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The Fort Bend / Southwest
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4ECHNIPLEX $R 3UITE 3TAFFORD 4EXAS % -AIL STARNEWS FORTBENDSTAR COM s 7EBSITE WWW FORTBENDSTAR COM /FFICE s &AX s 4/,, &2%% Volume XXXII • No. 20
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy New Year 2010! 4HE &ORT "END 3TAR WILL BE CLOSED 4HURSDAY NOON &RIDAY $EC *AN IN CELEBRATION OF .EW 9EARS 4HE OFFICE WILL RE OPEN -ONDAY AT A M
.EW 9EAR S %VE $ SPECTACULAR PLANNED FOR 3UGAR ,AND CELEBRATION restore itself in seconds are just some of the imagery planned during a spectacular show set to begin shortly before midnight. The 3D showcase will include a special New Year’s Eve midnight countdown that culminates with a giant 3D sugar cube that will appear to drop from the City Hall clock tower. The 3D sugar cube drop will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display from the roof of City Hall. To provide the state-of-theart entertainment, Sugar Land is utilizing the production com-
2OSENBERG INVESTIGATES DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT FAMILY RESIDENCE By LeaAnne Klentzman Rosenberg police are investigating the stabbing deaths of a mother and daughter at a home in the 2400 block of Chestnut Drive in the quiet Bayou Bend neighborhood. According to Rosenberg police Lieutenant Colin Davidson, shortly after midnight, in the early morning hours of, December 27, 2009, a 911 call came into the police department regarding a domestic violence incident at the home on Chestnut. When police arrived on the scene they discovered two women had been stabbed. Davidson said Mrs. Betty Jo Frank, 66, died at the scene. Her daughter, Keitha Frank Turner, 39, was taken by ambulance to Oak Bend Medical Center where she later died. According to police, the family was gathered at the Frank’s home when the attacks occurred. Family members at the scene were able to identify the attacker as Albert James Turner, 44, also of Rosenberg . Arrest warrants for the murders have been issued for Turner, who is the husband of Keitha Frank Turner and son-inlaw, to Betty Jo Frank. The Turner children, as well as Dr. Gene
Frank, were in the home at the time of the attack. Dr. Frank was injured, but not seriously. The children were injured !LBERT *AMES 4URNER not physically. Betty Jo Frank and Keitha Turner were both actively involved in the Living Water Christian School and church in Rosenberg. The founding pastor of Church of Living Water and Living Water Christian School is Dr. Gene Frank who is the husband of Betty Jo Frank and father of Keitha Frank Turner. Police have been searching for Albert James Turner since the night of the murders but they have no new leads. Turner was described as a black male, 6’1� in height weighing about 270 pounds. He could possibly be driving a maroon, 1994 Honda Accord with Texas license plates 494 JFY. He was employed as a prison guard for TDCJ at one of the Jester Prison Units between Sugar Land and Richmond. Turner has not been seen or heard from since the murders. See UPDATE, page 10
pany that brought 3D Video Mapping to America from the Netherlands. The special New Year’s Eve event is part of the city’s yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration. Officially incorporated on Dec. 29, 1959, New Year’s Eve was chosen as the perfect date to reflect on the city’s past and look forward to the many exciting years ahead. Sugar Land residents, neighbors and friends are all welcome to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration, which has been divided into three special parties to give everyone a chance to celebrate, including a Children’s Celebration from 5-7:30 p.m., a 50th Anniversary Ceremony from 7:30-8 p.m. and an Adults’ Celebration from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The adults’ celebration will include alcohol service from 9 p.m. to midnight for responsible adults 21 years old and above. The City is very excited to be presenting this landmark celebration, which will also include performances from acts never before seen in Sugar Land. A living Roman fountain, giant roaming stilt dinosaurs, a fascinating candy sculptor and cirque style acrobatics are just some of the acts sure to thrill and amaze. Building on the entertainment will be energetic music provided by DJ’s and a live band, combined with state-of-the-art lighting effects that will fill Sugar Land Town Square with energy and a vibrant party atmosphere. The free event is open to the public, and parking will be available at the Texas and Lone Star Garages. A free shuttle service will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. between Mercer Stadium and Sugar Land Town Square. For more information and full program details, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/celebration.asp or call the Sugar Land Parks and Recreation Department at (281) 275-2885.
The Christmas Tree is gone to be replaced with other 3-D designs for Sugar Land’s gigantic 50th Anniversary Party. Looking for something free for New Year’s? Bring the kids earlier then take them home and return for champagne and fun-- all free.
