CONTESTED POLITICAL RACES IN THE FORT BEND REPUBLICAN & DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES ON MAY 29, 2012 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY U.S. Rep. District #22 (2 Candidates) H Barbara J. Carlson H Pete Olson State Rep. District #85 (2 Candidates)
County Commissioner, Pct. 1 (3 Candidates) State Rep. District #26 (4 Candidates) H Jacquie Chaumette H Diana Miller
District Judge 387th (2 Candidates) H Brenda Mullinix Sheriff (4 Candidates) H Billy Frank Teague H John Minchew H Troy Nehls
Constable, Pct. 1 (2 Candidates) H Daryl Segura Constable, Pct. 2 (2 Candidates) H Daryl Smith
See DAILY news updates: www.FortBendStar.com
VOTE FOR
Barbara J. Carlson
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
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY U.S. Rep. District #22 (2 Candidates) H Kesha Rogers
Constable, Pct. 4 (2 Candidates) H Don McCall H Trever Nehls Justice of Peace Pct. 1, Place 1 (2 Candidates)
US Congressional District 22
Republican Conservative Constitutional Candidate.
May 14-25 - Early Voting
May 29th - VOTE on Election Day (if you haven’t already voted) for
BARBARA J. CARLSON The Courageous, Rock-Solid, Conservative Constitutional Leader we have been waiting for in District 22!
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. 40
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Funding access road on Grand Parkway challenged By Elsa Maxey
An access road of about 5,000 feet along the eastern side of the Grand Parkway, north of West Bellfort will be constructed with some help from Fort Bend County. This month the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted to approve the action, but it was not unanimous. Both Commissioners Richard Morrison and Andy Meyers opposed the measure calling for
Texas Primary is May 29
a joint participation agreement between Fort Bend County Assistance District No. 2 and Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 194. As part of its authority, Fort Bend County Assistance District
No. 2 was created to fund the construction of certain roads within its boundaries and to levy a one percent sales tax for a project to serve the public purposes to include what is termed needed right-of-way to be
dedicated to the county. Under the agreement reviewed by the county attorney before it made its way to commissioners court, it states that the assistance district will reimburse payments made by the county and the
utility district for the construction of the access road along the eastern side of the Grand Parkway. Fort Bend County intends to use available funds to prefinance costs, but only up to
Hometown Hall of Famer
Pro Legend Thurman Thomas honored at Willowridge Former Willowridge High School (WHS) football star, Thurman Thomas, was honored on May 14 at his alma mater as part of a “Hometown Hall of Famer” ceremony sponsored by Allstate and the Pro Football Hall
of Fame. A special plaque, which will be permanently displayed at Willowridge, was unveiled by Thomas during the ceremony that was emceed by Shaun McDowell, WHS head football coach. The
Mighty Eagle Marching Band and the Enchanting Wings Dance Team also performed. As part of the program, Thomas’ former coach, Neal Quillin, spoke about his former running back’s commitment to
the team, to his academics and to his goals. “People ask me when I knew Thurman Thomas was a special player, and I tell them it was PRO LEGEND, on page 10
Vote Tuesday after Memorial weekend After months of delay, voters will have the opportunity to nominate candidates of the two Major Political Parties on May 29, 2012. Due to litigation over the Texas Redistricting maps a Federal Court moved the Primary date from March 6 to April 3, and then to May 29. Voters will be asked to select between the primary ballots of the two major parties which will be nominating candidates for the November General Election. Identification is required in order to vote. Voters should be prepared to show their voter registration certificate or Texas Driver’s license, or other form of ID before voting. Photo Id is not required in Texas. Unlike Early Voting, voters can only cast a ballot on Election Day in the precinct, or polling location to which they are assigned. As a result of redistricting, many voters will be casting Election Day ballots in new locations. In order to avoid confusion, Fort Bend County Election Administrator, John Oldham, is encouraging voters to take advantage of the final days of Early Voting. The Early Voting period ends on May 25. If voters prefer to cast their ballots on Election Day, then they are also encouraged to verify their polling place by visiting the Fort Bend County website. www. fortbendvotes.org
Fort Bend Star
Memorial Day The office will open Tuesday at 9 a.m.
FUNDING ACCESS, on page 10
May 31 deadline for protesting valuations By Bev Carter
Pay attention now! May 31 is the deadline for protesting your assessed valuation with the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (CAD). You can protest online at www.window.state.tx.us/ taxinfo/taxforms/50-132.pdf or simply google Fort Bend CAD and click on “online protest.” You should have received an assessment of the value of your property by April 1. If you congratulated yourself on the increase in your property, don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back. This assessment have ramifications for you in every DEADLINE, on page 10
Shown left to right are: Lee Crews, WHS Principal; Shaun McDowell, head football coach; Thurman Thomas; former coach Neal Quillin; George White, Allstate; and George Veras, President of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises.
Fort Bend Central Appraisal District preliminary numbers make it difficult for Stafford school budget Board of Trustees began with congratulations to Dr. Lance This month's joint budget Hindt who was awarded his meeting between Stafford's City doctorate in education. Not an Council and Stafford's School easy task to accomplish while By Karen Daniels
running a district. Way to go Dr. Hindt! As the meeting proceeded, SMSD's CEO, Carla Merka showed the projected school
Both found guilty by jury
Two sexual predators are off Fort Bend streets the outcry to authorities for sexually abused by someone further investigation. they know,” said Gregg. “And On May 10, 2012 Richard “The majority of time, child when they do tell, they may not Garcia was sentenced to 24 victims do not tell right away, PREDATORS, continued on page 10 years in prison by a Fort Bend especially when they have been County jury who found him guilty of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. According to prosecutors, By LeaAnne Klentzman p.m. near the corner of US 90A the evidence presented at trial and Second Street in Richmond revealed that the 22-year-old After much anticipation the in the parking lot of the old jury Garcia had sexually abused his Richmond Farmer’s Market is assembly building near the Travis 9-year-old relative on different finally here! Courthouse. When approaching occasions in 2008. The child The grand opening of the Richmond from the FM359 area told a school nurse, months after market will be held this coming FARMER’S MARKET, continued on page 10 the abuse, who then reported Friday, May 25, starting at 3:30 By LeaAnne Klentzman
Richmond Farmer’s Market opens
will be closed Monday, May 28
$2 million of the estimated $3.39 million project cost to complete the project, according to the agreement. Fort Bend County MUD 194 in that area will pre-finance the remaining shortfall and the costs for engineering design, estimated at approximately $1.39 million, until the assistance district funding is available for reimbursement.
budget based on the numbers that she had before her. And based on those numbers, the 2012/2013 budget looks great; however, Mayor Scarcella warned that the increase is flawed. As it stands, Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) home values took a slight dip, but FBCAD home values have increased by 14.95%. Getting comfortable with this number is what the Mayor warned against. Merka explained that she called Patsy Schultz' office, however, they could not give a count of how many protests had been filed in Fort Bend County. With electronic filing, one would think these numbers would be right at their fingertips. It was the Mayor's prediction that the district would see a gain from FBCAD, but most likely in the 5% range. FBC APPRAISAL, continued on page 10
Told ya so! By LeaAnne Klentzman
Well, it finally happened! We been tell’n ya it was happen’n and now, CRIMINAL OF THE WEEK here it is! Monday as candidate for Precinct 4 Constable Trevor Nehls and one of his “other” brothers arrived at the New Territory polling place in the Randall’s parking lot, they caught a glimpse of that controversial DVD made last
DUMB
TOLD YA SO! continued on page 10
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