The 04-10-24 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

Katy man sentenced to 14 years for arson fire of county building

Malone complaint to TEA draws rebuke from FBISD board officers

Judy Dae, Vice-President

When the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees voted in December to approve what was framed as a voluntary retirement agreement for then-Superintendent Christie Whitbeck, it set in motion a swift-moving and dramatic series of events that exposed deep rifts among board members. Details on exactly what led to Whitbeck’s sudden departure was scarce.

A move by the board’s leadership last week added new details, but perhaps made the situation murkier than ever while adding to the personal drama already heightened by the coming May board elections.

On Friday afternoon, the board’s officers - President

In an agreement with Fort Bend County prosecutors, a Katy man was sentenced on March 26 to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to arson for setting fire to a county facility in April 2023. Andrew Huwar, 30, was also sentenced to the maximum 10 years on a felony stalking charge, after the court revoked his probation, according to a press release from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. Huwar initially pleaded guilty to stalking on October 26, 2020. He was placed on a deferred adjudication probation for three years. He was required to regularly report to the Fort Bend County Community Corrections and Supervision Department among other conditions.

In the late-night hours of April 4, 2023, the Community Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a satellite office for the county’s Community Corrections and Supervision Department at 19310 Beechnut Street in Richmond, according to the release. The office is where Huwar visited his probation officer. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire, but not before causing damage at a loss of more than $250,000 to Fort Bend County. The building could not be saved and was later demolished.

The Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and determined the fire was intentionally set. The Fire Marshal conducted an extensive investigation taking samples from the fire scene, obtaining video from the area, finding boot tracks near the building, and obtaining phone records and other evidence. The investigation revealed that Huwar had reported to his probation officer on the day of the fire, during which he tested positive for drugs in violation of his probation. After examining the evidence and speaking to witnesses, the Fire Marshal concluded the fire was set by Huwar.

Shirley Rose-Gilliam, and Secretary David Hamilton - released a response to a complaint filed with the Texas Education Agency by Position 6 Trustee Kristen Davison-Malone in December. The posting was accompanied by a printout of Malone’s electronically filed complaint as well as a 5-page summary response drafted by Jonathan Brush of the Houston firm Rogers, Morris & Grover, who serves as the board’s legal counsel.

The released complaint redacts Malone’s name and phone number, and in his response Brush refers to her only as “the Complainant.”

The documents were released on the district’s website, along with a message that the response to the complaint was from

the board officers, and referred people with questions to contact them directly via email, not the district’s communications team.

Malone’s complaint

In the complaint, filed on December 14 - three days after the board gave Whitbeck a “send-off” celebration even as she, Malone, and other board members traded public accusations and barbs about the situation - Malone alleges that Dae approached her in August 2023 a strategy “to get rid of the superintendent in the Fall semester and secure elections in May of 2024 as the public could not handle that much change. Malone further alleges that she later was invited by other trustees to meet with Marc Smith, then the superintendent of Duncanville ISD, at a conference of the Texas Association of School Boards in Dallas for an “off the record” interview. Smith was named the “sole

erosion protection is an issue that’s one of my priorities. I initiated efforts to fund solutions for the Simonton Pinch Point of the Brazos River when I chaired the Water Resources Committee at the HoustonGalveston Area Council. So, I deeply appreciate Commissioner Buckingham securing millions of dollars of additional funding for Brazos River erosion protection,” Meyers said in a prepared statement.

In a phone interview, Meyers told the Fort Bend Star that the pinch point, a large

oxbow that surrounds a residential neighborhood, has long been in danger of closing. If that were to happen, Meyers said, the velocity of that part of the river would increase tremendously, creating potential flooding hazards and increased erosion that would affect Fort Bend as well as other counties through which the river

Whitbeck just days after her departure, and was formally hired after a state-mandated waiting period in January. Malone writes that she “questioned the integrity” of the meeting and declined to participate.

Malone also alleges that Dae talked to her about replacing Whitbeck - who was hired by the board (with a different makeup) in September 2021 in the midst of the COVID pandemic - as early as August 2022, not quite a year later.

