By BOBBY HORN JR.
CHAMBERS COUNTYAll of those who say that government should do this or do that, now has a real way to voice their opinion: they can run for office.
Applications are now be accepted for the May 14 municipal and school board election.
The filing period opened on Feb. 14.
In Mont Belvieu, Positions 3, 4 and 5 on the city council are on the ballot.
Currently holding the seats are Arnold Peters, Kevin Yeager and Tommy Grimes, respectively.
As of press time, Arnold and Yeager have filed for reelection. Grime had not.
Bob Reynolds will run against Arnold for the Position 3 seat. Brett Boudreux has filed for the Position 5 seat.
In Old River-Winfree, there are also two alderman positions on the ballot.
These are Position 2, held by Colleen Fontenot and Adonna Creel. Creel has already filed for a place on the ballot. As of 12 p.m. Feb. 22, Fontenot had not.
The city will also be electing a mayor. Incumbent Joe Frank Landry is running for reelection.
There are two seats expiring on the Barbers Hill ISD Board of Trustees.
George Barrera is running for reelection to Position 3 while Benny May will seek another term in Position 4.
Those wishing to run for a seat on their city council or school board must file an application with the appropriate entity by March 14 at 5 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote in the election is April 14. Early voting by personal appearance begins may 2 and runs through May 10.
Posts published in “Day: February 24, 2011”
CHAMBERS COUNTYIn this weeks installment of this session of the Chambers County Sheriffs Office War on Drugs, we feature a familiar face, and also a suspected major supplier of Methamphetamine in Chambers County.
Recent investigations have taken us to mid county and Old River-Winfree.
On Jan. 12, at approximately 10:08pm, Street Crime Deputies were patrolling in the Indian Ridge Sub-division in Old River-Winfree. Deputies observed a white Buick car with Texas license plates leaving Indian Ridge. The vehicle was traveling south on FM 565, and failed to maintain a single marked lane.
Deputies stopped the vehicle, and identified the driver as Keith Darnell McCullum (26 year old black male) of Katy.
Upon Speaking to McCullum, deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from his car. Deputies discovered a hidden compartment in the vehicles dash, which contained a clear plastic bag (containing 4 grams of suspected cocaine), several large clear plastic bags containing suspected marijuana residue, a drug smoking pipe, marijuana grinder, and razor blades.
McCullum was arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and booked into the Chambers County Jail. He was later released after posting a $15,000 bond.
On Jan. 20, at approximately 11:55pm, Patrol Deputy L. Miller was dispatched to a disturbance in the parking lot of a convenience store at IH10 and FM 563, in Wallisville.
Battling Sisters Arrested
The disturbance was between sisters, Dana Lynn Strange (36 year old white female) of Orange, and Donna Leigh Strange (32 year old white female) of Anahuac.
The Strange sisters had begun arguing after arriving at the store in Danas vehicle. During a consented search of the vehicle, a small plastic bag, containing less than a gram of suspected methamphetamine, was recovered.
A second bag of suspected methamphetamine was located in the jacket pocket of Dana Strange.
The Strange sisters were both arrested for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, and booked into the Chambers County Jail. They were later released after each posted a $5,000.00 bond.
Stake Out At Suspected Drug House
On the afternoon of Jan. 21, Street Crime Deputies were conducting surveillance on a suspected illegal narcotics distribution house in the 7200 Block of FM 563 in Wallisville.
The Chambers County Sheriffs Office had received numerous complaints about drugs being sold out of the house.
Deputies had been watching the residence for months, and several drug arrests had been made on individuals leaving the residence.
At approximately 4:37pm, deputies observed a maroon Oldsmobile leave the suspected drug house, and travel south on FM 563.
The vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation (fail to signal left turn) as it made its way onto IH10.
The driver was identified as Toby Ray Abeyta (35 year old white male), who lives at the suspected drug house, and who had been suspected as being one of the major suppliers of methamphetamine in Chambers County, southern Liberty County and western Jefferson County.
Due to that past information, and Abeytas nervousness and elusiveness during the traffic stop, deputies asked for and received consent to search the vehicle.
During the search, deputies seized approximately 2 grams of suspected methamphetamine from the front center console. Abeyta was arrested for State Jail Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, and booked into the Chambers County Jail. Bond for that charge was set at $15,000.00.
Based on the ongoing investigation into Abeytas suspected drug dealing and his arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance as he was leaving his suspected drug house, deputies obtained and executed a search warrant on the residence.
During the search of the residence, deputies seized 210 grams of suspected methamphetamine, over $4,800.00 cash, two digital scales, numerous small clear plastic bags, and various items of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies also seized a .22 caliber rifle with a home-made silencer, and a .38 caliber handgun.
Back In The Slammer Again
As deputies made entry into the residence, they located the other tenant of the house, Alfred Thomas Kennedy (yes, the same Alfred Kennedy arrested and featured in a previous story).
Kennedy was found sitting at a table, eating ice cream. At least this time it wasnt meth, as during his prior arrest.
Kennedy was arrested for 1st Degree Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, and booked once again into the Chambers County Jail. His bond was set at $150,000
Back at the Jail, an addition charge of 1st Degree Felony Possession of a
Controlled Substance was added to Abeytas arrest, based on the search warrant.
Bond on that charge was set at $150,000. Abeyta was later released at posting bond, totaling $165,000.00.
One of the people putting up money to help bond Abeyta out of jail was Zack Baty, who was featured in our first story. By their own admission, neither Abeyta nor Baty have a legitimate paying job. At press time Kennedy remained jailed.
By BOBBY HORN JR.
HIGHLANDSA man wanted for stealing copper near Dayton, has been identified by authorities as Lance Leon Mears, 25, of Highlands.
