Tigers move forward to state meets
Local film heads to SXSW
page 4
page 3
Candidates file for DSISD election page 5
News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 20
75¢
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982 Thursday, February 23, 2017
Human error to blame for 1,800 missing votes
State rep a no-show at ‘ghost’ town hall
BY MOSES LEOS III An “anomaly” resulting from human error led to roughly 1,800 votes at a Hays County early voting site to not count toward the Nov. 8, 2016 election, according to a Hays County press release. Jennifer Anderson, who assumed the role of Elections Administrator Jan. 1, said only items involving the Anthem Municipal Utility District (MUD) were affected by the missing votes.
MISSING VOTES, 7
Wimberley man arrested for Austin/Kyle burglaries
BY MOSES LEOS III The rough and tumble world of Beltway politics made its way to Dripping Springs Sunday. By holding what amounted to a “ghost town hall” at Flores Mexican Restaurant, constituents within Rep. Roger Williams’ (R, TX-25) district expressed frustrations at their inability to contact him. Williams did not respond to requests to attend the town hall. He instead attended a private meeting with the North Hays County Republicans at Church of the Springs in Dripping Springs. For some, the lack of response equates to what they believe is a lack of representation by Williams for certain constituents. Erin Zweiner, a spokesperson for a branch of Indivisible 25, a group of concerned members in Williams’ district, said one reason for the town hall concept came after many tried to contact Williams via email, social media and phone calls. However, she says a response is usually a form letter stating the congressman’s schedule is “busy.” “We used official channels and unofficial channels. We have requested town halls and more generic meetings and we don’t hear anything back,” Zweiner said. “That’s incredibly frustrating to not hear from someone who is supposed to be representing us.”
REPRESENTATION, 8
BY MOSES LEOS III
PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III
Hays County resident Laurie Ryan holds a sign expressing concern over the Trump administration’s view on the press while listening outside of the covered patio area at Flores Mexican Restaurant in Dripping Springs Sunday. Inset, a line of constituents within the Texas 25th Congressional District line up for a ghost town hall meeting in Dripping Springs. Area residents held the town hall to address frustrations attempting to contact Rep. Roger Williams.
No injuries after structure fire, swift water rescue calls BY MOSES LEOS III
One person was rescued early Monday after becoming trapped in a vehicle as a result of debris and rising water along FM 150 at the Onion Creek double crossing in Driftwood. Two water rescue calls came in after the storm Sunday night. The incidents made for a busy six-hour stretch for the North Hays County Fire Rescue, which responded to a pair of water calls and also provided mutual aid to battle a structure fire in Johnson City early Sunday, Scott Collard, North Hays County Fire Rescue Chief, said. The first water related call to
The North Hays County Fire Rescue responded to a pair of water calls and also provided mutual aid to battle a structure fire in Johnson City early Sunday.
the department was made at 4 a.m. on Bell Springs Road and Barton Creek for a vehicle that was stalled in the water. Collard said fire crews helped remove the vehicle from the roadway. No one was injured in the incident. Roughly two hours later, fire crews were dispatched at 6:25 a.m. to the Double Crossing. Collard said debris in the water was piling up against the opposite side of the creek, and
a truck trying to cross the creek was unable to get to the other side. Collard said crews went into the water and performed a rescue of the driver. Early Sunday morning, Collard said North Hays crews were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. to assist the Johnson City Fire Department with a structure fire along FM 3232, which was caused as a result of Sunday’s storms.
Impeccable timing led to the Kyle Police Department’s arrest of a Wimberley man who is suspected of committing multiple home burglaries in RAMIREZ Kyle and Austin. Kyle Police arrested Taylor Reid Ramirez, 34, of Wimberley, on Feb. 9 for an existing parole violation warrant after they observed him outside of a home in the Amberwood subdivision.
BURGLARY SUSPECT, 7
LAGNIAPPE Hunger STRIKE Hunger STRIKE is an annual bowling tournament benefiting Hays County Food Bank. The event will take place at Sunset Bowling Lanes in San Marcos, TX on Friday, Feb. 24 from 1-4 p.m. See haysfoodbank. org/hunger_strike.aspx for more information.
Running workshop
Grab your athletic shoes, lace up, and join your community at the Dripping Springs Sports and Recreation Park (behind HEB) for another Healthy Parks, Healthy People – Dripping Springs event. Dripping Springs is partnering with the Drip-
LAGNIAPPE, 7