A COMPLETE TEXAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER 1842 • 2022Real Estate was BOOMING 180 Years Ago And is BOOMING TODAY! HAPPY 180th BIRTHDAY to THE DAILY NEWS I have depended on you to reach my customers for over 33 years… - David Bowers Sally B. Wallace Preservation Award for Green Revival (solar panels on my 1899 Victorian home) 409/763-2800 David@DavidBowers.com REAL ESTATE BROKERS 2 | THE DAILY NEWS | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | 1842 • 2022 BY KATHRYN EASTBURN FOR THE DAILY NEWS T he future of dai- ly newspapers has been a major concern over the past two decades as print adver- tising revenues plummeted, cir- culation of print products shrank, the market fragment- ed into a digital realm with thousands of unproven products and many legacy papers in larger markets were bought by investment groups and sold for scrap. But the picture for regional and local dailies in smaller markets, like The Galveston County Daily News, isn’t quite as grim, say experts in the field, a sentiment echoed by The Daily News publisher and resident optimist, Leon- ard Woolsey. At the helm since January 2014, Wool- sey also serves as president of Southern Newspapers Inc., the media organiza- tion that owns The Daily News along with 10 other news organizations. Speculating on the future of dailies in general and The Daily News in par- ticular, Woolsey believes maintaining close community ties is the key to lon- gevity, regardless of what changes in journalism, technology or the market may occur. “Our model is to continue to con- nect with the community in a mean- ingful way, whether that’s through the news, advertising or through mag- azines like Coast Monthly,” he said. “Establishing relationships within the community is something that a ma- jor newspaper can’t do as well as we can. As long as the community knows we’re in it for the long term, they’ll continue to support us.” Woolsey spends a good deal of his time out in the community preaching the gospel of local news and the role of newspaper journalism in the life of Galveston County, its municipalities and its people. “The fact is that when we have an unfortunate event in our community, whether it’s a hurricane or the death of Dr. Hughes, The Daily News is going to thoughtfully and sensitively cover that story until people know everything they need to know about it,” Woolsey said. Hughes, a beloved physician in Gal- veston, was killed last month in a hit- and-run collision with a car while rid- ing her bike on the far east end of the seawall. In recent days, The Daily News has reported on the police investigation into Hughes’ death and probed safety issues for bicyclists in the city. Woolsey pointed to growth in the pa- per’s digital footprint despite a decline in print circulation, and outreach through other print products like Coast Monthly and social media as indicators of change. “Right now, we’re in the middle of making significant changes in digital revenue while at the same time step- ping back and looking at what might be improved in content delivery for dig- ital channels,” he said. “It’s evolving and we’ll continue to work on it.” He emphasized the skillset required of reporters presently and in the future, including more specialization, more ability to jump from platform to plat- form and an understanding of the habits of a digital audience. “We used to think when a story was happening, ‘We’ll get the story out to- morrow morning,’” he said. “Now it’s breaking the story immediately and sending notification to readers who want to know about it as quickly as possible.” Whether the future lies largely in print or digital or a mix of both, The Daily News will remain a local newspaper, serving a traditional watchdog role in Galveston County, and a new generation of journalists must be cultivated to con- tinue delivering the news, Woolsey said. “The news business has never been the best at promoting itself; we’ve been terrible at that,” he said. “But to nurture a new generation of journalists, we have to appeal to a younger person’s desire to change the world. Being a journal- ist is not the most glamorous, sexy role but, when it gets right down to it, it’s critical to changing society.” Whatever the future holds, Woolsey plans to be there. “I’m very optimistic about this indus- try,” he said. “I know it’s going to look a lot different in five years, in 10 years, in 20 years. I don’t know what it’s go- ing to look like, but I’m willing to hang around and see.” COMMUNITY TIES KEY TO DAILY NEWS LONGEVITY PHOTOS BY JENNIFER REYNOLDS/THE DAILY NEWS Leonard Woolsey has been publisher of The Daily News since 2014. He also is president of Southern Newspapers Inc., which owns The Daily News along with nine other news organizations in Texas and one in Oklahoma. Members of The Daily News editorial staff with a few of the awards they won last year from the Texas Press Association, including first place for general excellence among the state’s daily papers. The Daily News staff also received accolades from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, including the news organization’s first Newsroom of the Year award.Happy 180 Years to the Galveston County Daily News and Happy 60th Anniversary to League City On May 14, League City will celebrate its 60th year of being officially incorporated with the State of Texas. However, the first settlers arrived in the League City area in the 1850s to ranch and farm the land near Clear Creek. Despite being the largest City in Galveston—with a population of over 116,000—we’re still known for our smalltown charm and community gatherings, many of which take place at League Park. The land for the park was donated by J.C. League—League City’s namesake—who was a wealthy Galveston businessman who also donated land for a school and church and the live oak trees that still line Main Street and our surrounding Historic District. League Park originally had a two-story bandstand gazebo which was destroyed by the 1900 hurricane. It was rebuilt and destroyed years later in a fire. A new gazebo was constructed in 1976, which still stands today. Visit League Park and enjoy its 100-year-old oaks trees, local boutiques, cafes, and historic homes that surround it. THANK YOU to all the readers and supporters of The Daily News as we celebrate our first 180 years! 