Tomball man gunned down in bar parking lot Murder is city’s first in two years

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Just two weeks into 2007, Tomball has its first murder in nearly two years.

Edward Lee Cox, 26, of Tomball was shot and killed at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 15 in the parking lot of Gary’s Spot bar in the 1400 block of FM 2920.

The last murder in Tomball was in late 2005.

Tomball Police arrived at the scene at approximately 11:30 p.m. and found Cox lying unresponsive in the parking lot, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds, the police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Northwest Emergency Medical Services.

According to the department, Crime Scene Investigators were interviewing witnesses from the scene and from the bar at the Tomball Police Department when Michael Alan Zuercher, 22, of Cypress came into the department and identified himself as the shooter.

Michael Alan Zuercher

Zuercher stated to police that Cox displayed a knife to him prior to the incident. Tomball PD Capt. Rick Grassi said Cox was found dead with a knife in his hand.

The reason for the shooting is still unclear, Grassi said.

After an interview with police, Zuercher was charged with murder, a first degree felony, and transported to the Harris County Jail.

Grassi said both Cox and Zuercher were seen at Gary’s Spot earlier in the evening.

Although the murder occurred outside the bar, Grassi said the establishment is not liable for the incident in any way.

“Anytime you have a facility that’s primary means of income is the serving of alcohol, you do have issues,” Grassi said.

Despite the incident, the bar is not the subject of increased scrutiny by the department. Grassi explained that the department analyzes the activities of all locations where crimes occur. Should a particular location be the scene of increased illegal activity, then the department would take appropriate action.

The owner of Gary’s Spot could not by reached by press time last week.

The incident is still being investigated.

On Jan. 13, Boy Scout Pack 113 from Tomball participated in an Adopt-A-Road clean up project. The Pack cleaned up a two-mile stretch of road on Decker Prairie Rosehill Road in front of Decker Prairie Elementary School. The Pack has a two-year commitment to the program.
Submitted Photo

Report shows Tomball ISD students improve test scores

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

A new report issued by Tomball ISD shows the district’s students are improving their overall test scores.

Director of Science and Mathematics Randy Reedy presented the findings at a Jan. 8 Board of Trustees meeting as part of the annual Academic Excellence Indicator System report (AEIS). The report details results of TAKS testing in 2006 and provides an overview of district enrollment.

As a whole, Tomball ISD students increased their 2006 overall TAKS scores by 5 percent from 2005. District-wide, 77 percent of all students met the TAKS standard last year, compared to 72 percent in 2005. That percentage is higher than both the state average (67 percent) and the Region 4 average (68 percent).

TISD students improved or equaled their test scores in every subject area from 2005 to 2006. The most significant area of improvement came in science, where 86 percent of students met the TAKS standard in 2006, up 5 percent from 2005.

All but one of the district’s subpopulations, Limited English Proficient students, increased their scores from 2005 to 2006.

The report also stated the Texas Education Agency ratings for each school.

Six of the district’s schools, Rosehill Elementary, Northpointe Intermediate, Tomball Intermediate, Tomball Junior High, Willow Wood Junior High and Tomball High, all received “Academically Acceptable” ratings.

Two schools, Decker Prairie Elementary and Beckendorf Intermediate, received “Recognized” ratings. Two others, Lakewood Elementary and Willow Creek Elementary, received the highest ranking, “Exemplary.”

The district as a whole received an “Academically Acceptable” rating from the TEA.

While the total enrollment in Tomball ISD is steadily increasing, the makeup of the students is quickly changing.

According to the report, subpopulations are growing more rapidly than the overall population.

Total enrollment in Tomball ISD increased from 8,730 in 2004-05 to 9,044 in 2005-06, a rise of 3.4 percent.

Over the last five years, Hispanic students have increased in population by 5.1 percent. They make up 18.3 percent of the overall population. Meanwhile, white students are making up less of the total population. In 2005, white students made up 73.8 percent of the population, a total that dropped to 71.5 percent in 2006, a 2.6 percent decrease.

African American enrollment also increased by 1.7 percent last year.

