Posts published in “Day: April 3, 2003”

By LEWIS SPEARMAN

BAYTOWN – Highlands Kawasaki Bear Racing is off to Atlanta, GA. this week following a dramatic win in the opening round of the Streetbike Shootout in Texas Shootout at Houston Raceway Park last weekend.

The local motorcycle drag race team is considering going international if their new team expansion/addition and national standings stack up to expectations this year.

On March 30, Brian Dunham consistently ran off and left competitors in the fastest bike contest, Streetbike Shootout, on a motorcycle built last year by team Highlands Kawasaki Racing, a ZX-11 Turbo. The bike won the Texas Shootout Championship in points last year. It was Dunham’s first time on a turbo. The bike was so fast it nearly left its rider behind during qualifying.

Teammate Gilbert Coronado was a disappointed runner up in the Street ET competition with .001 of a second break-out on the last pass of the eliminations. Coronado’s reaction time had been .501, .502, .501 where .5 of a second is a perfect start. In the final round, his reaction time was .499.

A relative novice joining Team Highlands Kawasaki, Dunham was struggling last year when Keith Coble, Team President took a personal interest in Dunham’s training.

Said Coble, “I could tell he had the raw talent and all I could do was help him stretch it out. No one had ever tried to match his potential with enough power until I could put the right equipment under him and have him handle it.” said Coble.

Coble beams with pride concerning Dunham’s development “Brian seems to have all the capabilities to make one great turbo rider. As he progressed, we began training him for Jeff Peck’s bike of last year. All Brian needed to win this weekend was the confidence a successful ride would give.”

But it didn’t come easy, in qualifying Dunham clung on by the narrowest of margin to a near vertical motorcycle. Struggling he managed to get the front down just before the Turbo kicked in and blew past an astonished opponent in the last .011 seconds of the quarter mile heat.

The racing team is off to Atlanta Raceway Park for the A.M.A. Prostar National Motorcycle Drag Racing events April 5. According to Team President, mechanical and technical crew, Jeff Peck, who experienced technical difficulties this past weekend’s bike will be fully “lined out for Atlanta.”

Coble added a heavy hitter to his technical team in the person of Pierre Labuschagne, Director of Kawasaki Racing South Africa and owner of Bear Racing out of that same country. Coble partnered with Labuschagne to handle new technical adaptations.

“Pierre and Rob Muzzy help this weekend tracking, tuning and grafting new engineering for our racing equipment.” explained Coble of the new somewhat renowned pit crew.

Rob Muzzy is owner of Muzzy Racing, a national racing team.

Of the new teaming, Labuschagne seemed even more enthusiastic about his new American buddy, “Keith is one of the few people taking this sport seriously. So, I came here to help him win at that effort.”

In response to questions about adapting to Texas Labuschagne was even more enthusiastic, “My experience in Texas has been from coming from the minor league into the big league. We are getting ready in July to tackle an international track. I’m trying to get Keith going on the drag races on that level over these next two years. This must be done on a very priority level. A guy like Keith has going over a normal guy is that normally they see the event as just another, Keith really gets into a commitment to winning the race, invariably. Really believe Keith is going to be a major force to be reckoned with among the top racers in the country this year and probably in the world if we can get to Gosthfoeth Raceway International. “

Last year, Team Highlands Kawasaki won the Streetbike Shootout by 46 Points.
Results from Houston Raceway Park’s Motorcycle Drag Racing Shootout were: Top-Gas winner was Charlie Prophit and Tiny Noble came in second. Super Comp winner was Benji Gibson with Kirk Reeves right behind. Super Gas winner was Alan Jordan with Bruce Calhoun runner up. Pro ET went to David Kennedy with Dwight Mayo next. Jeff English won Street ET, Coronado second. John Dorin was runner up in the Streetbike Shootout. Top Eliminator was Randy Hamilton, followed by C.D. Watson. Pro-Gas Harley went to John Peek.

By BOBBY HORN

WASHINGTON D.C.— A national alert system designed to help locate missing and abducted children could soon be signed into law.

One of the key proponents of the Child Abduction Act is local Congressman Nick Lampson. “For two and a half years I have taken the House floor every day and pleaded for action on this issue.” Lampson serves as chairman of the Congressional Caucus for Missing and Exploited Children.

Last week, the House passed their version of the bill which would provide funding for a nationwide “Amber Alert” and “Adam Alert” system. A similar bill has already passed the Senate.

Final passage of the bill, however, has been bogged down in committee while members from both houses debate the differences between the two bills over sex offenses.

Lampson has expressed unhappiness with his colleagues over letting the bill go to committee. “It would have been beneficial to children to let the Amber bill move on it’s own while we take the time to go through this difficult legislative package.”

The “Amber Alert” was named after nine-year old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped from her Arlington home and later found murdered. Under the alert system, when a child is discovered missing, a bulletin is sent out through local media and law enforcement agencies. Under the proposed bill, federal funds would be used to expand the alert system nationwide and provide matching grants for local agencies.

“The Adam Alert” is named for Adam Walsh, son of “America’s Most Wanted” creator John Walsh, who was abducted from a shopping mall and murdered in 1981.

Under the house bill, a description of a child missing in a federal building would be communicated around the building and employees would monitor exits. Police would them be notified if the child does not turn up within 10 minutes. Some businesses, such as Wal-Mart have already instituted similar Adam Alert plans.

