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