Fort Bend Independent

VOL 6 No. 36

ww www.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com

Phone: 281-980-6745

FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land

Groovy Party to aid Fort Bend seniors

L to R Front Row: Ron Ewer (FBS Board Member, Legacy Ford Title Sponsor), Juliana Ewer (Legacy Ford Title Sponsor), David Vasquez (Chairman of the Board, Fort Bend Seniors), Amy Mitchell, Sugar Land City Council Member and Groovy Party Co-Chair, Manuela Arroyos (CEO Fort Bend Seniors) Pictured Back Row: Jake Messinger (Co-Chair Groovy Party). Photo by Andy Wolf. it is the only social interaction The Groovy Party Presents: from 6:30 – 11:30 p.m.

Sponsorship opportunities they have each day. In 2013, Wo o d s t o c k a n A q u a r i a n Dinner and Auction, three are available at the following Fort Bends Seniors is on track hours of Peace & Music. l e v e l s : J o p l i n - $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ; to serve over 365,000 meals.

Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Local singing legends Gail Santana-$5,000; CCR $2,500; Best, Zach Crawford, David Crosby, Stills, Nash and Wheels, a United Way Agency, Daniels, Debbie Fancher, Jake Young-$1,500, which include is committed to helping Messinger and Bruce Mercer reserved table(s), drink tickets, seniors remain independent will perform a Woodstock p r o g r a m a d s , a n d e v e n t by enhancing their quality Revival guaranteed to be a publicity. Additional details of life through services and memorable performance like for sponsors can be found at resources. Fort Bend Seniors is the 1969 Woodstock Festival, www.fortbendseniors.org - qualified under 50lC(3) of the Events Page. Individual tickets Internal Revenue Service as a 3 Days of Peace & Music.

Legacy Ford is sponsoring can be purchased for $65 and non-profit corporation, as such the Groovy and all funds $40. Naming opportunities are contributions are tax deductible raised will benefit Fort Bend also available for an additional to the fullest extent as allowed by law.

Seniors Meals on Wheels. $1,000.

To s p o n s o r, a t t e n d o r All funds raised at The Amy Mitchell, Sugar Land City Council Member and Jake Groovy go toward supporting volunteer for this Groovy event, Messinger are Co-Chairs of the mission and programs, contact Russelle Waldorf, the event. The Groovy is being which enhance the quality of Director of Development and held on Saturday, September 14 life for our Fort Bend County Communications at Fort Bend at the Safari Texas Ballroom, Senior Citizens. Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, at located at 11627 FM 1464 in Seniors not only provides daily 281-620-8886 or russelle@ Richmond and will be held nutrition, but for many seniors, fortbendseniors.org.

County’s proposed 2014 budget is $271 million

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County’s proposed budget for 2014 is $271 million, marking a 8.34 percent increase over the 2013 budget of $251 million.

Pamela Gubbels, Director of Finance & Investments, filed the proposed budget with the County Clerk and County Auditor on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing on the budget on Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. and on Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. before adopting the budget.

The proposed budget does not envisage any tax increase as the commissioners have decided to keep the total country property tax rate at the current level of 49.976 cents per $100 valuation.

The tax rate has remained at the same level since 2009.

The 2014 budget includes general fund, debt service fund, drainage district fund, road and bridge fund and capital improvement fund.

The total taxable value for property tax in the county is $44 billion, of which $2.6 billion is under protest and review. The total anticipated property tax revenue for the county in 2014 is $213.5 million. An increase of a penny in property tax would bring about $4.27 million in revenue.

The current fund balance is $55 million. After the proposed budget is adopted, the fund balance will likely reduce by $15 million to $40 million, barely meeting the norm of 15 percent of the total budget.

The proposed budget includes an average 3.63 percent pay raise for county employees.

Law enforcement employees

The Fort Bend County budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $12.63 million, which is a 4.61 percent increase from last year’s budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $7.63 million. Fort Bend County’s total debt obligation is $654 million of which $347.55 million is Fort Bend County debt, $151.58 million is Fort Bend County Toll Road, and $155 million is Fort Bend Grand Parkway Toll Road debt. will get a raise of 6.19 percent.

County elected officials will also get a pay raise of about 9.4 percent ( after a gap of seven years along with district judges and county court at law judges.)

The board of judges decide the salaries for county auditor and his staff, court coordinators and court reporters. The board of judges have recommended a 5 percent pay raise for the court and audit employees.

Court reporter’s salary will go up from $86,756 a year to $91,094.

Court coordinator’s salary will increase from $62,681 to $65,815.

County Auditor ’s salary will increase from $118,431 to $130,000, marking a 9.77 percent increase.

The auditor will get more than the county judge’s salary of $117,600 plus $7,200 juvenile board supplement and $2,400 drainage district supplement.

County commissioner’s salary will go up from $102,350 to $112,000. The sheriff’s pay will be the same as the county judge’s and the county attorney will get the same as the commissioners.

Twenty-four others in the auditor’s office have also been classified as auditors and their pay ranges from $34,000 a year to $74,000. After the increase, the range will be $35,845 to $77,852.

Similarly, commissioners court has no control over the juvenile justice department as the juvenile board is authorized by the state to set the budget for that department.

The juvenile board also sets the salaries for the department employees.

In the proposed 2014 budget, the biggest outlay is for the sheriff’s department. The jail division’s budget will go up by 4.8 percent, from $25.8 million to $27 million. Sheriff’s enforcement budget will go up by 13.7 percent,, from $28.2 million to $32 million.

Thus, with a $2 million budget for bailiffs, the total sheriff’s budget will be $61 million.

The next big ticket item is the county libraries operating budget at nearly $14 million, followed by the juvenile probation department at $11 million. The county’s EMS Ambulance Service budget is $9.8 million. The district attorney’s office budget is close to $8 million.

The road and bridge budget is $20 million and the drainage district budget is $10 million.

The debt service budget is $33 million.

The general fund budget of the county(Population 607,000) is $204 million. In comparison, the city of Sugar Land’s (Population 85,000) 2014 budget is $170 million, with another $37 million for capital projects.

Paintings by Charles Weiss on display at State Rep. Miller to seek re-election constituents on a host of state Fort Bend County Museum Texas State Representative agency issues from Medicaid

One of the highlights of the Fort Bend County Museum’s new event, Bites & Brews, will be a special exhibit in the Museum’s gallery, featuring the artwork of Charles Weiss. The exhibit will be on display at the Museum’s gallery for the months of September and October.

The exhibit, titled A Moment in Time in Fort Bend, is a collection of realism paintings of historic buildings and familiar places in Fort Bend County, Texas. A private opening reception will be held for Fort Bend County Museum Association members and special guests of the artist on Thursday, September 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The exhibit will be open to the general public on the following day, September 6. Admission to the Museum includes access to the entire gallery where this special exhibit will be on display, plus tours of two historic homes located on the property.

“Many of the paintings are of historic buildings from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s, including the Beasley chapel, the Moore Home, the McNabb House, Imperial Sugar, and a couple of the Court House in Richmond,” Weiss said.

We i s s e x p l a i n e d h i s inspiration for this series of 14 paintings. “Fort Bend County has played an important part in the development of Texas, dating back to the 1700s. As a resident and artist, it is very exciting for me to capture these buildings as they sit today, realizing their

Weiss long histories and the roles who are already very involved they played in the progress of with the Museum as well as our great community, whether those who have never had the in agriculture, transportation, opportunity to visit.” entertainment, religion or law Other attractions at Bites & and order.”

Brews will include music by Attendees of Bites & Brews The Cool Tones, plus samplings will have a special chance to of wines, brews, and treats of view this art exhibit as they all kinds from a variety of local enjoy music by HeartStrings to eateries. Vendors include Saint be played in the gallery during Arnold Brewery, Braman Winery, the event on September 21 at the Pier 36, Joseph’s, Teresita’s historic 1883 Moore Home.

Catering, The Railroad Café, We i s s e x p r e s s e d h i s A Sweet Tooth, Fajita Pete’s, enthusiasm about this new George Ranch Historical Park, evening event coming to the and many more.

Museum. “I am very excited to Bites & Brews will begin at 6: have the opportunity to exhibit 30 p.m. and continue through 9 my Fort Bend County paintings p.m. Tickets are $25 each or $45 at the Museum and even more per couple, available at the gate so to have them up in time for or for purchase ahead of time the Museum’s first Bites & through the Museum by calling Brews event in September,” said (281) 342-6478.

