Shelter to house 176+ neglected animals
Belterra plans apartmentstyle living
Tiger VB season ends in state semi-final
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 8
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
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75¢
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Hays County seats go from Red to Blue BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
An influx of straight-ticket Democratic voters at Texas State University is one primary factor that led to a handful of key Hays County seats to turn blue Nov. 6. That wave was part of a larger national movement that flipped a handful of
state and national seats during the 2018 Midterm elections, sending shockwaves across the state. In the 2018, 21,870 Democratic voters in Hays County voted straight-ticket, a 66 percent increase from 2014. The increase in turnout and straight ticket voting drastically affected con-
gressional, county judge and local house races. “In a perfect world, you vote candidate by candidate, but for students, and particularly mine, it is difficult to stay informed with all of the local races, while balancing work and school,” said Dr. Susan Kirby, a business government and
society professor at Texas State University. “Some students tell me that they are overwhelmed with the voting and ballot process. It’s not ideal to vote straight-ticket, but it’s certainly easier.” It is difficult to describe why voter turnout was historically high at the university. Elected repre-
Former co-publisher known for benevolence BY MOSES LEOS III From an early age, Joyce Roberson wasn’t afraid to open her heart and help out anyone and everyone she could. When her father passed away in her teenage years, Roberson, then known by her maiden name Sumner, instantly heeded the call and became a second mother to her four siblings. Paula Gutschke, Joyce’s sister, said the responsibility was one Roberson wasn’t afraid to take on. “She was very strongwilled and very determined and kind-hearted,” said Gutschke. “She was open to helping just about anyone.” It is those traits many in western Hays County remember about Roberson, who tragically passed away Nov. 15. From protecting and taking care of her siblings, to co-owning and operating the News-Dispatch
COURTESY PHOTO
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Dale and Joyce Roberson were together for more than four decades and were co-owners and co-publishers of the News-Dispatch before they sold it in 2013.
sentatives and university professors alike are pointing to Democratic Congressmen Beto O’Rourke, who fell only 200,000 votes short of Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate race. Locally, the County Judge and Texas House District 45 races flipped blue for the first time in more than a decade.
Additionally, historically Republican congressional races went blue in Hays County, even if those particular candidates didn’t win their respected race. “Historically, we have seen high straight-ticket vote cycles in the county,” said Jennifer Anderson,
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Short Term Short Term Rental debate bubbling up in Dripping Springs BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
The Domain of Hays County? Dripping Springs approves apartment-style homes in Belterra BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
Hays County. On Nov. 13, the DripA new apartment-style ping Springs City Council housing development is approved the second in the works at Belterra in amendment to the Dripping Springs – some- Belterra Commercial Dething developers hope velopment Agreement, could eventually turn which included four variinto “The Domain” of ances to the project. The decision by the city council marks another step for Endeavor, the development company based in Austin, in its expansion of the Belterra project. The variances approved by the council allows for up to a 65-foot
structure height limit for multi-family use, as well as allowing 27 units per acre in density compared to the city ordinance’s 24. Other variances include allowing alternate construction materials as allowed by building and fire codes and valet service in lieu of requirements for multi-family structures to be within 250 feet of the parking åfacility. According to Endeavor officials, the project will include 233 residential units spanning from
apartment-style to town home variants. “The density allows for different housing types,” said Daniel Campbell, principal at Endeavour. “From a teacher and police officer to families, we want to blend the two together into one neighborhood to hit this unique residential feel.” One of the four variances approved allows the developers to extend the maximum height of buildings from 40 to 65 feet.
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LAGNIAPPE A Propos PopUp Gallery
Zeina Cook’s friendly gallery will be popping up Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 26 and 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by and see the eye-catching art created by local artists and watch artists as they demonstrate and create.
Chess Meet & Play
You are invited to join this ongoing Chess Group at the Dripping Springs Library that meets to enjoy playing and exploring the classic game of chess. The next meeting is Nov. 27, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Emily Ann Trail of Lights
Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley will be hosting a Trail of Lights Nov. 24 through Dec. 28. The event site will be open 6 to 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 6-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated.
An influx of shortterm rentals (STRs) across the Hill Country is forcing Dripping Springs leaders to formulate a plan on how to collect hotel occupancy tax (HOT) from such establishments. On Nov. 13, the Dripping Springs City Council met with its legal staff in executive session on possibly hiring a firm to help find and audit the operation of STRs. A decision, however, was not made during the meeting. An STR is a furnished residence that can be rented on a short-term basis. Websites such as VBRO and Airbnb cater to STRs and provide a way for clients to find nearby locations. The popularity of STR has risen due to the increasing number
“We hear all the time that there aren’t enough hotels in the city. We need lodging for our tourism, so yes, I would say we are a friendly community when it comes to short-term rentals.” –Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city administrator
of wedding venues, wineries, breweries and distilleries in the Dripping Springs area. However, without
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Inaugural brain surgery conducted in Hays County BY KATIE BURRELL
in the past, according to Seton Hays officials. The first brain surThe trauma center gery conducted in Hays began operations as a County was successfully Level II facility Sept. 10. completed in SeptemNow, the hospital offers ber, with the patient trauma surgeons 24 now fully recovered, hours every day specialaccording to officials at izing in neurology and Seton Medical Center orthopedics. Hays. Dr. Robert J. BuchanBefore this year, an, Chief of Neurology emergency services with the Seton family rushed trauma patients of hospitals, oversees to Level I trauma cennine neurosurgeons, ters in Austin and San specifically at Dell Seton Antonio, a sometimes in Austin and at Seton life threatening trip for Hays. Buchanan pervictims of car accidents formed the first brain and serious medical surgery in Hays County issues. shortly after the trauma Earlier this year, Seton center reopened. Hays announced it was “It took millions of now a Level II trauma dollars to upgrade the center, allowing the facilities to be a Level facility to take in nearly Two trauma center, but every kind of major with it, we can ensure medical issue. patients get treatment The size of Hays here,” Buchanan said. County requires a more “It can be dangerous to advanced facility than what has been offered BRAIN SURGERY, 2