1842 • 2022 | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | The Daily News | 3Celebrating two historic legacies Congratulations to The Daily News—Texas’ oldest newspaper—on 180 years of serving our communities throughout Galveston County. Like this historic newspaper, UTMB’s story is one of resilience, of the never- ending drive for excellence and of innovation and collaboration as we mark our momentous 130th year. Learn more at www.utmb.edu/130 4 | THE DAILY NEWS | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | 1842 • 2022 THE DAILY NEWS HAS A HISTORY OF INFORMING, ENGAGING AND INNOVATING BY DOLPH TILLOTSON FOR THE DAILY NEWS O ver 180 years, The Daily News has been through good times and bad, and it was in a down cycle that the present owner, South- ern Newspapers Inc., came to town. Newspaper entre- preneur Carmage Walls in 1967 saw a Galveston newspaper that was struggling because of some un- popular decisions by a former owner. He also saw a community with a future that seemed to him as rich as its past. His skills would serve the newspaper and the community well. Walls was a newspaper pioneer who in his career owned all or parts of some 400 newspapers around the country. Most of those newspapers were similar to The Daily News — community newspapers serv- ing non-metropolitan towns and regions. In 2022, The Daily News is a wholly owned sub- sidiary of Houston-based Southern Newspapers. Carmage and Martha Ann Walls’ daughter, Lissa Walls, owns the company, and it owns 10 newspa- pers in Texas and one in Oklahoma. She serves as the company’s CEO. But when Carmage Walls came to town in 1967, the newspaper was owned by Oveta Culp Hobby and family of Houston. The family also owned The Houston Post. The Hobbys bought two newspapers — the eve- ning Tribune and the morning Daily News — from the Moody family of Galveston. The Hobby strategy for the Galveston papers made sense — in a board- room far from the island. That strategy was to kill the evening Galveston Tribune and move the morning paper, The Daily News, to evening publication. The plan was to serve morning readers, of course, with The Houston Post. All of that happened and the people of Galveston, always independent, rebelled. Paid circulation of the remaining paper plum- meted. Public support dwindled. The Hobby family owned the newspaper from 1963 to 1967. In 1965, the Post company built the Teichman Road building that still houses the newspaper today. Carmage Walls immediately hired Les Daughtry Sr. as editor and publisher of The Daily News. Daughtry served the paper from 1967 until 1987, when illness forced his retirement. Daughtry moved to the island with his wife, Faye, and two sons, Les and Charles. Les Daughtry Jr. eventually became publisher of the Texas City Sun, and Charles A. Daughtry became the local paper’s attorney, and he still serves that role. Under Daughtry’s leadership, The Daily News im- mediately reverted to morning publication and dis- tribution. It also converted to offset printing, which replaced old-fashioned hot-type printing and pro- duced major cost savings for the then-struggling company. Under the Daughtry regime, the newspaper’s fi- nancial fortunes improved dramatically and quick- ly. Circulation grew as did advertising revenue. The Daily News became the flagship paper of the South- ern Newspapers group of newspapers in Texas. The Daily News acquired other Galveston County newspapers in Santa Fe and in Texas City and op- erated them for a number of years. Both eventually merged with the readership of The Daily News. The Daily News’ parent company, Southern News- papers, for most of its history was led by Martha Ann Walls, who was Mrs. Carmage Walls. Mr. Walls died in October 1998. The couple’s daughter, Lissa Walls, became chief operating officer of Southern in 1985 and CEO of the company in 2014. Lissa Walls has been in the news- paper business since 1980. She began her career as a reporter for the Rosenberg (Texas) Herald Coaster. Walls serves on the board of PAGE Cooperative and is president of the Carmage and Martha Ann Walls Foundation. She is a past board member of The Associated Press, Mutual Insurance Compa- ny, Southern Newspapers Publishers Association, Southern Newspapers Publishers Association Foun- dation and UTMB Development Board. In 1987, Lissa Walls hired me to succeed Les Daughtry as publisher of The Daily News. Like him, I served the newspaper and the community for more than 20 years. In later years, I became execu- tive vice president and then president of Southern Newspapers Inc., the parent company. During my tenure, the newspaper intensified its focus on growth on the Galveston County main- land, created its internet edition (galvnews.com) and launched its successful lifestyle magazine, Coast Monthly. The move online began in 1995, and The Daily News was among the first to create its own internet presence. The Daily