FROM THE EDITOR
💰 Good morning, MoCo! Today brings a look at MoCo’s preliminary budget, a store relocation at The Woodlands Mall, free school meals in Spring ISD, local events, business news and sports. Let’s get started!
In today’s Conroe Echo:
MoCo Budget Talks Begin Tuesday
Mall Store Prepares for New Home
Free Meals Continue in Spring ISD
Houston Lands Midpack for Pet Owners
And More…
CONROE AREA WEATHER
Monday: 89F / 75F | 🌩️ | 55% | SSE 7 MPH
Tuesday: 95F / 76F | 🌩️ | 55% | SSE 8 MPH
Wednesday: 99F / 75F | ☀️ | 7% | S 8 MPH
Thursday: 99F / 73F | ☀️ | 10% | S 10 MPH
Friday: 98F / 77F | 🌩️ | 55% | SSE 9 MPH
CONROE AREA NEWS
County Budget Talks Begin Tuesday
Montgomery County commissioners reviewed a preliminary $537.3 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The proposal is about $29.2 million larger than the current budget and was built around the existing property tax rate. It also leaves about $6.28 million unassigned for commissioners to direct during workshops.
Priorities include employee step increases, higher health insurance costs, continued detention officer pay, and startup costs for the new 523rd District Court. Public budget workshops begin at 9 a.m. August 11 in Conroe and may continue through August 14.
Mall Store Prepares for New Home
Urban Outfitters at The Woodlands Mall is temporarily closed while it moves to another spot inside the shopping center. The store is expected to reopen August 15 in front of Windsor at 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive.
The retailer sells clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. Mall information says the current closure will last through August 14, giving crews time to prepare the new location for its grand opening.
⭐ 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
Auto Sales
Junk Removal
HVAC
Landscaping
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
Monday, 8/10/2026
City Council Workshop Meeting at Montgomery City Hall
Job Support Ministry Monday Workshop at Woodlands Church, The Woodlands.
Maternity Tour at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, The Woodlands.
Monday Night Hobbying at The Adventure Begins, The Woodlands.
Zach Johnson Live at The Red Brick Tavern, Conroe.
Co-Dependents Anonymous Class at Unity of The Woodlands
Paco Perez and the High Bawlers Open Mic at The Corner Pub, Conroe.
Tuesday, 8/11/2026
Networking Breakfast at Quality of Life Medical Center, Magnolia.
City Council Regular Meeting at Montgomery City Hall
Charitable Bingo at VFW Post 4709, Conroe.
A Course in Miracles at Unity of The Woodlands
Beachy Twilight Moon Painting at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
Hail the Sun at The End, Houston.
Nate Nelson Acoustic at The Red Brick Tavern, Conroe.
Wednesday, 8/12/2026
Jamie Lin Wilson at Dosey Doe Big Barn, The Woodlands.
Dan Smith Open Mic at The Corner Pub, Conroe.
Men’s Wednesday Bible Study at First Baptist Conroe
Al-Anon Second Wednesday at First Methodist Conroe
CREAM August Luncheon at The Woodlands Country Club Palmer Course
Rainbow Sunset Happy Hour at Painting with a Twist, The Woodlands.
BabyChiefDoit at Warehouse Live Midtown, Houston.
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
Free Meals Continue in Spring ISD
Spring ISD will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student on every school day during the 2026-27 school year. The district is continuing its Community Eligibility Program participation through the national school breakfast and lunch programs.
Families will not need to submit applications for free, reduced-price or paid meals. Spring ISD will still collect household income information through its online annual student update. Families who have not finished that update are encouraged to complete it as soon as possible.
Houston Lands Midpack for Pet Owners
Houston placed No. 51 among America’s 100 largest cities in WalletHub’s 2026 pet-friendly ranking, earning a total score of 50.59. The study graded cities on pet costs, health and wellness, and outdoor pet-friendliness.
Houston did best in the pet budget category at No. 42. It ranked No. 54 for pet health and wellness and No. 61 outdoors, where weather, walkability and dog parks were considered. Six Texas cities finished ahead of Houston, including Austin at No. 12 and Fort Worth at No. 49.
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
Chamber Plans Country Club Night
The Woodlands Area Chamber will honor outgoing Chairman Justin Kendrick at its 2026 Chairman’s Ball on August 15. Kendrick represents Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, and guests are invited to dress in “Country Club Chic” clothing.
The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $250 each, while a table for 10 costs $2,500.
Axiom Advances Suits and Station
Houston-based Axiom Space is tackling two major projects under CEO Jonathan Cirtain: lunar spacesuits for NASA and a commercial station meant to follow the International Space Station. Axiom plans to launch its first station component in 2028 and has raised more than $1 billion.
The company is also building and testing spacesuits designed to help astronauts move, collect rocks and resist lunar dust. A test suit is scheduled to go to the International Space Station next year. NASA’s inspector general has raised schedule concerns, but Cirtain says the work is farther along than the report suggests.
THE SPORTS REPORT
Astros’ Division Lead Shrinks
The Astros fell 3-2 to San Diego on Saturday, trimming their American League West lead to half a game. Taylor Trammell hit a solo homer, and Yainer Diaz added a two-out RBI single in the ninth before Houston’s rally ended.
Starter Peter Lambert allowed three runs, two earned, across five innings. Houston went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base, including three in the seventh. The loss tied the series 1-1 and set up Sunday’s deciding game.
Aggies Flash Talent at Fall Camp
Texas A&M’s Saturday practice featured several strong moments as fall camp continued. Veteran receiver Terry Bussey made a one-handed catch in coverage and also took snaps out of the backfield on wheel routes, keeping himself in the competition for a starting role.
Freshman kicker Asher Murray missed a 40-yard attempt but made his next try from 55 yards. Freshman defensive back Vic Singleton also drew a big reaction from teammates and coaches after a hard hit stopped tight end Richie Anderson following a catch.
THANKS!
🏬 That’s it for today, MoCo. Have a great Monday!