February 8, 2018 News-Dispatch

County jail costs meets $103M budget

D.S. High teacher takes on Ancient World

page 2

Tiger soccer continues win streak

page 5

News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 18

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

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Thursday, February 8, 2018

Toilet troubles

Wimberley Square braces for sewage line construction

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HAYS COUNTY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE

Tori Halenza and Justin Bourdon of Dripping Springs were arrested for operating an “elaborate marijuana grow operation,” according to a Hays County press release.

Green thumbs caught red-handed STAFF REPORT A local woman was arrested Jan. 31 after authorities discovered an “elaborate marijuana grow operation” during an early morning drug bust at a Dripping Springs residence.

Tori Halenza, 21, of Dripping Springs was charged with possession of 50 pounds of marijua-

na, a state jail felony, and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony.

On Monday, authorities arrested Justin Bourdon, 43, of Dripping Springs, possession of marijuana between five and 50 pounds, a third-degree felony, along with manufacture/ delivery of controlled substance, which is a first

degree felony.

According to a Hays County press release, members of the Hays County Narcotics Task Force executed a felony search warrant around 6:30 a.m. Jan. 31 at a home in the 11200 block of West Cave Blvd. in Dripping Springs.

Authorities discovered an “elaborate marijuana grow operation” at the

home. Roughly 150 marijuana plants, along with unknown amounts of methamphetamine and psychedelic mushrooms, were seized by authorities. One woman, later identified as Halenza, was arrested at the scene.

According to officials, the case is still under investigation and additional charges may be filed, pending lab results.

Fire scorches 350 acres in Wimberley STAFF REPORT A faulty emissions system from a vehicle is believed to have caused a fast-moving Jan. 30, grass fire that scorched roughly 350 acres along Ranch Road 2325 in Wimberley.

Clint Browning, Hays County fire marshal, said in a statement that the fire is believed to be accidental at this point in the investigation.

Roughly 100 residences were threatened by the Ledgerock Fire, which had a “minimum of 19 areas of ignition” along a 4.9 mile stretch of RR 2325, Browning said. However, no homes were burned as a result of the fire.

Some of the burn areas were spread out over several hundred yards and may have covered other areas of ignition, accord-

PHOTOS BY EXSAR ARGUELLO

A Wimberley resident uses a farm implement to till the soil in an attempt to keep fire from spreading in an open field along FM 2325 Jan. 30. A faulty emissions system from a vehicle is believed to have been the cause of a fast-moving fire that scorched roughly 350 acres.

ing to a Hays County press release.

There were also several small burn areas, along with one large burn area roughly 2.1 miles from RR 2325 on Pump Station Road.

Browning said the prob-

able cause of the fire was determined after multiple interviews and an onscene investigation.

No evidence of incendiary cause was located in the area where the fires originated, Browning said.

Justin McInnis, assistant emergency management coordinator for the Hays County Office of Emergency Serivces, stressed the need for residents to remain vigilant during the county’s inplace burn ban.

County updates hazard plan

BY SAMANTHA SMITH

Keeping residents and officials prepared in the event of future natural disasters was the premise behind Hays County Commissioners’ approval of an update to its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP).

The plan, which was approved by a 4-0 vote Jan. 16, will also help the county obtain federal grants in the event of future disasters.

Hazard Mitigation project grants are administered through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cities that qualify.

Kharley Smith, Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator, said the reason for the HMP

The Hazard Mitigation Plan will help the county obtain federal grants in the event of future disasters.

was updated because of funding assistance for hazard mitigation projects, but also to update residents on the increased frequency of natural disasters like floods and fires in Hays County.

“I am really satisfied with the way the update process went and the collaboration with the cities involved and emergency services,” Smith said.

Buda Assistant City Manager Micah Grau said input from each community in Hays County for the updated plan was essential and that Buda garnered input from residents through a community survey for the plan.

“I believe Buda had

the largest number of respondents (to the survey), so we feel that input was gathered and factored into the plan,” Grau said.

Kyle Fire Chief Kyle Taylor said the Emergency Management Office did the bulk of the work on the document, but experiences from the 2015 floods helped in the update of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

“They came up with a pretty solid plan that will increase safety for everyone in the county,” Taylor said.

