Oil spill threatens Gulf Coast

(CNN) -- A huge oil spill oozing toward the Gulf Coast on Thursday threatens hundreds of species of wildlife, some in their prime breeding season, environmental organizations said.
The Coast Guard said Wednesday that the amount of oil spilling from an underwater well after an oil rig explosion last week has increased to as many as 5,000 barrels of oil a day, or 210,000 gallons, five times more than what was originally believed.

Although efforts to minimize the damage are under way and options under consideration include asking the U.S. military for assistance, wildlife conservation groups say the oil could pose a "growing environmental disaster."

"The terrible loss of 11 workers (unaccounted for after the rig explosion) may be just the beginning of this tragedy as the oil slick spreads toward sensitive coastal areas vital to birds and marine life and to all the communities that depend on them," said Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, in a statement.
Coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida could be at risk, the organization said.

"For birds, the timing could not be worse; they are breeding, nesting and especially vulnerable in many of the places where the oil could come ashore," she said. "The efforts to stop the oil before it reaches shore are heroic, but may not be enough. We have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, including a true catastrophe for birds."

"The best case is, the wind shifts and the oil doesn't hit," said Tom MacKenzie of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "I'm not real confident about that. ... We're doing everything we can to prevent it, but it could be a bad one."

It's not just birds that could be affected, although they are usually the first to feel the effects, said Gregory Bossart, chief veterinary officer for the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The birds are right at the surface, get covered in the oil and swallow it, causing liver and kidney problems.

"They need to be rescued and cleaned," he said.
But the coastline of Louisiana, with its barrier islands and estuaries, "is a very unique ecosystem. It's very complex," Bossart said.
Plankton found in the estuaries nourish organisms all the way up the food chain. Crabs, mussels, oysters and shrimp feed on the plankton, he said. Oil smothers the plankton, meaning they cannot eat.

Also, "the estuaries here are a nursery ground, literally a nursery ground, for the entire fish population in this area," Bossart said.

River otters in the region eat mussels and other animals. And "we know, in this area right now, that there are sperm whales. There are dolphins right in the oil slick," he said.
If an oil spill is small enough, animals can leave the area.
"Some of them can get away," Bossart said. "It's totally dependent on the size of the slick, and this is huge."

Exposure to the oil for a prolonged period of time can result in a toxic effect on the skin, and mammals can suffer lung damage or death after breathing it in, Bossart said.
"When the oil starts to settle, it'll smother the oyster beds. It'll kill the oysters," he said.

The Audubon Society, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, is recruiting volunteers in Florida and making its Center for Birds of Prey available for bird cleansing and rehabilitation. Elsewhere, Audubon said it was gearing up to mobilize volunteers and provide assistance as the oil reaches land.

The spill also threatens the Louisiana and Mississippi fishing industry, as crab, oysters and shrimp along the coast could be affected, along with numerous species of fish. Gulf shrimp are in their spawning season.

More than 400 species are threatened by the spill, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Thursday, citing the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
"When you stop and begin considering everything that this could impact, it really is stunning," Karen Foote, biologist administrator with the department, told the newspaper.

A handful of "Important Bird Areas" -- designated because of their value to bird species -- face immediate threat from the oil, the initiative said. They include the Chandeleur Islands and Gulf Islands National Seashore areas in Louisiana and Mississippi, along with the Active Delta area in Louisiana, which includes Delta Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area.

Several species of birds are cause for special concern, the Louisiana Coastal Initiative said. They include the brown pelican, the state bird of Louisiana, which nests on barrier islands and feeds near shore. The brown pelican's breeding season just began, according to the Initiative, and "many pairs are already incubating eggs."

The species was taken off the federal endangered species list last year, but "their relatively low reproductive rate means any disruption to their breeding cycle could have serious effects on the population."

More than 800 brown pelicans died when a smaller oil spill hit Louisiana's Breton Island National Wildlife Refuge a few years ago, MacKenzie said.

Species of beach-nesting terns and gulls, beach-nesting shorebirds, large wading birds, marsh birds and ocean-dwelling birds are also at risk, along with migratory shorebirds and songbirds, the Initiative said.

