04/03/2019 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Page 1

Sugar Land to celebrate Earth Day: Page 2

Clements falls to Cinco Ranch in girls soccer action. See the story on page 8.

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 3, 2019

Jack’s Pub ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAWFISH

FOR $23

SUNDAY APRIL 7, 2019 FROM 3PM- 7PM

281-498-3410 11720 Wilcrest Houston, Tx. 77099

Rustika Rustika

Café & Bakery CaféSCHOOL & Bakery NOW OF LIL OPEN CHEFS NOW OPEN cookNext & bake a real bakery kitchen toinCorelli’s Italian CUSTOMto CAKES + PASTRIESItalian + COOKIES Next Corelli’s + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES CUSTOM CAKES + PASTRIES + COOKIES + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES

Rustikacafe.com

Mention this ad to get 50% OFF REGISTRATION FEE

3451 FM 1092 Rd. Missouri City, TX. 77459 832-539-6816 www.quailvalley.tlechildcare.com

State's budget nearing key vote By Richard Lee FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Members of the Senate Finance Committee will vote on a final budget proposal to send to the full body this week, according to the panel’s chair. Sen. Jane Nelson of Flower Mound told the 14 members of her committee following the adoption of workgroup recommendations Thursday that she expects to present a completed document for approval on Wednesday. Since mid-February, members have been working in smaller groups divided by budget article to develop recommendations based on agency requests and available revenue. After the votes to approve the individual workgroup products, all that remains is for the Legislative Budget Board to collate the document and make technical corrections. Included in the approved recommendations is $9 billion in additional funding for public education, including $2.7 billion to provide property tax relief, the primary source of school funding in Texas. Another $2.3 billion will go to general education reform with the remaining $4 billion marked to provide a $5,000, across-the-board annual pay raise to every teacher in the state. Identified as the session’s top priorities by state leadership in January, workgroup and Education Committee chair Sen. Larry Taylor of Friendswood said this budget

SEE BUDGET, PAGE 8

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 33

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Grid is growing rapidly in Stafford In-N-Out Burger, Whiskey Cake to open later this year By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The flurry of development on the former Texas Instruments site means the 192-acre development called Grid is well under way and should deliver such restaurants as In-N-Out Burger, Whiskey Cake, Outback Steakhouse, and Pluckers Wing Bar to Stafford by the end of this year. The leasing office of the new high-end apartments being built onsite just opened, meaning it won’t be long before people are calling Grid home. That was part of the news shared by Brian Murphy, managing principal for StreetLevel Investments, the developers of the project, during a breakfast meeting at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce last Thursday.

“We’ve got 192 acres. It’s bigger than Disneyland,” he said. (Act ua lly, it’s more than twice the size of Disneyland’s 85 acres and is 50 acres bigger than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.) Murphy said the project is being developed with an eye on the past and future. He said they intend to preserve and honor the history of the site but also anticipate the needs of future generations. That means incorporating a lifestyle attractive to millennials who want to live, work, and play close to home. “The millennials, their deal is, they’re looking for a lifestyle,” he said. “They want to be able to walk to restaurants, they want to be able to live close to where they work, they want to be

Stafford's mayor takes a dump on the Grid. See page 5.

Brian Murphy, managing principal for StreetLevel Investments, gives an update about the Grid development to the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Thursday. He said the $500 million project is behind schedule but is very optimistic about its future. (Photo by Joe Southern)

able to lock-and-leave… So that’s what we’re trying to create; create something that’s authentic, it doesn’t feel like a staged set architecture. We’re trying to find

something people enjoy where they can go around and discover things as they go through, or as the young people call it, Instagramable moments.”

Parking is downplayed in anticipation of self-driving cars and ride shares like

SEE GRID, PAGE 5

FBISD board to Chris Hill named president back Sugar Land 95 of Sugar Land Skeeters bills in Legislature From staff reports

Hill’s sports career highlights include producing the broadcast for the first game ever for the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins franchises, the design of the “Angry Eyes” Lake Elsinore Storm logo, which went on to become the top MiLB logo for 12 years running, multiple stadium naming rights agreements and numerous regional broadcast TV schedules. Hill was also the sales manager for the Southern California premier arena, the Arrowhead Pond (now Honda Center). Since leaving the Skeeters in 2013, Hill has run his own award-winning communications firm, 180 Messaging. “Bringing in a leader like Chris Hill is an exciting addition to our franchise,” said Skeeters General Manager Tyler Stamm. “Chris was a driving force behind the start of Skeeters baseball from 2010-2012, and his extensive experience both in baseball and other industries will allow us to provide the best fan experience in minor league baseball.” Hill and his wife, Christy, have three children, Caden, Siena and Lauren, and have been residents of Missouri City for nine years.

FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees will consider adopting a resolution in support of a bill to amend state statutes to permit Fort Bend County to own and operate the abandoned cemetery discovered last year during the construction of the district’s James Reese Career & Technical Center. The resolution will be similar to a resolution that was passed by the Fort Bend County Commissioner’s Court in support of the bill earlier this month. Currently, the Texas Health and Safety Code allows cities and smaller counties to own and operate cemeteries. House Bill 4179, filed by Rep. Rick Miller and referred to the House Committee on County Affairs, would allow counties with a population of more than 550,000 that borders a county with a population of more than 3.3 million to own, operate, and maintain a cemetery. School officials continue

to work cooperatively with officials of both the county and city to memorialize the remains of 95 individuals who are believed to have been subjected to the State of Texas’s convict-leasing program which was in operation until 1911. The remains of those individuals have come to be known as the Sugar Land 95. “Fort Bend ISD is appreciative of the support of Fort Bend County, the City of Sugar Land, and our current state representatives who share our vision of memorializing this historic discovery,” said Board President Jason Burdine. “We continue to be optimistic that we will find a solution and that we will be able to share this important part of our shared history with generations to come.” HB 4179 would allow Fort Bend County to take ownership and operate a historic cemetery, and continue negotiations with the district and the City of Sugar Land to memorialize the Sugar

SEE FBISD, PAGE 7

The Sugar Land Skeeters last week announced that longtime Minor League Baseball executive and Missouri City resident Christopher Hill has been hired as the team’s president. Hill was the Skeeters’ vice president for their inaugural season in 2012. He was the first person on site, responsible for all initial revenue generation for the club, including naming rights, skybox sales, ticket sales and sponsorship sales, with a focus on stadium founding partnerships. “Coming home is a rare and exciting opportunity,” Hill said. “To live in such a dynamic community and now represent the best family-friendly venue in the area is an honor. We are going to have an exciting team, develop new and engaging promotions and most importantly - have fun.” Hill, who was born and raised in North East, Md., has spent 20-plus years working in professional sports and arena management. Starting in Boise, Idaho (Short Season A- Anaheim Angels),

Former Skeeters vice president Chris Hill is returning to the team as president.

Hill’s career continued to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate), Lake Elsinore Storm (Anaheim Angels Single-A affiliate) and Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A, Toronto Blue Jays) franchises “We are thrilled that Chris has agreed to lead our organization,” said Skeeters owner Kevin Zlotnik. “We talked to many candidates, but Chris stood out with both his vast minor league experience and strong ties to the Sugar Land community. On behalf of my whole family, we cannot wait to see Chris elevate this franchise to even further heights.”

Schulze family named Fort Bend County Fair honorees From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Pictured from the left (standing) are Teresa Schulze Mielsch, Clifford Schulze, and Kathie Schulze Sablatura. Sitting is Alvin Schulze. (Submitted photo)

The Schulze Family will be recognized as the 2019 Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo Honorees. Actively supporting the fair for decades as sponsors, buyers, exhibitors, and fair-goers, the Schulze family has passed its commitment to the Fort Bend County Fair from generation to generation. The Schulze family owns and operates Schulze’s Bar-B-Que and Catering and Schulze Family Restaurant. Siblings Teresa Schulze Mielsch, Kathie Schulze Sablatura, and Clifford Schulze have carried on the traditions that their father, Alvin Schulze, started in 1980. The siblings

SOUTHWEST

FORT BEND’S TOP SELLING AGENTS

have passed their passion of participating in the fair’s undertakings down to their children and grandchildren. “The Schultze family has always been part of our fair for as long as I can remember. You see their family at the auction, in the livestock arena, in the rodeo arena, and all over the fair. Helping the kids and being there for the kids – that is what their family has always done. The Schulze family is very well-deserving of being honored,” said 2019 Fort Bend County Fair President, Marjie Pollard. The Schulze family is best known for serving up a hot meal. “My first memory of being involved with the fair is catering. We would be catering a reception or event. That is really where it all began,” said Teresa

Schulze Mielsch. For 44 years the Alvin Schulze family has been in the restaurant business. Schulze’s Bar-B-Que and Catering is located in Rosenberg, adjacent to the Schulze Family Restaurant. “We have been proud to be able to cater the buyers’ receptions, cowboy camp, and countless other fair events; it is what we do,” added Mielsch. The Schulze and Sablatura family’s participation have continued to grow over the years. “Our involvement quickly evolved into buying at the Junior Livestock Auction. Dad and Clifford started supporting the auction, and as a family,

SEE SCHULZE PAGE 10

Outstanding Agents Outstanding Results

of 2 Best 017 FORT BEND STAR

Readers’ Choice

Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Serving Your LOCAL Community for 30 YEARS

www.buysellsugarland.com • 281-491-1776


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.