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Volume XXXVI • No. 16
Two fallen soldiers
Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team headquartered at Camp Hovey in Dongducheon, went missing while conducting reconnaissance for future training events. “On Nov. 21, the 2nd Infantry Division lost two exceptional soldiers in the service of the United States of America,” said Lt. Col. Jeremy McGuire, 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment commander. “Maj. Hanson and Spc.
Adams possessed a sense of responsibility for a personal contribution to the United States Army, demonstrated by their acts of dedicated effort, reliability and thoroughness. “There are many differences and similarities between this major and this specialist, but the similarity that drew them together and held them with a united sense of purpose was their duty,” said McGuire. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Honoring two fallen soldiers
1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division holds memorial service CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - The 2nd Infantry Division held a memorial ceremony at Camp Casey to honor two fallen soldiers, who died November 21, when the military vehicle they were driving entered a river in the vicinity of the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Yeoncheon. Maj. Evans Hanson, 35, of Sugar Land, and Spc. Justin Adams 21, of North Redington, Florida, both assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery
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The 2nd Infantry Division soldiers morn the loss of their comrades, Maj. Evans Hanson, and Spc. Justin Adams.
Missouri City honors departing police chief By Betsy Dolan
Amid the good natured ribbing about the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles there were a few tears and more than a few words of praise for the man who has led Missouri City's police force for the past 4 1/2 years. Chief Joel Fitzgerald, 42, who is leaving the Show Me City to become the first minority police chief in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen , and Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald are was honored at the December 2 pictured at the City Council meeting on December 2. Fitzgerald is leav- city council meeting. ing Missouri City to become the police chief in Allentown, PA. "He transformed the police
Council hears recommendations on Missouri City's $40M bond proposal public facilities ($13M), parks ($2.5M), transportation ($13M) The Missouri City City and fire/police ($5M). Council heard recommendations "We were talking about from the Bond Exploratory hundreds of millions of dollars to Committee (BEC)regarding how start but we did whittle it down to a $40 million bond proposal, $40 million after Wes (Vela) told slated for May, would be spent. us that anything over $40 million The council will discuss the would require a tax increase", recommendations and provide Reiter said. a final blueprint for the bond Vela, Missouri City's Director proposal in February. of Finance, told the council that Former city councilwoman, the debt tax rate is currently .19 Eunice Reiter chaired the BEC for the 2013 tax year and should and told the council that the remain constant over the ten year money would be divided between life of the bond. five areas: drainage ($6.5M), "That's assuming appraisal By Betsy Dolan
Never a good plan By LeaAnne Klentzman
So what do ya’ think was running through his mind? Monday morning just be- CRIMINAL OF THE WEEK fore noon Rosenberg police called Sugar Land Police to share. Seems a couple of yahoos in a stolen truck were burgl’n cars in the Academy shopping center parking lot in Rosenberg. Thanks to sharing, Sugar Land converged on the Academy parking lot in their city just down the freeway and BAM!
