YEAR IN REVIEW 2019

Compiled from the files of the STAR COURIER

JANUARY

— CISD Superintendent Davis holds Community Convocation

— Reception held for retiring Congressman Gene Green

— Huffman ISD cites shoddy school construction

— Crosby EMS recognized for life-saving efforts

— Judge Bates holds reception to start her term

— Entertainers for Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced

— Highlands Firefighter of the Year is Ruben Lopez

— Rotary Chili Feast will be on Feb. 2

— Crosby Firefighter of the Year is Anthony Guzzo

FEBRUARY

— Bras for a Cause raises over $200,000 for cancer fighters

— Frankie Brewer wins Rotary Chili Feast car

— Crosby Kroger store closing in April

— Crosby basketball coach Michelle Trotter named Coach of the Year in S.E. Texas

— Barge damages I-10 bridge, traffic on one side of highway only

— San Jacinto River Coalition stops permit for dumping in Beach City

— Crosby ISD audit finds false reports, cost over-runs / Former superintendent Keith Morrow apologizes to board and public

— Crosby AD Jeff Riordan, most winning coach, resigns for better offer from Tyler

— Highlands Rotary Club wins Terry Davis Award for community service from Highlands Chamber

— Crosby Chamber awards CRCU as Business of the Year, Dan and Jennifer Meaux as Citizen of the Year

MARCH

— Coby Carter to play the Crosby Rock’N C Roundup venue

— Jackie Young meets with EPA in Washington DC demanding action at Superfund site

— Huge ITC fire in Deer Park affects surrounding areas with air and water pollution

— Goose Creek CISD proposes $335 million bond issue

— Cody bill passes Texas House by 145-0 vote

— Baseball and softball seasons open with parades in Highlands and Crosby

— ZXP CEO James Taylor speaks to Rotary about importance of the company to Highlands history and economy

— Crosby ISD ends financial crisis and need for layoffs

APRIL

— KMCO plant in Crosby has explosion and fire, one dead and two injured

— Barrett Station Economic Development lead by Jerry Bluitt, who spoke to the Rotary club about plans

— KMCO shut down by County Attorney after explosion

— President Trump visits Union training center in Crosby, community turns out to welcome him

— New pipeline fire on Crosby’s Sralla Road adds to environmental concerns

— Judge Hidalgo announces Hurricane Harvey Recovery Program at news conference in Barrett Station

— Arkema refinery in Crosby, and its CEO Mike Keough, face felony charges from the fire during the Hurricane Harvey flood

— Performers announced for this year’s Crosby Rodeo

— Crosby ISD names new Athletic Director/ Coach, Jerry Prieto

MAY

— I-10 Bridge lanes will reopen after repairs from Harvey barge collision

— Goose Creek passes $335 million bond issue

— EPA holds meeting in Highlands to update public on Superfund site work

— Highlands Horizons awards 10 scholarships

— Crosby ISD names Top 10 graduating seniors

— Crosby Rodeo holds Lil Cowpoke pageant

— Highlands Rotary awards $32,000 in scholarships

— Scott Stephens Cody Bill for heart screenings passes in Legislature

— Severed head found near Lake Houston

— Memorial Day celebrated at Sterling-White Cemetery

— Pet Dog savagely killed in Highlands

— Battleship Texas will be repaired, moved to new location

JUNE

— Crosby Rodeo holds Parade, Cook-off

— Hargrave HS wins State Softball Championship in 4A

— “Tough Enough” awards $172,000 to Cancer organizations

— Baytown Youth Fair livestock auction nets $19,000 for champion steer

— Crosby’s Hunter Hearn signs baseball contract with Philadelphia

— Superfund Waste Pits cap needs major repairs

— K of C holds Klobasa Festival in Crosby

JULY

— Semi truck plunges off I-10 bridge, driver dies

— Boat crashes into bulkhead near Rio Villa, one boater dies

— Eastside Veterans hold Car Show

— Turner Chevrolet celebrates 5 years in business

— Barrett Station celebrates Homecoming

— Scott Stephens tells Rotary about efforts to pass Cody bill HB76

AUGUST

— Pct. 3 Constable’s race has 3 entries, including Eagleton, Jones, Florus

— Machete wielding robber captured in Highlands

— Pct. 2 commissioner Adrian Garcia details improvement plans

— Crosby ISD will use bond funds to solve budget crisis

— Scott Stephens’ goal for fundraiser is $270,000 for heart screenings

— Two Highlands schools receive a “D” rating from the State TEA

— Bus service in East Harris County to expand

— Rotary Club hosts Exchange Student from Brazil, Eduardo Sanchez.

SEPTEMBER

— AMTRAK train hits semi truck in Liberty County, 20 injured

— Channel 13 will broadcast a program about Crosby, including a segment about the Star-Courier

— Rotary holds annual Washer Tournament

— Crosby Education Foundation holds Casino Night

— Crosby ISD sets yearly budget at $9.36 million in revenue

— Tropical Storm IMELDA flooding paralyzes Houston area

— Barge strikes and damages I-10 bridge, traffic stopped

— EPA holds Superfund update meeting in Highlands

— Crosby’s Lee Machala brutally murdered in Chambers County

OCTOBER

— Highlands Jamboree “Celebrate Highlands” takes place first Saturday

— Crosby’s CzechFest is held Sunday at the Fairgrounds

— Miss Highlands pageant names Haley Maxey as Miss Highlands, Aubrey Bird as Jr. Miss Highlands

— Driver killed in wrong-way crash on US90, family injured

— Highlands Rotary donates ECG machine to Goose Creek CISD

— Crosby Homecoming names Chrissa Jacobson as queen, Tyler Friday as king

— Highlands cyclist Devin Custer killed saving fiancee

— Crosby Church holds Extreme Machine event

NOVEMBER

— Crosby FFA students win highest national award at FFA convention

— Eagle Scout Logan Lopez will improve Heritage Park in Highlands

— Veterans saluted with parade in Crosby

— Harris County Judge Hidalgo gives State of the County talk

— Highlands Rotary prepares Holiday gifts for distribution

— Crosby woman Kelly Turner tried in Colorado for murder of her daughter

— Harris County Clerk opens branch office in Wallisville courthouse

— Water rates on the rise everywhere

— Pct. 2 commissioner Adrian Garcia speaks at Crosby Chamber luncheon

DECEMBER

— Santa arrives in Highlands on a fire truck. Rotary serves hot chocolate, and Highlands Horizons serves cookies to a large crowd of families

— Heritage Park in Highlands the scene of decorated Christmas trees and Santa in the Park Pavilion

— Crosby gets high tech traffic controls for emergency vehicles

— Liberty waste disposal site in Highlands is the subject of a presentation at the San Jacinto River Coalition meeting

— Crosby holds Christmas parade and Festival

— Crosby emergency Helipad gets flight path approval from the FAA

— Rotary president Sheila McDonald receives Master Builder Award from the Masonic Sampson Lodge in Highlands

— I-10 bridge traffic lanes will return to normal in January after repairs to support columns are completed

— Christmas is celebrated in Crosby with Clothe-A-Child, and in Highlands with Share Your Christmas involving the local clubs and churches