October 23, 2006 Edition

City to hire consultant for airport purchase

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Less than a month after Tomball business leaders questioned the City of Tomball’s efforts to purchase David Wayne Hooks Airport, the city announced it is taking a major step toward doing so.

At the Oct. 16 meeting of the Tomball City Council, City Manager Ben Griffin said he plans to contract with someone “who is knowledgeable in these areas” to help with the purchasing process. He also said that city officials have met with TxDOT to discuss the possible purchase.

Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hillegeist, who has long been a proponent of the purchase, addressed the council at a Sept. 18 meeting and questioned the city’s progress in buying the airport. He said he was satisfied with Griffin’s plans. “The news that we heard is really good news,” he said. “We feel very positive about the steps the city is taking with the airport.”

In the weeks following Hillegeist’s comments to the council, council members Gretchen Fagan and David Quinn met with TxDOT Aviation Department officials to discuss what steps the city would need to take in order to purchase the airport. TxDOT explained that the city would need to formulate a financial plan and two appraisals of the property.

Those appraisals would then go under review, at which point the city could receive funding from the FAA to help with the purchase. Griffin said the FAA is “very much in favor” of the city buying the airport. “If the city comes up with the purchase price, they (the FAA) could help with the funding,” he said.

Hillegeist said the addition of the airport to the city would be a financial boon to local businesses as well as offer job opportunities for area residents. “We feel like the airport can add so much for the career opportunities,” he said. “There is a lot of potential for development there.”

The chamber and the city are set to meet every two weeks to discuss the progress of the purchase, Hillegeist said.

While Griffin said he didn’t have anyone particular in mind for the consultant position, he would discuss the progress in the next few weeks. “I will come back in the next couple of meetings and discuss who that may be,” he said.

Economic factors contribute to better attendance at Renaissance Festival

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

With the threat of summer hurricanes gone, the affects of last year’s devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita slowly abating, and even the end of baseball season, the Texas Renaissance Festival is seeing an increase in attendance over last year.

Texas Renaissance Festival music group Cantiga performs during the annual festival.

Through the first three weekends of the festival, attendance eclipsed the 80,000 mark, an increase of at least several thousand from last year, festival officials said.

They cite a number of factors for the increase in attendance.

2005 saw a significant drop in attendance due to the lingering effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the economy and high gas prices.

Officials believe people were spending their money elsewhere this time last year, on such items as aid to hurricane victims.

The 2005 Major League Baseball season also had a hampering affect on attendance, festival officials said.

The Houston Astros were in the midst of their first-ever World Series run and potential festival-goers were at home watching the games.

Those factors contributed to a drop in last year’s attendance.

However, this year gas prices have generally sunk below $2 per gallon and the Astros failed to qualify for the postseason.

Despite the torrential downpours and flooding the Magnolia area saw last week, the first few weeks of the festival saw comparatively pleasant weather.

In its 32nd year, the Texas Renaissance Festival has long given a bit of an economic boost to the surrounding communities, including Magnolia.

Located just six miles south of Plantersville, home of the festival, Magnolia offers the last stop into and the first stop out of the festival.

While city officials haven’t calculated exact financial figures determining the economic impact of the festival, many credit it as a positive influence on the area.

The festival even proclaimed Oct. 8 as “Magnolia Day” at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Mayor Jimmy Thornton was on hand to receive the proclamation.

Among the most popular attractions this year have been the Sturdy Beggars mud men, the Ded Bob Sho, Birds of Prey and Caste in Bronze, festival officials said.

The Texas Renaissance Festival is open weekends through Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to dusk. Tickets are available online at www.texrenfest.com. For more information, visit the festival’s Web site or call 1-800-458-2178.

Cougars suffer homecoming rout to Klein Oak

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Homecoming wasn’t quite the festive occasion for the Tomball Cougars, at least on the field. With a 51-14 drubbing at the hands of the Klein Oak Panthers, the Cougars got the celebratory weekend off on the wrong foot.

