Fort Bend County hosts soft opening of renovated sports hub in Richmond
Commissioners approve final members of redistricting committee, spar over open government advice
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend County commissioners filled out the composition of its citizens’ redistricting advisory committee last week – but not without getting into another tussle over the redistricting of commissioner precinct lines, this time involving the committee’s adherence to public information and open meetings laws. As with the Texas Legislature’s recent effort to redraw congressional district lines, signed into law last week by Gov. Greg Abbot, the Republican-led Fort Bend effort is occurring in the middle of the decade. Typically, redistricting at the state and local level is done soon after the once-perdecade U.S. Census results are released.
Fort Bend County Republicans have long chafed under the 2021 precinct map which was pushed through by a Democratic majority on the court that then included County Judge KP George. George, who is facing several criminal charges, announced his switch to the Republican Party in June, reversing the court’s partisan balance and giving new impetus to the redistricting effort.
In July, the Republican commissioners – George, Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, and Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales – each named two members to the committee. But the two Democrats – Precinct 2 Commissioner
3
By Juhi Varma CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The steady cluck-cluck of pickleballs echoed through the Fort Bend County Sports Hub in Richmond on an August morning as county leaders gathered for a soft opening of the newly renovated facility.
County Judge KP George, Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales and Fort Bend Parks and Recreation leaders praised the hub as both a recreational outlet and an investment for the community. The Fort Bend County Sports Hub also partners with The Arc of Fort Bend to host Special Olympics practices, ensuring residents of all abilities can take part.
“This is a facility built to serve everyone, regardless of the age or ability,” said George.
The facility has already logged more than 21,000 visits since quietly opening earlier this year for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. The August 22 event was the first official look at recent upgrades, including enhanced wi-fi, online registration and payment options, and a backup generator that will allow the gym to double as an emergency shelter.
“This is going to serve the community very well,” said Morales. “Out of 254 counties, Fort Bend County is one of few that has such a park system that the people enjoy, and this is another community hub that’s going to add to our park system. I believe that going forward, this will become much more popular.”
The Fort Bend County Sports Hub is located at 727 Plantation Drive, across from Bowie Middle School. Built in 2010, the 64,000-square-foot building was for years known as Slater Sports Zone before being repurposed with 2023 parks bond funds.
The hub was especially popular over the summer, when Richmond’s Four Corners YMCA was closed, said Crystal Martinez from Fort Bend Parks and Recreation.
“During the summer, they had a waiting list of people wanting to play pickleball here,” said Morales.
The Fort Bend County Sports Hub does not require
Missouri City address last week.
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Missouri City, after rebounding from a series of setbacks in recent years, is primed to gain a bigger profile in the region without comparing itself to its peer cities, leaders said at the annual State of the City of Missouri City Address last week.
In keeping with recent events, this year’s event at the Missouri City Community Center combined the comedy stylings of Mayor Robin Elackatt and City Manager Angel Jones with a multimedia presentation highlighting city staff and the work of their various departments. The event has had a peripatetic jour -
Ken Fountain
ney in recent years. Previously held at the city-owned Quail Valley City Center, which is still undergoing a massive renovation spurred by last year’s Hurricane Beryl (with reopening expected this fall) it was held last year at the Houston Knayara Catholic Community Center.
Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown-Marshall and At-Large Position 2 Council member Lynn Clouser, both wearing black evening dresses, brought glamour to the proceedings as emcees. After some preliminary marks centered around the city’s new theme of “strengthening the core”, they introduced a video depicting Elackatt,
Photos by Ken Fountain
Missouri City City Manager Angel Jones, left, and Mayor Robin Elackatt take a tag-team approach, with a
Photo by Ken Fountain
Fort Bend County Assistant County Attorney Michelle Turner, foreground left, speaks to Commissioners at their meeting last week.
Missouri City Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown-Marshall, right, and At-Large Position 2 Council member Lynn Clouser emcee the State of Missouri City event.
Contributed photo Gwendolyn Climmons, Assistant Parks Director for Fort Bend Parks and Recreation, left; Crystal Martinez, Parks Recreation Coordinator; and Bert Emanuel Sr., Director of Athletics at Fort Bend Christian Academy, speak at the recent soft opening of the Fort Bend County Sports Hub in Richmond.
