INSIDE | Letters to Santa, p. 6 & 7
Opinion
The Force of Star Wars is strong in my family, p. 3
Sports
Goffney voted District 23-5A Offensive MVP,
p. 11
Events
Mark your calendar, see happenings,
WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 14, 2016
p. 15
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 39 • No. 17
(Submitted photo)
Houston Texans present Stafford senior with $5,000 scholarship, p. 12
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Snipes has Missouri City moving toward High Performance City manager 14019 SW FWY, Suite 204 celebrates first Sugar Land, Texas 77478 281.242.0190 anniversary
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By Joe Southern jsouthern @ fortbendstar.com
After a year on the job as Missouri City’s city manager, Anthony Snipes has a lot of accomplishments to look back on. He’s more concerned, however, with what’s ahead. His first year was spent organizing and positioning the city to better serve the citizenry and to be more fiscally responsible
and open and transparent in its operations. “We’re very fortunate to have folks who understand the importance of public service,” he said. Snipes is quick to give credit to those around him. Those people, however, are there on purpose and for a purpose. Since coming on board, he has helped hire several department heads, including the fire chief, parks and recreation director and finance director. Additionally, the city hired its first Chief Performance Officer to track strategic objectives and goals. “Anthony (Snipes) has come on board and really worked hard to put together a team of top performing individuals,”
said Mayor Allen Owen. “He has set in place some performance standards that will take our city to the next level with the service provided to our citizens.” Teambuilding has been essential for Snipes. He has created an employee engagement program led by an Employee Engagement Group that strives to recognize the work done by city employees. “We have a holistic strategy that allows our employees to be successful,” he said. That strategy includes making Missouri City a High Performance Organization. He said that means using the
H SEE SNIPES, PG 4
(Photo by Joe Southern)
Missouri City City Manager Anthony Snipes marks his first year with the city with a long list of accomplishments and plans for many more to come.
EXPIRES 1-15-17
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Star Wars costumers enthusiastic for new movie, helping children By Joe Southern jsouthern @ fortbendstar.com
(Photo by Joe Southern)
Local members of the 501st Legion, a Star Wars costuming organization, are ready for the release this week of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Pictured upper left is Tanya Bouchard as Mara Jade. In front is Jason Hardin as a Republic Commando of the Omega Squad. Pictured from the left in the group photo at the Santikos Palladium are Damian Hebert (Stormtrooper), Jeff Hebert (Darth Nihilus), Jason Haddock (Biker Scout), Javan Foerster (Shadow Stormtrooper) and Karl Gehring (Shoretrooper).
Meet one of the NFL’s fashion police Sienna Plantation resident keeps Texan players in uniform complience By Joe Southern jsouthern @ fortbendstar.com
When Darin Jordan watches the Houston Texans play, he sees a lot more than just runs, passes, catches, kicks and tackles. He sees what few others see and that’s what he’s paid to do.
H SEE NFL, PG 12
The release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” this Friday has millions of people excited, but few as excited as those who live, eat and breathe all things from a galaxy far, far away. Members of the 501st Legion – an international Star Wars costuming group – will be out in force and in costume at theaters everywhere, including Fort Bend County, where several Stormtroopers and other characters call home. A group of them recently gathered at the Santikos Palladium in Richmond to talk with the Fort Bend Star about their hobby and their obses-
sion with Star Wars. “The bottom line is we’re a bunch of big Star Wars geeks,” said Damian Hebert, 50, of Rosenberg. Hebert and his son, Zachary, are members of the South Texas Squadron of Star Garrison. The garrison is a branch of the 501st serving Texas and Oklahoma. Damian portrays a Stormtrooper and Zachary, 23, helps as a handler. “A lot of the helmets have limited visibility so we need handlers to help us know where to go,” said Jason Haddock, 37, of Missouri City. Haddock portrays a Biker Scout from “Return of the Jedi.”
H SEE STAR WARS, PG 2
Constellation Field aglow with holiday lights By Bill McCaughey For The Fort Bend Star
(Photo by Joe Southern)
Darin Jordan, a former player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, now patrols the sidelines of the Houston Texans during home games to make sure the players are in compliance with the NFL’s uniform policy. The Sienna Plantation resident says he likes to look his best while doing the job, thus the suit, tie and fedora.
Once again Constellation Field is aglow with holiday lights. The ballpark where the Atlantic League Champion Sugar Land Skeeters played just a few months ago is now filled with over 2.5 million holiday lights in over 100 displays. This is the third year that the Skeeters have hosted the Sugar Land Holiday Lights. “There are eight themes within the light displays. As you walk around the ballpark, you will see a Twelve Days of Christmas display, a Christmas under the sea display, a Hanukah display, a nativity display, and several other themes,” Samantha Ferriera, event sales manager for the Skeeters, said. “Attendance has been good.
(Photo by Bill McCaughey) (Photo by Bill McCaughey)
The Holiday lights shine at Constellation Field. If the weather works in our favor, we expect to draw more than last year. The two weeks around Christmas are our biggest attendance days.” The lights take about two weeks to set up. “There are three of us in the
event sales group and we are literally stringing lights for an intense two-week period,” Ferriera said. “We do get some help from the Grand Prairie company that supplies the lights.” While 2.5 million lights are
Whitney Hanna (left) McKinley Cain and Kimberly Cain after visiting Santa. impressive, Santa Claus is more popular with the children. Six-year old McKinley Cain skipped the light display to go see Santa.
H SEE CONSTELLATION, PG 13