Inside Today: Jonathan McElvy offers perspective for 2021 • Page 3A
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Fire destroys longtime Heights business By Adam Zuvanich
azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Owner Ken Kleinmann said business already had been bad for Corrosion Protection Processes of America, which provides Teflon coating for equipment used in oil fields. The oil and gas industry was in the midst of a downturn before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which put an even greater strain on the industry and the businesses that help support it. Things got so tight a few months ago, Kleinmann said, that
he dropped the insurance policy for the manufacturing facility at 340 W. 26th St. so he could continue to pay his five employees. Now the entire company, which has operated in the Heights since 1969, is out of work. It received a fatal blow in the form of a Sunday morning fire that destroyed most of the 5,000 square foot building. “We are out of business. We can’t operate there,” Kleinmann said. “Hell, they burned everything up. Untold thousands’ worth of machinery burned up in that place.”
The Houston Fire Department said no injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which was an apparent act of arson and part of an attempted burglary, according to HFD and the Houston Police Department. HPD spokesperson Victor Senties said three unidentified males used Kleinmann’s truck to break through the front gate and try to make away with a safe from the business, but both the truck and safe were recovered nearby. Kleinmann said the safe apparSee Fire P. 5A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Fire Department Cpt. Aaron Gonzalez works at the scene of a fire Monday at 340 W. 26th St.
Adios, amigo
Region’s rising hospitalization rate triggers reopening rollback By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
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INSIDE.
Sweet song. The recent passage of the Save Our Stages Act is a boost for live music venues.
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich From left to right, Cecil Griffin, Kelli Griffin, Eric Powell and Heather Powell enjoy lunch at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant, which closed Dec. 30 after 46 years in business at 5305 Antoine Dr.
Community bids farewell to Don Jose By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Colorful cuisine. Kin Dee offers authentic Thai food with a colorful presentation.
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At one point when she was a young girl, Katy Carruth ate all her meals at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant. Her grandfather, EJ Clark, founded the popular neighborhood eatery in 1974 and ran it as a family operation, so Carruth would spend her days there before she was old enough to be in school or stay at home by herself. She grew up celebrating birthdays and Christmas holidays at Don Jose and had her first job there at age 15. She even had an entrée on the children’s menu, Katy’s Plate, named after her. Now an adult who lives in Katy, the Houston suburb, Carruth was at Don Jose on Wednesday afternoon to enjoy its cheese enchiladas and margaritas one last time. It was the final day in business for the longtime community See Don Jose, P. 5A
Shot of hope. Local residents share their experiences with COVID-19 vaccines.
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Katy Carruth, the granddaughter of Don Jose Mexican Restaurant founder EJ Clark, enjoys one last lunch at the popular area eatery, which closed Dec. 30.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Miller’s Cafe co-owner Jessica Beer takes a to-go order over the phone Monday while members of the kitchen staff cook in the background.
Miller’s Café was called out and criticized last Saturday night, when a group of demonstrators stood outside the front entrance, waved flags and chanted in protest of the restaurant’s mask-wearing policy. Two days later, the popular Garden Oaks burger joint was the center of the city’s attention and overwhelmed with support from longtime customers as
well as some new ones. Miller’s co-owners John White and Jessica Beer said their Monday sales were about triple what the restaurant typically makes, thanks in large part to a planned visit by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who had seen video of the weekend protest and asked Houstonians to join him in supporting the local business with a total of four locations in the region. Houston City Council member
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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports......................................................... 3B
The rising COVID-19 hospitalization rate in the Houston region has triggered a tightening of restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the disease, per statewide guidelines outlined in October by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. According to data compiled by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the region represented more than 15 percent of its Hidalgo total hospital bed capacity for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday. Until the hospitalization rate is below 15 percent for a period of seven consecutive days, elective surgeries must be suspended in the Houston area, and most businesses See more must reduce their health-related building occupannews coverage cies from 75 to 50 percent. Page 1B The reopening rollback applies to Harris County as well as eight surrounding counties, including Fort Bend and Montgomery. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Tuesday that it should serve as a “wakeup call” to the region, which joined metropolitan areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso and San Antonio as having sustained COVID-19 hospitalization rates above 15 percent. “This is not a threshold that we should in any way celebrate reaching,” Hidalgo said. “What we need to recognize is that without community action right now, that’s going to flatten the curve, that’s going to change the trajectory, we are going to find ourselves in a very difficult situation.” Per the TDSHS data, the Houston region crossed the 15 percent threshold on Dec. 29. The COVID-19 hospi-
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Abbie Kamin also patronized the Miller’s location at 3830 N. Shepherd Dr., which is part of the district she represents, and so did former Houston Rockets star Robert Reid. Beer said another customer, who didn’t want to visit the restaurant because he’s at high risk for complications from COVID-19, called in to leave a $50 tip without even placing an orSee Miller’s P. 5A
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Page 2A • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • The Leader
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • Page 3A
Our obligation must be our resolution
T
