07-14-21 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Police: Body found could be missing woman - Page 2

Vino & Vinyl brings music, food and wine together for a sweet combination. Read the review on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

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Fort Bend death drives inattentive motorist bill

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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Elaine Brooks has gone almost four years without her daughter, and still the pain and grief are fresh in her mind.

Lisa Torry Smith was killed, and her 6-year-old son severely injured, when the driver of a car struck them in a crosswalk while she was walking him to school in October 2017.

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Cleveland Lake was once a pleasant respite for residents living in the homes dotting its shores, said Scott Covington, one such homeowner. Ducks once frequented the lake, with fish abundant in its waters.

That all ended with the arrival of a single plant, the water hyacinth, Scott said.

A walk along the suburban lake these days now resembles something out of a science fiction novel – greenery dotted with a distinct purple flower stretched out along the edges of the water, and entirely blanketing the lake in some parts.

“It’s an environmental disaster,” Covington said. “The water hyacinth depletes the water of oxygen. The fish die.

The ducks that normally are there all the time are disappearing. It’s horrible, horrible growth.”

The Sugar Land residents living along Cleveland Lake aren’t alone in dealing with the invasive species before them, but ongoing discussions between a developer and the city have meant nearby homeowners must sit and watch the

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Child abuse in county ticks up during pandemic

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The coronavirus pandemic caused an uptick in reports of child abuse in Fort Bend County that, even a year later, experts are still trying to fully understand, according to officials with Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

Overall, the advocacy program received about 6 percent more reports of child abuse in 2020 c o m pared to 2019, s a i d Rutha n n e Mefford, the CEO of Child Mefford Advocates of Fort Bend. But in actuality, the number is much higher, because advocates noticed a decrease in reports during the first months of the pandemic, followed by an uptick of some 62 percent in later months in 2020, Mefford said.

The decline and rise in reports coincides almost exactly with the most severe shutdowns and reopenings.

“It’s not that the abuse wasn’t happening, but no one was observing the children,” Mefford

SEE ABUSE PAGE 7

Senate Bill 1055, will give prosecutors new tools to charge motorists that hit or severely injure pedestrians using a crosswalk or an intersection, Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton said.

Prior to the bill, all crimes would have fallen under the charge of criminally negligent homicide, Middleton said. Grand juries found the

SEE BILL PAGE 7

Invasive plant species taking over Sugar Land’s Cleveland Lake

By Matt deGrood

Luxury

Lisa Torry Smith is shown with her son. Smith's 2017 death spurred a new Texas law. (Contributed photo)

“It happens when you least expect it,” said Brooks, Smith’s mother. “That’s why a sudden death like that is so hard to get your arms around, and deal with. You don’t ever really deal with it.

You continue to grieve, for years.”

Smith’s family and friends secured a measure of solace in the Texas Legislature this year. A new law, known as the Lisa Torry Smith Act, is set to go into effect Sept. 1.

The bill, also known as

Fishing for a fix

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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 47

water hyacinth overtake the body of water.

“What I can tell you is that we are aware of the concerns of residents who live around Cleveland Lake,” said Doug Adolph, spokesperson for the city. “We are working with both the residents and the HOA in The Orchard neighborhood, and the Imperial Redevelopment District to come up with a solution that will remove the vegetation from the lake. We hope to have an agreement finalized very soon, but we are not quite there yet.”

Representatives for the district did not respond to a request for comment by Monday afternoon.

Essentially, for most private lakes in Sugar Land, the local homeowners association is responsible for maintaining them and keeping them free of invasive species like the water hyacinth, Adolph said. What makes this case unique is that the Imperial Redevelopment District owns the lake, but not the nearby neighborhoods, he said.

Adolph wasn’t sure about

SEE INVASIVE PAGE 7

The water hyacinth is an invasive species of plant that Tony Love frequents the area around Cleveland Lake to fish. The place would be perfect can overtake lakes and kill fish. (Photo by Stefan Modrich) for fishing and kayaking if not for the water hyacinth, he said. (Photo by Matt deGrood)

Select regional workshops empower local swimmers Sugar Land native who attends a boarding school out of state but has been working with the Fort Colony Swim Team (FCST), took part in the Regional Diversity Select Performance Camp on July 9, which aimed to “empower athletes to demonstrate the viability of multicultural success in swimming,” among other principles such as leadership skills.

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sugar Land teenagers Ellie Wang and Alex Fu were recently judged to be two of the most prolific swimmers in their respective regions by USA Swimming.

Both are now hoping to take their recent experiences at select virtual regional workshops to pursue goals both in and out of the pool.

The 14-year-old Wang, a

From left, First Colony Swim Team members Alex Fu, Ellie Wang and Mason Ramsower have all taken part in select regional camps this summer. (Contributed photo)

SEE SWIMMERS PAGE 7

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PAGE 2 • Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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Katy jewelry store tied up in multi-million dollar fraud case

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Officials with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office are asking residents who think they might have been defrauded by a local jewelry store to contact them, after federal officers arrested an owner of the business.

Even aside from the

specter of a Fort Bend County investigation, the owner has already been accused in an elaborate, multi-million dollar fraud scheme involving the Katy business, according to federal charging documents.

