Court talks parks and memorials
ANAHUAC— Commissioners met last week to discuss plans for various parks and recreational facilities, as well as a couple of memorials.
Chambers County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday, Oct. 28, where former County Commissioner Precinct 4 Billy Combs discussed his plans to put up a memorial honoring his late son, Adrian Combs, who was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle.
Combs thanked the court for the Adrian Combs Memorial Highway designation but said he wanted to “put a face on a life” while promoting the message of sharing the roads with pedestrians and cyclists.
The memorial will be on a private 15-foot by 20-foot plot adjacent to the new park in Beach City.
Combs said the roughly 6-foot-tall memorial will have a shaded covering and two benches facing the monument. Everything will be made of black granite, complementing the memorial that honors fallen heroes.
Each side of the memorial will feature messages about Adrian and the importance of sharing roadways, and a wheel from the bike Adrian was riding will be included in the monument.
“I can’t bring my son back, but I hope to save maybe one life,” Combs said.
Combs noted that no taxpayer money will be involved, as the costs will come from his pocket and from those wishing to donate.
County Judge Jimmy Sylvia expressed interest in donating, and Combs said he’ll have details on donating at a later date.
Commissioner Precinct 4 Ryan Dagley discussed the new park, noting the paved parking lot and granite walking path are the last elements needing approval, which will cost about $268,000.
Commissioners previously approved pickleball courts, a playground and a pavilion, and Dagley noted the restrooms are almost complete, if not completed.
Combs requested walking trails to connect to the memorial, which commissioners expressed interest in.
Construction on the front nine holes of the Chambers County Golf Course should begin soon, as commissioners approved Greenscapes 6 for renovations and construction at a maximum cost of just under $4.2 million.
The course will be built to United States Golf Association standards, and there will be a big focus on irrigation and drainage systems.
The course should be open in time for Labor Day, possibly before then in August.
Additionally, commissioners approved installing security cameras at the pickleball courts at Little Eagle Park for just under $13,000 and the construction of a concrete slab with an awning at the Jim Silva Sports Complex for $21,000.
Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Holzaepfel discussed adding a Safe Haven Baby Box at EMS Station 2. The idea came about through the Chambers County Republican Women for its community service project for the year.
CCRW Vice President Loretta Emmons explained that the box is an anonymous way for women to surrender their babies if they feel they are unable to care for them.
Emmons explained that the box has a pressure plate, and once a baby is placed in the box, an alarm signals the fire station.
CCRW, along with the Chambers County Republican Party, is organizing fundraising efforts so the cost, which is $25,000, will not be put on the county. CCRW will announce fundraising details as they become available.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick invited Chambers County to participate in an Alamo Letter Society program, an initiative urging all counties to install a plaque commemorating Colonel William Barret Travis’ “Victory or Death” letter at each county courthouse in Texas.
Travis, who practiced law in Anahuac, played a pivotal role in the Anahuac Disturbances, which was a stepping stone to the Texas Revolution.
The plaque, which will be about $5,000, will be installed in 2026, paired with a celebration organized by the Chambers County Historical Commission.