Fort Bend Independent 071719

email: editor@fbindependent.com

VOL 12 No. 29

Phone: 281-980-6745

www.fbindependent.com

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019

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

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

County’s facilities bond proposal undergoes major overhaul

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County’s proposed ‘Facilities Bond’ is reshaping into a ‘flood mitigation, mobility and facilities bond.’

An informal survey conducted

by Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers revealed that a majority of residents in Pct. 3 overwhelming supported a bond for flood mitigation, followed by mobility. Facilities earned the least priority.

This perception was further solidified after Meyers held two public meetings to get input on the proposed bond election.

In the survey, 285 people responded as of July 11 and 64 percent supported a bond election.

Asked to indicate ‘very important, somewhat important and not important’ projects, more than 200 of the 285 respondents cited flood mitigation as very important to them, followed by a little more than 100 saying mobility is very important and less than 50 voting for facilities as very important.

Besides the public perception on flood mitigation and mobility as important, a suggested facilities bond of about $240 million, followed by another $200 million mobility bond next year, would leave no scope for any tax rate reduction for the next several years. This prompted Meyers to revise the bond proposal.

Meyers has revised the plan to include 5 different propositions, worth a total of $213.4 million, leaving about $240 million unspent in bond capacity.

Meyers’ first proposition allocates $66 million earmarked for flood mitigation projects, leveraging about $400 million for flood mitigation projects and lists the specific projects to be funded.

The original proposal included $100 million for flood mitigation with about $40 million for unspecified projects.

The second proposition for “Public Safety Facilities” includes $24 million for juvenile detention facility, $12 million for Office of Emergency Management and $3.2 million for improvements to Emergency Medical Services, totaling $39.2 million.

The initial proposal in

the Facilities Bond included $30.4 million for juvenile detention, $27.3 million for a multi-purpose facility in the Fairgrounds, $23.2 million for Office of Emergency Management and $3.2 million for improvements to the EMS. While Pct. 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales is ready to pull his proposal for the multipurpose facility, it remains to be seen how much County Judge KP George is willing to reduce the proposed costs to the Office of Emergency Management.

Proposition 3, suggested by Meyers under the caption Public Use Facilities/Parks allocates a total of $24.5 million — $12 million – Precinct 2 Youth Sports Center; $4.5 million – Precinct 4 Complex / Honoring SL 95; Using 10 acres at the SL 95 Site to locate a new complex for the community, bringing together Precinct 4 offices and public attention and foot traffic to the history and legacy of the site; and $8,000,000 for parks giving $2 million for each precinct.

In the initial bond proposal Pct. 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage has asked for $16 million for the Youth Sports Activity Center and another $9.5 million for improvements to other sports and park facilities in Pct. 2.

There is an additional $8 million requested for park improvements all over the county.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Ken R. DeMerchant has asked for $7.5 million to build a new annex near the Grand Parkway @ U.S. 90 and another $3.5 million for the Sugar Land #95 memorial park and exhibition.

The fourth proposition on mobility is for $66 million.

It includes $36 million for mobility projects countywide and $30 million in Pct. 3.

In Prop. 5, a $20 million bond would substitute the projects proposed under general obligation bonds, financed by property taxes.

Fort Bend Commissioners Court will have a workshop on the facilities bond proposal this Thursday.

The agenda document lists the following as the proposed projects:

Juvenile Detention Expansion Expansion and renovation of the existing campus to bring up to standards and accommodate future growth $30,400,000 Elections Administration Bldg New 25,800 sf facility to accommodate growth of the County’s elections functions $5,700,000 Precinct 4 Annex New 21,000 sf facility to provide office space for Commissioner, JP Court, Constable, Tax Office / County Clerk satellite locations and Employee Wellness Room $6,000,000 EMS Misc Improvements Various projects involving several EMS station sites $3,200,000 Multi-Purpose Facility New 102,700 sf facility to provide Deferred flexible, multiuse space for a variety of functions Deferred Fairgrounds Offices New building to provide office space for the Fairgrounds, Fair Association, and to create a formal public entry point into the grounds; approx. 10,000 sf total $2,100,000 Precinct 2 Projects Various projects throughout the precinct $25,500,000 Parks Funding for miscellaneous improvement needs at various parks within Precincts 2, 3 & 4 $6,000,000 Animal Services Campus Install wind-block components to protect outdoor runs from cold wind and rain conditions, all buildings $100,000 Education & Exhibit Building New park with an 8,000 sf facility / Passive Nature Park to provide exhibit and education space related to State prison cemetery $2,700,000 Emergency Management Center New 38,250 sf facility to house the Fire Marshal functions of the Office of Emergency HazMat Facility Management / Fire Marshal /Haz Mat response team $16,900,000.

Total Proposed Facilities Bond $98,600,000.

with reinterment and memorialization of what has come to be known as Sugar Land #95.

Last week, County Commissioners approved the principal terms of an Interlocal Agreement that will allow the remains of the 95 individuals discovered during FBISD’s construction of the James Reese Career and Technical Center to find a final resting place in a county-owned

cemetery. With agreement on the principal terms, the parties will now work out final details, including resolution of the existing court action.

“We are thankful and appreciative of the action taken by county leaders this week,” said FBISD Board President Jason Burdine.

“With this action, the Board takes another step in fulfilling its commitment to honor and preserve these

This list does not include any flood mitigation or mobility projects, which may be included in another bond referendum

Fort Bend County Fair’s Queen Enrichment Day

2019 Fair queen candidates Sedona Trevino, Bethany Anne Bromonsky, Hayley Rosilez, Maya Bergen, Zoë Holden, Amanda McDowell, Kate Rabich, Jillian Voehl, Alondra Leyva and 2018 Fort Bend County Fair Queen, Hannah Hunt. The 2019 Fair Queen Candidates and 2018 Fair Queen Hannah Hunt participated at the 3rd Annual event hosted by the Fort Bend County Fair Queen Scholarship Committee. See Story on Page 2.

Sheriff Troy Nehls won’t seek re-election

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls will not be seeking re-election for sheriff for a third term.

2020 will bring a new era, the sheriff said in his announcement, but did not elaborate.

(Nehls has been contemplating a run for the U.S. Congress in Dist. 22, currently held by Pete Olson (R). Should Nehls make an announcement that he will run for Congress, he has to resign from his current office.)

Prior to his election as Sheriff in 2012, he served two terms as the elected Constable of Fort Bend County Precinct 4. He has over 24 years of law enforcement and began his career in his home State of Wisconsin.

Sheriff Nehls is proud of his accomplishments since becoming Sheriff.

One of the most notable is the 65% reduction in Residential Burglaries.

“We aim to make you feel

Troy Nehls safe and secure in your home and when traveling around Fort Bend County,” says Sheriff Nehls.

“We are one of the safest counties in the greater Houston area and I am very proud of that.”

A topic near and dear to Sheriff Nehls are the Fort Bend County jail’s educational programs.

“We have to set the inmates

up for success, because in my opinion the criminal justice system is broken in some areas, and I think re-entry is one of them,” says Sheriff Nehls.

“Let’s do something about educating them by affording them opportunities to keep them motivated and focused on the future.”

Sheriff Nehls is very proud of the fact that the Inmate Vocational Center is funded without the use of taxpayer dollars. “All of the vocational training programs are funded through inmate commissary.”

Another important matter that Sheriff Nehls wants to address is the crisis with mental illness.

The number of people who die by suicide in Fort Bend County is on the rise.

“We can do more,” says Sheriff Nehls. “We must strive to do better for one another and for our communities. There is so much to be grateful for but also so much to work on.”

Fort Bend ISD offers 10 acres plus $1 million for the upkeep of the Sugar Land # 95 cemetery

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend ISD will convey the cemetery area and an additional 10 acres for a memorial park in the Telfair subdivision of Sugar Land as part of the agreement reached between Fort Bend County and Fort Bend ISD regarding the maintenance of the unmarked cemetery at the school site.

FBISD will also pay the county $1 million that will go toward future costs associated

Serving Fort Bend County for 28 years!

individuals, not just as 95 unmarked graves, but as 95 human beings whose stories deserve to be told. We have recognized the importance of this historical discovery, while also delivering an educational facility that will benefit the students of Fort Bend and our community.”

In another related development, the Texas Historical Commission, after receiving guidance from

the Texas Attorney General, recognized its authority to permit extraction of genetic material from the remains of the 95 individuals for the purposes of future DNA testing.

Materials necessary for DNA analysis have been collected and will be curated at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas.

