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Despite the downpour of rain over the Independence Day holiday, the rockets red glared and the bombs burst in the air at fireworks displays in the area, as well as in hundreds of front yards.
Photo by Cari Herr
Local teen recovering after brutal attack at party
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
A local teenager is recovering from a vicious attack by a group of boys that left him hospitalized and suffering from multiple facial fractures, his mother said last week.
Paul Koronka
Paul Koronka, 19, and a 2006 graduate of Magnolia High School, arrived at a party on Boggs Road on June 23 with a group of friends, his mother Dana Langdon said.
Before they made it in to the party, Koronka’s group was stopped by another group of teens. According to Langdon, one of the other boy’s in Koronka’s group had previously been involved in an altercation with a boy from the other group.
A melee quickly ensued between the groups. Koronka’s group left the scene, his mother said, unknowingly leaving Koronka behind in a pick up truck. The assailants began beating on the truck, shattering the back window. Koronka was pulled from the truck and beaten, Langdon said, by the group, some of whom were allegedly wielding tire irons,
baseball bats and iron pipes.
When Koronka’s friends returned to the scene to find him, Koronka was stumbling down the street, bloodied and badly beaten.
He was immediately taken to Tomball Regional Hospital with multiple fractures to his head and face, facial lacerations and contusions all over his body, Langdon said.
He was then transported by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.
Initially, doctors believed Koronka would need to undergo surgery to his cheekbones to support his fractured eye sockets, Langdon said. But they discovered the fractures were not as serious as they had previously thought and Koronka did not need to have the procedure.
“He’s making progress, little by little,” Langdon said. “Thanks to prayer, he has not had to endure any surgery.”
The only procedure that Koronka did undergo was to align his teeth, which had been shoved back during the assault.
While there have been no arrests made in the case, the fight is being investigated by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Langdon said her son does know the name of several of the boys who attacked him, but she would not disclose them.
“I was shocked and dumbfounded that (the assailants) have so much hate in their system,” she said. “For the slightest little thing, they attack someone.”
Anyone with additional information regarding the events of Koronka’s attack or any persons involved are urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-967-5828.
Wildwood UMC’s Christ Singers perform at Notre Dame
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
The Christ Singers of Wildwood United Methodist Church (UMC) recently returned from a concert by invitation only at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
The Christ Singers of Wildwood United Methodist Church recently performed at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France by invitation only on June 4. Pictured, (left to right) are Kathy Kirkland, Becky Christiansen, LeeAnn Dansby, Leigh Kirkland, accompanist Carrol O’Brien, Claire Van Hooser, John Christiansen, Emma Garcia, Bruce Packard, Rev. Rusti Moore, Tom Polkinghorn, Director of Music Gershom Garcia and Alan Moore.
The Christ Singers of Wildwood United Methodist Church (UMC) recently returned from a concert by invitation only at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
“Because the church was founded just five years ago, the honored performance was especially notable,” said Wildwood’s pastor, Reverend Rusti Moore.
Notre Dame was one of four cathedrals across France and Italy where the group performed over a 10-day tour from May 31 to June 9.
The Christ Singers also presented concerts at the Santa Maria domed cathedral in Pisa, the Santa Maria dei Ricci Church in Florence, Italy and St. Paul’s Cathedral in Rome.
In January, the ensemble group began practicing several complex musical selections in Latin, French, Spanish and Swahili, as well as selections in English, such as traditional gospel arrangements of, “Give Me Jesus” and “He Never Failed Me Yet.”
Wildwood’s Music Director Gershom Garcia initiated the application process to Notre Dame in the late fall of last year. For the performance at Notre Dame, demonstration recordings were sent months in advance in anticipation of the invitation.
The concert included seven a capella pieces and six pieces accompanied by organist Carrol O’Brien, who had the opportunity to play the historic organs in each church, as well as three solos.
