Mosquitos
It’s “Happy Fall Time” at
Inside Today: Artisana Bread opens for business • Page 1B
Fleas Ticks
We make outside fun again!
Call Today For Free QuoTe
713-864-8888 www.mosquitojoe.com
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
Flower & Gift Shop 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350
Saturday, September 19, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 46
District H candidates talk local issues at Heights forum By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.
AREA SPECIALIST
The four candidates vying for the open Houston City Council District H seats fielded a variety of questions by voters at a forum hosted by the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council Tuesday night, concentrating in particular on balancing development with preservation and issues with law enforcement. Candidates in attendance at the Historic Heights Fire Station included: Roland Chavez, a lifelong Houston resident, graduate of John Reagan High School and retired Houston firefighter; Karla Cisneros, a 30-year-resident of Woodland Heights who formerly served as a Title 1 Parent Involvement Specialist in HISD and assistant
director of the city’s SPARK School Park Program; Jason Cisneroz, a current HPD Community Service Officer and nephew of the founder of the North Central Civic Association; and Abel Davila, a former board member with Houston Community College. Chris Oliver, candidate for City Council AtLarge Position 1, and At-Large Position 4 candidate Amanda Edwards were also both in attendance. When asked about why residents still find themselves paying additional funds for increased security through private security contracts and contracts with the Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office, Cisneros responded that it is an issue of equality among neighborhoods that needs See Forum, P. 5A
Who was John H. Reagan?
Ê , < 832.419.9969
INSIDE.
Lutheran North earns win Not unlike the Scarborough Spartans, things haven’t been easy for the Lutheran High North Lions, who had a winless season last year. That changed last weekend as the Lions defeated Sabine Pass for a victory that has been a longtime coming. Find scores for other schools in this week’s issue as well.
Find it on 10A
INSIDE.
Last call for The Dutchman A mainstay of the local bar scene had its final flight – The Dutchman called it quits Monday night after operating for more than 60 years in The Leader area. Find out about the send off and learn what will be built on the site of one of the community’s cherished watering holes. Hint: It’s not another bar.
Find it on 1B
FIND IT.
Photo by Jonathan Garris District H candidates (from left to right) Roland Chavez, Karla Cisneros and Jason Cisneroz speak during a forum at the Historic Heights Fire Station.
“The Constitution of the United States was made by white men, the citizens and representatives of twelve slaveholding and one nonslaveholding State; and it was made for white men.”
A look at the pedigree, controversy behind a figure of Texas history
File Photo by Jonathan Garris Much to the dismay of local alumni, Reagan High School may have a new name sooner rather than later. While others throughout Houston are happy about the proposed name changes for several schools in the distirct, local readers aren’t so pleased.
By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Perhaps the biggest thing to gain from the current controversy surrounding the name change of Reagan High School is a lesson in history. It can be easy to say John Hennigan Reagan had a storied life. Born in Sevier County, Tennessee in October 1818, Reagan spent much of his early life working on his family’s farm. According to the Texas State Historical Association, he had little time for books and schooling and, upon the death of his mother in 1831, he took on the duties of taking care of four brothers and a sister. In 1834, Reagan was able to follow his education ambitions, attending Boyd’s Creek Academy for fifteen months and later studied for a year at Southwestern Seminary in Maryville. After moving to Texas for greater job opportunities, he became involved in the Cherokee War and later worked as a frontier scout before being elected justice of the peace in Nacogdoches. Reagan was elected as a probate judge in Henderson County and practiced law in Palestine and Buffalo, TX, and was later elected to US congress in 1857. He attended the Secession Convention in 1861 and within a month following the withdrawal of Texas from the Union he was appointed postmaster general of the Confederacy. As the end of the Civil War drew closer, Reagan was captured alongside Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Francis Lubbock. Reagan would later write to the people of Texas to renounce slavery and secession and to avoid the “twin disasters” of utter military defeat and “universal black suffrage,” according to the TSHA. After being scorned by his fellow southerners, Reagan went on to later become known as the “Old Roman,” for his prophetic words which rang true during Reconstruction and Reagan later returned to Congress. He voted in favor of the federal regulation of railraods and interstate commerce and would become chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas. He also
HISD board takes steps towards new school names By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
The original Confederate Cabinet, on which John Reagan served. From left to right: Judah P. Benjamin, Stephen Mallory, Christopher Memminger, Alexander Stephens, LeRoy Pope Walker, Jefferson Davis, John H. Reagan and Robert Toombs.
founded the TSHA and published his memoirs in 1905. He died of pneumonia that same year. In light of the recent controversy, some historians have grappled with the question of whether or not John Reagan
The first reading of revisions to an HISD board policy regarding the renaming of local facilities passed 8-1 last week, following a discussion regarding legal language and criteria for naming new and existing schools. The HISD Board of Trustees has been praised and criticised for its efforts to rename facilities named primarily after figures from the Confederacy, with much of the local uproar in The Leader area directed at the renaming of Reagan High School in the Heights. While most board members were in favor of the proposed policy, board member Harvin Moore focused on what he felt was legal language that was too loose in its current state. Moore subsequently did not vote in favor of the measure. “I think this is something people clearly want to talk about and deal with,” Moore said. “I’m frustrated as a trustee that we as a board have operated with a structure for committees that I don’t think worked in this case.” Moore pointed to a lack of general standing committees as it is generally thought of as “bad practice” to have a large number of such committees. however if a problem has come up in the past an ad hoc committee could be formed to address the issues with communication channels kept open See Policy, P. 9A
See History, P. 9A
American Legion Post 560 to host annual fish fry fundraising event
Adolf Hoepfl Garage Honors CONSTITUTION WEEK
Find it on 6A
By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader
The INDEX. Church
6A
Classifieds
7A
Coupons
5A
Food/Drink/Art Obituaries
1B 4A
Opinion
3A
Public Information Puzzles Sports
2A 4A 10A
It’s that time of year again – American Legion Post 560’s annual Southern Fish Fry & Sock Hop is approaching, and everyone is invited. This year, the post’s Ladies Auxiliary Unit 560 will be serving up whopping plates of fried fish, hush puppies, coleslaw, ‘tater tots and more starting 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 for $8 per person. This family event is always a big hit with veterans and the public alike. Notably, it’s hosted by an all-volunteer crew from Amer-
ican Legion Unit 560 Ladies Auxiliary, allowing 100 percent of the proceeds to go directly to local veteran’s service agencies. Then, at about 8 p.m., the fish fry winds down and an authentic, 1950s sock hop kicks off. Ladies dressed in poodle skirts and ponytails dance up a storm with men in tight, white tee-shirts and blue jeans. (See: James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause.”) This year, DJ Malinda will be spinning many of the 1950s favorites. Expect to dance to the likes of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, and of course, The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly See Fry, P. 9A
Photo by Kim Hogstrom President of American Legion Unit 560’s Ladies Auxiliary, Gertie Atchison, and Commander of Post 560, Richard Voorhies, pose in front of an authentic 1957 Chevy to help promote American Legion Post 560’s Fish Fry & Sock Hop.
Barbara Wood Realtor
®
Your Heights neighbor for over 15 years.
Market expertise in Heights | Montrose | Inner Loop
Barbara’s renovation & new construction experience set a higher standard.
713.240.5591| barbara@yourblvd.com