FEBRUARY 13, 2019 FUR-EVER HOME
LOBOS KICKIN’ IT
Kyle inmates pair up with shelter dogs for mutually-benefitting bond.
Lehman soccer blanks Bowie, flips into first place in district.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 123 • No. 46
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Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Safety a priority for Kyle detours Sign BY KATIE BURRELL
Concerns about the safety of detours around the Burleson Street construction zone led Kyle officials to contemplate ways to fix the problem. By adding signage on Rebel Road, city officials hope to alleviate an influx of concern that’s come up
Kyle offers ethical training classes
Construction on Burleson Street from Miller Street to Tenorio is currently underway. Construction crews are waiting on a conduit for electric poles, as well as a second of three layers of pavement that are to be laid down.
as the amount of traffic has increased. Leon Barba, Kyle City Engineer, sought city
council feedback on the detour issue during a road project update Feb. 5. Many citizens have
raised concern about the city’s detour plans around Burleson Street, Barba said.
On Feb. 4, Kyle officials closed Burleson Street from Miller Street to Tenorio to continue work on the $6 million project. Barba said construction crews are waiting on a conduit for electric poles, as well as a second of three layers of pavement that
KYLE DETOURS, 8
AWW, HAIL!
Driftwood lawmaker seeks equality for LGBTQ workers “There are no employment discrimination protections for LGBTQ Texas. Now is the time to change that in Texas. We’re here, we exist and we deserve equal employment protection.”
“Someone could get legally married in Texas, Efforts to end employgo on their honeymoon, ment discrimination put a picture of them against the Lesbian, Gay, together on their desk, Bisexual, Transexual and and be fired the next day Queer (LGBTQ) commubecause they are gay nity is now heading to the and do not have legal legislative floor. status,” Bryant said. “The Earlier this month, protections we have seen State Rep. Erin Zwiefor people is going on at –Erin Zwiener, State Representative, Dist. 45 ner’s (D-Driftwood) was a city-wide level, not the appointed to the Texas state.” House LGBTQ Caucus, Bryant cited a list of Texans,” Zwiener said. in place. marking her first effort cities that have protec“Now is the time to The study based its to represent those in the tions for sexual orientachange that in Texas. conclusions after inLGBTQ community. tion and gender identity. We’re here, we exist and depth interviews with The caucus will focus The latest is Carrollton we deserve equal emnearly 3,000 Texans, on its legislative priorities ployment protection.” a city north of Dallas, with a large percentage for the LGBTQ comDuring the 2013 legissupporting anti-discrim- which adopted these promunity, which include tections in February 2019 lative session, Senate Bill ination laws for LGBTQ Zwiener’s initiative to end 237 and House Bill 238 for its city employees and people. employment discrimina- sought to prohibit emcontractors. Additionally, all five tion on the basis of sexual ployment discrimination metropolitan regions No cities in Hays orientation or gender County have adopted against LBGTQ workers. of the state, including identity. such protective meaBoth bills, however, ultiAustin and its surroundAccording to the Texas mately failed to see the ing cities, widely support sures. Labor Code, LGBTQ indi- light of day. Bryant said relithese changes. viduals are not protected Despite these chalThe study also said that gious-based adoption from employment disagencies, as private entilenges in the legislature, these conclusions are crimination, a battle that a new study by PRRI bipartisan and cross-reli- ties, can prohibit sameTexas lawmakers have sex couples from adoptPolling showed that 64 gious among Texans. fought over the past few ing children, a dilemma percent of Texans supFor Suzanne Bryant, sessions. that has taken hold of port nondiscrimination an adaption attorney “There are no employ- protections for LGBTQ rural Texas communities for LGBTQ Texans, work ment discrimination people, a finding that needs to be done to protections for LGBTQ LGBTQ EQUALITY, 2 combats the current laws change these laws.
FOOD TRUCKS Food truck owners share their plight.
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INDEX
ETHICAL TRAINING, 7
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
An unlucky pedestrian carefully jogs across Center Street to avoid getting pelted by falling hail and sleet Friday.
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
State rep files bill to ban billboards on scenic routes
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
BY KATIE BURRELL Through a series of training sessions, Kyle city staff wants to educate elected and appointed officials from the regional about lawful and ethical service. Every fifth Tuesday, the city of Kyle is planning to hold a Speaker Series session at Kyle City Hall, which is open to elected and appointed officials operating in Hays County and surrounding areas. This voluntary training session serves to educate, inform and challenge local leaders to be ethical and just in their actions. Kyle City Council Member Rick Koch and Kyle Director of Planning Howard Koontz developed the idea together in late 2018, when Koch challenged Koontz to make it a reality. “He told me to be the change I wished to see,” Koontz said. “The goal was to give current and incoming citizen volunteers the information they need to serve well.” The first installment of the series was held Jan. 29 and was led by speaker Anne Cooke
of the times?
News…………………… 2 Opinion………………… 3 Sports…………………… 4 Education……………… 5 Community………… 6, 7
Obituaries……………… 7 Business……………… 8, 9 Service Directory……… 8 Classifieds………………10 Public Notices…… 10-12
A new bill filed by State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) would bar new billboards on a number of scenic Hill Country roads. HB 1303, or the Hill Country Scenic Highway Bill, prohibits the placement of billboards along RM 1826, RM 150 and RM 967, located in the Northern and Western portion of the county. Zwiener’s initiative comes after a push to preserve dark-sky communities throughout Hays County and recent battles to eradicate billboards. “Western Hays County is growing fast, but folks visit and move here because of the beautiful scenery,” Zwiener said. “We must protect tourism, our property values and our beautiful views.”
BILLBOARD BAN, 11
Council seat in limbo after Arabie resigns BY KATIE BURRELL As Kyle officials continue to weigh their options on filling a vacancy on the dais, the possibility of calling a special election could be one course of action. On Feb. 5, Shane Arabie, who had served as the District 3 council member for the past five years, abruptly resigned during the regularly scheduled meeting. Arabie verbally delivered his resignation and left quickly, citing a change in his career and workload. The Hays Free Press has reached out to Arabie
ARABIE RESIGNATION, 12