Phone: 281-980-6745 ww ww w.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com P.O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011 VOL 4 No. 41 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor 10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487. Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land Gold & Silver Refiner y Bring in gold and silver jewelry ; go with a hand full of cash. We have no middle men and can afford to pay higher than competitors. NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 3599 Highway 6, Sugar Land 281-313-9999 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (In the Kroger Shopping Center at Settlersway) We buy gold and silver jewelry and scrap, melt it on the spot. That is why we can afford to pay more. Visit us once before you go elsewhere. The City of Sugar Land will implement several rate and fee changes beginning Jan. 1. The fees and rates were approved by City Council in September. The “surface water” rate will increase from 76 cents to $1.42 per 1,000 gallons begin- ning Jan. 1. In addition to the normal charges for water usage, city utility customers pay a sepa- “After prayerful and care- ful consideration, I have de- cided not to run for the state legislative seat for House Dis- trict 26,” said Tom Abraham, who is currently active as the At Large, Position 1 city council member for the City of Sugar Land and principal as a Regional Director of the Texas Municipal League holding its annual conference in this area this month. “This was a difficult deci- sion, as I know that my sup- porters eagerly encouraged me to run and endorsed me for the position,” he said. “I want to especially em- phasize that it is vitally im- portant that the community focus on the conservative be- liefs and values that unite us and let no agenda narrow our vision or drive us apart.” Abraham, who has suc- cessfully won his consecu- tive seat on city council and has also served as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem said, “I want to thank my supporters and those endorsing me. After my continuous years serving as an elected official since 2004, I have found that there are many opportunities to look at things from a different per- spective, and it was with that in mind that I made my bid to run for office at the state level.” Abraham, a small business owner, will be focusing on both his role as a city coun- cil member and the private sector, especially during the current economic climate. He and his wife Sarah wish to thank the many area resi- dents, who have continuously offered their support in the name of community. Sugar Land Council- woman Jacquie Chaumette, Fort Bend ISD Trustee Son- al Bhuchar and former Fort Bend GOP Chairman Rick Miller have announced their intention to run for this seat in the March Republican Par- ty primary. Incumbent Charlie How- ard has decided not to seek re-election. For over 20 years, East Fort Bend Human Needs Minis- try has been making sure that neighbors in our community have enough food to feed their families. Located in Stafford, East Fort Bend Human Needs Min- istry operates the largest Food Pantry in Fort Bend, helping over 3,000 individuals every month. Loss of jobs, increased food prices and economic uncertainty has led to more people coming to the Ministry seeking help. “Most of those we help come to us when they’ve reached a point of choosing between paying the bills or provide food to our neighbors in need, donations are down by 10 percent and Food Pantry shelves are bare. East Fort Bend Human Needs Min- istry is in need of your help. Consid- er holding a food drive or making a monetary donation. Please don’t delay. Your help is needed now. Help restock food pantry shelves Tom Abraham decides not to run for Dist. 26 State Rep. Rate and fee changes begin Jan. 1 in Sugar Land rate rate based on billed water consumption. The surface water charges support the city’s mandated conversion to surface water. Construction of the City’s sur- face water treatment plant is in progress. Although the surface wa- ter rate is increasing, water and wastewater rates will not change -- an effort by the City to minimize the impact of overall utility bills while Sug- ar Land transitions to surface water. An average residential util- ity bill for 11,000 gallons of water usage will increase by $7.25 per month. The City’s water and waste- water system is self-support- ing. Each year, rates are ad- justed to reflect increasing costs of providing water to customers. All expenses are paid through the fees charged to customers each month. No property tax or sales tax dol- lars support the utility system. Despite surface water rate increases, residential solid waste rates will decrease be- ginning Jan. 1 due to imple- mentation of automated waste collection. Customers currently pay $17.63 per month for twice weekly curbside recycling and refuse collection. The switch in December to automated pickup will result in a new rate of $16 per month that will be reflected on Janu- ary bills, a savings of $1.63 per month. Other user fees -- such as facility rental charges, permits and rental registration licenses -- will also increase in Janu- ary. These fees are adjusted annually based on the CPI index, to offset inflationary expenses. However, the City did not increase fees in 2011 to minimize impacts of the re- cession on residents. Fees will be increased 4.9 percent based on the two year CPI change. The MD Anderson Regional Care Center in Sugar Land recently lit the Plaza of Sugar Land Town Square pink during a free Fort Bend Symphony Concert in honor of Breast Cancer Aware- ness Month. MD Anderson physicians and staff were on hand during the event to pass out free educational materials and pink glow necklaces to spread the light of breast cancer awareness and hope. (Pictured) Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra Members Liesl Schindler, Sandy Chapman, Coleman Locke, Lauren Chapman and Charity James. Plaza turns pink FBISD joins lawsuit against state over school finance By SESHADRI KUMAR The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees Monday night adopted a resolution to file a lawsuit against the state over the ex- isting statutory system for the financing of public education in Texas. Along with other school dis- tricts, the board has retained the law firm of Thompson & Horton, LLP, to file the law- suit. The law firm will be paid $65,000 by FBISD, according to the district’s chief financial officer Tracy Hoke. The board believes that the existing finance system will continue to impair public edu- cation available to the students and will impair the ability of the district to provide an ap- propriate education, unless it is significantly reformed. The board “deems it in the best interest of the district to seek an end to such an impair- ment through the judicial sys- tem.” The decision to join the law- suit was adopted with six votes in favor. Trustee Sonal Bhuchar re- cused herself from the vote, citing the “unique position,” she was in. Bhuchar is seeking the Re- publican party nomination for the Dist. 26 State Representa- tive seat. She favored the resolution, and hoped to effect a change in the legislature, but she does not want her ability to vote in the legislature to be affected in any way by her voting now on the school board resolution. FBISD now joins more than 100 other school districts in the legal fight, spearheaded by Equity Center, an organization fighting for fair and equitable funding for all public schools. Many school districts adopt the same tax rate or have reached the maximum allowed tax rate, but the per student reimbursement varies signifi- cantly from district to district. According to the Equity Center, the existing funding system is inadequate, ineffi- cient and is unconstitutional. The lawsuit is expected to be filed in November and at least 300 school districts are expected to be parties to the lawsuit. Appraisal Board In other action, the school board nominated three people to the Fort Bend County Cen- tral Appraisal District. They are Albert Glover, Al Abramczyk and Jim Kij. Texas Property Tax Code sets out procedures for electing directors for county appraisal districts and requires the gov- erning body of each voting unit to submit names of nominees for the Board of Directors by adopting a resolution. The Chief Appraiser has asked that nominees and their contact information be for- warded to him before October 15. After receiving all nomi- nees, the Chief Appraiser will prepare a ballot of those nomi- nated and send it to the differ- ent taxing units. Each unit will then cast its votes by resolution and return to the Chief Appraiser before December 15, 2011. The voting entitlement for FBISD is 1,440 votes. Two current members, Rick Garcia and Jim Kij, were nominated and elected by the FBISD Board of Trustees in 2009. FBISD board president Su- san Hohnbaum voted against the nomination of Kij, while Trustee Marilyn Glover, wife of Albert Glover, abstained. Bhuchar nominated the cur- rent CAD member Rick Gar- cia, but her motion failed as no one seconded it. Glover said she abstained not only because her husband was being nominated, but she took objection to the CAD chair’s indifference. When former board presi- dent Sonal Bhuchar sought in- formation from the CAD board chair on the election process, she recieved no information. “It was arrogant,” she said. The school board had nomi- nated Albert Glover, but the CAD board did not appoint him in 2009. Meanwhile, the City of Sug- ar Land has nominated Jim Kij and Al Abramczyk to the CAD board. The school board also made a budget adjustment for the re- ceipt of $10.87 million from the state, known as “EduJob funds.” Nearly $6.7 million of this fund will go to employee health insurance and $1.5 million will be used to hire 22 teachers in grades K-4 and eight special education aides. Also, $750,000 will be used for the development of curricu- lum to support the implemen- tation of the STAAR program. The new truancy court set up by the county will receive $300,00 from the school dis- trict. feeding their families,” said Vickie Coates, Executive Di- rector of EFBHNM. As the Ministry strives to By making a donation to EFBHNM you are helping your Fort Bend neighbors who are struggling to makes ends meet during a difficult time in their lives. To learn more about East Fort Bend Human Needs Min- istry go to www.HumanNeeds. org, or stop by for a visit at 435 Stafford Run Road. Donations can be made online at HumanNeeds.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1611, Staf- ford, TX 77497. All donations are tax deduct- ible.
Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
Offi cial newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Gold & Silver Refi nery
Bring in gold and silver jewelry ;
go with a hand full of cash.
We have no middle men and can aff ord to pay
higher than competitors.
NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC3599 Highway 6, Sugar Land
281-313-999910 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
(In the Kroger Shopping Center at Settlersway)
We buy gold and silver jewelry and scrap, melt
it on the spot. That is why we can aff ord to pay
more.
Visit us once before you go elsewhere.
The City of Sugar Land will implement several rate and fee changes beginning Jan. 1. The fees and rates were approved by City Council in September.
The “surface water” rate will increase from 76 cents to $1.42 per 1,000 gallons begin-ning Jan. 1.
In addition to the normal charges for water usage, city utility customers pay a sepa-
“After prayerful and care-ful consideration, I have de-cided not to run for the state legislative seat for House Dis-trict 26,” said Tom Abraham, who is currently active as the At Large, Position 1 city council member for the City of Sugar Land and principal as a Regional Director of the Texas Municipal League holding its annual conference in this area this month.
“This was a diffi cult deci-sion, as I know that my sup-porters eagerly encouraged
me to run and endorsed me for the position,” he said.
“I want to especially em-phasize that it is vitally im-portant that the community focus on the conservative be-liefs and values that unite us and let no agenda narrow our vision or drive us apart.”
