WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXX NUMBER 41 Section 1 10 pages
October 15, 2025 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and Katey Sterkel
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 Blackfin Pulls Plug on Historic Downtown Weekly Planned Conroe Montgomery Gas Prices Compressor Station Upcoming Events
Average gasoline prices in Texas have fallen 12.0 cents per gallon in the last week, a v e r a g i n g $ 2 . 6 1 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Prices in Texas are 16.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 10.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 3.5 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.628 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas was priced at $2.18/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.39/g, a difference of $3.21/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.18/g while the highest was $5.39/g, a difference of $3.21/g. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.02/g today. The national average is down 13.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 14.4 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: October 13, 2024: $2.72/g (U.S. Average: $3.16/g) October 13, 2023: $3.06/g (U.S. Average: $3.58/g) October 13, 2022: $3.30/g (U.S. Average: $3.92/g) October 13, 2021: $2.93/g (U.S. Average: $3.29/g) October 13, 2020: $1.86/g (U.S. Average: $2.17/g) October 13, 2019: $2.29/g (U.S. Average: $2.63/g) October 13, 2018: $2.65/g (U.S. Average: $2.89/g) October 13, 2017: $2.30/g (U.S. Average: $2.47/g) October 13, 2016: $2.01/g (U.S. Average: $2.25/g) October 13, 2015: $2.04/g (U.S. Average: $2.30/g) Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.55/g, down 20.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.75/g. San Antonio- $2.51/g, down 11.7 cents per gallon from last week's $2.62/g. Austin- $2.56/g, down 8.4 cents per gallon from last week's $2.65/g. “Americans appear to be on the cusp of seeing the national average drop below $3 per gallon for the first time in years, as prices have fallen across the vast majority of the country,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With well over 40 states seeing gas prices decline and oil plunging below $60 per barrel to end the week, the good news may not end if — and when — the national average hits that magical $2.99 mark. We could even see a handful of stations in places like Oklahoma, Texas, or even Wisconsin drop below $2 per gallon in the weeks ahead — something not seen since the pandemic. In addition, with wages up and gas prices down, Americans are spending the smallest share of their paycheck on gasoline in many years.” SOURCE GasBuddy
Index Community..........2, 5, 9, 10 Commentary...................3, 4, 5 Church Directory..............5 Legals.........................6, 7, 8 Business Directory...........10
by Ruben Borjas, Jr
The morning of Wednesday, October 8th, will always be a special anniversary in the mind of Sarah Bartholet Gwin, whose family and business had been under fire since July, when a natural gas p i p e l i n e c o m p a n y, Blackfin Pipeline, LLC, began construction of a compressor station literally yards from her family’s home furnishings business, located on I-45 South and across the highway from River Plantation Drive. Major gas pipeline compressor stations are located in rural areas, in an area of over 25 acres or more, but the audacity of BF project leaders, coupled with county and city loopholes, gave Blackfin confidence to proceed with the project, in placing a dangerous entity on a footprint three times smaller and in an urban setting; smack dab in the m i d d l e o f C o n r o e ’s furniture district, next to a major north-south r o a d w a y, a n d w i t h residential concerns
Montgomery Quilt Walk Friday, October 17 – Saturday, October 18 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM 14420 Liberty St.
The compressor station, had it been completed, located next to I-45, would have been a danger to drivers and the furniture district should an incident have occurred located near enough to hear a firecracker. Bartholet jumped into action bringing awareness to the project, because it not only affected her business, but the safety of the workers in the furniture district, the citizens of Conroe, residents of Montgomery
C o u n t y, a n d a n y o n e traveling along I-45. Following several hearings in the 457th District Court of Judge Vince J Santini in August and September, a Temporary Injunction was issued by the Judge in favor of the plaintiff, Bartholet
Home Furnishings in Conroe, basically using common sense. The placement of a 48-inch pipeline in a closeconfined urban area, with issues that were already See Blackfin , page 2
Alamo Letter Unveiled at County Veterans Memorial Park by Ruben Borjas, Jr From now on in Conroe, February 24th, will have a new meaning in Montgomery County, for it was on that day in 1836, when the Texian Army at the Alamo garrison was surrounded by the Mexican A r m y, a n d g r e a t l y outnumbered; one of the most famous letters of all time was penned by Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis. The dramatic opening, “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World,” was a heartfelt and a passionate plea for aid that Tr a v i s , k n o w i n g t h e circumstances; knew may never come, but as he
concluded his letter with “Victory or Death,” little did he know that and he and his fellow 189 Alamo defenders were headed for legend. In remembrance of the sacrifice of The Defenders at the Alamo, the Montgomery County Ve t e r a n s M e m o r i a l Commission, and The Alamo Letter Society, teamed up this past Saturday to unveil a new bronze plaque of the famed letter written in the most stressful of times in Texas H i s t o r y . Ve t e r a n s Commission Chairman Judge Jimmie C. Edwards welcomed attendees to the new terrace, now complete with newly installed sunshade sails, at the Honored
Mission National Museum, which overlooks the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park. Judge Wayne Mack’s invocation sparked reflections of Texas history and the Defenders of the Alamo, in the valiant effort playing their part in the creation of our initial Republic, then State. “Today, we remember Lt. Col. William Travis and all those who stood at The Alamo,” said Judge Mack. “Travis’ words were a declaration of his faith and resolve.” Mack praised Judge Edwards’ passion to turn a swamp into a majestic place of remembrance to the sacrifices of our
military men and women, first responders, and the heroes that breathed life into Texas. He spoke of Travis' courage at The Alamo, facing impossible odds that would have broken many a man's spirit, but the commander and his defenders bought with their lives, precious time needed to birth an army that would ultimately bring about the Republic of Texas. Montgomery County Pct. 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley, read the Alamo Letter, stressing the need to teach history to our kids. See Alamo , page 2
“Voices from the Past” Historic Cemetery Tour Saturday, October 18 | 12:00–3:00 PM Old Methodist “Churchyard” & Montgomery Cemeteries Trick & Treat Downtown Business District Saturday, October 25 3:00–6:00 PM Downtown Montgomery Lone Star Street Dance Saturday, November 8 14220 Liberty St. Light Up the Park Friday, December 6 6:00–8:00 PM Cedar Brake Park, 21358 Eva St. Featuring Montgomery High School Jazz Band, plus photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus Christmas Parade – “Lone Star” Theme Saturday, December 13 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Downtown Montgomery Register Here | Deadline: Oct. 31 Christmas in Historic Montgomery All-Day Event Saturday, December 13 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Holiday Marketplace (70+ vendors), Famous Cookie Walk, Candlelight Home Tour & more