2005 Archives

 2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Wednesday               January 5, 2005

BP America

Texas Governor Rick Perry announced at a news conference this afternoon that League City has been selected as one of two United States headquarters for oil and gas conglomerate, BP America Inc.'s spin-off into the petrochemical and plastics business. 

"The move will bring 150 jobs to the Bay Area Houston region," Perry said.

The event also marked the official opening of the new Marina View Building developed by American National Insurance Company.

In addition to Perry,  Dennis Seith, senior vice president North America Operations, BP America, Inc., League City Mayor Jeff Harrison and Sandy Johnson, chair of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and president of Barrios Technology, participated in the news conference.

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Rotary Club of Galveston Island

Harris "Shrub" Kempner predicted a bright future for Galveston Island in his speech to the Rotary Club of Galveston Island on Tuesday.  Webio Report (Including Downloadable MP3 Recording) 

"I believe that for the next several years Galveston is well on its way to one of the most productive and positive economic pictures that it has faced in many, many years," Kempner said.  "I believe that our permanent population will begin to increase, if it hasn't already, and all measures of business and education will show strength."

Kempner cited recent new developments and the prospect of a a liquefied natural gas plant, which he said is not "a simple matter," when potential risks are considered.  

"The project will make a major difference in revenues to the Galveston Wharves, if the projections hold," Kempner said, noting that the plant will not be operational until 2009.  However, he said that he has not made up his mind about the potential risks of an LNG plant.

"For example what could happen if a terrorist attack on a ship takes place?" He asked.  "Who is endangered at that point?  What is the probability that something like that happens?  How could those dangers be mitigated, and what are the project benefits?"

In any case, Kempner said the economic forecast for the next several years for Galveston are positive, "even if Galveston does not have an LNG plant until 2009 and especially if Galveston is not inflicted with casinos".

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Webster City Council

Webster City Council on Tuesday voted 5-2, with Jack Temple and Floyd Myers opposed, to approve a new rate schedule for utility services.

The ordinance provides a basic 2,000 gallon allowance for water and sewer service.  Each thousand gallons after 2,000 will cost $2.20 for water and $2.45 sewer; with a minimum charge of $6.49 for sewer and a minimum charge of $4.38 for water.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance granting CenterPoint Energy Resources a new 30 year franchise agreement.

The city council voted 6-0-1, with Myers abstaining, to approve an interagency agreement with Harris County to construct a section of Texas Avenue from 500 feet south of Bay Area Boulevard to the west end of the existing Texas Avenue, west of SH 3.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.

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Port Arthur City Council

Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 7-2, with Michael Shane Senegal and Deloris Prince opposed, to approve invoices totaling $15,839.65 submitted by the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the Goals and Objectives of The City of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation.

The city council voted 8-1, with Tom Henderson opposed, to approve a $50,000 contract with Chica & Associates of Beaumont to provide engineering design services for the Safe Routes to Schools Project.

The city council voted 8-0, with Mayor Oscar Ortiz recusing himself and not voting, to approve a $3,159.14 change order in the contract with Mc-O Construction of Beaumont for the Boardwalk Elevator Tower contract.

The city council voted unanimously to reappoint Dr. William D. George as the Health Authority for the City of Port Arthur.

The city council voted to approve a $44,695 contract with Savannah Housing Corporation for the First Time Homebuyer Program.  The Beaumont City Council approved a similar contract with Savannah, in a cooperative program with Port Arthur, on Tuesday.

All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes.

The city council met in a lengthy executive session to consider allegations against the police department and decided not to continue the investigation.

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Bayou Vista Board of Aldermen

Bayou Vista Board of Aldermen held a brief meeting on Tuesday to receive a draft of the FY 04 audit by Pringle, Jenkins and Associates, P.C.

The board agreed to take the next month to review the document for consideration at next month's meeting.

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Harris County Commissioners Court

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and Sheriff Tommy Thomas welcomed the Harris County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse at Tuesday's meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court.  

Eckels and Thomas presented proclamations to the youngsters to kick off their four scheduled relay rides that will "promote the western traditions of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo". 

The Junior Posse will ride through a total of 11 counties and 15 cities between January 8th and February 19th and will meet with local officials and dignitaries.

