Tomball in midst of residential boom

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

With the Tomball City Council considering the approval of a 232-acre residential plat, the city is in the midst of a new home boom unlike anything it has ever seen, according to one city official.

The city’s Director of Finance, Monica Kohlenberg, said 789 new homes are scheduled to be built in three new subdivisions in Tomball, a number which does not include 111 plots planned for an upscale residential and commercial development at the corner of FM 2920 and FM 2978.

That brings the total number of new homes planned for the city in the very near future at 900, a projection which would bring the city millions in tax revenues and fees.

The city held a public hearing for approval of the Reserve at Spring Lakes at its Aug. 20 city council meeting, a development on Zion Road which could bring in more than 375 new homes.

Barring any setbacks, the council could approve the plat in the coming months.

That project would join Pine Country, Raleigh Creek, and Bridgewater Estates as the newest neighborhoods within the city.

“That kind of new residential development, all kicking off at approximately the same time, will be a pace that Tomball has not experienced,” Kohlenberg said.

Spring Lakes, Raleigh Creek and Pine Country all utilize Public Improvement Districts (PID), which provide special services and improvements beyond what is normally provided for by the city, such as landscaping, parking and enhanced security.

Property owners in the PID pay special fees into a fund administered by the city in conjunction with an advisory body.

According to Kohlenberg, the three PIDs have home values starting at $225,000 to $250,000 with a combined projected assessed valued at build out of approximately $203 million, a projection which Kohlenberg calls a conservative number.

“But as the development builds out, the cost to construct will increase, as well as the different price ranges of homes offered,” Kohlenberg said.

At the city’s current tax rate, and based on the $203 million assessed value, tax revenues paid to the city would be more than $500,000 for the three developments that utilize PIDs.

“A home with a permit value of $250,000 will pay approximately $5,600 in total permit, inspection, plan review, tap and impact fees,” she said.

With 789 new homes in the three PIDs, that translates into more than $4 million in combined fees that the city would collect.

However, that estimate could be a low projection, as well. Kohlenberg said the city’s cost for inspections and plan reviews “will definitely increase,” which would be offset by adjusted costs for review fees.

“With the population growth comes increases in local sales tax and franchise fees,” she said.

Bridgewater Estates, part of the Lakes at Crosspoint development, utilizes a different funding entity, a Tax Increment Revenue Zone (TIRZ).

“In a tax increment zone, the city only receives property tax revenue earned on the value of the land in the base year, which is the year the zone is create,” Kohlenberg said.

As the assessed value of the zone increases, the city continues to receive the taxes on the base value, but the taxes earned on the increased value is set aside to reimburse the developer for the project costs, Kohlenberg explained.

“The city keeps all revenues earned through permit, inspection, plan review, tap and impact fees, sales tax and franchise fees,” she added.

The projected revenue for Tomball over the 30-year life span of the zone for Bridgewater Estates from ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, hotel occupancy tax and franchise fees is estimated at $64 million.

Each of the four developments are within the city limits of Tomball. With the residential growth in the Northpointe area and along FM 2920 east of the city, the Tomball area is fast becoming a hot spot for new homes in Northwest Houston.

SOS Back-to-School Fashion Show a huge success

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The Society of Samaritans is on to something with its Back-To-School Fashion Show, and that means more Magnolia area school aged children will have the chance to start the first day of school with a little more confidence and self-esteem than before.

Carol Yost models during the SOS fashion show.

That was the hope of SOS in 2006 when Sissy Everett originated the idea of a fashion show that would give people a chance to have a good time, as well as benefit community children.

“It was Sissy Everett’s dream,” said Fashion Show Director Robin Carter, “to put a brand new outfit on every boy and girl on the first day of school.”

The fundraiser netted more than $4,500 at the end of the day, well over last year’s $1,800. As bidders contended for the best silent auction items, 300 plates of barbecue were served, more than doubling last year’s number.

A welcome addition to this year’s venue was the live entertainment that kept hands clapping and feet tapping. A group of local music ministers who call themselves “Different ” lived up to their name, entertaining with traditional gospel and contemporary Christian music.

More than 70 models signed up for the show this year and all together donated more than 300 hand picked clothing combinations to needy children for the coming school year.

Jason Clifford won first place in the boy’s high school division at the Aug. 19 SOS Back-to-School Fashion Show.

