Local students going to state robotics competition - Page 6
Restaurant Review - Page 6 WEDNESDAY • MARCH 22, 2023 JEANNE GREGORY REALTOR®, CRS, GRI, ABR
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 48 • No. 26 • $1.00
Officials talk county's future at 'Community Conversations' By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A capacity crowd filled a large meeting room at the University Branch Library last week as Fort Bend County Judge KP George held his first Community Conversation of the year, with the theme "Fort Bend Forward." During the event, Geroge, elected last November to his second term, touted the accomplishments of Commissioners Court so far this year, and also
SOUTHWEST
713-854-0923 Each Office Independently Owned & Operated
Wharton County Junior College
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
KP George
discussed the county's growth and diversity. He also acted as an emcee of sorts. introducing the several speakers who discussed the future of Fort Bend from their various perspetives. First up was Carlos Guzman, the county's first-ever full-time economic opportunity and development director. Hired last year from a similar role at the City of Pasadena, he noted that Fort Bend County is in many respects different from that municipality,
which is almost completely developed. By contrast, Guzman noted, while the portions of Fort Bend neighboring Harris County are densely built, but of the county's growth in future years is projected to spread further to the center and eastern portions of the county. The drivers for that growth, the said, is Fort Bend's reputation for a high quality of life, high-quality health care facilities and educational opportunities. Fort Bend also benefits
from its proximity by highway and rail to the Port of Freeport, one of the most important ports along the Texas Gulf Coast. Kevin Matocha, president of Stonehenge Holdings LLC, the primary developer of the county's Epicenter project in Rosenberg, spoke next. Matocha gave a highly detailed description of the multipurpose venue, which is slated to open later this year. SEE FUTURE PAGE 5
Street Scene
SEE our ad on PAGE 7!
Murder suspect dies in prison by suicide By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The suspect in the murder of Sugar Land resident and Alief ISD teacher Wendy Duan died by suicide in February at a Louisiana jail, Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph confirmed to the Fort Bend Star on Wednesday. Charvas Thompson, 26, of Houston, was found dead at the Caddo Parish Jail in Shreveport, where he was awaiting extradition to Fort Bend County on a charge of murder. In a court appearance shortly after his arrest in Louisiana, he had refused to waive extradition. Sugar Land police received the information about Thompson's death shortly afterward and relayed it on a social media post. Sugar Land police reSEE SUSPECT PAGE 5
Artist Shawn Artis of Houston paints a portrait of Daffy Duck at the Missouri City Chalk Festival last weekend. Several dozen artists from around the region and beyond turned out as Missouri City delves into the street art scene. (Photo by Ken Fountain)
Artists near and far turn out for Missouri City Chalk Fest By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The parking lot of the Missouri City Recreation & Tennis Center was transformed into a massive art studio of sorts last weekend as a few dozen street artists of all ages took part in the Missouri Chalk Fest. In this second year, the event was expanded to a two-day affair, which
was advantageous given the weekend weather. While Saturday was somewhat damp and blustery, Sunday proved to be a spectacularly sunny day perfect for the artists from all over Houston, along with some from other states and countries - to finish their creations. The event is Missouri City's foray into the growing street art scene, which has been f lourishing across the globe for the
past two decades or so. Houston has held its own renowned Via Colori festival for about that long. Several of the artists at Missouri City's were professionals who were invited to participate by the city, including Shawn Artis of Houston, who was painted a portrait of Daffy Duck of "Loony Tunes" fame. Like many of the artists, he got his start in chalk art at Via Colori. Nearby, Samantha Hem-
pel also of Houston, painted a portrait of Indiana Jones in the famous opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark. She said she chose him as her subject to be in keeping with this year's event theme, "Let's Explore." "He's my favorite explorer," she said. Hung Pham, also of Houston, painted a portrait of his own dog, named Tek Ken, a play on the word "taken," stemming from a
conversation he had with his sister when they were adopting him. An architect by profession, Pham said the chalk art scene, which he's been involved in for about 15 years, is a way he keeps his creative juices f lowing. Marcos Hernandez painted a scene of the character Son Goku from the Japanese anime series Dragon Ball, along with his young SEE CHALK PAGE 4
Stafford council debating Juneteenth celebration plans By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Thompson
With Juneteenth just three months away, the City of Stafford's ambitious plans for a new event are proceeding, but not without some controversy.
At the March 15 City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Don Jones laid out the ideas thus far developed in a special ad hoc committee he initiated earlier this year to create a full-day festival marking the day in June 1865, after the end of the Civil War, when a U.S.
Army general announced in Galveston that all formerly enslaved people in Texas were free. The celebration known as Juneteenth was celebrated by Black Americans in Texas beyond for decades before being recognized as a federal holiday in 2020.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARD HIGHLIGHTS Free discount card for everyone No insurance necessary Good for uninsured and underinsured individuals No sign up or personal info required Eligible for brand, generic, AND pet medications HIPAA compliant
MEMBER ID 10 Digit Phone Number BIN 022634 GRP DR29 PCN 3333
WWW.DRSCHOICERX.COM
Jones, who along with fellow Council members Wen Guerra and Ken Mathew are challenging incumbent Mayor Cecil Willis in the May 6 municipal election, said the committee had had extensive discussions on SEE JUNETEENTH PAGE 5