|
Looking back: Sealy News top stories for 2008 JANUARY A historic change came to the San Felipe State Historic Site in January when the site was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission. After 11 years of serving as Sealy fire chief, Joseph Schmidt handed down the reigns to new Fire Chief Kenny Lewis. Schmidt served with the department for nearly 29 years. Lewis has been with the fire department for 14 years. Oboe player Lehron Brune, a senior band member at Sealy High School, was named to the All-State Band for the second year in a row. FEBRUARY Sealy and area residents turned out in large numbers during a town hall meeting and public hearing to express their opinions, and concerns, over the proposed I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor. Although some chose to submit their comments in writing, approximately 50 people stood up to speak, and every one of them had the same message: “I am opposed to the I-69/Trans Texas Corridor.” Sealy moved to Region IV. That was the word when the UIL released it’s much anticipated realignment information for 2008-2010. For Sealy, the announcement was a major shakeup of the status quo with the Tigers changing districts and regions for the next two years. An oil spill in the Brazos River left environmental crews working overtime to clean up the mess. Sealy police shut down two local convenient stores after investigations revealed the businesses had been operating illegal gambling activity. After months of discussion and interviewing, Sealy City Council members named Chris Coffman as city manager. The Lady Tiger basketball team landed five on the all-district team. Making the all-district team were senior Tenple Taylor, sophomore Brittney Krchnak and junior Patrice Clark. Earning honorable-mention recognition for Sealy were senior Amber Byars and sophomore Shelby Brune. In addition, four Tigers were named to the academic all-district team: sophomores Beauonika Chatman, Nicole Faldyn and Krchnak, along with Taylor, showed Sealy’s academic strength in addition to athletic prowess. After one year at Sealy High School, and 33 years in public education, Sealy High School Principal Robert Arnold announced he would retire at the end of June. MARCH SHS powerlifters Vincente Villagomez, Johnny Adair and Jessica Bush competed at the Region II powerlifting meet and qualified for state. Habitat for Humanity of Austin County finished construction and dedicated its first home, located in Sealy, celebrating a three-year effort since its inception. A Grand Jury Subpoena was issued to the Austin County Commissioners Court requesting the minutes and tape recording from an executive session of a meeting held June 5, 2006, along with a certified agenda from the meeting. APRIL Students at Sealy High School were evacuated after staff received an anonymous bomb threat. Law enforcement officials from the Sealy Police Department, the Bellville Police Department and the Austin County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call, but found nothing. The Lady Tiger track team earned six regional berths with Candice McCormick in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs, Kaylee Nelson in the 300-meter hurdles and Amber Byars, Jill Kana, and Brittney Krchnak in discus. Leslie Haack was named the new high school principal. Sealy Tigerettes won a national championship. SHS color guard and twirler earned top honors at nationals. Sealy ISD prepared for dissolution of the Austin County Education Cooperative after both the Bellville and Brazos ISDs appealed to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to dissolve it. Sealy ISD voted not to accept the dissolution re The cast and crew of Sealy High School’s One Act Play, “Noises Off,” won the area competition at SHS and advanced to the regional competition. Faith Academy senior Corey Curlee qualified for the state tennis tournament. Sealy girls’ golf finishes fourth at region, and Chelsey Watkins qualified for state. MAY Sealy High School sent 10 athletes to state. Chelsey Watkins played in the state golf tournament, while nine competed in the state track meet. Freddie Harrison ran the 200-meter dash, and Landon Lehde competed in high jump. Harrison, Dexter Brown, Aaron Chavez, Cameron Kershner and alternates DeQuincy Cooper and Malcolm Jones ran in the 4x400-meter relay. Amber Byars competed in the discus throw, while Candice McCormick ran cross-country. Six Sealy students competed at the 2008 UIL Academic State Meet, earning six medals. Placing highest for Sealy as an individual at state was senior Lehron Brune, a two-time state qualifier in Social Studies, who placed third. Also placing as an individual at state was senior Leah Richardson in Headline Writing. Rick Bauman and Dale Lechler are elected to the SISD board of trustees while Nick Tirey was named mayor and Stephen Mieth was elected to the council. A head-on collision in Brazoria County killed 2006 Sealy High School graduate Alyssa Lamp. The TEA denied a request of hearing for five Austin County Education Cooperative employees who sought legal counsel on the basis that their contracts with the Sealy Independent School District - the fiscal agent for the ACEC - did not expire for another year. Faith Academy Lady Knights softball team became first-time state champions. Blencor, Inc. announced plans to build a frozen vegetable packaging plant in Sealy on 15 acres of property next to the Wal-Mart Distribution Center. JUNE Faith Academy’s Unexplained Invasion skit was named global Destination Imagination champs, besting more than 60 teams from around the world, competing in both an improvisational