VOL 7 No. 30
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Olson acts to get local input on housing migrant children U.S. Rep. Pete Olson (TX22) last week introduced legislation to give local communities a voice in the decision making process on where to host Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs). Olson was joined by several local mayors who expressed concern over having a voice in where the children are located. The bill, H.R. 5138, the “Our Communities, Our Choice Act” will require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to hold a public hearing no sooner than 90 days after selecting potential locations. HHS must also consider input from State and local officials before issuing any grants to house these children. “This legislation will give a voice to the communities that will be most directly impacted by this border crisis,” Olson said. “Any city or town that chooses to care for these children is welcome to; my bill simply gives local communities a voice in a process being managed by the federal government. The mayors I have spoken to rightfully feel there should be an open process where residents and elected officials have an opportunity to weigh in on whether or not their community can afford to provide care for these children until they are returned to their home countries.” Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales, Jr. said, “Our hearts go out to these children and their families. As a local government leader, I want to help ensure that they are housed and protected in a safe, healthy environment. However, should the Federal Government contemplate a potential facility in our community, I also want to be sure that we have a say in
making a decision that is in the best interest of the children and the community, and that there isn’t any undue burden on our local taxpayers or services.” City of Fulshear Mayor Tommy Kuykendall stated, “Unfortunately, cities are on the front line of providing services to those who are crossing our borders illegally. We are required to balance our budgets every year with little room for unexpected expenditures. Community leaders should be informed about the possibility of housing unaccompanied alien minors, and be required to consent before Health and Human Services places them within or near a community. If city leaders have agreed to their placement within their jurisdiction, costs should not be borne by the local governments nor should our residents have to compromise their health, safety and security. As Mayor of the City of Fulshear, I support Congressman Pete Olson’s “Our Communities, Our Choice Act.” Simonton Mayor Daniel McJunkin said, “I am encouraged that Congressman Olson is leading the effort to protect the rights of taxpayers and cities in this way. That the leaders in our Federal Government previously sent signals that our southern border is open has created a truly tragic humanitarian crisis; one that could have been averted before it began had our President and DHS provided a proper immediate response. By becoming involved in this, Congressman Olson is sending a clear message to Washington that Cities will have a voice in this process and that they will not stand idly by to bear the brunt of the burden resolving this problem. I hope that everyone will support Congressman
Olson as he works to protect cities in Texas and across this nation.” Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen said, “As Mayor of a City that saw an influx of people coming into our City during and after Hurricane Ike, I saw firsthand what effect such an influx will have on our ability to take care of them as well as the effect it had on our already overcrowded schools. It needs to be our own decision on whether we have the capability of handling any such demands and not the Federal or State Government. I will be delivering a letter of full support from the Fort Bend Mayor & Council Association, which is made up of the 18 cities in Fort Bend County, next week in support of the “Our Communities, Our Choice Act” that Congressman Olson has introduced.” The high volume of children entering the U.S. through the Texas border has the federal government scrambling for locations to house them. The White House’s border security failure should not become the states’ and local communities’ burden. States and municipalities should not be forced by the federal government to house these children without a voice in the process. Current cosponsors of H.R. 5138 include: Reps. Mark Sanford (SC), Roger Williams (TX), Candice Miller (MI), Ted Poe (TX), Michael Burgess (TX), Tom Cotton (AR), Diane Black (TN), Sam Johnson (TX), Tim Walberg (MI), and Kenny Marchant (TX
In keeping with the standards that have earned the Show Me City a Scenic City designation, Missouri City staff launched a new signal box art project to promote City services and programs as well as highlight the work of talented young citizens. In April, Missouri City staff kicked off the project by placing a Quail Valley Golf Course promotional design at the intersection of El Dorado Boulevard and Murphy Road. Nine additional locations have been installed since then, painted by local Fort Bend ISD students from across the City. Students throughout the school district have already painted boxes at the following locations: Quail Valley Middle School: FM 1092 at Plantation Settlement Marshall High School: Texas Parkway at Buffalo Run Missouri City Middle School: Texas Parkway at 5th Street Hightower High School: Hurricane Lane at Trammel Fresno Elkins High School: Knights Court at SH6 Elkins High School: Thompson Ferry at Oilfield Road Elkins High School: Colonial Lakes at SH6 Water Park Elementary: Independence at Grand Road Armstrong Elementary: 5th Street at Independence Blvd. Designs are submitted by students to staff, and once the collages have been approved, they are printed by Leonetti Graphics and placed on one side of the box by staff. The City has plans to create promotional designs for the Edible Arbor Trail, Roane Park and Fire Station 3; and Thurgood
Painted boxes include one by Hightower High School students, left, at the Hurricane Lane and Trammel Fresno intersection, and Armstrong Elementary students, right, at 5th Street and Independence Boulevard. Marshall High School students have also submitted designs for the signal box at Texas Parkway and Buffalo Run Park. “Anything can be submitted. From a child’s crayon drawing, to a photograph, to a charcoal drawing. Leonetti has been great at converting any artwork into the larger artwork,” Missouri City GIS Specialist Penny Hornsby said. “There are eight new art projects coming in the near future.” Themed boxes planned by staff include a Juneteenth celebratory box, a military and Veterans appreciation box and others advertising nearby parks. As plans develop and become more concrete, staff will update the City website and social media sites to keep residents informed. “Our plans going forward are to create a web map where anyone interested in submitting designs can click on individual traffic signal points, see if it’s been taken and, if it hasn’t,
click a link where they can submit artwork,” Penny said. “We also want to create a story map to highlight each box, including a blurb about the artwork and its creator and what was their inspiration.” As plans for the future continue to develop and more and more boxes are identified for potential art displays, Staff will be rolling out a design submission process for residents to feature their own work. “Our main focus has been, and will be, that this is a platform for the community. We have so much talent here in the City, and this is an excellent and creative platform for citizens to show that off,” City Manager Ed Broussard said. “Staff began the program by approaching schools and asking them to submit art for boxes at intersections near them. Staff has plans in the future to expand the submission process and also highlight City facilities and programs.”
Unidentified gunmen kill Missouri City’s Donald Leonetti
By BARBARA FULENWIDER This past Thursday around 8:30 p.m. a high stakes poker game going on in a warehouse in Stafford was abruptly disrupted by two armed men who murdered one of the players and injured another, according to Stafford Police Lt. James Leedom. The murder victim was Donald Leonetti, 45, owner of Leonetti Graphics in Missouri City and a resident of that town. Chuck Olson, the organizer of the poker game, Mark Kolon (Classic Chevrolet), Don Kerstetter (Classic was wounded and taken to Chevrolet), Mayor Allen Owen (City of Missouri City). Memorial-Hermann Hospital. He was released from the hospital on Friday. “There were about 10 to Planning for the 2014 Fort Bend Chamber Challenge Golf Tour13 people there when our ofnament is well underway. This year’s premier tournament presented by Classic Chevrolet and the City of Missouri City will be held at Quail Valley Golf Course, Monday, October 27th beginning with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. “The Golf Tournament is one of our favorite events because it’s not just “Par for the Course” says the 2014 Chamber Challenge sponsor Don Kerstetter. The tournament will be played on the El Dorado course at the Quail Valley Golf Course and set up in a scramble format. The day promises to be packed with fun and excitement for all players with awards ranging from first place teams to hole-in-one! Players will be well taken care of with complimentary snacks and libations. You won’t want to miss out on the live auction dinner as a part of the post-tournament festivities held at the fabulous City Centre at Quail Valley. There are opportunities for networking and corporate sponsorships from tee-tumblers, auction items, golf tees, hole sponsors and business showcases available. Golfers and non-golfers alike are welcome. Corporate teams and individuals are invited to participate for $800 and $200 respectively. To register online visit our website at www.FortBendChamber.com. If you need more information about the 2014 Fort Bend Chamber Challenge contact Matthew Ferraro at 281-491-0277 or matthew@fortbendcc.org.
2014 Fort Bend Chamber Challenge
Signal Box Art Project features work created by area art students
Leonetti ficers arrived,” Leedom said. “During the poker game, the people there got hijacked by two black males armed with shotguns.” He went on to say that the police investigators found the shotguns odd because “normally, such armed
suspects use handguns.” Leedom said the two suspects drove away from the crime scene in a tan or gold 2000 model Buick La Sabre. “It’s our understanding there were no license plates on the car so we don’t know if it was stolen or not,” the lieutenant said. The poker game occurred in the warehouse once a week four or five times, Leedom said. “We found several thousand bucks laying around. People who were hosting this game said there was anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000 there. “Such a game becomes illegal when the house starts taking a cut. We aren’t sure
yet if this was a legal or illegal game,” the lieutenant said. Police suspect the slaying was an inside job. Leedom said the invitation only poker game was likely interrupted by someone who knew the time and place of the game. The deceased Leonetti was born in Houston and grew up in the Houston and Missouri City area. He attended St. Christopher Catholic School, Lewis Elementary and Dulles High School. He founded and owned Leonetti Graphics for 25 years and is survived by his wife, two children, grandparents, mother, sister, aunt, uncle and and numerous In-laws. Obituary, Page 3 With over 100 unique vendors, the 14th Annual Sugar Plum Market is sure to be a one-stop holiday shopping event. Presented by the Fort Bend Junior Service League and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, this year’s “Under the Mistletoe” Market will be at the Stafford Center Friday, Nov. 7th from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Front Row: Catherine Kubala, Sugar Plum Market Co-Chair; Lauren Worsham, Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors; Teena Caldwell, Twenty-Two Fifty Interiors; and Jenny Nelson, Sugar Plum Market Vendor Co-Chair. Back Row: Susanne Hiegel, Sugar Plum Market Co-Chair; Cindy Dempster, FBJSL Past President; Sherri Ebarb, Sugar Plum Market Co-Chair; and Brigit Engleman, Sugar Plum Market Vendor Co-Chair.