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TriciaKrenek.com

E X P E R I E N C E ✯ T R U S T ✯ R E S U LT S VOL 12 No. 41

email: editor@fbindependent.com

Pd. Pol. Adv. by the Tricia Krenek Campaign

Phone: 281-980-6745

www.fbindependent.com

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019

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

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Stafford

Appeals court sides with FBISD on abandoned cemetery

By SESHADRI KUMAR A three-judge panel of the Houston Court of Appeals issued an opinion validating Fort Bend ISD’s legal actions regarding the Sugar Land 95 on Thursday.

“The panel agreed that the District had the right to nonsuit the case and that District Court Judge Jim Shoemake abused his discretion when he appointed a master of chancery and an ad litem, concluding that the appointments were invalid,” FBISD said in a statement.

The appeals court in its order said: “We agree with FBISD that its filing of its nonsuit of the underlying suit to remove the cemetery dedication mooted all proceedings pending in the underlying suit in the trial court except as to the assessment of court costs. Accordingly, the trial court lost jurisdiction to act on the merits of the proceeding.

We hold that the nonsuit moots FBISD’s original mandamus petition challenging the November 2018 appointment of the Master, and we therefore dismiss the original mandamus petition.

“We further hold that the trial court’s appointment of the Guardian ad Litem and reappointment of the Master are both ineffective because these appointments occurred after FBISD nonsuited the underlying proceeding. We therefore conditionally grant FBISD’s two supplemental

mandamus petitions and order that the trial court vacate these two orders.

“As no parties with interests adverse to FBISD had intervened or been named by the trial court as additional parties at the time of FBISD’s nonsuit, even under the expanded powers accorded the court by the June 10, 2019 amendments to chapter 711, the nonsuit was effective from the moment it was filed under the plain language of Rule 162 and controlling case law, and the trial court had a ministerial duty to dismiss the suit.

“We dismiss FBISD’s original mandamus petition as moot, and we conditionally grant FBISD’s two supplemental petitions for mandamus relief. We lift the stay orders imposed by this Court on December 20, 2018, August 6, 2019, and August 8, 2019, and direct the trial court to vacate its July 26, 2019 order appointing the Guardian ad Litem and its August 6, 2019 order reappointing the Master in Chancery and to issue an order dismissing the underlying proceeding.

“We are confident the trial court will promptly comply.

Accordingly, our writ will issue only if the trial court does not comply within thirty days of the date of this opinion. All pending motions are dismissed as moot.”

The District is moving forward with its plan to reinter the remains of the 95 individuals discovered during

2019 Sugar Plum Market

the construction of the James Reese Career and Technical Center. It has contracted with a local funeral home to procure appropriate burial vessels and is planning a communitybased memorial to honor and memorialize the Sugar Land 95.

The remains will be reinterred to the same locations they were discovered.

“We are grateful for the opinion of the appellate court that supports the actions taken

by Fort Bend ISD,” said FBISD Board President Jason Burdine.

“We look forward to memorializing and honoring the Sugar Land 95 with our community, and our continued work to ensure their lives are not forgotten. Crossing this hurdle now allows us to move forward to finalizing our ongoing negotiations with the county regarding the future conveyance of the land.”

Fort Bend ISD will share more information about reinterment and the pending memorial service once plans are finalized.

In May of 2019, the FBISD Board of Trustees adopted a Front Row: Parita Kurian, Heather Allen, Jenna Kisner. Back Row: Megan Schlafer, Cindy Reaves local social studies standard The 2019 Sugar Plum Market Bend Junior Service League Sugar Plum Market spirit shirt. related to the state-sanctioned will kick off the JOYful holiday in an effort to spread Joy to To check out this years spirit convict-leasing system and the season at the can’t miss premier the World right here at home. attire and other market goodies local history associated with the holiday shopping event of Fort A limited quantity of Preview please visit stores.inksoft.com/ Sugar Land 95.

All Bend County! Presented by Night tickets will be available sugarplum/shop/home.

This standard was the Fort Bend Junior Service for $75 and include light orders received by October 25th incorporated into the curriculum League (FBJSL) and Title hors d’oeuvres provided by will be mailed and received by at the beginning of the 2019-20 Sponsor, Memorial Hermann Behind the Bash Catering, a November 6th. Orders placed school year.

Sugar Land, this year’s “Joy drink ticket, and Market entry after October 25th may not be to the World” themed Market Friday and Saturday. Preview received by Sugar Plum Market is just around the corner. The Night will host other exclusive Event.

The 2018 Sugar Plum 19th Annual Market will take happenings including a Kendra place at the Stafford Centre Scott jewelry pull, specialty Market raised a record-breaking Performing Arts Theatre and cotton candy by Twirl, and $335,000 for local charitable Convention Center Friday, delicious sweets provided by organizations. The 2019 Market November 8th from 9 a.m. to 8 Kilwins Sugar Land Town will once again benefit numerous p.m. and Saturday, November Square. General Admission Fort Bend County charities and 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A tickets will be available for continue to spread JOY. For special Preview Night will be both presale, $12, and at the more information, including held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. door, $15. Preview Night and sponsorship and underwriting on Thursday, November 7th. General Admission tickets opportunities, please visit This VIP event allows patrons can be purchased online at w w w. s u g a r p l u m m a r k e t . to shop the Market before the www.sugarplummarket.com. com or contact the Sugar Market Co-Chairs general public.

General Admission tickets are Plum For an exceptional holiday also available at your local by email at information@ shopping market teeming with HEB. You do not want to miss sugarplummarket.com. top notch vendors, join Fort out on your chance to order a

Flood control district president ousted in “political coup”

By SESHADRI KUMAR Even as various government entities are gearing up to spend billions of dollars in the name of flood protection and mitigation all over Texas, the Texas Legislature has quietly enacted a new law with little public discussion.

House Bill 2202 that took effect on Sept. 1 would do nothing to tackle flooding issues, but would enhance the control of politicians and lobbyists in managing the Levee Improvement Districts.

While increasing the number of appointees from three to five, the law makes it next to impossible for the taxpayers to choose their levee board directors by election instead of appointments by county commissioners.

Previously, 10 percent of people who voted in the immediate past election could sign a petition seeking election of the board directors instead of commissioners court appointing them.

Under the new law, the petition to call for an election requires the signature of at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the district.

For example, in Fort Bend County LID No. 2, there

were 18,590 registered voters during the May 4, 2019 bond election.

And 1,952 people cast their ballots.

Under the old law, a petition with 196 signatures was sufficient to trigger an election of the board of directors. Under Andre McDonald the new law, directors. at least 1,860 What constitutes the concerns signatures are needed to call for an election, nearly 10 times and ambiguity are not disclosed.

The genesis of this bill, more or as many as those who however, could be traced to voted in the previous election.

Why was this law changed previous years. The LIDs operated almost incognito and and who was behind it?

The only available public the general public would not record on this bill says: know much about their LID Concerns have been raised directors. Concerned about the regarding ambiguity in the apparent lack of accountability application of certain provisions of these taxing entities, the relating to levee improvement legislature had allowed for districts and the process for election of the LID directors the initial election of district based on petition drives. directors. H.B. 2202 seeks Consequently, a few LIDs in to address this ambiguity by Fort Bend country switched to revising provisions relating to the electoral system a few years the appointment and election ago.

See COUP, Page 3 of levee improvement district

County Tax Office hosts Property Tax Seminar The Fort Bend County Tax Office, in conjunction with the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District, is hosting a Property Tax Seminar on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the George Memorial Library in Richmond.

Presentations will be given by the Honorable Carrie Surratt, Fort Bend County Tax AssessorCollector, and Jordan Wise, the newly appointed Chief Appraiser of the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District.

A legal representative will also be on hand to answer taxpayer questions regarding delinquent taxes and payment options.

Seminar attendees can expect to gain an end-to-end understanding of the property

tax process: how the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District assesses property values, the process for property owners to protest assessed property values, examples of exemptions for which property owners may be eligible, and the benefits and/ or potential relief that comes with various tax exemptions.

The seminar will also review how property taxes are calculated for individual properties.

Ms. Surratt will cover how taxing jurisdictions generate and adopt effective tax rates, as well as the process by which the Tax Office calculates the overall tax levy for each property account.

This will include any reductions to the base levy because of eligible exemptions. Finally

the presentation will review the accrual of penalties and interest from delinquent taxes, payment options for property owners whose taxes are in arrears, and potential legal remedies the county and/or other tax entities may seek for unpaid property taxes.

Charles A. “Chip” Sutton, Capital Partner with Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP, will be on hand to answer individual questions from property owners relating to delinquent property taxes.

All current and potential property owners in Fort Bend County are encouraged to attend the seminar and obtain a broader understanding of the appraisal and property tax process.

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 2019

COMMUNITY Fort Bend ISD Trustee Jim Rice named President-Elect of TASB Board

FORT BEND COUNTY FAIR 2019. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, left, with former Fulshear City Council member and candidate for House District 28 Tricia Krenek, Staff members Robert Pochukas and Chris Elam, are pictured with Brance Farrel who reared the Grand Champion AOB (all other breed) steer. “Once again, my non-profit Fort Bend Charities was able to donate to several area youngsters through the live auction - including the Grand Champion AOB (all other breed) steer! Congratulations to Brance Farrell for doing such an outstanding job with his steer at the show. It was a joy to be out and supporting Precinct 3 students from so many local FFA clubs and 4-H programs from schools like Foster HS, Fulshear HS, Seven Lakes HS, Cinco Ranch HS, and individual 4-H clubs from the Richmond, Katy and Fulshear area,” said Commissioner Meyers.

Ridge Point High School Varsity soccer team earns national award. The Ridge Point High School Varsity soccer team has earned the Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches, a national organization of American soccer coaches with more than 30,000 members.

The team earned an overall GPA of 3.704. The Ridge Point Panthers soccer team was one of only three boys’ teams in Texas and one of 112 teams across the nation to earn this honor.

Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustee Jim Rice has been named President-Elect of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The association elected its 201920 officers during its recent Delegate Assembly and Convention in Dallas.

Rice was elected to the TASB Board of Directors in 2012. A graduate of Leadership TASB, he chaired the Legislative Committee during the recent 86th legislative session and during the 84th session.

He has held several board positions, including Chair of the Legislative Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee, Secretary/Treasurer, second Vice President and first Vice President. He has also served on the Nominations, and Planning and Development committees. He is a strong

Rice advocate for public education and works for the benefit of FBISD students and staff. In 2021, FBISD students will be showcased at the TASB General Session.

Rice joined the FBISD School Board in May 2010.

He was elected board secretary in June 2011 and board president in 2012, serving

two consecutive terms in that office.

Rice is the president of Rice and Gardner Consultants, Inc., an engineering and construction management firm.

In addition to his professional duties, he currently serves as the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Education Division ViceChair and is a 2005 graduate of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Forum Class. He is also involved in numerous civic organizations for Fort Bend County, including Fort Bend Cares, the Fort Bend Literacy Council, the Fort Bend P16 Regional Council, and the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. Rice is cofounder of the charity Fort Bend Cares, which benefits underprivileged youth in the community.

Riverstone is combining Halloween fun — including a canine costume contest — with its final Bite Nite Friday of the season happening 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 11. Costume canines can parade in their finery beginning at 7:30 p.m. This not-so-scary event features themed activities, a live DJ, spooky visitors, yard games and a Halloween-themed bounce house at The Club at Riverstone, 18353 University Boulevard.

Celebrating Years of Doing Things the

“Sugar Land Way” Sugar Land’s successful present is a testament to its unique, diverse and rich history.

Recent accomplishments include:

A Safe City

A Strong Local Economy

A Responsible City Government

A Great Place to Live

A Proud Community

Lowest Crime Rate on Record in 2018

Home to high-profile regional and international corporations

Second Lowest Tax Rate for Cities our Size

Tree City USA

Over 1 Million attendees at destination venues in 2018

TML Tax and Debt Survey

Ninety-four percent of residents agree or strongly agree that they are proud to call Sugar Land home

AAA Bond Ratings Fitch and Standard & Poor’s

Arbor Day Foundation

Best Tasting Water in North America - 2019 Runner Up American Water Works Association (AWWA)

2017 Citizen Satisfaction Survey

Learn more about upcoming celebration activities. Visit www.SugarLandTX.gov/CelebrateSL CONNECT WITH US

INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 2019 • Page 3

NEWS

List of aspirants to the Congressional District 22 seat continues to grow

By SESHADRI KUMAR The list of Republican candidates intending to run for the Congressional District 22 seat left open by incumbent Pete Olson is growing regularly with an announcement almost every other week. The final list is unlikely to emerge until close of filing on Dec. 15. The primary election will be on March 4, 2020.

The Constitution requires that Members of the House be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years and live in the state they represent - though not necessarily the same district.

The latest announcement came from Sugar Land resident Diana Miller last week.

“I made my announcement at the Texas Federation of Republican Women’s Convention where delegates gathered to represent their organization of over 10,700 active members. My message was met with overwhelming excitement and support as I discussed my recent efforts to protect the election integrity in Fort Bend County, my willingness to stand alone against personal threats to ensure the fairness in future elections,” Miller said in a statement.

“For over a decade, I have stopped Special Interests from destroying the quality of life in Sugar Land. I stopped the over taxation of our residents, I helped expose developer deals that took money from our public school fund and I stopped attempts by the Democrats to manipulate our local elections.

“The democrats believe they can turn District 22 blue because of our increasing diversity. As a 35-year resident

of the district, and as a minority myself, I intend to be the catalyst to bringing that diversity to the polls in favor of a Republican candidate who reflects that diversity.

“As a Hispanic candidate in a district where Hispanics are the majority minority, I intend to reach across Party lines and bring in new Republican voters, something that has long been ignored in the District.

“Political analysts from Rice University and the University of Houston have recently touted the importance of reaching our diverse community in order to keep the District red.

“I will strengthen my established ties with the overall diverse population in our community, a community where we have raised our children and grandchildren together and celebrated in their success. We are not divided, we are one. We are one in family values and strong work ethics.

“I am the only candidate with a proven record of working tirelessly for the community and I will work tirelessly for the voters of District 22,” Miller said.

Coup

McDonald, with Bryan K. Chapline.

Another action was to abandon the board’s action to call for qualifications and hire a law firm for legal services.

These two actions provide a clue as to why this particular LID was targeted for reorganization.

McDonald, an acknowledged veteran in Levee Improvement Districts, was caught by surprise. He was under the impression that this legislation died as represented by the LID’s legal consultants, who had been retained by the LID to lobby the legislature.

But, HB 2202 filed by State Rep. Rick Miller and State Sen. Lois Kolkhurst had sailed through under the radar in the last few days of the session and got the governor’s assent.

Following a major overhaul of the operations and management by FBC LID No. 14 which replaced its long time legal consultants with a new firm and moved the tax collection services from a private firm to the County Tax Assessor Collector, FBC LID 2 also sought to reorganize its legal consultants.

Commissioner DeMerchant welcomed FBC LID 14 for its reorganization and praised the subsequent tax rate reduction by the LID. He indicated that he would like to see a similar reform in other LIDs as well.

McDonald suspects that the axe fell on him to prevent the replacement of the LID’s law firm. The firm Allen, Boone, Humphries & Robinson also represented LID 14 and it was replaced by Hush Blackwell.

Two months ago, when the three-member board considered the item to call for qualifications for legal services, one member, Chapline was opposed to it. At the same meeting Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman spoke during public comments and urged the district not to replace the law firm.

Fort Bend County LID No.

From Page 1 Certain politicians and other vested interests wanted to keep the appointment system and discourage election by the taxpayers by making the petition drive tough to accomplish.

The first casualty of the new law was Fort Bend County LID No. 2.

The passage of HB2202 was a closely guarded secret and the existence of the new law came to the knowledge of FBC LID 2’s then president Andre McDonald, a couple of days prior to Sept. 1. He was told two new members would be inducted into the board at the next immediate meeting of the board.

On Sept. 10, Pct. 4 Commissioner Ken R. DeMerchant had an item on the consent agenda of the commissioners court and it was approved with no discussion.

Even the caption of the item was not read because it was on the consent agenda, where all five members of the court had agreed to the passage of the item.

The agenda item read: Appoint Sam Gaylon and Rashid Khokhar to the Board of Directors of Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 2 for a four-year term effective September 10, 2019 through September 10, 2023.

FBC LID 2 had three members appointed previously:.

André D. McDonald, President and Board Director since 2000; Bryan K. Chapline, Vice President, Board Director since 2012 and Glen R. Gill, Secretary, Board Director since 1998. The LID itself was created in 1975, prior to the development of First Colony.

In the very first meeting where the two new members took the oath of office, the first action item was to reorganize the board and replace the long-time president Andre

Douglas Haggard A few days earlier, Carl Douglas Haggard, a former Assistant District Attorney and a Chief Prosecutor for Harris County, founder of the Haggard Law Firm, announced his candidacy for the Republican Primary for Texas Congressional District 22.

“My background and experience make me the best match for Texas Congressional District 22,” Haggard

said.

Haggard, who has been a Republican since he was a Teenager when he formed a Young Republicans Club at his high school, campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 1964. “My friends told me that, if I dared to work for that warmonger Goldwater, we’d probably be fighting a land war in Asia in just a few years!” Haggard said on Tuesday.

Keli Chevalier An African-American woman, Iraq veteran, Keli Chevalier has entered the CD 22 race.

A 19-year military veteran injured in a Baghdad car bombing, she is a graduate of Yates High School in the third ward and she is conservative.

“If Republicans don’t have candidates that look like me, the party is not going to get heard, and if the Republican Party doesn’t get heard it cannot win, and if Republicans don’t win America loses,” says Chevalier.

“When working minority families really think about their values they will realize the Republican party shares their desire for prosperity for their families,” says Chevalier.

“They don’t want handouts, they want ladders for the success of their families.”

“I am battle tested in many ways, and I am more than willing to stand up and take that oath again,” says Chevalier.

Felicia Harris Hoss Republican Felicia Harris Hoss announced her campaign for Texas’s 22nd congressional district.

A founding partner at Barry Conge Harris LLP, Harris

2 is the largest in the county.

FBCLID 2 has $5 billion in assessed value and taxpayers in the district pay county taxes of between $20 million and $25 million, in addition to their own LID tax revenue of about $7 million.

All 13 Levee Districts in Fort Bend County protect property worth $20 billion and cover 30% of the county’s population.

In May, FBC LID 2 passed an $88 million flood defense bond referendum and in June sold $48 million in bonds to address flooding in the district.

Now, Chapline and the two new members will call the shots. McDonald and Gill will be in the minority.

A spokesman for the Pct. 4 commissioner said the increase in the number of board directors was done to enable smooth operations and management of the LIDs because, in a threemember body, absence of one member often caused delay in decision making.

The commissioner appoints the members to the board who act in public interest and he is not micromanaging the boards, he said.

Reorganization of other LIDs would also be done, keeping public interest in mind.

The commissioner does not have any opinion on elected board or appointed board. If the voters come with a petition, it will be dealt with accordingly.

Last week, in Commissioners Court, Pct. 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage had placed an item on the agenda “Take all appropriate action to increase the total number of directors of the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District from three to five, pursuant to HB2202 of the 86th Legislature, and appoint Gregg Yarbrough and Kelly Shipley to the Board of Directors of the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District effective November 1, 2019.”

The item was approved with no discussion.

Hoss is a self-made businesswoman and the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. She earned her bachelors degree with honors from Texas A&M University.

Later, she received her law degree from South Texas College of Law. Announcing her campaign, Felicia Harris Hoss said: “Radical politicians in D.C. with their Green New Deal and other socialist policies are warring to make us a nation of dependents. If successful they’ll pull the rug right out from under this great nation.

“None of the other candidates in this race has the experience I have. I’ve spent my adult life taking on tough fights, as both a lawyer and a public servant. And, I’ll do the same in Washington. I’ll protect jobs from liberal radicals who want to ban Texas energy. I’ll fight against the socialists in Washington who want open borders. And, I’ll stand with President Trump to build the wall and ban sanctuary cities.

“In Washington, my priority will be to ensure independence and the American Dream survive for generations of Americans to come.

I’m a political outsider from the private sector who’s willing to lead, and to fight for the America we know and love.”

Kathaleen Wall Two years after Houston Republican Kathaleen Wall made an unsuccessful bid to win a congressional seat, she has filed an official statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission to run in the 22nd Congressional District .

Wall, who lives near Memorial Park in Houston in the 2nd Congressional District, competed in in a crowded Republican field that included former State Rep. Kevin Roberts and retired Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw, who ultimately won the primary and the general election. In 2018, Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Wall in the Republican primary.

Greg Hill Greg Hill a county court-atlaw judge in Brazoria County resigned his post to run for CD 22. After graduating from the South Texas College of Law, Hill went to work as a local prosecutor before starting his own law firm. He was elected to three terms on the Pearland City Council and served as Mayor Pro Tem. Hill is also former U.S. Border Patrol Agent. As a Judge and former prosecutor, Greg is committed to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. As your Congressman, Greg will fight to: Secure the border while streamlining legal immigration; Protect our citizens from foreign and domestic terrorism; Cut taxes and regulations on families and small businesses; Reduce federal spending; Support our military and veterans; Protect life and defend the 2nd Amendment; Defeat the socialist agenda that has taken over the Democratic Party Joe Walz A Richmond resident in Fort Bend County, Joe Walz

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describes himself as “ a husband, father, small business owner and disabled veteran of the U.S. Army who wants to see positive action for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He is a proven military and business leader with over 20 years of experience; and he is standing up to represent all of CD22 with his unique economic and cultural background.

The toughness and determination developed through his upbringing has garnered extreme success as a soldier, small business owner, and father of three girls. As a business owner, full time employee in the private sector and the husband of a National Guard soldier and law enforcement officer, Joe balances a life of hard work that is not a choice, but a necessity for survival to people in our district. Joe wants to lead Texas CD22 citizens from wherever they are now - to the successes that they all dream of for them and their children.

His platform includes the Second Amendment, Federal spending, education, healthcare and term limits.

Mathew Hinton Hinton has lived in the Houston area since 1997 and graduated from Stephen F Austin High School in Sugar Land in 2003. Hinton says: “Met my wife, Etima, at the University of Houston when we were 19 years old. We got our dog, Aiden, in 2006 from a shelter when he was 2 years old. We graduated from the University of Houston in 2008 and got married in 2010.

We have been blessed with 2 children. Our son, Miles Nseobong Hinton, is 5 years old and currently in Kindergarten. Our daughter, Phoenix Imaobong Hinton, is 3 years old and currently attending a Montessori School.

“Etima is a licensed Assistant Speech Language Pathologist who currently stays at home to take care of the kids and the household. I am currently employed as a Finance Manager. I have been with the same company since 2012.”

His platform includes: Healthcare – I will never vote for any healthcare legislation that politicians are immune from. The politicians who passed the ACA exempted themselves from the legislation.

Taxes – Make the tax cuts permanent. Cut out loopholes in corporate taxes that allow companies like Amazon and Netflix to post record profits and not pay a single penny in taxes. STOCK Act – We need to strengthen the STOCK Act so that we can criminally prosecute congress members who conduct stock trading based on their insider knowledge of what legislation they are about to pass.

Term Limits – Pass legislation that forces House members to resign after 3 terms and Senate members to resign after 2 terms. Anyone forced to resign from a seat in congress because of term limits will have to wait 6 years before they can run for that seat again. Budget – We need to

reduce the spending of our Federal Government. The first place to start is by halting all financial aid to foreign countries. We should not consider giving money to other countries until we have a budget surplus.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congressional District 22 and has not officially announced his candidacy.

The Democrats running for the seat include Derrick Reed, Sri Preston Kulkarni, and Nyanza Davis Moore.

Derrick Reed of Pearland earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas in 2001, and J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2007. Reed’s career experience includes working as an employment attorney. Reed is a member of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Reed is a former member of the Pearland Planning and Zoning Commission and a former board member of the nonprofit group Literacy Advance. Reed was first elected to serve on the Pearland City Council in 2015, and was re-elected to a second term in 2018.

Sri Preston Kulkarni ran against Olson in 2018 and lost by less than 5 percent margin.

Sri Preston Kulkarni says: “I served our nation overseas for more than 14 years, fighting to protect our national security and reduce conflict around the globe. But after watching the breakdown of civility in America following the 2016 election, including the horrific events at the Nazi rally in Charlottesville, I recognized that the greatest danger to our country was not a foreign power, but the hyperpartisan tension right here at home, which is preventing us from dealing with our most serious issues.

“That is why I resigned from the Foreign Service and came home to serve. We Texans know that we can face the biggest challenges because there is more that unites us than divides us. I will sit down with anyone, no matter where they are on the political spectrum, if they are willing to put partisanship to the side and work on addressing our problems together.”

Nyanza L. Moore is a managing attorney at The Moore Law Group. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1998; and, earned her law degree magna cum laude from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2001. Moore, a Missouri City resident, is the KRIV Fox26 News Legal Expert for all property damage insurance matters. Moore is also a Political Analyst and Panelist on Fox26 Houston’s political talk show, “What’s Your Point?” airing live every Sunday.

Moore says: “I am running for Congress because I have seen first hand how our healthcare system fails our hardworking families. I will be the fresh voice and provide a perspective that’s needed to change our corrupt system.”

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 20199,•2019 Page 4 NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION and BOND ELECTION (AVISO DE ELECCION ESPECIAL Y ELECCION DE BONOS) To the registered voters of the County of Fort Bend, Texas: A los votantes registrados del Condado de Fort Bend, Texas:

Notice is hereby given that an election shall be held in the County on the

5th day of November, 2019, in which all resident, qualified electors of the County shall be entitled to vote for in a special election to adopt or reject the proposed Constitutional Amendments as submitted by the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas and for voting approving, or disapproving, a public question submitted by Fort Bend County.

Qualified voters of Texas House District 28 will also be able to vote t o f i l l a n u n e x p i r e d t e r m f o r S t a t e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , D i s t r i c t 2 8 . The polls shall be open for voting at such election from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Fort Bend County has adopted a countywide polling place program allowing voting at any election day polling location, and the election shall be conducted at each polling place, respectively, by the officers previously appointed by order of the Commissioners Court. The listing of polling places for November 5, 2019 is made a part hereof for all purposes.

Aviso por este medio es dado que una elección se celebrará en el condado el día 5 de noviembre de 2019, en el que todos los electores calificados, residentes del Condado tendrá derecho a votar en una elección especial para aprobar o rechazar las propuestas de enmienda constitucional presentado por la legislatura de 86 del estado de Texas y para votar la aprobación de, o desaprobación, un público pregunta enviadas por el Condado de Fort Bend.

