Join us for
FACEBOOK LLIVE IVE S SA SALE ALE
Inside Today: The Readers’ Choice Awards ballot • Page 4B
SEPTEMBER 7TH 6 P.M. - 8 P.M.
EVERYTHING on SALE!
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, September 4, 2021 • Vol. 66 • No. 36
ABOUT US 2020 North Loop West Suite 220 (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/FromTheLeader
40 YEARS INSULATING! Attics • Walls • Floors Noise Reduction • Removal
FREE ESTIMATES
713.868.1021
I-45 expansion plan still chugging along By Adam Zuvanich mdegrood@fortbendstar.com
Funding for a controversial plan to expand Interstate 45 near and north of Downtown Houston remains in place, but it could still be removed from the road before the end of the year. The Texas Transportation Commission, which governs the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), voted Tuesday to keep TxDOT’s North Houston Highway Improvement Project as
part of its long-term transportation plan for the state, according to multiple news reports. But the estimated $7 billion project could still be derailed by an ongoing investigation by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which has instructed TxDOT to pause the project while it looks into environmental and civil rights concerns raised by impacted residents and local elected officials. Commission chairman Bruce Bugg said during a
Tuesday meeting that if the federal organization does not complete its investigation and lift the pause by Nov. 30, then the commission will remove the highway expansion project and its funding from TxDOT’s Unified Transportation Plan, a 10-year plan for the state’s highway system. “It is crystal clear to me that TxDOT is ready to build the (expansion),” Bugg said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “No question See I-45 P. 5A
Work Zone
paylessinsulation.com
Leader’s Choice BEST ATTORNEY 2018, 2019, 2020 Now located at:
Area resident chairs new women’s commission
5005 W. 34th Street, Suite 104A Legal Services For Wills, Probate Estate Planning & General Civil Matters
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
PHYLLIS A. OESER ATTORNEY AT LAW 713-692-0300
Elizabeth Villarreal Your Neighbor & REALTOR®
832.712.1320
elizasgarden@outlook.com
713-528-1800
INSIDE.
Wanted. Houston police are searching for a man accused of shooting a father and son.
Page 2A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Construction has begun on Phase 2 of the Garden Oaks-Shepherd Park Drainage & Paving Project, which figures to reduce flooding risks in the area but could cause headaches in the interim.
Construction starts for Phase 2 of drainage project By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Good stuff. Food writer Stefan Modrich reviews Hughie’s, a popular Vietnamese spot.
Page 7A
Dealing with delta. Local businesses try to strike a balance between safety and viability.
Cagle
Hidalgo
A few years from now, Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Plaza residents who live a little bit east of Ella Boulevard should have smoother streets with better drainage capacity and more room to operate – by car, by bike and by foot. In the meantime, though, they might not like dealing with construction and street closures. Many residents and businesses in the area will temporarily lose water and access to their driveways, and some must permanently part ways with trees on their properties. The City of Houston and one of its contractors began construction this week on Phase 2 of the Garden Oaks-Shepherd Park Drainage & Paving Project, a three-pronged initiative that aims to reduce structural flooding risks in the neighborhoods while improving road and sidewalk conditions. The area to be overhauled includes parts of Golf and Wakefield drives as well as Chamboard Lane to the north, with the work slated to be done in sections and completed by the fall of 2023. “The bad news is because this is construction, there will be some inconveniences,” Houston Public Works’ Kenya Williams told residents during a virtual public engagement meeting held Aug. 26. “The good news is they are only temporary.” The cost of Phase 2 construction is $23.7 million, according to the city, and the work will cover 21,626 linear feet of
Beth Matusoff Merfish wants to help make a better Houston for her two young daughters, much like her own mother did for her. Heights resident Sherry Merfish, 69, is a longtime women’s rights advocate who worked as a development director for EMILY’s List, a political action committee that helps elect Democratic female candidates who are in favor of abortion rights. She was an inspiration for the younger Merfish, an associate professor who is the chair of the liberal arts department at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Beth Merfish recently took on another role in which she can have an even bigger impact on fellow women in the city – and for generations to come. The Woodland Heights resident is the chair of the new Houston Women’s Commission, which was created last week by the Houston City Council and held its first meeting Monday at City Hall. Merfish said she wants to advocate for gender equality and equity on behalf of her two daughters, 5-year-old Etta and 3-year-old Flora. “My mom’s goal was to make the world better for me,” Merfish said. “I’m now trying to make the world better for them. So with each generation, we make progress.” The Houston Women’s Commission is the brainchild of council member Abbie Kamin, who serves the Greater Heights as part of District C. Merfish said Kamin first told her about the idea while she was running for city council in 2019, and the vision began to take shape after Kamin was elected. Kamin and Merfish secured the support of Mayor Sylvester Turner, who along with the council created the 25-member women’s commission through city ordinance, meaning it will continue to operate after the current elected officials’ terms have expired. The purpose of the volunteer commission, made up entirely of women, is See Women P. 3A
Photo from Abbie Kamin’s office Woodland Heights resident Beth Merfish, left, and Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin participate in the first Houston Women’s Commission meeting Monday at City Hall.
See Construction P. 5A
Panthers, Eagles roll to season-opening wins
Page 1B
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 1A
Photo from Twitter St. Thomas wide receiver Cameron Price (3) tries to evade a tackler during the Eagles’ Aug. 27 game against Needville.
St. Thomas High School football coach Rich McGuire previously said his team was going to be looking for some answers in its season opener against Needville. St. Pius X, meanwhile, is looking to climb back to the top of TAPPS competition. Through the end of the season’s first week, at least, both teams looked to be taking
steps in the right direction. St. Thomas was on the winning end of a 35-28 thriller against Needville last Saturday night, while St. Pius X raced to a 54-0 victory over Lutheran High North. Transfer quarterback Jake Wright immediately left his mark for St. Thomas, completing 24 of 31 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in his Eagles’ debut. All four of Wright’s touch-
downs were to four different receivers, but senior Cameron Price carried the load, catching 12 passes for 215 yards and a score. Joe Rick Madden, Trey Robinson and Shaffer Henderson also hauled in scoring tosses. On the defensive side of the ball, junior Jackson Ward lead four Eagles tacklers in double digits with 16 stops and two tackles for loss. John Heyburn had 13 tackles and a sack, See Football P. 4A
Personalized attention. 2222 North Durham | 281.517.8760 AllegianceBank.com
By ensuring consistent access, quick answers and tailored solutions, we don’t just get to know your business, we get to know you. %iscover how our taking your success personally can make all the difference.