Lufkin hit by tornado.

By Whitney Grunder -
LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Severe storms ripped through parts of East Texas Wednesday evening. Some Lufkin neighborhoods sustained extensive damage from a possible tornado.

Among them is the Lufkin VFW, which is now gone. The damage comes right after 10,000 dollars worth of recent tile work. A check for the construction was written Wednesday, before the storm hit.

One resident living near Gipson Funeral Home on Chestnut Street even reported seeing caskets in his backyard.
Jakoia Grimes and her children were happy to have made it safely out of their Lufkin apartment, before their entire roof collapsed. "I looked up and I just saw the light from outside and I had my girls come and sit by the door, and within minutes the entire roof caved in," said Grimes, who is now staying with family members.
Jennifer Mays watched the tornado touch down right outside Stephens Court Apartments. She described it as "massive." She said, "I couldn't believe it was so powerful to the point that it just opened up my door."
Next door, owners sifted through what remained of their welding business, part of Lufkin for 25 years. Max's Welding Shop on Denman Avenue was completely destroyed.
Owners said they can't blame God for the severe weather, and that fortunately another shop behind the building stands untouched by the storm.

"I think we're going to be able to salvage some of our equipment. I think we're going to be alright," said co-owner Betty Purgahn.
Cheddars employees also witnessed a tornado touch down in the middle of the Olive Garden parking lot. "I heard a bunch of commotion and they were talking about the patio chairs were nearly about to hit some cars so we ran to try to help," said Cheddars employee Brad Barrow.

According to witnesses, other than damaging a few of the vehicles parked in the Olive Garden parking lot, the tornado did not affect any of the buildings. The Department of Public Safety reported that the tornado lifted back up, and did not cause any injuries.
Utility crews were also working to remedy power outages caused by toppled power poles. Thursday morning, thousands of residents were without power. An Oncor spokesperson said approximately 2,500 customers were without power in the Lufkin area.

So far no severe injuries have been reported.

Captured escapee says prison staff helped him

by KHOU.com Staff

Posted on December 9, 2009 at 6:50 AM

CONROE, Texas—The escaped prisoner who was the focus of a week-long manhunt told a local activist that he had help from the inside. Convicted child rapist Arcade Comeaux said the weapon he used to hijack guards was in his cell for at least three weeks.

Questions still surround the prison system that allowed Comeaux to dupe authorities for years. The supposedly partially-paralyzed man managed to walk away from the guards and right into controversy.
Authorities are asking two questions; why didn’t prison officials realize Comeaux was faking his medical condition, and where did he get the gun?
Local activist Quanell X said Comeaux told him he had help from the inside.

“He named that guard and he also named someone who is involved in medical who had been giving him medical assistance,” Quanell X said.

But prison officials said Comeaux has not shared that information with investigators so there are no arrests at this time.
“This feels like the inmate is running the asylum,” said a former TDCJ staff member who remembers Comeaux clearly.
“He would sit in the food. Of course it would dry and start smelling. He refused to shower, refused to clean himself, basically saying ‘I’m immobile, I need someone to do this for me.’”

The former staff member said Comeaux orchestrated a deliberate campaign of extortion, despite medical reports that he was able to care for himself. He said Comeaux manipulated the system to get health assistance and better housing.
A grand jury on Thursday will hear the case against the convicted sex offender who was captured in northeast Houston Monday morning.
Comeaux is now facing aggravated kidnapping and felony escape charges. He was in custody in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday, awaiting his hearing. Comeaux, who is currently serving three life sentences, was found when a salesman saw him trying to hitchhike in front of a business on East Little York.

The salesman called HPD, who came and took Comeaux into custody without incident.
Investigators said Comeaux escaped during transport from a prison unit in Huntsville to one in Beaumont.
As the prison van passed through Conroe, investigators said Comeaux pulled out a gun, held two transport guards hostage, handcuffed them in the back of the van, drove the van to Baytown, took the guards’ weapons, put on one of their uniforms and escaped.

Officials launched an extensive manhunt, but Comeaux managed to elude them for seven days before he was captured.
He had been confined to a wheelchair since 1997 when a stroke purportedly left him partially paralyzed, but when he was taken into custody, Comeaux was walking.

He has been in and out of the Texas prison system for 30 years.
Comeaux was first sent to prison in 1979 on three 10-year sentences for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child and burglary of a building—all out of Harris County. He was paroled four years later.

His parole was revoked and he returned to prison in 1984 to serve a 20-year sentence on a new charge of indecency with a child out of Harris County. He was paroled in 1991 but was in and out of prison for parole violations until 1996.
In June 1998, he was given a life sentence for aggravated sexual assault in Brazos County.
Comeaux was given two extra life sentences after he was convicted of stabbing his wife and another person in 1999. That attack occurred in the Jester III Unit in Fort Bend County when his wife came to visit him. The other person stabbed was a man who tried to stop the attack.

Still, those at the top want to correct the miscommunication between the workers inside prison walls.

“If you are in charge of a prison, and you see there is a disputes between medical’s and correction’s, come to us and ask for laws that would eliminate the controversy, ”said John Whitmire, chairman of the senate criminal justice committee. He is calling for a full investigation of prison and medical staff.

WATCH KHOU VIDEO REPORT HERE

News Alert: Comeaux now on most wanted list

(CNN) -- A Texas inmate in a wheelchair, who escaped on foot from two armed guards as he was being transferred between prisons, is now on the U.S. Marshals' list of the 15 most-wanted fugitives.
Arcade Comeaux Jr., 49, "produced a weapon and fired upon two correctional officers, took them hostage and forced them to drive to Baytown, Texas," the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement.
He then put the officers in the back of the van and took their weapons and one of their uniforms, the statement said.

Comeaux was serving three life sentences for aggravated sexual assault and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He escaped Monday during transport from Huntsville, Texas, to Stiles, Texas.
The 6-foot, 200-pound man was shackled and in a wheelchair, "which he had claimed was needed for mobility," Michelle Lyons, director of public information for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, said in a statement.

About 45 minutes into the trip, as they were driving through Conroe, 40 minutes north of Houston, the prisoner pulled out a pistol and ordered the guards to drive south to Baytown, east of Houston.
He fired once, but hit no one during the escape about 9 a.m., officials said.
Law enforcement officers found the unharmed officers an hour later.

Comeaux was being transferred so he could be near John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for treatment of the supposed paralysis he had suffered during a reported stroke, officials said.

At least $16,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to Comeaux's rearrest and a task force of more than 100 investigators is searching for him, focusing on the Houston area, where he grew up and has family.
His escape has led the man who oversees Texas' criminal justice system to call for a shakeup of the prison system.
"I just think enough's enough," said Sen. John Whitmire, the Texas Democrat from Houston who is chairman of the state Senate's Criminal Justice Committee.

