When Chuck Lay—better known to radio listeners as Buddy Holiday—launched KSBJ more than 40 years ago, he had no idea the Houston-based radio station would become the nation’s largest Christian radio station in terms of audience.
Projections for the path of Hurricane Beryl have shifted to the north, increasing changes for stronger winds, higher tides and heavier rains in the Houston area, according to a July 5 update from the National Weather Service.
In a July 6 update, officials with the National Weather Service said Tropical Storm Beryl is forecast to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane before making landfall likely somewhere south of Matagorda Bay.
Sitting behind the wheel of a Chevy Caprice takes Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Charlie Sullivent back nearly 30 years.
The wide-bodied car with rounded curves and an interior meant for luxury was one of his first patrol cars when he joined the force in the 1990s.
It’s also the newest edition to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Museum. The 1991 model year vehicle was donated to the museum by the Wolforth family in 2023.
It was once driven by free agent baseball player Garrett Wolforth from Montgomery County. He spent last year with the Astros’ Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks.
SALVATION ARMY LEADERSHIP: New Conroe Salvation Army commanders settle in while preparing for active hurricane season
Evolution of police vehicles
After the Wolforths donated the car, it spent eight months being transformed from a civilian sedan to a police cruiser of the early 1990s era.
Already on display are a 2007 Crown Victoria patrol car, a 2014 Dodge Charger and a 2011 Chevy Tahoe. They were fleet vehicles removed from service with the sheriff’s office.
“You sit in this car (the Caprice) and you go sit in the Tahoe and it’s a very different experience,” he said.
It’s his hope that visitors to the museum can experience the evolution of the cars and the technology by exploring each vehicle.
Showcasing sheriff’s office history
While planning for the museum, which opened to the public in March 2023, Sullivent felt the evolution of the patrol units was a big part of the 185-year history of the sheriff’s office and he wanted to have several cars on display at the museum.
As the museum developed over the last 10 years, donated memorabilia was categorized by the sheriff of that era who set the style for his time in office.
The museum was a passion project for Sullivent’s colleague, Det. Fadi Rizk, who started collecting items from retired sheriff’s personnel and widows of agency employees in 2016 as a way to share the agency’s rich history. The earliest items date back to the 1990s.
While the 2007, 2014 and 2011 cars were pretty easy to come by through the sheriff’s office, Sullivent wanted to take it back even further and the search for a Caprice began.
A Caprice was discovered west of Conroe on the Wolforth property. Ron and Jill Wolforth bought the car for their son, Garrett, to drive when he turned 16.
“It had less than 15,000 miles when we got it,” Jill said.
She said the big, heavy car was painted gray with blue interior.
“It was really smooth, heavy and drove very well on the highway and was really plush inside,” Ron said.
SAVING BIRD ISLAND: Lake Conroe residents launch project to save Bird Island, a habitat disappearing due to erosion
Through sheriff’s office connections Sullivent discovered the car and showed up at the Wolforths door to ask about it.
When Sullivent explained what they wanted to do with the car, the coupled donated it.
Turning back time at the museum
The museum committee and the sheriff’s office fleet services spent eight months converting the vehicle into what a patrol car would have looked like during Joe Corley sheriff’s administration from 1981 to 1993.
Other cars represent the eras of Sheriff Rand Henderson and former sheriff’s Guy Williams and Tommy Gage.
With minimal financial impact, they made the car as authentic as possible with a light bar, whip antenna and siren from that time. The siren and lights work to represent that era in policing.
The patrol numbers on the back 434 are a nod to Henderson as those were his number when he first began patrolling and drove a Caprice.
“Everything is original and everything works,” Sullivent said. “It really is uncanny.”
Now he’s pondering if they can go back even further with a car from Gene Reeves, who served as sheriff from 1961 to 1981.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2359 Holloman Street in Conroe.
The new elementary school, Campbell Elementary, is set to open for the 2025-26 school year.
Children aged 18 and younger and students with disabilities up to 21 years old are eligible for the program. Families do not have to apply, register or provide identification to receive food.
During a normal year we will experience at least 3-4 weeks of drought conditions. Typically, this happens during the months of July and August.
This year has been the exception. We have been rain here and there. Many folks continue to worry about trees and shrubs that experienced excessive droughts over the last few years.
Prolonged droughts affect young and mature trees and shrubs. The main point to clarify is for how long trees and shrubs are affected and what is the result of a drought. Some trees and shrubs we can see immediate symptoms of leaf drop, leaves drooping or sun scald on the leaves. Other symptoms depend on the type of tree or shrub. Some will show dieback on a few stems or branches while others may completely die. Depending on the plant, symptoms can appear at different times. Some symptoms may appear within days and some may take months or even years. For example, the drought of 2010/2011 and more recently the last 2 years has had a major impact on pine trees. We are still losing pines from that drought. Basically, stressful events can decrease the lifespan of a tree and also make it more susceptible to other issues like diseases and insects. It is important for us to take care of the ones that we have the ability to impact. So what can we do?
