Humble Police Get Recognition

On Nov. 10, the Humble Police Department received a certificate of recognition from the Texas Police Chief’s Association.

Begun in 2007, the recognition program evaluates a police department’s compliance with over 150 best business practices for Texas law enforcement. These best practices were carefully developed over a 2-year period by Texas Law Enforcement professionals to assist agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of service and the protection of individual’s rights.

These best practices cover all aspects of law enforcement operations including use of force, protection of citizen rights, vehicle pursuits, property and evidence management and patrol and investigative operations.

“This voluntary process required a critical self-review of our agency’s policies, procedures, facilities and operations,” said Humble PD Lt. Quentin Sammon. “The department prepared proofs of compliance for each of the Texas best business practices for law enforcement and when complete, requested an outside audit and review.”

The result of this review was sent to the Texas Police Chief’s Association’s Recognition Committee for final analysis and decision to award “recognized” status.
“The Humble Police Department has always considered itself to be one of the best in the area,” Sammon said. “This process allows an independent review of the department’s operations and will assure the citizens of Humble that its Police Department is conforming to the current state of the art in law enforcement.”

Search resumes for missing SHSU student

Authorities have stepped up their search for a Sam Houston State University student who went missing after visiting friends at a Montgomery County sports bar last week.

Texas EquuSearch is canvassing the area near I-45 and Sawdust road today, using all-terrain vehicles and conducting foot searches in wooded areas.

EquuSearch's Ken DeFoor said the search has not yet turned up new details.

Thomas Murray Jr., called "T.J." by family and friends, was last seen leaving On the Rocks sports bar on Sawdust Road just after midnight Oct. 19, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Murray had just umpired a Little League baseball game and went to the club with his friends after the game.

Murray called his father on his cellphone about 12:30 a.m. to let him know he was leaving his father's truck at On the Rocks and was riding with friends to Rookies, another bar on Sawdust Road. He called his father again to let him know he had been separated from his friends but would leave the truck at Oak Ridge High School, investigators said.

Murray's cellphone was found in a ditch near the first bar, and his pickup was in the parking lot. Deputies said there appear to be no signs of foul play.

Murray is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and weighing 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing shorts and a red T-shirt with white lettering.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Keith Funderburk at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5876 or the dispatcher at 936-760-5800.

Quake shakes South Texas ...

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A shallow, moderate earthquake struck southern Texas (TX) on Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was the strongest earthquakes to hit the U.S. state in 45 years.

The 4.8 magnitude quake, upgraded from 4.6mb, occured at 07:25 AM local time (13:25 PM GMT) and was recorded at an extremely shallow depth of 3km (1.9 miles). It struck below Fashing, but was felt as far as Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin.

The epicentre of the quake was located 22 km (14 miles) NW (321°) from Pawnee, TX; 23 km (14 miles) SSW (213°) from Falls City, TX; 26 km (16 miles) WSW (249°) from Karnes City, TX; 60 km (37 miles) NW of Beeville, TX; 76 km (47 miles) SSE (154°) from San Antonio, TX; 92 km (57 miles) E of Pearsall, TX; 166 km (103 miles) SSW of AUSTIN, TX; and 463 km (288 miles) SSW (197°) from Dallas, TX.

The last time Texas experienced a tremor similar in intensity to Thursday’s quake was on July 20, 1966. The magnitude 4.8 earthquake was centred in the Panhandle, near Borger and Amarillo.

The most recent earthquake to strike the region hit on 25 April, 2010. The 4.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded 56 km west of Corpus Christi.

Assistant principal at Humble school accused of assaulting student

HUMBLE, TX (KTRK) -- The problem of bullying in schools has become a major issue over the past couple of years. We are hearing about a student at Humble Middle School who says he was being picked on by a bully. But he says it wasn't another student, it was the assistant principal.

Mother April Palmer said, "Well, he showed me. He just basically told me it was a push, like that, you know, unexpectedly."

Palmer is pretty upset right now. She says an assistant principal from Humble Middle School assaulted her eighth-grade child two weeks ago.

"His head was pushed into the table top, the cafeteria table top because he was talking," Palmer said.

The school district says the alleged incident happened during a lunch period on September 16. Palmer says she found out about the assault four days later when the school's principal called her home.

"He told me it was true, that the assistant principal was removed from the school, and that he wouldn't be there again," Palmer explained. "He apologized for what happened, and that he would look into it."

Palmer says her son didn't immediately tell her about the attack because he was afraid of that assistant principal. She says the boy claims it's not the first time the man has hit him.

"My son was explaining to me that he's been picking at him, pretty much bullying him for over the last year," Palmer said.

In a statement released by Humble ISD, spokeswoman Karen Collier says, "Whenever there is an allegation of a possible assault of a student by an employee, the accused is placed on leave with pay during the investigation. This is done to protect all parties until the allegation is thoroughly investigated and resolved."

