The 07-19-23 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

Missouri City man sentenced to 60 years in prison for failing to register as a sex offender

A Missouri City man was convicted on June 30 and sentenced to 60 years in state prison for failing to register as a sex offender.

Brain Walker, 53, was convicted of two charges of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, a second-degree felony, in the 268th District Court before Visiting Judge James Shoemake, according to a news release from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors Craig Priesmeyer and Alycia Curtis presented showing that the Missouri City Police Department received information about an unregistered sex offender residing in the city in June 2020.

Police, assisted by the Texas Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Marshals. launched an investigation, identifying Walker and his failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

According to Priesmeyer, authorities learned from multiple sources that Walker had been living in the city for years without making any attempts to notify law enforcement. Once officers learned of Walker’s presence, they gave him an opportunity to properly register;

Fort Bend Commissioners Court approves industrial development committee

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

With little discussion, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court last week unanimously approved a committee meant to evaluate county policies and make recommendations on how to attract new industrial development.

The committee, an initiative of Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, will consist of Meyers, a Republican, and Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, a Democrat. When he

first proposed the committee during the court’s June 27 meeting, Meyers had proposed that Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage be the other member.

But McCoy argued in that meeting that since his largely rural district was the likely home of most new industrial development, he should have a more important part to play. Prestage agreed to the change before the vote, according to a spokesman for Meyers.

“The Fort Bend Economic Development Council explains that the county has missed several opportunities to

attract and land major industrial operations, and the well-paying jobs that come with them, because Fort Bend County did not have an industrial site ready and available, or one that could be easily and quickly developed (i.e. shovel ready),” Meyers wrote in his agenda item. “Over the past couple of years as companies pursue re-shoring and near-shoring, the industrial and commercial site-selection process continues to evolve with significantly shortened project timelines. Fort Bend County needs to adjust to this new reality.”

In a workshop discussion during the June 27 meeting, representatives of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council, a nonprofit organization not directly related to the county, and Carlos Guzman, the county’s appointed economic development coordinator, laid out the obstacles the county has had attracting new industry and laid out a set of “tools” that the county could implement to overcome those obstacles.

Among those tools, as proposed by Meyers and the other officials, are an industrial development corporation, in-

dustrial development districts, and so-called “Super Districts” that would combine the powers of several different types of districts. Many of these would require enabling legislation in the Texas Legislature.

TSTC’s Fort Bend campus teaches robot programming, maintenance

Brain Walker, 53, of Missouri City, was convicted in June on two counts of failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. Courtesy Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Offce

The demand for robotics and automation specialists is growing. As of May 2022, Texas sat as the third highest employer of robotics and automation technicians in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Charles Sparks, lead instructor in Texas State Technical College’s Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology program at the Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg, described automation as anything not requiring human input to operate in a TSTC press release.

“Anything that activates without a human is automation,” Sparks said. “An automatic transmission is automation. So is the engine kill that happens when your engine overheats.”

Automation helps handle what would otherwise be mundane, repetitive tasks or makes certain tasks run the same way, every single time. Automation is a process by which things are done.

Robots, on the other hand, are often the machines that actually do the tasks.

“Robotics can stand alone from automation but most of the time it doesn’t,” said

Aron Guajardo, the newest instructor in the program. “Automation is all about doing things with less manpower, and robotics are a component of doing that. Take a robot that threads pipes. You don’t want the robot trying to make a thread in the air, so you add a sensor that tells the robot when and where to start.”

Without the sensor, the robot only knows what to do, not how to do it. A robotics engineer could stand by and manually tell a robot how to perform its job over and over again, but adding a sensor to automate the process is quicker, more efficient and cheaper.

Still, for every process that is automated, there is a human behind the scenes who programmed the robots and how the systems should interact. “There is a degree of programming in robotics,” Guajardo said. “But not everyone’s job deals with that. Many are there to make sure that the robots are clean and maintained.”

Robotics teams can either work on programming or maintaining the robots. Making sure that the robots are up-to-date and functioning at their best is crucial to a successful process.