Abraham, who has suc-cessfully won his consecu-tive seat on city council and has also served as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem said, “I want to thank my supporters and those endorsing me. After my
continuous years serving as an elected offi cial since 2004, I have found that there are many opportunities to look at things from a different per-spective, and it was with that in mind that I made my bid to run for offi ce at the state level.”
Abraham, a small business owner, will be focusing on both his role as a city coun-cil member and the private sector, especially during the current economic climate. He and his wife Sarah wish
to thank the many area resi-dents, who have continuously offered their support in the name of community.
Sugar Land Council-woman Jacquie Chaumette, Fort Bend ISD Trustee Son-al Bhuchar and former Fort Bend GOP Chairman Rick Miller have announced their intention to run for this seat in the March Republican Par-ty primary.
Incumbent Charlie How-ard has decided not to seek re-election.
For over 20 years, East Fort Bend Human Needs Minis-try has been making sure that neighbors in our community have enough food to feed their families.
Located in Stafford, East Fort Bend Human Needs Min-istry operates the largest Food Pantry in Fort Bend, helping over 3,000 individuals every month.
Loss of jobs, increased food prices and economic uncertainty has led to more people coming to the Ministry seeking help.
“Most of those we help come to us when they’ve reached a point of choosing between paying the bills or
provide food to our neighbors in need, donations are down by 10 percent and Food Pantry shelves are bare.
East Fort Bend Human Needs Min-istry is in need of your help. Consid-er holding a food drive or making a monetary donation. Please don’t delay. Your help is needed now.
Help restock food pantry shelves
Tom Abraham decides not to run for Dist. 26 State Rep.
Rate and fee changes begin Jan. 1 in Sugar Land rate rate based on billed water consumption.
The surface water charges support the city’s mandated conversion to surface water. Construction of the City’s sur-face water treatment plant is in progress.
Although the surface wa-ter rate is increasing, water and wastewater rates will not change -- an effort by the City to minimize the impact of overall utility bills while Sug-ar Land transitions to surface water.
An average residential util-ity bill for 11,000 gallons of water usage will increase by $7.25 per month.
The City’s water and waste-water system is self-support-ing. Each year, rates are ad-justed to refl ect increasing costs of providing water to customers. All expenses are paid through the fees charged to customers each month. No property tax or sales tax dol-lars support the utility system.
Despite surface water rate increases, residential solid waste rates will decrease be-ginning Jan. 1 due to imple-mentation of automated waste collection.
Customers currently pay $17.63 per month for twice weekly curbside recycling and refuse collection.
The switch in December to automated pickup will result in a new rate of $16 per month that will be refl ected on Janu-ary bills, a savings of $1.63 per month.
Other user fees -- such as facility rental charges, permits and rental registration licenses -- will also increase in Janu-ary. These fees are adjusted annually based on the CPI index, to offset infl ationary expenses. However, the City did not increase fees in 2011 to minimize impacts of the re-cession on residents.
Fees will be increased 4.9 percent based on the two year CPI change.
The MD Anderson Regional Care Center in Sugar Land recently lit the Plaza of Sugar Land Town Square pink during a free Fort Bend Symphony Concert in honor of Breast Cancer Aware-ness Month. MD Anderson physicians and staff were on hand during the event to pass out free educational materials and pink glow necklaces to spread the light of breast cancer awareness and hope. (Pictured) Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra Members Liesl Schindler, Sandy Chapman, Coleman Locke, Lauren Chapman and Charity James.
Plaza turns pinkFBISD joins lawsuit against state over school fi nance
By SESHADRI KUMARThe Fort Bend ISD board of
trustees Monday night adopted a resolution to fi le a lawsuit against the state over the ex-isting statutory system for the fi nancing of public education in Texas.
Along with other school dis-tricts, the board has retained the law fi rm of Thompson & Horton, LLP, to fi le the law-suit.
The law fi rm will be paid $65,000 by FBISD, according to the district’s chief fi nancial offi cer Tracy Hoke.
The board believes that the existing fi nance system will continue to impair public edu-cation available to the students and will impair the ability of the district to provide an ap-propriate education, unless it is signifi cantly reformed.
The board “deems it in the best interest of the district to seek an end to such an impair-ment through the judicial sys-tem.”
The decision to join the law-suit was adopted with six votes in favor.
Trustee Sonal Bhuchar re-cused herself from the vote, citing the “unique position,” she was in.
Bhuchar is seeking the Re-publican party nomination for the Dist. 26 State Representa-tive seat.
She favored the resolution, and hoped to effect a change in the legislature, but she does not want her ability to vote in the legislature to be affected in any way by her voting now on the school board resolution.
FBISD now joins more than 100 other school districts in the legal fi ght, spearheaded by Equity Center, an organization fi ghting for fair and equitable funding for all public schools.
Many school districts adopt the same tax rate or have reached the maximum allowed tax rate, but the per student reimbursement varies signifi -cantly from district to district.
According to the Equity Center, the existing funding
system is inadequate, ineffi -cient and is unconstitutional.
The lawsuit is expected to be fi led in November and at least 300 school districts are expected to be parties to the lawsuit.
Appraisal BoardIn other action, the school
board nominated three people to the Fort Bend County Cen-tral Appraisal District.
They are Albert Glover, Al Abramczyk and Jim Kij.
Texas Property Tax Code sets out procedures for electing directors for county appraisal districts and requires the gov-erning body of each voting unit to submit names of nominees for the Board of Directors by adopting a resolution.
The Chief Appraiser has asked that nominees and their contact information be for-warded to him before October 15. After receiving all nomi-nees, the Chief Appraiser will prepare a ballot of those nomi-nated and send it to the differ-ent taxing units.
Each unit will then cast its votes by resolution and return to the Chief Appraiser before December 15, 2011.
The voting entitlement for FBISD is 1,440 votes.
Two current members, Rick Garcia and Jim Kij, were nominated and elected by the FBISD Board of Trustees in 2009.
FBISD board president Su-san Hohnbaum voted against the nomination of Kij, while Trustee Marilyn Glover, wife of Albert Glover, abstained.
Bhuchar nominated the cur-rent CAD member Rick Gar-cia, but her motion failed as no one seconded it.
Glover said she abstained not only because her husband was being nominated, but she took objection to the CAD chair’s indifference.
When former board presi-dent Sonal Bhuchar sought in-formation from the CAD board chair on the election process, she recieved no information. “It was arrogant,” she said.
The school board had nomi-nated Albert Glover, but the CAD board did not appoint him in 2009.
Meanwhile, the City of Sug-ar Land has nominated Jim Kij and Al Abramczyk to the CAD board.
The school board also made a budget adjustment for the re-ceipt of $10.87 million from the state, known as “EduJob funds.”
Nearly $6.7 million of this fund will go to employee health insurance and $1.5 million will be used to hire 22 teachers in grades K-4 and eight special education aides.
Also, $750,000 will be used for the development of curricu-lum to support the implemen-tation of the STAAR program.
The new truancy court set up by the county will receive $300,00 from the school dis-trict.
feeding their families,” said Vickie Coates, Executive Di-rector of EFBHNM.
As the Ministry strives to
By making a donation to EFBHNM you are helping your Fort Bend neighbors who are struggling to makes ends meet during a diffi cult time in their lives.
To learn more about East Fort Bend Human Needs Min-istry go to www.HumanNeeds.org, or stop by for a visit at 435 Stafford Run Road.
Donations can be made online at HumanNeeds.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1611, Staf-ford, TX 77497.
All donations are tax deduct-ible.
PERRYHOMESA T T B O 43 Y
B Q H $140s $850s
O 20 C H A ! V W F C L !
PERRYHOMES.comPlans, prices and availability are subject to change without notice. (11/10)
V O F B C !Cross Creek Ranch2,200 - 2,900 sq. ft. (281) 633-25552,900 - 3,300 sq. ft. (281) 238-0919 2,900 - 3,700 sq. ft. (281) 238-0919
Westheimer Lakes1,600 - 3,100 sq. ft. (832) 222-2120
Old Orchard 1,900 - 4,000 sq. ft. (281) 277-18002,600 - 4,400 sq. ft. (281) 265-4555
The Oaks of Rosenberg 2,100 - 3,300 sq. ft. (281) 633-9366
River Park West2,200 - 3,300 sq. ft. (832) 222-2804
Telfair3,800 - 5,400 sq. ft. (281) 778-0050
Riverstone2,200 - 2,900 sq. ft. (281) 778-2100 2,600 - 4,100 sq. ft. (281) 778-3840
Sienna Plantation3,400 - 7,000 sq. ft. (281) 778-7800
Creekmont1,900 - 3,500 sq. ft. (281) 431-8600
Shadow Creek Ranch1,600 - 2,900 sq. ft. (713) 436-87511,900 - 3,300 sq. ft. (713) 436-93702,500 - 3,300 sq. ft. (713) 436-8751
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Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 12, 2011
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 for Wills Estate being a replat of Lots 1 & 2, Blk. 1 out of Sienna Village ofBees Creek, Sec. 4B, Precinct 1. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Julie Edwards with Probstfeld & Associates at 281-829-0034 for information prior to the hearing.Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 for replat of Veranda Professional Building Replat No. 1, Precinct 3. The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas. Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you may be heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Brian Nawara with Texas Engineering and Mapping at 281-491-2525 for information prior to the hearing.Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk
The Toys for Tots Fort Bend program is under way recruiting toy drop-off locations and volunteers for the seventh annual campaign that helps Fort Bend area families. Last year’s suc-cessful program provided assistance to more than 2,400 local children. “We are proud of how our community comes together for this annual event that brings joy to so many children,” said Jack Molho, coordinator for Toys for Tots Fort Bend. “Since 1948, Toys for Tots and the United States Marine Corps have been providing toys for our most needy children but this is once again a very challenging economic time. With that in mind, we still are asking local businesses and residents to support our 2011 campaign.” In addition to toy drop-off at First Colony Mall, Toys for Tots is seeking additional locations for residents to conveniently drop-off a new, unwrapped toy. To become a collection site, volunteer or donate, please visit the website at http://stafford-tx.toysfortots.org or call 281-891-3401.