Despite Pecko’s six strikeouts, Space Cowboys fall to Albuquerque on Sunday
As of Sunday's game against Albuquerque, Shay
Reports
Community
Although RHP Ethan Pecko posted 5.0 innings, tying a career high, with six strikeouts, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (25-29, 64-65) fell to the Albuquerque Isotopes (23-34, 54-77) 8-1 in their series finale on Sunday night at Constellation Field.
Pecko (L, 0-2) struck out two in the first while stranding a runner in scoring position before tossing a scoreless top half of the second. However, Albuquerque took a 2-0 lead in the third with a two-run homer from Owen Miller. Sugar Land threatened
in the bottom of the third as Taylor Trammell walked and Zach Dezenzo singled up the middle to keep the inning alive and allow Trammell to go firstto-third. However, a groundout left them on.
Pecko responded in the fourth with a 1-2-3 frame and punched out two batters in the top of the fifth as part of a clean inning in his final action of the night. Pecko went 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
The Space Cowboys cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth as Zack Short punished a lead-off homer 403 feet
Community Reports
On September 11 at Constellation Field, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys will host their second Stair Climb to pay tribute to the fallen first responders of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Those participating will be challenged to walk or climb 2,200 steps, the equivalent of 110 stories of the World Trade Center. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m. with a start time of 8
a.m. for first responders after the national anthem. For the public, the Stair Climb will begin at 9 a.m. Additionally, there will be a pause in the climb with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., marking the times when each of the towers were hit in 2001.
The free event will be open for local first responders and the public. Attendees will receive a free voucher to a Space Cowboys game that can be redeemed for September 16, 17
a
to left. RHP JP France entered in the sixth and registered a shutout frame and induced an inning-ending double play in the seventh to keep it a 2-1 game.
Jon Singleton started the home half of the seventh with a double and Short walked, putting two on with nobody out. But the next three Space Cowboy batters were retired as Sugar Land trailed 2-1 heading into the eighth.
Albuquerque loaded the bases in the top of the eighth and scored four runs in the inning to extend their lead to 6-1. The Isotopes tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth and Sugar
Land was held off the board in the bottom half as the Space Cowboys dropped their series finale, 8-1.
NOTABLE:
· With a 1-for-3 game on Sunday, Shay Whitcomb is currently on a 14-game on-base streak with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and eight walks. Whitcomb also extended his hitting streak to eight games and is batting 11-for-30 (.367) over that stretch.
· After a 1-for-4 game with a double, Logan Davidson is currently on a 15-game on-base streak with five doubles, three homers, six RBI, eight walks and eight runs scored.
· With a homer, RBI and a run scored on Sunday, Zack Short went 5-for-15 (.333) with a double, two homers, six RBI and four walks in five games against Albuquerque this series.
· Ethan Pecko went 5.0 innings on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Pecko’s 5.0 innings were his most at Triple A and his six strikeouts tied his season high with Sugar Land.
· Taylor Trammell went 1-for-3 with a double on Sunday and has recorded an extra-base hit in two-straight
games. Trammell is currently on a 10-game on-base streak with Sugar Land. After Sugar Land’s six-game series against Albuquerque, the Space Cowboys were set to continue a 12-game homestand with a six-game set versus the Oklahoma City Comets. 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.
or 18. Those who would like to participate can at gofevo.com/ event/911memorial6.
While the event is open to the public, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundations recommends a training regimen prior to participating in a memorial Stair Climb, ideally no less than 30 days before the climb. More information on training and preparation can be found at firehero.org/ events/9-11-stair-climbs.
File photo by Ken Fountain
On September 11 at Constellation Field, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys will host their second Stair Climb to pay tribute to the fallen first responders of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Photo by Kathy Aung Special to the Star
Whitcomb is on
14-game on-base streak with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and eight walks.
THE TV – “… and the legislator is sleeping in her chair in the Texas House.” Good grief, we are making national news every night, and in an embarrassing way. Yes, all of America is guffawing at the antics of our state government, and us, because of the cowardly, craven behavior of people we elect, empower and –don’t forget – pay to solve our problems. It’s almost enough to change to Oklahoma license plates.
I am not referring to our smog, child health insurance (we place 50th out of 50) or Jimbo Fisher’s $74 million pension, but rather to the circus that is going on in Austin, where a transparent power grab is realigning our congressional districts. This is one for the history books, if they aren’t banned and burned.
