PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGHLIGHTED AT CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

  

A recognition of the problem of domestic violence in Washington County and those attempting to end it prompted a large crowd to attend the Candlelight Vigil at the Blinn College Student Center Tuesday evening.

The Washington County Victim’s Task Force’s purpose for the vigil was to promote awareness and demonstrate solidarity and support for ending domestic violence in Washington County.

A large number of law enforcement were in attendance, as well as County Judge Renee Mueller, District Attorney Julie Renken, and County Judge John Brieden. Also present were victims and the children of the victims of domestic violence.

A few of the families of the victims spoke to the crowd, as well as Chris Jackson from the Brenham Police Department, and thanked the crowd for their support.

At the end of the ceremony, 139 names were called, a number up from last year, including Rachelle Nowak, Autumn Armstrong, Noemi Chandler and Teresa Gandy, and a candle was extinguished for each name, symbolizing a life lost to domestic violence, then balloons were given to the crowd to release outside the student center.