he refrain from every person – every creature – with a smart phone and social feed was simple: “So long 2020.” Come to think of it, that’s rather tame language for how most of us sent the past year packing. In the four corners of your home (assuming you followed government advice), you rang in 2021 with delight, thankful the year-long nightmare came to a close. Then again, did it? Did the flip of the calendar, the tick of a clock, the change in a number really change anything at all? From the scope of this pandemic, in fact, things seem worse today than they were two weeks ago, two months ago. And that’s not all. Do we dare speak of politics? Setting aside protests and congressional maneuvers, do we really expect much to change when the letters behind our well-paid politicians’ names shift? Do we speak of violent crimes, which have multiplied as desperation increases? Do we speak of mental illness? In the past year, the CDC says 41 percent of us reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition. The study also
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
said more than 25 percent of us reported anxiety disorder, up 300 percent from the prior year. We’ve talked of COVID as the culprit, and it’s true. This virus, and our response, has done damage far beyond the halls of hospitals, some of which we can’t measure still. It’s a rather discouraging way to ring in a New Year, isn’t it? We placed so much hope on surviving the last one that we can’t imagine this one being any worse. And that’s because each of us knows this year does not have to be worse. It will not be worse, and that’s because, as the ever-generic human race, we are anything but generic. We have a collective spirit, seated deep in optimism
and faith, that no matter what we grieve today, tomorrow will be better. If we’re to have resolutions for this New Year, let’s entrench them deeply into that optimism and faith. Let’s steel them with a heightened spirit of fortitude. How? I have some thoughts. Politicians in their place No matter what TV and social feeds tell you, the men and women we elect to the tentacles of government are no different from you and me. They are not celebrities. They are not our idols. They are not in control of our attitudes, our accomplishments. More important, they are not teams to be cheered, allegiances to displace common sense. Elected officials are to be servants, held accountable and held equal. Somewhere along the way, no doubt the consequence of media adoration, we elevated these folks to something greater than their purpose. As we wander through another year of uncertainty, could we consider putting our political leaders back where they belong? Can we remove our personal identity from
GTT − Gone to Tesla THE MOVING VAN – Yet another big truck has come to disgorge furniture into a house in my neighborhood, but one immigrant probably won’t be moving here to Golden Years Glen: Elon Musk, the fourth-richest person in the world, currently worth $150 billion, but it’s still early in the week. Musk has been living in California, but recently he clashed with public health officials there over measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which included shutting down his Tesla factory in Fremont in the San Francisco Bay Area. He called restrictions to stop the spread of the virus “fascist.” He reopened the plant, a decision which may have produced a COVID-19 outbreak there. (Musk himself would later get the virus.) So he announced that he is GTT, Gone To Texas. He has already moved his private Musk Foundation to Austin, and his second-in-command, Jared Birchall, who has long been the manager of Musk’s family office, purchased a home in Austin in August. Musk’s SpaceX has an engine-testing site in McGregor and a rocket-production facility in Boca Chica, on the Gulf Coast near the Mexican border, and Tesla is building an assembly plant in Austin. There is another, more personal and financial reason to move from California to Texas: money, specifically taxes. Texas doesn’t collect income tax or capital gains tax on individuals. California has a personal income tax of 13.3 percent for amounts over $1 million a year – one of the highest in the nation. That presumably includes Musk. There are other advantages to GTT. Our laws keep unions weak. Housing in Texas is much cheaper than in California. Musk could probably purchase a nice home in Austin for not much. I’m told there is a tower on the UT campus that has a great view. Also, a pink-domed structure on Congress Avenue is only used once every other year and even then creates nothing but trouble for the state. He could call himself a Texan. That is in addition to his three citizenships: South Africa, Canada and the U.S. If he does move next door, there are a few items of interest we should know. Musk was born June 28, 1971, to a Canadian mother and South African father and raised in Pretoria, South Africa. He briefly attended the University of Pretoria then attended a college in Canada then the University of Pennsylvania. In 1995 he started to earn a Ph.D. at Stanford University, but dropped out after two days to pursue a business career, which went nowhere. He is 6-foot-2, married three times, twice to the same woman, and has seven children by them. Musk has become estranged from his father, whom he has described as “a terrible human being... Almost every evil thing you
Lynn Ashby Columnist
could possibly think of, he has done.” So much for a Father’s Day present of a brand-new Tesla. Politically, before the election of Donald Trump as President, Musk said, “I feel a bit stronger that he is probably not the right guy. He doesn’t seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States.” Later Musk accepted an invitation to participate in two councils advising Trump, then resigned in protest over the President’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Musk is apparently a big environmentalist. So a note of advice to our new Texan: Pilgrim, this tree-hugging stand may hinder your life here. You make electric cars, solar panels and solar roof tiles. That will not win you many friends at the Petroleum Club. The strength of Texas car dealers means you can’t sell Teslas directly to customers. We don’t like gubment telling us whut to do. Like wearing facemasks, or in your case, facemusks. About our gubment, you can’t buy a Texas politician, although there are some you can rent by the hour. Our pols will be hitting you up for bribes. We call them “campaign contributions.” Our governor, Greg Abbott, and our Lite Guv, Dan Patrick, are about as hopeless as you can get. And don’t even bother asking about our attorney general, Ken Paxton, or our Ag Commissioner, Sid Miller -- Jesus shot and all that. While many Texas leaders are hailing Musk’s arrival, not everyone back in the Golden State is sorry to see him go. A California columnist, Joe Mathews, wrote a scathing article on Musk’s move entitled, “Thank you, Texas, for taking Elon Musk off of California’s hands.” Mathews accused him of everything from unsafe workers’ conditions to big government handouts to just being a rotten neighbor. He warned: “Watch your back, Texas, because Musk will mess with you.” That sentiment may just be sour grapes. Texas adds more than 1,000 new residents every single day. Half are newborns. Of more than 653,000 people who left California last year, about 82,000 went to Texas, more than any other state, according to census figures. Or, as The Stanford Review wrote in a nod to the native Texan George Strait, “All of California’s Exes Are Moving to Texas.” In 2013, then-Gov. Rick Perry visited California and ran radio ads urging businesses to “flee” the coast.
