Best of Texas Blogs: Friendswood

Severe weather expected today in Houston area

2012-01-25T07:24:00.001-08:00

KRPC: You can see a wall of heavy rain," KPRC Local 2 meteorologist Anthony Yanez. "From 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock is the time to watch for these dangerous storms."

"Do not take these warnings lightly. Typically, whenever we get these and see a pattern like we had this morning, we'll see a handful of tornadoes," Yanez said.

Gusty winds and scattered showers moved through the area at 2 a.m., knocking out power to 30,000 CenterPoint Energy customers. As of 6:30 a.m., approximately 18,000 people remained without electricity.

"Earlier this morning, we had wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph," Yanez said. "That's what knocked down some of those trees and power lines. We could still see some 60 mph straight-line winds, hail and lots of lightning."

A low-pressure system is responsible for strong storms in central and northern Texas, which are expected to drench the Houston area most of the day.

"There's a couple of lines that we're tracking. The strongest one will arrive in Houston around noon. It's a concern for this morning until early afternoon. The radar is picking up a lot of twisting winds," Yanez said. "It's going to be wet from 8 o'clock all the way through 2 o'clock. By 5 p.m., this storm system will be in our eastern counties."

Yanez said south of Interstate 10 is not expected to see the strongest storms.

"It's a lot more scattered and not as well put together," Yanez said.

Power outages caused problems for some southwest Houston businesses.

Whataburger on the Southwest Freeway near Weslayan had to turn away customers when employees could not prepare food for the morning rush.

"Their lights just came back on (at 6 a.m.), but they weren't ready to serve yet," customer Carol Bennett said.

Many Houstonians were worried about flooding after severe weather left its mark on Jan. 9.

Houston firefighters performed about 140 water rescues when people became stranded in high water.

Officials warned drivers to "turn around, not drown" if they approached rising water.

Flooding is the most common hazard in Houston and many times, individuals are not able to judge the depths of water along roadways and find themselves in perilous conditions.

Officials said 6 inches of water can cause tires to lose traction and begin to slide, and 12 inches of water can float many cars. Two feet of rushing water will carry off pickup trucks, SUVs and most other vehicles.

Water across a roadway may hide a missing segment of road or a missing bridge, officials said.

In flash floods, waters rise so rapidly they may be far deeper by the time you are halfway across, trapping you in your vehicle.

Be especially cautious at night, when it's even more difficult to gauge the amount of water in a roadway.

The safest option is to simply avoid driving over water and find an alternate, safer route, or wait until the danger has passed.

Police concentrating on heroin problem ...

2012-01-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, police established a task force to tackle what seemed to be a growing heroin problem among teens. They believe they've made a lot of progress, including Wednesday's arrest, although it also confirms the drug is still in demand there.

While suburban and quaint, Friendswood also has its share of big city crime. And early Wednesday morning, the focus was on an accused drug pusher in possession of about 7 grams of heroin.

"He's the one that's delivering it down at the street level," Friendswood Police Department Chief Robert Wieners said.

According to Friendswood police, officers interrupted a drug deal in the 3300 block of FM 528 early Wednesday morning. They arrested Isaac Dominguez, whom they say admitted to being a user. But they also believe he's a major supplier in the area.

Heroin use has been back on the radar in Friendswood since a Christmas Eve fatal overdose.

"We are certainly very well aware of the heroin trafficking that's going on," Wieners said.

The last time we talked to police there about heroin was two years ago when they were seeing more and more teenagers using what's called black tar heroin, a less refined version. Here, it was being used in liquid form that can be sniffed from an eyedropper.

"Without the needles, that makes it a lot more acceptable," Mark Norris said.

Norris is a licensed clinical social worker for Cenikor Foundation. They treat a lot of heroin addicts. He says liquid heroin has less of a stigma but still comes with all the dangers.

"The thing about it is you never know the potency of it. You might do X quantity for two weeks and then X quantity the next week kills you," Norris said.

Norris says dealers market to teens and even though police have made this arrest.

"There's always somebody waiting in line for that market. Those drugs will get there," Norris said.

Dominguez told officers he's a train conductor. The amount of drugs he had on him, police say, was worth about $500 on the street.

Again, they say he's a major supplier so they hope his arrest will puts a dent in the current trade.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Leak at Deer Park plant

2012-01-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)-Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) Tuesday reported an emissions event caused by a leak in overhead piping at the company's joint-venture refinery in Deer Park, Texas.

In a filing to Texas state environmental regulators, the company said the emissions were routed to the appropriate safety flare system and that refinery personnel depressured and isolated the leak from the Debenzenizer 1 column in just over 10 minutes.

The Debenzenizer and Hydrotreater 2 were listed as sources of the emissions.

It is not clear whether the event had an impact on production at the 327,000-barrels-a-day refinery that Shell Oil, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC, operates in partnership with PMI Norteamerica S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.

Rare treat: Houstonians can watch as Space Station crosses Moon

2012-01-04T11:14:00.001-08:00

A slice of Houston will have a chance to view a rare treat this evening.

Not only will the International Space Station make an incredibly bright, six-minute track across the sky tonight, some observers will be able to see the orbital laboratory blink across the moon.

Beginning at 6:28 p.m. the station will rise above the northwest horizon in Houston, and disappear just above the southeast horizon some six minutes later. Skies are forecast to be partly cloudy.

Along this path, for some parts of Houston all the way to Galveston, the station’s track will bring it across the face of the moon.

The following map, made by Steve Clayworth of Observable Universe, shows the approximate area from which this will be visible.

Alvin man arrested for being fake cop ...

2011-12-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- An Alvin man has is facing charges after investigators say he drove recklessly and when stopped, had the appearance of a law enforcement officer.

Acosta was stopped in the 100 block of W. Willowick for reckless driving. Police say Acosta was seen turning off his headlines and tail lights while making a high speed turn and driving 50 miles per hour in a 20 miles per hour zone. They say he also ran two stop signs.

Police say when an officer pulled him over, Acosta was wearing a pistol on his hip and had on a black jacket with the word 'police' on the front and back. The jacket also reportedly had a badge for an Army MP on it. Police say Acosta had a police badge on his belt and blue police lights on his car.

Acosta was disarmed until other police units arrived. He told investigators he believed he was being followed by someone.

New animal shelter opens.

2011-12-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Friendswood: New animal shelter opened
by Christopher Smith Gonzalez/ The Daily News
khou.com

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — The city is still waiting on a few more cages, but Friendswood’s new animal control center is up and running.

The city’s old facility had about 1,000 square feet, said Animal Control Supervisor Craig Baker. The new building has 5,500 square feet, and once all the cages are in place the facility’s capacity for holding cats and dogs will triple.

But the city is looking for a little help.

The new facility, 3000 W. Parkwood Ave., can hold 18 dogs and 21 cats with its current kennels, Baker said. But officials are hoping to get more cages and kennels for the holding, isolation and receiving rooms, he said

Kids caught on video stealing toys from church.

2011-12-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

ABC: Some might call it cutting out the middleman. The police call it theft.
A group of youths stole two bags’ worth of donated toys from St. Helen Catholic Church, in Pearland, Texas, during Mass on Sunday, police said. A similar theft had occurred at Mary Queen Catholic Church, in nearby Friendswood, said police.

“You’d think toys for the needy would be safe at a church,” said Lt. Onesimo Lopez of the Pearland Police Department.

Lopez, who belongs to St. Helen, said parishioners had been leaving brand-new, unopened toys at a designated area in the church’s foyer to be given to needy children at Christmas. There was an estimated $600 worth of toys in the two bags, he said.

According to a police news release, just before 11 a.m. Sunday, two girls and a boy were filmed outside the church by surveillance cameras. After Mass began at 11 a.m., the suspects were seen entering the church and walking out with the two large bags. One bag was being carried by a girl whom police estimated was between 8 and 10 years old.

They were also seen panhandling outside the church, with at least one woman giving them money.
The video shows the trio getting into a gold Chrysler minivan with tinted windows and no front license plate.

Police suspect they are part of an itinerant group of thieves targeting holiday toy donations, Lopez said. The kids didn’t look familiar to the priest or anyone else police interviewed, he said.

Lopez said no similar burglaries had occurred during the holidays in recent years. The last time police caught itinerant thieves was last summer, when two men and a woman were arrested for stealing from cars outside day care centers, he said.
Lopez said none of the tips called in had proved useful.

Friendswood teens face charges in Thanksgiving Day vandalism spree

2011-11-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

by khou.com staff
khou.com
Posted on November 25, 2011 at 10:15 PM

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas—Three teenagers are facing felony criminal mischief charges after Friendswood police say they went on a Thanksgiving Day crime spree.

Officers were called to the Wilderness Trails Subdivision for a report of vandalism around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police said they found they found three boys, ages 14 and 15, who admitted to damaging property.
The boys are suspected of hitting 17 vehicles and five mailboxes, but that number is expected to rise as people arrive home from the holiday weekend.

Father arrested for child abuse in Friendswood

2011-11-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas – Police say an 8-month-old girl could be permanently disabled from injuries she suffered at the hands of her father.

Anthony Michael Pittman, 23, is charged with injury to a child.
According to police, Pittman was home with the victim and a 2-year-old child on October 29, 2011, while the baby’s mother went to the store.

Pittman and the victim’s mother were dating at the time.
At some point while the mother was gone, Pittman said he found the baby lying on the bed.

He said when he picked her up, she got sick and stopped breathing, so he called 911.
The baby’s mother and a friend got home before paramedics arrived and started CPR.
Police and EMS responded to the home around 6 p.m. that day.
Paramedics called for an air ambulance, and the baby was rushed to Memorial Hermann.
The 2-year-old was put in CPS custody.

Later that night, Pittman was arrested trying to get the toddler back.
During a jailhouse interview several days later, police said Pittman told officers that he was tossing the baby into the air when he accidentally dropped her.

But investigators said Pittman’s account of what happened was not consistent with the injuries the child sustained.

Doctors believe the girl was shaken and may have suffered blunt-force trauma to the head.
She remained in the hospital on Monday with severe head injuries.
Pittman was being held in the Harris County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Seven sent to hospital from tanker crash

2011-10-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

From staff reports
A tanker that allegedly ran a red light in Friendswood damaged four other vehicles and sent seven people to the hospital, including four children, Friendswood police said Tuesday.

At about 1 p.m. on Saturday, a 10-wheel tanker truck was traveling westbound on FM 528 at Moore Road when it ran a red light and struck a Suburban that was turning eastbound onto FM 528, police said.

The truck then collided with a Dodge pickup truck headed eastbound on FM 528. A Toyota passenger car and a Toyota pickup truck were also involved in the accident, as a result of the impact of the Dodge and tanker collision.
Although no injuries were reported to be life-threatening, four children and three adults were sent to the hospital. The driver of the tanker truck is charged with running the red light, police said.

Coach busted for selling steroids and cocaine

2011-09-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas (AP) — Police say a veteran Southeast Texas teacher and volleyball coach has been accused of selling steroids and cocaine.

Friendswood police Chief Bob Wieners says there's a possibility that some of the customers were students.

Timothy Todd Porter of League City is jailed on charges of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Authorities say oral steroids were confiscated Wednesday when the 45-year-old Clear Springs High School educator was arrested at his home.
Bond was set at $10,000. Friendswood jail officials Thursday did not have any information on an attorney for Porter.

A district spokeswoman says Porter, who taught physics and astronomy, has been suspended. He's been with the district for 22 years.
Two other men also have been arrested in the drug trafficking investigation.

Friendswood schools rated Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system

2011-09-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

Friendswood Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The Superior Achievement rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of FISD’s financial management and reporting system.

Schools FIRST (Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas), is a financial accountability system for Texas school districts developed by the Texas Education Agency in response to Senate Bill 875 of the 76th Legislature in 1999.

The primary goal of School’s FIRST is to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources, a goal made more significant due to the complexity of accounting associated with Texas’ school finance system.

“We are very pleased with FISD’s School FIRST rating”, said FISD’s Assistant Superintendent of Administration Thad Roher, “as it shows that our district is making the most of our taxpayers’ dollars. This shows that FISD’s schools are accountable not only for student learning, but also for achieving these results cost-effectively and efficiently.”

The Schools FIRST accountability rating system assigns one of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “Superior Achievement,” followed by “Above-Standard Achievement,” “Standard Achievement” and “Substandard Achievement.” Districts with serious data quality problems may receive the additional rating of “Suspended - Data Quality.” Districts that receive the “Substandard Achievement” or “Suspended – Data Quality” ratings under Schools FIRST must file a corrective action plan with the Texas Education Agency.

Bastrop is burning ...

2011-09-06T10:02:00.001-07:00

BASTROP

- The most destructive wildfire on record in Texas showed no signs of slowing down Monday, destroying 25,000 acres in Bastrop County and 476 homes, more houses than any single wildfire before and more than all other fires this year combined, according to the Texas Forest Service.

With more than 60 new wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry left the campaign trail Monday in South Carolina to address the public and organize requests for more federal aid.

Closer to Houston, a fire in Magnolia burned 20 homes and more than 1,600 acres, and was threatening subdivisions in Montgomery and Grimes counties late Monday. It had moved southwest into Waller County last Monday.

It was one of several fires to hit the area, straining state and local resources as officials focused on the most dangerous blazes. One firefighter was injured and one fire engine burned in blazes in the Magnolia area, said Lt. Dan Norris, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not yet know how much of the most dangerous fire had been contained Monday, but planned to continue fighting it "as long as necessary," Norris said.

Strong winds and dry conditions fanned the flames and aided the blaze's rapid growth, forcing the evacuation of more than 150 homes. Montgomery County officials were encouraging evacuations from the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488, about 42 miles northwest of Houston, up to the Grimes County line, an official said.

Magnolia fire

The Magnolia fire, located off FM 1774 and FM 1488, jumped FM 1488 late Monday and forced further evacuations, although some families were being allowed back to their homes. The Magnolia Independent School District canceled classes today because of the fires. Evacuation shelters were being set up throughout the area, including at Magnolia High School.

Another fire in the area had burned 100 acres and was 80 percent contained, Norris said. It had destroyed one structure and caused no injuries after 50 homes were evacuated.

A fire covering about 100 acres was burning in Oak Ridge North late Monday.

A fire near Nacogdoches that started Sunday night raged to 300 acres Monday and forced 60 families to evacuate their homes, said Ralph Cullom, a spokesman for the Texas Forrest Service. That fires grew with strong gusts of winds and fed off of dry conditions on the ground.

"This drought we're having is just unprecedented," Cullom said.

No injuries have been reported in Bastrop, but two people were reported killed in a North Texas fire Monday. A woman and her 18-month-old child died when a fast-moving fire near Gladewater, east of Dallas, set their mobile home on fire and they were unable to escape.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, pushed by strong winds and fed by plenty of dry grasses, shrubs and trees, steadily moved south Monday and expanded throughout the day. It jumped the Colorado River twice.

"We will be working days on end," said Mike Fisher, the Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator. "The fire is so dynamic we really have no idea where it is."

'Lives at stake'

Perry said the wildfire burning in the central part of the state is "as mean looking" as he's ever seen.

Anonymous hackers expose racism in Friendswood police force ...

2011-09-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Anonymous, the world’s most famous hacktivist coalition, has attacked Texas law enforcement, specifically the higher-ups at the Texas Police Chiefs Association.

Dubbed operation “Texas Takedown Thursday,” the group defaced the texaspolicechiefs.org and exposed the slew of private email communications between members of various state police departments.

Yesterday evening, Anonymous tweeted about their exploits, announcing the website defacement as well as linked to a release on the operation.

They give multiple reasons for the attack – first, as a retaliation for arrests of alleged Anonymous suspects all over the world. Second, “Ch*nga La Migra,” as they take issue with Texas law enforcment continuing to “harass immigrants and use border patrol operations as a cover for their backwards racist prejudice.”

Also:

"We are doing this in solidarity with the “Anonymous 16″ PayPal LOIC defendants,
accused LulzSec member Jake Davis “Topiary”, protesters arrested during #OpBart
actions, Bradley Manning, Stephen Watt, and other hackers and leakers worldwide."

A little later, they announced the pastebin leak of the alleged emails: You can see the e-mails at this link - but warning - they contain explicit language.

According to AnonymousIRC, the texaspolicechiefs.org site was defaced for over 3 hours before it was restored. Apparently, it was defaced again.

Driest year on record plagues Texas ...

2011-08-29T08:34:00.003-07:00

VOA: Weather forecasters and agriculture experts in the southwestern U.S. state of Texas say there is no relief in sight for what already is the worst drought year on record. The searing heat and dry conditions have caused devastating wildfires in the western part of the large state and led to crop losses, cattle deaths and water rationing in areas of east Texas that are normally wet at this time of year.

Driving through the countryside northwest of Houston, one sees dried up fields, dying trees and livestock ponds that are not much more than a puddles of fetid, algae-covered water. In some towns, farmers' markets have been cancelled because local growers have little to offer. Those with wells for irrigation are struggling with the high cost of fuel to run their pumps.

Debbie Cross, who operates a farmers' market near Cypress, Texas, says people are becoming discouraged by the lack of rain and the high temperatures, which are around 40 degrees most days.

“The drought is hurting everything. It is hurting all the crops, the cattle, the hay. There is no grass. The chickens are miserable. I mean everybody is just miserable. We need water,” Cross said.

Cross says local farmers are unable to supply much fruit and vegetables and that she is getting by with produce trucked in from other states where conditions are better.

“We are getting it from the local southern states and southwestern states are kicking in -- Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma. Everybody knows that the Texas market is a great consumer market, so they are helping out a lot here,” Cross said.
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One of the hardest hit agricultural sectors is livestock. Texas is the biggest cattle producer in the United States and ships beef to many foreign markets. Earlier this year, ranchers endured one of the worst winters on record, with several days of subzero temperatures in a region where freezes are rare. The drought has made it even harder, driving up the cost of hay and leaving some areas so dry that cattle have died of thirst in their pastures.

One rancher who has managed to get through this crisis with most of her stock in fairly good condition is Dorie Damuth, owner of the Flying D ranch near Magnolia, Texas.

Damuth raises prize-winning Texas Longhorns for breeding and she has managed to find hay and enough water to keep them alive. She says she has seen dry spells before, but nothing that compares to this year.

“The drought is something I, as a cattle woman, and all of my fellow cattlemen and cattlewomen have never experienced before. This is probably the 100-year drought, just like you can have a 100-year flood. It is very devastating for all of us ranchers who work so hard to provide beef for our country as well as for around the world,” Damuth said.

In a dried up lake on her property, there is a Longhorn skull sitting on top of cracked earth that is muddy and soft underneath.

“We have had lakes and stock ponds on the ranch that have dried up because of no rain, no rainfall. They will dry down to a little mucky place in the middle that is still wet and the cattle will sometimes go down and try to get water and they can't. And they step into that mucky mud and it is kind of like quicksand, and they can't get out.”

Lately, there have been beautiful fluffy clouds floating over the area. But ranch hand Chris Quinters is not encouraged by them.

“Those are some nice clouds, but it don't look like they are going to bring any rain,” Quinters said.

Family struggles to keep roadside monument alive in Friendswood

2011-08-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas—It happened in the 3500 block of West Bay Area Boulevard in Friendswood on the night before Thanksgiving. Keith Vargas was riding the motorcycle that once belonged to his father, when a truck pulling a trailer drove into his path. Vargas, 30, was killed instantly.

"There’s a void that will never be filled," said Stacie Burcl, Vargas’ sister. "There’s a holiday that will never be the same, and there’s a 4-year-old little girl that will never have her father again."

That little girl helped her family erect a memorial cross honoring Vargas on the roadside. That was on Easter. The following day, Burcl said she received a phone call from the nearby HOA’s management company.

"I was instructed that I had 24 hours to remove the cross that was called a distraction," said Burcl.

Burcl opted not to remove the cross, but just a few days ago, someone else did.

"Some people ask why do we have this cross here," said Diane Vargas, the victim’s mother. "It’s to honor where my child died."

The HOA said if the city doesn’t object to the cross, it doesn’t either. Some residents in the area, however, do.

Friendswood schools "Exemplary"

2011-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

When the Texas Education Agency released the accountability ratings for 8,526 public schools and 1,228 school districts, Friendswood ISD had reason to celebrate. Once again all six campuses are rated Exemplary along with the district being Exemplary.

This is the district’s third consecutive year to obtain the highest ranking awarded by the state.

“Even though this is the third consecutive year for an Exemplary rating, this year, it is more significant,” Friendswood Superintendent Trish Hanks said. “Despite the distractions caused by unprecedented state funding reductions and a last minute increase in the accountability standards, our teachers kept their focus where it needed to be.”

