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Local swimming standout going for gold at state - Page 6
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 16, 2022
Patricia David for Judge, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 in Fort Bend
Missouri City blocks lingerie store opening By Matt deGrood
Cindie's, a lingerie store trying to open in Missouri City, was denied a certificate of occupancy by the city. (Photo by Matt deGrood)
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Local rep feuds with Capitol Police By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A Congressman whose district includes Fort Bend County is feuding with U.S. Capitol Police, accusing them of entering his office without his permission and launching an investigation into him. Representatives for U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of District 22 and the U.S. Capitol Police spent last week trading battling news releases over the events of Nov. 20 when an officer entered Nehls’ office. “This goes much deeper than an unethical entry into my office by Capitol police,” Nehls said. “This is a violation of Members’ right to speech and debate, as well as a 4th amendment violation. Could you imagine leaving your front door open and police officers enter your private home, take pictures of the inside, and then open an investigation based on those pictures?” The details of what, exactly, happened that day varied wildly based upon who was releasing information. “This morning, a U.S. Representative complained about one of our vigilant officers,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police. “Chief (J. Thomas) Manger stands by his officer.” The Capitol Police told the Star that officers are directed to document and secure any member’s office that has been left unsecure and open, according to the police. An officer just before Thanksgiving noticed that Nehls’ office was open, and investigators followed up with Nehls the following Monday and determined no investigation was even necessary, according to the department. But Nehls rejected Manger’s explanation, arguing it omitted details and doesn’t respond to Nehls’ accusations. “Nowhere did he mention the photograph that was taken of my constitutionally-protected legislative priorities, nor did he mention the three agents wearing work clothes that returned to my office without advance notice for further questioning regarding the initial entry,” Nehls said. Nehls has requested an investigation into the incident, he said.
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 26
If not for cardboard blocking off the public’s view into the store, Cindie’s – a popular lingerie store – almost looks ready for its Missouri City debut. In fact, it was, according to Greg Gant, the company’s
director of operations, just before the city of Missouri City denied Cindie’s its certificate of occupancy. Now, after pouring
between $400,000 and $500,000 on the business’ location at 6302 State Highway 6, Gant is stuck waiting on an appeal with the city and is disputing city administrators about the definition of a sexually-oriented business, he said. “Never, in 27 years in business and 32 stores later, have I ever had to deal with
anything like this,” Gant said. “We’ve had pushback here and there, but we’ve always had meetings and come to an agreement.” Missouri City, for its part, declined to comment on the ongoing dispute, arguing it would be improper to do so
SEE CINDIE'S PAGE 9
Rocky roads
County, George Foundation spar over Grand Parkway project By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Both on paper and in person, the difference between two proposed pathways for Segment C of the Grand Parkway project seem slight. In fact, all that separates them is a stretch of FM 762 running past the George Ranch Historical Park in the mostly undeveloped southeastern stretch of Fort Bend County. No matter how similar all the farmland along the road might look to passersby, officials with the George Foundation say they are worried that recent decisions by the county commissioners could mean property owned by the nonprofit will one day be worth $500 million less than anticipated, according to Roger Adamson, chief executive officer for the foundation. The George Foundation is currently at odds with the commissioners court and a The Woodlands-based developer in a high-stakes battle over the future of the Grand Parkway – a project that could one day bring immense benefit to the entire region amid Houston’s ongoing sprawl. The path of the Grand Parkway had been set to pass through land owned by the foundation until commissioners recently shifted course and moved the planned path through property owned by the developer. The foundation accuses the commissioners of acting in a short-sighted
manner, prioritizing the short-term benefits of a developer bringing quick homes and business that might spur faster development on the Grand Parkway to the greater benefits that would come if the valuable land went to the George Foundation, which could pass on much of the financial benefit to county charities. “We think this is incredibly short-sighted,” Howard Cohen, a Houston attorney who’s been working with the George Foundation, said of the commissioners’ recent decisions. Representatives for the developer, Signorelli Company, meanwhile, object to many of the foundation’s claims. Segment C of the Grand Parkway won’t happen without the region first having the requisite homes and traffic necessary to justify such a big expenditure, said Danny Signorelli, president and CEO of the company. And rather than being blindsided as the George Foundation suggests, the county’s current proposed pathway for the Grand Parkway is the result of a yearslong process, Signorelli said. “I don’t know why there’s a beef at all,” Signorelli said. “They act like this happened last second, but we each had the opportunity to present our positions.” In the beginning
SEE GRAND PLWY PAGE 9
A member of the George Foundation points out to Segment C of the Grand Parkway project, which the Foundation and County remain at odds over. (Photo by Matt deGrood)
Event for small businesses set for March 22 By Adam Zuvanich AZUVANICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
McElvy Partners, the Houston-based company that publishes the Fort Bend Star and other community newspapers, is hosting an upcoming event that will connect small businesses to the resources and knowledge they need to ignite their ventures in 2022.
The Ignite Small Biz Expo is scheduled for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at The Revaire, 7122 Old Katy Rd., in Houston. It will feature educational masterclasses, impactful networking opportunities and a variety of resources and vendors that can help small businesses grow and thrive. “Small businesses, now more than ever before, need access to resources and information,” said Adrian
Garson, the vice president of events and promotions for McElvy Partners. “We aim to provide that with an in-person event that allows small businesses to interface with companies who can not only serve but improve the small business community.” The Ignite expo is free to attend for community members and will include free refreshments as well as giveaways and raffle prizes. Registration is required
and can be completed at mcelvypartners.com/ignite, with those who sign up automatically entered into the raffle contest. Participating small businesses can purchase tables or other vendor spaces by visiting mcelvypartners. com/ignite. Early bird pricing is available. The event is expected to include a couple hundred attendees, Garson said, and the state’s latest public health guidance for COV-
ID-19 will be followed. “One of our goals, as a company that has been in the Houston market for more than 65 years, is to find ways to connect small businesses with their customers,” said Jonathan McElvy, the president and CEO of McElvy Partners. “In our newspapers, we’ve done that through advertising, but before the
SEE BUSINESS PAGE 9
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478