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P.O. Box 213 • Jarrell, TX 76537 • (512) 746-4545

OCT. 31 - NOV. 13, 2014

Central Texas’ Award-Winning Local News Source

26th District CITY STAFF UNDERGOING Court Mantle CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT Brandenburg Out as Georgetown’s City Manager Passing to Donna King by Ann Marie Ludlow

Although no one could ever

replace the inimitable Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield, last week Governor Perry appointed Leander Attorney and Municipal Court Judge Donna King to succeed him in Williamson County’s oldest court, the 26th District. “Judge Stubblefield is a lion of justice,” King says. “He has all the qualities of a true judge and it is hard to see him go and not have him as a mentor. I feel rather nostalgic after his many years of service and I am so grateful and honored to be able to carry on in his court.” Judge King will be sworn in at the Historical Courthouse November 14th after an arduous application process and the better part of a year spent vigorously campaigning for the 368th District Court bench during the last election against Judge Rick Kennon, who won that bench by a narrow margin. When asked about the two experiences, King notes, “Running for office is a massive amount of work in the moment and it’s about doing what you think is best to make an impression on voters. Applying to the governor’s office involved scrutiny of the entire body of my work and my career by a select group of people. The control was pretty much out of my hands. But both were entirely about being true to who I am; my resume, my work ethic and my earnest desire to serve Williamson County as a Judge.” King says the primary campaign was a unique experience and while it was difficult coming to terms with the outcome, she grew more and more certain over See Judge, page 14

by Mike Payne

The Georgetown City Council

called a special meeting Monday evening, November 3. During the meeting, Georgetown City Manager Paul Brandenburg

Psalm 127:3

THE SEASON APPROACHES Page 4

COUNTING SUCCESS Page 5

Fastest Growing Aggie-Owned or Managed in the World

HONORING OUR VETERANS Page 8-9

Texas A&M University

recognized Century 21 HS & Associates of Georgetown, Texas as a member of the 2014 Aggie 100, a program honoring the fastest-growing companies in the world, owned or operated by Texas A&M University former students. Century 21 HS & AssociDr Richard Lester presents 2014 award to Troy Hellmann and Scott Stribling ates was ranked 75th with Stribling, founded Century 21 HS & Associates in a compound annual growth 2008. After growing that location, the firm purrate of 37.4% from 2011 through 2013. The Aggie chased and relocated an office in Austin under the 100, a program created by the Center for New VenCentury 21 HS & Associates banner. “Troy and I tures and Entrepreneurship in Texas A&M Univerhave always kept our focus on the client, as well sity’s Mays Business School, honors graduates from across disciplines for their entrepreneurial endeavors as the agent,” said Scott Stribling. “It is exciting to be recognized for the award but it is primarily a and success as business leaders. See Aggies, page 3 Class of 1998 Aggies Troy Hellmann and Scott

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Jim Briggs, a longtime Georgetown employee and General Manager of Utilities will assume the position of Interim City Manager until a replacement is selected by vote of the City Council. Briggs says he will not apply for the permanent position, and will return to the Utility Department when a replacement for Brandenburg is hired. Exiting the executive session on Monday evening, Mayor Dale Ross commented in a prepared statement, “The City Council and I thank Paul for his service and accomplishments during his tenure, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” Ross went on the say that a nationwide search for a new city manager will soon begin.

Georgetown Realtor Honored in Annual Aggie 100

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tendered his resignation, effective immediately. His announcement came during executive session, and the terms of the agreement of his departure were not publicly disclosed. The council agreed to accept his resignation in a 7-0 vote. Brandenburg has been serving as City Manager of Georgetown since 2002, an extended tenure in a position that statistically lasts about half that time. Brandenburg was the Village Administrator for Germantown, Wisconsin for seven years before coming to Georgetown. Prior to that he was the Village Administrator of Waunakee, Wisconsin for three years and the Assistant City Administrator for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin for two years.

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Wastewater Line Upgrades Reduce Disruption The City is employing some new methods that will minimize disruptions when replacing underground wastewater lines in neighborhoods. Upgrades of more than 4.5 miles of wastewater lines are planned over the next 10 months. One replacement method called pipe-bursting uses a boring machine with a 10-inch-diameter drill head that removes old 8-inch clay lines. As the pneumatic boring machine drills out the old pipe it pulls through new polyethylene pipe to replace it. The pipe-bursting method does not require extensive trenching to remove old lines. The work will cause some noise and excavation, but the impact will be much less than full trenching to remove and replace old lines. A second wastewater line repair method entails even less disruption. The curedin-place method inserts a cloth tube into the existing line. Hot steam is blown into the cloth tube, inflating it inside the line. The hot steam cures a resin material in the cloth and turns it into a hardened PVC pipe. The cured-in-place repair method uses a manhole to access wastewater lines and requires no excavation. The pipe replacement

work is part of the City’s Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone work to replace aging sewer lines. Line inspection work prior to repairs started last week in the Oak Crest area along Spring Valley Road, Northcross Road, Southcross Road, and River Road. Line inspections in Old Town along Main Street and College Street are scheduled this week. Starting late this year and continuing through July 2015, wastewater line repair and replacement work will be scheduled in a number of neighborhoods including Oak Crest, Old Town, Summercrest, San Gabriel Heights, San Jose, River Ridge, Georgetown South Commercial Park, and the North Georgetown Addition.

Public Safety Responders Receive Flu Vaccine

The Williamson County and Cities Health District distributed 1400 doses of flu vaccine to first responder teams throughout Williamson County. The Flu Vaccine Exercise is a multi-agency county-wide effort coordinated annually to test WCCHD’s capability to quickly vaccinate/ medicate critical personnel in response to an infectious disease incident such as Bio-Terrorism or pandemic influenza. WCCHD Clinical Preventive Services Director Marjie Riggio says, “By providing vac-

Mike Knipstein, Williamson County EMS Commander cinations to our police and fire departments, schools, and cities, we are ensuring our first responder teams are vaccinated so they can protect and serve the public throughout the current flu season.” Flu vaccinations and supplies were distributed to: Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Florence, and Hutto Fire Departments; Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Hutto and Thrall ISDs; Williamson County EMS and the City of Round Rock. WCCHD will provide each agency with all of the supplies, paperwork, and vaccine needed to immunize their teams for the flu. A registered nurse or staff member at each agency’s office will administer the vaccine to their employees. For more information about flu season or the Williamson County and Cities Health District, go to wcchd.org.

Car Seat Checks 11/12

Emergency Medical Services will be conducting a car safety seat and booster event for residents on Wed, Nov 12, 10am-1pm. Sponsored by Texans In Motion at Scott & White Healthcare, will take place in the parking lot of Baby Earth, located at 106 E. Old Settlers Blvd., in Round Rock. No cost to participants and is available by appointment only. Please call (512) 259-9010 to schedule an appointment. A limited number of child safety seats are available to families in need. Children will need to be with a parent or other adult caregiver during the inspection. Items should be cleared from the vehicle in order to allow technicians access to the child safety seats.

