# The Huntsvillan
> The independent news source of Huntsville, Texas and all of Walker County.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).
## Pages
### About The Huntsvillan
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/about/
Last updated: 2026-04-09T14:26:00.000Z
*The Huntsvillan* is Walker County's independent news source, launched in September 2025\. We feature stories both light and serious, roughly one each week. You can subscribe for free by clicking the button at top right and receive occasional e-mails when we post new stuff.
Stories are posted on our main page and also organized into four sections: Say What?, about everyday goings on; Public Accountability, about government; Department of Human Endeavor, about creative and expressive activity; and the Humor Pen, the light side of life. All focus on Huntsville and Walker County.
### We ask the questions others won't
Such as: does that guy have a giant head, or is it just us? It's driving us crazy.
### We are to other news sources what the love child of a unicorn and a starfish is to lawn cuttings
Why choose between pertinence and impertinence when you can have both?
### We serve *you*
With short videos! Seven seconds of your time unlocks each article.
### We have all the accounts because of course we do
email: [thehuntsvillan@gmail.com](mailto:thehuntsvillan@gmail.com)
facebook:
twitter:
### We don't share *nuthin'*
If you like or follow our Facebook page, we see your screen name. If you follow our Twitter feed, we see your Twitter handle (just like everyone else does). If you subscribe, we get your name and e-mail address. Our privacy policy is simple: we don't share that information with anyone under any circumstances. Shoot, we hardly look at it ourselves. As if we don't have better things to do.
---
### Say What?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/saywhat/
Last updated: 2026-09-25T13:40:59.000Z
This section of *The Huntsvillan* looks at everyday life in Huntsville. The articles, roughly one per month, are listed from newest to oldest, and all are free to read after a seven second video. Articles with "Say What?" and Public Accountability content are listed in both sections.
---
### The Huntsvillan makes it to one year
Four themes from our first year of publication. Find out what makes *The Huntsvillan* different from everyone else.
[The Huntsvillan makes it to one yearDozens of posts, hundreds of followers and subscribers, thousands upon thousands of reads. Join us in exploring themes from our first year of coverage.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsvillan-makes-it-to-one-year/)
### The Huntsville Half Marathon returns to – uh, Huntsville, obviously
One of Huntsville's signature events makes its reappearance, after a few years' absence.
[The Huntsville Half Marathon returns to – uh, Huntsville, obviouslyIt’s baaaack – and you didn’t even know it had left.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsville-half-marathon-returns-to-uh-huntsville-obviously/)
### Pens, pencils, and glue sticks, oh my
Walker County *really* loves school supplies!
[Pens, pencils, and glue sticks, oh myHuntsville has more school supply giveaways than it has schools -- all of them happening in the next two weeks. Meet the small army of people giving our children a great start to the school year.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/pens-pencils-and-glue-sticks-oh-my/)
### So much more than a prison town
The surprisingly optimistic final installment of our three-part roundtable on economic development.
[So much more than a prison townHuntsville’s image may be better than we realize. The last installment of our three part series on economic development in Walker County.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/)
### Ready to work?
The second installment of our three-part roundtable on economic development, focusing on Walker County's workforce, and how its skill set lines up with the skills new employers will be looking for.
[Ready to work?The types of jobs Walker County can attract don’t line up with the jobs local students are trained for. The second of a three part roundtable discussion on economic development.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/ready-to-work/)
### Economic development is coming – but where is it going?
*The Huntsvillan*: let's gather four community leaders for an honest discussion of what we gotta do to bring new business to town. Counterpoint: that's never been done around here. *The Huntsvillan*: watch us. The first of a three-part series.
[Economic development is coming – but where is it going?Without “shovel-ready” sites available in Walker County, there will be no place for new business to go. Part 1 of a roundtable discussion on economic development.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/economic-development-is-coming-but-where-is-it-going/)
### There must be something in the water
Our photographer: A water tower? For a story about kids going to college? Are you serious? *The Huntsvillan*: Trust us, it'll work. And it did.
[There must be something in the waterNew Waverly High School has been sending its graduates to top tier colleges at unbelievably high rates.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/)
### Walker County's Congressional primary candidates lit $10 million on fire
How did the candidates in Walker County's Congressional primaries prove their allegiance to the common man? By lighting $10 million – much of it their own money – on fire.
[Walker County’s Congressional primary candidates lit $10 million on fireThe candidates had money to burn -- and did.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-countys-congressional-primary-candidates-lit-10-million-on-fire/)
### Renaissance at Huntsville State Park
They've been fixin' things and are fixin' to fix some more.
[Renaissance at Huntsville State ParkEverything old is new again at the park, which is poised for a comeback.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/renaissance-at-huntsville-state-park/)
### Item going through things, for real
Winter 2026 saw big changes at the Huntsville *Item*, likely driven by a declining subscriber base and lots of new competition, including *The Huntsvillan*.
[Item going through things, for realThings have gone topsy-turvy at the Huntsville Item.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/item-going-through-things-for-real/)
### Walker County has twenty-seven Congressional candidates
Twenty-seven people – three baseball teams – filed to represent part of Walker County in the next Congress. This article previewed each primary, Democrat and Republican, in each of the two Congressional districts in our county.
[Walker County has twenty-seven Congressional candidatesWe are not making this up.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-county-has-twenty-seven-congressional-candidates/)
### A dangerous place to walk
Why don't Sam Houston State University students walk to class more often? There are two big reasons: dangerous intersections and poor lighting at night.
[A dangerous place to walkThe area surrounding Sam Houston State University can be hazardous to pedestrians.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/)
### Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on foot
Huntsville can be unfriendly to pedestrians. Learn what it's like to get around town on foot – or try to.
[Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on footThe experts had their say. What did the city do?The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/)
### From clutching titles to grasping for wins: The story of SHSU football's toughest season
The 2025 season was really tough for SHSU football. This story tells you why.
[From clutching titles to grasping for wins: The story of SHSU football’s toughest seasonWill this reversal of fortune be temporary or permanent?The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-clutching-titles-to-grasping-for-wins-the-story-of-shsu-footballs-toughest-season/)
### Has local pay caught up with inflation?
The answer is both yes and no – depending on who you work for.
[Has local pay caught up with inflation?Some local workers have made out much better than others.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/)
### Public Accountability
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/publicacc/
Last updated: 2026-09-20T22:41:15.000Z
This section of *The Huntsvillan* contains the red meat – articles examining the actions and effectiveness of government, usually local government, roughly one per month. They are listed from newest to oldest; all are free to read after a seven second video. Articles with "Say What?" and Public Accountability content are listed in both sections.
The backbone of this section is Public Accountability Officer Alison Wilkins, who does much of the research and outreach behind these articles.
---
### More than half empty, it turns out
This update to our article from May got more reads than the original.
[More than half empty, it turns outWe found the numbers Huntsville Memorial Hospital wouldn’t share. They show a much greater loss in patients than we originally indicated. An update to our article from May.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/more-than-half-empty-it-turns-out/)
### Behemoth
Sam Houston State University is going big into commercial property leasing – and isn't eager for you to know. Well, you know now. The stunning finale of our series on SHSU real estate.
[BehemothSam Houston State University has gone big into commercial property leasing, flirting with socialism and the letter of the law in the process. The shocking final installment of our three part series on SHSU property acquisitions.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/)
### Leviathan
That sound you hear is Sam Houston State University hoovering up commercial property all over town. Second in a series on SHSU real estate.
[LeviathanSam Houston State University is buying commercial property all over town, and there’s no telling what they plan to do with much of it. The second installment of a three-part series.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/)
### Goliath
Sam Houston State University keeps building new classrooms, even as the number of in-person classes being offered has fallen. First in a series on SHSU real estate.
[GoliathSam Houston State University’s thirst for new buildings runs up against declining numbers of in-person classes.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/)
### It's only money
How has Texas' new school vouchers program affected Walker County? Find out here.
[It’s only moneySchool vouchers are now a thing, in Walker County and across the state.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/its-only-money/)
### College bound?
Fewer Huntsville High School students are going on to college after graduation – but more are prepared to enter the workforce.
[College bound?Over the past decade, Huntsville High graduates have been attending college less and less frequently.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/college-bound/)
### Half empty
Last year's bond was pitched on Huntsville Memorial Hospital getting crowded. The truth was rather different.
[Half EmptyWhile asking for tax money to expand last year, Huntsville Memorial Hospital was hemorrhaging patients.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/half-empty/)
### There must be something in the water
Our photographer: A water tower? For a story about kids going to college? Are you serious? *The Huntsvillan*: Trust us, it'll work. And it did.
[There must be something in the waterNew Waverly High School has been sending its graduates to top tier colleges at unbelievably high rates.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/)
### Local school boards meet, hilarity ensues
What can you learn about a school district by watching one of its school board meetings? Quite a lot, actually.
[Local school boards meet, hilarity ensuesHuntsville ISD board meetings differ in style and substance from those of other local school districts.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/)
### Local schools get grades of their own
A close look at the Texas Academic Performance Report shows you what local schools are trying to accomplish – and how well they succeed.
[Local schools get grades of their ownThe tables have turned.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/)
### Huntsville spends over $1 million annually marketing itself to tourists. Why is it hiding one of its crown jewels?
Huntsville has an incredible concentration of museums and historical buildings, neither of which are emphasized in the city's tourism marketing.
[Huntsville spends over $1 million annually marketing itself to tourists. Why is it hiding one of its crown jewels?Huntsville has an exceptional concentration of museums and historical buildings--not that you’d learn that from the city.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/)
### Hospital District board members extend their own terms of office
Hard to believe, but true – twice, actually, the second time via a new state law that also facilitates the leasing of Hospital District property to private developers.
[Hospital District board members extend their own terms of officeIt was probably even legal to do so.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-board-of-managers-extends-own-terms-o/)
### A dangerous place to walk
Why don't Sam Houston State University students walk to class more often? Dangerous intersections and poor lighting at night are two big reasons.
[A dangerous place to walkThe area surrounding Sam Houston State University can be hazardous to pedestrians.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/)
### Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on foot
Huntsville can be unfriendly to pedestrians, and the city and county's funding strategy doesn't help the situation.
[Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on footThe experts had their say. What did the city do?The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/)
### Hospital District largely silent on giant tax break for seniors
The $150,000 homestead exemption for senior citizens, one of the largest in the state, took local residents by surprise.
[Hospital District largely silent on giant tax break for seniorsThe $150,000 homestead exemption is likely one of the largest in the state.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/)
### Huntsville ISD staffing issues approach crisis levels
Most teachers lack substantial experience, and half of those lack state certification – rates far higher than those of neighboring districts. If you are looking for the single biggest problem facing the district, this may be it.
[Huntsville ISD staffing issues approach crisis levelsMost teachers lack substantial experience, and half of those lack state certification.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/)
### In comparative terms, hospital bond proposal spends tax dollars bigly
Possibly the nail in the coffin of the Walker County Hospital District's proposed hospital bond, this article showed how unusual it was compared to similar counties in our area. Still our most widely-read article.
[Walker County Hospital Bond Proposal Is High TaxThe bond is larger, and uses more tax dollars, than bonds issued by comparable hospital districts.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/)
### Department of Human Endeavor
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/human/
Last updated: 2026-10-04T03:55:54.000Z
People in Huntsville do lots of neat things, expressive, innovative, or artistic. *The Huntsvillan* writes about this stuff roughly once per month. These stories are listed here, from newest to oldest. All are free to read after a seven second video.
The Department of Human Endeavor is the domain of *The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, *The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
---
### Rich, with God's grace and mercy
Sometimes innovation comes in unlikely places, such as this article, which is probably the first-ever local review of a book from Walker County.
[Rich, with God’s grace and mercyRichard Watkins’ memoir reminds you that there was a time when people believed in things.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/rich-with-gods-grace-and-mercy/)
### Froggy Wines takes its final hop
A threnody for Walker County's oldest winery.
[Froggy Wines takes its final hopIt’s the second Walker County winery to close this year, as its owners move on to other pursuits.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/froggy-wines-takes-its-final-hop/)
### A painting is worth a thousand words. So what's a mural worth?
Huntsville has been a trendsetter in realizing the value of murals, transforming our city in the process. After reading this article, you'll never look at downtown the same way again.
[A painting is worth a thousand words. So what’s a mural worth?Murals have been popping up all over Huntsville, enriching the community in the process – and more may be in store.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/)
### Five great places to watch the World Cup
An international perspective on the love of soccer in Huntsville.
[Five great places to watch the World CupThe “other football’s” biggest tournament is coming to our shores.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/five-great-places-to-watch-the-world-cup/)
### Love on the vine
An affectionate look at the comings and goings of our local wineries, and what makes their owners tick.
[Love on the vineOwning a winery is a labor of love.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/love-on-the-vine/)
### Don't look now, but Huntsville is becoming a live music mecca
A close look at three major efforts that fill up the musical calendar all year long.
[Don’t look now, but Huntsville is becoming a live music meccaLive music is breathing life into Huntsville’s public spaces.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/)
### Small town, big screen
A film festival is such a different experience from going to the movies. This story takes you behind the scenes at Huntsville's own Prison City Film Festival.
[Small town, big screenThe Prison City Film Festival is a huge undertaking for a small town like Huntsville.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/small-town-big-screen/)
### Huntsville spends over $1 million annually marketing itself to tourists. Why is it hiding one of its crown jewels?
Learn how the city's tourist marketing downplays Huntsville's exceptional concentration of museums, and see what it's like visiting George Russell's exceptional museums. The third in a series.
[Huntsville spends over $1 million annually marketing itself to tourists. Why is it hiding one of its crown jewels?Huntsville has an exceptional concentration of museums and historical buildings--not that you’d learn that from the city.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/)
### You want art? They've got art
A close look at the amazing treasures inside George Russell's museums of art, furniture, stoneware, and more. The second in a series.
[You want art? They’ve got artThe second in a series on the treasures in George Russell’s museums.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/)
### Hiding in plain sight: the art bonanza right under our noses
The first in a series on the art inside George Russell's museums and the gorgeous, restored old houses in which they reside.
[Hiding in plain sight: the art bonanza right under our nosesThe first article in a three-part series on the treasures in George Russell’s museums.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/)
### History as theater: Behind the scenes at Journey Through Bethlehem
Huntsville's biggest theater production is a massive undertaking, drawing thousands of visitors from throughout the region.
[History as theater: Behind the scenes at Journey Through BethlehemWe may live in divisive times, but some things still bring us together.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/history-as-theater-behind-the-scenes-at-journey-through-bethlehem/)
### From songs to speakers in Huntsville
A look at local recording studios and the bands cutting records there.
[From songs to speakers in HuntsvilleThe local musicians that make their own albums – and the studios that help them do it.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/)
### Imerj-ing from prison into art
A look at Huntsville's newest art gallery, featuring the work of currently and formerly incarcerated artists. *The Huntsvillan*'s first article ever.
[Imerj-ing from prison into artGreat art knows no boundaries.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/)
### Humor Pen
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/humor/
Last updated: 2026-07-01T15:58:48.000Z
This section contains *The Huntsvillan*'s humor pieces, roughly one per month. They are listed from newest to oldest; all are free to read after a seven second video.
---
### *Huntsvillan* staff heads out on vacation, dreading every minute of it
Everyone needs a break – even Steph Mamber.
[Huntsvillan staff heads out on vacation, dreading every minute of itLook out, Oklahoma City.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsvillan-staff-heads-out-on-vacation-dreading-every-minute-of-it/)
### Residents getting nostalgic for $3.99 gas at Smiley's
A humor piece with a bit of hard news: the economics don't add up.
[Residents getting nostalgic for $3.99 gas at Smiley’sYou don’t realize what you’re missing until it’s gone.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/residents-getting-nostalgic-for-3-99-gas-at-smileys/)
### City says "Screw it," changes name to Huntsvegas
Our little April Fool's joke.
[City says “Screw it,” changes name to HuntsvegasComing here is a gamble. Why not make it official?The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/city-says-screw-it-changes-name-to-huntsvegas/)
### \*Super\* cheap apartments for rent near downtown
Did we ask TDCJ if they thought this was funny? We did not ask TDCJ if they thought this was funny.
[\*Super\* cheap apartments for rent near downtownAfter years of delay, they are finally ready for occupancy.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/super-cheap-apartments/)
### He had one job
The city's most forlorn crosswalk painter. That cover photo – and the photo inside the article – are real.
[He had one jobThe HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/)
### Annual report to shareholders
Steph Mamber shows her testy side. If you thought *The Huntsvillan* actually had shareholders, reading this article will convince you otherwise.
[Annual Report to ShareholdersA semi-serious look at what we have done and are trying to do.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/)
### The Item will make bank if they can sell this last newsstand copy
Fun fact – this article led to the removal of the *Item*'s newsstand from in front of Tallent's in Riverside. *The Huntsvillan* gets results!
[The Item will make bank if they can sell this last newsstand copyProfitability is $2.50 and one three-year old issue away.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/)
### Lone tree standing at 22nd St. clear cut has survivor's guilt
This tree expresses the anguish we all feel at seeing that beautiful hill denuded.
[Lone tree left at 22nd St. clear cut has survivor’s guilt.Trees have feelings too.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/lone-tree-standing-at-22nd-st-clearcut-has-survivors-guilt/)
### Public Notices
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/public-notices/
Last updated: 2026-09-20T22:39:45.000Z
_No content available._
## Posts
### Bat happens
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/bat-happens/
Last updated: 2026-10-14T14:41:20.000Z
It's been official for a while now: Huntsville is [so much more than a prison town](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/). Dan Phillips' unusual houses have garnered national coverage, for example, and we have a [pretty impressive array](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/) of murals, too. We also have more [museums per capita](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/) than any other city in Texas.
Our bat population also puts us on the map. For the past twenty years, nearly one million [Mexican free-tailed bats](https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/keep-texas-wild/hanging-around-with-bats/a-year-in-the-life-of-a-mexican-free-tailed-bat) have inhabited the abandoned cotton warehouse across from the Walls Unit. Not everyone has embraced this massive colony, but plans to protect their unlikely home may be afoot.
## Help just when they needed it most
The bats [interfered with](https://www.khou.com/article/life/animals/huntsville-bat-colony-to-be-moved/285-c0ad62ca-ef79-4d5d-bc85-2e7ee9cbcd90) a parking lot the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) wanted to put in that location. In 2017, they were [close to getting evicted](https://www.batcon.org/press/bat-colony-threatened/), but locals, wildlife enthusiasts, and state entities like the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) [swooped in](https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/mexican-free-tailed-bats-huntsville-texas/) and halted the demolition.
Experts were brought in from Florida to determine if the colony could be moved. The conclusion was that the colony was too big. Nevertheless, TDCJ built some "bat condos" with inmate labor in hopes of luring the bats away from the warehouse. Nearly a decade later, the houses [remain vacant](https://www.huntsvillan.com/super-cheap-apartments/) and the roost in the warehouse continues to grow.
The nonprofit Austin Bat Refuge was one of many entities who helped protect the bats during the proposed demolition years. The organization is made up of Dianne Odegard, who worked then for Bat Conservation International as Education and Public Outreach Manager, and Lee Mackenzie, whose carpentry trade gave him intimate knowledge of construction practices and vulnerable entry points. Together they recognized that “the materials were substandard, making the finished products unlikely to attract bats.”
Substandard materials in the bat condos have made them fit only for a **Huntsvillan* [humor piece](https://www.huntsvillan.com/super-cheap-apartments/).
A few years after the condos’ construction, Austin Bat Refuge and Dan Jones, then a biologist for the TPWD, installed dataloggers in the warehouse and a bat condo. They found that “portions of the lower level of the warehouse, even with all its open areas, remained above freezing during the frigid temperatures of \[February 2021's "Snowmaggedon"\], while the artificial roosts stayed approximately the same as the outdoor ambient temperature,” Odegard shared.
Maybe this is why the bats have stayed put. Or maybe it’s because TDCJ didn’t take the recommendations from the [working group](https://austinbatrefuge.org/6549-2/4) about proper construction. Or because the bats prefer their luxury hangout complete with day and night roosts along with maternity (nursery), hibernaculum (winter), and bachelor roost areas. Maybe it’s simply because the bat condos can't house the whole colony.
According to TPWD's Lerrin Johnson, “Some of those factors could include differences or similarities in the condo construction, increased activity near the condos, thermal profiles, olfactory environments, humidity levels, and many other possibilities.” Whatever the reason, the bats simply have not taken to them. The question still looms: what is the long-term solution for a massive bat population – one of the largest urban colonies in the state – roosting in a dilapidated building?
## Let the roost remain
One answer is to preserve the historic building, which will be ninety years old next year. In March 2022 a portion of the building was torn down, but with the help of local resident Robin Logan and Nate Fuller of the TPWD, a “cause marketing” partnership was formed with Apex Clean Energy by the end of that year. Apex's [$200,000 donation](https://www.batcon.org/huntsvillebats/) was matched by TDCJ, and a new roof was completed in 2024 and educational signage and fencing installed.
Logan, who leads the group "[Building for Bats](https://www.facebook.com/BuildForBats/)," had offered to purchase the building, but TDCJ wasn't interested. Still, after dedicating almost two years of her life to the bat effort, she isn't disappointed. “We accomplished what we started out to do – spread awareness and save the building," she said.
And with a change of administration, the tables may be turning. According to Huntsville City Councilmember Vicki McKenzie, “there are conversations with TDCJ about how we can partner and utilize that space to protect the bats, but also create a space around Town Creek where the proposed bat houses are, to create a nice watch area.”
But nothing concrete has been established yet. “The plans are all still plans," said McKenzie, "and the right conversations are happening with the leaders... from the city, TDCJ, and Texas Parks and Wildlife to make sure we are all moving forward in that direction to be able to define a true project.”
McKenzie, a bat advocate, said "After six years of serving on council, the one thing I have learned is that all the entities have lots of red tape to get through, so time and patience are something I’ve had to come to understand.”
## Keep hanging on
While conversations continue, there are ways coming up to support the bats.
You can witness their nightly emergence around dusk for as long as temperatures are above 50 degrees – typically, from late spring or early summer until the end of this month.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension plans to hold its third educational program, “Living With Bats,” next summer. If TDCJ ever succeeds in tearing down the building, this workshop could have practical value, as displaced bats will seek refuge anywhere they can find around town.
On October 24th, you can try to catch the bats before they go on winter break, then walk over to the [Imerj Gallery](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) for EchoFest, a fundraiser in conjunction with Huntsville LIVE, an SHSU student organization dedicated to revitalizing Huntsville's live music scene, and Bat Conservation International. The $8 cover charge will go toward bat awareness and protection efforts.
While bats have [some protection](https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/online-course/wildlife-conservation/threatened-endangered-and-protected-animals) in Texas, it is limited. In the last legislature, a bill requiring humane removal methods and banning exclusions during maternity season (May 1-August 31) died in committee. If TDCJ wants its new parking lot sooner than the city can work through its red tape, an eviction notice may be waiting in the wings. Get out and support the bats while there is still time to do so.
---
City Manager Scott Swigert, Assistant City Manager Ricardo Villagrand, TDCJ Communications Director Amanda Hernandez, and Mayor Russell Humphrey did not respond to outreaches. EchoFest takes place on Saturday, October 24th, with the doors opening at 7:30 pm and music beginning at 8 pm, at the Be Free Gallery at 1000 12th St. in Huntsville. Cover is $8.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### 2 out of 3 ain't bad, but 1 out of 4 is terrible
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/2-out-of-3-aint-bad-but-1-out-of-4-is-terrible/
Last updated: 2026-10-08T16:56:25.000Z
For the first time in years, there is a contested election for seats on the Walker County Hospital District Board of Managers. Two seats are up for election this year, with a total of four candidates. Voters can select up to two candidates of their choice, and the two with the most votes are elected.
The candidates include one longtime incumbent, Joe Sapp; a newcomer to the board, Stephen Antwi, appointed to fill a vacancy earlier this year; and two challengers, Natalie Bodner and Donald Batiste.
To allow all candidates to explain themselves to the public on several issues that have arisen in the past two years, *The Huntsvillan* reached out to all candidates requesting answers to five questions. At least two outreaches were made to each (for one candidate, through their treasurer) over a three day span.
We heard back from everyone but received answers from only one candidate: Bodner. Batiste promised answers but didn't deliver, Sapp explicitly refused to answer, while Antwi promised nothing and delivered nothing.
The questions and Bodner's answers are printed below.
## Natalie Bodner
**Tell us a little about yourself, including any credentials or experiences that would help you serve effectively in this position.**
I graduated from Texas A&M University and have 16 years of accounting experience in the oil and gas industry. A large part of my job involves analyzing expenditures for contractual and regulatory compliance as well as monitoring and verifying these expenses.
In my free time, I love animals and have volunteered with numerous rescue groups and shelters. My work with these organizations shows the value of service, compassion, and community involvement. I am not a politician or medical expert. I have no ties or allegiance to the hospital. I am a taxpayer and neighbor who wants to see changes in how the Walker County Hospital District operates and communicates with the public.
**The transparency of the hospital district has become a central issue, with a number of citizens and news outlets criticizing the openness of the board’s decision-making, and the new district administrator, David Podlin, accusing some of these critics as acting in bad faith. Would you say that transparency is a big problem for the district, a small problem, or no problem at all? What key changes should be made to improve transparency?**
I have to agree with the public concern over the lack of transparency in the hospital district. I find the website and board discussions lack substance. I do not believe that the critics are acting in bad faith. They are taxpayers who want to know how their money is spent and have a voice in the discussion.
The best way to counter critics is with information, not to question their motives. Public institutions work best when people trust the process, and that trust depends on openness. To improve transparency, I believe the district should make several changes:
\* Post the budget, financial statements, check register, and contracts online.
\* Answer public information requests quickly and completely.
\* Write agendas in plain, specific language so the public knows in advance what the board will discuss and decide.
\* Discuss any new facility, financing, or debt publicly before decisions are made with real opportunity for public comment.
\* Consider public comments as part of board discussions before voting.
Transparency isn’t just a buzzword. It is a basic responsibility when you are managing public money.
**As reported by *The Huntsvillan*** [**last year**](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/)**, the WCHD's senior citizen homestead exemption of $150,000 is one of the largest in the state. This lowers senior citizens’ taxes but raises taxes for businesses, renters, and homeowners under 65\. Are you comfortable with this homestead exemption, or would you like to see it raised or lowered? Why?**
I understand the intent behind an exemption for senior citizens. However, this doesn’t make the burden disappear. It only shifts the burden to the remaining homeowners, renters, businesses, and landowners/farmers.
Instead, I would like to see a rate reduction across the board. I believe the budget has been overestimated for years, as shown by almost $25 million in unassigned reserves (projected to be about $27 million at the end of 2026). Several line items in the 2027 budget could be lowered significantly. The most obvious is the contingency ($3,385,300), which could be removed completely due to given reserves.
**Two ambitious hospital bond proposals failed in 2025, and, as *The Huntsvillan* has reported, inpatient stays at Huntsville Memorial Hospital have** [**trended downward**](https://www.huntsvillan.com/more-than-half-empty-it-turns-out/) **for almost a decade. At the same time, the hospital’s CEO has described the intensive care unit as being very busy. What renovations or expansions do you seeing the hospital needing most over the next decade? How should those be paid for, from tax money, patient revenue, or some combination of the two?**
Regarding a “need” for renovations or expansions, I would need more information than what has been provided so far. However, my first thought is that if inpatient stays are declining, could some of that space be transitioned to intensive care? Again, the public needs more information.
The issue of who pays is clearer to me. Voters have spoken. They do not want the heavy burden of hospital facility expenses. I would like to see the district and HMH explore other funding options that do not directly or indirectly place the burden on taxpayers.
**In recent years, tax revenue has outstripped the amount spent on indigent care, the district’s primary expenditure, and some critics have argued the district has amassed a fund balance that is too large. Where do you stand on this issue? Is overall taxing and spending in the hospital district too low, too high, or about right? Why?**
Taxing and spending are too high. I see no reason to have almost $25 million (and growing) in the general fund with no stated purpose. In my opinion, based on previous years’ expenditures, many of the budget line items are overestimated.
Regarding indigent care, the state mandates a minimum amount a county must provide. That is what the district should budget. Beyond that, individual taxpayers can donate to various charity funds that help with these costs. HMH has the HMH Foundation. Tri-County Behavioral Health can also receive donations. Taxpayers should not be forced into excessive charity when they are struggling themselves. Medical costs are high for everyone, including those who do not qualify for assistance. The hospital district has a responsibility to them as well.
Lead outreach and all question-writing was conducted by **The Huntsvillan*'s Peregrination Correspondent, Darren Grant. Grant has moderated all non-partisan debates held in Walker County in the last fifteen years, including two for school board and one for Huntsville City Council. His TED talk on the benefits of bicycling for children can be seen [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI).
### Rich, with God's grace and mercy
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/rich-with-gods-grace-and-mercy/
Last updated: 2026-10-04T03:56:25.000Z
Some people pride themselves on who they know, how popular they are, who will answer their calls. *The Huntsvillan* would in a heartbeat – if [anyone](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/) would [actually](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) answer [our calls](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/) to [begin](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/) with.
Local community leader and activist Richard Watkins doesn't have this problem. He calls it as he sees it, and if you don't agree, fine. A frequent columnist for the *Huntsville Item*, Watkins has spoken out on controversial issues both local and national, with a special passion for our schools. "Go along to get along" is not in his repertoire.
Now Watkins has published a memoir, *Rich with God's Grace and Mercy*, which covers his years in Huntsville and then some. How bitter is he about the blowback he's received for being outspoken? Judging by the book, not bitter at all. After you've cleared the hurdles he has in his life, harsh words don't have much sting.
So what *does* he care about, then? Read the book. You may be surprised.
## Substance over style
This is a plainspoken book. There are no *Hamlet*\-like soliloquies, no soaring rhetoric, no words to look up in the dictionary.
In this respect it fits cleanly into the literary tradition to which it belongs: African-American autobiography. From Frederick Douglass forward, an earnest, straightforward style has served to highlight the extraordinary events these writers experienced. It serves Watkins well, too. It's easier to see inside a person when fancy verbiage doesn't get in the way.
Straightforward doesn't just describe Watkins' style, but his substance, too. He is brutally honest, sharing uncomfortable truths about his parentage, a business failure, and a [lost lawsuit](https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2003/jun/15/ex-employee-wins-500000-religious-discrimination-award-against-tdcj/) that does not reflect well on him. These are difficult to read not just for what is being shared, but also because we know we wouldn't be so forthcoming ourselves.
This gives him additional credence when he speaks about race. Watkins, who is black, relates several incidents of discrimination. In grade school, his textbooks were hand-me-downs from the white schools. In Vietnam, white helicopter pilots were given missions more readily than he and other black pilots were. Most tellingly, when he became warden at the Holliday unit in town, its picture of Rev. Holliday, the black preacher for whom the unit was named, was not on display, but had been stuffed in a closet. This was in *1997*.
Though these incidents are in the past, their everyday nature and Watkins' matter-of-fact style brings to them an immediacy that helps us experience them as he did. This being said, racism is not the central theme of this book. What is?
## People and places, not things
The variety of jobs Watkins takes up is astounding – paperboy, helicopter pilot, pharmaceutical sales representative, warden – with several others in-between. Connect the dots and the line zig-zags everywhere. His career had no unifying theme.
That's because the center of his life wasn't work, but place and family. Whenever he zigs away from Huntsville for work – to Houston, or Mineral Wells, or Bonham – he always zags back again. He is clearly fond of his wife Helen and their four daughters. One anecdote involving Helen and his military service is simply startling. We all want God looking after us. Helen clearly comes in a close second.
Helen, like Richard, came from an upwardly mobile black family, to which education really mattered. Reconciling that mobility with moving from Houston, where she grew up, to small town Huntsville must have been no small feat. There is a darling story about their courtship involving what amounts to a PowerPoint presentation. Both Watkins now have doctorate degrees.
## A true believer
Between his vigorous denunciations of racism, his support of President Obama, and his criticisms of the current war in Iran, you might label Watkins a liberal. In a way, you'd be right. In another way, you couldn't be more wrong.
Watkins' declarations about political topics don't require us to view him through a political lens. There is enough of that going on already, and doing so overlooks the deep conservatism that runs through Watkins' veins.
In the beginning, the terms liberal and conservative had less political meanings. A conservative respected institutions and the wisdom embodied in them. A liberal believed in free inquiry and open discussion to find effective solutions to social problems. Conservative and liberal weren't opposites, but two sides of the coin by which societies best promote human flourishing.
In this sense, Watkins is both liberal and very conservative. He believes in institutions and wants them to work. This thread runs throughout his professional endeavors. A doer, he wants to get things done.
Watkins comes by his school activism naturally, given his lifelong emphasis on education. You think you had difficulties getting that undergraduate degree? Wait until you see what the Watkins' went through. His belief in educational institutions is based on personal experience, and he wants to pay that forward.
The same is true vocationally. When Watkins trains helicopter pilots, he finds a way to streamline the training process. When he first becomes warden at Holliday, he calls in the inspector general to review past incidents of the use of force. When he works for the Huntsville ISD, he obtains funding for a community education program and then helps build the program itself.
In the end, this unapologetic belief in institutions – sometimes against all evidence – is the most striking part of the book, and the man. If you need one reason to read *Rich with God’s Grace and Mercy*, this is it. Yes, you will learn about Watkins' many unique experiences and discover what it was like growing up in Huntsville before the Civil Rights era. But most of all, you will delve into a life spent believing in things – knowledge, family, place, justice, institutions – and taking the hard actions that belief requires. It's a lesson many of us could stand to learn.
---
*Rich with God's Grace and Mercy* is co-authored by T. Wendy Williams, also a Huntsville native, and published by Gallien G5 Publishing. It will soon be available at [Mortar & Pestle](https://www.mortarpestletx.com/) bookshop downtown, or can be purchased online at all the usual places. Mortar & Pestle is hosting a [book signing](https://www.facebook.com/events/3327594137631095/) on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 pm.
Like what you read? Smash that subscribe button at top right (desktop, tablet) or in the drop-down menu (phone) and receive occasional updates when we publish new stuff, or follow our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/) page or [Twitter](https://x.com/TheHuntsvillan) feed.
### Froggy Wines takes its final hop
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/froggy-wines-takes-its-final-hop/
Last updated: 2026-09-25T13:36:21.000Z
In winemaking, the element of time is unrelenting. Time for the vines to mature, time for the juice to ferment, time to bottle and sell.
In June, [we showed](https://www.huntsvillan.com/love-on-the-vine/) how those time demands led to the closing of Teysha Winery in eastern Walker County earlier this year. Owners Joe and Lynn Zimmerman simply needed a break.
"In the \[last\] 5-6 years, we've had three real weekends off," said Joe this past spring. "We miss soccer games, t-ball... it's pretty hard when you're stuck here with this enterprise to run."
Now a second local vintner is shutting down, partly for the same reason. Froggy Wines, the first winery to open in Walker County, closed its tasting room last month and is selling its last bottles this weekend.
"It's a happy time for us," said Richard Henriksen, who owns Froggy with his wife Debbie. "We've already had a weekend off, and we liked it. It's gonna be a good thing." Let's look back at the sweet, dry, and semi-dry life of Froggy Wines.
## We've raised teenagers, now let's try something *really* challenging
When their youngest child was a senior in high school in Iowa, the Henriksens were looking for the next place to put their time and energy. So they bought a hobby wine kit and started making wine at their home.
With the encouragement of friends with whom they shared their inaugural White Zinfandel, they started making different kinds of wine and attending workshops and trainings. They returned to the Lone Star State in 2006, when Richard took a faculty position in the Department of Counseling Education at Sam Houston State University.
The couple continued making wine in Texas, even attending Grayson County College in Denison to study enology, the science of wine and wine making. They opened [Froggy Wines](https://www.facebook.com/WinesFroggy/) in 2013\. Froggy stands for Forever Rely On God’s Gifts to You. “We are a Christian business, and we run it that way," said Henriksen.
Skeptics feared a winery wouldn’t make it in Walker County. But “tell me I can’t do something," said Richard, "and I’m going to prove you wrong.” Still, it wasn't easy. He thought it would take around $50,000 to open the doors, but costs ran double that, and construction and permitting took two years. Over the years, the Henriksens have invested over a quarter of a million dollars into the business.
Inside the tasting room, now closed. Photo credit: Froggy Wines.
They started out with just three types of wine, which grew to twenty-five at its peak. Richard made all the blends, while Debbie oversaw the taste of the sweeter wines. With no grapes grown on the property, Froggy got its grapes, juice, and concentrate from across the country. Still, “about 80-85% are made from Texas grapes and grape juice,” said Richard.
As a small boutique winery nestled in a neighborhood, “it’s been a fun business," Henriksen said. "We’ve made a lot of friends. We are not into all the commercialism, so people like to come here and hang out because it’s quiet, and kid and dog friendly.”
## And now for something completely different
Richard, now 73, retired as the university's first black Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 2022\.
Age – that time element again – and *s*everal bouts of cancer have sapped some of his energy, and he and Debbie decided to close Froggy Wines. "If cancer hadn't jumped up in my life, we probably would have waited a couple more years \[to close\]," he said. Henriksen is one year cancer-free.
The custom building that houses the winemaking and tasting room will soon have a new life. It will be called The Tadpole Room and serve as a hangout for the Henriksen’s three grandkids. Renovations are already underway, with games being purchased and their grandson picking a light blue to repaint the building. There is now much more space to host gatherings of family and friends.
Bottles of wine ready for sale this weekend. Photo credit: Froggy Wines.
The winery may be closing, but the Henriksen's calendar is still full. "I've got so much else going on," says Richard. "I'm a chaplain \[for American Legion Post 95\] and have started my own church. \[Froggy\] has been a really great experience for us, but it's run its course.
"We've enjoyed the ride. We were excited about opening it, and we're excited about closing it. It's a celebration. A lot of businesses shut down, and it's a sad event. For us, it's a positive event; moving on to other things. It's gonna be good."
---
Froggy Wines is at 104-A Knox Circle, a right turn off of Hwy. 19 as you are going north toward Riverside. It will be open its regular hours this weekend, 11-6 Saturday and 12-6 Sunday, with all bottles 75% off. When the doors close on Sunday, that's it.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### The Huntsvillan makes it to one year
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsvillan-makes-it-to-one-year/
Last updated: 2026-09-24T14:28:52.000Z
Upstart news outlet *The Huntsvillan* celebrates its one year anniversary this week.
"It's about doggone time," said Steph Mamber, President, CEO, COO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntsvillan, Inc.
Since its founding, the site has averaged one article per week, distributed broadly across its four coverage areas: [everyday happenings](https://www.huntsvillan.com/saywhat/), [local government](https://www.huntsvillan.com/publicacc/), [creative and expressive activity](https://www.huntsvillan.com/human/), and [humor](https://www.huntsvillan.com/humor/). Altogether, these posts have garnered thousands and thousands of reads, making *The Huntsvillan* [one](https://thehoustoniannews.com/) of [several](https://www.itemonline.com/) [valuable](https://www.walkercountypress.com/) [news](https://newwaverlycommunitynewsandevents.wordpress.com/) [sources](https://hellohuntsvilletx.com/) for Walker County.
In its first months of operation, patterns, or themes, began to emerge, entirely unplanned – appearing in one article here, another there, still another a few months later. These themes, most visible from a distance, are news in themselves.
This article explores four of the most important, adding one section each day all week. To cap off the week, a new article appears on Friday, updating one from the spring.
Altogether, a sizeable portion of the past year's output will be referenced in exploring these four themes, helping readers learn about early articles they may have missed. You can also find older articles in our [archive](https://www.huntsvillan.com/page/2/) or explore our [sections](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsvillan-introduces-sections/), which correspond to the four coverage areas listed above.
## Asking the questions others won't
*The Huntsvillan*'s [self-description](https://www.huntsvillan.com/about/) is simple: we ask the questions others won't. We just didn't anticipate how difficult that would be.
September 2025, when the site was launched, was a low point for news in Walker County. *The Houstonian* at Sam Houston State University was [just coming back](https://www.facebook.com/SHSUMCOM/posts/pfbid02SSirbKKVj3LmcsgyeLby9Jutsk7ZvYY7jz6xyhFpL166WZUQGyhe98QrAZHwtjqCl) after folding entirely, while the *Huntsville Item* relied largely on press releases and reports from wire services (such as the Associated Press).
Local government could get awfully comfortable in that environment, and did – as we discovered that very month. We planned to write about a community event held at SHSU that fall, but the university's [media arm](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/integrated-marketing-communications/media-requests) prohibited us from interviewing the organizer, killing the story.
Another entity across town stiff-armed us at the same time: the Walker County Hospital District. We asked it for contact information for the five members of their elected Board of Managers, for what became a [bombshell article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) about the bond proposal up for election that fall. They provided information for only one.\[1\] Their intransigence became a part of the story in its own right.
Subsequent interactions with both entities have been no more productive. We published an article on a homestead exemption the Hospital District extended to seniors – one of the [largest in the state](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/) – and the board of managers refused to comment. Same deal when we published [another article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-board-of-managers-extends-own-terms-o/) on them doubling their own terms of office.\[2\]
Sam Houston State University was similarly silent in last month's big series on university property acquisitions – building new classroom space when[ existing space is underutilized](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/), buying up commercial property [all over town](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/), and going big into the commercial property [leasing business](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/). In each case, that silence became a part of the story.
