SEALY NEWS THE
Joe & Marilyn PAGE 3
Terrific Tigers! PAGE 7
Serving Sealy and Austin County since 1887 • Home of Jean Koym
Volume 127 Number 36
NEWSBITS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
SISD makes the grade
Fire department open house The Sealy Fire Department will hold an open house on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 7-8:45 p.m. at the station at 1207 Hwy 90 West. In addition to demonstrations and station tours, there will be a meet-and-greet with firefighters and a recruitment drive for new volunteers. For more information, call 979-885-2222.
All schools meet state standards
County under fire ban The Austin County Commissioners Court on Monday enacted a 90-day burn ban in the county. All outdoor burning is prohibited in rural parts of the county with the exception of welding under certain conditions and above ground, contained grills in areas free of debris.
Band booster bake sale The Sealy Band Boosters will hold its annual bake sale in the Walmart parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon. Boosters will be selling all types of baked goods to raise funds for all Sealy band students in grades 6-12. ■ NEWS BITS, page 17
18 pages, $1
By JOE SOUTHERN editor@sealynews.com The Sealy News/MINDY BLANKEMEYER
Members of the Sealy ISD Board of Trustees get ice water dumped on them Friday following the football game as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Supt. Sheryl Moore extended the fundraising challenge to all the other school boards in Region 6.
School board accepts ALS challenge By MINDY BLANKEMEYER reporter@sealynews.com
Sealy ISD Asst. Supt. Nicole Poenitzsch challenged the school board this week to take on the ALS ice bucket challenge. Supt. Sheryl Moore and fellow board members accepted the challenge Friday night after the football game against Royal. Upon completion, Moore challenged all other school boards in Region 6 to take the challenge now. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity involving dump-
ing a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourages donations to aid research. It went viral on social media during JulyAugust of this year. The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated participants have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.
The origins of the idea of dumping cold water on one’s head to raise money for charity are unclear. From mid-2013 to early 2014, a challenge called the “Cold Water Challenge” became popular on social media in areas of the northern United States. The task usually involved the option of either donating money to cancer research or having to jump into cold water. If you are challenged and prefer to not de doused in ice cold water, or if you simply prefer to make a donation to the cause, visit www.alsa.org for more details.
In the pass-fail world of school district accountability rankings, the Sealy Independent School District is passing with flying colors. The Texas Education Association (TEA) recently posted its annual school accountability reports and the district and all four schools met standard with three of the schools earning distinctions. Gone are the days when the TEA ranked schools as Recognized or Exemplary. Instead each school and district either meets standard or fails to meet standard. Distinctions are awarded when schools perform at a high level in specific subjects. ■ SISD, page 2
Sealy woman gives birth to triplets By CARRIE WARD THE SEALY NEWS
Get well Sealy High School football player Brandon Theriot suffered a broken leg in practice last week and had to undergo surgery. The Sealy News wishes him a complete and speedy recovery.
TODAY'SOBITUARIES ■ Gail Ann Duncan Kinsey
BIBLEQUOTE Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Thank a
Veteran and Serviceman everyday
As the saying goes, Ciera Cloud and Raffael Jackson’s family grew by six feet on Aug. 15. The Sealy couple welcomed Royce, Reagan and Riley, naturally conceived triplets, at 5:15 a.m., 5:16 a.m. and 5:17 a.m. Multiples run in Cloud’s family. Her brother recently welcomed a set of twins, so when at eight weeks pregnant the doctors thought she might be carrying twins, Cloud wasn’t completely surprised. But at 11 weeks when they confirmed twins and then spotted another baby, she was in shock. “I was shocked for the longest time. I said, ‘Oh my goodness! Are you serious?” she said as she recalled seeing the ultrasound. Naturally conceived triplets are rare, occur-
The Sealy News/COURTESY PHOTO
Riley, Royce and Reagan Cloud were born to Ciera Cloud and Raffael Jackson on Aug. 15. The Sealy News/COURTESY PHOTO
Raffael Jackson and Ciera Cloud are pictured in Houston Methodist West Hospital with Royce Cloud, one of three triplets born to the couple. ring in only 1 of about 8,000 births. These were also the first triplets born at Houston Methodist West Hospital. Cloud worked at Willow River Farms up until July 9, then spent the remaining time on
bed rest, and delivered the healthy triplets at 34 weeks. The little boy, Royce, came home from the hospital on Aug. 24. Reagan, one of the two girls, should be home in a week or so, Cloud said. Riley weighs 3 lbs.