The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test ratings are based on passing rates, dropout rates and high school completion rates. For 2011, standards were increased and the Texas Projection Measure (TPM) was eliminated. These changes resulted in fewer districts and schools earning the top Exemplary rating for the year.

The number of Exemplary districts decreased from 241 in 2010 to 61 for 2011 and Exemplary campus numbers dropping from 2,637 in 2010 to 1,224.

Friendswood joins 44 other districts excluding charter operators (61 with charter operators) in reaching the Exemplary status. FISD is in the top 5 percent of schools to reach this. Out of the 61, only 5 others are as large or larger than FISD who has 6,000 students. The other five are Frisco ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Eanes ISD, Carroll ISD and Highland Park ISD.

Friendswood Mustang tickets go on sale Monday!

2011-07-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Season ticket sales for Friendswood Mustang varsity football games will begin next Monday.
Renewals for season ticket holders will be from 9-11 a.m., and 3-5 p.m., Aug. 1-5 at the athletic director’s office.

New ticket sales will be offered Aug. 8-12 at the same hourly increments, also at the athletic director’s office.

Home games will be played against Angleton, Houston Stratford, Galveston Ball, La Marque, Santa Fe and Texas City.

Friendswood posted a 13-2 record last season, advancing to the Class 4A Division I state semifinals where it lost to eventual four-time defending state champion Austin Lake Travis.

Friendswood Makes Top Ten Family- Friendly List

2011-07-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

KTSM
By Lauren Zimmerman - Web Producer
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 - 12:00pm

FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS- Friendswood, Texas has been named #5 on the list of 10 best towns for families in the United States, according to Family Circle magazine.
Friendswood is the only town in Texas to receive this designation.

Family Circle initially assembled a list of 2,500 cities and towns with populations between 15,000 and 150,000. and assessed which places best met the family-friendly criteria- including low crime rate, affordable homes, quality schools, financial stability, access to health care, green space and volunteerism.

Rounding out the top ten are :

1. St. Charles, Illinois
2. Peachtree City, Georgia
3. Liberty, Missouri
4. Fairhope, Alabama
5. Friendswood, TX
6. Novi, Michigan
7. Trumbull, Connecticut
8. Germantown, Wisconsin
9. Oviedo, Florida
10. Maple Valley, Washington

The article describes Friendswood as a community rich with academic ambition, support for our kids, beautiful neighborhoods, and specifically cited Friendswood’s new Veterans Memorial adjacent to City Hall as an example of one of the community’s “good deeds”.

Shrimp boat captain charged with murder

2011-06-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

GALVESTON — A shrimp boat captain surrendered at the Galveston County Jail after he was charged with murder in the June 3 shooting of long-time friend and fellow captain, Texas City police said Wednesday.

James Michael Morris, 59, of Dickinson, surrendered Tuesday and his bond was set at $75,000, police spokesman Cpt. Brian Goetschius said.

Goetschius said police believe Morris shot Kelly Sumner, 41, of Friendswood, in the back after an argument over shrimp sales. Morris's .44-caliber pistol discharged during a struggle, striking Morris in the leg, he said. Morris dropped the pistol, then regained control and shot Sumner once.

Read more: HERE

Texas Local Web Site Blooms into a Flower for the Community

2011-06-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

New exciting things are developing in the Summer of 2011 for ExploreHouston.com

Best Publications wants to welcome the public to this new web business directory and informational mecca for ExploreHouston.com that will continue to be filled with. . . Community Links and Events, Guide Pages for Restaurants, Weddings, Florist, Services, Auto Sales, Entertainment, Real Estate, Eye Care, Dental, Medical, Employment, Shopping! Read a variety of Articles | Forums Topics | Daily Deals | Coupons | Directory Hot Links | Interact Page to Join the Community Fun!

Register with ExploreHouston.com site so you can gain the benefits. User can post Social and Public Events.

Take the opportunity for High School and University Students to announce Sports and School Events, Professional Sports Links and Ticket Information | Post a photo or comment on other people’s Photos, Comment of Articles or Forum Topics | Post a Scan of your Child’s Artwork | Free Classified Postings & Add Your Own

The staff of ExploreHouston wants the community to benefit from the information we can share... as well as encourage you to participate. Send us a comment.

Post your event or Your Organization Benefit in ExploreHouston.com Event section. We want our information to accurate, so we depend on our community to help us stay in touch.

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Engage! Enjoy! Grow with us!

~ ExploreHouston.com Staff

Neighborhood Almost Deserted 10 Years After TS Allison

2011-06-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas - On a warm summer day in Friendswood, nothing could look less menacing, less capable of harm than the gentle Gulf-bound flow of Clear Creek.
It wasn't always so.

On June 5, 2001, in just three hours time, Tropical Storm Allison unloaded more than ten inches of rain fall on Friendswood and the worst was yet to come.
"Allison backed down on us with another 17 inches of rain," recalls Terry Byrd, Friendswood Fire Marshall and Emergency Management Director.

By the time the storm mercifully moved on close to five hundred homes in the town of 35,000 had flood damage.

Most of the water having burst over Clear Creek's swollen banks.
No where was the damage greater than Imperial Estates - a neighborhood where homeowners knowingly traded flood risk for natural beauty.

"There are going to be pros and cons to living anywhere and I guess this is the con of living here," said flood stricken resident Mike Stacy in a 2001 interview with Fox 26.
A decade ago when Allison unloaded on the Gulf Coast there were hundreds of residents living in Imperial Estates, but these days you can count the number of homes on one hand.

"They kind of merge, all of the messes and you kind of remember the highlights of them," says long time resident Janice Frankie who continues to make her home in Imperial Estates.
Frankie says she once had plenty of neighbors, but not any more, not since Allison.
''They were really lovely homes that people had put a lot of their selves into and it was really a shame that they had to lose them," said Frankie.

Deemed almost certain to flood again, Friendswood gave Imperial Estates homeowners a choice - raise their houses substantially or accept a federally funded buy-out.
Nearly all took the cash.

Where prime dwellings once stood only grass and timber remain.
The buyouts have proven a genuine relief for Friendswood's emergency manager.
"They are not there to flood anymore and that really has been a key factor in lessening the impact of flood waters," insists Byrd

With more than her share of hurricanes and high water in the rear view of 76-years of living Janice Frankie refuses to run from Clear Creek.
"Any place you go you are going to have some kind of a mess and I know what these messes are," says Frankie with a smile.

Friendswood teacher put on leave for making Osama comment ...

2011-05-06T07:10:00.001-07:00

THE STIR:

It seems this 9th grade math teacher from Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas hasn't been in touch with the real world lately. Except that he has. He is a teacher. Of students. Who happen to be people. With feelings. But let's just say any footing this guy might have in reality totally doesn't show ...

The day after Osama bin Laden was killed, this teacher, who the school district has chosen not to name, took it upon himself to prove himself a complete out-of-touch ignoramus. He walked up to American-born girl of Muslim faith during class and said to her, "I bet you're grieving." Uh, what?

When the student looked at him like he was crazy, he said he heard about her "uncle's" death. Her response, upon realizing he was talking about Osama bin Laden, was a perfectly appropriate, "Wow."

I can't think of a more apt initial response myself. I mean, who in their right mind would assume a person would have some loyalty to a murderous, extremist terrorist just because you share the same religion. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Especially from an educated educator!

The girl ended up bursting into tears in class a little later (which makes me want to crush his skull) -- because OUCH, it's such a racially insensitive and downright cruel comment from one's own teacher. That's got to hurt. A classmate of hers stood up for her when the teacher inquired about the girl's tears, and still, he didn't backtrack or apologize for his comment but smirked, laughed, and walked away!

The school district announced that the teacher has been "placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation."

Houston helping Japan disaster victims ...you can help too.

2011-03-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

by Lisa Chavarria / KHOU 11 News
khou.com
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:48 AM

HOUSTON NEWS -- The price at the pump appears to be forcing drivers around Houston to figure out ways to save cash.

Gas prices were averaging $3.49 on Tuesday morning, and that is forcing some drivers to find ways to other means of transportation.

Several commuters at one of Metro's Park and Ride said although they usually choose the bus over their vehicles, now it's saving them more than ever.
"It makes me want to ride the bus more. It's cheaper for me to take the bus than it is for me to drive to work now," said John Young.

Gloria Chen, recently decided she couldn't take her car on her usual commute anymore. She added, "I used to drive all the way to the Medical Center from Katy, but because of increasing gas prices, I've decided to use the park and ride."

Friendswood considering banning faux-marijuana

2011-03-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD — The city of Friendswood might soon join other cities in Galveston County in banning products that advertise a marijuana-like high when smoked.

The city council on Feb. 28 unanimously approved an initial vote to outlaw products marketed as incense or potpourri made of plant material doused in synthetic chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Brands include K2, Spice, Blonde, Summit, Standard and Citron, which are sold for up to $50 a package at smoke shops and convenience stores. A final vote on the law is scheduled for March 21.

Friendswood’s proposed law would prohibit the use, possession and sale of synthetic cannabinoids not yet categorized as illegal controlled substances under federal or state law and the devices used to consume the substances.

Possession of fake marijuana would result in a Class C misdemeanor, the same offense as a traffic violation, police Chief Bob Wieners said.

Santa Fe, Texas City and Dickinson have passed similar laws.

Friendswood police officers have encountered people in possession of synthetic marijuana at least four times a week for the past six months.

Police are awaiting toxicology tests of a 19-year-old Friendswood woman, who authorities said overdosed in December from smoking Spice, Wieners said. Packages of the substance were found in the woman’s house, he said.

Synthetic marijuana likely was a factor in the death of a man who crashed his motorcycle in November on West Bay Area Boulevard, Wieners said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration on March 1 exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control five chemicals used to make fake marijuana. The action makes possessing and selling the chemicals or products that contain them illegal in the United States.

The federal ban of the substances will remain in effect for at least year with a possible six-month extension while the DEA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study whether the chemicals should be permanently controlled.

People wrongly equate the products’ legal retail availability with safe use, DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement.

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the chemicals for human consumption, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process.

The Texas Poison Center Network has received 546 calls regarding exposure to synthetic marijuana since Jan. 1, 2010.

Ten of those calls came from Galveston County, said Jon Thompson, director of the Southeast Texas Poison Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

“That’s relatively up there,” Thompson said. “The only counties we receive more calls from are Harris, Bexar, Travis, Dallas and Tarrant. We don’t get a call about every exposure, so there could be many more cases out there.”

Side effects of smoking the product include seizures, anxiety attacks, dangerously elevated heart rates, increased blood pressure, vomiting and disorientation, Thompson said.

State lawmakers during the current legislative session have introduced five bills that would make the possession, manufacture and sale of synthetic marijuana illegal.

“It had already been banned in several European countries when it began showing up in the U.S. at the end of 2009,” Thompson said. “People are sick as dogs after smoking this stuff.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Mushrooms and pot laced candies found in bust in Friendswood.

2011-02-16T08:11:00.001-08:00

A narcotics search warrant turned up hydroponic marijuana and psychedelic mushroom-laced chocolate candies at a Friendswood home, police say.

Friendswood Police were investigating a residence in the 800 block of Briarmeadow Avenue on suspicion marijuana and other narcotics were being sold in the area.

When officers executed the search warrant on Feb. 11, they found:

-- 333.5 grams of chocolate candies containing Psilocybin, a hallucinogenic similar to LSD.

-- 1.215 ounces of hydroponic marijuana. Several small plastic baggies were also found indicating the marijuana was ready for distribution.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Breaking: Explosions rock Belvieu plant!

2011-02-08T11:59:00.001-08:00

Multiple explosions, fire at Mont Belvieu plant

Credit: AIR 11
A fire at Enterprise Products in Mont Belvieu was burning out of control more than an hour after witnesses heard multiple explosions.

by Michelle Homer / khou.com
khou.com
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 1:05 PM
Updated today at 1:39 PM

MONT BELVIEU, Texas – Several explosions at a Mont Belvieu plant were followed by flames that could be seen from miles around.
The explosions happened at Enterprise Products at 135 Sun Oil Road around 12:25 p.m.

Witnesses reported seeing workers fleeing from the Chambers County plant. Other workers were being told to stay inside.
The company hasn't released any details about injuries. An employee, who didn't want to be identified, said at least one contractor has not been accounted for.

The employee said the explosion happened in a subsection of the plant.
Chambers County officials say there's no known threat to the public at this time.

They have not called for evacuations.
State Highway 146 is closed near the plant.

The fire was still burning out of control nearly an hour after it began. The flames could be seen 25 miles away in Houston.

A Houston caller named Pat said she was talking by phone to a relative inside the plant when the first set of explosions happened. There were three more explosions while they were still on the phone. "Anywhere from eight to 11 explosions," according to Pat.

READ MORE AT KHOU

Controversy surrounds teen beating by Houston police

2011-02-05T18:54:00.001-08:00

(CNN) -- Houston's mayor and police department were on the defensive Friday, two days after graphic video came out showing several police repeatedly kicking and beating a 15-year-old burglary suspect as he lay on the ground.
An internal police investigation of the incident last March led to the firing of seven police officers, said spokesman John Cannon of the Houston police department.

Two successfully appealed and returned to their jobs, said Houston NAACP President D.Z. Cofield.

Five other officers were disciplined in other ways, Cannon said. And a Harris County grand jury indicted four of the officers this summer, based in part on the video.
Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos opposed the video becoming public and felt doing so might prejudice potential jurors and force the indicted officers' trials to be moved out of the county.

Quanell X, a local activist, got hold of the surveillance tape showing the scene outside a storage facility and gave it to the media.
He said he had every right to obtain the footage and make it public.

"I will show my people what they deserve to see, and let the public see what you don't want them to see," Quanell X said.
Mayor Annise Parker said the police leadership and city acted properly.

"I resent any implication that we were trying to hide the tape," she said.
After viewing the footage, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. fired the seven officers and a grand jury called for misdemeanor charges against four of them in June.

Lykos told reporters Thursday there was not sufficient evidence to pursue more serious charges, such as aggravated assault.
"Without revealing what was presented to the grand jury, in order to have aggravated assault you have to have serious bodily injury or impairment or use of a deadly weapon," she said. "None of that was apparent in this case."

The tape, first shown Wednesday on CNN affiliate WTRK, shows the 15-year-old boy -- being chased by police and falling to the ground after being upended by a moving police car. He then falls face first and places his hands on the ground.

A disciplinary letter from McClelland, dated June 23 and posted online less than two weeks later by CNN affiliate HTRK, says that the boy had his hands behind his head and neck area, in an obvious position of surrender.

Then, the letter adds and the tape shows, Officer Raad Hassan "then ran toward (the boy) and kicked him a total of 15 times," then later kicked him more times in the groin area even after he "was handcuffed and no longer a threat."

READ THE FULL STORY ON CNN

Friendswood home invaders sought

2011-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

Authorities in Friendswood, Texas are on the lookout for a faction of armed bandits accused of a home invasion incident that left three teenage brothers shaken, though they were lucky not to be hurt.

The incident occurred at approximately 8pm last Wednesday, at the brothers’ residence, located in the 500 block of Heather Lane.

The brothers were home alone when three male subjects broke into the house and went into their bedrooms, according to Friendswood police. At least one of the men was armed with a pistol. The robbers compelled the victims into one of the bedrooms and ordered them to stay there.

Police say that the robbers rummaged through the house, and the invasion lasted for nearly a half-an-hour, until they finally ran off.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE at the Examiner

Bay City Substitute Teacher Arrested For Making Death Threats

2011-01-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

by khou.com staff
khou.com
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Updated today at 11:23 AM

BAY CITY, Texas – A substitute teacher has been arrested and charged in connection with death threats made to students in Bay City ISD, the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Paul Nolen May, 41, was arrested on Wednesday.
He’s charged with 12 counts of making a terroristic threat – all of which are third-degree felonies.

The threats began on December 28 when the district received a hand-written, profanity-laced letter, purportedly from the parent of a student.

In the letter, the sender expressed anger over their child being disciplined at school. The letter detailed new "rules" for the school to follow regarding discipline and threatened to "kill a random student" if the demands were not met.
About a week later, a second threat was sent via text message.

The message, sent from an anonymous source and forwarded among Bay City ISD students, said this: "Hey! Forward this to everyone…1 rule broken, two girls dies at the jr. high and 2 from high school, dnt go! The school will be on lockdown."

It was not clear if May was suspected in both threats. Investigators declined to release any additional information Thursday.

May was being held in the Matagorda County Jail on bonds totaling $240,000.

No one said criminals were smart ...

2011-01-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — Police didn’t have to go far to serve a felony theft warrant after the suspect called to ask when he could pickup the electronic equipment authorities claim was stolen.

Jonathan Robert McMinn, 25, of Bayview, was charged with theft and jailed on a $5,000 bond, Friendswood police said in a statement released Thursday.

Friendswood police stopped McMinn on Sept. 7 on a traffic violation and seized an iPod, camera and Wii game components found in the car, Karen Peterson, a police spokeswoman, said.

Police arrested McMinn on a charge of driving with an invalid license and stored the electronics at the police department.

“A routine review of the property led police to believe that the property did not belong to McMinn,” Peterson said. “The subsequent investigation led to the location of property owners in Sugar Land, College Station and League City.”

The owners suspected their property had been stolen or was lost, Peterson said.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for McMinn on Dec. 13, Peterson said.

Police arrested McMinn on Wednesday when he came to the Friendswood Police Department to retrieve his property, Peterson said.

“He called, asking to pickup the property,” Peterson said. “We knew we had the warrant, so we told him ‘yes.’”

McMinn remained jailed Thursday in Friendswood, awaiting transfer to the Galveston County Jail.
This story was brought to you thanks to khou.com’s partnership with the Galveston County Daily News.

Michael Jackson's Doctor Clueless

2011-01-05T08:12:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- The pretrial hearing for Dr. Conrad Murray continues Wednesday as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge decides whether there is "probable cause" to try him on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of pop star Michael Jackson.

The hearing, which began Tuesday, is expected to last two or three weeks, with 20 to 30 witnesses testifying.
On Tuesday, Jackson's former security chief testified that Murray seemed not to know how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation as he waited for paramedics to arrive at the singer's house.
Faheem Muhammed said he and and guard Alberto Alvarez saw Murray crouched next to Jackson's bed "in a panicked state asking, 'Does anyone know CPR?' "

"I looked at Alberto because we knew Dr. Murray was a heart surgeon, so we were shocked," Muhammed said.

Jackson's doctor heads to court Murray faces court hearing Events surrounding Jackson's death

When defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked if perhaps Murray was asking for help because he was tired, Muhammed said, "The way that he asked it is as if he didn't know CPR."

Jackson appeared to be dead at that time, with his "eyes open and his mouth open, just laying there," Muhammed said.

Prosecutor David Walgren earlier said that Murray used "ineffectual CPR with one hand while the patient was prone on a soft bed." Two hands with the patient prone on a hard surface is the proper method, he said.
Muhammed, the third witness on the opening day of the hearing, said he never saw

Murray performing CPR on Jackson before paramedics arrived and carried him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Jackson's mother, Katherine, sister La Toya and brothers Randy and Jackie sat in the second row of the courtroom during Tuesday's opening session.
Jackson's two oldest children, Prince and Paris, were at their father's bedroom door as the drama unfolded just after noon on June 25, 2009, Muhammed said.

"Paris was on the floor on her hands and knees and she was just crying," he said.
The children would learn two hours later that their father had died when Murray and Jackson manager Frank Dileo talked to them in a hospital room.
"Frank blurted out and said, 'Your daddy had a heart attack and died,' " Jackson personal assistant Michael Williams testified.

At the start of the hearing Tuesday, the prosecutor said that Murray waited at least 21 minutes after he found Jackson unresponsive before calling for an ambulance.

"By all accounts, Michael Jackson was dead in the bedroom at 100 North Carolwood prior to the paramedics' arrival," Walgren said.
The coroner concluded Jackson died from "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with "the contributory effects of the benzodiazepines," Walgren said.
Propofol is a powerful anesthetic used to "put people under for surgery," and the benzodiazepines were sedatives Murray later acknowledged giving Jackson in the morning before his death, he said.

"Michael Jackson was preparing for one of the most important tours of his life" in the months before his death, Walgren said.
Murray's defense team has hinted it would argue that Jackson was under pressure from the concert promoter, which led him to demand treatments to help him sleep.
Kenny Ortega, who was directing what would have been Jackson's comeback concerts, was the first of about 30 witnesses the prosecution is calling.
Ortega described Jackson as "involved, active, participating" at his last rehearsal, which ended 12 or 14 hours before his death.
"He was in a delightful mood, and we had an absolutely fantastic day," Ortega testified.

