WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXIX NUMBER 34 Section 1 10 pages
August 28, 2024 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and LacyJo Whatley
Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper
Established 1995
Montgomery County News
Montgomery, Texas 77356
50 Weekly
PRE-SRT POSTAGE PD #80 MONTG. TX
PBOX Magnolia, TX 77353
Texas Montgomery County Historical Local
Singing Commission presents Billy Ray Weekly Gas Prices Duncan with Prestigous Award Star Releases
Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 10.2 cents per gallon in the last week, a v e r a g i n g $ 2 . 8 7 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 24.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 50.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has declined 3.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.67 per gallon, a multi-year low. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.43/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.59/g, a difference of $1.16/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.43/g while the highest was $3.59/g, a difference of $1.16/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.30/g today. The national average is down 20.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 49.2 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: August 26, 2023: $3.38/g (U.S. Average: $3.80/g) August 26, 2022: $3.36/g (U.S. Average: $3.84/g) August 26, 2021: $2.80/g (U.S. Average: $3.14/g) August 26, 2020: $1.92/g (U.S. Average: $2.23/g) August 26, 2019: $2.33/g (U.S. Average: $2.58/g) August 26, 2018: $2.60/g (U.S. Average: $2.83/g) August 26, 2017: $2.16/g (U.S. Average: $2.36/g) August 26, 2016: $2.01/g (U.S. Average: $2.21/g) August 26, 2015: $2.29/g (U.S. Average: $2.56/g) August 26, 2014: $3.25/g (U.S. Average: $3.43/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.81/g, down 10.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.91/g. San Antonio- $2.70/g, down 14.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.85/g. Austin- $2.76/g, down 16.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.92/g. “It seems fitting that, in the run-up to Labor Day, the national average has fallen for four straight weeks to its lowest point since February, giving Americans one last chance to hit the road with gas prices being less of a factor," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum a n a l y s i s a t G a s B u d d y. "GasBuddy is now tracking eight states where average gas prices are already below the $3 per gallon mark, along with nearly 20% of gas stations in the country selling gasoline at $2.99 or lower. These numbers will continue to look better every week as we move into fall. GasBuddy's Labor Day travel forecast, to be released tomorrow, will provide more good news about the millions of dollars Americans who are roadtripping will save compared to last year." SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community......2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals......................6, 7, 8, 9 Business Directory...........10
by Ruben Borjas, Jr
The preservation of history is a commitment, and for those who have been in the game long enough, and have made a distinctive impact, those people are few and far between. The President of the Montgomery Historical Society, Billy Ray Duncan, is such a man, and the Montgomery County Historical Commission awarded him the ‘William H a r l e y G a n d y Distinguished Service Award’ this past Monday for Mr. Duncan’s dedication to keeping the history of Montgomery alive. The award was presented by Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, at the Conroe Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Conroe. The William Harley Gandy Distinguished Service Award is presented at the discretion of the Montgomery County Historical Commission, with the approval of Commissioners Court, to those special individuals, corporations or organizations who have exhibited distinguished leadership, initiative, and dedication to the preservation of the history of Montgomery County. Billy Ray has done extensive research on Texas history and personalities
Video of Her Nationally Performed Song
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough presents Montgomery Historical Society President, Billy Ray Duncan, with the ‘William Harley Gandy Distinguished Service Award’ this past Monday at the Chamber of Commerce in Conroe telling to all who will listen. His stories and anecdotes are full of interesting information and in most cases very funny. “Billy Ray has been deserving of this award for such a long time,” said Montgomery County Historical Commission Chairman Larry Forester. “This is an award for a person is who considered an unsung hero, and Mr. Duncan is deserving of this honor for his observation and promotion of Montgomery County
History.” Eight years ago, Mr. Duncan began reenacting General Sam Houston at Montgomery Historical Society events, and especially enjoys those events when kids are present, learning history from a place General Houston actually visited, passing through Montgomery many times on his way to and from Huntsville. Billy Ray has researched the life of General Sam Houston, who not only led the ragtag
Texian Army to victory over the Mexicans at San Jacinto, but was the the Republic of Texas’s first president. Houston also was a congressman and governor of Tennessee, state representative and senator from Texas, as well as its governor. Houston made frequent stops in the town of Montgomery before his death in 1863. Billy Ray’s study of the man has inspired him to See Duncan , page 2
Three Entergy Texas Leaders Receive a Prestigious Award from City Council
Councilman Howard Wood presenting Entergy Texas Officials with a Key to the City during a City Council Meeting on August 22nd, 2024 C o n r o e , T X — A f t e r Hurricane Beryl, around 252,460 Entergy Texas
customers, mainly in Conroe, lost power. The Category 1 hurricane caused significant damage to 806 poles, 400 transformers, 979 crossarms, and an estimated 150 miles of downed wire. A dedicated workforce of nearly 2,400 people worked around the clock to safely restore power to all affected communities in Entergy Texas. Mayor Duke W. Coon and the City Council members expressed their deepest appreciation and gratitude to Entergy for surpassing expectations in their restoration efforts. Councilman Howard Wood was delighted to present a
See Entergy, page 2
Montgomery County’s own Payton Riley, 15, the local singing sensation who earlier this year performed nationally on American Idol’s audition show, where she impressed the judges with a heartfelt rendition of her original song ‘Fireflies.’ The tune is about a breakup with her first boyfriend from years back. August 23rd marked the release date of her video of the song, which dropped on her YouTube page ‘Payton Riley Music,’ early that morning Riley’s song also gives girls her age who have had heartbreak, a chance to heal their hearts so they can go on with their lives. “This song means a lot to so many people, and it’s even helped some get through tough breakups,” said Riley. “I would like to thank all of my fans for all the love and support they’ve given me for this song.” The young singer is a h a r d w o r k e r, a n d i s constantly striving to one day return to American Idol, where the judges asked Riley to return in a few years, of which there is no doubt she will. Riley wanted to impress the judges with her songwriting and singing talents she had mastered at such a young age. Since her appearance on American Idol, Riley has picked up new fans nationally and internationally. She’s been in the recording studio working on new material for 2025, and is constantly writing. Payton has been named a finalist for the 2024 Young Artist of the Year (18 and younger) by the Texas Country Music Association, an honor she won last year as their youngest nominee ever. In addition, she is up for a Josie Music Award in Nashville, for ‘Artist of the Year - Young Adult Female.’ The JMA’s will be held at the Grand Ole Opry House on October 27th, and independent See Riley, page 2