Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

His name is Smokey.

A fitting name, considering the miracle dog was found alive by firefighters inside the smoldering remains of a Pinehurst home that burned down around him on Valentine's Day.

Firefighters found the dog breathing shallowly, but he only had a small burn above his eye. They quickly administered oxygen to the dog and called workers from Paws to Claws Veterinary Clinic in Magnolia to take the dog for emergency treatment.

"He was in bad shape," said Rhonda Lankford, an employee of the clinic who picked up the dog. "He was dehydrated, full of chemicals and had suffered from extreme smoke inhalation."

It was so bad that he was only taking about 40 breaths per minute – a very shallow rate for an active dog.

Lankford rushed Smokey to the clinic where her boss, Dr. Suzanne Knoop Scott, began treatment and placed the dog in their intensive care unit. The owner of the home that burned claimed the dog was just a stray that they fed, but that was the opening the staff needed to begin aggressively treating Smokey, in order to save him. By law they cannot treat a dog without an owner's permission.

For the first few days the prognosis was iffy. Smokey would just fall over when he tried to walk and was very thin. Suddenly though, the dog began to show marked improvements.

While he is a quiet dog, he is extremely loving and friendly, Lankford said. She said the improvement is remarkable and could be considered miraculous.

"He's bright and alert," Lankford said. "He's 100 percent better. Sometimes they just have a will to survive."

While Smokey is heartworm positive, Scott believes that it isn't too severe and can be treated with preventative medicine, while his body recovers from the effects of the fire.

Heartworms are not contagious to either animals or humans.

"He has to get fully recovered from the smoke inhalation before we can do the full treatment for the heartworms.

He could also stand to gain a few more pounds she said.

While Smokey is still recovering, it doesn't mean he has to stay too much longer at the clinic. He's only on oral medications and Scott said he could go home in about a week – that is if he had a home to go to.

With no one claiming the dog and a lack of space at the clinic, the staff is afraid they may have to turn Smokey over to animal control, at which point he could be euthanized within three days.

Area no-kill shelters are full and the doctor and her staff are frantically searching for a new home for Smokey.

Considering what the dog survived, it would be heartbreaking to many if he had to be put down, simply because he didn't have a home to go to.

If you are interested in helping provide Smokey with a new home, contact the staff at Paws to Claws Veterinary Care at 281-356-2384.

Members of the Tomball ISD Board of Trustees recently agreed to call an election, in order to propose a $160 million bond issue that will provide new schools, renovations at current campuses, new technology and additional school buses.

The district recently put together a steering committee, made up of area residents and district employees, to study growth and needs within the district. Projections estimate that the district will grow by nearly 4,000 students over the next five years.

The steering committee recommended building four new schools to accommodate that growth. New elementary and intermediate schools will be built on the south side of the district, while an elementary school and a junior high are proposed for areas near The Woodlands.

The district also plans to perform several improvement and renovation projects at other schools as well. The plan calls for a new agricultural project barn directly adjacent to the current facility, as well as adding field turf and track renovations to Tomball ISD Stadium. Also, new weight rooms will be added to each junior high campus.

In addition to the extra-curricular activities improvements, the district also plans to upgrade heating, air conditioning, roof replacement, lighting, paving of parking lots and several other maintenance and facility improvements.

Renovations will include the front administration areas and cafeterias at both Lakewood and Decker Prairie, while Timber Creek and Creekside Forest will receive minor renovations to aid in the transition to the new K-5 grade configuration.

Finally the district looks to purchase additional school buses, as well as upgrading the district's technology programs and technology for instruction purposes as well. They will also provide funding for security areas near the front entrances at schools that currently do not have that.

Tomball ISD Communications Director Staci Stanfield said the school board and steering committee put in long hours to study and design the proposal.

"The steering committee and their subcommittees spent a great deal of time studying the district's needs," she said. "They did a very thorough job and were extremely committed."

Stanfield went on to say that if voters approve the bond issue, which will be held during the May 11 election, the financial impact on property owners will be minimal. The portion of Tomball ISD's tax rate that services interest and debt is currently 35 cents per $100 of valuation.

"It will go no higher than 40 cents," she said.

She added that the district will take the same steps as they did in 2007 – selling bonds in a manner that is fiscally responsible and will ensure the rate never goes higher than 40 cents.

