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Inside Today: Solicitations for Oak Forest homes lucrative, annoying • Page 1B

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CUTEST DOGS & CATS TO BE NAMED NEXT WEEK Construction Update

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HCAD mailing residents homestead postcards

The Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) has mailed a confirmation postcard to all homeowners currently on file with a homestead exemption. Homeowners should have received a postcard in their mailbox verifying they have a homestead exemption on their property. This is an annual mailing by HCAD to homeowners confirming their homeowner exemption is in place. Homeowners with an exemption are eligible for the tax break the exemption provides. Homeowners do not need to do anything if the type of homestead exemption listed at the top of the postcard is correct. HCAD will automatically renew their homestead exemption unless the property owner informs HCAD differently. Exemptions include Residence Homestead, Over65, Disabled Person Exemptions and Disabled Veteran Exemptions. If the card is returned, HCAD will send out a letter to the owner asking for re-qualification. If no response is received within 30 days after that mailing, HCAD will then remove the homestead exemption for the upcoming year. For more information, visit HCAD. org.

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What

Can U O YFind Inside

GARAGE SALE: Hope Episcopal Church. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 1613 W. 43rd. Furniture, kitchen items, pianos and much miscellaneous. TAX PREPARER NEEDED: CPA Firm 290/610 area needs an experienced CPA tax preparer on a part-time basis. Hours ﬂexible. Email john@tcdncpas. com or call John at 713-688-2701. MOW, WEEDEAT, BLOW, RAKE: Leaves, ﬂower beds, appliance pick up. 832-272-3960.

See More, Page 6B

THE INDEX.

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Another Delay TxDOT: 610 ramp will open in March

by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

by Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com The construction seems endless but it’s all for a good purpose as Leader residents try hard to remind themselves. In the meantime, Karen Othon, public information officer for TxDOT has an update on current work. The toughest pill to swallow in the short term is the news that the opening of the entrance ramp from IH 610 westbound frontage road past West T.C. Jester has shifted to March as crews work to complete the connector ramp. “This entrance ramp was originally scheduled to open the end of January,” said Othon. “However, due to the excess rain over the last two months and recent winter weather systems that moved through the area, the contractor had to push the date out to March.” She said the contractor is working to build the new elevated connector ramp from IH 610 westbound to US 290. They will begin hanging beams in January, which will take approximately one month to complete. After the bridge beams are set in place, they will begin the process of preparing the bridge decks and pouring concrete. TxDOT estimates opening this new connector ramp by the end of March, which will improve safety and the flow of traffic as motorists who travel to US 290 will be able to enter the two-lane ramp from the IH 610 westbound main lanes before T.C. Jester instead of making the decision at the IH 610/US 290 split. “Safety is TxDOT’s top priority and [we want] to maintain the safety of the traveling public, as well as crews working on the roadway,” said Othon. “TxDOT looks forward to celebrating the opening of both the entrance ramp and connector ramp with the community this spring.” In late 2011, TxDOT closed a portion of the White Oak Hike and Bike Trail for safety of the traveling public as construction crews demolished and rebuilt the IH 610 mainlane and frontage road bridges. “We are pleased to report that plans are underway to reopen the trail this spring,” said Othon. The contractor is also working to reopen the U-turns at Ella in both directions, as well as the U-turn at W. T. C. Jester from IH 610

GO club keeps its beer license

These before-and-after photos show the progress that has been made on the interchange at IH 610 and T.C. Jester (from the south side). TxDOT says the scheduled opening of the ramp in January has been pushed back to March because of weather. (Photos by Jake Dukate) eastbound frontage road. Upcoming lane closures at the interchange include the nightly closures of IH 610 North Loop westbound frontage road at W. T.C. Jester, from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. through February,

as crews hang beams for the new IH 610 westbound to US 290 direct connector ramp.

see Traﬃc • Page 11A

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett’s ofﬁce has ruled to renew the beer license for La Villita Night Club, 829 W. 34th St., despite challenges from State Rep. Jessica Farrar and Garden Oaks residents. Beer licenses are renewable every two years in Texas, and they’re handled by the County Judge. A beer license allows an establishment to serve beer and wine on its premises. In a county as large as Harris County, judges A ‘master,’ have the option appointed by of delegating the county those decisions judge, said to a “master.” there wasn’t Master Bill evidence of Henderson, who presided prostitution at over the protest La Villita Night hearing on Dec. Club. 19, released his ﬁndings in renewing the license for La Villita, which has been open since 1994. “The Master has reasonable grounds to believe that the place or manner in which the Applicant may conduct her business does not warrant a refusal of a permit based on the general welfare, health, peace, morals, safety and sense of decency of the people,” Henderson wrote in his decision. In the decision, Henderson noted that the nightclub existed prior to The Bell Tower, 901 W. 34th. Bell Tower owner Roger Igo was one of the more vocal protesters, saying that the club adjacent to his wedding and corporate event venue posed safety and security concerns. Igo hired a private investigator who “documented what he believed to be activities related to prostitu-

see License • Page 11A

Train derails Carr

One of HHA’s founders removed from park duties by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com Paul Carr, a lifelong Heights resident and civic leader, will end his longtime association with the Houston Heights Association next month after a disagreement with HHA leadership over the wooden train he built last month in Donovan Park. The 74-year-old Carr, a former HHA president and the organization’s 1979 Citizen of the Year, was employed by the organization as its parks manager. The independent contract position paid $1,100 per month for Carr to take care of Donovan and Marmion parks. Last month, Carr spent $5,000 to build a wooden train at Donovan Park, which he believed children would enjoy. But where there are children, there are liability risks. HHA vice president of ﬁnance and operations Bill

Baldwin said Carr was dismissed from his contract position because he didn’t ask permission to build the train. “The train is a beautiful gift to the neighborhood and the Heights Association,” Baldwin said. “If he wants to remove the train, we’ll let him remove it. If he removes it, it’ll be because he wants to remove the train.” The HHA board approved the donation of the train, accepted its maintenance responsibilities and decided to send an ofﬁcial letter of appreciation to Carr during its monthly meeting on Monday night. “We appreciate the train, and everybody loves it,” HHA president Matt Bedingﬁeld said. Baldwin said there are insurance and safety issues regarding the train, which Carr disputes. Baldwin’s Paul Carr, who was named the Houston Heights Association’s Citizen of the

see Train • Page 11A

Year in 1979, has run afoul of the group after installing a wooden train without permission. In response, HHA removed Carr from his contract job of maintaining Donovan and Marmion Parks. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

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