June 8, 2017 News-Dispatch

Speed limit down at Sawyer Ranch

Tiger portfolios have students looking ahead

page 2

Celebrating Lady Tigers state run

page 5

News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 35 • Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

page 12

75¢

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Voting snafu sparks protests

BY MOSES LEOS III

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Lady Tigers fall at State Semifinals

Above, Dripping Springs seniors (L-R) Kiele Miller, Haley Odell, Lexi Poehl and Sydney Campbell pose with the Conference 5A State Semi-finalist trophy.

Dripping Springs’ 2017 season came to an end Friday as they fell to the Willis Wildkats in the UIL Class 5A state semifinal game at McCombs Field. Dripping Springs, which finished as state semifinalists, tied for third place in the Texas Girls Coaches Association state softball poll. More on the Tigers’ trip to state can be found on pages 5 and 12.

Dripping Springs takes second place for growth rate in Hays County

BY MOSES LEOS III

A 105 percent rise in the estimated population over a six-year period casts Buda as the Hays County city with the highest growth percentage since 2010, according to new Census Bureau estimates 290 released in late May. According to the statistics, which included population estimates as of July 2016, Buda has ballooned to just over 15,000 people. Six years ago, during the 2010 Census, Buda had just over 7,200 people.

From 2015 to 2016, Buda’s population rose by 40 percent, which was the highest among the five major cities in the county.

Dripping Springs, which has an estimated

Hays County Population Estimates

Entity

2016 estimate

2015 estimate

2010 Census

Hays County

204,470

177,562

157,107

San Marcos

61,980

54,712

44,894

Kyle

39,060

32,078

28,016

Buda

15,023

10,655

7,295

Dripping Springs

3,140

2,415

1,788

Wimberley

2,983

2,625

2,626

Dripping Springs

Buda

35

Kyle Wimberley

San Marcos

POPULATION GROWTH, 11

Information from the U.S. Census Bureau

Dripping Springs graduates 405 Tigers With a Wonder Woman crown tucked just under her mortarboard, Dripping Springs High senior Elizabeth Kuykendall flashes a smile during Friday’s commencement ceremony held at the new Tiger Stadium.

The 2017 graduating class made history this weekend as it was the inaugural class to have crossed the stage under the lights at the district’s newly built stadium, located on the Dripping Springs High campus.

Ever since he cast his first ballot as an 18-yearold in 1968, San Marcos resident Sam Montoya has made it a habit to participate in the democratic process whenever it came up.

But on Monday, Montoya was “shocked” to discover the ballot he cast in Nov. 8, 2016 general election was one of 1,800 votes not counted due to a policy lapse at an early voting location.

Now Montoya hopes something can be done to prevent a similar issue

ELECTIONS, 9

What bills could affect Hays County?

BY SAMANTHA SMITH While Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session Tuesday, a handful of bills authored by Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) passed through the Texas Legislature prior to the end of the regular session late last month.

One of the primary pieces of legislation that affects the entire region, as well as the state, was House Bill 1403, which heightens the level of prosecution against teachers who are convicted of improper relationships with students. That bill is also known as the “Pass the Trash” law.

Dripping Springs will retain its title as the Official Wedding Captial of Texas due in part to a House Resolution that was passed earlier in the regular session.

LEGISLATION, 11

LAGNIAPPE Wimberley Book Festival

On June 10, the second annual Wimberley Book Festival will be held inside the Wimberley Community Center. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. patrons will have the opportunity to meet new authors and discover great Indie books. This includes award-winning local authors, as well as award-winning authors from around the great state of Texas. The first Wimberley Book Festival raised enough funds for both the Village Library and the school district to each receive $250 worth of donated books. See more information at wimberley. bookfestival.network.

PHOTO BY FEDERICA RUMOR

LAGNIAPPE, 2

Page 2

News-Dispatch

PHONE: 512-268-7862 FAX: 512-268-0262 PUBLISHER Cyndy Slovak-Barton csb@haysfreepress.com EDITOR Moses Leos III moses@haysfreepress.com REPORTERS Samantha Smith Lesly De Leon news@haysfreepress.com PRODUCTION David White Christine Thorpe ADVERTISING/MARKETING Tracy Mack tracy@haysfreepress.com Leon Vigil ads@haysnewsdispatch.com Jim Darby ads@haysfreepress.com Daniela Arriaga ads@bartonpublicationsinc. com PHOTOGRAPHERS Wayland Clark PROOFREADER Jane Kirkham CIRCULATION MANAGER/ LEGAL NOTICES David White paper@ haysnewsdispatch.com

News-Dispatch (USPS 011 - 401) is published weekly except for the weeks following July 4 and Christmas by Barton Publications, Inc., 113 W. Center St., Kyle, TX 78640.

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Call (512) 268-7862 or email news@haysfreepress.com for news tips, notable community events, letters to the editors and anything else you think your local paper needs to know.

Sawyer Ranch Road speed limit reduced to 35mph

BY LESLY DE LEON

Belterrra Drive

35 MPH speed limit

The speed limit on a section of Sawyer Ranch Road east of Drippings Springs will be reduced to 35 miles per hour in the name of safety.

Hays County Commissioners May 30 approved lowering the speed limit from 50 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour on Sawyer Ranch Road from Belterra Drive to Cool Spring Way. The section of road is near Sycamore Springs Middle School and the entrance to the Highpointe subdivision.

“This reduces the day to day speed limit essentially in front of the new school that was built on Sawyer Ranch Road,” said Jerry Borcherding, county transportation director.

“It reduces the day-to-day speed limit to 35 mph when school [zone] is not in session.”

Pam Swanks, Dripping Springs ISD director of transportation, said district officials support

Legend

SAWYER RANCH ROAD Proposed new 35 MPH speed limit in both directions, reduced from existing 50 MPH, when school zone is not active, from Cool Spring Way to Belterra Drive, thus making it 35 MPH all the way to US 290 (RED ARROWS).

Existing 30 MPH school zone speed limit location, active per DSISD bell times (GREEN ARROWS).

Existing 50 MPH speed limit from Belterra Drive to Darden Hill Rd (BLUE ARROWS).

Cool Spring Way (Highpointe subd. entrance)

➤

News-Dispatch

Thursday, June 8, 2017

COURTESY RENDERING N

140

3000 ft The speed limit reduction will effect the section of road near Sycamore Springs Middle School © 2016 Google and the entrance to the Highpointe subdivision. © 2016 Google

lowering the speed limit.

During the morning and afternoon, when children are arriving and leaving school, the school zone speed limit is 30

mph.

The item was approved by a 4-0, with Hays County Pct. 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant absent.