When students go through the program at TSTC, they

are taught both the programming and maintenance side. While Guajardo believes graduates of the programs can easily go on to become automation technicians, he said that they could also go on to specialize in robots.

“One of the companies I worked for was wanting to integrate robotics into their process,” Guajardo said. “That kind of work, of building robots and implementing them, is also available to students.”

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Robotics and Industrial Controls Technology at its Fort Bend County and Waco campuses.

Ramble Creek Grill offers upscale country cooking on Page 8

A student operates a robotic arm in the Robotics & Industrial Controls Technology lab at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg. Courtesy TSTC

Children’s entertainer ‘AndyRoo’ to perform at Fort Bend County libraries on July 20, 22

In conjunction with Fort Bend County Libraries’ annual Summer Reading Challenge, the Missouri City Branch Library will feature a special performance by family entertainer “AndyRoo” on Thursday, July 20, beginning at 2 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 1530 Texas Parkway.

The performance will be repeated on Saturday, July 22, beginning at 2 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land.

Andrew Karnavas (“AndyRoo”) is a Houston singer/ songwriter who delights children of all ages by interweaving music and movement with playful storytelling. His

however, Walker was uncooperative, insisting that the laws of Texas did not apply to him, according to the release.

Shortly thereafter, Walker fled the state. He was ultimately apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Arizona and returned to Texas to face trial for the charges.

During the trial, jurors learned that Walker was required to register as a sex offender because of three 2003 convictions in Arizona for the crime of sexual conduct with a minor, an offense similar to sexual assault of a child in Texas. Records presented by prosecutors showed that the only time Walker registered as a sex offender was in 2007 with the El Paso Police Department before telling au-

songs are silly and imaginative, with subjects ranging from animals to weather.

In this performance, he will take attendees on a musical journey to the “AndyRooniverse” – a magical town created by the ever-expanding landscape of children’s imaginations, where they will encounter swinging monkeys, a friendly platypus, Silly Sal the Salamander, and a big balloon that will whisk everyone away to a whole universe of exciting, animated characters.

A featured performer on Radio Disney AM 1590, Karnavas has appeared at the PBS Kids show at SXSW, on the Kids Country Stage with Radio Disney at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural

thorities that he was moving to Mexico.

“He knew exactly what he was required to do. He signed, initialed, and even put his own thumbprint on the paperwork, acknowledging his registration requirements. And yet, he continuously refused to accept responsibility for his past and present actions,” Priesmeyer said in the release.

Jurors deliberated approximately one hour before finding Walker guilty in both cases.

After the verdicts, the jury then learned that Walker was previously prosecuted for additional felony offenses, including indecency with a child by sexual contact, aggravated assault, unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle, and attempted prohibited acts by a sex offender.

History.

This program is made possible by the Friends of the Libraries.

FBCL’s annual Summer Rweading Challenge encourages reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. “All Together Now” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Readers of all ages can earn rewards based on the number of books they read or time they spend reading, and children can participate in a variety of fun and exciting programs at the libraries in July.

or call the Missouri City Branch Library (281-2382100), the First Colony Branch Library (281-238-2800), or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

“The sex offender registration requirement was designed to protect the public from sex offenders re-offending. The defendant’s actions and criminal history are the very reason this law was created. Justice has been rendered in this case and the defendant will no longer be a threat to public safety,” said District Attorney Brian Middleton

“Our community is extremely fortunate to have dedicated and knowledgeable investigators from the Missouri City Police Department, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service, who work tirelessly to identify and apprehend non-compliant sex offenders living among us. Their efforts coupled with today’s sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who disregard their obligations and endanger our community,” Priesmeyer said.

The Summer Reading Challenge and the performance 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 Missouri City Branch Library (281-238-2100), the

First Colony Branch Library (281-238-2800), or

With the diverse ecological systems that are represented in Texas, the state has become known for the unparalleled bird-watching opportunities that can be found in the different areas of the state. Because birding is easy for all ages to enjoy, it is a popular family activity that can lead to a lifelong hobby.