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P.O. Box 213 • Jarrell, TX 76537 • (512) 746-4545

a publication of Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC Publisher: Mike Payne • Editor: Cathy Payne

Contributing Writers: Jeff Binney Wine Corner Dave Schumacher Points of View

First Class Mail Subscriptions: $32.00 / 26 issues Georgetown Advocate P.O. Box 213 Jarrell, TX 76537

Freelance Correspondents Ann Marie Ludlow Greta Bauer Atticus Jackson Deborah Marquis Address of Record: 181 Town Center Blvd. Suite 500 Jarrell, Texas 76537 512-746-4545 info@GeorgetownAdvocate.com

2013 Best of Texas General Excellence

The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Georgetown Advocate, administration, staff or contributing writers. The views expressed in all letters to the editor and signed opinion articles are those of their authors. All letters to the editor must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Anonymous and unverified letters to the editor will not be printed. The Georgetown Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for length and journalistic style, and has a recommended length of 300 words.

2012 Media Honor Roll

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

JUSTICE

Masterful Prosecution in Cold Case Ends with Guilty Verdict and Death Penalty

Interview with ADA on Working a Capital Case by Ann Marie Ludlow

ildred McKinney was 73 years old in 1980, and was planning to live out her golden years near her children and grandchildren in Williamson County. Her plans were ended in a very brutal manner by Steven Thomas, a pest control worker who had noticed the nice things in her home. He returned later, in the middle of the night, to rob her and viciously violated and murdered her. McKinney’s death was unsolved until 2012 when the District Attorney’s office learned that the DNA evidence had finally gotten a hit. It was then that Williamson County Assistant District Attorney and lead Prosecutor Lytza Rojas began working the case. Rojas explained that a case like this comes along once in a career. She mentioned all three prosecutors, Rojas, ADA Josh Reno and ADA Lauren McLeod have all worked capital cases before but this is the first in which they got the death penalty. “A cold case

ADAs Lytza Rojas and Josh Reno such as this ebbs and flows in the caseload but we have been working non-stop for the past few months to coordinate what amounted to three separate cases.” First, they had to prove Thomas’ guilt in the crime; second, they disproved the false confessions of Henry Lucas and Otis Toole, who erroneously confessed to as many as 600 murders. Lastly, they had to put together 34 years of Thomas’ life to give the jury an understanding of who he was to determine if he should receive the death penalty. “The jury really got that,” Rojas said. “They were very engaged, and we made sure to build our case and maintain the evidence in such a way that they could follow the sometimestedious details in the process.” The ADAs interviewed 157 potential jurors due to the gravity of the trial and the severity of the penalty. Short of death row, Thomas could have received 20 years to life in prison. Rojas says they were an impressive group; they followed all the twists and turns of the case and had full retention of the facts. She could tell that they took their time to ensure they were following the law to the last letter.

AGGIES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 testimony to our agents. They do a great job of providing service to our clients and that is the reason for our growth.”

The 100 Aggieowned or Aggie-led businesses with the highest annual revenue growth were recognized at a formal luncheon at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M University campus, Friday, October 17, 2014. More than 700 honorees, families, employees, faculty, administrators, and well-wishers were in attendance to celebrate their success. “Our Aggie 100 honorees demonstrate that the character and traditions developed at our great university continue to play a significant role in their success across industries and generations,” said Dr. Richard Lester, Executive Director of the Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. “Aggie leaders have proven time and time again that no

Rojas shares credit and had great praise for her fellow ADAs and their commitment to the case; District Attorney Jana Duty for her commitment to keeping cold cases in the hearts and minds of the staff. As well,

The jury had to make a human decision. This was a case in which the community needed to make a decision. We just gave the range of punishment allowed by the law. she mentioned the tireless work of Investigator Howell Williams who coordinated witnesses from across the country for all parts of the trial, including members of law enforcement who had since retired. Despite their success, “There are no celebrations. Nothing in a capital case is taken lightly,” she says, “And no one ever wins. It is something the law allows, and the way the law is framed ensures only a small percentage of people are even eligible.” Rojas affirmed that Thomas was “violent, unpleasant and unchecked. He had the gift of gab and

matter the situation, solid business ideas, strong character, tenacity, and hard work pay off.” Stribling was also pleased to be recognized by friends and colleagues. “Texas is so strong on school affiliation but I have had many Longhorn friends congratulate us on the accomplishment because this is really about the impact of business. Any time you are fortunate enough to be part of a fast-growing organization, there is a certain level of respect and I would have the same admiration and appreciation for my friends from UT or Baylor or anywhere. Success and goodwill will always transcend rivalries.” In the short term, Stribling and Hellmann are enjoying the accomplishment, are grateful to their team for their hard work, and all are looking forward to one heck of a Christmas party to celebrate! The Aggie 100 list in its entirety may be viewed at www.aggie100.com.

had talked his way out of trouble for really violent things in Williamson and Dallas.” Thomas’ time grew shorter in 1999 when a DNA analyst identified an unknown sample on the ribbon found in McKinney’s hand. Evidence in the case was tested with greater and greater accuracy due to advances in technology and DPS was careful to maintain enough to ensure valid results over time. Thomas was arrested in 2012 for trafficking drugs, a federal crime, which mandated a DNA sample. Initially he was cooperating with the DEA but when he stopped helping with their investigation, they prosecuted him and his DNA popped shortly after. As an aside, Rojas says it would be helpful in many cases if the federally mandated DNA could be expanded to lesser charges and members of the justice community are pressing the legislative community to make it happen. Thomas had been arrested on several misdemeanor charges and received felony probation more than once. He might have been stopped long ago and several other victims spared from other crimes. Many at the courthouse say Rojas is a natural as a prosecutor and she herself feels like this is exactly where is she is meant to be; “It means everything to be able to contribute this way. Thomas was a dangerous man and a bully who

wasn’t ever going to stop, so what we do protects the community. Because the timeline of this case was so intricate—with many twists and turns—it was a unique

experience for me as a prosecutor; finding the whole truth and giving the ‘tools’ of that knowledge to a jury. I’m glad to do my part.”

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OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

COMMUNITY

The Caring Season

The Caring Place Executive Director Ginna O’Connor

by Deborah Marquis

The busiest time for

Georgetown’s The Caring Place is the holiday season. Recent food pantry numbers indicate this may be the busiest ever. In June 2014, the food pantry at The Caring Place helped 600 families with assistance, and while those numbers were the highest anyone in the organization could recall, September numbers were higher by more than 100 families. A total of 704 families went through the food pantry in September 2014. There are several programs the public can assist with so the needs of the neighbors in Georgetown can be met. Hunger Free Holidays – runs from October 1 to December 31. The Caring Place has a goal to accumulate 1000 pounds of

food a day for 92 days. A lofty goal, but it can be met. The Caring place is asking individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations to help by donating non-perishable food items or organizing food drives. The Caring Place will help promote the event, as well as track and publicize the donation weight totals. Contact donation manager David Earl to plan and coordinate a food drive. He can be reached at 512-9430710 or dearl@caringplacetsx.org. Holiday Assistance 2014 – Two programs during the month of November will assist families in need. Coats for Kids served 1416 clients in 2013, and The Caring Place expects that number will increase. This year, eligible children from 0 to 18 years old,

who qualify, can receive a Walmart gift card for a new coat. The card is activated immediately. The second program is the December Holiday Meal Program. Families can request an HEB gift card to buy a December holiday meal. The card will be activated on December 15.