“While tourists may view the monolithic interior of the Notre Dame cathedral much like a museum, the start of the performance initiated a hush over those present, drawing a sense of reverence to the event that brought to light the true purpose of the cathedral, one of spiritual worship,” said Garcia. “Mozart’s “Ave Verum” was the high point for many who attended the concert.”
The ensemble consists of 13 members, including Garcia and Moore. In addition, 11 church members accompanied the group across Europe. Moore presented a seminar on the biblical significance of the catacombs in Rome as part of the tour, which included visits to several historic and religious sites.
Wildwood UMC, located at 8911 FM 1488, offers traditional and contemporary worship services. For more information, call 832-934-0100.
Pictured (left to right at the table) Waller County Bracy Island 4H Club members Allyson Payne, Julia Payne and Kyle Friedel along with other members sold chopped beef sandwiches, hotdogs and drinks as a fundraiser at a fireworks display held July 3 at the Oil Ranch in Hockley.
Photo by Cari Herr
Tomball ISD announces registration, orientation dates for 07-08 school year
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
The Tomball Independent School District has announced its registration dates for new district students and orientation for the 2007-08 school year.
For all but two schools, Beckendorf Intermediate and Northpointe Intermediate, registration will begin on Aug. 8.
The following is a list of registration and orientation dates:
Tomball High School
Registration will be held from Aug. 8 to 10 from 8 to 11 a.m. and from noon to 2 p.m. Orientation for students whose last name begins with A through L will be held Aug. 13 from 8 to 11 a.m., and M through Z from noon to 3 p.m. Camp Cougar for new district students will be held Aug. 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. Schedules will be available for pick up after Aug. 27. For more information, call 281-357-3220.
Tomball Junior High
Registration will be held from Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation and schedule pickup for seventh graders will be held on Aug. 22; for eighth graders whose last name begins with A through E on Aug. 23 from 8 to 9:15 a.m., F through L from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m., M through R from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and S through Z from 12:45 to 2 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3000.
Willow Wood Junior High
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation and schedule pickup for seventh graders will be held Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Schedule pickup for eighth graders will be Aug. 22 from 1:20 to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3030.
Beckendorf Intermediate
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation and schedule pickup for fifth graders will be held Aug. 21, for sixth graders on Aug. 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. for students whose last name begins with A through M, and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. for N through Z. Parent orientation will be held Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3200.
Northpointe Intermediate
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation and schedule pickup will be held Aug. 16 from 8 to 9 a.m. for sixth graders; and on Aug. 17 from 8 to 9 a.m. for fifth grade students whose last name begins with A through E, from 9 to 10 a.m. for F through J, from 10 to 11 a.m. for K through O, from 1 to 2 p.m. for P through S, and from 2 to 3 p.m. for T through Z. For more information, call 281-357-3020.
Tomball Intermediate
Registration will be held from Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Orientation and schedule pickup will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 21 for fifth graders and Aug. 22 at for sixth graders whose last name begins with A through F, at 10 a.m. for G through M, at 1 p.m. for N through S and at 2 p.m. for T through Z. For more information, call 281-357-3150.
Decker Prairie Elementary
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Orientation will be held Sept. 4 for parents whose students are in K through second and on Sept. 11 for parents whose students are in third and fourth grades. Both orientations will be held from 6:15 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3134.
Lakewood Elementary
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Orientation will be held Sept. 4 for parents whose students are in K through second and Sept. 11 for parents whose students are in third and fourth grades. Both orientations will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3260.
Rosehill Elementary
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Orientation for parents whose students are in K through second will be held Sept. 4 and for parents whose students are in third and fourth grades on Sept. 11. Both orientations will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3075.
Tomball Elementary
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Orientation for all parents will be held Sept. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3280.
Willow Creek Elementary
Registration will be held Aug. 8 through 10 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Orientation for parents whose students are in K through second will be held Sept. 4 and for parents whose students are in third and fourth grades on Sept. 11. Both orientations will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 281-357-3080.
Tomball College production of ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ features community cast
The Tomball College Theater production of the musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress,” scheduled for July 12-14, features a talented cast of community members as well as college students and employees.
