December 30, 2020 News-Dispatch

Page 1

DECEMBER 30, 2020 BIG WIN

LOOKING BACK

Hays storms past Taft 62-41 to reach state quarter finals.

Looking back at the local news that shaped our lives.

– Page 5

– Pages 2, 4, 6 & 8

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News-Dispatch

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HaysNewsDispatch.com

Vol. 41 • No. 13

Serving Hays County, TX

How $900 billion in the COVID relief bill will be spent BY SAHAR CHMAIS

A look back at 2020

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DORSETT FAMILY

Ethan Dorsett holds up his new baby boy Nolan for the baby’s grandparents to see back in early May of this year. Ethan was the only one allowed to be with his wife Haley at the hospital. See the full story on page 4 and other stories that got the most reads in 2020 throughout.

Community benefactor mourned

Hays County officials and the community atlarge mourned the loss of Phillip Taylor, 40, of Mountain City, a longtime law enforcement officer and elected official who TAYLOR was killed in a rollover wreck on FM 2770 in late March. Taylor was hired by Hays CISD in 2018 as the district’s first Director of Safety and Security. Prior to his hire with Hays CISD, he served in various roles with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, which hired him as a corrections officer in January 2000. During his tenure with the HCSO, Taylor oversaw the School Resource Officer (SRO) program for three Hays County school districts and supervised and managed the HCSO community outreach, crime prevention and public information teams. “We couldn’t have

asked for a more competent, highly skilled, and dedicated person to serve as our safety and security director. We also couldn’t have asked for a more friendly, fun, and compassionate colleague,” said Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright.

Swash buckling in Buda

More news of the weird: Buda police say two people who were arrested in January and charged with WHITE aggravated assault had been engaged in a sword fight. Brittany Tate, executive assistant ROTHMAN to Buda Police Chief Bo Kidd, said someone reported a disturbance at the Carrington Oaks Apartments. She said officers arrived and met with 25-year-old Kelsey White and 28-yearold Joshua Rothman, “who admitted to being in an

altercation in which each swung a sword with the intent to strike the other.” Both were charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a second degree felony. Tate said both had minor injuries, but neither required medical attention.

Pound Town?

Early last year, two Dripping Springs High alumni thought it would be fun to change the name of MCCARTHY Dripping Springs to a name that honored the city’s founder – Dr. Joseph Pound – by calling it Pound ARCHER Town. Whether Daniel McCarthy and Micah Archer, were serious, or just doing it for giggles, the story gained a lot of attention even in the national news. The duo went so far as to start a GoFundMe page to raise money and awareness for their cause and possibly draw support for getting a

Top ten most read headlines in 2020 1. City of Kyle announces emergency measures to COVID-19 (March 17, 2020) 2. Kyle woman goes on trial for capital murder (Feb. 19, 2020) 3. Double homicide under probe in Caldwell County (June 10, 2020) 4. Arrest made in Caldwell County double homicide (June 11, 2020) 5. One arrested in wake of early morning accident (Aug. 20, 2020) 6. Student seeking justice in wake of sexual assault (July 8, 2020) 7. Opening arguments in capital murder case center on mental illness (Feb. 5, 2020) 8. A Christian point of view on election (Sept. 2, 2020) 9. Hays County has first presumptive case of COVID-19 (March 14, 2020) 10. Three arrested for stealing artifacts (April 15, 2020) Dates are when stories were posted online at www.HaysFreePress.com or www.HaysNews-Dispatch.com

name change initiative on a future ballot. “Now a lot of folks know that history and they’re going to be more aware of the roots of Dripping Springs,” McCarthy said. Andrea Cunningham, Dripping Springs city secretary, said General Law Type A cities, such as Dripping Springs, can’t

hold elections based on citizen requests as they’re not specifically allowed by state statutes. Home rule cities such as Kyle or San Marcos have the authority to call a referendum on an issue, but only if the charter allows for it. So Dripping Springs, it is.

A LOOK BACK AT 2020, 2

Kyle neighbor wins PEC holiday lights contest Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) announced the winners of its first-ever Home Holiday Lights Contest, with the grand prize going to Bill Edgel of Nevarez Street in Kyle. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 PEC bill credit along with a special yard sign to let the neighborhood know they’ve earned bragging rights. Plus, the most popular display from other PEC districts will receive a $250 bill credit and a sign of their own. For the contest, PEC employees voted for their favorite submissions across the cooperative. The grand prize winner was then selected in a second round of employee voting that featured the top display in each district.

Wishing you a Safe and Happy New Year! from Barton Publications

Our office will be closed through Jan. 4, 2021.

The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323

The $900 billion coronavirus relief bill has passed Congress and has been sent to President Donald Trump. There is some confusion about how the funds will be distributed if only a small portion of it will be sent as a stimulus relief check to Americans. Since the legislative branches passed the relief bill, Trump has called for relief in the form of $2,000 per person and has said he would veto the bill if that amount was not included The bill as passed by the legislative branches would give $300 weekly for unemployed individuals for 10 weeks and a one-time $600 direct stimulus to most Americans. Businesses, restaurants and theaters will also receive a round of funds. The money will also go out to schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.

RELIEF BILL, 4

Kyle makes appointments to city boards BY MEGAN WEHRING KYLE — Appointments that were delayed this month due to the mayoral election were approved last week. Kyle City Council made new appointments and reappointments to boards and city government during its regular meeting in December. The following appointments were originally delayed earlier this month. Council member Rick Koch was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem for another year. Mitchell will continue serving as the city council representative for the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). Council member Yvonne Flores-Cale will now serve on the Capital Area Council of Governments General Assembly, replacing former council member Tracy Scheel. Finding a replacement for Scheel on the Alliance Regional Water Authority Board of Directors has been delayed until January.


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