July 28, 2021 News-Dispatch

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JULY 28, 2021 VAX CONCERN

FIRE FORECAST

Johnson & Johnson vaccine efficacy of delta variant in question.

Local emergency officials warn weather conditions bad for wildfires.

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News-Dispatch

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HaysNewsDispatch.com

Vol. 41 • No. 44

Serving Hays County, TX

Mental health center has plans for Dripping The new Dripping Springs Samaritan Center will provide therapy, as well as groups and workshops, to both children and adults of all ages and will offer its services to veterans as well.

BY ZOFIA REYES

health support. The group is currently working with Samaritan Center is a realtor to find a locaopening a facility in Drip- tion in central Dripping ping Springs in an attempt Springs. to aid a city in “great need So, after much discusof mental health services.” sion and a delay because Samaritan Center needs of the COVID-19 pandemto raise money and find ic, the Samaritan Center’s an office in Dripping plans are finally coming Springs after the commu- together. nity reached out to them “A meeting with about its need for mental community members

was scheduled in March 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic upon us, that meeting was canceled. We

continued conversation with the Dripping Springs community and DSISD, and became a referral

source, using telehealth services. We are currently providing a virtual socialization group for middle school students. Samaritan Center has also offered to pilot a screening and referral program for the school district, which is currently being reviewed by school personnel,” said officials from Samaritan Center.

The new Dripping Springs Samaritan Center will provide therapy, as well as groups and workshops, to both children and adults of all ages and will offer their services to veterans as well. Its goal is to have an integrative medicine provider for resources such as acupunc-

MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY, 8

DSISD COVID protocols concern some parents BY BRITTANY ANDERSON More than a dozen passionate parents and students spoke out about COVID-19 and the upcoming school year during the Dripping Springs ISD school board meeting on July 26. No final decision was made by the board and the issue will be taken

up next month. While some speakers were satisfied with the board’s safety protocols for the 2021-2022 school year, others were not and called for revisions. Amy Ezell, a parent and teacher, said that she appreciates the mask choice freedom COURTESY PHOTO

COVID PROTOCOLS, 8

Owner of Blu J Construction, Jon Bledsoe got financial support from the community to build a ramp for a neighbor in need and in one day, he and his 14-year-old son, JJ, finished the ramp.

Help was on the way

Local family making a difference

Vecinos:

BY SAHAR CHMAIS

Love Thy Neighbor Local movie premieres in Hays County BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON

scenes. But the characters on screen spoke from the heart, hauling Lehman High’s Maaudience members into riachi Band was just a the scenes, where they precursor; the students looked at the lives of two set the mood for an families who become evening that included a neighbors. lot of laughs. Their lives entertwine, And some tears. and love and troubles The movie, “Vecinos: Love Thy Neighbor,” was follow. Vecinos is Alex Avila’s having a premiere showfirst feature film and his ing in the Carrington Friday night. And locals second as a producer. who know the Buda area VECINOS, 8 recognized a lot of the

Getting in and out of her trailer home was becoming a near-impossible mission; for 10 months, Debbe Purcell would have to crawl in and out of her home when she needed to leave due to severe knee problems. “In October, I hurt my knee and I had been scooting across the floor and would use crutches to go in and out of my trailer,” Purcell said. “I reached out on the Love Thy Neighbor [Facebook page] to see if someone can help. [Jon Bledsoe] and his wife, Lisa, are my Facebook angels.” Bledsoe, owner of Blu J Construction, created a Facebook page months ago to connect neighbors together in Dripping Springs. One day, he ran across Purcell’s call for help. He saw that she was struggling to get in and out of her home,

“It’s not something I ever planned to become or do; it’s in my heart and trying to teach my son and daughter, to when you can, if somebody needs help, then you help them.” –Jon Bledsoe, neighbor who answered the call of a woman in need

so he decided to build her a ramp. Bledsoe got financial support from the community and in one day, he and his 14-year-old son, JJ, finished the ramp. “It started raining,” Purcell recalled their kind act, “but it didn’t stop them. They pulled out a canopy shade and they worked under that.” When Purcell spoke of their deed, she began choking up on her tears and said she still cries thinking about it. She gave

Jon and his son a huge hug when they drove up to her house, overwhelmed with gratitude. This is not Bledsoe’s first act of kindness; he has been going out to help people who need it for a long time. He has gone out with some friends to help a woman who had a broken hip who was stuck at home. He has donated blankets and heaters and more. Bledsoe has been teaching his son in the ways of giving back to the commu-

State reps plea for school COVID safety

Coming Up

BY SAHAR CHMAIS DSHS ORIENTATION AND OPEN HOUSE COMING UP LIKE GOATS?

Get to know the goats at Jester King Brewery. From 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, get ready for a hands-on engagement with the brewery’s goat handlers and meet the family of more than 40 Nigerian Dwarf goats in the Goat Pen.

COSTCO COMING

CostCo coming to Kyle and other growth announcements.

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nity and the importance of being there for others. “It makes me feel proud and I know he’s a really good person,” said Bledsoe’s son about his father, “that’s all I can say. Nothing but happiness.” In addition to giving support to community members who need it, Bledsoe also tries to help through his business by donating and offering deals to people who need handyman work done but cannot afford it. “A lot of people tend to look to me as a leader in a way sometimes to get the ball rolling,” Bledsoe said about how he helps those around him. “It’s not something I ever planned to become or do; it’s in my heart and trying to teach my son and daughter, to when you can, if somebody needs help, then you help them.”

Dripping Springs High School freshman/new student orientation will be held from 3-5 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. in two sessions on Aug. 10. The following day, DSHS will hold its Open House/ Meet the Teacher session from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Aug. 11.

State representatives are urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, to provide more options for schools and students for COVID-19 safety measures. So far, 32 state representatives have

The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323

signed Rep. Vikki Goodwin’s letter to the governor and commissioner. In the letter, Goodwin states that virtual instruction should be an option for students who are at higher risk for contracting the virus. This concern comes after an overall surge in

COVID SAFETY, 8


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