Tomball High School hosted its 2006 Homecoming Oct. 13 in a 51-14 loss to Klein Oak. Pictured above, Homecoming Queen Lexie Weeks (left) and King Chris McCoy (right).

As has been the case much too often this season, a sputtering Cougar offense couldn’t keep track with the opposition. The Panthers more than doubled the total yardage output of the Cougars, 510 to 202.

Klein Oak got on the board first with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Cooley to Elliott Lim. The Panther’s Desean Hales’ 2-yard touchdown run made it 14-0 with just over 8 minutes left in the second quarter.

The Cougars finally got on the board when Travis Bromley scored on an 11-yard touchdown run. But the Panthers quickly answered on Cooley’s second score, this one a 27-yard scamper to make it 21-7 at halftime. The 14-point deficit was as close as the Cougars would come.

Klein Oak blew the game wide open with a 27-point third quarter, which included two 74-yard touchdown runs by Ossam Cook. Cook finished the game with a staggering 153 yards on just four carries, two of which went for scores. Tomball’s Dustin Edwards would add another touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Keaton Smith in the final quarter to hedge the bleeding. Smith finished 11-for-50 for 50 yards passing.

With the Cougars winless in district (results of the Oct. 20 match up with Spring were unavailable as of press time last week), it will be virtually impossible for the Cougars to move into the top four in the district and qualify for the playoffs. However, two of the remaining three games are against district opponents who have yet to win their first district games, as well (Spring and Klein Collins).

Meanwhile, the situation isn’t any more encouraging on the north side of town. The Magnolia Bulldogs were steamrolled by the Conroe Tigers 35-3 Oct. 6 to fall to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in district play.

It was the fourth time in six games the Bulldogs failed to score in the double digits. Magnolia would actually lead the game when kicker Brad Hicks connected on a 22-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. Unfortunately, the three points would be the only points the Bulldogs would score on the night.

The Tigers ball control ground game wore down the Bulldogs, scoring 35 unanswered points the rest of the way. Conroe’s Draylon Booker scored a pair of first half touchdowns on his way to an 89-yard rushing day. The Bulldogs were held to just 94 yards of total offense.

Magnolia’s best chance to make a run at a playoff spot rests with their next two games. Games against College Park (Oct. 20) and Oak Ridge (Oct. 28) may be the most winnable of the remaining district contests. The Bulldogs close with Lufkin, the state’s No. 2 ranked team, and The Woodlands, a perennial playoff contender.

Church’s new name signifies change in concept

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The new name of Tomball Church of Christ, now Christbridge Fellowship, signifies more than just a catchy change to a church buzzword. It signifies a change in concept and a break from the norm.

It’s a change Pastor Rick Brown is hoping will bring a simpler approach to his church. “It’s not just a change in the name, it’s a change in who we are,” Brown said. The name itself speaks to what the church’s new goals are. “We try to give people a real simple paradigm,” he said.

Brown explained that teaching his congregation to build bridges to Christ rather than getting rid of barriers has recently been a primary concept of the church’s message. “We talk about bridging people to God and to each other,” he said.

Also, the move from Church of Christ to a “Fellowship” is about breaking notions about denominations. “It doesn’t matter what your background is, people have preconceived notions,” Brown said.

Partly in response to religious trends in the post modern age, the staff at Christbridge wanted to come up with a name that didn’t signify a denomination, but rather was more inviting to a larger population. Brown also said by eliminating “Tomball” from the name of the church, those from surrounding communities, such as Pinehurst and Magnolia, will hopefully feel more welcome. “We thought that people in those areas really couldn’t identify with us,” he said.

But with all the changes in name and concept, Brown is quick to mention the message the church is teaching hasn’t changed much. “We encourage people to be here for worship and link up with other believers,” he said.

Whereas some churches may have their calendars marked with events practically every day, Brown said Christbridge is working towards more of a streamlined approach. “This thing about having 100 things a week at church, what we’re trying to do is equip our people for the community, instead of trying to get people in and send people back out,” he said.

