August 22 Section A

Inside Today: Prominent community members have died • Page 4A

BEST OF LUCK to all of the Teachers Teachers, Parents and Students Masks and Sanitizer Available

Flower & Gift Shop

MICHAEL SILVA

michael@happenhouston.com

713-725-8748 cell

Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • Vol. 65 • No. 34

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Local historians stage 19th amendment exhibit

By Betsy Denson

betsy@theleadernews.com

Heights resident and historian Anne Sloan deliberated for five years about how to mark the centennial of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

Initially, she hoped for a Main Street parade, similar to what Houston women staged 100 years ago. But the obstacles of planning this convinced her and fellow historian Betty Chapman to look

for other ways to mark the occasion.

Both were members of The Heritage Society and chose their small museum, in downtown’s Sam Houston Park, as the venue for an exhibit which would spotlight the participation of Houston women in their 72-year struggle for suffrage.

“We wanted to tell a story,” Sloan said.

“Houston Women Cast Their Ballots: Celebrating 100

W 43rd St Shepherd Park Plaza

Frank Black Middle School Oak Forest Elementary School

Du Barry Ln

1030 Heights Blvd, Houston,TX 77008

Waltrip High School W 34th St

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Page 7A

Come and get it. Killen’s, a much-anticipated restaurant in the Heights, opened this week.

Page 7A

Growth spurt. The Near Northwest Management District has a new marketing campaign.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Public Works is constructing a sidewalk on Cheshire Lane between Oak Forest Drive and West 43rd Street.

Drive-in movies now playing at Shady Acres Saloon

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Page 1B

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

By Adam Zuvanich

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

See GOMO P. 5A

Graphic by Brooke Nance, background photo by Adam Zuvanich

Farrah Lowe lives down the street from Shepherd Park, but she cannot walk there with her 8-year-old daughter.

That’s because she cannot walk at all, with a brain injury having left her confined to an electric wheelchair.

But Lowe, a 43-year-old resident of Shepherd Park Plaza, still wanted to go to the nearby park without having to ride in the street or get in a vehicle. So about a year ago, according to her caregiver, Lowe’s at-home physical therapist made a request to the City of Houston for a wider sidewalk with wheelchair-accessible ramps.

Late last week, that wish was granted. A new sidewalk along Dunsmere Road was installed with ramps at its intersection with Martin Street and Cheshire Lane, allowing Lowe to use the existing sidewalk in front of her home on Cheshire to access the park, which is on the other side of Dunsmere.

“It’s hard for Farrah to get off the sidewalk,” said her caregiver, Fran Murphy. “It’s easier with ramps, and (the city was) agreeable to it. … I’m happy to see it’s been done.”

The project was completed as part of the Houston Public Works Sidewalk Program, which allows residents

Judge accepts equity argument, allows claims against GOMO

See Sidewalks P. 4A

Represents recent, ongoing or upcoming projects as part of the Houston Public Works Sidewalk Program. Sidewalks on Cheshire Ln., Lamonte Ln. and Oak Forest Dr. are in response to schoolrelated requests by residents.

Sidewalks on Du Barry Ln. and Dunsmere Rd. are in response to Pedestrian Accessibility Review requests.

Multiple sidewalk projects ongoing in area Local flavor. A Woodland Heights artist is painting a mural at the Houston Food Bank.

See Suffrage P. 5A

to request sidewalks for one of three reasons – pedestrian access for people with disabilities, school access for students and to make designated major thoroughfares more walkable – in that order of priority. The city will pave up to 1,500 feet of sidewalk for a Pedestrian Accessibility Review request and up to four blocks apiece for requests related to schools and major thoroughfares.

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march to City Hall with female Houston City Council members. That evening, City Hall and other public buildings across the United States will be lit purple, white and gold, the colors of the American suffrage movement.

For their exhibit, co-curators Chapman and Sloan gathered material to show how Houston women helped mobilize the vote. A group of volunteers who belong to the

Judge David Jones allowed roughly 35 claims against the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization (GOMO) during its latest hearing in federal bankruptcy court, accepting an equity-based legal argument made by a homeowner representing himself and applying it to the other claimants involved in the Aug. 13 hearing.

In ruling that the group of homeowners Falick can recover the transfer fees they paid to GOMO upon purchasing their homes, Jones pushed the two years’ long case closer to completion while leaving the fate of the neighborhood’s embattled homeowners association in limbo.

The purpose of the hearing was to determine the validity of some of the claims made against GOMO, which has enforced deed restrictions in the affluent Northwest Houston neighborhood for nearly two decades. The claims had been challenged as part of an omnibus objection filed by Chapter 7 trustee Randy Williams, but Jones overruled the objection after hearing from Garden Oaks homeowner Mike Falick, an attorney who represented himself and his wife.

Without addressing whether GOMO had the legal authority to collect .75-percent transfer fees upon the completion of each home sale in the neighborhood – a key question entering the hearing, since the transfer fees were GOMO’s primary revenue source and the amount tied to most of the claims filed against it – Falick said it would be reasonable under the circumstances to return those fees to homeowners. Jones accepted the money-had-and-received legal theory and applied it to all the other claimants who took part in the hearing, which was conducted via an online conference call.

“I think the absolute stance of, ‘This

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INSIDE.

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Your neighborhood living room in The Heights

Years of the Right to Vote” is now open in the Museum Gallery at Sam Houston Park, 1100 Bagby St., and will be available for onsite visitors and through an online virtual tour through March 2021.

The exhibit includes a lecture series and a celebratory event on “Women’s Equality Day,” to be held outside at the park at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26. Women, dressed in white and wearing yellow sashes, will assemble and

Dunsmere Rd

ABOUT US 2020 North Loop West Suite 220 (713) 686-8494

Photo by Zarah Parker Shady Acres Saloon has transformed from bar concept to drive-in theater to promote business during the pandemic.

Sometimes getting outside of the house to watch a movie is half the fun. With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, movies theaters have remained closed while driveins have gone from a vintage concept to a modern solution.

A drive-in that set up in the Heights last month is The Best Little Drive-in In HTX. The drive-in, which uses the Shady Acres Saloon property at 1115 W. 19th St. to show movies,

was born from the friendship between saloon owner Mike Bell and Tim Nowicke, the CEO of Generations AV, LLC. Generations AV is a Houston concert and event production company that supplies technical crew and stagehand positions as well as designs, builds, and manages audio, video and lighting assets for concerts and corporate events.

“Once the pandemic started and most of our business dried up, we brainstormed to find creative uses of our production assets, namely our LED video

wall,” said Rachel Donelson of Generations AV. “After seeing photos from the drive-in at Sawyer Yards, we decided that we could provide a better viewing experience for customers than what Rooftop Cinema produced.”

