County fair to limit events because of COVID-19 - Page 5

Two local high school football teams remained unbeaten last week. Read about how they kept their early season streaks alive inside on Page 4. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Nicholas causes widespread power outages By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Despite predictions that much of the region could be at risk for flooding from Hurricane Nicholas, Fort Bend County officials awoke Tuesday morning to find the worst effects so far were widespread power outages. More than 450,000 customers across the Houston region had power outages as of about 9:15 a.m., according to Centerpoint Energy’s outage tracker. While strong gusts of wind throughout the night knocked out power across the region, the county’s ditches, bayous and rivers largely didn’t rise much, according to Fort Bend County officials. “Thank God, we could give this good report this morning,” County Judge KP George said Tuesday morning at a press conference. “And thank you to the residents who stayed back and did not create chaos on the roadways.” Nicholas made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane just after 1 a.m. Tuesday in Matagorda County. The storm then continued to inch along the Texas coast, largely bringing with it strong wind gusts and steady rain. Residents in Fort Bend County awoke Tuesday morning to leaves and other foliage scattered across the roadways, and many had lost power, according to the outage tracker. Wind gusts of 51 mph were reported near Sugar Land, according to Space City Weather. “We are blessed it didn’t hit as hard as we thought,” Sheriff Eric Fagan said. County officials on Tuesday declined to give a specific number for how many residents were still without power, arguing it was a fluctuating number, and they hoped power would be restored to most residents sooner rather than later. Both Stafford MSD and Fort Bend ISD didn’t hold classes Tuesday, because they closed ahead of time amid reports that Nicholas could bring flooding to the region through Tuesday and into Wednesday. Some forecasts called for between 8 and 16 inches of rain in total, with maximum amounts of 20 inches in some places. But the rain was not as severe as predicted, and local creeks, streams and bayous handled the flow well, according to the Fort Bend County Drainage District. Forecasters now predict another inch of rain to fall through the rest of the week – an amount the creeks should be capable of handling, according to the district.

FBISD board attorney defends legal decisions By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

In the weeks since Fort Bend ISD instituted a mask mandate, filed a brief with the Texas Supreme Court opposing the local health department’s ability to do so,

and then revoked the mask mandate in the course of days, district officials have been largely silent about what led to the decisions. But in a series of email exchanges with the school board’s legal representative, the attorney defended the decision to

withdraw the mask mandate, and acknowledged that Dave Rosenthal, president of the district’s board of trustees, was responsible for the decision to file a brief with the Texas Supreme Court. The attorney’s defenses are the latest news in

a battle over Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning mask mandates – a dispute featuring several counties and school districts across the state - that has wound its way through the courts and

SEE FBISD PAGE 7

Morris

Craving competition

Sugar Land resident Derek "Tank" Schottle, a Special Olympics athlete, competes in an in-person meet before the COVID-19 pandemic. Special Olympics athletes are anxious to return to in-person events after an extended layoff. (Contributed photo)

Special Olympics athletes, supporters await return of in-person events By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Through most of the ongoing pandemic, the name of the game for Special Olympics in the greater Houston area has been wait and see. The organization managed to hold two events over the summer – when coronavirus cases were at their lowest – but aside from that, the more than 8,000 athletes in the Houston area have gone almost a yearand-a-half without

in-person athletic competitions, according to Aaron Keith, a program coordinator with Special Olympics Texas. But now, in-person events are again temporarily shuttered, and

athletes and families are yearning to return. “I was really looking forward to competing again, and doing all the things we love to do in life,” said Derek “Tank” Schottle, 32, of Sugar Land. “But with everything with COVID and delta, it’s starting to feel like 2020 again.” Schottle competes in softball, basketball, bocce, volleyball, track, golf and soccer with Special Olympics and has been doing so for 20 years, he said. While the organization has worked to keep

families engaged with virtual events, the athletes are excited to go back in-person, Keith said. “We do our best to keep them socially and physically engaged, but nothing replaces in-person,” Keith said. “Our goal is to go back in-person as soon as possible this fall.” The return of in-person events was actually set to begin sooner rather than later, but those plans came before the fall spike in cases of the delta variant of coronavirus across the region.

As of Monday, Fort Bend County had 76,142 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the county’s dashboard. More than 833 people have died. A special mitigation team comprised of doctors and epidemiologists have been meeting with Special Olympics officials to give them guidance on the best steps to take, and the organization still has several events tentatively scheduled,

SEE ATHLETES PAGE 7

Sugar Land man among those honored for WWII service By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County crews work to clear debris after Hurricane Nicholas. (Photo from Facebook)

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 4

A Fort Bend County resident was one of four veterans recently presented with the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal for their role as Chinese-American service members during World War II. Lewis Yee, 99, of Sugar Land, was honored earlier this month as part of a group of Chinese-Ameri-

can service members who were recognized as unsung heroes. Attendees at the event included former U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, who represented Fort Bend County while in office, and said he thought it was an important event to attend. “May God bless the Chinese-American heroes of World War II,” Olson wrote. Family members for Yee did not respond to a request for comment as of

Monday afternoon. "I am really honored to serve my great country," Yee told Houston TV station KTRK. But Yee’s honor was something years in the making. Lawmakers in late 2018 voted to approve the Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese-American veterans in World War II, Olson said. The honor is Congress’ highest award and has previously been given to individuals such

as Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr. and groups such as members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and the Native American code talkers, among others. The coronavirus pandemic and the time it took designing the medal delayed the veterans in the Houston area being honored for it. Yee grew up in the

SEE SERVICE PAGE 7

Yee

JERRY FLOWERS

Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, September 15, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Autopsy: Instagram model strangled, concussed Fort Bend launches new By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

An autopsy has found that the well-known Instagram model who was killed last week in Richmond died of strangulation and traumatic concussions, according to the Fort Bend County Medical Examiner’s Office. Medical investigators have determined that Jenae Gagnier’s death last week was a homicide, said Stephen Pustilnik, the chief medical examiner for the county. She died of stran-

