See column related to Children at Risk rankings -- Page 3
Dulles JROTC Cadet Tyler Wallace was recognized by the city of Sugar Land Friday, June 7 in honor of his Silver Valor Award. Read the story inside today's edition on Page 4.
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 12, 2019
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 43
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Jack’s Pub Fort Settlement receives top marks in school rankings
ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAWFISH
FOR $21 SUNDAY JUNE 16, 2019 FROM 3PM- 7PM DRINK SPECIALS
281-498-3410 • 11720 Wilcrest Houston, Tx. 77099
ORDER DAD A CAKE
ONLINE
Rustika
By Landan Kuhlmann
LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Some of the area’s schools measured up well this year with the Greater Houston region and state of Texas. Others didn’t make the grade. Texas-based Children at Risk, a nonprofit that has spent more than a decade ranking Texas schools, recently released is 2019 public school rankings. The
organization’s evaluations consider how well schools support economically disadvantaged students, annual test scores and year-over-year growth and, for high school evaluations, college and career readiness. According to Children at Risk’s website, the annual rankings “aim to help parents, educators and community members understand how their schools are performing and spark dialogue on the quality of public
education across Texas.” Among area schools, Fort Settlement Middle School in Sugar Land achieved the highwater mark, ranking sixth among Houston-area middle schools and 19th in the state. FSMS received the distinction of State School of Character in 2012 and 2015. and was most recently, FSMS was named a Na-
SEE RANKINGS, PAGE 8
Fort Settlement Middle School in Sugar Land was the highestrated school in the area in the Children at Risk rankings released last week. (Photo from Fort Settlement Middle School Facebook)
History in the making
Rustika Café & Bakery 281-494-4230 Café & Bakery • rustikacafe.com 3227OPEN Hwy. 6 Sugar Land 77478 NOW
NOWOPEN
Next to Corelli’s Italian CUSTOM CAKES + PASTRIES + COOKIES + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES
Next to Corelli’s Italian CUSTOM CAKES + PASTRIES + COOKIES + COFFEE + SOUPS + SANDWICHES
auto - home - life
Thad Olive 1716 Dulles Ave. Suite 102 Sugar Land, TX. 77478 832-999-4292
www.agentolive.com
Chen, Kermally victorious in runoff elections By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The area has two new city council members after runoff election results rolled in Saturday night. According to the results, which are unofficial until canvassed, Alice Chen is the new representative for Position 1 on Stafford’s city council. Naushad Kermally overtook Nabila Mansoor to become Sugar Land’s city council member for District 2. Chen, who has lived in Stafford for 30 years working as a community activist, volunteer and small business owner, narrowly edged out Auturo Jackson by receiving 51.9 percent (614) of the votes compared to Jackson’s 48.1 percent (569). Chen has been Congressman Al Green’s community liaison since 2006 and also served on Stafford’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Kermally, a 23-year Sugar Land resident who has previously served on various committees around Fort Bend County, was named on about 57.3 percent (1,811) of ballots compared to Mansoor’s total of about 42.7 percent (1,352).
Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Fort Bend Economic Development Council President /CEO Jeff Wiley address the audience during a question-and-answer session at a luncheon with the Consular Corps of Houston Friday, June 7. The meeting was the first of its kind held in Fort Bend County. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
George convenes first Consular Corps gathering in Fort Bend By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend County Judge KP George has made history on a number of fronts, from his election in November to the actions he’s taken in the months since. The Indian-American official recently continued that trend and doesn’t look to be slowing down. George has met with numerous countries, trade delegations, businesses and investors to attract, foster and grow businesses while helping to create new, wellpaying jobs for Fort Bend County residents. It’s part of his Fort Bend Global Initiative, which he launched in March. In that spirit, George convened the first high-level Fort Bend meeting of the Consular Corps of Houston – the nation’s third-largest, with more than 90 countries represented – at the Ismaili
Jamatkhana & Center on June 7 in Sugar Land. “We have made history and will continue to do so with this meeting,” George said. “It is crucial that Fort Bend build strong relationships with our Consular Corps and international economic development partners so that we can encourage job growth and attract private investment, for the benefit of our residents. I am grateful that we have a Consular Corps that is willing to collaborate and help improve the economic fabric of our community,” Consulates for more than County Judge KP George with a few of the more than 40 consul40 countries attended last ates who attended Friday's luncheon. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann) week’s meeting, and George cited the Corps being on the we’re talking to the right ing Fort Bend County a frontlines of information for people,” George said. “They “historic region” that sits incoming businesses as a know who is coming, they in great position for future major benefit of a partner- have that firsthand connec- business success and repship he hopes will wind up tion, which makes this an resents a perfect partner for paying dividends as Fort important relationship.” the Corps. Bend moves into the future. Consular Corps of Hous“I believe Houston and “The Consulate’s job is ton Dean Juan B. Sosa Fort Bend can go many also about commerce, so echoed the sentiment, call- places,” Sosa said. “These
meetings are all about connecting with and getting to know about you and how we can do this together. (George) has shown he can do things, and we’d like to do them with you.” The Fort Bend County Economic Development Council (EDC) will work with Consular Corps representatives regarding incoming businesses and entities, according to George, so Fort Bend County can take its “next step” to facilitate the business growth and demand that accompanies the burgeoning population, which is expected to exceed 1 million by 2022. George said such growth will be one of the county’s top priorities in the coming years. “We wanted to bring more revenue and new business here, and this will
SEE CORPS, PAGE 10
Missouri City takes baton, sends Marshall to nationals By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
The old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” played out in Missouri City recently when the talented track and field athletes from Marshall High School had to consider declining an invitation to a national competition. But thanks to the support from their community, the Buffalos are bound for North Caro-lina. The Missouri City Police Department was among the groups that helped the track standouts cover a financial shortfall so they can compete in the 2019 New Balance Nationals, scheduled for June 13-16 in Greensboro, N.C. “For them to have this opportunity, we didn’t want to pass this up. We felt like this is a good chance for the boys to win and be on a national
From left to right, Marshall track's Dalevon Campbell, coach Rodney Alix, Jaquze White, Garrett Wilkins and Malik Hornsby accept a check from Missouri City Police Lt. Jazon Heard, Police Detective Mike Zimmer, and MCPOA Vice President Sgt. Jay McClellan. (Photo by Theresa D. McClellan)
stage,” said Rodney Alix, a track coach at Marshall said. “Being Marshall it’s a little stigma to our school and for the community to step up is something.” In four of the last five years, Marshall captured the team state championship in Class
5A. After their latest title this year, the Buffalos were invited to participate in the 2019 New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. More than 5,000 top athletes from almost every state as well as Canada and other na-tions are expected for the
competition that, according to the event website, attracts the best runners, jumpers, throwers and relay teams. Alix was excited for the opportunity to have his young athletes gain a national audience, but the team’s booster club was only able to raise
$4,000 of the needed $5,000. Alix didn’t want to disappoint his seniors – most of whom will not compete in track once they reach college – so he started talking to his old friend, Lt. Jazton Heard of the Mis-souri City PD. Heard also didn’t want the teens to miss out because they couldn’t afford to go, so he started making phone calls to area business and community leaders. He also told De-tective Mike Zimmer, the president of the Missouri City Police Officers Association. The police officers group quickly raised $1,000, and others in the community reached out asking how they could help. In less than two days, $2,000 was raised. “The police officers association made it so easy on us. They gave us $1,000 right out the gate,” Heard said. “We said, ‘What do we do now? We’ve already talked to busi-
nesses.’ ” The money will be used for travel, food expenses and lodging. The athletes and three coaches will fly into Raleigh, N.C., and drive to Greensboro. “This is the first time in the nationals,” Alix said. “A lot of them were on football scholarships. We have one kid going to the national meet and then immediately reporting to college. He’s going to (the University of Tulsa)." The athletes are Devon Achane, Dalevon Campbell, Malik Hornsby, Korey King, Bryson Stubblefield, Jaquze White and Garrett Wilkins. They will run in the 400-meter relay and 800 relay. Wanda Jones, president of the Hunters Glen IV homeowners association, said when the police reached out to her
SEE MARSHALL, PAGE 6