FIGHT THE BITE

Remember the "4 Ds" for Defense:

• DUSK/DAWN are the times of day you should stay indoors.  This is when mosquitoes are most active.
• DRESS in long-sleeves and pants, and light colored clothing.  Mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors.
• DRAIN standing water in your backyard and neighborhood; old tires, flowerpots and clogged guttters.  These are mosquito breeding sites.
• DEET is the ingredient to look for in you insect repellent.  Follow label instructions and always apply repellent to those 6 months and older when outdoors.  Reapply after swimming or sweating.

CONTROLLING SKUNK RABIES

Skunk rabies has been a problem in Precinct 1 in the past.  The Texas Department of Health Services, Texas Wildlife Division is trying something different.  TDHS will bait two different areas in the County by dropping it from helicopters, walking and driving. "Rabies baits will be distributed in the two study areas at a density of 64 baits per square mile or 150 baits per square mile... Suburban and urban areas will receive hand baiting in green belts, golf courses, and other similar favorable skunk habitat areas."

This is what the vaccine will look like. The vaccine in these baits cannot cause rabies and has been shown to be safe in more than 60 different species of animals collected and observed, including dogs and cats.  In people that are immunocompromised or pregnant, contact can cause a local pox-type infection.  If you come in contact with the vaccine, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call 1-877-722-6725.

This will be a good program to control the rabid skunks.  Don't disturb the bait, if you find it unless you must.  If you do need to pic it up, use gloves.  Call the number if you need to.

BIPARTISIANSHIP

Judge Vacek and I donated the Grand Champion Steer we purchased at the Needville Youth Fair to Catholic Charities in Richmond. A good cause. And thank you Judge.

PRECINCT 1 LAND USE

Someone sent me this breakdown of population density of Fort Bend County. West of Brazos River is all Precinct 1. We like our open space.

HISTORY ALIVE IN PRECINCT 1

I have recently visited the Sugar Barn and Brick Works located on the Waters Plantation off of FM 521. These structures were built in the 1840s and are the last standing structures of their kind in the State of Texas. They are truly a treasure of Fort Bend County and are some of the only remaining memories of its heritage. Other structures that existed in the state and county are now reduced to rubble and it is difficult to determine what they were or even how they looked.

These two structures are as important to Texas History as the Alamo. Although there was no battle fought here, it was a major source of industry which opened up commerce and trade in and out of the Republic of Texas when it was needed most. This trade brought vast revenues to the struggling Republic and helped make Texas the state it is today. Both structures are made of handmade bricks and have withstood over 150 years of floods and hurricanes. The 1900 hurricane and flood covered all the area where they now stand. Both structures were built by slaves, and because they still stand are a testament to the craftsmanship and skills of the slave population at that time.

At one time there were many sugar cane plantations along the Brazos River and Oyster Creek. Today, only remnants are left from such a vast industry. These structures allow a rare opportunity for educators, archeologist, architectural students, historians and the public to actually view structures which they have only read about from the past.

A VICTORY FOR GREATWOOD AND CANYON GATE

I'll let the letter speak for itself.

A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM

Police Overwhelmed by Mentall Ill Abandoned by Mental Health System

In Fort Bend County, the mentally ill are generally treated at the Fort Bend County Jail at a cost of $150/day to the taxpayer. As I said before, it cost $10 to $20 to treat a mental health patient at a community health center. We have established a Fort Bend Mental Health Public Defenders Office to try and identify these folks (many who are repeat offenders) and get them treatment and out of the criminal justice pipeline. The Mental Health Public Defenders Office is doing a great job, much better than I hoped. We have cut the time of days these mental health patients are in the jail and have follow up monitoring to make sure they remain on their medicines. More work needs to been done, but we are certainly in the forefront in Texas on trying to come up with a workable solution.