It’s Pink Flamingo month for The 5 O’Clock Phlock Parrot Head Club! The party is on this Thursday, July 25, at 5 p.m. at Pedro’s Tequila and Taco Bar in Conroe, and you should join in the Phun! Wanna know why?
The first Parrot Head Club was formed in 1989 by musician Scott Nickerson, a member of the first and most well known Jimmy Buffett tribute band, A1A. The band is named for Florida Highway A1A, which stretches from the Florida mainland down to Southernmost Point in Key West. When Scott approached Jimmy to get his blessing, JB had a few stipulations. Foremost was that he wanted club members to enjoy life to the fullest while being responsible and giving back to the community. From that command, the organization’s motto of “Party With A Purpose” was born. Too often when someone hears the word “parrot head” they think of drinking parties and not much else. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are, in short, a social club with a great big charitable heart.
Our club rebounded from a near death experience in 2020 due in large part to that buggy little pandemic. A short 4 years later, our club has grown from the plucky 18 people who hung in, to over 100 fun loving folks who want to make our world a better place, one project at a time. Each year this little band of friendly do-gooders raises money for local causes and roll up our sleeves for lots of hands on work too. We have a Walk To End Alzheimer’s Team that consistently places on the leader board of both The Woodlands Walk and the PHIP – Parrot Heads in Paradise – National Team; we host a summer party for the wonderful Wranglers at New Danville in Willis; we raise money for Faith Fighting Cancer’s adopt a family Christmas program, and then follow through to shop, wrap and deliver those gifts to the family; we donate a tree and wreath for The Charles B Stewart Friends of The Library Auction; we participate in “Operation Candy Roll” to send over 1000 candy rolls to kids with little or no Christmas; we donated over 2000 pairs of socks to MC Youth Services this year, and will donate more to the homeless during our “Socktober” campaign. In August, we host an evening of karaoke to stock the shelves for the SPCA*PETS*SNAP animal rescue. We partner with other local organizations – we host a Blood Drive with The Rotary Club of Lake Conroe, donate hundreds of pairs of glasses to The Lions Club, and collect items for The Community Assistance Center. And we “reduce/reuse/recycle” corks, pop tops and more.
Another important aspect of a PHC is of course the music. We not only love and play the music of Jimmy Buffett, we support local musicians and the arts. This year we have brought our group to venues as wide flung as The Owen Theatre to Bernhardt Winery, plus a host of local live music spots.
All of this brings us back to this Thursday. This month’s Happy Hour at Pedro’s is our annual celebration of all things pink and the pink flamingo, which is featured prominently in our club logo. It’s a great time to see the “party” part of our club at a lovely restaurant with yummy food and great libations. There will be prizes for the best dressed. For the “purpose” part, our musicians will provide the music and DJ services and all tips will support our various charitable projects. We’ll also be collecting our recycling items. This month’s gathering is the closest thing we have to a “membership drive”. To paraphrase a well known expression, we feel that if we create a vibrant atmosphere, the members will follow. So, take a chance on us. Come and see our “Flamingo Lounge” at Pedro’s and see what a Parrot heads Club is all about. You won’t be sorry!
Kris is President of The 5 O’Clock Phlock Parrot Head Club, the PHC of the Lake Conroe/Woodlands area. Email KrisCommService@aol.com or text 713 825-0141. Follow the club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/5OClockPhlock. For more info, visit the website www.5oclockphlock.com.
Celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with the City of Conroe Parks and Recreation by staying cool inside the pools offered through the City of Conroe. The Conroe Waterpark is open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm Admission is $10 with concessions available on site. There are also two other pools located at the Oscar Johnson Jr. Community Center Pool, 100 Park Place, with a $3 entry fee, and the Westside Pool at Owen Park, 10245 Owen Drive. Their admission is $5 for a daily guest pass.
Although this is the silent time between seasons for the community theatres, it is a great time to purchase season tickets for all six shows at both theatres. Season ticket holders pick their seats and which day of the 3-week running they want to see the show. If something comes up the theatres will try to accommodate as much as possible for another day. It is a win for the theatres to plan their budgets and pay for their expenses including royalties, scripts, and costumes, and a win for the ticket holder as you get extraordinary entertainment from local talent.