Federal law enforcement on June 29 arrested Santiago Mora, of Harris County, in Miami in connection to federal charges, according to the Fort Bend County

Sheriff’s Office.

It’s not yet clear specifically what those unrelated charges are, but Mora is facing at least several federal charges in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to court records.

Mora is accused of not delivering almost $4 million worth of luxury watches to another company, and then of forging his partner’s information to apply for cash infusions to pay back the company, according to the grand jury indictment.

Mora was the co-owner of a jewelry store in Katy,

called Alku Modern Jewelers, or Laspis Lazuli, along with Juan Carlos Javadi, who lived in Utah and let Mora run the daily operations, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

Starting around May 2019, Mora began doing business with Timez In-

vestments, owned by two men, according to the indictment. As part of that work, the two men bought luxury watches from Mora and would then sell them for a profit.

Timez Investments paid Mora about $8.8 million for more than 850 watches, but Mora is accused of never delivering about 354 of them and allegedly owed $3.92 million to Timez, according to the indictment.

Mora allegedly told the two men he had applied for a loan to repay them, according to the indictment.

Mora is then accused of applying for several business loans and forging his partner’s signature without

his knowledge, according to the indictment. Mora allegedly received three loans totaling more than $400,000, according to the indictment.

Javadi then in April 2020 allegedly recorded a phone call with Mora, during which Mora allegedly said he’d been using Javadi’s identity to apply for merchant cash advances, according to the indictment.

Investigators with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office are also asking anyone who thinks they might have been a victim of the jewelry store to call detective Jesse Murphy, 281-341-3815.

Woman’s body found in Richmond

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Local authorities found a body in Richmond’s Jones Creek in the early morning hours Monday

that they said might be a local woman who was reported missing last week.

Investigators with

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the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said the remains might be those of Allison Kampe, 41, of Richmond, officials said.

The body was found inside Kampe’s car in the water of Jones Creek based on a tip from an off-duty firefighter, according to police.

Investigators noticed the vehicle when the water levels in Jones Creek receded after heavy rains, according to the sheriff’s office.

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office declined to rule out any possible factors in the death, including foul play.

“The investigation of this tragic incident is ongoing by our team,” Sheriff Eric Fagan said in a news release.

FBCSO said Kampe was last seen July 9 exiting a restaurant in the 6300 block of FM 1463 in Katy. She was thought to be returning to her Richmond-area home near FM 359 and FM 723, according to police.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021 • PAGE

3

Sometimes local politics can work When I first started covering local politics almost a decade ago, I had this thought that they were inherently less partisan than much of the national conversation.

While national political figures argued about the major culture clashes of the day, the work of local leaders was decidedly less sexy, my thinking went. Whereas a U.S. Senator might become famous largely through criticizing the opposition party, those in municipal government had to make decisions about issues that provided no easy Democratic or Republican answers.

Where should we place this road? How should we address neighborhood flooding concerns? The work of local government is essential, but in a more grassroots manner. A Democrat and a Republican could conceivably agree on how to address

Matt deGrood

some of the biggest issues in a way that seems impossible in Washington D.C. these days.

It might come as a surprise to no one, but the thoughts of a naïve, 22-yearold recent college graduate weren’t quite right. I’ve now seen people get elected to local office, not with a firm understanding of the specific issues facing a community, but by banging the drums of culture war, and proudly touting their political affiliations. But while the optimistic musings of a young professional have been proven wrong by

cynical reality, perhaps that ideal is still worth considering.

If you weren’t paying close attention to the latest Texas Legislative session, you could have easily missed the passage of Senate Bill 1055.

Also called the Lisa Torry Smith Act, the bill was sponsored by State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Republican, with a companion bill in the Texas House, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Democrat. It unanimously passed both the House and Senate before Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law June 18.

It will take effect Sept. 1.

The legislation’s history begins in Fort Bend County, where District Attorney Brian Middleton, a Democrat, worked on the bill that provides new criminal charges for someone who strikes a pedestrian at a crosswalk or intersection. Middleton

at an emotional press conference last week said he felt compelled to work on the bill after speaking with Smith’s family, and hearing of their efforts to get justice after Smith was struck and killed by a motorist while walking across the street with her son in 2017.

Absolutely striking to me was just how cordial everyone was while discussing the success.

Huffman praised both Reynolds and Middleton. Middleton praised his colleagues. Everyone seemed genuinely proud of their success. And several made a point of emphasizing just how unusual the victory was, given that Texas has not been immune to the partisan warfare that has infected Washington.

The Lone Star State, in many ways, is reflective of the nation at large.

No doubt, Senate Bill 1055 will get less media attention than some of the

other issues that came before the Texas Legislature this year. Perhaps there’s even some sense in that – fewer people know what it’s like to lose a loved one in a crosswalk than what it feels like to freeze and shiver for days after the state’s electric grid fails.

But this bill mattered deeply to the family of Smith, who died while taking her son to school. And, if Middleton is to be believed, perhaps it will make a difference in the lives of some future Lisa Torry Smith. If the legislation even forces people to stop, and be more cautious at an intersection, that alone will be a victory.

More notable still is that a bevy of legislators, perhaps moved by the story, momentarily put aside their political differences and worked together to pass a bill that can make a small, but noticeable

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difference in the lives of their constituents.