She further alleges that the four trustees who voted to approve Whitbeck’s separation agreement - Dae, Hamilton, Sonya Jones and Rick Garcia - “met on occasions and I believe there was collusion,” restating allegations she made in the meeting where the separation meeting was approved. She alleges that Smith being named as the sole finalist for the superintendent role “was all colluded and done prior to every meeting on (November 13)” in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act. “I am asking for an investigation,” she states.

The board officers’ response

In their response, the board officers state that the district only learned of the complaint early last week. The legal response by Brush, the board’s legal counsel, is dated April 8 but was released on the district website on Friday, April 5.

“In the interest of transparency, the board’s officers

want to make our community aware of Trustee Malone’s complaint and the district’s response,” the response begins. “Our response is simple. Our trustees did not violate the Open Meetings Act and Trustee Malone has never provided any proof to support her allegations. In the interest of transparency, the board’s officers want to make our community aware of Trustee Malone’s complaint and the district’s response,” the response begins. “Our response is simple. Our trustees did not violate the Open Meetings Act and Trustee Malone has never provided any proof to support her allegations.”

“For many months, Trustee Malone has alleged that President Judy Dae told [Whitbeck] that she ‘had’ the votes to terminate (her) contract,” the response continues. But, it says, Malone in her complaint “only alleges that President Dae ‘implied’ there were enough votes to support separation. To be clear, [Dae] never told [Whitbeck] that she ‘had’ the votes to terminate her contract. [Dae] only shared her personal belief that a majority of the board would support a leadership change if it came to a vote.”

The Dae/Whitbeck meeting Malone revealed the meeting between Dae and Whitbeck at the December 4 board meeting where the board approved Whitbeck’s separation agreement. Malone said Whitbeck met with her shortly after the meeting with Dae and told her what transpired. In her own remarks at

On May 25, 2023, Battalion Chief Zietz and members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force arrested Huwar. In the following weeks, the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office indicted Huwar for the arson and filed a motion to revoke his probation.

“The damage in this case was severe and the sentence reflected that,” District Attorney Brian Middleton said in the release. “And more so, the intent the defendant exhibited – to burn the probation department to the ground because he didn’t want to answer for his own violations, justifies the result.” Huwar pleaded in the

the meeting, Whitbeck said she was “blindsided” by the meeting with Dae, and that she had never done anything “illegal, immoral, or improper, and I never will.” She also said she never had any indication from Dae or the rest of the board about what areas they expected her to improve upon. A week later, during a break in the “sendoff” meeting, she reiterated these remarks to reporters.

Contacted by the Fort Bend Star, Dae provided a copy of the written statement that she said she read to Whitbeck verbatim when they met. In the statement, Dae begins by praising Whitbeck for her accomplishments during her tenure, including reducing the district’s operating budget deficit by $40 million and the passage last year of the district’s record $1.26 billion bond package and a Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election.

“But it is my understanding and perception that you have lost the majority of support from the board and the majority of the board members want to and are ready to make a change in the district leadership,” the statement continues.

“I am here today to present a couple of options,” the statement reads. “If you decide to resign/retire and consider accepting a separation agreement, I will recommend the board pay you a one-year salary with benefits according to the contract, and we can negotiate a package that is reasonable for you. In this case, the board will still need to discuss this in the closed session, but there is no vote

268th District Court before Associate Judge Maggie Jaramillo. Arson in this case is a second-degree felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Stalking is a third-degree felony punishable by 2-10 years in prison and the same fine. Assistant District Attorneys John Brewer, Arsheilia Oliver, and Susan Sweeney prosecuted the cases.

required. The other possibility is that I am obliged to put it on the agenda due to a possible vote. I am sorry to tell you this news, but I think you should know. But please know, there was no formal discussion or conversation. It is based on my understanding and perception from many months and multiple board members.”

The board officers’ statement says that contrary to public rumors, the board did not “terminate” Whitbeck because she chose to resign, and participated in the separation agreement with her attorney.

Addressing Malone’s allegations about board members meeting with Smith at the TASB convention, the officers state Malone “has never provided proof to support this allegation. Nor could she because it simply did not happen. No trustee met with Dr. Smith at the convention to discuss his coming to our district.”

