Montgomery County DA McDougal under fire for expenditures

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Montgomery County District Attorney Michael McDougal has recently been accused of operating a “slush fund,” providing employees with flowers, parties, and birthday money.

Montgomery County District Attorney Michael McDougal

“It’s used to benefit the citizens of Montgomery County, which is what we’re charged to do as the prosecuting authority,” McDougal said.

Hot check fund
When the county collects for hot checks on behalf of a creditor, fees and restitution are collected by the DA’s office and go into a designated fund.

“It’s outside the scope of the budget we get to operate this office,” McDougal said, “and cannot be considered by the commissioners when approving the office’s budget.”

According to a check stubs for the fund, from 2005 and 2007 McDougal paid $6,057 for coffee services.

The county does not pay for office amenities like coffee, flowers, plaques, and gatherings, said his Administrative Assistant Barbara Morgan.

More than $900 was spent over the three-year period for flowers and more than $500 was spent on gift plaques, while $430 was spent for grand jury lunches and more than $3,300 was spent on paper, repairs, and other supplies.

“Those funds let the people in our office know their work is important,” McDougal said. “I want them to know how much they are appreciated so they keep working hard for the benefit of the county.”

More than $2,600 was spent on food, clothes and hotels for witnesses and/or victims, in addition to copies, buccal swab kits, training materials and certified copies.

McDougal spent $1,300 on charitable donations, while $1,800 went for dues and memberships to legal associations, such as the Texas State Bar and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Assets and forfeitures
When county law enforcement agencies seize assets through criminal investigation, any cash or property that is seized goes into a designated account. Following a forfeiture hearing and the sale of any awarded assets, the funds are split between law enforcement and the DA’s office, 70 percent to 30 percent, respectively.

That money is placed in an asset and forfeiture fund. The elected official expends, tracks and reports the information to the county auditor, and ultimately it is the voter who determines the level of judicious use of those funds.

The 2007 disbursements from McDougal’s fund include more than $21,400 for charitable donations, $17,400 in 2006 and $10,000 in 2005.

McDougal’s use of the funds for that purpose is being questioned because he has served on the board of directors for three of the organizations that received donations, including YMCA, Bridgewood Farms and Montgomery County Youth Services.

“I’ve never had a complaint from any citizen, the auditor, any of the commissioners or anyone else for 12 years,” McDougal said. “This is an election issue where my opponent is attempting to discredit me in this election.”

McDougal said he started the practice of giving out birthday money to office employees soon after he took office 12 years ago. In 2007, at least $5,200 in birthday money was paid in $100 increments, $7,000 for 2006 and $6,500 in 2005.

Employees received the benefit of annual parties to the tune of $2,000 in 2005, $1,500 in 2006 and $1,400 in 2007.

A major expenditure in 2005 for $23,119 was a new vehicle for McDougal, purchased from John Weisner, Inc.

Still, the records reflect that the official business and law enforcement process of the office was not neglected.

DA Intake program payroll checks for 2007 total nearly $15,500, with another $2,500 designated as DWI Task Force funds, and more than $16,300 went to temporary support personnel, up from nearly $12,500 in 2006, with $2,000 spent annually on DWI breathalyzer equipment maintenance.

The Texas Department of Public Safety received more than $11,000 in 2005 for airfare to training seminars.

Defining the law
While county hot check fees, and asset and forfeiture seizures may be considered public funds by some they are also discretionary dollars.

“Nowhere in Chapter 59 is the money designated as public funds,” McDougal said.

According to Chapter 59.06 of the Code of Criminal Procedures, the intent of those funds is to be used “solely for the official purposes of his office,” or “solely for law enforcement purposes.”

“That means running this office and benefiting the citizens of this county by maintaining stable employment in this office,” said McDougal.

The Code governs the accumulation and reporting of those funds, but does not govern what the monies are specifically spent on. In addition, there is no governmental body that regulates the use of the funds.

“It’s very lax in my interpretation of it,” said County Auditor Phyllis Martin. “If there were more clearly defined laws, the funds would probably be spent in a more discretionary manner.”

According to state officials, there is no enforcement mechanism that is provided by the legislature, although the Attorney General’s Office is the collection point for record keeping.

Tomball PD, FBI investigating bank robbery

By Brian Walzel
Editor

Tomball Police are on the lookout for a man they believe robbed the First Community Bank inside a local grocery store Feb. 7.