The tide has begun to turn. The *Item* brought in a new editor who has aggressively [pursued](https://www.itemonline.com/news/no-meetings-no-minutes-hospital-district-board-moves-on-federal-financing-after-residents-ask-when/article%5F84b3d16c-af38-44c6-a433-cfa59a98c9ac.html) hospital district [stories](https://www.itemonline.com/news/walker-county-hospital-district-faces-renewed-criticism-from-residents-over-lack-of-transparency/article%5Fc7899e93-32ba-49bf-adec-fef7630eb50c.html) and published several [articles](https://www.itemonline.com/news/ag-declines-to-investigate-walking-quorum-allegation/article%5F9134b3bd-3e75-4c4c-b10b-9546c502bc8a.html) on transparency, for the hospital district and [otherwise](https://www.itemonline.com/opinion/budget-transparency-is-more-than-meeting-the-legal-minimum/article%5F78dffc0d-382a-4a34-a9bb-f8d5f33f27be.html). The Walker County Press has also [gotten in on the act](https://www.walkercountypress.com/article/979,hospital-district-provides-contradictory-statements-during-meeting).
Other entities in town have started adapting to the new environment. Huntsville's City Manager Scott Swigert did not respond to outreaches on articles about [pedestrian safety](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) and [tourism marketing](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/), but Huntsville Main Street has been responsive on recent stories about [murals](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/) and the [local music scene](https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/) – with an update from its Tourism Department below.
Local school districts have been particularly responsive. Huntsville ISD answered uncomfortable questions about the [closing of a school under their supervision](https://www.huntsvillan.com/accountability-in-action/) (as part of piece about school ratings rising in the district generally). New Waverly ISD cooperated with our writer on an uplifting story about its graduates getting into [top-ranked colleges](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/). Even Richards ISD has gotten involved, answering questions for our recent story on [vouchers](https://www.huntsvillan.com/its-only-money/).
With this new journalism, an added dose of [public accountability](https://www.huntsvillan.com/publicacc/) has come to Walker County. More is coming.
## Being bullish on Huntsville and Walker County
At the end of 2025, *The Huntsvillan* took a holiday break from publishing and mapped out articles for early 2026\. One of those was to look inside George Russell's museums on University Avenue – huge troves of art few townsfolk had ever seen. It would be a real eye-opener – in more ways than one.
The amount of art in those museums was astonishing, but so was the number of museums themselves. Some digging turned up the astounding fact that Huntsville has more museums per capita than anywhere else in Texas – only half of them belonging to Russell.
This was wholly unexpected. What was planned as one article turned into three: one on [Russell's art](https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/), one on the [restored houses](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/) in which that art resides, and one on the city's [tourism marketing](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/), which documented Huntsville's high museum density and its lack of publicity.
It was the first time *The Huntsvillan* had unearthed something really special about Walker County – and not the last.
Subsequent articles have pointed out the [explosion in live music](https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/) around town, its trendsetting [abundance of murals](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/), and the unbelievably [high rates](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/) at which New Waverly High School graduates are getting into top universities.
The city is also highlighting some of these things. It has recently created a set of [digital tours](https://huntsvilletexas.com/295/Digital-Tours) that show off Huntsville's history, art, and more.
"Our digital tours \[let\] locals and visitors alike explore different facets of our community that they maybe didn't realize resonate as strongly as they do. Huntsville isn't just a one stop town and we're looking to continue adding digital tours to spotlight unique characteristics of Huntsville," said Tracy Chappell, the City of Huntsville's tourism manager.
In the same vein, Huntsville Main Street is working on [developing ways](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/) for visitors to connect more closely with downtown's many murals.
In June, we made it official: Huntsville is [so much more than a prison town](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/). It's a theme you'll see more of in *The Huntsvillan*'s second year.
## Just kidding!
Another hallmark of *The Huntsvillan* is its use of humor, a rarity in sites dedicated to hard news.
This issue arose early on, when preparing to publish last September's [article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) about that fall's bond proposal, which asked for a lot of money from voters. How to put this into a headline? One suggestion: "In Comparative Terms, Hospital Bond Proposal Spends Tax Dollars Bigly."
That suggestion was so controversial it ended up on Steph Mamber's desk. To bigly or not to bigly?
"To bigly," she said, and a [new tradition was born](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/).
Since then, *The Huntsvillan* has sprinkled bits of humor throughout the site. There have been fun headlines on articles about the [Huntsville Half Marathon](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsville-half-marathon-returns-to-uh-huntsville-obviously/), campaign [spending](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-countys-congressional-primary-candidates-lit-10-million-on-fire/) in local elections, New Waverly [High School](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/), local [school board meetings](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/), and more.
Irreverent bits have also been sprinkled into numerous articles, including jokes about [wombats](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/), the Conroe [school board](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/), Congressional [candidates](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-county-has-twenty-seven-congressional-candidates/), and Sam Houston State University's [media arm](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/).
There have also been a few articles devoted to humor: about [Smiley's](https://www.huntsvillan.com/residents-getting-nostalgic-for-3-99-gas-at-smileys/) on 11th St., the [*Huntsville Item*](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/), the [bat houses](https://www.huntsvillan.com/super-cheap-apartments/) near the Walls Unit, and [more](https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/). We published a light-hearted [April Fool's piece](https://www.huntsvillan.com/city-says-screw-it-changes-name-to-huntsvegas/) six months ago and will do another six months from now. These pieces are collected in one of our sections: the [Humor Pen](https://www.huntsvillan.com/humor/).
Is there a place for mixing hard news with the lighter side of life? There is now.
## Setting a local news agenda
In April, *The Huntsvillan* did an article on Huntsville State Park, which had not received local media attention for some time. That [story](https://www.huntsvillan.com/renaissance-at-huntsville-state-park/) highlighted the park's beauty, introduced its new superintendent to the public, and broke the news of the impending re-opening of a trail that had been closed for years.
Within two months, stories [about the park](https://www.itemonline.com/news/huntsville-state-park-celebrates-70th-anniversary/article%5F907a805b-d21b-4b84-b8f6-237cb48361e1.html) and [the superintendent](https://postcardslive.com/thomas-milone/) appeared in other local outlets. Together, these gave the park the attention it had lacked for years – and hinted that our choice of stories may influence these outlets as well.
*The Huntsvillan* regularly ventures into new topical territory: [sidewalks](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/), local campaign [spending](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-countys-congressional-primary-candidates-lit-10-million-on-fire/), Sam Houston State University's [property](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/) [purchases](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/), Huntsville ISD [staffing problems](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/), and local [music studios](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/), for example.
Signs remain that our choices are influencing other outlets. Within just the past week, the *Item* has written stories on two topics we covered first. Their [story](https://www.itemonline.com/news/state-ratings-lift-hisd-to-a-c/article%5F9d585fa7-90a8-49db-88da-76c6b68fd432.html) on school accountability ratings trailed [ours](https://www.huntsvillan.com/accountability-in-action/) by a few days, while their [economic development](https://www.itemonline.com/news/local%5Fnews/wcedc-chief-says-shes-pursuing-projects-like-data-centers/article%5Fa00a2ffa-e9d6-4b1b-9eb7-ed9663e55e09.html) piece highlighted news we [broke in June](https://www.huntsvillan.com/economic-development-is-coming-but-where-is-it-going/).
The choice of what gets covered is as important as how it is covered. It is a central part of *The Huntsvillan*'s reason for being: "Asking the questions others won't."
---
\[1\] They supplied the rest just before the time limit set by state law was about to expire, well after the article had run.
.\[2\] Hard to believe, but true. [Read the article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-board-of-managers-extends-own-terms-o/) – in a way, they extended them *twice*.
Think we're onto something? Smash that subscribe button at top right (desktop, tablet) or in the drop-down menu (phone) and receive occasional updates when we publish new stuff, or follow our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/) page or [Twitter](https://x.com/TheHuntsvillan) feed.
### Accountability in action
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/accountability-in-action/
Last updated: 2026-09-16T12:03:40.000Z
To everything, there is a season. Plant in the spring, harvest in the fall. Hoops in the winter, baseball in the spring, football in the fall. And so on.
The public schools have their own seasons. Teach all fall and winter, panic about state testing in the spring, worry about the scores and school ratings until they are finally released in the summer. A fleet of ocean liners could not contain all the stress and anxiety state testing causes schools.
On the other hand, those ratings are accountability for educators and important information for parents and taxpayers. As such, they usually get wide publicity when they are released in mid-August.
Around here, that slipped through the cracks last month, as the [Item has been going through things, for real](https://www.huntsvillan.com/item-going-through-things-for-real/), and *The Huntsvillan* was [occupied](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/) with [something](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/) else [entirely](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/) – so we are bringing them to you now.
There is good news. In Walker County, ratings are up overall. There is also some bad news. The largest elementary school in the Huntsville ISD – one you've probably never heard of – was shut down by the state after years of failing grades.
## A step forward across Walker County
The state agency overseeing public schools, the Texas Education Agency, collects lots of information on every school in the state, including scores on state "STAAR" tests. From this they determine an "accountability score" for each public school and school district. A school's rating is the letter grade accompanying its score: 90 or higher is an A, 80-89 is a B, and so on.
Huntsville ISD has six schools in Walker County. Not a single one slid backwards in this year's accountability scores, and four moved ahead. As a result, accountability ratings improved one letter grade for three schools – Huntsville Elementary, Samuel Walker Houston Elementary, and Huntsville High – and the district's overall rating rose a letter grade as well, to a C.
2025-2026 accountability ratings for Huntsville's public schools.
The biggest jumps were recorded at Huntsville High and at Samuel Walker Houston Elementary, which rose a startling 10 points this year. That's like hitting a grand slam in the World Series, and the joy at that campus must have been something to behold.
A lot went into improving the scores. Matthew Lahey, Community Engagement Director for the HISD, said that "over the last year, we have focused on strengthening Tier 1 \[core\] instruction, using student data more effectively, improving targeted intervention \[for individual students who are struggling\], and creating greater consistency across our campuses."
At the same time, there is still work to be done. Four of six schools received D's or F's, which are fairly rare statewide.
The district sees it the same way. "We recognize there is still significant work ahead," said Lahey. "We view these results as progress, not a finish line. A C rating \[for the district\] is an important step forward, but it is not where we want to finish."
Those strides forward were matched in New Waverly ISD. While the district overall remained at a B, accountability scores rose for three of its four schools, with New Waverly High achieving a rare A rating. Perhaps there really is [something in the water](https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/).
New Waverly's 2025-2026 accountability ratings.
There was [some drama](https://www.itemonline.com/news/nwisd-clashing-views-of-school-culture/article%5Fdfeafa56-b341-4d7d-8477-4c03b61a41cb.html) related to the high school in that district last year, which is a difficult thing for a close-knit community like New Waverly. Receiving that A rating must have been an especially welcome relief.
Two other school districts contain a sliver of Walker County: Richards and Trinity. Richards received a C overall, with a score of 74, up one point from the previous year. Trinity received a D with a score of 69, also up one point from the previous year. Trinity has received D's for five years running and, like Huntsville, replaced its superintendent this summer.
## The curious case of TOPS Elementary
The biggest news in the ratings, however, isn't a rating at all. It's the vacant spot where one should be.
A little-known fact about Huntsville ISD is that almost half of its students aren't actually in Huntsville schools. They're online.
Since 2013, Huntsville ISD has been the "[authorizer](https://tops.k12.com/about-our-school/authorizer-information/)" for "Texas Online Preparatory Schools," or TOPS, which enrolls students from throughout the state. HISD receives the state funding for these students, keeps a cut for itself, and turns over most of it to the [for-profit](https://tops.k12.com/) company running TOPS, which is headquartered in a strip mall in Denton.
Until January, TOPS consisted of an elementary, a middle school, and a high school. Each started out small but kept growing, with a boost from Covid. Last school year, they accounted for 5,587 students, while the schools in town served 5,917.
TOPS students are technically in the Huntsville ISD, which is ultimately responsible for them. Its schools receive accountability ratings just like any other, and those rates factor into the overall district rating quite heavily.
TOPS Middle and High Schools have generally received C ratings. But TOPS Elementary has had failing accountability scores ever since Covid, and when that happens the accountability system starts to kick into motion.
Last year, TOPS Elementary was required to submit a "turnaround plan" to the state, which it threw it together in only one week. The state Commissioner of Education rejected it and a subsequent revision,\[1\] [shutting down the school down](https://tops.k12.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/tops-elementary-campus-closure-parent-letter.pdf) for good last December. That's why it had no accountability rating last year.
TOPS worked for a whole week on their campus improvement plan. Slide found [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBrdaOL36zk), 21 minutes in.
Perhaps few tears will be shed at TOPS Elementary's closure. It was clearly a troubled school. Its accountability scores had fallen all decade. With a score of 56 for the 2024-2025 school year, it was in the lowest 0.2% of schools in the state.
But then, maybe student achievement was never the goal anyway. In its last months of operation, TOPS Elementary's student-teacher ratio was a [whopping 65 to 1](https://www.youtube.com/live/gBrdaOL36zk?si=i0GIx-eQZlWWcc3P&t=1572), up substantially from the previous year. Meanwhile, its parent company, [Stride, Inc.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2024/09/06/stride-the-public-35-billion-dollar-education-company-turns-25/), currently has a stock market valuation of $3.4 billion.
---
Huntsville ISD's accountability ratings will be discussed in its school board meeting this [Thursday night](https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/736?meeting=764388) at the administration building on FM 2821\. The website [txschools.gov](https://txschools.gov) will tell you more than you ever want to know about any public school or district in the state, including accountability scores, and it's easy to use, too.
\[1\] The school district said the commissioner gave no reason for rejecting the revision.
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### A painting is worth a thousand words. So what's a mural worth?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-painting-is-worth-a-thousand-words-so-whats-a-mural-worth/
Last updated: 2026-09-09T15:20:26.000Z
Think the Mona Lisa is old? Try cave art and petroglyphs, which go back tens of thousands of years. The urge to draw on walls is universal, as most parents can confirm.
But wall art is more than self-expression. Murals don't just beautify communities. They [revitalize them](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264275125003853?dgcid=author), increasing business and drawing tourists.
Huntsville has been a trendsetter in recognizing the power and value of murals – and based on recent activity, we are just getting started. [Don't look now](https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/), but Huntsville is becoming a mural mecca, too.
## Stick with it for decades and things start to add up
Our oldest surviving mural sits alongside Cloud 9, downtown. Well over thirty years ago, owner Blaine Mann commissioned Huntsville’s premier sign painter, Ken Manthei, to paint a music scene like the ones the building used to host. Mann says, “I needed something. I designed it, and Ken did a great job on it.” A more fanciful companion mural went in years later.
Left: The oldest mural in town is alongside Cloud 9 downtown. Photo credit: Mary-Brett Stringer. Right: Its newer companion alongside.
The 1990s gave murals their biggest boost, when the city commissioned works by world-renowned muralist Richard Haas, whose "trompe l’oeil" technique gave relief to the flat facades of downtown buildings.
Getting city council, the arts commission, business owners, and property owners on board for the Haas project was no easy feat. But with the leadership of Linda Pease, all parties came together to secure funds and embark on this long-term project. Haas has 14 murals and 2 other works in Huntsville, more than you'll find anywhere else.
Haas' "trompe d'oeil" technique gives a three-dimensional look to a flat surface, as in this Avon mural on Sam Houston Ave. Photo credit: Mary-Brett Stringer.
This investment has paid off. Haas' murals helped halve [downtown vacancies](https://postcardslive.com/texas-treasures-huntsvilles-haas-murals/) during the 1990s and set downtown apart, facilitating its approval for a Main Street Program in 2001, designation as a “Cultural District” by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2009, and designation as a “Preserve America Community” by the White House in 2010.
“It’s not easy to create art that can appeal to everyone, but Haas’s collection does that,” says Patrick Richards, who helped paint these murals years ago.
Since then, murals have proliferated all over Huntsville. Alongside the [Museum of Texas Furniture](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/) at 1405 University, you can find a scene of the East Texas wild done by local artist Kat Black, whose work is also on the side of the Firehouse Loft at 1017 11th Street, welcoming those traveling west on Hwy 190.
Kat Black mural on the side of the Museum of Texas Furniture. Photo credit: Mary-Brett Stringer.
A block away, across from Rather Park, is an homage to Sam Houston on the side of the title company. And tucked away [in a nearby alley](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19YsCpKfU1/) is an incarceration-themed mural painted by students at Sam Houston State University.
Those murals were all done before 2020\. Since then, the pace of progress has accelerated.
Imerj’s striking [“Be Free” mural](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) sits across from Old Town Theater. Right nearby, a brilliant blue building has a giant blue jay perched on a cigar: the Bluebird Cigar Lounge. A little to the south, facing Rather Park, is Lee Jamison's “Downtown Huntsville” mural, whose flowers extend around the corner to the stores on University Ave.
The Big Kahuna of them all, finished just last year, is also by Jamison: the massive [Huntsville History mural](https://www.mortarpestletx.com/about-1) on Sam Houston Ave. downtown alongside the new Mortar & Pestle bookshop. Co-owner Kara Froelich said, “It was time.” When renovating the space before opening, she and co-owner Carl Pittman wanted their exterior side wall to depict “things that would appeal to everyone in the community \[and be\] relatable."
"We needed some variety to represent what Walker County really is," she said. "As our plans became clear, we thought a scrapbook design would tie everything together and connect it to the bookstore that this place was going to be."
Close-ups of the mural alongside Mortar & Pestle, downtown.
This mural, especially, repays close observation, composed of numerous scenes depicting Huntsville's history and beauty. Pay attention downtown, and you will notice that murals are everywhere.
## An exciting mix of "This Old House" and painting from a bucket truck
Creating murals isn't merely a big painting project. It's like the messiest home renovation you never had to deal with.
Froelich said that, for her mural, "initially, the whole wall had to be re-plastered. Then it had to be covered in a mineral-based paint so the walls can breathe. They are almost two feet thick – there's brick, there's stucco, there's cinderblock in some places, plaster – so you need the special paint."
Add to that scaffolding, special paint for the mural itself, renting a bucket truck, the artists. "It was not cheap," said Froelich.
Richards, for his part, has been in town throughout the past year restoring the Haas murals. Not only is the technique itself highly specialized, but the Gibbs building alone has 77 colors that must be recreated each time a touch-up is needed. Unlike Haas’ pieces elsewhere, Huntsville's are unique in concentration, design, and color.
Patrick Richards meticulously restored this Richard Haas mural over the past year.
Restoration is also not cheap. So far, that work has been funded by [city grants](https://www.itemonline.com/news/main-street-oks-4-000-in-grants-to-restore-downtown-murals/article%5F29bd5bda-3900-48b3-b992-f0cea5f90cef.html) and donations from key families inside and outside of Huntsville.
## Putting murals on the map
Haas' murals are fairly well recognized in town, but less so outside it, and Huntsville's high concentration of murals overall is largely unknown.
The city's [tourism marketing](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/) isn't helping. Haas' murals are briefly noted on the Main Street Program’s [webpage](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/882/Main-Street-Program) and under “[Things To Do](https://huntsvilletexas.com/35/Things-to-Do)” on the city's visitor site, HuntsvilleTexas.com. But neither focuses on the collection's grand scope or lists any other local murals. A few Haas pieces are found on a flyer for a [Walking Tour](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/DocumentCenter/View/60/Self-Guided-Downtown-Walking), and some briefly mentioned in an [Art Tour](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/DocumentCenter/View/62/Self-Guided-Art-Tour-PDF?bidId=) flyer. But both flyers are so old they are practically historical artifacts themselves.
Clockwise from top left: an incarceration-themed mural in an alleyway off 11th St., flowers extending along University Ave., the Bluebird Cigar Lounge, the Leadbelly mural along Sam Houston Ave., a bit of the mural at Imerj, and Sam Houston along Walker County Title. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
No murals whatsoever are included on the Main Street Program's [downtown map](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/860/Downtown-Map), which focuses on businesses and parking. You could read all of this material and never guess that Huntsville has the largest concentration of work from a top-tier artist.
Main Street manager Amanda Sewell is aware of the situation. “Main Street is already working on \[updating\] Haas materials for the murals' 30th anniversary \[coming up soon\]," she says. "The timing is actually a great opportunity to take a fresh look at how we're telling the downtown story.”
This summer, Huntsville hosted the Main Street Managers Conference, where Sewell led a three day session that held up Haas’ murals as a cost-effective way to re-create historic architecture. The city is also “beginning conversations about a self-guided experience using QR codes on the murals to connect visitors with the history, photos, video, and potentially audio associated with each,” says Sewell.
And further murals may be in store. Haas' project was originally conceived as having four stages – but only the first two have been done. Richards is working on this front, too, with Haas, now 90 years old, willing to offer up more designs to complete these final stages.
Huntsville is, indeed, [so much more than a prison town](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/). Though we haven't publicized it, our city was one of the first to use murals for positive appeal and appreciation of art (instead of combatting graffiti), we went all-in, and we scored big. It's a secret we really don't need to keep.
---
You can tour Huntsville's murals in an eight block loop starting from Rather Park downtown, as shown in the map below. This stretch has a dozen murals, with another one block further south on University.
Mural sites are marked with a green X.
Like what you read? Read other art articles in our [Dept. of Human Endeavor](https://www.huntsvillan.com/human/), smash that subscribe button at top right (desktop, tablet) or in the drop-down menu (phone) to receive occasional updates when we publish new stuff, or follow our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/) page or [Twitter](https://x.com/TheHuntsvillan) feed.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### More than half empty, it turns out
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/more-than-half-empty-it-turns-out/
Last updated: 2026-09-03T14:58:58.000Z
Last May, **The Huntsvillan* did an article, [Half Empty](https://www.huntsvillan.com/half-empty/), on declining inpatient numbers at Huntsville Memorial Hospital. The article relied mostly on information reported by the hospital itself, in filings with the IRS. However, HMH declined to make its most recent filing available for public inspection, as [required by law](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/public-disclosure-and-availability-of-exempt-organization-returns-and-applications-public-disclosure-overview). We have now obtained [that filing](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843654542/202631289349301718/full), which shows a much greater loss in patients than our original article indicated. Given the importance of this information for local elections and potential hospital expansions, we are re-issuing the original article, printed below. It has been changed only to incorporate this updated information.
---
The government. You have to tell it everything. That way it knows half as much about you as Google and Facebook do.
But even the government has its days, when the information it collects slices through the he-said/she-said and cuts to the chase.
For Huntsville Memorial Hospital, that day is today. Throughout 2025, its CEO, Patrick Shannon, made the rounds arguing for a major expansion, supported by tax dollars. But the data reported by the hospital itself – to [state government](https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/hospitals/texas-hospital-data), the [IRS](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843654542), and Medicare – indicate not a place beset by overcrowding, but something else entirely.
## Pitching the hospital bond
In 2025, the Walker County Hospital District put proposals on the May and November ballots, asking voters to back $200 million in bonds to build a large addition onto the current hospital.
The pitch? The hospital is cramped for space and Walker County is growing. The time to act is now.
For example, in this [bond discussion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtzEBWelcZ8) last October between Shannon and Rob Hipp of [Hello Huntsville](https://hellohuntsvilletx.com/), Shannon says:
"You know, like I was saying today... a lot of times we'll have eighty-something patients in a bed in the hospital. And so we are many times full which backs up the emergency room which causes the delays in the ER. So we have to address that and increase our capacity."
Similarly, the hospital's information sheet on the spring bond proposal said, "the current facility is very busy."
[HMH-FAQ-3.14.25HMH-FAQ-3.14.25.pdf56 KBdownload-circle](https://www.huntsvillan.com/content/files/2026/05/HMH-FAQ-3.14.25.pdf "Download")
This, paired with the expectation of future growth in our area, left an unmistakable message: the hospital is crowded now, and the problem will worsen in the future.
But if you listened carefully, not everyone was on the exact same page. Dr. Lane Aiena, then on the Hospital District Board of Managers, made [a different argument](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1717279542473118) for the bond: construction costs. "Construction's going up, it's way more per square feet to build medical facilities," he said. "If we were to put this off further, more expensive bonds are coming."
He then went off script:
"When it comes right down to it, about 70% of Walker and the surrounding counties go \[to competing hospitals\] down south. This hospital \[HMH\] closes, the other 30% goes down south as well. So why would they spend money to open up bricks and mortar, hospital of their own in our area, when they can just wait it out?"
Um – what? Closing? Why would you close? You're supposed to be crowded! But Aiena was onto something.
## They're losing patients
Hospitals provide "inpatient" and "outpatient" services. If you get that colonoscopy and go home afterwards, that's outpatient. If you check into a room, that's inpatient. The proposed expansion would have added almost twenty "free world" beds and others for inmates, increasing the hospital's inpatient capacity.
Two key measures of inpatient use are the total number of admissions per year and the "average daily census," that is, the average number of beds filled per day. Both have been declining at HMH for several years, with the most recent, July 2024 - June 2025 reporting period being the lowest of all.
Reporting begins on July 1 of the initial year and ends on June 30 of the following year. Data comes from the links at the top of the article. Note that HMH's most recent Form 990 failed to update its "average daily census" from the previous year. The correct number, as shown in the table, is 13,646 / 365 = 37.4.
In that period, the average daily census of 37.4 was 43% of the 86 beds in the hospital. In a sense, HMH was more than half empty. For comparable nearby hospitals – and for HMH a few years back – that number is closer to 60%. (It rarely gets too much higher, since you build for the sickest times, which are rare.)
Looking at revenues, you can go back [even further](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/203069241). The cleanest comparison is to 2010-2013, before the hospital gained and shed ancillary facilities and ran into all kinds of problems. Back then, revenues were about 25% higher than now, adjusting for inflation. However you slice it, HMH's numbers are down.
Were the elected Managers of the Hospital District aware of these trends when they voted to put those bonds on the ballot? One can't know for sure. HMH administration makes a verbal report at each Hospital District meeting, but different statistics are mentioned each month, making it hard to detect trends. The Hospital District confirmed that Managers receive no written reports from the hospital. Last year's Managers were invited to comment for this story, but not given much time in which to do so. None did.
## Drive south
One clue to HMH's issues comes from quality measures provided by the private sector and – you guessed it – the government.
The federal government generates an annual "Total Performance Score" and "Patient Experience Rating" for most hospitals, while the private sector Leapfrog Group gives them a semi-annual A-F grade. Together, these measures reflect patient satisfaction, process quality, and the frequency of "adverse events."
Across all three measures, HMH is fairly similar to other Deep East Texas hospitals – in Nacogdoches, Palestine, or Lufkin – which all tend to score near the national average.
Leapfrog ratings can be found [here](https://ratings.leapfroggroup.org/). The other two can be found [here](https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital%5FTX.html).
But Huntsville Memorial isn't competing with those hospitals. It is competing with the big boys in The Woodlands – Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, St. Luke's. That is what Aiena meant about patients driving south.
These hospitals are two to five times larger than HMH, giving them a cost advantage and expanding the range of services they can provide. And they're in that sweet spot of suburbia where all the doctors and nurses want to live, surrounded by wealthy, educated patrons with high expectations. And it shows:
Leapfrog ratings can be found [here](https://ratings.leapfroggroup.org/). The other two can be found [here](https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital%5FTX.html).
The Woodlands' hospitals surpass HMH on every quality measure (as do those in similarly wealthy College Station). With all those advantages, how could they not? This is why 70% of Walker County drives south. Our hospital's loss is local residents' gain.
## Where to go from here?
You're a beagle, and a pretty good one. It's not your fault that, at chow time, the other dogs in the house are all Dobermans. Your job isn't to be a Doberman too – just the best beagle that you can.
At HMH, that effort is now led by Terry Scoggin, who replaced Patrick Shannon as CEO earlier this year. Scoggin acknowledges the decline in inpatient numbers but notes that those numbers don't tell you everything. A broader measure of utilization that incorporates "outpatient beds" rose in the last fiscal year. On the other hand, emergency room visits remain [down significantly](https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/hospitals/texas-hospital-data) from pre-Covid levels.
The cup may be half empty, but it's also half full – and growing. Scoggin says "we are continuing to see growth in the current fiscal year," with many utilization measures up 5% or more. With the bond battle behind it, HMH can now focus on being the best beagle that it can. It has already made progress, adding two obstetrics-trained physicians in recent months, with another surgeon on the way.
The late Ivo Nelson [pointed out last year](https://www.facebook.com/groups/469088813277761/posts/2991407394379211) that the central question isn't “When do we get a hospital?” but “How do we improve the health of Walker County citizens?” No one, pro-bond or anti-bond, denies that Huntsville Memorial Hospital will be a key part of that effort – and that it can't do it alone. This question is important enough that *The Huntsvillan* will return to it later this year.
**The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins, contributed reporting for this article. The text describes "inpatient" and "outpatient" somewhat loosely; see a more accurate description [here](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/inpatient-hospital-care/inpatient-outpatient-status).
### Behemoth
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/
Last updated: 2026-08-31T19:03:19.000Z
Sam Houston State University has a media arm that produces [frequent updates](https://www.shsu.edu/news/) about happenings on campus. It covers a lot. This year, for example, there have been stories about a new [charter school](https://www.shsu.edu/news/2026-news-stories/shsu-charter-school-expands-to-klein.php) in Klein, a partnership with a [school district](https://www.shsu.edu/news/2026-news-stories/sampoly-dickinson-isd-strengthen-pathways-to-higher-education.php), a [free exhibit](https://www.shsu.edu/news/2026-news-stories/museum-celebratess-america250-with-free-exhibit.php) at the museum, and much more.
What you won't find is anything about the university's giant, $31 million property acquisition earlier this year – its largest purchase ever. In fact, SHSU has made several large acquisitions recently, as our [previous article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/) in this series showed. Yet its media arm has said virtually nothing about any of them – and [isn't answering our questions](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/), either.
It is the dog that didn't bark in the night. What is it that SHSU would rather you didn't know?
## Three waves of property purchases
As detailed in our [previous article in this series](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/), the university has engaged in three waves of commercial property acquisitions over the last decade.
The first wave occurred around 2017, and consisted largely of small businesses along Sam Houston Ave. right near campus. This wave was textbook: planned for ahead of time and executed with an eye to the future, when that land is to hold a new residence hall.
The second wave consisted of a string of commercial properties along Sam Houston Ave. purchased around 2022\. It was not textbook. These properties were not earmarked for purchase in key planning documents, and have no anticipated use to the university that they will divulge.
The second wave properties are, at least, adjacent to campus and (generally) inexpensive. This is not true for the third wave of purchases, which began in 2022 and continues to the present. It consists of a series of large commercial properties some distance from campus, whose functions are typically reserved for the private sector: apartments, office space, retail. What is going on?
Third wave property acquisitions by SHSU. Because it is part of state government, SHSU pays no local property taxes. To streamline the narrative, an empty property at 1336 Windsor St., assessed at $1.4 million, has been excluded.
## Apartments
Two of the four purchases in this third wave are apartment buildings east of campus – Campus Edge Apartments along Montgomery Rd., and Copper Village Apartments along Sycamore Ave. They represent the only part of SHSU's [housing inventory](https://www.shsu.edu/campus-life/housing/housing-options/) that was not built by the university.
Left: Campus Edge Apartments, recently acquired by the university to disastrous effect. Right: Copper Village Apartments, another new addition to university inventory. Photo credits: Cade Crippin.
Copper Village doesn't get many Google reviews, but Campus Edge does. A close look settles the question: Which is better at management, the public sector or the private sector?
Until about three years ago, when it was taken over by SHSU, Campus Edge's reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Since the takeover, they've been almost exclusively negative, with three-quarters of reviewers giving the complex the lowest possible rating. A scathing review from someone who experienced both management regimes specifically blames the [change in ownership](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/106123839872038131315/place/ChIJgY%5FpLL4IR4YRWTXMPh4IJXw/@30.708441,-96.2035127,9z/data=!4m6!1m5!8m4!1e1!2s106123839872038131315!3m1!1e1).
Nonetheless, that need not dissuade the university, because of its enormous tax advantage. Campus Edge apartments will bring in perhaps $1,500,000 in rent this year.\[1\] If it was still in the private sector, it would also incur $123,000 in property taxes – a cost that a state university doesn't have to pay. A cost advantage that large can cover for a multitude of management sins.
## Normal Park Place and Marcel Blvd.
The remaining two purchases are the kinds of property rarely associated with public universities.
The most puzzling is Normal Park Place, a large office building located on Normal Park Dr. slightly north of 11th St. Purchased in 2022, it has just a handful of tenants. Walking through the quiet, cool interior feels almost haunted.
Top: Normal Park Place is largely unoccupied, and the inside looks a little spooky. Photo credits: Cade Crippin. Bottom: This sign, like the one out front, contains the ghost of past tenants from when the building was full, as in this 2015 snapshot from Google Maps.
The puzzle is why this building was bought in the first place. It is over a mile from campus, contains no university office, performs no university function that we can detect. (Here are the plans for the [first floor](https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/ZJHVqMyQRNyaMltlXDxWzEdhO-j25MJY9EjB3zEXzNo/View%20the%20901%20Normal%20Park%200414%20Level%2001%20Arch%20Plan%20%20Updated.pdf) and [second floor](https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/ff68Kqn71wWHCWLMsJQTT7OTh3dopVC-fRrUpKcLQSs/View%20the%20901%20Normal%20Park%200414%20Level%2002%20Arch%20Plan%20%20Updated.pdf).) Instead, it holds a small number of businesses, with most of the space [up for lease](https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/901-Normal-Park-Dr-Huntsville-TX/40132659/).
In Feb. 2022, SHSU [told](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/322418/February%202022%20Board%20Materials.pdf) its board of regents this purchase was for "office space for University faculty and staff." It's been four and a half years, and there is no such thing. What is going on?
The situation is similar with the other purchase, the one alluded to at the top of this article. Marcel Blvd., located across the street from SHSU's medical school in Conroe, is 8½ acres of recently developed, prime commercial property along I-45\. No wonder it cost $31 million.
Roughly 10% of this space is used for the "SHSU Physicians" medical clinic that is associated with the medical school, while a little over half contains commercial tenants including a nail salon, a sushi bar, and an indoor golf facility. The remainder, three large units, are [available to rent](https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1259-Grand-Central-Blvd-Conroe-TX/40165021/). It is an upscale Conroe version of a strip mall.
Clockwise from top left: Marcel Blvd.'s establishments include a nail lounge, a sushi joint, an indoor golf place, and a "recovery center" (now closed).
Both purchases were approved by the regents of the Texas State University System, to which SHSU belongs. Perhaps Normal Park Place slipped through the cracks, as it was packaged with many other items for quick approval. But not Marcel Blvd. Just before last Christmas, the regents held a special meeting solely to approve this purchase.
The meeting lasted [eight minutes](https://www.youtube.com/live/C7uzAg3iFxk) and not one question was asked – including whether the property was included in the university's 2023 Campus Master Plan, the key planning document for facilities purchases. (It was not. Neither, for that matter, was Normal Park Place.) Most discussion was about whether the property was worth the price. One regent joked, "We don't want all the land in the world, we just want all the land next to us," to general amusement. The motion to purchase the property was unanimously approved.
## Has SHSU gone rogue?
Wait, you ask, can universities just go and purchase property for whatever reason? Nope. The [relevant text](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=ED&chapter=ED.95&artSec=) from the Texas Education Code states that SHSU "may acquire \[property\] needed for the proper operation of a system university." Presumably, that excludes leasing out commercial space for offices, restaurants, etc., except insofar as these properties are held for future university expansion.
To see if SHSU's approach to property acquisition was typical, we compared its [real estate office](https://www.shsu.edu/real-estate/) to those of the [University of Texas System](https://www.utsystem.edu/offices/real-estate) and the [Texas A&M System](https://www.tamus.edu/business/real-estate/).
SHSU's office is all about leasing property – multiple units at Normal Park Place and Marcel Blvd., plus a couple of small houses. In contrast, the UT System – consisting of 13 institutions – has five properties for lease, three of which were donated to it. The A&M System, which has 12 universities total, isn't leasing anything at all.
In other words, SHSU is currently trying to lease more commercial property than the UT and Texas A&M systems combined.
One can see the appeal. When holding property, the university has a tax exemption that private landlords do not. Money denied to local government is extra profit for SHSU. Nonetheless, its aggressive approach to real estate runs uncomfortably up against its legal mandate and flirts with [socialism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism).\[2\]
Perhaps avoiding issues like these is the reason that dog didn't bark in the night, the reason SHSU's [media arm](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/integrated-marketing-communications/media-requests) didn't respond to our questions or publicize the Marcel Blvd. purchase and its predecessors. This time, however, silence speaks louder than words.
---
This article wraps up a three-part series on Sam Houston University real estate. Part one, on new classroom buildings colliding with reduced in-person enrollment, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/). Part two, on the university's commercial property purchases throughout Huntsville, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/). The Texas State University System was also given an opportunity to comment for this article.
\[1\] Campus Edge holds 180 people and charges [almost $4,000 per semester](https://www.shsu.edu/campus-life/housing/apply/rates).
\[2\] Leasing out office and retail space without a bona fide university purpose is "social ownership of the means of production," pure and simple.
Some reporting for this article was done by **The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins. Some photos were taken by peripatetic photographer Cade Crippin. Learn more about Cade and see many examples of his work [here](https://www.photographybycade.com/).
### Leviathan
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/
Last updated: 2026-09-01T23:01:13.000Z
In 2013, Sam Houston State University was hungry for land – Tarek Maalouf's land. He had recently purchased three prime commercial acres along Sam Houston Ave., the site of a [shuttered](https://www.denix.osd.mil/armybrac/texas-reserve-component/huntsville-afrc/) Army Reserve center, from the City of Huntsville in a competitive bidding process.
SHSU [came on so strong](https://www.itemonline.com/news/local%5Fnews/shsu-denies-lease-aims-to-buy-property/article%5F0eae40e5-85d1-5bf3-acef-b4f2e87aa3c1.html) with the threat of [eminent domain](https://www.itemonline.com/news/local%5Fnews/purchase-or-condemnation-shsu-wants-650-000-maalouf-property/article%5Fab162bd7-4b23-5a65-b42b-10a4f285bd94.html), a legal process by which public entities can seize private land, that (rumor has it) it had to be told to back off from Austin. In the public relations battle between the university and Maalouf – won by Maalouf in a rout – SHSU's president, Dana Gibson, issued a [public letter](https://todayatsam.shsu.edu/Dr%5FGibson%5FView.pdf) giving her side of the story.
"We have remained steadfast and open in our intentions... regarding our desire to purchase the property," Gibson said. "Whatever \[Maalouf\] places there, could it be more useful to the community than the university's plan to support our ROTC program and the more than 1,800 veterans and veteran dependents enrolled at SHSU as well as those living in the community?"
Wait, what? You would use three acres of prime commercial land for that? At the time, ROTC had almost an entire building to themselves. What were they going to do in the old armory – build a tank?
Maalouf had other ideas. He sold the land to a developer, who built [The Armory](https://livethearmory.com/), a luxury apartment complex that houses 500 students. Last year, it paid almost $500,000 in local property taxes.
The Armory, sitting on a property SHSU let slip away. Photo credit: Cade Crippin.
But some habits die hard. Since that time SHSU has been gobbling up prime commercial property all over town – some of it far from campus, little of it mentioned in key planning documents. And their public relations? That hasn't changed either.
## Three waves of property purchases
If there is anything universities love to do, it is strategize. Within the Texas State University System, no university [strategizes more](https://www.tsus.edu/offices/finance/campus-master-plans.html) than Sam Houston State. It has produced three Campus Master Plans in the last twenty years, plus an additional plan for an "[Innovation Plaza](https://shsuheritage.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/innovation-plaza-a-creative-presence-for-shsu/)" that ended up coming to naught. This is more than every other university in the system.
These master plans try to prepare for growth in the university's physical infrastructure – buildings, sidewalks, etc. They anticipated the acquisition of commercial land in town to a limited extent: the "first wave" of property purchases discussed below. They never anticipated possessing Maalouf's property.
Nonetheless, SHSU has acquired a sprawling commercial real estate portfolio, which includes restaurants, office buildings, churches, and apartments. Since 2013, the acquisitions have come in three major waves, each more puzzling than its predecessor.
The first wave occurred around 2017, during the tenure of Dana Gibson (later known as Dana Hoyt). It consisted mostly of properties adjacent to campus near the intersection of Sam Houston Ave. and Bearkat Blvd., including two former bookstores, a coffee shop, and a restaurant. Two now hold an Alumni Center and a Post Office, others are vacant or have [lower-priority uses](https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/health-sciences/tripods-thrift) such as a thrift store.
These properties, each a stone's throw from the intersection of Sam Houston Ave. and Bearkat Blvd., were all in the private sector a decade ago. Photo credits: Cade Crippin.
Master plans in 2008 and 2013 anticipate owning much of this property. In the 2023 master plan, it is to be the site of a new dormitory.
