THE
NEWS
Election results, PAGE 5
SPORTS
Sealy football, PAGE 9
Serving Sealy and Austin County, Texas since 1887
VOLUME 132 NUMBER 46
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2019
20 PAGES, $1
Park to get $1.1 million upgrade City, Little League reach B&PW Park renovation agreement By JOE SOUTHERN
editor@sealynews.com
Sealy’s B&PW Park is about to get a major $1.1 million renovation. Complete with the installation of artificial turf infields, air-conditioned restrooms, new fencing and lighting, and numerous other improvements,
the city and the Greater Sealy Little League are making substantial improvements to the aging park. The upgrades were approved last Tuesday by the Sealy City Council, contingent on a $300,000 contribution from the Sealy Economic Development Corporation. “What this will do will be a com-
plete renovation of the park,” City Manager Lloyd Merrell said. “All the ballfields will be done, all fencing will be done, the lighting will be done, the scoreboard will be done, restrooms renovated, concession stand renovated, it’s going to be a major improvement that draws large crowds for tournaments.”
Bill Burttschell, speaking on behalf of the Little League, said the improvements are needed at the park. “We will be turfing, artificial turf, on the infield on the remaining three fields, which, I don’t know how to say it, will be a win-win for everybody, for See UPGRADE, page 7
WE SALUTE YOU Sealy High honors local veterans
Joe Southern
Sealy Mayor Janice Whitehead gives a State of the City address Wednesday during the Governmental Luncheon meeting of the Sealy Chamber of Commerce at Liedertafel Hall.
Mayor touts Sealy’s success Address teases HEB development Cole McNanna Locals veterans who served the country were welcomed into the Sealy High Scho ol gym with the band playing and plenty of chee Veterans Day assembly Monday morning. rs to kick off the fourth annual
Clint Bollinger, a member of Sealy High School’s Class of 1988, delivered the keynote address at the fourth annual Veterans Day assembly Monday morning. Bollinger worked his way up to staff sergeant in the Marine Corps where he met his wife, Kimberly, who was a nurse in the Air Force. Their two sons, Kurt and Derek, are both currently in the respective branches as well, with the former holding the title of corporal in the Marine Corps and the latter set to graduate from Air Force basic training this week.
Boy Scouts and Sealy High School stud ents Veterans Day assembly Monday morning presented the colors at the fourth annual to honor all of those who have served from and the surrounding areas. Sealy
By JOE SOUTHERN
editor@sealynews.com
The cheers rose quickly and fell fast as Sealy Mayor Janice Whitehead teased the crowd in her opening remarks in her State of the City Address last Wednesday during the monthly governmental luncheon, hosted by the Sealy Chamber of Commerce. “HEB’s coming to town! … Not!” she said. “I don’t want to get you too excited; we’re still working on that project though.” Rumors of the grocery store chain coming to Sealy have been rampant for years ever since the company purchased See MAYOR, page 7
Sealy City Council appoints new city secretary By JOE SOUTHERN
editor@sealynews.com
Although most people know her by the last name of Christoferson, Sealy’s new city secretary now goes by the name of Brooke Knoll. “I just got married on Oct. 26, so now I’m Brooke Knoll. My husband’s name is Cody Knoll. He’s from Bellville but I grew up in Sealy but now I’m a Bellvillian, I guess you would call it,” she said. The Sealy City Council promoted Knoll to replace longtime City Secretary Dayl Cooksey, who retired Oct. 1. Knoll spent the last three years as
Cooksey’s deputy city secretary. “She is a very efficient and capable individual, and we are very proud she accepted this opportunity,” Mayor Janice Whitehead said. Knoll’s education and experience has her ideally suited for the job. “I graduated from Sealy High School in June of 2010. I then went on to study at the University of Houston and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Once I graduated, I started working for the city in March of 2016 as a public works administrative assistant. Shortly after I was approached
SEALYNEWS.COM
See SECRETARY, page 7
Joe Southern
Brooke Knoll, formerly Christoferson, was appointed as Sealy’s city secretary, taking the place of Dayl Cooksey, who retired Oct. 1.
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and offered the position of deputy city secretary and as of Nov. 5, 2019, I’ve been appointed as the city secretary,” Knoll said. At 27 years of age, she knows she has big shoes to fill, along with a long-term goal. “I’m very humbled and honored that staff and my co-workers and council see potential in me, and I just want to make everyone proud and provide the best quality of service to the citizens of Sealy,” she said. Although still early in her career, Knoll already knows where she wants to go.
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BIBLE VERSE Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
Sealy Night Out, PAGE 5
TRF Queen, PAGE 18
Marines birthday, PAGE 18