Fort Bend Independent 051017 by Fort Bend Independent

VOL 10 No. 19

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

FBISD bags three top HEB Rosenberg gets new mayor; Lamar CISD gets 2 new trustees Excellence in Education awards By BARBARA FULENWIDER Despite the slim turnout of voters on May 6, some new faces have been elected to city and school board positions. Rosenberg will have a new mayor and Lamar CISD will have two new school board trustees. Sugar Land will have a new Dist. 4 council member, after next month’s runoff election. In Stafford City Council and Fort Bend ISD, incumbents have been returned. Only 3.45 percent of voters or 11,093 out of a population of 321,210 cast a ballot. Precincts that held elections in Fort Bend County numbered 223. The Fort Bend Independent School District’s three incumbent trustees were re-elected. The Trustee, Position 1 winner was incumbent Jason Burdine who ran against Lorenzo Angelo DeCamps. Burdine won with 3,207 votes for 61.90 percent of the total compared to DeCamp’s 381.10 percent or 1,974 votes. A total of 6,052 people voted in this election. For Position 4 trustee, three candidates ran and incumbent Kristin Tassin won against Shirley Rose-Gilliam and Rodrigo Carreon. Tassin collected 2,654 votes or 49.35 percent of the total votes. Rose-Gilliam came in second with 2,227 votes or 41.41 percent and Carreon received 497 votes for 9.24 percent. In FBISD’s Trustee, Position 5 race voters kept KP George in office. He won with 3,341 votes or 63.72 percent over challenger Lorena Duenas who received 1,902 votes or 36.28 percent of the total votes cast.

Lamar CISD

Voters in four Lamar Consolidated ISD single-member districts kept three incumbents, one of which had no opponent. The incumbent trustee for District 1, Kathryn “Mrs. K” Kaminski, was returned to ofﬁce with 568 votes for 58.74 percent of the total votes cast while hopeful Karen Mendoza received 399 votes for 41.26 percent. In LCISD’s District 3 trustee race Mandi Bronsell and James Beebe ran and Bronsell won with 270 votes for 51.14 percent of the total votes cast. Beebe received 258 votes for 48.86 percent of the 528 people who turned out to vote.

LCISD Tustee-elect Mandi Bronsell In the LCISD District 6 trustee race the incumbent, Anna Gonzales, lost to Joe Hubenak who received 786 votes or 74.57 percent of the total of 1,054 votes cast in that race. Gonzales got 268 votes or 25.43 percent. In the LCISD Trustee Single-Member District 2 the only candidate running was the incumbent, Kay Danzinger who returned to oﬃce with 71 votes for 100 percent.

Sugar Land

In Sugar Land’s District 4 race Sean Burnett, Carol McCutcheon and Qaisar Q. Imam ran. McCutcheon and Imam will be in a run-oﬀ in June because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the total votes. Burnett got 576 votes or 29.83 percent, Imam 653 or 33.82 percent and McCutcheon 702 for 36.35 percent.

Staﬀord

In Stafford, four candidates run for three seats on city council. The three incumbents, Arthur “A.J.” Honore, Virginia Rosas and Wen Guerra won re-election. The newcomer candidate was Lawrence Vaccaro, a long-time, now retired Stafford public works director. Honore won with the most votes with 383 or 31.97 percent, Rosas received 282 votes or 23.54 percent and Guerra came in third with 280 votes or 23.37 percent of the total votes cast. Vaccaro received 253 votes or 21.12 percent of the total. Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella ran unopposed for his next two-year term and received 597 votes. Another 299 voters did not cast their votes for the mayor.

Rosenberg Mayor-elect Bill Benton

Rosenberg

Rosenberg voters put their former At-Large Position 1 city councilman in the mayor’s seat. They had three mayoral candidates and William “Bill” Benton swept his opponents -- Edmund D. Samora and the incumbent mayor, Cynthia McConathy. Benton won with 1,023 votes or 56.64 percent, McConathy received 470 votes or 26.02 percent and Samora got 313 or 17.33 percent. At-large Position 1 candidates for the Rosenberg City Council were Jacob Balderas and Rudy Cuellar and Balderas won. He got 866 votes or 55.26 percent and Cuellar received 701 or 44.74 percent. The At-Large Position 2 incumbent, Amanda Barta, easily kept her seat since she had no opponent. Richmond voters re-elected Evalyn W. Moore mayor rather than hopeful Tres Dale Davis. She won with 474 votes or 69.60 percent of the total votes and Davis received 207 votes or 30.40 percent. In Fulshear, two new city council members were elected along with an incumbent. The candidates for the town’s atlarge seat were Debra L. Cates and Jim Fatheree and he won. Cates got 222 votes or 39.29 percent and Fatheree received 343 votes or 60.71 percent of the total votes. Hopefuls who ran for Fulshear’s District 1 city council seat were Dana Hollingsworth and Jason Cherubini. Hollingsworth won by capturing 189 votes or 61.17 percent of the vote total. Cherubini got 120 votes or 38.83 percent. Kaye Kahlich was the only candidate who ran for the District No. 5 council seat so had a clean sweep to victory with 58 votes for 100 percent.

The FBISD H-E-B Excellence in Education award winners: (front row, from left) Board members Dave Rosenthal and Jim Rice; Julie Diaz, Travis High School Principal; Board members Kristin Tassin (President) and Jason Burdine (Vice President); Richard Embrick, Crockett Middle School teacher; Board member KP George; and (back row) Board members Addie Heyliger (Secretary) and Grayle James; and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre. By SESHADRI KUMAR District Teacher of the Year seek their help and support to Fort Bend ISD bagged the program, I know Julie and improve schools and student coveted H-E-B Excellence Richard are representatives achievement.” in Education Awards on May of ALL the high quality eduWhile thanking HEB for the 7. FBISD also won two more cators in FBISD,” said Dr. award, Tassin said, “ We need awards this year, the first Charles Dupre, Superinten- more businesses like H.E.B. year in the program’s his- dent of Schools. to recognize and support the tory receiving three of the top “The recognition of our many great things happening awards. Board of Trustees is also sig- in public education.” The 16th annual HEB Ex- nificant because our work to Trustee Jim Rice said, “I am cellence in Education award inspire and equip all students very proud of the hard work recipients are FBISD Board to pursue futures beyond what our board and superintendent of Trustees; School Board they can imagine would not be along with all of our teachers, award; Julie Diaz of Travis possible without their vision staff and administrators have High School, School Principal and governance,” added Dr. invested in the success and Secondary award; and Rich- Dupre. support of our students. Fort ard Embrick, Crockett Middle Kristin Tassin, FBISD Bend ISD is well positioned School teacher, Rising Star Board President, said, “FBISD for continued academic sucSecondary award. has made huge strides in the cess for their efforts.” Each of the honorees past four years since hiring “In late May 2012, former was announced May 7 at an Charles Dupre as superinten- Superintendent Tim Jenney awards ceremony at the Hilton dent. There is still much to do, and virtually the entire adminHotel in Austin. Combined, but this award is validation of istrative leadership team left the FBISD winners received the hard work the Board has the district en masse. With the $70,000 in cash prizes. been doing to govern in a way election of three new trustees “I could not be more proud that provides opportunities for in early May of that year, the of our educators who were all students. We will continue board had a collective tenure recognized. Much like our to engage our community and See AWARDS, Page 3