Generations takes care of all of the movie aspects, from securing movie licenses and marketing to all of the video and audio. Shady Acres Saloon provides the snacks, including popcorn, hot dogs and Frito See Drive-in P. 5A

Page 2A • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • The Leader

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • Page 3A

Everyone is right in the case of COVID

F

or six months, I’ve held out, bit my tongue, cracked my fingers and turned the other cheek.

Besides sharing a little home-school humor, my personal opinions about the Coronavirus have felt meaningless to a larger audience.

This has been a conscious decision, cloaked in the theory that most of you just want media to find a different topic. But I realized something about every pundit and commentator searching to find a following in a sea of mindless followers: In order to build a brand and have a say about COVID-19, members of the national media have felt the need to pick a side.

You’re either lockdown or wide open.

You’re either mask or no mask.

You’re either counting positives or negatives.

You’re either counting deaths or recoveries.

You’re either Andrew Cuomo or Ron DeSantis.

You’re either no school or school.

You’re either no football or football.

You’re either hopeless or hopeful.

With very few exceptions, this describes the cycle of information that bombards us on an hourly basis.

And that’s exactly why I’ve chosen to refrain from the conversation.

As someone who studies media as much as I study local news, I’m

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

still not sure how a health issue has become so divisive. We don’t fight like this about the flu, even though it’s contagious and kills people. We didn’t fight like this about SARS just a few years ago.

Here’s one for you: HIV/AIDS is a contagious virus that can be spread through human fluid.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 697,000 people across the world died of HIV in 2019, and that’s a virus we’ve fought for more than 30 years.

Why aren’t we divided in our battle against HIV? The better question, still, is why there’s so much division on COVID. It’s a health issue, for Heaven’s sake. Yet today, it splits our country in half, just like which animal you support on Election Day (donkey or elephant, just to clarify the metaphor – though they’re all animals in my book).

So even though it matters abso-

lutely none in the grand discussion, I’d like to offer some perspective on this global pandemic – one that has caused or contributed to nearly 800,000 deaths across the world.

If you think back to how news about this virus spread across media in the United States, you’ll remember the first definitive action taken was our current administration (Republicans) making the decision to stop travel from China to the United States. You’ll also remember that immediately after that decision was made, members of the Democratic Party labeled the move xenophobic.

In fact, here in Houston, our first concern was that many were unnecessarily avoiding Asians in this city because the virus was discovered in China.

On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner even took a small delegation to eat lunch in Chinatown in Fort Bend County, and here’s what he said to the Houston Press: “Enjoy the lunch, go to dinner, go to the rodeo, take a bike, train, and live your life, but just do it in a safe [way], [exercising] common sense.

We don’t want the fear to put us at a point where we are doing more damage to ourselves than the virus itself.”

This was too good of an opportunity to place politics at the front of the conversation, and that’s exactly

when an illness of the body became an illness of our collective mind.

From there, President Trump began his daily briefings, full of personal opinions, drug peddling and promises that everything would be fine.

The Democrats and national media took it from there.

What should have been a national battle to defeat a viral enemy instead became fodder for us to fight each other – a tact happily employed by media organizations that need disagreements to increase ratings and website pageviews.

Where we went wrong is that we allowed the politicians, on both sides of the aisle, to control the narrative. And when that happened, our daily sources of information cared little for analyzing facts. Instead, they analyze social media attention, and that has led to a national discourse that makes no sense.

Want to know what I believe, and what I wish every voice in national media would repeat?

There should have never been two sides to this pandemic. There should have been one: Scientists and doctors. Trump should have never taken the stage, except to grieve with those who have lost family members. And the Democratic Party should have never made this about their political opponents, even though they did.

How 2020 changed us

THE READER.

THE YEAR 2021 – Looking back to last summer we can see Lynn a lot of changes wrought by the Big Pandemic of 2020 although Ashby at the time no one could agree Columnist on a name: coronavirus, CORVIT-19, corvit-19 or the Chinese flu. Anyway, we are not the same nation or society as we were then. For example, no one wears masks anymore. Actually, quite a few people never Abbot ordered that they stay 6 wore them while hanging out feet apart. It could have been a at house parties, political ral- circumstance or bad timing, but lies and while demonstrating the Big Pandemic of 2020 came against Christopher Columbus, at the same time as a moveand they’re all dead. But until ment swept the nation over then we could tell just by look- the killing of George Floyd. We ing at someone on the street. saw Black Lives Matter and deIf they wore a mask, they were mands for racial equality. Texas liberals who wanted open bor- was making changes, too. The ders, drove a Tesla and only ate statue of a Texas Ranger was kale. If they were mask-less, removed from the lobby of they were conservatives who Dallas’ Love Field because of carried an AK-47, volunteered the Rangers’ mistreatment of to build that wall and drank Mexicans in the Rio Grande Clorox.

Valley 100 years ago. ConOur sports are forever federate statues, markers and changed. High schools found names were either changed or they didn’t really need football removed. In Houston several and turned to education. This statues were put out of sight. angered a lot of parents in Tex- Robert E. Road became Unison as who felt the schools’ priori- Road. Confederate Road, Dixie ties were backwards. As Hous- Drive and South Blvd. will probton sports columnist Mickey ably follow.

Herskowitz once wrote: “There Our vocabulary has new must really be something to re- words or new meanings. “The ligion. People keep comparing new normal,” “plateau,” “Dr. it to Texas high school football.” Fauci,” “protocol” (revived College football held a short- from the Ebola days), “cancel ened season but had to lay off culture,” “social distance” and, professors. The Big VII finally of course, “pandemic.” One of called off their games (UT beat the greatest changes due to the Baylor VII to III) after Texas (whatever you want to call it) A&M refused to rejoin them. was working from home. This The NFL played before empty had all sorts of offshoots. Mom stands, to which former Hous- and pop lunch shops dried up ton Oilers said, “So?” Major since there were no workers League Baseball had a short- dropping by. With air travel colened season, although the Mi- lapsing, a small company that ami Marlins were so decimated sold nuts to American Airlines by the virus that one game for their first-class passengers ended Marlins 1, Corona 19. lost most of their business.

The NBA played their games No commuters meant less gas in a sealed bubble. Against the sold by the already struggling Dallas Mavericks, James Hard- awl bidness, as we wildcatters en scored 130 points, then the in the Permian Basin say. With coach benched him after the less commuting we also saw first quarter. Pro soccer called fewer car wrecks, and the inoff the season, and no one who surance companies benefited. spoke English noticed.

