Fort Bend Independent 082218

VOL 11 No. 34

email: editor@ independent.com

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2018

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

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

AccessHealth Heart of Fort Bend event honors Special Volunteers

The “Show Me City” and METRO will officially launch a new MCTX Community Connector bus service within City limits on Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Community Center in the City Hall Complex, 1522 Texas Pkwy. Image courtesy of Missouri City. See Story on Page 3.

Slew of candidates enter Missouri City City Council election

By SESHADRI KUMAR Missouri City’s upcoming City Council election has taken a dramatic twist with the filing for mayor by incumbent Mayor protem and District A Councilwoman Yolanda Ford.

She joined the already crowded list of candidates on the last day of filing. Filings closed Monday at 5 p.m.

All three incumbents, Mayor Allen Owen and At-Large Councilmen Jerry Wyatt and Chris Preston are seeking reelection and all of them have drawn opponents.

Election for District seats will be held next year.

Besides Ford, Fred G. Taylor has also filed for mayor.

Two years ago, Taylor ran against Owen. Taylor lost with 2,089 votes to Owen’s 3,059 votes.

Owen was elected to the

Mayoral position on May 7, 1994. Prior to that time he was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for five years and a City Council member for eight years, including serving as mayor pro tem.

Jerry Wyatt was elected to the City Council, at large position #1, on May 2, 1998. Since that time, he has continued to win re-election to that position.

Previously he served as mayor pro-tem in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 to May 2014. In his previous service to the city, Wyatt was a Councilmember from April 6, 1981 to May 7, 1994.

In 2016, Pernell Davis opposed Wyatt. Wyatt received 3,033 votes and Davis 1,928 votes.

Now, Vashaundra Edwards

By SESHADRI KUMAR Sugar Land’s Redistricting Advisory Committee has unanimously approved a recommendation for revised single-member City Council districts in Sugar Land.

The recommendation was presented to City Council on Aug. 21.

City Council is scheduled to hold a workshop on Aug. 28 to discuss the committee’s recommendations.

The process will include a public hearing on Sept. 4 to provide citizens an opportunity to share comments.

The plan recommended by the redistricting committee places Greatwood and Riverpark in District 4 and New Territory in District 2. Telfair stays in Dist. 2 while Riverpark is moved from Dist. 2 to 4.

Similarly, Dist. 1 takes Sugar Lakes from Dist. 2 and District 3 incorporates Sugar Creek from Dist. 2.

One of the proposed plans virtually transferred Dist. 2 areas to Dist.4, which meant current Councilmember Carol McCutcheon would have almost entirely new voters in her district.

That plan was abandoned after discussion.

Also, plans incorporating both Greatwood and New Territory, the newly annexed areas could not be sustained.

At the last meeting, a large number of New Territory residents showed strong

opposition to any plan that would split the New Territory neighborhoods.

Incumbent Dist.

2 Councilmember Bridgette Yeung will be term-limited and will not seek re-election. Incumbent Councilmember Amy Mitchell is running for County court-atlaw judge.

The incumbent Dist. 1 Councilman Steve Porter will retain all his existing area and gets adidtional areas from Dist.

2.

Dist. 4 is likely to have the maximum change in its constituency. Farha Ahmed, Dist. 4 resident pointed out that the strength of Asian voters would be drastically reduced in the proposed plan.

The redistricting website will also include the committee’s recommendation and future City Council meeting dates and times.

“As part of this open, transparent process, the public is invited to attend the meetings to learn more,” said Executive Director for Special Projects Jim Callaway.

“We have created a project website with a variety of educational resources to help our residents better understand the process. There will also be opportunities to share comments with City Council. Redistricting has no impact on school district boundaries or precinct voting for county, state and federal elections. Only the city’s single-

Front row (from left to right): Holly Kaminga, Beth Wolf; Back row (from left to right): Nell Ciancarelli, Perri D’Armond, Jennifer Jameson, Cindy Reaves, Betty Baitland, David Timmermeyer, has filed for Wyatt’s seat.

Ann Smith, Gary Pearson.

Chris Preston was elected The event will be held on Under the leadership of co- committees, volunteered their to the City Council, at large Saturday, October 13th at 6:30, time, and given their support chairs Holly Kaminga, Brenda position #2, on May 10, 2014. in the Infi nity Room at Safari to every facet of the event.

Patton and Beth Wolf, the He defeated then incumbent Texas Ranch.

Their collective knowledge committee is putting together Danny Nguyen.

The music will be provided In 2016, Preston got two a wonderful evening, moving of the people and the history by “Double Vision”, a band of Fort Bend County has from a Thursday evening opponents, Susan Soto and comprised of Houston based been an invaluable asset to fundraiser to a Saturday evening Cynthia Gary. physicians and dentists, who AccessHealth. gala.

Preston received 1,840 votes, also make great music.

“I have been a part of this Access Health is pleased to while Gary and Soto got 1,548 “On behalf of the committee event since year one and I am honor three outstanding citizens and 1,531 votes, respectively. and the board of directors I want very excited that we are moving of Fort Bend County: Ann In the runoff election, Preston to thank those who have already to a Saturday evening this year Smith, Dr. Betty Baitland, and beat Gary by a margin of 13 with live music and even more joined with us and encourage Nell Ciancarelli. votes. excited that we will be honoring those of you who haven’t to Each one of these women has Now, three candidates have these three dynamic ladies who consider supporting this event,” served Fort Bend County for filed for Preston’s seat. They are have supported us so much along said Brenda Patton. over forty years in various civic, Susan Soto, Angie Wierzbicki AccessHealth provides the way,” said Holly Kaminga. charitable, and professional and Buddy Snyder. integrated healthcare services “This event has grown year roles.

Smith is the owner of The general election will be without regard to income or after year, and we are hopeful Pamela Printing. held on Tuesday, November 6, circumstance to improve the that with the move to a Saturday Baitland served as 2018.

The terms of office for these Superintendent of Fort Bend night, that momentum will quality of life in Fort Bend continue to build,” said Beth County. positions are two years from ISD. AccessHealth is a United Way Wolf.

Ciancarelli was the November 2018 to November agency, and the main Center in “With the projected Community Relations Manager 2020. population growth in our county, Richmond is recognized as a at Nalco-Champion.

As community leaders, access to quality, affordable Patient-Centered Medical Home these ladies clearly realize the healthcare will continue to be by the National Committee for importance of AccessHealth in paramount. We hope everyone Quality Assurance.

For more about Heart of Fort will join us for an exciting time Fort Bend County.

They became volunteers for while raising funds to provide Bend sponsorship opportunities member Council districts will be the annual Heart of Fort Bend healthcare for our community’s contact Cindy Reaves at affected.” gala several years ago. Since low-income and uninsured creaves@myaccesshealth.org.

The committee was appointed then, they have served on families and individuals.”

by City Council in June to make a recommendation on a redistricting plan for City Council’s consideration. City Council will ultimately decide The Texas Department of to TXDoT for the One-Way Way Pairs Project; however, which redistricting plan to on May 22, 2015 TXDoT filed Transportation has agreed to Pairs Project. approve. its petition for condemnation The election was initiated pay the City of Rosenberg The annexation of Greatwood against the City of Rosenberg. under a City Charter provision, almost $1 million for nearly 3 and New Territory increased the On July 16, 2018, City which allowed citizens to acres of City-owned property city’s population, requiring the staff negotiated a settlement of petition for a Special Election. condemned by the state that is city’s four single-member City $975,000 with TXDoT. Shortly after the Special being used in the One Way Pairs Council districts to be adjusted.

Each party agreed to pay their Election, another citizen petition Single-member Council Project. own legal fees. The City will was presented, and accepted, by TxDoT sued the City of districts must be of substantially net about $900,000. the Rosenberg City Council at Rosenberg for a 2.8 acre parcel equal population with a This is about ¾ of the that time. of land to be used as a crossover maximum deviation no greater original cost that the City spent That petition mandated that between Louise Street and than 10 percent between the most to obtain the property. TXDoT no City-owned property was Damon Street. populated and least populated had originally only offered to to be sold, traded, or donated In 2014, Rosenberg residents council member district. compensate the city $624,000. for the purpose of the Onevoted not to donate this property Sugar Land’s citizen redistricting committee included Chairman Randy Garbs, Councilmember Himesh Gandhi, Tina Gibson, Dr. Mary Harrell, Russell Jones, Louis Missouri City Police are Manager Francisco Reyes and team conducted an extensive Manuel, Apurva Parikh, Sapana investigating a shooting incident Fedencio Janas. search of the building and no Patel and Councilmember at the Ben E. Keith Foods Reyes died on the scene additional suspects or victims Bridget Yeung.

Distribution Center at 2:11 a.m. and Janas is being treated at were discovered.”

Committee meetings were Monday, with two fatalities and Southwest Memorial Hospital “This is the first active held from June 25 to Aug. one injury. shooter situation Missouri City for a gunshot wound to his leg.

14. The committee’s work “When the call came in to has encountered and we want The suspect, identified by was guided by outside legal police as employee Kristine the City’s Dispatch center, to assure the public that the counsel, state and federal law Peralez, shot two other our officers quickly responded shooting did not affect any area and guidelines adopted by City employees at the facility. with assistance from area law- outside of the Ben E. Keith Council.

Peralez was apprehended enforcement agencies who facility,” Berezin said.

At-large City Council and transported to Memorial helped secure the scene,” Chief Ben E. Keith is a national members will not be affected Hermann to be treated for a Mike Berezin said, adding that distributor that has operated its by redistricting proposals, and gunshot wound to her upper about 20 to 25 employees were Gulf Coast division in Missouri redistricting decisions will have body. She later died as a result in the facility at the time of the City’s Beltway Crossing no impact on decisions regarding of her injury.

Business Park since 2013. incident. land use or any city services.

“Subsequently, a SWAT The two victims were

Sugar Land’s redistricting committee recommends a plan

TXDoT agrees to pay City of Rosenberg $975,000 to settle land condemnation lawsuit

Two dead in shooting at Missouri City distribution center

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018

NEWS

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office earns award for Best Practices

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office staff display the award with County Judge Bob Hebert.

In recognition, the Texas destruction, have increased Forty years of constant use and outdated systems in the Association of Counties (TAC) usable space by 25 percent, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s has given a 2018 County Best allows for faster and more Office evidence/property Practices Award to the Fort accurate evidence retrieval and room prompted then newly- Bend County Sheriff’s Office created a safer environment for elected County Sheriff Troy for its evidence/property room employees.”

Enhancements include Nehls to task Lt. David Clary modernization.

The process of research, new security gates, barcode with bringing it up to modern planning and execution took a scanners, Wi-Fi and mobile standards.

Renovations have not only little over a year. “The effects laptops, LED lighting, epoxy brought it up to code, but were immediately apparent,” flooring, dust-free shelving and also significantly improved said Maj. Chad Norvell of the new organizational signage.

“I’m encouraged by the its efficiency and safety. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s concerted effort of Fort Bend efficiencies not only have Office.

“The improvements, County’s officials and staff to improved law enforcement but along with proper evidence invest the time and resources it has saved local tax dollars. necessary to improve their law

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

enforcement division and run an efficient organization,” said TAC Executive Director Gene Terry.

Fort Bend County was one of eight Texas counties selected to receive a TAC 2018 County Best Practices Award.

The biennial program recognizes the efforts of county leaders in implementing innovative, scalable and replicable solutions to challenges facing local government throughout Texas.

Areas of focus include financial and general management, public safety and corrections, health and human services, technology, community improvements and other county-related responsibilities.

TAC unites, supports and provides services to Texas counties so they can more effectively serve their local communities.

“I want to thank TAC for this great recognition. We are devoted to continue making efforts that will better the Sheriff’s Office and serve our community,” said Sheriff Troy Nehls.

Fort Bend Republican Women feature Literacy Council in September meeting

Kelli Metzenthin, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County; Gallery Furniture General Manager Lloyd Diaz; Kim Icenhower, Co-Vice President of Programs; and Tina Gibson, President of Fort Bend Republican Women PAC. Fort Bend Republican Women will hold a membership meeting on Monday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. at Gallery Furniture Atrium, 7227 West Grand Parkway South, Richmond, TX 77407. Fort Bend RW welcomes all elected fficials and those who are candidates on the November 7th ballot.

Kelli Metzenthin, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, and other representatives will speak on behalf of the Literacy Council and share important stories about how literacy is changing lives in Fort Bend County and what the community can do to support literacy programs.

Kelli Metzenthin has lived in Fort Bend County more than 35 years, and she is an active community volunteer. She brings over 22 years of experience in business financials, fundraising and non-profit development and has served in her current position for more than five years.

One of the many community programs that Texas Federation of Republican Women and National Federation of Republican Women supports is the Barbara Bush Literacy Library Project.

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy was founded by our former first lady on March 6, 1989. Since that time the foundation has awarded nearly $20 million to build or expand over six hundred family literacy programs in forty-seven states.

“Local TFRW clubs are encouraged to donate at least ten (10) books to a local library, school, shelters, etc., in support of this program,” said Tina Gibson, President of Fort Bend Republican Women. “ Fort Bend RW is honored to participate in literacy programs to improve the quality of life in our community.”

The cost for lunch is $15 and please RSVP to Marilyn Davis at MarilynDavis17@gmail.com by Friday, September 21.

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018 • Page 3

NEWS Area Democrat honored by Texas Senator Missouri

Area Democrat Rodney Griffin was honored for Party Service by a Senate Resolution by local Texas Senator Boris Miles (D). The reoslution read; “Resolved, That Rodney L. Griffin be honored for his dedicated service as a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee and that he be extended sincere best wishes for the future.”

Griffin said had given one half century and counting to the Democrati Party. “I

Griffin thank Senator miles and the

senate for this recognition. I equally thank Senate District Chair Paula Bowden for her public recognition of my service and many more - on to November,” Griffin said.

Griffin is the longest serving Fort Bend resident on the State Democratic Executive Committee, representing Fort Bend and Harris counties.

He was a White House and NBC guest during the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library.

30 years in prison for fraudulent business loan schemes

Muhammad Haroon Rashid was sentenced to 30 years in prison on August 10, 2018 by 458th District Court Judge Kenneth Cannata for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – and Rashid wasn’t even there.

The 62-year old Houston man plead guilty in court on April 3, 2018, but failed to appear at a later court date in June.

Rashid’s bond was forfeited and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The case was then reset for the sentencing hearing on August 10th during which the Court proceeded in Rashid’s absence.

According to Fort Bend’s Chief Economic Crime Prosecutor, W. Scott Carpenter, Texas law authorized the legal proceeding to continue in Rashid’s absence because he appeared initially for the plea, through a process called “in absentia.”

Gerald Dale Hendrix, also from Houston – and Rashid’s partner in crime, appeared for all court dates and was sentenced to six years in prison.

The evidence revealed that Rashid and Hendrix preyed on the business community from 2003 to 2013 through a series of deceitful schemes.

The schemes involved the defendants promising business loans or the sale of collector’s grade antique bonds for exorbitant sums of

Rashid money, if the victims paid the up-front expenses associated with the transactions.

Eighteen victims relied on Hendrix’s promises and transferred more than 5 million dollars to Rashid.

Rashid spent the money on a lavish lifestyle in Mexico City; leasing hotel suites for months on end, and paying some of the funds to Hendrix and other associates.

When Rashid and Hendrix’s promises to return the expense money did not materialize, the victims filed civil lawsuits.

Some reported the matter to the Sugar Land Police Department, kicking off an investigation that revealed 17 other victims being defrauded throughout the United States during this ten-year period.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Cannata commented on the complete lack of remorse and assessed the maximum $10,000 fine and over $4,000,000 in restitution against Rashid.

The defendant’s formal sentencing has been delayed

Hendrix pending his arrest. He is believed to be in Miami, Florida.

“This prosecution demonstrates the reach of Texas law to protect innocent victims not only in Fort Bend County, but in other counties and states, who rely upon ostensibly honest business partners and are defrauded,” said Carpenter.

“This prosecution also shows the eagerness of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute financial crimes,” said District Attorney John Healey, “and Carpenter enjoys few things more than to give criminals an appropriate dose of justice.”

Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is a firstdegree felony punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Attorney Jeff Deason represented Hendrix.

Rashid’s attorney withdrew from the case after Rashid failed to appear in June.

City Commuter bus service marks mobility milestone

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City and METRO will officially launch a new MCTX Community Connector bus service within City limits on Monday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Community Center in the City Hall Complex, 1522 Texas Pkwy.

The public is invited to participate in this mobility milestone event and City staff along with partners from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) will be on-hand to provide details on the transportation initiative.

The event will also feature remarks from City and METRO officials, ceremonial rides on the new buses, and handouts with information on the new service, including fares, routes and more.

On that day Metro will put a green and white bus that boldly states it belongs in Missouri City on the road to run anywhere in its travel zone.

That service zone will include rides to jobs, grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, the new Houston Community College Missouri City campus and METRO’s local bus network.

This on-demand service allows individuals to travel anywhere within a zone, seven days a week, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., all for $1.25.

METRO’s fare policy will be applicable to the Missouri City Community Connector

service. Passengers using a METRO Q Fare Card will pay $1.25 for the initial boarding and can make unlimited boardings in any direction within a three-hour time period.

All other options that fall under METRO’s fare policy, including the “free ride” 70+ card and Day Passes, will be accepted as METRO fare.

Half-price rides are available for students and seniors with a discount METRO Q Fare Card or METRO Day Pass.

While no areas outside of City limits will be serviced, the buses will connect with METRO Routes 63 Fondren, 98 Briargate, and 170 Missouri City / TMC. City staff and METRO met and proposed a series of stops within a zone; maps outlining these areas will be shared at the Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony and posted on the citizens’ communications tools and in City facilities afterward. The transit service will be rolled out in phases with the first phase starting on Aug. 27; eventually all City areas will be incorporated into the service plan.

The bus accommodates 12 passengers and can fit two wheelchairs. A ride in the transit zone will cost passengers $1.25 and students and seniors will get a reduced rate.

The community connector will run seven days a week. If need be, the transit zone will

make changes in the transit zone based on user feedback and the location of passengers.

The buses will not operate in a traditional fixed route pattern. If a bus were to enter a subdivision, it would be due to a service request within the neighborhood.

The Missouri City and METRO communications teams put together the branding of the bus.

The primary base color of green was chosen because it is also the city’s logo color. The images represent scenic areas of the city.

The METRO bus service came about as part of the payment the city sends to the transit authority.

The operational cost of the service, estimated at an annualized variable cost of $500,000, will be paid for by METRO. One cent of Missouri City residents’ sales tax currently goes to METRO for public transportation, including the new Community Connector service.

METRO currently offers the Community Connector option in only one other Houstonarea community and Missouri City is the first community in Fort Bend County to offer this custom service.

The Missouri City buses will feature the “Show Me City”-themed design in the image. METRO and MCTX design teams collaborated on the customized wrap.

Mike Matson shares Ocean Adventures at Cullinan Park Conservancy Picnic Oct. 19

Muse Search + Inspire supports Literacy Council of Fort Bend County

Kevin Rogers, left, Muse Search + Inspire; Kelli Metzenthin, Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, Executive Director.

Kevin Rogers, Chief Inspiration Officer of Muse Search + Inspire visits the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County to deliver a surprise $500 contribution. The contribution will help the agency’s GED program that will begin classes on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at the Literacy Council’s Sugar Land Learning Center. GED classes run every Tuesday and Thursday, from 1-4pm or 6-9pm, through the end of May 2019. Registration for GED class is still open. For more information on classes, contact Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, at 281-240-8181, read@ftbendliteracy. org. Since 1987, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County has been Changing Lives Through Literacy. The mission of the Literacy Council is to improve family, community and professional lives through adult literacy education. The Literacy Council provides several programs for its students: Basic Literacy, English as a Second Language, GED Preparation, U.S. Citizenship Preparation, Computer Skills and Workforce Readiness.

Two-time Guinness World Records® holder Mike Matson will share his experiences rowing across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at a fundraiser benefitting Cullinan Park 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19.

Matson is the keynote speaker for the 2nd annual Cullinan Park Conservancy “Picnic for the Park” event that will be held in the auditorium of River Pointe Church, 5000 Ransom Road.

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land is the presenting sponsor.

“I’ll be telling the stories of both of my rows,” said Matson.

“The first one, rowing across the Atlantic was successful.

The second, and I think more interesting one, was my recent row across the Pacific, which ended in our being rescued by a container ship.”

The Houston native made history skippering a three-man rowboat more than 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. He and his crew became the first Texans and the first triplecrewed row boat to finish the 2016 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, billed as the “World’s Toughest Row.” Always up for a challenge

and determined to make a difference in the world, Matson began a second row in June.

He and Brian Krauskopf, who rowed across the Atlantic with him, entered The Great Pacific Race.

They were determined to cross the 3,000 miles from Monterey, California to Hawaii in 40 days. Three days into the race their custommade boat, the Anne, capsized.

Matson was thrown into the water. Though the boat was righted, Matson began to experience life-threatening dehydration.

A container ship began rescue operations and the race had to be scrubbed.

Both trips taught Matson a number of life lessons that he shares with his audiences.

“When you are out there, you are cut off from technology,” Matson said.

“There’s no social media, no television. You are alone with your thoughts. It re-centers you. You learn to trust the people you are with and trust in your friendships. You also learn that you are never alone.

There are always people there to take care of you and pray

for you.”

His message is a simple one that he hopes encourages people to persevere and live an adventurous life.

“Just one stroke at a time,” Matson said. “If you start out thinking ‘I’m going to row all the way across the Atlantic’ you’ll be overwhelmed. If you think ‘I’ll just row 40 miles today and maybe 20 more tomorrow,’ you will be across that ocean in no time.”

Matson’s boat will be on display during the luncheon.

Plus, the conservancy will present Ann Hamilton with the Nina Cullinan Award, given to a person instrumental in promoting and enhancing the beauty of the park.

Winners of the annual Cullinan Park Conservancy Photo Contest, underwritten

by Johnson Development, also will be announced.

Tickets are $50-$75 and can be purchased online at https://www. cullinanparkconservancy.org/ picnic-for-the-park.

Proceeds will go toward improvements for the 754acre Joseph S. and Lucie H. Cullinan Park in Sugar Land.

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018

MIKE’S MONOLOGUE

High & low

By MICHAEL GRANTO One of the other things that I had to learn about playing on our poker group is that the game isn’t necessarily over when it’s over. Or, more accurately, the game isn’t over when I THINK it’s over.

Sometimes, after certain games, (and I haven’t exactly figured out HOW this is determined) Dave, or Tom, or Bill, will call out “High-low.”

Now, what this means is that there’s an extra step added to the game.

The extra step is this: you get to bet on who has the high hand, AND on who has the low hand.

Figuring out the high hand is pretty much standard poker fare: royal flushes beat about everything (except five of a kind) four of a kind beats three of a kind, three of a kind beats two pairs, and so on. There’s a standard way to do it, and everyone, even poker novices like me, knows it, or has at least a passing familiarity with it.

Figuring out the low hand is different. To have a low hand, you have to have five cards in your hand with the lowest value possible. Now, you figure out the value of your hand by counting the spots on the cards.

The lowest possible hand is 6-4-3-2-A of any suit. If you

Granto count the spots, you’ll find there are 16 (6+4+3+2+1=16.)

For some arcane reason, this is referred to as a “sixty-four.”

I have tried to find out why this is so, but after the first couple of times I asked, I noticed that I got looked at as though I was slightly mentally challenged.

The look that says, “Nice guy, but a little slow.” I decided that it must be because the first two card are a 6 and a 4; 64.

It cannot be 6-4-3-2-A of any one suit, because that’s a flush, and as such is a high value hand. This does sort of take the glow off it, doesn’t it?

It cannot be something like 3+2+2+2+2, because that’s four of a kind, a pretty good hand, even if the four of a kind is deuces. Of course, nobody’s going to give you good odds on four deuces being the winning hand.

It cannot be 6+5+4+3+2 because that’s a straight, or a straight flush if they’re all one suit, and in either case, it’s a

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Cause No.18-CPR-031914 Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Maria Guadalupe Villagomez, Deceased were issued on July 24, 2018 in Cause No. 18-CPR-031914, pending in County Court at Law No. 5 of Fort Bend County, Texas to Ivy Nicole Cantu, 9619 Emnora Lane, Houston, Texas 77080.

Claims may be mailed to the Executor in care of Kimberly D. Moss, 3 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Suite 100, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.

All persons having claims against this estate are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

If you have a secured claim against the estate, you must present your claim to the Executor at the address listed above.

Kimberly D. Moss Attorney 3 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Suite 100, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE ******* OPENING DATE OF August 30, 2018 AT 2:00 p.m. ******* Request for Proposals for the provision of Golf Course Evaluation Services Commodity Code: 988-31, 918-32, 918-06 Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office - RFP No. 18-240 Golf Course Evaluation Services 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Until final award of the contract, the City 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 City. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

value hand, a high value hand in the case of the straight flush. Try as you might, you’re not going to get by with that.

It also cannot be any hand with any one of the cards represented twice; 6+4+4+2+1 might seem like a candidate, but two fours is a pair, and a pair is a value hand, just not usually a winning hand.

The way it works is this: after all the betting is done, one of the senior guys will call out, “Highlow; one for high, two for low, and three for greedy.” Players take a few chips, and hold them under the table. When everyone is ready, players slap their chips down on the table, and reveal their choices.

One chip means you’re betting you have the high hand; two chips means you’re betting you have the low hand; three chips means you think you have it both ways. I’m still not clear on the rules for that, but it has something to do with you definitely beating everyone, not having anyone tie you. I don’t believe I have seen it done more than once, and I don’t believe I will ever try it.

So, why go through all that bother? Well, let’s look at a test case: say there are six players.

Five of them slap down one chip, meaning each thinks he or she has the highest hand.

You, being a poker genius, and unafraid of feats of derring-do, slap down two chips, meaning you are declaring you have the lowest hand.

Well, after the five players who have declared they are the most macho of the macho get through with their bloodletting, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Willow Creek Farms II, Section 5, 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 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. for the adoption of “An Order of the Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas Imposing Thru Trucks Restriction on Charles Lane in Precinct 3 and Imposing a Criminal Penalty for violation of This Order”; and the acceptance of the related traffic control plan for Eldridge Park Village Subdivision for the placement of “No Thru Trucks” signs pursuant to the Order, in accordance with Chapter 251, Subchapter E, Texas Transportation Code Sections 251.151 – 251.161, 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 City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE OPENING DATE OF August 29, 2018 AT 2:00 p.m.

IFB # 19-308 Annual Contract for City-wide Fuel Services IFB’s may be obtained from the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) at http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp 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 potentially misdirected may be disqualified. Responses must be received on before August 29, 2018 by 2:00 p.m.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: None.

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.

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

12551 Emily Court, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor

www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745

Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 12551, Emily Court, Texas 77478.

Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on June 11,2018 by the 240th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause# 17-DCV -246877 in favor of the plaintiff- MISSION GLEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, recovered judgment amount for the sum of $9,018.03 ++++costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.

I have levied on June 11, 2018 and will offer for sale on the day of September 4, 2018 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)- NANCY GARCIA had of in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; Legal Description: LOT ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (122), IN BLOCK EIGHT (8) OF THE REPLAT OF MISSION GLEN, SECTION ONE (1), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 574/A AND 574/B, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 15414 TOWN GREEN DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS TERMS: CASH TIME: SALE TO BE HELD AT OR ABOUT 10:00 A.M. PLACE: 301 JACKSON ST., WILLIAM TRAVIS BUILDING, 1ST FLOOR MEETING ROOM, RICHMOND TEXAS 77469.

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

you, my friend, end up with half the pot! Yes! That pitiful little collection of no-value cards just got you half the pot!

That’s like a meerkat besting a leopard!

Now, it took me a while to get the hang of it, but there are some games in which my little meerkat sixty-four actually got me a few shekels. Probably the closest I will ever get to feeling like Mel Brooks when he said, in History of The World Part 1, “It’s good to be the king.”

I used to work with a guy who got an $8,000 annual bonus. This, of course, necessitated two things: first, actually cashing the check, for reasons which will soon become apparent, and second, buying his peers enough alcohol to render them liable for DUIs on the drive home.

He had no qualms about the lateness of the hour of his arrival home. His wife was asleep, so he bounded into the bedroom, and slapped her derriere with a huge was of twenty and fifty dollar bills, which woke her up, as he shouted joyously, “Wake up, woman, you’re married to a rich man!”

Well, I haven’t had to do that to my wife, Barbara, just yet.

Prospects don’t look good in the near term, either.

Somewhere up there, in that great casino in the sky, there’s a bunch of old poker graybeards, likely let by Doyle Brunson, looking down in mild disgust.

Doyle as some might know, is a legend in poker, and greatly responsible for generating the interest leading to its current popularity.

I can see him looking over

the tops of his glasses, frowning at me, saying, “Look here, boy; nothing personal, but don’t bother us any more until y’all are playing real poker.”

At which point he pushes several hundred thousand dollars’ worth of chips into the pot, which makes everyone else raise their eyebrows and gasp a bit.

They don’t know he’s got a three and four deuces.

(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.)

SMSD gets grade B from TEA

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Stafford Municiple School District (SMSD) got an overall rating of B on the Texas Education Agency’s 2018 accountability ratings. Three B’s and 2 C’s made the rating a B. The TEA’s A-F Accountability Listing added targets to four of the district’s six schools.

They are the elementary school, intermediate, middle and high school.

The district scored 77 for a C in Student Achievement.

The component scores in that category were 44 in STAAR (state of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, the state’s student testing program); 55 in college, career and military readiness, and 92.9 in the graduation rate. Scaled scores were 75, 83 and 70.

School Progress earned the district an 85 for a B. The component score in that second category was 68 in academic growth and 50 in relative performance. Scaled scores in this area were 76 and 85. In the third rating of Closing the Gaps the scaled score of 82 got the district another B. The STAAR performance data table for SMSD shows that 73 percent of the district’s students achieved the standard or above in all subjects. Asians topped the list in standard or above with 88% followed closely by two or more races with 87%. The third highest race to be at standard or above in all subjects were American Indians at 76% followed by whites, 74%, African-Americans, 73%, and Hispanics, 71%.

Seventy-one percent of economically disadvantaged students in SMSD schools met the standards or topped them.

Total tests taken were 5,894 and were in reading, math,

English language, science, writing and social studies. The tests differ from year to year in the various grade levels.

In English Language/reading 68% of all Stafford MSD students achieved the standard or above in that category. Two or more races had the highest rating in that category with 87% followed by Asian students with 82%. African-Americans were third with 69%, followed

by Hispanics, 65%, and whites, 64%. Total tests taken in this category were 2,260.

In math, SMSD students who took the tests and met the standard or above totaled 83%. Two or more races had the highest percentage on the standard or above with 93 followed by Asians with 92%, whites and Hispanics at 83% and African-Americans at 80%.

Sixty percent of those who took the writing test achieved the standard or above level.

Sixty-two percent were African-Americans who made the cut and were followed by Hispanics at 55%.

Asians aced the science tests with 95% in the standard or above category. They were followed by 76% of AfricanAmericans and 68% of Hispanics who tested in science. The percentage of SMSD students who took the math tests was 74.

Seventy-three percent of all SMSD students took the Social Studies tests and again Asians met the standard or above with 91%. They were followed by African-Americans with 75% and Hispanics, 68%. Only 496 students took the social studies test.

Texas Education Agency’s 2018 College, Career and Military Readiness Data Table shows that SMSD graduated a total of 231 students in that category and met the Texas Suc-

cess Initiative criteria in both English Language/Reading and Math. Seventy-seven or 33% received credit and graduated.

Out of 231 graduates, 118 met the criteria for at least one indicator. Twenty-four met the Texas Success Initiative criteria, 3 the ACT criteria, and 96 the SAT criteria. Ten students earned credit for a college prep course.

In math, 94 met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) criteria for at least one indicator; 34 met the TSI assessment criteria; 3, the ACT criteria; 54, SAT criteria, and 10, earned credit for a college prep course.

Eighteen met the criterion score on the AP/IB exam in any subject and 71 earned dual course credits of at least three hours in English Language or math or 9 hours in any subject.

The 106 graduates or 46% in Industry Based Certifications met at least one criteria for credits. The criteria is earning an associate’s degree while in high school, graduating with a completed IEP and workforce readiness, joining U.S. armed forces. Twenty credits were earned.

With a four-year graduation rate the number of graduated students in the class of 201617 were 227 out of a class of 250. Asians had a rate of 94.7% with 18 graduates out of 19 in their class. African-American students followed with 107 graduates out of 110 in their race and 97 Hispanics graduated out of 113 in that race.

The annual dropout rate for SMSD in the 2016-17 year for grades 9-12 was 16 out of all the students which totaled 1,107. At that time there were 488 African-American students enrolled in SMSD, 486 Hispanics, 78 Asians and 35 whites.

Yoga for Kids Demonstration at Sugar Land Branch Library The Youth Services department at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will present an introductory class, “Kids Yoga,” for children in grades K through 5, on Saturday, September 1, beginning at 10:30 am, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.

Ashley Schmidt, a registered yoga instructor, will present a basic introduction and demonstration of this low-impact form of physical exercise and meditation that can be enjoyed by kids just as much as by adults.

Children attending the program will learn basic movements and how to stay physically fit with regular exercise.

Those attending this program should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers, and should bring a bottle of water and a yoga mat if one is available.

“Yoga allows us to connect our physical, mental, emotional, and energetic bodies so that we feel grounded and calm as we move through our day,” says

Schmidt, who teaches yoga in Richmond and has logged 200 hours as a registered yoga instructor.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Sugar Land Branch Library at 281-238-2140 or the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018 • Page 5

NEWS

Fort Bend ISD gets a ‘B’ in TEA accountability rating

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Some rough water directly hit and was one reason why Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) received B’s on its accountability ratings this year from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Last year’s ratings were provisional because it was the first time the state’s schools used STAAR, which is an acronym standing for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness -- the state’s student testing program. This year the ratings were not provisional.