Pictured, cast members of “Once Upon a Mattress” during a 2006 performance of the play.
The Tomball College Theater production of the musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress,” scheduled for July 12-14, features a talented cast of community members as well as college students and employees.
The play is a musical version of the story “The Princess and the Pea.” It is based on the book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller, with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer.
Performances will be held in the college’s Black Box Theater at 7:30 p.m. on July 12-14 with 2 p.m. matinees on July 14 and 15.
Featured in the cast is Patti Miller, a local junior high teacher who plays Queen Aggravain, Jayleen Miller, a bank manager in Tomball, and Teresa Bryant, who is active in The Regional Arts Council. Miller and Bryant portray ladies-in-waiting.
Other cast members include Jerry Williams as King Sextimus the Silent, John Norris as the Minstrel, Jared Barnes as Prince Dauntless, Richard Becker as Wizard, Corey Green as Jester, Suzanne Kelly as Lady Larken, June Becker as Lady Rowena, Linda Ball as Lady Merril, Debi Van Fleet as Lady Lucille, Anthony Silva as Sir Harry, Sherry Van Fleet as Princess Winnifred, and Katie Brown as Mabel.
Hannah Pace, Stephanie Hernandez, Jordan Miller, Kristen Anderson, and Theresa Hunt also have featured roles.
Tickets are $10 for students, seniors and college employees, and $12 for the general public. For information, call 281-357-3654.
Magnolia council reviews City Hall layout
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
RWS Architects presented a footprint of the Magnolia City Hall for council’s approval at a June 26 meeting.
Pictured, Malcolm Gaus of RWS Architects presents plans for the redesigned Magnolia City Hall to the city council at a June 26 meeting.
As much as 9,810 square-feet of facilities were outlined by RWS Vice President Malcolm Gaus. Plans for the police department include a secured front entry for the police station and a holding area, offices, restrooms, as well as an officer locker room.
The municipal court with jury room and data storage is combined with the city council chambers, front lobby entrances and public restrooms. Access to the court clerks, Judge’s Chambers and Marshall are through the front lobby, as well as administrative offices for the city secretary, permitting, payroll, records retention, and public works.
The layout also includes private restrooms and a break room for staff members.
In response to requests from council members for alterations to the plan, RWS Principal Cheryl Lawrence said the plans had been “tweaked” six times already.
“This is the best plan we could come up with to accommodate all the department needs,” said Gaus.
From the Book of Clifford
By Clifford Parker
Contributing Writer
Is it just me, or has anyone else ever REALLY watched the commercials on TV? After reviewing them for a few weeks, I began to chuckle at the messages they are sending.
Bear with me now, because this story may not seem much to you, but I find the commercials sometimes down right stupid. I guess there have always been dumb commercials, but many of them have been pushed to a lower level of dumbness by laws that have been passed supposedly to protect us. Sell us something then disclaim everything with the little fine print or a real fast talker.
Consider the commercial for a new truck that says you can go from zero to 60 in less than 10 seconds while pulling a 10,000-pound load! Is that dumb or what? What goofy driver, pulling a 10,000-pound load needs to get up to speeds of 60 miles-per-hour in less than 10 seconds? Is his load a ton of manure and he needs to stay in front of the smell before it catches up to him? Is his load on fire? What’s the hurry? Is he in a race or something? Maybe he lost part of his load on the highway and he needs to outrun the road raged driver next to him! Nothing wrong with going 60 on an open road, but you sure don’t need to get there in ten seconds! (Don’t try this at home! Driven by professional drivers on a closed course and not on the 610 Loop.)
How about the commercial that shows an SUV driving near a construction sight when a load of pipes breaks loose from a truck and comes plundering down a hill! The commercial shows the driver with a carload of children never pressing on the brakes. Instead they show the vehicle swerving across the road to miss the load and you never see the brake lights come on. They are advertising the stability of the machine when they should be advertising the brakes. Why don’t people know how to slow down instead of swerving across the other lane of traffic? (Do not attempt this maneuver with children in your car or while you have been taking some of our advertiser’s medications!)