"These youngsters are riding tall in the saddle spreading the word about the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo", Eckels said.  "They are encouraging folks from throughout our region to visit the rodeo and to enjoy everything the rodeo has to offer."

The late Sheriff C V "Buster" Kern founded the Harris County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse in 1951.  The Posse allows youth between the ages of 6 and 18 to ride horses within an exhibition drill team.  

"The youngsters, clad in matching western attire of black boots, black western hats and sporting the official jackets with Harris County Sheriff's insignia ride in style," said a news release.  

They participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other events within the State.  The riders also participated in Superbowl XXXVIII.

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Galveston Independent School District

The Texas Education Agency recently notified the Galveston Independent School District that two of the district’s schools received a 2004 Gold Performance Acknowledgement. 

Oppe Elementary School received a “Commended” GPA on math and writing. 

Parker Elementary School received a “Commended” GPA on reading.  

“We would like to congratulate these campuses for this achievement,” said GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale.  

In 2001, the Texas Legislature enacted the GPA system to acknowledge districts and campuses for high performance on indicators of performance other than those used to assign accountability ratings.    

Fifteen students at Ball High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams.  

Students took AP Exams in May 2004 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools.  The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on AP exams.

Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of three or higher on five or more of these exams.  These students are Elizabeth Goodwin, Akanksha Sharma and Teddy Truong.

Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of three or higher on four or more of the exams.  These students include Colin Campbell, Alexander Genauck, Jessica Koenig, Bo Qui, Claire Randall, Craig Thomas, and Christopher Vineski.

Five students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of three or higher. They are Gan Cao, James Dearman, Tue Nguyen, Carly Stanton, and Hannah Wilson.

Of this year’s award recipients at Ball High School, six are sophomores or juniors. 

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College of the Mainland

College of the Mainland has announced expanded registration hours the week of January 10 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the second floor of the Student Center.  Late credit registration is January 18 through January 21. 

The college will be closed Monday, January 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

As part of the COM MLK Celebration a program entitled “The Shattered Dream,” will be presented on January 26 at 10 a.m. in the Teaching Auditorium.  The guest speaker will be Lois Jones of Texas City.  Reverend Walter Jones will deliver a special rendition of the “I Have A Dream” speech by Dr. King. The public is invited. 

The musical “Always Patsy Cline” opens at COM's Arena Theatre on January 20.  For ticket information call (409) 938-1211 or (888) 258-8859, extension 345.

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San Jacinto College

The San Jacinto College Central drama department will hold auditions for its upcoming encore performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on Wednesday, January 12 in Slocomb Auditorium on the Central Campus, 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena. 

About 25 roles for children need to be cast and more than 30 adult roles are available. The children will be divided into two groups – core and chorus.  Adult roles vary in size, but are open for both men and women of all ages and experience.

“Last year over 1,000 patrons saw our production,” said Dr. Jerry Ivins, artistic director for the musical. “Now it is back by popular demand.” 

Children auditions will be held at 6 p.m. and adult auditions will be held at 7 p.m.  Participants do not have to prepare material in advance and should dress comfortably.  

The first performance is scheduled for February 25.

For additional information call (281) 476-1828.

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Harris County Citizens Corps

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, chair of the Harris County Citizen Corps, on Tuesday participated in a graduation ceremony for downtown Houston's first high-rise Community Emergency Response Team.  Twenty-two people who work in downtown's Cullen Center completed the CERT training program.

"In many emergency situations, citizens find that they are the actual first responders", Eckels said.  "CERT training teaches individuals how to manage a crisis situation before the local first responders come on the scene.  People in high-rise buildings may feel especially vulnerable and now the Cullen Center has a CERT team that can assist their fellow coworkers in the event of a disaster."

Veronica Gutierrez, the life safety manger for the Cullen Center, said that she was looking for a program that offered emergency training.  

"We were looking for additional training," Gutierrez said.  "We wanted a program where the tenants could learn how to become involved in an emergency response if need be.  We found that training with the CERT program of the Harris County Citizen Corps."

Gutierrez said CERT could be the prototype for the city, contending that the Cullen Center is well prepared for emergencies.  

"In our search and rescue class, we learned how to lift a 2,000-pound slab of concrete with a crowbar," Guiterrez said. "You would not believe how easy it is!"

For more information visit www.harriscountycitizencorps.com.