News and the Walls family of news- papers always have been innovative. And we tried to continue innovating in practical ways during the time I ran the company. Also during those years, the newspaper and Gal- veston faced and recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Ironically, some of my best memories of my time in the community revolve around how both Galveston and The Daily News pulled together in that difficult time of recovery. Leonard Woolsey became publisher of The Daily News on Jan. 1, 2014. In 2018, he succeeded me as president of Southern Newspapers, while continuing to lead The Daily News. I became chairman of South- ern Newspapers in 2018 and continue in that role. During Woolsey’s time at the paper, work has continued to meet the challenge of serving readers and customers digitally. Since 2020, Woolsey and the newspaper also have met the considerable challeng- es of doing business during a worldwide pandemic. “If 180 years has taught us anything, I believe it is that a trusted source of information and engagement is valued by people,” Woolsey said. “If we remain committed to this important prin- ciple, people will support those voices they know and believe in. In that spirit, The Daily News is only getting started.” Woolsey also said the company has continued to “punch above its weight” with Coast Monthly maga- zine and a unique and recognizable daily newspaper. “If you stumble across The Daily News, we want you to know you are in Galveston County, Texas, and reading coverage you might only expect from much larger newspapers. I believe this team is doing just that and I am incredibly proud of each of them,” Woolsey said. Walls, the newspaper’s owner, echoes and ex- pands on those sentiments. “Community newspapers provide accurate and trusted information that directly impacts the daily lives of the citizens in their communities,” Walls said. “There is no other medium or source for accurate, constructive and verifiable information in a commu- nity. Informing and engaging the community will continue to be the mission of The Daily News.” Dolph Tillotson is chairman of board of Southern Newspa- pers Inc., which owns The Daily News. He was publisher of The Daily News for more than 20 years. DOLPH TILLOTSON FROM LEFT: Georgia-born B. Carmage Walls purchased The Daily News in 1967 from Oveta Culp Hobby and family of Houston; Les Daughtry Sr. poses with a hand-operated press thought to have printed the first issue of the newspaper. Daughtry served as editor and publisher of the paper from 1967 to 1987; Lissa Walls, daughter of Carmage and Martha Ann Walls, became chief operating officer of Southern Newspapers, The Daily News’ parent company, in 1985 and CEO of the company in 2014. She has been in the newspaper business since 1980, beginning her career as a reporter for the Rosenberg (Texas) Herald Coaster. PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE1842 • 2022 | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | The Daily News | 5 Hot places to cool off Forget the beach. Island resorts are swimming in style with upgraded pools. Easy living, Texas Gulf style July 2008 10 From the Gulf to the market to the plate, we track the best deli- cacy around — shrimp, where to buy it and how to prepare it. 6 Look good when you hit the beach or pool this summer, no matter what body type you have. It’s all about ac- centuating the positive. 12 Sink a line and let your worries and stresses drift away. With a little preparation and just a few items, any time’s a good time for fishing. ‘THE NEWS’ IN THE NEWS NOV. 1, 1993: OLD MEETS NEWS The Galveston Daily News changes its name to The Galveston County Daily News to focus on countywide news coverage and opens a mainland service center in La Marque. DEC. 25, 1995: MAKING DIGITAL WAVES The Daily News makes its online debut as one of the first newspapers in Texas to provide both print and digital editions. JUNE 29, 2008: EASY LIVING, TEXAS GULF STYLE The Daily News debuts a new glossy lifestyle magazine called Coast, featuring stories about “what makes this place we call home distinctive and fun.” ston Daily News, September 19, 1965,Pg. 17, Galveston, Texas, US /newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news-sep-19-1 SEPT. 19, 1965: OPEN HOUSE The Daily News invites the public to tour its new state-of-the-art building at 8522 Teichman Road. The million-dollar plant was considered one of the most modern newspaper plants in the country.portofgalveston.com 6 | The Daily News | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | 1842 • 2022 HISTORY IN HEADLINES SEE HOW THE DAILY NEWS COVERED KEY EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE WORLD I NSIDE T ODAY © 2011 The Galveston County Daily News 50 cents Tuesday, May 3, 2011Texas’ Oldest Newspaper: Since 1842Vol. 169, No. 23galvnews.com E LECTION : Overdue water bill notices cause the biggest confusion on first day of early voting By T.J. AULDS The Daily News When Wayne Buldt got the notice of a passed due water bill in his mailbox, he rushed down to La Marque City Hall. Turns out he wasn’t behind in paying for water. City officials wanted to get him to the polls but printed the polling loca- tions on a past due water bill notice. The confusion over the wa- ter notices, a mishap with elec- tion workers inputting wrong codes in the ballot machine Few voting snafus E LECTION : Mayoral candidates rely on local politicians, family for support Who’s behind the candidates? By HAYLEY KAPPES The Daily News LEAGUE CITY — Despite developing a friendship during their time on city council, Mayor Toni Randall and Councilman