2005 Archives

2004 Archives

2003 Archives

Monday               April 11, 2005

Galveston County Commissioners Court

Galveston County Commissioners Court today voted 4-0-1, with County Judge Jim Yarbrough abstaining, to approve a professional engineering agreement with Cobb Fendley Associates to conduct a feasibility study for the extension of 59th/61st Streets to Harborside Drive in Galveston.  The commissioners court also approved a $25,000 budget amendment for the study. Listen  Download

The commissioners court voted 3-2, with Eddie Janek and Ken Clark opposed, to approve an exemption from the seven pay period policy and a budget amendment to account for the transfer of an employee in the district clerk's office. 

All other votes were unanimous. 

The commissioners court voted to waive a penalty and interest payment in the amount of $169.98 for the late payment of taxes by Dr. Sally Abston, who said that her tax payment of $1,029.99 was sent on time but apparently was misplaced by the tax office. 

The commissioners court voted to defer a request for refund of penalty and interest by L. T. Garrett until next week.

Other requests for waiver of penalty and interest were denied because the delinquencies were not caused by the tax office or the County Appraisal District. 

The commissioners court voted to appoint Joyce V. Guerrero to the Child Welfare Board and Dr. Karen Smith to the Galveston County Community Action Council. 

The commissioners court voted to defer action on a consolidated lease agreement with Pitney Bowes for equipment at several county offices.

The commissioners court voted to adopt new procedures to facilitate the removal of junk vehicles throughout the county.

"Be careful, in Friendswood a 2003 Mercedes is considered junk," joked County Judge Jim Yarbrough.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Photos and Audio

Jefferson County Commissioners Court

The Jefferson County Commissioners Court today voted 3-2, with County Judge Carl Griffith and Commissioner Waymon Hallmark opposed, to transfer the budget preparation process from the Budget Office to the County Auditor's Office.  Listen  Download

However, because Assistant Criminal District Attorney Tom Rugg advised that the budget office can only be abolished during budget time, and that elimination of all of its responsibilities would effectively close the office, the motion was amended to assign new duties to volunteer Budget Officer LeRoy Saleme and his paid staff to replace budget making responsibilities. Listen Download

Griffith objected because Texas Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn recommended that the office be expanded, not abolished.

Commissioner Eddie Arnold, who sided with Commissioners Everette Alfred and  Mark Domingue to make the majority on the motion, contended that the office has not functioned as it should, and suggested that the budget staff use their time to research the duties of budget offices in other Texas counties.

Rugg said that the commissioners court could assign any budget-related duties to the staff, within reason.

"I wouldn't have them changing tires on cars," Rugg said.

An ad hoc committee that will include Arnold will develop a list of duties for the budget office staff, for consideration by the commissioners court at next week's meeting.

County Auditor Patrick Swain said that he will attempt to take on the additional duties of preparing the 2006 budget without incurring overtime by using salaried employees.

"I will redirect the priorities of the people in our office," Swain said.

The commissioners court voted unanimously create a Ford Park Beautification Committee. Griffith named former Beaumont Mayor Maury Meyers as chair. Arnold named Connie Teuscher as a member, Domingue named Jerry McInnis, Hallmark named Fran Amuny and Alfred will name his member later. The committee will develop a mission statement and list of responsibilities for the project and report back to the commissioners court.

The commissioners court voted to apply for a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the Jefferson County Family Treatment Drug Court.

The commissioners court approved an amendment to a grant agreement with the United States Department of Transportation under the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program.

The commissioners court approved proclamations designating this week as Crime Victims Rights Week, National County Government Week and National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Jefferson County.

All other agenda items were approved.

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Photos and Audio

Port of Houston

Representatives of the Port of Houston and the Port of Shanghai signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friendly Cooperation and Exchanges on Friday, April 1 at the Inter-Continental Hotel during a business forum focusing on economic prospects and business opportunities in Shanghai. The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, including containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project, heavy lift and other types of cargo.

Each year, more than 6,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world.

The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade.

The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any United States port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001.

The port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com.  The PHA has a website photo gallery featuring images of port commissioners, executives, facilities, business activities, community outreach events and activities, environmental projects, and logos.

Users can download the gallery's high-resolution images at no charge after registering as a member. Users must submit their name, company, telephone number, e-mail address, personal password and description of the intended use of the downloaded images.

To access the photo gallery, visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.

