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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 26
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Police impersonator strikes third time BY MOSES LEOS III Hays County authorities are warning motorists of a police impersonator who conducted a third illicit traffic stop in east Kyle last week. The latest incident took place March 27 when Hays County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an Impersonating
a Public Servant call at 8:30 p.m. The call marked the third incident reported to the HCSO since mid-March. A male motorist, who was not identified, informed authorities he was traveling on FM 2001 near Windy Hill Road when a pickup truck, which had begun to follow him, activated red and blue emergency lights. The motorist said he thought
he was being pulled over for a traffic stop, according to the release. The motorist said he thought he had been stopped by a peace officer, but he promptly drove away when he saw the suspect, who was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the time of the stop. The truck did not follow the motorist, according to the release. The suspect is described as a
white male approximately 5’9” tall with a medium build and medium length dark hair. The suspect was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the time of the stop. Jeff Barnett, Kyle Police Department chief, said there have been similar police impersonator reports in the city “over the years.” However, he said there have not been any reports of police impersonators
in the city within the last six years. Barnett said there are two possible motives for these kind of cases – someone who may want to identify themselves as law enforcement and someone who wants to perpetrate other crimes, such as robbery, assault or sexual assault.
IMPERSONATOR, 2
County looks to citizens after voting snafu BY SAMANTHA SMITH The path toward fixing potential voting problems began after Hays County officials set the ground rules for a citizens’ committee tasked with identifying updated voting equipment. The move came after Hays County officials held a public meeting March 30 to address voting issues that led to nearly 1,800 votes not being counted during the Nov. 8, 2016 election. According to county officials, the issue was a result of a policy lapse after a mobile ballot box (MBB), which is a device that communicates with voting booths and records votes to calculate a final tally in an election, was not counted at an early voting site. As a result, the outcome of only one election, the creation of the Anthem Municipal Utility District (MUD) was affected by the snafu. Two votes in favor of the creation of the MUD were within the 1,800-plus vote that was not counted. However, 14 people from San Marcos, Buda, Kyle and Wimberley expressed concerns during public comment March 30 over the Anthem election result and their desire for an
VOTING, 6
PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN HEARNE
Despite the capricious nature of weather, Hearne and other stormchasers are able to track and find storm events with models and radar systems.
Dripping Springs resident shares experiences as a stormchaser BY MOSES LEOS III
Severe weather was once the stuff of nightmares when Dripping Springs resident Ryan Hearne was growing up. But intrigue about the magnitude of a 2010 storm allowed him to overcome his fear and form his future. Eventually, and maybe a bit ironically, the kid who was once scared of weather is, at 18 years old, one of the youngest paid professional tornado storm chasers in the area. But becoming a storm chaser involves a much deeper responsibility than a simple adrenaline rush. “We have a huge role in the weather service. We are the eyes on the ground,”
“We have a huge role in the weather service. We are the eyes on the ground ... Radar only tells a small story. In the end, tornado reports have to have eyewitnesses. That’s where storm chasers come in.” –Ryan Hearne, stormchaser
Hearne said. “Radar only tells a small story. In the end, tornado reports have to have eyewitnesses. That’s where storm chasers come in.” Hearne said interest in weather has gone as far back as when he was six years old. In 2010, Hearne began to research weather and how it’s formed. In middle school, he
began to analyze storms more extensively. By the time he was in 7th grade, Hearne was National Weather Service severe weather spotter certified. The certification is earned after going through a two- to threehour online course and exam on how to spot storms and the science behind meteorology.
There are three levels of certification ranging from basic to elite, which equates to college-level meteorology knowledge. Hearne said it took him six years to obtain elite status. By 2014, Hearne began to research storm chasing more extensively. The next year, Hearne and a friend began to plan their very first chase. But Hearne quickly learned how unprepared he was when he traveled to Waco to wait on a storm near Stephenville. It didn’t take long for Hearne to run out of data capability and, subsequently, radar. “Radar is the most important part of storm
STORMCHASER, 6
LAGNIAPPE Pie Social
This annual event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 on the grounds of the Winters-Wimberley House, immediately adjacent to the Community Center. Admission is free and everyone is invited to come and be a part of the event.
Starlight Symphony Orchestra
This free show will feature the two winners of the 2016 Young Artist Solo Competition, violinists Lillian Sun and Sophia Ayer. Performances will be April 8 at Akins High School in Austin at 7 p.m. and April 9 at the First Baptist
Church of Wimberley at 4 p.m. See www.starlightsymphony. org for more information. Starlight Symphony Orchestra is a regional community orchestra whose performances are always free.
SKYWARN classes Hays County and the National Weather Service will hold classes about severe weather as well as living in wildfire-prone areas in Central Texas. The program will include an overview by Clint Browning, Hays County Fire Marshal, about the Firewise program, which teaches how best to adapt to and prepare homes for living in wildfire-prone areas. Free SkyWarn classes will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 at the Wimberley
Community Center at 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley; and Thursday, April 13 at North Hays Fire Rescue Central Station, 400 Sportsplex Drive, Dripping Springs.
Town Hall meeting A town hall meeting on law enforcement and transportation is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. at City Hall (511 Mercer Street). All Dripping Springs area residents are invited and encouraged to attend this joint town hall. Hays County Commissioner Ray Whisenant along with representatives from the city, constable’s office, Hays County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety will be on hand to provide updates and answer questions.
Butterfly Festival Celebrate Earth Day at this free festival at the EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens in Wimberley, which includes a live release of butterflies throughout the day, a flag raising ceremony, a commemorative Air Force flyover, butterfly art, games and more on April 22. See emilyann.org for more.
Early voting approaches
The clock is ticking for those interested in participating in the May 6 election. Aspiring voters have until Thursday, April 6 to register to vote for the election. Early voting for elections in Hays County begins April 24. See a list of early voting locations at haysnewsdispatch.com.