While there have been

a few reported accidents on the intersection of Sawyer Ranch Road and Highway 290, the speed limit will not change there.

hand saws and bags for seed heads. Take care of yourself with hat, water, sturdy shoes, gloves, seasonal clothing and bug spray.

grind corn, put on period clothes, take photos and more at this free family event.

Springs Tomato Round-Up and Contest on Saturday, June 24. The tomato-centric event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park/ The Triangle), located at the corner of RR 12 and Highway 290 in downtown Dripping Springs. Parking is free. The Round-Up begins at 9 a.m.

Lagniappe

Continued from pg. 1

Cleanup at Charro Ranch

On Saturday June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, help cleanup Charro Ranch Park at this volunteer workday. Volunteers will help with invasive plant removal, thin junipers and build up brush berm at birding station, recover the bench at the bird station and more. Bring your favorite string trimmers, weeding tools, loppers,

Fitness Blast to the Past

Join the city of Dripping Springs on June 10 from noon-3 p.m. for this Healthy Parks, Healthy People event at the Pound House. Use a washboard,

Tomato Round-up

Come whet your appetites as local tomato growers show off their prized produce, and local tomato aficionados get a chance to taste everything from romas to red slicers during the sixth annual Dripping

Do you know of a free community event to be included in Lagniappe? Send an email to christine@ haysfreepress.com.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 3

Opinion Editorial

Don’t deny our local role in clean energy

I

f all politics is local, as Tip O’Neil famously said, then this year local politics is also national – or maybe international.

That was driven home again last week when President Trump announced he will pull the United States from the Paris climate accord, saying he was elected to represent Pittsburg, not Paris.

The local implications are profound in several ways. First, the chairman of the committee that oversees science, technology and climate legislation in the United States House of Representatives is local – Lamar Smith, a Republican from San Antonio, who represents much of Hays County, including big swaths along the west side of Interstate 35. You can argue semantics here but basically Smith is a fairly nice guy in person who is also, essentially, a science denier.

That’s right. The head of the science and tech committee doesn’t believe the scientists he helps fund. At times, the world is an odd place.

Chairman Smith also says his constituents should put more faith in President Trump’s tweets than in news coverage.

The president’s trumpeting “Pittsburg over Paris” is a bit hard to swallow.

As the mayor of Pittsburg pointed out, the president’s view of that city (and the world) is hopelessly outdated. In fact, Pittsburg is no longer the poster child for coal-fired industrial plants belching smoke. The city has remade itself, embracing environmental sustainability and relying on new-tech jobs and clean energy.

If President Trump thinks he should follow the whims of Pittsburg then he has a problem.

Seventy five percent of the city voted against him in the presidential election.

The mayor, the largest local newspaper, leading lights of business and the governor of the state all spoke out against President Trump’s decision

But more than economics, we live in one of the places that may be most affected by climate change.

While prone to drought, we are at the same time the flash-flood capital of the continent.

after he highlighted the city, saying reneging on our country’s commitment to the climate treaty will hurt local citizens and local jobs in Pittsburg.

It will almost certainly hurt local jobs and ratepayers here, too – unless local and regional leaders stand against it.

Our local economy is tethered to technology, innovation, wind, solar and clean-burning natural gas infinitely more than it is tied to coal or even old-style oils-and-gas production. A bucketful of local companies thriving in the space between Austin and San Antonio are focused on this newer energy technology. Thousands of locals commute into neighboring urban centers for similar jobs. And our electric co-op is using more and more alternative energy sources, even allowing customers to sell home-generated solar power back to the grid.

This is the future economy, if we’ll just seize it, with billions of dollars at

stake in world markets.

The U.S. – and Central Texas – could be a leader if we invested in science and research, instead of denying or hiding from it.

But more than that, we

live in one of the places that may be most affected by climate change.

While prone to drought, we are at the same time the flash-flood capital of the continent.

Spikes in extreme weather on both ends – drought and flood – are a phenomena we should be eager to study, understand and mitigate, here of all places.

Instead, too many of our national elected leaders seem afraid to ask honest questions – or even to let scientists look into them. It seems to us a fearful and pessimistic view of humankind’s potential and our nation’s ability.

And it means that this year national politics is very much a local concern.

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Page 4

News-Dispatch

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Education Dripping Springs graduates shine a spotlight on skills with senior portfolios

BY MOSES LEOS III

D

ripping Springs High seniors last week made history by becoming the first group to take part in an on-campus commencement ceremony at the new Tiger Stadium.

But in order to walk the stage, Dripping Springs seniors first had to provide administrators, teachers and community members a glimpse of the skills learned in high school and how it could help them in their careers.

By presenting senior portfolios, students are able to not only discover what they want to do in life, but also learn skills that can help them in the real world.

Joe Burns, Dripping Springs High School principal, said the portfolios allow students to develop the skills necessary when they leave school.

Some of these skills – communication, leadership and responsibility – aren’t necessarily measured in the classroom.

“The portfolios are designed to demonstrate that, and reflect on where they’ve been and what they’ve learned through school, and present it in professional way to their community, and to professionals in their career field,” Burns said.

Dripping Springs began the senior portfolio idea decades ago, Burns said. The district was one of the first in the state to comprehensively have a requirement such as the portfolios for graduation.

COURTESY PHOTO

Dripping Springs High senior Katy Reeves addresses a panel of teachers and administrators during the presentation phase of her senior portfolio.

Joe Burns, Dripping Springs High School principal, said students who plan to go into the automotive industry have used an engine block they helped build as their presentation tool.

When the program began, the portfolios were structured and required students to present work over their four-year career, as well as a cover letter, resume and visual presentation.

In the last two years, administrators tweaked the program to allow students to “bring in their interest” and give them a voice in the process.

While students must follow a rubric with

required elements, how they demonstrate those presentations is entirely up to them.

While some students use PowerPoint presentations or videos to demonstrate what they learned in school, others utilize a more hands-on approach that caters to their own style.

The process begins at the end of the students’ junior year, when they present a proposal to administrators. Students

are asked to think about what they want to do in college or technical school, or whatever career they want to go into.

From there, students have a full year to build their portfolios based on their experiences.

Burns said students who plan to go into the automotive industry have used an engine block they helped build as their presentation

tool. Other ideas have included theater students using audition material they are readying for college, as well as a rock climber who rappelled from the catwalk of the district’s performing arts center.

Presentations are conducted in front of a panel that consists of teachers, administrators and those who are in a particular career field.

The panel is selected by

the school district.

The district clusters the panels by field, with the panels taking in multiple presentations over the course of a few weeks.

For some students, presenting in front of a panel is a nervewracking experience, while others are naturals at it. Regardless of how they feel going into it, students feel empowered by their accomplishments when they’re done.

“It’s an amazing time for me to see the students,” Burns said.

“I’ve never personally been disappointed.”

Some of the more memorable presentations came from students who may struggle in the classroom, but are able to succeed in hands-on fields.

