October 28, 2020 Hays Free Press

Page 1

OCTOBER 28, 2020 SCAM ALERT

DISCHARGE

Sheriff’s Office warns of virtual kidnapping scam.

City, developers fight over effluent discharge rights.

–Page 2

–Pages 5

© Barton Publications, Inc.

75¢

Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com

Vol. 126 • No. 31

Serving Hays County, TX

Arrest made in Kinder Morgan finalizes reroute through Hays County arson and death BY ANITA MILLER

HAYS COUNTY — The route of Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline is about 99 percent mechanically complete through the Texas Hill Country and is on track to be carrying natural gas from West Texas to near Houston early next year. Company VP Allen Fore told the Hays Free Press/News Dispatch that

The route was amended to avoid any crossing of the Blanco River and Fore said the four-mile reroute added two miles to the PHP’s estimated 430mile length.

the negotiations with landowners concerning a slight reroute of the pipeline’s path in order to avoid the Blanco River are now complete and

involved nine landowners and 11 parcels of land. The route was amended to avoid any crossing of the Blanco River and Fore said the four-mile reroute

added two miles to the PHP’s estimated 430-mile length. The company said in August that it would re-reoute part of the path to avoid drilling under the river. On March 28, as the first of two initially planned river crossings was initiated, the contractor’s crew hit and ruptured a karst feature, sending

PIPELINE REROUTE, 6

investigation STAFF REPORT

A juvenile suspect was detained Oct. 21, on a “Directive to Apprehend warrant for Murder” by the Hays County Sheriff’s office regarding the May 15 arson and death investgation in Elliott Ranch. The juvenile was transported to the juvenile detention center. The investigation centers around the May 15 arson and death

investigation at the 400 block of West Overlook Mountain in Elliott Ranch west of Buda. The sheriff’s office was called in to help with the investgation by the Hays County Fire Marshall. Through the course of the investigation it was learned that the victim, Janie Rebecca Loredo Zapata, 48, had been murdered. No further information is availble at this time.

Name of suspect in officer-involved shooting released BY ANITA MILLER

Pile up on Hwy 21

PHOTO BY ANITA MILER

A pile up involving at least four vehicles, two being 18-wheelers and one dump truck, occurred Monday morning near Hwy 21 and Cotton Gin Road. A nearby observer said that collissions at that location are frequent. There was a fatal accident in that location on Feb. 17 also involving a dump truck.

Kyle mayor blasts attorney on open meetings allegations BY ANITA MILLER

Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell blasted a local attorney’s allegation that the city council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act over the summer, characterizing the whole matter a “non story.” Attorney Chevo Pastrano urged the council and Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau last week to look into whether the law was violated by a council vote in August to change the name of a

During the meeting when Mitchell officially suggested the name change and it received unanimous approval from council members, there had not been a public hearing noted to accompany the agenda item.

portion of FM 150 West from Rebel Drive to Fajita Drive. The roadway had been named for the mascot of Hays High School. Mitchell’s suggestion that the change be made came

on the heels of the Hays CISD’s decision to change the mascot, something that is still on the horizon. “Fajita Drive,” he reasoned, would honor Sonny Falcon, widely acknowledged as the in-

ventor of the popular dish made from a cut of meat that many cooks previously discarded and was first sold in Kyle. Council voted unanimously to approve the change in August. Mitchell said Pastrano is notorious for using legal intimidation. “This is a non-story about a unanimous vote that was well covered in the media and was ultimately reversed by coun-

FAJITA FOUL, 6

DSISD school board accepts superintendent’s resignation BY SAHAR CHMAIS

take person leave to Todd Washburn, Dripattend ping Springs Independent to family School District superinten- health matdent, resigned his position, ters. effective at the end of the “Over Fall 2020 semester. Board the past 11 members accepted his res- months,” ignation during a school Washburn WASHBURN board meeting on Monday said, “I night. have given Until the end of the my heart and soul to honor semester, Washburn will this responsibility. Like

SPORTS UPDATES

See Hays CISD, Dripping Springs ISD and Wimberley ISD sports updates.

–Pages 9, 12 and 13

many of you, family health circumstances during the pandemic have caused me to pause and re-evaluate my professional and personal priorities.” Washburn’s resignation comes from a place of personal choice. Although he has dedicated 30 years to education, Washburn did not say what he will

DSISD HEAD RESIGNS, 11

and weaving in and out of traffic in the The driver of a vehicle northbound lanes of who was shot Interstate 35 on by authorities Monday, Oct. 19 earlier this week near Buda. after refusing to The vehicle pull over for a fled when the traffic stop has deputy that been identified spotted it atas 43-year-old tempted a traffic Richard Pollock stop. Officers of San Antonio. used unnamed The Hays means to disCounty Sheriff’s POLLOCK able it on South Office said he Loop 4 near Inwas behind the wheel of terstate Drive just south an unidentified vehicle spotted speeding NAME RELEASED, 6

KPD releases name of pedestrian killed by train STAFF REPORT KYLE – The Kyle Police Department has released the name of the man killed in the pedestrian-train incident at the Opal Lane railroad crossing on Friday, Oct. 23. He was identified as Kyle resident JP

Burchett, age 36. Hays County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Beth Smith responded to the scene of the accident and pronounced Burchett dead. This investigation is ongoing and Kyle Police say no more information can be released at this time.

Kyle enters Stage 2 drought restrictions KYLE – Kyle water customers and residents are advised that Stage 2 mandatory water use management rules are in effect as of Thursday, Oct. 22. The city made the decision to move into stage 2 of the drought plan to rehabilitate the Kohlers Crossing elevated storage tank, which

The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323

is mainly supplied by an onsite well. The city of Kyle’s Drought Plan is governed by city Ordinance 569 which issues guidelines for when and how residents can water and irrigate lawns as well as wash automobiles.

STAGE 2 DROUGHT, 4


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
October 28, 2020 Hays Free Press by Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch - Issuu