Police search for suspect in kidnapping, sexual assault incident
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
Harris County police are on the lookout for a man they say kidnapped and
attempted to sexually assault a 36-year old female last month after he forced
his way into her car and drove her to an open field.
On July 17, the alleged victim was on her way to work when a blue suburban
pulled up next to her. The passenger, a black male in his 20s, pointed a gun at
the woman, demanding she pull over, according to Lt. John Martin of the Harris
County Sheriff’s Office.
When the alleged victim did not immediately pull over, the two suspects, the
passenger and the driver of the suburban, began to swerve into her lane nearly
causing a collision and subsequently forcing her off the road, Martin said.
One of the suspects then entered the woman’s vehicle, a Sheriff’s Office
report stated, and drove her to an open field in the 2600 block of S. Cherry,
where the suspect physically assaulted her and attempted to sexually assault
her.
Martin said the woman was able to fight off her attacker and flee into nearby
woods before he was able to sexually assault her. According to Martin, the woman
waited more than an hour before leaving the woods. By the time she did come out,
the suspects had left the scene. The suspect is believed to be a black male in
his 20s, approximately 5’10” with a thin build.
A report detailing the incident was submitted to the Tribune Aug. 17; exactly
one month after the events took place. Martin said the alleged victim did report
the attack immediately after it happened.
Anyone with more information regarding this case should contact Dep. D. Bock
or Dep. J.P. Hernandez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division
at 713-967-5810 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Tomball Independent School District kicked off its 2006-07 school year on Aug.
14. Pictured above, Tomball Elementary kindergarten teacher Julie Woodward
(left) supervised Scott Spence (second from left) during his first day of
school. Spence’s parents, Heather and Scott, look on behind him. More than 8,000
students returned to class last week and district officials reported a good day
with no problems.
‘Cool’ cartoon teaches kids to follow rules
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
When Tomball resident Travis Evans decided that the cartoons his three young
children were watching didn’t reflect the morals he was instilling in them, he
not only pulled them away from the shows, but also provided them with an
alternative.
Evans is the creator of “Cool Rules,” a 3D animated cartoon which he calls “a
clean alternative to other children’s programming.” “To our surprise, we
realized that we are not alone,” Evans said. “Quite a lot of parents have become
more concerned about what their children are watching.”
“Cool Rules” centers on six kids and their hot rods that work together to
overcome problems and find solutions. The characters do positive things, set
goals, work hard to reach those goals, help one another and encourage one
another, Evans said.
So far, only one episode has been produced, “Get Your Dream On!” which
depicts the characters working together to raise money to build a garage for
their hot rods. Evans said it’s gotten a good response from parents and critics.
“We did a big screening at an AMC theater, and we got a 100 percent positive
response,” Evans said. “(Those in attendance said) they would either buy it or
recommend it for someone else to buy. We’ve gotten an extremely good response to
it.”
“Cool Rules” is the he first animated cartoon to be created and produced in
the Houston area and will be available only as a DVD. He, his wife and
mother-in-law run Evans’ company, Tricked Out Toons, Inc. A second episode is
currently in production, Evans said, which will center on a theme of bullying.
About six years ago, the cartoonist began evaluating the entrainment options for
his other children and didn’t like what he saw. “We had been looking at
entertainment and so much of it was inappropriate,” Evans said. “We really
didn’t really know (what the programs were like) until we had kids.”
And with Evans having written and drawn cartoons since he was young, it
seemed like a natural fit for him to get into the business. “We wanted to make
something that was clean, that was also cool and something kids would get
something out of,” he said.
The cartoon teaches kids that to be cool, follow the rules. “To be cool,
popular and accepted, you don’t have to break the rules or be a rebel, but the
truly cool kids abide by the rules,” a release by the company states.
To learn more about “Cool Rules,” visit
www.coolrules.net.
College district reschedules $249 million bond election for November
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
A $249 million bond referendum and trustee election for North Harris
Montgomery Community College District, originally scheduled for May, has been
rescheduled for the general election on Nov. 7.