Fort Bend County Libraries will present an introductory program about bird-watching in Texas, “Backyard Birds: Creating a Healthy Habitat,” on Saturday, July 22, from 24 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the Mission Bend Branch Library, 8421 Addicks Clodine

Road in northeast Fort Bend County.

In this program, Shannon Westveer from the Coastal Prairie Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists will discuss the wide variety of birds that can be found in the Upper Texas Gulf Coast, and how to identify and classify the birds. She will also discuss ways to attract, protect, and conserve birds as they coexist in more human-dominated landscapes.

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 Mission Bend Branch Library (832-4715900) or call the Mission Bend Branch Library (832471-5900) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

Space Cowboys struggle with Chihuahuas

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

It was a tough start to the post-All Star Break schedule for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys last weekend, though they did manage to end the weekend on a high note.

Sugar Land came back from the All-Star Break by losing two of three games to the El Paso Chihuahuas last weekend, though Sunday’s victory provided a boon heading into Monday’s scheduled off day. The Space Cowboys are now 3-12 in the second half of the season, and sport a 36-54 overall record on the season. Sugar Land was off Monday, and were set to continue their current homestand with a six-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Constellation Field beginning Tuesday night.

The bats stayed silent for much of the weekend in Sugar Land with the Space Cowboys scoring just 10 runs while hitting .204 as a team over the course of the series. However, there were still a few standout performances.

Rylan Bannon had by far the strongest weekend offensively among Space Cowboys hitters, going 5 for 12 with two home runs in the three-game set while posting a 1.379 OPS over the weekend. Marty Costes went 2-5 with a double while reaching base four times in seven plate appearances, while Shay Whitcomb homered twice in Sugar Land’s 4-2 victory on Sunday. It was a strong week on the mound for the first time in some time for the Space Cowboys, as they allowed just 11 earned runs in three games for a 3.67 team ERA on the weekend. No. 9 overall

prospect Spencer Arighetti turned in a third straight solid start for Sugar Land since his promotion last month, winding up with a no-decision in Sunday’s win despite giving up just one earned run in 4.1 innings of work with four strikeouts and three walks. Jairo Solis picked up his first save of the season on Sunday, allowing just one run in four innings of work himself with two strikeouts.

Elsewhere in the bullpen, Shawn Dubin and Jimmy Endersby combined for 4.2 innings of scoreless relief in the Space Cowboys’ 7-2 loss on Saturday. The pair struck out seven batters while allowing just three base runners. Enoli Paredes also had 1.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts for Sugar Land in the Space Cowboys’ 4-2 loss on Friday.

Upcoming promotions

Sugar Land goes retro this weekend from July 2123, beginning with a Lance McCullers Jr. replica World Series ring giveaway presented by Pepsi on Friday. It’s 80’s Night on Saturday with a Yordan Alvarez rainbow throwback jersey presented by Amaro Law Firm and Escape Houston: A Tribute to Journey concert postgame, and Sunday is a Tote Bag Giveaway presented by Constellation.

The last replica World Series Ring giveaway is on Friday, Aug. 4 with an Alex Bregman replica World Series ring giveaway, plus Boy Scout Night. Ride into the first weekend of August with Western Weekend and a Space Cowboys Western Jersey giveaway on Saturday, August 5 and a Space Cowboys Belt Buckle giveaway on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Shay Whitcomb homered twice for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys’ in Sunday’s

Fort Bend County conducting regional animal shelter study

By Ken Fountain

Fort Bend County is conducting of a regional animal shelter study which should be completed by the end of August, Sugar Land officials told the city’s Animal Advisory Board last week.

At the July 12 meeting of the citizen board, Dawn Steph, interim executive director of the Sugar Land Animal Shelter, led a workshop outlining the progress the shelter has made in researching potential partnerships with nonprofit organizations. They have had discussions with nonprofits that have partnerships with the cities of Abilene and Kansas City, Mo., which are

partnered with separate organizations to get information about their operating models.

Assistant City Manager

Robert Valenzuela added that the Sugar Land shelter is having discussions with other Fort Bend cities that have animal shelters about best practices and to gauge their interest in forming a regional shelter plan.

