The 2012 “Click It or Ticket” campaign begins today and continues through June 3.

Thousands of police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers will be citing drivers and passengers who choose not to fasten their safety belts.

Fines range as high as $250 plus court costs.

Texas law requires that both drivers and passengers wear seat belts. Children younger than 8 years old must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches.  

TxDOT annually sponsors the “Click It or Ticket” campaign to raise awareness about the law surrounding seat belt use and the importance of always buckling up. 

“It only takes a minute to strap on your seat belt and to make sure that everyone else in your vehicle is properly restrained,” said Carol Rawson, TxDOT’s Traffic Operations division director. “That one minute can save a life. We shouldn’t have to remind people to wear seat belts. But just in case, police officers around the state will be pulling over folks who still have not gotten the message.”

Traffic crashes remain a leading cause of death in Texas. In 2011, nearly 3,000 people died in fatal collisions on Texas streets and highways. Almost half of those drivers and passengers were not buckled up.

Traffic officials stressed that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent for car occupants and 60 percent for light-truck occupants.

“Click It or Ticket is not just about writing tickets. It’s about saving lives,” said Rawson. “Seat belt use in Texas is much higher than it was when we started this effort 11 years ago, but we still have some holdouts. We want everyone to get on board with the habit of buckling up.”

Most at risk for serious injury or death are pickup truck drivers and passengers.

Pickups account for one in four registered vehicles in Texas and are twice as likely to roll in a crash. However, seat belt use among pickup drivers and passengers continues to lag.

Ninety-one percent of pickup drivers buckle up compared to 95 percent of other drivers. Eighty percent of truck passengers use seat belts compared to 92 percent of passengers in other vehicles.

Texas currently ranks seventh in the nation for overall seat belt use, and 93.7 percent of Texas motorists use seat belts according to the Texas Transportation Institute.

Experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate that the steady increase in seat belt usage in Texas over the past 10 years has resulted in 2,843 fewer traffic fatalities, 48,000 fewer serious injuries and a savings to the state of more than $10 billion in associated costs.

ABC Professional Tree Services Inc. agreed to pay the $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Friday.

The company also agreed to “adhere to revised immigration compliance procedures.”

The company provided tree trimming services under contract to a number of area utility companies, as well as companies out of state.

ABC Tree Services also assisted in the clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Ike and Katrina.

Homeland Security agents in Birmingham, Ala., began investigating ABC in early 2008 following complaints that a significant portion of the company’s employees were undocumented aliens.

In March 2008, agents conducted traffic stops on ABC crews and detained employees who were found to be in the United States illegally.

In June 2008, agents reviewed the Employment Eligibility Verification Forms (I-9s) and supporting documentation for approximately 2500 employees at ABC. The inspection revealed a significant number of employees, when hired, had presented invalid personal identification information.

Later, immigration agents determined that, as of the second quarter of 2009, approximately 30 percent of the company’s workforce consisted of undocumented aliens.

On March 4, 2010, Homeland Security agents executed a federal search warrant at ABC’s Houston-area headquarters and seized documentary evidence including employment and personnel records. At that time, agents detained undocumented aliens who were on site at the headquarters.

On that same day, agents in Birmingham detained more undocumented ABC employees during a traffic stop.

The government’s investigation revealed ABC had, for years, ignored federal law by falsely attesting on I-9s that work authorization documents presented by new hires appeared genuine.  In addition, for several years, ABC had received notices from the Social Security Administration known as “no-match letters,” and similar information from the company’s payroll processor, both of which indicated employee names and Social Security numbers did not match SSA records.

The company failed to take corrective measures, according to federal prosecutors, resulting in the continued employment of the undocumented aliens.  The investigation determined that ABC had derived at least $2 million in revenue from the provision of services to electrical utilities with its illegal workforce from 2006 through 2011. This figure represents the amount of money that ABC will forfeit under its non-prosecution agreement with the government.

Since becoming aware of the government’s investigation, ABC has remediated its workforce and imposed significant immigration compliance measures. Since September 2008, ABC has used E-verify, a database administered by the federal government, to verify the employment eligibility of new hires.

Beginning in the fall of 2008, the company also revised its immigration compliance procedures to include new policies concerning the proper completion, retention and auditing of I-9s and for responding to SSA No Match letters.

