Archer brings home national title
Water, schools top public forum
World Cup fever in Hays Co.
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 39
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
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75¢ Thursday, July 12, 2018
Settlement reached in wastewater permit fight BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
Dripping Springs agreed to reduce its proposed After a legal campaign discharge limit to 822,500 and community outcry, the gallons per day (gpd). Origicity of Dripping Springs nally, the city had submithas reached a settlement ted an application with the with affected parties that Texas Commission on Enviwill change provisions to its ronmental Quality (TCEQ) wastewater permit. to expand its wastewater Per the settlement, which treatment system to a cawas finalized last week, pacity of 995,000 gpd.
In addition, Dripping Springs will avoid discharging treated effluent into Walnut Springs or Onion Creek until its wastewater treatment system surpasses a capacity of 399,000 gpd. Currently, Dripping Springs system is operating at a capacity of 80,000 gpd. However, Ginger Faught,
Dripping Springs deputy city administrator, said the city aims to avoid discharging as much as possible. Faught cited a 2017 agreement between the city and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) that spelled out parameters and contingencies that could allow
for possible discharge, if necessary. Dripping Springs also committed to establishing a utility commission that will work to achieve 100 percent beneficial reuse, according to a city press release. Groups that entered into the settlement agreement
Renewed focus on RR12 safety after rash of major accidents
WASTEWATER, 2
Kyle-ites indicted in major crime ring BY MOSES LEOS III
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Increasing safety concerns on a stretch of Ranch Road 12 between San Marcos and Dripping Springs is pushing Hays County authorities to take action. The move comes after a major crash killed five people June 19, while several others were seriously hurt in a separate multi-vehicle wreck that took place July 1. Those are two of the 568 crashes that have taken place along that stretch of RR 12 since 2013, according to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) data. So far in 2018, 46 wrecks have occurred on the roadway, according to TxDOT. Ray Helm, Hays County Pct. 3 Constable, said he is adding several deputies along RR12 to address safety concerns on the roadway. Although the addition of deputies might be a temporary solution, Helm said he hopes this will help drivers become cognizant of their speed. “The road is fine, we just have a lot of people traveling on Ranch Road 12,” Helm said. “We have lots of dangerous roads in Hays County, but I am afraid with all the issues of speed and distracted driving, it will get worse.” In 2006, the Hays County Commissioners’ Court approved a measure to widen the RR12 from San Marcos to the
were the Save Barton Creek Association (SBCA), Protect our Water (POW), Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD), Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD)
Bombs burst ing in air Area residents (L-R) Dana Figer, Andrew Figer, Ashley Figer Pointer, Lucas Pointer, Patrick Figer and Katy Figer take in a red bomb bursting in midair during the Fire in the Sky Fourth of July fireworks show held at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The show was one of a handful of July 4 events held across Hays County this Independence Day.
ARYAN CRIME RING, 5
PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III
PHOTO BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
RANCH ROAD 12, 5
Left: Uncle Sam shows off his red, white and blue while participating in the annual Wimberley Fourth of July parade. Above: A patriotic reveler at the Fire in the Sky fireworks show in Dripping Springs marvels at a sparkler prior to the main event July 4 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park.
IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE?
Families who need assistance can reach out to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center at 512-396-HELP (4357), or at www.hcwc.org. Mano Amiga can be reached by a call or text to their hotline, 512-7666854. For information on how to get involved with Mano Amiga, follow their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/ManoAmigaSM.
lence victims that think we report to law enforcement if they come to us. We don’t. They’re adults, they report if they make that decision,” Rodriguez said. Layer the undocumented status on top of that misperception, and HCWC staff constantly have to reassure clients they will not be reported to authorities for being undocumented, she said.
“Which is not something we’ve had to prove above and beyond in the past,” Rodriguez said. “Now, it’s a point staff feel compelled to make clear. It’s definitely more of a talking point now.” Even if families with undocumented members in Hays County have not been directly affected by forced separations at the border, current events have caused residents to be more
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
cautious of anyone they do not know, said community activist Karen Muñoz. Muñoz is the co-founder of a group called Mano Amiga that serves the immigrant communities in San Marcos and the surrounding areas, and provides educational resources for them and their families. “A lot of undocumented people are rightfully scared of institutions generally,” Muñoz said. “It’s easy to assume that agencies like the women’s center or Mano Amiga would report to police if you’re not on the inside of the group, but that’s not the case. It’s very difficult to commu-
LIVING IN FEAR, 2
UNDOCUMENTED, 2
Threat of losing family haunts undocumented residents In the wake of the forced separation of families along the Texas-Mexico border, groups serving undocumented residents of Hays County believe the news has left people scared and untrusting. It is hard to even guess how many Hays County residents are undocumented, said Melissa Rodriguez, director of community partnerships at the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC), as most organizations do not inquire about a client’s immigration status, to protect their privacy. “Just in general, there’s been a misperception among domestic vio-
Activists help with immigrant legal advice A team of three Wimberley residents are supporting undocumented residents living among them, an effort that extends to providing legal advice and help for those in the United States without proper documentation. Mary Gilroy, Mike Sullivan and Faith Hightower all share the goal of protecting those who have seeded roots in Wimberley. The initial effort came after Wimberley resident Victor Avendano-Ramirez was stopped on his way to work by Kyle Police. Avendano-Ramirez was eventually turned over to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. His daughter, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and graduate of Wimberley High, fought to protect her father and after a long battle, Avendano was released in February 2018. The group is currently working on consulting immigrants about their rights, along with educating them on due process and understanding the legal process in the United States. “What we do is aimed at helping these people receive the legal help that they have the right to,” Gilroy said. “These people are not criminals. They are members of this commu-
Living in fear BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
Two Kyle residents have been indicted in connection with a major 20-person crime ring that stole more than $765,000 LAWRENCE worth of heavy construction equipment over several years. An investigation into the theft ring, which BROWN involved 18 law enforcement agencies, confirmed the involvement of