But Ortega described a different, "scary" Jackson at the Staples Center rehearsal on June 19, six nights before his death.
"I just felt that he appeared, you know, really lost," Ortega said. "It was scary. I didn't know what was wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it."

READ THE FULL STORY AT CNN

Sick patient turned away by Kingwood doctor

2011-01-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

KINGWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- No six-year-old wants to be sick on Christmas, but when Carson Seiber tried to see a doctor in Kingwood, the doctors office said no.

The situation is very frustrating for U.S. Army Lt. Col. Patrick Seiber, who's a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan and can only do so much because of his location.

Six-year-old Carson is visiting his grandparents in Kingwood from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and he needed to see a doctor.
His dad is in the Army and the Army insurance company sent them to a Kingwood doctor -- who wouldn't let them in. So on Thursday morning, we heard about it from a frustrated father spending Christmas fighting in a war zone.

"I am very proud of my daddy," Carson said. "He fights for our freedom."
When Carson got to his grandparents in Kingwood a few days ago, he didn't feel well.
"He started running a fever and not feeling well on Saturday," said his mother, Heather Seiber.

So the Army's insurance company sent them to Pediatric Associates of Kingwood. But when Heather called first thing Monday, the doctors there said no, we don't see one-time patients, even though they knew the situation.
"I did politely tell them he was in Afghanistan," Heather Seiber said. "Because sometimes I feel people look at that and want to help this military family."
"To find out something like this happens, it's darn irritating. It takes me away from my focus, what I have to do, day in and day out, to keep us on the ball as far as on the frontline of the War on Terror," Lt. Col. Seiber said in a phone interview.

The doctors who wouldn't see Carson wouldn't talk to Eyewitness News either. A public relations spokesperson for the clinic's owner, Texas Children's Hospital, sent us conflicting statements trying to explain why the door was shut to a soldier's sick child.

Their first statement said they were at maximum capacity Monday. But when we pointed out no one ever said that to Heather, the story from Texas Children's changed, and all of a sudden they remembered they don't see patients on a one-time only basis.

Carson got in to see another doctor in Porter later that afternoon, and hopefully by Christmas he'll be all better. His mother realizes this isn't the biggest thing in the world, but also wonders why this doctor's office couldn't bend the rules for a son whose father is in Afghanistan for Christmas.
"He puts his life on the line and a doctor here can't help my son," Heather Seiber said.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Friendswood mulls plans for 40-acre lake

2011-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

By Hayley Kappes
The Daily News
Published January 3, 2011
FRIENDSWOOD — Longtime residents always tell Penelope Burke they had no idea a crystal clear lake sat less than a mile south of FM 518 on the southeastern edge of Friendswood.

Burke, a member of the city’s parks and recreation advisory board, has worked for more than 20 years to develop what locals have nicknamed Lake Friendswood.

The lake has a convoluted history, Burke said.

In the early 1970s, the landowner used the 47-acre property as a sand excavation pit where developers extracted materials to level land in preparation for subdivisions that boomed with the opening of the Johnson Space Center.

After digging down 100 feet, a natural spring began to gradually fill the pit, Burke said.

Once developers exhausted the sand pit, the landowner sold it.

The city in 1993 bought 42 acres at the site, most of which encompassed the lake and planned to make it a public park with a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Plans halted, however, when a Friendswood resident filed a lawsuit against the city claiming he owned a five-acre part of the property adjacent to the lake.

A jury ruled that the resident had the rights to the five-acre parcel, leaving the city with a divided interest in the lake.

Since it didn’t own the entire tract of land, the city had to return the grant to the state.

“This is a 30-year conversation that’s gone on without resolution about what to do with the lake,” Burke said. “The intent is what matters. When the city acquired the lake, it was to be open to the public.”

The spring-fed lake is not accessible to the public, city spokesman Nick Haby said.

Broken concrete and rebar leftover when the Texas Department of Transportation widened FM 518 was placed on one side of the lake to prevent erosion. The material makes it unsafe to swim.

“There is no good access to the lake right now,” Haby said. “There is a dirt road that leads back to it blocked by a gate. There are parking issues and amenities that we would want to put there and safety issues that have to be considered.”

Members of the parks and recreation advisory board want to build a paved road to the lake on Windemere Road off FM 518 and fence off the property.

The board has discussed installing bathrooms and a floating dock anchored over the concrete and rebar to prevent access to the potentially harmful material.

Swimming and motorized watercrafts would be prohibited.

Board members have also discussed the possibility of a hike and bike trail around lake that would connect to the West Ranch Subdivision.

The city hasn’t pinpointed an amount to spend on the lake’s development.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

La Marque, Friendswood heading to state semifinals

2010-12-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

For the first time since 1997, two Galveston County teams are playing in the University Interscholastic League state football semifinals.

The La Marque Cougars and the Friendswood Mustangs both won Region III-4A titles Saturday. La Marque won the Division II region title, while Friendswood took home the Division I crown.

Now, both schools are one win away from earning a spot in the state finals to be held at Arlington’s Cowboy Stadium.

La Marque (10-3) will take on Corpus Christi Calallen at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Friendswood (13-1) faces three-time defending champion Lake Travis at 2 p.m. Saturday at College Station’s Kyle Field.

Both La Marque and Friendswood have history with their opponents this week.

The Cougars faced Calallen in the semifinals for five straight seasons, 1993-97. La Marque won all five meetings.

Friendswood and Lake Travis squared off in the state semifinals in 2008. The Cavs won, 56-22.

The last time two Galveston County teams advanced this far in the postseason was 1997 when La Marque and Texas City in the Division I and II 4A state semifinals. The two schools each went on to win state championships.

It also happened in 1996 with the same two teams, but Texas City lost in the semifinals.

SOURCE:Galveston Daily News

What's that smell?

2010-11-16T10:15:00.001-08:00

TEXAS CITY, Texas — A smell similar to rotten eggs enveloped Texas City about 5 p.m. Monday afternoon after a leak from a subunit at BP’s Texas City refinery.

Workers were doing maintenance work on a sour water compressor on the refinery’s Power 2 unit when workers noticed a smell after a piece of equipment failed, company spokesman Michael Marr said. The odor, which forced some businesses on Palmer Highway about 13 blocks from the refinery to shutter their doors and close windows, lasted more than an hour.

The smell is believed to come from liquid in the subunit that contained hydrogen sulfide, which is a hazardous chemical that has a strong smell of rotten eggs, Texas City Homeland Security Director Bruce Clawson said. The Texas City Fire Department and BP industrial hygienists conducted ground-level air monitoring and did not find any readings of hazardous chemicals in the air, Clawson said.

Between one and two barrels of sour water — which is waste water that contains hydrocarbons and is pumped to an enclosed sewer system for disposal — spilled, causing the offensive odor, officials said.

There was not a shelter in place order for the city, but Clawson issued a phone and e-mail alert to residents notifying them of the situation.

There was a brief shelter in place order within the refinery for areas downwind of the leak, Marr said. BP set up an incident command center and the leak was contained at about 9 p.m.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/BP-sends-stink-across-Texas-City-108436904.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Houston murders may be work of a serial killer

2010-11-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

by Michelle Homer / khou.com
khou.com
Posted on November 1, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Updated today at 1:42 PM

HOUSTON – Police are looking into a possible link between the strangulation murders of at least three women since June.
The most recent cases involved homeless women. The body of Carol Flood, 62, was found on Oct. 10 in a stairwell behind the old YMCA building. She was partially nude. On Sept. 30, Retia LaFaye Long, 52, was found dead behind the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 1700 San Jacinto.

Now police believe the same killer may have strangled Raquel Mundy last June 17, then dumped her body in a field in the 300 block of St. Charles.
Mundy, 24, was murdered after accepting a ride from a stranger when she was stranded downtown.

She had dropped her mom and two kids off at the Greyhound bus station downtown around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. She then discovered her car had been towed from a McDonald’s parking lot across the street.
Mundy tried to call friends and relatives, but couldn’t find anyone to give her a ride to the tow lot. Witnesses saw her get into a grey car with an unknown man, according to police.

Mundy later sent a text message to her mother saying she thought she was in danger and feared the man was going to hurt her.
Angela Collins was still on the bus to California with her two grandchildren when she got the disturbing message.

She tried frantically to reach Mundy. Collins then called several relatives and asked them to try to find Mundy.
By the time the bus arrived in California, there was still no sign of her daughter.
"Next call we got, they had found the body. It was my baby, Collins said as she choked back tears. "This man took away my baby."
An autopsy revealed Mundy had been strangled.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE AT KHOU

Another rabid bat found ...

2010-10-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- A second rabid bat has been confirmed in the Forest of Friendswood subdivision, according to the Friendswood Police Department.

The bat was reported to Friendswood Animal Control on Thursday, October 7. The bat was submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services the same day. The health department reported test results on October 8. The test results were positive for rabies.
The bat was found in a backyard in the 500 block of Twin Pines. The location is near the 800 block of Hackberry where a confirmed rabid bat was found on August 27.

A dog belonging to the homeowner on Twin Pines is being quarantined at home for 45 days as a precaution. The dog is current on its shots, but did receive a booster this week. It can not be confirmed if the bat bit the dog.

Another bat found the week of August 29 was also submitted to the state lab. That bat was too decomposed for testing.

The Texas Department of State Health Services website reports that laboratory-confirmed rabies cases often peak in September and October. According to the site, humans should not touch bats or any other unfamiliar animal. If a bat is found, contact authorities so that the bat may be taken to a lab and tested for rabies if needed. The dead bats are tested if there is known or suspected contact with animals or humans. Friendswood residents can call the animal control office via the police department at 281-996-3300.

(Copyright ©2010 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

911 call - backfires because of open laptop.

2010-10-13T08:50:00.001-07:00

by Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
khou.com
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Updated today at 9:54 AM

HOUSTON -- A woman who called 911 to anonymously report a crime says she’s in fear for her life after the man she turned in called her just minutes after she placed the call.

According to the woman, who does not want to be identified, on Oct. 1, she was driving near Beltway 8 and Veterans Memorial Drive when she witnessed a man in the car next to her beating his passenger. She did not know either one of them.

“I saw him hitting her and he was taking his fist and he was just hitting her, aside her, just hitting her and I’m like this is crazy,” said the woman.

She placed the 911 call at 1:28 p.m. and thought that would be the end of her involvement, but 30 minutes later she learned it was just the beginning.

“About 1:54 p.m. my phone rang back and it was the suspect,” she said. “He was asking me ‘Who was this, who is this’ and I am like, ‘Who is this, you called my number,’ and then he hung up."

After that call came another, and this time it was a woman’s voice, she said.

“She called me just as he hung up and it was like, ‘Ma’am, are you the concerned lady that called about my welfare,’ and I am like,

‘Excuse me,’ and she said, ‘Well I’m OK,’ and I said, ‘Excuse me,’” said the woman.

She received another call the next morning from the Harris County Jail where the suspect was in custody. He was arrested for outstanding warrants, but never charged with assault.

“My phone rings again and it says, ‘You have a call from Harris County processing jail,’ and I immediately hung up,” she said.
“I will never, ever get involved with anything else again, not when it comes to me being fearful of the surroundings in my life.”

A spokesperson for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office says as far as she knows, this is the first time something like this has happened in their department.

HCSO spokesperson Christina Garza said the suspect was put in the back of a Harris County patrol car while the deputy talked to the woman he was accused of hitting. It was then he was able to read the woman’s phone number off of a laptop computer the deputy had left open in the front seat.

“It’s a very unique situation,” Garza said. “It’s never happened and we certainly don’t want this to discourage her, or anybody, from reporting crime to authorities.”

Garza said it’s common practice to keep laptops closed, but it’s not policy. In some situations, deputies are forced to rush out of cars quickly.

”If anyone is to blame in this situation, it’s the suspect who violated such important information and took it upon himself to do this,” said Garza.

Garza said the department is sending out e-mails to all deputies to remind them to keep their laptops closed.

The suspect is not facing charges for memorizing the information, or calling the woman. Garza said there is no proof that he ever threatened the woman.

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The 911 caller disagrees.

“I was threatened,” she said. “I was threatened when he received my information. My information should have been protected. I was threatened at that point, so what point of threat do they not understand?

Drug deal goes bad - two shot - one dead.

2010-10-07T07:26:00.001-07:00

khou.com
Posted on October 7, 2010 at 7:26 AM
Updated today at 8:45 AM

HOUSTON—A 24-year-old man was killed and his brother injured after the two were shot in what appears to be a drug deal gone bad Wednesday evening, according to HPD Homicide detectives.
Police officers responded to a home on Winter Briar at Winter Seasons in southwest Houston for reports of a drive-by shooting.

They arrived around 9 p.m. to find two brothers had been shot. They said the actual shooting took place at another location about a half-mile away, but the brothers somehow made it back home.
Police believe the brothers drove their Cadillac a few blocks from their home to meet a group of men and purchase drugs. Some sort of altercation occurred and one of the men opened fire on the brothers.

"The exact circumstances are unclear as to what transpired a t the two locations, but we have one dead," said Sgt. Thomas Biggs, HPD Homicide Division. "We believe we have all of the players in custody.

The bullet traveled completely through one of the brothers. Police said he was shot in the chest or the back, but it is unclear which point is the entry and exit.
The other brother was shot in the foot. He was taken to Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was treated and released. He returned to the scene to talk to police.
Several suspects were taken in for questioning and police said they definitely know one of them is the shooter.

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Breaking: Houston Ship Channel Closed!

2010-10-04T12:15:00.001-07:00

HOUSTON, Texas

—A four-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel remained closed to marine traffic Monday after a barge slammed into a tower supporting a high-voltage electric transmission line, threatening to topple it into the channel.

Coast Guard officials said a towing vessel named Safety Quest was pushing three barges loaded with scrap metal about 6 a.m. Sunday when it smashed into a Baytown power line, which remained upright only with the support of one of the barges.
No injuries were reported, but the six-member boat crew moved to another vessel and to safety.
Officials said the section from Crystal Bay to the Blackwell Peninsula would remain closed until at least Tuesday night.

"The situation is a little bit unstable right now," said Capt. Marcus Woodring. "The lines are sagging and we cannot allow any vessels to pass underneath with the unstable situation and chance of those lines falling in the water."
Centerpoint Energy officials said the power had been shut off to the line because crews had previously been working on a nearby tower. They said no customers had lost electricity following the crash.
Eighteen inbound vessels attempted to get into the port early Tuesday afternoon, and many remained anchored off the coast of Galveston. Twelve outbound commercial ships were also stuck.
The 25-mile waterway is lined by the nation’s biggest complex of petrochemical plants. The Port of Houston ranks first in the nation in foreign waterborne tonnage and imports and second in U.S. export tonnage and total tonnage.

"Anytime you see something like this, you hate it, because it’s affecting people and how they make their money," said Richard Zeno, a tugboat captain who was not involved in the crash but watched the teetering tower as he was fishing with his family Sunday.

Coast Guard officials said the ship channel handles more than $320 million in cargo and crude daily, meaning the Port of Houston would lose about $1 billion if the waterway stayed closed until Tuesday night.

"Commerce, of course, is very, very important," said Chief Warrant Officer Lionel Bryant. "But we don’t want to put lives in jeopardy doing so."

"This is actually very difficult because the tower is actually sitting on the barge," Bryant said.
The Coast Guard said the boat’s owner is St. Louis-based AEP River Operations.

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Rep seeks Ike insurance information ..

2010-10-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood , sent the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association a new request for information about cases related to Hurricane Ike after a judge expressed concern that an earlier request sought private information.

Last week, Taylor sent the association, the insurer of last resort for property owners in coastal areas, a letter asking for detailed information about each case in a $189 million settlement agreement that the association reached over the summer with more than 2,000 property owners hit by Hurricane Ike. His inquiry included several questions about attorney fees.

The lead lawyer for the plaintiffs in the settlement was Steve Mostyn, perhaps the most prolific donor in the Texas Democratic Party. Mostyn, arguing that Taylor was seeking private information about the property owners, asked a Galveston County judge to grant a temporary restraining order that would block the agency from responding to Taylor's request. The judge granted that order Monday.

Taylor has said he was trying to get information for a report that's in the works from a legislative committee overseeing windstorm insurance issues. Taylor is the co-chairman of that committee.

On Friday, Taylor sent a new letter. He expressly said in the new request that he was not seeking private information about property owners involved in the settlement.

"I am not seeking any confidential information relating to any individual or corporate policyholder, such as names, personal addresses, social security numbers, or other such personally identifiable information," Taylor says in his new request. He withdrew his earlier request.

Mostyn called Taylor's request bizarre. Because Taylor's latest letter is an open-records request that any citizen can file, privacy laws will prevent him from getting much of the information he's requesting. If Taylor wants the information for legislative purposes, Mostyn said, he should bring it before the windstorm oversight committee and ask the full committee to endorse his request.

House Insurance Committee Chairman John Smithee, R-Amarillo, said he thought Taylor's request was valid, although he said he had found much of the information Taylor is seeking through news accounts online.

"The dollars are designed to put roofs back on houses and fix windows," Smithee said. "We need to know why we had this many lawsuits and why they were settled."

Smithee noted that the windstorm insurance association's costs are subsidized by policyholders in other parts of the state

9/11 contrail explained.

2010-09-15T19:19:00.001-07:00

No - it wasn't aliens - or "chemtrails" or fighters on patrol on the anniversary of 9/11 - but rather a NASA high altitude research aircraft that caused the "mysterious" contrails over the Houston area Saturday.

Houston Airport Systems spokeswoman Marlene McClinton told Local 2 that NASA's WB-57 is a high-altitude aircraft, operating out of Ellington Field.
"It is taking air samples between 45,000 and 51,000 feet," said McClinton.

According to McClinton, it was a normal operation, but due to atmospheric conditions, the contrails were extremely visible.

Many callers said the plane looked like a big commercial passenger plane with the NASA oogo on it.
"It was just circling," said Cindy Hamilton who lives in Friendswood.
She saw the plane around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

"It would go north and just circle back to the south. I was just concerned because of what day it is. Seeing the plane brought back memories," Hamilton said.
Karon Wisdom saw the plane in Channelview circling for hours.

"Because its 9/11, everyone's keeping their eye on the sky," she said. "I thought either someone was watching out for us on the Gulf Coast, or something weird was happening."

NASA officials said the aircraft was testing out a new instrument and that "they have made several flights this week. It's unfortunate for the atmospheric conditions that made it very visible on 9/11."
Officials said it was nothing to be alarmed about.

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Woman who fired at robbers hailed as a hero

2010-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

By T.J. Aulds
The Daily News
Published September 3, 2010
LA MARQUE — The woman who fended off a pair of robbers by opening fire on them in a Walmart parking lot Wednesday was hailed as a hero by many. As police search for the robbery suspects, the 56-year-old woman is “very shaken” and “obviously scared,” a La Marque police investigator said.

Police believe the La Marque robbery suspects are the same men who robbed a woman at gunpoint in Friendswood earlier in the day.

Friendswood police were working with Houston police to develop leads Thursday afternoon, and it appears the Galveston County robberies are related to three similar incidents that happened in Houston within the last week, Friendswood Police Chief Bob Wieners said.

Victim Fought Back

The La Marque shooting happened in the parking lot of Walmart, 6410 Interstate 45, at 2:47 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

The woman had been shopping at Walmart and was getting back into her car when a man pushed a pistol to her stomach and took her purse. The Santa Fe-area resident, who has a concealed handgun license, reached into the center console of her car and pulled out a revolver, police said.

The armed robber backed away and jumped into a waiting SUV that sped off. La Marque police Detective Danielle Herman said the woman managed to fire five shots, hitting the SUV’s tailgate at least once.

At least one other person was in the SUV, but police did not have a description of the getaway driver, Herman said. The armed man was described as Hispanic, 25 to 35 years old, clean shaven with short, dark hair. He stood from 5-feet, 4-inches to 5-feet, 9-inches tall and had a stocky build, Herman said.

Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, the woman said she still was shaken by the episode and did not want to talk about the incident because she was busy canceling her credits cards and mobile phone, which were in the purse.

Escape Vehicle

The robbers’ escape vehicle was a newer-model, silver or gray Nissan Pathfinder, with Texas license plate NMG-714, Herman said. Police had several addresses for the vehicle’s owner, all in Southwest Houston.

State records show that license plate is registered to a Chevy Suburban and not a Nissan. Police also were checking to see whether the plates were from a different vehicle, Herman said.

La Marque police were scheduled to meet with Friendswood investigators Thursday afternoon to compare notes related to an armed robbery of a woman in an H-E-B parking lot that happened about an hour and a half before the La Marque robbery. The robber’s description was similar for both crimes, Herman and Wieners said.

The Houston Police Department is assisting in the investigation, Wieners said.

Hero Or Risk Taker?

