VOL 7 No. 22
email: editor@ĩindependent.com
www.fbindependent.com ww .fbindependent.com
Phone: 281-980-6745
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Missouri City, Juneteenth Celebration Memorial Day in Sugar Land Foundation unveil lineup of events The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (MCJCF), now in its 12th year, has announced this year’s week-long line-up of Texassized family related Juneteenth events and activities. The foundation, the largest of its kind in the nation, has planned a series of community events and activities from June 12-21, most of which are free and open to the general public. Thousands of attendees and participants are again expected to join in the citywide celebration of Juneteenth in Missouri City. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. The foundation’s planned events and activities are set to occur beginning June 16 through the 21, with most events free and open to the gen-
eral public. Missouri City will hold the invitation-only Juneteenth Kickoff Reception on June 12th from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Magnolia Ballroom at the City Centre at Quail Valley. Golf Tournament The annual MCJC scholarship Golf Tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 16 at the Quail Valley Golf Club. Participants will enjoy a day of golf, including prizes, awards and exciting and competitive fun. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. For more information call (281) 816-6441. The participation fee for this event is $100. Awards Gala Join residents, stakeholders, supporters and staff in the Magnolia Ballroom at the City Centre at Quail Valley on Thursday, June 19th from 7-9:30 p.m. as area volunteers and leaders are recognized for their hard work and dedication to the Missouri City community at the Community Service Awards Gala. The participation fee for this
event is $100. Family night out will take place at Hunters Glen Park at 4 p.m. on June 20. The free family event will include booths and activities set up by local organizations and City Staff. Families will enjoy the Jackie Robinson biopic “42” as this year’s free outdoor movie at dusk; the event will end at 10 p.m. Smiles Parade At 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, the Mile of Smiles parade will begin at Texas Parkway and Court Road and will end at Buffalo Run at Fondren. Area schools, bands, dance teams and Missouri City businesses will make their way through the city for a fun evening parade. Battle of the Bands The popular Battle of the Bands will immediately follow the parade at Thurgood Marshall High School in the Athletic Stadium. For more information on the Juneteenth celebration and to find out how to volunteer visit www.mcjcf.org or call 281.816.6441.
Judge Jim Richard passes away Jim Richard, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2014, after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Laura and three children. Richard, an attorney and former Fort Bend County Assistant District Attorney, brought a commitment to service to his office and imbued the Precinct 4 Justice Court with a sense of professionalism during his 16 years in office. County Judge Bob Hebert
has ordered all flags at county facilities to fly half-staff through the date of Judge Richard’s funeral. Richard Richard was laid to rest at Houston National Cemetery in a private service. A memorial service for Richard was held on Tuesday, May 27 at River Pointe Church,
5000 Ransom Rd, Richmond. Commissioners Court is expected to appoint Laura Richard to the post of Justice of the Peace Pct. 4. The item was on Tuesday’s agenda of commissioners court. Laura Richard herself will be seeking the county clerk position in November. The Republican Party of Fort Bend County will select a nominee who will be on the ballot in the November general election for the JP, Pct. 4. (Obituary on Page 3)
Sugar Land’s sixth annual Memorial Day Ceremony was held at Memorial Park on May 26 in the backdrop of the newly-erected Veteran’s Memorial. Above, Gabriela Sanchez, far right, 2013 Sugar Land Junior Super Star, sang “God Bless America.” Col. Gregory Barrow, left, Sugar Land Councilwoman Amy Mitchell, Land Councilman Harish Jajoo, who welcomed the gathering in the absence of Mayor Jimmy Thompson, State Rep. Rick Miller and U.S. Rep. Pete Olson and Dave Van Kleeck, who conducted the ceremony. Travis High School, U.S. marine Corps JRTC, presented the colors and performed a silent drill. Boy Scout Troop 731 participated in the wreath ceremony. Reagan Scott, 2014 Sugar Land Junior Super Star, sang the National Anthem. David Kiger read the roll call of Sugar Land war heroes who sacri-
ficed their life for the country’s freedom. Above, Members of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land with Matt and Sara Striegel, second from left, and their
triplets Tate, Sofie and Bo. Exchange Club members distributed American flags to all visitors at the Memorial Day ceremony. —Photos LARRY PULLEN
Tea Parties in the museum