When Neiman’s filed for bankThe public schools in Texas ruptcy, we knew times were kept changing their starting tough. Hospitals lost a lot of dates according to Gov. Greg revenue because the virus took Abbott’s hourly rulings. The up all the beds and minor ailState Board of Education is- ments such as lost legs, heart sued a proclamation: “You can attacks and shark bites were begen classes anitime so long deemed “non-essential,” so as you don’t teech global hot- those cash cows had to wait. ting, race relashuns or evilous- We must suppose serious virus hun.” Some parents refused to patients don’t pay. send their children to school Then there was the upheaval and kept them at home. Other on the home front as millions parents sent their children to of Americans worked from those homes. Teachers went home rather than be exposed to to work only after receiving their diseased co-workers. This proper protective equipment – change in workplaces showed spacesuits they received from that a lot of us didn’t need to NASA. A few districts began leave home to go to work. the school year with on-line Companies discovered that classes, but several sixth-grad- they didn’t need all that office ers could participate only after space and cancelled leases. The building their own computers. landlords, like the sandwich Ah, yes, 2020, the year shops, were dying. We have albeauty parlors had to close and ready seen social scientists and Houston ran out of blondes. learned professors taking surBarber shops also closed and veys as to the effects of workmany men had their wives give ing at home. Now, a year later, haircuts. After four months of many employees don’t want staying at home together, hus- to go back to the office. Albands were afraid to let their though some bosses want their spouses stand behind them employees at their desks, this with sharpened scissors. Gov. change may be permanent. An

Dear Editor: If Trustee Randy Williams is correct, and Judge Jones would entertain returning the GOMO bankruptcy case from Chapter 7 to Chapter 11, it could represent a golden opportunity to Garden Oaks residents rightfully concerned about the ancient but troubling racial language in the current Garden Oaks deed restrictions.

Chapter 11 procedures would give the neighborhood chance to approve a plan that would include removal of that language (at least in Sections 1,2,3 and 5) for good, and a further opportunity to modernize other deed restriction provisions that have been breeding grounds for conflict. While the Texas Property Code contains a number of provisions and procedures for altering deed restrictions, they are so cumbersome, confusing, time consuming and expensive that they are, for all practical purposes (as Oak Forest apparently concluded) worthless.

There may be an avenue to fast track needed changes. Let’s not blow it this time.

Al Thomas Garden Oaks resident

interesting side issue: Almost half of home shoppers nationwide say they want a space in their house for an office. And more than 60 percent of potential home buyers say working at home influenced their choice of what house to buy. That also sounds permanent. A solution may be to convert your office at the sheep-shearing shed to a home. Stock your cubicle with a fridge, sofa, TV and a hook to hang your bathrobe.

Finally, this pandemic influenced the 2020 presidential race. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump exploited the virus to their advantage: Mail-in ballots, long lines of voters, rigged counting. Democrats thought Trump’s efforts were so bad, after the election, they held another impeachment. We know how that came out. Just ask President Pence.

Ashby is coughing at ashby2@comcast.net

Potential Chapter 11 proceeding could be chance for needed changes

Live music venues looking for lifeline

Dear Editor: It is going to be a sad day when we realize all that we have lost, from small local shops that can advise customers, and provide unique items, to live music spots, and little neighborhood

And as I’ll tell anyone who will listen, shame on the national media for presenting news that makes our political allegiance more important than our friendships, our faith and, oftentimes, our family.

The reality is everyone is right and wrong in this conversation.

Those who believe we should lockdown are right that this virus can kill the most vulnerable in an instant. Those who disagree with a lockdown are right that we’re doing more personal damage being locked in our homes than living life.

We could go on and on. Those against school are right – teachers’ lives shouldn’t be at risk. Those for opening schools are right, too.

Students aren’t learning at home. In Texas, through remote learning, we lost track of 500,000 students. Are they better off without the structure of education?

Next time you want to have an argument with a friend about COVID, here’s my advice: Understand that you’re right and so is the person arguing the exact opposite. You do what’s right for your family, but don’t chastise those who disagree.

This is science, for Heaven’s sake.

Humans have survived worse, and we’ll survive this, as long as we don’t destroy all sense of humanity in the process.

Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

bars and cafes. All gone in the name of keeping everyone safe.

How difficult to imagine what the future of live music will be. Art and music have really suffered a great deal due to the current situation. Philanthropy is down. Museums are closed. Concerts cancelled or postponed. Theaters have cancelled entire seasons.

Jason Hochman

Push to amend deed restrictions making gradual progress

Dear Editor: Since the racist language has been ignored for decades and Federal laws passed in the 1970s mandates that minorities cannot be restricted from purchasing real estate anywhere, what is the rush? The change has already occurred.

I mean it should happen – but what is all the angst about? Let’s not overreact.

Claire Johnson

MANNA closes resale shop; food pantry remains open

Dear Editor: I pray that you can find another location near the one that was on 43rd.

I have been involved from the beginning supporting Manna and hope they will continue to be successful Thanks to all of you for the many hours of service.

Jo Ann Thompson

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Library furnishings 10. A major N. Am. river 12. Music for a narrative poem 13. A set of steps 15. Shooting stars 16. Keenly perceptive 18. -__, denotes past 19. “3:10 to Yuma” actress Gretchen 20. Old English 21. Sami 24. Brake horsepower 27. Interlocks 30. Twofold 31. Green, iced and Earl Grey 33. Maddie and ___, singers 34. Bridge-building degree 35. Flat-topped flower cluster 37. A waterproof raincoat 39. A way to ingest 41. Tayra genus 42. Birds 44. 3.26 light years 47. Confederate soldier 48. Body fluids

49. Atomic #35 50. Seize 52. In event that 53. Grassy plain 56. Enzyme in milk 61. Rags 62. Actress May 63. In a way, aided 65. Humilities

dOwn 1. Digestive fluid 2. Capital of Norway 3. Plural of os 4. Young goats 5. “Peanuts” creator’s initials 6. State in NE India 7. Type of TV program 8. Shoulder adornment 9. Meat-roasting rod 10. Protective floor pad 11. Anger 12. Spread over 14. Blackthorn fruit 15. Commingle 17. Affirmative 22. Horse used to set the pace 23. Appeals 24. British thermal unit

25. Complex red organic pigment containing iron 26. Bura 28. Languages of Sulu islands 29. Raise with great force 32. Dried-up 36. Scientific research workplace 38. Purplish red 40. NYSE symbol TEN 43. Secure 44. Commercial-free TV station 45. Macaws 46. Open and sincere 51. Oldest Swiss Un. (alt. sp.)

