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VOL 10 No. 4
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Mission of Love Gala honors Dee Koch
Rep. Rick Miller seeks $2.8 billion from Washington for border security State Rep. Rick Miller (Sugar Land) joined fellow Texas House members today in calling on the federal government to reimburse Texas taxpayers for $2.8 billion in costs resulting from Washington’s failure to secure the border. “Securing our nation’s borders is a federal responsibility, but Washington’s failure has forced Texas to take action on our own for many years,” said Representative Rick Miller. “As a result, Texas taxpayers are carrying a tremendous financial burden that should be shared equally by all Americans. Today we are asking Washington to live up to its responsibility of securing the border, and to reimburse Texas
for the $2.8 billion our citizens have spent cleaning up the federal government’s mess.” Since January 2013, the state of Texas and local governments have been forced to spend $2.8 billion as a result of the federal government’s failure to secure the border. Costs include: BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS Texas Department of Public Safety – $1,410,563,257 Texas Parks & Wildlife Department – $20,268,215 Texas Military Forces –$62,976,798
INCARCERATION OF CRIMINAL ALIENS Texas Department of Criminal Justice –$463,278,833 County Jails – $265,563,826 HEALTHCARE Texas Health & Human Services Com.– $416,882,000 EDUCATION Texas Education Agency –$181,185,708 TABC ENFORCEMENT Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission – $670,728 TOTAL KNOWN COSTS – $2,821,389,365
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital welcomes triplets Youth in Philanthropy is one of Dee Koch’s great accomplishments. Photo credit: Gina Pizzini By AMY SHARP “Dee Koch was introduced to me years ago through a mutual friend as one of the most influential people in town,” says Don Kerstetter. “As I was rebuilding an area business that had failed, Dee was able to provide me an honest appraisal of what to expect of Fort Bend and the Fort Bend charitable community. Her advice was to have a plan. Pick a few causes I was comfortable with and give not just financially, but deeply, morally and spiritually.” Taking Dee’s sound advice Mamie George Creative Aging Program Director Terri Bieber. to heart, Don rebuilt that failed “And it all started with a business into a dynamic part of nity Center in Richmond. drawing on a napkin on how a Stop in to Mamie George and our community. successful senior center in anyou’ll fi nd our senior residents It’s no surprise, really. Dee other city worked.” enjoying free lunch, socializaknows this community. She’s Mamie George opened as a spent a lifetime spreading joy tion and activities in a beautiful congregate eating program for facility. It’s the culmination of right here in Fort Bend County. seniors. Today, the recreational Dee’s vision. Perhaps her biggest accomand educational activities at Ma“The most important factor in plishment? Her vision of dignity developing Mamie George was for our Mamie George CommuSee DEE, Page 3 dignity,” says Dee.
HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH Invites everyone to participate in
Health for Humanity Yogathon Sunday - January 29, 2017 10:00 am - 11:15 am at Sugar Land Town Square 2711 Town Center Blvd, Sugarland, TX 77479
For more information & resources visit - http://www.hssus.org/sny
Join Surya Namaskar Yagna (SNY) from January 14 - January 29
t• Free Parking
F
en v e e re
• Free Booths Promoting Yoga and Healthy Lifestyle available • Please bring your Yoga mat
For Additional Info Contact : anantsamdani@yahoo.com
Ph: 424-335-9661 / 713-732-8233 www.hssus.org
The year 2017 started off on a high note for Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital when Robert and Lindsay McClellan welcomed triplets into their family on Jan. 6. “We already have one son, Rory, but we knew we always wanted one more child. When Dr. Corovessis said I was pregnant with triplets, we were shocked! We’re so excited for our new, big family,” says Lindsay McClellan. Baby boys Conor and Kelly and baby girl Remi are the first triplets born in the new expansion of Memorial Hermann Katy, which includes a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As designated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Level III NICU is capable of caring for babies born as young as 28 weeks or those who are critically ill. “Any pregnancy with multiples increases the risk for complications. Before Memorial Hermann Katy had the Level III NICU, we would have recommended mothers like Lindsay deliver their babies in the Texas Medical Center in order to have access to that level of care,” says Catherine Corovessis, M.D., an OB/GYN affiliated with Memorial Hermann Katy. “While the McClellan triplets were very healthy overall, they were born a few weeks premature and did need to spend a little time in the NICU. It’s important that expecting parents ask about the levels of care that are offered at a facility, should complications arise.” The McClellans say all three babies are now at home in Katy and doing well.
Missouri City considers street naming policy By BARBARA FULENWIDER At Missouri City City Council’s Jan. 17 special meeting council members heard presentations on the city’s future street naming policy, a beautification project and whether or not to allow telecommunication companies to put their infrastructure on city rights of way. First on the agenda was hashing out a policy on the renaming of city streets. It was the result of a recent council discussion to
honor the deceased Pct. 1 Constable Ruben Davis by renaming Orchard Street Ruben Davis Drive. During the hotly contested discussion on renaming the street, At-Large Councilman Jerry Wyatt strongly argued that the city must have a policy regarding such. So at the special meeting staff provided information council can put into their policy. Currently council has no resolution with guidelines that
enables them to rename a street, allows property owners to petition for a street name change and lets developers name streets in their development. The city does have a resolution that provides council with guidelines for naming or renaming parks and facilities in the city. Staff provided council members with examples of 19 guides other cities abide by when namSee STREET, Page 3
Annalise Edwards illustrates children’s book Fort Bend Christian Academy high school student, Annalise Edwards, illustrated a children’s book, “Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued,” which is available for purchase on Amazon. The book follows two cats on their journey from being born to a stray to being rescued by an animal shelter and then adopted by a loving family. The book will continue as a series, with the goal of educating children and adults on the rescue process and promoting pet adoption. The author, Terri Sabol, a friend of a friend, looked at some of Anna’s artwork and contacted her requesting a sample page. “She loved my depiction of her cats in the sample page and decided to choose me as the illustrator,” Anna said. Anna has already received many acknowledgements for her art. She received an honor-
Edwards able mention at TAPPS, participated in on-site drawing for TAPPS, and she won two first place medals at the Fort Bend County Fair. She also won “Best
of Show” at the Houston Rodeo, which allowed for her artwork to be displayed in the Hayloft Gallery and auctioned for a scholarship award.