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Katy South Fulshear Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 6 FEB. 23 MARCH 21, 2024
2024 Voter Guide
A proposed entertainment district lies between Katy’s Third Street and Hwy. 90 to the north and south, as well as Airline Drive and Katy Fort Bend Road to the west and east. City o cials are studying what it would take to turn the historic area into a mixed-use district.
KELLY SCHAFLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Katy considers new district around rice dryers
The Dryer developer Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya said. “But to me, [preserving the dryers] just makes sense.” However, business owners from the area said they believe there’s steps the city can take to make the area attractive to new businesses as well as partner with existing businesses.
developed a future land use and character map, which noted an unrealized mixed-use entertain- ment area that could be created. Meanwhile, change in the area is already happen- ing, with a local staple having shuttered its doors in December and a developer soon opening the rst phase of The Dryer, a 3-acre revitalization project. “I’m not a sentimental person, to be honest,”
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
A study taking place this year aims to reimagine an industrial area surrounding Katy’s historic rice dryers into an entertainment district. The idea for the district emerged in the process of creating the city’s 2040 comprehensive plan, which was completed in March 2023. As part of the plan, planning rm Kendig Keast Collaborative
CONTINUED ON 21
Also in this issue
Impacts: ‘Dirty soda’ shop Swig opens in Fulshear area (Page 6)
Transportation: Mobility, community plan kicks o (Page 11)
Election: Sample ballot of local races (Page 14)
History: Museum owner highlights Black Americans (Page 22)
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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Ronald Winters Copy Editors Adrian Gandara Beth Marshall Account Executive Tracy Drewa Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Art Production Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Correction: Volume 12, Issue 5, Page 23 The Desserts Guide had an incorrect address for Alchemy Bake Lab. The correct address is 6845 Peek Road, Ste. 230, Katy.
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
Impacts
GEORGE BUSH PARK 5 Dunkin’ The menu at Dunkin’ features various coffee beverages, doughnuts and breakfast items. The location also doubles as a Baskin-Robbins. • Opened Nov. 9 • 3831 W. Grand Parkway N., Katy • www.dunkindonuts.com 6 Lululemon This high-end, yoga-focused activewear retailer offers stylish athletic wear, loungewear, footwear includes bar fare, such as smash burgers, pizzas and a giant soft pretzel. • Opened Feb. 6 • 22756 Westheimer Parkway, Ste. 100, Katy • https://katy.voodoobrewery.com 4 Ms. Sol Piano Academy The piano tutoring academy offers activities for students to learn music theory and master the technique of playing piano. Instructors incorporate music pedagogy concepts to engage students. • Opened Dec. 2 • 2780 FM 1463, Ste. 200, Katy • www.mssolpianoacademy.com 7 Nando’s Peri-Peri This Afro-Portuguese chain restaurant is known for its flame-grilled chicken, spiced with the African Bird’s Eye Chili pepper also referred to as peri-peri. Its menu includes whole and half chicken served with fries, macaroni and cheese, sandwiches and wings. • Opened Feb. 5 • 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Ste. F100, Katy • www.nandosperiperi.com 8 Baskin-Robbins The national ice cream and cake specialty shop boasts 42 ice cream flavors. The menu also includes a selection of beverages; decorative and customizable cakes and pies; and bakery items. and accessories. • Opened Jan. 25 • 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy • www.lululemon.com
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2 Kilwins At the confectionery shop, customers can get sweets, such as fudge, chocolates, ice cream, kettle corn and caramel apples. • Opened in mid-December • 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy • www.kilwins.com 3 Voodoo Brewing Co. The brew pub has 20 rotating craft beers on tap, plus cocktails, wine, coffee and other beverages. Its menu
Fulshear
Now open
723
359 1 Snowcano This Vietnamese-style coffee and desserts shop features specialty items such as the caramel crispy milk coffee, rose tea paired with crystal boba, shaved ice, and banh mi sandwiches. • Opened Dec. 2 • 23015 Colonial Parkway, Ste. A109, Katy • 832-437-6259
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY ASIA ARMOUR & KELLY SCHAFLER
• Opened Feb. 13 • 28830 FM 1093, Ste. 170, Fulshear • www.baskinrobbins.com
teas from a brew tap-style system. • Opening in early spring • 20995 Katy Freeway, Katy • www.dunkindonuts.com
Now open
9 The Dog Stop The Pennsylvania-based business offers boarding accommodations, day care, professional grooming and retail for pets. • Opened Jan. 22 • 23165 Morton Ranch Road, Katy • www.thedogstop.com 10 Nice Birdie At the locally-owned indoor golf venue and bar, patrons can pay by the hour to test their swing at six golfing simulators programmed with about 185 courses. Its menu features Korean dishes, and the venue also offers craft beer, wine, seltzers and nonalcoholic beverages. • Opened Jan. 29
14 Amazing Place The nonprofit’s second Katy campus will expand resources with education and support programs for families facing challenges of dementia. It also will offer family caregiver support classes and counseling.