The rescheduling comes on the heels of a decision by the district to cancel
the May election after the Justice Department expressed concerns over the
polling locations which were to be used by the district. According to NHMCCD’s
Ray Laughter, the district originally planned to use the same polling locations
it had used for bond elections in the past. However, the Justice Department
believed those locations may have limited access to minorities.
“About a week before the election date, we received a letter from the
Department of Justice about too few polling locations which might limit minority
voters,” Laughter said. Those issues have been resolved, he said, with more
polling locations throughout both Montgomery and Harris County.
“The (referendum) will be on the ballot in both Montgomery County and Harris
County at general election voter site,” he said. “It is more than enough voter
sites.” But with the additional voting locations, Laughter said the possibility
of uninformed electors voting down the referendum is a concern.
“It will be a lot more sites than we’ve ever had in previous elections,” he
said. “We hope that citizens will take an opportunity to get informed and that
they will vote.” With the governor’s election garnering most of the headlines,
and with that race likely to draw the majority of voters to the polls, Laughter
said the college district elections might get lost in the shuffle.
“We’re not fairly high on most people’s radar,” he said. “But we’ll do
everything we can to get the word out.” If approved, the majority of the $249.6
million will go towards new facilities at the district’s five campuses.
Laughter said enrollment at all five of the colleges is rapidly increasing
and there is a dire need for new classrooms. “We need new facilities to handle
the growth of enrollment,” he said. “(Enrollment) has doubled to 45,000 in the
last 10 years.”
As part of the bond referendum, all five colleges could receive extra
classrooms. The district is also planning to build a health sciences center to
keep up with the growing demand for nurses in the area, particularly at Tomball
College, Laughter said. “There is a severe shortage of nurses,” he said.
“Two-thirds come from community colleges and we have to do what we can to step
up.”
Also on the NHMCCD ballot is a trustee election. Martin Basaldua, David
McIver and Randy Bates currently hold positions 1, 2 and 8, respectively.
Citizens interested in seeking a position on the board of trustees should call
Judy Stubblefield at 832-813-6514. The deadline for filing is Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.
13-cent tax cut part of new TISD budget
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
The Tomball Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously
approved a $73 million budget for 2006-07, one that includes a 13-cent decrease
in the district’s property tax rate. However, according to projections by Chief
Financial Officer Jim Ross, area homeowners will likely not see a drastic change
in tax savings, with a projected increase in appraisal values within the
district offsetting the possible savings.
“That would be a significant drop if it weren’t for the appraisal increase
that the homeowner will experience,” Ross said. “With a seven percent increase
in Harris County, that eats up a lot of this tax saving.”
Ross projected that the annual homeowner in the district will save
approximately $22 per year when taking into account the impact of the hike in
appraisal values.
While homeowners won’t see a drastic shift in the taxes they pay, district
teachers will receive a pay increase as part of the budget. For the first time
since 1999, Ross said, the HB-1 appropriated funds for teacher raises. This
year, Texas allocated more than $2 million to the district for teacher raises.
The district also provides annual raises on a sliding scale for its teachers.
This year, the district allocated more than $1.3 million for teacher raises.
In all, district teachers will receive raises in excess of $3.3 million this
year. As is typical with school district budgets, the majority of funds are
allocated for payroll expenses. This year, the budget calls for $53 million in
payroll, almost 85 percent of the total budget.
With enrollment in the district continuing to steadily climb, an additional
21 new teaching positions were created for this year. According to the district,
student enrollment is rising at an average rate of 4.45 percent per year.
Ross said the biggest challenge in assembling this year’s budget was waiting
for the state legislature to complete their special session on school funding.
The state passed House Bill 1 in early May and the district had just two and a
half months to finalize its budget.
Ross said he typically works on a budget up to three years in advance, but
with the state taking months to finalize its school financing plan, the district
was forced to essentially formulate a temporary budget.
