Cause of Heights house fire under investigation

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernew.com

Fire authorities are still attempting to determine what led to and caused a fire at a home in the Heights currently under construction, according to the Houston Fire Department.

One firefighter, a captain, was evaluated for injuries on the scene, the department said, but there were no reported civilian injuries in the fire according to HFD.

Firefighters from stations 15, 30, 6, 31, 9, 19, 39, and 62 responded to a twostory home under construction at the intersection of West Cavalcade Street and Tabor Street in the Heights just before 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, according to

Patrol from P. 1 this program goes away, so does the rapid response time to any calls in our neighborhood.”

That has been true for those such as Lamar Mathews and her husband, who have signed up for the program since its inception in 2016. From the vacation watch to response times in incidents such as a shootout that happened in the neighborhood years ago, she said it is an invaluable resource to the neighbor-

Takeover from P. 1 that Morath told him that the options were to either close schools down or takeover the district. But in Turner’s mind, there is a third option.

“The legislature’s in session now, and (I told him) if you see any provisions that would force you to do something that’s not in the best interests of the kids, you can go to the legislature now and make any modification that’s needed,” Turner said.

Further, leaders are simply asking for certainty, one way or the other.

“TEA can speak to it, the state can speak to it – and they should. Because quite frankly, our students deserve certainty. And (everyone with a stake in HISD) deserves stability,” Turner said. “If the state has the intention of taking over the largest school district in the state of Texas, then they should stand up, be forthright, and be transparent and let people know who you’re talking to and what your plans are.”

A key tentpole of the TEA’s initial attempts to take over the district was low academic performance, particularly at Wheatley the department, to find fire coming from every opening to the house. hood.

However, crews were eventually able to use aerial waterways to help control and put out the fire, according to the department. There was a downed power line near the house, the department said, but it is unclear whether it played a role in the fire.

The captain was treated at the scene for dizziness and weakness, according to HFD, and left the scene in a private car.

Arson investigators are still working to determine what might have led to the fire, the department said, which caused a currently unknown amount of damage to the house.

“It’s like having your own personal security force for less than a dollar a day,” she said. “We’re so grateful (the HHA) provides this program to our neighborhood.”

For more information on the Heights Constable Patrol program or to sign up for the program, visit houstonheights. org/constable-2/.

High School. But over the last three years, officials said 40 of HISD’s 50 schools that received a D or F in the education agency’s academic ratings prior to the pandemic, are no longer there and have received passing grades. And ultimately, leaders believe takeover would be harmful to the district and its students.

We vote for (school board members) because we as communities can hold them accountable, because we know who is best prepared to oversee the education of our children,” said State Rep. Christina Morales, whose District 145 includes the Heights and Northside areas and part of Garden Oaks. “(Schools) are strongest in the hands of local leaders.”

And leaders said they aren’t going down without a fight.

You cannot come into this city and think they’re going to take it over, and that everybody is just going to sit down and be quiet,” Turner said. “When you take on the children you take on the parents, their neighbors, and you take on this city.” ficers. Thus far there have been no takers. Our new Ukrainian family, Jose and Maria Gomez and their 16 children, explained that they were allowed in the U.S. due to their refugee status seeking asylum – mainly from ICE.

The Town Hall Meeting with our state representative, Shady O’Malley, has been postponed by request of the Houston SWAT team after our last meeting ended up in court, in the parking lot and on KPRC-TV News. Rep. O’Malley would like his constituents to know that he still maintains his fervent opposition to “those job killing environmental laws” such as car mufflers, sun dials and windmills, and notes he is a major beneficiary of campaign donations from Friends of Smog. He has authored House Bill 3399 that will abolish most school libraries, school boards and classroom blackboards. He deems the latter “racist.” Rep. O’Malley denies that he thought “Transgender” was an airline, but he supports RodeoHouston’s Klan Day and voted to make Donald Trump the 51st state. Many of you have asked about the MMHOA’s rules on Covid-19. There are no more rules because the pandemic is over, kaput, gone. Indeed, the Committee on Covid-19 has been abolished since a quorum of its members are dead. Rumors that they all died of the pandemic are greatly exaggerated, according to their next of kin, most of whom are in ICUs.

Finally, Chuck Rancid has a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck for sale.

Ashby is home at ashby2@comcast.net

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernew.com

A man was struck and killed by a delivery van in the Greater Inwood area late last month, according to the Houston Police Department.

The man’s identity is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department.

Police said the man was riding a bike eastbound at 7000 W. Gulf Bank Rd. about 7:20 p.m. on Feb. 24 when he was struck by a delivery van that was heading west near the same address and turned south onto North Houston Rosslyn Road. The van allegedly hit the cyclist as the man was entering the intersection.

The man was pronounced dead from his injuries at HCA Houston

Healthcare Northwest on Feb. 28, according to HPD. The van’s driver, a man, was questioned at the scene and released pending further investigation, according to HPD. No charges have been filed in the crash, according to the department, though the investigation remains ongoing.