Carlisle, board members voted out in Magnolia

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

During a June 12 Magnolia City Council meeting, at which two council members called the actions of the city “embarrassing,” City Manager Roger Carlisle and his assistant Erick Edwards were both released from their contracts.

Pictured, Magnolia City Manager Roger Carlisle (left) and Council member Patsy Williams (right). The council voted at a June 12 meeting to abolish the city manager position and return to a mayor-council form of government.

The council also approved the removal of several longtime board and commission members, including Cedric Smith from the Magnolia Ridge Local Government Corp. (MRLGC). Former mayor Frank Parker and MRLGC Project Manager John Burdick were removed from the 4B Economic Development Corp.

Those actions came shortly after the council unanimously voted to remove Mayor Jimmy Thornton and all council members from any positions they held on 4A, 4B, the Planning Commission, and the MRLGC.

Council member Todd Kana said the progress the city was making has now been cut short.

“We finally got people to stop laughing at us,” he said. “And it looks they’re going to again.”

The terminations of Carlisle and Edwards came as little surprise.

Voters elected last month to abolish the city manager form of government, which thereby eliminated Carlisle and Edwards’ positions.

There had been talk by some council members and city officials of re-assigning Carlisle to another position in the city, such as an administrative or coordinator position.

However, after a near two-hour closed door session, the council voted 3-2 in favor terminating Carlisle, with John Bramlett, Sammie Scott and David Sutherland voting in favor of the proposition.

The terms of the motion put Carlisle on administrative leave June 15, with his formal dismissal coming July 11. Edwards’ last day will be July 11, with his contract being terminated on Aug. 15

The city hired the law firm of Chamberlain, Hardlicka, White, Williams, and Martin in anticipation of legal action from Carlisle.

When asked if he has retained a lawyer, Carlisle said, “I absolutely do.”

While Carlisle declined to comment on whether or not he knew of his impending termination, he did say he is considering “two or three” other employment options.

“That’s the way it goes,” he said.

By the time the dust had settled on the near-six hour meeting, the face of the Magnolia city government had changed dramatically.

Even Mayor Pro-Tem Patsy Williams was removed from that post by Scott, Bramlett and Sutherland. Bramlett, a former city mayor himself, was named to the position.

Burdick, who was recently appointed to 4B, has been instrumental in bringing several commercial businesses to Magnolia, including AutoZone and an upcoming KFC/Taco Bell restaurant.

Council member Todd Kana said Burdick had done nothing to warrant a dismissal.

“He’s done nothing that I’ve seen or heard of to be removed,” Kana said. However, Sutherland, who was one of three to vote Burdick off, said he did not believe developers should serve on 4B, citing a possible conflict of interest.

Leading the charge for the dismissal of commission members were new councilmen Bramlett and Scott.

Kana believes voters are not getting what they expected when they elected the two to the council last month.

“I don’t know that the citizens wanted this when they voted in new people,” he said.

As iconic names like Smith and Parker were removed one-by-one from key city positions, the frustration at the meeting began to mount.

“This is embarrassing,” said Kana, who voted to retain most board and commission members who were eventually voted off.

Williams echoed his comments.

“It is embarrassing,” she said.

Williams pleaded with other council members to keep the likes of Burdick and other long-time players on the boards and commissions. She explained that if the council were to keep voting off board members, it would be difficult for the city to find qualified people interested in serving.

Williams later chastised the decisions by council members, saying that she was “shocked” and “appalled” by their actions.

“I thought it was a travesty,” she said. “I think the actions placed the city about 10 to 15 years backwards.”

When asked why he wanted to remove Smith and Burdick from their respective positions, Bramlett said, “I just did.”

He then went on to explain that Burdick did not live in the city limits and that he preferred someone to serve on 4B who did. Regarding Smith, Bramlett said that Smith had served on the MRLGC for two and a half years and he thought it was time for a change.

In a later interview, Bramlett said there was “nothing wrong” with Smith and that he had done a good job serving on the MRLGC. Bramlett led a vote to name Richard Eselius to the 4B Corp. and Thomas Timmins, a former council member, to the MRLGC.

“I know they can do a good job,” he said.

However, Kana was not so sure.

“(Timmins) has resigned twice from boards he previously served on, so that shows his lack of enthusiasm,” Kana said.

