Gulf Coast E-news

Guidry News Service has learned that the Galveston Independent School District and the Texas General Land Office have reached an agreement to resolve the dispute over electricity prices.

The GLO has confirmed the agreement, but, GISD Superintendent Lynn Hale said that the contract has not been finalized.

Under the terms of the agreement, GISD agreed to buy electricity from the GLO on a five-month contract in an amount equal to $62.63 per MWh.

“This is a good example of the quality work the State Power Program does every day,” said Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. “This agreement offers taxpayers in Galveston the very best deal they could get to power their schools. And it does it with a program that makes money for the schoolchildren of Texas to boot.”

Patterson cites the program as an example of government doing business as a business.

“The State Power Program costs about $260,000 a year to run, and has made the state about $26 million more than gas royalties alone would have earned," Patterson said. "That’s a good investment by anyone’s standards.”

Four Galveston hotels and two Galveston restaurants have been awarded AAA's Four Diamond Award for 2005.

The hotels include the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center, which has received the award for the past five years, and the Hotel Galvez, the Tremont House and the Moody Gardens Hotel and Spa, which are receiving their first Four Diamond awards.

Shearn's Restaurant in the Moody Gardens Hotel and The Steakhouse at the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center received Four Diamond awards also. The Steakhouse was a recipient of the award last year, as well.

"The new additions to the rating list shows that hospitality in Texas continues to excel," said George L. Clarke, general manager for AAA in Texas. "Tourists and residents can go out to establishments that show a commitment to superior service and surroundings, and the AAA Four Diamond Award is one of the lodging and restaurant industry's most coveted honors."

Friendswood City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve a resolution to establish and adopt the community goals for growth and development enumerated as part of Vision 2020 - an effort to set the vision, goals and strategy for the City of Friendswood for the next 20 years. The list of 15 goals included attracting a college or university, improving the city’s visual image, improving the city’s infrastructure and being sensitive to the environment.

The council voted 6-1, with Tracy Goza opposed, to approve a resolution adopting a revised design criteria manual containing subdivision improvement standards for all development within the City of Friendswood. The manual includes a list of qualified trees that may be used in land surveying.

The council held a joint docketed public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission to receive comments from the public regarding zone changes for a total of 16 acres of property from single family residential to community shopping center.

William F. Mitchell, president of Altair Development, said the addition of commercial property on FM 528 at Friendswood Lakes Drive is part of a city plan to put in a master thoroughfare at the intersection. Listen Download

“This particular piece of property was originally designed and approved by planning and zoning as a master plan,” Mitchell said. “It’s what the city asked for then, and what I think is asking for now.”

Eleven residents of the Friendswood Lakes subdivision spoke in opposition to the rezoning, saying that Mitchell did not involve them in the decision-making process and expressing their concern over the addition of commercial property near their homes. Listen Download

“We would like to say, on behalf of Friendswood Lakes subdivision, that we haven’t been brought into the center of this development as far as the commercialization has been,” said Friendswood Lakes homeowner Leslie Roque.

The city council presented awards to Friendswood residents and staff members for community service. Wayne Robinson, owner of Northwest Construction, Inc. and M&M Erections, received the mayor’s third Community Spirit Award for his volunteer work at Hope Village, a Friendswood developmental center for people with forms of mental retardation. Listen Download

Robinson and 17 volunteer crew members on Saturday renovated the center’s original activity building, which will be used for records storage and will house a resale shop where Hope Village residents can work. Robinson donated all materials for the renovation, which was completed in one day.

“Every once in a while, you have someone who goes beyond the call of duty and really gives a lot of their hearts to an effort to make it better, to make it more effective, and to make it more relevant to the residents,” said Mayor Kim Brizendine. “That’s what Mr. Robinson has done.”

The council also issued a proclamation to Dr. David Hearn, retiring medical director of Friendswood’s Emergency Medical Services Division, with Mayor Kim Brizendine declaring January 17, 2005 as Dr. David Hearn Day. Listen Download

“Thirty-two years ago, we did not have ambulance service in this city,” said EMS Chief Lisa Camp. “(Hearn) was approached by individuals in the Clear Lake area to have the first EMT class in 1972 and 1973. If it wasn’t for this man stepping out and taking a chance, we wouldn’t have the pre-hospital care that we have in this community.”

The council honored Cindy Edge, utility billing and accounting supervisor for the City of Friendswood, for her recently earned recognition as a Certified Government Finance Officer by the Government Finance Officer’s Association of Texas.

The council also honored Karen Renfro, the city’s municipal court administrator, for receiving the designation of Certified Municipal Court Clerk, the highest level of certification through the Municipal Court Clerk Certification Program.

