State “Campus Carry” Law Takes Effect Packs and School Supplies Along with Health Screenings Available

4141 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SSouthouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, August 3, 2017 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 42, No. 27 Health fair, free supplies set Almeda Mall will host a Back-to-school fair sponsored by Texas Children’s Health Plan Sat- urday Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free back State “campus carry” law takes effect packs and school supplies along with health screenings available. Child must be present. The “campus carry” law allowing students to by the San Jacinto College Board of Trustees on The open carrying of any weapon on any Tex- law,” said San Jacinto College Chief of Police While supplies last. carry concealed weapons went into effect for all June 5 to comply with the state law. as college or university campus, including San Bruce L. Caldwell. “You are encouraged to visit community colleges in Texas, including San Ja- Areas designated as exclusion zones at San Jacinto College, is strictly prohibited. If one sees our website to fi nd a link to the college policy, as Suspicious man reported cinto College, on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Jacinto College’s four campuses will be clearly an individual openly carrying or displaying a well as more information about the law. Should Passed during the 84th Legislative Session in marked with signage. It is the responsibility of li- fi rearm on any San Jacinto College campus or you have questions that the website does not an- There have been multiple posts on local so- 2015 as Senate Bill 11, the law required com- cense holders to carry their handguns on or about property, they should immediately contact the swer, please contact the San Jacinto College Po- cial media sites this past week about a suspi- munity colleges to adopt a policy that does not their persons at all times and to ensure they are San Jacinto College Police Department at ex- lice Department.” cious man frequenting El Franco Lee Park, who generally prohibit licensed-to-carry holders from complying with the law and college policy as it tension 5555 from a campus phone or by calling SB 11 went into effect at four-year public uni- has reportedly been approaching children. Au- carrying a concealed weapon on campus but does pertains to exclusion zones on campus. San Ja- 281-476-9128. versities in August 2016, and private universities, thorities said the man has committed no known allow for certain areas or activities of the college cinto College will not provide storage for hand- “We understand that individuals may have dif- such as Rice University and the University of St. crimes. Harris County offi cials are aware of the to be exclusion zones. Such a policy was adopted guns. ferent opinions, views and questions about the Thomas, may opt out of the new law. situation and are looking into the matter. Vacation photos sought METRO officials hold open house The Leader is seeking readers’ 2017 vaca- Graham greets Bagwell METRO offi cials held a meeting Wednesday, agencies in the country to gain bus ridership in tion photos for publication. A first-, second- July 26, at the Sagemont Park Community Cen- 2016. and third-place prize of Schlitterbahn Galves- ter, as part of its summer community open house While METRO’s high-occupancy vehicle, or ton tickets will be awarded monthly to the best series. HOV, lanes, had been in place since 1979 for submissions. Email to mynews@southbelt- Staff in attendance discussed the transit com- cars with two or more passengers to utilize, the leader.com. pany’s history, as well as its current activities and company introduced its high occupancy toll, or South Belt registration set plans for the future. HOT, lanes in 2012. HOT lanes allow commut- Approved by Houston voters in 1978, MET- ers with only one person in a vehicle to pay a toll South Belt Elementary will hold pre-regis- RO opened for business in January 1979, replac- to utilize the express lanes. Around 116 million tration for Pre-K students Tuesday, Aug. 8, ing the bus service owned by the City of Houston trips per year now take place on the HOV/HOT from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-K families with Fast known as HouTran, which was plagued by out- lanes. Pass tickets must register from 8 to 9 a.m. dated equipment and not structured to accommo- Looking to the future, METRO offi cials said Registration for grade levels kindergarten date Houston’s rapid population growth. Houston is expected to soon surpass Chicago as through fourth grade will be Wednesday, Aug. METRO was originally funded by a one-cent the nation’s third largest city, with approximately 9, and Friday, Aug. 