Montgomery County News VOLUME XXII NUMBER 18***** April 29, 2020

WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXII NUMBER 18***** Section 1 8 pages

April 29, 2020 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and

Robert Knapick

Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper

Established 1995

Montgomery County News

Montgomery, Texas 77356

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Open Montgomery County Schedules Rally At Montgomery County Courthouse Conroe, Texas A rally will be held by the citizens group, Open Montgomery County, on Saturday, May 2 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse at 301 N. Main St. in Conroe. Some of the issues being addressed will be the continued hardships many are experiencing under lockdown and the gross violations of Constitutional rights.

Media Liaison: Angela Daniel (918)813-2227 openmocotx@gmail.com Open Montgomery County is a grassroots organization comprised of individuals who live or work in Montgomery C o u n t y, Te x a s , a n d demand the draconian and unconstitutional government mandates end now. To get involved, e m a i l : openmocotx@gmail.com

Episcopal Health Foundation targets long-term focus in $10 million COVID-19 response plan Multi-approach strategy includes a grant program, loan fund, technical assistance, and research project HOUSTON – (April 28, 2020) – Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) leaders today announced a $10 million plan to address the long-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis, while also helping nonprofits and organizations continue business operations to serve at-risk communities across Texas.

“COVID-19 is highlighting inequities in our health system and in many underlying community issues related to health,” said Elena Marks, EHF’s president See $10 Million, page 7

Index Community............2, 3, 7, 8 Commentary............................4 Devotional..........................5 Legals.................................6 Business Directory.............7

Star SHSU Cheer Team Earns National Lone College Award For Community Service provides essential supplies in fight against COVID-19

Recognized for their on-going commitment to community service, the Spirit Programs at Sam Houston State University received the National Dance Alliance’s NCA/NDA Go Be Great Award. The organization established the award as a way to honor coaches, teams or programs that have gone “above and beyond” to make the world a better place outside the world of dance.

Sarah Garcia, in SHSU Student Activities, serves as Spirit Programs coach and says helping others is something the group places in high priority.

“We strive to not only be strong athletes, but to be great people in society too,” Garcia said. “We certainly appreciate the

NCA/NDA for the recognition. It is an honor to win this award.”

According to Garcia, 88 students within Orange Pride Dance Team, Coed Team, All Girls Team, and M a s c o t Te a m e a c h completed 75 hours of community service this year.

“For all Sam Houston Spirit Programs, that is a combined total of 6,600 community service hours more than any other organization on campus,” Garcia said.

Students were recognized for contributing to the community in a number of ways. In addition to working with local youth at dance studios and cheer gyms, the students hosted a Bearkat Kids camp,

donated goods and time to the SHSU Food Pantry, and volunteered at a H.E.B food drive, Good Shepherd Mission and Rita B. Huff animal shelter.

S e n i o r c o e d c h e e r l e a d e r, A m b e r Whitworth, sees the university motto - “A measure of a Life is its Service” - as guiding inspiration for everyone.

She credits the campus food pantry as a great example of upholding that motto.

“The SHSU Food Pantry is an amazing organization that helps students struggling with food insecurity. We had the opportunity to donate, label, organize inventory, and even distribute food to peers in need,” Whitworth said. “It is such a great way

to help out our fellow Bearkats. We are thankful to have been a part of such a n i n c r e d i b l e organization.”

Whether they are on the football field, in a town parade or helping in a local food pantry, working together to make a difference with Bearkat cheer in the community is what SHSU Spirit Programs are all about.

“These student athletes work hard in and out of practice,” Garcia said.

“They are very appreciative of the support they continue to receive from the university and Huntsville community, and are showing us all why our country needs more spirit.”

Gov. Abbott, Chancellor Sharp, Chief Kidd announce COVID-19 federal assistance training for local leaders AgriLife Extension to offer online trainings, outreach to help local leaders navigate federal funding process Gov. Greg Abbott today announced the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will provide a series of free online trainings to help local o ff i c i a l s u n d e r s t a n d , acquire and administer federal assistance available to the state of Te x a s a n d l o c a l municipalities to help recover from the COVID19 pandemic.

Financial assistance available through the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act, will be instrumental in helping governments and municipalities recover from the economic devastation caused by the pandemic.

B e g i n n i n g t o d a y, AgriLife Extension will offer these trainings online to help local leaders

navigate the federal funding process, and in turn, respond and recover as quickly and effectively as possible.

The first online training, Federal Relief: An overview for local governments, is available now. Additional trainings will dive into the specifics of individual programs, based on the needs of state and local officials.

AgriLife Extension agents will be available to assist local leaders with questions throughout the training and subsequent federal funding application process.

In conjunction with the announcement, Abbott j o i n e d Te x a s A & M University System Chancellor John Sharp and Te x a s D i v i s i o n o f Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd for a series of calls with mayors and county judges, members of the Texas

Legislature and the Texas Congressional Delegation today to provide details on the training, walk local leaders through the p r o ces s , an d an s w er questions about federal funding.

“Our local officials have done a tremendous job leading their communities throughout the COVID-19 response, and the state of Texas will continue to work alongside them and provide these leaders with the resources and support they need during this challenging time,” Abbott said. “These online trainings will assist local leaders in efficiently navigating the federal funding process and ensure that our communities receive the financial support they need in a timely manner.”

“One of the things we learned during our response to Hurricane Harvey was that federal

funding is invaluable in the recovery process,” Sharp said. “However, it comes with all sorts of strings and requirements that can be confusing to those who don’t know the rules.

AgriLife Extension agents are well-positioned to guide county judges, mayors and other local officials through the federal funding maze.”

Patrick Stover, Ph.D., vice chancellor of Texas A&M AgriLife, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, said helping local governments better understand the CARES stimulus package is in keeping with AgriLife’s mission and purpose.

“We provide quality, relevant outreach and See COVID, page 4

HOUSTON (April 24, 2020) – Lone Star College-Houston North distributed food, face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and soap to assist residents in protecting themselves against the coronavirus.

The LSC-Houston North Mask Drive was conducted in partnership with Houston Airport System, Houston Foodbank, Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, and the city of Houston.

“One of the goals of Lone Star CollegeHouston North is to support the needs of the c o m m u n i t y, ” s a i d Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “This event demonstrated that commitment and I am proud that Lone Star College is in the position to continue to help this underserved area.”

In all, 400 boxes of food, 6,400 face masks, 1,600 bottles of hand sanitizer, 1,000 sets of gloves and 1,600 bars of soap were handed out.

Citizens stayed in their cars with volunteers handing out items while practicing social distancing. The supplies were distributed at God’s Grace Community Church.

“It truly is a blessing to be in the position of helping our fellow Houstonians during this time,” said Quentin Wright, Ed.D., LSCHouston North president. “We were scheduled to hand out supplies at 11 a.m., but had people arriving at 5:30 a.m. which really demonstrated how important this event was to the community.”

Lone Star College offers high-quality, lowcost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester.

LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSCOnline. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Page 2, Montgomery County News, Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Suggestions For Mindful Eating: Brazilian Cheese Bread Food for Thought Diana Anderson

DianaCAnderson@ gmail.com

After eating at Fogo De Chao a year or so ago I hunted out Brazilian Cheese Bread at the grocery store. They come frozen and are very good.

I was really happy to see that they are naturally gluten free because tapioca flour is used. This is not an altered recipe to make it gluten free; it is truly how it is made in Brazil. The thing is the frozen package is pretty pricey for the small amount you get that I decided to check out if it was practical to make them at home. Turns out it is amazingly simple.