Fort Bend ISD’s B was given because the district includes at least one campus which received a rating of “Improvement Required” and also because it was directly affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The district was judged in three categories -- Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps.

Categories in the overall ratings include STAAR performance, college, career and military readiness and graduation rate. School Progress includes academic growth and relative performance and there were no areas in the third, which was Closing the Gaps.

Fort Bend ISD is Texas’ seventh largest district and has 19 elementary schools out of a total of 51 that TEA gave “added target” regarding Closing the Gaps. The agency also added 6 middle schools out of a total of 14 and 7 high schools out of 11 total that a TEA also said needs help Closing the Gaps.

District Grade Rating scores for schools that were in the top bracket of the 90s are Sullivan, Austin Parkway, Barrington Place, Brazos Bend, Madden, Colony Meadows, Commonwealth, Cornerstone, Jan Schiff, Oakland, Rita Drabek, Scanlan Oaks, Settlers Way, Sienna Crossing, Sugar Mill and Walker Station.

In Student Achievement 10 elementary schools out of 51 rated highest. They are Sullivan, Austin Parkway, Barrington Place, Brazos Bend, Madden, Colony Bend, Colony Meadows, Commonwealth, Cornerstone and Leonetti.

Sevene schools were rated between 90 and 100. Those schools are Sullivan, Austin Parkway, Meadows, Commonwealth, Cornerstone, Sienna Crossing and Walker Station. No FBISD elemen-

tary school scored in the 90s on Relative Performance.

Nine FBISD elementary schools had top ratings for Closing the Gap. The schools are Sullivan, Austin Parkway, Brazos Bend, Colony Meadows, Commonwealth, Cornerstone, Scanlan Oaks, Sienna Crossing and Walker Station.

Middle schools in FBISD that got grade rated scores in the 90-100 range were First Colony, Fort Settlement, James Bowie, Marcario Garcia, and Sartartia. Only one middle school, Fort Settlement, got into the highest tier of 90-100 in Student Achievement.

Again, only Fort Settlement Middle School climbed into the 90s for Academic Growth.

It was also the only one to get into the rarified air for Relative Performance but eight others followed with numbers in the 80s. Middle schools that also got a high rating for Closing the Gaps include Fort Settlement, James Bowie, Marcario Garcia and Sartartia.

Three FBISD high schools whose students got grade ratings 90-100 are Clements, Dulles and Stephen F. Austin.

In Academic Growth no high school met the top tier but five out of 11 scored in the 80s. For Relative Performance, again the same five -- Clements, Dulles, Kempner, Austin, and Travis -- scored in the 80s.

In Closing the Gaps, Clements High School made the top with a rating score of 100. None of the others made it into the 90s but six others scored in the 80s. They are Dulles, Kempner, Elkins, Ridge Point, Stephen F. Austin, and Travis.

The 2018 STAAR Performance data table shows that 58 percent of all students attending FBISD schools met the standard or above. Students who were standard and above were Asians at 95%; whites, 91%; two or more races, 87%; Pacific Islander, 85%; American Indian, 82%; Hispanic, 74%; AfricanAmerican, 73%.

English as a second language and reading performance was 81 percent standard or above for all FBISD students. Again the breakdown of ethnicity and race was the same from top to bottom with Asians at 93%, whites at 91%, two or more races at 87%, American Indian, 79%, Pacific Islander, 77%, and Hispanics and African-Americans both at 72%.

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 400TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on June 15, 2018 in cause numbered 17-DCV242927 styled HUNTER –KELSEY II. Inc. vs. DEBRA G. COSBY, in which a judgment was rendered on March 20, 2018 in favor of HUNTER-KELSEY II,LLC for the sum of Thirty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty- Two dollars Six Dollars and Thirty Six Cents ($32942.36); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on JUNE 18, 2018 and will on Sept 4, 2018 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Debra G. Cosby to and in the following described Real Property QUAIL VALLEY THUNDERBIRD W SEC I BLOCK I O, LOT 24: AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS LOT TWENTY-FOUR(24) IN BLOCK TEN (10) OF QUAIL VALLEY SUBDIVISION, THUNDERBIRD WEST SECTION, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY,TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 10, PAGE 15 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS STREET ADDRESS 3911 RIDGEVIEW DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS 77459 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of HUNTER KELSEY II, LLC Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: SEPT 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of County Court at Law 5 of Fort Bend County, Texas on JULY 24 , 2018 in cause numbered 16-CCV-057599 styled Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc, Inc. vs. Donald H. Kelly and Lynn E. Kelly, in which a judgment was rendered on June 29, 2017 in favor of Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc, Inc. for the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Dollars and Sixty zero Cents ($1528.00); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on August 2, 2018and will on September 4, 2018, Tuesday, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Donald H. Kelly and Lynn E. Kelly to and in the following described Real Property LOT Eleven (11),In BLOCK Seven (7), of Chimneystone Section Two (2), an Addition in FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED VOLUME 29, PAGE 5 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 4015 SHELBY ROW SUGAR LAND,TEXAS 77479 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of Chimneystone Planned Community Development Homeowners Assoc Inc Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: Sept 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: Sergeant M. Kutach TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

All economically disadvantaged students who took the STAAR tests and were standard or above scored 72%.

On the English language and reading tests they scored 70% on standard or above.

Math tests for all students showed 85% made the cut.

The races who took the tests are Asians with 97%, whites, 93%; Pacific Islanders, 91%; two or more races, 90%; American Indians, 85%, Hispanics, 79%; AfricanAmericans, 75%. Total tests taken came to 37,765. Seventy-six percent of economically disadvantaged FBISD students who took the math tests scored standard or above.

Students who tested standard or above for writing were 92% Asian; 84% whites; 78%; American Indians 78%; two or more races 76%; AfricanAmericans 64%; Hispanics 60%. Total tests taken were 11,081.

Science testing showed that 17,657 FBISD students took that test and Asians at 95% met the standard or above, followed by whites at 75%, two or more races, 67%; Pacific Islanders, 63%; American Indians, 51%; Hispanics, 46%; African-Americans, 43%.

Social studies tests numbered 11,635 tests taken and again Asian students topped the list again with 95% reaching the standard or above.

Whites followed at 93%, American Indians and two or more races both had scores at 88%; African-Americans at 78%, and Hispanics at 77%.

The TEA also gets graduation rate data and shows that the class of 2017 graduated 95.3 percent of all its seniors.

It shows that 5,374 graduated in a class of 5,640 total students. Six Pacific Islanders were in the class and six graduated so that race got 100% with Asians second. They graduated all 1,374 Asian students in the class for 98.7%.

Whites followed with 95.5%; two or more races, 98.5%; American Indian, 93.8%; African-American, 94.2%, and Hispanic, 92.7%.