Gagnier

gulation and traumatic concussions, Pustilnik said. Gagnier, 33, was better

known as Miss Mercedes Morr on Instagram, where she had more than 2.6 million followers. Richmond officers found Gagnier last Sunday when they responded to a welfare check and discovered two people dead inside the Cortland Apartments, an upscale complex in the 5200 block of Pointe West Circle, said Lt. Lowell Neinast, a spokesperson for the police department. Investigators for the police department were not going to release any new information about the case as of Thursday afternoon, Neinast said. The second person found at the scene was a Florida

man named Kevin Alexander Accorto, 34, Neinast said. Investigators at the time said they thought the incident was a case of murder-suicide, with Gagnier as the victim. But experts with the medical examiner’s office this week said Accorto’s manner of death was not yet determined, because it needed additional investigation. Accorto died of multiple sharp force trauma wounds, Pustilnik said. The office did not release a manner of death. Investigators have said they do not believe Accorto and Gagnier had a relationship, Neinast said. While investigators have not released an explanation of what might have led to Gagnier’s death, family members in other news publications have speculated Accorto might have been a social media follower who stalked Gagnier, according to an ABC13 article. Gagnier was well-known in social media circles, so much so that the rapper Cardi B took to the internet last week to honor the model’s memory, calling her a sweetheart, according to a People article.

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hiring incentives program By Landan Kuhlmann

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Small businesses and nonprofits in Fort Bend County now have even more incentive to try and hire new workers thanks to a new program recently launched by the county. On Sept. 8, County Judge KP George announced the launch of the county’s new “Get Hired” program. The program will offer employers hiring incentives to attract employees and encourage workers to stay employed by paying incentives after 90 days of continuous employment, according to a news release from the county. The release said grant awards will be available to qualified business and organization applicants that earn between $25,000 and $5 million in annual revenue. The program is funded by money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Employment incentives to be paid after 90 days of employment will be: · $500 for those earning up to $15 an hour or $30,000 a year; · $750 for those earning $15.01-20.00 per hour or $40,000 a year;

George

· $1,000 for those earning $20.01-25.00 per hour or $50,000 a year In order to qualify, the county said a business or nonprofit must have anywhere from 150 employees and been active as of Dec. 31, 2020. They must also operate within Fort Bend County and expect to remain operational through the end of 2024, according to the county. “The labor market is very tight, we all know that and these challenges are not just a local issue, it is all over the country that we are facing this,” George said. “We are still in a pandemic and we are finding ways to restore our businesses back to normal.” For full details on the program and to register a business, visit fortbendcounty. com/get-hired.

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For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/gastroenterology or call 281.801.9303.

Stay Informed F O R T B E N D S T A R . C O M

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 • PAGE

3

Remember what happened after 9/11 attacks Each of us old enough to remember has a crystalline image ingrained in our minds of what it felt like on Sept. 11, 2001. I, for one, was sitting in computer class, typing away feverishly, when I heard my teacher begin to cry. Not long after that, the details began pouring in – the towers had fallen, another plane had struck the Pentagon, thousands were dead. Given how little else I remember from that time of my life, the vividness of the memory has always been striking to me. It reminds me of stories my parents have told about how they felt and where they were when they learned Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy had been assassinated – events of such national and international scale that they become deeply personal as well. For as much as we all remember in pristine detail the events of 9/11, it’s easy to forget what happened afterward. The War on Terror, if such a war can be said to really exist, has waged on for most of adult millennials’ lifetimes – much of it just outside our frame of reference. The people of Afghanistan and Iraq are forced each day to reckon with the effects of our momentous decisions after 9/11. But

Matt deGrood MANAGING EDITOR

for most of America, the day-to-day details became mostly peripheral for all those who weren’t directly serving, parents of those serving, or keen readers of international affairs. There’s something perhaps darkly fitting about having new reason to remember the last 20 years of foreign policy as we recognized the 20th anniversary of that day over the weekend. Just as with most things in the year 2021, much of the dialogue immediately after the highly-flawed exit from Afghanistan was explicitly partisan. Either you hated President Joe Biden and everything he stood for, or you thought it was good. Virtually overnight, social media-informed foreign policy “experts” sprung up on every online platform to share their opinions on what went wrong in Afghanistan. Far be it for me, an Amarillo native who’s spent all but one year living here, to add to the countless list

of hot takes in the weeks since. But I do find it interesting that, for everything that Democrats and Republicans disagree on these days, both Donald Trump and Biden were essentially in agreement on one thing – that it’s time to leave Afghanistan. Life is almost incomprehensibly busy these days, and most of us aren’t foreign policy experts, let alone do we have access to the intelligence and experts that both Trump and Biden had. So, it’s easy to divide the world into black and white. But reality often manifests in shades of grey. Even the architects of our wars abroad are still reflecting on their choices, some 20 years later: https:// www.politico.com/news/ magazine/2021/09/10/911-attacks-20th-anniversary-reassessing-20-years-ofwar-506924. I think I speak for all of us when I say we won’t ever forget our memories of September 11th, 2001. But this anniversary, maybe it’s worth reflecting on everything that’s happened in between. Some estimates say more than 68,000 Afghanistan security forces, more than 2,400 U.S. service members, more than 3,500 contractors and an additional 46,000 civilians have

CITY OF MISSOURI CITY

NOTICE OF MEETING TO VOTE ON TAX RATE PROPOSED TAX RATE

$0.578035 per $100

NO-NEW REVENUE TAX RATE

$0.586508 per $100

VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE

$0.595466 per $100

The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the 2021 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for the City of Missouri City, Texas, from the same properties in both the 2020 tax year and the 2021 tax year. The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that the City of Missouri City, Texas, may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.