Pão de queijo are essentially a version of French gougères. Like gougères, the dough for pão de queijo starts on the stovetop and eggs are beaten in one at a time.

Also like gougères, the end result is a tray of crispy,

hollow puffs. The biggest difference is that pão de queijo are made with sour cassava flour or tapioca flour instead of allpurpose flour.

Ta p i o c a f l o u r i s decidedly strange stuff.

When mixed with the hot milk in these pão, it turns gelatinous and sticky, closer to wallpaper paste than something you’d put in the oven. It requires a leap of faith and a bowl of water for dipping your fingers and spoons to prevent sticking. I wasn’t to crazy about going through this process and kept digging until I found a blender version that I’m sharing below.

Pão de queijo is a typical Brazilian snack served in the afternoon with coffee. We don’t know exactly where and when it originated, but it is suspected that it was around the 18th century, during the slavery period, in the “fazendas mineiras” (farms located in Minas Gerais).

The pães de queijo baked in wood burning

stoves and were prepared with ingredients produced in their own farms.

Fast forward to the 50’s when the recipe became popular all over the country and then again until nowadays when it’s popular all over the world.

Technically, pão de q u e i j o s h o u l d n ’t b e considered “bread”. I was debating calling them “rolls” or “puffs”, but the frozen ones go by “cheese bread”, so I stayed with it.

You will find them called either of those terms. You will also find lots of different recipes as every Brazilian has a family recipe that they swear by.

Brazilian cheese bread is tasty by itself but feel free to serve them with butter or even some honey depending upon the flavors you add. Yum! I wished mine had a bit more salt in it so I put a bit of salted butter on top and that did the trick.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can make a big batch of batter and just store it in the refrigerator (for up to a

week), pouring out just as many mini-muffins as you want to eat. You can even cook them in a toaster oven.

The only weird ingredient is tapioca flour.

Bob’s Red Mill makes it, and you can find it at Kroger. Tapioca flour is what makes this bread gluten-free, so this cheese bread is great for glutenfree eaters You can use whatever kind of cheese suits you and add spices accordingly. A Mozzarella and Parmesan combo is great, maybe with some garlic powder added for an Italian flavor. Cheddar is also popular. Different herbs that pair well with certain cheeses even enhance the results more. I did only cheddar cheese and they were a bit bland by themselves ( I drizzled honey). The cheese does not dominate.

Make sure that all the ingredients are at room temp before you begin and check that the oven is not running too hot. Also be sure not to under bake. I

did mine in mini muffin tins for 20 minutes and that was good. Fill them up to about 1/8 inch from the top.

INGREDIENTS * 1 large egg* * 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil * 2/3 cup milk * 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) tapioca flour * 1/2 cup (packed, about 66 grams) grated cheese, your preference, we get good results with feta cheese (no need to grate), or fresh farmer's cheese (if using fresh farmer's cheese, you may want to add another 1/2 teaspoon of salt) * 1 teaspoon of salt (or more to taste) *It helps when baking with eggs to start with eggs at room temperature. If you don't plan ahead (that would be me, usually) you can put the egg in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to gently take off the chill of the fridge. * One 24-well or or two 12-well mini muffin tins.

Mini muffin tins are about half the size of a regular

muffin pan and seem a good portion for the bread.

METHOD 1 Pre-heat oven, p r e p a r e m i n i - m u ff i n tin: Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread a small amount olive oil or cooking spray around the insides of each well of a mini-muffin tin.

2 B l e n d ingredients: Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth.

You may need to use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything gets blended well. At this point you can store the batter in the refrigerator for up to a week.

3 Pour into minimuffin tin: Pour batter into prepared mini-muffin tin, not quite to the top; leave about 1/8 inch from the top.

4 Bake: Bake at 400°F in the oven for ~20 minutes, until all puffy and nicely browned. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack for a few minutes.

Eat while warm or save to reheat later.

Sit, Stay At Home: Pet-Friendly Quarantine Activities There are numerous ways to make toys and treats that will enable your pet to have a good time while both of you are at home.

COLLEGE STATION, April 24, 2020 – Social distancing has created a new sense of normal for many of us, including our pets. Dogs are probably excited that we are staying in our slippers all day, while some cats may be less than enthusiastic that we’re disturbing their naps.

Though social distancing presents some benefits, many may be finding the abundance of free time to be challenging. Courtney Markley, a veterinary student ambassador at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers some ideas to change up the monotony of the day.

“Pet owners can introduce new activities in their normal daily schedule to help pets adjust to all of these changes,” Markley said.

“Pets will still expect an early breakfast and may need time to relax alone, either in their crate or a room by themselves, if

they’re not used to constant excitement during the day.”

When your pets are ready to come out and play, Markley recommends some shelter-in-place-friendly activities that can occupy both pet and owner.

“Owners of a feisty feline probably already know cats frequently enjoy the package a storebought toy comes in more than the actual toy, which is great news now that we’re staying home,” she said.

Along these lines, a few budget-friendly ideas to spice up your cat’s day can include: * Cutting holes in cardboard toilet paper rolls or adding some fringe along the edges before tossing it on the floor. Kids can decorate them with non-toxic markers. * Cutting a cat-sized hole in the side of a box or covering an open box with a T-shirt so that the neck hole creates a “door” to give the cat a place to hide.

Cutting multiple holes of various sizes creates opportunities for sneakattacks during playtime. * Using laser pointers can be fun for cats to burn some energy. Always give them a treat at the end of the game to make their “hunt” successful. If not, they may become frustrated. * Tying wine corks (boiled for sanitation) to a string, adding some feathers, or just tossing it to your cat can also make a good toy.

Dogs can get in on the fun, too, Markley says, noting that the free time many people have found in quarantine is perfect to brush up on their training.

“There is a wealth of dog training information available online; positive reinforcement training is a great place to begin your search,” she said.

If the usual activities like fetch, walks and training begin to get old, Markley recommends trying the following ideas: * Creating rope/tug toys out of a cut-up T-shirt (or old fleece jacket if you

need a stronger toy).

Simply cut three strands of fabric of decent length, then tie them in a knot at one end, braid the strands just like you braid hair and finish it with a knot before play time begins. * Blowing some bubbles - dogs enjoy bubbles just as much as kids, so this idea is a winwin. * Playing a game of hide-and-seek. Either tell the dog to stay and go hide somewhere before calling them, or send the kids to go hide somewhere with a squeaky toy while you help Fido count to 10.

Once everyone is in position, call your dog’s name or squeak the toy to help them find you. * Practicing “nose work.” Put a few treats in a muffin tin and cover them with tennis balls. Dogs will have to use their noses to determine which tennis balls are covering treats and then figure out how to remove the tennis ball. * Offering selfentertainment. Some toys can be filled with storebought treats or snacks

from the fridge if your pooch needs to entertain themselves for a while.

Freezing the toy before you give it to them can increase the time it takes to get all of the snacks out.

When filling toys with treats, it is important to stay away from toxic foods like raisins and other dried fruits, onions, garlic, chocolate, fatty foods, and foods that contain an artificial sweetener called Xylitol, which is sometimes found in peanut butter.

“Fruits and veggies make great snacks for dogs and even your cat, if they’re an adventurous eater,” Markley said. “My go-to treat recipe includes peanut butter or nonfat plain yogurt, kibble and a fruit like frozen blueberries or bananas.”

If you choose to give some extra snacks, especially peanut butter, remember to decrease the amount of kibble your pet receives for breakfast or dinner, so they don’t consume extra calories.

When making homemade toys, Markley

points out a few potential hazards pet owners should avoid.