Weiss. “My wife Kristin and I More information online at are looking forward to attending. www.fortbendmuseum.org This will be a great, fun event and www.fortbendmuseum. that will bring together people blogspot.com.

Rick Miller announced last week that he will be seeking a second term representing the people of Dist. 26 in the Texas House of Representatives.

“It is truly a wonderful honor to serve the people of District 26 in the State Legislature,” Miller said. “I was humbled and honored that the people of Sugar Land and Richmond elected me to my first term in 2012 and my hope is that I have worked to earn their trust for another term in 2014.”

Miller was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on two key committees in the Texas House, Elections and Defense & Veterans’ Affairs.

In addition, he also served as a key player on the House Republican Caucus Policy Committee, vetting all legislation that would be presented to other members before it was to be presented on the House floor.

During his short time at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Miller has already been singled out for his command and leadership on all issues, not just those of his committee assignments.

Over the course of the 2013 legislative sessions, Miller carried and passed 10 bills that have been signed by the Governor and became effective Sept. 1. He has also recently been selected as a “Lone Star Conservative Leader” by the pro-business Texas Conservative Roundtable and also received a “Courageous Conservative” award from the

Miller Texas Conservative Coalition.

Miller has also been very accessible to the people of District 26 when not in Austin.

He has held speaking events throughout all corners of the district, participated in many area forums on various local topics, visited and toured area business, met with a wide range of local community and elected leaders and his office has helped countless

to State Licensing to Property and Privacy protection issues.

Miller retired as a Captain in the US Navy. In addition to serving the nation and State Legislature, Miller has also remained active in area Rotary and Church activities and previously served on the Policy Board of Sugar Land Regional Airport and as Chairman of the Fort Bend County Republican Party. He and his wife, Babs, currently reside in Sugar Land, and have three sons (one graduated to glory) and three wonderful grandchildren.

House District 26 covers some of the most populated portions of Fort Bend County including the communities of Greatwood, New Territory, Telfair, Pecan Grove, and Four Corners, the vast majority of Sugar Land and the eastern precincts of Richmond.

10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor

www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745

Fort Bend Independent is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Stafford, Texas.

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

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

ANOTHER WAY WE’RE LEADING MEDICINE: INTRODUCING DR. TARRIK ZAID Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Tarrik Zaid to Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates. Dr. Zaid has extensive training and experience in gynecologic cancer, including the completion of a fellowship in gynecologic oncology.

Dr. Zaid joins the experts at Houston Methodist Gynecologic Oncology Associates in providing compassionate, individualized care for the treatment of uterine, ovarian, cervical and other female reproductive system cancers. This team of leading physicians is supported by the state-of-the-art technology and caring, knowledgeable staff at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

CALL 281.275.0880 TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

Medical Office Building Three 16605 Southwest Freeway, Suite 450 Sugar Land, Texas 77479 281. 275 . 0880 methodistsugarlanddocs.com

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 • INDEPENDENT • Page 3

News Fort Bend County Sheriff adds Mounted Patrol

There’s a new Patrol unit in the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and it has a touch of the old with the new attached to it.

It’s the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol.

Sheriff Troy E. Nehls asked Lt. Sam Rader to prepare the curriculum for a Mounted Patrol certification, which Rader did, and 10 participants (the maximum allowed in the class) signed up for the inaugural training.

“We appreciate the efforts Lt. Rader took in putting this class together,” Nehls said.

“Judging by the response to the class, we have plenty of interest in a mounted patrol and I believe it will be an asset to the Sheriff’s Office.”

Not only do the riders have to be certified, so do their mounts.

Rader said a Mounted Patrol has several viable uses, the first being crowd control. “A horse’s presence, and they weigh from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds, provides extreme command presence.

When you multiply that presence by 10, it’s impressive,” Rader said.

A Mounted Patrol can be utilized for search and rescues.

“The officer is up off the ground by about 8 to 10 feet, so it provides a better viewpoint for searches,” the veteran law officer said. “Horses may move at a slower pace, but the height advantage enables the deputy

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

www.freebibleliterature.com Sugar Land Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council

Applications for the 2014 Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) are now available at https://volunteer.sugarlandtx.gov.

Interested students should submit completed applications by Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. The council empowers youth to become active community members by providing students with an overview of opportunities to impact the future of Sugar Land through local government public service. Eligible students must be high school juniors for the 2013-2014 school year. Students must also live in Sugar Land or communities in the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction that have adopted strategic partnership agreements with the City, including Greatwood, New Territory and Riverstone.

Foundation Repair Remodeling & More

A Happy Home Begins with a Solid Foundation!

281.397.2299 LevelProHomeService.com From left, deputies Jenny Stroud, Khourey Hilliard, Courtlyn Hartfield and Jake Medve; Cpl. Roger Barton; Sheriff Troy E. Nehls; deputies Chris Arden and Jerome Ellis; Eden Parr, Communications Development Coordinator; Sgt. Kathy Rader; and Lt. Sam Rader. a superior vantage point compared to people on foot and even four-wheelers.”

Add in items such as parking lot security and a presence at major events to the list, too.

“If you have a big event and you have officers on horseback, the crowd can see that officer…. thery’re not searching for that person. They are right up there on that tall horse.”

And there’s another side, the “show” side, which includes parades, rodeos and more.

Display is another example.

“You can take the animal in a public display, and we’ve done this at schools and church groups before, and you can explain the role of a mounted patrol. Kids always love seeing animals, and place a deputy on that horse and it becomes even more impressive.”

Participants had one day of class training at the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy followed by four days of riding at the O.D. Tucker Arena at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.

Two of those days were train-

ing the horses to endure noises, obstacles and other issues presented in the training.

On the final day, the class had a 100 percent pass rate and four riders, including Rader, had two horses certified in the course.

Rader said he’s got six people on a waiting list for a second class.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but this is the first opportunity for it to take place,” Rader said. “We have Sheriff Nehls to thank for that.”

Fort Bend Friends and ABWA Fort Bend meets Sept. 5 James White will be the Speaker at ABWA Fort Bend on Neighbors Fall Luncheon Thursday Sept. 5 at Sugar Creek Country Club at 6:30 p.m. White founded and leads Coventry Business Solutions. It is his goal and desire to help small businesses and small business owners thrive and succeed. With his varied background of experience, a heart of compassion, and a sense of family and community James structured Coventry Business Solutions in a manner that would be able to offer the services that small business needed and a price point that they could afford and still be competitive and to be an example of how ethics and morals should navigate a company and its leadership, not the bottom dollar. He understands the burdens that small businesses deal with, like the Affordable Care Act, so he has made it his mission to educate people about such things and help companies come up with creative and cost affordable ways to lessen such burdens.

Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc 101 Southwestern Blvd, Ste 230 Sugar Land, TX 77478-3535 PH (281)277-7800 FAX (281)277-7801 basil@texansinsure.com

Fort Bend Theatre fall acting classes The ladies of the Fort Bend Friends and Neighbors Social Club are planning their Fall Luncheon for Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at Sweetwater Country Club, 4400 Palm Royale Blvd., Sugar Land starting at 10:45 a.m. This will be their kickoff luncheon for the 2013-14 year. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about the numerous activities FBFN sponsors such as wine tasting, cards, crafts, tours, movie outings and monthly coffees.

Entertainment will be provided by Mary Thompson, a local singer and guitar player. Laurie Cavins, owner of Seasons at Home, will present a program on putting new life into a cherished or vintage item for display or functional use in your home. Deadline for reservations is Thursday, September 12, 2013. Further information can be obtained by calling Carole Kanusky at 281-265-4084.

Above, Carol Kanusky, First Vice President of Luncheons, left, Marsha Sachs, Vice President Elect, right.

Fort Bend Theatre’s acting classes will be held Saturday mornings, Sept. 21 through Nov. 16. Children will be instructed on a wide variety of the dramatic arts, including stage movement and directions, voice and diction, pantomime, storytelling, expression, and improvisation. Classes will be held at 2815 North Main Street in Stafford. Each session ends with an exciting performance open to family and friends. Classes are available as follows: 9 a.m.-10 a.m: ages 5-6 ; 10 a.m-11:30 a.m: ages 7-12 (beginner) 11:30 a.m-1 p.m: ages 8-13 (advanced) Sessions for ages 5-6 will be 60 minutes packed with the same concepts using age appropriate materials. The cost is $125. The cost for ages 7-13 is $200. All sessions are payable by a $50 nonrefundable deposit to hold your child’s place. Balance must be paid in full by September 13th.

