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Vol. 42 • No. 49

Serving Hays County, TX

Texas Rangers TEA releases accountability ratings investigate incustody death Texas Education Agency

EDUCATION NEWS

BY MEGAN WEHRING

HAYS COUNTY – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its accountability ratings for school districts and campuses across the state – this is the first time since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year showed that 25% of districts and 33% of campuses improved their letter grade compared to data from 2019 – and 18% of high-poverty campuses in the state were rated an A (the highest accountability rating on the scale).

“These results show our state’s significant investment in the postpandemic academic recovery of Texas public school students is bearing fruit,” said Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner, in a news release. “I’m grateful for the driving force behind this year’s success: our teachers and local school leaders.

Statewide policy in Texas continues to remain focused on meeting the needs of students, with an accountability system that supports high expectations, robust tutoring supports, rigorous curricular resources, and an investment in evidencebased training for our teachers.”

Established by House Bill 22 during the 85th Texas Legislature, the A–F accountability system provides educators, parents, and communities with a transparent view of the academic performance of Texas public schools based on three domains: Student

accountability ratings

93 (A)

91

87

(A)

(B)

Dripping Springs ISD

Wimberley ISD

Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps.

points), Dripping Springs Middle School (89 out of 100 points) and Dripping Springs High School (89 out of 100 points) were among 46% of schools that earned a B rating.

Both Cypress Springs Elementary and Rooster Springs Elementary also earned distinction designations for exceptional achievement in Comparative Closing the Gaps for scoring in the top 25% within their campus comparison group.

Dripping Springs ISD Dripping Springs ISD was one of 396 districts (33%) in the state to receive an A rating with a numerical score of 93 out of 100.

Five of DSISD’s eight campuses also earned A ratings, compared to just two schools in 2019: Cypress Springs Elementary, Rooster Springs Elementary, Sycamore Springs Elementary, Walnut Springs Elementary and Sycamore Springs Middle School.

Dripping Springs Elementary (87 out of 100

Wimberley ISD Wimberley ISD also received an overall A rating, with a score of 91 out of 100 – which is just one number lower than

Hays CISD

the 2019 data.

Danforth Junior High School (86 out of 100 points) and Wimberley High School (89 out of 100 points) earned B ratings, while Blue Hole Primary (79 out of 100 points) and Jacob’s Well Elementary (89 out of 100 points) earned C ratings.

Out of 100 points total, student achievement was scored 92; school progress was 82; and closing the gaps was 87.

Hays CISD Hays CISD received an overall B rating with a numerical score of 87 out of 100 – the district also received a B in 2019 with a numerical score of 84 out of 100.

HAYS COUNTY — A medical emergency was called for an inmate incarcerated at the Hays County Jail on Aug. 16 at approximately 4:58 p.m.

The inmate, identified as James Warren Knight, 41, from Dripping Springs, was seen by jail medical staff and was then transported to a local area hospital.

Hospital staff began treatment on Knight, but despite their efforts, Knight was pronounced dead on Aug. 17 at 5:59 a.m.

The preliminary investigation does not indicate any foul play; however, the autopsy results are pending, according to a news release.

Knight was in custody for multiple charges out of Hays County to include Resisting Arrest/ Search or Transport – Class A misdemeanor, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon – Class A misdemeanor, Criminal Mischief –

James Warren Knight Class B misdemeanor, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 2nddegree Felony, Violation of Protective Order – Class A misdemeanor, Tampering with ID Number – Class A misdemeanor and a charge out of Austin Police Department for Possession of Child Pornography – 3rddegree Felony.

The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident and any further questions will need to be directed to the Department of Public Safety.

EDUCATION

DSISD looks to add SRO

See TEA, page 12

Celebrating 100 years

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Bill Cordes, a WWII veteran and resident of Alexis Pointe in Wimberley, will soon be celebrating his 100th birthday. He will be having a 1940s-themed party from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 14390 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley.

BUDA APPROVES LICENSE PLATE READERS – PAGE 9

STAFF REPORT

BY MEGAN WEHRING

Superintendent Holly Morris-Kuentz at the agenda review meeting DRIPPING SPRINGS on Aug. 22. “We will – Dripping Springs have an updated MOU ISD is aiming to add from there where we an additional school are making changes to resource officer (SRO). our assignments and On Monday, Aug. 29, the Dripping Springs ISD alignment. So, working with the sheriff ’s office to board of trustees will use our fourth SRO to be consider the approval able to cover our other of an SRO memo of campuses.” understanding (with the The MOU is a splitHays County Sheriff ’s funded position.

Office for an additional “The county is picking officer – the district has up part of the cost to help had three SROs total us with that through one since 2019. of their grants,” MorrisOne more SRO will Kuentz added. “It’s a enable the two assigned little bit different from to Dripping Springs our other ones but they Middle School and Sycamore Springs Middle will loop it in when we do the next MOU that covers School to provide law all of them.” enforcement services to The DSISD Board of the elementary schools Trustees will meet again in the district. on Monday, Aug. 29 at 6 “This is a temporary p.m. in the Central Office MOU adding an Board Room located at additional officer,” said 510 W. Mercer St.

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.

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Page 2

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

KYLE

Kyle council approves 20% general wage increase

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN KYLE — Kyle city hall welcomed a full house on Aug. 16 where council approved several agenda items including unanimously approving an amendment to the proposed FY 22-23 budget that includes a 20% general wage increase, a $500 per month car allowance for department heads and a $1,000 HSA card for every city employee.

Acting city manager.

Jerry Hendrix presented three different plans to council – gold, platinum and titanium.

Features of the gold plan were a 10% general wage increase, a $500 monthly car allowance for all department heads and a $500 preloaded health savings debit card for all city employees.

The gold plan would have approximately $314,000 to the annual budget. The platinum plan included the same car allowance and health savings account. This plan had a 15% general wage increase as opposed to 10%. The platinum plan would add about $878,000 to the annual budget.

The approved titanium plan will add approximately $1.6 million to the annual budget.

“These plans are designed to really tell, not only the staff that we have that we value them and we want you to stay here and continue doing a great job that you’re doing, but we want to tell the rest of the world that Kyle cares about recruiting quality staff and we’re willing to go above and beyond to recruit them,” Hendrix said.

The council also approved an amended ordinance to rezone approximately 15 acres of land.

The 15.542-acre property will be rezoned from Retail Service District to Planned Unit District – Mixed Used District located at 58539 Kyle Parkway.

The council members listened to an extensive presentation by Vice President of Wexford Real Estate Investors, Travis Donnell. He said they made it a priority to learn about Kyle and residents' wants and needs.

According to BGK’s Architects Downtown Survey, Kyle residents want family-friendly places with interactive infrastructure for kids, small, local unique businesses, unique restaurants with outdoor seating,

walkable streetscapes and “Instagram-able” moments. Donnell’s presentation included several different sight plans and preliminary renderings.

The project's five benefits to Kyle include being a privately funded community and park expansion of the Vybe Trail Network, five to 10 small and medium-sized business opportunities, superior and differentiated apartments, a new traffic signal to reduce traffic and immediate long-term financial benefit to the city, Hays CISD and the county.

“We expect our project will generate at stabilization when it’s open and running and filled up for approximately $1.7 million in growing annuity,” Donnell said.

“I think you did an excellent job of taking everyone’s feedback and really transitioning this into a project we can say ‘yes’ to,” council member Ashlee Bradshaw said.

Donnell will give a second reading on the zoning on Oct. 8.

The city council also received a recommendation from the Council Compensation Committee to keep the city mayor and city council’s monthly compensation at current levels. Currently, the

mayor gets $1,300 per month ($15,600 annually) and city council members each receive $1,000 per month ($12,000 annually.

