4444 yearsyears ooff ccoveringovering SSouthouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, August 13, 2020 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 45, No. 29 COVID numbers decrease The number of recent local COVID-19 cases dropped signifi cantly this past week, with only PISD, CCISD virtually start school Aug. 18 260 new cases being reported in the South Belt community, compared to the roughly 500 from Tuesday, Aug. 18, will mark the start of the approximately 65 percent of district parents are Detailed information on 2020-2021 extracur- has once again altered its reopening schedule, the previous week. 2020-2021 academic year for the Pasadena In- currently in favor of continuing studies from ricular activities was also unavailable at press extending its fi rst phase of brick-and-mortar As of Wednesday, Aug. 12, ZIP code 77089 dependent School District. home. time. instruction by one additional week, providing had 1,011 confi rmed cases of COVID-19, ac- Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The district will continue to provide meals For up-to-date information on the Pasadena direct classroom instruction for approximately cording to Harris County Public Health offi cials. the school district will provide all instruction for students who opt to study from home. Meals ISD reopening, visit www.pasadenaisd.org. 10,000 students in pre-kindergarten, kindergar- That fi gure is 91 higher than the 920 count re- virtually until Sept. 8. will be available at local campuses for pickup. Clear Creek ISD ten, sixth grade, ninth grade and certain groups ported on Wednesday, Aug. 5. At that time, area students who have select- Specifi c times were not available at press time. The Clear Creek Independent School District Continued on Page 8 In ZIP code 77075, county offi cials are now ed face-to-face-instruction will return to their reporting 949 known cases. This number is 73 home campuses, while the remainder of stu- higher than the 876 cases reported the previous dents will continue to distance-learn until they Sen. Taylor hosts virtual chamber of commerce meeting week. feel comfortable enough to return to the school State Sen. Larry Taylor was the featured guest merce on the subject of education during the Senate District 11, said the state is doing every- County offi cials are now reporting 1,040 buildings. Tuesday, Aug. 11, during a virtual meeting host- ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. thing possible to keep local educators equipped A recent Pasadena ISD survey indicated that cases in ZIP code 77034, up 96 cases from last ed by the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Com- A longtime member of the Texas Legislature, with the supplies needed to perform their jobs week. serving as both a state senator and state represen- safely. “We’re doing everything we can.” Taylor In all, there are currently 87,505 known cases tative, Taylor currently chairs the Senate Com- said, adding the state has provided funding for in Harris County, an increase of 7,962 from last Father, son accident ends well mittee on Education and also sits as a member on personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and week. Of those, 36,113 remain active, up 2,813 the Higher Education and Finance committees. sanitary supplies. from last week. A total of 50,465 have recovered State Rep. Dennis Paul also joined the online Taylor further said the state was targeting from the virus in the county, an increase of 5,011 discussion. Taylor, who currently represents state Continued on Page 3 from the previous week. To date, 925 have died from COVID-19, up 137 from last week. Statistics are updated daily and include num- Flood Control holds virtual meet bers from within both the Houston city limits and throughout Harris County. To view an interactive The Harris County Flood Control District will munity engagement is an important component map, visit publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/Re host a virtual community engagement meeting of the county bond program, and resident partic- sources/2019-Novel-Coronavirus. (See related for the Mud Gully Channel Conveyance Im- ipation is encouraged. chart Page 3.) provements Project Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 6:30 Residents may join the meeting online at Pub to 7:30 p.m. (See photos on Page 3.) licInput.com/MudGully or by phone at 855-925- Graduation issues available The purpose of this meeting is to inform res- 2801 with Meeting Code 9734. idents about the status of the Mud Gully project The meeting will begin with a brief presenta- Extra copies of the Leader’s high school (HCFCD Unit A120-00-00 – Bond Project C-03) tion to share project updates, followed by a mod- graduation issue, published on Aug. 6, are and share related information. erated Q&A session with Flood Control District available at the newspaper office, 11555 Beam- As part of the Clear Creek Federal Flood Risk team members. Residents will be able to submit er. The special edition includes graduation in- Management Project, this project will make questions and comments throughout the presen- formation for Dobie, South Houston, CTHS, channel conveyance improvements along the tation. Any comments not addressed during the and Pasadena Memorial high schools. Mud Gully tributary from the existing concrete Q&A session will receive a response after the channel lining near Sagerock Drive to down- .Beltway closures planned event. stream of Beamer Road. This project will be A recorded version of the meeting will be At least one northbound and one south- funded with federal funds and bonds approved available on the Flood Control District’s web- bound Beltway 8 frontage road lane will be by Harris County voters on Aug. 25, 2018. Com- Continued on Page 8 closed from Vista to SH 225 daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Thursday, Sept. 3. A father-son duo had a close call the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 11, when the pair got into an At least one northbound and one south- accident on Scarsdale Boulevard minutes after leaving their home. The father was reportedly Info sought on Edgebrook area shooting bound Beltway 8 frontage road lane will be following his son who was planning to get some adjustments on his newly purchased vehicle. closed from Vista to SH 225 nightly from 8:30 While the accident, which involved a pickup truck and a three-wheeled motor vehicle, caused Houston police are investigating the shooting Daniel suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, Sept. 3. extensive property damage, no parties were injured in the crash. Members of the Southeast of a male suspect that took place around 11:25 At the same time, other offi cers responded to a At least one southbound Beltway 8 frontage Volunteer Fire Department were called to extract the driver of the motorized trike. The fa- p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at an apartment in the 9400 shooting at an apartment complex at the above road lane will be closed from San Augustine to ther, Tom Lewis, was apparently following his son, Tom Lewis IV when the accident occurred. block of Clearwood Drive near the Gulf Freeway. address and determined the male in the crash was Red Bluff continuously through 5 p.m. Thurs- Miraculously the driver of the small vehicle was totally unharmed but was transported to the The suspect, Ronnie Terrell McDaniel, 30, the suspect in the shooting. day, Sept. 10. hospital to be examined. No ticket was issued in the accident. Photos by Dean Baier is charged with burglary with intent to commit McDaniel told offi cers he had a prior relation- The closures are associated with the ongo- assault in the 179th State District Court. He suf- ship with the female living at Clearwood Drive ing project to widen Beltway 8 from two to fered multiple gunshot wounds and remained and had gone to her apartment armed and with four lanes in each direction. hospitalized at press time. the intent to confront her. He forced entry into According to police, offi cers responded to a her apartment and was then shot multiple times Gulf Freeway closures set report of a crash in the 12900 block of the Gulf by a male inside the apartment, reportedly the fe- The northbound exit ramp on the Gulf Free- Freeway near Fuqua, and upon arrival, found Mc- Continued on Page 3 way at NASA Bypass/ NASA Road 1 will be closed continuously through 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. CCISD provides low-cost internet At least one lane of the northbound and A nonprofit group launched by Clear Creek southbound entrance ramp from NASA Bypass/ has added internet access to the list of what con- ISD recently announced a plan aimed at provid- NASA Road 1 to SH 96 and exit ramp from stitutes “basic needs” in order for a student to ing low-cost internet access to qualifying stu- NASA Bypass/NASA Road 1 to SH 96 will Continued on Page 3 dents during the ongoing coronavirus health cri- be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through sis. Thursday, Dec. 31. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it Victim identifi ed Two alternate lanes on the Gulf Freeway countless challenges for the world, whole econo- Houston police are investigating the fa- frontage road will be closed from NASA By- mies and individual families. tal shooting of a female found around 10 p.m. pass/NASA Road 1 to SH 96/League City Park- But CCISD Cares, a 501(c)(3) support orga- Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Sagemont Park Com- way daily from 7 a.m.