The lowdown on Galveston school openings and closings. FULL LINK
Remaining Closed:
Burnet Elementary – (bilingual & pre k students report to Oppe Elementary) (other burnet students report to Parker Elementary)
Scott Elementary – (last names beginning with "A" through "L" report to Rosenberg Elementary) (letter "M" through "Z" report to Morgan Elementary)
Central Middle School – (report to Weis Middle School)
Crenshaw Elementary/Middle School – (contact the school)
With thousands of Galveston residents displaced from their homes, the Postal Service is advising citizens to contact the office of the Galveston County Clerk if they wish to determine their eligibility to participate in the “Vote by Mail” process.
“We are working closely with officials from the Elections Division with Galveston County to ensure every Galveston resident that utilizes the Vote by Mail process receives their ballot promptly,” said Houston District Manager Kelvin Williams. Specifics regarding the Vote by Mail process are available via the Galveston County website at http://www.galvestonvotes.org , or by calling 409-765-2605. For specific Vote by Mail guidelines in other counties in the state of Texas, visit the website for the Secretary of State at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/links.shtml#County.
The Postal Service plays no role in how elections are carried out in the United States, although it is fully authorized to inform and educate election officials about USPS products and services available. The non-partisan "Mailing Resources Center for Election Officials," a well-trained sales force, mail acceptance employees and employees with expertise in designing election mail pieces have been providing reliable, trusted expertise to election officials across the country, Williams said.
Voters are asked to mail completed absentee ballots five days before they are due to ensure the safe, timely delivery of their vote. Americans overseas, including men and women in the Armed Services, should plan on sending ballots back at least two weeks before Nov. 4, the date of the federal general election. Service members stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan are asked to mail completed ballots by Sept. 30, where possible.
Mail delivery resumed for most Galveston postal customers on September 29. A temporary mail pickup location in La Marque is continuing to operate for residential and business postal customers requesting this service. Located at 14057 Delaney Road in La Marque in the Gulfway Plaza at La Marque outlet mall, the temporary site began operations on September 23, and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Gulfway Plaza at La Marque site also has retail service and Post Office Box mail available for pickup by postal customers normally served at both the Galveston Main Post Office and Bob Lyons Station.
Service members and Americans living abroad can mail their completed ballots free of charge by bringing the ballot to APO/FPO Post Offices or to a consulate of the United States.
The Postal Service also offers the following suggestions for voters this fall:
• Make sure to use proper postage and that the stamp appears in the upper right hand corner on the front of the envelope.
• Place completed ballots inside the envelope correctly. Most return envelopes for ballots have a clear window on the front so the mailing address can be clearly seen.
• Check with local election offices for rules on requesting and completing absentee ballots.
• Visit the state’s website online to find out where election offices are located in the state and to get information governing voting by mail.
To visit the Mailing Resources Center for Election Officials center, please log on to: www.usps.com/electionmail.
Hurricane Ike
UPDATED October 1, 2008
GISD Schools will open on Tuesday, October 7, 2008.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Burnet Staff Members and Parker Staff Members to report to the Parker Cafeteria for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Scott Staff Members and Morgan Staff Members to report to the Morgan Cafeteria for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Central Staff Members and Weis Staff Members to report to the Weis Cafeteria for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Crenshaw Staff Members to report to the Support Center Board Room for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Austin Magnet Staff members to report to the Austin Library for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Ball High Staff Members to report to the Ball High School Cafeteria for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL DAEP/AIM Staff Members to report to the San Jacinto campus for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Oppe Staff Members to report to the Oppe campus for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
On Friday, October 3, 2008, we are asking ALL Rosenberg Staff Members to report to the Rosenberg campus for a meeting at 9:00 a.m.
GISD Schools will open on Tuesday, October 7, 2008.
School times:
Elementary Schools 7:45 – 3:15
Middle School 8:00 – 3:30
Austin Magnet School 8:00 – 4:00
Ball High School 8:00 – 3:30
We will open the following schools:
Morgan Elementary
Rosenberg Elementary
Parker Elementary
Oppe Elementary
Weis Middle School
Austin Magnet School
Ball High School
San Jacinto (DAEP/AIM)
We will not open the following schools at this time:
These campuses will remain closed for further clean up and restoration efforts.
Burnet Elementary- Burnet bilingual students and Pre K - 4 year olds will report to Oppe Elementary. All other Burnet students will report to Parker Elementary.
Scott Elementary- Scott students with the last name beginning with the letter A-L will report to Rosenberg Elementary. Students with the last name beginning with the letter M-Z will report to Morgan Elementary. All Life Skills students will need to contact Mary Patrick, Executive Director for Special Services & Early Childhood Education, for information about special arrangements.
Crenshaw Elementary/Middle – All students that attended Crenshaw Elementary/Middle School should contact Terri Watkins, Assistant Superintendent for Administration, for information about special arrangements.
