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.

Sheinberg also encouraged continued funding of Federal Research and Development programs so important to economic growth.

While visiting congressional offices, Sheinberg provided a constituent perspective on the local and national impact of these programs and their significance to Texas, speaking about the important roles of community college and university partnerships in growing the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“These are very challenging times in Congress, especially as congressional offices are moving forward with the appropriations process to fund the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Energy Office of Science and the Department of Defense Basic Research,” Shinberg said. “Based upon proposed funding, community colleges appear to have a prominent role in the STEM educational arena, including preparing young men and women for careers in materials science.”

With Houston’s Energy Corridor in the HCC service area, the WHC develops pathways for more students to complete degrees in STEM-related fields. Through their relationship with the WHC and a Department of Homeland Security grant, six HCC students will complete summer research experiences at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Rice University beginning later this month.

The Materials Research Society represents 16,000 scientists and engineers dedicated to advancing the multidisciplinary field of materials and improving the global quality of life. MRS scientists and engineers around the world work towards fundamental breakthroughs in electronics, energy systems, aerospace technologies, biomedical devices, nanotechnology, transportation, and advanced computation and communication technologies.

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

"SASSY"

CAP spokesperson Rita Benton said she is known as “Sassy” for short.

“Sassafras is a sweet loving companion who is very playful – she loves woven rope toys. She needs frequent walks, always on a leash, as she wants to chase other dogs, cats and squirrels, and the like,” Benton said. “She would do best in a home with a fenced backyard where she can run and play off-leash. Plenty of exercise is essential to her well-being.”

Benton added Sassy is crate-trained and housebroken. She does have a strong dislike for vacuums, though, and Benton said having Sassy as a companion “is an excellent excuse for those who don’t want to clean house.”

If you can give Sassafras the minimally-vacuumed home she so desperately wants, go to the CAP website at www.cap4pets.org or call the shelter at 281-497-0591 for adoption information.

The Summer Sounds series offers a sizzling mix of Caribbean country, reggae, zydeco, blues and Latin dance.

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The Katy Area Economic Development Council and Placemaker Team set out on a branding project for Katy. It consisted of qualitative and quantitative research that listened to people within Katy and just outside of the area. “What we learned is that ‘Katy’ is a sense of place more than just a geo-political jurisdiction. This is largely because the area referred to as ‘Katy’ has multiple political jurisdictions that intersect with the KISD. We also learned Katy is a place of great energy,” said Dan Boggio, Placemaker team chair.

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Pamela Jefferson filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, May 16 in the Harris County District Court against Wal-Mart, citing negligence.

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BEFORE FLOOD CONTROL –The devastating 1935 flood brought about legislation creating the Harris County Flood Control District.

Long before the flood control district was created, pioneers who settled in Harris County accepted flood damage as one of the risks associated with life in an otherwise abundant and economically promising land.

As a result, the county’s history is peppered with tales of great floods and rainstorms that wreaked havoc on residents’ lives and properties.

One particularly devastating event, however, brought about a public call for action that resulted in the district’s creation in 1937.

The torrential downpour started on Dec. 6, 1935 and, by the time the skies cleared two days later, approximately 100 blocks of the City of Houston’s business and residential districts were inundated with floodwaters from Buffalo and White Oak bayous.

Eight residents lost their lives and property damage was estimated at $2.5 million (approximately $42 million in 2012 dollars).  The Houston Ship Channel was crippled for eight months.

The Great Flood of 1935 caused devastation, but at the same time spurred Houston and Harris County public officials, business leaders and residents to take action. Many were grappling with still-vivid memories of the Great Flood of 1929, which also overwhelmed the city and county. A groundswell of support emerged for improvements to the open channel drainage infrastructure that would protect lives, property and the economy.

Houstonians’ voices combined with others across the United States to urge the federal government to finance and implement flood damage reduction projects.  In response, the U.S. Congress passed the Flood Control Act of 1936 – the bill that assigned oversight responsibility for flood damage reduction measures to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and authorized funding for more than 200 flood damage reduction projects and studies.  A survey of Harris County’s Buffalo Bayou was on that initial list.

Houston Mayor R. H. Fonville and Harris County Judge Roy M. Hofheinz led a campaign to persuade the Texas legislature to pass a statute that created a single local entity that had the authority to partner with the federal government on flood damage reduction projects that qualified for federal financial assistance. Five days after the Texas Legislature approved the bill creating the Harris County Flood Control District, then-Governor James Allred signed the new law on May 15, 1937.

