Free Republic

A Texas 18-year-old with autism faces permanent blindness after a supposed friend allegedly threw powdered drain cleaner into his eyes. Branden Jolly, 17, had his first court date with a judge on Friday, where he had bond set at $300,000. Brody Morgan, who has autism, was walking through his neighborhood in Friendswood when Jolly threw what turned out to be a drain de-clogger. Morgan's mother Amy said her son returned to their home screaming, initially believing it to just be salt in the boy's eyes. However, as she tried to wash his eyes with water, it only got worse, with...

When the city of Friendswood, Texas, announced on Facebook that hometown hero Haley Carter would be the grand marshal for the town’s famed Fourth of July parade, the post was peppered with excited comments. Carter, who was in the Marines and is a retired professional soccer player, was just the type of person residents wanted to see lead the parade. Then the right-wing culture warriors showed up. Conservative radio host Jesse Kelly tweeted the same day that Friendswood had appointed a “gun-grabber” who is “into drag” and “trans activism” to lead the parade. Kelly is from Ohio, ran a failed...

If you don’t understand the uproar in Friendswood about the city’s plan to issue $11 million in debt without voter approval, just ask yourself a couple of questions: What if city leaders are completely right about the legal question? Is it still a good idea to borrow money without asking voters for their approval? Is a good idea to obligate them when they have clearly indicated they want a say about any debt they’d be responsible for? City officials have asked a judge in Travis County for a ruling that says the city can issue certificates of obligation to finance...

FRIENDSWOOD — The city has asked a Travis County judge to say it is legal for Friendswood to issue $11 million in debt without voter approval. The city had planned to issue $11 million in certificates of obligation to fund roads, parks, an animal shelter and a records building, but some residents said the city charter prohibited the city from issuing certificates of obligation. While bonds require voter approval, certificates of obligation do not. The city charter was amended by voters in 1997 to prohibit the city from issuing debt without voter approval that it could not finance from its...

FRIENDSWOOD — More than 300 people gathered in a city park Tuesday to rally against “out of control” government spending and to ship protest tea bags to Washington, D.C. Whether the first of what will be a series of tea party protests across the country is the start of a grass-roots political movement or just another form of political theater is yet to be determined. “I think it is too early to say,” said Rice University political science professor Bob Stein. “There is a good deal of partisanship, but for an event the Republican Party would normally put its stamp...

Friendswood physician Robin Armstrong, a former medical missionary in Africa, recently was re-elected vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party, the only black person to serve in one of the state party's top two positions during the 20th and 21st centuries. Q: Affirmative action, what about that? A: I don't think it's a policy that's really necessary, and I think Barack Obama is a good example of that. People generally want to be helpful to minorities and want to see them succeed on their own. Sure, racism is out there, but I don't think that is the majority of people...

The Friendswood Junior High principal who outraged some parents by allowing an Islamic group to make a 40-minute presentation to students last month is now off the job. In a two-sentence statement sent late Wednesday, the school district said Robin Lowe "has accepted another administrative position effective immediately."

Public school students at Friendswood Junior High in the Houston area have been roped into Islamic training by representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations during class time, prompting religious leaders to protest over Principal Robin Lowe's actions. Pastor Dave Welch, spokesman for the Houston Area Pastor Council, confirmed the indoctrination had taken place and called it "unacceptable." "The failure of the principal of Friendswood Junior High to respect simple procedures requiring parental notification for such a potentially controversial subject, to not only approve but participate personally in a religious indoctrination session led by representatives of a group with well-known...

Public school students at Friendswood Junior High in the Houston area have been roped into Islamic training by representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations during class time, prompting religious leaders to protest over Principal Robin Lowe's actions. Pastor Dave Welch, spokesman for the Houston Area Pastor Council, confirmed the indoctrination had taken place and called it "unacceptable." "The failure of the principal of Friendswood Junior High to respect simple procedures requiring parental notification for such a potentially controversial subject, to not only approve but participate personally in a religious indoctrination session led by representatives of a group with well-known...

US Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), 72, has represented the 14th District in Texas for 20 years, and while he has faced some serious Democratic challengers in the past, this year he is confronting a major battle in the Republican Primary. His opponent is Chris Peden, mayor pro tem of Friendswood. Whether or not the race is close is a matter of conjecture. No independent polls have been released and both camps claim their internal surveys show them with comfortable leads. Mark Elam, Paul’s congressional campaign manager, blogging on the Lone Star Times website, contends Paul is leading by about 60%...

Much about Friendswood has changed since Billy Wynn bought his 12-acre farm almost three decades ago. When his neighbors on Lundy Lane wanted to pave the city’s last gravel street, he voluntarily gave up a piece of his land so the city could build a drainage ditch. That deal was sealed with a handshake with then-Mayor Ralph Lowe. But the next time he tried to give a piece of his property away, the city wasn’t quite as cooperative. Last August, Wynn gave an acre to his son as a birthday present so his son could build a house on the...