Tim Paulissen have differed on their campaign strategies and views of the mayor’s duties. Paulissen has sought support from prominent members of the Galveston County Republican Party and has aligned himself with two council candidates, while Randall has relied on campaign help from family and friends and has taken a grass-roots approach Toni RandallTim Paulissen Visit galvnews.com for a list early voting locations. Also read what candidates had to say in Daily News questionnaires. G ALVESTON : Former director resigned in March By AMANDA CASANOVA The Daily News Five applicants are con- tending for the position of the Park Board of Trustees execu- tive director to replace the for- mer director, who resigned in March. Christa Buggey, Allen Flores, Jerald Tollett, Stanley Motley and Mario Rabago are the five finalists for the job, trustees announced Monday afternoon. Rabago is serving as the 5 finalists for park board post G ALVESTON : Defendant says cocaine found in hotel room was planted Ex-council candidate’s drug trial begins By CHRIS PASCHENKO The Daily News The drug case of a former city council candidate, who claimed co- caine found in his hotel room was planted, began Monday with jury selection. A panel of eight men and four women are expected to hear open- ing arguments today in the case against Michael Lee Aldous, who ran in 2009 for Santa Fe City Council. According to the indictment, Al- dous is accused of possessing less than a gram of cocaine on May 15, 2009, which was less than a week after his election defeat. In a story published after his May 21 ar- rest, Aldous told The Daily News the drug wasn’t his, that it was See VOTING/A6 See CANDIDATES/A3 See PARKBOARD/A3 See TRIAL/A3 By ADAM GOLDMAN and CHRIS BRUMMITT The Associated Press WASHINGTON — After nearly a decade of anger and fear, America rejoiced Monday at the demise of Osama bin Laden, the terror mas- termind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks. Navy SEALs who killed the world’s most-wanted terrorist seized a trove of al-Qaida docu- ments to pore over, and President Barack Obama laid plans to visit New York’s ground zero. Bin Laden, killed in an intense W ARON T ERROR America rejoices With the new One World Trade Center building in the background, second left, a large, jubilant crowd reacts to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death at the corner of Church and Vesey streets during the early morning hours Monday in New York. By T.J. AULDS The Daily News From congressmen and U.S. Senators to everyday people in Galveston County, word that U.S. troops killed Osama bin Laden during a raid on the terrorist leader’s Pakistani compound Sunday brought a sense of relief, elation, disbe- lief and concerns for what ter- rorists might do next. Locals react to terrorist leader’s death Osama bin Laden Bryan Byrd, 22, of Washington, left, looks at a display of newspaper front pages at the Newseum in Washington on Monday, the day after Osama bin Laden was killed. Bin Laden’s demise brings shouts of joy and concerns See BINLADEN/A7 See LOCALREAX/A7 More than 50 Galveston County athletes are com- peting in the region track and field meets. MAY 3, 2011: BIN LADEN KILLED Navy SEALs kill Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, during a raid May 2 on the terrorist leader’s Pakistan compound. SEPT. 12, 2001: 9/11 On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists associated with al-Qaeda, an Is- lamist extremist group, hijack four commercial airplanes, deliberately crashing two of the planes into the upper floors of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City and a third plane into the Penta- gon in Arlington, Virginia. A fourth hijacked plane was crashed into an empty field in western Pennsylvania. The attacks killed 2,977 people from 93 nations. APRIL 7, 1917: US ENTERS WORLD WAR I The United States declares war on Germany on April 6 with President Woodrow Wilson proclaiming the “world must be made safe for democracy.” Prohibition began as a wartime measure in August. NOV. 11, 1918: ARMISTICE DAY Armistice Day ends the first world war on Nov. 11, and mass celebrations break out across the country. President Wilson goes to Europe for a peace conference in December. DEC. 7, 1941: PEARL HARBOR Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt describes as “a date which will live in infamy.” The United States declares war on Japan three days later, then Germany and Italy on Dec. 11. SEPT. 2, 1945: WWII ENDS World War II ends Sept. 2 when U.S. Gen. Doug- las MacArthur accepts Japan’s formal surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay along with a flotilla of more than 250 Allied warships. WAR AND PEACEUPCOMING EVENTS 33rd Annual Golf Tournament May 2, 2022 Lemonade Day Galveston County May 7, 2022 2nd Annual Shoot for the Chamber Clay Shoot August 5, 2022 15th Annual Galveston Women’s Conference September 16, 2022 ADVOCACY IN ACTION UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY GALVESTONCHAMBER.COM CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DAILY NEWS ON 180 YEARS 1842 • 2022 | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | The Daily News | 7 G ALVESTON : Coast Guard official says ousted company did not breach security By RHIANNON MEYERS The Daily News One federal Coast Guard official said it doesn’t appear Seawolf Marine Patrol screeners broke any national security rules at the Galveston ferry landing, but that may be because there are no federal rules to break. Screeners slept on the job, refused to Tuesday November 27, 2007 50 cents Texas’ Oldest Newspaper: Since 1842Vol. 165, No. 227galvnews.com