Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 August 28, 2014 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 39, No. 30 SB Girls Softball registers South Belt Girls Softball fall registration is $25 plus the candy fundraiser (one box of can- dy - $25). Those who do not wish to fundraise PISD graduation rate reaches 89 percent can pay an additional $30. The graduation rate in Pasadena Independent result of improvements in the curriculum and pus that provided students with fl exible learning currently enroll in classes through San Jacinto For more information, visit www.eteamz. School District has reached new heights, with programs offered throughout the district. options. For instance, the Community School al- College. This gives each student the opportunity com/southbeltgirls. The last day set for fall 89 percent of high school seniors in the district “Our kids are graduating at a higher rate be- lows students, 18 years and older, who are a few to earn an associate degree by the time he or she registration is Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 8 graduating in 2013. That fi gure represents a 22 cause teachers and staff at every grade level be- credits shy of graduating an opportunity to earn earns a high school diploma. The fi rst cohort of p.m. percent increase since 2005. gan introducing new rigor into the education of a diploma. Tegler Career Center offers smaller Pasadena High School students will graduate The Texas Education Agency recently re- our children eight years ago that better equipped class sizes so students receive one-on-one in- from this program in May 2015. Kirkwood to meet Aug. 28 leased the graduation rate for all public school them for future success,” said PISD Superinten- struction with teachers. Schools also offer com- With this information in mind, PISD has pro- The Kirkwood Civic Association will hold districts in Texas. Results show Pasadena In- dent of Schools Dr. Kirk Lewis. “Pasadena ISD puter assisted instruction for credit recovery and posed a bond of $175.5 million that will provide its monthly meeting Thursday, Aug. 28, at the dependent School District exceeded the state’s is a district on the path of continuous improve- initial credit for those falling behind. early college programs at four additional cam- Sagemont Community Center, 11507 Hughes, graduation rate for the second consecutive year. ment.” The implementation of the Pasadena High puses, including Dobie, Sam Rayburn, South at 6:30 p.m. This year the district topped the state average of District offi cials note that one infl uential fac- School’s pilot Early College High School pro- Houston and Pasadena Memorial High School. Future meetings will be held the last Thurs- 88 percent by one point. tor of the growth has been the annual Graduation gram should also help boost the graduation rate. The bond will not require a tax rate increase. The day of the month. For information, call Ericka According to the Texas Education Agency, the Walk which occurs in September. During this The program allows incoming freshmen to con- bond election is scheduled for Nov. 4. McCrutcheon at 281-989-9990. graduation data looks at students who entered event school district staff and community mem- high school as ninth graders in 2007-08 and bers visit the homes of high school students who Chris Carter at credit union graduated either within four years or the August have not re-enrolled in school. Calls increase for Southeast VFD after their anticipated graduation date. Additionally, PISD offers a wide variety of al- The Southeast Volunteer Fire Department has and Clear Brook City. The area covers approxi- Texas Bay Area Credit Union, located at The vast increase in the graduation rate is the ternative programs districtwide and at each cam- 12611 Fuqua, will hold a meet and greet with seen a sharp increase in calls as of late, respond- mately fi ve square miles and has roughly 25,000 Houston Astro Chris Carter on Saturday, Aug. ing to fi ve calls in one shift Thursday, Aug. 21, residents. 