Robert Caro, in his biographies of Lyndon B. Johnson, writes of a time when someone pressed the president to not speak about civil rights in his first speech, arguing the president shouldn’t waste power on a lost cause.

“Well, what the hell’s the presidency for?” Johnson replied.

And that’s exactly it.

While the current tenor in this country would suggest politics are an inherent ill, they possess the possibility to bring positive change to people’s lives.

Stories like these don’t happen often anymore in government. But they are also the essence of the positive impact local and state government can have, at their most ideal. It’s the sort of victory well worth savoring.

itu a ry

E E

OSCAR V. LUERA

NOVEMBER 4, 1936

Hinojosa, Meyers key Skeeters offensive outburst

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Sugar Land Skeeters continued to pace TripleA West’s East division last week with standout performances from all facets of the game. One of the key contributors was an established bat, while the other was a bit of a surprise.

The Skeeters went 4-2 last week to stay atop the division, taking the final two games against Round Rock and splitting the first four games of their homestand against the Tacoma Rainiers over the weekend.

Sugar Land (33-24), which boasts Triple-A West’s best run differential, was scheduled to finish its homestand against Tacoma on Tuesday.

Standing out on the offensive side was outfielder Jake Meyers, who continued to impress against Minor League Baseball’s highest level of pitching, while second baseman C.J. Hinojosa also had a prolific week to pace Sugar Land’s lineup.

Hinojosa was 7 for 23 in six games last week, with five of those hits going for extra bases while driving in a team-leading eight runs.

He had four doubles and a homer, raising his OPS from .723 to .746. Meyers, meanwhile, went 8 for 20 with four extra-base hits and seven RBIs during the week. In the process, he

clubbed his team-leading 15th home run while reaching base in 12 of his 24 plate appearances. He ranks third in Triple-A West in batting average (.340) and fourth in OPS (1.035), both of which also pace the Skeeters.

Jose Siri also homered twice last week to give him 11 homers on the year, and he entered play this week leading the Skeeters with 44 RBIs. On the mound, JP France continued his strong performance since being promoted to Sugar Land on June 22.

France threw five shutout innings in relief to pick up a win against Tacoma on July 10, allowing three hits while striking out 10 hitters. The

right-hander has punched out 32 hitters in 18.1 innings since his promotion.

Ryan Hartman also had a strong performance in a win over Round Rock, hurling five innings of one-run baseball while striking out five and allowing just one hit.

Following the conclusion of their series against Tacoma on Tuesday, the Skeeters will kick off a 12-game road trip. They’ll play the Albuquerque Isotopes July 15-20 before traveling to face the Oklahoma City Dodgers from July 22-27. Sugar Land’s next homestand will be a six-game series against the El Paso Chihuahuas that begins on July 29.

High School before pitching at the University of Arkansas, was taken with the 99th overall pick in the MLB first-year player draft by the San Diego Padres on Monday afternoon.

Kopps posted a 2.87 ERA in 191.1 career innings at Arkansas, including a 0.90 ERA in

By Landan Kuhlmann

A hometown hurler has taken the first step toward living out his professional baseball dream.

Sugar Land native Kevin Kopps, who went to Richmond’s George Ranch

89.1 innings during a 2021 campaign in which he was named an All American and won the Dick Howser National Player of the Year award. He was also the National College Baseball Writer’s Association’s Stopper of the Year after leading Arkansas to the NCAA Super Regionals.

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JUNE 30, 2021

Domitila Elias; 6 Grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, friends and other loved ones.

Oscar was a barber in Fort Bend County for over 40 years and loved serving his customers. He was a jokester and was the type of person who never met a stranger. Oscar was a Loving Husband, Father, Father-in-law, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, and Friend that will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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Francis Martes delivers a pitch for the Sugar Land Skeeters on Sunday at Constellation Field. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

Sugar Land native taken in third round of MLB draft

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Oscar V. Luera, 84, of Richmond, TX, was born on November 4, 1936.

He left this life to be with his Lord and loved Ones on June 30, 2021.

A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 507 4th St., Richmond, TX 77469 with Mass at 10am.

Oscar is preceded in death by his parents, Maximo and Victoria Luera; brothers, Armando Luera, Lucio Luera, and Erineo Luera; sisters, Ninfa Gutierrez, Pauline Huerta, Olga Hernandez, Ignacia Franco, and Eufemia Palacios.

Oscar leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 57 years, Elvira Luera; sons, Jaime Luera and his wife Maria and Javier Luera and his wife Susie; daughter, Veronica Torres and her husband Jesse; brother, Maximo Luera; sisters, Adriana Hernandez, Minerva Guerrero, Frances Banda, and

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Scripture of the week

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” - Proverbs 3:5

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, July 14, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Immerse yourself in the story of rainforest conservation. Explore the world of sustainable butterfly farming through physical role-play challenges. Along your journey, uncover other successful rainforest enterprises that impact your daily life.

This exhibition is proudly supported by Fort Bend Junior Service League

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021 • PAGE

5

Local students honored for raising cancer research funds

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Ridge Point High School student has watched family members battle cancer before, and her experience with it convinced her to help raise money for those currently in the fight, she said.