By BARBARA FULENWIDERThe rain the Houston area re-
ceived on Sunday was a major gift even if it didn’t erase the drought that has ravaged area yards, parks, esplanades, woods and farm and ranch land for most of 2011.
Rainfall amounts that fell on the area Sunday were anywhere from one to three inches.
While various weather fore-casters put the possibility of receiving more rain at 20 per-cent for the next three days the damage and costs caused by the severe drought still gnaw at budgets.
No entity in east Fort Bend County instigated water ration-ing over the torrid summer but some restricted landscape wa-tering to twice a week and some requested voluntary compliance to the twice a week watering.
While trees, plants and grass suffered mightily the biggest costs are cracked concrete streets and sidewalks out of kil-ter. The highest personal costs the drought causes will likely be to house foundations.
As Missouri City Assistant City Manager Scott Elmer told council members last month, “The potential for damage to in-frastructure in Missouri City is high due to the expansive clay soils found in the region that are undergoing signifi cant changes in moisture content. The region is currently 24 inches below normal rainfall this year.”
He also told council that to date the Missouri City Public Works Department “has a 290 percent increase in the number of curb repairs and a 26 per-cent increase in the number of sidewalk repairs from the sum-mer of 2010.” He also said that there’s been a “slight increase” in the number of street repairs over the summer and all have been larger in scope than during the summer of 2010.
Many of the 128 municipal utility districts in Missouri City, Elmer said, “have seen a 100 percent increase in water main breaks compared to a year ago.”
So far, Missouri City Forester Paul Wierzbicki said, Missouri City has lost about 20 percent of the trees planted on city prop-erty since 2009. The 20 percent losses were in “high mainte-nance areas and 50 percent was lost in low maintenance areas (reforestation areas.)
“Most losses,” Wierzbicki
said, “were younger trees and almost all were removed in-house. On average, we used about 12,000 gallons of water per week to water trees. It is twice as much as was anticipat-ed prior to this drought.”
Sugar Land started a nigh-time, twice a week voluntary watering schedule in an effort to deliver adequate water through-out the city and not stress water plants “beyond comfortable op-eration mode.”
Over the next few months, Sugar Land park employees will be assessing the impact of the drought on city property along with cracks on city sports fi elds and in concrete and asphalt trails, fence posts for benches, trash receptacles, signs and oth-er features in city parks. “Our focus so far has been to main-tain the operations of irrigation systems to keep the turf, trees and landscape alive,” said Doug Adolph, assistant communica-tions director.
As for the increase in water usage by the city to maintain parks and facilities, Adolph said water expenditures for 2011 have been $65,503 for 11,858,310 gallons, which is up $13,856 or 27 percent from 2010.
Right-of-way maintenance has cost Sugar Land $83,587 for 42,852,200 gallons of wa-ter, which is up $47,700 or 133 percent from 2010. Water used for park maintenance has to-taled 59,471,180 gallons and cost $174,375 or $64,811 more than it did in 2010. Water used at the Sugar Land airport totaled 3,846,200 gallons this year and is 69 percent more than was used last year. The cost of the water has totaled $18,135 and is an increase of $7,377, according to Adolph.
He said that 2010 “was a very average year for the volume of water produced and used by Sugar Land customers. For 2010 the city produced 5.243 billion gallons of water compared to 7.281 billion gallons this year for a 38 percent increase.
From April to September of 2010 the city produced 3.25 bil-lion gallons of water and dur-ing that same period this year produced a total of 4.723 bil-lion gallons for a 45 percent in-crease. The per day, per capita number of gallons produced in 2010 was 170 compared to 236 this year.
Riverstone’s annual Heart and Sole 5K Run and Walk is set for Saturday, Oct. 15.
The event benefi ts Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, which provides services to more than 1,000 seniors daily.
The race begins at 8 a.m., with racers following a certifi ed course through Riverstone. Racers, supporters and the general public are invited to the post-race Boo Bash, which will include midway games with prizes, an infl atable obstacle course, dunk-ing booth, high-striker game to test strength and more. Children and adults can vie for top honors in a costume contest and two disc jockeys will keep the atmosphere lively. Food will be avail-able on-site for purchase.
Last year, approximately 200 people raced in Riverstone’s in-augural event, raising $4,000 for Second Mile Mission, another Fort Bend-based charity.
“We hope to top last year’s results with more runners and more money raised for a good cause,” said Riverstone’s life-style director Melanie Rushé, who is organizing the event.
For more information, visit www.riverstone.com or phone Rushé at 713-817-6427.
Drought shakes home foundations, breaks water mains
day. The district’s surface water plant came online this past April and has reduced groundwater usage by 50 percent.
“Main breaks have been a large problem this year,” Braezeale said. “Repair crews have worked 45 percent more
overtime this year. In a typical year we average between 40 to 50 water main breaks, which cost the district about $5,000 a year to repair. So far in 2011, we have had 204 water main breaks and have spent $35,000 on re-pairs.”
Riverstone slates Oct. 15 Heart and Sole 5K and Boo Bash
Toys for Tots Fort Bend 2011
NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
City of Missouri City, Texas
1522 Texas ParkwayMissouri City, Texas 77489281-403-8661
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDSOn or about November 5, 2011, the City of Missouri City, Texas will submit a request to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to release federal funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following projects that:
Minor Housing Rehabilitation for low- to moderate-income homeowners Locations: Throughout the City of Missouri City Site specifi c environmental reviews to be conducted upon location determination $83,210
Code Enforcement through assessment of exterior code violations Locations: Throughout CDBG Target Areas $94,720
Public Infrastructure (Installation of sidewalk) Locations: Along east side of Texas Parkway from Buff alo Run to Missouri City Drive $153,289
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Missouri City, Texas has determined that the projects will have no signifi cant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on fi le at the City of Missouri City, Texas City Hall located at 1522 Texas Parkway and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTSAny individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the projects may submit written comments to the Planning Department. All comments received by November 4, 2011 will be considered by the City of Missouri City, Texas prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDSThe City of Missouri City, Texas certifi es to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Allen Owen in his capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfi ed. The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s approval of the certifi cation satisfi es its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Missouri City, Texas to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDSThe U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Missouri City, Texas’ certifi cation for a period of fi fteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certifi cation was not executed by the Certifying Offi cer of the City of MissouriCity, Texas; (b) the City of Missouri City, Texas has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or fi nding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written fi nding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1301 Fannin, Suite 2200 Houston, Texas 77002. Potential objectors should contact the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to verify the actual last day of the objection period.Allen MuellerInterim City Manager
Water and sewer line breaks also increased substantially in Sugar Land this year compared to 2010. This year there have been 724 compared to 496 a year ago. Adolph said, “We were able to complete all the repairs within our current budget allo-cation. Additional revenue from increased water sales due to the drought are available to pay for the increased repair costs.”
Doug Earle, executive direc-tor of First Colony Community Association said, “We haven’t had anything near to the extent Houston has. Our losses have been a lot less than theirs.
“We’ve had some move-ment of concrete streets and some shifting of concrete steps and sidewalks but nothing earth shaking. Our biggest challenge has been keeping our grass and plants alive with the signifi cant increase in water and the water restrictions.”
He said the homeowner as-sociation’s water bill “is about doubled over last summer and while 2010 was also a drought year, this year was the worst and we’re still not out of it.” Earle also said the association’s evaporation in swimming pools “is somewhat of an issue but not nearly as much as the irrigation.”
Stafford Mayor Leonard Scar-cella said the city has “had to spend a lot more money on wa-ter” this year, and that “one thing I worry about is so many home-owners are going to fi nd their foundations cracked.”
One positive aspect of the drought that the mayor noted is “Stafford hasn’t had to buy as many chemicals this year to spray for mosquitoes as we usu-ally do.”
Stafford City Engineer Charles Russell said, “The streets and sidewalks through-out the city have been dramati-cally affected by the drought and heat. When we get no rain we have major issues with rigid and fl exible pavements. At this point we’re just trying to hit the worst areas and when we do get
some rain we’ll do more work on them.
“We’re getting reports of so many faulty sidewalks that we’re having to go in and put tempo-rary asphalt ramps in. As we get rain, we hope to go back and make a more permanent repair.
We’ve been fortunate not to have a lot of breaks in the irriga-tion system. The contractor who takes care of the new landscap-ing along U.S. 90A is respon-sible for ensuring that the irriga-tion system is operational.
“He only comes in once a week, so it’s important that we monitor that too. Our guys have been doing repairs on it. We’ve had to do a lot of monitoring as far as the times and length we’re watering,” Russell said, and add-ed that any dead trees along 90A will be replaced by the contrac-tor free of charge per the city’s contract with him.
Matt Breazeale, engineer with Fort Bend Water Control and Im-provement District No. 2 (WCID No. 2), said, “No water restric-tions were issued this year and none are anticipated.” In the 65 years of service to Stafford, the district has never rationed water, which limits the volume of water used, versus restrictions, which limits when people can water, Breazeale said. “The district has not and does not plan to issue any water restrictions or ration-ing.”
So far, Breazeale said, WCID No. 2 customers, who are also in a part of Missouri City, Houston, Sugar Land and unincorporated Fort Bend County areas, use a low per capita amount of water daily. It is 113 gallons a day ver-sus the regional average of 143 gallons daily.
August has been the highest usage month this year. The high-est single day water pumpage in 2010 was 7,070,000 gallons and the highest so far this year is 8,972,000 gallons, according to Braezeale.
The district has the capacity to supply 17.4 million gallons of surface and ground water per
By RUSSELL JONESThe demonstration known as
Occupy Wall Street continues into its fourth week despite the inability of its leaders to state any specifi c goal. True, the original stated purpose was to protest “corporate greed.” The problem is that one man’s corporate greed is another man’s free enterprise. Attacking the very economic sys-tem that made the United States the wealthiest nation on the plan-et is a strategic war which the protesters cannot win.
