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A year ago, the Magnolia 4B Economic Development Corporation assumed the debt service for moving the utility lines along FM 1774 between Friendship Drive and 10^th Street. This act removed the debt from the City of Magnolia, which would have been forced to raise property taxes in order to pay it.

The debt was a result of a $2 million loan from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Special Infrastructure Fund used by the city to move the utility lines, which was necessary due to the widening of FM 1774 within the city limits. Just last week, the 4B Corporation approved a $160,000 interest payment on this loan, which will be paid from sales taxes collected by the corporation.

These types of projects are funded through both the 4A Economic Development Corporation and the 4B Community Development Corporation.  The purpose of both corporations is to provide funds from another revenue source, other than just property taxes, which is the only way the city itself can raise funds.

The 4A Corporation is tasked with managing infrastructure projects and the 4B Corporation handles community projects. The corporations are managed by board members who are appointed for a two-year term and volunteer their time. Many Texas cities have similar corporations, which typically raise funds through sales taxes.

The Magnolia development corporations make it possible for the city to provide services to additional areas and overhaul structures that are wearing out, as well as provide parks and recreational opportunities for residents. As Magnolia grows, officials said these projects become more critical to improving the quality of life for the area.

The 4B Corporation manages the Farmers Market, Unity Park and The Stroll. The next event at The Stroll is “A Stroll through the Renaissance,” which salutes the Renaissance Festival and will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 29. Renaissance-themed games, food, drinks and crafts will be offered.

The 4A and 4B Corporations impose serious responsibilities on the board  members.

As newly-elected 4B Corporation president Pat Zaiontz  stated, “This (4B) Corporation is just like a business. We need to watch our spending and pay our debts.”

It’s been a year since the City of Magnolia passed an ordinance against texting while driving within the city limits. According to Sgt. Silliman of the Magnolia Police Department, this ordinance is doing its job while making the city’s streets safer.

“There has been a 54 percent decrease in the number of auto crashes since the ordinance was passed last September,” said Silliman.

Silliman contends that thhis is a pretty important statistic because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.gov) sited the death of more than 3,000 people nationwide because of texting and driving, or one in ten traffic fatalities, in 2010. 

Silliman would like to remind people that the ban on texting while driving still stands within the city limits. So far this year, 34 citations have been issued. Several other Texas cities prohibit texting while driving,, but so far this legislation has not been passed to extend such a law to the entire state. Texas is one of only 11 states without a ban on text messaging.

Driving near schools is an exception. The use of communication devices while driving in a school zone (this includes both texting and talking) is against the law statewide. Additionally, novice drivers in their first 12 months behind the wheel are prohibited from using cell phones for text or voice communication.

“Tragically, a lot of people think it’s harmless to text and drive,” Magnolia Police Chief Domingo Ibarra said. “We have had several fatal traffic accidents in Montgomery County that were due to texting and driving. The Magnolia ordinance is a benefit because once people realize texting and driving is illegal, it does get their attention and they tend to be more careful.”

Magnolia Mayor Todd Kana agreed.

 “This ordinance was a move in the right direction," Kana said. "I have heard nothing but positive feedback from residents. As a smartphone user myself, I know it is easy to get distracted by these devices. When people know about the law, it is easier for them to stay focused."

Bob Pitcock of Magnolia has good reason to be thankful for every day. In December of 1989 he suffered a heart attack and was given a dire diagnosis that his heart was failing and he needed a transplant. Luckily for him and his family, a heart became available several months later and he gained a new lease on life.

“You feel forever grateful that someone has faced the tragedy of losing a family member and thought to donate the organs to a patient in desperate need, especially at a time like that,” said Pitcock.

Many heart transplant patients have a long history of cardiac issues.

“I had hereditary heart problems and had five heart attacks over a six-year period,” stated Pitcock, who was a 50-year old family man, truck driver and musician at the time of his transplant. “I even had one heart attack while I was playing onstage at the Texas Opry Jamboree in Magnolia.”

After receiving his new heart in January 1991, Pitcock spent 17 days in the hospital. He recovered quickly, and was able to drive a car within five weeks. He still returns to St. Luke’s Hospital annually for a checkup. 

“I was fortunate that I had no rejection issues and only a few minor problems in all these years,” he recalled. “I feel somewhat like Humpty Dumpty who fell into pieces. But, luckily, St. Luke’s (Hospital in Houston) was able to put me back together again.”

