CONTESTED POLITICAL RACES IN THE FORT BEND REPUBLICAN & DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES ON MAY 29, 2012 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
State Rep. District #26 (4 Candidates)
District Judge 387th (2 Candidates)
County Commissioner, Pct. 1 (3 Candidates)
FBISD ELECTIONS - May 12
CITY COUNCIL RACES - May 12
U.S. Rep. District #22 (2 Candidates)
H Jacquie Chaumette
H Brenda Mullinix
Justice of Peace Pct. 1, Place 1 (2 Candidates)
Fort Bend ISD Board of
Sugar Land City Council (3 Candidates)
H Barbara J. Carlson
H Diana Miller H Rick Miller
Sheriff (4 Candidates)
Constable, Pct. 2 (2 Candidates)
Trustee Position 6 (6 Candidates)
H Naomi Lam
H Pete Olson
State Rep. District #85 (2 Candidates)
H John Minchew H Troy Nehls
H Daryl Smith
H Jenny Bailey
H Hemish Gandhi
See DAILY news updates: www.FortBendStar.com
Meet
Barbara J. Carlson
US Congressional Dist. 22 Candidate
The Fort Bend / Southwest
STAR
4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 300, Stafford, Texas 77477 E-Mail: starnews@fortbendstar.com • Website: www.fortbendstar.com Office: 281-690-4200 • Fax: 281-690-4250 • TOLL FREE 1-888-430-7478
Please join us at these exciting upcoming Forums, with keynote speaker, Barbara J. Carlson, our U.S. District 22 Republican Conservative Constitutional Candidate. Wednesday, April 25th - 6:30 pm New Territory’s Clubhouse keynote by Barbara J. Carlson and a Constable 4 Forum/Debate.
April 29th - Meet and Greet - 5:30-7:30 pm Hosted by Angela Hu - City Plaza at Town Square 2299 Lone Star (across from Chipolte Mexican Grill). May 1st - School Board Forum at Missouri City Community Center - 6:30 pm 1622 Texas Parkway, Missouri City
www.Carlson22.com Political Advertising paid for by Barbara Carlson for US Congress Committee.
Family Owned and Locally Operated • An Official Fort Bend County Newspaper
Volume XXXIV • No. 36
Candy Land Gala is May 5
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Imperial Apartments get final okay by Sugar Land By Betsy Dolan
A handful of concerned residents made one last attempt to try and change the minds of Sugar Land's City Council in regard to a controversial plan to put 325 apartments on the old Imperial Sugar refinery property in Sugar Land's historic district. Despite the opposition, the council voted unanimously
to approve the General Plan amendment and Planned Development zoning on the second and final reading for the Imperial Development Project at their regular meeting on April 17. "I'm extremely disappointed", said Mikie Groscurth, who lives in the historic district and is a member of the Imperial Redevelopment Committee
(IRC), who opposes the project. "I feel like our group has been accused of being negative for this development and that just isn’t true. I do not support the apartments but I do support this project." Leon Anhaiser, who worked at the Imperial Sugar refinery and has been one of the IRC's most APARTMENT, continued on page 14
Time for the Skeeters to “play ball” at Constellation Field The Gala, which benefits Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s programs for children whose lives have been torn apart by abuse and neglect, will take place May 5 at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. The gala provides several opportunities to make a difference in the life of a child, including attending the event ($125/person) or becoming a sponsor (sponsorships range from $1,500 to $10,000). Raffle tickets are available online at www.cafb.org/Events/Gala-for-the-Children/Raffle/ until noon on May 1 or at the Gala on May 5. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cafb.org or call 281-344-5108. Checking out some of the Gala goodies are (L to R): Board Member Jim Lockwood of Baker Hughes, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Executive Director Ruthanne Mefford, honorary chair Dee Koch, Marriott Catering Sales Manager Michelle Scrimger and the evening’s emcee Michele Fisher of The New 93Q.
Stafford announces date for public hearing on smoking ban By Karen Daniels
A step forward in the name of cleaner air has been made concerning Stafford's public smoking ordinance. Wednesday, June 27, at 7:00pm the Mayor and Councilmember's have reserved Stafford Civic Center so that they may accommodate everyone that wishes to be heard. Business owners, residents, students, and members of the community are invited to voice their thoughts; however Mayor Scarcella has advised that no
This has a nice ring to it! By LeaAnne Klentzman
So there was this residential burglary recently. The victims were only gone briefly CRIMINAL and during OF THE WEEK that time, well, someone got in their home and liberated a whole mess of treasures…guns, jewelry, and electronics. Did I mention heirloom jewelry? Yeah, the kind that makes your blood run cold when you even think about losing it… the kind that no amount of insurance could ever replace, you know, that kind.
