Former Tomball Chief Michna hired to head up Magnolia department

By Brian Walzel
Editor

The revolving door at the Magnolia Police Department continues to turn as Mayor Jimmy Thornton last week named former Tomball Police Chief Paul Michna to head up the department.

Paul Michna was hired March 17 as interim chief of the Magnolia Police Department.

“I think it’s a great choice,” Thornton said.

Michna replaces Jeri Carpenter, who serves as the city’s marshal, as interim police chief after former chief Ron Cunningham was placed on administrative leave earlier this month. Cunningham and Capt. Mike Smith were indicted by a Montgomery County Grand Jury on two counts of official oppression and were later arrested. The two are awaiting trial.

The council subsequently voted not to renew Cunningham’s contract once it expires on June 30. In the mean time, Michna will run the city’s police department.

“I felt a duty as a professional law enforcement official to try to help the city,” Michna said.

He was hired March 17 after an interview with Thornton, City Administrator Ryan Kelley and councilman John Bramlett the previous Friday.

“His name was brought up by council as an interim to help us out and we do appreciate that very much,” Thornton said.

Michna served as police chief of the Tomball department from 1992 until 2002, when he elected to take early retirement. However, the circumstances surrounding his decision were under speculation.

Prior to his announcement in 2002, an auditing firm hired by the City of Tomball determined that the Police Department’s policy manual was not up to date. In particular, the extra employment policy, written by Michna, had allegedly been violated by two Tomball officers. Those officers were eventually indicted by a Harris County Grand Jury and were dismissed from the department.

Thornton admitted that the issue was not addressed by him or members of council when they considered hiring Michna.

“They were not addressed,” he said.

Michna said he decided to take early retirement from the Tomball Police Department because changes in the city’s administration were approaching, including the resignation of then-City Manager Warren Driver and the hiring of his replacement, Ben Griffin.

“I just thought it was a good time to retire,” Michna said.

However, Thornton said he and the council did check Michna’s background and credentials and were satisfied with the results.

“There is nothing on his record,” Thornton said. “Probably the most squeaky clean person I’ve ever seen.”

Michna said he has not decided if he will seek the full time position once it becomes available on a permanent basis. “I’m just not sure yet,” Michna said. “I’m eligible. But I’ll make that decision later.”

In the mean time, Michna said he is working to get to know the city’s officers and administrative staff. He added that the situation with Cunningham and Smith has not been a deterrent to him taking the job. “Fortunately I was not involved, so I’m not distracted by that,” he said.

Michna has lived in Tomball for 34 years. In 2000, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Tomball Chamber of Commerce. He will receive $3,000 a month as interim police chief.

All five incumbents in Tomball, Magnolia face opposition in May election

By Brian Walzel
Editor

Only a month after the run-off for the March primaries wraps up, voters will be asked to go to the polls yet again to decide races in local municipalities. With all five races in the Cities of Tomball and Magnolia being contested, each respective council could see major changes in its makeup.

In Tomball, Warren Driver is seeking re-election for his third term for Position Five. The former City Manager was first elected in 2004. He is facing a challenge from David Mayes, a newcomer to Tomball politics. Mayes moved to Tomball just over a year ago and is a sergeant in the Harris County Constables Office.

David Quinn, the council’s Mayor Pro-Tem, is seeking his second term on council for Position One. Quinn, an architect, was elected to the council in 2005. Quinn will oppose veteran candidate Derek Townsend, who will be in his fourth race for city council.

Townsend is a regional manager for Control Technologies, a traffic management firm. He has run for council positions in 2003, 2004, and 2007.

Meanwhile, it would not be an election year in Magnolia if voters weren’t considering significant changes to the city’s government. Two longtime council members, Patsy Williams and David Sutherland, are up for re-election, as is Mayor Jimmy Thornton.

Williams is currently serving her seventh consecutive term in Position Five. She was first elected in 1992 and has served on the council since then. She is facing a challenge from John Polk.

David Sutherland, council member for Position Four, first served on the council from 1994 to 1998 and was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2006. He will face Hank Wright.

Thornton will be facing an opponent for the first time after running uncontested twice since 2004. He initially was to oppose Wright for the mayor’s position in 2004, but Wright eventually dropped out of the race. Thornton ran uncontested two years later. This year, however, Thornton will face opposition from Jo Anne Windham.

From the Book of Clifford

By Clifford Parker
Contributing Writer

A few weeks ago I sabotaged a lot of kids’ ideas about fever. After writing my story explaining the various tricks used to fake a fit of fever, some of my friends came to me and told me I should be ashamed of myself for revealing all the tricks.

I know full well that the mamas of the world are not as dumb as our kids think they are, but I have, in fact, probably made life a little harder for the first born. After the second one, moms get a lot smarter.

With that said, I have decided to try to redeem myself by writing this story to a younger generation and share my hard found wisdom on something I consider myself to be an expert at. Spankings!

Yes, I got several of them as a youngster and I have developed a great repertoire of ideas and information to be shared with the world of youngsters. Spanking causes controversy with some people. I personally am an advocate of spanking. My childhood spankings taught me some very good lessons. The Bible clearly states; “spare the rod, spoil the child.” I know first hand that a few well-placed spankings have given me a very clear mind and sound direction on a few issues in life. (I can’t say it kept me from trying things that I shouldn’t! It just taught me how to be a little sneakier.)

I have received my share of well-deserved spankings, so this allows me to consider myself an expert. With that said, here is my listing of great ideas to “lessen the impact on the overall bottom line” with full explanation on the types of spankings. Illustrations have not been included.

The Carousel Spanking
This spanking occurs as your dad holds you under one arm near the arm pit and you begin running a circle around and around his body. The running motion of your body lessens the impact of the swinging belt as it makes contact. Possible Solutions: Run faster and faster and hope your dad gets dizzy. If you run really, really, fast maybe you can outrun his belt and he will miss your behind and hit his own leg. Warning: Never, never jerk away and run. Take it now!

The Go Get Me a Switch Spanking
Grandmothers usually used this method more than most. This process involves the “spanker” (hereafter known as the one doing the spanking) telling the “spankee” (the one receiving the spanking) to go outside and obtain a green limb from a bush to be used for the spanking process. The reasoning behind this is to allow the spankee time to reflect on the misdeed and hopefully develop remorse. It was also used as a time delay by the spanker to finish her labor at hand. Grandmothers were usually washing dishes or cooking or baking. Asking you to obtain your own switch allows them time to dry their hands or finish mixing the ingredients for the meal they are working on. Possible Solutions: Find a rotten stick that will break or pick up a log and drag it into the house with the help of your friends. It has to be sooo big and heavy that it’s impossible for her to pick up. Warning: Never break switches off her prized flower bushes and avoid roses at all costs.

The Mother Spanking
This spanking usually occurs in a split second without warning. Mothers tend to be edgy occasionally and these spankings can erupt at the drop of a hat. Fortunately, these spankings are a cake walk. These spankings are carried out with cloth belts and clothes. The first item found is the tool used and mothers’ clothing is usually the first thing she grabs. Rolled up blouses or sweaters, newspapers and even rolls of toilet paper can be used for spanking by mothers. Possible Solutions: Continue to make a mess of the house by dragging soft objects thought-out the house. Kick all leather belts, rulers, hard sole shoes and other objects under the bed or couch. She is not likely to bend down and look under the furniture for spanking tools in the moment of eruption. Warning: Don’t be helpful and bring her things to spank you with! She will catch on to your game! Unfortunately I am running out of paper space for my new “spanking manual.” If you need more ideas you will need to send $9.95 plus shipping to…

-- Clifford

Tomball Elementary third graders Riley Grant (left) and Eric Wong (right) use jelly beans to describe and compare the fractional parts of sets to determine which sets were greater than, less than or equal to the other sets. This hands-on activity helped the students visualize the components of the math unit.
Submitted Photo

Magnolia moves back into City Hall after six years, $2 million

By Brian Walzel
Editor

After spending more than $2.5 million on a new home, the City of Magnolia officially moved back into City Hall on Buddy Riley Blvd. on March 10.

The City of Magnolia moved back into City Hall on Buddy Riley Blvd. March 10.

For the past six years, the City of Magnolia has been forced to utilize temporary buildings located outside the city limits on FM 1488 owned by the Magnolia Independent School District. After originally spending nearly $1 million on the construction of the building on Buddy Riley Blvd., the city staff was soon forced to vacate the building after faulty construction resulted in an abundance of mold and roof leaks.

For years it was unclear what would become of the building. The 4B Corp., which oversees the city’s economic development, considered selling the building to a commercial developer, or keeping the building and leasing it out. However, it was eventually settled that the city would renovate the building and move back in. But the price was steep.

The cost to renovate the building totaled more than $673,000 in addition to the original $900,000 price tag. The city also paid $140,000 in legal and architectural fees, $221,000 in temporary facility costs, and an additional $900,000 to prepare the building for the spring move in.

Third and fourth grade students at Fields Store Elementary (FSE) have been working hard this year to excel on the TAKS test. To have a little fun before the test, students participated in a “Cheer Challenge” March 4. Each third and fourth grade homeroom prepared a TAKS cheer and performed their cheer for the other classes. FSE Principal Amy Lacey, Assistant Principal Mary Davis, and Counselor Penny Cathcart ended the pep rally singing their own version of “I Will Survive,” renamed “You Will Survive,” and added a little humor to the act with a few dance moves.
Submitted Photo

Harris County Sheriff’s Office awarded CALEA Flagship status

In December 2007 a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) examined all aspects of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s (HCSO) policies and procedures, management, operations and support services as the Sheriff’s Office sought to renew its CALEA accreditation.

Pictured (from left to right), Sgt. D. Melendy, Chief D. Billingsley, Cap. R. Konetzke, Segt. A. Ordonez at the Atlanta CALEA conference Flagship award ceremony.

