “The Police Department’s culture is highly toxic,” page 6 of the survey results states a police employee wrote that they are micromanaged “every single day,” and morale had gone down after Chief Jimmie Cole took over the department The employee also noted that the department does not have “good working vehicles.” A second police employee response described Cole as micromanaging and “very emotional” and that he makes changes to the department to please himself A third police employee response states the person is having to constantly watch their back because the chief is constantly looking for policy violations “to hem officer’s up on.” Windcrest Employee Survey Comments - July 2024 by Dillon Collier on Scribd Multiple Windcrest Police Department employees spoke with KSAT for this story and asked that the station conceal their identities so they could speak freely about workplace issues they have encountered there may not be much of a department to work for the residents,” said one police employee When asked specifically by KSAT to describe Chief Cole Officers who spoke with KSAT complained of not being provided the proper equipment to do their jobs safely This comment mirrored what was listed in the survey results a police employee said officers have used their own money to buy radar gun remotes to properly monitor motorists' speed while patrolling the city Officers who spoke with KSAT described Cole as running the department through intimidation and they’re going to do whatever the F I want.’ And if that doesn’t say enough about his leadership style,” a police employee told KSAT Cole was promoted to the position after the previous chief left in late 2022 After KSAT requested an interview with Cole an attorney representing the city said via email that issues collateral to the survey prevented the chief from taking part in an interview in a written statement released through an attorney provided specific responses about his leadership style and whether he runs the department through intimidation: “I do not believe I ever made a comment like that As law enforcement officers everyone in the department is sworn to protect the public and enforce the law I do not know who made the comments regarding running the department through intimidation as the employee survey was anonymous I can say that rules are applied uniformly and fairly and I collaborate with command staff regarding their application.” An attorney representing a Windcrest resident sent city leadership a cease-and-desist letter last month stating Cole has filed city ethics complaints against private citizens These complaints are typically filed against elected officials “The City’s website states that the Ethics Commission ‘has the authority and duty to investigate written complaints of alleged unethical behavior by a member of the City Council or a member of a City-appointed board commission or committee and to make a recommendation to the City Council on the complaint and potential action the Ethics Commission does not have authority to investigate private citizens,” the Nov “It certainly appears that one or more City officials are attempting to weaponize the tools of government to silence or harass those who express unfavorable opinions of City officials If the Ethics Commission allows itself to be used for such purposes If any resident of the City of Windcrest wants the Chief of Police or any other City official to be fired that is certainly not an ‘ethics violation.’ On the contrary it is speech protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or punish private citizens for expressing their opinions on matters of public concern including who should be entrusted with positions of power within the City government The letter encourages the city to drop an ethics hearing for the woman scheduled for next week she told KSAT that Cole is destroying Windcrest and stomping on citizen’s First Amendment rights Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page Windcrest Employee Survey Comments - July 2024 by Dillon Collier on Scribd Texas – Windcrest Police Department Chief Jimmie Cole was placed on leave this week amid calls from residents asking him to step down or lose his job Cole was placed on leave before Monday’s city council meeting an attorney representing the City of Windcrest confirmed to KSAT Investigates on Wednesday afternoon It is unclear if residents were aware of the administrative action taken by the city Multiple people who spoke during Monday’s meeting called on Cole to step aside or be terminated A KSAT Investigates report on Tuesday revealed numerous morale issues within the department and complaints about Cole’s leadership Many of the critical comments were directed at the police department and Cole specifically The Key Findings section of the survey results stated that there is a strong dissatisfaction with compensation and employee benefits as well as a “strong dissatisfaction with some leaders Multiple Windcrest Police Department employees spoke with KSAT in recent weeks about workplace issues under Cole who was promoted to the position after the previous chief left in late 2022 there may not be much of a department to work for the residents,” one police employee told KSAT When asked specifically by KSAT to describe Cole and they’re going to do whatever the ‘F’ I want.’ And if that doesn’t say enough about his leadership style,” a police employee told KSAT provided specific responses about his leadership style and whether he runs the department based on intimidation Cole has also been harshly criticized in public meetings in recent weeks over his decision to file city ethics complaints against council members as well as private citizens A councilman on Monday said Cole included the summary of the survey results in an ethics complaint binder which prevented the council from discussing the results until the complaints were resolved stating Cole has also filed city ethics complaints against residents David Ellis has been temporarily appointed to lead the department’s day-to-day operations in Cole’s absence Officials have not said why Cole was placed on leave or how long he is expected to be away from the department More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter More KSAT Investigates coverage of this story: Texas – Fired Windcrest Police Chief Jimmie Cole filed a lawsuit Monday accusing city councilmembers of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act when they decided to terminate his employment late last year court records obtained by KSAT Investigates show Cole, who was terminated in mid-December claims the city council “conducted a secret and illegal meeting to hide its scheme from the public” instead of discussing his performance in open session according to the suit filed in state district court Cole was also sharply criticized for his decision to file more than a dozen ethics complaints against council members and as well as residents of Windcrest The suit also accuses Windcrest elected officials and employees of misusing public office for personal gain and manipulating government contracts When Cole attempted to investigate the “public corruption crimes,” the city retaliated against him and terminated his employment An attorney for the City of Windcrest told KSAT he could not comment on Tuesday since the city had yet to be served a copy of it past and future wages in addition to mental anguish and employees of the police department — as well as negative social media posts from people belonging to the group — forced him to step in and file the ethics complaints The ethics complaints and subsequent hearings before the Windcrest Ethics Commission caused some members of the commission late last year to question whether the process was being weaponized Windcrest residents accused Cole of using the ethics complaint process to try and muzzle the free speech of people criticizing Cole and his now-former police department “I expected them to have a deterrent effect on the people that were engaging in this behavior,” Cole previously told KSAT Cole said he viewed members of TxWeAct as “agents of the city,” thus making their actions bound by Windcrest’s code of ethics “The City never split ties with TxWeAct and continued to use the group as a volunteer group to aide (sic) the City From late last February through the end of October 2024 The employee engagement survey conducted last summer added further strain to Cole’s tenure Former Windcrest Police Department employees also sounded off on leadership I dread coming to work some days because of it,” the exit interview summary stated “Better communication from command staff to patrol is needed.” I think that they’re influenced by each other,” Cole previously told KSAT Texas – The director of San Antonio Animal Care Services confirms a Northeast Side pet boarding facility and operator are under investigation for possibly artificially inseminating French bulldogs Confirmation of the investigation into Corey Jones owner of Texas Canine Boarding & Pet Services comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the City of Windcrest’s decision to pay Jones more than $195,000 to care for the city’s stray cats and dogs in 2023 and 2024 which Jones described as a handshake agreement between him and the city’s then-police chief played out without a formal contract in place Additionally, sworn ethics complaints filed by Jones last summer against two Windcrest residents included the handwriting of Windcrest City Councilman Greg Turner even though both Turner and Jones have said publicly that they do not know one another Windcrest resident Rainbeau Presti filed an open records request with San Antonio ACS for a copy of permits and past inspections for Texas Canine Boarding & Pet Services What Presti thought was a straightforward public records request ended with her receiving a letter the following month from a San Antonio assistant city attorney asking the Texas Attorney General to allow ACS to withhold the records that the requested files include records from an ongoing animal cruelty investigation The portion of the Texas Penal Code cited in the letter pertains to state law covering the crime of bestiality who was hired by the city after the investigation was first opened confirmed investigators are looking into whether artificial insemination was performed on French bulldogs Gary told KSAT the original case was closed but then reopened after new information came to light during a recent inspection of Texas Canine Boarding & Pet Services He said ACS will consult with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office since it is not the typical type of animal cruelty case handled by his investigators Gary declined to provide specific details of the investigation A city spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up email from KSAT asking for the current status of the case recently voted the most popular dog breed in America for the third year in a row are also known for having back and hip issues A licensed San Antonio