• Opening in spring 2025 • 621 Dematel Circle, Katy • www.amazingplacehouston.org
15 Hong Kong Food Street This Cantonese restaurant formerly located in Bellaire plans to relocate to Katy after its unexpected closure in 2021. Owner Johnny Cheung has identified a place for the new restaurant in Katy Asian Town but is waiting to break ground to solidify an opening date. Hong Kong Food Street was known for its roasted meats, including duck and pork cracklings. • Opening TBD • 23015 Colonial Parkway, Ste. A101, Katy • www.facebook.com/hongkongfoodstreet 16 H-E-B at Katy Park The 117,000-square-foot store will offer produce, seafood, Sushiya items, its scratch bakery and other traditional offerings, according to an opening announcement on H-E-B’s website. Curbside pickup and delivery will also be available. • Opening Feb. 21 • 24924 Morton Ranch Road, Katy • www.heb.com
18 Swig The Utah-based beverage shop is known for its “dirty sodas,” a mixture of soda and cream, syrup or other flavoring. Its menu also includes energy drink infusions, flavored sparkling waters, hot chocolate and snacks, including cookies and pretzel bites. • Opened Feb. 2 • 26910 FM 1093, Richmond • www.swigdrinks.com
• 20820 Park Row Drive, Katy • www.nicebirdietexas.com
Coming soon
11 Monster Mini Golf This indoor glow-in-the-dark entertainment center features a mini golf course, an arcade and prize center, a bowling alley, laser tag, virtual reality and a restaurant. • Opening in early March
• 1705 N. Fry Road, Ste. 3, Katy • www.monsterminigolf.com
Closings
12 The Home Depot The home improvement company will offer various home renovation items, including power tools, paint, lawn care items, furniture, kitchenware and decor, according to the website. • Opening April 11 • 133 Cane Island Parkway, Katy • www.homedepot.com 13 Dunkin’ This Dunkin’ location will feature a coffee tap system, where Dunkin’ crew members can pull nitro-infused cold brew, regular cold brew, and other iced coffees and
19 MKT Distillery The distillery and outdoor taproom closed after it couldn’t recover from low sales during the hot summer months. Fans of MKT’s distilled spirits can still purchase bottles from liquor stores or from the Katy taproom for the short-term. Patrons can stay posted to the business’s Facebook page for its limited hours or reach out directly to buy bottles. • Closed Dec. 2 • 5373 First St., Katy • www.facebook.com/mktdistillery
In the news
17 Jurassic World: The Exhibition The new immersive dinosaur experience will come from Universal Pictures to Katy Mills on March 8. Inspired by the “Jurassic World” movie franchise, it will feature life-size animatronic dinosaurs, including the Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors and the Tyrannosaurus rex. • 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy • www.jurassicworldexhibition.com/houston
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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Government
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Fort Bend County’s district court sta have out tted several spaces in the county’s Justice Center into temporary courtrooms to address a rising amount of court cases. But some of the spaces lack important courtroom features, such as a holding cell for criminal cases and sometimes even a ceiling. On Jan. 9, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved a $7 million project to add three additional courtrooms to the Justice Center in Richmond. Judge Tameika Carter of the 400th District Court said civil cases have increased, sparking a need of more courtrooms for associate judges and visiting associate judges to preside over cases. Civil cases can cover anything from business disputes, car accidents and personal injuries. New courtrooms to help case growth
Why it matters
