VOL 3 No.9
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID STAFFORD, TX PERMIT NO.10
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Smoking ban on Missouri City ballot By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City council members at their Monday night meeting approved holding a special election on May 8 to decide on smoking regulations and city-wide trash collection. A third proposal to adopt a three percent homeowner exemption was postponed. The proposition on smoking provides non-smoking and smoking areas that are generally accepted today by the public for the public good. Generally, it provides for no smoking in enclosed public places in Missouri City, in the seating areas at outdoor events, within places of employment, covered public transportation facilities, etc. Smoking will be allowed in bars and tobacco bars that
were in continuous operation before the effective date of the ordinance, private residences except those used as a child care home or adult day care or health care facility, and in no more than 35 percent of all hotel/motel rooms in a facility, the stage area of enclosed theaters if smoking is part of a theatrical performance, etc. Getting all Missouri City residents to use the same solid waste collection service has been a city goal for some time. Council voted to include on the ballot adoption of a consolidated municipal trash program, except that existing sole service contracts may be allowed to continue until such time as their base rate is not lower than the city base service rate. Residents who don’t have
an existing contract with a solid waste collection company must use the city collection service within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance. City Council removed the homestead exemption item for consideration on the May 8 ballot based on the need to add police personnel. According to Frank Simpson, city manager, council put homestead exemption on hold for now in order to hire five more officers. The exemption would mean about a $27 a year savings on taxes for residents, but based on hearing Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald’s presentation on his five year strategic plan at the council special meeting earlier, Council believes the city is better served right now to hire officers.
Early voting still popular in Fort BendCounty By CHRIS ELAM Its official, Fort Bend County. Its no longer Election Day; its Election Season. Press deadlines are such that total voter turnout in the 2010 Primary Election will be known by the time these newspapers are in your doorstep or mailbox. However, the study of the early voting participation levels are still a fascinating exercise to true politicos and observers before the final results are in. (Visit www.fbindependent. com for primary election results.) Vote totals for the 2010 Primary Elections demonstrate the popularity of the 10-day window of early voting in Fort Bend County. Final numbers were: 5114 for the Democrat Party and 11,406 for the Republican Party. For historical comparison, these numbers are much higher than reached in the last Gu-
bernatorial primary election in 2006, where Democrats cast 1,574 early votes, and the Republicans cast 7,831 early votes. The 2010 Early Vote is still significantly lower than the tremendous turnout witnessed during the 2008 Presidential primaries. In 2008, Democrats chose between Obama / Clinton to the tune of 34,387 voters while Republicans cast 14,323 votes after already knowing that John McCain was the party’s nominee. The dropoff in early vote participation from 2008 is to be expected without a Presidential election at the top of the ballot. Therefore, the best historical turnout comparison is drawn from the 2006 primary cycle and the large increases in both parties’ participation. The Democrat Party’s level of primary participation in 2008 is a statistical aberration in the history of our County’s
Minute Maid recently celebrated the first anniversary of its move to Sugar Land at the Minute Maid offices in Sugar Land Town Square. The Minute Maid Business Unit relocated its national headquarters from Houston to Sugar Land in 2009. President of the Minute Maid Business Unit Mike Saint John, far left, along with Olympians and Sugar Land residents Jean and Steven Lopez, were on hand to lead the celebrations.
Water colors
Pennies for patients
primary elections, and directly attributed to the Obama/ Clinton contest. This year’s sharp decline is not a reason for discontent among the Democrats and should properly be treated as an increase from 2006 levels. Several competing theories are being discussed by Texas consultants, to account for the increase in the vote this year. Most obvious and prevalent in the discussions, are competitive, high-profile primaries on both tickets for the Governor’s mansion. We will know whether this hypothesis rings true, when we can count the number of under-votes in down-ballot races. If a large portion of the population has cast their vote for Governor, and skipped past lesser known races, then all credit for this year’s turnout should be given to Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison,
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS. Settlers Way Elementary students collected $3,753.53 for helping with Cancer. Funds help support LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). LLS mission is to find a cure for blood cancers. Assistant Principal Brenda Perkins graciously was “taped to the wall” by the classes who collected the most money ! What a trooper !
Artists’ Alliance of Sugar Land is hosting an exhibit and workshop by watercolorist, Laurie Humble, in April, and artists may inquire about participating through Artists’ Alliance. Humble is the author of the best-selling North Light book, Watercolor Depth and Realism. Her watercolors have appeared in more than 50 national and international Exhibitions garnering numerous awards. She holds signature memberships in nine art and watercolor societies and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Texas State University. Humble’s exhibit can be viewed from March 3 through March 30 at 104 Industrial Boulevard, Suite Q, Sugar Land, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and by appointment on weekends. A reception for the public will be on Saturday, March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Artists’ Alliance at 281-565-0957.
Winner of seven Tony awards including Best Musical, Annie is a must for the entire family. Tickets are on sale now with no ticket fees at www. fortbendtheatre.com.
For more information, call 281-208-3333. FBT is helping to buy an adaptive tricycle for Texas Children’s Health Center Sugar Land, by donating a portion of every ticket sold.
See VOTING, Page 3
Annie
Annie, is coming to the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Rd, March 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. and March 7 at 3 p.m. Not only is award-winning Fort Bend Theatre enriching the community with an amazing show featuring local Channel 2 celebrity Doug Johnson; professional musicians, directors and designers; and a huge cast of 100, FBT is helping to buy an adaptive tricycle for Texas Children’s Health Center - Sugar Land, A Service of Texas Children’s Hospital, by Miss Hannigan (Kayleen Clements) dreams of escaping from the orphans; Lacy Rose Tush- donating a portion of every net, left, Savannah Schakett, Kathryn Victory, Jennifer Andersen, Amy Schneider, and Gray- ticket sold. son Weast, under the table.
Seconds can save lives
10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar www.fbindependent.com Publisher & Editor 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodical postage application pending. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
Fort Bend County’s only accredited Chest Pain Center. Visit memorialhermann.org or call 713.222.CARE to learn more about our heart and vascular screenings.