Information Breaking News: sought in burglary Fort Bend Subsidence District says Electro-Purification drilling will have Call 1-877-876-8455 if you can identify any Early Voting begins adverse impact on area and increase 100 individuals caught on survelance during the 8:00 A.M. April 29, 2013 April 21 burglary of the Brookshire Post Office. year floodplain See Page 11 THE TIMES TRIBUNE AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER SERVING WALLER COUNTY & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES Volume 20, Number 31 April 25, 2013 50 Cents 5th Annual Water Festival James Golden receives doctorate degree By: Tom Tasma Superintendent, Royal ISD Royal Independent School District High School Princi- pal Jimmy Golden, has been awarded a Doctorate of Edu- cation in Professional Lead- ership by University of Hous- ton, announces Tom Tasma, Interim Superintendent for Royal ISD. Tasma said, “We con- gratulate Dr. Golden on his achievement. He is academi- cally accomplished and he has proven himself as a lead- er in education. We are proud of his scholastic achieve- ment.” Before coming to Royal ISD, Jimmy received his Bachelors Degree from Rice University; a Master of Sci- Clyde Day of the State of Texas Plumbing Examiners was on hand during the Water Festival ence in Educational Adminis- to explain how we inadvertenly contaminate our public water supplies with water hoses and tration from the University of old illegal style plumbing. Photo by Lillie Ruby Houston – Clear Lake; and an MBA (Masters of Business Royal ISD Principal James (Jimmy) Golden was awarded a Administration) from Texas By Lillie Ruby benches after trying a game right to the top. Docorate of Education in Professional Leadship degree by A&M University – Com- Staff Reporter of pick-up with the more The State of Texas Plumb- the University of Houston.. Dr. Golden is the principal of merce. youthful attendees. The play- ing Examiners were on hand Royal High School. Photo by Lillie Ruby. Despite the chilly wind and ers on the next court showed to provide education on pub- This is Jimmy’s 18th year in education, and his 14th as early morning temperature, real promise for the future of lic water supply contamina- the students, staff, parents Jimmy and his wife Ste- an administrator. the 5th Annual Water Festival the Royal ISD basketball pro- tion. Other vendors who deal and community of Royal phenie have four children; Dr. Golden said, “I’m was still a splashing success. gram. with water, such as Severn High School. It’s an honor Taylor, Brendan, Jordan and grateful for the opportunity Brookshire Municipal Water DJ Close had the crowd Trent, were also on hand to and a privilege.” Lindsey. District bopping to the music. The educate the public. I’ve been given to work with General Manager, Tonya body bumpers drew a rowdy Wells Fargo brought the Pierre was all smiles when group while the younger chil- Wells Fargo Wagon for photo she commented, “We set up dren enthusiastically jumped opts. the water, but I don’t want through the bouncy house There were prizes and edu- Waller County 4-H Soil Judging Contest anyone getting sick. If it and out down the slide. Even cational events to be enjoyed warms up a bit more, then bullriders had a chance to by all. we’ll try it.” show off their skills on the The Water Festival, while Even without the splash mechanical bull. one of the yearly events in park, kids of all ages were Slow riding on the ele- Brookshire, is not only fun, enjoying rides, food and phant-go-round put more but designed to educate the activities. than one little one into nap public about water. It is spon- Over beside the basketball mode. While the rock wall sored and presented by the courts, weekend warriors proved challenging for some, Brookshire Municipal Water were gasping for air on the others were able to scamper District. MS 150 rolls through area Toby Carpenter records his findings during the soil testing competion hosted by PVAMU and the Waller County 4-H. Photo provided by 4-H. By Jernard McCray College of Agriculture and profiles that the contests were EA-CEP (4-H) &Youth Human Sciences. This contest required to evaluate. The con- Development, had 4-H members participat- testants judged the soil on tex- Waller County ing in three age divisions: ture (sand, silt, or clay), struc- Junior, ages eight to ten; Inter- ture, consistence (firmness), By the break of dawn the MS 150 riders were headed to Bellville for lunch and then on to the Prairie View A&M Univer- mediate, ages eleven to thir- depth, slope, and erosion. Fayette County Fairgrounds to spend the night. These riders were passing through Pattison sity hosted the Waller County teen; and Senior, ages