Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

Houston Fourth of July Celebrations, Fireworks


Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

How our area is growing

According to a story in Wednesday, June 17th's Houston Chronicle,
East Montgomery County is doing well in housing growth and in fact exceeds virtually all of the greater Houston region. The East Montgomery County, area 40 or Southeast area on their map, ranked third overall in the geographic areas covered by their story.

Leading the way in home sales percentage change from May, 2008 to May, 2009 was Grimes County with a 25.0% increase, followed by Bellaire West with 14.3% increase. Our area shows a 10.8% increase for this time period. The only other positive areas were the South Katy Area at 9.5% and the Central downtown Houston area at 3.1%. All other areas showed negative results with the highest being Central downtown West at negative 54.7%. Other areas in Montgomery County, all with negative numbers, were Northeast -30.5%, Southwest -23.1% (which includes The Woodlands), and Northwest -12.9%. The area defined as Far Northeast (which covers Kingwood) showed a negative 23.6% change. The area referred to as Northeast (which would include Humble and areas south of there) showed a negative 26.5% change.

Our area shows a 18.2% positive increase in the price of homes with a median home price in May, 2009 of $152,500. These are indeed good indicators of the many positive things happening in our area.

Sex molester contacts victims from prison

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A family is demanding changes to the system after a man convicted of sexually assaulting children managed to reach out to his victims and reach out to others online.

The family worked for years to put this horror behind them and now they are devastated to learn the man they helped to lock up is free to communicate with his young victims.

The New Caney mother who we'll refer to as, "Kimberly," didn't want to identified in order to conceal her son's identity.

"You just feel like your child's not safe anywhere," she said.

Fire destroys Galveston seawall condos

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published June 4, 2009
GALVESTON — At least 60 units of a Galveston resort were gutted Wednesday by fire, which was started accidentally by welding contractors who were renovating the complex damaged by Hurricane Ike, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called at 2:19 p.m. to Maravilla Resort Condominiums, 9520 Seawall Blvd., and found fire spreading between the second and third floor.

“It was the workers out there doing welding and cutting,” Fire Chief Mike Varela Sr. said of Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson’s determination. The contractors had a city permit for renovations and were employing a fire watch, Varela said.

Galveston firefighter Gary Vasquez suffered from heat exhaustion and was taken by ground ambulance to Mainland Medical Center in Texas City and released, Varela said.

A medical crew treated some of the contractors at the scene, but they weren’t taken to a hospital, Varela said.

The blaze began in the rear of the complex, working its way toward the seawall side of the structure. About 120 firefighters, including those from Jamaica Beach, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, La Marque and Texas City were called to the island and helped evacuate about 30 or 40 people from the building. They also fought the blaze and manned fire stations here. There were no further injuries, Varela said.

Firefighters focused their attack at the center of the complex, where Varela said a fire break helped them control the blaze about 5:30 p.m.

Much of the upper units of the three-story complex were gutted, and many more sustained smoke and water damage, Varela said.

Lloyd W. Rinderer, an assistant city manager for Galveston, said he lost his condo of six years to the blaze. Rinderer, who is also treasurer of the condo’s homeowner’s association, said he would reside on his boat at The Galveston Yacht Club, just as he did not long after the storm.

“We were a month from completing Hurricane Ike repairs,” Rinderer said of the Sept. 13 storm’s damaging effects. “There were 164 units and there were about 10 people who were actually living there.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

RH Donnelley goes for Bankruptcy

RH Donnelley, the publisher of nearly 600 directories, including the several phone directories in the Houston area, filed for bankruptcy protection. The company sited losses from operations due to declines in advertising because of economy, new competition from local directories, and the competition from the web.

READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE.

DA: Plea agreement reached in record-breaking case

By Jamie Nash
June 1, 2009

CONROE- An East Montgomery County resident and business owner whose arrest yielded the biggest cash and property seizure in the county’s history will not fight the charges against him, according to District Attorney Brett Ligon.