In the meantime, associate judges rotate to open meeting spaces; the ceiling is exposed in one of the makeshift courtrooms, as it wasn’t cost-e ective to nish the ceiling in a temporary space, Carter said. “When you come into court, you really should be in a courtroom—a room that’s actually a court- room,” she said. “So we’ve tried to improvise the best we can, but it’s just time for us to actually complete the project.” Design for the $7 million project will begin in February and take four months to complete. Con- struction is set to begin this fall and be completed roughly by early summer 2025, county o cials said. Upon completion, the three new courtrooms will feature: • A holdover cell for criminal cases where the client is in custody • An o ce suite • Courtroom technology
The ceiling is exposed in one of the makeshift courtrooms due to cost constraints, county o cials said.
KELLY SCHAFLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Fort Bend County cases on the docket Cases have risen since the last district court was added in 2015.
Looking forward
Total cases on docket*
last year’s legislative session. If approved in the next session, the new judge would have space to preside over cases with the three new courtrooms, Carter said. “If we don’t have e cient run courts, if we don’t have the court sta that we need, if we don’t have the court space that we need, then we cannot move these cases through as quickly as we need to,” Carter said.
In addition to courtroom space, Carter said county sta hopes to add at least one new district court in the next several years, which would require approval from Commissioners Court then the state in the 2025 legislative session. The county last created a district court in 2015, bringing the county’s total to eight. Fort Bend County’s larger neighbor, Harris County, was granted three additional courts in
40K 30K 20K 10K 0
*INCLUDES CRIMINAL, CIVIL AND FAMILY CASES SOURCE: TEXAS OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH FULSHEAR EDITION
Government
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Fulshear city manager fired for ‘good cause’ Fulshear City Manager Jack Harper was fired from his position Feb. 12 after an unani- mous vote from Fulshear City Council, with the motion to remove him citing “findings of good cause.” Assistant City Manager Zach Goodlander was named interim city manager, per a Feb. 13 news release from the city. In an emailed response to questions, city officials declined to comment on what complaint or complaints were made against Harper. Next steps At the March 19 meeting, City Council will likely approve an executive search firm, who will manage the hiring process for the posi- tion, Communications Coordinator Mariah Gallegos said in the email.
Fulshear parks bond not likely for May election Fulshear City Council and city staff debated funding for future parks projects at the City Council meeting Jan. 23. City Council heard a presentation from the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission that proposed calling for a $56.13 million parks bond, potentially in May. The agenda item wasn’t to approve the bond proposal but to present iden- tified projects and see if council was interested in receiving an official proposal for a vote, city officials said. However, after about an hour and a half of discussion, most City Council members agreed they’re not ready to consider a parks bond for the May election and instead want to dive deeper into the cost of the projects—in particular the ongoing Primrose Park project, which city officials said is lacking significant funding.
Parks priorities The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission ranked the parks’ needs by priorities. The projects in order by priority are: $19.01M Primrose Park phases 2 and 3 $18.27M Irene Stern Recreation Center additions
$4.7M Irene Stern Park improvements $2.5M Land acquisition for future parks $6.31M 5-acre prototype park $5.33M Frances Smart Park renovations
SOURCE: CITY OF FULSHEAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Quote of note “I’m not sure relying solely on budgeted dol- lars is going to be enough to give the public what they desire when it comes to Primrose,” Mayor Aaron Groff said.