Both of Ridge Point High School student Juliana Jaasma’s grandmothers were previously diagnosed with cancer, including one with multiple myeloma – a cancer in which cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells.

Both are currently in remission, Jaasma said, but that does not make the mission behind her participation in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual Students of the Year fundraising campaign any less personal.

“That’s one of the big reasons I did the campaign,” she said.

On July 9, Jaasma and her friend Drew Beckelman were named the runners up in the LLS’s annual Students of the Year fundraising campaign, according to a news release from the organization. As the leaders of Team Crushin’ It, Beckelman and Jaasma helped raise more than $111,000 during the campaign that will go toward helping LLS’s efforts to explore new paths to cures and treatments, according to the release.

This is the second time that the soon-to-be seniors at Ridge Point have been part of an LLS fundraising team after being on their school’s team last year.

“We’re very proud to have raised so much for an important cause in such a short period of time. We really pushed ourselves to reach our goal because we knew every dollar helps blood cancer patients,” Beckelman said in the release. “Our motivation stemmed from the incredible mission of LLS and those who benefit from LLS’s advances in

Beckelman cancer research.”

In all, LLS said the 28 student-led teams raised more

Jaasma than $800,000 over the last seven weeks.

“These students are an in-

spiration, they embody the idea that anyone can make a difference with hard work and

DENTIST CHRONIC BACK PAIN RELIEVED! “Vlada Matytsin has been practicing dentistry for 30 years and has been dealing with back problems for 25 years. ‘I don’t know if Dentistry is to blame but it definitely doesn’t help. I have been in car accidents and I used to ski on the mountains in Russia. My neck has a herniated disc (C7) and it made a really creepy sound when I moved it. As a member of Sugar Land Rotary Club I became acquainted with Dr. Harris. I knew he treated people with chronic pain so I decided to give him a try. He did full spine x-rays and created a customized treatment plan for me.

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noted a farmer’s market attendee gave $100 to their campaign as the woman had just recently been the recipient of a bone marrow transplant funded by the LLS. “In comparison to how much we raised we really didn’t get that much (at the farmer’s market), but in the grand scheme of things it made a huge impact in getting our message out there and reminding us why we were doing it,” she said.

For more information on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission, visit its website at LLS.org.

Follow us on social media @ FortBendStar

ASK THE EXPERT

Q:

A:

Are Over the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids the same as hearing aids dispensed by an Audiologist?

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, just Terry Snook released a warning on May AuD, FAAA 7, 2021 about being cautious when purchasing OTC aids. He warned Texans to be cautious when buying from companies selling OTC aids, especially ones being sold online or by mail order. Many of these devices do not have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and are actually low-end amplifiers.

Many companies list these devices as “registered.” This is not the same as having the FDA endorsement. Best results are achieved by having a complete hearing evaluation from an Audiologist and getting a recommendation for the appropriate hearing device for your type of hearing loss and hearing needs. In addition, monitoring and following up with the patient allows the Audiologist to review the datalogging on the new hearing aid and receive feedback from the patient. This allows for the precise personalized care that each patient deserves. More information about the Attorney General’s statement can be found at: https:// www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/consumer-alert-becautious-when-purchasing-over-counter-hearing-aid

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dedication,” LLS Gulf Coast Chapter executive director Billie Sue Parris said. “What the candidates were able to achieve in seven weeks is truly amazing, and will have a tremendous impact on the lives of blood cancer patients and their families.”

During the seven-week campaign, Jaasma and Beckelman got the word out any way they could about their mission. From word-of-mouth to in-person campaigning at local farmer’s markets – an endeavor she said was the most rewarding aspect of the campaign – Jaasma said no avenue was left unexplored.

In one instance, Jaasma

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THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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Deputies investigating shooting outside Whole Foods Market Fourth of

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a shooting in the parking lot of

a Whole Foods Market store near Cinco Ranch, officials confirmed last Wednesday.

Deputies have thus far received preliminary information that a father

and son on July 6 got into a fight in the parking lot of the grocery store in the 6600 block of S. Fry Road, said Jacqueline Preston, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

During the fight, the two men struggled over a handgun, which discharged and struck the son in the neck, Preston said. The son was transported to the hospital

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Fort Bend County law enforcement arrested 19 people on suspicion of driving while intoxicated over the Fourth of July holiday, a major uptick in arrests compared to other recent no-refusal weekends, according to the district attorney’s office.

A no refusal weekend refers to an operation wherein police officers and law enforcement have quicker access to search warrants for drivers that refuse a breath or blood test.

DWI arrests declined substantially for much of the coronavirus pandemic. For instance, county officials made eight arrests over Memorial Day and 12 over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to data provided by Wesley Wittig, executive assistant district attorney.

During the most recent operation, officers made 19 arrests, of which five people consented to giving a blood sample, and 14 refused and were served with search warrants, according to the district attorney’s office.

Labor Day will be the next norefusal weekend, officials said.

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with non-life-threatening injuries, Preston said.

Neither person has been charged in connection to the incident, which remains under investigation, Preston said.

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Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from www.CivCastUSA.com or documents may be purchased for $100 in the office of the Project Engineer: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. 11700 Katy Freeway, Suite 800, Houston, TX 77079 Sealed bids one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held at Sugar Land City Hall Brazos Room, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas 77479 on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 9 AM. Questions regarding this bid must be received by Manu Isaac, P.E on or before Friday, July 23, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Please contact Manu Isaac at 281-920-6306 or at manu.isaac@kimley-horn.com.