Timmins could not be reached for comment as of press time last week.

Parker, another former mayor, said he was not necessarily surprised by the council’s decision to remove him from 4B.

“In knowing the people who got elected, it was no surprise,” he said. “Although I thought they would be a little more couth about it. We serve at the pleasure of the council; they have the right to change whoever they want to. But, I don’t think they did a very good job.”

Scott called for a vote to dismiss Bo Mauch from the Planning Commission and replace him with Jo Ann Shermerhorn, a retired business owner and teacher, a vote that passed 3-2, with Kana and Williams in opposition.

When naming her qualifications to serve on the Planning Commission, Scott said of Shermerhorn, “she was part of Urban Cowboy with John Travolta.”

Scott did say he believed those named to the boards and commissions were qualified people.

“I feel that they are good people,” Scott said. “They want to be on there, so give them a chance to serve.”

Sutherland said that the city will likely hire someone to head up the city business, such as a city coordinator. He also said the council will eventually learn to run the city, now that the city manager form of government has been eliminated.

“I think the city council, with a little bit of learning, will be able to deal with the situation quite well,” he said.

Kana believes otherwise.

“If we haven’t already, we’re going to start heading backwards.”

Montgomery County Women’s Center hosted “You’re the Wind Beneath Our Buffalo Wings” law enforcement appreciation night recently. Local law enforcement enjoyed buffalo wings donated by Buffalo Wild Wings in Shenandoah and fresh fruit donated by Edible Arrangements. Each officer was also given a blanket from the women’s shelter to carry in the trunk of their patrol car for victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence because many victims flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. The Women’s Center intends to make this appreciation night for law enforcement an annual event each May. For more information about the Women’s Center, call 281-292-4155 ext. 228.
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Fields Store students discover the world through ‘rabbit’ project

During fall of the 2006-07 school year, Fields Store Elementary Discovery Program students read “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” by Kate DiCamillo. The book is about a China rabbit, named Edward Tulane, who takes a journey during which he learns that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and find the strength to love again.

Fields Store Elementary (FSE) Discovery Program students (back row, left to right) Charlie Castanon, Julia Payne, Travis Hyatt, Kyle Grossman, Jordon Herr, McKenzie Bartlett, Brody Burris, Cheyenne Matson; (front row, left to right) Collin Sims-Davenport, Tim Cone, Jessica McGrew, Dillon Spence, Karla Sanchez, Lane Hamlett, Taylor Znidarsic pose with artifacts they received after a “Discovery” project during the school year.

After reading the book, students were divided into seven teams. Each team prepared a package containing a homemade “Edward” doll, backpack, and journal that was sent into the world in hopes of experiencing a journey as extraordinary as the book’s main character. Each of the seven packages was circulated by mail to friends and family members, who took photos with “Edward,” added journal entries about their life and travels, and collected artifacts along the way.

The packages arrived back at FSE this spring.

One team’s “Edward” arrived in Ellesmere Port, England for a new set of clothes and a tiny English tea tray. Next stop: Barcelona, Spain; then off to Paris, France to see the Eiffel Tower, then down to The Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, for a safari and finally to San Antonio before returning to FSE.

Another team’s package went directly to Yokosuka, Japan, and visited Ikego Elementary School. “Edward” brought back samples of his favorite foods (tomato pretz and lotte chocolate piu) to share with a little yen left over. Then off to Oklahoma where he explored The Black Kettle National Museum, Route 66, new natural gas wells, and memorabilia of Oklahoma’s favorite son, Will Rogers.

“Edward” finished up his trip attending a Texas Tech basketball game, visiting South Plains Church of Christ, and putting in a day of work at the Neonatal ICU, where he had his picture taken with a new 4-pound, 11-ounce baby.

Team number three’s package traveled throughout Florida, Colorado, Alabama, and Georgia. Their “Edward” came home dressed in a Nebraska Cornhuskers T-shirt. Team number four’s package visited Canada, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont, and came home with a CD of the adventure.

Yet another “Edward” visited Oklahoma, where he acquired The Game of Cheyenne, a bag of red dirt, a picture of The Battle of the Washita memorial site, and a copy of the Route 66 PULSE newspaper.

Though two teams’ packages have not yet returned to FSE, the students look forward to seeing the great adventures their “Edward” experienced.