County judge recognizes Health and Human Services

Veranda’s Picnic in the Park

Left to Right: Back Row: Commissioner Vincent Morales, Precinct 1; Commissioner Grady Prestage, Precinct 2; Commissioner Andy Meyers, Precinct 3; Commissioner James Patterson, Precinct 4; Left, Johnson Development is Front Row: County Judge Robert Hebert; Anthony Ryder, HHS; hosting a grand opening May David Olinger, HHS Public Health Preparedness Coordinator; 21 for its newest community, Cynthia Smith, HHS; Yaneth Calderon, HHS. Veranda. During Commissioners Court on May 2, 2017, Fort Bend County Celebrating its future with Judge Robert Hebert recognized the Fort Bend County Health & Hua nod to its past, Veranda will man Services Department for receiving national recognition for their mark its grand opening with Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program and its ability to an old-fashioned Southern picplan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. nic from noon to 4 p.m., SunFort Bend County’s Health and Human Services Department reday, May 21. Picnic in the Park ceived this honor by meeting 305 comprehensive preparedness will include piglet races, a wabenchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready, a unique parttermelon-eating contest, sack nership between the National Association of County and City Health races and live music by Hill Officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This Country Jane. Richmond’s newrecognition confirms that Fort Bend County has a thorough and coorest master-planned community dinated emergency response plan in place as well as the staff training will serve up Southern food, required to protect the health of the community during an emergency. live music by Hill Country Jane Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert said, “Our HHS Department and a variety of picnic games at is one of only 34 departments in the nation to receive this recognition, Wildwood Park Road and Wesconfirming that we are well prepared for any health emergencies”. sendorff Place in Richmond. See VERANDA, Page 3

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017

COMMUNITY

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital earns straight A for patient safety

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Quality Improvement Team, (L-R) Damon Smith; Jackie Trotter; Tosha Vaughn; Maria Socci; Monica Salinas; Diane McGraw, Quality Director; Ann Prather; Tanuja Parmar; Janet Leatherwood, CNO; Pauletta Blackstock; Brooke Taylor

(9(176

May 6th Saturday Music on the Patio - 6:45 pm - Free Michael Incavo - Jazz Keyboardist May 10th Wednesday Wine Tasting - 6:00 pm $10(3 pours)/$20 (6 pours) May 13th Saturday Music on the Patio - 6:45 pm - Free Mark Zeus - Acoustic Originals May 14th Sunday Mother’s Day High Tea - 12 Noon to 4 pm By Reservation only May 16th Tuesday Support Fort Bend Literacy Day - Lunch, Happy hour and Dinner May 19th Friday, Dinner Service closed for private fundraiser event May 20th Saturday Music on the Patio - 6:45pm - Free TBD May 26th Friday Discovering Umbria 5 Course Wine Dinner - by reservation $80 - 5 Course Wine Paired Dinner $60 - 5 Course Dinner with no wine pairings

May 27th Saturday : Music on the Patio 6:45pm - Free, Melody Makers - 70’s - 80’s Pop Rock Covers

TEL 281-242-4186 2865 Dulles Avenue, Missouri City, Texas 77459 Hours - Mon - 5-9 pm; Tues - Thurs - 11:30-9 pm; Fri - 11:30 -10 pm; Sat - 11:30 am to 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm - 10 pm . To Reserve for special events call 281-2424186. Sun open for special events.

To all the Moms who care for, nurture and guide children to greatness!

The Leapfrog Group, a nonproﬁt organization committed to driving quality, safety and transparency in the U.S. health care system, recently released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was one of 823 hospitals to receive an “A” for its commitment to reducing errors, infections and accidents that can harm patients. “Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment

from every member of the hospital staﬀ, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.” Developed under the guidance of an expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. “Patient safety is central to our mission, and we are proud of our results,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “Our success depends on the daily actions of our physi-

cians, nurses, technicians and other staff members. Receiving our seventh consecutive ‘A’ grade since 2014 shows that we are making a significant difference in keeping our patients safe while under our care.” To see Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org. For more information about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or call 281.205.4514 to find a doctor in your area. Visit the Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017 • Page 3

NEWS

Where to hide the trash can, resident asks city council

Shown during announcement of the School Board award are (from left): Board Members Kristin Tassin (President), Jim Rice, Addie Heyliger (Secretary), Jason Burdine (Vice President), Dave Rosenthal, Grayle James, KP George; and Senior Public Aﬀairs Advisor Nancy Porter, Chief Communications Oﬃcer Veronica Sopher, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre.

Awards From Page 1 of 9 years of experience. We knew we had some hard work ahead of us to rebuild the leadership capacity of the board while simultaneously conducting a superintendent search. “Fortunately, we were able to hire Dr. Charles Dupre in May of 2013. Our team building, strategic planning and hard work continued,” Rice said. “The Team of 8 was able to successfully complete a feeder pattern alignment and re-zoning of the entire school district, pass a $484 million dollar bond program, and reduce the excessive board turnover that had occurred since 2010 re-electing all incumbents in 2016 and 2017,” Rice said. As the winning public school board, recognized for its outstanding leadership at the Board level, the FBISD Board of Trustees (which includes Kristin Tassin, President; Jason Burdine, Vice President; Addie

Veranda From Page 1 “From the beginning, we envisioned Veranda as a closeknit community,” said Trey Reichert, Vice President and General Manager of Veranda. “So what better way to celebrate than an old-fashioned community picnic with piglet races, sack races, a watermelon-eating contest and lots of family-friendly activities.” Other activities will include face painting, bounce houses and an opportunity to take pictures with a Texas Longhorn steer. Celebrity Chef Grady Spears and his Chuckwagon, as well as

Heyliger, Secretary; and members KP George, Grayle James, Jim Rice and Dave Rosenthal) received a $25,000 cash prize on behalf of the District. As a winning principal, Diaz received $10,000 in cash for herself and a $25,000 grant for Travis High School. “It was such an honor and privilege to accept this leadership award in a room full of amazing educators,” said Julie Diaz. “At Travis High School, we have a mantra – We are ONE, We are FAMILY, We are TIGERS. When one wins we all win. It is truly Travis High School who wins this award. It is an exceptional place and our purpose is to develop leaders at all levels. I would not have won if it wasn’t for all that we have accomplished together.” As recipient of the Rising Star Secondary award, which recognizes teachers with less than 10 years of experience, Embrick received a $5,000 check for himself and a $5,000

grant for Crockett Middle School. He teaches Robotics and Engineering II and PLTW gateway to Technology classes at Crockett and is passionate about making sure that science, technology, engineering and math education is available to all students – including female and minority students. “When you only have afterschool clubs, you leave out a lot of untapped talent,” said Embrick. “I keep pushing to bring STEM opportunities to all students.” In January, H-E-B announced that the FBISD Board of Trustees was one of five Texas Public School Boards to be recognized as a finalist. In February, Diaz and Embrick received news of their selection as finalists in the awards program. Each of the FBISD winners were selected from a pool of 58 finalists from across the state by judges representing former winners, school administrators, and university and community leaders.

other local vendors, will have food for purchase. Beer also will be sold. The ﬁrst 500 attendees will receive a free Veranda picnic blanket. Gifts also will be available at Veranda’s nine recently opened model homes. Representatives from builders Sitterle Homes, Lennar Homes, Coventry Homes, Highland Homes, Newmark Homes, Perry Homes, Westin Homes and David Weekley Homes will be available to meet with prospective buyers to discuss their design options, which feature multiple outdoor spaces as well as timeless architectural elements reﬂecting Richmond’s historical roots.

