WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 6, 2025
FBISD’s
Tassin says she will soon revisit vacant Position 5
Rosharon-area residents (again) protest proposed concrete-crushing plant
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
It was a case of “second verse, same as the first” as – nearly a year after the first public hearing over a proposed concrete-crushing plant in the Rosharon area – an almost identical hearing was held last week.
The setting was the same as that August 2024 hearing, a large auditorium in the Restoration City Life Center, a large church complex near the proposed facility off of FM 521 in an unincorporated part of Fort Bend County.
Most of the players were the same as well, including representatives of Julpit, Inc., a private entity formed in 2023 to build the facility and technical and legal representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality.
And the reaction was identical: fierce opposition from residents and public officials to the building and operation of a plant that company officials say when operational will crush up to 200 tons of concrete per hour for up to 2,640 hours per year. According to the company, spay bars would be used to wet down the concrete to keep dust from being emitted and that a tree line around the property would remain in place so that the facility’s operations could not be seen from outside.
Among other concerns, opponents say the plant would emit harmful amounts of socalled particulate matter into the area, which
LIVE RAPTORS DRAW CROWD AT FORT BEND LIBRARY EVENT
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Just two days after announcing that the Fort Bend ISD Position 5 trustee position would remain vacant until next May’s election, board president Kristin Tassin last week announced that she would soon revisit the issue.
The announcement came after vociferous pushback on social media and in media interviews from residents of the district’s “east side” that they would be without representation for a year following the resignation of then-Position 5 Trustee Sonya Jones.
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 to apply to serve the remainder of Jones’s term, which expires in May 2026. The deadline for applications was July 7 and trustees were to have reviewed the applications between July 8 and July 21. The board was to have announced the selected appointee on July 28, and that person would have begun serving August 4. But at that July 28 meeting, Tassin announced that the board, now comprised of six members, was not able to reach a consensus on a replacement. Therefore, she said, the board had decided to leave the position vacant until next May’s election.
That announcement was greeted by much derision on social media channels devoted to Fort Bend ISD, particularly among residents of the district’s “east side.” Many of them said the decision meant that that part of the district would be under-represented on the board for nearly a year. Late on the evening of July 30, the district sent out a new statement from Tassin, in which she recounted Jones’s resignation.
By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Fort Bend County Libraries hosted a special wildlife program titled “Get WILD for Raptors” on Saturday at the University Branch Library in Sugar Land. The hour-long event featured live raptors and attracted a capacity audience of families, children, and residents interested in wildlife conservation.
The program was led by Mary Anne Morris, co-founder of Wild Bird Adventures, a nonprofit that cares for injured birds of prey that can no longer
Terry’s
opens
survive in the wild.
“Wild Bird Adventures is a special place where I take care of birds that can’t go back to living in the wild, and we visit schools and libraries and hospitals and nursing homes teaching why birds are so important,” she said. “We cannot live on the planet Earth without birds. The scientists figured out that if all the birds disappeared, the Earth would be destroyed in three months.”
Raptors include owls, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and kites – all known for hunting with their talons rather than their beaks.
third regional location in Richmond’s Aliana neighborhood
By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
panding our footprint in the
Houston area.”
Morris brought with her three non-releasable raptors – Brazos the owl, Rivera the swallowtail kite, and Hammy the broad-winged hawk. All three birds were permanently injured and can no longer fly, so they live at the sanctuary and serve as “educational ambassadors”, Morris said. “Barn owls love to eat all kinds of different things, insects, big bugs, and they love crawfish,” she said “They have incredible eyesight, which helps them to maneuver through their forest habitat after dark and help them to find their prey. But they also rely on their hearing. They have huge ear
holes, and they can hear a mouse under snow, under grass.”
Behind her, an illustrated chart displayed raptor species native to the area and highlighted the challenges these birds face, especially from increasing human encroachment.
Rivera, a swallowtail kite found injured on Riviera Street in East Houston, suffered a shoulder injury – possibly from a power line or vehicle collision – that left her unable to fly.
