WEDNESDAY • JULY 30, 2025
Commissioners battle over county attorney’s role, appoint redistricting committee members
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
In yet the latest brouhaha over redistricting during a Fort Bend County Commissioner Court meeting, commissioners last week selected along party lines six members of a proposed 10-member citizens’ redistricting committee they had instituted in the previous meeting.
Bend County campus in May, is currently working as a maintenance technician at the Frito Lay warehouse in Rosenberg.
courtesy Texas State Technical College
Community Reports
Vanesa Medrano wanted to fix things. Coming from a job in social work, she would often see broken things from doorknobs to appliances to machines. It sparked a desire in her to learn how to fix them.
“I wanted to solve more problems in my work,” Medrano said. “I couldn’t really do anything about it back then, but now I can fix just about anything.”
Medrano decided to turn that desire into an opportunity to learn. She applied to Texas State Technical College’s Industrial Systems program at the Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg and got to work. As she was working toward an associate degree in the program, she ended up getting an internship at the local Frito Lay warehouse in Rosenberg.
“Once I graduated, I was given the opportunity to apply to work full-time at the warehouse,” Medrano said. “It’s a big change from what I was doing before but I’m enjoying it.” Medrano graduated from the program in May of this year. As a maintenance technician, she works to keep the robots and machines at the warehouse functioning at full capacity. But a great job doesn’t mean she has given up working toward more.
“My long-term goal is to be a manager of technicians,” Medrano said. “At the moment, though, I want to get the experience and get my hands dirty.”
For those who are hoping to follow in her footsteps and apply to the Industrial Systems program, she says to just go for it.
“Study more and take the chance at being in this program,” she said. “There’s always a benefit to it, both career-wise and personally.”
For more information, visit tstc.edu.
But the biggest, most highly-charged battle was over an item the commissioners ended up tabling: a vote to authorize the court to hire outside legal counsel to assist on matters they deem “do not conflict the the authority of the Fort Bend County Attorney,” an action which the court’s two Democratic members and County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson strenuously fought.
Since March, the Commissioners Court has been embroiled in a running battle over redistricting after Texas Rep. Matt Morgan, a Republican whose 26th District includes portions of Fort Bend County, sent a letter to the county saying many of Fort Bend’s voting precincts were illegal under state law because they had either too many or too few voters. Redistricting, both at the state and local levels, normally is done every 10 years after the release of new population data from the U.S. Census. Longtime Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, a Republican, has led an effort since Morgan’s letter to not only take action on fixing the voting precincts but to do a full-on mid-decadal redistricting.
BEEKEEPERS, UNITE!
By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Beekeeping is all the buzz in Fort Bend County, where a growing swarm of hobbyists is stepping up to help native bees battle shrinking habitats and invasive species.
Lawn care platform Lawn Love released its 2024 ranking of the best and worst states for beekeeping –placing Texas at No. 4 nationwide. (California took the top spot.)
One beekeeper at the heart of this movement is Danessa Yaschuk, president of the Fort Bend Beekeepers
Association and owner of SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique, a bright, boutique- style honey shop in downtown Needville. What began as a hobby with two hives in her Sienna backyard has grown into a 400-hive operation, placing bees on properties across Fort Bend County, including at the Sugar Land Regional Airport.
“I didn’t even know beekeeping clubs existed when I started 10 years ago,” said Yaschuk, who now lives in Damon with her husband, two sons, and many, many bees. “I went to my first meeting expecting five people.
FBISD board position to
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A Fort Bend ISD trustee position will remain vacant until next year’s board elections after trustees were unable to reach a consensus on a candidate to replace departed Position 5 trustee Sonya Jones, board president Kristin Tassin announced at Monday’s meeting. Jones, one of the most conservative members of the previous board, abruptly announced her resignation on social media immediately following the May elections, in which she was not a candidate. Jones later attempted to “rescind” her resignation, but the board formally accepted it at its June 9 agenda review meeting. Tassin announced then that the
board would appoint a new member to replace Jones, The district sought community members who seek to fill out the remainder of Jones’s term, which expires in May 2026. The person selected will not be required to run for reelection. The deadline for applications was = July 7. and trustees were to review the applications between July 8 and July 21. The board was to announce the selected appointee on July 28, and that person would have begin serving August 4. But after some preliminary business at Monday’s meeting, Tassin made a brief statement, saying that on behalf of the board, she wanted
Instead, the room was packed.”
Dayna Druke, owner of 150 hives across Fort Bend County, is part of this growing number of Texans turning to beekeeping for environmental and economic reasons.
The Fort Bend Beekeepers Association usually draws 50 to 60 attendees to its monthly meetings, each with their own unique path into beekeeping. Originally from Wisconsin, Druke started with just three hives a decade ago to reconnect with her agricultural roots.
“We have some acres here in
Rosenberg, and it’s nice to cultivate or grow something,” she said.
“Bees are classified as livestock, even though bees aren’t traditionally what somebody thinks of as livestock. I started with three hives, which are manageable. You can even put three hives in a neighborhood backyard.”
After more than two decades in the U.S. Army, Jody Taylor could have chosen a quiet retirement. Instead, he picked up a smoker, donned a veil, and started tending to bees.
