VOL 3 No. 11
Phone: 281-980-6745 PRSRT STD
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID STAFFORD, TX PERMIT NO.10
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
Yellow Brick Gala
Local Marine killed in Afghanistan Lance Cpl. Garrett Gamble, a U.S. Marine, from New Territory in Fort Bend County, died in Afghanistan on March 1. A 2008 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High in Sugar Land, Gamble died after stepping on a device while patrolling during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Gamble was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Gamble was deployed in October 2009 as a SAW gunman on combat duty near the front lines. Gamble is survived by his mother, Michelle Greer; father, Troy Gamble; step-father, Brad Greer; and younger brothers Cody Gamble and Gunner Greer.
If you want to be a part of the Child Advocates of Fort Bend Yellow Brick Gala on April 10, at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square, reservation deadline is April 2. The Gala’s live auction offerings include a complete bathroom makeover, a pair of first class round-trip Continental Airlines tickets anywhere in the world, a guided Alaskan fishing trip and much more. Getting into the spirit are (L to R): Karen Chitty-Boe and Jim Brown of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, Silent Auction Chair Jenn Marker, Shanna Sturgeon of Founders Bank and Big Board Chair Ashley Kunco. Presented by Founders Bank and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, the gala provides several opportunities to make a difference in the life of a child including attending the event ($125/person for reservations) and becoming a sponsor (sponsorships range from $1500 to $8,500). For more information visit www.cafb.org or call 281-344-5108. At the very heart of this event is the belief that every child deserves a safe and permanent home. Child Advocates of Fort Bend serves children in Fort Bend County whose lives have been torn apart by abuse or neglect through its two programs, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Children’s Advocacy Center. For more information, contact Dena Jones at djones@cafb.org.
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Gamble Gamble’s remains will arrive from Dover, Del., at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Sugar Land Municipal Airport. Friends and neighbors are expected to bring flags and line the area from the Sugar Land aiprort on Hwy 6 to U.S.
90 A. A viewing will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church of Sugar Land, 431 Eldridge. The memorial service will be at the same church at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a precession to Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial. The transfer from plane to hearse will be private, but the hearse will travel Highway 6 to 90A, arriving at SettegastKopf Funeral Home at 15015 Southwest Freeway. There will be a reception following the service from 3 to 5 at the Parkway United Methodist Church, 5801 New Territory Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations be made to Houston Marine Moms at houstonmarinemoms.org.
FBISD board declares financial exigency The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution declaring financial exigency at the March 8 regular board meeting. The district is in a position in which it must reduce costs significantly in upcoming school years. Expenses in other areas, including campus and department budgets, have already been reduced annually over the past several years, the dis-
trict said in a press release. Since the major portion of the district’s operating budget (approximately 90%) consists of employee salaries and benefits, the district must now seriously consider eliminating positions to adopt a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year, the statement said. The district adopted a deficit budget of $18.6 million in 2009-2010, and is projected to
have a continued deficit budget of $18 to $20 million in 2010-2011. Without significant changes in the district’s expenditure patterns, or a change in the state funding formula, the district is projected to be fiscally unstable within three years—unless serious actions are taken. Both the board and administration know these are diffi See BUDGET, Page 3
2 school board trustees drop out By SESHADRI KUMAR Two incumbent Fort Bend ISD trustees have decided not to seek re-election, leaving the seats open for new candidates. Board president Bob Broxson did not seek re-election after his first term. He cited personal reasons. Jim Rice and Clay Alumbaugh, both of Sugar Land, are seeking Bob Broxson’s Position 3 seat. After filing for reelection for a second term, David Reitz, last week withdrew his candidacy. He is also a one-term trustee. Jim Babb, 46, a police sergeant, who lives in Missouri City and Gerald Hawkins, 43, of Sugar Land, a physician/medical educator are now seeking Position 7, held by Reitz. Reitz said in a statement: “I cannot believe how much I have learned in the three years since I filed to run for this position. “At the time, I was upset because the board seemed too distracted by internal divisions to focus on building new schools and closing the gap between economically disadvantaged kids and the rest of the students. “Since then, the Board of Trustees has coalesced into an effective team, setting and focusing on strategic educational goals, allowing the superintendent to pursue those goals through systemic improvements to our educational model, resulting in improving test scores for all students, closing the gap for economically disadvantaged students, and increasing the number of AP tests and industry certifications. “This improved educational model includes a more effective, efficient district structure.... I withdraw my name for election for this board position. I will support public education in other ways. I have spoken with Mr. Babb and Dr. Hawkins, who have filed for this position, and wish them the best as they debate the issues. The biggest issue, as I mentioned during the Budget workshop, will be getting the Texas legislature to end the inequity in funding which could impair our ability to ensure our students reach their potential.”
Drs. Henry Pham, right, and John Boon at Methodist Hospital Sugar Land are now performing minimally invasive surgery that may spare kidney cancer patients an increased risk of life-long dialysis. They are using the recently acquired Da Vinci® S Surgical System. See story on Page 3.
Foreign trade zone in Fort Bend County The U.S. Department of Commerce recently approved expansion of the Port Freeport Foreign Trade Zone to include two sites along U.S. Highway 59 in Fort Bend County, including the new CenterPoint Intermodal Center – Houston Metro in Rosenberg. A joint venture between Kansas City Southern (KCS) and Chicago-based CenterPoint Properties (CPP), the CenterPoint Intermodal Center consists of 630 acres and sits directly adjacent to the newly-opened Kansas City Southern Railway intermodal shipper facility, which will be used to receive, store and disburse by rail and truck containerized cargo across Texas,
other parts of the U.S. and Mexico. “This new center is potentially the largest economic development project in Fort Bend County and its surrounding communities throughout the next decade,” said Barkley Peschel, VP of Development and Operations of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. “The approval of the Foreign Trade Zone makes this site more competitive with intermodal centers within Texas and other adjoining states. In addition, the direct access to Mexico will provide new opportunities for partnerships with Mexican manufacturers.”
BIRDS OF FORT BEND. Do you think I’m sexy? Spring brings the courtship displays of birds along with the beautiful songs. The Great Egret almost became extinct because of its beauty. And their courtship dance lasts for quite awhile--10 minutes or more! Long plumes (aigrettes) are held up over the back in courtship displays around the nest. Plume hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s reduced North American populations by more than 95 percent. The populations recovered after the birds were protected by law. No population is considered threatened, but the species is vulnerable to the loss of wetlands. And creeks and sloughs are where you’ll will find the Great Egret, which is a 4 foot member of the Heron family that some call the Great White. For more photos, visit http:// traction.typepad.com/Birds/. Photo by Margaret Sloan.
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.
Looking at the whole you. Just one of the many advantages of having a medical home with a Primary Care Physician. Establish a medical home with a Primary Care Physician near you. Call 713.222.CARE or visit memorialhermann.org.