Pictured, a man suspected of robbing First Community Bank inside Kroger on FM 2920 is shown in video surveillance.

According to police, a black man approached tellers at the First Community Bank inside the Kroger grocery store at Tomball Marketplace at around 7 p.m. The man handed the teller a note saying that he was robbing the bank and to fill a bag full of money.

According to Tomball PD Interim Police Chief Ricky Doerre, the suspect claimed in his note to be carrying a gun, but did not reveal it during the robbery.

The teller handed the suspect a bag full of money and he immediately left the scene.

Video surveillance captured images of the incident and Doerre said investigators are currently evaluating the video for any clues.

The suspect is described as a black male between the ages of 25 and 35, with a tall, slender build, between 6-feet, 2-inces and 6-feet, 5 inches and wore a goatee or mustache. The suspect was dressed in blue jeans, a long sleeve black sweatshirt and a black ball cap.

Doerre said it has not been determined how much money the suspect stole. Tomball PD is currently working with the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation.

The Tomball Police Department is asking anyone with any information to assist in the identity or whereabouts of the suspects. Contact Sgt. Stewart at 281-290-1311. Citizens can also leave information anonymously through Tomball Police Department’s “Silent Hotline” at www.tomballpd.com.

Citizens: Shame on Commissioner Houghton

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Recent town hall meetings have given Texans in the footprint of the proposed Trans Texas I-69 corridor the opportunity to address their concerns regarding the I-69 Tier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement to TxDOT officials.

Ted Houghton

Despite the open conversation format of the meeting, many in attendance at the Jan. 22 town hall in Hempstead walked away without answers, feeling less trusting of TxDOT than ever before.

Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton told those in attendance that the TTC/I-69 was not part of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement’s plan for a North American Super Corridor (NASCO), because “it did not connect to Mexico.”

However, the Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the TTC/I-69 clearly outlines in figure 4.7 the bridges currently under construction for border connectivity.

Houghton was recently chastised for the error in a publication of the Citizens for a Better Waller County.

“Shame on Commissioner Houghton for playing games with the citizens in a forum that is supposed to promote a frank and open discussion of the TTC/I-69,” stated the press release.

There are five proposed and one existing border crossings in Laredo and six proposed and seven existing border crossings in the Brownsville area.

The development of the I-35 and I-69 corridors are part of a projected supermetropolis triangle that could be created by connecting proposed corridors between San Antonio, Houston and Dallas/Ft. Worth, according to TTC/I-69 Project Manager Gary Heiss, who spoke on the I-69 corridor at a Jan. 23 Waller County Toll Road Authority meeting.

Waller County, along with Austin and Walker counties, has opposed the corridor since its inception. Conversely, Victoria, El Campo and Bryan/College Station have invited the corridor footprint through their communities, according to Houghton.

Many in the TTC/I-69 corridor footprint are calling for a state vote on the development.

Tomball Junior High School seventh grader Lauren Oden molds clay into the shape of a house. The exercise emphasized elements such as aesthetics, illustration, symbolism and personal expression that are essential for drawing a three dimensional object.
Submitted Photo

Van Arsdale, Fletcher square off in debate for Dist. 130 post

By Brian Walzel
Editor

State Legislature District 130 candidates Corbin Van Arsdale and Allen Fletcher squared off Feb. 12 in a public forum that oftentimes teetered on a debate. The forum was held at the Elmer L. Beckendorf Conference Center at Lone Star College-Tomball and gave local voters an opportunity to ask Fletcher and Van Arsdale questions and hear their comments on important issues. However, the majority of the more than 100 people who filled the room were supporters of one of the candidates rather than undecided voters. Many wore campaign paraphernalia supporting either candidate and often gave applause after their respective comments throughout the evening.

Corbin Van Arsdale (left) and Allen Fletcher (right) took part in a debate Feb. 12 Lone Star College-Tomball.

The tone of the forum was set early on when Fletcher made a stance that he would repeat throughout the evening that Van Arsdale has missed a significant number of votes while serving in the legislature.

It was a point Fletcher would base many of his arguments on.

“I’m not satisfied with my opponent’s voting record,” Fletcher said. Fletcher reported that Van Arsdale missed 42 percent of the 119 bills voted on by the State Affairs Committee.

