Residents must follow the guidelines established by Republic Services and have any limbs needing removal placed at the curb or edge of street for pick-up.  Bagged debris will not be picked up during any special debris clean-up runs, but will be gathered gradually during regular trash pick-ups. 

Republic Services will only pick-up limb debris prepared according to the following regulations and will not pick up a stack if it is mixed with non-regulation debris:

• Limbs must be less than 4 feet in length (any lateral growth that makes it too bushy should be trimmed down);    
• Limbs should be less than 3” in diameter;
• Limbs should be stacked neatly in manageable stacks at the curb or edge of the street (it is not necessary to have them bundled or tied); and
• Any limbs larger than 4” in diameter must be cut and split like firewood. 

CenterPoint Energy should be contacted at 713-207-2222  for limbs that have fallen on or that are touching power lines. 

Should property owners have limbs that are larger than Republic’s regulations, or wish to remove limbs before Republic Services reaches their area, individuals may contract with a private business for debris removal, or utilize the nearest landfill located in Needville at 11514 Davis Estate Road, 979-793-4430. 

Additionally, Living Earth at 1700 Highway 90A East in Richmond, 281-342-6113, www.livingearth.net, will accept yard debris for a  fee.  Residents should contact each entity for costs and hours of operation.

For further information, contact Citizen Relations at 832-595-3301.

Stafford Primary School will meet parents at 6 p.m. tonight in the Primary Cafeteria;  Stafford Elementary School parents will report to the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9; Stafford Intermediate staff will start their orientation in the gym at 6 p.m. Sept. 16; Stafford Middle School parents will report to the High School cafeteria at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 then follow their children’s class schedules; and Stafford High School will welcome parents on Sept. 16 in the cafeteria at 6  p.m. then dismiss to students’ class schedules.

For more information on the SMSD parent orientation events, call 281-261-9200.

SLCS students with the school mascot, Leo the Lion, at the 2nd Annual Back to School Social.

Families brought picnic baskets and sat out on the playground while their children caught up on their summers.  Children were able to get their face painted and hair sprayed with color by cheerleaders and NJHS students.

The school welcomed more than  700 students to SLCS this year.

A woman was robbed at knifepoint early this morning inside her Sugar Land home, according to police reports.

The robbery occurred around 2:41 a.m. in the 3200 block of Lakefield Boulevard. The victim pulled into her garage and saw the suspect when she got out of her car.

The suspect is described as a black man, 5’10” – 6’0”, medium build, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and black shorts. The victim was not injured.

No other details on the robbery have been released, and the investigation is ongoing.

The arrests are the result of a two-month investigation, which recently resulted in surveillance video of two of the suspects. The majority of the burglaries occurred in the unincorporated areas of Fort Bend County and the cities of Rosenberg and Needville.  

Detectives arrested Eduardo Rodriguez, 18, of Rosenberg, Ashlee Rodriguez-Trevino,17, of Richmond, Gilbert Garza, Jr., 19, of Richmond, Justin Miller, 22, of Rosenberg, Bolivar Santana , 22, of Rosenberg and  Jovani Santana, 18, of Rosenberg.

Bolivar Santana, Jovani Santana and Gilbert Garza were also arrested in early August after a Needville property owner allegedly saw them burglarize his son’s home.

Rodriguez and Rodriguez-Trevino have bonds in the amount of $100,000 each. Garza, Jr., Miller and Bolivar Santana have bonds in the amount of $20,000 each.  Jovani Santana is charged with two counts of Burglary of a Habitation with a bond amount of $20,000 for each charge.    

Detectives anticipate additional arrests as the investigation continues. Thus far, a total of eight burglaries have been solved in both the unincorporated area of Fort Bend County and the City of Rosenberg.  The suspects would steal mostly electronics and firearms and almost immediately sell the property on the streets.

During the burglaries a female suspect would knock on the front door to confirm that no one was home.  If no one was home they would then force entry at the back of the residence.

The investigation is on-going and Fort Bend County Detectives are asking anyone with information on the suspects involved or circumstances surrounding these burglaries or information on the stolen property which was sold on the street to contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office at 281-341-4665 or Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office at 281- 342-8477 (TIPS).

Some parents have questioned why the elementary school students can no longer ride the bus, but neighborhood students attending Bush High School still get a ride from the district.

According to FBISD officials, transportation was provided to the southern end of the neighborhood because ongoing construction projects made the area hazardous by the state’s definition.

Bush students living in the same area are provided bus transportation because they have to cross Hwy. 1464 – which is considered a hazardous route.

So, for Mission Bend elementary school parents, no hazard equals no transportation.

