02-11-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

New apartments planned for Sunset Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the Greater Heights and Houston continue to grow, the list of new apartment complexes coming in to accommodate that growth is burgeoning right along with it.

On Wednesday, Atlanta-based Wood Partners, announced that crews have broken ground on construction of Alta Sunset Heights, an apartment complex with nearly 400 apartment units that will be located at 1617 Enid St. on the eastern edge of the Heights near Interstate 45.

The complex is currently slated to

open in 2024, with pre-leasing set to open beginning this December, according to Wood Partners spokesperson Rylie Geraci. Geraci declined to share financial information about the cost of the project. Officials with Wood Partners said the property’s proximity to places such as the Heights Hike and Bike Trail as well as Memorial Park and Interstate 45, as well as plentiful dining and entertainment options. Alta Sunset Heights will be Wood Partners’ 14th development in Houston and third in the local area, joining Alta Washington at 6400 Washington Ave.

Front and center

Police searching for local stabbing suspect

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police are searching for man who is accused of stabbing and hospitalizing another man in the Central Northwest area on Christmas Day, according to the Houston Police Department.

The victim, 46-year-old Esahu Guerra, was taken to a hospital in stable condition following the stabbing, according to the department. Police said the suspect is a Hispanic man who is believed to be around 19 years old, according to the department, and he remains at large.

Officers responded around 9:40 p.m. on Dec. 25, 2022 to an apartment complex in the 4400 block of Sherwood Lane in the Central Northwest area to find Guerra having been stabbed multiple times, according to the department. Guerra told detectives he had been stabbed before being taken to the hospital, according to police.

Signing Day a proud moment for local players, coaches

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

It was a banner day last week for dozens of student athletes from area high schools who will be continuing their sports careers at the college level. And their coaches and athletic directors know that it is not an opportunity to be taken for granted, no matter what level it is at.

In total, local public and private schools saw more than 30 studentathletes from Waltrip, Heights, Booker T. Washington, and St. Thomas high school sign their college letters of intent during National Signing Day on Feb. 1.

It was particularly special for Booker T. Washington head football coach Kelvin Chatham, who had about a dozen of his playesr sign.

“As a coach, and just in general, It

Police say the suspect allegedly stabbed Guerra multiple times outside an apartment unit before allegedly fleeing the scene in an unknown direction on foot, according to the department.

Anyone with information on the identity of the wanted suspect or in the stabbing is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence Division at 713-308-8800. Those with relevant information can also speak anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers at 713222-8477 to leave a tip.

Commissioners’ court approves county toll rate reduction

10 percent. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who serves part of the area including the Greater Heights, said during a late January press conference that plans call for the measure to go into effect by this coming September.

This is the first time in the history of Harris County’s toll roads that officials are approving a toll rate discount

for drivers, according to Ellis. According to officials, it will represent total savings for drivers that will approach nearly $900 million when all is said and done.

“We plan to get this discount implemented by Labor Day of this year and give working people some needed relief,” Ellis said.

Photo courtesy HPD

Pictued is a suspect who is accused of stabbing a man in the Central Northwest area on Christmas Day.

Contributed rendering

Alta Sunset Heights is planned for an early 2024 completion in the Sunset Heights neighborhood.

Adrian Garcia Rodney Ellis

Three

Photo from St. Thomas website

St. Thomas’ Jack Ward (left), Tyler Langin, and Preston Bowman were among more than 30 local student athletes to sign letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the college level last week.

Photo from Twitter

Members of the Booker T. Washginton football team, shown with coach Kelvin Chatham (far right) show off their signed national letters of intent last Wednesday.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man Houston police had been looking for after he disappeared from his home in Timbergrove late last month following the discovery of a dead man inside his house, was found dead last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The body of 37-year-old James Gerald Martin III was found dead and having been shot multiple times a short distance from his

From Staff Reports

Houston arson investigators are working to determine the origins of a house fire in Acres Homes last week that caused tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, according to the

From Staff Reports

Three people were saved from a burning home in the Heights over the weekend, according to the Houston Fire Department.

All three were evaluated on the scene but found largely unharmed, according to the department. HFD said there were also several pets rescued from the home and returned to the residents.

Crews from stations 9, 12, 15, 30, 6, 8, and 19 responded to a home in the 300 block of Cordell Street just before 6:20 p.m. last

Toll from P. 1

Additionally, Ellis said that the updated policy will make EZ TAG free permanently with up to eight free tags per household. EZ TAGS currently cost $15 per tag, according to officials.

