Hundreds of local couples renew wedding vows

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a little more than a third of married couples have made it to their 25th wedding anniversary. Even fewer -- just six percent -- have made it to their 50th anniversary.

That's all the more reason for a special ceremony held in Houston on Sunday for hundreds of couples who have reached one of those milestones.

About 500 couples came together to celebrate a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's annual wedding anniversary mass.

"You can overcome a lot of things with love and patience," Joshara Edwards said. "But for 50 years, you need all of it."

An anniversary milestone like the ones these couples have reached is a big deal, especially in a time when close to half of couples divorce, and in a place like Texas with a divorce rate above the national average.

For these reasons, an anniversary mass like the one held Sunday at the George R. Brown Convention Center is worthy of notice.

"It reminds you that you've made a commitment to something," Joshara Edwards' wife, Shirley, said..

The Edwards are celebrating 50 years with love and humor.

"It makes me feel good. I don't know about her, but it makes me feel good," Joshara Edwards said, laughing.

The Edwards, along with hundreds of other couples, renewed the vows they made back in 1962.

Kathleen Maroney and her husband were celebrating vows made in 1987.

"It's been a ton of fun and we've been blessed with a beautiful family," Maroney said.

For the Maroneys, this year's wedding anniversary mass was a family affair.

"We're fortunate enough to be here with my parents, who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary," Maroney said.

At this celebration of marriages still going strong, there were hundreds of people who know the secret to making it last.

"You got to believe in each other, trust each other and don't hold back anything," Joshara Edwards said.

We'd like to offer congratulations to the couples who were at the ceremony, and to those who were not. About 400 couples who couldn't make it to the event will be receiving certificates from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

This was also the 50th year the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has held the wedding anniversary mass.

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

local, adela uchida

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Hundreds of guns stolen in professional burglaries

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Nearly 300 guns have been stolen from more than half a dozen pawn shops over the past several weeks, and authorities believe the burglaries are connected.

Last week, an accused trio of robbers was arrested in north Harris County -- Guillermo Andersen, Christian Carbajal and Jesus Rendon -- all allegedly caught on the roof and in the act of breaking into Jim Fullerton's pawnshop. Precinct 4 deputies responded.

"They go up on the roof and the three guys are just laying down up there and hoping for the best... trying to be as flat as possible," said Fullerton.

What gives the arrests added importance is a rash of pawn shop burglaries over the past six weeks and what was taken.

One burglary happened in Bryan, another in West Columbia and six in north Houston and Harris County. Combined 274 firearms were stolen. The ATF believes the three suspects arrested are part of a larger group and they're not believed to be beginners.

"This is an organized group without a doubt and we can back that up with our investigation," said Lt. Jeff Stauber with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

"They are not smash and grabs. These guys are organized. They are watching federal firearms licensees. Therefore licensees need to make sure cameras are operational, security systems up to date. We request public's assistance in recovering these guns," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Gary Orchowski.

Some of the surveillance video was released Thursday. The suspects wear masks, bring their own equipment to bring in through the roofs. The box truck and minivan have no visible license plates.

Gun thefts are not unusual in Texas, but 131 guns taken from one store is. And then there's this.

"Nearly 50 percent of all weapon are recovered within 25 miles of where they were taken. And again we have recovered only one firearm," said Orchowski.

That gun was recovered out of state. That means 273 other weapons are in circulation -- either out of state, country or here in Houston.

"There's a lot of weapons out there. In Harris County, we don't like stolen weapons on the street. So we need to get these things recovered," said Lt. Stauber.

In a couple of cases where the burglars couldn't get the guns, they took electronics and jewelry. But the immediate concern is the guns.

The agents and the deputies say they don't know where these stolen guns are and what they're being used for.

The three suspects in custody are facing organized crime and burglary charges. Detectives and federal agents believe four more suspects are out there, and that they will strike again.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

This story was brought to you through our partnership with Houston Community Newspapers. You can read more about the gun thefts in The Spring Observer.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Hundreds suspected of cheating on final exam

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Did hundreds of seniors at Clear Lake High School cheat on a final exam? That's what Clear Creek ISD officials are investigating.

But in the meantime, until they can prove who cheated and who didn't, they're giving all seniors a choice -- even the ones who may have cheated. District officials are still trying to figure out how the answers to the test were leaked. They say as many as 200 students may have cheated.

Back at school after the winter break, Clear Lake High School students are talking about the texts that swirled from student to student last month with answers to the English 4 final exam.

"I got them from friends I don't even talk to any more," admitted senior Anthony Dabideen. "Like everybody had them, I'm pretty sure the whole senior class."

Anthony didn't show us the text, but he says he did think about using the answers.

"I had it on me and stuff and I was just like kind of peeping at it and the test," he said. "They were all wrong. I was like, OK, definitely don't go with these answers."

They were wrong at that point because the school suspected cheating after the first day of the multiple choice test and had changed the order of the questions for the following days. It was following that second day of testing that school officials confirmed cheating.

"The order of the questions were rearranged and the answers came back as if it was the first day test," explained Clear Creek ISD spokesperson Elaina Polsen.

The test was given to more than 600 students, mostly seniors. A third are believed to have cheated.

Polsen said, "This is not simply about a final exam in English 4. This is about academic integrity."

Clear Creek ISD's student code of conduct states that those found guilty of "academic dishonesty" can receive a zero on the test and receive in-school suspension. But district officials say more investigation will need to be done before any zeros are given or disciplinary action taken.

Students will be allowed to retake the test or skip it and just take an average of grades from the rest of the year.

"I'm definitely retaking it, because why not? It's a chance to boost my grade," said senior Ariel Gill.

We worked on this story through our partnership with Houston Community Newspapers. You can read more about the cheating investigation in the Bay Area Citizen.

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

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Hundreds line up to buy new Air Jordan sneakers

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Michael Jordan has been retired for years, but his mystique lives on through his shoes, which have become a fashion statement for many young people.

Nike releases a new pair every year, and every year, it's chaos at malls across the country. At Houston's Northline Mall, police arrested a couple of unruly customers overnight. Hundreds converged on the mall to get their hands on the new iconic sneakers.

Dozens also camped out at Gulfgate overnight. There were no reports of major problems there, but the line nearly wrapped around the building of a shoe store.

And one of the biggest crowds gathered at Greenspoint Mall. Dozens of people ignored police barricades and rushed towards the mall as the doors opened. They started lining up yesterday afternoon to buy a pair. But just after 2am this morning, police pushed everyone off mall property.

"All we knew is that we were standing in line and they came and cleared us out," said customer David Gaddis.

Police wielding batons lined one side of the street, facing shoppers on the other side. Once in a while, there'd be a mad dash for the doors. Finally, just before 6am, the doors opened. Customers were allowed in, five at a time.

Kenderick Uwadia was first in line.

"Oh, I'm relieved, very relieved," he told us after getting his pair.

A pair of cousins bought several pairs. They're already selling the extras online.

"We paid $194 something and we're gonna sell them for about $400," said customer Sammy Veal.

And if they're lucky, they may score buyers. There are already desperate people, like 13-year-old Aaron Garcia, shopping for his brother.

"Because he's not gonna be spending Christmas with us and he kind of already feels sad. So I just wanted to get them for him just to make him feel happy," said Garcia.

The craziness wasn't limited just to Houston. In Indianapolis, some 1,500 people showed up at a mall and police had to be called for crowd control. Once the doors opened, people pushed and shoved, even tearing the doors off.

The two stores in the mall that sold the Air Jordans only had 150 pairs each to sell.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Hundreds remember nun killed in wreck

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Sister Therese Huong Do impacted hundreds of lives, and tonight they all gathered to remember the nun killed by what police say was a drunk driver. While she is gone, her legacy clearly lives on through her students.

From the choir at the front to the doors at the back, they packed the church to remember Sister Do. Sister Therese Huong Do made quite an impact in her 35 years of life but especially when it came to children.

"This is a candle that we made during our confirmation year," said former student Jimmy Pham.

Pham remembers her teachings well.

"She really had a happy soul. Every time you look at her, she was smiling and she was so influential," said Pham.

Do was so inspiring to so many at Vietnamese Martyrs Church.

"She taught us a lot, how to get through life," said Mary Pham. "She always encouraged us to never give up."

Do of the Vietnamese Dominican Sisters was killed while driving to church early Sunday morning. Police in the city of South Houston say 19-year-old Marcos Garza ran a stop sign and struck her. He's suspected of drinking and driving and is now charged with intoxication manslaughter.

Her work as director of religious education impacted thousands of young people and she was working on the next class of graduates.

"I'm pretty sure she really loved me," said student Minh Nguyen. "This is me at the awards ceremony. She looked at me and smiled. She was like a mother to me and I really miss her."

"I'm so sad but now I believe sister is in heaven," said Minh's father, Thuan Nguyen.

There was something about the way she connected to her students.

"Her mind was not like most nuns," said former student Joseph Nguyen. "Most nuns are a little bit more strict than her, she was a little more lenient among the youth and she understands us a little bit better."

That makes her irreplaceable.

"I really want her to come back," said Minh.

Her sisters at Mary Immaculate Province were best able to talk about her by releasing a statement that in part invites the suspect and his family to attend her funeral and mass on Saturday.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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