The New York Times recently carried a story about this migration: “Apple is greatly expanding its campus in Austin. In 2018, Apple, which has its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., announced it would build a $1 billion campus in Austin. The financial services company Charles Schwab announced a move from San Francisco to the DallasFort Worth suburbs last year. Most recently, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a spinoff of Hewlett-Packard, said this month it would move its headquarters from San Jose, Calif., to Spring, Texas.” So, Elon Musk, it is with mixed emotions that we welcome you to Texas. You may fit in, begin wearing a big Stetson, driving 80 in a school zone, churning out Teslas that don’t have a turn signal, vote straight Tea Party, think masks are for wussies and vaccinations cause acne. Yee-Haw! Ashby is moved at ashby2@comcast.net
political emblems and support sound leadership? Even better, can we eliminate them from half our conversations? Check your children Somehow, in some poor way, we’ve roped our children into a perilous place. We’ve eliminated activities, curtailed curfews, thrown them in front of devices because we don’t know what else to do. Sure, we can talk about the impacts of school closures – and many have. We know there are mountains of young minds left behind as they struggle to catch up or log on to a reliable connection. I am certain our educational institutions will continue to seek better, and one-by-one, we’ll grab hold of the students left behind. I’m not as certain how our children will remember the adults during this time of tumult. In the coming month – why not today? – let’s remember that our children will forever recall how we faced down a pandemic, how we handled disagreements, how we kept our determination during our greatest trial. Think back to how the children
THE READER. Shopping responsibility, big box stores vs. family owned businesses
Dear Editor: We all have heard about how many people do not take responsibility for their actions. I believe the Big Box stores have been contributing to this kind of behavior for many years. Go to any Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. and you will see evidence of this. Examples are packages that have been ripped open with parts scattered nearby, items that were dropped and broken then put back on the shelf and so on. This behavior was not acceptable at one time. People have been conditioned that this is normal. These Big Box stores will just remove the broken or destroyed products and replace with a new one. They are big enough with their sales to absorb the loss which is sometimes made up with tax deductions. With small family owned businesses, the loss or damage from items they sell can make the difference on paying a bill or having a family outing. The loss might be able to be accounted for on their tax bill, but this happens once a year. Money has been tight over the past year and it is a real shame that a person will browse a small shop, break an item of value, put back on the shelf and walk out as if nothing happened. They have been conditioned that this is normal behavior and assume the small business owner has insurance to cover the loss. In most cases, the small business owner has insurance to cover catastrophic events such as fire, injury, etc. and not the loss of individual products they sell. Since the inventory of a small business is limited as compared to the Big Box stores, it is usually not in their best interest to file a claim due to future insurance rates increasing. I wish people would be a little more careful when shopping with a small privately owned shop. They may not buy anything which is ok, but to break
of the Great Depression or those of the Greatest Generation spoke of their parents. Will ours have the same adoration for our ability to survive the day? Let’s make sure they do. Be gracefully convicted Over the past year, maybe more than ever before, we saw our friends and neighbors stand up for what they believed – be it through the prism of a pandemic, politics or personal beliefs. We also saw a nation ripped apart, friends vanquished, relationships ruined, because we replaced wisdom and understanding with our own purview of absoluteness. We erased love and faithfulness from the tablets of our heart. No matter the flip of a page or the tick of a clock, nothing magical happened when we changed the number of the year. The wonder of the next year, instead, will come from the deep-seated optimism and faith we share, the obligation we have to be the next, great generation.
Email jonathan@mcelvypartners. com
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com items and not say anything is another. The owner may be forgiving. An item that has been damaged and put back on the shelf may sit for months before being noticed which means that space has been wasted when another item that would have sold could have been in that spot. The behavior described above brought on by the complacent attitude instilled by Big Box stores is slowly eroding our society and putting a hurting on small businesses. People, have some respect and please be responsible. Blind Girl Productions - Resale & Vintage
Bring back the Oilers!
Dear Editor: I agree, ever since the Oilers moved, then rebranded, and the Texans came into play, I’ve been in limbo. I tried to love the Titans, but it doesn’t feel right. I tried to love the Texans, but it feels worse, almost as if I’m cheating on the Oilers. Maybe if everyone that misses and wants the Oilers back would write Titans ownership and beg, she’ll finally cave? Ryan
Leader of the Year: Local pastor makes impact with sermons, service to community
Dear Editor: Just Nathan being Nathan. He was one of Associate Pastors at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy before moving to the Heights. He is in a perfect spot for his talents. Such a giver and a great cook. I have enjoyed some of his meals in the past.. Great story of a selfless servant. Well written and authentic. Dr. Tommy Harrison
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Mythological bird 4. Norwegian sea inlets 10. Military mailbox 11. Curved span 12. One hundred grams 14. Chest muscle (slang) 15. Old Portuguese pennies 16. Remove connection 18. Gas storage container 19. Conakry is the capital 20. Erstwhile 24. W. Australian capital 26. Dr. Laura’s initials 27. Death notice 28. Irtysh River city 30. So. Am. country 31. Last in an large series 34. Term for alternative musical passage 36. 12 37. A nestling hawk or falcon 39. Vice president 40. Detailed criteria for
a piece of work 41. Six 42. Gossipy 46. Relating to the body 48. Incendiary liquid used in firebombs 51. Plunder 52. Niger capital 53. Game of chukkas 54. Genus Hedera 55. Government prosecutor 56. Plural of genus 58. Born of 59. Livebearers tropical fishes 60. Doctor of Education
dOwn
1. Plundering 2. Can-_____, kitchen tool 3. Crested Australian parrot 4. 4th tone of scale 5. Author of “The Rings” 6. Mains 7. Major European river 8. PC publishing 9. 40th state
12. A tight embrace 13. Large African antelope 17. Impertinence 21. Wild Eurasian mountain goat 22. City in Malaysia 23. Small ornamental bag 25. Nelson’s ship 29. Point midway between S and SE 31. “Untouchables” Elliot 32. Misprint 33. Heme 35. Italian mountain range 38. Surgical knife 41. Purple 43. Forfeited 44. Fixed a female cat 45. An edible tuberous root 47. Formerly included in genus Cedrela 49. Headed up 50. Soft shelled clam genus 56. Country doctor 57. Equally
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • The Leader
Relief arrives for local live music venues By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Late December brought more than just holiday cheer. The Save Our Stages Act, which is geared toward benefitting the live music industry, passed as part of the COVID-19 Relief Bill. The act will offer financial assistance to live music venues across the country and to local venues like the Heights Theater, 339 W. 19th St., and White Oak Music Hall (WOMH), 2915 N. Main St. The Save Our Stages Act was supported by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which began lobbying for the legislation in August of last year, and was headed up by
U.S. Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. “Like many, we lost a significant amount of revenue last year and don’t expect we’ll be back full force for quite a while,� WOMH’s Mike Mauer said. “This is obviously incredibly taxing on our business, so this bill is by all accounts a lifeline for venues across the country. This will allow White Oak, our staff and the industry in general to get back to ‘normal’ much faster.� Since November, local musicians and music venues also had an opportunity for financial relief through the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA). In a collaboration with the Houston
Arts Alliance and Mid-America Arts Alliance, it distributed $5 million in federal CARES Act funds to 691 recipients in the music and arts industries. “Those grants served as a bridge to the more permanent relief from the federal Save Our Stages grants,� said Edwin Cabaniss, owner of the Heights Theater. “We estimate that we have permanently lost over 40 percent of all live music venues in Texas. Without these grant programs, the numbers would likely be upwards of 80 percent closed forever.� The Heights Theater has two concerts scheduled for this month, The Robert Cray band on Jan. 20 and John Moreland on Jan. 22.