The 590-acre Veranda is located near the northwest corner of Williams Way Boulevard and U.S. 59. It will oﬀer up to 2,500 homes, as well as amenities such as a family-friendly pool, pocket parks and a ﬁtness center. A lifestyle director already is planning events for homebuyers. Children will attend schools within the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Homes are priced from the $200,000s. For more information about the event, visit https://www.verandatexas.com/grandopening.

Get Creative and Decorate A Cake For Your Loved Ones This Mother’s Day The “Show Me City” is preparing to host its First Annual Mother’s Day Cake Decorating Event as part of the Leadership Luncheon Series. The event will be held on Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Community Center in the City Hall Complex, 1522 Texas Pkwy. Proud sponsors of the event are Rich Products Corporation and Million Cakes. “Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and this year, we wanted to give area

families the opportunity to honor their loved ones in a creative way,” said Director of Communications Stacie Walker. “Our amazing event will feature cake kits that include design tools and decoration treats, so each person may create a unique design for their loved one.” Families of all sizes are welcome. Cakes will cost $12 per kit and for every two cakes a family purchases, they will receive a free Rich’s cheesecake. The ﬁrst annual event will

Article V Convention of States Resolution passed State Representative Rick Miller last week passed Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Upon passage of SJR 2, Texas became the 11th state calling for Congress to convene the convention of states. SJR 2 calls for a convention of states under Article V of the United States Constitution with a specific focus on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress. “The passage of SJR 2 is the culmination of three years of hard work. I am honored to have carried the House version,” said Miller. “Today marks an important step towards restraining a runaway federal government and returning power back to the states and their respective citizens as our Founders intended,” state Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott declared legislation supporting an Article V Convention of States an emergency item during his State of the State address in January.

also include the opportunity for participants to decorate their cake boxes and to design a card with a special message for their loved ones. Additional entertainment includes a photo booth, a face painter, a balloon artist, a DJ, jewelry and cosmetic vendors and more. To register your family for the Mother’s Day Cake Decorating Event, visit www. missouricitytx.gov or call 281.403.8500. Volunteer partnerships are available; please contact MVP Coordinator Cory Stottlemyer at cstottlemyer@missouricitytx.gov to sign up.

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City resident Noel Pinnock, who has run for city council before, spoke to city council last week to protest a summons he received regarding trash cans in his Quail Valley neighborhood. The summons was for him to appear in municipal court to pay a ﬁne because his trash can is not concealed. Before he began to speak, Pinnock handed out a picture to each council member of “about nine homes in my community where we do not have boarded areas where we can hide trash cans.” Pinnock said he was surprised “when I got a summons to visit our municipal court at the end of this month for a trash can I can’t hide” no matter where he puts it on his corner lot. “If we are going to criminalize the placement of a trash receptacle then we have to really look at addressing our priorities.” Pinnock, during his three minutes allotted to citizen speakers, said he was “pur-

Pinnock portedly in receipt of a warning, which I never received. I am a responsible citizen and I feel like it was a great insult to my service, my community and to my neighbors” who have the same problem. “I have no place to put my trash can (out of sight) and I’m not going to put it in the garage. If I put it on the side of my ediﬁce,” it can be seen anyway. He said he has tried to hide it with “spoilage” but it doesn’t work because it can still be seen by players on the golf course and by drivers coming down the street. Other citizens in other parts of town are also likely to have the same problem, Pinnock said.

“We cannot prescribe a cookie cutter solution. Quail Valley is a no fence neighborhood.” He went on to say that when the city’s “teeth become jaws you are really doing overkill. For me to get a summons for a trash can is a disrespect of my character as well as a demeaning show of the city. Giving me a notice to appear and if I don’t appear I’m going to jail!” Being able to see a trash can on a homeowner’s property “is not a criminal activity although it may pose a safety impediment if left in the middle of the street. I say do the math. What can we do to make this a more suitable situation starting with Quail Valley. Give it a consideration,” he said. After he ﬁnished his comments, council members made no comments and went on to their next agenda item. By law they are not allowed to address anything a speaker has said during the comments part of the agenda.

Museum Exhibit Ribbon Cutting, Tourism Rally The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land and Visit Sugar Land Convention and Visitor Services are planning an Exhibit Ribbon Cutting and National Travel and Tourism Week Rally on May 12, at 10 a.m., at the museum, 13016 University Blvd. This summer, the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land will open doors to a new exhibit titled “Sweet – A Tasty Journey” that will feature a world of ﬂavorful fun in an interactive setting all summer long. It’s an opportunity to learn about candy ingredients from a ‘farm to fork’ perspective and the in-

tricate process of candy- and chocolate-making. “In what seems to be a destined alignment, this unique exhibit perfectly ties into the city’s rich history and will give the visitors a ﬁrst-hand experience of how ‘sweet’ Sugar Land truly is,” said Tourism and Destination Services Administrator Teresa Preza. Convention and visitor bureaus across the nation join the U.S. Travel Association each year in May to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week to demonstrate travel’s positive impact on local economies and the personal lives of travelers.

“A focus on tourism and commercial sources to reduce the property tax burden on homeowners in Sugar Land has been a key to maintaining one of the state’s lowest property tax rates,” said Preza. Years of public feedback, including a citizen-led Visioning Task Force, and a public vote aﬃrmed strong support for the expansion of cultural and entertainment opportunities in Sugar Land. Sugar Land continues to become a nationally recognized, beautiful and inclusive community with growing economic, cultural and entertainment opportunities.

Leadership Forum Visits the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The Fort Bend Leadership Forum, Class of 2017 was in Washington D.C., May 3-5, 2017 for the National Government Session. The class participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery to honor those who lost their lives in World War 1, World War 2, and the Korean War. The wreath was presented by veterans in the class, Jonathan Chapman, Keith Jemison, Michael Redix and Turner Vaught. The Class of 2017 was recognized and witnessed the ceremony on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 3:15 p.m. Dustin Fessler, Co-Chair of the program, said, “This was one of the most memorable and moving experiences that they have had”. The Fort Bend Leadership Forum is a rigorous program of leadership development and community engagement through active learning, expert insight, and experiential activities. As the premier leadership

Garden with Conﬁdence: Butterﬂy Gardening Made Easy

Members of the Entomology Group of Fort Bend County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present Gardening with Confidence “Butterfly Gardening Made Easy” on May 20. The program will describe the life cycle of butterflies, the plants needed to attract butterflies to the garden and which butterflies are most common in Fort Bend County. Included in the program is a visit to the Master Gardeners’ beautiful butterfly garden, which will highlight host and nectar plants as well as butterfly eggs, butterflies and caterpillars that may be there. Program will be held May 20, 2017 from 9 a.m. -11 a.m. at Fort Bend AgriLife Extension Office located at 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Cost is $15, free for children under 10. To register visit https://fortbend.agrilife.org/ gwc/ or contact Brandy Rader at 281-342-3034 or email brandy. rader@ag.tamu.edu.

development program in the region, the program was designed to prepare for the community needs that demand the involvement of informed citizens. Fort Bend Leadership Forum oﬀers structured learning opportunities in an atmosphere that stimulates creative thinking and encourages participants to work together to utilize both new and proven tools to meet the challenges of today and to prepare for tomorrow. Now accepting applications for the 30th Year of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum, and the Title Sponsor is PrimeWay Federal Credit Union. If you wish to apply for the Class of

2018, please contact Matthew Ferraro at matthew@fortbendcc.org or 281-491-0277 for more information. You can also visit www.FortBendChamber.com to download the application. There are limited spots remaining. The 5 Star Accredited, Fort Bend Chamber is the largest single county chamber in the Houston region. Over 1,300 members enjoy measurable beneﬁts, along with access and inﬂuence in the dynamic Fort Bend business climate. As an advocate for business excellence, our Chamber is a catalyst for economic prosperity, tourism and community involvement.

