Friday, October 5, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Fifth Ward residents want city help to demolish abandoned homes
On a quiet street, along Lavender near Liberty, tucked in the middle of the Fifth Ward we found homes no one would want for a neighbor.
Frustrated families on Lavender say they're dealing with a big neighborhood nuisance.
"It's just horrible," said neighbor Barbara Beal. "It's just like something out of another country."
Homeowners are calling nearly half the houses on the 2900 block of Lavender "abandoned or neglected properties."
"I'm glad somebody came out to see what we are talking about," said neighbor Sandra E. Richardson. "On paper, it's nothing. But if you can get to see what we live next to, maybe they'll do something."
The neighbors say some of the vacant homes are hazardous and caving in. They say others are raggedy, attracting too many rodents, squatters and other strange traffic. Neighbors say they're asking the city to do one thing.
"Demolished. Just clean them all up," Beal suggested.
"It is a serious problem," acknowledged Houston's Chief Development Officer Andy Icken. "It's one that we are trying to get our hands on right now."
Icken says the city is trying to tackle the abandoned property issue. Last month, council members approved $3.5 million from the affordable housing fund to demolish hundreds more homes. But Icken says the city's dealing with several challenges.
"Finding who the owner is, getting them to respond," he said. "That's the biggest challenge as we start here."
That reality isn't a good enough excuse for neighbors on Lavender who say they've been complaining about the eyesores for years.
Richardson said, "We need some help from somewhere and all we are asking is them to come in and help us."
Just like the city, we also had a tough time tracking down good contact information for those property owners. The city's next scheduled demolition day is May 19.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »local, demond fernandez
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Man fatally struck by dump truck in Acres Homes area
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was killed during an accident with a dump truck Wednesday afternoon in the Acres Homes area. It happened just before 1pm on Duoto near Mansfield. Police say a dump truck driver was backing into a vacant lot while being guided by the owner of a different trucking company. The victim told the driver to accelerate, and that's when the truck backed into him.
"The victim's wife was standing in the street. She screamed out for that driver to stop, and she witnessed the crash," said Sgt. AC Francois with the Houston Police Department.
No charges have been filed. Police are still investigating.
The victim has been identified as Joe Gamez, 57.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »local
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Homes wanted for professional baseball players
SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- The Sugar Land Skeeters are currently seeking community members that are interested in becoming a host family for a Skeeters player during the Inaugural 2012 baseball season.
"Our host family program is extremely important to the entire baseball operation," said Michael Kirk, Director of Baseball Operations. "By hosting a player, you give that player, who is otherwise many miles away from their home environment and loved ones, a sense of home during the course of a long season."
Hosting a player gives fans the opportunity to get involved with the Sugar Land Skeeters on a personal level, as one of the players will be an 'adopted member of the family' during his time in Sugar Land.
All that is required to be a host family is a private bedroom and use of a bathroom, washer/dryer and kitchen for a Skeeters player. Any other amenities provided will be greatly appreciated by the player."Many players have become like an extended member of our family," said Linda Davidson, a host family member of the York Revolution. "We have stayed in touch with many of the players. Year in and year out, hosting a player in the Atlantic League has been a positive experience for everyone involved."
For information about the Sugar Land Skeeters Host Family Program, contact Michael Kirk at 281-240-4565. Interested families can also send an email to hostfamily@SugarLandSkeeters.com.
The Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team, led by Manager and former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti, will play in the $35 million Constellation Field, which is being constructed by the City of Sugar Land and the Skeeters at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A.
The Sugar Land Skeeters will play 70 regular season home games annually, starting with the 2012 season beginning on April 26.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)Get more Local »
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wildfire threatens homes in Waller
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two separate wildfires burned across our area on Friday. Both threatened homes, and at least one led to evacuations.
In Spring, officials evacuated about 200 homes in the Breckenridge Forest subdivision due to a wildfire near Cypresswood Drive and Aldine Westfield Road. Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 5:30pm.
Texas Forest Service helicopters dropped fire retardant in the area all afternoon, but authorities say it was air drops from two C-130 planes that really kept the flames from spreading.
At one point, 60-foot fire walls were within 200 yards of homes. "The fire crews have gone back in with the grass trucks and the brush trucks, the air operations are going on, the dozers are still out in the field doing those fire breaks. So that will continue on through the night until we make sure that this fire is not going to spread anymore," said Lt. Dean Hensley of the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. As many as a dozen fire departments were on the scene, and many crews were told to pull back. When the flames neared homes, residents were asked to evacuate.Authorities drove through a section of the Breckenridge Forest subdivision, advising families in about 200 homes that it was time to get out. Gloria Marshall Elementary was among the structures threatened.
Chief Scott Schoonover of the Spring Volunteer Fire Department said the evacuations were precautionary in the event fire got past the fire line. Schoonover said the area is private property and a witness told them that about a year ago, the property was cleared and there's a lot of timber that has been cut down in the area. The chief said that downed timber helped speed the rate of the fire growth."Initially, it was about 15 acres when I got here, and it spread throughought the day; the heat, the drought conditions have really hampered operations," Harris County Fire Marshal's Office Lt. Dean Hensley said.
Bulldozers dug out fire lines to contain the blaze. Even though the fire was contained, still resident Adam Rodriquez was uneasy. "We don't know if it's been turned off, has it been contained, we don't know if it will ignite again or if we should stay here," he said. Investigators aren't sure how Friday's fire started, but the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating. A few minor injuries occurred, but those injured were treated and released on the scene, said Chief Schoonover. By Friday night, most firefighters left the scene, leaving the Spring Volunteer Fire Department to mog the hot spots overnight. Grass fire burns in WallerMeanwhile, firefighters took on a large wildfire near Highway 290 and FM 2920 near Kickapoo in Waller.
Firefighters from five companies rushed to contain the fire that came dangerously close to several pastures and homes. Many families and the SPCA rushed in to save their livestock. "We called them out of the woods, gave them hay and cubes and tried to contain them right here so they don't get too close to the fire," neighbor Betty Schroeder said. That fire quickly spread across 75 acres. Investigators say the wind and dry conditions were too much to handle at times. They say the good news no homes were destroyed and no people or animals were hurt. However, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says some lanes of FM 2920 near Hwy 290 were closed due to smoke, and traffic was detoured away from the area.The cause of this fire is still being investigated.
If you caught photos or video of either fire, you can upload them at iWitness.abc13.com or email them to news@abc13.com. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Sunday, April 24, 2011
Brush fire threatens homes in Montgomery County
Firefighters on scene at a grass and woods fire in the White Oaks Estates subdivision in Conroe | Photo submitted by an anonymous viewer to iWitness.abc13.com (Send your photos and videos to iWitness or email news@abc13.com!)
CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- Firefighters in Montgomery County battled a brush fire Saturday that threatened 20 nearby homes.The skies above the White Oak Estates subdivision in Conroe were just as abuzz as the ground below as helicopters moved buckets of water to the fire from nearby ponds.
Firefighters sprayed homes in the vicinity with water as a precaution and all residents on White Oak Run were evacuated, officials said.
The blaze was contained by Saturday evening. It ended up burning 17 acres, but authorities said no homes sustained fire damage.
(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)