Magnolia Police Department nixes alleged extortion plot

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

An alleged extortion plot involving a Hazy Hollow man was halted by local police after a Magnolia restaurant owner alerted authorities of the scam.

Neftali De La Paz, a 22-year-old Mexican national living legally in the country, was arrested June 9 by Magnolia Police after he was suspected of implementing a plot to extort $5,000 from the owner of a local restaurant, where De La Paz previously worked.

According to Lt. Bo Crabtree of the Magnolia Police Department, the owner of the restaurant, whose name the MPD did not release, called police and notified them he had received a letter demanding the money and that the unknown author of the letter claimed to have “damaging evidence” against him. The letter went on to say that the suspect threatened to burn down the restaurant and cause harm to his family, including the owner’s mother and brothers, Crabtree said.

The letter demanded that the owner drop the money in a specified bucket on Fawn Lake in Hazy Hollow the following day, and to turn over the bucket once the money was inside as a sign that the cash was there.

After speaking with the owner, MPD officers contacted Montgomery County Sheriffs and undercover agents to work the case, Crabtree said.

On the day of the proposed drop, MPD marked vehicles patrolled near the drop scene, but out of site, while undercover agents worked nearby.

The business owner, rather than carrying the cash, toted a bag of shredded phone books to the bucket, where he placed the bag.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., De La Paz went to recover the bucket, where he was quickly arrested, Crabtree said. The suspect was caught on a surveillance camera taking the bucket.

De La Paz eventually confessed to the plot and was arrested and charged with theft with intent to deprive, a third degree felony.

“Texas doesn’t have an extortion law,” Crabtree noted.

According to Crabtree, De La Paz explained that he initiated the scam because he had recently lost his job and had a baby.

Crabtree praised the efforts and the cooperation of both the Magnolia PD and Montgomery County police.

“This entire deal went off without a hitch,” he said. “It was perfectly planned.”

Magnolia resident Karen Lemker was one of several winners across the U.S. of Disney’s Dream Job. Voters nationwide chose her along with 24 other contestants after she submitted a video application. On June 11 Lemker took part in her “dream job” at Disneyland in California. Lemker (right) was a Haunted Mansion Maid and is pictured above entertaining three visitors to the park. Lemker won the opportunity through a Disney and Careerbuilder.com contest, which kicked off in January. Lemker was the lone winner from Texas.
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Illegal immigrant confesses to child molestation, court date set

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

A Mexican immigrant living illegally in Magnolia who confessed to having molested as many as 13 children has received a pre-trial court date of July 12.

Following a May 24 grand jury indictment, Mauricio Romero Ojeda, 29, of Mexico, was arraigned May 31 for a single count of indecency with a child and awaits the July court date without bond.

Ojeda was revived by Magnolia police following his attempted suicide on April 29, according to Lt. Bo Crabtree of the Magnolia Police Department (MPD).

Emergency medical and hospital personnel reported to police that during the hospital transport and subsequent treatment Ojeda claimed he did not deserve to live, said Crabtree.

Ojeda then confessed to having sexually abused his nephew, saying his nephew was only one of 13 children he had sexually abused or molested

EMTs and hospital medical staff reported to police that Ojeda had admitted to having molested the children, including his 7-year-old nephew, while living in a Goodson St. home in Magnolia where Ojeda had been staying with family members for more than a year.

According to police, the nephew confirmed Ojeda’s claim three days later. Along with his parents, the boy was transported to Children’s Safe Harbor in Conroe for counseling and further treatment.

According to Crabtree, Ojeda was released from TRH on April 30 at 2 p.m. The U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) then detained Ojeda for illegal residency. The INS cooperated with Magnolia police in securing a warrant for his arrest.

The warrant was issued on May 1 and Ojeda was arrested for indecency with a child and then extradited from INS detention to the Montgomery County Jail the same day, said Crabtree.

The case is still under investigation. Additional charges are pending the identification of other victims by police. To report information, call 281-356-2500.

