Construction begins on preserve
Tiger softball shuts out two teams
page 2
Tiger Baseball beats Lions
page 5
News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 24
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
page 5
75¢ Thursday, March 22, 2018
Hays County on alert due to bomb incidents BY MOSES LEOS III
RENDERING COURTESY OF MATT FAJKUS ARCHITECTURE
Tuesday’s vote marked the third time the Dripping Springs City Council had taken up the site development permit for the proposed wedding venue, which is located along Crystal Hills Drive in Dripping Springs’ extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
Controversial Mark Black wedding venue approved by 2-1 council vote BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
After weeks of debate, the Dripping Springs City Council Tuesday approved a permit application for the Mark Black Wedding Venue by a split 2-1 vote. Council member Taline Manassian and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Foulds approved the agreement, while Council member Wade King cast the lone
dissenting vote. Council members John Kroll and Travis Crow were absent from the meeting. Approval of the Site Development Permit Application for the venue was contingent on adding a note to the Water Quality Sheets regarding vegetative filter strips. Requirements called for a minimum 75 percent vegetative cover before final acceptance of the project and im-
plementing additional cross-sections and details regarding temporary sedimentation ponds to its plans. Tuesday’s vote marked the third time the Dripping Springs City Council had taken up the site development permit for the proposed wedding venue, which is located along Crystal Hills Drive in Dripping Springs’ extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). City leaders
had previously tabled discussion on the matter Feb. 13 and Feb. 20. Prior to the vote, concerned residents of a neighborhood near the venue packed into Dripping Springs City Hall to voice their discontent. Dripping Springs City Hall Tuesday was at capacity, according to the Hays County Fire Marshal. The Friendship Alliance, a group represent-
ing the neighborhoods of Radiance, Goldenwood and Goldenwood West, brought to the table deficiencies found in the venue’s site development plans. Laura Ross, an engineer representing Friendship Alliance, said the engineering plans for the wedding venue only achieve around 76 percent removal of pol-
WEDDING VENUE, 2
Dahlstrom Ranch preserve construction begins Dreams of the late Gay Dahlstrom for turning part of her family’s vast ranch into a space for ecological stewardship and education is slowly coming to fruition. With the help of $100,000 in state grants, Hays County earlier this year began construction on a public 3.15-mile trail system located within the 384-acre Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve. The preserve is part of a 2,254-acre conservation
easement, or protected natural land, located along FM 967 that’s owned by the Dahlstrom family. Clint Garza, Hays County Development Services coordinator, said moving forward with the preserve “means a ton,” as it will provide more open space to Hays County residents. “That’s the direction our commissioners court has wanted to go toward and that’s great,” Garza said. “It’s going to give folks access to venture
out in to nature and for us to hang on to the things that make this area so great.” Origins of the Gay and Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve began in 2007 when Hays County voters approved a $30 million bond for parks improvements. Part of those improvements were to create more open space areas and parkland for residents. But a major component was securing
DAHLSTROM RANCH, 2
BOMB AWARENESS, 2
LAGNIAPPE New locations for probate hearing dates PHOTO BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON
The wildlife manager for the ranch shows one of the caves that funnels water into the Edwards Aquifer.
Through traffic?
Concerns rise over neighborhood connectivity in Dripping Springs BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Dripping Springs officials are looking at ways to alleviate traffic concerns along Highway 290 by connecting neighborhood roads to provide alternative routes to Travis County. One of the newest methods theorized by city and Hays County officials would be a road connecting Tierra Trail in the Headwaters subdivision to Oak Meadow Drive in the Sunset Canyon North neighborhood. The idea, however, was met with concern from area residents regarding the proposed new connection. While a compromise
CONNECTIVITY, 6
*
BY MOSES LEOS III
A state of high alert stemming from the actions of a serial bomber in Austin has led to a handful of suspicious package calls across Hays County. While none of the reasons for the calls were deemed to be of any threat, authorities continue to urge vigilance for residents when it comes to receiving packages on their doorstep. Jeff Barnett, Kyle Police Chief, said the department has received roughly a dozen calls relating to suspicious packages over the past week. None of the packages were found to be a threat, Barnett said. Meanwhile, Buda Police fielded five calls over the weekend for suspicious packages, said Brittany Tate, Buda Police Department Public Information Officer. None of the five packages were threatening and all of them were shipped through regular mail, Tate said. In one instance, a call came from a person who did not recognize the sender of a package that contained a gift from a friend. “It’s people being overly cautious, I think,” Tate said. “It’s definitely got everyone on high alert.” But the mantra of “see something, say some-
A proposed road connecting Tierra Trail in the Headwaters subdivision to Oak Meadow Drive in the Sunset Canyon North neighborhood would allow Headwaters residents to shave nearly four miles off their commutes to Bee Cave via CR 185
Area attorneys and other individuals seeking probate court dates now have an opportunity to have their cases heard outside of San Marcos. County Court-at-Law #2 Judge David Glickler will hear probate cases March 29 in Kyle at 2 p.m.; May 2 in Wimberley at 3 p.m.; and April 23 in Dripping Springs at 2 p.m. All cases will be held at County precinct offices in the Justice of the Peace courtrooms. To have a hearing placed on the docket, call 512-393-7625 to make arrangements. Probate matters are usually heard by the two County Court-at-Law judges at the Hays County Government Center in San Marcos. Attorneys and other individuals who are interested in attending these localized dockets can contact the County Court-at-Law offices at 512-393-7625 to make arrangements. County Precinct Offices are located at 195 Roger Hanks Parkway in Dripping Springs, 5458 FM 2770 in Kyle, and 200 Stillwater in Wimberley.
LAGNIAPPE, 2