“The board officers also state that Malone has herself violated the board’s operating procedures by submitted with her TEA complaint “confidential attorney-client privileged information.” That point is also made by Brush, the board attorney, in his response to the complaint. Malone, as a sole member of the board, does not have legal authority to release such information, they write.

“The board officers also state that Malone has herself violated the board’s operating procedures by submitted with her TEA complaint “confidential attorney-client privileged information.” That point

is also made by Brush, the board attorney, in his response to the complaint. Malone, as a sole member of the board, does not have legal authority to release such information, they write.

“The District now has a new superintendent who is committed to working collaboratively with the board to make the District the best it can be,” the officers’ statement reads. “We have confidence in Dr. Smith’s leadership, and it is our hope that all trustees will focus their efforts on supporting Dr. Smith and the board moving forward.”

Garcia’s response

On Monday, Position 3

Trustee Rick Garcia issued his own lengthy response to Malone’ TEA complaint.

“In the TEA complaint, Trustee Malone alleges that a violation of The Texas Open Meetings Act was violated, and that President Judy Dae invited her to a secret interview with our new Superintendent, Dr. Marc Smith. The complaint also names me as someone she ‘believes’ colluded with 3 other trustees,” Garcia writes.

“(T)he best way to fight against false allegations is not only with the facts but also with evidence to support it. And while I have tried to move on and let the community heal, it is important that everyone knows the truth,” he writes. He then provides a long list of what he calls facts refuting Malone’s complaint.

Among them: that Malone, when she served as board president before Dae, had herself made statements

INTERESTED PERSONS:

to other board meetings that she wanted to replace Whitbeck as early as 2022. He adds that Whitbeck was aware that she was losing support of the board and “feared retaliation by Trustee Malone.”

“All of this drama is a result of one trustee’s attempt to get back at the people who voted her out as board president, put herself in a position to hire a new superintendent and also an attempt to elevate her position and gain favor with the public as a means to propel her reelection chances by acting as a ‘whistleblower,’” Garcia writes.

“I call on Trustee Malone to apologize to me and my colleagues whom she has defamed, and I demand that she cease and desist any and all further slanderous remarks against me,” Garcia states.

Malone “at peace” Malone did not respond to a Fort Bend Star email for comment on this story. She is currently seeking reelection to her seat, vying against four other candidates.

In a Fort Bend ISD Board Candidates Forum hosted last week by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Malone did address the drama over Whitbeck’s departure, which she called “the debacle.”

“I’m going to be honest. I’m at peace,” Malone told attendees after a question about the legacy she hoped she would leave whenever she departs the board. “I am at peace with my actions. I do believe I can work and collaborate with this board.”

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Sections 127.093(a), 127.093(b), and 127.096, Texas Election Code, the automatic tabulating equipment that will be used for the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25, of Fort Bend County, Texas (the “District”), Directors Election to be held on May 4, 2024, will be tested on April 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the James Cupp Meeting Center, 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498, to ascertain that it accurately counts the votes cast on all measures.

/s/ Erica Rhodes

Election Agent for Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25

AVISO DE LA PRIMERA PRUEBA DE LOS EQUIPOS DE TABULACIÓN AUTOMÁTICA

A LOS VOTANTES RESIDENTES DEBIDAMENTE

CALIFICADOS DEL FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 25, DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND, TEXAS, Y A TODAS LAS DEMÁS PERSONAS

INTERESADAS:

Por la presente se notifica que de acuerdo con las Secciones 127.093(a), 127.093(b) y 127.096, Código Electoral de Texas, el equipo de tabulación automática que se utilizará para Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25, del Condado de Fort Bend, Texas (el “Distrito”), Elección de Directores que se llevará a cabo el 4 de mayo de 2024, se probará el 16 de abril, 2024, a las 10:00 a.m. en el James Cupp Meeting Center, 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498, para asegurarse de que cuenta con precisión los votos emitidos en todas las medidas.

/s/ Erica Rhodes

Agente Electoral para Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25

4 de mayo 2024 a las 7:00 p.m.)