“There are people who live in every precinct in Harris County who many times have no choice but to take the toll road to get where they need to go,” Ellis said. “This will make it a little bit easier for all of them. This change in policy will reduce barriers to access and make it easier for anyone who wants an EZ-TAG to get one.”

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, whose district includes Near Northside, said during the Jan. 31 meeting that HCTRA director Roberto Treviño has been key in helping enable residents of local neighborhoods to use the toll roads.

“As I told folks before and I will say it again – until your arrival, the toll system was

and Arlo Buffalo Heights at 225 S. Heights Blvd.

“The east side of the Heights is quickly becoming a popular neighborhood due to its central location with new dining and entertainment options,” said Bart Barrett, managing director at Wood Partners. “We are thrilled to continue expanding into the Houston market with Alta Sunset Heights.”

With its groundbreaking, Alta Sunset Heights joins a growing list of under construction or recentlylaunched apartments in the Heights area, such as Lenox Heights – under construction at 333 W. 24th St. – and Domain Heights, which launched in February 2022 at 401 W. 25th St.

Information from the real estate firm Transwestern has said that there are more than 1,000 new

home, according to the department. Martin’s truck, which had gone missing from his home, was later found in the 6900 block of Cullen Boulevard in Southeast Houston, according to HPD.

The man found dead inside the home has been identified as Dana Ryssdal, 35, according to the department.

Officers responded to the house in the 1700 block of West T.C. Jester Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 27 to do a welfare check, police said, to find the man

Houston Fire Department.

Nobody was reported injured as a result of the fire, according to the department.

HFD crews from stations 67, 15, 4, 31, 13, 58, and 30 on Feb. 3 arrived at a home in the 6600 block of Phillips Street in Acres Homes

Saturday, the department said, to find a two-story house that was on fire. Crews then went in and rescued three people along with several pets from the blaze before extinguishing the fire, according to HFD.

Arson investigators have ruled the fire as accidental, the department said, after they determined that an overloaded power strip is what led to and caused the fire to start.

The fire wound up causing an estimated $90,000 in property damage to the home, according to the department.

for other people,” Garcia said during the Jan. 31 meeting. “And you have been very, very creative and very strategic on how to make sure that local neighborhoods, those neighborhoods inside the loop, inner city are also receiving a benefit from the toll system.”

Ellis had also previously said that the historic toll rate reduction comes at a time when the price of just about everything is rising and people are feeling the pinch. He also said he believes that transportation is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

Trevino said the result has been a collaborative effort between the toll road authority and the county’s leadership.

“It starts at the top,” he said Jan. 31. “All credit goes to the direction the court provides us and the support you provide me and the team.

apartment units are under construction in the Heights and Washington Avenue corridor, according to an article from the Houston Chronicle.

When complete, the complex will offer 378 one and two-bedroom apartment units, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops with tile backsplash, a full-size washer dryer in all homes and luxury vinyl flooring, according to the developer.

Residents will also have access to a pool, outdoor kitchen, and a dog park, as well as a clubroom with, fitness center, and a business center.

For more information on Wood Partners, visit the company’s website at woodpartners.com.

later identified as Ryssdal dead inside the house having been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to HPD. At the time, police said Martin and his truck, a white 2022 Dodge Ram pickup truck, were missing from house.

Officers then later discovered a man, later identified as Martin, dead inside another car on the home’s property, according to the department. He had been shot multiple times and killed, according to HPD.

Police currently do not

around 8:45 p.m., the department said, to find a heavy fire coming from the side of the one-story home. There were also power lines down around the home, according to HFD.

However, crews were able to extinguish the fire, according to the department,

From Staff Reports

An electrical malfunction caused a small fire in the attic of a Heights-area home last week, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Nobody was reported injured in the fire, according to the department.

Crews from stations 15, 6, 31, 11, 62, and 30 responded to a house in the 100 block of East 24th Street in the Heights just before 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 2, the department said, to find smoke coming from the attic vents of a one-story house.

have any known suspects or motives in the case, police said, but the investigation remains ongoing and the deaths have been ruled homicides according to HPD.

Detectives are asking anyone with information in the shootings of Ryssdal, Martin, or both, to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or to speak anonymously with Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.

and nobody was hurt in the fire. Arson investigators are still working, the department said, to find out what caused the fire – which HFD said caused an estimated $42,500 worth of damage to the house.