Season tickets for the Crighton Theatre are packaged at 6 shows for $130. The price goes up July 25! Crighton Theatre performances are available at CrightonTheatre.org • The Play That Goes Wrong• Dracula• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory• Big-The Musical• Shakespeare in Love• The Wedding Singer
Season tickets for The Players Theatre Company are packaged at 7 shows for $161 or $100 for musicals only. Owen Theatre performances season tickets at OwenTheatre.com• Rock of Ages• Steel Magnolias• White Christmas• Bedroom Farce• Tuck Everlasting• Little Shop of Horrors• Private Lives
As we are all recovering from Hurricane Bleyl, please try to assist The Salvation Army with a few items. They depleted their resources during the storm assisting our community and could use assistance with a few items. peanut butter, meat (ground Beef, hot dogs, bologna, chicken), canned meat (tuna & chicken), Rice, pasta, dry beans, cereal, canned fruits, boxed meals (hamburger helper), and macaroni & cheese. Items can be dropped off Monday through Friday 8am-4pm at 304 Ave. E in /Conroe.
Stay Cool!
Margie Taylor may be reached at margie@taylorizedpr.com.
We get questions from time to time regarding how to handle or what to do with a damaged tree. “Should I cut it down? What can I do to save the tree?” I ran across a publication that our Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) published. It was a publication called the “Tree Care Kit”. I hope the following information will help you assess a trees properly before writing off a damaged tree as a “goner.” Homeowners should evaluate their trees by asking the following questions:
• Other than the storm damage, is the tree basically healthy and vigorous? If the tree is basically healthy, is not creating a hazard, and did not suffer major structural damage, it will generally recover if first aid measures are applied immediately after the storm.• Are major limbs broken? The larger a broken limb is, the harder it will be for the tree to recover from the damage. If most of the main branches are gone, the tree may have little chance of surviving.• Has the leader (the main upward-trending branch on most trees) been lost? In species where a leader is important to upward growth or a desirable appearance, saving the tree may have to be a judgment call. The tree may live without its leader, but at best it would be a stunted or deformed version of the original.• Is at least 50 percent of the tree’s crown (branches and leaves) still intact? This is a good rule of thumb on tree survivability. A tree with less than half of its branches remaining may not be able to produce enough foliage to nourish the tree through another season.• How big are the wounds where branches have been broken or bark has been damaged? The larger the wound is in relation to the size of the limb, the less likely it is to heal, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease and pests. A 2- to 3-inch wound on a 12-inch diameter limb will seal over with new bark within a couple of years.• Are there remaining branches that can form a new branch structure? The remaining limbs will grow more vigorously as the tree tries to replace its missing foliage. Look to see if there are branches that can eventually fill out the tree’s appearance.• Is the tree of a desirable species for its location? If the tree is in the wrong location (such as a potentially tall tree beneath a power line) or is an undesirable species for the property (messy fruit, etc.), it may be best to remove it if it has serious damage.
Then, make the decision
In general, the answer as to what to do about a particular tree will fall into one of three categories:
1. It’s a Keeper If damage is relatively slight, prune any broken branches, repair torn bark or rough edges around wounds, and let the tree begin the process of wound repair.2. Wait and See If a valuable tree appears to be a borderline case, resist the temptation to simply cut the tree down and be done with it. It may be best to stand back for a while and think it over. Remember that time is on your side. After careful pruning of broken branches, give the tree some time to recover. A final decision can be made later.An Easy Call: A mature shade tree can usually survive the loss of one major limb. The broken branch should be pruned back to the trunk. In the months that follow, large wounds should be closely monitored for signs of decay.Minor Damage: Although the tree has been damaged, enough strong limbs may remain on a basically healthy tree to make saving it possible.Too Young to Die: Young trees can sustain quite a bit of damage and still recover quickly. If the leader is intact and the structure for future branching remains, remove the damaged limbs and allow the tree to recover.Easy Does It: Resist the temptation to prune too heavily. Remember that the tree will need all the foliage it can produce in order to make it through the next growing season. Remove only the damaged limbs, then wait and see what happens.Hold Off: A healthy, mature tree can recover even when several major limbs are damaged. With large trees, a professional arborist should be brought in to assess damage and to safely accomplish needed pruning and branch removal.3. Say Goodbye Some trees simply can’t be saved or are not worth saving. If the tree has already been weakened by disease, if the trunk is split, or if more than 50 percent of the crown is gone, the tree has lost its survival edge.