Space is limited. Give your children the gift of having fun while learning professional theatre. For more information visit the “Education” tab on the FBT website www.fortbendtheatre.com or call (281)208-3333 to register today.

Johnson Development’s three Fort Bend communities among nation’s top 20 best sellers A mid-year 2013 report by Metrostudy of the nation’s top 20 master-planned communities shows The Johnson Development Corp. of Houston with four communities among the nation’s top-20 sellers, including three in Fort Bend County, more than any other developer in the country.

Johnson Development’s three Fort Bend master-planned communities, Riverstone (#8), Sienna Plantation (#13) and Cross Creek Ranch (#15) joined the Montgomery County masterplanned community of Woodforest (#20) among the ranks of the nation’s top-20 for new home sales.

Riverstone finished with the second biggest gain in new home sales among all others in the Metrostudy top 20, a 113% increase from 2012.

Texas swept half the spots on . Houston grabbing the list with eight spots in the top 20. The

The Fort Bend community of Riverstone finished with the second biggest gain in new homes sales among all other master-planned communities in the nation, according to a mid-year sales report

by Metrostudy. top 20 master-planned commu- from other parts of the country nities started more than 14,900 and other parts of Houston,” homes in the past 12 months, a notes Doug Goff, Chief Oper35% increase over the second ating Officer of The Johnson quarter of 2012 and a 61% jump Development Corp. “Families from the second quarter of 2011. want value from their home “All our communities are purchase, a community with seeing a balance of relocations extensive amenities, proximity

to their workplaces and quality schools.”

Goff adds sales activity is strong in Johnson Development’s other Houston-area communities: Tuscan Lakes, Fall Creek, Harmony and Willow Creek Farms. The company also announced the first neighborhoods in Imperial Sugar Land, 116 patio homes, some with waterfront views, and 27 single and two-story townhomes.

In July, The Johnson Development Corp. was selected to purchase 2,083 acres in north Houston, the longtime home of The Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Strake. One of the largest available land parcels within the Greater Houston area, the property is bordered by I-45 and Highway 336, just north of The Woodlands. It also is less than 10 miles north of the new ExxonMobil Corporate Campus currently under construction.

(281)277-7800 Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc 101 Southwestern Blvd, Ste 230 Sugar Land, TX 77478-3535 basil@texansinsure.com

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Opinion AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS Loving friends and the eight tress

By CAROLYN BOWDEN LOVING FRIENDS: (Formed in October 1991) This local group helps those who have lost a spouse to get out and enjoy life again.

They are not a grief-counseling group. Instead, it is a way to hang out with friends who are in the same situation as you. You no longer feel like a “fifth wheel”. Now you have the opportunity to make new friends that understand your situation.

Most members have discovered the group from friends, current members or “word of mouth”.

MORE THAN JUST A MEETING: The very first meeting brought about eight widows. They would divide into groups of 4 to facilitate getting to know each other and be a support when needed. As the membership grew the meetings added a program. The location changed and they began to meet in different restaurants, finally settling on the same restaurant each month.

MOVING ON: The members began to enjoy a variety of activities throughout the year, such as, Pokeno games, meeting for lunch, or going to a movie. There was a monthly book club where they would cook a gourmet meal.

Now the annual get-togethers are a bingo game and a Christmas party. Initially, there were no members who were widowers, but gradually it became apparent, that men were interested in increasing their social lives just like the

Bowden women did.

ARE YOU HAVING FUN? Special attention is noted to make sure no one becomes bored or lonely which is why they have extra things that involve getting out and becoming “social”.

Their motto could be: “We are here to have fun!”

CONTACT: If you or someone you know wants to join the Loving Friends group email me at CVBNeighbors@ aol.com and I will forward your email address to their contact person.

SPEAKING OF TREES: The eight or so Live Oak Trees (on Cypress Point @ Cartwright) across the street from the Tennis/Fitness Rec Center/ARC/Texana, were originally planted by Wes Winkler (a member of the former Fort Bend Hospital Auxiliary). This started as a project between a grandfather and his grandson. They took acorns and put them in coffee cans

to see if they would sprout and grow. (As what usually happens with projects of this “kind”; the grandson lost interest and the grandfather was left with eight Live Oak Tree seedlings. When the seedlings reached the height for transplanting, the grandfather obtained permission from the owner of the property to plant the trees, to add beauty at the entrance of Cypress Point.

Then he began the task of keeping the grass from growing too close to the trees to prevent them from being a “casualty” during the mowing of the grass.

Each day, on his way home, he would take two, one gallon containers of water, and water one of the eight trees. It is said that when he passed away, his wife, Lorraine, continued to watch over the trees because there was no irrigation at that location. Today, these HUGE trees stand straight and tall, as a testimony to this gentleman’s “personal” contribution to the beauty of Quail Valley on Cypress Point.

THE MYSTERIES REMAIN UNSOLVED: (1) Why the Woman’s Club was “not” named the Women’s Club? (2) What was the purpose of the earliest “clubs” in our city? The Errosophian Literary Society and a “26 Civic Club”?

NEXT COLUMN: (Sept. 11) Write to: CVBNeighbors@ aol.com about this column.

COMMENTARY

“Unaffordable, careless act”

By KARL ROVE Small businesses won’t grow, and more employees will work fewer hours. That’s just for starters.

Harvard (and later Columbia) sociologist Robert K. Merton wrote in 1936 about the “unanticipated consequences of purposive social action.” Pity that Barack Obama, an alumnus of both universities, either never read or took to heart Merton’s warnings. It would have saved Americans a lot of misery.

The president certainly did not promote the Affordable Care Act by promising it would mean more part-time and fewer full-time jobs. Yet that is one of its unanticipated consequences.

A major provision of ObamaCare requires companies to provide health insurance to any employee who works more than 30 hours a week or pay a $2,000 per-person fine. Not surprisingly, the number of hourly employees working 30-34 hours a week dropped by an average of 146,500 a month over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number working 25-29 hours rose by 119,000 a month.

Consider individual workers such as single working mothers who need at least 35 hours waiting tables plus tips to make ends meet. If they are cut to under 30 hours, they will have to look for second jobs. If these moms can find a second job, they’ll still have to juggle schedules, child care and transportation. Overall, even if 1% of the workforce is thus affected by this squeeze, that’s nearly 1.4 million Americans.

Then there are younger workers, many of whom will start their careers by stringing together several parttime jobs, perhaps for years.

Their predicament may delay when they start families, buy

homes, pay off student loans and become independent.

The president’s health law also unintentionally operates to prevent the smallest companies from growing. Owners have a strong incentive to stay below the law’s 50-employee threshold at which they are required to provide health insurance.

Here the U.S. is following in the footsteps of France and other countries with sclerotic economies. Earlier this year, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a study of the French regulatory burden on businesses with more than 50 employees.

The authors found that “firms will optimally choose to remain small to avoid the regulation, so the size distribution becomes distorted with ‘too many’ firms just below the size threshold and ‘too few’ firms just above it.” The report also noted that “some of those firms just below the cutoff” have, thanks to the regulation, “been prevented from growing to their optimal size.”

ObamaCare will have other consequences. Today, employers with so-called selffunded health plans act as their own insurer, collecting premiums and paying claims filed by employees. In 1999, 44% of workers receiving employer-provided health coverage were in such plans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Employer Health Benefits Survey. Today, 61% are.

More companies have an incentive to choose self-funding because the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Erisa) governs self-funded plans, not the Affordable Care Act. Erisa allows selffunded plans to charge premiums based on risk (unlike under ObamaCare), allows these plans to offer a wider menu of options, and lets them avoid

such expensive provisions as ObamaCare’s new tax on insurance policies.

The success of self-funded plans in restraining premium increases and managing costs concerns ObamaCare supporters. Some are trying to make this kind of employer coverage less attractive by undermining stop-loss insurance. This is the reimbursement contract a self-funded plan makes with a reinsurer that helps manage risk by paying large claims above a peremployee deductible.

The California legislature, for example, wants to make self-funded plans less appealing by establishing a $40,000 minimum deductible. Minnesota and Rhode Island are considering bills to require a $60,000 deductible. None of the states has a minimum deductible today.

