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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, February 11, 2023 • Vol. 68 • No. 6
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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. See Apartment P. 2
Contributed rendering Alta Sunset Heights is planned for an early 2024 completion in the Sunset Heights neighborhood.
Front and center
Police searching for local stabbing suspect By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Three saved Read what caused a fire that saw three people - and some pets rescued from an area home
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In the middle A Houston art organization will choose finalists in a middle school competition this weekend
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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.
Signing Day a proud moment for local players, coaches By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
On a roll St Pius X’s girls’ soccer has hit their stride, and more in this week’s high school soccer roundup
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Among the best Multiple local restaurant owners and chefs are semifinalists for national awards
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THE INDEX. Health.......................................5 Sports............................................................. 6 Classifieds.................................................. 7 Food/Drink...............................8
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 See Signing P. 6
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.
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. 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.
Photo courtesy HPD Pictued is a suspect who is accused of stabbing a man in the Central Northwest area on Christmas Day.
Commissioners’ court approves county toll rate reduction By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Local residents who use toll roads to get to and from work each day will soon be able to do so at a cheaper rate than ever before. On Jan. 31, the Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a measure that will reduce the cost of tolls by
Adrian Garcia
Rodney Ellis
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. See Toll P. 2
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