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Posts published in “Community”

Crosby ISD needs crystal ball for 2021

June 25, 2020
The Crosby ISD Board of Trustees met partially virtually and partially live last Monday night. They heard from a citizen concerning preparations for COVID -19 in the next school year, and conducted a hearing on the proposed budget. The Superintendent outlined the many dimensions of problems preparing for the next year.

CROSBY – No matter what opinion concerning COVID-19 one harbors, making rules and predicting how things will be six months from now is impossible under current conditions.

Crosby ISD held their annual public hearing on the budget last Monday. Under normal conditions it is a tight budget reflecting dramatic growth, new specifications from the state, new taxing legislation from House Bill 3, and the slight over tax (taxed more money than budgeted for due to growth) from last year. In this case, the meeting was held under partially virtual, partially live circumstance concerning projections from last year before the COVID-19 outbreak and as if next year values and projections will remain constant.

Will values change? Will mortgages remain constant and residents not default? Will building continue? These are uncertain times.

Superintendent Scott Davis reported on the amount of guess work necessary to prepare for the next school year.

“Someone said that getting the school ready for next year is like walking through a mine field; it isn’t. It’s like a lava field, where the mine field is mild,” he said.

The Superintendent did predict that requiring wearing masks would almost certainly be required. Davis indicated that his top priority is the health of students.

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Crosby Volunteer Fire Dept. to host Zavala benefit

June 25, 2020
Kent Zavala

CROSBY – A BBQ Fundraising Benefit for the family of Recruit Firefighter Kent Zavala who passed last week in a tragic vehicle incident while off-duty. Help support Crosby Volunteer Fire Dept. brother’s family by stopping by the Newport Station at 123 S. Diamondhead Blvd. on Saturday, 4th of July from 11:30am until food is gone.

Plates are $15 for BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich w/ fixings, Homemade Mac-n-Cheese, Bake Beans, cookies, and water/tea to drink. Also, whole smoked pork butts are $50.

Drive-thru, pick-up, and delivery are available. Pre-order through June 30th by emailing kentsbenefit@yahoo.com. PayPal payments accepted at PayPal.me/kentsbenefit. (Please contact email first before paying on PayPal.)

Highlands Gunshop owner tired of break-ins

June 11, 2020

Rusty Mayfield, relatives and friends endeavor to clean up and repair Pig Supply on Main Street in Highlands after a Thursday morning truck crash and attempted burglary. The would be thieves failed to enter the shop but their truck entered and their image is left on video. Local merchants are concerned about criminals who are let out of jail and repeat their crimes.

Highlands Horizons awards 20 scholarships

June 4, 2020
Scholarship winners, and Miss Highlands: 2018 Kaitlyn Rolin; 2019 Haley Maxey; and 2016 Anna Keyes.

HIGHLANDS – This year the Highlands Horizons club was able to award 20 scholarships to graduating seniors, the most they have ever given out.

In addition, 3 of those scholarships were awarded to former and current Miss Highlands.

Each year the Horizons hold an awards reception, but due to the pandemic they were not able to do this event. So instead, the organization placed a congratulatory ad in the Star-Courier, “Wishing All of Them Success in their Future Plans!”

Recipients of the scholarship awards included:

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Rotary raffle nets Adams a new truck

May 28, 2020
Lowell Everitt hands the keys to a New Chevrolet Colorado to Alice Adams, as the Rotarian who sold her the ticket, Wayne Oquin stands nearby at Crosby’s Turner Chevrolet dealership.

CROSBY – On May 26 at about 11:30 a.m. Alice Adams came to Turner Chevrolet to claim her brand new Chevrolet Colorado that she had won with a raffle ticket from North Shore Rotary club, sold to her by Rotarian Wayne Oquin. It wasn’t the only reason to be there that day, her son had ordered a new Chevy Tahoe. Ms. Adams says she had purchased four tickets to the good cause in total, two from Mr. Oquin and two from a lady at San Jacinto College.

According to Lowell Everitt, “It was a surprise how successful this raffle was after COVID-19 brought us from hosting a gala dining and auction affair as we always have, to a 20 prize give away raffle.

“We worked with every body so that a lot of the companies that purchased multiple meals could convert to raffle tickets. Some companies, just to support the Rotary, buy 50 to 60 meal tickets to give to customers and employees. In total we raised over $147,500 in a twenty prize raffle.

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Alice Adams wins truck in North Shore Rotary raffle

May 21, 2020
Rotary Fish Fry chair Lowell Everitt pulls a winning raffle ticket, as president Ryan Dagley looks on. Saturday, the North Shore Rotary drew for 20 prizes at Turner Chevrolet live and on Facebook, for a 2020 Chevy Colorado or Camaro that was won by Alice Adams on a ticket sold by Wayne Oquin. A Lucky seller was B.R. Hendrix with 5 of the 20 pulled.

CROSBY – Turner Chevrolet hosted the North Shore Rotary club as they held their drawing for prizes associated with their annual raffle. The normal Catfish Fry and Crawfish Boil was not held, due to the pandemic.

This fundraiser is the premiere event for the charity organization that normally is held at the North Shore Rotary Pavilion with food and auction attracting most of the local communities.

Rotarians distinguished themselves in multiple charity participations, funded by this event. With customers and Rotarians present at the drawing, the dealership was just below Covid-19 limitations.

Mixed county laws shut, then allow tanning salon to open

May 14, 2020
Harris County Fire Marshal’s inspectors operating on a complaint that Island Tanz should not be open are to be disciplined for violating a County Judge order and policy for not wearing masks. The family-owned tanning salon caught this scene on store surveillance camera May 1. Proprietor David Givans said inspectors threatened him with arrest if he did not immediately close the 6500 FM 2100 location. Inspectors did not cite Givans for County orders, rather closed the business on an ownership filing technicality that County Engineers reversed in 36 hours.