“If you’re a kite, you catch your prey
Brazos the owl, one of three non-releasable raptors recently brought to the University Branch Library by Mary Anne Morris, now lives at the Wild Bird Adventures
Photo by Juhi Varma
Though it’s only been open just over a week, the new P. Terry’s location in Richmond is already a hit – on Sunday afternoon, a steady stream of cars wrapped around the building in a seemingly endless
With a line of public speakers behind him, Sienna Point resident Mike Walls speaks in opposition to a proposed concrete-crushing plant in the Rosharon area during a public hearing last week. Photo by Ken Fountain
Sonya Jones, who in May announced she was resigning from her Fort Bend ISD board position, speaks as a “sitting” member of the board at a public hearing last week.
Photo by Ken Fountain
Library to host ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ adventure series for teens
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Librar-
ies’ Mamie George Branch Library will present a monthly “Dungeons & Dragons 5e Adventure” series this fall for teens entering grades 9 through 12, on the second Monday of every month in the makerspace area of the library, 320 Dulles Avenue in Stafford.
In this series, Dungeon Master and library branch manager Johnathan Craig will lead this popular tabletop fantasy, role-playing game. Dice, rule books, and
characters will be provided.
Gamers of all experience levels – from beginners to veterans -- are invited to stretch their imaginations and practice their problemsolving skills while meeting and socializing with others who enjoy role-playing games. The series will begin on Monday, August 11, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, with Session 0, which will set the stage for the fall adventure starting in September.
Session 0 is a chance for players and DMs to meet, talk about the upcoming campaign and setting, discuss
any house rules, and build new characters together. Materials for this program are made possible by the Friends of the Mamie George Branch Library. The program is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov), click on “Classes & Events,” select “Mamie George Branch Library,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library (281-238-2880) or by visiting the library.
TxDOT: Keep kids safe by driving kind and courteous
Community Reports
As children across the state gather school supplies, say goodbye to summer and prepare for a new year of classes, Texas drivers are also getting ready for school traffic to return. That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is sharing driving tips to help keep kids safe in school zones and around school buses. By treating children, bus drivers and each other with kindness and respect, we can prevent crashes.
School zones can be hectic places with students hopping on and off buses or darting between cars to cross the street, and drivers may become distracted or impatient. Tragically, crashes can and do happen. Just last year, there were 781 traffic crashes in school zones and 2,480 collisions involving school buses in Texas.
Most of these crashes involved driver inattention or speeding, and some were deadly. Two people were killed in Texas school zone crashes last year and another 11 were killed in crashes involving school buses.
To prevent these tragedies, TxDOT is launching its “Be Safe. Drive Smart” Back to School safety campaign to urge drivers to slow down, avoid distractions and follow all traffic laws. As school starts again, it’s also a great time for parents and guardians to share school zone safety tips with young children.
Tips for driving in school zones
• Look for flashing school zone lights in the morning and afternoon. Be aware that traffic patterns around schools may have changed since last year.
• Stay alert and put your phone away. Using a handheld electronic device while
driving in an active school zone is against the law.
• Stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users in a crosswalk.
The Lisa Torry Smith Act of 2021 enhanced the penalties for failing to follow the law and protect people in crosswalks. Seriously injuring someone who is lawfully in a crosswalk is now a state jail felony.
• Obey school zone speed limits. Traffic fines increase in school zones.
• Know where to go. Drop off and pick up your kids in your school’s designated areas, not in the middle of the street.
• Be on the lookout for children gathered at bus stops.
• Watch out for children who might dart across the street or between vehicles.
Tips for drivers sharing the road with school buses
• Follow school buses at a safe distance. Remember they make frequent stops.
• Stop for school buses. Do
STAFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
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
not pass a school bus if you see flashing red lights or an extended stop sign, regardless of which direction you’re headed, unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway. Continue once the bus has moved, the lights stop flashing or the bus driver signals it’s okay to pass.
• Look out for children around buses and remember that they may not always look for vehicles before crossing the street.
• Violations can result in a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense.
Tips for children walking or biking to school
• Use sidewalks. If there’s not one, it’s best to walk on the left side of the street, facing traffic.
• Cross the street only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Look left, right and left again before crossing.
• Pay close attention to crossing guards and obey their instructions.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you.
• Look both ways for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked vehicles.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter.
• Stay alert. Phones or other electronic devices are distractions and can take your eyes and ears off the road.