veterinarian told KSAT Frenchies’ hereditary spinal problems make it difficult to breed and birth them “I’ve not once said I’m a vet,” Jones told KSAT outside of his business last month “Everybody in the world does that,” said Jones when KSAT asked about the ACS investigation told KSAT that a person does not have to be a veterinarian to perform artificial insemination on the dog breed A spokesperson for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association provided a much different response The spokesperson told KSAT via email that artificial insemination is one of the procedures defined by state law as the practice of veterinary medicine While Texas law allows artificial insemination for livestock the spokesperson clarified that this exception does not apply to dogs The spokesperson also provided clarity on why artificial insemination of dogs would be covered under the bestiality section of the Texas Penal Code While bestiality is generally described as sex between humans and animals the list of prohibited acts includes if a person: inserts any part of a person’s body or any object into the anus or genitals of an animal in a manner that is not a generally accepted and otherwise lawful animal husbandry or veterinary practice Jones has not been criminally charged in connection with the animal cruelty probe He is awaiting indictment in both felony assault cases More recent City of Windcrest coverage on KSAT: Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Patty Santos Santiago Esparza the City of Windcrest is roughly two square miles wide The city’s annual budget is approximately $10 million approximately 200 businesses are operating in the city “Our business footprint primarily is along Walzem Road we have a business presence over on the access road on Interstate 35 over by where what people would refer to as Rackspace.” Reese said “It was Windsor Park Mall and then it’s Rackspace it’s Windcrest International Business Park.” the city expanded its boundary to include the area along Interstate 35 from Walzem Road to Eisenhauer Road The master plan set to be introduced next year will include the expansion of that area “Part of what we envision is developing part of the commercial part of that area because we are landlocked,” Reese said our capabilities to build is somewhat limited.” Part of that development will also include putting up more signs to help the city stand out and developing the small community into a destination place beyond the holiday season Reese said there are no plans to annex any more land into the city The community is happy with the size it is currently “People love living in the City of Windcrest Also in this edition of ‘Know My Neighborhood’: Santiago Esparza is a photojournalist at KSAT 12 Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Avery Everett Matthew Craig Texas – A drive down Midcrown Drive paints the picture of how deep the holiday spirit runs in Windcrest “I’ve been coming to see the lights since I was five years old,” Wes Madere “It hasn’t changed much since I was a young kid.” inflatables and animatronics line the city leading up to Christmas December is not the only month of the year when Windcrest comes together “It’s very close-knit,” Windcrest resident Marlene Pappon said but I still think it has that hometown charm.” She is the club administrator for the local Lions Club chapter Pappon is also involved in the Garden Club Women’s Club and Roosevelt High School’s LEO Club She works with dozens of others to make this possible Pappon said she wants to preserve the small-town feel of Windcrest for as long as she can “It’s difficult,” Pappon said when asked how to get younger Windcrest families involved “We try to have something for the kids to do.” This is where the Windcrest Volunteer Group steps in to help a handful of volunteers have helped pick up neighborhood projects They’ve built multiple community libraries installed flag poles and fixed broken fences “We do this because we want to,” Luna-Caulk said Completely free and community-driven — that’s how Luna-Caulk describes this volunteer initiative “It really makes me feel good just to be able to help,” Compton said What may sound like small projects can mean the world to the neighbors receiving the help Last month, KSAT reported that Windcrest’s Little League team had its maintenance gator stolen Several residents helped tow the field in the aftermath During our reporting for this Know My Neighborhood episode KSAT learned one of those volunteers was Compton “I used my tractor and let him use it and we cleaned it up and got it level again.” Compton described it as a “lean-on” mentality which means looking out for neighbors in need of a helping hand one priority is top of mind for most residents: preserving its close-community feel Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away peacefully in his home at Windcrest retirement community Services will be at 11am on November 30th at Windcrest Highline building He has passed into love to be with his Lord and with his wife Priscilla who departed in April of 2022 He met her while attending high school at De La Salle in Detroit Michigan They married in 1963 and after graduating from Wayne State University in Business Administration They traveled the world together collecting memories as their most precious possessions alongside their three children and yearned for the day he would be reunited with Priscilla He is survived by all three of his children and their children Preceded in death by his