Don’t Try to Do It All Alone: Some of your trees may have damage that’s too close to call, or they may have hidden damage. If that is the case, you’ll need a tree professional to help you decide what to do. Don’t hire just anyone who shows up at your door. Tree Tragedy: This otherwise healthy young tree has lost too much of its crown-the leafy head that is vital for survival. It will probably not be able to grow enough new branches and leaves to provide needed nourishment and will never be able to regain its former beautiful shape.Hopeless Case: About all that’s left of this tree is its trunk. The few remaining branches can’t provide enough foliage to enable the tree to make it through another growing season.
Farewell to a Friend: A rotten inner core in the trunk or structural weakness in branching patterns can cause a split trunk-the tree equivalent of a heart attack. The wounds are too large to ever mend, and the tree has lost its sap lifeline between roots and leaves. This tree is all but dead.Hope this will help you make a more informed decision regarding damaged trees.
Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail me at mpotter@ag.tamu.edu. You can also contact our Master Gardener Help line at 936-539-7824.
On Saturday mornings when Carolyn Meadows Walker opens the front door of the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County to start her docent shift for the day, she is literally at home in the space.
Since 1986, the county’s local Heritage Museum has been housed in the 1924 Grogan-Cochran Home in Conroe’s Candy Cane Park. It’s also the home where Walker, now 80, was brought as a newborn after her birth at the Conroe hospital in 1944.
She lived with her grandmother in the house as a teen and for 10 years it was her home with her own family before the family donated the house for use as a museum.
“I just love it. I go around (in volunteer work) flooded with memories,” she said.
MONTGOMERY MURAL: Montgomery’s newest mural tells livery stable history of 1800s downtown
Grogan-Cochran home’s original owner
The Grogan-Cochran Home was built in 1924 by James G. Grogan Sr., who was prominent in the lumber industry at that time, according to historical marker text on the home.
The house was constructed with wooden shiplap walls and floors from local pine produced at the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Co., sawmill. The house was originally located near downtown Conroe at 615 North Thompson Street.
In 1934, Grogan sold the house to his oldest sister, Laura Grogan Cochran and her husband T.M. Cochran for their family. Over the years, it became known as the “Cochran home” as several generations of Cochrans lived there and many Cochran family events like holiday meals, weddings and parties took place there.
Laura and T.M. were Walker’s great-grandparents. Her grandparents Virgil C. Cochran and his wife, Lucille, later lived in the home.
A grandmother’s influence
When Walker was born, she and her mother came back to the Cochran home to recuperate before returning to Falfurrias where her father’s job was at the time.
“The family came to visit me (a newborn) there. It was enough to make mother homesick (for Conroe) and she told my father ‘get us home,'” she said. Her family returned to Conroe and they lived there while looking for a home in Conroe.
Later as a teen, she lived with her widowed grandmother who had a major impact on her youth. Walker’s graduation party took place there and while she always wanted her wedding reception there, it was not to be as her grandmother passed prior to her wedding day.
From roughly 1975 to 1985, Walker lived there with husband and young son.
‘Seeing memories everywhere’
She feels fortunate that each museum director has allowed her to continue to volunteer there and share stories of her family home with visitors.
The home’s interior has a long hall down the center with rooms on either side. As a girl staying with her grandmother, the hall was never heated. She remembers running from the rooms down the hall to the kitchen quickly to stay warm. She also has fond memories of her son riding his little tricycle up and down the hall as a boy.
What is now Gallery I was a bedroom and as a girl it would bother Walker that she could hear people who were trespassing at the community pool at night as she was trying to sleep.
It was also her job to decorate the Christmas tree which went in the front corner of what is now Gallery II.
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A keeper of history
As volunteers were looking for a spot to place a new heritage museum for the county in the mid-1980s, Walker decided to donate the house for the cause. In 1985, it was moved from North Thompson Street to Candy Cane Park a few miles away.
“The house looked it and felt it (like a museum),” Walker said of her reason for donating the home.
In a 2015 article in The Courier, JoCarol Oberman, past president of the Heritage Museum Board, recalls the moving of the house took place in the fall of 1985 and took the better part of a day.
The home was split in two to be moved and the highest part of the roof was taken off.