“Some dogs love water bottles, but the cap and any plastic pieces they chew up can become choking hazards, so stay away from those,” she said. “When making toys for cats, be careful using string because they might try to eat that, too.”

Quarantine has many of us chasing our own tails. Though current circumstances may be stressful, pet owners can use this time to reconnect with their furry friends and make the best of their time at home.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be found on the Pet Talk website. Suggestions for future topics may be d i r e c t e d t o editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

B y Te x a s A & M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Staff

Cattle raisers applaud the passage of new COVID-19 relief F O RT W O RT H , Te x a s — R o b e r t McKnight, Jr., president o f t h e Te x a s a n d Southwestern Cattle

Raisers Association (TSCRA), issued the following statement after Congressional passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act of 2020: “I applaud everyone within the Trump administration and Congress for continuing to address the needs of

cattle producers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’s passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act will not only replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, but will also allow agricultural producers to access the Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Program for the first time.

“Access to these lowinterest, forgivable loan programs are vital for many cow-calf producers trying to maintain their operations during the crisis and will help ensure consumers continue to get the beef they demand.”

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Montgomery County News, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Page 3

Comments According to Doc

There Are 4 Important Factors Of Happiness Walden Happenings

By Doc Fennessy The opinions expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect those of MCN.

“The only limits are the ones you set on yourself! You hold the keys to your own destiny it’s time to use them to open the doors of possibility!”

Folks, this article was re-published in the April 8th edition of The Sunday family Houmour .

The author is PAUL LENDA! Paul IS A staff Writer for “THE WAKEUP WORLD!” Paul is also a conscious evolution guide, founder & director of SHIFT, author, writer, speaker, organizational consultant, meditation teacher, and life coach wishing to provide an integral role in personal transformation and the collective social transformation of humanity. Paul has nearly 15 years of extensive eclectic spiritual practice, a drive for esoteric knowledge, and a strong motivation to see and understand the wider horizon of Reality.

Everyone wants to be happy. One of the three inalienable rights stated in the US constitution is the pursuit of happiness. We all want to be happy, yet more people than ever are sad. What is going on?

Wa s n ’ t c a p i t a l i s m supposed to help us pursue happiness?

People pursue pleasure and things which titillate their senses, yet research has found that pursuing pleasure doesn’t lead to any long-lasting fulfillment or happiness. If you are already fulfilled by being involved in something meaningful and engaging in your life, this can be a nice extra touch of sweetness to your life. However, if it is the primary path you take to find happiness, you will soon notice it is more of a bottomless void that will require you to keep feeding it hedonistic pleasures.

So, what do truly happy people embody and do that makes them so fulfilled and exuberant?

Here are some qualities they possess: 1. BEING PRESENT: Most of the time, our minds are focused on either something in the past or future. We find it

difficult to just be.

However, if you want to be happy, you need to be p r e s e n t i n this now moment. After all, this is the only moment that ever exists.

Give your mind a rest and enjoy the bliss that pure present awareness has to offer you. If you’ve been in your head for a long time, you may find it difficult at first, but eventually, it becomes easier. You can make it easier on yourself by going somewhere like a park, sitting down, and observing the beauty and interesting things occurring.

2. SMILING: Smiling releases serotonin, which is the happy molecule. It can be difficult to force yourself to smile when you aren’t in that good of a mood (and may actually make things worse), but what you can do is think of something that brings you joy and then smile about it. As long as your smile is genuine, you will get that serotonin boost. Pretty soon, you will smile out of habit because you will be using neural pathways that lead you to positive thoughts more, thereby reinforcing happiness.

3. GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE: Gratitude and appreciation remind you of all the things in your life that you can be happy about.

Starting off with being able to breathe and working your way up to more specific reasons to be grateful and appreciative helps people be truly happy. Using a gratitude journal or practicing a gratitude meditation helps happy people avoid the feeling of lack. If they ever begin to feel like there is something lacking in their lives, which can lead to negative thoughts and emotions, they flip it around to look at something that they can be grateful for instead.

4. SPENDING TIME IN NATURE: The lead author of studies done on the effects of spending time in nature on mood, Richard Ryan, said that, “Nature is fuel for the soul.” Spending just 20 minutes a day outside in nature can cheer you up.

On an energetic level, taking a walk through a dense or old forest can expand your energy field significantly in no time.

Think of nature like a charging station. After all, the Earth is where we

Paul Lenda is a conscious evolution guide, founder & director of SHIFT, author, writer, speaker and organizational consultant. He is a meditation teacher, and life coach wishing to provide an integral role in personal transformation.

come from and when we are disconnected, because we separate ourselves all day and night indoors, it takes a toll on our mental health. If you want to be happy, make sure you spend at least a little bit of time outside every day you can. Even better, get some sun while you’re out there, since it helps your body produce more serotonin.

“I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health.” By saying this, French Enlighten-

ment philosopher Voltaire expressed how being truly happy is a choice we can make. It involves more than you telling yourself to be happy. You need to make some changes in what you do, how you engage with others, and how you think. These four qualities of truly happy people are just a starting point, but they can really help you become a more fulfilled and happier person.

#TeachersCan Initiative Spotlights Importance and Impact of the Teaching Profession Texans Called to Thank A Teacher, Nominate Educators for Prizes AUSTIN - As teachers across the state continue adapting their teaching methods to support all students in a remote learning environment, a new initiative is providing Texans the opportunity to show their appreciation for these dedicated educators.

T h e # Te a c h e r s C a n initiative encourages Texans to thank both current teachers as well as those who had a profound impact on their lives by entering their favorite educators into a drawing.

Nominated teachers and educators will be automatically entered into a drawing for a host of exclusive prizes, with winners announced daily during a special week-long virtual National Teacher A p p r e c i a t i o n We e k celebration May 4-8.

The open-source #TeachersCan initiative exists to elevate the status of teachers and the teaching profession across Texas. More than 100 Te x a s c o m p a n i e s — including H-E-B, Whataburger, Kendra

Scott, Valero, the San Antonio Spurs, and Dell Technologies — statewide associations, community groups and chambers of commerce, and universities have all signed on as supporting partners, with more joining every day. “#TeachersCan has the potential to be a transformative initiative for the teaching profession,” said coalition chair Suzanne Wade. “As a former teacher, it is inspiring to see so many organizations come together to recognize how vital teachers are to the future of Texas and honor the passion and dedication of educators across the state.”

The TeachersCan.org website serves as a hub for teacher appreciation content and resources, encouraging teachers to share their stories and showcase their tremendous care for students during this challenging time. It also serves as a platform for others to thank teachers for their critical contributions to the

future of Texas.

“The COVID-19 crisis has further demonstrated just how important teachers are to our students, our communities, and our state,” said coalition member and Texas Association of School Administrators Executive Director Kevin Brown. “Yet, despite the widespread affinity for teachers, teacher morale is on the decline, many of our best and brightest are not considering teaching as a profession, and less than a majority of parents would encourage their children to become teachers. Teachers are too important to our future — those trends need to change.”