loving wife Priscilla Also preceded by son-in-laws Martin Kiser and Terry Amick Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Katrina Webber Azian Bermea Robert Samarron Texas – If some residents in the City of Windcrest have their way the future for business there will be as bright as its Christmas light displays there is the question of who will move into a huge space near the Interstate 35/Loop 410 access road and Walzem Road The former site of the Windsor Park Mall most recently served as headquarters for Rackspace The tech company moved out in 2022 after changing its business model to one where employees largely worked from home “A facility of 650,000 square feet on the ground floor very versatile and it’s been incentivized,” Windcrest Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) executive director Mario Hernandez said “We think it can be a success because of the versatility of the property.” Hernandez said his agency and members of city government have been working diligently to fill the void created by Rackspace’s departure The company made up a large part of the city’s sales tax base there have been some positive steps toward filling the space again “We were fortunate enough to get another owner of the property rather quickly,” WEDC president Jennifer Newman said Newman said a company called Industrial Commercial Properties bought it and is in the process of transforming the space the plan is for it to become the new Windcrest International Business Center Newman said the effort to find tenants for it continues “We would love to tell you that we know exactly what businesses are going to be enticed to come to that space,” Newman said Hernandez said he and others have spoken to several different entities including “distribution headquarters and operation” as well as manufacturing it also took away a big customer base for some business owners in the area She initially opened her Mamma Lou’s Soul Food Kitchen on Walzem Road as a drive-thru restaurant back in 2020 Once her lunchtime crowd of Rackspace workers disappeared Willis said she has had to reinvent her business as a dine-in restaurant in another building nearby Willis said she is anxiously awaiting new neighbors in the business park and we’re just trying to serve the community that we’re in,” Willis said any little business that comes over there at this point will help the economy.” Willis said she is also dealing with another issue in the area There is an ongoing construction project on Interstate 35 causing customers to take routes away from her restaurant you can just look at it and see cars back-to-back,” she said “People are less likely to pull off the road and spend a few minutes (here) and then try to get back in that traffic.” The I-35 Northeast Expansion project (I-35 NEX) which involves improving the highway by adding flyovers and express lanes there is no date set for the opening of the Windcrest International Business Center Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009 but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air the United States Postal Service (USPS) delivered its 8 billionth mail piece of the 2024 holiday season continuing its mission to deliver for the American people The 8 billionth mail piece was delivered by San Antonio Letter Carrier Ruben De La Garza to customers Oliver and Rosemarie Evancho in the Windcrest neighborhood The residence was the perfect location to commemorate a milestone delivery all dressed up for the holiday season with décor celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Windcrest’s light-up tradition The special package arrived right on time from Mrs “My aunt will be thrilled to know her package was number 8 billion,” said Evancho Letter Carrier De La Garza was all too familiar with the residence having delivered parts of Windcrest for the last 30 years “I am honored to be a part of this special delivery to some of my very special customers,” said De La Garza “Already delivering 8 billion of pieces of mail so far this holiday season shows the dedication of our hardworking employees at the United States Postal Service,” said San Antonio Postmaster Robert Carr “We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service for the remainder of the 2024 holidays and beyond.” The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America restore long-term financial sustainability dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage products and services to fund its operations Copyright© 2025 United States Postal Service SAN ANTONIO - Crews were on the scene of a stubborn brush fire on the northeast side crews arrived at the grass fire in an area along Crestway Drive near Randolph Boulevard Crews from the Windcrest Fire Department told reporters that as people were clearing brush from the area There was a lot of smoke in the area when crews arrived but they were successfully able to keep the blaze away from a nearby dry cleaner which officials were concerned may ignite if the fire went unattended This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page SAN ANTONIO - A home in a local neighborhood is dazzling all who pass by with thousands of beautiful Christmas lights the Converse Light show is hoping to draw in spectators to the neighborhood just outside of Windcrest with a one-of-a-kind light display The elaborate display features over 35,000 lights and even a light-up cutout for holiday photos with spectators able to vote on songs at the link here Guests who visit the display can tune their