54. Very high frequency 55. Name for ancient Syria 56. NFL’s “The Big Cat” Leon 57. Jai __, sport 58. Actress Blanchett 59. Cords 60. Not or 64. Constitutes

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • The Leader

COVID-19 claims lives of Don Jose owner, general manager

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Luis Hermosillo and Carlos Garcia were fixtures at Don Jose Mexican Restaurant for more than 40 years. Hermosillo started as a bus boy in 1974 and worked his way up to owner of the business at 5305 Antoine Dr., while his nephew Garcia came aboard a few years later and eventually became general manager.

In the span of a few days earlier this month, the family restaurant and the community it serves said goodbye to both men.

Hermosillo’s niece, Judy Maldonado, who also works at Don Jose, said he and Garcia both fell victim to complications from COVID-19. Garcia died Aug. 9 at age 61. Hermosillo died three days later at age 73. “We still can’t believe it,�

Maldonado said. “It just feels like it’s a bad nightmare.�

The deaths of Hermosillo and Garcia is not just a devastating blow to their family, but also their extended Don Jose family. Hermosillo bought the restaurant in the early 2000s from EJ Clark, the original owner.

Clark’s daughter, Martha Lazdins, who worked at Don Jose for 29 years, said they became close with Hermosillo, Garcia and their relatives, at least 10 of whom have worked for the business. “It’s awful for all of us,� Lazdins said. “We all love each other.�

Maldonado said Hermosillo and Garcia both grew up in Tizapan El Alto, a town in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and realized the American dream in Houston. Lazdins said Hermosillo walked all the way to the Bayou City after crossing the border near Brownsville and was sleeping in the hallway of a downtown building when her father offered him

Contributed photo Don Jose Mexican Restaurant owner Luis Hermosillo, far right, and general manager Carlos Garcia, far left, both died of COVID-19 earlier this month. In the foreground is original owner EJ Clark.

a job.

Hermosillo then started spending his nights at the restaurant until he could afford his own place, according to Lazdins, and he proved himself first as a busser, then as a member of the kitchen staff and later as a waiter. Over the years, several of his family members joined Hermosillo as

restaurant employees. “His family knew the business,� Lazdins said. “When you find a good family, you kind of like to hire in that family.�

Lazdins said she signed paperwork in 1988 that granted amnesty to Hermosillo and Garcia as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act,

Kearns remembered as fun-loving owner of former Garden Oaks bar

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Mike Vance was in the process of moving into the neighborhood and wanted to scout out a place to hang out. So on an August night in 1990, he visited The Dutchman with a friend who was more familiar with the area.

By the time he left, Vance had helped to execute a practical joke he and his buddy cooked up Kearns with the bar owner.

At the urging of Kenny Ray Kearns, who was tending bar that night, Vance and his friend walked across Wakefield Drive to Red’s Bar, where they ordered two beers and started peppering manager Jackie Roberts with questions.

They asked what kind of clientele frequented Red’s, how much those people drank and whether there were many fights at the establishment.

Then they left, without finishing their beers, and headed back to The Dutchman. “(Roberts) called Kenny Ray and said two undercover vice cops were on their way to their place,� Vance recalled. “Kenny Ray couldn’t hold it together and started laughing. Next thing you know, Jackie walked across the street and punched me in the arm. “That’s the night I met (Kearns),�

Vance added. “And we remained friends ever since.�

Other customers of The Dutchman, which served the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest neighbor-

hoods from the 1940s until 2015 at 834 Wakefield Dr., might have had similar experiences with Kearns.

He and his father, JD, owned the bar from 1989 until it closed, endearing himself to generations of area residents with his fun-loving personality and generosity.

Now the neighborhood is mourning the loss of Kenny Ray Kearns, a lifelong area resident and Waltrip High School graduate who died Aug. 11 after a short bout with lung cancer. He was 60. “Kenny Ray was one of the most fantastic men I’ve ever met,� said his brother-in-law, Kenneth Waites. “He would literally give you the shirt off his back. He would help anybody in need and never ask for anything in return.�

Kearns is survived by his father, six siblings and several nieces and nephews. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date.

Kearns’ sister, Karen Waites, described him as a quiet soul who “liked to have a good time.� He spent much of the last decade as a caregiver for his elderly father and stepmother, who died last fall.

Karen Waites said her brother liked to watch the History Channel and took up cooking later in life, regularly supplying complimentary food for customers of The Dutchman. Vance said Kearns also possessed “a lot of undocumented Houston history,� having worked for a vending machine business that served the city before running The Dutchman, and had a passion for nature as well.

Kearns was known best to area residents as a friendly fixture at The Dutchman, where Vance said he was a keeper of neighborhood secrets. Kearns earned the nick-

name “Mayor of Wakefield� for his presence at the popular bar, where patrons could play pool, watch sports, listen to music and let their kids play in the spacious backyard of the property. “I think that he really, genuinely cared for most of the people that came in there. I won’t say all of them,� Vance said with a laugh. “He was a very beloved figure in the neighborhood.�

Vance said Kearns regularly drove customers home if they had too much to drink. Karen Waites said her brother also helped patrons who had fallen on hard times financially, even paying their electric bills in some cases.

Waites said Kearns once bought a wheelchair for a family that needed one, dropping it off on their front porch and attempting to remain anonymous. The family eventually found out who was responsible and thanked Kearns for his generosity. “Everyone liked Kenny,� JD Kearns said. “He had no enemies, not a one. He was a great guy and a good son.�

Vance said he misses Kenny Ray Kearns “terribly,â€? adding that he’s been tempted to call him or send him a text message before realizing he’s not there to answer. But Vance takes some solace in reliving fond memories of his friend, such as the time a piĂąata was made in Kearns’ image – it was kidnapped from the bar at some point – or the time he and some other friends dressed up as Kearns for Halloween, wearing blue jean shorts and a white Tshirt.

There also was the trick they played on the bar owner across the street. “He loved practical jokes,�

Vance said.

Don Jose has remained opened despite the deaths of its longtime leaders, although Maldonado said it has been difficult without their presence. She asked customers to continue supporting the restaurant and sharing their memories of Hermosillo and Garcia.

Maldonado said the family is in the process of determining legal ownership of the business in light of their unexpected, relatively sudden deaths. “If we can, we’ll definitely keep it going,� she said. “I know they would have wanted that.�

Maldonado said a joint memorial service for Hermosillo and Garcia will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 at Del Pueblo Funeral Home at 8222 Antoine Dr. Members of the public are welcome from 6-8 p.m., and social distancing and mask-wearing will be required.

which President Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1986.