Mauer said WOMH doesn’t expect a full concert schedule until late this year at the earliest. He said there will be a gradual revamping of concerts when it’s safe for restrictions to loosen. The venue will continue its outdoor GRID concert series when the weather is warmer. The series puts concert goers in their own sectioned-off pod to allow for social distancing. “The reality is that we had virtually no shows for the majority of last year, so it’s been really challenging,� Mauer said. “It’s hard to say what, specifically, would have happened without (the Save Our Stages Act), so we’re just thrilled it passed and we don’t have to face that reality.�
Photo by Kenneth Hudson The Heights Theater is among the live music venues that should benefit from the recent passage of the Save Our Stages Act.
U.S. sanctions Venezuelans involved in ‘Citgo 6’ convictions By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Oak Forest resident Alexandra Forseth had to spend another Christmas without her father and uncle who remain imprisoned in Venezuela. The U.S. government gave her family and four others a belated holiday gift Dec. 30, granting their wish for meaningful action that might help their loved ones finally return home. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had placed sanctions on a Venezuelan judge and prosecutor who played a role in the Thanksgiving Day conviction of six executives for Houston-based Citgo who were called to a meeting in Venezuela in November 2017 and arrested by the regime of Nicolas Maduro. Citgo is a subsidiary of PDVSA, an oil and gas company controlled by the Venezuelan government. The “Citgo 6� as they are known were found guilty in
November on corruption charges, but U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has referred to their trials as a “kangaroo court� at least in part because media and human rights groups were denied access to them. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin called their ongoing detention “unjust.� Five of the convicted executives are dual citizens, including Forseth’s father, Alirio Zambrano, and her uncle, Katy resident Jose Luis Zambrano, while Katy resident Jose Pereira is a legal U.S. resident. The other imprisoned men are Sugar Land resident Jorge Toledo, Katy resident Gustavo Cardenas and Tomeu Vadell of Louisiana. “It’s a pretty big deal,� Forseth said. “The fact that they got targeted sanctions is essentially showing the regime and anyone associated with the regime, there’s consequences for enabling the continued violations of these men’s rights. They could have acted as liaisons or advocates for the men’s freedom, but
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Oak Forest resident Alexandra Forseth, the daughter of imprisoned Citgo executive Alirio Zambrano, organized a march calling for the release of her father and five other jailed Citgo executives on Oct. 13, 2019, at Candlelight Park.
now they’re getting punished pretty severely with these sanctions.� The sanctions apply to Venezuelan judge Lorena Carolina Corneilles Ruiz, who found the men guilty and sentenced them to between eight and 13 years in prison, and Ramon Antonio Torres
Espinoza, who prosecuted the case for the Venezuelan government. They are essentially blacklisted by the U.S. as a result of the sanctions, meaning any property or assets they may have in the U.S. or with U.S. companies are blocked or frozen.
“All property and interests in property of the persons designated that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC,� the treasury department said in a Dec. 30 news release. “In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by the designated persons also are blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or those within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.� Forseth said she hopes the sanctions will send a signal to others in Venezuela’s justice system who may be involved in the appeals process. Toledo already has appealed his conviction within Venezuela’s court system, according to his stepson, Carlos Anez. Anez and Forseth said they and other relatives of the imprisoned men talked to representatives of the state depart-
New market pops up for plant lovers By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Brittany Keller discovered her passion for plants after beginning a garden project for her and her kids during the COVID-19 pandemic. To be able to connect with other people with similar interests, she created “A Flora Faire,� a pop-up market that had its first event in early December. The first market of the new year will happen from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 9 at Cedar Creek Bar & Grill, 1034 W. 20th St. Future markets will be held the first Saturday of every month. “I wanted to create a market for plant enthusiasts to be able to grow, teach and share their love of plants,� Keller said.
The market will have 32 vendors displaying an array of plant-themed items, including succulents, tropical plants, botanicals, potted root cuttings, philodendrons, Alocasia, Hoya, pottery for planting, art and accessory pieces. Keller is a vendor herself with Hello Halo. She sells hand-crafted wrapped trellises, plant hangers, painted pottery and various plants. Find her on Instagram @HelloHalo_htx. Whether someone is new to plants or a veteran, Keller said the market has something for everyone. “We have carefully selected vendors that appeal to all plant and garden enthusiasts, common and hard-to-find plants, plant accessories and pottery,� Keller said.
M
Contributed photo A Flora Faire is a new pop-up market that normally occurs the first Saturday of every month at Cedar Creek Bar & Grill, 1034 W. 20th St. The market will have its first event of the year this Saturday.
Turkey Gully cleanup set for Saturday From Staff Reports Timbergrove-area residents are invited to participate in a Turkey Gully cleanup event scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 9. Volunteers are asked to meet at the empty lot at 1122 Timbergrove Ln. before picking up trash and other debris along the banks of Turkey Gully between Wynnwood Lane and its outfall into White
Oak Bayou at T.C. Jester Boulevard. Participants are encouraged to wear long sleeves, mud boots or waders, work gloves, hats, sunscreen and mosquito spray. The event is being sponsored by Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the area as part of District C, Super Neighborhood Council 14 and Keep Houston Beautiful, with the
latter organization providing litter grabbers, trash bags and work gloves to volunteers who need them. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Those interested in volunteering or with questions can email Super Neighborhood Council 14 president Leigh Killgore at lkillgore01@att. net.
