Residents of the Arcola/Rosharon area in Fort Bend County are celebrating the recent decision of the state’s environmental regulatory agency to “vacate” the most recent permit application by a Houston company to build and operate a concretecrushing facility - but the two-year-long battle to stop the facility may not be over.
On August 25, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a letter announcing that its executive director had “vacated”, or denied, the most application of Julepit, Inc. to build and operate the facility on an undeveloped property in Rosharon in an unincorporated part of the county. The area abuts the city of Arcola and the Sienna
development in Missouri City.
If constructed, according to the company, the plant would 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.
But nearby residents, along with county officials, in two contentious public meetings (the most recent in July) and in official comments to the TCEQ, argued the plant would emit harmful amounts of so-called particulate matter into the area, which
PAYING RESPECT
By Juhi Varma CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Fort Bend County Veterans Service Office held a “Heroes of Honor Observance” last Thursday to honor first responders and military personnel, while remembering the 2,977 lives lost in New York on September 11, 2001, including 343 firefighters and 60 police officers.
The ceremony took place in the ceremonial courtroom of the Fort Bend County Historic Courthouse in Richmond and drew approximately 100 attendees.
“Until that day, of course after Pearl Harbor, we all thought terrorism and those challenges were overseas,” said Judge KP George. “This isn’t just a ceremony — it’s a promise never to forget.”
The event brought together community members, including many law enforcement and emergency personnel.
Chief Justin Jurek, Fort Bend County fire marshal, served as the guest speaker, offering personal reflections on service and sacrifice.
“As fire marshal, I have the privilege of working alongside some of the bravest individuals I know,” Jurek said. “Every day our firefighters, EMTs, police officers and other first responders wear their uniforms, not for recognition or praise, but because they are called to serve. To all the first responders here today, thank you for your service, dedication and heart. Your daily acts of courage remind us that even in the darkest moments, light can shine through.”
Nearly everyone recalls where they were that day.
“I was on duty at the Sheriff’s Office,” said Deputy Benjamin Freeze. “At that point, I’d been with the Sheriff’s Office for about a year. Didn’t believe it at first.”
“When 9/11 happened, I was headed to a town called Lake Jackson to take my son to a doc -
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, a tragedy that shook America and changed the course of the new millennium.
Community Reports
Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens was named 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) on Friday, Sept. 12, during txEDCON, the annual event hosted by TASB and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The award, which spotlights outstanding education leaders from across Texas, is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year.
“It’s a joy and an honor to represent Lamar CISD as Superintendent of Schools,” Nivens said, “and I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to be named a Texas Superintendent of the Year and join the other distinguished recipients of this award over the past four decades.”
tor’s appointment,” said Lt. Terri Salvo. “I heard it on the radio, can’t remember what station, and I was like, ‘Is this real?’ So, I pulled over on side the road and started making phone calls. And they said, ‘Yes it’s real’.”
Retired Marine Vladimir Illich Hidrovo Alban shared memories of 9/11 from his time stationed in Hawaii.
a
Lamar CISD is currently the fastestgrowing district of its size in Texas and has been designated a hypergrowth district due to the large number of housing starts and new families moving to
experience as an educator, along with his efforts to navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with Lamar CISD’s hypergrowth in recent years, and his student-centered approach to leadership.
“The challenges facing our school districts right now are real,” Nivens said. “Whether
“I was in my home in K ā ne ʻohe and I got a phone call at 4 a.m.; my brother called me asked if I’d heard the news,” said Alvan. “We had a cousin who worked at one of the towers and they were trying frantically to contact him. But my cousin was ok, he was still on the train. Then my unit got activated to secure the Honolulu airport. Then after 72 hours the National Guard took over and I went back to my base.” Alvan was born in
Veterans Roger Pilson, left, Blas Ramirez and Joe Haws, from the American Legion Post
during the 9/11 remembrance event. Photo by Juhi Varma
Rosharon.
Photo by Ken Fountain
while in a somewhat industrial area is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
In January, the TCEQ’s 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. Some time later, the company filed a new permit application, which was the subject of the July public hearing and continued opposition from residents and Fort Bend County Commissioners Court and the office of County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson.