Early Voting by Personal Appearance will be conducted as follows: (La votación anticipada mediante comparecencia personal se llevará a cabo de la siguiente manera) Main Early Voting Site:

(Las elecciones del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Fort Bend se llevan a cabo conforme con un Acuerdo de Elección Conjunta con el Condado de Fort Bend, quien selecciona la ubicación de los centros de votación anticipada y del día de las elecciones.) Early Voting polling place locations and hours the polls will be open are included as Attachment A. (Las ubicaciones de los centros de votación anticipada y las horas en que estarán abiertos se incluyen en el Anexo A.)

Issued this 5th day of March, 2024 (Emitido este día 5 de marzo 2024)

Art in the Bend

Photos by Ken Fountain

Gray skies didn’t dissuade folks from enjoying Art in the Bend in downtown Richmond on Saturday. During the annual event, which encompassed several city blocks in the city’s historic district, patrons enjoyed live music, took a look at classic automobiles, perused the wares of arts and crafts vendors, took in student artworks, and had their pets participate in the Bark in the Park competition.

Syan Ferguson, a student at Wharton County Junior College, volunteers to help set up the children’s chalk art zone.

Lydia Bauer, of Austin, and her friend Max Pace display some of her sculptures made with actual animal skulls in the arts and crafts vendors section. Sandy Tupa of Edna enjoys looking at the wind chimes from Bellville-based Ladybug’s Fine Art.

Sara Martinez, left, and her mother Amber Martinez check out the artwork from area schoolchildren on display in the Morton Masonic Lodge.

Want to make Big Bux? I’ve got a plan that has almost no oversite, rules or annoying records to keep. “What is it?” you ask. “Selling seats on Elon Musk’s Electric Powered Space Rocket? Magic beans? I’ll bet it’s the Texas franchise for Trump Golden Tennis Shoes.” No, it’s vouchers and charter schools! There are billions of dol-

lars to be made on them.

As you know, Gov. Greg Abbott is obsessed with school vouchers. No one is sure why, but – along with laying land mines on the north banks of the Rio – he kept calling special sessions of the legislature to approve his voucher program. That didn’t work so our guv has now spent $6 million to defeat lawmakers opposing his plan. Some un-Americans wish our governor would spend as much time and effort improving our public schools, but they probably believe in climate change and evolution.

If you are wondering exactly what is proposed, in a nutshell vouchers would take money from Texas’ public schools and give it to private schools. Parents would get $8,000 per child annually for 13 years. Vouchers would cost taxpayers $568.9 million in 2025, $791.1 million in 2026, and $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2028. But Texas also has 1,200 accredited private schools, with over 60 percent

832-860-1054

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

The School for Little Children at Sugar Land Methodist Church admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,

being religiously affiliated (mostly Catholic). Could the parents of these students qualify for a voucher? If Texas were to provide vouchers for 1 million children attending private schools or being homeschooled, it would cost approximately $8 billion annually.

But the state allocates funds based on how many students a district has, so by siphoning off students to private schools, the districts would actually lose even more funds. OK, some whiners would point out that Texas – as rich and powerful as it is – already is embarrassingly cheap when it comes to spending on our school kids.

The national average on funds spent per student is about $13,500. We spend $9,873.

Now about our overpaid and underworked teachers. Public school teacher salaries in Texas lag behind the national average by more than $7,500, according to a new ranking from the National Education Association. Based on state fi-

nancial data reported to NEA, the average compensation for Texas teachers in the 20212022 school year was $58,887, putting the state at 26th in the nation. In the last session of the Texas Legislature, our lawmakers were handed a $32.7 billion budget surplus, but they failed to give our public teachers a raise. Why? Because it was attached to – one guess – a voucher bill. You teachers, keep changing jobs so that you are always new. New teachers in Texas earned on average $44,527, or about $2,700 more than the U.S. average, but the average top pay for veteran teachers in Texas was nearly $13,000 below the U.S. average. By that measure, Texas ranks 43rd lowest in the nation. According to “US News,” in education Texas ranks 45th. But we are Number 1 in sheep, goats and prison population. And former UT football player T’Vondre Sweat is the biggest player in the NFL (366 pounds). So there.