However, the fire was quickly put out according to the department, with nobody reported hurt in the small fire.

The department said arson investigator have deemed the fire accidental, saying an electrical malfunction is what caused the fire. The homeowner had reported electrical issues prior to the fire, according to HFD.

There was no immediate determination on how much damage was caused to the home, according to the department.

THE TOPICS.

Final Score: COVID 19, The World 6.8 million

AISLE FIVE – The price of a dozen eggs is about what I paid for my first car. Don’t buy bananas or bread. You can’t afford them. Check out the Alpo display. But can you afford a face mask?

Apparently not because I am the only one in the store wearing such gear. Back in the terror stricken days of 2020 everyone wore a mask. Today only hospitals require them. Why this change? Because the pandemic is over! Covid-19 has gone to the dust bin of history along with Mexico will pay for the wall. We know this end to a terrible time is because President Joe Biden said so and The New York Times agreed.

It’s about time. If you will recall on Jan. 6, 2020, The Times first reported on a mysterious “pneumonialike illness” that sickened 59 people in Wuhan, China. Symptoms included high fever, trouble breathing and lung lesions, but Chinese health officials said there was no evidence of humanto-human transmission. Two days later, Chinese scientists identified the source of the new disease: a previously unidentified coronavirus. Within weeks, the pathogen was sickening scores of people in Wuhan, and China took the drastic step of locking down the city, effectively sealing off its 11 million inhabitants. Then all hell broke loose. Pro sports teams worldwide suspended their seasons. Stocks plunged. The World Health Organization, or WHO, declared the virus a pandemic. By early April tourist sites were empty, NYC became a ghost town. Authorities ordered four billion people — roughly half of humanity — to stay home.

Dr. Anthony Fauci told The Times, “If you look at the very beginning, we

Lynn Ashby Columnist

in more than a century.” He blamed part of the problem because Chinese authorities didn’t tell the rest of the world what was actually going on. Even today there is a debate on whether the disease was an accident in a Chinese lab or whether it came from raw rat meat in a market. Some weirdos even speculated what it was a deliberate effort by the Chinese to poison the world.

As the pandemic raged, predictably in this country, at least, it became a conservative-versus-liberal (or progressive) debate. The right wing poo-pooed the alarm as alarmist. “Those vaccinations can kill you!” they cried. President Donald Trump called Covid-19 “a Democratic hoax,” although he and his current wife secretly got vaccinated and it only came out months later. Tucker Carlson on Fox News spent an entire program blasting Dr. Fauci and his warnings. Here in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state institutions, including our public universities, to stop mandating masks on campus.

This had to be one of the stupidest arguments in the nation’s history. Poll after poll showed that the overwhelming number of anti-vaxxers were Republicans, most with only a high school education. One

Houston hospital noted that 99 percent of its Covid-19 patients were un-vaccinated. The number of anti-vaxxers is growing smaller, and no wonder. One example among many: Phil Valentine, a conservative radio host in Tennessee kept telling his listeners to avoid vaccinations and there was no need to wear a mask. Then he died battling Covid-19. Here in Houston, an anti-vaxxer doctor at Houston Methodist Hospital, Mary Talley Bowden, was suspended from her provisional hospital privileges in late 2021. The hospital said she was “spreading dangerous misinformation which is not based in science.” She resigned, then sued Methodist. A judge threw out the case.

But rejoice, the pandemic is over! Well, sort of. According to WHO worldwide there have been 754,018,841 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including 6,817,478 deaths, reported, as of Jan. 31, 2023. In the U.S., we’ve had 100,941,827 confirmed cases and 1,097,246 deaths. Just in Texas there have been 8,153,335 confirmed cases and 90,366 deaths, while Harris County has counted 1,262,246 confirmed cases and 11,547 deaths, but it’s early in the day.

People have pandemic fatigue. We are tired of keeping 6-feet apart, particularly during sex. Gov.

Abbott, you got your wish. No one is wearing masks anymore. Those 90,366 Texans aren’t really dead, they just keep voting for you. On Jan. 30, President Biden announced that he will end both the national emergency and the public health emergency declarations on May 11, 2023. Biden’s announcement came

on the very same day that WHO said it still considers the Covid-19 pandemic to be “a public health emergency of international concern.” The WHO’s advisory committee noted that although the pandemic is at a turning point, “Covid-19 remains a dangerous infectious disease with the capacity to cause substantial damage to health and health systems.” To make it official, on March 2, 2020, The New York Times started a newsletter to keep readers informed about the global outbreak. Now that Covid-19 is no more, the newsletter has been dropped. (Incidentally,

do you spell it Covid-19 or COVID -19?)