T h e # Te a c h e r s C a n initiative officially debuted on April 13 with the premiere of a 30second video celebrating the resilience, creativity, and adaptability of Texas teachers, the launch of the TeachersCan.org website, and @TXTeachersCan Facebook and Instagram presences. Through this initiative, teachers and the

public are encouraged to show their appreciation by participating in a variety of ways, including: * Visit TeachersCan.org to nominate a teacher for exclusive prizes ranging from gift cards from H-EB, Valero, Whataburger and others as well as the chance to win free groceries for a year, home office and fitness equipment as well as a “back to school” bash when campuses are permitted to reopen. * S h a r e t h e #TeachersCan video, available through the website, and tag the teachers in your life * Use the prompts a v a i l a b l e a t Te a c h e r s C a n . o r g t o express gratitude for a current teacher in your life or one who had a significant impact on you personally by posting a video on social media using the hashtags # Te a c h e r s C a n a n d #ThankATeacher * Teachers can use the prompts available at TeachersCan.org to share

stories on social media of why they teach, individual stories of creativity, courage and resilience, and what they wish others knew about teaching profession using the hashtag #TeachersCan The 30-second video/TV spot and related audio streaming ad were produced pro-bono by The Richards Group - the nation’s largest independent advertising agency reframing the outdated “those who can’t do, teach” phrase into an empowering “those who can, teach” message honoring the efforts teachers are making to connect with and engage students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video is being promoted across broadcast television, streaming services as well as digital display and social media ads in markets across Texas from mid-April through midMay. N a t i o n a l Te a c h e r s Appreciation Week - May 4-8 T h e # Te a c h e r s C a n

initiative will honor teachers for their hard work and dedication with a variety of activities during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Beginning April 20, Texans can nominate their favorite teachers for prize giveaways, with winners announced daily from May 4 to 8. #TeachersCan partner organizations i n c l u d i n g t h e Te x a s Cultural Trust, Whitewater Amphitheater, the Texas Association of School Administrators and The Union Fitness and Yoga will also be helping to create a variety of exclusive content specifically for educators throughout the week, including daily virtual events.

For more information on partners, events planned for National Teachers Appreciations week, and general information about the #TeachersCan initiative, visit TeachersCan.org.

Page 4, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Montgomery County News

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Gov. Abbott to allow Shelter-In-Place to expire, businesses reopen at 25% occupancy

By Sunnie Tate and staff AUSTIN, Tex. (KBTX) The statewide stay at home order that Gov. Greg Abbott issued last month will expire as scheduled at midnight on Thursday, but that doesn’t mean all businesses will reopen at once.

Retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, malls, museums, and libraries, however, may reopen on Friday, Abbott announced Monday, but occupancy must be limited to no more than 25% of capacity and interactive areas of museums must remain closed. Abbott emphasized that there is no requirement for businesses to reopen, but instead they have been granted the ability to reopen if they choose to.

Doctors, nurses, and dentists may return to work with few restrictions, he said.

Churches and places of

worship have been allowed to remain open throughout the shelter-in-place but have been strongly encouraged to move to online services.

They'll be allowed to increase capacity during this phase, but will still be required to abide by social distancing guidelines.

"This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts," said Governor Abbott. "Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans' livelihoods. We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from

Weather for the Lake Conroe area Wednesday Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11am. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 80. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 54. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 58.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 85.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Montgomery County News Phone (936) 449-6397 Fax (936)597-6395 E-mail: news@montgomerycountynews.net web; http://www.montgomerycountynews.net Publisher: M. Ryan West Editor: Monte West Account Executive: Camilla Blum, M. Ryan West Photography: Monte West, Wade Stultz, Bobby Strader, Lance Bridges R e p o r t e r s / C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r s : D o c Fennessey, Carol Fennessey, Gail Box, Margie Barlow, Kim West, Sharon Faison, Dortha Ruthstrom, Megan West Stultz, Narcissa Martin Boulware, Gary Curran, Students and Staff of MISD, and friends of Montgomery County News. ©Copyrights, Montgomery County News, Montgomery, Texas 2017-2018 Montgomery County News is a weekly, locally owned and operated newspaper and is published by Montgomery County News at 14375 Liberty St. PO Box 1, Montgomery, TX 77356.

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MCN welcomes any comments or suggestions, submitted in writing to the paper. Any editorials or opinions used in this publication are those of the writers and in no way reflect the views and opinions of the Montgomery County News.

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exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State."

Outdoor sports like golf and tennis are also allowed, so long as social distancing rules are followed and no more than four players are involved at a time.

Barbershops, hair salons, bars, and gyms aren’t among the businesses that may reopen Friday, but if the first phase goes well, they could be allowed to reopen in midMay during the reopening program's second phase.

“Opening Texas must occur in phases,” said Governor Abbott.

The reopening process is detailed in a 63-page report Abbott released Monday.

Phase one begins Friday, he said and the state can move to phase two as early as May 18.

Smaller counties with five or fewer confirmed cases of the virus as of this Thursday may increase the capacity of stores, restaurants, malls, theaters, museums, and libraries to 50%, provided the county’s judge certifies that certain standards have been met.

The most important goal of phase one is protecting Texans who are 65 and older, who account for 75% of the state's deaths.

Phase one emphasizes the importance of vulnerable residents remaining home if possible, he said.

“We will also redouble our efforts to protect senior citizens in nursing homes and other senior facilities,” he said.

Is testing capacity adequate?

"The core of the state's reopening plan includes a commitment to safe distancing, following the guidance of medical professionals in implementing safe strategies, a focus on protecting the most vulnerable, and a reminder that it is entrepreneurs who drive the Texas economy," Abbott said.

Testing is also key to the process. The state has the capacity to perform 15,000 to 20,000 tests a day and the goal is to reach 30,000 tests per day in the near term, the report says.

Testing should be focused on those who most need it; those with symptoms of the virus and those at high risk such as nursing home residents.

“As resources allow, individuals with mild symptoms could also be tested.”

Another important element of the process is contact tracing, through which residents who have come into contact with someone who has the virus can be identified. The state says their goal is to have a contract tracing workforce of 4,000, and an app and statewide call center have already been launched to meet those needs.

The president of the Texas Medical Association called Abbott’s plan “prudent and careful” in a statement Monday afternoon.

“Our hospitals were prepared for a large surge of COVID-19 patients,” Dr. David C. Fleeger said.

COVID from page 1

continuing educational programs and services to benefit the people of Texas,” Stover said. “In helping educate and inform local officials about how to obtain badly needed federal funding, we will be doing a service in helping communities throughout the state recover from this crisis.”

There was a strong interest from local governments in receiving information about and assistance with COVID-19 relief funding, and AgriLife was well

“Thanks to most Texans abiding by social distancing requirements, we were able to avoid that surge."

Fleeger furthered, “However, we must expand significantly our testing capacity, our ability to monitor new cases of COVID-19, and our ability to trace their contacts to prevent a rapid resurgence of this epidemic in Texas.”

The chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, issued a statement in which he said there are still more questions than answers.

“We all want businesses to safely reopen as soon as possible and that’s why I’m disappointed we did not hear more details on how Texas’ COVID-19 testing would increase,” Turner said.

“We’re near last in the nation on per capita testing and Gov. Abbott didn’t present a clear plan how that’s going to change, even though experts agree that widespread testing is essential to any reopening plan.

Texas has the third most recoveries from COVID-19 in the U.S. and the number of recovered patients will soon exceed the number of active cases, Abbott said.

The state reported Monday that 25,297 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Texas. A total of 663 patients have died and an estimated 11,170 have recovered.

The guidelines include some limits Under the guidelines detailed in the report released Monday, malls and retailers must operate at 25% of maximum occupancy, and food courts and play areas in malls must remain closed.

Restaurants must maintain social distancing, seat no more than six at a single table, and must comply with a list of safety and hygiene protocols.

Movie theaters must keep at least two empty seats between parties in any row and leave every other row empty. Seats and other frequently touched areas must be sanitized between showings.