Archaeologists believe

Sponsored by

that the remains are those of convicts who were leased by the State to provide convict labor to a local plantation.

“We are looking forward to the next steps in this discovery, with hope that we will one day know more about who these individuals were,” said Burdine.

Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center will open in August of 2019.

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019

NEWS

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital earns new quality-based accreditation

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Quality Team Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has been accredited with DNV GL Healthcare.

By earning accreditation, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards (Conditions of Participation) set forth by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Det Norske Veritas (DNV) process allows for more organizational innovation by encouraging the sharing of ideas and embracing best practices. DNV surveys are an annual occurrence. Annual surveys foster even greater improvements in patient care.

“The DNV GL program

is consistent with our longterm commitment to quality and patient safety,” said Chris Siebanaler, regional vice president and CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “The ability to integrate ISO 9001 quality standards with our clinical and financial processes is a major step forward.”

“We have taken an entirely different approach to accreditation, and hospitals are really responding,” said DNV GL - Healthcare CEO Patrick Horine. “Since accreditation is a must-have credential for just about every hospital in this country, why not make it more valuable, and get more out of it?”

DNV GL’s accreditation

program, called NIAHO® (Integrated Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), involves annual hospital surveys – instead of every three years – and encourages hospitals to openly share information across departments and to discover improvements in clinical workflows and safety protocols.

For more information on Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/ sugarland or call 281.274.7500 to find a doctor in your area.

Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Fair Queen

tips, etiquette enhancement, nutrition/well-being discussion, and hair 101.

Later, candidates attended an afternoon at a Kentucky Derby themed dinner held at the Ol’ Railroad Café. Hats, heels, and a delicious meal allowed the candidates to practice what they learned in the morning workshops. Fort Bend County Fair President Marjie Pollard, Queen Scholarship Committee members, several past fair queens, Fair Manager, Cindy Schmidt, and Fair Board Member, Vickie Todd Autrey, all attended the social event with the candidates. The young ladies vying to be Fair Queen represent several high schools within Fort Bend County.

Zelda Sosa of Mighty

Moose, Charles Gilbert of Fort Bend Impact, Ammi Miller of the Retreat Boutique Salon and Day Spa, January Lincoln of Rustic Closet Boutique, and Bill and Barbara Robertson with Magana Media presented at the workshop. A businessbased etiquette instruction was presented by President Pollard to help lay the foundation for future college or career situations.

The Queen contestants receive scholarships and prizes as part of the competition.

The 2019 Fort Bend County Fair Queen will be crowned on September 27, 2019.

For more information visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the Fair Office at 281-3426171.

From Page 1 Fort Bend County Fair Queen Candidates’ Enrichment Day Avoiding the social media pitfalls to choosing the right fork were part of the Fort Bend County Fair’s Queen Enrichment Day. The 2019 Fair Queen Candidates and 2018 Fair Queen Hannah Hunt participated at the 3rd Annual event hosted by the Fort Bend County Fair Queen Scholarship Committee.

The day started with a group workshop on interview techniques and social media safe practices.

Breakout sessions soon followed with public speaking exercises, make-up tutorials, fashion

PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better

JULY Move in Special $399

2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com

Phone: (281) 208-4470

Fort Bend’s Mamie George Community Center Mission of Love to honor James Patterson

Catholic Charities’ Mamie George Community Center (MGCC) hosts its sixth annual Mission of Love event on September 12, 2019, from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at the Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464 in Richmond.

The annual dinner and fundraising gala will honor long-time Fort Bend County resident and former county commissioner James Patterson, and will include a live auction, unique raffle items and live entertainment.

The Mamie George Community Center (MGCC) is the Fort Bend County hub for social services through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency.

MGCC serves seniors, women veterans, young parents and low income families who need food and financial assistance.

“We are thrilled to honor James Patterson at this year’s

Mission of Love,” said Catholic Charities President Cynthia Colbert. “He has always come through for us as an auctioneer for Mission of Love and truly understands the heart of the organization and its mission. We appreciate all that he has done for this wonderful county that MGCC serves.”

The Mission of Love event supports vital services in

Drowning fatalities among children in the summertime warrant water safety awareness but a Baylor College of Medicine expert explains that water safety must be practiced all year long, as drowning is silent, quick and can occur in the shallowest of waters.

Dr. Katherine Leaming-Van Zandt, associate professor of pediatrics – pediatric emergency medicine and medical director of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus Emergency Center, advises parents of the dangers around water.

“The most important component of drowning is that it is completely preventable,” Leaming-Van Zandt said.

From 2005 to 2014, there was an average of 3,536 fatal, unintentional drownings that were non-boating related in the U.S. One in five that died from drowning were children ages 14 and younger. This is viewed as a public health crisis.

Parents must provide multiple layers of protection

when around water, such as environmental safety precautions, child water education, adult supervision and emergency preparedness.

Yards with a pool or hot tub should contain a four-sided isolation fence with selflatching closure that isolates the pool area from the house and yard, standing at least 4 feet tall. The latch should be at least 54 inches above the bottom gate.

“Remember that it’s not just about watching the kids from the periphery. Parents or caregivers should be within touching distance of kids when in the pool or near the water,” Leaming-Van Zandt said.

The false notion of safety when a child wears a flotation device is apparent around the pool or ocean. A life jacket is the only safety-proven equipment to wear. This goes for teenagers and adults who can swim as well, as weather conditions often defeat skilled swimmers.

“Even though it’s not the

Patterson

Fort Bend County. Seniors benefit from hot nutritious meals served every weekday, art classes, group exercise and other wellness activities.

Families and individuals visit Trini’s Market, a food pantry with grocery storestyle shopping, in addition to receiving financial assistance.

Women veterans work through life challenges through interaction with peers. Parents attend classes to learn how to raise healthy, happy children.

Those who are unable to attend Mission of Love, but still wish to support Catholic Charities Mamie George Community Center and the services provided in Fort Bend County, may donate at www.catholiccharities.org/ donate-to-mission-of-love.

For more information about the Mission of Love gala, contact Matt Johns at mjohns@catholiccharities.org or 713-874-6659.

Water safety guidelines to prevent drowning most comfortable or stylish, wearing a life jacket is one of the safest things you can do to prevent drownings from occurring, particularly near oceans, lakes and rivers,” Leaming-Van Zandt said.

Water-protecting equipment is crucial around the water, but drownings can occur inside the home, as well. A child can drown in an inch of water, so childproofing the home is essential. Such precautions include draining the bathtubs, covering the toilet seats and dumping out buckets of water after mopping the floor so children do not topple head first into them. Taking these measures can prevent atypical, less-known drownings.

“If a child is found under water, know how to respond.

After retrieving the child from the water, check to see if the child is breathing and has a pulse. If not, have another bystander call 911 and start basic life support and CPR immediately,” said Leaming Van-Zandt.

See Page 3

Local Edible and Medicinal Plants

by Erik Wolf, Texas Master Naturalist

The program will be held on Thursday, August 8 (2nd Thurs.) 6:00 PM social, 7 PM event, at the Rosenberg Convention Center, 3825 Texas 36 South, Rosenberg.

Are you tired of fighting clover in your yard?

You can eat the leaves and make a sweet tea from the flowers.

Did you get bitten by a mosquito?

Rub crushed plantain leaves on the bite to relieve pain and itching.

Need a dose of Vitamin C? Make an easy tea from fresh pine needles.

Come out and learn about these local plants and many others as Texas Master Naturalist Member Erik Wolf introduces you to some of the edible and medicinal plants of our area.

Free and Open to the Public and Conducted by Coastal Prairie Chapter – Texas Master Naturalists, The Texas Master Naturalists are sponsored

by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

For additional information call 281-633-7033 or email mmcdowell@ag.tamu.edu Website: txmn.org/coastal/ FACEBOOK facebook.com/

www.childproofamerica.org

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 3

NEWS Floyd Emery announces re-election bid Hakeem Olajuwan plans to Missouri City City Council “Dream Court” in Missouri City

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Former Hosuton Rockets star Hakeen Olajuwan is back with his “dream project.”

Missouri City’s planning and zoning commission on June 12 sent its positive recommendation to the city council, approving the planned “Dream Court.”

The recommendation was about “Dream Court,” a planned development district of 9.4672 acres that would be an office/warehouse business center with commercial and retail uses along U.S. 90A in what used to be known as Tang City.

The acreage has had a history since the 1980s and in July 2000 was initially to have a community center for religious worship along with a private school, library and garden.

When that didn’t happen, it was to be built with Tang City Plaza’s shops and a restaurant but again that did not occur.