died during the war in Afghanistan. And that’s not even counting our twin war in Iraq, and other conflicts that have sprung up because of our actions across the Middle East. There’s a host of easy faces to blame for our miscalculations over the last 20 years, from bad intelligence and questionable decisions to the leadership over four successive presidential administrations from both parties. Yet, we haven’t been passive actors in this great drama of the 21st century. George W. Bush’s approval rating peaked at about 90 percent after the September 11th attacks, and he secured a second term largely on the idea that it wasn’t good to change presidents mid-conflict. Fast-forward to 2016,

and even Trump – a presidential candidate from the same party as Bush – was unwilling to defend the 43rd president’s actions during the War on Terror, so toxic had it become. By contrast, some 70 percent of Americans supported withdrawing from Afghanistan earlier this year, yet watching it unfold across our TV screens has dropped Biden’s approval ratings to the lowest he’s seen yet. What does it say about us, as Americans, that we’ve been so easily distracted and changing? Or that we’re leaving Afghanistan – some 20 years, thousands of lives and billions of dollars later – much the same as we found it? I’m not sure. But it’s a question well worth pondering and considering amongst

all Fort Bend County residents. You’ve no doubt heard the phrase, “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.” I much prefer to think of history as a complex piece of music. While it very rarely looks exactly the same, sometimes the notes do repeat. There’s still much work to be done before we can close the books on the last 20 years for good. But it’s well worth considering ourselves – our strengths and our flaws – before moving onto the next thing.

NOTICE OF ADDITIONAL MEETING PLACES The Board of Directors of Fort Bend County Municipal Utility

A Helping Hand

District No. 131 (the “District”), a

from

Ed’s Pharmacy

municipal

utility

district

operating pursuant to chapters 49 and 54 of the Texas Water

3740 Cartwright Road (@ FM 1092)

Code, as amended, established additional meeting places for

(281) 499-4555

its Board meetings inside and

What to do about West Nile Virus The West Nile virus enters the boy by way of a mosquito. The mosquito that carries the virus becomes infected once they get blood from infected birds. Most people do not show any signs of infection after a bite from an infected mosquito. Others may experience a headache, fever, muscle aches, or back pain. Rarely, the infection causes a severe inflammation of the brain, the spinal cord, or the tissues that line the brain (meninges). If this happens immediate medical attention should be sought. Signs of severe infection include stiff neck, severe headache, jerking muscles, or severe confusion. People who work outdoors summer months have a higher risk of being exposed to mosquitoes that may carry the virus. There is a commercial vaccine that can protect horses from West Nile virus. However, at this time, there are no FDA-approved treatment options available for humans. Mild pain and muscle aches can be relieved with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen ( Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). Removing standing water near the home can help reduce the amount of mosquito breeding as well and reduce the chance of getting bitten by an infected mosquito.

outside the boundaries of the District at the offices of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 5100, Houston, Texas 77010, Tax Tech, Inc., 12841 Capricorn Street, Houston, Texas 77477, Tower Insurance & Financial Services, LLC, 11200 Broadway St., Pearland, Texas 77584 and at the park at 406 Southern Colony

Avenue,

Rosharon,

Texas 77583. Such meeting places are open to the public.

2x4.5 Ed’s Pharmacy - 05-13-15

The proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue tax rate. This means that the City of Missouri City, Texas, is not proposing to increase property taxes for the 2021 tax year. A PUBLIC MEETING TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2021, AT THE CITY HALL, 1522 TEXAS PARKWAY, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489. The proposed tax rate is also not greater than the voter-approval tax rate. As a result, the City of Missouri City, Texas, is not required to hold an election to seek voter approval of the rate. However, you may express your support for or opposition to the proposed tax rate by contacting the members of the City Council of the City of Missouri City, Texas, at their offices or by attending the public meeting mentioned above. YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE ABOVE RATES CAN BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: Property tax amount = tax rate x taxable value of your property / 100 The members of the City Council of the City of Missouri City, Texas, voted on the proposed tax rate as follows: FOR THE PROPOSAL:

Councilmembers Jeffrey Boney, Lynn Clouser, Floyd Emery, and Cheryl Sterling and Mayor Robin Elackatt

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL:

Councilmember Vashaundra Edwards

ABSENT:

Councilmember Anthony Maroulis

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property. The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state. The following table compares the taxes imposed on the average residence homestead by the City of Missouri City, Texas, last year to the taxes proposed to be imposed on the average residence homestead by the City of Missouri City, Texas, this year:

2020

2021

Total Tax Rate (per $100 of value)

$0.598035

$0.578035

Decrease of $0.020000 per $100, or -3.34%

Average homestead taxable value

$241,900

$249,865

Increase of $7,965, or 3.29%

Tax on average homestead

$1,446.65

$1,444.31

Decrease of $2.34, or -0.16%

$43,112,100

$43,569,692

Total tax levy on all properties

Change

Increase of $457,562, or 1.06%

For assistance with tax calculations, please contact the tax assessor for the City of Missouri City, Texas, at 281-341-3710 or (e-mail address), or visit www.fortbendcountytx.gov for more information. Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parking spaces are available. Requests for special accommodations or interpretive services must be made at least 24 hours prior to this meeting. Please contact Michael Tubbs, Facilities and Fleet Manager at 281-403-8500. City Secretary City of Missouri City, Texas

share your

LOCAL EVENT with the community

ON PAGE 8

Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNT Y

BAPTIST CHURCH

HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994 2223 FM1092 • Missouri City, TX 77459 John Strader , Senior Pastor Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am 6:00 pm Wednesday 7:00 pm AWANA/Youth www.hbctx.org METHODIST CHURCH

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 SUNDAY: Worship: 10:30 a.m. www.staffordchurchofchrist.org

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195

A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Sunday Schedule 8:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org

502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org

EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org

Scripture of the week

“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” - Psalm 16:8:

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, September 15, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Rangers, Buffs cruise to remain unbeaten this one, forcing six fumbles against the Panthers on Thursday. Defensive lineman Treylan Williams (3 fumble recoveries) was one of four different Eagles to reel one in. Last week’s scores District 10-5A Hightower 41, Rosenberg Terry 0 District 11-5A Marshall 48, Galena Park 21 Willowridge 57, Houston Northside 0 Non-District Clements 59, Pasadena 0 Travis 20, Cy Falls 13 Houston Westside 34, Austin 25 Clear Springs 45, Elkins 3 Alief Taylor 28, Bush 20 C.E. King 28, Ridge Point 26 Stratford 21, Dulles 13 Bellville 48, Stafford 26 This week’s schedule Thursday Dulles vs. Clements, 6 p.m., Hall Stadium Friday Ridge Point vs. Austin, 7 p.m., Hall Stadium Stafford at Sealy, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Marshall vs. Houston Northside, 11 a.m., Hall Stadium Willowridge vs. Houston Waltrip, 6 p.m., Hall Stadium Kempner at Katy Paetow, 6 p.m., Legacy Stadium