Churches should continue to encourage at-risk members to watch or participate in services remotely, must designate an area inside their buildings for at-risk visitors, and keep at least two empty seats between worshippers, although members of the same household may set adjacent to one another as in theaters.

Abbott’s announcement should come as a relief to the tens of thousands of beleaguered workers left idle by the closings and frustrated by the difficulty in filing jobless claims.

The size of the staff of the Texas Workforce Center has been tripled to deal with a record-breaking number of claims, Abbott said Monday, and as a result, 1.6 million of the more than 1.9 million claims filed so far have been processed and more than $2 billion has been paid out.

Texas voters favor stay at home orders Texas voters overwhelmingly approve of the widespread business closures and statewide stay-

at-home order even though the economy is taking a catastrophic hit, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

The poll found that 77% of Texans favor stay-at-home restrictions.

Fully 90% of Democrats support the restrictions, compared to 69% of Republicans and 65% of independents.

Schools remain closed; other restrictions eased earlier The announcement Monday came 10 days after Abbott announced on April 17 that Texas schools will remain closed through the end of the current school year.

The order, which applies to public and private schools and institutions of higher learning, does allow teachers to go to classrooms to provide video instruction, perform administrative duties, or to clean out their rooms.

Abbott's order allowed state parks to open on April 24 and cleared the way for all retail stores in the state to begin “retail-to-go” operations starting on April 24, allowing businesses to deliver items to customers’ cars “or other locations to minimize contact.”

State park visitors must wear face coverings and maintain at least six feet of separation from others.

Groups of more than five visitors aren’t allowed.

Restrictions on elective surgery were also eased, providing exceptions for procedures that wouldn’t “deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19;” any procedure in a licensed facility that has certified it will reserve at least 25% of its capacity for COVID-19 patients and that it won’t request PPE from any public source for the duration of the pandemic.

Abbott issued executive orders Monday regarding the expansion of services and hospital capacity and a third rescinding mandatory selfquarantine requirements from travelers entering the state from Louisiana.

Self-quarantine requirements remain in effect for anyone who flies into Texas from California, Connecticut, New York New Jersey, Wa s h i n g t o n , A t l a n t a , Chicago, Detroit, or Miami.

Members of the Strike Force to Open Texas John Zerwas, MD, Executive Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of Texas System Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and U.S. Medicaid and Medicare Administrator Parker Hudson, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Dell Medical School and program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Arcilia Acosta: President and CEO, CARCON Industries & Construction P a u l A n d r e w s , J r. : Founder and CEO, TTI Inc. Mark Bivins: Rancher, partner in Corsino Cattle Company Kathy Britton: CEO and Owner, Perry Homes Brad Brookshire: Chairman and CEO,

Brookshire Grocery Co. J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.: Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission Alonzo Cantu: President & CEO of Cantu Construction Bobby Cox: Owner and o p e r a t o r, B o b b y C o x Companies, Inc. Adriana Cruz: Executive Director, Economic Development & Tourism Division, Office of the Governor Michael Dell: Chairman and CEO, Dell Technologies Scott Dueser: Chairman, President & CEO, First Financial Bank Don Evans: Chairman of the President George W. Bush Foundation, Chairman of Permian Strategic Partnership Tilman Fertitta: Chairman, CEO, and sole owner, Landry's, Inc. Richard Fisher: Senior Advisor, Barclays and Former President & CEO, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Rick Francis: Chairman of the Board, WestStar Bank Holding Company, Inc. Printice Gary: Founding Partner/Principal and CEO, Carleton Companies Brad Heffington: Owner of Heffington Farms, Inc. and Triple T Irrigation, Inc. Jeffery D. Hildebrand: Executive Chairman and Founder, Hilcorp Energy Company Nancy Kinder: President & CEO, Kinder Foundation Tom Luce: Founder and Chairman, Texas 2036 Marc McDougal: CEO, McDougal Companies Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale: Owner, Gallery Furniture Drayton McLane: Chairman, McLane Group Elaine Mendoza: Founder, President & CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc Balous Miller: Owner, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Restaurants Carla Moran: Ramar Communications Dennis Nixon: CEO and Chairman of International Bank of Commerce David Oliveira: Partner at Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, L.L.P. Ross Perot, Jr.: Chairman, The Perot Group Kevin D. Roberts, Ph.D.: Executive Director, Texas Public Policy Foundation Robert B. Rowling: Owner and Chairman, TRT Holdings, Inc. Kendra Scott: Founder and CEO, Kendra Scott Robert F. Smith: Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners Sam L. Susser: Chairman of BancAffiliated, Inc. Massey Villarreal: CEO and President, Precision Task Group, Inc. Kirk Watson: Founding Dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs Marc Watts: President, The Friedkin Group Graham Weston: Former Chairman of Rackspace Hosting Inc. Sanjiv Yajnik: President of the Financial Services Division, Capital One

positioned to respond, said Angela Burkham, Ed.D., AgriLife Extension executive associate director, College Station.

“We knew we could draw from our experience in handling other disasters and emergencies as well as utilize our statewide network of agents and provide any informational resources needed,” she said.

Burkham said AgriLife Extension will provide online trainings for agents, government officials and others involved in the disaster response.

“Agents will make sure local officials, school districts and other stakeholders are aware of any

upcoming applicable webinars, plus help facilitate answers to any remaining questions they may have after reviewing online training materials,” she said.

Monty Dozier, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension program director for disaster assessment and recovery, College Station, said AgriLife Extension agents will serve as an “information conduit and safety net” to help ensure anyone who is eligible knows how to apply for those federal relief funds.

“We’re applying a similar process as we did in dozens of Texas coastal and nearby counties in the aftermath of Hurricane

Harvey, so we already have experience in how to implement this type of effort,” Dozier said.

“However, in this instance, it’s going to be a statewide effort.”

The CARES Act authorizes approximately $2 trillion in federal stimulus funds to combat the crisis and stabilize the economy, including $150 billion to states, territories a n d t r i b a l governments. This includes several programs to address the issues that state and local governments are facing as they work to protect their communities during this challenging time.

Montgomery County News, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Page 5

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Devotional

God Is Good! Let Praise Resound Now And Forever Spreading the Word

By Gail J. Box Gailbox@consolidated.net

Since I was a small child, I learned God was with me. One day, sitting in the grass near a large cedar tree, I turned to see what that rustling sound was behind me. I found myself looking into the eyes of a Copperhead snake coiled around a limb behind me. I found out that day, how fast I could run in a scary situation. God was my only protection.

There have been many more times when I knew God saved me from dangers. That is why I love to praise Him. I know the Creator of all this world has saved me and still is protecting me Then I learned He loves to be praised. This is from Psalm 149: 1, 4: “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”

It really doesn’t matter

Area Churches This Devotional and Directory page is made possible by these businesses

ASSEMBLY OF GOD Cornerstone Christian Assembly of God of Conroe, located at 100 M o s s w o o d D r. , Conroe, Texas in front of River Plantation. 936-273-1755 New Life Assembly of God, Rabon Chapel Road, Montgomery, 936-5883399 BAPTIST Church of the Good Soldier (Baptist Affiliation), 1501 North Frazier (McKenzie's BBQ), C o n r o e , Te x a s , Phone: 936-4945 7 7 5 , www.churchofthego o d s o l d i e r. o rg .

Worship: Sunday at 10:30am, Sunday School: 9:30 am Heritage Baptist Church19087 Lake Mt. Pleasant Rd, Montgomery 77356 Phone: Pastor Bear 936 448-4027 Gary Chapel Baptist Church PO Box 125, Montgomery, Texas 77356, 5525 Spring Branch Road, Montgomery. 713-4781256, Sunday Bible Class 10:00 am, Worship Service at 11:00 am.