Taxpayers in Friendswood will receive a 10 percent refund from their 2005 city property taxes after City Council voted 4-3 to return nearly $1.1 million in tax revenue Monday night. City Council members Jim Hill, Jay Horecky, John LeCour and Chris Peden supported the controversial measure, which was opposed by City Council members Laura Ewing and Mel Measeles as well as Mayor David Smith. When the $1,093,680 in rebates will be issued and what form it will come in has not yet been decided. The process to issue the refunds is projected to take 30 days, according to a city...

FRIENDSWOOD — Property owners wanting a tax refund from the city in July will have to wait a bit longer. Refund proponents promised the check’s almost in the mail. Despite Mayor David Smith’s concerns that the city’s financial health could be jeopardized, late Monday the city council approved moving ahead with a plan that will eventually mean 10 percent refunds for property owners. Details of how the refund would be implemented were still to be worked out, but the city could have a guide in the North Texas town of Farmers Branch, which has made similar rebates twice, acting City...

The longest-tenured city manager in Galveston County is resigning. Friendswood officials confirmed Wednesday that Ronald Cox would step down in April after years on the job. Cox met Friendswood Mayor Kimball Brizendine last week to inform him of his plan to resign. “It was a surprise to all of us,” said Brizendine. “We’ve been blessed to have had him for the last 15 years.” Cox shared the news with the city council in an executive session Monday and his resignation was announced to city employees Tuesday. The mayor said Cox would pursue opportunities as a private consultant for cities across...

FRIENDSWOOD — We were told Friendswood school district voters overwhelmingly voted to pass an $8.2 million school district bond package Tuesday. Then we get the numbers Prop 1 For: 533 — 83 percent Against: 108 — 17 percent Prop 2 For: 520 — 82 percent Against: 112 — 18 percent. Is it just me or are these numbers weird. How many eligible voters are in this district? Did anyone know a Bond Election was taking place ? Here are the number of those who voted in the School Board Election a few weeks ago: Results Position 3: Rebecca Hillenburg 2,154,...

FRIENDSWOOD — How does someone opposed to the war and lukewarm about NASA spending fare before a crowd of astronaut-enthusiasts and loyal Republicans? Pretty good from the looks of things at a luncheon for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at a family-owned Mexican restaurant Thursday. It was the congressman’s first official visit to Friendswood since his district was changed to include parts of Galveston County. Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark sponsored the burrito and fajita event, which drew more than 50 residents and elected officials. Paul got some strong applause for his calls to eliminate the IRS and pull the United...

Dramatic differences emerge leading to lively exchanges Four candidates are running to shape the future of Friendswood. Running for Position 2 are Lonnie Moffitt and John LeCour. Contestants for Position 5 are Kitten Brizendine and Chris Peden. All candidates’ positions were stated at the well attended forum at Village on the Park Friday, April 15. Fifteen issues, raised by the audience, were addressed. The program provided concise, descriptive statements of their positions showing sharp differences between various candidates’ liberal and conservative positions. The issues soliciting the most divergent opinions were taxes, City-funded development, zero-based budgeting, and the candidates’ vision for...

Citing a heavy workload and the desire to spend more time with his family, Galveston County Democratic Party chairman Tony Buzbee stepped down as the party’s leader Friday. Buzbee, an attorney and former candidate for state representative, had been on the job for a little more than 20 months after first taking the reigns following the 2003 resignation of former party chair Mary Ellen Brennen. “Business is so good and I have four kids all under the age of 8 years old; it’s just getting to be too much,” Buzbee said. “I’m proud of what we have been able to...

A June 2004 meeting between Friendswood school officials and the chief appraiser of the Galveston County Central Appraisal District was to keep the school district from losing state funding because under-appraised homes in six Friendswood subdivisions, said FISD superintendent Trish Hanks. The meeting has become fodder for Houston talk radio station KSEV and its Lone Star Times web site, with allegations that the district tried to bring unwarranted influence to bear on the appraisal district to boost property values and therefore permit a "stealth" tax increase. In the arcane process of property appraisal for tax purposes, Hanks said the state...

Friendswood school district and appraisal district officials on Friday defended a meeting they had last year that resulted in higher property appraisals for residents in six subdivisions. Both Ken Wright, the appraisal district’s chief appraiser, and school Superintendent Trish Hanks said the meeting was to ensure the school district did not lose state funding because property in its boundaries had been under-appraised. Hanks, other officials and three school board members met with Wright last year, presenting him with records of home sales indicating the appraisal district had undervalued real estate in the school district. Hanks said school officials wanted to...