radios to 106.1 FM to listen in on the synchronized music The person running the display said that last year's display saw just over 1,000 visitors the family is looking to beat the previous record In 2023 I walked up the driveway to Susie Hamilton’s tinsel-encrusted 1970s home clad in green bell-bottoms and a polyester blouse to attend the fourth annual Aspic Invitational Thrilled to have scored a coveted invitation I quivered with anticipation almost as much as my entry—an herb-infused lemon gelatin column layered with goat cheese and studded with Thai basil flowers—did I was declared the winner at the end of the ceremonial judging but maybe I shouldn’t have been shocked; other contenders included gelled potato salad and a dramatic reenactment of Aunt Bethany’s kitty kibble Jell-O from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation My aim to make something edible and in line with modern flavors and textures paid off but don’t mistake that for contempt toward the more traditional iterations from the 1960s and ’70s I’ve made dozens of gelatin dishes using vintage recipes out of deep The only person who’s a bigger fanatic than I am you’ll start to see why she’s willing to keep days gone by alive and . . The logical consequence of this yesteryear obsession Such delights were de rigueur at Texas potlucks When she was a kid growing up in the 1980s she had assumed she’d someday attend swinging soirees like the ones she saw on TV the year after she and Sauceda moved into their first home “We’re the adults now; where is it I wanted to give people a reason to get out of the house and have fun some place that wasn’t a club or a concert to give people the experience we thought we were going to have when we were adults.” She and Sauceda often attend city events or dinner with neighbors in period dress “We call it Windcresting,” Hamilton laughs “and we wanted an excuse to do more of that.” As they arranged everything on the main table for a photo op Hamilton’s friend Grant Goodrich volunteered to try it and that’s how the awards portion of the Aspic Invitational was born Hamilton went around her house grabbing vintage thrift finds for prizes Goodrich has remained the sole judge (except for an illness one year) has made a tradition of trying everything right alongside him the couple approached the 2021 Aspic Invitational with a renewed devotion to the craft The vintage dress party was now secondary to the main event: a gelatin-laden showcase and tasting Because more attendees were attempting to make their dishes more than just hypothetically edible there were initially a lot of sweet contenders “In ’22 and ’23 I started trying to steer people toward making a traditional aspic because we got a lot of ambrosia salad That’s fine—we group them all at the end of the tasting—but I’m trying to steer some people toward savory.” a friend of Hamilton’s brought her gourmand husband along he said that he had misunderstood because he had expected traditional You’re about to see a lot of canned meat.” a hideous refutation of everything that makes soup nourishing to the soul It’s condensed soup mixed with lemon Jell-O I thoroughly enjoyed the process of perfecting this odd hobby that Hamilton and I share Although it’s easy to laugh about them successful gelatin molds are serious business or (the very worst mishap of all) poorly dissolved gelatin forming a rubbery tooth-squeaking cap on what should have been your crowning achievement It takes work to engage in this culinary cosplay plus the occasional gasp of delighted dismay a recipe book published by Jell-O with several editions in the mid-century I’ve made Ring Around the Tuna and Shrimp Salad Surprise cubes with grapefruit I think such hardships have made me a better person she has been gratified by her community’s response noting that although the neighborhood is diverse and has lots of young families now it also still houses quite a few “old timers.” “They really get a kick out of [the Aspic Invitational],” says Hamilton “I haven’t met anyone who thinks it’s good; they will just say it was never a good idea then or now.” Her neighbors of a certain age often drop in at the party to bring crockpots of their signature 1960s-era spiced drinks or just to gawk at the display hailing from their own youths but Hamilton is happy to report that no one has mistaken the event for disrespect and Hamilton wouldn’t want her fellow Windcrestians to feel mocked people are excited that we’re getting people into it because they feel like it will preserve the character of the community.” The fifth annual Aspic Invitational will be held this year on December 15, by invitation only, regrettably. Hamilton is again encouraging attendees to find the perfect double-knit suit and lean into the savory vein. I’m still deciding what to make this year—perhaps a chamoy mango salad or an homage to the historic Stagecoach Inn’s tomato aspic And how tantalizing to speculate about others’ pending entries one thing is for certain: Susie Hamilton is perfecting the art of having her mold and breaking it The home is in the heart of San Antonio's Windcrest neighborhood A Windcrest home's Christmas decorations earned them national recognition on the ABC competition show The Great Christmas Light Fight While Windcrest is known for their spectacular Christmas holiday decorations this home in particular will give trick-or-treaters a Halloween they will never forget in 2024 used their earnings from the television show to start something new They decided to channel all of their energy into Halloween The creepy clown circus theme was unveiled Sunday It took the homeowners two months to construct the display.Photo courtesy of KVUE.com came from the 1988 movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space and even purchased most of the creepy clowns that look just like the ones in the film located in the heart of the Windcrest enclave in northeast San Antonio (address withheld) features close to 20 animatronics and 10 to 15 other characters in their display a surprise will be in store for visitors: a special monster with a smoke feature The display will remain up through Halloween Read the full story and watch the video at CultureMap's content partner, KVUE.com The home is in the heart of San Antonio's Windcrest neighborhood The first San Antonio Dill Dinkers has five available courts and the franchise owners estimate that demand will be high Annual rates range from $400 to $1,150 and include perks such as advance booking and discounts on private court fees and event rentals.Both Dill Dinkers are operated by Air Force veterans Karen and Brian Birdy the leadership team behind PMI Birdy Properties Although the company offers commercial services it mainly manages residential rentals and vacation properties.The duo has plans to eventually open 20 locations in the San Antonio area The timeline and founding membership details on the second local Dill Dinkers outpost will be released in the upcoming months Highlands Ranch’s premier senior living community expands its continuing care neighborhood Wind Crest, a continuing care retirement community developed and managed by Erickson Senior Living, celebrated the grand opening of Bowen Landing a new assisted living and memory care expansion within its continuing care neighborhood The January grand opening celebration offered community members the chance to tour the new spaces, participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and learn more about the comprehensive services Bowen Landing provides The expansion is part of Wind Crest’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care and engagement for seniors at every stage of life “Bowen Landing fulfills Wind Crest’s mission to support the health and well-being of our residents and will help us meet the growing demand for exceptional quality care for seniors,” said Craig Erickson, executive director at Wind Crest residents can continue to thrive as part of a vibrant community with state-of-the-art amenities and peace of mind that high-quality personalized care is available as their health needs evolve.” The new building features 109 new residences in a variety of sizes and styles, from studios to one- and two-bedroom options. All assisted living residences include a full and features designed to promote independence and safety Select residences include patios adjacent to the enclosed courtyard which features an outdoor fireplace and tables for gathering and multipurpose turf for bocce ball and fitness In addition, a variety of new amenity spaces including a library, games lounge, and fitness center, will offer residents engaging programs. Katie’s, the new signature restaurant at Bowen Landing offers residents a variety of menu items prepared fresh daily by professional chefs and the opportunity to enjoy a meal with neighbors “A move to assisted living doesn’t mean your lifestyle or preferences have to change Bowen Landing supports our person-centered approach to care driven by a holistic assessment of each individual’s needs where residents engage in programs and activities that add value and meaning to their daily lives,” said Coley Rainbolt In addition to its continuing care neighborhood, Wind Crest is home to a vibrant independent living neighborhood on 84 acres just 15 miles southwest of Denver where more than 2,000 residents enjoy an active Throughout the country, Erickson Senior Living communities are known for their dynamic lifestyles, state-of-the-art amenities, and superior health and wellness services. This commitment to innovation and excellence makes Wind Crest an ideal choice for retirement living in Highlands Ranch For more information or to schedule a personal visit to Wind Crest, call 303-876-8400 or visit WindCrestCommunity.com You must be logged in to post a comment Robert Samarron SAN ANTONIO Texas – Dry conditions and strong winds that have fanned the flames of recent brush fires from the Hill Country to south Bexar County are now causing similar problems within San Antonio city limits A fire that broke out in a wooded area Wednesday afternoon near Crestway Drive and Midcrown Drive damaged a home and threatened a business The area of that fire is located just outside Windcrest city limits in San Antonio said it appeared the fire started in a pile of trash near what had been a homeless encampment due to blustery winds and dry brush nearby who owns Midtown Laundry and Dry Cleaners with her husband Boyle said she found out about the fire in a series of phone calls The first call came from the fire department and a second call came from an employee who said her family business was threatened trying to save customers' clothes from harm “We all just ran in and we were taking clothes out on racks and rolling them across the street,” Boyle said “I wanted to save the formal wear for all the little girls that have quinceañera dresses here and bridesmaids dresses.” The business also shut down temporarily due to the fire it was spared and opened for business again on Thursday morning