In August, the TCEQ announced that it had vacated the new application, based largely on the fact that it included new proposed uses for the facility, including a “sand pit” that would be used to dump discarded waste from the facility’s operations and a “pugmill,” a piece of machinery that extrudes clay or other materials in a plastic state for industrial processes. The pugmill, in particular, had not been part of the original application and was deemed to be an “incompatible use” for the facility by the TCEQ.
After the announcement, area residents who have been organizing against the facility were ecstatic. Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage - who had vowed at the first public hearing in August 2024 to use whatever tools available to the county to fight against the facility - hosted a celebratory press conference on September 10 at the Precinct 2 Annex building in Sienna.
Among the people in attendance was Thelisa Lavergne, climate justice manager for the advocacy nonprofit Air Alliance Houston and a Fort Bend County resident who lives near the proposed facility. Air Alliance Houston, along with Fort Bend County Environmental, was one of the lead
organizations opposing the facility.
“This is our second goaround, and so we’re just really excited that all of our efforts have panned out,” Lavergne said. “This is a result of the community coming out and saying ‘not in our neighborhood.’
The second win is for our community, for Fort Bend, and taking a stand that we want our area to be a safe and healthy place for residents to live here.”
For Lavergne, the effort to stop the facility is personal. “I have a son who suffers tremendously from upper respiratory issues. And for me, it’s a personal fight so that my grandchildren who live in this area can go outside and play and breathe. I want to leave them a legacy, and that legacy is that they
have every right to live and play in a safe and healthy environment,” she said.
Rep. Ron Reynolds, who represents District 27 in the Texas House of Representatives and is a veteran of that chamber’s Environmental Regulation Committee,” said during the press conference that the recent TCEQ decision is highly unusual, especially in Texas, which is widely regarded as a state that is favorable to industry.
“Those people from Julepit plant, they understood that these are some unique people. These people are diverse, these people speak truth to power and they fight,” Reynolds said. “We’ve already defeated them twice, and we want to send a loud message. If you even think about doing it a third time, then we’re not
going away. We will fight it every step of the way.”
Reynolds said that the company should reconsider and build its facility in another location that is not so heavily populated. Two Fort Bend ISD elementary schools, a megachurch and a planned Fort Bend ISD high school are in the immediate vicinity.
Smith-Lawson, the county attorney whose office led the opposition effort at the TCEQ headquarters in Austin, said that the company, Julepit, had expressed that remanding of the original permit application in January was “a victory on a technicality”
“But my office is prepared to explore every angle that we can to ensure the protection of Fort Bend County residents. And we are proud to stand here today on another
victory wherein the executive director has voided the last application that Julepit has filed,” she said.
“We truly believe that protecting people over politics is what we are called to do, and this is exactly what this action is about. Sienna, Arcola, the schools, the churches near the Julepit site are comprised of people of all different backgrounds, all different political affiliations, every cross-section that you can think of. We signed on for the protection of everyone, and we’ll do it again. If they file again, we’ll be ready again,” she said.
Smith-Lawson said that her office is next going to Austin to argue against another pending permit application, this one of the proposed Verti-Crete concrete batch plant in Mis -
souri City, which also is in a residential area that includes schools and churches. A hearing in that case is set for October 8.
Questioned by a reporter, Smith-Lawson noted that the county government has no zoning regulations or other means other than litigation to prevent the Julepit plant from being built. She said that there are several other such facilities “sprinkled” throughout unincorporated areas the county, although she could not provide an exact number.
Prestage noted that Julepit could remove the “pugmill’ part of its application and file again, but that county officials were prepared to continue to oppose it. He even entertained the idea that Fort Bend County might use eminent domain to acquire the property.
“One reality is that if Houston and this region is going to continue to grow, it’s going to require concrete. That’s just a fact of life. The highest and best use for this piece of land was not a rockcrushing facility or a sand pit or a pugmill,” he said.
“We’re going to use everything in our toolbox to fight this. Every tool, even if it means taking that site, so they can’t do it there,” he said.
Prestage noted that the fast-growing Fort Bend County has a need for concrete, and facilities like the proposed Julepit concrete-crushing plant are an inevitable byproduct of that growth.
“We have communities that are growing right now. There’s so much planning activity going on out there, there are houses going up, there are families being established there. Ten years ago, much of this land was vacant. Now you’ve got thousands of people there. It’s a different community, and it’s just getting started. We can’t let this type of facility kill this great community before it gets going,” he said.
