WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXIX NUMBER 37 Section 1 8 pages
September 18, 2024 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Caleb Reeves
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
Defending Texas McDade Magnolia Tree the Legacy
Weekly Recognized as Historic Gas Prices
Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 13.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $ 2 . 6 7 / g t o d a y, a c c o r d i n g t o GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 32.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 75.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has declined 3.4 cents in the last week and stands at $3.57 per gallon- the lowest level since January, 2022, over 900 days ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $1.99/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.59/g, a difference of $1.60/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $1.99/g while the highest was $3.59/g, a difference of $1.60/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.15/g today. The national average is down 26.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 70.5 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: September 16, 2023: $3.42/g (U.S. Average: $3.85/g) September 16, 2022: $3.16/g (U.S. Average: $3.67/g) September 16, 2021: $2.82/g (U.S. Average: $3.18/g) September 16, 2020: $1.86/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g) September 16, 2019: $2.27/g (U.S. Average: $2.58/g) September 16, 2018: $2.60/g (U.S. Average: $2.84/g) September 16, 2017: $2.47/g (U.S. Average: $2.61/g) September 16, 2016: $1.95/g (U.S. Average: $2.19/g) September 16, 2015: $2.07/g (U.S. Average: $2.30/g) September 16, 2014: $3.17/g (U.S. Average: $3.37/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.53/g, down 14.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.68/g. San Antonio- $2.49/g, down 14.9 cents per gallon from last week's $2.64/g. Austin- $2.53/g, down 16.3 cents per gallon from last week's $2.69/g. "Gasoline prices continue to crumble across nearly the entire nation, with average prices below $3 per gallon in 18 states, with some 65,000 stations selling below that psychological mark. Diesel prices are also falling and are at their lowest level in nearly 1,000 days," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "With the change to winter gasoline happening today at most stations across the country, the outlook is bright for the national average to continue to make a run at falling to $2.99 per gallon for the first time since 2021. But while nearly all states are seeing prices drop, refinery maintenance and some outages at California refineries have led to tight supply and rising prices—a situation I hope can be remedied by the end of the month and help California join in on the decline." GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data. GasBuddy's survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-todate in the country. GasBuddy's averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com. SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community........2, 3, 4, 5, 8 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.............................6, 7 Business Directory.............8
by Ruben Borjas, Jr. The old magnolia tree that stands as a local landmark at the entrance to McDade Estates, just off FM 2854 in Conroe, has stood the test of time. Having survived nearly two hundred years of hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy thunderstorms, a lost limb, floods, rough winters, droughts, original SH 105 planners, the Carter Administration, and hundreds of neighborhood kids that used it for climbing adventures. The old tree has now been recognized by the The Te x a s H i s t o r i c T r e e Coalition as historic, denoting lots of hard effort by many over the decades to preserve the tree for going on 134 years. In a ceremony held this past Thursday, current and former residents of McDade Estates, expressed their memories of the old magnolia, and to those protectors who did their duty in overseeing the well being of the tree from original owner, James McDade. Then to his daughter Lillie McDade O’Grady (whose 132 birthday was celebrated September 12th), who then took the torch, and passed it on to Steve Kasmiersky, Sr, who developed the McDade Estates subdivision in the late 1960s and opened it up in
1971. The magnolia tree once provided shade to the modest cabin of James McDade, who in 1891, assumed ownership of the land, using the fields behind his house to grow cotton. At the time, the tree was noted as being at least 50 years of age, and well established. The tree is located near the site of the old rusty bridge on FM 2854, where Bonnie and Clyde would visit his cousin Dude Barrow. The relative was an upstanding citizen of Conroe, which is why the Barrow Gang never robbed any banks in the area. The last visit of Bonnie and Clyde to the bridge happened several weeks before the couple met their end in Gibsland, Louisiana in May 1934. The Conroe magnolia is the first tree in Montgomery County to be recognized by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, receiving a historical marker from the group. Over the years, the protection of the tree after James McDade passed away in 1932, fell to his feisty daughter Lillie, who when SH 105 (now FM 2854) surveyors eyed the tree for destruction she was visibly angered. When Steve Kasmiersky, Sr. began preparing the property for McDade Estates, he and Ms. Lille were the first two lot
funds for completing the statue, which cost more than $35,000. + to cast the Statue. The same Sculptor: Lynn Peverill had also done the 1st Statue of Charles B. Stewart, designer of the Texas Lone Star Flag, and famed in Te x a s H i s t o r y f o r Montgomery County. The Rancher represents the History of Montgomery, back to 1831, pre-Texas Republic and pre-Civil War days! Montgomery was still fighting Indians and Bandits as they fought to settle their Leagues of Land from the Spanish Land Grants.