Nearly 20 percent of the total enrollment in Tomball ISD is considered economically disadvantaged, while more than 34 percent are deemed at-risk.

The entire AEIS report is available online at www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/aeis/
2006/index.html.

Magnolia Fire Department celebrates 55th year with new equipment

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

In this 55th birthday year, the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) is celebrating with recent upgrades to its fire fighting safety equipment, command station fleet, computers and organizational structure and has great hopes of building a new central firehouse in Magnolia.

Pictured above, Magnolia volunteer fire fighter, Rusty Griffith, shows off the new fire hazard equipment recently acquired by the department.
Photo by Cari Herr

“We’ve made a substantial investment into the safety of the fire fighters and upgrading the level of service we provide the community,” said Chief Gary Vincent, a 28-year fire-fighting veteran who has been with the department for seven months. He said his primary responsibility is to provide the necessary resources for fire fighters to safely and effectively serve the community.

The department provides service through six fire stations to approximately 300 square miles. The MVFD has six engines (or pumper trucks), five boosters, six tankers, and a ladder truck. Emergency Services District No. 10 (ESD10) funds the department.

“We’re very appreciative of ESD10 commissioners for their support of the community,” Vincent said.

Among the new state-of-the-art equipment the department has just received are 62 new high-pressure SCBA’s (self-contained breathing apparatus) with an automated PASS (personal alert safety system) device, which provides 50 percent more air. The new SCBA’s allow for an almost instantaneous air refill via 10 new RIT (rapid intervention team) kits. The new equipment increases crucial response time by five to seven minutes.

The department’s fleet of three outdated command stations has been replaced by new fully outfitted Ford Expeditions, with three additional units due by March. The vehicles have special emergency response suspension and engine packages and provide the department with useful working command vehicles.

Fire fighters have also been fitted with new fire helmets, gloves, hoods, fire boots, winter apparel and uniforms, which provides a new look for the entire department. New computer equipment with routers and Fire House software provide for effective internal and field communications.

“The fire fighters are doing an excellent job. Those are the real heroes and they continue to do a great job for the citizens,” said Vincent.

The department is also investigating the expense of building a new central fire station on Buddy Riley Blvd. for the City of Magnolia, Vincent said. The project is a joint effort between the MVFD, the city and ESD10. A Hazard Mitigation Grant with a matching value structure was completed and filed on Jan. 10.

“We have great hopes of being accepted. However, this was one of the more difficult grants I’ve worked on in 25 years due to the complexity of the grant program,” he said.

In 2003 President George W. Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Decision Directive No. 5 (HSPDD-5) mandating that all emergency response organizations in the United States adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS) provided by the federal government for managing large-scale disasters and events by Sept. 1, 2006.

As a result, the department has been completely reorganized in accordance with the NIMS command structure guidelines as established by the Homeland Security Commission, Vincent said. Operations Chief Greg Chelette, Planning Chief Jon Hall, Logistics Chief Jim Hanson and Finance and Administration Chief Kevin Walters play a vital role in the new organization.

“This places the department in a key position to respond effectively in the event of a large-scale disaster, national emergency or local catastrophe,” Vincent said. “The fire department is prepared and we have good, competent people here with officers who meet their responsibilities very well.”

Freezing temperatures force school closings, keep drivers off roads

By Cari Herr and Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

On the morning of Jan.17 a long awaited and highly publicized ice storm hit the area, closing schools and businesses and leaving some residents with an unexpected day off. While Mother Nature spun an icy web over the area, utility, police and county employees were their busiest, ensuring the safety and well being of area citizens.

The legal assistants at Clifton Dodson Sortino, L.L.P. of Tomball took a break for a snowball fight Jan. 17 after temperatures dipped below freezing. The “snow” was actually ice from the Sonic Drive-in next door. Pictured, left to right, are Debbie Linfield, Celina Villarreal, Ann Clanton and Jada Wiley.
Submitted Photo

Weather forecasters had been predicting a cold snap for days leading up to the storm and it seemed like Jan. 16 would be the day the storm would hit, keeping the Houston area on alert. However, the front hovered to the north around Huntsville and Willis and stayed at bay that evening, finally creeping in during the early morning hours of Jan. 17.