Efforts by the Fort Bend Star seeking comment by Julepit representatives were unsuccessful.
with a job as a Rosenberg dispatcher. He’d been asleep after a night shift when the news broke.
“I was sleeping when everybody started calling me and saying, ‘hey, wake up and see what’s going on’,” Jurek said. “People were in shock. There were so many places closing that day, because of not knowing what
was to come. In the nation as a whole, things were just kind of tightening up, and security had become a lot tighter than normal.”
The program featured a moment of silence, a presentation of colors, and concluded with a musical tribute, offering the community a time of unity and remembrance.
In a message to Fort Bend County, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn reflected on the 24th anniversary of 9/11, calling
the attacks the most destructive act of terrorism in the nation’s history. He praised the bravery of first responders and ordinary citizens and emphasized America’s resilience in the face of adversity. Cornyn urged Texans to mark the National Day of Service by volunteering in their communities, turning a day of sorrow into one of unity and remembrance.
Varma can be reached at juhi.varma@gmail.com.
County officials and employees mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11 during the “Heroes of Honor Observance” at the Fort Bend County Historic Courthouse. Photo by Juhi Varma
Fort Bend County County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, at podium, flanked by officials and residents, speaks at a press conference celebrating the vacating of a permit application for a concrete-crushing facility. Photo by Ken Fountain
Do you know the Ten Commandments? Nine?
Maybe half? Texas public school children will learn all of them because our beloved Texas Legislature has ordered that the Commandments be posted in every classroom, right along there with instructions on where to hang their flak jackets and where to put pails to catch the drippings from the classroom ceilings because the funds to fix the school’s roof have been given to private schools. There will also be exercise and nutrition courses. The exercises will be done by their fingers and thumbs except for those killjoy districts that prohibit cell phones in schools.
Yes, as of the first of September all sorts of new rules kicked into effect, ordered by our lawmakers, which will change the way we live, work and vote. Let’s start with those Top 10. In addition to posting the Commandments, another law requires public schools to provide students and staff with a daily period to participate in prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text. Eleven school districts (including Fort Bend ISD) have sued to block the orders so
EDITORIAL
Loose change in Austin
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
the entire matter is on hold. Maybe or maybe not. Attorney General Ken Paxton is urging all students to observe prayer time and use it to recite or study the Lord’s Prayer from the King James Version of the Bible.
Now, Ken Paxton giving advice on religions would be about as ridiculous as appointing Robert Kennedy, Jr. in charge of America’s health. Won’t happen. By the way, if any of our legislators needed to get up to speed on our todo (or not-do) list, just look outside. There on the Capitol grounds is a big copy of the Ten Commandments. The first reads: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Take off your MAGA cap. The legislators have already passed Gov. Greg Abbott’s peculiar obsession: charter schools.
Public school districts (what about charter schools?) are now required to pull books with “indecent,” “profane” or “sexually explicit” content from school libraries, and grants elected board members the power to block purchases of books they don’t like. Democrats called the bill a distraction from “real” problems facing Texas children, such as shortages of both teachers and armed guards.
A new law bans DEI – diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives – in public school hiring and training. We must suspect the next step is to order first-grade teachers to ban the letters DEI from the alphabet. If you want your kid to learn about the birds and the bees, you have to step forward and say so.
Parents now have to opt their children into family planning and sexual education courses. Considering that Texas has a teenage pregnancy rate of 32.4 births per thousand, tied for seventh most in the nation, let the kids learn about sex the American way: cable porn.
Your favorite Chinese or Russian restaurant may not be there soon. A new law bans certain countries in -
cluding China and Russia from purchasing land of any kind, including residential property. The ban does not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, but does include those in the country on student or work visas. Order a plate of enchiladas and a glass of margaritas NOW! Our lawmakers approved a plan to replace the unpopular STAAR exam with three shorter tests spread throughout the school year. The change was ordered after one legislator pointed out that “we’re not the Lone Staar State.” They also spent more time and pontificating on abortions and transgender people, which have been around since there were people. Why now do we pay our various lawmakers to constantly make laws controlling them? It’s not like there are more important matters. It is a historical fact: In 1776, Jefferson to Franklin: “This ‘We the people’ line. Should it be changed to ‘We the straight people’ or maybe ‘We the white, Anglo-Saxon, totally male people?’” Franklin: “Dude, last winter our army almost froze to death. The Redcoats are sacking Boston and if they catch us, we’ll be hanging from an elm tree.