Burns said presentations that are “tear-jerkers” come from those who share their experiences volunteering in the community.

“We have had students that have committed a tremendous amount of time and talents to community service,” Burns said. “They take on the idea they don’t have to be a graduate from high school to have a big impact on the world.”

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Page 5

Sports

One step short

Early runs doom Dripping Springs in state semifinal

I

BY MOSES LEOS III

t took one inning Friday for the Willis Wildkats to place the Dripping Springs Tigers’ state title hopes out of reach.

Three first inning Wildkat runs, along with dominant pitching from Willis’ Casey Dixon, sunk Dripping Springs (35-9) in a 5-0 loss at the UIL Class 5A state semifinal at McCombs Field in Austin.

Willis (41-8) capitalized on first inning struggles from Tiger pitcher Kiele Miller, who walked the initial two batters she faced in the first inning.

Wildkat junior Samara Lagway followed by belting an RBI triple down the left field line, which gave Willis a 2-0 lead.

An RBI single from Willis junior Suzy Vallejo gave the Wildkats a commanding 3-0 lead and the momentum.

Haley Odell, Tiger senior first baseman, said the team didn’t lose complete faith after falling into a three run deficit so quickly, but it did affect the team’s game “a little bit.” She added the team has experienced similar scenarios during the season, but the team always stuck together and tried to get better in the next game.

“Having the threegame (playoff) series, we

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Dripping Springs sophomore Camille Corona, who had 57 stolen bases on the season, is tagged out at third base by a Willis player in the top of the fourth, ending the inning for the Lady Tigers, while trailing 3-0.

GO TIGERS

See more on the Lady Tigers’ recordbreaking season on page 12. always came back. We stepped up our game the next game and the next,”

Odell said. “But this is one-and-done. It happens.”

Wade Womack, Dripping Springs head softball coach, said nerves got the better of Miller, who struck out four batters, but walked four in 4 and 1/3rd innings pitched.

“I guess it was nerves.

It was a big crowd. Per-

haps one of the biggest crowds I’ll ever see,” Miller said. “It was a fear of failure. It kind of backfired, I guess.”

Willis turned to Dixon, whose curveball and rise ball kept Tiger bats off balance for the majority of the game.

Dixon, who went the full seven innings, struck out nine Tiger batters and allowed only three hits in the game. Womack said Dixon was one of the top pitchers the Tigers have seen all season.

“We’ve seen great pitching all throughout the playoffs,” Womack said. “But she’s a dang good pitcher.”

Dripping Springs fought to stay in the game by getting baserunners on-board in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Womack said the Tigers tried to bunt more often, while also trying to stay aggressive on the basepaths, which was the team’s game plan during the season.

But the Tigers were unable to generate a clutch hit to drive home a run.

Dripping Springs did not have a runner reach third base during the game.

The closest opportunity came and went in the fourth inning, when Tiger Camille Corona was caught stealing at third base.

Willis countered by padding its lead with a pair of runs scored in the fifth frame, highlighted

by RBI doubles from Dixon and junior Mackenzie Parker.

Corona and Odell both went 1 for 2 at the plate, while Tiger third baseman Ryann Campbell went 1 for 3.

Dripping Springs selections to the 26-5A All-District Team After a groundbreaking season, all nine Dripping Springs Tiger softball starters made the list as selections to the District 26-5A All-District team.

Leading the way was Tiger starting pitcher Kiele Miller, who garnered district most valuable player honors.

Miller finished the season with a .98 earned run average (ERA) in 41 games played in 2017. Miller tallied 278 strikeouts in 178 innings pitched and threw nearly 3,000 pitches during the course of the season.

Tigers Camille Corona, Haley Odell, Danielle Northrup and Riley Dunn each were first team all district selections. Corona, a University of Texas at Austin pledge, was named to the UIL Class 5A All-Tournament team.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Kiele Miller

FIRST TEAM

Camille Corona Haley Odell Danielle Northrup Riley Dunn

SECOND TEAM

Paige Leschber Bailey Hudgeons

HONORABLE MENTION Sydney Campbell Ryann Campbell

ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT Sydney Campbell Lexi Poehl Emily Barefield Shelbye Hartman Annie Hudson Camille Corona Ryann Campbell Kyndall Womack

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PHOTOS BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM

Above: Sophomore Camille Corona lays down a bunt in the top of the sixth inning against Willis on Friday afternoon in the 5A semifinals of the State Tournament at McCombs Field in Austin. At left: Dripping Springs’ senior Kiele Miller delivers a pitch against Willis in the 5A semifinals at the State Tournament.

Miller finished this season with a 23-5 record, striking out 278 batters in 178.0 innings and a minuscule .98 ERA. Below, Tiger sophomore Ryann Campbell connects with the ball during her at-bat in the top of the seventh inning of the regional finals, which allowed the Tigers to defeat Richmond Foster 4-3.

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UIL CLASS 5A ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM Camille Corona, second base

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Page 6

News-Dispatch

Thursday, June 8, 2017

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 7

Application of Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. to Amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the Proposed Highway 32 to Wimberley Transmission Line Rebuild and Upgrade Project in Hays County PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS (PUC) DOCKET NO. 47192

Public Utility Commission of Texas Central Records Attn: Filing Clerk 1701 N. Congress Ave. PO Box 13326 Austin, Texas 78711-3326

Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PEC) is requesting approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Commission or PUC) to amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) to rebuild and upgrade an existing four-mile long 69-kV transmission line in Hays County, Texas, to a single-circuit 138-kV transmission line. The transmission line project will begin at the existing Highway 32 Substation located north of the intersection of Farm-to-Market road (FM) 32 and FM 12 and extend to the existing Wimberley Substation located west of FM 2325 in Wimberley, Texas.

Persons who wish to intervene in the docket must also mail a copy of their request for intervention to all parties in the docket and all persons that have pending motions to intervene, at or before the time the request for intervention is mailed to the PUC. The only way to fully participate in the PUC’s decision on where to locate the transmission line is to intervene in the docket. It is important for an affected person to intervene because the utility is not obligated to keep affected persons informed of the PUC’s proceedings and cannot predict which route may or may not be approved by the PUC.

PEC has determined this project is necessary to meet the area’s growing demand for electrical power, which will soon exceed the capacity of the existing facilities. For this project, the Company has proposed five alternative routes, including a route that utilizes the existing 69-kV transmission line route. However, all proposed routes, including portions of the existing 69-kV transmission line route, will require the acquisition of new rights-of-way to accommodate the proposed new facilities. The entire project will be approximately four (4) to five (5) miles in length and is estimated to cost between approximately $5.4 million and $12.1 million, depending on the final route approved by the PUC.

The deadline for intervention in the docket is July 17, 2017, and the PUC should receive a letter from anyone requesting intervention by that date.