Delaware, New York and Oregon already ban self-insurance by small- or midsize companies. Administrators of self-funded plans also worry that new Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez will ignore Erisa and issue regulations that erode the attractiveness of self-funded plans and push more companies’ health policies into ObamaCare’s morass.

The Affordable Care Act has yet to take full effect, but it is already beginning to exact a toll on workers and businesses. On top of all this, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in May that the number of uninsured Americans won’t fall below 30 million in the next decade. So much for ObamaCare’s promise of “universal” coverage.

A version of this article appeared August 29, 2013, in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Welcome to the Unaffordable Careless Act and online at WSJ.com.

25-year sentence awarded in Telfair home invasion case Aaron Nathaniel Reyes was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Aug. 23 for his part in a violent home invasion in the Telfair neighborhood of Sugar Land.

The 19 year-old Victoria man severely beat a woman and terrorized her family before stealing thousands of dollars worth of property in September 2012.

During trial, the victim testified that her doorbell rang on the night of September 24, 2012.

Expecting her son, she opened the door to find Aaron Reyes holding a pizza box, claiming her pizza had arrived.

As the homeowner explained that there must be some misunderstanding, Reyes forced his way into the home while four other suspects appeared and entered the home with him.

The victim testified that Reyes repeatedly kicked her and pistol-whipped her in the head – knocking out a tooth and causing serious injuries and extreme bruising.

The woman, her husband and daughter were forced to the floor at gunpoint under threats of death and sexual assault. The three victims were bound and blindfolded with duct tape.

The intruders remained in the home for as long as thirty minutes before escaping with the stolen property.

Days later, a Crime Stoppers tip led to the identification and eventual apprehension of Reyes and another of his co-defendants, 19 year-old Tyler Quinn.

“The level of violence here was shocking to even the most seasoned of officers and prosecutors,” said Pfeiffer, “but at

Reyes the end of the day, the right thing happened.”

Reyes was tried by a jury in the 268th District Court before Presiding Judge Brady Elliott,

but chose to have Judge Elliott determine his sentence.

Aggravated Robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Because a deadly weapon was used to commit the crime, Reyes will serve at least onehalf of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Quinn is set for trial on October 21, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Assistant District Attorneys Thomas Pfeiffer and Zahra Jivani Fenelon prosecuted the case.

Attorney Larry McDougal represented the defendant.

Olson’s comment on AARP challenged To the Editor: Congressman Pete Olson is in my crosshairs in his e-mail reply you printed in the article of his attack on the local Sugar Land and National AARP, specifically in his saying “ the fact that at the national level the AARP is a whole-owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party.”

When I read that, I called AARP HQ in Washington and was told that they are not a subsidiary of the Democrat party.

I guess he thought that just saying it and you printing it would make would make it true.

This really lowers my opinion of Olson and your reporting without questioning this.

What is his proof? I would hope that in your taking a second look at this you would confront Olson for proof and if not, then an apology to AARP and especially to your readers for such a untruth statement.

Its okay to be against AARP for their views, but spreading unfounded false statement is a different thing and speaks volumes to his creditability.

Bill McCrea

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Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate The Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 19 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2013 on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the offices of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, located at 445 Commerce Green Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas. 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:

J. M. Dinges, K. Curtice, and R. Walters

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.

Last 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 (+/-)

This Year

$ 0.800/$100

$ 0.800/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

$0 .000/$100 0.0000% $268,936 $289,117 $0 $0

$268,936 $2,151.49

$289,117 $2,312.94

$161.45 7.5041%

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.

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

INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 • Page 5

News Tea Party at the Dew House on Sept. 14

Join an intimate Tea Party at the historic Dew House/DeWalt Heritage Center in Missouri City, on September 14th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Located in Kitty Hollow Park near Sienna Plantation, the house has been preserved to reflect the history and way of life--not only of the Dew family--but the families who lived in the area during a period of significant development in Texas.

The Docents of Dew House have chosen to present this event to reflect the 1920s. It

was a time of great change in our country and the glory days of Dew House. While the Jazz age roared in the big cities, Victorian traditions were still celebrated in many homes across the country.

While enjoying a tour of the Dew House, guests will learn about innovations in food, dress and culture of the 1920s. All guests are invited to wear their favorite hat or select from one of ours. Following the tour, a formal tea will be served in the lovely dining room. The menu in-

cludes traditional finger sandwiches, fruit, an assortment of sweet treats, lemonade and, of course, tea.

The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children. ( All children must be accompanied by an adult) Attendance is limited to 20 guests.

To make a reservation (along with payment) contact: Daniela Abrego at 281-342 -1256.

Bring your appetite for history and Tea. And join us in supporting the rich history of Fort Bend County.

Merry Ministries: Women’s Interdenominational Bible Study Merry Ministries (www. merryministries.com) invites women of all ages to join in our Through the Bible Study.

This class provides members with a time of praise and worship, teaching from Mary Willis, prayer, and fellowship with other women in the community.

This fall the focus will be on wisdom for practical living as the study includes the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.

See how this biblical knowledge helps us with practical application leading to changed lives. These ancient writings are still valuable in the 21st century. Why? Perhaps it is because as one very wise man stated, “There is nothing new under the sun,” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Merry Ministries reaches and teaches hundreds of people not only in class but online. This fall the free podcasts will be expanded to

A caregiver is someone who has taken on the very selfless role of caring for a loved one. Many times the caregiver has the great responsibility of making sure their loved one’s basic needs are met which requires work and dedication.

By taking care of his or her own needs, the caregiver will be able to better care for those who depend on them. Powerful Tools for Caregivers® is an educational program to help family and friends caring for older adults with long-term health conditions.

The free seminar consists of six classes, each of which focuses on different tools that will help guide the caregiver through the caregiving journey. You will learn about setting goals, staying motivated and dealing with feelings of anger, guilt and depression, giving you the increased confidence and ability to cope with the demands of caregiving.

This six-week course begins Monday, September 16 and runs through Monday, October 21.

Classes are held every Monday from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Sweetwater Pavilion Chapel at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

To register or for more information, call the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Spiritual Care department at 281-274-7164 or email SNBowman@HoustonMethodist. org. Seating is Limited.

Veterans Luncheon speaker, SGT John Boerstler, in Anbar Province, Iraq for the first national elections, January 2005.

The Oyster Creek Rotary Club will hold its 14th annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon 11:30 a.m, Friday, November 8 at the City Centre at Quail Valley, Missouri City.

The speaker will be Missouri City native John Boerstler who served as a US Marine Corps sergeant in Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Djibouti, and Kenya. In Iraq, he was wounded, suffering severe trauma to his right eye.

John received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 2007, graduated from Texas A&M University, and is currently pursuing a master’s of public administration degree from the University of Houston.

In 2011 John was the recipient of a German Marshall Fellowship to represent the US in eight different European countries.

After working for a US Congressman and for two

Houston mayors, John is a strong advocate for veterans and is a manager for the Wounded Warrior Project and as the Board Chairman of the Lone Star Veterans Association.

Oyster Creek Rotary Club president, Cindy Fauvelle, describes the event as “a demonstration of our appreciation to veterans with introductions of each attending individual veteran in a relaxed and informal atmosphere led by our own Rotary Club member James Thurmond who will serve as MC and use his own US Army experience to facilitate an informative exchange with veterans.

The speaker, John Boerstler, will wrap up the luncheon with encouraging words of patriotism, service, and honor.”

There will also be the presentation of the US Flag to a distinguished veteran sponsored by Frances X. Gerosa Jr.

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate Melody Banken, Mary Willis, Tricia Zody and Debbie Fancher.

Evening Classes: Tuesdays include video casts of the lesat 6:30 p.m., starting Septemsons.

Register to attend Merry ber 3, 2013 Morning Classes: Ministries at www.merrymin- Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., istries.com or through Sugar starting September 4, 2013 Merry Ministries meets in Land First United Methodist Church at 281-491-6041. the Sanctuary at Sugar Land There is no cost and no writ- First United Methodist Church ten homework, but members (431 Eldridge Road). Praise are encouraged to read their and worship is led by ChrisBibles regularly. Childcare is tian Recording Artists Tricia Zody and Debbie Fancher. available with registration.

Charter Review to examine foundation of Sugar Land Volunteers are needed to review Sugar Land’s charter, a document that provides the foundation for governance in Sugar Land.

In 1981, Sugar Land citizens voted to adopt the City’s first home-rule charter. By converting from a general-law city to a homerule city, citizens chose to exercise their right under the Texas Constitution to make local laws to govern their own affairs.

The charter is the City’s ‘constitution’ and cannot be amended except by approval of the voters and not more than every two years.

Individuals who would like to serve on the Charter Review Commission should contact City Secretary Glenda Gundermann at (281) 275-2730 or fill out an application on the City’s Web site at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ charterreview. The deadline for receipt of applications is Sept. 16.

City Council is expected to appoint members to the

Powerful Oyster Creek Rotary hosts Tools for Iraq War veteran Caregivers® — Seminars

Charter Review Commission during October.

The commission’s recommendation to Council is expected early next year, with a possible charter review election called in the future.

“The charter review commission is a vital part of city government,” said City Manager Allen Bogard.

“It is important that the commission is composed of qualified, dependable and effective individuals who reflect the diversity of the community and geographical representation of the public.”

Previous Charter Review Commissions have taken the view that the charter is the City’s “constitution” and should only include the fundamental matters of local government.

For example, the number of council members on Council and the manner of election (by majority or plurality vote) are fundamental matters and should be addressed by the charter.

“Members of the commission should be representative of individuals with a background knowledge and expertise that will recognize and understand the legal complexities of the government structure,” said Bogard.

“They should be representatives who will bring forth neutral perspectives that promote and support the goal of effective local government.”

Book sale Join the First Colony Friends of the Library on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 9:00 a.m.2:00 p.m. at their monthly bargain book sale at First Colony Library (2121 Austin Parkway). Paperbacks, hardbacks, DVDs, children’s/ youth books, nonfiction and so much more at bargain prices~ most items $1 or less. Proceeds benefit the library and its programs.

The Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 15 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2013 on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the offices of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, located at 445 Commerce Green Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas. 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:

D. Koy, A. Harris, and F. Yonish

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.

Last 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 (+/-)

This Year

$ 0.800/$100

$ 0.800/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

$0 .000/$100 0.0000% $439,578 $460,291 $0 $0

$439,578 $3,516.62

$460,291 $3,682.33

$165.71 4.7122%

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.

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

Page 6 • INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

FORT BEND REAL ESTATE First Colony SL•$1,700,000•5/4+31/2/3 38CB

First Colony SL•$729,000•5/3+21/2/2 3135H

Anita Milne 281-413-9732 Beard Realty Group

Arlene Rolsen CRS, Realtor (281) 414-8400

First Colony SL•$425,000•5/3+11/2/2 3203SM

Knowledgeable! Experienced!

Hardworking!

Competitive!

Action Oriented!

MilneAnita@yahoo.com

Meadows Place • Meadowhollow • 4/2/2

Meadows Place • Alston • 4/2/2

Meadows Place • Brighton • 4/2/2

$157,500

$159,00

$149,900

www.ArleneRolsen.com

New Territory SL•$359,900 • 4/2+11/2/217WM

Pecan Grove Richmond•$265,000• 4/3+11/2/2 2102Q

Meadows Place • Monticeto • 4/2/2 Meadows Place • Meadowhollow • 4/2/2

Lease $3,000 mo.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Waterside at Riverstone and Auburn Manor at Riverstone, Section 1, Precinct 4.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by, Dianne Wilson Fort Bend County Clerk

THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF JOHNNY 0 MOORE UNKNOWN ADDRESS NOTICE: You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being October 07, 2013 a default judgment may be taken against you.

Said answer may be filed by mailing same to: District Clerk’s Office, 301 Jackson, Richmond, Texas 77469, or by bringing it to the office. Our street address is 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond TX 77469. We are located on the first floor of the Justice Center building.

The case is presently pending before the 240TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas, and was filed on APRIL 19, 2013. It bears cause number 13-DCV205814 and is styled: Midfirst Bank, v. Janet S. Moore, Joshua O’Neal Moore and the Unknown Heirs at Law of Johnny 0.Moore The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is: ADRIENNE KVELLO BARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TURNER & ENGEL LLP 15000 SURVEYOR BOULEVARD SUITE 100 ADDISON TX 75001 972-386-5040 The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is as follows to-wit: TITLE AND POSSESSION OF PROPERTY BEING LOT FIFTY NINE (59), BLOCK TEN (10), OF BRIARGATE, SECTION EIGHT (8), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 7 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. If this citation is not served, it shall be returned unserved. Issued under my hand and seal of said court at Richmond, Texas on this 23rd day of August, 2013.

District Clerk Annie Rebecca Elliott, Fort Bend County, Texas

By Deputy District Clerk Lisa Tucker 281-341-4516

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Long Meadow Farms, Section 16, Precinct 4.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

$144,900

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING On Monday, September 16, 2013, there will be held, during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City of Missouri City City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, a public hearing relating to amending Reinvestment Zone No. 6 for tax abatement purposes. The proposed amended Reinvestment Zone No. 6 is located on Reserves 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 in Block 2 of Lakeview Business Park, a recorded subdivision in the City of Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas, in the vicinity of Fondren Road and Buffalo Run, within the City of Missouri City. Any interested person is entitled to speak and present evidence for or against the redesignation of Reinvestment Zone No. 6.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, addressed to the City of Sugar Land, Texas, will be received until 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday, September 12, 2013, for: PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET VEHICLES Sealed bids shall be appropriately marked as follows: BID NO. 2013-29 PURCHASE OF CHEVROLET VEHICLES BIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by, Dianne Wilson Fort Bend County Clerk

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing a Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) for:

$169,900

City of Missouri City

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Silver Ranch, Section 4, Precinct 3.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Cinco Ranch Southwest, Section 59 and Section 61, Precinct 3.

$158,500

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN FORT BEND REAL ESTATE? Call Becky Hall at 713-291-8190 Or email sales@fbindependent.com

Submitted by, Dianne Wilson Fort Bend County Clerk

Submitted by, Dianne Wilson Fort Bend County Clerk

Meadows Place • Meadowhollow • 4/2/2

Bidder shall sign and date the bid. Bids that are not signed and dated will be rejected.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Candace Lee White, Deceased, were issued on June 24, 2013, in Cause No. 13CPR-025700, pending in the County Court at Law No. 4, Fort Bend County, Texas, to: Tera Janette Callan.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Tera Janette Callan 9122 Rappahanook Lane Rosenberg, Texas 77469-1782

Signed and sealed bids shall be delivered to the City Secretary Office, on or before 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday, September 12, 2013, City of Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. Bids received after the appointed time will be returned to bidder unopened. Notice of award of contract will be given by the City within thirty (30) days following the date for the opening of bids.

The City reserves the right to revise or amend specifications prior to the date set for opening of bids. Such revisions or amendments, if any, will be announced by addenda or addendum to the specifications. Copies of such addenda will be furnished to all prospective bidders and may or may not affect the bid opening date.

The City of Sugar Land reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive informalities in bids received. The award will be made to the lowest responsible bidder.

DATED 24th day of June, 2013.

Charles R. Huber, Jr. State Bar No.: 10144695 Attorney for Tera Janette Callan 14090 Southwest Freeway, Suite 300 Sugar Land, Texas 77478-3679 Telephone: (281) 340-8505 Facsimile: (866) 610-2279

City of Missouri City

ITB documents may be secured from City of Sugar Land; Office of City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, or by registering at www.publicpurchase.com. Registration is free. All bid documents, amendments and other information relating to the bid will be posted on this site.

Questions regarding the bid must be received by Thursday, September 5, 2013 on or before 3:00 P.M. Please contact Robert Hazelrig, Facilities Coordinator, telephone number (281) 275-2723 or email rhazelrig@sugarlandtx. gov.

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC City Secretary

LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing a Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) for:

Concrete Sidewalk Construction and Repair- REBID CSP # 029-14

City of Missouri City

Concrete Street Construction and Repair – REBID CSP # 030-14 The City of Missouri City is soliciting proposals for concrete sidewalk construction and repair. The City intends to contract with a contractor(s) to provide all material, labor, and equipment necessary to perform new construction and repairs of concrete sidewalks at various locations in the City on an as-needed basis.

No pre-proposal meeting is scheduled. All questions shall be submitted by emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing Manager.

The solicitation is available by download through Demandstar at www.demandstar. com and Public Purchase at www.publicpurchase.com.

Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the CSP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Proposal Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Proposals are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing an Invitation For Bid (IFB) for: Mosquito Spraying Services IFB #020-14 The City of Missouri City is soliciting bids from qualified vendors to provide mosquito spraying services.

