41 Years of Covering South Belt
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4141 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SSouthouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, April 27, 2017 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 42, No. 13 Missing girl found safe Missing Dobie student Nikkole Ballard, 15, was found safe the afternoon of Thursday, Election numbers shatter previous record April 20. She had been reported missing the previous day after she failed to return home The number of mail-in ballot requests for the While no offi cial number of requests was avail- the previous record of around 150 mail-in votes. able positions being sought. Should all challengers from school on Tuesday, April 18. May 6 Pasadena Independent School District able at press time, the spike was confi rmed by sev- The option of mailing in ballots is available for win in the PISD election, it would mark the fi rst board election has shattered all previous records, eral PISD staff members. those 65 and older, as well as for those who are dis- time in at least 40 years that newcomers made up San Jac questionnaire inside according to district offi cials. “It’s substantially higher than ever,” said a sec- abled. the majority of the board. A questionnaire for candidates seeking a “As long as I’ve been working here, I’ve never ond district offi cial. District offi cials attribute the increase in requests Also contributing to the increase in requests is position on the San Jacinto College Board of seen anything like it,” said one PISD offi cial who According to one PISD board member, more to a high-profi le mayoral race in the City of Pas- the somewhat contentious nature of the elections, Trustees appears on Page 5A of this issue. has worked on district elections for multiple de- than 2,000 requests for ballots had been processed adena. While in-person early voting and Election as a local Latino political action committee has cades. at press time – more than ten times the amount of Day voting for the two entities take place at differ- been actively campaigning that Hispanics are un- Gulf Freeway closures set ent locations, the two elections may be combined derrepresented in the Pasadena community. on mail-in ballots upon request. Early voting is currently underway and will con- At least one northbound and one south- Additionally, both the PISD and city contests tinue through Tuesday, May 2. See related story on bound main lane and frontage road lane on New pedestrian bridge coming have a full slate this election cycle, with all avail- this page for additional information. the Gulf Freeway from FM-1959/Dixie Farm Road to FM-528/NASA Road 1 will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Monday, May 1. Alter- Police chase leads to drug seizure nate exit/entrance ramps will be closed. Acting on a nar- chase down the southbound Gulf Freeway front- The northbound exit ramp to Bay Area cotics tip, deputies age road. The suspect came to a stop when his Boulevard will be continuously closed through from the Special car collided with another vehicle at the intersec- 5 p.m. Thursday, April 27. Drivers should exit Operations Divi- tion of the Gulf Freeway and Scarsdale. The sus- at El Dorado Boulevard and U-turn. sion of the Harris pect, described as a black male with short dread The northbound entrance ramp from FM- County Precinct 2 locks, then fl ed the scene of the crash on foot and 528/NASA Road 1 will be closed nightly Constable’s offi ce was able to elude deputies by disappearing into from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, April 28. attempted to pull an apartment complex on Algonquin. Drivers should use the next available entrance over a driver in a When deputies returned to the suspect’s ve- ramp. gold Jaguar sedan Seized narcotics hicle, they discovered more than 3,000 ecstasy At least one southbound frontage road lane on Thursday April pills and a small amount of marijuana. While at Scarsdale will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 20, at approximately 10:35 a.m. as he was leav- deputies have identifi ed the suspect, he remained 3 p.m. through Saturday, April 29. ing a motel near the Gulf Freeway at Fuqua. at large at press time. He faces multiple felony The closures are associated with an ongo- The driver failed to stop, and deputies gave charges. ing construction project to widen the freeway from three to fi ve lanes in each direction and the frontage roads from two to three lanes in each direction. Early school voting underway Blood drive at Cabrini Early voting for the May 6 school board and Day polling places, visit https://www1.pasade- bond elections is currently underway and will con- naisd.