Los votantes calificados del Distrito 28 de la Casa de Representantes de Texas también podrán votar para completar un periodo no vencido para Representante Estatal, Distrito 28. Las urnas estarán abiertas para la votación en esas elecciones de 7:00 a 19:00 Condado de Fort Bend ha adoptado una tercera votación lugar programa permitiendo votar en cualquier lugar de votación del día de las elecciones, y la elección se realizará en cada lugar de votación, respectivamente, por los funcionarios previamente designados por orden de la corte de Comisionados. El listado de lugares de votación para el 05 de noviembre de 2019 se hace una parte presente para todos los efectos.

At the election the following PROPOSITION shall be submitted in accordance with law: En las elecciones se presentara la siguente proposición conforme a ley:

FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION PROPOSITION A (FLOOD MITIGATION) SHALL THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT, BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE THE BONDS OF SAID DISTRICT IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,000,000, BEARING INTEREST AT A RATE OR RATES NOT EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE NOW OR HEREAFTER AUTHORIZED BY LAW, AS SHALL BE DETERMINED WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF SAID COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE, AND MATURING SERIALLY OR OTHERWISE AT SUCH TIMES AS MAY BE FIXED BY SAID COMMISSIONERS COURT NOT TO EXCEED 40 YEARS FROM THEIR DATE OR DATES, FOR PURCHASING LANDS, EASEMENTS, RIGHTS-OF-WAY, AND STRUCTURES, AND FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF DITCHES, CANALS, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING FOR ANY LOCAL MATCHING FUDS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED FLOOD PROJECTS TO RECOVER AND MITIGATE THE DAMAGES OF THE 2015 FLOOD, 2016 FLOODS, AND HURRICAN HARVEY IN 2017, FOR FLOOD CONTROL PURPOSES AND THE RECLAMATION AND DRAINAGE OF OVERFLOWED LANDS WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT, AND ANNUALLY TO LEVY AN AD VALOREM TAX OF THE DISTRICT UPON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN SAID DISTRICT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE INTEREST ON SAID BONDS AND TO CREATE AND PROVIDE A SINKING FUND FOR THE REDEMPTION OF SAID BONDS AT MATURITY? ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO DE DRENAJE DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND PROPOSICIÓN A (MITIGACIÓN DE INUNDACIONES) ¿SE DEBERÁ AUTORIZAR AL TRIBUNAL DE COMISIONADOS DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND, TEXAS, EN EJERCICIO DE SU FUNCIÓN DE ÓRGANO DE GOBIERNO DEL DISTRITO DE DRENAJE DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND A EMITIR LOS BONOS DE DICHO DISTRITO POR LA CANTIDAD DE $83,000,000, DEVENGAR INTERÉS A UN TASA O TASAS QUE NO SUPEREN LA TASA DE INTERÉS MÁXIMA AUTORIZADA POR LEY AHORA O DE AQUÍ EN ADELANTE, COMO LO DETERMINE DICHO TRIBUNAL DE COMISIONADOS A SU SOLA DISCRECIÓN EN EL MOMENTO DE EMISIÓN Y CON VENCIMIENTOS EN SERIE O DE OTRO MODO EN TALES PLAZOS QUE DICHO TRIBUNAL DE COMISIONADOS PUEDA FIJAR SIN SUPERAR LOS 40 AÑOS A PARTIR DE SU FECHA O FECHAS, CON EL FIN DE COMPRAR TERRENOS, SERVIDUMBRES, DERECHOS DE PASO Y ESTRUCTURAS Y PARA ADQUIRIR Y CONSTRUIR CUNETAS, CANALES Y OTRAS MEJORAS, INCLUSIVE PARA CUALQUIER FONDO DE CONTRAPARTIDA LOCAL PARA PROYECTOS DE INUNDACIÓN FINANCIADOS POR EL GOBIERNO FEDERAL PARA RECUPERAR Y MITIGAR LOS DAÑOS DE LA INUNDACIÓN DE 2015, DE LAS INUNDACIONES DE 2016 Y DEL HURACÁN HARVEY DE 2017, PARA PROPÓSITOS DE CONTROL DE INUNDACIONES Y EL RECLAMO Y DRENAJE DE TERRENOS DESBORDADOS DENTRO DEL DISTRITO PARA Y EN NOMBRE DEL DISTRITO DE DRENAJE DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND, Y A IMPONER ANUALMENTE UN IMPUESTO AD VALOREM DEL DISTRITO SOBRE TODA PROPIEDAD GRAVABLE DENTRO DE DICHO DISTRITO SUFICIENTE PARA PAGAR EL INTERÉS DE DICHOS BONOS Y PARA CREAR Y PROVEER UN FONDO DE AMORTIZACIÓN PARA REDIMIR DICHOS BONOS EN SU VENCIMIENTO?

Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the: (La votación adelantada en persona se llevará a cabo en:) Hours(Horas) Monday-Friday Oct. 21-25, 2019 (Lunes-Viernes) (Octubre 21-25, 2019)

Saturday October 26, 2019 (Sábado) (Octubre 26, 2019)

Sunday October 27, 2019 (Domingo) (Octubre 27, 2019)

Monday-Wednesday Oct. 28 – 30, 2019 (Lunes-Miercoles) (Octubre. 28 – 30, 2019)

Thursday-Friday Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2019 (Jueves-Viernes) (Octubre 31 – Noviembre 1, 2019)

Irene Stern Community Center 6920 Fulshear-Katy Road, Fulshear Beasley City Hall (Boardroom) 319 S. 3rd Street, Beasley Kroger’s Riverstone (Community Room) 18861 University Blvd, Sugar Land Lost Creek Park Conference Center 3703 Lost Creek Blvd, Sugar Land Meadows Place City Hall (Lobby) One Troyan Dr, Meadows Place Four Corners Community Center (Spirit Room) 15700 Old Richmond Rd, Sugar Land Cinco Ranch Library (Meeting Room) 2620 Commercial Center Drive, Katy Hightower High School (Front Lobby) 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City Sartartia Middle School (Front area) 8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land Stafford City Hall (L. Conference Room) 2610 Main Street, Stafford

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

CLOSED (Cerrado)

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

7:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m.

Missouri City Community Center Auditorium 1522 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex – “A” Conference Room 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg Clayton Oaks Assisted Living –(Activity Room) 21175 SW Freeway, Richmond

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

12:00 p.m.

To 5:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

7:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m.

Chasewood Clubhouse (level 1) 7622 Chasewood Drive, Missouri City

10:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

12:00 p.m.

To 5:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

7:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m.

Fort Bend County Road & Bridge 3743 School Street, Needville James Bowie Middle School (West Entrance) 700 Plantation Dr, Richmond Quail Valley Fund Office Board Room 3603 Glenn Lakes, Missouri City Sugar Land Branch Library Meeting Room 550 Eldridge, Sugar Land Sugar Land City Hall (Brazos Room) 2700 Town Center Blvd, Sugar Land James Reese Career & Technical Center 12300 University Blvd, Sugar Land

10:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

CLOSED (Cerrado)

10:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m

7:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m.

Jacks Conference Center (main room) 3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land Tompkins High School PAC 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd, Katy Sienna Annex Community Room 5855 Sienna Springs Way, Missouri City

10:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m

8:00 a.m.

To 5:00 p.m

12:00 p.m.

To 5:00 p.m

10:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m

7:00 a.m.

To 7:00 p.m.

Early Voting Location

LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES: (DIRECCION(ES) DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES) COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE

Voting Location

ADDRESS

CITY

Adams Junior High School Beasley City Hall

Gymnasium lobby City Hall Back Boardroom

4141 Cross Creek Bend Lane 319 S. 3rd St

FULSHEAR BEASLEY

Beck Jr. High School

Main Room

5200 S Fry Rd

KATY

8200 South Fry Rd.

KATY

Beckendorf Jr High School Bowie Middle School (West Entrance) Brazos Bend Home & Ranch Briarchase Missionary Bapt Church Briscoe Junior High School Calvary Baptist Church Chasewood Clubhouse

Cinco Ranch Branch Library Cindy's Palace Clayton Oaks Assisted Living Clements High School Jacks (First Colony) Conference Center Commonwealth Clubhouse DeSeo at Grand Mission Clubhouse Eagle Heights Church Elkins High School Fairgrounds Building "D"

BOLETA O F I C I A L

FORT BEND COU NTY DRAINAGE DI STRI CT SP ECIAL E L E C T I O N

ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO DE DRENAJE DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND PROPOSICIÓN A (MITIGACIÓN DE INUNDACIONES) PROPOSITION A PROPUESTA A

[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST

[ ] FAVOR

[ ] CONTRA

THE ISSUANCE OF $83,000,000 FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT BONDS FOR FLOOD CONTROL AND THE LEVYING OF A TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF.