Danessa Yaschuk is president of the Fort Bend Beekeepers Association and owner of SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique, a bright, boutique-style honey shop in downtown Needville. Photos by Juhi Varma
Venesa Medrano, who graduated from the Industrial Systems program at TSTC’s Fort
Photo
The Fort Bend ISD board failed to reach consensus on an applicant for the Position 5 position, which will remain vacant until next year’s election. File photo
Fort Bend County County Attorney Bridgette SmithLawson, foreground, listens as members of Commissioners Court engage in a heated debate about the hiring of outside counsel during their July 22 meeting.
At the SweetNes Honey Apiaries & Beetique you will find an abundance of bee-themed items.
Missouri City library to host ‘Medicare 101‘ program on Friday
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Missouri City Branch Library will present “Medicare 101” on Friday, August 1, from 23 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 1530 Texas Parkway.
Benefit consultant Ashley Holloway will provide an overview of Medicare, including basics such as eligibility, the different parts and options, and when to enroll. Attendees will learn how applying for Original Medicare (Part A for hospitalization and Part B for medical coverage) and how working past the age of 65 affects Medicare coverage. Holloway is a registered nurse and a licensed Medicare, life, and health insurance agent.
The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the Missouri City Branch Library (281-238-2100).
H-GAC to hold transportation planning public meetings on Aug. 6
Staff Reports
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is inviting Fort Bend County residents to attend one of two identical public meetings on Wednesday, August 6, to share their feedback on the future of transportation in the region. The meetings, which will be held in-person and virtually, are part of H-GAC’s outreach for the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) 2050, a long-range strategy that will guide investments in transportation infrastructure through the year 2050.
Fort Bend County (Virtual and In-person)
6:30 – 8 p.m. | Wednesday, August 6
Location 1: Fort Bend County Libraries – Missouri City Branch 1530 Texas Parkway, Missouri City 77489
Location 2: Gus George Academy, Fort Bend County Justice Center 1521 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond 77469
The public meetings will be held in-person and online. Visit RTP2050.com/news for the latest schedule and to join the virtual public meetings.
At the public meetings, attendees will be able to:
• Learn about the Regional Transportation Plan 2050 and why it matters.
• Share transportation concerns, needs, and priorities.
• Ask questions and engage with transportation planners.
• Participate in interactive activities to shape regional goals.
The RTP is updated every four years and provides a comprehensive vision for how the region will address future mobility needs. It covers all modes of travel—including roads, public transit, biking, walking, freight, and emerging transportation technologies— and outlines projects and strategies that support safety, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity.
“Community feedback is at the heart of this plan,” Allie Isbell, assistant transportation director at H-GAC, said in a news release. “This is your opportunity to let us know what matters to you—whether it’s safer streets, expanded transit, better bike routes, or less traffic congestion.”
Community feedback will help:
• Shape the RTP’s vision and goals.
• Identify key transportation priorities for the region.
• Influence which projects are recommended for funding and implementation.
• Ensure the plan reflects the needs of all types of travelers—drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, transit users, and freight operators.
This meeting is one of several being held across the eight-county Metropolitan Planning Organization area, which includes Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller counties.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC provides reasonable accommodations for persons attending H-GAC functions. Requests from individuals who need special accommodations should be received by H-GAC staff 72 hours in advance. Requests for language interpreters or other special communication needs should be made at least two working days before a function. To request accommodations or an interpreter, call 832-821-2050 or email RTP2050@h-gac.com
Atlas Tower 1, LLC proposes the construction of a 155 ft. Monopole communications tower (155 ft with appurtenances) located at Aqua FLS off Wolfpen Ridge Lane, Missouri City, TX 77459, in Fort Bend County, at latitude 29° 31’ 22.1” N (NAD83) and longitude 095° 33’ 38.8” W (NAD83). The proposed tower will not require lighting for FAA aviation safety. The proposed tower can be identified by FCC Form 854 File Number A1319139. Interested persons may review the application by going to www. fcc.gov/asr/applications and entering the FCC Form 854 File Number A1319139. Interested persons may raise environmental concerns about the proposed structure by filing a Request for Environmental Review with the Federal Communications Commission. The Federal Communications Commission strongly encourages interested parties to file Requests for Environmental Review online; instructions for making such filings can be found at www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest. The mailing address for interested parties that would prefer to file a Request for Environmental Review by paper copy: FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
MUNICIPAL SCHOOL
Stafford Municipal School District is seeking Request for Proposals from qualified vendors for the following:
RFP 25-012 Band Instruments and Equipment
RFP 25-013 Fine Arts Supplies
Proposal responses are due on or before August 21, 2025, by 2PM CST. Proposals can be obtained by visiting https://hcdeebid. ionwave.net/Login.aspx
Show Hours
for assistance. Residents are also encouraged to learn more about the plan and to take H-GAC’s regional transportation survey online at RTP2050.com/news.
Texas history and an unsolved mystery
Editor’s note: This column includes some uses of the word “Indian,” referring to Native Americans, That use of the word in that context is outdated and is considered by many to be racist. The Associated Press style, used by the Fort Bend Star, is to use the term “Native Americans.” The uses of the word “Indian” in this column, in quotation marks, are in the context of the time period being described.
The Texas Hill Country has been in the spotlight lately. The network news programs have led with reports from there. The New York Times has run page after page about Kerrville, Hunt and surrounding areas, and all for a tragic reason: the deadly floods. There is another Hill Country tale that is worth telling again, which newcomers may not know. (I love missionary work.) It’s actually not only history but an unsolved mystery: What may have been the last “Indian raid” in Texas, or were they really Native Americans?
