© 2003, Guidry News
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© 2003, Guidry News
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Links: Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah and Bolivar Texas A&M University at Galveston
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The First Court of Appeals in Houston has overturned a multi-million dollar judgment against Houston Lighting & Power Company in a class action lawsuit filed by Pasadena, Galveston and Wharton in 1996. The lawsuit listed 47 other Texas cities, including Houston, as members of the class. The ruling, written by Justice Sam Nuchia, a former Houston police chief, cited delay in filing as a major reason. The lawsuit was based on the formula for franchise fees on the use of city streets and easements. "Wharton and Galveston accepted HL&P's franchise payment, apparently without question regarding the basis of the payments from 1958 to 1996," Nuchia wrote, noting that Pasadena also failed to complain "in a timely manner." Attorney
Daryl Bristow, representing HL&P, which is now Reliant
and CenterPoint, told the Houston Chronicle that the
appellate court decision "has entirely vindicated"
the company. Article Mardi Gras! Galveston, Port Arthur, Kemah & Bolivar Galveston Park Board of Trustees Chair Danny Allen announced on Thursday that the Mardi Gras Legacy Award will be presented to Tilman Fertitta "for his generous contributions and support of the Mardi Gras celebrations" during the last four years. "Fertitta has sponsored many of the parade floats, has included the Mardi Gras event in his corporate television advertising, donated graphics and design work and stages the City’s most popular Mardi Gras Gala benefiting the University of Texas Medical Branch," Allen said. "The Park Board of Trustees is indebted to and appreciative of Tilman Fertitta’s commitment and dedication to tourism development in Galveston and his great financial support to the Mardi Gras Celebration." The
Legacy Award will be presented to Fertitta on Saturday,
March 1 during the downtown celebration. Allen also announced that four others will be honored for their contributions in the renaissance of Galveston’s Mardi Gras celebrations. Receiving the inaugural Founders’ Recognition Award are George P. Mitchell, Dancie Perugini Ware, Douglas Matthews and Robert L. Moody. “These extraordinary Galvestonians have contributed enormous amounts of financial support, ingenuity, creativity, city planning, public safety and world-class promotion resulting in one of the most successful mid-winter festivals in the United States,” said Allen. The famed Philadelphia Mummers Quaker City String Band will begin its Mardi Gras performances at 5:00 this afternoon with its "Annual Strand Strut" from 21st and The Strand to the Tremont House Hotel. The downtown entertainment district will be open from 6:00 to midnight tonight, from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. There will be two parades on Saturday. The Krewe de Espirit Rosaire Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on The Seawall and the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. "Being from Galveston, I look forward to our Mardi Gras celebration each year, but this year I'm especially excited to be so involved," said Tilman Fertitta who is the honorary parade marshal for the Grand Night Parade. "This is one of the most fun themes that I can think of this year; kids and adults alike will be delighted to see the beautifully decked out rainforest-themed floats at the parade." There will be two family-oriented parades on Sunday. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Mardi Gras Paws Parade will begin at 1 p.m. and the Krewe of Munchkins Children's Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Mardi Gras officials announced on Thursday that the Texas A&M University mascot, Reveille VII, will participate in the animal parade. Mardi Gras activities in Port Arthur got underway Thursday night with the Courir du Mardi Gras, a traditional Cajun celebration in which costumed revelers and musicians followed a masked rider from house to house seeking ingredients for a gumbo. It was followed by a fais do do street dance. The Procter Street entertainment district in Port Arthur will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight tonight. The Krewe of Krewes Parade down Procter Street begins at 7:00 tonight. The Doo Dah Parade inside the entertainment area is at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Majestic Krewe of Aurora Parade down Procter Street is at 6 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a Mardi Gras truck parade in Kemah at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The parade route will be Texas Avenue, 6th Street, Harris Avenue, 7th Street, Bradford Avenue, 4th Street, Kipp Street, 9th Street, Harris Avenue and end at T-Bone Tom’s Back Yard. The Fifth Annual Yachty Gras Boat Parade will be held Saturday night in Kemah. Several bead-throwing passes will be made by the boats in front of the Kemah Boardwalk The Bolivar Peninsula Mardi Gras Parade is at 11:30 on Saturday on Highway 87, beginning at the Joy Sands Motel and ending at Gregory Park. The Guidry News Service Online News Station will provide the sites and sounds of Mardi Gras activities in Galveston, Port Arthur and on the Bolivar Peninsula throughout the weekend. Today's