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University of Texas Medical Branch

Houston physician John P. McGovern has contributed an additional $5 million to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to bolster the academic health center’s commitment to humane, patient-centered care. 

Of that commitment, $2 million will fund endowments for two more William Osler Scholar positions in UTMB’s John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine, increasing the total number of scholars to eight.  McGovern established the academy in 2001 by giving $5 million to create endowments for five Osler Scholars, practicing faculty physicians who were selected for "their devotion to the art of compassionate care and for excelling as role models for students and other physicians". 

McGovern added another Osler Scholar endowment to the academy in 2003.

“Dr. McGovern’s vision is helping us ensure that future generations of physicians will be trained to treat their patients with the utmost care and respect,” said UTMB President Dr. John Stobo. “We are truly fortunate to have him as a staunch supporter of Oslerian principles in the teaching and practice of medicine as well as one of the university’s most committed benefactors.”

McGovern has contributed nearly $14 million to UTMB programs over the last 30 years.  

He is founder of the McGovern Allergy Clinic, which he established in 1956 in Houston.  It rapidly grew to become the nation’s largest in that specialty.  In 1957, he founded the fellowship program in allergy and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, the first in Texas and the second among all medical schools in the South.

Dr. Deborah L. Carlson, associate professor of Otolaryngology and director of the Division of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, will be the guest speaker at the January meeting of the Clear Lake Area Chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.  The meeting will be on Saturday, January 8 at 10 a.m. at Gloria dei Lutheran Church, 18220 Upper Bay Road, two blocks south of NASA Parkway in Nassau Bay.

The program will include an update on the newest generation of digital hearing aids and will also discuss tinnitus, the ringing, buzzing sound hearing impaired people endure.  Carlson will also offer insight into what steps hearing impaired people can take to improve slurred or loud speech when they can no longer hear themselves speak.

For further information, call Bob Hill at (281) 333-9084 or email Pat Berry at paberry@hal-pc.org. 

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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

The annual Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Epicurean Evening will be held at Space Center Houston on Sunday, January 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

"Ticket holders will be delighted by tantalizing food samples from over 40 area food establishments and entertained by a variety of musical treats like mariachi bands, opera singers and belly dancers," said a news release.           

Adult tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and children’s tickets are $10.  Presale tickets can be purchased at the chamber office, 1201 NASA Parkway and Clear Lake Area Randall’s.  Group discounts and ticket sponsorships available. 

The ticket price includes food, beverages, parking and Space Center Houston Exhibits like Kids- Space-Place.

For more information call (281) 488-7676 or visit www.clearlakearea.com. 

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On The Webio

Several items of interest to Southeast Texas are posted on The Online News Station.

A Point of Clarification Regarding The New Safe Clear Traffic Incident Response Program written by TranStar Executive Public Information Officer Artee T. Jones is published on the Forum Page. Message

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

Today, January 5
4:00 Galveston Arts and Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Room 204, City Hall
4:00 Galveston Zoning Board of Adjustment
5:00 Texas City City Commission
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees Workshop, Lovenberg Administration Building Library, 3904 Avenue T
6:00 Webster Charter Review Commission, Webster City Hall
6:30 Webster Planning & Zoning Commission, Webster City Council Chambers
7:30 Taylor Lake Village City Council  

Thursday, January 6
8:30 North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for The Great Frame Up, 2945 Gulf Freeway South Suite A, League City
9:45 North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting for Re/Max South Shore , 1939 Lawrence Road, Kemah
11:00 Webster Business Alliance Luncheon, Webster Civic Center.  Former Astro Pitcher J. R. Richard will speak about "Overcoming Adversity". 
6:00 Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees Workshop 
7:00 Kemah Community Development Corporation

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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.

Jim and Lynda Guidry are publishers of Gulf Coast E-news and The Online News Station.

Jim Young is senior editor of Gulf Coast E-news.

Chuck Lawrence is Galveston City Correspondent.  Carl Guidry covers events in Jefferson County.  Anita Donatto covers the education beat in Galveston.  

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

We are seeking to hire reporters & marketing agents to expand our coverage in Jefferson & Harris Counties. 

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This electronic  newsletter replaced, and expanded on, the mission of the Galveston Fax, established by Jim and Lynda Guidry on Galveston Island in  July 1996; and Clear Lake Area E-news, begun on January 2, 2002.