YEAR IN REVIEW 2018

Compiled from the files of the STAR COURIER

JANUARY

Judge Don Coffey files for re-election. New Highlands Fire Station opens. Gene Green’s vacant Congressional seat attracts 7 Democrats and 4 Republicans for the March 6 Primary Election. Josh McKinney is found dead on Mizell Street in Highlands, date Yvonne Ramirez charged. Nate Scott is the Highlands VFD Firefighter of the Year. New Highlands/Lynchburg Chamber board announced, Jim Wadzinski is president. Crosby Fire Department names Warren Thompson as Firefighter of the Year. Crosby ISD Superintendent Keith Moore resigns. Court papers reveal that the PRPs have been funding Superfund opposition citizens’ groups.

FEBRUARY

Rotary Chili Feast is held Feb. 3rd. Steve & Linda Miller win the car in the Raffle. Bras for the Cause raises a record $200,000 plus for Cancer. Pct. 2 Commissioner Morman speaks at the North Channel Chamber. Crosby ISD hires interim superintendent, Kirk Lewis. Don Coffey wins the Terry Davis Award from the Highlands/Lynchburg Chamber. Crosby/Huffman Chamber holds its annual awards ceremony. TxDOT holds public meetings on I-10E improvements.

MARCH

Houston Rodeo Trail Rides start. Worker killed in local tire shredder plant Genan. County Attorney Vince Ryan sues Opioid manufacturers. Crosby Sports Association opens their Little League season. Primary Election Results: Lucia Bates defeats Don Coffey; Sylvia Garcia wins Democratic race for Congress. Pct. 2 Opens Juan Seguin Park at the South Lynchburg Ferry landing. Goose Creek ISD proposes 2 bond referendums totaling $437 Million. 3 Country singers appear at the Crosby RocknC Round-up. Big Car Show is held at RocknC Round-up.Grand Parkway Section H, US59 to Hwy. 146, starts construction. Governor authorizes $3 Million for flood mitigation study. Highlands Little League Queens are Lily Phillips, Kendra Earls, and Kamryn Schuelsky.

APRIL

One year anniversary of the death of Deputy Clinton Greenwood is observed. Open House held for new Highlands Fire Station #27. EPA and PRP reach an agreement to clean-up the Superfund Site in the San Jacinto River. Astrodome holds Public Viewing Party. Crosby man Sean Haddon is charged with terroristic threats to UT Austin and the Austin police. Dan Crenshaw is running for Ted Poe’s Congressional seat. New Rotary Club members Andy Scott and Rachel Rivera Hernandez. Rotary Club buys appliances for Harvey victim family. Battle of San Jacinto annual Reenactment is held April 21. County Clerk Stan Stanart speaks at Rotary. Linda Martin, owner of Touch of Class salon, dies at 75.

MAY

New H-E-B opens in Mont Belvieu. Crosby Rodeo announces top name entertainers for the June Rodeo. Rotary awards $30,500 in scholarships to 17 students. Baytown Youth Fair is held. Crosby top 10 students named. Sheriff holds Public Safety Forum in Crosby. Patti Bell tells Rotary about Economic Alliance Career Program. Gun threats are investigated at Huffman and Crosby schools. Crosby/Huffman Chamber hears Commissioner Morman’s progress report. Crosby ISD names new Superintendent candidate Scott Davis. Former Crosby student is killed in the Santa Fe school shooting. Memorial Day Services held at Sterling-White. Crosby/Huffman Chamber hears new HCSO Patrol Captain John Morrison.

JUNE

EPA holds Community meeting about the Waste Pits in Highlands. County will seek $2.5 Billion in August vote for flood relief. Crosby holds Rodeo Cook-off and Parade. 12-year-old girl dies at Magnolia Gardents, trying to save her mother from drowning. Crosby Livestock Show sets sale record of $375,000; steer sells for $25,000. “Tough Enough” awards $150,000 to 2 organizations. Eastside Veterans name Citizen of the Year Christy Graves. Highlands Rotary installs Denise Smith as president, and new officers and board. Newspaper reveals that Immigrant kids are housed in Harris County. Crosby Little League 6U Boys qualify for the LL World Series. The $1 Billion Beltway 8 Bridge over the Ship Channel is underway. Attorney Weston Cotten relocates his Law Office to Highlands.

