SUGAR LAND SKEETERS RETURN TO CONSTELLATION FIELD SPORTS | 6 KATY VFW LENDS A HAND TO GIRL SCOUTS Katy Times PAGE 3 VOLUME 108, ISSUE 28 THE GREATER KATY AREA'S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1912 n katytimes.com THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 City Katy area COVID-19 update delays By R. HANS MILLER SENIOR REPORTER Across Greater Houston, including the Katy area, the Texas De- partment of State Health Services reported a total of 40,903 cases of contract COVID-19 since March 4, when the department began tracking data. Of those, 6,300 were diagnosed in the first six days of July. decision Orders Executive orders related to public health are in effect in all three By R. HANS MILLER counties in the Katy area. Fort Bend and Harris counties have their own SENIOR REPORTER orders while Waller County falls under Tex. Gov. Greg Abbott’s order due to the county having 20 cases or more. Katy City Council opted to “Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most table a decision on who the city’s effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Abbott said in solid waste services provider a July 2 press release announcing his order. “We have the ability to keep R. HANS MILLER would be at a special meeting businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can Hospitals throughout the Texas Medical Center family have adjusted to the COVID-19 held July 6 at 6 p.m. During the continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to surge being seen throughout Greater Houston, including the Katy area. EMTs are seeing digital meeting held via Zoom, long wait times at hospitals to transfer their patients to the care of an emergency room council members grilled repre- See UPDATE, page 5 due to ERs being busy. sentatives of the two companies considered by city staff to be the top contenders for the job. Finalists Texas Pride Dis- posal and Republic Services were pulled from a pool of six respondents which included Best Trash, Frontier Waste Solutions, HHW Solutions and WCA Waste Corporation. City Council Member Frank See CONTRACT, page 5 NEEDING Abbott NOURISHMENT mandates masks in public By ED STERLING CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Gov. Greg Abbott on July 2 issued an executive order to slow the spread of the deadly corona- virus while keeping Texas as open as possible for business. With few exceptions, the order requires all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases. Abbott also issued a procla- mation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people and mandating that with SANDRA SADEK A volunteer organizes recently acquired food supplies at the Katy Christian Ministries food bank during the store’s mid-afternoon closure, allowing for restocking. See MASKS, page 5 HAVE A NEWS TIP? How COVID-19 is shaping local food insecurity [email protected] By SANDRA SADEK SUBSCRIBE TODAY EDITORIAL INTERN (281) 391-3141 irginia Smith, 80, wakes up every morning and goes through the V same routine she has had for the last four years. She tends to her husband Fred’s daily needs, a necessity after he suffered two strokes. She showers him, helps him shave, dress use the restroom, eat and take his medications. Finally, their in-home caregiver Nicole arrives, freeing Smith up for a bit before she repeats the same routine at night. It has also been four years since Smith began benefiting from services provided by local nonprofits. The Houston native moved to the Katy area in 2011 to help her son but after her husband’s strokes and her own heart attack, Smith stayed longer than COVID-19’s impact anticipated. In 2014, her funds ran out. on food demands Further emergency surgeries for her Smith has faced food insecurity for husband prevented them from moving a long time and remembers when food back home. banks did not exist. “Social security only goes so far,” “Back in my younger days, I had all Smith said, who currently lives on $547 a three of (my children) by myself to raise, month. “I’m on a budget, especially with and believe me, there were no food pan- several medical monthly bills.” tries,” Smith said. “I’ve gone three to four The Smiths face food insecurity like days without eating so I know what it is others with limited budgets. Smith said to be hungry.” she usually runs out of money by the Deysi Crespo, executive director at third week of the month and, like many KCM, said the economic downturn and in the area, has turned to Katy Christian the increased demand for the nonprofit’s Ministries’ food pantry for help. food pantry’s services are reminiscent of “I bought beef this week, for the first how KCM came to be 36 years ago. KCM time in probably three years,” Smith was formed in 1984 by nine churches an- said. “Mostly everything (I buy) is