Eventually Tang City died and

all but cement slabs and roads and weeds were left.

The applicant of the property, Tang City Community Village LLC, is Morgan Myers who works for the owner, Hakeem Olajuwon.

Myers requested that Missouri City amend regulations in order to prepare the property for an office/ warehouse business center development and use the cement footprints of Tang City Plaza’s shops and pavement for what may be a second coming for the acreage.

The property is located north of Timber Falls Business Park, south of U.S. 90A-Main Street, east of Second Mile Mission Center and west of Cravens Road.

If and when any builds begin, there is a proposed building of 19,800 square feet of retail space fronting on 90A and two proposed 14,700 square feet of office and warehouse buildings behind it.

Myers submitted a color elevation of the proposed office/warehouse buildings that shows they are to be fully bricked in front with stucco on the sides and rear.

Changes in previous or new Missouri City ordinances now allow businesses to place, store or provide sales and services outside if appropriately screened and there is a time limit.

Another change is live oaks must be planted and all driveways and driveway medians must be landscaped with a mixture of shrubs and flowers.

P&Z members told the applicant he must get a Traffic Impact Worksheet and submit it along with any revised documents and exhibits that were required by June 19 for council’s July 1 meeting.

The applicant also told P&Z members that the development will be completed within the required five-year timeframe.

Drowning

in risky behavior and/or overestimate their swimming ability. Parents must continue the conversation about risktaking behavior and what those risks entail, as well as making sure their kids are in a safe environment with adult supervision.

Enrolling children into swim classes allows them to recognize the dangers and safety precautions they need to take around water. Water classes for 6-month to 3-yearolds entail water acclimation, readiness and safety, bubble blowing and back floating.

Children are not coordinated enough developmentally to swim until 4 or 5 years old, but earlier classes allow children to gain familiarity with the

water. Preschool swim lessons for 4- to 5-year-olds start teaching children about water safety, survival skills and basic swim concepts.

“We always talk about it around the summertime, but drowning can happen any time of year,” she said. “Be aware and implement these safety precautions to keep your child safe not only when they’re young, but as they grow and develop into young adulthood.”

From Page 2 “Caregivers should take a CPR and/or water safety course. In times of emergencies, it can be lifesaving.”

Never assume another parent, lifeguard or adult is watching your child, LeamingVan Zandt stresses. People get distracted, especially in large groups, so assign a few adult supervisors to keep track of children near the water.

Although drowning seems to be more common among young children, teenage and adult swimmers also must take precaution when near bodies of water. Teenagers, in particular, are at high risk from drowning as they may engage

GET IDEAS FOR HEALTHY SNACKS KIDS WILL LOVE AT FIRST COLONY BRANCH LIBRARY Get ideas for tasty, healthy snacks and lunches that kids will love at Fort Bend County Libraries’ First Colony Branch Library on Saturday, July 20, beginning at 2:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land. In the program, “Healthy Lunches & Snacks for Kids,” professional chef Ellen Schwartz will demonstrate how to prepare and pack healthy snacks and lunches that are also delicious. Get time-saving tips to help make cooking quick and easy. Chef Ellen is a culinary instructor in Houston who taught with Leisure Learning for more than 20 years. She is a volunteer chef at Recipe for Success and has taught in professional kitchens at Central Market and Rice Epicurean.

One of her favorite pastimes is testing recipes for chefs and providing feedback to help their recipes come to publication.

The program 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 “Events,” select “First Colony Branch Library,” and find the program.

Participants may also register by calling the library at 281-2382800, or by visiting the library.

Free Medical Clinic is coming to Fort Bend!

Wednesday, July 31, 2019 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.* Join us at Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center for free back-to-school well-child immunizations.

• •

All children must be accompanied by their parent/guardian.

Please bring current shot records, if available.

*Spaces are limited. Registration line will open at 9am and close by 12:00pm.

Transportation for $2 per person roundtrip available through Fort Bend County. Call 281-633-7433 for availability and to make reservations.

Free mobile clinics generously sponsored by:

Floyd Emery hs announced he will seek another term on the Missouri City Council representing District D in the upcoming November 05, 2019 City election.

Emery was first elected to that position in May 2011 and has run opposed in all subsequent elections. He attributes running unopposed in 3 election cycles to his ability to keep his platform promises and to connect with his constituents on issues important to them.

“I am seeking reelection on a platform heavy into Public Safety. It includes the building of Fire Station 6.

“Maintaining the scope of services provided by the Quail Valley Golf Course and City Centre while stressing its importance on home values in Quail Valley, continuing our economic development strategy where many nationally known businesses such as Niagara Water, Ben E. Keith, Comcast, Fed Ex, Best Buy have selected Missouri City as their business location bringing substantial capital investments and job opportunities; transparency of our financial and operating records including City Council actions; a continuation of building and strengthening our alliances with our many HOA Boards and a commitment to maintain our current City Council/City Manager form

Emery of City Government” are other items on my platform.

“Missouri City needs an experienced and dedicated Council member to address the critical ongoing issues of Mobility, Drainage and Infrastructure demands,” according to Emery.

Upcoming issues such as FBISD Coordination, MUD study evaluation, Parks evaluation, Homestead exemption evaluation and Animal Control protocol are areas that also demand a seasoned Council member with a broad range of financial and operational experience, he says.

Emery asks “why change your Council representative when in the current councilmember you have experience, dependability and commitment to the position, service oriented to constituents needs and one with a full range of knowledge and experience in most of the issues now facing our City.”

“ I am proud to be associated with a city council where during my tenure Missouri City has and continues to be recognized as one of the safest cities in Texas, one of the most diverse cities in the state, best city to live in and most affordable for homebuyers among many other awards and recognitions.”

“I am asking the constituents of District D to allow me to complete many of the initiatives I have outlined in my plans for Missouri City by reelecting me for another term on the City Council.”

Emery is a 40 year resident of Missouri City all in District D, married to Linda for 60 years with 2 grown sons both educated in the Fort Bend school system.

In addition to the City Council Emery continues to be active in community organizations as past president of QV Proud, an active member of the QV/Missouri City Exchange Club, co-chair of the Missouri City Police Officers Association annual fund raising golf tournament and heavy involvement in the Quail Valley First Tee program.

For more information on and plans for the future visit www.floydemery.com or follow him on his Facebook page.

LEGALS NOTICE OF SALE

STATE OF TEXAS

BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

§ § §

FORT BEND COUNTY

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on June 12, 2019, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in August, 2019, the same being the 6th day of said month, at 301 Jackson Street, William Travis Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room in the City of Richmond, Texas 77469, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Fort Bend and the State of Texas, to-wit: Sale #

Cause # Judgment Date

Acct # Order Issue Date

Style of Case

Legal Description

Adjudged Value

Estimated Minimum Bid

1

17-DCV243564 03/19/19

585000002070090 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. JOHN 7 M. SMITH, ET AL JUNE 11, 2019

PINEDALE MANOR, LT 7, BLK 2, VOL 6, PG 18*

$23,000.00

$6,600.00

2

18-DCV248942 10/17/18

276001100011090 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. MIKE 1 RINE, AKA CHARLES MICHAEL RINE JUNE 11, 2019

LT 11, DOVE MEADOWS SUB'D, J. J. DICKERSON SURV, ABST 401, VOL 915, PG 257*

$138,590.00

$8,300.00

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Fort Bend County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfactionFree thereof, Medical and the remainder, if any, is to be applied as the law directs.

Clinic coming RECENT CHANGES INto THEFort PROPERTY TAX CODE NOW REQUIRE PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY Bend!

TO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR CERTIFYING THAT THE PERSON/FIRM/COMPANY PROPERTY AT A TAX SALE OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY Wednesday,PURCHASING July 31, 2019 TAXES TO ANY TAXING ENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A TAX SALE DEED TO a.m. – 12WITHOUT p.m.* THIS CERTIFICATE. ANY PROPERTY YOU9PURCHASE

Join us at Fort Bend Children’s Discovery

TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT Center for free back-to-school well-childYOUR FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE.

immunizations.

• All children by their Dated at Richmond, Texas,must Junebe 12,accompanied 2019 parent/guardian.

• Please bring current shot records, if available.

Constable Mike Beard Texas *Spaces are limited. Registration lineFort willBend openCounty, at

9am and close by 12:00pm.

By

Notes:

Transportation for $2 per person roundtrip available through Fort Deputy Bend County. Call 281-633-7433 for availability and to make reservations.

The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value.