One resident, who will not be named to protect the identity of his foster children, is raising four foster children that came from a home where their mother did not send them to school or feed them.

He said the lack of transportation has been a hardship for his family.

“These were kids that were staved almost to death and we are trying to nurture them and get them back on schedule,” he said of the children, ages 9, 7, 4 and 3.

He has tried to enroll the 4-year-old in Jordon’s pre-kindergarten program, but said the program has been full for the five years he and his wife have lived in the area. According to the district, there are 60 students on the waiting list.

He was told that there are opening at several Missouri City schools, including Blue Ridge, Hunters Glen, Ridgegate, EA Jones (Bilingual only) and Ridgemont.

Unfortunately, due to due to the Federal Transportation Guidelines requiring special constraints for young children, FBISD along with most other Houston-area school districts, does not provide transportation for half-day PreK.

The family seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“We have enough of a nightmare trying to get these kids to the school that’s over here,” he said, adding that restricted parking and heavy traffic delays at the beginning and end of the school day add to the headache.

He said that while the roadways may not be hazardous to the children walking to school, the 51 registered sex offenders within a 3-mile radius of the school could be.

To some, that may seem like a high number, but a check through the Texas Department of Public Safety reveals that it is more the middle of the pack.

FBISD’s Blue Ridge Elementary, in Houston, has 107 registered sex offenders within a three-mile radius of the school. Scanlan Oaks Elementary in Missouri City has three.

The State of Texas allows the parole board to set parameters as to how close sex offenders can live to places where children commonly gather, such as schools.

However, municipalities have the ability to create ordinances that are stricter than the state law. The City of Richmond has such as ordinance, which prohibits level one sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school as long as they are on probation. Leven two and three sex offenders are prohibited indefinitely from living within 1,000 feet from a school.

The registered sex offender living closest to Jordon Elementary is .22 miles away, barely outside the city’s ordinance, which amounts to .189 miles.

Here are some current needs:

Back to nature

Scenery and greenery await you as a volunteer at a state park in Fort Bend County. Depending on your interests, skills, and schedule, you might enjoy providing customer service at the park’s nature center, helping with trail maintenance, or tending the rich vegetation that adorns the grounds. Morning and afternoon assignments are available on weekdays or weekends. Persons as young as 15 are cordially welcome as volunteers. Register now for the next volunteer training session scheduled for February 2011.

Give a lift

Provide transportation for ambulatory patients and their caregivers who arrive at Sugar Land Airport in need of rides to their hotels or to medical facilities for treatment.  If you are at least 18 years of age, with a driver’s license, good driving record, and car insurance, your assistance would be invaluable to persons who have traveled long distances for medical care in the greater Houston area. Assignments typically take about two hours and can be tailored to fit your personal schedule.

The Good Ole Days

History and heritage will come alive when you don a period costume and help visitors travel back in time at Richmond’s famous George Ranch.  Providing kids and adults with an “up close and personal” perspective on life in Fort Bend County from the 1820s to the 1940s, you can portray a cowboy, blacksmith, sharecropper or other occupation emblematic of the times. Assignments are available during daytime hours on weekdays and Saturdays. Training will be provided.

Additional opportunities:

-         Connect with a homebound senior through friendly phone calls.

-         Help answer the hotline for an area women’s center.

-         Raise a puppy for an organization that assigns guide dogs to visually impaired persons.

-         Register low-income families to receive Christmas gifts for their children and senior family members at an international service agency in Stafford. 

-         Set up and maintain displays of baby clothing, cribs, strollers, and car seats at a “Mommy Store” run by a women’s center in Rosenberg.

-         Visit various Fort Bend high schools to speak with students about teen dating violence and creating healthy relationships.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, call Volunteer Fort Bend at 281-340-1919, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Information on additional opportunities is available at www.VolunteerFortBend.org.

According to reports, the man, described as a black man between 40 and 50 years old and heavy-set with glasses, was masturbating in theater #17.  The suspect left the theater before police arrived. He was wearing a brown shirt and black sweatpants with white striped down the legs.

According to police, evidence was collected at the scene.

Anna Hernandez, who suffers from Schizophrenia and is currently not taking medication, was found in the parking lot of the Kroger located at F.M. 1464 and F.M. 1093.  Although she was somewhat disoriented she appeared to be good physical condition and returned to her family, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Family members reported her missing around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Hernandez was last seen by her family at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning and is described as a 62-year-old Hispanic female, 4’07” tall, 150 pounds with brown eyes

Anna Hernandez, missing from the 16300 block of Autumn Leigh Dr., suffers from Schizophrenia and is currently not taking medication.