Faith Baptist Church Meets at 464 McCaleb Rd. Sunday Morning Bible Study 9:30 a.m.

Wo r s h i p S e r v i c e 10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

St. Beulah Baptist Church, located in Dobbin, P.O. Box 112, Montgomery, 77356 Benui Baptist Church, Scott Ridge and FM 1097, Montgomery Antioch Baptist, Dobbin, 936-5975560 China Grove Baptist Church, Willis, 936-767-4744 Dacus Baptist,

Dacus, 407-735-6403, dacusbaptist@consol i d a t e d . n e t www.dacusbaptist.or gFirst Baptist Church, H w y 1 0 5 W. , Montgomery, 936597-4230 Honea Baptist Church, FM 2854, Montgomery, 936-588-1260 Jones Chapel Baptist, FM 2854, 936756-2505 Mt. Calvary Baptist, Old Hwy 105, 936588-2330 Mt. Sinai Baptist, Bethel Road, Montgomery, 936597-4668 Union Grove Baptist About 11 mi N of Montgomery on FM 149 Service 10:50, Sunday 9:45 CATHOLIC Sacred Heart Catholic, 109 N. Frazier, Conroe, 936-756-8186 S t . M a r y ’s Catholic, F M 1 7 7 4 , Plantersville, 936-894-2223 7:45 Service St. Joseph’s Catholic, CR 213, Stoneham, 936-894-2223 JEWISH Congregation Beth Shalom, 5125 Shadowbend Place, The Woodlands, 281-362-1100 LUTHERAN Grace Lutheran (ELCA), Highway 105 W., Lake Conroe, 936588-1944 Living Savior Lutheran ChurchLCMS 309 Pond St. Montgomery 77356 Church phone: 9365 9 7 - 8 0 1 3 We b : www.livingsaviortex as.org Pastor David R. Bailes.

METHODIST

what is happening around us. God hears the quietest singing of those who know that He listens to every word we sing or even breathe out in love toward Him. David ends the whole book of Psalms with these few words: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6.

David’s Psalms all give us many pages of songs we have learned, to teach us how to live with praising God even through harsh and seemingly endless trials. However, I’ve found that the Book of

Revelation also has more beautiful songs coming from heaven. In Revelation 5, it speaks of four living creatures and twenty-four elders falling down before the “Lamb,” which is Jesus, and singing a new song to Him. Then we have the “victory song” of Moses, sung by seven angels with harps in Chapter 15 of Revelation. All these songs, sung in heaven, say to us that our praises to God are not just for here but will also be heard in heaven for eternity.

I remember hearing that an extremely intelli-

gent man and scientist was asked this question as he was close to death: “What is your favorite song of all?” To this, he replied, “Jesus loves me - this I know…”

I like what David says in this Psalm about blessing the Lord: “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are

pleasures forever.”

Psalm 16: 8,9,and 11.

I know some will say they don’t have good voices, but that’s o.k. Even the Monks in monasteries long ago sang scripture in monotones. It’s the words to God that count, coming from our heart to His. God knows our weaknesses and will never turn away the heart that loves Him. So, from daylight to dark and all in between, let’s all find some time to praise the Lord, so that He will receive our songs and multiply His glory in all the earth! Alleluia!!

Montgomery United Methodist Church 22548 Highway 105 West Montgomery, TX 77356 Phone: 936-5976162 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m., 9:45 am., 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Www.mumctex.or g Richards United Methodist Church 6639 FM 1696 Richards Worship Service 11 AM Sunday School 10AM Porter Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 1308 S. Hwy 1486, Dobbin, 936-597-5331 or 936-449-5983 L i v i n g Wa y Church, 2080 Longmire Rd, Conroe 936-441-8875 Hope Tabernacle Pastor David Whitaker Meets at 18961 Freeport Dr Montgomery 936.582.7722 Thursday 7:30pm Sunday School at 10:00am Sunday Worship at 6:00pm Community And Interdenominational Lone Star Cowboy Church 21627 Eva St. Montgomery, TX 77356 (936) 597-5742 Pastors Randy & Darla Weaver Service Times: Sundays 8:30; 10:00 and 11:30am Mondays 7:00pm Livestream: Watch us live Sundays & Mondays @ live.lonestar.tv or go to the Lone Star Cowboy Church Facebook page and click on the Livestream link.

W e b s i t e : www.lonestar.tv Abundant Life Ministries Corner of FM 149 & FM 1097 W. Montgomery TX 77356 Prayer

/Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Service 11:30 am Wednesday Pray/Bible Study 6:30 pm RiverStone Community Church 19380 Hwy 105 Ste. 500 Montgomery, TX 77356 Sun: 9:00 Kingdom Life, 10:30 Worship Wed: 6:30 p.m.

RiverStoneCC.org April Sound Church, 67 ½ April Wind S., April Sound, 936588-2832 Lighthouse Fellowship Church, Montgomery, 936582-7700 Living Branch Church, Highway 105 W., Lake Conroe, 936588-3400 New Beginning Bible Church, 19087 Mt. Pleasant Cemetary Rd, 936597-8921 Father ’s House, F a m i l y Wo r s h i p Center, Highway 105 W, Lake Conroe, 936588-4660 Walden Community Church, 12400 Walden Rd, Walden, 936-5826696 Services 9:30 and 11 a.m.

WaldenChurch.co m River of Life Church, 17156 FM 1097, Montgomery, 936449-4414 Cornerstone Church, 1011 W. Lewis, Conroe, 936-756-7792 Lakeside Bible Church, 18940 Freeport Drive Montgomery, 936582-1977 Church of St. John, retreat and wildlife center, 2615 St. Beulah Chapel Rd., Montgomery, 936-5975757 Fellowship of Montgomery Pastor: Dr. Dale Talbert Executive Pastor: Dr. Brian Roberson

12681 FM 149 Worship Service: 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Children & Student Ministries: 6:30 p.m.

936.597.3949 www.fellowshipof montgomery.net EPISCOPAL St. James the Apostle Episcopal, 1803 Highland Hollow, Conroe, 936756-8831 The Grace Christian Outreach Center 2 5 2 9 3 Ti s d a l e Road, Dobbin, Texas 936-689-3141 Mt. Pleasent Baptist Church FM 149 N., Montgomery, 936-4496807 The Church @ Lake Conroe 1701 McCaleb Rd Montgomery, TX 77316 936-588-4975 www.lakechurch.c om Sunday worship @ 10:00 a.m. Wed. activites 6:30-8pm North Shore Church 10 am Worship Service 18501 Fm1097 We s t @ t h e Bentwater West Gate Entrance Pastor Cary Smith

Covenant Fellowship 302 N. Danville, Willis, Tx. 77378 936/890-8034 www.cfmlife.org Celebration Service 10am Sundays Youth Explosing 7pm Wednesdays Pastors Sean & Lori Jo Cook PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church of Conroe 2727 N. Loop 336 West Conroe, Texas 936756-8884 Sun. 9:00 & 11:00 Sun Sch 10:00 Nursery provided Church of Christ in Montgomery 301 Pond Street, Montgomery, TX. Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 am Worship - 10:30 am and 6:00 pm Wednesday - 7:00 pm Phone: 936-5824855 E m a i l : cofcmontgomery@c onsolidated.net W e b : www.cofcmontgome ry.org Paul Praschnik, Minister

Page 6, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Montgomery County News

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NOTICE OF CONSTABLES SALE THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 284th District Court of Montgomery County, TX on 20th day of February 2020 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of High Meadow Ranch Community Association Inc. vs. George R. Barbosa & Gail B. Barbosa, Jointly and Severally Cause #19-02-01988-CV and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 O'Clock AM on the 5th day of May, 2020, which is the first Tuesday of said month, at the Montgomery County Commissioner's Courtroom: 501 N. Thompson, 4th Floor (Suite 402), Conroe, TX 77301 or ordered under Texas Property Code §51.002 and sales under Texas Tax Code §34.01 will take place on the Montgomery County, TX Courthouse steps at 301 N. Main, Conroe, TX 77301, the following described property: BEING 4.077 ACRES OF LAND, OUT OF LOT TEN (10), BLOCK ONE (1), OF HIGH MEADOW RANCH, SECTION SEVENTEEN (17), A SUBDIVISION OF 147.275 ACRES SITUATED IN THE THOMAS TOBY SURVEY, A-565, AND THE E. L. ARNOLD SURVEY, A-66, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN CABINET U, SHEET 169-170 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX, TOGETHER WITH ANY SUBSEQUENTLY RECORDED AMENDMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AND/OR REPLATS THEREOF.