"We need a complete shakeup of the leadership of our prison system and/or an outside review by third parties," he told CNN by phone Wednesday. "We just can't have security breaches of this nature."
Whitmire said the guards had failed to pat down Comeaux while he was in his wheelchair and before they began the trip.
"Sure enough, he has a firearm," he said. "The question is, are there others (in the prison system)? I think you have to assume that there are until you find out differently."

So far this year, more than 900 cell phones have been confiscated from the 112 locations that house the state's 158,000 prisoners. "It's pretty rampant," he said.

"I want the director to come forward and tell us what it's going to take" to solve the problem, he said.
John Moriarty, inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said such lapses are highly unusual in the state's penal system. "We have no open gun investigations other than this one," he said. "The last one was several years ago."
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston, who has been in the job since 2005, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Snow forecast in Houston area !

On average, once every four years even Houston gets visited by the Snow Gods. Although, this could be the second year-in-a-row for Houston snow. And if snow does indeed fall this Friday as forecasted, it would be the earliest snowfall on record.

Fred Schmud of ImpactWeather said to the Houston Chronicle, “Most of our forecasting data is caught right in the middle, meaning any subtle change in the position of the upper level disturbance will have huge consequences on how much, if any, snow falls across the Greater Houston area."

Right now NOAA is predicting a 70% chance of snow on Friday.

Alvin woman assaulted with hot pie

GALVESTON — A man who smacked his sister in the face with a piece of hot pecan pie on Thanksgiving Day may end up in jail on an aggravated assault charge, a Galveston County sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday.

The hot pie caused first- and second-degree burns and required medical treatment, sheriff's spokesman Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said. A warrant for the brother's arrest was expected to be issued today, he said.
Tuttoilmondo said he could not release the names of the siblings until the arrest warrant was issued but gave this account: The

26-year old brother from Texas City and 23-year-old sister from Alvin began arguing at their parents' home in Algoa about 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

Tuttoilmondo said he could not release the names of the siblings until the arrest warrant was issued but gave this account: The 26-year old brother from Texas City and 23-year-old sister from Alvin began arguing at their parents' home in Algoa about 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

As the dispute grew, the brother threatened to heave a piece of pecan pie that he was warming in a microwave oven, Tuttoilmondo said. An attempt by the mother to calm the argument failed and the brother carried out his threat, shoving the pie in his sister's face.

Sheriff's deputies were called and the sister sought medical treatment for burns to the left side of her face and neck, Tuttoilmondo said. She later tried to have the case dropped, but under Texas law, family violence cases must be prosecuted.

“One thing that gets lost in a story like this, beyond the humor of someone getting hit in the face with a pie, is that this is an issue of family violence,” Tuttoilmondo said.

“This is the type of thing that law enforcement takes seriously.”

Allen Parkway called safe, yet prone to speeding

40-mph road where lawyer was killed in a crash is treated more like a freeway, some say

By CAROLYN FEIBEL and PEGGY O'HARE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Oct. 31, 2009, 7:31AM


The crash that killed famed litigator John O'Quinn and his assistant Thursday has refocused attention on Allen Parkway, the swooping tree-lined street that has become a crucial link between central Houston neighborhoods and downtown.
City officials and traffic experts insist that the winding road is safe — as long as drivers resist the urge to treat the wide-open parkway as a freeway instead of obeying the 40-mph speed limit. Safety upgrades, undertaken after six fatal crashes in 2004, added grooves to the pavement to aid traction at one sharp curve, and more warning signs and traffic lights were installed.
O'Quinn, witnesses told police, was driving close to 60 mph on the rain-slicked road when he crashed into a tree, killing himself and passenger Johnny Lee Cutliff, 56.

Both men died from blunt force injuries. They were the first to die on Allen Parkway since 2006, records show.
Police are checking to see if O'Quinn, 68, was using his cellular phone at the time of his crash. There are no indications that alcohol or drugs played any role in the accident, but toxicology reports are still pending.
City officials said they will wait for the outcome of the crash investigation to determine whether more safety features should be added to the 2.3-mile road.

“Its design is just a winding kind of road that goes along the contour of the bayou,” said Alvin Wright, a Houston public works spokesman. “If driven at the speed limit or even 5 miles per hour over, it's a very safe roadway.”
Between 2003 and 2008, the parkway had 541 crashes, seven of them fatal, according to Texas Department of Transportation data. The parallel stretch of Memorial Parkway — a much straighter path between downtown and Shepherd — had 159 crashes, one of them fatal.

But traffic experts cautioned against comparing the two roads. Memorial Parkway is flatter, with fewer on and off ramps. Consequently, engineers have given it a higher speed limit, of 50 mph.
Traffic engineers have many methods at their disposal to make roads safer. Medians can be inserted, curves can be straightened, dips and hills can be flattened. Rougher pavement adds traction, and lighting can improve visibility.
But each road is particular, and no solution applies to all, said Tim Lomax, a research engineer at A&M's Texas Transportation Institute.

Widening lanes gives vehicles more maneuvering room, but it also acts as a visual cue for drivers to speed up. In heavy pedestrian areas, like Rice Village, narrower lanes encourage drivers to slow down, Lomax said.

“There may be some design ‘fixes,' but we should remember there are behaviors that we each engage in that contribute to collisions and injuries,” Lomax said.
Lowering the speed limit on Allen Parkway to 35 mph might give drivers more time to react and brake if they encounter surprises along the road's many curves, such as another motorist suddenly pulling into the street in front of them or stopping to make a turn, said David Pearson, a Harris County sheriff's deputy and accident reconstruction expert who has investigated the causes of more than 600 car crashes.


READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE

Winning Lotto Texas Ticket Bought in Alvin

Updated: Thursday, 22 Oct 2009, 3:31 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 22 Oct 2009, 3:31 PM CDT

JOHN
DONNELLY
ALVIN, Texas - Some lucky person who purchased a lottery ticket at an Alvin supermarket can now claim to be a multi-millionaire.

The winning Lotto Texas ticket that matched all six numbers was bought at an H-E-B store on 207 East South Street and is worth $76 million.

Because the buyer selected the cash option for the ticket, he or she will receive an approximately lump sum payment of $48 million before income tax is accounted for.

The H-E-B store will receive approximately $500,000 for selling the winning ticket, but the company's legal department must determine how the winnings can be distributed.

The winning numbers for the Oct. 21 Lotto Texas drawing were 9-20-42-51-53-27.

$2.5 million bond issue on ballot in Manvel

By John Tompkins
The Facts
Published October 16, 2009

MANVEL — City Council wanted to seek a loan for a new city hall and expanded library, but voters wanted a say.

Residents will get a chance to decide whether the projects move forward when they head to the polls on Nov. 3 to consider a $2.5 million bond issue.