Let’s do what we were sent here to do.”
Gov. Abbott signed into law a direct prescription from the Oval Office and MAHA, including requiring warning labels on food products containing certain chemicals. We know our strong-willed, independent governor did as he was told: Dr. Robert Kennedy, Jr. was standing right above Abbott, pulling the puppet strings.
Not all laws are permanent.
For years the Texas Penal Code said killing a person caught having sex with your spouse may have been legally “justifiable.” That was not erased until 1971. The governor used to have specific powers to call out the troops to chase Mexican bandits and marauding Indians. The Guv lost that authority in 1999.
Yes, indeed, in 1999.
For several years I covered the Leg’s sessions. House Speaker Gib Lewis addressed a group of wheelchair-bound Texans watching from the House gallery. Lewis ended with, “Now stand and take a bow.” I was in the Texas Senate when Sen. Walter “Mad Dog” Mengden of Houston proclaimed, “And that is the problem, if there is
a problem, which I deny.” One Texas lawmaker introduced a resolution praising Albert DeSalvo for his “efforts with population control.” Only after the resolution passed unanimously did the legislators realize they were praising the Boston Strangler. Earlier this year the legislators also passed a $338 billion two-year state budget. The first matter the legislature dealt with in the special session was fixing the raging and terrible Hill Country flooding to make sure such a tragedy never happened again. Then there was school financing, crime, pollution, how many billions to spend on rubber duckies in the Rio. No. Wait. Dream on. The Republicancontrolled Texas Legislature’s first priority was to redesign their very own congressional district map as per instructions from the First Felon. Gideon John Tucke, a newspaper editor and politician, wrote in 1866, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” And Texas keeps getting more of them.
Ashby is filibustering at ashby2@comcast.net
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15
By Juhi Vara CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Latino culture in the United States, running from September 15 through October 15. The observance highlights the many contributions made by Hispanic Americans – from those who served in the military as far back as the Civil War to modern-day figures advancing science, art, and culture. Texas has the secondlargest Latino population in the U.S., behind California.
Houston alone is home to over 1 million Latinos, making it one of the country’s most vibrant Latino cities. Every year, the region and Fort Bend County celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of vibrant events.
Stafford got an early start this year. On Saturday, September 6, the City of Stafford, SMSD, and the Hispanic Heritage Alliance hosted the 2nd Annual Fiesta at the Plaza, featuring Tejano and Mariachi music, a variety of food trucks, diverse vendors, a horse show, Azteca dancers, and family-friendly games.
Here’s a look at some of the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month events across Fort Bend County. The Cinco Ranch Branch Library will screen the biographical drama "Selena" on Friday, September 19, from 2–4 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. The film follows the career and tragic death of Tejano superstar and Texas native Selena as she rose to mainstream success. The screening is free and open to the public, courtesy of the Friends of the Cinco Ranch Branch Library. "Selena" will also be shown on September 22 at the Mission Bend Branch Library from 6-8 p.m. For more information, call 281-395-1311.
The 3rd Annual Tiempo de Celebrar, hosted by the Fort Bend Museum, takes place on Saturday, September 20 from 6- 8:30 p.m. on the museum’s Moore Home lawn in Richmond. This bilingual, family friendly event features community-curated art and history exhibits, live mariachi performances, a sunset con-
Year nomination originated with the Board, which has itself been celebrating an award-winning year, having been named winning school board in the 23rd annual HE-B Excellence in Education Awards in May.
In congratulating Nivens on his statewide Superintendent of the Year win, Lamar CISD Board of Trustees President Jacci Hotzel emphasized the working partnership between the superintendent and the board as one key to the district’s “culture of excellence”.
“As I said this summer after he won the regional award, Dr. Nivens is a true
cert, and food vendors. The event is free and wheelchair accessible. Find more information at fortbendmuseum. org/tiempo-de-celebrar.html.
A bilingual art class, hosted by the First Colony Branch Library, will take place on Saturday, September 20 from 10:30–11:30 a.m. in the library’s meeting room. Geared for children in grades 1–8, the program combines painting with Spanish language learning in a fun and interactive setting. An artist will guide students in creating a work of art celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Seating is limited and offered on a first-come, firstserved basis.