5 oz. and is working to gain weight before she can come home. Cloud is busy feeding Royce every three hours and also visiting the other two babies at the hospital every day. Cloud, Jackson and the babies have a large
support system of extended family around them, including big sister Ayshia Lazard. “She’s really excited to be the big sister,” Cloud said. Not surprisingly Cloud is tired, but she is doing well and is looking forward to having all of her babies home.
I-10 frontage road inches closer to reality By JOE SOUTHERN editor@sealynews.com
If traffic along Interstate 10 seems to be moving slow on the weekends, it’s nothing com-
pared to the progress of building a frontage road along the highway’s north side between Highway 36 and Rexville Road. The project has been in the works for six years, but took a
major step forward Aug. 26 when the Sealy City Council accepted $350,199.66 from the Sealy Economic Development Corporation for costs related to the frontage road and an addi-
tional $105,269 from the EDC for the relocation of gas and water lines related to the project. ■ FRONTAGE, page 11
The Sealy News • 193 Schmidt Road • P.O. Box 480 • Sealy, Texas 77474 • phone: (979) 885-3562 • fax: (979) 885-3564 • www.sealynews.com
THIS
WEEK'S WEATHER According to The Weather Channel
Thursday • Friday • Saturday • Sunday • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday
High: 93 Low: 74 Rain: 50%
High: 93 Low: 72 Rain: 40%
High: 92 Low: 71 Rain: 80%
High: 92 Low: 72 Rain: 10%
High: 92 Low: 72 Rain: 10%
High: 93 Low: 73 Rain: 10%
High: 93 Low: 73 Rain: 10%
This week's weather art is by Noah Rodriguez, 7, a student at Creative Care Children's School.
SEALY NEWS THE
Stafford ends Sealy's football season PAGE 5
Serving Sealy and Austin County since 1887 • Home of John Zientek
Volume 127 Number 46
NEWSBITS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014
The Sealy AARP group will meet at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 at the Hill Center.
Farmers market forming A Bellville Farmers Market informational meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at First National Bank of Bellville 100 E. Main. Anyone interested in being a vendor at the market (which will start up in May) is urged to attend. For more information, contact Tomi Beth at 979865-3679.
By DAVID HAYDON reporter@sealynews.com
Pecan Show and Bake Sale
Liedertafel Hall birthday party Liedertafel Hall turns 100 this year and a birthday celebration will be held Dec. 6 to mark the occasion. The celebration will include, music, a brief history of the building, a gallery of historical photos, German band, food (bratwurst and sauerkraut), beer, and a birthday cake. The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with the cutting of the cake at 12:30 p.m. Anyone who was married or celebrated a major life event at the Liedertafel is invited to share their pictures during the celebration. Please email them to publisher@sealynews. com or bring them by The Sealy News. Special care will be given to the photos and they will be returned. ■ NEWS BITS, page 13
TODAY'SOBITUARIES ■ Robert Caldwell ■ Johnnie D. Krenek Sr.
BIBLEQUOTE I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Philippians 3:10
Thank a
Veteran and Serviceman everyday
20 pages, $1
Council backing YMCA facility
Sealy AARP
The Austin County Pecan Show and Bake Sale will be Friday, Nov. 21. Entries will be accepted between 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. For entry forms and rules, call 979-8652072 or visit austin. agrilife.org.
1/4 PAGE FULL COLOR ADS FOR ONLY $250 CALL TODAY! 979-885-3562 HURRY SPECIAL ENDS SOON!
The Sealy News/DAVID HAYDON
Got this under control A San Felipe-Frydek firefighter checks for any missed spots after hosing the perimeter of Sealy High School’s Nov. 13 bonfire. The Sealy Volunteer Fire Department as well as the Cat Spring VFD were also stationed on opposite sides of the fire, which was encompassed by several hundred students and parents.