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017

Obituary: Charlie Howard (1942-2017) Former Sugar Land State Rep. Charlie Howard, a Republican, passed away on May 2. He was born on May 30, 1942. Graveside Service was held on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Texas State Cemetery 909 Navasota St. in Austin. Howard is survived by wife Jo, son Chad and daughter Julie. A meeting in celebration of his life was held on Satur-

Howard

day, May 6, 2017 at the Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land. Howard was a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 1995. He served as Executive Vice President and Operating Oﬃcer of Sugarland Properties, which developed the First Colony master-planned community. In 2013, Charlie chose not to seek re-election due to health issues.

WCJC students receive academic recognition awards O u t s t a n d i n g Wharton County Junior Student in Nuclear Power •

College students were recently recognized for their classroom achievements. At the college’s annual Academic Recognition Awards ceremony – held April 25 at the Pioneer Student Center on the Wharton campus – instructors and administrators presented students with awards for outstanding achievement in particular fields of study. Students were also recognized for achieving a high grade point average (GPA), with 71 students receiving Honors Certificates for earning a minimum GPA of 3.75 and 17 students receiving Highest Achievers of Academic Excellence Certificates for achieving a perfect GPA of 4.0. Students receiving departmental awards during the ceremony included: • Outstanding Student Administrative Assistant – Snehaben Tailor of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Office Administration – Alline Grahmann of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Biology – Amber Koehn of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Government – Ala’a Al-Natour of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Paralegal Studies – Elizabeth Fitch of Rosenberg • Human Services Outstanding Academic and Service Award – Bailey Kovarek of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Accounting – Lori Lee of Rosenberg • Outstanding

Technology – Denton Rawlins of Bay City • Outstanding Student in Process Technology – Hunter O’Neal of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Manufacturing Technology/Mechanical Technician – Arnulfo Mendoza of Wharton • Outstanding Student in Electronics Engineering Technology – Johnathan Klotz of Wallis • Outstanding Student in Chemistry – Daisy Enriquez of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Construction Management – Antonio Quinones of Rosenberg • Outstanding Student in Engineering Design – Amber Waldon of Needville • Outstanding Student in Speech – Benjamin Kosler of Richmond • Outstanding Student in English – Vanessa Grimaldo of Needville • Outstanding Student in History and Geography – Cassidy Witham of Richmond • Outstanding Student in Licensed Vocational Nursing – Roisha Hutchinson of Brazoria • Outstanding Student in Radiologic Technology – Brittany Bock of Sweeny • Outstanding Student in Surgical Technology – Madeline McSweeny of Van Vleck • Outstanding Student in Dental Hygiene – Leann Campbell of Victoria • Outstanding Student in Health Information Technology – Margaret Zambrano of Kingwood

Student in Early Childhood Development – Tiffany Maldonado of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in CISCO Certification – Rayon Austin of Houston • Outstanding Student in Computer Science – Nicholai Tukanov of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Network Administration – Samuel Olivares of Richmond • Outstanding Student in Computer Simulation and Game Design – Steve Schnell of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Digital Media – Talisa Galvin of Richmond • Phi Theta Kappa Louise Sealock Award – Katherine Shriver of Bay City • Outstanding Student Leadership Student Government Association – Moriah Johnson of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student Leadership Student Government Association – Jazmine Walker of Houston • Human Services Outstanding Academic and Service Award – Staci Garcia of Bay City • Outstanding Music Major – Hannah Schoppe of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Band – Taylor Ondrias of El Campo • Outstanding Student in Choir – Justin Lewis of Sugar Land • Outstanding Student in Drama – Megan Poffenbarger of Wharton • Outstanding Student in Art – Tatiana Weakley of Needville

HCC and Alief ISD make history The students were cheering, yelling and clapping. In an environment that felt more like a pep rally than an academic ceremony, hundreds of students in the Elsik High School auditorium celebrated the signing of a document that greatly increases their chances of going to college. On Monday, May 1, Dr. Cesar Maldonado, Houston Community College (HCC) Chancellor and HD Chambers, Alief Independent School District Superintendent, signed an agreement in the auditorium that provides eligible graduating high school seniors automatic admission to HCC. “Streamlining the process to carry you to the ultimate student experience is the mission of all the adults here on the stage,” Dr. Maldonado

said. “We truly care about you and this partnership solidiﬁes our commitment for future college students.” Chambers told the students the agreement means they have already been admitted to HCC. “Thanks to the vision of the Alief ISD Board and the HCC Board of Trustees, this makes this transition to life after high school much easier for many graduates that may not enroll in college otherwise.” Eva Loredo, HCC Board of Trustees Chair, encouraged the students to take full advantage of the new agreement. “Keep working on your goals,” Loredo said. “The biggest thrill is to see you walk across the stage and to see that you have succeeded.”

Another HCC Trustee, whose district encompasses much of the Alief area, also urged students to keep HCC in their future plans. District VI Trustee Dr. John Hansen said, “we are eliminating barriers… this is a historic day for future generations of Alief ISD students.” The admission agreement exempliﬁes HCC’s philosophy of doing whatever it takes to create student success. Dr. Athos Brewer, HCC Vice Chancellor for Student Services, said he was “ﬁred up” by the agreement and its positive impact on students. “It’s because of you that every adult in the room comes to work every day,” Brewer said. “This is the initiative that will put students on the fast track to academic success.”

Correction FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

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In last week’s story on Missouri City Council’s discussion on how best to replace failed residential sidewalks, Assistant City Manager Scott Elmer was misquoted. A councilman asked if MUDS might help the city pay for replacements. Elmer replied, “We (the city) have not had a single MUD refuse to step up and do their work.” We regret the error. —Editor

MIKE’S MONOLOGUE

My cats died

By MICHAEL GRANTO For thirteen years, my wife, Barbara, and I had two cats. They were brother and sister, from the same litter. Now, I have to say that cats were probably a perfect pet for me; they were low-maintenance. They don’t interact a lot with their humans, preferring in general to simply be left alone. Make sure there’s food and water in appropriate containers, and keep them full; locate the litter box conveniently, and keep it clean. Pretty basic tasks, which even a guy who has never had pets can take care of. Both cats seemed to prefer Barbara. She was softer, nicer, smelled better, and generally knew a lot more about relating to animals than I knew. Even so, Tigger, the male, would hang around me sometimes, and he seemed to appreciate getting his ears scratched. I noticed that Tigger was like a typical big brother, sometimes lording it over his sister Sally, stealing her treats. I also noticed that, sometimes there would be small scratches on Tigger, little places where the fur had been scratched off, presumably as a result of some feline confrontation. His sister was the only other feline in the house, so I assumed she was the one who caused the scratches. It didn’t happen very often, and it must have happened quietly, because the confrontation never awakened Barbara or me. But you know, in all the years they were with us, I never saw Sally with any scratches. I found that very interesting. All in all, the cats were lowmaintenance pets, which suited me just fine. Besides, Rush Limbaugh had a cat, so, of course, that made it okay. Our cats died withing a month of each other. We really don’t know the exact cause of Tigger’s death. I remember the veterinarian we took him to saying she really couldn’t give us a specific cause, at least not without some

Granto diagnostic testing. So, we had a choice: spend several thousand dollars on diagnostic testing, which, while it might tell us something, also might not, and it might indicate that we needed to spend thousands more on the actual treatment. Or, we could have Tigger euthanized. Faced with that, our decision was to have Tigger euthanized. I told Barbara that the cats had lived a very good life with us; safe, ﬁlled with love and attention, happy, and at least twice as long as they would have had as feral cats. Barbara understood, but she couldn’t bear to be in the room when Tigger was euthanized; I understood that. I stayed, and talked to him, and I had my hand on his side when he breathed his last. I remember seeing the light in his eyes go out. We thought Sally might be distraught over her big brother’s loss, but such was not the case. She now owned the place of honor on the sofa next to Barbara. For the short remainder of her life, I saw no sign that she missed her big brother. Then one day, (there’s ALWAYS a “Then one day...” isn’t there?) Sally acted as though she was in extreme pain. Whatever it was, it had something to do with her right hind leg. She was extremely diﬃcult to handle, but we wrapped her up in a towel and took her to the same veterinarian to which we had taken her brother. On the way, she bit me quite hard, and held tight, on my right hand, but surprisingly, I didn’t react precipitously. I spoke to her in soft tones, and she eventually

let go. I knew she really didn’t mean to hurt me. Sally’s final minutes were very different than Tigger’s. She was in such pain that any handling of her by the veterinarian resulted in hissing, scratching, and biting. The veterinarian said something about “throwing a clot,” which to me sounded very serious. We discussed euthanizing her, and I found that this time it wouldn’t go like it did with Tigger. The vet said that she’d have to be prepared for it, and that involved shaving her leg, and inserting a needle. All that meant extra handling which meant extra distress for Sally, and extra danger for the technicians handling her. There wouldn’t be any goodbye with Daddy holding her. I left her crouched on a corner of the veterinarian’s dark gray counter, a hurt, scared little cat, and even though she didn’t know it, I hoped her final minutes would be as painless as possible. I don’t know if cats go to heaven, but my small prayer asked that she be reunited with her big brother. I said goodbye to her, but I don’t think she heard; and I don’t think she understood that I would be with her just as I was with her brother, if I could be. For a long time after that, Barbara didn’t even want to discuss another pet. I had told her on the way home from the veterinarian that, if at some point in the future she wanted another cat, or even a dog, that was fine with me. She said she felt that having a pet wasn’t worth the pain caused when they died. (Granto is a United States Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, awarded the Purple Heart. For over 24 years, he worked for the University of Miami Medical Campus Security Department, and retired in 2014. He moved to Missouri City, with his wife to be closer to her daughter. He can be reached at mikegranto@hotmail.com.)

INSURANCE

Things to know about roof damage claims

By BASIL HOUSEWRIGHT In the past few months we have had wind and hail related storms in our area. As a result many have been receiving flyers, business cards with notes and visits for free roof assessments to determine if you have roof damage and as a result are being informed you do have roof damage and need a roof replacement. We recommend having a local, established roofing contractor take a look at your roof to provide a 2nd opinion of the situation. Insurance Companies will not send out anyone to “just make an inspection” as this would be cost prohibitive. They will only send out a representative if you officially file a claim on your home insurance policy. We recommend the 2nd opinion mentioned above before filing a claim. So you’ve reported roof damage to your home insurance company. Now what? How is roof damage evaluated? The Insurance Company will send a field adjuster to your property to examine the roof surface to determine if there is damage and, if so, the cause of the damage. What happens if a roofer says the roof is damaged and the field adjuster says it is not? If you alert the Insurance Company of the conflicting opinions, they will likely send an expert out to your property to inspect the roof to get a fresh assessment of the roof to see if the conflict can be resolved. Typically the Insurance Com-

Housewright pany will also request a copy of the roofer’s report indicating the roof is damaged. Be cautious of roofers going doorto-door offering to assess your roof. Their motivation is to sell you a new roof and not necessarily assess whether you actually have damage covered by your insurance policy. Bottom Line: If they do not sell you a new roof, they do not make money. Is the field adjuster always able to make that determination from their first visit? No. Sometimes a further inspection is required to assess the cause and nature of the damage. This is especially true in situations where the roof is older and close to the end of its useful life. In this instance, Insurance Companies will likely retain the services of a roofing contractor or engineer to inspect the roof. Is roof damage always covered under an insurance policy? No. A roof that requires repair or replacement because of age or wear and tear is generally not covered. Likewise, a roof that was improperly installed, has manufacturing defects, or has damage as a result of a lack of maintenance is generally

not covered. However, ensuing losses may be covered. Why do the inspectors use chalk on the roof? There are standards for the assessment of roof damage which involve looking at a test section of the roof on each slope to determine the severity and nature of damage. The inspectors use chalk to deﬁne each test section and mark identiﬁed damage in the test section. That information is then applied to the balance of the slope of the roof to provide an assessment of the whole roof. Roof replacements are one of the largest sources of home insurance claims and are an expensive process so this issue is getting much attention in the home insurance industry currently. Many home Insurance Companies are taking measures such as limiting the roof coverage on their policies to a degree that after a certain age of the roof is reached the coverage % decreases each year to a point whereby very little of the replacement cost is provided by the policy. This may very well become a home insurance industry approach to the issue. Time will tell. Basil Housewright is manager of Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc a local Independent Insurance Agency operating in Sugar Land since 1991. He can be reached at (281) 277-7800, Fax (281) 277-7801, E-Mail – basil@ texansinsure.com. Visit www. texansinsure.com.

INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017 • Page 5

SCHOOLS and Elkins College – FBISD recognizes 130 student athletes Davis West Virginia during spring National Signing Day Chalecia Mazyck Volleyball Lane College

Sema’J Stokes Football East Texas Baptist University Glenys Marcella Winﬁele Swim & Dive Trinity University – San Antonio

Hightower High School Terrance Jerod “T.J.” Ford, a former professional basketball player and 2001 Willowridge High School graduate, was the guest speaker. Fort Bend ISD’s Athletic Department, along with Professional Football Players Mothers Association, hosted its spring National Signing Day at the Wheeler Field House on Friday, May 5, 2017. One hundred and thirty FBISD students from all 11 high schools signed their national letters of intent to further their education and continue their athletic career. FBISD’s Director of Athletics Rodney Chant opened the ceremony by recognizing the students, staﬀ and District leaders. Board Trustee Grayle James and Assistant Superintendent Joe Rodriguez both delivered opening remarks congratulating the student athletes on their success and wishing them the best as they head to the college or university of their choice. Terrance Jerod “T.J.” Ford, a former professional basketball player and 2001 Willowridge High School graduate, served as the guest speaker. Ford spoke of his early days in Fort Bend ISD, and how his career took oﬀ in college. After entering the NBA Draft in 2003, he would ultimately go on to play for teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs. Ford talked openly to the students about the pressures they might face while in college and how to remain healthy and focused. After Ford’s speech, the coaches from each high school took to the podium to introduce their athletes and announce the college or university they will be attending. Check out the full list of all the FBISD student athletes who signed their letters of intent below.