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_80688/File/ St. Frances Cabrini Church, located at tinue through Tuesday, May 2. Board%20Docs/Precinct%20Polling%20Plac- 10727 Hartsook, will host a blood drive, Sun- The Pasadena Independent School District, es%20-Web%20Post.pdf. day, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Fran- Clear Creek Independent School District and San In the CCISD board election, voters will de- cesca Hall. For information, call Richard or The City of Houston is constructing a new pedestrian bridge across Turkey Creek near the Jacinto College District will all hold board elec- cide who will fi ll the Position 2 and Position 3 Janie Perales at 713-946-1223 or Jose Pena at intersection of Sagecreek and Sagedowne. The original bridge, which connects the Sagemont tions. CCISD will additionally be holding a $487 spots. 832-638-8391. and Highland Meadow subdivisions, was constructed by the Harris County Flood Control million bond referendum. Chris Reed is running unopposed for the CBM holds annual sale District in the early 1980s to make it easier for children to get to nearby schools. Voters in the PISD election will decide who will Position 2 seat, and Position 3 incumbent Ken Photo by Marie Flickinger fi ll four of the district’s seven board positions. All Baliker is being challenged by Arturo Sanchez. Clear Brook Meadows will hold its Annual four incumbents have fi led for re-election. Most South Belt CCISD voters, however, reside Spring Garage Sale on Sunday, May 21. Each Position 1 incumbent Fred Roberts is being in Position 4 and will be prohibited from voting in participant will hold his or her own sale. challenged by Roel Saldivar; Position 2 incumbent the board election, as the open seats are not in at- Annual cook-off April 27-29 Mariselle Quijano is being challenged by Maria large positions. Blood drive at St. Luke’s Vilma Duran; Position 3 incumbent Nelda R. Sul- South Belt CCISD voters will, however, will be A record number of teams are expected to take A live auction will coincide with the award livan is being challenged by former PISD board able to cast their ballot on the district’s $487 mil- The Knights of Columbus Council 9201 will part in this year’s South Belt Spectacular Cook- ceremony on Saturday at 6 p.m. member Larry Savala; and Position 4 incumbent lion bond proposal. If approved, the bond would host a blood drive on Sunday, April 30, 8:30 off, set to take place Thursday, April 27, through While no outside alcohol is allowed to be Jack Bailey is being challenged by Jose A. Cazares. allow the district to build new campuses, renovate a.m. to 2 p.m., at St. Luke’s Catholic Church. Saturday, April 29, at El Franco Lee Park, lo- brought in by patrons, beer will be for sale on the Early voting will take place at all fi ve of the older schools and make necessary infrastructure re- Blood is needed every day for medical needs cated at 9400 Hall Road. (Thursday will be for cook-off grounds, along with barbecue sandwich- school district’s comprehensive high school cam- pairs and improvements. due to health and injuries, The community is cookers only, while Friday and Saturday will be es, sausage on a stick, turkey legs, hot dogs, Frito puses. Voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.ccisd.net/cms/ urged to donate at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, open to the public.) pies, chili, nachos, cotton candy, snow cones and through April 28 and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 1-2. One.aspx?portalId=645487& pageId=20307550. social hall, 11011 Hall Road. All are welcome. Approximately 90 cooking teams, occupy- drinks. For additional information or to see Election Continued on Page 4A For more information, call Val Comeaux 713- ing 160 spots, will compete for best margaritas Additional parking and a shuttle service will 582-5358 or John Urdiales 713-991-1425. (Thursday), chili (Friday), beans (Friday), chick- be available at Dobie High School and Moore en (Friday), brisket (Saturday), pork ribs (Satur- Elementary. Dobie students and attendees should Former students honor Kramer Beltway closures set day) and chef’s choice (Saturday). know there will be no parking allowed on Hall At least one eastbound and one westbound Children 12 and under will be admitted free Road for the duration of the event. Former Dobie tennis coach Bobby Kramer At their peak, Kramer’s teams earned Top 10 frontage road lane on Beltway 8 from Black- on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.