This past Saturday September 14th the Anglers from both Montgomery and Lake Creek High Schools began their Defense of the Legacy that is the MISD Fishing Team. A program, which has won 9 Houston Division Titles, 4 Regional Titles, and 1 State Championship in the first ten years of competing. The Team started their second decade of competition this past weekend on Lake Limestone. A lake where the Program historically has struggled, with mixed results. Also descending upon Limestone were 149 Teams from 26 Houston Area High Schools. Leading the way for MISD was the team of Colton Hatzold and Jett Moore. This pair was able to bring a nice 5 fish limit that tipped the scales at 14.20 pounds, landing them in 2nd place out of 149 Teams competing in the tournament. They reported that all their fish came in 12 to 14 feet of water, catching every fish on both June Bug and Black trick worms, rigged on a shaky head. The key for this team was finding brush piles in the 12-to-14-foot range, and slowly and methodically working their baits through the brush, catching 4 of the fish that they weighed in off one brush pile. Also doing well for MISD was the “Fishing Firm” of Scogin & Scogin. Cousins Brad and Lucas Scogin brought in 4 fish that weighed 8.42 pounds, earning them an 11th place finish. The pair reported catching their fish on Texas Rigged Strike King Rage Craws, with June bug being the best color. Rounding out the Top 3 Teams from MISD was the team of Waylon Hasara and Chase Benton. This pair brought 3 fish to the scales weigh 6.5 pounds, which earned them a top 20 finish. A l l t o l d , t h e Te a m placed 2nd out of 26 High Schools, with College Station earning the firstplace nod. This finish k e e p s t h e Te a m i n a position to win their 10th Houston Division Title, with 4 more Divisional Tournaments left to earn that distinction. This all continues next month, as the Team will travel to Toledo Bend on October 5th, and then Lake Somerville on the 26th of October. Hopefully by the end of October, the Team will be on top again, “Defending the Legacy” of the MISD Fishing Team.
See Statue, page 5
See MISD, page 8
Marion Lineberry, left, of the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, stands with Ron Saikowski, right, the tree preservationist who submitted all the documentation to the THTC for approval Photo credit: Mark Canada o w n e r s i n t h e development, and he continued to oversee the tree’s protective status. Kasmiersky’s idea for the magnolia to play a part between the entrance and exit to the property was brilliant, and the subdivision continues to thrive some 53 years after it first opened. Ms. Lille died in 1992, just one year shy of her 100th birthday. Now the McDade Estates Homeowners Association
is responsible for the care and upkeep of the tree. “My Dad took great pains to protect the old magnolia,” said Steve K a s m i e r s k y J r. “ I remember helping him cut the roads for the entrance around the tree, as well as the streets to the property.” The original McDade property occupied both sides of the West Fork of See McDade , page 2
One Year Anniversary of the Unveiling of “The Rancher” Statue by Elaine Collings
The Rebel Joan Of Arc 2721 Chapter of Montgomery County celebrates the One Year Anniversary of the “The Rancher” Statue in Cedar Break Park, Montgomery Texas. The project was the s u c c e s s o f t h e Montgomery Historical Society, who raised private Left to Rt: Elaine Collings, Vizi Caldwell, Anna Greathouse, “The Rancher”, Charlotte Belin, Shelia Williamson, Karen DeBerry, and District 16 State Representative: Will Metcalf. ~ALL TEXAS PROUD~!
Article by Mark Hooker