The second wave of purchases occurred around 2022, during the tenure of current SHSU president Alisa White. They extend further down both sides of Sam Houston Ave., and none have been turned to university uses. They include the sites of three restaurants – Tipsy Tio's, Fancy Donuts, and Toasted – along with Family Faith Church further south.
It is unclear why the university would need any of these properties. The Tipsy Tio's parcel, a thin sliver of land, cannot accommodate any building of size. The larger Family Faith parcel can, but few university structures require prime street frontage.
Top row: Tipsy Tio's, Fancy Donuts, and Toasted all rent from the university. Bottom row: the site of Family Faith Church, on the left, is worth a whole lot more than the property on the right, university land formerly used for the agriculture program. Photo credits: Cade Crippin.
If the university has plans for these properties, they aren't disclosing them. None are earmarked for future development in the university's 2023 Campus Master Plan. And, as with our [first article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/), outreaches to the university were met with a polite response declining to answer – or no response at all.
The third wave of purchases also began in 2022 and continues to the present. It includes properties flung all over town and even outside the county: apartments, office buildings, restaurants. It is such a big deal that it gets its own article, coming on Monday.
## Brace for impact
Why does it matter if the university owns and rents out commercial property? In a word: taxes.
State institutions like Sam Houston State University and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are exempt from property taxes. No one is suggesting a private company should buy the Wynne Unit or the Lowman Student Center on campus, but Tipsy Tio's is another matter entirely. When SHSU holds that land, local government – the city, county, schools, and hospital district – is deprived of much-needed revenue.
The amount of taxes avoided by the university depends on the property. It runs from $4,000 - $9,000 for smaller buildings along Sam Houston Ave. It rises above $150,000 for larger properties such as Family Faith Church.
Property taxes avoided by SHSU for selected properties. Note: Family Faith Church was also exempt from property taxes when it owned its Sam Houston Ave. campus.
This table omits properties that have been converted to a university-specific use, such as the Alumni Center or 1 Financial Plaza near the movie theater, which serves a variety of purposes for SHSU. They would add roughly $10,000,000 in value and $200,000 in taxes to the total.
Still, this isn't even the half of it, because the properties purchased in that third wave are so valuable. Get a load of this:
These are "third wave" property acquisitions by SHSU, between 2022 and 2026.
You read that last line correctly. In the last decade, SHSU has acquired over $56 million in commercial property, avoiding over $1 million in property taxes annually. This, as they say, is real money.
It is common for public universities to become major players in commercial real estate like this? It is not – and the most surprising purchases come in that third wave. Find out about them and more on Monday.
---
This the second article of a three-part series on SHSU property and facility expansions. The first part, about the conflict between building plans and enrollment trends, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/). Part three, on the university becoming a major player in commercial real estate, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/).
Remember to smash that subscribe button at top right (desktop, tablet) or in the drop-down menu (phone) and receive occasional updates when we publish new stuff, or follow our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/) page or [Twitter](https://x.com/TheHuntsvillan) feed.
Primary reporting on this article was done by **The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins. Most photos were taken by peripatetic photographer Cade Crippin. Learn more about Cade and see many examples of his work [here](https://www.photographybycade.com/).
### Goliath
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/goliath/
Last updated: 2026-09-01T23:00:27.000Z
The [Smith-Hutson Building](https://www.buildingshsu.com/s/smith-hutson-business-building/index.html) on the Sam Houston State University campus was built in 1968 and expanded in 2005\. At that point, roughly twenty classrooms were spread throughout the building.
Within ten years, classrooms started disappearing, one after the other. Some became faculty offices, one a golf lab, another a student lounge. Roughly one-third have now been turned to other uses, and the ones that remain aren't always full – even during peak hours.
In the university's facilities planning, updated in 2023, the Smith-Hutson Building is [slated to expand by nearly 60,000 square feet](https://gato-docs.its.txst.edu/jcr:0cdefd04-5276-4e61-aa2b-4b1abf815a5b/2023-05-16%5FSHSU%5FBoard%20of%20Regents%20Presentation.pdf) – not as something long-term and aspirational, but as a "near term priority."
This is business as usual for SHSU. Even as its students have flocked to online courses, reducing the need for classroom space, the university is planning to grow ever larger. This excess of supply over demand is hard to explain – and, indeed, the university is refusing to explain it.
## Big plans, small numbers
The Smith-Hutson expansion is one of several near-term priorities in SHSU's 2023 Campus Master Plan. In the academic realm, there is also a new Arts and Media Building, a Science and Engineering Technology Complex and Quad, and an Active Learning Center that is [currently under construction](https://www.shsu.edu/news/2025-news-stories/alc-groundbreaking).
Construction of the new Active Learning Center on campus. Photo credit: Cade Crippin.
Other priorities are non-academic: athletic facilities (including the [recent football stadium expansion](https://www.khou.com/article/money/business/houston-business-journal/sam-houston-state-university-football-stadium-renovation-complete/285-ccac4b96-3b7a-403c-bc05-df369439882d)), expansions to the physical plant, and a new Hotel and Conference Center. In the long term, several new residence halls are envisioned.
The extra classrooms, at least, run into a big problem: there is no one to fill them. Over one-third of SHSU's credit hours are taken completely online, so that less classroom space is used now than ten years ago. The university's projection of future facilities needs collides with the current reality of fewer butts in seats.
Data [here](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/data-analytics-decision-support/interactive-fact-book).
It wasn't always this way. A 2008 [master plan](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/321108/SHSU%20Campus%20Master%20Plan%202008-2020.pdf) was built on the assumption of 2% growth for the next twelve years, anticipating "over 21,000 students by 2020." The university hit its marks and then some, recording 21,650 students that fall.
The growth projections in the 2023 master plan are, in many respects, even more optimistic. From 2021 -2031, it expects 13% growth in Huntsville, 35% growth in The Woodlands, 43% online. Reality has not cooperated: through 2025, growth has been well below predictions, and in fact has been *negative* for in-person classes in Huntsville and The Woodlands, which are below their 2021 levels.
Note: Predicted values obtained by applying SHSU's anticipated enrollment growth rate to credit hours taken (closely related, but not equivalent, to enrollment). Hybrid courses are paired with in-person classes. Data [here](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/data-analytics-decision-support/interactive-fact-book).
This optimism may reflect pressure from the Texas State University System, to which SHSU belongs. In 2023, its chancellor, Brian McCall, set an [ambitious system goal](https://www.tsus.edu/news/news-releases/release-091525.html) of 100,000 students total by 2026\. This required 10% growth in just three years – a very high rate. Pessimism, even realism, wasn't an option.\[1\]
## A statistic named SUE
Sam Houston State's classroom overcapacity has been registered by the agency overseeing all state universities, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It assigns each public institution "[space usage efficiency](https://www.highered.texas.gov/space-usage-efficiency/)" (SUE) scores, based on the occupancy rates of classrooms and labs.
In 2023, fast growing schools like UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, and Texas State had scores far exceeding the Coordinating Board's benchmark of 75\. For labs, SHSU also surpassed this benchmark, but for classroom space it fell well short, with a score of 58\. This is just what you'd expect if online classes peel students away from classroom lectures, but labs still must be completed in person.
The next building at SHSU will be named after this possum, a major donor to the university, who was recently spotted strolling about campus like he owned the place. Photo credit: Cade Crippin.
This finding makes the university's new Active Learning Center, slated for completion early next year, all the more puzzling. But responsibility for green-lighting construction at SHSU – for buildings envisioned in the Master Plan or anything else – falls not to the coordinating board, but to the Texas State University System.
It decided that a building with "flexible classroom environments, advanced instructional technology and open, contemporary spaces that support participatory learning" was worth the money. In the meantime, SHSU's classroom SUE score fell to 41 last year.
## And that's when things went off the rails
The answer to these riddles lies with the university itself, so *The Huntsvillan* reached out for answers.
We first asked, among other things, why classroom space is being added in Huntsville when in-person credit hours are down. The response:
“Thank you for reaching out. Sam Houston State University respectfully declines to comment on these questions.”
We get it. That's a "why" question, and those can be tough. So we followed up with simpler factual questions, such as whether the business building addition remains a "near-term priority" for the university. As of the close of business yesterday, there was no response at all.\[2\]
We get it. *The Huntsvillan*'s mascot is a cartoon villain, and those can be scary. Still, Sam Houston State University has a [Department of Marketing](https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/business-administration/management-and-marketing/), a [Department of Communications](https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/humanities-social-sciences/communication-studies), and a whole separate [Department of Marketing Communications](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/integrated-marketing-communications/) – and this is the best they can do?
Every time SHSU shrinks from responding to **The Huntsvillan*, the guy on the left feels like the guy on the right.
Steph Mamber, [President, CEO, COO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntsvillan, Inc.](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/), was not amused.
"I am not amused," she said, and flicked ashes from her cigarette onto the floor. "Next week's follow up article will continue as scheduled."
---
This article is the first in a three-part series. The [second article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/leviathan/) in the series examines SHSU's acquisition of commercial property all over town. The [third article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/behemoth/) shows how deeply the university has gotten into leasing out commercial property, seemingly in violation of its academic mandate. The full 2023 Master Plan is online but tricky to come by, so the article links to an abridged version.
\[1\] In fact, the system got there a year early, growing 12% in just two years – but not because of SHSU, whose enrollment dipped over that period.
\[2\] We've been here before. A year ago *The Huntsvillan* tried to write a puff piece about an event SHSU was holding, but were prohibited from speaking with the organizer or other university participants, and moved on to do [this story](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) instead.
Primary reporting on this article was done by **The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins. Most photos were taken by peripatetic photographer Cade Crippin. Learn more about Cade and see many examples of his work [here](https://www.photographybycade.com/).
### The Huntsville Half Marathon returns to – uh, Huntsville, obviously
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsville-half-marathon-returns-to-uh-huntsville-obviously/
Last updated: 2026-08-12T14:51:48.000Z
It's baaaack – and you didn't even know it had left.
Huntsville's signature road race, the Huntsville Half Marathon, returns to the Hilly City on Sunday, October 18\. Featuring a 10K run as well, the event starts and finishes in front of Bowers Stadium on the Sam Houston State University campus. The course winds around the university and the Walls Unit, with a detour through downtown.
It marks the resurrection of one of Huntsville's largest events of any type – one that had fallen on hard times in recent years before disappearing altogether. The story of the Huntsville Half Marathon is a long and winding road in itself.
## First steps
The Huntsville Half Marathon has long been associated with Seven Hills Running Club, which has been Huntsville's running club for over 40 years. But the race was actually started in 1978 by another, earlier running club, the Pine Tree Running Club, which included longtime residents Jim Carter and Gene Pipes.
It then became a hot potato, put on by the Sam Houston State University women's basketball team and then its track team. By 1996 attendance had dropped precipitously and in 1997 the university decided to cut bait.
"The track coach, I ran into him at Kate Barr Ross on the 4th of July \[1997\], and he told me they weren't going to do the run anymore," said local runner Ken Johnson, who directed the race for many years.
Huntsville Half Marathon t-shirts from four different decades. Photo credits (first three photos): Ken Johnson.
Ironically, Seven Hills had closed up shop at this point. The desire of Johnson and other former club officers to take over the race led to the club's re-formation.
Entries tripled that year, to 356 runners in three distances: a half marathon (13.1 miles), a quarter marathon (6.55 miles), and a 5K (3.1 miles). There were 80 more runners the next year and another 140 the year after that, making the race one of the largest in the region. There were 400-500 runners for many years thereafter.
"The Huntsville Half used to be the primary training race for the Houston Marathon \[which is held each January\]. In later years there have been a lot more long distance training runs in the fall in the Houston area," Johnson said. Eventually, this would spell trouble for Seven Hills.
## Hitting the wall
The race was still achieving those numbers fifteen years ago. From 2010 to 2014, it averaged 416 participants and gave over $10,000 in surplus proceeds to local charities, the Good Shepherd Mission and SAAFE House especially.
That began to change in 2015, when the numbers started to taper, and accelerated a few years later when the race moved to the Walker County Fairgrounds because of construction at SHSU. Much of the new course lay along the shoulder of Hwy. 30, which did not appeal to runners.
Covid set things back further, and by 2022 there were fewer than 100 entries and the race was losing money. The Seven Hills Running Club made the difficult decision to discontinue the event late that year.
Note: the run was cancelled in 2020.
That decision left Huntsville without a competitive long distance race of any kind. The Texas 10 Series, which hosted a competitive 5K, 5 mile, and 10 mile race around the SHSU campus, had pulled out of Huntsville the previous March.
At that point, the only remaining runs in town were noncompetitive: the Storybook and Rowdy Inman 5Ks in November, and the Pineapple Run and Run with Your Imagination in the spring.
The Run with Your Imagination was discontinued in 2025, giving that year the lightest race schedule in recent memory, with just the Pineapple, Storybook, and Rowdy Inman runs topping 100 participants. These were supplemented by a few smaller events and Seven Hills' monthly "[club runs](https://7hills.us/upcoming-events)," which typically have a few dozen runners.
## Another hill to climb
This makes the revival of the Huntsville Half Marathon all the more welcome. Race director George Roffe of Willis was motivated to resuscitate it from a genuine love of the event.
"Soon after it \[got cancelled\], I started talking with my coach \[Bill Dwyer, a well-known running coach in The Woodlands\], saying 'somebody should bring this race back.' Eventually that somebody became me," he said.
A runner for over twenty years, Roffe knew the old Huntsville Half well.
"I ran \[it\] five times and it's always been an exceptionally fun race to do. And when it left campus, I lamented that fact, and never ran it from then on," he said.
Roffe has now fixed that problem, bringing the race back into town. The new route closely overlaps the original course. "There is a country flavor \[going out on Bearkat Blvd.\], but you also get into the city itself," he said. The course goes down 12th St. and University Ave. downtown.
The course map for the 2026 Huntsville Half Marathon, which consists of two loops of 6½ miles each.
Still, as a first-time race director, the learning curve has been steep. Course design, permitting, and marketing all take time long before you get to race day. "I went through thirteen iterations of the course," Roffe said, working with stakeholders including the city, the university, and TDCJ.
Prices are mid-range, with 10K entry $45 through this Sunday and $69 afterwards, and the Half Marathon at $69 through Sunday and $99 thereafter. Entries have been modest so far, but the race marketing is just kicking in and interest has been picking up.
For every race that disappears, something new eventually pops up in its place. The Huntsville Half is one of [two runs](https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Huntsville/RedBird) coming to town this October, and Madisonville has a new 5K [coming up soon](https://www.madisonvilletexas.gov/events). Walker County's running scene is in flux, but the race calendar will always be full.
---
Learn more about the Huntsville Half Marathon and 10K Run and sign up [here](https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Huntsville/HuntsvilleHalf10k). Learn more about September 19th's fun run and ruck march at the Walker County Storm Shelter [here](https://www.facebook.com/events/463-state-highway-75-n-huntsville-tx-united-states-texas-77320/9th-annual-muster-festival-5k-ruck-march-fun-run/2279803402767932/). Learn more about the Seven Hills Running Club and their schedule of inexpensive, friendly club runs [here](https://7hills.us/).
The web site for the Storybook 5K and Fun Run is [here](https://www.atime2read.org/race) (with last year's information); that for the Pineapple Run is [here](https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Huntsville/STOPDistractedDrivingFunRun). Learn about next month's Lasso Your Imagination, the more lucrative (and equally enjoyable) successor to Run with Your Imagination, [here](https://www.yourimagination.info/events-1/lasso-your-imagination-boots-bbq-and-bingo).
This article omitted mention of the [Rocky Raccoon](https://www.tejastrails.com/rocky100), a 100 mile ultramarathon that takes place at Huntsville State Park every February. Its entrants come from throughout the country. Should you ever feel the need to run a 100 mile race, seek professional help immediately.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Peregrination Correspondent, Darren Grant, who directed the Huntsville Half Marathon from 2011-2014 and served as president of the Seven Hills Running Club from 2011-2013 and again from 2023-2025\. Grant's TED talk on the benefits of biking for children can be seen [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI).
### It's only money
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/its-only-money/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:06:12.000Z
The issue of school vouchers tore 2024's Republican primary elections wide open, counting Walker County’s former state representative, Ernest Bailes, among the casualties. Following wins by voucher supporters, including Rep. Trey Wharton of Huntsville, the 2025 Texas legislature approved a program that uses $1 billion in state funds to cover families' private school tuition and homeschooling expenses.
That program has now [become a reality](https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/). Voucher applications were due last March, with awards made soon thereafter, and the deadline for awardees to confirm their participation was last month. At least [85,000 families have done so](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/03/esa-students-texas-school-vouchers-first-year/) and funds have already started flowing. Let’s follow that money and see where it is going.
## You get free tuition, and you get free tuition – it’s like Oprah with the cars
Four schools in Walker County are eligible to receive voucher funds, all in Huntsville. Two run from Kindergarten through 12th grade: [Alpha Omega Academy](https://alphaomegaacademy.org/) on Hwy. 30 and [Community Christian Academy](https://ccahuntsville.org/), which opened two years ago in the old Curves location on Hwy. 75 North.
Two others focus on the lower grades: [Tomorrow’s Promise](https://tomorrowspromise.info/) Montessori Schools, which has three locations in town, and [Faith Lutheran School](https://www.faithhuntsville.org/) on Hwy. 30.
Nolan Neugebauer, Headmaster of Alpha Omega Academy, is seeing the effects. “We have over 50 \[students\] that are approved \[for vouchers\] by Alpha Omega,” he said. At the current tuition rate of around $9,000 per student, this will amount to almost half a million dollars.
Kaye Boehning, director of Tomorrow’s Promise, is seeing it too. “We are [reopening our elementary program](https://www.itemonline.com/news/tomorrow-s-promise-opens-new-school-for-grades-1-3-this-month/article%5Fb5f46d2b-875c-45f0-b79e-dcebc7b82196.html) and currently will be offering \[pre-K\] through third, possibly fourth grade, and we are planning on adding a grade each year,” she said. “We have 19 \[vouchers recipients\] that have enrolled so far, mostly Pre-K and Kindergarten.”
Faith Lutheran declined to speak with *The Huntsvillan*, but is smaller than Alpha Omega and so should have fewer awardees. Community Christian Academy, which was also unresponsive, has very few students and so cannot account for a significant number of voucher recipients. At these four schools together, perhaps 100 students are receiving vouchers.
## Where’s Waldo? Not in private school
This leaves a lot of students unaccounted for, as well over 100 Walker County students received vouchers – and far more than 100 applied for them. There were 46 applicants from within the New Waverly ISD and 585 from within Huntsville ISD, with some others residing in the Richards and Trinity ISDs, which each extend a bit into Walker County.
With almost 300,000 applications for 100,000 awards statewide, applicants were placed in tiers. Students with disabilities, and their siblings, and those with household incomes under $66,000 had highest priority. Most students in these groups received vouchers, and few others.
Neugebauer indicated Alpha Omega parents were not upset with this outcome. “There has actually been a lot more awarded than previously thought. Of the five areas \[priority tiers\] people were put in, they were able to reach into the third bucket so some people were pretty excited and surprised rather than disappointed."Boehning hadn’t heard parent dissatisfaction on this front either.
The total number of voucher awardees residing in Huntsville ISD was 221, with perhaps another thirty from elsewhere in Walker County. If roughly 100 attend one of these four private schools, the remaining 150 are unaccounted for. Some are surely homeschoolers – there are hundreds of homeschooled children in the county\[1\] – but one cannot be more definitive than that.
## The other side of the equation
Vouchers could also influence school operations. For the private schools, they could allow tuition increases that permit pay raises or facilities expansions. The public schools, on their part, might need to raise their game to stay competitive with private schools, now that they are more affordable.
It might be too early to tell, but there is no sign of any of this just yet.
Boehning did not discuss the operational side of her schools, but Neugebauer was unreserved. “We increased \[tuition\] a small percentage, but it's along the lines of what we do every year, about 2 or 3%. We did not increase \[in order to\] capture all the \[voucher\] funds, that was not something considered.”
This is not illogical. Most families at Alpha Omega or anywhere else do not receive vouchers and feel the full impact of tuition increases.
“It’s not necessarily a boost to our school's operating budget," Neugebauer continued. "Mainly it’s been a huge blessing to the families that have received it, lessening a burden for them in paying for tuition for schooling.”
The impact on local school districts appears to be similarly small. State data show that the vast majority of vouchers applicants were not previously attending public school. This minimizes the change in enrollment patterns and lessens competitive pressures.
While Huntsville ISD had the largest *number* of vouchers recipients in our area, the highest *fraction* appeared elsewhere: [Richards ISD](https://www.richardsisd.net/), which extends south and west from the southwestern corner of Walker County. With a total of 249 students last year – all grades attend a single school – it is one of the smaller districts in the state. Yet it had 130 families apply for vouchers and 48 receive them.
Statewide, there is one voucher recipient for every 50 public school students. In Richards, this ratio is ten times higher. If vouchers are impacting any public school district, it would be Richards.
But that isn’t happening, according to Richards ISD superintendent Michael Smith – who was surprised to learn of so many voucher recipients from his district. He projects to begin the year with 272 students, well more than last year.
"I am not aware that we have lost any students due to vouchers," said Smith. "In my three years at Richards, we have averaged ten to twelve new students to the district each school year. This trend has continued even after the implementation of school vouchers in Texas, so I assume that families who received vouchers were already enrolled in a private school."
Rather, Smith has the opposite problem: planning for expansion. "Last year, the district purchased several acres of land near the \[current\] school to prepare for the inevitable growth," he said. There are no immediate plans to use that land, as existing facilities are adequate in the short term.
Richards' experience underscores the state of flux in education in Walker County. In addition to vouchers, two districts (Huntsville, Trinity) have new superintendents, while two others (Richards, New Waverly) are growing rapidly.
With the unavoidable tradeoff between vouchers and public schools – money used for one can't be spent on the other – and the large number of unfunded vouchers applications, this state of flux – and the political hot potato that goes with it – is likely to continue in the near term.
---
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\[1\] Walker County has about [8,400 children](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/walkercountytexas/PST045225) aged 6-17\. Public schools enroll a little over 7,000 of these and the private schools 600-700, leaving a remainder of about 700 children that are probably homeschooled.
Primary reporting for this article was conducted by Gabriella Zamora, a rising senior at Huntsville High School.
### Pens, pencils, and glue sticks, oh my
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/pens-pencils-and-glue-sticks-oh-my/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:07:22.000Z
Summer may not officially end until September, but don't say that to schoolkids and their parents. For them, summer ends when school starts in mid-August. It’s a time of the year that stretches pocketbooks – for new clothes, new shoes, and a new batch of school supplies.
This is financially daunting for some parents. Fortunately, a whole lot of people in Huntsville put in a whole lot of effort to help students start the new year off right. Collectively, it's one of the biggest charitable occasions of the year. Let's find out just how big it is.
## The Dean's List
August will mark the 21st year that Vanetta Mills and her Community Praise Ministry have hosted a school supply drive at Huntsville Elementary. What started out serving 800 students has grown to support upwards of 1,200\.
These first-come, first-served supplies rarely last past the two hour distribution window, but when they do, a second distribution day is offered. Last year, about 150 bags of supplies rolled into the next day, where they vanished almost instantly.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and when it comes drives like these, nothing could be truer. Members of the ministry spend the whole year fundraising to support the endeavor. Mills, an administrative assistant at Huntsville Elementary, doesn’t have children herself, but that doesn’t stop her from taking care of students' needs.
Community Praise Ministry's 2025 school supply giveaway. Photo credit: Matthew Lahey of the Huntsville ISD.
She reflects, “I try to be a disciple and make sure I reach as \[many\] as I can. It always warms my heart to see those parents that come to tell us how much they appreciate us.”
The drive relies on volunteers from local churches, organizations at Sam Houston State University, and community members at large – some handling the organization, others handling donations or preparing the bags of supplies, still others passing them out.
Over her two decades organizing this tremendous effort, Mills has learned that “you never know another’s condition or what they need until they come and let you know how you can help them.”
## You get a box of Kleenex, and you get a box of Kleenex – it's like Oprah with the cars
Huntsville ISD [school supply list](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/documents/parents-%26-students/school-supply-lists/2026-2027-school-supply-list/27336956) is broken down by campus and grade level. Almost every level has the good old standbys of composition notebooks, pencils, and folders. The lower grades require a lot more, like glue sticks, scissors, markers, and lots of crayons – upwards of three 24-count boxes for 1st graders.
Everyone needs to supply at least one box of tissues; 4th graders must bring six. The list also has some surprises, such as headphones – even for first-graders – and quart and gallon-size resealable freezer bags.
On average, parents can expect to spend about $50-$100 to fill the K-5 supply list. Though the upper grades' lists are shorter, parents can ultimately expect to pay upwards of $200, depending on their child’s classes, as some require special items.
The cost of school supplies adds up. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
For some parents and teachers, providing these supplies can be problematic. It often falls to teachers to come up with any missing supplies. On their [tight budgets](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/), this can be draining, financially and personally. And parents pay a personal cost when they can’t give their children what they need.
Some turn to quick loans or selling personal treasures to make ends meet. “It happens. When they need money, they need money, and they come pawn things,” says Max Bhalli, owner of Cash & Gold Pawn on Sam Houston Ave. Again, it’s a village, because the supplies you send in go into the classroom closet. You’re asked not to write your name on the items.
## The Honor Roll
Community Praise Ministry is only the tip of the iceberg. *Many* other local organizations are helping local students get ready for the new school year.
There are two other giveaways just on Aug. 1\. One is at the New Waverly Library, which is hosting a [school supply & clothes giveaway](https://www.hellohuntsvilletx.com/events/summer-splash-out-and-back-to-school-giveaway/). The other is led by real estate company The Adam Olson Team, which aims to assemble 2,000 backpacks with supplies (links: [Insta](https://www.instagram.com/p/DalKVmjGYN3/), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/2114951699450194)), with drop-off locations ranging from Huntsville to the Woodlands and a Venmo QR code. Distribution takes place at the HEBs in Huntsville, Willis, and Conroe
On Aug. 5 at Huntsville Toyota, children 3 and up [have the chance](https://www.facebook.com/events/849-i-45-south-huntsville-tx-united-states-texas-77864/2nd-annual-backpacks-for-kids-giveaway/2522296948212495/) to get a backpack with supplies – up to four per family. Pre-registration is required. Then, on Aug. 8, "Guilty by Association" will give out clothes, backpacks, and supplies, followed by Lee Baron and the [Roxie Douglas Learning Institute](https://www.facebook.com/RoxieDouglasLearningInstitute) on Aug. 9.
If August 1st is a bit early for you to do your shopping, the SAAFE House [will be collecting supplies](https://www.facebook.com/theSAAFEHouse/posts/pfbid02a1bivg2fHLgfCEg4JRdMeg1KV9VcvBDweZjczt2ZM2wp249PbnvH6jJPQvstDNnAl) through August 15th. You can also donate a Walmart or Target gift card they will use to purchase supplies.
Throughout August, the Hospitality House will [give out backpacks](https://thehospitalityhouse.org/special-programs) with supplies to their House children in an effort to stress the importance of education. There is also a giveaway by the [Huntsville Diamonds](https://www.facebook.com/lateel.naulsrichardson/posts/pfbid0wjtR8rmXJFKhFMnwkn6wNqnEHz9p1rQe3UjorL3ouBJfBfHXbZ3HLrwihA9rUkD9l).
A tic-tac-toe board made entirely of flyers for start-of-school giveaways in Walker County.
School supplies aren't all children need to start the year on the right foot. That’s why Greater Temple of Deliverance Community Outreach is having a "New Socks. New Beginnings. Bright Futures” [back to school sock drive](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2461899000899725&set=a.361980464224933). All sizes of new girls and boys socks are gratefully accepted.
If you've been counting, that makes a total of nine – nine! – efforts from every corner of Walker County to launch our students successfully into the new year. A lot of people have gotten the message – it takes a village.
---
***Adam Olson Team 2,000 Backpacks Drive*** Drop-Off supplies at their Huntsville office (1400 13th Street), Buck & Bo Children's Boutique (1215 B Sam Houston Ave), or several locations in Montgomery County. Distribution is on August 1st at 10 am at the HEBs in Huntsville, Willis, and Conroe.
***Community Praise Ministry Drive*** Drop-off supplies at 6 pm on July 31st at Huntsville Elementary or contact Vanetta Mills at vmills@huntsville-isd.org. Their biggest needs: composition notebooks, vinyl folders, glue sticks, and binders. Distribution is on August 1st from 10 am - noon at Huntsville Elementary, 87 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.
***Greater Temple of Deliverance*** church is at 416 Hwy. 190.
***Guilty by Association*** will give away backpacks, school supplies, and clothes at noon on Aug. 8 at 902 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
***Huntsville Toyota Backpack Giveaway*** You MUST pre-register, maximum of four backpacks per family, and children must be present at distribution, which takes place August 5th from 12 - 2 pm at the dealership, located at 849 I-45 S.
***Lee Baron and Roxie Douglas Backpack Giveaway*** takes place Sunday, Aug. 9 from 5-7 pm at the Lee Baron store, 1524 11th St.
***New Waverly Public Library*** at 9372 Hwy. 75 S, on the south end of town, is giving away school supplies and clothes on Aug. 1 from 10 am - 2 pm, in conjunction with "That Pallet Chick."
***SAAFE House Donations*** Drop off supplies or Walmart/Target gift cards until August 15th at their location at 1426 Sam Houston Ave.
Further information on all these giveaways can be found in the flyers assembled in the gallery above.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### Huntsvillan staff heads out on vacation, dreading every minute of it
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsvillan-staff-heads-out-on-vacation-dreading-every-minute-of-it/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T15:40:53.000Z
Steph Mamber, President, CEO, COO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntsvillan, Inc., has announced that *The Huntsvillan* will take the next month off from publishing so that staff can take summer vacation.
"It's about doggone time," she said.
Not that Mamber is looking forward to it. She and spouse T.M. alternate choosing vacation spots, and this year falls to T.M., who selected Oklahoma City after picking up a coupon for Days Inn at the Welcome Center on the Interstate.
"We're going to eat beef and get colon cancer," said Steph Mamber. "Big whoop."
"That's not fair," said T.M. "Oklahoma City is also well known for its struggles with the English language."
The [Oklahoma City Visitor's Bureau](https://www.visitokc.com), whose budget exceeds $6 million, seems to prove T.M.'s point. Among their exciting options listed for families and "the group travelers" is "Attend a Sports Game." A sports game? Oh boy!
Not that Mamber will do any of that, not when she can be scouting locations for next [December's annual meeting](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/). "There are 3 Cracker Barrels and 13 Waffle Houses in the greater Oklahoma City area," she said. "I'm checking out each one."
Waffle House far outnumbers Cracker Barrel in Oklahoma City.
When *The Huntsvillan* staff return to work at the end of July, they will be rested and ready. "Our next article is already in the works," said Mamber. "Now leave me alone while I finish this burger."
---
*The Huntsvillan* will resume publishing around July 29.
### So much more than a prison town
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:08:07.000Z
On May 29, over a meal of papusas and rotisserie chicken, *The Huntsvillan* gathered four community leaders at the office of the new-ish [Walker County Economic Development Corporation](https://walkercountyedc.com/) (WCEDC) for an honest discussion about economic development in Walker County – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The discussion, moderated by Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, had four panelists: Kaye Boehning, owner of [Tomorrow's Promise](https://tomorrowspromise.info/) Montessori Schools; Darren Grant, longtime school advocate and economics professor at SHSU; Blake Irving, whose decade of municipal government experience includes a stint on Huntsville City Council; and WCEDC Director Stephanie Smith.
The discussion was framed around a 2007 comprehensive plan called [Plan 2025](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/huntsville-tx/doclibrary.aspx?id=32ab9d07-6047-4b06-a801-9924f08f6f58), which articulated eight specific economic development goals that were to be met by last year.
Our [first installment](https://www.huntsvillan.com/economic-development-is-coming-but-where-is-it-going/) focused on one theme of Plan 2025: helping businesses thrive. Our [second installment](https://www.huntsvillan.com/ready-to-work/) focused on an equally important theme: workforce development.
This, our final installment, focuses on the last theme: community image and having a vibrant downtown. While courting new industries to hire our high school and university graduates, how can we help those new workers love Walker County enough to want to stay? The discussion was edited for brevity and clarity.
Clockwise from top left: Stephanie Smith, Blake Irving, Kaye Boehning, Darren Grant. Photo credits: Mary Brett Stringer.
## A prison town?
**Mary Brett Stringer (MBS):** Okay, let’s look at creating a positive image. In 2007, Plan 2025 emphasized the importance of a positive image for Huntsville (as did a [follow up plan](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/huntsville-tx-cp/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=199#secid-71) in 2024). Since then, the city's tourism marketing has grown, emphasizing Huntsville's cultural and natural features.
Blake, as someone with extensive experience in city government, do you think the city is viewed more positively than it was 20 years ago? And then we're gonna expand the conversation to include a vibrant downtown, which the 2007 plan emphasized with the idea of it becoming a university village.
How important is it for economic development to have a vibrant downtown, and what role will Sam students play in that?
**Blake Irving (BI):** When we talk about a vibrant downtown, I do believe in that. When I worked in Conroe, the office was downtown, lots of things to do. I loved it. When I moved to The Woodlands, I was over by Market Street, loved all that. So while I was on the city council in Huntsville, we were in talks about a new city hall.
Adam Olsen had an out-of-state developer that wanted to come in and basically buy that whole block \[of the old Ella Smither Geriatric Center on 11th St.\] and turn it basically into a Market Street type thing. You could have your mom and pop restaurants move in, and you could also have some commercialized businesses.
In return, they were going to build a city hall that we would kind of lease back. So we took that to the mayor and city manager, discussed all of this, and they said no.
I was shocked, and maybe I shouldn't have been, but just the older generation and how they're somewhat stuck. They're comfortable with how things are now, and they didn't really want the developer to build the city hall and lease it back.
To me, you're turning this block into something way nicer, where your local businesses have a nice new space to move into, restaurants, things of that nature. But again, it got shot down, and that was the end of that.
When we talk about the image of Huntsville, most of the city council has been an older generation of people, and it may be that generation thought, "If we embrace it, we're gonna lose who we are as Huntsville." That's not the case. There are just more options now versus a limited set.
I do think the image is getting better. Should've gotten better maybe ten years ago, is when it should've started. But it is getting better.
**Kaye Boehning (KB):** Right now the first thing you see when you enter town from either direction is a prison. And that does not help our image. You know, if we had trees planted to make a hedge, or a decorative wall as they do for interstates, something that improved our appearance coming in and out of town. Seeing the prisons upon entering just reinforces “prison town.”
**Darren Grant (DG):** From my perspective, I'm in town a lot and I've been inside one of our units for just a few hours.
**KB:** It took that long to get processed?
*\[group laughter\]*
**DG:** And I know a fair number of correctional officers and I see inmates 'cause I bike around town. What [TDCJ](https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/) does is almost a miracle because there's not a legislator on the planet who's gonna get more votes 'cause they poured more money into the prisons, right? When I think of the prisons, that's what I see.
The reality of it is that the prisons are clean jobs. They don't pollute. There's no data center that pollutes.
**Stephanie Smith (SS):** Leave my data center alone.
*\[group laughter\]*
**DG:** Okay. I'll back off. And since they gave some [pretty big raises](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/) last year, those are pretty good-paying jobs. They're stable jobs. They have insurance. So when I see the prisons I think pretty good-paying stable jobs that don't pollute anything.
We could almost embrace it with the tagline of "Huntsville, we make new beginnings" or [something like that](https://www.facebook.com/events/9842426375860172). If you're in college, that new beginning is when you graduate and go get a job. If you're in prison, you get released, and then you go on to other things.
[Imerj-ing from prison into artGreat art knows no boundaries.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/)
Last fall, The Huntsvillan did an article on Imerj, which promotes the art of current and former offenders.
**KB:** I will say yes, your points are valid, but if you have ever worked in a prison, it is not a fun job.
**DG:** It's a tough environment.
**SS:** I have so much to say on this topic.
I think the negative perception of the prison is that that's an insider perception. I have never seen the TDCJ system as a negative footprint for Walker County.
I don't get scared when I drive in here. It's part of our heritage. It's part of who this community is, and those jobs are not susceptible to the oil and gas or the economy rise and fall. They are, like you said, stable jobs for the community.
**KB:** The other thing a lot of people don't realize is that we are recession-proof \[because of the prisons\].
**SS:** Exactly.
**KB:** The different recessions that have hit, my business has lost maybe a family or two because their job got eliminated. A lot of people will go fill open spots at the prison 'cause there's usually some correctional officer jobs available, or they'll go back to school. And so our local economy has been–
**SS:** Bulletproof because of that.
**DG:** I remember during the Great Recession in 2008, 2009, it's like it never happened in this town.
**KB:** It never did.
**SS:** I can tell you when we have conversations with Greater Houston Partnership and the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism, not one time have they said, "Oh, you're never gonna make it 'cause you're a prison town."
They are excited that we are doing economic development here in Walker County. So I think as we develop and diversify, you'll see less and less of that talk.
## Downtown
**SS:** Now, as far as downtown being a university village, I don't agree with that.
**KB:** I don't see it either.
**SS:** It is a quaint, beautiful downtown. I would like to see more nighttime activity with restaurants and other retail that will keep some of these stores open and bring traffic in after hours. We've had conversations with Amanda \[Sewell\] at Main Street, and they've got plans in place to help revitalize downtown.
Her dilemma is a lot of businesses want to move downtown. She doesn't have any vacancies for them. That's a good problem to have.
Coming from the city of Humble, I wish I'd had the bones to work with there that y'all have here in downtown Huntsville. So it's gonna be diversifying, getting that right mix of businesses in when the availability is there. Don't just fill 'em for the sake of filling 'em to get money back in your pocket quick and fast, but let's be intentional.
**DG:** I am on Team Stephanie & Kaye about the impracticality of a university village. Sam students are just not gonna migrate back and forth to downtown. I know that was a priority on city council a few years back, and still is a priority for some people today.
I don't think it's terribly realistic, and I don't think we need it. Downtown's doing pretty good.
[Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on footThe experts had their say. What did the city do?The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/)
Last fall, The Huntsvillan examined the practicality of the city and county's plans for a dedicated walking/biking path between SHSU and downtown.
**SS:** You can bring some businesses in, like a brewery or sand volleyball, that will attract the college students and have them spending money there. But turning it into just a university village, I think that would just be sad.
**KB:** Sixth Street in Austin. I don't see that in Huntsville at all. You know, talk about destroying the culture of Huntsville.
**MBS:** And alcohol sales are down nationwide, so it's not really as vibrant of a business as it used to be. Nor should that be the thing that makes our downtown *something*.
## Programming growth
**MBS:** So if we don't want to cater primarily to the university students, how do we sell them on Huntsville being a place to stay and get these jobs that we're building for them?
**KB:** You know, I run into people all the time who have moved back here because they went to college here and loved it. People who are in Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, who went to school here, and they miss Huntsville. "Oh yeah, I went there. I had a great time while I was there."
You know, the town was so friendly and things like that. I think they would've stayed if they could have found a job.
**MBS:** So that small town charm, if we expand and bring lots of people from out of town, do we lose that?
**SS:** That's the perception.
**KB:** Well, that's what the good old boys are afraid of.
**SS:** It's the placement of these manufacturing, these technology-driven jobs that we're going after. We don't wanna bring them downtown. We wanna put them in corridors that can handle those types of buildings, and we don't wanna clear-cut trees.
I wanna keep what makes Walker County, Walker County. The nature, the amenities, the heritage, all of that.
But to answer your question, we've gotta do a better job in recruiting retail, family-oriented activity centers, some restaurants, things that give us more diversity.
**DG:** So Mary, what you're really talking about to meet that goal is programming, things that draw people in from the community, students and non-students alike. There are a decent number of those things.
The nature of Huntsville is partly just how you get out the word. For example, Main Street puts on this [nice music series](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/810/Main-Street-Music-Series) downtown throughout the summer. I am part of this [Sundown at Sam's](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/events/museum-sundown-at-sams) music series the university puts on. To get 100, 120 people show up is pretty good. But that's not a huge number, compared to the size of Huntsville.
[Don’t look now, but Huntsville is becoming a live music meccaLive music is breathing life into Huntsville’s public spaces.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/)
The Huntsvillan wrote about Huntsville's budding live music scene a few months ago.
The most practical way to make progress would be to have more people come to those events, however that happens, and more of them. Then you bring people in without generating some of the problems that you’re concerned about.
**SS:** I will tell you that the city of Huntsville is going through a strategic plan right now that involves several stakeholders. These events that are happening, let's advertise them in some manner that's all of us working together.
**KB:** The flip side of that on marketing, it is so hard with all of the things that are bombarding us in society to get people's attention.
**DG:** Yep, yep, yep.
**KG**: Because you can promote, promote, promote and say you've got this going on, and people would be interested in it, but they don't see it.
**DG:** Three-quarters of people in this town don't know Sundown at Sam’s exists. And it's been going for four years.
**KB:** You see a flyer when you go in a business, you might or might not pay attention to it. You've got your phone going off all the time. You've got Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, all these platforms competing for attention, so to get a message out that you are doing an event is a lot.
