North Channel Star

Touch of Life: Back in Crosby

Jan 8, 2014

By Don Springer

The Christmas and New Year celebrations are over and we should now be back at the old routine of winter. I always regret the end of the holiday period and that we just finished is no exception. This was however a little different for me. This was the first time in more than twenty years I wasn’t at home at Christmas time with most of my family, which is growing smaller as the year’s progress.

For the first time in my life I spent the Christmas holiday with David here in Crosby. He and I had a good celebration for a few days before Christmas and sometime later. I arrived in Crosby this year about mid-December which is some three weeks earlier than usual. While this was my first time away from home on Christmas it was the first Christmas in about twenty years that David has had a family member to celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately being a chemist in a chemical plant he has had to work on Christmas day about 17 out of the last twenty years.

It doesn’t seem possible but this is my 14th winter in Crosby and about 17 or 18 visits here during that period. Linda and I started visiting Dave in Crosby in 1999, right after he moved to this fine community. Another thing that doesn’t seem possible is that he has been a Texas resident for more than 30 years. Time does fly! I still think of him as a West Virginian but he has lived in Texas at least five years more than in the Mountain State.

Santa parades bring Holidays to North Shore communities

Jan 1, 2014

SANTA and his Elf helper arrived on a Sheldon Fire Department ladder truck, decorated for the Holiday Season with lights and Christmas greetings.

NORTH SHORE – Ho Ho Ho, Santa came to the North Shore communities, riding a Sheldon Fire Department truck, last Friday night, December 20th.

The event was originally scheduled for the week before, but rain and cold weather forced the delay for Santa.

The parade route was determined so that the most communities in the area could see Santa’s arrival and the decorated emergency vehicles without having to drive and park a distance from their homes. Sheldon Fire Chief Sidney Webb and his wife, and North Channel Assistance Ministries directors Rodney and Gail Redford planned the route.

The parade started at Holly Park, at the Sheldon 9th grade school, headed south on Freeport Street, turned east on the I-10 frontage road, turned north on Sheldon Road, turned west on Woodforest, and ended at the Kroger store at Normandy and Woodforest Blvd. Families lined the route for most of the way, and you could hear the sirens and see the lights for many blocks in the distance as they approached.

Five teens injured in Channelview shooting

Jan 1, 2014

channelview 01 CMYK — EMERGENCY VEHICLES are on the scene of a shooting in the 900 block of Ashland Road, near Elgin Street in Channelview. They found one person wounded and lying on the ground. Four others were later found at East Houston Medical Center with various wounds, and investigators believe all the injuries are related.

CHANNELVIEW – Investigators for the Sheriff’s department are trying to learn the reasons behind a multiple shooting that took place on Sunday, Dec. 15th at about 2:30 pm in the afternoon.

Deputies who responded to the call found a man lying in a front yard of the street, with a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Thomas Gilliland.

This victim was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to Memorial Hermann hospital in the medical center. He was reported to be in stable condition.

Shortly after the deputies cleared this scene, they learned that four other young men had been transported to the nearby East Houston Medical Center by private pickup truck, with similar injuries. All were in stable condition, however.

Citizens’ coalition protests toxins in river

Jan 1, 2014

SJ waste pits map — MAP OF THE SAN JACINTO TOXIC WASTE PITS as furnished by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the US EPA, show the confirmed North Impoundment Superfund Site, and the suspect- ed South Impoundment site.

HOUSTON – Members of a group known as the San Jacinto River Coalition, as well as the TexansTogether organization, staged a demonstration last Wednesday, Dec. 18th to protest the inaction of parties involved in the clean-up of the toxic waste pits in the San Jacinto River near Channelview and Highlands.

These pits, which are the result of dumping of industrial waste from the paper-making process some 40 years ago, contain dioxin, which is considered by some health experts to be the most deadly compound in existence. The dioxins have been leaking into the river water, and fish and blue crabs absorb them and make them deadly for human consumption, say the experts. The county has posted warning signs, but many fisherman ignore them.

Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has sued the companies that now are responsible for the cleanup. These are Waste Management, successor to McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp., and International Paper, which is the successor to Champion Paper Co. whose paper mill generated the waste.

Keeney’s Korner: Bowl Game previews

Jan 1, 2014

By Mike Keeney

Florida State hopes to end SEC’s run of BCS title run

The bowl season is well underway, but the big games begin on New Year’s Eve when Texas A&M faces Duke in the Chik-fil-A Bowl in what could be Johnny Manziel’s final game for the Aggies.

Locally, both Rice and the University of Houston will be bowling this season as the 10-3, Conference USA champs Owls will face Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl on New Year’s Eve, while the 8-4 Cougars will also be facing a SEC team when they face Vanderbilt in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4.

The Big 12 champion Baylor Bears will be playing in their first BCS bowl ever when they face 11-1 Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl.

But the game everybody is waiting for will be the BCS Championship game, which will pit No. 1-ranked Florida State and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston against No. 2-ranked Auburn and their potent run offense. Auburn was one of the best stories of the 2013 season. The Tigers were coming off a 3-9 season in 2012 and had a new head coach in Gus Malzahn. Malzahn installed his run-happy offense and the Tigers piled up gaudy numbers en route to an 11-1 season, which included two last-second wins over Georgia and Alabama that saved their season.