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DEBBIE ourrealtordebbie@aol.com ELLIOTT
IN MEMORIAM Mary Alice (Poorman) Kleinhenz March 18, 1932 - December 26, 2020
ary Alice (Poorman) Kleinhenz, known by many friends as “Mary K,� was born March 18, 1932 in Osborn, Ohio to Merle and Jenny Poorman. Mary passed from this life to her heavenly home on December 26, 2020 in Houston, Texas at the age of 88. Mary grew up near Lima, Ohio and graduated from Bath High School where she excelled in scholastics and athletics, including tennis, table tennis, swimming, softball, and basketball. On January 19, 1951, she married Leonard Kleinhenz. They raised 10 children: Michael, Russell (Rusty), Susan, Steven, Christina, Eric, Marie (Mia), Kevin, Keith, and Cindy. In 1970, after living in Illinois and New Jersey, the family settled in the Oak Forest area of Houston, Texas. In addition to her family devotion, Mary was an avid tennis and table tennis player well into her 70s. She enjoyed many of her senior years playing tennis at the Lost Forest Tennis Club and was a member of the Houston Table Tennis Club for a decade or more. In 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995, Mary won five consecutive gold medals as the National Senior Games table tennis champion. When not playing tennis or table tennis, Mary could be found at her favorite restaurant, Tony’s, enjoying a margarita with friends or family. Mary was known for her warm, welcoming personality, her “bear hugs,� and her fantastic cooking. Mary was a faithful member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for 50 years. She was adored by her children and many grandchildren and will be missed dearly. Mary was preceded in death by her father and mother, Merle and Jenny, husband Leonard, and her sons Russell and Michael. She is survived by her children Susan and husband Mike, Steven and wife Becky, Christina and husband Lee, Eric and wife Julie, Mia and husband Bob, Kevin and wife Missy, Keith and wife Sheila, and Cindy and husband Nagib. Mary is also survived by her 41 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. See www.MaryKleinhenz.com for more information, memories, and photos.
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY and Adults............................ 6:15pm
ery one of us knows the drill,� Hidalgo said. “We have to do it again. Stay home, get tested and please avoid any gatherings with people you don’t live with.� The reduction in building occupancies from 75 to 50 percent applies to restaurants as well as bars that have reclassified as restaurants with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). Hidalgo did not permit bars and brewpubs in the county to reopen Oct. 14, which is when Abbott allowed for them to reopen. But many across the city took advantage of relaxed permitting requirements by the TABC, which in August made it easier for those businesses to obtain food and beverage permits and reclassify as restaurants by offering food services along with alcohol.
Experience and Knowledge... A Powerful Combination
I
In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with church below for updated St.each James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information Wednesday about services and events. In-person services are temporarily restricted. Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA
Rollback from P. 1A talization rate dipped slightly the next day, while remaining above 15 percent, and then increased each day through Tuesday, when the rate was 19.9 percent. Harris County has seen a steady increase in COVID-19 cases since late September, with the county reporting more than 2,000 new cases on Dec. 28. At least 249,488 county and city residents had been infected with the contagious disease as of Tuesday, with at least 2,666 having died from it and 210,374 patients having recovered. In the six zip codes served by The Leader – 77007, 77008, 77009, 77018, 77091 and 77092 – there have been a total of 10,395 cases, with 128 deaths and 8,674 recoveries. “This is the last wakeup call we might get, so each and ev-
Local business is our business.
ment after the convictions in late November and asked what else could be done. So Forseth said she is thankful action has been taken and relatively quickly. She hopes it a step toward securing the release of her father and uncle and the other men. Forseth said she was told by the state department that the administration of President-elect Joe Biden plans to pick up where President Donald Trump’s administration leaves off in terms of pushing for their release and return to the U.S. “These six men and their families have suffered long enough,� Pompeo said in a statement released Dec. 30. “It is time for Maduro to release the Citgo 6 and let them be reunited with their families.�
Hidalgo said she doesn’t think Houston-area residents should be going to restaurants or bars, instead supporting those businesses through takeout or delivery orders. The county judge also said she is concerned the “slight� reopening rollback as outlined by the state will not be enough to reserve the trend of rising cases and hospitalizations. She said that depends largely on the behavior of community members. “We need our hospitalizations to slow down, to flatten and to go downwards,� Hidalgo said. “Currently none of that is happening. Quite the opposite. The hospitalizations continue to increase and the hospitalizations continue to accelerate. “This is the time to take this for the red alert that it is and not sleep on it,� she added.
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • Page 5A
Miller’s, from P. 1A der. “We’ve been in tears today. It’s been so amazing,� Beer said late Monday afternoon. “There’s some crappy people in the world and some people that are pretty stupid, like the guys in front of our restaurant Saturday night. With this experience (Monday), it just shows how many more good people there are in this world. It’s beautiful.� Citing video footage and the accounts of staff members, White said about 25 people approached the restaurant at around 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2. He said two walked in without wearing masks, even though restaurant patrons are required to wear masks when not in the act of eating, per executive orders by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo that are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. When asked to put on masks by the restaurant cashier, White said, the two people said everyone in their group had a medical issue that precluded them from having to wear masks and that, “By us forcing them to wear masks, we were taking away their constitutional rights.� White said an argument ensued between his cashier and the would-be customers, who were asked to leave and then began protesting outside with the rest of the group. White said the group later moved next door
and protested outside of Life Savers Emergency Room at 3820 N. Shepherd Dr. His wife, Beer, said some of the protesters were holding either United States flags, Donald Trump flags or Mexican flags. “My best guess is they were a group of people that were maliciously out looking to start a fight,� White said. “It didn’t matter if it was us or another business down the street. I think they were trying to find a location to pick a fight and do their thing.� Kamin, who said she is a big fan of the sweet potato fries at Miller’s, called the incident “unfortunate� because the restaurant is attempting to keep its employees and customers safe. Turner, who ordered a hamburger with no onions and extra pickles and tomatoes, said, “This foolishness has to stop. Put on your masks. The pandemic is still very much here.� Gerolyn Cole, a Heights-area native and longtime customer of Miller’s Garden Oaks location, which opened in 1991, echoed those sentiments. She wore two layers of masks while picking up a to-go order Monday afternoon. Cole said she decided to get Miller’s for lunch after hearing about the weekend protest. “COVID is real. It’s not some kind of manufactured disease or anything,� she said. “I wear the masks, not only for my protection and health, but for others as well. I don’t want to
Fire, from P. 1A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, left, receives a to-go order from Miller’s Cafe’s Stacy Gremillion.