Maldonado said working at the restaurant and serving the residents of Northwest Houston was “their entire life� along with their means for supporting their family. Garcia is survived by a wife, seven children and several grandchildren.

Along with being a dedicated restaurant owner, Maldonado said Hermosillo also was passionate about soccer.

He had played the sport when he was younger, liked to watch matches on the TV at Don Jose and even had the logo of his favorite team, Las Chivas de Guadalajara, painted in the back of the restaurant.

Maldonado said Hermosillo also supported the youth team in his hometown, sending money for uniforms and equipment. “If he didn’t work here, I think he would have been a coach,� Maldonado said. “That’s how much he liked it.�

Sidewalks, from P. 1A The new 240-foot sidewalk on Dunsmere is one of five projects in the area that was either recently completed, is in progress or will be executed before the end of the year, according to Houston Public Works. The 1,950 feet of sidewalk being installed on Du Barry Lane between Oak Forest Drive and Ella Boulevard also was in response to a pedestrian accessibility request.

The ongoing sidewalk work on Cheshire between West 43rd Street and Oak Forest Drive originated from a school-related request – adjacent campuses Frank Black Middle School and Oak Forest Elementary are nearby – as did the recent paving of 1,875 feet of sidewalk along Oak Forest Drive between West 34th Street and Lamonte Lane. Scheduled to be installed later this year is 1,475 feet of sidewalk on Lamonte between Oak Forest Drive and Ella.

Shepherd Park Plaza resident Linda Peterson, who recently visited a friend on Cheshire where sidewalk work is ongoing, supports the projects and said the construction is not too much of an inconvenience. “Children shouldn’t have to play in the street, and old folks shouldn’t have to walk in the street,� she said. “Streets are for cars.�

Not all impacted residents are fond of the sidewalk projects, at least not initially. A school-related request was completed last September on Gardenia Lane between Ella and Rosslyn Road, and multiple Gardenia residents said they received little notification about the work and why it was being done.

The city and its contractors are supposed to give residents at least 72 hours’ notice with paper door hangers, according to Houston Public Works spokesperson Erin Jones. Gardenia resident Sarah Hughes said in September that she got about 12 hours’ notice, and the flyer left by a contractor listed street names that were in other parts of the city.

Another Gardenia resident, Whitney Ferrarese, said the sidewalk work slowed down the construction of her home and destroyed driveway work

that had been completed only a few days beforehand. Citing accounts from her neighbors with more tenure on the street, she also said the sidewalk project had a negative impact on drainage as well as vehicular speeding, since motorists see pedestrians and cyclists using the sidewalk instead of the street.

At the same time, Ferrarese said her family, which includes four young children, enjoys using the sidewalk. “We definitely use it and are glad it’s there,� she said. “I think it was more the execution of it is the biggest factor.�

Jones said sidewalks are “very controversial,� in part because city ordinance requires abutting property owners to maintain them once they are installed. She also said the sidewalk program has an annual budget of $2.6 million and more than $6 million in pending requests, with installation costing the city an average of $75 per foot.

Gabe Cazares, director of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, which processes the Pedestrian Accessibility Review requests, said the city typically takes between 18-24 months to build those sidewalks. He also said there has been an uptick in requests since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think the pandemic has contributed to people’s awareness of our walkability and accessibility infrastructure,�

Cazares said.

Shepherd Park Plaza resident Mike Jenkins, who used the new sidewalk on Dunsmere while walking to the nearby park last Friday, said it looks “very nice� and he is not opposed to the recent work. But he was curious about the cost and taken aback that it was the result of a request made by one resident and not a group of community members.

According to Cazares, the cost of the one-block project was $30,450. He said the work in Du Barry, which covers an area more than eight times as long, cost $159,750. “I always look at things and juxtapose how much money it costs versus the utility to the public,� Jenkins said. “It’s interesting that one person got all this (on Dunsmere). It’s pretty incredible.�

City launches small business assistance program

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The City of Houston announced Monday that applications for its Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP) would begin at 9 a.m.

Wednesday as the city and its residents try to weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About $15 million of the city’s federal CARES Act funds have been set aside for the program, according to the city.

Impacted small businesses and chambers of commerce will be able to apply for the short-term grant assistance at cityofhouston-sberp.org until

11:59 p.m. Sept. 4.

The city said qualifying businesses can receive a maximum of $50,000 under the program and must use funds for payroll, accounts payable, rent, mortgage, personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees and marketing strategies.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said distribution will be determined based on which businesses and chambers of commerce are deemed the most vulnerable, and not on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify for the program, business owners must meet the following requirements: - Must be a business in the

city in operation for at least one year as of March 1.

- Provide evidence of how business revenue has significantly decreased because of government restrictions or other challenges due to COVID-19.

- Generated $2 million or less in gross annual revenue pre-COVID-19. - Must be in good standing regarding city requirements (e.g. property taxes, personal property, etc.) and commit to completing the Recovery and Resiliency component of the program. “Small businesses that are in most financial need and exhibit a moderate to high like-

HISD aims to help students prepare for return to school

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Even though the upcoming school year is not set to start until next month, Houston ISD is attempting to make sure students can hit the ground running when it does.

On Aug. 13, the HISD board of trustees approved a $54.6 million amendment to the district’s 2020-21 budget, including $31 million for technological devices and internet hot spots. The funding is part of the district’s “Reconnect Safely and Return Strong� initiative that aims to “help close

the digital divide and ensure students are equipped� when they return to school with virtual instruction Sept. 8.

HISD has provided more than 76,000 devices and 6,000 free hot spots for students in need since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a news release from the district.

The district also said it plans to distribute an additional 22,750 devices and 19,151 hot spots by the end of next month.

Additionally, the district is hosting a kickoff event for its HISD @ H.O.M.E. Camp Spark online academic enrichment program at 1 p.m. Tuesday at

BBVA Compass Stadium, 2200 Texas Ave. The free, two-week online academic camp begins Aug. 24 and runs through Sept.

4 to help students prepare for school.

HISD said Camp Spark lessons will cover topics including physical eduction, science, literacy, math, internet safety, technology and art.

Registration is encouraged but not required for Camp Spark, according to the district. For more information, visit Houstonisd.org/CampSpark.

Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader

lihood of surviving the pandemic’s adverse impacts will receive the most consideration for grant funds,� Turner said in a news release. “I highly en-

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O

t goes with made mist err is hum this the next must learn fro to repeat them it can be hard can sometime We sometime we’ve done, a for years, or e addition, som our past. And them, we mu we should forg the coming da as well as our them; that is, repeatedly mu the phrase “fo the only way t more divine, i the offense. vindictive, sh it! Corrie ten prison camp s to realize that

Judge not, not, and

The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • Page 5A

Suffrage, from P. 1A

GOMO, from P. 1A is void,’ I just think people haven’t thought through the implications of that,� Jones said during the hearing. “At the end of the day, I think that ends up hurting every single one of you that owns a home. As I said during this case (previously), I wasn’t going to let anything bad that I could see coming happen to folks who live in a community.�

Williams and his special counsel, Johnie Patterson, the GOMO attorney before the case was converted from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 last summer, previously objected to most of the 450 or so claims filed in the case. And more than 400 of those claims were disallowed at the July 29 hearing, because those claimants did not file a timely response to the objection.

The objection asserted those claims were filed without a legal explanation for why they should be granted or were based on a 2016 state district court ruling in favor of Garden Oaks homeowners Peter and Katherine Chang, whose counsel successfully argued that GOMO formed improperly in 2002 and therefore had no standing.

That court applied the ruling only to the Changs and not to other homeowners. The objection also contended there is a 180-day statute of limitations tied to GOMO’s violation of the Texas Property Code in 2002.

Two attorneys representing some of the remaining claimants in the Aug. 13 hearing, Casey Lambright and Brendon Singh, argued that GOMO and its ability to collect transfer fees should be invalid based on the previous court case

involving the Changs. Jones responded by saying, “The argument that this is just a void transfer is problematic for so many reasons,� suggesting that homeowners voluntarily paid the fee.

Jones then asked to hear from Falick, who said he originally filed his claim with the hope GOMO would reorganize through a Chapter 11 proceeding and continue to be a functioning, capitalized homeowners association. Falick said he wanted to recoup the transfer fee he paid in 2015 only if GOMO dissolves through the Chapter 7 proceeding, asserting that an equitable distribution of GOMO’s remaining funds would be appropriate. “I don’t think they did anything wrong in collecting it,� Falick said of GOMO. “But if they’ve got it now, and are not using it, it should go back to me.�

Jones’ agreement with that stance, and subsequent application of it to the other claimants involved in the hearing, caught at least one of them off guard. It also prompted a question from Patterson, who asked the judge what it meant in terms of GOMO’s validity as an HOA and its authority to collect transfer fees moving forward.

Jones did not say one way or another, referring to the result of the Chapter 11 proceeding and suggesting the matter would need to be addressed by the Garden Oaks community outside of the bankruptcy case. The Chapter 11 restructuring plan presented last year to homeowners, which included modified deed restrictions and the removal of the transfer

fee in lieu of a mandatory annual fee, did not garner enough support from the neighborhood. “If it turns out that vote was the wrong thing to have done, everyone is vested in maximizing the value of their home and having a good neighborhood and safe place for their kids to play and to live.

That will work itself out,� Jones said. “There is certainly more than enough market power in that neighborhood to make an effect if people believe that there is a common interest to further.�

Falick said he thinks the bankruptcy case will now wind down in the hands of Williams, the trustee, who said during the hearing that GOMO has a little more than $582,000 in assets. A chunk of that money will go to the attorneys involved in the case, then secured claims will be paid, followed by the unsecured claims allowed by Jones.

Williams previously said there are “a few� claims that were not part of his objection, including the claim filed by the Changs, and he also said a subsequent objection is possible. So it is unclear how much GOMO will have to pay in claims and whether it will come out of bankruptcy with any remaining assets.

Falick said the presence of a homeowners association was one of the reasons he decided to move to Garden Oaks, so he hopes the neighborhood will continue to have one. “Don’t do anything stupid,�

Jones said at the conclusion of the hearing. “We’re not out of this yet.�

dard projection at other driveins,� Donelson said. “Our LED video wall produces a brighter, higher contrast and higher-quality image than any other drive-ins.

One of our guests at our Saturday screening said they were blown away that they could see the pores on the actor’s faces.�

The Best Little Drive-in In HTX also limits capacity to 15 vehicles, ensuring everyone has a good view of the scene. Instead of trailers, the drive-in features music videos from Houston

bands. Approaching shows will feature The Ton Tons, Gio Chamba and Velveteen Echo.

Upcoming showings include “Relic� on Friday, “High Fidelity� on Saturday, “Get Out� on Aug. 28, “Bohemian Rhapsody� on Aug. 29, “Ex Machina� on Sept. 4 and “Straight Outta Compton� on Sept. 5. To buy a ticket or look at show times, visit littledriveinhtx. com/now-playing.

Tickets are $30 per vehicle.

Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

Friends of Clayton Library have done groundbreaking research about the work of African-American suffragists during the early 20th century.

These women worked through their churches, women’s clubs and their YWCA to rally their community. Olivia E. Turner, whose father was a runaway slave, as well as Jennie Belle Covington, Nobia Franklin and Ida Hubert are spotlighted.

Other important Houston suffragists include Hortense Ward, a Heights resident and the first woman in Texas to pass the bar exam, as well as Florence Sterling. Florence was the sister of Ross Sterling, who founded Humble Oil. Recognizing his sister’s intelligence and capabilities at a time when women were seldom selected for important business positions, Ross Sterling appointed her secretary-treasurer of the Humble Oil Company in 1915. Florence Sterling, an ardent suffragist, founded Houston’s chapter of the League of Women Voters in her executive office on the 10th floor of the Humble Building on Main Street in October 1919.

Some of the items loaned for display in the exhibit include the silver loving cup given to Ward in 1918 for her suffrage work, the gavel Ward used when she served as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and the yellow suffrage sash worn by Mamie Ewing. That sash is the only known suffrage sash that still exists in Texas. A portion of Barbara Jordan’s speech delivered to the NOW convention held in Houston in 1977 has been loaned by Texas Southern University.

Also on display is Heights resident Melvalene Cohen’s tiny 1913 Corona typewriter, similar to the one carried in the Golden Flyer, a Saxon automobile used by two women who traveled more than 10,000 miles across America in 1916, campaigning for suffrage. On May 2, the Saxon arrived in Houston where the drivers were welcomed by Annette Finnigan, Julia Ideson, Mrs. Harris Masterson and other prominent local suffragists. The Houston women and the Saxon visitors staged an automobile parade.

The typewriter and a small handcranked Singer sewing machine, also on display in the exhibit, were used by the Saxon suffragists to respond to the ever-present hecklers they met during their trip who objected to women trying to win the vote. “When men called them ‘unwomanly’ because they wanted to vote, they used the sewing machine to whip

Drive-in, from P. 1A pies. They also serve alcoholic beverages. The saloon plans to expand its offerings at the end of August.