While Auburn was pulling out heart stoppers, Florida State pretty much dominated every team they played on their way to a 13-0 season and the Atlantic Coast Conference title. Winston was a threat with his arm and his legs, but this team is not a one-man show. There is talent on both sides of the ball and it appears head coach Jimbo Fisher has brought the Seminoles back to being one of the top teams in college football as they were for decades under former head coach Bobby Bowden.

There should be a lot of good games to watch over the next week for college football fans, but before we take a look at what’s on tap, let’s review last week’s record. A 5-4 record brought the season record to 116-61 (66%).

Now, let’s see what the bowl season has to offer.

Christmas Parades Rescheduled

Dec 16, 2013

NORTH SHORE PARADE NOW ON FRIDAY DEC 20

Due to bad weather on Dec. 13 and 14, Santa Claus will now arrive in North Shore starting at 6 pm on Friday night, December 20. The parade is sponsored by the North Channel Assistance Ministries and three fire departments — Sheldon, Cloverleaf, and Channelview. The parade route starts at the 9th Grade School on Holly Park, proceeds south on Freeport to the I-10 frontage road, turns East and proceeds to Sheldon Road, turns North on Sheldon to Woodforest, turns left and proceeds down Woodforest to the Kroger store parking lot at Normandy, where kids will greet Santa in person and receive. gifts. Don’t miss it, a great parade is planned!

GALENA PARK PARADE RESCHEDULED TO DEC 14

Rescheduled due to weather forecast, now Saturday, Dec. 14 starting at 8:00 am.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the North Channel Star newspaper

Dec 4, 2013

Greetings from your publisher, Gilbert Hoffman, and our dedicated staff at Grafikpress Corp. that publish community newspapers around the Houston area.

We are pleased to bring a new newspaper, the North Channel Star, to the North Shore communities of Channelview, Sheldon, Cloverleaf, Galena Park, and Jacinto City. It has been over three years since you had your own newspaper that is interested in your stories, your schools, your businesses, your clubs, churches and organizations.

We have been publishing community newspapers since our first paper, the Highlands Star-Courier was purchased in 1994. We now publish five newspapers, including this new one.

The newspaper is an important member of the community, giving it a voice and helping it to have an identity. It also serves commerce, and we welcome your advertising support. It is important that if we do a good job, you help us remain financially strong.

We all know that the newspaper business has changed over the years, and you will be able to find our paper on the internet and your smart phone, at www.northchannelstar.com, as well as in print.

When we were considering the establishment of a newspaper for the North Channel area, a number of people asked us to proceed. This included business people such as Jim Mills of Pineforest Jewelry, Rotarians of the North Shore Club, Charles Grant and Margie Buentello of the North Channel Chamber, and quite a few others. We thank them for their encouragement and suggestions.

It is especially appropriate that we have the support of the Rotary Club, since the Highlands Star was started in 1955 after Alton Neatherlin and James Brazzil met with that Rotary Club and were encouraged to found a paper, and join the community.

Letters of Community Support

Dec 4, 2013

Dear Editor,

In the Channelview Independent School District, there are many stories of success happening on our campuses every day. Our Board of Trustees and I are extremely excited about the launch of the North Channel Star – so that we may exclusively share the highlights and achievements of our students and staff in a front of broad audience in publication that our community can call its own.

With growing enrollment of more than 8,900 and the completion of our Bond Program, we are thrilled about having a newspaper that will spotlight the programs and people that make our district successful.

I know that what will make the Star unique is that it will be a publication where people will be able to receive neighborhood news that they would not be able to receive anywhere else. From already seeing your staff at various events in our area already, I feel the North Channel Star is establishing a vested interest in the community it will serve.

On behalf of myself and the Channelview ISD Board of Trustees, we want to welcome you to the North Channel community. We look forward to a long and lasting partnership.

Sincerely,
Greg Ollis
Superintendent of Schools
Channelview Independent School District

—

The San Jacinto Pilot Club is very pleased that Grafikpress has chosen to publish a newspaper for the North Channel Area. We know that the residents and businesses who choose to make the North Channel area their home are as excited about this as we are.

This community supports our spaghetti dinner fundraisers, which was just held on November 5, so that we can, in turn, support our community through scholarships and donating funds to charities and organizations which need our help.

Just as we are committed to supporting our community, the North Channel Star has commited to supporting the community also.

Freeport Street to be rebuilt by Pct. 2

Dec 4, 2013

ARTIST’S RENDERING shows Freeport Street and surrounding properties after completion of the reconstruction. Freeport will be three lanes, from I-10 to Holly Park, with curbs, sidewalks, and extensive new drainage lines.

Officials, community leaders and contractors gathered last Wednesday, Nov. 6th at the Leon Grayson Center on Corpus Christi Street, for a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the beginning of a three-year project to reconstruct Freeport Street, and the storm sewer system along the street and to either side.