Landan Kuhlmann SPORTS REPORTER

Only two of the area’s local high school football teams remain unbeaten through the first three weeks of the 2021 season. Fans are likely familiar with one of them in the Marshall Buffalos – who have been a Class 5A powerhouse for much of the past five seasons – while the second team is probably a relative surprise in the Clements Rangers. Both squads cruised past their opposition last week to keep their unbeaten streaks alive, as Marshall beat Galena Park 48-21 in a District 11-5A opener and Clements blanked Pasadena by a score of 59-0 in its final non-district tune-up. It is the first time Clements has started 3-0 since the 2009 season, while Marshall has now done so in four consecutive campaigns. Rangers quarterback Micah Darnell was once again a catalyst in the win over Pasadena

Marshall qurterback Ja'Koby Banks (left) had four touchdowns to keep the Buffs unbeaten last week, while Jalen Brown and the Dulles Vikings had their two-game winning streak snapped. (Photos by Landan Kuhlmann)

on Thursday. Darnell threw touchdown passes of 67 and 27 yards to senior receiver Patrick Smith, who also added a nine-yard rushing touchdown. In the other contest, Ja’Koby Banks accounted for four total touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 passing) as the Buffalos continued to roll. Terrance Fontenot caught a 47-yard

strike from Banks and added a touchdown run. Jeffrey McWilliams hauled in a 46-yard toss from Banks for his first receiving touchdown of the season. Hightower 41, Rosenberg Terry 0 The Hurricanes scored early and often, with most of the offensive damage coming

courtesy of quarterback K.J. Penson. Penson threw touchdown passes to Caleb Douglas and Kaleb Johnson, while adding a rushing touchdown. Travis 20, Cy Falls 13 Dual-threat quarterback Anthony Njoku may need to add “wide receiver” to his resume after this one. The senior signal caller had two touch-

downs in the game – one on a keeper, and another where he was on the receiving end of a 67-yard touchdown off a flea flicker early in the first quarter – to lead the Tigers to their first victory of 2021. Willowridge 57, Northside 0 It was the Eagles’ defense making the most noise in

Skeeters Spotlight: Jonathan Bermudez By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Anyone who knows me – or follows me on social media – knows that I’m a huge fan of underdogs or comeback stories in sports. Basically, anyone who came from relative obscurity or who

I believe is underrated is likely to be defended or propped up by yours truly. It’s in that vein that we bring you this week’s Skeeters Spotlight – left-handed pitcher Jonathan Bermudez, 25. Although to take a quick glance at the numbers, he might not be underrated – or in obscurity – for much longer.

Bermudez General overview The Astros originally took Bermudez in the 23rd round in 2018 out of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida – an NAIA school with only one former player (10-year pro Dee

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

Strange-Gordon) ever making it to the majors. Bermudez was the NAIA Pitcher of the Year in 2018 after finishing with a 1.95 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 110.2 innings. Despite being a lower-round draft pick from a school with little history, Bermudez has made an instant impact in the Astros’ system. He posted a 3.71 ERA across 77.1 innings between Class-A Quad Cities and Double-A Corpus Christi in 2019, punching out 93 hitters – a rate of 10.8 per nine innings. After posting a 3.32 ERA for Corpus Christi, he was promoted to Sugar Land in late August, and has proceeded to strike out 13 hitters in 8.2 innings while allowing just one

earned run. Landan’s Lowdown Bermudez does not have an “elite” or overpowering arsenal per se, which is usually used to describe a big fastball or multiple elite/wipeout off-speed pitches. But he is also another example of how you can’t judge a player by just the surface potential. I love watching Astros’ prospects like Josh James, Enoli Paredes and Bryan Abreu blow a 98 MPH fastball by somebody as much as the next person. It’s incredibly satisfying, and I’m bullish on all three. But even more satisfying is seeing someone who can command the ball well enough for that pitch arsenal to be effective. To me, an elite arsenal is not necessarily just about the raw pitch makeup, though it certainly helps. No, what makes an arsenal truly elite is a combination of that raw “stuff” and how a pitcher utilizes it – how they sequence it, using one pitch to set up another, commanding it within the strike zone, etc. Because no matter how good an arsenal is, it’s worth next to nothing if you can’t learn to command it. And in my mind, someone

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Sealed bids, in duplicate, addressed to Fort Bend County M.U.D. No. 26, Water Plant #2, perimeter Fencing. Bids will be received at Quail Valley Utility District Office at 3 134 Cartwright Rd. Missouri City, TX. 77459 by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2l st, 2021 and tien publicly opened and read aloud. Plans and specifications-may be purchased at One Hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) or may be sent by email, at no charge, by contacting sweitzer.assoc@ gmail.com, 281.813.8641. A cashier’s check or bid bond in the amount of 5% of the total amount of the bid must accompany each bid. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive all defects and irregularities in bidding or bidding process except the time of submitting a bid. The successful bidder, if any, will be the responsible bidder which in the Board’s judgment will be the most advantageous to the District and result in the best and most economical completion of the project.

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like Bermudez is the perfect example of that. His fastball “only” sits in the low-90s, with a slider and changeup. It’s a good-not-great mix of pitches on the surface – but he’s utilized them in an elite manner. He has thrown 65 percent of his pitches for strikes so far this season between Sugar Land and Corpus Christi, striking out 119 hitters in just 87.2 innings (a rate of 12.3/9) while walking just 23 (a rate of 3 BB/9). That combination of high strikeout/ low walk that has been rare in Astros pitching prospects in recent years – giving Bermudez a chance to make an impact sooner rather than later. Prediction: Given that he was just recently promoted to Sugar Land a few weeks ago, it’s hard to see Bermudez making an impact on the 2021 Astros – but I would put at least a little bit of my salary on his ETA being sometime around the middle of 2022. The ability he has shown to command his pitches while maintaining an elite strikeout rate (about 33 percent in 2021) makes him a good anomaly among recent pitching prospects, and one that could be an intriguing story to follow next season.