LA EMISIÓN DE BONOS DE DISTRITO DE DRENAJE DEL CONDADO DE FORT BEND $83,000,000 PARA EL CONTROL DE INUNDACIONES Y EL IMPUESTO DE UN IMPUESTO PARA EN EL PAGO DE LOS MISMOS

Main Hallway by Gym Store Fellowship hall Library

700 Plantation Dr

RICHMOND

22930 FM 1462

NEEDVILLE

16000 Blue Ridge Rd

MISSOURI CITY

4300 FM 723

RICHMOND

Fellowship Hall

4111 Airport Ave

ROSENBERG

Level 1 (Clubhouse Facility)

7622 Chasewood Dr

MISSOURI CITY

Meeting Room Main Room Activity Room "Big" Auditorium Lobby main room Clubhouse clubhouse

2620 Commercial Center Dr

KATY

1102 FM 2977

RICHMOND

21175 Southwest Freeway

RICHMOND

4200 Elkins Dr

SUGAR LAND

3232 Austin Parkway

SUGAR LAND

4330 Knightsbridge Blvd

SUGAR LAND

19002 Mission Park Dr

RICHMOND

Foyer

16718 W. Bellfort Blvd

RICHMOND

Front lobby

7007 Knights Court

MISSOURI CITY

4310 Highway 36 S

ROSENBERG

Firethorne HOA Clubhouse

Main Room

28800 S. Firethorne Rd

KATY

Four Corners Community Center

"Sprint Room"

15700 Old Richmond Rd

SUGAR LAND

Gallery Furniture

Atrium

7227 W. Grand Pkwy S

RICHMOND

18550 Old Richmond Rd

SUGAR LAND

Garcia Middle School George Bush High School

Main Room

Gym Area Gym Foyer

6707 FM 1464

RICHMOND

George Memorial Library

Large Meeting Room, 1st Floor

1001 Golfview Dr

RICHMOND

Great Oaks Baptist Church Greatwood Community/Rec Center Hightower High School

Main Room

7101 FM 2759 Rd

RICHMOND

7225 Greatwood Pkwy

SUGAR LAND

Front Lobby

3333 Hurricane Lane

MISSOURI CITY

Hunters Glen Elementary School

Gym

695 Independence Blvd

MISSOURI CITY

Imperial Park Recreation Center

Meeting Room

234 Matlage Way

SUGAR LAND

6920 Katy-Fulshear Road

FULSHEAR

12300 University Blvd

SUGAR LAND

Irene Stern Community Center James Reese Career & Technical Center Joy Lutheran Church Kempner High School Kendleton Church of God Knights of Columbus (Needville) Kroger's Riverstone (Community Room) Lake Olympia Marina Clubhouse Lantern Lane Elementary School Lexington Creek Elementary School Living Word Lutheran Church Lost Creek Conference Center Maryam Islamic Center

Banquet Hall

Community Center Main Room Parish Hall Side hallway thru student parking lot

717 FM 359

RICHMOND

14777 Voss Rd

SUGAR LAND

ED Building

619 FM 2919

KENDLETON

meeting room

13631 Highway 36

NEEDVILLE

Community Room Ballroom cafeteria Gymnasium Life Center - Courtyard Side Main Room

18861 University Blvd

SUGAR LAND

180 Island Blvd

MISSOURI CITY

3323 Mission Valley Dr

MISSOURI CITY

2335 Dulles Ave

MISSOURI CITY

3700 S. Mason Rd

KATY

3703 Lost Creek Blvd

SUGAR LAND

Multi-Purpose Area/Room

504 Sartartia Rd

SUGAR LAND

Meadows Place City Hall

Council Chambers

One Troyan Dr

MEADOWS PLACE

Merrell Center

Main Room

601 S. Stadium lane

KATY

8421 Addicks Clodine Rd

HOUSTON

Multipurpose Building

16816 Quail Park Dr

MISSOURI CITY

Missouri City Community Center

Community Center Auditorium

1522 Texas Parkway

MISSOURI CITY

Missouri City Parks & Recreation

Main Room

2701 Cypress Point Dr

MISSOURI CITY

1570 Rabb Road

FRESNO

Mission Bend Branch Library Missouri City Baptist Church

M.R. Massey Admin. Building

OFFICIAL BALLOT

Main Room

Meeting Room

Event Space

Museum of Natural Science

Snack Bar

13016 University Blvd

SUGAR LAND

Mustang Community Center

Classroom

4521 FM 521

FRESNO

Orchard City Hall Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Life Center Pinnacle Senior Center

Room # 7

9714 Kibler

ORCHARD

Quail Valley Elementary School QV Fund Office Richmond Water Maintenance Facility Ridge Point High School Ridgegate Community Association Ridgemont Early Childhood Ctr

1600 Avenue D

ROSENBERG

Multi-purpose Room

5525#C Hobby Road

HOUSTON

Main Room

3500 Quail Village Dr

MISSOURI CITY

3603 Glenn Lakes

MISSOURI CITY

110 N. 8th St

RICHMOND

Family Life Center

Board Room 1st room to the right Main Room Main Room

500 Waters Lake Blvd

MISSOURI CITY

5855 W. Ridgecreek Dr

HOUSTON

5353 Ridge Creek Circle

HOUSTON

Rec Center

5875 Summit Creek Drive

SUGAR LAND

Rosenberg Annex Building

varies

4520 Reading Rd

ROSENBERG

Sartartia Middle School

Front Area

8125 Homeward Way

SUGAR LAND

River Park Recreation Ctr.

Seven Lakes High School

Extended Day Room

9251 S Fry Rd

KATY

Community Room

5855 Sienna Springs Way

MISSOURI CITY

Simonton City Hall

Meeting Room

35011 FM 1093

SIMONTON

Stafford City Hall

Large Conference Room

2610 South Main

STAFFORD

420 Sugar Creek Blvd

SUGAR LAND

Clubhouse

930 Sugar Lakes Dr

SUGAR LAND

Meeting Room

5500 Eldridge

SUGAR LAND

Fellowship Hall

1715 Eldridge Rd

SUGAR LAND

2700 Town Center Blvd North

SUGAR LAND

Sienna Annex

Sugar Creek Country Club Sugar Lakes Clubhouse Sugar Land Branch Library Sugar Land Church of God Sugar Land City Hall Tamarron Clubhouse

Main Room

Garden Room

Brazos Room 154 and 155 Main Room

28707 Tamarron Pkwy

KATY

Thompsons City Hall

Community Center

520 Thompson Oil Field Rd

THOMPSONS

Tompkins High School PAC

Main Room

4400 Falcon Landing Blvd

KATY

10322 Old Towne Ln

SUGAR LAND

Townewest Towne Hall Travis Elementary School University Branch Library

Main Room School Hallway

2700 Avenue K

ROSENBERG

Meeting Room 2

14010 University Blvd

SUGAR LAND

INDEPENDENT OCTOBER9,92019 , 2019• •Page Page5 5 INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER

NEWS

Dark web drug ring leader from Fort Bend County sentenced to 30 years in prison

A drug ring leader operating out of Fort Bend County who used the dark web and crypto currency in an effort to distribute drugs was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on Thursday.

Alaa Mohammed Allawi, 30, was handed the sentence for distributing approximately 245 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and Xanax.

The distribution of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills, through the use of the dark web and crypto currency, resulted in the overdose death of a U.S. Marine, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Allawi’s stash house in Fort Bend County was raided in May 2017 after investigators traced drugs distributed on the University of Texas at San Antonio campus to him.

The total number of pills distributed on the dark web

by Allawi during his scheme is estimated to be around

850,000, and some users purchased pills from him using cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

“This case illustrates many of the emerging threats that law enforcement is confronting. Allawi and his co-conspirators manufactured and distributed oxycodone laced with deadly fentanyl – over 350,000 such pills – to people suffering from opioid addiction, targeting a college campus here in San Antonio,” U.S. Attorney John F. Bash said.

“At least one victim – a United States Marine – died from a fentanyl overdose, and at least two others suffered non-fatal overdoses.

“The co-conspirators attempted to conceal their activities by operating through the dark web and using seven different crypto-currencies.

I am proud of our office and the law enforcement partners who uncovered and destroyed this conspiracy. Thirty years

in federal prison is a just sentence for this despicable conduct.”

Allawi came to the U.S. in 2012 from Iraq. He served as a translator to the U.S. Department of Defense which helped him earn an SQ1 visa.

“Today’s sentencing of Allawi is an indication of the sophistication and callousness with which Allawi conducted his illegal drug activities.

From his use of the dark web to his clandestine manufacturing of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, to his drug sales targeting college students, Allawi operated with little concern for the people in our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy.

The two marines who purchased the drugs from Allawi and gave them to 20-year-old Corporal Mark M. Mambulao, who died from the overdose, were also charged with distribution.

One Table Community Dinner The Central Fort Bend Chamber and the Development Corporation of Richmond is excited to bring a new event to the City of Richmond community.

The One Table Community Dinner & Street Dance will be held in the middle of Morton Street in front of City Hall on Friday, October 11, 2019 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early, shop local and participate in a “Passport Punch Card” hosted in conjunction with the Historic Richmond Association.

One hundred fifty guests will dine at one long continu-

ous table under the Texas stars and enjoy a six-course meal crafted by local restaurants.

The family-style meal will be served with complimentary beer and wine.

After dinner, guests can enjoy the evening by dancing in the street to the music of the Texas Miles Band, a Classic and Top 40 Country cover dance band.