Michael Glenn Anderson, 44, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and money laundering greater than $200,000, both of which carried possible sentences of five to 99 years or life in prison. Instead, Anderson agreed to a 10 year sentence in the Texas Department of Corrections and forfeiture of his assets, including his home, $270,000, Harley Davidson motorcycle and Lexus SUV.

An older model pickup Anderson owns was returned along with contents of his home such as clothing. Ligon said Anderson’s parents were contacted and retrieved his person effects. The other items will be liquidated, and the money used to fight crime in Precinct 4.

“I’m ecstatic to turn the proceeds over to law enforcement,” Ligon said.

Precinct 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden said Anderson’s arrest and forfeiture agreement should serve as a warning to others.

“There’s no way to sugar coat it, Hayden said, “That’s the price you pay for living that lifestyle.”

He further stated he hoped Anderson would get the help he needed and become a productive citizen after his release.

Deputies with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office first arrested Anderson on April 23 at his home, located at 17205 Misty Lake Point in the North Crest Ranch subdivision off of SH 242 near US 59.

While investigating an anonymous tip, Pct. 4 deputies found Anderson with around 15 grams of crack cocaine in plain view, then obtained a search warrant and discovered around 2 kilos of cocaine inside the residence.

Anderson was jailed on the possession of a controlled substance charge and many of his valuable belongings were seized. The same evening, investigators obtained warrants for his accounts and safety deposit boxes at Chase Bank. Inside one of his safety deposit boxes, investigators found and seized $270,000 in $100 bill.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

New Caney High School announces top 10 graduates

The June 7 graduation will be a dream come true for many New Caney High School seniors and their families.

While many will have a lot to celebrate, the high school’s 2009 top 10 graduates were announced during the honor graduation ceremony May 19.

“I have been in education for 22 years and this is my fifth year as the lead counselor at New Caney High School. I am always so proud of the top 10 students because this achievement does not come easy,” said Ann Kramer. “Students must take a very rigorous college preparatory course of study and go above and beyond in the basic requirements for graduation.”

New Caney High School’s top 10 graduates are Luis Rodriguez, valedictorian; Jonathan Curtis, salutatorian; Joshua Battley; Michael Prior; Eric Pashia; Salina Chen; Olivia Milkovic; Dallas Kallies; Jillian Boyd; and Patrick O’Hare.

“All of these students have very high goals for themselves and should be very successful members of society,” Kramer said. “I expect to hear great things in the future from all of them. This is a great reward for them and also for us as educators.”

With plans to either be a pediatrician or a cardiologist, Rodriguez plans to attend the University of Houston after high school and major in biochemical and biophysical sciences.

“I like math and science,” Rodriguez said. “That is why I want to go to medical school. I see myself starting my career as a physician in 10 years.”

The valedictorian was a member of the National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America and Science UIL.

As he prepares for his future, Rodriguez said that he wants to be a role model for his younger brother and sister.

Salutatorian Jonathan Curtis said he also plans to attend the University of Houston and study biomedical engineering.

“My plans are to go to medical school and pursue a career in orthopedics,” he said. “I want to be an orthopedic because I have had a lot of broken bones due to sports and it has always interested me.”

A member of the tennis team and NHS and working, Curtis said he enjoyed spending time with friends and growing relationships that will last a lifetime.

Battley, ranked third in his class, said in 10 years he has plans to complete his residency as a medical doctor.

“At New Caney, I enjoyed tennis and building rockets in physics,” Battley said.

The graduate plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in biomedical engineering. Upon graduation, his goal is to go to medical school and specialize in orthopedics.

Prior plans to attend Texas A&M University and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in physics.

“With my degree, I plan to participate in scientific research or teach calculus or physics,” Prior said.

When asked what he will miss about high school, he said he will miss all of his friends who “I don’t interact with outside of school because they are still my good friends. I will also miss my teachers because most of them were very good.”

After graduation, Pashia will attend a community college to finish his Associate of Arts.

“I then plan to transfer to pursue my career in music at Southwestern Assemblies of God University where I will major in piano/guitar,” Pashia said.

In 10 years, Pashia said he sees himself leading worship and continuing his career in music and singing with hopes of getting a record deal.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE