News Dispatch October 18, 2018

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Tigers roar past LBJ, 52-35

Options for Breast Cancer Screening

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Fire detection program spreading

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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 3

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

page 8

75¢

Thursday, October 18, 2018

430-mile natural gas pipeline Pleads guilty to cross through Hays County BY MOSES LEOS III

A proposed $2 billion, 430-mile pipeline that would funnel natural gas from the Texas Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast is expected to cut through Hays County.

In September, Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline (KMTP), LLC, a multi-million dollar Houston-based energy infrastructure company, announced its final investment decision to move forward with the Permian Highway Pipeline

Project. That project calls for a 430-mile underground pipeline that starts in Waha in far west Texas and stretches across the Hill Country before ending in Colorado County, roughly 80 miles west of Houston.

Officials estimate construction starting by fall 2019 and for the pipeline to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2020. According to a KTMP release, the project will transport up to 2 billion cubic feet per day of natu-

ral gas through a 42-inch pipeline with connections to the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mexico markets. According to the release, shippers that have committed to the Permian Highway

GAS PIPELINE, 3

Red outpacing Blue in County Judge, HD45 spending BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Republican candidates for County Judge and Texas House District 45 are out-fundraising and spending their Democratic opponents, according to 30-day campaign finance reports filed Oct. 9. Republican County Judge candidate Will Conley and Republican HD45 candidate Ken Strange spent a combined $100,000 on their campaigns, nearly double that of their Democratic opponents. County Judge In the race for County Judge, Democrat Ruben Becerra has raised $18,004.30 in total political contributions during the reporting period from July to October. Becerra spent $13,157.13 in total political expenditures, maintaining $21,178.52 in his war chest as of the last day of the reporting period. Becerra, who filed his finance reports on Oct. 12, two days past the deadline, also has $23,532.63 in total outstanding loans as of the last day of the reporting period. Becerra did not receive political action committee (PAC) donations

HD45 CAMPAIGN SPENDING, 8

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAUREL ROBERTSON

Dripping Springs’ Farmers Market, which sets up at the Triangle in the heart of the city, was recently named as the very best in the state according to results of the Farmers Market Celebration, a contest organized by American Farmland Trust.

Dripping Springs farmers market recognized as the best in Texas BY MOSES LEOS III

For the past week, Dripping Springs resident and Farmers Market Manager Laurel Robertson has collected a plethora of high-fives that came her way at city hall.

That feeling of exuberance comes after Dripping Springs’ Farmers Market, which sets up at the Triangle in the heart of the city, was recently named as the very best in the state. Earlier this month, the Dripping Springs

Farmers Market was named No. 1 in Texas for farmers markets, according to results of the Farmers Market Celebration, a contest organized by American Farmland Trust. Dripping Springs’ Farmers Market was also tabbed

as 7th best in the nation. For Robertson, who operates as manager of the city’s farmers market, the accolades show the public understands what the city’s farmers market is trying to ac-

TOP FARMERS MARKET, 3

Hays County fire marshal resigns KATIE BURRELL

After six years of service in Hays County, Fire Marshal Clint Browning resigned Friday in order to pursue other opportunities, according to county leaders. Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones confirmed

Browning’s resignation, adding Browning sent his twoweek notice prior to commis- BROWNING sioners approving the resigna-

tion during the Oct. 2 meeting. Browning’s last day on the job was Oct. 5 according to county documents. According to officials, Browning opted to work in the private sector doing inspections and similar work and left with no issues. Browning worked

LAGNIAPPE The Hill Country Living & Rainwater Revival Festival

The Hill Country Alliance has packed a full day with fun things to do and good things to learn about living lightly in our precious Hill Country at Dripping Spring Ranch Park on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be vendors, speakers, and activities on land and wildlife management, water conservation, renewable energy, green home design and building, night sky lighting, sustainable products, and more. For more information, visit RainwaterRevival.com.

Songwriter’s Festival

Over 40 local and international songwriters will take to Dripping Springs Oct. 19-21 for the 5th annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival. The event, which will present more than 35 showcases per day, features a variety of musicians hailing from as far away as Toronto, Canada that will play “in-the-round” Nashville-style on five stages across the city. See more on page 6 or visit www. drippingspringssongwriters festival.com.

as a sheriff’s deputy in Caldwell County before becoming Assistant Fire Marshal for the Hays County Fire Marshal’s office in 2012. After three years serving as assistant, Browning was promoted to Fire Marshal in 2016, where he was responsible

FIRE MARSHALL RESIGNS, 8

AGA’s Family Picnic & Halloween Spooktacular Join Austin Greyhound Adoption for a fun-filled afternoon with your family and hounds at Juniper Hills Farm, just outside of Austin in the hill country in Dripping Springs, Sunday, October 21st, from 12-4 p.m. An afternoon filled with food, fun and a big place for dogs to run around! (muzzles required) There will be hound-friendly games and Greyhound costume contest! There will be vendors and a silent auction. All proceeds go back to the dogs! Tickets in advance are $5 for individuals or $10 for the family ($10 and $15 at-the-door) and includes lunch and all the fun and games you can handle! Lunch, prepared by Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm, will include pulled pork sliders and grilled chicken.

D.S. native pleads guilty to improper relationship with student STAFF REPORT A Dripping Springs native arrested in 2017 for improper relationship with an underage student has pled guilty in Caldwell County. Sarah Madden FOWLKES Fowlkes, 28, pled guilty on one charge of improper relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony, according to multiple reports. According to a KXAN-TV report, a Caldwell County judge has not accepted Fowlkes’ plea, which if approved, would consist of four years probation. Fowlkes, a former educator at Lockhart ISD, was arrested in March 2017 after an investigation alleged Fowlkes was having an inappropriate relationship with a then 17-yearold student. The Hays Free Press reported in 2017 that Lockhart Police received a report regarding an improper relationship between Fowlkes and the student. During the investigation, authorities suspected Fowlkes engaged in sexual conduct with the intent to arouse or gratify the “sexual desire” of the then student. The case made national and international headlines after Fowlkes was seen smiling in her mugshot.

County judge hopefuls spar in final debate BY EXSAR ARGUELLO With less than a month before Election Day, candidates vying for county judge sparred with each other one last time Oct. 10 as they aim to secure voters before they hit the polls. Democratic candidate Ruben Becerra and Republican candidate Will Conley fought hard against each other at the Texas State University student media debate hosted by KTSW at the San Marcos Activity Center. The candidates focused on topics such as job growth, infrastructure needs, experience and economic developent issues. Conley, a former county commissioner and current chairman for the Central Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

COUNTY JUDGE DEBATE, 2


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News Dispatch October 18, 2018 by Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch - Issuu