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. city sales tax. Offi cials said every $1 invested in 10 million people expected to live in the region and Thursday, Aug. 10, from noon to 7 p.m. public transit generates approximately $4 in eco- by 2040. For more information, call 713-740-5276. nomic return. A new METRO Park & Ride facility near El The company’s service area encompasses Dorado and the Gulf Freeway is scheduled to 1,285 square miles and also serves portions of an open in late August. The new lot is expected to SVFD offers free screenings eight-county region with its vanpool service. The alleviate overcrowding at the nearby Bay Area The Southeast Volunteer Fire Department transit authority currently employs approximate- Park & Ride. will offer free glucose readings and blood pres- ly 4,000 people. The El Dorado location will be the fi fth in sure screenings Friday, Aug. 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. Today, the company is one of the largest and the general area, with others being located on at Walgreens, 10850 Scarsdale. For information, most effi cient transit businesses in the country, Sabo (Fuqua Park & Ride), Kurland (South visit People of Sagemont Facebook or Southeast providing roughly 8 million commuter bus trips Point Park & Ride) and Monroe (Monroe Park Volunteer Fire Department Facebook. each year. METRO is one of four urban transit & Ride). Gulf Freeway closures set According to the Texas Department of Trans- MUD check theft remains unsolved portation, at least one inside lane on the north- South Belt resident and Leader staff member Rosa Graham (left) recently traveled to Coo- perstown, New York to attend former Houston Astro Jeff Bagwell’s (right) induction into The recent theft of a check for more than second check to the city. bound and southbound frontage roads of the Gulf $95,000 taken from the Clear Brook City Munic- McBee also discovered four additional checks Freeway from NASA Road 1 to State Highway the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Graham, who previously worked in guest services for the Astros, was featured prominently on local news media during her trip, appearing on ipal Utility District remained unsolved at press totaling $3,731.50 that had been fraudulently 96 in League City will be closed nightly from 9 time. The check for $95,533.13 was original- presented and paid out. Unlike the larger check, p.m. to 5 a.m. through Sept. 30. At least one alter- channels 2, 11 and 13. Also pictured is an employee of MAB Celebrity Services, which or- ganized the meet and greet. See related photo on Page 6A. Photo by Don Graham ly made out to the City of Houston as payment however, McBee determined the four smaller nate lane on the northbound and southbound main for sewer service but never reached its destina- ones did not even originate from the MUD but lanes of I-45 from NASA Road 1 to State High- tion. The theft was discovered by Clear Brook had been completely falsifi ed. way 96 in League City will be closed nightly from City MUD Offi ce Manager Amber McBee, who At press time, the second incident also re- 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Sunday, Dec. 31. Alter- CCISD names Hall of Honor inductees placed a “stop payment” on it and re-issued a mained unsolved. nate entrance and exit ramps on the Gulf Free- way from NASA Road 1 to State Highway 96 in The Clear Creek Independent School District • Jody Medford, Clear Creek High School, League City will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the Athletic Hall of Honor Board of Direc- 1971 (football) Cause of Alexander death still pending through Sunday, Dec. 31. At least one alternate tors have announced the second class of induct- Coach lane on northbound and southbound main lanes ees for the district’s Athletic Hall of Honor. • Coach Max Blansit, Clear Creek High More than four months after the death of with a female. Alexander was transported to Me- and frontage roads of I-45 from FM-528/NASA Due to the volume of alumni worthy of such School, 1960-1989 (track and football) (posthu- Christopher Alexander, the Harris County Insti- morial Hermann Southeast Hospital, where he Parkway to Fuqua will be closed daily from 9 a.m. an honor, when nominations are sought annually, mously) tute of Forensic Sciences has yet to determine was later pronounced dead. to 3 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 5, and nightly each year they encompass a specifi c era, folding CCISD established the Athletic Hall of Hon- what killed the man. According to witnesses, Alexander appeared from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, Aug. 4. in CCISD high schools as they were created.

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