Texas has a long tradition of public education. Even the Texas Declaration of Independence (1836) in citing its grievances against the Mexican government, states: “It has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self-government.” Our forefathers must have considered public education rather important because this complaint is listed alongside: “It has incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers.” And our state constitution orders: “it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.” Let’s get back to money. As we can see, if our governor has his way, there will be billions of dollars floating around just waiting to be sent to parents of school children who want to take their kids out of public schools and put them in private schools. This involves a whole lot of students. As of the 20212022 school year, there were 5,402,928 students in Texas public schools, 1,200 public school districts and 8,759 public schools.

The voucher program would probably be overseen by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) which not only runs the Hous-

ton ISD but also runs our school charter program. (There are 726 of them in Texas.) TEA officials had to appoint a conservator to oversee the state’s largest charter school chain, IDEA Public Schools, after finding all sorts of financial mismanagement. This included spending $15 million to lease a private jet. In 2018, the founders of Varnett Public Schools were sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison after embezzling $2.6 million from the organization. A 2017 “Houston Chronicle” investigation found that Accelerated Intermediate Academy, a charter school enrolling about 200 to 300 students, annually paid its superintendent about $282,000. The operation also owned a luxury condo appraised at $450,000, which its leaders said they used for storage space.

Incidentally, in all this mess somehow our State Board of Education will get involved if they have time after banning books. Anyway, we know that with billions of tax dollars to be shoveled out there is no way anyone or any agency can keep track of who gets what. So your plan is clear: You claim that you want to transfer five kids to a private school. Bingo! You get a check for $40,000. Claim you have a charter school operation. They are specifically designed to be free of state rules. Enroll your fake kids in a fake charter school. You know someone is going to do it and reap a fortune. Why not you? Don’t mention the tomahawk and scalping knife.

Chorale

a founding member of the Concert Chorale of Houston. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her sister, Shirley Crowe, sons David Allen Wehr and Paul Stephen Wehr, and grand-daughters Margaret Gibson Wehr and Shauna Lee Brosky. She was pre-deceased by her husband, granddaughter Elizabeth Gibson Wehr, and siblings Ruth Stone, Frank Stone, Jr., Louise Schueler, Dorothy Headley and Jeanette Mayer.

Ashby vouches at ashby2@ comcast.net

Space Cowboys claim first series victory with 5-3 over Las Vegas on Saturday

By Amanda Perry AMANDA_PERRY@SLSPACECOWBOYS.COM

A trio of home runs and timely pitching helped the Sugar Land Space Cowboys take down the Las Vegas Aviators 5-3 on Saturday night at Constellation Field. With the victory, Sugar Land secured their first series win of the season.

Sugar Land took the early lead in the second inning on a Trey Cabbage solo home run to left field, his first of the season. The next frame, Jesús Bastidas added on to the lead with a home run of his own, a solo shot just inside of the left-field foul pole, making it 2-0 Space

Cowboys. In the fourth, Joey Loperfido hit one over the right-center field wall for his league-leading fifth jack of the season in seven games played, widening Sugar Land’s lead to 3-0 after four innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Aviators cut their deficit to one on a couple of RBI groundouts from Max Muncy and Drew Lugbauer. However, the Space Cowboys got the lost runs back when Pedro León grounded out with the bases juiced, scoring Loperfido from third base. Luke Berryhill came up to the plate after the Aviators intentionally walked newcomer Cooper Hum -

mel to face the Sugar Land catcher. He sent one over the Las Vegas shortstop’s reach to score Cabbage, Berryhill’s first hit of the season.

The Aviators got back another run in the seventh on a Jordan Díaz RBI single. However, LHP Bryan King (H,1) worked a 1-2-3 eighth and RHP Drew Strotman (S,1) stranded the bases loaded in the ninth to secure his first career save and lock down a 5-3 Sugar Land win.

RHP Rhett Kouba took the mound for the Space Cowboys and pitched 5.0+ innings, allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and striking out one. Relievers

LHP Parker Mushinski and RHP Cole McDonald each allowed a run apiece but kept the Space Cowboys in front.