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County fair limiting event schedule over COVID-19 concer ns By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Just days before the Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo is set to return, officials with the organization announced several changes and cancellations as cases of the delta variant of coronavirus spike around the state. A news release from the Fort Bend County Fair said the opening parade, as well as the junior royalty pageants, Senior Citizen’s Day, Student Fun Day, Diaper Derby, Exceptional Rodeo, pet show, Stick Horse Rodeo, and Children’s Tractor Pull will not come back until 2022. All other events for the fair and rodeo, scheduled for Sept. 24-Oct. 3, will continue as planned. The news of the cancellations came a short time before County Judge KP George cautioned people to wear masks and socially distance if they attend the fair. Fair Association spokesperson Barbara Robertson said Friday that the fair association has been in communication with George’s office for the last several months regarding safety recommendations amidst the delta variant’s rise in the region. The events that were cancelled, she said, were those suggested by the county and its health authority, Dr. Jacquelyn Minter. Fort Bend County had 76,142 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from the county’s dashboard, as of Monday. There have been 833 patients who have died from the virus, according to the county, and more than 67,700 patients have recovered. The county said 71 percent of residents 12 or older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 86 percent of residents 65 years of age or older have gotten at

Runners take off during a previous Harvest Green Fun Run in Richmond. The event is returning once again this year after taking place virtually in 2020. (Contributed photo)

Harvest Green Fun Run is scheduled for Sept. 25 The Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo is limiting its event schedule due to COVID-19 concerns. (Contributed photo)

least one dose. “These were the recommendations that allow us to move forward,” fair president Brian Graeber said. When asked whether county officials had approached the Fair Association with regards to potentially cancelling the fair and rodeo, Robertson referred questions to the county. A Friday voicemail left with George’s office seeking comment on the matter was not returned. George, in a statement released Friday, said his office is aware of the changes and that decisions the association made were independent of any county oversight. The association operates as an independent entity, he said, and thus has the authority to make its own decisions regarding the 2021 events. However, he said the county will support any changes the

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

fair has or will make. “Upon advisement of the Fort Bend County Health & Human Services Department and local health authority, we strongly recommend that all who attend the Fair wear a mask both indoors and outdoors when unable to physically distance, regardless of vaccination status,” he said. “…We are confident that the Fort Bend County Fair Association will take extraordinary measures to protect the health of all fairgoers.” According to the fair association, extra hand washing and sanitizing stations will be available in efforts to help protect against COVID-19, while many of the rodeo’s events are outdoors. Additional safety measures will be implemented at various attractions, the fair said. For more information, visit fortbendcountyfair.com.

Fort Bend County residents can get a little bit of exercise while donating to help those in need during a 5K walk and run in Richmond’s Harvest Green subdivision later this month. A news release from Harvest Green said registration is ongoing for the Sept. 25 event, which will benefit local non-profit East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. The organization  has been providing assistance to families and individuals during times of temporary financial crisis since 1990, according to the news release. Last year, the release said the organization distributed more than $600,000 worth of food to families in need, in-

cluding more than 7,000 families who received 10,849 Covid-19 Relief Sacks. The 2020 virtual Fun Run raised $15,000, and organizers are hoping to raise at least $20,000 through this year’s event. “We see at least one new family every day that we serve food,” East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry development director Stacey  Williams said. “The need is still out there. We are grateful to Harvest Green, our sponsors and our partici-

pants. Without them we would not be able to help so many people in the community.” There will be an in-person 8:30 a.m. kids’ run at the Farmhouse at 3400 Harvest Corner Drive, followed by a family 5K race at 9 a.m. Runners can also do the run virtually, and all runners can sign up online at https:// r unsig nup.com/R ace/ TX/Richmond/AnnualOutRunHunger. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for kids, while virtual runner registration is available for $15. “We hope everyone will come out and support us,” Williams said. For more information about East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, visit humanneeds.org. To find out more about Harvest Green, visit harvestgreentexas.com.

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Nutrition company plans local expansion By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Sugar Land-based nutrition company is about to begin an $18 million expansion that could bring another 200 jobs to Fort Bend County, according to city officials. The city council this week reached a tax incentive agreement with Bluebonnet Nutrition Corp., under which the company would receive a 35 percent rebate on property taxes for 10 years for constructing a new, 128,000-square foot facility, according to documents about the agreement. “We look forward to supporting Bluebonnet Nutrition’s growth in Sugar Land and are excited for the innovative lifestyle products and advance-

ment in technology this development will bring,” said Elizabeth Huff, the city’s director of economic development. Bluebonnet Nutrition Corp. is a manufacturer and distributor of nutritional supplements that was first founded in 1991, according to the city. The company, among other items, produces multivitamins, children’s nutrition, food supplements and fish oils. As part of the tax abatement agreement, the

company will invest about $18 million in the new facility, which will be the company’s third in Sugar Land, according to the city. The facility would more than triple the company’s existing workforce of about 100 employees, adding another 200 jobs to Sugar Land. The city estimates the new facility would generate about $31,496 per year in tax revenue. The company hopes to have the new facility complete by December 2022. The new structure will help Bluebonnet expand its manufacturing and analytical testing operations, according to the city. “This is an exciting new project with a significant capital investment,” said Gary Barrows, the company’s president.