Oberman remembered it was quite a spectacle that day in town as roads had to be closed and power lines lifted.
Even though Walker agreed to the house being moved, she said it was “heartbreaking” seeing her beloved home cut in two halves.
Seeing the house being moved she questioned “What have I done?” The relocated home opened as the museum in early 1986. In 2015, the Strake-Gray Home and small roughneck houses were moved to Candy Cane Park and became a part of the complex.
Celebrating 100 years
Museum staff members are celebrating the centennial anniversary of the house this year. Joe Kolb, who is an artist and museum volunteer, has created a line of keepsake items available at the museum’s gift shop commemorating the milestone.
In addition to displaying Montgomery County historical items, the museum also hosts programs throughout the year. Next up is a children’s rock painting program on Aug. 3.
Programs geared for adults will return in September. Current temporary exhibits at the museum feature the history of the Conroe Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Conroe.
A new mural in downtown Montgomery aims to highlight the history of the rapidly growing city.
Montgomery’s history dates back to the 1800s and a livery stable would have been seen in the city’s downtown, historians say.
After getting three livery tokens discovered near their property, Anthony and Rebecca Noreiga of Texas and Beyond and North Houston Art Gallery commissioned a mural to commemorate the history of the building that once served visitors conducting business at the former courthouse or shopping in town.
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The mural — displayed on a wall of the North Houston Art Gallery off Liberty Street — depicts two men, one who works at the stable and the other dropping off his horse. In the background, “Easter eggs” are scattered all across the mural that showcases Montgomery’s history, such as the Texas flag, the old Methodist Church and the famous goat that would hang around town begging for water.
But as the star of the mural, the stable stands above everything else.
Rebecca Noreiga said commissioning the mural was a way to preserve history. “We want folks to come down and appreciate it,” she said.
Learning about local history
When the Noreigas first moved into the downtown area, they inherited three livery tokens.
Brothers Billy Ray and Donald Duncan found the tokens in the early 1990s after doing some metal detecting near the property across from the N.H. Davis Pioneer Complex and Museum.
In the 1800s a livery was a stable where horse owners paid a weekly or monthly fee to keep their horses. Montgomery’s history dates back to 1837 and a livery stable would have been common in the city’s early history.
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The Duncan brothers have been prospecting in the historic city for decades. In 1994, on what was then a vacant lot across from the museum, they found these three tokens with the numbers 19, 18 and 4.
On finding them, Billy Ray said he thought they were probably livery claim checks because they knew there had been a livery stable in the area due to historic records.
The tokens were used to claim the owner’s horse that was staying there.
Mural serves as inspiration
Local artist Amy McCain grew up in Montgomery, which made her feel that she was a good candidate to paint the mural. After being commissioned, it took her about three weeks in May to finish the mural, she said.
Prior to the Montgomery mural, she was commissioned to paint a mural that depicted Conroe in 1942. Being a part of Montgomery’s history is something that she loved about painting the mural.
“I think it’s really fun to be a part of, because my grandfather grew up in one of those houses in the Historic District,” McCain said. “It just makes me feel proud to contribute. I think it’s really great that (the Noreigas) are keeping the history of Montgomery going.”
Working on the mural has already inspired her, she said.
“It was kind of an eye opener for me,” McCain said. “It makes me feel like I just want to get more involved.”
Visitors and residents of the city are encouraged to view the mural and take pictures.
The Noreigas have owned the property at 14259 Liberty St. since 2022. The property was previously Pecan Hill Florist.
The Texas vineyards along the Gulf Coast have been harvested of their hybrid grapes. The vineyards further inland containing the vitis vinifera, being the classic wine grapes, are maturing nicely with expectations of another great grape harvest in Texas. Vineyard owners and winemakers have a lot of promising fruit coming along in various vineyards. Here is what they have to say:
Pedernales Cellars
David Kuhlken, Co-Owner and Executive Winemaker, Pedernales Cellars
Our estate Kuhlken Vineyards, still in young-vine mode from replanting several years ago, is looking good and vigorous and we expect to get 1 or 2 tons of fruit from it, with first pick in the latter half of July. Quality is on track given the generally moderate temps and timely rains. We expect to get the majority of our fruit from the Texas High Plains, where everything is looking better than most of the last few years. At the moment, most of our vineyards appear to be carrying anywhere from 2 to 5 tons an acre on most blocks, with only a couple trending toward higher yields. Thankfully, almost all of our vineyards have hail nets, which has helped reduce hail-damaged fruit. In all, harvest is trending well and we expect to our first High Plains harvest to be Viognier around the first two weeks in August and the rest of the varieties to be on schedule over the course of September.