The compensation committee also voted to keep using the mileage reimbursement for business use of personal vehicle, which includes reporting miles driven, business purpose and what place was traveled to and from.

“It was my understanding that hasn’t been used very much because people think that’s a cumbersome process; we thought, as a committee, perhaps the city could look into ways to make that a little easier to report,” said Rose Burke, council compensation committee chairperson.

The committee also recommended that the city council look into VoIP (Voiceover Internet Protocol) opportunities.

According to Burke, the city’s Director of Finance Perwez Moheet made a strong case for increasing council compensation; however, after the committee voted, there was another discussion regarding the merits of treating city council work as a full-time job. Burke said that at this time, the consensus was to wait another three years, and then maybe “the city of

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Kyle City Council amended an ordinance to rezone approximately over 15 acres of land located at Kyle Parkway.

Kyle would be ready for such a change.”

“It’s hard, you know, we just have our interpretations of what we see people doing, which council members are doing what, we’re only guessing who puts more time in, who puts less time in,” Burke said.

Mayor Travis Mitchell said he would have liked to see some

consideration for an increase in compensation and was disappointed that the committee did not consider things like inflation.

Council member Daniela Parsley said that the position is not just two meetings a month but requires a lot of reading and a lot of learning.

See CITY, page 6

KYLE

City Council OKs $294.36M road bond VISITBUDA.COM

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN KYLE —A $294.36 million road bond is in the cards for the second time since 2013 in the city of Kyle.

The Kyle City Council held a special meeting on Monday, where the bond was approved by a 4-1 vote.

Council members Michael Tobias, Daniela Parsley, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Rizo and Mayor Travis Mitchell voted in affirmation and Yvonne Flores-Cale was the

dissenting vote – council member Ashlee Bradshaw was not in attendance.

The bond called for about 10 miles of new reconstructed or widened road projects throughout Kyle to improve the city’s transportation network.

Five roadway projects were proposed on the east side of Kyle, which will cost over $228 million, and three roadway projects on the west side, which will cost $63 million, according to a

HOLIDAY DEADLINES Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch advertising deadlines have been adjusted.

Our office will be closed Monday, September 5th in observance of Labor Day.

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presentation by Jeff Barton, co-founding partner of Gap Strategies.

Barton added that the engineering team looked at potential projects and congested roadways where the city identified major needs.

After two city council workshops (which were open to the public), the initial bond package, which was initially $400 million, was cut down to $294.36 million.

“I’m really proud of the process that we went through so that we didn’t make the mistakes that may have been made in 2013,” Mitchell said.

However, FloresCale voiced many of her concerns about various aspects of the proposed infrastructure projects including flood plains, building on other people’s property and the roundabout located at Bunton Creek and Lehman Rd. “What I don’t want is a town of 60,000 people voting without knowing that they may have to remove somebody’s home and in the event that that’s the case, it is not our legal responsibility, but it is the city’s moral duty to inform those people,” Flores-Cale said. I want to make sure that the people aren’t affected because, in five years, we could have a completely different council that has different ideas.”

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attorney, the city council cannot use public resources or public funds to engage in political advertising.

However, outside of public resources, city council members can advocate as a citizen for a position on the bond.

Rachel Sonnier, director of communications, proposed three different open house dates with pros and cons. The first option was a virtual open house Oct. 3 through Oct. 9 and an in-person open house at City Hall on Oct. 6. The pros were that the city council could use the open house during National Night Out held on Oct. 4 and during the Founders’ Parade on Oct. 8 to educate voters on the bond and register residents to vote before the Oct. 11 deadline. However, the Texas Municipal League Conference is scheduled for Oct. 5 through Oct. 7.

The second option Sonnier proposed was a virtual open house from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16 and an in-person open house at City Hall on Oct. 13. This would allow the city council to provide voters with information before they head for the polls, but the voter registration deadline would have already passed.

The third option was to hold a virtual open house from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 and an in-person open house at City Hall on Sept. 29.

Two pros included getting information to voters early and possibly using the open house to register residents to vote before the Oct. 11 deadline.

After bouncing ideas off of one another, the council decided to have an open house on Oct. 1 at City Hall to give Kyle residents the opportunity to see the maps of potential future road projects and ask questions.

Residents interested in learning more can go to Kylebonds.com to find a map, FAQs and voting information.

City residents will have the chance to vote for the bond in the Nov. 8 election.

Early voting begins on Oct. 24.

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

Page 3

Opinion Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch • August 24, 2022

Page 4

Newspaperman writes best-seller in spare time

BY BARTEE HAILE On Aug. 28, 1959 a book reviewer had nothing but the highest praise for a newspaperman’s first novel: “It may be a long time before a better one comes along.”

Allen Stuart Drury was born in Houston during the First World War and grew up in a small California town. After earning a degree in journalism from Stanford, the cub reporter’s first job was on a weekly paper, where in 1940 he won a national award for editorial writing.

Following military service in World War II, Drury moved to Washington, D.C. During the next decade, he covered Capitol Hill for United Press, Pathfinder Magazine and the Washington Evening Star before joining the Washington bureau of the New York Times in 1954.

For seven long years, Drury worked in secret on an epic tale. Then one day in 1958 he shoved a cardboard box containing the first draft into the

Texas History

by Bartee Haile

hands of a fellow Times staffer with the modest announcement “I’ve written a novel.”

“I groaned silently,” Russell Baker remembered many years later. “I took it home, ate, fixed a drink, sat down and with a heavy heart reached into this box for a fistful of manuscript.

Good Lord! You couldn’t put the thing down!”

The newspaperman took readers on a 616-page magical mystery tour of Cold War Washington giving them a behindthe-scenes look at politics in the raw. For his title he borrowed a phrase from a sentence in the Constitution: “The Senate shall advise and consent to the president’s nominations to the cabinet.”

Unlike other novels with a Washington setting written before and since, Advise and Consent

was not a fictionalized version of actual events.

Drury, who took life and politics quite seriously, used a plausible plot and believable characters to explore issues with staying power and to put human nature under the microscope.

Here’s Advise and Consent in a nutshell: The president nominates Robert A. Leffingwell, a polished but arrogant liberal, as secretary of state much to the dismay of an old southern senator from the conservative wing of his own party. Convinced Leffingwell is soft on the Soviets, if not a subversive himself, Sen. Seabright Cooley moves heaven and earth to block his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

When Brigham Anderson, an idealistic young senator from Utah, makes up his mind to cast the decisive vote against Leffingwell, a columnist digs up a hidden homosexual encounter from his past. Anderson cannot live with the scandal and commits suicide.

Drury did not let his high opinion of the senate as an institution stand in the way of exposing cynicism in the cloakroom.

In a revealing exchange that pulls back the curtain, the majority leader tells the head of the opposition, “I’ll have to give the papers a statement charging an unprincipled, underhanded coalition against the people’s interests, you know.” “Go ahead,” the second senator says with a shrug. “We’ve all survived that one before.”

Like a man who still eats sausage after seeing it made, Drury loved Washington warts and all.

“It is a city of temporaries, a city of just-arriveds and only-visitings, built on the shifting sands of politics, filled with people passing through. They go home... but hurry back to their lodestones and their star, their self-hypnotized, self-mesmerized, selfenamored, self-propelling, wonderful city they cannot live away from or live without.”

The phenomenal success

of Advise and Consent was due in part to perfect timing because it happened to hit bookstores during the presidential campaign of 1960, which revived public interest in the political process. A priceless piece of free publicity was a photograph of candidates Kennedy and Nixon looking at a copy together.

Advise and Consent stayed on the New York Times best-seller list for a record 102 weeks and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. It was made into a Broadway play and a motion picture directed by Otto Preminger starring Henry Fonda as Leffingwell, Charles Laughton as Sen. Cooley and Don Murray as Sen. Anderson.

Drury quit The Times and never worked another day for a newspaper.