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Families may only apply for assistance November 3 – 26 (except November 13) at The Caring Place Annex, across the street from the main building at 2001 Railroad Street. Application hours are Mon-Fri 10am – 3pm. If eligible, those who apply will receive the Walmart gift card and December holiday meal HEB gift card immediately. It is not necessary to be a Caring Place client to apply for this assistance, however current clients must bring all required documentation, even if it is already on file. Required documents include photo IDs for adults, IDs for all children (i.e.; birth certificate), proof of residence and proof of household income. To be approved for holiday assistance, low-income guidelines must be met or a crisis need must be proven. Additional information is available at 512-943-0700. Monetary donations are needed for Coats for Kids and the Holiday Meal Program. Donations may be made online at caringplacetx.org or mailed to The Caring Place, PO Box 1215, Georgetown, Texas 78626. The Caring Place regularly serves many families in financial crises with rent and utilities. A portion of the funds required for that monumental task were raised at the annual Deep In the Heart of Caring fundraiser held this past September. This year, the event grossed nearly $96,000. The live auction was masterfully emceed by Judge Dan Gattis, and when combined with the auctioneering services of Jimmy Doerfler, they had hands waving in the air from anxious bidders. It was a very a successful evening held in the glow of a beautiful Texas sunset.

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

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It’s All in the Numbers for Jarrell’s Drew Sumner Jarrell Athletic Director Celebrating 26 Seasons; 500 Wins (Almost) by Deborah Marquis

t may well be that 2014 is a banner year for Jarrell High School’s Athletic Director and head basketball coach, Drew Sumner. The 2013/14 season marked his 25th year at JHS and the upcoming season could likely see his 500th win. Sumner celebrated 400 wins during the 2012 season, and now sitting at 472 wins, this next milestone is certainly within reach based on his team’s past record and performance. Despite his obvious love for the game and his stellar record, to his credit, many of Coach Sumner’s former players and co-workers remember him for something other than basketball.

Took Mullen, JHS Coach I have watched Coach Sumner raise his family, and coach in Jarrell for 22 years. He is 100 percent for the kids. He is one of the most respected coaches in the state, and one of the

best basketball coaches I have ever worked with. I am proud to say that I work with him, but even prouder to call him my friend.

Morgan Cooper, 2013 JHS Graduate (member of the UT baseball team)

Kris Bernd, 2012 JHS Graduate & U.S. Marine I recently completed Basic Training for the US Marine Corp. During that time, I was selected to be one of the leaders of my peers. The Drill Instructors asked where my discipline and communication skills came from. My answer was simple. They were traits instilled by Coach Sumner. He taught us to lead, follow, communicate and above all, show respect. Those lessons continue to help me as I continue my path with the US Marine Corp. While I might not have always been as receptive as I needed to be, the lessons were still there and I still remember them.

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He is the best coach I’ve ever been around and he really knows how to get the best out of people. He has always put others’ best interests before his own. If someone wants to stay late, he keeps the gym open. If someone wants to come in before school, he gets to school early to open up the gym for you. He has a way of getting to kids in order to get the best out of them. Nobody ever wants to lose a game because we know how much it means to Coach Sumner, and we never wanted to let him down. The Jarrell Cougars are currently ranked eighth for 3A Boys by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Follow the successes of Coach Sumner’s 26th season in the Advocate and at www.WilcoOnline.com.

Photo by Sumner Family. L to R: y – Drew, Jill, Garrett, Andrew, Mallory and Nathan Sumner.

“With Coach Sumner, it’s not about learning to play basketball. It’s about the life lessons learned through basketball.” ~ Aaron Burns, 2012 JHS Graduate (member, UTSA baseball team)

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Special Events November 1-30 Letters of Sacrifice - a work of art and memorial at the Georgetown Art Center, 816 S. Main St. Letters of Sacrifice by Texas-born artist and Air Force Veteran Jenn Hassin is a memorial to service members killed in action since ‘01. Later, displayed at the Pentagon for a year. Saturday, Nov 8 6-7:30 pm A Taste of Joyful Cooking at Florence United Methodist Church, 302 E. Curry. Come taste a sampling of delicious dishes prepared by some of the best cooks in central Texas from the Joyful Cooking cookbook. Sunday, Nov 9, 12:30 pm FREE Live Gospel Concert, The Jesus Country Show at Riders, (Cougar Plaza), Jarrell. Sunday, November 9 Georgetown Gives Thanks Community Festival benefitting Autism Trust @ Roots Bistro, 118 W. 8th St. Live music, happy hour beers & gourmet holiday feast by Chef Jacob Hillbert of The Hollow. $25 (12 & under FREE) or at georgetowngivesthanks. eventbrite.com. Tuesday, Nov 11 5 pm - 8 pm St. Peter Lutheran of Walburg’s Annual Chili Supper - 2929 FM 972 in Walburg. $7 for chili, beans, cornbread & crackers. Desserts at additional cost. Eat-in or drive-thru. stpeterwalburg.org Tuesday, Nov 11 6:30 am - 10 am FREE Veteran’s Day Breakfast at American Legion Post 317, located at 201 W. FM 487 in Jarrell. Come enjoy breakfast with our local veterans. (Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits & Gravy, Sausage, Oatmeal, Fruit & Cereal). Everyone is invited! jarrelltxamericanlegion.org Sunday, November 23 Noon FREE Thanksgiving Dinner at Chisholm Trail Cowboy Church, 1500 CR 120, Weir. Sunday services at 10 am. Visit us on Facebook at Chisholm Trail Cowboy Church Weir. Thursday, Nov 27 Noon FREE Thanksgiving Dinner at American Legion Post 317, located at 201 W. FM 487 in Jarrell. Please join the American Legion family and friends for a free Thanksgiving dinner and a day of football! The Legion hall will open at noon on November 27 and a full turkey & ham dinner (with all the fixings) will be served at 1:30. Sponsored by The Ridge Fellowship and The American Legion Post 317. Sun City Singers Christmas Concert Wed, Dec 3, 7pm - 8:30 pm Thurs, Dec 4, 7pm - 8:30 pm at Sun City Ballroom, 2 Texas Dr. Come celebrate the season, and the reason, “Come to the Manger,” by the 140-voice choir directed by Dick Anderson. Reserved seat tickets $8 on

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activities, serve lunch, and truly have a fun time. Volunteers needed. Call Cheryl White (512) 864-1380 or Carol Cockrell (512) 240-9103.

