Category: Conroe Courier

Standing on the turf at Don Sanders Stadium about 90 minutes before the first pitch of Game 2 of the Region III championship series between his Magnolia West Mustangs and the Lake Creek Lions on Friday, coach Travis Earles reflected on how the defending state champions got to this point.
In simplest terms: It wasn’t easy.
Repeating a state championship at the high school level is challenging. Players graduate and the roster changes yearly. Talent level is never stable. You have studs one year and the next, the barrel might be a little empty.
But as his Mustangs loosened up with batting practice during a sun-drenched dinner-hour in Huntsville, Earles wasn’t surprised this group was a win away from returning to Round Rock with a chance to defend their crown.
After a 10-3 win over Lake Creek for the regional championship, Magnolia West (26-14-1) is hoping to bring home another state title next weekend.
Repeat state championships in UIL baseball are fairly rare, but they came in bunches a few years back. In 2018 and 2019, Big Sandy (Class 2A), Argyle (4A) and Southlake Carroll (6A) all repeated. Flatonia (1A) and West (2A) did the same in 2015 and 2016. Before that was a large gap as Weimar (2A) won back-to-back state titles in 2000 and 2001.
Klein was the last large Houston-area team to even go to state in back-to-back years (2010 and 2011). Sweeny (4A) went consecutively in 2018 and 2019. Tomball went twice in three years a decade ago. The Cougars won the 4A title in 2013 and returned as a 5A team in 2015.
Heading into this season, Magnolia West was without its top two pitchers who were both D1 recruits in Caylon Dygert (UT-Arlington) and James Ellwanger (Dallas Baptist University). 
Five out the nine batters in the state championship lineup — a 3-2 win over Argyle — graduated. Key returners were Dawson Park (Texas State), Caldwell McFaddin (Baylor), Trenton Buckley (Louisiana-Monroe) and Cody Palacios.
Earles admits the schedule was very heavy at the start of the year. It was packed with several 6A programs (ironically Magnolia West will compete in 6A starting in 2025) and District 21-5A is always a gauntlet with teams like Lake Creek, Magnolia, A&M Consolidated, College Station, Montgomery and Brenham all contending.
Last year’s Mustangs were 36-5. This year’s team lost four games in the first seven days.
“They’re two different teams,” Earles said Friday night. “Two different rides and two different experiences. For this group, it was hard for us early and for them to battle back through and have success late, I can’t say enough about every guy on our team.”
Magnolia West started the year with an 8-6 win over Cypress Ranch. It then dropped four out of the next five, with that fifth game a tie in a tournament game.
Things trended in a positive direction some when the calendar flipped to March. Magnolia West beat four 6A teams in-a-row, but then dropped three of four before district play began.
The Mustangs ran out to a 5-0 start in district play with sweeps of Magnolia, which finished tied for second with Lake Creek, Bryan Rudder and a split with College Station, which became an important result a month later.
The back-end loss to College Station snowballed into getting swept by Lake Creek and then a loss to Brenham to open a series. After bouncing back to split with the Cubs, eventual district champion A&M Consolidated then swept the Mustangs heading into the final series of the regular season with Montgomery.
Scratching to remain in the playoff hunt, Magnolia West experienced a massive setback in Game 1 against Montgomery — a 9-0 loss against a team also in the mix for the final playoff spot.
Heading into the final game of the regular season, Magnolia West needed to bounce back at home against the Bears, and also needed College Station to lose to A&M Consolidated for any hope of the postseason.
Both happened. 
Park tossed six innings with eight strikeouts and three hits allowed against Montgomery while also going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a triple in a 6-0 win. College Station lost to A&M Consolidated that night, setting up a Saturday afternoon one-game playoff in Navasota for the fourth and final playoff spot.
It was a massively successful day as the Mustangs won 8-3 with the Cougars scoring all their runs in the top of the seventh.