Darryl Layton Football Texas A&M – Kingsville

Anissa Ruiz Soccer Huntington College

Connor Lepore Baseball Army West Point

Dulles High School

Walter McNeal Soccer Oral Roberts University Gerald Mejia Soccer Dominican College – New York Darius Milton Football Blinn College Orryn Nicholson Football University of Texas at San Antonio Seth Soliz Baseball East Texas Baptist University Daniela Steele Volleyball Jacksonville State University Eric Townsend Football Texas Southern Hawa Wague Track & Field University of Houston

Bush High School Trevion Bradley Baseball Napa Valley College Brandon Bullock Basketball McMurray University

Austin High School

Malcom Cannon Baseball Napa Valley College

Erin Anthony Volleyball University of San Francisco

Dante Donahue Football Mary Hardin Baylor

Benjamin Baxter Football Lamar University

Cameron Foster Baseball Wharton Junior College

Tyson Carter Football UT Permian Basin

Cameron Hongo Football Texas Lutheran University

Josiane Frazier Softball Northern Kentucky University

Jalon Robinson Basketball Concordia University

Marcus Garcia Football Trinity University

Clements High School Robert Dominguez Football Concordia Chicago

Madeline Hernandez Cross Country, Swim, Soccer University of West Alabama

Courtney Harris Soccer Lamar University

Emily Jaroszewski Volleyball University of St. Thomas

Miranda Hearn Softball Syracuse University

Moses Johnson Football Sam Houston State

Shailee Modi Soccer University of Houston

Brandon Kwok Tennis Thomas More College

Nila Ramaswamy Tennis Carnegie Mellon University

Clayton Cooper Football Abilene Christian University Patrick Cunneﬀ Soccer Trinity University Drew Evans Baseball Ranger College Matias Jonsson Track & Field Carnegie Mellon University Chandler Marshall Volleyball University of Southern Mississippi Trenton McMeans Baseball University of Houston Luke Metzer Football Colorado School of Mines Hunter Owen Tennis Belmont Abbey College – North Carolina Farzad Sarkari Swim Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences

Elkins High School Guy Baham Football Louisiana College

Ethan Adams Football Texas Lutheran University Ce’Loris Arrington Volleyball Kentucky Christian University

Weatherford Junior College

Texas Christian University

Jacob Landry Football Monmouth College

Kenedy Thaman Swim University of Arkansas

Jeremiah McCollum Baseball Florida A&M University

Parker Wayne Baseball Howard Junior College

Marshall High School

Travis High School

Kerry Boykins Baseball Grambling State

Momola Adesanmi Girls Soccer University of Missouri

Shamon Ehiemua Track & Field Florida State

John Barber Boys Track United States Naval Academy

Clayton Ford Football & Basketball Northwestern College Sharun Jones Football Austin College

Darrin Asphall Swim Howard University

Myles LaFleur Track & Field Butler Community College

Yokem Banks Football Adrian College

Cadarein Lynch Track & Field West Texas College

Dante Bennings, Jr. Football Texas Lutheran University

Reina Ryan Track & Field Butler Community College

Evette Blanks Track & Field University of Oklahoma

Lawrence Serious Football Austin College

Taylor Boutte Track & Field Prairie View A&M University

Tyrell Valentine Track & Field Texas State University

Cecil Brent Track & Field n/a Richard Carroll Football Kentucky Christian Jaylen Dunlap Basketball Genesse Junior College – New York Alex Jacobs Baseball Kentucky Christian University Keandrea Jacobs Track & Field University of St. Mary – Kansas Lenecia Mitchell Girls Basketball Weatherford Junior College

Cody Briggs Boys Soccer University of Dallas Kaleb Campbell Boys Track University of Texas at San Antonio Dominic Cox Baseball Rice University Wesley Faison Baseball Texas State University Bo Hoeﬀken Baseball Angelina College Sanad Jalajal Boys Soccer University of Houston – Victoria Destiny Jones

Ridge Point High School Volleyball John “Mitch” Campbell Baseball Beloit College – Wisconsin Michael Cooper Baseball McLennan Cameron Edmonson Football Concordia University Nebraska Brittni Emanuel Track University of North Texas Trenton Garrett Basketball Southwestern University Jake Hernandez Baseball Johnson & Wales University

West Texas A&M University Hunter Koumonduros Baseball Texas A&M International University Conner Lee Baseball Centennary College Zariah McInnis Girls Basketball St. Thomas University Brandon McPhail Baseball Southwestern Christian University Evan Mills Boys Basketball Elmhurst College Joshua Mukoro Boys Track University of North Carolina

Treazure Mouton Girls Basketball Tyler Junior College

Tabrielle Higgins Softball Mississippi Valley State University

Glorious Chikwem-Stanley Basketball Frank Philips Junior College

Gabe Oladipo Track & Field Texas A&M University

Nick Livingston Football Wesleyan University

Jada Cole Volleyball Lane College

Daekwun Payton Track & Field Texas Lutheran University

Jordan Colesante Football Austin College

Platinum Polk Track & Field Texas Lutheran University

Jessica Madamba Tennis University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Candyla Monique Harris Women’s Track Southern University – Baton Rouge

Tyler Rose Track & Field University of Central Arkansas

Leonard Harris Football East Texas Baptist University

Kalvin Spells Swim Davis and Elkins College – West Virginia

Jevin Nguyen Soccer University of Mary Hardin Baylor

Chandler Jacobs Basketball Dallas Baptist University

Eliyah Spencer Track & Field Butler Community College

Courtney Pawlik Soccer Sam Houston State University

Princess Alikpo Girls Basketball East Texas Baptist University

Cayla Jones Softball Northwestern State University

Kempner High School

Paige Pfau Soccer Coastal Carolina University

Byron Amaya Soccer Houston Baptist University Davante Edwards Football Pierce Community College – Los Angeles

Ciarra M. Baker Track & Field Butler Community College

Brittany Bui Swim Rice University

Nicholas Morris Golf St. Thomas University Jacob Nadeau Soccer Southwestern University

Larry Kuimi Basketball Oklahoma Christian University

Claire Chernosky Softball Texas A&M – Kingsville

B. J. Rainford Football University of Central Arkansas

Kamren McKinney-Lyons Swim & Dive

Eliza Eberhard Softball

Whitney Sullivan Soccer

Brandon Pruitt Baseball Grayson Junior College Ryan Rickett Baseball University of Missouri Cole Turney Baseball University of Arkansas Adam Williams Boys Soccer Austin College Myles Word Football Texas Southern University

Willowridge High School

INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017 • Page 6

AUTOMOBILE: Lexus RC 350 F-Sport

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The 2017 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport model got available triple-beam LED headlamps, new GPS link, choice of three models with the available F Sport package, rear wheel drive or all wheel drive and an ultra stiff platform. The Lexus RC brings heat to the luxury sport coupe category with bold design and a choice of three powertrains. The F SPORT package is available for each RC model. The RC is distinguished by its exterior design and interior features and the F SPORT raises the performance ante with specially tuned suspension and numerous luxury upgrades. The 2017 RC is distinguished by a new base black grille finish, new finishes for the 18- and 19-inch wheels and new performance suspension dampers. The RC is also an unusual visual volt PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Tamarron, Section 9 and Section 10, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter. Submitted by Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

machine from all angles. It also turns a smartphone into a navigation system with the standard Scout GPS Link for models equipped with Lexus display audio. The RC Turbo is one of several 2017 Lexus models powered by a 2.0-liter twinscroll turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a direct injection system and an intercooler. This smooth operator produces 241 hp, with 258 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 1,650-4,400 rpm. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city / 32 mpg highway. The RC 300 AWD model’s 3.5-liter V6 with direct port injection produces 255 hp and 236 lb.-ft. torque, the latter at 2,000-4,800 rpm. The engine is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. The RC 350 gets a 306-horsepower version of