He also claimed that Van Arsdale is number one in the legislature in absenteeism. “I don’t think that’s what we sent him to do,” Fletcher said. Van Arsdale is a member of Calendars Committee, the Appropriations Committee and the State Affairs Committee, three of what he calls “the most powerful committees in the Texas Legislature.” “I was put on those committees because I worked so hard,” he said.

Van Arsdale claimed that information about him printed on Fletcher’s campaign material is false and misleading. He held up a recent flyer mailed out to district voters claiming that Van Arsdale had missed votes on certain bills and that those bills died in the House.

He disputed many of them, claiming not only did he vote on them, but they also passed out of the House, including House Bill 13. “I’m one of the hardest working members of the House,” Van Arsdale said. Both Fletcher and Van Arsdale stood behind their campaign material and claimed that information published on them was valid and accurate.

Meanwhile, Van Arsdale used the forum to defend his voting record and conservative stance on issues, particularly illegal immigration. Van Arsdale has been an outspoken proponent of illegal immigration reform. Fletcher also touted his position against the issue. Both agree that stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into Texas is a priority and should be handled more at the state level.

Van Arsdale took a shot at Fletcher’s campaign against him, saying that Fletcher moved into District 130 in October of 2007 and that he was running primarily at the behest of State Sen. Dan Patrick. Van Arsdale claims that after he refused to endorse Patrick in the 2007 election, Patrick sought out a candidate to run against Van Arsdale in this year’s election.

Early voting begins Feb. 19 and runs through Feb. 29. Primary election day is March 4.

Mayor Thornton seeks funding for FM 1488 expansion

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

While Magnolia can anticipate an expansion of FM 1488 to roll through the city within five years, TxDOT officials say there are portions of the FM 1488 expansion that currently have no construction dollars, a concern for Magnolia Mayor Jimmy Thornton.

Magnolia resident Philip Gayle (left) shows where his property is located to Magnolia Councilman Dave Sutherland (right) on the FM 1488 proposed expansion maps at the Feb. 12 public hearing hosted by TxDOT.

The project is a continuation of the existing expansion along the thoroughfare. Much of the project has been underway since 2005 and is scheduled to be complete by fall.

The section 5.8 miles west of FM 2978 to Mostyn Road will cost an estimated $33 million. According to Pct. 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal, land clearing is slated to begin in March, with construction to begin in late summer. Residents can expect a 20-month timeline for that section of the project.

Montgomery County took advantage of pass-through legislation enacted two sessions ago that allowed the county to purchase construction bonds for the FM 1488 expansion project up to Mostyn Rd.

Though Thornton was not the only elected Magnolia official to register their attendance, he was the only official to address TxDOT representatives at the Feb. 12 public hearing on the FM 1488 expansion through the city.

He requested that TxDOT engineers review the turnaround design and FM 1488 overpass at FM 149 saying it needed to be smaller. He also asked what the city could do to assist in acquiring funding for the overpass.

FM 1488 is designed to overpass FM 149 and the Union Pacific Railroad. According to Project Manager Gabe Johnson of the TxDOT Houston District, that configuration of grade separation has an unfunded $15 million tag.

In addition, Thornton requested more information on Tomball’s proposed FM 249 tolled bypass that is headed in Magnolia’s direction.

“We need a better understanding of the impact that road will have on the community,” he said.

Thornton will meet with TxDOT officials later this month to discuss mobility needs for Magnolia relative to the planned FM 1774 and FM 1488 improvements, as well as potential funding mechanisms for the SH 249 bypass.

Just 1.04 miles of FM 1488 that lies west of Mill Creek Road and east of Community Road past Mostyn is estimated at $27.2 million. An additional 50 feet of right-of-way (ROW) is proposed from the current 100-foot ROW. Tentative bid letting has been pushed from September 2009 to September 2010.

Initially, this segment was included in the Transportation Improvement Program, a four-year planning document, reviewed quarterly by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the region’s metropolitan planning organization.

“Recent funding issues or possibly design, environmental, right of way or even public involvement issues probably caused a delay of the planned letting of the project,” said Bob Baumgartner of TxDOT’s Houston Programs division.

According to TxDOT officials, the following two segments are not currently funded and have no letting date.