• Follow all traffic rules, signs and signals. The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of May 19, 2025. To view additional traffic safety data, visit TxDOT’s Traffic Safety Data Portal online at data. texas.gov/stories/s/nze5-dppu.
Shawn Auston Wimmer, 27, of Houston, Texas, passed away on July 24th, 2025. Born on October 7th, 1997, Shawn was raised in the Sugar Land area. He later completed training and certification as a licensed paramedic through Wharton Community College, pursuing a career in emergency medical services. Over the years, he worked with various EMS providers and gained experience in highpressure, field-based medical care. He was also certified in advanced life support and other continuing education programs related to emergency response. He took his responsibilities seriously and remained committed to his professional duties throughout his career. Outside of work, Shawn had a deep love for baseball. He was a devoted fan of
the San Diego Padres and followed the team closely over the years. Baseball was more than a pastime—it was a connection to childhood, a way to decompress, and something he looked forward to sharing with his sons. He often spoke about visiting different ballparks and had a goal of seeing a game in every major league stadium. He was also a lifelong Star Wars fan. From the late-night rewatches of Revenge of the
Sith, to the Clone Wars, the series remained a meaningful part of his life. He resonated deeply with the characters and stories, especially Anakin Skywalker, and appreciated the emotional and moral complexity of the saga. Shawn was the father of two young sons, Benjamin and Michael Wimmer. Much of his focus and dreams were centered around them. He truly loved them and only wanted them to have every opportunity. He is survived by them; his wife, Emma Wimmer, his mother and father, Paula and Greg Taylor; his siblings, Taylor Becker and her daughter Lola Becker, Stephen Taylor, Josh Taylor, Haley Acosta and Maelyn Taylor; his grandmother Pat Pierce, as well as extended family and friends.
- John 5:4
The Mamie George Branch Library in Stafford will host a monthly “Dungeons & Dragons 5e Adventure” series this fall for teens, beginning Aug. 11. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
A new meaning for ‘a big, beautiful bill’
“A white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of without extreme difficulty, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness.” You have one. You don’t actually own it, you don’t want it, needlessly expensive. You are just paying for it. And, no, I don’t mean the Astrodome, the Texas Legislature or Ken Paxton’s legal bills. It is that huge, aging luxury plane the Qatari royal family gave to President Donald Trump but foisted on us. The plane, aka Air Farce One, is currently here in Texas, although, for good reason, we are kept in the dark about the entire project. First, let’s be clear. Air Force One is not a specific aircraft. It is the official air traffic control- designated call sign for a U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the president. If the president is flying Southwest Airlines from Hobby to Love Field, that plane is AF1. Also, there are actually two identical aircraft – one is a backup just in case the first one runs out of cheeseburgers and Cokes. They are old,
Have you ever had somebody so insistent on speaking with you, it feels as though you can’t even hear yourself think? Maybe you’ve used the term “I’m so forgetful, it’s like I have ADHD!” But what is ADHD, and what does it affect?
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
like maybe a Sopwith Camel. No, the current pair – first flown in 1987 – are modified Boeing 747-200Bs, a model that was first introduced way back in 1971 but hasn’t been in production since 1991. Replacement parts are no longer manufactured, leaving the Air Force with the trouble of having them custom-made. “I need a new wooden propeller. Can I just cannibalize your Sopwith Camel?” Snoopy would understand. It has been long felt by everyone that a new Air Force One was needed, and Boeing got the contract. Can you believe? The job is way over budget. During his first presidency, Trump renegotiated parts of the contract
with Boeing, and threatened to cancel the program if the overall cost was more than $4 billion. In an effort to cut costs, the Air Force contracted to purchase two completed but undelivered intercontinental aircraft from Boeing in 2017. If the job is way over budget it is also way behind schedule. Air Force One was expected to enter service no earlier than 2026. Oops. Make that 2027, while the second would come the next year. Boeing now is estimating it’ll deliver the first of the aircraft in 2029. (Boeing can’t hire or keep enough mechanics for Air Force One work.) If the 2029 date is correct – why should it be? – that means the new planes won’t be ready until after Trump leaves office, if he does. (Stand by, Proud Boys. By now you know the drill.) Whatever shall we do? If only some oilrich Middle East monarch would come to the rescue –and want nothing in return, Yeah. Enter the Qatari royal family which is giving Trump a used (13-year-old) $400 million plane. “They’re giving us a free jet,” Trump said in May.
