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Posts published in March 2017

Citizens and law enforcement against crime

March 30, 2017

CROSBY –– To know what needs to be done and to know what is going on in one’s community is an asset to every citizen.

Last week at the Community Awareness program a series of speakers tackled a number of topics related to making local neighborhoods less attractive to crime.

A dozen Precinct 3 Deputies including the Constable and his Executive Staff, three Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies, Dan Webb, the new NPOAN President and head of the Newport Neighborhood Watch, and Velma Ellison described the developmental changes on-going in Crosby. All these speakers and more under the direction of the Chamber Chairperson Larry Koslovsky.

Kidneys and minds are terrible things to waste

Christy Graves, Director of Medical Services for HCESD#5, the EMS service of Crosby during her speech, talked of the one frequently seen drug in Crosby, synthetic cannabinoids.

“People think it is okay because it was once called legal marijuana or synthetic marijuana but now illegally sold under the colloquial “Kush,” “Spice,” “K-2” but it is a very dangerous substance. It is easily obtainable under the counter at convenience stores or at smoke shops or by mail. There are few that cannot get their hands on this drug. Users are not street people or homeless folks but our kids and our neighbors and grandkids. When we first saw this drug about two years ago in Crosby we would encounter maybe two a month overdoes. Now we respond to six to eighteen a month.

The drug is very volatile. You can smoke it one time and do fine, you can smoke it over several months and do fine but it is like playing Russian Roulette. You could smoke it just once and it can kill you. The users have no ability to understand the molecular dynamics of this drug. The drug is very unstable in its chemical makeup. It is not excreted from the body.

Synthetic cannabinoids is the leading drug issue requiring emergent intervention for the EMS locally. It has become the drug of choice for many because it is not detected in urine screening and is easy and cheap to obtain. Manufacturers are constantly changing its chemical ingredients because of federal bans of certain chemicals used in the making so they can keep selling it.

What we usually see are unconsciousness, seizures, respiratory and cardiac disfunction as well as kidney damage. ”

“Crosby and Huffman have a Police Department”

Constable Sherman Eagleton had been in office for 82 days when he spoke at the meeting. In that time he has restructured the department and put 31 officers on the street to better serve the community without costing the tax payers any additional money. During his introduction we learned that Constable Eagleton grew up dreaming of being Constable and as Constable providing our community the service it deserves. Eagleton wanted to implement a more community oriented policing strategy for the areas of northeast Harris County. Two important numbers were released for the public to know, anonymous tip line is (832) 927-8477 to report criminal activity and (713) 453-6959 for suspicious persons and possible criminal activity and 911 for directly seen criminal activity and emergency response. In the plans are programs for youth activities and a host of nontraditional programs.

“I heard my good friend Mr. Spearman say that Crosby and Huffman don’’t have a police department, that you can’’t afford it and have no town. Well, I was born in Barrett Station and thank you to God for electing me Constable for the next four years and I am here to tell you that Crosby and Huffman have a police department. We are here for you.”

“If you see something, say something.” were the watch words of the night from deputies.

Organizing neighborhood watches were the topic from Dan Webb and Sheriff’s Deputies.

2-alarm blaze burns four homes in Crosby

March 23, 2017

CROSBY – According to the Crosby Volunteer Fire Department they were called to the Crosby Plaza Apartments at 4:47 a.m. on Tuesday.

Upon arrival flames shot from the apartment office, the laundry room and adjacent apartments.

It seems that at least four apartment homes were destroyed by the blaze in addition to the office and laundry room. As fire fighters arrived several gas lines exploded.

A second alarm raised fire fighters from Highlands, Huffman, Sheldon and Channelview

Indications are that the most burned area was the laundry room where live powerlines entered the building. The fire fighters had to have CenterPoint Energy come out and shut down the gas to the laundry room before effective fire fighting could begin.

Harris County Fire Marshals arrived sometime after 5:30 a.m. and were still conducting investigations at the scene until about 11:30 a.m. They say the fire is still under investigation.

Witnesses say there had been a man shouting that he would burn the place down if they did not put him up somewhere on Monday. But, authorities have yet to confirm that information or that the man had been living in a unit for two weeks.

Neighbors and fire fighters took as their first task to evacuate those in the path of the fire. Due to those efforts, no one was hurt.

Crosby ISD had expressed concern for the children living in the apartments even before the fire, “Many families have lost their homes. We have been in contact with many of the families affected by this morning’s fire. The Red Cross has also been on site to assist the families temporarily. Many others have asked how to help. At this time, we are asking that donations be taken to CUIC here in Crosby, located on Church Street so that we have a central location for donation collection and distribution.

Thank you for your concern and generosity as we’ve had many students directly affected.”

Easter Bunny Arrival Event at San Jacinto Mall March 25

March 23, 2017

Face Painting & Balloon Art from 12pm-1:30pm

BAYTOWN, Texas (March 23, 2017) … Children can visit the Easter Bunny in his springtime garden at San Jacinto Mall March 25 through April 15. Festive face painting and balloon art will be available March 25 from 12pm to 1:30pm near Bath & Body Works. Photo packages start at $24.99. Kids will receive a complimentary activity book for visiting the Bunny! The Easter Bunny’s hours are available on the mall’s website.

In addition, kids can visit www.SanJacintoMall to experience “Bunnyville,” featuring interactive games and educational activities centered around the Easter Bunny’s village, which includes a workshop, library, post office, school, art studio, train station, boutique, clubhouse, photo studio, internet café, weather station and candy shop.

