UIL moves state football title games to Arlington PAGE 5
THE
Serving Sealy and Austin County, Texas since 1887 • Home of Kathy Michalke Volume 129 Number 22
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
16 pages, $1
YMCA facility beefs up size, once again By JASON B. HOGAN reporter@sealynews.com
Joiner Architects met with Kuciemba, Mark A. Chapman Foundation reps and other project personnel a couple weeks ago to present the first 50 percent of the Mark A. Chapman Indoor Recreational Facility’s design plans. Originally, project
projections had the architectural firm submitting the first half of the facility’s plans by January, 75 percent by February, 95 percent by March and final completed designs by the end of March. But the city experienced delays with planning stages while narrowing down the layout. Eventually city council chose Option 2
Now they’re cooking without gas editor@sealynews.com
The kitchen is hot. Just not in the way one normally thinks. Between the Food Network, shows like Iron Chef, movies like Ratatouille and the celebrity now accorded some real-life chefs like Houston’s Huge Ortega and Bryan Caswell, diners have
“It’s going to be more (than the original proposed $4.25 million price tag),” Kuciemba said. At some point, the city wants to throw in outdoor restroom facilities for future soccer fields that will be added. “The Chapman Foundation is considering taking care of that additional money,”
Kuciemba said. “That’s why they need the estimates and what it’s going to be.” “We’re going to meet with [foundation president Cheryl Mellentin] around beginning of June. I feel the answer is going to be a yes. This is just an option,” Kuciemba said of the additions. Lastly, the city is also designing an additional
Chevy in the LEVEE
Sealy High students find new passion, possible careers in kitchen, despite limited tools By Roy R. Reynolds
out of two available plans. Facility dimensions have bounced back and forth a few times. The facility started out as a 18,000-square-foot buildout, but $4.25 million projected costs forced project partners to considered scaling it back to 15,000 square feet. Now, it may move back to its original size.
begun to look well beyond the edge of their plate and into the recesses of the places their food is prepared. A place where, someday, they may see someone with a tall hat on their head, Crocs clogs on their feet and a diploma from Sealy High School in their pocket. ■ COOKING, page 16
Courtesy Angela Gutowsky
Ka’la Statum and Vanessa Mendoza flip over their creations at the Sodexo Culinary Showdown, where the culinary team from Sealy High school placed second in the event, their third competition of the school year.
I-10 bridge expansion, frontage road taking shape By JASON B. HOGAN reporter@sealynews.com
As tools and equipment bear down on the Interstate 10 overpass at Hwy 36, Sealy city leadership and Texas Department of Transportation remain confident frontage road construction projects are advancing in a timely manner. As most can see, construction crews are widening the I-10 bridge at Hwy 36, and “this phase of the project should be completed by midsummer, if the weather cooperates,” said Cari Hensley, TxDOT Yoakum District’s public information officer, in an email on Friday. “Once the donation deed is processed, construction crews will
Courtesy of Jereamy Cevallos
Jereamy Cevallos of Al’s Wrecker Service encountered a large, pickup-eating washout along FM1697 early Friday morning. A deluge surprise Austin County and surrounding areas Thursday night and early Friday, dropping 16.62 inches on Brenham alone, according to the National Weather Service.
start building parts of the frontage road as the bridge phase is wrapping up,” Hensley said. TxDOT felt it was necessary to rearrange designs before a deeded right-of-way is transferred into their possession. TxDOT needs access to approximately seven acres of land owned by developer Town Park Center for the frontage road portion of the project to commence. A new land survey was performed by EHRA Engineering within the last week, a necessary component to the right-of-way deed’s transference to the city, because the state department envisions traffic choke points as a problem for ramp access.
Lamp turns off lights on Pct. 1 Commissioner Turner’s re-election bid By JASON B. HOGAN reporter@sealynews.com
On Tuesday evening, Mark Lamp pulled out a commanding victory over incumbent Reese Turner — 74 percent to 26 percent for the final tallies — to become the newly elected Austin County Pct. 1 Commissioner. There was not much mudslinging to be had during campaigning, except for the morning of the Election Day runoff, and it presumably came from neither candidate.
■ ROADS, page 14
A mock-up web page claiming to be that of The Sealy News sent out innumerable emails across the county deliberating attempting to bring down Turner’s election campaign and sully his image among residents. The headline for the mythical front-page website read, “Reese Turner Former Commissioner Suspected For Masterminding Child Prostitution Ring.” ■ LAMP, page 14
parking lot for the soccer fields that’ll be on the entrance of Rexville Road, Kuciemba said. “Where the skate park is now, that will be our new and improved parking lot,” he said, making sure that children coming from the soccer fields will never have to cross a street to get to the YMCA.
Storms usher in damp Memorial Day By Roy R. Reynolds editor@sealynews.com
Storms blew into Austin County late Thursday, soaking already-saturated ground until it could absorb no more. The rain flooded a number of roads around the county, hampering Memorial Day travel and bringing back memories of midApril. The rains continued to impact Austin County and surrounding areas as the Memorial Day holiday passed, with a swollen Brazos River serving as a very visible sign of the latest outbreak of storms. By late Friday, Austin County Judge Tim Lapham declared the county as a disaster area, one of the first steps toward getting some government help to battered areas. Meanwhile, the Brazos River continued to swell well into Tuesday morning with a late-morning gage height of 126.12 feet at San Felipe, only a small decline from the past few days. On Sunday, the river reached a height of 128.5 feet. Flood stage for the Brazos River is 122.5 feet gage height, according to the Brazos River Authority. “By Wednesday or Thursday, we should go under ‘minor flooding stage,’ which is still in action stage” said Judi ■ STORMS, page 14
Sealy Sports Commission promotes adult sports league By JASON B. HOGAN reporter@sealynews.com
Lace up those sneakers and cleats and get ready for summer fun with the kiddos. City manager Larry Kuciemba announced another surefire way to productively maximize economic growth for Sealy by creating an adult sports league
through the commission at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Last June, the City of Sealy created the firstever sports commission, and ever since, it has been searching for ways to increase exposure for itself and for the community at large. “Angela Wolfe is ■ SPORTS, page 14
The Sealy News • 193 Schmidt Road • P.O. Box 480 • Sealy, TX 77474 • phone: (979) 885-3562 • fax: (979) 885-3564 • www.sealynews.com
BibleQuote
20 | 2016 GRADUATION CELEBRATION
"Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool." Proverbs 26:7
IndexInside
Classifieds........10-1 1 Community........7-9 News Bits.............2 Obituaries............3 Opinion................4 Sports..............5-6
The sealy news
2016
Graduation Celebration
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Sealy High graduate photos PAGE 16
This week's weather
Day/High/Low/Rain Thursday 80/68/80% Friday 79/67/90% Saturday 81/67/80% Sunday 84/66/80% Monday 85/66/20% Tuesday 88/67/30% Wednesday 90/69/20%
Morning has broken and the sun shines in for Colby Klotz, 5, provider of this week’s weather art from Selman Elementary.