The City Council will award the contract as provided in the Invitation to Bid. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CHANGE IN ZONING FROM INTERIM STANDARD SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1-I) TO STANDARD SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) FOR 4.81 ACRES AT 12430 ALSTON RD City Council Public Hearing 5:30 p.m., August 03, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North to hear all persons interested in the proposed change in Zoning for 4.81 acres located at 12430 Alston Road in the Brown & Belknap League, Abstract 15.

The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” City Council no later than Friday, July 30, 2021. Options for participation in the public hearing will be posted on the agenda. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed change in Zoning online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning & Development Services Department at (281) 275-2218.

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See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, July 14, 2021 • PAGE

7

Altitude Sugar Land offers family-friendly indoor adventures Stefan Modrich See Fortbendstar.com for related video

There are two certainties about Houston summers: rain will come down in buckets and, when it doesn’t, it will be swelteringly hot.

The rainy weather last weekend was the impetus for the last-minute change in plans which resulted in my discovery of Altitude Trampoline Park at 4550 State Highway 6 S. in Sugar Land.

The idea of jumping back in time and feeling like a kid again was especially appealing with my girlfriend in town to visit me. I had remembered her showing me videos of her and her sister at a trampoline park in Matamoros, Mexico, near her childhood home.

The 22,000 square foot facility in Sugar Land features a main court with trampolines

★ BILL FROM PAGE 1 statute broad and difficult to apply in specific cases, Middleton said.

A Fort Bend grand jury ultimately declined to indict the driver in Smith’s death with any criminal charges, and the driver only received a ticket.

But Senate Bill 1055 will allow prosecutors to charge drivers who cause bodily injury to a pedestrian with a class A misdemeanor, and a state jail felony if the driver causes serious bodily injury or death, Middleton said.

Those charged with the misdemeanor could be sentenced up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Those charged with the felony could receive between six months and two years in jail, and up to a $10,000 fine.

Middleton, Smith’s family members and the legislators behind the bill gathered at the Fort Bend County Justice Center last week to celebrate the law as well as to explain the history behind it.

For Brooks, it was the end result she’d been pursuing since just a few days after the death of her daughter, she said in a separate interview later that week.

“We’ve just kept trying to change the law,” she said.

“We wanted to change it so that, if you killed someone, you wouldn’t just get a traffic ticket.”

Needless death Smith on Oct. 19, 2017 was walking her son to school in the Sienna subdivision in Missouri City, said Wes Wit-

★ ABUSE FROM PAGE 1 said. “Teachers are the No. 1 reporters, as they’re most familiar with the children and see them every day.”

There’s some sense that the same trends bear out nationwide, according to Mefford.

Public records from all 50 states revealed that state agencies received 400,000 fewer

★ SWIMMERS FROM PAGE 1 Selection to the workshop is viewed as a potential stepping stone toward representing the United States on a national stage.

Wang, who is Asian American, said the virtual workshop helped shine a light on the need for more minority representation in the sport.

USA Swimming's website said that less than 10 percent of its current membership is African American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American or others.

“FCST is probably one of the most diverse swim teams out there. We’re all from different places and are different races – it’s really nice to be able to see that every day, so I feel lucky,” Wang said. “But for other areas, it’s important to have that same diversity.”

To qualify, Wang had to achieve at least one AAA National Motivational Time as judged by USA Swimming standards in sanctioned events. Swimmers entered their four best times, and the IMX point system was used to compare swimmers.

Pursing perseverance Fu, a Clements High School senior, participated in USA Swimming’s virtual Zone Select Camp in May. Each zone's camp consisted of 34 athletes from each competition category through USA Swimming’s SWIMS

Altitude Sugar Land is a 22,000 square-foot trampoline park with a variety of family-friendly activities. (Photos by Stefan Modrich)

divided neatly into squares, with padded mats serving as

aisles for walking between sections. Other popular at-

tig, spokesperson for the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office. As the mother and six-year-old son were crossing the intersection at Sienna Ranch and Nueces Creek, they were struck, Wittig said.

The 37-year-old Smith died from her injuries, Brooks said.

Her son, although severely injured, eventually recovered.

“Logan had to watch his mother die in the street,” Brooks said. “He kept saying, ‘Please don’t let mommy die.’”

Smith was the loving mother of two boys, a person who would do anything for her friends and family and was an absolute spitfire of energy, according to her mother.

The events of that October morning and the investigation after the fact – especially the lack of consequences for the driver – left the family angry, Brooks said.

“We were mad that Lisa died needlessly,” she said.

The case eventually drew bipartisan sympathy, leading to State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Democrat, and State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Republican, to team up with Middleton, a Democrat, and sponsor legislation that Gov. Greg Abbott eventually signed into law in June.

“I want to see people pay attention at crosswalks,” Reynolds said of what he hopes to see of the new law.

“I want people to think twice.

And for prosecutors, this gives the law teeth to ensure accountability.”

Both Huffman and Reynolds also spent time praising

each other’s work, and also noting how unusual it is for something to garner such bipartisan support in such bitterly divided times.

