South Belt Leader (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 45, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 12, 1979 Page: 1 of 14
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Vol. 4 Number 45
Dec. 12, 1979
Taking a Christmas vacation
The Sooth Beit Leader will not publish a paper on Dec. 26. It has
become our practice to take Christmas week off so that our staff may enjoy
the holiday season with their families.
Next week, Dec. 19th, will be the final issue for 1979.
The first Issue of 1900 will be available on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Air traffic increases
The increased air carrier traffic over the South Belt area may be
waning.
The increased traffic was probably due to one of the Hobby Airport
runways being closed down for six weeks as part of that airport's $5-million
construction program.
When the one runway was closed, another runway which departs in a
southerly direction took on the additional traffic.
In addition, flight patterns change daily depending on the weather,
according to airport manager Paul Norman.
Norman said the runway which had been closed opened up again this
week.
USA offices elected
A full slate of officers was elected at the yearly general membership
meeting of the United Sports Association held last week.
Officers include Jackie Murphy, chairman; Bob Buchanan, vice
chairman; Bobby Jackson, secretary; Dan Muske, treasurer; and Ted
Buras, membership chairman.
Approximately 30 members attended the meeting.
The United Sports Association is the organization formed to purchase
the baseball playing fields on Choate Road.
Filing deadline nears
The deadline for filing for the two open positions in the Pasadena
school board election is Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.
Interested persons may file any weekday from 8a.m. to4:30p.m. at the
district Administration Building, 3010 Bay shore Drive, in the business
office.
The open positions are Position 6, which is currently held by J. D.
Bruce, and Position 7, currently held by Carl Schwartz, who has filed for
re-election.
There is no filing fee.
Candidates must meet these qualifications: 1. They must be residents
for at least six months of the district; 2. They must be residents of the state
for at least one year; 3. They must be registered voters.
In addition, the spouse of a candidate who is elected who has become
an employee of the school district within the past two years must resign
upon the candidate's election.
A drawing for position on the ballot will be held Dec. 20 at 9 a.m.
The election will be at the district high schools on Jan. 19.
Choir to present concert
The Dobie Choir under the direction of C. J. Leslie, will present a
Christmas concert this Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
The concert will be presented in the Dobie auditorium and the public is
invited.
Movies to be shown
All of the elementary schools in the Pasadena Independent School
District will be selling tickets Dec. 12 through 14from 7:30 to 8a.m. for four
movies which are being sponsored by the Pasadena PTA Council.
Tickets will sell for SI each.
Each of the four movies will be shown at the Parkview Theatre on
Spencer Highway at 10 a.m.
The movies scheduled are:
“Smokey,” a horse story, on Dec. 27.
“Support Your Local Sheriff,” starring James Garner, on Dec. 28.
“Little Prince,” an animated film, on Jan. 3.
“Charlotte’s Web,” an animated film, on Jan. 4.
Proceeds will go to the council’s scholarship fund.
Santa to visit Kirkwood South
Santa will be coming to Kirkwood South, Sunday at 3 p.m.
The event is being sponsored by the Kirkwood South Civic Club and will
be aided by the Southeast Volunteer Fire Department.
School site vandalized
The construction site of the Richard Moore Elementary School being
built by the Pasadena school district on Hall Road has suffered numerous
losses as a result of weekend vandalism.
Windows of the construction shack have been broken, and tools have
been stolen from the building.
In addition, the headlights and mirrors of a crane have been broken.
The school is being constructed by Stone Construction Company. The
company is currently putting up the school's steel structural supports.
Christmas band activity
The J. Frank Dobie Concert Bands will present their 11th annual
Christmas Concert on Thursday. Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the school
auditorium.
There is no admission charge. Refreshments will be served. Santa
Claus also promised to make an appearance.
Throughout the concert, Santa will visit members of the audience.
Deadlines near for contests
Judging will be conducted Thursday and Friday for South Belt
area-wide Christmas outdoor decorating contests.
On Thursday, the Sagemeadow Civic Club judging of homes in that
subdivision will be conducted.
On Friday, judging in the McCarver Realtors annual contest will be
done in the following subdivisions: Sagemont, Sagemont Park, Sage-
meadow, Sageglen, Wood Meadow, Scarsdale, Kirkwood, Kirkwood South
and Kirkmont.
Prizes will be awarded in each area for most original, most beautiful
and best religious.