Since then, Magnolia West has only added to the winning streak, which has now reached 12 games after going a perfect 10-0 so far in the playoffs. The Mustangs have swept Lake Belton, Elgin, A&M Consolidated (who beat Magnolia West by a combined score of 16-10 in the regular season), Sante Fe and then Lake Creek (who beat Magnolia West by a run twice in district play).
“It took every single one of us not to give in to some of that failure earlier in the year,” Earles said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group. I’m very, very blessed to be around such high quality young men, the community and the whole deal. It’s a blessing.”
Magnolia West will find out late Saturday or early Sunday who its state semifinal opponent will be. The semifinals are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday at Dell Diamond.

Conroe native Austin Smith could think of no better tribute on the 80th anniversary of D-Day June 6 than to take the same leap of faith those soldiers took on that historic day. 
A thrill seeker and World War II history enthusiast Smith, 38, will make three jumps out of a vintage plane at Normandy with the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team as a part of D-Day 80th anniversary observations in France in early June. 
The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The operation delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. Almost 133,000 troops from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and their allies, landed on D-Day, according to information from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. 
MARKER PLANNED: Montgomery County cemetery to receive historical marker as part of Juneteenth events
Honoring WWII veterans
“This is an apex moment for me and I take a lot of pride in it,” he said. “World War II veterans are diminishing by the day and I look at this as the pinnacle way for me to honor them especially being able to jump in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. I don’t do it for myself though, I’m doing this for them (World War II veterans) because I don’t want their way of life and what they fought for to be lost.” 
Smith will travel with a team of roughly 70 and jump from a vintage plane like an airborne paratrooper would have on June 3, June 4 and June 6 at actual “drop zones” that were used in the war.
“Austin has been an avid student of World War II. He and his father, Gene Smith, have toured several of the Pacific Ocean Islands where battles occurred. They also have traveled to some of the D-Day landing beaches,” said longtime family friend Leland Dushkin. “Upon his return, I look forward to Austin sharing his D-Day anniversary jump with our community as a reminder of our greatest generation’s dedication to preserve the freedoms we so cherish.”
Early interest in history
Smith’s grandfather, R.C. also was a Conroe native and Depression-era child who served in the U.S. Army stateside during World War II. He did however have a family member who served overseas and brought R.C. back a German Luger gun. 
“I thought it was really cool and that was kind of a war trophy for a lot of people who served in the European theater of operations,” Smith said. “Having seen that got me more involved with history. Then when I was younger every Saturday morning my folks would drop me off at my grandfather’s house and we’d go to the Security flea market. My grandfather would buy tools and I’d buy helmets, bags, knives, etc.” 
He said in the 1990s, World War II veterans were in their mid-to-late 70s and some of their war-era items were beginning to show up in sales and flea markets just prior to the era of eBay and the dot com boom. 
The Conroe High 2004 graduate bought up as much memorabilia as he could and now has an extensive World War II collection including a 1940s-era jeep. He also spent time with veterans when he was in high school which his classmates thought was strange. 
‘Band of Brothers Tour’
In 2016, he and his father participated in a “Band of Brothers Tour” where they began in Georgia where the unit trained then flew to London and Normandy and followed their footsteps through Holland, Luxembourg, Bayonne, France and Germany and over a two-week period ended at Adolf Hitler’s Eagles Nest headquarters.
They had such a good time they wanted to do it again but explore the Pacific theater of World War II. 
In 2019, the pair did a Pacific tour but included Smith’s wife, Mandy. As a part of this trip they climbed Mount Suribachi a mountain on the southwest end of Iwo Jima island. 
During the pandemic he was working from home and looking for the next World War II thrill. 
SUMMER FUN: Margaritaville on Lake Conroe draws 1K people a day in the summer. Here’s what to do there.
Preparing for parachuting
He discovered the nonprofit WWII Airborne Demonstration Team at Frederick Army Air Field in Oklahoma.