DUMB
NICE RING, continued on page 13
decision will be made that night. He added, "If there is to be a smoking ordinance in Stafford it will be done correctly, thoroughly and thoughtfully." After this public hearing the Council will then submit the suggestions to Art Pertile, Stafford's City Attorney, to allow him to identify the legal parameters this ordinance will carry. And if some type of ordinance is passed, what
SMOKING BAND, continued on page 13
Special $5,000 reward/Crime alert issued by Crime Stoppers By LeaAnne Klentzman
Fort Bend County Crimes Stoppers, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the heist of
a purse. According to sheriff’s spokesman Bob Haenel, a 64 year old woman was checking herself out at Kroger's in the 9300 block of Highway 6 near Bissonnet in the Mission Bend area, about 8 pm that night, and after she was finished checking, she looked through her bag and realized that her wallet was missing. “Sheriff’s office detectives reviewed the surveillance footage from the store, and also reviewed footage from a surveillance camera at a nearby Wal-Mart
Back in December, Lisa Diehl of Richmond, was stumped. She had no idea what to get her husband and son for Christmas. They were a big baseball family, her sons having played Little League and high school ball while her daughter played softball in college. Remembering all of the good times spent outside at the ballpark, seeing neighbors and friends was all the inspiration Diehl needed for those last couple of gifts. She ended up buying an 8-pack of tickets for the inaugural Sugar Land Skeeters season and putting them under the tree. "It's just so exciting", Diehl said. "It's been a long four months to wait but now it is
finally here!" Diehl and her family will be among the sell-out crowd at tomorrow night's history making
Opening Day Partners Chairman Peter Kirk (left) and Sugar Land Mayor Jimmy Thompson inspect final stadium details as Sugar Land prepares to turn over the Stadium keys to the Sugar Land Skeeters and ODP.
game when the Skeeters take the field for the very first time against the York Revolution at 7:05. The Skeeters are members of the independent Atlantic League which has no alliance with any major league organization. The Atlantic League plays at a level similar to AA or AAA in major league farm clubs. Many of the players in the Atlantic League have some big league experience, including right-handed pitcher, Gary Majewski, 32, who grew up in Houston and attended St. Pius. "It's always exciting to be a part of a new organization", Majewski said. "But this is a little different because it's a new team, a new ballpark and we're just excited to get out there and play." PLAY BALL, continued on page 13
Ridge Point High School… a two year old with talent By Joan Frances
A public school is much like a small community. It consists of leaders and followers, teachers and students. The structure of the community dictates direction and discipline. The leaders show compassion and support and the followers work to accomplish goals. A successful community is a sign of positive
reinforcement. In a public school environment, the greatest measure of success is through team work. Teachers work with students in academics and sports to engage and teach them about life. A winning team is not only a symbol of a schools success, but shows unity and devotion from its players and spectators. One of the newest schools in Fort Bend ISD, Ridge Point
High School, has exhibited exceptional team work and talent. Ridge Point High School opened in 2010 and was built to accommodate 2,500 students grade 9th through 12th. The first year, only freshmen and sophomore students attended the school. During this second year of operation, students were RIDGE POINT, continued on page 14
SPECIAL, continued on page 13
Man attacked in garage at Sugar Land Town Square By LeaAnne Klentzman
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penalties and violations will be enforced. The Mayor advised that this process will take several council meetings to come to an agreement, to which the public is invited. In the past, studies have been conducted to analyze the economic impact of such bans on restaurants, bars, and taverns. According to Mary Ann Dolezal
By Betsy Dolan
Sugar Land Police are investigating the attack and robbery of a man after returning to his vehicle from an evening in Sugar Land Town Square. Police spokesman Doug Adolph confirmed that a local man was transported to a nearby hospital for facial injuries after he was attacked, beaten and robbed
in the Town Center parking garage. Shortly before 2:30 on the morning of April 14, a 23 year old man was attacked from behind and punched in the face as he walked to his car in the parking garage. According to Adolph, the victim Ridge Point HS soccer team shown are (l-r): Darian Echevarria, Morgan Wallace, Melissa Myers, Sara Bartczak, told police that he recognized his Aurora McMillen, Emily Howell, Lauren DeLuca, Alex Thompson, Madison Grover, Madeline Camp, Noelle assailant from earlier in the night. Abraham, Gabrielle Metoyer, Courtney Elliott, Nicole Dupin, Jaylyn Sampson, Kaitlyn Glascock. Mattison Huey, Zoey Pawlik, Elizett Gonzales, Ryanne Martz, and Meghan Brady. Coached by Susanna Schroeder and MAN, continued on page 13 Michele Janke