Gear Up Summer Academy introduces teens to college life

San Jacinto College Central’s Gear Up Summer Academy, a partnership with Pasadena ISD high schools, combines education and fun, while giving teens a taste of college life.

“The Gear Up program helps our students to become proactive in their education,” commented Karen McCarley, Pasadena ISD Gear Up coordinator. “They are asking the campus coordinators about outside programs rather than waiting for the coordinators to deliver the information to them.”

In the program, PISD high school students termed “rising ninth-graders” (passing from ninth to tenth grade) attend a series of instructional sessions at San Jacinto College Central in Pasadena that are taught by faculty members of the College. The high school students are accompanied by PISD teachers. This year’s four-day camp sessions finished in late June, with courses being held from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. each day that also included a group lunch at the end of each day’s activities. Transportation to and from the College’s Central campus was provided by PISD.

“San Jacinto College has been focusing on providing additional opportunities for pre-college students, especially during the summer,” commented Dr. James Braswell, San Jacinto College Central’s academic dean. “This partnership is working extremely well and is providing unexpected benefits for both parties. It is opening new lines of communications between college and high school faculty members and helping find new avenues of cooperation which can only help high school students in our communities.”

The Gear Up camps included daily courses that introduced young people to a wide range of the College’s academic and technical programs, such as art, music, journalism, math, welding, web design, cosmetology, and process technology. The camp sessions are designed for learning, but McCarley says some of the sessions also mix in some fun for the sake of variety and enrichment.

“For instance, one of the camp sessions had a Crime Scene Investigation theme that ran through all of the academic classes, which was a way to incorporate fun into the curriculum,” she remarked. “So much of the classes are so hands-on and project oriented that the students forget they are actually learning something.” Gear Up campers have also competed in college trivia games, and staged impromptu talent shows during lunch as enrichment activities that incorporate fun.

McCarley said there has been nothing but positive feedback from students about the Gear Up program.

“Many of our students, although they live in the Pasadena area, are not fully aware of what San Jacinto College has to offer,” she noted. “Participating in both academic and technical programs allows them to find out at an early age about careers in which they may have an interest. We have been so fortunate to have this partnership with San Jacinto College. The school has so much to offer our students and parents and they are always willing to help us in our pursuit of post-secondary education.”

For more information about San Jacinto College, call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu.

Glue Attackers Strike in Pasadena

PASADENA, Texas (AP) - Pasadena police have a sticky investigation.

Somebody put glue on the hair of three shoppers in two stores.

A 12-year-old girl told KHOU-TV that she was shopping at a drug store last week when she felt a wad of something "sizzling" in her ponytail. The substance turned out to be glue.

The child had to cut off some of her hair to get rid of the mess.

Managers say another customer had glue sprayed into her hair earlier Thursday at the same drug store.

Pasadena police are investigating a similar incident at a nearby grocery store.

Assistant Chief Bud Corbett said Monday he has never heard of any assault like the glue attacks.

So far no arrests.

Plane Crashes in La Porte

By Nakia Cooper / KHOU.com
La Porte, Texas -- La Porte residents are surprised when a plane falls out of the air and lands on their lawn.

La Porte police were called to the 10,600 block of North H Street for reports of a plane that crash landed in a backyard.

Investigators say the experimental single engine aircraft had just taken off from the La Porte Municipal Airport when it dropped out of the sky.

The pilot said he lost control of the aircraft after the plane failed to gain altitude.

The left wing clipped some trees and the plane went down, crashing into a nearby backyard.

Residents ran over to over to help the pilot who had broken his leg.

The pilot was airlifted to Memorial Hermann by PHI helicopter for emergency treatment.

Rescuers said the pilot also appeared to suffer head trauma.

FAA and DPS are investigating.

No one on the ground was injured.

Suspect in deputy's shooting found dead after SWAT standoff

By Michelle Homer, Leigh Frillici & Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
CHAMBERS COUNTY, Texas – A man suspected of killing a Chambers County deputy was found dead inside a mobile home Monday night, ending a 10-hour SWAT standoff.

A neighbor said the trouble began in the Tower Terrace subdivision at West Osage and Apache around 9:30 a.m. when someone went to Gilbert Ortez’s mobile home to shut off the water because the bill hadn’t been paid.

