Archives

2003 Archives

Monday              February 9, 2004

Galveston County Commissioners Court

Galveston County voted 3-2, with Eddie Janek and Ken Clark opposed, to receive and file the fully executed permit for parking meters on Seawall Boulevard.  Listen

"I feel that we are going ahead and doing this when the people of Galveston got close to 3,000 signatures saying that they want to vote on this, and I'm all for voting," Janek said.  "I'm not saying that I'm opposed or against the parking meters; I'm just saying that this is a country where the taxpayers and the citizens have a concern, and if they want to vote on a certain item, then they sure ought to be able to."

All other votes were 5-0.

The commissioners court accepted a $350,000 grant from the Office of Rural Community Affairs to assist with sand sock repairs on Bolivar Peninsula.

The commissioners court approved an interlocal agreement with Sands of Kahala Beach Subdivision for the county to act as local sponsor of a shore protection program; and approved an agreement with Shiner Moseley and Associates for services related to the project.

The commissioners court approved a resolution in recognition of the Texas Air National Guard 147th Fighter Wing at Ellington Field.

The commissioners court honored Shirley Jean Carr on her retirement from the Galveston County Health District after 35 years of service. 

All other agenda items were approved.

The commissioners court met in workshop with representatives of ISP, a Texas City company seeking a tax abatement; and met with John Menna regarding the lease on the 61st Street Fishing Pier.  Listen

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Jefferson County Commissioners Court

Jefferson County Commissioners Court voted to amend the county's federal grant for airline service to provide $250,000 to support the initiative to attract Delta Airlines to the Southeast Texas Regional Airport; and to pledge up to $150,000 in hotel occupancy tax funds for the service.

Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith said the Southeast Texas Coalition for Air Service is near the goal of $975,000 necessary for Delta to begin service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Listen

"They are telling us that we are pretty close," Griffith said.

The commissioners court voted to authorize Edwards, Tate & Fontenot, LLP to do an audit of Ford Park, the Southeast Texas Entertainment Complex.

The commissioners court approved a $5,900 proposal for a survey to establish a six-acre drill site and adjacent easements on Sempra Energy property.

The commissioners court approved a $2,293 budget amendment to provide the county's share of the purchase of an alternative fuel  vehicle.

The commissioners court approved a tower lease agreement with MOBEX Communications for the trunked radio system.

The commissioners court deferred action on the purchase of road building materials.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Texas Municipal League

Galveston was the host city this weekend for elected officials from across the state who attended The Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners conference at the San Luis Hotel. 

The Texas Municipal League Institute provides a variety of educational programs to improve the policy-making and leadership skills of municipal elected officials and this conference offered educational sessions and networking forums throughout the two and one-half day event.  

On Sunday, an awards luncheon was held to recognize those elected officials who had completed sufficient continuing education hours to meet TMLI levels for recognition.  Special recognition was given to those who complete 42 or more continuing educational units in one year. 

Two council members from Galveston County were awarded certificates of achievement for 54-plus continuing educational units, Mel Measles from Friendswood and Dianna D. Puccetti of Galveston.

Measles was also recognized for achieving five consecutive years of continuing education hours at the recognition level and the City of Friendswood will receive recognition as a city supporting continuing education for elected officials.

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Saturday Elections

Three Southeast Texas governmental entities had successful elections on Saturday.

Clear Creek Independent School District voters approved the $264 million bond election 8,600 to 4,831.   The bonds will be used to build new schools, buy land, repair facilities, upgrade technology and "beef up" campus security.

Clear Lake Shores voted 128 to 33 in favor of a one-fourth cent sales tax increase.   The added sales tax revenue is expected to generate about $160,000 to $170,000 annually for street maintenance and repairs.

Voters in Port Neches and Groves have approved liquor by the drink elections.  The vote in Port Neches was 1,270 to 584.  The vote in Groves was 1,484 to 477. 

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Texas General Land Office

Texas Bar Foundation

The Texas Bar Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Texas members of the National Association of Women Judges.  District Judge Susan Criss said that the grant will be used to produce a video for the "Color of Justice" project.  

Texas Young Lawyers awarded an additional grant of $2500 to The Galveston County Young Lawyers to help with the project.

The Color of Justice Project encourages minority junior high and high school students to consider the law and the judiciary as career goals.  The program involves minority judges and lawyers participating in panel discussions and interactive forums with minority students.

The video will feature minority attorneys and judges of both trial and appellate courts explaining how they achieved their career goals and encouraging minority students to further impact the color of justice in Texas.  Local bar associations will expand on this message by conducting programs that include personal interaction between minority students and local minority judges and attorneys.

The Color of Justice Program has been implemented in other states on a smaller scale.  Texas will be the first state to use a video presentation.  Texas is a big state with a large population.  Consequently Texas has a much higher population of minority school children than most states. 

Over 59 percent of Texas school children are considered to be minority students.  There are currently 1,160,825 minority children registered in grades six through twelve in Texas.

"There are over three thousand sitting judges in Texas," notes Criss.  "A profile of Texas appellate and trial judges conducted in 2002 revealed that less than 300 of those judges are from minority populations.  That disparity is even more dramatic if the visiting judge population is considered." 

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Galveston Independent School District

Galveston Independent School District Director of Special
Services Mary Patrick received the Director of the Year Award by the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, Inc. during its recent conference in Austin.  The Texas Council recognized Patrick for her "outstanding and dedicated service to students with disabilities."