Free mobile generously sponsored by: in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit (other However, the Minimum Bidclinics for a person owning an interest than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (713) 844-3576

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 4

VIEWS

Local flood protection agency fight the whimsical mandates of federal agencies For several decades, Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 2, like other levee, drainage and flood protection districts across the nation, was able to carry out its ongoing responsibilities and duties in accordance with state law, needing to give little attention to Federal requirements except during construction.

That began to change in 2005 with Federal Emergency Management Agency’s new policy toward levees during map modernization in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and was followed in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane season by a new Federal Agency approach to flood risk and floodplain management.

In 2009 the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force (FIFMTF), led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) and FEMA (together the Agencies), was reconvened by the Agencies (not by Congress) to “identify and develop opportunities for the Federal government to be more effective in promoting and encouraging floodplain management decisions that will 1) reduce the loss of life and property caused by floods, and 2) protect and restore natural resources and functions of floodplains.

An intended outcome is to reduce the growing cost of Federal disaster relief due to flooding.

Prior to 2009, the Task Force last met in 1997 after publishing Protecting Floodplain Resources: A Guidebook for Communities; a document recognizing the long-standing role of state and local governments in providing their communities flood protection and making land-use decisions.

As the Agencies undertook their work there began to emerge strong Federal regulations and requirements despite the National Committee on Levee Safety, created by Congress in 2007, as well as several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) having said that approach would be ineffective.

As the FIFMTF, with its 12 member Federal agencies, moves forward their plan to reduce flood losses and environmental degradation of floodplains it has allowed for stakeholder input, involvement and collaboration with public and private interests.

FBCLID2 strives to understand and has succeeded in influencing the evolving Federal approach to levees and levee protected areas-the latter viewed by some as floodplains disconnected from rivers whose natural functions can be restored, making more room for the rivers, and thereby over time reducing the cost of Federal disaster relief.

Multiple efforts undertaken by or in coordination with the FIFMTF, although well-intentioned, have been toward increased Federal regulation that would usurp local decisionmaking and have significant implications with substantial impacts for levee protected areas.

While in the long-term this may achieve a reduction in flood risk, there are near-term costs and impacts to local communities that must be identified, made known to policymakers, and incorporated into the Federal approach such that it can be modified to work for communities with levees.

FBCLID2 strives to be knowledgeable, inform others, and meaningfully engage to help Federal decisions produce

Whether a home in the heart of Sugar Land floods or not, what should be the flood protection tool and how much it would cost the taxpayer are among the issues that a local flood protection agency such as the Fort Bend County LID 2 would and should tackle, but, in reality, the Levee Improvement District is under the mercy of federal government agencies and consequently, battles constantly with Washington D.C. to protect the interests of the taxpayers. Fort Bend County LID 2 President Andre McDonald explains the continuing saga of federal issues inthe area of flood control and protection. good local outcomes.

During this time of a rapidly evolving Federal flood risk and floodplain management framework, and with special concern for the treatment of levees, the FBCLID2 understands the importance and value of being actively engaged to help ensure due consideration is given to local impacts and concerns in Federal legislative and Agency decisions.

FBCLID2 is presently working on how risk in leveed areas, particularly those with many homes, will be determined in FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 initiative that will result in new rates for NFIP policies, which FEMA says are to go into effect

on October 1, 2020.

FBCLID2 pays attention to multiple Federal regulatory and policy matters that are likely to impact its community, prepares written materials that can be used for information sharing and inclusion in the administrative record, actively participates in several national NGOs that have as part of their mission to reduce flood risk, and works with other thought leaders in the flood industry to achieve beneficial outcomes for those in levee protected areas and having a role in providing local flood protection.

Some of the FBCLID2 notable efforts follow:

GUEST COMMENTARY

The Kangaroo Court

Two very fine Associate Judges are being fired.

Judge Harold Kennedy just completed 20 years in that position. Judge Andrew Dornburg has served 4 years.

Partisan politics at its best.

By CHERYL M. STALINSKY The County Courts at Law Board Meeting conducted by Judge Toni Wallace on July 8 was both a travesty and a joke.

First off, she asked our County Clerk if a document could be “electronisized”? She even said she didn’t know if it was a word. Advice: Then, don’t use it!

Secondly, a violation of the “Open Meetings Act” was evident. “Governmental Body Must Hold a Meeting to Exercise its Powers; Predating the Act is the common-law rule that decisions entrusted to governmental bodies must be made by the body as a whole at a properly called meeting.”

This requirement gives each member of the body an opportunity to state his or her views to other board members and to give them the benefit of his or her judgment, so that the decision “may be the composite judgment of the body as a whole.”

Item VI on the Agenda was to consider taking appropriate

Stalinsky action on a request ‘to post the position of associate judge for county courts.’

Essentially, two Associate Judges were fired in the rudest most disrespectful way possible. It was clear Judges Chris Morales and Jeff McMeans had no idea they were planning to fire Associate Judges Harold Kennedy and Andrew Dornburg. Thus, the Open Meeetings Act comes into play.

Morales and McMeans asked if Judge Kennedy and Judge Dornburg had failed in their capacities of Associate Judge. Morales asked if “they had done something wrong or if they had a problem with them.”

Hatten replied “No, they haven’t done anything wrong, FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

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but having a problem with them is another issue.” In other words, I want a Democrat!

Essentially Hatten and Wallace stated, when asked, that Kennedy and Dornburg could apply with all the other applicants. How utterly disrespectful for all their years of service.

The vote is called and Hatten makes the motion to start taking applications for positions that are already filled.

They all stare at Judge Julie Mathew and she seconds the motion. Then Hatten, Mathew, Watson, and Wallace say “Aye.” Morales and McMeans vote “No”.

But, just to make sure this “Kangaroo Court” is really on a roll, Wallace jumps up and gives everyone a piece of paper to vote their preference on secret ballot. This was the most ludicrous and disrespectful act of defiance I’ve ever seen.

It was so clear they had met prior to this meeting and already decided what would be the outcome. This was clearly in violation of the Texas Open meetings Act. So, let’s recount a few things. This group of newly elected Democrats had their “private meetings” without McMeans and Morales. First, they removed Morales as Administrative Judge.

Wallace and KP George went to Austin to circumvent Commissioners Court to advocate for another Associate Judge. Another act, without the input or agreement from Morales and McMeans.

Now, they have a clear setup to fire Kennedy and Dornburg without the knowledge of Morales and McMeans.

Oh, and did I mention that Judges Morales and McMeans and Associate Judges

Kennedy and Dornburg are all Republicans?

It is clear they are trying to import some of their Democrat buddies...!

This was tantamount to a modern day lynching without trial or recourse.

There is another irony.

Judge Kennedy is an African American Republican and he had the support of Republican judges and both Republican and Democratic county commissioners.

Toni Wallace was also supported by Republican judges and both Republican and Democratic county commissioners when she was appointed to a temporary judge position previously.

Wallace had previously been appointed temporary county court-at-law judge when Court No. 5 was created. Later, when Judge Sandy Bielstein died, she applied for appointment to CCL Judge No. 4. This time she wanted to run for that position.

The county has been observing a policy of not appointing individuals temporarily, if he or she wants to run for that office.

When Republicans refused to appoint her for a county court at law judge post because she wanted to run for that office later, she became a Democratic candidate and won that seat.

If Morales and McMeans had fired Kennedy, it could be called racist. Now, African American judges fire a fellow African American and that cannot be racist. Is it because Kennedy is a Republican and so he cannot be considered an African American?

(Stalinsky, a Conservative blogger, lives in Fulshear.)

NFIP Residual Risk Provision Leading up to the passage of the NFIP reauthorization in 2012 there was included in the bill a provision that would have made mandatory the purchase of flood insurance through the NFIP in levee protected areas FBCLID2 was instrumental in its removal through its President’s participation in the National Academy of Sciences levee committee, support of efforts to remove that provision, and direct engagement with policy-makers Since NFIP authorization is not ongoing (but granted

by Congress for a set period for time) with each long-term (typically 5 years) reauthorization there is an opportunity to be included a residual risk provision, and FBCLID2 closely monitors this issue Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) E.O. 13690, President Obama’s Executive Order issued January 30, 2015, established a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard that, if implemented, would have made the regulated floodplain higher and wider, extending far into levee protected areas.