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NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF NYOKA SUE PORTER Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of NYOKA SUE PORTER, Deceased, were issued on March 26, 2020, in Cause No. 2039148-P, pending in the Probate Court of Montgomery County, Texas, to JAMES L. PORTER, JR., Independent Executor. The address for mailing of claims is: JAMES L. PORTER, JR., Independent Executor c/o Larry L. Foerster Darden, Fowler & Creighton, L.L.P. 414 W. Phillips, Suite 100 Conroe, Texas 77301 All persons having claims against the estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED the 16th day of April, 2020. /s/ Larry L. Foerster LARRY L. FOERSTER, Attorney for James L. Porter, Jr., Independent Executor Published Date: April 29, 2020 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the estate of William A. Stern, Deceased, were issued on April 8, 2020, in Cause No. 20-39206-P, pending in the County Court at Law No. 2 of Montgomery County, Texas, to Ronald D. Stern. Claims may Levied on 3rd day of April 2020 as the property of: be presented to the Independent Executor, addressed as follows: c/o James W. "Mitch" Mitchell, 25700 I-45 N, Ste. 130, Spring, TX 77386.

George R. Barbosa and Gail B. Barbosa, Jointly and Severally All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by to satisfy judgment recovered on the 7th day of October 2019, representing High Meadow law.

Ranch Community Association Inc. through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, DATED the 27th day of April, 2020. costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law.

Published Date: April 29, 2020 ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. GIVEN UNDER my hand on the 2nd day of April 2020, at 19100 Unity Park Drive, Magnolia, Texas.

CONSTABLE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS By: Bruce Harrison Published Dates: April 15, 22, 29, 2020 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of Louis Pierre Crete, Deceased, were issued on April 1, 2020 in Cause No. 19-38017-P , pending in the County Court at Law No. 2, Montgomery County, Texas, to: Nancy Dorothy Crete (also known as Nancy Crete-Warila).

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Nancy Dorothy Crete 167 Squannacook Road Shirley, Massachusetts 01464 DATED the 28th day of April, 2020.

Elizabeth Iles Attorney for Nancy Dorothy Crete State Bar No.: 10386500 10210 Grogans Mill Road, Suite 130 The Woodlands, TX 77380 Telephone: (832) 721-1679 Facsimile: (866) 371-6212 E-mail: contact@ileslaw.com Published Date: April 29, 2020

Legal advertisers please allow 7 days for the Publisher’s Affidavit to be E-Filed or returned to your office.

Thank you, Montgomery County News

www.MontgomeryCountyNews.net news@montgomerycountynews.net 936-449-NEWS (6397) Feed Store

Insurance

CITATION BY PUBLICATION Application {to Determine Heirship) CLERK OF THE COURT ATTORNEY OF RECORD OR PERSON FILING CAUSE MARK TURNBULL ROBERTS. GRIFFIN P.O. BOX 959 122 WEST DAVIS STREET SUITE 101 CONROE, TX 77305 CONROE TX 77301 THE STATE OF TEXAS TO: The unknown heirs of the ESTATE OF: Michael Paul Davidson, Deceased GREETING: You are commanded to appear and answer to the to Determine Heirship filed by Elizabeth Mary Davidson at or before 10 O'clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of Ten (10) days from the date of Publication of this Citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law #2 of MONTGOMERY County, at the Courthouse in Conroe, Texas. Said application was filed on the March 23, 2020.

The file number of said matter being: 20-39299-P The style being: ESTATE OF: Michael Paul Davidson The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of the decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of said Court, in CONROE, Texas, this 20th day of April, 2020.

(SEAL, County Court at Law #2) MARK TURNBULL, COUNTY CLERK MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS /s/ Lisa Aufill, Deputy Published Date: April 29, 2020 CITATION BY PUBLICATION Application to Determine Heirship; Application for Letters of Independent Administration CLERK OF THE COURT ATTORNEY OF RECORD OR PERSON FILING CAUSE MARK TURNBULL ERIN M. LUCKE P.O. BOX 959 PO BOX 131343 CONROE, TX 77305 SPRING TX 77393 THE STATE OF TEXAS TO: The unknown heirs of the ESTATE OF: Craig Alden Walther, Deceased GREETING: You are commanded to appear and answer to the Application to Determine Heirship; Application for Letters of Independent Administration filed by Tamara Louise Walther, at or before 10 O'clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of Ten (10) days from the date of Publication of this Citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law #2 of MONTGOMERY County, at the Courthouse in Conroe, Texas. Said application was filed on January 27, 2020.

The file number of said matter being: 20-39074-P The style being: ESTATE OF: Craig Alden Walther The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of the decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of said Court, in CONROE, Texas, this 30th day of January, 2020.

(SEAL, County Court at Law #2) MARK TURNBULL, COUNTY CLERK MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS 1/30/2020 9:06:57AM Sandy Faught Sandy Faught, Deputy Published Date: April 29, 2020

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Montgomery County New, Page 7

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The Republic Grille Donates To Firefighters With Help From Sysco Houston Donations will assist more than 170 firefighters The Woodlands, Texas – April 23, 2020 – Continuing its ongoing effort to s u p p o r t l o c a l l y, T h e Republic Grille, in conjunction with Sysco Houston, has donated food and care packages to The Woodlands Fire Department and its eight fire stations. The donations will serve more than 170 firefighters throughout The Woodlands.

“We all find ourselves in unchartered waters and when faced with a crisis, it is merely an opportunity for you to do your best. The Republic Grille wanted to do something to support the hard work and brave dedication of our local first responders during this pandemic crisis,” explained Terry McBurney, Founder and Managing Partner of The Republic Grille. “Our food service partner Sysco Houston has been tremen-

dous in these efforts and they graciously jumped at the opportunity to help, donating a wide range of food products including an array of Certified Angus Beef ® products. Their willingness to help with this and other great causes is a testament to their forward thinking. We are truly thankful to have them as our food service partner.”

The Republic Grille is currently offering pick-up and curbside delivery from its location in the Panther Creek Shopping Center at 4775 W. Panther Creek, Suite 490. To place an order, visit www.therepublicgrille.co m or call (281) 719-5895.

Follow The Republic Grille on Facebook at https://www.facebook.co m/therepublicgrilleofthew oodlands/.

Left to right: Eric Reinhard, President of Sysco Houston; Wayne Walker, Retired Deputy Chief, The Woodlands Fire Department; and Terry McBurney, Founder and Managing Partner of The Republic Grille. (photo by Liz Grimm)

Lone Star College-Houston North is helping students succeed Houston (April 28, 2020) - Lone Star CollegeHouston North students continue to post impressive course completion rates.

