July 12, 2017 Hays Free Press

JULY 12, 2017 HAVE A HEART

COMEBACK

Seton celebrates 100 heart surgeries in a year.

Rebel senior returns to gridiron after major injury.

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Hays Free Press

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Vol. 121 • No. 16

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County ballot system remains in question

BY SAMANTHA SMITH Calls for a paper ballot election system continue from some Hays County residents, even as the county’s Election Equipment Advisory Committee recommended purchasing electronic

equipment.

Disgruntled residents voiced their concerns June 27 regarding the committee’s recommendation to purchase the Hart Verity Touch voting machines due to the lack of a paper audit capability.

The recommendation went to Hays County commissioners July 11, which held a public workshop on the matter.

Discussion on the recommendation continued as of press time.

“Without an audit trail why even have a re-

count,” Craig Young said during public comment June 27.

Dr. Laura Presley, an election technology strategist for Travis County, said June 27 that Texas is one of only three states in the country without a paper ballot system or

hybrid voting system.

Presley called for commissioners to make Hays County a “clean election county.”

Dan Lyon said that the county should invest in paper ballots “to restore voting integrity” in Hays County.

However, Robert Smith, a security technology expert who was also on the county’s equipment advisory committee, said paper ballots constitute a barrier for possible voting centers,

BALLOTS, 4A

Kyle mayor won’t run again

BY MOSES LEOS III

COURTESY RENDERING

Charter school in Kyle passes first hurdle

Could this be the look of a proposed IDEA Public School campus in Kyle? That could be the case after Kyle Planning and Zoning (P&Z) commissioners recommended a pair of conditional use permits (CUP) for the campus, clearing one of the first hurdles for the school. Learn more about the conditional use permits and view more renderings of the proposed campus on 3B.

KYLE RENDERINGS

IDEA KYLE ACADEMY - PHASE 1

POPULATION BOOM

N

Item # 7

Numerous developments spread to east Hays County As a result of the population boom in Kyle, Buda and San Marcos, traditionally small farming towns in east Hays County could start to feel growing pains, too.

Towns such as Uhland, whose recent growth began in 2013 with the Cotton Gin Estates housing development, can expect their population to double or triple within the next five to ten years, according the city’s official website.

“It’s definitely accelerated,” said Richard Crandal, Niederwald city planner. “People move

Niederwald’s city council has recently approved five subdivisions with the largest adding 141 homes to the area; the smallest is only adding 12. More than 370 homes have sprung up in Niederwald in the last year. out here to avoid the city and the high prices that come with it.”

Crandal, a Mustang Ridge resident, has lived in the area for 23 years and observed how the rising populations of bigger cities have trickled into smaller towns like Niederwald and Uhland.

While pleased with these developments as

a city planner, Crandal shared his concerns that some residents may not be happy with the changes.

“There’re folks that have lived out here 20 or 30 years to escape the city, but it’s still chasing us down,” Crandal said.

Niederwald’s city council has recently approved five subdivi-

sions with the largest adding 141 homes to the area; the smallest is only adding 12. More than 370 homes have sprung up in Niederwald in the last year.

In 2014, Walton Development, a Canadian-based land investment group, amassed land in the eastern part of Hays County and the

COMING UP Blanco River/Onion Creek Forum

All are invited to this water issues forum concerning Blanco River and Onion Creek at the Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12 in Wimberley on Thursday, July 13 beginning at 9 a.m. Presenters will join panel of representatives to answer questions at 12:30 p.m. and the forum concludes at 2:30 p.m. For more information contact David Glenn at david.glenn@vownet.net or (512) 557-3595.

Town Hall with U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett

All citizens are invited to join Congressman Lloyd Doggett for a town hall meeting on Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall at the First United Methodist Church at 1300 Lavaca Street in Kyle. “So much is at risk with possible cuts of hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid,” Doggett said. “For children, mothers, those with disabilities, and seniors in nursing homes, Medicaid is a lifeline. Come share your stories and hear my update on what is happening in Washington regarding efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.” To RSVP for this event, please call Doggett’s Austin office at (512) 916-5921 or email lloyd.doggett@mail.house.gov, using the subject line “RSVP to July 16 Town Hall.” RSVPs are not required but appreciated.

TAX CAP

Local entitites react to proposed legislation.

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INDEX

BY TIMOTHY STUCKEY

western part of Caldwell county for a slew of proposed developments.

One of those is Caldwell Valley, a proposed 3,600-plus acre mixeduse master planned development just outside of Uhland and Lockhart.

According to a Caldwell Valley brochure on the city of Uhland’s website, the development could have neighborhood retail, office space, single-family residential units, as well as sites for schools and parks.

Camino Real, also a proposed Walton development, is a 1,700-plus

News……………… 1-4A Opinions……………… 3A Sports……………… 1-2B Education………… 3-4B Community……… 1-4C

GROWTH, 2A

Burn ban back on

The heat is on and so is the burn ban.

Earlier this week, Hays County officials officially reinstated the burn ban due to continuously windy conditions and low humidity in the county. Additionally, county officials said the number of grass fires and house fires have risen throughout the county. Grills with lids are allowed to be used during the burn ban, but burn barrels are banned.

Violators can face a fine of up to $500.

Best Bets…………… 4C Business………… 1-4D Classifieds…………... 2D Service Directory…..... 3D Public Notices…… 2-4D

With the filing deadline for November’s mayoral election approaching, Kyle Mayor Todd Webster announced this week he will not seek a WEBSTER reelection bid when his term ends.

Webster, who was elected as the city’s mayor in 2014, said the increasing volume of his work at the Texas state capitol is leading him off the dais.

Webster currently works as a public sector

WEBSTER, 4A

State aims to crack down on union due collections STAFF REPORT With a special session looming in the Texas Legislature, State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) intends to file legislation banning the state from collecting union dues. “Texans don’t ask much of their government, but one thing they do expect is responsible and transparent stewardship of their hard-earned money,” said Isaac in a statement.

“Texas is a right-to-work state, and it’s simply not appropriate for labor unions to be given preferential treatment.

It’s long past time to end the outdated practice of using taxpayer-funded resources to collect dues for private organizations.”

Isaac’s bill will have a senate companion filed by State Sen. Bryan

UNIONS, 2A

Page 2A

Hays Free Press The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610.

Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610.

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We welcome locally written letters to the editor on timely topics of community interest. We ask that you keep them to about 350 words in length and that you not indulge in personal attacks on private individuals.

Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters should be signed by the author and include a daytime phone number where the author can be contacted for verification.

Letter writers are limited to one letter per month.

Letters can be emailed to csb@haysfreepress.com.

HISTORY

Founded April 10, 1903,

by Thomas Fletcher Harwell as The Kyle News, with offices on the corner of Burleson and Miller streets in the town’s oldest remaining building.

It merged into The Hays County Citizen in 1956.

The paper consolidated with The Free Press in October, 1978. During its more than 100-year history the newspaper has maintained offices at more than a dozen locations in Kyle and Buda.

NEWS

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Three indicted in 2016 aggravated robbery

BY MOSES LEOS III A Hays County Grand Jury has indicted three people accused of using a baseball bat and a gun to commit a June 2016 aggravated robbery in east Buda.

Alecsandra Trainan Uzer-Dima, 26, of Buda, Michael Anthony Llamas, 19, of Kyle, and Cierrah Marie Reyes, 19, of Buda, were indicted on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, on May 10.

It is unknown at this time if deputies have

UZER-DIMA

LLAMAS

indicted a fourth person, who was a minor at the time of the crime.

Llamas was booked into the Hays County Jail June 19, while Uzer-Dima was booked June 30. Ac-

REYES

cording to Hays County Jail records, a Capias Warrant has been issued for Reyes.

According to the indictment, the three intentionally or knowingly

threatened three victims with imminent bodily injury and did use a bat and firearm to commit an assault.

An indictment is not an admission of guilt, but is a formal accusation of a crime made by a Grand Jury.

On June 8, 2016, authorities were dispatched to the area of FM 2001 and Interstate 35 in Buda for a “disturbance in progress” involving weapons.

The victim told authorities he went to an address in the 4400 block of Dacy Lane in Buda

where four subjects approached them, demanding money. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, while another had a baseball bat.

It is still unclear why the victim went to the address or if they knew any of the suspects.

As the victim fled, the suspect, armed with a gun, fired at and hit the vehicle, which had two children inside.

Llamas was released June 29 on $20,000 personal recognizance bond, while Uzer-Dima was released July 1 on $50,000 bond.

County applies for bulletproof vest grant

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

New bulletproof vests for Hays County Sheriff’s deputies could be on the horizon after commissioners authorized submission of a grant application for the items.

The application, which was approved by a 3-0 vote June 27, is part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP). Commissioners Will Conley and Mark Jones were absent when the vote was taken.

“We want our officers to be protected,” said Bert

Cobb, Hays County judge.

He continued by explaining that the county applies for the grant every year.

The grant program provides a reimbursement for 50 percent of the cost of each vest and the county must pay the remainder of the cost, according to county documents.

The total cost of the new and replacement vests is $36,750 for up to 49 vests, with each vest costing $750.00 a piece.

If the county is awarded the grant, it will cover $18,375 of the cost.

According to Hays

County Grants Administrator Jeff Hauff, even though the county applies for the grant every year, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is awarded the grant.

“The county does apply annually for funding to provide for bulletproof vests through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program … but that does not necessarily mean we receive the grant from this program,” Hauff said in an emailed response.

Hauff said the BVP program supplies funds for new bulletproof vests to law enforcement agencies all over the country. Since

the demand for the vests is high, there is a shortage of funds within the program.

“Lately funding has been allocated to jurisdictions of less than 100,000 population due to both the shortage of funding within the program and the nationwide demand for these funds,” Hauff said.

Bulletproof vests for county officers have a life expectancy of five years, while vests are upgraded in the department based on need, Hauff said. Hays County officials can turn to other programs for

assistance if needed.

“We have also applied through the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, also administered

by DOJ, to help defray the costs of the vests to the County,” Hauff said.

Hauff said the county’s portion of the cost would come from the General Fund.

When acquiring new bulletproof vests, “upgrades to the armoring materials are taken into account,” in order to better protect officers from the advanced weaponry they may come into contact with, Hauff said.

the old part of Niederwald is gone,” Hams said.

Despite the growing concern, the course for growth in the surrounding areas remains a constant.

In Kyle, Howard Koontz, community development director, said the city works to keep an eye on

what’s happening in the eastern part of the county.

“To some extent we pay attention to it, we’re aware of it but we don’t plan for it,” said Howard Koontz, Kyle director of planning, ”We remain cognizant of the situation.”

begins July 18.

Abbott said in a statement Texans “should not be on the hook for collecting union dues.”

“The legislature made strides in advancing this

measure during the regular session, and with the upcoming special session I feel confident we can get this measure across the finish line,” Abbott said.

Growth: Population boom pushing out farmland Continued from pg. 1A

acre development near Niederwald.

However, locals fear the history and identity of smaller towns may be in jeopardy.

In Niederwald, Michelle Hams, a 20-year resident of Niederwald, believes historical sites that once

dotted the area, including a historic cotton gin, have been whittled down over the last few years.

“This is farewell to a small town,” said Hams.

She voiced her concerns that the landmarks and history of the town are being torn down and

forgotten for residential development and economic gain.

Hams is afraid that trying to accelerate growth in Niederwald is stripping the town of its identity and its legacy.

“It’s such a rapidly growing community that

Unions: Isaac bill won’t allow collection of dues Continued from pg. 1A

Hughes (R-Mineola), according to a press release.

The bill to be filed is similar to Senate Bill 13, which was filed during the regular session by State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston).

Huffman’s bill, which was voted out of the senate along party lines in March, restricted the state or a local political subdivision from withholding or deducting an employee’s salary for dues or membership fees for a labor organization.

However, the bill was the subject of controversy as several Democratic senators, including Kirk Watson (D-Austin), opposed the measure.

The bill also received pushback from Noel Candelaria, Texas State Teachers Association

president, who said in a March 29 release the bill was a “selective attack” on educators and other public servants.

“They use their own money to pay their membership dues, and it doesn’t cost governments anything to deduct their dues payments from their paychecks. These dedicated public servants should be free to use their own money to pay their membership dues as they see fit,” Candelaria said.

Candelaria also claimed the bill was politically motivated, even though he said the TSTA and other employee organizations don’t use membership dues for political purposes.

SB 13 died before the end of the regular session as it wasn’t voted out of

House committee.

Prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars to collect union dues is one of 20 items Gov. Greg Abbott included on his call for a special session, which

today Metal buildings are more than just barns.

Metal buildings were once primarily used as barns, but now Texans love to live in them and call them “barndominiums.”