The migratory songbirds move across the Gulf during a two-week period from late April to early May, for instance.

"The journey across 500 miles of open water strains their endurance to its limits," the Initiative said. "They depend on clear skies and healthy habitats on both sides of the Gulf in order to survive the journey."

According to a 1998 study by Louisiana State University, more than 500 million birds fly over the Gulf and enter the United States along coastal areas in Louisiana and Texas each spring.
The barrier islands east of Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain have still not recovered from the blow dealt by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bossart said, and a spill such as this one could seriously threaten their recovery.

"I think at this point it would be wrong to say it's catastrophic, because it really hasn't hit any area except out in the Gulf proper," he said. But "it's certainly a very serious thing" that could pose a long-term environmental challenge.

Plans have been under way to protect wildlife since the spill was discovered, MacKenzie said. "We know what we're doing to try to protect those key assets. ... A lot of people are leaning forward in the foxhole to address this."

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Kingwood mother has all four limbs amputated after home birth

by BRAD WOODARD / KHOU.com

KINGWOOD, TX-- At the Kingwood Country Club, they were courtside for Katy. A tennis fund raiser that served as testament to the kindness of strangers.

"I didn't know Katy," says event organizer Tanya Robinson, "but her story touched me and I had to do more."

What they did collectively, was raise $12,500 for Kingwood resident Katy Hayes, who recent wanted her third child to be born at home.

"She had a midwife, was very healthy through her entire pregnancy, working and exercising up until she had the baby," says Michelle Dykstra, a family friend.

Ten weeks ago, Katy gave birth to a new daughter, Arielle. Soon thereafter, friends say, she started feeling pain but delayed going to the emergency room for four days. In the end, all four of katy's limbs had to be amputated because of a Streptococcal A infection. She's currently fighting for her life in a special unit at a Dallas hospital.

There are simply no words to explain how unfortunate the situation is, but it begs the question: What are the risks versus the benefits when it comes to home births?
Michelle Moeller has been a certified nurse midwife since 1989.
"Infection in home birth is very, very rare," Moeller says. "People are more accustomed to the bacteria and germs in their own home, so they're less likely to get an infection."

"That's utterly nonsense," says Dr. Joseph Salinas, who heads the Women's Center at the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

"I'm opposed to home birth," says Dr. Salinas. "There's too many variables to risk the mother's and baby's life in home birth."

Two health care professionals. Two very different perspectives. And one family struggling to redefine itself.

Stacey's Dance Studio of Kingwood Wins National Titles

Stacey's Dance Studio is once again home to national champions. The Kingwood Strutters competition team won several national titles at the 2010 American Dance/Drill Team Nationals on March 26-27 at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.

For team competition, Stacey's Junior White 4-6 grade intermediate team won for its lyrical dance to "Proud to be an American" choreographed and directed by Tanya Thompson. First runner ups in the lyrical division were Stacey's Junior Purple team grades 4-6 and its Babe White team grades 1-3. The Junior Purple was the fifth place team overall for combined scores at Nationals which included another 1st runner up finish in the prop division.

In the solo division, two Stacey's dancers were crowned national champions. Camille Burton, a kindergartener at Shadow Forest Elementary School, won the Pre-K division. Clara Foster, a sixth grader at Kingwood Middle School, was the solo winner for grades 4-6 with teammate Sydney Ballou taking 1st runner up honors.

Ballou and Sydney Fletcher, both in sixth grade at Riverwood Middle School, were named the national champions in the duet division for grades 4-6. Two other duets from Stacey's placed in the top three at nationals. For grades 1-3, Kennedy Knight and Lauryn Santilena were 1st runners up and Colleen Canavan and Haven Vessels were 2nd runners up.

For small ensembles, two 4-6 grade ensembles tied for 2nd runner up. They were the trio of Lauren Chachere, Amy Felder and Jamie Hawkins, and the quartet of Haley Sauer, Teigan Ahrendt, Allyson Axum and Peyton Nichols.

In the officers' division, Stacey's senior officers grades 7-9 reign as national champs for their modern dance. Stacey's Babe officers were 1st runners up for their hip hop routine.