San Jacinto Mall is located at I-10 at Garth Road in Baytown, Texas. For more information, call (281) 421-3908 or visit www.sanjacintomall.com.

About San Jacinto Mall

San Jacinto Mall, located in Baytown, Texas, is owned by Fidelis Realty Partners. The shopping center is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney and Sears. Guests have more than 80 retailers and restaurants to enjoy, including Bath & Body Works, Journeys, Champs, Foot Locker, Footaction, Icing, Visible Changes, Zales, Payless Shoe Source and Merle Norman. Entertainment options include Bungee Jump, Power Play Arcade, Premiere Cinemas 11 and South Mountain Kiddie Rides. The shopping center hosts various community events throughout the year. For more information and a complete list of stores and restaurants, please visit www.sanjacintomall.com.

Forum to probe efforts to reduce crime

March 16, 2017

The Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Community Awareness Meeting at the David H. McNerney American Legion Hall on March 23 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Focus is on how to make crime less profitable in local communities and neighborhoods.

Three types of crime will be targeted: burglary, robbery and identity theft. These are property crimes but their impact can be staggering. Local perception is that with a spike in burglary that began in September escalating through December that locally Crosby was beginning to have a problem especially with car burglary and grand theft auto increased.

Sometime in November Crosby and Highlands had an increase in robberies begin. December throughout the Greater Houston Area saw excessive crime sprees, as always. When residents complained to the Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber took action to host this event and board members began to actively promote it.

Property crimes are crimes of opportunity and when opportunity diminishes the criminals tend to move to more inviting environments. The idea is don’t go away mad, criminals, just go away.

March 23, community leaders, law enforcement and special guests will try to help focus on curbing local burglary, robbery and identity theft in our communities. Some solutions that will make it harder to do criminal business here and better ways to work together to make criminal business less profitable locally can be learned.

Thus far speakers are to include Welcome and Prayer by Dr. Larry Koslovsky, introduction and focus by Lewis Spearman, Velma Ellison on local development and concerns, Precinct 3 Constable Sherman Eagleton and his command staff on statistics and implications of local crime, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Lieutenant Nathan Douglas of District 3 concerning Crime Prevention and Dan Webb, President Newport Property Owners Association and Security Director of Public Safety in Newport to speak of neighborhood crime interdiction and combatting identity theft.

It is important to keep in mind that this is not for the purpose of bemoaning the impact of crimes in the past. It is not to point fingers and complain that government has not stopped crime for us. It is to be the point at which local residents become tired of these crime and begin to act in concert to make crime more difficult to get away with and therefore less profitable locally.

Highlands man stuns Florida deputies

March 9, 2017

DeFuniak Springs, Fla. – A Highlands man gained national attention through his alleged antics here on March 3.

A vehicle fire on Interstate 10 in Walton County led to an unprecedented chain of events, including two stolen vehicles and a handcuffed suspect stealing a third car, a patrol car.

Early that Friday morning at about 9:50 a.m. Walton County Sheriffs Deputies responded to a vehicle fire near mile marker 85 on I-10. After the fire was extinguished it was discovered the vehicle was stolen out of DeFuniak Springs and was purposely set on fire following a crash.

Shortly after, a resident on Bob Sykes Road noticed a man sitting inside a Jeep he had rented. It looked as if an attempt to steal the Jeep was in progress. The suspect was detained at gunpoint until deputies arrived.

The suspect, identified as Cody Dwayne Hynum, 30, with a Highlands, Texas driver’s license, was cuffed and put in the back of a patrol car.

Normally that is the end of the story. It is really where this one begins.

Following his arrest it was determined Hynum had also burglarized a carport and stolen a Ford F-150 truck, which was abandoned nearby after an apparent wreck rendered it disabled.

While deputies were working both crime scenes, Hynum kicked out the rear driver’s side window and, still cuffed, was able to get out of the vehicle and gain access to the driver’s seat.

Down Woodyard Road the suspect fled. Driving without hands and in a patrol car. Hynum then hit a private citizen’s fence, punched through, drove down a driveway and struck a barrier at the road. Another vehicle disabled.

The suspect fled from the patrol vehicle into the nearby woods. The deputies were not thrown off the trail by this however as they watched him bunny hop into the wooded area. Hynum was tased during his apprehension by deputies after a short foot pursuit.

Hynum was charged with escape, two counts of grand theft auto with damages over $1,000, two counts of burglary, larceny over a $1,000, criminal mischief over $1,000, resisting arrest with violence, and fleeing and eluding.

He was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated and later booked into the Walton County Jail. Additional charges may be forthcoming. He has made statements to Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies that he was on “meth” and “flakka.”

A native of Mississippi, it may be some time before Hynum returns.

County will test additional wells

March 2, 2017

Harris County has announced that they will test additional private water wells in Highlands and Channelview. The project is named Phase II Drinking Water Well Sampling Project, and is a joint collaboration between Pct. 2, Pollution Control, and Public Health departments of the county.

It is being paid for by funds from the settlement obtained from the PRP (Potential Responsibile Parties) in the Waste Pits lawsuit. Private wells in the 77530 and 77562 zip codes are eligible, if they meet other criteria listed below. (SEE MAP BELOW FOR PURPLE AREAS). If you are qualified, you must call 713-274-0911 before March 10 to register. Calls will be returned with an acknowledgement.

Testing will be performed at no cost to homeowners, and results will be provided to each.

Qualification Criteria:

— Property Owner must sign a consent form;

— Property must be located in areas shown on the map;

— Drinking water on property must be provided from a single family, privately owned residential well, with no other water source;

— Properties that were previously sampled in Phase I are not eligible for resampling.