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VOL 11 No. 50
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Yolanda Ford elected Missouri City mayor
Stafford MSD joins holiday food drive
By BARBARA FULENWIDER Yolanda Ford, a five-year council member beat long-time Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen in the Dec. 8 runoff election. Ford got 5,015 votes or 51.93% to his 4,642 votes for 48.07%. In the Nov. 6 primary race Owen beat Ford 8,136 votes to her 7,886 when there were three candidates running for the major’s seat. The third candidate was Fred Taylor who received almost 29 % of the vote. Two other Missouri City candidates vied for the at-large position 2 and the incumbent, Chris Preston, kept his seat with 6,050 votes. Susan Soto received 3,377 votes in that race. A total of 9,657 citizens voted in the mayoral race and 9,427 voted in the at-large position 2 race. Missouri City has 49,331 registered voters. Yolanda Ford said she is “so proud that the residents of Missouri City have elected me as their mayor. After having served on city council for the past five years and as a lifelong resident, I am deeply invested in the wellbeing and growth of Missouri City and I look forward to working
with citizens, the city council and others toward its betterment.” During her campaign she said, “There’s a need for a new vision and direction for our city.” She said the city’s immediate needs are to increase revenue, repair infrastructure, address public safety and redevelop major corridors. She added that she also wants to implement a comprehensive plan that addresses the city’s challenges, needs to start to assume municipal utilities and improve the aesthetics of the major corridors. The newly elected mayor was born in and grew up in Fort Preston was re-elected for a Bend. She is a product of the third term. Fort Bend Independent School to spend more time with my District where she graduated from family, play more golf, and sleep John Foster Dulles High School. better at night. I have not gone From there she earned a bachelor away, I am just starting another of science degree in psychology chapter in my life. I think God still from the University of Houston has other plans for me.” Owen was the 10th mayor of and got her master’s degree in Missouri City, where he and his architecture at Prairie View A&M wife have lived for 36 years. He The Stafford Municipal School District participated in the ABC Channel 13 Share Your Holidays University. She has worked as a Food Drive, in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, last week. Stafford MSD’s Maintenance land planner for Missouri City was elected mayor in 1994 and and Operations delivered the donations – which were collected at campuses throughout the District and now does land planning for prior to that was a member of over the past month -- to the Ismaili Jamatkhana Center in Sugar Land where there was a Share Houston. She will take her oath of the city’s planning and zoning Your Holidays Celebration. Fort Bend County Judge-Elect K.P. George, right, Stafford MSD Board commission for five years. In office as mayor on Dec. 17. 1986 he ran for and won a seat Vice President Xavier Herrera and Stafford High Principal Raymond Root volunteered alongside About the election results, Fort Bend County Commissioner-Elect Ken DeMerchant at the event. The Stafford Cheer Team Owen said, “I am proud of what on city council that he kept for 8 and the Stafford Sensations Dance Team performed at Friday’s celebration event. I have helped the city accomplish years. During Owen’s tenure as mayor this past 39 years. When I began he has seen his community grow this journey we were a sleepy from 24,000 people to 70,000 and little bedroom community of counting. Thanks to his knowledge 24,000 people. Today we are a and know how he has played a thriving multi purpose city of major role in building a strong nearly 80,000. economy of quality residential “I am glad to have just been a and commercial developments. part of that growth. In elections Owen is a retired senior vice there are always winners and president and Texas government losers. The citizens have spoken and said they are ready for liaison for Wells Fargo Bank someone else to take the reins. I of Texas. He participates in wish the new mayor and council numerous community activities the best and I will now go back to that include numerous volunteer being the normal citizen I was 39 hours. years ago. “It will give me the opportunity See INSIDE TRACK, Page 4
Fort Bend ISD joined the nation in mourning the passing of President George H. W. Bush. At Bush High School, students honored the life of their school’s namesake, recalling how he modeled student leadership. “I can say for everyone at our school that we are proud to be a Bush Bronco because of our school’s namesake and the life he led,” said Student Council member Valeria Pineda. Pineda worked with her fellow Student Council members to coordinate week-long activities and tributes to honor President Bush. They began the week with a moment of silence and viewing of a video titled, “Remembering our Namesake, George H. W. Bush.” Students also wrapped ribbon in patriotic colors around outside columns and placed a floral arrangement donated by Flowers by Adela near the dedication wall at the front of the school. During a concert on Tuesday night, Dec. 4, the school’s varsity orchestra performed two pieces in honor of President Bush – Rhosymedre by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, and a brief setting of America the Beautiful, arranged by BHS Orchestra Director Brian Runnels. Orchestra members also stepped out of their uniform dress code and wore colorful
socks in honor of the president, who was a self-proclaimed sock man. All BHS students and staff wore patriotic colors and crazy socks mid-week, continuing their tribute to President Bush. On Dec. 5, the National Day of Mourning, 22 of the school’s Navy JROTC cadets took part in the Arrival Ceremony at Ellington Field, where they were among guests to welcome the president’s family as they returned from Washington, D.C. on Air Force One. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected to attend the ceremony,” said NJROTC Commanding Officer Aresha Sheikh. “I’ve never done anything like this before. I get emotional thinking about it.”
Mayor-elect Yolanda Ford
FBISD’s Bush High School students pay tribute to President George H. W. Bush
“The students are so deserving of this honor,” said BHS Principal Felicia James. “They are about to be part of a historical moment that they will remember always.” To finish out the week’s events, the Student Council arranged 41 tea lights down a hallway leading to a tribute table where students can pay their respects. Students decorated pillars in the school’s Commons with scrolls of President Bush’s accomplishments. Thursday morning, BHS’ Fellowship of Christian Athletes held a prayer vigil, and on Friday, the activities concluded with a campus-wide parade featuring the BHS drumline.