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Kemah City Hall

Flags are at half staff today at Kemah City Hall in honor of Margaret Frances Foster, a longtime Kemah resident who died last week. She was the wife of the late James Foster, Kemah's third mayor, and was the mother of Justice of the Peace Mark Foster.  Obituary

"Frances originally worked for Jimmie Walker and later served as the court clerk for the City of Kemah," said Kemah Mayor Bill King.  "My enduring memory of Frances will be her dry, pithy wit, of which Mark was frequently the target."

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Pelican Island Bridge

The Pelican Island Bridge is now operational for vehicular and marine traffic, the bridge's superintendent, John Tejeda, said this afternoon.  

At approximately 9 a.m. today, a tugboat hit the bridge while it was in the up position.  Tejeda said the bridge was closed for five hours due to electrical damage. 

"The boat did cause some damage, and (the bridge) is being surveyed by the owner, by a marine surveyor and myself," Tejeda said. 

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Gold Star Emergency Medical Services

Gold Star Emergency Medical Services, an ambulance service provider in Jefferson, Galveston, Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Tyler, Shelby, Nacogdoches, Polk, Angelina, Harris, Montgomery, Brown and Jim Wells counties, is being investigated by the FBI.  Last week, search warrants were served at Gold Star’s main office in Port Arthur as well as six other offices in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Center, Livingston, Alice and Corpus Christi.

U.S. Attorney Matt Orwig told Jefferson County television stations that the investigation stems from the Texas Attorney General's Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. 

Gold Star officials told reporters that they understand that the investigation is a random audit and that they expected the investigators to have concluded their work by Friday.

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Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

The Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, an organization of courtroom lawyers engaged by defendants in civil litigation, in a meeting in Galveston last week, approved a resolution condemning "the recent acts of violence against our judiciary and the treats and attacks on their actions in applying the law".  Resolution

"Our resolution today was a way of expressing our concern for the protection of our judicial system," said Gordon Broom, president of the ADTA. Listen  Download  Photo

"The attack on the judicial in Chicago on the judge's family and the attack in the courtroom in Atlanta are serious, serious matters for the American people," Broom said.  "We need to preserve the integrity, the independence and the accessibility of our third branch of government, our judicial system."  

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Houston International Ballet

Houston International Ballet, a newly-formed non-profit civic ballet based in League City, will present a children's ballet featuring Peter and the Wolf at 3 p.m. on April 23 and 24.

"The company performs with an open audition policy and welcomes children from all backgrounds," said Robyn Stowe.  "Houston International Ballet believes that every child has the ability to help in some capacity, whether it be performing or producing the show." 

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Beach Party Weekend

City of Galveston officials, stressing that they are not sponsoring Beach Party Weekend, have published a news release detailing the city services that will be provided for this weekend's event that will attract thousands of college-age persons.  Fact Sheet

"The city provides the services of public safety, traffic control, sanitation, and code enforcement," said Public Information Officer Janet Cohen.  "The Galveston Police Department will provide extra officers for traffic control points, law enforcement and regular patrols.  Some traffic control officers will be from the Texas State Guard, similar to how it was handled during Mardi Gras."

Unlike past years, the Galveston Park Board of Trustees is not promoting the event on its website, other than notice that live music will be provided for Texas Beach Party Weekend at R.A. Apffel Park, and that there will be free admission before 3 p.m.

Also unlike past years, there will be no city shuttle or satellite parking for Beach Party Weekend visitors.

There will be free parking in the downtown area on Saturday and Sunday, in hopes of attracting local residents to enjoy downtown amenities.  Merchants will offer special prices at sidewalk sales.  This is the second year of the downtown promotion.

"Residents will be able to get around the island," said Cohen advising that traffic will be heavy, but that through use of alternate routes per the city's Fact Sheet, residents can avoid the bumper to bumper traffic on Broadway and Seawall Boulevard.

Cohen refers questions about Beach Party Weekend events to promoter Ken Talton of Countdown Promotions at (972) 365-4732 or to visit www.txbeachparty.com.   

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Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris Co.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will offer shuttle service to the Shell Houston Open at the Redstone Golf Club in Humble Tuesday, April 19, through Sunday, April 24. Schedule

Shuttles will run approximately every 15 minutes from Greenspoint Mall, Greens Road and I-45 North, on the following schedule: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 19; 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 20; 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 21; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, April 22; 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The last inbound shuttle will depart at 4 p.m.  Round-trip shuttle fare is five dollars for adults.  Children age 12 and under who are accompanied by an adult ride free (limit three children per adult ticket-holder.)