This year’s panel of judges included Montgomery County Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Matt Masden, Pct. 2 County Commissioner Administrative Assistant Charlie Riley, Magnolia Independent School District Trustee Billy Thompson, Magnolia Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Anne Sundquist, City of Magnolia Municipal Court Clerk Margie Williamson, and Sam Houston State University’s 2005 Miss Bear Kat Kelsey Rosenthal-Hagendorf.

The “Glitz and Glamour” series was introduced by music from Prince’s “Afterlife” as haze from a fog machine settled over the stage. The new segue of the Fashion Show was interrupted by the school’s fire alarm system as a result of the fog.

Spectators were forced into the afternoon sun, awaiting an “all clear” from the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department.

“Despite that, the show was more successful than we ever imagined,” said Carter.

In the pre-K through K category, Kelsey Kluna and Christian Villarreal took home the girls and boys first place position, while Emily Merner and Cameron Carter were the winner in the first to second grade girls and boys category. In the third through fifth grade girls and boys category, Shelby Reynolds and Zachary Wegner received first place and in the junior high division Ally Raymond and Taylor Villarreal were the girls and boys first place winners.

The high school division saw an increase in more entries than any other category. Lauren Ojerman and Jason Clifford were awarded first place in the girls and boys categories.

Executive Director Judy Everett began SOS as a service ministry more than 20 years ago, said Board of Director Monica Grandenetti during her welcome address. “There’s a coming together in the community of all faiths, creeds and cultures for the benefit of our children.”

SOS is a volunteer-driven non-profit food bank and service agency. Funding is provided through private donations, as well as a Montgomery County Community Development Block Grant.

For more information on volunteering time and resources, call 281-259-8452 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kaiser leading Cougars into new era

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The 2007 Tomball Cougar football season is poised to be a landmark year for the program. For the first time in more than a decade, the Cougars will be lead by someone other than Pat Patterson, who retired after the 2006 season.

Gone are the grind-it-out option offense and the scattershot defensive schemes.

In steps Tommy Kaiser, a former Cougar assistant coach who most recently turned the Dobie Longhorns into a Houston area football success story. He was hired to bring Tomball back to Texas high school football relevancy.

Tomball hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2003, and with relatively low enrollment numbers compared to the larger schools in the their district, has struggled to compete with the likes of schools in the Cy-Fair and Klein areas.

Kaiser brings with him a stable full of new coaches, including a new offensive coordinator in Sam Smith, who is looking to install a passing game which had previously been all but non-existent in recent years under Patterson.

Kaiser will turn to junior quarterback Chad Tarhini to lead the air attack, while senior Isaiah Reed will be called on to head up the running game.

“Tarhini is better in passing, but Isaiah has got a little more speed,” Kaiser said.

The offense will move from the option to an I attack, giving Kaiser the flexibility to mix the passing game in with the running game.

“We’ll break that I a lot and move the fullback out, use three wideouts, and have more of a diversified offense,” Kaiser said. “We’ll still run basic plays, but we really worked on the throwing game.”

Kaiser said that both Tarhini and Reed spent time in the off-season taking part in the school’s 7-on-7 program and summer workout drills.

Defensively, the Cougars will line up in a standard 4-3 set, abandoning a scheme that saw them play a variety of base defenses under the Patterson era. However, Kaiser said the overall scheme will not differ much from past years.

While recent teams under Patterson struggled to break the .500 mark, the former coach didn’t exactly leave the cupboard bare.

Returning to the team this year is senior Ross Forsythe, who is expected to be the anchor of a good offensive line. Kaiser expects Forsythe to catch the eye of a Division I college team by the end of the year.

Last year’s quarterback, Keaton Smith moves to running back, joining Brandon Blanks in a backfield, which should keep the first down chains moving.

Defensively, the Cougars are led by senior cornerback Nick Chavez and James Jacobsen, who moved from fullback to linebacker.

Kaiser hopes all of the adjustments will bring the Cougars a step closer to the elite teams in the district.

“Hopefully we’d like to be a team on offense that controls the ball and not turn it over and hopefully make some big plays on defense,” he said. “We’re not among the elite teams right now, but it’s something we can work on.”

The Cougars open the season Aug. 30 when they travel to Moorhead Stadium to take on The Woodlands College Park at 7 p.m.

Luncheon invitation offered for ‘bandit sign’ legislation update

By Cari Herr
Tribune News

The Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) is extending an invitation to Magnolia residents interested in attending a legislative update luncheon on Sept. 10 in Houston.

What has been nicknamed as “bandit sign” legislation will be the topic at the luncheon, hosted by Scenic Texas and Scenic Houston and co-sponsored by WCEDP, among others.