How about the advertisements that are provided to us by the pharmaceutical companies? Now don’t misunderstand me, I am a firm believer in good medicine and I am also a firm believer in profits, but why do you have to show all of the side effects of a drug on televisions? If you take XYZ medicine it will cure your health problem, but you may then suffer from ingrown toenails, foot rot, disintegrating ears and your lips may fall off, but at least we have cured your dandruff!
Yessirree!
(Do not take this medication if you are drunk, thinking about getting drunk or have been drunk in the past 20 years!)
Have you ever thought about backing your truck up to a train and having them jerk on the frame of your truck with the train engine? Or how about pulling 16,000 pounds of cargo over a cliff while it’s tied to your bumper? Reckon you can pull it back up from the side of the cliff?
(Do not tie your truck to a train, train tracks or any other part of a train unless you are trying to scam somebody or unless you are trying to prove to your buddy your truck is stronger than his.)
Even our weather people have gotten into the act of silly newsbreaks.
Your favorite show may be playing and then the station will interrupt the show to promptly announce… “a large line of thunderstorms in headed our way and they may be here sometime next week! Large drops of rain will penetrate the dust that has fallen on your car and bird droppings will be washed away after being baked in the hot sun before the rain!”
The weather has become too much of a news item in my opinion.
At least the mattress guys and a few of the insurance companies have the right idea.
If you’re gonna’ make a commercial that is meant to be funny, make it funny. Don’t try to come across as a professionally made advertisement and then deny everything you just advertised in small print.
Over the years, I have had some favorites.
Some have been funny and some have been down right dumb. Some of the disclaimers make me belly laugh. Especially the one warning men that if certain things occur for a period of four hours go see their doctor.
Commercials are supposed to sell, but I must confess, there are very few brand names that I can remember, unless they are funny or silly.
I may remember the type of product being sold but there is no way I can remember the brand names associated with the commercial. I guess I’m only half sold.
Clifford
Tomball PD seeking community input during ‘Blue Days’
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
The Tomball Police Department (TPD) is turning to the community to get new ideas of how it can better serve the city.
Through the Blue Days of Summer program, Tomball police officers will be visiting area neighborhoods to visit with citizens in order to “expand (its) community based policing efforts,” according to a release by the department.
“It’s basically the opportunity for the police department to go out into the community so we can meet the neighbors, get their opinions on things, and create an open line of communication instead of them having to come to us,” said Capt. Rick Grassi.
The department will set up its mobile command center in various Tomball neighborhoods beginning July 23 in order to meet with residents.
This year marks the first in which the department has taken part in the program.
Grassi said a key ingredient to a successful police department is keeping open lines of communication with the community it serves.
“I think it’s always important to keep communication with the community and go out there to them and make sure you’re meeting their expectations,” he said.
He added that community involvement is an important part of law enforcement.
“It’s important to let citizens know their opinions do count,” he added.
Members of the TPD will be serving hot dogs and drinks, offering fingerprinting for children, taking surveys, and distributing information about the police department, crime prevention, and neighborhood-based tactics.
Residents can participate in the Blue Days of Summer by visiting with TPD officers at the following dates and locations:
July 23, Country Meadows Subdivision, 6 to 8 p.m.
July 24, North Star Estates Subdivision, 6 to 8 p.m.
July 25, Sherwood Forest Subdivision, 6 to 8 p.m.
July 26, Springwood Subdivision, 6 to 8 p.m.
July 27, Spring Creek Valley Subdivision, 6 to 8 p.m.
July 28, Dartford Square Complex, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call the Tomball Police Department at 281-351-5451.
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The Tribune goes behind ‘The Walls’ at Huntsville prison
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
When the Lone Star Chapter of The Sons of the Republic of Texas invited the Tribune for a tour behind “The Walls,” nothing President John Homman might have said could have prepared the way for the 150-year slip back in time.
