SEALY NEWS THE
Lady Tiger trio honored by TXSWA PAGE 6
Serving Sealy and Austin County since 1887 • Home of Michael Morrow
Volume 126 Number 27
One new, two return to SEDC By ASHLEY TOMPKINS publisher@sealynews.com
The Sealy Economic Development Corporation will welcome a new face to the board this month with the addition of Mark Miller. Sealy City Council last week approved appointing Miller to the board, along with reappointments of Sealy Mayor Nick Tirey and Billy Schavrda. Miller will start his term this month and Tirey and Schavrda will continue theirs. All three terms will run through May 2015. The SEDC works to promote economic development in the
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013
Firefighters save two homes By ASHLEY TOMPKINS publisher@sealynews.com
Austin County volunteer firefighters saved two homes Sunday – including one that was within inches of burning down – after a parched field caught fire south of Sealy. The fire burned at least 50 acres off of Klopsteck Road, according to Eric Zapalac, Sealy Volunteer Fire Department assistant fire chief. The fire encircled two mobile homes on the property, but both structures were saved by local volunteers. One sustained some damage after flames came within inches of the home. ■ FIRE, page 11
18 pages, $1
No burn ban, says county By AMBER GONZALES reporter@sealynews.com
The Sealy News/ASHLEY TOMPKINS
Local volunteer fire departments spent late Sunday afternoon battling a blaze on Klopsteck Road, just south of Sealy. The fire, which began when a hay baler malfunctioned while being worked in a field, burned more than 10 acres and surrounded two mobile homes. Above, volunteer firefighters work to put tear apart hay bales and put out fires.
Happy Fourth of July!
■ SEDC, page 11
NEWSBITS Sealy Dance Club A public Red, White and Blue dance will be held Saturday, July 6, at the American Legion Hall in Sealy from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Music will be provided by Red Ravens, great two-step, waltzes and polkas. Most folks bring some kind of food, cake coffee, etc. Everything is put in the kitchen and eaten at the 9:30 p.m. break. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. More information: (979) 8853489.
After looking at the 14-day drought index forecast for the area, Austin County Commissioners Court on Monday chose not to impose a burn ban through the holiday weekend. The court also opted not to have the county judge institute an emergency declaration. The court took no action at Monday’s meeting after reviewing the Keetch-Byram drought index two week forecast, which showed high levels of water depletion in the county's soil, with the worst being in the northwest county. “We have not had any ■ BURN BAN, page 10
The Sealy News/AMBER GONZALES
The children at Creative Care showed their American pride with a parade on wheels last week at the daycare’s sixth annual parade. Bikes, trikes and anything on wheels they could ride, the kids did laps around the driveway for family and friendly spectators with streamers and other patriotic decorations. The Sealy Volunteer Fire Department fire truck also led the way of the small parade with lights and sirens going.
AC will replace BGCD member By AMBER GONZALES reporter@sealynews.com
Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District (BGCD) board member Sharon Brandes formally resigned from her position, citing health reasons keeping her from continuing her duties, according to the resignation letter presented to Austin County Commissioner Court Monday morning. “She has been a charter member and a tremendous asset to the community,” said Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski. The vacancy leaves
Cheer minicamp Cheer mini-camp for kids 3 to 12 years old will be held at Sealy High School July 8-11 this year. Camp will go from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and the cost will be $50. Preregistration is not mandatory. For more information, contact Mona Norris at (281) 460-0875.
■ REPLACEMENT, page 11 ■ NEWSBITS page 18
BIBLEQUOTE "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
Thank a
Veteran and Serviceman everyday
Contested well hearing to start next Thursday By AMBER GONZALES reporter@sealynews.com
An official contested hearing on the application to drill 10 wells and pump 7.3 billion gallons of water annually from under Austin and Waller counties and transport them outside those counties starts next Thursday, July 11. State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
Locals work against Electro well project By AMBER GONZALES reporter@sealynews.com
SOAH Hearing
is open to the public. More than 300 requests for a contested hearing were called
Concerned Citizens for Texas Water Resources, a group made up of residents from in and around Austin and Waller counties, is researching the affects on neighbors and the counties from the proposed Electro Purifications, LLC well field. So far, it has been the largest organized group of citizens consistently speaking against the proposal and plans to continue to do so, according to organizers. Along with speaking at community events, the group is looking at legal and geological research, which is posted on its website along with public documents related to groundwater
■ HEARING, page 10
■ CITIZENS, page 11
When: Starts Thursday, July 11, at 9 a.m. Where: Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville Judge Sharon Cloninger will hear the case at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. The hearing
The Sealy News • 193 Schmidt Road • P.O. Box 480 • Sealy, Texas 77474 • phone: (979) 885-3562 • fax: (979) 885-3564 • www.sealynews.com
Are You Reading This? Well, you’re not the only one! Front Page Advertising Works
Call 979-885-3562 for more info.