The PUC has a brochure titled “Landowners and Transmission Line Cases at the PUC.” Copies of the brochure are available from PEC Engineering Manager Tony Perez at 1-800-868-4791 ext. 3888 or by email at Hwy32-Wimberley@peci.com, or can be obtained during normal business hours at PEC’s headquarters located at 201 S. Avenue F, Johnson City, Texas 78636. The brochure may also be downloaded from the PUC’s website at www.puc.state.tx.us. To obtain additional information about this docket, you may contact the PUC’s Customer Assistance Hotline at (512) 936-7120 or (888) 782-8477. Hearing-and speech-impaired individuals with text telephones (TTY) may contact the PUC’s Customer Assistance Hotline at (512) 936-7136 or toll free at (800) 735-2989. In addition to the intervention deadline, other important deadlines may already exist that affect your participation in this docket. You should review the orders and other filings already made in the docket.

Persons with questions about the transmission line may contact PEC Engineering Manager Tony Perez at 1-800-868-4791 ext. 3888 or email Hwy32-Wimberley@peci. com. PEC’s application and detailed routing maps may be reviewed at www.pec. coop/Hwy32-Wimberley or, during normal business hours, at PEC’s headquarters located at 201 S. Avenue F, Johnson City, Texas 78636.

All routes and route segments included in this notice are available for selection and approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Persons who are affected by the proposed transmission line and wish to intervene in the docket or comment on the applicant’s application should mail the original and 10 copies of their requests to intervene or their comments to:

Highway 32 to Wimberley Transmission Line Rebuild and Upgrade Project in Hays County - Segment Descriptions

A

1-2-6-7-9-19-22-33-34-36-39-40-30

B

1-2-6-7-10-14-17-18-19-22-33-35-36-39-40-31

C

1-3-4-6-8-11-13-16-18-19-22-32-25-27-38-29-30

D

1-3-4-6-8-12-15-16-18-19-23-26-27-37-39-40-31

E

1-3-5-24-25-27-38-28-40-30

Segment 14 Segment 14 begins at the intersection of Segments 10, 11, and 13, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds south for approximately .02 mile. The termination of Segment 14 is at the intersection of Segments 12, 15, and 17.

Segment 2 Segment 2 begins at the intersection of Segments 1 and 3, located east from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .02 mile. The segment then continues southwest for approximately .03 mile while paralleling the south side of Jewel Lane. It then turns southeast for approximately .06 mile. The termination of Segment 2 is at the intersection of Segments 4 and 6.

Segment 15 Segment 15 begins at the intersection of Segments 12, 14, and 17, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds west for approximately .01 mile. The termination of Segment 15 is at the intersection of Segments 13 and 16.

Segment 31 Segment 31 begins at the intersection of Segments 29, 30, and 40, located west from the intersection of CR 1492 and Winn Valley Drive. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .37 mile while paralleling the south side of CR 1492, crossing Winn Valley Drive, Pierce Creek and Winn Wood Road. It then angles to the northeast for approximately .03 mile, crossing CR 1492. The segment then angles to the southeast for approximately .13 mile while paralleling the north side of CR 1492. The segment then turns south for approximately 2.00 miles while paralleling the west side of FM 12, crossing CR 1492 and Winn Ranch Road. The termination point of Segment 31 is at the Highway 32 Substation.

Segment 32 Segment 32 begins at the intersection of Segments 22 and 33, located northeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .04 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination point of Segment 32 is at the intersection of Segments 24 and 25.

Segment 18 Segment 18 begins at the intersection of Segments 16 and 17, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .07 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 18 is at the intersection of Segments 9 and 19.

Segment 33 Segment 33 begins at the intersection of 22 and 32, located northeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .30 mile paralleling the east side of Deer Crossing Lane, crossing Chapparal Drive. The segment continues to the south-southwest for approximately .06 mile and then angles to the southwest for approximately .04 mile. The termination point of Segment 33 is at the intersection of Segments 34 and 35.

Segment 19 Segment 19 begins at the intersection of Segments 9 and 18, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .30 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW along Leveritts Loop, crossing Leveritts Loop three times, River Road, and the Blanco River. The termination of Segment 19 is at the intersection of Segments 22 and 23.

Segment 6 Segment 6 begins at the intersection of Segments 2 and 4, located southeast from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .01 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 6 is at the intersection of Segments 7 and 8.

Segment 34 Segment 34 begins at the intersection of Segments 33 and 35, located southwest from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds west for approximately .11 mile. It then angles to the southwest for approximately .18 mile, crossing CR 1492. The segment turns southeast for approximately .38 mile while paralleling the south side of CR 1492, crossing Shade Road. The termination point of Segment 34 is at the intersection of Segments 35 and 36.

Segment 22 Segment 22 begins at the intersection of Segments 19 and 23, located south from the intersection of Leveritts Loop and River Road. The segment proceeds south-southeast for approximately .04 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 22 is at the intersection of Segments 32 and 33.

Segment 7 Segment 7 begins at the intersection of Segments 6 and 8, located southeast from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds west for approximately .10 mile. The termination of Segment 7 is at the intersection of Segments 9 and 10.

Segment 35 Segment 35 begins at the intersection of Segments 33 and 34, located southwest from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds south-southeast for approximately .30 mile, crossing CR 1492. The termination of Segment 35 is at the intersection of Segments 34 and 36.

Segment 23 Segment 23 begins at the intersection of Segments 19 and 22, located south from the intersection of Leveritts Loop and River Road. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .10 mile.

The termination of Segment 23 is at the intersection of Segments 5, 24, and 26.

Segment 8 Segment 8 begins at the intersection of Segments 6 and 7, located southeast from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .04 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 8 is at the intersection of Segments 11 and 12.

Segment 36 Segment 36 begins at the intersection of Segments 34 and 35, located southeast from the intersection of CR 1492 and Shade Road. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .20 mile while paralleling the south side of CR 1492. The termination of Segment 36 is at the intersection of Segments 37 and 39.

Segment 24 Segment 24 begins at the intersection of Segments 5, 23, and 26, located northeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds west-southwest for approximately .01 mile. The termination of Segment 24 is at the intersection of Segments 25 and 32.

Segment 9 Segment 9 begins at the intersection of Segments 7 and 10, located southwest from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street.

The segment proceeds west for approximately .15 mile, crossing Rhodes Lane. It then turns south for approximately .21 mile. The segment then angles to the southeast for approximately .03 mile.

The termination of Segment 9 is at the intersection of Segments 18 and 19.

Segment 37 Segment 37 begins at the intersection of Segments 27 and 38, located southeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds west-southwest for approximately .05 mile while paralleling the north side of Cedar Springs Drive. The segment continues west-southwest for approximately .06 mile. It then turns south-southeast for approximately .21 mile. Finally, the segment angles to the southsouthwest for approximately .18 mile, crossing CR 1492. The termination point of Segment 37 is at the intersection of Segments 36 and 39.

