Parents look to jiu jitsu for ADHD help
A view from the Crows Nest page 2
Big win for Tigers in opener
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 48
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
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75¢
Thursday, September 7, 2017
PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK, WFOTOS.COM
Big wins at annual memorial rodeo
Header Garrett Chick, right, and Tyson Thompson, healer, participated in Team Roping at Dripping Springs Ranch Park on Saturday as part of the Gunner Thames Memorial Rodeo. Chick, from Salado, earned a first and second place to win $3,700 and Thompson, from Monday, won $1,480 for second place. Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association lists Chick in 9th place with earnings of $8,445.97 and Thompson in 6th place earning $7,677.02.
Rumors of gas shortage cause panic New laws go into effect BY MOSES LEOS III
Frantic drivers squeezed and honked their way to gas stations across Texas this week after a rumored gasoline shortage led to statewide panic and even reports of price gouging. But, according to state officials, the problem wasn’t a shortage of fuel, but distribution, which has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. In an interview with the Texas Tribune Aug. 30, Ryan Sitton, commissioner of the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates gas and oil in the state, said 15 fuel refineries in the Gulf Coast area were taken down, or are operating at a reduced capacity, due to Harvey. As a result of taking down refineries, Sitton said in the interview the state has seen a slight decrease in production. However, he said there is no shortage, as there are more than 100 million barrels of gas stored in the U.S. Distributing the gasoline is where the problem lies, as gasoline is transported via 18-wheeler trucks to gas stations across the state. Those trucks obtain gas at
BY TIMOTHY STUCKEY
Experience Downtown Dripping Springs like never before on the first Thursday of every month. Local stores along Mercer
Laws that will affect every Texan have gone into effect this month, with several aiming to proactively save lives. Nearly 700 new laws tackling issues such as texting while driving, cyber bullying and school lunches went into effect Sept. 1. However, laws regarding the ban of sanctuary cities, as well as a ban on second-term abortion procedure, known as dilation and evacuation, were blocked by judges just days before they were set to go into effect. The sanctuary cities bill drew the attention of groups like Mano Amiga, and is currently facing a legal challenge from civil rights groups which say it could lead to constitutional rights violations of citizens and noncitizens alike. Other laws were able to pass despite the controversy surrounding them. House Bill 3895 allows faith-based child welfare providers to be allowed to deny adoptions and other services based on their “sincerely held religious beliefs”. The law would allow faith-based organizations to place a child in a religious school and refuse to contract with other organizations that don’t share their religious beliefs. Texas lawmakers also crafted House Bill 4, a Child Protective Services
LAGNIAPPE, 5
NEW LAWS, 2
PHOTO BY RAPHAEL MARQUEZ
Lines at gas pumps throughout Hays County reached new lengths this week as rumors of a statewide gasoline shortage spread after Hurricane Harvey caused extreme damage to the coastal region.
distribution terminals, which receive the fuel from refineries via pipeline or train. Sitton said two pipelines were shut down due to the hurricane. But rumors of potential shortages have circulated through social media and stoked panic across the state. From Dallas to San Antonio and even in Hays County, residents have rushed out to gas stations to purchase gas, leading to frustration on the
part of both officials and other consumers. Sitton said residents should avoid rushing to gas stations to fill up and should only obtain gas if necessary. He said resupplying specific gas stations is dependent on the supply network the station is under. He said some gas stations could possibly take a few days before they are refilled. “As pipelines get back in shape, people will realize this
isn’t as big an issue as it is today,” Sitton said. “I feel this issue is going to stem.” Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, also issued a warning to Texas gas stations Thursday after more than 500 complaints of price gouging were made. According to a release, many of the price gouging complaints stemmed from the Dallas area, where gas stations where reportedly charging $6 to $8 per gallon.
LAGNIAPPE County burn ban is off
Torrential downpours associated with Hurricane Harvey have led to Hays County officials calling off the countywide burn ban. Fire Marshal Clint Browning reminds residents to ensure that a responsible adult is on the scene of an outdoor burn and that there is a water source available. Because of muddy fields in some areas, fire trucks may have difficulty responding to an outof-control fire, so take
precautions.
Dripping with Taste
Don’t miss out! Numerous Texas area wine companies, and even a few from Dripping Springs, will gather at Dripping Springs Ranch Park Sept. 9 for the 10th annual Dripping with Taste event. Roughly 75 vendors will be on hand to help about 2,500 festival goers have a “taste” of what’s happening in Texas. The event runs from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9. Ticket information
can be found online at drippingwithtaste. com.
Wimberley Garden Club
The Wimberley Garden Club will hold the first meeting of the season at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection at 101 W. Spoke Hill Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m. followed by the speaker, Delbert Bassett, at 10 a.m. Bassett is a Hays County Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. He
studied ecological restoration at Texas A&M University. His topic for the day is Hill Country Trees – their care and proper pruning. The business meeting will follow. Guests and prospective members are welcome.
First Thursday