Tiger senior runs for success
DSISD Hires Director of Special Services
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Tiger XC Aims For State
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 42
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Names of victims in San Marcos apartment fire released STAFF REPORT
of Mount Pleasant, as victims in the fire. FrizFour of the five people zell, Ortiz and Estes were who had been reported all Texas State University missing following the students; all four victims July 20 San Marcos apart- lived in building 500 of ment fire have now been the Iconic Village Apartidentified as victims, ments, which was the according to a city of San most heavily damaged. Marcos press release. A fifth victim recovered As authorities continfrom the scene remains ue to comb through the unidentified pending rubble, an investigation DNA analysis, according involving multiple state to officials. and federal entities is The four victims were starting to ramp up. identified by the Travis On July 26, San Marcos County Medical Examinofficials identified Haley er’s office in conjunction Michele Frizzell, 19, of with Hays County Pct. 1.2 San Angelo, David Ortiz, Justice of the Peace Mag21, of Pasadena, Dru Esgie H. Moreno. tes, 20, of San Antonio, Belinda Moats, 22, of and James Miranda, 24, Big Wells, remains listed
Belinda Moats
Dru Estes
David Ortiz
as missing by authorities. More than 200 people were displaced by the fire, which heavily damaged the Iconic Village and Vintage Pads apartments, located near the Texas State campus. In a statement, Dr. Joanne Smith, Texas State vice president of student af-
Haley Michelle Frizzell
fairs, said a number of services were made available to students affected by the fire. Smith extended condolences to the families and friends of the victims, mirroring sentiments expressed earlier in the week from Texas State University President De-
James Miranda
nise Trauth “The support and comfort accorded to them and everyone affected, has come from the San Marcos community and hundreds of people like you who have donated funds to assist in their re-
FIRE VICTIMS, 2
Precaution is key in preventing fires officials say BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD In the wake of a San Marcos blaze that left five dead, area officials believe the best way for residents to protect themselves against fire is to take thoughtful precautions. That includes checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within a house or apartment to ensure they are operational, keeping their batteries fresh and maybe even investing in a fire extinguisher for home use. The number one thing Buda Fire Department recommends is installing a working smoke detector in all living areas of a residence, Chief Clay Huckaby said. “Obviously, because they detect smoke and go off and alert someone in the middle of the night to wake up,” he said. “When you have a fire, the carbon monoxide you inhale tends to put you further asleep,
FIRE PREVENTION, 2
PHOTO BY DAVE WILSON
Members of the North Hays County Fire Rescue work with a hose during a training session.
North Hays calendar turns down the heat, raises safety awareness BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
Provocative images displayed in a glossy format often comes to mind when one thinks of a firefighter calendar. However, Scott Collard, North Hays County
Fire Rescue Chief, felt there wasn’t a need to turn up the heat when his department opted to create a calendar earlier this year. Instead, the chance to raise money for a good cause, while also pro-
moting fire safety awareness, was the primary goal of the department’s inaugural calendar, which hit shelves and was hung in homes this week. “It’s not like that. That was everybody’s first
Six to interview for vacant DSISD school board seat SUBMITTED REPORT Six candidates have been selected to be interviewed by Dripping Springs ISD’s Board of Trustees later this month as they seek to fill a vacancy on the dais. On July 23, the DSISD board selected Kim Cousins, Joanna Day, Brent Gibbs, Marisa Grijalva, Andrew Hutton, and Kara Mayfield as possible successors of former board trustee Shelly Reeves’ unexpired term. Reeves stepped down from the dais in May due to health issues, according to district officials. Whoever is appointed will serve on the board until the term expires in May 2019.
The DSISD board selected Kim Cousins, Joanna Day, Brent Gibbs, Marisa Grijalva, Andrew Hutton, and Kara Mayfield as possible successors of former board trustee Shelly Reeves’ unexipired term. “The position is being filled through an application process, a common practice used by school boards throughout the state when a vacancy on the board occurs near the end of a term,” according to a DSISD press release. Between June 27 and July 16, 20 applications were submitted for consideration. On July 23, the DSISD Board of Trustees reviewed applications and, following
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discussion, selected six candidates for interviews. Interviews will be conducted on August 20 and August 23 in posted special meetings during closed session. Following conclusion of interviews on August 23, trustees will vote on the replacement trustee in open session. On August 27, the selected individual will be sworn in and be seated at the DSISD Board of Trustees regular meeting.
impression, but not the approach we wanted to take,” he said. “We wanted to make it community-oriented and something everybody could use.”
County approves $90,000 upgrade for voting equipment BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD Plans for a $90,000 upgrade election equipment could mean fewer lines for voters, more information on Election Day and less set up for poll workers, Hays County officials said. On July 24, Hays County Commissioners unanimously approved a technology upgrade from Tenex Software Solutions to help overhaul the system that checks in voters in at the polls on Election Day and during early voting. The new equipment will not tally votes, but will help bring the voter check-in process into the 21st century, said Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson. The upgrade will mean moving from cabled printers to a wireless system in which voters can fill out the same documents on iPads and have a small receipt with their signatures printed out for them. In the long run, using less paper will save the county money, Anderson said. It will take voters less time to sign in, save poll workers time setting up and decrease the weight of the equipment they carry. The new system will also improve live-reporting on Election Night, and feature more detailed information, Anderson said. The system, with the iPads, licensing and other equipment will cost about $90,000, Anderson said. It was requested in the 2019 budget, and is cheaper than updating the laptops currently used at polling places, she said. “I’m excited we’ve been able to make this purchase,” Anderson said. “I think voters will like it. I know poll workers will.”
FIRE RESCUE CALENDAR, 2
VOTING EQUIPMENT, 2
LAGNIAPPE Free Family Film Series at Sky Cinemas
Sky Cinemas in Belterra Village offers a free Family Film Series held every Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. until Aug. 15. The next film in the series, to be shown Aug. 8, will be the animated Monster House, followed by a showing of E.T. on Aug. 15. Tickets are limited and are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. More information can be found at skycinemas.com.
Book exchange at Dripping Springs Library
The chance to satisfy your inner bookworm will come Monday, Aug. 6-11 when the Dripping Springs Community Library hosts its Happy Book Lover’s Day book exchange.
LAGNIAPPE, 2