Sugar Land man convicted of child sex abuse: Page 2
The Sugar Land Skeeters go 5-2 against York before running into a Barnstormer buzzsaw. See page 6.
WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 8, 2018
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 41 • No. 51
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Bias alleged at single-member district forum Many walk out when pastors back at-large school board districts 832-532-0040 Proageinstitute.com
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By Theresa D. McClellan THERESA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
When the Fort Bend Pastor’s Council announced a town hall meeting to explore the differences between singlemember districts and at-large member districts for the Fort Bend ISD, community groups publicized and supported the Friday night event. Upon hearing one pastor say he saw no problem in the district and after listening to an hour-long lecture on why non-voting African-Americans were the issue so there was no need for a single-member district, half the room walked out calling the session biased and misinformed. During the question and answer period where more than 50 questions were collected, the tone grew conten-
tious as some questioned the pastors “agenda.” “I have a lot of skepticism. It was literally a staged event to indoctrinate the masses,” said Venesia Johnson, founder of CASE, (Citizens Advocating for Social Equity) and part of the coalition pushing for a public vote on single-member districts. “They were saying the same things as Kristin (former FBISD board president Kristin Tassin) who is opposed to a singlemember district. The pastors were like her minions to squash our movement. This was a direct oppositional movement to our stance, which is exciting. We must be a threat.” Tassin was present, answering questions along with the pastors, but no supporters of the single-member side had the microphone. The Fort Bend Pastors Council held
the three-hour session Thursday night at Christian Bible Church, home of pastors council president Rudolph White. At one point Pastor Donald G. Burgs Jr., senior pastor of the Alief Baptist Church, told the packed room that instead of trying to collect 15,000 signatures to put the matter on the ballot, they should be using their energy to find ways to get out the vote in communities. “The Fort Bend Pastors Council does not support single-member districts. The African American population represents 28 percent of the district. We are the majority and we must operate as a majority, from our strength,” White said. “This is not a civil rights issue, but we are not leaving our home to get out the vote.” According to demographics, blacks represent 28 percent, Hispanics 27
percent, Asian 26 percent and Anglos 16 percent. But the majority of the FBISD seven-member board of trustees is predominately white with only two racial minorities on the board; African-American Addie Heyliger and Indian-American K.P. George. White said, “everything is not racial. We all want representation.” Burg said the pastors council does not support single-member because it hinders growth. “They lose sight of all the children in the community,” he said, citing the controversies within the Houston Independent School District, which has single-member districts. State Rep. Ron Reynolds, who has led the charge for single-member districts, said op-
First Colony group names interim leader
SEE DISTRICTS, PAGE 7
Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile in Sugar Land
From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
From staff reports
The First Colony Community Service Association (FCCSA) has appointed Jack Molho as interim executive director to assist its community-elected board of directors in working to promote and maintain First Colony as a notable premier community. Molho, a Sugar Land resident for over 30 years, is the founder and CEO of SecureCheck LLC – a security Jack Molho integrator and distributor of MACE Surveillance Systems and MACE Home Security products. He oversaw operations that served master planned communities and home owners’ associations throughout Texas and the Southeast for monitoring activity to deter crime and protect homes and residents until its sale in June of this year. “This is the ideal time for Jack Molho to become associated with First Colony in this capacity. We’ve selected a very strong leader at a time when First Colony, which just this past year celebrated its 40th anniversary, is in a strong position to translate a citizendriven vision communicated by the board that will continue to capitalize on opportunities in front of us. We feel Molho has an incredible ability to energize our mission,” said Rick Conley, FCCSA board president. With First Colony entering its next chapter as a respectful and model master planned community, it will be guided by its board along with Molho, who most recently was president of the Greatwood HOA. Molho prided himself as a “hands on” president who oversaw the day-to-day operations of the community of over 4,200 homes. In the lead position for three consecutive terms, Molho served a key role in the annexation of Greatwood into the City of Sugar Land. He has also served as president and vice president of the Greatwood Master MUD (Municipal Utility District), and as president of two other large master planned communities, including First Colony and Glen Laurel. Molho is also a licensed realtor and broker with extensive experience in commercial and residential management, and budgeting in both the public and private sectors. “I have been a resident of Sugar Land since 1984 and enjoy being in one of the finest places to live. I welcome this new opportunity to serve in the best interest of the association,” Molho said.
