WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXII NUMBER 1***** Section 1 8 pages
January 1, 2020 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and
Jr. Mock
Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper
Established 1995
Montgomery County News
Montgomery, Texas 77356
50
Weekly
PRE-SRT POSTAGE PD #80 MONTG. TX
PBOX Magnolia, TX 77353
Texas MISD Fishing Team Weekly Begins New Decade in First Place Gas Prices (December 30, 2019) Texas gas prices have risen 5.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.27/g t o d a y, a c c o r d i n g t o GasBuddy's daily survey of 13,114 stations. Gas prices in Texas are 2.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 31.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas is priced at $1.99/g today while the most expensive is $3.19/g, a difference of $1.20/g. The lowest price in the state today is $1.99/g while the highest is $3.19/g, a difference of $1.20/g. The cheapest price in the entire country today stands at $1.88/g while the most expensive is $5.19/g, a difference of $3.31/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.57/g today. The national average is down 2.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 32.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.42/g, up 2.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.39/g. San Antonio- $2.18/g, up 2.0 cents per gallon from last week's $2.16/g. Austin- $2.24/g, up 4.7 cents per gallon from last week's $2.19/g. “The streak has been broken: for seven straight weeks we saw the national average drop, but the fun has come to an end as oil prices continue to show strength into the last days of 2019 boosting the national average this past week," said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "Prices jumped thanks to a notable, yet anticipated drop in oil inventories, sending oil to multi-month highs above $61 and gasoline prices f ollow ing . H ow ev er, weakness will likely return to gasoline prices in January and February as demand weakens, so perhaps all is not lost. As we say goodbye to 2019, here are some interesting figures from this decade: the U.S. consumed 1.25 trillion gallons of gasoline, which is enough volume to raise Lake Superior's level 2.3 inches, having spent $3.625 trillion on gasoline alone, and driving 31.25 trillion miles, enough for 5,208 round trips to Pluto on the consumed gasoline. With 2019 nearly behind us, many are asking what lays ahead for 2020? GasBuddy will be releasing our 2020 Fuel Outlook this week, and in it, answers to many asked questions about how bad gas prices will get over the coming 365 days."
Index
By Mark Hooker As the first half of the 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 Te x a s H i g h School Bass Association season came to a close in December on Lake Houston, the MISD Fishing Team could relish in the fact that they would begin the new decade in a familiar spot, First Place in the Houston Division of the THSBA. By finishing in 2nd Place at Lake Houston, the team was able to acquire enough points to break a tie with Brenham for 1st Place. This left your MISD Fishing Team with sole possession of 1st Place, with Brenham lurking in 2nd, and Tomball Memorial in 3rd, out of 23 High Schools in the THSBA Houston Division. Leading the way for MISD aB a stingy Lake Houston was the Team of Fallon Clepper and Wyatt Ford. The newcomers to the Team weighed in one of only 4 Five Fish limits weighed, out of 144 Individual Teams. By doing so, Clepper and Ford claimed 3rd place, with a total weight of 9.82 pounds. Also doing well for MISD was the team of Jack Haag & Connor Callihan, claiming 13th, and the tandem of Jack
Business Directory.............6
of the Year competition for the Houston Division, as well as being the highest ranked team for MISD. First off, this pair of Freshmen is very talented, and possesses poise
beyond their years. They also have an “Ace in the Hole,” by having Local Legend Julian Clepper as their Captain.
See Bass, page 3
United States Daughters Of 1812, Thomas Bay Chapter, Celebrate 205th Anniversary Of The Star Spangled Banner
{Photo L to R): Carol Hicks, Texas Society State President and Chapter Vice President ); Pat Spackey (chapter Historian); Sissie Kipp (chapter Treasurer), Lady Dalton (Chapter Parliamentarian); Judy Weidner (chapter Secretary), Eugenia Letbetter; Sue Hereford, Rebel Dawn Fendley (Seated) Chapter Chair for the Ft McHenry and Ft. Niagara Committee), Laura Dahlberg and Karen Kurth Hall (Honorary Texas State President and President of the Thomas Bay Chapter U.S,D, 1812) and Janis Hoag.
Members of the United States Daughters of 1812, Commentary............................4 Thomas Bay Chapter, Devotional..........................5 celebrated the 205th Anniversary of the Star Legals.................................6 Spangled Banner while
Community............2, 3, 7, 8
Middlebrook following close behind, with a 15th place finish. It should be no surprise that Fallon and Wyatt are off to a tremendous start, ranking 4th in the Anglers
hearing a presentation by member Rebel Dawn Fendley during the September, 2019 meeting held at the Carriage Inn in Conroe. Mrs. Fendley
presented a program on Lt. Col. George Armistead, who fought at Fort Niagara and was commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle on September 12-
14, 1814. Francis Scott Key was so inspired by the massive size Flag that flew
See Daughters of 1812, page 2
TCOLE Finds No Intent To Submit False Training Report Constable Rowdy Hayden Responds To TCOLE Investigation NEW CANEY, TX Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden previously confirmed the existence of an investigation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (“TCOLE”) related to alleged errors in reporting attendance of a civil service training course. The course in question occurred in the days prior to Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Constable Hayden respects the rule of law and the integrity of the investigation, and therefore did not publicly address or attempt to refute the allegations or attacks made against him while the investigation was ongoing. However, the TCOLE investigation has now been completed and found that the error in reporting occurred not because of any action of Constable Hayden. Regarding the outcome of the investigation, Constable Hayden stated, “I was confident that the investigation would confirm the truth: There was no intent to falsify continuing education reports. I am disappointed by the wasted time and resources that have been devoted to furthering a political vendetta. I look forward to continuing to focus on what matters most to the people of Precinct 4 making it a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.” At no point was Constable Hayden or his deputies suspended by TCOLE or charged with any criminal action. However, as the supervisor of the responsible law e n f o r c e m e n t o ff i c e r, TCOLE issued a reprimand to Constable Hayden, which he is now appealing. The reprimand letter stated in relevant part, “As the chief administrator, you are responsible for ensuring that all reports and documents required of your agency are accurately and timely submitted to TCOLE… However, [the evidence] demonstrates the situation was neither systematic nor intentional. Importantly, you have shown it has been corrected.” Grant Goodwin, Staff Attorney for Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas, provided the following information regarding the appeal: “Constable Hayden is appealing this reprimand as it is inconsistent with the law which would require the outside agency providing the instruction and employing the instructor to insure the accuracy of the instructor’s reporting, and not the individual officers who attended, regardless of their rank.” More information about Constable Hayden’s office is available at www.mcco4.org.