The following establishments donated the food and beverages: The Swinging Door, Sandy McGee’s, Pier 36, Italian Maid Café, Carmengio’s, Block House Coffee & Kitchen and UnWine’d Wine & Cheese Lounge.

Contributing Sponsors include Mayor Evalyn Moore, Odyssey Engineering Group, Wharton County Junior College and Texas State Technical College. The culinary students at B.F. Terry High School will serve as the wait staff for the evening.

For more information on tickets or sponsorship opportunities, please visit the Central Fort Bend Chamber website at www.cfbca.org or call Leslie Piwowar, Special Events Director, at 281-3425464 or email lpiwowar@ cfbca.org.

The Sugar Land Skeeters will host Halloween Town presented by Imperial Sugar on Oct. 26, from 4-8 p.m., at Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Drive.

Previously hosted at Sugar Land Town Square, Halloween Town remains a familyfun, affordable celebration for Sugar Land residents. Attractions will include trickor-treating, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, activities, inflatables and much more!

Sugar Land residents may visit the TDECU Ticket Office at Constellation Field and present a city of Sugar Land water bill to receive up to six free admission tickets starting

today.

These exclusive free tickets are limited and are available for pickup while supplies last.

Adult tickets and children’s tickets will be available for purchase starting mid-October for $7 and $5, respectively.

For more information on the event and for updates on when tickets will go on sale, visit the Sugar Land Skeeters event page at www.sugarlandskeeters.com/halloweentown.

All attractions will be free with admission, with the exception of the costume contest which will be a minimal charge. Attendees interested in participating in the costume contest can pre-register online

at www.sugarlandskeeters. com/halloweentown to receive a $2 discount from the on-site registration price of $5 on the day of the event.

The event is being funded with sponsorships, and no city funds are being used to support the event.

For more information about city of Sugar Land events or to become an event sponsor, call (281) 275-2900 or visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/specialevents.

For event updates, follow Sugar Land Parks and Recreation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @SugarLandParks.

Halloween Town coming to Constellation Field in 2019

Applications for ballot by mail should be mailed to: (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán adelantado por correo deberán enviarse a:) John Oldham Fort Bend County Elections Administrator 301 Jackson Richmond, TX 77469 Phone 281-341-8670 Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later than the close of business on October 25, 2019.

(Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán adelantada por correo deberán recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el día 25 de Octubre, 201) Signed applications may also be delivered by fax to 281-341-4418, or by email attachment to vote@fortbendcountytx.gov . However, to be valid, the original application must also be received by mail within four days of the electronic submission.

Las solicitudes firmadas también pueden ser entregadas por fax al 281-341-4418, o por correo electrónico el adjunto a vote@fortbendcountytx.gov . Sin embargo, para ser válida, la solicitud original también debe ser recibida por correo dentro de los cuatro días siguientes a la presentación electrónica.

Issued this the 5th day of October 2019.

(Emitida este día 5 de Octubre, 2019.) __________________________________ KP George, County Judge (Firma del Juez del Condado)

Killer of 19-year-old girlfriend to spend 45 years in prison; no clear motive for murder A 21-year-old Missouri City man was sentenced to 45 years in prison Thursday for killing his girlfriend in 2018.

Troy Larue Parker pled guilty to Murder earlier this year and requested that the Court determine his punishment.

Though Parker gave a full confession to the crime, he never provided a clear motive as to why he murdered his girfriend Sabrina Herrera.

At the time of arrest, the defendant was 20 years old and Sabrina Herrera was just 19 years old.

Parker was sentenced after the State presented evidence during a punishment hearing before 240th District Court Judge Frank J. Fraley.

According to Assistant District Attorney Johnny Wen, Parker and Herrera were high school sweethearts and dated for approximately five years.

On the afternoon of August 27, 2018, Sabrina went to Parker’s house. At some point during her visit, Sabrina went into the kitchen area and Parker followed behind her.

Once she reached the kitchen, Parker grabbed a cord

Parker from atop the refrigerator and strangled Sabrina to death.

The defendant then placed his victim’s body into the trunk of her car and drove around his neighborhood until he reached a dead end street. Parker then abandoned the vehicle.

Sabrina’s family became concerned because she was not returning her phone calls and failed to pick up her relatives from school that afternoon. Using Sabrina’s iPhone location, the family was able to locate her car. The victim’s family called the Missouri City Police Department once the car was found. When the police arrived, they opened

A Good Scare for A Good Cause. This is the 8th

year for a teen-led Haunted House Shoe Drive in Sugar Land.

Organized by Logos Prep Senior Case Alexander - over 1400 pairs of shoes have been donated to worldwide charity - Soles4Souls. The cause brings the local community together for a fun evening of scares, entertainment, and neighborly conversation. Teens from 7 local high schools are involved - Logos Prep, Clements, Travis, Strake Jesuit, St. Agnes, Austin, and Stafford.

The group will open the family-friendly event Saturday, October 26 and Thursday, October 31 from 6 p.m. -10 pm. Admission is just a donation of a pair of new or gently-worn shoes.

NOTICE OF DESIGNATION OF MEETING PLACE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT To the residents of First Colony Municipal Utility District No. 9 and all other interested parties: TAKE NOTICE that in accordance with V.T.C.A., Water Code Section 49.062(b), as amended, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of First Colony Municipal Utility District No. 9 (the “District”) has on September 26, 2019 formally designated Heritage Colony Clubhouse, 3320 Double Lake Drive, Missouri City, Texas 77459, and Spring Creek Bar-B-Q, 4895 TX-6, Missouri City, Texas 77459 as meeting places inside the District. An additional District meeting place outside the boundaries of the District at the offices of Jones & Carter, Inc., 2322 West Grand Parkway North, Suite 150, Katy, Texas 77449, location shall be used as a meeting place for the Board, for the purpose of taking and opening bids and administering construction contracts and for the transaction of such business as is not required to be done within the District. Said meeting places are hereby declared to be public places and the public is invited to attend any meeting of the Board held at such meeting places. /s/ Rod Castells, President, Board of Directors PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Gaston Road from Greenbusch to Katy Flewellen Road, Mobility Project 13311, 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.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Mission Trace, Section 1, 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,

Submitted by,

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Aliana Section 50, Aliana Section 67, Aliana Section 20, Aliana Section 20 Partial Replat No. 1, Aliana Section 26, Precinct 4.

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.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Del Webb-Richmond, Section 16A, Precinct 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.

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Submitted by,

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE ******* OPENING DATE OF October 29, 2019 AT 2:00 P.M. ******* Invitation for Bid for the provision of Temporary Labor Services Commodity Code: 962-69 Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the IFB name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office – IFB No. 20-001 Temporary Labor Services 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Until final award of the contract, the City reserves the right to reject any or all responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the work otherwise when in the best interests of the City. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

the trunk to the car and Sabrina’s body was discovered.

“The outpouring of support from Sabrina’s community, friends and family was, and still is, tremendous,” said lead prosecutor Johnny Wen. “Her tragic death highlights the seriousness of dating violence,” continued Sherry Robinson, Deputy Chief of the Domestic Violence Division. ‘As part of Sabrina’s lasting legacy, Elkins High School now makes dating violence awareness a part of their counseling services.”

District Attorney Brian Middleton stated, “Our community is safer with Troy Parker in prison. The circumstances of this horrible crime should raise the public’s awareness of the seriousness of domestic violence. I encourage parents and young adults to become informed about the warning signs of domestic abuse.”

Murder is a first-degree felony punishable from 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The Court also fined Parker the maximum $10,000.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 21, Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 23A, Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 23B, Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 24, Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 26, Sienna Village of Bees Creek Sec. 28 (Sorrento Way Drive only, all other streets are private), Sienna Village of Anderson Springs Sec.10A, and Sienna Village of Anderson Springs Sec. 25, Precinct 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 THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION TO: FERNANDO HERNANDEZ-ROMERO PRO LAS FUENTES APT #3304 SOPAPAN JL MEXICO 45080 NOTICE: You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being November 18, 2019 a default judgment may be taken against you.

The case is presently pending before the 434TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas. It bears cause number 18-DCV-255854 and is styled: The State of Texas VS. $112,540.00 U.S. Currency The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is: MARK LAFORGE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY 301 JACKSON ST RICHMOND TX 77469 281-633-7638 The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is as follows to-wit: THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREINABOVE WAS SEIZED BY PEACE OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE STATE OF TEXAS IS ENTITLED TO HAVE SUCH PROPERTY FORFEITED AND TITLE RENDERED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS OR AN AGENCY OF THE STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AUTHORIZED TO EMPLOY PEACE OFFICERS. WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, PETITIONER RESPECTFULLY PRAYS THAT UPON HEARING, THIS COURT ENTER A JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE OF THE DESCRIBED PROPERTY TO PETITIONER, THAT THIS COURT AWARD POSSESSION AND TITLE TO SUCH PROPERTY TO THE PETITIONER TO BE ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 59 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, FOR INTEREST, IF ANY, FROM THE DATE OF DEPOSIT IN AN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT, FOR COST OF COURT AND FOR SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER RELIEF AS THE PETITIONER MY SHOW ITSELF TO BE ENTITLED. 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 3rd day of October, 2019.