Local residents appointed
Two South Belt area residents were appointed by Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby
and House Speaker Bill Clayton to a special flooding task force Friday.
Appointed were Bill Nelson of the South Belt Coalition and Paul Welch,
president of the Sagemeadow Civic Club.
Area legislators Sen. Gene Jones and Rep. Bill Caraway will be co-
chairmen of the group.
The task force will be comprised of residents of Harris, Galveston,
Montgomery, Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties.
Other task force members from Harris County include County
Commissioner Tom Bass; Jim Green, acting director of Harris County
Flood Control; Qty Councilman Frank Mancuso; Jim Sullivan, assistant
director of Houston Public Works Department; Jim Short, vice president of
governmental affairs of Greater Houston Homebuilders Association; and
Fat Greenshields.
Ellington fate undecided
By Marie Flickinger
A fight between Houston and Pasa-
dena over the acquisition of Ellington
Air Force Base appears to be well
underway.
Disposition of the facility which
houses NASA Flight operations, the
Texas Air National Guard, the Army
Reserve and the U.S. Coast Guard has
been in limbo since the Air Force
transferred out in 1975.
As reported in the Oct. 31 issue of
the South Belt Leader, the City of
Houston has been negotiating with
federal and Air Force officials for the
base during the past year.
City of Pasadena Mayor Jim Clark
was unaware of the negotiations until
last Friday when he crashed a party
hosted by the Houston chapter of the
Air Force Association. “I found out
something was happening out here (at
the base) at five this afternoon,” said
Clark, as he made his way to the VIP
room at Friday’s party.
Clark said he expected an an-
nouncement to be made at the party
which was attended by approximately
600 members of the Texas Air Nation-
al Guard, NASA officials, representa-
tives of the Air Force, GSA and the
City of Houston.
No announcement was made at the
party.
According to Mayor Jim McConn,
the city would use the facility as an
“air industrial-like development com-
plex” while at the same time allowing
present tenants of the base to remain
in their present capacity.
The Texas Air National Guard
accepted the task of managing the
base in March of 1975. Since that time,
negotiations with numerous agencies
have been undertaken to determine
the future of the 2,000-acre facility.
Former Congressman Bob Gam-
mage sought to have the base brought
under General Services Administra-
tion. Although GSA agreed in May of
1977 to take over the base, final nego-
tiations between present tenants and
GSA were not realized.
Retired Air Force Reserve Gen. Vic
Thompson said Houston would be the
best choice for the base due to “mon-
ey. manpower and expertise to run a
third airport."
“Ithirk we could manageit better,”
said Pasadena Mayor Jim Clark.
“Houston already has more than it
can say grace over.”
The City of Pasadena acquired the
Ellington golf course approximately
two years ago under the John Ray
Harrison administration. At that
time, Harrison also sought to obtain
the remainder of the base for a muni-
cipal airport.
Pasadena officials said they would
allow present tenants to remain.
Dignitaries at Ellington
Many dignitaries attended the Air Force Associa-
tion party held at Ellington Air Force Base Friday.
Included were, left to right: Vic Thompson, Air
Force Association president; Glenn Miller, former
Ellington project coordinator; Col. Bob Blissard,
Commander of the Texas Air National Guard 147th
FIG; Joe Algrantl, Chief of Air Craft Operation for
NASA; Ken Gilbreath, Deputy Director for NASA
Center Operation; Joe Mels, Acting assistant sec-
retary of Air Force for manpower reserve affairs
and Installation and Gen. Bellsario D. J. Flores. The
disposition of Ellington was the main topic of
conversation at the party. A decision on who will
take over the base Is expected early next year.
Problems with relief
Although state law allows governing
bodies to grant tax relief to taxpayers
sustaining damages from flooding,
getting relief from the City of Houston
will not be easy.
Adjustments for 1979 were certified
in August; therefore, the value of the
property in August is the value which
is taxable for 1979. If the property was
not officially re-evaluated by the city
by August, it does not qualify for relief
for 1979.
However, homes sustaining dam-
ages before January, 1980, may quali-
fy for relief on the 1980 taxes, but only
For flood protection
if the taxpayer can show that his
property is damaged to a point of
decreasing its market value on Jan. 1,
Therefore, if repairs have been
made to the home prior to Jan. 1, 1980.
the resident can show no losses.
