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ROYAL ISD SHUTS DOWN WORKOUTS SPORTS | 6 AUTHENTIC CAJUN SEAFOOD WITH A STORY Katy Times PAGE 2 VOLUME 108, ISSUE 26 THE GREATER KATY AREA'S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1912 n katytimes.com THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 Free virus No shoes, no shirt, testing sites no mask, no service By SANDRA SADEK EDITORIAL INTERN Fort Bend and Harris counties issue orders to businesses As the second wave of COVID-19 is seen across the state By R. HANS MILLER SENIOR REPORTER of Texas, here is a list of available COVID-19 testing sites in the As cases of COVID-19 continue to Katy-area. spike across the state of Texas with Walmart is opening five new Greater Houston seeing the largest COVID-19 testing sites in the number of cases, both Harris County Houston-area including one Judge Lina Hidalgo and Fort Bend Katy location. Located on 20903 County Judge KP George have issued Highland Knolls Drive, this drive- orders requiring masks to be worn by through site operates through customers and employees inside of the pharmacy windows and tests businesses in their respective coun- adults who meet CDC, state and ties. Hidalgo’s order went into effect local guidelines on who should June 22 while George’s was effective be tested. This includes first June 25. responders, healthcare providers “Per (Tex. Gov. Greg Abbott’s) new and others with symptoms. All guidance, I’ve signed an order that individuals must be at least 18 requires businesses to require the FACEBOOK/FORT BEND COUNTY years. wearing of face coverings,” Hidalgo Sites are open from 8-9 a.m. said. “This order requires businesses KP George held a press conference via Facebook Live with reporters present and socially distanced to Tuesdays and Thursdays ev- to have a plan and implement a plan announce his order that businesses in the county must implement a mandatory mask policy by June 25 at ery week, weather permitting. that – at minimum – requires any- midnight. Appointments are required in one 10 years or older to wear a face advance through Quest’s My covering over their nose and mouth based on Abbott’s feedback and the are moving forward, listening to our Quest online portal and app. (see whether they’re visiting the business advice of health experts, she said. business community, listening to our sidebar for Quest website) Those or are employees.” Meanwhile, George issued his order community leaders and also, as men- being tested will need to wear a Hidalgo and George said the intent after discussing the issue with local tioned, faith leaders. All stakehold- mask and remain in their cars for of their orders is not to punish people business leaders, health profession- ers, really said it’s time for us to do verification of eligibility criteria, for not wearing masks or businesses als and after conducting a survey something really because this issue is ID check and a self-administered for not enforcing the rules, but to that showed 77.5% of about 17,500 spiraling out of control,” George said. test under the observation of a ensure the spread of COVID-19 is con- respondents in the county wanted a The Centers for Disease Control trained medical volunteer. No tained and manageable as hospital mask order to be implemented. He and Prevention recommends that walk-ups will be accepted. systems see a rise toward what may said he also had a letter from sever- masks be worn in addition to social CVS Pharmacy is offering become an unmanageable number of al faith leaders supporting a mask distancing, as does the World Health COVID-19 tests at no charge. COVID-19 patients. requirement. Patients must legally reside in Hidalgo established the order “That is the very reason why we See MASKS, page 5 the state where the test is given and be at least 18 years of age. To register to the nearest site, visit www.cvs.com to fill out a ques- tionnaire to see if you qualify for testing. Once you qualify, you will be able to select a test site and available time slot while filling MARKUS SPISKE out a registration form. Patients Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Fort must bring proof of identity and Bend County Judge KP George have both in-state residence as well as a text issued executive orders requiring masks to or email confirmation. be worn inside businesses in their counties. Walgreens is also offering free testing for eligible individuals. If eligible, a lab order request with your information will be sent to PWNHealth provider network on your behalf. Once at the testing site at your appointment time, the test will be self-administered See