**BI:** I will say, as far as events going on, I think it needs to be more diversified because every time I see someone's coming to perform, it's nobody I wanna hear.
As far as trying to get more people downtown, you need to diversify that, so it's not just particularly country music people that are coming.
**MBS:** Right. I will say that at Old Town Theatre they are trying to diversify in order to apply for more grants (and the director takes suggestions into account when booking). Because they have to pay for themselves basically, they're non-profit. They're not making a lot off of these.
But yeah, it's hard to get information out these days. As somebody who has been here for 20 years doing events of all different kinds, I can tell you the only one that sold out every single time, no matter how small or big the venue, was burlesque shows.
*\[group laughter\]*
**MBS:** That was the only thing that all demographics of people came out for and filled the place up. Everything else is extremely hard. And so when I hear people saying how Huntsville people don't support Huntsville things, I totally understand that, and I don't know how you fix that.
## Final thoughts: being intentional
**MBS:** So now I'm gonna open it up for a brief check-in of final thoughts. Stephanie?
**SS:** The biggest thing for me is the community should know that I hear them. I'm not trying to change our core. I'm not trying to grow so fast that we can't keep up with it. It really is about making the atmosphere or the economy better for the citizens of Walker County.
My doors are always open. The WCEDC opened our doors for all of Walker County. That includes New Waverly and Riverside.
**MBS**: Okay. Thank you. Darren?
**DG:** I wanna express my appreciation to everyone for being honest. As long as I've been here, almost two decades, there's been a tell that we haven’t been ready for prime time, which is that we haven't had the difficult conversations about what we need to do in this community to get the things that we want, whether we're a worker looking for a good job or a business looking for a place to locate or somebody looking for something fun to do on the weekend.
This conversation here has been different than that. I think we all understand that if we pretend that we don't have to address certain things, we just aren't gonna get there from here.
**SS:** Yeah. I wanna add onto that, that growth's coming. That's beyond our control. We are between Houston and Dallas, two major metropolitan areas. Growth is coming. It's how we wanna see it happen, is what we wanna get involved in.
**KB:** Thanks for stealing my thunder.
*\[group laughter\]*
**KB:** We are in the magic economic triangle for the state and right smack dab in the middle between that interstate coming and the other interstate, and it's coming.
What do we want to do with it? Do we want to have people coming in and clear-cutting all our trees? Do we wanna continue? You know, we've had the good old boy system where in the past it was who do you know kind of thing. But I think we're getting away from that, to standardized where everybody's on the same level playing field for permits and rules and things like that.
I'm from a small town. I like the small town atmosphere. I like the $5 movies. I don't need all the fancy stuff.
**DG:** If we're not intentional, growth will just run right over us.
**KB:** Yeah.You see cities that have lost everything because they have been run over.
They didn't plan for that growth. I think it's great that we're having these meetings, trying to plan, trying to see who would really want to come to town, and going after those people. Growth is coming. It's just a matter of what do you do with it?
**MBS:** Yeah. Blake?
**BI:** And so I knew it's coming up 45, and at some point it's going to hit Huntsville, and we should be ready. Being intentional about where we wanna place things. And I think Huntsville did maybe a rezoning map or something within the past few years where they were trying to change the designation of different areas of town where you can and can't build certain things.
I don't know what that looks like today, but that's kind of where it needs to start.
**MBS:** Well, if nobody has any more last words, we'll wrap this up. I wanna thank everybody for their time and sharing their unique experience.
---
Meetings of the WCEDC board are held on the first Thursday of every month at 10 am at their headquarters on 11th St., and are open to all Walker County residents.
This roundtable series was a joint project of Darren Grant, who organized it, Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, who moderated it and handled the transcription, and Public Accountability Officer Alison Wilkins, who handled the background research. If you think Mary-Brett asks good questions about economic development, just wait until you hear her interview musicians on her podcast, [**The Doers of Things*](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### Ready to work?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/ready-to-work/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:08:24.000Z
On May 29, over a meal of papusas and rotisserie chicken, *The Huntsvillan* gathered four community leaders at the office of the new-ish [Walker County Economic Development Corporation](https://walkercountyedc.com/) (WCEDC) for an honest discussion about economic development in Walker County – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The discussion, moderated by Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, had four panelists: Kaye Boehning, owner of [Tomorrow's Promise](https://tomorrowspromise.info/) Montessori Schools; Darren Grant, longtime school advocate and economics professor at SHSU; Blake Irving, whose decade of municipal government experience includes a stint on Huntsville City Council; and WCEDC Director Stephanie Smith.
The discussion was framed around a 2007 comprehensive plan called [Plan 2025](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/huntsville-tx/doclibrary.aspx?id=32ab9d07-6047-4b06-a801-9924f08f6f58), which articulated eight specific economic development goals that were to be met by last year. Our [first installment](https://www.huntsvillan.com/economic-development-is-coming-but-where-is-it-going/) focused on one theme of Plan 2025: helping businesses thrive. This installment focuses on a complementary theme: workforce development. It was edited for brevity and clarity.
Clockwise from top left: Stephanie Smith, Blake Irving, Kaye Boehning, Darren Grant. Photo credits: Mary Brett Stringer.
Economic development is hard. Walker County is going up against many other places that have a head start on us. To be competitive, we need a genuine understanding of our strengths and weaknesses – which our panelists are equipped to provide.
## Taking care of business – in the classroom
**Mary Brett Stringer (MBS):** We just talked about helping business thrive, but businesses also need workers. Plan 2025 emphasized workforce development, and the role of Sam Houston University and local schools. That was in 2007\. Since then, Sam has gotten bigger and moved heavily into online classes while Huntsville ISD has struggled.
Kaye, in your role running Tomorrow's Promise Montessori Schools, you hire many SHSU students and see a lot of schoolchildren. Is it important to develop Walker County's workforce? What do we need to do most to pursue this goal?
**Kaye Boehning (KB):** I hire a lot of people that this might be their first job. They don't necessarily have the customer service skills or the people skills. As a society, we're inadequately preparing our youth to go out into the workforce.
**Darren Grant (DG):** I see the same thing in my role as a professor. Students come to the university with less life experience than they used to. I think that there is a real role for higher expectations.
That applies to Huntsville ISD and Sam as well. There can be a tendency toward lower expectations 'cause it's easier. But this whole town should be pressing all of our educational institutions to focus on the quality of the graduates that are put out and their preparation for the workforce. Huntsville ISD is better than it used to be, but it still has a ways to go.
[College bound?Over the past decade, Huntsville High graduates have been attending college less and less frequently.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/college-bound/)
A recent article in **The Huntsvillan* showed that relatively few Huntsville High School graduates are heading off to college.
**KB:** A lot of it started with No Child Left Behind and things like that, and phones–
The fact that they made a law to ban these from the classroom is just asinine to me. How can you concentrate on the teacher or the professor when you've got the phone, andthey're texting their parents?
**DG:** And to be clear, you're saying it's amazing that they had to make a law to get them out of the schools.
**KB:** Yes.
**DG:** I agree with you 100%.
**KB:** What happened to the common sense of, "you can't have this?”
**DG:** I watched this process in Huntsville ISD. It was clear that the phones were quite a problem, but there was no impetus to get them out of the classroom. New Waverly ISD took that more seriously. There's a problem with phone use in class at Sam as well.
**KB:** Then the universities, they have watered down to the point where everybody has to have an A. The universities have watered down what they teach, so we're graduating people who are watered down from what they were 20 years ago.
**DG:** Yeah. That's true nationally, and then here in Walker County, we're not just a reflection of national trends. Many areas comparable to us have stronger schools. Sam's gone pretty strongly into online education, where you lose that finishing aspect of being in person.
**KB:** Some of the online stuff – what are they doing in terms of social development?
**MBS:** Right.
**KB:** Because I've hired some homeschool graduates (where there can be a lot of online), and they're very knowledgeable, but I'm working on the people skills, the confidence to be around people.
I teach little ones, but I also teach bigger ones. The thing is, at some point in time, we just started advancing children regardless of whether they knew the material or not.
**MBS:** Right.
Data [here](https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/sam.houston.state.university/viz/SHSUInteractiveFactBook-SCHFINAL%5F15955996252170/SCH).
**KB:** And that's where I try to focus in my schools, where you don't go to the next lesson until you know what this is first. But we keep pushing these children on and on, then they're graduating, and they may be functional at the sixth grade level. Then they go to college, some of them, and they're in remedial classes.
Well, that's not serving that student to have to spend that money to take a remedial class when they made an A in high school, but now they can't do the college work.
## How ready are we really?
**DG:** Stephanie, do you see potential employers coming in and asking, "What is the skill set we have to draw from?" Is that something you encounter?
**Stephanie Smith (SS):** Workforce development is huge in economic development today because the number of jobs that some of these companies are requiring are in the hundreds to even thousands. They wanna see what your population is, what kind of certification programs, 'cause not all of these jobs require a four-year degree or a master's or PhD.
We had a project for a company that wanted to partner with Sam Houston State in training their workforce. They didn't really need a student who came out with a certification. They just want a program tailored around their needs.
Colleges will do that. Sam Houston State has been great at coming to the table, and we'll hopefully be able to announce this project fairly soon. They've just gotta buy the land.
**MBS:** Is that something you've talked with the school district about, in order to create a relationship to train them?
**SS:** I've had conversations briefly with Dr. Hail (New Waverly ISD superintendent), more so with Dr. Sheppard (Huntsville ISD superintendent). We haven't got as far along with them as we probably need to, but they are happening.
They have happened a lot with Sam Houston State, but it is the coordination and the communication with the school districts. They've asked what industries I'm trying to attract, so Sam and the ISDs can coordinate to make sure their programs complement each other.
**KB:** And Huntsville ISD has a wonderful [CTE program](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/page/career-technical-education) that covers several industries, and they graduate with certificates in different things.
**MBS:** Can you share what type of industry it is that you have that partnership with the university?
**SS:** It's a high-tech sign manufacturing company. They wanna be close to a college because they're gonna bring in \[something like\] 150 employees each year for the next five or 10 years.
**DG:** It's interesting, what you're kind of saying is our sweet spot in terms of jobs is in between a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree level. You have some additional training, maybe community college, certification of some sort. Those are perfectly good jobs, and certainly not everyone needs a college degree.
But it's also interesting that we have a major university in this town, and yet the kind of jobs that we're talking about are in this other range.
## Jobs for whom?
**DG:** Blake, when I think about you, here is a young man with a college degree, but over the last 10 years, you've worked in Bryan, you've worked in Conroe.
**Blake Irving (BI):**. Now I'm in The Woodlands. The only job I've had here in Huntsville was driving a school bus straight out of high school and working at the Huntsville Item while I went to college. Other than that, never had a job here.
**DG:** Right. So here we have somebody with a college degree, skilled, capable, and has worked practically everywhere.
**MBS:** But here.
**SS:** That's the dilemma. We have over 21,000 students who come through Sam Houston State each semester. They get their degrees and go off for jobs because we don't have the quality of jobs that we need to capture that talent.
**KB:** And then you have somebody who moved here 30 years ago with a master's degree and started a company here that has expanded into employing 72 people.
**DG:** Yes. There are definitely some homegrown entrepreneurs, but quite a bit of energy does come in from the outside, like yourself Kaye. That's not a bad thing. But you do see people who have come through high school, or graduated from Sam, then they go down to Houston.
**SS:** They're driving to The Woodlands. The Woodlands people are going to Houston. Have them come up here. It takes a lot less time to get to Huntsville than it does to Houston. Let's get some industry in here that has some higher salaries so we can capture the residents.
**DG:** Right. But to do that, things have to be different.
**SS**: Yes.
**DG**: Because right now, as you just indicated, our sweet spot is not there. Our sweet spot in terms of jobs is a notch below that.
The students come to Sam, and for many of them the default will be to go back home afterwards. They come here, there's not much to draw them off campus. So it's limited interaction with the town, a lot of online classes, and that means that they're in their apartment–
**MBS:** Or they're not even here at all.
**DG:** Or they're in Conroe or whatever.
**KB:** But also, how many of the professors live here?
**DG:** Absolutely true. Usually, if I'm anywhere, I'm the only professor in sight. So many of my fellow professors live out of town.
**KB:** Which is sad because Sam Houston promotes helping the community and has their students volunteer in the community. But you never see the professors.
**DG:** And so the professors have a limited understanding of the student experience. They come to us with a limited knowledge of the world. They weren't often free-range as younger children, so then they don't get out and about from campus.
They have limited interaction with the town, so it's easy to go back home after graduating.
[A dangerous place to walkThe area surrounding Sam Houston State University can be hazardous to pedestrians.The HuntsvillanSteph Mamber](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/)
Last fall, **The Huntsvillan* published an article on impediments that inhibit SHSU students from walking to class and to downtown.
**SS:** The [Center for Community Engagement](https://www.shsu.edu/offices-departments/community-engagement/) and General Glaser \[at SHSU\] have done a fantastic job in connecting some dots for me and others, getting us involved in communications \[about internship opportunities\] and exposing the students to the world outside of campus.
But more businesses in this community need to learn more about that and engage. I have been impressed by the talent that I've seen. The talent and work ethic of these kids are amazing.
**MBS:** So, in the spirit of my original question, is this goal worthwhile? Should we still be thinking that our workforce for these industries that we wanna bring in is gonna come from the university and the high school, knowing there's a disconnect between university kids and high school kids being prepared for these jobs?
**SS:** Yes.
**MBS:** So how do we bridge this gap? Or could any issues arise if the industries that come in are not happy with the locals that they're hiring?
**DG:** I think Mary raises a good question about the disconnect between the sweet spot in terms of jobs and the nature of these two big school systems. But then Stephanie, you've said this is what we wanna be working on.
**SS:** Yeah. And we are working on it. There are still some disconnects. It is getting better, and as we continue to diversify the industries, those conversations will become more frequent. I did this back when I worked at CenterPoint in economic development, we'd get a company, they're looking to place 2,000, 4,000 jobs, and they wanna know about our workforce.
What I tell people, and it holds true here in Walker County, is that for the right amount of salary, people will drive one hour one way. Our population in Walker County is almost 84,000\. Within a 30-mile drive, we tap into another 325,000 in the workforce. Within sixty miles, another three million.
**MBS:** So is your main goal bringing in businesses to bring in people from out of town? Or is it to benefit Walker County residents already here?
**SS:** It's twofold. If they come and work here, they're gonna shop here, they're gonna spend money here, and that's a whole 'nother tax base. But my priority is for the residents of Walker County, and then you get the trickle effect of having benefits outside of Walker County.
If we're going to come to the table with some type of incentive \[to a company\], we're gonna require them to have a certain number of hires from Walker County.
**KB:** The other thing is, if I know six months from now there's gonna be XYZ plant, and they need ABC worker that has this certification, and it's gonna pay me $100,000, I'm gonna see if I can find a class to sign up for to get that job. Your workforce will improve.
## Unforgiving economics
**DG:** I feel sad when I think about some of the jobs people have, they're trying to support children and families, and then at the same time the economist in me says if your skill set is X and there's supply and demand, and business owners like Kaye or anybody else, their customers have a price point that they're expecting.
So everyone's squeezed by supply and demand. But at the end of the day, you have people who aren't able to bring in the kind of income that would allow them to do as well for their children as they would hope for. I see that. One of the great things about Huntsville is that you get to know people from all walks of life.
I would just love, love, love to see higher pay throughout the full income range, including people with more modest skill sets. But that has to start with bringing better-paying jobs to Walker County, and for that to happen, they're gonna want a higher level of skill.
Walker County's earnings have kept up with inflation but are well below the state average.
It is frustrating to me. I wish there had been a clamor over the last 15 years from the community about raising our game in preparing graduates. I hope that that's something this community can do going forward. Stephanie, it'd make your job a lot easier.
**SS:** Yep. We keep having those discussions, and I think the appetite is there through the ISDs and the college. If we lose a project because we don't have the workforce, then that's my job to tell that story.
If it's due to the workforce, then what can we do about that? I worked at CenterPoint when McCord was developing Generation Park, and over in Lake Houston area to fill some of these spaces.
They lost a project called Amgen, a huge life science project. And what McCord did, what every economic developer needs to do when they lose a project, try to find out why.
It was because there wasn't workforce training around life sciences. There was no clean lab space. So what did they do? They partnered with San Jacinto College and built this huge, clean lab workforce training program that's gonna train the workforce for seven Southern states.
So you ask those questions and you fill in those gaps. We're not gonna win every project. When we lose, we ask those questions, and we find out why. It's gonna make us stronger if we listen and fill in those gaps.
**BI:** In my experience, trying to come back into Huntsville and find jobs, either A, there aren't many jobs that have that salary I'm looking for, or B, those employers are part of the “good old boy” system, where they're only hiring their buddies and partners that aren't necessarily qualified, just because they know them.
And so me having 10 years of municipal experience, the city here having a few positions that on paper I'm definitely qualified, I've been in that department for 10 years in different cities, but to not even be selected as a potential person knowing that I live here.
It’s just kind of another hurdle, that slap in the face because I'm from here. Been here all my life. I have the skill set, but you pick somebody else from out of town. How many other people are in that same situation?
**MBS:** Right. That's those small-town dynamics, which transitions us to our last topic, Huntsville’s perception, creating a positive image and a vibrant downtown for Huntsville. We'll talk about that next.
---
The third installment of this round table, focusing on the city's image and downtown, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/). Like what you read? Smash that subscribe button at top right (laptop) or in the drop down menu (phone) and get occasional updates when new stuff is posted.
This article was a joint project of Darren Grant, who organized the roundtable, Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, who moderated it and handled the transcription, and Public Accountability Officer Alison Wilkins, who handled the data analysis and other background research. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com). Grant's TED talk on the value of teaching children to bicycle on their own can be hound [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI).
### Economic development is coming – but where is it going?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/economic-development-is-coming-but-where-is-it-going/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:08:41.000Z
In 2007, the City of Huntsville looked to the future with a comprehensive plan called Plan 2025\. Economic development, long emphasized by the city and county, was [included](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/huntsville-tx/doclibrary.aspx?id=32ab9d07-6047-4b06-a801-9924f08f6f58) in that plan, which listed eight specific goals falling into three categories: helping businesses thrive, workforce development, and creating a positive image and vibrant downtown.
Because the plan's target date was just last year, it provides an excellent springboard for a discussion about economic development. With the recent creation of the [Walker County Economic Development Corporation](https://walkercountyedc.com/) (WCEDC), this topic is now front and center on the priority list for Walker County.
So on May 29, over a meal of papusas and rotisserie chicken, *The Huntsvillan* gathered four community leaders at the WCEDC office for an honest discussion about economic development in Walker County – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The discussion, moderated by Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, had four panelists:
***Kaye Boehning***, owner of [Tomorrow's Promise](https://tomorrowspromise.info/) Montessori Schools, which has expanded into two new locations since 2021 and employs almost 80 people
***Darren Grant***, longtime school advocate and economics professor at SHSU
***Blake Irving***, former Huntsville City Councilmember with a lot of municipal government experience
***Stephanie Smith***, WCEDC Director
Clockwise from top left: Stephanie Smith, Blake Irving, Kaye Boehning, Darren Grant. Photo credits: Mary Brett Stringer.
Economic development is hard. Walker County is going up against many other places that have a head start on us. To compete, you need a winning strategy and good execution – something no one person can do alone.
The discussion will be presented in three parts, each edited for brevity and clarity. Today's segment covers the first category listed above: helping businesses thrive.
## If you don't build it, they won't come
**Mary Brett Stringer (MBS):** So we're gonna start with you, Stephanie, and focus on helping businesses thrive. The two biggest things listed in Plan 2025 were housing availability and shovel-ready sites for businesses to locate. A lot of housing has been built since then, especially west of I-45, which has several new subdivisions and apartment complexes.
Shovel-ready sites is another matter, and Stephanie, I know you've talked about that a lot. How important is that to economic development, especially in this business climate?
**Stephanie Smith (SS):** Today it's more important than it was even 10 years ago, because of the speed to market now. I think there are like 29, 30 projects that we couldn't even submit for because we don't have the existing infrastructure on the ground to put those in.
**Darren Grant (DG):** Speed to market, I think you mean the business wants to come in and get up and running quickly – they don't have time to look around for sites and prep sites.
**SS:** Correct. I have seen some shovel-ready sites in this year. We opened our doors one year ago. We have two parks that are now online that are shovel-ready or proposed as industrial parks, business parks, that I've been able to respond to about five to seven Requests For Information for these two sites.
That is crucial for us. We need more shovel-ready.
**DG:** So, what you're saying is that from 2007 to 2025 those shovel-ready sites really weren't created, right? That we’re still more or less at ground zero.
**SS:** Yes. I think that's pretty accurate.
**DG:** And it's just been hard to do that in this town.
**SS:** So what I've done since being here is started conversations with developers and landowners to figure out where we can put some industrial and business parks. There has been a lot of positive feedback. It's just gonna take getting somebody to come in and work with us and invest with us.
But we need to be intentional, and we need to be deliberate about what we're gonna be putting in. We don't wanna just build for the sake of building. We want something that doesn't change the core of who we are in Walker County, but complements it.
Because the WCEDC is a membership-based organization, I don't have the sales tax that a lot of similar organizations have to invest back into economic development. So I've gotta get creative. Maybe develop a small pocket of land and then sell it and turn it back in and do the next pocket.
Give me 50,000 square feet, 100,000 square feet. Let's start somewhere and turn that money back around and develop the next pocket of land.
**DG:** This reflects the nature of Walker County, which is oriented toward keeping taxes down. You see that in city council races and county commission races. And what that means is, Stephanie, you come in and you don't have a little pot of gold to work with.
**SS:** I wish I did.
**DG:** The seed money that you have to work with is quite small, so you're forced into a situation where you have to take that seed money and grow it like you described, develop a site and then get a return on that investment.
Because you need more money to play ball with these larger employers. What you have to work with right now just isn't enough to get in that ballgame.
**SS:** It keeps our doors open and I just hired my first employee. Up until four weeks ago, it was just me doing economic development full time.
And it's not cheap to do effective economic development. You've got to be out in front of the site selectors. You've got to be at these conferences that promote the industry you're going after, marketing.
But we set this organization up from the ground. You had website design and accounting and IT and computers and all of these things. So, we're trying to run effectively and efficiently, but we have to set our priorities as our finances dictate right now.
Many communities are loaded with shovel-ready sites. Clockwise from top left: site location maps of the economic development corporations (or equivalent) of Pflugerville, Marshall, Seguin, and Tyler.
**MBS:** What kind of businesses are you looking to bring in?
**SS:** Most of our projects are manufacturing projects. A lot of the larger projects that we're looking at are advanced manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, biopharma manufacturing.
Before Covid, that wasn't the case. Everything was going offshore. With Covid, we've brought manufacturing back into the United States.
We're seeing a lot of foreign direct investment, and they want to come in, set shop up in an existing building with existing infrastructure, and be operational in six months. Our sweet spot, we have about 18 projects that we turned away that are looking for 100,000-500,000 square feet.
**DG:** Blake, you were on city council for a while, and this idea of having a space that new companies could come to, was that a big part of the discussion?
**Blake Irving (BI):** We talked about it but at that time at the management level they were not willing to take the risk of providing site-ready sites for manufacturing. At that time, there was a lot of talk about I-14 coming through. When we talk about that, I think of Amazon or FedEx, UPS.
Especially out on Hwy. 19, the east side of town, they have access to I-45, they got access to, I-14, Highway 30\. They can go to Trinity. And there's lots of land out there that isn't developed, so why not go tackle that? But again, at that time, management just wasn't really willing to take that risk to do that.
## In economic development, every week is infrastructure week
**SS:** Correct me if I'm wrong, Blake, I think there's not really– there's gotta be a collaboration between the city, the county, economic development, the utilities, to figure out where the best area is for this infrastructure to go in first.
I don't think there's been direction in that. So I applaud the city not going in and wasting a lot of money someplace that really might not have been a good place for projects. It's expensive to expand those water lines, sewer lines, build the roads, things like that. Let's now talk about where it is that we need to go, and those are the conversations I’ve had.
**Kaye Boehning (KB):** I will say the infrastructure has to be there. Because I just expanded a few years ago and bought the land. I was stupid. There was water, sewer, electricity across the street, so I assumed that it had electricity. It did not.
So, we went round and round for a while to get electricity to that site. Once my project got finished, it added to the value of that property and the city's getting more property tax money now. But it was a process to go through, and I have a friend that had a much bigger project and had problems getting water.
**SS:** Yeah. I think that has a lot to do with permitting and the processes in the city and the county. There have been conversations that we will work through. Because if I'm gonna bring companies in, we've got to be known as easy to do business with. And I don't know that that's been the perception.
**DG:** I'm in a position to speak more plainly. It is fair to say that the city's reputation for ease of doing business with has not been great in the past. I do think it's gotten better.
**KB:** Yes, it has.
**DG:** But it’s not starting from where it should have been.
**KB:** Having had projects and done things for 29 years of city and permits and things like that, it's improved.
**SS:** I think it's gotten a lot better. I know the appetite is there to make sure that we streamline processes, not just for new projects, but for existing development.
**MBS:** Is there something you can pinpoint as to why that's improved?
**KB:** For example, the first building that I used for Tomorrow's Promise, the existing electrical was fine.
Then when I expanded and bought another building, I had to pull all the electrical out and run conduit. My grandfather was an electrician. I knew you didn't need to do that because, I mean, I've done all these other buildings, and then when we got to that building, I was like, "You, I gotta do what?" But I had to meet the city code at the time.
But now, the last construction we've had, it was regular electricity. They went to a national standard, and it was a lot better than, "Oh, this person's in the office today, and this is the rule, and this person's in the office today, and this is the rule." A lot of that has been streamlined.
**SS:** I think the mentality has changed too. There is now a coordinated countywide economic development effort, and there's been a lot more conversations of how the county and the city of Huntsville wants to be perceived.
To be competitive, you've got to change some of those processes. So I think that coordination really kind of set that in motion.
**MBS:** What are we doing to make sure that we have the infrastructure to bring in these businesses, knowing that this is something that is a continuous problem?
**SS:** We'll continue to go after grant money because that will help in economic development infrastructure where it's not onerous on the taxpayers to have to come up with that.
And then try to get a project in here that will have a good capital investment and help with that infrastructure. 'Cause if you have a data center or private manufacturer come in, it brings that infrastructure to that particular site, and it benefits all of those along that line.
**MBS:** So you brought it up...
*\[group laughter\]*
**MBS:** Data centers.
**SS:** I think everybody wants to know about this.
Yes, I want a data center. No, I don't want multiple data centers. Data centers are low job counts but they bring a lot of capital investment. They will allow us to bring in infrastructure that a smaller project wouldn't allow us to do.
There are I know a lot of environmental issues around data centers. They are processing a lot cleaner, a lot more technology savvy. So we gotta find the right fit, I'm not just gonna go after any and every data center.
I don't wanna use up our water. I don't wanna use up our electricity. I want to make sure that we're smart about what we attract. And we have had conversations, and Entergy has had conversations with data centers, and so we'll continue those conversations. If it fits, it fits.If it doesn't, then we'll move on down the road.
**KB:** The city, they passed a tax to upgrade the water system and things like that. As a taxpayer, everybody complains about having to pay some more in taxes. But I had a property I was gonna sell, and they wanted to put apartments, 16 units or something like that.
Well, the sewer system wasn't capable of handling what they were wanting to do, and it's in the process of being upgraded for 2030\. Well, they didn't want to wait that long to develop, so I still own that land.
So the city is making progress on updating some things, and then there's other things, it just takes a while.
## Turns out, businesses need customers
**MBS:** The last thing we wanna touch on helping businesses thrive is getting them started to begin with. Entrepreneurship. SHSU tried a business accelerator about 10 years back, and it went nowhere. What should we do to support entrepreneurs more?
**SS:** There's no reason for us not to be entrepreneurial savvy or tech savvy. We've got Sam Houston State University right here. We are having conversations with entities that have the entrepreneurial spirit, kind of the co-workspace, incubator-type situations. We've just gotta get the right people at the table.
**KB:** We also have Sam Houston's [Small Business Development Center](https://www.sbdc.uh.edu/sbdc/Sam%5FHouston%5FState%5FUniversity%5FSBDC.asp). They've helped, like, between 40 and 63 new startup businesses in the past year. I mean, I was one of those 29 years ago.
**MBS:** Just this morning on Facebook in one of the groups, where we [need a teen center](https://www.facebook.com/groups/469088813277761/posts/3182953441891271), and there was over 100 comments of, "It's not gonna work because Huntsville doesn't support Huntsville businesses."
What do we do about that? Because if we're trying to make it an entrepreneurial place, but nobody's supporting our local entrepreneurs, what's that disconnect?
**KB:** I mean, you have your employee turnover, you have how much you can pay somebody, because you've gotta keep the costs low in order for people to afford to come because we are in some ways a lower economic community.
I mean, look at our movie theater. People complain about it not being theater seats like you can get in Conroe, but they don't wanna pay-
**MBS:** It's only $6\.
*\[group laughter\]*
**KB:** So our movie theater charged $3 for the longest time and felt bad when they raised the rates to $5\. But if they were to remodel and charge $15 a movie, you would not see the support.
Earnings in Walker County have outpaced inflation but remain well below the state average. Data [here](https://data.bls.gov/PDQWeb/en).
**DG:** What you're saying, Kaye, is ultimately the best support for a business is a customer base. Huntsville is not a high income town, and that naturally limits the support businesses get in terms of customers coming in the door.
**KB:** You can't have a Dave & Buster's here because it's expensive. Nobody's gonna go to a Dave & Buster's here, and it is gonna close down. So nobody in their right mind would put a Dave & Buster's here. There's just not the population for that.
**DG:** But they will go on Facebook and say they'd love to have a Dave & Buster's.
**BI:** So actually that was my cousin that posted that post.
I've thought about, when I was a kid, we had a skating rink and the old Dodge dealership would be a perfect place to do a skating rink, but at the same time, I don't want to go through that process of getting a loan, converting that space.
**MBS:** Right.
**BI:** And then I've gotta pay people a decent wage. What does that look like? How many people can I actually afford to hire? Those are all the things that come to my mind. So when I saw her post about it, I wanted to chime in, but there's parts that people aren't gonna fully understand.
Can you survive through the summer when the college is out? How many times are you really gonna take your kid skating?
**SS:** And that's the whole basis of why we're here, to bring in industry that has higher paying salaries so spouses don't have to commute outside of Walker County for good paying jobs.
It brings families back to Walker County because now both parents are working here and can afford to go to a Dave & Buster's, keep these businesses open.
**MBS:** I'm sure a lot of different things can be done. And that takes us to our next topic, about having jobs where people would stay and have the money to partake in bigger name establishments, workforce development. Stay tuned...
---
The second installment of this roundtable, focusing on workforce development, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/ready-to-work/). The third and final installment, on Huntsville's image and downtown, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/so-much-more-than-a-prison-town/).
This article was a joint project of Darren Grant, who organized the roundtable, Chief Humanist Mary-Brett Stringer, who moderated it and handled the transcription, and Public Accountability Officer Alison Wilkins, who handled the data analysis and other background research. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### Five great places to watch the World Cup
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/five-great-places-to-watch-the-world-cup/
Last updated: 2026-06-11T15:06:32.000Z
The world can agree on one thing: football is great. It just can't agree on what football is.
In Australia, Canada, and the U.S., football uses your hands. Most everywhere else, it uses your feet. The two games couldn't be more different, but their fans are equally passionate. Soccer fans give Cowboys fans a run for their money.
And just as American football has its premier showcase – the Super Bowl – the "other football" has its own as well: the World Cup, when the top national teams from around the world come together to see who's best.
For only the second time ever, the World Cup has come to our shores, with the U.S. hosting the tournament along with Canada and Mexico (the first time three nations have co-hosted the games). For the next six weeks, beginning on Thursday, a whole lot less work will be getting done around the globe, as nearly four billion soccer fans stop what they are doing to watch the "beautiful game."
That will happen in Huntsville, too – which has its own soccer-crazy people from around the globe. Here are five great places to join them in watching the World Cup.
## Potato Shack
A laid-back, all-ages option is Potato Shack. With nine TVs inside and three outside, and sports on every one, you’ve got options. Tired of soccer? Switch over to the College World Series (June 12-22) or Wimbledon (June 29 - July 12).
Potato Shack's indoor dining area and bar. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
While no special World Cup promotions are planned, they offer daily specials on Lucky 19 brews and 75-cent wings Tuesday-Thursday 4-8, making it friendly on your wallet.
Potato Shack, at 1229 Josey St., is open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm.
## NRG Stadium, Reliant Stadium, whatever it's called
Have $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Enjoy paying $200 to park your car? Then come on down to Reliant Stadium in Houston and watch a game in person!
There you will get to watch a country you've heard of, like Portugal, play a country you may not have heard of, like Uzbekistan, and pound the living daylights out of them – which in soccer means a score of, like, 6-0.
Seven games are set to be played in Houston, all of them really pricey except for the match between Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde, where the prices are more like those for the NFL.
It is a miracle that Cabo Verde, with a population of only half a million, even made it into the World Cup. This being said, it is not the contest's smallest country this year. That honor belongs to Curacao, in the Caribbean, which will get demolished by Germany at Reliant Stadium on Saturday. A pair of nosebleed seats to that game run only $1,300, including $100 in tax and $200 in fees.
## Mario's Sports Bar
The most excited patrons might be found at Mario’s Sports Bar, on 12th Street next to Imerj’s [Be Free](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) gallery. Owner Mario Marquina absolutely loves the game. When asked if anything is better than soccer, he quickly replied "Oh no."
"When the game starts, everyone speaks the same language," said Marquina, who grew up in El Salvador. "That’s what makes the World Cup so special.”
Marquina is going big for the World Cup, installing a giant 9' x 16' TV in his large covered patio and opening early all month during the "group stage." There are daily giveaways for those of drinking age, and Sunday is family day, with kids welcome to join their parents from noon-midnight.
Mario's Sports Bar, inside and outside. The brown wall in the back will be covered by an enormous TV for the World Cup.
While all U.S. and Mexico games will be shown, Mario's biggest celebration will be held in partnership with Lee Baron on June 18th, when Mexico takes on South Korea.
Lee Baron has partnered with Adidas to give customizable jerseys – with Huntsville-centric patches on hand – to the first fifty arrivals, starting at 7 p.m. There will also be food and drink giveaways, drink specials, games, and prizes.
"It’s a big moment and embodies what Lee Baron is about – bringing people from all races and places under one roof to show love to one another," said AJ Jhangiani, co-owner of the sneaker and apparel boutique. "Huntsville might be a small town, but we deserve big impactful moments like this too."
Mario's Sports Bar, at 1000 12th St., has expanded hours for the World Cup. During the Group Stage, from June 11 - June 27, they are open 2 pm - midnight Monday - Thursday, 2 pm - 2 am Friday and Saturday, and noon - midnight on Sunday.
## Olatee African Cafe
The most culturally immersive experience might be at Olatee African Cafe, in a new shopping center on Montgomery Rd. near the interstate. There, you can watch one of their 2 giant TVs while enjoying authentic Nigerian cuisine.
Olatee African Cafe. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
While Nigeria is not one of the 10 African countries that qualified for this year's World Cup, the games will be shown. "We're African, we love soccer," shared an Olatee server.
There won't be any specials on the menu, but the fufu is great, and Olatee's intimate atmosphere of around 30 seats is a special opportunity to meet fellow soccer fans.
Olatee African Cafe, at 3103 Montgomery Rd., is open Tuesdays-Thursdays 11 am-8 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11 am-10 pm, and Sundays 1-8.
## Grandpa's back porch
Photo credit: [Robin Jonathan Deutsch](https://unsplash.com/@rodeutsch?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit)
No, grandpa doesn't really like soccer, and no, it's not showing on his favorite channels, and no, there isn't a TV on his porch anyway. But it's a beautiful evening and we love grandpa, and there's nothing we'd rather do than sit with him and watch the fireflies. And every time a goal is scored, we'll know by the cheers coming out of the neighbors' house across the way.
And when he asks what all the fuss is about with the World Cup, anyway, we'll answer: "You know football? It's kind of like that."
---
This year's World Cup has three host nations – Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. – each with three "group stage" games this month.
### Canada
vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina, June 12, 2 pm
vs. Qatar, Jun 18, 5 pm
vs. Switzerland, June 24, 2 pm
### Mexico
vs. South Africa, June 11, 2 pm
vs. South Korea, June 18, 8 pm
vs. Czechia, June 24, 8 pm
### United States
vs. Paraguay, June 12, 8 pm
vs. Australia, June 19, 2 pm
vs. Turkey, June 25, 9 pm
The full World Cup schedule can be found [here](https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/match schedule-fixtures-results-teams-stadiums).
The material on Potato Shack, Mario's, and Olatee was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### Love on the vine
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/love-on-the-vine/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:09:23.000Z
There are beginnings and there are endings, and both can be sweet in their own way. That is the case with our local wine industry. It burst out of nowhere over the last thirteen years, as wineries opened throughout Walker County. Now two of those are taking their curtain call, as their owners transition to buffing up the "grandparent" portion of their resumes.
Winemaking is an exhausting, creative, demanding, exhilarating job. Let's discover what makes these folks tick.
## First fruit
Wine first came to Walker County off of Highway 19 south of Riverside, in the form of Knox Circle Winery, aka [Froggy Wines](https://www.facebook.com/WinesFroggy/).
Owners Richard and Debbie Henriksen bought a hobby wine kit when their youngest was a high school senior. With the encouragement of friends with whom they shared their inaugural White Zinfandel, they started making different kinds of wine and attending workshops and trainings.
They moved to Walker County in 2006, when Richard secured a position teaching counseling at Sam Houston State University. After two years of construction and permitting, Froggy Wines opened in 2013\.
Their first competitor was only a few lily pads away.
Stan and Peggy McGinley's 360 acres off FM 1791 near the Montgomery County line was intended to be called "Cousin Camp," a place for their ten grandchildren to spend time outdoors. But Stan's retirement hobby soon changed the face of the land, when 15 acres of Blanc du Bois and Lenoir grapes were planted in 2009.
[West Sandy Creek Winery](https://www.wscwinery.com/) bottled their first vintage of Blanc du Bois wine in 2013\. In 2015, the tasting room and production facility were built, then [five cabins](https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/253133422). In March 2019, West Sandy Creek was open to the public.
The next winery opened just one month later.
[Teysha Vineyards](https://www.teyshavineyard.com/) in Oakhurst was built by Joe and Lynn Zimmerman as a long-term business investment. "Create value and sell it," says Joe, "that was the ultimate goal." In devising their blends, Joe, a non-drinker, was the nose, and Lynn was the palate.
Their four acres contain nearly 2,000 vines of Blanc du Bois and Lenoir grapes, planted in 2015 and tended by Lynn while Joe worked overseas. By 2016, Joe retired to join his wife in focusing on wine full time. Teysha opened in April 2019, drawing visitors from both Huntsville and Livingston.
Grapevines at Golden Oak and Teysha.
Those three wineries covered the north, east, and west of Walker County. The last represented the south: [Golden Oak Micro Cellar](https://goldenoakmicrocellar.com/), located a few miles outside of New Waverly.
The 13 acre horse ranch Catherine and Alex Bader purchased in 2015 now contains 600 vines of Blanc du Bois, Syrah, Merlot, and Camminare Noir grapes. "The timing was right," Alex shared. "We fell in love with the area."
The winery opened in October 2020\. Since then, it has continued to roll its earnings into improvements and expansions, both inside and out. When you visit, you have three seating options: a covered patio, open air, or inside.
## And you thought *water* into wine was hard
Golden Oak is unique in that its owners have day jobs. Alex works in the energy industry and Catherine is an auditor of quality management systems. For the others, wine became their retirement gig.
For 40 years, Stan McGinley served in the legal department of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil producer. Joe Zimmerman also spent 40 years in oil and gas, as a petroleum engineer. Both poured savings from those jobs into their new ventures, in a sense turning oil into wine.
A cabin and the vineyard at West Sandy Creek. Photo credits: West Sandy Creek Winery.
It's not easy. Zimmerman grew up on a cotton farm in Louisiana and thought growing grapes would be a breeze. Turns out, he says, "these are the hardest things I've ever grown in my life."
Making the wine isn't easy either. Richard Henriksen of Froggy says winemaking, even more than his work with students and patients, uncovered reserves of patience he didn't know he had. "If you are going to make wine, you got to have a lot of patience," he said. "I have made wines that took a year. It's a labor of love."
In fact, Viticulture (grape growing) and Enology (winemaking) are so tough it helps to study them. Texas A&M University offers [certificates](https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/product/viticulture-and-wine-science-certificate-program/01t4x000008VcUHAA0) in both subjects, which each take two years to complete and cost $3,500\. You learn about soil health, vine physiology, wine chemistry, and much more.
The Henriksens and Stan McGinley were, in fact, classmates in a similar program at Grayson College in Denison. It is a small world. West Sandy Creek has a partnership with A&M's program, and even uses genetically modified grapes to combat disease and pests, two of any farmer's biggest foes.