He became political correspondent for Reader’s Digest, a high-profile position that provided a steady income, and went right to work on his next novel.

In 1964 Drury bought a house with a breathtaking

view of San Francisco Bay. The early riser wrote in the mornings and spent his afternoons researching and editing.

A bachelor who lived alone his entire life, Drury put a premium on privacy.

According to a nephew, one of the few people ever to get close to him, “Quality time with Al meant you read your book while he read his.”

Allan Drury wrote 18 more novels as well five works of nonfiction on subjects as wide ranging as ancient Egypt and the Nixon White House. But none compared to his first book. In 1995, three years before the author died on his 80th birthday, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich included Advise and Consent on a must-read list for new Republican congressmen.

Bartee welcomes your comments and questions at HYPERLINK "mailto:barteehaile@gmail. com" barteehaile@gmail. com or P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393 and invites you to visit his web site barteehaile.com.

Home Country: It's not a good day for Windy

BY SLIM RANDLES

Hi there, Pard. Yep, it’s me, Alphonse Wilson, the one they call Windy. But this ain’t pertickler a good day for ol’ Windy. Fact-amatter is, if I was to study how to do that depression stuff? This’d be a good day to start.

Ya see, it’s what’s called an annual-versary of a sad time fer me, and I thought I might repercussion it to you today, so’s mebbe you won’t have to have your heart broke, neither.

It was the flat-out tail end of love, ya see. After

all them months together, too. Hey, I allus figgered we’d be together for … well, life. Oh we had good times. Watchin’ stuff on the teevee, ridin’ ‘round in the pick-em-up truck. Visitin’ with friends. You know what I mean.

Ever’ year on this annual versary, I wonder if mebbe

I weren’t supposed to be happy in a love sitiation, ya know? I mean, what if some folks jest ain’t got the right smile or somethin’ to keep her around.

I tried, howsomever.

Really tried hard. Read up a book on it, even, you know, when she started to sull on me? What I’m s’posed to do

to keep her lovin’ me. What things I can say to her to get her outta a sull like that.

But none a-that worked.

Nothin’. It’s like she jest didn’t care no more, ya know? Ever had a happenstance like that there? Ain’t no pic-a-nic, I can lambastical guarantee ya.

And ever’ year on this here annual versary, I cain’t help but see that last goodbye all over again, ya might call it a finality farewell, but a-course you don’t hafta call it nothin’ if you don’t want. But I can recomember it all, from the look in her eyes until she rode off with that

stranger, not even lookin’ back. Not even one single look back after all them months together.

I sure do miss that dog.

And you can tell ‘em I said so.

If you agree with Windy, please consider volunteering your time at your local animal shelter.

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Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

Page 5

COMMUNITY BUILDER

ELECTION SEASON

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

voting locations

Masonic Lodge honors Buda Fire Chief County discusses BUDA — A local community hero was recently recognized for his nearly 30 years of service in Buda.

Buda Masonic Lodge #800 honored Clay Huckaby, Buda Fire Chief, on Aug. 15 with the Community Builder Award, the highest Masonic Lodge award given to a nonMason.

Jim Hollis, past Lodge master, explained that the award is for someone who has done something worthy in their community, whether because it is their job or they just love doing it.

“It’s not something they have to do. People get a reward for what they do and the time and effort they spend,” Hollis said.

“God knows that Huckaby has been involved here [in Buda]. If anybody has brought anything to the community, it’s certainly him,” adding that the Lodge looks to award those who bring something to the community rather than take from it.

Huckaby has proven to be a “very worthy candidate” of the award, said past Lodge master Bert Bronaugh. Huckaby is currently in his 29th year of being involved with the Buda Fire Department, first joining in 1993 as a volunteer and working his way up to captain and assistant fire chief before

becoming fire chief in 2003.

Bronaugh said that under Huckaby’s leadership, the department has grown from what was a volunteer organization to operating three fully staffed, 24hour stations. He has helped facilitate over $1.5 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security, which has helped with additional staffing and equipment.

Huckaby has also worked on the state level, helping to develop and pass new legislation, testifying before House committees at the State Capitol and remaining a strong voice for the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.

“This is one very important aspect for all fire departments and emergency service districts right now — where funding comes from, and how they are allowed to gather funding and address the needs of the community,” Bronaugh said.

This also isn’t the first time Huckaby’s efforts have been recognized.

In 2009, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, he was named Fire Chief of the Year by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, and in 2011, he was one of the International Association of Fire Chief’s top 10 career chiefs in the nation.

Current Lodge master James Russell presented Huckaby with the Community Builder Award

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

of our elections. We are extremely interested in having secure elections, HAYS COUNTY just as the speakers who –The Hays County come to court here. There commissioners were may be differences of briefed on the county’s opinion in law and how voting locations on that law is implemented.

Tuesday.

I’m happy to talk with Hays County will have anybody who comes 14 polling locations for and wants to comment early voting and 40 for in commissioners court Election Day, according to about what we are doing Elections Administrator here, the legalities of it Jennifer Doinoff (formerly and what our stance is on Anderson). Voters can that.” report to any of the However, resident Mary locations, no matter what Mitchell, who has worked precinct they reside in. the polls in the county for “I know that we’ve gone over ten years has doubts. through a lot of great “I, and many other work to build trust in our people I visit with, have process; I know we have lost faith in our election as a county, I’ve seen it process, and many more literally firsthand, front people each day are row,” Judge Ruben Becerra opening their eyes to commented. the growing evidence of Doinoff explained that corruption being exposed her staff has listened to in many counties here in the concerns of residents Texas all over,” Mitchell and continued to work on said during the citizen the process. comment period.

“Our voting system Mitchell had hoped to and processes, we have hear from the election been working on them office acknowledging every single time we come the need for sequentially to court,” Doinoff said. numbered ballots printed “We hear comments, on secure paper, per we see what the public the Texas Election code wants [and] we work to 52.062, with the judge’s build those processes to See ELECTION, page 6 strengthen the security

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

From left, past Lodge Master Jim Hollis, past Lodge Master Bert Bronaugh, Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby and current Lodge Master Russell Jones. Jones holds Huckaby’s father James Huckaby’s Community Builder Award he received in 2010. Clay and James are the only fatherson duo who have both been awarded this prestigious award from the Buda Masonic Lodge. alongside the same award given to his late father James Huckaby in 2010.

They are the only fatherson duo to have received this award in Buda, which Hollis said will likely be a while before they have this unique situation again.

“I can’t say this is all my award. It’s these gentlemen [Buda Fire Department] that make this award happen,” Huckaby said.

“These are the individuals

that make Buda FD what it is. It's not me that makes it happen every day.

We’re never looking for recognition. We do what needs to be done. … I've always just decided to put my community first and give back, just like my dad did. That’s what we were taught, and that’s what I continue to do. … I'm honored to get this award and carry on what my dad started.”

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13 this TX Jim was a PBS journalist 14 TXism: “got knocked down a peg __ two” 15 fictitious sister of TX Ima Hogg 17 TXism: “______ __ concrete” (city boy) 19 TX Johnny Horton’s “The Battle of New ______” (1959) 20 Lady Bird was a UT ______ 24 Austin’s marshal in 1881, Ben (init.)

25 first president of Rice University, Edgar (init.)

38

43

45 47

34

33

41

20

23

32

44

58 wedding gown netting 59 Diez y ____ de Septiembre 60 ___ gallon hat 61 hot tub

15 19

36 40

39

14

22

30

35

13

18

21 29

10

56

57

P-1599

58 59 60 61

26 a dry climate 27 TXism: “____ _ load off” (sit) 28 TX Lyle Lovett’s “____ __ Lady” 29 allocate 31 TXism for “female” 32 punched 33 joy or anger, e.g.