As part of its commitment to complying with the law, ABC also terminated hundreds of undocumented workers.

Officials from the company were unavailable for comment.

KNABB

Rick Knabb, who spent part of his childhood in Katy, was picked to lead the National Hurricane Center by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco.

Knabb, 43, will officially begin his duties June 4.

In making the announcement, Lubchenco said Knabb personified “that calm, clear, trusted voice that the nation has come to rely on.”

“Rick will also lead our hurricane center team and work closely with federal, state and local emergency management authorities to ensure the public is prepared to weather the storm,” Lubchenco said.

Knabb returns to NOAA after most recently serving as the on-air tropical weather expert for The Weather Channel in Atlanta since May 2010. Prior to that, Knabb was deputy director of NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, and before that, he had a distinguished career at the National Hurricane Center in Miami as a senior hurricane specialist and the science and operations officer.

Knabb succeeds Bill Read who retires June 2.

“I thank Bill Read for his tireless work throughout his distinguished career with the National Weather Service, including more than four years as director of the National Hurricane Center overseeing 63 tropical systems in the Atlantic Basin alone,” Lubchenco said.

Born just outside of Chicago, Knabb grew up in Katy and Coral Springs, Fla. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science from Purdue University and holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Meteorology from Florida State University.

“I’m ready to reunite with the talented staff at the National Hurricane Center and to work with all of our partners to prepare everyone for the next hurricane,” Knabb said. “Personal preparedness will be critically important, including for my own family and home.”

The National Hurricane Center is a component of the National Weather Service’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The center’s mission is to save lives, mitigate property loss and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather. It also assists local communities to be safe from tropical weather threats.

The National Hurricane Center is co-located with the National Weather Service Miami-South Florida forecast office on the campus of Florida International University.

The charges stemmed from Cedillo being unlawfully present at a polling place during early voting, as well as illegally witnessing ballot applications.

Details were sketchy because county officials were not immediately available over the weekend; however, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis confirmed the charges in an e-mail to Waller County’s GOP and Democratic party chairs.

According to the e-mail, which was obtained by InstantNewsKaty, Cedillo was charged with three county of “unlawfully witnessing application for more than one ballot” and one count of “unlawful presence of a candidate” at a polling location.

The witnessing charges are Class B misdemeanors punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000 and not more than 180 days in jail, or both. The unlawful presence charge is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500.

In the e-mail to GOP chair Ann Davis and Democratic chair Sam Eng, Mathis asked that both parties urge candidates to know and obey election laws.

“I hope that you will stress to your respective candidates the importance and responsibility that we all share in keeping the election process fair and free from disrepute,” Mathis said in the message.

Mathis’ e-mail, sent Saturday morning just before noon, read as follows:

“Good morning, Mrs. Davis and Mr. Eng,

“Sylvia Cedillo has been charged with three (3) counts of “Unlawfully witnessing application for more than one ballot” (section 84.004 of the Texas Election Code – Class B misdemeanor) & one (1) count of “Unlawful presence of candidate” (sections 61.001 & 85.037 of the Texas Election Code – Class C misdemeanor). 

“I hope that you will stress to your respective candidates the importance and responsibility that we all share in keeping the election process fair and free from disrepute.  If they have not done so, I strongly recommend they familiarize themselves with the laws surrounding electioneering, specifically Chapter 61 of the Texas Election Code. They should also not forget to file their campaign finance reports with the county clerk in a timely manner.  We have another week of early voting to go in addition to the actual election day. 

“There is no reason that anyone appearing on the ballot should be in the building where the elections are taking place unless they are there to cast their vote or to conduct official business.  Questioning election workers as to their methods and practices would only be the official business of the county clerk.   If the election workers are doing something wrong procedurally that should be addressed with Ms. Hollan or Ms. German.  If the election workers are doing something criminal then that should be addressed with Ms. Hollan, Sheriff Smith and myself.

“Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

-         Elton”

Attempts to reach Cedillo for comment have been unsuccessful.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued the watch as atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone pollution in the area.

Elevated concentrations of ozone can act as a lung irritant. Individuals with chronic lung disease such as asthma and emphysema, as well as the elderly and small children, are particularly sensitive to ozone and should attempt to avoid exposure.