The last time anyone looked, most corporations were not or-ganic in the anthropological sense. Motivations such as greed are amorphous and diffi cult to prove in an inert institution. In-come to pay employees and man-agers is critical. Profi ts to reward shareholders are desirable. But greed?
The largest shareholders in the country are pension plans which exist for the benefi t of millions of individuals. Those individu-als have built their savings so that they might someday retire com-fortably. Is that an activity to be vilifi ed?
Perhaps I misunderstand. Originally described as an anti-capitalism rally, the movement has grown nationwide and seems to have evolved into a combina-tion of dissatisfi ed anarchists, misfi ts and others sympathetic to the nation’s down and out.
Obama and Biden are attempt-ing to cozy up to the movement, particularly as it gains support from union leaders. Obama claimed that people were angry because “Wall Street had not been following the rules.” Biden, putting his own spin on the pro-tests, joined the chorus: “The bargain has been breached. The American people do not think the system is fair.” Neither offered a replacement for equal opportu-nity capitalism.
Republican candidate Her-man Cain has suggested that the demonstrations are being used by Obama supporters to distract from the failed policies of his ad-ministration. Reaching further out to attack the demonstrations than the other candidates, his log-ic has a certain appeal. “Do not blame Wall Street. Do not blame the big banks. If you do not have a job and you are not rich, blame yourself. It is not someone’s fault if they succeed. It’s someone’s fault if they fail.”
Even for conservatives it is diffi cult to be too harsh about the demonstrations. The government let Lehman Brothers go down the tubes, but then got scared. Sud-denly AIG, Citibank and others were too big to fail. Instead of their creditors and shareholders paying for bad management, as is the American way, those institu-tions were bailed out by TARP, with the taxpayers footing the bill.
Whatever their goals, the dem-onstrators view themselves as the “have nots” who desperately want the “haves” to pick up their tab. They are the vanguard of the people’s army waging class war-fare against Obama’s “million-aires and billionaires.”
Fifty years ago, another demo-
cratic president, a liberal in his own day, challenged his follow-ers to “ask what you can do for your country.” Today’s mob, lacking or having lost all personal motivation, is asking “what your country can do for” them.
That same president, speaking at Rice University, proposed that the country should send a man to the moon “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” This crowd, following the footsteps of the president who killed the space program, will not accept Cain’s suggestion that they not blame others for their own problems. That would be hard.
It is ironic that the nation should lose Steve Jobs while these demonstrations continue. Jobs, for years a corporate CEO making many multiples of the average income, must be con-sidered one of the bad guys by the protesters. Yet, this crowd fails to notice its dependence on such examples of capitalist suc-cess, unashamedly keeping itself entertained by listening to his iPods, planning strategy with his iPhones, and maintaining its demonstration schedule on the Internet using his iPads.
Economist Milton Friedman long ago observed that “the world runs on individuals pursuing their self-interest.” He challenged anyone to identify a success-ful economic system where that statement was not true. Where everyone is freely allowed to pur-sue his own success within the system, call it greed if you must, the economy succeeds. When the pursuit of economic self-interest is stifl ed, such as in socialist states, the economy inevitably fails.
Jones served as a member of the Sugar Land City Council from 2003 through June, 2011. He owns a law fi rm and a title insurance company in Sugar Land.
families were pioneers in Oklahoma being homestead-ers before 1907 statehood as early as 1899 and had put down permanent roots with homes and multiple farming operations by 1904. What has interested me is the family’s role in settling Texas. And by that I mean founding commu-nities, churches and schools. I know the migration path of one line of the family back to the 1600s, but am coming along slower on the others.
The Briscoe part of my family has been in Texas since 1845. This is only becoming real to me in the past year. I had to fi rst explore the fam-ily’s roots in Oklahoma. That journey takes us to Cemetery Ridge and the Hess Cemetery. No, you won’t fi nd it on most maps. It’s an unincorporated farming community. It also for a period was part of Greer County, Texas. That’s another story.
I’m sure at one point or an-other I visited Hess some 20 miles from where I grew up . . . but I have no memory of it. And nothing prepared me for its grandeur and the imposing ridge and mesa it occupies. The pictures on fi ndagrave.com don’t prepare you as it looks like normal fl at land, but I did know that we had at least 42 ancestors in the Hess Cemetery before we entered.
Never being ones to waste
farm land, the Hess cemetery is located on a mesa-- those fl at “table top” mountains preva-lent in the Southwest US. Wow, the colors of the steep ridge of pinks and reds. It was really beautiful to stand on the ridge and look onto the farmland and Wichita Mountains in the dis-tance.
This is the land of the Apache, Comanche and Kio-wa Indians—Plains Indians. The far southwestern corner of Oklahoma was their land that was opened to white settlers with preserves for open hunting and fi shing during the land runs and various lotteries in Okla-homa.
My father had memories (and pictures still exist) of Co-manche Chief Quanah Parker, in full headdress, leading the Frederick, Oklahoma, band on Sunday afternoons 100 years ago. And yes, my great grand-parents were married in Parker County Texas, where Quanah Parker’s mother, Cynthia lived,
before my great grandparents homesteaded near Hess. So all these threads intrigue and ad-dict to learn more.
So Uncle Loyd, cousin Cin-dy, her 14 year old granddaugh-ter Abigail, and I had quite an adventure going to Hess, ances-tor hunting and just getting the immediate family lines straight. Abigail got to be quite a grave fi nder. Getting the family lines straight, cataloging pictures and telling stories kept us late into the night when we weren’t playing checkers.
Getting a picture of the North Fork of the Red River that my grandmother, Minnie Alice Briscoe Holden Atkison, forded in 1904 to move to a new homestead after living in a dugout on Great Uncle Andy’s homestead at Hess showed the gumption pioneers possessed. Despite the drought, the river had a good bit of water, plenty of quicksand and steep banks.
Last Sunday at the Dew House Photo Contest, there was a 1931 picture of Mason Briscoe with the Dews in their permanent collection.
I had known about the Bris-coe Cemetery in Fort Bend, but that photo put seeing if there’s a connection higher on my buck-et list that doesn’t seem to end.
For photos, visit http://trac-tion.typepad.com/musings or write [email protected]
CONSTABLE’SNOTICE OF SALE
Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain WRIT OF EXECUTION issued by the clerk of the 190TH District Court of HARRIS County, Texas on AUG 24, 2011 in cause numbered 2009- 63908 styled AMERICAN BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SUPPLY CO, INC. vs. CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION CO, INC AND LONG T. CHAU JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY in which a judgment was rendered on MAR 9, 2010 in favor of AMERICAN BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SUPPLY, CO. INC , for the sum of FIFTY-THREE –THOUSAND-SIX HUNDRED TWENTY- -DOLLARS AND TWENTY-THREE CENTS (53,620.23)Dollars; plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.I have levied upon the below listed property on OCT 5 , 2011 and will on NOV 1, 2011, Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Rights, Title, and Interest of LONG T. CHAU in the following described Real PropertyTHE SURFACE ESTATE ONLY OF A 9.5205 ACRES,BEING LOTS THIRTY-SIX (36),THIRTY-EIGHT(38), AND FORTY-TWO (42) OF OYSTER CREEK FARMS, AN UNRECORDED SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS AND RECORDED UNDER FILE NUMBER 9681585 OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY,TEXAS. The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of AMERICAN BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SUPPLY,. INC. .Plaintiff , and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY COURTHOUSERICHMOND, TX 77469DATE: NOV 1, 2011 TIME: APPROX. 10:00 amBY: SGT. M KUTACH
TROY NEHLS, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 4
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on AUGUST 10, 2011 by the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #08-
DCV-163855 in favor of the plaintiff - THE VICKSBURG COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $6,256.08++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on August 04, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -TYRYN D. SIMMONS
had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT 43, BLOCK 05,
REPLAT OF VICKSBURG, THE VILLAGE OF
CUMBERLAND, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT
BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING
TO THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDED IN
SLIDE NOS. 664/B AND 645 A&B OF
THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND
COUNTY, TEXAS AS MODIFIED BY ANY
SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS
THEREOF. 2822 BOWDEN COURT,
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, 77459.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Sergeant J. LawrenceDeputy Constable
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2011 by the 434th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #11-DCV-188284 in favor of the plaintiff - SIENNA PLANTATION RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $6,829.94++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on SEPTEMBER 06, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -MONIQUE
MERCIER had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT SEVEN(7), IN
BLOCK ONE, (01), OF SIENNA VILLAGE
OF WATERLAKE, SECTION TWENTY-
SEVEN (27), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT
BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING TO
THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT
NO. 20070173 OF THE PLAT RECORDS
OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. 5919
BUFFALO GAP, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS,
77459.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on AUGUST 17, 2011 by the 434th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #10-DCV-
181373 in favor of the plaintiff -WINFIELD LAKES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $8,983.36++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on SEPTEMBER 06, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -LUIS A. FUERTE
had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT 6, BLOCK 1,
OF WINFIELD LAKES, SECTION 9, AN
ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY
TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR
PLAT RECORDED IN THE PLAT RECORDS
OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS
UNDER DOCUMENT NO. 20060006,
AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS
THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF. 2147
ACORN GLEN TRAIL, FRESNO, TEXAS,
77545.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 by the 268th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #11-DCV-188261 in favor of the plaintiff -SIENNA PLANTATION RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $3,938.23++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on SEPTEMBER 06, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -JAMES SCOTT had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT FIFTY-ONE
(51), IN BLOCK TWO (2) OF SIENNA
VILLAGE OF ANDERSON SPRINGS,
SECTION ONE-B (1-B), AMENDING
PLAT NO. 1, AN ADDITION IN FORT
BEND COUNTY TEXAS, ACCORDING
TO THE MAP OR PLAT NO. 20060238
OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND
COUNTY, TEXAS. 8006 EMPERORS PASS,
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77459.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on AUGUST 4, 2011 by the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #09-
DCV-172619 in favor of the plaintiff -QUAIL GREEN WEST HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $5,226.66++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on AUGUST 19, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -STEVE ORUERIO had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT 9, BLOCK 10
OF QUAIL GREEN WEST SECTION 1, A
SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY
TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR
PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOL. 22,
PAGE 56 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT
BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. 1907 QUAIL
FEATHER COURT, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS
77489.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Lieutenant G. MajorsDeputy Constable
CONSTABLE SALE
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and/or Order of Sale issued on JULY 12, 2011 by the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in Cause #10-
DCV-181540 in favor of the plaintiff - THE VICKSBURG COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, Inc., plaintiff , for the sum of $6,986.15++++ costs as taxed on said execution and/or order of sale and further the sum of executing the same.I have levied on August 19, 2011 and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of Ten O’clock A.M. and Four O’clock P.M., and all rights, title, interests, and claims which the said Defendant (s) -MARK PORTER
& ANNA PORTER had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:Legal Description: LOT 23, BLOCK
02, OF REPLAT OF VICKSBURG, THE
VILLAGE OF SHILOH, SECTION ONE (1),
A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY
TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR
PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NOS.