38 golf ball cut 40 pecan is the Texas state ____ 41 skinny Gulf fish 42 TXism: “busier than _ _____ __ _ boomtown” 48 Rusk has longest ____bridge in U.S. 50 rescues 51 TX George Jones’ “___ Thinks I Still Care” (1962) 56 drives out 57 TXism: “does a bear _____ in the woods?” (yes)

Call us with news or feature ideas!

512-268-7862

Page 6

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

NEWS

CITY, from page 2 “I would want to know that the person that is sitting in your seat next is going to have time available to meet with developers, with residents, with planners, with staff and doesn’t have to struggle financially because you have to keep a 40-hour a week job and doing this,” Parsley said. “I don’t see how that’s reasonable because you’re limiting these positions to people who are financially stable, and so that is going to make less people available to run.”

Council member Yvonne Flores-Cale said that the budget was increased by almost $130,000 and if a salary of $50,000 were to be added, that would make the budget almost $400,000.

“During a time where we have a road bond and

we are in an inflationfilled country right now, or people can’t even afford homes. I would feel incredibly guilty taking an amount that equals an average paying job in probably San Marcos or Kyle when I already have one,” Flores said.

The council heard a second reading of the budget and held a public hearing during its next meeting on Monday and will hold another on Thursday, Aug. 25.

“The public hearings give the public time to come forward and speak if there are folks who have opinions outside of the committee and this body,” Mitchell said. “That is the only action that we could take at this point.”

Debbie Thames Insurance Agency

Fentanyl pills appear in Kyle

BY MEGAN WEHRING KYLE –The Kyle Police Department has responded to at least 16 overdoses relating to fentanyl this year, with seven of those resulting in death – the largest presence of fentanyl and other street drugs seen in the city.

Kyle PD warns the public that many of the overdoses, including some deaths, involve teenagers ranging from 14 to 18 years old. Most teenagers are getting access to the pills by buying them through phone apps – sellers are advertising using various applications, and they arrange for transactions in-person.

“Parents need to talk to their kids about the dangers of these drugs,” said Chief Jeff Barnett.

“The pills are street drugs and are not made in a

AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BOAT • HEALTH

medical laboratory. The youths, we have been told, know they are taking mixed pills containing fentanyl, but choose to do so. They believe taking small pieces of the pills makes them safe, but that is not true. The kids should be asked to report anyone trying to sell them drugs to school staff, their parents, and/or the police. Do not touch or take the drugs.”

Parents should have direct, honest conversations about the dangers of taking any medications that are not prescribed by a doctor.

“Many illegal drugs, usually marijuana products, are disguised as candy and other edible products,” Barnett added.

“These pills may be described by a number of legitimate pill names and may have a similar color and/or makings. We see these pills being sold to young teens, so middle

school children certainly need to hear the warnings.

Parents should decide when the time is right for their children, but they need to know this is a topic common among young teens.”

The pills can cause death even on the first use or try. Small slivers of a pill that may contain enough fentanyl can cause death or a serious medical emergency.

“In addition to taking any immediate medical steps necessary for their health and safety, they should immediately take control of their child's activities and whereabouts,” Barnett said. “It is recommended that they monitor their child's phone chats, social media, gaming, and other phone applications and communication.”

The detectives and narcotics investigators with Kyle PD are working

to find the source and suppliers of the pills. They partner with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

“We will file all appropriate charges related to the possession and distribution of the dangerous pills,” Barnett said. “We will also file any appropriate charges on a person or persons responsible for selling any pill or substance that causes death or serious injury to another person.

Sellers should be aware that we may likely charge them with very criminal violations should they be responsible for selling or delivering a drug or substance that causes the death or injury to another person. We have trained officers available to speak to schools, civic organizations and other groups in order to share this and other valuable safety information.”

election past the 22-month mandatory statute for continuing investigation.

“If we don’t get a handle on making sure our election process is honest

and true, we all lose,” Mitchell said. “And the waning confidence people have will continue to erode even further.”

For more information

about the upcoming election, please visit https://hayscountytx.com/ departments/elections/ current-year-elections/nov22-general/.

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm 251 N. FM 1626 #2C, Buda, TX 78610 Office: (512) 312-1917 • Fax: 312-0688 dvthames@austin.rr.com

Your Business & Referrals Are Appreciated

ELECTION, from page 5

For all the latest news in Hays County, visit

signature on every ballot, per Texas Election code 62.008, to reestablish precinct voting locations and to retain all records pertaining to the 2020

www.HaysFreePress.com

or www.HaysNewsDispatch.com To subscribe call 512-268-7862 or email paper@haysfreepress.com

Read Us Online: www.haysfreepress.com

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE

The CROSSWINDS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2022 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the offices of Carlson, Brigance & Doering Inc, 5501 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas, 78749. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

The Buda Municipal Utility District No. 1 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2022 on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 12:00 noon at the offices of Armbrust & Brown, PLLC, 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1300, Austin, Texas 78701. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearing of each entity that taxes your property.

FOR the proposal: Amy Laine, Lee Weber, Anthony Dell-Abate, Michael Gideon AGAINST the proposal: None PRESENT and not voting: None ABSENT: Elizabeth P. Edwards The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

Last Year

This year

$0.90000 /$100 Adopted

$0.90000 /$100 Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

Average appraised residence homestead value

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

$0.00000 /$100

Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/-)

(Names of all board members and how each voted on the proposed tax rate) FOR the proposal: Directors Crone, Alvarado, and Crauford AGAINST the proposal: None__________________ PRESENT and not voting: None__________________ ABSENT: Directors Leschke and Gallien

Last Year

This year

$_0.6000_/$100 Adopted

$_0.6000_/$100 Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

0.00%

$_N/A_/$100

$273,763.00

$322,559.00

Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/-)

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

$0.00

$0.00

Average appraised residence homestead value

$__N/A__

$__N/A__

$__N/A__

$__N/A__

Average residence homestead taxable value

$273,763.00

$322,559.00

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

Tax on average residence homestead

$2,463.87

$2,903.03

Average residence homestead taxable value

$__N/A__

$__N/A__

Tax on average residence homestead

$__N/A__

$__N/A__

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

$439.16 17.82%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than 8 percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code.

The District proposes to use the tax levy increase for debt service requirements on bonds sold for infrastructure projects.

The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

Should you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact the tax office at 281-482-0216.

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

__N/A__%

$__N/A__ _ N/A_%

If the proposed combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate requires or authorizes an election to approve or reduce the tax rate, as applicable, the Board of Directors of the District proposes to use the tax increase for the purpose of District operations.

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the District adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code.

The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

Page 7

GIVING BACK

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate

Buda FD receives donation

BY MEGAN WEHRING

BUDA – Good deeds deserve proper recognition.

The Buda Fire Department received a $150 check from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance as

a “thank you” for the work on Cheryl Day’s property.

The funds will be used for the department’s loss prevention program.

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance pays fire departments this amount when the department

works at a fire in rural areas involving property insured by them, according to a news release.

The company believes fire departments have contributed time to both reduce the amount of loss and prevent fires.

The HAYS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2022 on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 8:30 AM at the office of Carlson, Brigance & Doering Inc, 5701 West Wiliam Cannon, Austin, Texas, 78749. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.

FOR the proposal: George Baker, Kasey Studdard, Billy Foulds AGAINST the proposal: None PRESENT and not voting: None ABSENT: David Reynolds The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Total tax rate (per $100 of value)

Last Year

This year

$0.90000 /$100 Adopted

$0.90000 /$100 Proposed

Difference in rates per $100 of value

$0.00000 /$100

Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/-) Average appraised residence homestead value

0.00% $607,690.00

$637,632.00

General homestead exemptions available (excluding 65 years of age or older or disabled person’s exemptions)

$0.00

$0.00

Average residence homestead taxable value

$607,690.00

$637,632.00

Tax on average residence homestead

$5,469.21

$5,738.69

Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-) and percentage of increase (+/-)

$269.48 4.93%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than 8 percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code.