“I could say, ‘No, no, no, don’t give (it to) us. I want to pay you a billion or $400 million, or whatever it is,’ or I could say, ‘Thank you very much.’ You know?” Excuse me, Mr. President, it’s about that “free” part. The plane must be hardened against electromagnetic pulse attacks, capable of in-air refueling, and probably have classified defenses against inbound missiles. That and a bathroom with a shower. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated the total cost at $3.2 billion, and the U.S. Air Force’s budget for the program is projected to be nearly $4 billion. Since the cost of the “free” plane is unbudgeted, the service will reallocate money from the $141 billion Sentinel nuclear missile program. Given the time it will take to rebuild, the temporary Air Force One, it will be in action for about one year. But it’s not ours. You see, the plane is not being given to the U.S. government or the American people, but is a personal gift to one Donald J. Trump. When he leaves office the plane goes with him to the
Trump Presidential Library which doesn’t exist.
While we’re at it, on Oct. 11, 1910, President Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., was the first President to fly aboard an airplane, but he was actually a former president by then. No American president flew in an airplane while in office until Franklin D. Roosevelt more than two decades later.
We all remember that 1963 photograph of Lyndon Johnson taking his oath of office beside a blood-splattered Jackie Kennedy in Air Force One. In January 1973, that same plane took Johnson’s body home to Texas after his state funeral in Washington.
On Sept. 11, 2001, the plane scooped up President George W. Bush in Florida, but no one knew where to take him. The situation was chaotic. All planes were grounded in America except four – Air Force One and three escorting fighter jets from the Texas Air National Guard based at Ellington Field in Houston.
One more interesting note: You may have seen the 1997 movie “Air Force One.” The cabin was built to scale as ac-
Twenty thoughts a second
Makenzi Cannon Youth Columnist
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a chronic condition which causes the inability to focus, control impulsivity and is often associated with anxiety. People with this disorder can find it hard to fit into a social group. They are more prone to overwhelming emotions and overstimulation in big crowds or small spaces. Now that we’ve covered the definition, I think it’s only fair to tell you about the reality of how it feels to live with this condition. I was diagnosed with this condition at nine years old and can attest to how quiet yet cruel this monster can be. It’s a daily battle between what you know you want to do – what
you know you need to do – and how much your brain will actually allow you to do.
Many people think ADHD means you’re unable to control your body movements. ADHD isn’t just about fidgeting or blurting things out; it’s an unbridled voice in your head who won’t be held down. You can’t stop it or tune it out. Sometimes the thoughts are unprovoked and random. Other times, they make you feel like an outcast. You may decide you won’t talk at all during lunch one day because you’re already convinced you’ll say the wrong thing. As if that wasn’t enough, the inability
Texas Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 8-10
Community Reports
Texans can save money while supporting local retailers during this year’s annual Sales Tax Holiday, which runs from Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10, 2025.
During this weekend, shoppers can purchase a wide range of school-related items tax-free, whether shopping in-store or online from businesses operating in Texas.
What’s Covered
Most clothing, footwear, backpacks, and school supplies priced under $100 are exempt from sales tax during the event. No exemption certificate is needed for most purchases.
See the full lists of tax-exempt items at comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/ publications/98-490:
• Qualifying Clothing and Footwear
• Qualifying School Supplies
Where and How to Shop
Eligible items can be purchased:
• In Texas stores
• From online retailers or catalogs doing business in Texas
• By phone, mail, or custom order
The key requirement: payment must be processed during the tax-free period, even if the item is delivered later.
For example, if you complete your online purchase before midnight on Sunday, Aug. 10, your item qualifies—even if it ships after the weekend. But if your payment is declined and resubmitted after the deadline, sales tax will apply.
Keep Total Cost in Mind
Tax-free eligibility is based on the final sales price, which includes:
• Shipping and handling fees
• Delivery charges
If these added costs push
an item’s total above $100, the purchase becomes taxable. For example, jeans listed at $95 with a $10 delivery fee are not exempt—the full $105 total would be taxed.
