See DAILY news updates: www.FortBendStar.com
The Fort Bend / Southwest
STAR
Search 1,000’s of new and used autos online
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 Volume XXXIII • No. 40
HHH
Family Owned and Locally Operated • An Official Fort Bend County Newspaper
Turn out low in many areas
Final election outcome results in run offs in Sugar Land and Rosenberg By Elsa Maxey Of the 305,762 registered voters in Fort Bend County, Elections Administrator John Oldham said, “we really had 292,042 registered voters in the county that had something to vote on.” He said in some precincts voting stayed in the single digits and “it shows a lack of
Sugar Land There will be a runoff election in Sugar Land next month since candidates in two of the races did not earn a majority vote. On June 11, Amy Mitchell and Howard Paul will vie for the District 3 seat and the voters will decide who will replace term limited Councilman Russell Jones. Jim Hoelker was also in that race. Voting results show Paul with 651 votes or 44 percent, Mitchell 430 votes or 29 percent, and Hoelker 411 votes or 28 percent. Early voting for the runoff election starts on Tuesday, May 31 and runs through the following Tuesday, June 7 at two locations – the First Colony Conference Center and Sugar Land City Hall. In the District 4 race, Harish Jajoo and Farha Ahmed will be in next month’s runoff race. The winner will replace term-limited councilman Michael Schiff. Frank Yonish, who was a council Photo by Sheena Navarro Kevin Wojteck, Justin Morales, Brooke Bowman Morales and Dana member in Missouri City about Benoit are seen here in front of Rosenberg's city hall on Election Day ten years ago, also ran for this volunteering their time in support of Vincent Morales, who will be office. See ELECTION, page 6 Rosenberg's new city mayor.
attending a Sugar Mills home owners association meeting and reports that he was given a list of questions for which they wanted answers…like what is the scope of the development effort and how many phases are there? The project includes a multi-family section that will be built in phases of about 300 homes each, he said. Multi-family housing in the
Ballpark District will be developed in two phases with about 300 homes each. The first phase will be built on the western half of the land next to the ballpark starting next year and it will take 36 months to complete the improvements and lease the properties. The second phase is estimated to start in mid-2015 and it should See IMPERIAL, page 7
Fort Bend ISD named as winner of 2011 National Schools of Character By Elsa Maxey What has been commonly referred to as “the renowned Fort Bend ISD,” now has more boasting rights with this week’s announcement about being the only school district in the nation named a winner in the 2011 National Schools of Character program by the Charter Education Partnership (CEP) in Washington, D.C.
Impact a Hero Weekend begins June 4
interest.” Voter turnout in the River Park area recently annexed by Sugar Land, “was slightly over 20 percent,” according to Oldham, and “ a 15 percent is always considered a good turnout.” Saturday’s election numbers show that overall a total of 16,771 votes were cast. That’s less than six percent.
Imperial Project will have 9 to 10 year phasing of housing build-out By Elsa Maxey Project updates…that’s what Shay Shafie, General Manager of the Imperial Project with Johnson Development, has been providing to residents expressing an interest in knowing what will be taking place on the redeveloped Imperial Sugar Factory site, and there’s a lot of interest. He recently met with those
The news release from the nation’s capital city listed 38 public schools, 3 charter schools, 2 private schools and one school district, FBISD. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney sent a congratulatory message to all staff members in which
he said that earlier this year, FBISD was named a “Texas” School District of Character and a finalist for the national award. “This distinct honor is a tribute to each one of you, our students and our community,” he told them See FBISD, page 7
The 7th Annual Impact a Hero Weekend begins June 4, 7:30 a.m., at Mercer Stadium in Sugar Land beginning with the 5K Walk, Run, and Wheel. Donations for the 2010 Impact a Hero Weekend exceeded $720,000. This year Impact a Hero anticipates over 2,000 runners including 50 wounded heroes. This photo was taken at last year’s event. For more information visit www.active.com/donate/impactahero.com. See related article on page 6
New Sugar Land venue on almost 40 acres
Proposed concert project begins on US 59 and University Blvd By Elsa Maxey With two major destination projects in Sugar Land currently underway, StarTexPower Field and the Imperial Project Redevelopment, the city’s planning and development momentum continues for more to come. It recently announced that it is moving forward with yet another major effort. At the site initially speculated by many to be the location of the minor league stadium, the area near U.S. 59 and University Boulevard is the proposed site for a new concert venue. The 38.5-acre parcel of land is reportedly being proposed for a 6,500-seat concert and performing arts center. Towards this end, the city recently released plans about housing what it calls an “entertainment-centric,” mixed use development within the Telfair commercial areas. As far as size of the site, it’s probably easier to visualize this almost 40-acre tract in terms of the distance around it. Forty acres is the equivalent of
National Police Week motorcycle ride to be held
Senior prank? Criminal act?