The bonds would pay for a new 8,000-square-foot city hall on property next to the current 1,600-square-foot building at 6615 FM 1128. The money also would pay to expand the current city hall to 4,000 square feet to become the city library and extend city water and sewer lines to the buildings.

If passed, the bonds would increase the city’s tax rate about 1.5 cents per $100 of appraised property value. That would be an additional $15 for a home valued at $100,000.

Early voting begins Monday.

Those who support the bond issue say the city is growing rapidly as housing developments continue to expand. Opponents say the development isn’t rapid enough to justify the bonds.

U.S. Census estimates show Manvel’s population has almost doubled to about 6,057 people in 2008, compared with 3,046 people in 2000.

That growth has led to a cramped City Hall, and council members don’t have a lot of room during meetings, Councilman Buddy Williams said. If the council has a hot issue on its agenda and a lot of residents show up to listen in, most of them won’t get in the door, he said.

“We’re living in a matchbox,” he said. “Half of the people can’t come in because of fire codes.”

Residents are suffering financially in the bad economy and it’s not a good time for the city to take on debt, resident Jimmie Joe Del Bello said. If City Hall needs to be bigger, the city can expand the current building, Del Bello said.

“I don’t think we need that project,” he said of the bond issue. “We can just add on to that thing.”

The city considered several options to build and pay for the changes, including seeking a $1 million loan or passing certificates of obligation, which don’t require voter approval. Some of the proposals included making the library an addition to an expanded city hall.

“We found it wasn’t as feasible as we thought,” Mayor Delores Martin said.

The city is looking to build a new library after a dispute with the former site’s landlord. The city recently moved the library from 7104 Masters Road into its current location at 19500 Highway 6.

As council considered passing certificates of obligation for an expansion several months ago, some residents voiced concern about the plan and asked if voters could decide whether the project was needed.

Council obliged and voted unanimously in August to place the issue on the ballot.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Thunder Over Houston Area May Be Jets!

The U.S. military has issued advanced warning that jet fighters could be scrambled in the Houston area on Oct. 6 as part of military exercises.

North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct the flights in the skies over Southeast Texas. The pre-planned flights will take place in the late morning and early afternoon and residents should expect to hear and see NORAD fighter jets as they practice intercept and identification procedures.

Although exact flight plans were not divulged, a NORAD spokesman at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado said Houston airspace “could be included” in the exercises.

NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the United States and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Monster for sale in Manvel

MANVEL, Texas -- Homes across the Houston area have been getting bigger every decade, but nothing may compare to what’s for sale in Manvel in Brazoria County. Sitting on a 16-acre field next to cow pastures along County Road 59 is a home big almost beyond belief.

For sale: Behemoth, 65,000-square-foot home near Pearland – no joke

Realtor Joe Rollins of Shelby Estus Realty Group recently gave 11 News a tour. The home is a two-story brick behemoth, looking a bit like Southfork in the opening sequence of the 1980’s CBS soap opera “Dallas.” But this is Southfork on steroids.

“It’s 65,000 square feet,” said Rollins as he walked down the home’s second floor hallway that looked to be as long as three bowling lanes laid end-to-end.

“It’s the biggest house I’ve ever seen.”

It has a dozen huge bedrooms, a nine car garage and an indoor pool deep enough for a diving board. The kitchen is probably as big as the one at your local Luby’s and the living room like one of the ballrooms in “The Sound of Music.”

By rough estimate, it might cost $9,000 a month just to cool the place.

A local doctor built it in 1991 but he, his wife and teenage son had second thoughts and never moved in. Now for sale for $2.4 million, will anyone buy it to actually live in it?

“I think that’s a long shot,” said Rollins.

More likely, it’ll be used for commercial purposes. Some years ago, a company bought it and started to convert it to a nursing home. But that project came to a halt and was abandoned. Now, with some of the rooms partially altered (like the huge foyer where there’s now a reception booth) the home needs a lot of internal work to make it usable. The realtor said a church has recently expressed interest.

FULL STORY HERE

Actor Patrick Swayze Dies; Houston Native Had Battled Cancer

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009)—“Dirty Dancing” actor Patrick Swayze, 57, has lost his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze died Monday with his family at his side, his publicist Annett Wolf said.

In March 2008, it was disclosed that the Houston native had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Despite the grim prognosis, Swayze continued to work on the A&E series “The Beast,” in which he starred, although he said the cancer put him “through hell.”

Swayze became a star in 1987 with his performance in the coming-of-age classic “Dirty Dancing.”

Three years later, his role in “Ghost” made him a big screen favorite.

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas, the eldest child of Patsy Yvonne Helen (née Karnes; b. 1927), a choreographer, dance instructor, and dancer, and Jessie Wayne Swayze (1925-1982), an engineering draftsman.[6][7] He had two younger brothers, actor Don (born 1958) and Sean Kyle (born 1962), and two sisters, Vicky Lynn (1949-1994) and Bambi, who were adopted into the family.[8] His surname originated with an English immigrant ancestor named "Swasey".[7]
Until the age of 20,

Swayze lived in the Oak Forest neighborhood of Houston, where he attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Oak Forest Elementary School,[9] Black Middle School,[9][10] and Waltrip High School.[9] During this time, he also pursued multiple artistic and athletic skills, such as ice skating, classical ballet, and acting in school plays. He studied gymnastics at nearby San Jacinto College for two years.

Patrick Swayze on Wkipedia.

9-9-09 - Does it mean anything?

And though the date lacks the pizzazz of the lucky sevens (07/07/07), that isn't stopping marketers, mathematicians and the marriage-minded from dressing it to the nines.

Hotels are offering discounts, couples are wedding in droves and "9/9/09" was among the top 100 search terms on the search engine Google on Tuesday.

Lottery users will undoubtedly try their luck by playing 999 Wednesday, and a lucky mother might see herself profiled on the news should she give birth at just the right time: 9:09.

So why not get in on the act?

After all, you're unlikely to experience another single-digit date in your lifetime. The next one won't roll around for 92 years -- until 1/1/2101.

Going to the chapel, gonna get married

In China, more than 10,000 couples were expected to register their marriages in Beijing on Wednesday and 6,000 more couples were set to tie the knot in Shanghai -- even though it's a weekday, said the Xinhua news agency.

In Malaysia, more than 500 ethnic Chinese couples married at a Buddhist temple in Kuala Lumpur.

That's because Chinese culture considers the number nine auspicious. In major Chinese dialects, the word for "nine" sounds similar to "longlasting."

Marriage also will be on the mind of many around the world who hope the date will translate to a life on cloud nine.

The Registry of Marriages in Singapore had more than 364 couples signed up to marry Wednesday, says The Straits Times newspaper. The average is 64.

Ditto for Australia. The state of Queensland has reported a threefold increase in the number of couples tying the knot.

