The Facts, Gen Ex, April 20, 2012

Page 1

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 Vol. 98, No. 51 © 2012 • Published in Clute, Texas

MIGRATION CELEBRATION PHOTO WINNERS

ENTERTAINMENT CONNECTAINTON 2012 RIL 2 0 , FRIDAY , A P

E E K LY YOUR W

Migration Celebration schedule, photo winners

HAPPEN O AREA GUIDE T

DINING

LISTING AND TV

S

BLOODY BRILLI

zosport-like “It’s a very unBra But the play s said. show,” Meyer some new audicould bring in for Center Stages. ence members The Demon “Sweeney Todd: ” is set for Street By KATLYNN LANHAM Barber of Fleet and May 4-5, efacts.com May 8 p.m. April 27-28 katlynn.lanham@th April 29 and and 2:30 p.m. theater at The 6 at the large Arts and CLUTE ge and for the r reven of Cente tale dark ney Todd” Sciences. murder, “Swee Meyers old one, first an is tale The producer Mary 14th century audience starting up in warns future the Center Stages members that feature some Page 6 ■ See PLAY, play is sure to gore.

‘Sweeney Todd’ . more than just gore

PAGE 10

A list of local events

A

PAGE 2

Lake Theater reunion show set for May

‘SWEENEY TODD’ FULL OF CUT-UPS

USIC, INGS, M

PAGE 3

the title Tony Stewart, playingey Todd,” character in “Sween Hutch ison, leans over Bill Turpin, during playing Judge al. Monday’s rehears PARKER HOLLY FACTS PHOTO BY

$1

3 shots at state BCS ATHLETES IN RUNNING AT REGION MEET

COUPLES WEEKEND AT WILDERNESS

ROCKETS TRY TO STAY IN HUNT

TODAY IN SPORTS, 1B

INSIDE M.D. S qib Siddiqui,

Angleton ISD has to refill fuel budget

DOW MAKES MAJOR INVESTMENT AT FREEPORT SITE

A ‘GAME-CHANGER’

By MICHAEL FREEMAN michael.freeman@thefacts.com

HOLLY PARKER/The Facts

Dow Chemical Co. President and CEO Andrew Liveris addresses the crowd Thursday, as Texas Gov. Rick Perry sits to the left, during a press conference at the Dow Academic Center at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson. Liveris announced the company will build new ethylene and herbicide plants at Dow Texas Operations in Freeport.

County, state incentives helped seal Dow decision

By KATLYNN LANHAM katlynn.lanham@thefacts.com

LAKE JACKSON

alling the move a “game-changer,” Dow Chemical Co. officials announced Thursday that Texas Operations is the site for a new ethylene production plant that will bring thousands of jobs to Brazoria County. “You’re probably going to see a bunch of Dow people walking around with a smile on,” said Earl Shipp, Dow Texas Operations site leader. This new plant is a big win, not only for Dow Texas Operations, but for the Dow plants on the Gulf Coast, he said. Officials also announced a new AgroSciences plant to produce components used in Dow’s new herbicide, Enlist Duo. An audience of business leaders, local representatives and elected officials cheered during the speeches from Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and U.S. Department of Energy representative Chuck McConnell. The group met at Brazosport

C

■ See DOW,

By KATLYNN LANHAM

Dow Texas Operations Site Leader Earl Shipp, flanked by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, talks at Thursday’s press conference at the Dow Academic Center at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson.

HOLLY PARKER/The Facts

From left, U.S. Energy Department representative Chuck McConnell, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Dow Chemical President and CEO Andrew Liveris and Texas Gov. Rick Page 5A Perry field questions at Thursday’s news conference.

