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Posts published in “Day: January 28, 2021”

Harris County opens on-line Vaccine registration

January 28, 2021
Harris County Public Health Nurse administers a vaccination last week at the Pct. 2 Northeast Community Center.

HOUSTON — Starting on Tuesday, January 26th, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) will launch a new COVID-19 Vaccination Portal for residents who meet the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) criteria for receiving a vaccine. The portal will allow individuals to be placed on a waitlist and contacted once vaccines and appointments are available. The waitlist will be available via the vaccine information link on ReadyHarris.org and https://vacstrac.hctx.net starting no later than Tuesday afternoon. Eligible residents without internet access can also call (832) 927-8787 once the portal is live to be placed on the waitlist.

Harris County’s new “Smart Waitlist” system will not use a first-come, first-served process for allocating vaccines. In order to ensure fair access for elderly residents, working families, and vulnerable populations, registrants on the waitlist will instead be selected through a prioritization and randomization process in accordance with state guidelines. Only individuals who fall under the DSHS Phase 1A and 1B category will be eligible to receive the vaccine at this stage. Those who are not qualified to receive the vaccine under 1A or 1B will still be able to be placed on the waitlist but will not be contacted to schedule an appointment until the State of Texas expands eligibility beyond 1A and 1B, likely not until the Spring or Summer.

Priority phases:

Goodlow Crosby Firefighter of the Year

January 28, 2021
“I am honored that the department would vote for me for this.” This is my fourth year here and I won this two years ago for going out West and battling wildfires and I guess this is for those effort this year.” Fire Fighter of the Year, Anthony Goodlow.

WOODLANDS – The Landry’s Restaurant hosted the crews that valiantly battled blazes, crashes explosions and traffic hazards for Crosby all last year as they presented honors in a banquet last Saturday.

Russell White, First Assistant Chief, filled in for Chief Alan Kulak, as it was announced that the Chief had contracted the virus. Which reportedly the Chief said, the virus was “no joke.”

Pronouncing prayer was Ashley Armstrong, Sec. of the Ladies Auxiliary, the granddaughter of Bob Boyles. His son (of the same name) died in service, and began at age 12 as mascot serving the department. Bob Sr., in his son’s place, served the department for 40 plus years in varied leadership capacities, most recently ESD 80 board member.

Top Responder and Captain of the Year was Warren Thompson. Firefighter of the Year was Anthony Goodlow. Officer of the Year was Cameron Elles. Rookie of the Year was Carlos Diaz.

Texas proposes $119.7B yearly budget, down 3%

January 28, 2021
TEXAS STATE CAPITOL, AUSTIN

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan today released the following statement on the House’s base budget for the 2022-2023 biennium:

“The Texas House’s base budget prioritizes the needs of Texans during this consequential moment in our state’s history and advances the Legislature’s commitment to the historic public education and school finance and property tax reforms passed last session. The decisions we make during the 87th legislative session will have lasting effects on the future of our state, which is why the House will work to improve our business climate, foster economic prosperity, and do what’s right for our students. I am grateful to the Members of the House Appropriations Committee and the hardworking committee staff for their efforts throughout this process.”

The House base budget recommendations for FY 2022-23 appropriate $119.7 billion in general revenue, a decrease of three (3) percent adjusted for population and inflation. The House budget recommendations are $3.2 billion below the spending limit of 7.06 percent adopted by the Legislative Budget Board in November 2020, and maintain a majority of the five (5) percent reductions identified by state agencies in 2020.

Significant provisions of House base budget recommendations include the following:

Rotary Chili Feast Feb. 6, but no Chili this year

January 28, 2021

Can I sell you the Brooklyn Bridge? No? Well how about a Chili Feast ticket, without any Chili?

That’s the situation the Highlands Rotary Club finds this year, as precautions to avoid the COVID-19 virus meant that a community dinner was not a good idea.

However, the Raffle for a new car or truck will still be held, according to President Andy Scott, and the public is encouraged to purchase a raffle ticket for $100 to support the club’s community projects and scholarships, and of course win a new vehicle. See any Rotarian or call 281-426-3558 for ticket information.

340 Vaccine shots given at Drive-Thru Site

January 28, 2021

Chambers County Public Health Administers 340 Vaccines at Point of Distribution Drive Through Site

CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS – On January 23, 2021, Chambers County Public Health facilitated the administration of 340 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine after their designation as a COVID19 Vaccine Hub by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

This was the first major distribution of COVID-19 vaccine to the Phase 1B population in Chambers County, and was only the first in a series of planned vaccination sites. Facilitated by Chambers County Public Health, this event was a collaborative effort between multiple agencies including Chambers County, the City of Mont Belvieu and Winnie-Stowell EMS.

“We have been working to thoroughly vaccinate Phase 1A populations in Chambers County up until this point,” said Chambers County Health Services Director Mary Beth Bess. “With this event, we took a huge step toward expanding vaccination efforts to Phase 1B.”

A small number of vaccines was allocated to this vaccination site, with others set aside for planned distribution sites in the coming weeks as part of CCPH’s designation as a vaccine hub. Pre-registration for this site was required and utilized to facilitate registration in the State’s Immunization Registrty (ImmTrac2). There was a limited number of vaccines available for this site, and spots filled quickly.