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The Greater Tomball Pachyderm Club meeting, Thursday, September 6, 2012, will have Rep. Allen Fletcher, District 130, speaking on “Human Trafficking in Houston and Texas” at 7pm.

Houston has become a hub for sex trafficking because of its diverse population, location along transnational highway I-10, and accessibility as an international air-and-sea port. The human trafficking... industry in Houston has been covered by media outlets from the Houston Chronicle to “Texas Monthly.”    American teens are being trafficked out of Houston's hotels and motels. Typically, girls are sold over the Internet and delivered by their traffickers to men at local motels.

Representative Allen Fletcher serves the people of House District 130 in the Texas House of Representatives. Allen is the Vice Chair of the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee and is the Chairman of the Law Enforcement Subcommittee. He is on   the Human Trafficking, Senate and House Joint Committee. He is also the only representative in Harris County to serve on the House Transportation Committee.

Elected in 2008, Allen is a Tomball businessman, community activist, Christian, devoted husband, and loving father. In addition to his 21 years in law enforcement, he has been involved in the Tomball and Harris County communities for many years. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Tomball, the Tomball Emergency Preparedness Committee, and the State Bar of Texas Review Committee. Allen is a member of the Sam Houston State University Alumni Association Board of Directors, Sam Houston Museum Board and the President's Circle. He also sponsors a scholarship for criminal justice at SHSU. Allen is a proud lifetime member of the Houston Police Officers Associations well as a graduate and lifetime member of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.

The meeting is open to the public; join the GTPC on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7pm to learn more about   “Human Trafficking”.

Social networking for the GTPC meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting and program at 7 p.m. The GTPC meeting will be at Nona’s Italian Grill, 1025 Alma St. Tomball, Texas 77375.  All interested are invited to attend.

The Greater Tomball Pachyderm Club is an active organization dedicated to educating others about the political process in the U.S. There is no charge to attend meetings. Dinner and/or beverages are Dutch treat.

For additional information, contact Barbara Tague at 713-851-0737 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Mark Ramsey, the Texas Senate Republican Executive Committee representative for Senate District 7, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Tomball Pachyderm Club meeting on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. at Nona’s Italian Grill. 

Ramsey is a native Houstonian, a graduate of KleinHigh School and a fourth-generation Texan. He is a registered professional engineer with over 30 years of multi-disciplined research and drilling operations engineering experience.

Ramsey has a successful track record of working behind the scenes for conservative issues for many years, starting with helping his dad put out Barry Goldwater signs. He has served on the Texas Republican State Platform Committee in 2010 as subcommittee chair of education, and in 2012 as subcommittee chair of economics. This year he also served as vice chairman of the Senate District 7 Resolutions Committee.

There is no charge to attend meetings. Dinner and beverages are Dutch treat. For additional information, contact Barbara Tague at 713-851-0737 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tomball is on the move and keeping up with new businesses in the city can be a challenge. With that in mind, the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce (GTACC) First Friday networking luncheon, Oct. 5, will feature GTACC President Bruce Hillegeist with, Tomball’s Top 10 Newsmakers.

“Most days I receive calls and inquiries about a new business or businesses coming Tomball’s way,” Hillegeist said. “We are so fortunate to have such a strong regional economy, but major corporations calling Tomball their home and headquarters don’t happen by accident. There are many people and efforts that deserve our thanks, and this is what I’ll be talking about at the luncheon.”

In addition to Hillegeist’s presentation, Congressman Michael McCaul will be on hand to receive the Spirit of Free Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. State Rep. Allen Fletcher will also be honored for his numerous achievements in the Texas Legislature, especially those involving local mobility projects.

Chamber members, guests, and the public are invited to attend the luncheon, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at the ElmerL.BeckendorfConferenceCenter on the LoneStarCollege – Tomball campus, 30555 Tomball Pkwy.  For reservations call the chamber at 281-351-7222 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Cost is $15 at the door and $17 if invoiced. To learn more about the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce visit, www.TomballChamber.org.

Lone Star College-Tomball's Theatre Depart-ment will present 'Noises Off' in the LSC-Tomball Per-forming Arts Center, Oct. 25-27 at 7:30 p.m.

'Noises Off' is often called one of the funniest farces ever written. The production presents a manic cast of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called 'Nothing's On'. Doors slamming, on-and backstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play.

"This play will have the audience rolling with laughter the entire time," said Drama Professor Sherri White. "The cast we have is excellent. It will be a great time for everyone!"

Tickets for 'Noises Off' are $15 for the general public, $12 for seniors and Lone Star College System employees, and $5 for students with a student ID. They can be purchased online by visiting www.lonestar.edu/tomball-drama or over the phone by calling 281.357.3654. The LSC-Tomball PAC is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway in Tomball.