Palmer says her son is still complaining of headaches. And she just wants to make sure it doesn't happen again.

For now, Humble ISD police are still investigating. No charges have been filed.

Tasty treats for a good cause:Senior living center hosts bake sale for children

Despite memory-impairing conditions, people with Alzheimer’s disease still have much to offer society, including a delicious assortment of baked treats.
The Silverado Service Club at the Silverado Senior Living- Kingwood will join Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale to benefit under-privileged children across America.

Residents will create a rich menu of pies, cookies, breads and other baked goods to offer to friends, family and residents of Kingwood in exchange for a donation toward the cause. The event is open to the public and will be held on Alzheimer’s Action Day from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month to raise awareness of the disease, work to find a cure, and also to acknowledge and assist those already affected.

“This event not only will benefit a great cause, it will provide mouth-watering testament that people with Alzheimer’s disease still have a lot to contribute to society,” explains Chris Holland, Administrator at Silverado-Kingwood.

Silverado Kingwood is located at 22955 Eastex Freeway, Kingwood, TX; 281-312-2526. Contact Anne Abraham or Dean Goldman at the above emails and phone, or Chris Holland at the community.
Silverado Senior Living offers assisted living care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory impairment as well as home care, care management, and hospice care through its Silverado At Home and Silverado Hospice. Silverado is based in Irvine, Calif. and operates in 35 locations across California, Texas, Utah, Arizona and Illinois. Its website is www.Silveradosenior.com

Bastrop is burning ...

BASTROP

- The most destructive wildfire on record in Texas showed no signs of slowing down Monday, destroying 25,000 acres in Bastrop County and 476 homes, more houses than any single wildfire before and more than all other fires this year combined, according to the Texas Forest Service.

With more than 60 new wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry left the campaign trail Monday in South Carolina to address the public and organize requests for more federal aid.

Closer to Houston, a fire in Magnolia burned 20 homes and more than 1,600 acres, and was threatening subdivisions in Montgomery and Grimes counties late Monday. It had moved southwest into Waller County last Monday.

It was one of several fires to hit the area, straining state and local resources as officials focused on the most dangerous blazes. One firefighter was injured and one fire engine burned in blazes in the Magnolia area, said Lt. Dan Norris, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not yet know how much of the most dangerous fire had been contained Monday, but planned to continue fighting it "as long as necessary," Norris said.

Strong winds and dry conditions fanned the flames and aided the blaze's rapid growth, forcing the evacuation of more than 150 homes. Montgomery County officials were encouraging evacuations from the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488, about 42 miles northwest of Houston, up to the Grimes County line, an official said.

Magnolia fire

The Magnolia fire, located off FM 1774 and FM 1488, jumped FM 1488 late Monday and forced further evacuations, although some families were being allowed back to their homes. The Magnolia Independent School District canceled classes today because of the fires. Evacuation shelters were being set up throughout the area, including at Magnolia High School.

Another fire in the area had burned 100 acres and was 80 percent contained, Norris said. It had destroyed one structure and caused no injuries after 50 homes were evacuated.

A fire covering about 100 acres was burning in Oak Ridge North late Monday.

A fire near Nacogdoches that started Sunday night raged to 300 acres Monday and forced 60 families to evacuate their homes, said Ralph Cullom, a spokesman for the Texas Forrest Service. That fires grew with strong gusts of winds and fed off of dry conditions on the ground.

"This drought we're having is just unprecedented," Cullom said.

No injuries have been reported in Bastrop, but two people were reported killed in a North Texas fire Monday. A woman and her 18-month-old child died when a fast-moving fire near Gladewater, east of Dallas, set their mobile home on fire and they were unable to escape.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, pushed by strong winds and fed by plenty of dry grasses, shrubs and trees, steadily moved south Monday and expanded throughout the day. It jumped the Colorado River twice.

"We will be working days on end," said Mike Fisher, the Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator. "The fire is so dynamic we really have no idea where it is."

'Lives at stake'

Perry said the wildfire burning in the central part of the state is "as mean looking" as he's ever seen.

Man arrested for taking cell phone photos under woman's dress.

HUMBLE, Texas -- A man has admitted to taking inappropriate photos of a woman in a Goodwill store in Humble, police said.

Hector Casanova has been charged with improper photography.
"She said she came to a stop and, at that time, felt something touch the inside of her leg," said Lt. Quentin Sammon of the Humble Police Department. "She looked to the ground and observed this individual."

Detectives said Casanova was crawling below with a cellphone, taking pictures up the woman's dress.

"She confronted him, asked what he was doing," Sammon said. "He immediately tried to leave the store."

Casanova was arrested in the parking lot of the store. Police said he was trying to delete photos at the time of his arrest.

Police said they found photos of other victims on Casanova's phone.
Casanova pleaded guilty in court Monday and was sentenced to six months in jail.