A segment just more than four miles in length between FM 1774 in Magnolia and west of FM 149 has a $29.3 million price tag at today’s construction costs. The current 100-foot ROW requires an additional 20 feet.

The last piece of the puzzle is an estimated $26.4 million section that begins at FM 1774 in Magnolia and travels 3.8 miles west to Joseph Rd. in Waller County and includes an increased ROW of 150 feet.

8 WHS Bulldogs sign football National Letters of Intent

On Feb. 6 eight Waller High School senior football stars officially signed their national letters of intent to play college football.

Pictured (back row, from left to right), Trevor Barry, Eddie Brown, David Hunter and Jeremy Phillips; (front row, left to right) Joplo Bartu, Josh Poyer, Jacob Dodd and Stephen Williams.

Bulldog defensive end Trevor Barry, who was named Honorable Mention All-District in 2007, will play for Texas State University-San Marcos (Texas State) as a defensive end.

Tight end Joplo Bartu, who was named First Team All-District in 2007, will also play for Texas State as a free safety.

Highly recruited Bulldog defensive tackle Eddie Brown, who was unanimously named District 18-4A Defensive MVP, will play for Texas A&M University. He was named as one of the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 football players, First Team All Greater Houston, WHS Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Winner, was fourth in the state in power lifting, and second in district in wrestling.

Center Jacob Dodd, who was named First Team All-District in 2007, will play for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.

Defensive lineman David Hunter, who was selected First Team All-District in 2007, will play for the University of Houston. Hunter is a Texas Scholar, member of the National Honor Society, and was named Second Team All Greater Houston. In 2006, he was named Second Team All-District defensive lineman.

Quarterback Jeremy Phillips, who was chosen District 18-4A MVP in 2007, will play safety for the University of North Texas in Denton where he will study criminal justice.

Another of Waller’s outstanding defensive lineman, Josh Poyer, who was unanimously selected First Team All-District in 2007, will also play for Hardin.

Stephen Williams, who was named unanimous First Team All-District receiver and Second Team All-District Defensive return specialist in 2007, will play for Angelo State University as a wide receiver. Williams also participates in basketball, track, and student council.

E.C.H.O. Foundation annual gala raises more than $70,000

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Feb. 9, the E.C.H.O. Foundation’s fundraiser gala turned into one of the most successful events of the year, raising more than $70,000 in the live auction alone.

The annual event has benefited the new Women’s Imaging Center at Tomball Regional Medical Center for two years in a row. Located on the second floor of the Diagnostic Building, the center will offer state-of-the-art medical services for women.

The highlight of the evening was a concert by country music star LeAnn Rimes, who donated a signed guitar to the live auction that brought $5,500, as well as performing for half her going rate.

LeAnn Rimes

Hosting the event was Channel 11 newscasters Darby Douglas and Leticia Juarez.

The event theme this year was “Under the Moonlight,” the decorations for which sparkled as brilliantly as the diamonds that sold on the auction block.

An MK Designs 1.86 carat diamond and white gold necklace with matching 0.78-carat earrings sold for $4,250 and a 1.5-carat Diamond Ice Flowers pendant in 18K white gold with 18-inch wheat chain sold for $3,250.

Puppies and performers were at the heart of the bidders in the live auction, raising $23,000.

From lowest to highest, items included a rare AKC registered blue longhaired Chihuahua that sold for $3,000; an AKC chocolate Labrador Retriever that went for $3,750; six tickets to the March 9 sold out Houston Rodeo show with Hannah Montana brought $5,500; four tickets to a concert tour show of Kenney Chesney and LeAnn Rimes sold for $6,500.

There was something for everyone and sports fans were no exception.

A $2,000 sports package included parking passes for all events and included four Houston Texans 2008 season tickets, four dugout level tickets to a Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs game, two club level seats to the Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Hornets, and three club level tickets to a Houston Dynamos soccer game.

Three get-away packages raised just less than $20,000 for the Foundation.

The landmark item for the evening was a six-day, five-night stay at a villa in Puerto Vallarta and sold for $10,000. The runner up vacation hot spot for six days and five nights at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club in Kalapaki Bay, Hawaii sold for $5,000. Coming in at $4,500 was a six-day, five-night stay at the Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on the shores of Oahu nestled within the 642-acre Ko Olina Resort.

From clocks and entertainment to delicacies and dining, bidders handed over a total of $13,000, all for a good cause.

