Inside Today: Find the right church for you this Easter season • Page 11A PREMIER PROPERTIES
Your Neighborhood Full Service Real Estate Office
713-686-5454 www.preproperties.com
SATURDAY | March 23, 2013 | Vol. 59 | No. 21 | www.theleadernews.com | @heightsleader
Oooo, that smell – in Timbergrove Manor
THE BRIEF. sponsored by
#OME #HECKOUT OUR .EW 3PRING !RRIVALS
s ’ e n e l r a D
&LOWER 'IFT 3HOP
10570 NW Frwy • 713-680-2350
Prom regalia needed for Reagan girls The Houston Heights Woman’s Club is looking to make the prom a memorable experience for 27 girls at Reagan High School, who might ordinarily miss out on the magic, by locating donations of dresses and accessories. The club is asking for donations of gently used cocktail dresses and items such as costume jewelry, shoes and evening bags. The girls range in size from 1-18 and will be treated to a “shopping day” on April 12 to make their selections. The project is being coordinated with Reagan’s Communities in Schools program, an ongoing service project for the Woman’s Club. For information or to make donations, visit the club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/HoustonHeightsWomansClub, or call 713-513-7846.
Cheddar Bacon Cheeseburger, Fries & Drink
only
7
$ 97
M-F 11am-9pm Sat 11am-5pm
3401 W. T.C. Jester 713-957-1100
What
Can U O YFind Inside Have you checked out our Classified section lately? You might be surprised at all the services you can find there.
FRANK SALAS IS THE MAN TO CALL for trash hauling and garage cleaning. 281-3129795, 832-893-5697.
ALTERATIONS: Reasonable. Pick up and delivery. Charlotte, 713-694-0003. EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN SAVES YOU MONEY: Carpenter, plumbing, electrical. 281-660-0350.
PAGE 6B
THE INDEX. Public Safety Hipstrict Topics Obituaries Coupons Puzzles Sports Classifieds
2A 3A 4A 6A 6A 8A 5B 6B
by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com Three-Eleven isn’t just a rock band from the 1990’s. It’s the phone number that approximately 45 Timbergrove Manor Civic Club and Super Neighborhood 14 Council members were encouraged to call if they smell an odor coming from the City of Houston’s Chemical Feed Station at 11th Street and Bryce. “Every time you smell it, we want to know about it,” said Denny Fegan, a Timbergrove board member who is leading the project against the stench. Fegan shared the information during the Club’s regular meeting on March 12 at Lazybrook Baptist Church.
One resident at the meeting described the smell of Hydrogen Sulfide fermentation as “utterly inexcusable,” an opinion that many of his neighbors surely shared. “It’s not a health hazard, but it can damage property values,” Fegan said. But there is a solution, according to Fegan, a retired Mechanical Engineer who is working closely with the City to alleviate the foul smell. Jason Iken, the City’s senior assistant director of Wastewater Operations, spoke to the Club, answered questions and addressed concerns on March 12. He urged the residents to dial ‘311’, which is the City’s Public Works number. The odor complaints will go into a database, and the residents will receive a case number. Iken said calling that number
is crucial, even if the resident has voiced their concerns with a city employee. In the 1970’s, sewer systems could use heavy metals, which took away the smell. But that option was taken away due to the federal Clean Water Act of 1972, Iken said. The plant began as a lifting station more than 30 years ago, but in the early 1990’s – due to improved technology – it became a chemical feed station. The smell, however, persisted. The sewer plant produces 50 parts per million and has two “bioscrubbers” that alleviate the smell of raw sewage. “The smell is intermittent because when the scrubber is doing it’s job, you
see Smell • Page 10A
Jason Iken, the City of Houston’s senior assistant director of Wastewater Operations, addressed the issue of odor abatement. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)
The Toughest Game Dehn rescued by sister and football field
by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com
by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
E
motions were running high on the first Saturday of last November with both Reagan and archrival, Waltrip, sharing a Homecoming game. Things weren’t going the way the Bulldogs had hoped as they trailed 22-0 in the second quarter. That’s when Reagan senior alldistrict wide receiver Joseph Dehn sparked a competitive spirit in the hearts of his teammates. “Everybody was out of self-esteem,” Bulldogs freshman quarterback Shane Johnson said. “He gave a big halftime speech, brought everybody in it, and we came back and won (34-29). He believed in us and was real positive.” Reagan head football coach Stephen Dixon said the 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior usually led by example, rather than vocally, so it was a big deal when he fired up his teammates. “I didn’t have to say too much,” Dixon said. “He’s a tremendous kid, a tremendous asset.” But overcoming a double-digit deficit in a football game or leading Reagan to its best gridiron success since the 1950’s pales in comparison to the real life challenges the 18-year-old Dehn has overcome during his life. He’s kept a positive attitude through it all and plans on studying Physical Therapy in the fall at Florida International University in Miami. Dehn, who caught 27 passes for 342 yards and three Reagan High senior wide receiver Joseph Dehn, right, and his sister/legal guardian, Houston Police touchdowns last fall, plans on walking on to the football team at Department officer Monica Marsh, have worked together to ensure his success. Dehn moved to Houston
see Dehn • Page 8A
HISD docs give glimpse into probe at Waltrip
two years ago and plans on studying Physical Therapy and playing football at Florida International University in Miami. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)
Houston ISD is investigating claims that former Waltrip High principal Steve Siebenaler borrowed thousands of dollars from employees, not always paying back the loans, The Leader has learned. In district documents provided to The Leader through a Texas Open Records Act request, it is clear that HISD launched its probe in response to rampant rumors, more than two weeks before Siebenaler, 50 years old and a 26-year employee of HISD, resigned because of “personal reasons,” Steve Siebenaler effective March 15. He had led Waltrip since 2003, and his reported salary in 2012 was $116,300. That resignation came on Feb. 25, but the first interview reflected in the investigation documents took place on Feb. 7. After that interview, conducted at Waltrip, Chief High School Officer Orlando Riddick wrote in a follow-up memo that an employee reported loaning the boss thousands of dollars “because he was in a pinch and needed help,” and that only about half of the money was paid back. Another subject, interviewed at HISD headquarters on Feb. 11, reported giving Siebenaler $500 on three different occasions, money that was paid back, according to Riddick’s written account. When asked by Riddick if the requests for loans had become an “ongoing concern,” Riddick recorded that the lender said, “I told him he did not need to come
see Probe • Page 10A
Everybody else is doing it: The Oakie Shake by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Some knew what the Harlem Shake was and some were in the dark, but everyone was game. Nearly 50 Oak Forest residents came out to Oak Forest Park on Sunday to hang out with fellow Oakies and recreate the phenomenon. “I didn’t know what it was a week ago,” said Amy Schendel who an-
swered the call to participate after she saw the notice on the Oak Forest Association’s Facebook page. Chris Lombardo came prepared with the giant purple alien mask his mom bought him from QVC some years ago. Erin Maxwell was dressed as Robin, complete with fire engine red disco boots. Nora Loera, the public relations committee chair of the Oak Forest Homeowners Association (OFHA),
put the call out for the gathering at the last meeting as well as on Facebook, NextDoor and as an Oakie Alert e-mail. “We just wanted to get people together to have fun and meet some neighbors,” she said. The Oak Forest version of the Harlem Shake is similar to one that has been circulating on You Tube since
see Shake • Page 8A
Oak Forest residents brought their game faces to their own Harlem Shake. (Photo by Betsy Denson)