be the reason why somebody else is getting exposed, because you don’t know how it impacts you.� Amy Miller, who does not live in the area and had never eaten at Miller’s, said she decided to try it after hearing about what had happened over the weekend. Even before her order was ready, she vowed to be a return customer. “I stand in solidarity with people who have common sense and have some care about their fellow man,� she said. Beer said Miller’s is “eternally grateful� for all its customers, especially after what has been a
difficult year. She and White said the business struggled shortly after the local onset of the pandemic in March and the social distancing restrictions that followed, which required restaurants to initially close their dining rooms and then to limit dine-in capacity to a fraction of their building occupancies. White said Miller’s had to lay off six employees, reduce its inventory and temporarily close its location in the downtown tunnels, which he said he hopes to reopen later this month. He said the restaurant likely would not have survived without receiving loans through the Paycheck Protection Program and Small Business Administration. Sales have recently climbed to about 75 percent of their pre-pandemic levels, White said, so Miller’s can see brighter days ahead. Monday was especially encouraging, when the local eatery enjoyed the support of an entire city. Turner said it’s important for Houstonians to patronize small businesses such as Miller’s. He also said he wanted to show last weekend’s protesters that they were outnumbered and ineffective. “It’s too cool. This is a blessing in disguise,� Beer said. “It’s a shame what happened. It’s a shame people are out there doing this kind of thing. But in the bigger picture, it’s pretty amazing for people to be so kind.�
Don Jose, from P. 1A
ently fell out of the back of the truck when the suspects made a sharp turn while exiting the property, which is located on an otherwise residential street. There are townhomes across the street and immediately to the west, while an apartment complex and parking garage are under construction to the east and south of the property. HFD spokesperson Alicia Whitehead-Breaux said in an email that the adjacent buildings were saved by the responding crews, which were dispatched at 6:22 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, and arrived on the scene within 6 minutes. She said the cause of the fire was incendiary and is under investigation. “It appears that when they attempted to steal the safe, they set the building on fire and then they fled,â€? Senties said of the suspects. â€œâ€Ś It’s an active inves-
tigation right now.� Kleinmann said he has “no idea� who was responsible for the fire, which burned for most of the day Sunday and flared up again Monday. He said the building, which was constructed in 1928, according to the Harris County Appraisal District, was originally a neighborhood icehouse. The building did not collapse, according to HFD, which said, “Several propane forklifts and most of the building were destroyed.� Kleinmann said he suspects it will be torn down. “It’s put us out of business, and not only us. It hurt some pretty large companies that depend on us,� Kleinmann said. “There’s other people in town that do what we do, but apparently people like what we do better. So it’s putting people out of work. It’s creating a lot of misery.�
staple at 5305 Antoine Dr., and Carruth, who dined with her father, stepmother and a longtime family friend, hung around to reminisce after finishing their meals. “It’s hard,� she said. “It’s the end of an era.� That was a common refrain Wednesday, when Don Jose said “adios� to generations of loyal, satisfied customers. The restaurant had been in a state of limbo since August, when owner Luis Hermosillo and general manager Carlos Garcia died three days apart from each other from complications of COVID-19. Judy Maldonado, who is Hermosillo’s niece and worked the cash register at Don Jose, said the four family members who worked
there and five other employees decided to close the restaurant because none of them wanted to assume ownership. An emotional Maldonado described the deaths of Garcia and Hermosillo, who bought the restaurant from Clark in the early 2000s, as a “big hit.â€? “We really wanted it to work at the beginning,â€? she said. “But the way things unfolded ‌ we couldn’t get everything arranged as far as ownership.â€? Maldonado expressed appreciation for the customers who gave the restaurant a rousing sendoff Wednesday, saying Don Jose was “very busyâ€? during the lunch hour. Some diners who paid their final respects were eager to
5,� Riccetti said. “Now we come here at least three or four times a year, with my sister, just to meet up, see everybody and remember the good times. “It’s a sad day,� she added. Kelli Griffin and her brother, Eric Powell, who grew up down the street from Don Jose and graduated from Scarborough High School, brought their spouses there Wednesday for one last lunch. Griffin, who now lives in Oak Forest, called it a “neighborhood institution.� “Very bittersweet,� she said. “That’s why we came out to support, because it’s just a special place. We’ve been coming here for so long. It’s history.�
share their histories with the restaurant along with their favorite memories and favorite dishes. Candlelight Oaks residents Jimmy and Kimberly Eifert, who began eating at Don Jose before their adult sons were born, took them there to enjoy the “Nachos Deluxe� one last time. Cara Riccetti, who lives in Katy, said she frequented Don Jose while growing up in Forest Pines. The restaurant sponsored her youth softball team, and she said she and her friends would get money from their parents, ride their bicycles to Don Jose and then get dessert at an ice cream shop that used to be next door. “This has been our favorite restaurant since I was
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Page 6A • Saturday, Jan. 9 , 2021 • The Leader GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Bring appetite to Saturday market Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
The Market at Sawyer Yards is happening from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. this Saturday, Jan. 9, at 1502 Sawyer St. For the first week of January, I always hear about diets, abstinence, exercising, etc. That’s wonderful, do your thing. However, I need to let you in on a little secret, the State of Texas allows cottage food makers to sell their wares everywhere. If you haven’t been to any of the outdoor markets lately, first, where have you been? Second, get out there, outdoor shopping is all the rage. It’s safer, Houston weather is generally amazing this time of year, and since you’re walking around getting all that exercise anyway, you can
take home some treats! Or eat them before getting home, that’s your choice. In Texas, it’s legal to have a home food business. In 2019 the Texas Cottage Food Laws were revised, allowing home food businesses to sell at for-profit venues. Until then, they were limited to nonprofit farmer’s markets, church bazaars, etc. Basically, you can make and sell any food except meat, that does not require time or temperature control to prevent spoilage. You want a list, I can tell. A short list of what you can make at home includes baked goods, candy, coated nuts, nut and fruit butters, jellies and jams, popcorn, mustard, pickled vegetables and fruit and the list goes on and on. There are limits and rules, of course, but basically, if you’re just a small operation, you can probably make it and sell it a local market. In late 2019 and early 2020, I had just started looking into
Photo by Gisele Parra Photography Coco Kasparian displays his ShoSho’s Kitchen products.
