In November, construction is scheduled to kick off on the first phase of the East Montgomery County Improvement District’s multi-phase park project, which will be built on a 200-acre plot of land in New Caney, according to a Sept. 14 news release from the district.

What’s happening? Phase 1 of EMCID's project will include the completion of a delayed dog park as well as other amenities, according to the release. EMCID leaders have selected amenity builder HD Outdoor Construction for Phase 1 of the project.

According to the release, Phase 1 will include facilities such as:

• 32,856 square feet devoted to the dog park

• 33 parking spaces

• Restrooms

• A future children’s playground

Going forward: On May 26, a community meeting was held for the public to provide input on what should be built on the land and EMCID subsequently launched a public survey on the topic.

A second public hearing is being planned to gather additional feedback for the park, per the release.

After years of delays, Lone Star College-Kingwood’s fire training facility is now expected to be finished in 2027, college system leaders announced Sept. 3.

In case you missed it: The fire training facility was designed as a space for LSC fire science students to train to become firefighters, Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations Bridgett Johnson said during LSC trustees’ regular Sept. 3 board meeting.

As previously reported by Community Impact, the 2,000-square-foot facility will:

• House equipment needed for firefighting exercises

• Feature training areas to simulate burning buildings, car fires and chemical emergencies

How we got here: A groundbreaking was held for the fire training facility in February 2022, and the project was originally projected to be completed by August 2023, as previously reported.

The nonprofit Bayou Land Conservancy, which focuses on preserving streams that lead into Lake Houston, has named Dr. Anna Weiss as its new executive director.

The details: Weiss succeeds Jill Boullion, who retired after 10 years of service. In her new role, Weiss will oversee daily operations and implement initiatives directed by the board. She has a decade of experience in the environmental sector, most recently serving as the director of Green Galveston Initiatives at Vision Galveston.

Weiss earned her Ph.D. in geosciences from The University of Texas at Austin and previously managed community-led restoration and research projects for the Billion Oyster Project in New York.

Quote of note: "It is an honor to lead the Bayou Land Conservancy. I am grateful to my predecessor, Jill, for her legacy of leadership and I am excited to build on the organization's amazing 30 years of conservation," Weiss said.

Three candidates are running to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture in the Nov. 3 election.

The details: Libertarian Austin R. Kelly, Republican Nate Sheets and Democrat Clayton Tucker are vying to become Texas' next commissioner of agriculture. The commissioner's duties include regulating agriculture, administering nutrition programs and providing rural economic development assistance.

How we got here: There is no incumbent in this race after Sheets beat sitting Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the March Republican primary. Tucker ran uncontested in the March Democratic primary, while Kelly was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

The winner of the November midterm will be sworn in to succeed Miller in January.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30 in the midterm election, and Election Day is Nov. 3.