Fulshear, Katy ISD positions up for May ballot The candidate filing period for the May 4 local elections opened Jan. 17 and closed Feb. 16, after press time. Multiple positions are up for election, including for Katy ISD and Fulshear City Council. The details These positions include: • KISD board of trustees, Position 6 • KISD board of trustees, Position 7 • Fulshear City Council, District 2 • Fulshear City Council, District 3 • Fulshear City Council, at-large
Dates to know
Feb. 16: Candidate filing period ended
• Fulshear mayor, held by Aaron Groff who can’t run for re-election because the position is term-limited
April 4: Last day to register to vote in this election
April 22-30: Early voting period for the May 4 election
Visit www.communityimpact.com for information on who filed for the election.
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Transportation
BY RACHEL LELAND, EMILY LINCKE & KELLY SCHAFLER
Katy Hockley Road to undergo improvements On Dec. 11, Katy City Council voted unanimously to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Katy Development Authority to make improvements to Katy Hockley Road and purchase right of way for the construction. In a nutshell The roughly $7 million project will widen the roadway from two lanes to four lanes between Morton and Clay roads, and involve drainage improvements. Mayor William “Dusty” Thiele said in an emailed statement construction is set to begin in November or December and take roughly a year to complete. He said the project also includes a concrete sidewalk along the west side of the road and a new tra c signal at the intersection of Katy Hockley Road and Morton Road.
Construction begins on park and ride Fort Bend Transit, the county’s public transportation department, broke ground on the Westpark Park and Ride facility Jan. 29. Upon completion, the facility will support a future commuter service to the Energy Corridor, according to a news release. The details Construction on the facility, which is located at 19820 FM 1093, Richmond, is set to wrap up in November, per the release.
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Quote of note “A lot of residents in that area just talk about the tra c,” City Council member Gina Hicks said at the Dec. 11 meeting. “It’s building as we’re growing up north, so we appreciate you seeing us.” One more thing At the following Jan. 22 meeting, City Council also approved the city purchasing more right of way for construction.
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Harris County Precinct 4 creating Katy-area community, mobility plan Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones hosted the rst of three public forums Jan. 20 with the hopes of gaining insight from resi- dents on where the biggest gaps and opportunities are to improve transportation, housing, infrastruc- ture and community spaces, Briones said. set to move forward throughout this year. The details “The end goal is this community-led vision for a comprehensive list of capital projects that will help mobility, connectivity, economic develop- 10 90 Katy East Community Plan and Mobility Study area
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ment [and] reduce ooding,” Briones said. O cials said the second and third meetings could happen in April and June, respectively.
The feedback from the event will be incorpo- rated into the Katy East Community Plan and Mobility Study, which kicked o in October and is
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH FULSHEAR EDITION
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Real estate
The number of homes sold in Katy- and Fulshear-area ZIP codes stayed consistent, with 479 homes sold in January versus 478 in January 2023. Residential market data
Number of homes sold
January 2023
January 2024
+100%
+14.29%
-22.62%
-20%
-8.7%
+6.41%
77094
77441
77449
77450
77493
77494
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77449
Median home sales price
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77494
January
2023
2024
77450
$855,000 $474,000 $287,500 $350,000 $345,000 $455,515
$520,000 $473,343 $270,000 $387,500 $349,995 $474,990
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Homes sold by price point
77450
77493
January 2024
77494
13
$850,000+
30
$650,000-$849,999
Average days on market
93
$450,000-$649,999
-11.9%
+23.94%
-7.27%
+33.33%
-4.94%
-13.33%
306
$250,000-$449,999
37
<$249,999
MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY CHARLIE RUSSO RE/MAX SIGNATURE 713-851-4871 WWW.CHARLIERUSSOREALTY.COM
77094
77441
77449
77450
77493
77494
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Election
Voter Guide
2024
To view the full list of all contested state and national candidates, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide. Only candidates in contested elections are included. Visit county election websites for information on uncontested races.
