2012 is here!

Alvin man arrested for being fake cop ...

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- An Alvin man has is facing caharges after investigators say he drove recklessly and when stopped, had the appearance of a law enforcement officer.

Acosta was stopped in the 100 block of W. Willowick for reckless driving. Police say Acosta was seen turning off his headlines and tail lights while making a high speed turn and driving 50 miles per hour in a 20 miles per hour zone. They say he also ran two stop signs.

Police say when an officer pulled him over, Acosta was wearing a pistol on his hip and had on a black jacket with the word 'police' on the front and back. The jacket also reportedly had a badge for an Army MP on it. Police say Acosta had a police badge on his belt and blue police lights on his car.

Acosta was disarmed until other police units arrived. He told investigators he believed he was being followed by someone.

Pearland man robbed of his Air Jordans.

PEARLAND, Texas (AP) — A 19-year-old Houston-area man says he was beaten and a friend was slashed in the face as a group of men robbed him of his new pair of expensive Air Jordan shoes.

Efrain Espinoza says the men first tried to steal his cell phone, followed him from a party Monday to his home near Pearland and then swiped the $180 shoes during a fight. A 19-year-old woman with him required treatment for a stab wound to her face.

Brazoria County officials say they've arrested a 19-year-old woman but declined to elaborate.

Sale of the limited edition shoes last week sparked a shopping frenzy at stores around the nation.

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Alvin woman says cat was down unjustly ...

Woman appeals to council for action on death of cat

By Judy Zavalla, Staff Reporter


Thursday evening’s Alvin Council Meeting began with an impassioned plea from resident Laurie Pack. She addressed council about her family’s cat, Cleo which had been put down by Alvin’s Animal Control.

Pack told council that the whole situation had been mishandled and informed them that she had two goals which were the City of Alvin firing the Animal Control Officer who put down the family’s cat and a complete investigation of the entire incident.

Quake shakes South Texas ...

Click to enlarge:



A shallow, moderate earthquake struck southern Texas (TX) on Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was the strongest earthquakes to hit the U.S. state in 45 years.

The 4.8 magnitude quake, upgraded from 4.6mb, occured at 07:25 AM local time (13:25 PM GMT) and was recorded at an extremely shallow depth of 3km (1.9 miles). It struck below Fashing, but was felt as far as Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin.

The epicentre of the quake was located 22 km (14 miles) NW (321°) from Pawnee, TX; 23 km (14 miles) SSW (213°) from Falls City, TX; 26 km (16 miles) WSW (249°) from Karnes City, TX; 60 km (37 miles) NW of Beeville, TX; 76 km (47 miles) SSE (154°) from San Antonio, TX; 92 km (57 miles) E of Pearsall, TX; 166 km (103 miles) SSW of AUSTIN, TX; and 463 km (288 miles) SSW (197°) from Dallas, TX.

The last time Texas experienced a tremor similar in intensity to Thursday’s quake was on July 20, 1966. The magnitude 4.8 earthquake was centred in the Panhandle, near Borger and Amarillo.

The most recent earthquake to strike the region hit on 25 April, 2010. The 4.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded 56 km west of Corpus Christi.

Serial-killer claims prompt new look at 1970s cases

The Chron:

By LISE OLSEN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Updated 01:21 a.m., Wednesday, September 28, 2011Guns, a bra, a bullet, fingernail scrapings and a missing confession letter.

Police investigators and prosecutors in three counties said Tuesday they will attempt to unearth these and other long forgotten evidence as they review claims reported by the Houston Chronicle from convicted murderer Edward Harold Bell who says he stalked and killed as many as 11 young girls in the 1970s.

In a story published Sunday, Bell described a string of mostly unsolved murders in Galveston, Webster, Houston, Alvin and Dickinson from 1971 to 1976. Bell named four victims and blamed the crimes on a persuasive brainwashing "program." (See photos and his letters).

Read the rest of the story at THE CHRON

Bell, 72, is serving a 70-year sentence for killing a Pasadena Marine veteran in 1978 and says he will provide proof only if granted immunity.

"We will continue to review anything credible on these cold cases. The investigation is on-going, however, so we won't be discussing any details," said Donna Cameron, first assistant Galveston County district attorney.

A dizzying array of local law enforcement agencies share records and responsibility for the 11 girls' homicides. Officials at six different departments - the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Pasadena Police Department, the Galveston Police Department, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County District Attorney - said they plan to review files to determine if evidence could be retested or used to corroborate or disprove Bell's newly published admissions.

"I believe that Ed Bell is a serial killer. I believe the truth needs to come out and someone has to go the extra distance to make sure these evil deeds are clearly revealed," said Jason Chide, a retired Galveston Police detective who has investigated Bell.

Budgetary constraints

But time to work on Bell or any cold case is limited, said Galveston Police Capt. Jeff Heyse.

"Do we value closure for the victims' families? Absolutely," he said "It's sad it comes down to monetary reasons."

In 1978 Bell was arrested for murdering Larry Dickens, shot dead for trying to stop Bell as he masturbated in front of a group of girls. Bell spent the summer cruising around Pasadena repeatedly exposing himself, records show. He carried a 32 AA bra, a pair of guns and porn magazines in his 1977 GMC pickup, according to police records.

Of special interest to investigators seeking evidence are Bell's white 1971 Ford Van, which Bell repainted and later burned, and an unusual Semaphore red travel trailer designed to look like a caboose. Bell kept the "caboose" parked on land not far from where girls disappeared and bodies were dumped. It was later sold and last seen at a hunting camp in West Texas, the Chronicle found.

Both Galveston and Harris County prosecutors received letters of confession from Bell in 1998. But Galveston County prosecutors declined to attempt to indict Bell, based on the letters and other evidence uncovered by Galveston police officer Alfred Paige, who worked the cases from 2005 to 2010.

Harris County prosecutors lost copies of Bell's confession, though retired DA's investigator Larry Boucher believed his claims. James Leitner, first assistant Harris County district attorney, said the office will try to recover the old letters.

Matching names, faces

The 11 homicide cases Bell described to the Chronicle in prison interviews involved girls 12 to 19, snatched from towns, rural roads and quiet neighborhoods in Brazoria, Harris or Galveston counties.

He named four victims: Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, 15, of Galveston; Colette Wilson, 13, of Alvin and Kimberly Rae Pitchford, 16, of Houston. He described two other sets of girls killed in pairs. Based on his descriptions, those girls could be Rhonda Renee Johnson and Sharon Shaw, 15 of Webster; and Georgia Geer, 12 and Brooks Bracewell, 14, of Dickinson. He gave incomplete information on three others.