CROSBY – It gives pause to wonder how one of the more squeaky clean businesses came to be shut down for a paperwork technicality by the Fire Marshall’s Office, especially when the owner was once a recognized Crosby Volunteer Fire Department fireman. Were the illegal game rooms all cooperating?

“My business got caught between a power struggle on the one hand the County Judge was asking for residents to report businesses that are not safe and the Governor’s office trying to allow businesses to open.” said Island Tanz proprietor David Givans.

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Churches United In Caring feed local needs

May 14, 2020
Churches United in Caring gets groceries to those in need on May 8 at about 9:00 a.m. Eddie Foster directs traffic in and out of the facilty on Church Stree Skip Greenwade directs operations as some 60 families receive grocery bags with produce, pet food, bleach and general food for local residents. Churches United in Caring helps families and individuals with food, clothing, financial and medical assistance, housing, and even utilities except electrical. Enabling and part of this outreach is a thrift store and donating intake. Call (281) 328-3178 to make a donation. “The next food distribution at CUIC will be at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29.” said Skip Greenwade. Precinct 3 Constable Deputies are on hand to assure that operations go smoothly.

CROSBY – Churches United in Caring continues to care and feed local families during the Covid–19 pandemic.

For about 37 years now, since the pastors of the Brethren, Methodist, Catholic and First Baptist Churches decided that their community outreaches would be much more effective if they united into a single outreach ministry, Churches United in Caring has enabled locals to find “hidden treasures and good gestures” in Crosby.

Last Friday, at the 944 Church Street location locals rounded the Crosby Fair & Rodeo parking circle to wait for their chance to get some groceries. Volunteers checked the names of recipients and asked them to open the boots to have the groceries loaded by hard working volunteers into the rear of the vehicle.

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Crosby Fire Dept. leader Boyles passes

April 9, 2020
Crosby Volunteer Fire Dept. Chairman dies of stroke leaving 38 year legacy.

Bob Boyles leaves a legacy of dedication

CROSBY – Few leaders of a community have held so many leadership positions as did Bob Boyles and few have left a legacy that is dedicated to saving lives and guarding the security of a community.

On March 19, 1981, a vehicle was pulling out from a side street as a Crosby Fire Truck approached, a collision was to be imminent, so Bob Boyles Jr. swerved to avoid injuring someone else, in the disaster that followed, the son of a community leader lost his life.

In that year a young Alan Kulak was mascot for the department, they told him he was too young to be a fireman at age 15, and he was training under Bob Junior to take on skills needed to save lives and fight fires. Now Fire Chief Kulak believes that due to the loss of his son in the line of duty, Bob Boyles dedicated himself to making Crosby have a great a fire department as it could possibly afford.

He was elected President of the Board of Directors in 1982 when Crosby Firefighters had to relay only upon donations from the general public and fundraising to keep fighting fires.

Boyles spearheaded many of the fundraising drives himself in those days, his dedication extended to asking for donations.

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Chambers County FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – Stay Safe Order

April 9, 2020

Can I go to work? Yes, but only if you are deemed an employee of an Essential Business, such as grocery store employees, healthcare providers, construction, industry and more. Those whose jobs are deemed essential are expected to maintain social distancing standards in the workplace.

Employers are encouraged to remember that congregations of people on any premises – either public or private – are prohibited.

According to the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency guidelines, there are 16 sectors considered essential:

• Communications
• Chemical
• Critical Manufacturing
• Commercial Facilities
• Dams
• Defense Industrial Base
• Emergency Services
• Energy
• Financial
• Food & Agriculture
• Government Facilities
• Healthcare & Public Health
• Information Technology
• Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste
• Transportation Systems
• Water/Wastewater Systems

Can I still go to the store to buy groceries? Yes, grocery stores will remain open during the order. However, all grocers will be required to keep customers at least six feet apart to meet social distancing standards. Health officials do not recommend leaving the house unless it is an absolute necessity. ONLY ONE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER should visit the grocery store at a time.

Can I go to church? No, all Chambers County churches will be required to host religious services online only. There can be exceptions made for one-on-one meetings for spiritual and mental health, but individuals involved must maintain social distancing requirements.

Can I still visit public parks? Yes, all public parks will remain open. However, visitors must stay six feet apart from one another. All public benches, exercise equipment, playgrounds and basketball courts will be closed to eliminate contact. (more…)

Pct. 2 expanding ‘Homebound Senior Food’ delivery program

April 9, 2020
Commissioner Adrian Garcia

New online portal and phone hotline will enroll qualifying seniors for daily hot meal delivery

HARRIS COUNTY PCT. 2 — With the thought that no one should go hungry during the current Harris County Stay-At-Home order, and because many in elderly population already have difficulties getting out anyway, Commissioner Adrian Garcia is expanding the existing homebound senior daily free hot meal delivery program in Precinct 2. Any Precinct 2 resident who is age 60 or older possessing limited resources and is unable to leave home due to illness, disability, or lack of mobility qualifies.

Seniors that qualify will receive daily, nutritious hot meals delivered directly to their door by Precinct 2 staff. Anyone who believes they are eligible for this service is asked to register on an online form on the Harris Co. Precinct 2 website (www.hcp2.com/ programs/precinct-2-meal-program). Those without internet access are asked to apply over the phone via the Precinct 2 Hotline (713-274-2222) which is active Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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