Stafford nabs first win of 2019 in district opener - Page 12
Constellation Field will be hosting the city of Sugar Land's annual Halloween Town festivities Oct. 26 Read the story inside today's edition on Page 10.
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 60
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Appeals court sides with FBISD on 'Sugar Land 95' By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend ISD plans to reinter the “Sugar Land 95” without judicial oversight or involvement, following an opinion issued by an appellate court. On Oct. 3, a threejudge panel with the First Court of Appeals sided with the school district, saying it had the right to dismiss its 2018 suit that sought approval from a state district court to move the human remains it discovered while constructing a new building. The appellate court also agreed with FBISD that the district court “abused its discretion” when it did not dismiss the one-party proceeding and instead appointed an attorney
to oversee the case and another to represent the interests of the 95 African Americans whose remains were discovered, according to court documents. The FBISD board voted Sept. 23 to move forward with a plan to reinter the remains. Those found in the abandoned cemetery are believed to have been part of Texas’ convictleasing program that was in operation until 1911. “We are grateful for the opinion of the appellate court that supports the actions taken by Fort Bend ISD,” FBISD Board President Jason Burdine said in a statement released by the district. “We look forward to memorializing and honoring the Sugar Land 95 with our community. ... Crossing this hurdle now allows us to
FBISD board president Jason Burdine speaks about the Sugar Land 95 in July. The district is moving forward with its reinterment plan. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
move forward to finalizing our ongoing negotiations with the county regarding the future conveyance of the land.” With the backing of school district and Fort Bend County officials, a state law was amended
earlier this year to allow the county to operate a cemetery. FBISD announced in July that it had reached an agreement to convey the land to the county and pay the county $1 million to help cover costs associated with rein-
terring the remains. But since pulling that monetary offer, negotiations with the county have stalled, with the main contention point being court oversight in reinterring the remains. The county has long wanted judicial involvement, but FBISD has said such action would be more costly to taxpayers. County Judge KP George declined comment. FBISD has enlisted a Missouri City funeral home for a memorial service to honor the Sugar Land 95, which has not been scheduled. The remains will be reinterred to the same locations they were discovered at the James Reese Career and Technical Center in 2018, according to the district.
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Oyster Creek Area families keep traditions going at county fair projects funded A young girl takes part in Stick Horse Rodeo at the Fort Bend County Fair. More than 80,000 people participated in this year's festivities. (Photo courtesy of Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo)
By Landan Kuhlmann
LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
From Staff Reports
Multiple river channels in Fort Bend County will be getting an upgrade courtesy of federal funding, including one near Sugar Land and Missouri City. The Fort Bend County Drainage District recently approved and accepted just over $48 million of federal funds for work on projects within three county channels, including repair work on multiple sloughs and erosion repairs along Oyster Creek.
SEE CREEK PAGE 13
Jean Therriault’s children screamed in joy and smiled wide as they rocketed around in a
Tilt-A-Whirl Sunday afternoon, as if it was their first time attending the Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo. In reality, they’ve have been going for more than a decade in what has be-
come a family tradition since they moved to Sugar Land almost 20 years ago. But the allure hasn’t worn off. “They still look forward to it every year, and it’s always an awesome time,”
Therriault said. Therriault has made the roughly 12-mile drive from her home in Sugar Land to the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg with her now-teenage children every year for nearly
two decades. She and her kids were among thousands of residents from around the area who made their way out to the Fort
SEE FAIR PAGE 11
Kermally holds Sugar Land’s first virtual town hall By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Listening to voices in the community is key for civic leaders. The city of Sugar Land recently embarked on a new frontier of community engagement it hopes will become more prevalent. Sugar Land City Councilman Naushad Kermally, Assistant City Manager Chris Stuebing
Kermally
and Police Chief Eric Robbins hosted a virtual town hall meeting Sept. 23, using a live stream
on Facebook to update citizens on crime trends, upcoming events and the Nov. 5 bond election. The trio also took part in a live question-and-answer session after their presentations. Kermally, the council member for District 2, said the event had been in the works for several months, with city officials brainstorming ways to better reach the citizens of Sugar Land. “People live busy lives,
and having a town hall in the evening is tough for people to make with all the other commitments they have. There have been times in the past when we have more staff than citizens at these events,” Kermally said. “These days, most people are glued to their phones. It’s an easier way for them to sit home and continue to do what they need to do and still be able to participate. We were very happy with the results.”
Questions posed to Kermally, Robbins and Stuebing included inquiries about crime statistics, the upcoming general obligation bond, property tax increases, flooding and drainage in areas such as Telfair and even how the city is accounting for climate change in infrastructure planning. “Thank you for organizing this virtual town hall.
SEE TOWN HALL PAGE 13