2004: The Year in Review

January
• Metrorail started its inaugural run on January 1, 2004 with free rides.
• North Forest residents began a campaign to oppose the reopening of a concrete batch plant on Mesa.
• The Northeast area benefited when Houston hosted the Super Bowl. As a result of the game, the NFL donated $2 million for a Northeast Youth Center. Habitat for Humanity built 38 homes in Wood Glen in the 38 days before the game as part of Superbuild XXXVIII.

February
• North Forest ISD began an investigation into a check fraud scheme that stole more than $250,000 from the district.
• Aldine ISD FFA set a record for the Grand Champion steer raised by August Le Blanc. The First Construction group bought the steer for $14,000.
• Aldine YOUTH lost half of the annual funding when a grant was not renewed. The center then began plans for the Taking Care of Business Youth School and Renewed Blessings Resale Shop.
• An accident with an empty AISD bus and a Dodge Spirit left one of the car’s passenger’s dead and two injured.



March
• An AISD bus en route to a basketball game slid on the wet road on I-45. The bus struck one car and was then struck by another car. Twenty students went to the hospital but there were no serious injuries.
• A four-alarm fire damaged a plastic plant on Rankin Road.
• An Aldine resident shot three teens when he caught them breaking into a neighbor’s car.

April
• The NFISD FFA set a record with $34,810 in sales at the livestock auction.
• A string of robberies at area churches ended when police arrested an adult and a juvenile in connection with the crimes.
• The Northeast YMCA ball field was refurbished by Grand Slam for Youth Baseball.
• Harvest Time Church hosted the world’s largest block party.

May
• AISD renamed the auxillary stadium after long time Aldine High football coach Bill Smith.
• A Carver High team qualified for the world’s largest rocket contest.

June
• Four people were indicted in the NFISD check fraud scheme. One of the four was Valerie Gibson, a seventeen year veteran of the district.
• Aldine elected Steve Mead, Art Murillo and incumbents Dr. Viola Garcia and A.W. Jones to the AISD board.
• Two women were seriously injured in a two-alarm fire at Country Haus Condominiums.
• American Thrift opened its second location at Little York at Hardy.
• A car plunged in to the Bayou at the end of Bertrand Street killing the passenger. Residents expressed concern that the accident could have been prevented if the barrier were in place.

July
• NFISD hired Dr. James Simpson as the new superintendent.
• HISD’s Herrera Elementary School won the 21st Century School of Distinction Award.
• Carver High architecture students won the top prize in their division at the National Technology Student Association Conference.

August
• Area National Night Out parties were successful despite it being one of the hottest nights of the year.
• The Harris County Health Department demolished several dangerous structures using the nuisance abatement laws.
• An Aldine High students was struck by lightning as he waited in front of the school. Bonifico Aguilar, a sophomore, survived.
• Work began at Little York and the Eastex Freeway for shopping plaza that will offer a Home Depot.

September
• Nia Abdullah, a Carver alumni, won the silver medal at the Olympics in the 126 lb Taekwondo finals.
• The community dedicated the new Aldine Sheriff’s Storefront.
• An evening fire in the Forest Brook High assistant principal’s office canceled classes for a day.

October
• An AISD bus and a pick up truck collided near Carver High. The bus was carrying twenty students; none were injured.
• City received a $250,000 grant to stop illegal dumping. Some of the money will be used for video cameras to catch dumpers and for more enforcement officers.

November
• North Forest residents and Traylor Bros. Inc. came to an agreement concerning the reopening of a concrete batch plant on Mesa.
• Metro canceled the north leg of route 101 which provided service to Intercontinental Airport.
• Construction began on Aldine Mail Rt. sidewalks.
• MacArthur graduate, Alberto Gonzalez was nominated for the position of the US Attorney General.
• An F-I tornado damaged four classrooms at MacArthur Ninth Grade School.

December
• After 20 years in the making, Mesa Drive was widened from two lanes to four lanes from Halls Bayou to Tidwell.
• Macedonia Outreach received a $400,000 TWC grant.