"It's as simple as having a wedding anniversary that you can never forget," the registrar-general Helen Lucas told the broadcaster ABC.

Needless to say, the so-called marriage capital of the world -- Las Vegas, Nevada -- isn't about to let such an opportunity pass it by.

The Stratosphere is among several hotels and casinos offering quickie weddings. It is angling to marry off 99 couples at 9:09 p.m. for -- what else -- $99.09.

Hotels hope you book it!

Several hotels are offering special deals, tied to the date. The truth is that September is a slow time for the travel industry and any gimmick will do.

Hotels.com has been running a nine-day sale leading up to Wednesday, for rooms priced $99 or less.

Mathemagic

Those who like to play with numbers will have a field day on 09/09/09.

The date falls on a Wednesday in September, both of which have 9 letters.

September 9 also is the 252nd day of the year. 2+5+2

In addition, if you multiply a single-digit number by 9, the resulting two digits add up to 9. Consider: 8x9

Take me out to the ballgame

More than most, baseball is a game steeped in nines: nine players on the field at one time, nine innings, 90 feet between bases and nine strikes per inning.

You can celebrate by going to one of 15 games that Major League Baseball has on tap on Wednesday. Or you can commemorate along with MLB.com, which is inviting fans to vote for each team's best players, by season and position, in the All-Time 9s.

Tweet away ...

Republicans are asking Twitter users to log on at 9 p.m. ET for what is being billed as the "largest Twitter tea party ever."

... or take in a movie

The Tim Burton-produced sci-fi flick "9" comes out Wednesday, the 9th. It's a story about hand-stitched robots that battle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. How many robots? Nine.

Nine lives? Not today

The humor Web site URLesque has declared a one-day ban on all cat-related videos and stories on 09/09/09. The site doesn't specifically say so, but we suspect it has to do with feline luck running out after nine lives.

"Why only one day?" the Web site asks. "Well let's be honest, that's probably only as long as we'll last before a hilarious video comes crashing into our inbox."

A day in the life

An Internet project led by 25-year-old student Matthias Kluckert in Germany is soliciting stories from around the world Wednesday -- to capture an ordinary day on Earth experienced by people across cultures.

The project, "A Day on the Planet," hopes to collect the best stories and eventually publish them in eight languages.

Why 09/09/09?

"Because it is a date that is so easy to remember," the organizers said.

Speaking of the Beatles ...

It is a big day for the Beatles.

The group's entire music collection comes out digitally mastered.

12 Year old hurt in hit & run

HOUSTON –Police are searching for a driver they said ran over a 12-year-old boy in South Houston on Sunday.

Police said around 2 a.m., the boy was riding on the hood of gray Ford Taurus in the 4100 block of Grassmere.

Witnesses said the boy fell off the car when it sped up, then the driver ran over the child and fled the scene.

The child was rushed to Memorial Hermann in critical conditon.

Waterspout comes ashore in Galveston

By Chris Paschenko & Rhiannon Meyers / The Daily News & Kevin Reece / 11 News
GALVESTON, Texas — The National Weather Service confirmed a waterspout came ashore in Galveston on Sunday damaging buildings, knocking out power and injuring at least three people.

It happened soon after a strong line of storms moved into the county, and the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water.

Dolphin World, a souvenir shop in the 2900 block of Seawall Boulevard, was damaged about 9:45 p.m. Debris covered the streets.

Ironically, Dolphin World survived Hurricane Ike with very little damage. But after this storm, things were different.

“It’s very, very bad. Very difficult. Basically everything inside is gone. Brings back memory of Ike,” Schlomo Hamo of Dolphin World said.

Witnesses told The Daily News that a piece of the roof from Dolphin World struck a man who was pushing his bicycle down the seawall. They said he was taken away by ambulance.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

CNN) -- Three boaters who were stranded at sea for more than a week were being reunited with their families Sunday.

Three missing boaters were returned safely to Port Aransas, Texas, after their rescue on Saturday.

A day after the U.S. Coast Guard said it was suspending its weeklong search for the boaters, the men were found alive Saturday night.

The crew of a Good Samaritan vessel found Curtis Hall, 28, James Phillips, 30, and Tressel Hawkins, 43, sitting on top of their capsized 23-foot fishing vessel about 180 miles from Port Aransas, Texas, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The men had been missing at sea since they failed to return from a fishing trip on August 22.

The Coast Guard had called off their search Friday after it said it had looked over more than 86,000 square miles.

Hall went to a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, but left after he waited too long in the emergency room, his mother told CNN. He returned to his home in Palacio, Texas, to rest and will see a doctor later on Sunday for what he thinks are second-degree burns on his legs from sun exposure, she said.

After the rescue, Phillips was on his way home to reunite with his family, his wife, Shane, told CNN. He did not seek medical attention, she said.

Hawkins suffered open sores on his legs after floating in the water for eight days, he told CNN from the emergency room of a Corpus Christi hospital. He plans to leave the hospital soon and head to Fort Worth, Texas, to reunite with his family, he said. E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share

Freak shooting claims boy

HOUSTON – KHOU A tragic accident has claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy in Southwest Houston.

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It happened on Wednesday evening.

Police say a telephone was ringing inside of his family’s home on Blanchard Hill Lane and the boy was trying to find it.

He tossed his mom's backpack to the floor and a pistol that was inside the backpack went off.

The boy was shot in the head and died.

Police say at this time it does not appear any laws were broken. The gun was in the home legally

Pearland man helps passengers on Continental flight 128

By Kevin Reece and Jeremy Desel / 11 News
HOUSTON – Passengers aboard Continental flight 128 arrived in Houston Monday with a terrifying tale to share.

As emergency vehicles rushed to the plane on the Miami tarmac, catering truck elevators were used to rescue injured passengers.

Diego Saavedra was on the plane. He said passengers and flight attendants were flying inside the cabin.

“All of a sudden, the plane like takes a dip and rises up and you see people going off their seats, people screaming,” said Saavedra. “One lady, she just came out of her seat and flew over the middle row, hit her head on the wall and landed on her back.”

Passengers took pictures inside the plane that show items falling out of the ceiling and cracked plastic.

The damage was caused by flight attendants and passengers hitting the ceiling, said John Norwood who was also on the flight.

“People who weren’t belted in flew up and hit the ceiling, so their faces and heads hit the plastics and broke the plastics all at the top,” said Norwood.

Celi Defaria hit the roof too. She has a scar that runs the length of the right side of her face.

“All of a sudden it came down. Everybody bumped heads twice because it came down again," she said. "It was terrifying. It happened in one faction of a second."

The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m. while most passengers were sleeping.

“I’ve never seen turbulence like that. I really thought we wouldn’t make it,” said Giovani Loss.


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Feds Bust Medicare Fraud Ring In Houston Area

HOUSTON—Federal authorities arrested 27 people in Houston Wednesday in a major Medicare fraud bust that spanned across the country.