But while the church’s calendar may be stripped down, the idea of serving in a ministry is still important to Brown. “Ministry’s a big thing,” he said. “When we talk about that, we talk about how to get involved in participation.” Being involved in a ministry, Brown explained, doesn’t necessarily mean being at church. “Be in worship,” he said, “spend some time each week with other believers and look for ways to minister to people. You don’t have to be at the church to do that.”

While he admits he has lost a few members, the overall reaction to the changes have been “very positive,” Brown said. “We already have a really good nucleus of people,” he said.

For more information about Christbridge Fellowship, visit its Web site at www.christbridgefellowship.com.

The Tomball Professional Business Women hosted a Fall Food Festival Oct. 19 at the Tomball College Beckendorf Center. Local restaurants and catering services provided guests with food samples and meals. Pictured above Frank Escobedo (right) and Jennifer Robinson (center) of Klein's Super Market Bakery serve Shannon Stephens (left) of Tomball College a slice of pie.
 

During the week of Oct. 9, Waller Independent School District’s Holleman Elementary held its “Fire Prevention Week.” Students learned about calling 911, “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” not to play with matches or lighters, and other general fire safety tips. The students participated in a fire drill and were encouraged to have a fire drill at home. To end the week, members of the Waller Volunteer Fire Department (pictured above) visited the school to demonstrate how they use their equipment. Gifts of pencils, stickers, and fire safety coloring books were given to the students to remind them of fire prevention.

Magnolia weight loss company accused of fraud

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received 186 claims against Momentum Health and affiliated companies, also known as Momentum Direct over the last 36-month reporting period. Filed reports include problems with advertising, sales, delivery, repair or services, product quality, customer service and credit or billing, and continue to plague the BBB database.

The BBB currently lists an unsatisfactory rating for the company who reports three different locations and company affiliations for Momentum Health and Nutrition, also known as Momentum Direct, Momentum Health and Momentum International registered in Tomball, Magnolia and Katy.

However, Momentum Direct Manager David Beeson said the BBB’s reporting data is old information and doesn’t reflect current company standards. “That information is three years old and is not relevant to our business today,” Beeson said. “We are always striving to get better and our goal is to make every customer happy.” Beeson could not elaborate on other Momentum company affiliates as reported by the BBB.

Momentum Direct has experienced exponential growth over the past two years, billing more than 100,000 transactions and moving to within one of the top 40,000 hit zones on the Internet, according to Beeson.

Robert Jones is the owner of Momentum Direct and affiliated companies. He did not return messages to The Tribune for comment as of press time.

Momentum Direct, located at 1010 S. Magnolia Blvd. (FM 1774), employs Casey (who declined to give her last name). She has worked for the company for a year and a half.

“We sell weight-loss and H-line (health) products,” Casey said.

Momentum Direct and its affiliates market a host of health products, which claim to reduce weight, burn fat, suppress the appetite and provide nutrition. The company’s Web site offers a 14-day free trial or a 30-day money back guarantee.

Customer complaints center around timeliness of refunds on returned products, as well as delays in receipt of product, recurring charges to checking accounts following initial purchase, and unauthorized monthly shipments of products for which customers are charged, in addition to unmet guarantees, unreturned calls and a lack of response to e-mails and faxes.

“If the trial (sample) is returned in 14 days, they don’t get charged for it, or we have a 30-day trial where they can return it up to 30 days and still get a refund,” Casey said.

The company claims an average three-week turnaround on refunds for returns, with a goal of 14 to 15 days by the end of the year, Beeson said.

Customers registering with Ripoff.com and Complaints.com warn fellow consumers that once a check authorization has been granted, recurring monthly charges begin to stack up, with no recourse for cancellation.

Ed Magedson is the founder of RipoffReport.com, author of www.ripoffrevenge.com, EDitor@ripoffreport.com and badbusinessbureau.com.

Magedson recommends consumers go to their bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as the activity appears on the bank statement, without delay. He suggested notifying the bank that there has been fraudulent activity within the account. Request to file a dispute, and request assistance in accordance with Federal Regulation E, he added.