Valenzuela said that the county government has recently instituted a regional shelter assessment, which is being conducted by the organization Shelter Planners of America, based in Arlington, Texas.

Representatives of that organization have reached out to the Fort Bend municipalities which have animal

shelters to provide data on such items as animal intake, the disposition of animals, projections of the cities’ populations, staffing and operating costs. Valenzuela said that in addition to the requested data, Sugar Land provided information on the services the shelter provides.

The regional assessment began in June and is expected to be completed in August, Valenzuela said. He said that based on the results of the regional assessment, the Sugar Land shelter would begin formulating its next steps.

Cindy King, animal services manager, told the board members that while the shelter had to be closed during a week-long period in January and February due to

overcapacity, the shelter has been able to take in new dogs and cats throughout the rest of the year.

Sugar Land Animal Shelter officials have been working to address the deficiencies that led to a city investigation last fall into unauthorized euthanizations at the shelter which found that more than 38 dogs and cats had been killed without following proper procedure.

At least five shelter employees were fired in connection to the investigation, and the city was working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to determine whether there was any criminality involved, according to previous reporting by the Fort Bend Star.

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77053

www.HoustonHumane.org

PRECIOUS

Precious is a queen who cherishes her independence and values love on her terms.

She understands that love should not be forced but rather a natural feeling that grows over time.

Precious is a true example of a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants and won’t settle for anything less.

The Behavior Team will approve applications for her to ensure that she is set up for success in her new home! If you want an independent woman who will complement your lifestyle, she’s your girl! ADOPT

PRECIOUS!

OPINION

A friend's death leads to thoughts about extreme heat, climate change

On July 4, about mid-afternoon, I learned through a Facebook posting that an old friend had died. For the purposes of this column, I’ll refer to him as Earl.

For a few years, Earl and I worked together at The Daily Cougar, the student-run newspaper at the University of Houston. The truth is, we had a complicated relationship. Sometimes we were friends, sometimes we were rivals. The newspaper game tends to attract people who have, let’s say, healthy egos, and Earl’s and mine often clashed.

After I left the paper, I lost track of Earl. But just

over a decade ago, I learned through a mutual friend that he had suffered some severe, life-altering medical problems. I was both shocked and saddened by the news, and not long after, I reached out to Earl on Facebook to offer my condolences. We ultimately became friends again, in the distanced way that social media allows, since we lived in far-distant parts of Houston. After we reconnected, I saw him in person only once, at a small dinner party of former Cougar staffers thrown for him at a restaurant near his home.

You may be asking why I’m telling you this, since I don’t usually get very personal in my columns here. Here’s why: I think I can relate Earl’s passing to something we’re all experiencing right now, this maddeningly long and atrocious heat wave.

You see, Earl not only suffered from continuing health challenges, but he was also not that financially secure. He was on disability and worked sporadically as a freelance writer and editor. He lived in the small house that he’d inherited from his family, but for the past several years, he continually

struggled to get by. Before I joined the Fort Bend Star, I worked part-time as the newsletter editor for a small environmental nonprofit based in Houston. When I put in my notice there, I recommended Earl to replace me. He was offered the job, and I’m glad to say it worked out well for all concerned. He was doing excellent work, making the newsletter his own.

It’s not yet known what caused Earl’s death. I’m told an autopsy is being done, but it’s unclear whether the results may be released to his friends (he had some distant relations). But when I heard the news, I couldn’t help wondering if the sweltering heat we’ve been experiencing didn’t play a part. Between his continuing health issues and his financial circumstances, Earl easily fell within the demographic of people who are particularly susceptible to the stressors caused by extreme heat.

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, people with chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to extreme heat because they may be less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. Also, medications they may

be taking can make them more susceptible. Earl was overweight, and heavier people tend to retain more body heat, according to the CDC. (You can learn more at cdc. gov/disasters/extremeheat/ medical.html.)