Segment 25 Segment 25 begins at the intersection of Segments 24 and 32, located northeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .20 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination point of Segment 25 is at the intersection of Segments 26 and 27.

Segment 10 Segment 10 begins at the intersection of Segments 7 and 9, located southwest from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street.

The segment proceeds south–southeast for approximately .10 mile, crossing Lange Road. The termination of Segment 10 is at the intersection of Segments 11, 13, and 14.

Segment 26 Segment 26 begins at the intersection of Segments 5, 23, and 24, located northeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .02 mile. It then angles to the southwest for approximately .03 mile. The segment then angles to the south for approximately .13 mile. The termination point of Segment 26 is at the intersection of Segments 25 and 27.

Segment 11 Segment 11 begins at the intersection of Segments 8 and 12, located north from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood ! ! ! segment proceeds southwest for approximately .10 Drive.

The ! ! mile utilizing the!existing !69-kV transmission line ROW, crossing ! !

Lange Road. The termination of Segment 11 is at the intersection of ! ! !

Segments 10, 13, and 14. ! !

Segment 13 Segment 13 begins at the intersection of Segments 10, 11, and 14, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .02 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 13 is at the intersection of Segments 15 and 16.

Segment 30 Segment 30 begins at the intersection of Segments 29, 31, and 40, located west from the intersection of CR 1492 and Winn Valley Drive. The segment proceeds south for approximately 2.30 miles utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW along the northern portion of Winn Valley Drive, crossing Winn Valley Drive three times and Pierce Creek. The termination point of Segment 30 is at the Highway 32 Substation.

Segment 17 Segment 17 begins at the intersection of Segments 12, 14, and 15, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .05 mile. It then turns southwest for approximately .05 mile, crossing Twin Mountain Road. The segment then angles west-southwest for approximately .06 mile. The termination of Segment 17 is at the intersection of Segments 16 and 18.

Segment 5 Segment 5 begins at the intersection of Segments 3 and 4, located east from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .11 mile. It then turns southwest for approximately .04 mile, crossing Lange Road. The segment then turns south for approximately .07 mile while paralleling the west side of River Road. It then angles to the southeast for approximately .03 mile, crossing River Road. The segment continues south for approximately .17 mile paralleling the east side of River Road. At this point, the segment angles to the southwest for approximately .08 mile while paralleling the north side of River Road, crossing Loma Vista Road and River Road. The segment then turns south for approximately .18 mile, crossing River Road and the Blanco River. Finally, the segment turns southwest for approximately .12 mile, crossing South River Street. The termination of Segment 5 is at the intersection of Segments 23, 24, and 26.

! !

Segment 12 !

Segment 12 begins at the intersection of Segments 8 and 11, located north from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .01 mile, crossing Lange Road. The segment continues southeast for approximately .06 mile while paralleling the west side of Rockwood Drive. The segment then turns west for approximately .04 mile. The termination of Segment 12 is at the intersection of Segments 14, 15, and 17.

Chapparal Drive and CR 1492. The termination point of Segment 29 is at the intersection of Segments 30, 31, and 40.

Segment 16 Segment 16 begins at the intersection of Segments 13 and 15, located southwest from the intersection of Lange Road and Rockwood Drive. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .10 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW, crossing Twin Mountain Road. The termination of Segment 16 is at the intersection of Segments 17 and 18.

Segment 4 Segment 4 begins at the intersection of Segments 3 and 5, located east from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .10 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 4 is at the intersection of Segments 2 and 6.

!

SEGMENT COMBINATIONS

Segment 1 Segment 1 begins at the Wimberley Substation, located southwest from the intersection of FM 2325 and Twilight Trail. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .10 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line right-of-way (ROW). The termination of Segment 1 is at the intersection of Segments 2 and 3.

Segment 3 Segment 3 begins at the intersection of Segments 1 and 2, located east from the intersection of Jewel Lane and Davis Street. The segment proceeds south for approximately .01 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW. The termination of Segment 3 is at the intersection of Segments 4 and 5.

!

PRIMARY ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

!

Segment 38 Segment 38 begins at the intersection of Segments 27 and 37, located southeast from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .40 mile while utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW, crossing Cedar Springs Drive. The termination point of Segment 38 is at the intersection of Segments 28 and 29.

Segment 27 Segment 27 begins at the intersection of Segments 25 and 26, located southwest from the intersection of Chapparal Drive and Deer Crossing Lane. The segment proceeds southeast for approximately .10 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ! !

ROW, crossing Chapparal Drive. The termination point of Segment ! !

27 is at the intersection of Segments 37 and 38. ! !

Segment 39 Segment 39 begins at the intersection of Segments 36 and 37, located southwest from the intersection of CR 1492 and Heritage Hill Road. The segment proceeds northeast for approximately .02 mile, crossing CR 1492. It then turns southeast for approximately .11 mile while paralleling the north side of CR 1492. The termination point of Segment 39 is at the intersection of Segments 28 and 40.

!

!

Segment 28 ! ! !

Segment 28 begins at the intersection of Segments 29 and 38, ! ! located northeast from the intersection of County Road (CR) ! !

1492 and Chapparal Drive. The segment proceeds southwest for ! approximately .10 mile while paralleling the west side of Chapparal Drive. The termination point of Segment 28 is at the intersection of Segments 39 and 40.

Segment 29 Segment 29 begins at the intersection of Segments 28 and 38, located northeast from the intersection of CR 1492 and Chapparal Drive. The segment proceeds south for approximately .10 mile utilizing the existing 69-kV transmission line ROW, crossing

!

Segment 40 ! ! ! !

Segment 40 begins at!the !intersection of segments 39, ! !28 and ! ! ! ! ! Valley ! ! located northwest from the intersection of CR 1492 and Winn ! !

Drive. The segment proceeds southwest for approximately .01 mile, crossing CR 1492. It then turns southeast for approximately .05 mile while paralleling the south side of CR 1492. The termination point of Segment 40 is at the intersection of Segments 29, 30, and 31.

!

!

Page 8

News-Dispatch

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Rounding up fun for RED Arena Top: Harper, riding Maggie, won first place in one of the dress-up races at Saturday’s Red Arena RoundUp at Dripping Spring Ranch Park.

Middle: Brenden, riding Chip, waves and claps to his family watching from the bleachers before his race begins. Children were also able to pet sheep, goats, piglets and even a baby kangaroo at a small petting zoo. Other games and activities, including walking a miniature horse, were also set up. The annual event is an inclusive horse show playday for riders of all abilities that raises proceeds for RED Arena in Dripping Springs, a nonprofit that provides horse therapy.