She is known to walk in the general area of the Eaglewood Subdivision carrying a cloth bag and bible.  She only speaks the Spanish language and will sometimes go by the last name of Martinez.

Hernandez was last seen by her family at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning and is described as a 62-year-old Hispanic female, 4’07” tall, 150 pounds, brown eyes.  She was last seen wearing pink pajamas.

Fort Bend Detectives continue to search the area and are seeking anyone with information on the whereabouts of Anna Hernandez to contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office at 281-341-4665.

National certification by PLTW means that Stafford Middle and High Schools have successfully met PLTW’s quality standards in professional development of teachers and counselors; the implementation of curriculum using required equipment and software; and the formation of a Partnership Team with a local college or university.  SEAL students benefit from national certification through its hands-on curriculum and the opportunity to earn college credit for some of the engineering courses. 

Since implementation of the SEAL program, Stafford High School math and science assessment scores have significantly increased.  In place of traditional instruction, 144 students learn engineering applications by applying math and science to design and develop projects.  SEAL students recently demonstrated Robotic and Lego projects to kindergarten and first grade students at Stafford Primary School. 

“I am just really pleased with the overall PLTW environment and support,” said PLTW Certification Team leader Julie Moore.

The Partnership Team includes teachers, parents, administrators, and business and community representatives from Fluor Daniel, Texas Instruments, and City of Stafford.  SEAL instructors are Nathanial Joseph, Frank Hoang, and John Williams at the high school and Jerry Stevens and Byron Thompson at the middle school.  Stafford High School counselor Jilla Peasley serves as the liaison between SEAL and Houston Community College. 

For additional information on the program, contact Jon Gray at 281-261-9232.

According to city representatives, police were called around 1:24 a.m. to the 1200 block of Lake Estates Court in reference to a stabbing. The victim was a 22-year-old man, with injuries to his arm and the back of his head.

Police said the victim was at first unable to provide any information, but later said an altercation occurred at a bar at FM 1464 and West Airport in Fort Bend County.

After further investigation, police now believe the injury may have occurred at a park near Lake Estates Court and was self-inflicted.

Although the City of Sugar Land sends out daily police beat news updates containing crimes that have occurred in the past 24-hours, the stabbing was not listed in this morning’s report.

According to city representatives the incident was not reported because although the victim was in Sugar Land when the stabbing was reported, police originally believed the incident occurred outside of city limits.

“We are thrilled with our growth and owe it to meeting the needs of our community and providing a quality education in a Christian environment,” said Chad St. Jean, head of school. “Our percentage growth has never been this high. Our numbers are there to show the trust our community has in us. We do not take that lightly.”

This fall, CCA added a seventh grade and introduced a competitive athletics program with its first-ever sports event, a girl’s volleyball game, last week. The Cornerstone Cougars will have their first football game this Thursday.

Staff, curriculum and facilities have been enhanced to accommodate CCA’s growth. A new preschool director position was announced last spring to lead CCA’s preschool. LuAnn Park now serves as the school’s first preschool director. Curriculum has been modified to reach a growing number of students.

“The successful aspects of our school remain constant, from our extended day program to our small class sizes. We are tweaking and adding to ensure a phenomenal education for our students,” Park said.

Located in Sugar Land, Cornerstone Christian Academy opened its doors in September of 2003 as a small Christian preschool program. Having added a grade each year, CCA now teaches two-year-olds through the seventh grade. CCA will begin an eighth grade this fall to complete its middle school.

Noel Pinnock, MPA

There was a man walking down a dirt road and he heard a hollering scream that sounded like a wounded animal. As he continue to proceed down the road the sound became louder and louder. He finally reached the source and it was an old dog sitting on a porch next to his owner. The man asked the dog’s owner, “Why is your dog making so much noise?” “It appears as though he is in terrible pain!”  The dog’s owner said, “Well, he is lying on a nail.” So the man asked, “Why doesn’t he just move or you pick him up and remove the nail that is apparently hurting him so bad?” The dog’s owner replied in a screeching voice, “Weeeeelllllll, it doesn’t hurt him as bad, just yet.”