The district’s annual drop out rate for grades 9-12 in the 2016-17 school year was 209 students out of 24,591. That year 83 African-American students dropped out and 92 Hispanic kids did. Economically disadvantaged students who dropped out numbered 137 out of a total of 9,181.

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 268TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on July 6, 2018 in cause numbered 17-DCV-244551 styled Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. vs. Barbara L. Wardlaw, in which a judgment was rendered on April 16, 2018 in favor of Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. for the sum of Five Thousand Six Dollars and Forty Four Cents ($5,006.44); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on July 10, 2018 and will on September 4, 2018 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Barbara L. Wardlaw to and in the following described Real Property LOT EIGHT (8), IN BLOCK FOUR (4) OF SUMMERFIELD, SECTION ONE (1) A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED UNDER SLIDE NO(S). 1294/A & 1294/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS MORE COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS 3107 PHEASANT TRAIL DRIVE, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77498 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of Summerfield Estates Homeowners Assoc. Inc. Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301, JACKSON , RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: September 4, 2018 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: Dep Steele TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

Annual State of the Schools: Unprecedented excellence in Fort Bend County

Dr. Charles Dupre (Fort Bend ISD), Dr. Robert Bostic (Stafford MSD), Keri Schmidt (Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce), Dr. Thomas Randle (Lamar CISD), Jim Rice (Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Education Division Chair).

The luncheon is gener- Commerce is under the leadThe Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Education Divi- ously presented by AUTO- ership of Chair, Jim Rice, sion will host the 11th Annual ARCH Architects, LLC, Rice Rice & Gardner Consultants.

State of the Schools luncheon, & Gardner Consultants, Inc., The Education Division’s pason Wednesday, October 3, Vanir Construction Manage- sion is building awareness and 2018 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 ment, Inc., Prime Contrac- connections between the busiPM at Safari Texas Ranch, tors, Inc., Rogers, Morris & ness sector, community leadlocated at 11627 FM 1464, in Grover, and Perdue, Brandon, ers, and education. By keepFielder, Collins & Mott, LLP. ing its members engaged with Richmond, TX. Underwritten by, VLK Ar- current events impacting eduThe State of the Schools luncheon brings together the chitects, Drymalla Construc- cation on a local and national Superintendents from Stafford tion Company, Inc., Linebarg- level, the division’s goal is to Municipal School District – er Law Firm, LLP, Powell & create opportunities for indiDr. Robert Bostic, Lamar Con- Leon, LLP, Wharton County viduals to invest in education.

Registration is open: Presolidated Independent School Junior College, Huitt-Zollars, District – Dr. Thomas Randle, Inc., Salas O’Brien, STOA senter Sponsor - $2,000. Unand Fort Bend Independent Architects, Raba Kistner Con- derwriter Sponsor - $1,000.

School District – Dr. Charles sultants, Inc., Karczewski, Corporate Table - $550. MemDupre, to present their plans Bradshaw, Spalding, Nichols, ber Reservation - $35. Profor the future of over 110,000 Lamp, Langlois, Post Oak spective Member Reservation students they serve in their Municipal Advisors LLC, - $45. Details of upcoming respective districts. Join us to Pfluger Associates Architects, events can be found at www. or hear their vision and direction and JACOBS Engineering FortBendChamber.com contact Juliette Nessmith at for our future workforce and Group.

The Education Division 281-566-2161 or Juliette@ business leaders in Fort Bend of the Fort Bend Chamber of fortbendcc.org.

County.

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate The FORT BEND COUNTY L.I.D. #14 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on September 10, 2018 at 3:00 P.M. at One Avalon Place, Sugar Land, Texas 77479. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

FOR the proposal: Jeff Anderson, Herbert Krog and Sujeeth Draksharam AGAINST the proposal: None PRESENT and not voting: None ABSENT: None The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

Last Year

This Year

$ .19500/$100

$ .209500/$100

Adopted

Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

$ .01450/$100

Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-)

7.43%

Average appraised residence homestead value $606,830

$609,714

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

$0

$0

Average residence homestead taxable value

$606,830

$609,714

Tax on average residence homestead

$1,183.31

$1,277.35

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-)

$94.04

and percentage of increase (+/-)

7.94 %

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

Bob Leared Interests, 713-932-9011

Page 6 • INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 136 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 11:45 a.m. at the offices of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP located at 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2400, Houston, TX 77027. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease,depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 137 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., at the offices of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP located at 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2400, Houston, TX 77027. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

FOR the proposal:

W. Barnes, C. Partin, A. Malone, V. Neiser, and M. Thelen

AGAINST the proposal:

(None)

PRESENT and not voting:

(None)

ABSENT:

(None)

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

FOR the proposal: AGAINST the proposal:

V. Warren, M. Brindley, J. Ross, C. Malone & S. Weaver (None)

PRESENT and not voting:

(None)

ABSENT:

(None)

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Last Year

Last Year*

Total tax rate (per $100 of value) Total tax rate (per $100 of value) Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-) Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

This Year

This Year*

$ 0.420/$100

$ 0.420/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

$0.000/$100 0.0000% $0

$0

$0 $0 $0

$0 $0 $0 $0.00 0.0000%

Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-) Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

$ 0.415/$100

$ 0.410/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

$0.005/$100 -1.2048% $434,247 $437,226

$0 $434,247 $1,802.13

$0 $437,226 $1,792.63

-$9.50 -0.5272%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION

If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the

If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the

qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine

qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine

whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under

whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under

Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

Section 49.236(d), Water Code. * There are NO residential homes in this district.

Questions or comments regarding this notice can be directed to Esther Buentello Flores at the tax office at (281) 499-1223.

Questions or comments regarding this notice can be directed to Esther Buentello Flores at the tax office at (281) 499-1223.

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 138 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 12:15 p.m., at the offices of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP located at 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2400, Houston, TX 77027. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No.139 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2018 on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 10:30 a.m., at the offices of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP located at 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2400, Houston, TX 77027. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

FOR the proposal:

T. Gornet, D. Keene, M. Assise, & P. Stephens

FOR the proposal:

G. Clayton, M. Wagner, J. Raymond, and C. Giles

AGAINST the proposal:

(None)

AGAINST the proposal:

(None)

PRESENT and not voting:

(None)

PRESENT and not voting:

(None)

ABSENT:

G. Justice

ABSENT:

S. Reed

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value) Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-) Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

Last Year $ 0.415/$100

This Year $ 0.4086/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

-$0.006/$100 -1.5422% $580,616 $589,703

$0 $580,616 $2,409.56

$0 $589,703 $2,409.53

-$0.03 -0.0012%

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value) Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase/decrease in rates(+/-) Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

Last Year $ 0.410/$100

This Year $ 0.410/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

-$0.000/$100 -0.0000% $712,954 $709,503

$0 $712,954 $2,923.11

$0 $709,503 $2,908.96

- $14.15 - 0.4841%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTION

If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the

If taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the

qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine

qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine

whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under

whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under

Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

Section 49.236(d), Water Code.