The European Union no longer recommends masks be worn at airports and on planes. In Asia, masks are falling. South Korea just dropped wearing masks indoors. Japan has dropped masking outdoors and is about to stop requiring them indoors. Later this month Taiwan plans to no longer require masks at all. Then there is China whose leaders ordered such draconian steps, like not leaving your house, that there were literally riots in the streets. The lockdown was dropped.

Little by little, worldwide the mask attack has been defeated. And back here on Aisle Five I am all alone in Maskville, because I wear a mask at all times, which makes smoking a cigar a bit of an effort. Other customers in restaurants wonder why I sip my penot gregio through a straw. If I jogged, I’d be wearing a haz-mat suit. You can’t be too careful. “Who was that masked man?” you ask. It’s me, the Lone Stranger. Ashby is vaccinated at ashby2@comcast.net

Our section Support Local will provide local businesses each week to you, our readers. There is no time like the present to strengthen and invest in our community! Call The Leader at 713-686-8494 or email jblack@theleadernews.com to advertise in this section.

Hymns and Hers.

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old

new, and we warmly invite you to visit.

Art Valet: ‘Art in the Middle’ reception happening Saturday at Spring St Studios

selection of artwork. The studios are open until 5 p.m.

Second Saturday Open Studios at Sawyer Yards is this Saturday, February 11, noon - 5 p.m. The free event is where artists open their studios to the public that includes the Silos at Sawyer Yards, Sabine, Summer, Spring and Silver Street Studios. Winter Street Studios is still closed and under repairs. Spring Street Studios has a special event Saturday that I want to bring to your attention. The Art Colony Association, Inc. (ACA), the producer of Bayou City Art Festival, will announce the top 30 finalists for its 10th Annual Middle School Art Competition (MSAC) at the “Art in the Middle” reception Saturday, February 11, 2023, 2 - 4 p.m. on the 2nd Floor of the Spring Street Studios located at 1824 Spring Street, Houston 77007.

The Middle School Art

Competition is an education initiative offered by ACA for students in grades 5-8 from Houston area private schools, charter schools, and public independent school districts. The art contest offers middle school students the opportunity to participate in a 2-D juried competition, have their art displayed in public, interact with working artists, and win prizes for themselves and their school’s art program.   There are 14 volunteers, your dear writer here included, that coordinate and put on this popular event for the often overlooked middle school art students. There are also several dozen community volunteers and high school students that step up to help prep, install and take down the art. When I volunteered a few years ago, I was not expecting the complexities of what I was stepping into!

I chatted with co-founder, Nadia Troutenko, who is also a Emeritus Board Member with ACA, about the history of the MSAC. Trouten -

ko was interested in doing something that was helpful year round as the art festival occurs only twice a year.

A mutual friend introduced Troutenko to Beth Cardono, who was very involved with the Houston Rodeo School Art Committee. The two came up with the Middle School Art Competition. Many of the

volunteers are retired teachers and principals. This year

ACA Board Members Michel Muyelle (2022) and Obes Nwabara joined the group.

A total of 419 artworks were submitted and hung on the walls of Spring Street Studios this week and judged by local Houston artists.

As my fellow committee members checked in

the artwork, we were once again amazed at the talent these young artists have.

The culmination of all this is of course the public reception, “Art in the Middle,” that takes place Saturday in the open working art studio corridors of Spring Street Studios. Alex Roman, Jr. known as “Donkeeboy” will be the special

guest along with working artists that will speak to the students about exploring their creativity in the arts.

The student artwork will be on exhibit at Spring Street Studios from Feb. 9-11. Art students and guests are encouraged to explore Sawyer Yards, visit art studios, meet artists, learn about their work and shop the extensive

The top 30 finalists’ art will be on display at the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park March 24-26. The finalists’ artwork will also be posted for web-based voting to determine the “People’s Choice Award.” Online voting will take place February 14 through Feb. 28 at www. artcolonyassociation.org. Additionally, the finalists will receive tickets to the Memorial Park festival and a finalist award ribbon.    ACA will announce 1st, 2nd and 3rd place along with the winner of the “People’s Choice Award” at a special reception at Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park on Sunday, March 26 at 1 p.m.