Complaints filed by consumers to the BBB were dispositioned as follows: 44 were closed unresolved; two were resolved with good faith efforts by the company; 50 were closed with no response from the company, and one was closed due to an inability to contact the company by the BBB. The BBB reported that 81 of the filed complaints had been closed in the last 12 months.

In response to customer complaints, Beeson said “the company has added freight personnel, implemented new interactive software on its product Web sites and on Oct. 23 will launch a 24-hour customer service line.”

The company has been in business for 11 years, eight of which Beeson has been an employee, four of those as manager of the Magnolia office. “We live here, we work here, we’re here to stay,” Beeson said.

Fraudulent activity utilizing the postal service may be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Fraud Hotline, a federal government law enforcement agency, at 1-800-372-8347.

Theft by check via the Internet is a fraudulent crime and should be reported to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdictional authority, wherever the crime occurred, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Reports of Internet fraud can be filed with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 936-760-5800.

Moore, Wright honored as TISD Teachers of the Year

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Both humbled and appreciative of the recognition, Holly Moore and Lee Wright were named Teachers of the Year by the Tomball Independent School District. At an Oct. 11 meeting of the Tomball ISD Board of Trustees, Moore and Wright were recognized and awarded with clocks for their achievement.

Wright, who teaches at Tomball High School, was honored as the secondary level teacher of the year. He teaches Geography, History, and AP classes. “To be honored by the board, by the administrators, it’s truly a privilege,” he said.

Wright said his teaching style hasn’t changed throughout the years. “This year, last year, I still go about what I do the same way,” he said. “It’s just nice to be rewarded.”

Wright said the tradition of teaching in his family led him to instruction. “I always felt like I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. “I just had this natural instinct for instruction.”

Wright also is the head coach of the highly successful Cougar swim team. However, he is wary of the stereotype of being a coach who also happens to teach. “I fear that stereotype of being Coach Wright,” he said. “Because I am certainly a teacher first and a coach second, even though I spend a great deal of time coaching and preparing for events. My instruction in the classroom always has and always will come first.”

Wright is in his tenth year of teaching at Tomball High School, and his sixth as the head swim coach. “One thing I like about this community is that it’s very supportive of the school district,” he added. “I like the community atmosphere of Tomball.”

Moore is in her 15th year of instruction in the district. She teaches fourth grade math and science at Willow Creek Elementary school, where she is also a Team Leader. “I wouldn’t say (the award) is something I expected, but it’s nice to be regarded highly among your colleagues,” she said.

After more than 10 years of experiencing only the instructional side of education, Moore recently took on the responsibility of the parental aspect. This summer, she adopted her 10-year old nephew, Chandler.

She said being a mother gives her a new-found perspective on teaching. “It’s different now that I see that parent side of it,” she said. “It brings (teaching) full circle. I think I was a good teacher before, but I think being a parent adds something else.” Moore said she now can experience what countless parents have experienced throughout her years of teaching. “Now I can say ‘This is what a project feels like, or this is what homework feels like,’” she said. “I just looked at school as what I put forth as a teacher. But now I get to see what it’s like being the parent.”

Moore has been teaching at Willow Creek long enough now that she is beginning to see some of her former students return to the district as teachers themselves.

A few of her first group of fourth grade students are now teachers in the district. “Whenever they come up to me and say I was their favorite teacher, from 15 years ago, that’s what makes it so sweet.”

Local races uncontested as early voting kicks off

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

With the Nov. 7 election day right around the corner, local candidates and incumbents are hot on the campaign trail at area schools and businesses, speaking on the issues of taxes, Social Security, transportation, immigration and more.

Early voting for the next election begins on Oct. 23 when residents in Magnolia will have an opportunity to decide the political make-up for the next term. On the ballot for voters are the Texas Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and State Land Commissioner. Local races include U.S. Congressman, State Representatives and Senators, as well as the Montgomery County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace.

In local races, Montgomery County Pct. 2 Commission Craig Doyal faces no opposition from any candidate for his seat, which handles managing funds and road service projects for surrounding and unincorporated areas of Magnolia.

The Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace position for Montgomery County was decided at the April Republican Primary elections with Matt Masden taking 187 votes against Nita McNulty. With the retirement of current Justice of the Peace Judge Carolyn Cox and no Democrat on the ballot, Masden will take the seat following the elections.

U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady contends with Democrat James Wright of New Caney for the District 8 seat covering Montgomery, Walker, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Hardin and Orange counties, and some areas of Trinity and Liberty counties.

The Governor’s race has received a great deal of media attention statewide as well as locally. The race is split between four candidates. The candidates are Republican and incumbent Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell, Libertarian James Werner, Independent Richard “Kinky” Friedman, and ex-Republican and exiting State Comptroller Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Two write in candidates appear on the ballot as Jose Aravena from the Socialist Workers party, as well as Independent James Dillon.

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is up against Democrat Maria Luisa Alvarado, Green Party candidate Nathalie Paravicini, and Libertarian Judy Baker.

Libertarian Jon Rowland and Democrat David Van Os vie for the incumbent Texas Attorney General’s seat currently held by Republican Greg Abbott, while Republican Susan Combs, Democrat Fred Head and Libertarian Mike Burris compete for the Texas State Comptroller’s seating being vacated by Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

A new face will appear in the senate for the District 3 seat with Republican Robert Nichols, as Texas Senator Todd Staples is vacating the position.

Early voting for Montgomery County will take place at the Malcolm Purvis Library, 510 Melton Street, Magnolia as well as the South County Community Building at 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Tomball residents in Harris County will find early voting available at the Tomball Public Works building, 501 James Street, Tomball and the Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood, Spring.

More information on state and local candidates can be found at www.uselections.com/tx/tx.htm.

Tomball choir preparing for annual holiday concert, halftime show

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Walking in on the Tomball High School choir rehearsing for its annual Christmas concert feels something like catching a great rock band during a sound check performance. It seems intrusive, yet privileged, to see the behind-the-scenes ritual. Even when the music is apparently not being performed at its elite best, it’s still quite a thing to hear.

Tomball High School Choir Director John Krystynick leads the choir in rehersals for the Dec. 6 holiday show. Krystynick has been the school’s choir director for six years.

To the untrained ear of The Tribune, a slight “slur” in articulation in a popular Christmas song goes completely unnoticed. But not to director John Krystynick.

Midsong, Krystynick halts the 95-plus member choir and explains that the words in the song aren’t being sung clearly. The students mumble in agreement and begin from the top. “Good, much better,” Krystynick says, pacing, bouncing his right arm to the beat. The Tribune doesn’t notice the difference. Both versions sound nearly flawless.

It is certainly not happenstance that the choir sounds as good as it does. This year, 32 members of the choir qualified for regional auditions, one of the highest totals the school has ever had. “I think I maybe pushed them a little bit harder this year and I have some really excellent students,” Krystynick said.

Overall, the Tomball High School choir program trains about 250 students, divided into several separate choirs based on skill level. The Men’s Concert Choir and the Girl’s Concert Choir are made up of freshman and first year choir students. The Treble Choir entails primarily sophomore and junior girls. The top choir, the Master Chorale, is comprised of mostly juniors and seniors.

Senior Nicollete Moore and junior Ryan Anderson are the group’s officers. “They’re both key members of this choir, but they’re both also involved in other things, which is something I like,” Krystynick said. Moore is involved in PALS, an elementary school tutorial program, while Anderson is a starting offensive lineman for the Cougar football team.

Anderson credits his family’s history of involvement in music as the reason he joined choir. Moore said she has had a long-standing goal of eventually being named an officer of the choir. “It’s something I really love to do,” she said. “I’ve wanted to be an officer and I love music.”

Meanwhile, Krystynick is in his sixth year at the helm of the choir. He student taught under former director Brad Bouley.

The choir will perform at halftime of the Nov. 3 Cougar football game against Klein Collins as part of a special patriotic show. The choir’s annual holiday show is set for Dec. 6 in the Tomball High School Auditorium.