Another neighbor, who was outside with her dogs at the time, said she was shocked to see what happened next.

“The wife came out and they were having words, so she shot at the water lady,” said the woman. “And that’s when the water lady ran and she must have called the cops.”

Chambers County deputies went to the home to arrest the woman, who investigators identified as Ortez’s girlfriend, Pamela Leggett.

But when deputies arrived, the neighbor said Ortez opened fire, hitting Deputy Shane T. Detwiler in the head.

“The guy started pop, pop, pop, shooting,” the neighbor said by telephone.

Deputy Detwiler died at the scene. His colleagues had to wait for the gunfire to stop before they could retrieve his body.

Officers from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department and DPS, as well as ambulances, fire trucks and a Life Flight helicopter, were called to the scene.

The frightened neighbor said she spent hours hiding in her bathroom until deputies evacuated her late Monday afternoon.

“This is ridiculous. I want to get outta here,” she said by telephone.

The neighbor said deputies also went to Ortez's home last Friday because of a disturbance.

The neighbor's name was withheld for her protection.

At one point during the standoff, a robot took a phone inside the mobile home to try and establish communication with Ortez. Officers also tried to smoke him out with tear gas around 4 p.m., but he didn’t budge.

Officers had not been in contact with Ortez since the morning. When they entered the home around 7:30 p.m., they found him dead. Ortez had been shot, but investigators aren’t sure if it was suicide or if he was killed by one of the officers’ bullets.

Deputy Shane Detwiler [left] leaves behind a wife and three small children and was a decorated veteran of the Iraq war.

READ THE FULL STORY AT KHOU

Palm Tree Arsonist Strikes Again

GALVESTON, Texas — Early Thursday, a tree arsonist set ablaze three more of the island’s palms, bringing the number of torched and blackened trunks to 34, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the Galveston fire marshal’s office enlisted the help of a trained dog and handler from Pasadena’s Fire Department.

As Texas Forest Service crews marked trees killed by Hurricane Ike’s September saltwater flood, one or more arsonists have been burning palms since May.

Galveston Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson said one man, who police said was carrying an empty gas can while fleeing police last month, has not been charged with arson and there have not been any other arrests related to the burned trees.

A resident phoned authorities about 5:45 a.m. Thursday, giving police a description of a man on a bicycle seen leaving the scene of three burning palms at 16th Street and Avenue M.

Although the three trees were close together and just a foot or two from a two-story house, the flames didn’t impinge on the structure, Robinson said. The trees have mostly been set ablaze south of Broadway, Robinson said.

Robinson asked anyone who sees someone setting a tree ablaze to call 911.

This story is available through KHOU, Ch. 11's partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.

UPDATED: Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

HOUSTON—The 4th of July means fireworks across the U.S. and Houston is no exception.

There are dozens of celebrations in our area, but the largest is the Freedom over Texas festival this weekend. It is presented by Shell.

The free event is at Eleanor Tinsley Park. This year, organizers are honoring Houston’s military heroes and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Country singer, Texas native Clay Walker will be the main act. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. Right after that at 9:30, fireworks will light the sky.

If you’re thinking about heading there you should know about some road that will be closed.

On Thursday, a couple of lanes along Allen Parkway were closed. They include roads between Taft Street and downtown.

Also, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Allen Parkway will be completely closed to traffic.

If you’re in The Woodlands, there are several events where you can celebrate.

First there is the Star-Spangled Salute which is being held Friday night at the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion.

You’ll hear patriotic music presented by the Houston Symphony.

Friday at 9 a.m. you can see the South Montgomery Parade which runs through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street.

Finally, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. you can head to the Red, Hot and Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza at Town Green Park and Waterway Square.

There’s also a lot to celebrate in Fort Bend County Saturday, July 4 th.

In Sugar Land, the festivities include The Red White and Blue Fest at Oyster Creek Park. Those events begin Saturday and run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The city of Stafford and the Fort Bend Symphony will celebrate by treating the public to a free patriotic concert.

Freedom Rings 2009 will be held at the Stafford Centre and starts at 5 p.m.

In Missouri City, the public is being treated to a July 4 celebration at Buffalo Run Park.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and the fireworks blare into the night sky at 9.

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.

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