Texas City Sun (Newspaper) - April 15, 2004, Texas City, Texas Funds found for O'Connell Page 5 Texas city sun 50 cents GOOD IT'S APRIL 15,2004 IN THE NEWS Local Words and food Dickinson student combines love of food to win essay See story on Page 5 Sports Stings at Stangs Texas City and Friendswood square off in district hardball See story on Page 10 Business Scholes Airport in Galveston prepares to take off with new See story on Page 9 Obituaries Juan Thomas Hernandez Linda Louise Clark See Page 13 Today's weather Today intervals of clouds i and Page 2 ANNIE'S BULLETIN STOCKS Printed on recycled 92, NO. 106 Serving the County Mainland since 1912 Countdown to port construction begins today TEXAS SSA says container port will begin construction in 30 days By Aulds Texas City Sun Like most ground breaking today's turning of dirt for the International Container Terminal at Shoal Point is more symbol than But it's a pretty important symbol say city Seven years after Texas City officials started floating the idea of building a large shipping container port facility at Shoal Point shovels will Finally hit some Albeit the real construction site will actually be located across the water from today's According to Doug who heads the city's management services and oversees its economic development not until real construction begins on the site will the true economic benefits of luring the Texas City International Terminal on Shoal Point start to make their we open Tex Tin and there is some real visible signs of activity out there the planned will you start to see the interest of said There has been some concern - mostly street rumors - that the much hyped would be delayed or never be built at The long process of securing government approval proved tedious and then the project's front McLauchlan of SSA - the Ceremony 11 a.m. First Lady Texas City Dike man Andy port company that will Please see Page 7 Stings Spring SUN PHOTO BY DWIGHT C. ANDREWS Members of the practice a dance routine Wednesday afternoon for their 14th annual Spring The performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Drill team preps for big show By Dwight C. Andrews Texas City Sun TEXAS CITY - Fans of dance will be treated to the 14th annual Spring Show this Friday and Saturday night at the John C. Martin Auditorium at Texas City High Members of the dance team will perform solos ensembles as well as entire team routines featuring dance styles from modern to a compilation of competition routines and routines that the girls have said Terri director of the of the newer routines the girls have learned in the last few weeks during fund raisers such as the dance camp in the fall and Crowd Pleasers Dance Showcase last month helped pay for the costumes and props for the Advance tickets are available from any or can be purchased at the door for Tax man burn midnight oil SUN PHOTO BY DWIGHT C. ANDREWS Jamie Marshall practices a jump Wednesday afternoon during a rehearsal for the drill team's annual Spring Prepare for higher light bills TEXAS Electric tabs could rise to per month By Bernard Texas City Sun TEXAS CITY - Reliant Energy residents could see up to a $ 12 rise in monthly in coming months if the Energy Houston Electric wins a claim that it has suffered billion in stranded according to a lawyer representing The Public Utility Commission will conduct an open meeting today in Austin to hear more in the continuing battle to determine what the company has lost as a result of deregulation of the won't see anything until the final stranded costs are determined in said Thomas attorney representing the Gulf Coast Coalition of which is the organization representing municipalities and residents who might be A Reliant Energy spokesperson said the company was not prepared to discuss how the issue could affect its don't know what the increase could It could be an a decrease or no increase at said Stephanie Reliant Energy she said she was aware that some such as the city have developed their own numbers relating to what customers might pay if all stranded costs were passed She said the company won't know it will be affected until about December or Municipal governments are considering now resolutions lhat would allow the coalition to intervene on their behalf to fight the company's The La Marque City Council approved the resolution at its Monday A judge ruled last month that the company might have million but the company has challenged that It is that issue the PUC will consider on Regardless of the outcome of that Brocato said he does not believe the amount is huge enough to make that much of a difference in what customers might be charged if the company wins its costs are charged to retail electric providers as a charge that affects all commercial and industrial It results from the decline in the value of assets clue to the restructuring of the Since electricity prices are likely to fall more than production thus Please see Page 7 By Aulds Texas City Sun TEXAS CITY - No one longs for April 16 more than Elizabeth Except maybe for everyone in her The certified public accountant and partner with lies and Duval marks the day after tax day on her calendar with am going to sleep in and said lies as she reviewed one of 600 clients her office handles taxes will have a skeleton staff in here that It's like a holiday for That holiday is less than 18 hours away this morning as the tax man calls for the clock to strike midnight on all those who have yet to file their 2003 income tax lies remarks that she's glad most of her clients will actually see some money back from Uncle Sam this She said most of that comes as a result in the capital gains tax and the tax cut passed by Congress last see Pap 7 SUN PHOTO BY DWIGHT ANDREWS Elizabeth CPA works on a client's 2003 Income tax Wednesday