DISTRICT CLERK BEVERLEY MCGREW WALKER FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS Physical Address: 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004, Richmond, Texas 77469 Mailing Address: 301 Jackson Street, Room 101 Richmond, Texas 77469 BEVERLEY MCGREW WALKER, DISTRICT CLERK FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS Physical Address: 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004, Richmond, Texas 77469 Mailing Address: 301 Jackson Street, Room 101 Richmond, Texas 77469 By: Deputy District Clerk SHELBY TAYLOR Telephone: (281) 633-7613

INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 2019 • Page 6

AUTOMOBILE: Mazda CX-9

By BARBARA FULENWIDER Mazda’s flagship, threerow crossover SUV, the 2019 CX-9, delivers a premium, stylish driving experience for those who want an awardwinning family vehicle. Over the years, the CX-9 has collected a long list of accolades: Car and Driver 10 Best winner in its trucks and SUVs, North American Utility of the Year finalist, World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year finalist and Wards Auto 10 Best Interiors and 10 Best Engines awards recipient.

The 2019 CX-9 brings numerous improvements that include the available factoryequipped Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment technologies, a reconfigurable 7.0-inch gauge display, 360° view monitor and ventilated front seats.

Exclusive to the top-trim CX-9 Signature is available Auburn-colored Nappa leather seating surfaces, Santos Rosewood interior trim and aluminum interior accents. Match that with the turbocharged 2.5T engine, G-Vectoring Control vehicle dynamics enhancements and available all-

wheel drive.

The Mazda CX-9 models come equipped with the 2.5T turbocharged engine that delivers up to 250 horsepower on 93-octane gas (227 horsepower with 87-octane gasoline) and a 310 lb-ft of torque independent of fuel octane.

All CX-9 models route power through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda’s all-wheel drive is standard in CX-9 Signature and available with all other trim levels.

MAZDA CONNECT is featured on the available 8-inch, full color touchscreen display and a new new 360° view monitor is available to help with parking.

Also available is SiriusXM 3 year traffic and travel link subscription, which provides subscription-based connected data services for traffic, local and national weather, fuel pricing, sports scores and nearby parking. The Grand Touring and Signature trim levels are equipped with a windshield-projected active driving display with traffic sign recognition.

Information projects directly onto the windshield,

one to four degrees below the driver’s immediate line of sight and with an 8.5 feet focal distance, to allow the driver to keep his or her focus on the road. It can display information such as navigation directions, lane guidance, street names, prevailing speed limits, braking warnings, advanced blind spot monitoring and radar cruise control with stop and go function.

The BOSE Premium Sound 12-speaker system is secondgeneration CX-9 and delivers outstanding clarity, image and range. The speaker system includes radio and both full and compressed digital formats.

A new feature for the 2019 CX-9 is the addition of seat belt reminders and passenger detection sensors for the second and third row seats. The Mazda suite of safety features include: - high beam control, hill launch assist, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and city brake support. smart brake support, distance recognition support, forward obstruction warning, adaptive front lighting, distance recognition, forward obstruction warning, and adaptive front

lighting.

An available option for the CX-9 Touring’s Premium Package equips the three-row crossover SUV with a power moonroof, BOSE Premium 12-speaker audio system, SiriusXM with a three-month trial subscription, LED fog lamps, Mazda Navigation, front parking sensors and a second-row with retractable sunshades.

All CX-9 models route power through a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda’s all-wheel drive is standard in CX-9 Signature and available with all other trim levels.

The CX-9 Sport starts at $32,280 to $34,080 while the CX-9 Signature retails for $45,365. Select accessories are a rear-seat entertainment system for $1,995; Mazda mobile start at $550; retractable cargo cover for $325, and a trailer hitch that will pull 3,500 lbs. and costs $450.

The Mazda CX-9 Signature model was the test drive and is a beauty in looks and provides a tip top ride and drive. If you are in the market to buy an SUV, start shopping with the Mazda CX-9.

VFW Post 4010 Golf Tournament The VFW Post 4010 in Missouri City will host the 5th Annual Golf Tournament on November 16, 2019 at Quail Valley Golf Center.

The goal is to raise money to support the Veterans and their families in our community.

If you are interested in participating in the tournament or to be a sponsor, please call 281-499-3041 or you can email us at vfwpost4010@yahoo.com. Donations are welcome.

Fort Bend DA Running Against ViolenceDistrict Attorney 5K/1K Fun Run!

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital offers free cancer survivorship seminar

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is offering a free seminar designed to help cancer survivors overcome the many challenges a cancer diagnosis brings.

The seminar – titled “Super Charged: Powering Your Way through Your Cancer Journey” is open to anyone who has experienced cancer, from those recently diagnosed to individuals who have completed treatment. The seminar is scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fort Bend Family YMCA, 4433 Cartwright Road in Missouri City. Breakfast and lunch will be served, and each survivor may bring one caregiver.

“At Houston Methodist Sugar Land, we recognize that cancer survivorship begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues through treatment and beyond,” said Amy Sebastian-Deutsch, director of oncology and infusion services at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “The journey is disruptive and involves a great number of emotional and physical challenges. But learning what to expect and how to respond can be extremely powerful. With the proper information and support, survivors can take back control of their lives.”

The seminar will focus on the four key elements of cancer survivorship – physical, social, psychological and spiritual well-being.

The morning activities will begin with a panel discussion on managing the side effects of cancer treatment, featuring Kirtan D. Nautiyal, M.D., medical oncologist with Houston Methodist Oncology Partners in Sugar Land; Waqar Haque, M.D., radiation oncologist with Houston Methodist Radiation Oncology Group at Houston Methodist West Hospital; and Channon Hudgins, M.D., palliative care specialist at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. The other morning session will focus on the financial and social implications of a cancer diagnosis, featuring Stephen King of King Insurance Services and other invited presenters.

After lunch, the seminar will include more intimate sessions on the emotional and psychological aspects of cancer, featuring a local psychologist, and an uplifting look at the critical role that spiritual strength can play in overcoming challenges, featuring Thomas Thompson, program director of hospital missions at Houston Methodist Sugar Land.

“The seminar is called ‘Super Charged’ because our goal is to help participants ‘rev their engines’ to deal with their diagnosis and discover ways that they can thrive despite their challenges,” said Sebastian-Deutsch. “We will give survivors and caregivers the tools and momentum they need to help them along their journey.”

Individual registration is required and space is limited.

Sign up today by visiting events.houstonmethodist.org/supercharged-sl or by calling 281.274.7500.

To learn more about Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land, visit houstonmethodist.org/cancer-sl or houstonmethodist.org/sugarland. For the latest news, events and information, visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland.

Diwali celebration for children at Sugar Land Branch Library

The Youth Services department at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will recognize the culture of India in a “Celebration of Diwali” on Saturday, October 19, beginning at 2:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.

Families with children of all ages are invited to learn about Diwali, one of the most important Hindu festivals across India and in parts of Nepal. Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali is celebrated in autumn every year. Library staff will show children how to make traditional lanterns, sweet Indian milk treats, and Sand Art. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www. fortbend.lib.tx.us), or call the Sugar Land Branch Library (281238-2140).

Rosenberg Railroad Museum celebrates Tower 17 with Garden Party

Join the Museum in honoring the former operators of Tower 17. The event takes place on Sunday, October 13th from 4-7pm on the Museum grounds, 1921 Avenue F in downtown Rosenberg. Garden party attendees are invited to mix and mingle with other supporters of the Museum, enjoy light bites and a wine tasting, participate in a live auction and wine pull and help the museum celebrate railroading history in Fort Bend County.

According to museum Executive Director, Tracy Hobdy, “the Museum’s Garden Party is a favorite event because of its casual atmosphere. Guests are able to mingle and enjoy museum exhibits, rather than just sitting at a banquet table.”

Musicians Will Carter and Kirk Roberts will be performing at the event and Ol’ Railroad Café will be providing unique wines for a wine tasting. BR Vino and Another Time Soda Fountain will provide wine, beer and appetizers.

Tower 17 was authorized by the Texas Railroad Commission on July 23, 1903, and controlled the crossing of the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad (Santa Fe) and the Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company (Southern Pacific). The Tower was in service until February 10, 2004. After over 100 years of service, the Tower now sits on the Rosenberg Railroad Museum grounds. “We are honored to have some of the men and women that worked in Tower 17 joining us for this year’s Garden Party,” said Hobdy. “It’s wonderful to hear directly from the folks that were a part of the Tower’s history!”

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and education of railroading history in Fort Bend County. Tickets begin at $50 and are available at www.rosenbergRRmuseum.org or by calling 281-633-2846.

INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 2019 • Page 7

COMMUNITY St. Laurence Catholic School celebrates Grandparents day More than 750 special guests were on hand at St. Laurence Catholic School, Friday, September 27th, to take part in the Annual Grandparents Day Celebration. Thel day began with a light breakfast in the school gym where the entire group enjoyed a musical program by the elementary and middle school students, that also featured the school band and choir. This special event was capped off with grandparents visiting the classrooms that were proudly showcased by the students. In closing, the grandparents, special friends, faculty, and students participated in a beautiful Mass led by Father Drew Wood, Pastor at St. Laurence Catholic Church. Following the Mass, grandparents and special guests were treated to a musical performance by the students of the Early Childhood Campus. The grandparents who attended the event were appreciative and excited to spend some time with their grandchildren.