We all know the sordid story. Gov. Greg Abbot, who heretofore showed no particular interest in the matter, got a call from President Donald Trump. He said that by redistricting our congres-
MISSOURI FROM PAGE 1
dressed in a racing-car jacket, speeding in a Formula 1 car toward the event while keeping Jones apprised of his progress. The video then cut to Elackatt arriving at the community center in a cityowned golf cart.
That cued Elackatt, still in the bright-red jacket, to take the stage to begins his usual stand-up routine that begins these events. Going with the racing theme, Elackatt launched into a discussion of “how we’re on track to win this race.”
“In Missouri City, our progress is powered by the dedication of every department, each making unique contributions in creating a community that we are all proud to call home,” he said. “We are nurturing what we planted - refining, adjusting, and ensuring every initiative, not only to rise, but to thrive in 2025.”
Harkening back to Hurricane Beryl, 2021’s
REDISTRICT FROM PAGE 1
They messed with Texas
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
sional lines he could pick up maybe five more votes to pad his thin U.S. House majority. What state’s leaders would bow to his demands without a whimper? Texas, of course. Be proud. The buzz phrase for all of this is that voters used to choose their candidates. Now the candidates choose their voters. It was cute the first 100 times I heard it.
Upon command, Gov. Abbott, who had called a special session of the Legislature to deal with the tragedies caused by the Hill Country floods, suddenly put that small matter aside and pushed his minions in the Legislature to redistrict our congressional boundaries. What’s more important: investigating and trying
Winter Storm and other events, Elackatt said, “We have made terrific strides in the midst of natural disaster, and triumphed over a few manmade challenges with our aging infrastructure. But what defines us is not the obstacles themselves, but is how we face them head on,’ he said.
“Together, we have rewritten that story, transforming the perception of our community, proving that Missouri City is, without a question, the place to be,” he said. Elackatt then introduced Jones, the city manager, who he said is a leader “whose approach to service is defined by precision, patience, and purpose. Unlike the highspeech pace of Formula One, her leadership style is steady, deliberate and always focused on the destination.”
Jones told the audience that 2025 represents Missouri City’s “comeback season.”
“Like any great comeback, it’s powered by vision, grit, and a strong, unified team,” she said. “We’ve built a stable
Grady Prestage and Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy –boycotted appointing members in keeping with their disapproval of the entire redistricting effort. They both have said that the effort will leave the county vulnerable to legal challenge.
But after the Republican majority approved the committee’s rules in August, the two Democrats relented and named their respective appointments to the committee. Prestage named Pamiel Gaskin and former Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison, while Dexter named Nicole Roberts and Dora Olivo, a former Democratic Texas state representative and Fort Bend County justice of the peace.
“The fact still remains that the entire basis for this redistricting effort is flawed,” McCoy said in remarks before the votes on the new appointments. “It is an affront to what has been standard course of action and practice in redistricting, which is every 10 years after we have reliable Census data to conduct redistricting. The entire redistricting effort is flawed based on what has been presented.”
McCoy said that since the citizens committee was formed, the commissioners court has received no official updates on its actions, including meeting minutes, except for the rules that the court earlier approved. Michelle Turner, an assistant county attorney, later confirmed that her office has received no information about the committee’s actions, stating they only learned of one meeting held in the Fort Bend County Courthouse because they happened to be in the same building.
“It’s clear that a fight is happening. And we’ve got to go to the rooms where the fight is actually taking place,” McCoy said. He said he supported his and Prestage’s efforts to “get residents in the room to shine light in the darkness.”
This led to a protracted discussion among commissioners, Turner, and County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson on how that office, which is responsible for making sure that county officials adhere to laws like the Texas Open Meetings
to prevent future deaths of little girls or stacking the U.S. House? It’s all a matter of priorities. Have they no shame? Obviously not. You live elsewhere and witness TV news showing the meltdown of the Lone Star State or just watch the pundits and pols go on endlessly about Texas slowly twisting in the wind. So the Texas Dems fled to Chicago, mostly, to avoid the House having a quorum to do business. The Dems have tried this before. It didn’t work then and the exodus didn’t work this time either. The end of the delay was a foregone conclusion and it was a grandstand, attention move, but it did just that: informed the rest of America about the blatant power grab. I guess their only other choice was to impotently sit at their desk and pout when the redistricting vote was announced, although I did like their leader, Rep. Gene Wu. Once back in Austin, it got heavy-handed. The runaways had to sign a permission slip to leave the chamber. What is this? From the school hall monitor? One Dem, Rep. Nicole Collier, refused to
sign and slept in her chair in the House. All the other 49 states had a good laugh. The Gov had state troopers follow the others 24 hours a day to make sure the wayward Dems didn’t bolt back to the Windy City. Now that’s a good use of our law officers. Incidentally, it’s the same in Washington where our FBI, ATF and probably CIA agents are directing traffic in front of the railroad station. Attention drug cartels, terrorists and Mafia lords, the coast is clear.