TESTING, page 5 HAVE A NEWS TIP? [email protected] SUBSCRIBE TODAY (281) 391-3141 June 25, 2020 10 pages | $1 Benton walks 22 County Sheriff runoff miles for charity election coming soon By JOSELYN HOFER By R. HANS MILLER His work includes ten years in nar- EDITORIAL INTERN SENIOR REPORTER cotics enforcement. Smith is married to his wife, Deedee who is a realtor Titus Benton, a Katy resident and the founder of The 25 Incumbent Waller County Sheriff and has a son and daughter and two Group, walked 22 miles in order to raise $22,000 dollars R. Glenn Smith and Troy Guidry will grandchildren. for water in East Asia. The money raised will be given to be facing one another in a runoff Guidry has been in law enforce- Attack Poverty, a nonprofit organization, who will use it election on July 14 after neither ment for 29 years since joining the to provide the water. The walk began at The 25 Group’s secured 50% of the vote during elec- Harris County Sheriff’s Office in headquarters at 8 a.m. and ended at Attack Poverty’s head- tions late last year. Each candidate 1992. He has worked in K9, mounted quarters around 3:30 p.m. Monday. offers decades of experience in law and emergency response teams and Some people joined Benton along his journey, walking enforcement. Early voting begins has experience as a law enforcement a mile or more, while others were encouraged to donate June 29 and Election Day is July 14. instructor, including training Drug to the cause. This isn’t Benton’s only experience with Smith has served in Waller Enforcement Agency officers. Troy is raising money for nonprofits though. The 25 Group is also County as an officer for about 18 married to his wife, Linde whom he a charity organization but works to provide the funds for years with a total of 41 years in law resides with in Waller County. enforcement. He has held leadership See WALKS, page 5 positions for 25 years of his career. See ELECTION, page 9 THE KATY TIMES 2 THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020 COMMUNITY KATYTIMES.COM PHOTOS BY SANDRA SADEK Tony Washington (left) poses with his staff before the restaurant opens. Authentic Cajun seafood with a story By SANDRA SADEK EDITORIAL INTERN When Tony Washington moved from his small town of Delhi, Louisiana to the Houston area in 2005, opening a seafood restaurant was not on his mind. Fresh out of high school, Washington attended DeVry University where he majored in electronic engineering, before working in WHERE TO GET YOUR construction. His journey toward opening Sucking Good Crawfish and More started CRAWFISH FIX as a weekend gig, catering for weddings Sucking Good Crawfish and and other large events. More is located on 19128 W Little “On March 3, 2017, I decided to go out York Rd. The restaurant offers a and buy a food truck to start selling food, selection of crawfish, snow crabs, but it wouldn’t be ready until April. So, I and shrimp. It also offers fried actually bought a 15x10 tent and I set it foods and PO-Boys as well as up in a gas station parking lot. And from drinks and live entertainment. there, we started to grow,” Washington The restaurant is opened Tuesday said. through Sunday from 3 p.m. To promote his business, Washington to 10 p.m. You can follow their used social media to attract customers. His Instagram page for daily updates posts quickly gathered thousands of shares at @sucking_good_crawfish_. and millions of views, bringing “non-stop business” to his tent. Finally, in March of 2018, Washington was able to open his Tony Washington is the owner of Sucking Good Crawfish, a local restaurant that offers authentic Cajun cuisine. IT’S food truck. But soon after, Washington dreamt of opening a full-scale restaurant. “I took my food truck to Louisiana (for homecoming), that’s when it really kind of opened my eyes to see that I would like to re- ally have a restaurant,” Washington said. “We had a line of 100 to 200 people from maybe 11 o’clock in the morning to like two o’clock in the morning. And on my way back to Texas, that’s when the light went off my head; this might be something bigger than when we started.” Shortly after returning from his trip to Louisiana, Washington and his wife agreed the next step for their business was to open a restaurant. A lease was signed in April 2019 AT BROOKSIDE and construction began. Washington pointed to his wood-paneled walls and said he did EQUIPMENT all the work on the inside of his restaurant himself. The doors of the restaurant opened November 23, 2019. Tony Washington pours a mixed drink. The restaurant also Washington said he hopes his restaurant offers alcoholic drinks to its customers.