Smith said the document doesn’t include spe-

HAZARD MITIGATION, 6

Long-awaited upgrades to Wimberley’s downtown sewage system are forthcoming, but business owners are bracing for the impact impending construction will bring.

Some business owners are concerned the upgrade, which could take roughly a month to complete in the downtown area, could limit traffic and negatively affect their businesses.

“The whole project is going to kill our business,” Kita Nettles, the owner of the Blue Willow gift shop said in an interview.

Nettles is one of

“The whole project is going to kill our business.”

–Kita Nettles, owner of the Blue Willow gift shop

many frustrated business owners in the downtown area that are concerned about the lack of foot traffic to the retail shops and restaurants during the construction of the sewer line.

TOILET TROUBLES, 2

Wedding venue decision delay?

BY EXSAR ARGUELLO A decision on a controversial wedding venue in Dripping Springs’ extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) may be pushed back to late February, according to city officials.

Mayor Todd Purcell directed staff to place an item on the Feb. 13 city council meeting to postpone action on the Mark Black Wedding Venue development permit, according to an emailed response from Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city administrator.

If the item to postpone is approved, Dripping Springs city leaders may wait until Feb. 20 to make a decision on the matter.

However, Purcell plans to move forward with a public hearing on the permit at the city’s Feb. 13 council meeting.

“I wanted an explanation as to why the city has decided to do this, but I never received one,” Mark Black, developer of the wedding venue, said.

“I want to be up front with everyone in the community as I possibly can, and I think they should be too. I wish they would tell me why.”

On Jan. 23, the Dripping Springs Planning and Zoning Committee approved a recommendation in a 5-1 vote for the wedding venue. The decision will be voted on by city council, but this new proposed postponement for the decision comes in light of community protest over the venue’s development.

Carlos Torres-Verdin, president of Friendship Alliance, presented several concerns from residents regarding the wedding venue. Those

“I wanted an explanation as to why the city has decided to do this, but I never received one…I want to be upfront with everyone in the community as I possibly can, and I think they should be too – I wish they would tell me why.”

–Mark Black, Developer of the proposed wedding venue

concerns extended to fire safety, increased traffic, alcohol use, wastewater treatment and the increase in noise polution.

Torres-Verdin said the creek on Black’s property directly flows down to the Edwards Aquifer which concerns local residents on the effect on water quality.

However, Black and the team at MF Architecture are taking measures to alleviate community concern.

Black said the plans are almost 100 percent complete, but a few changes will be made to ensure environmental protection in the area.

“I hired the best engineer I could find and the city engineer both looked over my

WEDDING VENUE, 6

Page 2

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Thursday, February 8, 2018

Letter to the Editor

Jail, public safety building costs meet $106M budget

BY KATERINA BARTON

A Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction of Hays County’s jail renovation and public safety building was accepted after issues with the project being over budget in 2017 were resolved.

The Hays County Commissioners Court Jan. 30 approved a new GMP of $103,726,403, along with a $2.4 million contingency for unexpected costs.

The new GMP comes after the county’s contractor, Turner Construction Company, presented an estimate in October 2017 that was $7.1 million over the county’s construction cost limitation (CCL) of $78 million.

The inflated cost was “due in part to expected labor and material shortages caused by hurricanes in Texas and elsewhere,” according to a press release from the county. But those shortages have been resolved, according to officials.

In another effort to keep prices down, Turner reached out to over 3,000 subcontractors and received over 300 bids for 30 packages for Phase II of the GMP in order to create price competition.

In 2017, commissioners

The inflated cost was “due in part to expected labor and material shortages caused by hurricanes in Texas and elsewhere.”

–According to a press release from the county.

were concerned about moving forward on a project that was over the voter-approved budget.

Proposition 1, which was approved by voters as part of the county’s $252 million bond package in November 2016, called for $106.4 million in renovations to the county’s jail and construction of a new public safety building.

The renovation and construction project includes fleet maintenance, a jail addition, a new public safety building, training building and bonding for jail renovations.