,OCAL CONTROVERSY PITS POLICE VS POLICE 2ICHMOND OFlCER CLAIMS 2OSENBERG COP BEAT HIM 2OSENBERG OFlCER CLAIMS 2ICHMOND COP DRUNK AND RESISTING ARREST By Cheryl Skinner The sister cities of Richmond and Rosenberg may be in the midst of a family feud with Rosenberg Police saying a veteran Richmond police officer resisted arrest after being stopped on a minor traffic violation and the Richmond officer claiming he was the victim of police brutality. The incident in question apparently began about 2 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, when Robert Eiteman, 63, of Needville, who is a police sergeant with Richmond Police Department, was stopped by Rosenberg police. Police in Rosenberg say Eiteman’s vehicle was pulled over by Officer Justin
4OYS FOR 4OTS &ORT "END TERMED A HUGE SUCCESS DUE TO THE &ORT "END COMMUNITY S CONTINUED GIVING of the reasons we were able to serve more children is by partnering with local charities and distributing toys over 3 days instead of just 1.� Molho continues. Local patrons such as Republic Harley Davidson and its Harley Owners Group (HOG), First Colony Mall, Beauty Indulgence Salon, Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, the Sugar Land Police Department and countless others sacrificed of their time, talent and treasure to bring smiles that otherwise might not have been realized this Christmas. Molho reiterated, “I cannot say Thank You enough to ever translate the heartfelt appreciation I have for our volunteers, 0HOTOS BY 'EORGE 7ONG donors and sponsors.� The Toys 4OYS FOR 4OTS &ORT "END WAS AGAIN SUCCESSFUL AS THE COMMUNITY AND THE VOLUNTEERS MADE #HRISTMAS FOR CHILDREN for Tots website is www.staffordWHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD ANY tx.toysfortots.org.
“WOW – what else can I say but Toys for Tots 2009 was a tremendous success, and there are so many reasons for this achievement�, said Jack Molho, coordi-
nator of Toys for Tots Fort Bend. “Without the generous hearts of our donors, the commitment of our volunteers and this community, we could have never even
dreamed of serving over 1,200 of our neighbors this year.� “Toys for Tots� more than doubled the number of children it was able to serve over last year. “One
Pannell because the vehicle did not have a front license plate. Todd Overstreet, a Houston attorney representing Eiteman said Eiteman is hard of hearing and was not wearing his hearing aid at the time he was stopped. Overstreet said when Eiteman exited his vehicle, he thought Pannell told him to put his hands on his own car, which he did. “I watched the video and I can
#HASE "ANK 3MACK DOWN PARKING -ISSOURI By LeaAnne Klentzman According to #ITY ROBBED Missouri City $5-" police, after #HRISTMAS %VE a parking lot (E DIDN T GIVE (E TOOK
Thursday, December 24, at 2:14 p.m., the below pictured male held up a teller inside the Chase Bank located at 5623 Highway 6 in Missouri City. The robbery suspect, wearing a Santa Claus hat, red gloves, a red tinted jacket and sunglasses, demanded money and indicated he was in possession of a weapon. The teller complied with the suspects request at which time the suspect turned around and left. See REPORTED, page 10
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tell you in less than 30 seconds, Pannell tackles him and begins beating him. There was no provocation for this type of treatment. The claim police have made about him resisting is ridiculous. When he was tackled, he was complying with the officer. The claim that he failed a field sobriety test and resisted arrest is an outright lie,� Overstreet said. See CHIEF, page 10
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altercation, they arrested a 60- #2)-).!, year-old Sugar /& 4(% 7%%+ Land woman on Christmas Eve at Walmart. Seems the smack-down broke out after one woman took the parking place another had her eye on. Yep, the victim was trolling the lot headed the correct direction and pulled into a parking space. Little did she know, the other woman was targeting that same spot... only she had plans of backing into the space. Now we all know, the physics of that just don’t work, two cars can’t occupy one space.... with out damage. So to make a painfully dumb stunt even dumber ... the scorned parker, after yelling obscenities and racial slurs, got out of her car and punched the victorious parker in the side of the head, as she frantically tried to get back into her car. Fortunately, other shoppers in the parking lot separated the two until police arrived. WWF comes to Fort Bend County?
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Sugar Land City Hall will be transformed on New Year’s Eve with 3D Video Mapping, the latest in video imaging technology and one of the first major performances ever held in the United States. Unlike 3D movies, no special glasses will be required to watch animated images come to life at City Hall. Flowing waterfalls, giant eyeballs suddenly appearing to break through solid columns, even the whole of City Hall appearing to implode and then miraculously