Making the wine is just the beginning. Every winery has a tasting room and most occasionally host live music or other special events. In addition, West Sandy Creek has animals you can visit (through the fence), including Sadeeq the camel and zebra-donkey hybrids called zebronkeys. The McGinleys are farmers, vintners, zookeepers, and hosts, all in one.
Tasting rooms at Froggy Wines, Golden Oak, and Teysha. Photo credits: Froggy Wines (left), Mary-Brett Stringer (right).
With all of these demands, there is one constant: there is no substitute for doing it yourself. Every winery in Walker County is strictly family owned and operated. Alex Bader loves winemaking because "we get to be creative. We like to be innovative," he shares. But there are "no shortcuts. You gotta put your best in, even in dire straits."
## A generational thing
Wine is a slow business. Years pass between your initial investment and that first bottle sold. And time passes another way, too: through the generations.
For two wineries, taking care of business is a family affair. The Baders' children help out at Golden Oak from time to time. At West Sandy Creek, three generations are involved. Stan McGinley's son Sandy now stewards the day-to-day operations, with grandson Dan there to keep things going when Sandy needs to step away.
For the other two wineries, family enters differently. They are setting wine aside to focus on their grandchildren.
The Henriksens plan to close Froggy Wines within the next year. The tasting and Lily Pad rooms will become The Tadpole Room and serve as a hangout for their three grandchildren.
"It's been a fun business," says Richard. "We've made a lot of friends. We are not into all the commercialism, so people like to come out here and hang out."
Something similar is happening at Teysha, which closed in April.
Joe Zimmerman says, "In the \[last\] 5-6 years, we've had three real weekends off. We miss soccer games, t-ball... it's pretty hard when you're stuck here with this enterprise to run." They are staying on the property, building a new home and using the space for the grandkids to visit.
What will they miss most? The people. "We have met some of the best people on the planet here," says Zimmerman. "We were making wine for our friends."
A farewell cake at Teysha on their last day of operations. Photo credit: Mary-Brett Stringer.
---
Leftover stock from Teysha can be purchased [here](https://vinoshipper.com/shop/teysha%5Fvineyard?list=) for $25-$45 per bottle (with volume discounts), or keep an eye on their [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TeyshaWine/) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/teyshavineyard) accounts for opportunities to stop by.
Froggy Wines is open Friday 2-6, Saturday 11-6 and Sunday 12-6\. Check their [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/WinesFroggy/) before visiting to ensure they are open, as they are scaling back as they get closer to closing. They are at 104-A Knox Circle south of Riverside.
West Sandy Creek Winery is open Thursday 12–5, Friday and Saturday 12–7, and Sunday 12–6\. They often have live music on the weekends. Don’t forget to grab some carrots from the tasting room to feed Sadeeq. They are at 1773 FM 1791 in Richards, or enter [Blue Bonnet Hill](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blue+Bonnet+Hill/@30.5913087,-95.7294029,16.04z) into Google Maps and it will take you straight to the winery.
Golden Oak Micro Cellar is open Fridays 2-7, Saturdays 12-7, and Sundays 1-6, with unique Tea Infused (TAVIN) wine tastings at 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. They are located at 1124 Jones Rd. in New Waverly. Carefully follow the signs from downtown New Waverly, or follow the directions on your phone.
Golden Oak and West Sandy Creek both have lovely, elegant spaces that can be rented for special occasions.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### College bound?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/college-bound/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:09:54.000Z
After Pomp and Circumstance, after the cards and gifts and the parties, a question looms for every high school graduate: What's next?
For some it's a job, for others the military. But the most common next step is more school. Nationwide and in Texas, [5 of every 8 high school graduates](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=51) enroll in college, some in community colleges like [Lone Star College](https://www.lonestar.edu/), most in four year institutions like [Sam Houston State University](https://www.shsu.edu/).
At Huntsville High School, the picture has become quite a bit different. College attendance has been on a ten year slide, with far fewer than half of recent graduates going to college in the following year. In return, career readiness is on the rise.
## Slip sliding away
The state tracks [every public high school graduate](https://www.txhighereddata.org/high-school-graduates/) that enrolls in higher education in Texas. Almost half do so, with [others](https://www.tamus.edu/data-science/2025/02/15/the-texas-sized-battleground-for-high-school-graduates/) going out of state.
In the late 2000s, Huntsville High School was in that same ballpark, sending just over half of its graduates to college in Texas. Sam Houston State University was, not surprisingly, the most common destination, with Lone Star College the runner-up. Altogether, 1/3 of graduates went to four year universities, with another 1/6 going to community college.
Data [here](https://www.txhighereddata.org/high-school-graduates/).
In the following decade, the community college numbers remained stable, but the numbers attending SHSU and other four year institutions began to slip, and Covid didn't help matters. Recently, only about 1/3 of Huntsville High graduates attend college in Texas the following year.
The slippage has been greatest for our state's flagship universities – the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Through 2014, it was common for Huntsville High to send a total of 20 students to those schools each year. Since then, the average is closer to 15, with fewer than ten from the Class of 2024.
This isn't because they couldn't get in. Roughly 40 HHS graduates receive automatic admission to one or both universities each year. They are choosing not to go.
In recent years, college enrollment has, in fact, [tapered off somewhat](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=51) across the country. But the decline at HHS is faster. Its rate of college attendance resembled the state average during the late 2000s, but is well below that today. Something else is going on.
## Fewer attendees mean fewer graduates
With fewer people going to college, there are also fewer people graduating. The timing here is broadly similar. Until 2016, about 25% of HHS graduates received a bachelor's or associate's degree somewhere in Texas. Since then, that fraction is down to about 20%.
The type of degree obtained has changed as well. There are more associate's degrees, which are typically completed in one or two years, but many fewer bachelor's degrees. There has been a movement toward the shorter degree.
Data [here](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?%5Fservice=marykay&%5Fprogram=perfrept.perfmast.sas&%5Fdebug=0&ccyy=2024&lev=C&id=236902002&prgopt=reports/tapr/pso%5Fdataviz.sas) and [here](https://www.txhighereddata.org/high-school-graduates/high-school-graduates-higher-education-outcomes/).
While college education sometimes gets a bad rap, it still pays off. According to the [federal government](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings), workers in their late 20s and early 30s with a bachelor's degree earn $17,000 more than workers with an associate's and $25,000 more than high school graduates each year.
## They're ready – for something else
One clue to what is happening comes from the Texas Academic Performance Report that the [state puts out each year](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/) on each school. It identifies those seniors deemed "college ready," based on course credit and standardized test scores, and reports those percentages for each school and for the state.
Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, these numbers dropped significantly at HHS and have never really recovered. That was the inaugural year of HISD superintendent Howell Wright, whose attempt to "reinvent education" in the district was ill-fated. At HHS, fewer students are going to college because fewer students are ready.
Data [here](https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/texas-academic-performance-reports).
To a significant degree, however, this is by choice. Career preparation is up significantly at Huntsville High.
Matthew Lahey, Executive Director of Community Engagement for the school district, said that "post-secondary pathways have evolved significantly over the past two decades... Texas schools have increased emphasis on workforce certifications, dual credit opportunities, military readiness, and [career and technical education programs](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/page/career-technical-education) alongside traditional four year college pathways."
Accordingly, the Huntsville ISD "has intentionally focused on expanding opportunities for students through \[a variety of efforts\] designed to help students prepare for success after graduation – whether that path includes college, workforce training, military service, or industry certification programs."
The signs of this are very clear. Beginning in 2017, the state began tracking industry-based certifications obtained by high school students. Since then, the number of those obtained at Huntsville High has [absolutely shot up](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?%5Fservice=marykay&%5Fprogram=perfrept.perfmast.sas&%5Fdebug=0&ccyy=2024&lev=C&id=236902002&prgopt=reports/tapr/pso%5Fdataviz.sas). In recent years, over half of graduates have such a certification. Accordingly, the fraction of Huntsville High grads deemed "career ready" by the state far exceeds the state average.
So again, the glass is [half empty](https://www.huntsvillan.com/half-empty/) – but also half full. College preparation and college attendance are indeed down at Huntsville High School. But, to some degree, this has resulted from the district's significant efforts to expand opportunities for students who are less academically inclined.
This article was based primarily on reporting by **The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins.
### Half Empty
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/half-empty/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:10:19.000Z
The government. You have to tell it everything. That way it knows half as much about you as Google and Facebook do.
But even the government has its days, when the information it collects slices through the he-said/she-said and cuts to the chase.
For Huntsville Memorial Hospital, that day is today. Throughout 2025, its CEO, Patrick Shannon, made the rounds arguing for a major expansion, supported by tax dollars. But the data reported by the hospital itself – to [state government](https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/hospitals/texas-hospital-data), the [IRS](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843654542), and [Medicare](https://www.ahd.com/free%5Fprofile/450347/Huntsville-Memorial-Hospital/Huntsville/Texas/) – indicate not a place beset by overcrowding, but something else entirely.
## Pitching the hospital bond
In 2025, the Walker County Hospital District put proposals on the May and November ballots, asking voters to back $200 million in bonds to build a large addition onto the current hospital.
The pitch? The hospital is cramped for space and Walker County is growing. The time to act is now.
For example, in this [bond discussion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtzEBWelcZ8) last October between Shannon and Rob Hipp of [Hello Huntsville](https://hellohuntsvilletx.com/), Shannon says:
"You know, like I was saying today... a lot of times we'll have eighty-something patients in a bed in the hospital. And so we are many times full which backs up the emergency room which causes the delays in the ER. So we have to address that and increase our capacity."
Similarly, the hospital's information sheet on the spring bond proposal said, "the current facility is very busy."
[HMH-FAQ-3.14.25HMH-FAQ-3.14.25.pdf56 KBdownload-circle](https://www.huntsvillan.com/content/files/2026/05/HMH-FAQ-3.14.25.pdf "Download")
This, paired with the expectation of future growth in our area, left an unmistakable message: the hospital is crowded now, and the problem will worsen in the future.
But if you listened carefully, not everyone was on the exact same page. Dr. Lane Aiena, then on the Hospital District Board of Managers, made [a different argument](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1717279542473118) for the bond: construction costs. "Construction's going up, it's way more per square feet to build medical facilities," he said. "If we were to put this off further, more expensive bonds are coming."
He then went off script:
"When it comes right down to it, about 70% of Walker and the surrounding counties go \[to competing hospitals\] down south. This hospital \[HMH\] closes, the other 30% goes down south as well. So why would they spend money to open up bricks and mortar, hospital of their own in our area, when they can just wait it out?"
Um – what? Closing? Why would you close? You're supposed to be crowded! But Aiena was onto something.
## They're losing patients
Hospitals provide "inpatient" and "outpatient" services. If you get that colonoscopy and go home afterwards, that's outpatient. If you check into a room, that's inpatient. The proposed expansion would have added almost twenty "free world" beds and others for inmates, increasing the hospital's inpatient capacity.
Two key measures of inpatient use are the total number of admissions per year and the "average daily census," that is, the average number of beds filled per day. Both have been declining at HMH for several years, with the most recent, July 2024 - June 2025 reporting period being the lowest of all.
Reporting begins on July 1 of the initial year and ends on June 30 of the following year. Data comes from the links at the top of the article.
In that period, the average daily census of 44.3 was 52% of the 86 beds in the hospital. In a sense, HMH was barely half full. For comparable nearby hospitals, that number is closer to 60%. (It rarely gets too much higher, since you build for the sickest times, which are rare.)
Looking at revenues, you can go back [even further](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/203069241). The cleanest comparison is to 2010-2013, before the hospital gained and shed ancillary facilities and ran into all kinds of problems. Back then, revenues were about 25% higher than now, adjusting for inflation. However you slice it, HMH's numbers are down.
Were the elected Managers of the Hospital District aware of these trends when they voted to put those bonds on the ballot? One can't know for sure. HMH administration makes a verbal report at each Hospital District meeting, but different statistics are mentioned each month, making it hard to detect trends. The Hospital District confirmed that Managers receive no written reports from the hospital. Last year's Managers were invited to comment for this story, but not given much time in which to do so. None did.
## Drive south
One clue to HMH's issues comes from quality measures provided by the private sector and – you guessed it – the government.
The federal government generates an annual "Total Performance Score" and "Patient Experience Rating" for most hospitals, while the private sector Leapfrog Group gives them a semi-annual A-F grade. Together, these measures reflect patient satisfaction, process quality, and the frequency of "adverse events."
Across all three measures, HMH is fairly similar to other Deep East Texas hospitals – in Nacogdoches, Palestine, or Lufkin – which all tend to score near the national average.
Leapfrog ratings can be found [here](https://ratings.leapfroggroup.org/). The other two can be found [here](https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital%5FTX.html).
But Huntsville Memorial isn't competing with those hospitals. It is competing with the big boys in The Woodlands – Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, St. Luke's. That is what Aiena meant about patients driving south.
These hospitals are two to five times larger than HMH, giving them a cost advantage and expanding the range of services they can provide. And they're in that sweet spot of suburbia where all the doctors and nurses want to live, surrounded by wealthy, educated patrons with high expectations. And it shows:
Leapfrog ratings can be found [here](https://ratings.leapfroggroup.org/). The other two can be found [here](https://www.ahd.com/states/hospital%5FTX.html).
The Woodlands' hospitals surpass HMH on every quality measure (as do those in similarly wealthy College Station). With all those advantages, how could they not? This is why 70% of Walker County drives south. Our hospital's loss is local residents' gain.
## Where to go from here?
You're a beagle, and a pretty good one. It's not your fault that, at chow time, the other dogs in the house are all Dobermans. Your job isn't to be a Doberman too – just the best beagle that you can.
At HMH, that effort is now led by Terry Scoggin, who replaced Patrick Shannon as CEO earlier this year. Scoggin acknowledges the decline in inpatient numbers but notes that those numbers don't tell you everything. A broader measure of utilization that incorporates "outpatient beds" rose in the last fiscal year. On the other hand, emergency room visits remain [down significantly](https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/hospitals/texas-hospital-data) from pre-Covid levels.
The cup may be half empty, but it's also half full – and growing. Scoggin says "we are continuing to see growth in the current fiscal year," with many utilization measures up 5% or more. With the bond battle behind it, HMH can now focus on being the best beagle that it can. It has already made progress, adding two obstetrics-trained physicians in recent months, with another surgeon on the way.
The late Ivo Nelson [pointed out last year](https://www.facebook.com/groups/469088813277761/posts/2991407394379211) that the central question isn't “When do we get a hospital?” but “How do we improve the health of Walker County citizens?” No one, pro-bond or anti-bond, denies that Huntsville Memorial Hospital will be a key part of that effort – and that it can't do it alone. This question is important enough that *The Huntsvillan* will return to it later this year.
**The Huntsvillan*'s Public Accountability Officer, Alison Wilkins, contributed reporting for this article. The text describes "inpatient" and "outpatient" somewhat loosely; see a more accurate description [here](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/inpatient-hospital-care/inpatient-outpatient-status).
### Don't look now, but Huntsville is becoming a live music mecca
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/dont-look-now-but-huntsville-is-becoming-a-live-music-mecca/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:10:38.000Z
There was a time when musicians stopped in Huntsville when traveling from Houston to Dallas. Whether it was Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash playing at the Texas Prison Rodeo or early-career George Strait playing local honky-tonks, live music was alive and well.
Some of these classic local venues, like Guaranteed Wholesome from the 1970s and 1980s or the original Stardust from the early 2000s, have since closed. But over the last seven years, the not-for-profit and government sectors have stepped up in their place, breathing new life into our public spaces in the process.
As a result, you can hear live music of almost every genre throughout the year right here in town – often, free of charge. Where are these shows and who puts them on?
## The new kid on the block
The newest kid in town is [Sundown at Sam’s](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/events/museum-sundown-at-sams), a free live music series held at the outdoor stage on the Sam Houston Museum grounds near the Steamboat House.
These grounds burst to life for three Thursday evenings each spring. Come out with a chair or blanket and meet up with old friends, or make new ones on a blanket nearby. There are local food and beverage vendors if you don’t want to bring your own picnic. Two artists perform each evening, each from within an hour of Huntsville.
Music Director Darren Grant worked with the Museum to create the event four years ago. He was "motivated to support live music and local musicians in Huntsville. The museum liked that and also saw it as a good way to reach out to the local community. It was a win-win," he said.
Sundown not only gives local musicians some stage time close to home, but also exposes the audience to a variety of music, with each night focusing on a different genre. Grant shares, "My main dream going in was for our audience to come to love and appreciate different styles of music: blues, bluegrass, country, Americana, gospel. We've come a long way towards that goal."
The Willing Workers (2026) and Lowery Bridges (2025) each had breakthrough performances at Sundown at Sam's. Photo credits: Cade Taylor Crippin.
Local musician John Toland has served as sound engineer for most of the past four seasons. He says, “It’s been an awesome experience watching it grow from just an idea we discussed in Darren’s living room to each year seeing the crowd grow bigger and bigger.” An average night will have one hundred attendees.
A typical night's cost is in the low four-digits, with funding coming from donations and from the museum. The performers Grant books are always well-received – the major barrier to growth is getting the word out. ”In today's media environment, everyone is on a different platform," he reflects. "It's just so hard.”
Toland agrees. “I’d just like to see the word get out more so Huntsville knows there’s a great place to see great, live, local music for free.”
## Your tax dollars at work
Just after Sundown winds down in the spring, another free outdoor music series gears up for the summer. It is the middle child, bumping around in various formats for several years before settling into its groove in 2023.
This series, the City of Huntsville's [Main Street Music Series](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/810/Main-Street-Music-Series), is held at Rather Park on the second Saturday of each month from May to August. It is the baby of Amanda Sewell, Main Street Manager for the past two years. She states, “By offering free live music... downtown, we’re supporting our local businesses while providing meaningful experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
Sewell, with a committee of 6-8 people from the Main Street Advisory Board, sifts through a list of regional performers in January to select that summer’s four bands. Contracts are signed for $500-$2,500, depending on the travel distance, production logistics, and the band's experience and following. Main Street’s fluctuating yearly budget dictates those payouts and proves to be the event’s biggest hurdle.
The Texas T-Birds and ZZ-Tex performed in the Main St. Music Series in 2025; children dancing to the Jon Kott Band. Photo credits: Cade Taylor Crippin.
Some nights you’ll find a local songwriter and their acoustic guitar, while other nights have a six-piece band with their own opener, sound, and lights. Either way, it’s a beautiful night of music under the stars.
There are no food and beverage vendors, so bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, or come early and partake in [Ship 'n Shop](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/m/newsflash/home/detail/85) on the square, hosted by the [Downtown Business Alliance](https://www.huntsvilledba.com/). It's a good idea to bring a chair.
## Historically entertaining
The elder statesman of the group is the [Old Town Theatre](https://www.oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org/), opened originally as a movie house in 1947 (and reprising that role each February in the [Prison City Film Festival](https://www.huntsvillan.com/small-town-big-screen/)).
A live theater venue for many years, its board decided to transition into live music in 2019\. Since then, more and more people who had never been inside have found their way into the historic building.
[Lois Stehlik](https://hellohuntsvilletx.com/lois-stehlik-keeps-the-spotlight-shining-at-old-town-theatre/) has booked the musicians for all seven years. She has a *lot* more money to work with but also a tight constraint – these shows have to pay for themselves. Tribute bands are booked for $2,000-$7,000, while established legacy acts range from $10,000-$26,000, with comedians, magicians, and others costing upwards of $12,000\. When booking, Stehlik relies on audience recommendations and past performers who did well.
While Sundown has a lot of bluegrass, blues, and gospel and Main Street features more rock 'n roll, the Theatre's sweet spot is country music, with newcomers and familiar names appearing throughout the year.
Glen Templeton performing at Old Town Theatre in 2025\. Photo credit: Cade Taylor Crippin.
There is something special about being in an elegant old venue, but maintaining it isn't cheap. The board plans to raise $100,000 to replace their faded curtain, originally from Mance Park Middle School, and another $100,000 to expand the concession stand and renovate the bathrooms in the lobby and upstairs.
These costs, performers' fees, and other overhead adds up. So if you ever think the ticket price is too high, remember that it’s covering more than just the songs.
Stehlik and the theater board use their non-profit status to garner donations that help ”keep costs down \[to\] offer quality entertainment at an affordable rate,” Stehlik shares. Depending on the act, general admission tickets range from $30-$60 while VIP seats go for $50-$85\.
## Making a space a place
Through the efforts of city government, non-profits, some businesses, and passionate citizens, live music is increasingly finding its way to [Huntsvegas](https://www.huntsvillan.com/city-says-screw-it-changes-name-to-huntsvegas/).
These performances let local musicians [grow their artistry](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/) and fan base, make a healthier community, and provide moments of fellowship over common interests. In bringing us together to experience the magic of live music, they turn *spaces* into *places,* breathing life into our town.
---
Sundown at Sam's takes place on three Thursday evenings over a six week span each spring. The lineup is announced in February on the Sam Houston Museum's [website](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/events/museum-sundown-at-sams) and [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/samhouston.memorial.museum); there are [Facebook events](https://www.facebook.com/samhouston.memorial.museum/events) as well. In the event of rain, the performance moves inside to a nice auditorium in the Walker Education Center, right there by the Steamboat House on 19th St.
The Main Street Music Series takes place on the 2nd Saturday evening of May, June, July, and August, right after Sip 'n Shop closes on the square. Each summer's lineup is announced in the spring on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/COHmainstreet/), and there are [Facebook events](https://www.facebook.com/COHmainstreet/events) you can use to remind yourself and invite others. In the event of rain, the performance moves inside to the Old Town Theatre.
The Old Town Theatre has numerous concerts throughout the year. See the list and buy tickets [here](https://www.oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org/events.html). There isn't just country, but also comedy, gospel, and some rock 'n roll – click that link and take a look.
To submit yourself or your band to the database that Main Street Music Series, the Downtown Business Alliance, and Fair on the Square use for their booking needs, contact Main Street Manager Amanda Sewell at asewell@huntsvilletx.gov. To submit recommendations for performers of any type to Old Town Theatre, go to their [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/oldtowntheatrehuntsville) or drop a note in the suggestion box at the theater.
This article was composed by **The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com). Every picture except the cover photo was taken by Cade Taylor Crippin, who has photographed more concerts than you've ever been to. Learn all about Cade and see numerous examples of his work at [www.photographybycade.com](https://www.photographybycade.com/).
### There must be something in the water
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/there-must-be-something-in-the-water/
Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:11:00.000Z
You hear a lot about Ivy League universities like Harvard and MIT. So they must have a lot of students, right? Wrong. Last year Harvard's freshman class – their largest ever – was under 2,000 students. MIT's is closer to 1,000\.
Schools like that are incredibly hard to get into. Top-tier universities admit about one in twenty applicants – and the applicants are super strong to start with. You're more likely to go viral for eating a ham sandwich than to get into a place like that.
Yet, somehow, New Waverly High School graduates are doing exactly that, getting into top-tier institutions four times in the last three years. This would be impressive even for a large school. For a small school, it's astonishing. There must be something in the water down there in New Waverly.
## You get admission! and you get admission! and you get admission! – it's like Oprah with the cars
NWHS's most notable college admission this year is senior Jack Register, who will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in the fall. Tuition: $0\. Workload: *a lot*.
Register is unfazed. "I was interested \[in West Point\] because it's a difficult and formative experience," he says. "West Point is the best leadership academy in the history of the world."
Perhaps being the third New Waverly grad to attend West Point makes it seem more doable. His father graduated from there back in the day. Then two years ago [Brooke Munoz](https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/womens-track-and-field/roster/brooke-munoz/24530) [got in](https://www.itemonline.com/sports/munoz-heads-to-west-point-commits-to-army-for-track/article%5F7e98f79a-b187-11ee-ad32-5b38fbc662a0.html).
"I saw Brooke when I was on my campus visit," says Register. "It will be good to know someone already when I arrive. And I'm sure I'll meet some of my father's classmates' sons and daughters who are now attending."
You can hear the professors now. "*Another* New Waverly graduate? What do they put in the water down there?" As if we'd tell!
How hard is it to get into West Point? Well, you first have to be nominated by a member of Congress, or the Vice President, who each have a limited number of spots. Even then admission is not guaranteed. Each freshman class has only 1,100 students. The whole process "took about a year and a half," said Register.
Upon successfully graduating from West Point, Register and Munoz would be commissioned as officers into the U.S. Army, with an obligation of five years of service on active duty.
Two other recent New Waverly graduates have gotten into the Ivy League. In 2024, Brianna Cardenas [was admitted to](https://www.itemonline.com/news/new-waverly-student-accepted-to-upenn/article%5F0d8fffb6-ca79-11ee-80b2-27c7ad028750.html) the University of Pennsylvania to study nursing, and last year Madison Wood got into MIT. The acceptance rate at both places is 5%.
MIT was Wood's "dream school. I asked my mom if she'd help with the application fee ($75). She was surprised but supportive."
She has been tested in multiple ways. The homework there is "very challenging," and the Boston weather can be, too. "We had two days where there was more than 15 inches of snow," she says. An engineering student, she did the natural thing: built an igloo, utilizing geometry skills she learned in high school.
Altogether, Cardenas, Munoz, Register, and Wood comprise almost 2% of New Waverly High School's graduates over the last three years. Any school anywhere would be envious of that kind of record.
## It happens by accident, if acting with purpose is an accident
What is New Waverly High School's secret sauce? In interviews with students, parents, and staff, one theme emerges: developing a sense of what is possible.
Kevin and Anitra Edney's four children have been in New Waverly schools for a decade, with the youngest graduating this year. They've seen the process firsthand.
"When I think back on ten years at New Waverly High School, there's always been attention for kids who tried. There's a spot for you," said Kevin. "I feel like every one of my kids has gotten special attention."
NWHS Counselor Debbie Choate sees it too. A small high school, with only 400 students, maximizes contact between students and teachers and lets administrators connect with kids individually.
"Not only myself as Counselor," says Choate, "but Principals Mr. (Kris) Drane and Dr. (Ashleigh) Scott and others are open to initiating informal conversations with students, asking 'What are your plans?' or 'Have you thought about...?' Come and talk with me more about that."
"There is such an invitation to participate," says Edney. Whereas some schools may force you to choose between one activity and another, at New Waverly you can do both. Motivated students are "often given opportunities to extend what they know and learn. They don't hold back the horses – they let the horses run."
Register knows this firsthand. "Being at a small high school made participation in multiple activities possible. I went to a big junior high school (in another district) and had to choose just one sport. At New Waverly, I played soccer and football, ran track, was in Beta Club, and participated in UIL academic events."
## All in
Beta Club and Academic UIL, while present in many schools, hold particular importance for New Waverly. As a small school, it can't have the [specialized high-level classes](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/) that bigger schools can. Beta Club and UIL fill that gap.
Just like it sounds, Academic UIL is an extracurricular competition about academic subjects. As Edney puts it, it "takes the core teaching and extends it, going deeper and deeper into what goes on in the classroom. Those kids who went on to higher arenas, they all participated in UIL."
An army of teachers serve as academic coaches in the subjects covered by UIL – from journalism, theater, and literary criticism to accounting, spelling, and social studies to number sense, robotics, and computer science. If you want to know more about a subject, there's a place for you in Academic UIL.
Heading up the effort is math teacher Ricky Cole, whose determination to help kids succeed is unsurpassed. The people we spoke to mentioned several teachers that help kids go the extra mile, and Cole was mentioned by almost everyone. As Edney put it, "He is super involved in academics, UIL, and the Beta Club, and he owns his math class." This year, four teams involving a total of 12 students qualified for the state competition, which happens later this month.
Beta Club is a little different. Dedicated to "leading by serving others," its focus is service and leadership development, with a serving of academics on the side. But there's an army of people supporting it too.
Each summer the Beta Club holds its state convention up near Ft. Worth, and attending isn't cheap. So the New Waverly chapter holds a spaghetti supper and auction each fall to raise money. Last October, they got 139 donations and sold about 300 tickets – in a town with [not even 1,000 people](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US4851396-new-waverly-tx/).
Cole says, "We have... an excellent auctioneer, Gene Bartee, who knows many in the audience by name. He'll interrupt to say, Mrs. So-and-so, don't you need this for your garden? He keeps the bidding going and keeps it fun for everyone." Silent auction items come from all around: New Waverly, of course, but also Huntsville, Conroe, Groveton, Richards, Coldspring – you name it.
That community support extends beyond Beta Club. Last summer Register participated in [Boys State](https://www.texasboysstate.com/), sponsored by our [local American Legion](https://www.samhoustonpost95.org/). This summer five NWHS students are participating – all expenses paid. It takes a village, and in New Waverly that village shows up in force.
So the next time you stop at [Honey's](https://www.honeyscoffeeandbiscuits.com/) before work, make sure that coffee is made with 100% City of New Waverly tap water. You won't go viral drinking it, either, but it'll be a *whole* lot better for you than that ham sandwich.
---
Like what you read? Smash that subscribe button at top right (desktop, tablet) or in the drop-down menu (phone) and receive occasional updates when we publish new stuff, or follow our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/) page or [Twitter](https://x.com/TheHuntsvillan) feed. A second article on local kids going to college will appear in about one month.
Primary reporting for this article was done by Marsie Grant, the geometry teacher at New Waverly High School. Grant adhered to the school's requirements for identifying and interviewing its current and former students. Otherwise, the school and district had no editorial input into the composition of this article.
### Residents getting nostalgic for $3.99 gas at Smiley's
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/residents-getting-nostalgic-for-3-99-gas-at-smileys/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:21:12.000Z
Ah, the good old days. When apples were only a nickel, movies were a couple of bucks and a gallon of gas was $3.99 at Smiley's on 11th St.
"I miss driving down 11th St. after work and seeing that sign," said Westridge resident Floop McGithers. "No way I was gonna pay that kind of money but somehow it was comforting, like an old friend you can't stand but still hang out with sometimes."
"It's sickening," said Avenues resident Merg Yabdabdoob, referring to the citywide increase in gas prices since the U.S. invaded Iran two months ago.
"It violates our God-given constitutional right to cheap gas. It's gotten so bad that I'm actually thinking of walking places." Crosswalk painters were [working overtime](https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/) to get ahead of the expected influx of pedestrian traffic.
Gas prices have shot up nationwide since the U.S. invaded Iran two months ago.
It's gotten to the point local residents are profiting off the change. The farmer's market on Saturdays now has t-shirts that say "I could use a doddering old man at the podium and $3.99 gas at Smiley's right now."
"Can't keep 'em in stock," said vendor Grnith Manawallow. "Selling faster than my squash."
But in other ways it hurts the local economy.
"That gas station used to be a tourist attraction," a city official told us. "Come to Huntsville, see the Hat House and Boot House, go get $3.99 gas at Smiley's, write an angry review on Google. It was like an emotional purgative."
The official shed a small tear. "Now that's gone and the tourists aren't coming anymore. That's one less pothole that's going to get fixed," bringing the city's annual total of potholes fixed to -1.
## Legendary on the internet
But those Google reviews are forever. They are exactly what you'd expect – with one exception.
That exception is [Liam Amiri,](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/103389736613630431493/reviews/) the self-proclaimed "leader of NO TIP ON TAKEOUT AND COFFEE SHOP ORDERS movement." You go, Liam. First they made us tip on lunch and dinner, and no one said anything. Then it was coffee, and still no one said anything. Now it's takeout too and WHAT WILL IT BE NEXT??
Amiri has traveled the continent writing ridiculously positive reviews of every establishment he encounters. Leave it to him to find the silver lining to Smiley's overpriced gasoline cloud. In the bathroom department, it is Huntsville's answer to Bu-cee's:
Amiri's review came complete with pictures.
In fact, the smell-free restrooms were praised by a number of reviewers, necessitating an on-site investigation by *The Huntsvillan.* Our reporter was equally rapturous: "Fruit-forward, with notes of cinnamon and Maraschino cherry and just a hint of nutmeg." Liam, we were wrong to ever doubt you.
## The secret that explains everything
Why is the gas so pricey at Smiley's? The economics don't work.
Typically, gas stations mark up each gallon of gas about 30¢ [above wholesale cost](https://www.convenience.org/Research/Convenience-Store-Fast-Facts-and-Stats/FactSheets/FuelSales). Smiley's markup is closer to $1.50, or five times as high. This means they can make a decent profit with 1/5 the customers a typical gas station has: one car at the pumps, instead of five.
Observation indicates Smiley's falls short of that number – generally, there are no customers in sight. Nor, does it seem, are they making it up inside the store. Upon recent inspection, about one-third of the canned goods for sale (soup, tuna fish, etc.) were expired and another third close to expiration. That stuff is not flying off the shelves.
A former employee reveals the secret that explains everything.
"The pumps don't actually work," said the employee. "Instead, there's just a guy down there with a plastic tube blowing the gas up out of the tanks into your car," he said. "It's exhausting. He can't fill more than a dozen tanks a day. That's why the price is so high."
Fix your pumps, Smiley's. The local economy depends on you getting gas back to $3.99 per gallon.
### Walker County's Congressional primary candidates lit $10 million on fire
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-countys-congressional-primary-candidates-lit-10-million-on-fire/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:21:40.000Z
Does money vote? Of course not. It doesn't have proper ID. George Washington and Abe Lincoln can't even drive – how would they have licenses? Diana McRae and her team of election workers would turn them away from the polls *so fast*.
Does money talk? Absolutely. It is fluent in every language. And there has been a [whole](https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/search/cf/SimpleSearch.php) lot of [talkin'](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/?cycle=2026&state=TX) going [on](https://www.co.walker.tx.us/department/division.php?structureid=328) in recent Walker County elections. What does all that money have to say? Mostly: "I'm on fire."
## Three models of campaign funding
Campaigns cost money. Signs, ads, and campaign events cost thousands of dollars for local contests and a lot more for Congressional campaigns.
Where does this money come from? There are three basic funding models, each represented in the recent Republican primaries for Walker County Commissioners Court.
*Model 1: Friends and family.* You figure this is how Andy Taylor won his election for sheriff back in Mayberry. Family and friends each pitch in a few pennies and it all adds up to a pretty good sum.
Three candidates for Commissioner – Kirk Grisham and Mitchell Ray in Precinct 2 and Brandon Decker in Precinct 4 – used this model, with local donations of (generally) a few hundred dollars each.
*Model 2: Self-investment.* The quickest way to amass a war chest is with your own money. If you don't invest in yourself, why should anyone else invest in you?
This model was used by Precinct 2 candidate Troy Walker, who spent more money than his two primary opponents combined – $24,000, every penny of it his own.
*Model 3: The check is in the mail*. There's money in Walker County, but there's a lot more outside of it. Why not harvest some of that?
This model was used by Decker's Precinct 4 opponent Dave Alexander. His donations mostly came from counties miles away.
While the Precinct 4 race is settled, with Decker defeating Alexander, the Precinct 2 race is not. Walker and Ray meet in a May runoff, with more spending in store for each. When the dust settles, total spending for Precinct 2 will likely exceed $50,000\. Precinct 4 cost only one-tenth as much.
## They raised sick money for that hospital bond
The two hospital bond elections last year, in the spring and fall, also weren't cheap. They cost the hospital district [almost $200,000](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Document%5F02052026120754%5F0001.pdf) in election administration costs, while political action committees spent almost $70,000 to persuade voters.
Oddly, the pro-bond forces were different in the two elections. Spring's political action committee was run through [TORCH](https://www.torchnet.org/), an advocacy group whose [former president](https://www.facebook.com/texashospitals/posts/-%F0%9D%97%9C%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%97%B2-%F0%9D%97%A6%F0%9D%97%BD%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%B9%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%B4%F0%9D%97%B5%F0%9D%98%81-on-nov-3-the-texas-health-and-human-services-commission-submitt/1366752218829841/), Terry Scoggin, recently became Huntsville Memorial Hospital's CEO. It spent [over $52,000](https://www.transparencyusa.org/tx/committee/torch-alliance-for-rural-health-pac-00089336-gpac), while [its successor](https://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=detail&id=9483) raised $12,000 in the fall.
These campaigns also used the In the Mail model. While most *contributors* were local, a little more than half of the *money* came from out of town, often from businesses or people involved in health care. $3000 from Victoria, another $3000 from Spring. $8,000 from Conroe, $5,000 from Houston, another $5,000 from Corpus Christi. And so on. Sometimes you can guess why a particular out-of-towner would care about Huntsville's hospital, sometimes you can't.
In contrast, the anti-bond PAC, [Walker County Liberty PAC](https://www.transparencyusa.org/tx/committee/walker-county-liberty-pac-00090137-mpac/), raised $4,510 using the Friends and Family model. Every contribution was local, all but one under $500.
## Buying votes would be cheaper: the Congressional primaries
As every *Huntsvillan* reader knows, [twenty-seven people](https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-county-has-twenty-seven-congressional-candidates/) filed to represent Walker County in Congress next year, some in one district ([District 8](https://ballotpedia.org/Texas%27%5F8th%5FCongressional%5FDistrict)), some in another ([District 10](https://ballotpedia.org/Texas'%5F10th%5FCongressional%5FDistrict)). That made for four primaries: two political parties in two districts each.
Each primary was small, averaging 50,000 votes across the entire district, and uncompetitive, with the winner doubling or tripling the runner-up's vote. So you wouldn't think the candidates would spend a lot of money.
You would, of course, be wrong. Over $10,000,000 was spent in total: fifty dollars per voter. It would have been less expensive to just buy votes instead.
Three candidates spent 90% of that money: Republicans Brett Jensen and Jessica Steinmann in District 8 and Chris Gober in District 10\. Nearly half of that spending, $4 million, came from the candidates themselves – the Self-Investment model on steroids.
Another $3 million came from political action committees (PACs) based out of state – the In the Mail model, also on steroids. The remainder came from Friends and Family, so to speak. All three funding models were needed to get war chests this big.
The table includes candidates that dropped out but spent money. PAC spending includes “independent expenditures” but not PAC gifts to campaigns, which are included in total spending. Spending omits repayment of money candidates loaned to their own campaign. Spending totals are across the entire district, not just Walker County.
The two biggest political action committees involved industries that are, um, not native to our area: crypto and AI. Gober, a former lawyer for Elon Musk, benefited from almost $750,000 in spending from a tech-connected PAC called American Mission, which "[seeks to limit state-level restrictions on AI and data centers](https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/ai-firms-pour-money-texas-congressional-22196493.php)."
Steinmann, for her part, benefited from over $750,000 in spending from a PAC, Defend American Jobs, that "[is supported by the cryptocurrency industry](https://www.thetexasvoice.com/superpacs-spending-big-in-home-stretch-of-congressional-primaries/)" – and another half million from American Mission.
Then there is Brett Jensen, who used almost $3 million of his own money to produce ads like this one:
It's clear what Jensen's ad is missing: iambic pentameter, just like your English teacher taught you. If it's good enough for Shakespeare, it's good enough for YouTube. Get with the program, Jensen, and maybe next time you'll receive more than 13% of the vote.
Steinmann and Gober won their primaries and will face off against Democrats Laura Jones and Caitlyn Rourk in the fall.
## Those ads were incendiary
Sometimes the logic in a candidate's spending is clear. For example, Huntsvillan Ben Bius loaned his District 10 Congressional campaign over $400,000, but only spent a fraction of that. If he made the runoff, he was ready to open up the throttle. He almost succeeded: Gober received 51% of the vote.
Even with Jensen one could see a certain logic: the guy really loves capitalism, and is willing to prove it by lighting $3 million of his own money on fire.
But for Gober and Steinmann, the logic is far more elusive. The primary election is small, you're trouncing your opponent, the general election is ahead. Why waste all that money?
To put this question in context, the last Conroe ISD school board election had about [twice as many voters](https://5il.co/31ekw) as Gober's and Steinmann's contests – and was closer too. Imagine spending three million dollars *there*.
It's not like you couldn't tell how things stood. Polling isn't *that* costly, and prediction markets considered both contests a [done](https://kalshi.com/markets/kxtxprimary/texas-primary-winners/kxtxprimary-08r26) [deal](https://kalshi.com/markets/kxtxprimary/texas-primary-winners/kxtxprimary-10r26), especially in their final weeks. Even if you under-performed those expectations, you could make up for it by spending in the runoff. There is every reason to hold back some of that money, and it's unclear why they didn't.
*The Huntsvillan* would have asked the campaigns about this directly, but neither [Gober's](https://chrisgober.com/) nor [Steinmann's](https://www.jessicasteinmann.com/) websites offered a way for media to contact them. One can only presume getting a Gmail account was beyond their modest resources.
---
Spending information comes from campaign finance reports from the Walker County Clerk, the Texas Ethics Commission, and the Federal Election Commission, with links at the top of the article. Reports for the County Commission contests omit the last week's worth of spending before the primary was held, which will be reported at a later date.
### Renaissance at Huntsville State Park
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/renaissance-at-huntsville-state-park/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:22:05.000Z
Every child knows that backyards are the best. You can play for hours and get as dirty as you want and still not get in trouble.
What's it like to have a big backyard? A *really* big backyard? Huntsvillans know. Our collective backyard is bigger than anyone's: Huntsville State Park.
The park is poised for a renaissance, springing back from recent challenges and adding new features. Still, it has a ways to go to return to its glory days of 2013-2016, when it was one of the most visited parks in the state.