Questions or comments regarding this notice can be directed to Esther Buentello Flores at the tax office at (281) 499-1223.

Questions or comments regarding this notice can be directed to Esther Buentello Flores at the tax office at (281) 499-1223.

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018 • Page 7

Riverstone nears end of development cycle

NEWS AccessHealth and partners serve 2,000 children at the Back-to-School Health Fairs

Mike Dotson, left, (AccessHealth CEO), Erica Bounds (Reliant, and NRG company), and Brenda Patton (AccessHealth Board Member)

After 18 years of new home sales and more than 5,700 homes sold, one of the nation’s top-selling masterplanned communities is nearing the end of its development cycle.

Only about 12 percent of the community remains for new home sales, says Trey Reichert, Vice President and General Manager of Riverstone.

“We have about 760 homesites remaining, including developed and undeveloped properties,” he said. “We no longer have any 55-foot lots left in Riverstone and will soon be sold out of 50-foot and 65-foot properties. I estimate there are probably only two years of new home sales remaining, possibly less.”

Eleven builders offer new

homes in Riverstone, where pricing ranges from the $330,000s to the millions.

The builders sold 189 homes in the Fort Bend development through the first half of 2018, placing it at No. 41 on a mid-year report released by Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO).

“For years, Riverstone has been included on the list of top-selling communities, often ranked among the top 10 or top 25,” Reichert said.

“We have substantially fewer homesites available this year, but we are still pleased with the velocity of sales.”

Riverstone offers homes with Missouri City and Sugar Land addresses, and represents one of the few opportunities remaining to have a new home with a Sugar Land

address, Reichert said. Other draws include amenities such as The Club at Riverstone, which offers a resort-style pool, tennis courts, a splash pad, the Adventure Park playground and a well-appointed clubhouse with fitness center.

Children attend highly rated schools in the Fort Bend Independent School District, including Sullivan Elementary located on-site. Kroger opens this fall in The Shops at Riverstone, a 165,000-squarefoot shopping center within the community.

“The end of the development cycle is in sight, but we are in no way slowing down,” Reichert said.

For more information, visit www.riverstone.com

Unprecedented numbers of families benefited from this year’s Community Operation Back-to-School Health Fairs. In celebration of National Health Center Week, AccessHeatlh hosted fairs on August 4 in Richmond and August 11 in Missouri City. Backpacks prefilled with school supplies were given to 1,750 students.

Of the many years AccessHealth and partners have been collaborating for this effort, this year’s health fairs had the highest attendance with the largest numbers of screenings and immunizations provided.

Health screenings included dental, vision, speech and scoliosis screenings. A combined total of 473 screenings were provided free of charge. AccessHealth and Fort Bend County Health and Human Services administered a combined total of 235 vaccines, also free of charge.

Additionally, 26 children received sports physicals, and 40

children received free haircuts.

Presenting sponsors included Reliant, an NRG Company, Fort Bend County, City of Richmond, City of Missouri City and St. John’s United Methodist Church. Other generous sponsors included Community Health Choice, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center and CenterPoint Energy.

“This was a joint effort made possible by many sponsors, vendors, volunteers and the collaborative force of Fort Bend County partners including Commissioner Grady Prestage, Precinct 2; Fort Bend County Social Services; Health and Human Services; the Office of Emergency Management and Fort Bend County Constable Gary Majors, Precinct 2,” said event Co-chair and AccessHealth Community Engagement Manager, Sharonda DeBose.

As your not-for-profit com-

munity health center, AccessHealth provides integrated health services without regard to income or circumstance to improve the quality of life in Fort Bend County. Private donations, grants and special event proceeds help offset expenses associated with caring for the low-income, uninsured and underinsured. The next opportunity to attend or sponsor an AccessHealth event will be Saturday, October 13 at the 5th Annual Heart of Fort Bend gala. AccessHealth is a United Way agency, and its Richmond clinic is recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

For more about the Back-toSchool Health Fairs or Heart of Fort Bend sponsorship opportunities, contact Sharonda DeBose at (281) 633-3144 or sdebose@myaccesshealth.org.

For patient information, please visit www.myaccesshealth.org.

HOUSTON METHODIST CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY ASSOCIATES

WELCOMES DR. MARVIN ATKINS

Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates is pleased to welcome Marvin Atkins, MD, to the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus. He completed fellowships in both cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery, and offers the full scope of surgical and minimally invasive endovascular options to treat diseases of the heart and vascular system.

His level of expertise, combined with access to state-of-theart technology at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular conditions with better long-term outcomes for patients.

To schedule an appointment, call 713.352.1820.

Marvin Atkins, MD Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon

16605 Southwest Fwy., Suite 410 Medical Office Building 3 Sugar Land, TX 77479 houstonmethodist.org/spg

INDEPENDENT • AUGUST 22, 2018 • Page 8

GRAND OPENING SUGAR LAND

9 LOCATIONS IN HOUSTON

fun reds & whites for

ENTERTAINING

Uro Toro Finca La Rana Spain 750ml

Verada Pinot Noir Tri-County California 750ml

w/discount

w/discount

15.29 16 99 16.99

Bougrier ‘V’ Vouvray France 750ml

12.59

w/discount

13 99 13.99

Torial Cabernet Sauvignon Napa California 750ml

14.39

58.49 w/discount

15 99 15.99

Governors Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 750ml

64 99 64.99

Kupelwieser Pinot Grigio Alto Adige Italy 750ml

15.29

9.89 w/discount

w/discount

16 99 16.99

10 99 10.99

Line Shack Cabernet San Antonio Valley California 750ml

Press Run Cabernet Sonoma California 750ml

Christophe Cabernet Napa California 750ml

31.49

17.09 w/discount

14.39 w/discount

Iter Chardonnay California 2016 California 750ml

Buttercream Chardonnay California 750ml

Gassier Viognier Les Piliers France 750ml

w/discount

w/discount

18 99 18.99

w/discount

34 99 34.99

15 99 15.99

12.14

12.59 w/discount

13.49

13 49 13.49

13 99 13.99

14 99 14.99

Olema Cabernet Sonoma County 2016 California 750ml

Samuel Robert Pinot Noir Willamett 2017 Oregon 750ml

26 99 26.99

w/discount

24.29 w/discount

14.39 15 99 15.99

River Road Chardonnay Russian River Valley Reserve 2016 California 750ml

16.19 w/discount

Conte Priola Pinot Grigio Italy 750ml

7.19

w/discount

17 99 17.99

7 99 7.99

All your fall favorites Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Marzen 6-12oz btls

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 6-12oz btls

8.99

Samuel Adams OctoberFest 12-12oz btls

15.49

Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale 6-12oz btls

8.49

9.49

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale 12-12oz btls

Founders Mosaic Promise 15-12oz cans

15.99

15.99

10% OFF

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WEST UNIVERSITY

2617 W. Holcombe Blvd Houston, TX 77025

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18740 Gulf Freeway Friendswood, TX 77546

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