Capt. Chris Kincheloe of the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said an investigator visited Bell in prison in 2007 to ask about the murders of Geer and Bracewell. After being shown their photos, Bell said he "didn't know those girls," and refused to say more.

Mom sues Alvin ISD over teen daughter's alleged sexual assault

9/19/2011 1:51 PM By John Suayan, Galveston Bureau

GALVESTON - Alleging the Alvin Independent School District took improper action in handling her daughter's rape complaint, a Brazoria County woman has filed suit.

The woman, whose name and that of the teenage girl are withheld, complains that AISD failed to prevent the child from being sexually assaulted back in February and tried to insinuate she consented to the act in question, a lawsuit filed Sept. 13 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas states.

Dr. Red Brent, Karen Windsor, Eugene Lewis Jr., Carrie Martin and the alleged perpetrator join the school district as defendants in the case.

According to the original petition, the girl, Lisa Doe, is a special needs student. Her mother wanted to withdraw the girl from AISD, but she was allegedly assured by the district that the teen would be protected while attending Alvin High School.

The school district, however, "made absolutely no effort to separate or protect Lisa Doe from potential sexual predators," the suit says.

Court papers show an unidentified 18-year-old male student sexually assaulted Lisa Doe in an underground bathroom at the high school on Feb. 23.

Jane Doe states that her daughter reported the alleged incident to the proper authorities, but AISD found the girl's complaints not credible and concluded she consented to intercourse.

Lisa Doe apparently was threatened with jail and severe disciplinary action if she did not recant her story as AISD demanded, the suit alleges.

She was taken out of school on Feb. 24.

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BASTROP

- The most destructive wildfire on record in Texas showed no signs of slowing down Monday, destroying 25,000 acres in Bastrop County and 476 homes, more houses than any single wildfire before and more than all other fires this year combined, according to the Texas Forest Service.

With more than 60 new wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry left the campaign trail Monday in South Carolina to address the public and organize requests for more federal aid.

Closer to Houston, a fire in Magnolia burned 20 homes and more than 1,600 acres, and was threatening subdivisions in Montgomery and Grimes counties late Monday. It had moved southwest into Waller County last Monday.

It was one of several fires to hit the area, straining state and local resources as officials focused on the most dangerous blazes. One firefighter was injured and one fire engine burned in blazes in the Magnolia area, said Lt. Dan Norris, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not yet know how much of the most dangerous fire had been contained Monday, but planned to continue fighting it "as long as necessary," Norris said.

Strong winds and dry conditions fanned the flames and aided the blaze's rapid growth, forcing the evacuation of more than 150 homes. Montgomery County officials were encouraging evacuations from the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488, about 42 miles northwest of Houston, up to the Grimes County line, an official said.

Magnolia fire

The Magnolia fire, located off FM 1774 and FM 1488, jumped FM 1488 late Monday and forced further evacuations, although some families were being allowed back to their homes. The Magnolia Independent School District canceled classes today because of the fires. Evacuation shelters were being set up throughout the area, including at Magnolia High School.

Another fire in the area had burned 100 acres and was 80 percent contained, Norris said. It had destroyed one structure and caused no injuries after 50 homes were evacuated.

A fire covering about 100 acres was burning in Oak Ridge North late Monday.

A fire near Nacogdoches that started Sunday night raged to 300 acres Monday and forced 60 families to evacuate their homes, said Ralph Cullom, a spokesman for the Texas Forrest Service. That fires grew with strong gusts of winds and fed off of dry conditions on the ground.

"This drought we're having is just unprecedented," Cullom said.

No injuries have been reported in Bastrop, but two people were reported killed in a North Texas fire Monday. A woman and her 18-month-old child died when a fast-moving fire near Gladewater, east of Dallas, set their mobile home on fire and they were unable to escape.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, pushed by strong winds and fed by plenty of dry grasses, shrubs and trees, steadily moved south Monday and expanded throughout the day. It jumped the Colorado River twice.

"We will be working days on end," said Mike Fisher, the Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator. "The fire is so dynamic we really have no idea where it is."

'Lives at stake'

Perry said the wildfire burning in the central part of the state is "as mean looking" as he's ever seen.

Driest year on record plagues Texas ...

VOA: Weather forecasters and agriculture experts in the southwestern U.S. state of Texas say there is no relief in sight for what already is the worst drought year on record. The searing heat and dry conditions have caused devastating wildfires in the western part of the large state and led to crop losses, cattle deaths and water rationing in areas of east Texas that are normally wet at this time of year.

Driving through the countryside northwest of Houston, one sees dried up fields, dying trees and livestock ponds that are not much more than a puddles of fetid, algae-covered water. In some towns, farmers' markets have been cancelled because local growers have little to offer. Those with wells for irrigation are struggling with the high cost of fuel to run their pumps.

Debbie Cross, who operates a farmers' market near Cypress, Texas, says people are becoming discouraged by the lack of rain and the high temperatures, which are around 40 degrees most days.

“The drought is hurting everything. It is hurting all the crops, the cattle, the hay. There is no grass. The chickens are miserable. I mean everybody is just miserable. We need water,” Cross said.

Cross says local farmers are unable to supply much fruit and vegetables and that she is getting by with produce trucked in from other states where conditions are better.

“We are getting it from the local southern states and southwestern states are kicking in -- Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma. Everybody knows that the Texas market is a great consumer market, so they are helping out a lot here,” Cross said.
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One of the hardest hit agricultural sectors is livestock. Texas is the biggest cattle producer in the United States and ships beef to many foreign markets. Earlier this year, ranchers endured one of the worst winters on record, with several days of subzero temperatures in a region where freezes are rare. The drought has made it even harder, driving up the cost of hay and leaving some areas so dry that cattle have died of thirst in their pastures.

One rancher who has managed to get through this crisis with most of her stock in fairly good condition is Dorie Damuth, owner of the Flying D ranch near Magnolia, Texas.

Damuth raises prize-winning Texas Longhorns for breeding and she has managed to find hay and enough water to keep them alive. She says she has seen dry spells before, but nothing that compares to this year.

“The drought is something I, as a cattle woman, and all of my fellow cattlemen and cattlewomen have never experienced before. This is probably the 100-year drought, just like you can have a 100-year flood. It is very devastating for all of us ranchers who work so hard to provide beef for our country as well as for around the world,” Damuth said.

In a dried up lake on her property, there is a Longhorn skull sitting on top of cracked earth that is muddy and soft underneath.

“We have had lakes and stock ponds on the ranch that have dried up because of no rain, no rainfall. They will dry down to a little mucky place in the middle that is still wet and the cattle will sometimes go down and try to get water and they can't. And they step into that mucky mud and it is kind of like quicksand, and they can't get out.”