To minimize exposure, those who may be affected by the elevated ozone levels are urged to minimize exertion outdoors during the midday to early evening hours or stay indoors or in an air conditioned area during these times.

Ozone reaching excessive levels may occur at any location throughout the greater Houston region depending on wind direction and other factors. Excessive levels may linger until sunset.

Ozone warnings will be issued if air pollution levels are detected at unhealthy levels

Cardiff administrators sent a letter home yesterday informing parents of the incident.

The incident occurred before school on Wednesday when an unknown male approached a female student and asked her for her phone number.

The girl refused and walked away from the suspect, who did not pursue her.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Dayflower.

The suspect was described as a light-skinned African-American or Hispanic in his early- to mid-20s with what was described as “a patch of hair” on his chin. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a white T-shirt, baggy pants and a “sailor-type” cap.

He was reportedly riding a red bicycle and had a backpack.

The incident remains under investigation by the Katy ISD Police Department.

White will be at First Source Police Supply, 1410 E. Hwy. 90A, today from 5 – 7 p.m.

BOOK SIGNING – Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Detective Rick White signs a copy of his new book, “The Charon Unit,” during an appearance at Katy’s Absolute Tobacco last Saturday.

He will be back at First Source tomorrow from noon – 4 p.m.

White is the son of former Brookshire Police Chief and veteran law enforcement officer Rex White.

The novel will not be officially released until May 29; however, White is currently making appearance throughout the area with advance copies of the book.

In the novel, the law enforcement officers of the Charon Unit are different – they’re on a mission; they drive old beater vehicles and call an abandoned military barracks in Houston home.

Despite their digs and rides, they are a special group of officers assembled for one reason – to find and stop broad-based gangs who have infiltrated the U.S. military for training and tactical purposes and who are now applying those skills in their criminal pursuits.

In “The Charon Unit,” the first of a planned three-part series, White draws heavily on his own perspective. His current assignment is as an investigator focusing on gang activity for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.

“I really wanted to sit down and bring a story to the forefront on a fictional level with some beads of truth imbedded in it,” White said. “Gangs are not as stupid as people think. They are organized crime, brash and openly engaging law enforcement. They’re very methodical behind closed doors.”

The book’s premise is that gangs from California, Chicago, New York and Houston are pooling their resources to broaden their criminal activities.

“The gang in Houston – the Down South Riders – is a hybrid gang. They join with gangs from other parts of the country to bring all of them under one banner. The Gangster Disciples out of Chicago are really the driving force behind the group.”

White said he merges some real gang names into the story and various segments of the book are “based on some gang members that I’ve actually interviewed.”

“Some of the gang members who hold supervisory roles have been trained in the military and some have been officers,” White said of his book’s gangsters. “They have a sound education, but they also have a true affinity for the finer things in life. They are exacting in how they conduct their enterprise; they slow their method of conducting criminal activities with the goal of making more money on the back end.”

The Charon Unit is a group of about 20 hardened law enforcement officers who report to their leader, Rico Bennatelli. He works for the FBI as a special agent and reports to Rob Monroe, the special agent in charge at the FBI’s Houston field office.

The 20-man team is developed after gang members brutally murder 44 people at a political event in Houston.

“Their nexus and focal point is this one hybrid gang,” White said. “As they (the team) come to grips with how broad the bad guys are, they learn quickly the gang is nationwide and soon to go international.”

The name Charon refers to the mythological figure who carries the dead across the river Styx into Hades, which is where the symbolism for the unit itself lies.

White, 39, lives in Sugar Land with his wife, Theresa. He was born in Houston, but reared in Brookshire. In his spare time, he enjoys muscle cars and quite often displays his car at auto shows.

White’s law enforcement career began in 1993 as a Harris County Precinct 5 Constable. He moved to the METRO Police Department in Houston and then joined the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. His specialty is working with gangs and the organized crime unit.

White said his itch to write was generated by Ian Fleming, the author of the wildly popular James Bond series in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

“I watched an interview of Ian Fleming in the late ‘50s and they asked him how many words a day he wrote. He said 4,500 words a day. That’s amazing to me. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but I actually tried that one day and eight hours later I got up to 2,500.”

However, in the end, White said his first manuscript came in at 112,000 words. He sent the book to Tate Publishing and they expressed an interest, though they suggested whittling the number down to 90,000 words.

White said he has already finished the second book of the trilogy and has begun the third effort.