Refunds on Taxed Items
If you’re charged tax by mistake on a qualifying item, ask the retailer for a refund. If they don’t issue one, they can provide you with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund (comptroller.texas. gov/forms/00-985.pdf), which allows you to file directly with the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
For complete details, visit the Texas Sales Tax Holiday webpage at comptroller.texas. gov/taxes/publications/98-490.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Star’s sister paper, The Leader, serving Houston’s near Northwest and The Heights.
to focus is the real cherry on top. It’s reading the same paragraph four times but you still have no clue what it said. ADHD is considered a form of neurodivergence, which means a person has different thought processes than what might be considered normal or “neurotypical”. Many neurotypical individuals may assume someone with ADHD is sloppy or lazy. But imagine trying to read a single sentence while your brain jumps between twenty different thoughts on loop – the music lyrics stuck in your head, the humming noise of the refrigerator, the way your T-shirt
tag is scratching your neck, the strange comment someone made three days ago. That’s not laziness. That’s a battle most people never see. So the next time someone makes a joke about ADHD, or calls somebody “lazy” for forgetting things, remember this: ADHD isn’t always loud or obvious – sometimes it’s silent, exhausting, and invisible. It’s one of the most misunderstood conditions out there, mostly because it’s so easy to overlook. It lives inside of the cracks that are missed calls, left-open tabs, unsent messages, and panic attacks, overdue assignments. But with
curate as the designers could make it. Because of security there weren’t any blueprints or floor plans available, so the designers had to watch CNN to see what the inside looked like. Where is our white elephant now? It was at the San Antonio International Airport on May 2. It has since gone north to Fort Worth Alliance Airport, where several aerospace companies have large facilities for aircraft modifications. But everyone is tight-lipped about the program. They don’t mention the shower. Yet to be fair, in all this talk about our billion-dollar boondoggle there are cost savings. Boeing struck a deal with Trump to adorn the new planes with a “patriotic color scheme” featuring a deep red stripe down the middle of the aircraft and a dark blue underbelly. Plagued by multiple delays and the rising cost of the aircraft, this color scheme was scrapped, and a modernized version of the classic Air Force One design was made public in March 2023. At least they didn’t paint it white. Ashby pays at ashby2@ comcast.net
more understanding, maybe it doesn’t have to be so isolating. Editor’s note: Learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder from the National Institute of Mental Health at nimh.nih.gov/health/ topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd. Cannon is a Ridge Point High School student, class of 2028, a volleyball player, and a member of Jenni’s Rescue. If you are a Fort Bend County high-school-age student (public, private, charter, or homeschool) who might be interested in becoming a Youth Columnist, please send an email to editor@ fortbendstar.com.
while in a somewhat industrial area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Company officials, and the TCEQ representatives, said that under the revised permit application, the plant’s emissions were within permitted amounts that are not harmful to human health.
Months after that oftenraucous hearing last fall – at the end of which Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage vowed to do whatever he could to halt the facility – TCEQ commissioners in January voted unanimously to grant a motion by the county to deny a the company’s permit application and remanded the matter back to the agency’s executive director for further review.
Last week’s hearing on July 29 hearing followed the TCEQ Executive Director Kelly Keel’s decision to put the permit application forward again following the review. The meeting has hosted by Texas Sen. Borris Miles and Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds, who both represent the area. Near
“Ms. Jones’s term of office was to run from her election on May 6, 2023, until the May 2, 2026, election. Ms. Jones’s signed resignation was submitted on May 5, 2025, and it became binding eight days later, on May 13, 2025. Because the 2026 election will take place on May 2, less than a year remained in Ms. Jones’s term when she resigned. Thus, should the Board decide to allow the community to determine the next person to fill Position 5 during the
while you’re flying, and you eat while flying. You spend most of your life flying,” Morris said.
Since flight is essential for her survival, Rivera cannot return to the wild. Swallowtail and Mississippi kites are summer visitors to the region, drawn by seasonal prey like dragonflies, cicadas, lizards, and tree frogs. These raptors are long-distance migrants, spending much of their lives in flight. Swallowtail kite populations have declined, largely due to human activity, and are now mostly found in Florida and parts of the Deep South. What should I do if I find an injured bird?