Three arrested by Sugar Land police By LeaAnne Klentzman Just minutes after midnight last Friday, Sugar Land Police responded to an alarm call at Clements High School. When police arrived, "Several males were observed running out of the back of the school,” said police spokesman Doug Adolph. He said “Nothing inside the school was reported missing.” However, three males were detained and taken into custody. Brian Warshauer, 18, Ali Shahlilani, 17, Taylor Ashford, 18, all of Sugar Land, were arrested and charged with Burglary of Building, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Evading Arrest. Warshauer was also charged with Possession Controlled Substance.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
a square piece of land that is a quarter mile on each side. The city reports that no time line has been set for completion of the project. But, ACE SL, LLC, has been selected to be Sugar Land’s project partner in the planning and development of this new venue. With a team of entertainment industry professionals, Allen J. Becker, TONY Award-winning founding chairman of PACE Entertainment Corporation, leads the group. They offer more than 175 years of experience and success in local, national and international entertainment ventures, including pioneering the development of new music and theatrical venues, as well as the entertainment to fill them, according to the city. Becker, who is the chairman
of ACE SL LLC said, “We have been fortunate in our over 30 years in the live entertainment business to have worked in the major cities of the United States and Canada, as well as in many markets throughout the world. But nothing beats home, and we will work as hard as it takes to make this facility a success for the City of Sugar Land and to bring the best in entertainment to this community, our community!” Mayor James Thompson said that the proposed concert facility in Sugar Land is part of a 2008 city referendum that called for the minor-league baseball park, an outdoor festival site and a concert building. These types of projects are expected to bring capital investments to the city, more new jobs, and also attract visitors.
Rosenberg man gets new address for 33 years - prison
By LeaAnne Klentzman On May 5, 2011, in the 268th District Court before visiting Judge Regan Clark, John Aaron Cantu, 30, of Rosenberg entered a guilty plea to Manufacturing or Delivering a Controlled Substance and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. The case stems from what was called a routine traffic stop by members of the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force July 14, 2010. According to Assistant District Attorney Matthew Banister, Cantu was originally
arrested and charged with Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance during the traffic stop. Banister John Aaron Cantu went on to explain, “Based on intelligence gathered by clandestine methods, the Narcotics Task Force discovered Cantu and members of his immediate family were engaged in the manufacture and distribution of crack cocaine.” See ROSENBERG, page 7
See Inside
55 Days of Summer The Sugar Land Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association is hosting a Law Enforcement Memorial motorcycle ride during National Police Week on May 21. Republic Harley Davidson in Stafford is the major sponsor of the ride and event. The ride includes a Blessing of the Bikes at 9:55 am at Republic Harley Davidson, with Kick Stands Up at 10:00 am, a stop at the Sugar Land Police Department for the Dedication of the Memorial Garden ceremony at 10:30 and a country ride to George Ranch. The fun continues after the ride with a chili cook off, raffle and auction at Republic from 10:30 to 2:30 pm. The public is welcome!
A comprehensive way to keep your family busy all summer. For extra copies, stop by our office to pick one up.