Bishop is a 5-year-old male Rottweiler/Heeler mix who loves to play with his playmates in the play yards and loves other people. Look at those ears!

This sweet guy is almost too perfect. Bishop is great with other dogs and people of all ages. If you haven’t stopped by to meet him, do so today!

Chrysler is a 9-year-old male shorthaired brown tabby with white who loves to sun bathe and greet you with “meow” and a loving look from his bright green eyes. This senior is fit as a fiddle and would fit purr-fectly into a new family that needs a couch snuggle buddy.

PAWS Shelter and Humane Society

is a non-profit, no-kill shelter operated primarily on donations and adoptions.

500 FM 150 E, Kyle, TX • 512 268-1611 • pawsshelter.org

All animals are fully vaccinated, spay/neutered, microchipped and dewormed.

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Town & CounTry VeTerinary HospiTal Committed to your pet’s health since 1978

Bill Selman, DVM • Kayley O’Toole, DVM 6300 FM 1327 (East of I35 and Creedmoor) Austin, TX 78747 Give us a call at 512-385-0486

Barndominiums are affordable to build, easy to maintain and more energy efficient than most conventional construction rural homes.

Your barndominium could be a metal home out in the country or a dual-purpose home with agricultural and living space.

And Germania has unique coverages for the

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Find your local Germania agent at www.GermaniaInsurance.com and let Germania insure your barndominium!

Hays Insurance Group 512-262-3388 www.GermaniaInsurance.com

Opinion

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This is farewell to a small town.”

– Michelle Ham, Niederwald resident, on increased developments on eastern Hays County.

See story on page 1A.

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Page 3A

Happy 200th birthday, Henry David Thoreau!

“Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.”

– Henry David Thoreau

M

aybe a hectic lifestyle has prevented you from marking it on your calendar; but July 12 is the bicentennial of the birth of essayist, poet, abolitionist, philosopher, naturalist, surveyor and historian Henry David Thoreau.

Many of you may have only dim, foggy memories of high school American Literature discussions of this Concord, Massachusetts native and Harvard College graduate. If so, you probably think the “transcendental movement” had something to do with either (a) driving a golden spike at Promontory, Utah or (b) translating a Greek tragedy about dietary fiber.

One of Thoreau’s two most famous books is “Walden, or Life In The Woods,” which recounts the author’s two-year experiment with living the simple life in a small house he had built near Walden Pond. (Of course, this adventure has been memorialized via Walden Puddle in the “Doonesbury” comic strip.)

As my son Gideon points out, people are mistaken when they think that Thoreau was a total hermit during his stay at Walden. He entertained many visitors, although I have to wonder about the quality of the games he used to entertain them. (“I spy with my little eye...um, er...wish I hadn’t simplified my belongings QUITE so much.”)

Both during and after his stay, Thoreau was fascinated with the study of flora and fauna. He was a proponent of conserving natural resources on private land and of preserving wilderness as public land.

However, he was NOT particularly fond of the messenger-pigeons that constantly interrupted his mealtime with handbills stating that he had won a free home security system.

Thoreau’s other main book was “Civil Disobedience.”

Thoreau’s ideas were ignored by many of his contemporaries, but some of the biggest movers and shakers of the 20th century were fans. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were inspired by “Civil Disobedience.”

Good thing they didn’t draw their inspiration from competing 19th century authors.

We might have had proclamations such as “It was the best of

Tyrades by Danny Tyree

Thoreau realized that too many people are afraid of being alone with their own thoughts and analyzing the truly worthwhile things in life. times, it was the worst of times...it was a display of passive resistance against British troops, it was a long line to get Winston Churchill’s autograph...” and “I have been to the mountaintop...and I have seen 15 men on the dead man’s chest, yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!”

“Civil Disobedience” has been highly influential in recent years, even if some disobedience hasn’t been particularly, well, CIVIL. (“Aw, c’mon, officer – I burned the innocent bystander’s car BEFORE any little kids could see all the F-words I spray-painted on it.”)

From approximately 1980 to 2000, I kept a detailed journal, so I am impressed that Thoreau recorded 2 million words during his lifetime. This feat is marred only by the fact that the journals end with “If you are one of my REAL friends, you will make longhand copies of this and share it with 10 other people.”

Thoreau realized that too many people are afraid of being alone with their own thoughts and analyzing the truly worthwhile things in life. Pay homage to him with a little introspection.

But don’t let your mind drift to his entertainment options. (“Wait! I can do shadow puppets of a squirrel water-skiing.

Although it sort of just sinks into Walden Pond...”)

Danny welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page “Tyree’s Tyrades.” Danny’s weekly column is distributed exclusively

by Cagle Cartoons Inc. newspaper syndicate.

Hays Free Press Publisher Cyndy Slovak-Barton News and Sports Editor Moses Leos III

Mr. Fraud is on the trail of – voter fraud?

D

onald Trump and his apologists have put the “con” in “conservative.”

Conservatism? He doesn’t stand for anything in particular. What he stands for is the con.

What Senate leaders have hilariously named the Better Care Reconciliation Act is just another con – just another luxury vessel Trump wants to christen as his own.

“Better Care” – that’s some moniker for yanking health coverage from 22 million Americans. Trump couldn’t care less about this, though he said his health care plan would “cover everyone” and he praised Australia’s single-payer system as being “better than ours.”

The extent to which Trump is a fraud, a phony, an ideological jackal, was on display recently in a New York Times editorial that counted down all the falsehoods – one lie a day for his first 40 days, 74 lies for the 113 days thereafter.

There have been the petty ruses, like the phony covers of Time at his golf properties featuring his smirking countenance.

Then there are the major lies, like pulling out of the Paris agreement

Young At-Large by John Young

because “China will be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal plants.” No, Sir. The treaty doesn’t allow or disallow coal plants. But the last thing you’re interested in is sharing truth with that freeze-dried political base you hold dear: people with their credulousness reduced to powder.

Trump did a rooster strut over the fact that evil CNN had parted ways with three journalists over an online story about the relationship between Trump officials and a Russian investment firm.

CNN officials didn’t say the story was false, just that the reporters had violated policy by not sufficiently vetting claims.

More fake news, right?

Well, actually, Mr. President, this is how purveyors of truth act.

People who work for news media – real, not fake – get fired for getting sloppy. Will you be parting with any member of your Lie Brigade on

similar terms? How about firing your son-in-law for signing security clearance forms saying he’d had no contact with foreign governments?

Unlike legitimate news organizations, Team Trump never retracts.

Back to that long list of lies that will be the most lasting legacy of this president: Trump asks Americans to return to Lie No. 1, or thereabouts, about those 5 million or so illegal votes he says were cast – each, of course, for Hillary Clinton.

Trump’s “Commission on Voter Integrity” wants the nation’s voter information, all of it – or at least all that’s public record, to keep alive the narrative that the nation is awash in voter fraud. (“Integrity” – we demand it from voters. But for the Orange Spectacle and congressional leaders, integrity is like anthrax on a snack cracker.)

“Rampant voter fraud” is a spiel that Republican state officials have sought to prosecute for years, finding almost nothing to back it up.

The fact is, like everything Trump does, this is just a con. It’s not about “ballot integrity” but

instead about pretenses about making it harder to vote, something that has become a never-ending Republican quest.

The underlying objective of Trump’s commission, says University of Kentucky law professor Joshua Douglas, is to repeal the National Voter Registration Act – the “motor voter law.”

Trump wants to show Americans that easier ballot access, like mail-in voting and same-day registration, somehow taint the system. He will not succeed in demonstrating that. Of course, as always, truth is not his objective.

His objective is to continue the con, whatever it might be at the moment.

Never mind the costs of this pointless “ballot security” exercise. Never mind the issues raised by the states’ refusing to participate.

Just wondering: When will Trump form a commission to investigate why photos showed so few people in his inaugural crowd?

Longtime Texas newspaperman John Young lives in Colorado. jyoungcolumn@gmail.com.

It’s a strangely small world out there

I

t’s strange who you run into driving across the vast expanse of Texas.

My family and I were on our way to a Colorado vacation last week when I ran into a friend.

I stopped in my tracks when I ran into the Texas Press Association Chairman Randy Mankin.

He owns The Eldorado Success and he and his wife were doing the same thing – heading up to the mountains to get a quick break from the Texas heat and the unending news cycle.

Randy and I hugged and talked a bit, and then my family gathered around, wondering why I was chatting so merrily with someone I just met.

As I informed them that I knew Randy and learned a lot from him regarding

Hip Czech

by Cyndy SlovakBarton

newspapers, they admitted that they thought I had gone crazy talking to a stranger like that.

The coincidence of meeting someone you know in Muleshoe is not that great – or so I thought.

Maybe it’s the newspaper business. We talk to so many people every week, and we get together with other business owners to talk about, well, business.

That’s because small business owners have a real sense of community – and they don’t alway like to leave their towns to take a break.

Barton Publications, Inc. News tips: news@haysfreepress.com Opinions: csb@haysfreepress.com

Reporters Samantha Smith Columnists Bartee Haile, Chris Winslow, Pauline Tom, Clint Younts

Proofreaders Jane Kirkham Marketing Director Tracy Mack Marketing Specialist James Darby

But it’s also a real problem that few small business owners actually take any time off, in any time frame other than a day here or a day there.

My entire week in Colorado was unusual for me. The last full vacation I took was several years ago.

Apparently, the same went for Randy Mankin, who said he occasionally tries to get away from the office with his wife.

Studies show that small business owners simply don’t take time off. A recent study from Funding Circle said that 70 percent of small business owners worked on Thanksgiving, even though they had planned on taking the entire day off.

And when small business owners do take time off, they feel guilt about

leaving their employees to have to cover for them.

It’s important that owners take time off; it helps physically and mentally.

And, really, the employees love it when the boss it out of town.

So, the next time you go into a local business – Casa Alde, The Tavern, Centerfield, Mitchell Motors, Town and Country Vet clinic, AMM or any of the hundreds of others in Kyle and Buda – remember that those folks might not have taken a vacation in years.

And they still smile when you enter their door.

That’s because they love this community and they have passion for their jobs.

Support your local small businesses. They need it – monetarily, but also mentally.

113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640 www.haysfreepress.com 512-268-7862

Production Manager David White

Circulation/Classifieds David White

Production Assistant Christine Thorpe

Distribution Gabe Ornelas Tanya Ornelas

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Page 4A

Progress continues on Buda’s municipal building

Mountain City Elections November 7, 2017 POSITIONS OPEN: 3 City Council Members (Alderman) (2 year terms)

APPLICATION FORMS AVAILABLE FROM: City Secretary, Ellis Craig (512) 268-1239 or ecraig1@austin.rr.com JULY 22, 2017 FIRST DAY to file for place on ballot AUGUST 21, 2017 LAST DAY to file for place on ballot

Construction worker Dan Polasek looks over design plans for Buda’s municipal facility as construction continues in the background. Within six short months, construction crews with JE Dunn have made progress on Buda’s new municipal building and library located along north Main Street. The facility, approved by voters as Proposition 1 in the 2014 bond, is expected to be complete by April 2018. Work also continues to progress on the city’s new public safety building, approved under Proposition 2 of the 2014 bond, which is expected to be complete by the fall.

APPLICATIONS TO: Ellis Craig, City Secretary, City of Mountain City 101 Mountain City Drive, Mountain City, Tx 78610 Current office holders include: Council members Suzanne Hallam, Ralph Mcclendon & Lee Taylor

.com

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

Ballots: Electronic system recommended Continued from pg. 1A

which the county claims voters desire.

The requirements for voting centers are to only have direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines. Voting centers would allow voters of any precinct to cast their ballot at that location, as opposed to the voter’s specific precinct.

“Under current Texas law, the use of a DRE is required for use in counties that wish to utilize Voting Centers,” Jennifer Anderson, Hays County elections administrator, said regarding the

decision of the Secretary of State to encourage the use of digital ballots.

Anderson said in an emailed response the committee did not have preconceived notions on the voting machine that was selected, which was a claim made by a handful of Hays County residents.

“The Election Commission appointed a well-rounded group of individuals that represented all the necessary skills to make an informed decision,” Anderson said.

In a special workshop during the July 11

commissioners court meeting, Anderson also responded to residents’ questions regarding the mistakes made during the 2016 election.

Anderson admitted that protocols and training methods needed to be updated moving forward to prevent similar issues from happening again.

“The new systems provide components that would relieve much of the human error factor that caused concerns in the November election, under my predecessor,” Anderson said.

Webster: Won’t run again Continued from pg. 1A

lobbyist who represents public education related entities. He currently represents the Spring Branch Independent School District, as well as the Responsive Education Solution Charter School system out of the Houston area.

With discussions on school finance going on in the legislature, Webster said he has found his attention has been divided between the Capitol and Kyle matters.