Let me set the stage: On Oct. 1, 1878, Jim and Susan Dowdy moved to the Hill Country from Goliad, arriving with some sheep and
Lynn Ashby Columnist
horses and eight children. At the time Houston had public schools, Dallas had a baseball team and Texas had A&M, but the Hill Country was still the frontier. On the morning of the fourth day after their arrival, four of the children were sent to a bluff a half-mile away to watch over a flock of sheep. There was a son, James, 11, with brown hair, large ears and a slightly sad expression; Martha, 16; Susan, 17, and Alice, 18 –girls with long, dark hair and pretty faces. A grown son, Richard, remained at the house so that he and a young friend, who was engaged to one of the girls, could eat an early lunch and then relieve the children so they could go back and eat.
The two men finished lunch
about 11 a.m. and went out to find the children, but discovered them missing and sheep scattered. They raced back to the house to report. Their mother, Susan, hurried to the hills and there found the bodies of her four children. Two of the girls’ bodies were lying together. The third was 200 yards away and James was some distance from her. All the bodies had been horribly mutilated with bullet, tomahawk and arrow wounds, but they were not scalped. A wagon took the bodies to the house of a neighbor, Mrs. “Wash” Floyd, who helped prepare the bodies. Her daughter recalled much later, “I remember Mama telling me Mrs. Dowdy said to her, ‘I can’t bear to see you pull out those arrows because I know it will hurt.’
The children were buried with the arrows still in their bodies.” Many other arrows were found along a hillside as though the children had been running along there, dodging a hail of arrows. The Native Americans had with them a herd of horses and had made their escape. A posse was formed, but that took a day or so to form, and no Native Americans were spotted.
End of a sad story. Almost. Yes, the first suspects were Native Americans. October was the time of the year when the dreaded Comanches came up from Mexico and from the so-called “Indian Territories” to the north. But they generally raided only during the light of the full Comanche Moon. There were those aforementioned arrows at the scene and tomahawk marks. But nothing was taken. One family member told me there were some horses stolen. And you can’t very well rustle a flock of sheep and make any kind of getaway. There were no reports that the girls had been raped. What was the reason for the raid?
Word began surfacing that the raid was not the work of Native Americans at all, but of U.S. renegades or Mexican bandits. “They just used those arrows and tomahawks to make the posse go looking for Indians,” an old timer told me. But now we have a new development, a newspaper clipping, misspellings and all: Dallas Weekly Herald, May 19, 1881 – dateline San Antonio May 13. “A letter from Kerville says last Sunday, as Deputy Sherriff Clemens, of Kervill
County was returning from San Antonio with two prisoners, John Potter and William Dunman, he was waylaid by a party of unknown men near Kerrville and both prisoners taken from him. The men stopped in the middle of the road with drawn revolvers. The deputy could do nothing but comply. Shortly afterwards Potter was shot down in the road. The deputy reported facts in town and an inquest was held on the body of Potter. Nothing is known as to who the parties were on the object of the killing. Potter had been arrested and was on his way to be tried for horse stealing.” What’s the connection and who cares? William Dunman was related to the Dowdy family. Potter supposedly boasted of his part in the massacre to Dunman while they were in jail in San Antonio, not knowing of the relationship. Dunman got word to the Dowdy family as to when Potter was to be taken by stage to Junction for trial. But we also have this version: When the stage got past Mountain Home, to the north, and reached the top of a hill, Dick Dowdy and an-
other brother, Tom, stopped the stage, took Potter to a nearby tree and hanged him. Potter was buried there, but his body was later moved to make way for a highway, and today no one knows where it is. “He didn’t have anything to do with it,” a Dowdy once told me. “He was just bragging.” In any event, Tom and Dick were tried for murder but were acquitted. An entire generation of Dowdys would not speak publicly of the tragedy. “That was so bad, so very, very bad, you can see why,” a resident finally told me. “One sister lived here the rest of her life, too frightened to leave her home. She became a total recluse. Even when the river would rise, neighbors would have trouble getting her to leave. And during the Comanche Moon….” At Mountain Home there is Sunset Cemetery, with small shell-covered graves for Susan, Allice (the gravestone had two ls), James and Martha. All four have the same date of death, Oct. 5, 1878. Beneath each name is the word, “Murdered.” But who did it, and why? Ashby is mystified at ashby2@comcast.net
Welcome to the Redistricting Games
Over the past few months, the big story in Fort Bend County has been the effort by Fort Bend County Republicans to do a rare, mid-decade redistricting of the county’s precinct maps. The ostensible reason was that it was discovered, via a February letter to Commissioners Court by Republican Texas Rep. Matt Morgan, that many of the county’s voters precincts (which are distinct from the commissioners’ precincts) were illegal under state law because they had either too many or too few voters. Republicans, led by Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, have seized on that situation to initiate a full-on push to redistrict the commissioners’ precinct maps, ostensibly because of comments made by County Judge KP George (then a Democrat) during the controversial 2021 redistricting indicating that the lines were designed to create precincts along racial lines. Under federal law and Supreme Court rulings, it’s perfectly legal to redistrict along partisan lines, but not explicitly along racial lines. Meyers has argued that – based on George’s comments in 2021 - the county is in danger of being sued by the federal government. This has led to a series
BEEKEEPERS FROM PAGE 1
“I just kind of fell into it,” said Taylor, who is now the Fort Bend County Extension Agent-Horticulture. “It started with one hive and just kept going.” Taylor manages 115 hives across Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Waller counties.
What are the benefits of local honey?