Online and on talk radio, the woman in the La Marque robbery was being hailed as a hero.

One online comment at galvnews.com said: “Well, here’s a wake-up call for me and possibly some other women. I keep resisting carrying, but the way things are going I think I will be locked and cocked at all times. If enough women start taking these macho clowns down, maybe we can go back to some semblance of a peaceful life.”

Others were grateful the victims were not hurt but questioned the shooting.

Another comment on galvnews.com said: “Thank God the two women (in the La Marque and Friendswood robberies) are OK and no innocent bystanders were injured or killed by a stray bullet at the Walmart incident. I know, under the circumstance, her adrenaline must have taken over, but shooting at a moving vehicle in a parking lot seems a bit drastic.”

Handgun Training

Her action was not that drastic, considering the training concealed handgun license holders get, said Tom Estep, one of the first handgun license instructors certified by the state when the concealed handgun laws were approved in 1995.

Estep said handgun license classes review different scenarios, including those in which the gun owner might be in a public place like a parking lot, when firing a weapon.

“I make it clear to (students) that every round they shoot is their responsibility,” Estep said. “They are responsible for that bullet. (Instructors) want to caution them to be absolutely certain what’s beyond your target.”

Estep said the first rule is always personal safety.

“If there is even the slightest chance that someone will hurt me or someone else, then the shooting starts,” he said. “Still, I also tell people I am not going to shoot someone over a few bucks in my shirt pocket.

“You have to evaluate the situation you are in.”

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Houston man charged in cold case murders.

2010-08-25T14:02:00.001-07:00

by khou.com staff
khou.com
Posted on August 25, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Updated today at 10:54 AM
HOUSTON – A man long-suspected of killing a Houston woman and an infant in 1984 was finally arrested and charged this week.

Charles Leon Smith, 56, is charged with capital murder in the slayings of 23-year-old Pamela Clarence and 1-month-old Tashona Clarence.

Twenty-six years have passed since the young mother and her baby were killed in their home in the 4300 block of Rogers, but even after the case went cold, investigators never gave up.

The murders occurred on August 2, 1984. Police said Smith and Clarence were in a relationship at the time and had recently had a child together.
But that night, when Smith went to visit his girlfriend, investigators believe Pamela Clarence confronted Smith about another relationship.
Police said Clarence had discovered Smith had another girlfriend, who’d just given birth to Smith’s son.

When Clarence told Smith they should end their relationship, police believe he snapped.
Investigators said Smith strangled Pamela Clarence with an electrical cord and then smothered Tashona with a pillow.

The bodies were later found by concerned family members.
From the beginning of the investigation, police said they thought Clarence knew her killer, and they originally identified Smith as one of two suspects in the murders.
But investigators were unable to collect enough evidence to charge either suspect, and case went cold, lost among more than 700 other killings in Houston that year.

Then, when HPD cold case investigators reviewed the murders this year and again identified Smith as a suspect, things changed.
Police said Smith was taken into custody on August 23 and confessed to his role in the crimes.
He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning, and was behind held in the Harris County Jail without bond.

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Sleep Inn Motel nixed!

2010-08-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- The Friendswood City Council voted down on Thursday a plan to build a hotel next to a residential neighborhood.

The Sleep Inn Motel would have been built near the intersection of Farm Road 528 and San Joaquin.
About 100 people attended Thursday's city planning and zoning meeting, and many spoke out against the proposal.

Eventually, the panel voted against the land owner, who wanted to build the hotel behind a neighborhood and near a school.

Residents worried about child safety, and a drop in property values.

"It's a step in the right direction," Friendswood resident Jackie Gibson said. "It's not over yet; this just means he's got more time to submit another site plan, but it's a small victory."
The land owner did not attend Thursday's meeting, and can resubmit a site plan in 90 days.

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NW Houston toddler found in hot car dead

2010-08-20T16:41:00.001-07:00

by Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
Posted on August 19, 2010 at 7:32 PM
HOUSTON – A 2-year-old boy has died after being found locked in a hot car in northwest Houston, according to authorities.

The incident happened Thursday around 2:30 p.m. at 13813 Dentwood.
According to police, parents were arriving home from the grocery store when their 7-year-old child, who is autistic, began having seizures. While the parents went inside their home to tend to the 7-year-old, the 2-year-old boy was left locked inside the vehicle.

After going inside to help the 7-year-old , the parents realized their younger child was missing and eventually found him in the back seat of their SUV. Police said the boy was trapped inside the vehicle for about two hours.

One of the parents called 911 when they saw the toddler was not breathing. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators said the temperature inside the vehicle was 122 degrees when the toddler was found.
Neighbors of the victim’s family said it was an unfortunate incident that happened to good people.

"This is a good family, their children comes first with them," said Michael Carey. "I know for a fact that it was not intentional."

Investigators said the parents will probably not face charges, but the case will go to a grand jury.

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Houston Area Forecast: 100% Chance of Meteors

2010-08-12T06:59:00.001-07:00

After a week-ling lead-up, tonight, August 12/13, 2010, is finally the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Wit this event, meteor season 2010 will kick off in a big way.

Every August, Earth passes through the stretch of space junk shed by comet Swift-Tuttle, reaching the deepest concentration of debris tonight. According to some estimates, under ideal conditions (dark country skies), one can expect to see 60 meteors per hour. The reason the meteors are called Perseids is because the meteors seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus. The best time to view the shower is in the pre-dawn hours, with 3-5am being best.

Don't want to stay up that late? Don't worry, Perseus rises in the Northeast around midnight and will climb higher as the night progresses. However, unless one lives out in the country, the early post-midnight hours will probably involve Perseus being low in a light pollution dome. To improve odds of seeing meteors, travel out of light-polluted Cleveland and to the suburbs or, even better, the country if you can. In the suburbs, just going from the front to back yard can make a dramatic difference as this will eliminate glare from those pesky street/house lights to a large extent.

Two things can ruin the meteor shower: clouds and the Moon. The clouds? Well, that's a regional thing. Check your local Clear Sky Clock to see what the clouds have in store for your location tonight. For us Northeast Ohioans, tonight is looking good. As for the Moon, that's an Earth-wide issue. The good news is that, this year, the Moon is just a few days past new, which means that there will be no Moon up during the time of the meteor shower. There will be a slight lunar glow in the South (opposite Perseus), but this will disappear about midnight, which is about the time Perseus clears the Northeast horizon.

So how about viewing tips?

First, plan to stay out awhile, as it takes the human eye about 15 minutes to get optimal night vision capability. The bad news is that, even one bright flash of white light will wipe out night vision, requiring you to start the process all over again. Next, grab a lawn chair or, even better, a lounge-type chair. Trying to lean back with a straight-back lawn chair can be a pain in the neck, literally! Eyes ready for dark and with something to sit/lay on, settle in for a night of hopeful meteor watching (or at the very least, stargazing), just try not to fall asleep and don't forget the bug spray!

Besides meteors, tonight can be a great time for binocular viewing, owing to your use of a chair. Under suburban (maybe) or rural skies (definitely), a pair of medium power (10x50) binoculars can yield some stunning wide-angle sights. For someone truly dedicated, why not try and keep a tally of how many meteors you see for every complete hour? Really ambitious? Why not try photographing the meteors?

Whatever you plan to do tonight, good luck and clear skies!

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AG seeks civil penalties against BP for leak

2010-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

By T.J. Aulds
The Daily News
Published August 10, 2010
TEXAS CITY — The Texas attorney general on Monday charged BP’s Texas City refinery with violations of state air-quality laws over a 40-day release that sent more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals — including large amounts of benzene — into the air during April and May.

The legal action is the second by the state against BP since 2009. A Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigation in July found the release was an “excessive emissions event” and referred the case to the attorney general’s office.

“The state’s investigation shows that BP’s failure to properly maintain its equipment caused the malfunction (that) could have been prevented,” Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a release. “BP’s own self reporting date indicated that seal filters protecting the compressor failed because of an iron sulfide buildup, likely because BP failed to properly maintain these devices.”

The attorney general also alleges that BP ignored the large amount of emissions.

“BP made very little attempt to minimize the emissions of air contaminants caused by its actions, once again prioritizing profits over environmental compliance.”

The lawsuit pinpoints six contaminants that were released by BP including benzene, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide as violations.

The lawsuit seeks up to $25,000 a day per contaminant plus attorneys fees as penalties for the emissions, attorney general spokesman Tom Kelley said. That could cost BP as much as $6 million.

The company has argued its air testing at the fence line and monitors maintained by the state did not show high levels of emissions during the 40-day period that started April 6 and continued through May 16.

BP adamantly denied any dangerous levels of toxins could be found in the community and insists residents were never at risk.

“We will continue to cooperate with the attorney general’s office and the TCEQ to resolve their concerns,” BP spokesman Michael Marr said Monday.

BP would not directly comment on the attorney general’s actions but defended its air quality measures at the refinery.

“Independently verified air-monitoring data from our Texas City refinery clearly indicates a substantial and sustained improvement in air quality since 2004,” Marr said in July.

“BP Texas City is also moving forward with a number of measures that will further improve environmental performance and reporting. These measures include industry leading technologies and programs.”

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Thousands sign on for $10 billion BP suit

2010-08-06T06:59:00.000-07:00

By MONICA HATCHER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

TEXAS CITY — The revelation that BP's Texas City refinery emitted toxic benzene for more than a month has ignited a furor in the port community that has suffered its share of deadly industrial accidents and toxic spills.
Thousands of residents who fear they may have been exposed to the known carcinogen released at the oil refinery from April 6 to May 16 have been flooding parking lots and conference halls where local trial attorneys hosted information sessions and sought clients for class-action lawsuits against the oil giant.

BP faces the new challenge just as it is reaching a key milestone in another crisis — plugging the Gulf of Mexico well that blew out in an oil spill disaster that is costing the company billions of dollars.

On Wednesday, more than 3,400 people lined the hallways and sidewalks around the Nessler Center to sign on to a $10 billion class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in Galveston federal court by Friendswood attorney Anthony Buzbee.
The lawsuit alleges the release of 500,000 pounds of chemicals - including 17,000 pounds of benzene - has jeopardized the health and property values of people who live and work in the area.

At the nearby College of the Mainland, a separate town hall meeting drew a crowd of 600.
"I've never seen anything like this," Buzbee said, looking at the lines waiting to enter a large room at the civic center where lawyers helped people fill out paperwork. "I can't believe this is mass hysteria and that everybody here is a faker," Buzbee said.
Webster-based lawyer Chad Pinkerton said he's met with about 8,000 residents over the past week. "I believe this is probably the largest prolonged release in Texas history and many, many people are sick," he said.
Word of the lawsuits spread this week, propelled in part by rumors that BP was cutting checks to head off the benzene claims from the $20 billion fund established to pay claims related to the oil spill.

BP spokesman Michael Marr said those rumors are untrue.
On Wednesday afternoon, a family used a convenience store copy machine to make dozens of copies of legal contracts. A clerk said the machine had been in constant use by would-be plaintiffs.
Lluvia Briones, 19, who signed up to join the lawsuit, said her colleagues at a Texas City fast-food restaurant were caught up in the fervor. "Everybody at work was like, 'go, go, go,' " she said.

Dozens of people the Chronicle interviewed complained of allergic reactions, sinus infections, headaches, nosebleeds and other symptoms consistent with exposure to noxious substances.
Linda Laver, 55, a former nurse, said she's enjoyed near-perfect health until she recently suffered an abscessed sinus infection, gall bladder failure and pneumonia.
"I told my doctor, 'You've known me for all these years and now all of a sudden I'm having all these things,' " Laver said as she stood in line at the Nessler Center.
Laver said she "freaked out" when she saw a Buzbee Law Firm newspaper ad describing the symptoms of benzene exposure. "It confirmed all my suspicions," she said.

Only two weeks before the well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 workers and triggered the oil spill, BP was experiencing problems with a hydrogen compressor at the Texas City plant - itself the site of a deadly explosion in 2005 that killed 15 people.
The trouble started April 6, when the company said a fire compromised a seal on an ultracracker's hydrogen compressor. The malfunction forced the company to flare off gases. It reported the "emissions event" to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality the following day. As it worked to fix the unit over the next 40 days, the plant released 538,000 pounds of pollutants into the air, BP told regulators.

BP said it operated the ultracracker at minimal capacity, reducing production and emissions. Buzbee says the unit should have shut down completely.
Information about the release became public when BP submitted a final incident report to regulators June 4.

After investigating, the environmental commission cited BP for an "excessive release" and, two weeks ago, referred its findings to the state attorney general for possible litigation.
"Based on a review of the incidents that occurred during the past year, there appears to be a pattern of poor operation and maintenance practices" at the plant, the report said.
The report said chemical concentrations in the air did not exceed state or federal standards, but that the commission could not determine the short-term health effects of the chemicals.

Coming on the heels of the oil spill, the lawsuits add new woes for BP and may aggravate an old one: BP North America - the company's refining division - is on federal probation for a felony environmental conviction related to the 2005 explosion, which also caused a massive release of benzene and other toxins.

Any further violations could be grounds for prosecutors to ask a judge to revoke BP's probation.
Already, lawyers representing victims of the 2005 blast have said a court should revoke BP's probation based on a complaint by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that BP has failed to comply with safety agreements it made after explosion.
The company denies OSHA's claims, and a hearing is scheduled for later this month.

As to the recent emissions, BP's Marr said in an e-mail that community air quality and fence line monitors, which measure for the presence of benzene and other substances, did not show elevated readings or ground-level impact.
Other monitoring by environmental specialists similarly found that the emissions did not exceed exposure limits set by the government, he said.

"BP does not believe there was a health impact associated with this event," Marr said.
Many residents are skeptical of that claim, and are angry that the chemicals were released for 40 days without public disclosure, even to Texas City's emergency management coordinator, Bruce Clawson. Even though BP complied with state reporting requirements, under an agreement with the city, the company should have alerted officials to the situation. Clawson said he's now dealing with irate residents calling the city for details he doesn't have about the release.
Chronicle reporter Lise Olsen contributed.

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Lawsuit seeks $10 billion for 40-day BP release

2010-08-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

By T.J. Aulds
The Daily News
Published August 4, 2010
TEXAS CITY — About 2,200 people are part of a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday morning over the release of more than 500,000 pounds of pollutants — including high levels of benzene — into the air after a unit failure at BP’s Texas City refinery.

The lawsuit filed by Friendswood attorney Tony Buzbee seeks $10 billion in damages in the release of pollutants between April 6 and May 16 when the refinery ultracracker’s hydrogen compressor went offline.

Buzbee said his clients include contract workers who were at the refinery and residents who live within a mile of the refinery. He said he expects to add another 4,000 clients to that list by week’s end.

The lawsuit was filed in the federal court in Galveston.

Buzbee said his clients have experienced “the typical exposure symptoms, sinus and eye issues, coughing, feeling nauseous, feeling lethargic — all the common benzene exposure symptoms.”

According to BP’s filings with state regulators, about 17,000 pounds of benzene were released — about 400 pounds a day.

Benzene has been linked to some forms of cancer, according to U.S. Health and Human Services records.

BP maintains the emissions did not harm the community.

“During the Ultracracker compressor outage of April-May, the community air monitoring network did not show elevated readings,” BP spokesman Michael Marr said. “Similarly, the site’s recently enhanced fence line monitoring did not show a ground level impact throughout the event.”

Buzbee said, “I don’t know what’s going on here. The amount of people saying they are experiencing symptoms is staggering. We started getting calls in April, but I was turning them down. When (The Daily News) first reported it (on June 5), the calls really started to come in, and I decided to take another look.”

Buzbee’s firm isn’t the only one planning legal action. For the past two weeks, attorneys have set up shop at store fronts to sign up clients, and Buzbee plans a town-hall meeting tonight in Texas City.

Attorney Chad Pinkerton said he has about 6,000 clients, while James Nebout, of Burwell and Nebout said he had hundreds of additional clients. Houston attorney Clement Aldridge was also in town meeting with potential clients last week, but he did not confirm how many people he had signed up.

Based on initial numbers provided by the attorneys, the number of people seeking some sort of legal action against BP could be about 25 percent of Texas City’s population.

Not all of the clients have been confirmed to have had medical symptoms, the attorneys said.

Nebout said his firm started getting calls in April before the emissions were made public.

“These are some very serious symptoms we are seeing in our clients, and you look at their medical records and say something has to have caused this,” Nebout said.

Pinkerton said some of his clients have shown signs of long-term health problems they blame on the emissions.

BP is bracing for the legal fight.

“Based on our understanding of the facts and circumstances, BP does not believe there is any basis to pay claims in connection with this event,” Marr said. “BP is not taking or paying such claims.”

In July, a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigation found the release was an “excessive emissions event” and then referred it to the attorney general’s office last week, agency spokeswoman Andrea Morrow said.

+++

What Was Released?

• BP estimated 37,519 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 17,000 pounds of benzene, 189,000 pounds of carbon monoxide, 61,000 pounds of propane, 34,645 pounds of isobutane and about 160,840 pounds of other emissions were released between April 6 and May 16.

• The daily release of benzene was 40 times the state reportable levels.

• State law requires 10 pounds or more of benzene and 200 pounds or more of nitrogen oxides during a 24-hour period must be reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

SOURCES: BP, TCEQ

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Friendswood boy carjacked and kidnapped!

2010-08-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Police: Friendswood teen carjacked, kidnapped in front of his house
by khou.com staff
khou.com

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas – A 16-year-old Friendswood boy was carjacked and kidnapped in front of his home Wednesday night, police said.
The victim flagged down a Harris County deputy in the 2100 block of El Dorado Blvd. around 12:15 a.m.

The deputy called Friendswood police.

The teen told officers he had just returned to his home in the 700 block of Pine Hollow Drive around midnight when two unknown men rushed at him.

The teen said the men ordered him into the backseat of his truck at gunpoint and started driving.
When they reached El Dorado, the suspects told the teen to get out, and then fled in the victim’s truck.

Police believe the suspects may have followed the teen home from the Clear Lake area.
He was not physically injured.

Test your hurricane IQ.

2010-08-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

By GREG AINSWORTH

This year's hurricane season in the waters adjacent to the Southeastern United States is drawing more attention than usual, thanks to the oil spill in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center expects a busier than average year, so it's time to energize our hurricane IQ.
Whether you call them hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, they are the scourge of tropical locales worldwide. Ocean water temperatures of at least 80 degrees seem to be one of the key ingredients in their formation. Think hot and muggy -- and lots of evaporation. If other conditions are favorable in the atmosphere, winds near the surface may begin to converge, and a low-pressure system may form.

In the Northern Hemisphere, those cyclonic winds spiral in a counter-clockwise direction. All of that water vapor in the atmosphere rises and condenses inside thunderstorm complexes, releasing a great amount of energy in the process. Bands of thunderstorms stretching from the system's outer margins to the center of circulation help feed the massive heat engine with warm, moisture-laden air.

As the system matures, the characteristic cloud-free and relatively calm eye may form at the center of circulation. But surrounding the eye is the eyewall, where the most intense convection and highest wind speeds occur.

Hurricanes pose a major threat to life and property because of their ability to wreak havoc in so many different ways. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is wind damage -- not surprising since a storm isn't called a hurricane until it has sustained winds of at least 74 mph. In August 1969, Hurricane Camille made landfall along the Mississippi coast with sustained winds estimated at 200 mph.

An important, but often overlooked hurricane impact is the storm surge. This refers to the ocean water pushed onshore into low-lying areas by hurricane-force winds. Depending on the status of the local tides during landfall, storm surges of 15 to 20 feet are not out of the question. If you happen to live in a near-shore area at say, 10 feet above sea level, the surge can be bad news indeed. Hurricane Opal caused a 24-foot storm surge near Pensacola, Fla., in September 1995.

Even days after landfall, hurricanes, or their remnants, are still capable of producing tornadoes and flooding rains. After slamming into the coast of south Texas in September 1967, Hurricane Beulah spawned more than 100 tornadoes. Tropical Storm Claudette, whose winds didn't reach hurricane strength, nevertheless dropped 45 inches of rain on Alvin, Texas, in 1979.

For further information about these storms, check out the website for NOAA's National Hurricane Center.

Greg Ainsworth keeps an eye on local weather and climate issues. Contact him at ainsworth@theglobal.net.

Area juniors advance to semifinals in tennis

2010-07-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

By Manuel Moreno Jr.
Contributor
Published July 12, 2010

Three local juniors advanced to the semifinals of the Houston Tennis Association Championship Major Zone tennis tournament.

Friendswood’s Cindy Tiu and Matt Kibikas, and League City’s Michelle Raji each won three rounds in their respective singles competitions before being eliminated.