No pre-bid meeting. All bid questions shall be submitted in writing emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing and Risk Manager.

The deadline for submitting questions for this bid is 2:00 PM CT, September 12, 2013.

Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time September 17, 2013 and then publicly opened.

Bid packages are available by contacting DemandStar bid service at (800) 711-1712 or download free from the Public Purchase website at www.publicpurchase.com.

Bids 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. Bids must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Bid packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Bids are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

The City intends to hire a general contractor (s) to provide all material, labor, and equipment necessary to perform new construction and repairs of concrete streets and related sidewalks at various locations in the City on an as-needed basis.

No pre-proposal meeting is scheduled. All questions shall be submitted by emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing Manager.

The solicitation is available by download through Demandstar at www.demandstar. com and Public Purchase at www.publicpurchase.com.

Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the CSP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Proposal Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Proposals are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

City of Missouri City

LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for: GOLF CARTS RFP # 027-14 The City of Missouri City is soliciting proposals for the lease of golf carts for use by the Quail Valley Golf Course.

No pre-proposal conference is scheduled. All solicitation questions shall be submitted in writing emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing and Risk Manager. The deadline for submitting questions for this solicitation is 2:00 PM CT, September 12, 2013. Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time September 17, 2013 and then publicly opened.

Proposal packages are available by contacting DemandStar bid service at (800) 7111712 or download free from the Public Purchase website at www.publicpurchase.com.

Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the proposal name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Proposal Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Proposals are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.

LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for: INSURANCE BENEFITS CONSULTING SERVICES-REBID RFP # 031-14 The City of Missouri City is soliciting proposals for insurance benefits consulting services.

No pre-proposal meeting is scheduled. All questions shall be submitted by emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing Manager.

RFP packages are available by download through Demandstar at www.demandstar. com and Public Purchase at www.publicpurchase.com.

Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery package with the solicitation title and number as listed above, and the date of opening.

Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Proposal Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Proposals are opened publicly in the City Hall Council Chambers.

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE The City of Missouri City, Texas is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for: Cost Recovery for Emergency Services - REBID RFP # 032-14 The City of Missouri City is soliciting proposals for cost recovery for emergency services.

No pre-proposal meeting is scheduled. All questions shall be submitted by emailed to aguerrero@missouricitytx.gov, Alfonso Guerrero Jr., Purchasing Manager.

RFP packages are available by download through Demandstar at www.demandstar. com and Public Purchase at www.publicpurchase.com.

Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the proposal title and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Proposal Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Proposals are publicly opened in the City Hall Council Chambers.

INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 • Page 7

News Fort Bend Docents to take ‘Virtual Tour’ At 10 A.M. on Saturday, Sept. 14th, Fort Bend Museum Docents are scheduled to take an enjoyable step back in time to historic Sugar Land.

Tour guides will be Tracy and Roberta Prater from the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation. This virtual tour will take place at the Gus George Academy, 1521 Eugene Heimann Circle and the public is invited.

Docent co-vice president John Baker reports, “The Praters will lead us on the historic walking tour using photos and video to transport us down the monthly Heritage Hike route from the Imperial Sugar Char House, up to The Hill, over to the historic Sugar Land Auditorium at Lakeview and back.”

The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation began as a coalition of citizens working to preserve the historical artifacts, documents, and photographs that traced the evolu-

tion of their community from its early days as a sugarcane plantation into its modern era as one of the fastest growing cities in Texas.

The docents are volunteers who support the mission of the Fort Bend County Museum Association, which is “to preserve the history of Fort Bend County and the surrounding area. The Association strives to inspire and educate the public for the purpose of strengthening awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage for future generations.” According to Felesa Baker, Docent co-vice president, “This is another program in a series designed to support and extend that purpose.”

The Fort Bend County Museum Association has preserved and interpreted Fort Bend County and Texas history since 1967. For more information, please visit www. fortbendmuseum.org

WJ Interests ranked top financial advisor by HBJ, Texas Monthly and Financial Advisor magazines WJ Interests, LLC, has been ranked a top financial advisor for the first time by the Houston Business Journal, which joins Financial Advisor and Texas Monthly magazines in their annual rankings of top advisors. This is WJ’s first appearance on the HBJ list, which was started in 2011. WJ is also the only Sugar Land firm included on the HBJ list.

The HBJ list was published in the week of June 28-July 4, 2013, edition, and was developed in partnership with the National Association of Board Certified Advisory Practices to select the best practices in the area. Each participating practice completed a lengthy questionnaire, which was then verified and checked with the advisors’ compliance records and any licenses and designations held to confirm they are current and compliant. The result is a quantitative score that enables NABCAP to objectively compare all the submissions. The scores are not made public and qualifying advisors are listed alphabetically, because NABCAP believes there is not one perfect practice for every investor.

WJ made its sixth appearance on the Financial Advisor Magazine ranking of top advisors published in the July 2013 issue, moving up to 391 from 402 last year. WJ is the only Sugar Land advisory firm, and one of only three in Fort Bend NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 22ND day of JULY, 2013 by the 400TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 11-DCV-168674 in favor of the Plaintiff - MISSION WEST CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, for the sum of $8,036.73++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on August 6, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 FELICIA P. ADUSEI had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 34, BLOCK 02, OF MISSION WEST, SECTION 3, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 32, PAGE 11 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS,AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF. 17347 GAUCHO DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77083.

Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73

Bill and Jared Jameson County, to be ranked; 28 Texas firms made the 2013 list.

This will be WJ’s fifth appearance on the Texas Monthly magazine ranking of Five Star Personal Wealth Managers in the Houston Region, which will be published in the September issue of the magazine.

Some 95,000 high-net-worth residents were asked to evaluate wealth managers they know through personal experience and to rate them based upon nine criteria: customer service, integrity, knowledge/expertise, communication, value for fee charged, meeting of financial objectives, post-sale service, quality of recommendations and overall satisfaction. The resulting list represents less than 2 percent of wealth managers in the Houston area.

For more information, contact WJ Interests at 281-6349400 or wj@wjinterests.com.

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 22ND day of JULY, 2013 by the 400TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 11-DCV-195241 in favor of the Plaintiff - MISSION WEST CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, for the sum of $4,488.11++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on August 6, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 FELICIA P. ADUSEI had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 3, BLOCK 5, OF MISSION WEST, SECTION 3, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 32, PAGE 11 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS,AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF. 7627 LORD LINDA DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77083.

Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73

New Headache Center is now open It can start as a dull ache — barely noticeable — but by the end of the day you’re clutching your forehead in pain. “Most of the time, headaches are a nuisance and nothing to worry about,” says Rajesh Bindal, M.D., neurosurgeon and medical director of the neuroscience program at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “However, if headaches disrupt your life on a regular basis, they should be discussed with a physician.”

Headaches can come and go with no warning and no clear cause. Other times, they can be a symptom of another disease or condition. Knowing the symptoms of different types of headaches can help you get the appropriate treatment.

• Tension headache.

Your headache might be due to tension if the pain is dull and achy. Tension headaches are also usually accompanied by a sore neck and can often be treated with over-the-counter pain medications.

• Migraine. A migraine is characterized by throbbing, severe pain that lasts from four to 72 hours. The pain can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. If you feel the symptoms of a migraine coming on, rest in a quiet, dark room. A hot or cold compress on the forehead can help, as can trying to sleep.

If home remedies don’t work, talk to your physician about other non-drug therapies or prescription medications.

• Chronic headache.

If you experience headaches more than 14 days of a month, you might have chronic headaches. They can feel moderate to severe, and they may be a sign of an underlying condition.

Neurologists affiliated with Houston Methodist Sugar Land Headache Center: Larry Tran, M.D.; Irfan Lalani, M.D.; Eddie Patton Jr., M.D.; Amitabh Shukla, M.D.; M. Faisal Khan, M.D. • Rebound headache.

Unfortunately, sometimes what helps headaches can make them worse. If you take pain medication for headaches often, and the headache returns, you might be experiencing a rebound headache. The only way to stop the cycle of rebound headaches is to discontinue the use of that particular medication.

