Fort Bend County seat Richmond is turning 175 years old later this year and is marking the milestone by inviting all county residents to a special celebration.
The Historic Richmond Association and the City of Richmond are planning the city’s 175th Birthday Celebration for Sept. 15 and is looking for vendors to take part in the festivities.
“Vendors of all types and from all areas are invited to participate in this city-wide celebration,” said Barbara Johnson, volunteer chair, Richmond’s 175th Birthday Celebration Committee. “We are looking forward to having diverse vendors and food booths. Vendor booths are $30 each, and limited electrical outlets will be available, on a first come, first serve basis.”
According to Rebecca Maitland, president of Historic Richmond, the free, family-oriented event will” have something for everyone.” Festivities will kick off with a parade on Morton Street at 10 a.m.
“So mark your calendars now for Sept. 15 and be sure to join us and help give Richmond, a big Happy Birthday,” Maitland said.
For a vendor application or more information, go to www.historicrichmond.org or call 832-752-9645.
Citing a dramatic increase in the number of false alarm calls being handled by the Fulshear Police Department, city council has approved an ordinance regulating home and business alarm systems.
The move came during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Fulshear Police Chief Kenny Seymour told the council responding to alarms has become the second most frequent call for service being handled by his officers.
During the months of January through June of 2011, Fulshear officers responded to a total of 54 alarm calls. This year, police have already handled 104 alarm calls.
Seymour attributed the increase in alarm calls to the many new homes being built in the city, particularly in the Cross Creek Ranch area.
“We have more houses, more alarms and more calls,” Seymour said.
Not only are officers having to spend more time responding to alarm calls, the chief noted that virtually all of the calls received are false alarms.
Seymour added that while most of the alarm systems are residential, some are from local businesses. He noted that one Fulshear business had already registered 11 false alarms this month alone.
City Administrator C.J. Snipes said some residents are mistakenly obtaining alarm permits from the county even though their home is located within the city.
“Most people don’t realize they are in Fulshear, and they end up getting county alarm permits. Then when an alarm is received, our officers are dispatched,” Snipes said. “Everything goes to the county, but we do all the work.”
Under terms of the new ordinance, any home or business with an alarm system will be required to obtain an annually-renewable permit from the city. The ordinance will also penalize home and business owners for chronic false alarms.
Each permitted alarm system will be allowed three false alarms in a 12-month period. After that, the location will be subject to a fine. Additionally, those homes and businesses that fail to obtain an alarm permit will be subject to a fine.
City officials stressed that those found in violation will be given a chance to correct the problem – or obtain a permit – before any fines or penalties are assessed.
Fulshear residents and business owners who currently have an alarm permit with Fort Bend County will be notified of the new requirement, and will only be required to obtain a city permit after their county permit expires.
Council members approved the new ordinance on a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Tobacco Free Fort Bend is inviting the community to a public hearing regarding prohibiting smoking in public places in Stafford.
Organizers said a smoking prohibition in public places would reduce secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, chronic lung ailments, illnesses in children and other health problems.
There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke with more thanb 7,000 chemicals, according to a 2010 Surgeon General’s Report.
The hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the Stafford Civic Center. The civic center is located at 1415 Constitution in Stafford.
For more information, visit www.tobaccofreefortbend.com.
Even as he prepares to take office as Fort Bend County’s Pct. 4 Constable, Lt. Col. Trever Nehls has also taken command of a Michigan-based Army Reserve unit.
NEW COMMANDER – Col. Kris Lattimore, left, commander of the Chicago-based 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, presents the Battalion Colors to Lt. Col. Trever Nehls at a ceremony held recently in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Nehls, a Richmond resident and 23-year member of the United States Army Reserve, recently assumed command of the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Nehls is a combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan and a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
During the May 29 election, Nehls was elected to serve as the Pct. 4 Constable. He will take office Jan. 1, 2013.
Nehls will take the constable’s badge from his brother, Troy Nehls, who won a hard-fought race in the same election to become the GOP nominee for Fort Bend County Sheriff.
Trever Nehls is currently employed with the Sugar Land Police Department.
Gas prices in and around Fort Bend County suburbs of Houston were lower compared to the averages for Houston and the country as a whole this week, according to data...
A preliminary review of Sunday’s fatal glider crash has revealed the glider was released from its tow plane more than 1900 feet prematurely.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, which was on the scene of the fatal crash early Monday morning, the pilot of the single-engine airplane towing the glider said the tow rope was either disengaged or broke at about 75 feet above the ground.
Gliders are usually towed to a height of 2000 feet before being released.
The low altitude of the glider may have been a significant factor in its ability to remain airborne and under control, several veteran glider pilots told InstantNewsKaty.
The Romanian-made glider, owned by the Greater Houston Soaring Association, crashed into a cotton field between Orchard and Wallis around 4:55 p.m. Sunday evening, killing all three people aboard.
The dead have been identified as pilot Fred Blair, 68, Matilda Blair, 32, and Andrew Blair, 3.
According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fred Blair was Matilda Blair’s father and Andrew Blair’s grandfather. The three were reportedly on a Father’s Day outing when the crash occurred.
All were pronounced dead at the scene.
Fred Blair was from Wallis, while Matilda Blair and Andrew Blair reportedly lived in Houston.
According to reports, the glider was being towed from the Wallis Gliderport by the single-engine airplane when it “took a nosedive and crashed into the ground.”
The elder Blair was said to have been a veteran glider pilot; however, other glider pilots noted the glider that crashed was designed to carry only two people and having three on board may have also affected its aerodynamic ability.
The gilder was operating from the Wallis Gliderport, located along Hwy. 36 near Cougar Road not far from the crash site.
The crashed aircraft remains at the scene as investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board inspected the crash site. The Federal Aviation Administration is also expected to send investigators.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and conducted the initial investigation and recovery of victims.
The Missouri City Council honored city police officers Jessica Berry and Terry Patrick at its June 4 meeting.
Sugar Land Town Square has announced its calendar of free events for July.