Local honey offers unique health benefits, potentially reducing allergy symptoms. When bees forage on local flowers, they collect pollen that gets mixed into the honey.
“The pollen is a protein for them, and they feed it to the baby bees,” Yaschuk said. “As they’re running around the hive, it kind of accidentally falls into the honey, so the honey ends up with trace amounts of the local pollen. By eating it, it’s building up your immune system.”
Honey from other regions won’t provide the same localized immune-boosting effect because the pollen comes from different plants, she said. Additionally, local honey is fresher and supports local beekeepers.
Do all bees produce honey?
The bees found in local apiaries are European honeybees (Apis mellifera). Homeowners often discover nests in patios or garages and wonder if there’s honey inside. The answer? Probably not.
“And in many cases, those aren’t even bees – they’re
Ken Fountain Editor
of increasingly acrimonious meetings of Commissioners Court as the three Republican members (which now include George since his party switch in June) and the two Democratic members. The back-and-forth has also drawn in County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, a Democrat who was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024, and John Oldham, the county’s appointed and nonpartisan elections administrator, whose office’s job includes the redrawing of voting precinct maps (that’s how all this got started, remember?).
Perhaps by sheer coincidence, or perhaps as a gift from the electoral gods, the entire state of Texas also finds itself in a middecade effort, again led by Republicans at the behest of President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice, to redraw the state’s congressional districts. In this instance,
wasps,” Yaschuk says. She frequently responds to calls to remove such nests.
While the European honeybee is not the only kind of bee that produces honey, it is the most well-known, well-studied and commercially significant honey-producing bee. The European honeybee was imported in the 17th century, according to the USDA.
Native bees – nearly 4,000 species across the U.S., according to the USDA – don’t produce harvestable honey, but they play a critical role in pollination and biodiversity.
“Honeybees are definitely not by any measurement, the only type of bee that does pollination, native bees like mason bees and bumblebees are fantastic pollinators,” Druke said.
Yet native bees are often overlooked in conservation efforts because they don’t produce honey, she said.
Bees aren’t just for honey — they can lower your property taxes in Texas
With just five acres, property owners in Texas can qualify for reduced land taxes by hosting hives, making beekeeping an increasingly popular option.
Yaschuk, Taylor and Druke place their beehives on other properties for an ag exemption.
“I didn’t want to have 400 hives just on my land,” said Yashuk. “That’s a lot of bees to have in one area, and so I put them on other people’s locations. People need the ag exemptions on their properties. And that’s a whole business in itself.”
the purported reason is that several of the current districts are illegal “coalition districts,” again referring to their racial composition. Two of the targeted districts happen to include portions of Fort Bend County. An hours-long public hearing on the matter was held at the University of Houston. (I didn’t attend the hearing in person, but did watch it online. I may be a nerd, but I’m not a masochist.)
Most of us of a certain age remember learning about the redistricting process in high school civics class, when it seemed like a fairly dry topic. One thing I don’t remember being taught back then is that redistricting can be one of the ugliest of political processes. One of the things we learned is that under the U.S. Constitution (and also the Texas Constitution), redistricting is almost always done once a decade, after the receipt of population from the decadal U.S. Census.
I’m old enough not only to remember the last time Texas did a mid-decade congressional redistricting, back in 2003, but to have covered it. In one of my earliest jobs in journalism, I worked for a newspaper that covered Baytown and surrounding areas in East Harris County and Chambers County. That
year, U.S. Speaker of the House Tom Delay (of Fort Bend County!) ordered the Texas Legislature, which had only just gained a Republican majority, to do a redistricting only a couple of years after the one done after the 2000 Census.
That effort led to a protracted battle, with Democrats fleeing the state to Oklahoma for weeks to break quorum and prevent a vote on the final maps. The Democrat who ended up finally breaking the walk-out was the then-Dean of the Texas Senate, John Whitmire (now mayor of Houston), whose district included part of my newspaper’s coverage area. I actually interviewed him over the phone after he had arrived at the airport in Houston.
One of the congressional districts most impacted was the former 22nd District, then held by Democrat Nick Lampson, a longtime political fixture in Jefferson County. The district included part of our coverage area, and I’d interviewed Lampson many times. Later that year, he ran in the new 9th District, drawn specifically to favor a Republican candidate, against Ted Poe, a former district judge in Harris County. I covered the race, which turned quite ugly
“We lease beehives to people,” said Taylor. “They pay us to put beehives on their property and manage those beehives, and then they apply with the Central Appraisal District for the ag valuation of their land, so that they’re taxed at a much lower rate.”
Demand for pollination services – especially for crops like almonds – is also soaring, said Druke.
“Pollination is big business,” Druke said. “Without bees, for example, almond growers can’t pollinate their crops. Right now, every bee in the U.S. could head to California, and it still wouldn’t meet half the need.”
Still, keeping bees alive remains a challenge. Texas beekeepers lose an average of 30 percent of their colonies each winter, compared to 50 percent nationwide, said
Druke. The coldest states suffer far worse losses, prompting commercial beekeepers from Wisconsin and other northern states to “overwinter” their hives in Texas, where the climate is mild and bears aren’t a threat.
How can we help feed the bees?
“Bees like variety in their diet; nobody wants to eat the same thing every day,” said Yaschuk.
In rural areas dominated by monocrops like cotton or sorghum, bees can collect nectar, but the limited diversity makes it harder for them to stay healthy, she said.