Tiu, the No. 2 seed in the girls’ 18-and-under “red” division, drew a first-round bye before beating Uvalde’s Yonelle Aromin in the second round, 6-1, 6-2, and Sugar Land’s Mary-Jo Villar in the quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-1.

But in the semifinals, Tiu lost to Richmond’s Amanda Materre, 6-1, 6-0.

Kibikas, seeded No. 1 in the boys’ 16s “red” division, started off with a 6-2, 6-1 first-round victory over Houston’s Creed Abell, then knocked off McAllen’s Shubhodeep Mukherji in the second round, 6-2, 6-1.

Kibikas continued his winning ways with a 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 super-tiebreaker quarterfinal victory over Sugar Land’s Akash Jayram but was upset in the semifinals by Portland’s Charles Horseman, 6-4, 6-1.

As for Raji, she was seeded No. 2 in the girls’ 14s “white” division.

After receiving a first-round bye, Raji proceeded to beat Katy’s Dakota Wentworth in the second round, 6-1, 6-3, and Boerne’s Sara Thompson in the quarterfinals, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0.

In the semifinals, though, Raji was upset by Mission’s No. 4-seeded Andrea De Leon, 6-2, 7-5.

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Freedom Over Texas Fireworks Show!

2010-07-01T08:48:00.001-07:00

Houston will set the stage for an extraordinary patriotic celebration at Mayor Annise Parker’s official Fourth of July event, Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell. Texas singer-songwriter Pat Green will headline the annual event held from 4 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, with his performance culminating in the nation’s largest land-based fireworks show, presented by Shell Oil Company. Admission to the event is FREE with the donation of one canned item per person to the Houston Food Bank.

"As Americans, I believe it is our civic duty to celebrate the birth of our nation and reflect upon those brave men and women who have made great sacrifices for us to live in a free country," said Mayor Annise Parker. "I invite fellow Texans to join us in honoring our country, respecting the values of the founding fathers and instilling pride in our diverse community.”

Headlining the evening’s celebration on the Freedom Stage is Pat Green (with Cowboy Mouth and Little Big Town), an artist who has blazed his own trail and recorded a total of 10 studio albums. Fifteen of his singles have charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, of which the highest-peaking is the #3 "Wave on Wave" from his gold-certified album. Green has toured with many popular country music artists including Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Kenny Chesney, and many more. At this year’s event, Green will be presented by the Texas Music Charts with an award recognizing him as the “Most Played Texas Artist” of the last decade.

When the concert comes to a close at 9:30 p.m., eyes will turn skyward for an extraordinary fireworks spectacular perfectly set to a selection of America’s favorite tunes, from patriotic songs to rock ‘n’ roll hits to classic bestsellers. Shell Oil Company is the underwriter of the 2010 fireworks show for the fifth consecutive year, and with their contribution, the city’s official fireworks show will enliven Houston’s skyline. Producing the show will be world-renowned fireworks artists from Pyro Spectaculars North by Souza.

"For more than 80 years, Shell has been a strong supporter of the Houston community and our nation. As a country, we have much to celebrate, and we at Shell are thrilled to participate in the festivities this year,” said Ben Dillon, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Shell Oil Company.

In addition to this year’s entertainment headliner, the festival will also spotlight a top-notch selection of local and regional music. Throughout the day, four stages will keep toes tapping with music ranging from country western and rock 'n' roll to Latin, R&B, and oldies.

Booth exhibits and family friendly patriotic activities will encompass Buffalo Bayou and Eleanor Tinsley Park:

KBR Liberty Park

Encompassing more than three football fields in length, KBR Liberty Park will showcase military artifacts and vehicles including representation from all five military branches and more. The branches and the Houston Police Department will offer recruiting on site.
The U.S. Army will showcase an Apache Helicopter flight simulator and a 55-ton M-60 Battle Tank.
The Museum of Printing History and the Military Museum of Houston will exhibit historical items that have helped shape our nation’s history in this area.
Bud Light Zone

Cool off with a cold one at the Budweiser Beer Garden, and enjoy a prime view of the sixth annual Bud Light Texas Volleyball Championship Series Finals.
Make a rest stop at the Bud Light Build-A-Bar, which will offer a shaded sitting area equipped with plasma TV screens. Also, don’t miss a sneak peak of an event performer during their official Bud Light Sound Check.

Be sure to stop by the Budweiser Good Sport’s Booth and learn how you can save lives by being a designated driver.

Walmart All American Kids Zone

More than 30,000 square feet of free educational programming and entertainment await children.
Houston Public Library’s HPL Mobile Express computer lab, will teach child how to use a computer.
Houston Fire Department’s Smokehouse will teach kids the importance of fire safety.
Historical costumed characters will talk with children about the documents that defined our government.

Juno Baby will have sing-a-long activities for children and little aspiring stars are invited to perform in the Rising Stars Search contest for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to San Francisco and be featured in the next Juno Baby production.
Free games, rides, face painting and interactive activities will be open to children of all ages.
Additional activities:

Gexa Energy will be giving US Flag hand fans to the first 30,000 people who enter the gates. Booths will be setup for families to take fun photos with Shrek The Musical characters, enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii or Cancun, and also for a chance to win a Home Theater System, which includes a Sony Bravia 40’ LCD TV.
Visit KBR’s five primary beneficiaries on site: Career and Recovery Resources, Goodwill Industries, Houston Community College, Soldier’s Angels and Wreaths Across America-Houston.
The 2010 Land Rover models will be on display including the all new 2010 Land Rover LR4 and award winning Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell will be simulcast on ABC-13/KTRK-TV from 7-10 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, and will be syndicated statewide from 8-10 p.m. In addition, KILT 100.3 FM will simulcast the music medley specially choreographed for the fireworks spectacular.

With the donation of one canned item per person to the Houston Food Bank, admission for the event is FREE. Without the donation, tickets will be $8 per person. Children two years and under will be admitted free. In keeping with last year’s theme, Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell will expand its offering of recycling receptacles, encouraging all patrons to recycle.

Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell sponsors include: Fireworks sponsor: Shell; Anchor Sponsors: Gexa Energy, Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors, KBR, Houston Area Land Rover Centres, and Walmart; Co-producers: City of Houston/Mayor’s Office of Special Events; Additional sponsors include Doubletree Hotel Houston Downtown; Houston Chronicle; 100.3 KILT; HOT 95-7; Mix 96-5; SportsRadio 610 and Mega 101 FM; Texas Lottery; Juno Baby; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Texas Southern University and LifeGift. In-kind sponsors include Houston Dynamo, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, Houston Aero and Metro. The event benefits Houston Central Improvement, Inc.

For more information, call 832.393.0868 or visit the Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell Web site at www.freedomovertexas.org or www.houstonspecialevents.org.

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Cole pleads guilty in Friendswood mortgage fraud scheme

2010-06-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Adrian Levale Cole has pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud and false representation of a Social Security number arising from a $10 million mortgage fraud scheme, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced on June 29.

Cole, 39, a Houston area resident, was indicted in June 2009 along with two other co-defendants of perpetrating a scheme to defraud lenders of mortgage loans by making false/fraudulent claims on mortgage loan applications and false representation of a Social Security number. Today he pleaded guilty and admitted his role in the multi-million-dollar fraud scheme before U.S. District Judge David Hittner. Judge Hittner has set sentencing for Sept. 23, 2010.

Cole maintained several business names, including AC Homes and WT homes, with corresponding bank accounts. Through his association with several companies—including Capri Mortgage Services, United National Mortgage and Phantom Marketing—Cole utilized those business names to obtain funds from fraudulently obtained residential mortgage loans.

Today, Cole admitted he purchased a residential property in Houston for $110,000 on Dec. 17, 2004. That property was purchased with funds obtained by using the Social Security number belonging to a minor on a mortgage loan application which created a line of credit that was ultimately approved for $99,000. Loan funds from the bank account of the lender were transmitted in interstate commerce by means of a wire communication into the bank account of the title company. Out of the loan proceeds, a check was issued for $69,100 to AC Homes, Adrian Levale Cole’s company, as a “Contractor Loan.” No construction work of any kind was ever done by AC Homes on the property located on the 3200 block of Berry Street in Houston.

As with other loans obtained as part of this scheme, only the first few monthly mortgage payments were made and the mortgage loans went into default for non-payment. More than $10 million in fraudulent loans were obtained as part of this mortgage fraud scheme between June 2003 and July 2006. Cole remains on bonding pending further proceedings.

Cole faces a maximum punishment of up to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000 and a three-year-term of supervise release.

Cole’s co-defendants are pending trial in July 2010.

The investigation leading to the charges in this case was conducted by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations, the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and Friendswood Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melissa J. Annis and Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Ferko prosecuted the case.

Source: FBI

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Recovery Effort in Gulf Expected to Continue Despite Storm

2010-06-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

By JOSEPH BERGER

A tropical storm moving across the western Gulf of Mexico that is likely to strengthen into a hurricane is not expected to seriously disrupt efforts to capture oil gushing from the stricken BP well, officials of the Coast Guard and BP said Monday.

Adm. Thad W. Allen, of the Coast Guard, who is commanding the federal response to the disaster, said at an afternoon press conference that high seas produced by Tropical Storm Alex should not force the evacuation of rigs and other equipment from the blowout site, which is 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. Should an evacuation take place, he said, it could halt the work of collecting oil and drill relief wells for about 14 days.

“As it stands right now, absent the intervention of a hurricane, we’re still looking at mid-August," to have relief wells shut off the gusher entirely, Admiral Allen said.

However, BP officials said that what could be delayed, even by current wave heights, is an effort to prepare what is known as a “floating riser system” that will help raise the daily total of collected oil from, about 25,000 barrels to as much as 50,000 barrels. At a briefing Monday morning, Kent Wells, a senior vice president of BP who is overseeing BP’s efforts, said the storm is expected to follow a track that will take it well west of the blowout site, but it may produce waves of 10 to 12 feet, which Mr. Wells said was too high for the “very precise work” on the surface needed to prepare the floating riser system.

Mr. Wells said the containment cap and a second system that are collecting 25,000 barrels of oil a day would not need to be disconnected and the drilling of two relief wells should continue on schedule. The first relief well is supposed to pump in heavy mud and shut off the gusher sometime in August.

Tropical Storm Alex is on a course heading for northeastern Mexico and a stretch of Texas. Meteorologists at Accuweather.com said they are anticipating a landfall between Tampico, Mexico and Brownsville, Tex. Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Meanwhile Associated Press reported that BP had filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission that indicate the cost of capping and cleaning the spill have reached $2.65 billion. BP has lost more than $100 billion in market value since the drilling platform the company was operating blew up April 20. The costs include spill response, containment, relief well drilling, grants to gulf states, claims paid, and federal costs, but not a $20 billion fund for damages the company created this month.

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Alex may effect Gulf oil production ..

2010-06-28T14:25:00.001-07:00

HOUSTON (Dow Jones)--Tropical Storm Alex, expected to become a hurricane Tuesday, seems to be headed on a path away from the bulk of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico's oil and gas production and refining infrastructure. But some production impact will be felt as one of the largest energy producers in the Gulf said Monday it was shutting down several platforms as a precaution.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) said it had pulled 700 workers from its Gulf operations, and some 835 workers remained offshore. The company is shutting in production from its Western and Central Gulf of Mexico assets to prepare for the potential full evacuation of personnel Tuesday. The company started pulling workers from the Gulf over the weekend. The company didn't specify how much production would be shut or how many platforms were being evacuated.

At 11 a.m. EDT, Alex was located about 85 miles west-northwest of Campeche, Mexico, in the western Gulf of Mexico, and was heading towards southern Texas and northern Mexico. Most U.S. offshore oil and gas platforms are located in the eastern part of the Gulf, far from Alex's forecast path.

Alex "is not likely to have a major impact on production or refining in the U.S.," Doug MacIntyre, senior analyst at the Energy Information Administration, told Dow Jones Newswires Monday. "Alex's current path appears to avoid most of the oil and gas production platforms and any of the major refining centers."

Energy markets Monday seemed to take the storm in stride. Light, sweet crude for August delivery ended 61 cents lower at $78.25 a barrel a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Natural gas for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled 2.96% lower at $4.717 million British thermal units.

Gulf producers Apache Corp. (APA), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) also said Monday they have started evacuating non-essential workers from the offshore facilities expected to be in the path of the storm but none have so far reported any impact to their production.

BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) said Monday it pulled non-essential personnel from three offshore facilities in the the Gulf, and that production was not affected. The company evacuated workers from Atlantis, Mad Dog and Holstein platforms.

Alex may delay BP PLC's plans to increase the amount of oil collected from a leaking well in the Gulf by a week, a company official said Monday.

While the storm's winds are expected to stay far to the west of the Deepwater Horizon spill, high seas are likely to become an issue this week, said Kent Wells, a senior vice president with BP, in a press briefing. Waves up to between 10 feet and 12 feet would prevent BP from hooking a third rig up to an underwater containment system, a process that needs three days of good weather, Wells said.

Two rigs, the Discoverer Enterprise and Q4000, are already collecting between 20,000 and 25,000 barrels of oil a day from the well, which has gushed ever since a rig working at the site caught fire and sank in April.

Chevron Corp. (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP) said that they have not evacuated workers, but that they are closely monitoring the forecast for Alex.

A hurricane watch was issued for parts of the south Texas Gulf coastline area and parts of northern Mexico, the National Hurricane Center reported Monday on its website.

The NHC, in its advisory, also said Alex likely will become a hurricane Tuesday and has increased in strength, now with winds of 60 miles per hour.

The watch area for the U.S. extends from south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande in Texas, with Mexico issuing a hurricane watch from the Rio Grande to La Cruz.

-By Isabel Ordonez, Dow Jones Newswires; 713-547-9207; isabel.ordonez@dowjones.com

(Brian Baskin and Angel Gonzalez contributed to this article

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Friendswood part-goers charged

2010-06-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

by Chris Paschenko / The Daily News
khou.com
Posted on June 13, 2010 at 12:47 PM
FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — Disturbances related to a house party resulted in the arrest of four people in connection with an early Saturday shooting and burglary, authorities said.

Friendswood police were called to a complaint about a loud party in the 500 block of Regency Court about 11:05 p.m. Friday. Officers disbursed the party but returned at 2:41 a.m. Saturday when the party resumed, authorities said.

The homeowner was out of town, but a female resident, 19, was charged with violating the city’s open party ordinance and possession of alcohol by a minor, Friendswood police said.

At 3:03 a.m., Friendswood and Webster police were called to a complaint of shots fired at a Valero store, 700 W. Parkwood Ave. Officers found several of the revelers from the party but were unable to find shooting suspects. There were no reports of injuries, authorities said.

While investigating the shooting, police were called to a burglary in progress at the home of the house party, authorities said.

Police found three men, who were present at the earlier party, trying to leave, police said.

Cordelrius Dixon, 21, of Humble, and Robert Harris II, 23, of Houston, were charged with burglary. Dixon remained jailed Saturday on $10,000 bond, and Harris was held without bond, police said.

Police accused Dixon and Harris of possessing two rifles and a handgun that were taken from the residence, police said.

Another man, 19, from Houston, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and released on $414 bond.

The 19-year-old resident was released on $678 bond, police said.

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Rash of car burglaries at League City's Sportsplex

2010-06-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

Car burglaries at League City's Sportsplex and around Clear Lake over the weekend has promped a reminder from police to lock up and hide your valuables.

Both of the League City thefts occurred between 6:45 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. Saturday at the Chester L. Davis Sportsplex, 1251 Texas 96.

League City Police Sgt. David Hausam said that in one case somone broke out a window in a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe to steal a purse and two wallets, that had a combined $1,700 in cash. The wallets were found nearby without the money.

In the other Sportsplex theft, car burglars targeted an unlocked 2009 Toyota Corolla that had a $30 purse and $300 purse stolen.

The Sportsplex is a notorious target of thieves, Hausam said. Last month, a woman napping in her truck in the complex’s parking lot awoke to find a man had opened the truck’s door and sat down inside. He claimed he was checking on her before fleeing.

“There’s lot of vehicles and it’s a big parking lot out there,” Hausam said. “There’s a lot of foot traffic so thieves just aren’t noticed.”

Separately, two Webster youths were arrested in connection with several car burglaries in Friendswood's Heritage Park, Clear Lake City and League City.

Friendswood police reported that around 11:50 p.m. on Friday, an officer noticed two teens walking in the Autumn Creek subdivision. He questioned them and sent them on their way, but a little while later he pulled over a car in the 2400 block of FM 528 and found the same teens inside.

The officer reported he noticed a purse in the back, with its contents strewn around, and several GPS devices and cell phones. Police said the pair admitted to burglarizing cars around the Clear Lake area.

Police said Christopher Hermann, 17, of Webster and a 15-year-old youth from Webster were charged with burglary of a motor vehicle. The teen was released to his parents, and Hermann was released after posting a $3,000 bond.

Hausam said residents need to be diligent about leaving nothing valuable in their cars that thieves might notice.

“These guys don’t have any problem busting a window out to get a purse or computer or something like that,” he said. “If you’ve got something valuable, you need to take it with you or in your trunk. Just putting it on the floorboard is not going to keep your car from getting burglarized. Not locking your vehicle is worse because they just check handles.”

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Texas Gulf Waits & Worries

2010-05-28T06:21:00.001-07:00

LAPORTE -- Richard Arnhart spends much of his days monitoring wind trajectories, scientific bulletins and TV newscasts.

Parts of an oily blob three times the size of Rhode Island -- and growing -- are believed by many experts to be lumbering closer to the Texas Gulf, and Arnhart is part of the first line of defense.
As a regional director for the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program in the Texas General Land Office, Arnhart is paid by the state to fight oil spills, and he's heavily involved in state and federal contingency planning for any possible impact on Texas from the massive oil spill lurking in the Gulf of Mexico.

Communities all along the Texas coast are making similar preparations as they join the rest of the world in tracking daily developments in one of the worst oil spill disasters in history.
No one knows for sure if remnants of the spill, which was about 160 miles east of the Lone Star State late last week, will reach Texas waters. The consensus seems to be that if there is an impact it will be in the form of tar balls or a frothy substance resembling chocolate mousse. Experts don't expect any residue to hit this far west for several weeks.

Beyond that, just what threat the spill poses for a region of the state whose economy and culture is tied to the gulf is difficult to gauge. Environmentalists warn of possibly irreversible damage to the state's fragile ecosystems and endangered wildlife. Others worry about potential losses to fishing and tourism, though local officials say they have yet to see any signs of an economic backlash.
"It's going to have an impact one way or another," said state Rep. Aaron Pena, D-Edinburg, chairman of the state House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness, which has scheduled a Monday hearing in McAllen to examine Texas preparations for the spill. "We swim in that ocean. We eat the food that comes out of that ocean. It's part of our [committee's] charge to be prepared for emergencies, and this is certainly an emergency that Texas should be prepared for."
'No news is good news'

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, whose office would be in charge of fighting residue from the spill and enforcing the cleanup, took steps late last week to calm fears about the oil slick.

"We're watching and waiting, but it's just not time to go to general quarters," said Patterson, who is scheduled to testify at Monday's hearing. "No news is good news."

Patterson sought to dispel TV reports that tar balls from the spill are already showing up on Texas beaches. Although tar balls occasionally wash ashore along the Texas Gulf, they may be decades old and could come from natural seepage or earlier spills, the land office said. An analysis on tar balls collected from Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island last week proved conclusively that the substance did not come from the oil slick in the gulf, said Cmdr. David Berliner of the Coast Guard.
Nevertheless, an out-of-control underwater gusher dumping more than thousands of barrels of oil into the gulf each day is impossible for Texans to ignore. Houston area residents watching TV last week, for example, might have seen ads aired by attorney Jim Adler offering his service to victims of the spill.

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3 teams begin softball playoff series

2010-05-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

By Evan Mohl
The Daily News
Published May 6, 2010

Three Galveston county teams remain in the softball playoffs — two in the University Interscholastic League bracket and one in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools tournament.

Santa Fe and Friendswood come from the same district and will look to advance to the third round, where the two rivals could face off.

The Lady Mustangs begin their series today, while the Lady Indians play a one-game playoff Friday.

O’Connell has hopes of advancing to its seventh straight state tournament with a win Tuesday.

Santa Fe (28-7) Vs. Houston Waltrip (18-8)

• One-game playoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Pasadena ISD Fields

• Outlook: Since they earned the second seed out of District 24-4A, the Lady Indians get an interesting area round matchup in Waltrip, a district champion.

The Lady Rams have lost just one game in the last six weeks and have scored double digit runs in their last five games.

The success led to an honorable mention in the Texas Girls Coaches Association state rankings. Santa Fe wasn’t even mentioned at all.

But rankings are flawed and the Lady Indians should prove why. Waltrip has not faced competition like Santa Fe for most of the year.

