Planners say Tomball Night growing ‘by leaps and bounds’

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Despite the threat of thunderstorms, and even a few early evening showers, the 39th Annual Tomball Night has been deemed a resounding success by event organizers.

Danielle Rainwater (right) checks out a piece of rice with her name written on it while artist Ana Aragorri looks on.
Photo by Brian Walzel

Tomball Night Chairperson Mary Harvey said crowds this year were “bigger than normal” and grew throughout the night.

The event began at 5 p.m. and by 6 p.m., many of the streets coming into and going out of Tomball were damp with rain from storms that skirted the area. The sidewalks lining Main Street were decked with vendors selling their wares, but the shoppers were somewhat slow in coming.

That soon changed as nightfall neared. Main Street took on the familiar festival-like atmosphere and the skies remained clear.

“(The threat of rain) didn’t scare them away,” Harvey said. “They just went into shops, which was good for us.”

She estimates the crowd approached the 20,000 mark. However, it was hard to see that many, since the event has grown to outside of downtown.

“I think the crowd looked bigger than normal, but it’s spread throughout the town,” she said.

The most popular attractions were the Parade of Lights down Main Street and the fireworks show, which wrapped up the night’s events.

Another hot spot was the Tomball Independent School District parking lot, which was a popular place for local youths to see live music and Salem Lutheran Church’s Battle of the Bands.

Harvey also spotted a higher than normal number of families in attendance, as well as more vendors taking part in Tomball Night.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” she said.

Prior to this year, Tomball Night took place in conjunction with tax-free weekend. However, this year tax-free weekend was moved to Aug. 17-18. The Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, which puts on Tomball Night, decided to keep the event scheduled for its normal first weekend in August.

Harvey said the change did not affect sales much.

“The sales were pretty much the same,” she said. Continuing a trend from last year, Tomball Night was held over the entire weekend, with varying results.

Harvey said sales and attendance were not as brisk as they were on Friday night.

Tomball Night has long been a popular attraction for not only Tomball residents, but also for those in the greater Houston area.

Harvey said many such shoppers feel a sense of community and closeness not seen in their own hometowns.

“They’re really amazed,” Harvey said. “They don’t have that. The whole town participates and it’s just a whole night of fun.”

24 years of crime prevention awareness

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Communities across North America held National Night Out events on Aug. 7 in an effort to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are rallying their forces with that of law enforcement to prevent and report crime.

The 24th Annual National Night Out was held Aug. 7 with law enforcement agencies visiting with community neighbors throughout Montgomery and Harris County. One of those agencies was the Montgomery County Search and Rescue Team (MCSR). The team not only serves Montgomery County, but also answers the call to travel throughout Texas hauling horses, ATVs, and boats in the effort to save lives. Pictured (left to right), Wyatt Bufkin, 9, and Tucker Bufkin, 8, of Plantersville, and President Earl Gray. See more National Night Out photos on Page 12.
Photo by Cari Herr

Now in its 24th year, the event has expanded over time to include not only the United States, but also Canada and the U.S. Territories. From small rural communities, to the growing cities of the suburbs and beyond, law enforcement agencies gathered with citizens to strengthen the spirit of partnership in the police-community relationship.

Tomball council nearing approval of red light cameras

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Smile, Tomball drivers. You’ll likely soon be on camera.

The Tomball City Council is nearing a decision to approve cameras at several intersections in the city to catch drivers who run red lights. At an Aug. 6 meeting, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance, which would give the Tomball Police Department the authority to implement the cameras.

Capt. Ricky Doerre has visited several community organizations, including members of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mobility and Transportation Committee to gauge interest in the program.

“Both voiced their support,” Doerre said.

His latest presentation came at the Aug. 6 meeting, where he discussed the potential benefits of the program.

According to Doerre, it costs the department approximately $760,000 to man an intersection 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new camera system would eliminate the need for officers to park and survey an intersection, Doerre explained.

Instead, a camera positioned near the intersection would take three pictures of a vehicle: one when it enters an intersection, one while the vehicle is in the intersection, and one while it is leaving. Doerre said the camera would only take pictures of vehicles that enter an intersection after a stoplight has turned red.

Any potential violation would be reviewed by the vendor of the camera systems and then sent on to the Tomball Police Department. If an officer then deems the violation credible, a letter is mailed to the motorist, who can either plead innocent or pay a $75 fine.

“A vehicle must enter the intersection on a red light to be a violation,” Doerre said.