Commissioners instructed Turner to take some time to review the project and design documents and come back in January with a new GMP presentation.

On Jan. 30, Turner pre-

QUESTIONS ABOUT HOT

Thanks for your piece on Short-Term Rentals (STRs). Now let’s talk about that Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT).

It has been my understanding in the past that the HOT generates a significant amount of revenue for the City of Dripping Springs. In the spirit of having a two-sided conversation toward compliance with the “imposition” of an ordinance that affects STR operators – some of whom already pay a City tax for their residences – it would be good for the operators within the City of Dripping Springs, and within the Dripping Springs ETJ, to understand the following: • How much revenue does the City receive annually from the HOT? • What is the HOT tax rate for STR operators across DS? Is it the same rate as the commercial hotels?

• How is this revenue specifically used (how much goes to what or whom)?

• How will the HOT benefit STR operators?

• Are there grants,

sented a new estimated total cost of $103.7 million; the $2.4 million contingency is not expected to be needed. If the contingency is needed, the bond will be the exact amount that voters approved.

Phase I of the project, approved in summer 2017, cost $5,345,523 for fleet maintenance and site work, and has the potential to be under budget.

The cost of Phase II is estimated at $76,069,394, which is below the county’s $78 million CLL. There are additional soft costs of a little over $22 million included in the GMP. “The Commissioners Court was determined to keep the promise it made to the public about the costs – that there will not be a dollar more spent than was approved by voters,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell said in a press release. “This project is under budget and we will continue to seek ways to reduce costs as it moves forward.”

According to documents submitted to the court by Turner in October, Phase I of the project is expected to be finishing up by February. With the approval of the GMP, Phase II will begin after completion of Phase 1.

funding, or other programs available to STR operators who pay the HOT? • Do the two existing hotels in Drippings Springs (Sleep Inn, Holiday Inn Express), and/or any commercial hotel properties coming soon, enjoy any specific or special benefits, exemptions or credits with the City through their payment of the HOT? • Are there other organizations or nonprofits that benefit from the funds collected through the HOT, and how?

• Is there a penalty for STR operators who may have been unaware of the requirement to pay the HOT, and seek now to comply?

Clear, credible answers to these questions would be helpful toward an ongoing fair, positive and meaningful dialogue for STR operators and prospective operators with the City of Dripping Springs, and no doubt across Hays County for other area operators with their taxing authorities.

Thanks, Linda Freeman

LAGNIAPPE DS Women’s Club

Firefighters Fitness Day

The Dripping Springs Women’s Club hosts its monthly meeting Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Terrace Club at 11:30 am - 1 pm. Epicure Restaurant presents a cooking demonstration and provides a gourmet lunch. For a reservation contact womenofds@gmail.com. $20 for program and lunch.

Hays County and State Debate & Forum

Work out with local firefighters through Healthy Parks, Healthy People – Dripping Springs. North Hays County Fire Rescue, along with the Dripping Springs Professional Firefighters Association, is partnering with the city to bring you Firefighters Fitness Day on Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dripping Springs Ranch Park.

The League of Women Voters of Hays Country will hold two events to promote awareness of the upcoming Primary Election. A Debate for Hays County candidates will be Monday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. and a Forum for District and State candidates will be Thursday, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m., both at the San Marcos Activity Center.

Toilet Troubles: Wimberley Square braces for construction Continued from pg. 1

Wimberley’s project, which has a budget of $7.5 million, aims to create a sewer system in the downtown sector. All of the businesses in the Wimberley Square operate on septic systems.

“Once they start digging anywhere, you’re going to have fewer people coming because they don’t want to have to walk in all the dirt,” Nettles said.

During a meeting hosted by Wimberley Mayor Mac McCullough, Allison Davis and Roberta Holland suggested the contractor do most of the work digging trenches and laying pipes at night, then backfill during the day.

Wimberley business owner David Steen, along with Nettles, is in favor of crews working at night.

But Steve Klepfer, a

“Given the circumstances, they should be in and out in the ‘Squareonly’ portion probably within the four week period, but it’s premature for me to say that, because we haven’t had the preconstruction meeting with the contractor.”

20 years so the project is a long awaited blessing.

