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New judge tells county residents to not worry about new leadership By Theresa D. McClellan THERESA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
KP George, the newly elected judge of Fort Bend County has a message for everyone: “Everything is going to be just fine.” When George takes office in January as the county judge, replacing long-time Judge Robert Hebert, he u nder sta nd s there will be some adjustments. KP George “There are some people, unfortunately, who are still in shock and don’t know what happened. I have friends from both side, Republican and Democrats, so go tell them everything is going to be OK, everything is going to be just fine. That is the message I want to send today,” said George, who currently holds a board seat with the Fort Bend Independent School District. “We want to make sure Fort Bend County is available, accessible and fair, irrespective of your look, your religion, your faith, your whatever,” George told an appreciative standing room only crowd last month at his victory reception and fundraiser at the Nirmanz Banquet Hall in Sugar Land. Since his Nov. 6 win, where his supporters say he garnered the most votes in Fort Bend County history, George and members of his transition team have been meeting with department heads across the county on a listening tour. “There was a lot of talk about straight ticket voting. But KP got more votes as county judge than anyone ever in history with 48,000 who did not vote straight ticket, to choose his name,” said Mustafa Tameez, chairperson of his transition team. “He makes history as the highest vote-getter for county judge in Fort Bend County. History as well, as the first
SEE GEORGE, PAGE 4
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 16
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FBISD wants cemetery order reversed School district seeks removal of mediator in reburial case By Theresa D. McClellan THERESA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Days after a judge delayed further actions on the unearthed grave sites at the construction site of the James Reese Career and Technical Center, the Fort Bend Independent School District filed a motion asking the courts to reverse the order. On Nov. 18, 434th District Court Judge James Shoemake assigned a court-appointed mediator called a Master in Chancery to address the matter of the excavated bodies, called the “Sugar Land 95,” found at the construction site grounds of the new tech center. That decision basically halted action the district’s forward action with the judge saying he expected a decision in March. On Friday the district filed a motion stating why the Master in Chancery was not necessary and an order they want the judge to sign that states: “The Court having considered the matter, is of the opinion that the Objection should be sustained and the Court’s Nov. 21, 2018 order of reference appointing Master in Chancery should be vacated,” according to the unsigned and undated document. A copy of the court order was sent to the Fort Bend Star. “I think it shows what their intent is. Their public relations talk about being sensitive, but what you do in writing shows who they are,” said Kofi Taharka, national chairman of the National Black United Front, who was among a dozen people who attended the Nov. 18 hearing and one of the five who spoke to the judge before his initial ruling. “They don’t want to have the type of engagement the judge thinks is necessary and that’s what the order tells you. No matter what they say in public.” “If we had not been in that courtroom, their (FBISD) story, which the judge seemed to agree with, wasn’t matching up with what those on the ad-
visory board experienced,” said Taharka. “Now I wonder what stops the judge from signing that order.” The district’s chief information officer confirmed the district’s request. “The objections are that they (courts) ordered a vague purview or lack of scope of what the master is to do. The Master Chancery is used to work through complicated and scientific issues. This is not scientific or complicated. They are designed to assist two parties. There aren’t two parties, only one party and that is the school district asking for permission,” said Chief Communications Officer Veronica Sopher. “It is worded better in the motion,” she added. Last month Shoemake wrote a four-page decision on the initial request by the Fort Bend ISD. They petitioned the court to allow removal of the remains from graves discovered on land owned by the district. The judge called the matter in legal terms an “exceptional case” that would benefit from the assistance of an independent Master in Chancery who specialized in real estate law, mediation and civil litigation issues. “As outlined to the court by the pleadings, party(ies) and other interested parties, the subject matter of this litigation involves the substantial and personal rights of what will most likely be in excess of 100 individuals, families and other interested persons and/or entities that may well be of a significant historical value and must therefore be handled with a great deal of care, compassion and thoughtfulness to the deceased and all parties and interested people involved,” Shoemake wrote in his decision. He assigned attorney Michael W. Elliott of Richmond as Master in Chancery to, “assist the court with this important and complex case.” Shoemake wrote that Elliott, “possesses legal and
SEE CEMETERY, PAGE 10
Sugar Land sparkles
The giant Christmas tree is lit up in front of Sugar Land City Hall Friday night before a crowd of thousands as fireworks are launched in the background. (Photo by Joe Southern)
Constellation boasts 2.5 million holiday lights on display From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Sugar Land Holiday Light, presented by the Sugar Land Skeeters at Constellation Field, will feature a spectacle of 2.5 million lights, making it one of the largest holiday light displays in the Greater Houston area. The festival is open nightly through Jan. 1. The hours are Sunday through Thursday from 6-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day from 6-10 p.m. General admission tickets are $14, with numerous ticket specials available throughout the event. Companies will also have the option to hold fundraisers for certain nights, with a
Constellation Field is decorated with 2.5 million lights for the fifth annual Sugar Land Holiday Lights, held nightly through New Year’s Day. (Photo by Joe Southern)
percentage of ticket proceeds directed back to the company through promo codes available online and the TDECU Ticket Office. There are many thrilling and action-packed additions to this year’s Holiday Lights. Rides and attractions for attendees of all ages will be
available at a carnival located in the back parking lot of Constellation Field, along with traditional carnival food and beverage options. Wristbands, giving unlimited access to the rides and attractions at the carnival, will be priced at $10 and can be purchased at SugarLand-
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HolidayLights.com or the TDECU Ticket Office. While on the way to the carnival in the back parking lot, attendees will have the opportunity to do some holiday shopping thanks to vendors lining the Holiday Walk, located on the Constellation Field concourse. This year’s SLHL will also feature animated displays throughout the infield, including a state-of-the-art 40-foot animated tree. Attendees will have the chance to weave through the array of lights at Constellation Field with the addition of a light maze. Admission to the maze will be included with a general admission ticket. With new attractions to this year’s SLHL, there will also be a number of new theme nights. Grab your pup and bring them to the
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ballpark on Dec. 7 as part of the Lights and Leashes Night. There will be certified dog trainers on site and people who bring their dog to Constellation Field will receive $10 general admission tickets. Help make some history on Dec. 22 in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most elves in one location. More than 1,800 elves are needed to break the record, so come dressed up and be a part of a historical night. Returning once again to SLHL will be the attendance of Santa Claus, who’ll be available for visits and pictures every night through Dec. 23. Also returning will be the prodigious, lightstudded Texas flag. For more information, visit SugarLandHolidayLights. com or call 281-240-4487.
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