A public memorial for former Montgomery County Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III is planned for May 2 at Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park following his death March 31 at age 77. 

Edwards was a decorated Vietnam veteran, former state representative and founding chairman of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission, according to his obituary. 

“Known to many as a master storyteller, Jimmie had a rare gift for connecting people through humor, honesty, and lived experience,” his obituary reads. “Whether sharing memories of service, family stories, or lessons learned along the way, he left those around him better for having listened. He was a brother others leaned on, a son deeply connected to his roots, and a man whose presence filled a room.”

The big picture: Montgomery County commissioners on April 9 approved a resolution honoring Edwards as a former county judge, U.S. Marine and founding leader of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park. The court also declared April 9 Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III Memorial Day in Montgomery County.

There are several events to attend in the Conroe area this weekend. Check them out below. This is not a comprehensive list, and events are subject to change.

Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo Cookoff
Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo will be hosting its annual barbecue cookoff event this Friday and Saturday for event goers. Barbecue grillmasters and restaurants across the county will be in attendance.

• April 17, 2 p.m.-midnight. April 18, 8 a.m.-midnight

• $16.50 (12 and older), $6.00 (children ages 5-11)

• 9201 Airport Road, Conroe

2026 Open Garden Day

Open Garden Day is a family-friendly, free gardening event designed to inform and inspire locals on how to improve their own gardening skills and plant life. Held at the Montgomery County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office, there will be a wide range of activities for children and adults, including crafts, fish feeding and informational courses.

• April 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Free

• 9020 Airport Road, Conroe

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.