AUGUST 3, 2016 WELCOME!
VOLLEYBALL
Kyle looks at possible gateway signage.
New faces, returning seniors for HCISD teams.
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Hays Free Press ©Barton Publications, Inc.
Vol. 120 • No. 19
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX • 75¢
Body of missing Buda woman found in cornfield BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Authorities have identified the body of a person found in a large standing cornfield in Kyle Thursday as a Buda woman who went missing in mid-July. According to a Hays County press release, authorities located and
recovered the body of Brittany Parker, 26, of Buda, who was last seen in south Austin July 12. Parker’s body was found in a standing cornfield located off Bunton Lane east of Interstate 35, Hays County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jeri Skrocki said in an emailed response. Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith said authorities
discovered a woman’s body in a standing cornfield in Kyle at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. Smith pronounced PARKER the woman, later identified Monday as Parker, dead at 8 p.m. that evening.
According to the press release, Parker’s body was found in the same field where her vehicle, a white Toyota Camry, was found abandoned July 15. Previous aerial and cadaver dog searches of the field were unsuccessful, according to the release. Skrocki said the Department of Public Safety assisted with the initial air search.
Skrocki said she coordinated dog and drone searches through the Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator. She said three searches were done in the area, which is approximately 100 acres. Recently obtained phone records were used to help pinpoint the location of Parker’s body through GPS coordinates.
An autopsy was ordered by Smith and will be conducted by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. According to the release, the manner and cause of Parker’s death have yet to be determined, pending autopsy results. The investigation into Parker’s death is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
Tragedy in the sky: 16 dead Outsourcing
Kyle man piloted doomed hot air balloon county inmates Hays County looks to bond for expansion
BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
BALLOON TRAGEDY, 4A
BY SAMANTHA SMITH
news@haysfreepress.com
Continued overcrowding at the Hays County Jail is forcing county officials to keep with the trend of outsourcing prisoners to another facility to stem the flow. But the county is now accruing additional costs at taxpayers’ expense as they’re having to travel further to house the excess in prisoners. It’s now leading county officials to contemplate placing a $100 million new jail facility onto a possible November bond initiative. In late July, Hays County Commissioners
PHOTO BY DALE ROBERSON
A group of people watch as a hot air balloon, owned by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides, is inflated in a field across from Cabela’s in Buda prior to a ride on Dec. 24, 2013. Over the weekend, the balloon, which was believed to be piloted by Alfred “Skip” Nichols, of Kyle, hit power lines and crashed near Lockhart, killing 16 people on board.
COMING UP Will Play for School Supplies
Tax-free Weekend
On Saturday, Aug. 6 come out to Central Texas Speedway from 5-8 p.m. for a backpack and school supply drive benefiting Hope & Love 4 Kids. Spend an evening with food, drinks and some great music by Heather Bishop, Eric Tessmer, Jen Leigh, Danny G and Reeann Rene. The show is free to get in and donations of school supplies and cash to benefit Hope & Love 4 Kids are welcome. See page 4C for a list of requested school supply donations.
The annual Tax Free Weekend will be Aug. 5-7. The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced less than $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend.
MAGIC: Kyle Proving Grounds Tourney
Do you like playing Magic: The Gathering? Why not try your hand at the first ever Kyle Proving Grounds Tournament. Everyone will receive a grab bag for participating, as well as gift cards to Mage’s Sanctum for the top two finishers. Bring a 60 card deck (15 card side board option) for this casual tournament at the Kyle Public Library Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BOOZE TOWN
Top alcohol sales tax receipts in Kyle, Buda. – Page 1D
INDEX
Authorities from across the country are continuing to investigate a catastrophic hot air balloon accident that killed 16 people near Lockhart Saturday, including a Kyle man who is believed to have been the pilot. Physical evidence at the scene indicated the balloon, or some component of the vehicle, hit power lines, Robert Sumwalt, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said during a Sunday press conference. The accident occurred Saturday in a field close to Jolly Road near Lockhart. According to authorities, the accident involved a Kubicek model balloon owned by the Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides. Four of the 16 victims in the crash have been identified, including Kyle resident Alfred “Skip” Nichols, who is believed to have been the pilot, according to a report from KXAN. Sumwalt said the pilot was certified to operate a hot air balloon. He said authorities were working to gather the pilot’s records from the Federal Aviation Administration. The passengers, who have not been officially identified by authorities,
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approved an Interlocal Agreement between Hays County and Burnet County. The ILS allows for the transport and housing of Hays County inmates at the Burnet County Jail. Commissioners approved the agreement with Burnet County that stipulates a $35 a day charge for each inmate. Hays County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Dennis Gutierrez said this daily charge can fluctuate between $35 to $50 a day, depending on the facility. Additional costs to the taxpayers include costs for transportation, food and medication for inmates.
JAIL OVERCROWDING, 2A
Water help flows to Buda from local cities BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
The finalization of a water sharing plan between Buda, Kyle and San Marcos not only solves a water problem for Buda in the future, but also delays construction of major water pipeline project. The Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency board of directors July 27 celebrated the approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by all three entities defining Buda’s payment options for shared water. Graham Moore, HCPUA general manager, said the plan took a “lot of effort” for those on the board “over a number of years.” “This is a historic event,” Moore said. “This
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is something that’s a critical cog in our plan.” Under HCPUA’s MOU, Buda would be charged to recoup debt service and maintenance and operation (M&O) fees levied to Kyle and San Marcos by the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) for delivery of their “excess” surface water. Buda would be required to pay a first year cost of roughly $418,000 to HCPUA, which would then pay both entities. Volume charges that also apply from each city would be paid. Both Kyle and San Marcos would also charge volume rates, while Kyle will assess a wheeling charge whenever water goes through its system.
WATER SHARING, 4A