The Missouri City Branch Library will screen Disney Pixar’s "Coco" on Saturday, September 20 from 1:30–4 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. The film highlights themes of music, heritage, and family bonds, and includes a take-home craft for families to enjoy together.
servant-leader, dedicated to student success, and he’s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the work to make it happen,” Hotzel said. “He also goes out of his way to listen and get feedback, whether it’s from trustees, parents, community members, teachers and staff, and our students. He’s strong enough to lead, and humble enough to know he can’t go it alone.” Nivens has served as the superintendent of Lamar CISD since 2021 and has more than three decades of experience in education. Before joining the district, he served as superintendent of Community ISD, a rapidly growing district in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Earlier in his career in Dallas ISD and Lancaster
Snacks and craft supplies are provided by the Friends of the Missouri City Branch Library, and the event is free and open to the public.
The Sienna Branch Library will host a special Hispanic Heritage Month Art Class with Listo Translating Services & More on Saturday, September 20, from 2–3 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. Designed for ages 14 and up, the class offers a way to celebrate by combining painting with Spanish language learning. Participants will create a Sugar Skull Cat painting. Registration is required; space is limited. The program is made possible by the Friends of the Sienna Branch Library.
The First Colony Branch Library will host a DIY flower wreaths workshop on Saturday, September 20 from 2–3:30 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. Open to teens and adults, the program will teach participants to make colorful wreaths using traditional Mexican paper flowers.
ISD, he held roles as an assistant superintendent, principal, teacher, and coach, developing a track record of improving student outcomes and building collaborative teams. His honors include Region 10 Superintendent of the Year and being named National Superintendent of the Year by the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE). He was also named the 2022 Latino Serving Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS). In 2024, he was elected vice president of the Texas Association of School Administrators.
“This year in our district, we’re celebrating the theme
Registration is required, and space is limited.
The Missouri City Branch Library will present The Spicy History & Tasting Stations on Wednesday, September 24 from 7–8 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. This adult workshop explores the cultural role of spices in Hispanic cooking, giving participants the chance to learn about common spices, sample spiced and herbed snacks, and even take home a small sample. The event is free and open to the public. The Sugar Land Branch Library will host a Papel Picado workshop on Monday, September 29, from 4–5 p.m. in the library’s conference room. Designed for teens, the program introduces the cultural significance of papel picado in Hispanic celebrations and gives participants the chance to create their own intricate paper-cut designs. Registration is required, and space is limited. Visit fortbendlibraries.gov/events/month.
‘We Are Lamar CISD.’ It’s a statement of pride in our work and who we are, but also a recognition that it takes all of us, working together and bringing an elite mindset every day, to be successful as a district,” Nivens said. “We shine brighter together. I’m here because I have such a great team of trustees that I get to work with. I’m here because we have amazing teachers and staff members across our district who speak life into our young people every day. I’m grateful to all of them for their passion and dedication to student outcomes, and I’m blessed to be able to represent Lamar CISD and accept this award, on behalf of our entire district.”
Joe Longoria and Maria 'Curly' Alvarado were honored with the 2025 Hispanic Trailblazers awards during the September 3 Stafford City Council meeting. Mayor Ken Mathew
the City of Stafford and Stafford Municipal School District. Courtesy City of Stafford
New collaborative launched to fight child abuse in Fort Bend
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTIAN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Officials gathered in a meeting room of the Sugar Land Marriott last week to officially announce the launch of the Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative (CAPC), a partnership of agencies across a range of fields meant to provide information and resources to help prevent the scourge of child abuse.
The initiative, which is spearheaded by Child Advocates of Fort Bend, was announced in conjunction with the nonprofit agency’s annual fundraising luncheon. Ruth Ann Medford, the nonprofit’s chief executive officer, had earlier given a “soft opening” of sorts in an op-ed piece that ran in several media outlets, including the Fort Bend Star.
The collaborative made up of more than 40 agencies across Fort Bend County. Among them: Fort Bend ISD, Lamar CISD, Stafford MSD, Catholic Charities, Depelchin Children’s Center, Fort Bend County Women’s Center, CrimeStoppers, Access Health, University of Texas Health, UT McGovern School, Aid to Domestic Victims of Violence, YMCA Fort Bend, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Fort Bend Behavioral Health Services, Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office, Fort Bend District Attorney’s Anti-Trafficking Collective, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Sugar Land Police
Department, Unbound Now, The Landing, Attack Poverty, The George Foundation and The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation.