Spicewood Vineyards
Ron Yates, Owner, Spicewood Vineyards
Harvest is looking quite promising is on track to be about two weeks early in the Texas Hill Country. Bud break occurred in February instead of March so it’s not surprising that we are ahead of schedule for verasion. We have had abundant rain – about 13 inches since March – so everything is looking good. We will harvest Sauvignon Blanc first, probably in mid-July. While our crop will be slightly smaller than last year’s record estate harvest, we are excited about the quality of the fruit. We also get fruit from the Texas High Plains and far west Texas in Dell City. It has been unusually hot in Dell City so I expect to get that fruit in before the High Plains.
Bending Branch Winery
Dr. Bob Young, Co-Owner and Executive Winemaker, Bending Branch Winery
We are looking forward to quality fruit from across the state. Spring hail caused mixed levels of damage for a few of the Texas Hill Country vineyards where we get fruit. And in general, the wetter spring and summer had a lot of benefits, but in many cases, it has also created additional work in the vineyards. We are expecting fruit to begin arriving mid-July. Again this year we are working with around 30 different vineyards and approximately 30 different grape varieties. This will be our second harvest of Charbono from Tallent Vineyards, and we are eagerly anticipating higher yields from these vines after another year of development.Tallent Vineyards in Mason County, which has avoided hail damage and enjoyed good rains this spring and summer, is expecting a good quality crop. Fruit from a couple of the vineyards located closest to Bending Branch is also looking really good.
Duchman Family Winery
Dave Reilly, Winemaker, Duchman Family Winery
The 2024 crop is looking terrific – a big crop, coming in a bit earlier than usual, and excellent quality. We source our fruit from some of the most experienced Texas High Plains growers. Our 18-years-long relationship allows us to make last-minute decisions on the absolute best time to harvest based on the weather and fruit maturity. We expect harvest to kick off in August, with Roussanne coming in first, followed by Vermentino. For the reds, Sangiovese will be the first, followed by Montepulciano and then Aglianico.
Texas looks to have another great winemaking year!
Ron Saikowski may be reached at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
Twisters
Rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, injury images and some languageRotten Tomatoes Score: 77% at time of writingIn Theaters
I have very fond memories of the original 1996 Twister as I was attending the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) as it was being filmed. And to give the film gravity, I saw a tornado as I was driving home from the theater. Talk about a scary moment! So now, almost 30 years later, we are getting Twisters, which sounds like a sequel, but actually doesn’t have any relationship with the original, other than it is about life-threatening tornadoes in Oklahoma.
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung (director of the multi-Oscar nominated film Minari) the film follows a young woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) who is a smart young meteorologist who loses three friends during an attempt to do tornado research. After her tragedy, she moves to New York but is lured back when one of her former research buddies (Anthony Ramos) gives her a new opportunity to finish her studies. But while attempting to once again tame a tornado, she meets a tornado chasing YouTuber (Glen Powell) who seems like a dangerous villain at first, until she starts to get to know him better.
And of course, all of this is set in the middle of a bunch of storm chasing with maybe too many deadly tornadoes destroying everything in their path. While I was looking forward to watching the film, based on seeing the trailer, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot. The original was a guilty pleasure, and I expected this one to serve as much the same. But there is a lot to like here, and the two-hour experience should be a thrill for most audiences. Yes, it is a big, loud roller coaster of a film, but I really liked the characters, the story and the special effects-driven adrenaline rush.
Director Lee Isaac Chung, who was so impressive with his film Minari, with help of The Revenant screenwriter Mark L. Smith, infuse the action with organic but fun characters who really help you get invested in the plot, even if it is a bit unrealistic. And while the acting is good throughout, actor Glen Powell really drives the movie through both action and romance as he attempts to both chase storms, while at the same time chasing the leading actress, pushing the audience to really hope they change the world and possibly even end up together.
The icing on the cake here is a terrific soundtrack that I can’t wait to check out in my car once it is released. It has a Top Gun kind of feel, only with some rocking country music filling both the quiet and the action-packed sequences. And by the end you get an even better Twister movie, with better action, better characters, and much better storytelling. B+
Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com.