This year’s budget is projected to have a surplus of about $60,000. Prior to
the approval of the budget, the district held a public hearing in which no
members of the public had questions or comments about the budget.
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Ex-Waller ISD teacher jailed on multiples counts of sexual assault
By Cari Herr
Tribune News
Allegations of sexual assault to a child brought by the parents of two,
unrelated Waller Junior High students spurred Harris County Sheriff’s deputies
to arrest Andreas Starz, 39, of Houston on Aug. 10 at his home in the 7700 block
of Martinwood following an investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Child Abuse Unit.
Starz who was a Waller Junior High schoolteacher and coach was suspended by
the Waller Independent School District on Aug. 1 pending the investigation of
the charges made by the parents of the students. The Harris County District
Attorney’s Office has accepted multiple charges of sexual assault of a child.
Andreas Peter Starz
“Waller Independent School District actively investigates all concerns to
ensure the safety of every student,” said WISD Superintendent Richard McReavy.
“Waller ISD conducts state (Department of Public Safety) and national
pre-employment background checks on all potential employees.”
Starz has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault with a
child under 14, a first-degree felony. Additional charges include one count of
improper relations with a student and one count of sexual assault of a child 14
to 17, both of which are second-degree felonies. Each count holds a $60,000 bond
for a total bond amount of $240,000. Starz is being held in the Harris County
Jail.
The incidents with both students began in April of 2006 during the 2005-06
school year and continued over the summer break until Starz was exposed, the
Sheriff’s Office reported.
The first juvenile, a 13-year-old female, reported the incidents to a WISD
teacher on July 28, who in turn reported the information to WISD authorities.
Immediately after administrators and Harris County Sheriff’s deputies were
informed of the alleged inappropriate conduct, Starz was suspended, the district
said.
The 13-year-old told authorities she had gone to Starz in April requesting
counseling and began meeting Starz before school in his classroom. The juvenile
reported to authorities that inappropriate touching had occurred.
Additionally, the parents of the juvenile told authorities that Starz had
arranged to meet with them in a public park to discuss a babysitting arrangement
with the juvenile for his young son.
Following the meeting with the juvenile’s parents, Starz, who brought his
9-year-old-son with him, picked up the juvenile at her home, only to drop the
son off at Starz’s ex-wife’s home and continue on to the residence of Starz’s
girlfriend who was out of town. The Sheriff’s Office said Starz had claimed to
be apartment sitting for his girlfriend. In the apartment, Starz allegedly
sexually assaulted the juvenile.
During the course of the investigation another student came forward with a
disclosure of sexual assault by the teacher, the Sheriff’s Office report stated.
Starz gave a ride to a 14-year-old female Waller Junior High School student on
May 22, from her residence to a school luncheon.
The second juvenile reported to authorities that Starz had sexually assaulted
her in his car. The parents of the second juvenile reported the incident to
authorities when they learned of it on Aug. 1 stating that inappropriate
touching had also occurred on the WJH campus, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Prior to the July 28 outcry by the first juvenile, neither juvenile was aware
the other had been sexually assaulted or was participating in inappropriate
behaviors.
“There may be other victims out there,” Sheriff Tommy Thomas said. “The
Sheriff’s office is encouraging any victims to contact the HCSO Child Abuse
Unit.”
Starz’s previous employers include Bethany Lutheran School and George I
Sanchez High School both in Houston and Waller Junior High School.
Anyone seeking to report sexual assault of a child may contact the Harris
County Sheriff’s Office Child Abuse Unit at 713-529-4216.
(Picture L-R) First grade student Kersten Laswell and Kindergartener Lacey
Laswell, along with younger brother, Jason Terry and mom Mikki Laswell, hold
hands as they walk across the parking lot of Magnolia Elementary on the first
day of school.
Award-winning Bulldog Band gears up for competition season
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
The coming season holds promise for the award-winning Magnolia High School
Marching Bulldog Band. The band will be performing the arrangement “Inchon” this
season composed by Robert W. Smith and arranged by Donald Hill.