The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Tony Greaves, president of Hays County Farm Bureau, presents a check to Molissa Welch, the executive director of administration for the Buda Fire Department.

Buda, Texas • 15300 S. IH-35 • 312-1615

Come worship with us

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Debbie Thames, agenT

251 N. FM 1626, Bldg. 2, Ste. C, Buda, Texas 78610 312-1917

CHURCH OF CHRIST

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda

Buda-Kyle Church of Christ 3.5 miles south of Buda on FM 2770

Monte del Olivar Christian Center 2400 FM 150 E., Kyle

BAPTIST

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda

The Connection Church 1235 S. Loop 4, Buda

EPISCOPAL

Antioch Community Church Old Black Colony Rd., Buda

First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle

Sudoku Solution

Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626 Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda

Sudoku Puzzle, from page 3

Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle

Texas Crossword Solution F I B E R S B E A T O R L I D

T A K E A

S H E S N O

A S S I G N

A S A R A T

T R E E

C E AW N E A S D I R A A N I S E E E D L O N

Last Puzzle Solution G A L F O O T

E MM T E A A R H T M I L T O A A H F O T O S E U L L S E I T E N S P A

Y M C A

L E H R E R

O U R R O A R E L M S E OM A T I N S S I L S A H O E V E N E S

R E G E N T

S-1599

Texas Crossword, from page 3

Buda United Methodist Church Elm Street and San Marcos Join Us Online for Worship* Sundays at 9 am BudaUMC.org facebook.com/BudaUMChurch

Join us in person or online.

Re,,. . Matt Cardona Office 295-6981

Should you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact the tax office at 281-482-0216.

Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W. CATHOLIC Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church 725 RR 967, Buda St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church RR 3237 (Wimberley Rd.), Kyle St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 11819 IH-35 South JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses FM 2770, Kyle Jehovah’s Witnesses South 10802 Manchaca Rd., Manchaca LUTHERAN Living Word Lutheran ELCA 2315 FM 967, Buda Redeeming Grace Lutheran LCMS FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca Resurrection Church, CLBA 401 FM 967, Buda St. John Lutheran Church 9865 Camino Real, Uhland The Well Buda

Completed & Perfected Faith Church Tobias Elementary Cafeteria, FM 150, Kyle Kingdom United Christian Church 100 Madison Way, Buda

Buda United Methodist Church San Marcos & Elm St., Buda

St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle

Kyle United Methodist Church Sledge & Lockhart St., Kyle

St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland

Journey United Methodist 216 Kirkham Circle, Kyle

CHRISTIAN

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 7206 Creedmoor Rd., Creedmoor

A Fountain of Life Church 302 Millenium Dr. Kyle Fellowship Church at Plum Creek 160 Grace Street at 2770, Kyle Word of Life Christian Faith Center 118 Trademark Drive, Buda Por Tu Gracia Fellowship 701 Roland Lane, Kyle

Friendly, Courteous Service

Call 1-866-691-2369 BUDA

DRUG STORE

203 Railroad Street Downtown Buda Pharmacy 312-2111 Fountain 312-2172

New Life Sanctuary Kyle Science Hall Elementary 1510 Bebee Rd. PRESBYTERIAN

Driftwood United Methodist Church RR 150 at County Road 170

First Presbyterian Church 410 W. Hutchison, San Marcos, TX 78666

First Baptist Church

A loving & caring Southern Baptist Church 104 S. San Marcos Street, Buda Buddy Johnson, Pastor • 295-2161 Sunday School...........................................9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship....................................10:45 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study/Youth Activities...6:00 p.m.

AWANA’s (Wednesday)..........................6:00 p.m.

www.hayshills.org 1401 N. FM 1626

Privately owned From local springs FREE DELIVERY 1ST 20 GAL. FREE

PENTECOSTAL

Iglesia Israelita Casa de Dios 816 Green Pastures Dr., Kyle

Adult (including an 8:30 a.m. early bird class), teen, children’s classes * Children’s worship Professionally-staffed nursery & pre-school

Pure Texas

Spring Water!

Mision de Casa de Oracion S. Hwy. 81, Kyle

St. John’s Presbyterian Church 12420 Hewitt Ln., Manchaca

9:30 a.m. Classic Service 10:45 a.m. Contemporary service

Providing you with your most important local news for Kyle, Buda and surrounding communities

Vertical Chapel 400 Old Post Road, Kyle

Manchaca United Methodist Church FM 1626 & Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

Baptist Church

Hays Free Press

New Covenant Community Church 1019 Main Street, Buda (in Dance Unlimited)

New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

Hays Hills

Like us on Facebook

Mission Fellowship Church 200 San Marcos Street, Buda

Trinity United Chuch of Niederwald 13700 Camino Real, Hwy. 21, Niederwald

METHODIST

TEXAS LEHIGH CEMENT CO. LP

Nursery Provided

www.firstbaptistbuda.com • fbcbuda@austin.rr.com

Your Hometown McDonald’s

McDonald’s of Buda 15359 IH-35, Ste. B • P.O. Box 1364, Buda, TX 78610

512-312-2383

Locally owned and operated by Jimmy and Cindi Ferguson

Your church ad could be here!

Call 512-268-7862

Page 8

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

MISC. FOR SALE

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SUBDIVIDE

An application has been filed with HAYS COUNTY to subdivide 40.146 acres of property located at 450 Indian Hills Trail, Kyle, TX 78640.

Information regarding the application may be obtained from Hays County Development Services (512) 393-2150.

Tracking number: PLN-2055PC.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR VILLAGE OF SAN LEANNA BUDGET AND TAX RATE

Thursday, September 8, 2022 Ð 7:00 p.m Thursday, September 15, 2022 Ð 7:00 p.m The Village of San Leanna will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 11906 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Manchaca, TX 78652, to consider adopting the proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.

The Village of San Leanna will also hold a second public hearing 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 11906 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Manchaca, TX 78652, to consider adopting the proposed budget and tax rate for fiscal year 2022-2023. The proposed tax rate is $0.2498 per $100 of property valuation, the same tax rate for the past 20-plus years. Total taxes in the Village of San Leanna will increase by 18.11%, or $36,543, due to new construction added to the tax roll this year and to higher appraisal values. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on any change in the taxable value of your property.

You are invited to attend the public hearing and express your views.

For assistance or detailed information about tax calculations, please contact: Travis Central Appraisal District 8314 Cross Park Dr., Austin, TX 78714 Phone: 512-834-9317 Email: CSinfo@tcadcentral. org Website: www.traviscad.org

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF NIEDERWALD

Notice is hereby given, that on September 12, 2022, at 7:15 p.m., a public hearing will be held to consider adopting a budget for fiscal year 20222023.

If you have any questions regarding this hearing, contact Niederwald City Hall at 512398-6338.

SMALL TAXING UNIT NOTICE

The Village of Bear Creek will hold a meeting at 7:00 PM on September 20, 2022 at Friendship Creekside Fellowship - 14455 FM 1826, Austin, TX 78737 to consider adopting a proposed tax rate for tax year 2022. The proposed tax rate is $0.0677 per $100 of value.

The proposed tax rate would increase total taxes in Village of Bear Creek by 5.62%.

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.

The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OPERATION OF CARNIVAL RIDES,CONCESSIONS AND AMUSEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF KYLE TEX-STRAVAGANZA EVENT: RFP 2022 07 PARD SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A CARNIVAL, CONCESSIONS, AND AMUSEMENTS AT THE GREGG CLARKE PARK FOR THE CITY OF KYLE’S TEX-STRAVAGANZA EVENT NOTICE TO RESPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a company to provide carnival rides, concessions, and amusements during the City of Kyle’s Tex-Stravaganza event located at Gregg Clarke Park as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www. cityofkyle.com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals. The 2023 Tex-Stravaganza Event will be held Friday, May 5, 2023-Sunday, May 7, 2023.

