SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 FIRST IN 5
COTY 2018
Lehman volleyball earns first win in nearly five years.
Nominations sought for area Citizens of the Year.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 123 • No. 24
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Community mourns Hays softball alum Constable BY MOSES LEOS III
Salazar, a 2015 Hays High alumna, always carried From the moment they and never let go. became friends at Hays “Aspen was goofy, High, Kara Davis could sarcastic and frank, but at always count on a smile the same time, empathetic from Aspen Salazar. and friendly,” Davis said. The infectiousness “It was hard not to know of Salazar’s grin, paired who she was.” with a distinctive laugh, For Davis and countless played a role in what made others, news of Salazar’s her such a recognizable, tragic death Monday memorable person to remains a difficult momany. Such were traits that ment to comprehend. But
amid the sorrow, those who knew the 21-year-old recalled a vivacious person who was an uplifting force for many. One of those was Aaron Fuller, former Hays High softball coach, who first met Salazar when she was a freshman in 2012. Fuller said Salazar was always fun to be around and
COMMUNITY MOURNS, 14
Aspen Salazar poses with friends when she signed to play softball with Luna Community College back in 2015. PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO After three hours of tense deliberation Friday, members of a nine-person Hays County Salary Grievance committee unanimously approved raising the pay for three county constables to $74,000 a year. The move came after Precinct 1 Constable David Peterson, Precinct 3 Constable Ray Helm and Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hood requested a grievance hearing for proposed pay raises. In August, Hays County constables requested raising their pay from an annual salary of $67,762 to $93,824, which was ultimately denied by county commissioners.
Kyle man dies in RM 967 wreck BY MOSES LEOS III
CONSTABLES SALARIES, 4
Buda cancels election
Got it by the nose...
Lack of contested candidates BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
“recalibrate” himself after continuously serving Kyle for the past two-plus years. On Sept. 4, Kyle city leaders finalized its budget on second reading, but not before spending an hour debating how to move $50,000 meant for the hire of a federal lobbyist. The Kyle City Council opted to strike the lobbyist idea from the budget. According to City Manager Scott Sellers, the lobbyist idea is likely finished, at least until the next budget cycle since the funds were moved.
A trio of incumbents, along with a longtime elected official, will go unopposed in their quest for the Buda city council dais. On Sept. 4, the Buda City Council officially canceled its Nov. 6 election for four city council seats, due to a lack of candidates in the running. That trend can also be found in Kyle, where only one of two city council seats up for grabs this November will be contested. For Ray Bryant, a former Kyle city council member and who will go unopposed for the atlarge Buda Place xx seat, a lack of opposition won’t stop him from campaigning to citizens. However, the lack of public involvement in the process leaves Bryant with mixed feelings. “I think running contested is very vital to elections, but I still plan on getting out there in public and sharing who I am,” Bryant said. Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell said a variety of factors can play into candidate apathy. In Kyle, Mitchell said the city is occupied by
MAYORAL HIATUS, 4
BUDA ELECTION, 4
PHOTO BY WAYLAND CLARK, WFOTOS.COM
Blocked kick puts Rebs over Tigers in 35-34 nail-biter
Dripping Springs’ sophomore kicker Coleman Chapman was two-for-two on point after touchdown kicks when lineman Alex Harkey blocked this game-tying extra point, giving the Rebels a thrilling 35-34 win over Dripping Springs with ten seconds left in the game. See page 9 for the full story.
Kyle mayor goes on hiatus BY KATIE BURRELL
Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell is opting to take a two-week hiatus days after city leaders approved its $89.4 million budget Sept. 4. In an Sept. 7 email to City Manager Scott Sellers, Mitchell said he plans to serve on a “limited capacity only” until Sept. 27. Mitchell plans to miss the Sept. 18 city council meeting, which he said was the first meeting he has missed while on the dais. Mayor Pro Tem Shane Arabie will lead the Sept. 18 meeting. “I plan to use this time to focus on school work, spend time with
According to Section 4.02 of the Kyle Charter, in the absence of the mayor, the city’s Mayor Pro Tem (Shane Arabie) shall perform the duties of the mayor and “in such capacity shall be vested with all powers conferred on such office.”
my family, and engage with the people in the community that I love,” Mitchell said. While Mitchell’s hiatus is unprecedented and no language in the city charter specifically addresses the nature of it, the document does allow for the Mayor Pro Tem to govern the city in his stead.
APPROVED
City of Buda approves $59.9 million budget.
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INDEX
A Kyle man was killed Saturday after his vehicle was struck by a large truck while attempting to make a U-turn on RM 967. Dominic Thompson, of Kyle, was identified as the victim in the wreck, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson. The incident happened around 8:10 a.m. in the 4000 block of RM 967. According to DPS officials, a 2003 Acura sedan was traveling east on RM 967 when it drove off the road toward the right to make a U-turn. DPS officials said the driver of the Acura, later identified as Thompson, “turned when unsafe” and was struck by a 2001 Volvo truck operated by Alan Patterson, of Colfax. It is unknown at this time if Patterson suffered any injuries in the accident. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:22 a.m. by Hays County Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Scott Cary.
salary increase OK’ed by county
According to Section 4.02 of the Kyle Charter, in the absence of the mayor, the city’s Mayor Pro Tem shall perform the duties of the mayor and “in such capacity shall be vested with all powers conferred on such office.” Mitchell added he saw it as a good opportunity for him to
News………………… 1-5 Opinion……………… 3 Community………… 6-8 Obituaries……………… 7 Sports…………………… 9
Education…………… 10 Business…………… 11 Service Directory ………12 Classifieds………………13 Public Notices…………13