PHOTOS BY LESLEY DE LEON

Keep your eyes peeled for must-see birds I

BY JERRY HALL

have a book titled “100 Birds To See Before You Die,” and the number one bird listed is the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is a bit cruel, I think, since that bird has been extinct for at least 20 years. But the other 99 species are at least possible and, of them, I have seen 35. So I have many birds to see before I kick the bucket.

Of the 35 I have seen, probably the top ten for me would be the Andean cock-of-the-rock, resplendent quetzal, bee hummingbird, blue and yellow macaw,

Bohemian waxwing, western grebe, vermilion flycatcher, magnificent frigatebird, roseate spoonbill and scissor-tailed flycatcher can all be found in Texas, and all are listed among the must-see 100 birds.

Arctic tern, magnificent frigatebird, greater flamingo, harlequin duck, carmine bee-eater and the I’iwi. To see these, I traveled to Peru, Cuba, Brazil, Iceland, Africa and Hawaii.

But you don’t have to

be a world traveler to cross several of these birds off your list. For example, bohemian waxwing, western grebe, vermilion flycatcher, magnificent frigatebird, roseate spoonbill and scissor-tailed flycatcher

can all be found in Texas, and all are listed among the must-see 100 birds.

By far the smallest bird listed is the bee hummingbird of Cuba, about the size of a large bee. The largest is the ostrich of Africa, a species weighing about 33 pounds. It is too heavy to fly, but can run at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

While the 100 birds in this book are indeed desirable species, I think any bird is a good one to see. As I always say – watching birds is really great; they flit, they fly, they fascinate.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY HALL

Finding the Andean cock-of-the-rock is worth the effort.

OPENING NEW DOORS TO HEALTH Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas is setting a new standard for compassionate, personalized health care in Central Texas that will shape the community’s future health and Dell Children’s is now offering Emergency Care at Seton Medical Center Hays.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 9

Study shows county lacks mental health resources

BY LESLY DE LEON

D

espite the fact that one in five Americans will be impacted by mental illness in their lifetime, Hays County residents are underserved when it comes to mental health resources.

According to the Seton Medical Center’s 2016 Hays Community Health Needs Assessment, Hays County only has 86 providers per 100,000 population. The figure is less than the 96.7 Texas average for providers, and the 189 national average.

This lack of resources negatively impacts residents without medical insurance and who are below the poverty line, according to the assessment.

The uninsured rate in Hays County is 18.9 percent, which is lower than the state average of 24.3 percent but higher than the U.S. average of 16 percent.

Poverty is also a concern in Hays County, where income inequality is higher than state and national averages.

According to the assessment report, hospital

Elections

Continued from pg. 1

Over the last few years, the number of individuals receiving services through the Scheib Center in San Marcos has increased about 30 percent. In 2015, the center served nearly 3,000 people, most of whom had an annual family income of less than $15,000.

emergency rooms, law enforcement and school counselors are the primary responders to mental health crisis situations.

Preventive mental health services, especially for children, are limited, and available psychiatric services fill up quickly.

The emergency room is often used to care for patients until a bed becomes available in an appropriate facility.

According to the assessment, the community is concerned about services for senior citizens with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

One facility that treats senior citizens is Oceans Behavioral Hospital in San Marcos. The 24-bed

facility, which just opened in 2015, provides treatment for senior citizens with depression, hallucinations or inability to manage daily activities.

The Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Center, based in Kerville and with a location in New Braunfels, has a partnership with the Scheib Center in San Marcos.

Hill Country MHDD also has two clinics offering services, one in Kyle and one in Wimberley.

The Scheib Center was founded in 1971 to provide services to people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities.

Over the last few years,

the number of individuals receiving services through Scheib has increased about 30 percent. In 2015, the center served nearly 3,000 people, most of whom had an annual family income of less than $15,000.

The Scheib provides services to those who may not have insurance or means to pay.

Patients who are employed pay a sliding-scale fee based on income, while those are unemployed must provide a letter of support from whomever is financially supporting them. The center accepts Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurances.

The facilities and services at the Scheib Center are partially funded by federal grants and Medicaid. However, the funding is limited and shrinking as demand for services is growing exponentially.

Patients receive treatments for mental illnesses, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Patients can see psychiatrists, receive medications and counseling services, and attend support groups.

Join us at PEC’s Annual Meeting June 17!

Family fun, door prizes, food and activities, plus board election results.

Join us for a chance to win fabulous door prizes!

Surplus PEC

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$500, $250, $100 gift cards

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Registration and on-site voting begins 10:30 a.m.

Business meeting begins 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Family-friendly activities

pec.coop/annual-meeting

pec_322x75_join us AM.indd 1

from happening again.

For some Hays County residents, implementing a paper balloting system is the solution, despite county officials saying the snafu was a policy lapse, and not an equipment error.

“I hope they take care of this. I’m really disappointed my vote didn’t count,” Montoya said. “I know there are people who are angry. I’m not angry, but I’m disappointed.”

Many residents who advocate for paper balloting attended a citizens’ forum at the Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post in San Marcos Monday.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III Representatives from Election Systems & Hays County resident Naomi Narvaiz (middle) and San Marcos resident Sam Montoya (right) take a look at a composite list of the over 1,800 people whose votes didn’t count in the Nov. 8, 2016 Software (ES&S), which is general election at a citizen’s forum in the Maurice T. Suttles VFW post in San Marcos Monday. one of two vendors Hays County is considering to image of the ballot. the county is treating the She said the county is replace outdated voting Taylor was concerned issue with “such casualso attempting to be as systems, attended the about the accountability alness” and felt officials transparent is it can be forum and demonstrated with the county’s current were trying to sweep the with the new equipment. their “hybrid” paper and electronic systems and problem under the rug.

An 11-person committee electronic voting system. with transparency, pri“That’s just common was commissioned to The News-Dispatch resense. If we have no paper marily with the county’s assist the county with its ported in April that counselection of new equipnew election system. ty officials had planned to ballot or serial numbers ment. attached to a ballot, However, she said those replace outdated voting “Some accountability committee meetings are equipment prior to Nov. 8, how can we tell there’s a has to be there. I believe problem not open to the public, as 2016 issue. some criminal action with an it’s not required by law.

Jennifer “I don’t think should be taken because election?”