“Within this last legislative session, I found myself having to spend time, more so than in the past, focused on what was going on at the capitol,” Webster said. “I think there are some people out there that are probably ready and interested in taking on that task.”

Webster added his departure is “an opportunity for another generation of folks” to come in and take the responsibility. Webster estimated to do the “job right” takes approximately 30 hours of work per week.

However, Webster said he wouldn’t publicly support a successor until after the July 22 filing deadline.

But work still has to be

“Within this last legislative session, I found myself having to spend time, more so than in the past, focused on what was going on at the capitol ... I think there are some people out there that are probably ready and interested in taking on that task.”

SUMMER

HIRING kickoff party

Amazon is bringing the San Marcos community and local organizations together for these special family fun and hiring events.

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–Todd Webster, Kyle mayor

done before voters cast ballots in November. One of the looming tasks Webster must face is helping the city navigate through fiscal year 2017-2018 budget discussions.

Webster said he doesn’t believe the majority of council is “overly political and jockeying” for position and that the council has “mutual respect” to keep Webster from turning into a lame duck mayor.

Other items of priority include moving forward with a revised ethics ordinance and fixing the city’s parking ordinance, which Webster said is a mess.

“It’s putting the structures in place as they move forward,” Webster

said. “Those are the things that are being done and will get taken care of, and they can focus on the good stuff, the fun stuff.”

Webster believes the council has “accomplished a lot” during his tenure as far as infrasturucre and organizational culture.

“It’s been getting things set for that next wave of commercial and residential development,” Webster said. “We made a lot of progress there and the city is on the right track to take that to another level.”

Prior to becoming mayor, Webster served on the Kyle city council, as well as the planning and zoning commission and the zoning board of adjustments.

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Sports HaysFreePress.com

Section B LITTLE FREE PANTRY

Middle school teams up with local scouts to provide free goods.

– Page 1C

Hays Free Press

July 12, 2017 • Page 1B

Kyle athlete heads to AAU Junior Olympics

BY MOSES LEOS III

“It’s fun and challenging, you learn so much when you’re around (an Olympian) ... You want to take it all in.”

C

ompeting against top competition isn’t a new experience for incoming Lehman High freshman Nikayla Fitzergald.

When she began her track and field career at age 9, Fitzgerald had to prove herself as the only girl on her team. The experience, however, pushed her to improve her skills.

“It pushed me more to go faster and to compete,” Fitzgerald said.

Armed with that experience, Fitzgerald eyes a chance to hit the podium this summer as she qualified for the 2017 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, which will be held July 26 to Aug. 5 in Detroit, Michigan. It marks the second straight year Fitzgerald has quali-

– Nikayla Fitzergald

fied for the AAU Junior Olympics.

Fitzgerald said competing at the Junior Olympics is a fun experience. She said it provides athletes a barometer of their skills.

It also allows athletes to recognize which skills they need to improve.

This summer, Fitzgerald will run in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, while

also competing in the long jump.

Helping Fitzgerald reach the Junior Olympics is Olympian Charles Austin, who she’s trained with on a regular basis. Austin won the gold medal in the men’s high jump at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, GA. Under Austin, Fitzgerald began to run faster and place in more events, aided by tough workouts that are fun and challenging at the same time, she said.

Fitzgerald trains approximately four days per week, while training with Austin twice a week. During the winter months, Fitzgerald participates in basketball, which also helps with her conditioning.

“It’s fun and challenging, you learn so much when you’re around (an

FITZGERALD, 2B

COURTESY PHOTO

Incoming freshman Nikayla Fitzgerald lands into the sand pit during an attempt in the long jump.

Aim high, Astros

Return to glory

Rebel senior overcomes severe injury to return to the gridiron

L

From the Sidelines

by Moses Leos III

M

BY MOSES LEOS III

ike many times before in practice, Hays High football player Marcos Barrera knew his role when “Fright” was called in an October 2014 game at Anderson High.

As an offensive lineman, Barerra’s job was to block down and help set up a lane for his running back.

What seemed like an exercise in the routine turned into a nightmare scenario.

“I was blocking down and then I remember hearing a snap in my leg,” Barrera said.

“I then couldn’t get off the ground.”

But what was thought to be just a broken leg turned into three years of turmoil for Barrera, who has endured more than 20 surgeries, and even a threat of potential amputation.

After an aggressive physical therapy regiment, Barrera, who was once told he may never play football again, aims in his senior season to complete an arduous climb back to the playing field.

THE INJURY The injury itself was a quick action. Marcos was engaged with a defender on the game’s first play when another football player inadvertently fell on his right leg, which was planted in the turf.

Pain from the injury didn’t hit Marcos until five seconds afterward. He then looked down and saw why other players were calling for coaches and athletic trainers.

“My leg was almost in half. It was dangling,” Marcos said. “I started to freak out.”

First on the scene were Hays coaches Stuart Foreman and Gary Gaddy, who tried to calm Marcos down.

Maggie Barrera, Marcos’ mom, was in the stands with her husband, Mike, and saw her son was down on the field.

At first she thought he was suffering from leg cramps. She then saw he had a compound

BARRERA, 2B

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

Hays High senior Marcos Barrera simulates his stance on the offensive line, which he hopes to use during the 2017 football season. After suffering a severe leg injury in his freshman year, which nearly had him lose the limb, Barrera has been cleared to participate in practices this summer. He hopes to potentially reach the field of play this season.

BOTTOM PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAGGIE BARRERA

aybe it’s the return of those lovably gaudy tequila sunrise jerseys.

Perhaps Sports Illustrated was right when they proclaimed the Astros 2017 World Series champions on a 2014 front page story.

However you characterize it, few can look past the success of the Houston Astros in the first half of the baseball season.

A barometer of that success has been building over the last few months.

Houston’s 60-29 first half record, highlighted by an uplifting 19-1 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays last week, showed the dominance Houston has had on the league. It also gives them home-field advantage in the World Series, should they get there.

According to ESPN, the Astros’ run differential at the All-Star break (+162) is the fourth highest of any team in the history of baseball.

On Tuesday, six Astros, one of those being injured pitcher Dallas Keuchel, made the roster for baseball’s much hyped, low stakes All-Star game.

The Astros are first in their division, first in the American League.

And to think it was only four years ago the Astros were an abysmal mess that lost 111 games in a season.

How far the Astros have come since that time has been nothing short of remarkable. The rebuilding and restructuring effort conducted by millionaire Jim Crane has been a gargantuan feat.

Since he took over the team several years ago, Crane brought in the talents of George Springer, Jose Altuve and Carlos Carrera. He helped stockpile a bullpen with the arms of Keuchel, Lance McCulllers, Jr. and so many others.

Having so much talent

ASTROS, 2B

Sports

Page 2B

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

ALUMNI BRIEFS MICAH TAMBUR – LEHMAN A .313 batting average and .375 slugging percentage in 16 games played was how Micah Tambur closed his second season at Southwest College in New Mexico.

Tambur notched five hits and scored twice this season, while also driving in two runs batted in. On the diamond, Tambur finished with a .943 fielding percentage and had 33 put-outs.

RYAN MCSPADDEN – HAYS

PHOTO BY NANCY WILHITE

Lumberjacks advance to zone qualifier

The Hays 12U Lumberjacks will head to Tampa Bay, Fla. this month as they play in the zone qualifier tournament July 27-30. Members of the team are (Back row, L-R) Coach Chris Maldonaldo, Coach Eddie Mindieta Jr., Coach Robert Wilhite, (second row, L-R) Abraham Gonzales, Logan Larson, Xavier Mindieta, Will Graham, Zane Allbright, Jake Villarreal, Jaden Riffle, Coach Chris Maldonaldo Jr., (third row, L-R) Lorenzo Bazan, Jacob Covington, Logan Cameron, Kolbe Ashby, (front row, L-R) Copelan Wilhite, Cesar Maldonaldo, Keagan Tucker, Braden Foley.

Barrera

Continued from pg. 1B fracture of his tibia and fibia.

“When the coaches looked for us in the stands, we knew something was wrong,” Maggie said.

A call to EMS was made and roughly 40 minutes later, Marcos was shuttled to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin.

Once at the hospital, Marcos endured a four-hour surgery to repair his broken leg.

When he awoke, Marcos remembered feeling a lot of pain – and fear. He also could feel the incision left by surgeons. As a result, Marcos said he refused to look at his leg, believing that if he didn’t see his leg, the injury didn’t actually happen.

Ultimately, the gravity of the situation proved too much to keep in.

“I just broke down in the hospital room and started crying in my bed,” Marcos said. “I was broken down.”

But Marcos’ problems quickly worsened. A second surgery was conducted to IMPACT OFF THE FIELD combat compartment synAs a result of his injury, drome, a condition where Marcos was wheelchair bound severe trauma causes high for the first six months of his pressure to build in a limb, injury. He also missed the cutting off blood circulation and possibly leading to ampu- majority of his freshman year at Hays. Teachers such as tation.

Laurie Callis helped by going Doctors eventually atto Marcos’ home tempted to place and helping him a skin graft on homework Marcos’ leg.

“The big thing with and other school Then, Marrelated matters. was to prove cos began to Maggie said contract an my doctors she took Family infection in his Medical Leave of leg; it was an wrong, who Absence (FMLA) issue that didn’t from her job to subside until said football tend to Marcos, June 2015. As a wouldn’t be taking him to result, Marcos and from apkept going back a thing in my pointments. to the operating It didn’t take table as doctors future ... I long, however, tried their best told myself it for Marcos’ situto repair him. to improve.

As of October doesn’t matter ation By summer 2015, 2016, Marcos Marcos was has undergone how long it given the gomore than 20 took, as long ahead to start the surgeries to rehabilirepair his leg. as I get there.” physical tation process.

The toll of those It was grueling procedures hit –Marcos Barrera work involving a Marcos harder team of physical than any football trainers, as well as members of player could.

“After so many, it takes a toll the Hays High athletic training staff. Supporting Marcos on your body. You feel dewas Neal LaHue, Rebel athletic pressed by the medicine you coordinator and head football take,” Marcos said. “It’s not coach, as well as his teamfeeling like rock bottom, but mates. you feel depressed and you All worked to get Marcos not don’t want to do anything.”

A four-year career on the track at Dallas Baptist University came to a close for Patrick Villarreal, who assisted the Patriots to a second place finish in the 2015 Heartland Conference Championship.

Villarreal’s best finish came in 2015 when he finished second place in the men’s outdoor 5,000-meter run in the McMurry University War Hawk Classic.

In her second season at Luna Community College, Aspen Salazar finished with a .317 batting average and a whopping .417 slugging percentage during the 2017 season. Salazar compiled 46 hits, including 11 doubles and a home run at the plate.

She finished by scoring 27 runs in 145 at-bats. On defense, Salazar had 95 put-outs and 15 assists.

Fitzgerald PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAGGIE BARRERA

only on his feet, but to be able to walk again.

That task was made more difficult after Marcos was fitted for a brace to combat drop foot, which was caused by a damaged nerve.

Sarah Ashworth, Hays High assistant athletic trainer who helped Marcos’ recovery, said PT involved calf raises and the use of ankle bands. There was also work to strengthen the hip muscles.

“He was not able to do things until he was cleared,” Ashworth said. “Then it was like two years worth (of PT) in six months.”

One primary constant was Barrera’s drive to get back on the field with his teammates, with whom he’s played since little league.

Proving the doctors who said he may never play sports again wrong gave him ample movtivation.

For Marcos, the toughest obstacle to overcome was the mental wall.

“The biggest thing was the mental aspect, to keep on pushing myself to not give up and not let the injury keep me away from the game,” Marcos said.

All of the hard work finally paid off in March when Marcos was cleared to play.

Maggie could see how the news brightened her son, who

is normally a stoic person. He began to push the limits of his therapy, as well as started running and jogging.

Like many parents, Maggie had mixed feelings when her son was told he could play again. Even with her apprehension, Maggie understands the determination her son brings, fueled by his desire to play.

“There’s no slow for Marcos,” Maggie said.

Marcos now eyes the chance to try to hit the field with his teammates this fall.

“The big thing was to prove my doctors wrong, who said football wouldn’t be a thing in my future,” he said. “I told myself it doesn’t matter how long it took, as long as I get there.”

es in the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees could also be problematic.

And then there’s the potential for a second half meltdown. Atlanta Braves and New York Mets fans can attest to that.

Even if Houston gets to the playoffs, struggles to perform are a constant in the franchise’s

history.

Yet there is something a little different with this team.

They’re determined and talented, but most of all, consistent.

If the Astros play their cards right, a World Series Champions banner may finally be raised to the rafters in Texas.

BACK ON THE GRIDIRON

Continued from pg. 1B

showers in the locker room don’t happen in July.