Lately, there have been beautiful fluffy clouds floating over the area. But ranch hand Chris Quinters is not encouraged by them.

“Those are some nice clouds, but it don't look like they are going to bring any rain,” Quinters said.

Fake cop robs Alvin woman

ALVIN, Texas -- Investigators are trying to find the fake cop who they said pulled over a pregnant woman and robbed her.

Alvin police said the 26-year-old Houston woman, who is eight months pregnant, was driving in the 300 block of Highway 6 about 9 p.m. Monday when she saw flashing blue and red lights in her rearview mirror.

Investigators said the woman pulled over and a man dressed in a blue uniform approached her window with a flashlight. The man asked the woman for her license and registration, and when she leaned over to grab them, he pulled out a gun, detectives said.

"At that point he asked for her wallet. She gave it to him, he jumped in his vehicle and drove off," said Alvin Chief of Police Mike Merkel.
Merkel said the woman didn't a get good look at the man because she was so terrified.
"It was such an alarming encounter, she never paid attention to what the vehicle may have looked like," he said.

Police said the woman started having labor pains and had to go get checked out by doctors, who said she and the baby are doing fine.

Detectives are trying to find the man. They don't have a lot of information to go on, except that he was wearing a blue uniform and his vehicle had flashing lights.
"She could not describe whether they were internally located or whether they were on the exterior part of the vehicle," Merkel said.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

The forecast?

Man faces charges after punching disabled veteran ...

MANVEL, Texas - An Alvin man is facing charges after accusations that he gave a 61-year-old disabled veteran a black eye.

Kenneth Lewis Smith, 45, is charged with injury to a disabled person.
According to the Brazoria County Sheriffs Department, the incident occurred at a veterans home on the night of July 13. Deputies were called to the 8900 block of Harvest Acres in Manvel.
A worker at the home reported that one of her clients had a black eye. The victim told deputies he was struck by Smith while he went outside to smoke.

Smith was identified as a friend of another employee at the home. Deputies say he would sometimes stay overnight in the facility while visiting his girlfriend.
Details surrounding the altercation between the suspect and the veteran were not immediately known.

Smith was arrested Thursday and is now in custody on $75,000 bond.
Records show the suspect is currently on parole out of Texas for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
In a written statement to the media on Friday, Brazoria County officials also noted that there is an ongoing investigation into other complaints at the veterans care center.


Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110722-man-accused-of-giving-disabled-veteran-black-eye#ixzz1TFY7luN7

Houston Area 4th of July Celebrations ...

by Stacy Morrow / khou.com staff
khou.com

The Houston area is buzzing with activities for the celebration of our nation's independence. You can find events from fireworks displays to parades, in just about every city and community. Here's a list we've compiled of the things we have heard about so far. If you see we have missed anything, or if you want to add something, let us know in the comments below!

HOUSTON
Freedom Over Texas
Houston will set the stage for an extraordinary patriotic celebration at Mayor Annise Parker’s official Fourth of July event, Freedom Over Texas. The annual event is held at Eleanor Tinsley Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and culminates with a fireworks extravaganza set to a perfectly timed bed of patriot and current musical selections. Free with a can of food benefiting the Houston Food Bank or $8 per person (children under 2 free) Information from: http://www.freedomovertexas.org

ExxonMobil Star-Spangled Salute, Miller Outdoor Theatre
Enjoy an evening with Michael Krajewski and the Houston Symphony. Astronaut and vocalist Chris Hadfield will also sing Big Smoke, a song inspired by his first shuttle mission.

Make sure to stay until the end for the 1812 Overture—complete with booming cannons! This celebration concludes with a magnificent display of fireworks provided by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Hours: 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. at 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030, Phone: 281-FREE-FUN or 281-373-3386 Information from: http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/events/133/

Bayou Bend Family Days Independence Day Celebration
Start your Fourth of July at Bayou Bend, where America's Colonial era is celebrated in patriotic style. Ring in the holiday with an extravaganza of Americana—performers, crafts, activities, refreshments, and more—and don't forget to sign the Texas-sized Declaration of Independence before you leave! With its unique blend of the arts and American history, Bayou Bend is the perfect place to spend Independence Day. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. FREE! Information from:
http://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-family-days/

Kidpendence Celebration | Children's Museum of Houston
Friday, Jul 1 2011 6:00 AM to Monday, Jul 4 2011 10:00 PM CDT
We’re seeing stars and stripes at this special Independence Day celebration! Join us for a patriotic 21-soda geyser burst salute on the 4th of July and plenty of fun-filled activities that will cover you in red, white and blue! Claim Your Independence Discount: We know rising gas prices are making you see stars and stripes, so it is time to claim your independence from them! Receive up to $12 off/ 6 people on July 1 - 4. Special Activity - 21 - Soda Geyser Burst Salute: Celebrate America with a CMH tradition - 21 patriotic bursts of soda that will help you get excited for the rest of the day's activities. 1500 Binz, Houston TX 77004. Phone: (713) 522-1138 Informaton from: http://www.cmhouston.org/en/cev/2570

BELLAIRE
July 4th Parade and Festival
The parade begins at 9:30 am and the festival runs from 10 am to 1 pm. The parade route begins at the Bellaire Triangle and travels down Bellaire Blvd. and S. Rice Ave. A children's parade leads the big parade. Kids are encouraged to decorate trikes, bikes and wagons and meet by Community National Bank at Bellaire Blvd. & Fifth Street. No need to enter the children's parade ahead of time, just show up at 9 a.m. in the CNB parking lot. The festival begins in Bellaire Town Square immediately after the parade. Enjoy live entertainment, carnival games, food, a mini ferris wheel, petting zoo, moon jumps, dunk tank and much, much more! Admission into the festival is free, but games take tickets and the food is an additional cost. Join us for some home town fun! Information from: http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.aspx?nid=879.