Pictured above, the East and South Buildings of the Huntsville Prison were closed in 1990 and are protected by the Huntsville Historical Society from being renovated and reopened for inmate housing. The brick has been left in tact in rows 4-6, but has been cemented over in rows 1-3.
Photo by Cari Herr
It is the first prison built in Texas and some say it is haunted. Not surprisingly, the Huntsville Unit of the Texas State Penitentiary System is the only facility that carries out the death sentence and was home to more than 1,650 convicts as of June 30.
“That’s 1,650 murderers, rapists, and killers on the yard out there,” said Sgt. Blake. He is a prison tour guide and historian and an 18-year veteran as a Huntsville Unit guard who “has been institutionalized,” he said.
The Walls Unit, located at 815 12th Street, is aptly named for the 20-foot tall, redbrick wall topped with chain link fencing and razor wire. When the facility opened in 1849 just four years after Texas achieved statehood and 13 years after the Alamo fell, the first warden was also the architect.
Today, the prison houses only men, and those are the more mature inmates and long timers in the system. The rest are transferred to other facilities, “to keep the tourists safe,” said Blake.
During one of three prison tours offered a week, the silence of the old East Building is broken only by the sound of a horn blast signaling the time for a count of the inmates. One horn for the start of count, two for the finish, three times a shift.
The inmate count inside The Walls was just 55 short of the 1,705 maximum capacity. It’s reassuring to know none are missing, said one member of the tour group.
The original six cells that housed the first three prisoners sat on 98.8-acres near the original home of Sam Houston and are contained in the eerie quiet of East Building.
The old Death Row, named 7 Row, is sealed and unused, and the South Building contains rows 8-12.
Closed in 1990, the chipped brick and layers of multi-colored peeling paint in the two buildings are left as is, along with the wooden stair steps, grooved from years of wear. The water and electrical pipes added in the early 1900s stand out against the brick.
Given the chance, some inmates would forego the ghostly rumors and their own superstitions to return to the comfort of these cells, said Blake. However, it is no longer used for inmate housing by order of the Huntsville Historical Society.
In the long ago days, prisoners experienced lush accommodations with springs on the bunk bed frames, domed ceilings, and more than an arm’s breadth between thick interior cell walls, which kept prisoners cool in summer and warm in winter.
It is rumored that the old prison and cemetery are haunted, with several ghosts being reported over the years.
Myth or mystery, South Building is the main subject of the prison’s haunting. Two “ghosts” have been reported seen escaping in the night, said Blake.
During the prisoner count one evening, Sgt. Holmes, who still works at the prison, saw someone walk through the cell bars and through the building walls, said Blake. Shortly thereafter, the picket boss reported that someone walked through “the walls” of the prison at that same time.
On another occasion during the count after lock-down, Capt. Rod Kukua, then a rookie guard, claimed to have seen a prisoner standing outside a cell on 9 Row, then walk around the corner and disappear, said Blake. The count confirmed no prisoners were missing.
The facility covers 140 acres today, including inmate intake and housing, library, commissary, infirmary and the “Death House.” Half of the complex is dedicated to prison inmate industry, including an automotive maintenance shop, craft shop and laundry.
The craft shop is a “market square” of sorts for the convicts who have skills and talents and can earn a dollar while doing their time. A tourist can purchase high quality leather and woodwork pieces, along with jewelry, metal works, and wall hangings made by the inmates.
The prison does not profit from the purchases, unless you count a more manageable populace as profitable. Convicts must acquire their own tools and materials and are allowed to deposit their profits into a trust account.
It is one of the few luxuries of time that inmates have in the day-to-day living of chow hall and chapel and the endless prisoner counts, often punctuated by a scheduled execution.
The infirmary was once the quarters for the “Death House,” where convicts were ushered to the electric chair. However, the location that houses Texas’ death row inmates was moved to the Ellis Unit and then to Livingston, said Blake.
“That’s a good thing. We don’t want to know too much about this fellow,” he said. “It’s easier to do our job.”
