INSIDE|Marshall falls in close game page 12
JANUARY 27 & 28
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WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 13, 2017
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 40 • No. 18
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Sheriff Nehls postpones bid for Congress By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Here we grow! Sugar Land officials, joined by members of the Greatwood Home Owners Association, unveil a new population sign Monday morning at the entrance to the community. On Tuesday the annexation of Greatwood and New Territory into the City of Sugar Land became official. A similar ceremony was held later at an entrance to New Territory. “This has been 10 years in the planning,” Mayor Joe Zimmerman said. “We welcome them into the City of Sugar Land.” Greatwood HOA President Jack Molho added, “This is a great day for Greatwood.” (Photo by Joe Southern)
By postponing his decision to run for Congress until the 2020 election, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls ensures he will maintain his position as the county’s top cop until then. Nehls formed an exploratory committee several months ago and let people know he was considering running in 2018 for Congressman Pete Olson’s seat. “The polls were very favorable. The issue was having to resign to run,”
Nehls said. He announced earlier this month that he was considering running in 2018 and would Troy Nehls make an announcement last Wednesday. But Texas law states he would have to resign his seat the same day he announced. Also, his twin brother, Constable Trevor Nehls – who may run for sheriff if
SEE NEHLS PAGE 5
Rosenberg woman keeps giving spirit going from Harvey through the holidays By Donna Hill FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
The first Christmas after Harvey will be a struggle for many families across southeast Texas. In Fort Bend County, however, Natasha Cerneus is doing everything she can to make the holidays joyous no matter what. Last week Cerneus organized the Hurricane Harvey Holiday Event in Richmond, one of many big scale events she’s done to make dreams come true for many families in the area. Along with 300 Christmas trees, lights, stuffed stockings, and ornaments given to needy families, there were also household goods, books and backpacks for children, even a visit from Santa. “We will hand-deliver the
rest to families who were unable to make it to the event. We will not stop until the supplies run dry, or the need is not a need,” she said. The idea for the event happened when Cerneus noticed holiday decor was out on the curb for trash during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. “I didn’t want the Christmas spirit to be a concern for the families,” she said. Families in the crowd who brought home a new Christmas tree included Candice Braud and Sydney Pinkney of Cinco Ranch. The mother and daughter are in a temporary apartment for now, but are hopeful for the future. All of their holiday decorations were kept in the garage, which had flooded.
SEE GIVING PAGE 13
Lighting up Town Square for Christmas Members of the Sugar Land City Council, city staff and Santa Claus fire off confetti cannons Dec. 7 for the 15th annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration in Sugar Land Town Square. The event included various entertainment acts, vendors, ice carvers and more. (Photo by Joe Southern)
AVDA opens Stafford office to help domestic violence victims in Fort Bend County By Joe Southern JSOUTHERN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Domestic violence doesn’t recognize the boundaries of wealth, race, religion, ethnicity, social status, or jurisdiction. As the population of Fort Bend County continues its rapid rise, more victims of domestic violence have been turning to Houston and Harris County to find help. That prompted Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) to open an office here. The nonprofit agency held an open house Dec. 7 at its new office in Stafford. “Fort Bend County wanted resources for victims of domestic violence. It’s fortunate that we were able to respond to the plea,” said Sherri Kendall, chief executive officer of AVDA. AVDA, which provides free legal services for victims of domestic violence, actually has two offices in the county. The main office is at the United Way Fort Bend Center at 12300 Parc Crest Drive in Stafford and the other is at the Fort Bend County
Women’s Center in the Richmond/ Rosenberg area. The Stafford office opened Nov. 1 and is staffed by attorney Kusum Warsi and paralegal Nelda Canales. “We will have a mini-intake to get their basic information and then set up a time to meet with them,” Warsi said. “We will refer them out to whatever resources they need.” Kendall said they will be able to offer services to victims in the county who are “working poor,” that is, they have an income too high to qualify for low income services but not high enough to afford the legal representation they need. “We can say yes because we’re not income dependent,” she said. AVDA has been providing services in Harris County for 37 years. Although Fort Bend County has resources for victims of domestic violence – 90 percent of which are women – it lacks a service to provide legal aid. As a result, AVDA has seen an increase in the number of clients from Fort Bend seeking help in Harris County.
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) recently opened an office in Stafford. Pictured during an open house are, from the left, (back row) Dr. Nusrat Ameen, Daya Senior Director-Legal Services and Education; Rev. Stephen Quill; Sherri Kendall, AVDA CEO; Nelda Canales, AVDA Paralegal; Maria Casco, AVDA Director of Advocacy Services; (front row) Maisha Colter, Director of Legal Advocacy Program; and Kusum Warsi, Managing Attorney. (Photo by Joe Southern)
Denise Gruwell, the crime victim liaison for the Fort Bend County Sher-
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iff’s Office, attended the open house and immediately noticed a problem.
Observing the small office she asked if they have started looking for a bigger space. “You’re going to need it,” she said. Senior District Judge Doug Warne made an appearance and talked briefly about the struggles back in the 1980s to get the organization started and then recognized by law enforcement agencies and the courts. “Getting this concept accepted was something we needed to do,” he said, noting that the first donated office space was in a broom closet. When it comes to meeting the needs of a diverse population like that in Fort Bend County, Warsi and Canales are able to speak in English, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu and have access to other translators if needed. Among the services they provide for clients is legal assistance with divorce, child custody, and protective orders. They work weekdays and take cases by appointment. To contact the office, call 281-2072312, visit www.avda-tx.org, or come by the office at 12300 Parc Crest Drive, Suite 140, Stafford.
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