Howard Miller’s “The Elegant Swan,” a Foreman grandfather clock that went for $4,500, topped the list, while a 40-inch Sony LCD TV with surround sound brought $3,750. A gourmet meal for six under the tutelage of Marriott Chef Robert Price, served at the Ristorante Tuscany, netted $3,500, and a 100-guest corporate fun package at It’z Family Food & Fun brought $1,250.

Author and poet Kitty Mobley (right) reads poetry with Ann Bell (left). Mobley was the guest speaker for the Dewy After School program, sponsored by the Malcolm Purvis Library. The program is designed to enhance elementary aged student’s understanding of the Dewey Decimal System. The students are learning about literature and poetry, which is designated as the 800 series of the Dewey system.
Photo by Cari Herr

School board approves plans for TIS renovations, additions

By Brian Walzel
Editor

The Tomball Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the design and development of renovations and additions at Tomball Intermediate School at a Feb. 12 meeting.

The school will get a major facelift as the district prepares to increase its enrollment to as many as 900 students by 2009. Tomball ISD plans on closing Beckendorf Intermediate, a 20-plus year old campus that has in part been plagued by a shifting fault line that lies beneath the school.

Among the improvements to TIS will be an additional wing to be located on the south side of the campus, which will house fifth grade classrooms, science labs and art classrooms, as well as sixth grade science classrooms and a new library.

According to district spokesperson Staci Stanfield, the cost of the renovations will likely be determined once the project is put out to bid this summer.

Other improvements at the school will include the enlargement of the Central Administration room, utilizing the current library. The existing food service area will be remodeled to accommodate the increased student capacity.

In order to accommodate the anticipated additional traffic and improve traffic flow, the north parking lot will get a new asphalt overlay and reconfiguration to allow for car stacking.

The auditorium at TIS will also receive a significant facelift, including the remodeling and addition of restrooms, new dressing rooms and a complete remodel of the backstage area.

The floor of the auditorium will be re-carpeted and re-sealed while the entire facility will get a new paint job and lighting fixtures.

The school’s fire alarm system will also receive an upgrade.

The renovations at Tomball Intermediate School are the latest in the district’s $198 million bond project. The money is being used for two new schools, Canyon Pointe Elementary and a new K-6 campus to serve The Woodlands area, a new technology/staff development center, improvements at Tomball Intermediate and Tomball High School, new district buses, technology upgrades throughout the district, and to purchase sites for possible future schools.

Additional TTC/I-69 public hearing scheduled for Waller County

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

TxDOT has scheduled a third public hearing for March 4 to allow Waller County residents to voice their concerns for the official record on the proposed I-69 Trans Texas Corridor (TTC/I-69).

Waller area residents crowded the town hall in Hempstead during a Jan. 22 meeting on the TTC/I-69.

The action followed a Jan. 29 request by Dist. 18 Sen. Glenn Hegar along with Dist. 28 Rep. John Zerwes and Waller County Judge Owen Ralston.

With two public hearings scheduled for Feb. 27, residents pressed officials to request a third hearing scheduled for a different day, claiming TxDOT was attempting “to divide and conquer the opposition.”

Due to high attendance numbers, many residents attempting to attend the Jan. 22 TxDOT town hall meeting in Hempstead were forced to park more than a quarter mile away due to the overcrowded and rain soaked parking lot and road shoulders of the Knights of Columbus Hall.

In addition, local law enforcement officials had to block off Mack Washington Road, turning away residents and preventing vehicles from approaching the hall.

As important as the public hearings are in gathering the opinions of Texans on the Trans-Texas Corridor/I-69 (TTC/I-69), many residents believe the battle rests with the 2009 Texas Legislature for which members of the Senate and House of Representatives are currently accepting comments.

There are several ways in which Texans can voice their support or opposition for the Trans Texas Corridor I-69. Comments must be received by March 19.

• Access the comment form online at http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/
• Provide an oral comment at a scheduled public hearing, not to exceed three minutes.
• Submit written comments by U.S. mail to TTC-69 P.O. Box 14428, Austin, Tx. 78761, or at a scheduled public hearing.
• Visit http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ to find your local representative.

All three formats require the name, address and other identifying information for comments to be included in the official record.

