01-05-2022 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

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High school soccer season kicking off - Page 4

WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 5, 2022

Area hospitals change visitor policies amid omicron surge By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Hospitals across Fort Bend County have changed operating procedures in recent weeks amid a strong uptick in the number of coronavirus patients, spurred in part by the arrival of the new omicron variant in the county. Administrators with Houston Methodist Hospital first detected the omicron variant in patient test results on Dec. 14, said Esther Schinzler, spokesperson for the hospital. At the time, there were about 114 patients in the hospital’s system, she said. By Dec. 28, that number had increased to more than 410 coronavirus inpatients, she said. “Yes, we’ve seen an increase,” she said. In response, the hospital has changed its visitor policy to allow each patient only one healthy visitor per day, as of Dec. 24, Schinzler said. But as of now, elective surgeries will continue as planned, she said. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is at 16655 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. To learn more about the hospital's visitor policy, visit https:// www.houstonmethodist.org/ coronavirus/update-for-patients/. Memorial Hermann Health System also updated its visitor policies in response to growing numbers of omicron cases, according to a news release. The new policies stipulate a screening process for all approved visitors and limitations on how many guests a patient can have each day. The system operates one hospital in Sugar Land, 17500 W Grand Parkway S, Sugar Land. To learn more about the hospital's visitor policy, visit https:// www.memorialhermann.org/ services/conditions/coronavirus/important-announcements. County Judge KP George last month raised the county’s threat level in response to the new omicron variant of coronavirus and shortly thereafter tested positive for the virus himself. Fort Bend County Health and Human Services in December confirmed the first three people in the county had tested positive for the variant.

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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 47 • No. 20

LCISD reviewing book content after complaints By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Lamar Consolidated ISD has removed seven books from its library shelves, including popular fiction such as "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," and is reviewing them for permanent removal over complaints about inap-

propriate content from parents and community members, according to the district. The district’s decision to review the books came shortly after parents spoke at a 2021 board meeting, questioning whether some material was appropriate because of sexual content. But while the district didn’t directly connect the

move to any larger trends, an academic expert who has studied the increase in opposition to some books in school libraries says school districts

across the country have come under fire in recent months thanks, in part, to organized conservative opposition to some kinds of reading materials.

Parental opposition to some books in public schools isn’t new, and has been happening onand-off again for decades now, according to Richard Price, a political science professor at Webster State University in Utah. But the latest debates over books

SEE BOOKS PAGE 7

Patio preference

A couple raises their glasses during a toast on the patio of The Rouxpour Restaurant & Bar in Sugar Land. A growing number of Fort Bend County restaurants are investing to expand outdoor dining, betting the trend will last beyond the pandemic. (Photo from Facebook)

Local restaurants bet big on outdoor dining By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Standing out as something of an anomaly in the restaurant scene, 2021 was a record year for the Rouxpour Restaurant & Bar in Sugar Land’s Town Square. The restaurant chain’s Sugar Land location generated about $7 million in profit last year, far outpacing its pre-pandemic record of about $4.2 million in 2019, according to Mack McDonald, the chain’s owner. And now, McDonald and business administrators are making a big bet on the chain’s future, re-

cently inking a $75,000 agreement with the city of Sugar Land to almost double the restaurant’s outdoor seating capacity, up to about 130 outdoor seats, McDonald said. “We think people are more comfortable outside these days, especially if the weather is decent,” he said. “If it is covered and has heating, that’s even better.” Restaurants pivoting during the early months of the pandemic to offer more to-go and outdoor dining options became a common refrain in 2020 and 2021. But these days, a growing number of restaurants across Fort Bend County are making invest-

ments to expand outdoor dining, betting that the trend will persist beyond the pandemic. “You’ve seen patios and outdoor dining really blow up all over the country over the past 10 to 15 years,” said Matt Ragan, the director of retail programming and operations for Rebees, a Dallas-based real estate company that handles development on much of Sugar Land Town Square. “In Houston, because of the realities of being a city in a sub-tropic climate, it’s hot here a lot. And the traditional thinking was that it was miserable six months out of the year, and people wouldn’t want to dine out-

doors. But our thinking, and what we’ve seen from tenants across the board is that people have really discovered outdoor dining. They’ve discovered how nice it is to be outside.” The city of Sugar Land in the summer of 2020 passed an ordinance allowing restaurants to expand their outdoor dining capacity without having to increase parking as well, in hopes of helping businesses recover from the pandemic, said Elizabeth Huff, economic development director for Sugar Land. But what began as a temporary measure has more recently developed into a full-on trend, she

said. “I think some businesses tried it out to see if it would work or if they were interested,” she said. “They found that, yes, it’s definitely a trend that’s not going away. So, now they’re investing in it.” Representatives for Rouxpour recently signed a Chapter 380 tax incentive agreement with the city of Sugar Land, under which the city will give the business about $75,000 and Rouxpour will expand its outdoor seating capacity from about 80 seats up to 132, and will make other improvements to

SEE DINING PAGE 7

March primaries filled with contested county races By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A doctor prepares a dose of the coronavirus vaccine. (Contributed photo)

The deadline for candidates to register for a spot on the March primary ballot passed last month, and the races in Fort Bend County look set to offer a fair amount of intrigue. From the brother of U.S.

Rep. Troy Nehls running in a crowded primary field for the Republican nomination against incumbent County Judge KP George to other contested races for the commissioners court, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow as residents prepare to vote later this year. Here are all of the races

as they stand after the filing deadline, according to the latest information from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office: County Republican primaries Trever Nehls, the twin brother of the aforementioned Congressman, leads a crowded local Republican slate, having

announced he would run to face George all the way back in September. He’ll face off in the primary against Ibifrisolam MaxOlalibo of Stafford. Elsewhere, Eric Ramirez, a business owner, will face off against

SEE PRIMARIES PAGE 7

George

JERRY FLOWERS

Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478


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