I NSIDE T ODAY © 2007 The Galveston County Daily News S ANTA F E : ‘I had just bought Christmas presents,’ fire victim says By CHRIS PASCHENKO The Daily News An unattended space heater ignited a bathroom blaze Mon- day that blanketed a neighbor- hood with a thick, smoky-white haze and displaced a family of three from their home. Space-heater fire displaces family of three Santa Fe firefighters prepare Monday to cut into the roof of a burning home in the 12,000 block of 13th Street. Fire officials said an unat- tended space heater may have sparked the blaze. By SARA McDONALD The Daily News GALVESTON — The little girl known worldwide as “Baby Grace” was tortured and beaten to death by her mother and stepfather, who then hid her body in a shed for more than a month before dumping it in Galveston Bay, according to affida- vits used by investigators to obtain arrest warrants. Investigators called the death of 2- year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, whom they identified Sunday as the likely match for the remains found nearly a month ago, a “series of tragic events.” In an interview, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, of Spring, told investiga- tors that she and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler, 24, beat her daughter with two leather belts the morning of July 24, an affidavit says. They also held her head underwater in the bathtub and Zeigler picked her up by her hair and threw her across the room, slamming her head into tile floor, the affidavit says. An autopsy on Oct. 30 found that the child had three skull fractures on the back of her head. The pair also smothered the girl by pushing her face into a pillow in her room and into the cushions of a couch, the affidavit says. Trenor told investigators that, dur- ing the beating, her husband gave the girl child’s pain medication and cov- ered her with a purple towel after she was dead, the affidavit says. That night, the couple went to a Wal-Mart and bought the blue plastic storage container that would wash ashore on an uninhabited island in West Galveston Bay three months later, the affidavit says. The plastic bin with the child en- Child was smothered, beaten, affidavits claim Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo holds up a child’s shoe Monday during a press conference about the arrests made during the weekend in the “Baby Grace” case. The child found in a plastic box on an island in West Galveston Bay last month is believed to be Riley Ann Sawyers, a 2-year-old Spring girl. The girl’s mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, and stepfather, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, have been charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence and are in the Galveston County Jail. Royce Clyde Zeigler IIKimberly Dawn TrenorRiley Ann Sawyers G ALVESTON : Insurance will pay, minus deductible By MARTY SCHLADEN The Daily News Two police officers were playing target practice with a toy pellet gun earlier this month when one caused more than $100,000 in water dam- age to the new county Justice Center, police said Monday. The two will be disciplined, but it’s not known yet what their punishment will be, po- lice said. Officers Joey Quiroga and Robert Owens had just fin- ished a successful drug bust when they took turns firing the gun in the Galveston Po- lice Department’s Narcotics Division at the Justice Center. “They apparently were cel- Police: Officers’ playing caused $100,000 damage No rules, then no wrongs for ferry screeners See FERRY/A3 See FIRE/A5See DAMAGE/A5 J USTICE : Attorney will also turn over info to U.S. Justice Department for possible criminal probe By MARTY SCHLADEN The Daily News A woman who has accused U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent of unwanted sexual touching will have her case reheard by a dis- ciplinary panel of the 5th Judicial Circuit, her attorney, Rusty Hardin, said late Monday. Late that afternoon, Hardin gave the panel summaries of interviews his team did of 20 people who have had contact Another hearing for Kent’s accuser For more coverage, see galvnews.com SPECIALREPORT: Judge See JUDGEKENT/A5 Court records recount a frenzy of violence leading to 2-year-old’s death See galvnews.com for more on the Baby Grace case and how to donate to Crime Stoppers. See VIOLENCE/A2 Tag along with the Hitchcock Bulldogs for a behind-the-scenes look at their journey to Navasota for a playoff game. Sports/A7. SPORTS: Clear Springs plays for Santa Fe, sweeps Kingwood » B2 GALVESTON COUNTY T exas ’ O ldesT N ewspaper • p ublishiNg s iNce 1842 • c elebraTiNg 176 Y ears Saturday, May 19, 2018 • galvnews.com H: 87 L: 79 » A8 • $1 Vol. 176, No. 37 645485001007 © 2018 The Galveston County Daily News INDEX ABBY B6 LOTTERY A2 MARKETS A6 OBITUARIES C6 OPINION A4 PUZZLES B6 SPORTS B2 Santa Fe grieves SCHOOL SHOOTING DEVELOPMENTS CHARGES The suspect, identified as Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was arraigned Friday evening on capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated assault against a public servant. THE SCENE Breanna Quintanilla, a 17-year- old junior at Santa Fe High School, said that when Pagourtzis walked into the room, he pointed at one person and said, “I’m going to kill you.” She did not identify the student who was shot. CLASSES Officials have canceled classes at schools in the Santa Fe Independent School District through at least Tuesday. In a statement posted on the district website, officials indicated that no plan has been made for resuming classes. DISCUSSIONS STUART VILLANUEVA/ The Daily News • Gov. Greg Abbott, a