Senate Bill 1055 passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature unanimously.

For Brooks and Smith’s other family members, the day hit somewhat strangely.

“It has intensified my grief,” Brooks said. “At the same time, I’m extremely happy. But it’s also intensified my grief, because she’s not here.”

No piece of legislation can bring back Smith, or provide justice for the family, Brooks said. But perhaps it can help some future mother trying to cross the street with her children, Brooks said.

Across both Texas and the county, pedestrian deaths have been on the rise in recent years, according to a report by the Texas Department of Transportation. Pedestrian fatalities increased 18 percent between 2015 and 2019.

In 2019, the state saw more than 5,900 crashes involving pedestrians, including 1,317 with serious injuries and 669 deaths, according to the department.

Investigators said pedestrians failing to yield to right-of-way vehicles, drivers failing to yield, driver inattention and speeding were the top factors in the crashes, according to the department.

The new law is an important first step in getting those deaths down to zero, said Robin Stallings, the executive director of BikeTexas, a statewide advocacy organization.

child welfare concern reports and launched 200,000 fewer child abuse and neglect investigations compared to 2019, a decrease of about 18 percent in both total reports and investigations, according to a March report by the Associated Press.

The analysis looked at public records in all 50 state child welfare agencies and looked at more than a dozen indicators in 36 states, comparing informa-

tion from March to November 2020 with the same period in the two previous years, according to the report. But experts are concerned those numbers will spike at the end of the pandemic, according to the report. Experts in Fort Bend County suspect a variety of factors might explain the uptick, Mefford said.

“I think part of it is these incidents are increasing,” she said.

“And part of it is children are

database based on 2019 and 2020 Long Course Meters (LCM) combined IMX point scores. FCST's Mason Ramsower was also selected.

Leaders from youth organizations More Brave and Growing Leaders spoke with swimmers, covering topics such as perseverance and powering through obstacles, according to Fu. He also noted that he, along with many others, lived through situations that applied the teachings even before the workshop, such as COVID-19.

“There are always going to be obstacles in your way, and you’ve got to find a way to push through them and make the best out of bad situations," he said. "You’ve got to keep your eyes on the goal moving forward.”

Eyes on the future Moving ahead, both local swimmers have their eyes on bigger dreams in the pool in light of lessons learned from their camp experiences.

Wang is enrolled at a boarding school in New England. However, she has been swimming with FCST as she learns remotely throughout COVID-19 and said events such as last week’s workshop can only grow the sport.

“It’s really important in encouraging those groups of people in underrepresented communities to stay moti-

vated through swimming," she said.

Fu’s dream is to go as far as swimming will take him. He will swim at the University of

tractions include a netted dodgeball court and two basketball hoops.

The hub for Altitude’s other activities is the foam pit, which has 15,000 foam cubes to cushion one’s fall from the nearby rock climbing wall, the battle beam, in which participants try to knock each other off of a narrow ledge with what are essentially large padded lances.

A spinning log roll tests your balance as you try to tiptoe your way across the foam pit.

Nearby is a smaller foam pit with a trapeze.

I tried my hand at most of the various Altitude activities, and while I didn’t last very long on the log roll, I did touch the rim of the higher of the two basketball hoops, and managed to scale the climbing wall with relative ease.

Dante Godine, a father of

★ INVASIVE FROM PAGE 1 the neighborhood’s history, and why that happened, he said.

And, while The Orchard neighborhood on the south side of the lake has a homeowners association, the residents like Covington on the north side, on Lakeview Drive, do not, Adolph said.

The water hyacinth is a plant native to South America, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

While it produces pretty flowers, its roots grow under the water into a thick mat that spreads rapidly, according to the department.

“It’s crazy how fast it can overtake a body of water,” Covington said. “It can double in size every two weeks, if conditions are good.”

The plant can block sunlight, reduce oxygen in the water and kill plants that provide food for fish, according to the department. It can also be a good home for mosquitos.

Cleveland Lake would be perfect for fishing or kayaking if not for the plant, said Tony Love, of Sugar Land, who frequents the area to fish.

Investigators with the department have noticed growth of the species across much of the state, said John Findeisen, who works in the department’s inland fisheries division.

“It is common along the entire gulf coast, with the western border being about I-35,” Findeisen said.

As quickly overwhelming as water hyacinth can be, it

Tony Love casts a line into a Cleveland Lake overrun by water hyacinth. (Photo by Matt deGrood) can also be treated, Findeisen said.

In fact, residents could use industrial herbicide to treat it for as little as $20 per acre, Findeisen said. But the state limits purchases of herbicides for unlicensed people to a gallon.

Residents could opt to use a private contractor to handle the work, but that’s where it gets pricier, Findeisen said.

“A few hundred bucks can become more than $1,500 really quick,” he said. “And it’s

not a one-time treatment. It produces seeds, which is part of what caused the problem this year.”

Adolph said he couldn’t release many details of a proposed agreement with the Imperial Redevelopment District. But he said the solution would help residents not just clear out the water hyacinth now. It also would help maintain the lake moving forward.

“We believe this will meet the needs of residents, which is everyone’s goal,” he said.

coming forward and disclosing what’s happening to them. We did a lot of public outreach during the pandemic, and I think it’s all contributing to what’s happening in Fort Bend County.”