skit and task. The Texas Department of Transportation announced it would only consider expanding existing highways in future proposals of the Trans-Texas Corridor/Interstate-69 project. Sealy police shut down a Sealy Food Store (Citgo Gas Station) after an investigation revealed the business had been operating illegal gambling activity and seized several gaming machines, as well as cash and other items. The incident was the second at the location this year. JULY Sealy City Council denied requests for Stone Fox Restaurant and Horseshoe Bar to sell alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. It was announced that The Boys and Girls Club of Sealy is merging with the YMCA. AUGUST Texas Attorney General charged Petroleum Wholesales for shortchanging customers. Petroleum Wholesales operates Sunmart Travel Centers and Convenience Stores, which owns the Mobil station at 2100 Hwy 36 South in Sealy and the Exxon station at 5168 Interstate 10 Frontage Road in San Felipe. SISD, for the second year in a row, received a rating of acceptable from the TEA. Selman Elementary School was named a recognized campus, and Selman Intermediate School, Sealy Junior High School and Sealy High School were named acceptable campuses. Two weeks after denying bars inside the city limits the right to sell alcohol until 2 a.m., the Sealy City Council changed its stance and in a 4-3 vote approved bars selling alcohol until 2 a.m. SEPTEMBER It was that time of year when hurricanes and homecoming games collide. And they did. Sealy High School had to cancel its homecoming as Hurricane Ike threatened the Gulf Coast and Sealy. Football fans had to wait, and members of the homecoming court were forced to sit through another week of nail biting before a winner was crowned. Sealy City Council members are forced to table discussion on the bar hours issue after an overflow crowd gathered inside and outside of City Hall, surpassing the number of people allowed in the council room per the fire code. Sealy escapes major damage from Hurricane Ike. Most businesses closed and streets were empty as residents waited out storm. Sealy saw sustained winds of 60 miles per hour during the night and totaled about two inches of rain from the storm. There were a few power outages in the area and city and county crews were out the following Saturday cleaning debris from roads. A yearlong investigation by Austin County Sheriff’s Office investigator Kyle Fredericksen, Austin County District Attorney Travis Koehn and investigators resulted in the arrest of 38 people allegedly involved in hundreds of cases of identity theft in Austin, Brazoria and Fort Bend counties, as well as Houston. Brandal Jackson is named San Felipe’s new police chief. A raid of El Tropical by officers with the Austin County Sheriff’s Office and Bellvile Police Department ended with the arrest of three men and the seizure of more than 35 bags of powder cocaine. Sealy residents say no during a city council public hearing to the idea of extending the hours in which a bar inside the city limits can sell alcohol. An estimated 125 attended the hearing. OCTOBER The Tiger Band advanced to the area UIL contest after marching to the tunes of “Carmen” in the district competition. A new signal light at the Schmidt Road and State Highway 36 intersection opens. Austin County Commissioners’ Court rescinded the county’s burn ban. NOVEMBER Austin County voters passed the $6 million bond election and elected Precinct 3 Commissioner Randy Reichardt and Precinct 3 Constable Jack Brandes to office. They also voted U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul to another term. Three SHS students were arrested in connection to a rivalry prank in connection to the vandalism that occurred at Bellville High School the day the schools faced off. The Tigers’ football season ends with a loss to Cuero. The loss ended the Tigers’ season at 7-5, highlighted by a 22-21 win over rival Bellville and a 31-10 bi-district playoff victory over Needville. The Faith Academy Knights inched closer to a state title, but one month later ended their quest when their season came to an end. DECEMBER Plans for a new 26-acre commercial park were announced. The Sealy West Commercial Park, to be located at the corner of U.S. Highway 90 West and Peschel Lane, would be home to restaurants, convenience stores with gasoline sales, retail shopping and an estimated two new hotels. The development would increase the city’s property tax base by $22 million. Austin County commissioners handed down their verdict on how late Austin County bars can serve alcohol Monday morning, unanimously voting to rescind permits that allow bars to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recognized the Sealy school district for excellence with gold performance awards and a plaque. Following a playoff season that included a 31-10 Class 3A Division I bi-district playoff victory against Needville, the Sealy Tigers placed 21 players on the 2008 25-3A All-District football team. Sealy seniors James Koy, Jordan Kalis, Tayler Whitehead and Landon Lehde were named to the 2008 Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA)-State Farm Insurance Academic All-State football team. The City of Sealy unveiled a draft copy of its Comprehensive Plan, which addresses future growth needs that need to be met, including I-10 frontage roads, additional rooftops and a drainage solution. Sealy resident and former Houston Police Department SWAT officer was awarded two Blue Heart awards, the department’s equivalent to the military’s Purple Heart, for injuries he sustained while on duty in 1981 and 1997.
|