FBCLID2 became aware of the E.O. shortly before it was issued and recognizing its significant impact, sought to understand its stated intent, perhaps unintended consequences, and to inform others of its farreaching impacts Implementation of the E.O. was stalled, and then repealed by the current Administration on August 15, 2017 Community Based Flood Insurance Recognizing that if/when mandatory purchase of flood

insurance in leveed areas comes to be that it may be inaccessible for everyone and cost prohibitive under the NFIP, FBCLID2 has sought and advocated for options, like community based flood insurance After several short-term reauthorizations since expiration of the NFIP in 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives has a bipartisan solution to provide a long-term reauthorization, that modernizes the NFIP, including a pilot for a community based flood insurance option for which FBCLID2 has been a strong advocate.

Private Flood Insurance Having garnered a fuller understanding of the challenges facing the NFIP, and the resultant increased cost of policies, FBCLID2 endorsed entry of the private market as flood insurance providers for residents, businesses and communities Congress passed new legislation and the five Federal agencies that oversee lenders (FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, and FCA) issued a final rule, effective July 1, 2019, to require lenders to accept certain private flood insurance policies (the rule does not address community-based flood insurance) Water of the U.S. definition The regulatory reach of the Army Corps and EPA under the Clean Water Act has grown from navigable waters to include many other bodies of water, such as drainage ditches FBCLID2 was successful in obtaining an approved jurisdictional determination that the majority of its drainage ditches were not “waters of the U.S.”, and is now seeking to have such determinations endorsed under the new rule that is being finalized.

FBISD’s Charles Dupre named regional superintendent of the year

Dupre Fort Bend ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre is among 19 superintendents named regional winners of the 2019 Superintendent of the Year award, sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

Dr. Dupre is the 2019 Region 4 Superintendent of the Year.

Region 4 comprises 48 public school districts, 37 open-enrollment charter schools, and represents more than 1.2 million students, 97,000 educators and 1,500 campuses.

The awards program has recognized exemplary superintendents for excellence and achievement in educational leadership since 1984. Candidates are chosen for their strong leadership skills, dedication to improving educational quality, ability to build effective employee relations, student performance,

and commitment to public involvement in education.

Local nominees are submitted to a regional selection committee, which chooses one nominee to send to the state selection committee.

“Throughout Dr. Dupre’s six years as superintendent, Fort Bend ISD has developed a solid foundation for success, with a clear focus on educating the whole child,” said FBISD Board President Jason Burdine. “The District has seen significant growth in student achievement and has significantly increased opportunities for all our students, including traditionally underrepresented groups. Dr. Dupre is a great supporter of our students and staff, and exemplifies what we work to instill in our students – the attributes of our Profile of a Graduate.”

The state committee will interview regional winners in Austin on August 23-24 and select five state finalists. The Superintendent of the Year will be announced September 21 at the 2019 Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards convention in Dallas.

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 5.34 million students.

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NEWS

Sheriff responds to report involving New England Patriots Linebacker Elandon Roberts

By SESHADRI KUMAR Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls on Friday disputed a published report regarding the traffic stop made by one of his deputies involving New England Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts and said the incident was not racially motivated.

Nehls held the press conference on Friday to present a rebuttal to a story published in USA Today last week under the headline “Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts says he was harassed at home by police.”

The article included a 1 minute and 31 second edited clip of the dashcam video from the traffic stop in Richmond on March 10.

Nehls played a 16.44 minute video of the incident. He said the USA Today reporter Perez edited the video and misrepresented the incident.

“It was irresponsible and dangerous, Nehls said “It wasn’t as professional as it should have been,” Nehls said about the deputy’s behavior and said the deputy was just four months into his service. He was a rookie and he was verbally reprimanded, Nehls said.

Nehls said that the twotime Super Bowl champion was pulled over on March 10 around 9:53 p.m. by Deputy Adam Watkins.

Roberts was pulled over for driving 59 mph in a 35-mph zone, and Watkins called for backup because he was “nervous” that the 25-year-old got out of his car.

In the video, Roberts can be seen exiting the car with his hands up after pulling into the driveway of his home.

When the deputy tells him to get back in the vehicle, the 25-year-old says, “This is my house.”

When Watkins yells at him again to get back in the car, Roberts complies, keeping his hands up.

Calling for backup, the deputy said, “there’s a big black male, he got out of the car, I told him to get back in, he wouldn’t comply, I had to yell at him pretty hard.”

Both Nehl and Capt. Steve Holtz, director of the patrol division, said there were aspects of the traffic stop that they had problems with.

Nehl and Holtz felt they would have acted differently with Robert’s wife and they did not like tone of the deputy.

However, there was no violation of any department policy or procedure, Nehls said. Later the citation was changed to a warning at the deputy’s request.

Nehls said he met with the linebacker and his attorney and apologized for the stop.

The sheriff once again extended his apology to Roberts during the press conference, Especially for the long eight minutes of silence when the deputy was calling for backup.

Asked about the description of Roberts as a big black male, Nehls asked the press corps to respond how else one would describe or how they would describe the person.

New England Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts got out of his Porsche with his hands up.

Following are the excerpts from the USA Today report: “This is my house,” Roberts told the deputy from the Fort Bend County (Texas) Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Adam Watkins barked at Roberts to get back into his car and Roberts did so quickly, not that it halted the tension as Watkins called for backup over the “big black man” who “wouldn’t comply,” according to the dashcam footage obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Elandon Roberts started 30 games at linebacker for the New England Patriots over the past three seasons.

Roberts was stopped in the Houston suburb of Richmond on March 10 for a basic speeding infraction, but he wasn’t told of the charge until nine minutes after the stop was initiated.

“Unfortunately, these types of things are happening all too often to African Americans,” Roberts said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. “People are becoming desensitized to

them. Being harassed in your own yard simply because you are a ‘big black man’ should never become the norm. To the person being harassed, it is frightening, disrespectful and embarrassing.

“I have no interest in any financial gain from releasing this story. My only hope is that these types of bias-based traffic stops can end and that, perhaps, other black drivers might see how to deescalate a threatening situation.”

Roberts filed a complaint 10 days after the incident in which he wrote he “felt so harassed I couldn’t even remember where my insurance paper was in my car.”

In a response from the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department’s internal affairs division dated May 20, a department official wrote the complaint was “not sustained,” or not acted upon by the department, and the matter was closed. The document did note that a supervisor was instructed to “go through refresher training on traffic stop procedures” with Watkins.

Roberts’ attorney, Jennine Hovell-Cox, told USA TODAY Sports she has requested that the Fort Bend County District Attorney open an investigation into the incident.

Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair returns with new Fall dates

As the saying goes, “It’s always bigger and better in Texas,” and the 16th annual Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair has taken that motto to heart.

Celebrating the region’s rich diversity of food, drink and culture, this year’s event promises new and exciting attractions and is delighted to be moving to the fall. The very popular culinary bacchanal will take place at multiple venues in Sugar Land over four-days October 24-27, 2019.

Taking the spotlight will be mixologists, world-class wine tastings, and top culinary talents from Sugar Land and Houston, Texas and beyond.

The event, founded by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, benefits a permanent scholarship endowment created at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Tickets for the 2019 event are now available @ sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com/ FESTIVAL WEEKEND EVENTS Thursday, October 24 Bartender’s Challenge – Sugar Land Town Square - $45 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Wine Dinner - $125 Private Home – Sugar Land 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday, October 25 Masquerade – Brazos River Park - $95 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 26 Sip & Stroll – Brazos River Park - $70 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 27 Bistro Brunch – Sugar Land Town Square - $40; Youth Tickets $10; Under Age of 10 – Free Admission 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

2019 Weekend Pass Passes including Bartender’s Challenge, Masquerade, Sip & Stroll and Bistro Brunch are available for $225.

Stay & Play Packages Stay & Play packages, which include a hotel stay at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square are also available for purchase. • VIP Package - $595 – Includes king-sized room for three nights + 1 VIP Weekend Pass • Friday Night Package - $225 – Includes king-sized room for one night + 1 Masquerade Pass • Saturday Night Package - $200 – Includes king-sized room for one night + 1 Sip & Stroll Pass With all events taking place in Fort Bend County, the most ethnically diverse county in America, the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair focuses on the many stories and recipes of the region’s melting pot of Asian, African, Latino, European and Southwestern flavors. This year the event will continue to partner with leading culinary talent that reflects the diversity of the locale and will showcase the area’s reputation for pushing the envelope on regional cuisine influenced by global tastes, ingredients and traditions.

Moving the event from spring to fall allows attendees to take advantage of the season’s cool,

crisp days and nights. The opening night’s event, Bartenders Challenge, will take place within Sugar Land Town Square, and that same vibrant urban backdrop will also serve as the location for Sunday’s final event, the family-friendly Bistro Brunch.