The winners leave with more than a pat on the back thanks to the support of the prize sponsors. Prizes include scholarships to Glassell School of Art summer classes, for the 10th year, iPads purchased with a donation by the Houston Northwest Lions Club, gift cards to Jerry’s Artarama and cash amounts donated to the winning student’s school for art education.

The amazing MSAC committee include Nadia Troutenko, Neda Scanlan, Beth Cardono, Donna Andrich, Mitch Cohen, Lynn Marie, Sue Loudis, Jeanne Haner, Michel Muyelle, Obes Nwabara, Stacia Gower, Keely Jones and Venu and Elsie Rao. Executive Director of the ACA, Kelly Batterson, really steps it up to accommodate all of us now spoiled committee members.

There was no official sponsor of the MSAC this year, and the committee is always looking for new members. If you’re interested in either, reach out to me, I can direct you.

Before leaving Saturday, trek across campus to 2101 Winter St., and visit me and the amazing artisans of The Market at Sawyer Yards. We’re under the towering Silos at Sawyer Yards. I’ll have more about that on my website. Cohen is an

Find

Contributed photo

The 10th Annual Middle School Art Competition reception is this coming Saturday at Spring Street Studios.

Photo by Lynn Marie

The art at Spring St. Studios awaits the reception this weekend.

All about non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and nutrition

By Shana Tatum RD, LD, IFMCP www.shanatatumrd.com

Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD, is more common than many think.

In the US, up to 80 million individuals may have NAFLD, and the incidence is rising, even among children and adolescents. The condition is rooted in fatty deposits that accumulate in the liver preventing proper metabolism. It is called non-alcoholic because alcohol is not a contributor in the same way for others that have fatty liver disease caused by a high intake of alcohol. As with most conditions, it ranges in severity. Some suffer from the fat accumulation in the liver and others experience more damage with liver cell injury and high inflammation. This condition can progress to cirrhosis, scarring of the liver tissue and liver cancer.

In last month’s article we highlighted cardiometabolic health. The liver plays a role in this too. Think of the liver as the main player in metabolism. It changes the nutrients from our diet into molecules the body can use. It then stores these molecules, as well as supplying cells with them when needed. The liver also removes toxic substances and changes them into neutral substances and ensures they can be eliminated safely from the body.

In fat metabolism the liver breaks down fats and produces energy. It also produces close to 800 to 1,000 ml of bile per day. This yellow liquid is collected in small ducts and then passed on to the main bile duct, which carries the bile to a part of the small intestine called the duodenum. Bile is important for the breakdown and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

For carbohydrate metabolism, the liver helps to ensure that the amount of sugar in your blood (blood glucose) remains constant. If your glucose levels increase, which is normal after a meal, the liver will remove sugar from blood and store it in the form of glycogen. If glucose gets too low, it will release stored glycogen to produce energy. In addition to storing glycogen, the liver stores vitamin K and minerals like iron and copper as well.

Protein is the other macronutrient in metabolism that the liver affects. It takes proteins and breaks them down to single unit amino acids that are used for muscle repair and creation of DNA. A byproduct of this conversion is ammonia. Accumulation of this protein can be toxic. The liver can transform it to urea and transport to the kidneys for elimination.

See how integral to our health your liver is? Love it and see how good nutrition can help you avoid and manage nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Fatty Acids

Watch for too much saturated fat in the diet. Some animal studies have linked

Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson

Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practicing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routinely sees patients for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifts, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia.

high saturated fat with NAFLD. Saturated fats are found mostly in animal proteins like beef, pork, and chicken. Plant sources would include coconut, palm kernel oil and palm oil. Generally, saturated fat should be limited to 7-10% of all calories. For someone consuming 2000 calories per day would be not more than 22g of saturated fat. Trans fatty acids have been correlated with high triglycerides and increased inflammation which is also connected to NAFLD.

Fructose

Avoiding high fructose foods, such as high fructose corn syrup, HFCS, will also be an important step in reducing risk of NAFLD. HFCS has been linked to leptin resistance too. Leptin is the hormone that signals fullness. Studies show direct and indirect effects of fructose on the liver. One from the journal Hepatology cited that increased fructose consumption was associated with fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Fructose can be found in many sugar-sweetened beverages like juices and colas. It can also be found in breads, yo -

gurts, and cereals. Consider avoiding if the label reads:

1. Maize syrup

2. Glucose syrup

3. Glucose-fructose syrup

4. Tapioca syrup

5. Fruit fructose

6. Crystalline fructose

7. HFCS (the same name, just abbreviated)

8. Isoglucose

9. Corn syrup

10. Dahlia syrup

While fruit is considered healthy for its antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, someone with NAFLD should be mindful of fruit intake. This is not only for the fructose content in fruits but the added carbohydrates that fruit offers. This includes juicing and dried fruits. Keeping carbohydrates lower in this patient population can prove advantageous. Depending on age and weight, no more than 40% carbohydrate intake was shown in the journal Diabetes Care to reduce liver enzymes and help manage insulin sensitivity and visceral fat.

