Hays Free Press August 7, 2019

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AUGUST 7, 2019 NEW SCHOOL

BACK IN 2020

Hays CISD cuts ribbon on new Moe & Gene Johnson High School.

Hays County incumbents throw hat in the ring for 2020 election.

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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.

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Vol. 124 • No. 19

HaysFreePress.com

Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX

Hays County seeks grant for immigrant defense program BY EXSAR ARGUELLO

In line with efforts to reform the criminal justice system in Hays County, County Commissioners July 30 approved submitting a $342,720 grant application for a pilot program for noncitizens. The grant application

Under the program, defense attorneys will submit a request for technical assistance to the myPadilla team which will provide insight and recommendations on the case.

will fund a consultation project that will bring assistance to defense attorneys in Hays County to fulfill obligations set

by the Padilla v. Kentucky Supreme Court case. Per the law, criminal defense attorneys are required to advise illegal

residents on immigration-related matters such as pleas and deportation. The grant will allow Hays County defense

attorneys to consult with legal experts on meeting Padilla obligations through the nonprofit myPadilla. Attorney and myPadilla Founder Julie Wimmer said she provides this service to other counties across the state.

IMMIGRANT DEFENSE, 4

Kyle PD bond rejected BY KATIE BURRELL

KYLE PD FUNDING, 5

BY MOSES LEOS III A $110,000 reward is now being offered by multiple parties in the unsolved 2018 Iconic Village Apartment fire that killed five residents in San Marcos. As officials continue their search for those responsible, they hope the $100,000 increase spurs movement in the case and leads to a break in the investigation. “We hope this will be enough to help move the investigation forward,” said Mike Widdell, assistant agent in charge of the Houston bureau of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives. “At this time, we are one phone call away from having this investigation solved or moved forward ... one tip away from having this go forward and

SAN MARCOS FIRE, 5

FRIDAY NIGHT FERVOR

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

A pair of Hays High offensive linemen engage in a blocking drill under the morning sun in Monday’s season-opening practice. Hays High and Johnson High, along with numerous other schools that did not go through spring practices, began workout for the 2019 season Aug. 5. Lehman High, which did complete spring drills, opens practice Aug. 12.

Trio of incumbents file for reelection in November BY MOSES LEOS III

well. Ellison so far is the A trio of city counonly person who’s filed cil incumbents have to run in the At-Large thrown their hats into District 1 seat. the ring as they seek Originally elected to reelection bids this Nothe dais in November vember. 2017, Ellison seeks his With the Aug. 19 second term in office candidate filing deadand will go through his line fast approaching, first reelection bid. In no one has challenged May, Ellison was selectURBANOVSKY ELLISON RIZO Buda City council ed as Kyle’s Mayor Pro member Lee UrTem mitted his filing for banovsky, or Kyle City Urbanovsky said his Ellison said he opted another term in office. Council Mayor Pro Tem first term on the dais to run again following Dex Ellison and Kyle was a gratifying experi- Hopkins’ seat encoma lot of thought and passes west Buda just council member Robert ence and that his time prayer. Rizo, who are running in office has resulted in north of Garlic Creek, as Rizo, who was elected well as half of the down- to Kyle’s At-Large Disagain for their respec“many late nights and town district and the tive seats. some very difficult detrict 3 seat in a special Bradfield subdivision. In Buda, Urcisions,” but has been election in May, will go Hopkins was initially through his third cambanovsky’s At-Large rewarding. elected to the dais in Place 1 race is one of “I believe I have reppaign in roughly a year’s March 2013 to fill an two city council seats resented my city of 19 time. He filed for reelecunexpired term; he was tion July 20. up for grabs Nov. 5. The years well during my reelected in November Single Member District first term, but there is Prior to winning the 2013 and again in 2016. At-Large District 3 seat, C race, occupied by still a lot more work to Hopkins again ran incumbent Mayor Pro be done,” Urbanovsky Rizo fell to Rick Koch unopposed when his Tem Wiley Hopkins, is wrote. “With your supin the November 2018 also up for election. port, I hope to continue seat transitioned to a general election. Urbanovsky, who was my service on Buda City single member district Rizo said serving the in 2018. originally elected in De- Council.” unexpired term left by Kyle voters will december 2016, submitted Meanwhile, Hopkins, former council member cide on two city council his candidate filing July a retired U.S. military seats this November as 22. In a Facebook post, veteran, has not subINCUMBENTS FILE, 2

TAMACC

Latino entrepreneurship on the rise in Texas.

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INDEX

Plans for calling a November bond election aimed at expanding Kyle Police Department (KPD) facilities was rejected Tuesday by city leaders. By a 6-0 vote, the Kyle City Council denied placing a bond election on the Nov. 5 ballot meant to pay for a new or renovated KPD building. Council member Daphne Tenorio was absent and did not vote. The decision came after city leaders held a public forum to hear citizen concerns and thoughts on KPD facility expansion proposal. Reports indicate the KPD’s current facility, located on Front Street, is at least 10,000 square feet too small for the number of officers and the city’s growing population. KPD’s facility is a hot button topic and has been for nearly a decade as Kyle continues to grow. “We decided it was too much crunch time,” Mayor Pro Tem Dex Ellison said. “We needed more time to do it right.” Ellison and other council members agreed they would be approving a bond measure for the department before knowing how much would be

$110K reward set in deadly San Marcos fire

News………… 2, 4, 5, 12 School………………… 6 Community………… 7, 8 Business……………… 9

Classifieds…………… 10 Service Directory…… 11 Public Notices…… 10, 12

Lawsuits set against Oak Hill expansion project BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Two lawsuits filed by six groups aim to halt the completion of the Oak Hill Parkway project, a proposed $550 million expansion of the “Y” just outside of Austin. Initiated by water watchdog group Save Our Springs (SOS) Alliance, the first lawsuit, filed July 29, alleges expansion of the U.S. 290 and Texas 71 interchange could threaten local endangered salamander populations, including the Austin Blind Salamander and Barton Springs Salamander. That first suit was filed against Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. SOS is asking that the project come to a halt until TxDOT can comply with the Endangered Species Act, according to the suit. “In terms of environmental sensitivity, there couldn’t be a worse location for this amount of excavation,” said SOS attorney Kelly Davis in a statement. “The recharge zone is highly vulnerable to pollutants, such as

OAK HILL EXPANSION, 4


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