“I started doing some research and I was like wait a minute, ‘I can pay someone to jump out of a functioning C-47. I’m doing it,” he said. “I never thought it would lead to where it is today.”
His first jump was in July 2021 and he has now logged 28 jumps. 
As he developed friends with other members of the team, he learned about their experiences of jumping for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019.
He was all in for the 80th-anniversary experience and has spent four years preparing.
Their gear, boots, helmets and dress are as accurate as possible following what an airborne team would have worn in World War II down to painting their faces to blend into vegetation on the ground. 
“Everything is down to the last nut and bolt as far as what we need to look like,” he said. 
Its his eventual goal to become a part of the group’s performance team after obtaining 35 jumps. This group participates in exhibitions across the US and in historical events overseas. 

HUNTSVILLE — It took some time to get going. But Magnolia West pieced together a comeback Friday against Lake Creek that resulted in a second consecutive trip to the UIL Class 5A championship.
Trailing most of the night at Don Sanders Stadium in Game 2 of the Region III-5A championship, Magnolia West scored four times in the top of the sixth to take the lead and added some insurance in the seventh.
The Mustangs saved their ace Dawson Park for the moment as he arrived on the hill in the bottom of the sixth. The Texas State commit helped secure the final six outs as Magnolia West will defend its state title next week in Round Rock after a 10-3 win over the Lions.
“It’s pretty unbelievable to go back to Dell (Diamond) two years,” said Park, who went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and struck out three in two innings of scoreless ball. “We just have fun playing ball and it just worked out in our favor.”
Park struck out all three batters in the final inning and the celebration was on.
“It’s a great feeling,” Park said. “We did last year — dogpiles. It’s unbelievable.”
The Mustangs (26-14-1) opened up the one-out rally in the top of the sixth with an RBI single by Trey Jeanes, a bases-loaded walk by Garrett Bagwell and two runs scored on an error by Lake Creek on a throw to first as Mustangs leadoff man Park legged it out down the line. Jeanes came around, as did Cooper Wilkinson, who scored the go-ahead run.
“It took a while,” said Magnolia West coach Travis Earles, who is now 2-for-2 in his head coaching career in making it to state. “We’re blessed with a lot of depth on the mound so we could go to some different guys and they kept us in the game.”
Magnolia West, now winners of 12 straight, then added to the lead in the seventh as Caldwell McFaddin and Carson Dunaway scored on a throwing error to first by the Lions pitcher after he fielded a bouncer.
Lukas Huff then sent a shallow single to center field to bring home Cody Palacios for a four-run lead. Bagwell was then hit in the helmet by a breaking ball for a bases-loaded RBI and Park followed with a two-run single to left.
“You never expect anything crazy like that,” Earles said of the six-run outburst. “With our guys, you never count them out. They’re going to play hard until you tell us we can’t play anymore. And that’s the motto we’ve had to this point.”
It was a positive start for the Lions (30-12).
Similar to Game 1, there were plenty of possible runs for Lake Creek to score.
And the Lions did a better job converting those for an early lead.
Davis Lee put Lake Creek ahead in the bottom of the first with an RBI single and two batters later, the Lions chased Magnolia West starter Connor Bostain.
The Lions added two more in the bottom of the third.
After Magnolia West’s third baseman Cole Meredith made an unassisted double play, the Lions still managed a couple runs as Reed Newkirk hit an RBI single to center and then later scored on a wild pitch from Mustangs reliever Huff.
Lake Creek led by three runs at the midway point, but still stranded eight runners through four innings as Magnolia West’s infield ended threats in the third and fourth innings by beating Lake Creek by a half-step on throws to first.
Lake Creek senior left-hander Carson Sydnor went 5⅓ innings before getting in a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth. Magnolia West scored four earned runs off Sydnor as Parker Smith took over and went the rest of the way.