BASF presented a $100,000 donation to Ford Park at today's meeting of Jefferson County Commissioners Court to help support "Celebrate Success," a program that rewards the achievements of thousands of area students with free tickets to events at the park.

"The program rewards the area's young achievers, while making high quality and wholesome entertainment available to many children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to see such performances," said Mark Viator, public affairs manager for BASF's Port Arthur site. "Ford Park brings world class acts to our community that are often available only to residents of larger cities."

"On behalf of Ford Park and SMG we are are trilled to be working with BASF," said Allan Vella, general manager of Ford Park. "They've made a tremendous commitment to Ford Park which will benefit the facility and the community."

The commissioners court approved the disbursement of $100,000 to the Southeast Texas Coalition for Air Service Revenue, to be reimbursed by a United States Department of Transportation Air Service Development grant.

The commissioners court approved a contract with Walter Umphrey providing for a ground lease on airport property and construction of an approximately 39,900 square foot hangar to be financed by Umphrey.

All other agenda items were approved. All votes were 4-0, with Commissioner Eddie Arnold absent.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council board of directors today accepted the recommendation of HGAC staff and voted unanimously to refer the $40 million worth of proposed homeland security and emergency projects back to the respective cities and counties that proposed them because HGAC received only $7.3 million to allocate to the various entities. This effectively extends the deadline until next month.

Galveston City Council Member Jackie Cole attended the meeting on behalf of the council’s designated representative, Barbara Roberts. Cole said almost $2 million worth of projects were proposed for Galveston County and that the actual funding that could be allocated to Galveston will probably be less than half that amount.

"It looks like the allocation to Galveston County is going to be in the range of $775,000," Cole said. "So the emergency management people are going to need to be taking a look at the applications that come in and prioritize them within a prospective budget of about $775,000." Listen Download

HGAC Public Service Director Diedre Vick said entities proposing projects should not waste any time.

"Although the deadline has been extended, giving us a little more time than we expected, the action will need to be taken at the February board meeting in order for us meet the deadline and fulfill the documentation submission that will be expected of us," Vick said. Listen Download

The board also unanimously approved the appointments of seven representatives from business, education and governmental entities to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board. Appointees were Gerald Andrews, Brazoria County, Business; Joe Carcia, Waller County, Business; Tracie Holub, Fort Bend County, Education; Don Nigbor, Brazoria County, Business; John Perry, Fort Bend County, Business; Pamela Sanders, Texas Water Commission, State Agency; and Kathy Shingleton, Galveston County, Education.

The board also approved and presented to H-GAC Cooperative Purchasing Program Manager David Malloch a resolution honoring his service to H-GAC and the region from May 1990 through January 2005. Malloch is retiring from his position.

All other items were unanimously approved.

Print Version

The Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce will hold its 105^th Annual Banquet on February 1st at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center at Lamar State College in Port Arthur.

Rory Aplanalp will deliver the keynote address, “Connections Make the Difference - Being Proactive in a Reactive World.”

Don Pumphrey of ENTERGY will be installed as chair of the board. Vicki Derese, of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, is the outgoing chair. All incoming and outgoing chamber leaders will be recognized for their contributions toward the work done by the chamber on behalf of its members and the entire community. The Athena Award, sponsored by Energy Country Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, will be presented as a surprise announcement during the banquet.

Aplanalp is known for his motivational and inspirational messages and has spoken to well over a million attendees in his 20-year speaking career. He is president of StarQuest, a division of Aplanalp Associates, Inc., which offers value-based time management, sales and human potential seminars and keynote addresses.

The "Citizens for Economic Growth in Port Arthur" committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday on the third floor of Lincoln Tower in Port Arthur.

The committee will discuss continued efforts to obtain petition signatures needed in order to have the Mixed Beverage issue placed on the May 7 election ballot.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has officially notified Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. that Cubic is in default under its contract to provide a Smart Card system for Houston METRO riders. Under the contract, Cubic has 30 days to correct the problems identified in the default notice.

A Smart Card is a credit card-sized plastic card with an embedded computer chip. The chip contains information such as fare price, and transaction and discount information. Under a METRO Smart Card system, riders could use a card to pay for bus or rail trips by touching the card to the farebox or ticket machine in place of cash, tokens or passes. Riders would be able to add value or time to their Smart Cards via the Internet, telephone or a visit to a METRO RideStore or sales outlet. Transit users tend to favor Smart Cards because the cards offer quick processing time, high security, long life and versatility.

San Jacinto College Central students who plan to transfer to an accredited four-year college or university for the fall 2005 term may apply to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship program.