“Are you ready to be scared?” That’s the fragment of a conversation I overheard in the lobby of Main Street Theater before heading into their production of “The Woman in Black.” But having just eked through Hurricane Beryl and the days without power in the Houston heat that followed in its wake, I was sure nothing could scare me except maybe the words, “CenterPoint” or “Entergy!” As I awaited the dimming of the theater lights, I couldn’t help wondering if Main Street hadn’t been cursed by having a horror story on its schedule just as its audiences would be trying to recover from the horrors, both petty and great, of a hurricane.
They were not. For despite its tricks with lights and veiled Victorian women floating on and off the stage, Main Street’s “The Woman in Black” trumpets the power of theater—even theater whittled down to bare bones–to explore and work to exorcise our nightmares and fearful memories. Based on a novel by British author Susan Hill, this adaptation by British actor Stephen Malatratt opened in a pub in 1987 and ran in London’s West End from 1989 to 2023—the second longest playing non-musical (outpaced only by Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”) in English theater. It knows what it is doing, and, not surprisingly, it has actors and acting at its heart.
An older man, Arthur Kipps (Ian Lewis) has hired a young actor (Danny Hayes) to help him stage a reading to his friends and relatives of an account of his ghostly encounter when he traveled into the northeastern edge of England to settle the estate of the elderly woman, Mrs. Alice Drablow. But when Kipps’ reading is dull and prosaic, the actor insists that he dramatize, act it out, and with the blink of the lights, the two men switch roles: the actor becomes the young Kipps experiencing the encounter, and Kipps enacts the frightened locals who shy from visiting Mrs. Drablow’s aptly named Eel Marsh House and try to steer Kipps from going there. But go he does, and the haunting ensues—all brought to life with lights, sound effects, and brilliant acting on the part of Hayes and Lewis who even manage to bring to life a never seen dog—Spider—that they interact with.
In short, director Philip Hays has done a masterful job of polishing this gem of an English script and transplanted it beautifully onto Main Street’s stage. He has blocked the movements of his actors in their claustrophobic space to create illusions of a host of unstagables: a horse-driven cart, a railway car, a cemetery, and a deadly causeway into the marsh. Moreover, he keeps a steady pace, never rushing toward the thrill moments yet letting them have a full run when they arrive. His work is amply supported by Jodi Bobrovsky’s ingenious set design, Andrew Archer’s lighting, and Shawn W. St. John’s sound design. These mesh to evoke the tangible and the supernatural, the explainable and the terrors of the unconscious.
Though I found the script’s ending a big foggy, I’m not sure fog is a bad thing in a play such as this whose focus is not solvable mysteries but inner ones that have to be dealt with. And, sitting in the dark of the theater certainly helped my thoughts drift away from the harsh things just beyond the theater doors. Did you read in the paper about our odds for another visitation by a hurricane?
“The Woman in Black” is at Houston’s Main Street Theater through Aug. 11.
Robert Donahoo is a professor at Sam Houston State University and writes theater reviews for The Courier.
Nominees for the 2024 Texas Country Music Awards have been announced and a Montgomery County radio station and several local performers are on the list.
Five finalists were selected in each category and the public can vote on the awards through Aug. 15 at the Texas Country Music Association website.
Winners will be announced Nov. 10 at Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The top fan and industry-voted awards are in 26 categories related to Texas Country music and Christian Country music as organized by the Texas Country Music Association.
Here’s what to know about the Montgomery County nominees:
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KVST K-Star Country 99.7 FM
The radio station based in Montgomery County with a headquarters near Lake Conroe has been nominated for Terrestrial Radio Station of the Year.
The station has a 25-year plus history in the community providing local information along with a mix of new Country, classic Country and Texas/Red Dirt country.
Mary McCoy and Larry Galla host “The Larry and Mary Show” with classic Country from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays.
McCoy, 86, is the Guinness World Records title holder for the longest female radio DJ. She’s been on the air in Conroe for 73 years. Another fan favorite is the Funny Farm from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays with Lisa Christi and Producer Josh.
Other K-Star on-air personalities include Brad Witt, Dave Horton, Cindy Bell, Kelly McClain and Doc who works the weekend airwaves.
