Congratulations Class of 2014! Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 June 5, 2014 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 39, No. 18 Shred-It event planned The Harris County Sheriff’s Offi ce and Shred-It will hold a document-shredding event Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Loose pit bulls terrorize community Harris County Courthouse Annex, located at Loose pit bulls continue to plague the South local police and animal control representatives place for more than a year but with increased the last month, killing one and seriously injuring 10851 Scarsdale at Beamer. The event is Belt community, and several residents have com- there is little they can do about the animals if frequency in recent months. another. aimed at preventing identity theft. Residents plained that calls to the authorities for help have they don’t actually bite anybody. When authorities are called, the dogs’ owner The recent incidents come just a couple of may bring up to five banker boxes or bags. proved fruitless. Several residents in the 11200 block of Sage- reportedly returns the animals to his property, months after the highly publicized March 5 at- While at least three recent attacks have led to downe have complained about a pair of pit bulls avoiding any trouble. tack on the South Belt hike and bike trail that Graduation issue inside the dogs being quarantined or euthanized, mul- on the street that have gotten loose and acted ag- The proximity of the dogs to Thompson Inter- nearly killed Monica Garza. Look inside for the Leader’s special high tiple homeowners have reported being told by gressively. The incidents have allegedly taken mediate has many in the area alarmed. A former avid runner, Garza has already un- school graduation section. Graduates from “That’s right by a school,” said Sagemont resi- dergone four surgeries and is expected to under- Dobie, Clear Brook, South Houston, Clear dent Pete Shepp. “It’s going to take somebody go three more in the next year. She is currently Horizons Early College high schools and getting bit or killed before they’ll do anything undergoing physical therapy for two hours a day, Lutheran South Academy are featured. Burkart visits Rojas about it.” three days a week. Shepp further said he was told by a Houston To report a loose dog in the city of Houston, Parade plans underway police offi cer to stay inside his house if he’s call 311. To report a loose dog in unincorporated afraid of dogs because there’s nothing the police parts of Harris County call 281-999-3191. The Leader would like to remind readers of can do. Dangerous dogs the annual South Belt Independence Day In addition to humans being attacked, at least According to Harris County Justice of the Parade, Friday, July 4. Now in its 27th year, the three smaller, leashed dogs have been attacked in Continued on Page 6A event will wind from Beverly Hills Inter- mediate to San Jac College South. Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and floats, as prizes will be awarded in various Boy found in ditch, later dies categories. All community and nonprofit groups may sign up for the parade at no charge. An 8-year-old boy The child was initially taken to Memorial A $50 fee is charged for business entries. Entry died Thursday, May Hermann Southeast Hospital, before being trans- forms are available by emailing mynews@ 29, from injuries in- ported to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospi- southbeltleader.com. The forms are to be curred the day before tal by Life Flight. Reyes remained on life support returned to the Leader office by July 2 by email while playing by an area for roughly 24 hours before being pronounced or delivered to 11555 Beamer. Forms may be ditch near the intersec- dead. dropped through the mail slots located on each tion of Grapewood and While paramedics believe Reyes died from side of the double glass front office doors. Sageglen. drowning, an offi cial cause of death from the Leonel Eduardo Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences was Dobie theater garage sale set Reyes was discov- still pending at press time. ered near the ditch by Paramedics said the current in the ditch was The Dobie High School Theatre Department his 16-year-old brother Leonel Reyes above normal due to heavy rains. Deputies fur- will hold a garage sale/car wash fundraiser on Wednesday, May 28, around 7:30 p.m. ther said there were no signs of external injury or Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the The child was reportedly fl oating uncon- foul play. Dobie band parking lot. The department has sciously. Reyes attended