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Posts published in “Day: August 6, 2020”

Rotary awards 20 scholarships

August 6, 2020
Scholarship recipients Dayton Berezoski, Joshua Protain, Morgan Forsyth, Carol Nunez, and Shaily Yadav. All are presently in college.

Total of $34,000 distributed by club

HIGHLANDS – One of the major projects that the Highlands Rotary club holds every year is the awarding of scholarships to graduating seniors and in-college students.

Usually the awards are made at a festive banquet held at the Community Center. However, this year was different, due to the COVID virus pandemic. The ceremony was delayed six weeks, and then it was held in small groups at the club’s regular luncheon.

Scholarship chairman Dr. Larry White acted as emcee in each of four presentations. The students reported on their accomplishments, and plans for the future.

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Explosion, Fire at Mont Belvieu facility

August 6, 2020
First on the scene, Mont Belvieu Fire Dept. arrived shortly after 4:50 p.m. to stop the spread of flames from a wellhead said to have begun when a contractor hit a pipeline.

MONT BELVIEU – An explosion Wednesday, July 29, at an industry facility is blamed on a contractor hitting a line.

The Mont Belvieu Fire Department was working with other first responders to control the fire that broke out after the blast. According to Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne the fire was quelled about 7 p.m.

Flames were visible from Interstate-10 shortly after the explosion Wednesday afternoon. Traffic was halted on nearby roads to aid firefighters from Mont Belvieu and surrounding areas battle to flames.

A wellhead burned itself out; the entire plant was not involved in the fire. Roads in the area around the Lone Star NGL Facility in remain closed after an explosion and fire on Wednesday afternoon.

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Congressman Brady: Federal Ruling on Texas High Speed Rail Wrong; Fight not over

August 6, 2020

CONROE, TX – July 16, 2020 – Congressman Kevin Brady (TX-08) released the following statement after the Surface Transportation Board released a new ruling on Texas Central Railroad’s (TCR) petition for exemption:

“While I strongly disagree with this decision, the good news is this doesn’t give TCR eminent domain authority to seize property without landowners consent – and finally forces TCR to publicly disclose their shaky financial projections to the Surface Transportation Board in any future bid to gain authority to construct the project.

“This will reveal why private investors have abandoned the project and why taxpayers should not be on the hook when it ultimately fails.”

Continue reading...Congressman Brady: Federal Ruling on Texas High Speed Rail Wrong; Fight not over

Schools cope with strain of changes

August 6, 2020

By LEWIS SPEARMAN

BAYTOWN – Goose Creek Consolidated ISD is a microcosm of schools throughout Texas in the wake of COVID-19 because every activity of schools is seemingly having to spend more to deal with challenges of the pandemic and social change.

The U.S. Dept. of Education says that public school spending has been heavily skewed toward salaries and benefits for employees, making about 80% of the per pupil spending. Indicating that about 11% went to services and 7% to supplies. Now supplies will have to cut into the budgets for about 11%, cleaning services will increase and that bus services will need to expand beyond double.

Issues have been bought to light of digital learning, food insecurity, homelessness, disability services, health care and virtual internet connectivity.

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Crosby resident has successful film career

August 6, 2020
MALCOLM FARRELL

Malcolm Farrell, who is a resident of Crosby, a graduate from San Jacinto College, and The University of Houston, is in the new movie “Tijuana Jackson: Purpose over Prison” that won Best Editing in the Brooklyn Film Fest! It came out on July 31st on streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Apple +, Google Plus and in select theaters. It stars Romany Malco, and Regina Hall!

Malcolm Farrell has been steadily building his resume with an assortment of projects, paving the way for a successful career in the industry. Farrell’s natural good looks and charm are only outshined by his innate talent and utter professionalism.

Farrell’s credits include “Tijuanna Jackson: Purpose Over Prison” (starring Romany Malco), “ATW,” “All Screwed Up” and “The Freshman Year.” You can also spot Farrell in a handful of national commercials including spots for Apple, Ford, Target, Adidas, Chase Bank, and Crate and Barrel. Many of these films or commercials were made locally, and in Austin, where a thriving movie industry has been established. He also has worked in Hollywood on film projects. He said he prefers Texas productions, where the size of the film community helps him obtain parts.

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Texas Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 7-9

August 6, 2020

(AUSTIN) — With the Texas economy slowly awakening from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7-9.

The law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The date of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.

“Even though significant uncertainty remains for our public and private schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales tax holiday is a perfect opportunity to save money on school supplies and other tax-free items at a time when many Texans are carefully monitoring their family finances,” Hegar said. “Online shopping is covered, so I encourage all Texans to shop online or practice social distancing when making in-store purchases. We want folks to stay safe while saving money.”

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GC CISD hears Lee H.S. name change

August 6, 2020

BAYTOWN – Goose Creek Consolidated ISD held a virtual meeting on Monday night, during that meeting the subject of a possible name change of Robert E. Lee High School became a hot button issue.

Hours of meeting was held on-line taking on hearing from two differently opinioned groups considering the current name being from Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Some 450 people tuned in to hear 29 speakers give opinions; 20 being for changing the name and 9 opposed. This comes at a time when a wave of Confederate monument removals across the country have taken place.

The board will meet with the Baytown United Coalition for Change, Baytown Gander Black Alumni Group, Save Robert E. Lee High School Baytown Texas, RAZA Alumni Group and the Baytown Robert E. Lee High School Improvement Allies.

According to Trustee President Jessica Woods, the school board is dealing with a restrictive process by state law amid technical problems with the WebX platform and having received literally hundreds of emails concerning the issue. A lot of the emails did not get read into the public record since they did not ask to be but the trustees did receive them in a binder to review.

“This is such a potentially divisive issue in which the whole community needs to be involved. I think that it is the burden of the taxpayers to fund so why shouldn’t it be their decision?

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COVID MASKS new policy for Houston

August 6, 2020

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today that he has directed the Houston Police Department to issue warnings and citations to anyone not wearing a face mask or face covering required by the state’s mandatory mask order. Police will not ticket those who are not wearing a mask if they meet the exemption criteria. The citation carries a $250 fine.

“We know that wearing a mask or face-covering in public is one of the most effective methods to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Lives are at stake, so I am taking this step to save lives and slow the virus from spreading in August.”

Houston police will not respond to 9-1-1 calls about people not wearing masks.

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