A sample video during Doerre’s presentation of the intersection of Zion Road and SH 249 showed 47 violations over a 24-hour period.

Doerre said the goal of implementing red light cameras is to reduce intersection-related accidents. According to his report, those accidents accounted for approximately 30 percent of all recorded accidents in 2006.

“Most violent accidents we have are related to red light running,” Doerre said.

The council will again vote on the proposal at its Aug. 20 meeting. If the proposal passes on the second reading, the department could begin utilizing the cameras.

Until then, the police department will negotiate a contract with a vendor, Interim City Manager Mary Coker said.

Doerre said the program would come at no cost to the city or taxpayers; it is funded through violation payments.

Texas lawmakers recently passed a law that allows the state to begin collecting half of violation fines. Beginning Sept. 1, the state will receive half of whatever is left over after the vendor is paid its percentage. The city will receive the other half.

Administrators prepare for new school year at MISD Leadership Training

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The new school year is off to a fast start for Magnolia Independent School District (MISD) campus administrators and staff, who attended a district-wide Leadership Training and workshop luncheon on Aug. 6 after an all too brief (and wet) summer break.

A district-wide leadership training and luncheon workshop was held Aug. 6 and was attended by Magnolia Independent School District campus administrators in preparation for the new school year, which begins Aug. 27.

The theme of the workshop was “Celebrating Our Strengths, but Attacking Our Weaknesses.”

Presentation topics included vision, servanthood, teamwork, quality, trust and communication, among others, and focused on the need to identify performance areas that need improvement.

At-risk students in dual language and low-income families have become a primary focus, not only at MISD, but also across the state in all academic areas, especially science and social studies.

“We’ve got to resist the temptation to speak only to our successes and overlook our weaknesses,” said MISD Board President Glenn Addison. “Let’s tackle them with everything we’ve got and turn them into successes.”

Campus administrators negotiated the arduous task of integrating a new testing schedule, approved in the last state legislative session, for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test into the district’s already tight benchmark testing calendar.

“This is administration in action,” said MISD Human Resources Director Michael Daniel.

MISD board members encouraged campus principals and staff to accomplish the highest and the best by educating, as well as parenting students.

“You are people of caring and stature and we do not accept that lightly,” said Trustee Billy Thompson in a speech that focused on the lifelong influence of a teacher on a child’s life.

At the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce meeting held Aug. 3, Northwest EMS Chief Brian Petrilla recognized paramedics James Seek and Will Mangum as Public Safety Officers of the Month. The two were honored for being instrumental in reviving five of the six surviving cardiac arrest incidents in Tomball for 2007. Woodforest National Bank (WNB) sponsors the award. Pictured (left to right) are Petrilla, Miss Tomball 2007 Lilly Robison, Seek, Mangum, WNB Representative Ashley Crisler, Tomball Police Department Chief Michael Blake and Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan.
Photo by Cari Herr

Internship program leads the way for student career path at MISD

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Students in the Magnolia Independent School District (MISD) will have an increased opportunity to gain professional experience towards a chosen career path through an internship program offered by the Education for Tomorrow Alliance (EfTA).

The district partnered with the Magnolia Rotary Club and EfTA a year and a half ago and, with the support of the Magnolia Area Chamber of Commerce, will offer the internship program to qualifying applicants.

“The program provides students with 80 unpaid hours of training in a business environment learning about what business people do in their daily lives,” said Director Jaymie Pedigo, manager of communications and development for EfTA.

EfTA programs are offered specifically to school districts in Montgomery County. However, prior to this past school year MISD was not a participant.

“When I heard that Magnolia was the only district in the county not in the EfTA program, I made a beeline to find out why,” said MISD Trustee Deborah Rose Miller.

Six of the 12 applicants at Magnolia High School in the 2006-07 school year accepted summer internship programs offered through EfTA. Two of those interns attended a July 31 Magnolia Rotary Club meeting to offer their viewpoints on the program.

Jamie Webb completed the internship program this summer. She is a senior at Magnolia High School and a Drum Major in the Bulldog Marching Band. Webb spent 37 hours a week at Shady Brook Animal Hospital acquiring hands-on surgical knowledge in veterinary medicine.

“I got to see things I never thought I’d get to see in high school,” said Webb, who is planning to study biological medical science at Texas A&M.

For some, the opportunity for hands-on experience helps to qualify career choices. Brian Pavlock thought he wanted to study computer programming and spent his summer at Tri-County MHMR.

“What I learned is that sitting at a desk for six hours a day was not what I expected,” he said. “I found out I wanted to go into the field and travel. I got a lot out of it.” Pavlock is a high school senior in the dual credit program at Tomball College.

