4141 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SSouthouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, March 16, 2017 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 42, No. 7 Beltway 8 closures set At least one inside lane on both the east- bound and westbound Beltway 8 frontage roads from Beamer to South Wayside Drive will be SJC receives prestigious national award closed daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Fri- day, March 31. The Aspen Institute for Community College could impede their success. This recognition as fellow Texas school, Odessa College (Odessa), ents. The U-turn lanes on the Beltway 8 frontage Excellence recognized San Jacinto College as one of the top fi ve community colleges in the na- also received a Rising Star award. Each of the “San Jacinto College is delivering high- road at Beamer and at Pearland Parkway will one of the top fi ve community colleges in the na- tion is proof that we are accomplishing those ef- three schools received $100,000. ly-skilled graduates to fuel economic growth both be closed continuously until midnight, tion, presenting the school a Rising Star award. forts.” Other Aspen Prize fi nalists included Ano- and enable social mobility in the Houston re- Friday, March 31. The announcement was made at a luncheon in For its efforts, the college was awarded ka-Ramsey Community College (Coon Rapids, gion,” said Joshua Wyner, executive director of Both the Blackhawk exit and Monroe en- Washington on Tuesday, March 14. $100,000. The area school was one of 10 fi nalists Minn.), Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program trance on Beltway 8 will be closed through “I am honored and humbled to accept this Ris- for the prestigious Aspen Prize, which was pre- Calif.), Northeast Community College (Norfolk, and author of What Excellent Community Col- Saturday, July 8. ing Star award on behalf of the entire San Jacin- sented to Lake Area Technical Institute of Water- Neb.), Pasadena City College (Pasadena, Calif.) leges Do. “Student completion rates have risen to College community,” said San Jacinto College town, S.D., earning it $600,000. In all, the Aspen West Kentucky Community and Technical Col- steadily and substantially since San Jacinto Col- Knights hold fi sh fry Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer. “This award is Institute awarded $1 million in prize money. lege (Paducah, Ky.). lege reorganized and began to develop a strong for our students. They are the focus of our work Florida’s Broward College (Fort Lauderdale) Launched in 2011, the Aspen Prize is awarded culture where everyone at the college is uniquely The Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a and our efforts. We want them to achieve their and Indian River State College (Fort Pierce) every two years to a community college achiev- focused on and held accountable for student suc- fi sh fry fundraising dinner on Fridays from goals and we want to eliminate barriers that were both named Finalists with Distinction, and ing high marks in student learning, certifi cate cess.” March 17 through April 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. and degree completion, employment and earn- Between 2007 and 2016, San Jacinto College in the St. Luke Catholic Church social hall, ings for graduates and access and success for mi- increased the number of certifi cates and associ- 11011 Hall Road. The menu includes a bread- nority and low-income students. From the more ate degrees awarded by 161.7 percent. Last aca- ed catfi sh fi llet, fries, hush puppies, cole slaw, than 1,100 community colleges nationwide, San demic year, 7,019 students earned a certifi cate or corn on the cob and iced tea or lemonade. The Jacinto College was fi rst selected among the top degree from San Jacinto College. This increase is cost is $10, eat in or take out. Baked fi sh fi llets 150 last spring. A selection committee then nar- due to a focus on student success and the support are available in limited quantities. Hellyer rowed down those institutions to the top 10, and students receive along their paths from when they then selected the Aspen Prize winner, two Final- fi rst arrive at San Jacinto College through gradu- Bush holds two meetings ists with Distinction and two Rising Star recipi- Continued on Page 2A Laura Bush Elementary, located at 9100 receives Blackhawk Blvd., will have two informational meetings for parents who will have children Tragedy strikes former resident enrolling in kindergarten for the 2017-2018 honor school year and are interested in the dual-lan- Tragedy struck former resident and Dobie an active member of the South Belt community, graduate