San Antonio fire crews spent part of the night in Brackenridge Park fighting a brush fire there Firefighters said that fire also started in an area near a homeless encampment There were no structures threatened or damaged in that fire According to an SAFD public information officer this was the fifth grass fire in the city this week handled by that particular crew Boyle was grateful her business escaped any damage “You never think it’s gonna happen to you,” Boyle said This spring, 56 local high school students preparing to turn their tassels were recently recognized as Scholars at Wind Crest, a continuing care retirement community managed by Erickson Senior Living in Highlands Ranch The student employees, who held positions as servers, hosts, and hostesses across the community’s 10 on-campus restaurants displayed an unwavering commitment to care and excellence To honor their dedication and propel their promising futures, Wind Crest residents generously contributed more than $423,000 to the Wind Crest Student Scholarship Fund an annual campaign led this year by residents Lynne Montague-Clouse and Julie Beekhuizen More than 60% of Wind Crest residents contributed to the campaign making it possible to provide each of the 56 students with an $8,000 scholarship “The student workers bring so much light into our lives,” Montague-Clouse said “These scholarships are just a small token of our appreciation Their work ethic and positive attitudes will take them far in life.” a student must work a minimum of 1,000 hours at the community maintain good academic and professional standing “Our student workers acknowledge how impactful these scholarships are,” Wind Crest Executive Director Craig Erickson said “We are grateful to all of the residents who contributed These awards set our student workers up for success.” More than 250 parents, residents and team members attended the scholarship ceremony, celebrating the Wind Crest Scholars Class of 2024. In line with this year’s ceremony theme, Super Hero Scholars, each student shared stories about their Wind Crest super hero other team members and family members who played important roles in helping them grow at Wind Crest Since the scholarship program began in 2008, Wind Crest residents have contributed more than $2.6 million in scholarships to student employees “The Wind Crest Scholars program is just one way that our community supports mission-driven team members who are eager to further their education,” Erickson said You must be logged in to post a comment Five years ago, while looking for a continuing care retirement community, Rene and Tom Bury joined the Priority List and attended the Clubs and Groups Fair at Wind Crest the Erickson Senior Living community in Highlands Ranch The couple was so impressed with the wide variety of activities available it became one of the deciding factors in their choice to move to Wind Crest “We saw so many things we wanted to be a part of,” recalls Rene “We learned that we could be so much more involved doing the things we enjoy if we lived at Wind Crest The couple also appreciated the friendly enthusiasm of the residents involved in the various activities “There was a lot of excitement at the Fair Everyone was so enthusiastic,” she says “Tom and I enjoyed spending time walking from club to club learning what they were all about Wind Crest’s nearly 200 clubs and groups include book studies; arts and crafts; committees and service clubs; health support groups; performing arts and music groups; physical activities and sports; political and social clubs; spiritual and religious groups “It’s really important that we offer a diverse portfolio of clubs and groups,” says Resident Life Director Ashley Cable “Our goal is to serve residents with different interests By having a large variety of clubs and groups residents are able to explore new hobbies or continue with activities they’ve enjoyed their entire lives.” one of the community’s longest running groups providing residents an opportunity to join their neighbors for a friendly game of billiards at one of the two billiards tables on campus meets once a month for outdoor stargazing events and trips to local observatories Because all the clubs and groups are created by the residents themselves new clubs and groups are added all the time “One of the most interesting parts of our clubs and groups is that they’re all resident-led,” says Cable “If there’s not a group already in existence and a resident has an idea for a new one our team members are here to help them start the group guiding through the process and even helping them advertise the club or group in an effort to attract members We want our residents to be creative and to fill their time as they wish That’s why we encourage them to start new groups that they want.” A wealth of activitiesFollowing their move to Wind Crest the community’s largest resident club Rene continues to involve herself in a variety of activities and groups “I get bored quickly,” she says As a member of the Wind Crest Hikers group Rene joins her neighbors for local hikes every other week Tuesday I do the easy to moderate,” she says Staying engagedRene is also a member of the Wind Crest Pickleball Club and recently joined the new Aqua Ducks Water Volleyball Club but we’re getting better!” she says.Rene also enjoys playing mah-jongg and is an active member of the Democratic Alliance Rene takes classes through the Learners Group; her favorites include a history sampler and an in-depth look into The Beatles she participated in an eight-week class on grief and resilience “The class was really good and very helpful,” she says Volunteering her time and serving her community are also important to Rene who served as cochair of the Wind Crest Silent Auction benefiting scholarships for student servers She currently volunteers weekly at the Treasure Chest and serves as cochair of the spring clothing sale Making friendsRene appreciates the opportunities the Wind Crest clubs and groups provide for making friends and staying active “We want to keep our minds and bodies active To learn more about senior living at this vibrant community, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities You must be logged in to post a comment. 