Crape myrtles – hardy, showy, and full of colorful blooms – are a popular landscaping choice in Texas, but they do next to nothing for bees, said Druke.
(frankly speaking, neither campaign covered itself in glory). As expected, Poe won, and Lampson returned to his home base of Jefferson County (I would sometimes see him making the political rounds when I worked at a newspaper in Beaumont), where he now works for a nonprofit medical system. As it happened, Lampson was one of the first public speakers at the hearing Saturday at UH.
All this is by way of saying that nothing that is happening now, both statewide and in Fort Bend County, is new, although it is exceedingly rare. Fort Bend County Republicans have chafed under the 2021 precinct maps ever since they were approved, however messily, by the then-new Democratic majority on Commissioners Court. But there’s a saying in politics: elections have consequences. Democrats had been in the minority in Fort Bend for decades before then. It was only to be expected that when they came to power, they would draw maps that would favor their party.
What’s happening now is different. The push by Republicans could only happen because of George’s switch in political affiliation, for whatever reason that might have happened. In a guest
opinion column in this newspaper, the Fort Bend Business Coalition advocated the formation of a citizens’ advisory committee on redistricting, along with a focus on transparency in the process. The Commissioners Court, along party lines, did just that and last week appointed its members. But the opaque way that has been done (a meeting of the commission was already scheduled, and apparently communication occurred with its chair and other members, before those members were officially appointed), hardly speaks to transparency. Given the current makeup of the court, whatever process the committee uses, the maps that eventually emerge will ultimately be approved. That’s a fact of political life. But given the actual political makeup of Fort Bend County, now one of the most “purple” counties in the nation, one thing is also clear: about half of the county’s residents will be thrilled, and the other half will be outraged. Midterm elections, and many state and county elections, will be held just over a year from now. As one notable political figure likes to say, we’ll see what happens. Fountain draws the line at KFountain@fortbendstar.com
Dayna Druke, owner of 150 hives across Fort Bend County, is part of this growing number of Texans turning to beekeeping for environmental and economic reasons. Contributed photo
“I’m sure you’ve looked around, especially in Cinco Ranch, there’s just nothing but crape myrtles,” Druke said. “If you see bees on crape myrtles, they’re desperate because they can’t find anything else to eat. However, there’s another tree called a vitex (Texas lilac). It’s purple, grows just like the crape myrtle, maybe it’s not as pretty, but it feeds all our native bees.”
Both Yaschuk and Druke said that wildflowers like clover are much better food sources for bees than ornamental plants, which are often treated with chemicals.
Based on USDA data and figures from Texas Beekeeper Association registered apiaries, Fort Bend County has around 400 managed apiaries with at least five colonies each, Druke said.
“Backyard hobbyist bee -
keepers might just keep one or two hives in their yards and not register their bees,” she said. “ I would guess there were maybe a few thousand feral colonies, give or take. That is a hard figure to guess, but honeybees sure seem to love to live in our native pecan tree cavities.”
If you are interested in taking up beekeeping, local beekeepers say the best way to start is by attending a beekeeper’s meeting.
The Fort Bend Beekeepers Association meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center in Rosenberg. Founded in 1978, the association now has over 100 dues-paying members. For more information, visit fortbendbeekeepers.org. Varma is a freelance writer. She can be reached at juhi.varma@gmail.com.
Dayna Druke’s son, Colton, holds a queen bee while worker bees land on him, attracted by her scent. Colton says he’s “not scared of the bees because they tickle.”
Photos by Dayna Druke
Ullola fans seven but Space Cowboys fall to El Paso on Saturday
Community Reports
EL PASO – While RHP Miguel Ullola rang up seven batters and Jacob Melton recorded two doubles, his second-straight multi-hit game, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-12, 51-48) fell 5-1 to the El Paso Chihuahuas (1511, 53-47) on Saturday night at Southwest University Park. Melton ambushed the first pitch of his at-bat in the top of the first and roped a one-out double into right. However, the final two Space Cowboys of the frame were retired, keeping Sugar Land off the board.
The Space Cowboys threatened in the top of the second as Tommy Sacco Jr. lined a twoout single to left and Kenedy Corona walked, but the runners were left on.
Ullola (L, 5-3) ripped through El Paso’s lineup in the bottom of the first as he struck out the side on 14 pitches and punched out two more in the bottom of the second to post a scoreless frame.
The Chihuahuas broke the deadlock in the third as El Paso scored two runs on a walk, double, sacrifice fly
and bunt single to take a 2-0 lead. Ullola responded in the fourth by stranding a runner at third with an inning-ending strikeout, his seventh of the night. The righty went 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Ullola has fired seven strikeouts or more in back-to-back starts.
Kenedy Corona reached second on an error to start the top of the fifth, while Jacob Hurtubise slapped a single into right, putting runners on the corners with nobody out as the lineup flipped over. With one gone in the inning, Melton lined a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Corona, as Sugar Land cut their deficit in half, 2-1.
RHP Jayden Murray relieved Ullola in the bottom of the fifth and posted a zero before tossing a shutout sixth, throwing 2.1 scoreless frames overall. However, El Paso opened the game up with three runs in the seventh to make it a 5-1 game.
The Space Cowboys loaded the bases in the top of the eighth as Melton led off the inning with his second double of
the game, Edwin Díaz flicked a bloop single into shallow center and Luis Castro drew a two-out walk. However, a first-pitch flyout retired the side in the eighth and Sugar Land was set down in order in the ninth, leading to their 5-1 defeat.