The pandemic isn’t necessarily creating abusers out of non-abusers, but it is providing more isolated time alone with children, adding stressors on families and possibly pushing some people over the edge, Mef-

ford said.

“Caregivers lost jobs and there’s the possibility of substance abuse,” she said. “We all know from reading that alcohol and drug use is up during the pandemic.”

Before the pandemic, advocates in Fort Bend County conducted about 80 interviews per month with children, Mefford said. Now, they’re conducting about 160 per month,

she said. Advocates are also finding that children present more complex cases of child abuse than before the pandemic started, she said.

“They have more issues and their trauma is manifesting in so many ways,” she said.

If children had one issue before the pandemic – PTSD, for instance, caused by a single event – those might have multiplied.

Pennsylvania next fall while enrolling in the university’s business school, but said representing the U.S. on a international stage remains in

the back of his mind.

“It would be really nice to do so – it’s a bit of a farfetched goal right now, but those are the types of goals

you need to have in your life,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to dream big and push toward the goals you really want.”

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

three children ages 2, 6 and 9, said Altitude is a good place for children of all ages.

“It’s not too expensive, and it’s like an outdoor park, but it’s inside, so it’s cool,” Godine said. “What I like about it the most is I can sit back and let the kids play. It’s a place where I can bring all three of them, and they can enjoy themselves.”

Sylvia Girard, party manager at Altitude and a Missouri City resident, told me she has seen an influx of families this summer for birthday parties and other events. During the school year, daycare and school-affiliated groups will book field trips.

For 60 minutes of jumping, Altitude charges $14.95, and $9.95 for children 6 and under.

Altitude is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and

Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday.

Guests are issued wristbands after paying, and Altitude staffers announce over a loudspeaker when the time has expired for those wearing the wristband color they were given upon checking in.

All guests must sign a safety waiver, which can be done quickly on a computer monitor, and parents must sign waivers for children under the age of 18.

Girard said the dodgeball tournaments Altitude hosts on Friday and Saturday nights have been among the facility’s most popular events since the Sugar Land location opened three years ago.

“If they come for a dodgeball tournament, the team that wins gets a free hour-long jump pass,” Girard said.

Girard, who has four children of her own, said she appreciates being able to put smiles on the faces of other children who come in to play at Altitude.

“Seeing happy families makes me happy,” Girard said.

“This environment is perfect for me. My kids absolutely love it.”

IS THE CLASS OF 2021 READY FOR “ANYTHING?”

If you are a young adult, or the parent of a young adult, especially one leaving this fall for college, here are some things to consider.

Margie Connolly, Parents have been the Attorney main source of protection and decision-making for the Class of 2021 since birth. But now, as these young people age up into adulthood, by reaching the milestone of their 18th birthday, parents no longer have legal rights to medical or financial information about their son or daughter.

If that son or daughter is away at college, taking a travel year, or entering the military, who will take care of their financial obligations (car note, credit card bills, student loan payments) while they are away?

More importantly, who will assist with making medical decisions if an accident or illness occurs?

We learned during the recent pandemic that unexpected medical emergencies can happen to people of any age. If that young adult has not given power of attorney to their parents, or executed a HIPAA (Health Information Privacy) release in favor of their parents, the parents may be legally excluded from consulting with medical providers regarding their son or daughter’s care.

It is advisable to have your young adult execute powers of attorney before leaving for the next stage of their life’s adventure. Consult an estate planning or family attorney for more information.

Margie Connolly, Attorney mmconnollylaw@gmail.com www.mmconnollylaw.com

4610 Sweetwater Blvd., Suite 200, Sugar Land, TX 77479

346-309-4236

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

If my vehicle has frame damage, is it a total loss?

No. a car is a total loss only when the price of repairs exceeds a percentage of the Chuck Charlton vehicle’s value as determined by the insurance company. Today, most cars are built using unibody construction (frame and body as one). A reputable shop with highly skilled technicians and state-of-the-art equipment, can return your vehicle to its original factory specifications. The collision repair industry has come a long way with regard to structural repairs. If your vehicle has frame damage and you are concerned about the repair, feel free to contact the shop and they will be able to answer any questions yo may have.

May God Bless our Men and Women in the Military

Charlton’s Body Repair Local Family Business since 1957 1131 Staffordshire @ 5th Street • Stafford, TX 77477 www.charltonsbodyrepair.com

281-499-1126

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, July 14, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Vino & Vinyl pairs music with wine in Sugar Land

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The commercialization of the restaurant industry has led to an increasingly conformist and conservative aesthetic that has made its way into the dining experience of most people.

Fortunately, places like Vino & Vinyl in Sugar Land Town Square are doing their best to set themselves apart from the pack.

I’m not a wine expert by any means, but I appreciated the time I spent with Vino & Vinyl owner Paul Killingsworth, who offered recommendations and told me about how he blended his love of classic and vintage records with his knowledge and appreciation of West Coast wines.

The essence of this dynamic is perhaps best captured in a quote fea-

From left, the Pinot Noir Rosé from Elk Cove Vineyards, the Texoir Mourvedre, and the Yountville Cabernet from Elyse are just a few of the wines available by the glass or bottle at Vino & Vinyl in Sugar Land. (Photos by Stefan Modrich)

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tured prominently on the wall of the restaurant from California winemaker Sashi Moorman.