Burnett Elementary, where he cleaned out its storage, and has plenty of items Reyes’ father attempted to perform CPR, be- was in the second grade. Extra grief counselors for sale. Students will have games and activi- fore being relieved by Precinct 2 deputies, then have been assigned to the campus following the ties for children, face painting, and a car wash- paramedics. incident. See related obituary on Page 2A. ing station. Snacks and hot dogs will be for sale. All proceeds will go toward the theater department and the shows throughout the year. Donations of furniture, clothing, electronics, St. Luke’s blesses new building books, housewares, house décor, etc. are being A barbecue benefit for Gabriel Rojas (in wheelchair) and Jay Solomon was held Saturday, accepted anytime before the event or the morn- May 31, at the Clear Brook Meadows Pool. The two 11-year-old boys were seriously St. Luke’s church blessed and offi cially chris- building and priest residence (rectory). Apart ing of from 7 to 8 a.m. For more information, injured April 2 when they were struck by a juvenile driver while they were playing bas- tened its new Cenacle Learning Center on Satur- from these buildings, future plans include an contact Cheramie Hopper at chhopper@pasa- ketball in the 8500 block of Kirkville. Rojas is shown above being visited by the Rev. day, May 24. outdoor covered pavilion and sports fi eld. denaisd.org or 713-740-0370, ext. 04245. James Burkart of St. Luke’s church. Also pictured are Rojas’ parents, Raquel Rojas and The ceremony was conducted by Bishop For now, the Cenacle Learning Center will be David Rojas Sr. Photo by David Flickinger George A. Sheltz, auxiliary bishop for the Arch- used as a meeting/ multipurpose space but will diocese of Galveston-Houston. be designated as the Adult Ministry building Civic Clubs, HOAs to meet The 10,000-square-foot learning center is once the entire campus has been completed. Kirkmont Association Inc. Section 1 the fi rst of fi ve buildings to be constructed on Located across the street from South Belt El- Kirkmont Association Inc. Section 1 Home- the church’s new property on Riverstone Ranch ementary School, the new facility will replace owners Association will meet Wednesday, Hurricane season to begin Road. Future buildings at the location include the church’s current building on Hall Road. Ac- June 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Kirkmont MUD The 2014 hurricane season began Sunday, routes for community members, should the need a children’s education center, a social hall and quired roughly a decade ago, the new site has 20 building at 10102 Blackhawk. Meetings are June 1, and continues through Nov. 30. arise to leave town. youth center, an administration building and acres of land, compared with the church’s cur- the second Wednesday of each month and, all South Belt residents should plan accordingly, The South Belt area, including ZIP codes church. rent fi ve. Kirkmont residents are welcome to attend. in the event that a major storm should strike the 77089 and 77075, are located in what the Also to be constructed will be a maintenance See related photos Page 6A. Highland Meadow HOA area. The Harris County Offi ce of Homeland Se- OHSEM refers to as ZIP-Zone C. The monthly meeting of the Highland curity & Emergency Management (OHSEM), In the case of a Category 4 or 5 storm, those Meadow HOA will be held Wednesday, June working in conjunction with the City of Houston residing in ZIP-Zone C are urged to evacuate by 11, at 7 p.m. at the Parker Williams Library at and the State of Texas, have issued evacuation Continued on Page 6A Bookout benefit set for June 7 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. Homeowners are en- couraged to attend. Questions prior to the meet- A barbecue benefi t will be held for David gery on his right hand to repair tendon damage ing may be directed to Deniece Reyes with Bookout Saturday, June 7, at the Blue Collar and is currently going to physical therapy three C.I.A. Services Inc. at 713-981-9000 or at CCISD to use digital textbooks Bar, located at 5626 Red Bluff in Pasadena, from times a week. [email protected]. noon to 6 p.m. Bookout is currently unable to work, as is his By the fall of 2015, every student in the Clear total cost would have been $6.6 million. By pur- Sagemont Civic Club A Kirkmont resident with longstanding ties to wife, Shea, who suffers from epilepsy and is un- Creek Independent School District in grades 3 – chasing digital textbooks and classroom sets of Sagemont Civic Club will hold its monthly the South Belt community, Bookout was the vic- able to drive.