NOTABLE:
· Jesús Bastidas extend-
George Memorial Library to host job-hunting programs in August
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Adult Services staff at George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview Drive in Richmond, will present free, introductory technology classes in August specifically for job hunters. All computer classes take place in the Computer Lab.
· Résumé Writing - Tuesday, August 5, from 10-11 a.m. Learn how to use MS Word to create a resumé that showcases one’s skills. Learn how to use free templates, format a resumé, and save it in required formats.
· LinkedIn Basics - Tuesday, August 12, from 10-11 a.m. LinkedIn is the world’s largest social-media network for professionals and is a great vehicle for connecting with potential customers and employers. Find out how to make the best use of LinkedIn to network and engage with contacts and businesses. Learn how to create a strong profile, connect with professionals, explore career opportunities, and become familiar with online etiquette in the LinkedIn virtual community.
· LinkedIn for Libraries - Tuesday, August 19, from 10-11 a.m. Learn how to access
thousands of online job-skills courses covering everything from software development to leadership. Discover expert-led content for personalized learning paths to explore new skills to grow professionally or improve jobhunting prospects.
· Big Interview: Using AI for Interview Prep – Tuesday, August 26, from 10-11 a.m. Big Interview is an online service that uses the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help job hunters prepare resumés and practice jobinterview questions to improve their chances of landing a new job. This class will introduce this powerful online resource and all the features that it has to offer for individuals who are re-entering the workforce – or launching a new career -- in a technology-driven world. The classes are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at Fort Bend County Libraries’ website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov), click on “Classes & Events,” select “George Memorial,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library (281-342-4455), or by visiting the Adult Services Information desk at the library.
ed his on-base streak to 26 games, the longest from a Space Cowboys’ batter in 2025, after going 1-for-4 on Saturday. Over his on-base streak, Bastidas has eight doubles, four homers, 23 RBI and 18 runs scored. Bastidas is currently on a 12-game hitting streak, tied for the longest from a Space Cowboy this season, going 20-for-50 (.400)
with five doubles, a homer, 10 RBI and eight runs scored. Bastidas’ on-base streak is the longest active streak in the PCL. · Jacob Melton picked up two doubles on Saturday as part of a 2-for-3 game with an RBI. Dating back to Melton’s final four games with the Astros, before being placed on the injured list, the outfielder has a hit in five of his last six contests. In two games on Major League rehab, Melton has recorded two hits in each contest.
· Miguel Ullola went 4.0 innings on Saturday with two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Ullola has recorded 28 strikeouts in four starts in the month of July with a 3.38 ERA. The Dominican Republic native came into Saturday’s start ranked tied for fourth in the PCL in strikeouts.
· Collin Price is currently on a 10-game on-base streak after going 1-for-3 with a walk on Saturday. During his on-base streak, Price is 15-for-35 (.429) with three doubles, two triples, a homer, five RBI, seven walks and five runs scored. Price is also on a seven-game hitting
streak, going 13-for-25 (.520) with six extra-base hits and four multi-hit games. · Jacob Hurtubise made his season debut with Sugar Land on Saturday after signing with Houston and being assigned to Sugar Land on Friday, going 1-for-4 with an outfield assist in the eighth inning. Sunday night’s game between Sugar Land and El Paso Chihuahuas was postponed due to rain. The game will now be made up as part of a doubleheader in Sugar Land when the Chihuahuas come to Constellation Field from September 16 through 21. Following an off day on Monday, Sugar Land returned to Constellation Field on Tuesday to begin a six-game series against the Tacoma Rainiers. Games can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com. This article is provided by the marketing office of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and is used by permission.
to thank the large number of applicants for Position 5 seat on the board.
“We received many qualified applicants,” Tassin said. “Perhaps because we each bring many different perspectives and voices representing different segments of our community, we as a board were unable to reach consensus on one candidate at the time.
“So for now we plan to leave the vacant election unfilled until the next election when our voters will decide who should represent our community in this position,” she said.
The current board of six members were committed to working with the administration of Superintendent Marc Smith to move the district to “level up” and “make our district the best district in the state of Texas.
The next board election is set for May 2026.
In other business, trustees approved a $21 million initial budget for foundation repairs for Madden Elementary School, a part of the 2023 bond package which has had signifi-
cant setbacks. The item had been pulled from the board’s consent agenda by Position 1 Trustee Angie Hanan. Hanan asked administrators if they could provide assurances that the problems that led to the foundation’s replacement would not reoccur. After some back-and-forth with administrators, Smith said he would assure trustees that the administration would make whichever design team was ultimately hired aware of the campus’s “story” to help prevent any future problems.
Position 2 Trustee Adam Schoof asked why there were no firm figures in the proposal on the cost of materials, primarily concrete. The administrators told him that the estimate for the project, which would begin next year, was the best available at present. Tassin reminded Schoof that as the board of a governmental entity, they were legally obligated to first approve an initial budget for the project, before the project is put out for bid. Actual costs will be determined during the contracting process.
The board voted 5-1 to approve the budget, with Schoof voting against.
The George Memorial Library will host several programs on job-hunting tools throughout August. File photo
county attorney’s office.
Fort Bend County Republicans have long chafed under the controversial commissioners precinct map pushed through by a Democratic court majority in 2021, after Census data had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their effort to redo the maps gained new impetus after County Judge KP George, who in 2021 was part of the Democratic majority and is facing numerous legal and political challenges, switched his political affiliation to Republican in June. That changed the political balance on the court to a 3-2 Republican majority.