The book is available online at this time by visiting Tate’s website, www.tatepublishing.com. Once there, type in the name of the book, The Charon Unit, and readers may purchase and download the book.

White said readers also may purchase the book online at the book’s website, www.thecharonunit.com.

Paperback copies are $23.99 and eBooks are $9.99.

Council members turned down a special use permit request to use a commercially-zoned structure as a temporary residence, and rescinded a special use permit that formerly allowed a commercial structure to be used as a residence.

Both structures in question are located on Avenue D.

Applicant Frank Orta had asked the council to allow a structure at 1410 Avenue D to be used as a residence for family members “for at least a year.”

City Attorney Art Pertile urged council to carefully weigh the request, noting that numerous structures in commercially-zoned areas had “flip-flopped” between commercial and residential use. He said the city had wanted to “phase out” residential uses in commercial areas.

“This is something that staff is trying to get away from,” Pertile said. “We’ve got over a hundred of those on our records. I have a real problem with us flip-flopping.”

He stressed that properties needed to remain in one classification or the other.

Following Pertile’s recommendation, Mayor Pro-Tem Hank Schmidt moved to deny the special use permit. Council member Carol Adams seconded the motion and council voted 4-1 to deny to reject the request. Councilman Larry Gore cast the sole dissenting vote.

Moments later, the council took up a request to rescind a special use permit that had previously allowed a commercially-zoned structure at 1926 Avenue D to be used as a residence. Applicant Blanca Cisneros requested the change so the property could be used as a gift shop.

That request was approved on a 5-0 vote.

During this week’s work study meeting, Katy ISD Trustees heard a report from staff recommending the prices be increased for elementary and high schools.

Meal prices at junior high schools would remain the same under the proposal.

If approved by the school board, the new meal prices would be:

• Elementary schools – increase price by 10 cents, from $1.80 to $1.90
• Junior high schools – maintain current price of $2.00
• High schools – increase price by 25 cents, from $2.00 to $2.25

School administrators said the recommended pricing would increase revenue by $450,000 annually, assuming the volume of meals served remains the same.

The recommendation also said most school districts were expected to increase meal costs in order to comply with current USDA regulations.

A comparison of current meal prices among area schools districts showed the following:

• Alief ISD – Elementary: 75 cents, Junior High: 75 cents, High School: 75 cents
• Galena Park ISD – Elementary: $1.35, Junior High: $1.45, High School: $1.45
• Aldine ISD – Elementary: $1.35, Junior High: $1.60, High School: $1.60
• Spring ISD – Elementary: $1.50, Junior High: $1.75, High School: $1.75
• Channelview ISD – Elementary: $1.60, Junior High: $1.85, High School: $1.85
• Cy-Fair ISD – Elementary: $1.75, Junior High: $2.00, High School: $2.00
• Klein ISD – Elementary: $1.75, Junior High: $2.05, High School: $2.25
• Clear Creek ISD – Elementary: $1.80, Junior High: $2.05, High School: $2.05
• Galveston ISD – Elementary: $1.80, Junior High: $2.05, High School: $2.05
• Katy ISD – Elementary: $1.80, Junior High: $2.00, High School, $2.00
• Waller ISD – Elementary: $1.80, Junior High: $2.05, High School: $2.05
• Humble ISD: Elementary: $2.00, Junior High: $2.25, High School: $2.25
• Pearland ISD: Elementary: $2.25, Junior High: $2.50, High School: $2.75

Final action on the meal price recommendation is expected at next week’s school board meeting.

Exchange Club board member Newell Cheatheam presented the ACE – Accepting the Challenge of Excellence – scholarships to Lauren Fendley of Morton Ranch High School and Jackeline M. Reyes of Katy High School.

Each scholarship was for $1,500.

The ACE scholarships are awarded to students who had to overcome “great physical, emotional or social obstacles” in order to graduate from high school.

City council awarded the project to Horseshoe Construction Company in an amount of $145,505.  With contingencies, the total project cost will be $178,660.50.

The sewer lines set for work include Ash Street, the rear lots of Baylor Street, Carson Drive, the back lots of Patna Drive and the Morton Road Lift Station #10.

Council awarded the bid at the recommendation of City Engineer David Leyendecker. In his recommendation, Leyendecker said the entire award amount may not be needed.