A highlight of the four-day event will be Friday night’s Masquerade which promises an evening of pre-Halloween jubilation and merriment. Masked eventgoers will stroll the Brazos River Park grounds under the crescent moon. Wine and spirit producers, top chefs and DJs will make the decadent party atmosphere simmer. A perennial favorite, Saturday’s Sip & Stroll is back and will feature a deliciously curated schedule of wine seminars, daytime cocktails and indulgent bites.

This year’s event will also feature a number of 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition winners. Setting the international benchmark for quality, the International Wine & Spirit Competition has been judging wines and spirits and awarding medals to the world’s best products since 1969. Now in its fiftieth year, and with more than 400 global experts judging the awards for seven months of the year, the competition remains as relevant today as when chemist Anton Massel created the idea of a wine and spirit competition based both on organoleptic judgment and chemical analysis.

NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF TEXAS

§ § §

FORT BEND COUNTY

BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on June 28, 2019, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in August, 2019, the same being the 6th day of said month, at 301 Jackson Street, William Travis Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room in the City of Richmond, Texas 77469, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Fort Bend and the State of Texas, to-wit: Sale #

Cause # Judgment Date

Acct # Order Issue Date

Style of Case

Legal Description

1

11-DCV193636 02/10/16

007900000113390 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. 1 KATHERINE DAVIS, ET AL JUNE 11, 2019

TRACT 2, HACKNEY COCKRELL ESTATE, EAST PART LOT 5, KEMP ESTATE SUBD, NOEL F. ROBERTS SURV, ABST 79, 1 ACRE, MORE OR LESS, VOL 231, PG 257*

2

17-DCV243565 04/17/19

587000001022190 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. 7 SILVIA MARIA ALLISON, NKA SILVIA MARIA GOODWYNE, ET JUNE 11, 2019 AL

QUAIL PARK SUB'D PATIO HOMES, PART OF LT 22, BLK 1, VOL 21, PG 3 & CLERK'S FILE# 2000100962*

4

17-DCV246526 04/17/19

671001003005090 FORT BEND INDEPENDENT 7 SCHOOL DISTRICT, ET AL VS. CHOI SUI WONG, ET AL

PLANTATION CREEK SEC 1, BLK 3, LT 5, REC'D IN SLIDE# 1060A*

LEGALS City of Missouri City

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 5

Adjudged Value

Estimated Minimum Bid

$100,240.00

$17,500.00

$11,590.00

$8,400.00

$242,060.00

$7,000.00

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOCATION/DATE: The City Council of the City of Missouri City will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2019, at the City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor, City Hall Building, 1522 Texas Parkway (FM-2234), Missouri City, Texas at 7:00 p.m.

PURPOSE: To receive comments for or against a request by Xiaochun Liu, to amend PD, Planned Development District #66 to allow for an integrated business development to include an existing child care center, and to the extent such rezoning deviates from the Future Land Use and Character map of the Comprehensive Plan, to provide for an amendment therefrom.

SITE LOCATION: The existing child care center is located at 4835 Highway 6. PD #66 is located north of Colonial Lakes Drive and Highway 6, south of a Kids R Kids Learning Academy located at 2850 Colonial Lakes Drive, east of Star Cinema Grill located at 4811 Highway 6, and west of a Holiday Inn at 5007 Highway 6. PD #66 includes a Spring Creek Barbeque at 4895 Highway 6, a Hampton Inn and Suites at 4909 Highway 6, American First National Bank at 4915 Highway 6 and a Primeway Federal Credit Union at 4935 Highway 6.

SITE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PD #66 can be described as being both Colonial Lakes Village as recorded as instrument number 2008027 and as Colonial Lakes Village Phase II as recorded as instrument number 20080150 in the Official Public Records of Fort Bend County, Texas, as replatted and amended as Colonial Lakes Phase II Replat No. One, recorded as instrument number 20090022; Amending Plat of Colonial Lakes Phase II Replat No. One, recorded as instrument number 20100055, Colonial Lakes Phase Two Replat No. Two, recorded as instrument number 20110134, and Colonial Lakes Phase Two Replat No. Three, recorded as instrument number 20150097 all as recorded in the Official Public Records of Fort Bend County, Texas.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Additional information and a map of the subject site are available for review at City Hall, Missouri City, Texas on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call 281-403-8600 or email the Development Services Department-Planning Division at planning@missouricitytx.gov for further information.

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Fort Bend County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

RECENT CHANGES IN THE PROPERTY TAX CODE NOW REQUIRE PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY TO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR CERTIFYING THAT THE PERSON/FIRM/COMPANY PURCHASING PROPERTY AT A TAX SALE OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO ANY TAXING ENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A TAX SALE DEED TO ANY PROPERTY YOU PURCHASE WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATE. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE.

Dated at Richmond, Texas, June 28, 2019 Constable Wayne Thompson Fort Bend County, Texas By

Deputy

Notes: The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value.

However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit (other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (713) 844-3576

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 6

AUTOMOBILE: Kia Niro EV

and parking distance warning with forward and reverse available.

The new Niro EV is available in two trims, EX and EX Premium. The Premium EX features include 8-inch color navigation touchscreen, power tilt/slide sunroof, LED headlamps, 8-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio

system with external amplifier and subwoofer, auto-dimming mirror, heated steering wheel, and LED interior lighting.

The Niro EV Premium retails for $44,000 and options increased the price to $46,160.

It has marvelous manners, is definitely quiet and has good torque. The test drive is also roomy and has a touchscreen

that works well for the driver.

If you are interested in a quiet drive that you can plug in to any 3-prong outlet in your garage or home, do test drive the Niro EV. There are going to be more and more electric cars in our lives and the Kia Niro will be a good one.

John Mitton Voted into Texas Radio Hall of Fame

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The Kia Niro is an allelectric crossover vehicle that Kia designed and created to accommodate many different advanced electrified powertrains. First to arrive in 2016 was the hybrid, then in 2017 the plug-in hybrid, and now a fully-electric powertrain that is estimated to get an all-electric range of 239 miles.

With the combined charging system, the DC fast charge is standard equipment that can approximately reach up to 100 miles in 30 minutes or 80 percent battery capacity in 75 minutes while having dinner at a chic restaurant.

Energy and power for Niro EV comes from a liquidcooled 64kWh lithium ion polymer battery that lives under the floor of the vehicle so there is more passenger space.

Features of the Niro EV battery and powertrain include a 201-horsepower electric motor with 291 lb.-ft. of torque, charging protocol with a battery that can now charge at 100kW and a level 2 (240v) at 7.2 kWh charger that needs approximately 9.5 hours for a full charge.

With 291 lb.-ft. of torque, the Niro EV’s electric motor offers nice get-up-and-go.

Add to that a low center of gravity and a 106.3 inch-long wheelbase and the Niro EV is an easy drive and ride with a substantial feel to it.

Because driving styles affect the amount of energy THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION

TO DUC THANG 8510 TOMKINS COVE DRIVE HOUSTON TX 77083-7390 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 August 19, 2019 a default judgment may be taken against you.

The case is presently pending before the 240TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas. It bears cause number 16-DCV-235156 and is styled: In the Matter of 97 Gambling Devices, Equipment and $28,240.00 Gambling Proceeds The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is: CRAIG PRIESMEYER; MARK LAFORGE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE 301 JACKSON ST RM 101 RICHMOND TX 77469; ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY 301 JACKSON ST RICHMOND TX 77469 281-341-4460 281-633-7638 The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is as follows to wit: RESPONDENTS TO APPEAR AND SHOW CAUSE WHY SAID PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE FORFEITED OR DESTROYED AND FURTHER MOVES, UPON HEARING IN THIS CAUSE, FOR AN ORDER DIRECTING THAT THE PROPERTY BE FORFEITED TO THE STATE TO BE DISPOSED OF ACCORDING TO LAW. 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 the 1st day of July, 2019.

DISTRICT CLERK BEVERLY MCGREW WALKER, FORT BEND COUNTY. TEXAS Physical Address: 1422 Eugene Heinmann Circle, Room 31004 Richmond, Texas 77469

expended the Niro EV has a variety of tools that put energy management control in the driver’s hands. They include Eco, Normal, Sport and Eco+ that automatically adjust regenerative braking level, air conditioning and heating settings, and set speed limits to help manage operating efficiency.

Smart regenerative braking operated via paddle shifters provides drivers the ability to slow the car and capture kinetic energy, returning energy to the battery and adding extra range. Drivers can choose from four regen braking levels depending on how aggressive drivers want the regen effort and energy efficiency (range) needs.