Patrick has worked for GISD since 1982.  The district named Patrick as director of special services in April of last year and before this expanded position she had served as director of special education for eleven years.

"I was surprised and honored by this recognition by my colleagues in special education," said Patrick.  "We have some truly committed teachers and amazing students and we are working hard to continue to improve our special education department. " 

Ball High School junior Ralph Paone, 17, has been selected as an “Institute Fellow,” one of fourteen students in the United States to serve in the Kentucky National Debate Institute this June.

The “Institute Fellows” program was inaugurated nineteen years ago to recognize high school juniors going into their senior year who have distinguished themselves nationally in forensic activities. 

As an “Institute Fellow,” Paone will function like a graduate student, study full-time and operate in a quasi-staff position.  Students will be given opportunities to do research, work closely with a lab leader, do demonstration debates and participate in the planning of their curriculum. 

“I’m very excited about being an Institute Fellow at the University of Kentucky this summer,” said Paone.  “Being a fellow will not only help me in the short-term by getting my name out to major schools for tournament invitations next year, but it will also help me in the long-term by advancing my researching and networking skills that will be essential for a future in business or law.” 

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United States Congress

United States Representative Nick Lampson, founder and chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus, asked Southeast Texans today to help in the search for two girls who have been missing since Sunday night. 

"We've seen positive outcomes in cases all across the nation when citizens open their eyes and ears," Lampson said.  "I would like to ask all citizens of Southeast Texas to be on the lookout for these two girls or the vehicle they may be traveling in," said Lampson.  "We want to bring Daniela and Kaesi home
safe."

The missing children are Daniela Gavin, age 12, 5 foot 11 inches, 180 pounds of Texas City; and Kaesi Young, age 16, 5 foot 8 inches of La Marque.  The vehicle is a 1991 Chevrolet pickup, blue over gray, with Texas plate "131 4ZB"  

The children were last seen at an AA Club in Dickinson.  Those with information should contact the Texas City Police Department at (409)948-2525.

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On The Webio

On Friday afternoon Gilruth Center at Johnson Space Center was packed with supporters of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Photos and Audio

"Come to the Mardi Gras," is the name of Victor Lang's latest essay on The Online News Station.  Click Here

Scheduled Meetings
Meetings will be held in the regular meeting place of the city council or other governmental body, unless otherwise specified.

Today, February 9
4:00 Galveston Charter Review Committee
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:00 Bacliff Municipal Utility District, 4303 12th Street, Bacliff
7:00 Nassau Bay City Council
7:30 El Lago City Council 

Tuesday, February 10
8:30 Scholes International Airport at Galveston Advisory Committee, Terminal Conference Room
10:30 Mardi Gras! Galveston News Conference, Roof Garden, 2214 Strand, Galveston (New Location)
11:00 South Shore Harbour Municipal Utility District 3, 2525 South Shore Boulevard
11:30 South Shore Harbour Municipal Utility District 2, 2525 South Shore Boulevard
11:30 Galveston Families Children and Youth Board Renaissance Zone Task Force, City Council Chambers
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston Island, San Luis Resort.  Pat Dwyer, a scout for the Houston Astros  will speak about the RBI Foundation
1:30 Beaumont City Council
2:00 Houston City Council
5:00 - 7:30 Region II Advisory Committee, Galveston County Courthouse Annex, 174 Calder, League City
5:00 Carbide Park Ribbon Cutting 
5:30 Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees
6:30 League City City Council
7:00 Dickinson City Council
7:00 Morgan's Point City Council
7:00 Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees
7:30 Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees

Wednesday, February 11
8:00 Galveston Families Children and Youth Board Renaissance Zone 1000 Cottage Task Force, Galveston Historical Foundation, 502 20th
8:15 Texas Coastal Issues Conference, Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, 402 Harbor Drive, Corpus Christi  
9:00 Houston City Council
10:00 Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District Board of Directors
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston, Brothers Petronella Top Gallant Room. The program is Valentines with Jimmy Kessler
7:00 Clear Creek Independent School District Special Meeting and Team Building Workshop

Thursday, February 12
8:30 Galveston City Council Workshop
8:30 Texas Coastal Issues Conference, Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, 402 Harbor Drive, Corpus Christi   
12:00 Galveston Island Pachyderm Club, Gaido's Restaurant. Galveston EMS Director Dr. Russell Miller and EMS Chief Greg Kunkle will speak
2:00 Galveston City Council
12:00 Houston Downtown Management District Board of Directors, 909 Fannin, Suite 1650
5:30 Bayview Municipal Utility District, 309 Miles Road
5:45 Galveston Alliance of Island Neighborhoods, Rosenberg Library.  Galveston Park Board of Trustees President and CEO Gil Langley will speak
7:00 Kemah City Council
7:00 Santa Fe City Council
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre  

Friday, February 13
11:30 League City Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon, South Shore Harbour Country Club. League City Mayor Jeff Harrison will speak
5:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Saturday, February 14
8:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
8:00 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

Sunday, February 15
10:00 Mardi Gras Galveston Schedule
2:30 Terrence McNally’s "Master Class," College of the Mainland Community Theatre

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Gulf Coast E-news, published by Guidry News Service, provides comprehensive coverage of posted public meetings in Galveston, Harris and Jefferson Counties as well as regional news impacting the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.

Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County.

Robert John Mihovil is a special photographic correspondent for Guidry News Service

Ivan Arceneaux is a special correspondent. 

Drew Gilbert, who covered the Galveston City Beat, was recently reactivated into the Coast Guard for the Iraq war.