Tigers roar into summer practice
DS & Wimbo ISD make the grade
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Some birds always remain monogamous
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 45
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
A Travis County judge last week ruled approval of Dripping Springs ISD’s $132 million bond was legitimate, giving way for a plethora of new infrastructure improvements to begin in the near future. The ruling ends an organization’s litigation attempt to force a new bond election, claiming voters were disenfranchised.
Travis County Judge ruling ends a lawsuit against the school district, claiming voters were disenfranchised. The ruling allows $132 million in infrastructure improvements to begin in the near future.
The lawsuit was led by the Citizens for Excellent Education in Dripping Springs (CEEDS), an education activist organization that questioned the legitimacy of the May 5 election. Initial results showed the bond passed
by a slim 31 vote margin May 5. A recount was called for by CEEDS, with results showing the bond passing with 37 votes. CEEDS filed the lawsuit on July 18, citing that 51 qualified voters residing in Travis County were not
elected contest lawsuit and the district’s request for declaratory judgment. “We are pleased that today’s ruling means our school community will be able to move forward with a $132 million bond notified of the election, program that will beneand elected officials made fit every student in our no provision for them to district and do so without vote. raising the property tax Despite the initial rate,” said Bruce Gearing, recount and lawsuit, the Superintendent for the $132 million bond packDSISD. “More than 100 age will stand. The ruling also applies to both the DSISD BOND, 2
Blue party keeps pace with red party for green BY EXSAR ARGUELLO As the Nov. 6 midterm election looms, two Democratic candidates in state and national races that impact Hays County out-fundraised their Republican counterparts in the latest reporting period. So far in the race for Texas House District 21, Democrat Joseph Kopser raised $381,013.81 in the last quarter, which surpassed the $205,036.29 pulled in by Republican Chip Roy in the same timeframe, according to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) financial report. Ultimately, Kopser has roughly $364,000 in cash on hand at the end of the current reporting period, while Roy has roughly $239,000. Both are vying for a seat vacated by Lamar Smith, who in 2017 announced he was not running for reelection. District 21 services parts of the Buda and Kyle areas. The Texas Observer named the District 21 congressional election as one of the six major Texas elections to watch in November. In the race for the U.S. Congressional District 25 seat, political newcomer Julie
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75¢
Thursday, August 23, 2018
DSISD bond overcomes legal challenge BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
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Residents fight concrete plant near Henly BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Possible pollution issues are driving a handful of Henly residents to oppose construction of a concrete batch plant near the area. While residents pleaded with the Dripping Springs City Council Aug. 14 to support their cause, the location of the plant, which is outside of the city’s jurisdiction, left officials’ hands tied. Residents of the Silverado Estates subdivision in Henly took to the Aug. 14 meeting during the public comment period to express their opposition to the project.
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Welcome back, students!
County aims to fill third county court by October PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Julie Duos and another parent team up outside of Walnut Springs Elementary in Dripping Springs to take a photo of their children, who were preparing to enter the campus for the first full day of classes. Thousands of Dripping Springs ISD students were welcomed back to school Monday for the inaugural day of the 2018-2019 school year.
Advocate group pushes for no-kill animal shelter in San Marcos BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
An animal rights group is making waves locally by campaigning to greatly reduce euthanizations at the San Marcos animal shelter, a topic that’s starting to cause a divide between advocates and offiicals. Hays County Animal Advocates are a group of concerned citizens aiming to push the San
“They cannot treat the pets as disposable, it’s not a viable option. People need to know that these are options, it’s crazy that we wouldn’t make these changes. Perfectly adoptable animals are being destroyed.” –Kate Shaw, member of Hays County Animal Advocates
Marcos Regional Animal Shelter to becoming a no-kill facility; they hope to do so through increasing foster opportunities
and improved marketing. The first step is for the shelter is to declare a 90 percent live-outcome goal, or to have 90
BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD percent of pets that enter the shelter system be adopted out to families
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Amid growth, Hays County still lacks mental health providers BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD
As Hays County continues to grow, the number of providers who offer mental health care treatment in the area isn’t quite catching up. According to the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment released by the Seton Family of Hospitals, Hays County lags behind the national and state averages in the number of mental health care providers. According to the report, data from 2015 found that Hays County only has 86 providers per a 100,000 population, while the national average is 189 per 100,000. Caroline Hedenberg, a
Data from 2015 found that Hays County only has 86 providers per a 100,000 population, while the national average is 189 per 100,000.
collaborative care clinician with CARMAhealth in Austin and Dripping Springs, said that means some of the barriers potential patients seeking treatment face include distance and transportation. “I think that being in Texas in general, we’ve noticed there is a lack of services available,” Hedenberg said. “I know it’s been a low priority for
A third court would help relieve the two existing courts of an overwhelming caseload and would handle misdemeanors, civil lawsuits with amounts under $200,000 and probate cases such as wills, guardianship, mental health cases and the juvenile docket.
ment alone. “We like to equate it to physical health – If you were diagnosed with diabetes, would you just ignore it and not treat it? For some reason, people don’t view mental health care like that. That causes people to keep themour state, which is unfor- selves from seeking it tunate. A lot of people are out,” Hedenberg said. Luann Sandahl was in need of mental health the first counselor to see services but don’t know patients in Kyle when how to access it or face she opened shop almost barriers.” 12 years ago. Since then, A lingering stigma she says the conversation around mental health regarding mental health can keep people from seeking help, Hedenberg treatment has become more open and acceptsaid. If family members ing. and friends do not un“I came from Austin. derstand mental health, it can be difficult for a person to navigate treatMENTAL HEALTH, 2
Earlier this month, Hays County Commissioners kicked off the process to hire a judge for the recently created third court-atlaw earlier this month, with hopes to swear in a new judge by early October. Commissioners Aug. 7 unanimously approved to begin the search for a judge for the new court-at-law. A third court would help relieve the two existing courts of an overwhelming caseload, said David Glicker, Hays County Court-at-Law No. 2 Judge. The courts are general jurisdiction, which means judges hear criminal misdemeanors, civil lawsuits with amounts under $200,000 and probate cases such as wills, guardianship, mental health cases and the juvenile docket. The third court is a long time coming, Glicker said. The Hays County caseload increased by 71 percent from 2014 to 2017.
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