30, from 11 a.m. to noon. and eight calls in one shift Sunday, Aug. 24. The group’s fi rst ambulance was a used Cook Carter was named the American League In 2011, the fi re department responded to Book Bread truck that had been converted to suit Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 11 to 1,178 calls. The following year, that number its needs. Aug. 17. climbed to 1,222. In 2013, that number jumped Today, the volunteers have 14 vehicles, in- Bring the family for a morning of fun and to 1,365. It is projected that the department will cluding late-model fi re engines, ambulances, celebrate the Houston Astros spirit. Included Diaz takes respond to 1,558 calls in 2014 – a 24 percent in- duty vehicles, a brush truck and a rescue truck. will be free hot dogs, Enterprise Car Sales, crease from 2011. The department originally had only one fi re the Astros Shuttle Crew and Orbit, the Astros The fi re department has grown dramatically station, located on Sagearbor. It now has three, mascot. since its 1972 inception. Originally called the including a new one on Scarsdale that opened in ice bucket Sagemont Volunteer Fire Department, the group November 2010. changed its name in 1974 when the City of Hous- While the department has undoubtedly grown Labor Day closings set ton annexed the Sagemont subdivision. over the years, SVFD Assistant Chief Jerry Ter- South Belt-Ellington Leader challenge The department is now responsible for cover- rell said that the community’s age is also a factor, The Leader office will be closed Monday, ing the local communities in Harris County that noting that several calls are for EMS service at Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day. remain unincorporated. This includes the munic- the area’s two nursing homes. Clear Brook City MUD Harris County Precinct 2 ipal utility districts of Kirkmont, Sagemeadow “The population’s getting older,” Terrell said. Clear Brook City MUD will close Monday, Constable Chris Diaz (left), Sept. 1, in honor of Labor Day. The office will recently took the ALS Ice re-open Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 8 a.m. Payments Bucket Challenge to raise Detention pond named for South Belt may be left in the drop box located on the awareness of amyotrophic drive-through window side of the building. lateral sclerosis, also known Harris County Flood Control District offi cials water. PW and Bracewell libraries as Lou Gehrig’s disease. have agreed to change the name of the future Construction of the detention pond will be Parker Williams Branch and Bracewell Following the dousing, Diaz Mud Gully Stormwater Detention Basin to the broken down into three phases, with Phase I tak- libraries will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, for nominated all other elected South Belt Stormwater Detention Basin. ing 1.5 years to complete. Labor Day. offi cials at the local, state Also known as A520-03-00-E001, the 174- Project Manager A. Gene Rushing Jr. said the and federal level to take the acre site will be located in the area that once funds are already available for the design por- CBC MUD trash collected challenge. At least one, Judge housed the South Bend subdivision. Soil sam- tion of Phase II and that he hopes construction pling conducted by both Harris County and the on it will begin as soon as the fi rst phase is com- Residents living in Clear Brook City MUD George Risner, accepted. Shown dumping the ice buck- Brio Site Task Force have determined the once- plete. will have regular trash service pickup on hazardous site is now safe. While offi cials gave no specifi c time frame for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1. All trash should et on Diaz is Precinct 2 Chief Deputy Ty Norling. Critics of the Mud Gully name complained it Phase III, the entire project is estimated to take be at curbside no later than 7 a.m. to ensure is often associated with the Brio incident. seven years to complete. pickup that day. Residents missing this regular Photo submitted Once constructed, the pond will hold up to Construction on Phase I is expected to begin in trash pickup date will be serviced on the next 1,250 acre/feet or 407 million gallons of storm- early October. regularly scheduled pickup date of Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. Support group at Cokesbury CBCMUD to conduct chlorine burnout The Clear Brook City Municipal Utility Dis- Those who are the husband, wife or partner fi ve years ago. This is a common industry prac- trict began a routine distribution system chlorine of a chronically ill/disabled person may join a tice that is used in cities throughout the country. burnout Monday, Aug. 25, which will end on or support group, Sickness and Health, the last The burnout will be accomplished by changing Store clerk shoots robbery suspect before Monday, Sept. 22. Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 from the usual combined chlorine process to a “The burnout is an effort to control biofi lm p.m. at Cokesbury United Methodist Church, An armed robbery suspect was rushed to the Fearing for his life, store clerk Kiran Giri, free chlorine for three to four weeks. that has been chronic in an isolated portion of 10030 Scarsdale. Free child care is provided. hospital Monday, Aug. 25, after being shot by who has a concealed-handgun license, pulled his This effort will give the free chlorine process Sageglen Section 3.