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The Fort Bend / Southwest
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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
TOM MALER
281-203-6900 4405 Highway 6 • Sugar Land
Fort Bend’s most in-depth news coverage • Check our website FortBendStar.com
Volume XXXV • No. 42
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Hot night in Sugar Creek extinguished. The homeowner John Newman told an onlooker, Flames shot into the night " Thank God for protecting his after a gas line erupted in a children and his home, one of Sugar Creek back yard. his sons had to run under the Shortly after 9pm, Saturday flames to escape." At the time night Sugar Land fire and of the incident the children were police responded to a call in in the back yard in the pool the 800 block of Merrick Drive and roasting marshmallows. near Longview Drive in the Although there was a Sugar Creek subdivision after a thunderous explosion, heaving reported gas leak. According to ground and a fireball toward witnesses flames could be seen the sky, no one was injured shooting up to 70 feet in the air. and no property damage was Eventually it was determined that reported. Sugar Land police a gas pipeline feeding several secured the area while the fire decorative fountains had failed department got the flames under and caused the problem. The gas control. The neighborhood was was turned off and the fire was returned to calm within hours. By LeaAnne Klentzman
Photo by Andrew Wolf
Fireman and police respond to explosion that happened at Sugar Creek subdivision Saturday night after reported gas leak.
Intersection at US 90A and SH 99 closed for Missouri City multi-family housing next two weekends plan clears hurdle with city council If your weekend travels take you through the US 90A and SH 99 intersection, you may want to travel a different route over the next two weekends. The intersection will be closed for the next two weekends so that the contractor constructing the toll road can set bridge beams over the intersection. This is part of Segment D of the Grand Parkway Toll Road which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013. Traffic detours around the US 90A intersection will utilize the Sandhill Drive and FM 1464 intersections to minimize inconvenience and additional trip time for the traveling public. All intersections will be well marked with signage and traffic control devices. Dynamic
message boards will be located at the US 90A at SH 99 intersection announcing the scheduled intersection closures and patrol officers will be on site to assist with potential traffic delays and motorist detours. WEEKEND CLOSURES Friday, June 7 at 8:00 pm through Monday, June 10 at 5:00 am Friday, June 14 at 8:00 pm through Monday, June 17 at 5:00 am WEEKNIGHT CLOSURES Monday night, June 3 through Thursday, June 6 beginning nightly at 8:00 pm until 5:00 am the next morning Monday night, June 10 through Thursday, June 13 beginning nightly at 8:00 pm until 5:00 am the next morning
By Betsy Dolan
The Missouri City City Council is trying to determine whether putting up to 600 multi-family units in a prime
location off of the Fort Bend Toll Road is in the city's long term best interest or whether the land would be better served by commercial development. In the end, the council voted
5 to 2 to approve re-zoning the 30-acre tract of land from retail use to multi-family. The ordinance also calls for amending the city's Comprehensive Plan. The measure has one more
The Stafford story
Mayor Leonard Scarcella featured speaker at luncheon The Governmental Relations Division of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon with Mayor Leonard Scarcella which will be presented by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce on Monday, June
9th Annual “Impact A Hero” Sets A Record
24, 2013. The luncheon will be held at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Road, Stafford from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Telling the Stafford Story: Zero Property Tax, Eliminating Debt, Development of the Texas Instruments Property, Enhancement of the US 90A and Murphy Road Corridors, Transformation of the Stafford Municipal School District and Elevating the Stafford Centre.
Mayor Leonard Scarcella was first elected Mayor in 1969. For 44 years, he led the City of Stafford on one of the most Leonard Scarcella successful— and storied—journeys of any city in Texas. MAYOR, continued on page 10
Pecan Grove contract deputies keep’n it quiet By LeaAnne Klentzman
“Impact A Hero” gives the community an opportunity in thanking our severally wounded servicemen and women for sacrificing their minds, bodies, and sometimes their lives. This year “Impact A Hero” set a new record of over $1.2 million in donations, sponsorships and participation. This year they honored more that 50 of our Wounded Heros and their family members. Shown are parents, Maritza and Jose Tavera with their son Sergeant Joel Tavera. Shown are parents Maritza and Jose Tavera with their son. Sergeant Joel Tavera.
Contract deputy makes two different dope busts in Pecan Grove neighborhood. Last week contract deputy constable Mark Williams made a couple of dope busts during routine patrol. In the first incident he was responding to a disturbance at the apartment complex on Old South. When he arrived at the call he noticed that several males bolted from the area where the disturbance was reported and
went into a nearby apartment. Deputy Williams made contact with those men and while standing at the open door, he could smell the odor of marijuana wafting from inside. While still standing at the door, he could see several bongs and other drug paraphernalia inside the apartment. One man was arrested, one is wanted for evading and several citations were issued. Inside the apartment deputies
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(By Kroger at Settler’s Way)
2 8 1 . 3 1 3 . 9 9 9 9 • w w w. k k b g o l d r e f i n e r y. c o m
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Look’n a gift horse in the mouth! By LeaAnne Klentzman
Just when you think you have seen it all! So this north Fort CRIMINAL Bend County OF THE WEEK man catches some neighborhood teens burglarizing his car in HIS driveway. He sends them packing. Now mind you – they were inside HIS car, loot’n HIS stuff. But, he cut them a break, told’m to get on outta here.
DUMB
LOOK’N, continued on page 10
Sell your gold, silver and copper directly to the refinery -- No Middle Man! Sugar Land, Texas 77478
HOUSING, continued on page 10
PECAN GROVE, continued on page 10
Turn your unwanted precious metals into CA$H! 3599 Highway 6
public hearing and one more reading before it is formally approved. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission has already approved the ordinance. The rectangular shaped piece of land is west of Hightower High School and bounded by Trammel-Fresno Road, the Fort Bend Parkway and Highway 6. Plans also call for a retail development to go in adjacent to the multi-family units. The city has talked about creating a "town center" concept in the area which would include high density housing. A new Kroger store and park and ride facility as well as expansion plans at the Medical Center have some city council members convinced
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worth of Gold or Silver, get $20! extra worth of Gold or Silver, get $50! extra worth of Gold or Silver, get $ extra 80!
Coupons limited to public only. Coupons must be presented before appraisal. One coupon limited to one transaction. Expires: 6-30-2013