Defense leads Willowridge to second straight win - Page 7
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 58
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Fallen oak tree rattles Sugar Land residents By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
None of Jeff Ray’s Sugar Land properties had suffered significant damage in years past – even during Hurricane Harvey. But he and the tenants of one of those properties are now in rebuild mode after a fallen oak tree crashed through its roof, disrupting a peaceful Sunday afternoon in the 400 block of Kyle Street. “I just came running right over. I thought (my neighbor) was kidding with me until I saw it,” Ray said Monday as he surveyed the damage, which was just a block away from his own home on Venice Street. Ray owns and leases five properties in Sugar Land, including the Kyle Street home – which has been leased to the same tenants for three years – and said this type of event was unprecedented, even during Hurricane Harvey’s wrath in 2017. “We haven’t had anything major happen like this before,” he said. Next-door neighbor Richard Gulyas said he saw the incident unfold in slow motion just before 5 p.m.
Shown here is half of a fallen oak tree that split into two pieces and crashed into a home on Kyle Street in Sugar Land Sunday afternoon. The other half of the tree fell on the street. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Sunday, calling Ray to alert him. He said the giant oak split in two at its core, with half falling on the home and the other half on the street, narrowly missing another home and taking out a light pole. Gulyas said someone was watching the home while the current tenants were out of town and came running out in a hurry.
“It shook our house and another neighbor’s house whenever it hit the street. I thought the street was busted,” Gulyas said. “I came running out just as (Taylor) was coming out the door with her dog. She was in shock. Not many people have experienced something like this. It’s one of those spectacular events you rarely see.”
Sugar Land city spokesperson Doug Adolph said city crews, including the Sugar Land Fire Department and public works officials, worked through the night to ensure the roadway was cleared of debris. “It appeared to be rotten at the core, which contributed to the fall,” Adolph said. A massive stump is all that remains in the ground
in front of the home, with the decades-old tree’s body covering the caved-in roof, which could take months – if not longer – to rebuild. But for Ray, that’s a small price to pay considering the alternatives. “You go into shock when you see something like that,” he said. “It was scary. I’m just so glad nobody got hurt.”
Roping recollections
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Sazma named Star’s new GM From Staff Reports
The Sweethearts of Rodeo lead the annual kickoff parade route before last year's Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo. They will be back to do the same before this year's festivities, which kick off Friday. (Contributed photo)
Texas tradition set to bring more memories for residents By Landan Kuhlmann
The Star and Fort Bend Business Journal (FBBJ) are under new leadership as John Sazma has been named General Manager of both publications, effective immediately. Sazma has been associated with the publications for six years as an account executive and has an extensive background in the marketing and advertising industry. He prides himself with integrating the needs and wants of the publications with those of his
SEE SAZMA, PAGE 7
LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The Fort Bend County Fair isn’t just about chowing down fried everything in sight – though it likely doesn’t hurt the experience. It’s also a chance for fairgoers young and old to create lasting memories and pass down one of the Lone Star State’s many traditions to a younger generation, and the annual event is gearing up for another run beginning Friday. Fort Bend County Fair
together each year to create memories for more than 100,000 fairgoers through fried food, carnival games and live entertainment and rodeo festivities. Headlining this year’s fair and rodeo will be Wade Bowen, Southern County Line with a tribute to George Strait and Alan Jackson, Michael Salgado, Bag of Donuts, Neal McCoy, Jody Booth and Jake Hooker. Food vendors will offer turkey legs, burgers, BBQ, roasted corn
SEE TRADITION, PAGE 12
FBC FAIR AND RODEO IMPORTANT INFO Sept. 27-Oct. 6 Fort Bend County Fairgrounds 4310 Hwy. 36, Rosenberg, TX 77471 TICKET PRICES Season Pass: $40 Adults: $15 at the gate, $12 online Children ages 6-11: $5 Children age 5 and under: Free Advanced Day Pass: $10 Advance childÕ s ticket: $4 Free parking Source: Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo
Area recovering well from Imelda impacts By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
John Sazma
President Marjie Pollard said the fair – now in its 83rd year – has long been akin to a rite of passage handed down through generations of her family, from her mom all the way to her grandkids. “I am thrilled to be able to support our kids, give our community a fair to enjoy, as I and my family did growing up,” Pollard said in a news release. “It is a tradition for me to come to the fair and I can only hope to help inspire other families to do the same.” More than 50 committees and 1,500 volunteers come
Fort Bend County was largely spared from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Imelda, which brought torrential rainfall and flooding to the Houston area last week. However, there were a few local impacts that had area residents on alert
throughout the afternoon last Thursday as the rain poured down. According to officials, the Brazos River rose about 4 feet, while Oyster Creek near Highway 6 peaked just shy of 74 feet. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office reported high water on Highway 36 in Rosenberg as well as in front of Wessendorf Middle School just off Highway 90, which was
also closed for several hours Thursday near Rosenberg. Lexington Drive in Sugar Land was impassable for a number of hours, while there momentary power outages in the area and roads behind Dulles High School rose several feet, stranding residents inside homes and gas stations. Fort Bend ISD, which began classes Thursday, cancelled them Thursday afternoon and closed all of
its campuses Friday. Reports of high water came in from New Territory Boulevard and Power Court in Sugar Land, according to the city’s Intelligent Transportation System website, as did reports of high water at the Highway 59 frontage road at the Brazos River. Sugar Land received between 4-5 inches of rain on average in a 24-hour period beginning Thursday
afternoon. Meanwhile, just outside the Star’s offices in Stafford, Bluebonnet Drive and Kirkwood Drive each had roughly two-hour windows where high water was reported. Any residents whose property was damaged by the heavy rains can visit fbcoem.org/report-damage/ to fill out a form and make the county aware.