WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXIX NUMBER 21 Section 1 10 pages
May 29, 2024 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Emily Giles
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Texas MCHD Awarded with EMS Vernon's Reopens Weekly For Children Gas Prices Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 2.7 cents per gallon in the last week, a v e r a g i n g $ 3 . 0 6 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 13.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 3.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has fallen 2.9 cents in the last week and stands at $3.82 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.49/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.60/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.49/g while the highest was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.60/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.56/g today. The national average is down 6.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.2 cents per gallon higher 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 28, 2023: $3.09/g (U.S. Average: $3.55/g) May 28, 2022: $4.22/g (U.S. Average: $4.60/g) May 28, 2021: $2.73/g (U.S. Average: $3.04/g) May 28, 2020: $1.64/g (U.S. Average: $1.97/g) May 28, 2019: $2.52/g (U.S. Average: $2.81/g) May 28, 2018: $2.75/g (U.S. Average: $2.96/g) May 28, 2017: $2.18/g (U.S. Average: $2.36/g) May 28, 2016: $2.08/g (U.S. Average: $2.32/g) May 28, 2015: $2.50/g (U.S. Average: $2.74/g) May 28, 2014: $3.44/g (U.S. Average: $3.65/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.91/g, down 11.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.03/g. San Antonio- $2.95/g, down 21.9 cents per gallon from last week's $3.17/g. Austin- $3.02/g, down 16.4 cents per gallon from last week's $3.18/g. "With the summer driving season now underway, average gas prices have seen ups in some areas and downs in others. Most states are seeing prices slightly below their 2024 peak thus far, with some refinery issues in the Great Lakes weighing on prices there, while other areas, like the West Coast, have seen notable relief with more coming," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "June tends to be a month of smooth sailing, where we see gas prices decline in most areas, and that's a trend that looks the most likely for drivers, barring unexpected refinery snags or a tropical storm developing. The national average over Memorial Day was down ever so slightly compared to last year—after adjusting for inflation, prices were down about 10 cents per gallon. Not a terrible way to kick off summer!" SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community......2, 3, 4, 9, 10 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.........................6, 7, 8 Business Directory...........10
Crew of The Year 2024
Ahead of Schedule by Ruben Borjas Jr., MCN contributing writer
C O N R O E – Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) is humbled to announce we have received the statewide EMS for Children Crew of the Year Award for 2024. This honor from Baylor College of Medicine’s Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) is awarded to an EMS crew in recognition of outstanding prehospital emergency care of a pediatric patient.
Recipients of this award are Alarm Medic II Kellie Gonzalez, In-Charge Paramedic David Ikard, InCharge Paramedic Jeremy Cattoor, Captain Kelsie Adams, District Chief April Currie, Captain of Quality Improvement Brad Ward and Deputy Chief Tamella Welch. Dr. Christina Miyake, Director of the Cardiovascular Genetics P r o g r a m f o r Te x a s C h i l d r e n ’s H o s p i t a l ,
nominated MCHD EMS for recently saving the life of a toddler. The 911 call came in as a seizure. When paramedics arrived, the parents initially did not believe the child needed to go to the hospital because of a seizure history, and they believed the episode was over. Fortunately, the paramedics assessed the child and were able to explain the severity of the symptoms. Thankfully so, because in transport to the
Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson, MC Constables, Police Departments, the Texas
In a feat unequaled in Montgomery County history, a major restaurant that was flooded out early in a month, has been reopened in working order looking no worse for wear before the end of the same month. Actually, it was a day over three weeks out of action. Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish, located at 5901 W Davis, in Conroe. was f l o o d e d w i t h approximately 17 inches of water throughout the restaurant on May 2nd. A ‘rain bomb,’ an extreme amount of rain that fell in Lake Conroe’s watershed in a short period of time, caused the forced release of water from the Lake C o n r o e D a m overwhelming the West Fork of the San Jacinto R i v e r. T h e f l o o d i n g affected the low-lying woods, and approached the catfish restaurant from the backside of the property. It was the second time Vernon’s had flooded since Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Kuntry Katfish, which had anticipated on opening last Saturday the 25th, announced earlier that week that the repairs were happening much faster than anticipated. That prompted the restaurant's Facebook post on May 20th that the restaurant would be open for business for the Friday lunch service. People were excited to be back, seated, and having the proven Southern staples that have been drawing Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish customers back time and time again for decades. Restaurant contractor Blaze Benzon, President of Cowl Spur Development, said that the damage was not as bad as the 2017 flood event, which kept the restaurant under repair for months, with cooking taking place out in the parking lot. Benson’s crew was in the restaurant demoing the restaurant even before the waters had completely receded from the parking lot. “I’m thrilled at how they got up and running so fast,“ said restaurant patron Cathy George, who was having lunch with her
See MADD, page 2
See Veron’s, page 2
hospital, the child suffered cardiac arrest. “I think that one thing is the beginning of what saved this child’s life,” Dr. Miyake said. “I think if you hadn’t recognized the gravity of the situation in the moment and took action, this child wouldn’t have made it. Then, in the transport to the hospital, you accurately diagnosed a See MCHD , page 2
District Attorney, Sheriff, MADD: Warn Summer Drivers and Boaters to Remain Sober Behind the Wheel
machinery in Montgomery County, District Attorney Brett Ligon held his annual In a show of defiance S u m m e r S a f e t y P r e s s against drivers and boaters C o n f e r e n c e l a s t who drink and operate Wednesday, in an effort to by MCN contributing writer, Ruben Borjas Jr
combat the ‘100 Deadliest D a y s ’ o f s u m m e r, i n regards to drinking and the physical safety of children out of school until the fall. Ligon was backed up by