The city is seeking a company with carnival ride and amusement experience as well as experience working with public municipal agencies. Proposals marked OPERATION OF CARNIVAL RIDES, CONCESSIONS AND AMUSEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF KYLE TEX-STRAVAGANZA EVENT: RFP 2022 07 PARD are to be submitted to: Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022 All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

The complete RFP is available at: https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

ATHLETIC COURT SURFACE for Ash Pavilion at Gregg-Clarke Park: RFP-202206-PARD SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ATHLETIC COURT SURFACE FOR THE ASH PAVILION FOR THE CITY OF KYLE GREGGCLARKE PARK. NOTICE TO RESPONDERS: The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for an athletic court surface as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle.com. The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals to provide the material only for an athletic, interlocking, court style surface fir basketball and hockey at the Ash Pavilion at Gregg-Clarke Park. AG CM has provided basic specifications for the style of athletic, interlocking, surface court that the City is desiring. The city is seeking a company with athletic court surfacing experience as well as experience working with public municipal agencies.

Proposals marked ATHLETIC COURT SURFACE FOR ASH PAVILION AT GREGGCLARKE PARK: RFP-2022-06PARD are to be submitted to: Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Proposals should be sealed.

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff after the due date has passed. The staff’s recommendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

The complete RFP is available at: https://www.cityofkyle. com/rfps

ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY

COMMERCIAL TOWING SERVICES LLC 271 Millennium Dr. Kyle, TX 78640 / 512-9950468/0658494VSF www.tdlr.texas.gov 1999 Toyota Camry/ Last of VIN XU40457 Total charges as of 8/22/2022 are 391.06

ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY

COMMERCIAL TOWING SERVICES LLC 228-A Edwards Dr. Kyle, TX 78640 / 512-9950468/0655460VSF www.tdlr.texas.gov 2001 Chevrolet Express Cargo/ Last of VIN11121838 Total charges as of 8/19/2022 are $491.06

DIRECT CARE COUNSELORS Provide positive role modeling, structure, and supervision to adolescent boys. No exp. required, We train comprehensively. Pay starting at $12 per hour for flexible 8 & 16 hr shift schedules.

Health/life/dental insurance after 60 days. Min. requirements: Must be 21 yrs old, HS/GED, clean TDL, clean criminal history, pre-employment TB skin test, and drug screen. Growing (20+ year old) non-profit organization. www.pegasusschool.net.

Call (512)432-1678 for further information.

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDED DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN

REUNION RANCH WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of Reunion Ranch Water Control and Improvement District (the “District”) has adopted an Amended Drought Contingency Plan (“Plan”) to conserve the available water supply and to protect the integrity of water supply facilities with particular regard for domestic water use, sanitary and fire protection and to protect and preserve public health, welfare and safety and minimize the adverse impacts of water supply shortage or other water supply emergency conditions. The Plan provides for public involvement, public education, coordination with regional water planning groups and the application of drought response stages.

Restrictions on water use ranging from voluntary water use to mandatory conservation and prohibited water uses are set forth in the Plan based on the water shortage conditions and drought stage.

Any person who violates this Plan shall be subject to the following surcharges and conditions of service: Following the first documented violation in a calendar year, the violator shall be given a notice specifying the type of violation and the date and time it was observed except for significant violations, including filling a swimming pool, which will be treated as a second documented violation. Surcharges and restrictions on service that may result from additional violations; following the second documented violation in a calendar year, the violator shall be sent by certified mail a notice of violation and shall be assessed a surcharge of $500.00. This amount increases to an amount up to $2,000.00 if operating under Stages 3, 4 or 5 of the Plan; following the third documented violation in a calendar year, the violator shall be sent by certified mail a notice of violation and shall be assessed a surcharge of $750.00.

This amount increases to an amount up to $10,000.00 if operating under Stages 3, 4 or 5 of the Plan. Following the fourth documented violation in a calendar year, the District

GRAND DESIGN RV shall, upon due notice to the customer, discontinue water service to the premises where such violations occur. Services discontinued under such circumstances shall be restored only upon payment of a reconnection charge, as established in the District’s Rate Order, as amended from time to time, payment of all surcharges and any other costs incurred by the District in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the District so that the same action will not be repeated while the Plan is in effect.

Each day that one or more of the provisions in this Plan is violated constitutes a separate offense. Compliance with this Plan may also be sought through injunctive relief in the District Court.

The full text of the foregoing Plan is on file in the principal office of the District, c/o Willatt & Flickinger, PLLC, 12912 Hill Country Boulevard, Suite F-232, Austin, Texas 78738 where it may be read by any interested person.

2021 Transcend 240ML Grand Design RV 29’ with Living Room Slide Out Furnished with Bath, Bedding, Kitchen ware, TV, Radio, Back Up Camera, Anti-sway Tow Package and more $25,500 Contact Larry (713) 826-7881

HELP WANTED Insurance producer in Lockhart $16/hour with bonuses.

Commission and $1,000 sign on bonus. 361-772-1082

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed proposals addressed to Waterstone Land Partners, LTD, ("OWNER") on behalf of Lasalle Municipal Utility District No. 1 ("DISTRICT") for furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performing all work required for the construction of Wastewater Line to FM 110 will be received at the office of Doucet & Associates, Inc. ("ENGINEER") at 7401B Highway 71 West, Suite 160, Austin, Texas 78735 until THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2022, at 2:00PM. Drainage, Roadway, and Water / Wastewater bids will be opened publicly and read aloud. Any proposal received after the closing time will be returned unopened. Proposals shall be plainly marked with name and address of the person or entity submitting the proposal ("BIDDER") and the following words: PROPOSAL FOR WATERSTONE PHASE 2 – Wastewater Line to FM 110 The proposed wastewater line will be comprised of 12-inch PVC SDR 26 (D2241) pipe, which will be servicing tract R159874. This tract is located northwest of the intersection of Yarrington Road & County Road 158, and south of the proposed right-of-way for the future FM 110 roadway. This proposal includes approximately: 5917-ft of 12-inch PVC SDR 26 pipe; 18 concrete manholes ranging from 10-ft to 27-ft deep; and three jack and bore locations with 24-inch steel casing. All prospective bidders will be provided all bid documents.

Electronic copies of the Plans, Specifications, and Bidding Documents are available without charge from the ENGINEER. Copies may be obtained from the ENGINEER on or after Monday, August 22, 2022, by emailing waterstonebids@doucetengineers.com.

A Cashier's Check, Certified Check, or acceptable BIDDER's Bond, payable to Waterstone Land Partners, LTD, in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the Bid must accompany each bid as a guarantee that, if awarded the Contract, the BIDDER will enter into a contract and execute bonds within fifteen (15) calendar days of award of the Contract. Performance and Payment Bonds shall also be executed on the forms furnished by the OWNER and shall specifically provide for "Performance" and for "Labor and Materials Payment". Each bond shall be issued in an amount of one hundred percent (100%) of contract price by a solvent Surety company, authorized to do business in the State of Texas and acceptable to the OWNER. The OWNER reserves the right to reject all bids and to waive any and all minor defects or irregularitie s in bidding or bidding process except time of submitting bid. The OWNER reserves the right to determine which bids are most advantageous to the OWNER and the DISTRICT, and to award the Contract on this basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of seventy-five (75) calendar days after opening of the bids. If a submitted bid is withdrawn within said period, bid guaranty shall become the property of the OWNER, not as penalty, but as liquidated damages, or OWNER may pursue any other action allowed by law. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022 at 2:00pm via Teams virtual meeting. A link to the pre-bid conference will be sent to all prospective bidders who have received bid documents by contacting waterstonebids@doucetengineers.com. Prospective bidders are encouraged to visit the site.