By the time the storm hit, most were well prepared after nearly a weeklong threat of frigid conditions. The icy temperatures, combined with steady rainfall, made for slick roadways and sidewalks. Tomball ISD, Waller ISD and Magnolia ISD cancelled classes. Many after school activities were cancelled, including athletic events and tutoring sessions.

While most businesses kept their doors open, many were somewhat short-staffed as workers chose to stay home rather than risk driving on icy roads.

As the drive home hours approached towards the afternoon, temperatures began to slowly rise above freezing, melting what little ice remained on the roads. However, many overpasses and roadways were closed throughout Montgomery and Harris Counties.

One death was attributed to the weather when a motorist struck and killed City of Houston road worker Jerry Hines Jr., 25, while he was helping a stranded driver on U.S. 59.

City of Waller Police Chief James Fulton reported no storm related incidents other than local power outages, although U.S. 290 was slick with ice and frozen rain.

Unlike surrounding cities, Magnolia had no ice on the roads at all, Magnolia Police Chief Ron Cunningham reported. Patrols were placed on full staff around the city for the two days of sub-freezing temperatures in an effort to check on water leaks, respond to accidents, and slow down speeders.

Special needs baseball team suiting up for season

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Manager Bobby Martin and his wife, Team Mom Sabrina Martin, of Magnolia, have a goal for every special needs child in the area to be on the field playing baseball, reaching their full potential and having a great time in doing it.

Pictured, the Challenger Team is a Magnolia Little League baseball team for disabled and special needs children ages 5 to 12 in its fourth year of play.
Submitted Photo

The Martin’s special needs daughter, Mikayla, 10, has been playing since 2003 on the Challenger Team, a co-ed baseball team specifically designed for the disabled. The Magnolia team is seeking boys and girls to play T-ball for the upcoming season. Any disabled child between the ages of 5 and 12 is eligible to play.

“I’m sure that some may have reservations, we all did,” said Sabrina. “However, we are now in our fourth year and we have seen first hand how much fun it is for our little ones to be playing ball. We would love for others to be a part of it.”

Children and parents who register will have the opportunity to develop new friendships and learn the value of teamwork, while practicing the fundamentals of baseball, Bobby said.

Registration is in process. The fee is $50 per person, which includes a team shirt, pants, socks, belt, ball cap and award. Special registration fee arrangements are available. For more information, call 832-326-0618.

Magnolia ISD aligns core curriculum to state mandates

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The Magnolia Independent School District (MISD) announced at its Jan. 8 Board of Trustees meeting that students will be required to take four years each of the core curriculum for math, English, science and Social Studies beginning with the 2007-08 school year.

Pictured, Todd Stephens, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Personnel for MISD, presented new graduation requirements to the Board of Trustees at the Jan. 8 meeting.
Photo by Cari Herr

The change is a result of state mandated graduation requirements for high school students, which the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted last November with an amendment requiring an additional credit in math and science.

“Next year’s incoming ninth graders are under the new requirement and that is true across the state,” said Todd Stephens, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Personnel for the district.

The effect that has on high school students in the district who are on track to meet the new recommended graduation plan of 26 credits is a gradual reduction in electives from 6.5 elective credits in 2007 to 3.5 elective credits in 2010. The most significant change for students comes in the form of a "four-by-four" curriculum that requires the additional math a science credits as required by the state board, said Stephens.

The district has reduced the number of elective credits in the minimum graduation plan as well to accommodate the state’s mandated increase of two additional core credits, while still maintaining the district’s minimum graduation requirements of 24 credits. Students will still earn more than the state requirement of 22 credits.

In the past, the district’s number of graduating credits for both plans has been the same; however, the core credit requirements have been different, allowing for more electives in the minimum plan.

Students do not elect to follow a minimum plan, said Stephens. That decision is made between the administrator, the counselor and the parent, and not until the junior, or sometimes senior year.

“The district moved to requiring the recommended plan as the default, because we felt that taking those additional rigorous courses is the basic core purpose of what we are about,” said Stephens. “We do everything we can to move those kids through on the recommended plan.”