In fact, the Lady Rams lost to Lamar Consolidated, 10-0, a team that finished behind El Campo in District 23-4A.

The Lady Indians swept El Campo right out of the playoffs last week.

Waltrip has an explosive offense with eight hitters batting over .300. Santa Fe can claim the same achievement, plus one more.

And the Lady Rams do not have anyone close to a Jocelyn Tacquard taking the mound. Tacquard has thrown two straight shutouts, including a no-hitter for the Lady Indians.

Santa Fe’s coach, Trish Leidy, usually likes to play three-game series so that one fluke contest doesn’t determine the team’s playoff fate.

But with Santa Fe prom this weekend, Leidy opted for a do-or-die game so her players could enjoy their weekend.

• Mohl’s prediction: I expect Tacquard to continue to shine. She’ll need to shut down hitters like Tiffany Bender (.472 batting average) and Kennedy Rodriguez (.434), but she should not have much of a problem.

Tacquard also will get plenty of offensive help from teammates Ciara Sunseri (29 RBIs), Arin McLaren (.349 batting average) and Micaela Bouvier (four homers). Santa Fe 7, Waltrip 1.

Friendswood (24-12-1) Vs. Houston Austin

• Schedule: Game 1, 6:30 p.m. today at Barnett Sports Complex; Game 2, 2 p.m. Saturday at Friendswood; Game 3, if necessary, following Game 2

• Outlook: Friendswood got a heap of postseason experience in a hurry last week.

Making the playoffs for the first time since 2007 — and having no one on the roster with any significant experience — the Lady Mustangs pulled off a 2-1 series win over Bay City, the 23-4A district champs.

They clinched the series in a nerve-racking 1-0 extra-inning win in the final game.

That experience should pay dividends, though Friendswood may not need it against Austin.

The Lady Mustangs own a huge talent advantage over Austin, who finished third in the relatively weak District 21-4A.

On the mound, Kelly Smith, the Southern Mississippi-bound Friends-wood ace, should dominate as usual. The Lady Mustangs top of the order, with Lindsey Davis (.373 batting average, 23 RBIs) Amber Mills (.421) and Rylie Kohls (.368, 25), has also been playing well.

Friendswood must not beat itself, like it did in Game 2 of the Bay City series when the Lady Mustangs suffered from defensive lapses.

And that’s where experience should come in handy.

• Mohl’s prediction: I don’t see how Austin can keep up with the Lady Mustangs. Friendswood sweeps the series.

O’Connell Vs. Katy Faith West

• One-game playoff: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Galveston Lassie League Fields.

• Outlook: O’Connell seems to have gotten the postseason jitters out of the way after a rough first inning against Bryan St. Joseph’s.

After a brief lapse, the Lady Bucs looked like a team that had won six straight state titles.

But now comes one of their rivals, Katy Faith West, a team that has played O’Connell tough in recent years.

The Lady Bucs will be at home, and anytime Kristin Martinez takes the mound, it’s an advantage. Martinez will play at Kansas next fall.

Still, O’Connell must be careful and find a way to get the bats going. Some players just recently took new positions, which is not always easy to do the as the playoffs start.

• Mohl’s prediction: It’s been a rough year for O’Connell, but the Lady Bucs still have loads of talent. They also are playing together. O’Connell 4, Katy Faith West 1.

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Oil spill threatens Gulf Coast

2010-04-29T19:34:00.001-07:00

(CNN) -- A huge oil spill oozing toward the Gulf Coast on Thursday threatens hundreds of species of wildlife, some in their prime breeding season, environmental organizations said.
The Coast Guard said Wednesday that the amount of oil spilling from an underwater well after an oil rig explosion last week has increased to as many as 5,000 barrels of oil a day, or 210,000 gallons, five times more than what was originally believed.

Although efforts to minimize the damage are under way and options under consideration include asking the U.S. military for assistance, wildlife conservation groups say the oil could pose a "growing environmental disaster."

"The terrible loss of 11 workers (unaccounted for after the rig explosion) may be just the beginning of this tragedy as the oil slick spreads toward sensitive coastal areas vital to birds and marine life and to all the communities that depend on them," said Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, in a statement.
Coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida could be at risk, the organization said.

"For birds, the timing could not be worse; they are breeding, nesting and especially vulnerable in many of the places where the oil could come ashore," she said. "The efforts to stop the oil before it reaches shore are heroic, but may not be enough. We have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, including a true catastrophe for birds."

"The best case is, the wind shifts and the oil doesn't hit," said Tom MacKenzie of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "I'm not real confident about that. ... We're doing everything we can to prevent it, but it could be a bad one."

It's not just birds that could be affected, although they are usually the first to feel the effects, said Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer for the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The birds are right at the surface, get covered in the oil and swallow it, causing liver and kidney problems.

"They need to be rescued and cleaned," he said.
But the coastline of Louisiana, with its barrier islands and estuaries, "is a very unique ecosystem. It's very complex," Bossart said.
Plankton found in the estuaries nourish organisms all the way up the food chain. Crabs, mussels, oysters and shrimp feed on the plankton, he said. Oil smothers the plankton, meaning they cannot eat.

Also, "the estuaries here are a nursery ground, literally a nursery ground, for the entire fish population in this area," Bossart said.

River otters in the region eat mussels and other animals. And "we know, in this area right now, that there are sperm whales. There are dolphins right in the oil slick," he said.
If an oil spill is small enough, animals can leave the area.
"Some of them can get away," Bossart said. "It's totally dependent on the size of the slick, and this is huge."

Exposure to the oil for a prolonged period of time can result in a toxic effect on the skin, and mammals can suffer lung damage or death after breathing it in, Bossart said.
"When the oil starts to settle, it'll smother the oyster beds. It'll kill the oysters," he said.

The Audubon Society, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, is recruiting volunteers in Florida and making its Center for Birds of Prey available for bird cleansing and rehabilitation. Elsewhere, Audubon said it was gearing up to mobilize volunteers and provide assistance as the oil reaches land.

The spill also threatens the Louisiana and Mississippi fishing industry, as crab, oysters and shrimp along the coast could be affected, along with numerous species of fish. Gulf shrimp are in their spawning season.

More than 400 species are threatened by the spill, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Thursday, citing the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
"When you stop and begin considering everything that this could impact, it really is stunning," Karen Foote, biologist administrator with the department, told the newspaper.

A handful of "Important Bird Areas" -- designated because of their value to bird species -- face immediate threat from the oil, the initiative said. They include the Chandeleur Islands and Gulf Islands National Seashore areas in Louisiana and Mississippi, along with the Active Delta area in Louisiana, which includes Delta Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area.

Several species of birds are cause for special concern, the Louisiana Coastal Initiative said. They include the brown pelican, the state bird of Louisiana, which nests on barrier islands and feeds near shore. The brown pelican's breeding season just began, according to the Initiative, and "many pairs are already incubating eggs."

The species was taken off the federal endangered species list last year, but "their relatively low reproductive rate means any disruption to their breeding cycle could have serious effects on the population."

More than 800 brown pelicans died when a smaller oil spill hit Louisiana's Breton Island National Wildlife Refuge a few years ago, MacKenzie said.

Species of beach-nesting terns and gulls, beach-nesting shorebirds, large wading birds, marsh birds and ocean-dwelling birds are also at risk, along with migratory shorebirds and songbirds, the Initiative said.

The migratory songbirds move across the Gulf during a two-week period from late April to early May, for instance.

"The journey across 500 miles of open water strains their endurance to its limits," the Initiative said. "They depend on clear skies and healthy habitats on both sides of the Gulf in order to survive the journey."

According to a 1998 study by Louisiana State University, more than 500 million birds fly over the Gulf and enter the United States along coastal areas in Louisiana and Texas each spring.
The barrier islands east of Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain have still not recovered from the blow dealt by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bossart said, and a spill such as this one could seriously threaten their recovery.

"I think at this point it would be wrong to say it's catastrophic, because it really hasn't hit any area except out in the Gulf proper," he said. But "it's certainly a very serious thing" that could pose a long-term environmental challenge.

Plans have been under way to protect wildlife since the spill was discovered, MacKenzie said. "We know what we're doing to try to protect those key assets. ... A lot of people are leaning forward in the foxhole to address this."

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Friendswood student places in stamp contest

2010-04-15T07:20:00.001-07:00

FROM FRIENDSWOOD ISD

Congratulations to Friendswood Junior High artist Brooke Bartholomew, who placed third in the 2010 Texas Duck Stamp Contest.

More than 425 entries were part of this year’s competition.

This contest is held annually by the United States Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wild Life Service.

“This year the quality of artwork was amazing. There was more top quality works than I have ever seen,” Jennifer Sanchez Texas Duck Stamp Coordinator, said.

Bartholomew’s art teacher is Ron Brown.

“Brooke is an outstanding artist and leader in the field of arts representing Friendswood Junior High at the Texas State Competition in outstanding fashion,” Brown said. “She exemplifies the beauty of ARTS in everything she does.”

Along with being an outstanding artist, Bartholomew is also an excellent percussionist placing second chair in region band.

A copy of the duck stamp design created by Bartholomew is on display in the glass cases by the FJH library.

SPONSORED LINK: Find ANYTHING in Friendswood HERE.

Hotel plans cause uproar in Friendswood

2010-04-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

by Hayley Kappes / The Daily News
Posted on April 5, 2010 at 8:19 AM
******
Galveston Daily News Web site
FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — A proposed Sleep Inn and Suites at the corner of FM 528 and San Joaquin Parkway has caused uproar from residents in nearby subdivisions since the project was announced last November.

The three-story, 60-room hotel will be located next to the Boca Raton subdivision.

A major concern for opponents is the hotel’s proximity to Windsong Intermediate School, which sits diagonally across FM 528.

"We’re not opposed to commercial development on that property, but a motel is the wrong use," Ed Dondzila, secretary of the Boca Raton subdivision homeowners association, said. "It doesn’t make sense. It’s eight miles from (Interstate) 45, and there’s no tourist attraction in Friendswood."

Dondzila and other residents in Boca Raton, San Joaquin, Keystone, Falcon Ridge and Sunmeadow developments oppose the hotel because they think it will decrease their property values and increase criminal activity.

City council members have not addressed residents’ concerns about the hotel, nor have they outlined any benefits a hotel would offer the city, Mark and Jackie Taylor, residents of Boca Raton subdivision, said.

Hotel property owner Ajay Jain told a Houston TV station he has not secured the loan to build the hotel and does not know if it will go through.

Friendswood’s current ordinances allow hotels and motels to be built on property zoned for community shopping centers.

Friendswood city council will consider today a change to the way community shopping properties are zoned, which will prevent hotels and motels from automatically qualifying for those properties. The ordinance change also will require a hotel developer to obtain a special use permit approved by the city council, which requires greater scrutiny, Mayor David Smith said.

The change to the city’s zoning laws will not affect the proposed Sleep Inn and Suites because it falls under the current ordinance.

The hotel is not a done deal, however. Jain has submitted site plans to the city, and the planning and zoning commission will review the plans April 15. He can obtain a building permit only after planning and zoning approves the plans.

Today’s city council meeting will have a first reading of the ordinance change, and the second reading will take place in two weeks when the council will vote on the matter, Smith said.

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Soccer king in Friendswood!

2010-04-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

By Evan Mohl
The Daily News
Published April 1, 2010

Soccer fans came out in droves to support the Friendswood and Texas City girls soccer teams on Tuesday in Angleton.

It was an impressive showing for about 300 fans from each community who made the 45-minute drive.

Angleton coach Janet Lumpkins said it was the biggest crowd to witness a soccer game at Wildcat Stadium.

The support also proved meaningful, specifically on the Texas City side. A group of students who call themselves the Texas City Hooligans showed up shirtless with chests painted.

They cheered throughout the game, including chants of “Olé.” After the Lady Stings won, they went crazy, promising to “shock the world” against Friendswood and yelling, “we’re not worthy,” while bowing their heads.

The players noticed.

“It’s one thing to have your parents come out, but to have the school behind you with a lot of fans, it’s awesome,” Texas City senior Jennifer Low said. “It makes you want to win more and play harder.”

I often wonder how much fans really can affect the outcome of a game. It’s almost impossible to compute into quantifiable numbers as so many factors contribute to winning and losing.

But in the high school arena or field, I think it matters. A lot. Every player and every coach I talk to at that level acknowledges the importance of involved fans.

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Warrant roundup begins ...

2010-03-05T07:16:00.001-08:00

Thayer Evans wrote:
If you have any tickets you haven't gotten around to paying, this is the week to take care of them.

League City, Friendswood, Houston and other cities around Clear Lake will join hundreds of jurisdictions participating in the Great Texas Warrant Roundup this weekend.

Starting Saturday, March 6, police will be visiting homes, schools and workplaces to arrest those with outstanding warrants from municipal courts.

Most of the offenses involve unpaid traffic or parking tickets but more serious violations are included, and no amnesty is being offered. Those with outstanding warrants can be arrested at any location.

Cities are mailing notices to the last known address of those with warrants.

League City Police Chief Mike Jez said those with warrants needs to resolve them before the roundup. His police department will have “quite a few” officers participating in it this year, he said.

“The message to folks right now is avoid getting arrested on your job site or an embarrassing moment,” Jez said. “Come take of things. It’ll save you time, money and embarrassment. It’s something that’s easily avoidable. Most of them are minor offense violations anyway.”

If you think there may be a warrant out on you, contact your local municipal court to find out how to post a bond.

Clear Lake's Houston residents can call 713-731-3950 or visit the city's Clear Lake police station at 2855 Bay Area Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Man throws puppies off of Port Arthur sea wall.

2010-02-23T08:00:00.001-08:00

PORT ARTHUR, Texas (AP) - Three rescued puppies are recovering after being thrown over a seawall and on to some rocks in Port Arthur.

Firefighters rescued the crying pups and placed the creatures with animal control.

KFDM-TV reports the man who tossed the animals on Sunday was heard saying he was "turning them into soldiers." A bystander noticed the abandoned puppies and summoned help.

Pat Lavergne with Port Arthur Animal Control says the puppies, with health problems such as mange, were at the shelter Tuesday and available for adoption. She described them as a retriever mix.

The owner of the dogs, who was not immediately located, could face animal cruelty charges.

Three losers netted in Friendswood arrests.

2010-02-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Police viewed security video from a local child care center on S. Friendswood Drive, along with video from an ATM at Texas First Bank, 111 W. Parkwood, to develop a suspect in the case. The videos revealed the thieves in a newer model silver Ford Edge parked across the street from the child care center, approach a vehicle within minutes, enter the vehicle and take a purse. The credit cards were then used at Texas First Bank and an area Wal-Mart.

An officer patrolling the 300 block of S. Friendswood at 8:06 a.m. Wednesday observed the vehicle and stopped them. Charles and Richardson were initially taken into custody for traffic violations. Billotto was taken into custody later in the day when she arrived at the police department to visit the pair in jail. She later admitted to her involvement in the credit card abuse.

Police officials also noted that Billotto is on probation for Grand Theft in Florida. Florida officials said they will apply to revoke her probation. She was transferred to the Harris County jail early this morning. Richardson is out on bond in Florida for Delivery of a Controlled Substance charge. He has been released to Pearland investigators. Charles is out on bond in North Carolina for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Credit Card Abuse. He is awaiting transfer to the Galveston County jail.

During a search of the group's hotel room in Webster, a laptop reported stolen in Florida and an I-phone related to a vehicle burglary in Pearland were recovered.

Police believe the trio may be responsible for multiple vehicle burglaries in the area and are working with agencies in Brazoria and Harris counties to determine if additional charges should be filed.

Since February 7, seventeen vehicle burglaries have been reported to Friendswood Police. Some vehicles were left unlocked, others had windows smashed to gain entry or a door lock popped to gain entry. In each case, the victim left a purse, wallet or other valuable item in clear view inside the vehicle. Police urge residents to remove valuables from vehicles and make sure vehicles are locked.

Job fair draws more than 1,000 job seekers

2010-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published February 18, 2010

GALVESTON — In April, when Tony Salas lost his job in Pasadena as a pipe designer for the petrochemical industry, he wasn’t too worried.

Salas, who was earning about $93,000 a year, had built up some savings and decided to use the time off for a long vacation. He figured he’d find a job within a week when he began looking in October.

But weeks have turned into months, and the Texas City resident found himself Wednesday among nearly 1,500 people — some who’d lined up hours before the doors opened at 9 a.m. — to meet prospective employers at the Oceans of Opportunities Job Fair.

“I socked some money away, but it’s going away quick,” Salas, 34, said.

Attendance was nearly double that of last year’s job fair, organized by the city and several island organizations and employers, including the Galveston Chamber of Commerce and the University of Texas Medical Branch and held in the city’s seawall convention center.

As job seekers lined up, some as early as 6:45 a.m., to drop off résumés and shake hands with prospective employers, the Federal Reserve announced it expected the pace of the nation’s economic recovery to be restrained by uncertainty and only gradual improvement in labor market conditions and a slow easing of credit restrictions.

The national unemployment rate this year could hover between 9.5 percent and 9.7 percent, the Fed said.

Still, not all is bleak locally. The unemployment rate in Galveston, which surged after Hurricane Ike in September 2008 knocked hundreds of small businesses out of commission, is stabilizing, according to data from Texas Workforce Solutions, which manages employment services and training in the region.

In Galveston, unemployment was at 8.1 percent at the end of December 2009 — the latest data available — compared with 9.6 percent for the same period the year before.

The improvement on the island can be attributed to the reopening of small businesses, Joel Wagher, labor market analyst for Workforce Solutions, said.

Countywide, unemployment was at 8.9 percent in December 2009, compared with 7.6 percent for the same period the year before.

But while the large crowd was a symptom of the lingering recession, it also showed some promise to Gina Spagnola, president of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce.

Many participants Wednesday were seeking to return to the island, which lost 20 percent of its population after Hurricane Ike destroyed hundreds of homes.

Also promising was that the fair featured 75 employers, most of which were filling well-paying positions.

“If you want to work, the jobs are out there,” Spagnola said.

Banks, retailers and hotels had plenty of openings, as did government agencies and large corporations.

Among the participants were American National Insurance Co., the city of Galveston, College of the Mainland, the FBI, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, IBC Bank, the medical branch, ISP Technologies, Randalls and Remington College, to name a few.

Saralyn Harris was among former Galvestonians seeking to return to the island.

Harris, 59, is applying for federal funding through the city to help repair her house in the 3900 block of Sealy, which was badly damaged in the storm.

She has been earning a living as a substitute teacher for the Galveston Independent School District, but most of her pay is getting burned up in fuel costs as she commutes from Webster, where she lives with her daughter as she awaits repairs to her house.

Harris was hoping to get an office job with the city, she said.

Most prospective employers interviewed said they were pleased with the turnout and the quality of candidates.

Bambi Teaff, educational director for The Goddard School for Early Childhood Development, had a thick stack of résumés at her booth.

She was seeking lead teachers and assistants for the Friendswood private school that takes in children ages 6 weeks to 6 years.

An assistant position pays from $8 to $10 an hour, while a lead teacher position pays from $10 to $15 an hour but requires a college degree.

Malin International Ship Repair & Drydock Inc., which operates on the island, was seeking welders and fitters. Before 11 a.m., the company already had lined up several candidates.

Island resident Jim Brennan, 52, recently was laid off by a small island firm that he declined to name. A victim of the recession, the firm was losing revenue.

Brennan works in safety and Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance.

He was hoping Wednesday to get a job with a larger firm with various departments that allowed lateral transfers.

Brennan had been earning about $40,000 a year when he was laid off. Single and without children, he’s getting by, he said.

“But the days are getting longer,” he said.

Still, the job fair was encouraging, he said.

“Seeing what opportunities are available, I’m excited by the possibilities,” he said.

Author publishes first children’s book

2010-02-10T08:15:00.001-08:00

By Jim Higgins
Special to The Daily News
Published February 10, 2010

LEAGUE CITY — Hurricane Rita uprooted trees and lives in East Texas in 2005, but one young woman who evacuated from the storm put down new roots in League City and began writing new chapters of her life.

The path she followed and the career she chose would at first glance seem incongruous to everyone except Christina Smith, who is as comfortable around pumps and compressors as she is reading Dr. Seuss or reciting Leonard Cohen poems.

But it is writing children’s stories and poetry that Christina Smith enjoys the most after a day of studying pumps and compressors in College of the Mainland’s process technology associate degree program.

“My dad has an English degree and reads more than anyone I have ever known but decided to work in the plants back in Orange where I grew up,” the full-time COM students and single mother of a 2-year old, said.

“My dad and mom read to me as a child. My mom wrote poetry. I guess I got my love of words from them.”