“Their guy did a good job keeping us off balance for a long time,” Earles said. “Our patience at the plate — we started putting the ball in play and putting some pressure on the defense, which is what we do. It just so happened to go our way. It’s a byproduct of us playing the game the right way all the time, regardless of the situation.”
Sydnor came into the outing with a 4-0 record in the playoffs with five earned runs allowed in 24⅔ innings. He struck out 24 over his four previous starts.
“I felt like everybody didn’t give up,” Park said of his team’s ability to get back in the game and take control. “It got louder and the team started coming together and working some counts. Everything fell into place.”
Magnolia West set up the sweep with an 8-1 win after a three-hour rain delay gave way to a post-midnight finish.
A year ago, Magnolia West topped Lake Creek in Game 3 of the Region III-5A championship. The Mustangs went on a week later to win the state championship. Magnolia West also reached the regional championship in 2019, but fell to Georgetown that time.
“It’s a testament to how hard our district is,” Earles said. “Our district is one of the best — I would argue the best in 5A. For that situation to come up again over and over, it just talks about how good our district is and our baseball is in this area.”
In District 21-5A this year, Lake Creek won a pair of one-run games in early April.
Lake Creek have gone at least four rounds deep in the playoffs in each of the last four years.

It’s been great seeing all the guests at our Wednesday meetings. Lion Morgan Freeman has done a fantastic job leading our spring membership drive and encouraging everyone to bring a guest. I look forward to hearing how many new members join us. Becoming a Lion is a rewarding decision and the Conroe Noon Lions Club is a special place. 
Let’s get started by reviewing the good news last week. •  New members Steve Eggert and Cameron Comire completed the requirements for a blue member badge.•  The golf tournament was a great success with 179 golfers teeing off in the morning and afternoon.•  Lions Camp Chair, Sheila Thomas presented camper backpacks to the sponsors of the kids we are sending to camp this summer. •  Using funds received from the Texas Lions Foundation, Conroe Noon provided 2,000 pairs of underwear to the Community Assistance Center for families and victims of the recent floods. •  And finally, our Community Partner of the week was Top Star Construction. Thank you for your continued support of our club.
A lot has been accomplished this past year under the leader ship of President Jason Miller. On June 14 at the River Plantation Country Club, we will be celebrating Jason and installing our incoming president Bryan Rennell. It’s time to RSVP for this special event. We will be installing new club officers and board members and having a great time to boot.
And don’t forget this week is the 85th Anniversary Celebration for the Conroe Noon Lions Club. We hope to get a big crowd of Lions and former Lions to our Wednesday meeting to help us celebrate. It’s always good to have weekly guests, especially students, who benefit from our programs. Last week we were honored to have some of our scholarship winners in attendance. Scholarship Chair Rick Camp and his committee selected 9 students from Conroe High School, Washington High School, and Covenant Christian School to receive $22,000 in scholarships. 
In addition, the finalists of our Pete Brasher Memorial Speech contest presented their talks to the club. Lion Warner Phelps was instrumental in getting the essay contest started in honor of the late Pete Brasher, a longtime Lion and beloved by all that knew him. The contest is a part of the curriculum in the junior honors English course at Conroe High School.
Students write a speech on one of the “global causes of Lionism.” Speeches are judged by faculty and staff and then 7 finalists are selected by the Conroe Noon Lions Club committee. Mary Grace Miller presented her essay on cataract surgery access, Ehman Mahmood presented her essay covering the vision health disparities in funding and resources, and the first-place winner, Brandon Maples presented his winning essay on global hunger. The chairman of this project was Lion Dr. David Green. David heard with us how impressed he was with these students. He also shared some pretty bad jokes which is one of the things Pete Brasher was known for. I agree with you, David.
I’ve been on many scholarship committees and the students are always very impressive. I also appreciate your bad jokes, which was a nice way to remember Lion Pete. 
For more information, please visit our website, www.conroenoonlions.org, or call the local club office at 936-760-1666.  You may also call 936-760-1666 for additional information on any area Lions Club.

