Home Care In Rosenberg, TX

Admission includes a tour with a docent, who will take you through exhibits, railcars and the historic Tower 17.

ROSENBERG, Texas — On its two acres right alongside four active railroad tracks, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum uses a variety of spaces to bring the history of railroading to life.

"For so long, people traveled by horse and buggy or by boat, but really, to develop the United States, it took railroads to get people where they needed to go," said Rainey Webster, the museum's executive director. "We like to preserve that history and tell the story of how it’s impacted us today."

Some of it is on display inside its education station, which houses the museum's model train exhibits. Seven different layouts feature gauges of train and very different landscapes.

The largest track is outside.

"It has what we call a G-gauge model train on it," Webster said. "It’s a depiction of Fort Bend County in the 1950s."

The garden track is connected to the gallery building, which houses the story and history of railroading in Fort Bend County..

"Our staff here are all trained to deliver that history in an educational and fun way and to really relate to our guests, whether they’re 2 years old or 65 years old," said Webster.

Admission includes a tour with a docent, who will take you through those buildings, as well as to the historic Tower 17, which was decommissioned in 2003.

"It's the only surviving rail structure in Rosenberg, Texas," Webster shared. "It basically controlled the flow of traffic, if you will, on the tracks for 100 years, which is amazing because it has all the technology from the electro-manual computer, so you’re pulling levers to control signals and tracks, to telegraphs to candlestick phones to technology in the early 2000s."

It's in between two railcars that you can tour on-site. One is a 1970s MOPAC caboose. The other is a private business car called The Quebec, which has been restored to its 1920s glamor.

"It’s really neat to see," said Webster.

There are so many other interesting stops on the property. You can check out an old bath house, the only spot where rail workers could bathe. Take the kids to the discovery room to learn and play. Tour a collection of antique speeders used to cart crews along the tracks.

"We hope when people visit us, they take away information about how railroading has impacted the area, the development of so many areas," Webster said.

For more information about when you can visit the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, click here.

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In preparation for the anticipated winter freeze beginning Sunday, Fort Bend County and partnering organizations are opening several locations to serve as warming centers.

Attack Poverty/Friends of North Rosenberg will serve as a warming center, located at 1908 Avenue E., Rosenberg, TX 77471. The center will be open from Sunday, January 14, through Tuesday, January 17, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The center will provide free WiFi, cots, blankets, and food.

Additionally, the following Fort Bend County Library branches will serve as warming centers:

· Albert George Branch Library, 9230 Gene Street, Needville, TX 77461 (281-238-2850)

· Cinco Ranch Branch Library, 2620 Commercial Ctr. Blvd., Katy, TX 77494 (281-395-1311)

· First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281-238-2800)

· Fulshear Branch Library, 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond, TX 77469 (281-341-2718)

· George Memorial Library, 1001 Gulfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77469 (281-342-4455)

· Mamie George Library, 320 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 (281-238-2880)

· Mission Bend Library, 8421 Addicks Clodine Rd., Houston, TX 77083 (832-471-5900)

· Missouri City Library, 1530 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489 (281-238-2100)

· Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd., Missouri City, TX 77459 (281-238-2140)

· Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (281-238-2140)

· University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281-633-5100)

· Willie Melton Law Library, 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir., Richmond, TX 77469 (281-341-3718)

At this time, library locations will be closed on Monday, January 15, and are scheduled to resume regular operations on Tuesday, January 16. Residents are encouraged to contact the respective library locations for detailed information regarding their hours of operation.

In addition to the warming centers, Fort Bend Transit is offering free transportation for residents in need of public transportation to warming centers. Residents are encouraged to call 281-633-7433 for transportation assistance.

In a press conference with other officials on Friday, County Judge K.P. George emphasized the importance of staying weather aware and suggested multiple methods for residents to receive updates, including signing up for emergency alerts by texting FBC Alert to 888 777, listening to AM 1670 Radio, and following the social media platforms for the County Judge's Office, the Office of Emergency Management, and Health and Human Services for weather awareness and road closures.

Social Services staff will be on call from Saturday, January 13 to Monday, January 15, to assist vulnerable homeless populations by providing screening for temporary emergency sheltering assistance during the freeze. All other emergency homeless screening for this temporary emergency freeze, will be followed up on during normal business hours.

Rene Vasquez, Fort Bend County Animal Services director, announced that the department is providing free doghouses for those in need of shelter for their outdoor pets. The shelter is open on Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. To report animal neglect, residents can call 281-342-1512.

For any transportation needs outside of business hours, residents can call 281-633-7433 and select option 1 to reach dispatchers.

In the late '30s, the building served as a movie theatre, attracting the likes of John Wayne, before becoming home to the Rosenberg Opry in the early '80s.

ROSENBERG, Texas — In the heart of downtown Rosenberg sits a piece of history filled with stories to last a lifetime.

"It served as a meeting point for the community for a number of years until television came along and kind of put the quietus on all the movie theaters," said Bill Butler, owner of the Cole Theatre.

The Cole Theatre, formerly the Liberty Theatre, opened in 1919 as a silent cinema before being refurbished in 1936.

Signs of the times still hang on the balcony wall as reminders of times past.

"Everybody knows about segregation. During segregation, the colored people came up this back stairway. They actually went through a different door to get their ticket. They came up this stairway and this is where they sat," explained Renee Butler, a Rosenberg historian and owner of Another Time Soda Fountain in downtown Rosenberg.