843/B AND 844/A OF THE PLAT RECORDS
OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS AS
MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS
THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF.
TERMS: CASHTIME: Sale to be held at or about 11:00 A.M.
Ruben Davis, ConstableFort Bend County Precinct Two
By: Lieutenant G. Majors #73Deputy Constable
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffi c control plan for Fry Road extension east of Holton Grip Drive Street Dedication, Precinct 3.The hearing will be held in the Commis-sioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to at-tend and state your approval or objec-tion on this matter.
Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk
The Sugar Land Tea Party will host well-known activist, author and blogger, Pamela Geller, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Hyatt Place,16730 Creek Bend Drive in Sugar Land.
The event will start with a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m., with Geller’s presentation from 7 to 8 p.m.
Following the event, she will sign her newly released book, Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance.
In Stop the Islamization of America, Geller lays bare the chilling details of the Mus-lim Brotherhood’s strategy of steady subversion and erosion of our freedoms, while offer-ing a practical guide for how to fi ght back.
“Written by an original thinker and innovative, tested, successful activist, Stop the
Pamela Geller to speak at Sugar Land Tea Party meeting
Islamization of America is a much-needed wake-up call about a sinister, subversive agenda that could do nothing less than destroy the United States – with unique instruc-tions about how we can and must fi ght back now to defend our nation and civilization,” according to a press release issued by the Sugar Land Tea party.
Geller is the founder, edi-tor and publisher of the blog, Atlas Shrugs. She is the ex-ecutive director of Stop the Islamization of America, as well as the Freedom Defense Initiative, and is a regular col-umnist for American Thinker, Human Events, and other pub-lications.
She is the author of The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration’s War on America and the new-
ly released Stop the Islamiza-tion of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance. She has been a guest on numerous news programs, including Sean Hannity.
The Sugar Land Tea Party is a group of local activ-ists that seek to harness the power of individual conser-vative Americans through grassroots organizing, train-ing and education; to do all within our power to prevent our freedoms and liberties from being taken away from us; to stop our government’s out-of-control spending in or-der to save our economy and families from fi nancial de-struction; and to stop the big government takeover of our private market.
For more information, visit www.sugarlandteaparty.org.
The Spirit of Freedom Re-publican Women PAC will hold a Texas US Senate Can-didate forum on Friday Oct. 21at Sugar Creek Baptist Church Chapel at 13213 SW Freeway, Sugar Land from 11a.m. to 1 p.m.
The GOP Candidates who are running for US Senate in Texas that have accepted our invitation to speak are: Glenn Addison, Andrew Castanuela, Ted Cruz, David Dewhurst, Elizabeth Ames Jones, Tom Leppert and Lela Pittenger. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison decided not to seek re-election to a fourth full term.
Meet and greet starts at 11
a.m. and the meeting will be-gin promptly at 11:30 a.m.
To RSVP contact President Cindy Bond at 281-980-5719 (home), 281-435-3547 (cell), or [email protected]
Spirit of Freedom Repub-lican Women PAC meets on the third Friday of the month at Sugar Creek Baptist Church Chapel.
Primary elections will be held Tuesday, March 6, 2012. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
U.S. Senate candidates’ forum
OCTOBER 12, 2011 • INDEPENDENT • Page 5
2092, 2093 Meadowcreek Clubhouse 2410 LaQuita Dr Missouri City 77459
2116, 2036 Missouri City Baptist Church 16816 Quail Park Dr Missouri City 77489 2123 Blue Ridge Elementary School 6241 McHard Road Houston 77053
3005, 3057 Frost Elementary School 3306 Skinner Lane Richmond 77406 3006 Irene Stern Fulshear Community Ctr 6920 Fulshear-Katy Road Fulshear 77441
3009, 3069 Sugar Creek Country Club 420 Sugar Creek Blvd Sugar Land 77478 3014 Katy ISD Administration Bldg 6301 S Stadium Ln Katy 77494 3019 Simonton City Hall 35011 FM 1093 Simonton 77476 3020,3035 Sugar Land Church of God 1715 Eldridge Rd Sugar Land 77478 3022, 2096, 2117 Meadows Place City Hall One Troyan Dr Meadows Place 77477 3038, 3143 Seven Lakes High School 9251 S. Fry Rd Katy 77494 3043 Southwest Calvary Baptist Church 12910 West Belfort Dr Houston 77099 3053 Barrington Place Homeowners Assn 13318 Rosstown Ct Sugar Land 77478 3063, 3041 Austin Elementary School 1630 Pitts Rd Richmond 77469 3066, 3099, 3113 Mission Glen Elementary School 16053 Mission Glen Dr Houston 77083 3082, 3095 Oakland Elementary School 4455 Waterside Estate Dr Richmond 77469
3083 Crockett Middle School 19001 Beechnut St Richmond 77469
3098, 3032, 3086 Townewest Town Hall 10322 Old Towne Ln Sugar Land 77478 3101, 3100, 3106 George Bush High School 6707 FM 1464 Richmond 77469 3104 Pecan Grove Elementary School 3330 Old South Dr Richmond 77469 3130 Cinco Ranch High School 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd Katy 77494 3132, 3133 Roosevelt Alexander Elem Sch 6161 S. Fry Rd Katy 77494 3144, 3142 Beckendorf Junior High School 8200 South Fry Rd Katy 77494
4011 Colony Bend Elementary School 2720 Planters St Sugar Land 77479 4026, 4135 Walker Station Elementary 6200 Homeward Way Blvd Sugar Land 77478 4029, 4105 Knights of Columbus Hall 702 Burney Rd Sugar Land 77478 4042, 4080 Imperial Park Recreation Center 234 Matlage Way Sugar Land 77478 4044 , 4065 Austin Parkway Elementary School 4400 Austin Parkway Sugar Land 77479
4045, 4125, 4126 Garcia Middle School 18550 Old Richmond Rd Sugar Land 77478 4046, 4109, 4121 Highlands Elementary School 2022 Colonist Park Sugar Land 77478 4047, 4084 Colony Meadows Elementary School 4510 Sweetwater Blvd Sugar Land 77479 4062, 4094 Palmer Elementary School 4208 Crow Valley Dr Missouri City 77459 4064, 4111 Settlers Way Elementary School 3015 Settlers Way Blvd Sugar Land 77479 4083 Lost Creek Park 3703 Lost Creek Blvd Sugar Land 77479 4107 Sugar Lakes Clubhouse 930 Sugar Lakes Dr Sugar Land 77478
4110 Sugar Land City Hall – Lakeview Room 2700 Town Center Blvd North Sugar Land 77478
4119 Clements High School 4200 Elkins Dr Sugar Land 77479
4124 Brazos Bend Elementary School 621 Cunningham Creek Blvd Sugar Land 77479
4127, 4049 Lexington Creek Elementary School 2335 Dulles Ave Missouri City 77459 4129, 4102 Commonwealth Clubhouse 4330 Knightsbridge Blvd Sugar Land 77479 4131 First Colony Conference Center 3232 Austin Parkway Sugar Land 77479
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION (AVISO DE ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL)
To the registered voters of the County of Fort Bend, Texas: (A los votantes registrados del Condado de Fort Bend, Texas:) Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., November 8, 2011 for voting in a special election to adopt or reject the proposed Constitutional Amendments as submitted by the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, of the State of Texas. (Notifíquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abrirán desde las 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m. el 8 de Noviembre de 2011 para votar en una elección especial para adoptar o rechazar las enmiendas propuestas constitucionales así como fueron sometidas por la 82 Legislatura, Sesión Regular, del Estado de Texas.)
LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES: (DIRECCION(ES) DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES)
PRECINCT POLLING PLACE ADDRESS CITY ZIP 1001, 1073 George Memorial Library 1001 Golfview Dr Richmond 77469
1002 Kendleton Church of God 619 FM 2919 Kendleton 77451
1003, 1058, 1134 Mustang Community Center 4525 FM 521 Fresno 77545
1008 Orchard City Hall 9714 Kibler Orchard 77464
1010 Fort Bend County Road & Bridge 3743 School St Needville 77461
1012, 1039, 1054 Fellowship Church of Fort Bend 1110 Bamore Rd Rosenberg 77471
1013, 1074 Calvary Baptist Church 4111 Airport Ave Rosenberg 77471
1015, 1024 Frieden's United Church of Christ 7526 Avenue I Beasley 77417
1018 Fairchilds Volunteer Fire Dept 8715 Fairchilds Rd Fairchilds 77469
1021 Brazos Bend Home & Ranch 22930 FM 1462 Needville 77461
1025 Agriculture Extension Building 1402 Band Rd Rosenberg 77471
1037, 1016 Travis Elementary School 2700 Avenue K Rosenberg 77471
1040 St John Fisher Catholic Church 410 Clay St Richmond 77469
1048, 1072 Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex 4520 Reading Rd Rosenberg 77471
1067, 1007, 1085 Williams Elementary School 5111 FM 762 Richmond 77469
1068 Schultz Trucking Company 18602 Highway 36 Guy 77444 1076 River Pointe Community Church 5000 Ransom Road Richmond 77489 1103 Pecan Grove Baptist Church 1727 FM 359 Richmond 77469 1114 FBC MUD 23/M.R. Massey Admin B 1570 Raab Road Fresno 77545
1118, 1097 Houston Community College at Sienna 5855 Sienna Springs Way Missouri City 77459
1120, 1087, 1128 Dickinson Elementary School 7110 Greatwood Parkway Sugar Land 77479 2017 Briargate Elementary School 15817 Blue Ridge Rd Missouri City 77489 2023 Ridgemont Elementary School 4910 Raven Ridge Rd Houston 77053 2027, 2070, 2140 Houston Community College 10141 Cash Rd Stafford 77477 2028 Quail Valley Elementary School 3500 Quail Village Dr Missouri City 77459 2030 Quail Valley Middle School 3019 FM 1092 Missouri City 77459 2031 Ridgegate Elementary School 6015 West Ridgecreek Dr Houston 77053 2033, 2090, 2091, 2115, 2136 Lantern Lane Elementary School 3323 Mission Valley Dr Missouri City 77459
2050, 2089 Hunters Glen Elementary School 8295 Independence Blvd Missouri City 77459 2051 Chasewood Clubhouse 7622 Chasewood Dr Missouri City 77489 2052 Briarchase Missionary Baptist Church 16000 Blue Ridge Rd Missouri City 77489 2055 Willowridge High School 16301 Chimney Rock Rd Houston 77053 2056 Mayfair Park Civic Center 6006 Arthington Ave Houston 77053 2059, 2071, 2075, 2079, 2081 Missouri City Community Center 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City 77459
2060, 2137, 2138, 2139 Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 631 Avenue E Stafford 77477
2061, 2034, 2108 Elkins High School 7007 Flat Bank Dr Missouri City 77459
2077, 2141 Glover Elementary School 1510 Columbia Blue Dr Missouri City 77489 2088, 2078, 2112 Stafford Civic Center 1415 Constitution Ave Stafford 77477
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the: (La votación adelantada en persona se llevará a cabo en:) Schedule for: Rosenberg Annex Building - 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, TX Horario para: Beasley City Hall – 319 S. 3rd Street, Beasley, TX
Cinco Ranch Branch Library – 2620 Commercial Center Blvd, Katy, TX Irene Stern Community Center, 6920 Fulshear-Katy Road, Fulsher, TX
Aliana Clubhouse – 17122 West Bellfort, Richmond, TX Hightower High School – 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City, TX Meadows Place City Hall – One Troyan Dr., Meadows Place, TX Missouri City Community Center - 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX Pecan Grove Baptist Church – 1727 FM 359, Richmond, TX
Day (Dia)
Date (Fecha)
Hours (Horas)
Monday – Friday (Lunes - Viernes)
October 24 - 28, 2011 (Octubre 24 - 28, 2011)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday (Sábado)
October 29, 2011 (Octubre 29, 2011)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday (Domingo)
October 30, 2011 (Octubre 30, 2011)
CLOSED (CERRADO)
Monday – Wednesday (Lunes - Miercoles)
October 31 – November 2, 2011 (Octubre 31 – Noviembre 2, 2011)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – Friday (Jueves - Viernes)
November 3 – 4, 2011 (Noviembre 3 - 4, 2011)
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Schedule for: Chasewood Clubhouse -7622 Chasewood Drive, Missouri City, TX Horario para: First Colony Conference Center - 3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX
FBC Road and Bridge (Needville) – 3743 School Street, Needville, TX Sienna Branch Library – 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd, Missouri City, TX Sugar Land Methodist Church – 431 Eldridge, Sugar Land, TX Day (Dia)
Date (Fecha)
Hours (Horas)
Monday – Friday (Lunes - Viernes)
October 24 - 28, 2011 (Octubre 24 - 28, 2011)
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday (Sábado)
October 29, 2011 (Octubre 29, 2011)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday (Domingo)
October 30, 2011 (Octubre 30, 2011)
CLOSED (CERRADO)
Monday – Wednesday (Lunes - Miercoles)
October 31 – November 2, 2011,
(Octubre 31 – Noviembre 2, 2011) 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday – Friday (Jueves - Viernes)
November 3 – 4, 2011 (Noviembre 3 - 4, 2011)
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Applications for ballot by mail should be mailed to: (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán adelantado por correo deberán enviarse a:)
John Oldham Fort Bend County Elections Administrator 4520 Reading Road Rosenberg, Texas 77471-2133 Phone 281-341-8670 Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later than the close of business on November 1, 2011. (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votarán adelantada por correo deberán recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el día 1 de Noviembre, 2011) Issued this the 7th day of September 2011. (Emitada este día 7 de Septiembre, 2011.)
__________________________________ Robert E. Hebert, County Judge
(Firma del Juez del Condado)
Water DistrictNotice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate
The First Colony Municipal Utility District No. 9 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2011 on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4 p.m. at the offi ces of Quail Valley Utility District located at 3134 Cartwright Road, Missouri City, TX. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.
FOR the proposal: A.K. Sandersen, G.P. Perry, M. Burton, S. Gorgan and R. CastellsAGAINST the proposal: NonePRESENT and not voting: NoneABSENT: None
The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.
Last Year This YearTotal tax rate (per $100 of value) $ 0.305/$100 $ 0.320/$100 Adopted ProposedDiff erence in rates per $100 of value $ .015/$100Percentage increase 4.9180%Average appraised value $191,288 $ 195,243General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) $ 0 $ 0Average taxable value $191,288 $ 195,243Tax on average residence homestead $583.25 $ 624.78Annual increase/decrease in taxes if Proposed tax rate is adopted $41.53 And percentage of increase
NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ROLLBACK ELECTIONIf taxes on the average residence homestead increase by more than eight percent, the
qualifi ed voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the rollback tax rate under Section 49.236(d), Water Code.
Questions or comments regarding this notice can be directed to Esther Buentello Flores at the tax offi ce at (281) 499-1223.
7.1205%
Sales associates neededFort Bend Independent immediately needs motivated advertising
sales personnel with a passion for success. Call 281-980-6745
A public hearing will be held to give all interested parties an opportunity to discuss and contribute comments at the commencement of a Regional Water and Waste Water Planning Project to Study the Feasibility of Small Scale Scalping Plants as a water source for amenity lake fi lling and irrigation in the City of Sugar Land and the Sugar Land Extra Territorial Jurisdiction.
All interested parties are invited to the Public Hearing on:
Monday, October 24, 2011
6:30 PM
Sugar Land City Hall, Cane Room
2700 Town Center Boulevard North
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Comments and questions can be submitted before October 24, to the City
of Sugar Land Water Utilities Department: 111 Gillingham Way, Sugar
On July 5, 2011, City of Sugar Land City Council approved funding and accepted a Grant with the Texas Water Development Board for a Regional Water and Wastewater Facility Planning Grant to fund 50% of a $100,000 study of Small Scale Scalping Plants in the City of Sugar Land and Sugar Land’s ETJ. This study will look at Scalping Plants as a water supply source for Sugar Land’s water demand for irrigation and lake fi lling.
Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parking spaces are available. Requests for special accommodations or interpretive services must be made at least 48 hours prior to this meeting. Please contact the Water Utilities Department at 281.275.2450 or FAX 281.275.2465.
NOTICE FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS
36-INCH SURFACE WATER LINE
FROM VOSS ROAD TO FIRST COLONY WATER PLANT
The City of Sugar Land seeks competitive sealed proposals for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City:
CIP PROJECT NAME: 36-Inch Surface Water Line from
Voss Road to First Colony Water Plant
CIP PROJECT NUMBER: SW0801
LOCATION OF WORK: Voss Road, Hwy 6, and Ditch H in
Fort Bend County, Sugar Land, TX.
Plans, specifi cations, and competitive sealed proposal documents may be obtained at the following offi ces and location with payment of $50.00 for electronic format of Adobe.pdf copies saved to compact disc media:
Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Inc.
2925 Briarpark Drive, 3rd Floor
Houston, TX 77042
Contact Kerri Burton at 713-821-0406
Sealed proposals shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land City Secretary
Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas,
77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2011, at which time the names of the fi rms submitting sealed proposals will be read. Sealed proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered
A mandatory pre-proposal meeting for all interested parties will be held at 3:00
p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2011, at the City of Sugar Land City Hall, 2700
Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, TX 77479.
The City Council will award the contract as provided in the Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within ninety (90) calendar days after the opening date and time.
Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary
CITY OF MISSOURI CITY
LEGAL NOTICE
The Missouri City Recreation and Leisure Corporation is now issuing a Request for Proposals for the following:
RFP #057-12 Design and Set Up of Golf Pro Shop Retail Space
The Missouri City Recreation and Leisure Corporation (“MCRLC”) is soliciting pro-posals for design, provision, and installation of retail display space for the op-eration of the Quail Valley Golf Course Pro Shop. The proposals submitted shall contain all services and costs necessary to convert a new built-out unoccupied retail space in the MCRLC’s Golf Pro Shop. The MCRLC intends to contract with one (1) vendor.
A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held at 11 AM, Thursday,
October 13, 2011 in the Quail Valley Golf Course Pro Shop located at 2880 La Quinta in Missouri City, Texas.
Proposals will be accepted until 2 PM Local Time, October 31, 2011 and then opened.
