4040 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SouthSouth BeltBelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, August 11, 2016 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 41, No. 28 County holds Make it Right Harris County will host an event Saturday, Aug. 27, at Sagemont Church from 8:30 a.m. Sagemont, chamber ponder use of vacant lots to 3:30 p.m., aimed at helping people resolve low-level, nonviolent misdemeanor offenses A group of community leaders is seeking pub- Flood Control District following repeated epi- purpose the land and will work with community Despite fl ood mitigation work done in the area in Precincts 2 and 8, without having to go to lic input on what to do with several vacant lots in sodes of fl ooding. An unknown number of vacant leaders in the future to help the properties be- since the buyouts, the purchase agreements pro- court or the fear of being arrested. The event the area. lots can also be found in the Kirkmont subdivi- come more attractive parts of the community. Continued on Page 2A will also feature a job fair and free legal re- The project is being spearheaded by Sagemont sion. sources. Civic Club President Kay Barbour and also has “They’re an eyesore,” Barbour said, noting the the support of the South Belt-Ellington Chamber community was in need of “revitalization.” Vacation photos sought of Commerce. Barbour said county crews are supposed to Map of South Belt flood buyouts According to Barbour, there are 33 proper- mow the vacant lots eight times per year but es- The Leader is seeking readers’ 2016 vaca- ties in the Sagemont subdivision alone that have timated the work was done only about half that tion photos for possible publication. A first- essentially been left abandoned after being pur- many times this past year. and second-place prize of Schlitterbahn tickets chased and leveled by the Federal Emergency County offi cials, however, have told the Lead- will be awarded monthly for the best submis- Management Agency and the Harris County er they are supportive of Barbour’s efforts to re- sions. Each month’s first-place winner will be awarded eight tickets, while each month’s second-place winner will be awarded six. All submissions should include where and Dobie groundbreaking held when the photo was taken, as well as identify each person in the picture (first and last name) and tell the story about the trip. All photos must be high resolution. Email photos to [email protected]. Do not com- press photos when emailing. Gulf Freeway closures set At least one northbound and one south- bound main lane and frontage road lane on the Gulf Freeway from FM-1959/Dixie Farm Road to FM-528/NASA Road 1 will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Monday, Aug. 22. Alternate exit and entrance ramps will be closed. At least one northbound and one southbound main lane and frontage road lane on the Gulf Freeway from FM-1959/Di- xie Farm Road to FM-528/NASA Road 1 will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Tuesday, Aug. 23. Alternate exit and entrance ramps will be closed. A group of community leaders, led by Sagemont Civic Club President Kay Barbour, is seek- ing public input on how to best utilize vacant lots in the South Belt area that have been Stuchbery registration set bought out in recent years due to past fl ooding. The lots in question are pictured above in Stuchbery Elementary will hold early reg- orange, with three main clusters of concentration, the highest of which is located at the istration for Kindergarten-4th grade on Thurs- intersection of Sagedowne and Sageglen. Residents are asked to submit their suggestions to day, Aug. 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Documents Barbour at 281-481-5516 or Leader publisher Marie Flickinger at 281-481-5656. needed for registration include original or cer- tifi ed copy of birth certifi cate, Social Security card, shot records, last report card from pre- vious school, parent’s ID and two proofs of The Pasadena Independent School District offi cially broke ground on the new Dobie ninth- Fiery Gulf Freeway accident kills 2 residence (lease, mortgage payment coupon/ grade center Tuesday, Aug. 9. To be located at the corner of Fuqua and Monroe, the campus receipt, or deed plus a current utility bill). For Two people are dead following an automobile The driver of the Mustang was pulled from the will alleviate overcrowding at the area high school. The campus is scheduled to open in accident Tuesday, Aug. 9, in the 14200 block of vehicle and transported to a local hospital in un- pre-kindergarten requirements or other ques- August 2017 for the 2017-2018 school year. Dobie Principal Franklin Moses and PISD Su- tions, call