A committee member Anderson, this is inexcusable,” Taylor can make to motion to WhittenHays Counanyone is said. “There’s no way burger vote on whether it can be ty elections they’re going to tell me said. open. administrying to 1,800 votes would not Arthur “It’s interesting when trator, said have made a difference in we’re expected to be open exclude the Taylor, ES&S and this election.” a San when we have so many Hart Interpublic from Anderson said the Marcos more advisory commitcivic are the county has taken steps to resident, tees that spend more only two the meeting discovered rectify the issues, which money than we are, and vendors affected the outcome of his vote, ... But it’s they aren’t expected to be that can along with the Anthem Municipal open,” Anderson said. comply obvious Utility District vote. Folhis son’s Whichever vendor the with Texas’ lowing an investigation, and wife’s, county chooses could strict laws that people Anderson implemented were also impact whether or on voting among the policy changes to how the not the county can have are trying equipment. county handles its mobile “voting centers” in future 1,800 not The to distract. ballot boxes (MBB), counted. elections. Voting centers, policy issue which was mistakenly He liked which were used in Traivs occurred We’re trying to the idea taken offline at an early and Williamson Counties, under voting location at the a paper are locations where voters Anderson’s make sure we of Hays County Government of any precinct can cast ballot predecesfocus on the Center in San Marcos. system, a ballot on Election Day. sor’s reign.

Hays County Judge similar to the current Hays Prior to objective and the hybrid Bert Cobb reached out to Under County system, voters the demonRolando Pablo, the Texas system on Election Day can only stration, focus on the Secretary of State (SOS), presented vote in their assigned however, regarding the Nov. 8, 2016

by ES&S. equipment.” precinct location. residents issue. In a letter, Keith That Only direct recording shared Ingram, Texas director of system equipment (DREs) or fears that – Jennifer Anderson, elections, said while the would be electronic voting systems the counHays County elections SOS office doesn’t have made up are allowed at a voting ty’s current administrator of printing any investigative authorcenter, per state law. electronic ity, the report done by ballots Hybrid systems are not systems are Anderson “correctly idenon thermal paper, then DREs, Anderson said. not reliable and do not tified” the problem and inserting those into a “I don’t think anyone allow for accountability. took appropriate steps to computer. Representais trying to exclude the Hays County resident rectify it. The SOS didn’t tives from ES&S claim public from the meeting,” Ashley Whittenburgbelieve a further review the hybrid system would Anderson said. “But it’s er said having a paper was necessary. allow for three levels of obvious that people are ballot system “just makes Anderson said there transparency, where vottrying to distract. We’re sense,” as it would allow were no voting issues in ers see their choices on trying to make sure we for a way for officials to the May 6 general elecfocus on the objective and “clearly audit an election.” screen and on the ballot, tion. as well as have a digital focus on the equipment.”

She was concerned

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Classifieds

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

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HEALTH

An application has been filed with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 10.49 acres of property located along Elder Hill Road, Driftwood, TX 78619. Information regarding the application may be

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ESTATE AUCTION To Settle a Portion of the H.C. Carter Estate

Prime Commercial Land

Wed, June 21st @ 11:00 a.m.

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Sale Site: The Terrace Club, 2600 E Hwy 290, Dripping Springs

2.724 Ac Commercial Lot Located at the Northeast corner of Ranch Road 12 & Goodnight Trail, Dripping Springs

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notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 at 9 a.m. in the Hays County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio Street, the Hays County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing to consider: Cancellation of Lot 2 in the Edwards Ranch Subdivision.

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The City of Dripping Springs is currently accepting applications for the full time position of City Maintenance Worker. The application and full job description are available on the Employment page at www.cityofdrippingsprings. com or at 511 Mercer Street. Call City Hall at (512) 858-4725 or email Kyle Dannhaus at kdannhaus@ cityofdrippingsprings.com for more information.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

www.HaysNewsDispatch.com

Page 11

Population Growth: DS 2nd in Hays County Continued from pg. 1

2016 population of 3,140, had the second highest population growth rate among the five major cities between 2015 and 2016, while Kyle was third.

Todd Purcell, Dripping Springs mayor, said in an emailed response his city’s estimates come as no surprise.

“Our city is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Others are now discovering what we’ve known for years.”

However, with the growth, Purcell said the city has a “significant responsibility” to tackle “head-on” many critical infrastructure issues, such as road and wastewater capacity.

“It’s necessary to protect our envied quality of life,” Purcell said.

San Marcos, which was deemed the fastest growing city in the U.S., according to 2014 Census estimates, only saw 13 percent growth between 2015 and 2016.

Buda’s rise in population wasn’t a surprise for Buda Mayor Todd Ruge, who said the constant growth has been the “same story for years.”

Ruge cites Buda’s proximity to Austin and its good schools lend to more people setting up in Buda.

“We’re in a desirable area,” Ruge said. “We’re close to Austin, but we don’t have the Austin prices.”

Despite the growth, Ruge said the city continues to maintain its “small town charm” that he feels is attractive to people.

However, Ruge said he doesn’t see an end to the constant growth that’s coming to Buda. He cited how Buda’s city limits to the north touch Austin’s city limits. He also said developments that are not in the city limits, such as the Sunfield Municipal

With the population growth, Dripping Springs Mayor Todd Purcell said the city has a “significant responsibility” to tackle “head-on” many critical infrastructure issues, such as road and wastewater capacity.

Utlity District, are starting to grow.

“One thing it does for us, there’s more people paying in. We still have one of the lowest property tax rates in our area,” Ruge said.

With the growth comes a strain on infrastructure, as well as housing. Approval of the 2014 bonds is one way Ruge felt the city could accommodate the growth.

But Buda still faces challenges in securing adequate water resources in the future. Legislation making it easier for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), which was backed by the city, died prior to the end of the 85th Texas Legislative session.

Public safety is also a factor Buda will have to keep up with in the future, primarily the ratio of police officers to residents.

Housing is also an issue the city must deal with. Currently, Buda’s

“bread and butter” are $300,000 to $400,000 homes. However, a major announcement in the next few months could go “hand-in-hand” with providing more affordable alternatives for residents.

“We can’t dictate a developer to build affordable housing,” Ruge said.

“They want to make every penny they can.”

Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said his city’s rise in population wasn’t unexpected. He said city leaders have understood for a long time “we’re an area prone to a lot of residential growth.”

“It has more to do with geography and positioning along Interstate 35,” Webster said.

Much like Buda, challenges in providing infrastructure and dealing with growing pains continue to come up.

Plans include expanding the city’s wastewater plant, which is a priority in the city’s 2018 budget discussions. The city has also had conversations for a second regional wastewater treatment plant to accommodate development on the southside.

Discussions have also included how to possibly finance such a project.

“We’re planning for the next one, which is the kind of thing that needs to be going on, and not for just the next five, six or ten years,” Webster said.

Webster said the most important thing the city needs is “diversified housing market.” He said the city is focusing on executive level housing.

“When people come in and start out … their families grow, and as they move up, they want to upsize,” Webster said.

“We want to have different levels of homes … so they don’t have to move out of town to do it.”

Haruna A.

Congrats 2017 Grads!

Future grads apply now.

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SUMMER FUN FOR EVERYONE JOIN THROUGH D N A 5 1 E N JU SAVE $48!