CITY OF EL LAGO
July 4th Picnic
For this year’s July 4th Picnic, we are going to take it down home with a parade and then bar-b-que at the pool. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at McNair Park for the annual non-motorized parade around the park. Prizes will be awarded in the following three categories: Most Sparkling, Most Creative and Most Patriotic. After the parade, we will retire to the El Lago Swim and Racquet Club to visit with friends, listen to some music and enjoy a burger together. The City will provide the drinks, burger, bun and burger fixings; we are asking residents to bring a side dish and/or desert. You will also want to bring your lawn chair or blanket for relaxing around the pool and spray ground in the afternoon. Information from: http://www.ellago-tx.com/events.html#july4

CONROE
July 4th Walden and Bentwater Fireworks Show
Fireworks will be shot off at Dusk from the Marina near the Walden Yacht Club, 13101 Melville Dr, Montgomery. Parking at the Yacht club is reserved for dinner guests. There is limited parking on the streets. Suggested viewing is from the water. Information from: http://www.conroetoday.com/evps/evitem.cfm?evid=4548

FORT BEND
Freedom Rings Concert featuring the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
Program includes Star Spangled Banner Finale with soloist, Armed Forces Salute, America the Beautiful – Dragon, God Bless the USA, Liberty Fanfare -Williams/Aguero, Joplin Rag, You're a Grand Old Flag, Variations on a Shaker Melody – Copland, Strike Up the Band, Sousa Marches, Gems of Stephen Foster and 1812 Overture. Event will be at the Stafford Centre from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and a fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Location:10505 Cash Road, Stafford, TX 77477. Information from: http://www.fbso.org/
KATY
Annual Freedom Celebration at Katy Mills Mall
The 22nd Annual Katy Freedom Celebration fireworks display will be held at Katy Mills Mall on Monday, July 4. The fireworks are launched between the east side of the mall and Katy Fort Bend Road. The display begins at dark (approximately 9:00 p.m.) and can be viewed from several miles around the mall area. Information from: cityofkaty.com/katy-freedom-celebration-july-4/
KEMAH
Kemah’s Independence Day Parade
Kicking off the Independence Day Celebration activities is the Kemah 4th of July Parade, Monday, at 11:00 a.m. with the Children’s Parade starting at 10:30 a.m. The parade line up is behind the Kemah Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. with the parade route travelling along the Kemah Lighthouse District. The theme for the patriotic parade this year is “The Spirit of Volunteerism.” The parade is open to all and easy to enter with no registration fee. Monday evening is the July 4th Kemah Boardwalk Fireworks, “Star Spangled Skies” extravaganza. From the Kemah Boardwalk and surrounding areas all will be able to see the fantastic light show over Galveston Bay. The annual fireworks display scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information on these activities or lodging needs contact the Kemah Visitor Center at 281-334-3181. Information from: http://www.kemah.net/July_4_2011_Kemah_press_release.pdf

LEAGUE CITY
July 4th Citizen Appreciation Day
Mayor, City Council, Parks Board and staff will be serving free refreshments in appreciation of the citizens of the City of League City at League Park from 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. There will be live music and other entertainment. FREE. Information from: http://www.leaguecity.com/calendar.aspx?EID=1348

NASSAU BAY
July 4th Parade and Fireworks Show
Decorate your bikes, floats, baby strollers, cars, or just yourself! Various prizes will be awarded. Join your friends and neighbors for a fun-filled evening. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket for the fireworks show. Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. from Gloria Dei and ends at Lake Park Nassau. Activities at the park including bounce houses, food vendors, face painting, and live music. Fireworks Display begins at 9 p.m. Information from: http://www.nassaubay.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=48

PASADENA
Pasadena's Annual 4th Fest Event will take place Monday, July 4th, 2011
from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center.
There will be a 20-minute long fireworks show, live music by “The Slags,” a car show, kidzone, USMC Toys for Tots BBQ Cook-off, games, prizes, vendors, water balloon war zone, sports and other entertainment. Information from: http://www.ci.pasadena.tx.us/default.aspx?name=prk.event-4thfest

PEARLAND
Celebration of Freedom
This year's program will begin with an explosion of patriotic excitement! A full-size carnival will be on site at noon on Monday. Stadium and Field seating will be available at no charge beginning at 6 PM on Monday. A VFW military salute will begin the evening's entertainment, followed by the National Anthem. The stadium will be filled with the tunes of Texas country recording artist, Hamilton Loomis. At sundown, enjoy a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display from your seat inside the stadium.. For more information, call 281-412-8900. Information from: http://www.pearlandparks.com/celebration_of_freedom.html
SUGAR LAND
Celebration of Freedom
The City of Sugar Land’s 26th annual Red White and Bluefest will set the skies ablaze over Oyster Creek Park. Celebrate America’s 235th birthday with family, friends and fellow residents while enjoying new main stage performances, delicious county fair-type goodies and numerous children’s activities. A free shuttle service will be provided from Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd., to Oyster Creek Park, 4033 State Highway 6 South, from 4:30-11 p.m. Information from: www.sugarlandtx.gov
THE WOODLANDS
South County Fourth of July Parade “Celebrating the American Dream”
On Sunday, July 3, stroll through Market Street - The Woodlands for its Fourth of July parade, “Celebrating the American Dream” starting at 9 a.m. The festivities continue later that evening when the Houston Symphony performs its Star Spangled Salute, a free concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion starting at 8 pm. Information from: http://www.4thofjuly.org/

Houston Symphony presents Star-Spangled Salute
The Pavilion dons red, white and blue July 3 for the return of the Star-Spangled Salute. This free Independence Eve spectacular features the Houston Symphony in a selection of patriotic favorites under the direction of Michael Krajewski. Don’t miss commemorating the birth of our nation by joining the Symphony in this grandiose celebration. It’s an evening of good, old-fashioned family fun complete with cannons blasting from the top of the hill during Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." Pre-concert activities begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Fidelity Investments Plaza.FREE event. Information from: http://www.woodlandscenter.org/tourarchive.html?n_id=346

Red, Hot & Blue Festival
The Woodlands will celebrate July 4 weekend with one of the largest firework displays in the greater Houston area, hot dog and watermelon eating contests, live entertainment, and more! Now in its 14th year, the annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival will be held Monday, July 4, 2011 from 6 - 10 pm at Town Green Park and Waterway Square, both located along The Woodlands Waterway. Admission to the event is free and tickets for food concessions and games may be purchased on-site. Information from: http://www.thewoodlandscvb.com/redhotblue/

Alvin woman jumps on hood of beer thieves ...

Alvin student stands tough in face of cancer ..

Alvin students face cancer but stay positive in their fights

By Tomika Gamble
Published:
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 12:53 PM EDT
Most people dream of being a kid again. The lives of children are carefree and filled with joy. At least that's how they should be. Unfortunately the reality is that cancer loves everyone, including children.

Jennifer Mendoza and David Sotomayor may not know one another, but they do have a few things in common. Both students, who attend classes in Alvin ISD schools, were diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) right before the start of their seventh grade year.

ALL is a disease of the bone marrow and is the most common childhood cancer. It can affect any age group, race or sex and is among the most curable pediatric cancers.

Jennifer, who is now a junior at Manvel High School, underwent two and a half years of treatments for leukemia, which included chemotherapy and radiation, among other things. “I just remember feeling sick all of a sudden during summer school,” said Jennifer. “I began having heavy night sweats and heavy vomiting.”

After a visit with her pediatrician, Jennifer was referred to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, where after having her blood drawn and examined, she was diagnosed with ALL.