Merry Ministries Bible Study’s Pink Out

Fort Bend Christian Academy Seniors named National Merit Commended Students

Darcourt, Dempsey and Sebastian-Deutsch Dr. Jorge Darcourt, Dr. Kelly Dempsey, Dr. Jay Shenaq, and Amy Sebastian-Deutsch, Oncology Services Director at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, will be joining the ladies of Merry Ministries on October 29th and 30th for a PINK OUT in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We invite you to come (wear something pink if you have it!) to our nondenominational Bible study at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road. After the lesson, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and meet these renowned breast cancer professionals from our community face-to-face. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has a free gift for all who attend. We hope to see you on Tuesday, October 29th at 6:30 PM or Wednesday, October 30th at 9:30 AM. Child care is available with advanced reservation. E-mail Lauran Helms for more information about Pink Out! or Merry Ministries at lauran@merryministries.com or check out the website at www.merryministries.com.

FBISD’s Medical Science Academy presents “Around the World of Medicine” career showcase, Oct. 26 Fort Bend ISD’s Medical Science Academy at Hightower High School presents its annual event, “Around the World of Medicine,” on Saturday, October 26 at the Fort Bend ISD Administration Annex (3119 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land, 77479). The showcase will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m., and tickets are $2.

The event will include a Q&A panel, speakers and a keynote address by Dr. Blake Von Chamberlain, a NASA flight surgeon. Dr. Daniel A.

Nwachokor, a FBISD graduate from the Medical Science Academy, will be a featured speaker, sharing on his journey into medicine.

Attendees will learn more about various health fields including mental health, pharmacology, medical illustration, space medicine and more. Students with the Global Studies, Engineering, Digital Medical and Math and Science Academy programs will also show how their programs can promote health science.

Representatives from the following organizations will be in attendance: Baylor College of Medicine LifeGift Memorial Hermann The Menninger Clinic National Alliance of Mental Illness University of Houston – College of Optometry The University of Texas – Health Science Center at Houston

MEDICAL SCIENCE ACADEMY PRESENTS

Isaiah Dailey, Megan Ogden and Brennan Vacek Isaiah Dailey, Megan Ogden and Brennan Vacek, Fort Bend Christian Academy seniors, have been named National Merit Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. The program has existed for more than 60 years and continues to acknowledge and reward exceptional high school seniors.

Commended Students are current high school seniors who took the PSAT their junior year and scored among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition.

Dailey is active in the fine arts program at FBCA. His competition performances have earned him selections to TPSMEA and TAPPS Honor Choirs. Theatre is also an important creative outlet for Dailey, performing in a variety of plays and musicals. He plans to study Electrical Engineering.

Ogden is a member of National Honor Society (NHS), Mu Alpha Theta and the Medical club. She has been involved in many theatre productions and is active in athletics as a student athletic trainer. Ogden

wants to continue serving on medical mission trips as she pursues a nursing degree.

Vacek serves as President of Rho Kappa and Treasurer of FBCA’s Medical club. He has used his talents in guitar and theatre throughout his high school career. Vacek’s longterm plans are to attend law school and study patent law.

“The FBCA student is accustomed to striving for excellence in all that they do,” Joel

Hazard, Head of Upper School, said. “These students and this academic achievement provide yet another example of the hard work and dedication our students display.”

Fort Bend Christian Academy is an independent, collegepreparatory school for grades PK-12 located in Sugar Land, Texas, one of the most diverse communities in the United States.

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INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 9, 2019 • Page 8

COMMUNITY

Child Advocates of Fort Bend announces 2019 Christmas Home Tour Neighborhoods ately need.” The Home Tour is one of the Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s largest fundraisers. In fact, 94% of the money raised by the tour goes toward programs and services.

The Christmas Home Tour features private homes in Fort Bend County beautifully decorated for Christmas.

One ticket allows entry to all homes during tour hours. The Tour runs Friday, December 13 from 10am until 4pm with a candlelight showing from 6pm until 9pm and Saturday, December 14 from 10am until 4pm. Sponsorships, which are

critical to the success of the Home Tour, are now available.

Sponsorship Opportunities range from $100 to $10,000.

To become a sponsor, volunteer or for more information go to https://www.cafb.org/ events/home-tour/ or contact Lisa Moore at lmoore@cafb. org.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is a non-profit agency dedicated to ending child abuse by providing a voice, healing the hurt, and breaking the cycle of child abuse in Fort Bend County. Through its Court Appointed Special

Advocates Program (CASATM), Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates, Child Advocates improves the lives of more than 400 children each month and has served more than 16,565 children since opening its doors in 1991.

For more information on how you can become a voice for children and get involved with Child Advocates of Fort Bend, contact Volunteer Services at 281-344-5172 or lcastellanos@cafb.org or log onto www.cafb.org.

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will present “Reducing Anxiety Through Meditation” on Tuesday, October 22, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.

A second workshop, “Improving Your Life Through Meditation,” will take place on Tuesday, October 29, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m, in the Meeting Room of the library.

Daya Sharma will present a basic introduction and

demonstration of this mentalrelaxation exercise in which one trains the mind to be calm and silent while in a state of contemplation, introspection, and reflection.

Learn how meditation can improve one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health by decreasing stress and worry, enhancing relaxation, and promoting inner growth. Those attending the program will hear about effective meditation strategies and will have an opportunity to practice a

simple but profound meditation technique.

Daya Sharma has incorporated meditation exercises into his daily routine for more than 15 years, and enjoys giving workshops locally on the benefits of meditation.

The programs are free and open to the public.

For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend. lib.tx.us), or call the Sugar Land Branch Library (281238-2140).

Meditation for Healthy Living at Sugar Land Branch Library

Shown with the door swags that she donated for the 6th Annual Wreath raffle is Lin Wooten.

L to R are Irene Wisner, Wooten and Lisa Moore. Participants in the wreath raffle can choose the wreath that they hope to win. Photo courtesy of Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

“Twenty-eight years ago, and staff in order to meet the each year to keep the tour a group of volunteers, many needs of the Fort Bend com- fresh. This year, nearly all of of whom are still involved, munity. Since its inception, the homes are completed renopened their homes, deco- the Christmas Home Tour has ovated.” rated them for Christmas, raised more than $4 million.

Nationally, one in four girls baked some cookies and CAFB is excited to include and one in six boys will be charged admission in an ef- generous homeowners in Al- sexually abused by the age of fort to keep Child Advocates kire Lake, Sienna Plantation, 18 and it is estimated that only of Fort Bend’s (CAFB) doors Sugar Creek and Sweetwater 1 in 10 ever tells anyone. “The open,” stated Lisa Moore, who are planning to be on number of children and famiChild Advocates of Fort Bend the Home Tour on Decem- lies served by our Children’s Development Officer and ber 13 and 14. “Homeown- Advocacy Center (CAC) inevent chair. Thanks to those ers are so special to us – we creased 23% last year,” stated generous ladies and many wouldn’t have a tour without CEO Ruthanne Mefford. “By others who have participated them! Each year we are able sponsoring or participating in through the years, this event to showcase an assortment of the Home Tour, you can help not only kept the doors open, neighborhoods, displaying the us ensure that all child victims but it has allowed the agency variety of Fort Bend County. of abuse get the therapy and to increase its programming We try to find a new twist healing services they desper-

Rosenberg Main Street Program to Host First Artisan Market Oct. 12

The Rosenberg Main Street Program is proud to present the Rosenberg Artisan Market to be held on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Historic Downtown Rosenberg - the first and only state-designated Cultural Arts District in Fort Bend County. Downtown will transform into a unique marketplace filled with artisan goods. Browse a vast selection of handcrafted items, local art and unique gifts while enjoying live music and great food. The downtown shops will be participating with sales and specials throughout the event and vendors will be set up with many great finds including handcrafted jewelry, custom furniture and one-of-a-kind artwork; all unique gifts to help prepare for the holiday season. If all that shopping works up an appetite, stop in to one of the excellent downtown restaurants for lunch or grab a bite from one of the delicious food trucks that will be onsite. For more event information, or to learn how to become one of the featured artisan vendors, visit www.facebook.com/RosenbergMainStreetProgram or email jwehring@rosenbergtx.gov.

STRUGGLING WITH BACK OR NECK PAIN Living with back or neck pain can be difficult. Whether you’ve experienced pain for a few days or a number of years, you want answers and effective treatment, and you want them now.

The Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center offers access to world-class specialists and subspecialists, including: • Neurologists • Neurosurgeons • Orthopedic spine surgeons • Pain management specialists • Physical and occupational therapists • Primary care sports medicine specialists Our team of board-certified physicians and rehabilitation therapists will work together to provide the comprehensive, personalized care you need to help you return to a productive life.

Expedited appointments and second opinions are available.

STOP ENDURING PAIN. Request an appointment online at houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.274.7979.