Typhoon Texas to add new children’s attractions

Typhoon Texas has embarked on its most significant addition in its six-year history, an interconnected water experience exclusively for children featuring junior-sized versions of the Katy waterpark’s signature attractions.

Scheduled to open for the upcoming summer season, Typhoon Junior will offer five new, child-friendly attractions patterned after the waterpark’s most popular waterslides, all surrounding the waterpark’s iconic Gully Washer.

“Most waterparks don’t offer much in terms of attractions for children under 48 inches beyond perhaps a splash pad,” Matt Girocco, Typhoon Texas general manager, said. “We want to give our youngest patrons the same kind of waterpark experience the rest of the family enjoys.”

In addition to five new waterslides, Typhoon Junior will include an upgraded splash pad and the waterpark’s signature Gully Washer where kids splash and play among more than 100 spray areas topped off by a giant, 800-gallon water bucket.

Spanning close to four acres, the area will offer the convenience of new cabanas and open lounge seating to ensure moms and dads can remain in Typhoon Junior with a front-row seat for all the fun. Several of the waterpark’s food-and-beverage options also will be easily accessible from the new children’s area.

Access to Typhoon Junior is included in both day tickets and season passes.

Every summer, Typhoon Texas welcomes more than one half million guests through its gates. The family destination consistently ranks among the top-20 most attended waterparks in North America.

“From day one, we’ve set out to raise the bar when it comes to creating a quality, family-friendly waterpark experience,” Girocco said. “Now with Typhoon Junior, our youngest patrons can share in the same thrills and fun as the rest of the family.”

Typhoon Texas opens daily for the 2023 summer season beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Season passes offering unlimited admission and discounts on food, retail purchases and other items, are on sale now at TyphoonTexas.com.

Wesley H. Jones joins Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates-Katy Neurosurgery

Dr Wesley H. Jones, a dual fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in cranial and spine surgery, has joined Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates-Katy Neurosurgery.

Jones’ diverse and extensive training enables him to treat patients with an array of innovative and traditional procedures best suited to their individual diagnoses and needs. As one of the first neurosurgeons in the Greater Houston area to offer robotic-assisted cranial and spine surgery, his patients benefit from cutting-edge treatment.

“Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital has been strategically focused on expanding specialty and surgical services for our residents,” Jerry Ashworth, Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital CEO, said. “The addition of Dr. Jones is a big win for our community, especially those seeking surgical care for spine, peripheral nerve or cerebrovascular disease.”

A native of the Greater Houston area, Dr. Jones received his Doctor of Medicine at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Jones completed neurosurgical residency training at the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He then went on to complete a cerebrovascular and endovascular fellowship at McGovern Medical School, and subsequently, a complex spine fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopedics.

Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates-Katy Neurosurgery is located on the Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital campus in Medical Plaza 1 at 23920 Katy Freeway, Suite 555.

Candy Cane Market with Katy Moms Network returns to Cane Island Dec. 3

More than 50 outdoor vendors will set up shop for one of west Houston’s most popular single-day holiday shopping events, Candy Cane Market with the Katy Moms Network, set for Dec. 3 in Katy’s Cane Island.

Candy Cane Market is open 11 a.m.–4 p.m. in the community’s Cane Quarter amenity village, 2100 Cane Island Pkwy., where local vendors will present handcrafted jewelry, custom clothing and accessories, fun items for the home and other unique finds. Admission and onsite parking are free.

While at Candy Cane Market, families can take pictures with Santa, enjoy face painting, food truck cuisine and more.

For more information, visit the website CaneIsland.com or call 281-725-6555.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office awarded Justice Assistance Grants

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office was recently awarded over $400,000 in justice assistance grants from the Texas governor’s office.

The justice grants will support five programs and initiatives that are of vital importance to the sheriff’s office, including a full-time domestic violence investigator, a victim services liaison in the Criminal Investigations Division, technological equipment for the Patrol Division, detention radios, and Individualized First Aid Kits (IFAKs) needed by field operations personnel. The kits contain tourniquets, gauze and bandages, Quikclot agents, shears, and other items needed to render immediate aid for injuries.

Sheriff’s motorcycle patrol deputies will receive electronic equipment to wear on their helmets to enhance communication without needing hand movements. Similarly, Toughbook computers will enable deputies to access records management systems and enter reports directly into the database system.

The grants also fund the purchase of mobile Automated Fingerprint Information Systems to allow investigators and patrol deputies to immediately analyze suspect fingerprints at any crime scene or traffic stop where identity is an issue. Within an immediate time period, a suspect’s true identity will be known without any need to transport the person to a detention facility.

“These tools of our trade are of vital importance to our office and support our mission to protect the citizens of Fort Bend County,” Sheriff Eric Fagan said.

This funding was made available by the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program developed by the U.S. Department of Justice—Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grants fund a broad range of activities and initiatives that emphasize breaking the cycle of violent crime and substance abuse, holding offenders accountable, and reinforcing law enforcement efforts in areas such as enhanced technology and information-sharing between agencies.

This JAG Program was named after New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was assassinated in 1988 as he sat in a patrol vehicle guarding a drug crime witness. In honor of Officer Byrne, the Justice Department seeks to make communities safer and better places to live and work.

For more information, visit the website fbcsheriff.org.

Hegar establishes scholarship at Houston Community College

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hager has begun a scholarship fund Katy-area students attending Houston Community College.

Hegar and other officials commemorated the occasion with a brief ceremony Nov. 10 at the HCC Northwest College Katy, 22910 Colonial Pkwy.

Katy Area community band performs holiday concert

The Lone Star Symphonic Band is celebrating its 30th anniversary season this year. The band’s second performance of this season, “Peace,” is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Holy Covenant United Methodist Church, 22111 Morton Road.

The celebrations of the winter holidays mean different things to different people, all special. At this time of year, one often thinks of family, loved ones, hope, faith and peace. Come prepared to enjoy the sounds of the season and sing along.

Tickets for this performance only are $7, and may be purchased online at app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=138455.

Season tickets are $26 and include this concert and the three remaining concerts of the season. They may be purchased online at app.arts-people.com/index.php?subscription=lssb.

The Lone Star Symphonic Band, founded in 1993 as the West Houston Concert Band, is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to bringing performances of artistic merit to the Houston metropolitan area. The band is comprised of musicians from all walks of life and instills the value that music is a life-long event, continuing well beyond high school and college.

For more information, visit the website lssb.org.

Coastal Prairie Conservancy hosts birding adventure at Indiangrass Preserve

Each winter, the Katy Prairie becomes home to flocks of birds fleeing cooler climates for the season.

Join John Berner and Steve Gast, local birding enthusiasts, to see one of the most charismatic of these species, the sandhill crane, come in to roost on the prairie for the evening. Other waterfowl and other birds can also be seen.

The birdwatching event is for experienced and novice birders, families, and individuals of all ages.

Times are from 4-6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Jan. 25, and Feb. 1 at the Coastal Prairie Conservancy’s Indiangrass Preserve, 31975 Herbert Road in Waller. Tickets are $20.

For more information, email info@coastalprairieconservancy.org.