Weekly Events

Wolf Ranch Farmers Market Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm 1015 W. University Ave, Rain or shine. wolfranchfarmersmarket.com

Georgetown

AA Meetings Mondays - 10 am, Wednesdays & Fridays - 3 pm at the Scott & White Clinic located at 4945 Williams Dr. Saturdays - 9:30 am at The Worship Place at 811 Sun City Blvd. Heroes Night Out Center 1150 S Bell Blvd, Cedar Park Tues & Thurs - 9:30 am Peer to peer Donuts & Coffee Wed - Noon Peer to peer pizza lunch Wed - 7pm Veteran Support Group (at HNO Center AND at Akins High School at 10701 S. 1st St, Austin) Thurs - 7 pm Combat Veteran Support Grp (at HNO Center) FREE Sports Injury Screenings -Wednesdays - 4 pm at the Scott & White Sports Medicine & Rehab Clinic located at 5353 Williams Dr., Suite 100 in Georgetown. Provides athletes with quick access for injury assessment and recommendations for care of injuries. 512-819-5000 FREE ESL Classes -Wednesdays - 9:30am - Noon presented by Friendship International at Round Rock First Baptist Church (First Life Center), 306 Round Rock Ave. Session runs Sept 2014 through May 2015. Provides a fun place for learning or practicing English while creating crafts, sewing, cooking, painting, learning about computers, or preparing for citizenship. New members welcomed each week and choose free classes. Visit friendshiprr. org, email friendship@fbcrr.org or Molly at 512-468-4236. Potluck Meal & Bible Study Wednesdays - 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Calvary Chapel of Georgetown, 3400 Shell Road. Youth group meets. Childcare provided. calvarygt.org. 512-966-9040 for info. Royal Rangers & MPact Girls Wednesdays - 7 pm - 8:15 pm at River of Life Church, 6040 Airport Road, Georgetown. All ages welcome ~ infant to adult! For info, contact April at 512-863-0854. Healing Rooms of Georgetown Thursdays 7 pm - 8 pm River of Life Church (6040 Airport Road) bringing the Power of God’s Love & Healing. If you or a loved one are in need of God’s Divine Healing, contact Michelle at 512-508-3222 or 512-863-0854. You may email us at HealingOutreachMinistry@gmail. com. www.riveroflifegt.org Special Friends - Alzheimers Caregivers Support - Thurs 10 am -2 pm Free, weekly respite care program that gives caretakers a few hours of free time. Meet in the foyer of the Worship Place in Sun City, 811 Sun City Blvd. Volunteers plan special

VFW Post 8587 1000 College St, Saturdays - 8 pm - Midnight “Freedom Karaoke” Sundays - Noon until ? NFL Sunday Ticket - watch the games on 4 Flat Screen TVs Central Texas 912 Project Saturdays 9:30 am at Hat Creek Burger Co., 201 San Gabriel Village Blvd., Georgetown. Community of American Patriots who come together to restore our nation to its historical foundations. We meet to discuss issues and create plans of action to influence local, state and national leaders. For meeting details/ guest speakers and special events, visit www.centex912project.com.

Jarrell

Bible Study Sundays- 5 pm lead by Pastor John Davenport, at Riders BBQ, 305 Limestone Terr., Jarrell. All ages welcome! Child care provided. Seniors’ Luncheons Mondays starts at 11 am at American Legion Post 317, at 201 W. FM 487 in Jarrell. $2 donation requested. Wed starts at 11 am at the Old Fire Hall. $3 donation. Jarrell Noon Lions Club Mondays - 11:30 am at American Legion Post 317, located at 201 W. FM 487. “All You Can Eat” Public Meal Wednesdays - 6-8 pm at American Legion Post 317, at 201 W. FM 487 in Jarrell. $6/person - dine in or carryout.

Florence

Florence Noon Lions Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays - Noon at the Florence Fire Hall, 301 Brewster St. Community Wide Fellowship & Game Day 1st & 3rd Wednesdays - 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Florence, 106 College Ave. Seniors 55+ welcome! Call (254) 793-2991 for info & transportation.

Monthly Events Georgetown

Neuropathy, 2nd Monday 1 -3 pm GHF Community Room, 2423 Williams Dr., Ste. 101. Diane and Bob Ricklefsen, 512-863-9293 or handsfeetheart@gmail.com; handsfeetheart.org. Breastfeeding Support Group 2nd Monday 1 -2 pm at Seton Medical Center Williamson, 201 Seton Parkway, Learning Center 1, Round Rock. Open and free education and support

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to breastfeeding moms. For more information, call 512-324-4100. Cardiac Support Network Group 2nd Tuesday 10 am 201 Seton Parkway, Round Rock. Open to anyone wanting to learn about heart disease including how to prevent, reverse, and treat. For more information, contact Lydia Terry at (512) 324-4000 ext. 21828 or laterry@seton.org. Georgetown AGLOW 3rd Tuesday of the Month at 7 pm at Georgetown Parks & Recreation Ad Bldg, 1101 N College St., Georgetown. For further info, contact. Teresa Tucker (512) 355-2433. VFW Post 8587 Monthly Meeting 3rd Tues 6:30 pm 1000 College St, Georgetown. Call 512-863-2535 for info. Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease, 4th Tuesday of the Month 11am -12:15pm at GHF Community Room, 2423 Williams Dr., Ste. 101. Information about Alzheimer’s disease, signs, diagnosis, treatment options, coping tips & resources. Registration required. (512) 241-0420 or txprograms@txalz.org. Williamson County Detachment #1022 of the Marine Corps League Last Wednesday 7 pm VFW Hall, 1000 College St, for dinner & meeting. Marines and FMF Corpsman invited. Sna Gabriel Wrter’s League 1st Thursday of the Month - 6:30 pm at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd Floor. All novice and authors welcome. www.sgwl.net. Parkinson’s Support Group 4th Thursday of the Month 2 pm in the Georgetown Health Foundation rooms at 2423 Williams Drive. Open to patients, caregivers, spouses, family, and friends. Contact Mary Jane Berry at 240-4167; dberry3@ suddenlink.net. Heroes Night Out 1st Friday of the Month 6 pm - 8 pm at the HNO Center, 1150 S Bell Blvd, Cedar Park. Free Peer to Peer dinner and show (kid-friendly) for veterans and families. Register online at heroesnightout.org. Marine Corps League Spaghetti Dinner 2nd Friday of the Month 5 pm - 7 pm at the VFW Hall, 1000 College St, Georgetown. All you can eat spaghetti, meatballs, bread, salad, & a drink $8 adults / $5 children. Proceeds go to the annual scholarship fund for Marine Corps JrROTC. VFW Fish Fry Last Friday of the Month 5:30 pm - 7 pm at the VFW Post 8587, 1000 College St, Georgetown. All you can eat catfish, chicken strips, fries, hush puppies, beans, potato salad, coleslaw & a drink $10 adults / $5 children. Proceeds benefit scholarship & veteran’s programs.

Fleet Reserve Assn. Branch 201 2nd Saturday of the Month - 7:30 pm at the IHOP in Pflugerville, 14310 S. I-35. For more information, go to fra.org.

Jarrell

“All You Can Eat” Fish Fry, 3rd Sunday of the month from 11 am 1 pm at American Legion Post 317, located at 201 W. FM 487 in Jarrell. The cost is $9 per person. Jarrell Fire Department 2nd Monday of the month - 7 pm Jarrell School Board 2nd Monday of the month - 7 pm at the Jarrell ISD Administration Building, 312 N. Fifth St. in Jarrell. Sonterra MUD 3rd Monday of the month - 6 pm at the Sonterra MUD office, 113 Limestone Terr. in Jarrell. Jarrell Livestock Association 4th Monday of the month - 7 pm at the Jarrell Memorial Park Community Center, located at 1651 CR 305 in Jarrell. ESD #5 3rd Monday of the month - 6:30 pm at Fire Station #2, 155 CR 313 E, Jarrell, TX. Jarrell-Schwertner Water Board 2nd Wednesday of the month - 7 pm at the Jarrell Memorial Park Community Center, located at 1651 CR 305 in Jarrell.

Florence

Florence Youth Recreation Association 2nd Monday of the month 6:30 pm at Florence City Park Ball Fields. Florence Chamber of Commerce 4th Monday of the month - 12 pm at Florence Diner, 208 E Main St. in Florence. www.florencechamberofcommerce.org Florence City Council 1st Tuesday of the month - 7 pm at Florence City Hall, 106 S. Patterson in Florence.

