TxDOT has re-opened the westbound side of the I-10 Bridge over the San Jacinto river, which was damaged by a barge strike last September during the tropical storm Imelda. The entry ramp from Crosby-Lynchburg Road was also reopened. All 3 eastbound lanes are scheduled to return to normal after realignment work is completed next weekend. TxDOT contractors had to build new support columns under the bridge to replace those damaged due to the barge strike.
Star-Courier News
HOUSTON – Permanent repairs to the damaged I-10 westbound bridge are nearing completion with plans to finish and restore traffic with a phased opening. After inspecting all repairs, TxDOT is optimistic that the westbound opening could come as early as Monday, January 13. In order to open by Monday, TxDOT will have a total closure of I-10 East westbound at Thompson in Baytown, beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, January 11 until 5 a.m. Monday, January 13.
This closure will restore the roadway to its original three-lane configuration and allow for permanent stripping, signage and further inspection. Please note that severe weather is expected this weekend and closures are subject to change due to inclement weather. The opening of the eastbound lanes is scheduled for the following weekend, weather permitting, due to extensive striping needed to be completed.
Road closure information will be posted at www.houstontranstar.org and DriveTexas.org. For more information, contact Emily Black at Emily.Black@txdot.gov. Follow us on Twitter @TxDOTHouston.
Early voting begins Feb. 18
NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY – Locally, many are anxious to vote in the 2020 November 3 election so their vote will solve the Presidential question.
March 3 Primary voting begins for early voters on February 18 and runs until Friday, February 28, according to the Texas Secretary of State. The last date to register to vote in primaries is February 3. March 3 being the last day to vote in person. Any run off is to be completed by May 26. Candidates must achieve 50% or more to avoid run off elections.
Few local candidates are unopposed this year. Dan Huberty R.,Texas House #127 after a highly successful year with House Bill 3 (school funding) and locally House Bill 76 is opposed by a Republican, Dwight Ford.
Briscoe Cain, R., Texas House #128 of Pearland, Highlands, Baytown and Crosby is challenged by Robert C. Hoskins formerly of Baytown City Council in the Republican Primary and Josh Markle and Mary E. Williams both Democrats.
District #128, a little research will show is comprised of about 172,221 folks that are 58.2% white, 38.7% black or Hispanic and 3.1% other. Ethnically, District #128 is 70.8 % non-Hispanic and 29.2% Hispanic.
Two local US Congressional elections are to be decided by voters. (more…)
CROSBY – Gun shop owner Raymond Balcerowicz heard a noise outside his house Tuesday morning about 4:30 am, and when he investigated he saw several young men tearing the door off his adjacent gun shop.
The burglars exchanged gunfire with the shop owner, and then fled the scene.
Balcerowicz said that this was not the first time his building has been broken into. Last November he suffered a loss of a large quantity of guns, valued at about $25,000.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez led the investigation, and said “He encountered them pretty quickly. A lot of shots were fired.”
About 10 minutes later, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a scene in the 3800 block of Morelos, off Wade Road. This scene was about 7 miles from the robbery at the gun shop, but deputies soon determined that the two scenes were related.
CROSBY – When the local ambulance service went to their awards banquet in Kemah’s Aquarium last Friday, the focus was on saving lives and dedication to the life saving service performed by EMS and all that serve the ambulance service.
According to Christy Graves, Director of Operations and EMS Chief of Crosby there is emotional, and physical sacrifice to serve the citizens of Crosby and surrounding area.
In 2019, Harris County Emergency Service District #5, the name of Crosby’s taxing entity and also ambulance service, experienced babies born to personnel, 3 captains promoted internally and one ambulance was stolen by a man identifying himself as God.
Five New Transit Bus Routes Target Underserved Sections of Eastern Harris County
Free Ridership the first 60 Days
Houston, Texas – Nearly 200,000 northeast Harris County residents now have access to public transportation thanks to $3.8 million in Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery funding. Harris County Transit Services will expand its existing bus service to some of the communities hardest hit by floodwaters from the hurricane.
The new service will primarily serve areas of Channelview, Cloverleaf and Sheldon and provide an additional scheduled bus to the route serving Crosby/Barrett Station.
A soft launch of the new service occurred on December 2. The first 60 days are free to riders. After that, rides will be $1. The inaugural ceremony to mark the launch was held Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Joe V’s Smart Shop parking lot, 5609 Uvalde, Houston.
HIGHLANDS – Preparations are underway for the 45th Annual Highlands Rotary Club’s Chili Feast.
The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the social hall of St. Jude’s Catholic Church, on Main Street in Highlands.
Chili Feast Chairman Andy Scott has made arrangements to bring back a popular vehicle in the raffle, a Chevy pick-up truck. The winner of the raffle will have a choice of this, or another vehicle, such as an SUV Chevy Equinox, or a sporty Camaro. Vehicles are being furnished by Turner Chevrolet in Crosby.
Every year the club cooks some delicious chili for the community, as they wait expectantly for the winner of the raffle to be announced. Chester’s Famous Recipe is renown as the best tasting ever since he first cooked it.
There are only 700 raffle tickets, at $100 donation apiece, and 15 other valuable prizes. The chances of winning are quite high. Tickets are available from any Rotarian, many local businesses in Highlands and Crosby, or call 713-426-3558.
Compiled from the files of the STAR COURIER
JANUARY
— CISD Superintendent Davis holds Community Convocation
— Reception held for retiring Congressman Gene Green
— Huffman ISD cites shoddy school construction
— Crosby EMS recognized for life-saving efforts
— Judge Bates holds reception to start her term
— Entertainers for Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced
— Highlands Firefighter of the Year is Ruben Lopez
— Rotary Chili Feast will be on Feb. 2
— Crosby Firefighter of the Year is Anthony Guzzo
FEBRUARY
— Bras for a Cause raises over $200,000 for cancer fighters
— Frankie Brewer wins Rotary Chili Feast car
— Crosby Kroger store closing in April
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NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY – The U.S. Census indicates that this area of Harris County from Kingwood to Lynchburg went from 14% without health insurance to about 21% following Hurricane Harvey. This is generally thought to be a product of locals having to make the difficult choice of spend the money to have health or spend the money to restore living.
Recently leaders in the health field and Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, along with other public officials, addressed the state of health in Harris County on November 13 talking about the economic impact and healthcare needs.
A survey provided a picture of Hurricane Harvey depriving locals of access to quality healthcare. In addition to the data and research on health care in Harris County the research suggests ways to improve it.
Navigating is more difficult east of Beltway
As Northeast Harris County continues to burgeon, filling roadways with more and more vehicles, locals have spent more and more time going to work and coming home.
With the exceptional aggravation of two crafts crashing into the Interstate 10 bridge, extreme weather, extreme sea fog, larger divots pockmarking US 90 and freak accidents, it has grown difficult to navigate the areas. In February locals were sure authorities had learned lessons about craft hovering just above the I-10 Bridge on the San Jacinto River, when the bridge had to be partially shut down after high water swept a craft into the bridge, doing extensive damage. The locals were just wrong, and in September it again happened. Most of the year the vital Interstate was below capacity. In mid-Summer, a freak wreck plunged an 18-wheeler into the river, killing the driver. Traffic was affected from Mont Belvieu to Humble in each of these cases.