WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 21 Section 1 8 pages
May 28, 2025 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Tomasz Wach
Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper
Established 1995
Montgomery County News
Montgomery, Texas 77356
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PBOX Magnolia, TX 77353
Texas NH Davis Museum/Texas
MCTXSheriff Arrests Weekly and Beyond, Host Printmakers Fugitive Wanted for Gas Prices in Historic Montgomery Murder
Average gasoline prices in Texas are unchanged in the last week, averaging $2.70/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 2.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 35.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 3.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.476 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.28/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.51/g, a difference of $1.23/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.28/g while the highest was $3.51/g, a difference of $1.23/g.
The national average price of gasoline is unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.13/g today. The national average is up 3.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 43.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. Historical gasoline prices in Texas and the national average going back ten years: May 27, 2024: $3.06/g (U.S. Average: $3.56/g) May 27, 2023: $3.10/g (U.S. Average: $3.55/g) May 27, 2022: $4.23/g (U.S. Average: $4.60/g) May 27, 2021: $2.73/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g) May 27, 2020: $1.64/g (U.S. Average: $1.97/g) May 27, 2019: $2.53/g (U.S. Average: $2.82/g) May 27, 2018: $2.74/g (U.S. Average: $2.97/g) May 27, 2017: $2.18/g (U.S. Average: $2.37/g) May 27, 2016: $2.08/g (U.S. Average: $2.32/g) May 27, 2015: $2.51/g (U.S. Average: $2.74/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.74/g, unchanged from last week's $2.74/g. San Antonio- $2.60/g, unchanged from last week's $2.60/g. Austin- $2.64/g, unchanged from last week's $2.64/g. "While the national average didn’t fall quite as far as anticipated for Memorial Day, it was still one of the most affordable since 2021— and, when adjusted for inflation, among the cheapest in nearly a decade," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "As we move into the heart of summer, I believe we’re likely to see a relatively stable stretch for gas prices as refinery maintenance wraps up. Don’t expect the national average to rise above $3.30 per gallon, nor drop much below $3 for now. While refining issues on the West Coast are beginning to ease, several factors could still influence prices in the weeks ahead—including growing uncertainty around the upcoming hurricane season." SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community................2, 3, 8
Commentary...............2, 3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.............................6, 7 Business Directory.............8
On May 23, 2025 the Montgomery County S h e r i f f ’s O f f i c e a n d Conroe Police Department personnel who are members of the USMS G u l f C o a s t Vi o l e n t Offenders and Fugitive Task Force alongside US Marshals, arrested fugitive Diego Ignacio Granados. 17-year-old Granados was arrested in Montgomery County for the felony warrant of Murder stemming from a case in H o u s t o n C o u n t y. Granados is currently confined in the Montgomery County Jail.
LtoR: Dr Mary Lee Gray, Mayor Sara Countryman, and Shiri Riccetti at the Montgomery Historical Society/Texas & Beyond Printmaking Event by Ruben Borjas, Jr
with Texas & Beyond, both located on Liberty Street in T h e M o n t g o m e r y Montgomery, combined Historical Society along efforts this past Saturday,
May 24th, to host several N a t h a n i e l H a r t D a v i s printmaker artists who Museum. Printmaking is displayed their works in several rooms of the See History , page 2
Sting MCTXSheriff Jail Operation Celebrates V.E.T.S Program To Capture 8th Anniversary Online Child The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Justice Bureau proudly celebrated the 8th anniversary of the V.E.T.S. Program in the jail. The V.E.T.S. Program, "Veterans Embracing the Tools for Success," opened its doors on May 1, 2017, welcoming a determined group of justice-involved veterans eager to overcome their barriers to success. By harnessing their military experiences and pride in their service, this program equips incarcerated military veterans with vital tools for transformation, inspiring them to take charge of their futures. Since its inception, the program has empowered over 600 veterans to transition from incarceration to lives filled
Predators
with self-reliance and freedom. The V.E.T.S. Program has flourished thanks to the unwavering support of numerous organizations, including Veterans Affairs,
T r i - C o u n t y, M i l i t a r y Veteran Peer Network, Te x a s Ve t e r a n s Commission, Refuge Counseling Center, Veterans & Patriots United, PTSD Foundation of
America, FOB Rasor, SER Jobs, VFW Post 12223, M.E.T., and an incredible network of dedicated volunteers.
In December 2021, the Montgomery County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force conducted an undercover sting operation aimed at capturing online child predators. A detective sergeant from the Montgomery County Pct. 1 C o n s t a b l e ’s O ff i c e initiated communication with an individual who expressed a desire to engage in a sexual encounter with someone posing as an 8-year-old child. The suspect, identified as Zachary Thiel, 34, from Hockley, Texas, drove to Conroe to meet the supposed child, traveling approximately forty-five minutes from his home. Upon arrival at the arranged meeting location, Thiel was arrested for Online Solicitation of a Minor. On May 20, 2025, the 221st District Court heard Thiel’s case. After a brief deliberation, the jury found him guilty of Online Solicitation of a Minor and sentenced him to 8 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). “This is a sobering reminder of the threats children face online every day,” said Constable Cash. “Thanks to the efforts of our partner agencies and the District Attorney’s Office, another dangerous individual has been taken off the streets.”