The update will focus on HB 412 and HB 413, which support the determent of unauthorized signage along Montgomery County roadways. The bills are authored by State Rep. Rob Eissler and Sen. John Carona.

“This is going to have a huge impact on communities who want to maintain their scenic beauty,” said Executive Director Vince Yoakum of WCEDP.

The legislation is important for Montgomery County residents in the Magnolia area who seek to maintain the beauty of the scenic roadways of FM 1488 and FM 1774. Those in attendance at the luncheon will learn more about enforcement plans for the Houston region.

“This should be especially interesting to those in Magnolia because of the issue with bandit signs along the FM 1488 and FM 1774 roadways,” said Yoakum.

The bill’s co-authors, state representatives Patricia Harless, Corbin Van Arsdale and Mark Strama, are also scheduled to be in attendance.

The invitation from WCEDP is to “those who helped support our efforts to protect roads through creating scenic zones this last legislative session,” Yoakum said.

A panel discussion on the changes in state law and the regional implementation of those changes will include a panel of expert enforcement officials from the City of Houston and Harris County.

Registration for the luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. in the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Blue Bonnet Ballroom B, located at 1700 Smith St. Parking is available at the venue for a fee.

To make a first come, first serve reservation at a table sponsored by WCEDP, e-mail vyokom@wallercounty.org. Additional reservations are available by calling 713-533-9149 ext. 11, or e-mail holly@scenichouston.org.

From the Book of Clifford

By Clifford Parker
Contributing Writer

Dad Gum, it’s been hot! I spend most of my work day inside in the cool air-conditioning, but this past weekend I took a weekend off and went to the bull fights.

I spent the day on Saturday mowing the field next to the local arena, and it was so hot I had to take continued water breaks. I occasionally even sat in my truck with the AC on just to cool down.

Along about dusk the local gang started gathering for the evening entertainment. The event traditionally begins with song. One group starts the song from one side of the arena and then the other side chimes away with a similar song. Some of these jokers can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I have become accustomed to some of the groups’ songs over the years, but some of their singing sounds like sick dogs.

The songs being sung have been traditional songs for hundreds of thousands of years. The deep baritone and high tuned tenors tune in from time to time, all singing in different octaves, but as the sun begins to set, the sing along becomes sweet sounds to my ears. I settled into my seat for the first round.

The fighters taunt and tease each other from their own territory for as much as two or three days before the fight actually begins. I had heard these guys hollering at each other for several hours and I could tell that they were moving closer and closer to each other as the day had progressed.

It’s funny to watch each fighter prepare for the big event. They kick and snort, stirring up dust all over the place. If anyone gets close to them while they are going through these rituals they will probably get dirty and occasionally, if another young fighter comes within range, the older fighter may actually push and shove on the younger fighter, trying to remove them from their territory.

I had cut my tractor off for the day. I was washing up with the water hose and then I saw all the ladies begin gathering near the fighting arena.

One by one, they made their way nearer and nearer to the fight location. Tonight the event was going to be held next to their favorite cooling pond. Some of them were young and some of them were old. Some were with young and some without. All of them brought their siblings along and watching the young un’s run and jump and snort around showed the excitement that was hanging in the air.

The two local fighters for tonight were Cowboy and Whitey. Whitey is the youngest of the bunch, and he is also the less skilled. Cowboy has been in several fights over the years and his massive body and old timer’s knowledge usually puts him a step above the local challengers.

Jenny also moved in to watch. Normally, she brings her spouse, Jack. Jack, however, has developed some very bad habits and he has started running around with other females on Jenny. Sometimes he may be gone for weeks at a time, leaving Jenny to fend for herself. One of these days, Jenny is probably going to get tired of Jack and bust him in the chops for his wandering ways.

As the ladies began jockeying for position, I saw another crowd come over the hill to watch the fight. Cowboy was already in the ring, grunting and slobbering and kicking up the dirt and dust as Whitey began making his way toward the arena.

However, as Whitey began getting near the arena area, he stopped short of the allotted space and stared eye-to-eye and face-to-face with Cowboy.

I could see their nostrils flaring as they grunted and snorted with each breath. Nose-to-nose they stood at each other when suddenly they seemed to lose interest in the whole event. I have seen them do this before. Sometimes they get disturbed or interrupted, but this time they just seemed to not show any interest in the whole event. They turned away from each other and sauntered back into the woods to spend time by themselves in the coolness of the trees.