Her love for her young daughter, Samantha, coupled with a love of words led her to pen her first children’s book last year, “Skeeter Sneeter Doodlebop.”

“I came up with the name Skeeter Sneeter Doodlebop one day just talking nonsense to Sam, my little girl, when she was barely born.

“I wrote the name down and just built the story around it. Amy, a friend and illustrator who lost everything in Hurricane Ike, went with her own imagination to draw the characters.

“They are very unique-looking characters, unlike any I have seen before.”

After several rejection letters from publishers, Skeeter was picked up by Nimblebooks and became the publisher’s first children’s book.

Smith said the book, which can be purchased online, is doing quite well for an unknown author.

“Children’s books are the best. They are the happiest books on earth. They are filled with imagination and hope and offer a peacefully simplistic outlook on life in comparison to other genres.”

She already is working on her second children’s book, “Skeeter Uses Manners.” It will be available this spring. A book of her poetry, Orange Smiles and Simple Truths also was published this year.

Smith also works 25 to 30 hours a week for a local diving company.

So how will this single mom with a toddler in tow and a passion to write balance all that plus shift work once she graduates in December 2010?

“My mom and sister moved up here to help me out when I had Sam. It is because of them that I can actually do homework or go to Phi Theta Kappa events. It works out great, and Sam never has to be anywhere but at home even if I have a night class. I honestly couldn’t do it without them.

“Lone Star Diving Inc. is my adopted family. They have helped me with everything from actually getting into school, truck repairs, feeding me and even helping me study for tests. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who care about me and my future.

“I know there will be times that are hard because of shift work, but I also know that it is the quality of time you spend with a child that outranks the quantity. I am doing this all for her and I know that one day she will understand. We are going to be just fine.”

Atascocita growing by leaps and bounds!

2010-02-03T10:50:00.001-08:00

Business Week:

Tired of reading about how rotten the real estate market is? Here's some good news that shows that even during the worst of the recession plenty of American cities, towns, and suburbs continue to grow.

One such place is Atascocita, Tex. A mostly residential community 20 miles from Houston, it gained more than 1,800 households in 2009, an 8% year-over-year increase, according to new data from Little Rock-based data firm Gadberry Group. Over the decade, amenities that have helped attract residents to this wooded locale include Lake Houston, just east of the city; the school district; and proximity to the city of Houston. With new roads in the area under construction, "we're starting to see major industry start to take a look at the area," says Mike Byers, president of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Migration levels nationwide stayed low last year as homeowners saddled with pricey mortgages stayed put—but there are some positive trends. Research by the Gadberry Group shows that some areas, resisting the effects of the recession, continue to attract both domestic and foreign migrants and, as an effect, bring in new businesses to provide services. While other cities across the U.S. have contracted, these have continued to grow.

Some states are better off than others, though. As thousands of people left places such as New Orleans and Flint, Mich. (the country's two fastest-shrinking cities), in the last decade, communities with the best mix of economic activity, proximity to job centers, and a good environment for families continued to grow. While not entirely spared by the economic downturn (some homes in these areas are now in foreclosure), people continued to move in during 2009.
Texas Grew the Most

Texas came out on top of Gadberry's survey, with four high-growth cities: Atascocita, Katy, Mansfield, and Wylie. The report only included areas larger than 10,000 occupied households that met requirements for growth rate, household income, length of residence, and other factors.

Larry Martin, principal of the Gadberry Group, says many of the places with the biggest housing growth at the beginning of the last decade, such as Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, also saw the biggest drop-off since the economy sank. Texas, however, enjoyed relatively strong housing and job markets over the last 10 years, thanks in large part to the presence of major employers in the robust energy business. As of December, the state unemployment rate was 8.3% (lower than the national rate of 10%), according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also had the largest state population growth between July 2008 and July 2009, according to a December release by the Census Bureau. "New homes are still being built and people are still moving into these homes" in Texas, says Martin.

Part of the state's strength, says Mark Mather, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., is its diversified economy. Main industries include petroleum refining, chemical production, aerospace, and information technology.

Meanwhile, areas that depended on the housing boom are now dealing with high foreclosure rates. Places such as Summerlin South, Nev., which appear in Bloomberg BusinessWeek's slide show of fast-growing cities, gained population but, like the rest of the state, may be dealing with high mortgage default rates.

"If you live by migration, you also die by migration," says Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. "It doesn't guarantee continued growth."
New Business Opportunities

Migration is typically highest among people in their 20s seeking jobs near large urban cores, but employment opportunities are not the only draw. "Amenities are also important in migrational decisions," says Johnson. Many families consider factors such as schools and recreational amenities like scenic areas and parks.

This is a consideration now in Spring Hill, Tenn., which gained 7,645 households since 2000 as many young families moved to the town for affordable housing and work at the General Motors plant, which is now idle. Dustin Dunbar, chairman of the Spring Hill Economic Development Commission, says this has created demand and opportunity for businesses that provide youth activities and entertainment. "We hope to recruit some businesses to cater to our largest demographics," he says.

While migration in 2010 may remain sluggish, "we'll see a continuation of urban sprawl once the economy bounces back," says Mather.

Dr. Conrad Murray to surrender today.

2010-02-03T06:32:00.001-08:00

Dr. Conrad Murray is expected to surrender to authorities in Los Angeles this week on charges related to Michael Jackson's death, according to The Associated Press and CNN. Murray arrived in Los Angeles recently from Houston in anticipation of a decision from the district attorney's office, spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik told the AP..

"Dr. Murray is in Los Angeles for a dual purpose — on family business and to be available for law enforcement," Sevcik told the AP. "We're trying to be as cooperative as we can."

"Dr. Murray is more than ready to surrender and answer to any charges," Ed Chernoff, one of Murray's lawers, told CNN, adding that prosecutors have not announced any charges, and Murray has not been told how or where he should surrender.

No official comment has been made about when charges might, come; David Walgren, the deputy district attorney handling the case, declined to comment to the AP on Tuesday (February 2).

Law enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the AP that Murray is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 25 death from an anesthetic overdose. Murray has denied criminal wrongdoing.

"We continue to maintain that Dr. Murray neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed Michael Jackson," Sevcik said.

Earlier this year, TMZ reported that the Los Angeles Police Department had completed its investigation into Jackson's death and was preparing to send the case to the DA's office within weeks.

Murray has told investigators that he administered the surgical anesthetic propofol, as well as other tranquilizers, to Jackson several times in the hours leading up to his death, and the coroner has ruled the singer died of lethal levels of the drug. Involuntary manslaughter charges would require prosecutors to show that Murray engaged in gross negligence in his actions but did not intend to cause harm or death to Jackson.

Cleanup under way in 462,000-gallon oil spill off Port Arthur

2010-01-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

CNN) -- Crews removed about 46,000 gallons of oil from waters near Port Arthur, Texas, on Sunday, roughly 10 percent of the oil spilled a day earlier when a tanker collided with two barges, a U.S. Coast Guard officer said.

An estimated 462,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from barrels aboard the tanker, forcing the closure of the port in southern Texas, Petty Officer Larry Chambers told CNN. The Sabine Neches Waterway near Port Arthur also was closed. It was unclear Sunday when the port, about 100 miles east of Houston, Texas, will reopen or when crews will finish the cleanup, he said.

"We certainly want it to be done as soon as possible, but with that said, safety is the main issue," Chambers said. "We're not going to open the port until it's determined that vessels can pass through cleanly, safely and not cause any further damage."

No injuries were reported when the Exxon Mobile-chartered tanker -- the 807-foot Eagle Otome -- collided Saturday with two barges being towed by a tug boat. The tanker was carrying about 570,000 gallons of crude oil to Exxon's Beaumont refinery when it crashed, Exxon Mobile spokesman Kevin Allexon told CNN. The cause of the crash was unknown, but is under investigation, he said.

"We are very concerned about how this could have happened," Allexon said. "We are very concerned about the impact to the environment, to the community. No one wants to see this happen."

The port is primarily for industrial use, but it is not far from wetlands. None of the nearby marshes or sensitive wildlife were adversely affected, Chambers said, but one heron was "oiled." The bird was alive and undergoing treatment, he said.

An evacuation order that was imposed in a 50-block area around the port after the collision was lifted. That area was evacuated Saturday out of caution, as the tanker was carrying a type of oil containing sulfide.

Fifteen skimming vessels sailed the area recovering the oil and workers dropped more than 45,000 feet of boom -- fencing-like material -- to keep the oil from spreading, Chambers said. More than 500 people were involved in containing and cleaning the spill, said Darrell Wilson, spokesman for Malaysia-based AET Tanker Holdings, the owner of the tanker.

The biggest oil spill in U.S. history occurred in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in the Gulf of Alaska, resulting in the spill of 11 million gallons of crude.

Traffic stop yields drug buffet

2010-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

FRIENDSWOOD, TX - A Friendswood man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of Crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Soma, Xanax, and Hydrocodone at approximately 11:50 p.m. on January 13th.

James Lee Worthy, 45, was stopped in the 1500 block of Windsor after he was observed speeding on W. Parkwood. He pulled into a driveway on Windsor and got out of his truck.

Worthy was arrested after the officer found a "crack pipe" in his front pocket. Once in custody, the officer began a thorough search of Worthy's outer clothing and found some type of illegal narcotic in every pocket. During an inventory of Worthy's vehicle, the officer found more illegal narcotics.

Friendswood officers seized 22.5 grams of power cocaine, 7.2 grams of crack cocaine, 5.5 grams of Soma, 6.7 grams of Xanax and 2.1 grams of Hydrocodone. Worthy was charged with the following:

Manufacture or Delivery of Substance in Penalty Group I (HSC 481.112) - Cocaine
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Soma
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Xanax
Possession of Substance in Penalty Group 3 (HSC 481.117) - Hydrocodone

Worthy was transferred to the Galveston County jail pending posting of $84,500 bond. Worthy is a parolee with extensive criminal history.

Miles and Edwards are leading teams on hardwood

2010-01-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

By Joshua Buckley
The Daily News
Published January 13, 2010

Brook grad Anthony Miles continues to have a strong season at Lamar, averaging a team-high 14 points to go with 5.2 rebounds in 16 games for the Cardinals. Creek grad Coy Custer is averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds for Lamar (8-8, 0-1 SLC).

Friendswood grad Trey Stanton is averaging 8.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15 games for Rice (6-9, 0-2 C-USA). Stanton has started in 10 games for the Owls.

La Marque grad Malcolm Dotson is averaging 7.9 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds for Texas Lutheran (2-10, 0-8 ASC).

Creek grad Lance Pevehouse is averaging 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 14 games for Sam Houston State (9-5, 1-0 SLC).

Friendswood grad Chelsea Edwards has UT-Dallas (10-3, 7-1 ASC) on a three-game winning streak with some strong performances. Edwards had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds in a 67-52 win over Hardin-Simmons and 14 points in a 60-41 win at SUWBB.

For the season, Edwards is averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals in 13 games for the Lady Comets.

Dickinson grad Brianna Hypolite is averaging 4.1 points in 14 games for Rice.

Dickinson grad Marissa Ashton is averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12 games for Texas Tech (12-3, 0-1 Big 12). She is averaging 10.4 minutes a game in her freshmen season.

Dickinson grad LaChandra Johnson is averaging 10.9 points and 2.0 rebounds for Blinn College (6-7). Texas City grad Aprea Booker is averaging 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Lady Bucs.

Blackwell A Prospect To Watch

Creek grad Shawn Blackwell was named by Baseball Prospectus author Kevin Goldstein as a player to watch in the Texas Rangers organization.

When asked which Rangers prospects can potentially move into Goldstein’s “Top 11 Prospects” list in 2011, he mentioned Blackwell.

“Blackwell is a big kid with three pitches, and that is always a good starting point,” Goldstein said in an interview with Baseball Time in Arlington writer Jason Parks. “He has a very impressive arm, and he was a very nice sign for Texas. He’s a guy, much like (Jurick) Profar, who you have to give Texas a lot of credit for identifying and signing.”

Blackwell was drafted by the Rangers in the 24th round (724th overall) of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft last summer after a stellar career at Creek. He signed with the Rangers in August.

Galveston County Alumni notes are compiled by Joshua Buckley. Coaches and parents are highly encouraged to help us keep track of any Galveston County athlete in college or the pros. Contact us at 409-683-5242 or sports.desk(at)galvnews.com.

Friendswood native climbing mountain for cause

2010-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

By Nick Cenegy
Contributor
Published January 5, 2010

FRIENDSWOOD — Occasionally, humanitarians are accused of being out of touch with the people they serve, trying to use “mountaintop” solutions to solve “valley” problems.

But for humanitarian and Friendswood native Elizabeth Gore and a few international celebrities and activists, mountaintop solutions are the name of the game.

The group will begin a seven-day climb Thursday up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to bring attention to a worldwide clean water crisis.

Joining Gore will be Grammy award-winning artist Kenna, actresses Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas, rapper Lupe Fiasco, water expert Dr. Greg Allgood, and Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

The climb and the events surrounding it, dubbed “Summit on the Summit,” was spearheaded by Los Angeles-based recording artist Kenna, an Ethiopian native.

Gore will serve as an “educator” on the climb, using her experience with the United Nations Foundation and her previous work in the Peace Corps to help convey the importance of ready sources of clean water.

The climb to Africa’s highest point, Uhuru Peak at 19,340 feet, is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, Procter and Gamble’s PUR brand and Eddie Bauer.

It will benefit three water crisis related organizations: Children’s Safe Drinking Water, the U.N.’s refugee agency and PlayPumps International.

The group hopes to raise donations from the public as well.

People can visit the Summit on the Summit Web site at www.sum mitonthesummit.com, to follow live posts from the climbers and sponsor a leg of the climb.

“I’m so excited for the challenge and absolutely honored to represent the U.N. Foundation,” Gore said.

The Texas A&M alumna, who is currently the foundation’s executive director of global partnerships and the Nothing But Nets campaign, has been training near her Washington, D.C., home for about a year.

With temperatures on the mountain ranging from below zero to well into the 80s, “Kili” promises to be a much different experience than her upbringing on a Friendswood ranch.

“I think it’s funny they asked a woman from one of the flattest and hottest parts of the country to climb this mountain,” Gore said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Captured escapee says prison staff helped him

2009-12-09T06:42:00.001-08:00

by KHOU.com Staff

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:50 AM

CONROE, Texas—The escaped prisoner who was the focus of a week-long manhunt told a local activist that he had help from the inside. Convicted child rapist Arcade Comeaux said the weapon he used to hijack guards was in his cell for at least three weeks.

Questions still surround the prison system that allowed Comeaux to dupe authorities for years. The supposedly partially-paralyzed man managed to walk away from the guards and right into controversy.
Authorities are asking two questions; why didn’t prison officials realize Comeaux was faking his medical condition, and where did he get the gun?
Local activist Quanell X said Comeaux told him he had help from the inside.

“He named that guard and he also named someone who is involved in medical who had been giving him medical assistance,” Quanell X said.

But prison officials said Comeaux has not shared that information with investigators so there are no arrests at this time.
“This feels like the inmate is running the asylum,” said a former TDCJ staff member who remembers Comeaux clearly.
“He would sit in the food. Of course it would dry and start smelling. He refused to shower, refused to clean himself, basically saying ‘I’m immobile, I need someone to do this for me.’”

The former staff member said Comeaux orchestrated a deliberate campaign of extortion, despite medical reports that he was able to care for himself. He said Comeaux manipulated the system to get health assistance and better housing.
A grand jury on Thursday will hear the case against the convicted sex offender who was captured in northeast Houston Monday morning.
Comeaux is now facing aggravated kidnapping and felony escape charges. He was in custody in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday, awaiting his hearing. Comeaux, who is currently serving three life sentences, was found when a salesman saw him trying to hitchhike in front of a business on East Little York.

The salesman called HPD, who came and took Comeaux into custody without incident.
Investigators said Comeaux escaped during transport from a prison unit in Huntsville to one in Beaumont.
As the prison van passed through Conroe, investigators said Comeaux pulled out a gun, held two transport guards hostage, handcuffed them in the back of the van, drove the van to Baytown, took the guards’ weapons, put on one of their uniforms and escaped.

Officials launched an extensive manhunt, but Comeaux managed to elude them for seven days before he was captured.
He had been confined to a wheelchair since 1997 when a stroke purportedly left him partially paralyzed, but when he was taken into custody, Comeaux was walking.

He has been in and out of the Texas prison system for 30 years.
Comeaux was first sent to prison in 1979 on three 10-year sentences for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child and burglary of a building—all out of Harris County. He was paroled four years later.

His parole was revoked and he returned to prison in 1984 to serve a 20-year sentence on a new charge of indecency with a child out of Harris County. He was paroled in 1991 but was in and out of prison for parole violations until 1996.
In June 1998, he was given a life sentence for aggravated sexual assault in Brazos County.
Comeaux was given two extra life sentences after he was convicted of stabbing his wife and another person in 1999. That attack occurred in the Jester III Unit in Fort Bend County when his wife came to visit him. The other person stabbed was a man who tried to stop the attack.

Still, those at the top want to correct the miscommunication between the workers inside prison walls.

“If you are in charge of a prison, and you see there is a disputes between medical’s and correction’s, come to us and ask for laws that would eliminate the controversy, ”said John Whitmire, chairman of the senate criminal justice committee. He is calling for a full investigation of prison and medical staff.

WATCH KHOU VIDEO REPORT HERE

News Alert: Comeaux now on most wanted list

2009-12-06T06:35:00.001-08:00

(CNN) -- A Texas inmate in a wheelchair, who escaped on foot from two armed guards as he was being transferred between prisons, is now on the U.S. Marshals' list of the 15 most-wanted fugitives.
Arcade Comeaux Jr., 49, "produced a weapon and fired upon two correctional officers, took them hostage and forced them to drive to Baytown, Texas," the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement.
He then put the officers in the back of the van and took their weapons and one of their uniforms, the statement said.

Comeaux was serving three life sentences for aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He escaped Monday during transport from Huntsville, Texas, to Stiles, Texas.
The 6-foot, 200-pound man was shackled and in a wheelchair, "which he had claimed was needed for mobility," Michelle Lyons, director of public information for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, said in a statement.

About 45 minutes into the trip, as they were driving through Conroe, 40 minutes north of Houston, the prisoner pulled out a pistol and ordered the guards to drive south to Baytown, east of Houston.
He fired once, but hit no one during the escape about 9 a.m., officials said.
Law enforcement officers found the unharmed officers an hour later.

Comeaux was being transferred so he could be near John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for treatment of the supposed paralysis he had suffered during a reported stroke, officials said.

At least $16,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to Comeaux's rearrest and a task force of more than 100 investigators is searching for him, focusing on the Houston area, where he grew up and has family.
His escape has led the man who oversees Texas' criminal justice system to call for a shakeup of the prison system.
"I just think enough's enough," said Sen. John Whitmire, the Texas Democrat from Houston who is chairman of the state Senate's Criminal Justice Committee.

"We need a complete shakeup of the leadership of our prison system and/or an outside review by third parties," he told CNN by phone Wednesday. "We just can't have security breaches of this nature."
Whitmire said the guards had failed to pat down Comeaux while he was in his wheelchair and before they began the trip.
"Sure enough, he has a firearm," he said. "The question is, are there others (in the prison system)? I think you have to assume that there are until you find out differently."

So far this year, more than 900 cell phones have been confiscated from the 112 locations that house the state's 158,000 prisoners. "It's pretty rampant," he said.

"I want the director to come forward and tell us what it's going to take" to solve the problem, he said.
John Moriarty, inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said such lapses are highly unusual in the state's penal system. "We have no open gun investigations other than this one," he said. "The last one was several years ago."
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston, who has been in the job since 2005, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Snow forecast in Houston area !

2009-12-04T05:42:00.001-08:00

On average, once every four years even Houston gets visited by the Snow Gods. Although, this could be the second year-in-a-row for Houston snow. And if snow does indeed fall this Friday as forecasted, it would be the earliest snowfall on record.

Fred Schmud of ImpactWeather said to the Houston Chronicle, “Most of our forecasting data is caught right in the middle, meaning any subtle change in the position of the upper level disturbance will have huge consequences on how much, if any, snow falls across the Greater Houston area."

Right now NOAA is predicting a 70% chance of snow on Friday.

Michael Jackson's doctor returns to work in Houston

2009-11-23T07:51:00.001-08:00

Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, who is the subject of an investigation into the death of the singer, has returned to work.

The cardiologist has resumed work at his medical clinic in Houston for the first time since the late singer's death on June 25.

"He has not been able to earn a living since the death of Michael Jackson," his lawyer Ed Chernoff told the Associated Press. "His legal fees are enormous and his debts have mounted to the point where it is unclear whether he will be able to keep his house or support his family.