“At the time I just wanted to know what was next. The cancer didn't have an immediate impact on me. It was definitely harder on my mother, who from day one never left my side,” said Jennifer. She says that she learned early on not to fear the cancer, but to simply stay positive and fight it.

Today Jennifer is a healthy and active student.

The majority of people do not even know that she has been touched by cancer, because she has been able to put the cancer and treatments behind her and focus solely on the future.

The cancer treatments did cause long-term side effects that still impact her daily activities and have affected her mentally and physically.

Fortunately, she has learned to cope with the side effects and has found other children her age to relate to by attending camps specifically for children who have been touched by cancer.

Jennifer continues to get regular checkups to confirm that she has not relapsed. “Cancer will always be a part of me, but it will not define me,” insists Jennifer.

David was diagnosed with ALL in August 2010, 10 days before his 12th birthday.

The summer before his seventh grade year, David felt unusually fatigued and was unable to play his favorite sports for long periods of time. Soon after, he began having sharp pains in his left side.

The pains quickly progressed, and he was rushed to a nearby emergency room.

From there, David was sent to a Clear Lake hospital facility and eventually ended up at Texas Children's Hospital, where he was officially diagnosed.

He began cancer fighting treatments that same day.

“This was a scary time for us, but I was positive that God was going to take care of my little boy,” said David's mother, Annette Sotomayor.

David's first hospital visit lasted 11 days and was extremely difficult on his mind and body.

“Cancer has been frustrating for me. I can no longer do all of the things that I would like to do and am oftentimes stuck in the house or in the hospital. I also hate needles,” mentions David.

Before the cancer, David was a member of the band at Fairview Junior High School and was extremely active in sports. Now, he can no longer attend school due to the risk of infection, and his activities must be limited and monitored at all times.

“I can't wait to beat this disease so that I can just be a kid again,” said David. He hopes to one day be able to attend a professional baseball game and to take a trip to Italy with his family.

Childhood cancer affects not only the child, but it also has an emotional and financial impact on the child's entire family.

David's mother admits to focusing all of her attention on David and not having much time for the other children and family members.

“It's difficult to juggle it all and stay sane at the same time. David's illness has consumed me mentally and physically. I just ask that everyone keep our family in their prayers.

“My trust has always been in God, and I trust that God is going to get us through this difficult time,” added Annette.


READ MORE HERE

Texas Local Web Site Blooms into a Flower for the Community

New exciting things are developing in the Summer of 2011 for ExploreHouston.com

Best Publications wants to welcome the public to this new web business directory and informational mecca for ExploreHouston.com that will continue to be filled with. . . Community Links and Events, Guide Pages for Restaurants, Weddings, Florist, Services, Auto Sales, Entertainment, Real Estate, Eye Care, Dental, Medical, Employment, Shopping! Read a variety of Articles | Forums Topics | Daily Deals | Coupons | Directory Hot Links | Interact Page to Join the Community Fun!

Register with ExploreHouston.com site so you can gain the benefits. User can post Social and Public Events.

Take the opportunity for High School and University Students to announce Sports and School Events, Professional Sports Links and Ticket Information | Post a photo or comment on other people’s Photos, Comment of Articles or Forum Topics | Post a Scan of your Child’s Artwork | Free Classified Postings & Add Your Own

The staff of ExploreHouston wants the community to benefit from the information we can share... as well as encourage you to participate. Send us a comment.

Post your event or Your Organization Benefit in ExploreHouston.com Event section. We want our information to accurate, so we depend on our community to help us stay in touch.

Are you a writer that wants to be published? Got an article? Send it in a word document to info@ExploreHouston.com

Engage! Enjoy! Grow with us!

~ ExploreHouston.com Staff

Drowned swimmer washes ashore in Galveston ...

GALVESTON, Texas — The body of a man that washed ashore late Tuesday is believed to be a swimmer presumed to have drowned in rough rip currents, authorities said.

Galveston police responded about 9 p.m. to a report of a body washed ashore in the 400 block of East Beach Drive, police Capt. Jeff Heyse said.

The body is believed to be that of Michael Fasola, 23, of Houston. He was tentatively identified by skin moles and his tall and thin body type, Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said.

New Cyanco plant to be built in Alvin

HOUSTON, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyanco Holding Corporation ("Cyanco") and Ascend Performance Materials ("Ascend") today announce plans for Cyanco to construct a new 55,000 metric ton per year sodium cyanide plant at Ascend's Alvin, Texas site. Cyanco and Ascend have executed long term agreements under which Ascend will supply hydrogen cyanide, utilities and services to the new Cyanco plant.

"The Ascend site provides significant opportunity to third-party manufacturers because of its world scale and operating competencies," said Tim Strehl, President of Ascend. "We welcome the long-term relationship between Ascend and Cyanco, and thank them for selecting the Ascend site for their new plant."

Cyanco expects the plant to be operational in the second half of 2012. Engineering is underway and applications for required environmental permits have been submitted. The plant will produce solid sodium cyanide briquettes and will have the capability of shipping product in hopper cars, ISO containers (Solid to Liquid Systems - "SLS"), one metric ton bag/boxes and one metric ton composite packaging.

John Burrows, Cyanco's President and CEO said, "We are pleased to enter into a long-term relationship with an industry leader like Ascend. This relationship will allow us to build an efficient and highly reliable plant to meet rapidly increasing customer needs. As a result of new contracts expanding our global customer base and growing commitments under existing sales contracts, we expect the new plant to be operating at or near capacity shortly after startup. After completion of the new plant, Cyanco will have a total production capacity of 125,000 metric tons per year, and will be uniquely positioned to serve the mining industry from the two plants in Nevada, a terminal in Quebec and this strategically positioned plant on the Texas Gulf Coast."

Ascend is a global leader in proprietary technologies that are central to the production of nylon, plastics and synthetic fibers found in thousands of commercial and industrial products, including carpet, tires and apparel, as well as agricultural products, animal feed and personal care products. The business has world scale integrated manufacturing facilities which enables it to develop new products from its core technologies, and provides flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of its customers. Ascend has sales offices throughout the world, and five manufacturing facilities in the United States. More information is available at www.ascendmaterials.com.

Cyanco is the leading supplier of sodium cyanide to the mining industry in the United States and Canada. In addition to the two plants in Nevada, the company operates a terminal at Cadillac, Quebec to serve customers in the growing market in Eastern Canada. The "new" Cyanco was formed in 2008 when Oaktree Capital Management acquired Nevada Chemicals Inc. and purchased Degussa's (Evonik's) sodium cyanide business in the United States and Canada.

