Posts published in May 2015

MASSIVE FLOODING PARALYZES REGION

May 27, 2015

Highways, Schools, METRO closed Tuesday

Monday evening these cars had come to a standstill on the North Freeway, near North Main. Water was too high for any vehicle to drive through, as seen in the empty travel lanes. Many roads, including this one, were not passable to late on Tuesday morning. These vehicles had made a u-turn in the Southbound lanes, but rapidly rising water caught them anyway. (PHOTOS COURTESY KPRC)

HOUSTON – A massive rainstorm inundated the city and surrounding counties to the west, dropping as much as 11 inches of rain on West Houston in 8 hours, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm started Monday evening, Memorial Day, and caught many drivers by surprise. Freeways were quickly flooded and impassable due to the heavy rainfall in such a short time.

Other areas had similar inundation: North Houston had over 4 inches, and Channelview and East Harris County had 7+ inches in that short time.

Harris County Office of Emergency Management issued a Level 1 alert, the first time it has been this high since Hurricane Ike in 2008. This level indicates a threat to life.

The amount of rain that fell is close to the 50 year storm, and has been compared to the devastating flood Allison in 2004.

Flash Flood warnings were issued for Fort Bend, Harris, Brazoria, Jackson, Matagorda, and Wharton counties all Monday evening and Tuesday morning, as the rains continued.

Besides highways and city streets that were impassable, a number of homes throughout the western and northern areas of the city reported water inside their houses.

San Jacinto College plans branch at Generation Park

May 27, 2015

HOUSTON – San Jacinto College has closed on 57 acres at Generation Park, just across Lockwood Road from the 173-acre FMC Technologies Corporate Headquarters currently under construction. As a reflection of McCord Development’s commitment to education and desire to show this by providing San Jacinto College with a prominent location to further their mission, the developer donated 3.8 acres situated at the intersection of West Lake Houston Parkway and Lockwood Road.

“We could not be more excited to be a part of what’s going on at Generation Park, San Jacinto College and even more broadly, in northeast Houston,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of San Jacinto College. “Now more than ever, students are looking for the kind of practical, real-world education that can open doors for them, wherever their life goals take them.”

The rapid growth of new homes and new businesses in and around Generation Park is creating demand for educational opportunities. San Jacinto College graduates truly go everywhere, whether that’s major universities including Harvard, MIT and Georgetown, or thousands of companies throughout Texas.

“San Jacinto College recognized the value of not just our location, but also the benefits of being part of a truly master-planned enterprise park,” said Ryan McCord, President of McCord Development. “We can offer them something nobody else can: direct relationships with world-leading companies who want to work together to develop Houston’s next generation high-tech workforce – particularly in the subsea and downstream energy industries.”

Clendenens win North Shore Rotary raffle top prize

May 27, 2015

Mike Williams, incoming President of the North Shore Rotary Club, presents the keys to a 2015 Toyota Tundra to raffle winners Mr. and Mrs. Matt Clendenan of Deer Park.

NORTH SHORE – The Rotary Club of North Shore held its 40th Annual Fish Fry on May 16 at the Rotary Pavilion on Wallisville Road where about a thousand people attended.

A donation of $100 gave you a chance to win a new vehicle, your choice of a Toyota Tundra truck, or a Avalon sedan. Nineteen other prizes were also awarded.

Fish Fry chairman Mike Williams reported that the event raised over $150,000 in the live auction, another $160,000 in ticket sales. This money is returned to the community throughout the year, in scholarships, support of youth projects.

The vehicle for the winner was provided by Community Toyota of Baytown. The winner, Matt Clendenin, said that he chose the Tundra pick-up truck of the two choices he had.

COMMUNITY PROFILE: Channelview ISD honors Teachers of the Year

May 27, 2015

Channelview ISD Superintendent Greg Ollis congratulates Elementary Teacher of the Year Amanda Montemayor and Secondary Teacher of the Year Priscilla Jones on their recent honors at the Teacher of the Year Banquet. Montemayor is a Kindergarten teacher at De Zavala Elementary and Jones is an Algebra teacher at Kolarik Ninth Grade Center.