Stacey's Dance Studio will perform its award winning routines at the Let's Dance 2010 Spring Recital on May 7-8 at Kingwood High School gymnasium. For show times, visit: www.staceysdancestudio.com


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Harris County deputy fatally shoots Atascocita man, pit bull

KHOU:

ATASCOCITA, Texas—A Harris County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an armed suspect early Friday morning in Atascocita.
A Harris County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Christina Garza said deputies responded to reports of an assault at Mulligan’s, a bar on FM 1960, shortly after midnight. The investigation took them to a home in the 3800 block of Beckett Ridge, just south of Will Clayton Parkway.
Garza said when one of the deputies, a 19-year veteran, knocked on the front door of the home, the homeowner came to the door armed with a rifle.

The deputy was able to get the suspect to put the rifle down, but the two men began to argue.
Garza said the deputy then reached for his Taser and fired it at the man, but it had no effect on him.
As the struggle continued, Garza said the suspect gained control of the Taser and tried to place it against the deputy’s shoulder. According to the sheriff’s office, that’s when the deputy stepped back and fired several shots from his service weapon in self-defense.

The suspect collapsed and died near the front doorway of the home.
Garza said the homeowner’s large pit bull, agitated by the confrontation, became aggressive, and the deputy was forced to shoot and kill the dog as well.
The deputy was not injured.

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Kingwood Area Republican Women honor Williams

Anne McIlhany

During the March monthly meeting for the Kingwood Area Republican Women, Texas state Sen. Tommy Williams was honored with an award for his service and commitment.
Williams thanked the club for the honor, and went on to discuss top issues facing the state for the 82nd legislative session.

One topic fresh on everyone’s minds was the recent passing of the healthcare bill. Williams discussed what this would mean for Texas.

“This will be 24.3 billion dollars that Texas will have to spend over this,” he said. “It will have a five billion dollar impact on the next session…the worst part of the bill is forcing the states to pay for their bad idea.”

Williams went on to praise Texas, calling the state a “shining example of how conservatism works.”

He pointed out how 3,500 people leave California every week, while 1,500 pour into Texas every week.

“We need to remind people why they are moving to Texas,” said Williams. “Not because of government services, it is because of opportunity.”

Williams went on to discuss the importance of working hard to get a Republican majority.

“I believe that most of America is right of center, I think there is a lot of buyer’s remorse,” he said. “And we need to welcome them back home to the Republican party; I’d like to say thank you and let’s get to work.”

Following William’s talk, KARW presented some of the candidates who will be in the runoff in the primary election on April 13, including Marc Brown and Danny Dexter, candidates for the 180th District Court; Rick Green, in the race for the Texas Supreme Court;Ed Hubbard, in the runoff for Harris County Republican chair; and Alice O’Neill and James Lombardino, in the runoff for the 308th District Court.

Finally, KARW gave Texas House District 127 candidates Susan Curling and Dan Huberty a few minutes to speak to the club about their positions.

Curling stressed that taxes were the primary issue she felt voters were concerned with; Huberty emphasized education.

The Kingwood Area Republican Women meet on the third Wednesday of every month. For more information, visit www.kingwoodarearepublicanwomen.org.

Photo: Alice Rekeweg of KARW presents Texas state Sen. Tommy Williams with a special award in recognition of his service. Photo by Anne McIlhany

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Hotel plans cause uproar in Friendswood

by Hayley Kappes / The Daily News
Posted on April 5, 2010 at 8:19 AM
******
Galveston Daily News Web site
FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — A proposed Sleep Inn and Suites at the corner of FM 528 and San Joaquin Parkway has caused uproar from residents in nearby subdivisions since the project was announced last November.

The three-story, 60-room hotel will be located next to the Boca Raton subdivision.

A major concern for opponents is the hotel’s proximity to Windsong Intermediate School, which sits diagonally across FM 528.

"We’re not opposed to commercial development on that property, but a motel is the wrong use," Ed Dondzila, secretary of the Boca Raton subdivision homeowners association, said. "It doesn’t make sense. It’s eight miles from (Interstate) 45, and there’s no tourist attraction in Friendswood."