Cyanco has been a leader in the development and implementation of the International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC) and is represented on the Industry Advisory Group to the International Cyanide Management Institute. All of Cyanco's facilities are ICMC certified. In addition to being a sodium cyanide producer, the Applied Technology division of Cyanco provides consulting services, laboratory support and cyanide detoxification technology to assist customers throughout their use of its products. Please visit www.cyanco.com for more information.
Contacts:
Bob Warriner, Vice-President Marketing and Sales
775-853-4300 ext. 103
bob.warriner@cyanco.com
John Burrows, President & CEO
775-853-4300 ext. 101
john.burrows@cyanco.com

Texan heads Bin Laden raiders

The commander of the U.S. military unit responsible for killing elusive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden — Vice Adm. William H. McRaven — is a San Antonio native and graduate of the University of Texas in Austin.

McRaven, 55, earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977, although a campus dean said a computer listing didn't indicate whether the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps member had an interest in the print side of news coverage, broadcast or public relations.
A fellow ROTC member recalled McRaven as eager for military service.

"He was extremely focused on preparing for special forces details," said Curtis Raetz, of McKinney, who majored in engineering at UT, served in the Marine Corps and now works in private business.
'He had drive.'

Raetz, who graduated a year before McRaven, said the ROTC program included required courses such as naval science.

James Gruetzner, who served in the same Navy ROTC batallion as McRaven, told Cox Newspapers, "He had drive. He went on extraordinarily long runs to stay in shape. He was very dedicated."
McRaven's Navy biography states he attended the Naval Postgraduate School and was its first graduate in Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict. In 1995, he wrote a book called Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice.

McRaven became commander of the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command in 2008.
In that role, he reportedly led the planning and execution of bin Laden's death Sunday at the hand of Navy SEALs, an acronym that stands for Sea, Air and Land.

Texas Independence will be celebrated at two sites

LA PORTE
San Jacinto Day
This year’s edition of the San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment, planned for Saturday, commemorates the 175th anniversary of the battle.
During the event at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte, hundreds of history re-enactors will dramatize events that led to Texas winning independence. The festival also includes entertainment, food, games and other fun in a historic setting.

The Battle of San Jacinto is considered the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Gen. Sam Houston and the Texas army defeated the Mexican army April 21, 1836. The next day, Mexican Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna was captured, and later he signed a peace treaty.

The state’s annual “official” ceremony honoring the anniversary of the battle occurs April 21, as it will this year at 11 a.m. La Porte is 22 miles east of downtown Houston.
Contact: 281-479-2421; www.sanjacinto-museum.org.
Historic site: 281-479-2431; www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

CONROE
Lone Star flag park finally a reality
Many cities and historic sites in Texas are honoring their heritage this spring as the state celebrates the 175th anniversary its independence, and the city of Conroe is unveiling a new park dedicated to state history. It’s doing so April 21, San Jacinto Day, the anniversary of the 1836 battle that led to Texas independence.
For years, Conroe has dreamed of a monument to honor Montgomery County as the birthplace of the Lone Star flag. Dr. Charles B. Stewart, a Montgomery County resident who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, designed the flag at the request of Mirabeau B. Lamar, president of the Republic of Texas. The banner was officially designated the state flag in 1839. It became the official state flag in 1845, when Texas joined the union.

In 1997, the Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution designating Montgomery County as the birthplace of the Lone Star flag. And this month, Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park will open next to Montgomery County Central Library in Conroe.

The monument at the 3.5-acre park is a circular landscaped plaza surrounded by 13 flags that flew in Texas as the region fought for independence during the Texas Revolution. At the center of the plaza is The Texian, a 14-foot-tall bronze sculpture by Conroe artist Craig Campobella. The statue depicts an everyman volunteer soldier of the Texas Revolution.

The dedication starts at 5:30 p.m. April 21. Afterward, a free concert will star country singer Gary P. Nunn and other musicians. The park is at I-45 and FM2854.
Contact: 713-410-6076; www.texasflagpark.org or www.cityofconroe.org.

Houstonians feel pressure at the pump

by Lisa Chavarria / KHOU 11 News
khou.com
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:48 AM

HOUSTON NEWS 11 -- The price at the pump appears to be forcing drivers around Houston to figure out ways to save cash.

Gas prices were averaging $3.49 on Tuesday morning, and that is forcing some drivers to find ways to other means of transportation.


Several commuters at one of Metro's Park and Ride said although they usually choose the bus over their vehicles, now it's saving them more than ever.
"It makes me want to ride the bus more. It's cheaper for me to take the bus than it is for me to drive to work now," said John Young.

Gloria Chen, recently decided she couldn't take her car on her usual commute anymore. She added, "I used to drive all the way to the Medical Center from Katy, but because of increasing gas prices, I've decided to use the park and ride."

Rodeo Exhibit at Alvin Historical Museum

As Houston presented its annual Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Alvin Historical Museum displayed a temporary exhibit featuring the art of rodeo with a local flair.

The display features the six Alvin/Manvel residents who have been inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as others from this area who have competed successfully in all types of rodeo events.

Some families are blessed to have several generations of rodeo participants.

The six area men honored by the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame include: Clinton Booth, Ed Cole, Allen Crainer, Tony Crainer, C. L. “Bubba” Goudeau and Skipper Voss. One of the exhibit panels highlights the rodeo careers of these men.

The exhibit is filled with action-packed photos of all rodeo events. Also on display are saddles trophies and plaques.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Alvin man could get death penalty ...

GALVESTON, Texas — Prosecutors are expected to ask a jury today to sentence to death a man convicted of fatally stomping Alijah, his 3-month-old son.

Travis James Mullis, 24, of Alvin, was convicted Friday of capital murder by the same jury, which deliberated his fate for less than an hour.

Mullis confessed on videotape to Philadelphia police to the Jan. 29, 2008, stomping death of his son to stop his crying.

Sightseers found Alijah’s body on an isolated berm near Galveston’s East Beach. Mullis then fled to the East Coast before surrendering Feb. 1.

Jurors must reach a unanimous decision on two questions related to future dangerousness and mitigating evidence before a death sentence could be imposed.

Mullis’ defense team of Robert K. Loper and Gerald Bourque presented no witnesses during five days of trial testimony.

The team did list 10 expert witnesses, including psychologists, a prison expert, a neonatologist, a forensic DNA expert and a psychiatrist.

In a Dec. 30 jailhouse interview with The Daily News, Mullis said he moved to Texas when he was 18 and he was sexually abused as a child.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE AT KHOU

NORAD exercise tomorrow over Houston

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct exercise flights tomorrow morning as they practice intercept and identification procedures. Exercise flights will take place over Southeastern Texas. Although they are scheduled for mid-morning, the exercise flights could be delayed due to weather concerns.

Those living southeast of Houston, specifically near Ellington Airport, may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of a Track of Interest (TOI).

