Chamber bestows honors at annual gala: Page 2
Taylor Thomas, who is a senior on the Ridge Point High School girls basketball team, recently reached the 2,000 point milestone for her high school career. See page 5.
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 25
Four accused priests served in Fort Bend Two have died, one has pending charges By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Last week Catholic dioceses across Texas identified 286 priests who were credibly accused of sexually abusing minors, dating as far back as 1941. That list includes four priests with connections to Fort Bend County. None are currently active and two are deceased. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese said Texas bishops listed the names to help victims heal and rebuild trust. He issued a statement in which he apologized and urged people to report any abuse. “The crime of sexual abuse of minors is a grave crisis in the Church," DiNardo said. “These sins have done
great harm to the victims of the abuse and have deeply wounded the body of Christ, the Church. Those victimized by the clergy over the years need and deserve our prayers, outreach, and support." The four priests with connections to Fort Bend County include: Robert Ralph Barzyk Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Birth Year: 1932 Ordination: 1958 Status: Retired 1993 Removed from Ministry 1994 Deceased 2007 Assignments: Holy Family, Wharton Holy Name, Houston Holy Rosary, Rosenberg Newman Center, Wharton County Junior College
Sacred Heart, Galveston St. Joseph, Baytown St. Jude, Highlands Jesse S. Linam Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Birth Year: 1935 Ordained: 1961 Status: Retired 1998. Lawsuit against him dismissed due to statute of limitation. In lawsuit, he was accused of misconduct with a boy 1973-1974. Assignments: Christ the King, Houston Holy Rosary, Rosenberg Newman Center, Galveston Queen of Peace, Houston Sacred Heart, Galveston St. Ambrose, Houston St. Andrew, Channelview St. Henry, Freeport St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Freeport Sts. Peter and Paul, Bellville
Religious Order Priests Raphael O’Loughlin, CSB Religious: Basilian Fathers Birth Year: 1916 Ordained: 1942 Status: Deceased 1998 Assignments: Holy Family, Missouri City Our Lady of Guadalupe, Rosenberg St. Basil (Most Holy Trinity), Angleton St. Thomas High School Manuel La Rosa Lopez Diocesan: Galveston-Houston Birth Year: 1957 Ordination: 1996 Status: Removed from Ministry 2001, 2018 Assignments: Sacred Heart, Conroe St. Francis de Sales, Houston St. John Fisher, Richmond Tribunal Lopez is currently facing criminal charges.
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Judge O'Neil is reviewing, reducing some criminal bonds
The new Mission Bend Branch Library will open Saturday and become the 11th library in the Fort Bend County Library system. (Submitted photo)
From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Upon taking office on Jan. 1, District Court Judge R. O’Neil Williams, began a review of the cash bonds of accused individuals awaiting trial in the 268th District Court. The purpose of the review was to determine, and discover whether any of those accused, but O'Neil not yet conWilliams victed, were being held on excessively high bonds. Additionally, Williams continues to examine whether there are indigent persons who would be unable to afford a cash bond of any amount, where a personal recognizance bond would stand as the accused’s promise to appear in court as ordered. After reviewing hundreds of pending cases, Williams has announced that upon his own motion, he will immediately begin to reduce the cash bonds in cases where he determines the current bond amount is excessive or oppressive. Additionally, Williams has invited attorneys with jailed clients on cases pending in the 268th District Court to file the proper motion for bond reduction, if they feel that the current bond amount is excessive or oppressive. Williams will consider the nature and grade of the offense, the probable cause for the arrest, and relative risk to the community, in determining if the bond is reasonable. Other factors may include the accused’s ties to the area communities, the likelihood
SEE BONDS, PAGE 7
Child Advocates of Fort Bend Chief Executive Officer Ruthanne Mefford presents Judge Ron Pope the Child Advocate of the Year award. (Submitted photo)
Judge Pope earns Child Advocate of the Year honors From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Judge Ron Pope was named Child Advocate of the Year for 2018 at Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s Annual Volunteer Celebration, held Jan. 30 at Sweetwater Country Club. The event was attended by more than 250 volunteers, community partners and staff. “Judge Pope embodies the mission and passion for the work that we do. He has gone ‘above and beyond’ and his actions and influence will have longlasting impact, not only
for the children we serve but for our entire community,” said Child Advocates of Fort Bend Chief Executive Officer Ruthanne Mefford. “Judge Pope is a huge supporter of our CASA program. He values and respects the work that our volunteers contribute to the cases and is very vocal about his feelings that all children in CPS custody should have a CASA Advocate. He has utilized his judicial platform to increase awareness among those who work with maltreated infants and toddlers
SEE ADVOCATE, PAGE 6
Mission Bend Branch Library scheduled to open Saturday From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
The grand-opening ceremony of Fort Bend County Libraries’ Mission Bend Branch Library will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., at the new library, located at 8421 Addicks Clodine Road in Houston. The grand opening will be officiated by Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, who will be joined by other county and local officials. The library is located near the intersection of Wildwood Lake Road in the Houston portion in Fort Bend County. The new library is a one-story building of 23,779 square feet, making it the fifth largest library in the system, which now includes 11 libraries and management of the Law Library. The building is a rectangular structure, designed to blend the best of traditional
library services with a wide range of electronic resources. The library is equipped with the latest in computer and telecommunications technology, including WiFi, 3D printing, and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) capabilities. The library will also have self-check machines so that library patrons can check out their own materials, enabling quick and efficient library service. The library includes community meeting rooms, study rooms, a puppet theater, and a computer lab for technology classes and general public use. Additional computers will be available for public use outside of the computer lab. The library will offer introductory computer classes for adults. Patrons may learn computer basics such as how to use a computer, how to search the Internet, how to use Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel,
and PowerPoint, and how to find or create designs for the 3D printer. A special feature in the lobby of the library will be unveiled on opening day. Beginning the week of Feb. 11, the Youth Services department will have a variety of weekly children’s programs, including Mother Goose Time for infants, Toddler Time for babies from 12 to 36 months of age, and Story Time for 3- to 6-year-old children. A wide variety of books for children and adults are available for recreational reading and research. Magazines, newspapers, and audiovisual materials are also on hand. The library offers ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and music that can be downloaded from home, as well as a generous assortment of databases that patrons may access in the
SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 7
Lawmakers unveil property tax reform plan By Richard Lee FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Taxing entities, including local school districts, would have to get permission from voters to raise property taxes more than 2.5 percent annually under identical legislation filed in both chambers Thursday. Today, entities with taxing authority can increase taxes up to 8 percent a year
before voters can weigh in. The bills, SB2 and HB2, are the first step in fulfilling state leadership’s promise to enact property tax relief for taxpayers in Texas, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. “People desperately need property tax reform, our businesses need property tax reform, and we have set out, on this date, early in session …with a major piece of legislation,” he said. “We are setting the tone for the
rest of the session on this issue.” Under the proposal, only
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taxing authorities that bring in less than $15 million in annual revenue would be exempt from the new requirements. Shepherding the bill in the Senate will be Houston Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who chairs the newly created Property Tax Committee. Property tax reform has been Bettencourt’s signature issue as a legislator, and he said it’s critical to deliver on this front.
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“The vexing problem facing taxpayers is that tax bills are going up at least two or three times faster than they can handle,” he said. “I think that the concept of having a two and a half percent rollback rate across the board means there’s a universal solution.” The bill would also change how tax ratification
SEE REFORM, PAGE 6
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