“The low bid was submitted by Horseshoe Construction Company in the amount of $123.055 for the base bid with an alternate bid in the amount of $22,450,” Leyendecker said in his recommendation. “I recommend that the City of Katy award the 2012 Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project to Horseshoe Construction Company in the amount of $145,505 (base bid plus the alternate bid). The alternate bid amount may or may not be needed. The city staff will have to make that decision once we are further into the project.”

The Horseshoe Construction bid was the lower of two bids received on the project. The other bid was from PM Construction in the amount of $131,382 for the base project amount plus an additional $25,250 for the alternate bid.

Bich Xuan Dang, 39, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 marijuana plants on Feb. 22.

Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed him the federal sentence which was enhanced due to his classification as a career offender after multiple prior convictions for crimes of violence.

A joint state-federal task force arrested Dang inside a residence in Katy that had been converted into a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana growth facility.

In addition to arresting Dang, officers seized nearly 300 marijuana plants together with the array of grow lamps, ballasts, blower fans, water and air filtration systems, and growth media that Dang and his organization used to produce the marijuana.

When arrested, Dang was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and a 30-round extended magazine.

Dang has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kusin.

During this week’s city council meeting, both losing candidates took to the podium to praise the city’s election process and compliment their opponents on a clean race.

In return, the winners were equally gracious, shaking hands with the challengers prior to the meeting and exchanging pleasantries.

During the public comments portion of the council meeting, candidate Dusty Thiele was the first to speak. Thiele ran for the Ward B seat against incumbent Larry Gore.

Saying “you have to be a little crazy to run for public office,” Thiele thanked his family, friends and supporters.

“The City of Katy is a great city. I think if the whole country was run like the City of Katy, we wouldn’t have so many problems,” Thiele.

He went on to say he believed the city was “in great hands with who we’ve elected.” Thiele also complimented his opponent.

“You were very gracious to me and my wife Saturday night,” Thiele told Gore.

Candidate Jimmy Mendez, who ran against Steve Pierson for the at-large seat being vacated by longtime councilman Hank Schmidt, thanked the city council and staff, saying the campaign was “a great learning experience.”

“I have a new-found respect for every one of you up here,” Mendez told the council.

For his part, Gore also took time to praise his fellow candidates and congratulated councilman-elect Pierson, who was in the audience.

“I look forward to working with you the next few years,” Gore said.

Gore also praised the voter turnout, calling it “the biggest turnout I’ve seen in a non-mayoral election.” He also thanked City Secretary Missy Bunch and her staff for their work during the election, as well as the election volunteers.

Gore also thanked his former opponent for a good campaign.

“It takes a lot to put your name on the ballot,” he told Mendez. “Thank you for doing that and giving voters a choice.”

During his report at the end of the meeting, Mayor Don Elder also praised the candidates on a clean, fair election.

“You ran your campaigns well and I applaud you for doing that,” Elder said.

Elder also announced a special meeting on Monday, May 21 to formally canvass the votes.

Following the canvassing, the newly-elected council members will be sworn in and take their seats on city council.

Representatives from both offices yesterday confirmed the complaint filed by Katy resident Cynthia Murray Langley had been received and is being assigned for investigation.

Irene R. Diaz with the Secretary of State’s Elections Legal Division said the complaint was being assigned to an attorney for review. Also, Carlos Ibanez with the Texas Attorney General’s Office said the allegations would be given a criminal justice review.

Handling of the vote count for Saturday’s Katy ISD Board of Trustees election led to the complaint being filed.

Langley filed the election complaint with both agencies late Monday after she and another certified poll watcher were excluded from witnessing the delayed vote count at Katy ISD’s Education Support Complex Saturday night.

Among the irregularities cited, the complaint alleges Katy ISD’s elections administrator Bill Haskett and presiding poll judge Butch Adams refused to allow Langley and Darcy Kahrhoff, both certified poll watchers, observe the ballot counting process after problems arose amid reports of missing ballots from two polling locations.

Langley also said despite official poll watchers such as herself and Kahrhoff being refused entry, several people were admitted through a rear door of the Katy ISD administration building into the counting area. Among those Langley said were allowed in were former Katy ISD Trustee Eric Duhon and current Board President Joe Adams.

When contacted for comment by InstantNewsKaty, Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said the district would not comment.