the new cottage laws because of the recent increase in requests to join my Market at Sawyer Yards. Today, many people are looking for ways to replace or supplement their incomes, and home-based food business is a low-cost startup. The Market at Sawyer Yards takes place on the second
Saturday of each month and being surrounded by fine art studios, this market focuses on artisan crafts, folk art and food. It’s exciting to expand the current food offerings to the cottage makers. Now in addition to the coffee roasters, freshly sourced teas, salsas and prepared foods such as Indian food, we
can welcome the cottage food makers. On Saturday, for example, ShoSho’s Kitchen, Yum Creole Seasoning, Migaloo Chocolatier and Diablo Huma Alfajor will be at the market, all cottage food makers. ShoSho’s Kitchen, owned by Shoghig and Coco Kasparian, specializes in jellies and jams, freshly baked brioche and cinnamon-roasted pecans. Yum Creole Seasoning makes dry rubs and hot sauces utilizing local ingredients and prepares new batches weekly. Migaloo means “spirit-soul” in the Australian aboriginal culture. Migaloo Chocolatier was created in memory of the beloved late husband of one of the co-founders. Pass on those store-brand chocolates. Homemade is best and Migaloo is mouthwateringly good. Alfajores are tender sandwich cookies filled with a layer of dulce de leche. They are a popular cookie found in many
Latin American countries and now Diablo Huma Alfajor bakes and sells them in Houston. They are small and look like a coated, roundish cake, but they are delectable! Hungry yet? Good! Vist the market Saturday. The food vendors set up alongside the artisans. Cafeza and Arts District Houston’s Music Series continues Saturday with the Will Van Horn Trio. More information about Texas Cottage Food Laws can be found at TexasCottageFoodLaw.com. The website is owned and maintained by Kelley Masters, a private citizen and home baker who was responsible for the filing of the first Texas Cottage Food Bill in 2009 by State Rep. Dan Gattis. I borrowed liberally from this site before discovering the ownership. Impressive! Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet. com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
Review: Kin Dee stirs up authentic Thai cuisine By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The interior at Kin Dee Thai Cuisine is open and airy, accented by lights encased in golden orbs, red and gray seating and white tables. But the detail I found most satisfying was the blue and white dishes. I’ve always liked this kind of china, so having it display my meal was a little bonus to the delicious food. The Butterfly Pea Flower Tea is an herbal tea from the butterfly pea flower mixed with fresh lime juice. The server brought the tea, which was dark green, and told me to squeeze the two slices of lime into it before drinking. When I did, the tea turned purple. I don’t think I’ll ever be too old to appreciate a drink changing colors in front of me. The taste of the tea was muted, meaning very light, but I thought it was a good choice to go along with the vibrant flavors brought by the food. My lunch mates and I collectively decided to order for an appetizer the Golden Basket, or Krathong Tong, which is chicken and sweet corn in
a small, crispy shell cup. The dish was served room temperature and also had peas, little pieces of carrots and cilantro. On the side was sweet and sour sauce. I drizzled sweet and sour sauce over the cup before taking a bit and then realized it would be easier to eat the whole thing in one bite. The sauce sweetened the chicken and lifted up the simple appetizer. The shell was thin and didn’t take away from what filled it. I was tempted by the Thai Basil Chicken for my entrée, which the menu says is a very common dish in Thailand, but finally settled on the equally appetizing Pad Thai. Pad Thai is stir-fried rice noodles with chicken and tamarind sauce. It also comes wrapped in a Thai-style omelet. The dish was a fusion of sweet and savory that I would say was pretty rich due to the tamarind sauce. The rice noodles soaked the sauce up perfectly as well as the chicken. There was also crushed peanuts, chili flakes, bean sprouts and a lime wedge on the side, each of which I added little
Photo by Zarah Parker Kin Dee’s Butterfly Pea Flower Tea turns from green to purple after squeezing lime juice into the glass.
by little to see how it changed the flavor. I enjoyed adding them all. The omelet it was wrapped in was thin and I forgot it was there most of the time because I was so focused on the noodles, but it did add an interesting texture to the mix. While the food was great, the service was just as great. The server helped with any questions we had about menu
Photo by Zarah Parker Kin Dee’s Pad Thai, which is stir-fried rice noodles with chicken and tamarind sauce, comes wrapped in a Thai-style omelet.
items, was quick to refill our drinks, take dirty plates away and made sure we were enjoying our meal. I look forward to my next visit, which might be sooner rather than later. Follow us on social media
@FromTheLeader Kin Dee Address: 1533 N. Shepherd Dr. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-midnight
Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $13.95-$19.95 Kid-friendly: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Pad Thai
Whataburger to start new year? Not so fast with that food Zarah Parker Managing Editor
It was Christmas Eve and all I wanted was to eat Whataburger. Much to my dismay, it was closed. But as soon as the holiday ended and restaurants reopened, where was I? Whataburger. As I was chomping down on my large fries I realized that I craved Whataburger way too much. As with any new year,
it’s a clean slate, and a time for change. I decided I wanted to change my eating habits to be less about fast food and more about home-cooked meals -- more specifically, healthier meals. And one day into the new year, I was already eating Whataburger. I had made the decision, but I needed a plan. And actually planning how I would change those habits made the biggest difference. At least, so far. Some of the bad eating habits I struggle with, and many others as well, are drinking
too many calories with sweet tea, sodas or even juices, relying on the convenience of fast food, not actually knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods (just because the label says “low fat” doesn’t mean it’s good for you), not using portion control and eating foods that have tons of sugar or are high in fat. How to change any of these habits takes practice, because when you’re used to eating one way, it’s easy to just keep eating that way. If you’re like me, it might be best to tackle one habit at a time.