The ensuing 75 years have been marked by rapid development in Houston and Harris County, changes in engineering practices, the growth of environmental concerns and policy, and advancements in technology.  One thing that has remained constant through time is the overriding fact that our region’s relatively flat terrain, impermeable clay soils, and average annual rainfall of 48 inches (4 feet) have, and always will, make the area vulnerable to flooding.

The district implemented key flood damage reduction projects in partnership with the Corps in its first 30 years of existence from the construction of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in the 1940s to the channelization of White Oak Bayou and Brays Bayou in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Proposed plans for channelization of Buffalo Bayou were cancelled because environmental activities lobbied against the project.

In 1979, Houston and Harris County suffered seven separate flooding events that prompted an evolution of the district’s flood damage reduction strategies and policies. Harris County Commissioners Court approved changes to those polices that allowed the construction of stormwater detention basins, which was a departure from the previous focus on channel improvements to reduce flooding risks.

In the 1980s, the Corps and the flood control district launched comprehensive flood damage reduction projects on Sims Bayou and Brays Bayou that combined an effective mix of channel improvements, stormwater detention basins and environmental enhancements.  In 1984, Commissioners Court approved the White Oak Bayou Regional Flood Control Plan, which included the excavation of 10 stormwater detention basins along White Oak Bayou, widening the bayou from Tidwell Road to Beltway 8 and constructing the Jersey Village Channel, which carries 30 percent of the flows of White Oak Bayou around the flood-prone city during times of heavy rain.

In 2001, just before Tropical Storm Allison unleashed 35 inches of rain over parts of Houston and Harris County, the flood control district entered into a financial partnership with Harris County to increase its funding from roughly $20 million a year to $150-$200 million a year.

With increased funding levels, the district has been able to build more flood damage reduction projects at a faster pace. These include widening and deepening bayous and tributaries, excavating large stormwater detention basins that safely store millions of gallons of stormwater, and maintaining more than 2,500 miles of open channel infrastructure.

Several significant milestones have been achieved in the aftermath of Allison. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the flood control district took advantage of brand new technology developed by NASA to produce a new Flood Insurance Rate Map for all 22 watersheds of Harris County. The multi-year effort was called the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project.

FEMA and the district also implemented the Tropical Storm Allison Voluntary Home Buyout Program. The program enabled residents whose homes were substantially damaged during the storm or that have flooded repeatedly to move to higher ground. The flood control district continues similar voluntary home buyout programs today, and has purchased close to 3,000 flood-prone homes in partnership with FEMA for a total cost of approximately $240 million. The homes are demolished, and the remaining land serves as a natural floodplain.

As its 75th anniversary arrives, the agency is pursuing 191 capital projects in 17 watersheds, mowing about 18,000 acres of land three times a year, and mowing nearly 8,000 miles of bayou banks a year.

The district’s web of infrastructure, built with local and federal funds, includes 61 regional detention sites either existing or in development, totaling nearly 8,400 acres. Along with reducing flooding risks and damages, many of these sites provide wetlands mitigation, habitat for wildlife, and green space for all to enjoy.

As the District builds, it also looks ahead through its Frontier Program at areas like the Cypress Creek watershed that are poised for major development. By acquiring land for conservation, flood storage and other multi-use projects, the district is working to ensure an effective blueprint for flood damage reduction in the future.

Texas owns the bragging rights over other states in a number of areas — our economy, climate, wealth of natural resources; a rich, colorful history, and the can-do spirit of our citizens.  Unfortunately, the Lone Star State doesn’t fare so well in an important measure of public health. We are last among the states in per capita spending on people with mental disabilities.

That regrettable statistic evolved from good intentions. As stewards of the public’s hard-earned tax dollars, we in the Legislature have strived to be judicious with the state budget, to spend as wisely and prudently as possible.  That means making smart investments and spending tax dollars in areas where Texas will get the most bang for its buck. 

But in the process, our diligence has led us to be penny wise and pound foolish in the area of mental health services. Now the problem has grown and must be addressed. In a recent hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, it was disclosed that the list of people waiting for on-going mental health community services has grown a staggering 642% since September 2004.

There is no question that the demand for services will continue to grow, and that we as a state have a responsibility to provide them — for both compassionate reasons and our economic self-interest.  When people with mental disabilities are ignored, they may require emergency crisis treatment or end up in the criminal justice system. Both of those options always end up costing more.

The lack of services and available hospital facilities is evident in our county jails, many of which have become default treatment centers for the mentally ill. On an average day, 25% of the prisoners in the Harris County jail receive psychotropic medication. Indeed, the Harris County jail on most days treats more individuals with mental health issues than Texas’ ten psychiatric hospitals combined. Extrapolate that to the county jails in Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso and other cities across Texas and the numbers quickly get out of hand.

As one witness told the committee: “The jails have become the psychiatric hospitals of the United States.”

Mentally ill inmates cost more than non–mentally ill inmates for a variety of reasons, including increased staffing needs.  The average prisoner in Texas costs the state about $22,000 a year, but those with mental illness range from $30,000 to $50,000 a year. As stated by the Department of State Health Services and the Legislative Budget Board, incarcerated persons with mental illnesses cost 11 times more to treat in the criminal justice system than to treat with community based services.

By putting enough resources into continuing mental health services, we can prevent mentally ill patients from going into the crisis and criminal justice systems, saving a lot of heartache and precious tax dollars as well.

When the Legislature convenes in January, we will once again have many budget challenges to face. Education will be a priority, along with criminal justice, public safety, and health care. Mental health, which has a significant impact on these systems, must be a priority as well.

Keeping mentally ill people out of jails is not a partisan issue. Whether viewed through the lens of compassion or economic common sense, it is simply an issue we can no longer ignore.

Huffman represents Senate District 17 and is Vice Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee. Uresti represents Senate District 19.

Both serve on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

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.

The scholarship was awarded recently to Shane Richard Ridling.

Ridling is the son of Stephen Ridling, a sergeant with the Houston Police Department, and Elizabeth Ridling, an officer with the Houston Police Department.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright presented the scholarship and certificate to Ridling, as his father looked on.

Ridling will be a sophomore in the fall 2012 semester at Texas A&M University. He is majoring in mechanical engineering.

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.

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A test was performed with messages displayed on eleven area digital billboards. 

Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, and Brazoria counties have all endorsed the “Gulf Coast Emergency Communications Network” as a viable means to augment their efforts to reach the public during a crisis. 

The emergency management offices of each county are working with Clear Channel to perfect how and when messages are displayed on the units. 

“Time is of the essence in the case of emergencies and digital technology on billboards provides instant messaging in real time,” Donna Baker, president of the Clear Channel Houston office, said. 

During a crisis situation, area emergency management coordinators will meet and decide the best use of the messaging for region-wide events.  Message designs have been preset and those will be used to inform the traveling public of the crisis. 

“This is an invaluable tool for reaching the public instantly and one more way to make sure we stay in constant contact with our residents,” said Jeff Braun, Emergency Management Coordinator for Fort Bend County.  

Braun added that having such technology in place in the future will assist with more than just hurricanes; indicating that the network would also be utilized for Amber Alert notifications and significant road closures caused by flooding.

The system is currently comprised of eleven digital units throughout the area, with four more being deployed within the next 30 days.  As units are built, they will be added to the system which will provide region-wide messaging as well as local messages. 

During an emergency, county officials urge area residents to have a plan, make a kit and stay informed.  Messages on digital billboards will help to keep residents informed throughout a crisis.

“This is another tool to help us communicate potentially lifesaving emergency information to residents of Harris and surrounding counties at no cost to the taxpayers,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. “And communication is key to saving lives and protecting property in a disaster.”

“Certainly we know the effects of a major weather crisis, getting our message out to the public instantly is so important,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. 

The system will be available to emergency coordinators on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis. 

Controls are in place that will only activate the system in the case of a true emergency as determined by the management offices. 

Local emergency messages for cities in which the digital billboards are located will be determined by the city’s emergency or management staff.

Read, Deed, and Run is a 25 -week program for fourth and fifth graders.

Students that join the program are required to read 26 books or 2,600 pages, perform 26 good deeds in the community, and run 26.2 miles.

The final 1.2-mile run will be held Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. at Cinco Ranch High School.

Schools taking part in the program include Winborn Elementary, Morton Ranch Elementary, Holland Elementary, Rhoads Elementary, Wolfe Elementary, Hayes Elementary, Exley Elementary and Williams Elementary.

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.