Last week the Liberty County Sheriffs Office released photos of a man on a pole cutting electrical wires, allegedly attempting to steal the copper.
After the pictures were released the sheriffs office received tips leading them to a residence in the 100 block of Pin Oak in Highlands. However, Mears was not at home.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest for the Dayton theft. The sheriffs office said that Mears is also suspected of other copper thefts in Liberty and Harris County.
Mears has had other encounters with law enforcement.
On Nov. 1, 2010 the Harris County Sheriffs Office arrested Mears on a charge of driving with a suspended drivers license.
By GILBERT HOFFMAN Star-Courier
HIGHLANDS Sampson Masonic Lodge No. 231, annually honors a local citizen or group with their Community Builder Award for outstanding service to the community. This year, the award went to a couple well known in the community, Claudia and Bobby Birdsong, for their involvement in numerous civic causes and organizations.
The award was presented to the Birdsongs by Worshipful Master Christopher Watson, in a ceremony held last Saturday afternoon at the Lodge, attended by family, friends, and Masons.
Watson and members of the community that know the Birdsongs well spoke to the audience about their history of service to the community, and the friendliness and warmth they show to all. Speaking of their appreciation of the Birdsongs were Pastor Tim Edwards, Fire Chief Harvey Little, as well as Watson.
Several audience members also made comments, the one most often heard was Claudia is the best cook in Highlands!
Tim Edwards spoke about their service, reminding the audience that Jesus said the greatest is the one who serves. He recalled 14 years of Claudias service to the First Baptist Church members, taking care of people. He also noted Bobbys long service as a coach and sponsor of the Little League and Highlands Sports Association.
Harvey Little recalled what great neighbors they are, as well as Bobby as a hunting friend, and colleague at the fire department.
In his comments, Worshipful Master Watson noted that Claudia had served at the Church since 1986 as church secretary, headed the Food Pantry, supervised the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for the needy, and Share your Christmas for local school children. She kept in touch with local groups, such as Rotary, Sampson Lodge, area churches, and Pilot Club for needs of families in the community.
Watson said that Bobby had retired from Lyondell Chemical, and been a Deacon at First Baptist Church since 1986. He has been a volunteer fireman for 17 years, serving as Assistant Chief and responsible for maintenance of the department vehicles. He partipates in the Fill the Boot Campaign, and annual HVFD BBQ. Bobby had worked with area boys and girls for many years coaching baseball and softball, and for 5 years has been Assistant VP of the Pony League baseball team.
The Birdsongs family was present at the ceremony, including children Cindy Wilingham with husband Eric and their 2 children Courtney and Tyler; and son Billy with wife Melody, and their 2 children Logan and Morgan.
After the awards ceremony, the attendees gathered for a social occasion and refreshments in the Sampson Lodge Building.
By GILBERT HOFFMAN and LEWIS SPEARMAN Star-Courier
CROSBY A town hall meeting that combined State Representative Dan Hubertys first public forum, and the school districts report on the school budget, was held last Thursday night at the high school auditorium. Several hundred people turned out, and although the crowd was civil, they voiced quite a few concerns about TxDOTs current plans for improvements on FM2100, and what the reduced school budget will mean to teachers jobs and classroom instruction quality.
Both TxDOT and Crosby ISD expressed concern that reduced funding from the state would greatly curtail what they could accomplish.
For instance, a much discussed widening of FM2100 from Crosby to Huffman, with left turn lanes and other safety features, is not going to happen in the near future, District Engineer Delvin Dennis said. Construction costs of $25 million, and land acquisition of $15 million put this project far into the future, he said. Dennis did say that some minor safety improvements would be implemented between now and September, and a study would attempt to lower the speed limit from 55 mph to 50 mph.
When Rodney Foster pointed out that as many as 16,000 cars a day use this stretch of road, Dennis compared it to FM1960 with 60,000, saying it was a much more serious problem that he was dealing with.
Several residents of Jackson Bayou, and Gena McMillan, who has a business on Kernahan, expressed concern about access to their properties when the railroad overpass is built. The TxDot engineers said that temporary widening would allow some access, but that other roads with alternate access would be blocked, but just for a few days. McMillan was not satisfied with this answer, and asked the public to contact her on her new website, www.visitcrosby.com.
When mention of the new US90 was made, the audience burst into applause, and some told of the time saving this has meant to them.
School Finance
Huberty made the point about choosing between Needs vs Wants. He made the point that Texas does not have any money, and road and school budgets will be affected. The Legislature is now trying to fix a $27 billion dollar shortfall.
He said that in March the state Comptroller will issue a new revenue forecast, and the Legislature must spend no more than this. However, the economy seems to be recovering, and sales tax collections are up, 11% in January for example.
Huberty expects that the state will pull $3.5 billion from their Rainy Day fund to help with school financing.
As a prior school board president, in Humble, Huberty said he has a passionate approach to education, and will be working on minimizing the funding cuts.
Superintendent Moore pointed out that Crosby ISD has already taken a number of budget reductions, and they are now working on a budget for 2011-2012 that will be finalized when the states contribution is known, probably in August.
The current Crosby ISD budget is $39.5 million, and this will probably have to be reduced by $3.9 to $5.3 million, Moore said.
For certain, Moore said, The cuts will be uncomfortable.
Because of the arcane funding formula that the state now uses, the only way to get more money for your budget is to pass a tax increase.
Moore said that to save money, the administration staff is working fewer days, i.e. this is a salary reduction; reducing all travel; using resignations and retirements to reduce staff; and looking at job sharing as a possibility.
Huberty and Moore said that there will be another Town Hall meeting at the end of March, at the Newport Elementary.