There’s a lot of work to do for a Houston team that’s now got the attention of the American League.

The 47-win Cleveland Indians perhaps pose the greatest playoff threat to the Astros in the long run. Perennial powerhous-

PATRICK VILLAREAL – LEHMAN

ASPEN SALAZAR – HAYS

Astros: World Series worthy? in a franchise sometimes leads to egos bubbling to the top. Such issues don’t seem apparent at the surface level for the Astros.

Such selflessness is a boon for a fanbase that’s waited far too long for a return to success.

However, pennants aren’t won before the All-Star break. World Series clinching champagne

While missing the 2016 season, Ryan McSpadden closed his cross country career at Dallas Baptist University with a plethora of honors, as well as being named to the Heartland Commissioners Honor Roll all four years in college. McSpadden’s best finish came in 2015 when he finished eighth at the UCO Land Run in Edmonton, Okla.

Continued from pg. 1B Olympian),” Fitzgerald said. “You want to take it all in.”

A life in athletics is a family trait for Fitzgerald, who is a triplet. One of Fitzgerald’s sisters is a cheerleader, while the other is a dancer.

They got their athletic genes from their parents, who were also athletes in their youth.

Kim Fitzgerald, Nikayla’s mother, ran track and also played baseball and volleyball in high school.

While Kim said she was active in her youth, she marvels at her daughter, who showed her athletic abilities at an early age.

“Her determination is stronger than I have ever seen,” Kim Fitzgerald said. “It sometimes surprises me.”

As she enters high school, Nikayla opted to remain in track and now eyes success at the high school level. Nikayla said she understands the rigors high school track will offer and the heightened level of competition.

Setting a new personal record in her events, while also potentially going to state are her short-term goals.

But Nikayla also eyes the chance to one day run at the University of Texas at Austin, and potentially reach the Olympics, which is the biggest stage in the world for track and field athletes.

Nikayla said she looks up to Olympian Sonya Richards-Ross, a Texas alumna, who she said is “inspiring” and has competed in many of the same events as Nikayla.

“She went to the University of Texas (at Austin) and broke records and she’s just inspiring,” Nikayla said.

Education

100 HEARTS

Seton Hays celebrates 100 heart surgies in a year.

– Page 1C

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Page 3B

Kyle charter school clears first huddle

BY MOSES LEOS III

The path toward a charter school opening in Kyle moved ahead Tuesday when Planning and Zoning commissioners recommended approval of two conditional use permits (CUP) for the first phase of the campus.

One CUP, recommended by a 5-0 vote, allows the school to open on property currently zoned commercial (C-1) located at the intersection of Goforth Road near Bluestem. A second CUP, also recommended by a 5-0 vote, allows the construction of the first phase of the project. P&Z commissioner Dex Ellison was absent from the meeting.

Will Atkinson, Kyle city planner, said, according to zoning regulations, commercial zoning doesn’t allow for schools unless a CUP is approved by the city council.

Atkinson said Kyle city staff felt the charter

school is compatible with the existing environment.

City staff cited the existing Prairie on the Creek subdivision, as well as the rebuilt Goforth Road.

He said the school could create a buffer between homes in the Prairie on the Creek subdivision and Interstate 35.

If approved by the city council, the city would be required to do a traffic impact analysis in the area.

“We understand any school or massive project would generate more traffic in the area,” Atkinson said. “We want to study and have the best way to get cars in and out of there in the most efficient manner possible.”

In June, Larkin Tackett, vice president of community for IDEA public schools, unveiled plans to the Kyle City Council for their proposed $20 million, 110,000 square foot facility.

CHARTER SCHOOL, 4B

COURTESY PHOTO

IDEA Campus

The first phase of the proposed IDEA campus would encompass a 74,189 square-foot, two story facility. The second phase, which IDEA would have to return with separate CUPs to P&Z at a later date, would call for a roughly 25,000 square foot facility. The campus would initially house grades 2,3,4 and 6. Eventually, the school would house 1,400 total students from kindergarten to high school.

A little give and take

Middle school helps fight against hunger with food pantry

BY MOSES LEOS III

C

PHOTO BY SARAH HODGES

After a break-in at Wallace Middle School where the burglar took only canned goods, staff decided to build a Little Free Pantry as a community service project, with the help of local Boy and Girl Scouts.

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ollecting food for those in need is a role Wallace Middle School students and administrators take pride in.

In fact, it wasn’t long ago the campus was celebrated for donating more than 2,000-pounds of canned goods during the 2016-2017 school year to the Hays County Food Bank.

But Sarah Hodges, Wallace Middle School principal, and Dee Niedzielski, Wallace front desk clerk, understand the need goes far beyond a donation drive.

With the help of Kathy Alexander and her family, Hodges and Niedzielski paved the way for the creation of a little free pantry on the campus grounds.

The pantry is stocked with food, toiletries and other essentials people may need.

Hodges and Niedzielski hope the pantry can not only assist those who may be food insecure, but continue to raise awareness of the issue.

“It’s going to be impactful in the way it inspires people about awareness of those who may be hungry in the community,” Niedzielski said. “And it may inspire more free pantries in the community.”

The idea of the food pantry began when Wallace administrators sought a community service project to complete. After a brainstorming session, one of the primary themes centered on the school’s status as a Hays County Food Bank donation drop-off point, which the campus has held for the past three years.

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PHOTO BY KATHY ALEXANDER

Kathy Alexander’s son, as well as the rest of her family, helped construct the Little Free Pantry.

“It broke my heart ... I would give that man food and I would feed that man. The majority of our staff as well, if we knew his need.”

–Sarah Hodges, Wallace Middle School principal

A motivating factor came during the school year when the campus was the victim of a breakin. Hodges said the breakin was “shocking,” but also showed the reality of poverty, as the suspect only stole donated canned goods.

“It broke my heart,” Hodges said. “I would give that man food and I would feed that man. The majority of our staff as well, if we knew his need.”

Armed with that knowledge, Hodges and Niedzielski settled on creating a little free pantry.

The idea was based off

of the “take a book, leave a book” ideology of little free libraries, which have become common across the country.

Niedzielski then turned to local Boy and Girl Scout troops to help with construction of the pantry.

Alexander, who has one boy and two girls in scouting, heard Niedzielski’s request and informed her husband about it. Soon, the family decided to take on the project themselves.

“We were excited because it’s something that can be beneficial,”

LITTLE FREE PANTRY, 4B

Education

Page 4B

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Little Free Pantry: Food for those in need Continued from pg. 3B

Charter School: Kyle P&Z approves plan Continued from pg. 2B

Tackett said ground up development of new IDEA campuses takes place 90 percent of the time for the south Texas based charter school system. Only the Austin location, which opened in a vacant building that once housed a bowling alley, is the exception.

He added the campus would be a cutting edge facility with “all of the latest learning technology” and access to soccer fields and play area.

“Our students need to be well-rounded individuals,” Tackett said.

Staff also said the campus met the city’s Interstate 35 Overlay standards. Atkinson said the facility’s brick, blue and gray accents, “breaks up the monotony of a large massive building.”

Tackett said the IDEA design team worked closely with the city and tried to make sure the building is consistent with what “the community wants to see along I-35.”

“We’re very nitpicky.

We want to make sure it looks good,” Atkinson said. “It looks pretty good.”

Timothy Kay, Kyle P&Z chair person, said IDEA’s proposal is a good project and that he was excited about it.

Pete Oppel, P&Z seat 1, said he advocated for charter schools based on what they produce and it could “go a long

“We are really looking forward to being a great neighbor. We know we have to earn that. We are here to partner, to listen and to make sure the school is an asset to the community.”

Alexander said.

It didn’t take long for the Alexander family to build the pantry, which was constructed out of leftover wood.

The two-and-a-half foot tall structure, which took about seven to eight hours to complete, is about two feet by two-and-a-half feet wide, Alexander said.

During the process, Alexander’s husband, whose hobby is in woodworking, taught her son how to work the design on paper, lay it out, measure and use saws to cut the pieces.

They turned to their daughters to help paint the pantry.

But the Alexanders also ensured their children understood the significance of the project, which is a different way to help those in need.

“We’ve had troubles in the past and had to rely on the community to help us out,” Alexander said.

“When we were in that place to give back, we wanted to do that.”

Wallace’s little free pantry was officially installed last week. Within the pantry, Wallace administrators stocked dried food, such

The Alexander family of Kyle took on the project of constructing and placing the Little Free Pantry at Wallace Middle School.

PHOTO BY KATHY ALEXANDER

as ramen noodles, along with canned goods and bottles of water.

Other items included small toiletries such as a toothbrush, shampoo, feminine hygiene products and toilet paper.

“It goes back to necessity,” Hodges said. “If they’re here for food, what other needs are we unaware of as well?”

All three have noticed the pantry has been used since its installation last week. But all three have

also seen that community members have restocked the pantry as well.

Hodges hopes to use the pantry as a way to teach students about how they can help their community.

“We want them to be extraordinary citizens.

It’s part of our mission,” Hodges said. “Everything we do is an educational opportunity. This is an example of bringing life into the classroom and bringing the classroom into life.”

GO COUNTRY • SAVE BIG!

–Larkin Tackett, Vice President of Community for IDEA public schools

way to raising the educational standards in the area.”

“Anything that provides an educational product, I think the community should support,” Oppel said. “The kids are our future and we should give them every educational opportunity that we can.

Charter schools offer another opportunity for our schools.”

Oppel also wanted to add a stipulation to approve further expansion as long as it complied with the city’s architectural standards. However, Oppel’s motion to include that stipulation failed on the dais.

P&Z commissioner

Jo Fenity, however, said on the dais she didn’t want to bind future city leaders with that stipulation.

While Oppel said there have been bad charter schools, he cited IDEA’s rankings, which he believed set a high standard.

Tackett said IDEA now plans to further work with the city as the CUP moves to the city council for a vote.

“We are really looking forward to being a great neighbor. We know we have to earn that,” Tackett said. “We are here to partner, to listen and to make sure the school is an asset to the community.”

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Section C

Community

TAX CAP

Local entities speak out against property tax bill.

– Page 1D

Hays Free Press

HaysFreePress.com

July 12, 2017 • Page 1C

100

Thanks to our Mt. City neighbors

Taken to heart

Mt. City Montage

by Pauline Tom

B

PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III

Nurses and professionals at Seton Medical Center Hays conduct a ceremonial balloon release commemorating 100 heart surgeries performed at the hospital since July 2016.

rian Porterfield, the man behind the scenes with Loving Mountain City’s 4th of July parade, deserves red, white and blue hats off.

As I admired his truck’s patriotic display and music afer the parade, Patricia Porterfield, the event coordinator, told me some of the details.

When the patriotic cd they purchased turned out to be awful, Brian went out and purchased a stereo with speakers for his truck so the parade would have patriotic music. He worked tirelessly to build what it took to hang the bunting just perfectly on each side of

MONTAGE, 4C

Seton Hays celebrates 100 heart surgeries in a year

BY MOSES LEOS III For the better part of three months, Wimberley resident Thomas Pletcher could feel something wasn’t quite right with his body.

Every time he did something in the yard, he would get a peculiar feeling that forced him to rest. Eventually it go so bad, he asked his wife to take him to Seton Medical Center Hays.

“I felt this was something I had to take a look at,” Pletcher said.

A quadruple coronary artery bypass later, Pletcher, a 69-year-old retired Air Force helicopter pilot, has a new lease on life. Pletcher’s story is one of 100 who have received cardiac surgical care at Seton Hays since July 2016.

Their success is due in part to Jeffrey McNiel, MD, FACS, who began operating at Seton Hays last summer.

McNiel said he was brought on after the hospital staff was at a point of having to decide if they were going to continue to do cardiac surgery.

After retiring from the Air Force 18 months ago, McNiel said he was recruited to potentially join the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS) team.

From there, he made his way

to Seton Hays, where he saw a chance to “be able to build a program the way I wanted to run it” and make it into the “best it could be.” He added the relationship between Seton and the CTVS team developed the program.

“That’s how I approached it, to give us an opportunity to make it my own and grow with it,” McNiel said.

Reaching the 100-surgery milestone is a benchmark many hospital programs strive for, McNiel said. Having as many surgeries in that ranges helps a program by maintaining proficiency in all departments, from surgery to the ICU and even rehab.

“The surgery may be about four hours, but (patients) are here for four or five days,” McNiel said. “They’re going through rehab for six weeks.

It’s a significant effort from all those people to get good results from the surgery.”

He added that going through 100 surgeries ensures everyone “knows the steps” to help with the recovery process.