• Cluster headache. A cluster headache is a rare condition that affects less than 1% of adults. It is characterized by a sharp, severe pain that is often only on one side of the head. It is very painful, but lasts a short time — about 45 to 90 minutes.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of our new Headache Center. All physicians affiliated with the Headache Center are board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Through years of specialty education and training, our headache experts have the experience required to accurately diagnose and treat headaches

Digital photography for beginners at Sienna branch library The family is coming over, and you’re dying to show them your vacation pictures from your digital camera. The only problem is you don’t know a megabyte from a mega-nibble. What do you do? Don’t panic! Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs in Missouri City, will present an introductory program, “Digital Photography for Beginners,” on Tuesday, September 17, beginning at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab. A staff person from Adult Services department of the library will review the major components of photography, and the various functions and capabilities of a digital camera. Learn how to use free, online photo-editing tools, such as FotoFlexer™, to create special photo effects. Participants are encouraged to bring a USB flash drive containing a picture that they would like to edit.

The class is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Calendar,” select “Sienna Branch Library,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library at 281-238-2952, or by visiting the library.

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 22ND day of JULY, 2013 by the 400TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 11-DCV-186459 in favor of the Plaintiff - MISSION WEST CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, for the sum of $7,407.78++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on August 6, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 FELICIA P. ADUSEI had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 15, BLOCK 07, OF MISSION WEST, SECTION 2, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 29, PAGE 4 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS,AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF. 17023 COSTERO DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77083.

Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 22ND day of JULY, 2013 by the 240TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 12-DCV-198750 in favor of the Plaintiff - MISSION WEST CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, for the sum of $9,068.73 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same.

I have levied on August 6, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 Michael P. Robinson had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 4, BLOCK 3, OF MISSION WEST, SECTION 1, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 23, PAGE 17 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF. 16614 ALAMETOS DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77083.

Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73

and are committed to developing a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

The Headache Center offers expedited appointments for physician evaluation. Patients may self-refer or be referred by their physician. Headaches don’t have to ruin your day or quality of life. Call or email the Headache Center at 281276-8999 or headachecenter@houstonmethodist.org to NOTICE OF CONSTABLES SALE THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF FORT BEND By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 268TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on the 9th day of AUGUST, 2013 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of CITY OF ROSENBERG VS. CYNTHIA SALINAS in Cause #09-DCV-169959 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on the 1ST day of OCTOBER, 2013, which is the first Tuesday of said month, at the Fort Bend County Justice Center Parking Garage, 1418 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, Texas, Level 1 of the Parking Garage at the South End, West Comer, near Stairway “B” of the Clubhouse of said FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit: TRACT 1 : GEO: 7610010040060901 LOT SIX (6) AND (W15’) LOT SEVEN (7), BLOCK FOUR (4), RIVERSIDE TERRACE, SECTION ONE (1), FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN CLERK’S FILE NUMBER 2004032500 OF THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. Levied on the 26TH day of AUGUST, 2013 as the property of CYNTHIA SALINAS, ENCARNACION SALINAS, JR., AKA ENACARNACION SALINAS to satisfy a judgment amounting to $5,361.60, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of CITY OF ROSENBERG, FORT BEND COUNTY AND LAMAR CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. Given Under my hand this 26TH day of AUGUST , 2013.

A.J. DORR, Constable Precinct One Fort Bend County, Texas

By Corporal Mike Beard, Deputy

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 11th day of JULY, 2013 by the 268TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 13-DCV-203570 in favor of the Plaintiff - QUAIL BRIDGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, for the sum of $4,448.80++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same.

I have levied on August 27, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 CARLOS ERNESTO MERINO AND DEISY GLORIA ZELAYA had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: THE EASTERLY PORTION OF LOT 2, BLOCK 6, OF QUAIL BRIDGE, SECTION 2, BEING A REPLAT OF RIDGEMONT, SECTION 5, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 25, PAGE 15 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS,(“THE PROPERTY”) ALSO KNOWN AS 5439 RIDGE WIND LANE, HOUSTON, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS 77053.

Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73

schedule your appointment with a specialized physician who will help identify treatment options for you.

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 2ND day of AUGUST, 2013 by the District Court of Brazoria County, Texas in cause # 70285 in favor of the Plaintiff - WILLIAM W. CASON, Plaintiff, for the sum of $39,190.58 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same.

I have levied on August 21, 2013 and will offer for sale on the 1st day of October, 2013 at the County Courthouse 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 Michael P. Robinson had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: CURRENT STREET ADDRESS OF 4410 PINE LANDING DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77459 LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT EIGHTEEN (18), IN BLOCK ONE (1) OF ESTATES OF SILVER RIDGE, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NOS. 2200/A, 2200/B, AND 2201/A OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. Terms: Cash Time : Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M. Ruben Davis, Constable Precinct Two Fort Bend County, Texas

By Lieutenant G. Majors Deputy Constable #73 NOTICE OF CONSTABLES SALE THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF FORT BEND By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 240TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on the 9th day of AUGUST, 2013 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of NEEDVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. JESSE K. DUBOSE, ET AL in Cause #10DCV-184699 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on the 1ST day of OCTOBER, 2013, which is the first Tuesday of said month, at the Fort Bend County Justice Center Parking Garage, 1418 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, Texas, Level 1 of the Parking Garage at the South End, West Comer, near Stairway “B” of the Clubhouse of said FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit: TRACT 1 AND 2: GEO: 0223000001072906 AND 0223000001073906 A 0.41 ACRE TRACT OF LAND, ORE OR LESS, OUT OF SECTION 35 OF THE H. & T.C. RAILROAD SURVEY, ABSTRACT 223, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO A DEED RECORDED UNDER CLERK’S FILE NUMBER 2003129631 OF THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE COUNTY CLERK, FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS ON EXHIBIT “A” ATTACHED THERE TO. (THIS TRACT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TWO ACCOUNT NOS:0223.00.000.1072.906/PARCEL ID.R139468 AND 223.00.000 1073.906/PARCEL ID. R155238) Levied on the 26TH day of AUGUST, 2013 as the property of AMEGY BANK, NA, NEW FIRST NATIONAL BANK, JESSE K. DUBOSE AND TRICHA DUBOSE to satisfy a judgment amounting to $30,508.03, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of NEEDVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY OF NEEDVILLE, FORT BEND COUNTY, WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE , FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT AND FORT BEND COUNTY GENERAL FUND AND FORT BEND COUNTY LATERAL FLOOD ROAD CONTROL. ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. Given Under my hand this 26TH day of AUGUST , 2013.

A.J. DORR, Constable Precinct One Fort Bend County, Texas

By Corporal Mike Beard, Deputy

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

AUTOMOBILE: Lexus IS F

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The IS F was the first Lexus to wear the brand’s “F” marque when it was introduced for the 2008 model year. This high performance sport sedan now shares the “F” badge with the LFA supercar.

The fun-to-drive IS F brings an exhilarating experience to the line-up with its high performance 5.0-liter V8 and deep, throaty exhaust note.

The exhaust roars through four chrome tailpipes and when you stomp the accelerator to the floor, have the steering wheel firmly gripped. The engine’s high specific output (83 horsepower) and high operating range (6,800 rpm redline) helps provide a rush of power at higher engine speeds.

The V8 engine makes 416 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 371 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5,200 rpm.

Lexus claims “the world’s first” eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift automatic transmission. It combines the performance characteristics of an automated manual-type transmission with the smoothness and refinement of a planetarytype automatic transmission.

It allows gear ratios that maximize torque up to the tiregrip limitations in the lower ranges while optimizing efficiency.

The driver can shift manually, in either D or M modes, using either the console shift or steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Shifts are quicker and more direct in M mode where the transmission will hold each gear to the 6,800-rpm redline, and upshifts are executed in just one-tenth of a second.

At higher engine speeds, downshifts are accompanied by automated and precise

throttle blips to match engine rpm to vehicle speed.

The driver can select Normal, Sport or Snow driving modes with the flip of a switch.

The Lexus IS F is based on the IS platform, which was engineered to allow a high dynamic envelope. Although using the basic double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension configurations of the IS platform, the IS F features a multitude of track-proven modifications.

Those modifications are why there are numerous safety features as standard and optional on the IS F -- to keep the wouldbe F1 driver in his/ her lane. For instance the optional Pre-Collision System (PCS) can help reduce collision damage with its Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. It uses millimeter-wave radar to measure and maintain a preset distance from a vehicle traveling ahead and to detect obstacles in front of the car.

If a collision is unavoidable the system preemptively increases braking the instant the driver depresses the pedal.