Stanfield said the district also wants voters to have all the information they need to make an informed decision at the polls, so they will post all the information on their website, as well as answer any questions voters may have.

"It's important for us to give factual information and let the community know what our plans are," she said.

The Tomball ISD website is www.tomballisd.net. The election is set for May 11, 2013.

The Tomball City Council and the Tomball Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) took the first steps toward an agreement to fund a new business and industrial park on Holderrieth and Hufsmith-Kohrville roads, as they agreed to issue Certificate of Obligation bonds, which will be TEDC's responsibility to pay back.

"One of the things that city administration and (TEDC executive director) Kelly Violette asked me, was to find a way to fiancé this project to support the business park in a way that was as efficient and cost effective as possible," said the city's bond counsel Jonathan Frels. "One of the mechanisms we have seen work very well in other cities is the process whereby the city issue certificates of obligation, but the actual payments come from the EDC."

Frels went on to say that Tomball and the TEDC have done business this way in the past, with the TEDC paying off bonds from 1999 and 2002.

"It works in situations like this where the type of infrastructure (water, sewer, streets, etc.) that you are planning to put in is city owned," he added.

The proposal that both the TEDC and the city council agreed to, is one in which the city will issue around $8.5 million in bonds and the TEDC will make the payments. The money will go towards developing the property into a business, technology and industrial park, which officials hope will attract numerous new businesses and jobs to the area.

The agreement also calls for the TEDC to hold a specific fund balance of $2 million, in order to assure the city and creditors of their ability to pay back the money.

"It matches what a rating agency would require of the city and we can go to them and tell them 'look, here is what we have'," Frels said.

The council then approved a measure to publicize the intention to issue the bonds. The entire process is expected to be completed sometime in April.

WEEKLY EVENTS:
MONDAYS:
Yoga, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washing-ton Rd., 8:15 a.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Games, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 9:30 a.m.
Walking Inside/Outside, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Road, 7:30 a.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
TUESDAYS:
Open Sewing Time, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 9 a.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Hardanger Embroidery, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 10 a.m. For details, call 936-931-5030.
Crochet Granny Afghans, Tomball Community Center, 221 Market St., 1 p.m. For more information, call 281-255-6221.
WEDNESDAYS:
Canasta, Hockley Com-munity Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., noon. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Preschool Story Time, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5. For more information, call 832-559-4235.
'88' Dominoes, Hockley Community Center, 1 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
THURSDAYS:
Sit 'n' Stitch, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, room L129, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 832-559-4213.
Dancercise, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 1 p.m. Call 281-255-6221 for details.
Walking Inside/Outside, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 7:30 a.m.
Zumba, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 281-255-6221.
FRIDAYS: 
Senior Covered Dish luncheon and games, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Exercise class, Tomball Community Center, 9 a.m., 221 Market St. Building opens at 8 a.m. for early walking.
Alanon discussion meeting, 23802 FM 2978, 6:30 p.m. For more information, 281-744-5233.