We’ve all been feeling the effects of this heat wave, which now stretches across the Southwest and into California. Even if we don’t feel particularly susceptible to its worst effects, we all likely know people who are. It’s incumbent upon all of us to check on our folks, help them get the assistance they might need.

I’ve been impressed with the efforts that Fort Bend County and municipal officials have made to keep residents apprised of the continuing dangers of the heat, and by opening up facilities like the county libraries as cooling areas. The Fort Bend County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has been providing near-constant updates on its social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, which I encourage you to follow. We frequently share those posts on our own Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Sugar Land to hold workshop on zoning code update

On July 19. the Sugar Land City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a joint workshop to discuss recommended updates to a draft mixed-use zoning code and review community feedback.

No action will be taken during the meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North.

Council members and commissioners are expected to discuss outstanding concerns and develop consensus on the next steps in the process, which will include additional opportunities for public input.

Sugar Land City Council has identified redevelopment as its top priority, underscoring its significance in shaping Sugar Land’s future. The creation of two new mixed-use standard

zoning districts is a crucial step outlined in the city’s 2018 Land Use Plan, which identifies the development of vibrant activity centers that cater to the needs of present and future generations.

The Land Use Plan was the result of a five-year citizenled process that included extensive community input and exemplified the city’s commitment to incorporate the expectations of the community into the decisionmaking process.

The city’s zoning code currently includes 17 zoning districts that are part of the Development Code, a document adopted by the City Council. Traditional zoning practices tend to separate residential, commercial and industrial uses. This forwardthinking approach would introduce two new mixed-use districts to the city’s zoning

code, creating development standards intended to foster a mix of residential and commercial spaces and encourage the development of walkable compact places in key locations throughout the city. The proposal currently being considered is one of the first mixed-use codes in Fort Bend County.

Like the city’s current zoning districts, these mixed-use zoning districts will establish standardized guidelines, setting clear expectations and rules for development from the outset -- allowing and encouraging the types of development the citizenled Land Use Plan envisions for Sugar Land’s future.

“We are excited to embark on this transformative journey toward sustainable and vibrant communities,” said Assistant Director of Planning and Development

Lauren Fehr. “This workshop meeting represents another significant step in our ongoing commitment to fulfilling the promises outlined by our residents in the 2018 Land Use Plan.” An updated draft of the code is available for review at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ ActivityCenters. To learn more about redevelopment, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/ Redevelopment.

As mentioned, I previously worked for an environmental nonprofit, and I have written often about environmental issues throughout my reporting career. I am a non-expert, of course, but I have gained a layman’s understanding of the science of climate change. I’ve also had some interesting discussions over the years with folks who express doubts about that science.

From my point of view, this is a nonpartisan statement: climate change is real, it’s happening now, and its effects are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore or deny. There’s no doubt that Texas has long been a pro-business state, and Fort Bend is a pro-business county. But for far too long, the political climate in Texas has seemed to equate being pro-business with being opposed to acknowledging the facts of climate change.

As we all know (or should, anyway), Texas in addition to being one of the homes of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, has also in recent years become a leading player in the renewable energy sector. We have ample solar and wind resources, and the state’s

coffers have benefitted from the revenues from businesses that exploit them. Those businesses also provide lots of well-paying jobs. If Texas is truly pro-business, one might wonder, what sense is there in not trying to do everything we can to foster this fast-growing industry, whose benefits are not only economic but may well help us deal with climate change in a meaningful way?

I’m not suggesting that climate change is directly responsible for Earl’s untimely death. I may never know what the determined cause was, but it’s likely many factors were involved. But for my part, Earl’s passing signifies the urgent need to take particular heed to what we’re currently experiencing, to think seriously about how we can make needed changes, and act to make those changes.

UPDATE: Since this column was first published online, I’ve learned that the autopsy results say that Earl’s death was due to “natural causes,” without specifics.

Fountain can be reached at KFountain@fortbendstar.com

Ken Fountain, Managing Editor.