The Channelview Independent School District’s top educators were honored at the 2015 Teachers of the Year and Rising Stars Banquet at Landry’s Restaurant in Kemah on May 28.

Amanda Montemayor from De Zavala Elementary School was named the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, while Priscilla Jones from Kolarik Ninth Grade Center was honored as Secondary Teacher of the Year. Both teachers now are in the running to become Region 4 Teacher of the Year and will be recognized at a reception later this summer.

“We are proud to honor these teachers and recognize their creativity and ability to reach students’ minds in a special way,” said Greg Ollis, Channelview ISD superintendent.

The event was sponsored by Tubular Services, LLC, Woodforest National Bank, Gulf Coast Educators Federal Credit Union and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott LLP, Attorneys at Law.

Rotary Fish Fry & Car Raffle huge success, fun for all

May 20, 2015

ROTARIANS Mike Williams, Derrill Painter, and Shawn Silman pull the winning ticket for the new vehicle. It was #1068 and the winner was Matt Clendenin.

NORTH SHORE – The Rotary Club of North Shore held another successful Fish Fry, their 40th Annual event of this type, and entertained and fed about a thousand people last Saturday afternoon, at the Rotary Pavilion on Wallisville Road.

A donation of $100 gave you a chance to win a new vehicle, your choice of a Toyota Tundra truck, or a Avalon sedan. Nineteen other prizes were also awarded.

The event was held from 11 a.m. to over 4 p.m., due to a large number of auction items that had been donated. Auctioneer Lynn Spell and Scott Stephens were busy taking bids on almost 100 items, that ranged from handmade objects such as a quilt, sports memorabilia, and exotic trips and vacations. Bidding was lively, and reached very high prices on some items.

Fish Fry chairman Mike Williams reported that the event raised over $150,000 in the live auction, another $160,000 in ticket sales, and additional income from sponsorships and silent auction. This money is returned to the community throughout the year, in scholarships, support of youth projects, and other community projects as well as the Rotary Foundation nationally.

JACINTO CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS SWORN INTO OFFICE

May 20, 2015

LEFT: Mayor Ana Diaz takes Oath of Office with her mother Mrs. Baldramina C. Gonzalez and Justice of the Peace of Precinct 2 Judge George Risner. RIGHT: Councilman and Mayor Pro-tem Mario Gonzales takes the oath, his wife Dina is holding the Bible and their daughter Kyndall looking on. — LEFT: Mayor Ana Diaz takes Oath of Office with her mother Mrs. Baldramina C. Gonzalez and Justice of the Peace of Precinct 2 Judge George Risner.
RIGHT: Councilman and Mayor Pro-tem Mario Gonzales takes the oath, his wife Dina is holding the Bible and their daughter Kyndall looking on.

Thursday, May 14, 2015, at Jacinto City’s regular council meeting friends, family members and citizens came and witnessed the taking of the Oath of Office of the Mayor and two city council members.

Other business on the agenda was the establishing of the salaries and gasoline reimbursement amount for the elected officials.

The City Council voted to set the Mayor’s monthly salary at $350 with Council positions set at $300 monthly. For gasoline reimbursement for the use of their personal vehicle while taking care of city business a monthly gas allowance was set at $300 for the Mayor and $225 Council’s.

The Council appointed Councilman Mario Gonzales as Mayor Pro-tem for the next year to be acting Mayor in the Mayor’s absence.

Taking the oath was Mayor Ana Diaz, Council members Carmela Garcia and Mario Gonzales. All three was unopposed so the city council at a previous council meeting had canceled the city election.

Justice of the Peace of Precinct 2 Judge George Risner performed the swearing in ceremony for all three.

JACINTO CITY DRAINAGE PROBLEM: Main Drainage Channel requires urgent work to clear blockage

May 20, 2015

JACINTO CITY – The Harris County Flood Control District main drainage channel from this city to the Ship Channel has had major blockage since November of last year, due to a collapse of the concrete liner along the south surface near Holland Avenue.

This drainage channel is known as Turkey Run Gully, emptying into Hunting Bayou to the east, according to local resident Allan Jamail.