The odd thing around this entire end-run is that congressional map the GOPers trashed was drawn up by – one guess. After the 2020 Census the ruling elephants gerrymandered the state to favor their congressional candidates. A good way to check on the political choices of Texans is to see how we voted in the 2024 presidential elections when Texas went for Kamala Harris with 42 percent of the vote. Currently our 37 U.S. House members are 25 GOPers and 12 Dems. (One seat is vacant after the death of Sylvester Turner.) Twelve is not 42 percent of 37. Our leg-
team. We’re working handin-hand with our elected officials, and with the community. Together, we’ve overcome challenges, redefined standards, and brought new purpose to service.”
Jones said that “the truth is, not long ago, instability held as back. But hearing a recent sermon reminded me that a setback is a setup for a stronger return. We’re back,
Act and the Texas Public Records Act, should advise the redistricting committee.
Smith-Lawson told the commissioners that the committee, acting as an official body of the county, was required to follow all state laws when it comes to open meetings and public records. Despite the fact that the Commissioners Court appointed an outside law firm, Rogers, Morris & Grover, to advise the committee, it has “no privilege” not to adhere to those laws, she said.
When McCoy moved to amend his motion to add that the County Attorney’s office advise the committee on such laws, and even provide standard training on those laws, George balked, saying he “knew” where the motion was headed, implying that Smith-Lawson’s office sought to act as the official legal advisor to the committee.
With all that was at stake in the redistricting effort, Prestage said, “it would be irresponsible not to authorize appropriate guidance from the County Attorney’s Office to this committee. To let them wing, to do what they want, further discredits the process.”
When George continued to object, Prestage said “there’s a good chance the law has already been broken.” Without proper guidance, he said, the commissioners were asking the committee members to possibly take actions for which they could be found criminally liable.
“You’re going to roll the dice, which is unnecessary and reckless,” Prestage said.
Although George said he would not support McCoy’s motion, Morales told him he believed there would be no harm in allowing the County Attorney’s office to advise the committee on open government laws. In the end, George voted in favor, making passage of the item unanimous.
Efforts by the Fort Bend Star to contact Jacob Lee, George’s appointee to head the committee, for comment for this story were unsuccessful. As of press time on Monday, there were not posted meetings of the committee on the county’s website.
A full video of the meeting can be found at fortbendcountytx.new.swagit.com/ videos/353650fortbendcountytx. new.swagit.com/videos/353.
islature is also lopsided: 220 Republicans to 213 Dems with three seats vacant.
“Fight fire with fire,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said, as he moved to counter the Texas debacle with one of his own: redistrict the Golden State to give its U.S. House delegation five more Dem seats. Of course, California is as bad. In the 2024 presidential elections, 42% of them voted for Trump, but the GOP has only 17 percent of its House members. Now Illinois is thinking of doing the same reshuffle to favor the donkeys while Florida may gerrymander to favor Trump. Gad, where will it stop?
The villains in this farce are many, starting with our Felon in Chief. But he is powerless to dictate which Texans vote for whom. Gov. Abbott is such a toady, bending his knee (pardon the cliché) to a ridiculous and far-fetched command. Ya think he wants to run for something higher?