Pitcock has devoted his time to campaigning for families to donate the organs of their loved ones and to helping other transplant patients who need emotional support from someone who has gone through it. Sometimes he talks to them in person or over the phone; other times he corresponds via mail or email. He is a member of “Transplant Buddies” and has communicated with recipients and donor families all over the world.

Pitcock remembers a particular case of a 14-year-old boy who was afraid to accept his necessary heart transplant. He was able to talk to the boy and convince him that the operation would be worth it, and he finally agreed to the transplant. Afterward, the boy’s family called Pitcock to thank him.

“This is what I live for, along with just the feeling of happiness for being alive,” he said.

Pitcock credits his heart transplant surgeon, O.H. (Bud) Frazier, with saving his life. Dr. Frazier, the Chief of the Center for Cardiac Support at the Texas Heart Institute and Chief of Transplant Service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital (both in Houston), has performed more than 1,200 heart transplants during his career. Pitcock was transplant No. 395 for Frazier.

Anyone needing emotional help with their own or a family member’s transplant can check out www.transplantbuddies.org, a community site dedicated to providing information and support about the transplant process. 

There was more good news for Magnolia ISD employees following the Board of Trustees meeting Aug. 20.  According to Chief Financial Officer Erich Morris, all full-time MISD employees will get a three percent pay raise and additionally the district will increase its contribution to employee health insurance by $50 per month. This will increase the contribution per participating employee to $275 per month.

Morris said the pay raise was good timing, given that the district had not been able to provide raises in recent years, due to state funding concerns.

“The school board felt like this was the right thing to do and is within our budget this year,” he said.

Morris explained the new insurance contribution amount is more than the minimum required contribution of $225 per month. The district conducted a survey to ensure they were in line with other districts before arriving at the $275 per month figure.

“The district performed a survey of surrounding districts and became aware that other districts were contributing a bit more,” he said. “Taking that into consideration and with premiums rising year after year, the district administration recommended the increase to the board.”

The board also committed $500,000 for district-wide technology needs, which will primarily be used for classroom computer upgrades and replacements.

“This isn’t really new funding. The intent is to replenish the technology funds that were lost during the budget cuts from recent years,” said Morris. 

The final approved budget number is $83.6 million, which is $3.8 million more than the $79.8 million previously projected. Besides the new staff benefits, all 16 new staff positions throughout the district --- six teachers and ten paraprofessionals --- were approved.

Morris said that the district decided to come up with a conservative budget this year, since the upcoming legislative session is expected by many to cut state funding even more.

“It is a challenge to budget when there is fear of the unknown,” he said. “We are balancing the fear of the unknown with the needs of our folks and doing it in a way that is conservative. We must look at what’s possibly coming in the future.”

The board is still estimating the new student growth rate to be one percent, with enrollment expected to peak by October.

A recent weekend offered two community events just hours apart for Magnolia residents to enjoy. The second annual Tailgate Party, held on The Stroll Aug. 18, had a large turnout – that is, until a major thunderstorm drowned out the festivities a bit early. Football teams, marching bands, cheerleaders and flag drill teams from both Magnolia high schools provided a celebratory spirit to get everyone in the mood for cheering.

Magnolia Community Foundation President Deborah Rose Miller initiated enhancements to this year’s event, such as rotating performances at several Stroll locations, rather than just one main location and a combined pep rally for both area high schools. The crowd enthusiastically applauded the performers and chomped on goodies from the food stands. A dunking booth, sponsored by the Magnolia Rotary Club, was a popular attraction that offered people a chance to soak the high school coaches and principals. All proceeds benefited the Magnolia ISD athletic programs.

This year’s Tailgate Party had 36 vendors and an estimated 2,000 attendees, which was approximately a 10 percent increase over last year.

“Things had just started really buzzing and then a huge thunderstorm forced us to shut down,” said Miller, “but we expect next year’s event to be even bigger and better.”

The Community Foundation wants the Tailgate Party to continue to build community spirit among residents and students.

Also that evening, the Montgomery County Search & Rescue organization held its annual fundraiser at the Montgomery County Community Building in Magnolia. The barbeque plate sales and silent auction raised more than $18,000 this year.

The organization operates solely with volunteers, but needs money for operational expenses, training and equipment repairs, according to Vice President J. Carter Miller.

Montgomery County Search & Rescue offers services to people in need of locating missing family members. For more information, or to volunteer to help the organization, visit the website at www.moscar.org.

Also on hand at the fundraiser were booths from civic and emergency response organizations such as Montgomery County CPS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Montgomery County Sheriff Citizen’s Academy, Texas Wheels of Justice and Montgomery County Emergency Management.