Elackatt elected Missouri City’s Mayor ProTem; Grayle James is FBISD president By SESHADRI KUMAR Councilman Robin Elackatt was elected Mayor ProTem by Missouri City City Council on May 19, after the newly elected Councilman Chris Preston took the oath of office. In the seven-member council, Elackatt was elected with four votes, including his own. Mayor Allen Owen did not vote. Councilman Floyd Emery first made a motion nominating Elackatt and Councilwoman Yolanda Ford seconded the motion. When Owen asked if there were any other nominations, current Mayor ProTem Jerry Wyatt proposed Councilman Don Smith’s name. No one seconded the motion. Then, Smith nominated Wyatt and again, the motion died for want of a second. Finally, Elackatt nominated Emery for Mayor ProTem and this motion too failed as no one seconded it. In the meantime, Wyatt and Smith, moved away from the table. That left, only four council members, with the mayor. As he called for a vote on Emery’s motion, nominating Elackatt, the four members voted in favor. Owen said he had no problem with any councilmember being elected Mayor ProTem and he never voted in that election. His own preference is to have
supported Preston for the atlarge seat. In another notable action, city council voted 4-2 to renew the delinquent tax collection service contract with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Sampson. Ford and Elackatt voted against the award of the contract to Linebarger, while Preston did not vote. The other vendor who did not get the contract was Perdue,Brandon,Collins & Mott. Elackatt the post rotated among council members, but his idea did not get council’s approval in the past. Smith said he did not know why there was no support for his election. However, he would not have accepted the position, if there was no unanimous support. Elackatt took note of the fact that he is the first Asian American to be elected Missouri City’s Mayor ProTem. In this year’s election, Elackatt said he supported Mayor Owen, though in the past he did not vote with Owen on some of the issues. Elackatt said he did not belong to any “group” and voted on issues. He did not hold any grudge against council members with whom he did not agree on any given issue. Smith also supported Owen in this year’s election, while he
FBISD New officers were also elected during the May 19 school board meeting. Grayle James, who previously served as Assistant Secretary, was elected President. Dave Rosenthal was elected Vice President, and Jenny Bailey was elected Secretary. All three members have served on the Board for the past two years. Three new trustees were elected to the Fort Bend ISD School Board on May 10 and were sworn in during the May 19 board meeting. The three new trustees were elected to serve three-year terms. The new trustees are: •Jason Burdine – Position 1, who resides in the west side of the District. •Kristin Tassin – Position 4, which is an at-large position. •KP George – Position 5, who resides in the east side of the District.
The Fort Bend County Museum invites you to step back in time to the 1880s! A classic Victorian Tea Party will be held at the historic home of Congressman John M. and Lottie Dyer Moore on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7. This elegant affair will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and again at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., inside the beautiful glassed-in veranda of the Moore Home. Proper Victorian tea etiquette will be taught to the younger guests, while all guests will sample a variety of tea sandwiches, scones and scrumptious desserts. Visitors will also learn about Victorian fashion and parlor games that were enjoyed during the 1880s. “This is a great opportunity for mothers and daughters, or a gathering of girlfriends, to spend some quality time together while they’re immersed in Victorian splendor of the late 1800s,” affirms Jessica Avery, Educational Coordinator for the Fort Bend County Museum. The cost for this event is $15 per person. Members of the Fort Bend County Museum Association will receive a discounted admission price of $12. To reserve a seat for this extremely popular event, contact Jessica Avery at 281-342-6478 or by email at javery@fortbendmuseum.org. Tea cups are limited, so make your reservations today!
Stafford denies permit for light industrial unit By BARBARA FULENWIDER After numerous Stafford residents spoke at the public hearing and some even begged, council did what the residents wanted. They kept the Promenade neighborhood strictly residential for now. The long May 21 city council meeting was held in the Stafford Civic Center to accommodate all who wanted to attend and quite a few did. They attended because coun-
cil was to decide whether or not to approve a specific use permit (SUP) that would allow Carson Companies to develop a light industrial facility in a Stafford Primary Corridor zoning district. Specifically the building that would house light industry was to be on 11.95 acres in the Estates at Promenade North, which is between U.S. 90A and Promenade Boulevard. The proposed 182,224 square foot
building would be on 11.95 acres and front on Promenade Boulevard. Three driveways would be built from Promenade Boulevard and one from U.S. 90A. Mayor Leonard Scarcella began the conversation by saying “This is a significant issue we are considering in terms of our city and its quality of life and what is going to be located See PERMIT, Page 3