Only those prospective bidders WHO HAVE RECEIVED BID DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY FROM THE ENGINEER may bid on this contract. Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained from the ENGINEER by emailing waterstonebids@doucetengineers.com.

WWW.HAYSFREEPRESS.COM

Public Notice Notice of Public Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing on a request by Shauna Weaver, of PapeDawson Engineers (Z-22-0105) to rezone approximately 5.15 acres of land to ‘PUD’ for property located at 3601 Kyle Crossing, in Hays County, Texas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission may recommend, and the City Council may consider, assigning any zoning district which is equivalent or more restrictive.

A public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 P.M. A public hearing will be held by the Kyle City Council on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. This is meeting will take place at Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, Kyle, Texas 78640.

Owner: Hays Commerce Center 5, LP Agent: Shauna Weaver, Pape-Dawson Engineers 210-375-9000 Publication Date: August 24, 2022 Z-22-0105

Public Notice Notice of Public Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT: The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing on a request by Amanda Swor, of Drenner Group (Z-22-0104) to rezone approximately 9.12 acres of land to ‘PUD MXD’ for property located at the NW corner of N. Burleson & Marketplace Avenue, in Hays County, Texas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission may recommend, and the City Council may consider, assigning any zoning district which is equivalent or more restrictive.

A public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 P.M. A public hearing will be held by the Kyle City Council on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. This will take place at Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, Kyle, Texas 78640 Owner: Julia Parker Family Partnership & L.W. Parker Family Trust Agent: Amanda Swor, Drenner Group 512-807-2904 Publication Date: August 24, 2022 Z-22-0104

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

Page 9

SAFER STREETS

Buda approves license plate readers

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Investigations Department would have access to the information.

BUDA — While some Additionally, Kidd residents have voiced reiterated that the cameras privacy concerns regarding are not designed for traffic the potential installation enforcement, but for of license plate reader cameras, Buda officials say criminal investigations, and that data is purged after 30 that these cameras will be days. an asset to the community “If you look in the policy, to help solve and prevent officers can’t use an ALPR crime. hit as a basis for a stop,” The Buda City Council Kidd said. “Members will unanimously voted to not take any police action establish an Automatic that restricts the freedom of License Plate Reader any individual based solely (ALPR) operating policy on the ALPR alert unless with the Buda Police it has been validated. …

Department during the regular council meeting on Officers are reminded they need to have reasonable Aug. 16. The vote included suspicion or probable an addition of an annual cause to make a stop of evaluation of the cameras.

The idea of implementing any vehicle. The alert itself doesn’t give us justification ALPR cameras has been by our policy to make a discussed at previous stop or detention.” council meetings and has Kidd said that the faced some pushback from Attorney General has council members and “consistently ruled against” residents, mainly due to privacy concerns, although releasing information cameras have already been collected from these cameras to the public, and installed in Buda’s Garlic that the city attorney feels Creek subdivision after confident that it would not the neighborhood HOA be subject to open records decided to put them up. requests. He also noted Buda Police Chief Bo that the Supreme Court Kidd said that following council recommendations, has consistently ruled that there are no issues with the city attorney reviewed ALPR cameras, as there is the initial policy and “no expectation of privacy made additional language in a public place.” changes regarding As well as addressing the release of camera previous council concerns, information.

Kidd shared the results of a Kidd explained that community survey that was the cameras will not be conducted regarding the watched or monitored, but only reviewed after the cameras.

Over 200 responses fact if there is a criminal were recorded on the first investigation. Only three survey. When asked if people in the Criminal

they were supportive of law enforcement’s use of these cameras on public roadways to help solve crimes, 140 said yes, 50 said no and 17 were undecided.

When asked if they would support their HOA installing cameras in their right-of-way to help solve crime, 141 said yes, 52 said no and 14 were undecided.

When asked if they had any concerns, 94 said yes and 109 said no.

When discussing the cameras at a previous council meeting, Buda PD Community Affairs Officer Freddy Erdman said that there have been several instances when these cameras would have made a difference — for example, burglaries at a local donut shop and a criminal mischief incident with someone using a pellet gun on Main Street business windows.

“With things like that, it would certainly help us get a workable lead by having these cameras in the right of way,” Erdman said.

Council member LaVonia Horne-Williams also voiced her support for the cameras.

“Being that a lot of neighborhoods are close to roadways that make it a quick getaway for people, it’s very difficult for the police to have options on how they solve those crimes,” Horne-Williams said. “I get the privacy issue. … but I think when we look at 21st century policing and us wanting to lead the pack in that,

we have to come up with technology that helps us better solve crimes.”

In addition to the initial item of approving the camera policy, the council approved the use of grant money to pay for the cameras in a 6-1 vote. Council member Paul Daugereau was the dissenting vote, saying that he believes the money could be better spent elsewhere.

“To me, the money would be better spent on giving police officers more raises, new cars, or having more police on shifts,” Daugereau said. “Once we put them up, they’re probably not coming down.

We still start spending money that we could be putting into community policing. I don’t know if this is something we need right now in the community.”

Kidd, however, said that using this grant money would give the council an opportunity to try the cameras for a year and not use taxpayer money.

The grant includes up to $20,000 in funds for the purchase of APLR cameras by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. Buda PD would partner with the camera’s manufacturer Flock Safety to install the cameras, which would remain separate from the partnerships that Flock may have with any homeowners’ associations in Buda.

Council member Monica Davidson said she “loves the idea” of a trial period,

An example of an image that the ALPR cameras capture in order to help solve and prevent vehicle crime. one-year period to see what worked and what didn’t for the community before they commit to purchasing the cameras without the grant money.

Kidd said that regardless if the city decides to move forward with implementing the cameras or not, a policy needs to be in place as other law enforcement agencies and HOAs are wanting to share their data with them, and that ultimately, he feels these cameras are critical to the mission of the department.

“When people are victimized in our community, we want to solve that crime and get their property back to them if we can,” Kidd said. “I think this would aid us in getting that accomplished.”

as it will eventually be an expense issue once the grant money runs out.

For the first year, the quote for six cameras is $20,000, which would be covered by the grant. Every year after that, the cost is $15,000, as there wouldn’t be installation fees, just the ongoing lease agreement.

Maintenance is also covered by Flock.

The council agreed that moving forward, there needs to be significant education on these cameras to make the community aware in transparent, simple language of what data is retained and who can see it.

Additionally, the effectiveness of the cameras will need to be reviewed at the end of the

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Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

PROTECT YOUR PETS

Tips for keeping them safe in the heat

STAFF REPORT

If the heat is brutal for us humans, imagine how much worse it can be for animals.

According to PETA, there have already been 29 heatrelated animal deaths in the U.S. so far in 2022, along with 176 rescues — and these numbers are only what have been reported.

Experts from ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and The Humane Society offer the following tips to be a responsible pet owner and keep your fourlegged friends safe in the heat: • Do not let your dog (or cat) linger on hot asphalt, as

their sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during high-temperature times to a minimum, or have them wear pet socks to protect their paws.

• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle, not even with the windows cracked, as temperatures inside can skyrocket to dangerous and oftentimes fatal levels (and is illegal in several states).

• Watch the humidity levels. Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they’re unable to cool themselves down.

• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty

Dude, 4-year-old, American Pit Bull Terrier Mix, Male: Dude is one of those dogs who fits his name perfectly. He loves to play with the water hose when it’s sprayed his way. Dude is a people person and hasn’t met someone he didn’t like!

of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors, and have a shady place for them to get out of the sun.