In addition to the Student Internship Program, other education opportunities offered by EfTA also include a science and technology exposition and a self-discipline program.

According to the EfTA Web site, the Sci://Tech Exposition is one of the largest science and technology fairs in the nation today and is hosted by business volunteers and local educators. It is open to private and parochial schools in Montgomery County.

The Choices program also offered by EfTA teaches students the “key to success” is self-discipline. The program emphasizes the importance of graduating from high school and the value of continuing education.

“It gives our kids the opportunity to experience businesses outside of Magnolia and broaden their horizons,” said Pedigo.

EfTA is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization governed by an independent board of directors. For more information on becoming a sponsor in EfTA programs, contact dnorton@efta-us.org or call 936-271-6151.

Annual golf tournament fundraiser set for animal shelter

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Abandoned Animal Rescue (AAR) is set to hold its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament Sept 24 at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club in Magnolia, an event which Property Manager Jerry McDonald calls the foundation’s largest fundraiser.

AAR Property Manager Jerry McDonald tends to a dog in a cage at the shelter.

The last two years, McDonald said, AAR has raised a total of more than $35,000 through the golf tournament and hopes to eclipse the $15,000 mark this year. The money is earmarked for improvement projects at their facility, located on 419 E. Hufsmith in Tomball.

Money raised so far has helped AAR move into its new one-acre facility, purchase holding cages, play pens for cats and medical equipment, among many other items and improvements.

This year’s event will take on a more somber tone after the death of Office Manager Sue Brewer, who passed away in March.

Brewer utilized her accounting skills and love of animals to help AAR for three years.

Reservations for the tournament will begin at 7 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Lunch will be provided by Rancho Grande and awards and door prizes will be given away.

There will be two flights in the tournament, with each having a first and second place finisher. No handicaps will be used and there will be prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive.

The cost of the tournament is $125 per individual player or $500 for a four-man team. Fees include green fee, cart and lunch following the tournament. Mulligans will be sold two for $40, Team Tiger Drives will be sold for $20 and greenies drawing for $5.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

McDonald said AAR is funded completely through donations and relies solely on volunteers. He has tabbed many projects around the facility, such as a new paint job and drainage work, for later this year and is looking to sign up volunteers to help out.

MADD initiates first four-agency DWI task force for Texas in Tomball

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has initiated a historic first in Texas with the task force, “Operation Rolling Life Guard.”

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) offers STEP grants to fund special traffic programs for the Houston Police Department (HPD). Pictured (left to right), HPD Capt. D.T. Runyan and Traffic Safety Specialist Garry Rand and Transportation Funding specialist Olga Navarro of TxDOT discuss “Operation Rolling Life Guard” at an Aug. 4 press conference.

The program is a joint effort by the Tomball Police Department (TPD), Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The operation took place on Aug. 4 from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. in northwest Harris County and netted eight arrests for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and five felony arrests, one of which was a third-time DWI offender.

Additionally, seven misdemeanor arrests were made, and 70 traffic citations and 52 warnings were issued.

The target areas were FM 2920 from I-45 north, west to SH 290; and SH 249 from I-45 north to the Montgomery County line, a HCSO report said.

“We invited all the heads of law enforcement agencies to come together for a presentation and call to action to join together to begin a multi-agency task force program,” said MADD Regional Council Leadership Chair Andrea Schmauss.

Chief Harold Hurtt of the HPD, on behalf of MADD, hosted a meeting at the Houston Police Academy June 25.

“We’re doing a multi-jurisdictional response to enforcement of DWI. It was (MADD’s) vision to bring us all together,” said TPD Chief Michael Blake.

HCSO Major R.L. Van Pelt reported three supervisors and 15 patrol officers participated in the operation. The TPD included 18 officers in the operation, while the HPD scheduled 16 patrol officers with one supervisor.

“Law enforcement takes it seriously,” said Van Pelt. “They know what to look for. They are certified drug recognition officers that are highly experienced.”

The event coincidentally occurred in conjunction with Tomball Night, but “is a separate and apart function,” Blake said. “The initiative happened to fall on the same day, but is in no way connected.”

The operation was funded in part by federal dollars through TxDOT, which provides Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grants to various police agencies, said TxDOT representative Garry Rand. He and Olga Navarro coordinate traffic safety programs for the Houston district.

“STEP grants fund various overtime enforcement programs with HPD, HCSO and now TPD. These are federal dollars necessary for special task force programs,” Rand said.