WATCH D.O.G.S. getting dads involved at school By DAVID HAYDON reporter@sealynews.com
Judd Cochran began the day by helping students get from their cars and buses to inside Sealy Elementary School. From there, it was a morning of helping students with their backpacks, running errands for the front office, attending classrooms and herding students to the cafeteria for lunch. If you think Cochran is one of Sealy ISD’s teachers, think again. He’s part of the Dads Of Great Students, also known as WATCH D.O.G.S., and they’ve arrived at Sealy’s elementary for the first time. Cochran took a moment between eating with his firstgrade son, Campbell, to explain. “Basically it’s a program trying to get father figures in schools,” Cochran said. “There was a letter sent home, and so I volunteered to be here. There are many (students) that need that male influence in their lives. There are so many that don’t have it right now.” WATCH D.O.G.S. was born out of the National Center for
The Sealy News/DAVID HAYDON
Judd Cochran gives a thumbs-up to a first grader during lunch at Sealy Elementary School. Cochran is a participant with WATCH D.O.G.S., an organization that gives students a positive male role model during school activities. Fathering. The organization coordinates the dads into doing cook-offs, organize recess or even look out for bullying, but the specifics change literally day by day, and dad by dad. “Today it was getting ready for the book fair,” Cochran said. “Moving tables and chairs around. I also went to one of the second grade classrooms.” Specifics or not, WATCH D.O.G.S. spend the entire day
at school, and they get as much as they give. “With all that’s involved in just getting kids to lunch,” Cochran said. “It’s a massive undertaking. It’s been really good just to be at the school.” Assistant Principal Lisa Svoboda said that they tried to figure out how to organize the WATCH D.O.G.S. into a coher■ DADS, page 3
Angel Tree benefits local seniors In an effort to make Christmas a little jollier for Sealy seniors, The Sealy News has again partnered with Silver Lake and The Oaks for this year’s Angel Tree to bring smiles to the faces of seniors at both retirement communities. Many of the residents live on fixed incomes and being away from family can be tough during the holiday season. Local residents, however, can make their Christmas more festive by giving a small gift.
The Angel Tree will go up next week at The Sealy News office. It features special ornaments representing each of the residents at Silver Lake and The Oaks. To sponsor a senior’s gift, head over to The Sealy News and select an ornament. Each ornament on the Angel Tree has name of a senior and a few items they’d like for Christmas. Take the ornament, go to a store and purchase an appropriate gift. Any gift is welcome, but most residents are looking for simple
items including blankets, socks, gloves, towels and washcloths, shirts, candles and personal hygiene products. The gifts should be returned wrapped to The Sealy News office by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, to be made available that week. More information about the Angel Tree program can be obtained by phoning The Sealy News at 979-885-3562 or by coming to the newspaper’s office in person, located at 193 Schmidt Road, across from Walmart.
The Sealy City Council spent the beginning of the Nov. 11 meeting announcing several holidays and making proclamations, but were all eager to go to the YMCA. Or they would be, if the Y had a building in Sealy. Ryan Reichardt spoke on behalf of the several Sealy area YMCA board members. “We’ve had a dream since the Y started that one day we would have a building here in Sealy. We wanted to get to a time when we had the programs to sustain it,” Reichardt said. “We think that that time is now. We’ve had tremendous success in all our programs.” The proposed building (15,000-17,000 square feet) would cost approximately $4 million and be placed at Jacqueline A. Cryan Memorial Park, near where the lazy river is proposed. Form and function would include aerobics, fitness, a locker area and pools, among other plans. “From an operation standpoint we need to be centralized,” he said. According to Reichardt, a $1.5 million donation has been pledged to help build the facility (anonymously for the time being). The Y predicts it can raise an additional $500,000, but Reichardt made a point to mention they do not want to own the building or the land. “That’s the gist of it. We are asking for tax dollars,” Reichardt said. “I don’t want to do that, but we’re offering a $2 million contribution to this. We’re not looking for a handout.” Councilmember Yvonne Johnson praised the idea. “No question. Just a ■ YMCA, page 12
Fantasy of Lights hitches a ride on the Polar Express The Sealy Community Foundation rings in the holiday season with Sealy’s 28th Annual Fantasy of Lights festival Dec. 5-6. The weekend’s theme is Polar Express and is packed with activities for all ages including live entertainment, arts and crafts booths, food vendors, holiday home tours, a barbecue cookoff, a 5K and 1K fun run benefitting the Sealy
See more information about Fantasy of Lights on page 7. PTA, softball tournament, pageants, the 100th celebration of Liedertafel Hall, and the Kids Fantasy event with crafts, live snowfall and a visit from Santa himself. It’s all capped off with a tree lighting and lighted ■ FANTASY, page 13
The Sealy News • 193 Schmidt Road • P.O. Box 480 • Sealy, Texas 77474 • phone: (979) 885-3562 • fax: (979) 885-3564 • www.sealynews.com
THIS
WEEK'S WEATHER According to The Weather Channel
Thursday • Friday • Saturday • Sunday • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday
High: 69 Low: 60 Rain: 40%
High: 73 Low: 63 Rain: 60%
High: 73 Low: 54 Rain: 90%
High: 77 Low: 51 Rain: 0%
High: 65 Low: 43 Rain: 10%
High: 56 Low: 37 Rain: 10%
High: 61 Low: 44 Rain: 0%
This week's weather art is by Kelly Santamaria, 5, a student at Selman Elementary School.