Sometimes a thorough research project unveils findings that spur action. When honors student Jose Alejandro was assigned to test the pH level of deionized water from 80 spigot faucets in the new science building at the San Jacinto College Central Campus, what he found had builders out for a second look. 

The first-year chemistry student found that pH levels, a measurement of the acidity of a solution, were not consistent and changed from room to room. Levels of pH are especially important for the microbiology lab as the growth of microorganisms is dependent upon a narrow pH range.

"This project was challenging for Jose because he was in his first college chemistry course, and we don’t study pH until second semester general chemistry," said Dr. Ann Cartwright, department chair of physical sciences at San Jacinto College. "He had to learn how to calibrate a pH probe, why calibration is necessary, what pH is telling us, how to take the measurements of pH by two different methods, and how to properly collect samples."

Pictured: Girl Scout, Brooklynn Peek, looks for an item on her geology scavenger hunt checklist during a recent outing at the San Jacinto College Central Campus science building. Photo credit: Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing, public relations, and government affairs department.

Recently, Girl Scouts Troop 26247 turned a visit to San Jacinto College Central Campus into a hunt for dinosaur fossils. They searched for different types of rocks during a geology scavenger hunt.

The troop was to look for black coal, fluorite crystals, cave formations, petrified wood and fossils. They were under the guide of geology professors Malcolm Sadler and Karen Purpera while they learned how to navigate with a compass and use a microscope.

At the end of the hunt, the Girl Scouts were given their own fluorite crystals.

Members of the DPPD Honor Guard perform a 21-gun salute at the conclusion of Peace Officers Memorial Day services at the Theater Courts Building on Center Street. Agencies from around the area were represented at the ceremonies. Photo by Bobby Vasquez.

Members of the Deer Park Police Department were joined by their brethren from neighboring agencies to remember peace officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Peace Officers' Memorial Day was held in conjunction with a memorial week dedicated to remembering fallen officers.

On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 57 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice, according to data provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund.

After accumulating more than 15 years of losses, the Battleground at Deer Park Golf Course will be leased and managed by an outside firm. Council unanimously approved an agreement with Touchstone Golf last week after months of negotiations. InsideDP.com file photo.

Last week, City Council unanimously approved the lease and management of the Battleground at Deer Park Golf Course to Touchstone Golf. The agreement comes with renewed optimism in the city-owned facility that has been a lightning rod for constantly being in the red.

Touchstone Golf takes over the golf course, club house, Republic Grill restaurant, pro shop, driving range, three-hole practice course on May 29. City manager Jay Stokes said the city of Deer Park did not relinquish ownership of the course.

Touchstone will have personnel on site this week to begin the transition of operations from the city. According to its website Touchstone Golf leases and/or manages five courses in the state, including Wedgewood in Conroe. The others are in El Paso, Austin, Brownsville and Tyler.

"The operations will proceed as normal through Memorial Day," Stokes said. "The course will close on May 28 and then re-open May 29 under Touchstone's operations. The users of the golf course won't notice any change initially."

During Monday's special meeting of School Board, trustees approved Superintendent Arnold Adair's recommendations for several administrative positions in the District. Adair also named several administrative changes in conjunction with the newly-named administrators.

Elva Gonzalez, a Reading Recovery and bilingual teacher at Parkwood Elementary, was named assistant principal for Deepwater Elementary. She replaces Jeff Greene, who will fill a vacancy as Deer Park Junior High's assistant principal. He replaces Paul Moore, who was named principal of Bonnette Junior High in March.

Carpenter Elementary's new assistant principal is Becky Stack, who is currently a teacher and department chair at Deer Park Elementary. Stack fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Debbie McCain.