If residents find an injured wild animal, they should not take it to a regular veterinarian, Morris said. Instead, contact a licensed wildlife hospital. “With the right care, many of these animals can be rehabilitated and returned to the wild,” she said.
Here’s a summary of wildlife rehabilitator options for Fort Bend County:
• Jenna Ross (Sugar Land): Specializes in small mammals, especially squirrels. Call 281- 606-9824 during reasonable hours.
the beginning of the meeting, Reynolds made brief remarks, vowing to work to stop the granting of the permit. He also implored attendees to remain civil, and in fact the hearing was much less raucous, but not less confrontational, than the first.
Darlene Bray of Austinbased Power Engineers, a consulting firm which helped draw up the permit application, said that it met all state requirements for such a facility. She said all of the facility’s crushing equipment would be located 200 feet away from the nearest property line, and at least 440 yards away from any place of worship, school, or residence. All of the figures and diagrams associated with the permit application were available online, she told the audience.
When a member of the audience objected that there were no maps or diagrams of the facility on display at the meeting, Bray was unfazed. “I apologize, I had figured with the public notice being out, I just assumed everybody would have looked up everything online and looked at the application,” she said.
The hearing included an
May 2, 2026, election, the position would be filled within the timeline required by law. In the meantime, Ms. Jones is legally a holdover until a successor is appointed or elected,” the statement read.
“It is important to understand that Board members serve in a unique position. We are not representatives, serving in a representative capacity, but trustees who are entrusted with the education of each and every student in Fort Bend ISD. Each Trustee is, and always has been, committed to serving every FBISD student regardless of where they live or attend school.
• Debbie Rychlik (Needville): Handles small mammals. Call 832-6928911 between 6-9 p.m.
• Wildlife Center of Texas (Houston): Accepts mammals, birds, reptiles, and oiled wildlife. Call 713-861-WILD. You can also reach out to Fort Bend Wildlife Rescue. Visit fortbendwildliferescue.com.
About Wild Bird Adventures
Wild Bird Adventures is a nonprofit wildlife education organization based in Hempstead. Mary Ann Morris began volunteering at the Raptor Trust Bird Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey during high school, where she developed a strong interest in birds, especially owls. After studying wildlife biology in college, she continued working in bird rehabilitation and later ran her own education and rescue center in Montana. In 1999, she moved to Houston to serve as education director at Houston Audubon, a role she held for 24 years. Two years ago, she launched her own bird education center, Wild Bird Adventures. Learn more at wildbirdadventures.org.
Varma is a freelance writer. She can be reached at juhi.varma@gmail.com.
informal question-and-answer session, followed by a comment for formal comments that would be placed on the record for the permit application. The TCEQ executive director will either affirm or deny the permit application no later than 30 days after the end of the filing period, which ended on July 29.
There was no shortage of speakers during either period, and the comments made by members of the public were without exception in opposition to the permit application.
Aside from the concerns about particulate matter, many speakers questioned how much damage to infrastructure would be caused by the concrete trucks that would be going in and out of the facility, which would operate from about an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset each day.
Jincy Jones, who lives in a neighborhood directly abutting the Julepit property line, said she believed her house is the one closest to where ethe concrete-crushing machinery would be located, She said she seriously doubted that the distance was more than the 450 yards prescribed by state regulations.
However, from a residence standpoint, there is currently an even split of trustees on the Board, with three trustees elected who reside on the west side of the district and three trustees elected who reside on the east side of the District.
When Ms. Jones was serving, the Board makeup was three trustees residing on the west side and four trustees residing on the east side,” Tassin’s statement said.
“While the Board is legally allowed to leave the position open until the next election, I plan to ask the Board to revisit the issue of appointment again in the near future. Until
Adetolunbo “Ade” Osinoud, another nearby resident, spoke with her 4-year-old daughter Lisa beside her. Her daughter, she said, has suffered ailments caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which she said could be exacerbated by emissions from the facility.
In addition to the numerous members of the public who spoke against the plant were several public officials, including Prestage, who had vowed to oppose the facility at last year’s hearing.