Physical activity

Moving your body for at least 150 minutes per week at a moderate intensity is an important goal to set. With physical limitations aside, daily movement that includes cardiovascular exercise and resistance training helps keep a body not only trending toward optimal health but can also improve symptoms of NAFLD.

Among the measures predicting change in liver fat, fitness emerged as one of the strongest factors according to a 2009 published study in the journal Gut. Other researchers have shown that resistance training for a minimum of eight weeks reduced liver fat independent of weight loss.

Keeping your mind on a balanced diet, one that is lower in saturated fats and carbohydrates and includes daily exercise, can be good interventions to avoid nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com

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Obstetrics / Gynecology

Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Cen-

Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com

Dr. Stephanie Fulton Major Hospitals Vision Care

Vision Source-Grove Heights

Bao-Tran Nguyen 1916 W. 18th St., Houston, TX 77008 346-782-0288

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, M.D.

treatment for her patients.

1900 North Loop W, Suite 580 • Houston, TX 77018 713-714-5376 Whiteoakmedicalassociates.com

Shana Tatum

HS Hoops: Lady Rams clinch postseason berth

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Nearly an entire graduating class had come through Waltrip High School’s girls’ basketball program without making a postseason appearance. But that brief drought is now over, and the Lady Rams are headed back to the UIL postseason.

With a pair of wins last week, the Lady Rams moved to 14-7 overall and 10-5 in District 19-5A and clinched a playoff spot in the process. It is the first postseason appearance for the program since back-toback appearances in 2017 and 2018.

The Lady Rams were looking to finish their regular season on a high note and end on a high note entering Wednesday’s scheduled game against winless

LAndAn KuhLmAnn Editor

Houston Austin.

The Heights Lady Bulldogs picked up two wins last week, taking down Westbury on Jan. 30 before defeating Sam Houston on Feb. 4. Heights (10-14, 5-6) held District 18-6A’s fourth and final playoff spot entering Monday night’s game against Chavez. Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles dropped to 2-15 and 1-7 in district play following a 70-34 loss against Worthing last week.

In private school action,

Lutheran High North’s Lady Lions picked up a 61-29 victory over Pasadena First Baptist Christian on Feb. 4, running their record to 12-7 overall and 9-1 in TAPPS district play.

St. Pius X’s Lady Panthers fell to 3-19 overall and 1-10 in district play with losses to Concordia Lutheran, Incarnate Word, and Antonian Prep last week.

Boys

In public school action, the Booker T. Washington Eagles exacted a measure of revenge last week, taking down Furr 68-67 last Friday in addition to a 10740 victory over North Forest earlier in the week. The win over Furr avenged the Eagles’ only district loss of the season, a 51-50 loss to the Brahmas on Dec. 19, 2022. Chris McDermott was the leading man for the Eagles (20-7, 12-1) against

Furr with 21 points and 17 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots, while Andre Walker II had 15 points. Odis Carter Jr. scored a game-high 32 points in the win over North Forest.

The Heights Bulldogs won their only game of the week, a 64-47 win over Westside on Feb. 4, to move to 14-12 overall and 6-3 in District 18-6A. Gabriel Alvarez scored 22 points to lead the Bulldogs, who currently hold the district’s No. 2 playoff spot, while Allen Rainey had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Waltrip dropped both games last week, losing 53-51 to Madison on Feb. 1 before dropping a 47-42 decision against Sterling on Feb. 4. The Rams now sit at 10-12 and 7-6 in district competition.

Scarborough, meanwhile, dropped a 97-42 decision to Wheatley on Feb. 4, falling to 1-20 and 0-11 in district play.

In private school action, the St. Thomas Eagles are still rolling with three more wins last week. Following an 80-47 win over crosstown rival St. Pius X on Jan. 31, St. Thomas beat Concordia Lutheran 69-67 on Feb. 3 and took down St. Francis Episcopal 72-68 in overtime on Feb. 4. J’Mar Franklin had 14 points to lead a balanced scoring attack against St. Francis that saw four players score in double figures for St.