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FORECAST SHARE PHOTOS & VIDEOIndustrial Commercial Properties buys Windcrest Business Park for major overhaulby SBG San Antonio Staff Reports SAN ANTONIO - Industrial Commercial Properties LLC (ICP) announced today the acquisition of the 1.2 million-square-foot Windcrest International Business Park in Windcrest the property sits on 66 acres and will be transformed into a thriving multi-tenant business park The company's leadership team anticipates a swift lease-up and positive economic development for the area and greater San Antonio is a phenomenal international industrial market with outstanding transportation infrastructure,” said ICP’s Executive Vice President and lead project executive “We’ve already identified sizable users for the space and we’re excited to collaborate with the Windcrest Economic Development Corp ICP acknowledges the importance of public-private partnerships and its role as a successful economic and community development leader The company seeks to maximize the value of its assets while fostering long-term partnerships with tenants and stakeholders “Our team is constantly searching for new acquisitions the state of Texas will become a growth market for our company,” Brandt continued ICP owner Chris Semarjian expressed enthusiasm for the project highlighting ICP’s expertise in revitalizing large properties “This acquisition was particularly intriguing,” Semarjian said “A synergistic partnership with local governments often makes for the most successful redevelopments The Windcrest International Business Park will be a healthy mutual fund for the city “The importance of this project cannot be overstated,” stated Windcrest Mayor Dan Reese “The investment will create diverse jobs and generate much-needed city revenue.” “WIBP will provide a new front door for business and our community,” said Jennifer Newman “Our revitalization efforts receive a tremendous boost.” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai emphasized the project’s county-wide impact “Attracting a world-class company like ICP serves the development of a quality business park with a diverse tenant mix We knew this project was crucial to avoid the negative impact of a vacant property.” With a proven track record of transforming vacant properties into economic centers ICP looks forward to maximizing the potential of the Windcrest International Business Park Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Myra Arthur Valerie Gomez Bill Taylor Texas – Zooming through the interchange at Loop 410 and I-35 on the Northeast Side you could miss it if you’re not paying attention: the City of Windcrest “Mother came up with the idea,” said Tom Winn “She would hold a stick and he would look through the survey instrument and get the lay of the land and put the streets there and then started building houses,” said Winn The first house was built in 1954 in the fledgling neighborhood that “We were so far out of San Antonio that San Antonio Savings & Loan who wrote most of the mortgages in San Antonio at the time wouldn’t loan money this far out of town,” said Winn Barbee Winn came up with a plan to get more people interested in living in Windcrest “Why don’t we buy some Christmas lights and put them on And give them to each one of the homeowners and they would light up and then we would advertise ‘Come see the lights of Windcrest,’” Winn recalls his mother saying It was a spark that nearly 70 years later still shines brighter than anyone back then could have dreamed Tom Winn drove his mother around the neighborhood to see the lights when she was in her late 90s Windcrest city streets were packed with thousands of other Christmas-spirit-seekers looking at the elaborate light displays but his mother wasn’t surprised how their popularity had grown holds a Light Up contest with 11 categories for winners In recent years, one of the homeowners even won a $50,000 prize on ABC’s ‘Great Christmas Light Fight.’ Barricades pop up on what are normally quiet neighborhood streets to help the flow of traffic Maps of the city can be picked up at the Windcrest fire station to help drivers navigate their way to the best displays she decorated her walker — and herself — as the Energizer Bunny for what was her final birthday celebration what keeps ‘going and going’ is the Light Up legacy she created in the City of Windcrest “It was something for her to see,” said Winn Copyright 2023 by KSAT - All rights reserved Valerie Gomez is the video editor for KSAT Explains and the creator/producer of SA Vibes She has worked in news for over a decade and has been with KSAT since 2017 Her work on KSAT Explains and various special projects has earned multiple awards including a Lone Star EMMY three Telly Awards and a Regional Edward R