Sugar Land finished up the six-game series against the Las Vegas Aviators on Sunday at Constellation Field.

Sugar Land Space Cowboys games can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online at https://player.listenlive. co/47381 and seen on MiLB. TV, MLB.TV and Bally Live.

Perry is a writer for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. This article is used by permission.

George Memorial Library to celebrate National Poetry Month with April 13 event

Community Reports

Special “guests” will be visiting Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library in April for National Poetry Month!

Library visitors will have an opportunity to interact with some of their favorite poets - both past and present.

“Walking in Verse: An Interactive Poetry Experience” is an immersive live-performance event that will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.-noon, at George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

Actors from The Live Oak Playhouse will portray iconic poets, such as Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edgar Allan Poe, and

more. Children will also have an opportunity to meet Mother Goose. Ongoing performances will rotate and take place simultaneously in the lobby, the Youth department, and the second-floor landing of the library. While alternating turns in the spotlight, the actors will bring the poets to life, recite their poetry, and interact with visitors who will be able to converse with them as if they were speaking to the poets themselves. Poetry enthusiasts can collect stamps on a scorecard after meeting each poet for a chance to receive a prize at the end of the event. The performers include Vince Tortorice as Edgar Allan Poe, Mari Tortorice as Elizabeth

Barrett Browning, Luke Hales as Shel Silverstein, Roxy Hales as Sylvia Plath, Jonathan Moonen as Roald Dahl, Caprice Carter as Maya Angelou, Joseph “Chepe” Lockett as William Shakespeare, Eric Jones as Langston Hughes, Jonathan Minchew-Gonzalez as Octavio Paz, Adrian Wyatt as Christina Rosetti, Dano Colón as Khalil Gibran, and Alice Rhoades as Mother Goose. Stacy Bakri serves as Artistic Director. The Live Oak Playhouse is a Houston-area nonprofit theater company that is dedicated to enriching the lives of their audiences by presenting entertaining, thought-provoking experiences, first-hand involvement, and Arts education.

Directed by Karla

Vince Tortorice, as “Edgar Allan Poe”, will be one of the actors portraying well-known poets at the “Walking in Verse: An Interactive Poetry Experience” at George Memorial Library on April 13. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries

Brandau, the strolling players bring a variety of acting experiences to the theater group, forming a kaleidoscope of passions and visions that evolve and transform the group into a living, ever-changing mas terpiece. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend. lib.tx.us) or call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

NOTICE OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

TO: THE DULY QUALIFIED RESIDENT ELECTORS OF FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 25, OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AND TO ALL OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:

Notice is hereby given that an election will be held on May 4, 2024, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., at the James Cupp Meeting Center at 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498 (the “Election”) for Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25, of Fort Bend County, Texas (the “District”), for the purpose of electing three (3) directors for the District.

The boundaries of the District have been established as and shall constitute one election precinct for purposes of the Election.

The Election is being held pursuant to an Order adopted by the Board of Directors of the District on February 15, 2024, a copy of which is available in the office of the District’s Election Agent, Erica Rhodes, at Sechrist • Duckers LLP, 6300 West Loop South, Suite 415, Bellaire, Texas 77401, and on the District’s website: waterdistrict25.com.

Tyler Bridges and Brenda Tamez, both registered voters in Fort Bend County, Texas, will serve as the Presiding Judge and Alternate Presiding Judge, respectively, for the Election and Veronica Gonzales, a registered voter in Fort Bend County, Texas, will serve as the early voting clerk. Early voting by personal appearance shall be conducted at 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each day from April 22 through April 30, 2024, which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or official State holiday. The early voting clerk’s mailing address to which ballot applications and ballots to be voted by mail may be sent is P.O. Box 2847, Sugar

Por la presente se notifica que se llevará a cabo una elección el 4 de mayo de 2024, entre las 7:00 a.m. y 7:00 p.m. en el Centro de Reuniones James Cupp en 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498 (la “Elección”) para Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 25, del Condado de Fort Bend, Texas (el “Distrito”), con el propósito de elegir tres (3) directores para el Distrito.