Well, like the animal in this story, many residents in Missouri City are in a very similar situation as it relates to voter apathy. Our city’s turnout for every election cycle since I have been a resident, over 10 years, have been one of the lowest in the Fort Bend County (w/exception – Presidential Election 2008). I am not sure why? But when I circulate around the city and visit with neighbors and friends, I don’t hear the hollering dog in my parable but I do hear the moans, groans, and pains from those who believe that enough is enough. I do hear the cares and concerns of all the diverse communities of taxpayers, young and old. They are tired of the same ole…same ole. They are more concerned about our local economy and quality of schools as well as access to amenities that support their day-to-day livelihoods. More importantly, they feel as though they have no one to address their concerns. In a recent FortbendNow article it was recorded that a 76 year old lady with two knee replacements could not get a city vendor (paid with taxpayer’s dollars) to respond to question regarding sidewalk repair in First Colony. The city vendor abandoned the project at the request of city official, until the heat in the kitchen (obviously spawned by the 76-year old taxpaying resident) dropped a few degrees below boiling. http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/08/25/47466

You know, my city…our City just have too much potential to continue to be led by those who don’t have the creativity and synergy to make a good city Great! I am infamous for quoting Albert Einstein in that we can’t solve yesterday’s problems at the same level of thinking we are at when we created them. Not only are we diverse demographically but we are most diverse generationally. We have such vast opportunities to bring a renewed sense of vitality and energy back to our city but we must first start with the ones that matter the most, every citizen, business partner, and civil/classified personnel.

We must give Missouri City constituents something to be excited about and something that they can hold on to and talk about. But to get there, we need to look carefully at our elected bodies at all levels in our local landscape. Ask yourself these ‘are’ questions:

• Are they supporting the issues that they said they will support during the campaign cycle?
• Are they accessible to hear your concerns or listen to your suggestions?
• Are they willing to take on challenging issues that encroach on the status quo?
• Are they thinking outside of the box and seeking innovative and cost-effective/efficient ways to do more with less?
• Are they totally inclusive in a proactive way?
• Are you involved in the decision-making process (for real)?
• Are you receiving the best (not simply good) output from your hard earned tax dollars?
• Are they visible in off-cycle election debates, issues, and concerns in your neighborhood, respectively?
• Are they active in the organizations they receive awards from and tout?

If you can’t answer “yes” to all of these questions, then you know that the time to act is not tomorrow but today. Yeah, I know, we all have other things on our plate and sometimes it seems like you can’t even see the bottom of the plate but it comes a time when we have to stand up for what is right even if it takes us out of our comfort zone. We must increase the level of accountability and not get side-washed or suckered in believing that only a finite group of individuals can make a difference in our community…in our City.

Reliable governance is coming soon to Missouri City and a neighborhood near you. But first, we must not find ourselves in positions where the pain isn’t bad enough for us stand up and remove the nail.

The unanimous vote followed a budget presentation by Superintendent H.D. Chambers and board and council comments of appreciation for teachers, campus administrators, and staff for their efforts in providing education to SMSD students and managing district funds in an “efficient and effective manner.”

Chief Financial Officer Lucas Janda spearheaded with Chambers the $28 million budget that includes a raise for all employees, an estimated “Robin Hood” payment to the state of $2.3 million, full funding for the continuation of all academic and extra-curricular programs, new funding for new academic programs such as a new Pharmacy Technician Certification program at Stafford High School and a new Dual Language Classes (Vietnamese and Chinese) at Stafford Primary. 

The budget also includes a surplus to be dedicated to building the district’s fund balance, or savings account.  While the official tax rate will not be considered or approved until September, SMSD will be proposing a total tax rate of $1.11 per $100 valuation.  This 12 cent, or 10 percent, reduction compares to last year’s $1.23 tax rate.

“Considering the extremely difficult economic times every sector of our economy is experiencing and the fact that many districts across the region and state are forced to make significant budget reductions in order to balance their budgets, I am proud that we are able to continue funding effective student and professional programs; implement new quality student and staff programs; reduce the tax burden on our tax payers; and ultimately make an investment in our ‘rainy-day fund account,’ all in one year, “said Chambers.

SMSD has benefitted from the three-year trend of significant increases in student enrollment, through additional state per student funding and a lowering of the amount of Robin Hood payments to the state.  Compared to the beginning of the 2009 school year’s enrollment of 3,043, the 2010 enrollment has increased by 6 percent to 3,218.  When compared to the enrollment figures in 2008, the increase jumps to 10 percent. 

“Student enrollment growth is critical to a district’s revenue stream from year to year,” said Chambers.  “Since 2006-07, the only way for school districts to generate additional revenue is through student enrollment increases or with a Tax Ratification Election that essentially has a district asking their voters to approve a higher Maintenance and Operations tax rate.”

The district expects the TEA “Recognized” rating for the district in 2010 to help continue the trend of increasing enrollment.

“The entire SMSD staff works hard to provide a quality and relevant education to our students,” said Chambers. “This, along with the student performance ratings and the small school environment, I believe, are appealing to parents with school-aged children.  While I understand the impact the of the TAKS accountability ratings on the community, we keep reminding families and our community there is more to evaluating  successful students, effective campuses and districts than the ratings”.