If, however, on Jan. 1, a resident
can show devaluation of his property ,
he m ay render his property to the city.
To render property for re-evalua-
tion. a taxpayer needs to do this at
City Hall between Jan. 1 and April 30.
Earl J. Martin, director of the city's
tax department, encourages any area
residents with a cracked slab or other
damages which have not been re-
paired to render their property.
Martin said homes in the area are
currently valued at their 1977 market
value.
Although the city has the authority
to grant "blanket” relief to an entire
area which suffered damages from .»
natural disaster, it did not do so ir the
case of South Belt area flooding ■
cause not all homes were effected,
according to Martin.
City Councilman Frank Mancuso
encourages area residents to render
their property for the 1980 tax year.
Insurance program expanded
Varied
Christmas
activities
planned
All of the South Belt area churches
are planning celebrations surround-
ing the holiest day of the year.
Many of the churches are starting
early with special Christmas pro-
grams, and King of Glory Lutheran
Church will center its activities
around the Epiphany in early Jan-
uary.
All of the churches, except Kings-
point Baptist, will have special Christ-
mas Eve services.
Sagemont Baptist will have a can-
dlelight service at 6 p.m. on Christ-
mas Eve.
The Catholic Community of St. Luke
will have a children’s mass at 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve as well as a midnight
mass. Prior to the midnight mass, at
11:30 p.m., the St. Luke's choir will
sing carols.
King of Glory will hold candlelight
services at both 7 and 11 p.m. Christ-
mas Eve.
Cokesbury Methodist will have a
7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service fea-
turing a harpist and a brass ensemble
quintet with “Carols and Candles.” At
11 p.m. Christmas Eve, Cokesbury
will have a candlelight communion
service, also featuring a harpist.
Sagemont Presbyterian will have a
Christmas Eve communion service at
7:30 p.m.
One of the most spectacular cele-
brations in the area is the Sagemont
Baptist Church’s living Christmas
tree in which 100 people comprise the
tree's ornaments. The living Christ-
mas trae, featuring the adult choir,
will be presented at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16
and at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.
In addition, Sagemont Baptist has
presented the church's children’s
choirs in two Christmas productions.
“An Old Fashioned Christmas," and
Cootfawod oa page 3
Houston became a member of the
regular National Flood Insurance
Program Tuesday, Dec. 11.
Local residents who have carried
policies on the emergency program
may request their agents to endorse
their policies to the regular plan.
Endorsing the policies should mean
increased coverage with additional
monies refunded.
According to a spokesman for the
city Public Works Department, the
South Belt area is in Zone A and Zone
C.
Zone C is the lowest rate available.
1-cent per $100 valuation.
Zone A is 5-cents per $100 valuation.
Under the regular program, resi-
dents may have coverage up to
$185,000ona house and up to $60,000 on
the home’s contents.
Under the emergency program,
maximum coverage was $35,000 on a
home and $10,000 on contents.
Homeowners paid more, too, on the
emergency program. Premiums
under the emergency program cost
$123 per year.
A premium for a $60,000 home in
Zone C on the regular plan will cost
approximately $30.
George Harvey, of the Houston
regional office of the National Flood
Insurance Program, urges all agents
to order their maps from the agency's
Bethesda. Maryland, office promptly.
Since yesterday, Houston zone
maps are available for viewing at the
City Hall Annex, on the third floor.
The new policies for Houston resi-
dents wanting to get on the regular
plan cannot be written until it can be
determined (from zone maps) what
zone they are in.
At least one local agent has had
trouble getting maps from the Nation-
al Flood Insurance Program.
Dan Muske. an independent agent
with offices on Rowlett, said his firm
has back orders to Bethesda for
approximately 25 area maps.
The regional office of the National
Flood Insurance Program is sponsor-
ing seminars throughout the Houston
area during December and January
for agents. For information, call 440-
4411.
Houston became an emergency
member of the NFIP in 1973 and was
not expected to become a regular
member for two more years.
But, when Houston annexed Clear
Lake City (which like other area unin
corporated areas was a member of
the regular plan), thccity had to make
available the regular plan to the
entire city because the NFIP stipu-
lates that the program must be offer-
ed to all areas of a city. It may not
discriminate.
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South Belt Leader (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 45, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 12, 1979, newspaper, December 12, 1979; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1199601/m1/1/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting San Jacinto College.