for swering the call to aid families struggling (my husband). I don’t even eat the food with food insecurity during the 1980s – I’ll take a little chunk and eat and that’s economic downturn. it. I’m just trying to save money.” See FOOD, page 9 THE KATY TIMES 2 THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 NEWS KATYTIMES.COM TMC Orchestra finalist for two awards By SANDRA SADEK EDITORIAL INTERN The Texas Medical Center Orchestra has been chosen as a finalist for two awards, The American Prize in community orchestra division and the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for performance of American music in the community ensemble divi- sion for the 2019-2020 season. The American Prize involves several non-profit national competitions in the performing arts and offers cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and interna- tional recognition for recorded performances. The prize is awarded to ensembles and indi- viduals annually in the U.S. at the professional, university, church, community and secondary school levels. The Ernst Bacon Award recognizes and rewards the best performances of American music by ensembles and individual artists worldwide. The award is named after Ernst Bacon, an American composer who won a Pulitzer Scholarship and three Guggenheim Fellowships. Exact dates for both awards’ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO results have yet to be announced. The Texas Medical Center Orchestra has been designated as a finalist for both the American Prize and the Ernst Bacon Award. Houston Rotary Club announces Chamber to host expo this fall By SANDRA SADEK veteran club, international theme EDITORIAL INTERN By SANDRA SADEK and past rotarians. The veteran’s club The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will EDITORIAL INTERN meets twice a month on Tuesdays at be holding their second annual Business to 7 p.m., starting July 14. Meetings will Business Expo and luncheon on Sept. 10 , 2020. The Houston Rotary District 5890 has alternate via Zoom or hybrid. The first The keynote speakers are Jim McIngvale of chartered a new club for Greater Houston meeting will discuss the club’s mission Gallery Furniture and Jeff Moseley, president veterans as well as announced its 2020- statement, announce the leadership as and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. JEFF MOSELEY JIM McINGVALE 2021 Rotary International Theme. well as membership dues, obligations Other speakers include Tim Jeffcoat from the The newly chartered Rotary Club U.S. Small Business Administration, Greg Hen- and responsibilities. There will also be a distancing. Temperature checks and face of Greater Houston Veterans will be ry who will cover cybersecurity and Goldman providing needed services to veterans Q&A session. masks will be available at registration including The 2020-2021 Rotary International Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. locally, nationally and worldwide within According to a Katy Area Chamber press hand sanitizer throughout the event. Theme is “Rotary Opens Opportunities.” the framework of Rotary International’s 7 release, the goal of the expo is to create oppor- The expo will be located at the Omni Areas of Focus. For more information and instructions tunities for business to business connections, Houston Hotel at Westside at 13210 Katy Fwy. Membership is open to veterans, on how to join, email bobg.5890@gmail. therefore supporting business development, and will host 32 companies and organizations active duty service members, patriots com or [email protected]. growth and sustainability in the Katy area. The as well as more than 125 business leaders and expo will have three breakout sessions with professionals. Admissions fees range from $50 presentations. for a half day to $250 full day ticket with a ven- In line with CDC guidelines against the dor booth. Sponsorships are also available. spread of COVID-19, the number of attendees Those interested can register through the Cajun Catfish and vendors will be limited to maintain social “events” link at www.katychamber.com. Katy locals named to OBU honor roll Mondays CONTRIBUTED REPORT The Dean’s Honor Roll included Felipe Alvear, a performance non-clincal major, Four Katy, Texas, residents were named and Teresita Gonzalez, an elementary edu- 3:00 – 7:00 pm on Oklahoma Baptist University’s academic cation major. honor roll for the spring 2020 semester. The President’s Honor Roll recognizes stu- The President’s Honor Roll included dents who achieved a semester grade point av- All You Can Eat Bethany Barham, an elementary education erage of 3.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The Dean’s major, and Jamie Turlington, a Pre-Allied Honor Roll acknowledges those who achieved for $10.99 health major.