Medicare fraud raid

Investigators claim the suspects were scamming Medicare by falsely billing for medical items that were not needed or never used.

Arrests were also made in New York, Boston and Louisiana. In all, 32 people were taken into custody.

More than 200 agents worked on Wednesday’s $16 million bust, which included 12 search warrants at health care businesses and homes across the Houston area.

One of those businesses was Memorial Medical Supply on Dairy Ashford and I-10.

Shocked employees were met by federal agents when they arrived at work.

Federal agents raided several locations in Houston after a nationwide investigation into Medicare fraud.
The agents confiscated paperwork and a computer.

They were also seen removing boxes of evidence from the business.

Federal authorities say the businesses were giving patients “arthritis kits,” which were nothing more than expensive orthotics, including knee and shoulder braces. Patients told authorities they were unnecessary, and many never used them. But health care clinic owners billed $3,000 - $4,000 for each kit.

Houston’s other scam involved billing Medicare for thousands of dollars worth of liquid food for patients who can’t eat solids. Authorities said clinic owners never distributed the food to patients. In some cases, clinic owners billed patients who were dead when they allegedly received the items.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

UPDATE: Wrong-way driver dies in Friday accident Kingwood Observer News Houston Community Newspapers Online - News Around Town

An elderly man is dead and a woman was hospitalized with severe injuries after a major accident at U.S. Highway 59 at Townsen around 1:30 p.m. July 24.

“We received a call about a red minivan driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 59,” said Accident Investigator Bryan Waldroup of the Humble Police Department. “A minute later, we got another call that the minivan had hit an oncoming black sedan going the right way on Highway 59.”

Waldroup said the 79-year-old driver of the older model minivan was dead at the scene. The woman was transported via Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital downtown. Her injuries did not appear to be life threatening according to initial medical assessments at the scene.

Police have not released the names of the victims.

Waldroup said it is unknown for how long the elderly driver was traveling against traffic or what caused him to do so.

“We may never be able to find out,” Waldroup said, adding that underlying medical conditions, physically or mentally, could possibly have contributed to the accident. “Further information is pending a report by the medical examiner’s office.”

The accident and the resulting investigation caused a traffic gridlock on and around Highway 59 for several hours. All lanes of traffic were closed for more than four hours, forcing afternoon and evening commuters to find alternate routes into the Humble, Kingwood and East Montgomery County areas.

CFISD to cut bus services for some students Cypress Sun News Houston Community Newspapers Online - News Around Town

This can be added to the list of budget cuts the district has made in order to compensate for a $14 million budget shortfall.

The reduction in bus services means that students who live less than two miles of their schools will no longer be eligible to ride the bus.

The exceptions to this would be students who must cross or walk along a hazardous roadway or those students who receive special education services and transportation is required.

The reasons for these cuts in bus services, CFISD spokesperson Kelli Durham explained, is because the state does not reimburse school districts for transporting students within two miles of campus.

“The district used to be able to absorb these transportation costs, but we are no longer able to do that,” she said.

Durham said Cy-Fair ISD spent about $32 million in 2008-2009 transporting students and was only reimbursed $6.4 million by the state.

The district will no longer provide late bus services for secondary students either, and shuttle bus service that was provided during the school day has been changed for many of the programs in the district.

CFISD is not the only school district that does not bus students who live within two miles of their assigned campuses. Klein ISD exercises the same practice.

“The district regrets the need for this reduction in service as well as other service reductions and budget cuts that are being made, but financial conditions require that these actions be taken,” Superintendent David Anthony stated in a release.

Letters have been mailed to parents of students who will be ineligible to ride the bus and additional information can be found on the district’s website at www.cfisd.net.

Alvin Community College Board of Regents provided direction to administrators

The Alvin Community College Board of Regents provided direction to administrators to complete the 2009-2010 Maintenance and Operations Budget at a regular meeting immediately following a budget workshop on July 23.

The proposed 2009-2010 budget of $23,930,941 represents a 3.45 percent increase over last year and will include funds for two new instructors, to address the growth in dual credit courses at local high schools, a salary step adjustment for eligible employees and a two percent salary adjustment only for approximately 76 full-time employees who have no more step increase options due to their long length of employment and qualifications.

The balance of the increase “has a lot to do with fixed costs…that we don’t have any control over (such as utilities, fees, insurance, etc.),” ACC President Dr. Rodney Allbright said.

Due to the approval of Texas House Bill 4586 in June, ACC recently received $2,358,771 in natural disaster relief funds from the state to address damage caused by Hurricane Ike, Allbright reported.

“This is really good news,” he stated. “We didn’t receive enough insurance to cover the reconstruction.”

In an effort to save money, the college has been acting as general contractor for the campus reconstruction project and recently completed Building A.

Prior to finalizing and approving the budget and college district tax rate, regents are waiting for the Brazoria County Appraisal District to issue a certified effective tax rate.

Allbright recommended that the board call for a special meeting as soon as the effective tax rate is established in order to meet numerous legal requirements prior to anticipated budget approval near the end of August.

The budget is funded by three main sources, including state appropriations, tuition and fees and local tax revenues.

In other matters, ACC Broadcast Communications Department Chair Bill Lewis made a presentation to the board in preparation for the upcoming Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmation of accreditation, which is required every 10 years. Lewis provided information regarding the training, certificates and degree options currently offered in radio and television broadcasting at the college.

“As someone who does a lot of listening on the outside,” ACC Board Chairman L. H. “Pete” Nash said to Lewis, “you guys have a really excellent reputation.”

For the next approximately 15 months, presentations will be made to board members that will cover the programs and services available at ACC. Information from these presentations will be included in the application for reaffirmation.

During the meeting, regents also approved: acceptance of retirement letter from ACC Texas Department of Criminal Justice program instructor Lew Garrett; renewal of the Victory insurance policy in the amount of $86,238 (for 19 months); renewal of deposit bank contract with First National Bank; renewal of Internet Blackboard/WebCT contract in the amount of $33,100 (for three years); budget revisions in preparation for the closure of the 2008-2009 fiscal year; 2009-2010 Carl Perkins Basic Grant in the amount of $244,939; authorization for proposed budget expenditures necessary for the start of the fall semester; personnel appointment of Saul Olivares as a new foreign languages instructor; replacement of desktop computers damaged by Hurricane Ike; financial report ending June 30; and the check register.

Bikers find highway to God in Manvel

By John Tompkins
The Facts
Published July 6, 2009

MANVEL — Wearing a leather vest adorned with biker patches, Frank Scott stepped up to the podium to start his music service.

After a biker in the congregation joked about his appearance, Scott looked out at the audience with a smile.

“Amen, I’m going to have to cut you,” he said, laughing. “This group is talking ugly about me.”

