Brothers in the backfield
The status of birds
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Free rides by CARTS
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 38
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢ Thursday, June 28, 2018
Lawsuit against DSISD bonds heading to court BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
Despite a recount for the Dripping Springs Independent School District’s (DSISD) $132 million bond, the Citizens for Excellent Education in Dripping Springs (CEEDS) is back and filing a lawsuit against the
school district. The organization is filing a formal election contest at the Hays County District Court, alleging that the results of the May 5 election and recount for the DSISD bond package were not correct, based on the disenfranchisement of
dozens of voters due to mistakes in the administration of the election, according to a press release from the organization. The organization claims that 51 qualified voters residing in Travis County were not notified of the election, and elect-
ed officials made no provision for them to vote. However, CEEDS did not specify if these Travis County voters would have voted against the bond, which would, in turn, flip the result of the election. “These violations made it impossible to en-
sure that every ballot was present and that every vote was properly counted,” the press release stated. “The recount also brought to light new and alarming facts regarding the misadministration of the May 5 election.” Additionally, the organization says that
Rodeo Royalty
PHOTOS BY DENAE LEE
dozens of Hays County voters were assigned to the wrong school district and received voter registration cards that were printed with an incorrect school district listed. At the June 25 DISD board of trustees meet-
BOND LAWSUIT, 2
Aqua Texas may serve Wimberley despite opposition BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
2018
Rylee Kirkey Queen’s Court Rayne Mendez Princess
Caitlyn Alderson Queen
Rebeca Alba Queen’s Court Allee Kirkey Princess
Queen, court announced for Dripping Springs Fair and Rodeo SUBMITTED REPORT
The 2018 DSFR Queen Caitlyn Alderson is a high school student and Five area girls have very active in Dripping been selected to repreSprings FFA and 4-H sent the 2018 Dripping Club. Serious about her Springs Fair and Rodeo (DSFR) at the upcoming studies and future career July 27-29th event. Orga- goals, she is a member of the National Honor nizers have announced that Caitlyn Alderson will Society. Alderson says she enjoys hiking, sand reign as the 2018 DSFR volleyball, livestock Queen. Alderson will judging, and showing be joined by a Queen’s goats and pigs. After high Court including Rylee school, she is hoping to Kirkey and Rebeca Alba. attend Texas A&M and The princesses will be Rayne Mendez and Allee study Animal Science. Kirkey. The scoring was based RYLEE KIRKEY on an application and High school student interview process. Appli- Rylee Kirkey has particcants for the Queen and ipated and volunteered Queen’s Court had to be countless hours of her high school students and time with the FFA, 4-H the princesses had to be Club, and Ag Boosters. middle school students. She is also a member of All candidates were reher school’s Color Guard, quired to be a member of works part-time with 4-H Club or FFA Club in children, and enjoys Hays County. showing livestock. After graduation, Rylee says CAITLYN ALDERSON
she will begin her studies at Austin Community College and then ultimately plans to transfer to University of North Texas to study Accounting.
REBECCA ALBA Rebecca Alba is a high school student and actively involved in FFA and Girl Scouts. She works part-time at a local eatery, enjoys art and especially drawing, and loves showing steers. Alba’s future plans include going to college and studying marine biology.
school student, Kirkey enjoys hunting, fishing, riding ATVs, showing goats and making new friends. Her future plans are to begin her college studies at Blinn College and then transfer to Texas A&M for a career in Agriculture.
RAYNE MENDEZ
Rayne Mendez is a middle school student and actively involved in Dripping Springs 4-H Club, Hays County 4-H Shooting Sports, Dripping Springs Tiger Splash Swim Team, Basketball Club, and Band. Rayne has been recognized by Duke University Talent ALLEE KIRKEY Identification Program Allee Kirkey has donat- for her academic pered hundreds of volunteer formance. She won hours to DS Ag Boosters, Grand Reserve in Junior 4-H, FFA, Hill Country Photography at the 2017 Care, and the Dr. Joseph Hays County Livestock Historical Farmstead Show and Expo last year. Aside from excelling in Museum. A middle
school, Rayne is a farm sitter that cares for pigs, goats, ducks, chickens and pets. Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in Dripping Springs’ western heritage and Dripping Springs Ag Boosters’ charitable mission to assist FFA and 4-H area students should contact the Dripping Springs City Hall at 512858-4725 or go online to www.drippingspringsfairandrodeo.com for more information. ABOUT DSFR – The 7th Annual DSFR, July 27-29th at Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center, will include rodeo action, live entertainment, a steer show, a Mutton Bustin’ Shootout, free Cowboy Breakfast, kids activities, good food and drinks and family fun.
A Wimberley teenager has created a petition asking Hays County Judge candidate Will Conley to withdraw his support of the National Rifle Association, an appeal Conley says is an attempt by his opponents to distract voters. In early June, Wimberley High School junior Gabi Perez started a Change.org petition calling for Conley to disassociate from the NRA, writing in the description that “students in Hays County are terrified to go to school.” A press conference was held on the grounds of the Hays County Courthouse in San Marcos
“My honest opinion is this is a desperate ploy from my opponents to try to distract citizens from the real issues of the county.” –Will Conley, Hays County Judge candidate
June 8 to announce the petition. The petition description asks that Conley refuse any donations from the group and remove all “supportive” mentions from his campaign website. While only naming Conley specifically, it also asks that all candidates running for office in Hays County do
the same. However, Conley said he has never received donations from the NRA. “My honest opinion is this is a desperate ploy from my opponents to try to distract citizens from the real issues of the county,” Conley said in an email. Perez did not make
AQUA TEXAS 2
New PEC board announced STAFF REPORT
herself available for comment. In the spring, she and other students reached out to Jordan Buckley, who has been involved in media-outreach for local progressive causes. He helped the students publicize the petition and walkout, when they organized an anti-gun violence protests, one of many held at high schools nationwide in March. “(The) NRA is a repugnant lobby that makes our schools (and) neighborhoods less safe by fiercely fighting common-sense reform (and) I fervently believe Conley, or any other lo-
Voters in Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s districts 1, 6, and 7 elected directors in this year’s annual election. The results were announced at the conclusion of the cooperative’s June 23 annual meeting. District 1 elected Milton Rister to serve as its board director. Rister replaces former director Cristi Clement, who served District 1 for nine years. District 6 re-elected Paul Graf to continue representing them. Graf has served the cooperative for three years. District 7 re-elected incumbent Amy Lea SJ Akers to represent their cooperative interests. Akers has also served the cooperative for three years. In addition to board elections, members celebrated PEC’s 80th anniversary, enjoyed family-friendly activities and received a cooperative update from CEO Julie Parsley and Board President Emily Pataki. “Since I arrived at the cooperative six months ago, I have learned what the cooperative difference really means,” Parsley said. “The cooperative difference is shown at PEC in many different ways, but it’s primarily shown through our com-
CONLEY PETITION, 2
NEW PEC BOARD, 2
Conley says anti-NRA petition by Wimberley teen a ‘desperate ploy’ BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
Water and wastewater provider Aqua Texas, which provides a wastewater plant and water utility lines to more than 2,000 people in the Wimberley Valley, is seeking a new partnership with Wimberley. Despite protests from some residents, Bob Laughman, president of Aqua Texas, said his company is committed to helping the city of Wimberley. To help build the city’s downtown even more through tourism and business, the city of Wimberley wants to get off its septic system, which has hindered growth from businesses for years.