Thomas (23-1, 7-0) , while Michael Oaks snagged 10 rebounds. Franklin also had 18 points and seven rebounds against Concordia Lutheran, and Pike scored 20 points against SPX. Vincent Doucet had 16 points to lead SPX in the loss to St. Thomas, while the Panthers also dropped games to Antonian Prep (62-42) on Feb. 3 and San Antonio Central Catholic (54-51) on Feb. 4. Doucet also scored 22 points for the Panthers (6-23, 0-8) against Central Catholic, while Jordan Johnson grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Lutheran High North moved to 19-8 overall and 8-4 in TAPPS district play with wins over Katy Faith West (73-38) on Feb. 3 and Pasadena First Baptist Christian (92-72) on Feb. 4.

HS Soccer: SPX girls’ soccer finding a groove

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Entering this season, the St. Pius X girls’ soccer team was looking to build off the program’s first-ever trip to a state final last season.

So far, there has been nothing to dispel the notion that the Lady Panthers might be one of the teams to beat in the state once again in 2023. The Lady Panthers swept through a perfect week with three match victories last week, moving to 9-2-1 overall on the season and are now winners of four consecutive matches.

Tess Dabney and Carley Canon each scored for the Lady Panthers in a 2-1 overtime win against Antonian College Prep on Feb. 4, while Canon and Anna Bordas each scored twice apiece in the Lady Panthers’

means so much to have these kids be able to fulfill their dreams,” he said.

For local public schools, Booker T. Washington had 12 total athletes sign on the dotted line last week to lead local schools. And for his guys, Chatham said they came from all different walks of life. Some are first-generation graduates in their family, he said, while some had plans to drop out before he became the coach two years ago. But they stayed the course, he said, and now have the chance to continue their careers doing what they love to do.

“Most of these kids never even thought they would get to go to college, so knowing there was a path created for them is incredibly fulfilling for myself and my coaching staff,” Chatham said. “In life, all we can hope for is an opportunity, and now these kids have just that.

I believe each of their futures will be extremely bright from here.”

Meanwhile, Heights had 10 athletes pledge to colleges, and Waltrip had two signees.

“As an athletic director, it means a lot to me (to see kids sign) because I know the athletes will have an opportunity to change their life by attending college on any level to have an opportunity to attain a postsecondary education,” Waltrip athletic director Jeremy Kirt said.

Among private schools, St. Thomas had six signees – three football and t hree baseball.

Below is a full list of local signees:

Booker T. Washington

Football

Carter McCormick –

6-1 victory over Incarnate Word Academy on Feb. 3.

Meanwhile, the Lady Panthers got goals from Dabney, Emma King, anad Karolina Tkaczyk in a 3-2 win over Concordia Lutheran on Jan. 31.

In public school action, the Waltrip Lady Rams scored a 2-1 win over Galena Park on Saturday and defeated Wisdom 7-0 on Monday, moving to 8-5-2 overall and 6-1 in District 19-5A.

Joselin Cardentey had a hat trick against Wisdom to give her a team-leading 15 goals this season, while Triniti Hymes-Richardson Ariel Rivas scored twice apiece.

Elsewhere, Heights’ Lady Bulldogs snapped a fourmatch winless streak with a 3-0 win over Westside on Feb. 3, moving their record to 6-2-2 overall and 1-2 in District 18-6A competition.

Garden City College

Jerome Edwards – Ba-

kersfield College

Darrius Lavigne – Ba-

kersfield College

Tyrik Murray – Bakersfield College

Xavier Witherspoon –Bakersfield College

Anthony Brown – Allen-

Hancock College

Daelin Randle – Allen-

Hancock College

Chipper Hogue – Bethel College

Hugo Moran - Lyon Col-

lege

Frederick Malone – Ba-

kersfield College

Sam Washington – Allen-

Hancock College

Basketball

Kenneth Lewis – Prairie

View AM

Heights

Football

David Nico – Blinn Ju-

nior College

Kenyae Wilson – Trinity

Valley Junior College

Allen Rainey – Blinn Ju-

nior College

Kevon Misher – Texas

Wesleyan University

Amilcar Frazier – Texas

Wesleyan University

Chance Hollins – Texas

Wesleyan University

Jeremiah Hayes – Sul

Ross University

Soccer

Mariana Cardenas – Lamar University

Volleyball

Madison Hess – Houston

Christian University

Eden Bilbo – Medaille University

Basketball

Gabriel Alvarez – South

Dakota State Waltrip

Football

Shaun Crawford Jr. – Dakota State Softball

Gabby Thomas-Brice –Texas College (Tyler)