There are more than 375 inmates on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, which has a 2,900-inmate capacity. The wait is often as long as 8 to 10 years for a death sentence to be carried out due to the need to exhaust all appeals.
Texas leads the nation in performing executions. Behind The Walls, 397 death sentences by lethal injection have been carried out since 1982.
“We make it as solemn and professional as we can,” said Blake. “We offer the convict as much dignity as possible. We’re not here to punish him. We’re here to carry out the orders of the state.”
All deceased prisoners including death-row inmates, whose bodies are not claimed, are buried in Joe Byrd Cemetery. The graves are marked with the names and inmate numbers of the deceased.
The ghostly reports and the headstones of the victims and convicts alike are all that remain with the passing of time.
Swimming cools the summer heat, gets kids out of the rain
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
Though usually a relief from the Texas heat, swimming at the Magnolia High School (MHS) Natatorium may be just the thing for kids stuck indoors due to the prolonged rainy season in the area.
Pictured (left to right), Dalton Sontag learns to dive from Tucker Bufkin, a member of the Magnolia Aquatic Club Piranha’s swim team at the Magnolia High School Natatorium.
Located on the MHS campus, the natatorium offers swimming for all ages through Aug. 2.
The Magnolia Aquatic Club and the Diving Club meet throughout the year, while competition swim teams, water aerobic classes, group and private swimming lessons and public swimming are available at a variety of costs through the summer.
Swim lesson groups are broken down into various age categories: Guppies (up to age 4), Turtles (age 5 or more), Stingrays (age 6 or more), and Dolphin (ages 6-10). Two sessions remain for the summer: July 9 through July 19 and July 23 through Aug. 2.
Open swimming is available Monday through Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The natatorium is closed on Fridays for maintenance. Family membership or daily usage fees apply. For more information, log on to www.magnoliaisd.org, or call 281-356-1106.
Tomball Thunder win Texas Championship tournament
The Tomball Thunder, an 8U girl’s softball all-star team based out of Burroughs Park, recently won the 2007 All-Stars of Texas Championship in Sugar Land.
Pictured (back row, left to right), coaches Jim Gleason, Tom Goike, Kylie Boucher, and manager Ben Vongontard; middle row (left to right), Katilyn Goike, Kaylee Byrd, Sarah Bowden, Trystan Melancon, Kamryn Boucher, and Alexa Vongontard; front row (left to right), Sydney Sandoval, Taylor Crawford, Emily Langkamp, Madison Jackowski, Jenna Gleason, and Rachael Freed.
League players each excelled with their respective teams and took on the challenge of playing tournament softball throughout the summer. With only two weeks to prepare, the team worked hard practicing twice a week as well as at home. In only their second tournament as a team, the team finished undefeated in tournament play.
In the first pool game of the tournament, the Thunder brought out the bats and rallied to beat the Crush. Two hours later, the Dynamite fell victim in the second pool game to an almost flawless defense and even more crushing hits.
After a long delay before their third game, the Thunder once again faced the Dynamite. However, this time the Dynamite came to play and held the Thunder off until late in the game when the rally began and the Thunder came away with the victory.
The next team to fall was the Katy Force. The Thunder came away with a tough win after stopping the Force with the bases loaded. The Thunder left the fields and headed home with one more game between them and the championship.
The following day, the Thunder arrived at Imperial Park to face the Crush. Each team remained scoreless until the bottom of the second, when the scoring began. Both squads exchanged runs, leaving the score tied until the bottom of the final inning.
With the bases full of Thunder players, a hard shot to center field brought home the winning run, sending the Thunder to the finals. The team finally took the field to face the Sugar Land Smash in the tournament championship. The home field advantage worked for the Smash as they fought back through the loser’s bracket to advance to the finals after defeating the Crush.
The Thunder showed no mercy as they started the first inning with six runs and a defense that gave it their all. After only 30 minutes of a scheduled 65 minute game, the defense again put out the lights.