In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.

NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout Canada and the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

18 charged in rape of 11 year old girl.

(CNN) -- Thirteen adults and five juveniles have been arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged rape of a Texas girl, police said.

Darrell Broussard, assistant police chief for the Cleveland, Texas, police department, said Monday that the investigation into the incident "is continuous," with more significant developments possible. Cleveland is about 50 miles northeast of Houston.

"There have been leads during our investigation that have alerted us to other possible persons of interest," Broussard told CNN. "The investigation is ongoing."
The 18 individuals charged thus far are between 14 and 27 years old, he said.

On Friday, the Cleveland police department announced that four students in the Cleveland independent school district had been arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.

They appeared Monday in a Liberty County court, in the town of Liberty, to face the charges.
Police noted that some but not all suspects are students at Cleveland High School, though all those named thus far are from the town.

Mike Little, the district attorney in Liberty County, said police would likely decide whether more people would be charged. He offered few other details, saying, "We are very careful about pretrial publicity."

The incident allegedly happened late last year in Cleveland. The case has sharply divided the community, according to CNN affiliate KHOU.

"It just seems like a dream," said Sherry Fletcher, whose 20-year-old son Devo Shaun Green is among those charged according to Cleveland police. "I just hope everything comes out well, because some of these kids are innocent."

Those adults arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony in Texas, could face 25 year to life in prison if convicted, according to the police department.

lvin man suspected in car burglaries now facing child porn charges

Thomas Brantley Collins

by khou.com staff
khou.com
Posted on February 15, 2011 at 5:10 PM

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas—A 21-year-old Alvin man suspected in two Friendswood car burglaries is now facing child pornography charges.
Friendswood police said Thomas Brantley Collins and an accomplice went from house to house in the Forest of Friendswood subdivision on the night of February 1, checking for unlocked vehicles.

Investigators said two cars were burglarized that night, and the stolen items included an Apple iPhone, some cash, credit cards and textbooks.

Police said the suspects then went to a local department store to make purchases with the stolen cards. The license plate of Collins’ black pickup was caught by surveillance cameras there, and police were able to identify him as a suspect.

A warrant for burglary of a motor vehicle was issued for Collins in Galveston County.

Two weeks later, on February 14, a tipster notified police that Collins was visiting his valentine at Alvin High School.
Officers tracked him down and arrested him. Police said Collins had the stolen iPhone with him when he was booked into the Friendswood jail, but the phone had been modified for his personal use.

Breaking: Explosions rock Belvieu plant!

Multiple explosions, fire at Mont Belvieu plant

Credit: AIR 11
A fire at Enterprise Products in Mont Belvieu was burning out of control more than an hour after witnesses heard multiple explosions.

by Michelle Homer / khou.com
khou.com
Posted on February 8, 2011 at 1:05 PM
Updated today at 1:39 PM


MONT BELVIEU, Texas – Several explosions at a Mont Belvieu plant were followed by flames that could be seen from miles around.
The explosions happened at Enterprise Products at 135 Sun Oil Road around 12:25 p.m.


Witnesses reported seeing workers fleeing from the Chambers County plant. Other workers were being told to stay inside.
The company hasn't released any details about injuries. An employee, who didn't want to be identified, said at least one contractor has not been accounted for.


The employee said the explosion happened in a subsection of the plant.
Chambers County officials say there's no known threat to the public at this time.

They have not called for evacuations.
State Highway 146 is closed near the plant.

The fire was still burning out of control nearly an hour after it began. The flames could be seen 25 miles away in Houston.

A Houston caller named Pat said she was talking by phone to a relative inside the plant when the first set of explosions happened. There were three more explosions while they were still on the phone. "Anywhere from eight to 11 explosions," according to Pat.

READ MORE AT KHOU

Breaking: One killed in Katy - fiery wreck

Fiery Katy wreck leaves 1 dead, 1 hospitalized
by khou.com staff
khou.com

KATY, Texas – One person was dead and another in the hospital Monday after a driver crashed into a tree in Katy.

Police said an Infiniti was traveling north on Katy Hockley Road near Pecan around 2:30 a.m. when the driver failed to make a turn in the road, struck a curb and crashed into a tree.

Police said the car burst into flames, severely burning the passenger, who died at the scene.

The driver, a 26-year-old male, was found lying on the ground upon officers’ arrival. He was airlifted to the hospital in unknown condition.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. It was not known whether charges would be filed.

Controversy surrounds teen beating by Houston police

(CNN) -- Houston's mayor and police department were on the defensive Friday, two days after graphic video came out showing several police repeatedly kicking and beating a 15-year-old burglary suspect as he lay on the ground.
An internal police investigation of the incident last March led to the firing of seven police officers, said spokesman John Cannon of the Houston police department.

Two successfully appealed and returned to their jobs, said Houston NAACP President D.Z. Cofield.

Five other officers were disciplined in other ways, Cannon said. And a Harris County grand jury indicted four of the officers this summer, based in part on the video.
Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos opposed the video becoming public and felt doing so might prejudice potential jurors and force the indicted officers' trials to be moved out of the county.

Quanell X, a local activist, got hold of the surveillance tape showing the scene outside a storage facility and gave it to the media.
He said he had every right to obtain the footage and make it public.

"I will show my people what they deserve to see, and let the public see what you don't want them to see," Quanell X said.
Mayor Annise Parker said the police leadership and city acted properly.

"I resent any implication that we were trying to hide the tape," she said.
After viewing the footage, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. fired the seven officers and a grand jury called for misdemeanor charges against four of them in June.

Lykos told reporters Thursday there was not sufficient evidence to pursue more serious charges, such as aggravated assault.
"Without revealing what was presented to the grand jury, in order to have aggravated assault you have to have serious bodily injury or impairment or use of a deadly weapon," she said. "None of that was apparent in this case."

The tape, first shown Wednesday on CNN affiliate WTRK, shows the 15-year-old boy -- being chased by police and falling to the ground after being upended by a moving police car. He then falls face first and places his hands on the ground.

A disciplinary letter from McClelland, dated June 23 and posted online less than two weeks later by CNN affiliate HTRK, says that the boy had his hands behind his head and neck area, in an obvious position of surrender.

Then, the letter adds and the tape shows, Officer Raad Hassan "then ran toward (the boy) and kicked him a total of 15 times," then later kicked him more times in the groin area even after he "was handcuffed and no longer a threat."

READ THE FULL STORY ON CNN

Bay City Substitute Teacher Arrested For Making Death Threats

by khou.com staff
khou.com
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Updated today at 11:23 AM


BAY CITY, Texas – A substitute teacher has been arrested and charged in connection with death threats made to students in Bay City ISD, the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Paul Nolen May, 41, was arrested on Wednesday.
He’s charged with 12 counts of making a terroristic threat – all of which are third-degree felonies.