“I’m just thrilled that it’s going to be happening,” Klepfer said.

Klepfer said the construction isn’t all going to be done at once so “there will be times when there is limited access to certain shops.”

However, Klepfer said once crews finish piping one section, they will backfill over it and move on opening it back up to pedestrian traffic.

“The minor inconve-

nience of having someone putting a pipe out in front of my building, that’s the least of my worries,” Klepfer said.

Interim City Administrator Paul Parker said it’s still too early for the city to determine how long the construction on the sewer line will take.

Parker said the time frame for the project is roughly one year. However, the downtown portion of the project may only take four weeks or so, depending on weather and

other factors. Parker said the Wimberley Square will “never be shut down to pedestrian traffic.”

“Given the circumstances, they should be in and out in the ‘Square-only’ portion probably within the four week period, but it’s premature for me to say that, because we haven’t had the preconstruction meeting with the contractor,” Parker said.

Parker also said the City of Wimberley, along with the City Engineer, the contractors and the Texas

Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have to sit down and discuss what the implications for Ranch Road 12 will be. Officials plan on creating a traffic control plan for the road.

Parker said preliminary discussions with TxDOT showed it was opposed to shutting down the federal highway for very long.

However, Parker said they may decide to leave one lane open for stop and go traffic.

Parker said the Wimberley City Council has discussed the possibility of a shuttle system into the Square from off-site parking, but no decisions have been made at this time.

“We’re going to try our best to keep everybody as informed as we can,” Parker said.

management.

Smith said the HMP is meant to be a living document where county officials will be adding

additional action items or hazard mitigation projects as needed, and completing action items/ projects as funding be-

comes available.

“We can’t control mother nature at all, but based on what we learned from those experiences

(2015 floods) we included that information in the plan to help with future disaster mitigation,” Taylor said.

–Paul Parker, Interim City Administrator

longtime Wimberley square business owner, said that is an option that is way over budget for the city.

Klepfer said it would cost “millions of dollars more” for the contractor to work at night.

“I think most people are all for the sewer system, but we depend a lot on foot traffic,” Steen said.

Klepfer said he has owned his businesses in Wimberley since 1981 and has been part of the sewer discussion for over

Hazard Mitigation Continued from pg. 1

cific hazard mitigation information such as how to create a hazard evacuation bag, or what documents resident’s need

during a disaster.

However, Smith said residents can get that information directly from the office of emergency

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Education Tigers take home trifecta of honors at CX District Meet STAFF REPORT The Dripping Springs High School debaters swept first, second and third place at the UIL CX District Meet Jan. 31, with the top two teams earning spots in the state tournament.

Winning the tournament was the team of Christian Pundt and Mason Mohon, while Christopher Gearing and Varun Verma placed second; those two teams earn automatic bids to

the UIL CX State Tournament. Placing third was the team of Riley Wheaton and Campbell Meton; they are alternates to the state tournament. The 5A state tournament is scheduled for March 16-17.

Policy debate, or Cross-Examination (CX) Debate consists of two-person teams advocating for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States government.

Left to right are Christopher Gearing, Varun Verma, Christian Pundt, Mason Mohon, Campbell Melton and Riley Wheaton PHOTO BY ????

Dripping Springs High teacher takes on the Ancient World

BY KATERINA BARTON Getting Dripping Springs High students to Carpe Diem, or seize the day, is a daily occurrence for Dripping Springs High teacher Ginny Lindzey.

For the past 12 years, Lindzey has helped many Dripping Springs students learn Latin, the language of ancient Rome and Greece. The course is one of the top language classes offered at Dripping Springs High, right next to Spanish and German.

Between the two Latin teachers at Dripping Springs High, there are more than 200 students taking the classes, including around 25 middle school students who come to the high school.

Lindzey came to the school in 2006 when the program was just starting out. She’s been there now 12 years, sharing her passion for the classical language and history.

Lindzey was recently honored by the Texas Classical Association for her “lifetime contributions to the promotion of Latin.”

Lindzey draws stu-

dents into the course with not only practical reasons for studying the language, but by showing them how fascinating Roman culture can be.