JULY

Scott Stephens heads a national Heart Screening Foundation. HCA opens a new Emergency Facility on Beltway 8. Highlands man is charged with stealing the historic Ima Hogg jewel, a brooch. Crosby woman, Aliecia Pruitt, is killed on a motorcycle on US90. Sylvia Garcia resigns from the Texas Senate, will run for Congress to replace Gene Green. EPA Chief Scott Pruitt resigns. Waste Pits need repairs to the containment cap. Flood debris is started to be cleaned from Lake Houston.

AUGUST

Newspaper publisher, and Rotarian, Alton Neatherlin dies at 87 on July 27. FBI’s Christina Garza speaks at Rotary. Arkema is indicted for toxic releases in their plant fire during Hurricane Harvey. Superintendent Randy O-Brien is supported by the public in his position at Goose Creek CISD. Renowned Surgeon Dr. Joe Agris speaks at Rotary. Crosby ISD has Financial problems. New Educators luncheon held in Crosby. New JP Candidate Lucia Bates speaks at Rotary. Harris County $2.5 Billion Flood Bonds approved by voters. Writst Bands are used to monitor toxin exposure in East Harris County.

SEPTEMBER

EPA conducts interviews of residents in Highlands. Rotary holds Washer Tournament Sept. 15, raised about $8000 for Polio Plus. Texas Renaissance Festival scheduled for October and November. GatorFest is a big success in Chambers County. Highlands Jamboree Theme is “Happy Days” set for October 6.

OCTOBER

Jackie Young is honored nationally as “Champion for Change.” Constable Eagleton speaks at Rotary. Miss Highlands Pageant held October 13; Miss Highlands is Kaitlyn Rolin; Jr. Miss Highlands is Payton Radle. San Jacinto Hospital changes its name to Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Crosby Homecoming Queen is Maggie Hearn, King is Dayton Berezoski. Crosby ISD cuts staff in “Fiscal Emergency.” Czech Fest held at Crosby Sacred Heart Church. Tent Revival held in Highlands by the Ministerial Association. Highlands/Lynchburg Chamber holds its Jamboree, “Happy Days” parade and Festival. Highlands Fire Department holds its annual BBQ and Raffle. Highlands Rotary receives District 5890 recognition for 100% participation in Polio Plus.

NOVEMBER

Crosby ISD staff cuts climb to 129; Pre-K hours trimmed. Kids & Adults enjoy the Pumpkin Patch at Crosby Methodist Church. Highlands student hit on Wallisville Road on way to school. Nov. 6 Election Results: Emmett, Morman, and Beto are defeated. Winners are Lina Hidalgo, Adrian Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Ted Cruz, Lucia Bates. Eastside Veterans hold salute to Military. Chinquapin Prep celebrates 50 year anniversary. Crosby Band raises enough money for Chicago tour. Judge Stephens gives out 1300 turkeys at Thanksgiving. Rotary announces the 44th Annual Chili Feats and Car Raffle for Feb. 2, 2019.

DECEMBER

Rotary celebrates its 70th Anniversary with a Dinner and Historical Review in words and pictures at Monument Inn. Chester Stasney honored for 51 years in Rotary. Santa arrives in Highlands on a Fire Truck. Photos are taken at the Gazebo with Santa. Hot Chocolate is served by Rotary at the fire station. Santa appears at the Crosby Community Center Holiday events. Crosby Christmas Parade is the largest, longest. Organizations share Christmas at B.P. Hopper School. Holiday music at Raceway, by Crosby students. Clothe-A-child held at Crosby Church. Holiday music presented by Highlands Show Choir students at Rotary and Chamber.