Briefs: Georgetown chain law, ROT rally

In Thursday's briefs, there will be another meeting on the fate of Johnston High School, bikers are revving up their engines and heading to Austin and more.

A ban on chaining dogs is now in Georgetown. The Georgetown City Council just approved the new rule. Come Christmas Eve, people can no longer keep their dog tethered in the yard. Dogs will need at least 150 square feet to roam. Dog owners have six months to build a fence if they need to. Austin approved a similar law in October.
 
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Thursday, the paramedic that died over the weekend in a helicopter crash will be laid to rest. Stephanie Waters lived in Cedar Park. She was in a medical helicopter transporting a patient Sunday when it crashed. Three other people died when the chopper went down. Thursday at 1 p.m., family and friends will gather at New Hope Baptist Church in Cedar Park to remember Waters.

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There will be another meeting Thursday on the fate of Johnston High School. Earlier this month, officials announced the school will not be re-opening in the fall because of low Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test scores. Family and students are welcome at Thursday's meeting at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria. That's at 1012 Arthur Stiles Road in East Austin.

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Bikers are revving up their engines and heading to Austin. The Republic of Texas, or ROT rally, kicks off Thursday at the Travis County Expo Center. If you're driving anywhere this weekend, expect to hear the roar of motorcycles, because over 40,000 bikers are headed our way.

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The Lone Star State's GOP convention starts Thursday in Houston. It will determine which delegates will go on to the national convention. Both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee will be making stops at the Texas Convention sometime Thursday through Saturday. Republican nominee John McCain, however, will not be stopping by. Experts said 11,600 delegates and alternates are expected to turnout.

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A construction worker was crushed to death while working in Dallas. Officials said the 37-year-old man was working on the ground when a bucket attached to a crane apparently snapped loose and fell. The heavy bucket is used to haul construction materials around the site. The man was working for TXI construction. Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the bucket to break loose.
 
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There is more pain at the pump as we hit record gas price highs in Central Texas. A gallon of regular unleaded averages $3.92 in the Austin-San Marcos area Thursday. That's a fraction of a cent higher than Wednesday. A month ago, a gallon of regular was going for more than 30 cents less. This time last year, we were paying almost a dollar less at $2.95 a gallon.