Convenience Big Store: Massive development north of The Woodlands features general store, dance hall

The biggest high school football, volleyball storylines in The Woodlands this fall.

How 'bout them Highlanders-Cavaliers-War Eagles?

Friday night lights are back in The Woodlands starting this weekend. The Woodlands High School football team will once again take on last year's state-runner up (and current No. 1 team) North Shore to start the season. However, the team has plenty of offensive weapons, Rob Tate writes. Meanwhile, an 'All-SEC defense' will be on display with several D1 commits at Oak Ridge High School's season opener at Brenham Friday.

While the War Eagles are building on three years of growth, College Park is starting fresh with new coach Kyle Coats. Things are different—tougher, more disciplined, better energy—with the first-year head coach around, several players said ahead of their upcoming season opener at Cinco Ranch in Katy Friday.

I can't leave out glory that is high school volleyball. All three teams—including The Woodlands (12-8), Oak Ridge (14-7), and College Park (9-6) are already 15-plus matches in this season.

Even with six of last year's seniors gone, TWHS took down Oak Ridge in four sets Tuesday for their first district game, while College Park is coming off a loss to face off with Klein Collins Friday.

What teams, players and storylines should we be paying attention to this season? Let me know at claire.partain@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire Partain, Suburban reporter producer

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Education

Samuel Daley takes Counselor Laura Vargas up on her sign on the first day of school at Conroe ISD's newly opened Hines Elementary, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Spring.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Conroe ISD to fund $11M in teacher stipends under $672M budget for 2024.

Full-time teachers in Conroe ISD will see $1,200 in stipends but no raises under a $672 million budget approved by trustees.

Growing The Woodlands

Two Step Farm is being developed by Oxland Group and feature hundreds of new homes, a dance hall, general store and will embrace nature and farming.

Photo by: Courtesy Photo

New Texas-themed development to bring dance hall, general store to 1,800 acres in Montgomery County

New master-planned community Two Step Farm is coming to Montgomery County and will bring country flair, complete with a dance hall, country store and goats for land clearing.

A line of Hart InterCivic voting machines are seen, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, in Conroe. Montgomery County election clerks set up several machines and stations allowing poll workers to get additional hands-on experience with the system ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved the $8.1 million purchase of 1,900 machines in September 2021 to replace the county's system from the same vender from 2005.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Montgomery County adds more voting precincts, adjusts boundaries due to growth.

Continued growth in Montgomery County has led to the creation of two new voting precincts and boundary changes for 25 precincts for the November elections.

Need to Know

The Anti-Defamation League recently published a survey that found online hate and harassment rose sharply for adults and teens ages 13-17 in the past year.

Photo by: The_burtons/Getty Images

Scams targeting teens are on the rise. Here's how to stay safe.

Seniors may still be the most preyed upon demographic for online scams, but a new emerging age group is seeing an uptick in online victimization: teenagers.

Openings and Closings

New seafood and oyster restaurant Good Charlie's is now cooking up "real Louisiana-style chargrilled oysters" over an open flame at 4900 FM 1488.

Shout out

Shout out to all of you who are still sticking to your running schedule despite all odds. Here are some tips from cardiologists on staying safe while running in the heat.