“”You couldn’t think of a a worse location to put this project,” he said. ‘I do understand that this is southeast Texas. You’re making concrete, and that’s a byproduct of growth. But please make a better decision on your location. Fort Bend County is committed to opposing this project, OK, by any means necessary.
“This is the wrong place. You picked the wrong folks to put this in their backyard,” he said.
He was followed by Fort Bend County County District Attorney Bridgette SmithLawson, who had led the legal efforts to have the original permit application denied. She directly addressed the
then, we will continue to work together to help Dr. Smith and his team continue to make the District the best school district in Texas,” Tassin wrote, referring to Superintendent Marc Smith.
In a new wrinkle in the saga, Jones herself was a speaker at a public hearing of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality concerning a proposed concrete-crushing plant in the Rosharon area on July 29, a day after the Fort Bend ISD board announced its decision to leave her seat vacant. (See the Fort Bend Star’s coverage elsewhere in this issue.)
On June 11, the day after
“The success of our first Richmond stand, which opened in October 2024, was a clear signal that the community was ready for more,” Montgomery said. “This second burger stand location not only helps serve more guests during peak times but also reinforces our long-term commitment to being part of Richmond’s growth story.”
Miracle Wright, a manager at the new location, said the Double Cheeseburger and Crispy Chicken Burger are among the bestsellers so far.
Since opening day, the drive-thru had seen a steady stream of customers eager
Julpit representatives, who sat impassively throughout the hearing.
“You should all be responsive to the community as corporate partners, and to sit here with such an apathetic look is disappointing to me. We understand that there is a need for business in this community, but there is also a need to balance the safety and welfare of our residents,” she said. She added that her office has submitted an 11-page listing of comments in opposition to the new permit, questioning many of the factual assertions in the application.
“There is no clear and accurate and consistent message as to what you are all doing,” she said. “You all need to take a hint, and possibly move your plant on down the road.”
Kristin Tassin, president of the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees and a nearby resident, said she also questioned the company’s assertions, particularly with regards to the distance of the proposed facility’s equipment to the surrounding neighborhoods.
“I am a mother of a child with Down’s Syndrome who has immune issues and this is going to seriously impact her,
the board officially announced its acceptance of her resignation, Jones wrote that she had that day dropped off her district-issued laptop and ID badge and had asked that her name be removed from the district’s website “or anything associated with the district.”
“On to bigger and better,” she wrote.
A search of the district’s website by the Fort Bend Star confirms that, other than some PDFs of legal documents and other such documents, there is no trace of Jones’ name on the website.
But at the TCEQ hearing, Jones – wearing a jacket em-
to get their hands on P. Terry’s burgers, fries, and shakes, Wright said.
P. Terry’s also offers a veggie burger – a blend of brown rice, cremini mushrooms simmered in cream, black beans, oats, onions, cheddar cheese, and fresh parsley. For those avoiding gluten or seeking a lighter option, burgers can be served in a lettuce wrap or bun-less in a clamshell container.
The restaurant is drive-thru and walk-up only; there is no indoor seating.
Staffed by about 45 employees –all local hires – the Aliana location is still looking to expand its team. “The response from the area has been pretty good,” Wright said. “The guests keep coming, and we’re still hiring.”
Founded by Kathy and Patrick Terry
and I have an elderly mother who lives in Southern Colony with asthma issues. She won’t even be able to go outside,” she said.
“The people in this room are not boxes to be checked. They are humans who deserve your consideration. We have over 9,000 children who go to school within a mile of where this facility is going to be built. We have a high school were students are going to be practicing football and baseball outside, and we have two elementary schools who have young children who are going to be playing in playgrounds outside every single day. We know that water does not prevent all of these particles from getting into the air, and no amount is sufficient for us to say it’s OK for children to be breathing,” she said. “This is a residential community, it is not an industrial community. People build their homes here, they raise their families here and I and the board of trustees make decisions to build schools here based on where people’s homes are. We would never have built schools in an area where there is a rock-crushing facility,” she said.
blazoned with the Fort Bend ISD logo – identified herself as a “sitting” member of the board. Approached afterward by reporters, she confirmed that she is a “holdover” trustee, a distinction that she did not make in her public comments. In a phone interview, Tassin confirmed that Jones remains a holdover trustee. As such, she could attend board meetings as a voting member, if she so chose. Jones did not attend Monday’s agenda review meeting. Tassin said she expects to bring up the matter of the vacant position “soon,” but would not provide a specific timeline.
in 2005 in Austin, the burger chain was inspired by Patrick’s nostalgia for the small-town burger joints of his childhood.