St. Thomas High School

Football

Preston Bowman – Colorado School of Mines

Tyler Langin – Villanova University

Jack Ward – Drake University

Baseball

Logan Duplantis – University of Dallas

Anthony Equale – Washington University-St. Louis

Brayden Hollie – Galveston College

Boys The St. Thomas Eagles won their only match last week, beating SPX by a score of 2-1 on Jan. 31 to avenge a Jan. 17 loss to the Panthers in penalty kicks. St. Thomas (11-9-3, 3-3 district) has now won three in a row following a six-match winless streak.

Alejandro Tello scored both goals in the North Shepherd showdown rematch, with an assist each from Campbell Stefan and David Giulian. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Lucas Wood stood tall in net to earn his ninth individual victory of the season.

SPX bounced back from that loss with a 4-2 victory over San Antonio Central Catholic on Feb. 3 before losing 3-0 against Antonian Prep on Feb. 4. Thomas McGowan had a hat trick for the Panthers (11-4-1, 4-4) in the victory over Central

Catholic, while Preston Kyle added his own goal along with two assists and Austin Brown had an assist.

In public school action, the Scarborough Spartans took down Mickey Leland College Prep by a score of 7-2 last Friday to earn their third win in their last four matches. Jesus Gamez had a hat trick in the match for the Spartans, while Howar Isaula, Luis Acosta, Jose Vasquez, and Anthony Lemus also found the back of the net for a goal apiece.

Waltrip lost 5-0 to Galena Park on Feb. 4 before dropping a 4-0 decision to Wisdom on Monday, falling to 2-9 overall on the season and 2-5 in District 19-5A ahead of Tuesday’s match against Sharpstown.

Heights has now lost its last four matches, falling to 2-6-1 and 0-3 in District 186A following a 4-0 defeat to Westside on Feb. 3.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly St. Pius X’s Carley Canon pursues the ball during a match against Incrnate Word Academy. Canon scored three goals in three matches

Nibbles and Sips: Local spots, restaurant owners among James Beard semifinalists

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A pair of local chefs and a well-known Heights restaurant owner are among those who are in the running for a prestigious award honoring the best of the food and culinary industry, as is a new restaurant in the area.

In late January, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2023 semifinalists. Greg Gatlin of Gatlin’s BBQ –and the recently-opened Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers – is among semifinalists in the “Best Chef: Texas” category for Gatlin’s BBQ, while chefs Christine Ha and Tony J. Nguyen of Xin Chao (2310 Decatur St.) are in the running for Outstanding Chef. Meanwhile, Tatemo (4740 Dacoma St. Suite F) is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

Finalist nominees will be announced on March 29, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 5. The foundation said the awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a “demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.”

“After a year of fundamental changes, we look forward to building on the progress made, celebrating those paving a better future for us all—through their talent and craft, service to others, and commitment to a better, more sustainable industry,”

said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. Visit https://www. jamesbeard.org/blog/the2023-james-beard-awardssemifinalists for a full list of semifinalists.

Reel Seafood HTX taking place of Tea + Victory

The old site of the former Tea + Victory will soon be home to a new seafood spot.

Reel Seafood HTX, originally located in Missouri City, will be opening in the spot at 2030 E. T.C. Jester Blvd. in the next few weeks, according to a recent

Facebook post that said the restaurant was targeting midFebruary for its new location to open its doors to the community.

The restaurant is currently hiring for its new location as well, and interested applicants can email reelseafoodwings@gmail. com.

For more information on the restaurant, visit its website at reelseafoodhtx. com.

New comfort food restaurant coming to M-K-T this fall

One of the Heights’

bustling developments is getting a new tenant added to its lineup later this year.

According to the restaurant’s website, Berg Hospitality is bringing Buttermilk Baby to M-K-T Heights at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. Suite 250 this coming fall. According to its website, Buttermilk Baby will offer burgers, fried chicken, biscuits, and soft serve among other offerings.

To stay up to date on the new restaurant follow their Instagram @ thebuttermilkbaby or visit the restaurant’s website at thebuttermilkbaby.com.

Photo by Lindsey Cooper Greg Gatlin is a semifinalist for ‘Best Chef: Texas” for Gatlin’s BBQ in the James Beard Founda-