FROM THE EDITOR
🚧 Good morning, MoCo! Today’s Echo brings major road updates, a new medical leader, a Fulshear plane crash, a tropical weather outlook, local business news, upcoming events and big sports moments. Let’s get started!
In today’s Conroe Echo:
Conroe Road Projects Move Forward
HCA Conroe Names New Medical Chief
Plane Crashes Into Fulshear Home
Bertha May Largely Miss Houston
And More…
CONROE AREA WEATHER
Wednesday: 104F / 78F | 🌤️ | 25% | N 5 MPH
Thursday: 96F / 76F | 🌤️ | 12% | NE 6 MPH
Friday: 93F / 76F | 🌩️ | 81% | S 8 MPH
Saturday: 96F / 75F | 🌤️ | 20% | SSW 8 MPH
Sunday: 96F / 79F | 🌤️ | 12% | SSW 7 MPH
CONROE AREA NEWS
Conroe Road Projects Move Forward
Several major road projects around Conroe are moving through different stages, according to TxDOT’s July update. The I-45 connector from northbound I-45 to eastbound Hwy. 242 is 25% complete, while the Hwy. 105 widening from 10th Street to South Loop 336 is 65% complete.
Other work is farther along. The Hwy. 105 project from South Loop 336 to FM 1484 is 94% complete, and the South Loop 336 widening between I-45 and Ladera Creek Trace is 80% complete.
HCA Conroe Names New Medical Chief
HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe has named Dr. Renee Hebbeler-Clark as its new chief medical officer. She has more than 15 years of experience in patient safety, quality improvement and hospital operations, and will work with doctors and clinical teams on safety and quality efforts.
Hebbeler-Clark most recently served as associate chief medical officer at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, where she helped reduce hospital-acquired infections and mortality. She is board-certified in internal medicine, infectious diseases, critical care medicine and neurocritical care.
⭐ Attention: Advertising Opportunity for Local Businesses!
You may have noticed that we have been testing advertising. I’ve been using my bookkeeping business as the guinea pig and visits to its website have significantly increased.
We will be selecting a few local small business advertisers to receive a considerable amount of free advertising in multiple issues of one to four of our local newsletters (Conroe, Houston, Pearland, Sugar Land).
The free advertising will be a combination of story-style ads with a photo and internet links, and digital banner-type ads with a couple supporting sentences about your business and internet links. If you have a local small business, let’s have a conversation. You can email us at [email protected].
We are specifically looking for the following types of local small businesses:
Personal Injury Attorney
Insurance Agent / Agency
Junk Removal
HVAC
Landscaping
Financial Advisory or Wealth Management
Real Estate Agency
Dental Group
Primary Care Group
If you are a local business owner and you are interested, email us today!
CONROE AND MOCO UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, 7/22/2026
Strength and Sculpt at City Place Plaza, Spring.
Mythical Realms at the Houston Zoo, Houston.
Dan Smith Open Mic at The Corner Pub, Conroe.
Open Jam Wednesday at Blue Lion Brunchery & Pub, The Woodlands.
Entwined Exhibition at The Woodlands Arts Council
Chunky Knit Blanket at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
Hump Day at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
Thursday, 7/23/2026
Ribbon Cutting: Nothing Bundt Cakes 242 at Nothing Bundt Cakes, Conroe.
Singer-Songwriter Spotlight with Buck Yeager at The Red Brick Tavern, Conroe.
Comedian Adam Hunter at The Riot Comedy Club, Conroe.
Josh Ward Acoustic Show at Dosey Doe The Big Barn, The Woodlands.
Rock the Row at Hughes Landing, The Woodlands.
Diva Night: Good Vibes Painting Class at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
Grupo Frontera at Toyota Center, Houston.
Friday, 7/24/2026
Comedian Adam Hunter at The Riot Comedy Club, Conroe.
Tequila in Paradise at Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe, Montgomery.
Destiny’s Child: Iconic Reimagined Tribute at The Bell Tower on 34th, Houston.
Jeremy McComb’s Honky Tonk Circus at Dosey Doe The Big Barn, The Woodlands.
Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands.
Date Night: Summer Love Painting Class at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
Murder Mystery Dinner: Masquerade at Wild Stallion Vineyards, Spring.
Disclaimer: Please double check the dates and times on any events you go to. Sometimes events change their date or time, and sometimes we get things wrong.
AROUND THE METRO
Plane Crashes Into Fulshear Home
A small plane crashed into a home near the Covey Trails Airstrip by Fulshear. Authorities said the pilot suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. Firefighters, a hazardous materials team and several law enforcement agencies responded to the scene.
Investigators are working to learn what caused the crash. Officials had not said whether anyone inside the home was injured. Crews were also working to remove the aircraft from the house while the investigation continued.
Bertha May Largely Miss Houston
Houston is not expected to see major rain or flooding from Tropical Storm Bertha, based on the forecast available Monday. The storm formed in the eastern Gulf and was expected to weaken as it moved across Louisiana toward Texas.
Space City Weather’s Matt Lanza said only a small part of the system was expected to survive the trip into Texas, with minimal wind and rain effects. Still, the National Weather Service said the track remained uncertain and rain chances could increase Thursday and Friday.
The Conroe Echo is Presented By Clearjournals Bookkeeping
If you own a service business (e.g. Cleaning company, Plumbing, HVAC, Restoration, Roofing, etc.) and need bookkeeping, check out Clearjournals at Clearjournals.com.
BUSINESS UPDATE
ATHENA Luncheon Honors Local Leaders
The annual ATHENA luncheon will honor women who show professional excellence, serve their communities and help other women and girls succeed. The July 24 event at Hyatt Regency Conroe includes a long list of local nominees from businesses, schools, nonprofits and community groups.
Elizabeth Smart will serve as the keynote speaker. Smart became an advocate for child safety and recovery programs after surviving an abduction. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and has supported AMBER Alert efforts, safety laws and resources for survivors.
Bookish Candle Shop Shines Downtown
A downtown Conroe shop blends books and candles with a year-round spooky style. Keely Mahaffey opened Get Fictional on June 13, 2025, after growing the idea from an Etsy shop she started more than 10 years ago.
The 3,000-square-foot store sells handmade soy candles and books in genres such as horror, science fiction, historical fiction and dark romance. About 30% of its books come directly from local authors, helping the shop support Conroe’s reading and writing community.
THE SPORTS REPORT
Astros Power Past Marlins, 8-5
Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs as the Astros beat the Miami Marlins 8-5 on Monday, ending Houston’s four-game losing streak. Alvarez went 3-for-4, while Jeremy Peña hit a grand slam during a six-run second inning.
Ronel Blanco also made his first start since May 17, 2025, after missing 15 months following Tommy John surgery. He struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings but allowed four runs on two home runs.
Aggie Safety Earns Service Honor
Texas A&M safety Marcus Ratcliffe earned a nomination for the 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The award honors college football players and coaches for community service, academic success and leadership.
Ratcliffe started Mission 3:12 to support World War II veterans. He pledges $312 for each turnover recovered by the Aggies defense to help send veterans to Normandy for the D-Day anniversary. He also volunteers with youth programs, Habitat for Humanity and his church, and was voted a 2026 team captain.
THANKS!
⚾ That’s it for today, MoCo. Stay cool, watch the weather and have a great Wednesday!