“Part of that is getting them fired up about Latin, making sure they’re engaged, making sure I’m not teaching in a way that puts them to sleep,” Lindzey said.

Themes that are present in today’s world are commonly found in Latin literature, such as life, death and love.

“Latin is the zombie language, it’s the language of the living dead,” she said. “I often tease that the real reason to study Latin is to have a séance with Cicero. That you can really communicate with these people that we discover are so much like ourselves, but lived 2,000 years ago.”

Although Spanish is a more popular language to study for students living in Central Texas, Lindzey said Latin can also be useful and functional.

The language can help students raise verbal scores on standardized tests like the SAT, and improves the

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MANZELLO

Dripping Springs High Latin teacher Ginny Lindzey (left) goes through a lesson with students who are learning about the ancient language.

understanding of English grammar. Going into college, studying Latin can also be useful for students who want to study law or medicine. It can also help with picking up foreign languages later on.

Lindzey teaches all of the Latin I classes along with Latin IV, while Kara Kothman, her Latin

teaching counterpart, teaches Latin II and III and a mythology/ Greek and Roman film course.

Lindzey started studying Latin as a sophomore in high school in San Antonio. In college at the University of Texas at Austin, she loved her Latin classes and professors so much that she switched from a theater

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major to a Latin major.

“I had a personal connection with the language, with the literature, with the people, with the mindset. I liked that it was challenging.

I’m also half Greek so it appealed to me to be doing something with the Ancient world,” Lindzey said.

Lindzey shares this en-

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COURTESY PHOTOS

Trevor Thrasher and Aidan Johannsen explain project “Radical Reactions” to a judge.

Local middle schoolers advance to regional science competition STAFF REPORT Ten middle school projects that placed first, second or third at the recent DSISD Science Fair will advance to regional competition. The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival will be held at Palmer Events Center Feb. 21-24.

First-place projects were Karsten Bobb’s “Preventing Coral Bleaching,” Brant Melton’s “Perception Makes Perfection,” and Hayden Dunn and Jaden Batte’s “Lowering the Speed of Light.”

All three projects were completed by Dripping Springs Middle School

students.

Placing second were: Kate Ginther, DSMS, “The Effects of Stressing Plants” Maddie Johnson, SSMS, “Which Wick” Weston Kirk, DSMS, “Natural Filtration” Emma Maebius, DSMS, “Evaluating Noctoc Commune as an Alternative to Nitrogen Fertilizer” Trevor Thrasher and Aidan Johannsen, DSMS, “Radical Reactions” Placing third were: Kaylie Tipton, Kylie Tipton and Sara Dunn, DSMS, “Rethink Your Drink” Gracie West, DSMS, “Ready, Set, Rust.”

ergy for the language by keeping her classes fun, creative and engaging.

One big project in the class this year involves the theme of time traveling back to ancient Pompeii complete with time travel passports, Roman coin stamps, and an ancient merchant market where students have to barter for goods.

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Thursday, February 8, 2018

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 5

Sports ☛

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80 miles northeast of Wimberley High School

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District 25-6A

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PHOTO BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Dripping Springs Lady Tiger junior Ziva Payer boots a penalty kick attempt during the team’s district game against Seguin.

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District 13-4A, Division II

BY SHANE SCHOLWINSKI

The Dripping Springs Lady Tiger soccer team won its second district game and extended its win streak to four matches with a dominant 2-0 win over the Seguin Matadors Friday at Tiger Stadium.

“I think the team played really well as a cohesive unit, and they trust each other,” Dripping Springs head coach Bailee Perrine said. “They work really well together and they know how to connect.”

The Lady Tigers controlled ball possession throughout the entire game, so much so that the Matadors were unable to have a single shot on goal.

Dripping Springs had multiple missed opportunities early in the first half with misses from striking range from within the 18-yard box.

Out of the ten shots on goal for the Lady Tigers in the first half, freshman Sofia Picucci broke the mold and drilled a shot in the back of the net at the 18-minute mark. Dripping Springs held a 1-0 lead at halftime.

“We work a whole lot on possession and when to attack, and they are taking the shots that they need to take,” Perrine said. “They are also going back when they need to go back. This team just works really well as a unit.”