The district has discussed moving to a four-by-four plan, meaning taking the four core classes all four years, but waited to implement that requirement anticipating the state’s move to do likewise, Stephens said.

Police suspect neighbor in recent dog shootings

By Cari Herr
Tribune News

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Detective Division has identified at least one suspect in a series of dog killings that have occurred recently in the Magnolia area.

The latest incident occurred when a Sweetwater homeowner in Magnolia discovered his dog dead in the backyard on Jan. 10 after he arrived at his home around 2 p.m. The chow was secured on a dog run and had been shot while in its own yard, according to the Dist. 4 Sheriff’s report. An unknown caliber of bullet struck the dog in the head.

The case has been referred to Det. Paul Hahs of the MCSO detectives division for investigation.

The first incident occurred on Dec. 13 when another resident in the Magnolia area reported that their Jack Russell terrier had been shot through the abdomen. The suspect used a small caliber weapon, Hahs said. The dog survived the initial shooting, but later died of complications as a result of the wound. At the time of the shooting, the dog was not secured and was out of the yard, Hahs said.

The suspects have only been identified as “someone close by in the neighborhood.”

Charges of cruelty to animals have been referred to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution. Cruelty to animals is a class A misdemeanor.

The two cases have no apparent connection, according to Lt. Wayne Rawley of the District 4 Sheriff’s office. Pet shootings occur regularly in rural areas where animals may be viewed as a noise or property nuisance by neighbors, he said.

Annual Tomball Regional Hospital ECHO Gala set for Feb. 24

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Just as the hit television show “American Idol” moves into full mania mode once again, Tomball Regional Hospital’s ECHO Foundation is capitalizing on the show’s popularity in hopes of raising money for the facility.

Pictured, the ECHO Foundation Planning Committee, seated, from left to right, Marilyn Kinyo, Faye Drennan, Pat Bailey; standing, from left to right, Wendy Garrett, Lisa Klein, Ranelle, Humphries, and Corinne Bielefeldt.

Dubbed “Hollywood Lights,” the 2007 ECHO Foundation Gala is set for Feb. 24 and is once again slated to be held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. This year’s black tie event will feature former American Idols Ace Young, Lisa Tucker and Kimberly Caldwell as the evening’s entertainment.

The foundation is raffling an 18-carat white and yellow gold diamond bracelet and earrings, donated by Gary Zoet and John Wren of Shannon’s Fine Jewelry and Watches.

There will also be a live and silent auction.

Sponsorship and table opportunities are currently available. Tickets to the event are $175 each.

The money raised at the event will benefit Tomball Regional Medical Center in providing quality healthcare.

According to the hospital, the ECHO Foundation was created in 1996 “to advance the philanthropic and charitable contributions for improving healthcare services and programs at Tomball Regional Medical Center.”

The money raised by the foundation is used to “further the hospital’s mission as a non-profit organization.”

At least 90 percent of the money raised by the ECHO Foundation is donated to the medical center, according to the foundation.

Registration and more information about the 2007 ECHO Foundation Gala is available online at www.tomballhospital.org/echofoundation.html, by e-mailing mkinyo@tomballhospital.org or by calling 281-401-7928.

Magnolia West High School Fine Arts Department to present ‘Godspell’

First musical production for new school

The Fine Arts Department of Magnolia West High School will present its first musical production,

“Godspell,” Jan. 26-28 in the Magnolia West High School auditorium. “Godspell,” a musical based on the parables of Jesus as found in the gospel of St. Matthew, is directed by Magnolia West Theater Arts Director Kim Bryant, with music direction by Mustang Choir director Sylvia Garza and choreography by Fillies Dance Team Director Amanda LaBorde.

The musical was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and was originally produced on the New York stage by Edgar Lansbury, Stuart Duncan and Joseph Beruh.

Performances will be Friday and Saturday evenings, Jan. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee performance on Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students if purchased in advance and $10 for adults and $8 for students if purchased at the door. For tickets or more information, contact the Mustang Theater office at 281-252-7550, ext 7259.

“Godspell” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International, 42 West 54th St., New York, NY 10019.