Include your community, church, or non-profit event on our calendar! WILCOONLINE. COM click on “Submit A Calendar Event”

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

CONTENT MARKETING

Get Fit Anytime in Jarrell

Jarrell is growing again,

only this time it’s all about getting smaller. Lana and Larry Young are about to open Anytime Fitness in Cougar Plaza and they are excited about being the first gym in town! The Youngs want to share the convenience of being a local workout facility because it means Jarrell residents will be able to exercise in a place “where people know your name.” Anytime Fitness is a worldwide franchise with 2000 locations in the United States and one of the benefits is that when you join one, you can work out in any Anytime, anywhere. The Youngs are open for pre-enrollment tours and they have a few slots left for the first 100 participants to waive the enrollment fee. Lana recently left her job of 20 years to work out and take time for herself; “For me it was about learning to work out, the importance of wellness and helping others include it in their daily lives. It also helps compartmentalize the day and gives people feel a greater sense of accomplishment.” The Youngs often visit

with prospective clients for an hour or more and share. “We are getting to know our neighbors, and are excited for them to start their workouts, gain muscle tone, and get more more energy.” The Youngs are happy to help each person with whatever works to get them there. Lana says, “If your routine is to have coffee, come have coffee with me before you work out.” Larry says the Anytime philosophy is about community, getting people to feel welcome and encouraging them. “Here, you don’t just come in to a vast gym and go help yourself. We are more about helping people with their issues or their enjoyment. We don’t want to be the gym that is all about weight loss. It’s also about mental health and muscle tone.” Anytime will also be about convenience. “We have a friend who gets up at 4:30am to work out in Salado before work. We are here so you can work out and get home in the time it would take just to get to

another gym.” The Youngs will be limiting the number of members so they won’t be crowded or too busy to help their new friends. The facility will have two full restrooms with showers, and tanning will be available soon. Anytime will be ready for business before Thanksgiving and they are conducting pre-sale tours every day. The gym is open 24/7 and will be staffed 9am-7pm every day. Lana will manage the day to day operations and there will be a trainer on staff for paid sessions or occasional Q&A about fitness. The gym also has an enclosed workout room for specialty classes. Larry says, “We don’t want to turn you loose and just say, ‘Here’s the gym, good luck.’ We want to be here for you and the by product will be happy clients and good business.” Find them on Facebook at Anytime Fitness Jarrell or call 512-746-6776.

Support Drought Relief with a Pool

Family Business Puts Family First

Yes, you read that right.

Your water bill may be lower with a pool than with landscaping. But we’ll get to that later. The Advocate talked to Steve and Crystal Henderson of Premier Pools and Spas of Austin and learned a lot about the pool industry; the Hendersons are all about trying to make sure the industry gets a good name, one pool at a time. Steve and Crystal are a young entrepreneurial couple who, like many, moved here to build a business. They set out to build a company that, unlike some, genuinely puts the customer first. They operate from a business model that limits the number of projects they will take on at any one time, or over the course of a year, to guarantee they have

the time and availability to personally oversee every new pool. After 12 years working for companies on the west coast, Steve says “I wanted to run my own business and fix things I saw in the industry. We put our customers first no matter what that means; like taking calls at 9 pm to go over the remote controls from a customer’s iPad.” Crystal says “We aren’t here to be the biggest builder; we just want to be the relationship people. We are hands-on from design to the first splash because we’re not just selling pools, we are building a lifestyle that will bring lasting enjoyment for entire families.” Working as husband-wife provides other advantages. Crystal says wives are pleased to have a mom on the team who asks the right questions. “While the men get excited talking about steel and impervious cover, a mom is interested in depths, steps and how her family will gain from and enjoy their new pool.” Steve agrees; “We complement each other very well. When your product starts in the high $30,000 price range, it helps to have feminine and masculine perspectives together. Cli-

ent budget is the only limit, so if they can dream it, we can build it.” The Hendersons judge their success on character. “We make one thing for ourselves in life, our reputation. So we build to higher standards than the state requires; harder steel, better materials and longer warranties. We build each one as if our children would swim in it; we take pride in what we do and we also know the value of hard work.” Crystal says some cities have come down on the industry as “water overusers” but studies show landscaping the same area of grass uses more water over the span of a summer. “Pools are essentially retention ponds and even when filling the first time, it’s a water saver over three months of watering. Considering a golf course averages 18,000 gallons for every watering, pools are a smart choice for Texas.” Premier Pools & Spas - Austin has built pools locally in Gabriel’s Overlook and Berry Creek and are currently working to expand their local customer base. Reach them at 512524-0247 or www.premierpoolsandspas.com/austin.

OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

WE REMEMBER

Charles “Shag” Larson 1925-2014

Charles Larson was a resident of Sun

City since 2002. His funeral was held at the Central Texas Veteran Cemetery and included an Honor Guard and playing of Taps to commemorate his service during World War II and Korea. Shag was born January 4, 1925 in Americus, Kansas and grew up during the Great

Depression. His grandson, Robert Wade recalled a story Shag told about going out with his brother during a particularly hard time, to find something for dinner. They managed to tree a squirrel and his brother ran back to the house to get “the bullet” they had apparently reserved for such an occasion. While in France, Shag’s unit was holed up in a bunker that was bombed by the German army. Having had nothing to eat for two days, when they ran out of ammunition, the soldiers were ordered to surrender and began a 52-mile march over ice, snow and mud that ended at Stalag IX-B (also known as Bad Orb) a German prisoner-ofwar camp with the reputation of being one of the worst Stalags. It was documented by a German soldier that although they had no tanks or artillery support it was the best infantry defense he had ever seen. Shag didn’t talk much about his experience there because he saw great suffering and his compatriots did not all survive.

They were liberated by General Patton on April 3, 1944. When he recovered and arrived back at home, he married Merldine on October 1. They were married just shy of 70 years. Astonishingly, Shag was called up and served in Korea as an engingeer building bridges for the Army. At the completion of his service, he went back to school and completed his Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Secondary Education. He was a father of four, grandfather to 6, and great-grandfather to ten. Wade said his grandfather lived a life that stood the test of time. He loved baseball and watching his sons play. He loved bowling, bridge, cribbage— and winning—but mostly a good game. He enjoyed ice cream and dessert and traveling to his home state of Kansas to see his family. He was fascinated with maps and could frequently be found looking at them at his roll top desk. He was also hooked on the stock reports and made bets on pork bellies with his family. Wade recalls that no matter the temperature, Shag always went fishing in polyester pants and a dress shirt. But he held a state fair record for one of thier biggest trout. His family spoke of his life lessons; he taught them all to be fair and honest, and he could communicate his lessons with a wise look. Wade says “He wasn’t famous, or special in the history books, but he was special to our family and he always won at the game of life.” The ceremony concluded with a prayer to bless Shag and soldiers past and present.

Well-attended by members of Honor Flight Austin, the sentiment that freedom is not free was echoed across the lawn and a great American was laid to rest.

Sun City to Honor Walking Treasures November 11 Veterans Day 2013, Clockwise from Left: COL LeMasters visit with City Councilman Steve Fought after the ceremony. Valerie Covey places the wreath with Ed Russek. Dale Ross poses with Barry Smitherman, Linda McDaniel and Constable Kevin Stofle. WWII Vet Howard Franks. Sun City resident, Retired General Chuck Graham introduces the keynote speaker. Veteran Airman sing along during the Air Force Song. Veteran Marines do the same during the USMC song.

Sun City will hold its 2014 Veterans Day Ceremony, November 11 at Veterans Plaza at 9 am (2 Texas Drive, Georgetown). The speaker will be Lieutenant General Sean B. MacFarland, Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood. One of the trees behind the Memorial Wall and a plaque will be dedicated by Colonel Don Lee Hayes, US Army Retired. Wreathes will be placed at the Memorial Wall and the Williamson County Memorial Wall. Musical tributes will be provided by The Georgetown High School band, orchestra and choir beginning at 10:45 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

WE REMEMBER

Veterans to Experience Flight of a Lifetime

On Veterans Day, eight

veterans from the Georgetown, Sun City and Austin area will experience a flight of a lifetime through the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation (AADF). AADF President Darryl Fisher restored the Foundation’s plane, a 1942 Boeing Stearman—an open-cockpit two-seater bi-plane—to honor seniors and United States military veterans. The AADF recognizes veterans living in longterm care communities by

providing a memorable experience in flight. The organization is based in Las Vegas and the visiting pilot will be giving a briefing at about 9:00am to get the day started. Everything takes place at the Longhorn Jet Center, Georgetown Airport, 160 Terminal Dr. This special event is made possible thanks to sponsors, such as Sport Clips Haircuts, a sportsthemed salon franchise that specializes in hair care for

men and boys and has more than 1,200 locations across the U.S. Through Sport Clips’ support as primary sponsor, AADF will be able to launch 400 flights in 50 cities across the U.S. this year, up from 274 in 2013. The Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization established and dedicated Its mission is to “Give Back To Those Who Have Given”. The Boeing Stearman biplane is the same aircraft used to train many military aviators in the late thirties

and early 1940s. John Spahr, local coordinator for the program is also very active in Honor Flight Austin and says it is the same plane that many WWII veterans would have trained on in Corpus Christi before the war. Dream Flight participants have served in the military during World War II, Korea and Vietnam and will be available for interviews and photographs at the airport. The event is open to the public; “Flights will last 15-20 minutes,” Spahr says, “And if there’s one thing WWII vets like to do it’s tell stories. The Veterans will be available on the ground throughout the day to talk about their experiences, take photos and shake hands.” All are welcome. For local information, contact John Spahr at spahrvfw@ yahoo.com or (512) 5083038.

Austin Artist’s “Letters of Sacrifice” at Georgetown Arts Center

The Georgetown Art Center is host-

ing “Letters of Sacrifice” , a work of art and memorial created by Austin artist Jenn Hassin. The Georgetown Art Center is the last stop for “Letters of Sacrifice” before it goes to the Pentagon, where it will be on display for a full year. The exhibit is made possible by a grant from the City of Georgetown Arts and Culture Board. Nick Ramos, the center’s curator says, “We are honored to celebrate our Veterans with such a great work of art and to share this with the community. Letters of Sacrifice is a memorial to service members who have been killed in action since 2001 when the Global War on Terror began.” As of September 11th this year, 6,805 men and women have lost their lives fighting on our country’s behalf. The memorial contains one representational condolence letter for each and every deceased man or woman in uniformed that has been Killed In Action. The walls of Letters of Sacrifice will only get taller as the war contin-

ues, making it an on-going memorial. Thus why there is empty wire above the condolence letters, to highlight the fact that we are still at war. Hassin reflected on her piece... I chose to represent our fallen with a condolence letter to show that the sacrifice is made by more than our heroes, but also by the commander that has to write that letter, the service members who fought along side their buddy, or the mother, father, husband, wife or child who has to read that Her work ranges from 2D drawings letter. The sacrifice of serving our to sculptural works that are through a country goes beyond weapons and 2D lens. Process, time and labor are fighting. These men and women were husbands or wives, sons or daughters, all essential to creating her detailed and even mothers or fathers. As a vet- works. Her plans are to one day receive an MFA to aid in furthering her eran myself, I feel that in our country career as a professional artist. it is easy to forget about our service members and the sacrifices that they Left: Letters of Sacrifice sculpture evokes have made. I created Letters of Sacjersey walls and wire fencing ever present rifice to honor our fallen and to push in combat. the idea that he or she is more than just a number. Hassin is Texasborn and an Air Force veteran who currently resides in Austin, Texas. 1000 N. College St. | Georgetown She graduated 512-863-2535 with a degree in Studio Art in 2012 from Saint Edward’s University. Hassin works out of her studio at OPEN: Canopy where she Mon - Sat: 3 pm - Close creates conceptual works with every Sundays: Noon - Close intention of makCome watch the game! ing a difference through her art. www.vfw-8587.org

M/SGT Ben D. Snowden VFW Post 8587

OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

FAMILY LIFE

Safe and Profitable Halloween Alternative Fall Festivals:

Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Corn Hill 8626 FM 1105 • Jarrell 512-863-3020

Weekend Masses: Saturday 5 pm Sunday 8:30 am I-35 Exit 271 2.5 miles east on CR 311

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Halloween festivals and tailgating -- whether on a weekend near Halloween or on Oct. 31 itself -- are still an unfamiliar concept for some, but it is an increasingly popular event in Central Texas. Often, churches or schools host trunk-or-treats as a no-strings-attached treat for their neighborhoods. Area-wide, events included bouncy houses, games, crafts, free hot dogs and popcorn and trick or treats inside the church or school. “Nationally, in our culture, there’s a growing disparity between Halloween’s pagan history and a day that’s about fun and candy for kids,” says one Lutheran minister. “In our event, we’ve encouraged no skulls or crossbones. Death is a real part of life, but we want to make this a fun event, not a gory or scary one; not one that is focused on death or dying.” Festival goers have just as much fun as the treaters, with rock climbing, treat fishing and ... there’s still plenty of candy! The new tradition seems to be taking hold as families look for new ways to keep kids safe,

together and maybe even home early. One such event, Jarrell Middle School’s 16th Annual Fall Festival, paired not-so-spooky fun with the opportunity to help raise funds for the school. Due to its growing popularity in the community, the event grossed over $5000. Although the festival is hosted by Jarrell Middle School, many organizations in the school also had the opportunity to raise money. By supporting this festival, attendees also supported organizations like the FFA Booster Club, 2015 Project Graduation, Cheerleaders, and the list goes on. The 14-foot slide and bounce house were donated by Kids Zone Learning Center of Jarrell and Deborah’s Digital Design for the JISD Transportation Department to raise money for Coats for Kids, which brought in hundreds of dollars. Jarrell Project Graduation was busy with Queen Elsa and Amazing Spiderman photos. Rent-A-Character of Jarrell provided Elsa and Spidey at no charge. Area resident Crystal, whose kids attended one of the many local festivals, commented that these types of events are “great for the whole family. The younger kids come first while it’s light out and there is still safety and fun for the older kids until late in the evening. Everyone gets to dress up and enjoy the holiday the way they like.”

Lilah 6; Kylie 8; and McKenzie Reynolds, 3. Daughters of Holly and Brandon Reynolds of Jarrell.

Jarrell School Board President Ken Bovio stopped for pics with Queen Elsa and the Amazing Spiderman at Jarrell Middle School’s Fall Festival.

Captain “Ethan” America has a go at the bouncy mountain at First Baptist church in Georgetown.

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

FAMILY LIFE

Just Breathe by Jeff Binney

Let’s talk about what it

means to allow wine to breathe. Breathing is really aeration, which is allowing the wine to be in contact with oxygen for a time between when it was opened and consumed. Breathing applies mainly to full-bodied, complex red wines. While simple reds and whites might benefit from some aeration, the effects are nowhere near as pronounced. Later, we’ll take it a step further and discuss decanting. When a freshly-opened bottle of red wine is in contact with oxygen, the tannins (the astringency on the back of our palate) soften and become less aggressive. This allows the fruit flavors to open up on our front to mid-palate, and also releases the esters (aromatics) that give wine its wonderful aroma. The wine becomes a flower blooming in the glass. It’s easy, however, to make the mistake of pulling the cork from the bottle and setting it on the counter to

breathe. Let’s be realistic. The amount of oxygen in contact with the wine through the narrow neck of the bottle is negligible, and so is its impact. A better plan is to pour some wine in our glass, thus increasing the surface area that’s exposed to air in both the glass and bottle. This also allows us to sip and see how it evolves over time. So, how long should we let a wine breathe? It depends on the wine, but 45 minutes to an hour works pretty well. Young, tannic wines benefit the most from aeration. For example, a full-bodied Cabernet will require more patience than a soft Pinot Noir. Personally, I’ve done years of extensive and intensive research on how long to let a red breathe. My best rule of thumb, with 30 years experience, is about two ice cold Lone Stars. Decanting a wine is another option that goes beyond simply letting it breathe in the glass and bottle. When we decant a wine, we pour it into a second container called a decanter. The best decanters are made of high quality glass with good clarity, and should have a narrow neck that expands into a large bowl at the base which allows a lot of surface area for the wine to be in contact with air. There are two reasons to decant. The first is to accelerate the breathing process of a young, assertively tannic wine. In this case,

it’s okay to aggressively pour the wine (glug, glug, glug) into the decanter. This aerates it even more. The second reason is to separate the wine from any sediment that may have collected in the bottle. Sediment occurs naturally in old wines, and we see it in young wines that had very little filtration. In this case, decanting can be a little tricky. Since the wine has probably been stored on its side, the sediment will run the length of the bottle and could be slightly stuck. If so, the bottle will need to stand upright for anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days to allow it to settle around the punt (dimple) at the bottom. A light shone from the back of the bottle will tell us when gravity has done its job. Pouring an old wine off its sediment should be done slowly and gently for two reasons. First, we want to monitor its movement in the bottle and stop pouring when it reaches the crook in the neck. Again, we can follow its progress with a light from the back side. A candle is very romantic, but a small flashlight works best. Second, and why we should be gentle, is that older wines require much less aeration, and fruit flavors fade quickly once in contact with air. These should be served soon after decanting. Thanks again for tuning in, and we’ll see you in two weeks...

OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

OPINION / COMMENTARY

Publisher’s Forum by Mike Payne

New City Manager Means Moving Beyond The Status Quo

In 2002, Georgetown’s city

council selected a city manager whom they felt would effectively direct and guide Georgetown’s growth in a direction that would most benefit the interests of our city and its taxpayers. Now, twelve years later, our current city Council, elected by the citizens of Georgetown to represent them, have cast a unanimous 7-0 vote to accept the resignation of that city manager. That vote tally speaks volumes, so rather than cast a negative drumbeat about the circumstances that led the council to this point, it seems more judicious to consider what should happen moving forward. If you look at any customer service model, as is found in every successful city, each person that passes through a city door is considered a customer and treated as such. While this proposition may be difficult for bureaucrats to comprehend, it is vital to the suc-

cess of our city. Under the stewardship of a new city manager, every member of the city staff, from the city manager to the person who takes out the trash, must be taught how essential the relationship with every customer is. These ‘customers’ who do business with the city, (gaining permits, and navigating the complicated development process, etc.) want the same things that anyone would want; they want to be acknowledged courteously and professionally; they want to be entered into the system expeditiously; and then they want an organized and clearly defined process that will work efficiently to guide them to a successful and profitable outcome. Under the right leadership, a city with the swagger of Georgetown should not need to apologize to anybody. As one of the fastest growing places in America, the incoming city manager must be of premier status throughout the United States. He or she must understand the UDC thoroughly and then work with the City Council to refine it to make sure it doesn’t cost those attempting to do business with the city unnecessary time and money. Time really is money, and delays will, and have in the past, run off myriad businesses and caused protracted delays. As for economic development, there must be some significant adjustments. If we are indeed in the top ten places to live in America, then people should be talking about us in every corner of the country. That can only come from a welldefined, well-balanced,

well-executed economic development environment. To date, that has not been apparent here. Under new city management, this must be done. This council, one of the most economicallysavvy groups assembled anywhere in the United States, must design this program, legislate it, and then demand quantifiable results. Georgetown should have the best of everything available in the retail, technology, and manufacturing sectors. No longer will we let other local municipalities build “circles” around us. In fact, in a city with the status of Georgetown, our Economic Development Director should be so well known as to be “sought out” by every other city in the country in need of one. Georgetown is at a precipice. It has all the makings of a well-oiled machine, but has been limping along, dysfunctional in its tax receipt balance of homes to businesses. If this trend were allowed to continue, the 28 percent tax increase over the last three years would skyrocket. This council has taken the first and best step in ensuring the safety of all citizens in regard to raising taxes. Now it must take ample time, interview thoroughly, and find a person who understands the personality, tenor, and carefully chosen direction of Georgetown. Second, we must continue to execute the superb guidance of this Mayor and Council. To do so will most certainly guarantee the right choice for the most influential employee in the entire city.

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Points of View

by Dave Schumacher

Fast and Furious: Redux

n the very first edition of the Georgetown Advocate, July 26th, 2012, I wrote a piece on ‘Fast and Furious’, the gun running scheme perpetrated under the Obama administration. In that article, I asked, “Shouldn’t the ‘Fast and Furious’ investigation be expanded to include all actions of the ATF, DEA and FBI as they relate to the so-called gun running programs?” The House held hearings on the scandal. Eric Holder lied about his knowledge of the activities, and Congress actually leveled contempt charges. President Obama screamed, “Executive privilege!” After many months of stonewalling, it appeared that this issue just died. Well, hold on − it has just been resurrected. Eric Holder tendered his resignation a few weeks ago, and I think I know why. Last week, Judicial