Dripping Springs’ great team play carried over

Wimberley East Side Memorial Cuero Geronimo Navarro Llano Bandera

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77 miles west of Wimberley High School

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31 miles south of Wimberley High School

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94 miles southeast of Wimberley High School

17. Dripping Springs 18. LBJ 19. Lanier 20. Seguin 21. Crockett 22. Travis 23. McCallum 24. Lockhart – Volleyball & Basketball only

Hays County learns new districts in realignment

into the second half, as they added 15 more shots on goal and constant attack against the Seguin defense. Lady Tiger junior Ziva Payer scored the second goal of the game with 24 minutes left in the match. The score would be too much for the Matadors to overcome and would seal the Lady Tigers’ fourth consecutive victory.

If there is one thing Perrine wants her team to work on as the season goes along, it is taking shots or making the smart pass instead.

“This is a great learning opportunity for when we get to playoffs,” Perrine said. “Teams that we play against will stack the back like that because we have a great build and great attack.”

BY MOSES LEOS III

Some call it a sweet science. Others equate it to throwing a dart on a map.

Any way you slice it, high school coaches across the area Thursday discovered how the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment and reclassification process will affect their programs.

For Hays CISD, road trips to Cedar Park and

Dripping Springs Tigers to compete in UIL state swim meet STAFF REPORT

Dripping Springs’ Lydia Evans swims in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly in the preliminaries on Friday at the 2017 UIL State Swimming and Diving meet in Austin. Evans also competed in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and the 200 Yard Medley.

Evans joins junior London Farris and a host of other Dripping Springs Tigers as they travel to the 2018 UIL state swimming and diving meet in Austin this weekend. Dripping Springs will have three relay teams competing at the event, along with three individual swimmers. Evans and Farris will make their second straight trip to state, with both swimmers posting top-5 qualifying times in their respective events.

Wimberley Texan junior Evan Mayhew will make his third straight trip to state when he competes in the Class 5A boys 1-meter diving competition.

7. Hays 8. Lehman 9. Westlake 10. Lake Travis 11. Bowie 12. Austin High 13. Anderson 14. Del Valle 15. Akins 16. Ann Richards School – Volleyball only

District 12-5A, Division I

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Lady Tigers extend win streak to four games with 2-0 win over Seguin

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Leander will become a thing of the past.

According to the new alignment, Hays and Lehman athletics were placed in a nineteam 25-6A district that features a handful of central and south Austin area schools.

The new district is reminiscent of the old 14-6A, of which Hays and Lehman were a part of in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

John Proud, who is

operating as the interim head football coach at Lehman, said realignment went “amazingly well.”

Proud said learning of a new district is an exciting experience, as coaches don’t always know what to expect.

While predictions of a new district may be partially accurate, coaches must prepare for whatever happens.

DISTRICT REALIGNMENT, 6

Right space, right time

PHOTO BY WAYLAND CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Dripping Springs’ Lydia Evans swims in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly in the preliminaries on Friday at the 2017 UIL State Swimming and Diving meet in Austin. Evans also competed in the 100 Yard Breaststroke and the 200 Yard Medley.

State qualifying times for Dripping Springs swimmers: • Girls 100 yard breaststroke: Lydia Evans – 1:06.22

• Girls 200 yard individual medley Keeley Vardeman – 2:08.24

• Girls 400 yard freestyle relay Dripping Springs – 3:37.03

• Girls 100 yard butterfly Keeley Vardeman – 57.68

• Girls 200 yard medley relay Dripping Springs – 1:49.05

• Girls 500 yard freestyle Lydia Evans – 5:06.36

• Girls 200 yard freestyle London Farris – 1:52.42

• Girls 200 yard freestyle relay Dripping Springs – 1:41.15

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Page 6

News-Dispatch

Thursday, February 8, 2018

District Re-Alignment Continued from pg. 5

“You have a chance to be in a completely different district,” Proud said. “It’s always exciting during realignment.”

Neal LaHue, current Hays High athletic coordinator and head football coach, said realignment day is often a “feeding

frenzy” once new district packets are handed out at 9 a.m.