But here again, our state legislators are free to vote any way they wish. Not a single Republican lawmaker had the guts to say no to this
scam. Hey, you bunch of wussies, don’t dare call yourselves Texans. LBJ and Sam Rayburn would toss you onto well-deserved obscurity. When John F. Kennedy was asked to support a particularly odious fellow Dem, he said, “Sometimes party loyalty asks too much.” Speaking of JFK, in 1956 he wrote “Profiles in Courage” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. One of his heroes in the book was Sam Houston. He was against Secession, but twice refused President Lincoln’s offer to send federal troops to Texas to keep it in the Union. As governor, Sam refused to take the oath of loyalty to the newlyformed Confederate States of America, so he was kicked out of office. Our GOP pols messed with Texas and history will not be kind to them. There was a song many years ago that went: “Don’t ever ask a man if he’s from Texas, ‘cause if he is he’ll tell you right away. Don’t ever ask a man if he’s from Texas, ‘cause if he ain’t he’ll be ashamed to say.” Don’t ask. Ashby votes at ashby2@comcast.net
we’re focused, and ready.” Jones touted the fact that both the city’s fire and police departments have drastically cut back the number of vacancies in their ranks since the pandemic, And Elackatt touted the growth of businesses, large and small alike, much of that spurred by the city’s multimillion-dollar investments along the Texas Parkway/Cartwright corridor.
TEN COMMANDMENTS FROM PAGE 1
the backbone of the Western legal tradition, were crucial to the formation of the United States and are a vital part of the nation’s historical tradition. Critics of the bill point out that neither the Ten Commandments nor any other mention of a specific faith are not found in either the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution, the country’s founding documents.
Several plaintiffs from across the religious spectrum - including Judaism and Christianity - filed suit against 10 Texas school districts to enjoin them from implementing the law, which was set to go into effect this week. On Aug. 28, the federal judge hearing the case issued a ruling denying the district’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit - filed by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. A similar law passed earlier in Louisiana has been struck down by the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals.
One of the 10 school districts enjoined by the ruling – which Paxton is appealing, also at the Fifth Circuit – is Fort Bend ISD, which in a written statement said it will abide by all court rulings.
While numbers of religious adherents by tradition at Fort Bend ISD are difficult to obtain, the district and the entire county are thought to be among the most diverse such entities in the country. According to he Association of Religion Data Archives, of Fort Bend County’s 822,779 residents in 2020, the total adherents of the county’s largest religious groups that year was 350,889, or 42.6%. The major religious traditions represented in the county include evangelical Protestant, mainline Protestant, Catholic, Black Protestant, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints.
The single Fort Bend ISD parent named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit is Dr. Arvind Chandrakantan, a physician who practices at a major institution in the Texas Medical Center. A Hindu, Chandrakantan was born in Chicago and grew up in New Jersey. After graduating from medical school in India, he returned to the United States and has lived
“We’re often compared to other cities,” Jones said. “And while those comparisons are understandable, it’s important to remember every city is unique. Each community has its own landscape, its own challenges, and its own story. Here in Missouri City, we don’t let the perceived success of others intimidate us. Instead, we are focused on maximizing the success of
in Sugar Land for about a decade.
He is raising three children, all of whom attend Fort Bend ISD schools.
In an interview, Chandrakantan told the Fort Bend Star that while growing up in New Jersey during the 1980s, his was one of the few IndianAmerican families in the community. He said he did often experience xenophobia from his peers based on his race and his religion.
“Me and my brothers did face slurs and questions about our religion,” he said. “There were a lot of different misconceptions and stereotypes that were out there that were just not true at all.”
“I stood out like a sore thumb,” he said, “so any perceived difference between me and other children was really exaggerated.”
Chandrakantan said his concerns about the Ten Commandments law can be divided into two categories. One is the role of religion and where it should be taught, and the second is how his children might be harmed by the placement of the placards in their classrooms.
“In my opinion, the role of public schools is to serve and educate all children, regardless of their ethnicity, their creed and their nationality of origin,” he said. “And the role of religious education is to be taught at home and obviously by religions institutions.”
Chandrakantan said he takes his children weekly to a Hindu temple in Sugar Land as “part of my job to inculcate those religious values.”
“I basically don’t see it has the role of the schools to be implicitly or teaching about religion,” which he said the posting of the Ten Commandments, which is associated from Judaism and Christianity, would do.
Chandrakantan said that his specific concern with the Ten Commandments is that some of them are at odds with the major tenets of Hinduism. For instance, he said, the First Commandment refers to there being only one God, whereas in Hinduism there are numerous deities that in modern practice are seen as different aspects of the Divine. Similarly, the Second Commandment forbids adherents from worshipping “graven images” of God. But Chandrakantan noted that Hindus of various sects often pray to statues or other images of the various deities.
our city. “We take every special circumstance, every challenge, every opportunity, and turn it into a showcase of resilience, creativity, and commitment to progress. We’re not just keeping up, we’re carving our own path. And that path reflects strength, spirit, and the values of the people who call Missouri City home,” she said.
