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Wednesday January 14, 2026 | Volume 151, Issue 2

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Dallas explores alternative to building new police station City staff moves to I-O building, police keep City Hall By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

FILE I-O PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

The city of Dallas is now exploring moving city staff into the old Itemizer-Observer building and renovating City Hall into a new police station reconfiguration.

In an effort to find a more affordable option for a new home for the Dallas Police Department, the City Council directed staff to instead explore moving city staff into the old Itemizer Observer building. City Hall next door would then be converted into the new home for the police force. After a $17.2 million bond to build a new station to replace the I-O building was voted down last year, the city has been exploring “value engineering” options to present another, less expensive option. Swinerton Builders and architects from Mackinzie worked with city staff to present three alternatives to the city council

last month, ranging in cost from $14.3 million to $17.1 million. City staff further explored switching from a general obligation bond to a revenue bond that would shave 10 years from the life of the bond. In exchange, the option would add an additional $13-$15 to the city’s bill to the more than 7,000 residents within Dallas. City Manager Brian Latta told the councilors staff then asked themselves was this enough of a savings. “That led us to look at another option altogether,” Latta said, presenting the plan for the first time to the city council. The plan involves relocating non-police, city employees into See BUILDING, page A7

Dragons honor school’s first state wrestling champ By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

Living history took center stage at the Lady Dragon invitational wrestling tournament Jan. 10. The annual event, now in its fifth year, is hosted by Dallas High School. No tournament in the state brings together more girl wrestlers. But this year the spotlight also shined brightly on a 94-year-old man. Delmond Tilgnor’s chapter in the school’s record book is secure. Tilgnor is the school’s first-ever state champion in wrestling. An honor he received in 1949, or some 77 years ago. Tilgnor was remembered for that achievement Saturday. During his ceremony, which was before family, friends and a packed gym, he donated his original 1949 letterman jacket and state championship medal to the school. These artifacts are to be displayed among the school’s trophies, banners and other momentos. See CHAMP, page A8

PHOTO BY SMY PHOTOGRAPHY

Delmond Tilgnor (center), Dallas High School’s first state wrestling champion in 1949, is honored by the current girls and boys wrestlers before the Lady Dragon invitational wrestling tournament Jan. 10.

Falls City welcomes new engine to its fleet By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

The Falls City Fire Department welcomed on Jan. 7 the newest member to their team – a 1995 Pierce engine that arrived courtesy their sister department Dallas Fire & EMS. All hands were on deck to participate in the ceremonial “push-in” to officially welcome

IN THIS ISSUE

their new apparatus into their fleet. “In the old days when you got a new piece of apparatus, the idea was you christened it and pushed it into the fire station,” said Falls City Fire Chief John Gilbert. “Now, we’re not going to push in a 30,000 pound, 38 ton truck. We’ll idle her and act like pushing it in. See ENGINE, page A8

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Falls City Fire Chief John Gilbert says a few words to his firefighters and special guests as they welcome a 1995 Pierce engine donated by Dallas Fire & EMS.

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