The latter two provided a combined $240,000 to fund the collaborative for its first two years, according to Medford.
The collaborative has launched a website, www. capcfb.org, which provides more than 1,600 resources for people of all backgrounds to learn about the signs of child abuse and to take steps toward intervention and prevention.
“[Child abuse] affects children from all of our neighborhoods, all income levels, all races, all ethnicities, and all ages. It’s now time to turn our attention to the prevention of child abuse, because research shows that 70% of abuse is preventable,” Medford said.
“At the heart of CAPC is a simple but powerful idea: that prevention starts with awareness, education, and collaboration. For too long, child abuse has been a silent crisis, hidden behind closed doors, misunderstood and underreported. In Fort Bend, we are changing that narrative,” she said.
Medford said the new collaborative, through its website and the training it will provide throughout the respective entities will empower adults to recognize the warning signs of abuse, of various types, equip children with courage to speak up, and provide resources to families.
The collaborative has five components, Medford said. They are collaboration; research; the new website,; education at physical locations like schools, daycare centers, and medical clinics; and a newly launched safety campaign titled “You Have the Power.”
The agencies have committed to monthly meetings where representatives will hear from experts in the fields of child abuse prevention and share best practices, Medford said. Among the goals, she said, was dispelling many of the myths about child abuse, such as “stranger danger,” the false idea that most child abuse is committed by people unknown to the child.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurtured environment free of harm,” said Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, who worked with Medford in forming the collaborative.
“Together we are making child abuse prevention as shared responsibility.
Medford and McCoy emphasized that the initiative is the first such countywide collaborative in Texas, and will serve as a model for both the state and the nation.
“Child abuse too often hides in the shadows. It is misunderstood, it is underreported, and left behind closed doors. But here in Fort Bend, we are changing that story,” McCoy said.
“This is personal because
I am the survivor of childhood sexual abuse,” he said.
“Had a collaborative like this existed when I was a child, I might have had the tools to tell someone sooner. I might have had the resources to know that this was not my fault, what was happening to me.”
Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton said the collaborative would help law enforcement by encouraging more people to speak out.
“Wouldn’t it be great to live in a community that didn’t need a child abuse division? That didn’t have to have a group of detectives dedicated
to child abuse investigations?
That should be our objective, and CAPC is a step in that direction,” Middleton said.
“We depend on community policing. We depend on community members to report crime. If you see something, say something. Get education on what different indications or traits of child abuse look like. We are dependent, and are stronger when you report those to law enforcement,” he said.
“As you’re in the community, whether you’re an educator, a coach, or someone in a position of authority, or even a
person working in a restaurant, and you see something that’s strange, don’t remain silent. If you see something, say something,” he said.
Sheriff Ed Fagan reiterated the point.
“This is a silent crime. This hides in the shadows,” he said. We need you to be their voices. Please report it to us, so we can look into it. You can be their voice. You can be their angel. And most important, you can save their lives,” he said. Learn more about the new Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative at www.cafb.org.
Cullinan Park to host two Houston Bird Week events on Sept. 21
Sugar Land’s Cullinan Park will host two events this weekend that are part of Houston Audubon’s annual Bird Week celebration.
Houston Bird Week, which this year is being held September 20-27, is a celebration of the important role the greater Houston area plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of resident birds.
Houston Bird Week was started in 2019 by Houston Audubon’s inaugural Young Professionals Advisory Council to commemorate Houston Audubon’s 50th anniversary. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of virtual and in-person events centered around the region’s birds and wildlife – from
birding opportunities and watch parties to trivia contests, movie night, and more.
On Sunday, September 21, from 8-9:30 a.m. there will be a guided bird hike at Cullinan Park, 12414 Highway 6, Sugar Land. Expert birders will lead the walk at the top birding hotspot in Sugar Land, where 267 species of birds have been observed. This is a great learning experience and fun for birders of all abilities. Bring binoculars and/or camera and water. Dress for the weather and wear waterproof walking shoes. Attendees will meet in the parking lot of the park. This event is child-friendly and ADA accessible. From 10-11 a.m., there will be a Family Birding Fun event
at the park. People of all ages are welcome to learn about the birds of Sugar Land and how to get started as a birdwatcher. Attendees will take part in scavenger hunts and then travel across the boardwalk over White Lake to search for birds. Bring binoculars or a camera if you have them, but if you don’t, you can share the spotting scope or even practice identifying birds by sound. The event is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly except for an optional trip up the stairs of an observation tower. Again, attendees will meet in the parking lot. For more information on all Houston Bird Week events and to register, visit houstonaudubon.org/ programs/birdweek/birdweek.html.