The RFP packages may be obtained beginning October 5th by requesting the document name and number listed above by:
•contacting the Purchasing Offi ce at 1522 Texas Parkway (281) 403-8626•email [email protected]
Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Propos-als must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Proposals are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing Manager, City of Missouri City, Texas
CITY OF MISSOURI CITY
The City of Missouri City, Texas is now issuing an Invitation for Bids for the following:
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
IFB # 052-12
Scope: The City of Missouri City is accepting bids for the purchase of laboratory equipment for its new surface water treatment plant. The City intends to award to one or more vendors a contract for the purchase of the items specifi ed. Bid shall include any delivery, fuel surcharge or other miscellaneous charges. The bid shall be for unit prices lump sum and include the days to completion.
Bids will be accepted until 2 PM local time October 24, 2011 and then opened.
The bid packages may be obtained beginning October 5th from Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce at (281) 403-8626 email [email protected]
There is no charge for the bid package.
Bids must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the IFB name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Bids must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Offi ce, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Bids marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Bids are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing ManagerCity of Missouri City, Texas
CITY OF MISSOURI CITY
LEGAL NOTICE
The City of Missouri City, Texas is now issuing a Request for Statements of Quali-fi cation for the following:
The City of Missouri City is requesting statements of qualifi cations for engineer-ing design services for Cangelosi Detention Facility Improvements. The selected fi rm will develop construction plans for raising existing berm and widening exist-ing weir and connector channel. The construction plans will include engineering design details for the construction, construction sequencing, and traffi c control plan if necessary. The fi rm will also be responsible for the following: surveying, geotechnical report, civil engineering, fi nal design, and specifi cations.
Statements will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time October 24, 2011 and then opened. The statements will be evaluated with the intent of negotiating an agreement with one of the responding fi rms.
Interested parties must obtain an RSQ package and provide the required infor-mation to the City in order to be considered. The RSQ packages may be obtained beginning October 5th by requesting the document name and number listed above by:
•contacting the City Purchasing Offi ce at 1522 Texas Parkway (281) 403-8612•email to [email protected]
Statements must be sealed, marked with the RSQ name and number as listed above and the date of opening. Statements must be delivered to the attention of the Missouri City Purchasing Manager, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Statements marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Statements are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing ManagerCity of Missouri City, Texas
CITY OF MISSOURI CITY
LEGAL NOTICE
The City of Missouri City, Texas is now issuing a Request for Proposals for the fol-lowing:
RFP# 050-12 BANK DEPOSITORY SERVICES
The City of Missouri City is seeking proposals from eligible fi nancial institutions to be the banking depository for the City. The banking services proposal will include the basic services of receiving deposits, paying items, wiring funds out, receiving funds wired in, stop payments, and other normal business banking activities. The contract will not cover investment transaction activities other than safekeeping services. The City plans to manage its own investment portfolio.
Proposals will only be accepted from fi nancial institutions qualifi ed under Chapter 105 depositories for municipal funds with branches located within the City of Mis-souri City. Any and all charges and fees associated with the services must be clearly and ac-curately included in the proposal response.
Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time November 7, 2011 and then opened.
The RFP packages may be obtained beginning October 12th by requesting the document name and number listed above by:
•contacting the City Purchasing Offi ce at 1522 Texas Parkway (281) 403-8626•email [email protected]
Proposals must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Proposals must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchas-ing Offi ce, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Proposal packages marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualifi ed. Proposals are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Charles Oberrender, CPPBPurchasing ManagerCity of Missouri City, TexasNOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE
NOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and lor Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of August, 2011 by the 400th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 10-DCV-181773 in favor of the Plaintiff -QUAIL VALLEY EAST COMMlJNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. Plaintiff , for the sum of $2,636.00 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and I or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 05th day of October, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -SHARI LYNN GOODIE had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 1ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:LEGAL DESCRIPTION:LOT 26, BLOCK 30, OF QUAIL VALLEY EAST SUBDIVISION, SECTION 5, A SUBDIVISION OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AT VOLUME IS, PAGE 3, IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.
ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $92,190.Terms: Cash . Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALENOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 4th day of August, 2011 by the 434th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 10-DCV-183074 in favor of the Plaintiff -BARRINGTON PLACE HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Plaintiff , for the sum of $4,856.90 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 7th day of October, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -SANDRA I. ARTAVIA AND LUIS ARTAVIA had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 01ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 17, BLOCK 8, BARRINGTON PLACE, SECTION 3, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NOS 594/B AND 595/A OF PLAT RECORDS OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AS MODIFIED BY ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR REPLATS THEREOF.Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $134,820.00Terms: Cash . Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALENOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of August, 2011 by the 434th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 08-DCV-162458 in favor of the Plaintiff -WESTPARK LAKES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Plaintiff , for the sum of $1,204.23 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 05th day of October, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -JOSE BARILLAS had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 01ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 3, BLOCK 3, OF WESTPARK LAKES, SECTION 1, A SUBDIVISION OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AT SLIDE NOS. 858/A AND 858/B IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.
Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.
ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $134,550Terms: Cash Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALENOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and I or Order of Sale issued on the 07th day of September, 2011 by the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 10-DCV-180354 in favor of the Plaintiff -KINGS BRIDGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Plaintiff , for the sum of $3,673.71 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and I or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 28th day of September, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -MONMPOINT & GUIRLANDE CHERY had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 01ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours often o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendantLEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 18, IN BLOCK 1, OF KINGSBRIDGE PLACE, SECTION 5, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 2053/A AND 20531/B OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, (THE “PROPERTY”) ALSO KNOWN AS 9331 ROYAL WAY, HOUSTON, FORT BEND COUNTY, TX 77083.Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.
ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $175,240
Terms: Cash . Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALENOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and lor Order of Sale issued on the 26th day of August, 2011 by the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 1O-DCV-181902 in favor of the Plaintiff QUAIL VALLEY EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. Plaintiff , for the sum of $3,633.00 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 5th day of October, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -JOHN DANIEL AND ALEYAMMA DANIEL had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 01ST day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours often o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:LEGAL DESCRIPTION:LOT 21, BLOCK 32, OF QUAIL VALLEY EAST SUBDIVISION, SECTION 5, A SUBDIVISION OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AT VOLUME 15, PAGE 3, IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.
ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $91,370
Terms: Cash Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALETHE STATE OF TEXASFORT BEND COUNTYBy virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 240TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on the 9TH day of SEPTEMBER, 2011 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, SR, ET AL in Cause # 10-DCV -181130 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on the 1st day of November, 2011, which is the fi rst Tuesday of said month, at the Offi cial door of the Courthouse of said FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit:TRACT 1: GEO: 2150090040090907 LOT NINE (9), BLOCK FOUR (4), OF BRIARGATE, SECTION NINE (9), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME PAGE 34, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.Levied on the 6TH day of DAY OF OCTOBER as the property of ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, SR. & DOROTHY B. WILLIAMSto satisfy a judgment amounting to $4,737.27, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, FORT BEND COUNTY AND CITY OF HOUSTON.
ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 6th day of October, 2011.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALENOTICE OF LEVYREAL PROPERTY
Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and lor Order of Sale issued on the 02nd day of September, 2011 by the County Court at Law No. 3 Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause # 961491703 in favor of the Plaintiff -Ocean Waves Products Plaintiff , for the sum of $15,077.49 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and I or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 12th day of September, 2011, I, Constable Rob Cook of Precinct Three Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s) -Marc Issa had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will off er for sale on the 01st day of NOVEMBER, 2011 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours often o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LAKEMONT SECTION 4, BLOCK 1, LOT 14.
Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affi xed thereto. All sales are fi nal.
ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $138,230
Terms: Cash Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M.
ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 3
Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310Deputy Constable
PUBLIC NOTICE OF TEST OF
AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT
AVISO PUBLICO DE PROBAR
EL EQUIPO TABULAR AUTOMATICAMENTE
Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment that will be
used in the General Election to be held on November 8, 2011 and by local
political subdivisions, for whom Fort Bend County is conducting elections,
will be tested on October 18, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the Fort Bend County Elec-
tions Department, 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg Texas. The purpose of
the test is to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes cast for all of-
fi ces and on all measures being tabulated on behalf of those jurisdictions.
Por lo presente se da aviso que el equipo para tabular automáticamente que
se usará en la Elección General el 8 de Noviembre de 2011, y por subdivi-
siones políticos para quien el Condado de Fort Bend está llevando a cabo
las elecciones, se probará el 18 de Octubre del 2011 a las 3:00 p.m. en el De-
partamento de Elecciones del Condado de Fort Bend, 4520 Reading Road,
Rosenberg Texas. El objetivo de éste ensayo es para determinar que contará
con precisión los votos emitidos para todas las ofi cinas y sobre todas las me-
didas que se tabularon en nombre de aquellas jurisdicciones.
/s/ John Oldham
Fort Bend County Elections Administrator
Administrador de Elecciones del Condado de Fort Bend
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO CONSIDERTAXATION OF GOODS-IN-TRANSIT
andSCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR
ACADEMICALLY UNACCEPTABLE CAMPUSESFor Fort Bend Independent School District
4:00 P.M. on October 24, 2011in the Board Room of the FBISD Administration Building
16431 Lexington Blvd. • Sugar LandThe purpose of this meeting is to consider the
taxation of goods-in-transit and school improvement plans for academically
unacceptable campuses for Fort Bend Independent School District.
Public Encouraged to Attend
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffi c control plan for Cinco Ranch Southwest, Section 42, Precinct 3.The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.
Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffi c control plan for Eugene Heimann Circle, Precinct 1.
The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.
Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk
Clooney loses a squeaker. Nah, that’s being too kind. He lost big-time in a runoff.
Pretty Boy George Cloo-ney co-wrote, directed, and starred in this political in-trigue centered on an Ohio primary race for President of the United States. Clooney played Governor Mike Mor-ris who was running for Pres-ident and desperately needed to win Ohio, but actually was the co-star.
