WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 13 Section 1 10 pages
April 1, 2026 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Sharon Steen
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 Keough Alleged Sexual Assault Afternoon Tea And It Weekly Civil Suit Changes Venue from Was Well Gas Prices Harris to Montgomery County Steeped
Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 4.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.56/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 100.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 86.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 14.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.369 per gallon, the highest level since July 27, 2022. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.59/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.08/g, a difference of $2.49/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.59/g while the highest was $5.08/g, a difference of $2.49/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.95/g today. The national average is up 97.9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 83.8 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 five years: March 30, 2025: $2.70/g (U.S. Average: $3.11/g) March 30, 2024: $3.10/g (U.S. Average: $3.52/g) March 30, 2023: $3.15/g (U.S. Average: $3.49/g) March 30, 2022: $3.83/g (U.S. Average: $4.24/g) March 30, 2021: $2.62/g (U.S. Average: $2.87/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $3.91/g, up 18.6 cents per gallon from last week's $3.73/g. San Antonio- $3.55/g, down 6.5 cents per gallon from last week's $3.62/g. Austin- $3.52/g, down 13.0 cents per gallon from last week's $3.65/g. “Gasoline and diesel prices continue to climb to multi-year highs as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz curtails the flow of millions of barrels of crude oil each day,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, but upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist as long as global oil supplies are constrained by the continued disruption in the Strait. We’re likely to see the national average for gasoline push beyond the $4-per-gallon mark, while diesel could approach $6 per gallon and potentially set new records if conditions fail to improve. Americans have already spent nearly $8 billion more on gasoline over the past month, a trend that poses growing risks to the broader economy, while surging diesel prices may begin to reaccelerate inflation.” SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community..............2, 5, 10 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.........................6, 7, 8 Business Directory...........10
by Ruben Borjas, Jr It is a case that snuck under the radar in Montgomery County during the 2026 Primary season, having only been reported sporadically this year in the Houston Chronicle (Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough seeks dismissal of sexual assault - 1/2026), and the Magnolia Gazzette Facebook page (SexAssault Court Clash over Montgomery Judge Rocks Two Texas Counties 1/2026). While several years back, when the alleged incidents were fresher, an expose by Wayne Dolcefino Media (The Sins of a Pastor 9/2024), garnered little interest, then a few months later the case actually was reported on by The
C o u r i e r ’s C a t h e r i n e Dominguez (Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough sues ex-church assistant over sexual harassment claim 11/2024). Everything allegedly stems from the May 2023 hiring of Plaintiff, Ms. Susan Kenningham, then 68, by Defendant Woodland Bible Church, or WBC, and Mark Keough, who was then Senior Pastor, Director, Share Holder and officer of the WBC. The Courier has not touched the story since. K e o u g h ’s w i f e K i m r e c o m m e n d e d Kenningham for his assistant, after she befriended the plaintiff, finding out she was going through a divorce and was without significant income. Keough’s alleged wording in regards to her
job description indicated that she served at the pleasure of the Senior Pastor and Kenningham’s job description “requires a what it takes attitude.” Kenningham alleges that Keough used his position of power, trust and influence over her, as the basis for his own sexual gratification aims, inquiring into romantic interests, her personal life, initially misreading the angle as genuine concerns from her pastor. It soon became clear to Ms. Kenningham that the Senior Pastor’s intentions crossed over to potential scenarios in her romantic life, and whether she would be willing to have sex with individuals she would be dating. Kenningham alleges that Keough was jealous of any potential romantic suitor.
by Eva Raines
In an amended petition filed by the plaintiff filed in Harris County, No. 202578146, 2/19/2026, 5:31 PM, she is seeking $250,000 in damages. The original petition was filed on 10/13/2025 12:57 PM, and in the documents notes See Keough, page 2
Montgomery High School Thespians Advance to Bi-District
See MHS , page 2
The Montgomery High School Thespians gathered on-stage following their recent UIL One-Act Play Meet at Lake Creek this past Saturday where they performed ‘The Ballad of Maria Marten.’ The actors are headed to the Bi-District competition at Rudder High School in Bryan on April 2nd. Ginger Brown, who played Maria, holds the Montgomery City Council Proclamation recognizing March as ‘Theatre in Our Schools Month.’
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea" quote taken from THE PORTRAIT of a LADY, a novel written by Henry James, an AmericanBritish author. O n S a t u r d a y, February 28, 2026, the Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523, Conroe chapter of the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, hosted their 8 t h A n n u a l Vi c t o r i a n Literary Tea. The tea took place at the Living Savior Lutheran Church in Montgomery. It has been said..."happiness is a cup of tea and a good book". Those attending this Victorian Literary tea saw that it was two fold, one, they experience elegance, great conversation and a peaceful pause in their every day life and secondly, they heard a fabulous book review. Beautiful hats were worn, the detail to the tables with beautiful fine china, the polished silverware and the linens were lovely. The savory smell and taste of the finger sandwiches, scones and other delicacies was an absolute delicious delight. The Earl Grey tea was steeped to perfection. The following is a list of the ladies who gave a book review and the title of their selection. "The Last Full Measure" by Jeff Shaara was presented by Caroyln Jamail, "Sing Me a Song of the South" by George A. Norton was presented by Debbie Chance, "Madame Castel's Lodger" by Frances Parkinson Keys was presented Iva Gilliam, "The Journals of Josiah Gorgas" edited by Sarah Woolfolk Wiggins was presented by Jackie Barkmann, "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo was presented by Naschelle Taylor and "The Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne was presented by Schelle Taylor. The next Literary Tea will take place on February 20, 2027 and will again be at the Living Savior Lutheran Church in Montgomery, watch for the ad in the Montgomery County Newspaper next year. There is a Chinese proverb that states, "water is the mother of tea, a teapot its father and fire the teacher". Article by Eva Rains, Publicity Chairman for the Stubbs chapter