Well, if this bull fight would have cost me money I would have asked for my ticket price back, but it didn’t. I simply smiled, shook my head and realized that sometimes the summertime bull fights never go quite like I had planned. So it goes with life around cattle.

-- Clifford

Magnolia author shares experiences as world traveler in new book

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Jo Ann Schermerhorn of Magnolia is a traveling grandmother celebrating life through the publication of her first in a series of travel books, aptly named “Travel with Me to… The Galapagos Islands.”

Author Jo Ann Schermerhorn draws on her collective travel experiences for her next book “Travel with Me to…” as she works on the porch of her Magnolia home.

Though her travels have taken her all over the western hemisphere, she calls Magnolia home and is currently serving as a member of the Magnolia Planning Commission.

“We wanted to see the world at somebody else’s expense,” she said laughingly of herself and her husband of 37 years, now deceased.

True to her dream, Schermerhorn has traveled all over the United States and abroad from the exotic Galapagos Islands to Costa Rica and on to the Amazon.

The 71-one-year-old widow has “done a little of everything,” she said.

Far from her days as an elementary school teacher, acting in television commercials and posing for media print ads, Schermerhorn said she was a novice when it came to writing and “just wanted to see what I could do.”

As a result, she published an article on sea lions called “Lobo de Mar” with 40plustravelandleisure.com.

Quite by accident, Schermerhorn said, she spent many years as an assistant casting director on movies such as “Girls in the Office,” “This is Elvis,” “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training,” and “Urban Cowboy.”

Her latest book, “Travel with Me to… The Galapagos Islands,” is written from the unique perspective of an aged woman encouraging others to live life to the fullest.

Though Schermerhorn was not more specific, she said she is preparing for a South American trip for her next book in the “Travel with me to…” series.

“Travel With Me to…The Galapagos Islands” is scheduled for release Oct. 15 and is available online through PublishAmerica.com.

Tomball council approves installation of red light cameras

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The Tomball City Council approved the installation of red light cameras at city intersections during an Aug. 20 meeting while also approving a contract with Red Flex Traffic Systems to install and operate the cameras.

More than seven months after the Tomball Police Department initially brought the plan to city leaders, the project was approved after Capt. Ricky Doerre said the department heard overwhelming support for the plan.

The TPD, along with Red Flex, will now begin a comprehensive traffic study of intersections in Tomball that may require the use of red light cameras.

While studying the feasibility of the program, the department met with five vendors, including Red Flex, two of which did “spot traffic analysis,” Chief Michael Blake said, which gave the department an initial idea of which intersections would get cameras.

“Based upon what we saw in some of the survey data, the Four Corners area and 249 and Zion will likely get cameras,” Blake said. “We won’t really be assessing westbound FM 2920 until those signal lights become functional.”

Other intersections that Blake said the department will study include Theiss Road and Medical Complex Drive and other intersections along FM 2920 and SH 249.

The TPD has also performed a three-year traffic study which revealed key information about which intersections see the most accidents and which lights get run the most, Blake said.

“The final component will be to set up some more cameras to assess and see where (Red Flex) recommends they be,” Blake said.

He estimated Tomball drivers wouldn’t see cameras for at least a few months. Prior to their installation, the department will work to educate drivers to let them know the cameras are in place. Signs will be put up at the intersections that have cameras, Blake said.

“We’ll be rolling out a public awareness campaign to let people know what’s going on,” he added.

The cameras will take digital photographs and video of vehicles traveling through an intersection on a red light. The footage will then be reviewed by administrators at Red Flex and members of the Tomball Police Department to determine if the driver was in violation.

A citation, along with photo and Web link to an Internet site to view a video clip of the alleged violation, will be mailed to the driver on record. If the driver is found or pleads guilty to running the light, they would pay a $75 fine. That money would be split between the city, Red Flex and TxDOT.

The project comes at no cost to the city or taxpayers, Doerre has said, with the program being paid for through citation fines.

Texas history buried with evidence in excavation of historical cemetery

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

A Montgomery County landowner is refuting a claim that a historical cemetery exists on their property and is upset that the claim may have cost them a land deal with Home Depot.

The property is located at the corner of FM 2854 and Hwy. 105 in Montgomery and is owned by Ronald and Janice Tomlinson of Crosby.

Several months ago the Lone Star Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas (LSSRT) began research for an application to the Texas Historical Commission for a historical monument to commemorate Dr. Charles Bellinger Tate Stewart.

