Skeeters buzz Bees to start the season: Page 8 Present
The 2nd Annual FAMILY fun day!
page 3 WEDNESDAY • MAY 2, 2018
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 40 • No. 38
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By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
While the Facilities Steering Committee for the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) spent three hours last week in an open workshop ferreting out the school options that were not feasible to address overcrowding, parents gathered in the audience said they were planning ways to protect their children’s best interest. While both groups are not necessarily at odds, with options such as closing neighborhood schools and merging others on the table, parents say they want to be organized to make the best of what could be a bad situation. When the steering committee compiled survey feedback regarding some of the options, there were negative
Cities, MUDs, LIDs holding elections Saturday Mayor touts success in Show MO City
comments made about sending students to Hightower and Marshall high schools. Some parents commented that they pay higher taxes and should not have to “send their children to inferior schools.” That prompted other parents to charge the district with spending money in the older schools to keep them up to par. Hightower High School parent Geralynn Prince had other reasons for attending the April 26 hearing with plans to return to the May 1 session. “I want everyone to know the Hightower that I know because we’re doing good things. But there are parents saying they would never send their children to Hightower. We will welcome anyone but we won’t sacrifice our children,” said Prince, who organized a Facebook group called “We Are Hightower.” Parents have expressed concern that an option to turn Hightower and
Hightower parents Marcus Ealey and Geralynn Prince exchange ideas with Ridge Point parents Kathi Hopkins and Erin Miles. (Photo by Theresa
D. McClellan)
Marshall high schools into college prep academies open to everyone in the district, would exclude the neighborhood students. “We’re not going to keep letting our kids get the short end of the stick. Ev-
eryone in FBISD pays property taxes. I don’t feel like your house being worth more than mine means your
Groups rally for school board districts
By Joe Southern
JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Here in eastern Fort Bend County, Sugar Land, Stafford, and Meadows Place all have contested races for their respective city councils this Saturday. Missouri City holds its elections in the fall, but does have a Municipal Utility District question on the ballot. Sugar Land In Sugar Land, the mayor and two at-large positions are up for election. Mayor Joe Zimmerman is seeking re-election and is being challenged by Diana Miller. Councilmember Himesh Gandhi is unopposed for atlarge position 1. At-large position 2 Councilmember Mary Joyce is vacating the seat and Jennifer Lane has filed for the position. Fara Ahmed has also filed but is a write-in candidate, meaning her name will not be on the ballot but she qualifies to have voters write her name on the ballot. Stafford In Stafford, three city council positions are open with each incumbent and one challenger filing. The top three vote-getters in the four-way race get the seats. Incumbents Don Jones, Ken Mathew, and Cecil Willis are being challenged by Johnny Baiamonte.
Meadows Place The biggest election tussle is happening in Meadows Place. The mayor and three council positions are open and all but one incumbent is being challenged. Mayor Charles Jessup is challenged by Mark McGrath. Place 1 Councilmember John Isbell is challenged by Lisa Johnson. Place 3 Councilmember Rick Staigle is challenged by Scott Holland. Only Place 2 Councilmember Steve Bezner is unopposed. There are also numerous Municipal Utility Districts and Levee Improvement Districts that are holding elections and referendums. Election Day is Saturday, May 5. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find a polling location, sample ballot or other information, visit https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/ departments/county-services/ elections-voter-registration/ election-day-information. A list of polling places is on page 11.
SEE OPTIONS, PAGE 9
By Joe Southern
By Theresa D. McClellan
JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen showed off the Show Me City Thursday by delivering his annual State of the City address inside the city’s newly renovated community center at City Hall. The annual address, done in conjunction with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, featured highlights of the last year in Missouri City and a peek ahead at things to come. “I’m proud to say that the Show Me City is having another great year,” he said. Much of Owen’s talk centered around economic development. “This is a time of growth, renewal, and renovation,” he said. Owen noted several companies either building or expanding in Missouri City. “Ben E. Keith continues to expand its footprint,” he said.
Supporters of single-member districts in the Fort Bend Independent School District held their kickoff party Sunday to collect 15,000 signatures of registered voters to bring matters to a vote. “Every step of the way it’s about education, information, and awareness,” said community organizer Vanesia Johnson, founder of Citizens Advocating for Social Equality and a member of Rise Up for Real Representation. Rise Up is a coalition of organizations including ACLU Texas, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – Fort Bend Chapter, Citizens Advocation for Social Equality (CASE), the Fort Bend CAN (Community Action Network), Fort Bend Employee Federation, Fort Bend Super Neighborhood 41, League of Women Voters Fort Bend, GATEKEEPERS and the NAACP Missouri City and vicinity. State Rep. Ron Reynolds has championed the cause for single-member districts but his legislative efforts were thwarted in Austin. “I’ve tried for four terms through legislation. The NAACP tried through litigation. The only other way to have single-member districts is to have the board vote, but the board won’t do that without 15,000 signatures,” said Reynolds. “I’m optimistic that with all the people engaged, we’ll have the numbers,” he said. They want school board members to be elected geographically instead of at-large, arguing that the at-large positions dilute representation since the entire district can vote on every member. The FBISD is predominately African American, Hispanic and Asian, but five of the seven board members are white,
Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen greets guests as he prepares to deliver the annual State of the City address last Thursday in the community center at City Hall. (Photo
by Joe Southern)
He noted among others that Best Buy and FedEx are building large facilities in business parks near Highway 90A and Beltway 8. He also talked about other businesses coming to town or expanding in the city. “It is evident that economic development continues to
drive city life,” he said. Owen said that last year the city approved its first economic development plan, which focused on revitalization along Texas Parkway. Driving that are major improvements at the City Hall complex, including facility upgrades, new paint,
landscaping, a garden, art installation, and water features. Next door, Houston Community College opened a $25 million campus last year. “It’s the largest single capital investment made on
SEE ADDRESS, PAGE 9
Family Fun Day is Saturday at ballpark By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Come out with your family and spend the day at Constellation Field Saturday as the Fort Bend Star and the Sugar Land Skeeters present the second annual Family Fun Day. Family Fun Day is free and will be held from 2:30-6 p.m., leading up to the baseball game against the Somerset Patriots. The event will feature several fun activities for children and families along with more than 50 vendors presenting information about a variety of topics, including summer camps, schools, hospitals, churches, vacation Bible schools, music schools, retailers, doctors, dentists and
so much more. This is a day that will showcase the best of summer events and activities in the greater Fort Bend County area. It will be like a one-stopshopping event for parents to learn about things they can do for and with their children over the summer. Kids can participate in many activities throughout the day. Activities include having a photo taken with the Skeeters mascot Swatson, visiting with and getting autographs from Skeeters players, playing on the Skeeters playground and bounce houses, walking around the Skeeters outfield and enjoying food purchased from the Skeeters food kiosks. As a bonus, the first 100 visitors will receive a ticket to a Skeeters game! The top sponsors of the event include
Visitors check out vendor booths at last year’s Family Fun Day at Constellation Field. This year’s event, hosted by the Fort Bend Star and the Sugar Land Skeeters, will be held Saturday, May 5. (Photo by Joe Southern)
Evolution Rx and Zentigue. Limited sponsorship and vendor space are still available and can be obtained by calling 281-690-4200. Family Fun Day is a free
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