After assessors verified that HCSO continues to voluntarily meet or exceed the Commission’s nationally recognized standards, the assessment team recommended that CALEA grant the Sheriff’s Office its third consecutive accreditation – a highly prized recognition of excellence in the provision of law enforcement services.

In their report recommending re-accreditation, the assessors maintained that the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is “staffed with totally professional individuals that are 100 percent committed to the mission of the agency and to doing their best to improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors of Harris County.”

After reviewing the assessors’ report on the Sheriff’s Office, Steve Mitchell, CALEA Program Manager for Harris County, was so impressed that he recommended that HCSO be awarded CALEA Flagship status.

According to the CALEA Web site, the Flagship Agency Program was introduced at the 2004 Fall Conference to acknowledge the achievement and expertise of some of the most successful CALEA Accredited public safety agencies, and also to provide “flagship examples” to assist other agencies.

CALEA staff selects Flagship Agencies by agency type and program, based primarily on their past performance. Selected agencies are invited to exhibit at a CALEA Conference to showcase their agency materials, offer networking opportunities, discuss issues, and offer suggestions based on their experiences with CALEA Accreditation. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office was officially awarded its Flagship status on March 15 at an awards ceremony in Atlanta.

Annual German Heritage Festival returns to Tomball

By Brian Walzel
Editor

One of the fastest growing annual events in the area returns to Tomball this weekend with the 8th Annual Tomball German Heritage Festival. The festival will kick off March 27 in downtown Tomball in the 200 block of Main Street and Market Street.

The 8th Annual German Heritage Festival returns to Tomball March 27-30. Pictured, festival goers at last year’s event pose in front of a Main Street merchant.

The festival, held each year on the final weekend in March, is a celebration of German and ethnic heritage and will feature three stages of live music, a carnival, authentic German food and beer, more than 120 street vendors, German souvenirs and clothing, arts and crafts, a German church services and more.

The event kicks off March 27 with the carnival and a special price on an “all you can ride” wristband. On March 28, live music begins at 6 p.m. and continues through 10 p.m. with performances by Alpenfest, Chris Rybak, The Walburg Boys, Round Top Brass Band, Tuba Meisters, Das Ist Lustig, Terry Cavanaugh and more. Friday night will also feature bluegrass music on the Ziegenbock Stage.

On Saturday, the party starts at 10 a.m. and continues throughout the day with live music and entertainment, culminating with a 9 p.m. fireworks show at the Depot Plaza. On Sunday, a German church service will open events at 10 a.m.

Admission to the festival is free and there is no charge for parking. The festival is sponsored by the Tomball/Telgte Sister City Organization. For more information about the event, call 281-379-6844 or visit www.tomballsistercity.org.

Bob Sanchez, President of the Board of Directors of Baby and Me, discusses the facility’s aim at the March 19 meeting of the Tomball Rotary Club. Baby and Me is a home for pregnant teenagers and unwed young mothers. The home is run by Nancy Garza and is currently seeking donations and volunteers for a number of programs. For more information about the home and its programs, call Garza at 832-646-9223.
Photo by Brian Walzel

Waller baseball goes undefeated in Jersey Village Tourney

The Waller Bulldog baseball team recently took part in the Jersey Village Classic and returned home undefeated after a great weekend. The Bulldogs have now played nine games this season where the outcome was decided by two runs or less; most of these being decided in the closing innings against tough competition. Two of this tournament’s games were just that.

First up was Sam Rayburn, who brought an 8-1 record to face Waller senior Jake Cimerhanzel on the mound. Cimerhanzel combined with some last inning relief from junior Robert Loewe to hold Rayburn to only three hits and snuff out a last inning rally by throwing out a runner at third on an attempted double steal to win the game, 5-4.

The Bulldogs collected nine hits as Jake Seaman went three-for-four, including a home run, while Brent Herzog and Loewe each collected two hits.

The Jersey Village Falcons were next on the list and once again it was a nail-biter. The two teams battled back and forth for nine innings to a 2-2 deadlock as junior Clayton Heise turned in an outstanding pitching performance. His low pitch count allowed him to stay in and record a complete game while giving up only four hits and no earned runs.

The Bulldogs continued to put runners on base during the last three innings but could not come up with the big RBI hit. Four double plays turned in by Loewe and sophomore Miller Pierce allowed the Bulldog defense to turn back would-be rallies.

Waller collected six hits as Cimerhanzel, Herzog, and Miles Derrick helped the cause. By virtue of the Bulldogs recording more total base runners, they advanced with the win.

After their ninth two-run or less game decision, the Bulldogs were due for an outbreak. The Waller offense got in gear against the Westbury Rebels, pounding the ball on their way to 11 runs on nine hits. Pierce and senior Kyle Pringle each had a big two-run hit, and Cody Mikeska cleared the bases on a double and had four RBIs in the game. Mikeska picked up the win after throwing three innings, followed by sophomore Parker Edmonds and Loewe closing it out for the win.

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