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Meadows Place Parks and Recreation Director Colene Cabezas holds one of the bearded dragons at the city’s new Discovery and Nature Center. (Photo by Joe Southern)
Where the wild things are
Meadows Place opens Discovery & Nature Center By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
This is about as wild as it gets in the small city of Meadows Place. On June 5 the city opened its new Discovery and Nature Center where people can come and have a hands-on experience with nature indoors and out. The center is stocked with a variety of animals that guests can touch and hold while they learn about the different types of wildlife in Texas. There are also learning stations where children and adults can do crafts and activities that give fun facts about things in nature. “We have all these animals that you get to learn about and hold,” said Parks and Recreation Director Colene Cabezas. Among the critters are several breeds of rabbits, two types of snakes, bearded dragons, sugar gliders, box turtles, tortoises, bobwhite quail, and a tree frog. They plan to add more animals later. The center, however, is much more than a miniature zoo. There are touch tables where visitors can handle different objects and try to figure out what they are. They can build a habitat in a box or experience a puppet show. There are kiddy microscopes where objects can be viewed up close. There is a Swap Shop where children can bring in things they’ve found in nature (non-animal), such as rocks or shells, and earn points to exchange the items with other items on the shelves. Cabezas said there will be a new theme each month and stations will change to match the theme. “We will have crafts, story time, and animals on parade where the kids dress up in costumes,” she said. “Everything will have an educational component to it.” All of this takes place on one side of the new center. Out back are more creative spaces where visitors can learn about plants, gardening, and more wild-
Meadows Place Parks and Recreation Director Colene Cabezas and Mayor Charles Jessup hold box turtles at the new Discovery and Nature Center. (Photo by Joe Southern)
life. The box turtles and tortoises have their habitats there and soon the bobwhites will be located outdoors. There are fruit trees and plans for a butterfly garden. Back on the inside, the other part of the facility is built to be a multi-purpose community center. There is a full kitchen where cooking classes can be held or meals prepared for meetings or special occasions. There is a large, flat screen TV mounted above a fireplace that can be used for presentations or entertainment. Upstairs are meeting rooms. Cabezas said the space is now being used by groups that film video segments, including a cooking show and two doctors who have a program called “What’s Up Doc?” “This facility is open to the public, you don’t have to be a resident,” Cabezas said, noting that it can be rented out for parties. She said members of the community have been volunteering to hold programs at the center. She said there has
been one on monarch butterflies and others on cooking. “They have an opportunity to showcase and display their experiences,” she said. “This is truly a community environment.” The Discovery and Nature Center was a house located next to the city pool and community center that Meadows Place purchased last year for $200,000. Mayor Charles Jessup said he originally eyed the property at 11938 Amblewood Drive for future expansion of the city park, but Cabezas came to him with a proposal that made much more sense. Jessup said the new facility provides some much needed meeting space for civic groups and city committees. “This is a cultural focal point to help grow our community together,” he said. “The community was very excited to have a facility like this close to home,” Cabezas added.
SEE CENTER, PAGE 10
The city of Sugar Land has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus at a mosquito trap located in the 6000 block of Walkers Park South in the New Territory subdivision. The mosquitoes were trapped on July 31, and Sugar Land was notified today that at least one tested positive for West Nile. The city has increased mosquito spraying to twice per week in the affected area and will continue working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services to trap and test mosquitos for the presence of the West Nile virus. The traps supplement the city’s larvicide and mosquito spraying operations. Humans can contract West Nile virus from a mosquito bite. Infected mosquitoes get the virus from feeding on infected birds. The virus can cause serious illness or death. Dr. Joe Anzaldua, the city’s medical director and health authority, urges residents to take precautions to reduce West Nile exposure. “Residents should use insect repellent whenever they are outdoors and avoid going outside at dusk and dawn,” said Anzaldua. “People over 50 years old and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if infected with the virus. If people have symptoms that cause them concern, they should contact their healthcare provider immediately.” There are no medications to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile virus infection. Symptoms may include a stiff neck, vision problems, body tremors, mental confusion, memory loss and seizures. The milder form of the illness is West Nile Fever. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and bone aches, nausea and drowsiness. People with the milder form of the illness typically recover on their own, although symptoms may last for several weeks. Up to 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms and will recover on their own. Anyone with questions or concerns should contact their doctor. The Texas Department of State Health Services recommends practicing the “Four Ds” as precautionary measures: • Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. • Dress in long sleeves and long pants when you are outside. • Stay indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. • Drain standing water where mosquitoes breed. Common breeding sites include old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters.