VOL 8 No. 49
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Gus George Law Enforcement Academy Class No. 31 graduates
Graduates and instructors for the 31st Class and staff of the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy include: front row, from left, Sgt. Carlos Castillo, Cadets Angelica Guerrero, Travis Hearne, Cadet Alex Adams, Danielle Lilly and Megan Leger; and Sgt. Casey Schmidt. Second row, from left, Captain James Burger, Sgt. Judy Cervenka; Cadets Jimmy Lopez, Warren Phillips, Rafael Ramos, Jason Denby, Jonathan Bosworth, Matthew Graham and Logan Monsegue; Major Chad Norvell and Sheriff Troy E. Nehls. ceived two honors. He was tops The 31st Class of the Gus tempt. The class began on March 18 in Physical Training and he also George Law Enforcement Academy was honored during and concluded with graduation won the “David Braunholz Top Gun Award.” The marksmangraduation ceremonies held on Nov. 19. Through eight months, the 12 ship award was named for the Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at the Rosenberg Civic and Conven- cadets who successfully com- late Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Dapleted the program received vid Braunholz, who died in the tion Center. This class is the first of its 784 hours of training. Subjects line of duty. Additional award winners kind for the academy. A sec- included the Penal Code, Arond class in the same year was rest Search and Seizure, Code included, Precision Driving -inaugurated in 2015, enabling of Criminal Procedure, Police Jimmy Lopez of the Sheriff’s cadets to take classes dur- Driving, Firearms Training, Office; and Academic -- Megan ing hours that allowed them to Traffic Stops, Criminal Investi- Leger of the Sheriff’s Office Class members include Ancontinue working at their jobs. gations and much more. The culmination of their gelica Guerrero, Travis Hearne, Eleven cadets are employed as full-time personnel in the Fort training was two weeks of sce- Alex Adams, Danielle Lilly, Bend County Detention Center nario-based training using si- Megan Leger, Jimmy Lopez, and one graduate is a full-time munitions (handguns with live Warren Phillips, Rafel Ramos, firefighter with the Sugar Land paint rounds) where the cadets Jason Denby, Jonathan Bosare put in situations and they worth, Matthew Graham and Fire Department. The 31st class included 12 have to react and make deci- Logan Monsegue. Along with Captain Burggraduates, all of whom passed sions based on their knowledge the Texas Commission on Law and training from the academy. er, staff members at the acadCaptain James Burger, direc- emy include instructors Lt. Jim Enforcement Examination on tor of the academy, was the em- Pokluda, Sgt. Carlos Castillo, their first attempt. Sgt. Judy Cervenka, and Sgt. This is the sixth year in a cee for the ceremonies. Warren Phillips IV, the Sugar Casey Schmidt. Academy suprow where 100 percent of the class members passed the State Land firefighter, served as presi- port staff members include DotLicensing Exam on the first at- dent of the class and he also re- tie Allen and Cyndi Villemaire.
Ridge Point High School reaches state semifinal Fort Bend ISD’s Ridge Point High School football team, Panthers, will play Cedar Park in their first state semifinal Dec. 12 at NRG Stadium. Ridge Point played in and won its first-ever regional championship game, in a thrilling finish in overtime, defeating Angleton with a two-point conversion, a 3635 victory in the 5A Division II Region III final. The Panthers came back from a 21-6 deficit. The Panthers (11-3) return to NRG Stadium for the third time this postseason, meeting Cedar Park (14-0) in the state semifinals at 2 p.m. Dec. 12. The winner plays Lake Dallas (12-2) or Frisco Lone Star (13-1) for the state title. Angleton regained the lead in the fourth quarter, but Grant Carlson’s 36-yard field goal with 5:46 remaining tied the game at 29. In a game tied at 29 with time winding down in regulation, Angleton was driving and setting up for a gamewinning field goal. But Ridge Point’s fortunes
changed when the defense recovered a fumble to force overtime. That’s when running back B.J. Rainford scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Angleton responded by not only converting a 4th and 2 at the Ridge Point 3, but by adding quarterback Seth Cosme’s 1-yard touchdown sneak. Angleton once again went for the win on the two-point try, but the pass was no good. Angleton opened with a 21-6 lead and had a 21-13 halftime lead. Ridge Point - playing varsity since 2012 - is in the state semifinals for the first time ever. “It’s straight up surviving,”
Ridge Point head coach Brett Sniffin was quoted as saying in the Houston Chronicle. “That’s what we’ve been doing since about Week 5. Our kids, they continue to play their butts off. We’re undersized. We’re undermanned. Whatever you want to say. But they just continue to persevere.” Ridge Point already has a win over No. 2 Crosby in the playoffs “When it gets into overtime, somebody’s going to have to win and somebody’s got to lose,” Angleton head coach Ryan Roark said, according to the Chronicle. “We put ourselves in an opportunity to win the ballgame and just barely came up short.” Incidentally, Panthers’ Head football coach Brett Sniffin and his staff were named one of ten finalists for the 2015 Houston Touchdown Club Coach of the Year award. The award will be presented at the annual High School Awards Night on December 9, 2015 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.