With a stoppage due to runs scored, the Thunder claimed the tournament championship. The team gathered near home plate and was crowned the “All-Stars of Texas” Champions. The Thunder finished 4-0 in bracket play and 6-0 for the tournament.
Texas Star Military Officers attend Sugar Land camp
The Texas Star Military Officers recently attended Officer Training Camp with HTEDance at the Town Square Marriott in Sugar Land.
Pictured above, the Texas Star Military Officers recently attended Officer Training Camp where the team won several awards, including the Friendship Boot.
Along with Texas Star, 30 military officer lines from the Houston area also attended the camp.
Two ladies received special recognition from the academy. Melissa Moroney received honors in the dance division and Jennifer Simms received honors in the kick division. Both students have been invited to attend a trip to Paris in 2008.
For the third year in a row, the officer line received a total of four spirit sticks, joining the high honor with three other schools. The officers also won awards for outstanding choreography, technique, leadership and a special staff award for unity.
For the first time with HTEDance, the other schools voted the officers as the most admired officer line. They received the single most coveted award with HTEDance, the Friendship Boot.
Texas Star is under the direction of Rachael Burch and Tracy Mentlewski. The Texas Star officers are Col. Jennifer Simms, Lt. Col. Melissa Moroney and Lts. Brandi Douglas, Megan Goble, Sarah Lane, and Kayla Taylor.
Waller County Duchess goes to Nashville, cuts new CD ‘It’s About Time’
By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff
For those loyal Texans who are not natives, the old saying, “I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could,” rings true, and Katrina Scarlette is no exception.
Katrina Scarlette, a local Waller County singer, opened for NASH 3 at the Houston Hobby Center on July 4.
Though Scarlette was born in St. Louis, Mo., the 19-year-old singing sensation says, “I love Texas. I sing for ya’ll.”
Scarlette is definitely a local girl. She is a 2005 graduate of Waller High School and former president of the Fields Store 4-H Club. Scarlette also boasts the Duchess seat of the 2005 Waller County Fair and worked as a Magnolia Volunteer Firefighter for a year in 2006.
Over several years, Scarlette has racked up a score of experience. From the Idylwild Performing Arts Academy at Palm Springs in 2001, and being chosen as a finalist in the 2004 Best Country Singer in Houston competition, to a UIL solo rating of 1 in her senior year.
But, Scarlette didn’t stop there. She has spent the last two years touring, preparing for the recent release of her first music CD, “Its About Time.”
Listeners will hear a mix of country tunes and ballads, a Spanish hymn and her unique version of, “In God We Still Trust,” a popular patriotic song written by CD producers NASH 3 of Houston on the recently released CD.
Scarlette traveled to Nashville to work on the CD with some of country music’s most talented musicians, including bass guitar player Spady Brannan and piano/keyboard player Gary Primm, who also directed the CD layout.
Scarlette has performed live at the Sam Houston Race Track and the Houston Motor Sports Speedway, across the United States and in Mexico. She recently opened for NASH 3 at the Houston Hobby Center in a 4th of July celebration.
The versatility of being bilingual has set Scarlette up for a tour through Florida in late summer with a tour of Texas scheduled for 2008.
For more information, log on to www.KatrinaScarlette.com or email
KatrinaMusic@gmail.com.
Pictured, new Tomball City Councilman Bill Webb (right) was sworn into the Position 2 council seat at the July 2 meeting of the council by Mayor Gretchen Fagan (left). Webb was to have been sworn in at the June 25 meeting, but was late and missed the ceremony. After he was sworn in, Webb apologized to the council.
Photo by Brian Walzel
Tomball set for appraisal on Hooks Airport
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
With Governor Rick Perry recently signing into law legislation that will allow the City of Tomball to annex the property that houses Hooks Airport, city officials are now initiating the bidding process to purchase the facility.
According to Interim City Manager Mary Coker, the city has met with representatives from three appraisal firms, all of which will perform appraisals on the airport.
In her report to the city council last week, Coker said she met late last month with representatives from TxDOT and Jag Gill, owner of Hooks Airport.