No public parking will be available at the event site.

For more information about METRO shuttles, call METROLine at (713) 635-4000 or visit www.ridemetro.org. 

For more information about the tournament, call the Houston Golf Association at (281) 454-7000 or visit the official Shell Houston Open Web site at www.shellhoustonopen.com. 

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San Jacinto College

San Jacinto College will hold its Fifth Annual “Evening of MONOPOLY®," Friday, April 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center.

The MONOPOLY game will be played just like the board game, with property, houses, hotels, game tokens and cards for Community Chest, Chance, Free Parking and Get Out of Jail Free.

All proceeds from the event benefit the students of San Jacinto College through scholarships, new technology and Innovative Initiative grants.

San Jacinto College Board of Regent members Marie Flickinger and Dan Mims are the co-chairs of the event.  Ben Meador, another regent member, is serving as a committee member.

To purchase tickets, call the San Jacinto College Foundation at (281) 998-6104.

MONOPOLY®, the distinctive design of the game board, the four corner squares, the MR. MONOPOLY name and character, as well as each of the distinctive elements on the board and the playing pieces are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. for its property trading game and game equipment ® 2005 Hasbro, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission.      

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Clear Creek Independent School District

Parents and guardians of students in the Clear Creek Independent School District have until Friday, May 13 to request a refund at the school's cafeteria. 

All remaining balances on the students' accounts will roll over into the 2005-2006 school year, unless a refund is requested.

The district’s food service department will not accept checks for breakfast or lunch meals after that date.

After June 1, refund requests may be made at ARAMARK/CCISD Food Service Office at 322 South Walnut in Webster during the hours of 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 

For questions regarding refunds please call (281) 316-5785.

Clear Creek Independent School District and ARAMARK Food Service is offering a free breakfast for all elementary students during TAKS Testing Dates.

Menus include: sausage biscuit, fresh fruit, juice and milk on Tuesday, April 19; Pancake on a stick, fresh fruit, juice and milk on Wednesday, April 20 and French toast sticks, fresh fruit, juice and milk on Thursday, April 21.

For more information contact the student’s campus.  A listing of school phone numbers is available online at www.CCISD.net.

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On The Webio

Several items of interest to the Gulf Coast Region are posted on The Online News Station

The Medical Center of Southeast Texas held an open house on Saturday that attracted about 4,000 visitors.  Photos and Audio

The Associated General Contractors and Aon Construction Services Group teamed up at AGC's 2005 Annual Convention in Las Vegas to present the Aon Build America Awards. Photo and Release

Candidates for office and their supporters have posted messages on The Forum Page.

"Something Doesn't Smell Right in Friendswood, Texas" was submitted by Deborah Winters 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, April 11
6:00 La Marque City Council
6:00 Hitchcock City Commission and Hitchcock Planning and Zoning Board Public Hearing and Special Joint Meeting 
7:00 Nassau Bay City Council
7:00 Shoreacres City Council 
7:00 High Island Independent School District Board of Trustees
7:00 Dickinson Independent School District Board of Trustees
7:30 Seabrook Eco-Tourism/Sister City Committee 

Tuesday, April 12 
10:00 Harris County Commissioners Court
10:00 Pasadena City Council
12:00 Rotary Club of Galveston Island, San Luis Resort and Conference Center, 5222 Seawall Boulevard.  Dr. Marty Myers will speak on the importance of immunization and the relation to autism. 
1:30 Beaumont City Council
1:30 Houston City Council
3:30 Galveston Central Appraisal District, 600 Gulf Freeway, Texas City  
4:00 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony UTMB Women's Health Center at Bay Colony Town Center, 1804 FM 646 West, Suite N, League City
5:00 Port Arthur City Council  
5:45 Friendswood Independent School District Board of Trustees 
6:30 Bolivar Peninsula Citizen of the Year Award Banquet, Stingaree Restaurant, Victor Emmanuel is the featured speaker.
7:00 Men Who Cook XI, Benefiting Seabrook Police Officers' Charities, Lakewood Yacht Club
7:00 Dickinson City Council 
7:00 League City City Council 
7:00 Hitchcock Independent School District
7:00 Seabrook Fire/EMS Services Advisory Committee
7:00 Galveston League of Women Voters, Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy
7:30 Texas City Independent School District Board of Trustees

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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 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.  

Patty Mayeux and Dana Patricia Burke are editors of Gulf Coast E-news.

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.