In previous meetings, Smith-Lawson, the elected county attorney since 2020 – who under the Texas Constitution is charged with handling almost all of the county’s civil legal matters and providing legal advice to the Commissioners Court – had raised objections to the hiring of a Houston law firm,
Rogers Morris & Grover, to provide legal services related to redistricting. The firm primarily works for public school districts, including Fort Bend ISD, Lamar Consolidated ISD, and Katy ISD. Smith-Lawson, a Democrat, said the firm did not appear to have any expertise in county-wide or municipal redistricting. During the July 8 meeting, she engaged in a lengthy series of questions and answers about the firm’s qualifications with Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, also a Democrat. Ultimately, the commissioners voted along party lines to engage the firm.
On July 22, when the agenda item to authorize the court to hire outside legal counsel, put forward by George, came up for a vote, Democratic Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, the longest-serving member of the court, peppered George with a series of questions over why George was proposing the move and who and how it would be decided which legal matters would fall outside the purview of the
Prestage asked George if the action was merely an effort to “ratify” the court’s previous action to hire the law firm. George denied that, citing various provisions of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Local Government Code, and a written opinion by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as support for the proposition that a commissioners court could hire outside legal counsel. George also said he had received advice from a deputy general counsel in Paxton’s office. (A call to that person for comment by the Fort Bend Star was not returned.)
Prestage continued to press George on how the court would decide which matters the court would use outside counsel for, repeatedly asking the judge to name a single matter other than redistricting. George, who was evidently frustrated, finally named advice on open meetings law and referred to what he called an “open chat” between Smith-Lawson and McCoy during earlier meetings.
Raptors to visit University Branch Library on Aug. 2
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries will present a special program, “Get WILD for Raptors,” on Saturday, August 2, from 2-3 p.m., in Meeting Room 1 of Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library,14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UHSugar Land campus. During this program, attendees will be able to see live raptors that work as education ambassadors to help residents to get excited to learn more about the natural world.
Mary Anne Morris, co-founder of Wild Bird Adventures, will talk about the sights, sounds, and natural
history of raptors, such as hawks, kites, owls, and eagles. Attendees will discover their key role as top predators in the animal kingdom.
Morris has been educating the public about native-bird conservation for more than 30 years. Wild Bird Adventures provides a home and habitat for birds that can no longer live in the wild. This program is made possible by the Friends of the University Branch Library. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library book sales and annual membership dues help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the library. The program is free and
open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the University Branch Library (281-633-5100) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: Park inside the gated lot (VISITOR LOT 4). Bring the parking-ticket stub to the check-out desk inside the library to be validated by library staff. Parking is FREE if the ticket is validated by the library. Parking outside the gated lot may result in a parking violation from the University of Houston.
That prompted McCoy to ask Smith-Lawson whether they had ever engaged in any kind of “strategizing” outside of court meetings, which she adamantly denied, saying her office was nonpartisan, and that she provided the same advice to all of the commissioners.
For his part, McCoy said that the AG opinion George was relying on specifically excluded Fort Bend County, and cited a Texas appeals court order which he said was more on point for Fort Bend County and superseded an AG opinion. (An attempt by the Fort Bend Star to obtain that court order from McCoy’s office was unsuccessful.)
Smith-Lawson and George also engaged in a long, heated discussion which ultimately drew in some of the commissioners. “You have hurt me, KP George,” Smith-Lawson said repeatedly.
At one point, an increasingly frustrated George attempted to call for a recess, even standing up behind the dais, but Smith-Lawson said
that he could not unilaterally demand a recess and called for the livestream of the meeting not to be paused. After a brief time, George sat down and the meeting continued.
Meyers, who had made the motion to approve the agenda item, said that in an effort to bring “comity” back to the meeting, offered to rescind his motion. George instead said the item would be pulled for possible later consideration.
In a later action, the court rejected, again along party lines, McCoy’s motion to rescind the engagement of Rogers, Morris & Grover to advise the court on redistricting. McCoy said the firm’s hiring was improper and left the county opinion for legal sanction.
In separate items, the Republican majority approved six members (two each) they put forward to serve on the citizens redistricting committee. Neither Prestage nor McCoy nominated members for the committee, which already had a meeting scheduled later that afternoon, before
Space Cowboys’ 2026 schedule announced
Community Reports
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys have announced their full schedule for the 2026 Pacific Coast League season. For a second consecutive year, the Space Cowboys will begin their season at Constellation Field as they host the Round Rock Express (Triple A, Texas Rangers) for a three-game series from March 27 through 29. Sugar Land will play a total of 12 home series in 2026 with all of them scheduled for the league’s Tuesday through Sunday format outside of the three games for Opening Weekend. The Space Cowboys schedule is once again 150 games, with 75 home games and 75 road games, running from March 27 through September 20.
Sugar Land is set to play two series against the International League in 2026, traveling to Jacksonville take on the Jumbo Shrimp (Triple A, Miami Marlins) from March 31 through April 5 before welcoming the Nashville Sounds (Triple A, Milwaukee Brewers) to Constellation Field for a six-game series from July 21 through the 26, the first home interleague series in Space Cowboys’ history. Sugar Land’s lone 12-game homestand of 2026 comes July 21 through August 2 when they
the members had been voted on. McCoy voted against the Republicans’ choices, while Prestage abstained.