According to her report, TxDOT “will negotiate costs and discuss timelines with the three firms performing the appraisals.”
Tomball and Gill will pay 10 percent of the appraisal costs, while the FAA will foot the remaining 90 percent of the bill through federal Non-Primary Entitlement money.
The appraisal could take until the end of the year, perhaps five or six months, she said.
Also in the process of being completed is a master plan study, which is still several months from being finished.
“All of that needs to be completed first,” Coker said.
The master plan study of the airport involves evaluating several aspects of the facility, including environmental and financial impacts, needed improvements to the airport, and a drainage study.
Although the annexation bill has been passed and signed into law, Coker says the city won’t annex Hooks until the purchase is completed.
“We need to get a few of these other steps completed,” she said.
Part of the annexation process, she added, will be negotiations between Tomball and the City of Houston, which currently has in its limits a strip of land between the airport and Tomball.
Houston Mayor Bill White and Houston officials have expressed their support for the purchase.
In its last session, the Texas Legislature passed a bill that would allow Tomball to annex a non-contiguous portion of land, which Perry later signed into law.
Before he retired, former City Manager Ben Griffin estimated that the city could make an offer on the airport by the fall, or by the end of the year at the latest.
Coker wasn’t quite as sure the offer or purchase would come that soon, but she remained optimistic.
“Hopefully, by the end of the year we’ll be able to move forward,” she said.
Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle’s Bible quizzers win state championship
The Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle’s junior Bible quiz team walked away undefeated in the beginner division at state finals held in Tyler on July 1.
Pictured, Dylan Szumanski took home the first place trophy for the highest overall average at the Bible quiz state finals July 1.
“I am so proud of the boys,” said Junior Bible Quiz Coach Stacey Lynn. “In addition to them all knowing 100 percent of their material, they have really learned to take direction and play as a team.”
Magnolia competed against 18 other teams in the beginner division in a double elimination tournament. The Magnolia team consisted of 7-year-old Chancellor Huffman and two first year quizzers, 8-year-old Dylan Szumanski and 7-year-old Joshua Bedingfield, all of Magnolia.
Szumanski was also awarded the first place trophy for having the highest overall average, with an average of 100 points per game, which landed him first place on the all-tournament team.
In order to participate and compete in Junior Bible Quizzing, children in the beginner division must commit to memory 167 verses of scripture. This year the material that was selected covered Bible heroes, including Noah, Moses, Joseph, Gideon, Ruth, and David.
Dedication to this type of competition takes hours of time each day over approximately a nine-month period.
Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle is located in the heart of Magnolia and has served the community of Magnolia for almost 30 years under the direction of community leader and founding Pastor Steve Wehrle.
For more information on Magnolia Apostolic Tabernacle, visit
www.magnoliaapostolic.org. For more tournament details, visit
www.upcquiz.com.
Tomball High School grad Joseph serving in Iraq
Cpl. Jadd Joseph, a 2004 graduate of Tomball High School, recently received the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Certificate of Commendation. He is currently serving in Ramadi, Iraq.
Tomball High School graduate Cpl. Jadd Joseph is currently serving in the U.S Marine Corps in Ramadi, Iraq.
During his deployment, Joseph took part in missions to provide security to the explosive ordinance disposal detail to discover and destroy improved explosive devices. During these missions, he served as a radio operator where he learned the tactics, techniques and procedures of communicators, freeing up his vehicle commander to concentrate on the mission at hand rather than radio transmissions, for which he received the award.
Joseph enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 2005 and began training as a cannoneer, operating the Howitzer Cannon. He was deployed to Iraq in March of 2006 and was stationed near Camp Fallujah.
He returned to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in October 2006. He married Brittney Ray, a graduate of Magnolia High School, in December 2006 and later volunteered to return to Iraq to support the Kilo Company. While stationed in Iraq, Joseph is helping to provide convoy security as a Humvee turret gunner. He is due back in the U.S. in early November.
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