In the late '30s, the building served as a movie theatre, attracting the likes of John Wayne, before becoming home to the Rosenberg Opry in the early 80s.

"Leann Rimes performed here before she made it big and she signed the door back there one time, and of course it got painted over," said Bill.

Bill, who grew up spending many nights at the theatre, took ownership of the facility when it closed in 2005, with hopes of reviving what once was. Yet, it sits, frozen in time nearly 20 years later.

"I used to come here for the cowboy serials on Saturdays," Bill said. "You know when you're a teenager, you'd always meet here with your date or whatever."

All that remains are boxes of artifacts telling the stories of times past.

"I have reached a point in my life where I don't really have the time or the drive to do it anymore, so the best thing to do is to turn it over to the people and the community and let them do it," Bill said.

Butler recently donated the theatre to Fort Bend County, after being dubbed a Texas Historic Landmark at the end of last year.

"Very good feeling to be able to pay back something like that to the community," said Bill.

The theatre is expected to undergo a huge renovation now that the county owns it.

"It’ll provide an entertainment venue as well as help bring people to downtown Rosenberg so they can live in the cities and still come and experience downtown charm," said Darren McCarthy, Parks and Rec Director for Fort Bend County.

"You can imagine where there’s actually movies shown here, where there’s live theatre that takes place here, standup comedy, the sky is the limit and we’re really excited for the asset that it will be," said Precinct 4 County Commissioner Dexter McCoy.

Fort Bend County says funds have been allocated for extensive repairs to the building and to hire an architect for design purposes, before it re-opens.

A re-opening date has yet to be set.

ROSENBERG, Texas (KTRK) -- A renter in Rosenberg reached out to ABC13, fed up with a cockroach problem she says she's been dealing with largely without the help of her apartment complex, even though she pays them for pest control.

"The last thing I want to do is go in the closet, get her (daughter) a dress, and there goes a roach," renter Shonesha Short said.

It is not the kind of environment she wants to raise her young daughter in.

"It got to the point where I would open the cabinet to get my seasoning, and they'll be in my seasoning, and I mean it's just residue everywhere," Short said.

She has lived at the Westwood Village apartments in Rosenberg for nearly four years. Short says that despite keeping her place clean, she started seeing roaches within months of moving in. Now, for almost a year, even though she's asked for help and pays a monthly fee for pest control, a company has not come out.

"They used to send pest control out, and then there's been so many different managers here. Now, they do not send pest control out," Short said.

Another renter at the same complex shared videos with ABC13 of the roach problem she's trying to get under control.

As of now, Houston-based Rockstar Capital owns the apartment complex. Despite multiple attempts to ask them about the problem, they have not responded.

So, what does the law say about this? Does pest control land on the landlord or the tenant?

ABC13 spoke with an attorney who explains landlords have to provide a habitable space, which includes not being bug infested. There is more grey area once a tenant has been living there, especially if the renters are leaving food out or are being negligent in some way that attracts pests.

However, if there is a requirement in your lease for the landlord to provide pest control and they are not, that would be considered a breach of contract. You can ultimately get out of your lease if it states the landlord is supposed to provide pest control and they are not.

You will have to give the landlord proper notice about the issue and not owe any rent before terminating your lease. More information on what to do if your written request for a fix is ignored can be found on the Texas Law Help website.

Do you have questions about your rent? Are you struggling to get help from a landlord? Send us your questions, and we will look into it.

READ RELATED STORY: Renter says abandoned apartment in SW Houston led to roach infestation: 'This is no quality of life'

ROSENBERG, Texas (KTRK) -- Rosenberg water bills could soon rise $120 more a year, but its main supplier says it beats the alternative of not having water at all.

A cool splash is exactly what some neighbors need right now.

"It's nice and cold," Rachele Fojtik said. "It feels good, especially with the heat. It doesn't bother you for a few minutes."

The water is a substance that could be in trouble.

"That would be frustrating, especially with the heat," Fojtik said. "It would make like a hell of a lot miserable more."

Rosenberg gets nearly half of its water from the Brazosport Water Authority. The agency wants to build a massive reservoir.

This way it could store water. If it's not built, in severe weather cases, the water authority could be without water for six months.

Rosenberg city leaders say this doesn't mean neighbors in their community won't have water for all that time because they would look to other areas for their supply.

However, BWA officials told the city council last week water issues could be possible like other neighboring cities have recently faced.

"Nobody had running water, so you couldn't take a shower," BWA general manager Ronnie Woodruff said. "You couldn't flush the toilet. The cost of not having water is quite expensive."

The project would be $650 million, and the majority would be funded by a company that would also use the reservoir, and the rest would be public. City leaders explained that the average water bill would increase by $10 monthly for eight years.

Four dollars would come from a recent rate increase, and the other $6 would be for the reservoir project.

"We need water," a Rosenberg resident, Linda Wilkinson, said. "We can cut back on electricity, but we need water."

Neighbors know they need water not only for everyday use but as a way to beat the heat as well.

"I'd rather have a higher water bill than no water at all because, with no water at all, we aren't able to cook or take baths and enjoy everyday life," Fojtik said.

Rosenberg is already facing a water issue. The city told ABC13 that with the current high temps and lack of rainfall, the city may soon enter a water conservation plan soon.

A reservoir city leaders said would help with this not only in the short term but 50 years from now.