June has officially kicked off summer with a lot of rain, winds, flooding and predictions of an active hurricane season.
Whatever the situation, Rotarians are there to help. Rotarians from several states are in the Houston area helping to muck out flooded houses and putting on blue tarps. These visiting Rotarians are staying with other Rotarians to help our community.
On an international scale, Rotarians are providing “Shelter Boxes” which are pre-packed shipping containers with a large tent, cooking implements, water purification system, and more in this box ready to ship to places that need shelters like Palestine or Ukraine with adaptive means for the heat or cold.
In Rotary, our motto is “Service Above Self.” Rotarians are altruistic in nature and want communities to be better. We serve in areas besides helping those impacted by natural disasters. For instance, the Rotary Club of Conroe packaged 500 breakfast bags last Tuesday to assist our senior citizens, food needy veterans received much needed food in a Food Distribution Program managed by the Montgomery County Food Bank and manned by Rotarians from several of the five Rotary Clubs in Conroe.
This service started in Montgomery County in 1933 when the Rotary Club of Huntsville helped to get the Rotary Club of Conroe started. This Rotary Club has invested heavily in our community, country, and the world. The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County is now featuring an Exhibit on Rotary’s history in Conroe and Montgomery County. Service is a legacy with the Rotary Club of Conroe. Visit the Heritage Museum in Candy Cane Park to see what civic-minded community leaders have done and will continue to do.
The Conroe Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 90th year with a special Exhibit of its history along the Rotary Club of Conroe. Both Exhibits are in the Grogan-Cochran House of the Heritage Museum in Candy Cane Park on the east side of I-45 between S. H. 105 and Wilson Road in Conroe. The Heritage Museum is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays with time off for special holidays like the Fourth of July.
June in Rotary means the end of elected Officer and Board terms of service. Officers and Board Directors are normally elected by Rotarians in December of each year. This provides opportunities for the newly elected Officers and Board Members to plan their year of service and to attend training for their positions.
President-elects go through a weekend of training in February through P. E. L. S. which is an acronym for Presidents-Elect Learning Seminar. Officers, board members and Committee Chairs also attend training in April to acquaint them with their areas of leadership service.
As a result of the changeover of leadership, Installation Lunches and Dinners provide a formal transfer of power and responsibilities to the next year of leaders. These meetings acknowledge achievements, and “Service Above Self” by those individuals who have gone the extra distance in getting things done. In addition, appreciation is also bestowed on spouses for their support. Rotarians are also a grateful crowd. For more information on Rotary, please contact me at rsaikowski@comcast.net. 
The Rotary Club of Conroe meets each Tuesday at noon at Honor Cafe, 103 N. Thompson Street in downtown Conroe. 

What is going on this week in Conroe? 
Montgomery County Choral Society invites the community to join them at 202 Main to kick off the summer season with dinner and a show. “Singin’ for Summer Cabaret” will showcase talented individuals of the choir in solos, duets, and small ensembles, and serve as fundraising for the choir and MCCS scholarships. Tuesday June 4 and Wednesday, June 5 there are two show times each night, 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Tickets are $20 and available at www.mcchoral.org/events. 
Join the fight against hunger by participating in Montgomery County Food Bank’s annual Outrun Hunger event, Saturday, June 8 starting at 8:00am at the Lake House at Grand Central Park. The event features a 5K Trail Run/Walk & 1K Color Dash. Register online: www.runsignup.com/Race/TX/Conroe/OutrunHungerMCFoodBank. Every $1 raised provides 4 meals! 
The Conroe Art League has many choices for summer fun and exploring the different classes they offer. Ceramics, Plein Air Painting, Figure Drawing, Portrait Painting, Watercolor Painting, and Portrait Painting are a few of the June offerings. Go online and view their calendar of events to try something new. www.ConroeArtLeague.com.