Chandrakantan said he is concerned that the placement of the Ten Commandments in classrooms might make his children feel ostracized.
“I think there’s harm because they would feel, ‘OK, we don’t subscribe to this, so therefore do we not belong in this school? Are we not American?’” he said.
“Parents have an option to send their children to parochial schools where religious education is felt to be a formative part of the curriculum,” he said. “When we send our kids to public schools, we do it because we want the education to secular and free of any sort of religious bias. And in this instance, I think placing the Ten Commandments is a very significant form of religious bias.”
“I just want my children and all children in America, regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, or creed to have access to similar education, resources, and mindset within the public education, which all of us fund,” he said. “The goal here is to ensure that equanimity of thought process, ability, and opportunity.”
In a written statement, the Fort Bend ISD administration said it would abide by the judge’s ruling and any future court rulings.
“[The August 28] ruling comes from a lawsuit filed in federal court in San Antonio challenging SB 10’s constitutionality. Because one of the plaintiff families resides in Sugar Land, Fort Bend ISD is one of several school districts that are defendants. SB 10 provides that (1) the Attorney General will defend any lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SB 10, and (2) the State will be responsible for all litigation costs. Because the lawsuit challenges the Legislature’s action and not Fort Bend ISD’s action, the District consented to the Attorney General’s representation. This decision ensures that Fort Bend ISD does not incur any financial impact from this litigation,” the statement reads.
“Fort Bend ISD is bound to follow the law, including statutes passed by the Legislature and court decisions invalidating or enjoining a statute passed by the Legislature. Accordingly, the District will abide by any decisions issued by the judiciary,” it reads.
It is unknown how long an appeal of the judge’s ruling might take.
Photos by Ken Fountain
Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt, sporting a Formula Onestyle jacket, leads off the State of Missouri City address.
Missouri City City Manager Angel Jones takes the stage at the State of Missouri City event.
Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 26
Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate
The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 26 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2025 on September 17, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at 2605 Spring Place Drive, Missouri City, TX 77489. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.
FOR the proposal: Demonica Johnson, Charles Benton, Natasha Wardsworth, Fred Walker Sr. & Toxie Cockrell
AGAINST the proposal: None
PRESENT and not voting: None
ABSENT: None
The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.
NOTICE OF TAX PAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE
If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code.
Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.
The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voterapproval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.
Utility Tax Service, LLC (713) 688-3855
adding administrative office spaces,” said Gwendolyn Climmons, assistant parks director.
membership. Courts can be reserved online for a variety of sports, and players simply check in with their own equipment to use the facility.
“It’s very, very social,” said Katy resident Buu Ong. “You can come here by yourself, and you meet a lot of different people. I’ve been coming for a few weeks, it’s a good that this option that has opened up.”
While the facility is open to the public, renovations are still going on.
“The main renovations are painting, adding more technology for connectivity and
The project also added about 48 new parking spaces, Climmons said. Planned improvements include a walking track around the courts, large monitors, and a coach’s lounge for youth sports organizations.
Climmons said the county hopes to attract a major sponsor, ideally a sports medicine provider, to lease space at the hub and create opportunities for collaboration that would enhance its role as a community sports destination. Varma can be reached at juhi.varma@gmail.com.
Inaugural Space Cowboys 5K/10K set for Sept. 6
Community Reports
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys will host the first Sugar Land Space Cowboys 5K/10K presented by Houston Methodist on Saturday, September 6. Participants are invited to run, walk or jog in the race that will take place on the streets around the home of the Triple-A National Champion Space Cowboys and will conclude with the finish line near home plate at Constellation Field. Registration is open at runsignup.com/ Race/Info/TX/SugarLand/ SUGARLANDSPACECOWBOYS5K10KKIDSDASH. Limited spots available for the event. The race schedule can be found below. 8:00 AM – Kids Dash begins 8:15 AM – 10K begins 8:20 AM – 5K begins
Sugar Land Branch Library hosts Arabic chat hour
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will start an “Arabic Chat Hour” – for individuals who are native Arabic speakers and others who are learning the language – on Thursdays, September 4 and 18, from 6-7 p.m., in the Conference Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.
This conversation circle will provide an opportunity for individuals to converse casually in Arabic on a variety of topics, enabling everyone to refresh or improve their Arabic-speaking skills.
This activity is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the Sugar Land Branch Library (281-238-2140) or the library system’s Communications office (281-633-4734).
All participants will receive an official Space Cowboys finisher medal, a high-performance poly tech shirt or tank top, and a commemorative timed-race bib. Participants will also receive one complimentary ticket to a Space Cowboys game for September 6 or 7 with the option to add on additional tickets at a discounted rate. At the conclusion of the race, there will be photo opportunities with Orion, the Astros Shooting Stars and the Commissioners Trophy. The Kids Dash is open to children 12 and under. Strollers are allowed for the Kids Dash with older children racing in the front and strollers racing in the back. Packet pickup will be on Thursday, September 4 at Constellation Field from 9:30 am.-3 p.m... Event Day packet pickup is also available when selected during registration and participants are strongly encouraged to arrive early to find parking and wait in any potential line to receive their packet. Additional details on the race, including course information, parking, volunteer opportunities and more can be found at runsignup.com/ Race/Info/TX/SugarLand/ SUGARLANDSPACECOWBOYS5K10KKIDSDASH.
University Branch Library to host ‘Homemade-Salsa Showdown’
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library invites salsa lovers to put their favorite secret recipes for this popular spicy sauce/condiment to the test at a “HomemadeSalsa Showdown” on Saturday, September 20, from 2-3 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 of the library, 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus. Salsa connoisseurs of all ages and experience levels –from seasoned home chefs to kitchen experimenters – are invited to bring the flavor and earn bragging rights for the best salsa in the county. One lucky winner will be awarded the People’s Choice Award for Best Salsa. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the event by sampling the entries and voting on their favorite flavor for the People’s Choice Award.
Pre-registration for competitors is required. Those wishing to enter their salsa masterpiece at the competition on September 20 should register between September 1-14. Register at the library or online: www.bit.ly/ FBCL_Salsa25.
Rules and Information:
· All entries must include the list of ingredients used. If not available upon registration, the list must be submitted on or before September 20. Entries without a list of ingredients will
not be accepted.
· All salsas must be homemade; no store-bought jars or mixes.
· Any variety is welcome: red, green, fruit-based, spicy, mild, etc.
· A minimum of 2 quarts must be available for public tasting.
· One recipe per competitor. A common ingredient in Mexican-American cuisine, salsa has gained in popularity in the United States since the 1980s. Today’s salsas come in many variations, sometimes combining sweet and spicy ingredients for new flavors and uses. They are known for accompanying and enhancing the flavor of meat or fish dishes, pasta, pizza, baked potatoes, and even desserts such as cheesecake.
Sponsored by the Friends of the University Branch Library and H.E.B., this competition and the taste testing are 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).
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.
Fort
File photo
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will start an “Arabic Chat Hour” on Thursdays, September 4 and 18.
Photo by Popo le Chien / Wikimedia Commons
County Libraries’ University Branch Library invites salsa lovers to put their favorite secret recipes to the test at
Showdown” on Saturday, Sept. 20.
RICHMOND/ROSENBERG ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
Please join us on Thursday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. for our monthly meeting. We will be meeting in Room 105, the Gathering Room, at St. John’s UMC in Richmond. St. John’s is located at 400 Jackson Street. We are looking forward to an open discussion this meeting. Caregivers, please feel free to bring your ideas to discuss with the group. Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. They educate and inform participants about dementia and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. These support groups give caregivers and others impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia a place to connect and share with one another. The Richmond/ Rosenberg Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group is for caregivers only. There are online support groups for people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. You can contact alz.org to learn more about those particular support groups. Questions may be sent to: gallowkj@earthlink.net
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
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.
SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB
Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 832-987-4193, sugarlandrotaryclub5890@gmail.com We just started a new evening club also. Contact me for more info.
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!
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, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281-204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com.
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY
We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281-240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy.org.
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE
Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events.
DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED
Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195.
EXCHANGE
EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial. com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!
MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801
Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.
HOUSTON METHODIST LEADING CARE
• Specialists with innovative treatments and customized programs for all conditions, including cutting-edge orthopedic, cancer and neurological care
• Collaborative teams of experts using the newest technologies and latest research