Tomball High School will hold its annual football Homecoming Parade Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. The parade will start at Tomball Intermediate School and proceed down Main Street to the Tomball Depot Plaza. Following the parade a pep rally will be held at the Depot. The homecoming Dukes and Duchesses and the Homecoming King will be announced. The Tomball Cougars play their homecoming contest Friday, Oct. 26 versus Ridge Point High School at 7 p.m. The queen will be announced at halftime.

More than 2,500 showed up for the inaugural Zomball in Tomball event at the Tomball Depot recently, making it the largest 2nd Saturday at the Depot event in its four year history. Pictured are (from left) the Trunk-or-Treat "Best Decorated Trunk" winners Wes and Janet Burke of Burke Carpet Cleaning Service.

Rope the date and mark the calendar for the Greater Tomball Chamber of Commerce (GTACC) annual Chairman's Ball. This year GTACC is presenting its Chamber Roundup at Tin Hall on Friday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Along with music, dancing and food by Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant, there will be special Chamber recognitions including recognition of the 2012 Citizens of the Year, Grady and Sandra Martin and introduction of the 2013 GTACC Chairman, Lamar Casparis of Fitts Roberts & Co., P.C.
Attire is western or business causal and tickets are $40 each. Sponsorships are available for $500 and $1000 and include a table for 10 with preferred seating and promotional advertising. Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber office, 29201 Quinn Rd., Ste. B, or by calling the Chamber at 281-351-7222, also visit: TomballChamber. org for information and tickets.

Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan recently filed the paperwork to run for re-election. Fagan said she’s running for another term to complete several projects that she has spearheaded  the last few years. The deadline for candidates to file for municipal office is Mar. 1, for the May 11 election.

Rick Brown, Tomball City Councilman for Position 3, filed to run for re-election recently. Brown said he is proud of the work the Tomball City Council has done the last three years in planning for the future and he wants to help keep the momentum going. Brown is currently serving as mayor pro tem.

Magnolia and Tomball have long enjoyed a small-town feel and friendliness that many area residents find comfortable. At least two area residents found inspiration living in the friendly, country environment that led them to successful writing ventures.

Author Terri Kelley lived in Tomball for several years, after she came to know the town because her mother came there for therapy.

"I had three kids and it seemed like a perfect place to raise a family," she said.

While she was employed in sales, she saw a billboard about becoming a teacher. The idea appealed to her and she became certified and taught first grade in the Cy Fair district. Soon she moved to Tomball ISD's Rosehill Elementary as a second grade teacher and later served as reading specialist and gifted and talented specialist for Northpointe Intermediate School. After two of her three children graduated from Tomball High, her husband was sent to work in Oregon, and the family moved there in 2009.
Kelley was working on her graduate degree and expecting to go into school administration when a travel trailer accident made it impossible for her to stand for any length of time and caused her to abandon those plans.

"I was depressed and really needed a new life goal," she said. "I had always enjoyed writing children's books and wrote one called Gingerly, which brought in many of my experiences working in Tomball with the students. My husband talked me into publishing the book last December. I am happy to say that it is already selling well. I have several more children's books in the works and can't wait to publish those, too."

Kelley is creating a series of textbooks for elementary children called Writing is a Process. She hopes the books will help children develop a passion for writing down their thoughts and ideas, just like she has.

"I believe I have found my true life's work."

Kelley's books are available on her website: terrikelleybooks.com, or through Amazon.com.

"I welcome comments or questions from children who have read my books. My email is right on the site," she said.

Another author, Rick Fontes, enjoys the peaceful life in Magnolia while he lets his imagination take him into all types of stories that he has turned into books in several genres. Fontes spent more than 20 years as a noted photographer of babies and toddlers in day care centers around the country. He wrote down his tips and techniques as a how-to manual for others who might be interested in a baby photography career, and found he liked writing. He retired from the photography business and moved to Magnolia from Houston "because I liked the country life," and started writing.

"I have all these ideas in my head," he said. "I don't want to confine my writing to any particular genre. I'd rather have something that will appeal to everyone. I like my books to be short enough, maybe 200-250 pages, so someone could read one during a plane flight."

So far Fontes has written eight books that include a poetry book, a book of short stories, a tale about the future, a western novel and several action-adventure stories that feature one hero character, Rick Moreno.

"I have a sci-fi idea that I want to work on next," he adds.

Fontes explained how his ideas took root. "I thought of my characters while I was driving all over as a photographer. Dreaming up their adventures occupied my mind while I was traveling alone. Now I have time to write them down." Fontes' books are available on Amazon.com and on lulu.com.