Scott and his wife, Judy, have traveled all over the world and sang church music for many different congregations for more than 40 years. But the group he plays for now at Biker Church in Manvel look more like an audience waiting to hear blaring electric guitars at a rock concert than those about to start singing Christian hymns.

Instead of shirts, ties and Sunday dresses, Biker Church members wear vests, leather pants and sport tattoos. And instead of coming to church in the family car, most participants roll into the Jordan Center, where the church services are performed, on motorcycles and line them up in front of the door.

“If you walked into our church with a suit and tie, people would look at you funny,” said the church’s pastor, David Wright.

Robert “Tree” Perot said he started attending Biker Church after a member saw him on the side of a highway praying by his motorcycle. The man handed him a necklace with a cross fashioned from nails and asked him to come to Biker Church.

Though the church is different from traditional churches, it has the same goal of bringing people close to God, Perot said.

“We use motorcycles as a tool,” he said. “I don’t know why, but God led me to this.”

Most people see the name “Biker Church” and assume it is tailored to bikers, Wright said. While most who attend fit that category, visitors are surprised to learn its services are the same as those of most churches, he said.

“We’re a whole lot more like anyone else’s church than everyone thinks,” Wright said.

Man Charged With 7th DWI

Douglas Villanueva Arrested On Sunday


HOUSTON - An Alvin man is facing his seventh driving while intoxicated charge, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Douglas Ted Villanueva, 55, has been convicted six times for drunken driving.

On Sunday, officers said they caught Villanueva swerving out of his lane while driving in the 2000 block of West Parkwood shortly after 4 a.m. in Friendswood.

Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

Houston Fourth of July Celebrations, Fireworks


Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

Houston Fourth of July Celebrations, Fireworks


Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

Fire destroys Galveston seawall condos

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published June 4, 2009
GALVESTON — At least 60 units of a Galveston resort were gutted Wednesday by fire, which was started accidentally by welding contractors who were renovating the complex damaged by Hurricane Ike, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called at 2:19 p.m. to Maravilla Resort Condominiums, 9520 Seawall Blvd., and found fire spreading between the second and third floor.

“It was the workers out there doing welding and cutting,” Fire Chief Mike Varela Sr. said of Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson’s determination. The contractors had a city permit for renovations and were employing a fire watch, Varela said.

Galveston firefighter Gary Vasquez suffered from heat exhaustion and was taken by ground ambulance to Mainland Medical Center in Texas City and released, Varela said.

A medical crew treated some of the contractors at the scene, but they weren’t taken to a hospital, Varela said.

The blaze began in the rear of the complex, working its way toward the seawall side of the structure. About 120 firefighters, including those from Jamaica Beach, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, La Marque and Texas City were called to the island and helped evacuate about 30 or 40 people from the building. They also fought the blaze and manned fire stations here. There were no further injuries, Varela said.

Firefighters focused their attack at the center of the complex, where Varela said a fire break helped them control the blaze about 5:30 p.m.

Much of the upper units of the three-story complex were gutted, and many more sustained smoke and water damage, Varela said.

Lloyd W. Rinderer, an assistant city manager for Galveston, said he lost his condo of six years to the blaze. Rinderer, who is also treasurer of the condo’s homeowner’s association, said he would reside on his boat at The Galveston Yacht Club, just as he did not long after the storm.

“We were a month from completing Hurricane Ike repairs,” Rinderer said of the Sept. 13 storm’s damaging effects. “There were 164 units and there were about 10 people who were actually living there.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Breaking News: Galveston Condo Fire

Massive fire destroys dozens of beachfront condos in Galveston
06:50 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Michelle Homer / 11 News
GALVESTON -- Every firefighter in Galveston battled a huge 5-alarm fire on the island's West End Wednesday afternoon. The blaze at the beachfront Miravilla Resort Condominiums burned out of control for several hours.

The fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. and Galveston fire crews were on the scene minutes later.

Even off-duty Galveston firefighters were called in to help battle the blaze.

They also brought in help from surrounding communities including Jamaica Beach, Texas City, La Marque and Santa Fe.

When Air 11 first arrived, the flames were confined to one corner of the complex.

Also Online
Slideshow: Photos from the scene
Video Slideshows Blogs
Within minutes, the fire had spread to dozens of other units. There are 164 units in the complex.

"We went from an offensive to a defensive fire real quick to not put the firefighters in harm's way because the fire was spreading so quickly," said Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela.

The wind shifted in the middle of the fire, adding to their challenge.

Everyone inside was evacuated safely, according to Galveston officials.

The flames spread quickly through dozens of units at the Miravilla condos.
One firefighter was transported to an area hospital after suffering heat exhaustion.

"His blood pressure was down real low and they were trying to get it stable again," said Varela.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Breaking News: Galveston Condo Fire

Massive fire destroys dozens of beachfront condos in Galveston
06:50 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Michelle Homer / 11 News
GALVESTON -- Every firefighter in Galveston battled a huge 5-alarm fire on the island's West End Wednesday afternoon. The blaze at the beachfront Miravilla Resort Condominiums burned out of control for several hours.

The fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. and Galveston fire crews were on the scene minutes later.

Even off-duty Galveston firefighters were called in to help battle the blaze.

They also brought in help from surrounding communities including Jamaica Beach, Texas City, La Marque and Santa Fe.

When Air 11 first arrived, the flames were confined to one corner of the complex.

Also Online
Slideshow: Photos from the scene
Video Slideshows Blogs
Within minutes, the fire had spread to dozens of other units. There are 164 units in the complex.

"We went from an offensive to a defensive fire real quick to not put the firefighters in harm's way because the fire was spreading so quickly," said Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela.

The wind shifted in the middle of the fire, adding to their challenge.

Everyone inside was evacuated safely, according to Galveston officials.

The flames spread quickly through dozens of units at the Miravilla condos.
One firefighter was transported to an area hospital after suffering heat exhaustion.

"His blood pressure was down real low and they were trying to get it stable again," said Varela.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Man taken into custody after 4-hour standoff with police in Alvin

02:47 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 26, 2009
By Kevin Peters / 11 News

ALVIN, Texas — A gunman fired dozens of shots at Alvin police officers overnight during a four-hour standoff.

It all started around 11 p.m. Monday when police received a call about a “despondent” man at the Wedgeworth Apartments. The complex is located just off Davis Bend Road in Alvin.

Once officers arrived on scene, they said the armed man came outside, raised a weapon and opened fire. Officers were forced to take cover, huddled behind cars in the parking lot. During the commotion, police said an upstairs neighbor walked down to officers, and the gunman shot him in the shoulder. He was airlifted to an area hospital. Officials said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Over the next 3 hours, police said the man fired dozens of shots. Those shots finally came to end around 3 a.m. Police said they were able to take the man into custody using less-lethal force, though they didn’t specify which strategy or tactical weapon was used.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

2009 Hurricane Forecast To Be Released Today

Forecasters to make predictions about 2009 hurricane season

Top federal weather forecasters on Thursday will be announcing their eagerly anticipated predictions for this year's Atlantic hurricane season -- a season likely to be as active as last year.