I’m taking baby steps and going month by month. Here’s what I’ll do in January. Next month I’ll reassess and decide what needs to be modified. Most nutrition websites I found recommended eating breakfast, a healthy midmorning snack, lunch, a healthy mid-afternoon snack, dinner and an optional light snack before bed. So, I’ll actually eat breakfast. This is a hard one for me. I’m rarely hungry in the morning and even though I’ve been told a million times that it’s the most important meal of the
day, I didn’t care. I’ve noticed that because I don’t eat in the morning, after I eat lunch, I tend to continue wanting to snack and snack … and snack. When I do eat out, I won’t eat the whole portion, but take some of it to go. Because if you haven’t noticed by now, nine out of 10 restaurants serve huge portion sizes and it’s easy to eat more than I should. One of the hardest for me will be swapping out my beloved whole milk for almond milk. While I could just switch it for 2 percent, I’m not a fan
of it. It’s too watery to me, whereas almond milk is just a whole different kind of milk. Instead of frying food, I’ll grill or bake it. I love fried food, but it’s so unhealthy, and it breaks out my skin. And goodbye sweet tea, hello unsweet and water. I already don’t drink a lot of soda, so I’m not worried about that one. If you have plans to change eating habits, trust yourself and most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t stick to your plan all the time. Just take it day by day.
FOOD BRIEFS:
Breweries now canning hard seltzers By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company released its first line of hard seltzer in December. The first in Buff Brew’s Summer Street Hard Seltzers line was Hibiscus Lime. On its Instagram, the brewery describes the seltzer as a drink brewed similarly to tea with hibiscus flowers and lime puree. The second seltzer in the line is Tangie, which is brewed with tangerine puree. Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach St., announced Monday via social media that it would release a hard seltzer as well. The Ranch Water Hard Seltzer will be available in 6-packs and 12-packs.
New sweet treat at The Burger Joint For a limited time, The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr., is offering a new milkshake to celebrate the new year. The new treat is the lemon raspberry shake, which is described as creamy, sweet and tart. Outdoor events at Common Bond Common Bond Bistro & Bakery, 449 W. 19th St., is hosting two outdoor events this month. On Jan. 13 from 10-11 a.m., The Breathing Room will lead yoga and Pilates. On Jan. 14 from 5-8 p.m., Moodafaruka will play live music.
Walking Stick begins bingo night Walking Stick Brewing Co., 956 Judiway St., will begin hosting bingo nights on Mondays, with the first happening Jan. 11. The events start at 7 p.m.
Instagram Photo Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company recently released two hard seltzers, one of which is Tangie.
Specialty donuts back at Hugs and Donuts Hugs and Donuts, 1901 N. Shepherd Dr., now has its festive King Cake donuts available. Other donuts also back in the shop are Aztec Chocolate and Drunk Boston. All are available to order on hugsanddonuts.com with in-store pickup. Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 • Page 8A
Acres Homes shooting suspect wanted Houston police have accused an Acres Homes man of being involved in a shooting that put his daughter’s grandfather in the hospital early Thanksgiving morning. Harris County court documents show that 20-yearold Jordan Newell has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 179th State District Court in connection with the November shooting of 43-year-old Eric West, the grandfather of Newell’s child, at 7337 Parkes St. in Acres Homes.
West was transported to a hospital in stable condition, according to the Houston Police Department, while Newell remains at large. According to Harris County court documents, West told police he went to his daughter’s residence on Parkes Street early in the morning Nov. 26, where Newell was allegedly outside with a firearm and trying to get into the home of West’s daughter, who has a child with Newell. Court records show that Newell allegedly shot at West and his
Newell
girlfriend, who was sitting in West’s truck. West was shot
in the leg, according to court documents. Court records also show that Newell was out of jail on bond and faces two other felony charges - a robbery with bodily injury charge from November 2019 as well as an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge from May 2020. Anyone with information about Newell’s potential whereabouts is asked to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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Area man charged with manslaughter after shooting death By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
An area man was arrested and charged with manslaughter for his suspected role in a Dec. 29 shooting death at an Oak Forest-area apartment complex. The Houston Police Department announced Dec. 30
Puebla
that Arturo Puebla, 24, who it said is a resident of the Shenandoah Woods Apartments at 4250 W. 34th St., is accused of fatally shooting a 21-year-old man. The victim is identified as Roberto Gonzalez in Harris County court documents. Police say they were
called to the apartments at about 4:35 p.m. Dec. 29 and learned the victim had been shot and transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. HPD said the victim had been at Puebla’s apartment, where Puebla allegedly discharged a gun and struck the victim.
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New Year’s Eve house fire HPD investigating shooting of man in Independence Heights deemed unintentional By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A fire that started inside an area home on New Year’s Eve was ruled accidental, according to the Houston Fire Department. No injuries were reported in relation to the incident. According to a news release from the department, HFD crews arrived on scene to find smoke coming from a
one-story home in the 5900 block of De Lange Street just before 3 p.m. Dec. 31. After putting out the fire, crews ventilated the home and deemed the fire unintentional. A cause of the fire, which resulted in an estimated $25,000 in damage to the home, according to HFD, was not disclosed.
Police Reports • Jan. 4-5 JAN. 4
Theft 03:00 PM 400 BLOCK W 27TH Theft 10:00 AM 500 BLOCK E 28TH Theft 12:00 PM 2400 BLOCK JUDIWAY Theft 04:00 AM 600 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Theft 06:00 PM 1800 BLOCK SHEPHERD
Theft 05:00 PM 1300 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS
Jan. 5
Burglary 02:00 AM 100 BLOCK E 20TH Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police are looking into an Independence Heights shooting that injured a man last week. The victim, 25-year-old Yelsin Orellana-Manchame, was taken to the hospital in stable condition, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said Orellana-Manchame was walking on the street in his neighborhood at 5633 Arthington Ave. around 6:40 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1, when an unknown suspect ran up and pointed a gun at him. The gun went off in a subsequent struggle, HPD said, hitting Manchame in the chest. Police said the shooting sus-
pect and motives remain unclear. Anyone with information on this incident or a potential suspect is asked to call HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-3088800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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