"His intentions are to attend to these patients who have continued to support him, despite the attention and despite the threats."

Downtown alcohol ban lifted

2009-11-04T12:51:00.000-08:00

By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published November 4, 2009

FRIENDSWOOD — Breaking a 46-year dry spell, voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the sale of alcohol at restaurants and grocery stores in the city’s downtown.

Proposition 1, which would allow convenience stores and wine shops to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption, passed with 2,505 votes — 68 percent — for, compared to 1,163 — 32 percent — against, according to complete, unofficial returns.

Proposition 2, which would allow restaurants to sell mixed beverages, passed with 2,648 votes — 72 percent — for, compared to 1,021 — 28 percent — against.

Both propositions allow alcohol sales in a corridor along FM 518 between FM 528 and FM 2351.

The city, founded by Quakers, banned alcohol sales in April 1963, the year Friendswood was incorporated.

Businessman and developer Tony Buzbee, who led a group that argued lifting the ban would lure new business, said the overwhelming victory proved residents were ready for change.

Opponents had argued lifting the ban would undermine the city’s heritage.

“The issue is dear to many people in town; they care deeply about it and I am one of them,” said Janis Lowe, a resident who opposed both propositions.

“Now, all interested parties have spoken. Friendswood will still be here in the morning, but will just be a bit different than it was yesterday.”

Alcohol sales downtown would not drastically change the character of Friendswood, Mayor David Smith said.

“We will still be a family-based, faith-based, education-based community,” Smith said.

READ MORE HERE

Rising jobless rate not as severe here

2009-10-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

By JIM MOLONY
Updated: 10.21.09
Just as it did in the rest of the country, unemployment rose locally during September, but the good news for Pearland, Friendswood and greater Houston is that the job market here isn't as tight as elsewhere.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission the Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 8.2 percent in September, up from 8.0 percent a month ago, and continued to trend well below the U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

The Texas Civilian Labor Force continued to increase, remaining above the mark of 12 million workers for the third consecutive month. Total non-agricultural employment in Texas fell by 44,700 positions during September.

"The Texas job market continued to tighten as most industries experienced job losses in September," Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken said. "While unemployment in Texas remains well below the national rate of 9.8 percent, this serious national recession continues to affect us adversely in Texas."

In Friendswood the unemployment rate rose to 6.7, the highest monthly reading in at least eight years, and yet the number may be misleading since a detailed breakdown is unavailable and Friendswood's major employers -- the two school districts and the city -- as well as other key local businesses did not report any significant layoffs.

"I have not seen high unemployment or even business relocations from Friendswood, it's been just the opposite," said Karen Capps, Friendswood's Economic Development Coordinator. "The number is high for us, but when you look at the rest of the country we're doing fine."

Overall in the United States economic growth has slowed, and in Galveston County, in which part of Friendswood lies, unemployment has nearly doubled (from 4.3 to 8.5 percent) during the last 12 months, according to the TWC.

"Galveston is different because of the storm," Capps said, referring to Hurricane Ike which closed scores of businesses and displaced a substantial segment of the work force.

READ THE FULL STORY

Friendswood to Decide Whether to Lift Downtown Alcohol Ban

2009-10-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

Friendswood, TX - A forty-six-year-old law banning the sale of alcohol in certain part of Friendswood could soon change.

The downtown area of Friendswood has been "dry" since the 1960's. Unless the business obtains a private club registration, they can't sell alcohol. It could all change if residents vote to ban the old law.

Two propositions are already on the ballot for early voting. Proposition 1 would allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. Proposition 2 would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks. Most people in town agree its time for a change.

"We have many customer who walk in the door asking where is the beer and we have to send them somewhere else," Deanna Law, Kroger Manager.

The Kroger on FM-518 lies in the dry part of town. If the law passes it would allow them to sell alcohol to their customers. Right now, most residents have to buy their beer or wine at other competitor stores down the street in the "wet" parts of town.

"Most of us recognize to jump start and help the development in the downtown area and this is really the last piece to make this happen," David Smith, Friendswood mayor

WATCH VIDEO REPORT HERE

Suspects arrested in Friendswood Burglaries

2009-10-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Police News
October 11, 2009
FRIENDSWOOD -Three suspects were arrested for burglary Friday afternoon.

A resident of the 15400 block of Wandering Trail called police when she saw two men on her upper deck landing. She notified Friendswood Police of the suspicious activity and officers were immediately dispatched in to the area in marked and unmarked units. Officers observed a vehicle that matched a description provided to police by the caller in the 5100 block of Shady Oaks.

Myra Martinez, 27, of Houston, Jesse Pena, 25, of Houston and a 16-year old boy from Houston were charged with Attempted Burglary. Pena and Martinez were later transferred to the Harris County jail with no bond. The juvenile was released to a parent, pending further juvenile court action.

Man charged with sexual assault

2009-10-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- A 37-year-old Harris County man is facing charges of sexual assault of a child after police say they found him having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Friendswood police said an officer was on patrol around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed Charles Michael Simmons’ vehicle at the rear of the Oasis Car Wash on FM 528.

Since the business was closed, the officer decided to investigate.

When he approached the vehicle, the officer said he saw Simmons and a teen engaged in sexual activity.

Simmons was taken into custody and later transferred to the Harris County Jail with no bond.

He’s also wanted in Florida for violation of a court order.

Police said Simmons and the teen were acquaintances and they did not meet on the Internet.

Layoffs at NASA begin.

2009-10-03T20:19:00.001-07:00

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Layoffs have begun at the Kennedy Space Center.
United Space Alliance, a private company that employs many shuttle workers, will lay off 277 people in the coming weeks.
All but 19 voluntarily accepted the loss of their jobs by taking early retirement.
The space shuttle program is scheduled to retire next year.

Bad boys- bad boys whatcha gonna do?

2009-09-23T08:11:00.001-07:00

The Police News

September 22, 2009

FRIENDSWOOD - A 16-year old juvenile was charged with class A misdemeanor Criminal Mischief after he was field interviewed by Friendswood Police at approximately 3:35 p.m. Monday September 21.

The youth was observed walking in the 16700 block of Blackhawk Avenue. He matched the description of a suspect caught on video attempting to break into a pool building at Forest Bend Park, 4303 Laura Leigh. The burglary attempt was discovered at approximately 6:45 a.m. Monday by a member of the homeowner's association.

When police stopped to speak with the boy, he admitted to being in the area of the Forest Bend Park and he also admitted that he was staying in the park. He was advised by police officers that there was video of the attempted break in and he admitted he was looking for a place to stay.

After being taken into custody, he was identified as a runaway from Brazoria County reported on July 2, 2009. He was being held at the Friendswood Police Department pending transfer to Harris County juvenile authorities.

Actor Patrick Swayze Dies; Houston Native Had Battled Cancer

2009-09-14T20:33:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009)—“Dirty Dancing” actor Patrick Swayze, 57, has lost his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze died Monday with his family at his side, his publicist Annett Wolf said.

In March 2008, it was disclosed that the Houston native had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Despite the grim prognosis, Swayze continued to work on the A&E series “The Beast,” in which he starred, although he said the cancer put him “through hell.”

Swayze became a star in 1987 with his performance in the coming-of-age classic “Dirty Dancing.”

Three years later, his role in “Ghost” made him a big screen favorite.

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the eldest child of Patsy Yvonne Helen (née Karnes; b. 1927), a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jessie Wayne Swayze (1925-1982), an engineering draftsman.[6][7] He had two younger brothers, actor Don (born 1958) and Sean Kyle (born 1962), and two sisters, Vicky Lynn (1949-1994) and Bambi, who were adopted into the family.[8] His surname originated with an English immigrant ancestor named "Swasey".[7]
Until the age of 20,

Swayze lived in the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston, where he attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School,[9] Black Middle School,[9][10] and Waltrip High School.[9] During this time, he also pursued multiple artistic and athletic skills, such as ice skating, classical ballet, and acting in school plays. He studied gymnastics at nearby San Jacinto College for two years.

Patrick Swayze on Wkipedia.

Waterspout comes ashore in Galveston

2009-08-31T12:33:00.001-07:00

By Chris Paschenko & Rhiannon Meyers / The Daily News & Kevin Reece / 11 News
GALVESTON, Texas — The National Weather Service confirmed a waterspout came ashore in Galveston on Sunday damaging buildings, knocking out power and injuring at least three people.

It happened soon after a strong line of storms moved into the county, and the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water.

Dolphin World, a souvenir shop in the 2900 block of Seawall Boulevard, was damaged about 9:45 p.m. Debris covered the streets.

Ironically, Dolphin World survived Hurricane Ike with very little damage. But after this storm, things were different.

“It’s very, very bad. Very difficult. Basically everything inside is gone. Brings back memory of Ike,” Schlomo Hamo of Dolphin World said.

Witnesses told The Daily News that a piece of the roof from Dolphin World struck a man who was pushing his bicycle down the seawall. They said he was taken away by ambulance.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

CNN) -- Three boaters who were stranded at sea for more than a week were being reunited with their families Sunday.

2009-08-30T13:48:00.001-07:00

Three missing boaters were returned safely to Port Aransas, Texas, after their rescue on Saturday.

A day after the U.S. Coast Guard said it was suspending its weeklong search for the boaters, the men were found alive Saturday night.

The crew of a Good Samaritan vessel found Curtis Hall, 28, James Phillips, 30, and Tressel Hawkins, 43, sitting on top of their capsized 23-foot fishing vessel about 180 miles from Port Aransas, Texas, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The men had been missing at sea since they failed to return from a fishing trip on August 22.

The Coast Guard had called off their search Friday after it said it had looked over more than 86,000 square miles.

Hall went to a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, but left after he waited too long in the emergency room, his mother told CNN. He returned to his home in Palacio, Texas, to rest and will see a doctor later on Sunday for what he thinks are second-degree burns on his legs from sun exposure, she said.

After the rescue, Phillips was on his way home to reunite with his family, his wife, Shane, told CNN. He did not seek medical attention, she said.

Hawkins suffered open sores on his legs after floating in the water for eight days, he told CNN from the emergency room of a Corpus Christi hospital. He plans to leave the hospital soon and head to Fort Worth, Texas, to reunite with his family, he said. E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share

Houston hair glue bandit victim videos prankster with cell phone

2009-08-05T20:09:00.001-07:00

HOUSTON -- Another woman has come forward saying she too, was a victim of the so-called hair glue bandit. The woman says it happened in a Marshalls in Southwest Houston. She was looking at cookbooks when she felt something in her hair.

View larger E-mail Clip More Video
"There was this man standing about a foot and a half beside me. He said, ‘Excuse me,’ and I said, ‘It's ok.’ But then I felt something warm on the back of my head," said the hair glue bandit’s latest victim, who wishes to remain anonymous. "There was this white substance on my hand. It dried instantly."

The victim says she was able to pull out her cell phone and capture video of the man who poured the glue on her.

Plus, because she didn't want him to disappear into a busy parking lot, she followed him out and took down the license plate of the car he was in. She then passed the information over to the police.

Over the past few weeks, glue victims have been studying a surveillance video taken from another attack. The latest victim claims the same man poured the glue in her hair.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Plane Crashes in La Porte

2009-07-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

By Nakia Cooper / KHOU.com
La Porte, Texas -- La Porte residents are surprised when a plane falls out of the air and lands on their lawn.

La Porte police were called to the 10,600 block of North H Street for reports of a plane that crash landed in a backyard.

Investigators say the experimental single engine aircraft had just taken off from the La Porte Municipal Airport when it dropped out of the sky.

The pilot said he lost control of the aircraft after the plane failed to gain altitude.

The left wing clipped some trees and the plane went down, crashing into a nearby backyard.

Residents ran over to over to help the pilot who had broken his leg.

The pilot was airlifted to Memorial Hermann by PHI helicopter for emergency treatment.

Rescuers said the pilot also appeared to suffer head trauma.

FAA and DPS are investigating.

No one on the ground was injured.

Senior Citizen Program Hosting Casino Extravaganza and Plans Trip to Paragon Casino

2009-07-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

Friendswood, TX – July 9, 2009 – The Friendswood Senior Citizen Program will be traveling to the Paragon Casino in Marksville Louisiana on Wednesday and Thursday, August 12 and 13, 2009 and will later be hosting a Casino Extravaganza on Friday, August 28, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For those seniors interested in taking a trip to the Paragon Casino, the bus will depart from the Friendswood Activity Building located at 416 Morningside Dr. at 8 a.m. on August 12 and return at approximately 8 p.m. the next day. The cost for the trip is $50 per person (based on a double occupancy room). The package includes transportation, room, a $10 food coupon to use at the Casino restaurant, and a $20 cash perk for gambling.

The Casino Extravaganza, held at the Friendswood Activity Building on August 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., is a free event and all area seniors are welcome to attend. This three hour party will feature casino games, dancing, and music by musician Peter Hoth. Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker will be available, all manned by professional dealers. Refreshments will also be provided.

Those with questions or who wish to RSVP for either of these events are asked to call Genie Balderaz with the Friendswood Senior Program at 281-482-8441.

Friendswood Man Arrested On Heroin Charges

2009-07-13T06:23:00.001-07:00

FRIENDSWOOD - Friendswood Police, serving a probation violation warrant, found a quantity of narcotics and steroids in the violator's home.

Police served the warrant Tuesday at a residence in the 1500 block of Windsor Drive in Regency Estates. The violator, Joseph David Bender, 23, was searched incident to arrest and found to be in possession of a vial of liquid heroin and a dozen Vicodin pills.

During a safety sweep of the house, officers observed in plain view, another vial, which later tested positive for heroin.

The homeowner signed a consent to search allowing officers to perform a more thorough search of the residence. The subsequent search turned up approximately $3,000 in cash, several vials of liquid steroids and six grams of black tar heroin.

Bender was jailed on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. The charge is a second degree felony with a $150,000 bond. The probation violation warrant carried no bond.

Bender was convicted in Harris County District Court in January 2009 for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Friendswood Police arrested him May 6, 2009 when he was found to be in possession of more than 77 grams of black tar heroin. The probation violation warrant was linked to his May 6 arrest.

Pearland Man Arrested for Indecent Exposure

2009-07-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Pearland man charged with indecent exposure at Friendswood Public Library
10:44 AM CDT on Friday, July 10, 2009
KHOU.com staff report
FRIENDSWOOD, Texas—A Pearland man was in custody Friday after police said he was caught masturbating at the Friendswood Public Library.

Friendswood PD

Thomas Whitmarsh
Police were called to the library, located at 416 S. Friendswood, around 7:20 p.m. Thursday.

A library employee reported seeing Thomas Whitmarsh, 68, exposing himself and masturbating in an open area of the library.

Whitmarsh told police he’d recently been caught doing the same thing by officers in Pearland.

He said he was not cited in that incident.

Friendswood police have not yet confirmed that with Pearland authorities.

Friendswood library personnel had consulted with police twice before in June, expressing conern about Whitmarsh’s suspicious behavior.

Whitmarsh was charged with indecent exposure and issued a criminal trespass warming.

He’s currently being held in the Friendswood Municipal Jail on $1,000 bond.

Updated: Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

2009-06-29T06:24:00.001-07:00

HOUSTON—The 4th of July means fireworks across the U.S. and Houston is no exception.

There are dozens of celebrations in our area, but the largest is the Freedom over Texas festival this weekend. It is presented by Shell.

The free event is at Eleanor Tinsley Park. This year, organizers are honoring Houston’s military heroes and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Country singer, Texas native Clay Walker will be the main act. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. Right after that at 9:30, fireworks will light the sky.

If you’re thinking about heading there you should know about some road that will be closed.

On Thursday, a couple of lanes along Allen Parkway were closed. They include roads between Taft Street and downtown.

Also, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Allen Parkway will be completely closed to traffic.

If you’re in The Woodlands, there are several events where you can celebrate.

First there is the Star-Spangled Salute which is being held Friday night at the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion.

You’ll hear patriotic music presented by the Houston Symphony.

Friday at 9 a.m. you can see the South Montgomery Parade which runs through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street.

Finally, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. you can head to the Red, Hot and Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza at Town Green Park and Waterway Square.

There’s also a lot to celebrate in Fort Bend County Saturday, July 4 th.

In Sugar Land, the festivities include The Red White and Blue Fest at Oyster Creek Park. Those events begin Saturday and run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The city of Stafford and the Fort Bend Symphony will celebrate by treating the public to a free patriotic concert.

Freedom Rings 2009 will be held at the Stafford Centre and starts at 5 p.m.

In Missouri City, the public is being treated to a July 4 celebration at Buffalo Run Park.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and the fireworks blare into the night sky at 9.

Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

How our area is growing

2009-06-19T11:03:00.001-07:00

According to a story in Wednesday, June 17th's Houston Chronicle,
East Montgomery County is doing well in housing growth and in fact exceeds virtually all of the greater Houston region. The East Montgomery County, area 40 or Southeast area on their map, ranked third overall in the geographic areas covered by their story.

Leading the way in home sales percentage change from May, 2008 to May, 2009 was Grimes County with a 25.0% increase, followed by Bellaire West with 14.3% increase. Our area shows a 10.8% increase for this time period. The only other positive areas were the South Katy Area at 9.5% and the Central downtown Houston area at 3.1%. All other areas showed negative results with the highest being Central downtown West at negative 54.7%. Other areas in Montgomery County, all with negative numbers, were Northeast -30.5%, Southwest -23.1% (which includes The Woodlands), and Northwest -12.9%. The area defined as Far Northeast (which covers Kingwood) showed a negative 23.6% change. The area referred to as Northeast (which would include Humble and areas south of there) showed a negative 26.5% change.

Our area shows a 18.2% positive increase in the price of homes with a median home price in May, 2009 of $152,500. These are indeed good indicators of the many positive things happening in our area.

Fire destroys Galveston seawall condos

2009-06-04T08:22:00.001-07:00

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published June 4, 2009
GALVESTON — At least 60 units of a Galveston resort were gutted Wednesday by fire, which was started accidentally by welding contractors who were renovating the complex damaged by Hurricane Ike, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called at 2:19 p.m. to Maravilla Resort Condominiums, 9520 Seawall Blvd., and found fire spreading between the second and third floor.

“It was the workers out there doing welding and cutting,” Fire Chief Mike Varela Sr. said of Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson’s determination. The contractors had a city permit for renovations and were employing a fire watch, Varela said.

Galveston firefighter Gary Vasquez suffered from heat exhaustion and was taken by ground ambulance to Mainland Medical Center in Texas City and released, Varela said.

A medical crew treated some of the contractors at the scene, but they weren’t taken to a hospital, Varela said.

The blaze began in the rear of the complex, working its way toward the seawall side of the structure. About 120 firefighters, including those from Jamaica Beach, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, La Marque and Texas City were called to the island and helped evacuate about 30 or 40 people from the building. They also fought the blaze and manned fire stations here. There were no further injuries, Varela said.

Firefighters focused their attack at the center of the complex, where Varela said a fire break helped them control the blaze about 5:30 p.m.

Much of the upper units of the three-story complex were gutted, and many more sustained smoke and water damage, Varela said.

Lloyd W. Rinderer, an assistant city manager for Galveston, said he lost his condo of six years to the blaze. Rinderer, who is also treasurer of the condo’s homeowner’s association, said he would reside on his boat at The Galveston Yacht Club, just as he did not long after the storm.

“We were a month from completing Hurricane Ike repairs,” Rinderer said of the Sept. 13 storm’s damaging effects. “There were 164 units and there were about 10 people who were actually living there.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Breaking News: Galveston Condo Fire

2009-06-03T17:22:00.001-07:00

Massive fire destroys dozens of beachfront condos in Galveston
06:50 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Michelle Homer / 11 News
GALVESTON -- Every firefighter in Galveston battled a huge 5-alarm fire on the island's West End Wednesday afternoon. The blaze at the beachfront Miravilla Resort Condominiums burned out of control for several hours.

The fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. and Galveston fire crews were on the scene minutes later.

Even off-duty Galveston firefighters were called in to help battle the blaze.

They also brought in help from surrounding communities including Jamaica Beach, Texas City, La Marque and Santa Fe.

When Air 11 first arrived, the flames were confined to one corner of the complex.

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Within minutes, the fire had spread to dozens of other units. There are 164 units in the complex.

"We went from an offensive to a defensive fire real quick to not put the firefighters in harm's way because the fire was spreading so quickly," said Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela.

The wind shifted in the middle of the fire, adding to their challenge.

Everyone inside was evacuated safely, according to Galveston officials.

The flames spread quickly through dozens of units at the Miravilla condos.
One firefighter was transported to an area hospital after suffering heat exhaustion.

"His blood pressure was down real low and they were trying to get it stable again," said Varela.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.