Posts published in April 2016
Dickie Woods, born Carl Raymond Woods on April 7, 1940, passed away on April 16, 2016. He grew up in Sweetwater, Texas and was co-captain of the 1957 State Finalist Sweetwater Mustang Football team.
He went on to attend Rice University in Houston, TX on a football scholarship and played in the Sugar Bowl, Orange bowl and the Bluebonnet Bowl. Upon graduation, Dickie joined the Texas Air National Guard after marrying his high school sweetheart. He then moved to the east side of Houston and earned his pilot’s license and started his long entrepreneurial career. He bought his first business in 1966 and continued building and developing businesses in the North Channel Area throughout the 70’s and 80’s.
In 1985 he acquired Banana Bend Beach Park and brought his family to the Highlands area. Dickie began investing in the Highlands community and he joined the Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce where he served many years in the board and multiple terms as the Vice President and President. His love for the community and its people translates through the many projects he initiated and supported. He was a long time member of the Northshore and Highlands Rotary Clubs, the Citizens Bond Advisory Committee for GCCISD, and President of the local county water board. He supported the local first responders and law enforcement initiatives and worked with county officials to bring improvements to the community that he loved. Dickie was also a great supporter of local youth programs through sports organizations, boy scouts, partners in education and the Goose Creek Education foundation. In 2006, he was recognized by the community for a lifetime of service and achievements with the Terry Davis Memorial Award.
HOUSTON — Nearly 100 volunteers spent their Saturday (April 9) picking up trash and litter in the North Channel area during Congressman Gene Green’s annual Community Clean-up. Part of Great American Cleanup and Keep Houston Beautiful Day, the event drew volunteers from 21 organizations and groups, including three local high schools, the mayor’s office, the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Houston Police Department Northeast Division.
Sue Blackburn, an annual volunteer and active member of the Wood Shadows I Civic Club, said, “I look forward to this event every year. It is a time when people from all over our area come together for one purpose: removing as much litter as possible from our neighborhood. It is especially heartwarming to me to see these young people give up part of their weekend to improve our community. We had a little girl approximately five years old who showed up with her mother. She went out with her mother and picked up litter just like the adults. That is a wonderful way to instill community spirit at a very young age. Thank you to Congressman Green for sponsoring this event. It is exactly what every neighborhood needs.”
Harris County Commissioner Gene L. Locke has announced plans to improve streets in several neighborhoods throughout Precinct One, including unincorporated areas that are in need of infrastructure improvements.
The announcement was made after Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a measure that adds $1 million to an existing contract with a firm that will make concrete repairs on dozens of streets. The account previously contained $750,000, of which about $380,000 have been spent on repairs.
The latest list includes $909,154 for street repairs. Teamwork Construction Services Inc. will perform the repairs and replacement of concrete pavement, curbs, driveways, sidewalks and related infrastructure. In the east precinct, $702,754 will be spent for work on streets in communities such as Sterling Green, Sheldon Woods, Sonoma Ranch and Beaumont Place.
In the north precinct, $93,000 worth of work will be done on street in the Interstate 45 and Airtex area; the I-45 and East Richey area; the Kuykendahl and Ella area; and the North Lake Houston Parkway and Lockwood area.
In the south, $113,400 will be spent on roads in South Belt, Scarsdale and Friendswood areas.
Since taking office in January, Commissioner Locke has developed an aggressive plan to improve streets throughout Precinct One, both in unincorporated areas and inside Houston city limits located in the precinct.
JACINTO CITY – The Harris County Flood Control District main drainage channel from Jacinto City to the Ship Channel had major blockage since November 2014, 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 were concerned that if a major hurricane were to hit last year, flooding and water damage would be widespread.
Marvin James, manager with the Harris County Flood Control District, mentioned to the North Channel Star that repairs for the channel had been bid, and were awaiting approval of the Commissioners Court on June 2, 2015.
Mike Sullivan is the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector. As such, he administers a number of functions that involve the public.
Sullivan was the speaker last Tuesday at the Rotary Club of Highlands, and talked about his career, and the workings of his office.
The functions he is involved in include collecting taxes, such as the property tax you must pay every Jan. 31st if you own real property, the inspection sticker fee for an auto inspection (known as ONE STICKER) or trailer, or boat, providing jurors for jury duty, registering autos and administering their titles, and voter registration roles.