Stewart played a significant role in Texas history as signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and designer of the state seal and flag. He was the first Texas Secretary of State, and fought at the Battle of Anahuac and the Battle of San Jacinto as a First Sgt. Infantry Company B, according to the Texas Historical Society Association.

In the process of its research, the LSSRT uncovered information from the Texas Historical Commission (THC) that identified a parcel of land on Hwy. 105 west of Conroe at FM 2854 in Montgomery as an endangered historical cemetery named the Charles B. Stewart Cemetery.

Stewart married Julia Sheppard in March 1835 and the couple had five children, according to the Montgomery County Genealogical and Historical Society. The cemetery is significant in that Sheppard and at least one child are thought to be buried on the original Stewart property, now owned by the Tomlinsons.

A Texas Centennial Marker honoring Stewart can be found near the proposed site.

“About two city blocks east of the marker is what appears to be a cemetery, several sunken places that are marked in a pattern with rocks,” according to the THC Web site.

The site was identified as a potential cemetery in a 1978 edition of Montgomery County Cemeteries.

“Texas law holds that as long as there is a clear indication that graves exist, the land on which they lie is considered a cemetery,” said John Hommann, president of the LSSRT.

However, “clear indication” was never established.

In a letter dated July 23 Thomas Kerr, attorney for the Tomlinsons, advised Homman that “the Tomlinsons had entered into a contract for the sale of the referenced property to Home Depot, Inc.”

The letter continues with an accusation that the LSSRT had trespassed on the property and had illegally intervened in that contract.

However, Hommann denied the allegations in a July 28 response saying, “no one representing the LSSRT ever contacted Home Depot,” and that no “illegal trespass” had been committed.

The Tomlinsons performed an excavation on the property in an attempt to locate evidence of the graves on Aug. 10, according to Kerr.

“They did not find the physical markings identified in the (THS) report. There was no indication that there was a gravesite,” Kerr said.

Though state laws exist governing excavation of a cemetery or exhuming of a grave, Kerr said there was no governmental agency involved to impose the archeological restrictions on a proposed gravesite excavation.

The result of that excavation yielded no indication that any of the three proposed sites was in fact a grave.

“There were no striations present in the soil formations and no physical markings were found to indicate a grave was present,” said Kerr. “Had there been something there, the Tomlinsons were prepared to work with an archeologist to exhume those graves.”

Meanwhile, The Home Depot Corporation pulled out of the land deal, but did not give specific reasons as to why. “The Home Depot is pursuing an alternate site for our Montgomery store,” said Demitra Wilson, Regional Communications Manager for the Southeast and Gulf area.

A developer did put the property under contract, said Clay Trozzo of Property Commerce, a broker for Home Depot.

“Home Depot looked at it and chose not to move forward with it,” he said. “But the store has not abandoned the prospect of a center in Montgomery.”

“Home Depot was looking at several different properties and sought annexation with the city,” said Kerr. “But the Tomlinson tract could not be annexed, nor could public utilities be run to the property.”

Montgomery City Administrator Brant Gary said the landowners initiated the annexation proceedings, but when negotiations with Home Depot stalled, the proceedings were suspended.

The LSSRT is moving forward with plans to commission two commemorative marble markers. A dedication is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2008 at the New Montgomery Cemetery where Stewart is buried, while a second marker is to be installed at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, according to Hommann.

“I do not believe the LSSRT, or any other organization attached to this project wanted to delay the building of the strip center with Home Depot,” Hommann said. “It is our sincere hope that this discovery will not totally prevent the building of this vital piece of Montgomery’s economic system.”

Robbie Seay Band hitting Magnolia on home trail of tour

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

One of Magnolia’s own, and the lead singer of the Robbie Seay Band, comes home to Magnolia on Aug. 29 to perform at First Baptist Church of Magnolia.

Robbie Seay Band performs Aug. 29 at First Baptist Church of Magnolia.

Robbie Seay comes from a long line of pastors and worship leaders. As a member of the Robbie Seay Band, he is touring the country, using his musical talents to send a message of spiritual healing and reconciliation to the masses.

Known for an alternative worship style Robbie Seay Band’s second album, “Give Yourself Away” scheduled for release on Aug. 29 by Sparrow, finds them reaching for new levels.

“It is a missional record,” he said. “Almost a rebirth of how we’re seeing our faith and how we’re seeing a lot of young Christians respond to the great need around the world and at home.”