“Since this is a pending complaint, we don’t have a response at this time,” Stanford said.

The service will begin at 9:30 a.m.

This year, the Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that retired Navy Reserve Captain Richard L. Halferty will give the Memorial Day address.

Halferty serves as the Chief Operating Officer for H.M.S. Telecom LLC, and has extensive experience in logistics, contingency and emergency planning. 

Halferty served in the United States Navy Reserve for more than 38 years retiring as a Captain in 1986.  He currently serves as Chairman, Korean War Veterans, Lone Star Chapter.  Among his military awards are the Navy Commendation Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Reserve and the United Nations Medal. 

In addition to Halferty’s remarks, the event will feature a parade of colors and wreaths by numerous local veterans’ organizations, ROTC units, and Boy and Girl Scout troops. All Boy and Girl Scout organizations in southeast Texas are invited to attend.

There will also be other symbolic highlights including a flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard; a performance of Taps; a cannon salute; a riderless horse procession by the Houston Police Mounted Patrol; Amazing Grace performed by Ian Martin; and a rifle salute by the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines. Peggy Slay, president of the Houston Gold Star Mothers, will lead the pledge of allegiance.

The Memorial Day Service, honoring deceased United States servicemen and women, is free and open to the public.

Those who wish to visit gravesites are encouraged to arrive prior to 8 a.m. or after 1 p.m. following the Memorial Day service.

The rain gage registered 11.19 inches – the fourth highest report submitted this year to the CoCoRaHS network.

“I was surprised at that amount – we’ve had some heavy rains,” said Chance, who lives in the Pecan Grove neighborhood in Fort Bend County and has a gage in his back yard. “When I first looked at it, it looked like there wasn’t any water in it. But it was almost to the very top if it. I have never seen it that high before.”

CoCoRaHS is a nonprofit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation. Volunteers take precipitation measurements each day at approximately the same time and then record those measurements on the CoCoRaHS website in order to help weather experts keep track of where and how much it rains across the United States.

The Harris County Flood Control District relies on precipitation data collected by CoCoRaHS during and after rainfall and flood events. The district also encourages residents in the Houston/Galveston region to be “data collectors” in their own back yards. 

Radar and reports from the Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System – which consists of 131 strategically-placed gages that measure and electronically report in real time rainfall amounts and water levels in bayous – and from Sugar Land indicate that on May 11-12, approximately 8-10 inches of rain fell over central Fort Bend County from north of Beasley to Sugar Land. The result was extensive and widespread flooding over much of Fort Bend and south/southwest Harris counties.

“Even with the Flood Control District’s extensive network of gages, the data provided by the CoCoRaHS volunteer network is extremely helpful in compiling data,” said Heather Saucier, Flood Control District spokeswoman.

Fort Bend County has only one automated reporting site at the Sugar Land airport where 8.25 inches was recorded after the May 11-12 rainfall event. It is common in this region for thunderstorms to produce small, localized and intense rainfall events that cover only a few miles in size. For example, during the May 11-12 storm, other CoCoRaHS sites located within 5 miles of the Pecan Grove station only recorded 4-5 inches of rain.

“The CoCoRaHS data are critical for showing how much rain fell, especially in cases where the rain is from thunderstorms, and measurements can vary just a few miles apart,” said Dan Reilly, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “The National Weather Service River Forecast Centers use this data in their hydrologic models to make crest forecasts on area rivers and to determine if river flood warnings may be necessary.“

CoCoRaHS data helps fill in the gaps between official rainfall data collection sites in our region, such as the Flood Warning System and the National Weather Service’s climate sites.

Chance is one of several volunteers who record rainfall data in CoCoRaHS’s Houston/Galveston Region (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Waller, and Wharton counties). He said he heard about the CoCoRaHS network several years ago through his volunteer efforts with the Texas State Guard and wanted to be a part of the effort.  He signed up to be a volunteer, ordered an official CoCoRaHS rain gage and installed it in a strategic location in his backyard.

“I feel good about volunteering and I like to be able to help where I can,” said Chance, who is a data analyst at Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. “It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s a good service that I can provide.”

Data submitted by CoCoRaHS volunteers is organized and displayed on the CoCoRaHS website for the general public’s observation and use.