Dondzila and other residents in Boca Raton, San Joaquin, Keystone, Falcon Ridge and Sunmeadow developments oppose the hotel because they think it will decrease their property values and increase criminal activity.

City council members have not addressed residents’ concerns about the hotel, nor have they outlined any benefits a hotel would offer the city, Mark and Jackie Taylor, residents of Boca Raton subdivision, said.

Hotel property owner Ajay Jain told a Houston TV station he has not secured the loan to build the hotel and does not know if it will go through.

Friendswood’s current ordinances allow hotels and motels to be built on property zoned for community shopping centers.

Friendswood city council will consider today a change to the way community shopping properties are zoned, which will prevent hotels and motels from automatically qualifying for those properties. The ordinance change also will require a hotel developer to obtain a special use permit approved by the city council, which requires greater scrutiny, Mayor David Smith said.

The change to the city’s zoning laws will not affect the proposed Sleep Inn and Suites because it falls under the current ordinance.

The hotel is not a done deal, however. Jain has submitted site plans to the city, and the planning and zoning commission will review the plans April 15. He can obtain a building permit only after planning and zoning approves the plans.

Today’s city council meeting will have a first reading of the ordinance change, and the second reading will take place in two weeks when the council will vote on the matter, Smith said.


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Alligators in the sewers?

As summer approaches, Texans head for the water. Many are unaware that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Association estimates there are as many as 1,000 alligators living in Lake Houston, the San Jacinto River and the waterways connected to them. Alligators can grow to be 12 to 14 feet long, and there have been several recent sightings.
"I walk my dog every Saturday and Sunday," said Bob Rehak, Kingwood Service Association Parks Committee. "I've photographed alligators at East End Park and I watch out for them. Recently, my dog and a couple others had just waded into the water when I spotted an alligator. Apparently we were too close to its nest. The alligator bellowed and hissed."

Rehak said the dogs were called out of the water as the alligator, some distance off, started toward them.

"There was another recent sighting. A Kingwood photographer, Mike Beswick, spotted five alligators at dawn near the boat launch at River Grove Park."

Rehak said Beswick told him he "saw these strange eyes gazing at him." Rehak said alligators are territorial and will approach a canoe or kayak. Beswick, according to Rehak, paddled about a quarter of a mile with the alligators trailing him, before they lost interest and swam away.

"Everyone needs to be aware they are in the area," said Rehak. "Alligators are able to hide in as little as 18 inches of water, and they are perfectly camouflaged. People swim in the lake, and since the alligators are rarely seen, many people don't believe they are there."

Rehak said that alligators are a part of the natural world and the parks' ecosystems. He said they feed on wild hogs, blue herons, fish, turtles and nutria, a semi-aquatic rat-like rodent that can weigh up to 20 pounds.

He said there is no record of anyone in Kingwood every being harmed by an alligator, but warns that people should not feed them, as this will encourage them to see people as an easy food source. Rehak said it is a Class C misdemeanor to feed them and that a person can be fined up to $500.

He said as long as their space is respected, alligators should not pose a problem. He added that the most troublesome times for them are at dawn and dusk, when they commonly feed, and in the fall, when their eggs hatch and their territorial instincts kick in. Most alligators nest in June and their eggs hatch from late August to early September.

"Unless you're faster than Olympic runner Carl Lewis, you can't out run an alligator," said Rehak. "If you see one, just back away and call Texas Parks and Wildlife at 281-842-8100 if one becomes a nuisance."

Those classified as a nuisance are those that have lost their natural fear of humans or are behaving aggressively.

He said the alligators seen in this area are the same variety one would see in the zoo. He said at one time they were a protected species, but are now culled during hunting season.

"It's against the law to hunt on KSA property. As long as a person stays on the trails, they are no threat," he said.

He said the animals have staged a remarkable comeback and are highly adaptable. He said they can be found in Anahuac, High Island and in rivers and bayous as far north as Dallas.

For information on how alligators are an important part of the local ecosystem, visit http://eastendpark.com/naturessigns/treescars.html.

Photo by Bob Rehak



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