Animal shelter fundraising effort burglarized

  By Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- File this one under 'no good deed goes unpunished.' A Liberty County store Eyewitness News just featured two days ago that was preparing to hold a big fundraiser was robbed just hours after that story aired.

The Old Wells Store in Tarkington is still preparing for a county-wide garage sale to raise money to open an animal shelter. Most all of the items for sale are there for a reason -- to sell and make cash to put towards opening the animal shelter which everyone in this community says is desperately needed.

Just two days ago, the Old Wells Store had some big ticket items for sale, saddles were among them. But just two days later they're gone -- not purchased, but stolen. Also taken from the store was about $150 from a donation jar.

"They must be pretty desperate for some money to come in and take something that's from a non-profit, something that's going to help the animals in our community," said Ruth Stetson, Vice President of the North Liberty County Animal Shelter.

A back window on the building was broken out and that's where the burglars got in. None of the windows had burglar bars.

"Of course we boarded it up, to try to keep somebody else out, of course," Stetson said.

Stetson says since 2005 she has been the driving force behind raising money to actually open the shelter.

"I field anywhere from eight to 10, even a dozen phone calls a week, people calling with animals they want to donate or they have seen, or that have been dropped off on their property," Stetson said.

So far, enough money has been raised to purchase land, but today the land still sits empty. Volunteers with the animal shelter say they're just shocked that the people behind the break-in would be so petty.

"We're working so hard for every little bit, it seems like we just get a little bit at a time," volunteer Linda Ross said.

Ross said even with the financial set-back, they're not giving up. They will continue to raise money to make sure all animals have a place to call home.

"It affects the animal," she said. "It's less animals that we can help."

A lot of money is still needed to get the shelter up and running. They say they need at least $30,000. That's not including the money still owed for the land.

To donate, contact Ruth Stetson at 281-761-3469.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Effort underway to privatize the Port of Galveston

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- An effort is underway to privatize the Port of Galveston. City leaders are considering a deal that could essentially lease out operations at the port to a company based in China.

It's a proposal that's getting a lot of attention, both because of the potential benefits, and the idea of a foreign company running day-to-day operations at one of the nation's busiest ports.

The port grossed $24 million last year and it's still premature to say what they would stand to gain. For now this is just a possibility that is starting to take shape.

With his eye on the future, Galveston Port Director Steven Cernak is willing to capitalize on key business opportunities.

"Otherwise it's just going to go somewhere else," he said simply.

Still reeling from Hurricane Ike, the port is now in talks with Hutchison Port Holdings, a Hong Kong-based company, about leasing its operations to them.

"They would assume the day-to-day operation of the port," Cernak explained. "I don't think that assuming control is the right way to phrase it."

With the widening of the Panama Canal by 2014, experts predict heightened traffic through the Gulf of Mexico. It's hefty business the Port of Galveston wants and needs but can't tackle alone. Hutchison currently operates 51 ports in 25 countries. Cernak is careful to call the potential business deal a lease, not a sale, adding that an eventual sale is not even a consideration.

Union President Ted O'Rourke says he's concerned it could turn into a sale and by the uncertainty of jobs if an international company takes over.

O'Rourke said, "They can come in, Hutchison-Carlyle, and take over all the existing stevedores, and the existing stevedores are the people that hire my people to load and unload the docks at the Port of Galveston. So, I mean, they could all be out of business."

The port director says that is not the case. In fact, he said jobs along the waterfront could double. This deal is still pending and it's one many are watching closely.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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