Los límites del Distrito se han establecido y constituirán un recinto electoral para los fines de la Elección.

La Elección se lleva a cabo de conformidad con una Orden adoptada por la Junta Directiva del Distrito el 15 de febrero de 2024, una copia de la cual está disponible en la oficina de la Agente Electoral del Distrito, Erica Rhodes, en Sechrist • Duckers LLP, 6300 West Loop South, Suite 415, Bellaire, Texas 77401, y en el sitio web del Distrito, waterdistrict25.com.

Tyler Bridges y Brenda Tamez, ambos votantes registrados en el Condado de Fort Bend, Texas, servirán como Juez Presidente y Juez Presidente Suplente, respectivamente, para la elección y Veronica Gonzales, votante registrada en el Condado de Fort Bend, Texas, servirá como secretaria de votación anticipada.

La votación anticipada por comparecencia personal se llevará a cabo en 18310 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77498 de 8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. en cada día desde el 22 de abril hasta el 30 de abril de 2024, que no es sábado, domingo o feriado oficial del Estado. La dirección postal del secretario de votación anticipada a la que se pueden enviar las solicitudes de boleta y las boletas para ser votadas por correo es P.O. Box 2847, Sugar Land, Condado de Fort Bend, Texas 77487-2847; Teléfono: (281) 277-0129; Dirección de correo electrónico: vgonzales@waterdistrict25.com.

La asistencia oral en español está disponible comunicándose con el juez presidente o el secretario de votación anticipada.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA DEL DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND NO. 25, DE FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.

ONGOING

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FORT BEND

The League of Women Voters of Fort Bend, a nonpartisan organization, will provide voter registration and education events prior to the Feb. 5 deadline to be a registered voter in the March 5 Primary election. Locations, dates, and times include: (1) Wednesday, 1/24 -- Fort Bend YMCA, 4433 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City 7:30am - 12:30pm and 5 - 7pm; (2) Thursday, 1/25 -- First Colony Library 3:30 - 5:30pm; (3) Sat., 1/27 -- Cinco Ranch Library 10:30am - 1:30pm and University Branch Library 11am - 2pm; (4) Tuesday, 1/30 and Wednesday, 1/31 -- WCJC Sugar Land, Brazos Hall, 9am - 2pm; (5) Thursday, 2/1 -- ThriftWise, 501 Hwy 90E, Richmond -- 10am - 1pm. Register to vote, update your current voter registration, and get nonpartisan voting information at any of these events, or contact lwvfortbend@gmail.com.

NO HOCUS POCUS IN MUSIC MAGIC CLASS FOR 6 & 7- YEAR - OLD BOYS!

Young boys need music in their life for mental, physical and emotional growth and the best place to receive quality music instruction is with the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas! They offer Music Magic, an eight-week music enrichment class for six and seven-year-old boys. The Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas, currently in its 42 nd season, brings music alive with the use of movement, musical games, singing and other child-centered activities. Boys learn about pitch matching and rhythm awareness in addition to developing large muscle coordination, increased focus and better musicianship. Music Magic helps boost brainpower, sparks creativity and forges strong connections with others. No auditions are necessary for the class – just a love of music and singing! Serving as Music Magic director is Founder and Artistic Director William R. Adams who leads this class on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., beginning March 19 and ending May 14 at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City. Music Magic will then sing at the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s annual Spring Concert on Saturday, May 18! Classes are limited in size so please call the choir office at (281) 240- 3800 to pre-register or visit their Music Magic web page at https://fbbctx.org/our- programs/music-magic/. Be sure to stop by their Facebook page for the latest on the Fort Bend Boys Choir's Music Magic class and the organization's public performances.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 942

311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.

LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION

Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718

For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.

QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB

The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.

FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS

We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com.

We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281-204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY

We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281-240-8181 or visit our website www. ftbendliteracy.org.

JAM WITH SAM

Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-428-3165 for further information.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE

Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events.

DVD- BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED

Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195.

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI CITY AARP

CHAPTER 3801

Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.

Let the community know in our Community Calendar!

Contact: editor@fortbendstar.com