Long before the debut of, “Better Days,” (Sparrow Records 2005) Robbie Seay Band could be found leading worship for the several weekly gatherings at Ecclesia Church in Houston

The church holds a unique place in the community as an outreach center, farmer’s market, art gallery, coffeehouse, and recording studio. But on Sunday, it becomes a sanctuary to the homeless, drug addicted, and suburb-dweller alike.

In addition to Seay, who serves as the group’s voice and principal songwriter, the band consists of longtime friends Dan Hamilton and Ryan Owens. Hamilton and Seay have played together for a decade.

“In a lot of ways, we’ve grown up together,” Seay said of the group. “We have walked side-by-side, living a normal life together. That makes the music more meaningful for us.”

Seay has seen the larger church community in Houston tested by the influx of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

“It was amazing,” he said. “It wasn’t about race or denomination. It was about serving others the same way Jesus did on this earth.”

This experience and Ecclesia’s efforts in Africa inspired the song “Go Outside.”

“Faith is fairly stale if we’re not active and aware of the need around us,” said Seay, returning again to the new album’s title theme of “Give Yourself Away.”

The band hopes to help educate others about the plight of the Ugandan people, encouraging audiences to support an outreach of their choosing. The key, he said, is to do something.

“I hope my music, and life, somehow may serve to encourage other believers to be proactive in their faith,” said Seay. “For it is only as we bless others and offer grace that faith goes beyond words, and truly comes alive.”

For more information, log on to www.robbieseayband.com.

The Magnolia Planning Commission: What do they do?

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The Magnolia Planning Commission has been instrumental over the last year in implementing several ordinances for the city, including storm water management, and ordinances governing noise, sign and subdivision guidelines.

The group initiated a Carter and Burgess study in 2005 for effective detention and retention for storm water. As a result, a detention pond and park project has been formally adopted by the city and is being facilitated by the Magnolia 4A Economic Development Corp.’s Revitalization Steering Committee.

Those driving down Buddy Riley Blvd. at Kelly St. will see that the dirt work is being completed on an upgrade to the city’s water and sewer distribution as a result of the commission identifying utility and infrastructure needs.

Charged with improving the quality of life for residents, the commission has developed and forwarded to city council for approval noise and sign ordinances, as well recommendations for prohibitions on sexually oriented businesses.

While facilitating effective mobility needs for the community is a priority, the commission is “at the mercy of TxDOT,” with regards to those issues, said Chairman Denny O’Brien.

Identifying and implementing safety and security measures within the city limits is also a responsibility of the commission and can be accomplished by incorporating a “citizens on patrol” team, identifying areas in need of streetlights, fire hydrants, and cross walks at intersections.

Magnolia City Secretary LuAnn Drake (left) administered the oath of office to Carol Barefield at the Magnolia Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 21.
Photo by Cari Herr

Members include O’Brien, Keith Chapman, Barbara Gardner, Jo Ann Schermerhorn, Jonny Williams, and Carol Barefield. The commission is minus one member. Though Cedric Smith was nominated to the committee, he has not yet accepted the position.

Current projects for the commission include regional detention and storm water management, adopting subdivision and sign ordinances, research for a water shed fund or flood district and establishing a historical district.

Established in 1978, the commission was at that time charged with identifying future improvements for the city. Meetings are held every third Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Waller ISD faculty and staff gather for convocation

On Aug. 20 Waller Independent School District faculty and staff gathered in the auditorium at Waller High School for convocation. After a moving flag ceremony presented by the school’s FFA, the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, school song, and fight song by the WHS band, and invocation by WISD Assistant Superintendent Danny Twardowski, faculty and staff members were welcomed by WISD Board President Robert Pierce.

Pictured (from left to right), Waller ISD Superintendent Richard McReavy, keynote speaker James Owen, and WISD Board President Robert Pierce.

Pierce thanked the faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication to all the students in Waller ISD noting impacts they have made on his own children as real life examples to the fact that educators touch young lives everyday.

WISD Superintendent Richard McReavy then introduced the author of “Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West,” and keynote speaker James Owen, who talked about winning at life.

Owen spoke about teamwork, shared values, and getting back to a simpler way of life.

During the Aug. 20 Tomball City Council meeting, Mayor Gretchen Fagan honored the Tomball Little League’s Major League All-Star team, which recently won the Texas East State Championship for the first time. Fagan also declared Aug. 20 as Tomball Little League 2007 Majors All-Star Team – Texas East State Champions Day.
Photo by Brian Walzel