four- Senior aged contestants were as the sun rose over the trees to warm the chilly morning air. Photo by Lillie Ruby. 4-H Soil Judging Contest, teen to eighteen. The contest, also required to judge the which was officiated by Dr. which was held at the Univer- soils on factors that influence Richard W. Griffin, Profes- sity Farm equipment shed on By Lillie Ruby available from Houston: Thirteen thousand riders, sor and Research Scientist, campus, consisted of four soil See Soil on Page 4 Staff Reporter Tully Stadium, Rhodes including some locals, Stadium in Katy and Waller converged on Austin the final The 2013 Annual MS 150 High School Stadium in day, meeting in front of the The Texas Master Naturalists Wetlands rolled through Brookshire Waller. On day two, riders Bob Bullock State History and on its way to Bellville, chose between two routes, Museum. Saturday April 20. Traveling the Bechtel Challenge Route “Year after year, we are Program set for May 2 down Old Highway 90, up or the Pfizer Lunch Express, overwhelmed with the The Texas Master Natural- as a method of stormwater Bud O’Shieles Community FM 359 to FM 529. The as they make their way from excitement from cyclists, ists Coastal Prairie Chapter is treatment. Her presentation Center located at 1330 Band roads were filled with La Grange to Austin. On the sponsors and volunteers who proud to host Marissa Sipocz, coincides with the current Road, Rosenberg, 77471. professional and first time Bechtel Challenge Route commit to making the BP MS Wetland Program Manager creation of the new wetlands This meeting is free and open riders of all ages. cyclists ride through Bastrop 150 a success. The enthusiasm with Texas A & M Univer- habitat at Seabourne Creek to all interested persons. The annual Houston-to and Buescher State Parks. and passion people have for sity. Ms. Sipocz will present Nature Park, in the City of The Texas Master Natu- Austin BP MS 150 is the Houston and Katy riders the ride and the cause helps to a very timely program on Rosenberg. ralists program is sponsored largest fund raising ride of its wheeled through Brookshire not only recruit new riders, but “Wetlands Habitat”. This program will take by Texas Parks and Wildlife kind in North America. The early in the day, Saturday also makes the ride, as a She has completed exten- place on Thursday, May 2, at Department and Texas A & M ride supports research and April 20, on their way to whole, a one-of-a-kind sive work as a field biologist 7 p.m. AgriLife Extension. vital services for those with spend the night at the Fayette experience,” said Kelli doing wetland restoration for The meeting will be pre- For additional information multiple sclerosis. County Fairgrounds in multiple sites in the Houston ceded by a social at 6:30 call 281.633.7033 or email Three start options were LaGrange. See MS 150 on Page 12 & Galveston area watersheds p.m. and will be held at the [email protected] Page 2 The Times Tribune April 25, 2013 STATE NEWS ANDVIEWS The views expressed on this page are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The imesT Tribune. Disaster recovery, investigation proceed at 7:50 p.m. Flames and the difficult of circumstances.” what happened. Craig Estes. R-Wichita Falls, to $2 billion from the state’s shockwave from the blast Gov. Rick Perry on April would create a special train- Rainy Day Fund and that burned homes, shattered win- 18 signed an emergency Job count drops in March ing program for teachers money would be used to pay dows and incapacitated infra- proclamation certifying that and other school employees for projects, under the watch- structure up to several blocks the explosion has caused a Texas Workforce Com- focusing “on how an armed ful eye of the Legislature. away. disaster in McLennan Coun- mission on April 19 report- concealed carry license hold- The bill now moves to the Officials said the blast, ty. On April 19, Perry toured ed the state’s seasonally er should interact with the full Senate for debate. deafening in intensity, shook the city of West to get a first- adjusted unemployment rate police during an active shoot- the ground like an earth- hand look at the damage and for March was 6.4 percent, er situation, ways to keep SBOE passes resolution quake. Dozens of people to check relief operations. unchanged from the previous intruders out of the classroom remain unaccounted for and Ammonium nitrate and month and down from 7.0 and training to improve accu- On a 10-5 vote, the State search efforts have been con- anhydrous ammonia, the two percent a year ago. racy under duress.” Board of Education on April tinuous. Help from all direc- main ingredients in the 1995 But, seasonally adjusted SB 17 by Sen.