KEY
R Republican
D Democrat
*Incumbent
D Gabriel A. Cornejo D Star Locke D Frankie Lozada D Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato
Dates to know
Sample ballot
Feb. 5: Last day to register to vote Feb. 20: First day of early voting March 1: Last day of early voting March 5: Election day
Federal elections U.S. president R Ryan L. Binkley R Chris Christie R Ron DeSantis R Nikki Haley R Asa Hutchinson R Vivek Ramaswamy R David Stuckenberg R Donald J. Trump D Joseph R. Biden, Jr.*
D Dean Phillips D Cenk Uygur D Marianne Williamson U.S. Senator R Ted Cruz* R Holland “Redd” Gibson R R.E. “Rufus” Lopez D A. “Robert” Hassan D Carl Oscar Sherman
Where to vote
Any voter can cast a ballot in the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Harris and Fort Bend County residents can vote at any polling location during early voting or on election day. Visit www.harrisvotes.com or www.fortbendcountytx.gov for polling locations.
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Harris County sheriff R Glenn Cowan R Joe Danna R Paul Day R Mike Knox
D Colin Allred D Heli Rodriguez Prilliman D Mark Gonzalez D Meri Gomez
R Matthew Morgan Texas House, District 28 R Gary Gates* R Daniel Mathews D Nelvin J. Adriatico D Marty Rocha Texas House, District 85 R Tim Greeson R Stan Kitzman* Local elections Fort Bend County sheriff R Mo Nehad
D Roland Gutierrez D Steven J. Keough D Thierry Tchenko U.S. House, District 10 R Jared B. Lovelace R Michael T. McCaul* D Theresa Boisseau
D Ed Gonzalez* D Joe Inocencio D Vergil Ratliff D Dana M. Wolfe Harris County district attorney D Kim Ogg* D Sean Teare Harris County constable, Precinct 5 D Don Quang Dinh D William Gorman D Jerome Moore D Gerardo “Jerry” Rodriguez
D Keith McPhail House District 22 D Marquette Greene-Scott D Wayne Raasch State elections Texas House, District 26
R John Minchew R Marshall Slot D Sonny Colunga D Eric Fagan* D Geneane Hughes D Pete Luna
R Jessica Huang R Jacey Jetton*
SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Election
BY SHAHERYAR KHAN & JESSICA SHORTEN
Texas House District 26, Republican Primary
*INCUMBENT
Jacey Jetton* Occupation: business owner and Texas Army National Guard soldier Experience: two terms as state representative; 15 years partnering with churches, nonprofits www.jaceyjetton.com
Jessica Huang Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Matthew Morgan Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What priorities do you have over the course of your term if elected?
I will continue to fight to secure our border and reduce property taxes. Last year, I authored and supported legislation to provide $6.64 billion in border wall construction and border security. Texas also passed a historic $18.1 billion in property tax relief, but there is more to do.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Texas House District 28, Republican Primary
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50
Gary Gates* Occupation: entrepreneur, businessman Experience: entrepreneur businessman for 40-plus years employing over 450 employees www.gatesfortexas.com
Dan Mathews Occupation: engineer and real estate broker Experience: conservative Republican, engineer, real estate broker, minister, community leader www.texansfordan.com
words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/ voter-guide.
What is your top priority if elected?
Border security is an ongoing issue for this state and nation, and with Washington’s failure to act, we must do all we can to ensure our borders are secure and Texans are safe. It has been and will remain a top priority.
My top priority is to secure the border. There is a crisis at the southern border. I will fight to increase funding for border security to keep our communities safe. Another priority is to protect our elections so that the voices of Texans are accurately reflected in elections.
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Election
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Fort Bend County sheri , Republican Primary
*INCUMBENT
Mo Nehad Occupation: police o cer
John Minchew Candidate did not respond to the questionnaire before press time.
Marshall Slot Occupation: senior corporate security advisor for Chevron Experience: 30+ years in law enforcement; 24 years protecting Fort Bend; 15 years in security www.votemarshallslot.com
Experience: eld training o cer; master peace o ce; police o cer; warrant o cer-Texas military; businessman www.monehad.com
What is your top priority if elected?