The brake and hold system allows the regen paddle shifter to bring the car to a full stop, adding energy to the battery that would be lost using normal braking. It also adjusts the regenerative braking level based on a vehicle in front and can create smoother coastdown driving, especially when descending a steep road. The Kia’s Eco Pedal Guide on the instrument cluster helps keep the driver aware of real-time power distribution based on acceleration.

This battery-electric Niro EV is on trend as consumers shift more to electric vehicles PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Camellia, Section 4, Precinct 3.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Mailing Address: 301 Jackson St., Room 101 Richmond, Texas 77469

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 458TH Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on MAY 31, 2019 in cause numbered 18-DCV-248183 styled NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. vs. BRENDA C. STEVES, in which a judgment was rendered on JUNE 11, 2018 in favor of NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC for the sum of Eleven Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Two and 34/100 Dollars ($11,722.34); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on JUNE 11, 2019 and will on a AUGUST 6, 2019 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of BRENDA C. STEVES to and in the following described Real Property: LOT EIGHT (8), IN BLOCK FIVE (5), OF AMENDING PLAT OF NEW TERRITORY, WALKERS STATION, SECTION ONE (1), AN SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 974/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 6003 WALKERS PARK NORTH, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77479 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG FIRST FLOOR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: AUGUST 6, 2019 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: CHIEF DEPUTY J.G. HERMANN

Deputy District Clerk Katherine Chambers (281) 344-3959

TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

while looking for the attributes of crossovers, such as the higher seating position for easy ingress/egress and better visibility and the utility and function. It has 8.5 cu.-ft. of cargo space with the backseat up and and 53 cu.-ft. with it folded.

In order to provide the Niro EV Premium with its own character, it got a closed off grille because there is no internal combustion engine to cool, specially designed 17-inch alloy wheels, reshaped rocker panels and revised front and rear bumper facias with blue trim accents.

The Niro EV owner can also boast of a 7-inch color touchscreen with rear view monitor and parking guidance, 6-speaker audio system (AM/FM/SiriusXM) with USB input, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard wireless smart phone charging, Bluetooth wireless connectivity with voice recognition and antilock braking, traction control, electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring.

Driver-Assistance Systems include forward collision warning, collision avoidance assist, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot collision warning, driver attention warning, smart cruise control with stop and go, rear cross traffic collision warning PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for the street name change to rename Klauke Road to Stella Road (limits are from Cottonwood School Road to the drainage ditch at Rosenberg City Limits west of West Fairgrounds Road), Pct 1.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Missouri City resident John F. Mitton has been voted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in honor of Mitton’s 35-year career in radio broadcasting and sales.

Mitton, president of a national advertising agency based in Sugar Land, is one of only twenty Texas broadcasters who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on November 2, 2019, at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, Texas.

(Details available at: www. trhof.net) Mitton’s nomination for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame cited his “strong suit has been listening to the needs of his clients.

John has helped develop and refine some of the best niche products ever featured in Texas radio. The pay-offs have included increased sales for clients, job placements for hundreds of workers, and savings for consumers who’ve benefited from the products and services he’s helped pitch, by showing the folks with the wallets that Radio still works.”

“I am honored and proud to be selected as an inductee for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019,” said Mitton.

“I am joining a wonderful group of broadcast professionals, many of whom are friends and former coworkers.”

Mitton began his Texas broadcasting career in 1973 while a student at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

Broadening his studies to include Radio & Television classes at Abilene Christian University, John worked part-time as an Announcer at the campus radio station KACU-FM and at Abilene’s contemporary Christian radio station, KCAD-FM. In 1977, John moved to Corpus Christi where he was a Director of “Action 10 News” programs at KZTV television.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for California Street, Precincts 1 and 2.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

City of Missouri City NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOCATION/DATE: The City Council of the City of Missouri City will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2019, at the City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor, City Hall Building, 1522 Texas Parkway (FM-2234), Missouri City, Texas at 7:00 p.m.

PURPOSE: To receive comments for or against a request by Morgan Myers on behalf of the Tang City Community Village LLC, to amend the regulations and restrictions of PD, Planned Development District No. 34 pertaining to ordinance O-00-34 to allow for the development of office and warehouse and retail uses, and to the extent such rezoning deviates from the Future Land Use and Character map of the Comprehensive Plan, to provide for an amendment therefrom.

SITE LOCATION: The subject site is located north of the Timber Falls Business Park, south of US 90A – South Main Street, east of the Second Mile Mission Center and west of S Cravens Road.

SITE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: The subject site can be described as being an approximate 9.4672 acre tract of land located in the B.B.B. & C. R. Survey, A-116, Fort Bend County, Texas, being part of Tract “D” and all of Tract “E” and Tract “G” of Tang City Plaza, a map or plat of which is recorded under Volume 33, Page 9 of the Map Records of Fort Bend County, Texas.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Additional information and a map of the subject site are available for review at City Hall, Missouri City, Texas on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call 281-403-8600 or email the Development Services Department-Planning Division at planning@missouricitytx.gov for further information.

Mitton In 1987, Mitton got his first radio sales job at Houston’s classical music station, KRTSFM 92.1, where John’s “people skills” convinced major clients such as Fiesta grocery stores and Sound Warehouse to buy advertising on the 3,000-watt classical music station.

In 1988, John was offered a job at KRBE-FM “Power 104” where he innovated “Recruitment Advertising,” creating classified job listings on the radio.

When Westbury Hospital in Houston was desperate to hire more nurses, Mitton’s strategy of running “Job Opening” commercials allowed the hospital to fill all fifteen job openings for experienced nurses in less than one week. Not only did nurses from other hospitals move to Westbury, but an attorney who had recently discovered she was pregnant decided to have her baby at Westbury because the nurses there were described as so caring and professional in Mitton’s radio commercials.

In 1990, John was hired away

by Houston’s #1-rated country station, KIKK AM-FM, where Mitton expanded his “Recruitment Advertising” portfolio to major corporations looking to hire management executives, professional staff and tradecraft personnel in Houston and southeast Texas.

John recruited major corporate clients to sponsor KIKK promotional events such as KIKK’s Free Country Concerts at Miller Outdoor Theater, the annual Miss Go Texan pageant, the Junior Commercial Steer Auction and Bull Riding competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and KIKK’s own Super Ride trail ride.

When Viacom sold KIKK AM-FM to Westinghouse in

1993, John was quickly hired by KODA-FM “Sunny 99.1” where John became the first local sales representative in Houston to sell 60-second radio commercials for a record $1,000 per minute, more than twice the average of other Houston stations.

In 2000, John and his wife Liz started their own advertising agency, Mitton Media®, based in Sugar Land but working with clients nationwide. John is President and CEO; Liz is the agency’s CFO. Their daughter Maggie also joined the agency as a Senior Buyer and Media Planner. John’s sister-in-law, in the New York City office, provides foreign language translation services, so everything from advertising/marketing materials and radio/television commercials to employee manuals can be translated into a variety of different languages.

Mitton Media® continues to specialize in “Employee Recruitment Advertising” strategies and creative production for professional and skilled workforce positions. Company CEOs and Human Resources Managers appreciate Mitton’s customer-promise: “We do the work.

You get the credit.”

The Past President of the Houston Chapter of the Employment Management Association (EMA), Mitton won the Pinnacle Award from the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) in 2004.

Mitton is the author of the book “Good People Aren’t Looking for Work, They’re Listening for It®: Proven Radio Recruitment Sales Tips That Increase Sales”. John has been a frequent speaker to the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). He teaches a SHRM-accredited continuing education workshop entitled “Beyond Post and Pray: Recruitment Advertising Strategies for Today’s Multi-Generational Workplace®” and is a guest lecturer at the University of Houston’s Doctoral Studies program for Industrial Psychology. (John received a B.S. in Behavioral Psychology from UH in 1986.)

John and his wife Liz lived in Sugar Land’s Sugar Creek neighborhood since 1992 before moving to Quail Valley in Missouri City in 2013. Their son, Logan, is an agent for Allstate Insurance in Stafford.

City of Missouri City NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOCATION/DATE: The City Council of the City of Missouri City will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2019, at the City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor, City Hall Building, 1522 Texas Parkway (FM-2234), Missouri City, Texas at 7:00 p.m.

PURPOSE: To receive comments for or against a request by Jeremiah Asomugha seeking a SUP, Specific Use Permit for an approximate 14.984 acre tract of land zoned as LC-1 local retail restricted district and R-3 two-family residential district to allow for the development of a worship center and to the extent such rezoning deviates from the Future Land Use and Character map of the Comprehensive Plan, to provide for an amendment therefrom.