The Magnolia Bulldog Band and Flag Corp prepares for another award-winning
season during summer band camp held July 31 to Aug. 11 at the MHS campus.
In the 2005-06 competition season, the Magnolia High School Band brought home
the first Sweepstakes for the school in UIL Marching Band, Concert Band and
Sight-Reading contests. The Sweepstakes was won by picking up ratings of one in
several categories by the first band, said Honor Band Director Morris Voltz.
In the fall of 2005, the Marching Bulldog Band earned straight ones in their
UIL marching band competition. At Westfield High School in April, the first band
brought home straight ones in UIL concert band and UIL sight-reading, reported
sophomore Mattie Swift, a recognized flute soloist in the band.
The second band and third bands traveled to The Woodlands High School for
their concert and sight-reading UIL competition in April. Second band brought
home straight ones in sight-reading for the first time, said Swift. The third
band earned straight two’s in sight-reading, also a first for third band, she
said.
Director of Bands Jerry Choate directing the Wind Ensemble, along with Voltz,
and Concert Band Directors Jason Myers and John Winebrenner held a two-week band
camp over summer to prepare the band for the coming season.
Swift is excited about the coming season. She has played the flute for the
last five years and looks forward to the schedule this year along with her
friends. She said the band lost 31 seniors, but gained 31 freshman from incoming
Bear Branch students. The band is estimated to have between 125 to 150 members
this season, Voltz said.
The band kicked off the new school year with an exhibition performance for
parents and MISD officials on Aug. 11 followed by a barbeque dinner and a dance
in the band hall.
“The exhibition went well. It was a great season opener,” said MISD
Superintendent Michael Holland at the Magnolia School Board meeting held on Aug.
14.
The Bulldog Band has scheduled a Rock-A-Thon for Aug. 25 at the MHS commons
from 11 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
The Marching Band will compete at Galena Park ISD on Oct. 7 and at Katy ISD
on Oct. 14 followed by UIL Marching Contest on Oct. 24, location to be
determined. The area marching contest is scheduled for Oct. 28 at Galena Park
ISD.
Lower property tax rate approved by Magnolia ISD board
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
A lower tax rate may come as no surprise to some in light of the Texas State
Legislature’s approval of House Bill 1 (HB-1) granting property tax relief to
state residents. However, school board officials were clearly pleased to present
the lower rate to those in attendance at the Aug. 14 regular meeting of the
Magnolia ISD Board of Directors.
Following a brief Public Hearing prior to the meeting at which no comments
were heard, the board approved a new district tax rate that fell 13 cents to
$1.66 per $100 valuation of property. The rate is divided into $1.33 for
Maintenance and Operations (M & O) and $0.33 cents for the Interest and Sinking
(I & S) fund.
Though HB-1 makes alternative funding available to the district, the budget
includes a state mandated salary increase for teachers of $2,500, topped by MISD
with an additional $1,200 for a total teacher salary increase of $3,700 across
the district. Additionally, the district has approved an average increase of
4-percent for hourly employees.
A 5-percent increase in enrollment by 500 to a total student population of
10,548 calls for additional staff. The opening of Magnolia West High School as a
fully staffed and operating facility at the ninth grade level plays in budget as
well. According to the district, an inordinate amount of unfunded state mandates
are rolled into the mix.
The budget is the result of several months of planning by teachers,
principals, directors and administrators, the district said. A great deal of
time has been spent interpreting the new laws and computing revenues based upon
the new school finance funding formula produced by the legislature in May, said
the district.
“It’s a good budget. One that meets the needs of the district,” said Magnolia
ISD Superintendent Mike Holland.
Based on the new tax rate, revenue projections for the M & O budget were
approved $65,121,891. With a debt service of $12,928,997 offset by a fund
balance of $1,728,880 the total revenue fund for I & S is projected to be
$11,200,117.
The board unanimously approved the total revenue budget for MISD at
$76,322,008 of which “67 percent of the general operating budget is dedicated to
instruction and instructional administration,” said the district.
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