PUBLIC ONLINE AUCTION FORT BEND COUNTY 9110 Long Street, Needville, TX. PREVIEW: Fri., 5/12/17 AUCTION ENDS: Fri., 5/19/17 (20) Slott Machines (For Amusement Purpose Only) Terms & Conditions www.lemonsauctioneers.com www.onlinepros.com #7341 (800)243-1113 OR (281)357-4977

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Aliana Trace Drive Street Dedication Section 2, and Aliana Section 59, Precinct 4. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Cinco Ranch Northwest Section 8 and 9 for the addition of “No Parking, Stopping or Standing” signs on Horizon Bluff Lane, Sawyer Springs Lane, Gable Landing Lane, Fairmont Ridge Lane, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter. Submitted by Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter. Submitted by Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE OPENING DATE OF June 6, 2017 AT 2:00 pm. IFB # 17-205 Reconstruction of Glenn Lakes Bridge over Oyster Creek IFB’s may be obtained from the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) at http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/ or Onvia/Demandstar at http://www.demandstar.com/. Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the Bid name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of: Purchasing Manager City of Missouri City 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, TX 77489 prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Responses will be opened on June 6, 2017 at 2:00 pm. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for May 24, 2017 at 10:00 am in the Council Chambers at the street location noted above. Until final award of the Contract, the OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all Responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the Work otherwise when in the best interests of the OWNER. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

the V6. With RWD, it uses the eight-speed sports program direct shift transmission. With AWD, it’s a six-speed automatic. Three driver-selectable modes – NORMAL, SPORT and MANUAL engage full torque-converter lock-up from second to eighth gears for manual shifting. Downshifts are made in just 0.4 seconds in M mode. In SPORT mode with the automatic transsmission, it uses information from the Gsensor on driving status to provide the optimal gear ratio for a more sporting driving experience. The transmission automatically downshifts during hard braking for a corner, holds a lower gear through the corner for greater control and then gives the driver a greater power response on corner exit by selecting a lower gear. All RC models offer the F SPORT upgrade, with the RC 350 RWD F SPORT offering exclusive handling technologies. The base Lexus RC runs on 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels and the RC F SPORT comes with 19-inch wheels and a distinctive 10 twin-spoke. With all wheel options, the RC uses a staggered array, with wider wheels at the rear. The RC has a variable damper system to enhance ride comfort and body lean. The system on the RC 350 F SPORT RWD monitors steering input and road conditions and adjusts the dampers to suit. All RC models coordinate control of the powertrain, anti-lock brake system, electric power steering, traction control and vehicle stability control systems. The available blind spot monitor sees what the driver often can’t so is invaluable. When changing lanes it lets the driver see if a vehicle is approaching in the adjacent lane and and includes a rear cross traffic alert to assist when backing. Both the Lexus standard and optional audio systems play all popular digital formats, whether from CD, iPod, USB or other devices. The standard audio system drives 10 speakers, including a 10-inch subwoofer, with 256 watts. The available Mark Levinson premium audio system creates a 360-degree, three-dimensional sonic space through 17 speakers and has 835-watts total output. The test drive RC 350 FSport two-door coupe came with the 3.6-liter V6 engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Great looks, great fun equals a $43,010 retail price that with options came to $56,554. You may not be in the market today but go test drive it anyway. It might be your game changer.

FILM REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy Excerpt from my review of “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Vol. 1) even though we did not know in 2014 for certain that there would be a Vol. 2: “Chris Pratt’s life is over as he knows it. He’s the breakout star of this movie where he plays Peter Quill aka Star Lord. Of course, it appears that no one refers to him as “Star Lord” but he believes it, so it’s amusing. Everything Pratt does in this movie is bouncing between charming, funny, or tonguein-cheek. He’s having a laugh throughout the ﬁlm even if disaster has befallen him. He will no longer just be known as Anna Faris’ husband or as the dimwitted Andy Dwyer from TV’s “Parks and Recreation.” Ditto. My comments from August 1, 2014, are still accurate a mere three years later and now Marvel and Disney have blessed us with Volume 2. At least “they” will be blessed as this movie is destined to gross very large piles of money. Pratt, Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), and Michael Rooker (Yondu) are bigtime Hollywood stars because of their gigs in Guardians. They are set for life in this ﬁfteenth movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the hits just keep on coming. There are at least seven more MCU movies already set for a theatre complex near you. Established stars also quickly agree to participate in a MCU project because the previous 14 movies have been smash hits. “Iron Man” and Robert Downey Jr. started this bonanza in 2008 and then we’ve had The Hulk, Spiderman, Captain America, Thor, The Avengers,

Ant Man, Black Widow and Doctor Strange. Stan Lee and Marvel Comics couldn’t be any hotter. Let’s talk more about 94 year-old Stan Lee who is the Godfather of Marvel Comics. He and his partner Jack Kirby created superheroes beginning in the 1950’s. Lee is credited with the creation of “naturalistic characters” who had, in spite of being a superhero, fits of anger, emotional upheaval, relationship problems and financial woes. Just like the rest of us; except they could fly, jump, shoot and scoot while they saved the world or the entire universe if needed. We do love to escape to our superheroes. Bradley Cooper certainly does not need to lend his voice to Rocket, the loveable and feisty racoon-looking Guardian of the Galaxy and neither does Vin Diesel as Baby Root, but they do it because these movies are fun and super-successful. Same for Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. My favorite character: Taserface played by Chris Sullivan. Director James Gunn wrote a brilliantly clever and humorous script and hired outstanding special effects and animation artists. This movie is one long fireworks display. Too long. Eric H. and I saw this movie on a Thursday Night sneak preview at First Colony AMC. A very devoted crowd who clapped and laughed heartily. At times, I literally screamed with hoots and hollers, but in spite of this being a gloriously produced and directed film, I was not fully entertained by the story of Peter Quill and the

CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on 4TH day of APRIL 2016 by the County Court at Law 1 of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause # 16-CCV057876 in favor of the plaintiff- QUAIL GLEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION., Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of$ 3,231.33++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on APRIL 12TH, 201 7 and will offer for sale on the 6 day of JUNE, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s)-DEBORAH MILLER a/k/a DEBORAH T. MILLER had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT Twenty (20), BLOCK Seven (7), QUAIL GLEN, SECTION ONE (1), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN THE PLAT THEREOF IN VOLUME 21, PAGE 16 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; COMMONLY KNOWN AS 8334 BLOSSOM BELL LANE, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489 TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469.

CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on APRIL 17, 2015 by the 240111 JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause # 13DCV-210777 in favor of the plaintiffLAKESHORE HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of$ 8,076.51 ++++costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on MARCH 10, 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6111 day of JUNE, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) - CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON AND JACKIE GREENWOOD had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT 3, IN BLOCK 3 OF AMENDING PLAT OF REPLAT LAKE SHORE HARBOUR, SECTION 1, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 2573/A OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.

Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on July 14, 2016 by the 434th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause # 14-DCV -215477 in favor of the plaintiff- SAN MIGUEL CIVIC ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of$ 3,794.95++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on MAY 3RD, 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6th day of June, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s)- RASOUL AGHAJANI had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: A PORTION OF LOT TWELVE (12), AND THIRTEEN (13), IN BLOCK TWENTY SIX (26), (TRACT 15) IN MISSION BEND SAN MIGUEL,SECTION SIX (6) , AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 29, PAGE 11 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469.

CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on July 26, 2016 by the 400th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause# 16-DCV-232192 in favor of the plaintiff- MISSION BEND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of$ 4,306.13++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on APRIL 28TH, 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6th day of June, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -IRMA ROMAN AND JUAN BERDEJO had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT FORTY- FIVE (45) IN BLOCK THREE (3), OF MISSION BEND SOUTH SECTION TWO (2), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 21,PAGE 29 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (THE “PROPERTY”) TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

gang trying to discover his true parentage while ﬁghting bad guys of the cosmos and “… protecting valuable batteries from an interdimensional monster in exchange for the release of Gamora’s estranged sister Nebula.” If you like superhero movies that are big-budget projects, then this one’s for you. Rock ‘n Roll. Grade 80. Larry H. www.larryhmoviereviews.com CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on October 22, 2015 by the 434th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause# 14DCV-217994 in favor of the plaintiffMISSION BEND NO.5 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of$ 4,307.11 ++++costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on MAY 3RD, 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6th day of June 6, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) - NICHOLAS J. ZAVALA had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT TWENTY-ONE (21), IN BLOCK TWENTY-NINE (29), OF MISSION BEND SECTION EIGHT (8), A SUBDIVISION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 275, PAGE 110, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 13 OF MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (SAID LOT LYING WHOLLY WITHIN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS) AND MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 7367 ADDICKS CLODINE ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77083. TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on July 20, 2016 by the 434th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause# 15-DCV-227939 in favor of the plaintiff- MISSION BEND SOUTH CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of $ 8,411.89++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on APRIL 3RD , 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6th day of JUNE, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) LORRAINE ALEXANDER had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT EIGHT-SEVEN (87), IN BLOCK FOUR (4), OF MISSION BEND SOUTH, SECTION FOUR (4), ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY,TEXAS (THE “PROPERTY”) TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

CONSTABLE SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on JUNE 21,2016 by the 434th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause # 15-DCV -221734 in favor of the plaintiff- QUAIL BRIDGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of $ 4,835.78++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on APRIL 21ST 2017 and will offer for sale on the 6th day of JUNE, 2017 at the County Court house steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s)-HENRYS EDGETON had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: NORTHERLY PORTION LOT TEN (10), IN BLOCK TWO (2) OF QUAIL BRIDGE, SECTION ONE (1 ), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 25, PAGE 14 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, I ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469. Gary Majors, Constable Fort Bend County Precinct Two By: Sergeant C. McRae #132 Deputy Constable

INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017 • Page 7

SPOTLIGHT

Star Wars team makes the best Spaghetti Sauce The Exchange Club of Sugar Land would like to thank the Fort Bend community for supporting our 30th Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. The funds raised help support local Fort Bend non-profits including Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Fort Bend County Women’s Center, ESCAPE Family Resource Center, Texana Center for Autistic Children and many more. Over 800 attendees enjoyed the live and silent auction, raffle prizes, children’s game area and live entertainment. The delicious spaghetti sauce was prepared by Fort Bend ISD, FBC Precinct 4, Sugar Land Police Department, Sugar Land Fire Department, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Stafford Police Department and Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. The teams were coordinated by Exchange Member Sugar Land Police Chief Doug Brinkley. The winners of Best Presentation and the Best Spaghetti Sauce were the “Star Wars Team” of Fort Bend ISD officers. Second place winners were

OakBend Medical Center CEO is Entrepreneur Of The Year Award ﬁnalist

Freudenberg

The Sauce Team Winners at The Exchange Club of Sugar Land’s 30th Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser were the “Star Wars Team” of Fort Bend ISD Police Dept. L/R Lt. Mike Harvey Storm Trooper, Executive Chef, Clint Stump – Ol’ Railroad Café, Oﬃcer Dominique Bennett – Princess Leia, Chief David Rider – Obi Wan Kenobi, Lt. Marlin Suell – Darth Vader, Dispatcher Evelyn Williams – Storm Trooper, Exec. Assistant Giang Dinh – Rey Skywalker, Sgt. Shannon Hall – Luke Skywalker the Fort Bend District Attorney’s oﬃce dressed as Super Mario Brothers characters. Sugar Land Fire Department took third place in the spaghetti sauce contest. The judges from

Crime Stoppers said it was a diﬃcult decision because all the teams cooked great sauce. Exchange Club is a Community Service Organization with over 700 clubs nationally. Its

main focus is “The Prevention of Child Abuse.” For more information please visit The Exchange Club of Sugar Land at www.ecsl.org

Cloris Grimes to entertain Woman’s Club of Missouri Loving Friends City awards scholarships

Joe Freudenberg, CEO of OakBend Medical Center is a ﬁnalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Award in Gulf Coast Area. The awards program, which is celebrating its 31st year, recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Freudenberger was selected as a ﬁnalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 15, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis. “OakBend Medical Center’s patients are our neighbors, our family and our friends, and we are committed to excellence

in all that we do for our community,” stated Freudenberger. “I am honored to be named a finalist for this Award. It reﬂects the successes our team has achieved in a highly competitive, ever-changing environment.” Now in its 31st year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 18, 2017. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauﬀman Foundation.

The Woman’s Club of Missouri City recognized four Missouri City area graduating seniors with $1000 WCMC Legacy Scholarships at their final meeting held May 3 at the First United Methodist Church in Missouri City. Pictured are Madison Gabino, left, Dulles High School who received The Jo Butterfield Scholarship; Minnu Augustine, Elkins High School; Braxton Lansiquot, Ridge Point High School and Llaren Turner, Dulles High School. Since 2003 WCMC has awarded $69,000 in scholarships to Missouri City seniors.

Loving Friends will meet on Tuesday, May 16 , at 5 p.m. for dinner and entertainment at Quail Valley City Cr., 2880 La Quinta Dr., Missouri City. Cloris Grimes, a flutist, saxophonist, keyboardist, and composer will entertain the group. Cloris’ rich mellow tone and jazzy but bluesy style is sure to satisfy his audience with an appetite for the best in sax and flute performance. The cost for dinner and entertainment is $22 inclusive and reservations are required by calling 281-208-3124 or 281-2614043. Loving Friends is a social group of men and women who lost their spouses but want to move on with their lives. It is not a grief support group. For more information on Loving Friends and its other monthly activities, please call either of the above numbers. New members always greeted with a warm welcome.

PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better

2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com

Phone: (281) 208-4470

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • MAY 10, 2017

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GRAND OPENING SUNDAY, MAY 21 • 12-4PM Tour 9 Model Homes | Meet Our Builders New Homes from $200’s | Live Music | Southern Food Family-Friendly Games, Contests and Prizes | Piglet Races Ice-Cold Beer Available for Purchase

t n e v E e e Fr Reﬁned Living. Historically Richmond. www.verandatexas.com/grandopening

#verandaporchlife | 2020 Pearl Glen Drive Richmond, TX 77469