Nominees for Citizens of the Year
Texan VB beats Billies, 3-0
page 6
DSHS gets orchestra class
page 3
News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 1
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
Continued issues with overcapacity at the Hays County Jail is leading officials to work with a neighboring county to solve the problem. On Sept. 25, Hays County Commissioners
passed an interlocal cooperation agreement between Hays County and Caldwell County for housing inmates in the neighboring jail. The Hays County Jail is above capacity and nearly half of its inmates are currently being outsourced
to other jails across the state. County officialssay the agreement is the most fiscally responsible solution, as the Caldwell County Jail is the closest correctional facility to Hays County. Hays County currently
outsources 292 inmates to jails in Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Guadalupe and McClennan counties. “If we didn’t have to do it, we wouldn’t do it,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell. “We have a jail project to try and meet some of those
needs. Transportation is expensive and Caldwell County is the closest jail to our existing facility.” Shell also referenced the county’s $78 million bond to renovate its county jail, which will
EXPORTING PRISONERS, 5
Flu season may strike early in Hays County
FIGHTING THE FLU, 5
Numbers are up
Hays County sees major rise in voter registration numbers BY KATIE BURRELL
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO After a few reported cases of the flu in Hays County in recent weeks, local health care providers are urging citizens to practice healthy habits as winter approaches. The move for residents to protect themselves from the flu comes as nearly 10,000 Texans died as a result of the virus in 2017, according to state health officials. Tammy Gray, registered pharmacist (RPh) at Buda Drug Store, said the pharmacy has received a number of prescriptions for Tamiflu, which typically does not occur until later in the flu season. Flu season typically begins in October and ends in May. In Texas and most areas in the southern U.S., the warmer climate means the virus might not peak until December or January. “I do believe it’s coming a little early this year, and we’ve already had several patients receive prescriptions for flu treatment,” Gray said. “At this time, it’s too early to determine why, and it’s not rampant.” Children and the elderly are the most at risk during flu season, and accounted for majority of flu-related deaths in 2017. Eric Schneider, Epidemiologist for the Hays County Health Department, said receiving the flu shot does not guarantee immunity, but will help provide people with
75¢ Thursday, October 4, 2018
Hays looks to Caldwell to house prisoners BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
page 3
Yellow Alert
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Hays CISD Transportation employee Elaine Hernsberger is one of 141 drivers who help shuttle 13,600 or so students in the district to and from school each day.
Steering past districts’ bus driver hiring woes BY MOSES LEOS III For nearly two decades, Pam Swanks has seen how growth has impacted how many area districts approach busing their students. More students might mean purchasing more buses, which in turn
means more routes for districts to create. It’s an issue most high-growth districts, such as Dripping Springs ISD and Hays CISD, must face at some point. But an equally difficult challenge is finding enough drivers to operate those buses.
While both HCISD and DSISD are not facing major driver shortages this semester, officials believe the lack of interest in the field is a growing state and national dilemma. Swanks, DSISD director of transportation, said the district is
currently short five to eight drivers in 2018. As a result, DSISD had to be “creative” in drawing and evaluating routes, while also moving around and making the best with the 38 staff members they have.
BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE, 5
DSISD sells $110 million in bonds BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
With the majority of its $132 million in voter-approved bonds now sold, Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) is preparing to commence various improvement projects. On Sept. 20, the district sold $110 million of its $132 million bond package, which was approved by voters in May. It now paves the way for the district to start on the first major project under the bond, which is expansion of Dripping Springs High to serve 2,500 students.
In addition to the renovation of the high school, the district is also planning for renovations at Dripping Springs Middle School, Dripping Springs Elementary School, Rooster Springs Elementary and the expansion of the transportation site facility.
In addition to the renovation of the high school, the district is also planning for renovations at Dripping Springs Middle School, Dripping Springs Elementary School, Rooster Springs Elementary and the expansion of
the transportation site facility. The district will start working on the Dripping Springs Middle School project and the construction of Elementary school number five next Spring. “We are still in the
LAGNIAPPE Voting Registration Deadline October 9 You can also register to vote online at www.co.hays. tx.us/elections or by mailing a copy of the National Voter Registration Form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office at 712 S. Stagecoach Trail San Marcos, if you live in Hays County. You can also register to vote in person.
Giving back to friends at foundation benefit
On Oct. 11 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Friends Foundation will hold its 25th annual barbecue fundraiser at the Salt Lick Grove Pavillion in Driftwood. The event will feature music by the Hot Texas Swing Band, as well as drink samples from various local breweries, wineries and distilleries. Proceeds from the event goes to support the homebound and elderly in the Dripping Springs area. Event and ticket information can be found online at thefriendsfoundation.org.
planning phase and we will move to design in the next couple of weeks,” Gearing said. “Construction won’t occur until 2020.” DSISD is trying to make up for two months of lost time after a lawsuit was filed challenging the outcome of the May election. The lawsuit was led by the Citizens for Excellent Education in Dripping Springs (CEEDS), an education activist organization that questioned the legitimacy of the
DSISD SELLS BONDS, 2
Hill Country Ranch Harvest Market
This shopping event brings in vendors from across the state to show the best in clothing, jewelry, gourmet food, Texas handmade items, home and holiday decor and much more at Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center Oct. 13 and 14.
Carrolls in Concert
A performance by Texas folk singer-songwriters Adam & Chris Carroll. A portion of the proceeds go back to people in the community who are in need. The performance is Oct. 18 at Susanna’s Kitchen.
Tails and Trails
On Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Hays County area residents are encouraged to bring their jogging shoes and four-legged friend to Dripping Springs for the inaugural Tails and Trails, Dripping Dog Dip at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The event is part of the city’s Healthy Parks, Healthy People campaign. For more information, visit cityofdrippingsprings.com.
As the deadline to participate in the November midterm elections nears, more than 129,000 Hays County residents have already signed up to participate. But as the number of registered voters in Hays County increases, officials hope residents follow through and cast a ballot once Election Day hits. As of last week, more than 129,000 people have registered to vote in Hays County, said Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson. It’s an uptick from the 104,000 Hays County residents who registered to vote in the 2014 midterm elections. Hays County, however, is notorious for producing a low voter turnout in comparison to its population. Roughly 50 percent of residents are registered each election on average and even fewer show up to cast a ballot.
NUMBERS ARE UP, 5
County approves $315M budget STAFF REPORT A $57 million reduction from last fiscal year is the amount Hays County officials approved last month as they finalized the fiscal year 2019 budget. In September, Hays County Commisisoners unanimously approved a $315 million budget, which is $57 million less than what was approved in FY 2018. Commissioners also gave the green light to a slight reduction in the county’s ad valorem tax rate. Hays County’s tax rate, which was 44.50 cents per $100 valuation, will now be 43.37 cents. Both the FY 2019 budget and tax rate went into effect Monday. According to a release, the new tax rate set by commissioners is the effective tax rate, which is the tax rate that raises the same amount of property tax revenue from the last two fiscal years. Included in the budget is roughly $950,000 for 22 new full-time positions and personnel changes, as well as $2 million for updating election equipment. No county officials will receive a salary increase except for three Hays County constables who won a grievance hearing case. In August, a salary grievance committee approved a $6,238 raise for the Precinct 1, 3 and 4 constable positions. The county also budgeted a
COUNTY BUDGET, 2