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others will make their forecast public at a news conference to be held at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia.

On hand will be Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Bill Read, NOAA's National Hurricane Center director, along with a host of other federal officials.

Government forecasters were right on the mark with their 2008 predictions -- a very active hurricane season. The numbers: 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, five of them major.

Scientists had projected that the 2008 season would bring 12 to 16 named storms that would grow into six to nine hurricanes, two to five of which would be Category 3 or stronger.

Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecaster, has said the gradual warming of the Atlantic Ocean, combined with an active tropical era of storms that began in 1995, will likely mean busy hurricane seasons in the future.

Florida was spared the worst of last year's hurricane season. Only Tropical Storm Fay struck the region hard.

That was not the case for our Caribbean neighbors. Cuba and Haiti got pounded by a succession of major hurricanes and storms, resulting in heavy damage and lost lives.

Early Alvin warmly welcomes new depot

Early Alvin warmly welcomes new depot

By Marie Beth Jones
The Facts
Published May 11, 2009

Alvin residents were disappointed and angry when the railroad company withdrew its plans to build a new station to replace the leaky, red-painted shack that had served them ever since the railroad was built through town.

In a story headlined “New Depot Egg Failed to Hatch,” the Alvin Sun’s editor reported residents were “very much vexed” over the manner in which they had been treated.

Whether these feelings had anything to do with it or not, the company soon decided to go ahead with plans for new depot on a site just east of the small building on the south side of the railroad tracks.

To be constructed of brick and stucco, the new station would be “one of the handsomest passenger stations along the lines of the Santa Fe in the state,” the newspaper reported.

The cost of the building alone was to be $35,000 — a considerable sum for construction in that era — and landscaping would add several thousand dollars more.

Soon, 75 laborers had relocated the railroad’s tracks to the new depot. As the work progressed, the newspaper reported more space for the improvements had been provided by the demolition of a “shack” housing an old restaurant.

Upon completion of the depot, the newspaper heaped praise on the improvements. The editor particularly commented on its “modern conveniences,” which included electric lights, restrooms and comfortable seats for passengers awaiting a train, as well as the latest in machines used by operators and ticket cabinets.


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

First reported US swine-flu death occurs in Houston

The first reported death in the United States from the swine flu outbreak was that of a 23-month-old Mexican toddler who fell ill in Brownsville and was transported for treatment in Houston, where the child died Monday, city officials said.
Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, did not say which hospital treated the child or give any other details about the toddler.

There still have been no reported Houston-area cases of the disease, which is thought to have begun in Mexico but is being detected around the world. However, Barton said Houston should expect to see cases originate here.
She added that hospitals that handle any flu cases, swine or otherwise, take precautions to prevent its spread, such as masks, frequent handwashing and other sanitation measures.

"Even though we've been expecting this, it is very, very sad," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who made the initial announcement of a Texas death on several nationally televised morning shows today. "As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

Germany today reported its first three cases of swine flu. The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States before today rose to 66 in six states, with 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, but cities and states suspected more. In New York, the city's health commissioner said "many hundreds" of schoolchildren were ill at a school where some students had confirmed cases.

The world has no vaccine to prevent infection but U.S. health officials aim to have a key ingredient for one ready in early May, the big step that vaccine manufacturers are awaiting. But even if the World Health Organization ordered up emergency vaccine supplies — and that decision hasn't been made yet — it would take at least two more months to produce the initial shots needed for human safety testing.
"We're working together at 100 miles an hour to get material that will be useful," Dr. Jesse Goodman, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration's swine flu work, told The Associated Press.
The U.S. is shipping to states not only enough anti-flu medication for 11 million people, but also masks, hospital supplies and flu test kits. President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to help build more drug stockpiles and monitor future cases, as well as help international efforts to avoid a full-fledged pandemic.

"It's a very serious possibility, but it is still too early to say that this is inevitable," the WHO's flu chief, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, told a telephone news conference.
Cuba and Argentina banned flights to Mexico, where swine flu is suspected of killing more than 150 people and sickening well over 2,000. In a bit of good news, Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities, has taken drastic steps to curb the virus' spread, starting with shutting down schools and on Tuesday expanding closures to gyms and swimming pools and even telling restaurants to limit service to takeout. People who venture out tend to wear masks in hopes of protection.
New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Britain, Canada and now Germany have also reported cases. But the only deaths so far have been Mexican citizens, baffling experts.
The WHO argues against closing borders to stem the spread, and the U.S. — although checking arriving travelers for the ill who may need care — agrees it's too late for that tactic.

"Sealing a border as an approach to containment is something that has been discussed and it was our planning assumption should an outbreak of a new strain of influenza occur overseas. We had plans for trying to swoop in and knockout or quench an outbreak if it were occurring far from our borders. That's not the case here," Besser told a telephone briefing of Nevada-based health providers and reporters. "The idea of trying to limit the spread to Mexico is not realistic or at all possible."
"Border controls do not work. Travel restrictions do not work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva, recalling the SARS epidemic earlier in the decade that killed 774 people, mostly in Asia, and slowed the global economy.

Authorities sought to keep the crisis in context: Flu deaths are common around the world. In the U.S. alone, the CDC says about 36,000 people a year die of flu-related causes. Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

First reported US swine-flu death occurs in Houston

The first reported death in the United States from the swine flu outbreak was that of a 23-month-old Mexican toddler who fell ill in Brownsville and was transported for treatment in Houston, where the child died Monday, city officials said.
Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, did not say which hospital treated the child or give any other details about the toddler.

There still have been no reported Houston-area cases of the disease, which is thought to have begun in Mexico but is being detected around the world. However, Barton said Houston should expect to see cases originate here.
She added that hospitals that handle any flu cases, swine or otherwise, take precautions to prevent its spread, such as masks, frequent handwashing and other sanitation measures.

"Even though we've been expecting this, it is very, very sad," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who made the initial announcement of a Texas death on several nationally televised morning shows today. "As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

Germany today reported its first three cases of swine flu. The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States before today rose to 66 in six states, with 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, but cities and states suspected more. In New York, the city's health commissioner said "many hundreds" of schoolchildren were ill at a school where some students had confirmed cases.