The National Weather Service, meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, public works managers, insurance adjusters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, teachers and students, and residents utilize the information to do everything from severe storm analysis to comparisons of how much rain fell in neighboring backyards.

Resident Cynthia Murray Langley filed the election complaint with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division late Monday.

Among other irregularities, the complaint alleges Katy ISD’s elections administrator Bill Haskett and presiding poll judge Butch Adams refused to allow Langley and Darcy Kahrhoff, both certified poll watchers, observe the ballot counting process after problems arose amid reports of missing ballots from two polling locations.

Langley also said despite official poll watchers such as herself and Kahrhoff being refused entry, several people were admitted through a rear door of the Katy ISD administration building into the counting area. Among those Langley said were allowed in were former Katy ISD Trustee Eric Duhon and current Board President Joe Adams.

In her complaint, Langley urges the Secretary of State and Attorney General conduct a forensic investigation of the counting process.

Langley’s complaint reads as follows:

“I worked until 10 pm and called to see what the results were.

“Was told that 1600+ votes were ‘‘missing from Katy Municipal Building and Taylor High School polls.”  How did that happen?  No one knew the answers.

“Called back as I was driving over to the Katy ISD admin building and said we needed to get 2 more poll watchers into the central counting poll to see what was happening and verify that the process was done according to the election code.

“About 10:25pm, Billy Haskett, Katy ISD employee, came to the lobby and to announce that they ‘were having technical difficulties and we are working on the problems.’ As Haskett turned and left the lobby, Darcy Kahrhoff and I were there with poll watcher certificates in hand and he ignored us. Haskett did not respond, so we followed to the poll door entrance. The school security guards stopped us and make us go back to the lobby to wait for an answer about whether we would be allowed to enter as poll watchers.

“About 10:30 pm, the security guards returned saying that the presiding judge and Haskett said that we are denied entry, without ever looking at our paperwork. Reason given was that ‘it was too late.’  We ‘should have been there when the counting started.’  They sent word that they were only recounting the votes again.

“Later in the night, one of the other poll workers stated to me the real reason was that the conference room ‘is too small.’

“[They tried to use that last year when the SOS monitor was there. My suggestion has been to move central counting to a more public location like the Merrell Center next door, so that everyone can watch the totals as it happens. Transparency prevents corruption. Locked doors and all of the secrecy causes problems for many of us voters in Katy school district. Turns out the “winners” won by that number of 1600+ which I find to be too coincidental and suspicious to me.]

“About 11:50 pm, Haskett was marching his poll workers to the Board Room this time to announce the results.  He likes to be so melodramatic. As he walked past me, I informed him that he was in violation of the Texas Election Code. He ignored me and continued his parade towards the board room.

“I interviewed some of the poll workers to get more information, but did not get their names.  The reason for the irregularities in the counting was suppose to be caused by the E-slate machines used in the early voting were instructed by Haskett to be left open every night rather than follow the close out procedures as taught in election schools.  Poll watchers are supposed to watch the shut down procedures and check the tapes to see if they match.

“With Haskett in control the poll watcher is not allowed to see the tapes or printouts as they come off the machines.  He acts like that is his secret information to keep to himself until later in the night.

“An interesting event was seen. Eric Duhon, who has been a nasty mouth piece in Katy school district, was seen in the march of poll workers.  I asked the poll workers why was he there?  He really lives in Simonton and out of the district.  The answer was, ‘Oh! He only came into the room about 15 minutes ago.’

“Turns out the back door to the admin building was open to Shaw, Duhon, Joe Adams, and others but not to voters or the public.

“‘Were cell phones allowed in the poll this year like last year?’ I asked. Last year they were answered and calls were placed out bound, but the poll watchers could not use our phones. ‘How did they know to come to the building at that time?  Were they allowed in the secret polling place where central counting was done this year?’  That was when the poll workers walked away because they knew something was improper? Maybe. Too many questions in my mind.

“I URGE the Secretary of State to investigate this election and file charges so that a temporary order can give them time to do a forensic investigation so that criminal charges can be prosecuted against these individuals.”

Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said the district would not have a response at this time.

Callegari (R-Katy) has been endorsed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.

In announcing the endorsement, TFR President Michael Quinn Sullivan said Callegari had “consistently proven himself to be a strong advocate for Texas’ conservatives and the interests of his constituents.”