staunch advocate for gun rights, said at a news conference he will start holding “round table” discussions on guns and school safety issues starting next week. • White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the gun safety commission President Donald Trump convened after the Parkland, Fla., shooting in February “has been activated today to start that conversation up again.” She says she believes it will be meeting again in the “first part of next week.” • Survivors of the school shooting in Parkland took to social media to express outrage and heartbreak after the Friday school shooting in Santa Fe. “Santa Fe High, you didn’t deserve this. You deserve peace all your lives, not just after a tombstone saying that is put over you. You deserve more than Thoughts and Prayers, and after supporting us by walking out we will be there to support you by raising up your voices,” tweeted Emma Gonzalez. INTERNATIONAL A leader at a program for foreign exchange students and the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., say a Pakistani girl is among those killed in the shooting. Megan Lysaght, manager of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Abroad program, sent a letter to other students in the program confirming that Sabika Sheikh was killed in the shooting. The Pakistan Embassy in Washington identified Sheikh as a victim of the shooting on Twitter and wrote that “our thoughts and prayers are with Sabika’s family and friends.” — From staff and wire reports DIMITRIOS PAGOURTZIS STATE REACTION Gov. Greg Abbott: We need to do more to just pray » A3 SCHOOL SHOOTING | SANTA FE ACCUSED Teen charged in deadly shooting ‘wanted story told’ » A3 EDITORIAL Today is a day to mourn our losses » A4 AREA Accused shooter lived a quiet life on a quiet street in Alvin » A5 STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News Trent Bolin, 13, prays in front of memorial candles at a vigil held in Santa Fe, Texas in the wake of a school shooting at Santa Fe High School on Friday. By MARISSA BARNETT The Daily News »SANTA FE As classes were beginning Fri- day morning at Santa Fe High School, a gunman opened fire on students and staff members, killing 10 people and wounding at least 10 others. The carnage set off a day of horror and thrust the small, tight-knit community into an international spotlight and onto a grim roster of places where deadly gun violence has erupted on a school campus. About 8 a.m., students were settling into their first period class when a shooter dressed in a trench coat carrying a shotgun and .38-caliber revolver opened fire in the school, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. Authorities have charged 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtz- is, a junior at the high school, in connection with the shootings. Pagourtzis, who was being held Friday at the Galveston County Jail on a capital murder charge and a charge of aggra- vated assault of a peace officer charge, also had explosive devic- es, including a Molotov cocktail, ‘The next thing we hear is boom, boom, boom’ By CONNOR BEHRENS The Daily News »SANTA FE Some crying, others silent, hundreds of community mem- bers stood closely together in an open field near the Texas First Bank and clutched candles and red roses in remembrance of 10 people, their friends and neigh- bors, shot dead Friday morning at Santa Fe High School. “My son didn’t go to school today,” Chauntell Single said with tears streaming down her face. “It’s devastating and it’s heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families who lost their kids today.” The clustered crowd of resi- dents then listened intently as Santa Fe ISD Superintendent Leigh Wall, Mayor Jeff Tambrel- la and Mayor-elect Jason Tabor discussed the challenging and difficult day for the city. “This is a horrible thing that’s occurred but we have a wonder- ful community,” Tambrella said. “We need each other more than ever.” The community deserves an- swers and they will get answers, Community mourns for victims at vigil STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News A woman wipes away tears during a vigil held in Santa Fe after a school shooting. See VIGIL » A8 By VALERIE WELLS The Daily News A school resource officer, a sophomore baseball player, a substitute teacher and a foreign exchange student were among those injured in a mass shooting Friday at Santa Fe High School. As of press time, officials had not identified the 10 dead and 10 wounded initially reported. However, hospital officials re- ported at least 14 wounded peo- ple from the shooting. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, was Hospitals treat victims, identities not confirmed See SHOOTING » A7 See VICTIMS » A8 LAW AND ORDER NOV. 27, 2007: ‘BABY GRACE’ Arrests are made in the death of a 2-year-old known worldwide as “Baby Grace.” The child, identified as Riley Ann Sawyers, of Spring, was found in a plastic box on an island in West Galveston Bay. Her mother and stepfather were charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence. MAY 19, 2018: SANTA FE SCHOOL SHOOTING A gunman opens fire on students and staff members at Santa Fe High School, killing 10 people and wounding 13 others. