SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 INFO ON ISSUES
$134.2M BUDGET
League of Women Voters schedule candidate forums online
Kyle council approves budget for the city
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News-Dispatch
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 40 • No. 47
Serving Hays County, TX
Local COVID-19 statistics show less serious illness BY ANITA MILLER
PHOTO BY WAYLAND CLARK, WFOTOS.COM
The Wimberley Texans entered their home field with gusto Friday as they went on to beat the Canyon Lake Hawks 24-22.
Back to the gridiron Wimberley outlasts Canyon Lake in return to play SUBMITTED REPORT WIMBERLEY – Basking in the glow of a nail-biting 24-22 comeback win over the rival Canyon Lake Hawks Friday was a moment Wimberley Texans head coach Doug Warren savored. After all, just getting to the point of playing a football game seemed like a pipe dream several weeks prior. But on Friday, amid so much uncertainty in the nation and the world, Wimberley (1-0) and Canyon Lake (0-1) joined
“For us to come out, on one night, and have two communities that are tied to each other put their differences aside and cheer for the red, white and navy blue or green and white, to me that’s what it’s about.” –Doug Warren, Wimberley Texans head coach
hundreds of small high schools across the state in becoming the first programs in more than six months to compete on the field. It was a welcome
respite for Warren, his players and a community who understand in a world with COVID-19, nothing, not even Texas high school football, is guaranteed.
“For us to come out, on one night, and have two communities that are tied to each other put their differences aside and cheer for the red, white and navy blue or green and white, to me that’s what it’s about,” Warren said. “Community coming together and cheering not only the football players but those who put this on and are doing their part. “That’s why it was so special, because we got to do that tonight, because we don’t know how many
WIN FOR WIMBERLEY, 9
Kyle business one of first to receive county ECAP funds STAFF REPORT KYLE – Kyle Landscaping Services was one of 18 small businesses that was given funding through first round of the Hays County Emergency Cash Assistance Program (ECAP). A family-owned and operated enterprise, Kyle Landscaping Services was awarded $7,000. The business had experienced losses as several employ-
ees, including mechanics, contracted COVID-19. Business owner Diego Rangel called the assistance a “lifeline.” “Without this grant, I would be with two broken-down machines and I’d be out two work crews.” Rangel said his employees who were sick have now recovered and he SUBMITTED PHOTO plans to use the money to repair equipment and Diego and Mario Rangel of Kyle Landscaping Services were one of 18 small businesses that received funds from the Emer-
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, 12 gency Cash Assistance Program.
Kyle council rescinds the name Fajita Drive BY MEGAN WEHRING
KYLE – Kyle City Council voted 6-1 at a special meeting Aug. 25 to rescind its previous vote to rename a portion of FM 150 – from Rebel Drive to Fajita Drive – and unanimously voted to remove Rebel Drive as the street name. The highway will be designated as West Ranch to Market
Road 150 until a new name is assigned. In the 2020-2021 budget, the city council approved $5,346 for grant funds to the residents who may be impacted by the future renaming of the road. Previously at the Aug. 18 meeting, council member Tracy Scheel said businesses may face costs if the Rebel name was to be
HOMETOWN HERO Wimberley alumnus to join Navy as an officer.
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removed. “I do understand that it is going to cost them money to do this,” Scheel said. “All of their marketing material, their letterheads, all of that is going to have to change. I know that is going to come at a cost to the businesses. While I appreciate that, I do agree
NO FAJITAS HERE, 12
HAYS COUNTY – The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of 47 Hays County residents as of Aug. 31, and 18 of those deaths occurred during the month of August. Hays County’s total number of infections rose by 503 last month, from 4,893 on Aug. 3 to 5,396, and the number of recoveries increased by 1,040, from 1,980 on Aug. 3 to 3,020 Aug. 31. Statistics show that serious illnesses have dropped, from 23 people hospitalized on Aug. 3 to 15 at month’s end. The backlog of laboratory testing seems to have improved, as 55 cases were listed as “pending” at the beginning of the month compared 22 at its end.
Continuing a trend that was established months ago and has played out nationally over the summer, the overwhelming majority of Hays County cases are in the 20- to 29-year-old age range. A total of 2,085 of the county’s cases have been among people in their 20s — 1,048 females and 1,037 males. The second largest number of cases countywide is people 30 to 39 years old. A total of 905 cases have been recorded in that age group — 573 females and 432 males. The majority of the county’s fatalities, 20, have been in the 70- to 79-year-old age range. Next, there were 17 deaths among people aged 50 to 59. The
COVID-19 STATS, 12
Restaurants adapt as COVID-19 forces continuous changes BY CHASE ROGERS HAYS COUNTY – Of all the businesses and occupations greatly affected by state-mandated and local COVID-19 mitigation guidelines since March, the restaurant and service industry may have been hit the hardest, pressuring owners and managers to continuously adapt with no clear end in sight. This has been true for the industry since Gov. Greg Abbott’s initial executive order closed all businesses deemed nonessential in late March, requiring bars and restaurants to close their indoor spaces and solely provide curbside and delivery services. A survey administered by Hays County at the time aiming to gauge local businesses’ sustainability in these conditions showed 50% of respondents stated they could survive for only a few weeks. Of those same 552 respondents, 20% said they could last at least one to two months. “Some of the businesses believe they just don’t have enough wherewithal to sustain themselves through this crisis,” Buda Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director J.R. Gonzales said at the time of the survey. “As a result, businesses have been getting creative. There are some that are doing things they haven’t done before … going online, curb-
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side pickup and other options.” These challenges, felt statewide, exacerbated the unemployment claims across the state. According to a Texas Tribune analysis of Texas Workforce Commission and U.S. Employment and Training Administration data, around 12.5% of the 3.2 million unemployment claims filed in Texas from March to Aug. 8 came from workers in the accommodation and food services industry – the largest share for any industry in the state. Some establishments have felt the brunt of logistical and transportation challenges. For example, the availability of meats during the past few months became limited when in the past it could be easily purchased with no hassle. Early in the pandemic, Abbott issued a waiver allowing restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages to patrons, including beer, wine and mixed drinks as long as they were accompanied with a food purchase. Greg Henry, who owns and operates Willie’s Joint in Buda and Papa Jacks in Kyle, said this change helped marginally, but pales in comparison to before when guests could congregate indoors with friends. “If I was going to get a burger and go home
RESTAURANTS ADAPT, 12