“This is our third store in this area,” said Patrick Terry in a statement. “I want everyone in Houston to know that right now we are concentrating on the west side of the city and we are heading central. You just gotta give us a little more time.”
P. Terry’s now operates more than 35 locations across Texas. Its next outpost – Stand #38 – is already under construction and slated to open at 20103 Bridgeland Creek Parkway in Cypress. Learn more at pterrys.com. Varma is a freelance writer. She can be reached at juhi.varma@gmail.com.
Community Reports
RHP Tyler Ivey’s (W, 3-9) 5.0 scoreless innings and Brice Matthews’ two-out RBI double in the seventh lifted the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (14-16, 53-52) to a 2-1 series-finale victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (23-10, 61-47) on Sunday night at Constellation Field.
Ivey worked around a oneout single to post a zero in the top of the first before tossing a scoreless top of the second.
Jesús Bastids led off the bottom of the second with a double, his 30th of the season, but the next three Space Cowboys were retired by RHP Emerson Hancock (L, 1-2), stranding Bastidas.
After Ivey left the bases loaded in the top of the third, Bryan Lavastida lined a leadoff double to right in the bottom half and Kenedy Corona was hit by a pitch, putting two on with nobody out as the lineup flipped over. However, for the second-straight inning, Sugar Land left runners on base as the two sides stayed scoreless through three.
Jacob Hurtubise thumped a one-out triple into the rightfield corner in the fifth, his first triple as a Space Cowboy, and with two gone in the
frame, Jacob Melton pulled an RBI single into right, breaking the deadlock as Sugar Land went ahead, 1-0.
RHP Alimber Santa (H,1) relieved Ivey in the top of the sixth and wiggled out of a two-on one-out jam to keep the Rainiers off the board. Ivey went 5.0 shutout innings, allowing only two hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
The Space Cowboys doubled their lead in the seventh.
Lavastida started the frame with a single, stole second and with two outs in the inning, Matthews blistered an RBI double over the right fielder’s head to extend Sugar Land’s lead to 2-0.
Although Tacoma put two runners in scoring position with nobody out in the top of the eighth, RHP Rhett Kouba (H,1) allowed only one run to score on an RBI groundout, limiting the damage as the Space Cowboys took a 2-1 advantage into ninth.
RHP Tayler Scott (S,2) was summoned from the bullpen for the top of the ninth and stranded a runner on first to secure Sugar Land’s 2-1 win on Sunday.
NOTABLE:
· César Salazar went 1-for-3
on Sunday, extending his onbase streak to nine games with a double, two homers and five runs scored. Salazar is also on a six-game hitting streak.
· Jacob Hurtubise went from home to third on his fifth-inning triple in 11.19 seconds which ranks in the 99th percentile among Major League players. Hurtubise has reached base in five-straight games with the Space Cowboys with two multi-hit games.
· Tyler Ivey went 5.0 innings on Sunday without giving up a run while striking out five batters and allowing only two hits. Sunday marked Ivey’s first five-strikeout outing since May 18 against the Reno Aces when he struck out eight.
· Jacob Melton went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk on Sunday, his third-straight game with an RBI with Sugar Land.
· Bryan Lavastida recorded his first multi-hit game since July 19 against the Salt Lake Bees and has recorded a hit in four of his last five games.
· Brice Matthews drove in the game-winning run on Sunday and has reached in 24 of his last 25 games with Sugar Land. Over that span, Matthews is 34-100 (.340) with seven doubles, three triples, four homers, 16 RBI, and 14 walks.
After a six-game home series against Tacoma, Sugar Land hits the road for a six-game set against the Sacramento River Cats. Games can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at
LEADER PUZZLER SOLUTIONS
Jacob Hurtubise on Sunday went from home to third on his fifth-inning
César Salazar went 1-for-3 on Sunday, extending his on-base streak to nine
a double, two homers and five runs scored. He is pictured here
game.
MISSOURI CITY ROADSHOW