The Thursday Free Concert Series continues June 6 with “Escape, A Tribute to Journey” with music starting at 7:00pm at Heritage Place Park. Food trucks will be onsite with both food and beverages allowed in the park. No glass containers will be permitted in the park. 
The Crighton Theatre will host “The Billy Joey Experience” on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm with a lively tribute starring pianist and vocalist extraordinaire Tim Georgeff, as the “Piano Man,” as you sing along to Billy Joel’s most popular songs. Tickets at www.CrightonTheatre.org. 
Stay cool inside the pools offered through the City of Conroe. The Conroe Waterpark is now open Tuesday though Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm, and on July 4 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. 
Enjoy the summer! Shop Local!
Margie Taylor may be reached at margie@taylorizedpr.com. 

It’s going to be a bad summer for Kay. That’s terrible because she hasn’t had that good of a spring. The important thing is that few of her woes are my fault. The main blame belongs to mosquitoes. They love Kay. I do, too, but then I don’t pester her as much as the mosquitoes. 
    What I did do was research the habits of the cluicidae in an attempt to make things better for Kay. I need to—Beg pardon? Oh, “cluicidae” is the family name for mosquitoes. Our family name is “human”. – Where was I? 
 Oh, yeah, Michael Garcia.  You may  have seen Michaels article in last Monday’s newspaper. It was titled, “How to get those pests to buzz off”. It weas so informative that I used some of it for my research.  
    Speaking of which, mosquitoes can see you from 16 to 49 feet away. Apparently, someone sponsored a contest to see which mosquito can see the farthest. There is no other sensible way they could’ve come up with 16 to 49 feet. The Brits refer to that distance as “five to fifteen meters.” Ah, now I get it. 
    Bottom line? “A mosquito has good sight.” Unlike the June bug that keeps smashing into windows and screen doors. One of the few animals that will eat June bugs are skunks. It’s easy to see the effect it has on them. 
    So, mosquitoes see through their bug eyes, but they won’t bite you until they know your blood type. The two most popular blood types for mosquitoes are “O” and “AB”. I’m O positive, But I’m perfectly safe because the Asian Tiger Mosquito is the one that prefers O blood. That’s why I’ve been steering clear of Asia. 
    While O blood is common I don’t know about AB. The mosquitoes that prefer AB blood are marsh mosquitoes. Since my Forest Service days, I’ve made it a point to stay away from marshes. 
One type of mosquito that has never bitten anyone is the male mosquito. They don’t even like blood. Popsicles? Likely. The female needs blood to produce her eggs. Yes, they lay eggs. Without eggs, mosquitoes wouldn’t exist. That would mess up the entire food chain.
    The big question for me was “How do mosquitos know what blood type you have?” Well, I’ll tell you. Mosquitoes can determine your blood type through your sweat. God did that because… I don’t know. He doesn’t share a lot with me.  
    Kay has “A” negative” blood. She gets bitten all the time. And the girl doesn’t sweat! So, mosquitoes merely smell her blood type.  When I work outdoors, I’m drenched with sweat. But apparently, mosquitoes don’t care for my smell. I get that a lot.
Of course, the main reason I seldom get bit has to do with DDT. As a child in Pasadena, Texas, every kid on the block ran along with the DDT fog man. It was late evening during the summer when the guy driving a jeep hauling a 55-gallon barrel of DDT, fogged up our neighborhood. The spray came out in a deep, dark cloud. The plan was to run inside the fog without tripping over the curb, running into a parked car, or straddling a garbage can. Those few of us still living thought it a blast. 
Kay’s mother knew better. Kay was not allowed to run inside of DDT fog. She had two brothers, but one was crippled and the other blind, so they weren’t tempted to run inside the poisonous fog. It didn’t matter because Kay’s mom ordered her inside the house and closed all of the windows when the DDT man showed up. 