## Our own forest oasis
Huntsville State Park's centerpiece is its lake, ideal for swimming, boating, and fishing. In this respect it is similar to other East Texas parks like Lake Livingston State Park, Martin Dies, Jr., State Park (near Jasper), and Tyler State Park.
But it stands above those other parks because of what surrounds that lake: a forest full of trails. The extent of Huntsville State Park's trails tops any of those other parks. Adding in those in the adjoining [national forest](https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/texas/recreation/sam-houston-national-forest) makes for an unbelievable wealth of hiking and mountain biking opportunities. Some Elkins Lake residents could dip into the woods behind their house and arrive at the park's Nature Center a few hours later.
Clockwise from top left: new growth after fire, along the Prairie Branch Trail, an unexpected splash of brown, the Chinquapin Trail.
The other standout at Huntsville State Park is the camping. It is loaded with sites on the water, and even those off the water have a view of the lake. The sites are spacious, the tent sites grassy and flat. And while park entry isn't cheap – $7 per person, unless you have a pass – the camping is. Sites top out at $25 per night.
One particularly grand spot is tenting site 69, right along the water. It is big enough to hold Joel Osteen's house and has a 270o view of the lake, where you can watch kids splash in the swimming area across the water, with paddleboats and kayaks going by.
Occasional shorebirds wade in the reeds near the water's edge and squirrels comb the ground for nuts. At night you sometimes hear alligators slap their tails on the lake's surface far away; morning is a riot of birdsong. All this sets you back $15 per night – they don't even charge tax – and park pass holders sometimes get a discount on *that*.
The park has two kinds of fishermen: reptilian and mammalian.
To cap things off, the park is celebrating its 70th anniversary on May 16, with a variety of interpretive events that are still under development. "We just want people to come out and enjoy the park just like they have been doing for the last seventy years," says Park Superintendent Thomas Milone. Details will be posted on Huntsville State Park's [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleSP) before the end of this month.
## They've been flooded with work
Keeping up a state park is a lot of work. Even routine sun, wind, and rain wears things out. Things grow where they shouldn't and don't grow where they should.
Rotting wood, growth on the lake, and downed trees are some of the issues park staff must deal with.
Huntsville's May 2024 floods were especially taxing. All that rainwater raised the lake by several feet and tore up trees, trails, and roads on the way down. The lodge was flooded with 3-4 feet of water, necessitating new flooring, electrical wiring, and air conditioning. The boat house was similarly flooded.
Assistant Superintendent Holly Christie says, "I remember one day we had twelve trees down on one mile of Park Road 40 \[which leads into the park\]. We spent the entire day just getting the road open."
Water reached the bottom of those windows on the lodge.
Many [volunteer groups](https://www.kbtx.com/2024/09/04/progress-made-huntsville-state-park-clean-up-following-storm-damage/) worked to restore the park after the floods and one group, the Huntsville Trail Team, has been regularly helping maintain the trails. Until recently, another group, the [Friends of Huntsville State Park](https://www.facebook.com/p/Friends-of-Huntsville-State-Park-100064746517253/), provided financial support, but it is no longer active. "It just kind of slowly faded away," said Milone.
While some things were repaired quickly, others take more time. The park is now on the cusp of re-opening some old features and introducing new ones – a renaissance of sorts.
Milone talks about the park with the excitement of someone who had *lots* of backyard time as a kid. He is particularly animated about the CCC trail, named after the Civilian Conservation Corps, which helped build the park. Flooding during Hurricane Harvey closed its eastern section near the park entrance, and the rains of May 2024 didn't help matters.
But the park now has funding to make the necessary fixes and "our hope is that within the year, we'll have that trail back open," says Milone. That would make the whole trail system open for the first time in nearly ten years.
At the same time, a carpentry class from Sam Houston State University is redoing the seating in the little amphitheater behind the nature center. That should be finished soon – grades are due in mid-May.
Something new is in the works too. "We are in the process of building an archery station in the park," says Milone. He also hoped that will be complete later this year.
## 180o turn coming up ahead
A bigger task for Milone will be reversing a long-term decline in attendance at the park. Compared to its heyday ten years ago, [visitor attendance](https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/most-visited-texas-state-parks-2025/) is down 40% – as much as Bastrop State Park lost after its [devastating 2011 fire](https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2012/aug/scout1%5Fbastrop/). Ten years ago, Huntsville was one of the system's ten most-visited parks. Last year, it was 20th.
It is unclear why this decline has occurred. "I don't have an answer for that one," said Milone. Other nearby parks have not experienced anything comparable, and overall system attendance is up.
It was similarly puzzling to the park's most frequent visitor, Huntsvillan Ken Johnson, who has run in the park almost every day for the better part of forty years. "That's surprising," he said, when told about the decline. "As far as what is available, nothing's really changed over the years."
With the Houston area growing and no new parks nearby – in fact, one 90 mi. north [closed](https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20230214b) three years ago – there is no obvious cause. Before trying to reverse this trend, Milone may first have to determine why it has occurred. The renaissance of Huntsville State Park is an ongoing process.
---
Huntsville State Park is open every day from 6 am to 10 pm. Even when there isn't someone at the entrance booth, you can self-pay your entrance fee and come on in. Entry is free for children twelve and under and $7 per person otherwise, or buy a [pass to all Texas State Parks](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/passes/park-passes/#texas-state-parks-pass) for $70 and everyone in your car gets in free all year.
The park is super busy on major holiday weekends like Easter, fairly busy most weekends, and not too busy during the week. The nature center and swimming area can get pretty active but if you like hiking there is lots of peace and quiet.
The park has short and long trails, none of which are strenuous, and boats available for rent. There is a small nature center and occasional interpretive programs. If you want to camp, make reservations [here](https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com/huntsville-state-park/r/facilityDetails.do?contractCode=TX&parkId=1200076&pk%5Fvid=b72d63891ec9313e1775949043cf9637) first. Book a few months ahead for fall and spring weekends. [This short video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLhwU30Yaug) provides a nice overview of the park, and [their website](https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/huntsville) has more information.
This article was composed by Darren Grant, an avid camper who is no stranger to Huntsville State Park and many other Texas parks. His recent TED talk on the developmental benefits of bicycling can be seen [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI).
### The Huntsvillan introduces sections
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-huntsvillan-introduces-sections/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:22:33.000Z
Steph Mamber, [President, CEO, COO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntsvillan, Inc.](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/), has proudly announced the introduction of sections to *The Huntsvillan*.
"It's about doggone time," she said.
The four sections, titled Say What?, Public Accountability, the Department of Human Endeavor, and the Humor Pen, correspond to the four types of journalism produced by *The Huntsvillan*. Each is readily accessible via a ribbon (desktop computer, tablet) or drop-down menu (cellphone) at the top of the main page.
[Say What?](https://www.huntsvillan.com/saywhat/) looks at everyday life in Huntsville. It has examined [local pay](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/), [SHSU football](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-clutching-titles-to-grasping-for-wins-the-story-of-shsu-footballs-toughest-season/), and recent [changes at the *Huntsville Item*](https://www.huntsvillan.com/item-going-through-things-for-real/), among other things.
[Public Accountability](https://www.huntsvillan.com/publicacc/) looks at the effectiveness of local government: the city and county, the schools, the hospital district – everything from [sidewalks](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) to last year's [proposed hospital bond](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/).
[The Department of Human Endeavor](https://www.huntsvillan.com/human/) examines creative, expressive, and innovative activity of every type – from [art](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) to [music](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/) to [film](https://www.huntsvillan.com/small-town-big-screen/). It is the province of *The Huntsvillan*'s Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer.
The last section, the [Humor Pen](https://www.huntsvillan.com/humor/), looks at the light side of life in Huntsville and Walker County. It has poked fun at everything from [our competition](https://www.huntsvillan.com/item-going-through-things-for-real/) to, well, [*The Huntsvillan* itself](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/).
Current production rates are one article weekly, more or less rotating across these four sections. Thus, each section adds a new article roughly once per month.
"Drives me crazy," said Mamber. "Our [shareholders](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/) expect better. But here we are."
Sections will be kept current, with new articles added as they are published. As always, every *Huntsvillan* article is free to read after a seven second video.
---
Want periodic updates as *The Huntsvillan* publishes new stuff? Smash that pink button at top right (desktop, tablet) or at the bottom of the drop-down menu (cellphone) and subscribe for free.
### City says "Screw it," changes name to Huntsvegas
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/city-says-screw-it-changes-name-to-huntsvegas/
Last updated: 2026-04-01T13:17:02.000Z
It was a city council meeting like any other – zoning this, zoning that, etc., etc., etc.
Finally, an unidentified city councilmember grabbed their microphone. “I'm so tired of it! Zoning this! Zoning that! Who cares?”
“For real,” said another. “Sooo tired,” said a third.
The councilmember continued. “Can't we ever do something fun? I wanna do something fun! I want another Chick-Fil-A!(TM)”
The chants began. “Chick-Fil-A!(TM) Chick-Fil-A!(TM) Chick-Fil-A!(TM)”
The city attorney interrupted to bring everyone to their senses. “There's already one by the interstate,” he said. “They aren't going to build another.”
That quieted things for a moment. But just a moment. The frustration had been building for a while.
“Screw it,” said the councilmember. “Let's go hard. Let's change our name to Huntsvegas.”
There was a moment of shock, then a pregnant pause for thought. Then the questions began.
“Would that be good for small business?” asked one councilmember.
“How about small business?” said another. “How would it affect them?”
“I'd want to know the effect on small business,” said a third.
The city's economic development coordinator was called to testify. “You know more people would stop in town, which would help the local economy,” they said.
“Preach!” said mayor Russell Humphrey.
“The world's moving that way,” said the coordinator. “These days you can [place a bet](https://kalshi.com/) on [almost anything](https://polymarket.com/). Why not go with the trend?”
“Mmmmmmm--hmmm,” said Humphrey.
“And we could finally get a [better slogan for tourists](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/). How's this: Huntsvegas? You BET your life!!!”
“Say it louder!” said Humphrey.
Finally the mayor could stand it no longer. He stood up and ripped open his shirt at the chest. “Let's GOOOOOOO,” he said.
Mayor Russell Humphrey out of control at the last city council meeting.
And that settled it. A motion was made, there was a second, there was no further discussion, the vote was unanimous. Beginning May 1, Huntsville will officially be known as Huntsvegas. The post office is already preparing, delivering change of address forms to each household, and new signage will appear around the city soon.
“You see?” see the mayor. “Exciting things are happening in this town.”
In related news, *The Huntsvillan* has decided to change its name to *The Huntsvegan*. Mr. Hamburger, Bennie J's Smokepit, and the Texas Beef Council all immediately filed suit to prevent the change.
### Small town, big screen
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/small-town-big-screen/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:23:12.000Z
Huntsville is well-known for its prison system. But in some circles, the town is growing in popularity as a standout independent film festival.
The [Prison City Film Festival](https://prisoncityfilmfestival.com/wp/) (PCFF) was created by Huntsvillan Paul Shiver to showcase independent films and filmmakers. The first festival took place in 2018\.
With that catchy name, things started to take off. The first year saw 84 submissions from all over the world, 64 of which were screened. According to Shiver, 8 out of 10 filmmakers said they entered because of the name. Last month, PCFF celebrated its ninth year at [Old Town Theatre](https://www.oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org/), with 64 awards presented to 78 short and feature films, documentaries, trailers, and music videos.
The films in the PCFF are organized into three hour "blocks." Each of the festival's four days has 2-4 blocks, lighting up the big screen for hours, with special events – mixers, receptions, workshops – occurring most evenings. Attendees can purchase a ticket for a single block, a full day, or the whole festival. The cost of a block is what you'd pay for a single movie down in The Woodlands.
## Getting noticed, or trying to
Why do film creators submit to independent film festivals?
The big dream is to have your film seen by someone who can pick it up and distribute it nationwide. But that is very rare. According to Huntsvillan Carlo Rodriguez, a photographer and content creator for independent film festivals, getting your movie screened at a film fest shows your donors and producers that it actually got made – something that doesn’t always happen.
It's also a way to gather and network with other filmmakers. Rodriguez says, “there is sort of a film festival desert in parts of the country, and between Dallas and Houston certainly was one of them.” The Prison City Film Festival has filled this gap. While not a swank ballroom black tie affair, it has its own charm, with the historic downtown cobblestone sidewalks and quaint Old Town Theatre.
This year's winner for Best Feature Film was "Fortuitous," by Crystal Bass.
Director of the [winning music video](https://youtu.be/LKi-m0UjFjg?si=sdijUugNSR5Pr82Y) for 2026, J.B. Lawrence of Mobile, Alabama, has been entering and attending film fests for the last seven years. He says that PCFF’s “selection of films was masterfully curated” and that he appreciated the “general care... for multiple opportunities to really get to know your fellow filmmakers and \[those\] who ran the festival.”
According to Rodriquez, those who attend PCFF “feel seen… \[they\] feel welcomed, and they’re going to want to come back. And that means more tourism dollars for Huntsville.” Lawrence, who has a practice of not repeating more than one festival from the previous year, said PCFF will be the one fest that he reapplies to.
## It takes a village
Putting on something this big is a huge undertaking. The organizing team consists of [eight people](https://filmfreeway.com/PrisonCityFilmFestival), including Shiver, handling everything from media to security.
In addition, many local businesses were sponsors for the event. Double Dave's supplied pizzas for one of the screening nights, Best Western and Home2 Suites gave hotel discounts for out-of-towners, and The Farmhouse gave discounts to attendees.
Still others helped put on the festival itself. The final film block, a pair of documentaries, was held at the Barefoot Ballroom inside Smither Real Estate. And the [Be Free Gallery](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/), across the street from the Old Town Theatre, served as a lounge where filmmakers and attendees could network, and hosted celebratory events each night.
This year's winner for Best Documentary was "Shuffle," by Benjamin Flaherty, about treatment for addiction.
## Don't miss out next year
Even with all that work, success is not guaranteed. Rodriguez says most film festivals don’t last more than three to five years. “They fold because they didn’t innovate enough, they didn’t adapt enough, or they were just cash grabs.”
He admits that “there are scammers in this business like any other.” This year's festival even [had a comedy](https://youtu.be/fnyne-rM%5Fzw?si=NiuMxE2s2CZ6-Hhd) that poked fun at the experience of making a film, entering it into a film fest, and showing up to a poorly planned and attended affair not worth the entry and travel costs.
The word of mouth for the Prison City Film Festival must be good, since they just completed their ninth year and are already getting submissions for year ten.
The winner of Best International Narrative Short was "The Pearl Comb," involving a misbehaving mermaid.
While the PCFF is growing in popularity with independent film makers, local attendance leaves something to be desired. In many screenings, the audience consists mostly of other filmmakers.
Shiver says, “the average person simply doesn’t know what a film festival is, or how much fun can be had. I think it’s just a matter of continuing to educate the public, which we have been making concerted efforts to do over the past several years. Once people know about it and come for the first time, they always seem to return.”
A film fest is different from a visit to a movie theater. You can view a much greater quantity and diversity of projects in one day or even one block. But what really makes it stand out is that these films' creators are in the room with you. That allows for a question and answer period at the end of the block where you can ask about the idea for the film, the casting, even technical things like cinematography. It makes the viewing experience somehow more real.
So mark your calendar to attend next year's Prison City Film Festival. The dedication that has gotten the PCFF this far will not disappoint for the milestone of year ten.
---
Next year's Prison City Film Festival will be held Feb. 24-27, 2027\. This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, *The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### Item going through things, for real
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/item-going-through-things-for-real/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:23:39.000Z
When they say "stop the presses," they don't mean for good. But someone at the *Huntsville Item* didn't get the memo. The presses that have printed it and newspapers from throughout the region for decades have shut down permanently.
And that's not all. Editor Brenda Poe and another office employee also left the paper recently, part of a reshuffling that saw general manager Traci Gallin [promoted](https://www.cnhi.com/company-news-traci-gallin-appointed-publisher-of-the-huntsville-texas-item/) to publisher. It is a response to problems that have been building at the paper for years – and it's not clear whether it will work.
## Less is not more
Over the last two decades, newspapers have been *through it.* Nationally, circulation has fallen by [more than half](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/newspapers/).
But the *Item*'s troubles go well beyond that. In late 2005, the paper [reported](https://web.archive.org/web/20090528084523/http://www.itemonline.com/aboutus/local%5Fstory%5F337101311.html) that it had 45 full-time employees and a circulation of 7,000\. Twenty years later, its head count and circulation are each down 90%. It is a shell of what it was.
Staffing issues are one reason for this decline. Since 2021, the editor position has turned over three times and the sports editor position once; reporters have been a revolving door. The vacancies left by departures often go unfilled for months. To fill this gap, the paper has relied on press releases, wire service reports, and syndicated columns – not the news subscribers are looking for.
The Huntsvillan's "Righhttt????" ad campaign riffed on the Item's lack of hard news.
This news isn't just a dollar short – it's a day late. Several, actually. Most subscribers still receive the paper in print. These copies, now printed out of town, are mailed to subscribers. By the time they arrive, the news they contain is old.
While that system is unlikely to change, a new editor begins next week, and the paper is currently seeking a lead reporter. That might put staffing issues to bed for the moment.
## Newspapers are a business, right? Righhttt????
Gallin wants to "make the paper better," but will have her work cut out for her. Her biggest foe: her own employer. The company that owns the *Item* and 76 other papers, [CNHI](https://www.cnhi.com/), likes to pay low and sell high.
The listed salary range for the *Item*'s recently-filled editor position was below market, and it is currently advertising for a lead reporter at $12-15 per hour – less than you can make bagging groceries down the street. No wonder there has been so much turnover.
Meanwhile, the cost of subscribing is *up there*. CNHI owns five papers in East Texas. In print, subscriptions generally run $200-$300 per year, even though each paper comes out only once or twice a week. At $273, the *Item* is the most expensive of the bunch.
All information taken from each paper's web site, for a new subscription, using the cheaper option if two are available. Editorial staff includes editors and reporters but not publishers.
This aggressive pricing contrasts with other papers in our area, which cost about $50 annually – one fifth as much. That's so cheap everyone subscribes, so you can get a lot of advertising to make up the difference in revenue. It's a win-win-win – for the paper, the readers, and the businesses advertising in it.
In contrast, advertising in the *Item* – also not cheap – is thin.
## Follow the money
If CNHI charges a lot for subscriptions but pays its employees poorly, then where does the money go?
One answer is corporate overhead. CNHI has not one "leadership team" but four, comprising 25 people total. That's a lot of executives for a company that publishes maybe 200 papers per week. And *they* aren't making $12-15 per hour.
In 2018, the company [moved](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/pennsylvania/articles/2018-01-26/chni-publishing-company-forms-regional-editor-system) to a "regional editor" system that facilitated "collaboration on projects across newspapers." But the promised collaboration has been minimal, and the extra layer of management hasn't made CNHI more responsive to local needs.
How can a company with [three levels of vice presidents](https://www.cnhi.com/about/) let the *Item*'s scarcity of hard news persist for years? What do you people do all day? It makes *The Huntsvillan*'s famous [aversion to corporate overhead](https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/) seem sensible.
## Necessity, the mother of invention
Declining circulation at the *Item* has inspired a profusion of local media upstarts, each with its own focus and style.
The oldest and largest in readership is [New Waverly Community News and Events](https://newwaverlycommunitynewsandevents.wordpress.com/), which combines frequent Facebook updates with longer stories on their website. They embrace hard news, as does [*The Huntsvillan*](https://www.huntsvillan.com/), currently publishing weekly, deeply-reported articles. Complementing these two is [Hello Huntsville](https://hellohuntsvilletx.com/), whose upbeat, business-oriented news can be found on video and the web.
None of these three sites are run by old-school journalists. But innovation extends even to more traditional outlets. Sam Houston State University's student newspaper, [*The Houstonian*](https://thehoustoniannews.com/)*,* has been moving away from print toward a larger online presence, including [weekly radio shows](https://thehoustoniannews.com/87905/multimedia/podcast-the-houstonian-news-hour/).
The biggest innovator of all might be the *Item* itself. Make no mistake: bringing in an experienced editor, looking to hire a second reporter, and dedicating a publisher to a single paper are distinct departures from business-as-usual for CNHI in Texas. If this is Gallin's doing, she's off to a good start.
Did last year's joke about the *Item* [making bank](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/) hit home a little too hard? Were the Anakin Skywalker memes too much? Or has this new competition brought out the best in the *Huntsville Item*? Either way, Walker County stands to win.
---
Smash that pink "Subscribe" button at top right and receive occasional e-mail updates from *The Huntsvillan*. We promise: none of the money you are not paying for your free subscription will go toward corporate overhead.
### *Super* cheap apartments for rent near downtown
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/super-cheap-apartments/
Last updated: 2026-03-11T16:11:04.000Z
It's a universal lament: the rent is too darn high. Finally, someone's doing something about it.
That someone is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which is putting these super cheap hi-rise apartments on the market after years of delay and red tape. Perfectly situated for Sam Houston State University students or people who work downtown, these apartments are built to last and loaded with special touches.
## Luxurious living in the heart of the city
Get the prestige of living in new construction when, frankly, some local housing is getting [pretty darn old](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/). Perched on thick steel beams, these things aren't going *anywhere*. And being new means no pesky maintenance problems!
With separate front and rear entrances, you can slip in and out without your roommate even knowing.
And the comfort! With the steady breeze that blows high up in the trees, you won't even need air conditioning. This is a good thing, because you won't have electricity. Entergy took one look and said "nuh-uh." Even more savings!
How do you get up there? people ask. Two words: a rope. Similar to Indian pueblos from centuries ago, you climb on up and haul the rope in after you. Midnight attacks from strangers? We don't think so!
And if that isn't enough – a security officer lives 24/7 in the penthouse apartment across the street. Looking in your direction at all times, this person is concerned with absolutely nothing but your personal safety. You can relax knowing you're living in the safest spot in town.
The apartments have their own security staff and parking.
Finally, each apartment comes with its own dedicated parking space. In heavy rains your car will get washed inside and out. What a deal!
## Location, location, location
And the location? First off, it's *super* quiet. Except for the occasional whistle, you don't hardly hear a thing. "There's been no incidents whatsoever," said a spokesperson for the TDCJ. "Better'n I can say about the place across the street."
But what is there to do in the area, you ask? \*So\* much!
A beautiful creek behind the property provides drinking water or a convenient swimming hole – maybe even somewhere to go skinny-dipping when no one else is looking!
A beautiful creek lines the property. In heavy rains, your car gets washed for free!
It's a thriving area with such interesting neighbors and things to do! Wander down the street to work out at the [gym](https://lifeadvocatefitness.com/), then go two blocks further on for some [opera](https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/arts-media/music/events). Or check out the local landmarks, such as Huntsville's [third most famous crosswalk](https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/).
There's shopping, too. After a hard day's work, pick you up some deer corn for dinner at the farm supply store, or get your clothes mended at the nearby tailor shop. You can even gas your car at the Conoco station just up the street!
After moving in, drop off your U-Haul around the corner, then pop across the street and pick up some deer corn for dinner.
Finally, what about the worry voiced by some potential tenants: being so high, do birds or other flying animals roost in the apartments and get into your stuff?
The TDCJ spokesperson waved off that concern immediately. "We've been watching these apartments the whole time and nothing has ever flown in there," they said. "Shoot, the very notion is b–, I mean, ba—, I mean, uh, it's crazy."
---
Get more early-breaking real estate news from *The Huntsvillan* by smashing that pink "subscribe" button at top right.
### Local school boards meet, hilarity ensues
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:24:21.000Z
Last December's Texas Academic Performance Report [tells you a lot](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/tapr%5Fsrch.html?year=2025&lev=C) about schools' staffing, funding, student performance, graduation rates, etc. It's such a big deal *The Huntsvillan* devoted [an article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/) to it last week.
It's also such a big deal that each school board must hold a "public hearing" on it, at which anyone can speak. These are typically held in February.
Through the magic of YouTube, *The Huntsvillan* "attended" the February meetings of the [Huntsville](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/page/board-of-trustees), [New Waverly](https://www.new-waverly.k12.tx.us/page/board-of-trustees), and [Conroe](https://www.conroeisd.net/page/board-of-trustees) ISDs, the districts of the three high schools compared last week. Just as the Texas Academic Performance Reports tell a story, so does a school board meeting – in a very different way.
This is the tale of those three meetings.
## All the world's a stage
In a way, every school board meeting is the same. You say the pledge and celebrate some kiddos, then the routine things get waved through (the consent agenda), then there's some serious stuff (discussion items, action items), then the trustees go back into closed session for a while and come out looking tired and everyone goes home.
In a way, it's a performance. You can tell how much so at a glance. [Huntsville's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXNJNzneawE) and [Conroe's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFmxjmcxTaI) meetings have great sound and lighting and presentations on everything. [New Waverly's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZAAUbQzY4I) is more relaxed.
Left: The Conroe school board reflects the community, which consists entirely of white women in power suits. Right: The dress code and production values in New Waverly are far more relaxed.
Then there is the length. At an hour and a half, Huntsville's and New Waverly's meetings were perfect. You just nicely finish your popcorn and coke and they start rolling the closing credits.
Not so for Conroe ISD, whose meeting began at 5 pm on a workday and ended at 1 am the next morning. Even subtracting breaks and back-room time, it took over six and a half hours – longer than New Waverly's last six meetings combined.
They have *work to do*. Approving principals. School mascots. Construction updates. Board policy. Special education. Library materials. And so on. These people are on a *mission*.
## Citizen participation
Despite these differences, all three districts treat their required public hearings the same. They hate them. It's like your annual evaluation at work – you don't want to be there, your boss doesn't either, but you have to do it anyway.
Huntsville's hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Report began with a generic presentation on the types of information it contained – and that was it. There was almost nothing specific to the district itself, the trustees said nothing and neither did anyone else. The whole thing finished in fifteen minutes flat.
It was the longest of the three hearings by far.
Conroe's lasted three minutes and New Waverly's zero – they didn't hold one at all. In 2024 and 2025, NWISD held required hearings about the budget but skipped those about the Texas Academic Performance Report. They have until March to do this year's. *The Huntsvillan* is predicting that it will be short.
### Hold on pardner, we ain't done yet
Hearings aren't the only way people can speak out. There is also "Public Comment," where anyone can say whatever they want.
Though required, some governmental bodies don't like it. They discourage comment by making you sign in prior to the meeting and waiting a while for your turn to speak.
This does not happen in New Waverly, which gets down to business quickly. But in Huntsville, it's typically an hour; it was twice that long in Conroe. You'd understand if no one had anything to say.
You would be wrong.
In Conroe, people show *up*. Fully twenty people registered to speak, eighteen of whom waited the full two hours for their turn. Prayer in schools. Special education. More special education. Transparency. Facility rentals. Book banning. Autistic children. Prayer in schools again.
In Conroe ISD, each commenter was applauded when they finished speaking. This young man had a really sweet story about an autistic child making his first basket ever in hoops.
The public comment period alone took 39 minutes – longer than some entire meetings in New Waverly. And it's not just the speakers. As of this writing, New Waverly's meeting had 24 views on YouTube, while Huntsville's had 67\. Conroe's had over *4,000*. This kind of citizen involvement provides real accountability for the district.
## Culture war flirtation
Public hearings weren't the only thing foisted on school boards this winter. Recent legislation, Texas' Senate Bill 11 (SB11), made each school district vote on whether to set aside dedicated prayer time each day. It was an invitation to the culture wars.
Because schools already have so much to do, almost every district in Texas has declined this invitation – as did Conroe, Huntsville, and New Waverly ISDs, unanimously. But they did so in different ways.
New Waverly was culture-war curious, discussing the issue for twenty minutes. Huntsville, never one for the culture wars, declined with dispatch,\[1\] as did Conroe, after trying (unsuccessfully) to hide this item on the agenda under another name.
Conroe was so worried about this because they have already waded into the culture wars. It shows up in their school board elections and in tension between trustees. Twenty minutes of their meeting involved book banning – seven times as much as was spent on the Texas Academic Performance Report.\[2\]
While SB11 had no converts at these meetings, its authors shouldn't get too disappointed. It has increased religiosity – among superintendents. They kneel reverently and plead that their board doesn't open up the Pandora's Box that it entails. Their prayers have almost always been answered. There really is a God!
## What's to show for it all?
In the end, what was accomplished? Nothing special in Huntsville ISD, just routine business that had to be conducted publicly. In New Waverly, it was much the same.
Conroe ISD had more to show for their efforts. They spent 90 minutes on the math curriculum and another hour creating a special education parent advisory council – a big deal in Conroe, where one-third (!!!) of their students have accommodations.
Bigger isn't always better. New Waverly ISD [performs](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/) as well as anyone for non-college-bound children. But Conroe ISD shows that, in a big district, progress is messy. Meetings are longer and more acrimonious, with the public keeping tabs on everything that happens. It's a lesson that Huntsville, growing by leaps and bounds, may want to take to heart.
---
\[1\] Huntsville ISD addressed SB11 in their January meeting.
\[2\] According to public comment, one book's plot was "a family thinks their house is haunted, things float, the family moves out, the end." Banning it failed, 5-2.
### Local schools get grades of their own
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-schools-get-grades-of-their-own/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:24:43.000Z
In our public schools, it's not just student performance that gets measured. The performance of schools and districts gets measured too, by the state. It stores everything on computer and can quickly pull up lots of detail – test scores, staffing, funding, even what the students do after graduating.
Schools' biggest report card is called the Texas Academic Performance Report, or [TAPR](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/tapr%5Fsrch.html?year=2025&lev=C). It contains all of this information. It's like oversharing, done by a government agency instead of your friend.
The most recent TAPR was released in December, after which the school districts hold a public hearing at which anyone can speak. *The Huntsvillan* went through all of this stuff so you don't have to – reviewing the TAPR and then, through the magic of YouTube, attending the public hearings.
What did we learn? Much more than we expected to. This article focuses on the TAPR, and the [next](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/) on those hearings.
## Like a TikTok video, only twenty pages long and full of numbers
Each school's TAPR is over twenty pages long. There's numbers everywhere. But they do tell a story, in their own dry way. These stories are different, depending on the school.
That really comes through in examining Walker County's two public high schools – Huntsville High and New Waverly High – along with one to our south, College Park High in The Woodlands. You couldn't find three schools that are more different.
Passing rate is "Approaches Grade Level or Above" for English I and II (averaged), Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History. Making progress is "School Progress -- Annual Growth" for English I and II (averaged) and Algebra I.
First up is performance on the "STAAR" end of course exams all public high schoolers must take. Huntsville High is well below the state average in terms of passing and making progress, while New Waverly and College Park are a little above average in both.
This holds true across the board and is not limited to specific subjects. Whatever New Waverly and College Park are doing right – and Huntsville is doing wrong – has to do with the school, not particular teachers.
That's while you're in school. What happens afterwards? Do the students graduate? Are they ready for the next chapter in their lives? The TAPR is all over this.
Graduation is "4-Year Longitudinal Rate," and everything else is similarly titled in the TAPR.
In terms of graduation, the difference between Huntsville High and the other two schools is even more striking. The former is well below the state average and the others well above it. Whatever breakdown there is at Huntsville High affects graduation too.
And the next chapter in their lives? This is measured by college, career, or military readiness. Again Huntsville lags behind the state average, while New Waverly and College Park are a little bit above it.
This pattern ends once you look at college readiness. In Huntsville and New Waverly, it is strikingly low. Only about one-third of graduates are college-ready, well below College Park and the state average.
One way to get ready for college is to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. Pass the AP test afterwards and you get college credit. Only College Park really leans into this.
A picture begins to emerge. College Park, full of professional parents with big aspirations for their children, really emphasizes college preparation. But if your child doesn't want to go to college, it's nothing special. They would do just as well at New Waverly.
New Waverly High is too small to focus on college like College Park can. College Park has almost as many *staff* as New Waverly has *students*. (Yes, this is also in the TAPR.) Instead, New Waverly focuses on getting the basic stuff right – passing the STAAR tests, graduating, being ready for life afterwards, even if it doesn't involve college.
How do they do it?
Per-student expenditures are "All Funds" from "PEIMS," for which there is a link at the end of the TAPR. Free/Reduced Lunch is "Economically Disadvantaged."
The last part of the TAPR looks under the hood: staffing, funding, student characteristics. Across these three schools, these are really different.
In terms of students, College Park has the wealthiest and Huntsville High the poorest. Two-thirds of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Federal funding follows student poverty, and that holds true here too – College Park spends the least per student by far.
Despite that, College Park's teachers are relatively experienced, New Waverly's even more so. On the other hand, a whopping two-thirds of Huntsville High's teachers have five years of experience or less, a fact [emphasized in *The Huntsvillan*](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/) last fall. It's hard to have effective instruction with so much teacher turnover.
Now the picture of these schools emerges further. College Park, with its large size and wealthy students, focuses like a laser on college preparation. New Waverly, smaller and poorer, delivers on the basics with a dedicated teaching staff that sticks around year after year.
Huntsville, in contrast, struggles on all dimensions – test scores, graduation, post-secondary readiness. This is what's going to happen if you can't keep teachers around. This and other issues will be sitting on the desk when Huntsville ISD's [new superintendent](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/article/2654384) starts work this summer.
---
This is the first part of a two part series. The [second article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-school-boards-meet-hilarity-ensues/) compares the February meetings of each of these three districts' school boards, when the aforementioned public hearings are generally held. These were even more varied than the TAPR itself.
To look up the TAPR for any Texas public school, go [here](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/tapr%5Fsrch.html?year=2025&lev=C).
### Huntsville spends over $1 million annually marketing itself to tourists. Why is it hiding one of its crown jewels?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/
Last updated: 2026-02-19T16:35:51.000Z
Huntsville has a secret: a [mother lode of art](https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/) kept in museums located in [historic buildings](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/) largely along University Ave. south of downtown Huntsville. Relatively few Huntsvillans have been inside.
This article, the last in a [three](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/)\-part [series](https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/) on these museums, tells you why. It turns out getting inside is easy – it's finding out about them that is hard.
## Come on in
What is it like to visit these museums?
Well, for one thing, it's free. Your money is no good with George Russell, the local art collector who put these museums together. He explains, “They’ve always been free admission. I don’t believe in anyone charging admission to any museum in the world, because that prohibits the poor children from having any exposure, and I think it’s just wrong.”
Anna Shepeard, then-Director of the Texas Division of the Children of the Confederacy, raved about her visit to several of Russell's museums in a 2015 [letter to the *Huntsville Item*](https://www.itemonline.com/opinion/letters%5Fto%5Fthe%5Feditor/russells-museums-are-a-huge-hit-with-visitors/article%5F24a08738-3656-5597-a415-8ee57ab8c65d.html). "I have been to hundreds of museums and have never seen so many Texas items housed under one roof," she said.
She's not the only one. Former Wynne Home director Linda Pease visited Russell's museums often and says, "among some of the less-traveled museums \[in town\] are several...that George Russell has established in historic homes. The collections are splendid and well worth the time to see and appreciate the extraordinary work that has been done."
Various properties of Russell's, mostly museums, along University Ave. Photo credits: John Stipe.
Former assistant city engineer Tom Weger has also spent hours in Russell's museums. He puts it bluntly. "The quality of stuff he's got in there is unbelievable."
So what is getting in the way?
## You can't visit what you don't know about
One reason is the marketing. While Russell's foundation's website lists all of his museums, they are not extensively marketed. Fortunately, the City of Huntsville has [budgeted](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/193/Budget) over one million dollars this year to promote itself to tourists. Despite this, you'd hardly know these museums exist.
None of them can be found on the city-run tourism website [HuntsvilleTexas.com](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/). Its old museum page [listed](https://huntsvilletexas.com/200/Museums-Attractions) two of them, but a [redesign](https://huntsvilletexas.com/262/History-Museums) turned that listing into an "orphan," unreachable from within the site, and removed entries for the [Museum of Texas Arts](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/219/Museum-of-Texas-Arts) and the [Museum of Texas Furniture](http://www.huntsvilletexas.com/218/Museum-of-Texas-Furniture).
All of Russell's museums also lie within Huntsville’s state-sanctioned "Cultural District," pictured below. Nonetheless, they are omitted from the city's Cultural District [web site](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/317/Huntsville-Cultural-District) and [tour guide](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14954/Cultural-District-Tour-Guide), which is sixteen years old and out of date in several respects.
Central Huntsville, with the Cultural District in dark grey and Russell's museums in red stars.
What if you stop at the city's Visitor Center by the big Sam Houston statue on the interstate? *The Huntsvillan* tried that. Nothing doing.
*The Huntsvillan*: I wanted to ask about art museums in Huntsville.
*Visitor Center Staff*: It's not really a museum, but we have the [Wynne Home](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/304/Wynne-Home-Arts-Visitor-Center). Let me get you a flier.
*TH*: I heard there were some old houses between downtown and campus with art collections.
*VCS*: You're thinking of the [Sam Houston Memorial Museum](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/) (produces flier). There are some old buildings there and they will have some quilts and things from the past.
*TH*: What about John Smither or George Russell? Do they have art collections?
*VCS*: (Mentions [Splintercraft](http://splintercraftartisanworks.com/) art supply store downtown.) You can look for [Smither Realty](https://smithercompany.com/). I think he has some art on Sam Houston Ave.
*TH*: What about George Russell?
*VCS*: I know who you're talking about, but I don't know how to reach him.
The private sector does little better. The *Huntsville Item* published just one brief [article](https://www.itemonline.com/news/local%5Fnews/new-american-indians-native-peoples-museum-has-soft-opening-on-saturday/article%5Fb4139f07-8064-5b81-a9bd-38b5f0015071.html) on just one of Russell's museums (though they are also noted in several letters to the editor, often from Russell, and in Best Bets). Only one shows up on Google Maps (which lists several non-museums as well).
Google Maps lists Huntsville's "Stonehenge," in The Avenues, but only one of Russell's museums.
[TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g56014-Activities-c49-Huntsville%5FTexas.html) mentions the Children’s Museum, which is now closed to the public, while TourTexas.com lists two others on yet another [orphaned](https://www.tourtexas.com/attractions/Huntsville-Cultural-District-arts-and-history) page. Unless you already know about these museums, you would hardly realize they exist.
## Huntsville is, in fact, a museum town
These omissions are unfortunate, because Huntsville's museum density is off the charts.
Under even the most conservative count, Russell has seven museums.\[1\] There are seven others: the [Cultural Center](https://www.samuelwalkerhoustonmuseum.com/) on 10th St., the [Sam Houston Museum](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/) along Sam Houston Ave., the [Veterans](https://www.heartsmuseum.com/index.html) and [Prison](https://www.txprisonmuseum.org/) museums out by the interstate, the [Gibbs-Powell House](https://www.walkercountyhistoricalcommission.org/museum/) and [Cafe Texan](https://cafetexan.org/about/) museums downtown, and Sam Houston State's natural history collection in the [old high school](https://www.shsu.edu/academics/colleges/science-engineering-technology/the-natural-history-collection-folder/the-natural-history-collection).
That gets you to 14 total, with one more coming later this year, for a total of 15.\[2\] Given our population (prisoners included), this equates to 30 museums per 100,000 people. On a per person basis, that beats the tar out of everywhere else in East Texas. It's well above Washington, D.C., which has only 17 per 100,000 people. Indeed, it is one of the highest concentrations in the United States.
Other cities' counts come from searches on Google Maps, using the same criteria applied to Huntsville.
In fact, even medium-sized Texas cities struggle to compete with Huntsville, which has more museums outright than Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock – even El Paso.
Pease gets it. Huntsville, she says, has "a treasury of outstanding museums – history centers as well as those with a focus on arts and culture." Add in Richard Haas' [murals](https://postcardslive.com/texas-treasures-huntsvilles-haas-murals/) downtown and a [generous](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/304/Wynne-Home-Arts-Visitor-Center) helping of art [galleries](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) to [boot](https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/266443956/satellite-gallery/), and the city ranks high culturally by any standard.
The city also keeps this distinction secret. Only five museums are included on its [tourism site](https://huntsvilletexas.com/262/History-Museums) and [visitor's guide](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/DocumentCenter/View/1419/Online-Official-Visitors-Guide), obscuring our preeminence in this realm.
And not just museums. Thanks in part to Russell's efforts and in part to [its age](https://www.texasalmanac.com/drupal-backup/images/CityPopHist web.pdf), Huntsville excels in history, too. With Russell's [houses along University Avenue](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/), the Sam Houston [Homestead and Museum](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/), [Austin Hall](https://sites.google.com/site/buildingshsu/campus/A/austin-hall) on the SHSU campus (built in 1852, it is the oldest continuously occupied college building west of the Mississippi River), [Oakwood Cemetery](https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2322802/oakwood-cemetery), and the [Wynne](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/304/Wynne-Home-Arts-Visitor-Center) and [Gibbs-Powell](https://www.walkercountyhistoricalcommission.org/museum/) homes along 11th St., Huntsville has a historical portfolio few Texas towns can match.