“Desperate” also means treacherous in national poli-tics.
The star of this movie is soon-to-be superstar Ryan Gosling who is the seemingly naïve campaign staffer and second banana to the cam-paign chair played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Gosling has recently had winning roles in “Crazy, Stupid Love” and “Drive” not to mention his fantastic performance in “Blue Valen-
OCTOBER 12, 2011 • INDEPENDENT • Page 7
FILM REVIEW: The Ides of March
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tine” but he was taken to the woodshed by Hoffman and Paul Giamatti who played the campaign manager for Morris’ Democratic primary opponent.
Gosling’s performance, however, is to be commended if for no other reason than he did not exhibit his six-pack abs and still performed admi-rably.
But he was no match
for Hoffman (“Doubt” and “Capote”) and Giamatti (“Bar-ney’s Version” and “Side-ways”). Don’t worry, Ryan, I’m not sure Clooney is wor-thy of Hoffman and Giamatti and I’m a huge fan of Clooney. Let’s be candid, Hoffman and Giamatti might be two of the best actors to ever step in front of a camera.
Come on, Larry H. aren’t you exaggerating just to make people think you are a real move critic?
Well, there’s that, too, but Hoffman and Giamatti are that good. I found their prowess distracting.
My comments have cen-tered on the acting partially because the ensemble that also included Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood was outstanding, but more im-portantly because the script was weak, not engaging, and lacked signifi cant character development.
I was pulling for everyone and no one.
Surprisingly, the movie was not boring at any point, but did not engender much emotion even when Clooney was try-ing to make his biggest moves.
I give Clooney high marks for being able to produce and direct a movie, but moviemak-ing is hard and all of the pieces did not fi t in this political jig-saw.
I made an exception and al-lowed my dear friend Robert B. to accompany me to this movie, but he came by to pick me up in his brand new, cus-tom-built 1968 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500CR.
That car is so cool and sounds like Steve McQueen was driving. We had a blast.
Methodist Sugar Land Hos-pital’s Cancer Center recently hosted a very successful pros-tate cancer screening event with over 220 men in atten-dance. “We have hosted this very important event the last 7 years because prostate cancer is the second leading cancer in men, behind skin cancer,” says Frances Goerlich, Direc-tor at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center.
More than 217,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed this year, and one in six men will be diagnosed at some point in their lives. Fortu-nately, when detected and treated early, prostate cancer has an excellent cure rate.
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and is lo-cated under the bladder. The gland is found only in men.
“The prostate grows as a man reaches maturity
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center hosts successful prostate cancer screening event
and is maintained at adult size for as long as male hor-mones are being produced,” said Carl Ogletree, M.D., urologist on staff at Meth-odist Sugar Land Hospital.
Another successful Prostate Cancer screening event hosted at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center.Urologist, Antoine
Makhlouf, M.D., also on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hos-pital states, “Sometimes the prostate continues to grow over time around the urethra, the tube that carries urine. This causes urinary outfl ow block-age, disrupting normal urinary habits. This can simply be the result of an enlarged prostate or it could be a sign of cancer.
“Most prostate cancer does not cause symptoms, how-ever, and can only be detect-ed by PSA screening along with digital rectal exam.”
The American Cancer Soci-ety suggests that all men over age 50 should be screened annually, and men at high risk, such as African Ameri-cans and men with a fam-
ily history of prostate can-cer, are encouraged to begin screenings as early as 40.
As with many cancers, ear-ly detection of prostate can-cer and a variety of treatment options offer the best chance of a successful outcome.
A special thank you to the urologists, Lawrence Baum, M.D.; John Boon, M.D, Antoine Makhlouf, M.D. and Carl Ogletree, M.D. and all of our volunteers, who made the event pos-sible for the Fort Bend and surrounding communities!
For more information on Methodist Sugar Land Hospi-tal, visit www.MethodistSug-arLand.com or call 281-274-7500 for a physician referral.
Motorcycle experts, or “Wild Hog” weekend warriors, this shout out is for you! The sec-ond Annual Fort Bend Cares Motorcycle Road Rally to ben-efi t disadvantaged Fort Bend youth will be Sat. Nov. 19.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Republic Harley David-son at 12707 Southwest Free-way, Stafford and the bikers de-part at 11 a.m.
The one-hour ride will go to the new town center in Fulshear, escorted by volunteer Fort Bend County Sheriff Deputies. There, area restaurants will donate 15 percent of their lunch-sale pro-ceeds to Fort Bend Cares, which funds organizations benefi ting Fort Bend youth. These Res-taurants include Rey’s Grill, Doziers Grocery and Market, and Pepperoni’s.
Motorcycles will be avail-able for rent at Republic Harley Davidson by calling 281-295-1000. The tax-deductible regis-tration fees are $25 per motor-cycle, plus $10 per passenger. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted.
Fort Bend Cares is a chari-
Fort Bend Care’s Motorcycle Road Rally
table foundation that supports organizations and programs serving disadvantaged children and youth in Fort Bend Coun-ty. For more information call 832.392.1983, visit www.Fort-BendCares.org, or listen on Nov. 12th to Trae Smith and Joe Lan-caster, (Fort Bend County Sher-iff Deputy), on dial 700AM from 8-9 a.m with host Craig Sovika on the American Revival Show for more details.
Grace Noe, Luke Botard, & Joe Lancaster.
Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • OCTOBER 12, 2011
PROPOSITION 10 WILL READ AS FOLLOWS ON THE BALLOT:
The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district offi ceholders if they become candidates for another offi ce.FURTHER EXPLANATION:
The amendment would revise the “resign to run” provision in Texas law, extending the length of time elected offi cials may serve in offi ce once they announce their candidacy for another offi ce. Some say this is to address the fi ling deadline that was bumped to December, from January. If the proposition is adopted, elected offi cials may announce plans to run for a diff erent offi ce one year and one month — rather than just one year, as the law currently states, before their term ends — without having to resign their post.
IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED
VOTER IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS, PLEASE GO TO THE
POLLS ON NOVEMBER 8,
2011 AND VOTE NO FOR
PROPOSITION 10.
Paid political ad Craigbradyforsheriff . Milton Wright, Treasurer.
1 IN 8 WOMEN
BACK PAIN IS THE
Wednesday, October 19 6:00 p.m. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
Clements High School Cadets give real world meaning to their National Security and Modern Confl ict Unit Lesson. The ca-dets have partnered with Wreaths Across America-Houston to magnify the point that the freedom we share is not free. Many
Cadets join Wreaths Across Americagave their all so we can enjoy democracy. The cadets are soliciting family, friends, and neighbors to ensure that every grave of a fallen hero in the Houston National Cemetery receives a wreath. If you would like to support the Clements NJROTC Pro-gram and WAA-Houston to place a wreath on the grave of every veteran in the Hous-ton National Cemetery visit https://waahouston.myetap.org / fundra i se r /waahon-line/team.do?participationRef=3639.0.74490908 or call 281-540-9444. Pictured at left are Cadet McFee and Cadet Dominguez.
Missouri City’s nationally recognized Police Department has won a prestigious federal grant for $893,676 and will fund four new positions with the money in Fiscal Year 2011.
The award is one of fi ve allocations to Texas police de-partments and will be instru-mental in helping the “Show Me City” advance its proac-tive approach to combating crime and implementing pre-vention programs.
Missouri City will use its allotment from the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services “Hiring Program” to pay 100 percent of entry-level salaries and benefi ts for four positions for three years.
The Police Department will be required to retain the new offi cers for a minimum of 12 months beyond the three-year funding period.
“The COPS grant will be essential in helping us main-tain superior public safety standards and we will con-tinue to intelligently address staffi ng issues and crime from every angle possible,” said Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. “The four additional police offi cers we gain brings our grand total to seven new pre-dominantly grant-funded po-sitions this year. Our expan-sion in staffi ng of 18 percent over two years epitomizes the commitment Missouri City Council members make to Public Safety.”
In May, Council members authorized police offi cials to submit a grant application to the competitive COPS pro-gram, highlighting specifi c crime-fi ghting goals, includ-ing the department’s focus on gang intervention strategies. Mayor Allen Owen traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to meet with Missouri City’s Congressional Delegations
Missouri City’s fi nest win competitive Justice Department Grant
Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald, right, speaks with a resident about crime prevention at the City’s recent National Night Out kickoff event on Texas Parkway.and Justice Department offi -cials to explain “exactly what grant funds would be used for and the importance of adding offi cers to the police force to effectively prevent the emerg-ing gang violence in nearby areas from becoming an issue here.”
He added, “having direct discussions with these lead-ers was a critical component of the process and we were elated to learn last week that we won the award.”
Department has been suc-cessful in cracking down on gangs by conducting strate-gic stings, increasing patrols, hosting community education programs such as the popu-lar Crime Watch Program and devoting resources to the Special Crimes and Gang En-forcement Team and the Fort Bend County High Intensity Drug Traffi cking Area Task Force.
“Our interaction with the homeowners’ associations and other proactive measures like the “I choose to follow the rules” elementary school program, which teaches stu-dents to say no to violence
and drugs and “Gang Aware-ness” workshops also im-pact crime,” Fitzgerald said. “When we seek alternative funding, we place emphasis upon building sustainable programs and retaining our employees; since 1994 COPS has distributed billions of dol-lars to communities like ours across the nation.”
COPS’ mission is to assist law-enforcement agencies in three key areas: community partnerships, organizational transformation and problem solving.
The organization’s overall goal is to enhance public safe-ty through community part-nerships and the dissemina-tion of critical information. In Texas, other cities receiving grants from the group are the Houston Police Department, the Huntsville Police Depart-ment, the City of Patton Vil-lage, and the Waller County Constable’s Offi ce, Precinct 2.
The 2011 award for all fi ve Texas communities is $6,403,830, and will result in the hire of 33 additional law-enforcement offi cers.