Open houses, including maps and exhibits available for review, are scheduled for 5 p.m. prior to scheduled public hearings to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 at Magnolia High School and Feb. 27 at Waller High School and the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hempstead.

Despite the previous inadequacies of the meeting venue, the additional hearing has been scheduled for the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 22892 Mack Washington Rd. in Hempstead, according to TxDOT’s KeepTexasMoving.com Web site.

Sheriff’s Office personnel to receive illegal immigration training

Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas announced recently that the Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are working together to better address the issue of illegal immigration and its impact upon the citizens of Harris County.

Thomas has authorized selected Sheriff’s Office personnel to receive 287(G) training. Under 287(G), ICE provides state and local law enforcement officers with the training and subsequent authority to identify, process, and when appropriate, detain immigration offenders encountered during regular law enforcement activity. Sheriff’s Office employees assigned to the Inmate Processing Center were recently asked if they were interested in attending the training, and the response was overwhelming. According to Thomas, many of the employees were enthusiastic about the possibility of receiving such training and were eager to attend.

The Sheriff’s Office has been negotiating with ICE officials over the past few months in an effort to have the training provided locally, possibly at the Sheriff’s Academy, instead of sending employees to Georgia to attend the four-week training. Those talks are ongoing with additional discussions scheduled for the near future. It should also be noted that the training not only will be given to Deputies; Detention Officers assigned to the Inmate Processing Center will be able to attend, as well. The 287(G) training will supplement existing efforts by IPC personnel to identify inmates being booked into the Harris County Jail who are in the United States illegally.

Tomball ISD approves 2008-09 calendar

By Brian Walzel
Editor

The Tomball Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the academic calendar for the 2008-09 school year at its Feb. 12 meeting, setting a start date of Aug. 25, 2008.

The Calendar Committee, which is charged with putting together the calendar each year, faced a significant challenge in putting the calendar together, Tomball High School Assistant Principal Greg Quinn said.

One of the goals of the committee was to end the school year before the start of June. But the 79th Texas Legislature mandated that the school year could not begin before the fourth Monday in August.

That directive, coupled with a desire to increase the district’s Thanksgiving holiday from two days, as it was this school year, to three days, pushed the finish date to June 3.

Other state mandates required the district to schedule 187 working days for teachers and 180 days of instruction for students, with six days eligible to be waived for staff development.

According to Quinn, Tomball ISD will utilize three waiver days, cutting back the number of instructional days for students to 177.

The calendar calls for significantly more instructional days in the spring semester (97 days) than in the fall (80 days).

Among the goals of the Calendar Committee when formulating the schedule was to try to keep the district calendar in line with the collegiate calendar.

According to Quinn, the collegiate calendar is a more “instructional use of time.”

The collegiate calendar also calls for final exams for the first semester to be completed before the Christmas break, something 95 percent of students said they wanted in a recent survey conducted by the committee.

The collegiate calendar also allows students more opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses.

“My biggest concern is the imbalance of the schedule,” Trustee John McStravick said. “But how do you follow the collegiate calendar with the mandates you have?”

Next year, the district will be returning to a three-day vacation for Thanksgiving. This year, the district scheduled only two days for Thanksgiving vacation and absenteeism on the day prior to the vacation was significantly higher.

According to Quinn, the number of students absent in the district on a normal day is 352.

In 2007 on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 1,352 students were absent. Many of the trustees voiced concerns about the calendar, but understood the difficulties the committee faced.

“When I first saw this calendar, I had a real problem with going into June,” said Board President Mark Lewandowski. “But you have explained the difficulty you’ve had doing that.”

Trustee Katy Hanson urged parents to contact their local legislator and push for an earlier start date.

The 2008-09 calendar is available online at tomballisd.net.

From the Book of Clifford

By Clifford Parker
Contributing Writer

Well, I am beginning to find out that I am not the only one! There are more and more people who have made mistakes with their diesel or gasoline engine than just me. I guess because I was the first to confess my shortcomings, other people have been encouraged to release their inner feeling and finally confess their human frailties.

In case you missed it, I publicly confessed that for the third time in my life I put gasoline in a diesel truck. In case you didn’t know, that is a major error. It could have cost me a motor, but thankfully, it didn’t!

It could have also cost me my life, but as you can see, I’m still here. My truck died in the middle of US 290 and I really thought for a few minutes I was going to get smashed by the fast flow of traffic, but thankfully, that did not occur.