“When everyone knows how things are supposed to go and it’s a process everyone’s familiar with, the outcomes get better,” McNiel said. “When

100 HEARTS, 4C

Get your tomatoes ready for fall 2017 It’s About Thyme

by Chris Winslow

E

Seton Medical Center worker Amy Gums, of Austin, holds a heart-shaped red balloon during a ceremonial event commemorating cardiovascular surgeries at the hospital.

Kyle Market Days in the park

“Keeping it Kyle” took on new meaning Saturday at city square park in Kyle as the city held its July Market Days event in downtown. Several Kyle-area vendors lined the square as revelers listened to the beats of Fallon Franklin, as well as Matthew Robinson and the Jelly Kings.

PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III

arly July gets me in the mood to plant fall tomatoes. Texas A&M’s Vegetable Garden Planting Guide advises gardeners to get their fall tomato transplants in the ground between July 7 and August 7. (Larger transplants in 1 gal. pots or larger can be planted as late as Sept.1.)

I prefer to plant determinate, heat-set tomatoes for fall. Varieties such as Bob Cat, Celebrity, and BHN 444 can crop in under 80 days, making them perfect for fall planting. Celebrity, an all-time backyard favorite, acts as a semiindeterminate, producing longer if frosts come later than average.

July is also the perfect time to plant cherry type tomatoes – which have no problem setting fruit in the heat. My favorites are Sweet 100, Juliet and Sun Gold. Rarely do they make it to the kitchen!

For your fall tomato garden, choose a sunny location with good drainage, and be sure to shovel in lots of compost and slow release organic fertilizer.

At Urban Farm they mix up a fertilizer of bat guano, mycorrhizae, humic acid, crab shell, worm castings, kelp, soy meal, and composted poultry litter, making it a great choice for gardeners. Adding dolomite lime (calcium and magnesium) also helps to prevent blossom end rot, a common tomato fruit malady.

Keeping your newly transplanted seedlings

TOMATOES, 2C

COMMUNITY

Page 2C

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

OBITUARIES HOHMANN Marvin Eugene Hohmann, 77, of Wimberley, Texas (formerly of Dripping Springs for 40 years) passed away on July 3, 2017 after a courageous battle with COPD. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on March 26, 1940 to Laurel E. Hohmann and Ione Calhoun Hohmann.

After serving in the U. S. Army at Ft. Carson, Colorado, he and his family returned to central Texas. He worked for many years for Mason’s Exxon in Austin, Texas, and later retired in 2002

from the Hays County Road Department.

Marvin is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Kay Hohmann, daughter Kimberley Kay Bishop and husband Rick Bishop of Buda, TX and daughter Bobbi Michelle Hohmann and husband Terry Powis of Atlanta, Georgia; grandson Brandon Bishop and wife Bethany; granddaughters Shelby Bishop and Lilah Powis and great-grandson Parker Bishop. He is also survived by his sister Arline Crippen, brother Wayne Hohmann and wife Kathy, sister Sharon Felps, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents and granddaughter Kayla Brooke Bishop.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Coping with Grief Support Group

Those who have lost a loved one recently are invited to this sixweek grief support group at the Kindred Hospice office in San Marcos. Meeting will be heldTuesday evenings, 6:30-8 pm, July 25 – August 29 at Kindred Hospice Office, 1911 Corporate Drive, Ste 104, San Marcos. An important person has to have died and the death must have been 3 months ago.

Potential attendees need to pre-register by calling Zan Sellers, Bereavement Coordinator, Kindred Hospice at 512-392-9138.

Summer Writing Contest

It’s time once again for the Friends of the Buda Library summer essay writing contest for young writers. The contest helps give young library patrons a chance to flex their writing muscles and show off their imagination and literary skills.

The contest is open to all Buda Library card holders between 8-17 and essays must be received at the library by Saturday, July 22 at 5 p.m. The contest is split into two divisions, with one for children ages 8 to 12, and a youth contest for writers 13 to 17. See more at haysfreepress.com.

Tomatoes

A memorial service was held on July 8 at the First Baptist Church, Dripping Springs, Texas.

EASTERLING Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1930, Helena Clare Easterling Foley of Wimberley, TX passed away unexpectedly on her 87th birthday, Tuesday, June 27th, 2017.

Living with her family in England, Clare survived air raids, curfews and food rationing during the bombing of London and immigrated to the United States after World War II when she

was 17. While living in Jackson, MS, Clare met and married career Air Force CMS Nevil Ward Easterling and traveled the world while raising their 4 children, before settling in Buda, TX. Clare is remembered by many friends from her 22 year employment at HEB Bakeries in Austin and then at the Kyle Thrift Store.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ward, daughter Paula, nephew Dean and life partner Lou Bonin.

Clare is survived by her son Mark Easterling of Austin, daughter Susan Alexander and her husband Cliff of Wimberley, son John Easterling and his wife Karen of San Antonio.

Clare was also very close to and survived by

her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Nevil Easterling of Austin, Chad and Lee Ann Young (Hudson and twins Holden & Hondo) of Wimberley, Ben and Tracy Young (Jaci & Jenna) of Wimberley, Rodney Young of Buda, Cory and Tanee Young (Stockton) of San Marcos, Cliff “Bubba” Alexander Jr. and wife Joann (Taylor, Morgan, Sawyer and Braxton) of Kyle, Brandy Alexander (Ian and Shiloh)of Austin. Clare is also survived by sister Gerry Frasier of Jackson, MS, nieces Sandy & Colleen, brother Ronald “Ronnie” Foley and sister-in-law Sarah of Jackson, MS, nephews Carl & David and brother Harold “Harry” of Maida Vale, London, England.

Clare will be lovingly

remembered by special friends Dana Scott, Suzanne Wayne, and Cindy & Carlon Abshire and Clare’s best friend, traveling companion and gambling “partnerin-crime” Trini Conroy.

We all will remember Clare’s gracious disposition, her generosity with family and friends and her quick-witted sense of humor. She was particularly proud of her great-grandchildren, who adored her. Clare created a loving, active and lively family who will remain close and carry on her legacy.

Clare’s family received visitors and held a funeral service at Thomason Funeral Home in Wimberley on Friday, June 30, 2017. Interment will take place at Kyle Cemetery at a later date.

Bingo

Sundays at 2 p.m.

Great Fun Great Food $100 Minimum Game Prize $500 Progressive Jackpot

Santa Cruz Catholic Church,

Parish Activity Center

1100 Main Street, Buda, TX 78610 Texas Bingo License No. 17424803181

Texas Crossword and Sudoku sponsored by

Sudoku

Continued from pg. 1C watered is a must. Moist but not soggy is the ideal. I like planting in trenches or craters. This helps to direct water down to the root zone instead of running off and away from the plant.

Providing the newly transplanted seedlings a bit of afternoon shade for the first two weeks can really help them to establish a strong root system. I place some frost guard cloth on the west side of the plants, suspended with bamboo stakes to give some temporary shade. ‘Works great, and is easy to do.

A weekly spray of seaweed and fish emulsion can also give the plants a boost. Both are known to help with stress from the summer heat.

If you have never grown fall tomatoes before, why not give it a try? Happy Gardening Everyone!

If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to iathyme@yahoo. com. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748

Texas Lehigh Cement Co., LP

See Solution on 3C

www.itsaboutthyme.com

100 Hearts

Continued from pg. 1C something is a problem, it’s recognized earlier.”

Another added benefit is that patients who may suffer from chest pain can receive the full slate of treatment at Seton Hays. Most community hospitals can provide the initial evaluation and screening, but McNiel said they don’t have the ability to do the “full spectrum” of cardiac care.

“It has a huge impact on what the hospital can do if you remove cardiac surgery from the equation,” McNiel said.

Sue Kalinec, a heart valve surgery patient from Cistern in Bastrop County, said having the surgical center nearby helped her discover her heart problems, and allowed doctors to fix it.

“It wasn’t something I could wait a month or 6 months, it was now,” Kalinec said. “The care that I received here, everyone was so supportive, it was really a family.”

Having the ability to conduct surgeries at Seton Hays also helps families of patients as well.

Family support is eas-

ier for patients, who may not have to travel as far to visit. McNiel said family support is a “big part of the recovery.”

It also helps the patient as they don’t have to go into Austin for rehabilitation.

“A trip to Austin for rehab isn’t feasible for a lot of people,” McNiel said. “People might have to make the decision if they’re going to stick with the program, or if they’re going to resign from it and not complete the whole treatment plan that we can offer.”

Bringing a service to the area, which is rapidly growing, was also a big factor in bringing the cardio surgical services to Seton Hays. Emergency services can also have a more localized place to bring patients who may have a possible heart issue.

“If you look at the demographics, it’s going to increase as the population grows,” McNiel said.

“We want to do it right from the beginning and not play catch-up with the patient population.”

See Solution on 3C

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

COMMUNITY

Page 3C

Mystery of ‘Lady Bountiful’ – saint, sinner or both?

Buda, Texas • 15300 S. IH-35 • 312-1615

BUDA

DRUG STORE

203 Railroad Street Downtown Buda Pharmacy 312-2111 Fountain 312-2172

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda BAPTIST First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda

McDonald’s of Buda

15359 IH-35, Ste. B P.O. Box 1364, Buda, TX 78610 512-312-2383 Locally owned and operated

by Jimmy and Cindi Ferguson

EPISCOPAL

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church 725 RR 967, Buda

Monte del Olivar Christian Center 2400 FM 150 E., Kyle

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church RR 3237 (Wimberley Rd.), Kyle

First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 11819 IH-35 South

Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor

Your Hometown McDonald’s

Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626 Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses FM 2770, Kyle Jehovah’s Witnesses South 10802 Manchaca Rd., Manchaca LUTHERAN Living Word Lutheran ELCA 2315 FM 967, Buda

Rosebrock

Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda

Good Shepherd Ministries FM 967, Buda

Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle

2325 FM 967 • 312-0701

Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W.

Redeeming Grace Lutheran LCMS FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

Veterinary Clinic

CATHOLIC

Log onto www.HaysFreePress.com NEWS • LETTERS • OBITS CALENDAR • PHOTO GALLERY CLASSIFIEDS • SUBSCRIBE

Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle

(Millennium Drive is an entrance road) Pastor Rusty Fletcher and family

Services Sun. 11:00 a.m.

Wed. 7:30 p.m.

Call or Text 512.393.4460

Visit

afountain.org for more info.

nuel Baptist Church a m Im

Mission Fellowship Church 200 San Marcos Street, Buda

Vertical Chapel 801 FM 1626 (Elm Grove Elem.), Buda

Fellowship Church at Plum Creek 160 Grace Street at 2770, Kyle

Friendly, Courteous Service

Mision de Casa de Oracion S. Hwy. 81, Kyle

Iglesia Israelita Casa de Dios 816 Green Pastures Dr., Kyle

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 7206 Creedmoor Rd., Creedmoor

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Manchaca United Methodist Church FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

New Life Sanctuary Kyle Science Hall Elementary 1510 Bebee Rd.

Buda United Methodist Church Elm Street & San Marcos

*Traditional Worship (Worship Center)-9 a.m.

Sunday School (all ages)-10:00 a.m. *Informal Worship (Chapel)-11 a.m.

Wednesday Evening (Chapel)-6:30 p.m. *On 5th Sundays we conduct one service at 10 a.m. with special music.

Rev. Nancy Day Office 295-6981, Parsonage 512-393-9772 www.BudaUMC.org

Santa Cruz Catholic Church

WEDNESDAY: Bible Study, 7 p.m.

CONFESSION Saturdays: 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Call 1-866-691-2369

Trinity United Chuch of Niederwald 13700 Camino Real, Hwy. 21, Niederwald

Journey United Methodist 310 San Antonio Dr., Buda

MASS SCHEDULE: Saturday evening: 5:30 p.m.

Sunday 8:30 a.m. (Spanish), 11 a.m. (English) 5 p.m. (English)

FREE DELIVERY 1ST 20 GAL. FREE

Por Tu Gracia Fellowship 701 Roland Lane, Kyle

Driftwood United Methodist Church RR 150 at County Road 170

Privately owned From local springs

A Fountain of Life Church 302 Millenium Dr. Kyle

METHODIST Buda United Methodist Church San Marcos & Elm St., Buda

Pure Texas Spring Water!

New Covenant Community Church 1019 Main Street, Buda (in Dance Unlimited)

Word of Life Christian Faith Center 118 Trademark Drive, Buda

1100 Main Street • Buda, Texas 78610 Office: 512-312-2520 • Fax: 512-295-2034 • santacruzcc.org Rev. David Leibham, Pastor • Rev. Amado Ramos, Assoc. Pastor

God with us

Texas Crossword, from page 2C

FM 2770, Buda, Texas 295-4801

Kingdom United Christian Church 100 Madison Way, Buda

The Well Buda

SUNDAY: Bible Study for all ages, 9:45 a.m.