Al Mainwaring cartoon features a common Mardi Gras
theme. Cartoon Representatives of the Galveston firefighters union were permitted to appear before Galveston City Council in workshop on Thursday to comment on a consultant's report calling for sweeping changes in equipment and manpower utilization. Jonathan Moore of the International Association of Fire Fighters criticized the proposed use of Quint fire trucks to replace equipment currently in use. Moore was especially critical of the proposal to retire the department's rescue truck. Listen Firefighters, as well as Council Member Diana Puccetti, complained that there was no time for questions of the firefighters' spokesmen; but supporters of the consultant's report were allowed to rebut arguments by the firefighters. Puccetti also was critical of comments by Mayor Roger Quiroga at the previous meeting of city council, when he accused critics of the way the police department handled the investigation of allegations of animal cruelty by several youngsters. "The mayor chided members of the public for what he called 'showboating,' Puccetti complained. "As elected officials, it is this council's role to listen attentively to any member of the public that comes forward and wants to speak on an issue concerning the community." Quiroga said he would not comment on Puccetti's criticism. Earlier, Police Chief Bob Pierce told the city council in workshop that Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk has decided to not prosecute the juveniles in the cat killing case, and will dismiss the charges against them "upon their successful completion of certain requirements that we have imposed." Listen Police and firefighter union representatives appeared before the city council to complain about the new committee to resolve health insurance issues. "I don't think we can work with the city manager," said John Bertolino, president of the Galveston Municipal Police Association. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves," said firefighter Jim Williams about the city council's action in reducing the representation of the public safety unions on the committee. "We are going to start picketing City Hall," warned firefighter David Baker. Ken Jencks warned the city council that "there will be an election" before pay and display meters are installed on the Seawall. Responding to City Attorney Susie Green's contention that the meters are regulated by the zoning ordinance, and are not subject to initiative and referendum, Jencks replied, "If we have to, we will repeal the zoning laws." Judy Edwards, who was fired recently from her job as city cashier, appeared before the city council to complain about time off granted several new, probationary employees. The city council deferred action on proposed increases in water and sewer rates. On a motion by Johnny Smecca, the city council elected George Liberato to the Galveston Housing Finance Corporation. All other agenda items were approved. All votes were 7-0. LeBlanc announced that the city council agreed in workshop to not move forward, at this time, on a proposal to create a downtown management district. Council
Member Joe Jaworski advised the city council that the
planning department is reviewing plans for a gun shop and
tactical weapons store to open at 16th and the Strand, near
Magnolia Homes. METRO
Board of Directors The Metro Board of Directors voted to authorize President and C.E.O. Shirley DeLibero to negotiate an interagency agreement with the City of Houston for traffic mitigation projects in the vicinity of Spur 527, a three-fourth mile highway providing access between Highway 59 and the central business district. Spur
527 is commonly referred to as the “Louisiana Street’ or
“Downtown” exit from the Southwest Freeway. The Texas Department of Transportation project calls for the closure of the Spur 527 inbound lanes and the reduction of outbound lanes from three lanes to one lane. The proposed mitigation plan would put hundreds of rush hour commuter buses that normally use Spur 527 on two crowded four-lane streets: Richmond and West Alabama. METRO heard from several residents and business owners in the area who warned that the mitigation plan would be both dangerous and unworkable. Robert McLain, owner of the McLain Gallery on Richmond, said the mitigation plan would hurt local businesses, and that he already cancelled a planned expansion of his business because of it. Listen “Please delay closing of Spur 527 until 2006,” McLain pleaded, urging that the project be deferred until downtown road construction, the Highway 59 tunnel under Montrose and the expansion of Loop 610 is completed. He said the current protest against the mitigation plan was “now a trickle, by next fall it will be a river.” Sanford Criner, president of Scenic Houston, presented METRO with the Scenic Star award, praising the authority for keeping their buses and bus stops clean, and “their steadfast refusal to put ads on buses and shelters.” The Board voted unanimously to re-elect Chairman Art Schechter, Vice Chairman Thomas Whitson and Board Secretary Jackie Freeman to another two-year term. Sandra Burleson, president of Transport Workers of America Local 260 protested the board’s policy of not allowing METRO employees to work double shifts. Current policy requires a 7 1/2 hour rest between shifts. METRO has recently been allowing exemptions during weekends and events like the Rodeo. Burleson charged the policy exception was not rational and asked that the 7 1/2 hour rule be completely removed. “We love the overtime," Burleson insisted. "Why can’t we do it during the weekday?” Burleson said there had been only 3 to 5 accidents in the 20 years that METRO employees were allowed to work double shifts. President DeLibero announced that METRO officials had traveled to San Diego to observe bus operations there in preparation for the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston. Metro police will be meeting with San Diego officials this week to discuss how to handle the enormous crowds the Super Bowl will bring. All