“In a musical sense, it’s like comparing digital to vinyl,” Moorman said. “The

warmth you get in vinyl is like the complexity in this kind of wine; it comes from imperfections. The warmth is actually a bit of distortion if you think about it. Digital music is like ‘perfect’ wine…

The Beef Empanadas at Vino & Vinyl in Sugar Land are served with cilantro aioli.

(Photos by Stefan Modrich)

it’s just not that exciting.”

But while Killingsworth is in the wine business, he certainly knows a thing or two about how to pair food with wine.

I started things off with a selection of appetizers: Pork Belly Bites ($11), made

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with a bourbon glaze and topped with sesame seeds; Mini Meatballs ($11), topped with pomodoro sauce; and my personal favorite, the Empanadas ($12), three beef empanadas served with cilantro aioli.

The first of three wines I tried was a cabernet from Elyse called Yountville, made in Napa Valley, California ($22 per glass and $77 per bottle). It had a peppery, leathery finish, and could be a great post-dinner wine to serve alongside some dark chocolate.

The Pinot Noir Rosé from Elk Cove Vineyards evokes a variety of fruits, including grapefruit, kiwi and watermelon. It also has a pleasant hint of fennel and smells like the type of summer wine best enjoyed at a picnic on the beach.

My favorite of the three was the Texoir Mourvedre ($14 per glass and $49 per bottle), a smooth and spicy red wine from Texas High Plains. My recommendation, then, is that Texoir would make a great companion to some brisket, a strip steak on the grill or even a charcuterie board.

Happy Hour at Vino & Vinyl runs from 4-10 p.m.

Tuesday, 4-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 3-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Vino & Vinyl

Address: 15977 City Walk, Sugar Land Dining Options: Dine-in, delivery via OrangeCrate Hours: 4-10 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.midnight Friday-Saturday Entrée prices: $11-$28 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: None Star of the show: Texoir Mourvedre Rating:

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to jsazma@fortbendstar.com or mail to:

CALENDAR

Fort Bend Star, 3944 Bluebonnet Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477.

FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the cancellation of several community gatherings, please check with each organization for updated information about the status of their events.

JULY 15 FBJSL INFORMATIONAL MEETING The Fort Bend Junior Service League is gearing up for the League year, and is excited to welcome new members.

There is a New Member informational session at 7 p.m. at Spring Creek BBQ in Missouri City, located 4895 Hwy. 6, for prospective members. For more information, please email newmembers@fbjsl.com.

JULY 19 MISSOURI CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE Beginning July 19, the Missouri City Police Department will be collecting school supplies to give to kids in need during a giveaway on Aug. 7. Supplies such as pencils, glue sticks erasers, 24-count crayons, highlighters rulers, scissors, and graph paper can be dropped off at 3849 Cartwright Rd. 24 hours a day through Aug. 6

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LISA N SIMS, AGENT Monday - Friday 9 - 6 Saturday 10 - 2 After hours by appointment

11647 S Highway 6 Sugar Land, TX 77498 Toll Free: 281-201-2448 lisa@agentlisasims.com

JULY 19 - 22 ROCKY RAILWAY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL All children K through 5th Grade are invited to Rocky Railway Vacation Bible School at St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church Ð 4747 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City 77459. Times are 6 p.m. Ð 8:30 p.m. and registration forms can be found online www.siennachurch.org or contact the office 281-778-2046. For more information email children@ siennachurch.org JULY 21 HOPE FOR THREE DRIVING SCHOOL In partnership with the Missouri City Police Department, Hope For Three is hosting a free session from 4:30-5:30 p.m. designed for teens and adults with autism who are currently driving or becoming of age to drive. Space is limited to ten attendees and an adult (if necessary). To learn more or register, visit www.hopeforthree.org/programs AUGUST 7 REFRESH YOUR SOUL LADIES RETREAT St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church will host the retreat at the church, 4747 Sienna Parkway in Missouri City from 8:30 a.m. Ð 3 p.m. Jan Bethancourt will be speaking on the topic Ò How Your Light ShinesÓ from Matthew 5:16.

Registration is $10. For registration information contact the office 281-778-2046 or email melinda@siennachurch. org.

ONGOING SUGAR LAND AMERICAN LEGION American Legion Freeman Post 942 meets the fourth Thursday of every month at the Post facility, 311 Ulrich, EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

14090 S.W. Freeway Suite #200 Sugar Land, TX

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Sugar Land, Texas, at 7:00 PM. All veterans are welcome.

Post hall is available for rental for events. Call 713-5535370 if interested.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving.

Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www. hopeforthree.org/events DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, AmericaÕ s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited.

For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.

BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT Volunteers are needed to be a role model, mentor and friend to children with exceptional needs in the community.

Training, mileage reimbursement, tax-free monthly stipend if eligible. Call today to help change the world, one child at a time in Rosenberg. For more information, call 281-344-3515.

“Magic Donuts melt in your mouth” Store Hours Monday - Sunday: 4:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tel: 281-242-1881 907 Eldridge Rd. Sugar Land, TX 77478

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