Worship Service, 10:55 a.m.

Pastor Rodney Coleman 4000 East FM 150 (4 miles east of Kyle) (512) 268-5471

Texas Crossword Solution

CENTEX MATERIALS LLC

Completed & Perfected Faith Church Tobias Elementary Cafeteria, FM 150, Kyle

CHRISTIAN

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda

Located 1 block off FM 2001 at 302 Millennium Dr., Kyle, Texas

Sudoku Puzzle, from page 2C

TEXAS LEHIGH CEMENT CO. LP

Antioch Community Church Old Black Colony Rd., Buda

Kyle United Methodist Church Sledge & Lockhart St., Kyle

Buda-Kyle Church of Christ 3.5 miles south of Buda on FM 2770

A non-denominational church with live contemporary Christian music and life giving teaching!

Sudoku Solution

The Connection Church 1235 S. Loop 4, Buda

St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

Publication date for Bartee’s new book “Unforgettable Texans.” is July 24. Order your autographed copy today by mailing a check for $28.80 to “Bartee Haile,” P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 7739 or order on-line at barteehaile.com.

Come worship with us ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Debbie Thames, Agent 251 N. FM 1626, Bldg. 2, Ste. C, Buda, Texas 78610 312-1917

buried at public expense in an unmarked pauper’s grave.

PENTECOSTAL

PRESBYTERIAN St. John’s Presbyterian Church 12420 Hewitt Ln., Manchaca First Presbyterian Church 410 W. Hutchison, San Marcos, TX 78666

Hays Hills

 

 

Baptist Church

Sunday

9:30 a.m. Classic Service 10:45 a.m. Contemporary service

9:00am 10:00am 6:00pm 7:00pm

Wednesday 

Adult (including an 8:30 a.m. early bird class), teen, children’s classes * Children’s worship Professionally-staffed nursery & pre-school

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

www.hayshills.org 1401 N. FM 1626

First Baptist Church

A loving & caring Southern Baptist Church 104 S. San Marcos Street, Buda Buddy Johnson, Pastor • 295-2161 Sunday School...........................................9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship....................................10:45 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study/Youth Activities...6:00 p.m.

AWANA’s (Wednesday)..........................6:00 p.m.

Nursery Provided www.firstbaptistbuda.com • fbcbuda@austin.rr.com



Bible Class Worship Worship Bible Class

  





Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd • Creedmoor, TX 512-243-2837

Sunday Bible Study: 9:45 a.m.

Worship: 11:00 a.m.

WEdnESday Pray & Devotion: 6:30 p.m.

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from Lillian’s round-theclock care, as she suddenly up and died the very next year.

Not only did Nurse Lillian keep her job, two years later she married her understanding employer’s son Hiram, Jr. After the death of Colonel Knox from undetermined causes in a Houston hotel room in 1913, the couple inherited the family enterprise and the patriarch’s fat bank account.

At the time of his demise, Hiram, Sr. had been relocating his logging operation to an untouched 25,000-acre tract in Sabine County.

Junior and his energetic bride completed the move to a new site outside Hemphill called East Mayfield.

Hiram, Jr. lacked his father’s hard-driving ambition. He was much more interested in hunting and other recreational pursuits of the idle rich than the tedious details of the timber trade. He gladly delegated the day-to-day

of a man led to and from an open bedroom window.

Sheriff Alford waited until Christmas Day to arrest Lillian Knox for the murder of her husband.

She spent ten days in jail before being released on bond. With no hard evidence that she committed the crime and her saintly standing in the community, the grand jury’s decision to no-bill “Lady Bountiful” was a foregone conclusion.

Lillian was in and out of trouble the rest of her long life. In 1937 she along with her four children were questioned in the beating death of the widow of a Dallas oil millionaire. She evidently resorted to writing hot checks whenever she ran short of cash, a bad habit that resulted in a short prison sentence in the 1940s. By all rights, she should have gone to prison a second time in the 1950s, but a sharp lawyer convinced a Chicago jury that she did not steal $53,000 in bonds from a vulnerable old woman.

Lillian Marshall Knox’s last stop was the state hospital south of the “Windy City,” where she succumbed to heart disease in 1966. No one claimed the body, and “Lady Bountiful” was

162

by Bartee Haile

for each newborn infant and endowed a dozen other philanthropies that made employees praise her generosity.”

Hiram, Jr. bet the future of Knox Industries on his belief that the First World War would drag on indefinitely. The armistice that ended the conflict in November 1918 caught him completely by surprise and deeply in debt to the banks, which had loaned him huge sums to buy more timberland. On the brink of default, he sold out to Temple Lumber Company in 1921 for a reported two million dollars.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 22, 1922, the Sabine County sheriff was summoned to the Knox mansion in East Mayfield. He found Hiram, Jr. “sprawled across the bed, a bullet in his head and a 45-caliber pistol in his hand.”

Handwritten letters in the dead man’s coat pocket bemoaned his financial fall from grace and health problems.

The way Sheriff George Alford saw it, it was a murder made to look like a suicide. Knox should have had powder burns on his hand and head, and he did not. In addition, the shoe-prints

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Texas History

duties to Lillian, who soon showed she had a head for business and public relations.

Lillian was a handson boss at a time when the average workingman could not have imagined taking orders from a woman. In contrast to Hiram, Jr. and his father before him, she got out of the office and in a pair of overalls managed every facet of the business.

Lillian won everybody’s respect including that of the President of the United States. Woodrow Wilson publicly applauded her contribution to the war effort, and a lumberman’s publication saluted her as “one of the most influential women” in the industry.

But it was Lillian’s concern for the men, women and children who lived in East Mayfield, one of the few “company towns” ever seen in Texas, that earned her the nickname “Lady Bountiful.” A 1999 article in the Beaumont Enterprise recounted her charitable good works: “Lillian built a new hospital” which “she often visited and gave gifts to the patients there, especially new mothers. She built a library, started bank accounts

IH-35

L

illian Knox, once the prime suspect in the staged suicide of her timber tycoon husband, was back in the news on July 15, 1939 following her arrest in Los Angeles on warrants out of Dallas and Shreveport.

The Big D district attorney announced that the notorious “Lady Bountiful,” the nickname bestowed upon Knox

by East Texas admirers, would be extradited back to Texas to face seven counts of check forgery.

The postal inspector in Shreveport was quick to add that the unlikely fugitive had a date in federal court on charges of mail fraud.

This story began innocently enough at the turn of twentieth century with the arrival in East Texas of Hiram Knox, Sr., who had amassed a $10 million fortune cutting down trees in Wisconsin.

The magnate devoted a decade to clearing Polk County of its impressive part of the “piney woods” from the sawmill town he built near Livingston.

Lillian Marshall entered the picture in 1908, when “Colonel” Knox hired her as a private live-nurse for him and his wife. Grace Knox apparently did not benefit

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C o m e wo r s h i p w i t h u s Join our church directory by emailing paper@haysfreepress.com.

BEST BETS

Page 4C

COMMUNITY

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Classes, meetings and local events can be found on the calendar at haysfreepress.com. Email event submissions to christine@haysfreepress.com.

Dog Days of Summer Picnic Picnic with PAWS at this fundraiser on July 12 from 6-9 p.m. at Hog Heaven, 491 Hog Hollow Road in Dripping Springs. Enjoy great food, drinks, live music, games, a raffle, silent auction & pet adoptions. Proceeds from the event benefit the homeless pets at PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.

Buy tickets and see more info at www.pawsshelter. org/dogdays.

Tues-Fri: 9 am-5:30 p.m.

Sat: 8 am-12 pm

WALK INS WELCOME Barbers Fernando Rojas and Leticia Garcia

512-295-4141

budabarbershop.com 112 Main Street in Buda

Build a Better World Magic Show with Rodney Rash

Family Fun Event by Amazon

Amazon will host a family fun community event in Kyle this Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Gregg-Clarke Park (12311301 W. Center Street).

There will be a DJ, bouncy houses for kids, Hays County BBQ (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), Kona Ice (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), and a hiring event onsite.

3200 Kyle Crossing (512) 523 9012 Experience it in HAYS FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo

It’s time for mutton bustin’, cow ropin’ and more at this annual event at Dripping Springs Ranch Park showcasing the finest in rodeo skills, food and drink, beer, live music and entertainment. Bring your entire family out to enjoy arts and crafts vendors and kids activities. Free live music and dance Saturday night, July 15, in the Special Event Room of Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center. See an event schedule and more at www.drippingspringsfairandrodeo.com.

Beauty and the Beast

On Tuesday, July 18, nationally touring theater group Hampstead Stage Co. will present “Beauty and the Beast” at the Kyle Public Library at 11 a.m. “Beauty and the Beast” is the classic French fairy tale of a selfless young woman, Beauty, who takes her father’s place as prisoner in a castle far away. Upon arrival, she meets the owner of the castle who appears to be a terrifying Beast. As time progresses, Beauty and the Beast begin to get to know not only each other, but also themselves. In this heartwarming, yet humorous tale, discover the power of being yourself and what it means to listen to your heart. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Dive-in Movie

ENHANCED VIEWING EXPERIENCE

For all showtimes and listings, please check our website or call showline!

SPOT

1180 Thorpe Lane (512) 210 8600 Cinema Eatery & Social Haus

Get your feet wet at the July 28 showing of “Moana” at Kyle’s city pool.

The pool will close and pool staff will begin handing out admission tickets at 7 p.m. The pool gates will reopen at 8 p.m. and only admit those 230 people with admission tickets. All regular pool rules apply to all attending. The pool will close 30 minutes after conclusion of the movie.

Concert for a cause benefits child protective board

EVX

THE

Come see a thrilling magic show at the Buda Public Library as we welcome Magician, Rodney Rash on July 15 from 2-3 p.m. It’s a family-friendly comedy magic show that everyone will enjoy.

ENTERTAINMENT

$5 Tuesday Frenzy

1250 WONDER WORLD DR.

(512) 805 8005 EVO-ENTERTAINMENT.COM Films. Lanes. Games.

LONG ORTHODONTICS would like to WELCOME you Back to School!

3310 B FM 967, Ste #A110 3310 B FM 967, STE #A110 Buda, Texas 78610 Buda, Texas 78610 Near the corner of FM 1626 and 967 Near the corner of FM 1626 and 967

PHOTOS BY SEAN CLAES

512-523-8680

The strains of local folks music emanated from Pinballz Kingdom in Buda Saturday as Concerts for a Cause held its July concert benefitting the Hays County Child Protective Board. The board works to raise and distribute funds to help purchase food, clothing, medical and education supplies for children in the foster and Kinship care. Lone Star Lynn and Keith Kelso both headlined the show.

512-523-8680 • longortho.com We are now in Buda to accommodate your needs 3 days a week! longortho.com

For all the latest news in Buda, Kyle and surrounding communities... .com

Montage: Thanks for the work Continued from pg. 1C

the truck’s bed, and to mount the flag pole. He even crafted the flag pole.

He was up until late in the night putting together the fine details. It’s impossible to know all the details that go into creating, presenting and cleaning up after a “simple” one hour memorable event.

Patricia even added watermelon (pre-sliced), to the event. Some folks left not knowing about the iced cold new feature.

Patricia sent a shout out to her neighbors, Ramona and Blake Brown.

“Without their help, things would not have gone so smoothly.”

Patricia added, “of course to my amazing husband who never complains about the tasks I give him, and then goes over and above to make sure it’s right.”

Patricia and Brian, thank you! It was the best ever parade.

Young Hunter Perucca won first place in the Lawnmower Races, on

PHOTO BY PAULINE TOM

KissMe had a great time at the annual Fourth of July parade.

the day of the 16th wedding anniversary of his parents, Eric and Rebecca. Yes! Hunter dared to take the coveted gigantic trophy from Tiffany Curnutt. Her winning streak ended. Congratulations, Hunter.

As always before, Judge Beth Smith donated a $100 Home Depot gift certificate for the first place winner. Beth and Everett step forward to

help with donations over and over. Thanks, Smiths!

The morning of July 4th, RonTom wondered if we had a delivery of fresh steaks for a cookout. A shorthorn steer munched on the grasses near the street until we summoned the rancher with property west of Mountain City. He shooed the rascal to the fence line and helped him get back through.

Three days later, Rascal had wandered to the intersection of Live Oak and Maple Drive. RonTom and I shooed him back down the street and down the fence line, in like manner as we had observed.

Christine Greve posted on FaceBook a photo of her new 4-hooved lawnmower.

Sunday, we heard the rancher pounding in additional posts. ‘Sounds like the excitement is over.

Happy July 10th Birthday, Mayor Phillip Taylor.

The next City event for Mountain City calendars is the August Limb Pickup. Limbs must be at the curb by Sunday, August 6th, so those interested in contracting for the removal can drive past on Monday morning.

