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Star-Courier News

Miss Highlands Pageant Saturday

October 10, 2019
Last year’s winners were Miss Highlands Kaitlyn Rolin, and Jr. Miss Highlands Payton Radle.

HIGHLANDS – The Highlands Horizons invite you to the 62nd annual Miss Highlands Pageant & the 27th annual Jr. Miss Highlands Pageant this Saturday, October 12th 2019 at Highlands Junior High auditorium. The Jr. Miss Highlands Pageant begins at 2:00pm and The Miss Highlands Pageant begins at 7:00pm.

This year’s theme is “Friends.” Both pageants will include an opening number, contestant introductions, casual wear modeling, talent competition, dress modeling and interview question.

The MC for the Pageants will be Assistant Chief David Alford from the Baytown Police Department. Awards presented will include Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, High ticket sales, Talent, 2nd runner up, 1st runner up and the crowning of the 2017 Miss Highlands & Jr. Miss Highlands.

Each year, the Horizons present the Jennie Robbins Community Service Award to the Miss Highlands contestant who has proven to be community minded and dedicated her time to serving & helping others. (more…)

Newport MUD plans to fix, update, expand

October 3, 2019
Superintendent Scott Davis addresses the water board last Friday to ask if they can provide water to land on Foley Rd., a proposed site for a new Crosby ISD campus as part of due diligence prior to buying the land for school construction.

NEWPORT – The water district is attempting to deal with damage done by tropical storm Imelda, hold a public hearing for a tax hike October 17 to handle increases in expenses and propose a bond to repair old lines and facilities and expand capacities for future growth and regulatory requirements. A board hearing was held Friday at 2:00 p.m.

Damage by Tropical Storm Imelda includes a sink hole developing where a large drainage pipe is near the waste water treatment plant. There was more erosion at the Gum Gully trail than during Hurricane Harvey and a main broke at the lift station. Professional services were handling these on Tuesday. This on top of service of each of the hydrants in the neighborhood.

On Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at 16410 Country Club Drive, Community Room (next to Fitness Room), at Stonebridge in Newport is the regular board meeting to concern itself with a tax increase. There is a possibility of a rollback.

An Open House is to be held on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. to educate residents about a proposed bond that has recently been said to be for about $70,000,000 and is to repair much of the infrastructure of the neighborhood. (more…)

Saturday mayhem strikes local areas

October 3, 2019
A Highlands ambulance arrives first to help with a homeless man found by a motorist lying beside US 90 just past FM 2100 at 7:00 p.m. Five other calls went out at the same time.

CROSBY – HIGHLANDS – Last Saturday at about 7:00 p.m. six emergencies cropped up, including two Life Flight rescue calls that went out in Crosby at the same time, and before the evening shift had completed, all four Life Flight helicopters for Harris County had been called to the area.

Other calls were for assorted accidents, including the regular Saturday night feature ATV accident.

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Crosby original found murdered

September 26, 2019
Ralph Leroy Machala

Ralph “Lee” Leroy Machala, the proprietor of Pooky’s Bar, was found a victim of a brutal murder in Chambers County on Sept. 21. Apparently he had been shot to death.

Locals say he was last seen at Pooky’s on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and reportedly his Jeep was seen in his neighborhood on Sept. 18. That Jeep is now reportedly missing.

Machala had recently self reported having diversified into concrete pouring, purchasing a portion of a bar near the Mexican border, and buying RVs in Chambers County and flipping them to individuals in Crystal Beach.

The 1979 Crosby High School graduate was an avid benefactor of the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and several times paid for funeral expenses of local friends that had hit hard times.

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Rotary holds another successful Washer Tournament

September 19, 2019
25 teams competed last Saturday for prizes and the chance to win bragging rights for best washer throwing skills. Participants included local and district Rotarians, and teams from the public, some of whom have played each year of the tournament in a traditional competition.

Proceeds benefit Polio Plus, R. I.

HIGHLANDS – The local Rotary club held a fund raiser, their 13th Annual 3- Hole Washer Board Charity Tournament last Saturday, Sept. 14 at Charlie’s Ice House. About 25 two-person teams competed for the top three places.

The event also included a live and silent auction and raffle, and the club was able to raise about $7000 thanks to the support of the community.

Polio, once a disease that attacked children and adults all around the world, leaving them crippled, has been almost eradicated through the efforts of the Rotary International. Only Afghanistan and Pakistan have a few active cases, but inoculation with the vaccine continues throughout the world.

Since 1985, Rotary has raised $1.7 billion for mass vaccination, immunizing more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries.

The Highlands Rotary Club, along with thousands of other Rotary clubs around the world, support this effort to eradicate polio as one of their primary charities.

This year the Washer Tournament was able to raise about $7000, of which half will go directly to the polio effort, and the other half to R.I. for national programs. In the future, Highlands can apply for a grant that will fund a local project.

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Crosby ISD 2020 budget approved

September 19, 2019
Bailee CoVan, a Crosby High School Senior, daughter of the Newport Elementary School Principal, was named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. Pictured with CoVan are her parents, and the Crosby School Board and Superintendent Scott Davis at left.

CROSBY – The local school board fixed a tax rate for the school year, limited finances, and heard a yearly report on accountability last Monday.

The 2019-2020 budget and proposed tax rate is centered on the new tax rate. The Interest and Sinking tax rate is $0.48. It is higher than the additional published notice and public meeting rate of $0.42 per $100 valuation.

The difference is due mostly to the value year lag used in the calculation of state aid. Crosby state aid for debt service decreases under HB 3 due to the increase in local property values for 2019. For maintenance and operation is $1.06835 per $100 valuation and reflects the maximum House Bill 3 compressed rate. And is a decrease from the previous $1.09 rate prior to House Bill 3.

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SJRC monitors continued pollution

September 19, 2019
Carolyn Stone, Channelview resident

EAST HARRIS COUNTY – The San Jacinto River Coalition met last week in Highlands, and reviewed activities at the Waste Pits, and heard of other environmental concerns.

Jackie Young announced that the Dallas Region 6 of the EPA had a new administrator, Ken McQueen, replacing David Gray, who remains with EPA. In a surprise announcement, the public learned this week that the EPA had met on the site on Monday with other involved parties, reviewed progress, and issued a statement as follows:

“The work of the Superfund Task Force brought significant progress to addressing contamination at the San Jacinto waste pits site,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen. “EPA will continue working with our partners toward a permanent clean-up for the benefit of the Highlands community.”

“The TCEQ appreciates EPA’s efforts on the Superfund Taskforce recommendations,” said Executive Director Toby Baker. “We look forward to our continued successful partnership with EPA to ensure proper and timely cleanup of Texas federal Superfund sites.”

“Harris County’s work with the EPA and TCEQ on the cleanup of the San Jacinto Waste Pits is a great example of how government, at all levels, can work together for the common good,” said Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan. “The announcement on October 11, 2017, that the EPA’s cleanup remedy will include the removal of 212,000 cubic yards of dioxin-laden waste from the beds and banks of the San Jacinto River has been a highpoint in my administration. Today’s announcement furthers my commitment to work together as we get closer to the goal.”

Jackie Young said at the meeting that the clean-up had entered Phase 2 PreDesign, which would last up to 10 weeks. At this time she is requesting from EPA Region 6 that work on the site have a third-party overseer, and a dive-team inspection. The work is being conducted by a contractor for the PRP (Potentially Responsible Parties) under an agreement with the EPA. Essentially they are examining conditions to verify the Pre-Design.

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Jared Jamail benefit set October 5 at Stonebridge

September 19, 2019
Al Jamail at the Crosby Education Foundation benefit last weekend.

CROSBY – Jared Jamail of Crosby passed away in May 1999 at the age of 16, and for the last 21 years consecutively, his extended family has held a fund-raiser golf tournament in his honor to memory and raise scholarship money for his fellow Crosby ISD students.

According to his aunt, Pam Johnson, “Jared’s death was a sudden, devastating shock for his family and friends. We, his family, didn’t want Jared’s memory to be about his death, but about his life. The Jared Jamail Memorial Fund was established to celebrate his life by helping others. As a result, family and friends of Jared have been able to help others by providing scholarships to graduating Crosby High School students. For those of you who have helped us, a heartfelt thank you.

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CONGRESSMAN CRENSHAW IN CROSBY: Solutions for terrorism that keep due process

September 12, 2019
Dan Crenshaw explained his support of TAPS and problems with red flag laws but could not cite legislation that would effectively shut down domestic terrorism. (PHOTO BY LEWIS SPEARMAN)

CROSBY – Dan Crenshaw R. 2nd U.S. Congressional District was inside Crosby Church last Saturday, Sept. 7, for a town hall style meeting to answer questions about what he reportedly said about “red flag laws” and the T.A.P.S. act, a grant program to enable law enforcement to focus on probable threats rather than chase after silly exaggerations.

Having defined the TAPS act as a resource for law enforcement that does not change due process, he indicated that it is legislation he supports, he moved on to “red flag” laws.

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Channel 13 plans program about Crosby

September 12, 2019
CROSBY PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLANNING SESSION POSE AT THE CHANNEL 13 NEWS ANCHOR DESK. L TO R, KEENAN SMITH, KIM HARRIS, ABC13 ANCHOR CYNTHIA CISNEROS, CISD SUPERINTENDENT SCOTT DAVIS, AND STEPHANIE WALDEN.

CROSBY – Television Station ABC13 has a recurring news program feature about neighborhoods around the city of Houston. They are now working on a program about Crosby, which will feature well known landmarks, eateries, and people.

A group of citizens familiar with Crosby met a few weeks ago with the production staff of ABC13, to exchange ideas about what should be included in the show, which will air at the end of September on various news programs, and occur over several days.

The planning group consisted of Keenan Smith of Crosby Church, Scott Davis Superintendent of Crosby ISD, Kim Harris and Stephanie Walden of the Crosby/Huffman Chamber, and Gilbert Hoffman, publisher of the Star Courier. ABC13 representative included Anchor Cynthia Cisneros, Producer Chris Nocera, and six other production assistants. The on-air host for these series is Pooja Lodhia.

It is expected that the program will feature landmark restaurants such as the Crawfish Shack, schools and churches, historical markers at Humphrey Jackson Cemetery, outstanding individuals and sports teams, key industries such as the turf farms, recreation on Lake Houston, history of Barrett Station and more. The program is meant to emphasize the best features of the community.

Suggestions on what to include in this presentation are welcome, and can be directed to Chris Nocera, producer, 713-218- 2870.

Locals dash in 9/11 Hero’s Run

September 12, 2019

 

Reyna Rankin, aunt Penny Rankin, and Carys Murray last week participated in the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Hero’s Run.

The Rankin ladies have participated for 4 years in the ideal race to honor fallen Army hero’s sacrifice, unite communities to strengthen America’s National Character, and to measure the health benefits of the participating members.

Although Reyna has medaled each year she participated, this year she came in First Place in her category.