2003: the Year in Review

JANUARY
Thieves stole the tires and wheels off the Highlands Rotary Truck. Shawn Latta was named Baytown Police Dept. Officer of the Year.

Tom Adam was named Highlands VFD Firefighter of the Year. Mt. Rose Church of God in Christ dedicated their new sanctuary.

FEBRUARY
Crosby Church dedicated their new sanctuary. Crosby VFD opened a station at the AtoFina plant. Jim Hildebrand won the Highlands Rotary Club truck (complete with new tires and wheels). The Pilot Club of Highlands raised $20,000 toward construction of a new library in Highlands.

Armando Hernadez was arrested for the Feb. 17 murder of Newport resident Christopher Harrell. Huffman FFA holds their annual livestock show and sale.

MARCH
A record number of fans attended the original Zydeco Jamm Festival at the Crosby Fairgrounds. Diana Singer was named Highlands Little League Queen.

The Huffman VFD approved land to build a new EMS station. Area school districts canceled elections due to a lack of candidates.

APRIL
Crosby ISD proposed a $45 million bond package for school upgrades. The Crosby Sports Association renamed a field in honor of Bobby Michalsky.

Cross Canadian Ragweed and Patrick Murphy were announced as headliners for the 2003 Crosby Fair and Rodeo. Highlands VFD battled a truck fire and hazardous materials spill which closed I-10 for six hours.

MAY
Crosby State Bank celebrated its 90th Anniversary. A Goose Creek CISD redistricting committee recommended consolidating the two high school s into one.

The Lynchburg Ferry was closed for three months for repairs and repainting. Crosby voters approved $45 million in schoolhouse bonds. Crosby veterans joined a protest in Dayton, where students were forced to attend classes on Memorial Day.

JUNE
Construction of a Super Wal-Mart was announced for Crosby. The 57th Crosby Fair and Rodeo was held. A record $11,000 was bid for the Grand Champion Steer.

Cases of West Nile Virus was confirmed in Harris, Liberty and Chambers Counties.

JULY
Charlie Farrar was elected president of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Deacon Tittel received the Highlands Chamber’s Terry Davis Award for community service.

Huffman ISD announced a $22 million bond referendum. A community survey to determine the possibility of a YMCA in Crosby was held.

AUGUST
Congressman Christ Bell traveled to Israel as the guest of a Jewish political group to review tensions between Israel and Palestine. The Highlands Kawasaki Racing team set new track records at races in South Africa.

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce announced they would move Jamboree festivities to the Highlands Elementary School. Harris County said that they would do a feasibility study of the Lynchburg Ferry.

SEPTEMBER
Tensions continued to rise between emergency service providers in Crosby and Huffman. Crosby’s Bonnie-Beth Newman was named Region IV Teacher of the Year.

Huffman voters approved $22 million in schoolhouse bonds. The body of David Mixon, found in a Highlands canal, leading to the arrest of Chris Crow, of Baytown and Ollie Ford Jr. of Highlands.

OCTOBER
Powerboats returned to Highlands for races along the San Jacinto River. Jessica Gonzales was named Miss Highlands and Candace Smith was named Junior Miss Highlands.

Four were injured in a boating accident on the San Jacinto River. An armed robber struck at game rooms in Huffman and Dayton. Phillip Beck and Miranda Johnson were named Crosby HS Homecoming King and Queen.

NOVEMBER
Dr. David Hicks resigned as superintendent of Deer Park ISD. Crosby ISD announced they would begin an JROTC program in the Fall of 2004.

Goose Creek CISD approved spending $42,000 on a feasibility study for a third high school.

Crosby’s Phillip Beck set a new state record for most receptions in a season.

DECEMBER
The Honey Stop 7 game room in Crosby was robbed at gunpoint. The new Barrett Community Center opened in Barrett Station. Two “meth” labs were raided in Crosby.