“On issue after issue, Bill Callegari has been willing to fight for his constituents while protecting Texas taxpayers,” Sullivan said.

During the 2011 legislative session, Callegari voted for a balanced state budget with no new taxes.  He also introduced legislation placing strict limits on government growth, and passed bills eliminating useless state agencies and regulations, according to TFR.

In 2011, Callegari earned the “Taxpayer Advocate Award” for his rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, which examines legislators recorded votes during the legislative session.

“This endorsement by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility reflects my record of voting for smaller government, less regulation, and lower taxes,” Callegari said.  “I am committed to fighting the good fight of keeping the size and power of state government in check so that the rights and liberties of all Texans can be preserved.”

Sullivan praised Callegari’s long-standing record in the Texas House promoting commonsense, conservative policy solutions and opposing tax increases.

“Mr. Callegari has been a leader in working to get government out of our pocketbooks, reducing the number of licensing agencies and freeing small businesses from burdensome regulations.”

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that focuses on state and local public policy issues.

BOOTS & BADGES GALA – Showing off some of the auction items available at this year’s Boots & Badges Gala are, from left, Robert Williams holding an AR-15 Rifle, Kim Pokluda holding His and Her’s watches from I.W. Marks and Angie Womble with a Houston Texans jersey autographed by linebacker Brian Cushing.

The event, which benefits all emergency responders in Fort Bend County, is scheduled for 6-11 p.m. this Friday, May 18, at the Stafford Centre.

The evening will feature           a barbecue dinner catered by Schulze Bar-B-Que of Rosenberg and music provided by The Russell Ray Band.

There will also be live and silent auctions, as well the presentation of academic scholarships to deserving students and awards honoring individuals who have exhibited exemplary support or aid to emergency responders.

Some of the live auction items topping the list this year include a golf trip to Hawaii, a Fly and Stay then Sail Away package, a helicopter hog hunt, an autographed jersey by Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, a night in a stadium suite for 25 to watch the Sugar Land Skeeters and an AR-15 rifle.

At last count, some 100 silent auction items have been donated or are being assembled for the gala.

Some of the programs supported by Behind The Badge Charities include:

• The “10-33” Officer Assistance Fund, which provides need-based grants to individual public safety officers who have suffered injury, serious illness or other disasters that traditional insurance or other assistance has not covered.
• The Fallen Officers Memorial Scholarships, which provides academic scholarships to the children or dependents of qualified public safety officers.
• Individual scholarships dedicated to the memory of officers killed in the line of duty. The inaugural scholarship was dedicated to the memory of Fort Bend County Deputy Sheriff John “JD” Norsworthy.

The organization also provides grants and sponsors various youth and community activities throughout Fort Bend County to raise awareness of the charity and to improve public perception of emergency responders who serve in Fort Bend County.

For the second year, Fort Bend Toyota on U.S. 59 is the presenting sponsor for the event.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Gala. Sponsorship categories include: Agency Chiefs, $10,000; Division Commanders, $5,000; Stations Captains, $3,000; Shift Lieutenants, $2,000; and Line Officers, $1,000.

A reserved table for 10 is $500, and individual tickets are $50 each. Tickets will be presale only.

For information on tickets or sponsorships, e-mail fundraiser@behindthebadgecharities.org or call Jennifer Williams at 281-217-3092.

Tickets and sponsorships also can be purchased directly from the website at www.behindthebadgecharities.org.

To make donations of auction items, contact Kim Pokluda at 832-588-8210 or Angie Womble at 281-467-1134.

As of yesterday, the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular was $3.63.

The Katy price compares with a national average that fell 3.3 cents in the last week to $3.73 per gallon, according to gasoline price website HoustonGasPrices.com.

Despite the recent drop in prices, senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said supply remains tight.

“While gasoline prices east of the Rockies have been falling, the West Coast remains at the mercy of refinery production. The entire West Coast right now is looking for any reason for a continuation in the price rally we’ve seen in the last week as supply remains tight and stakes high as Memorial Day weekend is just two weeks away,” DeHaan said. “While pump prices may continue their decline outside the West Coast, any refinery blip certainly has the potential for localized hotspots, and motorists should be aware of that.”

Including the change in gas prices during the past week, prices in Katy yesterday were 22.9 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 22.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago.

The national average has decreased 16.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 20.3 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.