Photo by Pin Lim

ONGOING

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, GPBC offers ESL classes on Tuesday nights 6-8:30 from August 22, 2023 through May 21, 2024. We are located at 12000 FM 1464 Richmond. Our students speak several languages and encompass many faiths. All are welcome. For more information call 281-277-2200 and ask for ESL information. You may also email ESL@grandparkway.org

FBJSL

IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS

We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl. org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com

THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES

We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org

ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264

Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. The next Bus Trip is on April 26, 2023, to Painted Churches. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281-785-7372 for more information.

FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES’

ONLINE BOOK CLUB

Online meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Free and open to the public. Registration is required; to register online www.fortbend.lib.tx.us, “Classes & Events,” select “Virtual Programs,” find the program on the date indicated. Participants may also register by calling George Memorial Library (281-342-4455).

SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB

Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail.com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281-2047716 vincer.music@gmail.com

FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 2022-2023 YEAR

To join, the membership application can be accessed at https://www.fbjsl.org/join/how-to-become-a-member/.

FBJSL will also be hosting multiple virtual and in-person recruitment events over the summer where potential new members can learn more about the League. Information regarding attending these events is available at www.fbjsl.org or on the FBJSL Facebook page at www. facebook.com/FortBendJuniorServiceLeague/.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY

We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy.org

JAM WITH SAM

Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-428-3165 for further information.

THURSDAY MORNING

BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN

Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road offers a Thursday Morning Bible Study For Men. This group is ongoing and uses a variety of studies throughout the year. The breakfast, coffee and donuts are free. Join us any time! Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church office at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schofield at 281-217-5799 for more information.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE

Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events

DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY

SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED

Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281240-3195

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are

Review: Ramble Creek Grill o ers upscale country cooking, atmosphere

Last weekend, I introduced a friend to Ramble Creek Grill-Riverstone, on Highway 6 in Missouri City. The restaurant, the first expansion of the home location in Richmond, opened last fall, and this was my second visit. From the name alone, you get a sense of the aesthetic it’s going for - a kind of upscale country café.

The restaurant’s decor more than fills that bill. The darkened dining room has both tables and booths with plush seating. Ceiling fans circle overhead, the walls have red-brick facades, and there are strategically placed wooden barrels displaying whisky bottles, and contemporary country music plays in the backgrounds, giving the overall impression you’ve found yourself in a well-appointed dive just off some backwoods road.

One look at the menu, however, disabuses you of that impression. This isn’t a place where you’re going to find your ordinary downhome ‘vittles, as they might say in The Beverly Hillbillies. This is upscale country cooking all the way.

The menu selections are extremely varied, from soups and salads to sandwiches

Ramble Creek Grill

Address: 7022 Highway 6, Ste. 100, Missouri City

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Entrée prices: $14.99-

45.999

Kid-friendly: Yes

Alcohol: Yes

Senior discount:

and hamburgers to fish and seafood, all the way to prime steak. There are also some comfort-food type appetizers, as well as lunch and kids’ menus.

It being lunchtime on a very hot day, I decided to go with lighter fare. I’d had one of the burgers during my first visit (if memory serves, it was excellent), so this time I selected the Smokin’ 222 Chicken Sand-

wich, consisting of a grilled chicken breast topped with onion rings, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and something called “Smokin’ 222 Mayo,” served on a rather unique bun. Again, excellent. My friend went with the buildyour-own-burger option, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

After a rather lengthy wait getting a table, the service throughout our visit was

excellent. So much so that at the end of our meal, one of our servers asked if it was our first time (in my friend’s case, yes), and brought a heaping portion of bread pudding smothered in bourbon butter sauce with butter pecan ice cream. which was beyond good.

If you’re looking for upscale country cooking in a relaxed setting, I thoroughly recommend Ramble Creek Grill.

At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, our physicians collaborate across specialties to diagnose and treat common to complex neurological disorders. With innovative and advanced treatment options, we provide personalized comprehensive care — close to home.

Our team of physicians treats a variety of conditions, including:

Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders

• Aneurysms

• Brain tumors

• Multiple sclerosis

• Neuropathy

SCAN HERE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Parkinson’s disease and tremors

• Sleep disorders

• Spinal disorders

• Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.274.7979 281-690-4200