agenda items were approved unanimously. Congressman Nick Lampson introduced a bill to allow NASA to purchase additional Russian Soyuz and Progress vehicles if President Bush notifies Congress that they are needed to ensure the safety of the crew aboard the International Space Station and to maintain its operational viability while the space shuttle fleet is grounded. "It is clear that we are now very dependent on the Russian space program as the sole means of support for the space station until the shuttle fleet returns to service," said Lampson. Lampson noted that the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 may be an obstacle to NASA's ability to make payments to Russia to cover the costs of purchasing additional Soyuz and Progress vehicles. "We need to ensure that the International Space Station remains up and running during this difficult time. When we lost the Space Shuttle Challenger 17 years ago, the shuttle fleet was grounded for 32 months," Lampson recalled. "In the aftermath of the Columbia accident, it may be impossible to maintain the space station's operational viability even beyond this June without help from the Russians. If the president declares the need to purchase Soyuz and Progress vehicles during the suspension of shuttle flights, my legislation would give NASA the flexibility to purchase them." Lampson insisted that the
safety of the astronauts should be paramount. "NASA
should not be prevented from doing whatever is necessary to
ensure that safety is maintained." Texas A&M University at Galveston Gilbert Rowe, an internationally recognized oceanographer and authority on life forms at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, has been named to head the Marine Biology Department at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Rowe was previously a professor in the biological section of the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University in College Station. "We
are extremely pleased that an authority of Dr. Rowe's
stature agreed to come to TAMUG to lead our Marine Biology
department," said Michael Kemp, Vice President &
CEO of TAMUG. "Marine Biology traditionally
attracts the largest number of students to our campus.
Exceptional individuals have always been required to
meet the responsibility of heading the department. Dr.
Rowe meets all qualifications to the fullest
extent." Al Mainwaring Cartoon Al
Mainwaring's cartoon this week features a common dilemma
during Mardi Gras and other large events. Scheduled
Meetings Today,
February 28
Saturday, March 1 Sunday, March
2 Monday, March
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Story Links, on the left side of this page, is composed of "bookmarks" to the stories in the newsletter. Click on the link to go directly to the article. Print individual articles by first clicking on the "Print Version" link, then using your regular print program. On The Online News Station, if you click on an audio cut and the photos stop loading, click on Refresh or Reload and they will resume. Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties.
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Galveston Island in Galveston County reporters, covering the city council meetings of all 13 municipal governments plus several school boards and special utility districts, include Jinelle Boyd, Drew Gilbert, Shannon Hall, Kristina Weaver, Tom Foster, Jo Ann Gowing and Dedra Kratts. Weaver, Foster, Gowing and Kratts also cover the Harris County entities surrounding Clear Lake. Scott Nowell covers Harris County Commissioners Court, Houston City Council, and meetings of organizations in downtown Houston. Carl Guidry, representing Guidry News Service in Jefferson County, covers Jefferson County Commissioners Court, Beaumont City Council and Port Arthur City Council. We are seeking additional reporters to expand our coverage in Jefferson County. Gulf Coast E-news also will continue coverage of regional organizations in the Gulf Coast area. Gulf Coast E-news is interactive with The Guidry News Service Online News Station, providing coverage of special events and public meetings with photos and audio. Terry Arnold and Barbara Ward are marketing representatives for The Online News Station. Marketing representatives are being recruited in Harris and Jefferson counties. Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax. A fax-only version of the newsletter is available for $350 per year or $87.50 per quarter, plus tax. Current subscribers to Galveston Fax or Clear Lake Area E-news will automatically receive Gulf Coast E-news.
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