The threats began on December 28 when the district received a hand-written, profanity-laced letter, purportedly from the parent of a student.

In the letter, the sender expressed anger over their child being disciplined at school. The letter detailed new "rules" for the school to follow regarding discipline and threatened to "kill a random student" if the demands were not met.
About a week later, a second threat was sent via text message.

The message, sent from an anonymous source and forwarded among Bay City ISD students, said this: "Hey! Forward this to everyone…1 rule broken, two girls dies at the jr. high and 2 from high school, dnt go! The school will be on lockdown."

It was not clear if May was suspected in both threats. Investigators declined to release any additional information Thursday.

May was being held in the Matagorda County Jail on bonds totaling $240,000.

Tomball man gets 10 years for fatal DWI

A Tomball man who said he’s turned his life around after a drunk-driving wreck that has left one man in a vegetative state will spend 10 years in prison.
Judge K. Michael Mayes, of the 410th state District Court, sentenced Stephen Burks, 39, to 10 years in prison Friday for one count of intoxication assault. The accident injured Carlo Lujan, 21, also of Conroe.

Burks also received 10 years’ probation for injuring Aurelio Iglesias, 47, of Conroe, during an August 2009 accident at the intersection of Texas 105 East and Millmac Road.
Burks will have to serve at least five years in prison before being eligible for parole.

“I am happy (about the sentence),” Assistant District Attorney Tyler Dunman said. “This has been a case that has really impacted me because sometimes it may be easy if someone is killed by a drunk driver (because) the family can move on. But in this case, the good Lord left Carlo Lujan to really show the impact of drunk driving in our county.”
Lujan, a 2007 graduate of Caney Creek High School, played football for the Panthers.
DPS troopers who responded to the Aug. 15, 2009, accident testified during Burks’ sentencing hearing.

Burks was driving a pickup truck that ran into the back of Lujan’s passenger vehicle, which rear-ended a second vehicle that Iglesias was driving.

Lujan was airlifted to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, where doctors determined his head had dislocated from its spine during the accident, leaving him in a minimally-responsive state.

Iglesias, a preschool teacher with the Conroe Independent School District, testified how he was trapped inside his car for at least 30 minutes and suffered injuries to his knee, groin and ribs.

“At first, I was really scared ... I thought my car would explode,” Iglesias said. “Now, I’m like an old man; I’m still scared when I’m driving.”
Armida Lujan, the mother of Carlo Lujan, told Mayes about her son’s life before the crash.

“Carlo loved to be in church. ... He was a youth minister,” Armida Lujan said. “He had preached that night (of the accident) about faith.”
Carlo Lujan’s caretakers wheeled him into the courtroom on a stretcher during the hearing to let Mayes see his vegetative state.
“The doctors never gave us any hope,” Armida Lujan said. “I thought he just had injuries like broken ribs and he’d recover. But time passed, and he didn’t look good.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Baby giraffe born in Alvin!

ALVIN, Texas - One Texas wildlife center welcomes a new infant among its creatures roaming the grounds, but the baby is far from small -- it is a giraffe.

Sparky the giraffe was born after 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14 at Bayou Wildlife Center in Galveston County.

Bayou Wildlife Center is open to the public between Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and features more than 500 animals including giraffes, camels and llamas.

This blog is sponsored by Best Publications. Please visit our website here.

Michael Jackson's Doctor Clueless

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- The pretrial hearing for Dr. Conrad Murray continues Wednesday as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge decides whether there is "probable cause" to try him on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of pop star Michael Jackson.

The hearing, which began Tuesday, is expected to last two or three weeks, with 20 to 30 witnesses testifying.
On Tuesday, Jackson's former security chief testified that Murray seemed not to know how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation as he waited for paramedics to arrive at the singer's house.
Faheem Muhammed said he and and guard Alberto Alvarez saw Murray crouched next to Jackson's bed "in a panicked state asking, 'Does anyone know CPR?' "

"I looked at Alberto because we knew Dr. Murray was a heart surgeon, so we were shocked," Muhammed said.

Jackson's doctor heads to court Murray faces court hearing Events surrounding Jackson's death

When defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked if perhaps Murray was asking for help because he was tired, Muhammed said, "The way that he asked it is as if he didn't know CPR."

Jackson appeared to be dead at that time, with his "eyes open and his mouth open, just laying there," Muhammed said.

Prosecutor David Walgren earlier said that Murray used "ineffectual CPR with one hand while the patient was prone on a soft bed." Two hands with the patient prone on a hard surface is the proper method, he said.
Muhammed, the third witness on the opening day of the hearing, said he never saw

Murray performing CPR on Jackson before paramedics arrived and carried him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Jackson's mother, Katherine, sister La Toya and brothers Randy and Jackie sat in the second row of the courtroom during Tuesday's opening session.
Jackson's two oldest children, Prince and Paris, were at their father's bedroom door as the drama unfolded just after noon on June 25, 2009, Muhammed said.

"Paris was on the floor on her hands and knees and she was just crying," he said.
The children would learn two hours later that their father had died when Murray and Jackson manager Frank Dileo talked to them in a hospital room.
"Frank blurted out and said, 'Your daddy had a heart attack and died,' " Jackson personal assistant Michael Williams testified.

At the start of the hearing Tuesday, the prosecutor said that Murray waited at least 21 minutes after he found Jackson unresponsive before calling for an ambulance.

"By all accounts, Michael Jackson was dead in the bedroom at 100 North Carolwood prior to the paramedics' arrival," Walgren said.
The coroner concluded Jackson died from "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with "the contributory effects of the benzodiazepines," Walgren said.
Propofol is a powerful anesthetic used to "put people under for surgery," and the benzodiazepines were sedatives Murray later acknowledged giving Jackson in the morning before his death, he said.

"Michael Jackson was preparing for one of the most important tours of his life" in the months before his death, Walgren said.
Murray's defense team has hinted it would argue that Jackson was under pressure from the concert promoter, which led him to demand treatments to help him sleep.
Kenny Ortega, who was directing what would have been Jackson's comeback concerts, was the first of about 30 witnesses the prosecution is calling.
Ortega described Jackson as "involved, active, participating" at his last rehearsal, which ended 12 or 14 hours before his death.
"He was in a delightful mood, and we had an absolutely fantastic day," Ortega testified.

But Ortega described a different, "scary" Jackson at the Staples Center rehearsal on June 19, six nights before his death.
"I just felt that he appeared, you know, really lost," Ortega said. "It was scary. I didn't know what was wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it."


READ THE FULL STORY AT CNN