I think the DDT story explains why few mosquitos mess with me. As a youngster, I was allowed to inhale a lot of DDT. Today, much of my blood still contains a quart or two of DDT. I can’t smell it, but the mosquitos can. Kay and I will be sitting on the back porch and the mosquitoes will be all over her, because as a child she was not allowed to ingest DDT.
I have shared with Kay some of Michael Garcia’s findings about how to protect yourself from mosquito bites. It’s best to wear loose-fitting clothes. I have few loose-fitting clothes. It’s also recommended you wear a long-sleeve shirt and pants during a sweltering summer night. Mosquitoes prefer the heat as do old people. 
Mosquitoes favor dark colors, especially green and black. I don’t know why and I’m fairly sure they don’t either. They are partial to beer drinkers, especially those who drink a quart or more. They’ll even wait for you to finish.  They also prefer people who have eaten something sweet, salty, or spicy.. 
Mosquitoes aren’t partial to lavender, mint, or sage cologne. They’re okay with rosemary, but not thyme. Scarborough Faire? They can take it or leave it.    Ladies, mosquitoes prefer you be pregnant. Pregnant women exhale 20 percent more carbon dioxide than normal ladies. Mosquitoes are partial to heat and to CO2. Sane humans hate both of those. 
When we inhale, we’re pulling in 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and very little CO2. The reason we exhale carbon dioxide has to do with the glucose, fats, and proteins in our bodies that burn up to provide our body with energy. The process lets off CO2, which you exhale, thus attracting mosquitoes. 
    I’m going to leave you with that. I wish to thank Michael Garcia for his help with this. And Kay for allowing me to include her in my research. She said, “Anything to save others.” The mosquitoes don’t seem to care one way or the other. 
Mark Hayter may be reached at hayter.mark@gmail.com

Magnolia West jumped early Thursday night and shut down Lake Creek after midnight Friday.
After Game 1 of the Region III-5A championship series surpassed three hours of rain delay at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville, the Mustangs won 8-1 for their 11th consecutive win.
Magnolia West (25-14-1), the defending state champs, have two chances to close out Lake Creek (30-11) as Game 2 picks up at 7 p.m. Friday night at the same venue.
The Mustangs took two of three against the Lions with the same stakes on the line a year ago.
Lake Creek has dropped the series opener three straight weeks in the playoffs while Magnolia West has yet to lose a postseason game.
The Mustangs pounced early, triggered by a two-run homer by Cody Palacios in the bottom of the first.
A pair of errors in the infield preceded the two-run shot.
As Carson Dunaway rolled a ball into the middle of the infield with two runners on, Trenton Buckley, who reached via an error two batters earlier, came around to score as Dunaway was safe at first via fielder’s choice after a bad throw as the Lions tried to turn two.
With Dunaway at second, after advancing on the error, Palacios, a junior, popped a homer just beyond the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead.
After Palacios gunned down a Lions runner at the plate to end the top of the second, Magnolia West kept on the throttle in the bottom of the inning.
Trey Jeanes led off with a double and three batters later, leadoff man Dawson Park, a Texas State signee, brought home Jeanes on a two-out single to make it 4-0.
Lake Creek got on the board in the top of the fourth but left a couple more on the table. Reed Newkirk pulled an RBI triple to right field to score Leighton Scott. With runners at the corners after a hit batter, Magnolia West escaped further damage with a lineout to Buckley at second.
Lake Creek then brought up the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth, but Magnolia West, with reliever Nolan Cruz on, got out of the bases-loaded jam with a soft grounder to third.
Cruz came on with one out during the inning as starter Jayton Harral exited after 4⅓ innings and 78 pitches. He struck out three, walked three and allowed one earned run on three hits.
Those missed opportunities stung as Magnolia West’s Lukas Huff made them pay in the bottom of the fifth as he drove in two runs with a single up the middle to make it 6-1.
Park, who finished 2-for-4, added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth as he drove in his second and third RBIs on a bases-loaded single.
Cruz didn’t allow a hit over the final 2⅔ innings while walking three.
Lake Creek won both regular-season meetings between the District 21-5A rivals. The Mustangs, however, are 7-5 all-time against the Lions.

Thursday Free Concert Series
Event Date: June 6, ThursdayContact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, kahll@cityofconroe.orgThe weather is warming up so you know it’s time for the Thursday Free Concert Series. Our 6-month series runs April – September.  Escape – A Tribute to Journey plays on Thursday, June 6.  The music begins at 7:00pm. Food trucks will be onsite, however both food and beverages may be brought in (no glass bottles). The next concert is Level One Band (Motown Tribute) on July 11. Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.
Stars and Stripes Celebration
Event Date:  June 29, SaturdayEvent Time: 6:00 – 9:30 PMCost:  FreeContact: Kellie Hall, 936-522-3906, khall@cityofconroe.org
Celebrate America’s Independence at Heritage Place, Saturday June 29th. Kids activities begin at 6pm and will include face painting, balloon animals and inflatables. Outside food and beverages are permitted (no glass containers). Vendor Market and Food trucks will be on site as well. Parking is available in the Parking Garage at 350 Simonton or catch a ride from the Park and Ride located at 131 ½ IH 45 North in Conroe. This is just across from the Montgomery County Library and runs from 5:30pm – 10:00pm. Don’t forget your chair or blanket to enjoy the fireworks show at 9:15pm. Call the Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.
Multi-Arts Camp
Registration: Now EnrollingProgram Runs:  Session I-June 3-7; Session II June 10-14   Contact:  Nancy Valadez, 936-522-3911, nvaladez@cityofconroe.orgMulti-Arts camp is a specialty camp that takes place at the Owen Theatre.  Students ages 8-12 spend one week learning music, art and the basics of acting. The camp concludes with a student performance on Friday afternoon. The fee per session is $215. Conroe residents receive a 25% discount. Limited spots available. Pre-registration form must be completed prior to enrollment. Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or online at cityofconroe.org for more information.
Gymnastics
Registration:  Now enrolling Program Runs: Jun 18-Jul 9   Contact: Nancy Valadez, 936-522-3911, nvaladez@cityofconroe.org Registration for the second session of summer Youth Gymnastics will open May 20th for Conroe residents and May 27th for non-residents. Gymnastics is a fun way to improve a child’s coordination, flexibility, and strength. It is also a great way to build confidence! Beginner classes are offered for as young as 5 years old through advanced classes ages 6 and up.  Fees based on age and skill level (please refer to flyer online), Conroe residents receive a discount of 25% off (verification required). Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or check out the PLAYbook at cityofconroe.org for more information.
American Society of Karate
Registration: Now enrollingProgram Runs:  Jun 11-Aug 13Contact:  Nancy Valadez, 936-522-3911, nvaladez@cityofconroe.orgAmerican Society of Karate is a unique and individual opportunity for students age five and up to learn the art, sport, discipline and self-defense aspects of martial arts. Classes are held on Tuesday evenings as participants progress at their own pace, recreationally or competitively. The registration fee is $60, Conroe residents receive a discount of 25% off (verification required). Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or check out the PLAYbook at cityofconroe.org for more information.
Youth Dance
Registration: Now enrollingProgram Runs: Jun 11-27Contact: Nancy Valadez, 936-522-3911, nvaladez@cityofconroe.orgRegistration for summer session I Youth Dance classes will begin May 13 for Conore Residents and May 20 for non-residents. Tap, ballet and jazz programs offer students ages 4-5 years an opportunity to experience dance whether it’s for the first time, or to continue advancing their skills.  Classes are offered on Tu/Thu , varys times (please refer to flyer online).  Conroe residents receive a 25% discount (verification required). Contact the C.K. Ray Recreation Center at 936-522-3900 or check out the PLAYbook at cityofconroe.org for more information.