Ruth Ann Medford, CEO of Child Advocates of Fort Bend, is joined by Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy, District Attorney Brian Middleton, and Sheriff Eric Fagan to announce the county’s new Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative. Photo by Ken Fountain
Sugar Land’s Cullinan Park will host two Houston Bird Week events on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Courtesy Houston Audubon
Missouri City leaders, community gather to raise awareness for suicide prevention
By Juhi Varma CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt, members of City Council, and county and city officials joined community members in a September 10 ceremony that combined prayer, reflection, and unity to honor loved ones lost to suicide.
“Mental health and suicide and all of this is new to some of us, but it’s progressing in our community,” Elackatt said. “It’s progressing everywhere we see because we need education. We need to give these kids an opportunity to understand what’s going on, and also educate parents as well.”
Pastor David Sincere of Fort Bend Transformation Church said people should keep close eye on family, friends, coworkers, and others to identify signs of emotional distress.
Mood swings and changes in behavior can indicate underlying emotional struggles that may require help, he said.
“You don’t have to bear that burden alone,” he said. “Missouri City is a great community with a lot of great people, great spiritual leaders that are ready to step up and help.”
Dr. Barbara Edwards, mental health program manager for Fort Bend County Health
and Human Services, reported that 37% of Fort Bend residents experienced at least one mentally unhealthy day in the past month, and 46% indicated that mental health has been a concern in their household either within the past month or over the past year.
Law enforcement officers acknowledged that suicide is a significant concern in their field, often occurring more frequently than lineof-duty deaths and affecting officers both professionally and personally.
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a specialized 15-member unit within the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office to help individuals experiencing mental health crises.
CIT members also provide training to other first responders across the county on recognizing and responding to mental illness. The federally funded unit operates under the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations command, led by Lt. Jerome Ellis.
“I would like to impress upon you that CIT is more than strategy,” Ellis said.
“It is a commitment. There’s nothing that I can do alone, or that you can do alone, or that that person can do alone. We must come together and create outcomes that bring people out of a dark hole, outcomes that
help families to understand what the next steps may be, outcomes that put new governmental agencies together in the same room to help make tough decisions.”
434th District Court Judge Christian Becerra, who serves as vice president of Fort Bend Mental Health, recounted a case involving a family whose 12-year-old daughter died by suicide last year. On that day, the parents were confined to their living room for five and half hours while authorities treated the home as a crime scene, and their older daughter, who had been out with a friend, was not allowed to enter the house.
“(The other daughter) continued to try coming in, but they threatened her with an arrest,” Becerra said. “Just one mistake after another. And if the family had just picked up the phone and called Lt. Ellis, things would have been totally different.”
The incident occurred a week before the start of the school year. The school principal chose not to make any announcements to avoid upsetting other students, Becerra said. The situation worsened a few months later, when the parents received a call from a school official they hadn’t spoken to before, asking why their daughter had not been attending classes.
“I tell you this because I want you to understand that our children are vulnerable,” Becerra said. “They’re going through times right now, stressful times, and having to deal with issues that we could never comprehend as parents, and we have to do more.”
The meeting concluded with a call to action to break the stigma and support mental health initiatives. Each September, mental health organizations and advocates across the United States observe National Suicide Prevention Month, working to raise awareness and promote resources that can help save lives. Throughout the month, prevention groups, survivors, allies, and community members come together to highlight the
Space Cowboys launch five homes in victory over Round Rock
Community Reports
ROUND ROCK – A five home run barrage powered the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (32-36, 71-72) to a 10-2 win in their series finale against the Round Rock Express (40-29, 74-70) on Sunday afternoon at Dell Diamond. Jacob Melton started the longball parade in the first inning with a 417-foot, two-run homer to right, putting the Space Cowboys up 2-0 after four batters. Round Rock was able to tie the game in the bottom of the first on a two-out base hit, but RHP Jose Fleury (W, 2-1) stranded a pair to keep the contest tied. Edwin Díaz cracked a two-out single to left in the second and Kenedy Corona followed with a base hit of his own, turning the lineup back over to Brice Matthews, who launched a goahead three run homer to left, his 15th of the season, putting Sugar Land up, 5-2. The Space Cowboys added another run in the third off RHP Trey Supak (L, 3-2) when Shay Whitcomb reached on an error and scored on an infield single by Jon Singleton.