Continued from pg. 1

HOUSE COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 70

Designating Dripping Springs as the Official Wedding Capital of Texas for a 10-year period beginning in 2017- Passed and sent to the Governor.

HOUSE BILL 4301

Relating to the creation of the Driftwood Conservation District; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing the authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes. Passed and sent to the Governor.

HOUSE BILL 4309

Relating to the creation of the Driftwood Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes. Passed and sent to the Governor.

HOUSE BILL 1403

Relating to the prosecution of the offense of improper relationship between educator and student. Provisions included in SB 7, which has been signed into law.

Nickname: Pass the Trash.

HOUSE BILL 2540

Relating to the conversion of the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency to the Alliance Regional Water Authority; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent

domain; providing authority to impose fees.

Senate Companion (SB 1198) sent to Governor.

House Bill 2354- Relating to the use and allocation of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue in certain municipalities.

Passed as an amendment to HB 2445, which has been sent to the Governor.

HOUSE BILL 427

Relating to the Anthem Municipal Utility District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes. Passed and sent to the Governor.

HOUSE BILL 2737

Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Hays County. Included in Omnibus court bill, SB 1329, which has been sent to the Governor.

austincc.edu

See all your local news online at

Legislation: What bills passed?

Issac’s bills that passed in the 85th Texas Legislature regular session

Claire W.

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Page 12

News-Dispatch

Thursday, June 8, 2017

CONGRATULATIONS LADY TIGERS on your record-breaking season!

35 WINS

170 BASES STOLEN

4,600 PITCHES

367 HITS

ONE SEASON!

LADY TIGERS’ SEASON BY THE NUMBERS 35 Number of wins in 2017 – breaks the previous record of 33, which was set in 2008

.795 Tigers’ season win percentage

15-0 Tigers’ record at home in 2017

13-1 Tigers’ 2017 26-5A record

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

Dripping Springs Tiger senior Haley Odell (4) high fives teammates during pre game introductions in the team’s regional quarterfinal series against Austin High at Westlake High. See more photos from the Lady Tigers’ season at HaysNewsDispatch.com. Just follow the Photos link.

More than a team D

ripping Springs Tiger senior Lexi Poehl couldn’t help but crack a smile with teammates during a post-game ceremony following Friday’s state semifinal loss to the Willis Wildkats.

Yes, Poehl and the Tigers shed bittersweet tears as they received medals that signified the end of a season that finished two wins short of the school’s first-ever softball state championship.

Amid the disappointment, Poehl and the Tigers still kept smiling, kept cracking jokes, and kept the bond they had during one of the most successful runs in Dripping Springs softball history.

“We are a great team and we work so well together,” Poehl said. “I couldn’t be more proud of every single girl on this field.

They’re amazing and they have the best hearts and attitudes.”

Wade Womack, Dripping Springs head softball coach, said he wanted to help his team feel the exhilaration he experienced when he helmed the 2007 Medina Panthers to a state championship game.

For the first time since 2011, Dripping Springs came awfully close to making that a reality.

During the course of the 2017 campaign, Dripping Springs etched a program record 35-win season. The Tigers also secured the 26-5A district crown in dominant fashion, dropping only one game in district play.

The Tigers then navigated a challenging path through the

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

Under a ceremonial bat salute, Dripping Springs Tiger softball team manager Victoria Schupp (left) and senior outfielder Lexi Poehl lead the way during a community sendoff rally held at the Dripping Springs baseball and softball complex on May 31.

playoffs, which included three games against state ranked Austin High and Richmond Foster.

Womack, who has reached the state tournament three times in his career, also understands that sometimes, it just isn’t meant to be.

For the Tigers, running into a Willis team that had just a little bit more was the way the cookie crumbled.

“It’s always disappointing when you lose, especially on this stage,” Womack said. “But if we’re going to lose, you’d rather lose in the state tournament and not in the regional finals.”

Haley Odell, Dripping Springs senior first baseman, said she was proud of her teammates

and added that they “mean so much to me.” She said the team’s ability to stick together led to success on the field.

“We had the closest team I’ve ever been on. It’s the best team I’ve been on,” Odell said.

“If I could start the season over again, I would.”

Tiger senior pitcher Kiele Miller, who has been the backbone of the Tiger defense, said she was heartbroken following Friday’s defeat. It was the last game she was going to play with her teammates and her best friends.

But Miller, who will continue her softball career at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., never lost sight of the accomplishments she and her teammates

219

277

achieved. Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways are memories she forged with her teammates, who helped her grow during her four years in high school.

“We left our mark and that’s what we wanted. The whole idea is we wanted to be remembered,” Miller said. “We wanted our community to remember us.

We wanted to leave it all on the field, and I think we did. “ Poehl, who will attend Texas A&M on an academic basis only next year, said she was going to miss the atmosphere of the dugout the most.

“I’ve never met girls better than these girls. A team that’s clicked more, I’ve never seen one,” Poehl said. “We got along so well. There are no cliques on the team. We could all hang out with each other.”

Womack said he would miss his senior class, who were only freshman when he took over the program from the late Keith Tuck four years ago. Womack said the seniors are a “special group” that welcomed him in.

“We had a lot of great memories together. We had a great run last year,” Womack said. “I’m glad they got to experience what the state program is all about.”

Poehl lauded the support from many in the community based on their run to state.

“It’s amazing coming from a small town and looking up into the stands and being able to see people from our past state semifinal team come to see us, as well as friends and family,” Poehl said. “They traveled to come and support us, because it’s such an achievement.”

Love, Mom and Dad

.324 Team season batting average

17 Homeruns hit by the Tigers

8 Homeruns hit by Kiele Miller

170 Bases stolen by Tiger baserunners, a school record

57 Bases stolen by Camille Corona

.961 Team year fielding percentage

818 Put-outs by the Tiger defense

10 Double plays turned by Tigers

1.25 Combined team ERA by three Tiger pitchers

274 Total innings pitched by Tiger pitchers this season

374 Total strikeouts by Tiger pitchers

278 Strikeouts by Kiele Miller

Want to see more photos?

Browse and buy photos from the Lady Tiger softball season online at HaysNewsDispatch.com.

Great job Lady Tigers!

Congrats KIELE MILLER

#7

Total runs scored by Tigers

Way to go Lady Tigers!

On behalf of the Flores family...

CONGRATS LADY TIGERS!

Total plate appearances

by Tiger batters in 2017

Total RBIs accrued

by Tiger hitters

Lady Tigers build memories and friendships that won’t be forgotten

BY MOSES LEOS III

1,299

Just follow the Photos link.

#8 Congratulations on a great season Danielle, Riley and Paige!

Love, Your families

We love you!

Nana and Gramps

Paige Leschber