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CITATION BY PUBLICATION CAUSE NO. 20-08-13894-DCV TO: JAMAR OKEITH HUBERT, Defendant, Greetings: You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Petition at or before ten o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after the expiration of twenty (20) days for the date of the issuance of this citation, before the Honorable Maribel Flores, in the 293rd Judicial District Court at the Dimmit County Courthouse, 103 N. 5th Street, Carrizo Springs, Texas 78834. Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court, on 08/12/2020 in this cause, numbered 20-08-13894-DCV on the docket of said court, and styled: IN THE INTEREST OF ZOE AMARE HUBERT A CHILD Attorney for the Plaintiff is: Patrick Kelly, 310 E. Nopal Street, Carrizo Springs, Texas 78834. A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to-wit: The purpose of this suit is to establish the parent-child relationship between Respondent and the child the subject of the suit. The best interest of the child the subject of this suit will not be served by the appointment of Petitioner and Respondent as joint managing conservators. It is in the best interest of the child that Petitioner be appointed sole managing conservator of the child. As is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The date and place of birth of the child who is the subject of the suit: April 12, 2017, in Dimmit County, Texas. The Court has authority in this suit to render an order in the child’s interest that will be binding on you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity, and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s adoption. Issued and given under my hand and the seal of said court at office, this the 31st day of August 2021. Attest: Maricela G. Gonzalez, District Clerk 103 N. 5th Street Carrizo Springs, Texas 77834 By: /s/ Dora A. Balderas, Chief Deputy Clerk

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Houston native hosts inaugural music festival in Fort Bend County Stefan Modrich

REPORTER

Near the intersection of Fort Bend, Harris and Brazoria Counties and less than 20 miles from downtown Houston is a place that feels a world away. Last Saturday and Sunday, the Beltway Regulators Barn at 636 Trammel Fresno Road in Fresno played host to the inaugural International Royal Music & Art Festival. I made the trip down to the festival on Sunday to see how the vision of Queen Cora Coleman, a Houston native who has served as the drummer for both Prince and Beyoncé, had come to fruition in the form of this event. The festival included a diverse range of musicians and artists, a fashion show and various local Black-owned food trucks and vendors. It also featured outdoor games and activities for kids and families, including horse riding hosted by the Beltway Regulators Club. The lineup was a talented roster of bands and solo artists, with genres ranging from modern jazz to R&B, funk, and soul, with Se7en the Poet, Latin band Blue Tortuga, Actual Proof and William X taking the stage. The Queen Cora Orchestra and Chanté Moore performed for the event’s grand finale. Actual Proof’s trumpet player, Tharee Amir, stole the show with his improvisational flair and a sense of swagger he exuded with

Actual Proof’s trumpet player, Tharee Amir, performs during the inaugural International Royal Music & Art Festival last Sunday at the Beltway Regulators Barn at 636 Trammel Fresno Road in Fresno. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

See Fortbendstar.com for related video every note. He explained to me that the band’s namesake is a tribute to a 1974 song from legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, which contains a fast-paced, driving beat and meander-

ing melodies that left many in the crowd hanging on every note. Of all the pleasant and unexpected experiences I had at the International Royal Music & Art Festival,

★ ATHLETES FROM PAGE 1 Keith said. Those include a regional softball and bocce tournament on Oct. 9 in Pearland and a golf tournament fundraiser on Nov. 8 at The Woodlands Country Club. Schottle has continued to work out and train every day during the pandemic, so that he’s ready to compete, once events do return, he said. More than the sports themselves, in-person Special Olympics events provide athletes with a real outlet for networking and socializing, said Gary Schottle, Derek Schottle’s father. “For a lot of them, it’s the only chance

★ FBISD FROM PAGE 1 largely fallen along partisan lines. “As I am sure you are aware, the governor’s order is no longer subject to any temporary restraining order or temporary injunction order,” said Rick Morris, a partner with the Houston firm Rogers, Morris & Grover and attorney for the FBISD board of trustees. “According to state law, the governor’s order has the effect of law.” Essentially, the decision to remove the mask mandate came down to the fact that trustees in a 4-3 vote instituted a mask mandate as long as the mandate complied with state law, Morris said. A review of the video confirms the wording of the measure. Legal decisions made after the board voted, however, called into question whether such a mandate was still in compliance with state law, Morris argues. Many local school districts and governments across the state have argued Abbott doesn’t have the legal authority to prevent mask-wearing requirements amid spiking cases of the delta variant of the coronavirus. Trustees in FBISD, for instance, voted to institute a mask mandate in August as cases in the district’s schools increased rapidly. That has not changed. As of Aug. 23, the district had about

Derek Schottle pushes toward the finish line in a Special Olympics race before the COVID-19 pandemic. He hopes to return to competition soon. (Contributed photo)

they get to get out and interact with others,” Gary Schottle said. Beyond the work Special Olympics Texas does with athletes enrolled in the program, the group also has relationships with school districts across the region, including many in Fort Bend 665 coronavirus cases among students and staff, according to the district’s data. That number had increased to about 3,940 cumulative cases as of Sept. 9, according to the district’s data. Little more than 48 hours after the mask mandate, the district announced it would no longer be in place because of a Texas Supreme Court ruling. District officials since then have been largely silent about the specifics of that decision. Sherry Williams, a spokesperson for the district, referred all questions about who was ultimately responsible for that decision, and a separate one to file a brief with the Texas Supreme Court, to Rosenthal and the board’s attorney. Rosenthal did not respond to a request for comment by Friday afternoon. Other members of the board declined to comment about the matter. Morris, however, argued that baked into the original measure was the fact that a mask mandate wouldn’t last if it no longer complied with state law. It no longer does, Morris said. The Texas Supreme Court in August sided with Abbott’s request to overturn a Bexar County temporary injunction against Abbott’s executive order. That injunction had briefly given the county the ability to in-