Also in the House version of the bill is an amendment aimed at banning computer -simulated child pornography. This is in response to the Supreme Court striking down a similar Virginia law in 1996, stating that it was too vague.

Once out of committee, the President has promised to sign the legislation.

By LEWIS SPEARMAN AND BOBBY HORN JR.

CROSBY— There is an old joke that goes, “How do you eat an elephant?” The response, of course is, “One bite at a time.”

This is the approach that Crosby ISD Superintendent Dr. Don Hendrix says that district is taking for fixing what he calls serious needs at district campuses.

On May 17, voters will be asked to approve a $44.49 million bond package for repairs and renovations at all six campuses, as well as the transportation complex, the football stadium and the area around the high school and middle school.

The largest portion of the funds, said Hendrix, will be an $18.8 million program for the high school. Overcrowding, said Hendrix, is a major concern whereas the campus is at capacity with its approximately 1,000 students. If the bonds are passed, expansion would allow the school to service an additional 600 students.

The funds would also allow the district to upgrade science labs, which have been identified as unsafe and inadequate for student needs.

The district has earmarked $9.1 million for Drew Intermediate. One planned project at Drew is adding a fifth grade wing and administration to alleviate overcrowded classrooms. The current classrooms were designed in 1957 for what was then standard for schools.

A concern brought by parents to the district deals with the roof leaking and mildew forming on walls, while holes form in the floors. To correct this, the district hopes to set aside funds for a new roof and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system.

While not housing students, an area which directly impacts students is the transportation center. Overcrowded offices, insufficient number of parking spaces and a need for new maintenance equipment are just some of the concerns that the district hopes to correct. To do this, they have set aside $6 million of the package.

Hendrix said if the bonds past voter muster the district would become well-equipped for facilities through 2015.

There has been speculation that the district might, after the bonds are approved, transfer the money which would have gone into the building program into its general operating budget.

This, said Hendrix, cannot happen as the district is required to keep the two budgets separate. When the district sets its tax rate each year, the tax rate is actually the combined rate of maintenance and operations (M&O) and interest and sinking (I&S). Under state law, the I&S portion of taxes can only be spent on debt service and funds in that part of the budget cannot be used for general services.

Hendrix said that there are two main reasons why the district is coming forward now with the bond referendum. The first, he said, is the urgent need at campuses. The second deals with the economy. Under the current bond market, if the district were to begin selling bonds now they could take advantage of the lowest interest rates in 20 years, which would be translated over the term of the bonds to lower taxes for property owners.

If the bonds pass, it is estimated that the tax rate would increase to a total of $1.99 per $100 valuation.

If the bonds fail, Hendrix added, the district would be unable to fund any of the needed improvements at the campuses.

By LEWIS SPEARMAN

CROSBY – This weekend’s festivities of Crosby Sports Association is sure to be one of the most exciting for any who love kids, baseball and/or America,* see editorial note at article’s end.

April 5, there is a parade, barbecue, opening day baseball and softball, and a dedication of a playing field to a great citizen and supporter of sports in this area – the late Bobby Michalsky. The theme of the day is “God Bless America and Our Troops!”

The parade on Saturday lines up for floats and marchers at 8:30 a.m. The parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The route for the parade starts at Crosby High School, runs out north on FM 2100 to Church St., right, east to Pecan, left, north to Kernohan, west to FM 2100 and back to Crosby High School. That is almost a mile of parade route. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole is the Parade Marshal this year. Rumor has it that Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia will ride in the parade also.

This year, barbecue plates are even more of a bargain than anyone would believe, considering the price of meat these days. The paltry sum of $5 gets the kids’ supporters barbecue, brisket, sausage, beans, bread and a soft beverage. The Crosby Sports Association Sports Complex on Miller Wilson Rd., near the Precinct 4 Utility Station is the location to buy plates.

A new field is under construction for baseball and softball thanks to the efforts of Larry Tobin and the officers of Crosby Sports Association. The field is to be named for avid kids’ sports proponent Bobby Michalsky on the evening of opening day as Michalsky Field.

Michalsky was a kid’s baseball or softball coach for 32 years. He helped build the current sports complex, and worked the side-line measuring chain in Crosby High football for 60 years. If there could be sports of some kind in Crosby, Michalsky not only supported it, he probably was working on it voluntarily while he lived.

Crosby Sports Association accomplished the fiscal management to build Michalsky Field under the presidency of Larry Tobin. Funding the new field started by reserving and raising money two years ago. The field is being built to specifications for boys and girls ages 15 to 18 years.

On opening day, four new teams will begin playing at 2:30 p.m. in the sports complex. The teams, comprised of ages 15 to 18 year-olds, are called Colts League. This year, Crosby High School had 68 youths try-out for 8 open positions on the boys high school team. President Tobin developed a program like the high school team to offer similar training, with co-operation of Coach McCain, in effort to start up a transitional team. Coaches ended up with four teams other than the high school team.

Editorial Note. Many people probably won’t like it here if they don’t love at least one of those three; kids, ball or America! It could be hard to be loved by others in Crosby if someone doesn’t like all three! The greatest thing is – they can live here if they want yet not like any of those three. But…they might like it better elsewhere…. Paris or Pyongyang might be more tasteful to them.