the school at 713-740-0752. the Gulf Freeway between Scarsdale and Dixie known condition. perintendent Dr. DeeAnn Powell are shown above fl ashing a Longhorn sign in front of the Farm Road. A blood test at the hospital determined the Facebook page structure. See additional photos in next week’s Leader. Photo by Marie Flickinger The area elementary school also recently According to the Houston Police Department, driver was allegedly under the infl uence of alco- launched its offi cial Facebook page. To see the a Ford Mustang with three male occupants was hol and faces charges of intoxication manslaugh- page, visit www.facebook.com, then search stopped in the right northbound lane of the free- ter. for “Stuchbery Elementary School.” way with its lights off around 10:15 p.m. when it At press time, neither the name of the driver Dobie to hold orientation Aug. 17 was struck from behind by a white pickup truck. nor the passengers had been released. Ashley Pointe to meet Dobie High School will hold Meet the Long- This orientation will offer parents an oppor- Several other drivers had previously been forced The driver of the pickup truck suffered minor horns and an orientation for the parents of in- tunity to meet the administrators and counselors to swerve around the parked vehicle to avoid a injuries and will not face charges, police said. The Ashley Pointe homeowners association coming freshmen on Wednesday, Aug. 17. who will work directly with their students at J. crash. The accident caused the freeway to be closed will meet Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Sageglen Beginning at 6 p.m., the Dobie football boost- Frank Dobie High School. Additionally, the ses- The collision caused the Mustang to catch for approximately six hours, reopening around 4 Community Building, located at 11610 Sage- er club will be grilling hamburgers and have in- sion will provide important information for par- fi re, killing its two passengers. a.m. york, beginning at 6:30 p.m. For additional fl atables for the students to play on before the ents to ensure a smooth transition from interme- information, contact Ashley Pointe managing orientation. The orientation meeting will begin diate school to high school. agent Catherine Smith at 281-481-2160. at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Following the orientation, the Meet the Long- Police searching for robbery suspect “We cannot express enough the importance of horns function will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Boykins holds golf tourney this meeting, as we share very essential informa- school’s cafeteria. This is a community-wide Houston police are searching for a suspect ac- fl ed the scene on foot, without getting any money tion that will ensure your student’s success this spirit night put on by Dobie’s athletic depart- cused of trying to rob the Walgreens at Beltway from the area store. On Monday, Sept. 12, Houston City Coun- 8 and Blackhawk on Sunday, Aug. 7. The suspect is described as a black male be- cil Member Dwight Boykins will host the third fi rst year in high school,” said Dobie Principal ment. There will also be tables set up to purchase Franklin Moses. T-shirts from the many organizations at Dobie. According to police, the male suspect entered tween 28 and 35 years old, standing between annual Swingin’ for Seniors Golf Tournament the store, for the second time that day, around 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall and weighing at Hermann Park Golf Course. The tourna- 10:50 a.m. and demanded the 63-year-old female around 160 pounds. ment raises money for the Senior Assistance Woman, 75, robbed at Sabo Kroger store clerk give him all the money out of the cash He was wearing a University of Texas base- Fund, which improves the quality of life for register. ball hat and prescription eyeglasses. Police de- District D senior citizens by providing minor An elderly woman was robbed Wednesday, when a woman slammed her door shut and at- When the clerk refused, the crook reportedly scribed the man’s clothing as a dark blue work home repairs at zero cost. Visit www.senioras Aug. 3, as she was leaving the Kroger at Beltway tempted to grab her purse, which was strung over lifted his shirt to show the clerk what appeared to uniform with a white tag, similar to what an auto sistancefund.com/events.html or call 832-393- 8 and Sabo Road. her shoulder. be either the handle of a pistol or a box cutter. mechanic might wear. 3001 to receive further registration details or The 75-year-old woman said she had just The victim said she attempted to fi ght off Again, the clerk refused the demand, saying Anyone with information about this case is to become a sponsor.