Screenings are Fridays and Saturdays until Sept. 5. Fridays feature “Friday Night Fright Series,� highlighting thrillers, horror and suspenseful movies. Saturdays feature “Live Music Series,� highlighting films that center on music culture. They plan to add screenings into the fall. “We feature a state-of-the-art LED video wall rather than stan-

Photo from University of Houston archives Pictured is a 1917 publication addressing women’s right to vote in the U.S.

out an apron,� Sloan said. “When men yelled women did not have the brains to vote, they brought out the typewriter and wrote a poem.�

Other highlights of the exhibit include a 15-foot canvas printed with the names of women who registered to vote in Houston in 1920, providing an opportunity for descendants to find the names of suffragist relatives.

There is also a white dress belonging to Ideson, which illustrates the white clothing chosen by women who wanted to identify themselves as suffragists. “They felt that the color white symbolized the purity of their cause and was a democratic color because all women owned a white dress,� Sloan said.

A full-sized 1911 Model T “driven� by two suffragists provides a photo-op for those wishing to commemorate the celebration with their daughters and granddaughters. The gift shop is selling “Women Win the Vote� sashes as well as buttons, T-shirts and a children’s book about the Golden Flyer.

The first virtual lecture occurs at noon Thursday, Aug. 20 with Chapman’s “A Look at Woman Suffrage: A Century of Struggle.� That and the subsequent monthly lectures will be available online.

Heritage Society Development Director Laura Woods said there is a groundswell of enthusiasm about the exhibit, and she hopes it will also raise additional interest in The Heritage Society’s mission and programs. “We were very excited when they came along with the idea,� Woods said.

For current exhibit hours, virtual lectures and tours and to RSVP for the free “Women’s Equality Day,� visit heritagesociety.org.

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The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • Page 7A

Woodland Heights artist teams up with Houston Food Bank Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Woodland Heights resident Michael Rodriguez wants to bring positivity to the community, and he uses art to accomplish that.

Rodriguez is the latest artist to contribute to the Houston Food Bank’s “Instagrammable moments,” which are places throughout the bank where people can stop and snap a photo with a creative background. The spaces will be made up of graphics, original art and murals.

Rodriguez’s is the second mural to be painted at the food bank.

“It’s great to see what they’re doing over there and how many people are helping,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a really positive place.”

That positivity is what made Rodriguez excited to team up with the food bank to paint a

Contributed photo Woodland Heights resident Michael Rodriguez works on his mural contribution to the Houston Food Bank, which will be completed by the end of the month.

mural that extends along a hallway that is around 50 feet long.

Brian Greene, president and CEO of Houston Food Bank, said it decided to use art to engage the community and help build community support.

Contributed photo Michael Rodriguez paints part of his mural at the Houston Food Bank.

“We have lots of wall space and that gives us an opportunity to offer something beautiful to the community,” Greene said.

Rodriguez’s mural inspiration came to him while he was touring the food bank facil-

ity. He realized how Houston Food Bank is integrated into all of the different communities in Houston and wanted to be able to represent that in a mural.

The mural, which is just shy of completion, features differ-

ent types of big, brightly colored produce at the base with skylines at the top.

Rodriguez said he originally met with the food bank before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the project was pushed back because of it.

It also caused other projects he had scheduled to begin to overlap, which is way the mural won’t be 100 percent complete until the end of the month.

If you want to see Rodriguez’s mural, you should park at the bank’s back parking lot.

You can’t miss it since you’d have to walk by it to go in.

As a Heights-area resident, Rodriguez also is able to see some of his work throughout his own neighborhood. He has a couple of murals at Sawyer Yards and one at Black Swan Yoga, 310 North St., that has been there almost 10 years.

“It always makes me happy to see people interacting and taking pictures at the mural,” Rodriguez said.

He also is working on a mural for the M-K-T development at North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street in the Heights. It has yet to be finalized, but Rodriguez said the mural would be at one of the entrances to the development and would have a space theme.

Review: Pinkerton’s raises bar for barbecue

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Eating Pinkerton’s Barbecue for the first time made me stop and ask myself why I wasted time eating anything less than great barbecue in the past.

Then I remembered how much the barbecue at Pinkerton’s cost me. It’s some of the best barbecue I’ve had in Houston, but ordering by the pound was pricey — at least the brisket was. According to Pinkerton’s website, the price has actually been raised due to the national beef shortage and unprecedented price increases.

However, it’s less expensive if you just order a sandwich.

Sandwiches are $10-$13.

I ordered online for takeout. I got the sliced prime brisket, glazed pork ribs, a side of jambalaya and a side of South Texas beans. Any extras, such as pickles or onions, cost $0.50 each.

When I arrived at the res-

taurant the bag with my name on it had just been placed on the pick-up table. As I went to grab it, a worker stopped me to ask how many barbecue sauces I wanted. When I just asked for one, he was so surprised and glad that I hadn’t asked for “handfuls” like everyone else, so he gave me extra. I thought this was really nice, especially later when I realized why other people ask for so many.

Four slices of brisket were placed on top of six ribs in the container. The slices of brisket were thick and fatty around the edges. The meat was so tender that it fell apart in my mouth. But what made it even better was the barbecue sauce.

I don’t tend to eat brisket with sauce because I personally like using mustard. Being in Texas, mustard-based sauces are few and far between.

So when I realized Pinkerton’s was a mustard-based sauce I was excited. It’s mustard and vinegar flavor was my favorite

FOOD BRIEFS:

rice mixed with a few vegetables and bits of sausage. It only had a slight Cajun flare, but the hearty rice still impressed me.

But my favorite side was the beans. The dish was made up of classic pinto beans with a slice of bacon for flavor and chopped jalapeno peppers.

I’m sure there were other additions to the beans, but I was so distracted by the pepper that I didn’t much care what else was in the beans.

The peppers gave the beans a sweet side, while not really adding anything to the dish in

terms of spiciness.

The beans were my favorite side, and one that I’m sure I’ll crave often.

Pinkerton’s Barbecue Address: 1504 Airline Dr. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday Pricing: $16-$26 by the pound Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: No Star of the show: Glazed pork ribs

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Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are the brisket, glazed pork ribs, jambalaya and South Texas beans from Pinkerton’s Barbecue, 1504 Airline Dr.

part of the already great meat.

The pork ribs were slathered in glaze and the meat just about fell off the bone when I picked it up. The glaze mixed

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with the fatty meat was delicious and messy. Even the parts of meat that were leaner were still tender.