• Animals with flat faces like pugs and Persian cats are more susceptible to heat stroke as they cannot pant effectively. Keep these pets, along with elderly and overweight pets or those with underlying health conditions, in airconditioned spaces as much as possible.

• Never shave your dog, as the layers of a dog’s coat protects them from overheating and sunburn.

Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat.

• Know the symptoms of

overheating in pets: heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat, excessive thirst, drooling, dazed behavior,

lack of coordination, a deep red or purple tongue, diarrhea, vomiting and even seizures or collapsing.

• Cool your pet inside and out with a cooling treat, body wrap, vest, mat or bath.

Shane,14-year-old Domestic Shorthair Mix, Male: Shane is looking for the purrfect retirement home. His ideal home would have lots of kitty beds for naps, wet food every morning and evening (he has very little teeth to chew dry food), and someone to love on him extra.

PAWS Shelter of Central Texas

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Your pets may love to run around in the backyard hours on end, but there are still some safety tips to keep in mind for the summer heat.

Hays Free Press • August 24, 2022

Page 11

Managing the Highland Lakes Central Texas water reservoirs are working as intended • Droughts and floods are common • The state-approved Water Management Plan is working as occurrences in Central Texas. designed. The plan enables LCRA to Lakes Buchanan and Travis are curtail interruptible water primarily for water supply reservoirs built to agricultural customers as needed to capture water during wet times for ensure sufficient water for firm customers use during dry times like these. like cities and businesses. The plan includes provisions that would trigger • While this drought is concerning, our water situation, and specifically updates before the next scheduled our drinking water supply, is in revision process set for 2025. We have not met those triggers. good shape.

OUR LONG HISTORY OF DROUGHTS & FLOODS as shown by the total combined water storage in lakes Buchanan and Travis 1991

1957

1997

M I L L I O NS

O F

ACRE- FEE T

2.5

2018

2007

2.0

1.5

1.0

2000

1984 0.5

1952

PRESENT

2006

1964

2013

0.0

Combined storage (million acre-feet)

Full storage (2 million acre-feet)

State approves first Water Management Plan

Average storage (1.63 million acre-feet)

State approves Water Management Plan updates

1 acre-foot is equal to a football field covered with 1 foot of water

View the historical daily lake levels and combined storage chart at www.lcra.org/water/highland-lakes-overview.

Advancing technology and conservation awareness allow for smarter water use.

Refer to your local water provider for details on your drought contingency plan.

Thank you for your continued efforts to conserve water. Together, we can ensure we have enough water to meet the needs of Texans for years to come.

SCAN TO LEARN MORE OR VISIT www.lcra.org/watermanagementplan

Page 12

News-Dispatch • August 24, 2022

ELECTIONS & BONDS

DSISD calls for November bond referendum

BY MEGAN WEHRING

DRIPPING SPRINGS – DRIPPING SPRINGS – A $481.1 million bond is on the November ballot for Dripping Springs ISD. At a special meeting on Aug. 18, the DSISD Board of Trustees approved the bond referendum with a 6-1 vote – Trustee Tricia Quintero was the dissenting vote.

The bond package includes funding for the following (numbers are rounded to the nearest 5,000).

PROPOSITION A $199,280,000

• Build Elementary School #6 - $62,872,000 • Expand Sycamore Springs MS to 1200 Capacity - $30,830,400 • Purchase Land for Future Facilities $15,000,000 • Design for Elementary School #7 (Complete Design Through Construction Documents) - $2,500,000 • Design Middle School #3 (Schematic Design) $600,000 • Dripping Springs Elementary School Lifecycle Replacements and Renovations $17,448,750

• Dripping Springs Middle School Lifecycle Replacements and Renovations - $35,169,580 • Dripping Springs High School Replace Approximately 120,000 SF of Roofing - $3,074,000 • Dripping Springs High School Replace Competition Gym Floor and Retrofit 3 Gyms with LED Lighting - $587,500 • Replace Pressure Reducing Valves on Various Campuses $155,000 • Dripping Springs High School Repair Civil Site Issue at Southside Tennis Courts - $165,500

Fall 20

22

Hispanic Heritage Edition This special edition will recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of Hays County.

This special edition will recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements This of fullHays County. color glossy magazine will be distributed to subscribers, newsracks and will also be available at businesses in Hays County – reaching over 10,000 readers in the community.

For more information, or to reserve Deadline is Friday, September 2. your space, contact Kim at 512-2687862 or Hays Free Press kim@haysfreepress.com.

The Fall 2022 Echo special edition will be distributed in the Hays Free Press and the News-Dispatch on September 28, 2022 To reserve your space, contact Kim at 512-268-7862 or kim@haysfreepress.com.

Full page: 7.875"w x 10.375"h $795

Half page: 7.875"w x 4.95"h $500

Quarter page: 3.88"w x 4.95"h $350

Premium Inside Covers, Page 3 $1100

Eighth page: 3.88”w x 2.48”h $200

• Dripping Springs High School Life Skills Classroom Renovations $845,000 • Dripping Springs High School Health Services Classrooms Renovations $164,000 • Dripping Springs Elementary School Reconfigure CL&I and Maker Space - $194,800 • Rooster Springs Elementary School Reconfigure CL&I and Maker Space - $194,800 • Updated Sound and Lighting Systems in Spaces at Various Campuses $1,280,000 • Dripping Springs High School Lockers in Main Building and Fieldhouse $274,000 • Dripping Springs High School Outfit Lab Spaces for Chemistry - $448,500 • Technology Lifecycle Replacements - $2,438,931 • Infrastructure (Network, Servers, Firewall, AV) - $2,438,931 • Campus Security & ADA Updates - $14,594,906 • New Buses and

Vehicles to Replace Aging Fleet and Growth $4,875,838 • New Classroom Portables - $1,130,000 • Child Nutrition Services (Kitchen) Equipment Replacements for Dripping Springs High School, Dripping Springs Middle School, Dripping Springs Elementary School, and Rooster Springs Elementary School - $1,264,000 • New Facility for 18+ Program - $3,168,000 PROPOSITION B $275,350,000 • Construct High School #2 - $275,350,000 PROPOSITION C $6,505,000* • Technology Lifecycle Replacements - $6,504,690 Approval of the bond is not expected to result in a change to the current tax rate, which is $1.3103 ($0.9603 - Maintenance & Operations/$0.35Interest & Sinking) per $100 of certified property value, according to a news release.

TEA, from page 1 Student achievement was scored 79, school progress was 89 and closing the gaps was 82.

The overall ratings for the individual campuses in Hays CISD are listed below.

Elementary schools: • Blanco Vista: B • Buda: A • Camino Real: B • Carpenter Hill: A • Elm Grove: A • Fuentes: B

• Green: C • Hemphill: B • Kyle: C • Negley: B • Pfluger: A • Science Hall: B • Tobias: C • Uhland: B Middle schools: • Barton: A • Chapa: B • Dahlstrom: B • McCormick: B • Simon: Not rated

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Actual property tax bills are a product of the tax rate and the appraised property value. Increases in property value will increase a homeowner’s tax bill. By law, homeowners 65 years and older who have taken certain steps to apply for an exemption would not see an increase in their total school taxes above the amount at which their taxes were frozen (unless new improvements were constructed).

The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is Oct. 11.

The first day of early voting in person is Monday, Oct. 24. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received in the elections office, not postmarked) is Oct. 28. The last day of early voting in person is Nov. 4. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

To view the full detailed bond package, please visit https://www.dsisdtx.us/ cms/lib/TX02204855/ Centricity/Domain/4/ November%202022%20 Bond%20Package.pdf.

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• Wallace: C High schools: • Hays: A • Johnson: B • Lehman: C To view the 2022 accountability ratings for all districts and campuses, visit TXschools.gov. Users can search for schools using an address and compare schools across selected data points.