The world has no vaccine to prevent infection but U.S. health officials aim to have a key ingredient for one ready in early May, the big step that vaccine manufacturers are awaiting. But even if the World Health Organization ordered up emergency vaccine supplies — and that decision hasn't been made yet — it would take at least two more months to produce the initial shots needed for human safety testing.
"We're working together at 100 miles an hour to get material that will be useful," Dr. Jesse Goodman, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration's swine flu work, told The Associated Press.
The U.S. is shipping to states not only enough anti-flu medication for 11 million people, but also masks, hospital supplies and flu test kits. President Barack Obama asked Congress for $1.5 billion in emergency funds to help build more drug stockpiles and monitor future cases, as well as help international efforts to avoid a full-fledged pandemic.

"It's a very serious possibility, but it is still too early to say that this is inevitable," the WHO's flu chief, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, told a telephone news conference.
Cuba and Argentina banned flights to Mexico, where swine flu is suspected of killing more than 150 people and sickening well over 2,000. In a bit of good news, Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities, has taken drastic steps to curb the virus' spread, starting with shutting down schools and on Tuesday expanding closures to gyms and swimming pools and even telling restaurants to limit service to takeout. People who venture out tend to wear masks in hopes of protection.
New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Britain, Canada and now Germany have also reported cases. But the only deaths so far have been Mexican citizens, baffling experts.
The WHO argues against closing borders to stem the spread, and the U.S. — although checking arriving travelers for the ill who may need care — agrees it's too late for that tactic.

"Sealing a border as an approach to containment is something that has been discussed and it was our planning assumption should an outbreak of a new strain of influenza occur overseas. We had plans for trying to swoop in and knockout or quench an outbreak if it were occurring far from our borders. That's not the case here," Besser told a telephone briefing of Nevada-based health providers and reporters. "The idea of trying to limit the spread to Mexico is not realistic or at all possible."
"Border controls do not work. Travel restrictions do not work," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in Geneva, recalling the SARS epidemic earlier in the decade that killed 774 people, mostly in Asia, and slowed the global economy.

Authorities sought to keep the crisis in context: Flu deaths are common around the world. In the U.S. alone, the CDC says about 36,000 people a year die of flu-related causes. Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Industrial Job Fair In Alvin Thursday

ALVIN, Texas -- Are you looking for work?

You might want to head out to Alvin on Thursday.

The Alvin Community College and other community partners are hosting an industrial job fair at the Knights of Columbus Hall on County Road 146 and Highway 6.

The fair will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Bring your resume and dress for success – interviews will be given on the spot!

Lady Lions Get New Coach

Alvin Living Stones pitcher Samantha De La Rosa has experienced a couple of TAPPS state championships in volleyball, and now the junior right-hander would like to do the same in softball.

“Of the two sports, softball is definitely my favorite, and this year, we feel like we have the team that can go all the way,” she said. “Some of the players know what it takes to get to state and win, and we hope that carries over into softball.
“But even though we’re confident, we’re not looking too far ahead or only concentrating on state because if we do that, we could be tripped up.”

The Lady Lions are first trying to capture a TAPPS District 4-2A/A title against co-members Bellville Faith, Dickinson Pine Drive, Huntsville Alpha Omega, Kingwood Northeast and Victoria Faith, and during the first round, Bellville Faith handed Living Stones a 12-2 loss.

“We beat ourselves in that one with numerous errors, but we tried to learn from it and move on,” first-year coach Michael Anne Bryant said. “We’re still in a good position to finish in the top two, and then we can really focus in on the playoffs.
“The players are working very hard to make it happen, and we’ve had the entire team out there even during optional practices. Their mindset is state, they break every huddle by saying ‘state,’ and that’s where we want to end up.”
De La Rosa gets nearly 100 percent of the starts in the circle, but freshman Kaitlyn Anderson can also pitch when not holding down second base.

“De La Rosa is our No. 1 pitcher, and Anderson is so valuable to us at second, so that’s where they are most all of the time,” Bryant said.

Living Stones has no seniors in a lineup that has juniors Taylor Dillard (shortstop), Megan Pena (right field), Korina Moore (catcher), Shelby Young (left field) and Ashley Kubeczka (first base), sophomores Bailey Wagner (CF/SS) and Janelle Bullock (courtesy runner/OF), and freshmen Kristen Freeman (third base) and Dani Dudley (utility).
“Dillard has a gun for an arm, Bullock is our fastest player, and Young has a great attitude while always giving 100 percent, and she can play just about anywhere,” Bryant said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Students learn important skills at ROTC

The Facts
Published April 20, 2009

CLUTE — Brandon Jones isn’t sure why he joined Brazoswood High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program, but he knows why he stayed.

“You make a lot of friends and it teaches you a lot about life,” he said.

Jones, a 17-year-old junior, has learned more about leadership and responsibility from the Reserve Officers Training Corps than he would have learned in any other classroom, he said. The skills he has learned will help him not only in the future, he said, but are helping him succeed in school now.

“I would have probably failed other classes without ROTC,” Jones said.

These experiences are common among ROTC students as instructors work to make leaders out of all of the cadets, Chief Master Sgt. Larry Ceaser said.

“We instill values of citizenship, service to the United States and personal responsibility for actions,” Ceaser said.

Cadets take a class every semester that is about 40 percent aerospace science, 40 percent leadership and 20 percent physical fitness and drills, Ceaser said. But being a member of ROTC doesn’t stop there.

Junior ROTC members also participate in many community service projects and the drill teams attend competitions.



LEARNING TO LEAD

Natasha Ruiz, a 17-year-old Brazoswood senior, has learned a lot about how to lead thanks to the efforts of her instructors. Ruiz is the Corps Commander this semester, a position that puts her in charge of all 87 members.

Ruiz plans to attend Texas A&M University and get a degree in forensic science, she said. She knows the leadership skills she learned in ROTC will serve her the rest of her life.

Discipline is another characteristic cadets learn, said Justin Duncan, a 16-year-old Brazoswood junior.

The hardest requirement to be in ROTC is students must wear their uniform once every week, Ceaser said. If they don’t wear their uniform three times, they will fail the class, he said.

“It’s not very popular because the uniform isn’t considered cool,” Ceaser said.

Cool or not, Ceasar understands why the uniform requirement matters.

“Right now they don’t see the importance,” Ceaser said. “But no matter what you do in life, there will be some type of uniform.”

Little things like this are how ROTC instructors ensure students learn all they need.

“It’s better to learn how to be organized and do things in a structured way now,” Ceasar said.

They will be better off as adults and in college, he said.

JOINING THE MARINES

At Alvin High School, which affiliates its Junior ROTC program with the Marine Corps, different students joined for different reasons, but they all learn the same principles.

Alvin sophomore David Hinojosa joined to be different from his family, he said. He didn’t want to get into trouble as his older siblings had done.

Amanda Choate, also sophomore, joined because her family members were in it before her, she said. But through the program she has learned to be herself, she said.

“It teaches them to be leaders in their home, school and community,” said Major Jim Spakes, an instructors with Alvin’s ROTC program. “We’re making more responsible citizens.”

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