Funding for Old Fitzhugh improvements
Tigers track road to the playoffs
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DSISD gets new trustee
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 46
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
Minimal communication with citizenry is leading some residents to allege a lack of transparency on the part of Wimberley city leaders; all the while, the fight over the city’s wastewater woes marches on.
Jury clears deputies in 2017 Wimberley ‘ambush’ BY MOSES LEOS III A Hays County Grand Jury Aug. 15 found law enforcement officers who shot and killed a Wimberley man in a 2017 shootout did so in self-defense. The ruling came as the result of a months-long Hays County Sheriff’s Office internal investigation into the incident, which was deemed an “ambush,” as well as an inquiry by the Texas Rangers, according to a press release. Wes Mau, Hays County district attorney, said in a statement evidence “conclusively establishes” the shooting death of Rocky West was “justified as both self-defense and defense of other officers,” with the jury finding no wrong doing on the part of law enforcement. On Nov. 24, 2017, HCSO deputies were dispatched to a residence along Spoke Hollow in Wimberley for a suspicious person with a handgun. The call reported they heard breaking glass in the area of Jean’s Antiques and saw someone with a flashlight in the business. The call disconnected and didn’t answer attempts call back, according to the release. When deputies arrived, they did not find evidence of broken glass or forced entry. However, deputies learned the phone number was associated with
DEPUTIES CLEARED, 2
Residents are concerned about the lack of a public hearing during the proposed August 16 meeting, leading some to organize a protest.
Those claims came as the result of a canceled Aug. 16 Wimberley City Council special meeting to
further discuss and consider action to modify the scope of the city’s downtown wastewater plans.
Some Wimberley residents fear city leaders could be more interested in third-party provider
75¢
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Wimberley residents say transparency with wastewater issue poses problem BY EXSAR ARUGELLO
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Aqua Texas, which they believe could be detrimental to the environment, as opposed to an in-house system. Wimberley property owner Rebecca Minnick opposes the Aqua Texas plan, citing the potential
WIMBERLEY WASTEWATER, 6
Fire Hazard
Dripping Springs opposes concrete plant BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Citing major concerns over public health and safety, Dripping Springs city leaders Aug. 21 passed a resolution in opposition to the construction of a proposed concrete batch plant near Henly. The move, which was the result of a 5-1 Dripping Springs City Council vote, came after residents voiced their concerns during the Aug. 14 meeting. Dripping Springs City Council member Travis Crow cast the lone dissenting vote.
BATCH PLANT OPPOSED, 6
Tempers flare over budget Belterra Village overrun BY EXSAR ARGUELLO PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
A North Hays County Fire Rescue firefighter examines the burned landscape behind ProStar Water Inc. after a small grassfire charred roughly eight acres of land Aug. 23. No one was hurt, but at least one structure was damaged after sparks from a power pole failure created a grass fire in the 4600 block of west Highway 290. Scott Collard, North Hays County chief, said high winds and dry conditions helped the rapidly spread.
Texas rated as third worst state in regards to women’s equality BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
Texas is ranked 47th in the political representation gap, despite women comprising a little over 50 percent of the population. Additionally, Texas is ranked 45th in women’s education and health.
to no impact on him and that his accusers Despite nationwide were easily dismissed efforts for equal repreas disgruntled women, sentation, Texas is still as were the accusers of behind the curve in Roy Moore.” providing equality for According to the women, according to a National Conference new Wallethub study. of State Legislators, Texas is ranked 47th Texas has a total of 181 in the political reprewomen in the state sentation gap, despite legislature, or 20.4 perparticularly responsive en in the U.S. Senate, women comprising a cent, which is almost and very few in the to change.” little more than 50 per5 percent under the House of Representa“To focus on one cent of the population. obstacle, the obstacle national average. tives, State Legislature Additionally, Texas is Twenty-nine of those or among state-elected of economic indepenranked 45th in women’s dence and professional executives,” said Jill women are in the Texas education and health. Gonzalez, an analyst for House, while the reviability, we still very Historically, women Wallethub. “This could maining eight serve in much operate in a in Texas have not rebe because women are the State Senate. world where getting ceived the legal protec- pregnant or having Additionally, Texas is not encouraged to get tions that men have. ranked 42nd in educainvolved in politics, children is often a Legal loopholes tion attainment gap in and it’s hard for them practical obstacle to stayed in place until higher education for employment or promo- to find support if they the 1990s in regards to women, according to decide to pursue a tion,” Menchaca-Bagcases of marital rape. In nulo said. the study. political career.” addition, , Texas does And other western Bagnulo said she Although Texas is not have the same pol- required to follow the countries are ensuring feels that Americans icies for maternity leave 1993 Family and Medi- have a difficult time that women receive as other states do. the same opportunities cal Leave Act, the state accepting women Ashleen Menchaas men. Gonzalez said has no laws that require in leadership roles, ca-Bagnulo, assistant which she believes was more countries offer employers to give professor of Political evident during the 2016 grants and financial aid parental or maternity Science at Texas State United States Presiden- to women who wish to leave. University, said it takes pursue higher educatial election. For Menchaca-Bagenerations for attition. “Whatever one gnulo, the issue stems tudes and questions of “Special financing thinks of Hillary Clinfrom the culture of accessibility to change. the state ranging from opportunities exist for ton, there is no doubt She also said it takes women who want to that her gender was a medical protections to women who are workbecome entrepreneurs, political representation. liability for her,” Baging as professionals or as well,” Gonzalez said. Around 2,000 women nulo said. “Whatever in the political realm “There is equal pay one thinks of Trump, currently serve in state generations to build for men and women there is no doubt that legislatures across the resumes and make doing the same job, and the fact that several country, about 24 perconnections. women are offered the women spoke out cent of the legislators Overall, Bagnulo against him for alleged nationwide. believes Texas is “not WOMEN’S EQUALITY, 4 sexual assault had little “Texas has no wom-
A $637,369 overrun in development of the Belterra Village retail site is leading Dripping Springs leaders to allege an Austin real estate group responsible for its construction breached contract. As a result, the Dripping Springs City Council postponed an item that could reimburse Endeavor Real Estate group for the project’s construction. In 2010, the city of Dripping Springs and Endeavor signed a contract that granted the real estate company an economic development grant of $2,261,480 to construct the commercial site. But on Aug. 21, Endeavor officials said the company spent $2,898,849 to build the retail site. Daniel Campbell, principal at Endeavor, cited a 3.5 percent annual increase in costs for the overage. However, according to the agreement, spending toward the development must have been approved by the city. Dripping Springs Mayor Todd Purcell said it was his understanding Endeavor breached contract. Purcell said the city’s legal team informed him there was a provision in the contract that any possible deviations “were supposed to come back to council,” which did not happen. Councilmember Wade King said Endeavour tried to pull a “fast one” with the city like a weasel by not following through with the contract. Endeavor officials insisted that the company made a mistake; however, increased costs in labor and construction was a factor in the overspending. Campbell said common labor, skilled labor and construction costs have increased by
BELTERRA OVER BUDGET, 6