“K-STAR Country is proud to be nominated as the radio station of the year for the Texas Country Music Awards,” Christi said. “We sincerely appreciate all of the listeners that nominated us and we’re also extremely happy to see many of our local favorites on the list too. I’m so blessed that our station is independently owned and they allow us to share Texas music in regular rotation with our community. We truly do appreciate the support.”
Payton Riley
After winning Young Artist of the Year in the younger than 18 category in 2023, Conroe native Payton Riley is up for the honor again in 2024.
She started singing at age 7 and wrote her first song at age 9, performing it on the Dosey Doe Big Barn stage in The Woodlands. To kick off 2024, she is now performing with a band and had the Conroe venue Table at Madeley’s first sold out show in January.
Earlier this year, she appeared on the television show “American Idol.” She sang her original song “Fireflies.” She did not move on to the next round, but the judges were impressed and want to see her keep growing as an artist and return in a few years.
“I am honored to be named a finalist for the TCMA Young Artist of the Year,” she said. “(Fan support) would mean the world to me as I strive to win this prestigious award at the upcoming TCMA Award Show at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. Thank you for recognizing all the hard work and dedication I have put into my music.”
Payton Howie
Payton Howie’s bio says she’s leading the next generation of redneck women. The singer/songwriter with ties to Willis is up for “Female Artist of the Year.”
In 2023, she was named Texas Country Music Awards Emerging Artist of the Year.
Her debut EP, “Youngblood” — a nickname for her hanging around seasoned musicians — has been streamed more than 2 million times on Spotify.
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Josh Ward
In 2020, singer/songwriter Josh Ward, of Montgomery, brought home “Entertainer of The Year” and “Country Album of The Year” for “Live at Billy Bob’s.”
This year he’s up for Male Artist of the Year.
Ward grew up in Montgomery and competed in bareback bronc riding in high school. But he also liked playing guitar and the country music legends.
With encouragement from his friends, he soon figured out he was better at singing and playing guitar than on the rodeo circuit and his music career was launched.
Now he plays across Texas and has shows booked in Arkansas, Nashville and Alabama later this summer.
Worth a mention
While not from Montgomery County, these artists often play in Conroe including Johnny Falstaff, the Will Carter Band, Curtis Grimes and Tionna Campbell and are also nominated for awards.
Hurricane Beryl left 75 percent of Montgomery County residents without power.
This was a tough week for many of us. Trees fell on cars, roofs, roads and throughout the county. Gas was a premium commodity especially with the need to keep our generators working as back-up power. It seems a little crazy to tell you about upcoming events this week, but hopefully power is restored, and you will want to do something to make you laugh a little louder and make your smile a little brighter.
I have listed a few community events that might make that happen.
This is the last weekend to see “Beauty and The Beast” at the Crighton Theatre presented by Stage Right through Sunday, July 21. CrightonTheatre.org
Magic returns to the Owen Theatre on Wednesday, July 17th at 7:30pm with Comedy Magician C.J. Johnson at Conroe Conjuring. It is family fun and interactive show with an expert hypnotist. His awards include Hynotist of the Year, Best Comedy Magic Show, Best Game Show, and Outstanding Novelty Awards. Tickets available at OwenTheatre.com
McDonald’s will host a Coffee with a Cop event on Wednesday, July 17 from 7:30 am to 10:30 am at 821 West North Loop 336. Guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee and dessert, engage in conversations with local law enforcement officers, and experience police and emergency vehicles up close. Talk to our local Conroe PD officers and build community connections!
It is also the last weekend for The Players Theatre Company fundraiser at the Owen Theatre. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has showings for Thursday, July 18- Sunday, July 21. Audiences will be able to purchase “props” to be used during the performance, so please leave your water pistols, newspapers, rice, and hot dogs at home. Tickets for are available at OwenTheatre.com.
For something different, go to the Lone Star Convention Center Friday, July 19th or Saturday, July 20th for the Balloon Glow and Laser Show. There will be a Kids Zone, games, rides, live music, vendor booths, and hot air ballons! Tickets: https://bit.ly/3xMxmwl
Help our local business owners by remembering to shop and patronize the restaurants downtown as much as possible. The stores are not crowded and have AIR CONDITIONING!
Enjoy the summer!
Margie Taylor may be reached at margie@taylorizedpr.com.