The side of jambalaya was

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Photo from Facebook Killen’s owner Ronnie Killen works the fryer at a pop-up event.

Killen’s now open in Heights

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

The wait for Killen’s is over.

The new restaurant by award-winning chef Ronnie Killen, located at 101 Heights Blvd., opened Wednesday and will serve southern food staples such as fried chicken.

Since announcing the concept would take over the former Hickory Hollow space, Killen’s has occasionally held pop-up events in the parking lot to give neighbors a taste of what was to come.

The restaurant is taking reservations on OpenTable.com.

The Bearded Baker opening next month The Bearded Baker, a cookie shop, will open this fall in a

Revive development off 11th Street between North Shepherd Drive and Yale Street.

Originally the shop was to open in the spring, but owner Allan Hursig said the shop is now set to open at the end of September.

Let’s Eat August During the remaining Friday and Saturday nights in August, State of Mind at 2632 N. Durham Dr. is utilizing its parking lot to host “Let’s Eat August.”

The events are scheduled from 6 p.m.-midnight and will feature different food trucks from around Houston, music

by DJ AD and cocktails and beer at State of Mind’s to-go bar.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 • Page 8A

Police searching for persons of interest in Northside bar shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police have released surveillance photos of three men suspected of being involved in a fatal shooting outside a Northside nightclub over the weekend.

The Houston Police Department said officers responded to a shooting call at a nightclub at 2836 Fulton St. just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 to find 44-yearold Christopher Rizzo on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bars and nightclubs are not legally allowed to be open in Texas, per an executive order issued in late June by Gov. Greg Abbott.

HPD said witnesses told investigators that Rizzo and his friends got into a fight with a motorcycle group inside the bar before the altercation spilled outside. Police say there was subsequent gunfire exchanged, which injured at least one other person.

Anyone with information on the identities or whereabouts of the men in the surveillance photos is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Surveillance photos from Houston Police Department The Houston Police Department identified the three men pictured above as persons of interest in a fatal shooting at 2836 Fulton St.

Police investigating fatality on freeway

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police are investigating the causes of a roadside death in the area last weekend.

According to a news release from the Houston Police Department, officers responded to the 12000 block of Northwest Freeway just after 1 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15, when the driver of an 18-wheeler told police he pulled over on the

side of the road after feeling an impact from the back of his trailer.

HPD said the driver told police he was driving in the middle lanes of the freeway when he felt the impact before his brakes began to lock up. After pulling over, the driver then saw a white Chevy van burning, according to police.

The person inside the van was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the

18-wheeler was questioned at the scene and released, according to HPD. HPD spokesperson Victor Senties said it is unclear whether the 18-wheeler was involved in an accident or only witnessed the van catching fire. He said the department’s Vehicular Crimes division is in the process of determining any fault, which could involve speaking with potential witesses or recreating the accident.

Police Reports • Aug. 15-18 AUG. 15

Vandalism 9 PM 400 BLOCK W 24TH Theft 8 PM 5100 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 4 AM 00 BLOCK NEYLAND Assault 10 AM 3700 BLOCK CENTER

AUG. 16

Burglary 11 PM 900 BLOCK FUGATE Assault 9 AM 1300 BLOCK IDYLWILD Assault 10 PM 3600 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 PM 6500 BLOCK GROVEWOOD LN

AUG. 17

Burglary 3 AM 2700 BLOCK OF YALE Theft 3 PM 1200 BLOCK W 17TH Robbery 2 AM 4400 BLOCK YALE Theft 8 PM 1600 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 9 PM 1400 BLOCK SHEPHERD Burglary 4 AM 3100 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS

AUG. 18

Burglary 2 AM 2800 BLOCK YALE

Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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Janet Elaine Fagan Tittle

ollowing many months struggling with complications of heart disease and diabetes, Janet Elaine Fagan Tittle went to be with her Lord on August 2, 2020 in Wylie, Texas at the age of 87.

Born in Houston, Texas on May 28, 1933, Janet attended Reagan High School where she was in the drill team and excelled academically. She attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas and Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas on scholarships, graduating from Southwestern in 1955, earning a degree in Christian Education. An avid music lover, Janet, having a lovely alto voice, was a member of a traveling girls’ trio. She

was also a member of Phi Mu Fraternity and named Pi Kappa Alpha Dream Girl.

It was while attending Southwestern that Janet met Lloyd Maston Tittle III on a blind date. Following a romantic courtship, Lloyd proposed to Janet her senior year, singing “I Love You Truly.”

They were married on June 28, 1956 and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Lloyd and Janet settled in Houston where Lloyd worked as an oil and gas engineer, and Janet worked as a loving homemaker and mother. They moved from Houston to Wylie in 2015.

Janet was a strong Christian and fiercely loved her family. She worked as a Youth Director in Tyler, Texas following college graduation. For several years, she taught children’s Sunday School, as well as music during Vacation Bible School. She is preceded in death by her parents Hallie Roberta Humphrey Fagan and George T. Fagan, her father-in-law, Lloyd Maston Tittle, Jr., her motherin-law, Mary Lavinia Ruffner Tittle, her brothers Lawrence George Fagan, Richard Allan Fagan, and James Frank Fagan, and her sister, Judith Eileen Fagan Clark. She is survived by her beloved husband, Lloyd Maston Tittle III, her brother, Ronald Lee Fagan (Sandy), her sisters-in-law, Mary Helen Fagan, Robin Freeman,

and Nikki Fagan, her five children, Sharon Eileen Tittle Hilburn, (Alan), Linda Dianne Tittle Watkins (Craig), Sandra Lynette Tittle Ezell, Annette Marie Tittle Prince (James), and Lloyd Maston Tittle IV (Kristen), as well as 11 grandchildren, Alison Nicole Hodgson Whitehurst (Gabriel) , Zachary Alan Hilburn (Leah) Karla Kay Hilburn Privett (Austin), Morgan Ashley Hilburn Kane (Dylan), Addison Brooke Watkins Mansur (Chris), Chase Daniel Watkins, Morgan Samantha Ezell, Joshua Hansen Prince, Victoria Grace Prince, Steven Caleb Prince, and Hannah Grace Tittle, and eight greatgrandchildren, Alexander Matthew Watkins, Damien Andrew Mansur, Alivia Chanel Delsonde, Cooper Ryan Mansur, Levi Christopher Mansur, Benjamin James Privett, Jude Thomas Privett, and Ezra Tyler Privett, and numerous nieces and nephews.

It was Janet’s wish to be cremated.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, a private Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Providence Church of Texas in Rowlett, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or the Diabetes Foundation.