Scott Seago on March 4 when his house and he was a member of the 1992 Dobie Aca- guage program. The meetings will be held at San Jacinto College caught fi re in Warwick, Mass., killing his wife demic Decathlon team that won the national title. the campus Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a.m. and was presented a presti- and four of their children. His parents continue to reside in the area and are 6 p.m. For more information about the program, gious Rising Star award While Seago and his daughter Vivian Sea- members of Sagemont Church. contact Stephanie Tellez, dual language coordi- at the Aspen Institute’s go, 10, were able to escape the blaze, Seago’s A donation page has been established to help nator, at 713-740-0928 or stellez@pasadenaisd. biennial conference in wife Lucinda Seago, 42, and four of their chil- Seago and his daughter recover from the inci- org. Washington on Tuesday, dren, Peter Seago, 7; Demetria Seago, 9; Martin dent. At press time, nearly $60,000 of a $100,000 March 14. The school Seago, 12; and Nicholas Seago, 15, died in the goal had been collected. Library seeks donations was recognized for its fi re, which was deemed an accident by State Fire To donate funds, visit http://bit.ly/2lUGNPo. 30-percent increase in The Friends of Parker Williams Branch Li- Marshal Peter Ostroskey, reportedly caused by a Warwick resident Louise Doud is also col- graduation/transfer brary, 10851 Scarsdale, is seeking donations wood stove. lecting furnishings and housewares to set up an rates over the last fi ve of gently used fi ction and nonfi ction books. In addition to losing fi ve family members in apartment for Seago and his daughter. years. The college was There is a particular need for adult soft-backs the blaze, Seago’s house was declared a total To donate items for this cause, contact Doud awarded $100,000 in (pocketbooks) and all children’s books. CDs loss. by phone at 978-544-2181 or by email at lp prize money. San Jacin- and DVDs are also being sought. Before moving to Massachusetts, Seago was [email protected]. to College Chancellor Gulf Freeway closures set Brenda Hellyer is shown to the left accepting the At least two southbound main lanes on the award from U.S. Rep. Fun fest, dog parade set for April 8 Gulf Freeway from Bay Area Boulevard to George Miller at the cer- The South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Com- provide Aikido (a form of Japanese martial art) FM-528/NASA Road 1 will be closed contin- emony. merce and the Clear Brook City Municipal Util- demonstrations, and Maximum Impact Cross Fit uously from 9 p.m. Friday, March 17, through Photo courtesy ity District will jointly host the second annual will provide workout demonstrations. 5 a.m. Monday, March 20. of Aspen Institute At least one northbound and one south- South Belt Family Fun Fest and Strut Your Mutt The run/walk, which will begin at 6 p.m., will bound main lane and frontage road lane on dog parade on Saturday, April 8, at Clear Brook be equipped with multiple water stops. Everyone the Gulf Freeway from FM-1959/Dixie Farm City Park, located at Blackhawk and Scarsdale, that completes the course will be awarded a med- Road to FM-528/NASA Road 1 will be closed from 4 to 8 p.m. al. Entry fee for the run/walk is $20 for adults daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and nightly from 9 The event will feature a 1.5 and 3 mile fun and includes a T-shirt if registered by Monday, p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, March 31. Alter- run/walk, Strut Your Mutt dog competition and March 27. Entry fee for the run/walk is $5 for nate exit/entrance ramps will be closed. KidsSafe fi ngerprinting. In addition, there will children 12 and under and includes a participant Son to be tried as adult, accused be a disc jockey, a live band, infl atables, demon- wrist band. Gulfhaven opens food bank strations and try it workshops, games, disc golf The Strut Your Mutt dog competition will be- of killing Dobie grad, husband and more. A display of live native reptiles is be- gin a 4 p.m. Nine judged categories include pret- Gulfhaven Church, 10716 Sabo Road, is ing provided by Karen Duston, a naturalist/en- tiest, ugliest, largest, smallest, diva, and macho opening a food bank each Wednesday for the The teen son accused of killing his mother, Training in Bellaire and reportedly served as vironmental scientist from San Jacinto College. dogs. Other categories will be best trick, best fi rst three weeks of each month from 10 a.m. 1992 Dobie graduate Dawn Whitely Armstrong, pastors at their church. Antonio Armstrong also Sesnei Dale Garagrave of Ikushinkan Dojo will Continued on Page 2A to 2 p.m.