MAY 8, 2019 CLEAR THE WATER
ADVANCING
Bill aimed at wastewater oversight passes Texas House.
Hays baseball perseveres past Canyon, enters area playoffs.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 124 • No. 6
HaysFreePress.com
FLOODING IN DRIPPING
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Longtime resident secures bid to Kyle dais BY MOSES LEOS III
“The water came in within seven minutes up to our waist. We had to swim to get out of the building. There was a baby in the building… it was just scary.” –Courtney Jannasch, Homespun restaurant employee
PHOTO BY SONNY LAWTER
A line of vehicles attempt to navigate through a section of U.S. 290 at Springs Lane near Dripping Springs that had been inundated by flood waters caused by torrential rainfall Friday afternoon. Some areas of Dripping Springs received 8 or more inches of rain Friday, leading to extensive flooding that impacted residents across the area. The majority of the flood damage was in specific locations, including at the Springs Apartment, located at 289 Springs Lane off of Highway 290, as well as at the Pioneer bank and Homespun Kitchen and Bar on East Mercer Street. According to sources, some residents escaped the raging flood waters by swimming to safety.
Election Results
After a nearly threeyear quest, a longtime Kyle resident All results are unofficial finally until canvassed by their governing bodies succeeded Saturday in KYLE CITY COUNCIL earning a DISTRICT 3 place on (UNEXPIRED TERM) the city council Robert Rizo 301 votes (51.81%) dais. RIZO By Stuart Kirkwood securing 173 votes (29.78%) close to 52% of the vote, Cody DeSalvo Robert Rizo outlasted 56 votes (9.64%) three other opponents to claim the unexpired Michelle R. Carey 51 votes (8.78%) District 3 at-large seat. Rizo will serve the final six-plus months of former The moment came city council member as a surprise for Rizo, Shane Arabie’s term who expected a possible before the seat comes up for election again this KYLE CITY ELECTION, 2 November.
Incumbent One man dead due to flood water HCISD trustees claim re-election County officials are asking residents BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
One person was killed Friday after his vehicle was swept away by flood waters along a stretch of Bell Springs Road at Barton Creek near Dripping Springs. Michael Brandon
to stay vigilant as rain is predicted to continue into the next week.
Hurlbut, 55, of Dripping Springs, was identified as the victim, according to authorities. Hurlbut’s
body was located early May 4 along Barton Creek roughly a mile from his vehicle.
Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler said Hurlbut made a phone call Friday to a family member before disappearing. Cutler said Hurlbut was concerned by the rapidly rising water before he went missing.
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Raises approved for Kyle council Amid mixed reviews from constituents, Kyle city leaders Tuesday gave the green light to a 900 percent pay raise for themselves. The measure, approved by a 4-2 Kyle City Council vote, would increase city council members’ pay from $100 per month to $1,000 per
Kyle City Council voted to increase city council members’ pay from $100 per month to $1,000 per month, while the mayor’s pay increases from $200 per month to $1,300 per month. month, while the mayor’s pay increases from $200 per month to $1,300 per month. Council members Alex Villalobos and
Daphne Tenorio cast the dissenting votes. But city leaders also voted 4-2 to deny a provision allowing them to
KYLE COUNCIL RAISE, 4
Five minors arrested in burglary spree BY MOSES LEOS III Five minors were arrested early Saturday after authorities caught them burglarizing vehicles in the Settlement Apartment complex in Kyle. A subsequent investigation discovered the suspects, who ranged in age from 11 to 15 years old, had been involved in a crime spree that included the theft of a Mercedes SUV. Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said authorities received a call around
The minors, aged 11, 11, 12, 13 and 15, are from the San Marcos, Martindale and Staples areas. 4:40 a.m. Saturday from a resident who reported suspicious activity in the complex parking lot. The caller said a white SUV was slowly rolling through the parking lot
CHILD HEALTH Childrens health in Texas lags behind rest of nation.
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with no lights on, while several other people were on foot checking vehicle doors, Barnett said. When authorities arrived, several of the minors, who were still in the parking lot, attempted to flee the scene on foot, but were quickly detained. The minors, aged 11, 11, 12, 13 and 15, are from the San Marcos, Martindale and Staples areas. According to a press release, officers discovered the SUV was report-
INDEX
BY KATIE BURRELL
receive health insurance paid for by the city. Mayor Travis Mitchell and council member Rick Koch both supported the insurance measure. Perwez Moheet, Kyle finance director, said the 900-plus percent pay increase would cost Kyle approximately $123,000 annually. That amount is
BURGLARY SPREE, 13
News…………… 2, 3, 16 Opinion………………… 3 Sports……………… 6, 10 Education……………… 7 Community………… 8, 9
BY MOSES LEOS III
A pair of incumbent Hays CISD trustees will retain their seats after they cruised past their opponents in what was a contentious school board KELLER race. Single Member District 4 trustee Merideth Keller and Single-Member District 5 trustee Esperanza OROSCO Orosco each won by wide 30-plus or more percentage point margins, according to unofficial, final results. Keller, a Driftwood-area resident and current board president, defeated Texas State University professor Mark Summers by 347 votes Saturday. Keller held a wide 27969 lead over Summers after early voting numbers were released. She outpaced Summers 192-55 on Election Day. Meanwhile, Orosco, a former Hays CISD educator and current board Vice President, outlasted Del Valle ISD educator and Plum Creek resident Frank Juarez, Jr. by 132 total votes.
Business…………… 11 Service Directory…… 11 Police Blotter………… 12 Classifieds…………… 12 Public Notices…… 12, 13
Election Results
All results are unofficial until canvassed by their governing bodies
HAYS CISD SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT 4 Merideth Keller 471 votes (79.16%) Mark Summers 124 votes (20.84%)
HAYS CISD SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT 5 Esperanza Orosco 288 votes (64.86%) Frank Juarez, Jr. 156 votes (35.14%)
Orosco gained an slim 84 vote edge during early voting, but used an Election Day surge to obtain additional separation. Orosco took 113 votes on Election Day, while Juarez had 65 votes. The results closed an election rife with controversy that centered on allegations of micromanagement made by a handful of former Hays CISD leader and officials against Orosco and Keller, who both refuted the claims as a “false narrative.” In a post on her campaign Facebook page, Keller thanked her supporters and said “today
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