Watch (JW), a government watchdog group, obtained new evidence that reveals Obama’s Senior Advisor, Valerie Jarrett, was managing Eric Holder’s lies told to Congress in the illegal Fast and Furious gun-running scandal. The regime was funneling American-made weapons into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. Fast and Furious was intended to shut down legal gun sales near the border and ultimately strip Americans of their gun rights. Instead, the scheme was unearthed when one of the smuggled guns was used to kill U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. It was also reported that hundreds of Mexican citizens were killed with these weapons. After the White House refused to turn over information requested by JW with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, JW sued, and the federal court ordered the Department of Justice to turn over the records, despite Obama administration objections. This latest information ties Valerie Jarrett to the subsequent lies and coverup following the deadly scandal. Buried deep in the 1,000-plus pages of records secured by Judicial Watch was the fact that Jarrett was brought into the fray to manage Holder’s lies about the gun-running operation. From the Judicial Watch report: “The files received by JW include three electronic mails between Holder and Jarrett and one from former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke to Jarrett. The e-mails with Holder

are all from October 4, 2011, a significant date because, on the evening of October 3rd, Sheryl Attkisson [then at CBS news] released documents showing that Holder had been sent a briefing paper on Operation Fast and Furious on June 5, 2010. The paper was from the director of the National Drug Intelligence Center, Michael Walther. This directly contradicted Holder’s May 3, 2011 testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, during which he stated that he, ‘probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks.’ The October 4, 2011 date may also be significant because it came shortly after the August 30, 2011 resignation of U.S. Attorney for Arizona Dennis Burke, and reassignment of acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson to the position of Senior Forensics Advisor at DOJ.” This recently-discovered data should not be a surprise to anyone who has followed this White House, but it should outrage everyone that the shady, unelected Jarrett is once again found to be pulling strings in some of the biggest scandals of this administration. Since Fast and Furious, there have been dozens of Obama administration scandals and crises. We need to pursue all of them. It’s long past time for Congress to place Jarrett, along with civilian Eric Holder, on the witness stand. My bet is that they would both plead the fifth. That is the modus operandi of this administration.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Recall’n Texas June, 2012: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wins his recall election. Wisconsin union supporters tried to recall him for signing a law that ended collective bargaining in the state. September, 2013: Colorado State Senators John Morse and Angela Giron lose their recall election. Colorado voters succeeded in recalling the two senators for supporting strict gun control legislation in Colorado. October, 2014: Houston Mayor Annise Parker subpoenas sermons from Christian pastors who may have preached against a gay rights ordinance that she promoted. The anti-First Amendment subpoenas cause outrage across Texas and the nation, triggering a petition to “Recall Mayor Annise Parker and City Council Members Who Voted to Subpoena Sermons.” However, Mayor Parker and the Houston City Council need not worry - Texas law does not provide for recall of state or local officials. In general, states have the authority to pass recall legislation if they so choose, and 20** states, plus the District of Columbia, have done so. Additionally, at least 12*** other states provide for the recall of local officials only. Ironically, Texas, America’s alleged bastion of personal freedom, is absent from these lists.

One perversely positive aspect of Mayor Parker’s blatantly unconstitutional sermon subpoena is that it underscores the need for recall elections in Texas. It is high time that Texas joins the ranks of the 32 other states that allow its citizens to protect themselves from illegal political power plays by recalling unruly state and local officials. Texas voters are advised to contact their state Representative and Senator and respectfully demand an amendment to the Texas Constitution providing for recall of state and local officials in Texas. ** Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin *** Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming Richard Lutowski Austin, TX

THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

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SHOPPING

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Office Hours by Appointment

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OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

PEOPLE

JUDGE, CONTD FROM PAGE 1

St. Joseph’s

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MILLER INSURANCE AGENCY Home • Auto • Life • Commercial Insuring Central Texas Since 1982

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Gary Miller Agent

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e m o H

time that the race was a message, and that her true place was still to come. “I had new clarity and faith that the right opportunity would present itself, so I focused my energy to be prepared for that. When the news of Judge Stubblefield’s retirement began to circulate, people again approached me to be Judge, and although it was sooner than I would have imagined, I prayed about it and a new door has opened.” She explains that overall it was a great character builder for her and her family and she has a new appreciation for the kind of lifestyle that politics can create for a first-timer. King is committed to continuing the legacy and reputation of the 26th. She plans to review procedures and fine-tune operations so that not only is justice served for everyone in her court, but the court itself runs smoothly and optimal-

s n a Lo

ly. “I have already spoken to Judge Mathews and Kennon about my transition. They are very team-oriented and have a great dynamic. As well, all of the judges have extended their hands and included me on decisions at the courthouse. They’ve made me feel like I’ve been brought into their very esteemed group and although I have not taken my oath yet, I am just happy to be a Freshman on the Varsity team.” She says she has been humbled by the appointment and the validation of her commitment to being a judge. “There was no way I wasn’t going to go for it and despite there being 11 applicants, I just felt like the time was right for me and I’m so glad to have gotten the nod.” She especially wanted to thank all the supporters who reached out to the governor on her behalf. “It was very humbling to know that these people, including some who didn’t support me in the campaign, were there for me.” The Judge says relief is not the right word for how she felt when the word was finally given. “It’s hard to describe how it feels after all the work on the application, the campaign, all the work in my 19-year career

and everything that has come together to make me the lawyer that I am now.” Going from private practice to a very public career will also bring new tests. “I have a blended family, so family time may be more challenging as the job demands grow, but I have great kids and have developed some great relationships in the past few years so there are many hands to help.” Judge King is eager to bring her service. “People will come to my court and serve on my jury, and now they will have a face to go

with the name. It’s important for judges to know the community and I plan to get out there and get involved so they know us and we know them.”

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Your down payment & any costs not paid by the seller will be due at the time of closing.

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There are a variety of costs needed to fund a loan & purchase a home. We will let you know about all of these expenses up front.

• Information on economic development incentives • Assistance with the City’s permitting process • Available land and facilities

For More Information:

Tommy Sladecek, Senior Vice President

Eagle Bank, A Branch of Round Top State Bank 512-746-2531 or TSladecek@eagle-bank.com

Equal Housing Lender. Some products may not be available in all states. Credit & collateral are subject to approval. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms & conditions are all subject to change without notice.

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THE ADVOCATE  OCTOBER 31, 2014

PEOPLE

A & A Fence Co. RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • FARM & RANCH Serving all of Central Texas

Fence • Gates • Custom-Built Entries & Gates NO DEPOSIT! You don’t pay until the job is finished!

Split Oak Firewood for Sale - Will Deliver! Andy Amburn • Florence, TX • (254) 258-9868

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ANIMAL MEDICAL

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ADVO- CATIE SAY S... Blessed holidays approach like a star in the East Though earlier comes the Black Friday Beast Seriously? — No sale price on Earth Could even possibly be worth Leaving my family’s embrace mid-Thanksgiving Feast. Since 2006, there have been four deaths and 76 injuries during Black Friday rushes. Source: An actual website called BlackFridayDeathCount.com

Last year Walmart’s top ten fights were over crockpots, toasters, DVDs, tables, clothes, air mattresses, XBoxes, headphones, and George Foreman grills.

16 |

OCTOBER 31, 2014  THE ADVOCATE

(512) 746-2900

305 Limestone Terrace (Cougar Plaza) | Jarrell, TX Northbound IH-35 Exit 275/Southbound IH-35 Exit 274

20 Homestyle Breakfasts fresh from our kitchen! Served daily 6:30 am - 10:45 am

Mon., Tues., & Thurs. 6:30 am - 8 pm Wednesday 6:30 am - 10 pm (Karaoke) Friday & Saturday 6:30 am - 9 pm Sunday 6:30 am - 7 pm Dine In • Carry Out • Drive-Thru

Fresh-from-the-pit BBQ & Full Menu served after 11 am

Delicious, homemade biscuits and gravy, just like my mother made... in an atmosphere that feels like home! Tom Higgs

Jarrell Resident