Man accused of killing mother in Rosenberg - Page 2
This week's Fun in Fort Bend feature is about the return of the Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo. Read about reporter Stefan Modrich's experience inside on Page 7. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
WEDNESDAY • SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
County helps identify body found in 2007
Missouri City makes Juneteenth a city holiday By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A worker at the W.A. Parish Generating Plant was unloading a railcar back in August 2007 when he stumbled on a gruesome discovery – a man’s body, tucked between pieces of coal, according to Scott Minyard, a veteran detective with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators took DNA samples, tracked down the train’s origin and followed up on many other leads in the days and months immediately after the discovery, but could never identify the man, Minyard said. That is, until now, he said. Sheriff Eric Fagan recently announced that, after 14 years, investigators had finally tracked down the identity of the dead man found at the coal-fired power plant all those years ago. He was identified at Patrick Thomas Harris, 40, who was last seen leaving his home in Denver a few days before his death, according to the sheriff’s office. “While many questions still exist, sheriff’s detectives were finally able to afford the Harris family some semblance of closure after these past 14 years,” Fagan said. At any given time, the sheriff’s office has somewhere in the realm of about 65 cold cases on its books, Minyard said. That’s a pretty good number, comparatively, he said. Detectives are almost constantly receiving tips in connection to them, Minyard said. And, when a tip comes in, an investigator will follow up and see where the tip leads. Such was the case with the Harris case – someone called the sheriff’s office and reported that the missing person case might be connected to one out of Denver, Minyard said. Families of missing persons typically turn to a national clearinghouse and database, called the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), for information about missing persons cases, Minyard said. Funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice through an agreement with the University of North Texas, it’s often one of the best resources for open missing persons cases. This time, however, the sheriff’s office had the case listed on the database, but Denver had not listed their open cold case, Minyard said. So detectives reached out to the Denver Police
Community members dance during Missouri City's 2021 Juneteenth celebration. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
Harris
Juneteenth will be celebrated as a city holiday next year in Missouri City. The city council last week approved making Juneteenth a holiday recognized by the city, meaning many employees won’t have to work that day starting in 2022. With the vote, Missouri City becomes one of a growing list
of Texas communities to adopt Juneteenth as a city holiday in the months since President Joe Biden signed a bill into law mandating that Juneteenth be observed nationally. “With the recent passage of legislation by Congress to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, the city believed it is important to recognize it as a holiday for our employees in light of the significance it represents to our country, state and community,” Interim City
Manager Bill Atkinson said of the move. “The city wants to provide the opportunity to our employees to honor this day and reflect its meaning.” Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, celebrates June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced that Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was
SEE JUNETEENTH PAGE 7
Help needed
Area businesses still struggling to find employees By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Just a few short months ago, chambers of commerce across Texas joined together with local businesses to ask Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to end pandemic-related extended unemployment benefits, arguing that potential employees were opting to stay home instead of apply for work. Abbott did so, and as of midSeptember, those benefits have ended. But a drive around Fort Bend County shows no lack of “Help wanted” signs displayed in businesses’ windows. So, what has caused the lack of interest in some job openings in recent months? And what might fix it? For Eric Morse, the owner of The Sauer Kraut Grill in Richmond, the issue goes beyond simple unemployment benefits. Rather, he argues, it’s a change in attitude, combined with the plethora of government benefits, such as local food programs, that incentive people not to work, especially in tough in-
dustries like food. “I’m 52-years-old, and not looking to take advantage of any system like that,” he said. “But if I’m 23 or 25, and have the choice to work a job or stay home with my family, I’m staying home. So many people’s decisions are motivated by what’s best for them and their family – the path of least resistance.” Experts such as Erica Groshen, however, argue that the majority of the conversation about workforce issues has been reductive, and that a multitude of factors including a changing workforce, a mismatch in what businesses are looking for and what employees are searching for, and childcare demands, to name a few, have gone into creating the unusual situation the country finds itself in. “The data suggests the states ending enhanced unemployment early has had little, if any, effect in job growth,” said Groshen, a senior economics advisor at the Cornell Univer-
SEE EMPLOYEES PAGE 7
The Sauer Kraut Grill owner Eric Morse stares out the window of his restaurant in Richmond. He is among business owners in Fort Bend County who have been having The Sauer Kraut Grill is now closed three days per week due to ongoing employment shortages. (Photo by Matt deGrood) issues finding workers to fill staffing vacancies. (Photo by Matt deGrood)
Coach Darnell, sons relishing final ride at Clements By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
SEE COLD CASE PAGE 7
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 6
If Micah and Marcus Darnell ever need a breather from the action on the football field, or a reminder of the support they have off it, all they have to do is look to the sideline. That’s where they’ll see their father, Clements High School head coach Bobby Darnell, as well as gaggle of a dozen or more family members, encouraging and cheering them on. It’s been a constant through the
twin brothers’ years of being coached by their father, including the last two seasons on Clements’ varsity team. And it’s an experience they’ll forever relish as they come down the home stretch of their senior seasons hoping to help Clements make the UIL playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Rangers started 4-0 this season before losing 56-20 on Saturday against a Ridge Point team that has become a regional power. As the starting quarterback, Micah Darnell has thrown six touchdown passes against
three interceptions through the first five games while adding two rushing touchdowns for an offense averaging more than 34 points per game. Marcus Darnell, meanwhile, is the team’s second-leading receiver and has two touchdown catches, including one on Saturday night. Having the support of close family and friends at nearly every game, as well as their father roaming the sidelines every week, is a support system both
SEE RIDE PAGE 7
Pictured from left are Clements quarterback Micah Darnell, head coach Bobby Darnell and wide receiver Marcus Darnell. (Contributed photo)
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478