The next opportunity to submit a tidbit is now. ptom5678@gmail. com (subject: Tidbit) or 512.268.5678 Thanks!

Love to you, Pauline

Greenhouses!

11726 Manchaca Rd. Austin, TX 78748

(On the corner of Frate Barker Rd.)

512-280-1192 Visit: www.itsaboutthyme.com Email Chris Winslow at: iathyme@yahoo.com

Section D

Business HaysFreePress.com

Hays Free Press

July 12, 2017 • Page 1D

Acting director of TABC abruptly resigns

BY JAY ROOT

of the Texas Tribune

PHOTO BY BOB DAEMMRICH FOR THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

Ed Swedberg, deputy executive director of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, answers questions during the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics meeting on April 13, 2017. The committee was investigating TABC out-of-state travel to conference at taxpayer expense.

Only weeks into the job, the acting executive director of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is calling it quits.

Ed Swedberg’s abrupt and unexpected resignation from the agency, effective Monday, marks the sixth high-level departure since April from the agency that oversees alcohol regulation in Texas. The TABC has been rocked by revelations of lavish spending, mismanagement and regulatory overreach.

Swedberg, the agency’s deputy executive director since 2012, took over the

“I believe you are a good man who faces a very challenging situation and who must make some difficult decisions ...

However my conscience will not allow me to take part in the termination of Amy Harrison (TABC Licensing Director) from the commission.”

–Ed Swedberg, acting executive director of the TABC

top job on a temporary basis in May. He notified TABC Chairman Kevin Lilly of his decision to step down in a hand-written

letter Friday. He said he was quitting because he did not want to participate in the “termination” of Licensing Director Amy

Harrison.

Harrison was still on the job Monday morning, TABC spokesman Chris Porter said in an email. Harrison, who helped oversee the creation of a controversial flier depicting agency honchos partying during out-of-state junkets, declined through Porter to comment.

“I believe you are a good man who faces a very challenging situation and who must make some difficult decisions,” Swedberg wrote. “However my conscience will not allow me to take part in the termination of Amy Harrison from

TABC, 4D

Buda tables on-street parking

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

A Union Pacific firefighter hauls hoses toward a Kyle Fire Truck while fighting a grass fire along Burleson Street in Kyle. Concerns are rising from area municipalities and emergency service districts over a bill they believe could hamper growth.

Proposed property tax cap bill draws concern from local entities

BY MOSES LEOS III

Controversy surrounding a bill that could limit governmental entities’ ability to raise property tax rates will continue as the Texas legislative special session begins this month.

Much of the consternation stems from Senate Bill (SB) 2, authored

by State Sen. Paul Betancourt (R-Houston).

The bill, which died before the end of the regular session in May, would require entities such as city, county governments and emergency service districts (ESDs) to hold an election if they plan to raise property tax rates by five percent.

However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in June resurrected SB2 as one of 20 “sunset” items to be taken up during a special session, which is slated to begin Tuesday.

According to a March Texas Tribune report, Betancourt argued the bill is meant to curb rising property tax bills seen by homeowners over the last few years.

Betancourt claimed

“We take an oath to provide basic services to citizens and this could cripple our ability to do so ... Not only us, but any city in the state.”

–Todd Ruge, Buda mayor

commercial property owners have seen 15 to 20 percent property tax increases, according to the Tribune’s report.

But the bill is a cause for concern for various city and county leaders who fear the measure could hamper how Hays County grows in the future.

Kyle Taylor, Kyle Fire Department Chief, said the bill could hamper growth within ESDs,

which by law cannot raise taxes beyond ten cents per $100 valuation.

Over the last few years, Taylor said KFD has raised its property tax rate by 12 percent annually since 2013. The increases have gone toward improving staffing for the department.

Increasing the staff size is meant to offset the rapid rise in calls for service. Kyle’s fire department has seen a 65 percent rise in calls for service between 2013 and 2016. The department is on pace to respond to over 4,500 calls for service.

Should SB2 pass, Taylor said it could hamper the department’s chances of opening two new fire stations over the next few years to meet the city’s growth.

“For us to go down to five percent (increases) and meet the growth, it’s going to be tough for us,” Taylor said.

Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said there could be some “unwanted consequences” that arise from

SB 2, 4D

So what are the property tax rates in our local municipalities?

Tax rates are for every $100 valuation.

FISCAL YEAR 2017 Kyle

.5748

Buda .3704 ESD 5 (Kyle Fire Department)

.1000

ESD 8 (Buda Fire Department)

.1000

Dripping Springs

.1700

ESD 6 (North Hays County Fire Rescue) .0795

FISCAL YEAR 2013 Kyle

.5244

Buda

.2713

ESD 5

.1000

ESD 8

.1000

Dripping Springs

.1300

ESD 6

.0795

Potential safety issues led Buda city leaders to table a request to allow on-street parking for an incoming business in the downtown sector.

The request, made by Dickson Productions, an entertainment marketing group that’s worked with acts such as “Asleep at the Wheel,” called for eight additional parking spaces on Rose Street adjacent to Lily Street in downtown. The spaces would be in addition to the 12 regular parking spaces in the lot for the property, which the owners plan to develop into office space.

According to a letter from the company, owned by John Dickson of Buda, the move to Buda has been “a longterm goal for us.”

According to the letter, the on-street parking proposal would create “synergy between properties, allowing patrons to park once and visit multiple places of business in the downtown area.” The letter also said the proposal shares the same ideology as the city’s comprehensive and downtown master plans, and would allow for American Disability Association (ADA) compliant ramps.

Council member George Haehn, however, voiced concern that taking up space for on-street parking would narrow the existing street and make it difficult for motorists to travel on the road.

“Street parking could turn (Rose Street) into one lane,” Haehn said, “I would rather not approve this.”

Council member Eileen Altmiller expressed concerns about additional flooding issues that might arise due to the on-street parking.

She also questioned the landowners’ plans for impervious cover.

“Rose Street floods and a new building with 20-plus parking spaces would make it worse,” Altmiller, said. “Impervious cover is my issue so I can’t support it right now.”

Council members Lee

PARKING, 4D

Classifieds

20 words for $8!

• Place your classified ad by calling 512-268-7862 • Email paper@haysfreepress.com We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover DEADLINE: NOON MONDAY FOR WEDNESDAY’S PAPER

Hays Free Press

Page 2D

Employment

Public Notices

DIRECT CARE COUNSELORS Provide positive role modeling, structure, and supervision to adolescent boys. No exp. required, We train comprehensively. Pay starting at $10 per hour for flexible 8 & 16 hr shift schedules.

Health/life/dental insurance after 60 days. Min. requirements: Must be 21 yrs old, HS/GED, clean TDL, clean criminal history, pre-employment TB skin test, and drug screen. Growing (20+ year old) non-profit organization. www.pegasusschool.net.

Call (512)432-1678 for further information.

DRIVERS CDL-A & B: COMPANY & OWNER OPERATORS!

**Local Work. Home Daily** End Dump, Super Dump, Pneumatic Tanker Locations Throughout Texas! 682-2154291

DRIVERS: HOME EVERY NIGHT!

Good Pay/Benefits! CDL A/B. 2+yrs exp, clean mvr.

APPLY: 5910 Johnny Morris Road, Austin, TX

GENERAL LABORERS:

Good Pay/Benefits! Must be able to work outside. Apply In Person: 5910 Johnny Morris Road, Austin, TX

LBJ Medical Center 206 Haley Rd Johnson City, TX 78636 830-868-4093 Family Owned, NO Medicare, 60 Bed Facility, Good Staff to Resident Ratio NEEDS A:

Cook, Part-Time

Certified Nurses Assistant, 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Federal Housing Law We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law. It is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin: in the sale or rental of housing or residential lots; in advertising the sale or rental of housing; in the financing of housing; in the provision of real estate brokerage services; in the appraisal of housing; Blockbusting is also illegal. Anyone who feels he or she has been discriminated against, may file a complant of housing discrimination: 1-800669-9777 (toll free) or 1-800-927-9275 (TDD).

Weekend RN

Employment

. . . . NOW HIRING . . . .

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• Certified Nursing Assistants • Licensed Vocational Nurses

Full-time, Part-time & PRN shifts available

Wednesday July 12 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

AND Thursday, July 13 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

400 OLD HIGHWAY 290 DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX 78620 For additional information contact Rob Bennett at: (512) 894-0701 Ext. 1701

Outstanding Benefits • Healthcare • Holidays • Paid Time Off

• Continuing Education • Personal/Spiritual Holidays • 401k

Not able to attend?

Apply on line at: www.mentisneuro.com/career_austin.html

www.mentisneuro.com Roommate Wanted ROOM FOR RENT IN KYLE

Shared bath, all utilities paid including cable and internet, washer and dryer, kitchen. prefer female. 512-497-1945

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

EEOC/M/F/D/V

Estate Sale

ESTATE SALE IN BUDA

July 14, 15,16, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Furniture, tools, beer signs, antiques and collectibles. 420 FM1626, Buda.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of GEORGIA SILGUERO, also known as GEORGA SILGUERO, Deceased, were issued on June 28, 2017, in Docket No. 17-0157P, pending in the County Court at Law of Hays County, Texas, to: JUANITA DELGADO. The residence of the Independent Executrix is in San Marcos, Hays County, Texas. Address claims in care of the representative, JUANITA DELGADO, Independent Executrix. The post office address to which claims may be presented, is: c/o JUANITA DELGADO, Independent Executor 615 Barbara Drive San Marcos, Texas 78666 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Address claims in care of JUANITA DELGADO, Independent Executor.

DATED the 7th day of July, 2017.

Respectfully submitted, SCANIO & SCANIO A Professional Corporation BY: /s/ Vincent J. Scanio, Jr. VINCENT J. SCANIO, JR. 144 E. San Antonio Street San Marcos, Texas 78666 Tel: (512) 396 2016 Fax: (512) 353-2984 Email: scanios@ scaniolaw.com State Bar No. 17702500 ATTORNEYS FOR JUANITA DELGADO

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that Original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Scott Newton Benfield, Deceased, were issued on the 8th day of March, 2017, in Cause No. 16-0350-P, pending in the County Court at Law of Hays County, Texas, to Melissa Lynn Benfield, Independent Administrator of the Estate of Scott Newton Benfield.

Colin Wise 1921 Corporate Drive, Ste. 102 San Marcos, TX 78666 All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present themselves within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

DATED this the 6th day of June, 2017.

Respecfully submitted, /s/ David H. Morris Morris & Wise 1921 Corporate Drive, Ste. 102 San Marcos, TX 78666 david@morrisandwise. com Telephone: (512) 3967525 Telecopier: (512) 3967599 State Bar No. 14476600

Bill M. Simpson, a/k/a Bill NOTICE TO CREDITORS Simpson, Deceased, were Notice is hereby given issued on July 5, 2017, that original Letters in Cause No. 17-0159-P, pending in the County Court Testamentary for the Estate of Robert Joseph at Law No. 1, Hays County, Cusimano, Sr., Deceased, Texas, to Jenna Simpson, were issued on July 5, a/k/a Jenna Lee Simpson, 2017, in Cause No. 17a/k/a Jenna L. Simpson as 0172-P, pending in the Independent Executor.

County Court at Law All persons having claims No. ONE, Hays County, against this Estate which is currently being administered Texas, to: Jacqueline S. are required to present them Cusimano.

All persons having to the undersigned within claims against this Estate the time and in the manner which is currently being prescribed by law. administered are required Estate of Bill Myron to present them to the Simpson, a/k/a Bill M. Simpson, a/k/a Bill Simpson undersigned within the time and in the manner Jenna Simpson, a/k/a prescribed by law.

Jenna Lee Simpson, c/o: John Hall a/k/a Jenna L. Simpson, Attorney at Law Independent Executor 130 Hall Professional c/o Greg Johnson, Center Attorney at Law Kyle, TX 78640 Farrell & Pak, PLLC DATED the 11th day of Public Notice 1000 MoPac Circle July, 2017 Austin, Texas 78746 Hall Hearing Telephone:Notice (512) 323of PublicJohn Attorney for Jacqueline 2977 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL S. Cusimano Facsimile: (512) 708 1977 INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: State Bar No.: 0879880 gjohnson@txelderlaw.com 130 Hall Professional Dated the 5th day of July, Center 2017.

The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing Kyle, TX 78640 /s/ Greg Johnson Telephone: (512) on aJohnson request by Joe R. Castillo, Trustee268of Greg 6425 Farrell & PLLC Life Estate, Maria Pak, Castillo, c/o Castillo Real Facsimile: (512) 2681000 MoPac Circle 5404 Property Trust (Z-17-013) to rezone Austin, Texas 78746 E-mail: johnhall@lawyer.