George’s choices for the committee are Jacob Lee, a longtime Republican activist in Fort Bend County, who will also serve as chair, and Robert Beham. Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales’s choices are Wendy Duncan (who had unsuccessfully run against Meyers in the 2020 Republican primary) and Ryan Yokubaitis. Meyers’s choices are Upendra Sahu and Mike Gibson.
Reached by phone, Lee confirmed that the July 22 meeting had occurred and that the committee approved its own rules, which were being edited by Beham, who was appointed the committee’s secretary. Lee said there are as yet no scheduled future meetings.
An attempt by the Fort Bend Star to obtain other information about the committee from George’s office was unsuccessful.
host Nashville and the Salt Lake Bees (Triple A, Los Angeles Angels).
The Space Cowboys will be at home for a pair of holidays in 2026 as they will conclude a six-game series with the Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple A, Colorado Rockies) on Mother’s Day, May 10, and host the Reno Aces (Triple A, Arizona Diamondbacks) over Labor Day Weekend during a series that runs from September 1 through 6.
Divisional foes Round Rock, Albuquerque and Oklahoma City (Triple A, Los Angeles Dodgers) will each make two trips to Constellation Field, with the Express playing in Sugar Land Opening Weekend and then again from April 21 through 26. Albuquerque comes to Constellation Field May 5 to 10 before returning the week before the Major League All-Star Break from July 7 through 12. The Oklahoma City Comets make their first trip to Sugar Land from May 26 through 31 before a late August series from August 18 through 23. Meanwhile, the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple A, San Diego Padres) come to Constellation Field just one time from June 23 through 28 to open the second half of the season. All teams from the Western Division of the Pacific Coast League will make singular trips to Sugar Land, with the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple A, Seattle Mariners) serving as the first six-game home series for the Space Cowboys from April 7 through 12, the Sacramento River Cats (Triple A, San Francisco Giants) making their lone trip from June 9 through 14 and the Las Vegas Aviators (Triple A, Athletics) coming as the final series of the regular season for Sugar Land from September 15 through 20. Game times for all 75 Space Cowboys home games will be announced at a later date. Find the full announcement online at milb.com/ sugar-land.
Fort Bend County County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson strenuously defends her office during a debate in the Commissioners Court meeting last week. Photos by Ken Fountain
Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, left, and County Judge KP George engage in a lengthy discussion about the hiring of outside legal counsel.
Mary Anne Morris, co-founder of Wild Bird Adventures, will present a special program with live raptors at the University Branch Library on Aug. 2. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
BECOME A MASTER GARDENER
Want to learn new skills in gardening and share them with others? Sign up for the Fall 2025 Intern Class of Fort Bend County Master Gardeners by July 18. You can find the application form at https://fbmg.org/files/2025/06/MG-Application-2025-1.pdf
Enrollment is limited to 25 participants, and is on a first-come, first served basis. Both application and payment are required to secure a spot.
Master Gardeners work with Boy and Girl Scouts, provide summer kids camps and offer free online and in-person classes about different aspects of gardening. Master Gardeners man a Help Desk and answer gardening questions from our community.
It also is a means of forming lasting friendships.
Learn more about Master Gardeners at https://fbmg.org/become-a-master-gardener/
ONGOING
EARTH KIND KIDS CAMP REGISTRATION OPEN
Youths in grades 3-5 can have fun this summer learning about gardening by attending Earth Kind Kids Camp, sponsored by Fort Bend County Master Gardeners.
The July 21-24 day camp will cover the topics of gardening, horticulture and environmental science through different high-energy projects that help the youths learn about seeds, plants, rain and other topics between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
Registration is open for the camp, which will be in Building D at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 Texas 36 in Rosenberg. The camp is limited to the first 25 paid participants. Register at https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/event/2025earthkindkidscamp/ The fee is $85. Registration includes all materials, snacks and a T-shirt. For more information, contact Brandy Rader at Brandy.Rader@ag.tamu.edu
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES AT GPBC
In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, Grand Parkway Baptist Church will offer ESL classes on Tuesday nights from mid-August 2025 through May 2026. We are located at 12000 FM 1464, Richmond, across from Austin High School. 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
EMMY-NOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR HOLDING AUDITIONS
The Fort Bend Boys Choir is seeking talented young boys who like music and singing. If know of one, encourage him to audition for our award-winning and Emmy-Nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir! No experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice. Auditions are by special appointment at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s webpage at www.fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800 for more details about auditions. Benefits as a choir member include greater self-esteem and self-confidence, better work ethic and a sense of belonging and community. A boy’s voice has an expiration date so it is important to audition when boys’ voices are still unchanged. Auditions are free!
AMERICAN LEGION POST 942
311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.
LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION
Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718 For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.
QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB
The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.
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. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281785-7372 for more information.
LAND ROTARY CLUB
SUGAR
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, 832-987-4193, sugarlandrotaryclub5890@gmail.com We just started a new evening club also. Contact me for more info.
FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB
Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway,
vincer.music@gmail.com.
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT
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
COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Close to Home
Our team of experts treats a variety of conditions, including:
• Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Aneurysms
• Brain tumors
• Headaches and migraines
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Multiple sclerosis
education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345. To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.276.8999
At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, we provide comprehensive, expert care for mild to severe neurological conditions. With innovative and advanced treatment options, our doctors collaborate across specialties to meet each patient’s unique needs — from diagnosis and treatment through recovery.
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease and tremors
• Sleep disorders
• Spinal disorders
• Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)