[Other](https://www.sanantonio.gov/Mission-Trails/Mission-Trails-Historic-Sites/Historic-Districts-Neighborhoods/King-William-Historic-District/King-William-Historic-District-Expanded) cities with such [history](https://www.nactx.us/1509/Plan-Your-Visit) feature it prominently, but not Huntsville, which merely lists a few historic sites on the [same page](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/262/History-Museums) as its museums. Our preeminence here is also obscured.
The city's tourism tag line – "[Pure Texas](https://www.huntsvilletexas.com/)" – applies to every town in Texas. Why downplay your distinctions in favor of something so generic? *The Huntsvillan* reached out to Huntsville City Manager Scott Swigert to inquire about these issues with city's tourism marketing, but he did not respond.
## We'll get you in
Another reason these museums aren't better known is that they aren't routinely open. Pease and Weger both mentioned this fact in their comments to *The Huntsvillan*.
This being said, in the past, arranging a visit required only a call or email to Russell, via the contact information on his foundation's [website](https://www.ethicianfoundation.org/). Pease calls him "a knowledgeable guide." Nonetheless, if you don't know to ask, you don't ask.
Russell's museums contain a tremendous and impressive variety of art. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
Occasionally, the museums were also opened during Art Walks or the Fair on the Square. Five were included in a [2018](https://intranet.shsu.edu/today@sam/T@S/article/2018/art-walk-2018) Art Walk organized by the SHSU Art Department. But these are not common in town. The first Art Walk since that one in 2018 is scheduled for [next month](https://www.facebook.com/events/2532755567081747).
These days, it is not as easy for Russell to give tours of his museums, so he has welcomed *The Huntsvillan* to facilitate tours. If you are interested, instructions are in the grey box below. As more people catch wind of these hidden gems and visit them, it may become viable for Russell to open them more regularly.
To express interest in visiting Russell's museums, send an e-mail to [thehuntsvillan@gmail.com](mailto:thehuntsvillan@gmail.com) (subject line: Museum Visit) or make a comment on [this post](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02CcLoCTxKvgUAR6GGiZpEu4MVj9qyQLjF6mW2WA6XMiQAqvL9wRj5rTLAt2AJK42al&id=61574229382407) on our Facebook page, and indicate which museums you are most interested in viewing. If a suitable level of interest is expressed, **The Huntsvillan* would respond with the day and time that visits are scheduled. This process could take a while and nothing is likely to be arranged before spring.
This is your opportunity to experience the full range of culture Huntsville has to offer with others who share similar interests in art and history. There is no guarantee that these free cultural resources will always be present and easy to see.
---
\[1\] In this count, there is only one museum per building and the museum must not be closed to the public. A more generous count gets you to twelve. Museum-counting is a tricky business and there is no authoritative list, but even under generous assumptions few cities top Huntsville.
\[2\] We'd tell you, but we'd hate to spoil the surprise. There are also loooong-range plans for a sixteenth museum, which may or may not ever materialize.
Mary-Brett Stringer contributed to this article in multiple respects, including photos. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/). Some photos were taken by John Stipe, also known as [Mr. Pics](https://www.facebook.com/MrPicsMultimedia/). He is Huntsville's most-recognizable photographer in his hat and yellow vest.
### You want art? They've got art
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/
Last updated: 2026-02-16T21:22:07.000Z
The two blocks of University Ave. from 14th St. to Bearkat Blvd. are a historical and artistic treasure, courtesy of a set of museums established there by local real estate owners George and Suzanne Russell. Our [previous article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/) focused on the historical buildings housing these museums. Now let's look inside.
## A riot of expression
Every one of these museums is a riot of expression. While many museums space out their art, this is not George Russell's way. The walls are filled with art, the rooms are packed with art, sometimes there is art on the ceiling or floor. There is art everywhere.
You want paintings? The Museum of Texas Art (1425 University Ave.), The Museum of Folk and Outsider Art (1428 University), and the Museum of African and African-American Art, History, and Culture (1404 University) have works by Dennis Hickman, Bill Haveron, and Leon and Molly Bee Collins, all local to our area, among many others.
Clockwise from top left: A wall of paintings by Dennis Hickman, and paintings by [Leon Collins](http://oldartguy.com/Leon%5FCollins.html) and Bill Haveron. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer (left, right), John Stipe (center).
You want crafts? These museums have all kinds of crafts. Scrap-metal sculptures by Texan David Strickland. A cross made from bullets. Huntsville's first blood-letting tub, from back when that was a thing. Wood carvings. And so much more.
Clockwise from top left: a bullet cross, a blood-letting tub, and a metal sculpture, found in (or in front of) the Museum of Folk and Outsider Art, the Museum of Texas Art, and the Texas Furniture Museum. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer (the first two photos), John Stipe (the last photo).
You want artisanal objects, like furniture or stoneware? The Museum of Texas Furniture's 460-piece collection of handmade Texas furniture, mostly from the 19th century, includes a desk reportedly owned by Sam Houston. Among much else, this giant space contains door hinges and doorknobs laid out perfectly on rows of tables, and a row of children’s beds complete with vintage dolls and handmade quilts.
In the same building, the Museum of Texas Stoneware contains a huge collection of Texas stoneware, including pieces from notables like [James Prothro](https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/artifacts/prothro-stoneware-face-vessel), who brought the distinct ash and clay glaze method to Texas in the mid-1800s. The building also contains a massive library of books and publications about Texas.
A hutch from the movie Gone with the Wind inside the Museum of Folk and Outsider Art, hutches inside the Texas Furniture Museum, stoneware inside the Texas Stoneware Museum. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer (photo on left), Ethician Foundation (photos on right).
Russell doesn't collect just art. The Furniture Museum also has a bevy of Americana tchotchkes filling up several rows of hutches. Meanwhile, in the Museum of Genocide and Atrocities Perpetrated Against Native Americans, there is an impressive collection of Native American artifacts, which Russell terms “Indian kitsch,” that are intended to reveal the evils of colonization. Some of these objects date back 15,000 years.
## There's even a palace
In addition to the museums on University Ave., Russell has one in The Avenues, where he and Suzanne own a large block of real estate. The 6,800 square foot Bishop’s Palace Museum at 1409 19th St. opened to the public in 2015\. It resides on the grounds of the original Sam Houston homestead.
It has art from around the world and close to home. You will find works by former students at Sam Houston State University and prisoners in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, as well as several from the renowned Texas folk artist, Rev. Johnnie Swearingen, which were done in exchange for nine months of rent.
Jude Elkin's cedar chest and close-ups of two paintings by Johnnie Swearingen. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
If the Bishop’s Palace seems less like a museum and more like a home with a whole lot of art, you're not wrong. Russell grew up and raised his family there. He and his father began constructing the house with hand tools in 1951\. “I was on the two-story roof at age six nailing the shingles,” Russell recalls.
## He doesn't want art that tastes good, he wants art with good taste
Russell knows his own mind, and this is especially true when it comes to art. The theme of preservation, so visible in his [renovations along University Ave.](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/), applies here too. “I like art that will last for thousands of years,” Russell shares.
His taste in art had a long and fruitful gestation period. In addition to growing up with an artist mother – some of whose paintings still reside in The Bishop's Palace – the family owned a villa in Italy, where he was exposed to ancient civilizations with art and craftsmanship that have stood the test of time.
On his and Suzanne’s 100-day honeymoon in 1967, they traveled 17,000 miles in France. His bride, with three Leica cameras from her groom, got special clearance to photograph the country’s best works of art. Suzanne shared those photographs when they returned, and it made them their first million.\*
Russell's taste also developed through his interest in archaeology, anthropology, and cultural ecology. Despite access to some of the world's best art houses, he is not a strictly high-society collector. He can be found at garage and estate sales, craft fairs, and thrift shops more regularly than at art galleries or auctions.
Russell doesn't seem to care what is trendy or in vogue in the world of art – only what he thinks is good. The end result is one of the most eclectic collections of art in the state.
Russell's tastes run the gamut from traditional to contemporary, and everything in-between. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer (top two photos), Ethician Foundation (bottom left), John Stipe (bottom right).
As such, it nicely complements other, better-known art displays in town. The city-run [Wynne Home](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/304/Wynne-Home-Arts-Visitor-Center) often displays traditional art, while the Art Department at SHSU favors the opposite: contemporary art, which is [far more abstract](https://www.facebook.com/shsuartdepartment/posts/pfbid0JLLHh6TLozr2d3aQCh1jfyHjt2WWeFo1MbkFE8euEc8doHBA85q1sayhvHdtGu9Bl).
Russell's art collection, like the prisoner art in the new [Imerj](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/) gallery downtown, doesn't lie in either camp alone. He never excludes artists' work because of their style, medium, training, name recognition, or background. As a result, the full spectrum of art styles are represented in Huntsville. Few towns our size can boast such luxury.
---
This article is the second in a series. The first, about Russell's efforts preserving the buildings that house these museums, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/). The third article, about visiting these museums, is [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/). You can subscribe to *The Huntsvillan* for free using the pink "subscribe" button at top right and receive occasional updates when new material is posted.
\* They also brought back some Neanderthal rocks and artifacts that you can visit in The Bishop’s Palace.
This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com). Some photos were contributed by John Stipe, who is also known as [Mr. Pics](https://www.facebook.com/MrPicsMultimedia/). He is Huntsville's most-recognizable photographer in his hat and yellow vest. The Ethician Foundation's [website](https://www.ethicianfoundation.org/index.htm) contains **many* more photographs from most of these museums, as do the other articles in this series.
### Hiding in plain sight: the art bonanza right under our noses
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-art-bonanza-right-under-our-noses/
Last updated: 2026-02-16T21:22:56.000Z
Huntsville's a prison town, right? There are five in the city limits and nine within a short drive, ten if you forget they [renamed one](https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/unit%5Fdirectory/ea.html) and count it twice.
All right, fine. But if we're going to get all mathematical about it, Huntsville *isn't* a prison town. It's a museum town, with one of the highest concentrations of museums in the country, relative to its size. You just have to count the ones we've mostly been oblivious to.
These museums contain a mother lode of art, much of it outstanding, and all of it at our fingertips – if we only knew to ask.
## Take a walk on the wild side
Let's walk down a street we [know well](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/): University Avenue. Heading south from 14th St., for the next two blocks you can’t spit without hitting a museum – all of them the product of local real estate owners George and Suzanne Russell and their associated Ethician Foundation.
To your right, at 1404 University Avenue, is the Museum of African and African-American Art, History, and Culture, which houses around 150 pieces produced by African-American artists and over 150 African tribal artifacts. The building on the outside, splashed with yellow, purple, and blue, is just as colorful as the paintings on the inside.
Two more museums lie across the street in the old Smither Warehouse (1405 University). The Museum of Texas Furniture and its compatriot, the Museum of Texas Stoneware, each contain the world’s largest collection of its kind. The side of the building features a massive mural of an East Texas nature scene, done by local artist Kat Black.
The Museum of Texas Art (left), the staircase inside leading to the Erotic Art Gallery. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
A little further down (1425 University) lies the Museum of Texas Art, located in a stunning red brick Victorian mansion. It contains an incredible variety of paintings, drawings, furniture, ceramics, wood carvings, blown glass, and other objects by Texas artists. There is even an adults-only Erotic Art Gallery decorated like a Victorian brothel.
Across the street (1428 University) in another two-story Victorian is the Museum of Folk and Outsider Art, which contains a wide variety of pieces, some quite whimsical, and some from local artists. The contents are guarded by two sword-wielding soldiers out front.
The Museum of Folk and Outsider Art, and a work inside by Bill Haveron. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
Further down the street, the Museum of Genocide and Atrocities Perpetrated Against Native Americans is on your left (1501 University), with two more on your right. The Carol Turner Children’s Museum (1518 University, now closed) has antique toys and interactive activities for children, with the Children’s Museum of World Peace and World Cultures right next door.
A few steps more take you to Bearkat Blvd. and the city’s [third most-famous crosswalk](https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/), and your journey is complete.
The ceiling of the Museum of Texas Art, a Leon Collins painting inside the Museum of Folk and Outsider Art. Photo credits: Mary-Brett Stringer.
## The biggest museum of all
While the art inside is the main attraction, these buildings represent decades of early Huntsville history and are noteworthy in themselves. You could almost consider this two block stretch a museum in its own right.
Every house along it is over 125 years old. Three are from the 1890s: the Museum of African and African-American Art, the Children's Museum of World Peace, and the Museum of Texas Art. Meanwhile, the Native American Museum was formed by joining one house built in the 1840s to one built in the 1870s.
The Children's Museum of World Peace and the Museum of African and African-American Art. Photo credits: John Stipe.
The houses without museums are even older. There is a log cabin built in 1831 by one of the first 300 Colonists, John Bowman, and a Greek Revival home built by George Washington Rogers in 1845 (which might become a project of the Texas Historical Commission).
Ironically, the newest building of the bunch may be the most historic of all. The Smither Warehouse, home to the Furniture and Stoneware museums, is the last remnant of a bygone age: train travel. It was built almost 100 years ago to store items delivered to town by train.
The Texas Furniture Museum is located in the old Smither Warehouse, fiercely defended by this guard dog. Photo credits: John Stipe.
The railroad spur from the east, [Tilley's Tap](https://easttexashistory.org/items/show/234), came into town just north of Bearkat Blvd. and ended just south of the warehouse. Look closely there and you will see an oddly flat and even area where the tracks would have been, with a historical marker nearby.
## A passion for preservation
Altogether, it is a remarkable stretch of historical preservation. Coupled with the antebellum buildings in the Sam Houston [Memorial Museum](https://www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com/), all of Texas' early statehood is covered. Few cities can boast something similar.
Tom Weger, who worked for the City of Huntsville for decades, watched it all happen firsthand. He has known George Russell since their time together on a forest preservation advocacy group in the 1970s.
Weger shares, "it took me time to get where he is coming from," but learned that "he is really knowledgeable about preserving things," be it nature, art, or architecture. Russell says that "nature and art \[are\] therapeutic" and worries about "historical buildings being destroyed for no reason, art being destroyed."
1845 Greek Revival home, 1831 log cabin along University Ave. Photo credits: John Stipe.
Weger remembers how Russell "tried to save all these houses (on University Avenue). He was the only one around town who wanted to save them." Russell hired his own crews, opting out of state or federal funds, to make the needed renovations as he saw fit – from the bones out on each structure, be it a brick Victorian or a log cabin.
The result is two city blocks where the buildings on the outside are as noteworthy as the art on the inside. But that art! It deserves an article to itself – which is coming next week.
---
This article is the first of a three-part series. Part two: [the treasures inside Russell's museums](https://www.huntsvillan.com/you-want-art-theyve-got-art/). Part three: [visiting the museums](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-spends-over-1-million-annually-marketing-itself-to-tourists-why-is-it-hiding-one-of-its-crown-jewels/). You can subscribe to *The Huntsvillan* for free by hitting the pink "subscribe" button at top right and receive occasional updates when this and other new material is posted.
This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/). Photos are by Stringer and John Stipe, also known as [Mr. Pics](https://www.facebook.com/MrPicsMultimedia/). He is Huntsville's most-recognizable photographer in his hat and yellow vest.
### He had one job
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/he-had-one-job/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:26:40.000Z
It's just so mortifying. He had one job!
“A little more to the right,” they said. And he listened! Why? Whyeeeee??? Couldn't he hear their giggles? Why did he pay them any attention at all?
And then they said it again! “More to the right.” At least he didn't just obey this time. He spoke up. He raised objections. “It...kinda seems fine to me,” he said.
But it didn't work. “Oh no,” they replied (with what seemed like a smirk). “It needs to go more to the right.”
He liked to be the nice guy. Cooperative, go along to get along, you know. And they took advantage of it and now it's all his fault. He had one job!
It's just so mortifying.
## Not the first time
What's even more appalling is it's not even the first time. There was that job over on University and Bearkat.
That time he had never even doubted them. “You sure?” he kept saying. “Oh yeah,” they would respond. “A little more to the right.” And look at what he'd done.
University Ave. at Bearkat Blvd.
That time he had to talk to human resources and everything. What would happen now? Could his job be in danger?? It would be all kinds of terrible if he lost it. Painting crosswalks was all he had ever wanted to do!
He had trusted them. Again. Why? Whyeeeee???
It's just so mortifying. He had one job.
### Hospital District board members extend their own terms of office
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-board-of-managers-extends-own-terms-o/
Last updated: 2026-02-08T08:43:06.000Z
Words: what do they mean? Who knows sometimes?
Today's example comes from our good friends at the Walker County Hospital District. Way back in [March 2022](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/agenda-mar-23-2022.pdf) their meeting agenda included this:
> Review and discuss board member term limits. If board is in agreement, then a vote to accept the resolution will be required.
Wow, you must be thinking, here are politicians actually choosing to limit how long they can serve in office. I never thought I'd see the day. And then when you read in the minutes that “[4-year term limits](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Minutes-March-23-2022.pdf)” were approved unanimously, you would be even more impressed.
You would, of course, be wrong.
## The backstory
Texas has so many “special districts” – hospital districts, water districts, utility districts, improvement districts, etc. – only [Rain Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthFUFBwbZg) could count them all. There are 123 hospital districts alone. So you'd figure the Texas Legislature would establish a standard legal framework for them all, to govern their elections, contracting ability, etc.
You would, of course, be wrong.
Each special district has its [own legislation](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=SD). It totals over 10,000 pages. It's unbelievable. *The Huntsvillan* tried running the full text through AI and it shot back “aw, COME ON.” Still, it's clear that the terms of the elected “Managers” of most hospital districts are set at two years.
It was this way in Walker County too. But a [different law](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=HS&chapter=HS.285&artSec=285.081) lets many hospital districts extend these terms to four years on their own.
This is what the Walker County Hospital District was doing in 2022\. They weren't limiting how long elected Managers could serve – they were doubling the length of their terms, from two years to four. This process ran to completion in 2024, whose election was for four-year terms.
This all happened under the radar. *The Huntsvillan* could find nothing informing the public of this change in district communications or [other local media](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/), beyond the misleading minutes quoted above.
## New law removes ambiguity
Under this system, there was to be no election in 2025 at all. But before that non-election could be not-held, a problem arose. The district's action may not have been legal. Perhaps the law empowering Managers to extend their own terms did not apply to Walker County.
This is stated most plainly by the House Research Organization of the Texas House of Representatives, which provides “impartial information on legislation and issues before the Texas Legislature.” Last year, they stated “concerns have been raised that current law does not authorize the Walker County Hospital District to ... [establish four-year terms](https://hro-dfr.house.texas.gov/bill-analysis?legislature=89&session=R&billNumber=HB2607) for its board of managers.”
Enter our new state representative, Huntsvillan Trey Wharton. His bill, [HB 2607](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB02607F.htm), in last year's legislature was signed into law in June. It extended our hospital district's term lengths to four years, removing any ambiguity and canceling the 2025 election for sure. Managers elected in 2023 are up for re-election this November, while those elected in 2024 serve until 2028\.
Hospital District [communications](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid0NA8aLUooDbVkokdeCAw2QTZ9CZRG47xsQYzR1frZosX2LKypXBDcQZzzPLnzypgSl&id=61579729198435&%5F%5Fcft%5F%5F[0]=AZb7mM7iM0lt7b-p62rMMX3tAMEFJONznz7GY%5FveEyKMwpFv9fz8JPuccpPWDhvOOImVa7RMgn4rOY8TqJnv1TfXTroXk33g0SzaOuSE-FZDtALH5EvvkRfCsNwqzeGIsFznnisf%5FWJk7Fe4FPg9gOChqG6ea1S7lOy09zF1Xe9ulGcO3Ww1DIKqgZLPkGswuoY&%5F%5Ftn%5F%5F=%2CO%2CP-R) indicate they were the impetus for this legislation. It is not unusual for the electoral procedures of hospital districts to be altered in this manner.
What isn't known is whether this change was supported by the public. The [justification](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid0NA8aLUooDbVkokdeCAw2QTZ9CZRG47xsQYzR1frZosX2LKypXBDcQZzzPLnzypgSl&id=61579729198435&%5F%5Fcft%5F%5F[0]=AZb7mM7iM0lt7b-p62rMMX3tAMEFJONznz7GY%5FveEyKMwpFv9fz8JPuccpPWDhvOOImVa7RMgn4rOY8TqJnv1TfXTroXk33g0SzaOuSE-FZDtALH5EvvkRfCsNwqzeGIsFznnisf%5FWJk7Fe4FPg9gOChqG6ea1S7lOy09zF1Xe9ulGcO3Ww1DIKqgZLPkGswuoY&%5F%5Ftn%5F%5F=%2CO%2CP-R) given by the Hospital District was to “save community tax dollars by reducing election costs.” But the total amount spent on all five elections held from 2020 to 2024 was only $375, a tiny fraction of the amount spent on the two bond elections held last year.
Those five elections were cheap because they were uncontested. A contested election would cost [about $10,000](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/walkercountyhdscanner@gmail.com%5F20250304%5F120559.pdf) instead. Voters may consider that a modest price to decide who governs the [millions of dollars](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026-WCHD-BUDGET.pdf) spent by the district each year.
The most straightforward way to find out would have been for the hospital district to adopt a resolution supporting this change in the law. Doing so in an open meeting would have signaled their intent and invited input through standard procedures for public comment. It's a no-brainer.
## Follow the money
This was only half of HB 2607\. The Hospital District got into another corner that this law got them out of as well.
In the summer of 2024, the Board of Managers went into “closed session” several times to discuss a potential real estate transaction. This ended that September when they realized that they couldn't legally do what they wanted to do: lease some of their land to a group of local physicians to build an office building.
This practice, called a “land lease” or “ground lease,” isn't unusual in real estate. But the district didn't have the authority to do this, and the permissible leasing period, though longer than most districts', wasn't workable. Land leases usually last a very long time, since the building reverts back to the landlord at the end of the lease.
Wharton's bill solved both problems, such that the district resumed discussions of this real estate project in their meeting last month.
What isn't known are any lease terms. *The Huntsvillan* spoke with a real estate expert familiar with land leases, who noted that they are “especially susceptible to corruption” when the public sector is involved. As a result, they said, it is vital to have a fair and open process to attract competitors and maximize rental rates.
To see whether such a process is in the offing, *The Huntsvillan* posed several questions to the Hospital District about this and other issues raised in this article. You might think the district would be eager to help the public understand their methods and motivations. You would, of course, be wrong.
---
Alison Wilkins contributed background research on hospital district legislation. Similar themes emerge from our previous articles on the hospital district, [found](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/).
### Walker County has twenty-seven Congressional candidates
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/walker-county-has-twenty-seven-congressional-candidates/
Last updated: 2026-02-08T08:43:38.000Z
The people running for Congress in Walker County this year could form three baseball teams. There are twenty-seven candidates total – none of whom have even been so much as county commissioner.
It is the result of a perfect storm. Mid-decade redistricting split Walker County into two new, reconfigured Congressional districts in which both incumbents decided to step down. This set off free-for-alls in the Democratic and Republican primaries in both districts.
Most of these primaries have at least five candidates, and early voting is just five weeks away. With hundreds of thousands of voters in each district, Congressional races are hard enough without having to get out your message in a crowded field in a matter of weeks.
Redistricting has made the situation worse. In the quest for partisan advantage, the Texas Legislature has made Congressional districts spindlier, winding and weaving every which way. The southeastern section of Walker County is in the 8th district, which curls around to the west of Houston. The rest of the county is in the 10th district, which stretches from west of Austin all the way over to Livingston.
The new districts split Huntsville almost right down the middle.
This has consequences. For candidates, it reduces the value of local reputation – no one in Austin or College Station will know that you have served well in office in Livingston – and makes it harder to travel the district and meet voters in person.
It also raises the importance of money and connections. According to the [Federal](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TX/8/2026/) Election [Commission](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TX/10/2026/), one candidate has raised over half a million dollars; many others are broke. Similarly, no favorite has ever held elective office, but all are well-connected in one fashion or another.
You do not need *The Huntsvillan* to tell you how to vote. No, you need *The Huntsvillan* to link to each candidate's web site so you can visit it and decide for yourself. Two minutes there tells you a lot – the candidate's background, what they care about, whether they are ready for prime time.
These links are provided (when available) in the previews of each primary below. In order to avoid "horse-race" coverage, front-runners or establishment-preferred candidates are not identified as such.
## The grudge match: District 8 Democrats
With just two candidates, this is the only primary of the bunch that is sure not to go to a runoff. Former realtor Laura Jones, who previously ran in this district in 2020, 2022, and 2024, has a primary challenger gunning for her this year: Keith Coleman from Tomball. This race could get spicy!
| Candidate | The Basics | Fun Fact |
| ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Keith Coleman](https://www.colemanfortexas.com/) | Former Marine from Tomball | Takes [direct aim](https://www.colemanfortexas.com/news/Texas-Democrats-Seek-Fresh-Faces-as-Leadership-Reacts-to-Repeat-Congressional-Can) at opponent |
| [Laura Jones](https://www.laura4tx.com/) | Former realtor from San Jacinto County | Has campaigned all over suburban Houston for six years |
## The business of America is business: District 8 Republicans
This six-candidate race is dominated by business types working in finance or oil and gas, some well-connected, some less so. A few have compelling personal histories. The difference in these folks' backgrounds is larger than the difference in their beliefs.
| Candidate | The Basics | Fun Fact |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Jay Fondren](http://jayfondren.org/) | Veteran | Loves [semicolons](https://www.jayfondren.org/) |
| [Brett Jensen](https://jensenfortexas.com/) | Houstonian, worked in oil and gas, now finance | Website sells “official capitalist gear” |
| Stephen Long | | |
| [Jessica Steinmann](https://www.jessicasteinmann.com/) | Politically connected Montgomery County lawyer | Suggested donations on website start at $1,000 |
| [Nick Tran](https://nicktranfortexas.com/) | Veteran who worked in oil and gas | Harvard MBA who criticizes “the establishment” |
| [Deddrick Wilmer](https://www.wilmerfortexas.com/) | Houstonian, Works in Real Estate Finance | Elected Director of Harris County Municipal Utility District 248 |
## The ideological rainbow: District 10 Democrats
The five people in this primary are mostly from Central Texas, and run the gamut from quite progressive to fairly conservative. This primary probably has more ideological variation than any other.
| Candidate | The Basics | Fun Fact |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Tayhlor Coleman](https://www.colemanforcongress.com/) | Lived out of her [van](https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/tayhlor-coleman-voter-registration-vanlife/)registering voters | Web site is just a picture of a road |
| [Dawn Marshall](https://www.texasneedsdawn.com/) | Community college instructor from College Station | Wears flannel |
| [Bernie Reyna ](https://tx10bernie.com/) | Veterinary technician from College Station | Introduced on his web site [by a dog](https://tx10bernie.com/) |
| [Caitlin Rourk](https://www.caitlinrourk.com/) | Former Army officer from the Austin area | Campaign launch video criticizes the incumbent in a different district |
| Linda Trevino | | |
## The street brawl: District 10 Republicans
With fourteen candidates, this race is wide-open. With one exception – Huntsvillan Ben Bius – every candidate is from the western part of the district, mostly Austin and College Station. There are some real ones and some more polished types. A mere 10%-15% of the vote may be enough to make the runoff, which will generate interesting campaign dynamics.
| Candidate | The Basics | Fun Fact |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Rob Altman](https://altmanfortexas.com/) | Veteran from College Station area | States current occupation as “senior leadership role” |
| [Ben Bius](https://www.ben4congress.com/) | Businessman from Huntsville | Sued by the Federal government [early last year](https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/57515395/United%5FStates%5Fof%5FAmerica%5Fv%5FBius%5Fet%5Fal) |
| [Robert Brown](https://www.brownfortexas.com/) | Retired from the business world | Wants all candidates for office to “[take ](https://www.brownfortexas.com/platform)[cognitive testing ](https://www.brownfortexas.com/platform)… so their mental acuity is public record” |
| [Jenny Garcia Sharon](https://jennygarciasharon.com/home) | Can’t tell where she lives or works | “There is a reason healthcare is not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence” |
| [Chris Gober](https://chrisgober.com/) | Politically-involved lawyer | Website has a 1458-word “communications and consent policy” |
| [Brandon Hawbaker](https://brandonhawbaker.com/) | Software engineer who kind of lives off-grid | Tag line is “Let’s Go Brandon” |
| [Christopher Hurt](https://www.chrisfortx10.com/) | | Expired website |
| [Jessica ](https://www.jessicakforcongress.com/)[Karlsruher](https://www.jessicakforcongress.com/) | Advocate for real estate groups and credit unions from Austin | Family goes way back in Texas |
| [Kara King](https://www.karakingforcongress.com/) | Mayor of Bee Cave, near Austin | Most unique campaign color scheme of all candidates |
| Joshua Ross Lovell | | |
| [Scott MacLeod](https://scott4tx.com/) | Veteran, tech CEO from Austin | Lowest suggested donation amount of all candidates, starting at $10 |
| [Carl Segan](https://carlseganforcongress.com/) | Can’t tell where he’s from or what he does | Focused on health care |
| Jeremy Story | Businessman seemingly from Bastrop | |
| [Phil Suarez](https://www.philfortx.com/) | From College Station, seemingly works in real estate | Held first campaign event last February |
Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 17, with election day on Tuesday, Mar. 3\. Runoffs, which are likely in the last three contests, would be held May 26.
---
*The Huntsvillan* reached out to the presidents of the Walker County Democrats and the Walker County Republican Women inquiring about upcoming candidate forums or debates, but received no response from either as of press time. A tool [here](https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/) let's you put in your exact address and see your current (2024 election) and upcoming (2026 election) Congressional districts.
### Annual Report to Shareholders
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/annual-report-to-shareholders/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:30:43.000Z
\[Steph Mamber rises slowly, holding a giant phone book out of the 1980s. She slams it on the counter and everyone in the room is silent.\]
As the President, CEO, COO, CFO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Huntsvillan, Inc., I hereby call this annual shareholder meeting to order!
Some of you may be wondering: as a Fortune 500 company, why are we meeting in the Lumberton Waffle House? Well, Cracker Barrel down the road wouldn't take us. Plus, better acoustics. Spending money on a microphone is for fools.
I know the question on all your lips: profits. Well there's good news and bad news. They have set records of the terrible kind. As a percentage of sales, our profits are negative infinity. Literally this: -∞%. This is what happens when there are actual costs and no sales whatsoever.
Instead of profits, we have the next best thing: an expanded organizational chart. Can you spend organizational charts? Not really. At this here Waffle House they are used as place mats when they run out of the others, but that isn't often.
Still, it's been so much fun! Our company now has four internal divisions, corresponding to the type of journalism produced. It is my privilege to introduce them to you now.
First, the red meat. This division is officially called Public Accountability but we generally use its nickname: When Reached, They Declined to Comment. It examines the [public schools](https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/), the [Walker County](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) [Hospital District](https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/), the [City](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) of [Huntsville](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/), and so on.
Next the vegetables: the Department of Human Endeavor, which has written articles on whether pay raises have kept up with [inflation](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/) and SHSU [football](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-clutching-titles-to-grasping-for-wins-the-story-of-shsu-footballs-toughest-season/), with others under development. Right now, it's being run by Clippy from Microsoft until we find money to pay somebody real.
AI has infiltrated the ranks of **The Huntsvillan*.
Our third division looks at expressive activity of all types: [art](https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/), [music](https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/), [performance](https://www.huntsvillan.com/history-as-theater-behind-the-scenes-at-journey-through-bethlehem/), and more. It's headed by our Chief Humanist, Mary-Brett Stringer. January and February's offerings are already underway.
The last division is the bunch of fools that gave us [this](https://www.huntsvillan.com/lone-tree-standing-at-22nd-st-clearcut-has-survivors-guilt/) piece and [that one](https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/) and even helped write this speech right here. We can't come up with a name for it and currently call it Barfles after the neighbor's cat.
The variety in these four divisions ensures *The Huntsvillan* paints a rounded view of life in Huntsville and Walker County. Since we have no profits, this has to be enough for now. Now someone come refill my coffee, because I have work to do.
\[With the phone book in one hand and her coffee in the other, Mamber exits the room.\]
---
This annual report was audited for accuracy by the prestigious accounting firm [Arthur Andersen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur%5FAndersen). Any errors should be reported directly to them.
### History as theater: Behind the scenes at Journey Through Bethlehem
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/history-as-theater-behind-the-scenes-at-journey-through-bethlehem/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:32:29.000Z
We may live in divisive times, but if you look closely, there are people bringing us together. Jana Brown and Catherine White do just that by organizing [Journey Through Bethlehem](https://journeythroughbethlehem.com/), a re-creation of the town of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.
In the process they create community, a place where participants and attendees together are whisked back in time. Held at the Walker County Fairgrounds since 2003, Journey Through Bethlehem has been a joint effort of more than thirty different churches from almost every denomination in town.
Their bylaws prohibit debate on the beliefs distinguishing these denominations, focusing solely on replicating the night of Jesus’ birth. There is no sermonizing or proselytizing, and no one church is in charge. It's simply a hands-on way for people of all ages to step back to a special moment in time.
## There's a star in the east
Journey Through Bethlehem (JTB) isn’t a drive-through event – it’s an immersive theatrical one.
After paying the tax collectors $2 for entry, attendees observe King Herod learning of a new king from three Wise Men. They are then escorted by shepherds to a choir of angels before coming into town, where there are a variety of shops, a traditional Jewish wedding celebration, Roman soldiers wandering about, a petting zoo, and a synagogue. In the back stands an inn with no rooms available, and a quiet manger next door.
Clockwise from top left: the grain shop, soldiers guarding the entrance to King Herod's court, the spice shop, and two shepherds with their goat.
This year, over 1,000 people attended each night, forming lines that extended well out into the parking lot. According to JTB’s findings, two-thirds of visitors come from outside Huntsville, such as Claudia King from Magnolia, who’s attended each of the last five years with her two daughters. “I love that \[it’s\] hands-on, they get to explore,” she said.
Daughter Hannah, 7, loved the olives, and Ally, 9, loved making her clay object and weaving a basket. Claudia, originally from Mexico, feels a little taste of home with the busy market atmosphere of people, food, crafts, and artisans.
Among the foods on hand were Ezekiel bread with honey butter, olives, spices, grains, fruits, and nuts. Not only do these take you back 2,000 years – they provide a tasty late-night snack.
## Getting it all to come together is also a miracle
While the performance of Journey Through Bethlehem lasts just one weekend, the nonprofit operating it is active year-round, holding garage sales, securing sponsorships from local businesses, building sets, sewing costumes, and finding volunteers to play roles in the production or behind the scenes.
Left: Racks of costumes. Right: Feeding the cast and crew (photo credit: Jana Brown).
On performance weekend, costumes alone require a crew of five – and there is an amazing amount of laundry to do afterwards. Others provide food for the actors, staff the gift shop, or greet visitors in line.
Then there is building the sets and disassembling them afterwards. For this, there is a surprising source of help – trusties from the Wynne Unit.
This year, they constructed a new addition: a market road lined with shops. Brown “feels so blessed \[for the trusties\] because that's a lot of work to put up the city. They do a marvelous job. They really are excited to be a part of it; they are so happy that they're a piece of that puzzle that puts it together.”
Left: A trusty from the Wynne Unit puts finishing touches on the synagogue. Right: Trusties are supervised by David Blaylock.
Several people supervise the trusties, including David Blaylock, who is as adept at maneuvering his wheelchair as he is at construction. He darts about the unpaved floors of the fairgrounds organizing the assembly of the town.
Organizers raised the entry “tax” from $1 to $2 this year with heavy hearts. White laments, “It’s painful because we had to switch it, we were crying.” But with rising costs – everything from food and materials to renting the fairgrounds – the increase was necessary.
## A promotion from goat shepherd to groom
JTB actors are local and vary widely in age and background. For one 9-year-old angel, it was their first time acting. Others have been doing it far longer.
Nicholas Kaukonen, 15, served his 4th year as a Roman soldier and loves it. “The immersive experience, it’s a new world that brings you back to see what the times were like, people show up and leave with smiles on their faces.” This year, he recruited a friend, Jade LaPierre, 16, to serve as well. “Roman stuff and food? I’m in,” she said.
This year, history was made when fantasy met reality in the wedding party. Tristan Campbell, 25, a goat shepherd last year, played the groom, with his real-world wife, Ashley, as the bride. For Ashley, it was an opportunity to act again, which she hadn’t done since high school.
The fruit and nut shop, King Herod's court, Sarah Page.
For others, playing a character is even more meaningful. For the 4th year, Sarah Page played two roles: Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and a stand-in bride in the wedding party.
Though her mother and grandmother were involved, Sarah was initially apprehensive about joining the cast. But as a special needs adult, she enjoys meeting other people through the fundraising and planning events that take place throughout the year. Under the circumstances, Sarah feels like “me being a bride in this thing is maybe the closest I ever get.”
## C'mon down, y'hear?
Journey Through Bethlehem is held from 6-9 pm on the first Friday and Saturday of December at the Walker Country Fairgrounds, rain or shine. It is accessible to individuals with mobility issues, including wheelchairs.
Your $2 donation – pardon, tax – gets you into the theatrical production, the town, snacks and take-home crafts, and a petting zoo complete with a camel. The town is self-contained and suitable for older children to roam free and explore. Benches inside let adults rest while the kids stay in sight.
A visit can easily last an hour and a half. On the way out, stop by the gift shop, where nothing costs over $10, and grab a free bible from the Gideons. Then make a note in your planner: “Come back next year.”
---
Listen to Claudia King's full interview here.
0:00
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This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer, who also took every photo but one. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/). A selection of interviews recorded for this article will be available on **The Doers Of Things* sometime next year.
### A dangerous place to walk
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:32:55.000Z
Last week [we learned](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) how Huntsville's patchy sidewalk system can be a problem, and of the city's and county's odd quest to have the federal government pay for a huge walking path along University Ave. to downtown.
That this quest would fail was predictable. A [giant transportation master plan](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/885/Transportation-Master-Plan?ref=huntsvillan.com) had examined pedestrian needs throughout the city and deemed this corridor just fine.
The city and county had it backwards. The purpose of sidewalks isn't to draw people downtown, it's to get walkers where they want to go. Usually, that isn't downtown – it's to class. Most local pedestrians are college students living near Sam Houston State University. There, walking can be treacherous, and little has been done about it.
## The problem of the missing pedestrians
SHSU has 21,000 students, with all but the freshmen living off-campus. A thick cluster of apartments along Lake Rd. houses over 3,000 students, with concentrations along Sycamore Ave., Montgomery Rd., and I-45 holding thousands more.
Student-oriented apartment complexes are marked with red stars; key streets missing sidewalks are lined in yellow.
According to Google Maps, you can walk to campus from almost all of these complexes within 15 minutes. During peak hours this beats driving, because parking is difficult. Many students should be walking to class. Where are they?
They are plentiful along Bobby Marks Dr., Bowers Blvd., and Montgomery Rd., which are near campus and have good sidewalks. But it is much less common for students living elsewhere to walk.
Along parts of Sycamore Ave. and Ave. M, there are no sidewalks. It is rare to see students walking here.
Others are deterred by the intersection at Lake Rd. and Sam Houston Ave. Only about 10% of the 3000 students in that area walk to campus, according to two reliable sources. One reason for this can be found in the bureaucrat-ese of that master plan. This crossing:
> *did not give sufficient time for pedestrians to cross Sam Houston Ave. In addition, vehicles turning north onto Sam Houston Ave. from Lake Rd. have to yield to pedestrians, but this puts a driver’s patience against an active pedestrian walking area. (Abridged and edited from the original.)*
In other words, this crosswalk pits cars turning off Lake Rd. against pedestrians rushing to cross the street.\[1\] The master plan mentioned this three times, it was so concerned. Six years later, conditions are exactly the same.
It is intimidating. Miguel Vazquez, a senior computer science major from Houston, experienced this exact situation not long ago.
> *One time, I was walking across the street (Sam Ave.) when the light turned green, and it was dark, and a car came right at me head on. I was frozen in fear until they swerved around me at the last minute.*
For the 300 students along Lake Rd. who do walk to class, this crossing is a danger. For the other 90%, it serves as a deterrent to walking. Huntsville's busiest crosswalk is flat-out dangerous.
## Another reason Sam students don't walk
These problems, while significant, don't prevent SHSU students from walking downtown. University Ave. has sidewalks and light traffic. What's the impediment there?
Posing this question to three freshmen living on campus uncovered a second impediment to walking: it's dark. Most of the school year takes place off of Daylight Savings Time, and by the time college students are ready to go off campus it's late, or will be when they come home.
This problem occurs all around the periphery of campus, including University Ave. and Lake Rd. Even when the lighting is generally acceptable, key streets have poorly-lit blocks here and there. For the campus population, young and predominantly female, these dark patches could easily be unsettling.
Dark stretches along Lake Rd. near The Pines, further down Lake Rd., and along University Ave.
Addressing both sets of problems would be quite inexpensive.
At Lake Rd. and Sam Houston Ave., fix the push buttons that activate the walk signal, neither of which worked when inspected recently. Then prohibit cars from turning left during that time. To eliminate dark patches at night, add a few street lamps in select locations. You don't need federal money to do this.
Of course, with federal money you could do a lot more. Most roads near campus are unfriendly to bikes, and some need sidewalks. College Station has good sidewalks and even bike lanes near Texas A&M University, a sure attraction of that campus to some students. With the right vision, similar things are possible for Huntsville.
