County judge lowers COVID-19 threat level - Page 8
This week's Fun in Fort Bend Feature focuses on the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land. Read the story inside today on Page 9. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 20, 2021
Boney, Land fight for local council seat By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Earlier this year, Missouri City Councilmember Jeffrey L. Boney nominated Everett Land to serve on the city’s bond committee, in preparation for a November bond referendum. Now, voters in Missouri City will decide on some $85 million in bond propositions. But they will also decide whether or not to replace Boney with Land as the District B representative on council. Early voting started Monday and continues through Oct. 29. Election Day is Nov. 2. “It’s time for new life and a new voice on council,” Land said. Boney, a resident of the city since 2000, has served as the District B representative since winning election in November 2017. Land, meanwhile, is a retired AT&T technician who has served on communications boards and as a member of his homeowners’ association. District B covers a wide swath of Missouri City, beginning near Lexington Boulevard and Scanlin Road in the north and coming south beyond State 6 and east as far as Sienna. Land said he was first inspired to run for office during his time on the bond committee, because he didn’t feel the city or the council, including Boney, were responsive enough to the needs of specific neighborhoods. Residents in District B want to see better parks, less cars parked on the street and other improvements, Land argues. “The city just hasn’t been responding,” Land said. “Sun panels go up, and the people aren’t going to the city or asking the HOA. Storage sheds aren’t build up to regulation size.” Boney, meanwhile, argues much has happened in the time he’s been on council. “I feel strong about my track record,” he said. “I’ve done a lot to improve the district, I’ve been present and engaged and helped bring development and re-
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 9
Doctor notes uptick in area opioid numbers By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
In the two years since Dr. Nisha Varghese started treating those with opioid addictions for AccessHealth, the program has already grown in number, she said. AccessHealth is a community health center with five medical clinics in Fort Bend and Waller counties, including in Richmond, Stafford and Missouri City, according
to the group’s information. “When I first started, I saw about 10 patients on medically-assisted treatment,” she said. “And that is everything from alcohol to opioids. In 2020, that had jumped to 25 to 30. And this year, it’s probably been in the range of 30 to 40 people. I’m seeing that increase.” But the story locally is more complicated than that. While experts like Varghese are seeing a noted increase in the number of
opioid patients locally, it’s hard to make a definitive claim about the state of the opioid crisis in Fort Bend County. No one is collecting data about fentanyl and opioid deaths in the county, but that data is vital, she said. “I just know from a clinic standpoint, I’m seeing a lot of people come in with issues,” she said. And those that do come in are often facing treatment for several substance abuse disorders, she said.
“Patients come in presenting symptoms of polyuse disorder,” she said. “Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, heroin and you’ll see increasingly fentanyl in toxicology reports.” Several Fort Bend County cities in recent weeks have opted into a settlement involving the state of Texas and several major producers of opioids, including
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Varghese
Music maker
Dulles alumnus is leaving impression on local music scene By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A Dulles High School alumnus and Rice University senior is making a name for himself in the Houston music scene by transcending genres and blending cultures. Pianist and composer Tomás Jonsson, who grew up in Sugar Land, will have two performances in Houston this weekend to premiere music from his forthcoming debut album, “First Impressions.” Jonsson hails from a musical family, and a multicultural one at that. His maternal grandmother was born in Baja California, and his father is from California. “When my mom and dad got married, they had kind of a joke,” he said. “But it was also a bargain they made. (My dad’s end of the bargain) was that all of us will learn to play musical instruments, and on my mom's side, we would all learn to speak Spanish.” Jonsson’s father is a violinist, he said, and he and his three siblings started out playing the violin as well. But Tomás quickly discovered that the violin wasn’t for him, and found himself “wandering toward” the piano. He currently serves as the pianist for the West University Baptist Church, and spent three years playing for The Fountain of Praise in Southwest Houston, which helped him foster an appreciation for the Black Gospel tradition and has shaped his own musiDulles High School alumnus and Rice University student Tomas Jonsson will perform cal composition to this day. in Houston this week to celebrate the release of his debut album. (Contributed photo) Because of his father, Jons-
son’s musical upbringing was mostly classical for the first decade of his 15-year playing career. “And then I started taking interest in jazz from recordings and albums and stuff,” Jonsson said. “And I started teaching myself. And then I really wanted jazz lessons. So right now I'm kind of on two tracks.” At Rice, Jonsson studies both classical and jazz piano performance, and is minoring in politics, law and social thought. He also takes private lessons from Paul English, a Rice University professor and Houston native who has worked with Willie Nelson and other well-known Texas musicians. Jonsson has given many public and private performances over the years, both solo and with ensembles. He has placed in the top three in nine different competitions across the country since 2015, three of which he won individually and two others where he was a part of the top ensemble. “Ever since I started doing jazz, I've really enjoyed playing spontaneously,” he said. “I feel like there's a side of me, some ideas that come out when I'm playing with friends that otherwise I just wouldn't get. So I guess I have a slight preference towards playing with others, but it's close.” The inspiration for a solo album came during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonsson said. “I've never done a solo
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Redistricting fight looms large for future of area By Matt deGrood Boney
Land
MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
County Judge KP George last week brought Fort Bend County into the ongoing fight in the Texas Legislature over redistricting, when he penned a letter slamming the process and the proposed division of the county into three different districts. “Our residents deserve to choose their politicians, not the other way around,” George said. “I ask you today to make good on that principle by ensuring
that a congressional district, in its entirety, is located within the already-existing borders of Fort Bend County.” The Texas Legislature is gathered in Austin discussing new congressional maps as part of an effort known as redistricting. Redistricting takes place every 10 years in Texas to apportion federal and state legislative districts based on population. Under the current maps, most of Fort Bend County falls into the 22nd U.S. Congressional District, occupied by U.S.
Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican. “Now 7 is a very democratic Some of the county is in the 9th district,” he said. “It used to be U.S. Congressional District, rep- a swing district to some degree, resented by U.S. Rep. Al Green, just like Fort Bend County. But a Democrat. the Republicans are trading off But proposed maps would an uncertain future in 7 and 22 further divide the county, tak- for a more certain future in 22.” ing the most reliably democratic State Rep. Todd Hunter, a areas out of the 22nd Congres- Republican from Corpus Christi sional District and placing them who chairs the House redistrictinto the 7th Congressional Dis- ing committee, has defended trict – a Houston-area district the work, arguing it's in line with represented by U.S. Rep. Lizzie goals and state law. Pannill Fletcher, a Democrat, "The Senate indicated that it said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at SEE REDISTRICTING PAGE 9 the University of Houston.
Nehls
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478