State Rep’s conviction becomes cause celebre of community By SESHADRI KUMAR State Rep. Ron Reynolds, (D- TX 27) of Missouri City vowed to fight the “miscarriage of justice” in his case and is prepared to go up to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to clear his name. Reynolds hosted a community meeting in the courtroom of Fort Bend County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Joel Clouser in Missouri City Monday night and about 200 people attended. Reynolds said he organized the meeting to speak directly to his constituents and explain to them the travesty of justice that occurred in Montgomery County where he was convicted by a jury “without a scintilla of evidence” against him. The jury ignored all evidence that showed his innocence in the case, namely approaching an accident victim for legal representation within 31 days of the accident, Reynolds said. Reynolds said he was part of the process of picking the jury and respected the jury, but disagreed with their decision. That he was State Rep, politician, a Democrat and an
African-American, all worked against him in a heavily conservative county, Reynolds said. Reynolds introduced Jesse Valdez, brother of Robert Ramirez Valdez, who testified on behalf of the prosecution that Reynolds paid an average of $1,000 for each client he recruited. Jesse Valdez testified in the court in support of Reynolds, disputing his brother’s claim and told the court that Reynolds did not pay any money to him to be passed onto his brother. Reynolds’ wife, Joanita Reynolds said her husband suffered because he refused to take the plea bargain. Reynolds is “legally guilty, but factually innocent,” she said. Community leaders compared Reynold’s conviction to the systemic injustice in the judicial system where innocent black people are routinely found guilty, or arrested for crimes not committed by them or shot dead simply because of their skin color. Also, recurrent in the speeches was the racial make up of
Montgomery County and how the local people showed their hatred for President Barack Obama by displaying antiObama placards near the courthouse. Pastor Remus E. Wright of The Fountain of Praise Ministry in Houston, led the speakers by pointing to the problem in the current judicial system all over the country. Many in his congregation pray every day that their sons and daughters do not make a common error in the street lest they should fall prey to a bullet or incarcerated, he said. Describing Reynolds as a proponent of change and advocate of justice who built neighborhoods and served the community, Wright asked if it could happen to him, what about the young boys and girls. Many poor people just plead guilty and suffer the consequences though they are innocent because they don’t have the resources to fight for justice, he said. Speakers referred to the See REYNOLDS, Page 3
New HCC Missouri City campus will aid in community revitalization
Robert Glaser, left, vice chair, HCC Board of Trustees, District V; Mayor Pro Tem Don Smith, Missouri City Council, District B; Dr. Madeline Burillo, interim president, HCC Southwest College; Floyd Emery, Missouri City Council, District D; and Neeta Sane, HCC Board of Trustees, District VII attend town hall meeting for new Missouri City Center for Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Health (CETH) at Missouri CIty City Hall. to this location will fit very well Years of talks about building far exceeded our expectations.” That growth prompted the idea in the HCC business plan as I a new Houston Community College (HCC) campus in Missouri from HCC District VII Trustee see it,” said Mayor Pro Tem Don City turned into action with a Neeta Sane and city and county Smith, Missouri City Council. Llarance Turner serves on the much anticipated town hall meet- officials to find another use for ing for the HCC Missouri City the Sienna Plantation Campus HCC bond oversight committee Center for Entrepreneurship, and build a new HCC campus and will have the best view of Technology, and Health (CETH). on a stretch of Texas Parkway— the construction because he lives An excited crowd of commu- with the hopes of attracting more right across the street. nity members and officials from students and new development to “This will take a vacant piece Missouri City and Fort Bend the area. of land and bring a beautiful fa“We have to make sure that cility for all of us to enjoy,” said County joined HCC trustees, administrators, and staff at Mis- education is available to each Turner. “It will also spread desouri City City Hall to see plans and every student,” said Sane. “I velopment and growth all up and for the new facility and ask ques- am really thrilled to see that our down Texas Parkway.” vision to make HCC accessible tions. “It means the world to me that “This community is very en- to this community is becoming a Houston Community College, gaged and focused on higher ed- reality.” along with the City of Missouri That reality will come in the City, will bring an educational ucation and the opportunities that it brings. HCC has been planning form of a $21.5M, 68,000 square facility here for our children,” for this campus for sometime and foot, two-story facility adjacent said Kenneth Goode, Missouri we are proud to finally see prog- to City Hall and the city library. City resident. ress,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, The building will be energy efThe Missouri City Campus at ficient and constructed with Sienna Plantation will stay open HCC chancellor. The current HCC Missouri sustainable methods designed to and continue to offer classes City Campus is located in Sienna meet LEED Silver Certification while the construction of the Plantation, where construction requirements. The new campus new campus is underway. Target over the past decade has made will offer core academic pro- opening date for the new facility it hard for students to find the grams in their entirety and work- is early 2017. force programs will come as the building. For information about the new “When we put the site there demand arises. facility and others in the HCC “This is probably the most Groundbreaker Bond Program, we had the best intentions,” said Fort Bend County Commissioner densely populated area of Mis- visit hccs.edu/bond. Grady Prestage. “But the growth souri City, so moving the campus