Based on the IS luxury sport sedan, the IS F is clearly different. The hood’s raised center section makes room for the V8 powerplant, and the front fenders were wid-

FILM REVIEW

ened to envelop the 19-inch low-profile tires. Total grille area is increased to ensure adequate and the lower grille is flanked by large brake cooling ducts adjacent to standard fog lamps.

Navigation equipped vehicles feature Lexus Enform® with App Suite. Users can conduct local searches through Bing. A one-year trial subscription is included for the App Suite.

For 2013 the Lexus IS F got refined suspension tuning and it sits an inch lower on its suspension than the standard IS models. The lower suspension lowers the center of gravity and helps provide a quicker handling response.

Spring and damper rates are increased, and larger-diameter stabilizer bars are used.

Subframe suspension and engine mounts are stiffer than on other IS models to help reduce sway and enhance control under acceleration and braking. Special jounce stoppers on both the front and rear suspension come into play early in the compression stroke to help reduce the sway angle when cornering and to reduce dive when braking.

The IS F features 19inch forged-alloy wheels by BBS® with a distinct darkgray finish and an asymmetrical 10-spoke design. Michelin

Pilot Sport PS2 and Bridgestone Potenza tires were each developed specifically for the IS F’s 170-mph track capability.

The IS F’s Brembo brakes were designed to the specifications of the Lexus engineering team. The 14.2-inch ventilated, drilled front rotors are gripped by rigid, six-piston aluminum calipers, and the 13.6-inch ventilated, drilled rear rotors use two-piston calipers.

Standard amenities include 10-way power front seats; dual-zone automatic climate control, a pollen filter and smog detector; power moonroof with one-touch open/ close and seven open-position settings; power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; threeposition memory function for front seats, steering wheel and mirrors; all power windows with automatic up/down operation and jam protection; an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with a HomeLink® programmable garage door opener; automated rain-sensing wipers and heated autodimming outside mirrors with integrated puddle lamps.

The standard Lexus Premium Audio System features a six-disc, in-dash CD changer, 13 speakers, USB/iPod® connectivity, streaming audio via Bluetooth® and an integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio receiver (complimentary 90-day trial subscription included).

Luxury Options include a 14-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound audio system, park assist, navigation system with voice command and rear back-up camera.

Sixty one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars will buy you a world of fast, classy fun.

Five Blokes from Britain; I guess that’s redundant but true.

These five friends tried to re-capture their youth when they went on a pub crawl; we use to call it bar hopping. Four of the five reached maturity with families and jobs. There’s always one in every pub. This time it’s Gary King (Simon Pegg) who convinces the other four to reunite for a frolicking pub crawl through 12 bars. The last bar is “The World’s End.” I was hoping for a resurrection of the amusement and excitement of “The Full Monty” (1997) but I got The Full Stupid.

This movie was painful and I am a tad chagrined that I did not walk out. The fight scene in the men’s room kept me from bouncing down the stairs and out the door of Theatre #6. I did not want to leave the other five patrons who appeared to want to stay for the entire movie. You, too, will take notice of this fight, as the movie goes in a dramatically different direction for the rest of the film. That’s assuming you will ever see this movie, which is doubtful. I strongly urge you to keep your money and wait until it comes out on basic cable.

Who is to blame for this debacle? Simon Pegg! He was the star, in almost every scene, and co-wrote with the director Edgar Wright. These two must have spent a lot of time in pubs doing research and had one too many pints as they were breathing their own air when formulating this silly, asinine story. Pegg is a comedian by trade and I’m convinced that he sincerely believed that he was being charming and charismatic when in fact he was dull and dim-witted. The other four co-stars were delightful and enchanting; especially the bespectacled Andy (Nick Frost). The 40 year-old Frost is the only winner in this mess.

Who on God’s green earth will want to see this movie? The bored and those who tend to participate in cult-like oddities.

This movie is so depraved that it has a shot at a long-term audience. Those folks who like to stay up all night watching movies due to insomnia and think they’ve discovered a nugget and then must share with their wacky friends. Hey, I resemble that!

Rock ‘n Roll.

Grade 69.

Larry H. sugarlaw@larryharrison.com

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. 128 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2013 on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. at the offices of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce of Commerce, located at 445 Commerce Green Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas. 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. 129 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2013 on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at the offices of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce of Commerce, located at 445 Commerce Green Boulevard, Sugar, Texas. 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:

J.E. Whitmore, III, M. Cabiro,and H. Millis

FOR the proposal:

R. E. Wong, D. Groves, L. Garcia, and R. Ferguson

AGAINST the proposal:

(None)

AGAINST the proposal:

None

PRESENT and not voting:

(None)

PRESENT and not voting:

None

ABSENT:

B. Bates and H. Murray II

ABSENT:

R. Tyler

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 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 (+/-)

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.

This Year

$ 0.700/$100

$ 0.700/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

$0 .000/$100 0.0000% $402,505 $424,717 $0 $0

$402,505 $2,817.54

$424,717 $2,973.02

$155.48 5.5183%

Last 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 (+/-)

This Year

$ 0.670/$100

$ 0.650/$100

(Adopted)

(Proposed)

- $0 .20/$100 -2.9851% $359,900 $381,703 $0 $0

$359,900 $2,411.33

$381,703 $2,481.07

$69.74 2.8922%

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.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 • INDEPENDENT • Page 9

Memorial Hermann Heroes in Health partners with Mockingbird Bistro Karyn Guerrero, Memorial Hermann Heroes in Health steering committee member, shares a smile with friend Aubre Barr. Guerrero is responsible for introducing Mockingbird Bistro owner and executive chef John Sheely to Heroes in Health.

Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Portfolio & Commercial Loans (L-R) Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital (CMHH) executives and affiliated physicians pictured: Dr. KuoJen Tsao, pediatric surgeon and co-director of the Texas Fetal Center; Dr. Keely Smith, pediatrician; Ileana Treviño, chief executive officer of the Memorial Hermann Foundation; Holly Elliot, chief of hospital operations at CMHH; and Dr. Alfred Mansour, pediatric orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeon. On Tuesday, August 27, Memorial Hermann Heroes in Health hosted a private luncheon at Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar benefiting CMHH. The luncheon raised $4,000 thanks to the generosity of Mockingbird Bistro owner and executive chef John Sheely and his wife, Violeta Sheely.

CMHH executives and affiliated physicians rotated tables throughout the three-course meal, allowing them to connect personally with the many young professionals who were in attendance at the luncheon. The Heroes plan to continue this new partnership with Chef Sheely by hosting an upcoming happy hour at his soon-to-open Osteria Mazzantini.

Rates Posted Daily at

www.HomeWayMortgage.com

Mockingbird Bistro owner and executive chef John Sheely greets his guests. Right, Dr. Alfred Mansour, pediatric orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeon affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital talks with Julie Voss, system executive of the Memorial Hermann Foundation.

Secure Online Application: Call Today: (281) 565-8500 www.HomeWayMortgage.com 414 W. Grand Pkwy. S., Ste. 116, Katy, TX 77494 NMLS # 214884

Page 10 • INDEPENDENT • SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

We Are Fort Bend Proud!

Proudly Supporting Fort Bend County

Anita Hochstein

Angie Snyder

281-630-7355 direct

Proudly Supports Fort Bend County

281.787.8718

Heritage

Proudly Committed to Serving Fort Bend County & Sugar Land

Himesh Gandhi, Councilman At-Large, City of Sugar Land

Sandersen Knox & Co,LLP Certified Public Accountants

Alan Sandersen Proudly Helping Fort Bend 281.242.3232 www.sktx.com

HRBACEK & Harish Jajoo,

ASSOCIATES, Councilman,P.C.

Proudly serving District 4 the Fort Bend community.

City of Sugar Land

Providing fee-only services to individuals, families and businesses since 1996.

(281) 634-9400 www.wjinterests.com

Andy Meyers Dean Hrbacek Brazos Professional Building toBlvd.# Serve110 130Proud Industrial Sugar Land Sugar Land, Texas and 77478 281-240-2424 Fort Bend Email:Dhrbacek@ County hrbacek.com

The Holoway Jones Law Firm Serving Fort Bend Since 1981

Russsell C. Jones Thelma Holoway Jones Stephanie Stigant Proud to be the official newspaper of record for Fort Bend County, city of Missouri City & city of Sugar Land.

407 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land 77478 281.242.8100 www.JonesAttorneys.com rjones@jonesattorneys.com

Commissioner Pct. 3 Fort Bend County is Proud to Serve Fort Bend County Citizens