SITE LOCATION: The subject site is located north of East Hampton Circle, south of Fondren Park subdivision, east of Kathy Avenue, and west of Fondren Road.

SITE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: The subject site can be described as being a 14.984 acre tract of land, situated in the James B. Murphy Survey, A-581, Harris County, Texas, being out of that certain called 15.055 acre tract as described in deed recorded under Clerk’s File No. 4269652 of the Official Public Records of Harris County, Texas.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Additional information and a map of the subject site are available for review at City Hall, Missouri City, Texas on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call 281-403-8600 or email the Development Services Department-Planning Division at planning@missouricitytx.gov for further information.

COMMUNITY

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 7

Veranda taps local Mercy Goods to beautify new amenity center Visitors to The Cottage House, Veranda’s newly opened amenity complex, will notice many beautiful things but pride of place has been given to two pieces of furniture created by social enterprise business Mercy Goods Co. Founded in 2017 by Zach and April Lambert, Mercy Goods teaches carpentry and furniture design to at-risk youth, providing them with employment, job-training and mentorship opportunities.

“We apply commercial strategies to maximize improvements to financial, social and environmental wellbeing,” Zach said. “I’ve always built furniture and it was something I could teach.

Through partnerships with Attack Poverty, St. John’s United Methodist Church and Lamar Consolidated High School where my wife teaches, we are able to help students learn a trade and get that first line on a resume.”

Mercy Goods operates a workshop and showroom in the Alive building owned by St. John’s United Methodist Church in Historic Richmond. There, Zach and other volunteers teach students to create everything from cutting boards to dining room tables.

“Mercy Goods is a workstudy program,” Lambert said.

“Students go to school with

Veranda hired local social enterprise business Mercy Goods Co. to design and build a table and bench for The Cottage House, the community’s newly opened amenity center. an off period in the afternoon, then they come work at Mercy Goods learning to produce handmade custom furniture.”

For Veranda, Lambert and his crew of five students created a custom oak and steel community table and matching bench

inspired by the amenity center’s farmhouse style.

The table is located in the main room of The Cottage House and will provide a place for residents to sit and mingle.

The facility also includes a cardio and circuit-training room

Mercy Goods Team. Zach Lambert, center, works with local youth such as Dominic Butler, left, and Jason Rodriquez, right, to provide them with job training and employment making furniture and other items. Mercy Goods Co. was hired to build two pieces of furniture for Veranda’s new amenity center. with a massage suite, a multi- for. That we could have that and these unique pieces that do purpose meeting room and help out students attending our good at the same time. We’re reception area, a play area and local high school was a bonus.” also looking for volunteers to a 3,250-square-foot covered Currently, people looking mentor and work alongside our patio. to commission furniture must student employees as well as “We are proud to be part of make an appointment but Lam- donations of tools and equipthe Richmond community,” bert says the Mercy Goods ment. Anything you do will said Trey Reichert, Vice Presi- store will be open to the public give disadvantaged youth an dent and General Manager of soon. It will be stocked with opportunity to be successful.”

For more information about Veranda. goods created by the students.

“When it came to decorating The proceeds will be used to Mercy Goods, visit https:// The Cottage House, it seemed pay students, provide training mercygoods.co.

For more about Veranda, only natural to incorporate and purchase materials. pieces that were produced lo“We are open for business,” visit www.verandatexas.com. cally. Mercy Goods created Lambert said. “We invite peoexactly what we were looking ple to come out and purchase

Four Corners Cricket Field open house draws cricket enthusiasts to celebrate Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken R. DeMerchant had his hand at Cricket at the Four Corners Cricket Field Open House on Saturday. The much-anticipated Cricket field was made ready for action.

DeMerchant said, “The County has so much to give especially to its youth who are our future and this is a great start.”

After taking office in January Commissioner DeMerchant saw an opportunity to make better use of the Four Corners facility by including a Cricket Field for Youth. One day, as was driving by on a cold morning, he saw kids playing cricket and instantly thought he should make a cricket field for children in the park.

DeMerchant recognized the diversity of the community and its needs and he believes in bringing people together through sports.

DeMerchant worked closely with Fort Bend County Parks and Recreation to start the groundwork towards this initiative. He also saw to it that no property tax dollars would be used in this project. A new user agreement with the County and Sugar Land Youth Cricket Club was underway to “promote Cricket in Fort Bend County.”

The morning was filled with children and families from neighboring communities who gathered to celebrate and test their skills at this much-loved sport. Four Corners Sugar Land Cricket field is just a warmup for many matches to come.

Taste of Rosenberg Set for Aug. 5

This year’s Taste of Rosenberg on Aug. 5 will include food and dessert samples from local restaurants as well as musical entertainment and prizes.

The second annual “Taste of Rosenberg” is set for Monday, Aug. 5, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Rosenberg Civic Center, 3825 Highway 36 South.

This free event is open to the public and hosted by the city of Rosenberg and the Rosenberg Development Corporation.

More than a dozen local restaurants have already signed on to provide food and

dessert samples. The event will also feature live musical entertainment and door prize raffles throughout the evening.

“We’re very excited to bring back the Taste of Rosenberg for a second year,” said Assistant Economic Development Director Jeremy Heath.

“This is a great way to sample some of Rosenberg’s finest cuisine all in one place. Grab

your friends and head over to see, but more importantly taste, what this fun event is all about.”

To become a vendor at this popular event, contact Isabel Castillo at icastillo@ rosenbergtx.gov or call 832595-3330.

For more information about the event, visit facebook.com/ RosenbergEcoDev.

INDEPENDENT • JULY 17, 2019 • Page 8

NEWS

Johnson Development earns 5 spots among Nation’s best selling communities

SANDERSEN & SCHEFFER, PLLC Certified Public Accountants

12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 165 · Stafford, TX 77477 Flewellyn Creek in Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear.

It’s another repeat for appeals to today’s evolving percent gain.

Johnson Development, which homebuying market.”

Woodforest in Montgomery once again saw more of its The RCLCO report states County saw 206 sales reported, communities on a list of the that many of the top-selling tieing the community for nation’s top selling than any communities listed have No. 40. Harvest Green in other developer. strategies to fill multiple Richmond also is listed, According to the mid-year market niches, offering a mix placing No. 50 with 187 tally released July 9 by housing of homes in varied prices and home sales. It was a 9 percent research firm Robert Charles styles. Lifestyle amenities are increase over last year.

Lesser & Co. (RCLCO), another shared characteristic Only true master-planned Johnson Development has among the communities. communities that reflect a five communities among Of the five Johnson comprehensive master plan the nation’s 50 best-selling Development communities on incorporating a variety of developments. the RCLCO mid-year report, housing types, sizes, prices, “Our lifestyle-focused Harmony in Spring had the shared common space and approach continues to resonate most sales, placing No. 17 amenities are included on the with homebuyers,” said Larry with 289 home sales — a 24 list, according to RCLCO. Johnson, Chairman and Chief percent increase. Sienna took Johnson Development has Executive Officer of Johnson No. 18, with just a few sales had more communities ranked Development, a company shy of Harmony — 281 for among the 50 best-selling he founded in 1975. “Add in the first six months of 2019. than any other developer since the varied palette of quality Cross Creek Ranch was not 2014. builders and home designs, far behind, earning a No. For details, visit www. and you have a package that 21 spot with 262 sales, a 7 johnsondevelopment.com.

Thank you Fort Bend for an excellent two years & looking forward to many more Sandersen & Scheffer, PLLC, conveniently located at the corner of the Southwest Freeway and Kirkwood Road, is a full-service Accounting firm, offering a broad range of services for business owners, executives, and independent professionals.

Alan K. Sandersen, CPA Sherri R. Scheffer, CPA (281) 242-3232

www.cpa-tx.com info@cpa-tx.com

STUDENT PHYSICALS EXTRACURRICULAR PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICALS

Orthopedic, sports medicine and cardiology specialists will be on-site to provide additional clearance as needed.

SATURDAY, JULY 27 | 9 A.M. – NOON AGES: 12-18 | COST: $20 CASH ONLY

Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine 16811 Southwest Fwy. | Sugar Land, TX 77479 For more information, call 281.275.0447.

Plan Ahead: Visit events.houstonmethodist.org/physicals-sl to print and fill out the UIL physical evaluation and release forms.

NOTE: According to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) guidelines, students participating in school sports must complete and pass a preparticipation physical screening. Students must bring the UIL physical evaluation medical history form and Houston Methodist consent form completed and signed by a parent or guardian.