The SMSD Board and Stafford City Council will consider the 2011 maintenance and operations and debt service tax rates on Sept. 16 at the Stafford City Hall, 2610 South Main St.  The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and include a public hearing.

The production is based on the 1969 rock opera album “Tommy” by music hall of famer Pete Townshend.

Featuring an all teen cast of students from TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, “The Who’s Tommy” takes the stage at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center Sept. 10-11.

Broadway veteran and original “The Who’s Tommy” cast member Michael Tapley will direct.

Hardin, 15, was last seen at TUTS in the southwest regional premiere of 13 – The Musical as “Archie”. When he is not on stage, Hardin works on many volunteer projects to help others. In March, he hosted a benefit concert for Compassion International Haiti Earthquake Relief and raised over $4,000. Hardin also recorded an original song titled “Alive” as a part of the Stop Drunk Driving Now campaign for kids.

“The Who’s Tommy” chronicles the life of a child trapped inside his own mind and his family’s desperate attempts to free him. As an adolescent, he discovers an uncanny knack for playing pinball, and that leads him to international stardom once he is freed from a catatonic state.

The cast of “The Who’s Tommy” is composed of 30 students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre including  Austin Arizpe, Melissa Beaird, Aaron Boudreaux, Monica Brown, Ian Bouillion, Sam Burkett, Emily Coleman, Rebecca Eckert, Mia Gerachis, James Hamrick, Sean Hardin, Brooke Humphrey, Austin Jacobs and Ryan Jacobs. Also in the cast are Mark Jammal, Connor Jones, Drew Jones, Ryan Kennedy, Dylan Lambert, McCall Montz, Ryne Nardecchia, Sydney Roberts, Morgan Starr, Terran Swonke, Sandy Valles, Charity Van Tassel, Christian Warner, Katy Wilson and Chris Wolff.

Michael Tapley, the Artistic Director for Theatre Under The Stars’ Tommy Tune Awards, will direct the production. Tapley began his career with TUTS in 1973 while appearing in “Kismet.” Over the years he has appeared in such TUTS productions as “Gypsy,” “The Sound of Music,” “A Chorus Line” and “West Side Story.” Tapley has also appeared on Broadway, most notably, in m “The Who’s Tommy.”

Assisting the director is Shay Rodgers, a native Houstonian who is currently in her 23rd year with Theatre Under The Stars. Through her time at TUTS, Rodgers has held various roles including student, performer, teacher, production assistant, choreographer, stage manager and now manager of education.

John Cornelius serves as music director for the performance. Cornelius has been the music director, arranger and composer for a number of theaters including The Great Caruso, The Ensemble Theatre, Main Street Theatre and Theatre Under The Stars’ Humphreys School.

Tickets for “The Who’s Tommy” are available online at www.tuts.com, by phone at 713-558-8887 or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars box office at 800 Bagby in downtown Houston.

Dutka is in the top six percent of Allstate agents and personal financial representatives to reach this level of achievement, based on sales for auto, property, commercial, power sports insurance and financial services in the country.

Margo Pasko, The Arc’s Employment Specialist, conducts functional vocational and job site assessments, assists with job searches and interviews, provides on-the-job training, develops natural supports in the workplace, and assists employers of individuals with disabilities to increase their employment success.

The Arc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization, marshals many volunteers to provide recreational programs and advocacy services for individuals with intellectual and related developmental disabilities in Ft. Bend County. The primary focus of The Arc is to advocate for the inclusion of its clients in all aspects of our community, from children in regular classrooms to adults joining the workforce.

“The Arc appreciates this financial support from The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation,” said Laura LaVigne, executive director. “Our Employment Assistance Program is designed to find employment opportunities for a select group of adults, one by one by one. This will help make that happen.”

In August, Ely was diagnosed with stage 4 breat cancer after being cancer-free for eight years. Over the years, Ely has raised through her tennis tournaments and other functions more than $100,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation-Houston Affiliate.

The tennis and poker tourney is an evening affair with live and silent auction items, raffles, prizes and dinner. 

“It’s the best way I know how to raise money and to be assured a great time while celebrating another year of life,” said Ely.

For more information about the event, contact Asha C. Vaidya at vaidyas@msn.com.

Officers were called to the 2600 block of Village Square Drive around 6:24 a.m. in reference to several gun shots. According to police, at least one suspect in a silver, 4-door Dodge Stratus fired several times into the residence before leaving the area.

The incident is under investigation, and there are no suspects at this time.