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Posts published in “Day: February 27, 2020”

Water main breaks in East Houston, affects water supply throughout the city

Feb 27, 2020

A 96 inch wide water main, carrying water from the Houston water treatment plant in Galena Park to about half the city, burst on Thursday about noon. Workers from Harper Brothers were performing repair work on a small leak, according to authorities, when the whole pipe burst open flooding nearby streets and the six lane East Loop under Clinton Drive. Several feet of water covered the streets, stopping traffic and flooding about a dozen cars. Houston Fire Department said they conducted three deep water rescues. The location of the burst pipe was near the intersection of Clinton Drive and N. Carolina streets in the Clinton Park neighborhood, and buildings in that area had water inside, as outside it was several feet deep.

Water supply and water pressure were affected throughout the east side of Houston and into midtown. Schools and businesses were forced to close without water, and many indicated they would also be closed on Friday, until the pipe could be repaired and water quality restored. In the meantime, Mayor Turner called for a “boil water” advisory to everyone.

Jacinto City avoided the problem by switching from city water supply to its own well system, filling the city water tower and maintaining pressure and a safe water supply, according to City Manager Lon Squyres.

Authorities held a press conference near the break, to inform the public of the severity of the problem and what measures were being taken to solve them. Mayor Turner and County Judge Hidalgo expressed concern about water quality, and availability of adequate pressure in case of fires. Tank trucks with water were being sent to the area as a precaution, they said.

EXCLUSIVE ON-SITE PHOTOS BY ALLAN JAMAIL FOR THE NORTH CHANNEL STAR:

WATER CLOSES ALL TRAFFIC ON THE EAST LOOP AND CLINTON DRIVE

SITE OF THE BURST 96 INCH PIPE AT CLINTON DRIVE AND N. CAROLINA.

PHOTO BY KHOU SHOWS WATER FLOODING THE EAST LOOP AND CLINTON DRIVE. THE SITE OF THE BURST PIPE IS IN THE LOWER RIGHT OF THIS PHOTO.

New leadership installed at the 43rd North Channel Area Chamber Gala

Feb 27, 2020
2020 North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce Board.

By Margie Buentello, President & CEO

Christie Gates was sworn in as Chairman of the board for the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the 43rd Annual Awards and Installation Gala. Harris County Justice of the Peace, Lucia Bates, performed the ceremony at Sylvan Beach Pavilion.

Additionally, other officers and directors took the oath that evening pledging to “promote business growth and quality of life in the North Channel Area.”

Gates is the Chief Administrative Officer in Sheldon ISD. In her current position, she leads the Administrative side of the district, which includes supervising campus principals, as well as overseeing the Advanced Academics, Personnel Services, Student Services, Transportation, Maintenance, Technology, Emergency Operations, and Communications departments for the district. Over the past year, she has worked with her leader-ship teams to successfully open two new campuses in Sheldon ISD. In August of 2019, the district opened a new elementary campus, Sheldon Lake Elementary, and in January of 2020, the district opened the doors to a brand new high school facility by relocating over 2,400 students into a newly constructed C. E. King High School campus.

Sheldon FFA students hold successful Livestock Show

Feb 27, 2020
FFA STUDENT EXHIBITORS and Faculty Advisors pose for a group picture after the successful Annual Livestock Show.

SHELDON – The C. E. King High School FFA held their Annual Livestock Show and Sale Saturday, Jan. 18th. Students exhibited a total of 41 animals, and bidding from Buyers was lively. The event was held at the Agriculture barn on Old US90, the Beaumont Highway.

According to FFA adviser Robyn Jones, the bids totaled $32,650 and after add-ons the show raised a total of $44,120 for the students, who use the money for scholarships and costs of raising the animals. Jones said the high volume bidders were Shy Girls Saloon and Alfonso Trevino, tied for the top spot among the buyers.

Growth spurs Houston Port to Fast-Track Channel Widening

Feb 27, 2020

The Port of Houston is working to accelerate the widening of its ship channel after reporting its third straight year of double-digit volume growth, much of it from a 51 percent jump in resin ex-ports.

In an interview Roger Guenther, executive director of Port of Houston Authority, said completing the $1 billion project is critical to the port’s future, enabling it to simultaneously handle two 14,000-TEU vessels, the largest that can pass through the Panama Canal. In order to complete the project in four to five years instead of the decade it would typically take, the port is executing the government approval process, design work, and financing simultaneously, rather than sequentially, he said.