Central Middle School- All students will report to Weis Middle School.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Following a Disaster Declaration by the Governor of Texas and a Local Declaration of Disaster issued by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and extended through September 30th by Harris County Commissioner Court, the following order is effect:
-Animal impoundment and boarding fees authorized by the Harris County Animal Control Regulations and collected by the Veterinary Public Health Division of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services are suspended.
-The suspension of animal impoundment and boarding fees shall continue until the termination of the Local Declaration of Disaster adopted by Harris County Commissioners Court and any extensions thereof and the termination of the Declaration of Disaster issued by the Governor of Texas applicable to Harris County, Texas, and any extension thereof. If either the Local Declaration of Disaster or the Governor's Disaster Declaration remain in effect for Harris County, the animal impoundment and impoundment fees shall remain suspended.
This Order takes effect immediately.
Residents and property owners will be allowed to return to the Bolivar Peninsula for a “look and leave” visit beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday.
“Finally we have been able to get all the pieces in place to have a re-entry to Bolivar Peninsula,” said Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough. “A lot of hard work has been done by TxDOT and our road department to get that bridge at Rollover Pass accessible. We are working with the State to bring other resources to the residents.”
“We’ve got the road bridge finishing up this afternoon,” said Commissioner Patrick Doyle. “Tomorrow, we will be getting all the PODs (Points of Distribution) all in place; portapots, all the supplies, water, ice all those sort of things.”
Although County officials are working to supply the PODs in time for the Friday re-entry, Doyle advised returning residents and property owners to bring supplies, such as water, ice and mosquito spray, “because we may not have supplied all our PODs by then.”
Residents and property owners will be permitted to drive across the bridge between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day; and will be asked to leave at 4 p.m. Law enforcement will be present to maintain order and to assure that all persons leave after 4 p.m.
PODs with ice, water, portable toilets will be set up at Crenshaw School and the Faggard Center, as well as at High Island. People are urged to have tetanus inoculations before returning to the Peninsula, but the Galveston County Health Department will be giving shots at the POD at the High Island School. Registration forms to facilitate re-entry will be posted on GuidryNews.com prior to the beginning of the program. Many people have expressed concern that the forms have not yet been posted, but Doyle stresses that they can be filled out on the scene.
“No one will be turned away,” Doyle said. “We just need proper identification.”
HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and county Toll Road Authority officials decided today that traffic conditions now warrant the resumption of toll collections on the Harris County Toll Road system. Therefore, drivers should be prepared to begin paying normal tolls with cash or EZ TAG this Saturday, September 27, 2008.
Emmett authorized waiving tolls beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, to assist the evacuation of the southeast Texas region prior to the impending landfall of Hurricane Ike. In the aftermath of the storm and with the declaration of the Houston-Galveston region as a disaster area, tolls continued to be waived. “The toll road’s capacity was needed to help with traffic management efforts,” said Toll Road Director Gary Stobb, “while traffic signals on surface streets suffered from storm damage and/or loss of power, as well as to allow passage for service providers, emergency responders, and citizens returning home.“
With power now restored to more than 75% of Centerpoint Energy customers, and more and more traffic signals coming online by the hour, officials have agreed to resume normal operations on the Harris County Toll Road system. With the City of Galveston re-opened to residents today, free access to the toll road system provided a means to divert some of that traffic around Houston rather than through it.
Signage will be placed throughout the system, at toll plazas and in EZ TAG stores notifying the public that the toll waiver will be lifted Saturday, September 27, 2008.
Texas renters who suffered damage to their residences from Hurricane Ike may be eligible for disaster assistance.
Federal grants to rent a place to live may be available for renters whose primary residence requires repairs to make it habitable. Eligible renters may be provided one or two months of assistance depending on circumstances, and may be extended if needed.
In addition, renters may apply for a U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan up to $40,000 for personal property losses. If they don't qualify for an SBA loan, other needs assistance may be available for such disaster-related costs as medical-dental expenses, clothing, a damaged vehicle or moving and storage expenses.
Disaster-affected renters may register 24 hours a day, seven days a week online at www.fema.gov or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY) 1-800-462-7585). The best way to register with FEMA is to go online at www.fema.gov.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
From Shell:
There will be intermittent flaring at Shell Deer Park over the next few days as the company restarts the refinery and chemical plant.
The site was shut down last week in preparation for Hurricane Ike. Shell is pleased to report there were no personal injuries and minor damage to the facility has been repaired.
Local residents may observe smoke, light and noise from the flares. Shell will make every effort to minimize the flaring, but wants residents to know that flaring at night may occur.
Shell apologizes for any disturbance this may cause.
Shell continues to focus on safety and protecting the environment as we return to normal operations.
For more information contact 713-246-7301.
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