County, Keith said. For instance, the organization was supposed to hold an aquatics competition at the Don Cook Natatorium in partnership with Fort Bend ISD in August – an event that was postponed, Keith said. Special Olympics stitute a mask mandate, according to an article on KSAT. While temporarily removing that injunction, the court made no decision on the case as a whole. “The Supreme Court is currently considering whether the governor’s order exceeds his statutory authority, but until the Supreme Court decides the issue, the governor’s order is in effect,” Morris said. Not every county and school district in Texas has used that ruling as a reason to withdraw their mask mandates, however. Legal experts have told the Fort Bend Star it will be some time before the Texas Supreme Court makes a definitive ruling in the ongoing spat over mask mandates. Most of the ongoing rulings have been over procedural issues, according to attorneys. And Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in court documents acknowledged neither he nor Abbott actually had power to enforce the ban on mask mandates, according to the Texas Tribune. And the Texas Education Agency has further given districts agency by providing guidance that they would not enforce the mandate ban until the issue wound its way through the courts. It’s not clear why FBISD trustees haven’t brought the issue of mask mandates back to an agenda since the reversal. Morris argued no one

perhaps the most gratifying was a visit with Pearland resident Spelvin Cooper, 65, the president of the Beltway Regulators Club and owner of the 32-acre property on which we were standing. He said his phone had been ringing “off the chain” all day with friends and family in anticipation of Moore and the Queen Cora Orchestra taking the stage later that evening. He said he and his staff welcomed the opportuTexas also has strong partnerships with Fort Bend County organizations such as the George Foundation and the Arc of Fort Bend County, Keith said. “It’s a county that has great growth potential, but also very much support from athletes in the past,” Keith said. “We look forward to continuing to grow that.” Special Olympics Texas has more than 8,000 athletes registered in the Houston area alone, and more than 15,000 across the region, Keith said. For more information about Special Olympics Texas or to make a donation to the organization, visit sotx.org. person is responsible for overturning the mask mandate – that it was baked into the original measure trustees passed. “There never was a choice to override the mask mandate,” Morris said. “The motion approved by the board stated that the mandate would remain so long as it complied with state law. So, there was no need for further board action or decision. Our firm merely advised the board as to the status of the litigation in Texas.” The other measure that happened without a board vote – the decision to jointly file an amicus

nity to educate visitors, especially children, of all backgrounds about horse riding. But it is even more important for him to pass along the traditions and customs of Black cowboys and cowgirls to future generations, like his granddaughter, 6. He said his group is one of 16 others like his across the Houston region that belong to the Southwest Trailriders Association (SWTRA), which has a mission to “per-

★ SERVICE FROM PAGE 1 Houston area, the child of Chinese immigrants, Olson said. Yee would later go on to serve in the First American Volunteer Group of the Republic of China’s air force – a group better known as the Flying Tigers, according to Olson. The Flying Tigers were a group of pilots, recruited under then-President Franklin Roosevelt’s authority, that were marked with Chinese colors but flew under American control. They joined the military fray before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, according to Olson. The group began to arrive in China in April 1941, and saw combat just 12 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. brief with Lamar Consolidated ISD seeking to end Fort Bend County Health & Human Services’ ability to require masks – came at the behest of Rosenthal, Morris said. “The filing of the brief was authorized by the board president,” Morris said. Attorneys representing both districts in August filed an amicus curiae brief with the state Supreme Court, arguing Fort Bend County Health Authority Jacquelyn Johnson-Minter does not have the authority to issue a mask mandate. The filing is consistent with what both Johnson-

petuate the heritage of the Black cowboy and cowgirl” and “maintain the interest of horse lovers (and) promote goodwill (and) camaraderie” according to its website. “We have a great time out here,” Cooper said. “But we’ve got to bring those youngsters up there, because we’re getting up there (in age) and they’ve got to be able to carry it on.” Follow Stefan Modrich on Twitter @StefanJModrich Upon his return home from the war, Yee wanted his family to join him from China, Olson said. But the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited it. The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first piece of legislation that explicitly prohibited a specific group from immigrating to the United States. Yee helped a friend draft a petition to repeal it after the war – the petition eventually becoming the basis for the Magnuson Act, a full repeal of the act on Dec. 17, 1943, Olson said. Some 20,000 ChineseAmericans or immigrants fought for the U.S. during World War II, many of whom were not citizens because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, according to a Houston Chronicle article. Fewer than 300 of those veterans are still alive, according to the article. Minter and trustees have held before, Morris argued. There is no statutory requirement that a board vote each time a district files a lawsuit, but it’s generally a good idea to do so, Morris said. But this brief filing was not the filing of a lawsuit, Morris argued. “You may remember this was an issue early in the pandemic when some area county and city health authorities (not Fort Bend County) threatened to close school districts,” Morris said. “It has always been the FBISD’s position that the school districts decide when to close schools.”

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PAGE 8 • Wednesday, September 15, 2021

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Review: Alex’s Kitchen dishing out Nibbles & Sips: gourmet pasta options in Missouri City Mahesh’s Kitchen makes By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

This latest review was made possible thanks to a kind email from a reader, who wrote to thank me for our coverage of the Fort Bend County restaurant scene and recommend Alex’s Kitchen in Missouri City. While it is a bit expensive, Alex’s Kitchen has a nice variety of pasta dishes and polite, knowledgeable servers. It has a cozy vibe that is good for enjoying a special occasion with friends and family. If you like meat and seafood and a little bit of heat on your palate, the Pasta Alex ($19) is an opportunity to experience several distinct flavors and textures on the same plate. The dining area is small and quaint, filled with paintings of charming Italian seascapes.

Shown is the Pasta Alex from Alex’s Kitchen in Missouri City. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

It was rather busy and full of chatter during my lunch hour. While I was deciding what to order, I thought about a quote from celebrity chef and TV personality Guy Fieri featured prominently on the restau-

Our Review

RATING SYSTEM:

In order to give you, dear reader, a more clear explanation of how we evaluate the restaurants we review, we will use a rating system on a scale from one to five stars, with one being the lowest score. From time to time, we may rate a place with 4.5 or 3.5 stars, for example, if we feel a place doesn’t fit neatly in one of these five categories. An elite, special experience, among the best meals we’ve ever had. High-quality, a can’t-miss destination. Slightly above average, but not memorable. Middling. You can skip out on this place, and you won’t be missing anything. One star: Poor, low quality. A disappointment.