In the top of the fourth, Corona collected his second hit with a single, and Matthews followed with his second home run of the day, pushing the Space Cowboys to an 8-2 advantage.
A pair of solo homers by Díaz in the seventh and ninth gave the Space Cowboys double-digit runs, expanding their lead to 10-2. Fleury did not allow a hit after the first inning, sidestepping five total walks and striking out three over 5.0 innings of work. He handed the ball to RHP Hudson Leach in the sixth, who struck out one in a scoreless sixth. RHP Michael Knorr, RHP Rhett Kouba and RHP Matt Bowman all contributed scoreless innings of relief in the seventh, eighth and ninth respectively to close out the 10-2 win.
NOTABLE:
· Brice Matthews compiled his fourth career multi-homer game on Sunday and his third career multihomer game in the Minor Leagues. He also tied a career high with five RBI in a game for the second time in the week after going 2-for-3 with a grand slam on Wednesday night in Game Two of the Space Cowboys doubleheader.
· Edwin Díaz homered in the seventh and ninth inning, giving him his first multi-homer game of the season and his first in affiliated baseball since August 3, 2022 with the Corpus Christi Hooks against the Springfield Cardinals at Whataburger Field.
· Sugar Land tied a single-game
season high with five home runs on Sunday. The Space Cowboys had previously hit five homers on May 28 at Albuquerque when Shay Whitcomb hit three home runs while Brice Matthews and Collin Price each contributed singular home runs. It ties the most home runs hit in a single game at Dell Diamond for Sugar Land, when the Space Cowboys connected for five homers on June 15, 2022.
· Dating back to August 27, the Space Cowboys have now homered in 16 of their last 19 games, launching 30 total homers in that span. Their 30 homers are the most in Minor League Baseball over that stretch.
· Jose Fleury turned in 5.0 innings and allowed just two runs on two hits. Over his last six appearances, Fleury is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA, allowing 10 runs in 28.1 innings with 24 strikeouts and a .192 batting average against.
After an off day on Monday, the Space Cowboys were set to return to Constellation Field on Tuesday night to begin their final series of the season as they host the El Paso Chihuahuas.
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.
Brice Matthews compiled his fourth career multi-homer game on Sunday and his third career multi-homer game in the Minor Leagues. Courtesy Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Missouri City leaders and residents gathered outside City Hall on September 10 to observe Suicide Prevention Month with a proclamation and prayer vigil. Courtesy City of Missouri City
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
LEARN ABOUT COMPANION GARDENING
AT SUGAR LAND BRANCH LIBRARY
Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will host a special program for gardeners on “Companion Gardening” on Saturday, September 13, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.
Fort Bend County Master Gardener Lauren Martin will talk about the strategy of growing different plants together for mutual benefits, such as pest control, pollination, and improved nutrients and soil chemistry. Companion gardening can also improve a plant’s resilience and productivity by creating a supportive environment.
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 Sugar Land Branch Library (281-238-2140) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
LEARN ABOUT NATIVE BEES AND GARDENING AT UNIVERSITY BRANCH LIBRARY
In recognition of National Honey Month, Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library will present a program on “Native Bees in Your Garden” on Saturday, September 13, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, in Meeting Room 2 of the library, located at 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus.
Fort Bend County Master Gardener Nancy Shafer will talk about the importance of native bees and other pollinators to the ecosystem. Hear fascinating facts about bees, such as the difference between solitary bees and social bees or why bees do not really want to sting people.
Shafer will also talk about the life cycle of bees, how they make their homes, and ways to make a garden inviting to bees. Hear about plants and other garden features that can encourage bees and other pollinators to happily co-exist with their human hosts.
Shafer has been a Master Gardener since 2004, and she has a degree in Biology/Health for secondary education. 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).
ONGOING
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 web-