LSC-Houston North students had course completion rates three percentage points higher than the Lone Star College system average in fall 2019.

“LSC-Houston North is designed upon practices proven to be successful at high performing colleges across the country,” said Quentin A. Wright, Ed.D.,

LSC-Houston North president. “Classes are in 8-week formats, all firsttime-in-college students are matched with faculty mentors, and several wraparound services are provided to assist with mental health and food insecurity.”

Preliminary data from the first 8-week term of the spring 2020 semester found that 9 out of 10 students completed their coursework with 8 out of 10 doing so with A, B or C grades.

$10 Million from page 1 and CEO. “Chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes that are making COVID-19 so severe for some Texans can’t be prevented or fixed by health care alone. Our focus has always been on improving community health in Texas beyond just the doctor’s office, and this crisis is a clear example of why that’s vitally important.

EHF’s plan includes a COVID-19 grant program that’s designed to help the f o u n d a t i o n ’s c u r r e n t grantees and partners across Texas continue business operations during the crisis. The program will prioritize partner organizations that are directly involved in COVID-19 response, serving populations likely to be dispropor-

tionately impacted by COVID-19, and sustaining financial losses due to that work. The first round of grants will be awarded in May and EHF expects to announce another round of COVID-19 funding later in 2020.

“While we don’t know what’s coming next in this crisis, we do know that there’s going to be a long road ahead,” Marks said.

“Needs will change as the situation evolves, and we want to be sure EHF’s strategic response maximizes both resources and impact to the communities we serve.”

In addition to the grant program, EHF is establishing an emergency loan fund that offers two-year, zero-interest loans of up to $1 million to help grantees

L S C - H o u s t o n North, the newest LSC campus, officially began in August 2019 after two years of rigorous planning.

The new campus consists of three locations that were formerly satellite sites for the LSC-CyFair and LSCNorth Harris campuses. A fourth location is currently being constructed through a partnership with Fallbrook Church.

LSC-Houston North was the vision of Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor who wanted to

provide more equitable opportunities for students in the north Houston region of the LSC service area.

During his tenure in LSC, Head has been responsible for many programs that have led to increased completion rates of s t u d e n t s f r o m underrepresented populations including Black, Hispanic, and individuals that come from lower socioeconomic areas.

LSC-Houston North is the most diverse campus in the system and also has the

highest Pell percentage of all campuses.

“We believe that with the right structure and the right support, all students can be successful,” said Wright. “At least for this first year of the college, these students are proving this belief to be true.”

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the

community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSCOnline. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

and partners that have additional mounting financial needs. The foundation also provided technical assistance to help organizations apply for the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program earlier this month and will continue that support during a possible second round of federal funding for the program. EHF is also offering the technical assistance to help partner organizations apply for any COVID-19 related government aid programs and/or other funding opportunities.

Along with financial help, EHF will conduct an extensive research project related to COVID19 that’s similar to EHF’s groundbreaking survey conducted after Hurricane Harvey. The project’s goal will be to provide leaders working on relief efforts with reliable information about Texans’ needs and priorities for ongoing

recovery. EHF is also working with partners across the state to develop a program to support those f a c i n g s o c i a l isolation during this crisis.

The effort is focused on establishing a scalable program that would connect volunteers electronically with seniors, nursing home residents, and others who have become even more isolated from others due to COVID19.

Every community is

feeling the health and e c o n o m i c e ff e c t s o f COVID-19 in many different ways and there are no easy answers, but EHF leaders believe this multi-approach strategy will provide a wide range of help to key organizations working to improve health, not just health care across Texas.

“Public health events like COVID-19 are experienced even more deeply by low-income communities or those

living in a neighborhood that just doesn’t have access to many different services needed to be healthy,” said Marks. “To do this important work, we know that the organizations, clinics, and congregations working in these communities and supported by EHF must remain strong and effective both now and in the future.”

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Page 8, Montgomery County News, Wednesday, April 29, 2020

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Veteran of the Week Robert A. Knapick, The Woodlands, Veteran Suporter Of The Week

By Lew McCreary Born in Houston, Robert is 62. His father died when Robert was only 17 however, he was prepared for his career… quite ready for the changes in his life’s direction/purpose…and thankfully no longer an atheist. Robert began it all by joining the Fellowship of Christian Athletes late in ’74…at which time he sat down and read the New Testament in one sitting. Up until then he considered himself as having a mean streak and was known as a heavy drinker…but suddenly went “teatotaler”. Robert lived in the Spring Branch area of Houston. As a high school senior, he had worked in a machine shop and was hired by a local church that licensed him to preach and he soon joined the First Baptist Church of Spring Branch. His dream had always been to attend Annapolis (US Naval Academy) but failed the physical due to an earlier injury. He rebounded by deciding to devote his life in the helping of others. Robert began to build his crusade by pulling together and stacking Christian college degrees. He

Montgomery County News has published VETERANS OF THE WEEK since 2014 numbering more than 200. The purpose? An endeavor to educate readers regarding the depth of personal valor and selfless sacrifice of patriotic men and women of WW2, Korea, Vietnam and Middle East deployments during their service commitment and the protection of the homeland. In particular these articles target younger generations that have not been adequately schooled in US history. WW2 still is the biggest event in human history and veterans of that world war are now in their 90’s so please thank them at every opportunity.

attended Houston Baptist University majoring in the area of seeking answers to something now known universally as PTSD…Post Traumatic Syndrome Deficit, that can be researched on l i n e … b u t R o b e r t ’s definition is as follows: In his view it has to do with trauma and the response to that event. It may come from experiencing a shock in one’s life and the response to that event that requires a critical adjustment that the brain vigorously struggles to accept. A grievous process must follow dealing with the loss that engendered depression and helplessness. Robert believes that one must circle back from the existing turmoil…one that requires a lifer-set”. To finance his ministry, he generates income sources by offering professional therapy. For this journey he has originated various organizations beginning with Houston Scuba Academy…followed by other organizations, for example Wheelers for t h e Wo u n d e d … t h a t actually utilizes jeeps… also Horses and Heroes located at Sunny Creek

Ranch during the 19761980 era. He relocated in the south Houston area and began volunteering at various churches.

Robert began to generate professional skills through college courses beginning with the University of Houston at Clear Lake. He next acquired degrees in behavioral science at various educational institutions. The following year he assisted people in rehabilitation situations and also counseled heroin addicts by connecting with state

facilities, one of which is located in Houston Heights…and another in the Champions area.

Robert got a big send- off when he locally received grants totaling $750 thousand. To further build his accreditation he attended (undergrade) the U of Arizona, then acquired a masters and PhD, ultimately stacking an array (five) of appropriate degrees and kudos’. This includes (as mentioned) from U of H and Houston Baptist and U of Sedona in AZ. Currently he is authoring

a book to organize a compendium of all the appropriate research completed. Robert has also made connections with Texas Children’s Hospital where he and his staff offers love, hope and a new life purpose.

Some of his peers have described Robert as one of God’s gifts to the lost and has been a blessing to thousands over the past twenty years. Recently he has expanded his ministry list to include the weekly gatherings of all local veterans at Poplar Business Park

located just off Old HI way #105 In order to further the reach of his ministries. Robert is continuously “on call” and is known very personally by the following: Conroe American Legion Post, the Veterans Administration, Lone Star Cowboy Church, and as mentioned…various local h o s p i t a l e m e rg e n c y rooms.

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