LOCAL EVENTS:
Feb. 25 After Austen Book Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 7 p.m. Group will discuss "Garden Spells," by Sarah Addison Allen. For more information, call 832-559-4200.
Feb. 26 Society for the Advancement of Floral Design will hold its February meeting at Cypress Creek Christian Community Center , 6823 Cypresswood Drive. Refresh-ments will be served at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting at 7 pm.
Feb. 26 History Book Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 7 p.m. Group will review "The Whiskey Rebellion," by William Hogeland. For more information, call 832-559-4200.
Feb. 26 Yellow Rose Republican Women Meeting, Nona's Italian Grill, 1025 Alma St., 6:30 p.m. Speaker Chris Daniel, Harris County District Clerk will share Aspects of Jury Service and Future Technology in the Harris County District Clerk's Office. For more information, contact recordsecretary@yel
lowroserw.com.   
Feb. 26 Romeo's trip to visit the Hearts Veteran's and Texas Prison Museum with lunch at Golden Corral. Group will depart at 9 a.m. and will return around 3:30 p.m. Call 281-255-6221 for more information.
Feb. 26 Kids Garden Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is required. Call 832-559-4235 for details.
Feb. 28 Senior Citizen bus trip to Lufkin to tour the Texas Forestry Museum, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd. Call 936-931-0529 for details.
Feb. 28 Mystery Book Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 1 p.m. Group will discuss "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter," by Tom Franklin. For more information, call 832-559-4200.
Feb. 28 50-plus Pct. 4, Fun 4 Seniors trip to tour the Police, Weather and Asia House of Texas Museums with lunch at Treebeards, Tomball Community Center, 221 Market St., 9:30 a.m. Reserve your seat by calling 281-255-6221.
March 2 Knights of Columbus Council 11866 benefit for Neil MacDonald at St. Matthias the Apostle Catholic Church, 302 S. Magnolia Blvd. in Magnolia from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. BBQ brisket plates and sandwiches will be available, along with a silent auction. For more information, call 832-545-5664 or 713-385-5441.
March 2 Walk Tomball, 201 Elm St., 9 a.m.
March 2 Tomball Farmers Market at the corner of FM 2920, and Cherry Street in Historic Downtown Tomball, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 2 Pokemon League, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 832-559-4235.
March 3 Just for Today AA group, First United Methodist Church in Waller, 7 p.m. For more information, call 713-870-1010.
March 3 Texas A&M Singing Cadets, Lone Star College Tomball Performing Arts Center, 30555 Tomball Parkway, 3 p.m. Concert to benefit the LSC-Tomball Scholarship Fund. For ticket information, contact the box office at 281-401-1889.
March 3 Crusaders, "Brownie" and "the Big Bamboo," Pecos Grilling Company, 28900 Tomball Pkwy., 5 p.m. Spend an evening with longtime Astros greats Bill Brown and Larry Dierker. For more information and to RSVP, visit saderdc.com.
March 4 Medicare Fraud Prevention Program, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 10:45 a.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
March 4, 18 KIDLIT, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 1 p.m. 3rd - 5th grade. Enjoy crafts, puzzles, discussion, games and snacks. For more information, call 832-559-4235.

MONTHLY EVENTS:
Feb. 25 Monthly Support Group, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washing-ton Road, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Call 936-931-5030 for details.
Feb. 28 Buddy Family Network, support group for parents of adopted children, Champions Christian Counseling Center, 333 S. Cherry Street in Tomball, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 832-493-3404 or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Feb. 28 Magnolia Planning Commission, Sewall Smith Council Chambers, 18111 Buddy Riley Blvd., 4:30 p.m.
March 3, 17 Sweet Magnolia Pickins Farmers and Artisans Market, corner of FM 1488 and FM 1774, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information visit, sweetmagnoliapickins. net.
March 4 MISD school board meeting, Celeste Graves Education Support Center, 31141 Nichols Sawmill in Magnolia, 6:30 p.m.
March 4 Free Monthly Legal Hotline. Local volunteer attorneys answer the phones at 281-645-6344 on the first Monday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. to answer legal questions and provide resources to Montgomery County residents. 

GET OUTTA TOWN!:
"A TOUCH OF DANGER" Houston: Now- March 23 Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Drive. For more information, visit theatresuburbia.org.
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO Houston: Feb. 25-March 17 Reliant Park. Enjoy parade kick-off, rodeo action, livestock shows and more. Visit rodeohouston.com for more information.
"ANNIE" Cypress: March 1-17 The Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Rd. For information, call 832-495-3030 or contact bob.clark@ houstonfac.com.  
GENERAL SAM HOUSTON'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Huntsville: March 2 Graveside ceremonies, lunch, birthday cake and more. For more information, call 936-435-2497 or visit walkercohistory.org.
THE PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL CYCLE Houston: March 2 Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa, 111 North Post Oak Lane, 9 a.m. to noon. For details, visit periwinklefoundation.org.
CLASSIC CAR STAMPEDE Bellville: March 2 North Bell & Mini Park Parking Lot, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Awards presented at 1 p.m. For more information, call 979-865-3187.
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Washington: March 2-3 Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site, 23400 Park Road 12 (about halfway between Navasota and Brenham), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All admission fees will be waived during the celebration weekend. Call 936-878-2214 or visit visitbrenham texas.com for information.

Nonnie's Soda Fountain, located at 102 Market St. in Tomball, recently joined the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber welcomed its new member with a ribbon cutting. Nonnie's is a old-fashioned soda fountain featuring hand-spun shakes and sundaes made with Hank's Ice Cream, the second leading ice cream in the U.S. For hours call 281-516-1942.