Police looking into officer-involved shooting - Page 7
Beard Papa’s in Sugar Land offered scintillating sweetness during a recent visit. Read our review inside today's edition on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
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County seeks funding for additional officers By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 42
During its June 1 meeting, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a proposal to apply for a federal grant that would allow the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office to hire 20 new patrol deputies to bolster the presence of law enforce-
ment in rural areas. The county requested $1.1 million from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program, according to county documents stating the county’s intent to apply for the grant. If the county is awarded the grant, it expects to hire the new deputies at a total cost of $1.4 million during the first year of the three-
year grant program. The county would cover the remaining cost, amounting to $360,652.92, with a roughly 25 percent match. “There is no question about the need,” Fort Bend County Judge KP George said. “When I talk to small-city mayors, those who don’t have a police department, they’re always saying
Zamora they need help. And the only help they can get is from the sheriff’s department.”
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Manuel F. Zamora, who heads the administrative division of the sheriff’s department, said during the first year of the COPS program, the federal funding would allow the county to hire 20 deputies at the cost of five, he said. “The effort is to get to the root causes of crime,”
SEE OFFICERS PAGE 7
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FBISD delays search for new leader By Stefan Modrich
The Landmark Community Center had its grand opening in Missouri City on Saturday and is open to the public in a renovated building that was formerly Missouri City High School and Missouri City Middle School. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
Landmark Community Center opens to public By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The search for Charles Dupre’s successor as Fort Bend ISD superintendent, conducted by the search firm Hazard Young Attea & Associates (HYA), is behind the schedule agreed upon by the district’s board of trustees The board voted 4-3 this week in favor of scheduling a meeting with the search firm on June 14 for the purposes of discussing a revised timeline for hiring a superintendent. The revised schedule could delay the superintendent search between one and three months, said Board President Dave Rosenthal. Board Vice President
SEE FBISD PAGE 7
One of the oldest buildings in Missouri City has a new purpose. The Landmark Community Center’s grand opening Saturday showcased a $4.6 million restoration of the building at 100 Louisiana St., which most recently housed Missouri City Middle School. The Fort Bend County The Landmark Community Center, shown from the Commissioners Court is responsible for renovating the outside, aims to be an activity hub for Missouri City and community center, which Fort Bend County. (Photo by Stefan Modrich) features a new lobby, new basketball court, sound stage, and a lounge with a coffee After the structure was a fitness center, game center and juice bar. mostly completed in Novem-
and coffee bar area below it and to the fitness center and bleachers above it. Gary Nichols, a Quail Valley resident and the recreation manager within the county’s parks and recreation department, said Landmark Community Center is free and open to all county residents. “We’re just looking for people to have a place to come, young ones and old ones,” Nichols said. “The young ones can be safe and off the streets. And the older ones can come work out or sit and
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Pier 61 Asian Cajun serves last meal in Stafford By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Rosenthal
ber 2020 aside from some aesthetic finishing touches, its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was an extensive planning process,” Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage said. “We had to take our time and decide how to best protect (the building).” Prestage said implementing modern amenities in the building and making it accessible for those with disabilities was a challenge. A hydraulic lift to elevate wheelchair users or other people with disabilities was installed to transport people from the gym floor level to the lounge
A strong five-week stretch that began March 11, when Vu Dau reopened his restaurant following relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, led him to dream about growing his business and even about putting down roots in Stafford. But the resurgence was short-lived for Pier 61 Asian Cajun, which closed Monday night.
“I thought we were going to hit our quota and make a breakthrough,” Dau said. “Because if it’s just one week, I could say, ‘Yeah, it might be a fluke.’ But it was five good weeks. I still have a little money left just to ride out a month, but I don’t want to go deep into debt.” Dau, a first-time restaurateur who employed his three daughters as servers, hired additional staff and stocked up on additional food in response to the busy spurt.
He said he appreciated the opportunity to host a meetand-greet for residents and Stafford elected officials and donated a crawfish dinner for the Stafford Police Department. But the tide began to turn for Dau three weeks ago, when the economic realities of a 30 percent increase in costs for his food supply, rising inflation and labor
SEE PIER 61 PAGE 7
Sonia Serrato, left, and Larry Falcon of Sugar Land had dinner Monday at Pier 61 Asian Cajun in Stafford, which closed later Monday. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
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