FREEPORT — As Dow Chemical Co. officials announced the new ethylene production plant, representing a $1.7 billion investment, they thanked plenty of local and state officials for helping to bring it to Brazoria County. City, county and state governments all provided incentives and support to the proPAYNE ject, making Freeport an easy pick for the plant, officials said. “I know when I get red carpet and when I get red tape,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow Chemical president, CEO and chairman. “I get red carpet in the state of Texas.” Two of the biggest incentives for Dow were Brazoria County Commissioners’ 100 percent, 10-year tax abatement and the Texas Enterprise

■ See INCENTIVES, 5A

COMING SOON TO DOW TEXAS OPERATIONS DOW-MITSUI CHLOR-ALKALI LLC CHLORINE PLANT New jobs: 50 Construction jobs: 1,000 Status: Under construction Expected completion: Mid2013

Purpose: Produce chlorine, one of Dow Chemical’s major feedstocks

PROPYLENE PRODUCTION UNIT

ETHYLENE CRACKER

DOW AGROSCIENCES PLANT

New jobs: 120 Construction jobs: 1,500 Status: Finances approved,

New jobs: 150 Construction jobs: 2,000 Status: Approved for Dow

New jobs: 10 Construction jobs: 150 Status: Approved for Dow

engineering under way

Expected completion: 2015 Purpose: Produce propylene to be used in propylene derivatives businesses like epoxy and polyurethanes

GO AHEAD.

JUST ASK.

Texas Operations

Expected completion: 2017 Purpose: Produce ethylene from natural gas so it can be used to make products like plastic

Texas Operations

Expected completion: 2014-15 Purpose: Produce 2,4-D choline to be used in Dow’s herbicide, Enlist Duo

If you’re dying to know something but don’t know who to ask, send it to us! We will track down the answer for you!

Mail to: The Facts’ Glad You Asked, P.O. Box 549, Clute, TX 77541; or news@thefacts.com

WHAT’S INSIDE

■ See FUEL, Page 5A

katlynn.lanham@thefacts.com

HOLLY PARKER/The Facts

ANGLETON — As gasoline prices continued to climb over the past several months, Angleton ISD’s fuel budget consequently dwindled, school officials said. The school district’s board of trustees maneuvered $150,000 into its fuel budget Tuesday to continue running school buses for the remainder of the school year, said Superintendent Pat Montgomery. The school district receives a fuel delivery about every three weeks, according to school documents. A fuel delivery at the beginning of the month depleted this year’s $280,000 fuel budget, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Steve Davis wrote in a letter to the board. “Fuel prices go up,” Montgomery said. “You always expect it to go up.” Over the past five months, Houston-area gasoline and diesel prices have increased by about 80 cents, according

RUNNING ON EMPTY Higher fuel costs depleted Angleton ISD’s budget for keeping its buses running.

$280,000 Original fuel budget

$150,000 Amount transferred to finish year

80¢/gal. Increase in Houston-area diesel prices in the last five months

Freeport takes lower bid for riverfront land Buyer pledges to put difference between bids toward beautification. By SHANNON DAUGHTRY shannon.daughtry@thefacts.com

FREEPORT — Council will take $23,000 less for sale of a waterfront tract of land, provided the buyer will put the difference between his two bids toward beautification. Gary Woodring submitted two bids for the riverfront property Freeport City behind the Shuster Council voted 3-2 House and adjacent to to see a riverfront the Velasco Boulevard tract it owned for bridge over the Old development. Brazos. One bid was for $38,758 and another for FREEPORT $61,789.01, City Manager Jeff Pynes said. Woodring is a Dow Chemical Co. employee and wants to build a $300,000 to $400,000 home on the property. LAND SITE “Prior to the bid closing, it was so important to this man and his family that he upped his bid,” Pynes said. “Either way he was willing to pay either the low or the high option.” When the city opened the bids, Woodring mentioned investing the $23,000 difference in beautification efforts, Pynes said. Councilwomen Sandra Barbree and

LANDSOLD

■ See LAND, Page 2A

GET IN TOUCH

Main office 979-265-7411 Place a classified 979-265-7401 Display advertising 979-237-0130 Circulation 979-265-2999 On the Web www.thefacts.com

Classified 6-8B • Comics 5B • Community 4A • Dear Abby 6B • Lottery 2B • Obituaries 2A • Opinions 6A • Puzzles 7A • Sports 1-3B • Stocks 4B • Weather 2A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.