---
\[1\] It's actually worse than this. Heading towards campus, the crosswalk angles away from the street, so you can't see the cars behind you while you cross (see the picture at the top of this article).
This article and [its predecessor](https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/) were composed by Darren Grant, who has published [research on traffic safety](https://profiles.shsu.edu/dpg006/) and traveled most of Huntsville's roads on foot. His 2025 TED talk on the benefits of cycling for youth appears [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI).
### Sidewalks to nowhere: the tricky business of getting around Huntsville on foot
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/sidewalks-to-nowhere-the-tricky-business-of-getting-around-huntsville-on-foot/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:33:19.000Z
The evening of November 17, 2023 was a tough time to be traveling around Walker County without a car. At 6:44 pm, a pedestrian was killed along Hwy. 75 in New Waverly. Not half an hour later, at 7:09 pm, a bicyclist was killed by a distracted driver on FM 2821 in Huntsville.
These aren't isolated occurrences. In a typical year, Walker County will have two or three pedestrian fatalities and perhaps one biking fatality. Most of these take place outside Huntsville city limits, where speeds are higher and shoulders narrower. Still, getting around town on foot can still be a challenge.
Like most places in Texas, Walker County is car-oriented. But some people don't have a car and others prefer to walk or bike when they can, part of a resurgence in "non-motorized transportation" throughout Europe and North America. To be fully walkable, Huntsville has work to do.
## Now you see them, now you don't
Huntsville's sidewalks are patchy – often present, but with substantial gaps. Depending on your route, walking can be a delight or an ordeal.
Huntsville has some beautiful sidewalks that are sometimes in need of repair. Photo credits: John Stipe.
Some main arteries are lined with sidewalks, like Sam Houston Ave. or Veterans Blvd. When they aren't, you can sometimes wind through lightly-trafficked neighborhoods like The Avenues instead.
Other times it's tougher. Some sidewalks are in poor condition, as in areas near downtown, while others come and go, as along Normal Park Dr., Bearkat Blvd., and Sycamore Ave. Both problems occur along 11th St.
For many of these roads, there is no good alternative route. You're stuck. This is how non-driver Nick Ransford experienced it during his decade in town:
> Huntsville has sidewalks to nowhere. They abruptly end in the most illogical places or randomly switch sides of the street. Many places along 11th St. have no sidewalks. I was literally walking through grass and mud and wading through parking lots to get to work.
Now, did Ransford package his comments in a glossy brochure and receive beaucoodles of dollars for his efforts? Of course not. That's what consultants are for.
In 2019, mindful of the hand that was feeding them – the City of Huntsville – those consultants put the exact same thoughts into bureaucrat-ese:
> **Pedestrian Improvements.** As noted in previous sections, multiple corridors have sub-standard, obstructed, or discontinuous sidewalks. Some streets without crosswalks have desire lines where people walking have made natural paths that prove a need for sidewalks.
This statement was part of a giant [transportation master plan](https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/885/Transportation-Master-Plan) that examined roads, sidewalks, biking – the works, providing a blueprint for years of transportation improvements in the city. That report is now six years old. What's happened since then?
## Going nowhere fast
Since 2019, some progress has been made. There is a nice new sidewalk along the northern part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive leading up to Huntsville Elementary, and the revamped I-45 access roads now have sidewalks so wide two horses can fit side by side. And last month the sidewalk on Veterans Blvd. received major repairs that were desperately needed.
But this does little for people closer in to town, where the same gaps have persisted since that 2019 master plan. These are so numerous that this writer has – based on personal experience – trimmed it back to the highest-priority needs, shown below.
The author's recommended sidewalk locations are marked in yellow.
These "missing sidewalks" are spread all over town, generally where roads are narrow, speeds are higher (for town driving), and alternative routes are not available. Walkers frequent many of these routes.
Huntsville is not yet a pedestrian-friendly town, and it's not getting there quickly.
## You can't spend money you didn't get
Money is a big part of the problem. Building sidewalks in Texas is shockingly expensive – [$860,000 per mile on average](https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/ptn/bicycle/construction-cost-estimate.pdf).
Fortunately, federal dollars are available specifically for sidewalks and bike paths in small and medium-sized towns. These grants, available [every two years](https://www.txdot.gov/business/grants-and-funding/bicycle-pedestrian-local-federal-funding-programs.html) on a competitive basis, are administered by the Texas Department of Transportation. Since 2020, six nearby cities have won $18 million, including $5.5 million by little ol' Coldspring.
The City of Huntsville applied in each of these cycles. But these grants aren't easy to get – free money always draws a crowd – and the city has struck out each time.
Part of the problem has been proposing projects with little impact on safety.
The centerpiece of this year's application – and part of 2021's, too – was a 12 foot wide "multi-use" pedestrian/bicycle path along University Ave. between Sam Houston State University and downtown. It's an imaginative idea, part of a larger scheme that would turn that stretch of road one way heading north, with Bearkat paws crawling south down the middle of the street.
But this wide, lightly-trafficked street already has adequate sidewalks. This writer bikes down it multiple days each week on the way to work; it's the least worrisome part of his whole ride.
Looking north down University Ave. The multi-use path would go on the right.
The master plan agrees. Its suggested sidewalks did not include this road, and a section focused on University Ave. determined that it "does not show any major issues." In contrast, the plan encouraged sidewalks along Sycamore Ave. in the medium term and (more) along 11th St. in the long term.
The master plan did indicate that wider sidewalks on University Ave. were possible if it became one-way. But this was characterized not as necessary, just nice. And "nice, not necessary" won't prevail in a competition in which most projects aren't funded. This year's proposal had an uphill climb from the start.
## But wait! There's more!!
That master plan wasn't bothered by University Ave., but it went nuts about something else. The most used crosswalk in Huntsville is also the most dangerous. That story appears Monday (now published [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/a-dangerous-place-to-walk/)).
---
This year's grant application was joint between the city and Walker County, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Bill Daugette as the point person. Daugette asked the author of this article for a letter of support, which he provided. Comment was invited from Daugette and Huntsville City Manager Scott Swigert for this article, but they did not respond.
This article is a joint project of Darren Grant, who wrote the text, and John Stipe, who took most of the pictures. Grant is a longtime cyclist and runner who has published [research on traffic safety](https://profiles.shsu.edu/dpg006/) and traveled almost all of Huntsville's roads on foot. His 2025 TED talk on the benefits of bicycling appears [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5%5FmYY5FDbWI). Stipe, also known as [Mr. Pics](https://www.facebook.com/MrPicsMultimedia/), is Huntsville's most-recognizable photographer in his hat and yellow vest.
### From clutching titles to grasping for wins: The story of SHSU football's toughest season
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-clutching-titles-to-grasping-for-wins-the-story-of-shsu-footballs-toughest-season/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:34:11.000Z
It was late in the fourth quarter at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, a mild October night. Sam Houston has one last gasp at eking out victory over visiting UT-El Paso.
Bearkats quarterback Landyn Locke, in for a struggling Mabrey Mettauer, drops back to pass. His throw to Tim Burns Jr. is perfect – right where a wide receiver would want it. But the ball slips through Burns Jr.'s hands and, with it, a chance at SHSU's first win of the season. The Miners drain the clock and send Sam Houston to their seventh consecutive loss.
It wouldn't be their last.
It's shaping up to be Sam Houston’s worst season of football since 1948\. How has a program that was used to competing for conference and national titles slid so far so quickly? It takes the right mix of chaos, starting with...
## That's a big stack of name tags
When Temple University snatched up SHSU's title-winning coach, K.C. Keeler, at the end of the 2024 season, the floodgates opened for Sam Houston. The top 16 assistant coaches (including rising star Skyler Cassity), top defensive players, top running backs – all left in one fell swoop.
Such is the new reality of college football, in which players can jump schools each year in search of a larger stage and a better deal. As a result, programs that cannot pay to play will frequently experience an exodus of players.
That meant Sam Houston had to rebuild from the ground up. It began with a new head coach, Phil Longo, who had just been fired as offensive coordinator at Wisconsin.
In terms of recruiting, Longo was behind schedule the moment he was hired. In college football, the first major signing period in early December is the culmination of months of contact with players. Longo didn't start until two weeks after that. While his first recruiting class has produced a gem or two, the first-year coach was largely scrapping for who was left.
Longo himself puts it best:
0:00
/0:14
1×
Credit: Lane Fobbs.
In the end, Sam Houston kicked off the season with more than 50 new players – about half its roster. That's a lot of new faces, some of whom began just two months before the season started. Those are daunting circumstances for any team.
## Not enough Monopoly money
Why couldn't the Bearkats keep their most talented players? One reason: money.
Sam Houston, a program that had prided itself on winning despite meager resources, wanted to play big-time football. As TV executives sought new inventory, money was flowing into the college football’s highest division, the FBS, and the ‘Kats wanted a piece of the action.
They got that piece by joining Conference USA, whose television rights deal pays each member school over [$750,000 per year](https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/cusa-tv-deal-breakdown-espn-cbs-realignment). But in moving to the FBS, Sam Houston also had to contend with a new devil that sprung up at the same time: "Name, Image, and Likeness," which let schools compensate their athletes directly.
Sam Houston, which had scrapped financially just to enter big-time football, now found this on its plate as well. It was in a world of Goliaths – and this time, David had barely a slingshot. Again Longo puts it best:
0:00
/0:23
1×
## This house ain't a home
Many fans hang the hopes of the program on the improvements to SHSU's football stadium, which is currently undergoing expansion. **“**The students appear genuinely excited about the upgrades to Bowers Stadium and the great game‑day environment,” said Christian Ekpenike, sports reporter for SHSU's school paper, [*The Houstonian*](https://thehoustoniannews.com/). “The school is doing the right things to build that excitement.”
In the meantime, SHSU is playing its home games in a largely empty stadium far from campus. Shell Energy Stadium, the home of Houston's Dash and Dynamo soccer teams, is 72 miles from Huntsville. Facing a rush-hour drive into the heart of the city to watch a mid-week game, many fans understandably stay home.
With that and what appears to have been lackluster marketing, attendance has been light. Official numbers have been around 5,000, but the stands have been far emptier than that.
0:00
/0:12
1×
Just before kickoff against Jacksonville St. Credit: Lane Fobbs.
Away from home, the 'Kats travel more than Carmen Sandiego. In their quest for television exposure, Sam Houston has been the visitor in four different time zones this year, grossing over 3,000 travel miles. They traveled to Hawaii, in exchange for last season’s game, and to Oregon to play Oregon St.
In a conference that stretches from New Mexico to Delaware, even within-conference opponents can be a thousand miles distant. It's been a punishing schedule at home and away.
## The coach for the Longo haul?
As they voice their dismay and begin longing for a return down to the FCS level of football, Sam Houston fans have one other question: is Phil Longo THE guy?
Early indications are not favorable. The ‘Kats have been competitive in just three contests all season, and finding areas of improvement has been difficult. There has been [tension in the locker room](https://fobbstalksball.substack.com/p/bearkat-blues-shocking-report-suggests) and multiple claims of [unmet promises](https://brobible.com/sports/article/sam-houston-state-phil-longo-culture-problem-college-football/). Many players could head for the exit at the close of the season, creating a revolving door that would make it harder for the program to stabilize.
On the other hand, having to solve the problem of player retention is not specific to Longo. It is faced by every coach this side of Alabama and Ohio State. Still, the edict "when the rich catch a cold, the poor catch pneumonia" applies. Any player retention issues will be that much harder for the resource-strapped Bearkats to solve.
Nevertheless, with two recent wins in his pocket, against Delaware and Oregon St., the countenance of the head man in Huntsville has changed. Gone are the signs of strain that dominated the season's opening months.
You can see it in the players, too, who are more relaxed and seem more assured on the field. Recruits are back visiting games, and there is a full off-season of recruiting to look forward to. Groundhog Day isn't until February, but there are already signs of an early spring for SHSU football.
This article was composed by Lane Fobbs, who writes [Bearkat Bites](https://fobbstalksball.substack.com/), a year-round newsletter devoted to SHSU football. He has covered the sport of college football in one form or another for nearly fifteen years. An updated version of this article, recapping the entire season, will appear on Bearkat Bites in December.
### The Item will make bank if they can sell this last newsstand copy
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/the-item-will-make-bank-if-they-can-sell-this-last-newsstand-copy/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:35:15.000Z
A rare and endangered species was observed recently in Walker County: an actual physical newspaper for sale at a newsstand. The sighting of the *Huntsville Item* last August in Riverside is believed to be last of its type in the wild.
The copy sells for $2.50, the same price as in 2022, when it was published. Hey, at least *something's* not subject to inflation! Thanks, Joe Biden!
Next to it, keeping it company, is the *Walker County Press*, a free paper which at least has the integrity to publish a picture of an actual person who is an alleged villain, unlike CERTAIN WEB SITES that [use cartoon drawings instead](https://www.huntsvillan.com/about/).
Closeup of the **Walker County Press* pictured at the top of this article.
Featured in this July 16-17, 2022 edition of the *Item* is a new coaching addition at Sam Houston State University: Sonia Curvelo, hired that summer to lead the Women's Soccer Team.
Over three seasons, Curvelo compiled a record of 17 wins, 25 losses, and 9 ties (that many ties? – yes, [that's soccer for you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG%5Fi8CWE8)), before departing earlier this year to [become the head coach](https://sjsuspartans.com/news/2025/03/26/san-jose-state-announces-hiring-of-sonia-curvelo-as-womens-soccer-head-coach) at San Jose State University in California.
"News is timeless," some will say. However, the color brown – prevalent on the pages of this particular copy – begs to disagree. Officials fear the front page will get so dark as to be unreadable before 2027, when this copy is expected to sell. By then, it is anticipated that Sonia Curvelo will have compiled a losing record at San Jose State University and been hired back at SHSU at a higher salary.
### From songs to speakers in Huntsville
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/from-songs-to-speakers-in-huntsville/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:35:41.000Z
Singing in the shower is one thing. Recording your music and sharing it with the world is something else entirely. While Huntsville's music scene doesn't bustle like Austin's, we do have several musicians dedicating their time, treasure, and talent to recording their music.
One example is [The Pickets](https://www.facebook.com/picketbandpage), a local country-rock band that includes Greg Picket on vocals and guitar, his father Paul on bass, his wife Ashley on harmonies, and Tom Weger on drums. Their upcoming album *The Count* was recorded at the new [River House Magic Factory](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579033903712), a full-service destination studio on the Trinity River north of town.
What does it take to get songs to your speakers? Greg Picket knows well, having operated his own studio, Prison City Sound, with his father from 2012-2014\. For him, handing over recording and production duties to the Magic Factory was freeing. “My job was to be creative because I could trust them to do their job.”
## There's a reason for that day job
To make an album, you first have to have some songs. Many local bands, including the Pickets, write their own, a process that can take months or years.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You then have to secure studio time, hire a producer or sound engineer to run the equipment, rehearse and record the songs, and mix and master to pull the whole project together.
Each step costs money. Studio time runs $20-$200 an hour, musician costs are another $50-$500 an hour, while engineering and mixing ranges from $250-$2,500 per song. Prices vary with experience, equipment, and studio reputation.
Even a low-budget production starts at $3,000, while the upper end can cost over $100,000\. And that’s not taking into account everything that happens afterwards: putting the recordings into CD or vinyl, album artwork, and marketing. For most independent musicians, especially in Huntsville, those are daunting numbers.
The Pickets' last album, **Coffee in the Morning, Tequila at Night*, came out in 2020.
## Looking for options
Some bands end up taking their projects out of town. This is what happened with gospel group [The Willing Workers of Huntsville](https://www.facebook.com/willingworkershuntsville), featuring Roland Lewis Sr, Solomon DeBose, and Quentin Houston on vocals, Kwenton Williams on vocals and keyboards, Albert Brown Sr. on bass, and Albert Brown Jr. on drums.
Their first album, *Victory*, was done in a friend's home studio here in Huntsville, but the second, *Well Done*, was recorded in a studio in Spring that had more space and equipment.
Another local option is Billy Hillman's [HillTrax Studio](https://www.facebook.com/billyesquire), in operation since 2010\. Hillman has used his vast network as a touring musician to get clientele from out of the area. He believes, “There’s a certain cultural aspect of the university, I think, that makes artistic stuff well received here because of the mix of people that are here to appreciate it, but it’s a limited clientele.”
The Willing Workers' last album, **Well Done*, was released in 2022.
The Willing Workers might become part of that clientele. Williams had been unaware of the studio. “It’s hard when you don’t have all the knowledge, as far as other musicians and recording artists, to keep it local,” he said.
## It's so worth it
The whole process is so much work that getting to hear and share the final product is really gratifying.
For Williams, “It's honestly one of the best feelings in the world. The first album was exciting because it was my first time ever recording. The second album was just as exciting, if not more, because it was my first time having music released on digital platforms.”
It's the same way for Picket. “I almost always feel a huge sense of relief and gratitude. Making an album can be difficult, but I've been fortunate to play music with family and friends who love going through the process as much as I do.”
Getting the opportunity to bring their songs to life and then share them with the world is a highlight of any musician's career. Fortunately, for Huntsville's musicians, you can do that right close to home.
Clockwise from top left: The sound diffuser wall at The Magic Factory, sound equipment at HillTrax, the "live room" at HillTrax, more sound equipment. Photo credits: Adam McFarland (upper left), [Cade Taylor Crippin](https://www.photographybycade.com/) (all others).
---
Follow the links and embedded videos to learn more about each artist and studio mentioned in this article.
This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/). The full interviews with Picket and Williams will be available on **The Doers Of Things* sometime next year.
### Hospital District largely silent on giant tax break for seniors
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/hospital-district-largely-silent-on-giant-tax-break-for-seniors/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:36:06.000Z
Question: What took just a few seconds and cost most local households about $20 per year? Answer: The homestead exemption passed recently by the Walker County Hospital District, which is almost certainly one of the largest in the state.
In a meeting last August, the hospital district's Board of Managers [unanimously adopted](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/August-12-2025-Minutes.pdf) a $150,000 homestead exemption for homeowners who are at least 65 years old or disabled. That exemption requires higher taxes for everyone else.
There appears to have been no indication that this was coming, prior to the required agenda posting a few days before that meeting.
Jimmy Williams, publisher of [New Waverly Community News and Events](https://newwaverlycommunitynewsandevents.wordpress.com/), attends hospital district meetings regularly. He told *The Huntsvillan*, "There was never any discussion of the exemption that I witnessed in an open public meeting. The motion and approval took less than a minute with no discussion."
## Likely one of Texas' largest exemptions
This homestead exemption far exceeds that of most hospital districts. To compare, we returned to the same area as in our [previous article](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) on the hospital district – basically everything east of Austin – and obtained the homestead exemptions of all forty other hospital districts (whatever their population).
Frequently, these districts had no exemption at all; most others ranged from $5,000 - $30,000\. Six-digit exemptions were very rare. Outside of Walker County, they occurred only in Dallas and Houston (Harris County).
This table includes all hospital districts, of any size, east of I-35 and the Guadalupe River.
The larger homestead exemptions in Dallas and Houston probably reflect all their commercial and industrial property. There, as in other major Texas cities, homestead exemptions tend to be large across the board – nearly identical for the city, the county, and the hospital district.
In contrast, smaller counties like Walker have much less taxable commercial and industrial property, so homestead exemptions are usually small (except for the schools, which are set statewide). As a result, the Walker County Hospital District's exemption is almost surely one of the largest in the state.
## Significant financial impact
For senior citizens, the savings is substantial. A homeowner receiving the full exemption will save $174.15 on next year's taxes.
These savings are paid for by higher taxes on businesses, renters, and younger homeowners. Figuring this out takes **Math**® – but *The Huntsvillan* was not deterred. The hospital district [states](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/No-WCHD-Exemption-Property-Owners-1.pdf) that this homestead exemption reduces its 2026 tax base by 9%. This would require a 10% increase in the tax rate to make up the difference – over a penny per $100 valuation.
In the end, the district raised taxes by 0.86 cents per $100 valuation. For a typical $250,000 house, this amounts to $21.50 – two Whataburger combo meals, plus tax.
As a group, the younger individuals on whom this burden falls have less money. Poverty is much higher among younger adults in our county, and especially high among children. It is far lower among senior citizens. At the same time, senior citizens use hospitals more than twice as often as younger people do. The tax break goes to those who can most afford it and use hospitals most frequently.
Source: Houston-Galveston Area Council.
This analysis considers only current taxes. The bond currently being voted on, if passed, would roughly double the overall tax rate, and thus the costs and benefits of this homestead exemption.
Using the hospital district's [estimate](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WALKER-CO-HOSPITAL-DISTRICT-NOV-2025-BOND-ELECTION-Voter-Information-Doc.pdf?ref=huntsvillan.com) of the maximum tax increase generated by this bond, the homestead exemption would save senior citizens an additional $158.10, bringing their total savings to $332.60\. To make up for it, the taxes on a non-exempt $250,000 house would rise another $24.40, for a total increase of $43.90\. That's enough to let us skip Whataburger entirely and go to some fancy sit-down place.
## Board of Managers silent
Many questions raised by these facts are best answered by the [elected board members](https://wchd-tx.org/board-of-managers/) who approved this exemption to begin with.
Accordingly, *The Huntsvillan* reached out to all five members of the Board of Managers, asking where this idea came from, how it was vetted, whether community feedback was solicited, and why they supported it. Some real head-scratchers.
However, [as you may have guessed](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/), all five members declined to answer.\* All we know about their thinking comes from that few seconds of their August meeting – their silent vote in support. Whataburger combo meal, we hardly knew ye.
---
\* While four board members did not respond to *The Huntsvillan*'s inquiry, we did have an unsatisfying interchange with board chair Anne Woodard. For transparency, full details can be found on our [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Huntsvillan/61574229382407/). After our outreach, the hospital district made a Facebook post addressing one of our questions. As it was not attributed to any board member, we did not treat it as a response to our inquiries.
There will be another article on the hospital district, but probably not for a month or more. We have the dots, but they aren't yet connected.
Alison Wilkins contributed to this article, uncovering most other hospital districts' homestead exemptions.
### Huntsville ISD staffing issues approach crisis levels
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/huntsville-isd-staffing-issues-approach-crisis-levels/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:36:31.000Z
Huntsville High School sent one letter after another – four in all. Each said the same thing: "I am taking this opportunity to inform you that your child's teacher does not currently have the appropriate state teaching certificate."
With them, Hayley Luna\* and her 10th grade son made a little origami zoo, with a pelican, a wood stork, two alligators and a wombat.
Ha, ha, ha – no. Luna did what any God-fearing American would do – vent on Facebook, thus drawing the attention of *The Huntsvillan*.
Left: one of the four letters Luna received from Huntsville High School. Right: an origami zoo featuring a pelican, a wood stork, two alligators, and a wombat. And you thought it wasn't possible.
Luna couldn't have known, but those letters reflected a problem long brewing in the Huntsville ISD – getting qualified teachers and keeping them. The district is now hiring uncertified teachers at unprecedented rates, and inexperienced teachers dominate its workforce. These staffing issues are reaching crisis levels.
## Teacher experience has crumbled
Teaching is as tough as it is rewarding. Grading and preparing lessons takes lots of time, while classroom management and state testing is stressful.
So many teachers don't stick around for long. Statewide, almost 40% of public schoolteachers are "inexperienced," with just five years or less in the profession. It's always been this way, because teaching has always been a tough job.
For many years, Walker County's public schools had a leg up on everyone else. In the early 2000's, the fraction of inexperienced teachers in the Huntsville and New Waverly districts were below the state average. In New Waverly, it's still that way. There, barely 20% of teachers have five years of experience or less.
But in Huntsville, things have changed. The percentage of inexperienced teachers started rising after the 2006-2007 school year, soon surpassed the state average, and has grown steadily ever since. By 2023, it exceeded 60%.
Light dots are individual schools. District lines are a simple average of the schools included and omit "TOPS" for the HISD. These numbers were taken from the [Texas Education Agency](https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/texas-academic-performance-reports), the state agency overseeing Texas public schools.
That level is rarely seen in districts of this size. In neighboring school districts – Willis, Madisonville, Trinity, Anderson-Shiro, and Coldspring – the fraction of inexperienced teachers averaged a little under 40%, similar to Texas as a whole.
## Certification rates have crumbled too
While experience has been steady statewide, certification has not. Since 2020 the fraction of teachers lacking certification has tripled, to 12%, partly due to stagnant salaries that the state [only recently addressed](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/).
Most local school districts are either near that 12% range (Coldspring, Crockett, Willis) or below it (Conroe, Madisonville, New Waverly, Richards). But in Huntsville, the fraction of teachers that are uncertified has shot up to 31%, the second highest rate of all 55 districts in our educational "region."
Region 6 is based in Huntsville and has 55 school districts. The table lists the five highest districts and others nearby. The overall rate for the state of Texas was 12.0%. Data [here](https://tea.texas.gov/reports-and-data/educator-data/uncertified-teachers-district-dataset-2024-2025.xlsx).
Most uncertified teachers are inexperienced, because they must complete their certification within three years. Connecting the dots, roughly 30% of Huntsville ISD's teachers are uncertified and inexperienced, another 30% are certified but new to the profession, and the remaining 40% are both certified and experienced.
## It makes a difference
Luna sees the effects on her son. While he has had some great uncertified teachers, others "have plenty of room for improvement and would greatly benefit from training in regard to teacher-student relationships, classroom management, and the over-use of busy work."
The [evidence](https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/does-teaching-experience-increase-teacher-effectiveness-review-research) backs her up. Experience makes teachers more effective and well-rounded, which is why districts [pay more](https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/) for it.
The loss of experience probably contributes to Huntsville ISD's recent [state ratings](https://txschools.gov/?view=district&id=236902&tab=overview&lng=en), in which the district overall received a "D" on an A-F scale, with "F" ratings for Huntsville, Samuel Walker Houston, and Scott Johnson elementaries.
But it's probably not experience alone. Back in 2011, when the district's teachers were more experienced, there were still [three failing schools](https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/src/2011/district.srch.html). Turnover has been elevated ever since. That points to other issues that have outlasted principals and even superintendents. Staffing issues are both a cause and a consequence of the district's problems.
## What's next?
We don't know if HISD's administration considers these staffing issues to be a problem. We sent it – nicely, we promise, [we know what you are thinking](https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/) – several questions about teacher hiring and retention, but they did not respond.
The school board has been equally quiet. *The Huntsvillan* reviewed the [agendas](https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/736) of the last year of HISD board meetings and found no item specifically concerning retention or certification. Pay rates are reviewed annually, including last June, but little was said about those topics at [that meeting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBrdaOL36zk) either.
That June pay increase was the district's most aggressive in years. It had saved up some money and so could raise pay beyond what the state required. But the state gave smaller districts nearby even more money (per student) to raise pay with. It may all turn out to be a wash.
Something will have to happen, and soon. Legislation passed last spring [strictly limits](https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/hb-2-implementation-new-certification-requirements-and-incentives-for-uncertified-teachers) the use of uncertified teachers going forward. Unless the state gives it an exemption, Huntsville ISD will soon have to staff its classrooms in new ways. At this point, what that would be is anyone's guess.
---
\* Hayley Luna is a pseudonym. *The Huntsvillan* will return to this topic next year.
Alison Wilkins contributed to this article with background research and that beautiful graph with the little dots.
### Lone tree standing at 22nd St. clearcut has survivor's guilt
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/lone-tree-standing-at-22nd-st-clearcut-has-survivors-guilt/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:37:56.000Z
Have you ever thought, why me?
That tree has. The last one standing after a massive clear cut at the big hill along 22nd St. in the Avenues, it's got a case of survivor's guilt so bad its leaves are drooping.
Or maybe that's the lack of water. Who knows. Still, it looks sad. We feel sad for it. It needs better friends than two port-a-potties.
With only two port-a-potties for companions, this tree is very lonely.
"Why me?" it was recently heard to ask. "Why spare me and take my friends?"
"Worst clear cut I've seen since that business in the Truffula forest," said The Lorax, contacted while partying at the Margaritaville Resort down in Montgomery. "Pass me another pina colada."
The tree stands majestically amidst the construction, making for beautiful pictures like this one.
When *The Huntsvillan* reached out to the construction manager about the solitary remaining tree, he uttered an unspeakable oath. "Wait – we left one? There's still one there?"
When we responded in the affirmative, his reply was immediate. "We'll take it out tomorrow."
### Has local pay caught up with inflation?
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/has-local-pay-caught-up-with-inflation/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:38:57.000Z
After Covid infected our lungs, it ravaged our finances. In 2021 and 2022, people were ready to spend all that money they saved up during the pandemic. That ran up against supply chain problems, and the result was the highest inflation in decades. From mid-2021 to mid-2022, prices nationwide increased by an average of almost 10%.
The only way to keep up with higher prices is higher pay. And here in Walker County, we can keep up with people's pay because there are so many government jobs, where pay is public. The schools and [prisons](https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/divisions/hr/coinfo/cosalary.html) post their [pay](https://5il.co/3o6e1) schedules [online](https://www.huntsville-isd.org/o/hisd/page/human-resources), while SHSU announces a "merit pool" in years with a raise.
We started with hypothetical living expenses of $45,000 in 2019, and let them grow at the rate of inflation. By 2025, higher prices made those same living expenses cost $56,765\. Then we determined the pay in key local jobs over the last six years and compared it to these living expenses.
The results really differ. Some local workers are way ahead of where they were before the pandemic, some have just kept up, and some are way behind. It depends on who you work for.
## The Public Schools
Both the Huntsville ISD and New Waverly ISD lost ground relative to inflation in years after the pandemic. From 2020 to 2023, pay barely rose in both districts while prices rose a lot.
But the last two years have really helped. After years of stagnant funding, the 2025 Texas legislature [poured more money into the schools](https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-public-education-schools-funding-bill-explained/), especially for smaller districts and experienced teachers. In the HISD, this brought experienced teachers a little ahead of where they were in 2019\. But beginning teachers are still behind. Taking inflation into account, they can't afford what they could have in 2019.
For New Waverly, teachers at all experience levels came out ahead. As a smaller district, they received more money from the state that was passed on in raises. For a long time, Huntsville ISD paid teachers much more than New Waverly ISD. That gap has really narrowed.
Overall, after a few lean years, our public schoolteachers are doing pretty well.
## SHSU and the Prisons
Sam Houston State University doesn't have a salary schedule. Instead, it announces a "merit pool" – roughly the average percentage raise for workers remaining in their jobs and gaining experience, but not getting a promotion.
We took someone there who always got the average raise from the merit pool and made $45,000 in 2019, the same as an experienced correctional officer in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and as our living expenses. Now it's a horse race to see which grows faster.
And we have a winner – correctional officers. In 2021 and 2022, they lost some ground to inflation, just like [workers nationwide](https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker). But they have gained it back since and then some. The TDCJ has given raises [each year since 2022](https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/news/pay%5Fincrease%5Feffective%5FSeptember%5F1.html), for a total increase of 40%.
A TDCJ recruiter recently told *The Huntsvillan* that people are shocked when they see what the pay is now – about $63,000 with experience. That is competitive with schoolteachers.
That leaves only one public employer to lose ground to inflation – SHSU. Since Sept. 2019, its merit pay pools have totaled only 8%, with another 3% promised later this year. Over that period prices have gone up 26%, putting workers behind by about 15%. That worker breaking even in 2019 is now more than $8,000 behind living expenses, which have grown to $56,765.
---
In the end, things played out how they usually do. It took time for things to work out. For most government employees in Walker County, they ended up working out to their advantage, after some belt-tightening in the years after Covid.
Mary-Brett Stringer contributed to this article. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/?ref=huntsvillan.com).
### In comparative terms, hospital bond proposal spends tax dollars bigly
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/in-comparative-terms-hospital-bond-proposal-spends-tax-dollars-bigly/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:39:19.000Z
*The Huntsvillan* surely speaks for us all in saying we are not experts at building hospitals. Building a doghouse is plenty difficult for us. So what to make of the bond proposal that the Walker County Hospital District has placed on the Nov. 4 ballot?
Well, we just did what everyone else does: turn to the internet. Typing "for the love of God, what's up with this bond issue we thought was settled months ago" into Google, it came up with this: the [Bond Review Board](https://data.brb.texas.gov/local/hhd/).
What??? There is an actual state agency with the same name as our favorite Backstreet Boys cover band? Now you have our attention!
We learned things. Namely, that the Bond Review Board tracks the public debt of each hospital district in Texas, annually. And whether that debt is paid off with tax money, revenue from its operations, or a mix of the two. Now we can see how Walker County's proposed bond compares to other similar counties.
The bottom line: most comparable counties don't have any public debt at all, because they don't have a hospital district. Any hospitals are in the private sector. For the remainder, the debt is smaller than in Walker County's proposal and is typically supported by revenue, not taxes. The proposed bond is somewhat unusual in size and quite unusual in relying on tax dollars.
### The Nitty-Gritty
There are an awful lot of hospital districts, so we focused on "benchmark" counties that weren't too far away (within about 250 miles) or too different in size (within 35,000, or half, of our population). That gave us 24 counties in addition to Walker.
Of these 24 counties, 19 had no hospital district. The remaining five all added some debt over the past twenty years. To make an apples-to-apples comparison, we adjusted this debt for inflation and divided it by the population of the hospital district in the year that the debt was added. And then we put it in a table, because we like tables.
Note: HD stands for hospital district, M stands for millions, "benchmark counties" are east of I-35 and the Guadalupe River and have 2024 populations between 35,000 and 105,000\. (Walker County's is about 70,000, leaving out the prisoners.)
Most commonly, there is no hospital district and thus no public debt. For example, Lufkin has a hospital–[two](https://www.commonspirit.org/find-a-location/st-lukes-health-memorial-hospital-lufkin-tx-2928) in [fact](https://www.woodlandheights.net/)–but no public debt, because both hospitals are in the private sector.
Just six hospital districts (in five counties) issued debt. The total debt per person generally ranged from $1,000 to $2,000, and it was typically supported by revenues, not taxes. For example, Nacogdoches County's hospital district has plenty of debt–but none of it is owed by the public. It is supported by revenues from its [hospital](https://nacmem.org/our-hospital/).
We also found four other, smaller hospital districts that issued sizeable amounts of debt. Here the per capita amounts are somewhat larger, generally ranging from $1,000 to $2,500\. This debt is always supported by revenues.
Note: The populations of the West Wharton and Wood County Central hospital districts could not be calculated precisely and were assumed to be half that of the county as a whole.
Walker County's bond proposal stands out in two ways. At $2,800 of debt per (free world) resident, it is larger than in all nine comparison districts, even adjusting for inflation. It is also rare in having a substantial tax component. Only Gainesville Hospital District's 2018 bond had tax support.
The Gainesville case is instructive. Its 2018 debt was added in a restructuring after bankruptcy the previous year. It has been paying this off at a steady rate, and the current debt service tax is $54.30 per $100,000 valuation. For the Walker County proposal, the estimated maximum tax is [twice as high](https://wchd-tx.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WALKER-CO-HOSPITAL-DISTRICT-NOV-2025-BOND-ELECTION-Voter-Information-Doc.pdf): $105.40\.
To conclude: of the comparable counties we examined, the vast majority have no hospital district. Of those that do, the vast majority cover debt through revenue, not taxes. For the one that did use taxes, the burden is half that of Walker County's bond proposal. That proposal spends tax dollars bigly, in comparative terms.
### And Then Things Went Off the Rails
Here you'd expect to read a response from the hospital district commenting on our findings. But you won't because we ran into the dumbest problem ever.
We asked the hospital district–very nicely–for the e-mail address and phone number of all five members of the board, so we could reach out for comment. But they provided only the e-mail address of one. This is unacceptable. The elected officials who set tax rates and put this bond on the ballot shouldn't be unreachable.
So we made a second request–not as nicely–and waited. After giving them a week, we published this article.
The questions we would ask, had we the means to do so, are basic. What reason is there for proposing a relatively large bond? Why does it need so much tax support, when comparable areas do with less or none at all? And so on.
We would ask some other questions, too. Why have one member of the hospital district board and two executives at Huntsville Memorial Hospital checked out our requestor on social media? The hospital is distinct from the hospital district, and located three miles away--so how did hospital executives even find out about this? Is it a HIPAA violation? What the heck is going on?
These latter questions may be uncomfortable to answer. Maybe it's best the board members are unreachable for now. But don't worry, Walker County Hospital District. This article may be done, but there will be others. Talk to you soon!
### Imerj-ing from prison into art
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/imerj-ing-from-prison-into-art/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:39:37.000Z
With five prisons in the city limits, Huntsville is named Prison City for a reason. We all know what one looks like from the outside, but Daniel Celaya, the founder of downtown's new Be Free Gallery, knows them well from the inside. Prison City Huntsville has proven to be the ideal place to operate his gallery and associated non-profit, Imerj Art & Advocacy Projects.
Humans have always had some version of art, be it primitive cave paintings or Michelangelo’s frescoes. There is ample scientific evidence that our interaction with art, as observer or creator, has positive effects on body and mind. Removing prisoners from society does not exclude them from the benefits of art.
But what happens when the means to create art are taken away? Celaya knows, having spent 20 years in Texas prisons, eight and a half of which were in solitary confinement. Lacking supplies, but not a drive to create and express himself, Celaya made paint brushes using thread from his boxers, some of his hair, a pen tube, and the metal clamp of a pencil eraser. His paint came from the innards of a color pencil, ground into powder and mixed with baby oil.
Celaya says, “Art saved my life. It redirected my misdirected energy,” to make a paintbrush instead of a shank.
Daniel Celaya's makeshift prison art supplies, his plans that became the Be Free Gallery and Imerj, and a book on meditation, all of which helped him when in solitary confinement.
A year and a half ago, Celaya left prison with a dream: “to give a voice and second chances to underserved creators, by promoting their dignity and respect.” In prison, he handed off his and other inmates’ art to his aunt and mother on the outside. Now released, he has become the steward instead, dealing art instead of contraband, representing those who are still behind bars and those who have served their time.
Celaya says, “I don’t sell art, I sell stories. Because there’s a story behind everybody here.” 60% of all sales go to the artists and 40% goes to the organization.
Be Free Gallery is located inside the old Greyhound Bus Station, where one can still find an attendant tucked away serving bus riders, be they newly released or never locked up. The art in the spacious gallery is unique and diverse, from oil paintings and pencil sketches to mixed media, airbrushing, and woodwork.
Celaya says Be Free Gallery and Imerj have been embraced by the city of Huntsville. Still, there are people who walk into the gallery and then turn and walk out once they realize who made the art. For some, the prison stigma persists. Celaya tries to educate people on the humanity of the artists by hanging their stories on the walls, showing what he has coined as “justice-involved arts and artists,” instead of labeling it as prison art.
Left: John Shockley's raw texture and layered abstractions of survival, strength, and justice are all created behind bars. Right: Kenneth West created this piece in the craft shop using the many denial letters he received when requesting to get his case reviewed.
It isn’t easy. Though he has some local benefactors, getting help and covering costs remain Celaya’s biggest hurdles. Be Free Gallery and Imerj have a staff of one. With some help from volunteers, Celaya renovates the space, does administrative work, coordinates with artists, and organizes the receptions.
Costs add up. For example, it takes roughly $800 a month to communicate with and travel to prisoners and collect their works. Administrative and event costs are at least another $600 a month, and so on.
At one point, the Greyhound Station had clothes and other items that newly released inmates could buy to start their new life. While these are no longer for sale, hope is available for free in the form of the art that hangs from the walls. For Celaya, passing on that hope is worth the struggles to keep the Be Free Gallery and Imerj in operation.
“I don’t just want to help them develop as an artist," he says. “I want to help them develop as a human being.”
---
Be Free Gallery, located behind the stunning mural of roses at 1000 12th Street downtown, is open Monday through Friday from 9 am-2 pm and during their frequent receptions. Street parking is available and entry is free. Learn more at [imerjart.com](https://imerjart.com/), where there is a link to donate. In-kind donations are also appreciated, such as stamps, ink, and paper for the office, toilet paper and cleaners for the bathroom, or cups, plates, ice, food, and beverages for the receptions.
This article was composed by Mary-Brett Stringer. Learn more about Mary-Brett and her podcast, **The Doers of Things*, on her web site, [www.thedoersofthings.com](https://www.thedoersofthings.com/). The full interview with Celaya will be available on **The Doers Of Things* later this year.
### Local News Outlet Launches
URL: https://www.huntsvillan.com/local-news-outlet-launching-soon/
Last updated: 2026-09-04T14:39:59.000Z
---
Upstart news outlet *The Huntsvillan* launched on Sept. 21, promising new stories roughly every week, including news, features, and occasional commentary. A brief video unlocks each article. You will never have to pay anything to read an article in *The Huntsvillan*.
The next few weeks will feature articles about local pay raises, our local schools, the hospital bond, and the opening of Huntsville's newest art gallery, along with a bit of humor.
You can subscribe to occasional e-mail updates about new and upcoming stories by clicking on the "Subscribe" button.
To learn more *The Huntsvillan*, go [here](https://www.huntsvillan.com/about/).