There are things you can do to minimize the effects of drought. Trees and shrubs benefit from slow deep watering that is less frequent than what our turfgrass needs. Water long and slowly will allow water to soak deep into the soil. One way to check and see if you are watering enough is to use a screwdriver and simply try to push it into the ground. If it is dry, it will not be able to go into the ground. If the ground is moist enough, you will be able to get it to go at least 6 to 8 inches into the ground. Watering will vary depending on whether the trees are young or mature. Just a few extra tidbits. It is important to minimize water contact with the trunk and lower leaves water droplets can increase problems with bacteria and other harmful diseases. Also, it is important to understand your soil. A sandy soil may require more frequent irrigation to remain moist, whereas as clay type soil can hold moisture for longer periods of time but require a much slower application of water.
Mature Trees
Mature trees should be watered at least every two weeks during drought. Water should be applied to the entire area within the dripline under the crown of the tree. During periods of prolonged drought, apply water under the canopy while keeping any local water restrictions in mind.
Younger Trees & Shrubs
Younger trees and shrubs will require more frequent irrigation until they become established at roughly two -five years after planting. (very plant dependent) It is recommended to water newly planted trees 2-3 times a week with at least one gallon of water per caliper inch of trunk diameter. Watering should be focused in close proximity to the original root ball until roots develop further out. Water should be applied slowly allowing it to soak deep into the soil rather than run off. Typically, newly planted trees and shrubs have soil that forms a “crater” or “bowl” just beyond the root ball. This area can be used to fill up with water and allow it to percolate directly where it is needed.
Lastly, another way to assist trees during times of drought is utilizing mulch. Hardwood mulch is beneficial to conserving a tree’s water and retaining moisture in the soil. Mulch helps to improve water percolation into the soil and keeps that root system underneath cooler than surrounding areas. This reduces water lost to evaporation and provides the tree with less stress for any water or nutrient exchange. Mulch also reduces competition from other weeds and generally improves overall tree health. Mulch should be applied no more than three inches thick over as much of the root system as possible, but not in direct contact with the tree trunk.
Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail me at mpotter@ag.tamu.edu.
The new location will be operated by Eddie Kober, who owns two other Chick-fil-A locations in Montgomery County.
There are several events taking place in Conroe and Montgomery this weekend. This is not a comprehensive list.
New Conroe Salvation Army commanding officers Lt. Cody Johns and Lt. Amanda Johns are getting straight to work on potential emergency preparations for an active hurricane season.
The couple came from the Irving Salvation Army unit and June 24 was their first official day as Conroe commanding officers. They fill the role of Lt. James Guzman and Lt. Claudia Guzman who had the Conroe command since 2020.
The Guzmans were transferred to the Beaumont command in June to fill the role of retiring leaders.
MAGNOLIA-AREA GROWTH: Montgomery County’s first TIRZ to help developer build new 2,000-acre community in Magnolia
New to Conroe
“We’re grateful for the overall welcoming atmosphere of the community. I have not been anywhere in Conroe that people weren’t smiling, helpful and welcoming,” Amanda Johns said.
She’s most looking forward to being able to meet people where they are at and hear their stories.
“Coming to Montgomery County, I see that there’s a lot of people who need love and support and resources,” she said.
About the Conroe Salvation Army
The Conroe Salvation Army is under the umbrella of the Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command but all local funds and services are based in Conroe with support from local resources.
Its year-round mission is to help those in need by offering emergency shelter, lunch and dinner meals, church services, Bible studies, youth programs and assistance getting homeless individuals and families back into a stable living situation. During the holiday season, it provides toys to hundreds of children through the Angel Tree program and its Red Kettle campaign is a sure sign of the holidays.
The Salvation Army has had a presence in Conroe dating back to the 1970s when the group operated out of several houses the organization purchased. The organization is at 304 Avenue E in Conroe.
A personal journey of support
While both are Texas natives, this is the Johns first time in this part of Texas and they said love the beauty and natural resources of Montgomery County. They’re still adjusting to the Gulf Coast heat.
Amanda’s service is personal.
Her great-grandmother struggled when her husband became ill and she supported their children with assistance from the Salvation Army. Her grandmother also experienced a crisis when her young husband suffered a severe work-related back injury that left him unable to provide for the family.
“She remembered the Salvation Army and all they had done for her and they helped her when she was the breadwinner and my grandfather was recovering and she was taking care of four young children,” she said.
As a single mother Amanda’s mother too benefited from the support of the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has also been Amanda’s home church for most of her life.
“The love of people and the fact that it’s come as you are is what led me to the Salvation Army,” she said.
Cody did not grow up in a religious setting but he met Amanda at age 17 and she invited him to the Salvation Army church.
“I saw everyone in uniforms and I wondered ‘What is this? Is this really a church?’ But the love that was there, I was hugged by people I didn’t even know and brought into this family and that’s what sparked my love for the Salvation Army,” he said.
FIREWORKS SALES: How much money do fireworks stands make? It all comes down to the final days, owners say.
Emergency response
While in Irving they participated with a rapid response unit that can hold up to 1,200 meals. They participated in disaster and storm recovery in North Texas and surrounding states.
Earlier this spring, the Conroe unit was the recipient of a mobile unit to assist in disaster recovery. This week they spent time restocking and prepping the mobile kitchen while monitoring Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.
“If we’re called, then we’ll be ready and able to take it out wherever we need to go,” he said.
During the summer they are in need of donations of bottled water to give out. They need dry goods and canned goods donations for their food pantry. They are also in need of donations of socks, hygiene products and undergarments for men and women.
The Johns have four children that range in age from 12 to 18.