Over the past couple of weeks I have had a few confessions from other folks about their lives and the bad things they have done to their engines. One guy I have not heard from is that fellow that has a bunch of different names. Bo, Beaux, Beau, and Johnnie are just a few of the names he goes by; I just know him as Bimbo Mueller. I guess he has not had time to read the last few articles, but he is the guy that is trying to catch up with me. He has run his diesel truck out of fuel twice! One more time and he can join my club!

I also received a confession from a guy I had not heard from for over 35 years! His name is Garland Brill.

Now, since I’m on a roll here naming names, Garland Brill is the cousin of my cousin, Freddie W. Brill, and the nephew of Merle Brill (Oh boy, I’m in trouble now!).

Garland has called with a very unusual confession. It seems Garland has put diesel fuel in a gasoline boat motor! The story goes that he got a few hundred yards into the lake with family on board and the gasoline motor started smoking really bad. The smoke probably looked like mosquito control. I wonder how many people thought he was out fogging the lake?!

Anyway, his motor died a few hundred yards into the lake and I did not ask him if he had to be towed or if they paddled back to shore. I am glad he was able to call me with this confession. I guess I can be called the new Diesel Priest of the area who takes Diesel Confessions. People can call me with their confessions of mishaps with diesel fuel.

I’ve heard from guys like Jeff Anderson, who admitted to running their farm tractors out of diesel and Billy Petty, who didn’t confess anything, but I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking pretty seriously about saying something.

Speaking of Billy Petty, I haven’t told him this yet. A few months ago I purchased some cows from Billy and the day I visited with him to discuss the cows, Billy was kind enough to walk ahead of me and open the gate to the pasture. Okay, now some of you may not understand this, but some of the times the act of getting out of your truck to open the gate can be downright aggravating. I know it’s a simple step, but sometimes after a hot day and chasing and pushing cows, the idea of getting out of the truck seat can seem extremely strenuous!

You know how it is. You’re all hot and tired and you get in your truck and settle in the seat and just about the time you get comfortable in the cab, it’s time to disrupt yourself and open the gate. It’s kinda like those church services when you stand for a long time and then finally the song leader says you can have a seat when the preacher comes right back with those words: “Let’s stand in honor of God’s word.”

Now don’t get me wrong, but it sometimes gets tiresome standing, sitting, standing, sitting. (Lord, forgive me.)

I watched Billy amble toward the gate and with no thought he opened it and closed it behind me. A job he has done hundreds and maybe thousands of times in his life. An easy task that doesn’t take too much thought and a whole lot less strength, but for me it was a simple act of kindness.

Thanks Billy.

-- Clifford

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Memorial Hermann, Tomball Regional to open 24-hour emergency center

Facility to be located on Woodlands Parkway at FM 2978

Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital and Tomball Regional Medical Center recently announced their collaboration to open and operate a freestanding emergency center on Woodlands Parkway at FM 2978. The 11,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in September, will house a 24-hour, full-service emergency center with ambulance access, imaging services, occupational medicine, community education and more.

Steve Sanders, CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands (left) and Lynn LeBouef, President and CEO of Tomball Regional Medical Center (right) sign a partnership agreement for a new joint facility.

“Joining forces with Tomball Regional Medical Center will enable us to expand our emergency services capabilities to better meet the needs of a region that is expected to grow by as much as 20 percent over the next five years,” said Steve Sanders, CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands.

“This collaboration makes strategic sense as both of our hospitals seek to fully serve the outer boundaries of our shared markets, while not duplicating costs and services. Our shared focus on patient centered care makes this venture a win-win for everyone,” said Lynn LeBouef, President and CEO of Tomball Regional Medical Center. Preliminary plans for the facility, which will be located in The Shops at Terramont II, include a multi-use development offering access and on-site parking, eight to 10 emergency treatment rooms and space to accommodate state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment, including a CT scanner and diagnostic X-ray and ultrasound equipment, as well as an on-site laboratory. Additionally, attending physicians and staff will have specialized training in emergency medicine with proven expertise in successfully managing urgent situations ranging from bruises and broken bones to heart attacks and stroke. For more information on Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, visit www.memorialhermann.org or call 281-364-2458. For more information on Tomball Regional Medical Center, visit www.tomballhospital.org or call 281-401-7777.