DSISD Board honored
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 1
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢ Thursday, October 5, 2017
Eight arrested in string of burglaries BY MOSES LEOS III
Execution of a search warrant on a Hays County property last month led to multiple arrests, including those who authorities suspect were involved in a string of Dripping Springs area burglaries. Eight people were identified and arrested after a two-day search by author-
ities of a property in the 200 block of Barton Bend Road in Dripping Springs. Arrests include persons involved in the burglary spree, as well as those who were on-scene who had active warrants. Authorities have not specified at this time which criminals were involved in the burglaries. The investigation is ongoing and additional
CRIMETIPS
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the HCSO at 512.393.7896 and speak with the criminal investigations division.
charges may be pending. According to a Hays County press release, the Dripping Springs area experienced a string of vehicle burglaries in the overnight hours of Sept.
25 and Sept. 26. The burglaries took place after dark and involved the suspects traveling in a motor vehicle. Targeted areas burglarized include U.S.
290, Ranch Road 12 and Fitzhugh Road. The suspect’s vehicles include a silver hatchback, a black SUV and a silver single cab pickup. Incidents involved multiple vehicles that were burglarized at several locations. A vehicle from a local business was stolen and used to smash through fences at two
Dripping Springs looks at town center model BY TIMOTHY STUCKEY
TOWN CENTER, 6
BURGLARIES, 3
Lower speed limit set in Meadow Creek
What’s in a TIRZ? A proposed town hall center that could include a new library, city hall and district administration buildings was given the green light by Dripping Springs ISD leaders last month. On Sept. 25, Dripping Springs ISD’s board of trustees unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new town hall center. The center is proposed to consist of a new city hall and district administration building, as well as a 30,000 square foot library. The town center is one of four main projects initiated by the city’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). Other future projects include U.S. 290 and Ranch Road 12 improvements, Old Fitzhugh Road and drainage improvements and improving downtown public parking. A TIRZ is a political subdivision of a municipality or county in the state of Texas created to implement tax increment financing. They may be initiated by the city, county, or by a petition of owners whose total holdings in the zone consist of a majority of the appraised property value. Similar to other government entities,
different locations. The vehicle was later recovered by law enforcement. Detectives, who responded to the scenes to assist patrol deputies with investigations, developed leads that culminated in a search warrant being executed at a home in the 200 block of Barton Bend
BY KATERINA BARTON A road connecting several subdivisions in Dripping Springs will receive a lower speed limit in the coming weeks. Hays County Commissioners approved extending a 35-mile per hour speed limit on Sawyer Ranch Road to the entrance of the Meadow Creek Ranch subdivision. The change was brought up in a public hearing at the Commissioner’s Court on Sept 19. The motion was passed unanimously. The speed limit on
SPEED LIMIT, 3
Sign rule updates pave way for growth BY TIMOTHY STUCKEY COURTESY PHOTO
The proposed Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone in Dripping Springs would fund the new town center, which will house a new city hall, library, DSISD administration building and more.
LAGNIAPPE Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Riding
The 19th annual bull riding event celebrating the late Brent Thurman will be held Oct. 6-7 at Dripping Springs Ranch Park , with a pre-party and auction Friday, Oct. 6 and rodeo event on Saturday night beginning at 5:30 p.m. See a full schedule online at brentthurman.com.
Proceeds benefit Marbridge Ranch, the Jason Walford Foundation, RED Arena and the Special Olympics.
annual raffle which provides funds for the upkeep of the Driftwood Community Center. Raffle tickets will be available for a beautiful queen-size quilt, fashioned by the Driftwood Quilters, and other items.
Driftwood Community Improvement Friends On Oct. 7, the Driftwood Community Foundation Improvement Club BBQ will hold its annual potluck supper at the Driftwood Community Center at 7 p.m. During the supper, the DCIC will have the drawing of its
On Oct. 5, join the Dripping Springs Friends Foundation as it hosts its 24th annual BBQ fundraiser at Pecan Grove, formerly
known as the Salt Lick Pavillion. The event, which will go from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., will have guests participate in a silent and live auction, as well as enjoy the music of the Hot Texas Swing Band. The fundraiser helps provide services to the community and seniors in the greater Dripping Springs area. All monies raised go to help support the Friends Foundation’s programs. Find more information at thefriendsfoundation.org.
LAGNIAPPE, 2
A number of signage ordinance amendments were given the green light by the Dripping Springs City Council last month. Signage ordinances were amended for three separate developments in the city at the request of the properties’ owners. According to Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city administrator, the city’s sign ordinance encourages master sign plans for larger developments. “In the past, it would make sense to have sign plans for large communities once it was realized that it was easier to manage the signage in the ordinance,” Fischer said sometimes a development owner wants stricter standards than the city’s signage ordinance allows. The city then tries to work with the owners in creating signage that reflects the owners needs while maintaining the city’s character. “A lot of these are from property owners to spell
DEVELOPMENT, 3