According to Pct. 2 Commissioner Jack Morman, this project will cost $12.8 million dollars. The money is coming from the federal government, he said, as reimbursement for flooding damage after Hurricane Ike in 2008. The money will primarily be used to build new storm drainage that will alleviate future flooding. At the same time, this gives an opportunity to reconstruct pavement along Freeport Street, resulting in a modern 3-lane road from I-10 to Holly Park Drive, with curbs and sidewalks that are not there now.

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Wednesday, Nov. 6th at the Grayson Community Center. Pct. 2 Commissioner Jack Morman was on hand, 3rd from right, as well as contractors, engineers, and Rotary President Matt Davis, and Chamber representatives Wilfred Broussard, Jr. and Margie Buentello. — A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Wednesday, Nov. 6th at the Grayson Community Center. Pct. 2 Commissioner Jack Morman was on hand, 3rd from right, as well as contractors, engineers,
and Rotary President Matt Davis, and Chamber representatives Wilfred Broussard, Jr. and Margie Buentello.

Morman said that Freeport will also get new sewers and paving from Woodforest to Uvalde, but will not be totally rebuilt in that section. However, the Cloverleaf area will receive new overlay asphalt paving on selected streets. This work is part of the Pct. 2 BetterStreets 2 Neighborhoods program that Morman is conducting throughout the precinct.

Engineers for the street and sewer work are R. G. Miller Engineers, and Dannenbaum Engineering Corp. Contractor for the work is Allgood Construction Co. Inc. County Engineer is Art Storey Jr., HCCSD Director is David B. Turkel, Pct. 2 Engineer is Jeremy Phillips.

Funding for the project is from the Texas General Land Office, and U.S. HUD. Completion is expected by 2016, according to Morman.

North Channel Chamber veterans’ celebration held with Rotary clubs

Dec 4, 2013

VETERANS FROM THE NORTH CHANNEL COMMUNITY are pictured at the Salute, receiving recognition and a back-pack of gifts as part of the North Channel Chamber event put on with the help of the North Shore and Galena Park Rotary Clubs, and major sponsors. Behind the veterans are the speakers for the day.

The North Channel Chamber of Commerce sponsored a “Salute to Our Community & Country” event on Thursday, November 7th at Armenta’s Banquet Hall on Sheldon Road in Channelview.

This event was combined with a Rotary Club Salute, a health fair, and a Business Expo, and was well attended by hundreds of chamber members, businesses, and veterans. Rotarians from the North Shore and Galena Park clubs also attended, and held a brief meeting for their members.

The Veterans Salute included presentation of the colors, gifts from the Rotary Clubs, and verbal recognition and salute to those attending that had been in military service.

Health organizations that were present for screenings and information included Kindred Hospital, Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital, Dow Emergency Center, and East Houston Regional Medical Center.

About 40 businesses had booths with displays of their products and services. The event lasted for about 4 hours, and was well received.

SERVICE FLAGS were presented for each of the Armed Services by members of the Channelview ROTC.

Veterans stand up as they are recognized by community.

North Shore out of play-offs with 9-7 defeat

Dec 4, 2013

Two powerful high school football teams met last Friday night at Tully Stadium, and battled to a close score at the end. This was the Regional semifinals in Class 5A Division I Region III. The Cy-Fair Bobcats and the North Shore Mustangs came into the game with similar style of play — an overpowering defense, and a strong running game.

North Shore was the favorite, ranked No. 4 and with a 12-0 record. They had only given up a total of nine points in their last four games. Cy-Fair entered with almost as good an 11-1 record.

However, the Bobcats came up with the important plays when it counted most. In the first quarter, running back Dillon Birden ran 75 yards for a touchdown, thrilling the Cy- Fair fans, and setting the pace for the rest of the game. His total yardage was 216 yards on 29 carries. D. Tobler also carried for the Bobcats, with 5 carries for 29 yards.

Cy-Fair was also able to mount a good passing game, with quarterback C. Kopecky having 9 completions on 13 passes, for a total of 185 yards.

At the end of the first half, Cy-Fair led 6-0 on the strength of their long run in the first quarter.

However, in the third quarter North Shore made a strong comeback, with a 10 play drive that went 70 yards and resulted in a TD when quarterback Lawrance McCardell threw a 15 yard screen pass to Kevian DeLeon, resulting in the Mustangs taking a 7-6 lead. McCardell completed 3 passes in the game on 10 attempts, for a gain of 30 yards.

The Mustang lead did not last that long, however, The defensive battle continued through the rest of the second half, with the ball changing hands regularly.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Bobcats’s running back Dillon Birden struck again, with a 57 yard effort that helped set up a field goal attempt.

With about 8 minutes left in the game, the Bobcat’s Braden Mann put his foot to an 18 yard field goal attempt that was good, and gave the Cy-Fair team a 9-7 lead which was the final score.

Cy-Fair will go on to the next round of the play-offs, facing Pearland on December 7th. They will play at either Mercer Stadium or Rice Stadium. As an indication of how even the match was, each team had to punt 5 times, and was penalized almost the same yards.