rant’s website. “Cooking is all about people,” Fieri said. “Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people eat together.” The only thing I saw fit to ding Alex's Kitchen on was a rather pricey menu. It’s common knowledge to anyone who has ever dined out that pasta is notoriously expensive almost anywhere you go, but most of the options hover around $20 per plate. Garlic bread, a necessity anytime you order Italian food, is served in a basket of four pieces for $6 or for $1.50 per piece. It’s not the best I’ve ever had, but it was tasty. The bread was thoroughly seasoned, toasted to be soft in the middle and crispy on the edges. My server recommended the linguini pescatore (shrimp,

calamari, clams, mussels, black olives, green onions, capers and white wine sauce), which is $18. He also suggested the lobster ravioli ($22) with ricotta cheese, julienned vegetables and lobster sauce. I ended up selecting the Pasta Alex, a fettuccine pasta with Italian sausage, fresh crab meat, vodka sauce and parmesan cheese. There was a pleasant, citrusy zing and zip to the vodka sauce and the crab meat was firm but delicate. I was also impressed by the flavor of the sausage. The thick fettuccine noodles were appropriate to withstand the mixture of tastes and proteins.

Alex's Kitchen

Address: 3737 State Highway 6, Sugar Land Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout, delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch), 5-9 p.m. (dinner) Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (lunch), 5-10 p.m. (dinner) Friday -Saturday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday Entree prices: $13-$34 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Pasta Primavera ($14) Star of the show: Pasta Alex Rating:

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

debut in Sugar Land

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sugar Land Town Square will soon welcome its first Indian restaurant, and it is one with local ties. Mahesh’s Kitchen opened Friday at 16019 City Walk. Co-owners and spouses Neelesh Musale and Shubhangi Musale dedicated the restaurant to the memory of the late Mahesh Puranik, the younger brother of Shubhangi Musale. Puranik, 37, was a Stafford resident and a business development manager for Worldwide Oilfield Machine who dreamed of opening his own restaurant, according to Mahesh’s Kitchen. At Mahesh’s, guests can expect a “lighter, more sophisticated take on Indian cuisine in a bright and airy setting” according to a news release from Daniel Renfrow of Public Content. Every three months, the restaurant will receive a shipment containing more than 300 pounds of spice combinations from India, hand-picked from their regions of origin. The menu features traditional Indian staples like Palak Paneer and fusion dishes such as the Mango Habanero Salmon with habanero chili, mango puree, serrano chili and ginger. The drink menu showcases herbal teas from India and classic cocktails with a spicy twist. Its signature cocktails

include the Mahesh’s Old Fashioned, the tamarindinfused margarita and the cardamom mojito. Mahesh’s is open 5-10 p.m. daily. Its lunch schedule and happy hour are forthcoming, according to a news release. Thai American Bistro holds grand opening in Sugar Land A new Thai restaurant in Sugar Land held its grand opening last month. Thai American Bistro, 18721 University Blvd Ste. 160, opened to the public Aug. 30. The restaurant serves Thai classics like pineapple fried rice, basil eggplant and green papaya salad with fried chicken. Thai American Bistro is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for lunch and 5-9 p.m. for dinner Sunday through Thursday. It is open one hour later for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Chick’nCone adding Sugar Land location A popular chicken and waffles chain has set its sights on Sugar Land Town Square. Chick’nCone pairs handrolled waffle cones with fried chicken and can be dipped in the restaurant’s six sauces. The new restaurant is at 2268 Texas Drive. The new location will open by the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022, according to a news release from Katherine Orellana Ross of Public Content. For more information, visit www.chickncone.com

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: 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. SEPTEMBER 16 LAMBDA SIGMA CHAPTER OF DKG ZOOM MEETING Thursday, September 16th, the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international professional society of leading women educators will conduct a zoom meeting. Social 4:30 p.m.; Meeting 5:00 p.m.; Guest presenter: Ft. Bend ISD Coordinator of Community and Civic Engagement, Chassidy Olainu-Aladdin. Presentation: The Bar, the Stripe and the Gravesite. Educators interested in learning about DKG , contact dkglsnews2020@gmail.com SEPTEMBER 21 “WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE A LOVED ONE DIES” This presentation by UBS Vice President of Wealth Management, Brian Dodson, CFP, CRPC and, Dignity Memorial Family Service Advisor, Ken Winstead, will provide information on preplanning, logistics of legal forms, veteran benefits, and how best to prepare. Please plan to attend this free community informational meeting at 10 a.m. to noon at St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church, 4747 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City 77459. For additional information contact melinda@ siennachurch.org or 281-778-2046. OCTOBER 16 AMERICAN LEGION POST 942 ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 1:00 pm at Quail Valley Golf Course, 2880 Laquinta Drive, Missouri City, TX 77459 Proceeds support veteran programs and scholarships for local EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

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311 Ulrich, Sugar Land, Texas, at 7:00 PM. All veterans are welcome. Post hall is available for rental for events. Call 713-553-5370 if interested.

ONGOING JAM WITH SAM Join Sam Grice and his friends every Tuesday Night at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, Texas. The group plays folk, country, bluegrass, religious and patriotic songs. Call Sam at 832-428-3165 or the church office at 281-240-3195 for more information.

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

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road offers a Thursday Morning Bible Study For Men. This group is ongoing and uses a variety of studies throughout the year. The breakfast, coffee and donuts are free. Join us any time! Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church office at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schofield at 281-217-5799 for more information.

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

FORT BEND-HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS TO MEET IN-PERSON Meeting Thursday, September 9th, 1-3 p.m. Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Rd. ATTENTION: ROOM CHANGE for Sept. We will meet in the VENUE ROOM -- Park back of the church near Kids World Education Bldg. Enter at the double glass doors under covered drive. See FBHRE banner. Someone will direct you to room. Any changes will be emailed to members. Speaker: Kris Cobb, Financial Planner with Wells Fargo. Arrive earlier to socialize, sign in and pay dues if you haven't. All Fort Bend and Harris County I.S.D. retired public educators are invited. More information, call 713-206-2733. SUGAR LAND AMERICAN LEGION American Legion Freeman Post 942 meets the fourth Thursday of every month at the Post facility,

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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, 281-575-1145 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, taxfree 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.

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