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17, a junior at the high school, is charged with capital murder in the mass shooting. After being evaluated by mental health experts, Pagourtzis was ordered to stay in a state mental hospital until he’s ruled competent to stand trial. JUNE 21, 2001: MOTHER DROWNS 5 CHILDREN Houston mother Andrea Yates confesses to drowning her five young children in the bathtub of their suburban home on June 20. Yates, who suffers from severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and schizophrenia, is convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. After a retrial in 2006, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity. She has been at Kerrville State Hospital, a mental facility in Kerrville, since January 2007. FEB. 15, 2003: HARRIS SENTENCED Friendswood wife Clara Harris is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on Valentine’s Day for killing her cheating husband in the Nassau Bay Hilton Hotel parking lot with her Mercedes-Benz. She was released from prison in 2018 after serving 15 years for the crime. SEPT. 23, 2003: DURST ON TRIAL Opening arguments begin in the murder trial of eccentric real estate heir Robert Durst who is accused of murdering his Galveston neighbor Morris Black, 71, in September 2001. Durst is found not guilty of murder in Black’s death on Nov. 11, 2003, but he remains held on $3 billion bail on bail jumping and evidence tampering charges. An appellate court later rules the unprecedented bail is unconstitutional and orders it lowered to $450,000.Happy Anniversary from one historic treasure to another! TheGrand.com 409.765.1894 8 | The Daily News | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | 1842 • 2022 WHEN DISASTER STRIKES APRIL 17, 1947: TEXAS CITY DISASTER Explosions aboard the French cargo ship the Grandcamp on April 16 and the SS High Flyer on April 17 in the Port of Texas City left 398 dead, 178 missing and 4,000 injured. MARCH 24, 2005: BP EXPLOSION A series of explosions March 23 rocked BP’s refinery in Texas City, killing 15 people and injuring more than 170. It was the deadliest explosion in this industrial town since the 1947 disaster. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited BP for more than 300 safety violations and fined the company $21 million. It was the largest fine ever assessed by the federal regulatory agency. DEC. 28, 1977: GRAIN ELEVATOR EXPLOSION An explosion at the Farmer’s Export Co. grain elevator scattered debris and buried workers at the portside facility. The death count would rise from the nine reported Dec. 28. SPACE AGE I NSIDE TODAY 75 FHQWVSaturday, July 9, 2011 Texas’ Oldest Newspaper: Since 1842 Vol. 169, No. 90 galvnews.com By HAYLEY KAPPES The Daily News EL LAGO — Kandy Warren wiped away tears as she watched Space Shuttle Atlantis rocket toward the sky, signaling the beginning of the 30- year space shuttle pro- gram’s end. Despite ongoing con- cerns severe weather would prompt delays, four astronauts aboard Atlantis blasted off at 10:29 a.m. CDT Friday for a resupply mission to the International Space Station, marking the 135th shuttle flight. NASA forecasters es- timated a 30 percent chance of favorable weather for the morning liftoff. Warren, who has worked in the aerospace industry since the first space shuttle launch in 1981, gathered with a 1$6$ Beginning of the end Atlantis blasts off for final flight of shuttle program ‘I will be emotional ... but I had to be here’ Veronica Seyl cheers while watching Space Shuttle At- lantis lift off at Boondoggle’s Pizzeria & Pub in El Lago. See LAUNCH/A4 JULY 9, 2011: FINAL FLIGHT Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off July 8 for a resupply mission to the International Space Station, sig- naling the beginning of the 30-year space shuttle program’s end. JULY 21, 1969: MOON WALK On July 20, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of Apollo XI became the first men to walk on the moon. The U.S. space program had cost $25 billion to date. JAN. 29, 1986: CHALLENGER EXPLOSION The space shuttle Challenger exploded in midair over Florida on Jan. 28 following the failure of two O-ring seals in right solid rocket booster soon after liftoff. Six astronauts and a civilian teacher, Christa McAuliffe, were killed. FEB. 2, 2003: COLUMBIA DISASTER The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it re-entered the atmosphere on Feb. 1, killing all seven crew members. An investiga- tion board determined that a large piece of foam fell from the shuttle’s external tank during launch and breached the spacecraft wing. JULY 27, 2005: RETURN TO FLIGHT Two and a half years after the space shuttle Columbia disaster, NASA returns to flight with Space Shuttle Discovery. The seven-per- son international crew departed July 26 for a 12-day mission to the International Space Station.SEPT. 10, 1900: THE 1900 STORM The Great Storm of Sept. 8-9 is the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States. An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people died when Galveston was completely inundated. 1842 • 2022 | CELEBRATING 180 YEARS | The Daily News | 9 STORM STORIES SEPT. 9, 2005: HURRICANE RITA At its peak intensity, Hurricane Rita was a strong Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 mph. An estimated 2.5 million people hit the road ahead of the storm’s arrival. The evacuation proved more deadly than the hurricane. It made landfall in East Texas as a Category 3 storm. While the storm caused $12 billion in damage, it is remembered for creating the worst gridlock in U.S. history. AUG. 30, 2017: HURRICANE HARVEY Hurricane Harvey came ashore Aug. 25 as a Category 4 storm causing catastrophic flooding and more than 100 deaths. In a four-day peri- od, many areas received more than 40 inches of rain as the system slowly moved over eastern Texas. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes. It’s tied with 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, causing $125 billion in damage. SEPT. 16, 2008: HURRICANE IKE Hurricane Ike made landfall over Galveston Island on Sept. 13 as a Category 2 storm. Its 22-foot storm surge caused widespread coastal flooding. The storm killed dozens of people and caused $30 billion in damage, becoming one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history. By MICHAEL A. SMITH The Daily News By Tuesday, at least 40,000 peo- ple had been displaced from their Galveston County homes after three days of monumental flood- ing that paralyzed a huge swath of coastal Texas. “The entire population of the county is about 310,000, so you’re talking 12 to 14 per- cent,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. “That’s my best guess. If I’m wrong, it’s low.” Every esti- mate about what Tropical Storm Harvey had done to Galveston County was still a guess. The storm’s arrival Saturday night brought near ceaseless tor- rents of rain, a deluge that could be measured in feet, sending Clear Creek and Dickinson Bay- ou out of their banks, turning thoroughfares into waterways and presenting local govern- ments with immense demand for rescue and other aid. Even accounting for the dead was guess work for officials still in a state of crisis and still occu- pied with pleas for help from the living. Vol. 175, No. 140 645485001007 © 2017 The Galveston County Daily News INDEX ABBY A10LOTTO A2 MARKETS A4 OBITS D2 OPINION A6 TV/COMICS B8-9 OUR VIEW: There are many heroes of Hurricane Harvey » A6 GALVESTON COUNTY T exas ’ O ldesT N ewspaper • p ublishiNg s iNce 1842 • c elebraTiNg 175 Y ears Wednesday, August 30, 2017 • www.galvnews.comH: 82 L: 75 » A10 • $1 HARVEY | GALVESTON COUNTY THESE STORIES WERE FIRST REPORTED ON GALVNEWS. COM MORE TROPICAL STORM HARVEY PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY » B SECTION & WWW.GALVNEWS.COM Inside n ‘Where are we going to go?’: Displaced families chart their options » A4 n Beloved Clear Creek track coach reportedly killed in storm » A8 n Mail service disrupted for much of Galveston County » A8 n La Vita Bella owner: Residents laughed, joked during wait for rescue » A7 INSIDE Harvey’s Deluge HARVEY | FORECAST By JOHN WAYNE FERGUSON The Daily News It’s almost over. After taking a last shot at Galveston County, dumping more than 8 inches of rain over parts of the island, Trop- ical Storm Harvey started to move on away from Galveston County on Tuesday afternoon. And it was picking up speed as it went. Harvey was about 55 miles south-southwest of Port Arthur on Tuesday. It was moving north-north- east at about 6 mph toward the Tex- as-Louisiana border. A surge of dry air was starting to push Harvey away from the area, said Wendy Wong, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in League City. Because of flooding in areas around the county, Coast Monthly will be delivered on Thursday with The Daily News. IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT COAST MONTHLY HARVEY | ON THE ISLAND By SAMANTHA KETTERER The Daily News »GALVESTON After days of watching the devastation from across the bay, persistent rains from Tropical Storm Harvey on Tuesday finally arrived in Galveston, resulting in the most extensive flooding the island had seen during the days- long storm. At least 40,000 displaced, 6 dead during massive flood KELSEY WALLING /The Daily News FM 517 remained flooded and impassable from Tropical Storm Harvey in Dickinson on Tuesday. President Donald J. Trump has issued a Disaster Declaration for Galveston County. HARVEY | FLOODING By VALERIE WELLS The Daily News Water rose again Tuesday morning in League City after 8.5 inches of rain poured on the already flooded area overnight, city officials said. First responders continued house-to-house search and res- cue efforts, but most people who needed to get out of high See HARVEY » A3 With dry air behind it, Harvey starts to move on See WEATHER » A9 League City rises to flood challenge See FLOODING » A3 Galveston floods ‘everywhere’ after persistent rains See ISLAND » A9 Tuesday September 16, 2008 50 cents Texas’ Oldest Newspaper: Since 1842 Vol. 166, No. 155 galvnews.com © 2008 The Galveston County Daily News Today’s editions of The Daily News may be delivered late. Papers are being printed in Victoria and trucked in to Galveston County. They are being distributed at gathering places and supply distribution points. It is likely subscribers will receive several days’ editions bundled in one package when customers are able to return to their homes. Meanwhile, check galvnews. com for updates as they become available. A foundation piling for a home in Spanish Grant Beachside is splintered and broken in half from Hurricane Ike’s storm surge. no calm after storm Some areas fared better than expected, while devastation in others appeared worse/A2. Call 1-800-621-FEMA or go to www.fema.gov to register for disaster and housing aid/A3. Police have arrested 11 for looting businesses and homes that sustained little damage/A4. County Judge Jim Yarbrough wants all residents off the Bolivar Peninsula/A5. FEMA, Salvation Army set up isle aid stations Officials say island can not support residents Tillotson: Media blackout idiotic Downtown area left in shambles i:: AUG. 18, 1983: HURRICANE ALICIA Hurricane Alicia made landfall Aug. 18, the first hurricane to do so in the continental United States in three years. It was among the costliest in Texas history, causing $3 billion worth of damage. SEPT. 10, 1961: HURRICANE CARLA At the time the largest hurricane on record, Hurricane Carla battered the Gulf Coast between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14. Six peo- ple died when a tornado swept across Galveston Island.Next >