DUMB
NEVER, continued on page 4
values step up 1-2% per year throughout that period as well", Vela said. Mayor Allen Owen addressed citizen concerns from social media wondering why the city would consider another bond election when all of the money approved in the 2003 bond election has not been spent. "If you get ahead of yourself, you have to raise the tax rate", City Manager Edward Broussard told the council. "This new bond measure looks at the next decade $40M BOND, continued on page 4
County mobility project cost doubles By Elsa Maxey
Newly discovered issues by CenterPoint Energy for relocating what is called energy gas facilities along a Fort Bend County road will impact a mobility project costing twice as much as initially thought. Last week Fort Bend County Commissioners Court authorized the expenditure of funds to increase the amount needed for a utility agreement with CenterPoint by $98,933.27. The original cost of the project authorized in February was to have been $96,678.98. Monies for the project will come from
2007 mobility bond funds relating to Golfview Drive from Ironwood Forest to Williams Way in Precinct 1, corresponding to Commissioner Richard Morrison’s jurisdiction in the southern portion of Fort Bend County. Unexpected field conditions for the adjustment calling for additional materials, equipment, and time for the construction phase is estimated to now cost double of what had been approved under a former utility agreement now augmented with a recently approved supplement MOBILITY, continued on page 4
department bringing in all kinds of new ideas", Owen said. "He is recognized nationwide for the things he has accomplished in Missouri City". Fitzgerald is credited with numerous innovations to the city's police department including establishing monthly criminal investigation meetings with area law enforcement agencies to
help solve crimes; creating the department's first mini-station on Texas Parkway; leading the transition to a more community oriented way of policing and pioneering the "I choose to follow the rules" program in area elementary schools that helps steer kids away from gangs and drugs. "Chief Fitzgerald motivated
and pushed the department to become one of the premiere departments in the nation", said Edward Broussard, Missouri City's City Manager. "There is a reason why we're known as one of the safest cities in the state". Missouri City ranked 20th in the Congressional Quarterly's MISSOURI CITY, continued on page 4
Motorists: Expect delays on Grand Parkway to New Territory Blvd. Construction on segment’s continuing improvements being suggested during this construction period. So, if The Fort Bend Grand you’re going to New Territory Parkway Toll Road Authority on the Grand Parkway heading reports that starting this Saturday, north, the traffic will be routed December 7, a road closure towards a new overpass that in Sugar Land will affect the will exit at Sand Hill Drive Grand Parkway/Texas 99’s allowing for a U-turn to New northbound exit to New Territory Territory Boulevard. Drivers are Boulevard. Road work in that being alerted to expect delays, area will take about 30 days to and using alternative routes complete, advises the toll road may help avoid frustration. authority. That exit is expected The toll road authority has to reopen in early January. been constructing toll road Alternative routes are overpasses as a phase of what By Elsa Maxey
is referred to as Segment D roadway improvements of the Grand Parkway, which includes a section towards Katy. The Grand Parkway running through Fort Bend County has become more heavily used due to the area’s residential and commercial growth. It will soon have seven main plaza tolled booths installed for using the overpasses, according to reported work activity. MOTORISTS, continued on page 4
Meadows Place invites everyone to their 24th Annual Christmas Memories By Karen Daniels
The 24th Annual Meadows Place Christmas Memories in the Park will take place on Friday, December 13, from 6:00pm9:00pm at McGrath Park. This yearly event is a favorite tradition among residents as well as visitors from neighboring cities. Activities include hayrides,
petting zoo, two snow hills with slides, refreshments, live music, and a camp fire area. Mark McGrath Park will be turned into a winter wonderland. Mayor Charles Jessup said, “This is one of those events that makes this city what it is.” The highlight of the evening will surely be the arrival of Santa Claus. For years the City of Meadows
Place has collected new, unwrapped gifts for the Toys for Tots program. At the November City Council meeting, Mayor Jessup took a moment to speak of the origins of this charity. In 1947, Major Bill Hendricks, a US Marine, started the program in Los Angeles, California, and MEADOWS PLACE, continued on page 4
Woman nearly hits police car head-on police car head-on as she Driving in the oncoming drove on the lanes of US 90A in Richmond wrong side of got a woman a trip to the the divided Fort Bend County Jail highway into courtesy of the Richmond oncoming police department. traffic. Pamela Charbula Shortly after midnight on According Tuesday morning, near the to Richmond Police apron of the Brazos River Department Master Sergeant Bridge, a woman from Inez, Lowell Neinast, Pamela Kay Texas was arrested for DWI Charbula, 50, was arrested after she nearly hit a Rosenberg and charged with DWI after By LeaAnne Klentzman
nearly plowing headlong into the police car. According to Neinast, Charbula was headed west bound into Richmond on US 90A from Houston but was traveling in the eastbound lanes. Neinast said Richmond Police Officer Phillip Jackson was investigating the incident and learned that Charbula had been drinking prior to the stop. Also during the stop officers WOMAN, continued on page 4