The Tomball City Council presented a blue star service flag to the family of Dustin Wayne Osgood, a Lance Cpl. in the United States Marine Corps, who is currently serving overseas in the war on terror. Pictured above, Mayor Gretchen Fagan presented the flag to members of Osgood’s family (from left to right) mother Mary Lee Osgood, brother Dylan Osgood, father Dewayne Osgood, grandmother Gladys Osgood, and grandfather Marvin Osgood.
Photo by Brian Walzel

Positive results in WISD drug testing policy reflects a decrease in usage

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Waller Independent School District recently released the results of the 2006 – 07 Random Drug Testing Program at Waller High School. The results reflect a decrease in the use of illegal drugs, and no usage of alcohol during school hours among the student population

Despite skepticism from some parents that the program discriminated against students and did not include staff, teachers and bus drivers, the district “determined that the use or misuse of illegal drugs, performance-enhancing drugs, and/or alcohol among students in grades 9 – 12 is a problem within our schools and community.”

The district reported that Waller High School saw drug usage by 44 member students in the 2005 – 06 school year. That number decreased by 7 percent in the 2006 – 07 school year to 41 students.

The district contracted with Forward Edge to implement the drug-testing program.

Forward Edge used a computer-generated list of randomly selected students and same-sex facilitators to collect samples from 10 percent of the student population monthly with the exception of April.

The district suspended testing during April due to Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) testing that month.

The program targets all segments of the student population, but uses negative testing as a pre-requisite for “participation in competitive after-school extracurricular activities and/or as a condition of obtaining and maintaining a permit to park on campus,” according to the district.

Waller High School Student Population Tested

Source: WISD 2006-07 Random Drug Testing Program Report

The district end-of-year assessment reported that more than 70 percent of the 1,484 student enrollments were eligible for testing. Of the 1,139 random drug tests administered, 96 percent returned negative results.

The balance of 47 tests produced positive results and was comprised of only 28 candidates “due to students who tested positive multiple times,” the district reported.

Of the 28 students who tested positive, 12 were involved in at least one extra-curricular activity and 16 were not involved in any extra-curricular activities. Two students comprised 19 percent of positive results, while 16 students tested positive once, eight tested positive twice and two tested positive a third time.

None of the positive test results reflected the use of alcohol during school hours. However, 33 tests were positive for marijuana, six tests were positive for cocaine, one test was positive for PCP and four tests were positive for both marijuana and PCP or cocaine.

Increased consequences per infraction include a three-week to one-year suspension from extra-curricular activities and parking privileges, in addition to professional drug counseling and parent conferencing.

Due to lack of participation by students and/or parents the district facilitated only 11 conferences as of May 31.

Theft ring foiled by Tomball, Harris County police

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

On June 7 at approximately 3 p.m. Tomball Police Department received a call from the Tomball Wal-Mart, located at 27650 SH 249, about a possible theft in progress. The store’s loss prevention officers told police that three white males left the store through a side entrance with merchandise and fled the scene in a maroon Jeep Cherokee.

Kevin Wayne Matthews

Shortly after, Cpt. Rick Grassi and Sgt. J. Williams located a vehicle matching the description given by the loss prevention officers and conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of S. Cherry.

When they approached the vehicle, several items believed to be from Wal-Mart were seen inside the vehicle, the department said. The store’s loss prevention personnel were notified and a positive identification of the suspects and property was made. The suspects were then taken into custody and transported to the Tomball Police Department.

William Russell

During Det. Ron McGullion’s investigation, he found that the suspects had been on a crime spree throughout Northwest Harris County over the past several days, victimizing stores and randomly stealing merchandise valued at more than $2,350.

Kohl’s loss prevention officials told McGullion that Harris County Constable Pct. 4 Dep. Kendrick was investigating the thefts that had occurred at their store. McGullion contacted Kendrick and a joint effort was initiated to clear the cases. Through a collaborative investigative process, both agencies were able to file two felony charges against the suspects, including felony theft and engaging in organized criminal activity.

Vance VanHowten

The suspects arrested included Kevin Wayne Matthews, a 42-year-old homeless man who, according to police, is affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood gang; William Russell, a 47-year-old homeless man; and Vance Van Howten, a 28-year-old homeless man.

Tomball Intermediate Teacher Noemi Ferries (left) and her daughter, fifth grade Tomball Intermediate student Maryssa (right), were honored during Tomball ISD’s 21st Annual A+ Banquet May 15. Fifty-five students and 22 teachers district-wide were recognized during the academic awards banquet for excellence in education.
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