This channel reportedly is responsible for draining 75% of the watershed around Jacinto City, and citizens are concerned that if a major hurricane were to hit this year, flooding and water damage would be widespread.

LyondellBasell Manager presents at North Shore Rotary

May 20, 2015

LYONDELLBASELL Channelview Plant Manager Todd Monette answers a question from a Rotarian, as club president Allatia Harris waits to present him with a club tradition, a “Gold Rim Cup” to all the speakers.

NORTH SHORE – Rotarians heard about the past, present and future of the Lyondell Channelview refinery, at a talk given last April 23rd by plant manager Todd Monette at their regular weekly luncheon.

Monette also explained the organization known as EHCMA, a joint mutual aid association of all the ship channel refineries.

Monette expressed a pride in the Channelview facility, and said that today the refining business is going strong.

The Channelview plant was started 50 years ago on Sheldon Road, one of the first for Texas Butadine, later known as Atlantic Richfield refining, then as Arco, and later LyondellBasell. They have three refineries in the area, at Channelview, LaPorte, and Corpus Christi. The local plant is now undergoing what is known as a “turnaround” or a shutdown for heavy maintenance. The plant has 998 employees.

LyondellBasell is the third largest refiner in the world, Monette said, with 55 manufacturing locations, 13,000 employees worldwide, and $44 billion annual revenue.

Channelview Fire Department: Serving the Community

May 13, 2015

Sheriff holds Community Crime Watch meeting

May 13, 2015

SGT. HALL of the Sheriff’s office presents the main talk to the audience, about a Home Security Review to deter crimes in the neighborhood. Seated behind Hall are the organizers of the Crime Watch event, Julie Baer and David Baer.

NORTH SHORE – Concerned about the incidents of crime in their neighborhood, and wanting more interaction with the local Sheriff ’s office, two private citizens took it upon themselves to organize a night of talks and exhibits with the Deputies of the Sheriff ’s office, last Monday night at the North Shore Rotary Pavilion on Wallisville, beside the Courthouse Annex.

Julie and David Baer, and over 100 residents of various neighborhoods, from Highlands to North Shore to Galena Park showed up at the meeting, and the Sheriff provided about 50 officers, 15 Explorers, and major equipment displays to help explain the department’s capabilities.

Deputy Hall started the series of talks, outlining various techniques to improve security and safety from crime, including a Home Security Review, a Coffee with the Cops program, and free Gun Locks that were distributed that evening. Hall explained that the department will visit your home on request, and conduct the safety review, which will include lighting, shrubbery, alarms, and door and window locks. He explained these are the first line of defense against being a crime victim. He explained that he knows the North Shore area very well, growing up their and always being assigned to the area. When not pursuing crimes, he is also busy with nuisance abatement assignments, but he cautioned that these cases take time to prosecute and see areas cleaned up.

The next speaker was Capt. Joel Inocencio, the patrol captain for District 3.

GP CHARTER VOTE DEFEATS AMENDMENTS

May 13, 2015

GALENA PARK – Over 750 voters went to the polls last Saturday, to express their opinion on whether the City Charter should be amended, and how it should read.
In a stunning defeat of the propositions, all were defeated by a margin averaging 540 AGAINST, and only 220 FOR.

After months of wrangling and arguing over who has authority to run the city, the Mayor, the Council, or the City Manager, the voters chose two amendments, #10 and #14, to focus the most negative votes against allowing the city manager and the council to have more authority.

Amendment #10, defeated 558 to 187, would have permanently established a city manager style of government.

Amendment #14, defeated 557 to 185, would have required two councilpersons to agree with the mayor to veto any city actions.

City leaders, including a Charter Committee of 16 citizens, headed by former councilman Joe Thibodeaux, had written and favored all 18 amendments, and had excluded 4 others they felt were not required.

The impetus to amend the charter, ironically, had started with Mayor Esmeralda Moya soon after her election last year, when it became clear that she did not have the authority to run council meetings and hire and fire city personnel in a manner that she wished, and that she often said was “what the people want.”

However, as the Charter Amendments were promulgated by the committee, and prepared for the election process, she and others spoke out against the amendment package.