To increase the number of deputies on patrol and in county jail by hiring new graduates from regional police academies and having incentives for lateral and experienced police o cers. In addition, to having a hiring schedule created for the next two years for our county law enforcement academy.
Candidate did not respond to the questionnaire before press time.
I will ll command sta positions with existing FBCSO personnel where possible and demand servant leadership at all levels of the agency. By rebuilding the morale and professionalism within the agency, our dedicated deputies and support sta will provide superior service to our county.
Fort Bend County sheri , Democratic Primary
Geneane Hughes Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time .
Sonny Colunga Occupation: retired September 2023 Experience: 41years of law enforcement; 33 years executive command level experience www.sonnycolungaforsheri .org
Eric Fagan* Occupation: Fort Bend County sheri Experience: led the sheri ’s o ce for the past 3 1/2 years www.ericfagan.com
What is your top priority if elected?
As a newly elected sheri my top priority would be to enhance community engagement and build strong relationships with the citizens. This would include implementing community policing strategies, organizing town hall meetings, and collaborating with local community and business leaders to address the concerns and needs of the community.
Keeping the people of FBC safe. The collaboration I have built with local, state and federal agencies which helped us to take drugs, guns and violent criminals o the streets. Utilizing more technology to ght crime, continuing to request raises for deputies building upon the 4%-20% I already obtained.
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Pete Luna Occupation: retired Texas Ranger Experience: nearlythree decades of law enforcement experience: Texas Ranger, DPS narcotics sergeant, DPS state trooper www.lunafor s.com
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50
words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/ voter-guide.
What is your top priority if elected?
My priority will be to revitalize the sheri ’s o ce. I will immediately implement an aggressive plan to recruit, retain and train personnel. The training of employees and the development of leaders will be a priority. The sheri ’s o ce has the potential to set the standard for other police agencies.
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KATY SOUTH FULSHEAR EDITION
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Managing dementia takes faith, care, and connection.
A surprising number of seniors in our community who live with dementia and Alzheimer’s also live alone, and often they need resources and interaction, not isolation. That’s why Amazing Place’s Faith Care Connection exists. We partner with local churches and pastoral staff right here in Katy, to help identify seniors who are at risk for dementia and offer support and resources to those who care for them. If you are interested in partnering with us or need help, visit AmazingPlaceHouston.org or contact Debbie Godfrey at dgodfrey@amazingplacehouston.org
Amazing Place is coming to Katy! We’ve broken ground on a new campus that will open next year. For more information, visit our website.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
From the cover
Katy considers new district around rice dryers
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Two-minute impact
Entertainment district study area American Rice Grower Silos Katy Rice Dryer
Katy Beer Garden
At the Jan. 8 meeting, Katy City Council approved authorizing Mayor William “Dusty” Thiele to sign an $85,000 agreement with planning rm KKC to prepare a plan for a proposed entertainment district surrounding Katy’s historic rice dryers. “What we’re trying to do is see if the study comes back and tells us how to work and really get a nice entertainment venue that would attract people,” City Administrator Byron Hebert said. The proposed district lies between Third Street and Hwy. 90 to the north and south, as well as Airline Drive and Katy Fort Bend Road to the west and east, respectively, per city documents. It’s blocks away from Katy’s historic downtown. However, the city doesn’t own land within the proposed district’s boundary; so while o cials can make the district accessible, landowners must also determine next steps once the study is released this fall, city o cials said. The city’s Geographic Information System shows the roughly 74 acres is zoned for industrial development, but among the industrial businesses are some outliers, which include No Label Brewing Co. and The Dryers development. A staple in the area, MKT Distillery, closed in December after ve years adjacent to No Label.
J.V. Cardi & Sons Rice Dryer B. Ray Woods Rice Dryer Cardi Rice Dryer Study features • Project recommendations, such as adding roads, parking, sidewalks and utilities • Zoning suggestions
MKT Distillery
No Label Brewing Co.
E. 3RDST.
Proposed district area
1STST.
HWY.BLVD.
KATY VILLAGE PKWY.
5 T H ST .
DEXTER DR.
E.4THST.
3RDST.
E . 3 R D S T .
Downtown Katy
THOMAS PARK
Proposed district area
2NDST.
1STST.
90
ROBERTS RD.
10
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SOURCES: CITY OF KATY, JOHNNY NELSON KATY HERITAGE MUSEUM COMMUNITY IMPACT
Digging deeper
What else?
What’s next
MKT Distillery owners Nick and Nici Jessett said they lease their 1-acre lot at 5372 First St. from Garver Real Estate, a Houston-based industrial real estate company. When their distillery and outdoor taproom couldn’t recover from low sales during the hot summer months, the couple said they decided to close it. Despite the closure, the Jessetts said celebrat- ing the history of the dryers remains important to them, and Nici Jessett said they’re open for someone else to take over MKT. From the study, the Jessetts said the city could streamline the permitting process and consider incentives to encourage development in the area. “Let’s come up with a solution that bene ts everybody so that we can all move forward, because … I think [Katy] can be a great place, but you don’t see any businesses opening quickly there.” NICI JESSETT, CO OWNER OF MKT DISTILLERY
Nearby, Nurcahya began work in 2021 on The Dryer, which upon completion will include the upcoming Katy Beer Garden, a food hall, o ce space, a museum through the Katy Heritage Society and a gift shop. The beer garden is set to open this spring, according to the business’ Instagram bio. Nurcahya also said he hopes to build a park- ing garage on adjacent land to allow patrons to access other existing and future businesses.
Katy City Planner Rachel Lazo said any recommendations from the study would need to be budgeted and approved by City Council. “Our primary goal is to obtain educated feedback on speci c types of uses that would be feasible in an area of town that’s already experiencing early phases of redevelopment and what potential role the city could play in supporting the growth,” she said in an email. Nurcahya said he believes KKC should get feedback from businesses and property owners for the study. Meanwhile, No Label Brewing co-owner Tom Paynter said he would like it if the craft brewery could have retail and restaurant neighbors. “It’s been pretty lonely out here because it’s just the ghost of the silos and then ourselves,” he said. “It’ll be nice to have di erent people coming out here who may have not normally.”
Beer garden breakdown The Dryer’s rst attraction, the Katy Beer Garden, will feature:
100 beers on tap
100 bottled wine varieties
SOURCE: STEVEN SALAZAR COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH FULSHEAR EDITION
History
BY ASIA ARMOUR
The museum has photos, posters and other history of Black Cowboys.
Owner Larry Callies opened the Black Cowboy Museum in July 2017 in Rosenberg.
PHOTOS BY ASIA ARMOUR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Nonpro t shares history at Black Cowboy Museum Even without his voice, which he said he once used to serenade former President George H. Bush, Larry Callies loves to lead tours at the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenberg. The nonpro t, which he established in one door, he’ll open a better one. He opened up this museum.”
Callies said many in his lineage were Black cowboys.
Callies said he takes great pride in his heritage as a cowboy, having grown up riding horseback and roping cattle with his family in El Campo. The inspiration In an interview for a 2021 episode of Net ix series, “High on the Hog,” Callies spoke to what he called the deliberate erasure of the Black cowboy. “I didn’t want the Black cowboys to go in vain,” he said in the episode. To Callies, being a cowboy is more than a Hollywood lm or a costume. It’s his father and his grandfather, he said. It’s where he comes from and who he is.
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July 2017, may be small in size—but the memorabilia chronicles centuries of African American in uence on American and cowboy culture, Callies said. About the owner Callies began to lose his voice in the 1990s due to muscle tension dysphonia, ending his career as a country singer. Years later, he would open the museum at what he said was God’s prompting. “I’m a Christian rst, and a cowboy immediately after,” Callies said. “And I know when God closes
AVENUE I
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