Telephone: (512) 323 approximately .30 acres ofcom land from Single 2977 Family (512) Residential Facsimile: 708 1977‘R-1’ to Retail Service e-mail: gjohnson@ District ‘RS’ for property located at 901 N. txelderlaw.com PUBLIC NOTICES, 4D

Old Highway 81, in Hays County, Texas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission may Public Notice Public Hearing recommend,Notice andof the City Council may NOTICE IS HEREBY TO ALL consider, assigning anyGIVEN zoning district INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: which is equivalent or more restrictive.

The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing on a request

by Joe R. Castillo, Trustee of Maria Castillo, Life Estate, A Castillo public will(Z-17-013) be held by the c/o Realhearing Property Trust to rezone approximately of land from Single Family ResPlanning .30 andacresZoning Commission on idential ‘R-1’ to Retail Service District ‘RS’ for property Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. located at 901 N. Old Highway 81, in Hays County, Texas.

The and Zoning Commission A Planning public hearing will be heldmay by recommend, the Kyle and the City Council may consider, assigning any zoning City Council on Tuesday, August 15, district which is equivalent or more restrictive. 2017,

7:00hearing P.M. will be held by the Planning and Zoning Aatpublic Commission on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. Hallwill Council AKyle publicCity hearing be held Chambers by the Kyle City Council 100 W Center Texas on Tuesday, AugustSt., 15,Kyle, 2017, at 7:00 P.M. Kyle City Hall Council Chambers 100 W Center Texas Trustee Owner: JoeSt., R.Kyle, Castillo,

Castillo, Life Estate Owner: JoeMaria R. Castillo, Trustee Maria Estate c/o Castillo, CastilloLife Real Property Trust c/o Castillo Real Property Trust Publication Date: July July 19, 2017 Publication Date: 19, 2017 Z-17-013

Z-17-013

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Office For Lease

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Bill Myron Simpson, a/k/a

Statewide Classifieds

TexSCAN Week of July 09, 2017 ACREAGE Looking for rural hunting/recreational property in Texas? We have property in the Hill Country, South Texas, and Trans Pecos region. Owner financing up to 30 years with 5% down. We have something that will fit your budget. 1-800-876-9720, www. ranchenterprisesltd.com.

AVIATION INSTITUTE

Airline Mechanic Training - Get FAA certification.

Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 1-800-475-4102.

DRIVERS/CDL TRAINING

DRIVER - CDL A TRAINING $500- $1000 Incentive Bonus. No Out Of Pocket Tuition Cost!. Get your CDL in 22 days. 6 day refresher courses available.

Minimum 21 years. 1-855-755-5545.EOE. www. kllmdrivingacademy.com.E

EMPLOYMENT

Schneider jobs available in your area! Earn up to $68,000! Flexible Schedules. Performance bonuses. $6,000 tuition reimbursement available for qualified drivers. www.schneiderjobs.com.

Earn $500 A Day: Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance wants insurance agents. Leads, no cold calling. Commission paid daily. Agency training. Life License required. Call 1-888-713-6020.

Petroleum Engineering Service Company has immediate openings in the Ozona, Texas area for Production Testing Personnel. Salary open commensurate with experience. Send Resume to Fesco LTD. P.O BOX 1568 Ozona, TX 76943.

John Dotson Trucking. Seeking experienced belly dump driver. Class A CDL minimum 2 years. Experience. Steady work! Call now 1-512-376-4878.

EVENTS

Levelland High 50’s Grads. Fun - Casual - Visiting.

Levelland, Texas. July 7th & July 8th. www.goldenfiftiesplus.com.

HUNTING LEASE

Got Land? Our Hunters will pay top dollar to hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507. www.BaseCampLeasing.com.

LEGAL

Class Action Lawsuit. Cancer Alert! If you or a loved one were diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma call today 1-800-769-2889!

MISCELLANEOUS

Sawmills from only $4,397.00-Make & Save Money with your own band mill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! Free info/DVD: www. norwoodsawmills.com, 1-800-578-1363, Ext.300N. We buy oil, gas & mineral rights. Both non- producing and producing including non- Participating Royalty

Interest (NPRI). Provide us your desired price for an offer evaluation. Call Today 1-806-620-1422. www. lobomineralsLLC.com.

NORTHERN REAL ESTATE

Northern AZ Wilderness ranch $197 month Quiet secluded 37 acre off grid ranch set amid scenic mountains and valleys at clear 6,200’. Near historic pioneer town & large fishing lake. No urban noise & dark sky nights amid pure air & AZ’s best year round climate. Evergreen trees /meadowland blend with sweeping views across uninhabited wilderness mountains and valleys. Self-sufficiency quality garden loam soil, abundant groundwater & maintained road access. Camping & RV’s ok. No homeowner’s Assoc. or deed restrictions. $22,900, $2,290 dn. Free brochure with additional property descriptions, photos/ terrain map/weather chart/ area info: 1st United Realty 1-800-966-6690.

REAL ESTATE

3/2 House for Rent-McAllen 7413 N 33rd St; $1500/mo Deposit: $750. Pet OK; No Smoking; No utilities paid Washer / Dryer provided. Please call 1-956-686-8374.

Receiving payments from real estate you sold?

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Ranch Land for sale. Ardmore, Oklahoma. Lush Bermuda, Fenced & Cross fenced, pipe & steel pens with hydraulic chute, producing pecan trees, Great Hunting. Contact us now www.pickensauctions.com or 1-405-533-2600.

Texas Press Statewide Classified Network • 251 Participating Texas Newspapers • Regional Ads Start At $250 • Call Now for Details 1-800-749-4793 NOTICE: While most advertisers are reputable, we cannot guarantee products or services advertised. We urge readers to use caution and when in doubt, contact the Texas Attorney General at 1-800-621-0508 or the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The FTC web site is www.ftc.gov/bizop

Hays Free Press

Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Page 3D

Service Directory Air Conditioning

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T

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Hays Free Press • July 12, 2017

Page 4D

Public Notices, continued from pg. 2D NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Jack Carroll Starlin, Deceased, were issued on July 5, 2017, in Cause No. 17-0173P, pending in the County Court at Law No. ONE, Hays County, Texas, to: Roberta Thomaston Starlin.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: John Hall Attorney at Law 130 Hall Professional Center Kyle, TX 78640 DATED the 11th day of July, 2017 John Hall Attorney for Jacqueline S. Cusimano State Bar No.: 0879880 130 Hall Professional Center Kyle, TX 78640 Telephone: (512) 268-6425 Facsimile: (512) 268-5404 E-mail: johnhall@lawyer.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE/ AUCTION

Tom Thumb mini storage LLC pursuant to the revised civil statutes of Texas 5238B, shall conduct a public sale of the contents of the Storage Rooms listed below in San Marcos, Texas. Telephone (512)396-3434 on the date shown to satisfy a landlord’s lien. All successful bidders shall take possession and remove the contents of the room immediately.

Tom Thumb mini storage LLC reserves the right to reject any bids and to withdraw any items from such sale.

Date: July 29th, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m.

LOCATION: 1006 Hwy 80, San Marcos, TX. HOUSEHOLD GOODS TO BE SOLD 1-243 Allen Dvonte Jauan; 1-211 MaScorro Juan Josb; 1-221 Kimberly Gamez; 1-326 Silva Eric Benjamin; 1-332 Bazan Angelica Maria; 1-409 Zane Prater; 2-127 Elizabeth Campos; 3-053 Romo Kenneth

Peter; 3-137 Calaty Melissa Rae; 3-142 Coleman Mary Jane; 5-14D Rollins Bradley Michael; 5-15B Janet Jaster; 5-15C Erica Juarez; 7-062 Katzer Melisa Ann; 7-155 Andrew Gregory Poole.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Property to be sold to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held online at Storagetreasures.com by competitive bid.

Anytime Storage, LLC 880 Windy Hill Rd, Kyle, TX 78640 Sale will be ending on or after July 21, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Cleanup deposit is required.

Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale. Unit items sold for cash to the highest bidder. Property includes the contents of spaces of the following tenant(s). All Units have some miscellaneous household items and furniture.

LUPE MALLEN – kids stuff, sporting goods, totes, boxes.

Parking: Buda tables proposal Buda Mayor Todd Ruge and Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Lane also wanted to see a more specific site plan before moving forward.

Haehn said the

decision should also be based on the overall design of parking in downtown, so if approved, the on-street parking will not clash with aesthetic appeal in downtown.

Continued from pg. 1D

created instability for the city, which is in the midst of the fiscal year 2018 budget discussions.

He said the plan was to possibly eye a tax rate reduction this next fiscal year. However, due to SB2, he said the city might focus on keeping the rate stable.

Webster believes the state has contributed to the rising tax rate issue in Texas. He said state leaders’ focus to shift infrastructure responsibility, primarily roads and highways, to the tax payers led cities to increase property tax rates

to accommodate.

If the bill passes, Webster said growing cities such as Kyle may look to other methods of funding, including Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ).

“If you want good stuff and nice infrastructure, particularly things like good state roads that require local participation, you’ve got to couple that with a higher tax rate,” Webster said. “Now you’ve got high property tax rates that municipalities and counties are being blamed for it.”

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REQUEST FOR CSP IDEA KYLE SCHOOL

Kencon, Ltd. will accept sub proposals for SITEWORK, SITE UTILITIES, UNDERFLOOR PLMBG, CONCRETE, STRUCTURAL STEEL (FURNISH ONLY) for the IDEA Kyle School on Tues., July 25, 2017 before

2:00 PM via email bids@ kenconltd.com or fax 210-5908120. Contact Kencon for bid documents 210-590-7909.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Carol E. Balboa, Deceased, were issued on March 29, 2017, in Cause No. 17-0032-P, pending in the County Court at Law No. 1, Hays County, Texas, to: Daniel D. Balboa.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Daniel D. Balboa P.O. Box 574 Buda, Texas 78610 DATED the 12th day of July, 2017.

Daniel D. Balboa, Independent Executor P.O. Box 574 Buda, Texas 78610

Continued from pg. 1D

SB 2: Local entities concerned about caps the bill.

SB2 could stunt a municipality from providing basic services, such as providing infrastructure, Ruge said. While the economy is healthy now, Ruge fears another recession with the proposed bill in place could leave people “in a world of hurt.”

“We take an oath to provide basic services to citizens and this could cripple our ability to do so,” Ruge said. “Not only us, but any city in the state.”

Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said the bill has

On June 13, 2017, Nurses Case Management, LLC qualified as Guardian of the Estate of Glenn Kuhnke, an incapacitated person, in Cause No. 16-0029-G pending in the County Court at Law No. 1 of Hays County, Texas. The address of the Guardian of the Estate is c/o Donald Carnes, 509 W. 18th Street, Austin, Texas 78701, and all persons having claims against this estate are required to present them to such address in the manner and time required by law.

Nurses Case Managemenet, LLC Guardian of the Estate of Glenn Kuhnke

TABC: Sixth high-level departure since April

Continued from pg. 1D

Urbanovsky and Wiley Hopkins were interested in seeking a more specific site plan for the intended office space before casting a vote for the on-street parking.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

the commission.”

Lilly, selected by Gov. Greg Abbott to reform the agency, said in a statement Sunday that he was looking ahead to the selection of a new executive director. The commission meets Tuesday to consider finalists for the job.

“At this stage we are 100 percent focused on finding an extraordinary executive director,” Lilly said. “He or she will be the foundation upon which the building blocks of this agency will be rebuilt.”

The exodus of highranking officials began after the Tribune reported in March that top officials, including Swedberg and Harrison, had been jet-setting around the country to attend conferences at swanky resorts from Florida to Hawaii. More recently, the Tribune reported on the agency’s controversial attempt to cancel all 164 permits for Spec’s liquor

“At this stage we are 100 percent focused on finding an extraordinary executive director.

He or she will be the foundation upon which the building blocks of this agency will be rebuilt.”

–Kevin Lilly, TABC chairman stores or fine them up to $713 million. A panel of judges, in a stinging legal rebuke, said the agency failed to prove any serious infractions and recommended no financial penalties be levied against the liquor store chain.

The Texas Legislature has also put the TABC in its crosshairs. Earlier this year state lawmakers voted to bar the agency from traveling out of state except for law enforcement purposes. And top agency honchos got a brutal grilling in April before the House Committee on General Investigat-

ing and Ethics about the spending controversies and the agency’s failure to produce accurate reports about the state-owned vehicles the top brass has been driving.

A few days after the April hearing, director Sherry Cook announced she was stepping down as of May 23, leading the way for Swedberg to take the helm on an interim basis. Besides Swedberg, the agency’s general counsel, chief of enforcement and head of internal affairs have all left the agency since the beginning of July.

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