The first two-agency initiative was a task force that took place between the Harris County Pct. 7 Constables’ Office and the Houston Police Department on July 4.

MADD is currently lobbying for Sobriety Check Point legislation and ignition interlock equipment on the first offense. Texas is one of 10 states that do not have Check Point legislation, said Schmauss. The other 40 states that do have Check Points have decreased drunk driving by 20 to 28 percent.

“We’re no longer just mothers. We’re fathers and sisters and brothers. It’s not an angry group,” Schmauss said. “We keep looking toward the hope that we’re going to eliminate drunk driving in our community and have the success stories they have in other states.”

Tomball’s Adamo hits fundraising trail for second marathon

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Tomball’s Amanda Adamo is steadily checking off a list of personal accomplishments and achievements. Adamo, who was attacked and stabbed 27 times in October of 2001 and lived to tell about it, is set to run her second full marathon on Oct. 21 in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco.

Amanda Adamo

This time, Adamo is running in honor of two of her grandparents in hopes of finding a cure for lymphoma and leukemia.

Her grandfather was diagnosed with leukemia just two months after her vicious attack and her grandmother died in 1996 of lymphoma.

Not only is Adamo entrenched in physical training for the event, she is also committed to raising at least $4,100 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

So far, Adamo has collected $2,985 with several donations coming from community leaders such as Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Matt Masden and Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hillegeist.

If Adamo achieves the $4,100 mark, her trip so San Francisco is essentially paid for, she said, with nearly 80 percent of the proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The remaining funds go towards offsetting the cost of training and coaching, Adamo said, which the society initially pays for.

The deadline for Adamo to achieve her fundraising goal is Oct. 1.

Adamo began running marathons in 2004, three years after her near deadly attack. She ran that marathon for the American Stroke Association.

To donate to Adamo, visit her Web site at www.active.com/donate/tnttxgc/tnttxgcaadamo.

Montgomery County DA refuses drunk driving charges based on eyewitness

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

A citizen who called in a drunk driving report on Aug. 6 was disallowed as a witness by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s (MCDA) office following a routine request by officers dispatched to the scene.

The call came from a 41-year-old veterinary technician, who claimed she had been following a drunk driver down FM 1774 since passing through Todd Mission, according to the police report.

At the time of the call, the two were proceeding past FM 1486. The caller also claimed the accused driver had left the roadway several times.

The call was dispatched by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to the Magnolia Police Department. Det. Milton Horton and Capt. Mike Smith responded to the call.

The caller remained on the line, directing police to the parking lot of the Magnolia Washateria where the alleged drunk driver had stopped her vehicle.

Upon arrival, police made contact with the caller and the driver. The accused driver, a 52-year-old Plantersville woman, admitted she was under a doctor’s care for a back injury and had taken two doses of her prescription medication that morning.

Police determined through a field sobriety test that the accused driver was impaired and observed her slurred speech and unstable behavior.

Horton made a call to Assistant District Attorney Jeff Helms with a request to accept charges of driving under the influence of narcotics.

However, Helms challenged the credibility of the witness and refused to accept the charges, said Smith.

Smith said the refusal was out of character for standard procedure.

“When you have a witness that can place the driver in the vehicle, the procedure is to collect the evidence,” he said.

But based upon the DA’s instructions, that evidence was never collected. Police were advised to allow the driver to call a friend to take her home. The vehicle was collected at a later time.

Neither Helms, nor District Attorney Michael McDougal returned calls to the Tribune as of press time last week.

Waller County WHEP Team places third in national contest

The Waller County 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program (WHEP) Team placed third in the National 4-H WHEP Contest with a score of 244.52 at Cedar City, Utah on July 27.

Pictured (left to right), Katherine Seiler, Joseph Seiler, Coach Harvey Laas, Patrick Jones, Kimberly Seiler.

Finishing third equals the highest a Texas team has ever placed in the contest.

Alabama was first with a score of 257.74 and Utah came in second at 247.81. Katherine Seiler placed sixth overall, Joseph Seiler placed eighth and Patrick Jones tenth, with scores of 71.60, 71.20 and 70.95 respectively.

Joseph Seiler was high point in the Wildlife Management Practices Section, Patrick Jones third and Katherine Seiler fourth. Patrick and Joseph tied for seventh in the Food Identification Section. Katherine was eighth in Aerial Photograph Interpretation.

The WHEP Contest consists of five parts, including wildlife food identification, aerial photograph interpretation by habitat, identification of best land management practices, and development of separate land management plans for both rural and urban areas.