Coaches use realignment day to try and focus on solidifying their team’s non-district schedule on the football side.

Based on how districts are realigned, coaches

may have to add, or even subtract, non-district games for their teams, in order to accommodate for their new districts.

“You can schedule to get wins, or you can schedule to prepare for district,” LaHue said.

Strategy also plays a

role in how coaches prepare for realignment and its aftermath.

LaHue, who plans to retire in June, opted not to take part in the realignment process for Hays High this year.

However, LaHue did choose to send his assis-

tants to area realignment pickup sites in Round Rock and San Antonio. Proud also said he had coaches spread out at both sites.

The goal was to ensure enough bodies are in place to accommodate for the district a program is placed.

“Last time, I was kind of surprised by what occurred. We thought we were going south, so we had people in San Antonio, but not in Round Rock,” LaHue said. “We wanted to make sure we had people in both places.”

Wedding Venue: Decisions delayed Continued from pg. 1

plans for over six months to make sure we did everything right,” Black said. “These engineers put their licenses and reputation on the line approving the plans in accordance with the law.

This is my business on the line, and I want to make sure we are doing everything to protect the environment and surrounding areas.”

Black said before site planning began, his team was out on the property with GPS technology marking every tree, cave and other natural landmarks to ensure no environmental harm would come to significant points on the property.

The two venues, which will be located on the Northwest and Northeastern points of the property, are the product of planning around the environmental preservation of the property, Black said.

Blue moon on the rise

Black added all of the community’s concerns “have been thoroughly thought of,” and that he has been in contact with bussing companies to look at ways of transporting people in and out of the venue for safety.

“I’m a business owner and all of these responsibilities fall on me. I don’t want people drinking and driving.

I don’t want alcohol to be served late into the night. I don’t want noise and light to pollute the beautiful landscape,” Black said.

Torres-Verdin said Black never consulted with neighbors during the development phase until July of 2016, after plans were finished.

The two venues’ proposed sites border the Radha Madhav Dham temple and Bob Logan’s Native American meditation site, neither of which Black consulted

during the project’s development.

“We’ve invited him to dinner, lunch and to have friendly conversations but he never accepted any of that,” Torres-Verdin said. “It’s now time to stop trying to inform. Now we need to put all of that behind us and just talk this out.”

However, Black said he has hosted Torres-Verdin on his property to have conversation over the sites development. Black hosted a community meeting Feb. 6 to discuss concerns and new potential changes to the sites development.

“I’m spending the extra dollar to make sure we do this right,” Black said. “These neighbors have concerns and I’m going the extra mile to protect the environment.

I chose the best architectural team I could find so we can tackle these issues head on.”

PHOTO BY STEPHEN THOMAS

The iconic Dripping Springs water tower was not only residents’ gateway to the Hill Country, but also a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse that took place on Jan. 31. The event took place during a super blue blood moon, which signified the moon was near its closest distance to earth in its orbit, while also taking place during the second full moon in the month.

Everybody loves a bird bath

BY JERRY HALL I am a little disappointed in recent visitors to my birdbath.

The bath is a heavy concrete model and I recently spotted a large black vulture standing in it, evidently enjoying a dip even though it is mid-winter.

Previously, I had looked out and seen a wellgroomed gray fox standing in the shallow bowl.

He lapped up a quick drink and jumped down to lope leisurely away.

Foxes and vultures are not what I had in mind, but I suppose one takes what one can get. Perhaps someday I will have a nice goldfinch splashing away.

And, that reminds me, I have not seen either an American goldfinch or a

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY HALL

The American goldfinch, a plump five-inch “wild canary,” often shows up in flocks and flies in an undulating, up-anddown fashion.

lesser goldfinch this winter. Usually by this time, I have several taking the thistle seeds from my back deck feeder.

The American goldfinch, a plump five-inch “wild canary,” often shows up in flocks and flies in an undulating, up-and-

down fashion. The lesser goldfinch we have is the eastern form and the male has a glossy black back and bright yellow bottom, while the female is an overall greenish yellow.

I think both species are running late this year and hope they get here soon.

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