WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 14 Section 1 8 pages
April 8, 2026 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Mae Avila
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 RJOA Salutes Montgomery, MCSO Arrests Weekly Gas Prices Average gasoline prices in Texas have risen 24.1 cents per gallon in the last week, a v e r a g i n g $ 3 . 8 0 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 72.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 95.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 20.7 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.576 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.89/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.45/g, a difference of $2.56/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.89/g while the highest was $5.45/g, a difference of $2.56/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 11.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.06/g today. The national average is up 65.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 85.0 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: April 6, 2025: $2.84/g (U.S. Average: $3.21/g) April 6, 2024: $3.21/g (U.S. Average: $3.59/g) April 6, 2023: $3.21/g (U.S. Average: $3.55/g) April 6, 2022: $3.74/g (U.S. Average: $4.15/g) April 6, 2021: $2.61/g (U.S. Average: $2.87/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $3.98/g, up 6.1 cents per gallon from last week's $3.91/g. San Antonio- $3.80/g, up 24.4 cents per gallon from last week's $3.55/g. Austin- $3.80/g, up 27.8 cents per gallon from last week's $3.52/g. “Gasoline prices are poised for another jolt this week, with many inland states—including the Plains, Great Lakes, and parts of the Rockies— likely to see sharp increases as last week’s surge in wholesale costs has yet to be fully passed through to consumers,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “In addition, some price-cycling markets could also see another round of increases. As a result, the national average could rise by double digits, potentially reaching the $4.20 to $4.35 per gallon range in the days ahead. Diesel prices continue to climb as well and now sit just 25 cents away from setting a new all-time record. Recent escalations between the U.S. and Iran have further intensified concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil flows, keeping markets on edge. At this point, the trajectory of fuel prices remains highly uncertain and is largely contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz— until that occurs, the risk of further increases remains firmly in place.” SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community............2, 5, 7, 8 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.................................6 Business Directory.............8
Texas For Preserving It’s History!
Left to Rt: Elaine Collings, Karen DeBerry, MONTGOMERY HISTORICAL MARKER & OLD JAIL, Lyn Howard, Charlotte Belin by Elaine Collings
Members of the Rebel of the United Daughters of Joan Of Arc 2721 Chapter, the Confederacy, traveled
See RJOA, page 2
Montgomery County Considers Second Lot Size Increase in 13 Months — Ellison Development Shares What It Could Mean for Housing Affordability
CONROE, TX — A public hearing is scheduled for April 9, 2026 at the Montgomery County Commissioners Court to address a proposed increase to the minimum residential lot width in unincorporated areas of the county — from 40 feet to 50 feet. Ellison
Development, a horizontal land developer with communities throughout unincorporated Montgomery County, is sharing data and perspective on how the proposed change could affect housing affordability for working families in the region.
Montgomery County adopted a 40-foot minimum lot width in March 2025 as part of its first overhaul of development regulations in over 40 years. The proposed change before commissioners would raise that minimum again to 50 feet — a second increase in
just 13 months. Builder analysis documented by Community Impact estimates that each additional 10 feet of required lot width adds approximately $100,000 to the cost of a new home, See Housing , page 2
Suspects in Multi-Victim Car Burglary Spree On April 3, 2026, at approximately 6:30 am, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office District 3 Patrol Deputies responded to a burglary in progress near the 22800 block of Cuttler Road. The incident began when a resident alerted law enforcement that three suspects were actively burglarizing their vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies successfully located the individuals, but all three suspects fled on foot. A perimeter was quickly established through a coordinated effort between the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office. To assist in the search, DPS Air Unit 102 provided aerial support while M C S O K 9 a n d Montgomery County Pct. 4 K9 units conducted a ground search. This multiagency response led to the discovery of two adult males hiding inside a nearby RV, where deputies also recovered a significant amount of stolen property. The two adult suspects taken into custody have been identified as 18-yearold Kenneth Beasley and 18-year-old Kaleal Jackson. Both individuals were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and face charges of Escape and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. The third suspect, who was not located during the initial search, has been identified and a warrant for his arrest is currently being filed. Detectives from the Montgomery County Auto Theft Task Force and Property Crimes Division are continuing the investigation. It is estimated that the suspects targeted upwards of 10 separate locations, and deputies are currently working to match the recovered items with their rightful owners. If you believe you were a victim of a burglary in this area on the morning of April 3, please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-538-5900 and reference case number 26A114017.