In part one, contestants must identify different types of wildlife foods and which animals eat them.

The second part of the contest requires contestants to view a set of four aerial photographs of different types of habitats. Contestants rank the photos in order of suitability for different animals and give reasons for their rankings.

The third part of the contest takes contestants to a ranch or public land area. Armed with a specific number of acres and a list of eight animals, contestants are given a worksheet with 30 management practices and must decide which of those practices would benefit each of the animals on the list.

In the fourth activity, teams prepare a written management plan for the rural area visited in part three.

The final activity is a written urban land development plan for areas such as a city park, where teams submit a plan based on a given set of animals.

The Waller County 4-H Adult Leaders and Parents Association, as well as the Texas Wildlife Association sponsored the trip to the national contest.

For more information on Waller County 4-H & Youth Development programs, contact County Extension Agent Misty L. Young at 979-826-7651.

Magnolia teen looks to represent city as the next Miss Texas Teen USA

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

In November, Magnolia’s Judy Tincher will be competing with an estimated 150 contestants for the title of Miss Texas Teen USA.

Judy Tincher

Established by the Miss Universe Organization, a 54-year-old competition circuit owned by Donald Trump, the contest offers college scholarships and national travel opportunities to Texas’ teens.

As a 2007 Magnolia High School honor roll student, Tincher graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Tincher credits her mentor and advisor, Cheryl Fogarty, who won the title of Mrs. Texas America in 1998, for encouraging her participation in the pageant circuit, she said.

A passionate attachment to the pageant circuit began for Tincher when she agreed to be a last-minute entry in the 2007 Magnolia Youth Livestock Show (MYLS) Pageant competition, at the request of Fogarty, former MYLS pageant director.

“I had a lot of fun in the MYLS pageant,” said Tincher, who is excited about representing her hometown in the state competition.

“Because Magnolia is such a growing community, I think it would bring attention to the businesses here and allow me to do more community service,” she said.

In addition to training and preparation for the competition, Tincher will begin the fall semester at Sam Houston State University for a business marketing degree in medical sales.

Contestants must pay for a competition wardrobe and photographs in addition to a $995 entry fee by Sept. 1. For more information on tax-deductible sponsorship levels, call 281-753-6173 or e-mail at jtinch4@yahoo.com.

From the Book of Clifford

By Clifford Parker
Contributing Writer

I am the type of guy that would never aggravate anybody. I would never, ever pick on or tease anyone or prod someone into a dare.

I am a very straight-laced, no-nonsense kind of guy. I would never goad or dare a group of young boys into anything. Growing up as a child I was always the quiet type. I never spoke my mind and I was always extremely well behaved. I never got into trouble and I never tried anything outside the norm!

I cannot believe that some of my family members are laughing at me and are accusing me of paying the price for some of my past deeds. I would have never done anything to any of them to try to get them into trouble.

I am very sad that Ryan, Nathan, Cody (a.k.a. Centerfold), Sonny Wayne, Brandon, Cooper Dale, Tyler Dale, Dillon Dale, Richard Dale and Colton Dale are trying to tell everybody I was teasing them. I would never do anything like that!

I have the pleasure each year to spend time at our ranch with the guys. For the last several years my family and the Osgood clan have been enjoying each other’s company at our ranch in Independence, Texas.

It gives each of us a time to relax, visit, reminisce and tell family lies to each other. Of course, I would never participate in telling tall tales. It’s not in my nature.

One of the highlights of our trip is the chance to ride our four-wheelers in the mud. Several years ago I started a little game with the younger boys called follow the leader.

The kids think you always have to drive fast, but when I am the leader I like going at a slow pace through deep water and heavy mud.

My four-wheeler, and one belonging to Brian Dale, which Darren Dale was riding, are both actually four-wheel drive. The rest of them are rear-wheel drive only. Of course, our four-wheelers can take on a heavier load than theirs can.

The boy’s started following me and Darren Dale through the mud and each time we made a pass through the pond we would move over a foot or two and get just a little bit deeper.

I would never tempt the younger boys to follow me! I would never call them chicken and squawk at them like my wings were flapping! They are accusing me of this but anyone that knows me can rest assured I would never tease the boys at all!

Pass after pass Darren Dale and I went through the mud very kindly asking them to join us. Unfortunately for me, as you can see by the picture, I moved over just a little bit too far! Of course the boys had a good laugh!

My last words were, “Oh no, I’m losing power!”

Clifford