The foundation awards scholarships to students in the spring of 2005 for use during the 2005-2006 academic school year. In order to be considered for an award, students must be nominated by their institutions.

The award provides funding for tuition, room and board, required fees and books. Award amounts vary based upon the institution and cannot exceed $30,000 annually. Scholarships are renewable each year if the recipient continues to excel academically and meet the program’s requirements.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must attend a fully licensed and/or accredited community college or two-year institution that is located in the United States and have completed sophomore credits by Dec. 31, 2004. Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students who have graduated from a community college or two-year institution within the last five years are also eligible. Applicants must transfer to an accredited four-year institution for the fall 2005 term.

Printed copies of the application are available in the Central Campus financial aid office.

Interested candidates should contact Elena Oliver, Central Campus financial aid director, at (281) 476-1856 or emailing at elena.olivier@sjcd.edu.

Students interested in pursuing an associate of applied science degree in automotive technology at San Jacinto College Central have the option of applying for the Gulf States Toyota Automotive Technology Toyota Technical Education Network Diversity scholarship.

“This scholarship is going to be an invaluable addition to our college’s financial assistance fund,” said Dr. Clay Kelley, dean of technical education at San Jacinto Central campus. “It allows students from lower-income households to kick start a successful career in the automobile industry.”

Three scholarships, based on merit and need, are available each school year for students selecting the Toyota T-TEN training option.

Throughout the two-year program, the scholarship provides funding for tuition, fees and books, a Toyota/Snap-on tool set and meals on campus. Funds can also be used for near-campus housing.

The scholarship will also arrange a paid internship at a Toyota dealership after the second semester.

“Toyota and San Jacinto College Central have done a good job of taking young people with an interest in automotive technology and turning them into Toyota technicians with a secure future.” said Don Cole, Toyota Technical Capacity Manager.

Candidates for the scholarship must be a United States citizen or legal resident and reside in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi or Louisiana. They must also be a high school graduate with a GPA of 2.50 or higher, or possess a GED or home school certificate.

Applicants are required to submit a hand written essay of 500 words or less outlining his or her educational, career and life goals. Three references are also required.

Gulf States Toyota, headquartered in Houston, provides new Toyota vehicles, Genuine Replacement Parts, and product support to their family of 143 Toyota Dealerships in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Galveston Artist Eugenia H. Campbell will sign copies of her new book, By the Shining Big-Sea-Water, at Midsummer Books on Saturday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m.. during the first Artwalk of the year.

This book is a collection of forty-two photographs of the perimeter of Galveston Island taken on early morning walks from the east to the west ends of Galveston.

Charles Harlan, quality evaluations senior auditor for ABS, awards employees at GB Tech with the company’s recent ISO 9001:2000 certification. Photo and Details

Palisade Palms, the club-class, high-rise beachfront condominium project on Galveston’s East Beach, will be expanding construction in one of its two towers to include five additional floors, adding 36 residences, to keep up with unprecedented public demand. Photo and Release

Galveston City Council Member Danny Weber has posted his comments to the city council at last week's meeting on the Forum Page. Report

Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas' State of the City Address to the Rotary Club of Galveston Island will be posted on The Online News Station later this evening. A full report will be published in Wednesday's Gulf Coast E-news.

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

Today, January 18
4:00 Galveston Planning Commission
5:30 Port Arthur City Council
6:00 Dickinson Independent School District Special Meeting
6:00 Houston-Galveston Area Council Public Meeting on Amendments to 2004-2006 Transportation Improvement Program, 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston
7:00 Clear Lake Shores City Council
7:00 Seabrook City Council
7:00 Tiki Island Board of Aldermen
7:00 Webster City Council
7:00 Hitchcock Independent School District Board of Trustees
7:00 Clear Creek Independent School District Public Hearing on School Boundary Changes, Clear Lake High School Commons
7:30 Pasadena City Council

Wednesday, January 19
8:00 Galveston Park Board of Trustees Goals and Objectives Workshop
9:30 Houston City Council
10:00 Broadway Beautification Committee, City Hall Room 204
11:30 Galveston Republican Women, Landry's Seafood Restaurant
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston, Fisherman's Wharf, Harborside at 22nd Street. The program is on Domestic Violence
1:30 Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves Finance Committee

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 Houston City Correspondent. Dana Patricia Burke is the Bay Area Houston Correspondent. 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.

Guidry News Service offices at 1818 Church Street, Suite 4, Galveston, TX. 77550 / P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, TX 77553
(409) 763-NEWS (6397), or email us at News@guidrynews.com

Subscriptions to Gulf Coast E-news are $300 per year, or $75 per quarter, plus sales and use tax.

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.


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